Fanfiction Favorites

Hi Guys!

I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who gets so frustrated at the way characters in my favorite books are: acting, who they are dating, who they are not dating, life decisions, etc.  I found a great outlet for this in Fanfiction.  I’ll admit I started with this way back in High School, when I was bored with something I’d just go read Fanfiction.

Of course there is always those characters that I feel would hit it off great with characters from another book, or movie.  Or those who I’d wonder what would happen if one character was raised by someone else.  That sort of thing.  So I thought I’d do a post on my favorite Fanfiction stories, I’ll warn you now, that some have evolved into series themselves and the authors of them are amazing.  Some are no longer in print on the sites, for reasons only known to the authors and others I believe could be made into amazing stories that could be printed if the authors wanted. (If I’m not mistaken Fifty Shades of Grey started out as Twilight fanfiction, I actually think the fanfiction version is better than the actually twilight series, but that’s just me!)  I’m including a link to the story as well as the author for those of you who want to try something new.  I’ve probably read just about every combination out there for most of these stories, so if you’re looking for something comment down below and I can send you in the right direction. 

Warning: There are some that have M/M Slash pairings.  If you don’t like them then you don’t have to read them.  These are just a list of MY favorite ones.

Harry Potter Fanfiction

  • A Marauder’s Plan by CatsAreCool: Sirius decides to stay in England after escaping Hogwarts and makes protecting Harry his priority. AU GOF.
  • An Aunt’s Love by Emma Lipardi: Harry comes home from school and Petunia is upset at the change in her nephew. Petunia decides to do what she should have been doing all along. Dumbledore had better stay away. Petunia Dursley is upset. Warnings on profile.
  • Benefits of Old Laws by ulktante: He was sick of being lied to and sick of them. So he makes a deal with Death himself to get a second chance, all so he could finally feel love. But Death has other plans for his ‘Master’, and he intends to see that the two bickering children known as Lucifer and Micheal never have their fight. Can Dean recover his former status as Master of Death, or will he lose everything?
  • Black Fortunes by Herald-MageAnduli :Harry breaks the mirror after the end of the war. He is sent back to 1975 and takes up the mantle of Lord Peverell. He hopes to turn around the tragic Black family story. How? By getting newly widowed Lord Orion Black to fall in love with him. SLASH, Mpreg, Time-Travel, mild Character Bashing. Orion Black/Harry Potter, sub!Harry
  • Fixing Past Mistakes by DebsTheSlytherinSnapefan: Harry didn’t appear at Hogwarts causing concern. Albus immediately head’s out to Privet Drive to find out what was going on, along with Minerva and a reluctant Severus Snape. What they find out changes everything for everyone in the wizarding world. Is there a chance for anyone to go back and fix past mistakes? is there any hope at all for the magical world? cover pic – Harry’s cub
  • Harry Crow by robst: What will happen when a goblin-raised Harry arrives at Hogwarts. A Harry who has received training, already knows the prophecy and has no scar. With the backing of the goblin nation and Hogwarts herself. Complete.
  • Harry Potter: Blessed by Fates by FrankieSpitfire: The war is over and done with, Voldemort is no more. Harry returns to Hogwarts to finish his education. But life has a few more things in store for The Boy Who Lived. Defeating the Dark Lord was easy. Dealing with friends, enemies and love, proves to be much more difficult. Harry and his friends discover that growing up isn’t all that fun. HP/LM, DM/BW, RW/NL, HG/FW This is SLASH
  • Harry Potter: Strength of a Family by KRAftdinnER: A Hogwarts experience where Harry has people actually helping him face his destiny. Features a greater good Dumbledore, a tormented Snape, a free Sirius, and parents that lived. Read as Harry becomes the next great leader of the light with his friends and family helping him along the way. Plot line follows canon for most part but with several key changes. H/HR. Super H & Voldemort
  • Magnolia Crescent by LadyElemental: Instead of watching, Black talks to Harry before the Knight Bus arrives. This simple and seemingly small decision opens new doors for Harry, giving him more spells, new abilities, and a new outlook on people in general.
  • Of Fathers and Godfathers by SolemnMischiefManager: What if Sirius hadn’t actually died during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries? What if he came back with another familiar face? How much would this change the Chosen One’s future?
  • Reboot by Kallanit: Very loosely based on the Reptilia28 Don’t Fear the Reaper Death Challenge, whereby Harry gets to relive his life. As do a couple of other people. What effect does this have on Harry’s life and the Voldemort Blood wars? Not a Discworld crossover, but the story did cry out for some guest appearances by Death’s granddaughter. HP/HG, SS/OC, not HG/SS. Rating & Genres may change later.
  • So Much For No Strings Attached by The Potters of the Future: In a fit of passion Harry Potter and Lucius Malfoy have a one night stand. Will they survive family, betrayal and war. Warnings: eventual mpreg, slash, relationship of a teenager and adult, mentions of child abuse MW/RW/GW/HG/AD bashing I have adjusted the age of Harry to 16 and removed most explicit scenes. Also posted on Ao3 under the same title/pen name
  • The Blacks are Back! by VelvetyNightSky: AU Post GoF. When Arcturus Black sees something unusual on the family tree, he starts to investigate…and gets a whole lot more than he bargained for. Dumbledore and Voldemort aren’t what they seem, and a couple of his family members are suspiciously alive. So, he does what all Blacks do when they realize something’s wrong: they take over.
  • The Definition of Normal by Ducky1776: Harry is adopted by a black shaggy dog when he leaves Privet Drive after blowing up Aunt Marge. His experiences at the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley afterwards takes his life in a whole different direction. He gets help from unexpected directions – the goblins and the DMLE. AU Third Book. No Pairings. Unofficial subtitle: Where everyone gets what they deserve.
  • The Heir of Corvus I-IV by Lady Treason: Taken from a doorstep ten years previous, Harry James Potter-Corvus, the heir to the throne of the Corvus Clan is a vampire, and he’s damn proud of it. Now, the Wizarding world is about to find out what happened to their hero. Will they recognize talent when they see it, or will prejudice get in the way? (Lady Treason has removed her stories from the internet so you can’t find them anymore, but as it was one of my favorites I had to add it. She also never finished it as far as anyone can tell, which is a shame because she was an amazing writer. I have these downloaded in pdf/epub/mobi format if someone wants to read them)
  • The Pride’s Hatching by PetraKitty: A Potions accident leads to a de-aged Draco being taken into the Lion’s Den and things go down the rabbit hole from there. What is The Pride of Gryffindor, and what is going on at Hogwarts? Surprises abound in a tale of the repercussions of greed and betrayal. This accident may lead to the Wizarding World’s salvation…or downfall. **Very AU. Eventual Slash. Snarry pairing.**
  • The Rise of the Drackens by StarLight Massacre: Harry comes into a very unexpected inheritance. He is a creature both rare and very dangerous, a creature that is black listed by the British Ministry. So now he must avoid detection at all costs, whilst choosing his life partners and dealing with impending pregnancy at just sixteen. With danger coming not just from the Ministry but even other creatures, what was he supposed to do?
  • We Stand United by EmmyR: Harry brought back Pettigrew at the end of the Third Task, changing the course of the war. With his godfather by his side, he learns the importance of having allies during turbulent times, even if they are unexpected. How will the Wizarding world react to this new, proactive Harry?
  • Wisdom of a Seer by kalinzar: Harry brought back Pettigrew at the end of the Third Task, changing the course of the war. With his godfather by his side, he learns the importance of having allies during turbulent times, even if they are unexpected. How will the Wizarding world react to this new, proactive Harry?

Harry Potter Crossover Fanfiction

  • Back in Black By: sakurademonalchemist: He was sick of being lied to and sick of them. So he makes a deal with Death himself to get a second chance, all so he could finally feel love. But Death has other plans for his ‘Master’, and he intends to see that the two bickering children known as Lucifer and Micheal never have their fight. Can Dean recover his former status as Master of Death, or will he lose everything?
  • Child of the Storm by Nimbus Llewelyn:  New Mexico was not the first time Thor had been a mortal. It was only a refinement of the technique. What if James Potter had been Thor, incarnated as a memoryless newborn? On his death, Odin removed his memories as James, due to grief. In Harry’s Third Year, a (mostly) reformed Loki restores them. Harry now has a father, a family and a heritage that is going to change the world.
  • Leaving for a Family by Princess101855: Harry has had enough. Finally cracking when his name comes from the Goblet, he runs to the States to an old friend. Will he get the family he always wanted? Or will the Wizarding World demand their saviour back to save them? T for now unless otherwise.
  • Magic of Torchwood by Caz251: Ianto Jones was not just the Torchwood Archivist he was much more than that, he was a wizard, a Slytherin and a friend of Lily Evans. When Ianto finds out where her son is living he takes him into his home and makes him his son. Janto slash. Father!Ianto.
  • Meet Uncle John by kirallie: Instead of watching, Black talks to Harry before the Knight Bus arrives. This simple and seemingly small decision opens new doors for Harry, giving him more spells, new abilities, and a new outlook on people in general.
  • Prince of Asgard by Drakenn: New Mexico wasn’t the first time when Asgard appeared on Earth, it happened earlier and now it has far reaching consequences. I don’t own HP or Avengers.
  • Sammy’s A What? by kirallie: AU. Slash. In the final battle against Lucifer a life is lost but a new one begins.
  • The Triumph of These Tired Eyes by AnarchicMuse: In his several millennia of existence Loki Odinson, God of Mischief and Lies, had been many things; he had been a liar, a warrior, and a trickster, just to name a few, but never before had he been a loving father, he’d never been given the chance. However, the moment the tiny creature was in his arms, he knew he would do anything necessary to keep hold of what was his.

Stephanie Plum Fanfiction

  • Change in the Wind by veiland: Stephanie is left alone in Trenton with the RangeMen while Ranger is in the wind, Joe’s undercover, and Tank, Lester, and Bobby are busy elsewhere. How does this impact her life & what changes will she make to be with the man she loves. Can she handle being alone? Will she ever make a choice? Will she finally live up to her potential? MATURE situations . BABE HEA, Cupcake friendly.
  • Change in the Wind: The One Shots by veiland: A collection of one shot stories inspired by YOU! Keep ’em coming! If you like what you read, contribute to my one-shot list. You’ll find the link on my profile. The characters can be any out of Change in the Wind and I don’t have a lot of rules. Use your imagination!
  • Change in the Wind: The Side Stories by veiland: I’m going to use one story to contain all my side stories from now on, so keep an eye on this story; it will be updated right along with Change in the Wind.
  • Fate By Design by stephfan6511:An AU story where Stephanie Plum is living in Miami. It takes us through college and into adulthood with a unique set of twists and turns that will lead to her eventual HEA. Many original characters and some new ones join the fun. Babe/MM friendship story. Does contain Drama and Angst!
  • Saving Julie by bkc04:While Ranger is in the wind, Stephanie gets a call from a hysterical Julie to save her from a bad home situation. Stephanie scrambles to bring Julie home with her to live all while Ranger is gone with the help of the Merry Men. How will Ranger react when he returns from a mission with his 14 year old daughter in Trenton? BABE story! NOT Cupcake Friendly!
  • This Never Happened Part 1 by ThisNeverHappenedII: This story is revised and will be completed. What happens when lingerie buyer Stephanie Plum attends a friend’s wedding and meets Capt. Carlos Mañoso? It starts out as a one-night stand, but before long, it’s a lot more! Warning: adult scenes/language. (The original author of this story passed away, so her daughter and friend edited and completed the story for her based on her notes.)
  • This Never Happened Part 2 by ThisNeverHappenedII:Finally, the long-awaited conclusion to TNH. With Carlos still off on his mission, Stephanie continues to ‘fly’ as a lingerie designer while dealing with her unsupportive mother, Carlos’ family members and many unexpected events. Adult situations/language. TNH is now finished!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crossover Fanfiction

  • Buffy and Wookiees by WhiteWolf: What to do if you end up in a dark, dangerous forest? You rescue a puppy and make friends.
  • Change of Fate by Razial: The death of Sirius Black causes a lot of changes for Harry and his friends and some trouble for the Wizarding World comes from California.
  • Dawn’s New Job by IndraLeigh: When the SGC needs a female translator, the President calls the Scoobies. A frustrated Dawn takes the job.
  • Drop in the Ocean Series by echo: Hogwarts gets some new teachers.
  • Explains Everything by Shulik: Buffy takes Dawn and moves to Forks, Washington where a new lucrative job along with a university scholarship awaits her. ~Nominated for best Twilight Cross and best portrayal of Buffy~
  • Four Square by Joyful: Buffy and Dawn move to Forks and get tangled up in a whole new supernatural world. But they find they don’t mind
  • Hemocrates Series by Jaded: When the Buffy Verse ends, two scheming ascended from the ‘Gate verse bring the Champions back…as the children of certain members of the Gate program.
  • Keys To Pegasus Series by Hermionetobe: Dawn never expected that being dropped on a planet would lead her too so many things.
  • Let the Black Waves Roll by J. Maria: This is what happens when a Watcher of average abilities is forced into tight quarters with a Bear who’s faced numerous heartaches. Sanctuary will never be the same. Resurrected ‘Verse
  • Star Wars Verse by NaitchStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom’s MenaceStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the ChosenStar Wars- Episode III: Revenge of the WitchStar Wars- Episode IV: Hope RebornStar Wars Episode V- Trials of the EmpireStar Wars Episode VI: Rise of the Jedi (Each of these takes the original story of Star Wars and adds the Buffy Characters to certain aspects)
  • The Key, the Dark-Hunter, and the Link by sevangel: After moving to New Orleans, Dawn quickly finds herself thrust into a new world that feels oddly familiar. Daimons and weres, she can handle; one overly bossy, protective god/man named Ash, not so much. Add in one spoiled demon and you get her new life.
  • Waifs and Strays Series by vidicon: Joyce Summers meets a man on her first day in Sunnydale, who will change her life forever. Multiple crossings in sequels.
  • Patchwork Verse by Lisa Roquin: When a broken hearted girl makes a wish, Xander and Daniel get sucked into it’s world-altering web. (Lisa Roquinhas removed her stories from the internet so you can’t find them anymore, but as it was one of my favorites I had to add it. She also never finished it as far as anyone can tell, which is a shame because she was an amazing writer. I have these downloaded in pdf/epub/mobi format if someone wants to read them)
  • Tales from Atlantis by Jaded:This started as a collection of ficlets, Tales from Atlantis, and morphed into additional one-shots for character back-stories and events. Hopefully, I will eventually have stories of the SGC counsel team but for now…
    Back to a Reason
    Jon Tyler, clone of Jack O’Neill, goes to England as a representative of the Stargate program.
    Carry on My Wayward Son
    Ronon snoops and finally puts part of his past to rest.
    Tales from Atlantis
    Sometimes, Evan Lorne was fairly certain he didn’t deserve this.
    Stranger(s) Like Me
    Dawn meets her biological father over the holidays…
  • What was Once Lost is Now Found by Rivan Warrioress: When Jethro Gibbs discovers that his unborn child survived the accident that killed her mother and sister, and was adopted out without his knowledge, he takes his team and heads to a town called Sunnydale to track her down. Her Name? Willow Rosenberg.

Until Next Time!

Tabby

50 Gift Ideas for Teen Girls

Hey Guys!

Well now that Thanksgiving has passed, we have very few days left until Christmas. So I when I looked my list of people that I had to buy for it was easy for me.  But then I thought about if I had other people and decided that it would make a great post.

  1. Hello Weekend PJ Set $24.90  2. Pajama Drama Women’s Fair Isle Pajama Set $29.99 (pretty good dupe for the VS Pink Holiday thermals)  3. To and From Lippie Stick $30.00  4. Kiss And Tell Ultra Glossy Lip $30.00   5. The Good Times Ultra Matte Lip $ 18.00 6. Never Not Chillin Shadows & Pigments $30.00  7. Dolly Darling Full Face Makeup Set $39.00  8. Defined and Refined Brows Kit $ 34.00   9. Tartelette Tease Clay Palette $21.00  10. Tartelette in Bloom Clay Palette $45.00   11. Yarn Dyed Texture Tassel Pillow Multicolor – Xhilaration™  $19.99  12. Fox Square Throw Pillow Orange – Pillowfort™  $16.99  13. Ice Cream Cone Throw Pillow – Pillowfort™ $16.99  14. TooFaced Chocolate Bon Bons Eye Shadow Collection $49.00  15. TooFaced Melted Kisses & Sweet Cheeks $15.00  16. Slug Slippers $10.90  17. Makeup Contouring Sponge $3.90  18. Faux Fur Headphones $19.90  19. Glitter Phone Charger $ 14.90

 

20. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera $ 59.99  21. Intergalactic Bath Bomb      $7.75   22. Sparkling Red Slipper Bubble Bar $7.45  23. Northern Lights Christmas gift    $25.95  24. Lush Gift Card   25. iTunes Gift Card   26. Amazon Gift Card  27. Visa Gift Card  28. Starbucks Gift Card  29.  Divergent Series Book Set $31.53  30. Capri Blue ‘Gilded Muse Collection’ Candle $39.00   31. Anthropologie candles $8.00 – $100.00  32. #GIRLBOSS $9.52   33. Capture Your Style: Transform Your Instagram Images, Showcase Your Life, and Build the Ultimate Platform  $12.16   34. The Selection Box Set $22.67   35. ML SILVER BRANCH: Vlada Faux Fur Sherpa Back Throw $16.99  36. Kate Spade New York Everything’s Coming Up Roses Take Note Large Notebook $22.00   37. Erin Condren Planner $45.00 (plus whatever add ons)  38. HP Sprocket Photo Printer $129.99   39. John Green Box Set $24.92

40. Faux Fur Ball Keychain  $6.99   41. Fringed Plaid Blanket Scarf $14.99   42. Aztec Fringed Blanket Scarf  $14.99   43. Embellished Layering Bracelets – 5 Pack $6.00  44. Plus Size Embellished Circle Tassel Necklace $6.00  45. Super Comfy Mermaid Tail Blanket $29.99   46. Shower Speaker $11.96   47. Braid Book $14.69   48. Cell Phone Case $5.00-$60.00 (depends where you get them)    49. Purses   50. S’ip by S’well® Water Bottle 15oz Stainless Steel – Jelly Bean Green $24.99

Well I hope this gives you some ideas on what to buy.  I tried to give something for every budget as well as things that you can buy just about anywhere.

Until Next Time!
Tabby

Black Friday Haul

Hey Guys!

Well here it is Thanksgiving is over, and besides being in a food coma, my bank account is not liking me this week.  Because guess who went shopping! Anyway… enough about that… Let’s see what I was able to get on Black Friday!

I know it’s not much compared to a lot of people but I only went to Walmart.  It wasn’t all that bad compared to the last couple of years. 

This is the only picture I actually took, but the lines weren’t that bad… With the exception of the movies/games section that was 3 aisles long. My sister and I actually started doing our shopkicks to pass the time.

If you haven’t started doing shopkicks you soooo should. If you want to know more about it comment down below and I’ll do a separate post about it. (Hint: you can get free gift cards using this app! I don’t know about you but I love free stuff!)

Well that’s it for now. Until Next Time!

Tabby

 

My Favorite Apps

Hey Guys!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Well day after Thanksgiving.  Hope your holiday was great and full of wonderful and tasty food.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to post today or not but I figured why not.  I’ve seen quite a few of these on youtube and on blog posts, but they are usually only listing a few apps.  I thought I’d actually show what apps I use on a regular basis (by regular I mean every few hours or whenever I get bored.)

So I’m a typical young adult of the modern century in that my phone is never far from me.  Neither is my iPad or Kindle for that matter.  The convenience of it is probably why… or I just really can’t do without them.  Probably both.  So I’ve gathered up a list of my favorite apps.  The ones that I check daily and probably multiple times a day too.  It was really hard nailing down them to just a few so what I did was literally write down each of the apps that I open first thing in the morning when I wake up.  I though it was funny how much time I can waste by simply picking up my phone in the morning.  I would hate to see how long a morning routine video would go on if I actually went through each of my apps like I do on mornings when I’m not rushed (and on some that I am!)

  1. Yahoomail!
  2. Gmail
  3. Facebook
  4. Instagram
  5. Snapchat
  6. Twitter
  7. ibooks or Kindle (Depends on which app I’m reading on at the moment)
  8. Clash Royale
  9. Wells Fargo
  10. YouTube
  11. WordPress
  12. Starbucks

So these are the apps that I check every morning, and usually throughout the day whenever I have free time.  All of these apps are pretty self explanatory as to why I check them.  I would love to say that these are all of my apps, but that’s not the case.  I believe at last count I had 351 apps and for some reason can’t delete any of them when I look through them.  What can I say I have the space on my phone so why not.  If you want to see a post about what apps I have on my phone leave a comment down below.  Please remember to follow me so that you don’t miss any of my future posts and feel free to follow me on social media, twitter and instagram @tabithajeanett.

Until Next Time!

Tabby

What I’m Reading: September-November 2016

Hey Guys!

Well as you can tell from past posts, I haven’t really been reading many books for pleasure lately.  Mainly, because I’ve been super busy with school.  But that hasn’t really stopped me from totally reading.  I decided to challenge myself to a reading challenge that lasted from September until November.  I’m no where near where I should be but hey… At least I tried something new.

So here is a list of what I’ve read in the last 3 months:

  1. Good Girl Gone by Tammy Falkner
  2. The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
  3. Inferno by Dan Brown
  4. #Bae by Cambria Hebert
  5. #Holiday by Cambria Hebert
  6. House of Night #1 by P.C. Cast
  7. #Nerd by Cambria Hebert
  8. Zip, Zero, Zilch by Tammy Falkner
  9. Christmas with the Reeds by Tammy Falkner
  10. Up in Flames by Abbi Glines

Well that’s what I’ve read in the last 3 months.  Well that hasn’t been for school, as a history major in graduate school I read 1 book a week for each of my classes.  While they haven’t all been bad, they have been a bit (a lot) dense and hard to digest.  So I’ve been in a reading slump because I haven’t really wanted to look at books much less reading anything because of the amount of information that I’ve had to digest this semester.  But I have been listening to audio books during the long drive to school.  I’m hoping that being able to rest during the winter break will cure me of my reading woes.

Until Next Time!

Tabby

College Life: Exam Study Tips

Hey Guys!

So it’s that time again, midterms are here and finals are literally just around the corner.  I’ve been there, I know the first thought running through your mind is to hide under the covers. But that’s never the answer.  

There are things that you can do to help alleviate the stress you will inevitably have during this time.

  1. Get some sleep-                                                                      

    No seriously, make sure you are getting enough sleep.  It won’t end well if you end up falling asleep during your exam.  It doesn’t matter where you sleep just make sure you rest.  I’ve slept on random couches in the Library and the faculty center.  And the gym at my school has what they call sleep pods that they rent by the hour, if you get there at the right time you might be able to use it longer.          While I’m not proud of it I pulled my fair share of all nighters back when I first started college.  But I’ve learned since then that it never turns out well studying that way.  You should always try to get between 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  (The new update on the IOS has a bedtime setting that has helped so much on getting to sleep around the same time everynight) 

  2. Make a list- 

    One of the first things that I do when I’ve got something big to study for, or a big paper coming up is to make a list of what needs to be done.  However, this doesn’t mean that you can spend an hour of studying time making said list.  Make it as simple as you can, then if you need to add to it you can do that later.

  3. Check your Schedule-

     

     

    Make double sure that when you’re studying for one exam that you don’t have another sneak up on you.  That’s one of the biggest things a friend and I did last year.  We sqeaked by… barely.  Make sure you create a calendar or add it onto your planner so you know when you have things due.

  4. Handwrite your notes in class- 

    I’ve always been one of those who likes to type up my notes, but towards the end of my undergradate years I ended up with more and more professors that did not allow technology in class.  So I had no choice but to hand write my notes, but I also learned the hard way that using my laptop leads to distractions.  There are also  quite a few studies that have shown that you retain more by handwriting your notes. 

  5. Organize your Notes-

    Now that you’ve got your notes together, it’s time to organize them.  If you’ve taken handwritten notes for your class, start to type them up to make it easier for you to read them. Get them highlighted by topic, or term, or date, or name.  What ever it is that you need to organize them into more managable bits to understand and remember.

  6. Chose a Study Area-

    This is probably the second most important thing you could decided on during the semester.  Having a chosen study area can cut back on your stress.  One thing that I’ve learned is that you should never study on your bed.  So decide now where you want to study and make sure you can get there early enough that it’s available for you.

  7. Have everything you need-

    If you’re anything like me when you study, I’ve learned that if I don’t have everything that I need I’ll end up leaving and going to get it and decide that I really don’t need to study after all.  Whether this means having a go to bag that will have everything, or making a list that way when you pack up to go study you can check it off.

  8. Block out Distractions-

    Know yourself and know what it is that will distract you from studying.  I know so many people that can study by listening to music and other that can’t have any noise.  Me, depending on what I’m studying either have to have music in the background or I’ll put on a random TV series and have it going while I study. (Remember not everyone can study the same, the tv works for me, but when I’m on a time crunch I can’t have anything going on because it will distract me.)                                                                                                                                                                        So if you’re easily distracted know your limits.  I’ve learned that if I have my phone out I’ll end up playing on it.  So either put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” or just put it away.  Also check out apps that will block your internet access for a predetermined amount of time whether on your phone, tablet, or computer.                                                                                                                                          Another tip is to know whether you study better in a group or by yourself.  For me it depends on what I’m studying as to whether doing a group study will help or just be a distraction.

  9.  Reward yourself-

    Always reward yourself, whether its at the end of a chapter, or writing a page on your paper let yourself have something.  It’ll make things go so much faster for you and give you something to look forward to.

  10. Quiz yourself-

    I’ll be honest this is the one thing that I always do, I forget to quiz myself along the way and end up with a huge pile of things to remember at the end.  Instead of doing that, break it up into chunksand quiz yourself as you go.  Make it a part of your process so you don’t have quite so much that you have to do in the end.  There is no right or wrong way to do this, you can make your own flash cards or use an app or website like Quizlet to make them digital and have them on the go. (I’m not sure where I would be without Quizlet!) Quizlet gives a variety of ways in which to study, like flashcards or a test in different forms.

  11. Believe you can do it-

    Start a mantra of I CAN DO THIS! Don’t listen to that devil on your shoulder saying that you’ll never get it all done. You can do this.  Just remind yourself that it can be done and knock it out of the park!

Good luck on your exams be they midterms or finals or that essay that you have due.  You can do it! Remember that a grade doesn’t define who you are and if you try your best the professors can tell.

Do you have any special study tips or things you do before an exam or paper is due?  Leave a comment below!

Until Next Time!

Tabby

Game Day Snacks Football!

Hey Guys!

So are ya’ll as excited as I am for Thanksgiving?  I love food so getting together with the family for food and fun is always exciting.  There are two things that are always on the tv come Thanksgiving day.  The parades during the morning when we’re finishing off the cooking and the football game later on that day.

Today’s post is all about snacks that you can have circulating while the game is going. That these recipes are not ones that would usually be cooked during thanksgiving, but can also be used during any football game party that you decided you want to have.

  1. Loaded Potato Wedges

     Yield: Serves 4                                                                                                                            Prep Time: 10 mins                                                                                                                Total Time: 1 hr

    These wedges are potato perfection! Baked until crispy and topped with cheddar, chives, and an avocado sour cream sauce.

    Ingredients

    2 pounds new potatoes, wedged
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 teaspoon kosher salt
    1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    1 avocado
    1/2 cup sour cream
    1 lime, juice only
    Cheddar cheese, grated
    Bacon, crispy and crumbled
    Scallions or chives

    Directions

    1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut potatoes into wedges. You should get 10-12 wedges per potato. Toss wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

    2) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread potatoes out on the baking sheet. Try to make sure that they aren’t stacked at all. Baked potatoes for 35-40 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Finished wedges should be crispy on the edges and sides and tender in the center.

    3) While potatoes bake, stir together mashed avocado (really ripe) and sour cream. You can also pulse in a small food processor. Add lime juice and a pinch of salt. Also cook bacon and crumble and grate cheese.

    4) When potatoes are baked, re-position the potatoes so they resemble shingles on the sheet pan. They should slightly overlap. Top potatoes with cheese and crispy bacon. Return to oven for 5-6 minutes until cheese is bubbling.

    5) Finish potato wedges with avocado sauce and fresh chopped chives (or scallions). Serve while hot!

    2. Pepperoni Roll-Ups Recipe

    TOTAL TIME: Prep/Total Time: 20 min.YIELD:4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls
    • 16 slices pepperoni, cut into quarters
    • 2 pieces string cheese (1 ounce each), cut into quarters
    • 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
    • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

    Directions

    • 1. Unroll crescent dough; separate into eight triangles. Place eight pepperoni pieces on each. Place a piece of cheese on the short side of each triangle; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Roll up each, starting with the short side; pinch seams to seal. Sprinkle with garlic salt and remaining Italian seasoning.
    • 2. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 8 appetizers.

    3. TOUCHDOWN TACO CUPS

    Author: Southern Made Simple
    Serves: 10 Taco Cups
    INGREDIENTS
    • *Feel free to use ANY of your own favorite taco ingredients for this dish. This is such a versatile appetizer and they’re really easy to customize to your own liking!
    • 1 lb ground beef – scrambled and cooked
    • 1 packet taco seasoning mix
    • 1 package shredded lettuce
    • 1 8 oz package shredded Taco blend cheese
    • 1 avocado – prepared into guacamole
    • 1 cup salsa
    • Sour Cream
    • Chopped cherry tomatoes, black olives, green onions, jalapenos for optional garnish
    • 9 oz clear plastic cups
    INSTRUCTIONS
    1. Cook ground beef and add in taco seasoning according to packet instructions
    2. Scoop a spoonful of taco mixture into clear plastic cups to use as the bast of the dip, followed by a layer of each listed ingredient according to your liking. Top with extra cheese , jalapenos, olives, etc.
    3. Enjoy!
    NOTES
    1 lb of ground beef is enough to make about 10 taco cups. Consider doubling the recipe if feeding a larger crowd.

    4. Loaded Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs

    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Yield: 18 deviled eggs
    Loaded Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs

    These Loaded Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs will be a fun addition to your summer picnics. Cheese, bacon, and peppers adds a great flavor to the filling.

    Ingredients

    • 9 hard boiled eggs
    • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
    • 1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
    • 2 Tablespoons finely diced jarred jalapeno slices
    • 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
    • 4 strips bacon, chopped
    • salt and pepper
    • smoked paprika
    • 18 jalapeno slices, for garnish, if desired

    Instructions

    • Cut the eggs in half side ways to make little egg cups. Remove the yolk gently and place in a bowl. Slice off a tiny circle from the bottom of each egg, so the cups will stand up.
    • Dice the egg yolks with a fork, and then add the softened cream cheese, salad dressing, garlic, and mayo. Mix together until creamy.
    • Stir in the diced jalapeños, cheese, and bacon. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.
    • Use a spoon to fill each egg cup completely with the mixture. Sprinkle with the smoked paprika and top each egg with a jalapeño slice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    5.   Jalapeño Popper Dip

    10 mins
    15 mins
    25 mins
    Author: Holly N.
    Serves: 12 servings
    Ingredients
    Follow Spend With Pennies on Pinterest for more great recipes!
    • 1 4oz can diced jalapenos, well drained OR 4-6 fresh jalapenos, roasted and diced (include seeds if you like it really spicy)
    • 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • ¾ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    Topping
    • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
    • 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
    • ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
    Instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    2. With a mixer on medium, combine cream cheese, garlic powder and sour cream until fluffy.
    3. Add cheddar cheese, ¾ cup parmesan cheese, and diced jalapenos, mix well.
    4. Spread into an 8×8 baking dish.
    5. Combine bread crumbs, melted butter, ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese, and parsley.
    6. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the cream cheese mixture.
    7. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until hot and breadcrumbs are golden brown.

     

    Hopefully you enjoyed these recipes and they gave you some great ideas on what to serve at your next party.  If you recreate any of these tag me on instagram and twitter @tabithajeanett.  Please feel free to follow me and don’t for get to follow me on here so that you won’t miss any of my posts.  Hope ya’ll have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

    Until Next Time!

    Tabby

iFrankenstein by Bekka Black

Ifrankenstein

Reviewer: Tabitha
iFrankenstein by Bekka Black
Format: Kindle, IOS App
Series: iMonsters
Published by: No publisher information found
Publication Date: September 16, 2012
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal          Page Count: 256
Buy on Amazon |Barnes and Nobles

 

Book Synopsis:  The orginal can be found here.

Frankenstein comes to life for the wired generation.

Following her critically-acclaimed iDrakula, award-winning author Bekka Black breathes life into a modern re-telling of iFrankenstein, using only text messages, web browsers, tweets, and emails.

Homeschooled teenager Victor Frankenstein is determined to write his own ticket to independence: a chatbot to win the prestigious Turing prize and admission to the high tech university of his choice. He codes his creation with a self-extending version of his own online personality and unleashes it upon the internet. But soon he begins to suspect his virtual clone may have developed its own goals, and they are not aligned with Victor’s. The creature has its own plan, fed by a growing desire to win darker and more precious prizes: unfettered power and release from loneliness.

As the creature’s power and sentience grows and its increasingly terrible deeds bleed over from the online world into the real one, Victor must stop his creation before his friends and humanity pay the ultimate price.

 

Ok, so a few months ago I did the review on the first book in this series (I’m patiently waiting for more like this! I love the way these books are redone.)

How did I get it: Bought it through amazon

Why did I read it: I loved and enjoyed iDrakula and I was excited to see what a modern re-telling of Frankenstein would come out like.

Review:  I’m not going to lie pretty much what I wrote about iDrakula applies to this iFrankenstein, and I really don’t want to sound like I’m repeating myself.  So while these two books are very different (because you know they are based on different stories) they are also very similar in their strengths and weaknesses.

Just like with iDrakula, I loved the way that Bekka Black changed the characters enough that they fit well into the modern world, but left enough of the original characters that they were not unrecognizable.  Just as with iDrakula the format is great for bringing in a new generation into the stories.  Ok, so how would I describe this book?  A quick and fun read would probably be it.  There are some moments that are completely hilarious and ridiculous, but so completely appropriate.  I think the thing that will draw in the younger crowd will be the format of the books themselves.

The plot line that Black uses in an interesting one with the cruise and contest that leads to the creation of Frankenstein’s “monster”.  I also love the way that Black portrayed each of the characters as teenagers, because if she had left them as adults her plot line would not have made any sense.

I do love that Black continued her use of text messages, emails and tweets as well as pictures to get the general sense of what was going on through to the reader.  I’m not sure how well it would work for someone who doesn’t like this type formatting.

I’m pretty sure that the only reason that I could catch on to what was happening was because I had to read Shelly’s Frankenstein for my European History class… and because I own the movie iFrankenstein which is what happens after the book (and has no relation to this book).  So the story line itself was pretty fresh.

So overall, this book as a quick fun read, and if you love the classics this one is great modern retelling.  So if you’re ever in the mood for something outside the realm of normal thrillers either of these two book in Bekka Black’s iMonster’s series will be great reads.

 

How I would rate it:   4 out of 5 Stars!                                                              my-rating-4-stars

New Thanksgiving Recipes

Hey Guys!

So Thanksgiving is right around the corner, with only a week away I thought what could be better than testing out some new recipes and finding some new favorites.

My first thought was how bacon makes everything better, so I began looking for a recipe with bacon added and found this one.  I’ve found out recently that I love sweet potatoes, so I added this to my to try recipes. (Sidenote: My camera is down… so I’m using the pictures from the original post.)  I’ve also added a link to the original posts that I found these ideas on.

  1. Candied Bacon Sweet Potatoes                                           Serves 10 to 12

    cbsp
    Ingredients

    • 3 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed
    • 6 ounces bacon, cut into 1″ pieces
    • ½ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
    • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
    • 1 tsp. chili powder
    • ½ tsp. fine sea salt
    • ½ tsp. cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

    Directions
    Active time: 20 minutes
    Total time: 1 hour

    Preheat oven to 400°. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut sweet potatoes into 1″ cubes. In a bowl, toss potatoes with bacon, pecans, maple syrup, chili powder, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne. Spread in a single layer on prepared baking sheets.

    Roast for 20 minutes. Stir and continue roasting until tender, about 15 minutes. Turn oven to broil and brown potatoes, 5 minutes. Watch nuts closely to ensure they don’t burn. Serve hot.

    To make ahead
    Combine ingredients and store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature, then bake.

  2. Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites

     Prep Time: 10 minutes                                                                                                          Cook Time: 25 minutes

    Yield: 18 pieces

    Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites

    Ingredients

    • 9 strips Wright Brand Bacon
    • 3 cups prepared stuffing (either package or homemade)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 375° degrees.
    2. Line baking tray with aluminum foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
    3. Cut slices of Wright Brand Bacon in 1/2.
    4. Form stuffing into balls, approximately golf ball size.
    5. Place stuffing ball onto center of bacon piece. Wrap bacon around ball bringing both sides together and securing with a toothpick.
    6. Bake approximately 20-25 minutes. Remove tray when bacon is fully cooked.
    7. Place bites onto paper toweling prior to serving.

    Notes: Depending on the size of your stuffing balls you may have more or less than 18 pieces and require more or less strips of bacon.                                                                                                                                                                                                          This recipe is an awesome one, (because you know bacon!)  this would be great for something to tide you over until the rest of the food is ready or as a snack for when the game is one.

  3.  Deviled Eggs 

    Ingredients
    • 6 eggs, hard-boiled & sliced in half
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 1 (squirt or) tablespoon mustard
    • a splash of hot sauce (Frank’s Red Hot is my favorite)
    • salt & pepper, to taste
    • paprika to garnish
    Instructions
    1. Place your cooked egg yolks in a small bowl & mash them up with a fork. Stir in the mayo, mustard, hot sauce, salt, & pepper. Scoop the filling into the egg whites. Sprinkle with paprika.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The good thing about this recipe is that you can add anything to this to get a different flavor.  I’ve added ranch powder to the egg mixture with bacon on to give it a bacon ranch flavor.  Or adding a Jalapeno to the top of the original mixture to give it that extra spicy kick.
  4.  Make Ahead Turkey (Thanksgiving) Gravy

    Recipe from: Created by Cathy Pollak for NoblePig.com | Serves: 2-1/4 cups

    Ingredients

    • 2 turkey wings
    • 4 ribs of celery, roughly chopped (use leaves too)
    • 1 onion, cut into chunks
    • 4 cloves garlic, smashed with the back end of a knife
    • 6 cups water
    • 4 Tablespoons (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups turkey stock, strained and defatted
    • 1/2 cup whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • kosher salt to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon)

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and in a large sauté or roasting pan (I use my large Dutch oven), roast (on a lower oven rack) turkey wings, celery, onion and garlic for 2 hours. Remove from the oven.
    • Add water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer on low for one hour, uncovered. Stock will reduce.
    • Strain the stock into a bowl with at least a 4 cup capacity. Place liquid into the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight and remove the fat accumulated on top.
    • In a large sauté pan, melt unsalted butter and whisk in flour. Cook, whisking constantly over medium heat for two minutes. This will cook out the flour taste. Whisk in defatted turkey stock and cook until thickened. (The gravy should coat the back of a spoon.) Add milk, cider vinegar and salt to taste. If by some chance you cannot get your gravy as thick as you like it, don’t panic. It’s always possible you measured something wrong. In an emergency, you can always dissolve 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in one teaspoon of cold water and SLOWLY add it to the gravy while whisking. It will be fine. Just remember, gravy often thickens up a bit when it’s off the heat and you want a nice pourable liquid for all those lovely side dishes.

    After looking at this recipe this is actually pretty much what my family and I do for ours with the exception of the apple cider vinegar, I’ve never tried it like that so this may well be what we try this year.

  5. Creamy Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

    I always make the green bean casserole for thanksgiving, this year I think I want to try it from scratch and see what everyone thinks about it.

    Ingredients:

    GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

    • 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon salt, divided
    • 1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
    • 2 Tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter
    • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced into halves or quarters
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced (minced roasted garlic is great here)
    • 2 Tablespoons (15g) all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 cup (180ml) chicken or vegetable broth
    • 1 and 1/4 cups (300ml) half-and-half3

    Directions:

    1. Preheat the oven to 475°F (246°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
    2. Bring a gallon of water and 1 Tablespoon of salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain and immediately place into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.
    3. For the casserole: Over medium-high heat, melt the butter in a large 10 – 12 inch ovenproof skillet. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give off some of their moisture– about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir, and cook for another 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir until combined. The flour will soak up all the moisture. Add the chicken broth and simmer for 3 minutes. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Stirring occasionally, cook until the mixture is thick– about 10 minutes or maybe more if you prefer a thicker sauce.
    4. Remove from the heat and add 1/4 of the onions and all of the green beans. Give it a nice stir, combining the sauce and beans. Top with remaining onions and bake until bubbly, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and enjoy! Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat as desired.

    Make ahead tip: Prepare everything as directed.  After the sauce is finished and the casserole is assembled, set aside and allow to cool. Cover tightly either in the skillet or carefully transfer to another dish. Refrigerate overnight. The next day, bake for 15-20 minutes at 400°F until bubbly.

    Recipe Notes:

    1. If you’re not really into the fried onion thing, feel free to leave it out completely and sprinkle the top of the casserole (before going into the oven) with 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs for crunch.
    2. Panko is a Japanese style breadcrumb found in all major grocery stores or anywhere breadcrumbs are sold. I prefer it for these onions because of its hearty crunch factor.
    3. I tested this recipe with varying amounts of half-and-half– this amount does the trick. You can use heavy cream instead of the half-and-half for a richer sauce if you prefer. I do not recommend whole milk or buttermilk (or any other lower fat milks) instead. You want a thick, rich sauce.

    Want to double the recipe to feed a larger crowd? It’s easy! Simply double the ingredients. Then in step 5, remove the skillet from heat then pour the bean mixture into a large 9×13 (or similar size) casserole dish. Top with onions, then bake until bubbly, around 20 minutes.

    Adapted from Alton Brown— he likes to add fresh ground nutmeg, but I’m not really a fan of nutmeg in my veggies. You can totally add some though if you are!

    Bonus Recipe

    So it’s the next day and you don’t know what to do with all those left overs.  Below is a recipe just for you.  The one uses mayo, but I’ve never put it in any of mine, (mainly because I don’t like to cook my mayo), so that is an optional step if you are the same way.  I pretty much put whatever was left over in a casserole dish in layers and cook it.  I also add a broccoli cheese casserole because we usually make that at thanksgiving too.

  6. Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole

    Author: Christina Hitchcock                                                                                           Recipe type: Main Dish                                                                                                                Serves: 4                                                                                                                               Ingredients:                                                                                                                                     – 4 cups leftover prepared stuffing, divided                                                                           – 4 cups coarsely chopped leftover cooked turkey (about 1 lb.)                                       – ¾ cup mayonnaise, divided                                                                                                   – ¼ cup cranberry sauce                                                                                                               – 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes                                                                                          – 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese                                                                               Instructions:                                                                                                                                    1. Preheat oven to 375°. Spray 8­inch baking dish with no­stick cooking spray.        2. Place half of the stuffing in the dish and top with all of the turkey.                      3. In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup mayo and cranberry sauce; evenly spread over turkey.                                                                                                                                    4. In another bowl, combine remaining ½ cup of mayo, potatoes and cheese; evenly spread on top of cranberry sauce mixture.                                                                5. Top with remaining stuffing.                                                                                                  6. Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through.

Why I started Blogging

Hi Guys!

Well for some reason it looks like I’ve mainly done discussion posts.  I didn’t plan it this way, but it still happened.  So today’s discussion is about why I started blogging.  I chose this topic because it was posed to me the other day and I actually paused.  I didn’t really have an answer besides “I don’t know? I just did.”  So I sat down and thought about it.  And I finally realized that I wanted something that was mine.  That I could have and share and interact with others, as well as to finish and accomplish something.

I’ve always been the type of person that will start something and about midway through become bored and stop.  When I started blogging I decided to start with a challenge.  This challenge lasted for 30 days… ish. (I had a couple of days where the post would get pushed off because I wasn’t able to post, but I finished it!)  I figured if I could finish that I would accomplish something.  And I did.  I also realized that I loved to make content for ya’ll and enjoyed the process of it.  So I began to plan what was going to be coming next.  With each new decision my blog was becoming more and more me, and I loved it.

So I guess my answer now would be because I love making new post and having ya’ll love them.  It makes my day when ya’ll like what I’ve written for you.

Until Next Time!
Tabby