Friday 10 November 2017

It's a Supernatural Day

I haven't posted a blog in quite a while. Life has a habit of getting the way... Anyway, Im taking a break from the usual writing posts to give you one about a very recent shopping haul and what I’ve done with it. Read on to find out more!

Yesterday, I wandered into Hot Topic, Lush, Sephora, and Shoppers Drug Mart when my mom dropped me off at Fairview Mall so I could get the subway downtown for a NaNoWriMo write-in (it’s that time of year again). I was only intending to go to Shoppers, but in trying to find the Shoppers, I found the others.

Sephora was my first stop, and I ended up leaving empty handed. Maybe it was the selection at the particular one I went into, but I didn’t find anything worth buying. I was a bit disappointed, but my pocketbook was happy.

Then, I found Lush. I’ve been looking for some dry shampoo for a while now for the days when my hair isn't quite ready for a full wash, but I know it’s going to be by the end of the day. I neglected to photograph it for the sake of this blog post, but if you’re at all familiar with Lush products, you’ll know what it is.

At Shoppers, I picked up a Clinique Quad in, On Safari. The colours are greens and khakis, and are perfect for my alter ego for November. (I’ll give you more details in my next blog.)

Swatches for Clinique On Safari


My biggest haul came from Hot Topic. I am a huge fan of the show, Supernatural. I’ve been watching the show since Season 1, and have met some wonderfully amazing people through it. It, literally, has changed my life. Anyway, I have been eyeing the Supernatural Eyeshadow Palette at Hot Topic for a few months. I had contemplated buying it online, but I wasn’t impressed with the cost of shipping. So, I wandered into the store, and found it, plus a couple of other things.

First, the eyeshadow. I am in love with the shades and the names for them. There is some fallout when applying, but it’s easy to overlook. The colours are pigmented, and there’s a lovely mix of matte and shimmery shades. I’ll show you the look I created with it at the end of this blog.

The packaging is wonderfully simple. THERE IS NONE! There is no box, no plastic inserts, nothing! Just the palette itself.



This is how it came! So simple, so pretty!



I'm in love with the shades! So many to choose from!


The shades: Baby (a shimmery, metallic black), Demon Eyes (a matte black), Angel (metallicy grey), Jerk (a matte blue similar to one of Dean’s button downs), Grace (a shimmery blue-grey), Hunter (a matte hunter green), Witch (a matte plum), Free Will (a shimmery peach), Bitch (a matte red, similar to another one of Dean’s button downs; my favourite button down actually), Possession (a dark brown matte), Pie (a lighter brown matte), Assbutt (a matte the colour of Castiel’s trenchcoat, and my favourite shade name), and Rock Salt (a shimmery almost white).



Shadow swatches


I also picked up a couple of accessories. A small, gold anti-possession necklace and a keychain. The keychain is now a necklace.





Here’s the look I created with the eyeshadow palette:



I used Hunter on my lids, Baby in the crease, and Free Will. on the brow bone. I also used Rock Salt in my inside crease, and Assbutt all over to lighten the Hunter and Baby shades, as by themselves, they’re a touch too dark for me. Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide on Pencil eyeliner in Smoke, Clinique’s High Impact Waterproof Mascara, and Covergirl's Outlast Lipstick in Sultry finishes everything off.

And, since I’m feeling quite Supernaturally today, I threw together a few things to complete the look.




Grey button down from Torrid, Saving People Hunting Things tanktop from Torrid, keychain-turned-necklace from Hot Topic, Dean’s ring from Supernatural Sickness, and my favourite boots.

Have you picked up anything for your fandoms? What do you think of the Supernatural palette or my look? Let me know in the comments!

Wednesday 10 May 2017

Vaughan Writers' Club

On April 18th, I took a drive out to check out a writing group that meets monthly at the Bathurst Clark Library in Vaughan. They have been meeting since May 2016 and have a good and loyal turnout each month. The group is made up of writers - both published and not - looking for a serious place to write and learn about the craft and the industry.


The group is run by President, Tamara Hecht, author of the Welcome to Monsterville book series. (You can read my review of the first book here: Welcome to Monsterville: A Book Review). Vaughan Public Library employee, Heather He-Sieward provides them with a room to meet in every month as well as helps them coordinate with local events where they can showcase their group as well as the members’ published works. Group member, Josephine Vaccaro-Chang is Heather’s other half as she fills the role of Public Relations. The role of Director of Innovations is Maria Samurin, an employee with the Toronto Public Library; she is the bridge between the two neighbouring city libraries. Author Moe Vyas is in charge of new members, and author/publisher Elise Abram is the group’s Secretary/Treasurer.


On Saturday, May 13th, members of the group will be at The Bookshelf in Newmarket. The Bookshelf is an event put on by The Writers’ Community of York Region (WCYR) and being held at the Newmarket Community Centre & Lions Hall, next to the Farmer’s Market. The Bookshelf helps showcase Canadian authors from York Region and all over Canada. A few members of the Vaughan Writers’ Club will be there doing just that. For a full list of The Bookshelf vendors, and to find out more, go to: http://thebookshelf.wcyork.ca/

On Tuesday, May 16th, the Vaughan Writers’ Club is formally launching their website. This event runs from 7pm until 8:30pm and is open for everyone. There will be a raffle for some free gifts, and you can mingle with the club members. If you’re interested in seeing what this group is about, come out to the Bathurst Clark Library, 900 Clark Ave, Vaughan, Ontario.

Saturday 15 April 2017

The Ides of Camp NaNoWriMo


April is officially half over. This means the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo is half over. It also means, that at approximately 2,550 of my 15,000 word count goal, I am very behind on my writing for the month! Ack! I could blame on a lack of time since I started working full-time earlier this week. I could blame it on a lack of getting out of the house and finding an inspiring coffee shop. I could even blame it on stress. However, while those are certainly contributing factors, the real reason I’m as behind as I am is, discipline (or a lack thereof).


I am a writer. I am also a procrastinator. That means, that while the definition of a writer is someone who carves out time every day to write, I’m also inclined to do things other than carving out time to write. After a long day, or when I’m having a bad day, the last thing I want to do is use what energy I have left on something requiring a lot of brainpower. So, I end up playing Civilization 6, or The Sims 4, or something like that. Sometimes I’ll play Civ 6 and do a bit of writing on my phone while I’m waiting for the other civs to take their turns. Am I always productive? Hahaha! (Read: NOPE!)


Procrastination is a writer’s strongest ally and most formidable foe. Procrastination gives us something fun, but puts off what we should really be doing: WRITING! I am more than well aware of my love for procrastinating and my desperate need for discipline. I wish I had the time and ability to take on the writing processes of the likes of Stephen King or J.K. Rowling. However, I am one of the millions of writers who have a day job to which they must dedicate eight hours of their day. So, after my day job, I like to relax… Which usually results in little to no writing getting done that evening.


In no way am I making excuses for my writing shortcomings. I’m simply stating them. I used to be really good at carving out writing time. I would use my commutes to and from work to write, my lunch breaks, and, when I didn’t have to get up early the next day, I’d often stay up after my mother went to bed and write until one and two in the morning. Those are things I don’t do anymore. Right now, my commute is a 15 minute carpool with my mother, lunch is often taken in between phone calls, and I get up at 6am every morning. What I need to do is carve out some writing time in the evenings after supper, or even use the hour before going to bed. I’ve done that a few times, but I know I need to do it more often. Like, every day more often.


Next week (starting Monday, April 17), I’m going to try putting this need into action. Every day, I’m going to carve out some dedicated time to writing. I’m going to aim for at least an hour, but even a half hour stretch will make me happy. I’m going to try this for for a week or two and see what happens. I’ll let you know my results.


Do you have any routines that help you stay on top of things? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Book Review: The Gift-Knight's Quest by Dylan Madeley




Back in 2015, I backed a novel. This novel was, The Gift-Knight’s Quest by Dylan Madeley. I received it near the beginning of 2016, and it was read by the end of April. I was not disappointed. I’m just super late writing the review!


Dylan happens to be a friend of mine, but I wouldn’t have liked the book any less if he wasn’t. It is a great read.


The story revolves around Derek Wancyek and Chandra Kenderley. Derek comes from a line of nobility long since dissolved. Chandra is faced with running a country when her father dies suddenly. With the death of King Jonnecht, Chandra becomes Queen, and a pact made between the Kenderleys and the Wancyeks several generations ago comes to fruition. Derek is called to be, as the title states, a Gift-Knight to protect the new young Queen. And thus begins the journey these characters undertake in what is the first book of a trilogy.


So, how do I describe this first book? In a few words, it's quite like a Young Adult Game of Thrones. There are shady characters, long-standing prejudices (like generations long-standing prejudices), rumours, and the always interesting struggle to achieve and maintain power. Though, in Chandra’s case, she didn’t achieve it. But, she has to fight like mad to maintain it as there are a few believe she is unfit for the position and want to see her done away with. And never mind those who believe that she’s a sorceress. Throughout all this, Derek and Chandra learn about each other, and realize that if they have any hope of coming out alive, they need to trust each other.


The only negative part of my review is this: There is one thing that readers may have trouble getting their heads around at first. There is a character, quite a lovely and important character, named Duke Lenn. He is important to the story, as he was the catalyst for what happens, however, he is not alive in the time of Derek and Chandra. Duke Lenn lived a generation or two beforehand. I must admit, when I was first introduced to Duke Lenn, it was a little bit jarring, but I quickly learned where his story fit in with Derek and Chandra’s. Once I figured that out, the rest of the read was easy.


All in all, if you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, but not a fan of the amount of sex and violence that goes along with it, I think The Gift-Knight’s Quest is a good fit for you. If you’re a lover of a Medieval-esque story with adventure and intrigue, The Gift-Knight’s Quest is a good for you. Or heck, even if you just think you might enjoy it, pick it up and give it a read. It’s worth it.




You can also follow the trilogy’s progress through Dylan's Facebook page: Dylan Madeley


The second book in the The Gift-Knight’s Quest, The Crown Princess' Voyage will be released on May 1st. Keep an eye out on Dylan's Facebook Page for more information as it comes available from the author himself. Also, keep an eye out here for my review of The Crown Princess' Voyage once I've read the advanced copy I had the privilege of receiving from Dylan.

Saturday 21 January 2017

It's Time to Talk and End the Stigma. #BellLetsTalk

Hi, I’m Jen and I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Depression.
What does all of this mean? It means I have trouble concentrating, and sometimes, I feel really sad with, seemingly, no rhyme or reason.
It means I live with mental illness.
Every day.
At thirteen, I was diagnosed with ADD. When I was first going to school, many of my teachers suggested I should be tested for it, but my family didn’t have the money to go through with it. So, we lived with it. Then, in grade 8, after going to my guidance counselor for help for an unrelated issue, it was suggested I be tested again. So, I was. I was diagnosed with ADD and given a prescription for Ritalin. I was on Ritalin for less than a year before I decided I was better off dealing with my ADD on my own. I have a bad habit of sometimes forgetting to take my meds at the same time every day. So, some afternoons, I would forget about my 4pm dose until 7pm, and I would take it then. This meant, I was still wide awake and wired by the time bedtime rolled around. On a school night, it created more problems than it was worth. So, I went off the Ritalin, and haven’t gone back on it since. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to deal with my ADD without the aid of medication. I also happen to have people around me who know that when my mind wanders, it will come back in a bit. I may have to ask them to repeat something once it’s back, but it does come back. I was also lucky to have an assistant manager, when I was working retail, who understood my ADD and knew when it was wreaking havoc on my brain. When that happened, she worked with me, sometimes even allowing me a few seconds to focus. It meant the difference between a good day at work and a difficult one. And difficult days will continue to occur, because that’s how ADD works.
On March 8th, 2016, at the age of 27, I was diagnosed with Depression. But, I’ve had it for a lot longer than that. I’ve had it since I was a kid, but never knew what to call it. Mostly because I could go years without feeling it. But, something would trigger it - a lifestyle change, a death in the family, a bully at school -, and I’d go back into the slump. This continued until April 12th, 2007. Why this particular date? This was the day I was raped, and the way I saw the world was forever changed. Before then, I always saw beauty, and I had an innocent view of the world. I was innocent. And then, that view came crashing down, and my innocence was taken away from me. My life, and the way I saw everything, changed. Suddenly, there was bad, there was evil… I saw men in a far darker light than I ever had before. A man had hurt me, and had taken the last piece of innocence I had left without permission. Now, this blog post is not about that; it is about my ongoing battle with Depression, however, this was the event that triggered my now constant struggle with it. For nine years, I struggled with it on my own. I tried reaching out for help, but no one seemed to take me seriously - even my own family. So, I did what I had to do. I picked myself up, and, extremely cautiously, moved on. And I still move cautiously, but that’s besides the point.
Then, ten months ago, I decided enough was enough. After going through 2015 and its myriad of pitfalls, I knew I didn’t want to go through any struggles 2016 might bring alone. So, made an appointment with my GP, and sought help. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, and I understand why so many of us don’t seek the help we need. We’re in denial, we’re scared, we believe the stigma. And that’s what I’m here to talk about. The stigma of mental illness.
Society often portrays those with mental illness as crazy, weak, lazy, unfit for society, as outsiders, weird, as burdens. We’re seen as difficult people, and when we have a bad day, no one wants to deal with it. However, we are none of these things. I struggled for nine full years with my Depression before I finally sought help. For nine years, I got out of bed, went to work, maintained social circles - all while the voices in my head screamed, cried, told me I wasn’t good enough or pretty enough, told me I wasn’t worthy. And even with the diagnosis and the medication, I still deal with this.
Life with a mental illness is far from easy. I have days when just getting out of bed is a struggle. On a really bad day, if it’s a day off, sometimes I won’t get out of bed until well into the afternoon. That’s how my Depression manifests most often. It hits me in the form of mental fatigue. Probably because I’ve been fighting to appear normal and functioning for a few days too long. And this is a normal bad day. In extreme cases, it manifests as dark thoughts accompanied by random sobbing fits throughout the day. And, I go through them alone because I have to. Most of these breakdowns occur at around the midnight to 2am hour, when everyone else I know is in bed and fast asleep. I can’t call any of them because I’d ruin their night. So, I go through the crying fits until they’ve exhausted me and I can finally get some sleep. Sometimes, I’ll start playing Civilizations or The Sims until I start dozing off with my laptop in my lap.
Mental illness makes many things scary. For me, entering a new relationship is always frightening because I worry that my Depression is going to scare away my new beau. I worry that my Depression will make me challenging, and not worth dealing with. For this reason, I tend to disclose it early on in the dating process so I can save myself heartache later on. If it’s something they don’t want to deal with, then we don’t go any further. If they feel they can handle it, then we continue, though I’m always wary. It’s just the way it is.
But, all of this doesn’t make me, or anyone else with mental illness, weak. No. It makes us strong. It makes us fighters, because we deal with this, and still continue to face each new day. Every day, we fight against the stigma that surrounds our illnesses. We are not crazy, weak, lazy. I often feel like a burden to those around me, even when those people know the extent of my Depression, but that’s the way it is. That’s the Depression. However, in the scheme of things, we are not burdens, and we deserve the same care as does someone who has broken their leg, or been involved in a car accident. Sometimes, we need someone to care for us, even if it’s just someone to send a text to check in on us, or someone to take us out for coffee, or to sit with us in silence.
For me, when I’m having, what I call, a “bad brain chemistry day,” the one thing I need above anything else is someone to talk to, someone to just be there while I ride everything out. Someone to remind me that I don’t have to go through it alone. Unfortunately, as I stated a couple of paragraphs ago, my breakdowns very often happen at night, leaving me to deal with it alone. Hopefully soon, that won’t be the case, but only time will tell.
So, why am I posting this in the first place? Well, Wednesday, January 25th is Bell Let’s Talk Day. It’s the day when every text and phone call from the Bell Mobility network as well as every Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter post using the hashtag, #BellLetsTalk will raise 5 cents for mental health. Five cents might not seem like a lot, but when we get enough people talking, it makes a huge difference. Last year, 125,915,295 calls, texts, tweets, and shares raised over $6.2 Million for Canadian mental health. And if you multiply the number of calls and tweets by 0.05, the exact total you come up with is, $6,295,764.75. $6.2 MILLION! In one day! And where does all that money go? It goes to places like The Red Cross, to Child and Youth services, to Aboriginal communities, Military family support, and so much more.
It is important for those of us with mental illness to raise our voices so that we aren’t passed by. I, for one, refuse to stay silent about my Depression and ADD. They are a part of me, a part of my makeup, and if they don’t stay silent, why should I? Mental illness of any kind, whether it be Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety, PTSD, SAD, Schizophrenia, or any other illness or combination of illnesses, should not be ignored or cast aside, and neither should those of us who battle them on a daily basis. Those of us who battle our never ending wars are not weak. No. We’re warriors. We might hit a low point and need a day or two (or a month or two) to recover from time to time, but we are not weak. We are soldiers, warriors, ninjas, samurai, and we are all fighting different battles. Three people with Depression with be affected in three different ways. No one fight is exactly the same. But sometimes, we can’t always do it alone.
So, what do we need you to do? We need you to listen. We need you to be our voice when ours have run dry. We need you to sit with us - even if in silence - so we are not alone. And sometimes, we need you to take up arms and fight alongside us. A little bit of help can go a long way. That help can come in the form of a text message, a hug, a coffee date, or simply spreading the word about mental illness and helping to eradicate the stigma surrounding it. Our battles are already scary and dark enough.
Join me on Wednesday, January 25th for Bell Let’s Talk Day. Take to Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, and let’s raise our voices and end the stigma.
For more information, check it out on Bell’s website: http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Oh, We're Halfway There!

At least for those of us participating in NaNoWriMo. Yes, you read that right. November is half over! I’ll give you a moment to freak out and flail a bit.

……..

Need another minute? Okay.

……..

We good? Good. Welcome back!

Yes, we are halfway through NaNoWriMo. If you’re behind like I am, feel free to panic and flail about. Allow yourself to go through the doubt and fear. But don’t give up. YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Your novel is counting on you. You are the only one who can write it, and the story within its pages wants to be told. Only YOU can tell that story. So, tell it! Keep going!

If you are on par, or have exceeded par… Hell, if you’ve already hit that coveted 50,000 word mark: YOU ARE AMAZING!!! And don’t stop now! Keep writing! As I stated above, you are the only person who can tell the story you’re telling. You are the only one who can put those thoughts into words.

To everyone still chugging away - whether you’re chugging words, or endless cups of coffee - keep going. You signed up for NaNo for a reason. You signed up because you wanted to write a novel. You signed up because you like the challenge of churning out 50,000 words in 30 days. You signed up because because you love to write. You signed up because you have a story to tell.

So, go forth and continue telling that story! Keep chugging that coffee (or tea, or juice, or water, or whatever elixir helps you write - I don’t judge)! Keep churning out those words! And remember: You cannot edit a blank page!

Saturday 29 October 2016

So You Want To Write A Novel?

So, you’ve signed up for the 50,000 word challenge that is NaNoWriMo! Not sure what to expect? Well, look no further! I’m here to give you a few pointers based on my personal experiences with this maddening yet addicting challenge.

First off, if you’re new to the game, welcome! I wish you all the best in your endeavour this month. You are amazing and don’t let anyone tell you different. You are a writer, and that is not to be taken lightly. If you write - poetry, Sci-fi, romance, thriller, Fanfiction -  you are a writer in my eyes. If you're a veteran returning to the game, welcome back! It's an honour to write alongside you again.

Now, I won’t tell you that this endeavour is going to be easy. It isn’t. In fact, you will experience moments of extreme fear and crippling self-doubt. You might even get a week in and think, “There is no way I can do this. 50k is too much!” For some of you, it will be. But, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay! It really doesn't matter how many words you have upon crossing the finish line at 11:59pm on November 30th. What matters is, you finished!

But, in spite of everything I mentioned above, you will experience many more moments of immense joy and ample amounts of support. If you can, meet with the other writers in your region, even if it’s only online. Share your stories, listen to others’, and be part of the community. Within this community you will find others like you experiencing the same emotions you are. And these people are more than willing to stand in your corner and cheer you on. Just remember to do the same. We may be in different boats, but this isn’t a competition. It’s merely a challenge and we’re all going through it.

Everything I'm writing about in this blog post, I’ve learned from personal experience. I’ve been participating in NaNo since 2012, and I have yet to win. That’s right. Four years in, and no wins. Yet. Is this my year? I have no idea. I’ll know when I cross that proverbial finish line at 11:59pm on November 30th. But, winning is not why I participate every year. No. I participate because I love the community of writers I have met through NaNo. Many of those writers have become my friends, and a few more I consider family Mother Nature never provided me with.

When I did my first NaNo, I signed up about three days before NaNo was to begin. My first social write-in occurred on the first Friday, which was an event I’ve kept running since then. Anyway, I sat down at a table occupied only by an ML (Municipal Liaison), and immediately after introducing myself, was asked what I was writing. In 2012, I was working on my trilogy, and was excited about it, as I always am. The person who asked me about my novel got excited about it and was eager to hear about it. That was enough to sell me. There was no going back from there! I was hooked. And now, four years later, I’m one of Toronto’s MLs, and I’ve kept a weekly write-in going every Friday evening.

Anyway, you didn’t come here to read about all of my experiences. You came here for tips! So, here is my list of tips for NaNoWriMo:

  • WRITE!!! I had thought about keeping this tip until last, but this is the most important tip I can give you. Just write, and keep writing. You can’t edit a blank page.

  • Join a region and post in the forums! Even if you can’t make it to physical write-ins, having a place to vent your frustrations is a wonderful thing, even if that place is online. My saving grace every year is my region’s chat room. It’s there I get my support, and use word sprints (or wars) to get in my word count. It is also where I can give my support to those who are experiencing the same doubts and frustrations I am. The sense of community makes my NaNo experience what it is and keeps me coming back year after year. There is also a NaNoWriMo Facebook page with people from all around the world. It's a closed group, but all you have to do is ask for an invite. Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NaNoWriMoparticipants/

  • Let your friends and family know you are taking part in NaNoWriMo. Warn them that your evenings may be taken up by write-ins, and that you will need writing time every day. Yes, every day. Tell them you will need an hour, two hours, three hours per day to get those coveted words written. Inform them that you will need caffeine and chocolate in order to function (well, at least I do). But, most importantly, tell them that you will need their support because NaNo is not easy.

  • Write every day! Yes, every day! It makes the 50,000 (or whatever number you’re aiming for) word goal easier to reach. The easiest way to do this, is to divide your goal number by the number of days in the month and figure out your daily word count goal. Breaking down the main goal into several smaller goals makes the task not quite so daunting. To reach 50,000 words by November 30th, the magic number of words per day is, 1,667. I’m hoping to push that daily goal to 2,000 in preparation for those days when life gets in the way. Because life always gets in the way.

  • Ignore your inner editor. This is the one tip I struggle with the most. I am constantly editing as I go. I can’t help it! Every NaNo, it’s all I can do to keep my inner editor at bay. Sometimes, I’m almost successful. Almost. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been able to get through a season without my inner editor raising its large head and bellowing at me. And, I tend to listen to it at least once. However, if you can, ignore that voice no matter how loud it gets. December is for editing. November is for writing.

  • HAVE FUN!!! I know I said that writing was the most important tip I had, but, actually, I think this one is. NaNoWriMo is not a cut-throat competition. I repeat: NaNoWriMo is not a cut-throat competition. It is merely a challenge that you have accepted, a personal challenge that you and thousands of other writers worldwide are taking on. We are in this together. Yes, you will get frustrated. You might even break down in a fit of sobs. THAT’S OKAY!!! You are allowed to do this!!! (I do it at least once or twice every NaNo!) But, the most important thing to remember is something I’ve mentioned a few times already. Others are going through the same challenge you are. You have joined an amazing community of writers, and writers are awesome people to be around. Some of us may be way off in left field, but that’s part of our charm, and all part of the fun. That’s what NaNo should be for you. FUN!

And there you have it. A few tips on getting through NaNo relatively unscathed. I wish all of you participating this year the best of luck! I also will remind you, again, that you are awesome! You are a writer, and you fill this world with the stories that need to be told. Keep it up!

Happy writing!