Monday, April 16, 2012

How to Keep Things Interesting

This is a week long guide to interesting style. These are just a few suggestions on how to keep out the boring routine of getting dress in the morning int he same thing everyday and get dressed with some zest and variety each morning.

Sunday: If you go to church, you can look nice. Pull your hair back into a simple bun, wear a skirt, springy shirt, and sandals. If it is a homework day where you won't see anyone, just put on some lazy sweats to work in.
Monday: Mondays can be hard. Pull your hair into a pony tail, wear natural make up, put on a simple tee, jeans, and sneakers. It's the start to the week so you don't have to impress anyone. Plus, your Monday attire should not reveal the activities of your weekend by showing if you're totally exhausted or something.
Tuesday: Straighten your hair. Wear some cute capris with a stylish shirt and some sandals. Show those fellow students that you got style.
Wednesday: Poof your hair. Put on some cute print shorts and a stylish top with some flats. It is theou; middle of the week, dot be too dressy but stay cute.
Thursday: you've had a long week so put your hair in a messy bun and wear a t-shirt and sport pants. This day shows off your athletic look and helps you rest a little before Friday.
Friday: Curl your hair. Wear a cute dress or skirt and some gorgeous heels. It's the end of the week! Have a fun Friday!
Saturday: Braid or wave your hair. Wear a sassy shirt and some jeans that make your bootay look amazing. You'll be ready for anything!

Proctastination Sites


There are some very mean people in the world. These are the people who commit the ultimate crime against society. These people create procrastination sites. You know what I mean; those sites that you go on and stare at for hours when you are supposed to be doing some sort of work. We’ve all spent an evening sitting in front of the computer screen doing nothing but looking at pictures or reading little comics. There are so many sites to choose from. You can go on Pinterest, iwastesomuchtime, StumbleUpon, fmylife, MyLifeIsAverage, dearblankpleaseblank, etc. The hardest thing you have to do is decide which site will suck up your time that night. These websites are the black hole of our society, so why can't we just eliminate them?


The Internet is full of useless sites. I wish that I could just filter the Internet so that I could only use the websites that are good for me. The trouble is, the Internet is too ginormous to do this. There are so many things in my life I wish I could just eliminate. There are so many distractions and unhealthy things that consume me that I wish I could just get rid of so I could live a happier, healthier, less cluttered life. If these things weren't a part of my daily doings, I bet I would be able to get so much more done with my time. I would be able to get all of my homework done in a timely manner. I would have time to actually keep my room clean instead of just throwing all my bags, clothes, laundry baskets, and shoes all over the place. I would be able to go out and exercise without feeling totally exhausted. I would hang out with my friends without feeling guilty about neglecting my other responsibilities. I would also get to sleep more than five and a half hours a night. During the school week, with all of my activities and homework and wasted time on these stupid websites, I am lucky if I get six and a half hours of sleep in a night. That is the absolute longest I would be able to sleep. Normally I get from five ours and fifteen minutes to five hours and forty-five minutes each night. That is definitely not enough and is taking a toll on my functioning the rest of the week. Sometimes I get to catch up on sleep on the weekends by sleeping like eleven hours, but that doesn't happen very frequently. Even If I do get a good amount of sleep, I constantly toss and turn thinking about the things I still need to do. So much stress could be alleviated if I was just able to stop the use of these pro-procrastination sites.

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How to Do 80's Hair.

Some people may feel the need to have an 80's hair style in the future for something. It might be a party theme, Halloween costume, or a show you're in. It's very easy to do, even if you don't have very compliant hair.


First, curl your hair. A wand works very well. It does not take long to do, you don't have to put product in your hair, and it looks very natural. Use relatively small chunks of hair for the best results. After each layer of hair, hair spray the heck out of it and then use a pick to separate the curls so it looks like a bad perm. After you are finished curling and it looks like a big fuzz ball, you have a few options. You can put a headband in for a sporty look. You can put it up into a high side pony tail and create the waterfall look. You can keep it crazy if you have long voluptuous hair. You can also take the top and put a half ponytail on top of your head. For the half pony tail, it's best if you keep the pony tail a bit loose and put it off to the side.

Once you've figure out what do with it, it's time to tease. You can use any sort of comb to back-comb your hair. All you have to do is take a chunk of hair and comb it repeatedly from end to root (the opposite direction than normal). Your head needs to look insanely big. You need to cake on the hair spray like no body's business. Big hair was the thing. Hair was big and unhealthy. A stylist once told me that the more damaged your hair looks, the more 80s it looks.

I love doing hair! It is so much fun to just experiment with things! If your hair isn't cooperating with you, don't give up. Have someone else give it a try, because you just might be using some incorrect techniques. Also, playing with your hair and getting familiar with it will make it so much easier to style. Practice really does make perfect. :)
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19 Minutes


Nineteen Minutes
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. Artia Books: New York. 2007. (464 pages)
            I enjoy Jodi Picoult books very much. She explores topics not normally touched in conventional writing. She isn’t afraid to test the limits and boundaries of society I her writing. She dedicated herself to each situation she explores and tries her best to create a realistic depiction of the minds of those involved. Nineteen Minutes is no exception. In this book she explores bullying, friendship, post traumatic stress disorder, murder, and many other trying topics.
            I enjoy Picoult’s smooth and skilled writing. Her technique of switching narrators helps create a well-rounded explanation of events and helps the reader see in to each character’s mind. The constant switching of narrators, though, also creates a somewhat confusing and jumpy quality to the plot line at some points in her book. Never the less, this book was very hard to put down .It was able to capture my attention better than some of her other books I have read. I think that it partly due to her style of “cliff-hanger” writing, but also due to the subject matter of this book. This topic is unlike any other book I have read. It has a sort of fresh quality to it, even though these problems have been around for a while. Her “cliff-hanger” writing also just makes me want to read more. It was very hard to find a “dead” spot in this book to stop reading at. Many times I told myself that I would read just one more paragraph but then realize I read 4 pages. I had a wonderful reading experience with this book and recommend that anyone and every one read it.

School Friend vs. Real Friend

In school, I have 2 kinds of friends: school friends and real friends. I talk to both types during school, but I have more in common with one than the other.

A school friend is a person I befriend in one of my classes. I talk to them during class about what we are doing and occasionally joke a bit with them. I normally do not have their phone number and do not talk to them outside of class. If I do have their number, I only use it to ask a question about homework. I don not make plans with them outside of class. If they are not in one of my classes the next year, I don't really care. I don't try to keep a lasting relationship with this person or stay in touch with them. I don't mean to be rude, but that;s just how it is. I am friendly during class time, but I do not have enough in common with them to hang out outside of school.

A real friend is one who I love hanging out with outside of school. If we are in fact in the same class, we hardly ever talk about our school work because we have too many other important things to talk about. I see them everyday and text them regularly. Sometimes we have so much in common that it's scary.

Even though I have these two classifications of friends, I try to be nice to everybody. I don't have any "enemies", and even if I don't like someone, I am still nice to them. It is good to have friends no matter what level of friend they are to you. If I didn't have school friends, I would be very lonely in my classrooms. Plus, sometimes a school friend can turn into a very good friend, so stay nice to everyone and be social. You never know where you will find a lasting friendship.

A prayer for Owen Meany

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany. Ballantine Books: New York. 1989. (99 pages)

            I am not very far into this book, but I can tell it is a good one. The author is very descriptive of the people he knew and the places he went. He also shed light on each situation in this book by giving his thoughts as a boy and insight as a man. I enjoy that he talks about both his past and present life in this book, but it has gotten a bit confusing at times. I very much enjoy his descriptions of his friend Owen, of who this book centers upon, and his technique of setting Owen’s voice apart by placing everything he says in all capital letters. That was very clever of him and also very effective because each time I read the capital letters; I hear a funny voice speaking them in my head.

            So far, the book is going by a bit slowly. I have not been “hooked” on this book yet. I know all of the characters and the gist of the plot line so far, but the book has not become a page-turner for me yet. I hope that once I read more, it will become more engaging. Irving seems like a very good writer and I hope to enjoy the book more once I get further into it.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Art of Aging

Birthdays are a big deal in our society. We have a party, give presents, and make someone feel extra special on the anniversary of their birth. we make a big deal about becoming a year older. Once you hit a certain age you get a certain thing like a license or the ability to drink etc. But funny thing is, we all grow up at different paces. Even though you may be a certain number age, that doesn't really matter. It's not the number that ages us, but our experiences.

Just because we are a certain number age, does  not automatically make us a certain way. A 50 year old can act 35 and a 28 year old can act 42. It all depends what we do in life that determines the way we act. If a relatively young person was brought up by parents who trusted the with a lot of responsibility and if they got a good education then they probably would mature faster. If a person was babied their entire childhood and young adult life then they probably will act immature forever. If a person went through a monumental event like a death or accident that made them face a harsh reality of life, then they probably will act differently than a person with a young, sugarcoated life. The people we hang out with also help us grow up. We tend to act the same way as our friends so depending on how immature or mature they are, that will impact you as well.

If you think about it, people actually age very slowly. Normally people don't notice a change in 1 year, but if you look at yourself over say 5 years, you see a big difference. It's kind of surprising. All of the little things you do during each year don't seem very prominent but then if you compare yourself to a few years ago, you think that you're a completely different person. Age is a funny thing. It passes slowly but then all of a sudden you're all grown up.

College? What?

I have absolutely no idea where I want to go to college. This is sort of bad because I am nearing the end of my junior year in high school. A little bit ago I had decided to do something medical. I wanted to be some sort of doctor. Now I'm having second thoughts because I hate my AP Biology class, and I'm not sure how well I'll actually be able to handle sick people.
I do know one thing, though. I love math. I may hate it sometimes, but it always seems to make sense. Math class is my favorite class of the day. I have had math in the morning ever since 6th grade and it just gives a great start to my day. Some people think that's weird and they can't really understand it, but that's just how I feel. The only problem is I have no idea what a math degree would do for me. I am terrible at explaining things so I would be a terrible teacher, plus I don't think I have the patience to be one. I was thinking about engineering, but there are a lot of different kinds and I hardly now anything about them. Plus I haven't taken physics and based upon my 6th grade science class, I hate it. I was thinking about going to a workshop this summer, but I'm just not sure.
Another thing is, even if I decide what I want to do, I don't know anything about colleges. I have no idea what university would be good for what major. I also don't know what kind of university I want to go to. If its too big then I don't think I'll be able to make many friends because I sort of shut down in large groups. I also have no idea how far away from home I want to be. AHH I need helpppp!

Small Team, Big Dreams

This coming year on dance team we will have 11 dancers on our team. My sophomore year we had 16 girls on the team and 12 competed at every competition and at the last one we had 13 compete. My junior year we had 15 girls and we had 10 compete and then 12 compete. The year when I was a freshman on Junior Varsity, there were 17 girls on the varsity team and 16 competed. This year, We have 10 scheduled to compete and 1 alternate. this will be a big change.

I'm very excited for my senior year on dance team. I've learned a lot these past 2 years and I can't wait to put my knowledge to good use. I do wish we had more people try out for the team this year, but I'm very excited for our 2 new members this year. I think it might actually be beneficial that so many of our members have been on the team before. This way, most everyone knows what to expect and knows how w do things on our team and if our newbies have any questions, they can just ask anyone.

As a senior, I will be in charge of teaching the newbies how we dance and cleaning all the choreography. On our team, the seniors do so much. Our coach is our leader and she sort of directs us on what we are supposed to do. I'm so excited to finally take charge.

One of our big dreams is to be a 3 time Pom Regional Champion. Both of the years I've been on the team we have won Regionals, and I really hope we can do it again. I know the goal isn't supposed to be winning so I guess my real goal it to reach our full potential as a team, and hope that means we beast again just like my past two years. I'm super excited to see what our new team can do and can't wait to start practices!

Miss Independent

I am a very independent person. I like to drive myself to places. I don't ask for help. I don't talk about my feelings. I'm not a very touchy-feely person. I don't ask people to do me favors if I can easily do it myself. I focus on myself and don't expect others to help me. Some people think this means I am self-centered. Some people think this means I am shy. Some people think I don't like the because of this. Those things are not true. Sure, everyone is selfish sometimes, but independent isn't a synonym for selfish. I am shy sometimes, but that's not because I am independent. I like most everybody, but I just don't feel the need to hang onto their every word and fawn all over them.

Being independent, however, doesn't mean I don't want to be included. it doesn't mean I  don't need a compliment every once in a while to keep me sane. It doesn't mean that you can't help me. Independent people are jut like everyone else. We need a self esteem boost. If we do something good, it's nice to be recognized for it. A little compliment goes a long way. We can still feel lonely and neglected. We want to do things and be social just like everyone else.

Also, if you can see I;m not having a good day, you don't need to pester me with questions. Just be there for me. Give me a hug. A person only needs so much space. After a certain amount, they need understanding and people to be there for them even if that just means sitting by them and just silently consoling them.

The Importance of Call Backs

Call Backs are an extremely important part of the audition process for anything. Even though the term "call back" is used mostly in the theatre, the same concept is used in many other situations such a second or third interview for a job. A call back is used to reassure you of someone. You may have gotten a good first impression, but it is good to double check and make sure you know the whole story. This blog is going to focus on the importance of call backs in the theatre.

You may have had a good audition for a musical, but how do the directors really know you are a good person for the part? How can they tell that from a generic audition that everyone does? They don't. They may have a pretty good idea of what you should be cast as, but that's not enough. They need to call you back and try you out on the actual material you will have to perform in order to make their final decision.

If they give you a piece of music that's in the middle of you range, how can they tell if you can sing other things? They can't. They need a call back to see if you can actually sing a song the character sings. They need to see if you can bring life to the music. If you can stand and sing it, that's one thing, but you have to be able to perform it. If you actually can't sing it, then it’s good for the directors to know that. If you can't actually bring a character into the lines you are saying, you shouldn't get the part. Even if you're not that kind of person in real life, you have to be able to act like it. After all, that's what the theater is all about. If you can’t stay on count or dance like the character should be able to, you shouldn't have the part. A director needs to investigate all of these factors before they finalize the casting in a musical.

Call backs also need to be used to decide between a few people eligible for a part. If a director is unsure who to give the part to, he should base it off their ability to play the part, not off of who he hopes can play the part, who his favorite is, or based on seniority. Sadly these sorts of things happen all the time. But at least it's the director who gets blamed and not the actor.
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A Passion-less Society

When I look around today, I don't see any passion. People today have lost all drive behind their actions. Everything is done half-hearted. There's no spark or determination in society.

One factor if this is the effect of technology on out lifestyles. Everyone wants things right away. Instant gratification is the name of the game. People no longer have the patience to work on things and put time and effort into them. If they aren't getting results soon enough, they get bored and move onto something different without giving it the time it needs. Plus, people would rather sit and watch someone do something rather than go out and try it themselves. They might tell themselves that they are going to make some progress but then get distracted and forget about what they were going to do.

Kids today are in too many activities. Everyone tells us to get involved. Do a sport. Join a club. Volunteer. Be well rounded. Keep your grades up. Kids are stretching themselves too thin to put a sufficient amount of dedication into each thing. Kids today are so pressured to be the best. They feel pressure from their parents to do the things they did in high school. They feel pressure from their coaches to be the best. They feel pressure from their teachers get the best grades too. I feel that the most pressure comes from colleges. It's not good enough to have good grades anymore. Colleges want people who are involved in every activity possible for you to be in. If you want to get into a good college, you have to do something that sets you apart from the other applicants. Plus you have to have good standardized test scores, AP credits, and so many other things. In addition to getting into the college, you need to do all you can to get a scholarship. Colleges and universities are extremely expensive so kids have to put even more effort into getting money to actually go there. High school students are so burnt out that they can't do anything fully. The pressure needs to be alleviated to allow any sort of passion to shine through.
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She's Just Not That Into You

Here are a few tips for you boys crushing on girl. We get told these sort of things all the time so I thought I'd return the favor. There could be a few exceptions to these rules, but just like the movie, they don't come very often.

If she doesnt text you back, she's not into you. Sure she might be busy, but if she wants to talk to you, she'll make time. She will make a point to pause during her busy schedule to send you a text, or sneak her phone out to talk to you. If she tells you shes busy and doesn't text you for the entire night even if you text her, I'm sorry but she doesn't really want to alk to you.

If she sends a short text in response to your long one, she's not into you. If you constantly send her long texts but she responds with around 5 words, she doesnt want to talk to you. If a girl is intrested in the conversation (and you) then she will eleborate.

If you always initiate a converstion, she's not into you. A good crush, or eben just a ood friendship is balanced. Both people should want to talk to the other thus creating an equal talking time. If you both want to talk to each other, both of you will start a conversation. Also, don't text her everyday, especially if she doesn't text you back. Take a hint and chill out. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Texting her everyday when she's busy and when she doesn't want to talk to you will just annoy her and make her like you even less. Give her some space and if she likes you, she will make a point to talk to you. If she doesn't, than she's not the girl for you.

If you always make the plans,she's not into you. This one is a lot like the previous one. If she wants to spend time with you, she will make sure that you two have a scheduled time to hang out. If she's very vague when you ask her when she can hang out, she doesn't really want to. Both of you need to be very engaged in the plan-making or else she really doesn't want to make plans.

These are just some helpful hints. Boys, if you realize she doesn't really like you, it's ok. These things are just to help you recognize that that girl isn't for you so you can find a new, better girl, rather than wasting your time on this one. There's someone out there for everyone so dont get so hooked on one person you think you like, especially if you're in high school. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Go out and make the best of it