​Journal Writing Prompt Ideas
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Journaling is the expression and exploration of our thoughts, ideas, and feelings of our lives. It helps reduce stress and improve our mood. People use journals to track symptoms, expel negative thoughts, recognize triggers, or document their daily lives. Journals are excellent reflection tools. We can view past journals to see our progression. Journaling is a form of self-care because it provides an outlet to express ourselves without judgment. It isn’t healthy to keep our feelings bottled up inside. People use words or artwork to express themselves. Often, people utilize multiple journals at once for organizational purposes. For example, I have two journals; one solely has words, while the second one is for artwork. I have Moleskine journals because I prefer a thicker paper to avoid my markers and pens bleeding through. There are various kinds of journals such as dot, lined, blank, or digital ones. Journals range in price point but are generally affordable. They are available on Amazon, Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million. After you purchase a journal, it can be a bit difficult to start because every time you open it to write, your mind goes blank due to stress or anxiety. Every time I get a new journal, I write down prompts, so when I’m feeling stressed or anxious, I have an idea of what to write about. Here is a list of writing prompts to motivate yourself to journal more.
 
1. How was your day?
 
2. Did you do or learn anything new at work or school?
 
3. What are your favorite animals, books, TV shows, shopping stores, songs, colors, seasons, clothes, foods, cities, countries, or sports?
 
4. Who are your favorite musicians, actors, actresses, authors, fictional characters, superheroes, teachers, family members, or athletes?
 
5. Write down a list of hobbies that you would like to learn how to do.
 
6. Are you bilingual? If so, write down your favorite words in another language.
 
7. If you could learn a new language, what would you learn and why?
 
8. How are you feeling right now?
 
9. How would you like to be feeling right now and why?
 
10. Where would you like to travel on vacation?
 
11. What is something that you’re good at? How does it make you feel?
 
12. How did you sleep last night? Did something keep you up or did you dream?
 
13. What are your core principles that you adhere to?
 
14. What are your most prized possessions?
 
15. Were you bullied during childhood or as a teenager? How do you think it affects your adulthood?
 
16. What are your life goals?
 
17. Describe your dream job, relationship, or house.
 
18. If you won the lottery, what would you do with all the money?
 
19. What’s one of your favorite childhood memories?
 
20. Make a list of 10 things that make you smile.
 
21. How do you practice self-care? If not, write some ways you could implement it into your life.
 
22. If you could change anything about your outer appearance, what would you change?
 
23. Make a list of 10 positive adjectives to describe yourself.
 
24. Write a letter to your younger or older self.
 
25. What are some of your biggest regrets?
 
26. What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet? What’s holding you back?
 
27. If you could go back in time and change something, what would you change and why?
 
28. List five things that you fear and why.
 
29. If you could have one wish, what would you wish for and why?
 
30. List 20 things that you’re grateful for.
 
 
Edited by Morgan Mitchell
 
 
 

Into the Woods: Why the Play will Always Be Better than the Movie
By Emelyn Ehrlich

A baker and his wife want a child. A little girl in a red hood learns an important lesson about trusting strangers. A boy trades his cow for beans from a mysterious, haggard man. A kind woman runs away from her prince. A witch holds a girl with flowing hair captive in a tower. Not to mention, the two hot princes. Everyone wants something. Eventually, they will all have their wishes granted. But will they like what they get?

Into the Woods was released as a movie in 2014. However, long before that, Into the Woods was a play. You can find it on Amazon for $2.99 if you rent it, or $8.99 if you buy it. With the current pandemic, I, like everyone else, am struggling to continue finding things to do. One day, while doing homework, one of the songs from Into the Woods, “Agony,” kept playing in my head on repeat.

“Agony!
Although it’s different for each,
Always ten steps behind,
Always ten feet below
And she’s just out of reach!”

And so on. Thinking about the movie made me think about the play. That’s when it occurred to me:
The play is much better than the movie.

There is one, and only one, reason why this is the case. There is one element that’s just a little different in both mediums that makes the play that much better.

The narrator.

The movie’s narrator is the baker. He tells the story in a voiceover, even as things continue to happen to him within the story itself.

The play is a little different.

Instead, the narrator is someone completely separate from the cast of characters. He sits in a chair to the side, unobserved by all of the characters, neutral to the story itself.

At least, until the second act.

The second act is when the giant comes to kill everyone. The narrator continues telling the story, as the characters slowly crane their necks toward him, finally noticing him for the first time. The narrator explains his role.

The characters promptly sacrifice him to the giant.

No longer being guided by the narrator, the story goes off the rails. Anything can happen. The characters become lost and confused, instantly regretting sacrificing the narrator.

Eventually the baker steps in as the narrator as he tells the story to his child.

That’s why I always thought the play was so unique.

It starts out with an omniscient narrator there to guide the characters and assure them that everything goes to plan. However, when that narrator no longer exists, the characters are forced to take charge of their own stories and guide their own fates. They are forced to acknowledge that they are responsible for their actions, and no one else.

That is a lesson the movie simply cannot recreate without the additional “narrator” character.

None of this is to say, of course, that the movie isn’t good. I love the movie; it’s great.

That being said, the movie will never be able to measure up to the play.

The play possesses something that the movie will never be able to:  the characters’ sudden self-awareness that impacts them forever.
​
Edited by Ashley Ricks

​Tips to Drink More Water
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional, nor a medical provider.
 
Drinking water is essential – it’s a key nutrient that your body needs. It’s highly recommended that people should follow the 8x8 rule: 8 glasses (or ounces) 8 times a day, or 64 ounces a day total. Drinking water has numerous benefits for our physical and mental health. For example, it physically improves your immune system, metabolism, energy level, brain function, bowel function, and decreases your chances of headaches and ache. In terms of mental health, water aids in improved concentration, cognition, stress reduction, and balancing your emotions. If you’re looking for more information on the benefits of drinking water, I’ll include a few links below.
 
Unfortunately, people come up with various excuses for not drinking water, like, “I just forget to drink,” “it makes me retain fluid,” “I need the pep from caffeine,” “I don’t like the taste,” or “it makes me pee too much.” On the plus side, there are a few solutions for drinking more water.
 
1. Reusable water bottles. They’re great for you and the environment! I would recommend purchasing a reusable water bottle that has ounces labeled on the side – this is a great way to track your water consumption and save the planet! Plus, it’s easier to travel with one reusable water bottle than multiple plastic water bottles. You can purchase an affordable reusable water bottle from Target, Walmart, or Amazon. My favorite brand is Contigo because they come in different colors and sizes. I have a small one for everyday use and a large one for when I’m working out.
 
2. Natural flavors. You can add lemons, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, mint leaves, and other natural flavorings to enhance taste. If you’re looking for water flavored recipes, then I would recommend checking out Pinterest. I would stay away from store bought water packets, however, because they are filled with sugar and preservatives. Try to keep it all-natural for your body.
 
3. Drink water when eating. Drinking water during mealtimes is beneficial because it improves your digestion. This helps decrease bloating and makes you feel fuller. If you drink one 16oz with every meal and a snack, you’ll easily hit the 64oz mark.
 
4. Track your water consumption. When you’re first starting out, it’s easy to lose track of how much or how little water you’re drinking. You can track your water consumption with a pen and paper or an app like Daily Water Free or Daily Water. A water consumption tracker will help you pace yourself throughout the day.
 
5. Brita water filter. What do you do if you don’t like flavored water or tap water? Purchase a Brita! Brita filters help remove chlorine taste and odor. Plus, they remove 99% of lead! This allows for a fresher water taste. Brita filters comes in various colors and sizes. You can purchase them from Amazon, Target, or Walmart. A Brita water filter is economical because you won’t be spending money on numerous amounts of water bottles.
 
For more information, take a look at these websites:
 
‘6 Reasons to Drink Water’ By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water#1
 
‘Water & Nutrition’ By the CDC.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html
 
‘Why is Water Important? 16 Reasons to Drink Up’ By Natalie Silver, RD, LD. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/why-is-water-important
 

​How to Relax?
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or healthcare provider.
 
Down time, de-stressing, chilling out, relaxing, or whatever you’d like to call it is vital to one’s health. Stress can have negative effects on your body that include high blood pressure, headaches, weakened immune systems, and stomachaches. A prolonged period of stress can have long-term effects on your respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. Between work, family, and school obligations it may seem impossible to relax. Does it frustrate you when people tell you to relax and you can’t? Does it seem like you never have enough time to relax? Believe me, I understand what you’re going through; without getting too personal, I have a medical condition that requires me to maintain my stress to avoid its negative effect on my body. Over the years, I’ve performed research and tried various techniques to relax. Here are my tips and tricks to help you relax.
 
1. Yoga. According to the Mayo Clinic, Yoga is excellent for stress relief because it helps practice breathing techniques and releasing physical tension. If you’d like to read more, I attached the article. You purchase an affordable yoga mat from Amazon, Target, or Walmart. YouTube has excellent yoga themed music to play in the background to help further calm you. Plus, you can find stress relief yoga tutorials to ensure you’re performing the yoga position correctly. Try to do a Google search of yoga poses for relaxation or try stress relief yoga positions. This is important because there are numerous yoga positions for different purposes. The purpose of yoga is to de-stress you, not incur more stress.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-20044733
 
2. Stress ball. It’s alright to be frustrated, angry, and upset when you’re stressed out. Stress balls come in handy for when you need to deal with fiery emotions. Pummel all your stress into the ball by squeezing it, throwing it, or stomping on it. You can DIY it from a YouTube video or buy one from Amazon, Target, or your local dollar store. They come in numerous shapes, sizes, and densities. Try to purchase a few to put them around your house, car, or purse. That way it’s easily accessible for when you need to squeeze it.
 
3. Write it down. You can write it on physical paper or type it on your phone, computer, or tablet. Whether you’re stressed or not, it’s important to journal all of your feelings. Try not to make your journal all about negative stressors, but the positives in your life. For example, write about how work, school, or family is stressing you out, but you loved how you aced that chemistry test or ate a healthy dinner. Journaling is important because when you see or hear the words, it helps give you a different perspective. For instance, you could be stressed out about your term paper, but in reality, that term paper grade determines your eligibility for scholarships to remain in school. If you identify your feelings it helps to communicate to others how you’re doing. It’s important to remember if you feel alone, you’re not alone because there’s always a friend, family, or pet that cares about you.
 
4. Retail therapy. Here’s your green light to purchase that book, necklace, shirt, makeup palette, or video game. Chances are you’re working extremely hard and this gives you the opportunity to reward yourself. Retail therapy can be an effective stress reliever because it helps you focus on the positive item, instead of the original stressor. Plus, this opens the door for another stress relief technique by engaging in a hobby like reading, makeup tutorials, or playing video games.
 
5. Hobbies. Hobbies are an excellent way to minimize stress because it allows you to have fun and offers something to look forward to. If you’re unsure about which hobby to pursue I’ll include a link of hobby suggestions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies
 
6. Schedule in relaxation time. Whether you have a physical or digital calendar it’s essential that you make time for relaxing. After it’s scheduled, try to make it public knowledge so friends, family, or coworkers know not to disturb you during that time unless it’s an emergency. Relaxing is an important part of your mental health, so you do not burn yourself out. Try to schedule in at least an hour every day devoted to relaxation. You don’t have to do the same relaxation techniques every time either; try to switch it up to avoid getting bored.
 

​My Favorite Book Tropes
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Book tropes are recurring ideas, themes, or devices that authors use to help steer the direction of the characters or the plot. Authors enjoy employing tropes because a sense of familiarity attracts the attention of readers. For example, in romance novels and Hallmark movies, readers are attracted to the powerful CEO character who is overly stressed, so they go home for the holidays and rekindle a past love. Book tropes are successful when an author puts their spin on the plot, characters, or setting. For example, fairytale and classic retellings are book tropes that frequently used in Young Adult Fiction. Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a retelling of Cinderella, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige is a retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum. The majority of book tropes are disliked because numerous authors overuse them, making their stories unoriginal and stale. However, there are good book tropes too.  I wanted to note that I will not be naming specific literary examples because I don’t want to accidentally reveal any spoilers.
 
1. Love triangles. Love triangles provide an exciting conflict and resolution element to stories. Love triangles are successful when they add complexity to the storyline. It’s entertaining when both suitors are viable options for the protagonist, but the reader doesn’t know which one will be chosen. I don’t like it when one-character stays with the same love interest throughout the entire series because it’s boring. My biggest bookworm pet peeve is the lack of character growth/development. For me to enjoy a book, I like learning how the character has evolved from start to finish. As living humans, our likes and dislikes change, so why can’t fictional characters change too?  However, love triangles can be a hit or miss. If a love triangle is simple, then it’s cheesy and cliche. Unfortunately, they can be toxic and harmful as well.
 
2. The slow-burn romance. One of the reasons why I enjoy a slow burn romance is because I love to pick out characters to ship them. Character shipping is when you’re rooting for two fictional characters to have a romantic relationship. I love when characters take their time to form a relationship because it demonstrates their individual character developments. Plus, I’m a sucker for romantic tension that gradually builds and builds until the couple gets together. I strongly dislike insta-love because it lacks passion, appears forced, and is awkward.
 
3. The quest. I love it when characters have to travel to accomplish their goals, missions, or destinies. This gives the author the opportunity to further expand their world-building skills. The world-building is important to me because it allows me to visualize characters and connect to the story. Settings are vital since it helps establish the atmosphere and mood for specific scenes.  Plus, I like reading about descriptive settings, so it feels like I’m right alongside the characters. I don’t like it when the characters stay in the same place throughout the book because it’s stagnant.
 
4. The impending doom. Yes, I know this one is overdone in fantasy books, but I enjoy how authors put their spin on it. I’ve noticed that many  authors change how their protagonists deal with the impending doom; some protagonists prepare and face the oncoming doom while others flee because they're scared of death. I enjoy reading these book tropes because it helps bring a realistic tone to a fictional world; everyone deals with disaster in their way.
 
5. Antiheroes. I think stories with courageous, glorious, and unflawed heroes can be boring. I enjoy stories with antiheroes because they’re complex and dynamic characters. Antiheroes can have a major character or perspective change throughout the story. One of my favorite antihero traits is their curiosity. I don’t like it when characters blindly follow orders. I enjoy it when characters question themselves and others because the right way may not always be the safest. Sometimes fictional characters might have to break the law or disobey orders to save more people.
 
 
 
Edited by Princess Berry 
 

​ 
 
 
My Favorite YouTubers
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
It’s important to relax to recover from the everyday stresses of work, family, and social obligations. Unfortunately, I am not the type of person who can easily relax, nor do I have a lot of time to devote to relaxing. YouTube has become instrumental in helping me relax. It’s easily accessible, and the videos come in different lengths, so whether I have five minutes or an hour, I am fitting in time to relax. This was important to me because I have a time-consuming schedule, and it’s easy to feel like there’s never enough time in the day. Therefore, it makes me feel defeated when I can’t accomplish everything I had hoped to. So, when I finish watching a YouTube video it offers a small sense of accomplishment. Plus, watching YouTube videos gives me something to look forward to because they’re always uploading new content. YouTube has helped me achieve other relaxation techniques as well. I laugh while watching funny videos. I listen to calming nature sounds and people discussing books, makeup, and true crime. I follow along in exercise and yoga routines. Also, I’ve watched a variety of cooking and baking videos. Here is a list of my favorite YouTubers that have helped me to relax. I wanted to note that I watch and support other creators as well, but these are the ones that I predominately watch on a weekly basis.
 
1. Bailey Sarian. On Mondays, she uploads a segment called ‘Murder, Mystery, and Makeup’ where she discusses true crime while doing her makeup. All of the makeup she uses throughout the video is listed in the description box below the video. In previous videos, she’s discussed serial killers, cults, and unsolved mysteries. She has a charismatic and inviting personality that immediately captures my attention when watching her videos. Also, I enjoy the sound of her voice because it’s relaxing.
https://www.youtube.com/user/makeupbyBAILEYSARIAN
 
2. Simply Nailogical & Simply Pod Logical, Cristine Rotenberg with Ben Mazowita. Her channel originated with nail art tutorials and has evolved to feature more comedic content. For example, ‘Swimming in a Pool of Tea,’ ‘I Instruct my Boyfriend to Paint My Nails in French,’ and ‘Recreating My Life in The Sims.’ Often her common in-law partner Ben and their furry feline children Menchie and Zyler will make appearances. In addition to her YouTube career, she is the CEO of her nail polish company HOLO TACO and has a full-time job as a crime statistics analyst. This was inspirational because it demonstrates how you don’t have to commit to one career for the rest of your life.
 
On Tuesday, Cristine and her common in-law partner Ben upload a weekly podcast to their channel Simply Pod Logical. They discuss personal topics such as their high school/university experiences, families, cats, fitness journey, relationships, jobs before YouTube, and the Nail Polish community. Listening to their podcast is entertaining and relaxing because the content is relatable.
 
https://www.youtube.com/c/simplynailogical/featured
https://www.youtube.com/c/simplypodlogical/about
 
3. NikkieTutorials, Nikkie de Yager. She is a Dutch makeup artist and beauty vlogger. Her content consists of makeup tutorials, product testing, celebrities’ makeovers, and makeup challenges. In addition, she regularly offers life updates, so her audience knows how’s she doing. Nikkie is funny, engaging, and super talented. I enjoy her content because it demonstrates her creativity and honesty.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzTKskwIc_-a0cGvCXA848Q
 
4. BooksandLala, Kayla or Lala. Lala is a popular BookTuber that uploads content 2-3 times a week. Her videos consist of vlogs, book hauls, reviews, reading challenges, and offers book recommendations. Lala’s channel mainly focuses on mysteries, thrillers, horror, contemporaries, and anthologies. These are some of my favorite genres to read too, so I enjoy listening to her thoughts and suggestions.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmT3SYwGCZvzFLTo_18Cvnw
 
5. Threadbanger, Rob Czar and Corinne Leigh. Originally, the couple would focus on re-creating DIY Pinterest, cooking, and science projects. One of their most popular series was called ‘Man vs House’ where they bought and remodeled a home. However, in 2019, Rob experienced a massive heart attack and had to be placed in a medically induced coma. His recovery has been slow, so the content is no longer regular. The couple are taking this time to focus on their physical and mental health. I continuously watch their old videos because I love their dynamic, creativity, and talent.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBMxQPhfM6nkhQ8vPfQhkCg
 
6. Corinne Leigh’s Personal Channel. Corrine’s personal channel features more of her hobbies that include cooking, gardening, dyeing her hair, and her cats. Throughout her videos she discusses what’s going on in her life. In the past month, she uploaded a video where Rob helps her dye her hair purple. Her videos are relatable, comedic, and entertaining. Her DIY voodoo doll catnip video inspired me to create toys for my cats to enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS4mCuv_CP6xgMgGjLKLvoA
 
7. The Try Guys, Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang. The Try Guys regularly upload a wide variety of comedic content for their audience. Their motto is to try everything for the audience’s entertainment. One of my favorite series was baking/cooking without a recipe. In each episode they had to bake different flavors of pie, bread, and ice cream. Every time I watch one of their videos I immediately smile.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpi8TJfiA4lKGkaXs__YdBA
 
 
 
8. Rosanna Pansino. She is an actress, singer, author, and baker. On YouTube she is well-known for her baking series, ‘Nerdy Nummies.’ The show features appetizers, meals, and desserts that are fantasy, sci-fi, comic book, anime, movie, TV, and video game related. Throughout the year she posts seasonal holiday recipes for everyone to enjoy. In addition to baking, she posts challenge videos with her boyfriend, Mike Lamond or Husky, collaborations with other YouTubers, funny videos of her dogs Coconut and Blueberry Muffin, and vlogs with life updates. I love the diversity of her content because it keeps her channel fresh and memorable. In her videos she’s talented, creative, smart, sweet, and funny. I bought and have used recipes from her Nerdy Nummies and seasonal cookbook.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjwmbv6NE4mOh8Z8VhPUx1Q
 
9. Blogilates, Cassey Ho. Cassey is a Pilates instructor and primarily posts fitness and nutrition videos. She created specific workouts for different muscle groups such as abs, thighs, arms, legs, and butt. Her workouts range from beginner to advanced levels. Her nutrition videos feature quick, easy, and affordable healthy recipes. She uses her platform to promote a healthy lifestyle and body image. One of the main reasons why I love Cassey’s channel is her ideas about health. She doesn’t believe in the perfect body and understands that everyone has different fitness goals whether it’s to gain muscle or lose weight. She wants to help people achieve their fitness goals and improve their overall mental state. Ever since I started regularly watching and doing her workout videos, I’ve noticed that my body is more toned. Also, I love her nutrition videos because they are simple and delicious.
https://www.youtube.com/user/blogilates/featured
 

9/12/20
Surviving Public Speaking in Class
Liz Eike

You’re standing at the front of the class. Your PowerPoint presentation is up on the projector screen next to you. You’re trying to summarize the last point on the current slide, and it’s becoming harder and harder to speak with every word as your breath runs out much faster than usual. You finish your sentence and gasp for air as quietly as possible. It’s time to move to the next slide; your hand is shaking so badly that it rattles the spacebar when you reach to press it. You still have two slides to go and you somehow have to talk about them long enough to fill the remaining four minutes in your slot. Your classmates stare at you. Your professor makes a note on their rubric. You lose your train of thought. Someone please end your suffering.

If you’ve had this experience, you’re not alone. It’s very difficult to find a person who enjoys public speaking. Even the most seasoned company presidents get stage fright sometimes. It’s pretty much a fact of life.

“Great,” you’re thinking. “There’s no hope. This is just the way it’s going to be.” Or if you’re thinking that this article is going to tell you differently, you’d be wrong. There’s a reason it isn’t titled “How to Make Public Speaking 100% Enjoyable 100% of the Time.” Speaking from experience, there is no way to do that. There is, however, a way to make it suck just a little bit less. This is how I survived every required presentation in college.

Give yourself a pep talk.

I’m not talking about the kind of self-pep-talk that involves splashing water on your face, staring intently into the mirror, and reminding yourself about how great you are. Of course, if that works for you, great. It never worked for me, though, because no matter how much I believed I was great, there was always the underlying worry that no one in my audience would share that opinion. In fact, no one in the audience knew me or anything about me. They had no reason to think I was great in any way.

Here’s my suggestion: Instead of hyping yourself up, bring yourself back down to reality. Give yourself some tough love.

The single most important thing to keep in mind before and during a class presentation is this: Nobody cares.

Every one of your classmates is either going to have to give a presentation of their own or has already presented. If they are normal human beings, this means that they will not be paying attention to your speech, because they are too busy fretting over how their own speech is going to go or how it already went.

As for your professor, always assume that they have seen worse than you are doing. In fact, they have probably done worse themselves. They also will have to grade a lot of mediocre college presentations throughout their career. Your performance has little to no bearing on their opinion of you. They will give you your grade and in a few short years forget you exist entirely.

This all sounds harsh at first, but it can be quite comforting once you come to terms with it. This seven-minute presentation doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of your life. Don’t overthink it. As soon as it’s over with, you can go back to focusing on the things that don’t stress you out.
​
Edited by Emily Chance

​Hobby Suggestions
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional.
 
A hobby is an indoor or outdoor activity that is performed regularly to bring joy and happiness. Hobbies are important because they help take your mind off of everyday stressors; they can even improve your physical and mental health. For example, when you’re passionate about a hobby, your dopamine rises. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that acts as a chemical brain messenger – digestion, blow flood, memory, motor control, pain processing, and heart function all improve when there’s an increase in dopamine.
 
Do friends, family, and healthcare professionals tell you that you need to find a hobby to relieve stress? Are you looking for a new hobby to occupy your time during COVID-19? Do you want to bring more pleasure and joy in your leisure time? Here is a list of indoor and outdoor hobbies for you to consider.
 
Indoor hobby options:
 
1. Cooking, baking, or mixing your own cocktails. Create a Pinterest board of all the delicious recipes you want to make and try them out!
 
2. Jewelry. This could be a great option for those who have sensitive skin or can’t find the right jewelry piece to go with their outfit. You can design a custom piece and select your own materials.
 
3. Magic tricks. You can do magic tricks with cards, props, or illusions to entertain yourself and others.
 
4. Learn a new language. Even though you may not be able to currently travel to your dream destination, you can learn the language, so when you’re there, you can communicate with the locals. Plus, it’s a great skill to add to your resume!
 
5. Candle making. You can create your favorite candle aromas, so you never have to go without your favorite scents. Plus, you can select your own materials to avoid nose irritation. 
 
6. Yoga. There are numerous positions and background music for you to try out. You can follow a virtual class or a Pinterest image guide.
 
7. Podcast. You can listen to podcasts or create one. You can discuss whatever you’d like: For example, your life as a pet owner or new recipes you’ve tried.
 
8. Scrapbooking. It’s time to print out those precious pictures in your phone gallery. You can decorate scrapbooks with fabrics, stickers, movie ticket stubs etc. Scrapbooking allows you to express yourself and document your favorite memories.
 
9. Knitting, sewing, or crocheting. This opens up the door for creative opportunities because you can create numerous items, such as blankets, scarves, mittens, hats, or clothes for yourself, friends, family, and pets. During the holiday season you can create warm items and donate them to the local shelter. You can find patterns at local craft stores or on Pinterest.
 
10. Play an instrument. You can teach yourself to read music and then play it on your new instrument. You can play the guitar, violin, piano, or the trumpet!
 
Outdoor hobby options:
 
1. Astronomy. You can learn all about planets, meteors, constellations and try to find them with a telescope.
 
2. Camping. Camping is more than tents, smores, and sleeping bags. It teaches important survival skills. You can even try those survival techniques in your backyard.
 
3. Fishing. This is a great hobby to learn about fishing equipment and the environment.
 
4. Gardening. You can learn about different fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This hobby will help you spend less money on food if you’re growing it in your backyard.
 
5. Hiking. This is a great form of exercise while exploring the outdoors. You can document your hiking trips by taking photographs or collecting plants or rocks to remember your trips.
 
6. Birdwatching. Have you looked outside your window and ever wondered which bird you’re looking at? Grab a pair of binoculars to view different birds. This is a great hobby to educate yourself about birds in the environment. You can go to your local bookstore or library to check out a birdwatching guidebook to identify birds in your area. Amazon sells excellent bird guidebooks as well.
 
7. Herbalism. It’s the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants. You could travel to different locations to learn about various plants. After you learn about these plants and their benefits, you could grow them in a garden.
 
8. Insect collection. This was a popular hobby during the Victorian era. There are numerous collections in natural history museums throughout the world. Collect insects yourself, or educate others.
 
9. Advanced swimming. So, you’ve accomplished the basic float and freestyle as a beginner swimmer. Why not learn about advanced swimming moves such as the butterfly, sidestroke, or breaststroke? This is a great hobby to learn something new and to stay active.
 
10. Photography. You can make a list of outdoor things you’d like to photograph and practice new photography techniques. Experiment with various cameras, lens, or even a smart phone. Afterwards, you can create a physical album of your photos or an Instagram page.  
 
Edited by Jenna Fults
 

ABOUT THE BOOK:
These mini-essays, originally newspaper columns written for Shaw Media, describe a life of survival: surviving diapers, Pinewood Derby races, and middle school band concerts. Rick Holinger regularly throws his pseudonymous nuclear family under the bus because his children were too young to object, and his wife enjoyed the extra, though paltry, income. No one, however, sacrificed more than the author. Who else would expose his fatherly and husbandly incompetence by revealing in print the time he burned out the front lawn with First Apply Spring Fertilizer? Or wrinkling his wife’s favorite wrinkle-free pants by leaving them untended and cooling in the dryer for five days? Or forgetting to screw in their inboard-outboard’s drain plug before spring launch, thus owning a bathtub rather than boat?It takes a pillage to raze a family. But Holinger survived. Barely. This book tells how.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rick Holinger’s poetry, fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in The Southern Review, The Iowa Review, Boulevard, Witness, and elsewhere; three journals nominated his work for a Pushcart Prize. His short story collection, Not Everybody's Nice, won the 2012 Split Oak Press Flash Prose Chapbook Contest, and Kattywampus Press published his innovative fiction chapbook, Hybrid Seeds: Little Fictions. Degrees include a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from The University of Illinois at Chicago, and an M.A. in English from Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches English at Marmion Academy, facilitates a creative writing workshop at the Geneva Public Library, and lives with his wife, Tia; dog, Summer; and, occasionally, his two twenty-something children in the Fox Valley, an hour west of Chicago. He continues to write columns for Shaw Media in the Kane County Chronicle.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS: Email Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today! An author interview is also available upon request.

Amazon Link:
​https://www.amazon.com/Kangaroo-Rabbits-Galvanized-Fences-Pinewood/dp/B08LNBWG5M/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kangaroo+rabbits+and+galvanized+fences&qid=1605470370&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Poetry makes sense of life; it offers us truths; it brings us unimagined worlds; and it liberates our pain. In moments of great joy or sadness it is poetry which says the impossible, ensuring that the poignancy and loveliness of our humanity never passes into nothingness.
Great Art belongs to everyone; thus, it is crucial that we continue the dialogue between ourselves and the poems. It is in this dialogue that we witness the alchemy of poetry: the way it transmutes from a language form and feature to a universal elixir.
What is the point of living if there is no Art? And poetry is the most concentrated of all Art. It is the oldest of all literary forms. Poetry offers ritual and cadence: sacrifice and secrets. It is audacious and disturbing but always – and this applies to all great poetry – yours. Mine. Ours.
So, we read poetry to face the truth. To stand there and dig in, to stumble over words we don’t get, to find a phrase that flicks a light on in our memory, to cat-paw over and over an image that was laid down long ago. Most of all, we read poetry to remind ourselves of what really matters: to witness the soaring light that tears up our small lives.
Amazon link:
​https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Poetry-Readers-Guide-Understanding/dp/1947381415/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=alchemy+of+poetry+elizabeth+guy&qid=1605469375&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr Elizabeth Guy is a full-time writer and a part time tutor. She has been reading, writing and teaching Literature for the past 30 years. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney (The Poetics of the Nation State) in 2001. Elizabeth has worked in Sydney, NSW at tertiary and secondary levels and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. She has also studied and worked in countries such as Scotland, Fiji and Chile.
Elizabeth believes that Art belongs to all of us and that making it accessible is important. She was influenced by the books by Betty Churcher (the former director of the Australia’s National Gallery) where painting was explained by someone who loved Art and believed it was worthy of sharing with others. Elizabeth is passionate about the Arts. Indeed, she has always been driven to inspire students and to come into the conversation that poetry sets up between the reader and itself.
Elizabeth has written, Take Ink & Weep, a novel that is currently in production and is finalizing her next novel Abandoned by God. Both these historical fictions are set in Russia. The first novel explores the poetic lives of the great Silver Age poets during Russia’s engagement in World War 1; and the second, tells the story of some of the young assassins, active during the early days of the Russian Revolution, and who ultimately shaped the face of history.
Outside of writing, Elizabeth has travelled extensively throughout Russia, Europe and the USA. She has also completed a number of extensive historical walking tracks.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS: Email dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy. There is an author interview available upon request.


From the editor-in-chief:  This would be a great classroom book for college level poetry professors to use in their curriculum!