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!