Category: lists

22 Things I Look Forward to in 2022

Here are 22 things I’m looking forward to in this new year!

  1. The School For Good and Evil movie
    This is a movie that is going to be coming to Netflix based on the popular School for Good and Evil book series. I’m really excited to watch it!
  2. Traveling more
  3. Trying a new theme on my Instagram
  4. Performing more Bharatanatyam
  5. Learning more Mohiniattam items
  6. Attending more book events
  7. Improving my writing skills
  8. Attending my school’s dance event
  9. Expanding my Ninja Foodi cooking skills
  10. Discovering new authors
  11. (Hopefully) being a leader in 8th grade
    In our school, leaders lead lessons in homeroom 2 times a week. I’ve heard that leadership class and leadership camp (which you take to become a leader) is really fun.
  12. Creating a project in my MUN class with my friends
  13. Discovering more mythological tales
  14. Visiting the library more frequently
  15. Solve a New York Times crossword by myself
  16. Spending more time with family (fingers crossed)
  17. Trying more crafts
  18. Fun projects in my Texas History class
  19. Playing around with online designing
  20. Start biking more
  21. Trying new cuisines
  22. Discover/Play new board games

Top Reads of 2021

Here are my overall top reads of 2021!

  1. Circe by Madeline Miller
    Circe is such a great book. I loved the reimagining of the original tale of Circe and how we got to see this sorceress as a main character. In many Greek Mythology stories, Circe is shown as the villian of her tale, but in this story we see her as her own, bright character. If you like mythology or re-imagined fairy tales, then ou’ll definitely love this book!
  2. The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
    4 siblings and none of them alike, yet they have to journey together to find the mythical Ivory Key. They each have different reasons for wanting it, but if they fail, they could all lose everything. I love the characters so much and the plot twists along the way. If you like fantasy or mythology, this book is perfect for you!
  3. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    This book is filled with plot twists and riddles, secrets and hidden compartments that you never would’ve seen coming. I’ve really enjoyed reading the first two books in this triology, though I especially loved the second book. Avery has grown so much, though she’s still as stubborn and plucky and she was in the first book. The plot is entertaining, but it’ll leave you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the final book!
  4. The Pronoun Book by Cassandra Jules Corrigan
    I really love this book. It’s sweet and simple and explains pronouns and identities in a way that’s easy to understand. The illustrations are cute and match the text perfectly. Anyone, regardless their age, can understand this book and take to using its tips and tricks. I love this book!
  5. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
    This is another great mythology book. The Trojan War is probably the subject I know least about, but this book definitely helped with that. While it focused more on Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship (one of the best ones I’ve ever heard of), it still got a close look at the Trojan War. The writing style is so delicate and at any given time, I feel like I’m actually in ancience Greece. This book is definitely one of the best.
  6. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
    I’ve only read the first book so far, but this duology is off to a great start. It focuses on Nikolai, Zoya, and Nina- characters in past books, now starring in their own. Their problems are like no other and they require a new solution that is bold and brave and only heard of in myths. I loved this story and the characters from the beginning to the end. It is such a new, but ownderous story and I really enjoyed it.
  7. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
    This book has consistently popped up on my Instagram and so I decided to give it a try. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I love all the characters and their unique personalities. They are unique but they all work together to make a diverse cast of characters. I haven’t ever met a group of characters who I’ve loved as fiercely as Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthais, Jesper, and Wylan. This two-book series is packed with twists and turns and will have you crying and laughing at the same time. I totally recommend it to you.

What were your top reads of 2021? Did you read/like any of these books?

December’s Top Reads

Here are my top books of December!

  1. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
    I love this series so much. Clary Fray is a tennager when she realizes that she sees things that others don’t. She meets Jace, Isabelle, and Alec, the other Shadowhunters. I loved their adventures and there were so many lot twists that shocked me. This is such a great book and I loved reading it so much. I totally recommend it to you!
  2. The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
    I read the second and third books in this series (If You’re Reading this, it’s Too Late and This Book is Not Good for You). Cassandra and Max-Ernest are such great characters and I enjoyed the involment of a new character, Yo-Yoji. this stories are great and I loved the storytelling style. I love this series!
  3. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    I am in love with this series. In this book, Avery continues her adventures with the Hawthorne Brothers. There are so many secrets revealed and a whole new land is discovered. I really, really enjoyed the plot and the characters. I totally recommend this book to you!
  4. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
    I really enjoyed this book! In this book, Shiori, the only one with magical powers in her kingdom, gets cursed by her stepmother, Raikama. Her brothers turn into cranes and Shiori, without a voice, sets out to save them. I loved the story and the plot! This is the first part of a duology based on the fairytale, “The Wild Swans,”.
  5. The Verdigris Pawn by Alysa Wishingrad
    I loved this book and the way it invented a game that worked so well with the book. When Beau meets Cressi, he finally sees the true ways of his father and the ones before him. He realizes that he has to take control of the king, but before he can do that, he needs his ace and his pawn. I loved this story so much!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September: click here
Top Books of October: click here
Top Books of November: click here

I really enjoyed talking about my top reads of each month! Do you think I should continue this next year?

Cranberry Orange Loaf

This year, I decided to make a Christmas themed bread. I tried this very quick and delicious recipe that worked very well. It tasted great and was perfect for a Christmas special. I really loved the loaf and decided to share it with you!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup sugar
  • zest of an orange
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped cranberries

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.
  2. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar, then set aside.
  3. In a seperate bowl, stir the orange zest, buttermilk, oil, eggs, orange juice, and vanilla together.
  4. Slowly combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
  5. Add the cranberries and stir until just combined.
  6. Pour into the pan and bake for 55 minutes.
  7. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite Christmas recipe?

November’s Top Books

Here are my top books for November!

  1. The House on Hoarder Hill by Kelly Ngai and Mikki Lish
    This is a great story about 2 kids who are determined to find out the mystery behind the disappearance of their grandma, Rose. Hedy and Spencer are at their grandpa’s house while their parents are on vacation. They get a mysterious message (Find Me) setting them off on their crazy adventure with piano-playing ghosts, mischievous paintings, and a very friendly bear rug and a glorious deer head. I loved the story and the way it progressed. This is such a great book!
  2. Much Ado About Baseball by Rajani LaRocca
    This book is about friendship, but it has so many other great themes coursing through it. Trish has just moved to a new town and is finding it hard to make new friends and fit in. So she joins the baseball team, hoping to meet someone new. There, she sees Ben, who she met and beat at the Math Puzzler Championships last year. Ben doesn’t want to be on the team, but when he sees Trish, he knows that he can’t quit and be embarrassed by her again. I love what happens next and the way that Shakespeare’s works are tied in. This is a great book!
  3. Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
    This is definitely one of my favorite books this month. It tells the story of Melisto and Rhakos, two very different children, yet very similar. The story is told in many different points of view, with different types of storytelling for each. There are also “exhibits” which show items from a long time ago. I loved how the author incorporated these items into the story. This story flows so well and I loved watching the plot move along. I definitely recommend it to you!
  4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
    This is the prequel to the Hunger Games. It follows Coriolanus Snow, the antagonist in the original series, when he is young, 18 years old. He has been assigned to mentor a tribute for this year’s Hunger Games, a tribute from District 12, the worst district. He meets Lucy Gray this way and is enthralled by her, especially her voice. I loved following the events of the story and the way the plot continued. The characters are written very well and it was great to see how the characters grew into who they are in the actual books. I love this book!
  5. The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
    This book’s storytelling style is unique, with the author keeping many things closely guarded. The two main characters, Cass and Max-Ernest go on a quest to rescue their friend when he is kidnapped by Ms. Mauvis and Dr. L. They go to the Midnight Sun, where strange things are happening. I loved their adventure and the way the story was told. It was very unique and I enjoyed it a lot. I totally recommend this book to you!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September: click here
Top Books of October: click here

Recipe: Apple Pear Jam

This year I decided to make a jam inspired by fall. I loved this recipe and found it quick and simple. The tanginess and sweetness of the jam works perfectly together. Everything balances the others out, making this the perfect homemade jam.

Ingredients:

  • 3 green apples, any kind
  • 1 pear
  • 2 cups apple juice
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • 2 inch cinnamon stick

Directions:

  1. Core and peel the apples and pear
  2. Cut each apple/pear into 8 pieces, each around the same size.
  3. Fill a heavy pot with the juice and place the fruits into the heavy pot.
  4. Bring to a boil on high, then reduce heat to medium
  5. Simmer for 35 minutes, covered. The fruits should soften.
  6. Press the mixture through a sieve, Make sure to get as much of the juice as you can out.
  7. Return the pulp to the pot and add the sugar, lemon, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon.
  8. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low.
  9. Cook on the low heat for 1 hour and 45 minutes, uncovered, while stirring often. The mixture should gain some thickness.
  10. Enjoy!

I really enjoy this recipe, especially spread on bread as breakfast or a snack. What’s your favorite fall recipe?

Top Reads of October

Here are my top books for October!

  1. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
    This is such a great book. The Iliad/The Trojan War is my weakest subject in Greek Mythology and I’ve always wanted to learn about it. I found this book so sweet and perfect in the way that it doesn’t focus too much on the war, instead focusing on the love between Patroclus and Achilles. I love the way this book (and Patroclus and Achilles’ friendship) developed and I found the plot perfect. The ending was one of the saddest things I’ve ever read. I love this book so much!
  2. Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake
    Hazel is a young girl who has just moved to Rose Harbor in Maine. When her mom (known as Mama) runs into an old friend, Claire, past feelings emerge again. She meets Claire’s daughter who’s obsessed with the legend of the Rose Maid, a 150 year old mermaid. Hazel finds herself getting swept up in the story and starts to open her heart to the magic in life. This is such a great book. I loved the way it talked about trauma and LGBT+ perspectives. None of it felt forced and all of it just molded into one story.
  3. Da Vinci’s Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
    This is a beautiful book about time travel and friendships. Federico is a hostage to the Pope living in the 1500s and Bee is a young girl who has just moved to a new house. The book starts off with Federico following a kitten who leads him to a closet. The kitten goes inside, then emerges as a full grown cat with someone named Herbert Bother. The two become close friends and rely on each other, until Herbert doesn’t come back. Then, a girl named Bee steps out of the closet. She has her own motives and secrets and is trying to understand what to do to get on with her life. This book is such a great read and I love it so much!
  4. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
    This is the first book in the duology that focuses on Nikolai, a side character in both Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. I love this book and the perspectives it is told from. Zoya is a Grisha (someone who can do magic). She’s been working with the king to help him battle his mysterious new ailment and the way it’s been affecting him while grappling with her own past. Nikolai is doing his best as a young king, trying to keep down the beast inside of him and be a good leader. When a cult for the Darkling rises, all of this gets challenged. Nina is trying her best after Matthias’ death. She is on a quest with two other Grisha. As she meets a new friend, she understands how to embrace her new power and how to work smart. I totally recommend this series to you!
  5. Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia
    This is the second book in the Tristan Strong series. Tristan is back at his grandparents’ farm, but he’s been hearing whispers asking him to save the speaker. No one else seems to hear them, so he dismisses them until his Nana is kidnapped and the main man behind it, The Shackle Man, comes to the farm. He finds a way back to Alke, the mystical and magical world where African myths are real. He gets the help of his old friends Ayanna and Gum Baby and makes a new ally, Junior. This is such a great book and I can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September: click here

Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins

It’s officially fall! Normally during this time of year, I make my delicious pumpkin cinnamon bread. This year, I decided to spice things up by making Applesauce Cinnamon muffins. We had so many cups of applesauce at home that we needed a new recipe to use them. This recipe was perfect for that! The muffins taste spectacular and they’re a perfect snack for school.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • a pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the cupcake wrappers in their spots to get the muffin tray ready.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and both the sugars. Add both eggs, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the applesauce, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract until just combined.
  3. Stir in the flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Make sure not to overstir the batter.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tray and tap to get rid of air bubbles.
  5. Bake for 16 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and let cool.
  7. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite fall recipe?

Top Reads of September

Here are my top reads of September.

  1. The Force of Fire by Sayantani DasGupta
    The Force of Fire is a great book about Pinki, the rakkhoshi previously mentioned in the Kingdom Beyond series. We got the see the adventures of Pinki when she was growing up. I loved the different elements and all of the references to the original series.
  2. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
    This was part of the Rick Riordan Imprints series. Tristan has recently been sent to his grandparents’ farm after losing his closest friend, Eddie. At the farm, he discovers a strange tree which takes him to Alke, a place where fantasy characters are real! I loved learning about South African mythology in this amazing book.
  3. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
    This was the second part of the Giver quartet. This book focused on Kira, who’s mother has recently died. She’s an orphan, unsure of her way in this world, until the government takes her in, asking her to sew for them. I loved this book and the way that all of the details worked together. It was such a great read!
  4. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
    This is the first book in the Grimm series. Hansel and Gretel and two siblings, lost and confused in the world. Their parents showed no love to them, so they ran away, experiencing many awful and great things. I loved the way that so many story tales were put in this book and the way that they were all twisted.
  5. Breathing Underwater by Sarah Allen
    This book is about Olivia, who’s sister, Ruth, has been diagnosed with depression. Olivia has a plan to help Ruth, while she struggles with her own feelings. I loved the way that this book flowed and the seriousness of it. It’s such a great read!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here

My Favorite Places in New York

I went to New York last weekend and I enjoyed it a lot. We experienced a lot and had a lot of fun exploring the city. All of the places we went to were amazing, but I had a few favorites. Here are some of the best places I visited in New York.

✨The Metropolitan Museum of Art✨:


I loved all of the art in the Met. We mostly focused on the Greek art, because of my interest in it. I found the pieces there stunning and the plaques were well detailed, so I could get the story clearly. I got some great pictures of the artwork and it was amazing to just wander around and see the work.

The sparkles indicate a Percy Jackson site! This is where it all started. At the Met, we got to see Percy using his powers for the first time. This is also where he killed his first monster (Ms. Dodds).

Broadway (Wicked):

When we went, Broadway had just opened, so we were lucky to get tickets. We went to Wicked, a twisted fairy tale. I loved the story and the way that all the characters were played. Everyone seemed very in character and their singing was perfect. It was all very great and enthralling.

✨Empire State Building✨:

We went up to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. The views were spectacular and so were the exhibits. One of my favorites was the King Kong exhibit, which was funny and had great photo props. It was nice to see all around the city from one of the tallest buildings there.

The Empire State Building plays a major part in the first series. Olympus is located on the fictional 600th floor and the final battle takes place there.

✨Central Park✨:

Central Park is a very relaxing place and I found so many amazing and beautiful places there. Some of my favorites were the John Lennon memorial and Cleopatra’s Needle. They were all so pretty and the whole atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed.

Percy and Nico visit Orpheus’ Rocks in Central Park to get to the Underworld in the last book. With Grover’s music, they find a way in. In the Kane Chronicles, Zia, Carter, and Sadie create a portal through Cleopatra’s Needle to get to Cairo.

Times Square:

Times Square is such a marvellous and thrilling place. The billboards are always bright and the crowd is always thick. There are some great places to get food and have fun. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps.