The Ultimate Gift Guide from A Part-Time Writer
Do you remember going through the Wish List catalogue that Sears (RIP) would release each year? I would be so excited to go through every page and circle everything that I hoped my parents to get me that year. I’m laughing to myself, thinking about how ridiculous and expensive that wish list was when I […]
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Let’s Accomplish Everything in 2 Months
First of all, how is it November already? Second, how is everyone doing these days? I had high hopes to have accomplished a lot by this time of the year, like completing (or almost completing) my 2021 Reading Challenge (I’m 28 books behind) and watching 31 days of horror flicks (again, I barely made it […]
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What Scares Me The Most
It’s spooky season starting this Friday. Goblins, ghouls, ghosts, and all the other Halloween favourites are all very frightening, but do you know what scares me the most? Not being successful. And I don’t mean that in my career, but kind of just life in general. I fear that I won’t be able to pay […]
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Growing up as a ’90s Kid
Do you remember growing up in the ‘90s or early 2000s? Was it filled with good, bad, or downright embarrassing moments? The barrettes, the furbies, the denim, everything? Oh, and let’s not forget the collection of VHS movies. I recently watched Kid 90 on Prime Video the other day. It takes a look at young […]
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How to be a Tourist in Your Own City
As things begin to open up and I start to leave my house more, I figured this would be a great time to explore my city. Honestly, when you think of Winnipeg, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Usually, it’s a friggin’ cold place to live, and there’s not much else going on […]
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What They Don’t Tell You About Road Trips
Road trips are always fun when you begin the trip. You have your playlist at the ready, a giant pile of snacks in the back seat, and a list of wacky roadside attractions to take ironic pictures with along the way. All this made even better by the excitement of a vacation at the end […]
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Guilty Shopping Spree
When I was younger, I worked at a fast-food joint, and for the entire summer, I spent my paycheck on clothes, food, and random stuff I didn’t need. I had no concept of saving, but I didn’t care because “I was young and enjoying life.” Even as I got older, my shopping habits didn’t change. […]
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Crop Top Hesitation
It’s time to embrace our bodies. I’ve been seeing so many beautiful people embracing and loving their bodies in whatever clothes they want. It’s thrilling to see, and I want to feel the same way too. So, I decided to buy a couple of crop tops for myself. Before you ask, why are you making […]
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May The Fourth Be With You!
May the Fourth be with You! Happy Star Wars Day, friends. What better way to celebrate than a post about why I am a Star Wars fan. There are two types of Star Wars fans; one is immersed in the cinematic world created by George Lucas, and the other is immersed in the world of […]
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Body Positive TikTok Trends
I’ve seen a new body-positive trend on TikTok that goes along with a Katy Perry song, “I Kissed A Girl.” The videos feature people showing off their “normal” bodies. Anything from blemishes, stretch marks, tummies, thighs, and everything that is usually excluded from the social media narrative. I was in awe of the beautiful people […]
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My Favourite Content Creators Who Inspire Me
As chaos reigned supreme this year, I found peace from following certain content creators. When I follow people on Instagram or YouTube, I always seek individuals or groups that offer something that I’m looking for in my life. Usually, it’s food, writing tips, or photographers that I am inspired by. So, let’s get started! Here […]
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Writing Slumps Suck
Mondays. They hold the promise to have an excellent, refreshing, and motivating day. I thought I had all the cards aligned to have such a day. Alas, I was wrong. I had a “free day off” from work today, and it started off promising. I had a scheduled massage, ate a healthy breakfast, and went […]
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I’m Addicted to My Phone
I’m addicted to my phone. When I wake up, the first thing treated to my dishevelled hair is my phone, and then after a few minutes — or twenty — of scrolling, I’ll wish my bf good morning. If it’s a weekend, you can find me scrolling through the social media apps until laying in […]
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The Day I Wanted to Become a Filmmaker
When I was younger, I wanted to be a dentist and then later on, I wanted to become a marine biologist — that was after I watched this horrific documentary about dolphins, but that’s a story for another day. So, I decided I wanted to become a marine biologist, and that would be my future, […]
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TBR: The Best To-Do List
I love to read. I can read anything from classic lit to horror to manga. One year, I managed to read over 50 books! That means I read a book every week (which was true at the time). I attempted to make that goal again last year. After all, I knew I would be home […]
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Finding Happiness
I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way. – Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Happiness is a positive or pleasant emotion that ranges from contentment to joy. Happiness for me comes from my family, my wonderful boyfriend, and, of course, my […]
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‘Tis the Season to be Jolly
‘Tis the season of trashy holiday movies! Y’know, the cheesy movies with actors we’ve never heard of until now? The movies that you love to watch, but secretly tell everyone you’re not into them. Yes, I’m talking about holiday movies. It’s the perfect time to sit back with a delicious drink and snack, ready to […]
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Relax: Why You Should Take A Bath
Taking time for self-care is very important. Whether you’re reading a book, cooking, or watching the latest Netflix Christmas movie, it’s good for your mental and sometimes physical health. Lately, my routine of self-care has been taking baths. It’s a great way to relax and reduce stress. Plus, I have time to reflect on anything […]
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Why I Love My Body… And Food
For years, I’ve struggled with loving my body. Ever since I finished university, I’ve been struggling to get back into shape, comparing my body now to the body I had in my early twenties. I always thought, if I could just lose this weight and weigh 20 pounds less, I would be happier. Sadly, that […]
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How to Combat Lack of Motivation
Do you ever just have days where you feel low, with little to no motivation? I have them almost all the time. Perhaps it’s the summer burnout or the fact that we’re living in a global pandemic, but I’ve been feeling low lately. Last week, I felt like I was on top of the world! […]
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Let’s Talk About Journaling
When I was younger, my mom introduced me to writing in my diary, or what we call today journaling. It was a way to get my thoughts out on paper when I felt I couldn’t talk to anyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this because I could write anything and no one would ever see it. It […]
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World of Warcraft: Why I Let My Boyfriend Convince Me to Play an RPG
A little over a year ago, I decided to download World of Warcraft on my Macbook Pro (these aren’t meant for gaming). I didn’t know a lot about Warcraft, aside from the Warcraft lore my boyfriend told me (shoutout to him for being so knowledgeable). Funny story, before I even considered playing Warcraft, I was […]
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September: A Few of My Favourite Things
September. ‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, and scary movie marathons. While I love summer for those warm sunny days and my birthday (obviously), I really enjoy fall. Obviously, fall officially begins on September 21st, but as we all know, the first of September is a good sign of the cool air […]
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Am I a Writer?
I’ve come across a few Instagram posts recently about imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is where an individual has self-doubts about their work and talents and has an internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud. And it made me wonder about my insecurities as a writer. I love to write, and it’s always been something […]
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An Open Letter to my Future Self
Hey you, I hope things are going well. Did you move yet? I’d assume you have by the time you read this. Are you still working at your fabulous job? I mean, how could you not be there, that would be crazy. Did you get married yet (hehe)? I don’t know how you’re supposed to […]
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Are You Doing Too Much?: A Fun Guide to Time Management
When I was in university, I took a full course load, worked full-time, and had a part-time gig on the side. For some reason, being that busy made me commit to my studies; I knew if I messed up, I would be forced to either restart or honestly, quit altogether. The other day, someone asked […]
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My Summer Playlist
Every summer, there is an album or song that defines those warm sunny days in the city, on the beach, or wherever you spend time relaxing. I love summer music because it reminds you of an easy time and you can revisit it any time of the year when you need something simple during a […]
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Writing Prompts
Do you like to use writing prompts? Sometimes if I need quick inspiration or an idea, I’ll search 365 Creative Writing Prompts to get the juices flowing hopefully. More often than not, I am too overwhelmed with ideas and topics even to begin. I came across a few that sort of sparked my interest: addict, […]
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Enough is Enough
All around the world, people are marching against racism, and I stand with them. It’s tough to write this for a few reasons. I want you to understand my intentions, to know we support the fight against racism, and I’m tired of hearing what BIPOCs are still going through. It’s disgusting; why is this happening? […]
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Puppies for Days
If you haven’t heard the big news, I got a puppy! My boyfriend and I picked up our Mini Australian Shepherd on May 11, which was the most exciting day ever. We had a name picked out even before she was born, Riven — Any League of Legends fans out there? We’ve had our furry […]
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Quarantine for Introverts
Hej och välkommen. My name is Gin, and I’m an introvert. Last week, Maria wrote about dealing with quarantine as an extrovert; I’m here to explain the other side of things. A little while ago, I wrote about being an introvert in ‘I Wish‘. And while the public consensus is that introverts are made for quarantine, […]
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I Want to Ride My Bicycle
My brain has been one hell of a foggy mess these past few weeks. I haven’t been able to focus much on anything other than work and thinking of what I’m going to eat. Although, it finally cleared up over the long weekend when I took my bike out for the first ride of the […]
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Cooking with Gin: How to Pretend You’re Healthy During Quarantine
Hello and welcome to your new way of life – for now at least. Last week, my employer had sent us to work from the comfort and safety of our homes due to the COVID-19 situation that has affected many lives. So without my commute, time to get ready and other factors, I have […]
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Not Your Average Gamer
Video games. They’re something that has always been in my life, but not something that I do regularly. I’m what some would call a “casual gamer.” I started my life as a gamer when I was a young kid on the Super Nintendo. I would play Super Mario World (1990), Donkey Kong Country (1994), and […]
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BBB – Beginner Burlesque Baby
Have you ever been to a burlesque show? I would say no, but I went to a Winnipeg Burlesque show put on by Prairie Diva, which is a company by M Funk Dance Productions. I always thought a burlesque show was something for adults-only and was about the hyper-sexualization of women. But it was anything […]
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The Procrastinator
In February 2016, Tim Urban did a TED Talk about procrastination called, “Inside the mind of a master procrastination.” Coincidentally, I was perusing the internet instead of writing this piece about procrastination. As if by fate, I came across this TED Talk. What is procrastination? Before I started the video, I decided to do some […]
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolutions and Why They Suck
I have never been the type of person to complete a task, let alone a New Year’s resolution. I do enjoy the excitement behind creating a plan that will one day make you look like a million bucks or a small accomplished goal. But, that doesn’t happen for a few reasons; I’m a lazy person […]
Read MoreMonster Lead Me Home
Have you ever been in a place where you thought you were worthless, underappreciated, wrecked, and unloved? That’s what it was like to live in the other world. When I first arrived in the other world, it was a place of optimism with the promise to grow into a wonderful person. They offered a comfortable […]
Read MoreMy Favourite Film
Why do I like scary movies? I love them because they give me an adrenaline rush, especially when I’m watching slasher film. My friends and I always start a discussion on how to defeat the killer or escape him, whichever is more relevant in the situation of the film. Either way, these types of films […]
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More about Gin:
I’m a Winnipeg-based writer, podcaster, and beer enthusiast. I have a BA in Communications and Media and a Digital Marketing Specialist diploma. Safe to say, I love social media. I also love to my puppy, and I run her Instagram account (follow @riven.the.aussie for puppy pics). I’m an avid reader who also loves craft beer!
I enjoy writing about personal growth, procrastination, and a few of my favourite things. Happy reading!
Citrus Rose Blog 