Spring is finally here

Yay! Today is the third day of spring. For me, spring means it’s almost the end of school but it also means that a lot of my activities are coming to a end, as well as the start of great weather.  For the next couple of weeks I am going to have a bunch of competitions. Today I had a dance competition for my hip hop dance class, and next week my orchestra is competing with other middle schools. Also, In a couple of weeks I am going to have a competition for the  play that my school put on in the fall. So many competitions and more. How do I get ready for them all, and not get nervous or stressed out? Here’s how.

I live in a area that gets a lot of snow especially this winter! I had so many snow days, and for some reason they were all on Mondays. I take dance classes on Mondays, but because of all the snow days my dance studio was closed. I missed 8 classes in a row, which included snow days as well as days when school wasn’t in session.  It was a huge problem because we  didn’t get a chance to practice much for the competition.  If this happens to you don’t worry. Your teachers will make sure that you are ready to get on that stage. Because of all the missed classes my teachers extended the hours of my class which gave us extra time to learn the dance, a hip hop rendering of the music to the movie Mission Impossible.   Today I never felt more ready to perform because of the amazing help of my dance teachers. You should always trust your dance teachers or any teacher because they know what they are doing. They wouldn’t want you to look funny on stage either!  We also missed a few orchestra rehearsals due to the weather.  My teacher set up some after school sessions for us to practice our pieces for the competition.  I’m sure I will be prepared for the competition this Sunday!

Also, one really great thing about spring is that the weather finally starts to get warmer. Although I love sledding and hanging out in the snow we have just had a crazy winter this year.  I am really looking forward to the warm weather! It’s great just to hang out and take in the nice weather. I sometimes just love lying on the grass and looking at the sky. Its really relaxing, trust me. I also love to practice my dance and gymnastics. I love to make up random routines to music and video them. They look really cool. If dance is not your thing try getting a baseball mitt and ball and just try throwing it around. Even though I’m not really into baseball, my sister likes to play, so I throw the ball around with her and it’s actually really fun! Get outside and enjoy nature as soon as the snow melts and the weather gets warmer.

Enjoy your spring!  See you outside!

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen

Strategies for taking standardized tests

You know spring is coming when the standardized tests start to come in your school. My first one is tomorrow, and I’m getting pretty nervous about it. I’m going to be taking PARCC tomorrow and whatever it is in your state, there is no need  to be freaking out. They’re just like any test. But you should always try your best on these tests because they do go on your record, and affect your placement in some classes.  I have some strategies that will totally make you feel ready to conquer the test. Here’s how.

The day before you take the test: So, the day/night that you take the test you should make sure to eat a good dinner, and also a good breakfast. You need to have the proper nutrients that will make you feel ready to take the test. A good breakfast that you can eat is an egg, oatmeal and some fruit.  It’s healthy and really delicious!  After you eat a good dinner the night before, make sure that you go to bed early. When you take the test you want to feel rested and ready to do your best. If you feel tired you won’t be able to concentrate and may make silly mistakes.

Just before you take the test:  At school before you take the test do some stretching. One stretch that I like to do is the “monkey stretch” and that is when you stretch out your arms and your legs. This really helps because you will be in that seat for a LONG time. A couple of hours at least. Also you should take some deep breaths which will help you feel less nervous. If you are nervous then you may not do your best. This may sound weird but go to the bathroom before the test. My teacher has security guards that take us to the bathroom so we don’t “talk about the test”. Lets just say it gets really awkward.

During the test: When you are taking the test don’t try to attack it all at once. Make sure you take deep breaths throughout the test, and take some breaks if needed. You can sit in your chair and just relax every hour or so. But make sure to be productive! Once you are finished make sure to check over the test a few times because you never know when you may have made a silly mistake. Make sure not to skip over that part. Checking over is VERY important!

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen

Dealing with the stress of homework

I’m at the end of middle school getting ready for high school and one of the hardest things in school is handling homework. My teachers sometimes give homework that’s due the next day, they sometimes give homework that’s due the next week, and sometimes projects aren’t due for months!  And on top of that you have to worry about studying for tests. How do you do it all? Here’s how.

First, what I do is get out all my homework and set it out on the floor or table.(where ever you like to do your homework). Even set out the homework that isn’t due for months. That way you can visually see everything that you are going to need to do sometime in the next week or so. Sometimes it may seem really overwhelming. I know that when  I see all the homework I have, I can get stressed. But when I actually get started on it, it only takes about an hour or so per day.

Next I just focus on the homework that’s due the next day because that’s really important to get it done soon. Whenever I forget to do my homework my teachers get really mad, so definitely do your homework, but if you forget every couple of months, it’s ok, too!  After you do your homework that’s due the next day, think “is there any homework that’s due in a couple of days or a week?” For me, it’s really nice to just get my homework done even if it’s not due for days, and not procrastinate and put it off.  It’s a lot more stressful if you wait to the last minute.

Lastly, look at all your projects and papers and do little bits of them everyday. If it’s due in a couple of weeks do a good amount every day, but if its due in a couple of months do a little bit everyday. It’s good not to get overwhelmed about projects.  You can also ask your parents for help on your projects.  Depending on the parent, they might have good ideas.  For example, my mom helps me out sometimes.

Next, tests: What really helps me is to do all of my homework before I have dinner, and then work on studying after. Although, be careful not to study really late at night because you can get really tired and may not be able to concentrate.

I hope that you can get all your homework done and not get stressed about it!  Try these methods and let me know how it goes.

Thanks for reading!

Peaceluvteen

great places to shop for clothes

Shopping is one of my favorite things to do. Especially clothes shopping. You might think that this sounds crazy but when people say that shopping isn’t a sport, they are kind of wrong because in a way it actually is. Well…not really! 🙂 Clothes are a great way to express yourself.  You can express yourself through clothes by colors, patterns and more. I like to wear really bright colors, like pink and blue but I also know people who only wear  colors like black and white. Whatever it is, it should be who you are! I’m going to tell you about some stores to buy clothes in different categories according to your age and hobbies.

Ages 7-10: When I was around 10, all the clothes I bought were from a store called Justice. I’ve grown out of it now but they actually have clothes for all ages. They also have clothes to fit anyone’s personality. They have more girly items but they also have a lot of sporty clothes too. One thing that isn’t that good about Justice is that they are a bit overpriced. They do have a lot of clearances so you can find some really good deals! Here’s a shirt for someone who likes to wear more girly clothes. Here’s a shirt for someone who likes to wear more sporty clothes.

Ages 12-14: A store that I love to shop at is called H and M. A lot of my clothes are from there. I love to shop there because they have really great styles and H and M is really cheap too! Like Justice, H and M has great clothes to fit any type of person. I recently shopped there and bought some really cute items. Here’s the shirt that I bought. Here are the jeans I bought. This outfit is really pretty and will look cute on anyone!

If you are more of the sporty type and don’t like to shop at these stores, don’t worry.  There are plenty of other options. Under Armour is a really nice brand that sells really sporty clothes online. I actually like many of their clothes, too. In fact, I am planning to buy some clothes from Under Armour today! The clothes that I am buying are a little more on the girly side but they have plenty of sporty clothes too!  Here is the shirt that I am planning on buying. Here are the shorts that I’m planning on buying.

“If shopping doesn’t make you happy, then you are in the wrong shop!” (Mimosa Rose)

I hope you buy some nice clothes in the future using my suggestions.  Remember, everyone has their own style and you are unique.

Thanks for reading!

Peaceluvteen

How to make new friends

I have moved once in my life right before entering middle school and changing schools was one of the hardest parts of moving.  I thought that it would be easy to make new friends but in the end it was a lot harder than I thought.  However, I was able to make some amazing friends using these strategies that I have listed below. These strategies also work if you see some people who have just entered the school that year and are new. If you are looking to make some new friends then people who don’t know anyone are a good place to start.

1) If you are starting a new school try talking to people that seem nice and start a conversation. A really good topic that gets people talking is to compliment them on their clothes and ask where they bought that item. Then you can talk about your favorite stores! Clothing and stores is a great topic because there is so much you can talk about. When people see that you are open to talking to them then they will totally want to be your friend!

2) Next, if you have been at that school for a while, then this tip will definitely help you make some new friends every year. If you see someone you don’t recognize at your school, then they are probably new at your school. It’s pretty hard the first couple of days for new kids to talk to people.  They will be really happy and appreciative if someone starts talking to them. First, if you see a new kid then definitely ask them to sit with you at lunch. That will show them that you are really friendly and want to become friends with them. Also, they probably don’t know their way around your school yet, so you can help them find their classes.  Be really friendly, helpful and nice to the new kids and they will definitely want to be your friends!

3) Also, join clubs, plays, and activities that you like to do. That will help you make some new friends because you will meet people with similar interests. I really like to act and dance. I have met really awesome friends through those activities! If you are sporty, then join a sports team and you will probably meet other kids who like sports.  If you are more into theater, then try out for a play at your school. The choices are endless!

“A real friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” (Walter Winchell)

I hope you make a new friend today.

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen

Living With Braces

If you are around my age, then you have probably noticed that most people have braces, and if they don’t have them, then they probably already had them or they are getting them. I have braces and let me tell you it is definitely not easy to deal with them.

First of all, it is really hard to eat food. When I first had my braces, I had an apple. I took a big bite and my wire totally bent. It really hurt! It also happened when I ate a piece of bagel. It wasn’t even that hard to eat. I realized that when you first get braces, they are a lot more vulnerable. My advice to you is wait a couple of months maybe like 5 and then you can basically eat whatever you want (even though the doctor says “don’t eat popcorn, chew gum, eat apples, candy, etc”). Yea – the list is endless! I eat all that stuff now because I have had braces for a year. In fact I ate an apple today!

Next, headgear. If you have never heard what it is, it is basically a big piece of wire that connects on both ends of your braces. If you think it sounds horrible, it is – trust me! But, as much as you probably hate it, definitely wear it. My doctor tells me that if I don’t wear it more often, she might have to pull some of my teeth, which will be terrible! So, if you don’t want to look really funny when you are older, wear it!

Feel free to add comments if you have any more questions about braces.

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen

Cooking From A Teen’s Perspective

Hi Guys!

I am going to show u why it is awesome to cook and bake. I will also show you a great Valentine’s Day cookie dish! Don’t worry, it’s really easy and really fun to make! I love to cook because it’s a great way to express yourself. Whenever I cook, I say that I “put myself on a plate” and it’s true because I only make stuff that resembles me as a person and you should too!

I also love to cook because it’s a great way to try new foods! Before I started cooking, I used to be such a picky eater. But now I eat almost everything! I have eaten some foods that you probably have never even eaten before or maybe never even heard of!  I have eaten foods like broccolini (similar to but different than broccoli), and butternut squash (I love it in soup!). So go in the kitchen and make amazing food that you will like and other people will love!

Cooking is also a great way to make money. Even if you don’t have much cooking experience, you can always start somewhere. Cookies are a great way to start because they are one of the easiest foods to bake! I’m going to show you an awesome cooking recipe today! 🙂  I love to make cookies and sell them to my friends and family and also to my neighbors. If you don’t believe that u can make a lot of money selling cookies, then just try doing it! You will definitely be able to make a really good business! So, in honor of Valentine’s day, I am going to show you a great sugar cookie recipe that u can cut into hearts and top with sprinkles!  I found this recipe from The Complete Cookie Book by  Elizabeth Wolf Cohen. 

2 cups Flour, 2 teaspoons, Baking Powder, 1/2 salt, 1 stick butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, zest of 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract.

1) In a medium-sized bowl, use a sifter and sift flour baking powder and salt.  In a different bowl, use an electric mixer and beat the butter until it looks really creamy. (It’s pretty impossible to do it just by hand. Make sure u have an electric mixer.) Add the sugar and continue beating until it looks really light and fluffy. (Don’t forget to eat the batter too! :-)) Then add the egg, zest, juice, and both extracts. Continue beating. Stir in the flour mixture until it looks like dough. Make sure not to over mix!

2) Form the dough into a ball and wrap it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. (It’s important to refrigerate because it’s really hard to use the dough when it’s really sticky)

3) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface roll out the dough until it’s pretty thin but not so thin that it will rip easily. Cut out the dough into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Since this is a Valentine’s recipe, u can use hearts but u can also use cookie cutters to cut out any shapes you want! After u cut out all of the dough, put very little water (like a drop or two) on the cookies and put some sprinkles on them. You don’t have to put sprinkles if you don’t want to. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes.

These are the cookies fresh out of the oven!!

Now you have a perfect Valentine’s Day treat!

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen

How To Act Like Nobody’s Watching

Hey guys!

Welcome to my first post!

So, if ur like me, its pretty scary acting or singing in front of a lot of people. If ur like “acting’s not my thing at all”, these tips will also help u present projects in front of ur class (you’ll probably have to do those for the rest of ur life! 😉 ) . I get really stressed doing those. First of all, don’t be afraid to mess up, and if u do, no one is going to kill u. Its ok! Guess what? No one will even care if u mess up! I’ve messed up millions of times but I still act because its really fun! Before u get up to act or present, take some deep breaths. It’s always good to stay calm when ur preforming because people can tell when ur really nervous. For me, I only get nervous when I’m performing for a bunch of people, but when I do it with my friends and family its so easy! Try to remember what it was like performing with not many people and ignore everyone else watching u.  That always helps me! If ur an actor you’ve probably heard this before – Stay in character. Ur the one being nervous not ur character! So if u ever feel scared, just think to yourself “Is my character supposed to feel nervous?” The answer is probably almost always going to be No!

I hope this helps you to become better presenters and actors!

“When you play a part in a play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, Otherwise it’s not acting. It’s lying.” (Johnny Depp)

Thanks for reading!

PeaceLuvTeen