2013!

Happy New Year, everyone! 2012 just flew by!
Here are some of the best things that happened this year. :)

• Starting USY! Sure, I've been in youth group since 3rd grade, but my first convention was this year, and I can't imagine my life without all of the amazing people I have met. I feel like this year has really given me a chance to connect with prayer and become even more invested in my Judaism. Shoutouts to CRUSY and all of the International SuperMegaCuddlyAwesome Sophomores!
• Getting into Chamber Orchestra, the top orchestra at my school. I love having the opportunity to play original classical music, and I am really proud that I have worked myself up to where I am with almost no private instruction. 
• Getting my new violin. I am still depressed about losing my other one, and I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it, but I am really beginning to believe that it was for the better. My new one is gorgeous, has a better sound to it, and is just simply way nicer than the first. 
• My Confirmation Class weekend at a really fancy hotel. I'll admit that I wasn't really looking forward to this trip, but I ended up having a pretty great time. Just like I posted about on my blog once before, I have the best class ever. It's amazing to be in an environment where you can walk up to virtually anyone and have a conversation, and that's exactly what I have. Our staycation was a great bonding experience, and a ton of fun, and even the Saturday morning classes have been pretty great thanks to all of my friends. 
• National History Day. As of tomorrow or Wednesday, my final exhibit board should be finished. That part is a nightmare. But I have actually really enjoyed the research portion, and I have fallen in love with my topic (the Little Rock Nine). Through this project, I have discovered several of my favorite books, and ultimately, discovered nine role models.

So there are a few of the best parts of my year! Feel free to share yours!

Have a great 2013!

Overload...

You know that feeling when teachers take everything really slowly and then realize at the end of the semester that they still have weeks worth of information to cram into a few days? That's how last week was for me, and that's how this week is going. Last week, I had a test in biology, two quizzes in APUSH, an English test, and a math problem set and Spanish project to work on. This week, I have a lab in biology, a quiz in APUSH in addition to an 80-question multiple choice test over 7 chapters, a graded discussion in English, and the presentation of my Spanish project (which was yesterday). My math teacher, at least, has gone at a pace that is allowing her to drag out our last chapter into very small subsections, which is nice.

In addition to everything else, I am working on National History Day (nhd.org), which is due the Tuesday we come back from break (my birthday!). It involves a trifold board that is almost 6-feet tall and an annotated bibliography which will hopefully include around 50 sources (38 right now). Even though we have collected a good deal of sources, we haven't gotten to reading all of the books and putting post-its in them, or taking notes on the online sources. Our goal? To read everything by Saturday. Reality? Hopefully we will finish reading by Wednesday in order to work on the board.  Here comes stress/ sleep deprivation my whole break! Even though I'm kind of excited to see everything come together.

I really, really, am going to try to blog more often. You just know where I am now if I magically disappear after being murdered by textbooks and assignments.

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Rule 1: Thank the blogger who nominated you.
Thanks, Emma.
Rule 2: Place the award on your site.

Rule 3: Share 7 random things about yourself.
1. I love blogging, but I tend to forget to do it after a few days.
2. I am obsessed with piano, and I also really like playing violin. I would say that my favorite composers are Bach, Schubert, and Mendelssohn.
3. I am Jewish. Well, that's really obvious if you know me at all. I am addicted to USY, and I spend about 12 hours a week at Hebrew/religious school.
4. I enjoy my overloaded schedule, even though it includes 5 or less hours of sleep each night, and about 8 hours each night on weekends.
5. I love kids- my campers, Sunday school students, kids I babysit, and kids I tutor. ♥
6. I love to cook, especially baking bread.
7. My favorite TV show is, yes, Good Luck, Charlie. It is followed by 19 Kids and Counting and Dance Moms. 
Rule 4: Nominate 15 blogs. Let them know they've been nominated and how to accept the award.
I'm actually just going to share my favorite blogs, since they are bigger. I may end up telling them, but I may not.
Chasing Rainbows: http://www.kateleong.com/
Love that Max: http://www.lovethatmax.com/
Jewish Homeschool Blog: http://jewishhomeschool.blogspot.com/
Inspired Ima: http://inspiredima.com/
Raising Olives:  http://raisingolives.com/

Thanks, and I hope to start posting more soon!

Back Again

I know, same story, but I've once again disappeared from the blogging world for a while. This time, though, I think the time really paid off. My schoolwork has been requiring a lot more attention, and I can definitely say I've been working harder. I took a math test on Friday, and I'm really happy to say it got my grade up to something more acceptable for me. It isn't quite where I hope it will be, but is anything ever good enough for a perfectionist?
I've also been working hard at piano- my teacher has had me memorize two songs in a row, and I think they sound pretty good! I'm definitely ready to record and post a video of one of them, so I'm excited about that. :) 
Some good and bad about orchestra- Good: I got second chair! That's right, more hard work and practice paying off. I get to play in a nonet in the concert, which is exciting. 
Bad: I killed my violin on Thursday, and I can't even start on how depressed I am about it. You don't understand until you have an instrument and you ruin it, but losing a good instrument is a lot like losing a person. I get sick every time I think about it, and nothing feels right- I've tried other violins because I know I will need to replace it, but nothing is mine. I'm probably going to end up getting the same model as my old one, and just hoping that I can learn to love it as much. </3


Sorry I didn't post more about Passover- it was a very fast week!

Home Again

I'm back! I was actually back yesterday afternoon, but I'm just getting on to post here now. I had such an amazing weekend at convention. I know USY wasn't one of the poll topics that I said I was going to blog about, but its just so amazing, I have to. First of all, if you're Jewish, which I don't think anyone who reads this blog is, join! I can't even begin to put into words how amazing it is, but I can guarantee that it is an amazing experience. ♥
My weekend was filled with a night hike, board elections, Israel advocacy programs, Tikkun Olam programs, lots of praying, amazing study sessions, and a ton of ruach. My favorite part of convention is definitely ruach, fast and slow. Picture over 150 teens standing in tight circle on chairs and singing psalms, hymns, etc at the top of their lungs. Then picture everyone crowded into a small room on the floor, singing really beautiful melodies. It is magical, even though it may not sound that way from my description.
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Now since Passover was one of the topics you wanted me to blog about, here's a little bit to start.
As of yesterday morning, my kitchen was all clean. We have a basket full of food in our laundry room, and our table is still not Pesachdik, but our oven, microwave, and counters are all cleaned off and ready for the holiday.
When I went to bed last night, instead of reading like I usually do, I started practicing the Kiddush, the blessing over the wine. Since Passover this year starts on Friday night, also Shabbat, there are extra words added in, and an extra song to go with it. Last year my grandpa asked me to do it without telling me beforehand, so this I'm going to be prepared, including all of the special parts for Shabbat.
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Okay one more thing. This is short, but really cute, so I had to mention it. We had a chocolate seder in our 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade youth groups yesterday, and it was really cool. Wondering why I went? Just because I have a lot of 8th grade friends. Anyway, it was a really cute model Passover meal, but everything was some kind of ice cream or candy. 
Kadesh- The first cup of chocolate milk
Urchatz- washing hands
Karpas- Green pistachio ice cream
Yachatz- Breaking chocolate covered matzah in half
Magid- Telling the story of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and a really cute version of the Four Sons modified to be about ice cream.
Rachtzah- Washing hands
Motzi Matzah- Saying the blessing and eating chocolate covered matzah.
Maror- "Bitter" Everything but the Kitchen Sink ice cream.
Korech- Ice cream sandwich
Shulchan Oreh- "Festive meal" of chocolate eggs and marshmallows.
Tzafun- Search for hidden chocolate covered matzah. Winners took home chocolate seder plates.
Bareh- Third cup of chocolate milk
Hallel- Passover song parodies about candy
Nirtzah- Conclusion of the chocolate seder with "Next year in Vermont!" because Vermont is where Ben and Jerry's was started.


Here's a link to one chocolate seder haggadah: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mcoblenz/haggadah2005.pdf
It isn't exactly what we used, but close.

Wordless Wednesday

I know it isn't technically Wednesday, but I haven't gone to sleep yet, so it counts. This is something a lot of blogs do, and I thought it would be fun to try. :)

New Clothes!

In preparation for my convention, my mom and I went shopping at Old Navy last night so I could get clothes. Thought I would show you a few things I bought.

This dress looks really pretty on. I'm going to wear it to the dinner and dance Saturday night. I also bought a plain black cardigan to wear over this.

These are just shoes that I liked. I don't like flip flops, so I was looking for something besides tennis shoes to wear all summer. I did end up getting a pair of basic flip flops to wear in the shower at camp and stuff.

Couldn't find this skirt online, so I had to take the picture myself. I'm going to wear it to Saturday morning services. I am wearing it with a navy cami and white crop sweater.

I Promise!

It's been over a month, but I am going to post on this! I really am!
I'm finally on spring break! Looking forward to a week of no school, finished with a USY convention this weekend. Can't wait to see all of my friends! 
My family did our Passover shopping yesterday. Its so hard to believe that Passover is in less than two weeks. It looks like I'll be eating a lot this week, trying to get rid of all of the chametz, or leavened food left in our house. 
Since I seem so dead on ideas, I'm going to put up a poll and see what you guys want to see me write about. :)

Bread!

Two posts in the same day, I know, but I wanted to post a picture of the Garlic-Rosemary Focaccia Bread I just made. :) Pretty good way to spend a day off, don't you think?

Audition #1

So, I was waiting to post this until I found out my second audition result on Wednesday, but it felt like too long to keep posting. 
Anyway, I'm not too happy about the audition I had last Saturday. We had our first rehearsal this past weekend, and I found out that I'm fourth chair second. Even though my stand partner is super talented, I feel like the seating was done unfairly. There were two younger kids there who hadn't auditioned yet, and they were just automatically placed in the first violins. One of my friends from school is also a first violin, and even though I know he's way better than me, I think my stand partner and the first chair second are a lot better. It just seems kind of weird to me how everything worked out. 
Enough orchestra talk? You probably didn't understand a word of that, but I needed to say it. 
Besides that, it's been a pretty good weekend. :) I nailed my chin stand yesterday, and I'm really close to being able to do a back bend! I still have a paper to write later, but I know it won't be graded, so I don't have any reason to try very hard or stress over it. I'm also really excited for CRUSY Kinnus next weekend!! 

Crazy Busy Week

Wow. After those few weeks I had virtually no homework for whatever reason, this week was positively exhausting. I had tests/quizzes in every subject, and we started 9th grade History Day, a research paper based on the National History Day competition. My topic is Richard Strauss. The research I've been doing is interesting, but I'm really dreading writing the paper because my teacher is a total "do it my way or it's wrong" kind of person, and the theme of each paragraph is very clearly laid out, even though the outline doesn't fit some of the topics (like mine) very well. I am, however, pleased that I have enough information, because several of the topics on the list did not have any information on the internet from reliable sources. 

To top all of that off, I have weight training in gym. The exercises aren't necessarily bad, but the soreness the next day that makes it impossible for me to carry my backpack is horrible. We did an ab workout on Tuesday, and I couldn't feel my legs at all yesterday!

I'm also working on two violin auditions this week. One is this weekend and just a placement, but there will probably be a lot of good people there, and I really don't want to be a second because the music is usually boring/unmusical. The other one is a week from tomorrow, and I'm nowhere close to ready. It's to get into the good orchestra at my school, and the audition is ridiculous- 60 second tuning (after my teacher turns all of the pegs), an excerpt, four scales, and sight reading. The worst part is that we have to play with however we tuned our instrument, which guarantees that everything else will be out of tune. Exactly how my teacher wants it, though. She'll have an easier time saying we didn't get in because we were out of tune than we didn't get in because she hates us. 

That post was longer than I thought! Enjoy! 

I Have a Reader?

I sort of stopped posting for a while because I didn't think anyone was reading this, so please comment when you do. :)
"Curious Christian," I think I know who you are. LOL
I had the best Monday school class ever last night ♥. Not going to say anything about it because not being there would probably make it sound very creepy, but I laughed for two hours straight. I'm actually sad about confirmation now because I love my class so much. Second half, my Klezmer teacher attempted to make us "socialize." FAIL. I think one person actually got any words out. 

Happy Friday!

Yay! I'm done with finals for the semester! Let's see- I had a total of 570 multiple choice questions, 9 short answers, 4 essays, and a ton of numerical (algebra and physics) problems, all in a total of 13.5 hours sitting still. Bleh. :P


I didn't have school yesterday because of make-up/conflict finals, and I don't have it today because it's the last day for teachers to enter grades. Yesterday my sister had school, so I worked on her Bat Mitzvah video for a while and practiced violin and piano (I might post a video soon). Today my sister and mom are both home, so we might go out to this giant candy store to look at candy for the Bat Mitzvah. I'm also planning on writing today. I finally had an idea!

My (Late) New Year's Resolution

Do you like how fast I failed at the post every day thing? Well, life happens, I guess. :P I actually had no homework and no Hebrew School this week, but I've been busy freaking out about finals and not studying. 

Anyway, about that resolution in the title- It's not really a resolution, but I decided that if my parents and piano teacher don't take my music seriously, I'm going to start taking the initiative myself. This started in a three-hour piano practice last night. I wish I had time to do that every day, but I'm aiming for an hour on piano and an hour on violin. And if I play any of my pieces decently, there might be a video coming. :)

That's pretty much it. I have a busy weekend planned. Back to Sunday School after break, Rosh Hodesh (basically a Jewish girls' group), and my birthday! And, of course, studying math like crazy. :P

Back to School Tomorrow... Ugh

Today was our last day of winter break, and it snowed like crazy. When I woke up, everything, including the roads, was covered thickly. Based on the weather predictions we were fully expecting tomorrow to be a snow day, but it stopped for now and they got control of the roads, so it looks like I'm back to waking up at 5:30. :P

I spent most of today finishing up homework- not a big fan of science assignments that take 5 hours and are only worth 15 points. I also got to go sledding with my sister and neighbor, which was fun, but it was way too cold and windy. I ended up getting a ton of snow down my pants and up my shirt, which was obviously not fun. 

First Post!

Happy New Year! I've been wanting to start a blog for a while, and I thought the first of the year was a great time to do so. This is just going to be about random stuff going on with me, and I want to update it with a short post every day. :)
Maybe I'll talk about what I'm reading, writing, doing, stuff going on in school, etc. So I'm going to start with my New Year.


This year, my family stayed home and did fondue ourselves, which was really fun. We ended up not getting to the oil until 10:30, and since we had to wait an hour due to keeping Kosher, we're doing the chocolate tonight! After dinner, I convinced my dad to turn on the fireplace and my sister and I sat in front of it and played on the computer. Throughout the night, my dad kept going to his car and getting scratch lottery tickets, so that was fun. At midnight we all went up to my parents' bed since they have the biggest TV, and watched the ball drop and shot confetti. One of the best accomplishments of my night? Posting the first WNTM picture of 2012. xD  And still managing to write 2010 on everything. Which I never did during 2011.