Leena Althekair's Blog, page 2

British or American - What's the Difference?

Okay - it seems like a pretty easy question, I know. One's in Europe, the other's in North, well, America.

But really, it's that much different in the writing world.

(Well, maybe it isn't, but it confused me when I was editing my novel so I'm gonna save you the confusion.)

There's much more to it than the spelling of the word. In fact, that's the last thing that determines if your piece of art is written in British- or American-style!

(Also, for your enjoyment, memes will be provided throughout.)

Punctuation

Quotations and conversations, if you may.

British uses a single quotation mark. It also places the full stop after the quotation rather than inside it. Let me visually demonstrate it for you;

'Are you sure?' she asked with an arched eyebrow. 'I clearly remember her saying she doesn't "want anything to do with it".'

In American writing, however, double quotation marks are used (and is personally my favorite) in conversation. Full stops are also placed inside the quotation rather than outside. Have a look;

"Are you sure?" she asked with an arched eyebrow. "I clearly remember her saying she doesn't 'want anything to do with it.'"

Both writing styles follow basic punctuation rules that we took in school, though. Hyphens, colons, commas - the whole thing. In this scenario it's just a matter of placement in dialogue.

Grammar

Brits have always had a more ... sophisticated way of saying things, and that is reflected in writing too. Assuming I want to tell you that tomorrow I'll see my aunt.

If I was a character in a British-style piece of writing, I'd be saying;

'I shall see my aunt tomorrow.'

If I was in an American-style writing, I'd be saying;

"I will see my aunt tomorrow".

They're small details that make a smaller difference but matter a lot in setting the mood of your story or the outline of your characters. Such as in British you'd say you're "in a team", but in American you're "on a team".

Another cute difference I noticed while writing Foreshadow (which is written in American style) is that when I wrote "I had to get him out of his misery" my editor changed it to "I had to get him out of this funk", because it was more "American".

Interesting, right?

Spellings

Now this is the one we've known the most all our lives - and probably made fun of a few ... dozen times.

(Okay more times than I can count - even though I am neither American nor British.)

There are 3 main spelling differences:

- the popular "u" and "no u"; color vs. colour.

- the "re" and "er" debate; center vs. centre.

- and the "s" or "z" discussion; realize vs. realise.

Personal Opinion

I really like American-style more, and the only reason is that I like the appearance of the words on the pages. The quotation marks also tickle my fancy (let's overlook how British that statement was) and the Americanized spellings just make more sense to me.

Also, my editor has told me that most people that edit with her pick the American style- even British authors. According to her, it's the more popular choice of style in novels.

(IMHO, mystery novels look better (and sound better) in British, but that could just be the Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton effect. Although I did read Karen McManus and still preferred the British, so ...)

And that, my friends, is what differs. The ultimate decision is up to you - where and when your novel's setting is, what the local custom is, and whether or not you like it.

I hope that this answered your question! And good luck on publishing your next (or first) novel. Remember to subscribe for more writing content and tips from yours truly ...!

Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas for Lazy People

Online school sucks. Or it doesn't. Maybe you like the studying in bed but hate the 7 assignments due everyday. Maybe you don't mind the workload but just want to get out of the house again.

Either way, COVID has changed the way we go to school entirely. Whether you're still taking school online or are back to going to school physically, breakfast needs to be a key component in your daily routine.

And I'm here to decrease the "making" and increase the "breakfast" when it comes to "Making Breakfast."

A protein-rich breakfast is recommended for a healthy, high-energy start for your day, but skipping that every once in a while is ok. Your tastebuds deserve the treat!1.Breakfast Burrito

- Heat a girdle on medium heat for 1-2 minutes with a generous slice of butter. (About 2/3 tsp.)

- Beat two eggs in a bowl (salt and pepper optional but recommended) with a fork.

- Pour eggs onto the girdle and leave for 2ish minutes, or until the bottom is cooked.

- Place 1 tortilla (or toast) on the egg, then carefully flip.

- Leave for a minute.

- Add stuffing on the now-top egg side; it can be cheese, diced bell pepper, bacon, sliced avocado, or all of the above!

- Cover with the other bread.

- Turn off the heat, flip again, and done!

2. Bread

Bread is very versatile, and so bread (or rice cake) topped with anything can serve as a delicious breakfast!

• peanut butter (with jelly or honey)

• labneh (with olives, cucumber, or honey)

• cream cheese (with honey or avocado and boiled egg slices)

• white cheese with olives and olive oil

• grilled cheese sandwich

... or any other topping you feel works!

3. Granola

Granola is a healthy substitute for cereal, and is pretty easy to make. (If you want to eat cereal though go for it, I recommend either Weetabix or Fitness with fresh diced fruit.) You can follow the granola recipe below or click here for another delicious recipe!

- In a bowl, mix oats, seeds (sunflower, flax, chia, etc.), and peanut butter OR honey OR maple syrup. The ratio of oats to seeds to "paste" is 2:1:1.

- Mix them all together, then roast in the oven in an open tray at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

- Flip and mix the granola mixture before putting it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

- Turn off oven and leave it to cool inside for 10 minutes, then let it air-cool until completely room-temperature. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 month. Serve with yoghurt, greek yoghurt, or milk.

4. Pancakes

This recipe is quick and delicious and easy to make in the morning when you're tired and not in the mood for much, but this recipe showcases the fluffiest pancakes you'll ever eat - excluding Japanese pancakes, of course.

5. French Toast

This breakfast food is also a quick and delicious recipe, customizable to your taste with cream cheese, whipped cream, fruits, chocolate chips, or just honey!

6. Three-Way Eggs

Eggs are full of proteins and are a great way to start your day full of energy (and they make you feel full pretty well.) It's recommended to eat 2 eggs for people 13 years and older.

• Hardboiled: on medium-high heat, submerge the egg(s) in water. Leave for 20 minutes, turn off heat and leave until it cools. Peel and slice.

• Sunny-Side Up: on a buttered and heated girdle, crack egg(s) and cover the pan with cover for 5-8 minutes. Remove and serve.

• Scrambled: easiest! Beat egg(s) with a fork and a pinch of salt, pour into heated and buttered girdle, mix eggs with spatula until it's cooked (3-4 minutes).

For all the eggs, you can add salt and pepper, parsley, or cheese *after* transferring to the serving plate.

And that's it! I rotate between these foods every two weeks, to keep variety while also getting the boost I need at the beginning of the day.

If you like to have tea/coffee I recommend having it after the meal; it's unhealthy to drink it on an empty stomach. I'm not the biggest fan of coffee, but occasionally I like a caramel latte or a chai latte with my cream cheese avocado rice cake.

What's your favorite breakfast food? Mine's probably a tie between french toast and breakfast burrito ... depends whether I'm in the mood for sweet or savory.

And ... bel'afiyah! (bon appetit in Arabic! :))

Synonyms: The Backbone of Writing

Okay for some reason I thought of the words "synonym rolls"as I wrote this title ...

Anyways, hey guys! This post's gonna be talking about synonyms (not cinnamon) and how to choose the perfect word for your writing.

Now, to begin, here's a list of words that often very useful.

As you know, "very ___" is very basic. Sometimes, the "very" alone cannot (or will not) give the reader the meaning or message you have in mind. More complex words, sometimes less complex, convey a better understanding.

Imagine the sentence "The very smelly attic gave Sam the feeling of home and a little nausea."

Let's use the list and replace "very smelly" with "pungent", making the sentence "The pungent attic gave Sam the feeling of home and a little nausea."

Not only does the sentence look better written, it coveys the idea that the attic was so horrible-scented, you can almost smell it.

And just like that, a simple list like the above one I found on Pinterest can make a huge difference.

The second idea is using rare or deeper words for more common words, such as angry, happy, or sad.

If you were to say "She was happy she won the award", the reader would understand that she was, well, happy.

BUT, if you wrote "She was joyful she won the award" or "She was ecstatic she won the award", the meaning delivered will let the reader know she was beyond happy; that she was jumping from joy, using only one word replacement.

Take "I was surprised at how she could lie so easily" and "I was perplexed at how she could lie so easily" - they both have extremely different meanings!

Magic, isn't it?

So when writing, make sure to look at all synonyms of the word. But, then again, sometimes using an easy word is better.

For example, "Mohammed was detested by the smell of the class." Try "Mohammed was disgusted by the smell of the class." - it fits the context more.

Of course, there are websites for this.

Thesaurus.com has the definitions of all the synonyms it brings up, for you to make sure that the synonym is exactly what you want.

WordHippo.com is also another source whose primary function is finding other words for words. It's also helpful if you know the idea of the word you want to use, but not the word itself.

You can alway resort to Google and just type in the search bar "synonyms for ___" - works like a gem!

Here's another useful Image I use pretty often;

Another word we most commonly need synonyms for is "said". I talk about this more in-depth on my other blog post, How to Write Interesting Dialogues ("Said" is overrated.)

Plus, here's yet another useful image!

In conclusion, synonyms are the backbone of writing! Make sure to explore all words if a sentence has something missing, and don't hesitate to experiment with everything - you can always backspace.

And on an unrelated note, what's your favorite word?' Mine's "incoherently". For some reason I find it satisfying to say.

And until next time - subscribe to know when I post!

How to Write Interesting Dialogues ("Said" is overrated)

Ever got tired of reading "he said", "she said", "they all said"? One of the main reasons some stories - despite the captivating plot - are lost to the whispers of the wind ...

In other words it gets boring. Really fast.

Not to fear or deflate, for I am here to tell you what I know! Perhaps you can even build upon it yourself, and tailor your unique style of writing dialogue fabulously. I've done lots of research in the making of Foreshadow, and let me tell you, there were words I didn't even know existed, and their addition was exactly what I needed for the cherry on top.

Behold, the magic of writing a book.

Before we begin, here are a few synonyms I found that will most likely interest you; (note that they are all in the past tense)

insisted . stated . asked . chatted . voiced . declared . commented . noted . expressed . professed . claimed . exclaimed . uttered . pronounced . remarked . announced . mentioned . responded . suggested . murmured . muttered . mumbled . breathed . sighed . hissed . whispered . mouthed . intoned . purred . gasped . hinted .

Of course, it all depends on the sentence structure and viewpoint of the story, not to mention the particular situation the characters are in.

Now, for writing dialogue, it gets pretty blunt if the entire conversation is just;

"Of course not," she said.

"Why is that so?" he said.

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled," she said.

"I find that highly unlikely," he said.

"Said he/she" or "he/she said"; same thing. There's no progress. No storytelling. It's a boring conversation nobody wants to read. Imagine reading an entire book like that with occasional descriptive paragraph breaks. Not so interesting, is it? For starters, there's no action. The conversation itself looks ... boring, even for the characters. Take a look at this version instead;

"Of course not," she said.

"Why is that so?" he asked.

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled," she replied.

"I find that highly unlikely," he responded.

There's progress, in changing the wording, but it's still not really there yet. Here are a few things you could add (and bear in mind) when writing a dialogue:

- Try using synonyms.

Sure, "replied", "stated" and "asked" are not the word "said", but it's still (forgive me for using this word) basic. Incorporating new words can add your own touch to your work. Let's take the text we used above;

"Of course not," she insisted.

"Why is that so?" he asked.

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled," she retorted.

"I find that highly unlikely," he remarked.

It sounds a bit off, yes, but it's just an example. There are so many synonyms to any given word; try exploring them just a bit more. A small change can make a difference. You can try downloading an offline dictionary with a built-in thesaurus if (like me) you like to write on the go.

- Add a little action.

It's pretty self-explanatory, but hear (or read) me out . Have the characters show what they're talking about; how they feel towards a certain subject. Have them get up, sit down, throw a fit; it all influences the dialogue. Body language says a lot about how a person in real life, and including that within writing really transforms it. The purpose of writing is to make the reader feel something, right? Have a look at this:

"Of course not," she insisted, stubbornly shaking her head.

"Why is that so?" he asked, leaning on the wall. "Are you just afraid?"

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled!" she retorted irritably. Her face was turning red as her fists clenched involuntarily. "I don't want to risk that!"

"I find that highly unlikely," he remarked, a sly smirk playing on his lips, meaning to annoy her.

See? An entire paragraph written just by a simple conversation. Each character gets his/her own paragraph when they talk. In that paragraph, add something relevant to the character's speech; thoughts, actions, etc. which in turn delivers the general air of the conversation. We can see that "she" is steadfastly insistent they not do the thing, while "he" is enjoying her annoyance.

Simple yet effective.

- No need to add text too much.

Are two characters conversing? Then you don't have to write their names or pronouns every line, unless you want to add action in between.

"Of course not," she insisted, stubbornly shaking her head.

"Why is that so?" he asked, leaning on the wall. "Are you just afraid?"

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled! I don't want to risk that!"

"I find that highly unlikely."

"Oh, Sir Afraid-Of-Nobody, I happen to care about my grades!"

"I do too."

"Yeah, that's obvious."

You can tell how the dialogue is moving; her, him, her, and so on. This is especially useful if they're debating or having a long talk. It can be tiring for you and the reader to keep rereading "said, said, said".

- Sometimes, "said" is okay.

Sometimes, you can be a little too eager to avoid using "said" (or a basic synonym) and you end up in a blocked road; you used all the "big word" synonyms you can think of once or twice, and you end up with something a little like this;

It doesn't sound ... right, does it? Sometimes, a little "said" is okay. Don't rely on it on every single dialogue, but don't go overboard with avoiding it either.

Now, after going through all that, take a look at what kind of paragraph we'll end up with ...

"Of course not," she insisted, stubbornly shaking her head.

"Why is that so?" he asked, leaning on the wall. "Are you just afraid?"

"Because I am pretty sure we'll get expelled! I don't want to risk that!"

"I find that highly unlikely."

She sighed heavily and sat down, massaging her head; it was getting too much for her. "Oh, Sir Afraid-Of-Nobody, I happen to care about my grades!"

"I do too."

"Yeah, that's obvious."

"It's true!"
She rolled her eyes as he stood, a mischievous grin on his face.

"I hate to have ended up with you," she grumbled standing up.

"It isn't my fault we're twins." He fell silent for a moment. "So you're in?"

"Shut up,' she hissed, before leaving the room and slamming the door behind her, leaving him with a slight feeling of achievement.

Ta-da! What could have been three or four paragraphs is now a full page, conveying emotion and imagery. Compare this one to the four lines I wrote in the beginning of this post. You can feel how annoyed she is. Her actions, her words; it all conveys the meaning. You can also see how laid back and semi-careless he is, just by how he talks and acts.

This was a random paragraph I thought up, but it gave you the idea of the characters I had in mind. That's what dialogue is all about; to progress the story. Be careful of irrelevant talk; anything that does not progress the story or offer character development, that is unnecessary and is pointless, might bore out the reader.

That's it for dialogue - for now. Don't hesitate to ask me anything writing-related; I'll be more than happy to help.

You can stay in touch with me via my social media accounts, not to mention my email inbox is also open! And until next time ~

My Journey with My First Novel

Hello! How’s everyone feeling? Personally, I’m conflicted because soon is in a month or less and I can’t decide how I feel about it.

Which also brings up the question if classes are gonna be online or in-person. (I mean I am exhausted from staying home for all of this time, but do I really want to wear a mask for seven hours? Ironically, I speak like I even have a choice.)

Anyways, I've gotten loads of questions about how I published my baby … and let me specify I am referring to my book baby. I do not have a human baby.

Let me tell you a quick briefing over how Foreshadow went from an idea on my laptop to paperback on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, as well as Kindle!

Now, before I start, book publishing is a long, long process. I was so lucky I got to see my book in real life in about a year from when I wrote it. Most authors have to wait a year just to hear the reply from the publishing company. So don't get too demoralized if your book takes ages to materialize. In the end, it will all be worth it.

1. Writing the Draft

The biggest mistake I committed was thinking that once I wrote down the book, I was done. That once all my ideas were on the laptop, I'm good to go. I ended up changing lots of details over the course of the next six months because I didn't bother to review my manuscript once I finished typing all 28 chapters. (Heck, I ever rewrote chapter 4 at some point.) But then, as I read tens of articles about first-time publishing (we’ll get to this point later on) one sentence was particularly etched into my mind - "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. You have to edit after that what nears ten times." And they were right. So when writing the first draft, be ready for a third, fourth, and fifth one, too. Edit the story as much as you want, because when it's in paperback, your hard work will have paid off.

2. Professional Editing

Don't even think of skipping this step. Editing is a vital step in publishing. No matter how much you think you reviewed the book, your eyes tend to miss trivial mistakes such as your and you're, because you read it around a gazillion times. A second pair of eyes is always essential, because you will read your book the way you want it to be. I used FirstEditing, and frankly, they were marvelous. My editor provided insight that has been useful in countless ways. As well as spelling and grammar check, they make sure your story is at its best. So don't. Skip. Editing.

3. Finding a Publisher

Publishing companies usually take 3-6 months to reply, and sometimes up to a year or two (or so I’ve heard.)Don't be too bummed if it takes a while. Personally, publishing companies didn't want to publish my book (because I was 14, I guess?), so dad's author friend suggested we self-publish, so we did. We published it via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), which enabled my book to be sold on Amazon and Kindle. Basically, self-publishing wins over publishing companies for one reason - you get all the income. (The production cost is a lot more, though.) Publishing companies, however, do all the publicity for you and so you have a higher chance of being noticed. Which one to go with is entirely up to you either way.

4. Promoting Your Book

After going ahead and deciding on how to publish, you have to get your word out there. Once you settle on a publishing outlet, get the word out. Start building up a "fanbase", you can call it. Build up a buzz for your book. Gather anticipated readers. You have to start at least 6 months in advance. Hyping up your audience (findingyour audience, matter of fact) takes time. Offer giveaways, and find popular authors to read and review your book, like my good friend Peggy Mcaloon (author of Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals) has done. You need to let people know that "yes, I exist, and I'm gonna publish a book". Another key to promotion is having a website and/or blog. Somewhere other than social media where people can find you. Post a little about yourself; a lot about your book. I found that people care less about who you are and more about what you have to give.

5. Knowing What To Do

Read. Read all the articles you can get your hands on. I didn’t come to this step until after I sent my book for editing, and do I regret it? Perhaps … Subscribe to writing blogs (*winks*) and read. Search up "first time author" or "first book publishing" - all the random sentences you can come up with. Read about self-publishing. Read about publishing with a company. Read about editing. Read about drafting. Read about story plots and help. Anything can be so useful. Articles are your key. The more you read, the more you'll learn from the experience of older and more experienced authors.

I hope that this has been a helpful insight! Remember - if you want to be an author, age isn't a barrier. I'm 17, but became a a published author at just 14. SThe point is to not give up! Comment if you're currently writing or plan to write, and if you are, tell me! I'd love to support you and your book.

16 Writing Prompts to Get Those Creative Juices Flowing

So you've got writers' block? Or are you looking for a topic for your English assignment? Maybe just for a fanfic? Or are you browsing prompts for no reason?

Whatever the reason is, I got you 16 prompts that might even be the base of the best story you've ever written! (The original title was "16 Prompts Which May or May Not Potentially Be Your Bestselling Novel" but I figured that that title's too long.)

1- Person A was supposed to take the bus to school but ends up on the Knight Bus instead.

2- "That was the worst way things could turn out."

"Wanna bet?"

"No, you always win. Literally."

3- Person A is stuck invisible, as a result of experimental failure/magical accident, but s/he can still be felt and bumped into.

4- Person A, your average, everyday accountant, wins the lottery. No, not a million dollars. The lottery to Aurora's Castle in Disneyland!

5- Snow White come alive: a person wakes up to find out s/he can talk to animals.

6- Person A discovers their do-good, perfectly kind, ideal #1 role model is just really good at hiding the fact that they're the world's #1 most wanted criminal.

7- A classic: surprise birthday plan ... but in the year 2350 ... in space! (Preferably on Venus *music plays*)

8- Your favorite fandom is the IRL thing, and your life story is their most popular fandom.

9- Disney-Marvel crossover ... maybe Peter Pan meets Flash Thompson? Or does Princess Merida meet Hawkeye?

10- (I saw this one on Tumblr) A guy is elected president, but changes his mind and instead orders ridiculous things which turn out to be helpful for the country!

11- You wake up as a 15-year-old teenage girl in France, who was in a coma for 6 months ... in the year 1944! Everything you've seen in your life was all unreal. Or was it ...?

12- Person A never dreams. Ever. Until one night, s/he has an accident and ends up dreaming every weekend - which come true within the next few days.

13- There are 24-hours left before a self-destructive bomb goes off and Earth is vaporized. What is mankind planning to do?

14- "You're can't be rich. You're too nice."

"Excuse me? I just bought Amazon."

15- "Well, at least the Leaning Tower of Pisa is over there."

"We're in Cairo!"

"Hey, it isn't leaning now."

"That's the last thing I'm worried about."

16- You wake up in a celebrity's bed. It's Freaky Friday all over again, except said celebrity doesn't even know you.

Welp, that's all (for now). I hope at least one of them is alright with you! If you do use one then send me a link - I'd love to read it. And until next time :)

4 Last-Minute Birthday Gifts for When Time is Your Enemy.

Over the years, I kept getting challenged about what I should gift people on their birthday. I'm a sentimental person, so I more often than not choose to make my own gift rather than buy one. (Also, I'm broke, but that's besides the point.)

Either way, I always opt for either a card or a personalized I gift I know the receiver will love. And they all get done pretty quickly, because apparently I can manage my time except when it coms to remembering people's dates of birth.

Here are four gifts you cam make easily and quickly - at home. (That means you can do it in your pajamas.)

Without further ado, here we go:

1) An adorable giftcard.

I'm guilty of using this one a few times but it's the most adorable thing and a life-saver several times. I came up with it in middle school when it was my best friend"s birthday and I decided to make her a little something in class. It's really simple and takes 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Grab a colorful A4 paper (white is alright; it's what I always use) and fold it in half. Then, using a highlighter, marker, or Sharpie, draw the "+" ribbon; not exactly in the center though. Try making the part where the two ribbons intersect closer to one corner, so you have space to write something.

Step 2: Bring another colored paper - the same color as the ribbon you drew (or close enough). Cut it into 5 to 7 cm long and 1/2 cm thick strips. Using scissors, place the edge of the strip on one of the blades, using your thumb to hold it in place, then pull the short end, so the paper is pulled against the blade. (Make sure you aren't too quick or pressing too hard; the paper might rip.) You should end up with a perfect curl! Repeat with as many strips as you want.

Step 3: Glue the edge of the paper strips on where the marker "ribbons" intersect to create a gift-shaped card! Now all you have to is write something on the front (probably "Happy BDay!" or something). Write a cheesy letter or inside joke on the interior of the card and ... ta-da! You should have something that looks like this:

It also works for a baby shower or as a graduation card - pretty much any occasion that calls for a congratulatory card. (Bonus: you could add a "pop-up something" inside. Cut out the shape from a separate sheet of paper, fold the two ends, and glue one on each page facing outward. Done!)

2) Food is the gift of the soul.

So the cake is handled, right? But that doesn't mean you shouldn't please the birthday person and/or the guests, right? So bring along some cake pops, brownies, or cookies; if you know other fancy bite-sized desserts, go for it. But for the non-culinary citizens like me, here are recipes that are too good to resist - and only 3-ingredients long:

Recipe 1: Brownies. Preheat the oven to 350F. All you need is;

A) 2 1/2 cups chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella.

B) 1 heaping cup all-purpose flour.

C) 3 large eggs.

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl, then pour it into a sprayed or buttered baking pan. Bake for 25 mins (or until surface looks crisp) and done! (Creds to FoodNetwork for this delicious, heavenly chocolate dish.)

Recipe 2: Peanut Butter Cookies. Preheat to 350F and ...

A) 1 cup peanut butter

B) 1 cup sugar

C) 1 egg

Mix until smooth, then dollop onto parchment paper set onto a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes - careful not to over-bake! (Creds to AllRecipes for this one!)

Recipe 3: Cake Pops. Needs no additional tools.

A) 1 cake (store-bought or box; whatever you prefer).

B) frosting or jam - as much as fits the cake.

C) melted chocolate - as much as fits the cake.

Mush up the cake until it crumbles. Add 3 tbsp of frosting or jam and mix it all together. Keep adding 1 tbsp as you go until the consistency is good enough to be shaped into a ball without falling apart. (Careful to not over-goo the cake, though.)

Set the balls on a tray and refrigerate for an hour. After that, dip the pops fully into the melted chocolate and set back into the fridge until the chocolate hardens. (optional; sprinkle crumbled chocolate or sprinkles on top for a fancy finish) And you're done! (Creds to me for this one.)

3) *friendshipping intensifies*

So this one's a bit obvious, but why not DIY an accessory? And I'm talking every accessory. Here are a few ideas that might work ...

Bracelets: duh. Beads, rainbowlooms, string, ribbons, decals; friendship bracelets are a thing to be treasured. Give your friend a trip back to 5th grade and put something together. Here are some images of ones I've tried that work:

Bags: If you have a purse that doesn't look dead (or is unused. *guilty*) try renovating it and gifting it! There are cute iron-on decals and keychains that can bedazzle any item they're added to. (If that fails, maybe just stick to the desserts.)

Pillowcases: okay, this one's a bit bizarre, but what better thing than to make sure your friend sleeps on your gift every night? (A little creepy, but thoughtful, really.) Bring a blank pillowcase and use Sharpies, dye, or cloth paint to let your creativity roam free. You can even take it up a notch and tye-dye something else that's plain white, like a tote bag or hoodie.

4) The lazy - but friendly - Picasso.

This one's the best in my opinion. Bring a blank canvas and create modern art. Leonardo DaVinci who? Try sketching cartoon-ish characters and coloring them in with acrylic paint or brush Sharpies. Stick to something simple if you feel like you might just ruin everything (been there, sis.) And then the last touch - glitter-in the major areas!

For my best friend's 14th birthday, I painted an owl and colored in its feathers, before I painted a layer of white glue and sprinkled the same-color glitter. Maybe these two pictures can give you a clearer picture of what I mean:

Another idea is to decorate a picture frame. Stickers, beads, decals; all of that can make a sad wooden frame into a masterpiece. Do that on a bigger scale and you can gift a photo booth frame! (Reusable - the best kind of gift!)

And there you have it! A surefire way to make someone's special day extra special. Let me know in the comments if you do give one of these ideas a try!

(Happy birthday someone, and enjoy your day!)

Welcome to my cozy corner of the WWW.

You were scrolling through the internet and somehow ended up on my blog. Was it a friend's suggestion? Was it on your Twitter feed? Was it accidental? However the method was, you ended up here, so hello!

If you're an old friend coming back, hello to you too! Either way, I think an introduction is in order ...

My name's Leena, I live in Saudi Arabia and I love reading, writing, and art. You can learn the more "technical" parts about me in the "About" tab. But here let me introduce myself as a fellow human! (I promise I'm not an extra-terrestrial form of life. I am a fan of them, yes, but not one myself.)

The main reason I decided to start writing my own blog is because there is so much I want to get out there; so many thoughts and ideas I want to share with the world - as cheesy as that line sounds.

There's no particular topic I'll be focusing on. As a writer, I plan to share advice, personal experience, prompts, etc. As a sister and daughter, there will be posts to split your sides from laughter and life hacks to survive a crazy household. As a student, I will share my studying tips and tricks, not to mention tales from my not-so-glamorous school life.

My posting schedule is currently once every two weeks, so keep an eye out for that! (Or subscribe to get updates straight in your inbox. Let's be honest, that's way easier.)

ONTO THE MEAT OF THIS POST (a popular Arabic idiom meaning "main idea of __") - what is the internet?

Is it but an abyss of meaningless jumble of knowledge and memes? Or is it an inescapable vortex of brainwashing? Is it both?!

Back when the internet was first invented, its purpose was - like many other inventions - for military purposes. (Source: my very wise and knowledgable father.)

An organization called DARPA established it to securely communicate. Many years later it was opened for commercial use. An explosion of popularity lead an unbelievable amount of information to be uploaded on "the Web", making it a valuable and luxury tool for many.

Fast forward to 2020 and the Internet is something that the world heavily relies on. Seriously, especially with COVID-19, the net is the basis for all business, schools, and communication everywhere. Imagine this worldwide crisis with no Internet whatsoever.

So, what it is?

Like any gen-z kid out there my first answer is memes. Memes everywhere. It certainly seems that the internet exists for the main purpose of memes and cat videos. Arguably, that is a very common purpose.

But the conclusion I reached after very thoughtful pondering is that it's the media. Social networking is the main distributer and birth-giver of memes. Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and countless more! (Not to forget the man, the myth, the legend, Vine. RIP.)

The Internet itself is more focused around communication. We communicate memes, we communicate business stocks, we communicate with our families. We INETRact via the NET that connects us all. (That was cheesy. Very, very cheesy. But I still make a point!)

So the internet may be a waste of time, but it's also one of the, if not the NUMBER ONE, most important component of our modern life.

Philosophical Leena is now signing off. Stay home, wash your hands, and stay happy!