Zara Hoffman's Blog: Zara Hoffman's Goodreads Author Blog, page 30
November 22, 2015
8 Things About Thanksgiving I'm Looking Forward To
We’re all counting down the days to Thanksgiving. Or, at least I am. And why not? It’s the best holiday in my opinion. Here are just a few things I’m looking forward to.
1. My mom. Because she’s always the #1 reason I’m excited to go home.
2. My dog. Because she’s my fur baby (even though she has hair, not fur) and I love her...
And have been missing her for weeks...
And dreaming about holding her again for the same amount of time...
As I hold my Hogwarts Owl stuffed animal named Olive. It's not the same.
If you're a pet parent/sibling, you know what I'm talking about.
Don't even lie, I know you know.
ISN'T SHE CUTE?
3. My family. Because I miss my relatives and like seeing them all together in one place. Makes for cooler stories and more hilarity.
I'm bringing Cards Against Humanity for my cousins and myself to play, so that should also be a real hoot.
Just hope our parents don't hate us for keeping them up with our laughter or for being terrible people. It's only a game, I swear!4. Good food. Because let’s be real. Food+Family+Gratefulness=Thanksgiving5. My own bed. I’m only going to have this briefly since I actually go to my uncle’s for Thanksgiving, but that only makes it more precious.6. Good Showers. Yes, I’ve put this on a previous list, but good water pressure MATTERS.7. Car ride. I’m weird. I like riding in the car with my mom and dog. I get to play DJ and it’s more bonding time for the three of us, and that’s the best thing ever.8. Mockingjay Part 2. Since The Hunger Games (the book; my review) came out, I’ve read 1 book out loud to my cousins each Thanksgiving and we’ve made a family affair of seeing the most recent Hunger Games movie. And this will end that tradition, but hopefully it will go out with a bang. Be on the lookout for my movie review next week.
What are you looking forward to?
1. My mom. Because she’s always the #1 reason I’m excited to go home.
2. My dog. Because she’s my fur baby (even though she has hair, not fur) and I love her...And have been missing her for weeks...
And dreaming about holding her again for the same amount of time...
As I hold my Hogwarts Owl stuffed animal named Olive. It's not the same.
If you're a pet parent/sibling, you know what I'm talking about.
Don't even lie, I know you know.
ISN'T SHE CUTE?
3. My family. Because I miss my relatives and like seeing them all together in one place. Makes for cooler stories and more hilarity.I'm bringing Cards Against Humanity for my cousins and myself to play, so that should also be a real hoot.
Just hope our parents don't hate us for keeping them up with our laughter or for being terrible people. It's only a game, I swear!4. Good food. Because let’s be real. Food+Family+Gratefulness=Thanksgiving5. My own bed. I’m only going to have this briefly since I actually go to my uncle’s for Thanksgiving, but that only makes it more precious.6. Good Showers. Yes, I’ve put this on a previous list, but good water pressure MATTERS.7. Car ride. I’m weird. I like riding in the car with my mom and dog. I get to play DJ and it’s more bonding time for the three of us, and that’s the best thing ever.8. Mockingjay Part 2. Since The Hunger Games (the book; my review) came out, I’ve read 1 book out loud to my cousins each Thanksgiving and we’ve made a family affair of seeing the most recent Hunger Games movie. And this will end that tradition, but hopefully it will go out with a bang. Be on the lookout for my movie review next week.
What are you looking forward to?
8 Things ABout Thanksgiving I'm Looking Forward To
We’re all counting down the days to Thanksgiving. Or, at least I am. And why not? It’s the best holiday in my opinion. Here are just a few things I’m looking forward to.
1. My mom. Because she’s always the #1 reason I’m excited to go home.2. My dog. Because she’s my fur baby (even though she has hair, not fur) and I love her...
And have been missing her for weeks...
And dreaming about holding her again for the same amount of time...
As I hold my Hogwarts Owl stuffed animal named Olive. It's not the same.
If you're a pet parent/sibling, you know what I'm talking about.
Don't even lie, I know you know.
ISN'T SHE CUTE?
3. My family. Because I miss my relatives and like seeing them all together in one place. Makes for cooler stories and more hilarity.
I'm bringing Cards Against Humanity for my cousins and myself to play, so that should also be a real hoot.
Just hope our parents don't hate us for keeping them up with our laughter or for being terrible people. It's only a game, I swear!4. Good food. Because let’s be real. Food+Family+Gratefulness=Thanksgiving5. My own bed. I’m only going to have this briefly since I actually go to my uncle’s for Thanksgiving, but that only makes it more precious.6. Good Showers. Yes, I’ve put this on a previous list, but good water pressure MATTERS.7. Car ride. I’m weird. I like riding in the car with my mom and dog. I get to play DJ and it’s more bonding time for the three of us, and that’s the best thing ever.8. Mockingjay Part 2. Since The Hunger Games (the book; my review) came out, I’ve read 1 book out loud to my cousins each Thanksgiving and we’ve made a family affair of seeing the most recent Hunger Games movie. And this will end that tradition, but hopefully it will go out with a bang. Be on the lookout for my movie review next week.
What are you looking forward to?
1. My mom. Because she’s always the #1 reason I’m excited to go home.
2. My dog. Because she’s my fur baby (even though she has hair, not fur) and I love her...And have been missing her for weeks...
And dreaming about holding her again for the same amount of time...
As I hold my Hogwarts Owl stuffed animal named Olive. It's not the same.
If you're a pet parent/sibling, you know what I'm talking about.
Don't even lie, I know you know.
ISN'T SHE CUTE?
3. My family. Because I miss my relatives and like seeing them all together in one place. Makes for cooler stories and more hilarity.I'm bringing Cards Against Humanity for my cousins and myself to play, so that should also be a real hoot.
Just hope our parents don't hate us for keeping them up with our laughter or for being terrible people. It's only a game, I swear!4. Good food. Because let’s be real. Food+Family+Gratefulness=Thanksgiving5. My own bed. I’m only going to have this briefly since I actually go to my uncle’s for Thanksgiving, but that only makes it more precious.6. Good Showers. Yes, I’ve put this on a previous list, but good water pressure MATTERS.7. Car ride. I’m weird. I like riding in the car with my mom and dog. I get to play DJ and it’s more bonding time for the three of us, and that’s the best thing ever.8. Mockingjay Part 2. Since The Hunger Games (the book; my review) came out, I’ve read 1 book out loud to my cousins each Thanksgiving and we’ve made a family affair of seeing the most recent Hunger Games movie. And this will end that tradition, but hopefully it will go out with a bang. Be on the lookout for my movie review next week.
What are you looking forward to?
November 19, 2015
Grammarly's 5 Mistakes To Avoid in Your NaNoWriMo Novel
You may already know that I'm not doing NaNo this year, but that doesn't mean I'm not still reading a bunch of adcive articles so next year can be even better. Here are Grammarly's "5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your NaNoWrimo Novel."
Infographic from https://www.grammarly.com/grammar-check
Do you have any #NaNo tips to share?
Infographic from https://www.grammarly.com/grammar-checkDo you have any #NaNo tips to share?
8 Things I'll Miss About College Over Thanksgiving Break
We may all be counting down the days until Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean we won’t miss a few things about college when we (or our friends) are away from campus. Here are a few things I know I’ll miss.
1. My friends because they’ve become extended family to me. And I know that even as I’m in the midst of family bonding, I’ll wonder what my friends are doing and wishing they could be with me too.2. My independence. While I do love my family and often wish my mom could take care of everything for me, I do really love my independence at college. Being in charge of my own life is super liberating and I wouldn’t give that up for anything.3. My schedule. As weird as it sounds and as much as I may complain during periods class are in session, having classes gives my week structure that I desperately need. Without it, I’m more inclined to sleep and laze around all day or (on the flip side) will do too much in one day and collapse from exhaustion.4. Using swipes, points, or WhoCash instead of actual money. It’s so convenient to have one card to enter buildings and pay for things (meals, food, or laundry). You can’t get anything like it anywhere off campus, and that’s a damn shame.5. Convenience of proximity. Everything you need is nearby, eliminating distance as an excuse not to do things (unless, you know, just don’t want to do stuff and cite that as your excuse anyway).6. Even Boston is “close,” assuming the shuttles are running on time and have enough space for you. And its free! And we all know as college students that FREE anything is amazing.7. Wifi EVERYWHERE. I never knew how much I rely on it until I go into Waltham and am stuck with bad cell service. Let me tell you, wifi is life. Yes, you have it at home, but you don't have it outside when you're not on campus. And that is a real loss.8. My roommate. I saved the best for last. She’s definitely a friend of mine, but also closer to the sister I never had. I’ll definitely miss her like crazy.What Will You Miss?
1. My friends because they’ve become extended family to me. And I know that even as I’m in the midst of family bonding, I’ll wonder what my friends are doing and wishing they could be with me too.2. My independence. While I do love my family and often wish my mom could take care of everything for me, I do really love my independence at college. Being in charge of my own life is super liberating and I wouldn’t give that up for anything.3. My schedule. As weird as it sounds and as much as I may complain during periods class are in session, having classes gives my week structure that I desperately need. Without it, I’m more inclined to sleep and laze around all day or (on the flip side) will do too much in one day and collapse from exhaustion.4. Using swipes, points, or WhoCash instead of actual money. It’s so convenient to have one card to enter buildings and pay for things (meals, food, or laundry). You can’t get anything like it anywhere off campus, and that’s a damn shame.5. Convenience of proximity. Everything you need is nearby, eliminating distance as an excuse not to do things (unless, you know, just don’t want to do stuff and cite that as your excuse anyway).6. Even Boston is “close,” assuming the shuttles are running on time and have enough space for you. And its free! And we all know as college students that FREE anything is amazing.7. Wifi EVERYWHERE. I never knew how much I rely on it until I go into Waltham and am stuck with bad cell service. Let me tell you, wifi is life. Yes, you have it at home, but you don't have it outside when you're not on campus. And that is a real loss.8. My roommate. I saved the best for last. She’s definitely a friend of mine, but also closer to the sister I never had. I’ll definitely miss her like crazy.What Will You Miss?
November 16, 2015
Makeover for the Muse Series by Cora Carmack
I am absolutely thrilled to bring you the dual cover reveal for Cora Carmack’s Muse Series! Inspire and Inflict are New Adult Paranormal Romance novels and are book 1 & 2 of the Muse Series. Inflict is due to be released in January 2016. These beautiful covers were made by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design. Be sure to grab a copy of Inspire today! Need convincing? Here's my review (with the old cover).
Kalliope lives with one purpose. To inspire.As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.
Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.
Her presence may inspire genius. But it breeds madness, too.
Wilder Bell made a dangerous bargain... For a chance at love, he gave up his life. History knew Kalliope as an ancient Greek muse, but to Wilder, she was simply the woman he wanted to fall asleep with every night and wake up next to every morning. He made a deal with Hades, but the only thing the Lord of the Underworld deals in is death. Now Wilder is wasting away in a cold and wretched afterlife, waiting for Kalli to come for him. She willcome. He has to believe that. Because the alternative is worse than death.
Kalliope lived her entire existence knowing that she was both a blessing and a curse to anyone she encountered. Wilder was no different. She loved him, and she got him killed. Now to get him back, she’ll have to face a scheming god, a perilous task, and death itself. But before it’s done, the Underworld will take more from her than she ever thought possible.
To be made whole, all must first be lost.
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). Raised in a small Texas town, she now lives in New York City and spends her time writing, traveling, and marathoning various television shows on Netflix. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too. Her first book, Losing It (or buy the trilogy), was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.
November 7, 2015
The 15 Emotional Stages of Going Home
Thanksgiving is coming up (but not soon enough if you ask me), and that means it’s time to start thinking about how you’re getting home. Here are the 15 emotional stages of getting home:
1. When you realize you have a long weekend/vacation/etc.
You stare at the calendar a bit to make sure you’re not hallucinating, and then you react like this: 2. Once you realize that it’s not a trick, you quickly go to your favorite travel website
Whether it’s Amtrak, Bolt Bus, the Turkey Shuttle, or your favorite airline, chances are you have the site bookmarked with your login info saved so moments like these are a snap.You put in all your info to find a trip…
3. And then you realize that you can’t just miss all your classes
Unfortunately, breaks normally don’t start at the very beginning of a day. You’re still expected to go to your classes before you’re set free, which means you can’t leave first thing in the morning, when the tickets are cheaper and you get home sooner.4. Annoyed, you go and check your class schedule and redo #2.
If you’re like me, you’re now looking at your screen like this because #3 has no doubt soured your excitement from #1.Your last class ends hours later than you wish it did (especially now), and then you recalculate how long it will take you to get to the actual departure location (train station, airport, etc) from your campus. Too bad you didn’t remember this earlier.
5. But then you have the choices in front of you and you pick your ticket home…
It’s really happening!
6. And then you’re forced to go back to your regular schedule until your departure date arrives.But no one said you had to be happy about it.
7. The day comes, and you’re super excited, and then get stressed when something goes wrong.
You’ve planned everything up until now, and then it goes to waste! Not really, but that’s probably what you’re thinking at this point.
8. But because this has been the only thing keeping you sane during #6, you’re going to get on your ride no matter what. And once you do, it’s the sweetest feeling:
Ahhh, that’s good.
9. But the ride is mostly likely long and though you should be productive, you’re likely to get bored.
And you’ll look like this:And will just end up napping instead.
10. Then you realize it’s time to get off the train, plane, bus, whatever…
And you’re a bit out of it, but who cares?
11. But once you open the door to your home, you feel like you’re on top of the world.
Not with quite the same spectacle, but you work with what you’ve got.
12. You say hi to your pet(s), and then you remember to greet your parent(s), and then you run into the bathroom for a decent shower with good water pressure.
Isn’t it the best? You’re so happy, you could sing!
13. And then you change into PJs and crawl into bed.
Because that’s really the best part of going home, isn’t it?
14. And at the end of your stay, you realize you have to go back…Don’t you wish you never had to leave?
15. But it’s okay, because soon enough you’ll be repeating this whole process.You’ll be fine until then… right?
1. When you realize you have a long weekend/vacation/etc.
You stare at the calendar a bit to make sure you’re not hallucinating, and then you react like this: 2. Once you realize that it’s not a trick, you quickly go to your favorite travel website
Whether it’s Amtrak, Bolt Bus, the Turkey Shuttle, or your favorite airline, chances are you have the site bookmarked with your login info saved so moments like these are a snap.You put in all your info to find a trip…
3. And then you realize that you can’t just miss all your classes
Unfortunately, breaks normally don’t start at the very beginning of a day. You’re still expected to go to your classes before you’re set free, which means you can’t leave first thing in the morning, when the tickets are cheaper and you get home sooner.4. Annoyed, you go and check your class schedule and redo #2.
If you’re like me, you’re now looking at your screen like this because #3 has no doubt soured your excitement from #1.Your last class ends hours later than you wish it did (especially now), and then you recalculate how long it will take you to get to the actual departure location (train station, airport, etc) from your campus. Too bad you didn’t remember this earlier.
5. But then you have the choices in front of you and you pick your ticket home…
It’s really happening!
6. And then you’re forced to go back to your regular schedule until your departure date arrives.But no one said you had to be happy about it.
7. The day comes, and you’re super excited, and then get stressed when something goes wrong.
You’ve planned everything up until now, and then it goes to waste! Not really, but that’s probably what you’re thinking at this point.
8. But because this has been the only thing keeping you sane during #6, you’re going to get on your ride no matter what. And once you do, it’s the sweetest feeling:
Ahhh, that’s good.
9. But the ride is mostly likely long and though you should be productive, you’re likely to get bored.
And you’ll look like this:And will just end up napping instead.
10. Then you realize it’s time to get off the train, plane, bus, whatever…
And you’re a bit out of it, but who cares?
11. But once you open the door to your home, you feel like you’re on top of the world.
Not with quite the same spectacle, but you work with what you’ve got.
12. You say hi to your pet(s), and then you remember to greet your parent(s), and then you run into the bathroom for a decent shower with good water pressure.
Isn’t it the best? You’re so happy, you could sing!
13. And then you change into PJs and crawl into bed.
Because that’s really the best part of going home, isn’t it?
14. And at the end of your stay, you realize you have to go back…Don’t you wish you never had to leave?
15. But it’s okay, because soon enough you’ll be repeating this whole process.You’ll be fine until then… right?
November 3, 2015
No NaNoWrimo This year
click for entries I've been writing more than ever before and it is the first time since I started participating in the annual #NaNoWriMo that I'm not writing a 50k-word novel in the 30 days of November. I'm writing school papers every week, so I guess I'm not totally forsaking my 2015 OneWord365.It's not for lack of trying. Even though I tried to use all my free time to work on revising The Belgrave Legacy and writing The Matchmakers any time I could, but I often found myself remembering I had more work to do or just collapsing from exhaustion and opting to take naps rather than do writing sprints.
This isn't to say that I'm not working on my novels at all. I am, just at a slower pace than I had been during my Psych project or than I would be if I were doing NaNo this year. I plan to do Camp NaNo this summer and also writing as much as I can over Thanksgiving and Winter breaks.
For those who are doing NaNo, I am cheering you on from the sidelines. Why don't you comment below about your project and your best advice for fellow NaNoers?
October 28, 2015
13 Movies to Watch This Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner which means it’s movie time! Some of these movies are available on Netflix while others require you to buy them on Amazon. Netflix makes it particularly easy to find their recommended Halloween movies with this nifty category. I’m not someone who likes to be scared easily, so any scary movies will be noted and will have been recommended through friends or the internet (if they suck, don’t blame me, I haven’t seen them for myself). I think a general rule of thumb should be anything Tim Burton is a good Halloween movie. In my mind, he’s the King of Halloween all-year ‘round. You’ll see a few of his creations on this list for sure.
1. The Nightmare Before ChristmasWho hasn’t thought of the spooky holiday and immediately started singing/humming/thinking of “This Is Halloween”? *crickets* That’s what I thought. It’s kind of a no-brainer to watch this movie, and it’s available on Netflix (huzzah!)2. The Addams Family (1991)
Recommended in almost every Halloween movie list I could find, this family classic whole-heartedly deserves the second spot on this list. It’s available on Netflix (whoopee!), but the sequel Addams Family Values is not.3. Coraline
If you’ve read the book, you’ll know how creepy this Neil Gaiman story is. And don’t even get me started on the illustrations. Surprisingly, the movie was not directed by Tim Burton (it seems right up his alley) and is less frightening than the book. In general, it is a great Halloween family movie. Unfortunately, it is notavailable on Netflix (boo!), but you can get it on Amazon.4. Hocus Pocus
Who doesn’t love this movie? Honestly? Again, this classic isn’t available on Netflix, but it is on Amazon *evil cackle*.5. The Witches
Another one based on a book (this one by Roald Dahl), and Angelica Houston’s second movie on this list, but instead of playing Morticia Addams, she’s playing the evil Head Witch. And let’s just say she’s a bit scary. Available on Amazon.6. Halloweentown
Ah, back when Disney made good movies. I remember first watching this at my friend’s house for a Halloween sleepover… in Sleepy Hollow. Yeah, talk about atmosphere. Personally, I liked Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge better, but maybe that’s just me. You also may have heard that Halloweentown is REAL. Yup, you read that right. You can buy the first Halloweentown on Amazon. 7. Beetlejuice
Super wacky, this is another Tim Burton film. Surprise, surprise! You can’t magically access it by saying the name 3 times, but you can buy it on Amazon.8. The Corpse Bride
Another Burton film, so sue me. I told you you’d be seeing a lot of him on here. Just be thankful I haven’t made the whole list just his filmography. And what’s especially great about this movie for college students? It’s available on Netflix!9. Dark Shadows
I’m going to jump off the Burton train and transfer to the Johnny Depp line. Again, be thankful I didn’t list off his IMDB profile for this movie list. This over-the-top, ridiculous movie is a reboot of a popular TV-show and stars Johnny Depp (obviously), and a bunch of other famous people. Available on Amazon.10. Sweeney Todd
Stop 2 on the Depp route. Though this is arguably more scary than the other films mentioned due to the more realistic (though not by much) premise, I put this on here because if you know the musical, it’s not that scary. If you don’t, hey, at least you get to watch Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter sing as they murder people. Available on Amazon.11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Okay, so it’s a TV show and not a movie. And it’s kind of scary (at least more so than all the ones listed above), but this show is amazing and with all the monsters featured, it’s hard to not include it in this list. And it’s on Netflix!12. Supernatural
Another TV show, but that's because it's SO good. I consider this the younger, more modern step-brother or first cousin of Buffy. I love it for all the same reasons, with the added bonus of cooler special effects. Seasons 1-10 are on Netflix.And for those of you who don’t want anything scarier than a Disney movie, try 13. Mickey’s House of Villains. If you haven’t seen it before, why not now? For those who have, you’ll remember it’s all treats and no tricks. It’s available on Netflix too!
Whatever you decide to do or watch, just remember, have a Happy Halloween!
1. The Nightmare Before ChristmasWho hasn’t thought of the spooky holiday and immediately started singing/humming/thinking of “This Is Halloween”? *crickets* That’s what I thought. It’s kind of a no-brainer to watch this movie, and it’s available on Netflix (huzzah!)2. The Addams Family (1991)
Recommended in almost every Halloween movie list I could find, this family classic whole-heartedly deserves the second spot on this list. It’s available on Netflix (whoopee!), but the sequel Addams Family Values is not.3. Coraline
If you’ve read the book, you’ll know how creepy this Neil Gaiman story is. And don’t even get me started on the illustrations. Surprisingly, the movie was not directed by Tim Burton (it seems right up his alley) and is less frightening than the book. In general, it is a great Halloween family movie. Unfortunately, it is notavailable on Netflix (boo!), but you can get it on Amazon.4. Hocus Pocus
Who doesn’t love this movie? Honestly? Again, this classic isn’t available on Netflix, but it is on Amazon *evil cackle*.5. The Witches
Another one based on a book (this one by Roald Dahl), and Angelica Houston’s second movie on this list, but instead of playing Morticia Addams, she’s playing the evil Head Witch. And let’s just say she’s a bit scary. Available on Amazon.6. Halloweentown
Ah, back when Disney made good movies. I remember first watching this at my friend’s house for a Halloween sleepover… in Sleepy Hollow. Yeah, talk about atmosphere. Personally, I liked Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge better, but maybe that’s just me. You also may have heard that Halloweentown is REAL. Yup, you read that right. You can buy the first Halloweentown on Amazon. 7. Beetlejuice
Super wacky, this is another Tim Burton film. Surprise, surprise! You can’t magically access it by saying the name 3 times, but you can buy it on Amazon.8. The Corpse Bride
Another Burton film, so sue me. I told you you’d be seeing a lot of him on here. Just be thankful I haven’t made the whole list just his filmography. And what’s especially great about this movie for college students? It’s available on Netflix!9. Dark Shadows
I’m going to jump off the Burton train and transfer to the Johnny Depp line. Again, be thankful I didn’t list off his IMDB profile for this movie list. This over-the-top, ridiculous movie is a reboot of a popular TV-show and stars Johnny Depp (obviously), and a bunch of other famous people. Available on Amazon.10. Sweeney Todd
Stop 2 on the Depp route. Though this is arguably more scary than the other films mentioned due to the more realistic (though not by much) premise, I put this on here because if you know the musical, it’s not that scary. If you don’t, hey, at least you get to watch Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter sing as they murder people. Available on Amazon.11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Okay, so it’s a TV show and not a movie. And it’s kind of scary (at least more so than all the ones listed above), but this show is amazing and with all the monsters featured, it’s hard to not include it in this list. And it’s on Netflix!12. Supernatural
Another TV show, but that's because it's SO good. I consider this the younger, more modern step-brother or first cousin of Buffy. I love it for all the same reasons, with the added bonus of cooler special effects. Seasons 1-10 are on Netflix.And for those of you who don’t want anything scarier than a Disney movie, try 13. Mickey’s House of Villains. If you haven’t seen it before, why not now? For those who have, you’ll remember it’s all treats and no tricks. It’s available on Netflix too!
Whatever you decide to do or watch, just remember, have a Happy Halloween!
October 24, 2015
My Top 5 Musical Soundtracks
In my last post, I gave 5 tips to get you through midterms. One of those tips was “take (timed) breaks.” During my breaks, I normally work on making friendship bracelets to sell or a current novel I’m working on. But no matter which one I pick at any given time, I almost always have music playing during my break, usually a soundtrack to a Broadway musical. So I’m going to give you my Top 5 favorite musical soundtracks … in reverse order. What do you like to listen to? Comment below.
October 17, 2015
5 Tips to Make It through Midterm Season
It’s that time of year when everyone begins to invert the natural sleep cycle, guzzle obscene amounts of caffeine, are stressed to the max as they struggle under a giant pile of papers and studying, and possibly take more naps than is productive. You know what I’m talking about: midterms!
I’m particularly lucky in this case. I don’t technically have any midterm exams, though I do have 2 papers due for one class, and another non-midterm paper that just happens to be due during this wonderful (read: terrible) time. And I get stressed easily, so I’m going to give some of my best tips for staying calm (or at least not freaking out):
1. Sleep as much as you can without going into the human equivalent of hibernation.
While I wouldn’t go that far, you get the gist of it. If you don’t need a lot of sleep, good for you! But for those who need more than 6 hours to function well, going to sleep early(ish) and taking naps when absolutely necessary can be a great way to keep your productivity going (assuming you don’t procrastinate when you’re awake). That way, you won’t look like this
in the middle of your studying/writing/whatever-ing.
2. Set goals for yourself and keep them on a daily list of reminders.
Yes, it’s a pain in the ass. And I’ll admit usually push back the deadlines constantly by an hour when I take longer to complete a task or get distracted (bad!). Those issues aside, this is a good way to feel like you’re accomplishing things, which is a great morale booster. I mean, come on. Who doesn’t love checking something off a list?Nobody, that’s who.
3. Eat regularly.
Whether this means 3 solid meals a day, more smaller meals, or constant snacking, you should be taking care of your body during this stressful period. In addition to this, I will say: stay hydrated. In addition to it being refreshing, it will also help your body fight of sickness. Because the only thing worse than being miserably stressed is being miserably sick and stressed.See?
4. Take (timed) breaks.
Whether you use it to nap, or some other hobby of yours, it’s important to schedule non-academic time. If you don’t, you’ll probably go insane and/or become a zombie. And anyone can tell you that neither of those options is a good thing. But don’t forget to time these and stick to those limits or you’ll soon find yourself lost in procrastination land where nothing important ever gets done. And you may never find your way back out.5. And finally, have a support system.
Made of friends, family, and maybe advisors, these people have your back and want you to make it through with your sanity in tact. They love you for your weird quirks and don’t get angry when you moan about your assigned homework (as long as you don’t do it every second). In other words, they’ve got your back.Don’t forget to return the favor for them, either. Especially your fellow classmates who are having just as rough a time as you are.
And there you have my 5 tips to help you through midterms. Do you have any tips of your own? Comment below.
I’m particularly lucky in this case. I don’t technically have any midterm exams, though I do have 2 papers due for one class, and another non-midterm paper that just happens to be due during this wonderful (read: terrible) time. And I get stressed easily, so I’m going to give some of my best tips for staying calm (or at least not freaking out):
1. Sleep as much as you can without going into the human equivalent of hibernation.
While I wouldn’t go that far, you get the gist of it. If you don’t need a lot of sleep, good for you! But for those who need more than 6 hours to function well, going to sleep early(ish) and taking naps when absolutely necessary can be a great way to keep your productivity going (assuming you don’t procrastinate when you’re awake). That way, you won’t look like thisin the middle of your studying/writing/whatever-ing.
2. Set goals for yourself and keep them on a daily list of reminders.
Yes, it’s a pain in the ass. And I’ll admit usually push back the deadlines constantly by an hour when I take longer to complete a task or get distracted (bad!). Those issues aside, this is a good way to feel like you’re accomplishing things, which is a great morale booster. I mean, come on. Who doesn’t love checking something off a list?Nobody, that’s who.
3. Eat regularly.
Whether this means 3 solid meals a day, more smaller meals, or constant snacking, you should be taking care of your body during this stressful period. In addition to this, I will say: stay hydrated. In addition to it being refreshing, it will also help your body fight of sickness. Because the only thing worse than being miserably stressed is being miserably sick and stressed.See?
4. Take (timed) breaks.
Whether you use it to nap, or some other hobby of yours, it’s important to schedule non-academic time. If you don’t, you’ll probably go insane and/or become a zombie. And anyone can tell you that neither of those options is a good thing. But don’t forget to time these and stick to those limits or you’ll soon find yourself lost in procrastination land where nothing important ever gets done. And you may never find your way back out.5. And finally, have a support system.
Made of friends, family, and maybe advisors, these people have your back and want you to make it through with your sanity in tact. They love you for your weird quirks and don’t get angry when you moan about your assigned homework (as long as you don’t do it every second). In other words, they’ve got your back.Don’t forget to return the favor for them, either. Especially your fellow classmates who are having just as rough a time as you are.
And there you have my 5 tips to help you through midterms. Do you have any tips of your own? Comment below.
