Tech Tip: Blogger Template

I experimented a little with the design of my blog. I played with the colors and fonts of the words until I found some I liked best. I mainly stayed within the design of the "ethereal" template. I chose a coral and light blue color scheme and a cursive type for my text, so it will look more ethereal. It is not perfect and it is not done just yet; I still have much to change. It is a lot of fun to design the layout of my blog and I will definitely continue to change it. However, for now, it looks good to me.

An Introduction to Growth Mindset

        This is my first time hearing about Carol Dweck and her growth mindset theory. It is a really fascinating way of looking at education, and one I had honestly never thought of before. I myself have always striven for A's in all my classes, and if I do not achieve them, I am devastated. I have gotten to the point where if I truly enjoyed the class and felt I learned a great deal, I can accept a B. However, I think focusing more on growing rather than passing is a much better perspective.
        I am not a fan of hard work, though when I do it, I feel very accomplished, whether that be school, or work, or life in general. After hearing what Dweck has said about learning, I realized I should be looking at this as a growth experience, one that will make me smarter and a better human being. I want to be able to seek out challenges, because they will make me stronger, no matter the outcome. This is a good perspective to keep in mind as I go throughout this class and other classes. They are there to make me better, and I should be excited for that. I hope to keep this mindset and learn more about it throughout this semester. 

Image Information: Laura Gibbs via cheezburger, 2016. Web Source: Growth Mindset Cats

Time Strategies: Confessions of a Procrastinator

I tend to procrastinate, a lot. Whether it is school work, or cleaning my room, or letting someone know something, I am always procrastinating. I have had to force myself many times to do my work by waiting until the deadline is hours away. It has definitely caused a great deal of stress on my life. I chose the article, "Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination," because of my struggle with procrastination. The article actually gave some helpful tips on how to beat procrastination, such as forcing yourself to get started, which will make working easier, and  starting small. When put that way, it makes procrastination seem more easily conquerable. I also looked at the article, "How to Beat Procrastination," which talks about increasing the benefits of the work larger and decreasing the cost of the work. Both of these are really informative on how to beat procrastination. I myself have gotten much better at handling procrastination. For one, I think about how stressed I will be later and how if I do a little now, it will decrease that stress. I have also bribed myself by allowing myself to take breaks or watch YouTube after working for so long. These work for the most part. Time management is so important for every area in life and I want to be better at it, for this class, for all my classes, and for my life. 

Image Information: Allan Smorra "Procrastinate" 2012. Web source: Flickr

Reading Options

        

        For next week, I am choosing Ovid's Metamorphoses to read. I chose this because I have always been interested in Greek and Roman mythology, and Ovid tells so many different and wonderful myths in his Metamorphoses. I want to read it to learn more about Roman mythology. I also think this could be a good story to find inspiration for stories I would like to write.
        For the future weeks, one unit that caught my eye was Week 4-5, The Voyages of Sindbad. The story sounds very intriguing and mystical. I believe I watched the Dreamworks' animated movie version of this story a long time ago, and from what I can remember it was interesting. The fact that this story was influenced by Homer's Odyssey is also fascinating. I am curious to see how the author of The Voyages of Sindbad combined The Odyssey with his own story.
        Another unit that sounds very enjoyable is Week 11-12, King Arthur. For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the legends of King Arthur. I love the idea of a story transcending time and still being relevant in modern society. I am excited to see different stories about King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. I believe I could find a great deal of inspiration from the stories of King Arthur. 

Image Information: Steve Czajka, 2013, Flickr. Web source: Flickr

Storybook Favorites: Changelings and Mermaids

        The first storybook I chose is "Changeling of the Seasons." I had never heard the legends of changelings before I read these stories. I was intrigued by the title, specifically because of the reference to seasons, and I was even more intrigued when I read the introduction. I like how the introduction, and really the whole storybook, is narrated in first person, making it personal, and how it is also mysterious and causes the reader to want to know more. I chose this storybook because it was not a simple retelling of a fairy tale, but a unique and creative story that takes inspiration from other stories. The design of the site is very nice, as it is bright, but also a little dark and mysterious. I appreciate the beautiful artwork that the author chose for each page. Overall, this was a very creative storybook.
        The second storybook is "I Am Not my Brothers' Sister: A Changeling's Journey" by Shelby Stillwell. It was unintentional, but I chose another changeling story, and this one was just as creative as the previous one. The title was what really got me, as it was unlike most of the titles for the other storybooks. The introduction is beautifully written and immediately gives the reader sympathy for the protagonist as she struggles with her identity. I was interested in the story from the beginning, and the images helped with that. On the very top of each page is a photo of a girl's eyes, each a different color. This beautiful photo is captivating and caused me to want to know more. The storyline was so creative and great and one that kept me interested all the way through. I like how the author created her own story from old legends and stories. The other photos were interesting, however they had little to do with the plot itself and so I glazed over them.
        The last storybook is "Mermaids: An Eternal World of Waters" by Lorraina Robinson. This storybook is a retelling of tales of mermaids through the author's own story. I love mermaids, and so the title immediately caught my eye, and then the wonderful introduction kept me interested. It begins mysteriously and helps set up the rest of the story wonderfully. I love her use of description and how vivid it is. The photos she uses are just gorgeous and add so much to the story. The story itself is very good, as it is a way for the author to retell different stories about mermaids and connect them all. The ending was a bit abrupt, however with a short story that is bound to happen. I still appreciated the lovely layout and the creativity.

Image Information: Magical Book, Wallpapers-room. Web Source: Lydia's Mysterious Book

Introduction to a Frazzled English Major

Good day all! My name is Amanda Jones. I am a senior English literature major at the University of Oklahoma. It's not an easy major and definitely not for the faint of heart; there's a lot of reading and writing involved, which can be exciting, but also tiring. I have taken some amazing classes, however, like one over Jane Austen, one over the History of the English language, and one over publishing a magazine. These were some of the hardest classes I have taken, but they were also some of the best because they were so interesting and they challenged me. I took 18 hours last semester, a feat I have never attempted before, and I survived. I love to read, everything from Harry Potter to Jane Austen to The Great Gatsby. The downside of being an English major, however, is while I read all the time, it is not always for fun much. 

I am the oldest of three siblings, so I have the older child symptom of being a perfectionist and too responsible for my own good at times. At times, being an only child would be nice, but then I would miss the fun of tormenting my siblings.
I have a lot of favorites. I am a huge Disney fanatic, if you could not already tell from my "Favorite Place" post. Disney movies are my guilty pleasure, and no matter what mood I'm in, I'm always in the mood for Disney. I am also a big fan of British television shows, such as Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Downton Abbey. 

My favorite foods are pizza, popcorn, and Mountain Dew, and any day when I eat all three is a good day. I make pretty good homemade pizza out of tortillas, pizza sauce, and cheese. Sadly, I can't make Mountain Dew from scratch.
I'm fairly typical, as I love watching tv and movies, spending time with friends, and eating. I also love to make jewelry for fun. My favorite thing, though, is spending time with the people I love. That's what always makes my day.
There you have it; some things about me, maybe interesting, maybe not. I hope y'all enjoy my blog and it keeps you interested.

Image 1 by Neal Call posten in 2012 on his blog, "English Major Versus the World." Web source: English Major Versus the World

Image 2 by Laura S. posted in 2013 on her blog, "English Without End." Web source: English Without End 

Image 3 by Ray MacLean in 2012 on his Flickr account. Web source: Flickr

Week 1 Story: Three Ships, Three Women, One Prince

“I saw three ships come sailing by,
Come sailing by, come sailing by;
I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New Year's Day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then,
Was in them then, was in them then?
And what do you think was in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning?

Three pretty girls were in them then,
Were in them then, were in them then;
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New Year's Day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing,
And one could play on the violin—
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New Year's day in the morning”


Prince Adrian was finally of the age to be married, whether he wanted to be or not. His father, the king, had been urging his son for months to find a suitable woman to wed. Finally, out of exasperation, the prince promised his father that after the New Year, he would choose his bride.

As it happened, this task would be easier than Adrian had expected. On New Year's Day, as the sun was just beginning to rise, three large ships appeared on the horizon. The king was quickly warned of the oncoming ships and, with his son, he quickly came to see the three ships. 

As they came closer, their beautiful ornate hulls became noticeable, and the king and all around him were amazed at the beauty and luxury of the three ships. Noting that they appeared friendly, the king allowed the three ships to dock. Once they were settled in, three beautiful women appeared from the three ships, each seeking the prince's hand in marriage.

The first who appeared was a princess by the name of Alexandria. She was a fair princess with a great amount of wealth in her possession. She was also an extraordinary singer. She offered her singing to the king and prince, delighting them with her soft, lovely voice. The king was instantly impressed. With her beauty, wealth, and talent, she would make an excellent daughter. The prince, however, was less so impressed. While her voice and her face were quite beautiful, he felt the princess was shallow and a bit dull. He wanted a woman he could enjoy talking with.

The second woman to come to the king and the prince was a duchess named Emilia. Although she was less wealthy than Alexandria, she was just as beautiful, and far more intelligent. She could play the violin beautifully. As she played the two a song, the king imagined his castle being filled with the violin's beautiful melody. She was beautiful, talented, and smart, everything he could hope for in a daughter. The prince, on the other hand, felt her too smart, in that she seemed to find herself superior to the prince. He was seeking for a woman who could be his companion, not one who would look down on him.

The third woman was a princess named Isabella, who came from a small island. Although pretty and wealthy, she was less so than the previous two women, and she had no talent as great as theirs. She could whistle, however, and a mighty fine whistler she was! She whistled a song fom the king and prince, quite impressively. The king, however, was not so impressed, and felt as if she were mocking him. But the prince found the whistling enormously charming. Beauty and wealth are fleeting, but a girl who could make him laugh was just what he was longing for.

The prince declared Isabella his wife, much to the astonishment of the king. The king accepted it nonetheless, the two were quickly married. It was a joyous occasion, and the two lived together happily.



Author’s Note: Many of you may recognize parts of this rhyme from the classic Christmas song, “I Saw Three Ships.” In this rhyme, however, it is not Christmas, but New Year’s Day that is the context. The rhyme curiously focuses on three ships sailing with three women aboard. The ending is unexpected, as it mentions the narrator’s wedding, but does not mention who he is marrying. I thought it would make more sense to expand on this idea and show why the women were sailing, and who was marrying whom.

Bibliography: This story is a retelling of the nursery rhyme "I Saw Three Ships" in The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang.

Painting by Joseph Walter (1783-1856) in 1838. The West Indiaman "Britannia." Web source: Wikimedia Commons

My Favorite Place: The Happiest Place on Earth

It is perhaps a cliché statement, but Disney World is the "happiest place on earth." Every part of it is full of magic and beauty and excitement. It is my favorite place because, at Disney World, I can be a kid again. I have not visited Disney World since I was fourteen, however, it remains a lovely memory in my mind. I cherish the time I spent there, and I hope to return very soon. 

Image taken by Brett Kiger from Atlanta, Georgia in 2011. Source: Flickr 
"Gathering at the Hub." Web source: flickr