Realm Makers 2019

during Mr. Batson’s continuing session | picture credit goes to Mary!

AGH SO REALM MAKERS HAPPENED. AND IT WAS AMAZING. I honestly don’t even know where to begin. I don’t know if the wonder that happened in those three days could be summed up in a post.

But I guess I’ll try. XD

Thursday I went to the pre-conference about writing series by Robert Liparulo which was SO interesting. I learned about the different types of series, the pros and cons of writing a series, how to plan a series, and how to market a series. It was all so informative and it really helped me, since I’m planning on publishing my first books as a trilogy! I also got to meet with some friends who also went to the pre-conference for lunch, which was SO FABULOUS.

After that, there was an opening welcome and keynote given by the RM faculty and Brent Weeks, which was hilarious and also very encouraging!

Friday was a whole whirlwind of sessions and electives and I loved ALL OF IT. I learned about writing my Christian worldview organically into my writing (Morgan Busse did this class and it was my absolute FAVORITE CLASS of the entire conference, she did SUCH a great job), I learned about writing fairytale retellings with C.J. Redwine (which gave me waaaay too many plot bunnies, if I’m being honest XD), and had a great time in Wayne Thomas Batson’s continuing sessions about balancing life and writing. It really convicted me and made me realize I need to be better about juggling everything.

on our way back from a quick Starbucks break | picture credit goes to Christine!

I also got to hang out with some AWESOME friends! Seeing all of my friends from last year, and also some new faces was THE BEST. I wish I could’ve devoted all of my time to talking and hanging out with all of them, but I had to settle with sitting together during sessions and eating meals together. It was so magical, seeing everyone again. I LOVE YOU GUYS. <333

And then, of course, there was the big Awards Dinner, which is ALWAYS a blast! I must have taken a hundred (blurry, of course) pictures of everybody in their costumes. This was probably my favorite part of the entire conference, honestly. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time, and when I got back to my hotel, my cheeks hurt.

For this year’s dinner, I decided to dress as a favorite cartoon character of mine…Dipper Pines from Gravity Falls! I was sure hardly anyone would know who I was (and I did get mistaken for a Camp Half Blood resident more than a few times XD), but I was pleasantly surprised by how many people came up to me and complimented me on my choice! I even had one of the waiters bringing food to the tables come up to me and ask me where Mabel was. XD

from top to bottom // Mary as Steampunk Ariel | Tracey as Tris Prior | Christine as Kuzco | Josiah as Phoenix Wright | Savannah as Peggy Carter (though that photo does NOT do her gorgeous outfit justice)

Saturday was the big day. At least for me. XD I decided I wanted to pitch my novel Imprint to Linda Howard at Tyndale publishing this year and my appointment actually went really well! I did flounder a bit, struggling with what to say and feeling all of my nerves strain any sense from brain right out my ears…XD But Mrs. Howard was very nice and understanding, and after talking with here, I would really LOVE to work with her. She was so kind and told me all about Tyndale’s publishing process and she even asked for more chapters of my novel! I WAS ECSTATIC TO SAY THE LEAST.

Before said pitch took place, however, I was a ball of jittery nerves. I could barely eat anything and when I had to leave mid-class (Jill Williamson’s worldbuilding session, which I was a bit bummed to miss 😦 to get to my appointment, I thought I was going to pass out from my body shooting so much adrenaline into my veins. I could barely hold my pencil and when the time came I had to take several deep breaths to keep my heart from pounding out of my chest. I wasn’t hardly as nervous as my body would have me believe I was. But my body does betray me, often times during stressful situations. XD As it turned out, I had nothing to worry about and it went very well.

After another amazing session (Ronie Kendig’s class about capturing your reader’s attention, which was absolutely fascinating), and a wonderful closing keynote by Brent Weeks, I went out to Panera with my buds one last time. It was such a great time and I ALREADY MISS ALL OF YOU SO MUUUUUCH. Then we all went to the book festival together and I had to say my goodbyes. It was so SAD. Thank goodness for the internet, so we can all keep in touch!

from top to bottom // Lisa | Skye | Christine

That last day of Realm Makers was one of the best days of 2019 for me. It was such an incredible time and Sunday morning, it felt like reality just came crashing back down on me. It felt so weird, that it was just…over. But I’ll never forget it. ^_^

Vacation wasn’t entirely over for me just yet though. Me and my family got to go a bit farther down Missouri to Branson, where we got to visit the College of the Ozarks (a college I’ve been considering attending, and now after visiting, I am SO AMAZED by and interested in) and stay at the Keeter Center, which is a hotel run by the students of the college! It was incredibly nice and I’ve never stayed in such a nice hotel. I really felt like a country hick, amazed by everything in the room. XD

After staying there for a few days (going to Silver Dollar City and the Butterfly Palace), we topped off our final day in Branson by going to see Samson live at the Sights and Sound Theater! IT WAS SO AMAZING GUYS. I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW AWESOME IT WAS. You should seriously consider going to a production there. The tickets aren’t the cheapest, but IT IS WORTH IT.

After all that craziness, we drove home. And now I’m back and just now getting over the exhaustion. XD It’s going to be tough going back to work and the drudgery of ‘normal’ life, but I think I might surprise myself. It’s always a good feeling getting home from an adventure. 🙂

the gang at Panera | picture credit goes to Jenneth!

That was my experience at Realm Makers, very, very briefly summed up. I could go on and on about what went on that past weekend, but we would be here for ages. XD I miss all you Realmies dearly! I hope we get to see each other again soon! And those of you who didn’t attend this year…I WISH YOU COULD’VE BEEN THERE. It really was a magical time!

A Life Update

Hello guys! You may have been thinking I was dead at this point, but HA I fooled you all!

Anyway, I wanted to give you guys a little update about what’s been going on with me, why I haven’t been posting regularly, etc.

Life

Some of you might know that I’ve been working at the library for almost two years now. While it’s a very nice place to work, it’s not a place I was planning to stay for very long. It’s a part time job and the pay is just above the minimum wage, and I would like to move onto something a bit more permanent (and perhaps with better pay).

I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and I’ve decided to pursue my passion for music. I’ve always wanted to help people using my talents, and so I’ve considered going to school for music therapy. But college is expensive and there are only two schools in the entire state of Minnesota that offer a music therapy degree. And only one of them calls themselves a Christian college. Yeah.

But I didn’t stop there! My parents stumbled upon a school near Branson, Missouri called the College of the Ozarks. They have a Piano Major (which would be AWESOME), but I’ve read they only accept people from the Ozarks region (which I am NOT in).

I’ve also considered just being an independent performer, handing my card out to different businesses and institutions that might want a piano player. I even designed a fun-looking business card!

shhhh i know it’s tiny it’s a business card okay

It’s been an interesting task, trying to find a school or job, and I haven’t made a ton of progress. But it’s in the back of my mind (slowly moving to the front XD).

Writing

I’ve been working hard at editing Imprint and I’m veeeeerrrry close to finishing the thing! AND I’M SO EXCITED. I’ve already got an outline for the second book written up, and I have the third book simmering in the back of my head. IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER AND I LOVE IT.

Aside from Imprint, I’ve also been working on my superhero trilogy idea and a few other ideas that WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY TO DETER THEM. *ahem* Anyway…you can look at the progress of those on my books page if you so desire. 😀

I’ve been thinking a lot about traditional publishing, independent publishing, and self publishing too. I set up an agent appointment for Realm Makers (AND I’M KINDA NERVOUS), but I’ve also seriously been considering self-publishing or independent publishing. I’ve done some research (aka I watched Abbie’s video and looked at like three websites XD) and it’s gotten me thinking about other options.

On the one hand, I think it could be a really great investment if I were to self publish…

…But then on the other hand, I think of all the work and blood and sweat and tears that would happen, and then independent publishing looks pretty good again…

…And then I imagine seeing my book in bookstores across the country…and I look back at traditional publishing. XD

It’s this cycle going on in my head and I’m kind of at war with myself here.

 

the inside of my brain right now

I would LOVE to hear some of your opinions about this topic! Please tell me about your experiences (if you’ve had any) with traditional, independent, or self publishing! I’d love to hear them!

Realm Makers

I forget if I’ve already announced this but I’M GOING TO REALM MAKERS 2019. (As…I mentioned about about the agent appointment. XD) BUT ANYWAY YAYYY!!

I’m sooooo looking forward to seeing you guys again and meeting some more of you for the first time! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL. I’m also kind of nervous because I get kind of quiet around people and I’m kind of an anxious awkward bean. BUT I WILL ATTEMPT TO SOCIALIZE. I PROMISE. XD

me trying to make conversation

I’ve been debating who to go as to the banquet…I’m really stuck between these two ideas I really love and IT’S KILLING ME. But I’m not telling you guys beforehand. I want it to be a surprise. *grin*

That’s…really all.

So much is going to be happening in the next few months, and I’ll probably only be posting twice a month (if I can claw my way from life’s clutches that is XD).

If you haven’t heard, I have a movie blog. It’s pretty fun. I talk about movies I liked and didn’t like, and I think my next post is going to be either a Detective Pikachu review or some kind of topical piece. We’ll see.

Thanks for reading! What’s happening in your life? Is it as crazy as mine right now (doubtful)? Let me know down below!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Tag

HELLO guys! So, as some of you probably, almost positively know, AVENGERS: ENDGAME IS OUT IN THEATERS TODAY. I’m not freaking out, you’re freaking out.

To celebrate this long-awaited day, I bring you an EPIC tag made by the EPIC Christine (you should check out her new WordPress blog, it is GORGEOUS). She was kind enough to tag me (THANK YOU SO MUCH CHRISTINE AGGGHHH), and so I will be answering her hopefully-not-to-difficult questions!

Guidelines //

• Feel free to include the above graphic somewhere in your post (but it’s definitely not necessary).
• Take the questions and answer them on your blog (or social media or wherever!)
• Tag up to 5 other Marvel fans!

Let’s dig right into this!

• How were you introduced into the MCU fandom?

Well, this one’s relatively easy. When I was fifteen, my parents suggested me and my brother should watch the Marvel movies. I had never seen any of them, but everyone I knew seemed to love them (they particularly liked Iron Man).

And so it was as simple as that. For the next few weeks, we watched through all the movies, right up until Avengers: Age of Ultron, which I went to see in theaters. My FIRST Marvel movie I saw in theaters. It was a magical experience. I’ve gone to see every movie in theaters since.

• What’s your favorite Marvel film?

ARE YOU KIDDING. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE?

Okay, let’s see if I can narrow this down. XD

Captain America: Civil War was one I really, really enjoyed. Seeing this huge gathering of superheroes for the first time was super neat. And, I mean…Bucky Barnes. Need I see more? I still think about him grabbing that motorcycle and speeding away. That was epic. Bucky is epic.

 

also this knife flip is pretty neato

 

Spider-Man: Homecoming is another favorite. Tom Holland is an AMAZING Spider-Man, and he did SUCH a great performance. If Marvel seemed unrealistic, with world-threatening villains and insane superheroes, Homecoming was the movie to bring things back down to earth. Peter is just an average Joe, just like me, and I loved that I could relate to him.

Doctor Strange is also a really great movie. At first, I was hesitate. This was a character I had barely heard of before, but I liked Benedict Cumberbatch and the movie promised wizards and magic, so I figured it was worth a try. And it was. It was AWESOME. Almost reminiscent of Inception at times (which is one of my FAVORITE movies), and with lots of emotion and action, it was the perfect fit for me.

But, if I’m being honest…I think Thor: Ragnarok is probably my favorite of the MCU. It just works. The humor. The characters. The settings. It all just comes together perfectly for an epic movie. (And…well, Thor and Loki are in it, so…I was just bound to like it. XD)

• Top favorite Marvel character?

I LOVE THEM ALL. Can I just not choose? XD

Okay, let’s see. I really like Bucky Barnes, Stephen Strange, and Peter Parker. But my absolute favorite…would probably be a tie between Loki and Thor. I’M KIND OF A SUCKER FOR BROTHER STORIES. SO. YEAH. Also, how could you not like them, I mean look at that hair.

i know his hair is short now but shhh it’s still amazing

• If you were transported into the MCU and had to trade places with one of the superheroes, who would you choose?

OOH, I like this question! Hmm…I might pick Spider-Man. I think that would be pretty neat. That’d be a pretty chill role. Kind of. Okay, maybe not really. Maybe Hawkeye? Except I would lose the weird haircut. No offense, Clint. XD

• What are some of your favorite quotes from the films?

I could literally go on for hours. Marvel has some excellent dialogue.

• Which crew would you want to be part of the most: Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Revengers?

Though I would love being Avenger, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to be on the same team as Thor, Loki, Bruce, and Valkyrie. Come on guys, let’s be real. They would be the most fun people to hang with.

• Favorite and least favorite ship?

Getting to the juicy stuff, are we? XD

Gosh, there are soooo many possible couples in the MCU. I think Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne‘s relationship is pretty gosh darn cute. Although, so are Peter Quill and Gamora…And Tony and Pepper…AGH. I CAN’T CHOOSE.

I do have one specifically that I don’t like, however. And that would be Sharon and Cap. Like, if there was ONE thing I didn’t like about Civil War, it was that stupid kiss scene. Like, really? RIGHT AFTER PEGGY’S FUNERAL? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

 

ARE YOU, CAP?!

 

Also, Bruce and Natasha…just doesn’t really appeal to me either. It’s just kinda meh. And it seems like the directors of Infinity War realized that, because they seem to TOTALLY shrug off the fact that they had feelings for each other.

• Favorite and least favorite villain?

*ahem*

Um. Prepare yourself.

This will probably come as a shock to you.

Ready?

LOKI IS THE BEST VILLAIN. END OF DISCUSSION.

Although, can he even really be called a ‘villain’ anymore? XD

 

he’s basically a hero, right?

 

Least favorite would probably be Thanos. I just wanna punch him in his raisiny little mug.

 

ARGH I HATE YOU

 

• Unpopular MCU opinion?

It would probably be the fact that I really liked Age of Ultron and Thor: The Dark World. They both seem to be universally disliked among Marvel fans, but I really enjoyed them! I thought Age of Ultron was a fun movie that raised the stakes and played right into Civil War, plus we get to see two new epic characters!

The Dark World had some genuinely great parts! Everything that takes place in Asgard was pure fun to watch, Loki was a stellar actor, and that sneaky ending, with Loki sitting on the throne, always makes me smile.

 

this is gold? like, hello??

 

• What’s your favorite Stan Lee cameo scene?

I really think all of them are good. The ones in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok are quite funny. And the one from Captain America: Civil War always cracks me up. XD

It isn’t TECHNICALLY the MCU, but I also think the one at the end of Big Hero 6 is pretty hilarious.

And that’s the tag!

Thank you so much Christine for creating this epic tag and thinking of me when you were tagging people!

And now, I shall tag // Laurel @ We’ll Be Fine | Kenzie @ Smudged Thoughts | and Faith @ The Writer’s Song

I hope you enjoyed! If you’re a Marvel fan, PLEASE consider yourself tagged. And let me know if the comments down below if you’re freaking out because AGH ENDGAME IS UPON US.

Blogiversary the III // A Reminiscence and A Special Announcement

Hello friends, and welcome! If you’ve read the title you can probably guess what this post is going to be about already…

This ol’ blog has been around for a grand three years. It’s seen some changes, both good and bad, but it has come through.

I, as a blogger, have changed quite a bit myself. I’m almost nineteen years old now, and it’s hard to believe I started blogging when I was a wee fifteen-year-old. It seems so long ago…XD

 

Shall we take a gander at an old post of mine? This one dates back to April 4th, 2016, my very first blogiversary.

[Titled Short & Snappy Blogiversary]

Well, it’s been officially one year since I started Short & Snappy. Can you believe it?

It’s been a crazy year. I’ve posted so much, and yet it feels like so little. XD I’ve had a great experience, reading all of your comments, discovering new blogs, and making new friends. It’s been great fun. ^_^

And so, to celebrate, I’m thinking about adding a new segment called Character Conversations, where I’ll (try) to post an interview of my characters every Saturday! What do you guys think?

Thank you guys for making my first year blogging a great one! ❤

Quite painful, to say the least. Did I attempt to put any sort of effort into this post? I’d like to say I’ve grown as a writer since then…XD

This blog has seen a lot of traffic during its lifetime. Over 3,000 of you guys have visited my little corner of the internet, over 170 of you have made the descison to follow my adventures, and nearly 2,000 comments have been dropped on a total of 225 posts. Gosh, that’s a lot of people. I’m truly touched by all of your generosity.

And now, for that special announcement! If you’ve read some of my previous posts, you’ll know that I’ve been considering creating a movie review blog. Well, I’m glad to say that this has become a reality!

Introducing…

Reel Thoughts

I’ve always loved movies, and I love talking about them, so please, considering dropping by and leaving a friendly comment! I’d love to chat with you!

Thank you all for being so supportive of this little blog! I never imagined just how wonderful my stay in the blogosphere would be, and I have only you guys to thank for it! ^_^

Fairy Tale Central // An Exciting New Vista For Fairytale Lovers!

Hello, fellow fantasy freaks and geeks! I’m here to present to you a most fabulous new project put together by three lovely ladies called Fairy Tale Central!

Once Upon a Time… two girls had a dream. A dream of a fairy tale site, an internet library, if you will, for all the fairy tale lovers of the land to gather and converse. To learn, to read, to fangirl/boy, to bask in the goodness that is fairy tales.

As this dream blossomed, the two girls recruited a third. Because, after all, all good fairy tales come in themes of three.

With the third member in place, the girls got to work. The dream began to take shape, until it was no longer just a dream. But something real.

Introducing…

FAIRY TALE CENTRAL

This newly launched site run by Arielle Bailey, Faith White, and Christine Smith, is your source for all things fairy tales.

Every month a single fairy tale will be featured, and posts will include:

• Reviews for retellings/shows/movies/etc.
• Essay, origin, and discussion posts on the featured fairy tale
• Interviews with fairy tale retelling authors
• Galleries featuring fairy tale artists and artisans
• And a whole lot more!

The FTC’s goal is to unlock the magic that is fairy tales and build a community of fellow fairy tale enthusiasts. Arielle, Faith, and Christine are thrilled to share this new fairy tale-centric space and connect with all you epic fairy tale fans!

You can CLICK HERE to find the site and join the Fairy Ring! (Don’t worry, you won’t be enchanted or cursed.) And, if you want to connect even more, you can find the FTC on:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest

(If you’re inclined to share about the FTC in those places too, you may or may not be blessed by a fairy godmother. *smile, smile*)

Do tell a friend, or a dragon, or the fairy living in the hollow tree behind your house. All humans and mythological creatures alike are welcome!

I am SO PUMPED about this project and I cannot WAIT to see what the three fairies who put this masterpiece together dream up next for this site! Please go check out the site and all of the bloggers who worked so hard to make it a reality!

Fictional Vacation // Would You Rather Challenge

Hello guys! Sorry for the slight hiatus I took out of the blue, I’ve been working on some other projects, and I’m probably going to be changing up my posting schedule once my movie review blog goes live. But anywho! I have…!

…Guess. Just guess.

I have created another challenge! Shocking, I know.

 

I love this gif so much. XD

 

I think it’s safe to say we all love reading. Possibly so much so that we’ve often wished we could travel into our favorite worlds and interact with the characters? Or is that just me?

Whether you have or not, I have a challenge for you regarding fictional places. I’ll give you a choice of two places, and you have to choose one, and only one of them to visit. What, it’s called a challenge for a reason? XD

The rules are simple:

• Include the graphic I made!

• Answer the questions!

• Tag some other people if you feel so inclined!

And now, let’s begin!

Would you rather…

• Train with demigods for the summer at Camp Halfblood OR attend Hogwarts to learn some spells for a semester?

I would definitely say Camp Halfblood. I would get to meet Percy and Annabeth and the whole gang! Maybe I would even learn my true heritage… If I had to guess, I bet I would be Apollo’s child. I mean, he’s the god of music and poetry. He’s clearly a creative loner, like moi. XD

• Go on an epic quest through the lands of Middle Earth OR be crowned a king or queen for your bravery in Narnia?

This is a reeeeally hard one, but I’d have to go with Narnia. It has such a special place in my heart, and the chance to meet Aslan? That would be so EPIC. And, talking animals, also, I mean, hello.

• Fly with Peter and his Lost Boys in Neverland OR have a crazy tea party with the Mad Hatter in Wonderland?

I love both of these worlds so dearly, but if I had to choose, it would be Wonderland. I’ve always had an affinity for the strange place. I would love to meet all of the interesting characters… ^_^

• Get trapped in the world of Jumanji OR be forced to dress up and attend a party at the Capitol of Panem?

What, I had to through one hard one it there? Fantasy worlds aren’t always all that great! I would pick Jumanji, despite the possibility of getting killed. I don’t think I could stomach a party at the Capitol… XP

• Sample all of the candy you’d like at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory OR have a nice stroll with Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood?

As much as I would love to visit Willy Wonka’s factory…I have to choose the Wood. Maybe I’m still coming off of my love for the new Christopher Robin, but it just sounds like such a pleasant, peaceful way to spend a vacation. ❤

• Head out on a gold-hunting expedition to El Dorado OR hop in a submarine and explore the lost city of Atlantis?

Atlantis has always intrigued me, but I really don’t like the idea of going in a submarine… I think it might be worth it though? Like what if there are mermaids? Or fish people? What if they’re magical? I think I’d risk it.

• Skip through the merry town of Oz OR have a nice walk through the kingdom of Camelot?

I’m…currently kind of obsessed with Merlin? So. I think I would like to visit Camelot. Even though they’re a bunch of magic-haters. 😛

• Get sucked into the world of Fantastica and go on an epic journey with Bastian OR get sucked into the Inkworld and travel the land with Meggie and her friends?

Argh, I love both of these stories TOO MUCH. *frustration* But if it really came down to it, I think I would choose Inkworld. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to meet Dustfinger, you know? That would be an…interesting meeting.

Easily Pastable Questions //

Would You Rather…

Train with demigods for the summer at Camp Halfblood OR attend Hogwarts to learn some spells for a semester?

Go on an epic quest through the lands of Middle Earth OR be crowned a king or queen for your bravery in Narnia?

Fly with Peter and his Lost Boys in Neverland OR have a crazy tea party with the Mad Hatter in Wonderland?

Get trapped in the world of Jumanji OR be forced to dress up and attend a party at the Capitol of Panem?

Sample all of the candy you’d like at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory OR have a nice stroll with Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood?

Head out on a gold-hunting expedition to El Dorado OR hop in a submarine and explore the lost city of Atlantis?

Skip through the merry town of Oz OR have a nice walk through the kingdom of Camelot?

Get sucked into the world of Fantastica and go on an epic journey with Bastian OR get sucked into the Inkworld and travel the land with Meggie and her friends?

There is my challenge! I tag Deborah, Kenzie, and Jenelle! And if you’d like to do the tag, feel free to give it a whirl. 🙂 What’s another fantasy place you’d like to visit? Let me know in the comments!

6 Little Things to Help You Take Care of Yourself

Hello friends! It’s been a crazy February for me so far…life has been chugging along and I’ve kind of been feeling a bit dragged by my heels. Do you ever feel like this? Like you’re just holding on for dear life? Like you’re just trying to ‘get by’? Just putting along the road of life, trying to keep it together, and feeling like you’re failing?

I do. All the time.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my future. If I should go to school, if I’ll get married, how I’m going to make a difference in the world…It’s all really scary to think about, honestly. And thinking about all that deep, heavy stuff, feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders…is not good for your body.

I’m learning this little by little, but your physical body is so, so important. Stress most assuredly takes tolls on your mental and spiritual health, of course. But I feel like sometimes we forget about our actual bodies.

According to God’s Word, our bodies are temples where the Holy Spirit resides (1 Cor. 6:19-20). That’s kind of crazy to remember. But in that light, I believe that it is incredibly important to take good care of not only our mental health but our physical health as well.

There will be Pusheen gifs. Please enjoy.

• Get good (and enough) rest every night

This one is a toughie. Too often I find myself shutting my lamp off at midnight. But the best kind of sleep you can get is in the hours before midnight. Think about it. Midnight is the middle of the night. If you’re awake in the middle of the day, you should be asleep in the middle of the night.

And don’t have your phone or other screens with you in bed. The light is really bad for your eyes, and it can affect your circadian rhythm. Read a book, or listen to soothing music or noises instead.

• Eat good food

Another tricky one. I love food about as much as the next guy, and that can really get you into trouble. (You know it’s bad when the main reason you’re excited to go on vacation is because of all the yummy, new foods. XD)

Colorful fruits and veggies are your body’s friends. So are lean meats, calcium-rich milk and yogurt, and oats, brown rice, 100% whole wheat pasta and bread. Stick by unsaturated fats and naturally occurring sugars and stay away from saturated fats and added sugars.

This is basic stuff, but I was reminded just how important it is to eat good foods when I was getting sick and tired after not eating those foods. That’s not to say that you should never have any treats. Moderation is the key to eating healthfully.

• Remember the small things

Herein lies my biggest struggle. Remembering little things, such as

• Cutting your nails often
• Brushing your teeth well
• Getting your hair cut regularly
• Sleeping on a good mattress
• Brushing and cleaning your hair

is REALLY HARD. Don’t say taking care of yourself is easy. It’s not the easiest. Sometimes you just wanna forgo brushing your teeth one night when you’re tired, or just ignore your nails until they’re crazy long. But these little things add up, and then they become not so little things. They become big problems and bad habits.

Don’t forget about them. They’re just as important as any of the big things.

• Find things to smile about every day

This might not seem like a big deal. I know some days I would just rather frown and scowl at everything and everyone. Why should you have to find happiness in such a grim world?

Well, because it’s good for you. It’s a proven fact.

I could get into how endorphins and serotonin are released into your brain, which then helps your body relax and ease pain and lift your mood, but let’s just say that smiling has real physical benefits. Plus it can make others happy too!

• Exercise

I don’t think this one really needs an explanation. We all know it’s good for us. It boosts your mood, it lubricates your limbs, and helps fend off depression and seasonal-affective disorders (which I go through every winter, not fun, lemme tell you).

If you don’t like the idea of lifting weights or tread-milling, then consider a sport, like soccer or basketball. Something that will get your cardiovascular muscles working. I personally like dancing. Whether it’s Just Dance on the TV, or swing dancing or square dancing at a party, it’s a lot of fun, and it gets you sweating (sometimes embarrassingly so…especially when you’re with a partner XD).

• Keep out the garbage

My mother taught me a simple acronym when I was younger. GIGO.

Garbage

In

Garbage

Out

She explained to me how everything that I put into my body, both physical and mental will eventually come out in some way.

If you eat bad food, you probably won’t be feeling at your best, and you might start to snap at people.

If you don’t sleep well because you were up late watching YouTube, you probably won’t have any energy or drive to do anything in the morning.

If you don’t eat well for an extended period of time, you probably won’t feel very well, and might get sick.

It all comes out, one way or another. Remember to be conscious of what you put into your body, both mentally and physically.

• Pray and read your Bible every day

Possibly the best thing you could do for yourself on this list. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus tells us that ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ That’s pretty powerful. If Jesus is telling us that food, the thing that we love so much, the very thing that keeps us moving, is not enough to live by, you know He isn’t kidding around.

Getting into the habit of reading and praying every day is something I’ve struggled with for years. I still struggle with it. Every time I think I’m doing better, I’m suddenly reminded again how feeble my attempts are.

One thing that I’ve been working on is reading just a few verses a day, preferably in the mornings. It’s not too much to take in, it gives me a simple idea to think about throughout the day, and it’s less pressure when you’re only reading one or two verses. If a good thought or conversation with my family comes out of it, then that’s wonderful, but if not, then at least I know that I’ve read His Word today, and He can show me something wonderful the tomorrow. It may seem like small potatoes, but it means a lot in the long run.

Just so you know, I can say all of this to you guys, but I’m really not an expert at any of this. I’m actually really bad at…well, all of these. Part of the reason I wrote this post is because I’ve been having a hard time taking care of myself. And I’ve learned that when I’m going through something hard, thankfully, I’m usually not alone.

So I hope this post serves as a sort of ‘wake up call’ for you, if you’re struggling, and that it would encourage you to live the life God has in store for you.

This was kind of a different post than what I normally put out, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Have you been struggling with one of these things? Let me know down below, so we can talk about it and not feel so alone! ^_^

The Fandom Tag // by None Other Than…Me

Hello friends! Wow…what is it with me and coming up with tags…? Is there something wrong with me? XD

Let’s not dwell on that fact, and instead delve into my latest creation! Since Valentine’s is fast approaching, I thought this would be a great time to talk about the things we (or at least I) really love!

Rules //

• Include the graphic somewhere in your post!

• Answer the questions!

• Tag two fangirls (or boys, I suppose!)

(If you don’t know what a fandom is, it’s basically a group of fans of a particular thing, like Star Wars or Harry Potter.)

~

Le Questions //

• What’s the first fandom you remember becoming a part of?
• What’s the newest fandom you’ve come to enjoy?
• What’s a fandom guaranteed to give you feels?
• What’s a guilty pleasure fandom of yours?
• What’s the weirdest fandom you’ve heard of/are a part of?
• Favorite popular/widely-known fandom?
• Favorite bookish fandom?
• What do you consider your ‘homebase’, a fandom you can always come back to?
• What’s a fandom you know all about…but aren’t actually into it?
• Which fandom has the best characters?
• Name your all-time favorite ship.
• What’s a fandom you’re curious about joining?

~

• What’s the first fandom you remember becoming a part of?

Though I didn’t really know what a fandom was at the time, Disney and Pixar have been around for me since I was, well, born. I grew up watching the classic Disney movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, in particular. And I remember watching Monsters Inc., Toy Story, and The Incredibles many times too. I guess you could say it was the start of an obsession for obsessions…XD

• What’s the newest fandom you’ve come to enjoy?

That would be Over the Garden Wall! It’s a very short mini series, only ten episodes long, about two brothers who get lost in the forest. It’s surprisingly deep for a cartoon, and the animation is gorgeous. If you have an evening, give it a watch, it’s quite entertaining.

• What’s a fandom guaranteed to give you feels?

That would be Undertale. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, it’s an epic video game with wonderful characters and a crazy, twisted story that you don’t figure right away. Getting to know the characters and how the game works is what really makes my heart hurt. And the fans don’t help with this in making some awesome fan art and fan fictions. It’s a deep, twisty game that will have you crying and laughing at the same time.

• What’s a guilty pleasure fandom of yours?

…

…

• What’s the weirdest fandom you’ve heard of or are a part of?

There are so many weird things out there, but to give a classic answer, I’ll say Gravity Falls. It’s the definition of weird. There’s unexplained phenomena. There’s weird and wonderful creatures. There are deep, dark secrets. There are crazy, but lovable characters. THE WHOLE WORLD ALMOST–you know what? Never mind. I’ll let you watch it. You’ll love it, trust me.

It also has the best gifs, so…yeah. There is that. XD

• Favorite popular/widely-known fandom?

That’d be the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit. I’m fairly sure almost everyone in the world has heard of this, and for a good reason. Though I’ve only seen the movies, I’ve come to love the characters SO MUCH. It’s magical, it’s epic, and it has Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortenson, so really how can you lose? (Thorin is myyy preeeecious.)

• Favorite bookish fandom?

The Lunar Chronicles!! CRESS IS A DARLING AND THORNE IS A JERK BUT I LOVE HIM. Also, WOLF AND SCARLET ARE SO ADORABLE. AND JACIN AND WINTER AGGGGHHHH. *ahem* Yes. I really like the Lunar Chronicles.

• What do you consider your ‘homebase’, a fandom you can always come back to?

Gosh, who made these questions so hard? (Me. It was me.) It would probably be the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I started watching in 2015, and I remember going to the theater with a big group of people to see Avengers: Age of Ultron. I had watched the previous movies in order with my family, but it was when I saw that movie that I really started loving it. And I’ve seen every Marvel movie in theaters since. It’s a very comforting, familiar fandom for me. (EVEN THOUGH IT’S KIND OF ON FIRE RIGHT NOW BUT IT’S OKAY EVERYTHING’S FINE.)

• What’s a fandom you know all about…but aren’t actually into it?

That would be Star Wars, for me. I watched the prequels, (well, kind of…I kinda skipped over the third one because I was cringing too much…XD), and I know the entire original story and all about the newer installments. So I know everything. I’m just…not that in love with it. It’s fun, and goofy, and entertaining, but…it doesn’t quite grip me like other movies or books have.

• Which fandom has the best characters?

ALL OF THEM. ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD. Ugh, if I really had to choose though…It’d be a three-way tie between Undertale, Marvel, and the Lunar Chronicles. IT’S TOO HARD. Why did I make these questions so hard? XD

• Name your all-time favorite ship.

Hm. NYAGH THERE ARE SO MANY. But I pick Cress and Thorne, because I think they’re really cute and they both support each other so well, her being quiet and whimsical and naive, and him being rough and cocky and a joker. It mixes so beautifully, I could cry. Cress + Thorne =

• What’s a fandom you’re curious about joining?

Sherlock! All I hear is how amazing it is, and I want in on some of the epic-ness! Though I worry for my mental health’s sake…too much emotional trauma may just ruin me… Tell me below if this is a good idea, please. XD

That’s the tag! I nominate Deborah @ The Road of a Writer, Christine @ Musings of an Elf, and Kenzie @ Smudged Thoughts for this tag! And if you’d like to do this tag, feel free! I’d love to see what fandoms you love the most! ^_^ Also, there will be no post next week, since I’ll be on vacation!

3 Websites That Are a MUST if You’re a Writer

Hey guys! I just have a short post for you today, due to working on some other projects (wink, wink 😉 ), but I hope will benefit some of you!

As writers, we all know the internet is severely distracting and procrastination-inducing, but it isn’t all bad for us writers! Here are 3 websites that I use like crazy when I’m writing.

Tabletop Audio

This is a website with dozens of ambience and music tracks with tons of different places and moods. It’s especially helpful when you want to really place yourself into the atmosphere of whatever you’re writing. I tend to use the Fantasy section most often, but they sections with really awesome Sci-Fi and Historical tracks too!

WordHippo

You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s my favorite thesaurus/dictionary to use, with a really friendly interface and a forgiving search bar. You can search ‘give someone the creeps’ and it will come up with results. It also has a translator and a rhyming dictionary, which is all kinds of handy.

Fantasy Name Generators

If you ever want hundreds of different names (not just fantasy, as the name implies), give this a look. It comes with more classic name generators, with names from different countries and time periods, while also having made-up names for different mythical creatures, place name generators, pop culture name generators, object name generators, and even description generators. I highly recommend if name-giving is not your specialty. And also if it is, too, because it’s just super fun to explore. 🙂

Sorry for this shorter post, I have something fun planned for next week, so be on the watch for that! Are there any websites you recommend for writers? I’d love to hear them!

Three Bookish Things Tag

Hello friends! I have a bit of a shorter, more laid-back post for you this week, becaaaaause… I’ve been working on my newly announced movie review blog, getting some shiny new posts up and ready for the release date! I’m pretty darn excited about it. XD

But on to today’s post, a tag! Shocking! I know! I almost never do tags! XD I feel like tags are always what I fall back on when I have no ideas for posts, but I’M NOT ASHAMED. It’s nice to have a pre-planned post every once in a while, ‘kay?

‘Kay. Let’s do this.

I originally saw this on Cait’s blog, and she said she got it off of Instagram…so…not entirely sure about the rules…I know you list three bookish things…And that’s the extent of my knowledge. But let’s just jump into the questions, maybe I’ll tag a few people at the end, I don’t know, we’ll see.

ANNNNNNND GO.

• 3 Favorite Authors

Oh my word, HOW. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. Maybe this tag was a bad idea…XD

Okay, let’s see…

• Marissa Meyer writes one of my most favorite series of all time, she’s pretty neat.

• I have to give credit to Shannon Hale, since she’s the one who got me into reading. Her Princess Academy books, and her Books of Bayern will always stick with me.

• Oof. I think the last one is a tie between Anne Elisabeth Stengl and Heather Dixon. I LOVE Anne’s Tales of Goldstone Wood, but Heather writes some AWESOME standalones, particularly Illusionarium…AGH. I can’t choose.

• 3 Weirdest Things Used as a Bookmark

Oooooh, this is an interesting question!

• I’ve definitely used napkins before. They weren’t dirty, of course.

• I use library receipts waaaay more than I’d rather admit to. XD

• Hmm…I think I used a popsicle stick one time. And it wasn’t a clean one. It was one where I had just finished the popsicle part. I was a little kid, okay? Don’t judge.

• 3 Series Binged

This one’s kind of hard, because I’m usually waiting for the next books to come out, so I really can’t binge read. But…

• I remember binge-rereading the Lunar Chronicles a while back. I should really do that again…

• The Bright Empires series (by Stephen R. Lawhead)! I can’t say I reeeally binged it, I remember reading a different book or two in between some of them, but I got through the whole series pretty quick.

• And when I was little one summer I zipped through the Magic Treehouse books in a matter of days. That was fun. Kinda miss that.

• 3 Characters You Love

This is so hard because there are so many characters I love so dearly! But here are some that stuck out in my mind.

• Carswell Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles is my favorite roguish bad boy in fiction. He likes to pretend he’s a hardened tough guy, but he’s actually just a soft marshmallow underneath.

• Rin from Forest Born (by Shannon Hale) was a really inspirational character for me when I was younger. She didn’t really know her place in the world, and she felt so alone and scared. I used to get really scared and anxious when I was a kid, and knowing that I wasn’t alone was a real comfort to me.

• I think this is a three-way tie for Kell (from A Darker Shade of Magic), Percy (from Percy Jackson), and Leo/Lionheart/Leonard (from Tales of Goldstone Wood). Kell is a character I’ve recently come to love, as is Percy, and Leo…well, he’s Leo. You know what I mean if you’ve read the books. He’s just a human. Trying to figure things out. Sometimes Usually making mistakes.

• 3 Unpopular Bookish Opinions

• Young Adult is an AGE GROUP, not a GENRE. It’s a category, like Children or Adult. It always annoys me on websites like Barnes and Noble or Amazon when they list all the book genres and then stick ‘YA’ at the end. 😛

• I…didn’t really like Archenemies (by Marissa Meyer). I loved Renegades, but Archenemies just felt like the same story over again, except with more romance between Adrian and Nova. 😦

• I don’t really like contemporary books. They seem really dull and boring to me. If I wanted to read about realistic life…why wouldn’t I just go out and live?

• 3 Popular Bookish Opinions

• I love deckled edges! I think it makes a reading experience even more magical!

• E-books will always be inferior to a real, physical book. Always. Not that e-books are bad or anything, I have like a hundred of them. XD I’ll just always prefer a real book.

• Nothing is better than a shiny new copy of a book! I will buy used copies, or get them from the library, but nothing beats a new book.

• 3 Favorite Book Covers

There are soooo many gorgeous ones…how can I choose just three?!

• 3 Book Goals for the Year

• Try to read 30 books!

• Read some more outside of my main genre (fantasy, in case you didn’t know, but you probably did). I’d like to dip into some historical fiction, some sci-fi, maybe even a bit of contemporary…despite what I said above. Just ignore that. XD

• Read some of the e-books I have on my Nook! I’m so bad about keeping up with these. I have so many I’ve gotten for free and there are so many I’ve bought too. I need to get through some of them this year.

Well, there you go, the Three Bookish Things tag! I think I shall tag Kenzie @ Smudged Thoughts, Laurel @ We’ll Be Fine, and Faith @ The Writer’s Song.

Here are the questions for easy copy-paste //

3 Favorite Authors

3 Weirdest Things Used as a Bookmark

3 Series Binged

3 Characters You Love

3 Unpopular Bookish Opinions

3 Popular Bookish Opinions

3 Favorite Book Covers

3 Book Goals for this Year

Do you have any unpopular bookish opinions? Who are your favorite authors? Let me know in the comments!