5 of the Best NaNoWriMo resources

NaNoWriMo is six days away.

That is freaking close! In preparation for NaNoWriMo, I've put together a list of great resources for those working out "last minute" details for your story.

1.) NaNoWriMo Forums. If you haven't signed up officially for NaNoWriMo, I recommend you do that so that you'll have access to the forums. They are so useful when you are stuck and need some advice on where to go.

2.) K.M. Weiland's website. One of the first writing websites I ever came across was K.M. Weiland's. It is still one of my favorites to read and even reread.

3.) Jenna Moreci's Vlog. The first video I ever saw of Jenna's happened to be her 5 hater's video (which I highly recommend you watch). She has a lot of great advice, plus she's super funny.

4.) Pacemaker Planner. I will admit, I've never actually used this, but it has been recommended to me multiple times. It helps you set up your plan/ goal and uses an algorithm to help you achieve your goal.

5.) yWriter. I know I go on and on about how wonderful Google Docs are, but if I had to choose a writer program for its adaptability, yWriter would win, no competition.

I don't anticipate posting a lot of blogs next month since I'll be trying very hard to focus on writing my new novel. My most recent problem happens to be the fact a new idea has been beating my brain. I thought I was prepared with a specific tale to tell, but... I can't concentrate on anything else but this new idea.

Also, quick subject change: I changed my hair for the first time in 15 years.

Prepping NaNoWriMo: 6 Quick Tips for making it your best month yet!

It is that time of year again.

Less than one month before the incredible, crazy, stressful, intense, and eye-opening month many people experience as they struggle to write 50,000 words (aka a novel) in one month.

National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo.

I have participated in this multiple times, and I'll be honest: I've never won.

November always gets way too hectic for me to really concentrate.

Last year, in fact, was an absolute mess. I didn't even decide what I was going to write about until three days into the month.

This year is different. This year I have a plan.

This year I am participating in Preptober.

These are tips I'm finding helpful in preparing for this upcoming writing frenzy.

1.) Decide whether you want to actually participate. NaNo is not easy. But even attempting it is worth it in my opinion.
2.) Brainstorm different ideas that could be useful. I recommend creating an outline for at least the overall structure and timeline of your idea.
3.) Sign Up for NaNo on the official website.
4.) Befriend writer buddies. (My NaNoWriMo name is Sohvanya, feel free to add me!)
5.) Breathe. This is a month to help grow as a writer, so stay calm and remember to breathe.
6.) Make a Plan. There are many different checklists and plans and other tools out there to help make a plan, between character info sheets and progress tracking forms. Just remember to plan.

My next few posts this month will be going a little more in depth about preparing for NaNoWriMo, so be prepared for that.

Until Next Time,
Shelby

P.S. If you have an artistic friend who is participating in Inktober, one way to get into the habit of writing every day is once the picture is drawn, write a short amount to go along with the picture and turn it into a story. My friend Magen and I are attempting this and although the "story" is kind of ridiculous at this point, her drawings are great and it's fun.

Why Write?

People write for a myriad of reasons. 

And I get asked quite consistently why do I write. 

My normal, go-to reason is because I'm not good at anything else. It is simple, relatively true, and either gets people to change the subject or they start arguing with me that I have other gifts. Which I generally just roll my eyes to.

I am aware that writing is not the only thing I am good at, but it IS the thing I'm good at that I enjoy the most. Even when I'm suffering from a belief that I can't even put a functional sentence together. 

What are words even? 

But writing, no matter what kind of writing I am doing at the moment, is one of those things that helps me clear my head. It helps me think things through. It helps me keep from becoming completely antisocial. 

I write this blog because what I have to say isn't unique to me. I know that. My journey, although it has different aspects that makes it MY journey, I hope that others stumble upon the blog and it helps remind them that growth at any time is possible. You can always work to become a better you. Whether it is in similar ways to me, in growing healthier mentally and physically. Or if it differs drastically. This blog is here to share my experiences. 

I write because I love stories. I always have. Stories help me express my ideas and they help me work through different things. Stories help me escape. 

I write because it's easier to express my thoughts through written words than spoken ones. 

I write because I like to create things and no matter how hard I try I can't draw or sculpt or really anything of that sort. Although I am getting better at looking at something and turning it into something tangible in front of me (such as the silhouette of a witch riding a broomstick out of cardboard at work), I'm a long way away from being able to consider myself "crafty."

I write to explore. Explore this world and others of my own creation. Explore my mind. Explore the different aspects that make other people who they are.

I write to see different sides of things. 

I write to continue learning. It doesn't matter what you write. You'll constantly be learning new things, about yourself, about others, about new things, about old things, about everything.

I write to have an excuse to step out of my comfort zone. Even if I am trying to grow as a person and get out of my comfort zone and I don't actually need a reason to do that, sometimes people look at you oddly. But if you add "hey, I'm a writer and I need to know what this experience is like," it adds some credibility to it.

I write to be able to make a positive out of everything. I mentioned not too long ago that I got my first jellyfish sting and was strangely excited about it. I was excited about it because if I ever wanted to write about a character who got something similar to a jellyfish sting, I'd be able to accurately. Anything negative that happens at all can be twisted into, this is a good experience to know what it's like so I can write more efficiently.

I write to keep my sanity. My mind is constantly working. It throws out so many different possibilities to anything and everything I might ever consider doing. It throws out different things that very likely won't occur. 

I write to write. It's fun. I enjoy it. I am pretty good at it (most of the time). That is really all the reason I need to do it. 

I don't write to make money (yet). Someday, I do hope to help pay my bills (or pay in the entirety) with my writing, but at this point I still just write because I enjoy it. 

Why do you write? Tell me in the comments!

Until next time,

Shelby

Choosing POV

There's so much to consider when planning (and writing) a novel. Or a short story. Or anything, really.

Of the many things you have to decide on Point of View is just one thing, but it can be foundational. Not only which POV but how many you use. 

Will you write within first person, second person, or third person? Will you stick with one person's POV or will you jump around between multiple different ones?

(Please note: This post contains affiliate links)

What are the different point of views?

- First Person: This point of view is when the narrator is telling the story from his or her viewpoint. It is easy to identify because the author uses "I" and "Me" and those sort of key words. 

     Some popular examples of first person POVs are as follows:

           - Divergent Series (Veronica Roth)

           - Red Queen Series (Victoria Aveyard)

           - Hunger Games Series (Suzanne Collins)

           - Assassin's Apprentice (Robin Hobb)

           - Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)

-Second Person: This Point of view is when the narrator is telling a story to the audience as though the audience is the main character. "You did this, you went to this place." I can't say I've ever read a novel from this POV, but with that said, many of the "chapter" or "episodic" apps on the phone are in this POV. It's almost as though you have amnesia and someone is trying to catch you up on your life.

      Popular examples of second person POV (according you goodreads) are as follows:
             - You (Caroline Kepnes)

             - If on a Winter's Night a Traveler (Italo Calvino)

             - Bright Lights, Big City (Jay McInerney)

             - The Fifth Season (N.K. Jemisin)

             - The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)

-Third Person: Third person is where the narrator is telling the story as an outsider looking in. Words such as "he" and "she" and "they" are common. This POV can be split even further.

     1) Third Person Omniscient: This point of view is where you can see into the head of any character. You (and the Narrator) are all-knowing. 

              -The Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne)

              - The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)

     2) Third Person Limited: If Omniscient means all-knowing, limited is as it sounds. You can still see into people's heads, but it is limited to one or a few characters.

               - All Souls' Trilogy (Deborah Harkness - I'm not sure if her newest book Time's Convert is in the same POV)

               - Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)

              

How to decide on Point of View?

There are a couple things to really consider when trying to figure out which point of view you want to go with.

1.) Other novels in your genre: There are some genres that do better with certain POVs. By do better, I mean that are more popular POVs in certain genres. 

      - First Person is popular within Young adult. With Third Person Limited very close behind.

2.) How much do your readers need to know? This is important because the different Points of view each give a different amount of knowledge. First person gives it directly from inside one persons head. Third person limited can give you more outward knowledge and third person omniscient gives you everything. 

Other factors:

- How many Points of view? This is the question that tends to bog people down. It's a common question on different writing groups I'm a member of. I would say use as few as is required. The more POVs, the more likely the reader is to get confused. 

      As much as I liked the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard (Seriously, read it if you haven't: Red Queen, Glass Sword, King's Cage, and her latest and last in the series War Storm), by the final book, I felt as though she was using way too many POVs. I didn't need to see inside the head of Maven or Iris. Three would have been a nice number to stick it with, rather than five.

- How to choose who to have a POV? The first step to deciding how many points of view you should have is deciding who you want to focus on. The most important thing to remember is who you decide to show as the POV characters will likely connect with the readers moreso than any others. Be careful to only show those you want the reader to connect with. 

With all of this said, remember it is your story. Do what you want. Everyone will have an opinion of what you're writing, be it good or bad. 

Is there anything that helps you decide on what POV to use in your writing? Comment below!

Until Next Time,

Shelby

P.S. I'm trying out the Amazon Associates thing ("participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program"), so for awhile now at least, any links you see on my page will be connected to that, so if you purchase anything through the links, I should theoretically get a little bit of money through it. So if I mention anything you're curious about trying, please go through the link!

Willpower is Weird.

Mental health is just as, if not more, important than physical health.

A person can work so hard to be fit and eat healthy, but without good mental health, that won't mean as much as it would with the good mental health.

Part of having a good mental health is having a strong willpower.

If you are doing a workout program or diet because of societal pressures rather than for yourself, you won't have a strong willpower to stick to it.

Mental state is 90% of the battle.

Willpower was something I've been battling with recently.

I think I tried too hard to not have a break in any of what I was doing and it just depleted any and all of my willpower.

I learned, the hard way, to not be afraid to take a cheat day in either working out or diet or writing.

It has been a few weeks of sticking with my diet strictly, but once a week, I'm still happy to splurge a bit. I'll have the cupcake or the enchiladas.

Working out, I'll take an extra rest day every so often.

It has helped so much. I'm giving myself a chance to replenish that which I've previously depleted.

Now another thing I've been doing is not spending money.  At least, any extra money. This is something that I'm concerned to give myself a cheat day.

If I buy one thing, what's to stop me from buying other things?

I do struggle with that, quite a bit. In fact that's probably the most difficult

Willpower is a weird thing.

What is the thing you struggle most with where willpower is concerned?

Until next time,
Shelby

Writing What You Know or Not?

One thing I learned very quickly when I decided that pursuing a career in writing was what I wanted to do: people have their own opinions.

One thing I learned when I started aiming for better health: everyone's journey is different.

Before I start this trek to a better me, I knew both of these things but I didn't KNOW them. And the farther I get on this journey the more I realize that the things I've learned for writing goes very well for better health and vice versa.

On this journey to a better me, I've been aiming to experience more of life, to get over fears. With that, I can know more. And then my writing can become more realistic and overall better.

You know, because everyone always says write what you know.

That phrase has been the reason I've been told on multiple occasions that I can't become a successful writer, I'm too young. I don't know real hardships in life. "That's why it's good you're writing for young adults because no one would listen to a child like yourself. You'd never sell any books."

Which has always annoyed me, because although my life hasn't been full of strife, I know of many people my age who have gone through a lot. Just because someone is young doesn't mean they've not experienced anything in life.

But being told things life that, make me really wonder.

Should you only write what you know?

I understand there are a lot of pros to that.

1) you actually know what you're talking about

2) you can write very detailed about certain things, like injuries.
- I recently got my first jellyfish sting. Everything I had ever read about them was nothing like it actually felt. Now, it wasn't a bad sting, but it was nothing like I actually expected.

But there is one major con to only writing what you know: it is limiting to what you can write.

I write fantasy, and the likeliness of me ever finding a dragon to let me ride on its back to experience that is highly unlikely (although if you know of one that's let me try, please contact me;)).

No matter how much research I do into certain things, I won't truly know them unless I experience them. And as much as I am willing to do to improve my writing, I think I'll avoid getting shot or stabbed just to know exactly what it feels like.

But I do have a vivid imagination and I'm able to visualize quite a bit. Smells, sights, emotions, none of it is offlimitsoto my imagination. If it is suggested, I visualize it.

With writing, I have learned there is so much more to it than what you know.

It's as much about that as what you can imagine. And how accurate your imaginings can be.

What is your opinion? Do you prefer writing what you know or do you like to explore new realms in your imagination?

Until next time,
Shelby

Numbers Don't Matter

When I started this blog three and a half years ago, I was lost. I was in a gaping hole grasping the side with everything I had in me.

Since then, I've done everything I could to pull myself up and out of the hole. I've fought tooth, nail, and toes with adversaries that only I could truly see.

I'm in a much different spot in my life than I was then, despite the fact that I'm sitting very close to where I was when I decided to start this blog.

At that point, I had lost who I was. I didn't know anything anymore.

I was stuck in the dark, without a flashlight or any way to make a fire. There were no Stars, nothing.

That was the point I realized, even if I wasn't sure who I was, I wasn't who I wanted to be.

I was making no progress on my writing overweight, completely overwhelmed with the amount of debt I was in, and stuck. It felt like I wasn't going anywhere.

Numbers were what I held on to. How much I weighed, how many words I had written, how many calories I took in, how many cities I had been to (since I'd barely left Texas).

Over the past few years, I've come more to terms with different things.

Although writing consistently is important, the number of words I write each week aren't as big of a deal.

I've stopped tracking the exact number of calories I eat and more try to aim for healthier options.

My weight, I do care about but more in a "does this feel comfortable" sort of way rather than an I need to lose it.

Numbers aren't as big of a deal as I used to think of them.

How I feel is.

And finally, for the first time in a very long time, I can say I'm happy.

Like really happy.

The funk I'd been having really caused me to look doubly hard at myself.

Yes, I'm single and nearing my late twenties.

Yes, I still don't have a published book out.

No, I'm not this super tough, strong woman.

But I am the strongest I've ever been.

I am in the best shape I've ever been in.

I'm confident in who I am (even if I'm still trying to figure it who exactly that is).

My writing style is improving with each day that goes by.

My loans are no longer so unbearably high (so close to being done with them I can practically taste it).

I'm having fun. I'm traveling. I'm meeting new people and making new friends.

I've finally moved up somewhat at my job. Although the new responsibilities still throw me off sometimes, it's nice.

I'm making plans to continue traveling. To do things I never actually thought I'd do (climbing the Alps,a going to Africa, and skydiving, I'm looking at you).

I'm happy.

And for the first time in my life that I can remember, that happiness has nothing to do with a number. It has to do with me.

I'm growing every day. And learning every day.

The weird feeling I've recently had actually pushed me to this realization and I'm grateful for it.

A few firsts that I never thought would happen have over the past year.

I've been to Miami and New Orleans.

I left the country.

I freaking saw the sunrise in Belize.

I started the plans for jumping out of a plane.

This growth that I've experienced of late is so important to me.

Although I'm not exactly the dynamic character I would like to be, I'm no longer a static, reactionary character in my own story.

So even though I feel like most of my posts this year (at least recently) have been rather negative, I'm on my way to who I want to be.

And that's because I've realized after a long and hard few years:

Numbers don't matter.

That was probably one of the biggest mental hurdles I've had to overcome in this Journey to a Better Shelby.

In your life, what is your biggest hurdle to becoming who you want to be (especially if you're on a journey like this)? How are you reaching to overcome it? Tell me in the comments!

Until Next Time,
Shelby

Getting Back on the Horse (of Writing Consistently)

Those of you who have been following me on this Journey to a Better Shelby are probably very aware of my off and on struggle to keep writing.

If you are a fellow creative being, then you are probably aware of the struggle.

I mentioned a few posts ago about a bit of a funk I fell into and although it isn't anywhere near as bad as it was, it is still here. No matter how much I try to fight it.

The funk was with all aspects of my life, writing, working out, eating healthy, and even my actual day job.

Where my day job is concerned, the funk has been kicked out. And I'm finally back to watching what I eat and working out. (I'm on week 3 of the Ideal Shapeup challenge again.)

It's rough getting back to writing and exercising everyday. But I am getting there.

One of the things I recently did that really has helped get my motivation for writing back up is reread what I have written already for the second draft of my Elemi story.

I have avoided it in the past because I was scared it really was this horrible piece of writing that would make me doubt any skills at all in writing and I would start arguing with myself over whether I really could become an author someday. Especially since I'm hoping to go the traditional route.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the idea of self publishing. I just don't think I'd be able to market well enough to really make an impact.

Now, I was terrified to try reading it again.

But once I did it, I realized I have recently read much worse books. That were published traditionally.

Yes, it still needs a LOT of work. Including, you know, actually finishing it.

But it doesn't seem so much like an impossible task anymore.

And it feeling like an impossible task is part of what has kept me from really working on it.

Part of, most of actually, but not all. I had too many projects going on at once.

It just ended up stressing me out too much. So now I'm narrowing down my projects.

I'll focus on this story while I keep putting out query letters for the children's picture book manuscripts. Then when I finish it and send it out to Beta Readers, I'll go back to the Dragon's Thief.

SO I have a plan. Which is always helpful for me.

And with that,
I'll finish this remarkably short post.

Until next time,
Shelby

An Honest Review of Fragrant Jewels #1

One of the big things these day happens to be those subscription boxes of basically anything, clothes, food, pet toys and treats, razors, and basically anything you can think of.

Overall, I have been rather skeptically about them, so I've avoided signing up for any of them. (Plus in my brain I've been too broke to sign up for a $40-100 subscription thing.)

My Facebook has recently upped the amount of ads it has been showing me for a company called Fragrant Jewels and I accidentally clicked on one about a month ago now. The screen on my phone is a bit broken (and I've been too lazy to go out and find a Verizon store near me that fixes screens because I'm concerned they will tell me that I have to send my phone in to be fixed and I'd prefer not to have that happen. I've been without a phone a lot in the past 12 months.)

Since I was already there on the website and had nothing better to do, I decided to browse the site for a bit. I wound up earning through a scratch off thing a free ring if I ordered within the next hour. AND I could get free shipping if I spent over $50.

I was either sleep deprived or in an extra gullible state, whatever the case is, my brain was like "oh, free stuff? I shall partake!" and so I ordered two bath bombs (did not make the $50 free shipping qualification, but whatevs) and selected my ring size.

You see, Fragrant Jewels is one of those businesses that hides rings in candles and bath bombs. I'm not a huge jewelry wearer, but if I get surprise rings that I don't pick, who knows maybe I'll just start becoming a jewelry wearer. At least, that was what I thought at the time.

I wasn't putting much stock into actually liking the rings. But I love bath bombs. And the videos of the ones they had definitely intrigued me.

SO I put in my order, got the order confirmation, and waited. And waited. And waited some more. I am pretty sure I checked the order number a hundred times to be sure it was still processing. A week later, I get an email saying my order has been shipped. The reason it takes so long for the order to be processed is because they make each bath bomb after the order has been placed. Otherwise how can they get the properly sized ring in each of the bath bombs? Make sense to me, but I know there are a lot of complaints about it online. I guess it helps that I'm a relatively patient person and I wasn't buying it for anyone but myself.

My order has been shipped and I sign up to get the tracking information emailed to me every time it moves cities and when it is out for delivery and all that jazz. I do this for everything I order because it amuses me to watch where my product goes.

Like back when I had to replace my phone right after Hurricane Harvey hit, my new phone went all around Texas. And it took three separate visits to Houston then turned around to go somewhere else before finally hitting Houston when the flooding had receded enough for it to get through.

Any way, back to the topic at hand. Initially, the tracking said it would take twelve days to get to me. I was a bit saddened, but not enough to really be upset.

Then about five days later, exactly two weeks from me putting in the order, I got a message saying my package is out for delivery. Although I was at work when it got to my house, I got home early enough to get to take a close look at everything.

I opened the box and powder from one of the bath bombs went everywhere. I would have been upset that it had crumbled in shipping if it hadn't smelled so wonderful. Since I live in Texas and it is summer, I tend to anticipate beauty products not getting to me completely intact. Candles melt, lipstick melts, goodness, even liquid gel medication some times melts together if I leave my purse in the car. And it wasn't too damaged, just a chunk out of the side.

In the box were two bath bombs (Earth and White Gardenia). And a free ring.

Normally, I'm not a fan of multiple jewel rings, but this one has just enough shine to it that I actually really like it. Plus I can wear it with multiple colors which I love.

Pretty quickly after opening this one, I decide that I just HAVE to go take a bath so that I can try out the bath bombs.

A lot of the Ring Reveals that I have watched online have the people just placing the bomb in water until the ring is revealed, but I feel that is a waste of part of the bath bomb (although I assume after they finish the reveal, they do use the water for bathing activities).

I decided on using the Earth bath bomb because it was already damaged.

The description of what this bath bomb smells like Mango, Goji Berry, Black Currant, Amber, and Sugared mask. 

I was concerned it would smell overpowering, it didn't. There was just enough of each scent that you could tell what it was and it was so relaxing. And the scent lasted for at least an hour after I got out of the tub. 

For those of you wondering, yes that is Pokemon music you hear in the background.

The pictures and videos I got don't do the bath bomb justice. At all. 

I was so hypnotized by the explosion of blues and greens swirling in front of me, exuding this wonderful scent that I forgot I was waiting for it to give me a ring. SO when this little plastic ball popped up in the water, I was slightly shocked. 

I couldn't tell much about the ring because it was wrapped in a gold foil (which I correctly assumed was the code I needed to type into their website's "vault." So I opened it quite easily by squeezing the sides together. 

I am still very happy with this ring. It is still a little larger than I am used to with rings, but I really like it. 

The next day, of course, I tried out the white gardenia one. 

I absolutely love this ring. It is the simplest of the three, but oh my goodness. The stone in the center is a light lavender. So light, in fact, that you can't always tell it has a color to it. 

Now, the white Gardenia didn't have nearly as cool of a "show" but it smelled so good. And the smell lasted. I went into my bathroom a good three hours after the bath and it STILL smelled of white gardenias. 

So of course I decided to sign up for the membership (Inner Circle), immediately. Because I did mental math and realized if I stop eating out so much (which I already needed to do because of my diet needing to come back under control) then even with this membership, I'll still be saving over $10 a week. And I ordered four more bath bombs.

When I signed up for the program though, I accidentally used my more professional email address, and had to get in contact with customer services. The response was quick and cordial. It got fixed promptly, and the problem order wasn't closed until I said thank you for your help. And I was very happy with that. 

The only issue with that was the order I placed after signing up for the membership seemed to vanish from my account. I had thankfully gotten the "Order Received" email prior to it. SO I emailed Customer service again, just to make sure the order, you know, still existed. 

The response I got to that, even though in the email I sent I said I knew that it took time to process, I just wanted to be sure it was still there, came across poorly. It basically just reiterated that it would take a week to process. Like, I already knew that. And it was closed immediately, so I didn't feel I could try to rephrase my question at all.

So a week passed, and I get the email saying my Inner Circle order has been shipped (I have since received it and will put my review of it sometime in the near future). But three days later, I still hadn't heard anything about the other order. 

I did the only logical thing in my mind and reemailed customer service, this time adding that the other order I placed on the same day is in my city and out for delivery. The response I got from them this time was much more cordial. I was informed that it was in the process of being sent to be shipped and within the hour, I got an email saying it had been shipped. 

Although, I am still waiting for that package to arrive, I anticipate it arriving within the next week. 

Overall, (as a TLDR;) My experiences with Fragrant Jewels has been positive. The bath bombs smell wonderful, the rings are pretty (and sturdier than I anticipated), and there has been no staining of my tub (yet). If you want to get one of these as a gift for someone, order it well in advance. Like, honestly, I'd say place the order a month in advance just in case. It is better to give a gift early (haha coming from me that is almost funny because 90% of the time I give a gift it is late). It takes at least a week for processing because each product is made after it has been ordered. Customer service is hit or miss, either really good or bad (there are some nightmare stories out there about the CS, but I only experienced a slightly negative experience-- which I'm sure is because people get impatient and bombard these people with where's my order emails so the person was tired of answering them and didn't actually read my email). 

The main concern I have (and had) is the lack of negative reviews on the website. It makes it come across as a scam, which I've not experienced yet. But it is always suspicious when every product only has 5 star reviews.    

Until Next Time, 

Shelby

Progress Report #10

I know, I know.

It has been awhile. Again.

I didn't intend for it to be, and I wish I could say there was a lot going on in my life to account for it.

But if I said that, I'd be lying. And this blog is all about truths.

And if I'm being entirely honest, since returning home from Belize, I've felt as though I was in a sort of funk.

Then the wedding I went to this last weekend in Fort Worth (although it was beautiful) hit me in a different way than I anticipated. It reminded me just how much I miss all of my friends in Fort Worth.

Don't get me wrong, I adore my friends down here, but I tend to forget how much I miss my peeps up in the DFW. And the fact I didn't get much time with really any of them (not that I ever do) didn't help much.

Please don't worry, Friends in DFW, this doesn't mean I'm not going to visit again. Quite the opposite. I need to visit more! (Hopefully I'll get up there in September.)

My motivation for writing anything was low. Every time I read anything that I wrote all I could see was failure. All I could think was how horrible everything I've written is.

I'm aware these moments happen and I'm glad I no longer delete everything when I'm going through one of the moments of self doubt. Although I did rewrite a good chunk of one of my WIPs.

But this morning a new sun dawned. A new day began and I'm back to seeing that I do actually know some English and once in a while I can put together some entertaining sentences.

Now, I've not done a progress report since April I believe and so I figured it was about time.

Starting with the easiest to report on numbers with current number (followed by what it was on 6/12/17) :

Weight: 142.8 lbs (139.8 lbs)
Chest: 34 in (33 in)
Waist: 26.5 in (28 in)
Belly Button: 27 in (29 in)
Glutes: 37.5 in (37.5 in)
Right Thigh: 19.5 in (21.5 in)
Right Calf: 14.5 in (15 in)
Right Arm: 10.5 in (10.5 in)

Looking at the numbers side by side is a bit weird. Like today I weigh 3 lbs more than I did last year BUT 5 inches smaller. This is with a month-long period where I wasn't watching what I ate or drank and having my workouts be a bit sporadic.

Back when I initially finished the Ideal Shapeup Challenge, I started having a bit of ab definition. It vanished after I finished the challenge and started trying my own things with work outs. Since restarting it (even though I'm only on week 2 again), it is already coming back. So at least I didn't lose that much. AND I think I'm about ready to up weights again.

Now, I'm back on my healthy trend (partially because I need to stop spending money). 

Numbers for where my writing is concerned haven't moved really at all since my last progress report (that will change before I go to bed tonight).

Also, I'm working again on sending a few Queries out for my picture book manuscripts. Fingers crossed I hear back!

I'm also still stuck on my traveling bug, because I'm working on seeing where else I can go and when. From this time last year when I just received my passport to this time next year, if all goes according to plan I'll have been to over 10 countries. Which from someone who had never been outside of the US until last month, I find that really incredible.

Plus, I'm actively doing research on skydiving places in the area. I need to cross that off my bucket list before I chicken out completely.

Until Next Time,
Shelby

Life is UnBelizeable

For years I've been saying I want to travel, but never did anything about it. If you've been following my blog for any decent amount of time, you're likely aware that last year I got my passport.

And it was a bit of an ordeal.

Then I signed up for a trip through this program called EF Ultimate Break.

One of the best decisions I've ever made.

It was not an ordeal at all.

I paid it off with the payment plan they had and that was basically all I had to do.

Prepping was a bit stressful because I had no idea what I needed to bring. I asked everyone everything I could think of and repacked at least four times before leaving (although once was shifting to a larger suitcase).

I met two people at the airport in the EF group (after awkwardly thinking a random person was one of them and talking to her for awhile -- I didn't get the title Queen of Awkward for nothing). Sara and KJ are absolute delights.

The flight wasn't bad at all, only 2.5 hours.

When we arrived and managed through customs, Ezy, the tour director, met us and added us the rest of the group. From there we waited a little while.

Some people went and ate food, but most of us just stood around making small talk.

My heart pounded as I stood there. Forcing myself into a new situation where I knew no one is so far out of my comfort zone, I'm glad I didn't just stand there silently.

For a few moments there, I wondered if I should have ever signed up for a trip like that.

What was I doing there? A shy, introverted, relatively naive-to-the-world girl thrown into the middle of a group where I knew no one? There was no turning around. No turning back. I'd spent too much money as it was. What had I gotten myself into?

We waited there for a while.

Then we got on a charter bus and I began having major marching band flashbacks. It wasn't the last time either. I mean, large groups of people dealing in very hot areas with an ever-changing amount of clothing (there's little difference between stripping out of a marching uniform into normal clothing and normal clothing into swimwear).

Despite different groups forming, a type of camaraderie began to appear between all of us. Especially after the Mixer on night 2. That was an intense night which involved blue lemon drop shots, learning a lot about the love life of a few people, breaking the hotel, and having someone have to go to the hospital.

That day had us hanging out at the Lamanai ruins.

I was one of the people racing to the top of every temple. It was so cool seeing the temples before everyone else got up there. It didn't matter how shaky my legs grew because hey were unaccustomed to racing up hundreds of steep stairs. 

At the first hotel, we also did a crocodile safari and we wandered around a nearby village. I did drink out of a coconut here, but I was not one of those that sought his or her own from trees near the hotel. 

The second hotel we went to was beachfront and there was a pier that had a slide and zipline into the water, along with a few other water toys. There were some Royal Army guys there from places like Ireland and Scotland and the stories those guys had. Man. Even just the folklore and legends. I spent quite a bit of time interrogating a couple of them about different legends (including but not limited to: selkies, fairies, leprechauns, and giants). 

Things might have gotten a tad bit fuzzy around this hotel. I do remember karaoke (with free shots), the owner having dogs, meeting multiple people from Austin of which one of them's name was Ramen like the noodles, and snorkling for the first time. This was where I decided I had to see a sunrise in Belize at some point. 

Fun story, apparently on our last night at this hotel, someone was attacked in a hotel nearby and police came by our hotel to make sure everyone was okay. 

I... drank way too much at this hotel. I willingly admit to that. Did I cut back? It was in my intentions. But so was sleeping more. 

The next hotel, we moved inland again and much closer to the Guatemala border. It was nice. The pools glowed, the bar tender was nice, and a super flirt. I thought I got a picture with him and a drink he made me, but apparently I didn't. 

At that hotel, after a party in the pool and a room, when I couldn't sleep, one of the guys in the group and I got a ghost tour by a not-security guard who was friends with Ezy. By the end of it, I was definitely dozing off. 

I only got a full night sleep once during this trip and it was either the night before or the night after the ghost tour.... I don't remember which. We did go to the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala but I left my phone and everything except my wallet and passport on the bus. It was a way to accidentally force myself to buy souvenirs. 

When I go back to Belize, there is no doubt in my mind, I will go to Jaguar Reef. That had to be the best hotel by far. Even if we didn't do anything while we were there, I'd say the same thing. It was gorgeous. Absolutely no comparison to any of our other places. 

The bartender here, Captain Jack Sparrow, was wonderful. Like seriously. It's partially his fault that I drank too much here too. (I am well aware it was actually my own fault.)

It was here that I went repelling for the first time, and to make it more difficult, I went waterfall repelling. It was a blast. I had three elbow pads and a knee pad. 

It seemed like a good idea to stick to the back of the group because I'd never done it before and I thought watching a few people would be great. Then we get to where we are repelling and the line turns backwards. 

I had to go first.

I had no earthly idea what I was doing. 

I fell at least three times. 

I can't wait to do it again. 

At this hotel, we also did a cooking class and went to a chocolate factory thing. All were wonderful. One night we did go to an area that had glowing algae. I don't remember exactly what it was called, all I know was we were calling it the bioluminecent thing. It was cool. I felt like fairies were waterfalling out of my hair when I spun in the water. 

We were only in the last hotel for one night. But it was still fun. The farewell dinner was a blast. Some girls jumped into the pool in their dresses. Dancing and eating and drinking all happened. Two guys crashed our karaoke. 

When the bar closed we went to a casino. Well, some of us went to a casino. Others forgot our IDs and had to go back to the hotel. I forgot my ID. And when we got back, most of the group was moving from the casino to the club. Which is where the rest of the night took place. 

At least until Ezy picked us up and took us back to the hotel. This was the night I finally managed to see the sunrise. Which was epic. 

 Saying goodbye was difficult.

I entered this trip anxious and concerned. The idea that in just ten short days so many strangers could turn into friends is just incredible.

Would I do an EF trip again? In a heartbeat. In fact, I'm already working on signing up for one over New Years. Hopefully my boss will be okay with it, especially with my new promotion. But that's months away so hopefully all will work out.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 29 and are looking into signing up for a trip, I highly recommend EF Ultimate Break trips. And if you hit me up, I can get you a referaal that can get you $100 off!

Until next time,
Shelby