8 ways to help your Mental Health during Quarantine

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1. Have a routine

Changes are not easy for everyone. This is especially true for those that have a difficult time with change, such as myself. It affects everyone in some shape or form. With this in mind, try to keep a routine. Always worked from 8-5? Was 7-3 always your favorite shift? Keep yourself busy during those same times! This could include chores, attending to long awaited projects, reorganizing the house, doing what you love, anything! As long as you keep yourself busy and then relax afterwards. It will help your mind ease into the change and to settle in a little sooner!

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2. Keep in contact with family and friends

Humans are social creatures, even if some of us aren’t. Make sure to stay in contact with friends and family, regularly if needed. It can be done by phone calls, text, video calling apps such as Zoom, and anyway to converse with someone. It’s not the same as being in person, but having conversation, exchange of thoughts, feelings, and simply hearing another voice is always a good social investment.

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3. Walk outside 

Always make sure to walk outside, guided you are following the safety protocols for it. Taking a walk or some form of break from the routine or the current situation. It would be a great chance to be away from negative thoughts and feelings. 

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4. Follow directions 

In keeping track with your mental health, make sure you follow the safety guidelines in your area. This includes things such as,

• washing your hands for 20 seconds
• wearing a mask outside
• staying at least 6 feet away from others
• Staying indoors as much as possible 
• Wash your groceries 
• If you order something, leave it outside for a few days if possible 

The more safety precautions we take, the less we have to worry about.

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5. Try new things 

If you want to fill up your free time or don’t know what to do, try new things! Attack those long awaited projects! Want some cookies but the store is closed? Get supplies to make your own! Need another blanket? Try to crochet! Some things that we need, we can make ourselves! Give it a try!

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6. Spoil yourself a little 

A little pampering can go a long way. Go ahead and take those extra 15 minutes to sleep in. No one will notice if those extra cookies are gone. Never forget to give yourself a little extra TLC!

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7. Stay up to date

Set aside time to look up the current case of COVID19 but keep it for only during those times. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Setting aside for only those times will allow your mind to worry less and enjoy your time more while keeping yourself up to date on the situation! 

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8. Keep a positive perspective

Being positive doesn’t mean always being peppy or never being negative. It is important for you to not let it overwhelm you. The best technique against this is to practice and focus on positivity. 

• Write down 3 things you are grateful for everyday
• Change how things are worded. Instead of thinking, “We are stuck in here for another month.” Think, “I am safe inside.” 
• Focus on the present 
• Open up to those around you
• Accept the now, and keep moving forward
• Be kind to yourself
• Do something you love
• Write in a journal 
• Put your worries on a paper, and leave it there. The worries are behind you
• Eat healthy 
• Look towards your faith

It may not be easy at first, but with each practice it becomes less difficult and becomes a part of you. 

Book Review: All Bite by Alexa Windsor

 

While attending one of many Anime Conventions, I came across a table selling books. The group’s name was Words After Dark. Interested, I took a look. I noticed a book called, All Bite. It’s a fiction animal mystery book written and published by Alexa Windsor. Curious, I decided to build up the courage to speak to them and find a book to review. Let’s just say that I had no idea what I was biting into! 

The story starts off with April Gladdis as she is walking one of her more difficult dogs for her job. What’s her job? Walking dogs in Chicago while studying to be a Veterinarian! From here she walks us through her back story, daily life, friends, and goals. She continues to guide us through the story as she finds a dead client, a new dog, and an inevitable mystery roller coaster of her life! And ours for that matter!

Let’s start with the characters of the book, April Gladdis. A typical college girl working a job she loves that loves her back. She is a happy, easy going, and curious person that we can all relate to. Although not much of her character stands out, she is supported by a good set of characters. 

April’s easy going nature can be seen by her supportive family as she follows her goals (and her struggle through the murder mystery!) They regularly check on her to make sure she’s ok, has a boss who always looks out for her well being, and a friend that she easily gets along with and who pushes her when she needs it. The dogs in the book each have a different personality which helps bring out her thoughts and allows us to see and feel not only her extensive knowledge in dogs but care for them as well. This care eventually leads her into trouble and a way out of it!

The setting took place in Chicago which Alexa did a great job explaining. The heat, the humidity, the people, she had it all! A very fun read for any Chicago fan! Be prepared for some nostalgia! 

As mysterious as the story eluded, the reading was not. It was very easy to read without losing you attention, pulled you without notice, and really walked you through April’s experience without missing a beat! 

How mysterious was this mystery? It’s fifty-fifty. Normally I am very blind to bits in the book that lead to unraveling the mystery but as a fellow aspiring author and lover of mysteries, I kept my eyes open! Alexa did a great job not only pulling the readers in, but also writing the events seamlessly. Every hint of what was to come or of its importance was there, but VERY easy to overlook because the events happening were just so much fun to read! I couldn’t pull away! Since I was keeping my eyes open for clues, they were very easy to spot. Even so, I still was unable to unravel the mystery myself in the end!

The only downside I found was the romance. In avoidance of spilling too much tea, it was difficult to understand how the romance occurred and the reasons behind it. As a lover of intense romance stories, it was not there. Although,the type of romance that is in the book was enough for a younger audience and especially those that adore any type of romance (me). Even as I write this, even I squealed at the end of the story from the cuteness! 

This Kitty Kat is rating this book 5 out of 5 paws! As someone who hasn’t read in awhile, this book was a great way to get back into it! The writing style, characters, and theme are a great hook, and the story was even better! Thank you for a great adventure, Alexa Windsor!

Want to have a go at the book yourself? It’s selling on Amazon now for just $10! And it’s half off if you find them at conventions! Such a steal! The 2nd link has all of the Word After Dark member’s books as well! 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KO11I06/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

https://words-after-dark.square.site/

Want to know more about the author and her friends in their group, Words After Dark? Check out their social media links below!

https://www.facebook.com/WordsAfterDark/

https://twitter.com/ANMouseWrites

https://twitter.com/alexa_windsor

https://twitter.com/AceLaytonBooks

https://www.instagram.com/alexa_windsor/?igshid=1jq3sf121dnuy

https://instagram.com/a.n.mousewrites?igshid=1uxgrv35u5eb5

Edited by: @Louisathepink and Mechanical Maiden

Check out my other works!

https://streamerlinks.com/RosalineANeko

Anime Convention Essentials!

Anime Conventions, or cons in general, are a lot of fun! You can hang out with your friends, meet and talk with fellow fans, dress up, look at some great art and merch, and that’s not even the half of it! With all the fun going around and things to see, what are some essential things to remember for a convention?

1. Budget

One of the first things to do is to budget your con. Do you have enough for the hotel room? Gas/bus/train expenses? How much do you want to spend on merch? Don’t forget about food! Some cons can be held near cities, malls, or other popular areas so fast food around or in the con could cost an arm and a leg!  Another thing to keep in mind is to bring some spare cash. Not all sellers take card, even in this day and age. Some card charges also have an extra fee tacked on so if you want to save a little bit of money, make it wayne with that cash! And ALWAYS have some emergency cash money tucked away in case anything happens.

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2. Weather

The second thing to consider is to dress for the weather. Snow, rain, or very sunny, dress to impress! Or at least enough to enjoy the con! Unless the con is fully indoors and you don’t plan on going out, bring some sunscreen, bug spray, an umbrella, or even a rain/winter coat if you plan on staying out long and checking out the areas nearby. Better safe than sick!

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3. Shoes

Wear comfortable shoes! The number one thing to happen at a con, especially a big one, is A LOT of walking.Walking to panels, throughout the artist and dealers alleys, and exploring the con requires a lot of footwork. Make sure you have shoes you have already broken into or even an old pair that still works. There are a lot of things to see and do, so shoes are the last thing to be seen, but the most to feel with all the walking. 

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4. Chargers and back up batteries

Most cons are updating to mobile apps to show all of their panels, have convenient maps (which may require a lot of referencing back to), concerts to record, and pictures to take with cosplayers! Lots of phone activity = lots of battery usage. So keep your charger on hand and hope an outlet is nearby! Or, buy a portable backup battery! A portable backup battery is as it sounds. It’s a small $10 (at most) rechargeable battery that can charge small devices, such as a phone, and give it some extra life, or extend it for a certain amount of time, until you can get back to an outlet! Convenient, cheap, and a greater chance of extending the con fun!

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5. Creativity

For those on the creative side, it would be best to bring things that entertain or inspire you! Some lines can be really long or some cons can be really small and not have much to do. Remember to bring your sketchbook, pen/pencil, a notebook, video/board/card games, or even a tablet! Who knows, you may find some inspiration or a friend!

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6. Cosplays

Don’t forget your cosplays my friends! Do you have your cosplays laid out for each day and hour?! Do you have the accessories?! wigs?! Make a list of everything you will need for each cosplay! And check it twice! Don’t forget a small repair kit!

Here are some other needs for cosplays

• All the extra bits for the cosplay
• Spare clothes
• Make up
• Make up remover
• Wig 
• Iron
• hot glue gun/glue
• lint roller
• safety pins
• wig caps
• bobby pins/hair clips

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7. Hand sanitizer

A lot of things happen at cons. Various types of people attend cons. Cons are a mixing pools of fandoms, people, and germs our bodies may not have come across yet. Who knows! Every bit helps!

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8. Medicine

Don’t forget your medicine! This is a small reminder, but could be a life saving one at that. I myself have quite a few things going on and have to remember to take my allergy medicine, acid reflux, antibiotics, vitamins, and other various medicines after my surgery. Top priority to remember to pack! Don’t forget the Tylenol/Excedrin for headaches!

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9. Water 

Whether it’s the weather outside or the busy schedule of cons, remember to drink water! Some cons can go up to four days or more. Stay hydrated! Every little bit helps. Some cons have water fountains but that may not be enough or tasteful. No harm with a bottle on hand!

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10. Eat

With so much to do and so little time, one can forget to have a meal or even a snack. Keep a small bag of snacks on hand, extra cash for fast food, or even bring a cooler to keep in the room to have more options to eat. Some, if not most, hotels have an ice machine to keep the cooler cool and rooms usually have a very small fridge that can barely hold anything. 

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Cons, big or small, I hope this quick list is helpful for all con goers! Be safe and have fun!

Steven Universe: THE MOVIE. Was it the cat’s meow?

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

The Steven Universe Movie premiered on Cartoon Network on Labor Day of 2019 as a musical. The setting took place two years after the season 5 finale and a new villain was shown! A very stretchy pink one in fact! For long time fans, this was very welcoming. This would be the first movie for Steven Universe and a small glimpse into the future of the Crystal Gems after the season finale. But as with many movies and shows, let’s focus on different parts of the movie.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

The animation for the show was pretty much the same, all except for the villain Spinel. Spinel was a nice flashback to the early shows in the 1930s where Rubber Hose Animation was used. This means that the characters were very stretchy in their fighting styles such as Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Woody WoodPecker, and Tom and Jerry, to name a few. Her fighting style was made to be a surprise so the opponent would not know what she was up to or figure out what she would do next. Punch from the left? Nope! She twisted it to the right! In front? She makes herself flat enough to slide underneath her opponent and get behind them unexpectedly and easily. This was a great fighting style for when she was a villain! 

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Originally, Spinel was made to entertain and be a companion to Pink Diamond. Spinel would have a lot of antics such as playing tag and stretching her arm to tag the person, wrap her arms multiple times around someone, catching a friend that is falling by stretching her arms into the shape of a fishing rod and reeling them back up, etc. She is the definition of silly! She would also be playful and make faces to have her friends smile again if they were sad or upset. That was what she was made for: to make Pink Diamond smile...until Pink Diamond abandoned her in THEIR private garden to colonize earth and left her there for six thousand years :D Her silliness and stretching abilities would explain her purpose and was a good method of attack when fighting was more about strength, team work, and facing an opponent head on.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Most of the characters were still in the forms we saw them in the season finale, Pearl with her new jacket, Garnet and her 3 point shades, Peridot and her new form with a star, and we even got to see Bismuth in her overalls! Steven and Connie on the other hand, being human and all, did grow up a little. We finally got to see Steven with a neck! And his relationship with Connie grew as well as being more than, “Best Jam Buds.” Not much light was shed on that to confirm this in the movie alone.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Throughout the movie there was one other noticeable change in Steven. In the series Steven was young and optimistic. He would do his best to comfort others, push them to do their best, and tried very hard to overcome his obstacles. However, in the movie, Steven is  more blunt and panicky. He was not being positive and focused more on figuring out what to do and to get it done immediately. He did not have his powers anymore but was also in a rush to fix his friends before the planet was destroyed. Noticing the change made this kitty uneasy, but the situation and the fact that he is more grown up was understandable. Children can be optimistic and happy go lucky. As we become older, take things more seriously, work , etc, we become tired and find more joy in doing nothing and being with family and friends. He dismantled empires and was in Pink Diamond’s shoes for years for gems sake! With this in mind, I can understand the character development, much to my dismay.

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

The songs that each character sang were a bit much, in a sense of exaggeration, but very nice! The movie opened with a great song, “Other Friends.” At first the song seems very odd since there is no context to what she is saying but once you take a look back at the movie each line is very understandable and gave a hint to what happened to her and what was on her mind. This includes lines such as, “I’m the loser of the game you didn’t even know you were playing.” This line was a reference to the fact that Pink Diamond said she was playing a game with Spinel and left her in the garden. After she passed on Steven was “continuing” the game that he was not aware of. “What did she say about me what did she say? What did you do without me what did what did you do? What did you play without me what did you play?” This was a reference to the fact that she was hurt,  was forgotten, and was left out. She also immediately asks about games that they played games without her, hinting to her original purpose of being a friend. There were other great songs such as “Drift Away, Independent Together, Isn’t it Love”, and Garnet’s best song, “True Kinda Love.” Each song explained a moment, a character, and had a great tune! Each of these songs is worth listening to!

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

The story overall was very well done! A gem that was long forgotten, new fighting styles, shenanigans, music, fusions, and everything a person (or gem) could want! Great animation, execution, and character growth! But the ending was a bit dry on this sandpaper tongue. ::Warning: Rant:: There were some parts of the movie that were hard to understand and the ending was questionable. What was “The Truth” that Garnet was singing about? How was “change” the answer for Steven? Why did Steven let Spinel go with the Diamonds of all gems?! In the beginning of the movie the Diamonds wanted Steven to stay as a replacement for Pink Diamond. They knew he was not her but “he was her.” As in, he was the closest thing to being Pink Diamond or a replacement. At the end of the movie they said that they would stay with Steven, until they saw Spinel. She ALSO belonged to Pink, was pink, a gem, and she was closer to Pink Diamond than Steven, who actually had her gem….Why was it ok to leave Spinel with the Diamonds, who have not gotten over the fact that Pink Diamond was gone? Spinel was also very hurt over what happened and was not sure how to make friends or how to be after everything. How was this ok?! ::Rant over::

Owned by Cartoon Network. Used for critiquing purposes.

Despite this, Steven Universe the Movie was definitely the cat’s meow! A new outlook on the characters, development, music, fusions, and a great villain! This cat gives the movie five out of five fishy treats! It’s definitely worth a watch and a great addition, and end to this part of the series.

Edited by: @Louisathepink and Mechanical Maiden