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  • Hello to High School Tennis Season

    Girls’ tennis season has been in full swing since late February, and let me tell you, the weather we deal with SUCKS. It’s either windy or snowing or raining or freezing cold or all of the above. We deal with a lot of cold and by the end of matches, we all look like marshmallows because of the five layers we all have on.

    Other than the weather chaos we deal with, our season can be so much fun. I’m very excited to be returning to my team at the #2 singles position. I’ll get to play a lot of good tennis and work on a lot of things as well. For those of you who don’t know how high school tennis works, you have three singles teams and four doubles teams. #1 singles is typically your top singles player and #1 doubles is your strongest doubles team, so on varsity, that’s a total of 11 girls. When we play other schools the match is called a duel (but I’ve actually never heard anyone call it this, haha) and you’re trying to win a majority of the matches to claim the overall match for your team. Fun, right?

    Being a senior, I got to help pick out the uniforms and spirit packs this year and I’m very excited to be playing with some girls on the team for four years now. While some of us may not be that close, I’ve built friendships with some of the other seniors and I’m very glad to call them friends and great teammates. It’s kinda sad thinking that this is my last lap around high school girls tennis season but it’s truly been so much fun. Qualifying for state the past three years has been wonderful, especially considering my injuries freshman and sophomore year. Playing for the same assistant coach for all four years is also going to be great because I’ve become good friends with our assistant coach and she is such a joy and pleasure to work with. Getting to see my sister grow as a tennis player and make it past the first round at state (WHICH IS SO HARD TO DO, OMG) was inspiring and I felt so happy for her last season.

    All of these things and more have made girls’ high school tennis a memory worth cherishing and here’s to the best season yet! Everyone has been working so hard and it’ll be exciting to see where the season takes us. 🙂

    high school tennis
    Picture credits to Cliff Grassmick at the Daily Camera and BocoPreps. (Haha, look at my face!)

  • All About Setters…

    Some of you that have followed my website for a while will probably notice that this used to be its own page. I decided to take that down and turn it into a blog post. For you volleyball geeks out there, here’s some information on setters. When I played volleyball, I was a setter, and I had the honor of working with some really high-level coaches. Here’s a little wisdom on setting…

    A setter has many characteristics. They have to be leaders, accurate, positive, deceptive, creative, vocal, and so on. One way to gain an appreciation for the many characteristics setters have is to evaluate pictures that illustrate these traits.

    Thank You Setters

    My sister, Allyson, and I evaluated pictures that my father had taken at PAC 12 games and various volleyball coaching clinics. Based on our knowledge from Trisha Kroll and Jenn Pritchard, we added captions that describe what volleyball setters should do.

    Setting Lessons in Pictures Tricky

    This first presentation is about how tricky setters need to be. It features Nicole Edelman from Colorado University and Lauren Plum from Oregon University.

    Setting Lessons in Pictures Consistent

    This presentation is about setters and their consistency of sets and technique. Once again, Nicole Edelman and Lauren Plum are featured.

    Setting Lessons is Pictures Hits and Misses

    This is a mix of shots and points both good and bad. Nicole Edelman from CU and Lauren Plum from Oregon are the stars.

    Setting Lessons in Pictures Out of System Passes

    Setters have to be able to set the pass no matter where it is. Nicole Edelman and Lauren Plum show us how it’s done.

     

  • A Shout Out to My Sister!

    If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t really have all that much planned for this week’s blog, so I’d like to give a shout out to my sister, Allyson. 🙂

    Like this blog, she too has her own website and blog, and she FINALLY decided to revamp it and get it going again. If you’re looking for another blog to read, I highly recommend checking out my sister’s blog. She’s also adding a bunch of different artsy things to her website including her own poems and short stories. She’s also doing something she’s calling “Music Mondays” which I’m hoping she’ll actually update on Mondays.

    Allyson is the best possible sister ever, and she’s also the greatest best friend I could ever ask for. I’m so lucky to be able to call her both my best friend and my little sister and I really don’t know how I’d function without her. She’s my doubles partner, hitting partner, Mario Kart rival, guinea pig for hair and makeup ideas, and so much more. She’s so silly and curious and sometimes a little too sassy, but overall, she’s a beautiful person inside and out. Allyson, if you’re reading this, thanks for being you. I love you! Please never change.

    And also, if you’d like to check out her blog, here ya go! Allyson’s blog… Have a beautiful week you beautiful people!

    sister

  • Things I Thought As A Kid

    Things I thought as a kid

    When we were kids, there was plenty of weird stuff we thought about, right? Our imaginations ran wild and we came up with the craziest stuff to explain things. I at least knew that this was the case for me. Here are a couple of things I thought as a kid:

    • The sound from the radio came from the light on the inside of the car between the front and back seats. On top of that, I also used to think that the people talking on the radio and the artists singing their songs all were in this big blimp together in the sky. Not quite sure where that idea came from, but I had it.
    • The moon followed me everywhere I went while I was in the car.
    • There was a monster that would only get bigger and bigger until it would come to eat me if I didn’t take a nap when I was supposed to. The monster shrunk to nothing when I laid down for a nap. This sounds really creepy, but I promise I was a perfectly normal and happy-go-lucky kid.
    • When you dropped your stuffed animals on the floor and they bounced back up, that meant they were alive.
    • This was more of a one-day thing, but I thought that woodchips made great hair curlers.
    • The little holes in the sidewalk were leprechaun footprints.
    • A woman has a baby literally right after she gets married. Literally right after they kiss at the altar. I’m not quite sure where I got that idea or thought, but I had it…
    • Gum was a good hippie headband. That was a HORRIBLE mistake. I lost a good chunk of hair to that one.
    • Teachers lived in school.
    • Quicksand was a big problem everywhere.
    • The bottom of a foam pit was endless.
    • My mom bought some soap one time that looked like candy and it definitely wasn’t. I figured that out after one attempt at a bite.
    • Drinking and driving applies to all drinks.

    Some of these are probably things that you all thought of as kids too. It’s always fun to look back on the things you thought as a kid and reminisce in the good old days of childhood. Have a good week everyone! 🙂

  • A Couple Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

    Valentine's Day

    So Valentine’s Day is here once again! If you’ve been on the hunt for a good Valentine’s Day gift or a sweet, fun, or romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day, look no further. Here are a couple of ways to spend Valentine’s Day.

    • Chocolate- Chocolate is always a favorite, and personally it is my favorite. There’s a variety of sweet types to get and chocolate is always a sweet way to show your love and appreciation for the sweet ones in your life.
    • Jewelry- For the special girl in your life, you could get her a nice piece of jewelry. Whether it’s earrings, a delicate bracelet, or a lovely necklace, jewelry is always a safe and fun option. Personally, Alex and Ani bracelets make a great gift and there are so many options to truly fit your special someone’s personality and likes.
    • Some lotion, perfume, and a candle- This gift idea can get a little repetitive but it tends to be a great idea. Something with a vanilla, flowery, or citrus scent is always a great idea for something fresh and clean smelling. Honestly though, get creative with these types of gifts. There are plenty of wonderful and yummy options for smells out there!
    • A handmade Valentine- While a nice card can really mean a lot, I feel that cards have lost their value. A lot of people read it and then either throw it away or put it with their pile of cards from other holidays to collect dust and clutter. Something I’ve found to be really fun is making hearts for people I love. I put their name on it and then deck it out with glitter, stickers, and cute little messages. This way, the “card”, so to speak, feels more personal and it’s something that a person may feel more inclined to hold onto.
    • Dinner- And back at it with another classic. Taking time to spend an evening out with a loved one at a favorite restaurant is always a lovely gesture. You get to enjoy each other’s company and hopefully some good food.

    While I may have only listed five options for Valentine’s Day, you could really do a lot with this holiday. And remember, even though a gift can be really nice, it’s more important to show your loved ones you care through your actions and how you treat them. I wish you all the happiest of Valentine’s Days and happy chocolate eating!

  • The New Addition to My Family: Bobo

     

    I just realized it has been about five months, and I haven’t posted about the new member of the Horvath family! Well, I guess better late than never… Anyway, in September, my family and I brought a 3-month-old green-cheeked conure home. His name is Bobo and he is one of the sweetest little things ever.

    A green cheeked conure is a type of parrot, but it’s a smaller type of parrot. They only get to be about 10 inches long, tail feathers included. Bobo is a beautiful green color with a little gray head, a splash of yellow and orange on his tummy, and blue and yellow wings. He also has pink feet as opposed to the regular gray feet of green cheeks.

    Bobo is about nine months old now and he’s lost most of his baby fuzz. He’s also learning to talk which is pretty great. He can say “pretty bird” in Russian, “I love you”, “baby”, and a variety of other things. We recently taught him how to play peekaboo and he absolutely looooooves playing that game. He also really likes to say “peeka peeka peeka” to get someone in the house to play with him.

    In addition to chatting up a storm, Bobo is an avid climber and enjoys beating up his disco ball, chewing on things, sleeping in his fuzzy little blue nest, chilling on my shoulder, sitting in my hair, and also interacting with my mom’s laptop and various other electronics. He also really likes to listen to music from Frozen, Tangled, and Sleeping Beauty. Chasing my fingers around while I play piano is also one of Bobo’s favorite ways to pass time.

    Green-cheeked conures can live up to 30 years so Bobo’s in the family for many years to come. Be prepared for many more stories of this sweet baby bird and possibly a couple of pictures! Have a good week! 🙂

    Bobo

  • A Pretty Piece for Your Sunday Afternoon…

     

    I was recently helping my sister write a descriptive piece for her AP Lang class and fell upon this. I wrote this describing a friend of mine and it was a really awesome thing to make someone feel good about themselves. I hope you all aspire to go out and make others feel pretty and confident about themselves! 🙂 Enjoy.

    Rolling gracefully over her shoulders, her golden, almond brown hair frames her sun-kissed, gentle face and soft, rosy cheeks. Between her straight, cute, button nose, outlined by long and playful lashes, sit two perfect gemstones. Ambers that glisten magnificently and display beautiful flecks of milk chocolate, hazel, and gold. Her lips appear as delicate, pink rosebuds popping out of the snow. When she smiles, those roses blossom and she paints a ray of sunshine all over her face, revealing twin rows of river pearl. Her contagious, warm laugh sounds like wind chimes dancing in the wind or bubbles flying away from a soda can once it’s been opened. She is a butterfly, flying gracefully and fearlessly through the challenges and obstacles of life. She is adventurous and curious like a young child, eager to learn everything she can about the big, crazy world she lives in. She stands strong on the highest peak in the world taking in the sights of everything that surrounds her. From that point, she appears to be at the summit, but she knows that there is more to see and more to learn and more to feel and more to do. She is a ray of sunshine, she is like art, and she is a golden treasure inside and out.

    Pretty

  • A Couple of Quotes

    Some of you have probably noticed by now, by I decided to take down my quote wall. There are several reasons as to why I took it down, but that’s not what this post is about. In memory of my quote wall, here are some of my favorite quotes from that page in addition to a couple new ones.

    “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” – Maya Angelou

    “Competing or just for fun, whatever, simply enjoy and try your best.” – Rafael Nadal

    “I think luck falls on not just the brave but also the ones who believe they belong there.” – Novak Djokovic

    “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

    “Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you.” – Anonymous

    “Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is.” – Mandy Hale

    “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

    “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

    “Lions don’t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.” – Anonymous

    “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.” – Sophia Bush

    “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – Albus Dumbledore (Gotta love Harry Potter!)

    “Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world, no matter what you look like.” – Anonymous

    Have a wonderful week, everyone!

    Quotes

  • My Hair Care Routine

    Living in Colorado, I deal with a lot of crazy weather, and that also takes a toll on my hair. It’s been difficult finding a solid routine and solid products that work well with my hair, but I’ve finally got it! Here’s my hair care routine.

    Recently, I just finished a custom shampoo by Function of Beauty, which is an online brand of shampoos and conditioners. When you go to their website, you take a quiz, and based on your hair type, Function of Beauty creates a personalized shampoo and conditioner that will best suit your hair. My hair tends to be frizzy and is somewhat wavy. For my custom shampoo, those were two things that I focused on as well as adding shine, volume, and helping it grow. I purchased a 16 oz bottle of my shampoo and a 12 oz bottle of the conditioner. Honestly, at the time, that was the best shampoo I’ve ever used. My hair responded extremely well to the products, and I loved the smell (a variety of Essential Oils).  Before I finished these products, I didn’t do much else with my hair except use my custom products when I washed it. That’s changed and I’ll explain that in a little. If you’re interested in checking out Function of Beauty, click here!

    Typically, I don’t do much to style my hair. I often leave it down in its weird wavy/straight manner. To tame frizz and give my hair extra shine, I use a Moroccan Oil product, after I shower and towel dry my hair. It helps a lot with frizz. It also makes a decent detangler. Another product I sometimes apply after showering is a volumizing mousse from my hair stylist’s salon. There isn’t a specific brand for the mousse I use, as it’s produced by the salon, but I’m sure that there are similar products available out there. Not only does the mousse give my hair some volume, but it hydrates the roots and keeps them nice and healthy.

    After finishing up my custom shampoo, I moved over to Living Proof products. While this line of hair care products is on the more pricey side, it is definitely worth it. I use their Perfect Hair Day shampoo and conditioner as well as their overnight protector sealant. All of their products smell really good and leave my hair feeling clean, strong, not frizzy (YAY), and silky. I’ve noticed extra shine in my hair too with the Living Proof products, plus when you order off of their website, you get free shipping! As mentioned earlier, Living Proof products are much more expensive than other hair care products, but it’s worth it for the healthy, happy hair you get from using it! If you’re interested in checking Living Proof out, here’s their website.

    So these are the products that I use in my hair to keep them nice and happy and healthy. Some days are better than others as far as “good and bad” hair days go, but whatever happens with it happens!

    Have a great week everyone!

    Hair care routine

  • Here Comes 2018: Happy New Year!

    This blog will officially go up 3 hours before midnight and 2018, woohoo! That also shows you just how much I have going on for New Years’ Eve… Anyway, I just wanted to wish you all a very happy new year. Let this be the best year yet! 🙂

    For 2018, there’s a couple of resolutions I plan to actually stick to this year. New Year’s resolutions tend to fail, but I’ve set up a plan for how to keep myself accountable and be successful.

    For one, I want to work on my hair. I’m planning on growing it fairly long over the course of the year and in order for that to happen, it’s also going to have to be healthy. Through a variety of hair care products, including Living Proof PhD shampoo and conditioner, Keranique products, as well as hair vitamins, and supplements, I think I can be successful. Drinking plenty of water and applying less heat to my hair will also help keep it healthy and strong.

    Another resolution of mine is to completely banish soda from my life. This one is definitely going to be tough, but I know it’ll be for the best. Soda just is not good for you, regardless of whether or not it’s diet, or sugar-free, or “zero” as some brands call it. This resolution will rely on self-control mostly, and it’s not like I can have a set plan for it, but I plan to follow through on this.

    One other resolution I have this year is to get in shape and see my body in a positive way. Ever since my foot and ankle injuries, I’ve struggled to get my body back into the form it was, and that’s really damaged my self-esteem and confidence. I’ve really struggled to like the way I look, but it’s getting better. I’m so thankful I’ve been healthy for the past two-ish years now, and I’ve had the opportunity to be active again, but I’m just not quite where I want to be. I already have a gym membership at a new, nearby gym, and my family is members of our local country club, and with hard work, I hope I can improve myself physically and mentally.

    So these are some of my resolutions. I’m excited to see my transformation over this year and I hope that you all have the chance to follow through on your resolutions. See you all in 2018 and Happy New Year!