10 Day You Challenge ` Day Six: Six Places

DAY SIX: SIX PLACES

Ireland
There isn't a place on earth I would rather go than to the Emerald Isles. I could try and blame my mother, grandmother, and aunts for this want, but it's more like it's written in my DNA (really, it sort of is, we Abrams are VERY Irish). Ireland has always been on the top of my list of places to go. Probably why I chose my twitter screen name: luckiestxclover

Greece
I'm not sure what is really drawing me to this place, but it is among the places that I would love to go.

New York
I went to New York almost two years ago, and now all I want to do is go back and really experience it. I would love to spend a solid week there. Preferably with tickets to see a Broadway show every night.

London
Do I really need to justify myself with this one. It's London. I just... I want to go. Maybe I'll be kidnapped by the Doctor... (a girl can dream)

Wizarding World of Harry Potter
AKA Orlando! *must resist the urge to start singing Book of Mormon: The Musical* Sure I'd like to go to Universal Stuidos and Disney World, but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it's just screaming my name.

Chicago
I went there once when I was 14, and from what I can remember it was fantastic. I would love to go back and sight see preferably when there's a new Starkid show. The best memory I have of this place, was the Navy Pier. I would just love to go back.

10 Day You Challenge` Day Five: Five Foods

I told you I was bad at this... :/




DAY FIVE: FIVE FOODS
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

I discovered this recipe a few months ago. My husband, David, and I can't go more than a month without having them.

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These are my go to dessert. They're really rich and thick, but I love them. So sweet.

Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches

I've had this for lunch almost everyday at work since about May. It's still delicious.

Pumpkin Spice Covered Almonds

I am not a nut kind of person, but I've become addicted to these. They're almost as addicting as the Cinnamon Almonds that are sold during Christmas.

Steamed Squash

I have never been much of a veggie person either. But steamed veggies always get me!

10 Day You Challenge` Day Four: Four Books

DAY FOUR: FOUR BOOKS

The Boy Series | by Meg Cabot

Boy Next Door
Boy Meets Girl
Every Boy's Got One

I'm aware, this is kind of cheating, but whatever. The thing I love most about this series is the way that they're written. It's not a standard format. Most of the entire book is through e-mail or chat log format. MEG CABOT IS A GENIUS! The best part is, IT ALL MAKES SENSE. Even in the unusual format.

Paper Towns | by John Green

Addicted to his video blogs with his brother, I knew that I had to pick this book up. This book is phenomenal. A story of coming of age, of love, breaking laws, and adventure. It's fantastic.

Anna and the French Kiss | by Stephanie Perkins

I might be a little bias. Since it has my name in it. Stephanie Perkins' debut novel is nothing to scoff at. This book is funny with out being cheesy (though a small amount of cheese is okay), heartwarming, sweet and definitely sexy. Though, rumor has it that her companion novel to Anna, Lola and the Boy Next Door, is even better.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June | by Robin Benway

I'm a sucker for superhero stories. Stories where a unsuspecting citizen gets magic powers. Or in this case, when a trio of sisters get magic powers. ♥

10 Day You Challenge` Day Three: Three Films

DAY THREE: THREE FILMS

Carolina

Synopsis: Carolina Mirabeau was raised 'free-spirited' with two sisters by eccentric, domineering grandma Millicent in the country. Carolina's city neighbor, talented and witty Jewish author Albert Morris, is her best friend, confident and the wacky family's favorite guest. Yet she gets engaged with Heath Pierson, an 'all too perfect' upper class brilliant Britton, whom she met in the TV studio where she's fired as dating show candidates-screener. But the past and some truths catch up with all of them

This is one of those movies that my mom and I found at a Hollywood Video in their bargain bin. We loved Julia Stiles, so since this movie was on a couple dollars, we figured, What the heck! Next thing we knew, we were watching this movie over and over again. This is one of my most watched movies of all time.


Penelope

Synopsis: In this modern day romantic tale, Penelope is about a young girl's inspiring journey, a mysterious family secret and the power of love. With all odds against her, in order for Penelope to break the family curse, she must find true love with "one of her own kind" and realize the most important life lesson, "I like myself the way I am." Penelope Wilhern, born to wealthy socialites, is afflicted by the Wilhern spell that can only be broken when she finds love. Hidden away in her family's estate, the lonely girl meets a string of suitors in her parent's futile attempt to break the curse. Each eligible bachelor is enamored with Penelope and her sizable dowry; until her curse is revealed. Lemon, a mischievous and eager tabloid reporter wants a photograph of the mysterious Penelope and hires Max to pose as a prospective suitor to get the shot. The handsome down-on-his luck gambler finds himself falling for Penelope...

Again, one of my most watched movies. I wrote an entire post on my tv blog about why I love this movie so much. Though it really comes down to the message of the movie. Teaching you how to love yourself.


Crazy Stupid Love

Synopsis: Cal and Emily have the perfect life together living the American dream... until Emily asks for a divorce. Now Cal, Mr Husband, has to navigate the single scene with a little help from his professional bachelor friend Jacob Palmer. Make that a lot of help...

A recent love. The cast in this movie is phenomenal. It kind of has a Love Actually feel to it, which I adore. Definitely a movie I'd go see over and over again.

10 Day You Challenge` Day Two: Two Songs

DAY TWO: TWO SONGS
I've never been one of those people who has superb taste in music. I like the music I listen to, but a lot of people I know don't particularly care for it. Nonetheless, here we go. Two songs that I'm addicted to.


Terrified | by Katharine McPhee feat. Zachary Levi
This was the first time that I had ever heard Zachary Levi (of Chuck fame) sing. I was blown away. I normally really like Katharine McPhee's music, but with the addition of Zachary Levi, I was swooning for days. This song has continued to be one of those songs that I will listen to on repeat for WEEKS on end.


Superboy and the Invisible Girl | Jennifer Damiano, Alice Ripley, and Aaron Tveit from the Original Next to Normal Cast
This is my go to diva song. I love belting this song out while driving in my car. The cast recording itself is amazing, but this song is always my go to song when I listen to the recording. This song is nearly impossible for me not to start dancing to. Which is why I try not to listen to it while I'm on the train or walking down the street.

10 Day You Challenge: Day One` One picture of yourself

I've seen this on a couple blogs around, so I figured, why not? I'm normally pretty bad at memes like these when they're like 30 days. But 10 days I can handle.

DAY ONE: ONE PICTURE OF YOURSELF

This is a one hand self portrait of me as my friends and I were getting ready to go see Little Mermaid on Broadway down in St. George UT. (Excellent show!)

I'm super stoked guys! Finally, after months and months of a dry spell, I finally have a new idea for a story. Not only that, but when the characters came to me, the female main character came to me first. Which normally means that she's going to be the main voice. HECK YES!

I'm keeping the main idea to myself for now. If only so I have time to work out what I'm doing with it. Plus, normally when I tell people what I'm writing about, then the idea and characters decide to boycott. I can't have that right now.

Anyway, I'm super excited to get started. But before I do, there are a few things I have to get done.

1: Create Biographies for at least the MAIN character.
I'm one of those people who have to write down a whole bunch of biographical facts about my main characters before I get started. Blame it on the Role Playing. It's nice to have a little reference sheet to refer back to when my character does something and I wonder why, I can look back at that sheet and be like "Oh! THAT'S why." Of course the more I get to know my characters, the longer those biographies get.

2: Make a playlist
A lot of writers I know can write with almost any kind of music. I'm very specific. It has to be scores to movies or tv shows. Not only that, but they have to be scores to movies that I don't know by heart. I can't listen the the scores from Star Wars, Stargate, Harry Potter, or Lord of the Rings, mostly because when I hear they, I start watching the movie in my head, which distracts me from writing. So, the scores I've been normally sticking with are ones from Stardust, and P.S. I Love You. Though I'm going to be adding some John Schmidt, and video game music to this next playlist.

3: Set aside time to write
I really wish I didn't have to schedule the time, but really, I think everyone does. Now that I don't have Fridays off, it's a little bit harder for me to schedule specific time to write. Not impossible by any means, but just takes a little juggling.

4: Clean my house
This may seem like something that doesn't need to be done to write, but if my house needs major cleaning (kind of like it does right now) I get too annoyed because I should be cleaning, that writing takes a back seat.

5: Create a Reward System
Yes, similar to how you reward a dog for good behavior. I'm setting up a reward system for milestones.  
6,250 words: lunch at my favorite restaurant, Zupas!
12,500 words: movie in Full price theater.
18,750 words: buy X-Men: First Class on Blu-Ray.
25,000 words: Nerdy photo-shoot with my husband.
 Okay, so my rewards are a little silly. I'm just easily pleased. (:

Really, Step 4 is what is going to take the longest. It is also, the one that may hinder my writing more than I would like. It has to be done. So feel free to bug me this weekend either by posting comments here or tweeting me (@luckiestclover) and asking me if I've started writing yet. Trust me, sometimes I need a kick in the pants.

(this gif is pretty much pointless, I just love it a lot)

NaNo Sized Problems

For the past few years, I've continued to try and participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Though I have yet to actually reach the goal of 50,000 words, last year I reached 20,000 and I'm still pretty proud of it.

But every year, that I don't finish I get a little discouraged. Deep down I know that, writing a book in 30 days, is a very impressive feat. And not being able to do it, doesn't mean I'm any less of a writer, it just means that I can't write that fast and make it at least a little bit quality.

Recently Trevor (an aspiring novelist that you should go follow) wrote about how writers depression is worse than writers block. I couldn't agree more. All writers experience writers block, it may not be a one that last for months or even weeks, it may only last a few hours, but every writer has had some form of writers block at some point. Writer's Depression, however, is worse, its when you're stuck in a rut, that seems like there will never be a way out.

I've been stuck at that point for about a year. I've been pretty good at keeping up with my TV blog, posting at least weekly, but when it comes to actually writing the stuff that I like to read, my ideas seem to have jumped on board the Destiny and are now traveling the universe with Eli Wallace. And unfortunately, I don't have any communication stones to talk to it and convince them to come back to me. (Sorry if this reference goes over your heads, I've been in a Stargate mood lately...)

All that being said, I'm going to challenge myself, but tweak the rules a little bit.

This year, my goal is half the amount of NaNo. My goal is going to be to write 25,000 word story in 30 days. It's about 850 words a day. Which seems a bit more achievable than the 1,700 words a day required for a 50,000 word story in 30 days. Especially since I'm bound to miss at least one day.

The one part that I'm really going to challenge myself with, is that I'm determined to write from a girls perspective. I know what you're thinking, "Anna, you ARE a girl, that should be easy!". WRONG! Writing from a female perspective is very difficult for me. In one of my first blog posts I kind of go into the reasons why, but what it comes down to, writing from the male perspective, just comes more naturally.

Another thing I need to do, is read more. Working 10 hours a day and then coming home only to eat then go to bed was exhausting. Now that I work 8 hours a day, things will (hopefully) be a bit more manageable. Add all that to the fact that I now have a half hour commute via train that I can read on, this will mean great books for me to be inspired by. First up: The rest of John Green's books followed by a marathon read of Meg Cabot books. w00tw00t!

Another thing that I think would help tremendously, is watching the Vlogbrothers videos where John talks about his writing and how he accomplished what he has.
Like this one:




I realize that NaNoWriMo is a little ways away, but, I'm preparing myself now in hopes that I won't be stunted in the ideas department.

Who else is participating in NaNoWriMo?

Go! Go!.... GryffinPuff?

(Small note: I seem a little crazy in this post. Please take that into account when you read it.)

My Pottermore letter finally arrived yesterday. After having a truly craptastic morning, this completely turned my day around.

It was like getting my Hogwarts letter at 11. I was so excited to get home, go buy my books, cauldron, and pet. It was like nothing crappy had happened to me earlier in the morning. It was fantastic.

*the Read More is here for spoilers. If you want to remain spoiler free about what happens in Pottermore, turn away NOW!