Things that made this week exciting:
*I bought two things of silly putty-it's an obsession
*I heard Christmas music playing in a store. (exciting/confusing)
*First Choir Concert as a Chamber Singer, so great
*family GNO at Ichiban
*birthday dinner for Lauren and Karley Mackay with 24 of my favorite people
*Going on to the roof of LCHS-sooo pretty
The next exciting fact has to do with a group called Invisible Children. It's a foundation that is helping to fight against the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda/Central Africa. There is a man named Joseph Kony who has been abducting many, MANY children and turning them into soldiers and forcing them to kill and do terrible things. Today President Obama announced that he will send 100 soldiers to central Africa to help stop Kony. This is so great. My friends and I are currently working with Invisible Children on their Frontline Tour fundraising project. The money from this project is going to help build radio towers so that villages will be able to get a warning before the LRA arrives. It also goes into foundations that help with the traumatic recovery of the returned children. If you can DONATE anything or want to LEARN more then click here:
Invisble Children-Maddie Blake's fundraising page and watch THIS
This is my fundraising page, sadly I don't have any money yet but our team as a whole is doing well but we can always do better! Spread the word. THANKS
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Ive always been a fan of long car rides
So I just returned from our Chamber retreat up in the mountains of Badger(4 hours away). I always learn a lot when I go on trips like this so here we go:
*Never underestimate the power of a compliment, a smile or a hug. Sometimes its the people you assume already know they are great, or that seem confident that really need it the most. Also recognize that there is always something good to say to someone, because there is good in everyone. I really believe that.
*There's something magical about being in the mountains. First of all it was strinkingly beautiful. There were huge trees covered in green moss and red ladybugs. A river ran through the center of the camp with quaint bridges. I can't really explain how happy it made me. I've really come to be overwhelmed with the beauty of nature that God has created all for us. It's amazing. The second reason I love being in the mountains is because it's a barrier from the rest of the world. There aren't any distractions and no where for people to escape to. You get to spend time with people that don't run in your same circles. People are truly themselves, raw and clean, stripped of their highschool masks. I love it, I wish I could see all of my peers this way because it makes it so much easier to love them.
*My choir teacher Mr. Brookey has gone way up on my respect level. He spends so much time and effort for his choirs. He said two things that stuck with me. The first is to surround yourself with beauty and to eliminate conflict. Beautiful things, people, music and experiences. Its so simple but I needed to hear it. The second was that there is never too much love to give. That is so true. I'm working on that. It's amazing how much happier you are when you start to forget yourself.
*Something finally clicked with our choir. It was a combination of getting the notes down, passion and blending as people and good friends. We finally made music. I think I've mentioned that we're singing a song called Water Night by Eric Whitacre. It breaks up into 14 parts and its so beautiful. The poetry behind it really gets me. Anyway our last practice was when everyone really got into it. It was such a special moment when we hit our big chords. I heard an old guy outside the door say, "woah, that sounds so good. It kind of hurts." I couldnt help but smile. Music is powerful and I'm so happy that I get to share it with others.
*Sunday morning 5 of us mormon kids in the choir as well as our seminary teacher (who was also a chaperone) woke up early and walked to the top of the camp and had a small church meeting. It was another special moment for sure. Even though it was freezing and we were all exhausted and dressed in sweats instead of dresses the spirit was the same.
Anyway, it was an unforgettable weekend.
*Never underestimate the power of a compliment, a smile or a hug. Sometimes its the people you assume already know they are great, or that seem confident that really need it the most. Also recognize that there is always something good to say to someone, because there is good in everyone. I really believe that.
*There's something magical about being in the mountains. First of all it was strinkingly beautiful. There were huge trees covered in green moss and red ladybugs. A river ran through the center of the camp with quaint bridges. I can't really explain how happy it made me. I've really come to be overwhelmed with the beauty of nature that God has created all for us. It's amazing. The second reason I love being in the mountains is because it's a barrier from the rest of the world. There aren't any distractions and no where for people to escape to. You get to spend time with people that don't run in your same circles. People are truly themselves, raw and clean, stripped of their highschool masks. I love it, I wish I could see all of my peers this way because it makes it so much easier to love them.
*My choir teacher Mr. Brookey has gone way up on my respect level. He spends so much time and effort for his choirs. He said two things that stuck with me. The first is to surround yourself with beauty and to eliminate conflict. Beautiful things, people, music and experiences. Its so simple but I needed to hear it. The second was that there is never too much love to give. That is so true. I'm working on that. It's amazing how much happier you are when you start to forget yourself.
*Something finally clicked with our choir. It was a combination of getting the notes down, passion and blending as people and good friends. We finally made music. I think I've mentioned that we're singing a song called Water Night by Eric Whitacre. It breaks up into 14 parts and its so beautiful. The poetry behind it really gets me. Anyway our last practice was when everyone really got into it. It was such a special moment when we hit our big chords. I heard an old guy outside the door say, "woah, that sounds so good. It kind of hurts." I couldnt help but smile. Music is powerful and I'm so happy that I get to share it with others.
*Sunday morning 5 of us mormon kids in the choir as well as our seminary teacher (who was also a chaperone) woke up early and walked to the top of the camp and had a small church meeting. It was another special moment for sure. Even though it was freezing and we were all exhausted and dressed in sweats instead of dresses the spirit was the same.
Anyway, it was an unforgettable weekend.
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Saturday, September 24, 2011
We are the people
Guys. I don't read very often. But I found a book that's next to Hunger Games on my favorite books list. It's called Divergent. Please read it. I spent my whole friday reading, I was enthralled. It's good.
Have fun at homecoming my Bountiful friends. It's stupid to say that I'm jealous because it's a given, but I just said it so whatever haha.
I just auditioned for Honor Choir. The sight reading was impossible, the hardest one my Choir Teacher has seen in a long time. Sharps flats and naturals ALL over the place, I bombed it. At least I got the rhythm right mostly. Oh well it was fun.
Have fun at homecoming my Bountiful friends. It's stupid to say that I'm jealous because it's a given, but I just said it so whatever haha.
I just auditioned for Honor Choir. The sight reading was impossible, the hardest one my Choir Teacher has seen in a long time. Sharps flats and naturals ALL over the place, I bombed it. At least I got the rhythm right mostly. Oh well it was fun.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
parrots and princesses
I walked into my art class yesterday and there was a girl with a parrot on her shoulder! She was just so casual about it. It had just been sitting there since fourth period. For some reason no one really cared. Since when you can you bring your parrot to school with you? pretty funny
Yesterday I tried out for the 2012 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Most senior girls do it, it's kind of a tradition. Last year the Rose Queen was from our high school which was exciting. I basically did it to get the tickets into the rose ball which they throw for all the participants and their dates. The audition was actually really fun, very formal and intense. The first round the 1000ish girls get 15 seconds to say why you want to be on rose court. Now that that's done I just need to find me a boy to take haha.
Life is lovely.
Yesterday I tried out for the 2012 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Most senior girls do it, it's kind of a tradition. Last year the Rose Queen was from our high school which was exciting. I basically did it to get the tickets into the rose ball which they throw for all the participants and their dates. The audition was actually really fun, very formal and intense. The first round the 1000ish girls get 15 seconds to say why you want to be on rose court. Now that that's done I just need to find me a boy to take haha.
Life is lovely.
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
it was not in vain
A day off of school in the middle of the week is actually quite refreshing. It's like having an extra-mini weekend.
Quick So SO-CAL for Jane:
*This is probably a very big stereotype but I've noticed that practically none of my friends type using the "home row" that we was drilled into our heads in elementary. It's weird! They type with only a few fingers! blows my mind. (don't be offended California readers you might be an exception..)
*Seniors here spend their first semester stressed with TONS of college applications. Not just the Utah State, possible BYU, U of U or SUU apps. They apply to everywhere! I've never even heard of half the colleges and universities. I knew seniors last year who applied to 25+ schools. AH. It is pretty cool though because they really are all over the United States. (and Canada :)) Makes me want to apply to at least one other school then BYU just for fun. I'm thinking Pratt Institute in NYC?
*Our mutual activity this week is Stake Young Women's Surf-day. hahaha YES. So SoCal
I'm slightly jealous of my friend Camille right now. Not just because she's at college, but because she's in a foreign film club at college. She told me to watch Sophia Scholl. It's about a girl and her brother Hans in Nazi Germany and how they try to spread anti-Nazi literature. Basically it's just inspiring. I actually cried and I literally NEVER cry in movies, not even Charlie, didn't actually break a tear in The Help although I was close. That's a really great movie as well. It was really interesting watching this movie (Sophia Scholl) because I realized how much I'm growing up. I remember walking into my mom's room as a tween seeing that the movie was in a different language and had subtitles and rolling my eyes and walking out. Yet I sat through a whole foreign film, on my own and loved it. woohoo
I've also, thanks to my friend Sam, got hooked on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. If you don't watch it already I suggest adding that to your TVO list.
My friend Kenzie and I found this little cupcake shop in South Pasadena called My Sweet Cupcakes. We went there for our second time today and they have delicious cupcakes. They have unique flavors so we always end up buying a couple and sharing them all. Today we tried their Plantain Avocado one. I was a little hesitant but they said they won cupcake wars with it so I gave it a shot and it was surprisingly good. So if anyone wants to come on out here we can take a trip to this cupcake shop and the tons of other places I want to show you guys. please come visit me haha
Quick So SO-CAL for Jane:
*This is probably a very big stereotype but I've noticed that practically none of my friends type using the "home row" that we was drilled into our heads in elementary. It's weird! They type with only a few fingers! blows my mind. (don't be offended California readers you might be an exception..)
*Seniors here spend their first semester stressed with TONS of college applications. Not just the Utah State, possible BYU, U of U or SUU apps. They apply to everywhere! I've never even heard of half the colleges and universities. I knew seniors last year who applied to 25+ schools. AH. It is pretty cool though because they really are all over the United States. (and Canada :)) Makes me want to apply to at least one other school then BYU just for fun. I'm thinking Pratt Institute in NYC?
*Our mutual activity this week is Stake Young Women's Surf-day. hahaha YES. So SoCal
I'm slightly jealous of my friend Camille right now. Not just because she's at college, but because she's in a foreign film club at college. She told me to watch Sophia Scholl. It's about a girl and her brother Hans in Nazi Germany and how they try to spread anti-Nazi literature. Basically it's just inspiring. I actually cried and I literally NEVER cry in movies, not even Charlie, didn't actually break a tear in The Help although I was close. That's a really great movie as well. It was really interesting watching this movie (Sophia Scholl) because I realized how much I'm growing up. I remember walking into my mom's room as a tween seeing that the movie was in a different language and had subtitles and rolling my eyes and walking out. Yet I sat through a whole foreign film, on my own and loved it. woohoo
I've also, thanks to my friend Sam, got hooked on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. If you don't watch it already I suggest adding that to your TVO list.
My friend Kenzie and I found this little cupcake shop in South Pasadena called My Sweet Cupcakes. We went there for our second time today and they have delicious cupcakes. They have unique flavors so we always end up buying a couple and sharing them all. Today we tried their Plantain Avocado one. I was a little hesitant but they said they won cupcake wars with it so I gave it a shot and it was surprisingly good. So if anyone wants to come on out here we can take a trip to this cupcake shop and the tons of other places I want to show you guys. please come visit me haha
Friday, September 2, 2011
get a phone already
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
By : Ralph Waldo Emerson
By : Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Monday, August 29, 2011
First Day Of School
La Canada has soo many little traditions, most of them having to due with seniors. Starting last night with the senior girl tping the junior girls. Seniors girls all get pink shirts that we wear the first day of school. Seniors always get red crowns for the first day and on assembly days. AND there is a senior breakfast in front of the North Gym on the first day. It's crazy but it's kind of fun. First day of school...ohhhboy. It was actually fairly good. Im making a lot of new friends this year and I have cool people in my classes this year. I love having a car and being able to drive myself to lunch. Chamber was good we already are sounding good and we're singing Water Night by Eric Whitacre. Love him, love the song. Look it up. I looove my Mirror Themes class already. Its an english class that brings in art history and theology and the teacher is just really good. Maddies happy about that. Geology will be fine, economics will be fine. Honestly I'm really excited to learn this year. My art portfolio class is going to be more intense and I'm ready to focus a lot more on my art. AND I dont even have a sixth period so I get to come home early every day. Now I'm just excited for seminary to start! That was completely serious, I am. It's Old Testament which I don't know very well so I'm pumped.
No matter what is thrown my way, no matter who it is from, I'm going to be fine. But I am going to do my best to eliminate unnessecary burdens and make this a great senior year. :)
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