NaNoWriMo: How I Intend to Keep it Going

As you know from this post, I am taking part in the NaNoWriMo challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. If you didn't realize, this is quite a challenge and to win/succeed is quite a feat. So I thought I'd share a few ideas I have on how I'm going to try to keep myself working hard enough to achieve my goal and win the challenge! 

• Write no less than 1,700 words a day. My daily goal this month is 2,000 but my bare minimum is 1,700 words. If I write 1,700 words a day for 30 days, I will reach 50,000 words on the very last day.
• Forget the formatting. I am obsessive about formatting. I love to make every chapter heading the same, every time jump match, and everything perfect. For this month, I'm not allowing myself to format a single page until I have completed the novel.
• Work every day from 2:30-3:45. I just had to drop a class from my schedule for various reasons, so the time I would have spent in class is my designated times to work every day. Weekend will be a bit difficult for me to keep this, but there is rarely anything going on at 2:30 in the afternoon on a Saturday.
• Keep a regular sleep schedule. If I can force myself to go to bed every week night by 10:30pm then I can get up in time to go to my classes and prepare for the day. Sometimes, when I stay up to late, I roll out of bed and into class then spend the rest of the day trying to prepare myself and making myself take on the day. This simply won't work for November.
• Take at least an hour each day away from writing to read. Every new book I read leaves me with new ideas about style and wording. reading enhances my writing and what could I need more to finish my novel?
• Water. I'm challenging myself to stay hydrated as best I can this (and every) month. I'm horrible about drinking water and it certainly shows in my fatigue.
• Enlist help. My life partner is absolutely wonderful at keeping me on track. He will ask every day if I've done my reading and if I've finished any goals I've set for myself. He really does keep me on track, which is good because I'll be spending about a week of this month at his house and I'm happy to know he'll be helpful rather than a distraction.
• Carry my computer everywhere. I write, as I feel most people now do, on my laptop, or really on a tiny off-brand notebook that barely runs chrome, but it works. It's small and so I intend to carry it everywhere with me this month. 5 minutes of quiet can be that much more towards my goal each day.
• No revision. I'm the worst at reading over my work and revising it before I write anything new. This month that ain't gonna fly. I'm, instead, going to write down in my NaNoWriMo notebook the changes I want to make with a page number and proceed writing as if I've made the changes.

I'm nervous but very excited to continue my work this month. I've had one productive day and am beginning another. Day 2 is on! I hope these ideas help you to keep up at whatever you're doing and if you're doing NaNoWriMo, good luck!

What are your best NaNoWriMo or anti-procrastination tips?

October in Review

Happy Halloween all! More on that later...

This month has been quite a month of fun and excitement for me and I hope for you all as well!

This month I talked about my love of hand written letters and excitement about moving into my own room here on campus in Letters and Solitude.

I participated in one blog tour with a Birthright Teaser and the Promotional Blitz for Forbidden Forest!

In a week of lists I shared my "Fall Line-Up" of shows I'm watching this fall, some Dorm Food Must Haves, and a list of some new amazing blogs I've followed.

I also shared an amazing artist I found and feel in love with in an Inspiration post.

Finally, I shared my thoughts on Hemingway's A Moveable Feast and announced my excitement to be a participant in NaNoWriMo this year!

I hope this month was as wonderful for all of you as it has been for me! Any thing you'd like to share about this past month?

New Loves

I always love finding new blogs with wonderful content to follow on my Bloglovin account. Every morning when I first wake up, I immediately check my Instagram and my Bloglovin from my phone. I love seeing so many amazing posts each day. This week, I've found several new blogs to love and follow so I thought I'd share a few with you (continuing with the apparent list theme of this week).

.As Far As The Eye Can See. is an adorable blog I've just found run by a young girl known as S. Christie. Her blog is full of beautiful photos and even more beautiful words. I find a lot of her posts very interesting, beautiful, and inspiring.

Classy Collegiate is a blog run by one of my distant sorority sisters in Georgia. She is currently on Hiatus which she is studying abroad in the British Isles (so jealous but I hope to follow next year!), but her previous posts are amazing and wonderful. She blogs about her life and the things she likes. I really love it! Sister love!

Little Things and Curiosities is a lovely blog run by Laura Marie, a young woman in San Francisco. Her blog is very diverse and beautiful. The photography she chooses to accompany her posts are also extremely beautiful. This is definitely worth a click.

I Like That Blog is a lovely piece written by a lovely lady in Amsterdam, Liset. She blogs mostly about her life and, if you couldn't guess, the things she likes. Her outlook on things is sometimes very interesting and I really do "like that blog"

That just a tiny insight into a few of the blogs I enjoy. Check them out and see what you think!

Do you use Bloglovin or another site to keep up with you favorite blogs? What are some of your favorite? Any I need to check out?

Pinning Sweetly #2

This Monday I've got another Pinning Sweetly for you! I hope you enjoy!
Same as last time, each photo is a link to the pin!




I'm on a tattoo craze again. I've got two now but I can't wait to have the money to get my next one! I found this and similar pins recently and I think I really want a white ink tattoo! I think one on my right wrist would be really neat. What do y'all think?



This one I've been thinking about doing for a while now. My friend has a shirt that says "Wherefore art thou?" and since I first saw it, I've been wanting to make shirts with literary quotes (especially Shakespeare!). I'm really thinking about doing this over Christmas break.



I'm mostly putting this one here because I think this edit is absolutely amazing! I love this show (Game of Thrones) so much and this is my favorite couple! This edit is beautiful and I adore it!



This photo is of a salt dough pendant. My Hunny and I are planning to do this sometime soon. I really think is is a beautiful and unique gift to give to your loved one or a fun craft to do together.



This pin isn't actually because of the photo, but the link it goes to. Since I joined the fencing team I've been working out a lot. I really like this link of healthy post-workout snacks. They all look so yummy and I can't wait to try all of them out!

---------------------

That's all the lovely pins I've got for this time. 

What have you been pinning? What do you think of these pins?

Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge: Accepted.

I've just learned about the Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge over at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf and I accept the challenge! Click the picture above for details on the challenge and the linky!
I'm signing up as an Initiate saying I'll read between 1 and 5 witchy books and review them. I only aim so low because of my late start, but I hope to exceed my goal.
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, which I read and reviewed last month is/was my first witchy read of the year so I'm counting that.
Make sure you check out Melissa's blog! I've just found it and I'm greatly enjoying it!
Do you like witchy reads?

July in Review

I think it was a great first month of the new, revived blog! I managed to post 14 posts last month! I'm very proud of my new project and the optimistic direction it is heading. I'm grateful each and every person who has come to read my life, which is mostly filled of books and sorority life. Thank you so much and I'm looking forward to an awesome second month as well!

I started out the month on the 6th with my introductory post: A Girl








Then followed that Saturday with a weekend write up: An Adventure in Baking

The next week was a crazy awesome week with a post every day, and my trip to Colorado!
That week we has a Book Review on Monday: The Princess Diaries: A Book Review

Another weekend write up on Tuesday: Of Sisters, Food, & Explosives
Wednesday had a very serious post explaining my school decisions: A Change of Pace
Thursday was a photo loaded post: The Great iPhone Clean Out
That Friday was the first (and so far only) Finishing Friday.
Finally on Saturday I showed some of my newest YouTube Subscriptions: New Subs!


The next week things calmed down a bit with only two posts:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Book Review
Pinning Sweetly #1

Next we had a good week with two book reviews and a haul
The Esspressologist: A Book Review
A Haul of Sorts - in which my darling Nook was introduced and given a new handmade cover!
Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft: A Book Review

Finally the last post of the month was another book review Monday in which I reviewed Choker by Elizabeth Woods.

I hope you all enjoyed last month's posts as much as I did!















How was your July?

Pinning Sweetly #1

Today, I had planned to have a write up of my Colorado trip, but things are a bit crazy with the whole trip home and settling back into life here, so I thought I'd start something new. I've been thinking recently about beginning a series called "Pinning Sweetly." I don't plan for this to be weekly, but it will evolve as the weeks and months go on. This series is a number of things I have found on Pinterest that I think is appropriate to add to this blog and would like to share with everyone, even those who choose not to use Pinterest or choose not to follow my pins. I hope you enjoy this series and here we go!
Each photo is a link to the Pin on Pinterest.

-------------

These have certainly been on my mind since the first rain I had last fall while at university. I've been lusting after them ever since, but I can't seem to settle on which pair I want most to begin a small collection of them. I'm really liking this pretty blue, and the idea of solid colours as well.

With Fall Rush coming up on us sorority girls very quickly, I've been looking at different styles of painting both Greek/Sorority letters as well a initials. My little sister will be very, very spoiled.

Here's another item I've been lusting after. I love these little messenger style bags. I'm really really liking the pastel and funky colour trend. I love adding a pop of colour to less than impressive outfits and one of these bags would fit the bill perfectly!

With the fall semester coming up, as well as keeping up with my Etsy shop, this blog, and my YouTube channel, I've been looking heavily into getting a day planner, but it's hard to find ones I really like and that would be functional for me. I ran across this pin and I love the idea of creating my own planner with the things I need, whether I use these print outs or create my own, I'm overjoyed to find this pin!

This pin, and so many others like it, have begun to fascinate me. Living in Louisiana, I've never needed a real winter wardrobe, but I've always loved the idea of it. Now with the potential move to Colorado, I've been pondering the possibilities of cute, but functional, clothes and shoes. I'm excited to start a collection of non-rain boots and long coats! 

Again, with Fall Rush and my soon-to-be little sister in mind, I've fallen in love with this photo pillow idea! My sorority, or at least my chapter, does the Big Sister reveal by giving our Littles photos of the family or of their Big Sister. I think this would be a neat, original idea for how to do the reveal! Goodness I have so much I want to do for my Little!

Lastly, I wanted to leave you guys with this little quote about sorority and Greek Life. There are so many misconceptions about sororities and the Greek system. So many believe Greek life is all parties and alcohol, but it is not. Greek life is about family, friends, connections, and support. It's the most amazing thing and I could not imagine having my university experience without my sisters. 

But enough waxing about sisterhood, I have a whole post in the works about that. That's all the pins I have for you today. Please leave feedback if you liked or disliked this post! I want to post you guys would like to read!

What are some of your favorite pins or boards on Pinterest? Did you like this style of post? Any general thoughts on Pinterest as a whole?

Of Sisters, Food, and Explosives

As promised Sunday, this is the continuation of the saga of my weekend. I'm leaving for Colorado tomorrow and cannot wait to see everyone and the fantastic state!

--------------------------

After finishing all the baking I mentioned in An Adventure in Baking, I went to bed. The next morning, Saturday, I got up at 7:30am and began getting ready for the day. The morning was to be full of house and yard work, so I didn't snap a picture of my boring yard clothes. At 9:15 I left for the morning and hit the interstate towards the Sorority house. I got there and hung out with a few of my sisters until everyone else showed up and tasks were distributed. I actually enjoy cleaning the Sorority house, maybe it's the fact that everytime I'm there I'm surrounded by girls I love. After all our tasks, which ranged from stripping wallpaper to painting letters to dusting to weeding, we all took a break and headed out for an awesome lunch and some more bonding. 

After lunch, we all found our way back to the house and went over some awesome stuff for fall rush/recruitment, did a bit more cleaning, then broke for the afternoon.

Sorry for the horrible quality, I was in such a hurry, I had 15 minutes to shower, dress, and take this photo.

At 6pm, the real party started. It was so much fun being there with all the girls that I forgot to take pictures until things started exploding (more on that in a moment). It was a potluck, so there was plenty of wonderful food. While we ate, and after, we all sat around our main room and caught up on all the happenings of life. One thing that is never missing in our house is laughter, man did we laugh. A little later, we pulled out the board games, divided into teams, and played a rather competitive and hilarious game of Cranium. I loved seeing all my sisters' talents on display.

Finally, the sun started to set and we started lighting things on fire, or at least a couple of the girls did. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. On of my sister's parents own a fireworks stand and she brought a wide array of flamables left over form the 4th of July! Okay, it was a little scary to think of these girls with explosives, but all turned out well. We watched sparkly lights, didn't get arrested, and got some amazing pictures.

I was so happy to see all the girls, especially my grand-big! This is her after catching a "parachute" from one of the fireworks.

It was such a wonderful night and day with my sisters. It makes me hate consindering tranferring to another school, and another chapter, but they've been supportive of my dreams and I feel confident I've got friends for a lifetime!

An Adventure in Baking

This last Friday I had a lunch date with my grandfather. It was quite lovely. I really like spending time with him and I'm glad we got to do something before we leave Wednesday for Colorado! I wore a pretty, but casual, summer outfit for the whole day.

After lunch, I went to visit my grandmother and take her my leftovers, where I spent about 4 hours. My car wouldn't start! It was horrible! The key doesn't turn right now and it takes quite a bit of finagling to make it work, but at least it does work, and for that I am grateful!

After the trama with the car, I went to the grocery store and picked up a whole mess of supplies! I'd committed to baking cupcakes and cooking sausages for my Sorority's Summer Potluck (Which went AMAZING! I'll have a write up on that for you Tuesday!) The cupcakes I wanted to make were ones I saw on Pinterest. They looked like owls and were so adorable, I just had to try them (owls happen to be my sorority mascot and my favorite animal)! But while at the store, I decided to also get some muffin mix and make some blueberry muffins!

I feel like they turned out really well. I was surprised that each one was almost perfectly golden brown

After the muffins were out of the pans, I started on teh cupcakes. I made them with some yummy yellow cake mix, and resisted licking the spoon!

They baked wonderfully as well. I think out oven (we just moved to this house) is pretty darn amazing, or I am! When the cupcakes finally cooled, I got to town trying my best to get them to look like owls. I used half oreos and brown Reeses Pieces for the eyes, an orange Reeses Piece for the beak, and, of course, chocolate icing to make it all stick. I was so proud of the finished product!

I was really surprised how well the little owls held up over night and on the car ride to the sorority house. Everyone thought they were adorable! Finally done with the baking, I curled up in bed with The Espressologist and quickly passed out. It was a busy, slightly hectic day, but, believe it or not, the next day was much more busy! But I'll get to that on Tuesday. Now I'm going to run off to bed and sleep my life away!

A Girl

Hi there! Remember me? The silly girl who can't seem to keep up with my blogging? Well, I'm back! And if you haven't noticed, a lot has changed around here. How do you like the new background and colour scheme? What about the new name? I chose it to match my YoutTube channel.

But since I've been gone for so long, I thought I'd do a re-introduction and tell all my new readers who I am, and remind my old readers that I exist.

I'm Raelynn Brown. I'm a 19 year old girl about to begin my second year at university studying French and English. I have reddish hair, currently, and an inability to not colour my hair. I love vintage clothes and uncomfortable shoes.

I love to read and to write. I love to take pictures and I love to dress up. I have two giant stacks of unread books on the top of my bookshelf and I continue to buy more books.

I spend my life watching TV shows on Netflix, scrolling through Tumblr, reading blogs, reading books, crocheting animals, and making jewelry. I sell my jewelry and crochet creations on Etsy in my shop, Le Voyage Magique. 

My mom and I run a chapter of a non-profit organization where we have twelve rabbits, five of which are our own and the other seven are adoptable. I love living with my bunnies and spending time with my family.

I eat far too many sweets, except I love fruits and vegetables. I also adore photographing my cute foods.

I think that's all I have to say, that's certainly all the pictures I have for you today! If you want to know more about me check out the "About Me" page, the "Find Me" page, and ask me questions in the comments!