Under The Book Cover: cosplay

F is for Friday: 21 July 2023

Hi hello and welcome to F is for Friday, hosted by Nomadic Worlds. With F is for Friday, you answer a few prompts that relate to your reading for the past week and even share some things that made you happy! This is a great post to do because it helps remind me of all of the good things I’ve experienced weekly, even if it doesn’t feel like anything good happened in the moment. Whether it’s book related or just life in general, I’m trying to remember to count the positives in my daily life! Let's get started!
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F – Feature your latest book obsession (it doesn’t have to be your current read)

My current bookish obsession is absolutely my current read! I’m doing a beta read for an amazing book right now and am loving it so much. The vibes, the characters, the pacing, everything about it is immaculate and I’m so in love. I won’t be sharing anything about the book out of respect for the author but just know that it’s incredible and I’m so grateful to be beta reading this beauty.

I – Indicate which book/s you are looking forward to reading this weekend

I’m definitely going to continue working on reading my beta read book but I also plan to start Playground by Aron Beauregard! Aron is one of my all-time favorite extreme horror authors and this book is apparently causing all kinds of a ruckus, so I’m really excited to see what it’s all about. I’ve been considering doing my first bookish TikTok and making it about this book so if you’d like to follow me over there, my username is @firehawkarts!

F – Favorite quote of the week/day

I have so many from the beta read book that I’m doing but as I mentioned above, I won’t be sharing anything about the book out of respect for the author! But I genuinely do have so many quotes that I’ve literally clutched my iPad to my chest over while reading them.

F – Five Things You’re Happy Or Grateful For This Week

1. My friend had a successful appendectomy and is safe at home! She’s one of my very best friends and I love her dearly, so knowing she’s taking steps towards reducing her pain and that she’s now able to start recovering makes me so happy for her. She’s been through a lot and deserves this win!

2. The bottom of my own surgical incision is almost healed! This has been the part that is giving me the most trouble with healing and I’m so happy that it’s finally more healed than not. I’m also relatively pain-free in that area and down my leg and I cannot explain what a relief it is. Now I can go back to my regularly scheduled post-cancer pains!

3. I’m going to be annoying about this but the book I’m beta reading is something I’m happy about. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this about any book I’ve read, so I know I’ve found something special here. The way the author writes is so fluid and descriptive, but not overly so. And the plot? Oh my god y’all, the plot is so good. Just be prepared for me to be super vague about this but also constantly gush about how much I’m loving it.

4. I finally launched both shirt designs I made! I don’t talk about this but graphic design and digital art is a hobby of mine and I love to create shirt designs for the teams I volunteer at conventions for. I’m really proud of both designs that I’ve created and they have both been super well received which is such a relief. I was really nervous about if they would be liked or not but they are and I can’t wait to have them in my wardrobe!

5. A cosplayer that I really look up to, Sarah Spaceman, released her video on how she became best birb boi Tulin from Tears of the Kingdom and I loved it so much. A little fun fact about me, furries actually scare me. Like, a lot. But this costume is so cute and I love seeing how she made the whole thing come to life! Seriously, I learn at least three new things with every video of hers that she releases. It’s over an hour long but I promise you it’s worth getting a snack and sitting down to watch because the costume is amazing, but her process of creating it is so great to watch!

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And that does it for this F is For Friday post! I had a good week this week both reading and personal life wise. I’m almost done with a big crochet project, I’m making progress on Tears of the Kingdom, my reading has been very successful, and a new patch got released in Final Fantasy XIV! I’m looking forward to this next week and I hope it’s a good one. How has your week been? What’s something you’re looking forward to reading this weekend? Is there something that happened this week that made you happy? Are you also now grinding out the next step in the Manderville relic weapon line? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you in the next chapter!

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Preparing For Your First Convention!

con 1:17:00 PM

Hi hello and welcome to a different kind of post. I generally talk about all things books, but outside of my book blog life, I'm also a cosplayer and attend conventions! Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for my yearly trip to DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia where I work as a volunteer. Recently, I was approached to write an article about preparing for your first convention and I couldn't be more excited to write about this! I attend several conventions a year as a volunteer and cosplayer and would like to think that I have gotten my routine for con prep down fairly well at this point. But what about those who are planning on attending a convention for the first time? Today, I'm here to share some tips and tricks to help you survive your first convention! Let's get started!

1. Learn all about your convention

We'll take DragonCon as an example since this is the next convention I'm attending. DragonCon is held annually during Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. It spans five hotels and runs from Thursday August 31st to Monday September 1st in 2017. The specific dates will vary but it always falls on Labor Day weekend. There are tons of guests from every fandom you could imagine with panels and events starting Thursday and ending Monday. DragonCon has an awesome parade that happens Saturday morning that you can either watch in person or on TV if you don't want to try and fight for a spot. Generally, the weather is hot and humid (welcome to the South) so you always want to be prepared for potential rain showers followed by humid air that's almost impossible to breathe in! Learning about the location that the convention is held at can help you prepare for any potential changes in weather that you may not be used to and also helps with your packing plans. It also helps to keep an eye on the convention website or Facebook page for new guest announcements as well as hotel openings. Some cons may even have an app that you can download to get the schedule, maps, and locations of various events that go on during the con. A great place to look for event information is Eventbrite, since many cons use this site to register and list their events! Just getting a general idea about the convention really goes a long way into attending it for the first time.

2. Create a packing list

Staying at a hotel for the duration of the convention? Write down all of the things you plan to bring! It really helps you keep track of things once you're in the hotel room and have unpacked everything. The list above provides a great general guideline for things to bring to a convention. Of course, you don't have to bring everything on that list, but it's a good starting point to get an idea of what you might want to bring with you for the weekend. Are you planning on cosplaying at this convention? Check out this awesome video from Mango Sirene on how to pack for conventions! She gives great tips on how to pack your costumes, props, and armor to ensure that everything is organized and kept safe while traveling to the convention.

3. Hydrate and bring sensible shoes!

Click the photo to get a super cute 'Hydrate or Die' sticker from Spiro Paper Co!

It sounds simple and like a no-brainer, I know, but it's something that a lot of people tend to overlook. Myself included. Conventions are synonymous with a lot of walking and standing in lines, and you're not going to want to do that in six inch heels or work/dress shoes. You want some comfy, broken in tennis shoes with good support and maybe even some decent sole inserts to help keep your feet blister free and also from hurting too terribly bad at the end of the day. As someone who walks a ridiculous amount due to volunteering and having to walk between various hotels and ballrooms throughout the weekend, trust me when I say a good pair of comfy shoes is life saving.

When it comes to water, you can never have enough. Carrying a water bottle that you can refill throughout the day is the best way to go. Unfortunately, convention prices for both food and drink can get a bit high, so bringing a reusable water bottle will not only be useful but will also save you a good chunk of money in the long run! Staying hydrated will help ensure that you can enjoy your day at the convention and won't have to worry about sweating out all of the water in your body and getting sick. Sorry, but beer and coke are not good substitutes for water! With DragonCon especially, the weather gets hot and humid which means people will crowd in the hotels to stay cool. When there are over 77,000+ people trying to stay cool in such a confined space, you're going to sweat. Keep a water bottle with you and remember to hydrate frequently!

4. Remember the 6-3-1 rule!

Okay, so this one changes depending on who you ask about it. But the general idea of it is that you get six hours of sleep, eat three meals a day, and take at least one shower daily. Some people call it the 5-2-1 rule, and some even go as low as 3-2-1. As a volunteer and someone who has been going to cons for a bit, I prefer the 6-3-1 method because I need my sleep. But when you're at a convention, it's very easy to get lost in the hype and excitement of all that's going on. Always remember to take care of yourself and your body and get a good amount of sleep nightly, eat at least three meals a day (chips and soda from a vending machine won't cut it here, friends), and please, please, please take at least one shower a day. Con funk is a serious epidemic and Axe body spray or perfume is not a substitute for a shower! Basically, just take care of yourself and have fun!

5. Budget accordingly

With conventions come a lot of costly things such as a hotel room, food, and dealer room goodies. It can be tempting to hit the dealer room and drop a ton of money on some cool things you've found over the weekend or even go out to a fancy dinner every night, but remember to budget accordingly. You don't want to blow every penny you have in one weekend and leave yourself with nothing when you return home! Keep it realistic and spend smart. Bring things like peanut butter and jelly or granola bars to eat in place of eating at a food court every day. Try splitting the cost of a hotel room with a friend or two. Don't buy that super overpriced figure you saw in the dealer room on an impulse. Try to come up with a reasonable budget before the convention and stick to it!

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These are just some basic tips that have really helped me with literally every convention I attend. If it's your first time going to any convention, remember to have fun! Conventions can be overwhelming at first, but as long as you don't forget to take care of yourself, you should have a great time. To sum everything up really quick:

-Remember to check out the convention beforehand by visiting their website or Facebook page or even downloading the convention app if one is available.

-Keep a list of all of the things you pack to help yourself keep track of things once you get to your hotel if you plan to stay the weekend.

-Hydration is key so be sure to always carry a refillable water bottle and keep drinking!

-Good shoes are key and will save you from falling over at the end of the day and not being able to walk the next day because your feet hurt so bad.

-Get at least six hours of sleep, eat three real meals, and take at least one shower daily.

-Budget your money before you leave and spend wisely!

Take these tips and go conquer your first con! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the next chapter!