Not New Years Resolutions

I don't like the idea of New Years resolutions. It stems back to the idea of why put off until tomorrow when you could start today. However, since it is the end of the year, I have been reflecting, like most people. In my reflecting I came to the conclusion that my 2015 could have been so much better. Granted, it wasn't the worst year of my existence, but it did make me feel lonely, despite always having someone to talk to.

When I compare myself at the end of 2014 to the end of 2015 I am in two very different positions in my life. And I don't think the person I was at the end of 2014 would be very happy with the person I am now, at the end of 2015.

So because of that, I am breaking my own no New Years resolution promise. For my own peace of mind, I'm not calling these New Years resolutions. It is simply just the timing of when I had these realizations. Basically, I want the end of 2016 version of me to be happy with herself and what she has accomplished. So here are a few things I'd like to see myself do in order to set myself on the path I wish I was on by now. 

1. Eat better. Yes, I've already taken the plunge into vegetarianism, but there are still far healthier foods I could be consuming. 
2. Get out more in the form of walks. I love long walks and in 2015 I stopped for some reason. Take walks at least twice a week. Not only for your health, but also your mind. 
3. Create everything. Strive to make at least one short film a month, big or small. While you are at it, finish your novel as well. 
4. Find that job. I have struggled far too long now. It's time to buckle down and take on more (that you will actually get paid for). 
5. Take risks. This by far will be the most challenging. Stop playing life so safe and overthinking the consequences. Success lies at the end of your comfort zone, so never be comfortable. 

Nothing special, but still meaningful.

     Much Love,
              Elly

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Finals Stress!

It's finals week for most university students in America (around the world?)! It can be an insanely stressful time with packed libraries filled with frantic, studying students. For me this finals season has been the most stressful yet.

As you may or may not be aware, I have been working on a short film since the beginning of November. The majority of my life (especially the past two weeks) has been taken up by filming and editing this film. Last weekend alone it was calculated that I spent 35+ hours just editing! It even resulted in me having to break out my old wrist brace. My arm was in so much pain from all the editing tension so I welcomed the slight comfort my brace gave me. 

With my film taking over my whole life it left very little time for simple tasks like washing dishes or cleaning the house, let alone spending hours on studying for upcoming exams! So naturally, I didn't have time to study for my first final this week. And no, I have absolutely no idea how well I did. (It was mostly a lot of educated guessing.) 

All that said, as of 11:30 last night, my film has been completed and submitted to my professor for grading. Words cannot describe how relieved I felt after it was all said and done. Now all that is left is to properly kill myself studying for my remaining three exams this week! I'm very much looking forward to properly cleaning my house and hibernating during the holiday season before my spring semester starts!! 

Good luck to everyone else experiencing the stress of finals week. Hang in there and don't forget to drink water and eat something! (I may or may not be guilty of forgetting to do that!!) Nothing special, but still meaningful.

     Much Love,
              Elly

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The Art of Self-Discipline

I am oddly good at the art of self-discipline. No matter how badly I am dreading something, I always get it done to the best of my ability. I have been that way ever since I was a little kid. I never went to preschool and was always being passed around to various awful babysitters or day-cares. I quickly learned that if I wanted something done I had to do it myself.

When I started school, I realized I was so far behind from the other kids in my classes. To be honest, that only motivated me more. I turned into a little seven year old who spent her time working on math and English workbooks she made her mother buy from the grocery store. I hated being the one with the worst grade, so I pushed myself to be the best. I craved praise for my accomplishments. Anything below an A+ and a sticker felt like a failure. 

As I got older, of course I stopped completing workbooks in my free time (and not just because I completed every single one available in stores....). I wasn't focused on being the best, I was focused on being the best I could be without torturing myself. Long story short, I taught myself the power of discipline and really throwing myself into my projects. I never half-ass anything. If I hand in a project whether it is just a simple worksheet, essay or short film - I go all out. I don't shoot to get a 100%. I shoot for 110% minimum. 

If I attempt something, I give it my all. I apply that same philosophy to my own person accomplishments. For example, when I wanted to start a new YouTube channel I committed myself to at least one video a week. I didn't care how busy or stressful my life was, I didn't want to miss a week, break the chain and ultimately let myself down in the process. When I set my mind to something I go head first into it until it is completed to the highest standard I can complete it to. 

However, in my whole life the one project that I always fail at is NaNoWriMo. I don't know what it is, but this is the only project that ever stumps me. This is my third year attempting and third year miserably failing. Although, to be fair this month isn't over yet. But the chances of me writing the last 39,000-ish words in the next 11 days is highly unlikely. That won't stop me from trying though. 

Am I the only one with this problem? Am I just too busy and too insane to try and juggle NaNo, school, YouTube, making a short film, holidays and my social life? I have written so many novels in my lifetime that I've lost track of them all, but the second I attempt one for NaNoWriMo I fail miserably. Is it just a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point? Probably, but I will still keep trucking and face the defeat like the strong woman I am at the end of the month. Because the end of November and start of December means a whole new ambitious plan is about to take place! *coughvlogmascough* Nothing special, but still meaningful.

     Much Love,
              Elly

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NaNoWriMo 2015?

You probably know the drill by now. Am I participating in NaNoWriMo 2015? Yes. Yes I am. Shocker? Not really.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It is a month long event where writers attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November. This will be my third year participating.

If you'd like more info on the event you can visit the official site HERE. Or you can read my blog post from last year where I talk about my past experiences with NaNoWriMo HERE. Or if you are interested in if I completed my novel for 2014 you can click HERE to read that blog post.

Like other years, I don't have confidence in finishing this novel. HOWEVER, I think this might be the easiest one I'll attempt. Besides being absolutely in love with my main characters, I feel drawn to this story in my head and feel an obligation to write it in my new, unique way.

What is that unique way? Each chapter will be a day in my characters' lives from the day they met until they day they go separate ways. What makes it unique (I think) is that each chapter (day) will be based around a different word.

I am a huge advocate for oneword.com. It is a website that gives you a new word every day and you have 60 seconds to write whatever comes to mind using that word. So for the whole month of November I plan on making my chapters revolve around whatever word is listed on One Word that particular day. I feel like it gives an air of mystery to my story. To be honest, I only have a few key point plotted out in my novel and the rest is a complete mystery. I'm putting my novel in the hands of a random word generating website.

Two of the main key points I have created are my two main characters Kate and Rodney. For the whole month of October I knew I should start thinking about what novel I wanted to write and the only thing I knew was that I wanted to use the word generator and that the main characters were a boy and a girl. As time went on, in my head I started calling them K and R. I have absolutely no idea when or how that started. Also somewhere along the way I started calling them Kate and Rodney. It wasn't until the other day when I stopped myself mid-thought and realized I had subconsciously named my characters, so the names stuck.

Kate and Rodney are both in their early 20's, in their last year of university. They are stuck in that odd stage of the unknown future and fear of growing up and real life responsibilities. It's the stage that every university student goes trough at one point in their life. It's all about finding yourself, who you are and what you believe in.

I am beyond excited to start writing this novel. It is a topic I am passionate about and a writing style I am more than familiar with. Who knows, one day maybe you'll see IMMINENT on the shelves of a bookstore. Only hopefully by then it will have a better cover than this one I created spur of the moment this morning!

Wish me luck in this crazy writing adventure! I have no idea whether or not I'll have any new blog posts out in November since I'll be focused on school and writing IMMINENT. But keep an eye out in case I do! Maybe I'll make an update or two on how writing is going? NaNoWriMo tips? We'll see what happens! 

If you're also attempting NaNoWriMo why not add me and we can cheer each other on!
http://nanowrimo.org/participants/imagineworkshop

Nothing special, but still meaningful.

     Much Love,
              Elly

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Elly's Sick Day Mushroom Onion Soup

Being sick is awful - or according to my new video, being sick SUCKS!! (Get that promo! CLICK HERE to watch it ;D) I've been sick the past week and it was just awful. In my sick state I never wanted to eat food, let alone make it. Even if I did want food I could NEVER taste it!

HOWEVER! One of the first days I was sick I really just wanted chicken noodle soup. That being said, I'm vegetarian so I needed to create a new option with the minimal ingredients in my kitchen. I trudged to the kitchen and had a look around and as a result I created an INCREDIBLE soup recipe. It is so simple, yet so delicious. And here's the kicker, you can actually taste the food!

So here is my recipe for Elly's Sick Day Mushroom Onion Soup!


Ingredients:
Tab of butter
One small onion
3/4 cup of chopped mushrooms
1 cup of your choice noodles (I use campanelle)
2 1/2 cups water
2 vegetable bouillon cubes (or 1 can of broth)
Dash of rosemary
Sprinkle of parmesan


Directions:
1. Boil 2 1/2 cups water and add noodles.
2. Chop onion and mushrooms finely. Add butter , mushrooms, onions, and a dash of rosemary to a small skillet on medium heat. (You can also add salt, pepper and garlic for extra flavor!)
3. When the noodles are nearly cooked add your bouillon cubes to the water.
4. After your water turns to broth add your cooked mushrooms and onions to the mixture.
5. Let cook on medium heat for two minutes.
6. Serve soup and add a sprinkle of parmesan for additional flavor.

AND THAT'S IT!

It is insanely simple and tastes delicious. It's exactly what you want when you don't feel at your best. I loved this recipe so much that I literally made it every night for the whole week I was sick. It has most definitely become my go to pick-me-up meal!

Let me know if you make the recipe and how much you enjoyed it! Enjoy cooking!

Nothing special, but still meaningful.

     Much Love,
              Elly

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