Author: Ana

Top Ten Summer Activities

Summer break is here for most people and school is out until August. Woohoo! Summer is a great time to get out and travel, spend time with family and friends, and also catch up on your beauty sleep. Here are the top ten summer activities, in my opinion:

10. Sleep. Summer is a wonderful time to catch on sleep. After long nights of studying and homework, sleeping can make you feel more relaxed and refreshed for when you do other things over the break. Just make sure you don’t sleep the summer break away!

9. Read. Most people would say, “Wait, what?! You read over the summer? That’s school related, why would you ever do that?”. I think that reading is a good way to spend time and relax in the sun or cool shade. Reading can improve your vocabulary and you’ll still know some things when you do head back to school.

8. Coming in as the 8th best thing to do during the summer, grow a garden. This is a good thing to do as a family and the end result is usually very healthy and yummy. Growing a garden is fun, a good excuse to be outside, builds responsibility, and is definitely worth it.

7. Start a blog. At the beginning of last summer, I started a blog and it ended up being one of the more enjoyable things I did since I couldn’t play sports or be super active. Writing a blog is really fun, improves your writing skills, and is a great way to make memories. I also think it’s cool to tell friends and family to check out your website, so that’s a fun bonus. You can build a blog through WordPress, GoDaddy, and other websites. Most blog sites have to paid for but there are sites that are free. Do what works best for you.

6. Hike. Hiking is a wonderful way to be out with nature, get fresh air, and get exercise. National parks, mountains, and even trails near your house work just fine.

5. Making the middle of the list, play volleyball. Whether it’s sand, grass, or indoor, spend time on the volleyball court. It’s a good way to prepare for high school season and club season. Sand and grass tournaments are super fun and really good for your indoor game. If you can’t get into any camps or clinics, grab a ball and at least go hit on the wall or with your friends.

4. Swim. Need a fun way to keep cool? Swimming is the way to do that. In Colorado we have places like The Bay, local recreation centers, and Water World. Water World is probably my favorite. It has so many fun rides and an awesome wave pool. I highly recommend it.

3. Travel. Whether it’s around the state, out of state, or out of the country, get out of your house and travel! This is a fun way to make memories, get good pictures, and learn something about a new area.

2. At number two, play tennis. Tennis is an outdoor sport that anyone can play. Depending on your skill level you can just hit around with friends, join a club, play in tournaments, and enjoy the sport. Tennis is another good excuse to be outside in the wonderful warm weather. Just make sure you pack your sunscreen and water. The courts can get pretty hot!

1. And the number one summer activity is, spend time with family and friends! This seems to make top ten lists quite a bit, and it should! Family and friends and super important and deserve your time, care, and attention. Spend a lot of time together doing whatever and make memories.

Be outside, have fun, and to those who are still in school, good luck with the final days and to those who are starting summer break, enjoy!

June 7, 2015
Memorial Day Weekend

Not all weekends are full of excitement and fun but this Memorial Day weekend has been a very eventful weekend so far. I’ve played a lot of tennis, visited the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and went to a huge Mexican restaurant, oh, and studied for finals.

Saturday was mostly studying for the final big week of school. Finals, yay! (Totally kidding.) My dad, sister, and I also got onto the tennis courts and had a lot of fun. It’s been raining like crazy for the past few weeks so we had to get out earlier than usual to beat the weather. Exercise is super important, so it’s best to get out when you can!

Today started off with a fun two hour tennis practice and then my family and I did something we’ve never done before. In Keensburg, Colorado there is the largest animal sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere and it is called the Wild Animal Sanctuary. The walk is a total of two miles and is pretty enjoyable.The sanctuary owns over 700 acres of land and is home to abused carnivores from all over the world. These animals have room to run, play, and live their lives to the fullest. You get to walk on a path that is 30 feet above the ground so that the animals don’t feel threatened or become anxious. There were lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my! We heard lions roar and saw grizzly bear wrestle and even ostriches run and play. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a wonderful non-profit organization with an even better cause and the walk and sights are worth the drive.

This was the white tiger taking a nap at the Wild Animal Sanctuary.

After the three hour journey, my family and I traveled to a huge restaurant in Denver called Casa Bonita, which means “pretty house” in Spanish. From the outside, Casa Bonita looked like a cute, high-quality Mexican restaurant, but when we walked inside, I realized how huge the restaurant was. There was a mini pool for cliff divers, arcade, buffet area, and so much more. You could choose from an all-you-can-eat buffet or a different meal. I went with the chicken dinner buffet and it came with an enchilada, taco, rice, and beans, and the food was delicious. There were also free sopapillas with the meal and those were additionally tasty. The shows with the cliff divers were short and funny and also ended with someone diving into the pool. I really enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun today.

And tomorrow is Memorial Day, where we get to honor the men and women that served our country and dedicated their lives to it. Tomorrow would be a good time to get together with family and celebrate the people that serve our country. Happy Memorial Day everyone and have a good upcoming week. 🙂 And good luck to everyone taking finals this week!

May 24, 2015
Happy Mothers’ Day!

Mothers’ Day is here! Here are some quotes for this day to show our appreciation for the moms:

M- “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” -Robert Browning

O- “Our mothers always remain the strangest, craziest people we’ve ever met.” -Marguerite Duras

T- Terri Guillemets said, “I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine-she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights.”

H- Honore de Balzac: “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.”

E- Erma Bombeck said, “When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.”

R- Ricki Lake: “Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.”

Moms are great best friends, cheering sections, tutors, and anything a person could want. Truly, every day is Mothers’ Day but today is the day where it is officially recognized on the calendar. Get her a nice card, a bouquet of flowers, and spend some time with your mom today. Happy Mothers’ Day everyone!

May 10, 2015
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