Author: Ana

A Trip to the Capitol

This past Friday, my sister and I had the day off from school so our dad drove us all down to Denver to tour the Capitol.

At first we walked around on our own and then decided to take a tour that lasted about an hour. We got to see the Hall of Presidents, Brown’s Attic, the entrance to Governor Hickenlooper’s office, the Senate and House in session, and the breath-taking view from the dome.

President Kennedy in the Hall of Presidents

Not only were there 61 steps to climb to reach the dome (yes, I counted) but the view of the Rocky Mountains and everything in Denver was great once we got there.

At the top of the dome; It was raining so we had to stay inside but the view was still great!

The rotunda

We had a great day at the Capitol and I highly recommend it to people coming from out-of-state looking for something to do and for all Colorado residents.

Going to visit monuments or important buildings in your area is a super fun and educational way to spend the day. For example, did you know that the Colorado flag is blue for our beautiful blue skies, red for the color red in the rocks, white for the snow-capped mountains, and yellow for the over 300 days of sunshine we get? Going places like the state capitol is a good way to learn more about things like the state motto or the meaning of the flag. (The motto is “nil sine numine” which means “nothing without providence”.

See what your area has to offer!

April 19, 2015
Cleared to Go!

This past Thursday, I was officially cleared to come back to sports, by my physical therapist, and boy was I excited!

I still have to take it easy and be aware of my body, but I can return to the volleyball court, tennis court, and dance floor.

Having to be out for such a long time (like eight months) can be really frustrating. Especially when you think, “Oh, I’ll be good in a few weeks.” and then those weeks turn into months and it seems like forever! But it’s important to be patient and go with the flow, and in the end, things will straighten out. Things do get better, even if it doesn’t seem like it for a while.

I would personally, like to thank everyone who supported me, cared for me, and helped me have a smooth recovery. You guys know how to do it right! 🙂 I truly appreciate all of the care and help and I can’t wait to get out on the courts.

March 29, 2015
Valentine’s Day

The day of chocolates, hearts, and cute and cheesy love letters in only six days away! Here are a few things you can do for your loved ones, whether it’s a boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, sister, mom, dad, uncle, aunt, or grandparents.

-Chalkboard Mug– If you don’t already have a chalkboard mug, go out and get one. On Valentine’s Day, write a sweet little note for your lucky someone to read.

-Themed Sweets– Boxed chocolates, red velvet cake, heart-shaped cookies or brownies…you name it! Getting some sweets themed around Valentine’s Day is a fun and yummy way to brighten the mood and your stomachs.

-A Bouquet of Flowers– A bouquet of bright red roses, or pretty carnations, is a wonderful way to show your appreciation. Flowers also smell very nice and look very pretty.

-Tickets– For the men and boys in your life, you could get them tickets to a singer coming to town or a good movie. You could even be wanting to take a trip! This is also a fun way to spend the night or an exciting week together and make lasting memories.

-Jewelry– A pretty new necklace or a gorgeous pair of earrings is a wonderful way to make the girls and women in your life feel even more appreciated and cared for.

-Your Time– Family and friends deserve a lot of your time. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to spend time with your mom and dad and/or your best friends. This is another good way to make memories.

-A Card– In my family, write cards the most. Cards are so much fun, whether you make them or pick them out. It could be ridiculously cheesy or super meaningful. The thing about a card is you can choose what is said inside and it is a thing that can be kept forever. Words mean a lot to people.

Just remember, when it comes to gifts, it doesn’t matter how much it costs or what your friends got their family. What really matters is that you’re showing your appreciation and love for your family and friends. Have a great Valentine’s Day! <3

February 9, 2015
Some Ways to Relax

People these days are always so busy getting to dance class or going to a meeting and they rarely make time for themselves. They stress out and get headaches and none of that kind of stuff is ever fun, right? Here are some ways to relax that I’ve found helpful.

1. Get out and exercise. Going for a run or a walk around the park can help you clear your head. I’ve found playing sports to also help me relax because it helps me think about others things and have fun.

2. Go to a spa and get your nails done. For the ladies, this is always something super relaxing. Most spas offer massages and massages help soothe tired muscles and rejuvenate the skin. Plus, you get to show off your fancy fingers to your friends after you get them done. Haha. For the guys, they can also go to the spa and the people there will offer massages and feet treatment.

3. Sleep. Taking a nap or getting a good night’s sleep can do amazing things for your mind and body. Sleeping is a good way to give your brain some time to rest and start fresh.

4. Draw or paint. A lot of artsy people relax by doodling or painting a picture. By showing your creative side, you are expressing your feelings and emotions.

5. Spend time with your family and friends. Hanging out with the people you love is another way to relax. Talk about your day or whatever is stressing you out and most of the time, this can help you relax.

6. Watch a movie. Just like many of the other ideas above, watching a movie can clear your head. You can go into a different world for at least an hour and a half and come out a relaxed, happy person. (I guess you could come out of the movie with a different feeling but that depends on the movie.

Make sure to make time for relaxation. It’s important to make time for yourself and let your body rest. You’re not limited to just these few things so do what works for you, whenever and wherever. Enjoy! 🙂

January 18, 2015
Friends

Friends are a super important part of your life. They support you, appreciate you, care for you, make you laugh and they can even make you cry. These people that you share your life with are so special and you should do your best to keep a strong and healthy relationship with them. Here are a few quotes that I believe define friendship:

F- Friendship is the union of spirits, a marriage of hearts, and the bond of thereof virtue. -Unknown

R- Respect you. Friends are happy with who you are and respect you for the person you are and who you want to become.

I- In life, we never lose friends, we just learn who the true ones are. -Unknown

E- Everyone hears what you have to say. Friends listen to what you have to say. Best friends listen to what you don’t say! -Anonymous

N- Nouwen (Richard Nouwen) once said, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving us advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen to rather share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”

D- Distance could not tear us apart. We are best friends, connected by the heart.

I hope you enjoyed these few little quotes about friendship. These would be wonderful to share with your friends and something sweet to share and bring a little more happiness to their day. Have a wonderful week! 🙂

January 4, 2015
What I’d Like to See in the New Year

2015 is four days away! This year has gone by so quickly. People are working on New Year’s Resolutions and getting ready for the new year ahead. I have my resolutions for 2015 just like everyone else and I also have some things I’d like to see in the new year.

There are so many wonderful and brilliant movies coming out these days and there are so many that I would like to see in 2015.

– Mockingjay Part 2: This movie will be the last movie of The Hunger Games trilogy. The books were great and the movies have been even better so I can’t wait to see how it all ends on the big screen.

–Frozen 2: Frozen took the world by storm when it first debuted and there have been rumors that Frozen 2 is in the making. I liked the movie Frozen, and it would be cute to see how the story in Arendelle continues.

– “The Lost Hero”: “The Lost Hero” was a book by Rick Riordan and it was a combination of Percy Jackson and his crew and a new guy named Jason and his friends. It featured Roman gods and new adventures and just like “The Lightning Thief”, “The Lost Hero” would be an awesome movie.

Also, there are some world problems and beyond our planet things that I hope will be resolved or discovered in the new year.

– The Ebola outbreak has been devastating and not only for the victims and their families but for the entire planet. I hope that a cure will be discovered, the disease will be eradicated, and the world can begin to heal.

– I would love to see all children happy and healthy throughout the world. All children deserve a family, love, care, knowledge, and support. I would hope that child poverty would also become less of a problem.

– If another planet like Earth was found, that would be one of the highlights of 2015. I’ve always been fascinated with extraterrestrial life and the possibility of a planet like Earth somewhere out there.

I am an intermediate-becoming advanced piano player and there is a long list of songs I would love to learn to play and perform.

– “Let it Go” from Frozen: This song is a very pretty song and I have been given the notes for “Let it Go” and I would like to have it mastered in the new year.

– “Someone Like You” by Adele: The instrumentals for this song are really interesting and it seems like a fun challenge.

– Classical Sheet Music: There are a large number of wonderful songs written by the masters of the piano like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven and learning to play their songs.

Sports are a huge part of my life and since I missed half of the year for an injury, I would like to accomplish these things for the upcoming year.

– For tennis, I would like to be ranked in the top 20’s or 30’s for the 16’s division in my state. It will be my first year in this division and I will be on the younger end but I enjoy a challenge and plan to work hard for my competitive season and high school season.

– For volleyball, I plan to work even harder than last year to get a whole lot better than I was before I was injured. I want my all-round playing skills to improve and same with my leadership skills.

– For dance, I would like to continue with my tap, jazz, and maybe ballet lessons. I hope to become more flexible and get my needle and get my middle splits and left splits back.

Academics are additionally important and I have many things I’d like to achieve for the new year.

– Get an A in my Advanced Algebra 2 class. I was really, really close to getting an A in that class last semester and I know that by eliminating my silly mistakes and by working even harder, I can get that A.

– Always start on homework and projects the day they are assigned. I did a good job of this during the first semester, but I really want to break the habit of holding off on a map or an essay until the moment. This will make my life so much less stressful if I do everything the day it is assigned or break up the work evenly for a project.

– Have a 4.5 GPA or above at the end of the school year. As previously mentioned, I ended the first semester with a 4.5 GPA and I felt pretty good about that. I enjoy a challenge, so I hope to get my GPA even higher.

Have a safe and wonderful new year! I hope you plan to do many great things in 2015. Make every day count and best wishes!

December 28, 2014
Gift Ideas for Family Members

The holiday season has arrived! So that means it’s probably time to go Christmas shopping, right? Shopping for gifts can be somewhat difficult and tough if you don’t know what to get someone. You want it to be useful and meaningful and just the right price. It can get really complicated and stressful. Here are a few gift ideas for your family members that will warm their spirits on Christmas morning and for the years ahead:

1. Something handmade (Ex. blankets, food, a scarf, artwork, etc.) Family members love when a gift comes directly from you. It was made by you and for whoever gets it. Handmade gifts have a lot of meaning and are very fun to make. My sister and I made fleece blankets that you tie for our aunt and uncle and grandpa, and they were so much fun to make and the blankets will be really useful and warm for them to use.

This isn’t one of the blankets my sister and I made, but this is the idea of the fleece blanket.

2. Clothing. Clothing is always a good gift idea for family members. It’s always handy to get extra clothes. Additionally, it’s nice to get new stuff and show off your new shirt or pants or shoes.

3. Something your family members enjoy. If your uncle is a big Broncos fan, or if your cousin loves “The Fast and Furious”, get them a gift revolving around one of their favorite things. They might like a cool jersey with their favorite player’s number, or a newly-released movie, or the next book in their favorite series.

4. Jewelry. This leans more towards the girls and women in your family, but a pretty necklace or a cute pair of diamond earrings can make a girl feel even more special when she opens her gift. Jewelry can be worn for a long time and shows how you really feel about your family members.

But in the end, it’s never about the gifts. The best thing you can give your family members is your love, care, and attention. You spend time together to make memories and have a good time and you want your family to know how much you love and care for them. Keep these things in mind this holiday season. Stay warm and Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays everyone!

December 21, 2014
Top Ten Ways to Prepare for Finals

Top Ten Ways to Prepare for Finals

Finals week is here! For a lot of students this can be the most stressful week of the first semester. Here are the top ten ways to prepare for finals:

10. Be organized with your school materials. Have your class materials organized so that when you go to study, you aren’t scrambling through your backpack and folders. I do my best to color code my folders with my notebooks so that when finals come around, I know exactly which notebook goes with which folder.

9. Dress appropriately on finals days. It has been proved that when you dress up nicely for a test, you do better than when you wear just a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. It gets your mind in the mood that you are doing something important and it tells your brain that the test really matters. You don’t have to come to school wearing a full on tuxedo or a business dress but you want to dress nice and comfortable.

8. Eat a healthy breakfast. You want to be well nourished when you take a test, especially a final. This helps your body function properly and helps you think clearly when you take a test.

7. Coming in at number seven, I would highly suggest checking your grade daily, about a week prior to finals. By doing this, you are keeping a close eye on your grade and you know exactly what grade you have going into the final. Additionally, know what grade you need to get on the final to keep your grade or boost it. I suggest the app, Exam Calculator. You just plug in your grade, the grade you want, and then the weight of the final.

6. Communicate with your teachers. At least a week or two before finals, talk to your teachers about your grade and see if there is anything that can be made up or turned in if it is missing. This not only shows your teachers that you care, but it also helps you study and prepare for finals in advance.

5. Stick to your normal routine. If you’re the type of person that always comes home from school, takes a nap, and then stays up doing homework or studying, stick to it. If you’re the type of person the drinks coffee every morning, then stick to it. If you try to adjust your normal routine by suddenly going to bed later or drinking coffee in the morning, you are mentally psyching yourself out. You are confusing your brain and you just won’t perform as well on the finals.

4. Relax during the test. During the test, let your knowledge take over. Since the first day of school you have been learning and preparing for the final in one way or another. Believe in your education and trust that you know what you’re doing. If you don’t pay attention in class and if you don’t study, then I would be worried. Good luck in that case!

3. Pace yourself. There are always time limits for finals so make sure to keep an eye on the time. You want to make sure you finish the test in a comfortable amount of time.

2. Get plenty of sleep. Sleeping is a good time to rest your body. Also, by getting a good amount of sleep, you feel fresh and ready to tackle your tests. For teenagers, it is recommended to get about 9-10 hours of sleep a night.

1. Study! Unless you’re a super genius and you memorize everything the minute you see it, you should study for your finals! How would you expect to do well if you don’t prepare for the test? Studying boosts your confidence in the materials and helps you keep good time on the test.

Good luck to everyone this week! I hope these tips help you succeed during finals!

December 14, 2014
A Few Things To Do on a Road Trip

This past Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I traveled 400 miles by car from Colorado to New Mexico. It can be hard to find something to do and stay entertained. Here are a few things to do on a road trip.

1. Take a nap. Sleeping in the car can be uncomfortable but it is very good for you. It can definitely help pass time and when you arrive at your destination, you’ll feel rested.

2. Watch movies. Prepare movies that you can watch to make the trip feel shorter. For this, you will need a car DVD player or an iPad or tablet that you can watch movies on.

3. Play a game, like the obstacle game. To play the obstacle game, you need to two people, your imaginations, some paper, and two different colored writing utensils. The objective is to stop your opponent from beating you to your goal. To do this, you create obstacles for them to overcome and they do the same for you. You can’t kill off their character and you can’t repeat an obstacle or way of escaping an obstacle. After that, anything else is fair game. This is a wonderful way to pass the time and in the end, you have pretty funny story to share.

4. Read a book. Reading a book is always an awesome way to eat up time, especially on a long road trip. Make sure you have several books handy, in case you finish the one you’re reading or you just want to read a different one. Just make sure you don’t get carsick!

5. Spend time talking to your friends or family in the car. Talk to them about all kinds of things. Just make sure to keep your mind off of the long journey ahead. By doing this, you don’t focus on the long amount of time you still have left in the car. Spending time in the car on a long road trip is a good time for family bonding so make the most of it!

To sum things up, here are a few things you can do on a road trip. These are just a few things off the tip of the iceberg, so explore with many other ideas to entertain yourself for the time-consuming journey. Have a safe trip and have fun!

November 30, 2014
Chili on a Chilly Day

This past week, we were hit by a cold front that single digit temperatures and snow. It was the first cold spell of the year! The bad news was that it was terribly cold, but the good news was that I got to break out the Crockpot. Here’s the recipe for the chili that warmed my spirits and my tummy for the cold, winter-like week.

Ingredients

CHILI
La Paloma green chile enchilada sauce (2 cans- mild and hot)
505 roasted green chiles medium (28 oz. bottle)
Pinto beans (2 cans 15 oz)
Fresh mushrooms (any kind)
1 lb. of hamburger meat
2 lbs. of stew beef tips
2 Ziploc bags of frozen tomatoes from garden

TOPPINGS (some ideas for toppings- not all are required)
Sour cream
Mexican shredded cheese
Olives
Crackers
Jalapeños

UTENSILS
Crockpot
Frying pan
Outlet
Soup spoon
Spatula
Can opener
Jar opener
Tasting spoons
Bowls
Spoons
Napkins

Instructions

Start early in the day! You want to make sure the chili is ready for dinner time!

Make sure to wash your hands before starting to make the chili. Also make sure to wash your hands after handling the raw hamburger meat and beef tips.

1. Plug in the Crockpot and clear away any items that are close or come in contact with it.
2. Open all of the jars and cans carefully using the can or jar opener.
3. Meanwhile, turn on the stove and put the frying pan on the stove. Put the hamburger meat and beef tips in the frying pan and break the hamburger meat into smaller pieces with the spatula. Cook the meat to your liking and then turn off the stove and leave the frying pan on it.
4. Place the contents of the hot La Paloma enchilada sauce and turn the Crockpot on and press cook for eight hours.
5. Put the hamburger meat and beef tips in with the enchilada sauce. Make sure the liquid is mostly drained from the meat. It removes the large amount of fat from the liquid.
6. Wash the mushrooms, drain the water, and then put the mushrooms into the chili.
7. Drain the liquid from the pinto bean cans and place the beans in the Crockpot.
8. Open the microwave and place the two bags of frozen tomatoes on a plate. Push the “sensor heat” button. Let the tomatoes sit in the microwave until they are somewhat warm and squishy.
Next, place the tomatoes into the chili and break them apart with the spatula.
9. Gradually allow the 505 green chiles into the chile. Empty the bottle using a spoon.
10. The fill up the rest of the Crockpot, pour the mild La Paloma sauce on top.
11. Slowly and carefully stir the chili using the spatula and then taste test the chili. It might be a little cold, but it will definitely heat up after cooking for eight hours.
12. Allow the chili to cook for eight hours and taste test it using your designated testing spoon throughout the cooking time.
13. After the eight hours are up, grab your soup spoon to pour your desired amount of chili into a bowl.
14. Add the toppings you want to your chili and enjoy!

Chili can be made many different ways but this by far, is the best way to make chili. It will keep you warm and happy on a cold winter day. Stay warm and happy eating!

November 16, 2014