claresta checking in

My name is Claresta and I'm here because I want to try something new. Posting studying updates, blurbs of writings, or whatever comes to mind in a more chill online space like this. More about me to kick things off:

- she/her, 25

- getting back to watching tv series and films

- currently learning: spanish, german, korean (mainly for work) (language learning enjoyer)

- food enjoyer

- loves actual play shows (currents are Dimension 20, Critical Role and Legends of Avantris)

It's been a long week in 5 points, this week's edition:

What a week, huh? (It's still Wednesday).

Been doing more design work lately, and praying that my laptop can still run Inkscape. Work news also been keeping me at the ready, that I hope would have more confirmation some time this week.

Studying has been slow, my period had drained me to the point it urged me to a nap everytime I clocked out. But, I keep my Mondly and Duolingo streak up, as well as some listening immersion with 31 Minutos or Hoy Hablamos podcast. Also been trying Substack for more reading digest.

Pictured: throwback to when I was actively art journaling, especially in my last terms of college to distract myself from the Google Docs and Zoom anxieties. Materials from old magazines, brochures, mindless memo scribblings, marker and watercolor paint.

Did more laptop-related things today, other than work and closing off January (I swear, it felt like 2025 just started).

Tried Clozemaster for Spanish, I enjoyed the contextual exercise that I'll check back for more. I also want to brush up my typing skills, so I returned to Typelit.io to finish a chapter of The Call of Cthulhu.

Perhaps not the most aesthetic photos to post but I'm more about getting over my anxiety to posy anything and to push myself be happy in what I wrote and did today.

25.1.2025

Work has been quite a handful lately so studying has been slow, in favor of me resting my fried braincells. I'm still studying Spanish business phrases, about one third of the book now. Earlier this week I did a mockup TOEFL test; the score is not so bad but I have two more tries to see if I can raise my scores.

An email notice reminded me of this Semrush Academy I haven't finished, so I did. It's a short course and YouTube marketing has been interesting to look into, plus its free with certificate in completion.

Also, found out that my pouch works so well for my German grammar book, the size fits perfectly if I'm going to study outside :)

When I'm working and studying, I like to listen to ambient sounds when I can. Ambient sounds doesn't distract me as much, and finding fandom/movie/TV-inspired ones makes it a lot more fun. Since I just finished Skeleton Crew lately, I still have that Star Wars vibe to go on, so my favorite ambience this week is this one from Kusari Space on YouTube. They have a lot of Star Wars and sci-fi ambient 1-hour videos, that also works for me to measure my time.

13.1.2025