So my fish died.

Hello, friends!

It’s been a long week. I’ve been sick for the last few days, all while trying for my finals and, much to my dismay, I found my lovely beta fish dead in his tank (RIP Bernard). It’s just been a rough past couple of days and my poor dead fish seemed to be the physical manifestation of it. So, in a moment of sadness, I wrote a little poem for my fish who kept me company during my freshman year and first half of my sophomore year. You’ll be surprised what can inspire poetry. I find it’s often the little things. So, without further ado, enjoy my homage.

Blue scales and bubbles
The gentle hum of the filter
You were a quiet, honest presence
In a world of noise and worry.

I looked forward to those moments
When I’d sprinkle your food inside
And you’d come out
And share a meal with me
For that is how connection is made

I had a suspicion that I was going soft
When I bought you plants and pebbles
To decorate your home.
But I wanted you to be happy
Because that is my nature
As it was yours to you bump against the glass when I came home every day.
I told myself it was your way of say hi.

I knew I had gone soft
When I found your body plastered against the filter,
And your beautiful scales sucked away.

And when I settled for sleep
And looked to my right,
I wasn’t greeted with the flick of a tail,
Or the healing hum of the tank.

Just an empty container of pebble and rock
With no soul inside.
I cried more than I thought I would
For something so small
But so beautiful.

Cities in My Name

Just a fun little challenge that I remember from my old writer forum days. It’s a challenge where you spell out your name and list lovely global cities that start with each letter and describe your thoughts concerning each one. It’s more of a fun game and blog writing exercise than anything. I was going to do a writing prompts post but, alas, a little germ decided to make me its home for the weekend where then my immune system proceeded to convince me that I was dying. What I’m trying to say is I’m sick. The week of finals too. And that is why you’re getting a short but sweet blog post this week that is more akin to a bullet journal entry than anything. Feel free to do the same sort of thing on your own blog! It is quite a lot of fun (especially if you have a long name).

So! Let’s start with my name.

Brooke. With an e. We do not forget the e around here. So let’s see what cities I can find in my name!

🇬🇧🇫🇷🇨🇦Allies + Canada Moodboard🇷🇺🇺🇸🇨🇳 | Hetalia ~ Amino

B – Beijing, China

Ahhhh yes. The lovely city of Beijing. One of the oldest cities in the world come to find out, with its history being traced back up to 3,000 years ago, which is insane to me. I’ve only lived for about 20 years now, and it feels like an eternity.

Apparently this place, as beautiful as it is, has undergone quite the identity crisis (though haven’t we all? Don’t lie, 2021 was a rough ride, don’t even lie), having been named various other titles before finally settling on the name of Beijing. Examples include: Jicheng (‘City of Ji’), Yanjing (Capital of Yan’), Nanjing (‘Southern Capital’), Zhongdu (‘Central Capital’), Dadu (‘Great Capital’), Beiping (‘Central Peace’) and so forth.

Pin on Gods Among Us - Hera & Zeus

R – Rome, Italy

Rome! The city of the coolest ruins that I could ever dream of seeing. And good heavens, the ARCHITECTURE. I COULD GUSH ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE ALL DAY. And maybe I will in another post. But that is for another day when I have more than one brain cell available to do the leg work. No, instead I choose to entertain you with tasty little fun facts. And since Rome is generally a pretty popular city, I’m going to try and dredge up some of the oddest (but interesting) facts about Rome.

For example, did you know they have a pasta museum??? Yeah, didn’t think so.

And that women who lived in Rome during ancient times used to actually dye their hair with goat fat and beech wood ashes? Yeah, if they wanted to be a blonde or a red head, they didn’t have to wait for L’Oréal to be invented.

Also, cats are allowed to roam there by law. Like it’s literally decreed that these cats are cool with the government to just be chillin’ on the ruins. And I love this thought. Aaaand now I desire an animated Disney movie about the cats of Rome. Surely the cats are up to SOMETHING.

in your lover's eyes

O – Osaka, Japan

The more I look up pictures of this place, the more I want to go here. Fun fact, I’ve just always wanted to go to Japan. I know that’s a very basic location to have on your traveling bucket list, but there’s a reason it’s such a popular getaway. The place is gorgeous, especially during the spring.

Osaka is known for a lot of things, one of the most prominent being its food. So, you’ve already got me there. I’m ready. Brb, packing my bags.

I thought I'd give moodboard-making a try, so I made one for...

O – Oslo, Norway

Yet another gorgeous place I wish to visit once I’m a millionaire authoress with a secret identity, an unquenchable thirst for travel and no husband (but maybe like, 2 cats in a cat carrier?). Norway is one of those places that I see pictures of, and I’m immediately mad I’m not there. Which is kind of funny considering I generally have an aversion to cold weather. But I think the immense beauty of this place makes up for that, not to mention I’ve vowed to see the Northern lines burn up the night sky at least once before I die. And this seems like the perfect place to fulfill such a wish.

Pictures, Moodboards, Aesthetics, Oh my! — Disney Princess Aes - Moana  (Moana)

K – Kahuku, Hawaii

Oh, yeah, I’ve seen Moana. And I am ready.

Wanna know a startling fact? I have never seen the ocean.

Yeaaaah, I know. Tragic really. But oh, I so want to see it. I want to go on a boat. Maybe see a dolphin. I’m not too picky honestly. I might even settle for a jellyfish or a trout or something. I just want a little bit of Hawaii. And considering its December right now, that urge has only grown.

Merida moodboard | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs | Tumgir

E – Edinburgh 

Yeah boooy, I saved the best for last. I am aware I have basically gushed over every location covered thus far, but I mean it when I say that this place is the one I desire to travel to the most out of all cities I have listed. For as long as I can remember, I just loved the thought of going Scotland. I loved Celtic music so much growing up. In fact, I think that’s one of the things that really sparked my interest in the place. That and my World History chapter on the Celts and how they’d run into battle naked and covered in blue paint. Something my 9 year old self never forgot.

I think its the thought of foggy cliffs and woods that drives me to it. And castles. I adore castles. The mix of nature, old things, and mystery is just pure magic to me.

And that concludes my wanderlust filled post. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been to any of these places. In fact, I purposefully chose cities outside the US because maybe its really the intrigue of the unknown that drives my desire to want to see these places. The deep need to tread previously un-treaded ground. I think that’s maybe because there’s a little explorer in us all. A kid that didn’t grow up and just wants to see that big world out there. ‘Cause there’s so much to it. And it’s just sitting there, waiting for us.

Wait… do I sense a befitting moment to quote J.R.R. Tolkien??

I think I do.

Ahem.

‘Cause you see it’s like this…the world isn’t in your books and maps.

It’s out there.

Writing Prompts for ENFP’s

And so continues my series of writing prompts based on the meyers briggs personality types. The ENFP personality type is also known as “The Campaigner” and is seen as a creative people person. They are also known as the “hero”. Due to this, I associate the personality with very bright, vivid colors and whimsical ideas or concepts. I associate them with Shakespeare, sunlight, and fantasy.

Ferris Wheel of Time

You love fairs. You haven’t missed one for years. But maybe you should have missed this one? For after a few quick spins, you find yourself taken forward in time, far into the future. Tell me about your adventures with the ferris wheel of time.

Fantacity

You live in a city where things don’t run on electricity or coal. No, your city runs on pure imagination. Tell me about this place.

The Magic Stage

There is a magic stage you and your friends found in the woods. For kicks, you begin to act out a traditional Shakespearean play only to find yourselves teleported to the very setting of the play and each of your friends, a character.

Prism

You know prisms? Bits of glass the separate light into the known colors of our color spectrum. From red to purple we see each sliver of color, different from the ones it lies next to. Quite extraordinary, no?

I’ll tell you what’ve even more extraordinary… an interdimensional prism.

Scientists have been working on it for quite some time. A prism that will separate the dimensions into cohesive shreds so we can find out about the worlds and dimension that lie beyond what we can see. We lie in the universe of white. Tell me about the blue, red, orange, yell, green, and purple dimensions that exist.

The Hum

There is a deep hum that you hear. It seems to come from the universe itself. But, unfortunately, you’re the only one who can hear it yet you are completely determined to find out what it is.

★Imagine

You are an imaginary friend of a child who, surprisingly, doesn’t forget you as they grow older. You continue to stick by their side and talk to them, even as they reach college age. The imaginary friends are quite jealous of this however, and it causes quite a few problems.

The Gene

There is only one born every thousandth generation. We all thought it would never happen. We all thought it was legend. But turns out, it is due to a very specific gene that only activates at the thousandth time it is passed on. Tell me what it is.

Writing Prompts for INFJ’s

Hey everyone! I’m starting a new series of writing prompts based off of all the different meyers briggs personality types and my perceived views and aesthetics associated with them. I wanted to start off with the INFJ personality type because its the one I know the best as it’s my personal assigned personality type. I tend to associate this personality type with magic, astronomy, and philosophy so these associations are reflected in the writing prompts below! Suggestions for which personality type I should do next is welcomed in the comments below!

Reflections

Legends tell of a magic mirror. Rumors vary as to its powers, ranging from teleportation, reflecting your true love, seeing the future and so forth. But you have reason to believe that it has a very different power. The power to show the truth about any individual who gazes upon it. What does this mean exactly? You’re not sure but you’re determined to find out.

Wishing Star

You look upon the starlight sky, lonely as ever. It’s been a rough day but unfortunately, as per usual, you have no one to confide in. In a moment of sorrow, you wish upon a star. You just want a friend. What you didn’t expect was the star to fall from the sky and land in your backyard. But it seems your wish has been granted, by some lucky stroke of fate. Not really sure what to expect, you make your way down stairs to investigate.

Red Ink, Blue Ink

Upon helping a stranger, they gift you an 2 odd looking quill pens in exchange for your kindness. One writes in red ink, the other in blue ink. And there’s something very strange or perhaps… magical about them.

Star Pirate

You and a friend climb upon the roof to gaze upon the night sky during a meteor shower. You talk in low voices about the adventures you would have when you grow up or if you had a rocket ship to fly to the stars. But as you star blissfully into the abyss, you notice something odd about the stars swopping across the black. They seem rather big. And they have shapes. They look like…

Ships?

You open your mouth to ask your friend if they see it too but the words die in your throat. A star is falling, and its coming ever closer. And closer. And closer.

In a halo of white light, a pirate ship comes barreling towards you and your friend, crashing upon the building’s surface.

The Greatest Race

The end fo the world is not for a very long time. But even so, the horseman of the apocolaypse wait patiently for the end of time. Still, you can hardly blame themf or getting bored. Perhaps that’s how the tradition started though I don’t know exactly when.

Every year, at the dawn of New Year’s, the horseman saddle their mighty steeds and prepare for a magnificent race to circle the world. Who will win this year?

How to Study like a Slytherin

★ You like to see how much you can get done in a day.

★ Set goals! You have clear goals that you can work towards.

★ You handwrite your notes and sometimes rewrite them.

★ You do homework the day it’s given.

★ You study the concepts first so you can understand the finer details later.

★ You drink coffee. (but remember to eat too otherwise you’ll get jittery)

★ You set your goals high but but I also want to recommend making sure your expectations are realistic so you often surprise yourself by doing better than you expected (but also you don’t feel defeated if you don’t completely achieve the high bar you’ve set for yourself).

★ You’re on good terms with everyone in class so if you need additional resources, you know who to call.

★ You do a little schoolwork every day.

★ Lots of self-imposed deadlines.

★ You turn your fear of failure into motivation to do well.

★ You re-work or double check your answers.

★ You minimize distractions.

★ You don’t rush things.

★ You listen to lyric-less music.

Birthstone Writing Prompt Tag

Choose a prompt based on your birthstone! Feel free to tag someone to participate as well!

Garnet

Garnets stand for Love and Friendship. With associations with the heart, blood, inner fire, and life force, garnets have long been considered symbols of love. Garnet symbolism also extends to friendship. The name “garnet” comes from the Latin word “Garanatus,” meaning “seedlike,” in reference to a pomegranate. This reference makes sense as small garnets look like the bright red seeds you find inside in a pomegranate.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Fire, Friendship, Love, Passion, Pomegranate, Bravery, Adventure.

Amethyst

The gem’s purple colors represented purity of spirit. Its purplish and reddish hues represented the chastening and purifying effects of suffering. Some people believe the colors alluded to the wounds of Christ. Thus, amethysts are used to aid the healing of wounds.

The name amethyst is derived from the ancient Greek word “amethustos”. This word means sober. It was said that an amethyst could prevent the bearer from becoming drunk and also instills a sober or sharp mind. It was believed that if a person drank from a goblet made entirely of amethyst, they would not get drunk at all no matter how much they drank. In Greek mythology, amethyst was rock crystal dyed purple by the tears of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. 

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Purity, Intelligence, Wine, Revelry, Healing.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is also associated with tranquility, serenity, clarity, and harmony. As the first of the spring birthstones, the sea blue crystal represents transformation and rebirth. It is said to embody youthful vitality, purity, loyalty, hope, and truth. It is also said to have oceanic healing powers.

There are a few legends surrounding this gemstone. The Romans believed that if the figure of a frog were carved on an aquamarine, it served to reconcile enemies and make them friends. The Greeks and the Romans thought the aquamarine was the sailor’s gem, ensuring the safe passage across stormy seas. It was also believed to render soldiers invincible.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Water, Sailor, Healing, Loyalty, Truth, Hope, Invisibility, Frogs, Rebirth, Reconciliation.

Diamond

Diamonds are associated with strength, love and health. Diamonds have been worn by leaders or power figures often to symbolize strength and invincibility.

Ancient Greeks named the diamond “adamas,” meaning “invincible,” “indestructible” and “untamed.” Warriors in ancient Greece wore diamonds. They did this because it was said that the stones would strengthen the warriors’ muscles and bring them invincibility.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Purity, Warrior, Strength, Invincibility, Untamed, Strong.

Emerald

The emerald has been known as a symbol of truth and love. In ancient Greece and Rome, the emerald was said to be the gemstone of the goddess Venus. Emeralds were also believed by the Egyptians to be a source of eternal life. The Chaldeans believed the stone contained a goddess. In Ancient Rome, Nero supposedly watched gladiator fights through a large transparent emerald as he found the color to be calming. In some legends of King Arthur, the Holy Grail is described as being fashioned from an emerald. Many others think that the Emerald brings good luck.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Good luck, Life, Goddess, Grail, Venus.

Alexandrite

The Alexandritehas been thought to bring luck, good fortune and love. In Russia, it is considered to be a stone of good omen. It is believed to bring balance in the interaction between the physical manifest world and the astral world.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Balance, Spirituality, Fortune, Love, Healing.

Ruby

The Ruby is considered the king of gems. The ruby symbolizes love, passion, energy, and success. “A drop of the heart’s blood of Mother Earth” is how the ruby is described in the Orient. The name ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, which means red. It is favorite gem among those in power and those in love, inspiring more emotion than almost any other stone. Some ancient cultures believed that rubies grew on trees, just like fruit. The rubies would begin budding as small white gems, and would slowly grow and ripen, turning red in the light of the sun. When the ruby was saturated with red color, it was ready to be plucked. 

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Fruit, Passion, Love, Energy, Heart, Blood.

Peridot

The Peridot is known as the “Gem of the Sun”.  This gemstone is the green color of nature and is associated with harmony, good health, restful sleep, and peacefulness. It is also known as the stone of compassion, peridot calms anger by giving renewal to all things. When set in gold, this gem was said to protect the wearer from nightmares.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Health, Sleep, Dreams, Harmony, Peace.

Sapphire

 The name sapphire is derived from the Latin word “saphirus” and the Greek word “sapheiros,” both meaning blue. Some believe that the name sapphire is derived from its association with the planet Saturn. The name can be roughly translated to mean “dear to the planet Saturn” in numerous languages.

Rulers of ancient Persia believed the sky was painted blue by the reflection of sapphire stones. To some religions, the blue color of the sapphire represents the heavens. Sapphires are stones of the apocalypse, and ancient lore held that the tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were written, were actually sapphire.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Sky, Blue, Apocalypse, Time, Tablet, Saturn, Ancient.

Opal

The name opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit upala, meaning “precious stone,”. Then, later on in history, it came from the Greek derivative “Opallios,” meaning “to see a change of color.” Opals have sometimes been viewed as symbols of bad luck and bad omens but this is not true throughout all of history as the meaning of the stone varies quite a bit depending on time and location. In Asia, for example, it is seen as a symbol of hope.

And in medieval times, blonde maidens wanted a necklace made of opals, as this was considered to prevent their hair from fading or darkening. The opal was also thought to make a person invisible whenever he wished, and for that reason, it was called Patronus forum (patron of thieves).

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Thief, Iridescent, Hope, Bad Luck, Iris.

Topaz

Topaz gets its name from the Greek word topazion, which may originate from the Sanskrit tapas, meaning, “fire.” The name might also come from the name of the Egyptian island of topazos (now St Johns island) in the Red Sea. 

Most likely due to this yellow color, some believed topaz had the mystical ability to attract gold. Some think it also represents empathy and serenity. This is related to the symbolism of the brown and gold colors relating to the family and the home.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Home, Hearth, Family, Empathy, Fire, Gold.

Blue Topaz

The Blue Topaz gemstone symbolizes love as well as fidelity.  It is also associated with wisdom, communication, and finding the perfect pathways to success and opportunities.

Topaz was once was considered one of five elemental substances that would bring protection to the deities. The figure of a falcon engraved upon a topaz would bring the wearer goodwill and kindness of the powers that be. 

This gemstone is also has been said to work with ones creative energies. Topaz is also excellent for promoting concentration.

Use one or all of the following words as themes for your next writing project:

Falcons, Creativity, Concentration, Protection, Love.

How to Study Like a Hufflepuff

★ You communicate with your teachers.

★ You use your professor’s office hours if needed.

★ You organize study groups.

★ You make your own study guides.

★ You stay hydrated.

★ You dress how you want to feel.

★ You break big tasks into smaller ones so they’re more manageable.

★ You have a good light source so your brain stays awake (e.x. studying beside a window).

★ If you ever have questions, you reach out.

★ You make post-it notes that summarize every chapter or concept that you need to solidify

★ You almost always drink something warm while studying.

★ You use quirky little word-plays and brain hacks to help you remember names and info.

★ You play Games for learning vocabulary. 

★ You have prepared a few study snacks.

Never Have I Ever ★ Writer’s Edition

This tag was created by Bree Dawn over at the Long Voyage ! I definitely recommend stopping by and giving their blog a quick visit! Alright, now I’m gonna expose myself and my bad writing habits.

… started a novel that I didn’t finish.

Most certainly. Though to be fair, I think this is a common occurrence among writers. Sometimes we just get so excited that we start an idea before realizing that we either don’t like it as much as we initially thought or we don’t really have the motivation/time to finish said novel. So yes, I definitely have quite a few unfinished books sitting in a folder in my computer, just wasting away. Such is the life of a writer.

… written a story completely by hand.

Maybe once or twice. Especially when I was little. But my handwriting has always been awful so its not something I particularly like doing. Plus I feel like I can get my ideas out by typing so much quicker.

… changed tenses midway through a story.

All. The. Time. And I don’t realize it till editing and then I have to turn my brain inside out refiguring out phrasing that is in the right tense but still flows. This often happens when I write something and then pick it up again in the middle.

 not researched anything before starting a story.

Yup. Pretty much how I used to write until about three years ago. I just sat down and started plugging away when it came to writing a story. Now I do a little research before hand but I try not to get to bogged down in it as it can actually inhibit the start of my story for a bit too long.

… changed my protagonists’ name halfway through a draft.

I actually don’t think I’ve done this. I generally stick with a name and if I do have a hankering to change it, I figure it out long before I’m halfway through a story. I pick a name and COMMIT!

… written a story in a month or less.

Yes. I wish this happened more often but have done this a few times, especially when I was about 12 or so writing absolute garbage but loving it (I don’t regret it, even if looking back on my old work, I kind of wanna puke). I think I may have done this once or twice in adulthood but not as often as I’d like.

… fallen asleep while writing.

Hmmm… sort of. I’ve been writing a story on my phone and have nodded off but never at my desk typing. My chair is just too uncomfortable.

… corrected someone’s grammar IRL/online.

Maybe jokingly but not seriously. I don’t think it actually matters that much unless you’re editing something for someone. Being an actual snob about grammar is annoying for sure.

… yelled at myself in all caps in the middle of my novel.

Maybe once or twice. Or three times. I don’t know, sometimes I loose focus or have to make notes for my future editing self and I am kind of a big offender of using all caps to type anything so… yes.

… used “I’m writing” as an excuse.

Not really? Not that I wouldn’t use this excuse if I could but I can’t imagine when it would work. The closest thing I can come to this is maybe not doing a chore right away because I’m writing something for school (shout out to that online college student life) but beyond that, not really.

… killed a character that was based on someone I know in real life.

Not saying I’m above this, I just haven’t done this. Yet. Give me time.

… used pop culture references in a story.

I tend to write mostly high fantasy so I don’t think I have. Unless it was in some sort of silly inside jokey type of story me and my friends worked on.

… written between the hours of one AM and six AM.

Oh, absolutely. Gotta write when the inspiration hits and unfortunately that can be at some very odd hours.

… drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.

No, I don’t think so. I don’t really like the taste of coffee on its own and have to add monstrous amounts of creamer in order to enjoy it so I tend to limit myself to one cup of coffee a day.

… written down dreams to use in potential novels.

I have used elements from my dreams for inspiration for locations before. Does that count?

… published an unedited story on the internet/blog/Wattpad.

100%. Fictionpress & Wattpad were sites I frequented back in middle school as a place to share my awful stories. I loved it. Good times, good times.

… procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.

Absolutely. Homework has gotta wait sometimes. But I also have to kind of out myself that I have done homework to procrastinate writing before. I can get burned out on projects sometimes so I do anything other than that writing project some days.

… typed so long that my wrists hurt.

Yup. I used to have mini laptop to write on and it KILLED my lil wrists.

… spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.

Coffee, yogurt, and popcorn have become well acquainted with my keyboard unfortunately.

… forgotten to save my work/draft.

Oh. Oh yes. And there were tears.

… finished a novel.

Actually, yes! Now editing it is another story but I have finished it!

… laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.

Maybe once ore twice….

… cried while writing a scene.

Don’t think I’ve done this yet. I more of an evil laugh kind of person when I’m writing something that I know is gonna be heart wrenching. Sorry, readers.

… created maps of my fictional worlds.

I’ve done this a lot actually! It helps me visualize my world. Plus there are some super cool map makers online!

… researched something shady for a novel.

Considering I often writer murder mysteries most definitely. Usually poison.

And I think that’s all for now! Thanks for sticking around! And if you haven’t done this tag before, consider yourself tagged to do as such! Don’t be shy!

How to Study Like A Ravenclaw

★Cute and organized stationary is a must have. You come into studying PREPARED.

★Draw pictures and diagrams when you can.

★Use pens. Particularly the cool kind that erase. The way the ink flows onto the page is supremely satisfying.

★You review your notes daily.

★You think critically on the subject matter you are studying.

★ You do the additional reading.

★ You prioritize. The important tasks get done first.

★ Lists, lists, lists, and more lists!!

★ You actually study at a desk.

★ You check your sources before you cite them.

★ You utilize planners and study apps

★ You drink tea over coffee.

★ You don’t ignore what you don’t understand. You follow up and figure it out.

★ You take five minute breaks when needed before diving back in.

★ You know your limits as well what you are in control of.

Fairytale Reading List

★Cinder by Marissa Meyer

★To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

★Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

★Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

★The Princess Trials by Cornelia Castiel

★Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston

★The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

★Jinx by Sage Blackwood