Rock, Paper, Scissors?

FTH 2026 Auctions and the Craft Bazaar are happening right now!

sugareey — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:07:26 GMT

Just wanted to say that Fandom Trumps Hate 2026 is happening right now! The main auction for fic, art, podfic, betaing, sensitivity reading, typesetting, and more for multiple fandoms or original work can be found at fth2026offerings Dreamwidth site. Main FTH bidding is open from now until Saturday, March 7th at 8pm EST (aka a little less than a couple of days!).

And if you do end up missing out on some stuff, feel free to check out the FTH Craft Bazaar, which has 38 craft stalls that are currently live! You'll find anything from bookbinding, fiber crafts, ceramics, and much more, either ready to ship or up for auction. The bazaar runs until March 18th (though some stalls may close a little earlier).

If you want more deets, feel free to learn more about this fandom community space, you can read more about FTH in my Snowflake Challenge #13 post.

P.S. If you're a geek who likes video game, Teen Wolf or Kpop Demon Hunters, I have some cute crocheted friends up for auction who are looking for new homes (ready to ship or to be made)! Check out my craft stall, which is open until March 18th at 6pm EDT!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #15: How Did the Challenge Go?

sugareey — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:30:50 GMT

Challenge #15: How Did the Fandom Snowflake Challenge Go?

Did you get all you wanted to get from it? Are there things you're going to carry with you for as long as you can? Are you going to continue to challenge yourself? Continue to connect?

I can definitely say this year was way better than the last time I did this (back in 2024). Different time, mindset and such.

I feel like I was more self-aware and thoughtful about my posts, and the process of writing each one up was actually really nice. There was some self-reflection time, but also, I think I needed a reminder of how much fandom offers and why it's important in my life. Also, I kind of missed the slow pace of engagement and the commenting on people's journals. Yes, I hangout in a lot of communities like Tumblr, FB, IG and Discord, and sometimes, those spaces can get overwhelming or things just feel fast or like an afterthought. So coming back on DW was kind of a relief, tbh?

Plus, it has been super fun to squee about common interests and things via comments! It's like having a little time stamp of love or appreciation, which we can always look back at. I was actually really glad I had a chance to pop into other people's posts, because it was intriguing to learn about something I didn't know or wanted to know more about (or else go Yay! about something we both liked).

Maybe, just maybe, I'll pop on DW a little more. I'd certainly love more reasons and the motivation to post for sure. Something for me to think about.

2026 Snowflake Challenge #14: Fandom Promo or Rec List

sugareey — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:35:03 GMT

Challenge #14: In your own space, create a promo and/or rec list for someone new to a fandom.

Trying to convince our friends and loved ones to join our fandom is a frequent activity for many of us. It's great to have someone to talk to and obsess with! This is your chance to try to entice people into your fandom or to gently introduce new fans to your favorite parts of it.

Maybe you'd like to write a manifesto on your favorite ship. Maybe you'd like to write a breakdown of the many characters that appear in a long running franchise. Maybe you'd like to rec the fics you think everyone in your fandom should read. The possibilities are endless!

I wasn't quite successful in writing a fandom primer, but I thought I'd make a media rec compilation for KPop Demon Hunters. Surprisingly, I don't have many online fandom friends who are OMGing about this fandom like I am (but many RL friends are going crazy over it, so there's that!).

Okay, so let's dig in. I first heard about movie since I follow Arden Cho on IG (who played Kira Yukimura in Teen Wolf), and she's the speaking voice of Rumi. So, because of her, that's how I even knew about this movie before it was released. My fun fact: I watched KPDH right before I found out Arden was going to a comic con near me. Needless to say, I had the chance to meet her (and she fangirled over a Rumi x Kira inspired art piece I drew and had her sign! This is now on my studio wall).

Anyway, I think by now, we know KPDH's heart and soul derives from its music. I'm a big music person who listens to soo many genres (ask anyone who knows me). I didn't even know much about or listen to KPop before seeing KPDH. But the bangers that come from this movie's soundtrack were what grabbed me from the very beginning. The KPDH soundtrack is one I'm still loving rn, but each song Hits in so many different ways. I also gave KPop more of a chance, and BLACKPINK and aespa are now 2 new group favs of mine. The more you discover...if you're willing to be open-minded.

I also appreciate the behind-the-scenes for media projects, and what really got me was Daniel Wall's interview with EJAE (the singing voice of Rumi and one of the key songwriters who helped get KPDH green-lit in the first place). EJAE's song demos...holy crap. The depth of these, and how they still sound polished even as demos...my mind is blown every time I listen to each one.

The full interview with EJAE and Daniel is below (and it's a long one!). It explains how the creation of the music formed the story we know today while offering so much appreciation for a breakout singer songwriter.

If you want to hear the final song demos, skip ahead to the following timestamps using the chapter breakdown in the video:
>> How It's Done- 58:14

>> Your Idol- 1:08:55

>> What It Sounds Like- 1:21:00

You can also hear the first takes of these too, and hey, you might learn a new thing or two when it comes to music making! :D

You might have noticed I don't have "Golden" listed above. If you want to actually hear this sung live, it only makes sense to watch EJAE, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna perform this song together as a trio. The fact that they only started singing live as a group since October 2025 is bananas. It's like they've been doing this forever. Their Glowin' version is actually my favorite rendition, tbh.

Also, the KPDH fanart that artists have been making? Yeah. I'm pretty blown away. Seriously, look at all of these pieces?!!

Derpy by oddarette

Huntr/x by lesly-oh

Jinu with Derpy and Sussie by Lobtwo

Zoey, Rumi and Mira by danicloth

Best Manager aka Bobby and his girls by ikimaru

Saja Boys (You're My Little Soda Pop) by chaaistheanswer

Also...these cute little pixelated Mario-ish animations? WOW. Here's one for Soda Pop, but honestly, you should check the rest of PiXL's vids!

Anyway, that's a little taste of some KPDH appreciation if you like to tap into visuals and audio elements like I do. I generally enjoy animation movies, but not all of them pull me in so hard. It's a movie I would have loved to have seen as a kid, but I also appreciate how intentional and culturally rich this movie is. This was enough to be a standalone without assuming there would be a sequel, but yeah...looks like we're getting one!

Happy to squee some more or answer any q's if you have them!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #13: Fandom Community Space

sugareey — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:59:11 GMT

Challenge #13: TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY SPACE YOU LIKE.

It doesn’t need to be your favorite, or the one where you spend the most time (although it certainly can be). Maybe it’s even one that you’ve barely visited. But talk about that space and how it helps support fannish community.

Fandom Trumps Hate is a fandom auction to benefit progressive nonprofits, and it's a cause that has been active since late 2016/early 2017. I didn't find out about this community until 2022 (since that was also when I got sucked back into Tumblr again), but I was pretty impressed by how many fandoms were brought together to try to do some good.

I've participated in something similar back in the 2010s (wow, weird to say that), when making fan creations to raise money for natural disaster aid was a thing (for Haiti, Japan, Pakistan and Chile). So, I thought I'd give it a go to see for FTH, which is actually a pretty big deal because it's not an easy thing to market yourself and your services to thousands of people! And, of course, imposter syndrome is a thing, because we all want someone to place a bid on us...not only so money can be donated for a good cause, but also, making sure one can actually pull through with a finished fan creation is super key too to deliver on a promise.

As a bidder, I've also supported and engaged with other fandomers who write fic or make fanart I admire. For 2025, the amazing bluebellofbakerstreet made me some fun Johnlock tarot card, and the lovely seanchaidh7 made me a gorgeous Sterek RWRB crossover art piece. And kellerific-writing wrote me a playful, spicy Sterek fic (mind the tags before reading: au- canon divergence, blind date, pushed out of the pack, semi-public sex, porn with feelings, etc.)!

In the past, as a creator, I've offered custom art for a few different fandoms. These days, I've found the craft bazaar (aka a virtual craft marketplace) is more up my alley because of how I get to set up my stall, and I've found this has been a great way to not only practice my crocheting skills, but also to send cute friends to new homes where they can be appreciated and loved.

FTH has its calendar up for 2026, and if you check back later today, sign-ups will be open for both its auction and craft bazaar! This non-profits list has all the orgs that the auction will be supporting this year. And you can learn more about FTH here!

If you do have any q's about FTH, I'm happy to answer them. And let it be said, offerings for all fandoms (no matter how small or big) are welcome!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #12: Fandom Appreciation

sugareey — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:46:08 GMT

Challenge #12: Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life.

Who makes your fandom life better? Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

I think I have the overall gist covered in my fandom love letter from Challenge #3. However, if we're talking specifics, sure! I can dive into this, since fandom when I first discovered it is sooo different from what is for me now.

So, fandom has always been a part of my life, and I basically grew up with it. I could easily go into my 2 decade long history, but you can actually learn more about that crazy journey in a FanFic Maverick Podcast episode I was interviewed for little under 2 years ago.

I was in Harry Potter for a long time before I became more passionate and public about being a multi-fandomer and a multi-shipper. I knew about the bespoke fic archives, Skyhawke, and heyy, I still have a working LJ, which I'm still cross-posting to! HP taught me a lot about making fan art and writing fic, and I met some of the most amazing people through this fandom (some who I've gotten to hang out with in person because of conventions, and later in Discord communities)!

I am so grateful for those I still keep in touch with in RL after all these years, but also for the small local fandom Discord group I'm a part of, where we squee, vent and talk about life and just about anything. And...we get to see each other at least a couple of times a year when Adulting allows it! Yes, we all met through HP, but I think our friendships go beyond that. These folks have been so dear to me, especially during the worst patches of my life. They're all sassy, real, and it's nice to know that I have friends who see and hear me, as much as I see and hear them.

HP will always be linked to me somehow, but I appreciate I've been able to lean into my other interests and navigate multiple fandom circles to share different passions and enthusiasm. I've learned that being stuck in one sandbox isn't great for me as a neurospicy creative unicorn. When the landscape changes while people come and go, that makes a huge difference on how I want to show up and where. Maybe I'll finish some of my HP WIPs in the future. We'll see.

But you know how you poke at one thing and that leads to another, and another...and basically it's a domino effect? Yes, that's what being a multi-fandomer and a multi-shipper is like, which has opened so many new doors and ways for me to engage with so many lovely people. I have a Waffle group of multi-fandomers I squee with every day but, we also check-in with and offer support to each other when things are ehhh, even if we're all in different time zones. I really do have to thank them for having my back, even on really bad days. Plus, the exchange of happy mail has never failed to brighten my day!

Different fandom spaces also give off different energies. Good Omens has been a fun wild card of chaos. Merlin really takes me back to classic world-building and lore with the mix of humor, feels, and hey, creative accountability (thanks to the Merlin Library!). Teen Wolf...yeah. I am really glad I picked this fandom up, because I have no idea where I'd be if I hadn't.

I owe it to nerdherderette for completely indulging me to inhale everything Teen Wolf and Sterek overnight 4 years ago (right after we finished up an HP collab we did together). It happened to be the right time and the right place, and I'm so glad I gave in because discovering Teen Wolf (again) helped me lean back into my love for research everything and anything supernatural related. I befriended some amazing people, and I think what was a WOW moment for me was how many people started squeeing when I started making TW content. Quite a few of these folks were from HP, but I think a majority of TW people OMGed because a. I was a noob, b. apparently, they've seen my art before on the interwebs, even if it was for HP?!! and c. Yayy art and new content!

For a good decade, once upon a time, I struggled to find my signature art style. I was iffy about my writing (since I've always been an artist first, and then a writer). We all have imposter syndrome, and jumping into a fandom where no one knew me (yet) was scary AF. Identities can empower or hinder us. But moving into the Teen Wolf fandom...that was a life-changer for me.

I'm grateful to all the folks who welcomed me with open arms and gave my creative freedom and spark back. It's the same freedom and spark I still have to this very day. The friendships I've made in this fandom, and even some of the collabs I've done have proved to me the sky's the limit. And hey, who knew I'd learn more about myself as a person? As an artist? A writer? There's something cool about finding stories and people I can relate to. There's something amazing how everything I learn from these experiences are things I can take with me where I go.

And for the more recent fandoms I've gotten into? It has been nice to have some RL friends (lol, ones who I met through HP), who are willing to scream about Hazbin Hotel or KPop Demon Hunters with me. Or you know send texts/memes to on a daily basis. :P

What I appreciate about fandom now, is that I can be who I want. I don't have to mask. I can like and make whatever, and be okay with it. Fandom doesn't have to be my identity (like it once used to be when I was younger), but it can be about the things I enjoy. It can be a place to get support, squee and play in. But most importantly, as fandom changes, I can change and move in and out of it fluidly.

Wowww, okay, that was wayy longer than I anticipated. Anyway, it has been a really long time since I've made a fandom reflection like this. If there's anything in here that resonates with you, I'd love to hear it! <3

Thanks for listening to my TED talk!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #11: Grant A Wish

sugareey — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:44:15 GMT

Challenge #11: In your own space, grant someone's wish from Challenge #5.

You've made your own wishlist, now it's time to grant someone else's wish from theirs! This can be as simple as answering a question to creating something from scratch, one wish or many wishes. Let your inspiration run wild!

I went through quite a few wishlists and left some comments, mainly because there were some folks who wanted recs or some thoughts on different topics that I'm pretty familiar with and am passionate about, or things that I deeply value. It was definitely a nice change of pace from trying to do this say, in Discord or via texting, where things can easily be lost or forgotten.

And also, being mindful in replies...super key to having some fun engagement. <3

2026 Snowflake Challenge #10: Big Mood Board

sugareey — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:31:11 GMT

Challenge #10: Big Mood (Board)

CHOOSE SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND CREATE A MINI MOOD COLLECTION OF THREE (or more) ITEMS THAT EVOKE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT IT. You don’t have to limit yourself to visual media, or collect the items into a special format like a square (though you can if you’d like).

Okie dokie, so it has been a while since I've made a moodboard (since Fall of 2023?! Woww omg!), so I figured I'd use this challenge a primer to see what I can come up with now. I'm glad my graphic design skills aren't too rusty, and hey, now I have a new moodboard to share with folks!

I thought I'd make a moodboard for a fic I recent finished writing back in mid-November of 2025. Red Is Pretty (But So Is Blue) is a Sterek fic I'm really proud of, not just because it was for a Secret Santa exchange (lol from last year and was a WIP that sat for a year...whoops), but it came from a seedling of an idea that turned into a massive beast (wc: 27k). It's the first long fic I finished writing in...15 years. Yeahh. That's a HUGE milestone for me, since I usually write drabbles or ficlets these days.

Red Is Pretty also blends in modern day life with theater life and the usual supernatural chaos the Pack has to deal with. And hey, this fic already has an intensive song playlist, so I figured why not make a moodboard to go with this too? It's a package deal, so now I really feel like this project definitely 110% complete :)

2026 Snowflake Challenge #9: My Favorite Fic Tropes

sugareey — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:57:34 GMT

Challenge #9: Talk about your favorite tropes in media or transformative works. (Feel free to substitute in theme/motif/cliche if "trope" doesn't resonate with you.)

Let's talk TROPES! Our ninth challenge is about discussing your favorite tropes, which can include requesting recommendations or making recommendations for a particular trope. Follow your heart! (Also a trope.)

Oh boy. Are we going there? Yes, we are. Hang on tight.

Okay, so if we're talking fic tropes, I'd say my favorite tropes are hurt/comfort (+ angst), UST (unresolved sexual tension), and mutual pining.

Hurt/comfort has always been a thing I've loved as long as I've been reading fic (which is a damn long time). It can make a story's situation or characters' experiences relatable...where things feel a bit hopeless and they hurt, but eventually things can look up, or maybe there's a happy ending. I don't know what it is, but having this balance just kind of makes me feel better about being human. Like yes, we'll mess up. Things will go wrong. But they can also work themselves out, and things can eventually be okay. Maybe that's just a reassurance to keep on going, you know?

Angst mixes pretty well with hurt/comfort, probably because it makes a story hit harder. I am a sucker for fics that know exactly how to pull at my heart and make me cry. I know I'm a person who feels things super deeply, but when I'm getting the tissues out, that's usually when I know a story has done its job. That it was impactful enough to make me feel so deeply, even in my bones, if that makes sense? Usually, the fics that hit me hard are the ones I'll remember pretty easily and add to my never-ending rec list.

Moving on to...UST! With resolved sexual tension, there's something about having the complicated, intense feels that fire things up. It introduces anticipation, the chemistry is just there, and hey, it's hot, okay? Some good ol' UST can make a story super interesting, and it's essentially a game of tug o' war or push and pull. The question is, who is going to cave first? And well, what happens when two people meet in the middle or finally kiss the hell out of each other? The possibilities are endless, and I guess that's what's really fun about seeing how things go.

And finally, mutual pining! Because this can also go well with idiots in love or miscommunication/misunderstanding. Like, relationships are complicated enough, so when two people pine for each other but they don't do anything about it or they don't even realize they both like each other...it's so interesting! It's fun, hilarious, sometimes frustrating, yet I'll always rooting for the characters to figure things out in the end. If they don't, it's always nice with they've got meddling friends to help them out!

Anyway, if feel free to squee with me if you happen to like these tropes too. I'd love to hear from other PoVs!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #8: My Creative Process

sugareey — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 21:55:23 GMT

Challenge #8: Talk about your creative process

This challenge looks at what goes on behind the scenes to produce all the wonderful fannish contents that come to be in the world. By ‘create’ we don’t just mean fic or art or videos - there’s a process behind every blog post, comment or any other kind of fannish engagement. We’re all creators - and every creator loves to know about other peoples'.

Okay, I had to take a couple of days to think about this one, since I'm that weird jack of all trades/unicorn who makes a hell lotta things. If I'm leaning into my bread and butter of digital fanart in particular...here's what that process generally looks like (since I had to make some tweaks within the last year so I don't burn out!)...

1. Brainstorming. This could involve braindumping whatever ideas come to mind, looking for a color palette, or going through my library of references/inspo pictures I have. Anything that can hook me in is a start for me to consider whether I'd like to move forward with a project (or else that just means more research and brainstorming until something feels "right").

2. File Setup. Once I have something from the above (it's usually a combo of 1-2 things), I might get some music or a playlist going. I'll at least make a new Photoshop file and start getting a hierarchy of standard folders and layers set up.

And if I already have a color palette selected, I'll have a layer where I can swatch from that whenever I want. For some reason, being able to quickly switch to this visually works better than trying to plug it in as custom colors elsewhere (probably a thing I picked up from working traditionally).

3. Background. Since most of my backgrounds tend to be mixed media based, I'll get these layers ready first. This is me picking from my library of already scanned mixed media spreads OR I might digitally make one from scratch with some of my brushes and digital ephemera, depending on vibes. I'll throw on some color filters on top, and basically try to create the energy and mood I want for the piece.

Sometimes, I might end up using some of the colors from the background as my color palette (if I haven't chosen colors yet). And color is important, since that usually decides what I'll be using for my lineart!

4. Sketching/Lineart. I'll have a gazillion refs to look at to sketch things out in a way I want. That can be easy or super hard, depending on the composition or how much is going in the art. It's a trial and error thing. Working on a one panel project vs. multi-panels actually has me going back and forth between a lot of files since I usually want each panel to be in the same stage to match consistency and vibes.

For each panel I draw, I'll get a brightish color and sketch the basics before drawing over that with my chosen lineart color choice. That's when I can go refine or change things, and start having fun with textures, crosshatching and such. I also don't use full opacity for my brushes, because like traditional art, I like to layer things up and see how it all looks!

5. Shading. I usually need some shading to complement my crosshatching, which is why I go light with crosshatched details until I get an "undershading" down first. This lets me see if I need to add anything else. I might end up going back and forth between shading and refining the lineart until it all clicks together.

6. Colors/Highlights. This is where I'll add any colors under and/or over my lineart and shading (at various opacities). The color palette is super useful here so I can see my options I might want for clothing, any background items, etc. I usually go for muted colors, and most of my subjects as usually left "mildly colored".

If I do a full colored illustration, this is the stage where color layering happens for a while until things work with the background.

7. Textures (or any other finishing touches). This stage might be for anything I didn't account for in my background or the lineart and color. But I keep these layers separate from everything else by treating them as optional embellishments, or things that make a piece feel a little more "mine." I call this the fun phase to play a little.

8. Proofing/Quality Assurance (aka self-betaing). I've learned that giving myself 1-2 days to look at a piece helps me not feel rushed, and it gives me enough time to catch any weird technical issues I didn't see before. Sometimes, when you work on a thing so for long, your brain kind of melts. Until you go to sleep, wake up and look at a thing again with fresh eyes, and it's like, "Oh! What in the world is this...?"

Simple, but life-changing so I can actually feel good about what I made (and not panic about it after the fact). If I really need a second opinion about something I'm not sure about, I usually grab my partner to look at a thing or I'll hit up one of artsy friends if they can take a look.

9. Saving/Promo Prep. Pretty self explanatory, but once I'm actually good with things, it's usually an intuition thing or me telling myself internally that this is fine as it is. Because anymore tinkering might make things feel overworked.

This when I will sign my work as the cue that this is done, and then I'll save all my work in the resolution and sizes I want, and yep. I'll upload the art up where I need to, draft up any copy to go with it, set up any social promos, QA all of that a gazillion times, set everything live or for scheduling, and then it's all done!

That was actually the short version of my process, summarized in simpler words. My longer one is way technical and more chaotic, especially when exceptions and unexpected things come up for projects. Another topic to poke at for another day.

But if you do have any q's or anything you want to squee/scream about as a digital artist, I'd love to hear it!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #7: 3 Things I Like About Myself

sugareey — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:12:43 GMT

Challenge #7: 3 Things I Like About Myself

LIST THREE (or more) THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. They don’t have to be your favorite things, just things that you think are good. Feel free to expand as much or as little as you want.

Okay, this took a little bit of time to reflect on because so much has changed since I've last even thought about or answered this question.

I'm innovative. I'm using that adjective intentionally because this applies to not only creative projects, but also processes, systems, strategy, negotiation, mediation, and whatever else. Basically from what I've been told by other people, as well as me checking in with myself and reflecting on my accomplishments...yeah, I'm a unicorn. And I've got a unique combo of skills that works pretty well for problem solving and to get results.
I'm self-aware. I would have disagreed with this statement 3 years ago. But hey, a lot has happened since then, and with the help of therapy, coaching, and encouragement from folks who are part of my support system, I've learned how to be more in touch with myself. I can sit with my (good and bad) feelings, and figure out what the cause is. And then I can give myself time to process what I need right now vs. later. I'm really proud of that, because this is not an easy skill to master.
I'm strong. I think that's the best way I can say it? I already know I'm resilient with what RL has shot at me. But to have a strong physical body...like I used to be a noodle with no body strength. I'm also short (5' 3"). Turns out my years of working out regularly really helped, and there's something about having body strength to either carry things or learn complex dance moves that is really satisfying. I have definitely made people go "wat" with my planking and push-ups (because everyone else is crying on the floor). And heyyy, front splits, baby! Being able to do these still as an adult for both legs is pretty awesome!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #6: Top 10

sugareey — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:44:59 GMT

Challenge #6: Top 10

List your top 10...of anything! The category(ies) you choose are up to you. You can give top 10 Fics you read last year, the top 10 songs to create to, the to 10 guest stars on your favorite show, top 10 characters in your favorite book series, top 10... well, you get the idea.

Can't think of 10 of anything? That's okay, 10 is just an abstract. It's totally up to you.

Okay, folks. I'm a HUGE music lover, and it's legit what gets me through each day. So here ya go!

Golden by Huntr/x (aka EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI); also check out this 'Glowin' version!
Of course this was going to make the list, but as a person who has had a life experience similar to EJAE and Arden Cho (aka Rumi) trying to make it or break it, and wanting to give up many times, this song is almost like a mantra to keep on going...to do a little more. To keep hoping and dreaming that something good's coming soon. It's also a really complex and layered song, but it's amazing, especially when everything is broken down right to the lyrics, harmonies and beats.

Gravity by Jessica Vosk and Alex Brightman (from the Hazbin Hotel S2 soundtrack)
This one Hits with so much feeling. It's soo freaking good because it's catchy, plus Lute has so much rageeeee! Epic, and this definitely had me hooked on S2 in a heartbeat.

It's ok, I'm ok by Tate McRae
The melody and hook is A+++. Also, as a classically trained dancer, this is legit an amazing song to dance to. There's so much that can be done with choreo, and that's what makes a dancer happy!

What It Sounds Like by Huntr/x (EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast)
I Feel every single single word of this song. It says everything that needs to be said, and this is actually my favorite KPDH song because of how vulnerable and honest it is while being so powerful enough to seal the Honmoon. Like yasss, hands down!

When I Think About The Future by various artists (from the Hazbin Hotel S2 soundtrack)
I love how this moves things along in S2, but it also gives a narrative of what's about to happen. And also, since we're in a new year, it just made sense that I was playing the crap out of this song, because I've definitely been thinking a lot about my future, and just the future of what 2026 will bring, you know?

If I Can't Have You by Shawn Mendes
Catchy and upbeat, I will always love this song. Shawn is also one of my fav musicians, and if you ask anyone who knows me, I can play this song over and over again. Is this one also fun to dance to? Yes!

APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
Vibessss. If I need something to get me in a groove, this one is a good one! Is this song also a fun one to dance to? Yep. I think you might be noticing a pattern in my song choices...

Black Hole by Griff
I only recently discovered Griff this year, but gosh, does she have a beautiful voice. It's so intentional, and it can be delicate at times while being powerful. There are raw feels behind this one, but I especially appreciate songs that have all that emotion and feeling, since I'm a creator who is heavily influenced by the music (aka see a good chunk of my works on AO3).

I Don't Wanna Wait by David Guetta and OneRepublic More vibes, and hell yeah! David Guetta always has some really cool beats and collabs with different artists, and OneRepublic is a longtime fav band of mine. Naturally, I was going to like this one, especially if I wanted some beats and "texture" to listen to.

JUMP by BLACKPINK
Okayyyy, more vibes! I've only recently been listening to more BLACKPINK and KPop lately, but if I want something different from my norm, and I want beats and something energetic, I will totally start with this song before jumping (lol no pun intended) to other tracks. Whatever makes my brain and ears happy!

I definitely like a gazillion of other songs (my library is GIGANTIC and varies between so many genres), so if you ever want to squee or talk music, feel free to poke me!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #5: 3 Things Wishlist

sugareey — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 01:53:34 GMT

Challenge #5: 3 Things Wishlist

In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it and include a link to your wishlist if you feel comfortable doing so.

I always appreciate kudos/comments and/or likes/reblogs of my fic and my art! The comprehensive list for The comprehensive list for all of my work is on AO3! Fandoms I've contributed to include Teen Wolf, Harry Potter, Merlin and Good Omens.
Recs to any your favorite crochet patterns! Right now, I've only really made amigurumi, and I'm almost done with a scarf, so I am always looking for ideas for new ideas or project I can try making.
Umm, I am always game for talking/squeeing with folks who love Hazbin Hotel and/or KPop Demon Hunters as much as I do! Whether it be creative works, characters, soundtrack songs or whatever else, poke me and let's geek out together!

2026 Snowflake Challenge #4: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page

sugareey — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 01:37:23 GMT

Challenge #4: Rec The Contents Of Your Last Page

Any website that you like, be it fanfiction, art, social media, or something a bit more eccentric!

Okay, as a content creator who writes and draws for fun and professionally, here are 2 resources I swear by:

Hemingway Editor: Add your sentence/paragraph in and see if there are problems with it. More specifically with SPaG, weak/passive words, and reading level...this will highlight problematic areas that you might want to edit with general advice. This has also been a lifesaver at my past corporate jobs, because apparently, a lot of people don't know how to copywrite or edit properly!
Coolors: This is my go-to when I can't decide on a color palette and I need something for a project! I use this for commissions, my own personal projects and when I want to experiment with colors and see what happens.

2026 Snowflake Challenge #3: A Love Letter to Fandom

sugareey — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:05:51 GMT

Challenge #3: Write a love letter to fandom.

Today’s challenge is a chance to express your love to fandom, and what better way than a love letter? If you feel really creative, the letter doesn’t have to come from you. You could write as your favourite character, someone completely fictitious or your past or future self - or just as you in this moment.

It might be to fandom in general, to a particular fandom, favourite character, anything at all.

Here's my general letter to Fandom (and the folks who have created so many different communities)!

Dear Fandom,

Thank you for existing, and for being the sandbox that allowed me to play and grow as both an artist and a writer. I didn't know being both would teach me how to grow up and become the person I am (as a professional, Adult, friend, family member, and a human).

Thanks for also welcoming me with open arms so many years ago when I was just a shy, scared teen who didn't know what it meant to express myself. You helped me open up and find a safe space to just be. I truly believe I would either be a completely different person, or totally invisible if it had not been for communities I've been a part of over time. I appreciate each and every person I've met and have befriended, even if there are some who moved on to other things or folks who I still get to geek out with to this very day.

My found family has been my support system, and it's because of you, Fandom, that helped me find the very people who love, appreciate and see me for who I am. And it's this very support system that encouraged me to pursue drawing as a geek (and a professional), which helped me establish my own art and writing styles. You gave me a platform to use my voice in so many ways. Massive kudos that I have had (and still have) fandom friends who have been amazing cheerleaders, supporters and betas...I would not have gone down this whole geeky journey if people didn't have my back.

And of course, as Fandom grows and changes...I'm thanking each and every person who has viewed, read, kudosed, liked, reblogged and/or commented on anything I've ever made these last 2 decades. Each act of engagement has meant the world, knowing that I may have made someone's day a little brighter with my stories or artwork.

I'm also glad to have fandom as part of my history, because the lessons I've learned through characters and different worlds...those will take me a long way for years to come. It's part of my lifestyle, my DNA...and I'm forever grateful for that.

Yours,
Krissy/sugareey

2026 Snowflake Challenge #2: Pets of Fandom

sugareey — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:09:48 GMT

Challenge #2: Pets of Fandom

Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!

Okay, so I get to visit these two precious doggies every once in a while (since they're my partner's parents' loves of their lives).

The doodle mix above is named Roxy! I think she's a 10 or 11 year-old labradoodle mix, and she's very much a Princess who loves playing Frisbee. She hates fireworks, but sometimes, she likes to act like a kitty cat when it comes to getting loves and pets. She also gets super fluffy in the winter...almost like a stuffed toy dog! She loves swimming, being nosy, and running around until she gets tired AF and passes out.

The handsome boy above is named Sully (yes, after Sullivan from Monsters Inc.!). I want to say he's a 6 year-old golden retriever. And he loves to eat anything AND everything. He lights up whenever he sees me because he loves getting his fur all over my pants, and he will go through my legs and demand butt scratches ASAP. It's now a thing at family events where we guess how long it will take to ambush me (spoiler- the shortest time has been 30 seconds). His favorite toy his any version of Lamp Chops, and his overall aura is Doug from Up mixed with Derpy from KPDH. He's very silly, but also super sweet.

If we're going for "pets" that are at my house...I'm going to count the ones on my desk. :P

The duckie above is named Remy, one that is based of the green-winged teal species. Ducks are one of my favorite animals, and sometimes, it's really nice to a squishy friend to fidget with or to keep me company throughout the day. Remy is also one of my favorite modded crochet pieces I've made since I learned how to crochet in Spring 2024.

I'm sure I have photos for my other desk friends somewhere, but alas, I can't find them rn. But there are a couple of foxes, a smol Plague Doctor and a squishy mushroom that reminds me to journal/letter/plan. :D

2026 Snowflake Challenge #1: Icebreaker Challenge

sugareey — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:19:29 GMT

Challenge #1

The Icebreaker Challenge: Introduce yourself. Tell us why you're doing the challenge, and what you hope to gain from it.

Hiya! I'm Krissy, a multi-fandom geek who appreciates a bunch of characters and ships. I've been part of fandom for over 2 decades, and uhh...I guess you can say I dabble in a little bit of everything, including fanart, fic and crafting. I'm also very much a stationery/planner/journal kind of person...I just finished my first year of journaling and daily lettering, actually!

My primary fandoms as of late have been Teen Wolf, Kpop Demon Hunters and Hazbin Hotel. Every once in a while, there will be smidges of Good Omens, Merlin, Helluva Boss, Harry Potter, and probably a gazillion of other fandoms I'm currently forgetting.

Since it has been a couple of years since I've last done this challenge (and I feel like was a very much a different person going through different things back then), I thought this would be a good time to show up again, and to say hi to some old and new friends. I know fandom and community is constantly changing and evolving, so I'd love to explore what that's looking like today.

It's already 2026?!

sugareey — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:26:58 GMT

Here's to another year, and let's hope it's better!

(It must say a lot that I tapered off in 2024 and didn't even post in 2025 because it was that much of weirdo roll coaster of chaos.)

Anyway, hiii again! We're going to see how much I pop in and out for 2026!

My Podcast Interview with FanFic Maverick!

sugareey — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 01:21:56 GMT

Just here to say that I did a Thing! I wasn't able to talk too much about it in one of my Snowflake Challenge posts, but since it's LIVE, time to share the news!

A few weeks ago, I actually got to chat with ChaosBlue, the lovely host of The FanFic Maverick podcast, about my fandom journey, how I discovered fanfic and fanart, what got me into Teen Wolf and Sterek, and a little bit more about my latest fics. What a fun and new experience that was, since I apparently have never shared my whole fandom journey until now? I've shared bits and pieces with folks here and there, but it's very different to tell that story from beginning to end. Wow, what a ride it has been!

Anyway, if you'd like to hear me ramble on about some general chaos, give Episode #74 a listen! It's about 1.5 hours long, but I'm sure folks can find some entertaining tidbits that cover 20 years of fandom. Don't forget to check out some other FM episodes while you're at it!

Snowflake Challenge #13, 14 and 15: Recs, Something New and Fandom Wrapped!

sugareey — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 21:34:12 GMT

Okayyyy, it's been a hot minute trying to catch up on things, but here's what I have for Days #13, 14 and 15 of the Snowflake Challenge. Short and sweet, but then again, everything is pretty straightforward.

Snowflake Challenge #13:

I occasionally rec fics on Tumblr, usually from asks, memes, and most recently for HP Rec Fest. So if you're looking for anything HP or TW (Sterek) related, you can check out all my fic recs here! (And yes, I have some self recs too :D)

Snowflake Challenge #14:

And in terms of trying something new...I can't say too much right now, but I actually recorded an interview for a podcast a couple of weeks ago! It's been about 4 years since I've last done a speaking thing, but I've never been on a podcast before, so that was a fun experience. I think it went all right, and since it was for fandom, of course the vibes were on the squee side. I'll update with more info as soon as I have it, which should be soon!

Lastly, here's my Fandom Snowflake Challenge's 2023 Fandom Wrapped for Snowflake Challenge #15!

>>> Your top 5 fandoms for 2023 were:

Teen Wolf
Harry Potter
Good Omens
Merlin
Doctor Who

>>> Your top 5 fandom spaces in 2023 were:

Discord (this is where I live these days)
AO3
Tumblr
DW (recently)
LJ (for cross-posting)

>>> The top 5 things you did to contribute to fandom in 2023 were:

Made fan art (some standalones and art that inspired 3 Reverse Bang collabs for Sterek and Ineffable Husbands)
Wrote some one shots and started my on-going Sterek drabble series, Darkness was before the light
Modded 5 open prompt challenges for various fandoms/ships/characters
Made rec lists (see Challenge #13)
Alphaed and betaed works for folks in multiple fandoms (for art and fic)

>>> Your top 5 most appreciated fandom contributions were:

A Merthur art piece called Waiting For This Moment (T, also on AO3), which I made for Merlin Tarot Fest and Merlin Bingo. I have not drawn Merthur in...a really long time, so this was super refreshing!
A Sterek RBB collab with Wolfspurr called Molten (E, 28k), where I not only got to illustrate the art, but we worked together to workshop the story, and I got to alpha and beta this beast. :P
A whumpy Sterek fic, The Walls Came Crashing Down (T, 4.2k), that was gifted to someone as a pick-me-up, but apparently a whole bunch of other folks liked it too, considering that it was my first time writing whump like that.
A Sterek Valentine/Fix-It contribution, Memories Bring Back You (G, 200 words with art), which was made after the Teen Wolf movie came out. I was trying something a little different with drawing profiles from the back, but also, I got to write from Derek's PoV for the first time!
This Sterek demon deal moodboard I made for Sterek Week...I guess there were def quite a few folks who want to see this play out as well. So much potential for an idea...

Bonus Questions:

>>> Your fandom personality in 2023 was:

Sign Me Up, basically? I mean...I guess I was more into looking for compelling ideas that grabbed my interest, and if it did, I'd be all over it. Also, since I was looking for a lot of specific things (thank God for AO3 filtering), that was how I got my dopamine when I needed it. And when a Thing didn't exist, well...you bet I made it become a Thing!

>>> In 2023, you discovered:

Reading of any kind is awesome, and I need to make more regular time for that every day. Also, while fests are really fun to participate in, it's very easy to get burnt out, so being selective is the way to go. Since I definitely need to make sure I balance things out with all things RL.

>>> Your fandom home in 2023 was:

Let's be honest, I was basically hanging out in my geeky studio bingeing all things Teen Wolf and Sterek, followed by Good Omens and Ineffable Husbands. Not sorry at all.

Snowflake Challenge #11 and 12: Fanwork and Win

sugareey — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:34:10 GMT

I'm doing some catch up after a busy week! For Day #11 of Snowflake Challenge, I finally finished up my first Sterek drabble of the year called Simply Because (on Tumblr and AO3). It's part of an on-going drabble series called Darkness before the light, and I generally write drabbles when I have a chance to whip something up real quick.

For Day #12 of the Snowflake Challenge, my biggest win of the week is getting ready to host a DnD and game day tomorrow at my house! My partner's family is coming over, so he's GMing a new campaign for us, and then we'll see if folks want to play board games after. Nice that everyone is chipping in for food (ie. mini charcuterie, pigs in a blanket, bruchetta crostinis, scallion pancakes, pizza, chips and salsa, drinks and mystery desserts) , and I think we're on track with house cleaning.

We haven't had a day like this in 2 years, so it'll be nice to do this again on our custom gaming table (which has a built-in TV screen). I'm 80% done making a new character, and I'm so excited to see where things go!

Snowflake Challenge #10: 5 Things List for 5 Topics

sugareey — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:26:05 GMT

Let's see...for Day #10 of the Snowflake Challenge, I decided go the broad and quick route of listing 5 things for 5 different topics. So without further ado, here we go!

Places I've Visited: Ireland, Florida, North Carolina, Maine, and Maui (Hawaii)
Favorite Wellness Activities: Yoga, Dancing, Pilates, Meditation, and Jump Rope
Go-To Stationary Items: Colored Gel Pens, Colored Highlighters, Stickers, Washi Tape, and Post-Its
Fun Board Games I Own: Coup (with an expansion pack), Betrayal House on the Hill (with an expansion pack), The Oregon Trail (card game), Munchkin (basic and 7+ expansion packs), and Joking Hazard
Names Used for Household Things (hint: there's a Middle-earth theme): Rohan (my flag outside my house), Rivendell and Lorien (names of my thermostat zones), Beleriand (wi-fi), and Erebor (server)

Snowflake Challenge #9: Rec a (Newish) Thing

sugareey — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:28:47 GMT

For Day #9 of the Snowflake Challenge, here's what I have when it comes to music I'm listening to:

I only got into Halsey's music late last year, but I have been obsessing over her album forever fountain kingdom. It's been out for quite a while (aka 2017 era), but it's still "new" to me. I'm also a creative who has been known to feed off of music and vibes, so this has been pretty awesome to listen to when I'm writing or drawing. I've listened to Halsey's other albums and songs, which are cool to play as well. For some reason, ffk really jives with me at the current moment because of the energy it gives off and because all of the songs really made this such solid album. Love, love love!

If I seriously had to choose though, here are my ultimate fav songs:

Snowflake Challenge #8: Current Fannish Projects

sugareey — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:01:41 GMT

Okay, so I needed a day or so to think on Day #8's Snowflake Challenge since technically, I'm always working on something fannish when I have down time. As of right now...I'm trying to be kind myself by add extra padding time, especially if there a deadline involved. So, here's a sneak peek into my queue:

A very overdue Drarry art commission for a fic. I still really want to make this piece but for RL reasons, 2023 was a really tough art creating year for me. I need double-check the author a. still wants the art and b. send along a preview sketch to see how things pan out. If I can get this commission done for Q1, I would be super ecstatic! I'm in sketch/lineart mode as of right now. I just need to make sure the vibes will cooperate with the art muse is all.
Fandom Trumps Hate 2023 HP Art Request. Thankfully, my bidder understands I need a little more time since they need more time to write their FTH fic for me (since we're friends, and LOL we bidded on each other!). It's going to be either Drarry and Nottpott, so I might sketch both to see which flows better before presenting the previews. We'll see what happens, as long as RL is actually nice to me this year.
For writing, I'm currently plugging away at a belated Sterek NYE fic that I'd love to post up by this weekend. I finally broke my writer's block a couple of days ago, since last week was a crappy writing and low energy week for me. There's nothing OMG about this one, but then again, it's Post S4 and a canon divergence where Stiles and Derek end up meeting again in person 5 years after Derek leaves. This was actually supposed to be sweet but Feelings happened and turned this into flangst. Or maybe it's hurt/comfort? I'm not really sure. Let's hope the writing vibes flow throughout the rest of the week.
Merlin Tarot Fest art, since it's already January 2024 and posting is now open! I signed up some time in Q4 for an oracle spread, and I have from now until March to make a thing. I'd like to spend time jotting down a couple of ideas to see what jives with the spread, and then decide what kind of palette and what character(s) I'll be working with. Going in with an open mind is 75% how I work when it comes to art, because usually whatever I originally come up with almost never is the end result (psst...it's generally way better!).

I'd love to sign up for other fests or events, however, my compromise to myself is to get at least 2 of these things above done in the next couple of weeks before committing to anything else. Time's pretty precious these days, and I just have to be realistic because Adulting also needs to be done and self-care is important!

Snowflake Challenge #7: Fandom Creative Resources

sugareey — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 19:02:55 GMT

It looks like Day #7 of the Snowflake Challenge touches on one of my favorite topics to talk about! I've always been a researcher at heart, which is how I've found resources that have helped me grow as a creator.

As a multi-fandomer and someone who makes art AND writes, here are some of my fav resources:

FANDOM (Specific and General)

The Big Bang Project- a place to get updates on multi-fandom events going on. It's not just for Big Bangs, but any fest such as prompt challenges, exchanges and more. If you're a a mod, this is a place to tag to spread the word about your event/fest!
HP: potterfests - a place to get the lowdown of every HP fest out there. This is where you get to see what just got announced, what event is accepting prompts or claims, what event is currently posting and what's going to be posting soon. Super up-to-date and comprehensive.
HP: Harry Potter Fanfic Writers' Guild Discord Server- This is a great HP Discord that really helps writers grow. There are monthly workshops, channels to get general concrit, ask about languages, professions and/or various topics, find alphas and betas, squee about accomplishments and connect with other writers. It's because of this community that I decided to continue writing again!
TW: Teen Wolf Fandom Events- a place to keep updated on all Teen Wolf events; maintained by the Teen Wolf Legacy Discord server. I'd actually recommend popping into both communities since the former is good to keep tabs on new events and the Discord is where you can get more regular updates on not only events, but other things too like creator help, ship talk, etc.
GO: Good Omens Events- For all your Good Omens fests, whether it be Big Bangs, exchanges, prompt challenges and whatever else! Super helpful to stay in the know of what's up because there's such a diversity of events that I didn't know about.
Merlin: The Merlin Library Discord server is a neurodivergent-friendly community that is great to finds fic/art recs, get creative accountability, find out about events/fests, vent/squee about things and so much more! If you'd like to opt-in for creative accountability check-ins, there's a channel for that so you can make new goals to hit every week. Also, folks can take part in Drabbles for Dopamine, which creates incentive for things that we might otherwise lack the motivation. Aka if you need to do a Thing but don't want to, folks can bribe each other with drabbles and/or art. Whoever needs motivation gives any desired prompt and if/when they do the thing, they get a drabble for the prompt.
DnD: 5etools is my go-to for all things DnD, and if I need to look up something quick. I like to use this when I'm making a new character, or if I need a reminder on what a certain action does. Super helpful if you're playing in a Roll20 campaign and online with other members.

CREATIVE (writing and art):

Wordhippo: This is my go-to thesaurus when I need to find synonyms for words so I don't overuse a word too many times.
Onelook Thesaurus: Such a lifesaver! Use this resource to type in a word, phrase, description, or pattern and find synonyms, related words, and more.
Hemingway App: A good checker to drop in paragraphs in and see if it's legible enough for legibility. This tool will let you know if your writing is easy or hard to read, and have a reading grade level score (I try to aim for 6th grade level or lower if I can).
Writing With Color: A great resource centered on racial, ethnic and religious diversity. This is the place to find Q&A-style writing advice, guides, book recommendations and more if you're writing from a PoC's point of view and would like to be sensitive and mindful of the experiences being portrayed.
NaNoWriMo Offers: This is a place to check back occasionally to see if there are discounts on various writing tools. July and November are peak times where NaNoWriMo events are happening and where there are a lot of discounts to tap into when you reach your writing goal (aka that's a great time to save on tools like Scrivener or ProWritingAid).
Zaharya's Scrivener 3 Tutorials: My good friend V has done God's work in making an entire Scrivener 3 tutorial series that is ND-friendly, but in general super easy to follow and understand for noobs. She was also the person who convinced me to get Scrivener and taught me how to use it. I have not looked back since. If Word or Google Docs is not doing it for you, definitely consider Scrivener as an alternative!
Coolors- for all your color palette needs; use this to generate a palette. See what's trending, make your own color palette, discover free fonts, convert images into different formats, explore gradients and so much more!
The Shrimp Method- A really good process to try if you're new to drawing or want to draw a specific thing but don't know where to start. This is for noobs or veterans...anyone can draw or learn something new if they put enough time and practice into it.
The Creator's Guide to Comics Devices- I just found this resource recently, but this is an awesome breakdown for everything comic-related, especially if you're planning to make a comic or you're already updating one. There are so many formats and ways to portray a comic, and this library allows comic artists to submit some of their expertise to be showcased and shared amongst others.

Snowflake Challenge #6: Fav Concepts from Fandom

sugareey — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:39:31 GMT

Okay, so I had to take some time to really think about this so that I didn't write a full-on essay for Day #6's Snowflake Challenge. I am going to try my best to not ramble (but no guarantees that won't happen :P).

I think of fandom not only as enjoyment, but a sense of community. I've learned so many things from fandom about myself, other people, and the world in general. There are different circles that I can slip in and out of, but at the end of the day, I've been able to curate a fandom experience that suits me. It's changed over the years, but without fandom, woww...I cannot imagine how empty and different life would be. I'll say it again, but fandom is my heartbeat. It's kind of woven into what I do and how I've grown, but that alone doesn't define who I am as a person.

That said, here's a more conceptual point of what I appreciate from my favorite fandoms:

Harry Potter will always be my go-to. It's where my roots came from, the first book series I completely fell in love with as a teen, and even though my relationship with this fandom as grown and shifted over time, I can really appreciate the magical world that it offers. I'm a huge graphic design and font geek, so when I see magical packaging or design elements, I really can't help but squee.

I happen to like the books better than the movies, however, I have a big appreciation for how the HP sets were put together over the years. There's something that visual aesthetic gives us that can bring lifestyle or culture to life, and all the little details layered on really helps set the pace and tell a story. I love how much thought MinaLima put into pretty much everything they designed, and what I've studied and learned from them has really helped me figure out how I want to create and market my work professionally and for fandom. It's not just about whether something looks pretty, but there's history behind lettering, certain materials, what color would reflect a certain era, etc.

It's the thought that counts. The little things and the Easter eggs. The passion, as well as time and effort put in that can make a thing really stunning. I've taken that to heart whenever I make pretty much anything now; if I'm not enjoying the process, sharing something I love or creating for myself, then what is the point? What is my purpose or intention if I'm not making or doing something that I even like? Sometimes, something small is good enough. Or just having gratitude or appreciation that something Nice exists is all we need.

Teen Wolf is still kind of newish to me. I didn't know it was a fandom I needed since I got on this bandwagon really late, and you can read about that in my FAQ or this Tumblr post. Yes, I'm going to say I appreciate the fandom and a lot more of the fanon over the canon. BUT...I really think I took a page out of what it means to find your pack and have an anchor (or multiple anchors). The overall concept of what is mean to be in a pack, and how people change is just so real.

I cannot imagine how that would feel for an actual wolf to lose its pack and to be alone, but I do believe humans need that support system too. Sure, we have consent and say on who we'd like to be part of that, but it's essential for basic functionality because Adulting is hard. Feelings are hard. Things can go seriously wrong without that (and we've seen the evidence of this on the show). I don't know if it's because different character back stories, or because crappy event after crappy event keeps happening, but the resilience it takes to survive Bad Things...it's a lot. It takes a lot of not only physical strength, but also mental and emotional strength to pick yourself up and keep going.

I also think of a pack as a found family, or people you can go to or talk to. People who don't show judgement, want to help and genuinely care. It doesn't matter if you're dealing with something major or minor...having a rock or a pillar is just key to getting though life so you don't spiral. Maybe those people could be the ones that anchor you, or maybe it comes down to finding a place or a thing that keeps you anchored, you know?

If there's one thing I learned over the last couple of years, it's to stay present, and to accept that "it is what is." Having an anchor is what grounds us so we don't become reactive or we don't lose our minds. Sure, there are a hell lotta things that are completely out of our control, but each of us has control over our own thoughts, feelings and actions. We just have to do the work to make sure we acknowledge that, and so we can figure out how to get where we want to be. 1000% easier said than done, but with enough time and patience, the path forward becomes a lot clearer as we mature and get older.

Everything mentioned above...this is what past!Krissy did NOT know. But we all gotta learn somehow through life experiences, trial and error. Anyway, if you'd like to add on to these little bits, please feel free!