Author: Ana

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
Writing Letters

About two weeks ago at my church, there was a bulletin board up with a bunch of pictures and descriptions of children in Kenya that were a part of Global Hope. Global Hope is a humanitarian organization that works to promote care and love and support for kids that have been abandoned are orphans, and that are at risk. All of the kids at Spring Valley, which is a school, were a part of this letter writing event where you write a letter to as many kids as you like, and they have the chance to connect with you and respond.

Here are some brief descriptions of the kids that I am writing to:

Cyndrine- Cyndrine is an eleven year old girl in class seven. She lives with her younger brother and mom. She is safe at a nice dormitory where food and safety are provided.

Purity- This seven-year old girl lives with her parents, two brothers, and one sister. She is in class two at Spring Valley. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Wendy- Wendy is fifteen years old and lives with her mother and younger sister. She is working hard to accomplish her dreams of becoming a lawyer.

Virginia- Virginia is sixteen years old. She lives with both of her parents. She is a wonderful musician and wants to be a musician in the future.

Getting the chance to write to these kids is very inspiring and makes you do a lot of thinking about life and friendship. From this, I hope to make a few new friends and get to know more about Global Hope and the world.

For more information on Global Hope, here is their website link: globalhope.org

November 9, 2014
How to Be a Tennis Player

Congrats newly minted tennis player! You’ve decided to enter the wonderful world of tennis and become the top player in the world! Here are five easy-to-follow steps on how to be a tennis player. These five steps are guaranteed to make you the best tennis player in the world and give you pure awesomeness.

1. Don’t even consider getting a racquet. If you were one of the tennis players silly enough to purchase a racquet, you’d be putting yourself and others in danger and you could save a whole lot of money! You run the risk of hitting yourself in the shin or foot or even head if you get a racquet and it hurts! Not to mention, when you run around on the court and scrape your racquet on the ground to get a ball, your racquet gets banged up and strings break. Fixing these kinds of things can be expensive and you save the money by skipping out on a racquet.

2. Sportsmanship and honesty are not key. Some coaches and players say that having the right attitude and sportsmanship will get you far in sports. But you came to win didn’t you? So this means that lying will get you as far as you want to go. You need the point to get closer to win the game or even the match so use your best poker face and make it your call. If the ball hits the line or is even a little inside, call it out! You need the point! And at the end of the match when you go to shake your opponents hands don’t even think about it because you’re obviously much better than them.

3. “Are you sure?” needs to be the mostly commonly spoken words you use on the court. When your opponent makes a call you need to question them every time. This works well to get into their heads and manipulate them. Wouldn’t want your opponent making the wrong call right?

4. What you wear is very important. To catch the attention of recruiters and scouts and even other players, you want to wear the flashiest outfit you possibly can. This means neon colors, sequins, and very happy bright thoughts are words on shirts, if you are wearing one. Make sure to always mention who your outfit was worn by like Sharapova, or Nadal, or the Williams sisters, or Djokovic. This makes your outfit seem more fancy and expensive. Wearing something bright and flashy can also distract your opponent on sunny days. You’re a walking disco ball!

5. During water breaks after a game, take your time. Go ahead and sit down relax and drink your water to stay hydrated. You need the time to get prepared for the next game and beat your opponent. Also, if you need to get your legs and arms massaged, now is the time to prevent cramping. This time can also be used to grab a quick snack and keep your stomach happy.

Good luck to you, tennis players! By using these tips, you’ll strive in your tennis career and be known by many internationally. Have fun and are you sure?

November 2, 2014
Patience

Patience is something very important that I’ve had to learn to use and work with for about the past four months since I was put in my boot after fracturing a pesky little bone under my big toe. It can be a tough thing to understand but in the long run, hopefully the results are good. Here’s a compilation of quotes and my own comments on what patience is.

P- “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” -John Quincy Adams

A- “Always remember: Your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.” -Anonymous

T- “Two of the hardest tests in life: The patience to wait for the right moment and the courage to accept that you’ve waited for nothing.” -Unknown

I- “If our greatest hungers were to be granted as easily as our bodily needs, we certainly would never be able to achieve the noble feelings of friendship and love. Patience will make the banquet of life ever so much more resplendent.” -Anne Austin

E- Endurance under thorny circumstances and good-natured tolerance of difficulties define patience.

N- Never give up. July 1st was the day I had to put my big black boot on and it’s almost November. I’ll admit that sometimes I’ve wanted to take the boot off and go back to what I was doing or even just give up and become hopeless. All of this for a ridiculously tiny fracture?!? I do get frustrated and annoyed with it sometimes. From all of this I’ve learned that these things take time and I have to stay positive and trust that my sesamoid bone will eventually heal fully and correctly. I have to never give up.

C- C.S. Lewis once said, “Faith is the art of holding on to things in spite of your changing moods and circumstances.”

E- Everything. Patience is everything. If a person cannot learn to wait and let life take them on their destined path, then they cannot do anything at all.

October 26, 2014
A Setter’s Warm-Up/Workout

Volleyball setters usually touch the volleyball every time it’s on their side of the net. So this means that a setter has to work especially hard and they should look and feel ready to go, right? Here are a few ways your setters can feel warmed up before they play and get in some good reps while they do it. These exercises don’t require a court; all you need is a wall, some space, and maybe even a partner.

– 300+ mini sets on the wall. Make sure your setter’s arms are slightly bent and all of the work is in the wrists as the ball comes on and off the wall. Their right leg should be slightly in front of their left leg and their knees should be bent about a 165 degree angle. When doing this, setters should discipline good hands and stop after every ten to check on their hands. My sister and I try to get over 900 mini sets on the wall so do challenge yourself but don’t overdo it.

-100+ one-handed sets on the wall. These are similar to the mini sets above but you do them one-handed. If your setter’s arms are stronger, they can extend their arm fully but still bend their elbow slightly. If they are working on strength and wrist control a little more, then they should bend the setting arm at about an 80 degree angle and hold on to it with the other arm while focusing on using their wrist.

Working on right-hand one-handed sets.

– 6 circles to the right and left (12 total). Circles are similar to the first exercise but for this the setters are turning in a circle while still setting the ball on the wall. Have the setters turn to the right six times and then to the left six times. This one might be kind of tough when your setters start doing it but just watch and make sure they are adjusting to the different angles as they turn.

Getting to the back set part of a circle.

The first and last exercises can also be used with jump setting if your setters are working on jump setting. They go through the same steps if they were on the ground they just time it a little differently and jump to set instead.

– 50 rockers. For these sets, setters should move off of the wall but still set at the wall. These sets work mostly on their weight transfer from their left foot to their right foot so it’s okay of the set isn’t high or at a certain height for this exercise. The setter will toss the ball to themselves and then set at the wall exaggerating the weight transfer. The ball should come back and then the setter will continue this until they get 50.

Finishing rocker set, weight transfer, and bringing arms back up quickly.

-25 bouncers. Bouncers are an exercise is which the setter tosses the ball to themselves, sets at the wall with some power, lets it bounce in front of them, and then gets under the ball to set it back at the wall and repeat the process. This is a good exercise to work on footwork and getting low to set with the hands instead of bump-setting it.

-10 hot dog rolls. Hot dog rolls are a lot of fun. Your setter will lie down on the ground about a ball’s length away from the wall and start setting on the wall while on their stomach. They can then roll onto their side (right or left) and then eventually onto their back and the other side while still setting the ball to the wall.

So these are a few exercises that you can have your setters do to get some more reps in and come ready to work at a practice or game. Make sure to encourage your setters and challenge them. And also, practice makes perfect but it also makes permanent, so check on them to make sure proper technique is being used. Have fun and go setters! 🙂

October 19, 2014
Halloween is Coming Up!

Halloween is a holiday enjoyed by many throughout the United States. The yummy candies, the costumes whether they’re silly, scary, or pretty, the spooky stories, and so on, make October 31st a well-loved holiday.

My sister and I are going to be Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen and we hope the night will be fun and filled with lots of sweets!

Since this great day is right around the corner, here’s a poem from 5^th grade about Halloween. I just couldn’t wait so here it goes. Happy reading!

Put on your costume,

Tonight’s the night,

To trick-or-treat,

The moon is bright.

Snickers, Reese’s,

Give me more pieces,

Hubba Bubba Gum,

I got a Dum Dum!

Halloween is the best of the best…

Now I need some sleep and rest!

All material protected by © Copyright 2015 by anahorvath.com

To everyone, I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween! 🙂

October 12, 2014
How to Have a Happy Dog
Dogs are a man’s best friend, or in my case, a girl’s best friend. Haha. In case you didn’t know, I have two silky wire-haired dachshunds named Marty and Boo. They are super energetic and the most adorable little dachshunds I’ve ever met. Dogs need to be loved, played with, and cared for. Happy dogs are the best kind of dogs. Here are a bundle of tips on how to have a happy dog:

My sister and I with our dogs Marty (right) and Boo (left).
1. Keep your dog active. Take your dog for regular walks and let them enjoy get fresh air. Dogs love to be able to get up and out. This can also help keep your dog at a healthy weight and a dog at a healthy weight is much happier than a dog under or overweight.
2. Play with your dog and give him/her attention. Our tail-wagging companions need attention. This can be several things like playing games with your dog, taking it to the vet for check-ups, brushing it, washing it, giving it belly rubs, rubbing behind their ears or neck, buying a new collar, and the list goes on. Your dog is a part of your family, so why not give it the same amount of love and attention that you give your mom or your sister?
3. Give your dog treats. Dogs love treats, especially after good behavior, so why not reward them? Find what kind of treats your dog likes and give the treats to your dog when you can.
4. If your dog is lonely, get them a friend. Having one dog works out well for some families and sometimes it doesn’t. Some dogs need another buddy to help them get through the day, mostly when they’re home alone for quite some time. From personal experience, this was true for my family. When Marty, our older dachshund, was about a year old, he got kind of lonely at home when no one else was there so we got his half-brother, Boo, the next summer, and they haven’t been lonely since then. Two dogs keep each other company and look out for each other and make the house a lot more fun.
5. ALWAYS be friendly to your dog. Dogs can get upset when you’re upset or unfriendly to them. If you don’t like to be yelled at and treated poorly, then you should know that dogs are the same way. They love to be treated with kindness and by a friendly, happy person.
So I hope these tips can be used to help make your dogs happier. They deserve it! There are so many wonderful ways that can also help make your dog happy and they can be found in books, from other owners, and even online. Dogs are a part of your family and they should really mean a lot to you so why not make them as happy as can be?
October 5, 2014
A Step Into the Modeling Industry

My six months of hard work had all led up to this moment. It was always about an hour-long drive down to Greenwood Village and back every other Saturday. It was four hours of etiquette, runway walking, poses, workouts, and makeup. But finally September of 2013 had arrived and it was time to put my knowledge to the test. My first fashion show was about to begin in five hours.

Before any of this could happen, it all started when my mom and I were spending a Saturday wandering throughout the Flatiron’s Mall. A representative for Barbizon Model and Talent Agency pulled my mom and I over and handed me a small green slip.

She grinned and remarked, “We’d love for you to come and audition for our agency. We’re looking for new faces.”

I carefully scanned the pamphlet for Barbizon Southwest. It seemed pretty real and trustworthy to me. My mom nodded and replied, “Okay, if you want to try it,” and helped me fill out the audition slip.

The following weekend, I attended the audition and the director for the Southwest region was very eager when I walked up to meet her. The audition went very smooth and that same night a contract was signed with the agency and I began modeling classes in Greenwood Village at their facility a week later.

My mom and I pulled into the Embassy Suites parking lot at 8 A.M. I yawned, hopping out of the car to grab my outfits from the back and head into the dressing room.

Luckily, I was one of the first models there so I grabbed a good comfortable spot, prepared my outfits in an organized fashion, and touched up my recommended makeup for the day. We had some interesting themes for our outfits. There was the fall casual outfit which consisted of brick orange skinny jeans, a white blouse, brown leather jacket, peach scarf, and knee-high boots. Adding onto that my group had a high fashion or New York City model look. This outfit had a tight black and white stripped top with a belt slightly below the rib cage, black slacks, shiny, red pumps, and a ridiculously heavy coral necklace. The other group would be walking onto the runway with a “neon Tokyo” look. The final outfit was our formal wear dress or the dress we planned to receive our graduation diplomas in. Mine was a long, sleek black dress with a halter top and sequins running all over the dress.

About ten minutes later, one of my friends strolled into the room. Her shoulder length brown hair was curled to perfection and for once we were the same height because she wasn’t wearing ridiculously high heels. She looked just as excited and enthusiastic about the upcoming event as I did.

Miss Michelle, my instructor for the classes, came striding into the room just as the last few people shuffled in. Loudly, she announced, “Alright ladies. We’ll start rehearsals now. Please get into your first outfit and we’ll run through everything and you’ll learn the choreography for your group dances.”

Those five hours were some of the most fun but stressful hours of my life. The show hadn’t even started and my feet felt like they were about to fall off. It’s hard wearing heels for over five hours!

Finally, 2 o’clock rolled around. Family members from all over packed into the ballroom where the runway and lights were all set up and ready to go. The fashion show was underway.

My heart beat a million beats per minute. In my head I thought, “Don’t fall off the runway. Look at the audience. No, look at the wall. No, try to find your family. Okay, okay, just don’t fall off or trip. Haha, it’s going to be alright.” And that’s when I took my first confident steps out onto the runway in front of over a hundred people in my fall casual outfit. It was an amazing feeling.

The next feeling was not all that amazing. The second I couldn’t be seen by the audience I sprinted back to the dressing room for a two-minute quick change into our high fashion outfits.

I got to the dressing room and got everything but my shoes on. I frantically searched. They weren’t anywhere near my stuff! Just then my friend also came dashing into our little area. From her bag, I spotted my red heels.

“Hey, um, I think those are my shoes.” I pointed towards her bag, keeping an eye on the time.

“Oh, oops! Sorry! They looked a lot like mine.” My friend exclaimed handing me my shoes.

“Thanks. You’re good, it happens.” I smiled back and quickly shoved my feet into the heels.

Turns out we made it just in time. We were ready to go and made it onto the runway for our high fashion walk. Shortly after, we surprised the audience by dancing to “Harlem Shake” in our high fashion outfits. It was absolutely crazy, but so enjoyable.

The last part of the fashion show, the diploma ceremony, had finally arrived. I stood just behind the curtain anxiously awaiting my chance to walk solo onto the runway and receive my diploma. My name was called and I glided out from the curtain in my long beautiful black dress. The Barbizon director gave me a warm hug and shook my hand. I glanced down at the diploma. I had just taken my first step into the modeling industry.

From this wonderful experience there was so much to learn about myself, body image, models, and the industry. With models, they aren’t just the perfectly toned women or men. They are the people with a strong work ethic and an outgoing personality. When a person actually experiences the modeling industry, all of the stereotypes of modeling vanish. Body image is important in this world and it is something to be aware of but it shouldn’t control and destroy lives. People need to work to keep the good body structures they want and need. If I could do another fashion show or become more involved in the modeling industry, I would definitely do it. I got the chance to meet so many outstanding people and the experience brings you a sense of catharsis, in a way. From this, I got to learn more about my confidence and what I can do to become stronger and lift up others too.

September 28, 2014