Category: lists

5 Things I am Thankful For

2020 has been a strange year. There is the whole COVID-19 pandemic, and small other things that make this year feel like the worst. However, if you take a look at your day to day lives, you’ll see quite a few things which make you grateful for the life you’re living right now. Here are a few parts of my life I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving.

  1. Getting into the middle school I wanted- I was very, very nervous leading up to the middle school selection deadline. One day, my mom announced that I had gotten into the school which I had wanted, and all of my worries vanished. I’m currently attending that middle school and really happy there!
  2. My teachers- My teachers, old and new, were always kind and helpful to me. They have helped me through my struggles and always been there for me. They always incorporate a bit of fun into the learning for a great day.
  3. My friends- even though I can’t meet up with my friends, that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with them through online chats and video calls. I love hanging out with them and they incorporate a lot of fun into my day!
  4. Books- books are always there for me. I love to pick up a random book and dive into its pages and stay immersed in the story until I have to leave. Books are another fantastical world for me and they are an amazing way to pass the time.
  5. Technology- if not for technology (meaning laptops, phones, computers etc.) then I would not be able to attend my classes, not be able to learn much, and not have a “school” to go to. Because of my laptop and other important devices around me, I can learn, talk to friends, and make new friends. Technology is awesome, just because of that.

Those were some things I am thankful for in this strange year of 2020. What about you? What are you thankful for?

3 Spooky Reads for This Halloween

Halloween is a great time to explore some spooky reads. That’s why I have put together a list of 3 great Halloween reads.

  1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
    This spooky book talks about family, friendship, and courage. This book is perfect if you want to have a bit of a scare, but not that much. The whole idea of the book is fantastical and I love it. This has definitely been one of my favorite books this year and I definitely recommend it to you.
  2. Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega
    This book talks about friendship and family. I got immersed in the story of the 2 friends, Syd and Lucely and their crazy adventure with ghosts. The magical element in this book was perfect and I know that I definitely loved it. I totally recommend this. It was such a great book!
  3. Nightbooks by J. A White
    This book is a modern day Scheherazade story, just woven a bit differently. It talks about friendship and trust and how you can overcome someone with love. The idea of the magical witch, Natasha, is enough to give anyone shivers down their spines, but as you continue reading and get a closer look at her life, you start to realize what has happened leading to her. An amazing and spooky read, perfect for Halloween.

These are some of my favorite Halloween reads! What are your favorites?

3 Virtual Learning Tips

I’m in week 4 of my virtual learning classes and things……are interesting. All of my teachers are nice and they try to make my lessons fun, but no matter what, virtual learning can never be compared to the actual deal. For one thing, you can never accidentally kick yourself out of the meeting. For another thing, you can’t meet your friends and make new ones as easily. I know that a lot of my classes, like theater, have been toned down a lot. I know virtual learning isn’t very easy for a lot of people, including me. Here are some things that help me with virtual classes.

1. Have a stand of pens nearby:

You will never know when you need to jot down a quick note or write down something important. Keeping pens nearby has saved me quite a few times, especially in my important classes.

2. Have a clean Desk area:

A clean desk area helps when you need to focus on something important. You won’t miss important instructions because you were playing with something. You can also know where you need to look to find something on your desk. A clean desk space can be a great way to focus.

3. Always be on time (Or a little early):

You will always want to be on time to your classes. Once, I was help up in a class and when I went to my next one, I found that I had missed some on the instructions! I know sometimes that you can’t help being late (like if you’re help up in a class), but if you are, then go to your next class as soon as you can. Don’t purposefully be late, because that could affect what you learn in that class.

Those are 3 tips from me that help me in my virtual learning. Do you have any tips that help you?

Oreo Fudge: A Recipe

Recently I made oreo fudge. This recipe was so good and absolutely delicious. It’s very sweet and very tasty. The best part is that you only need three ingredients! It was really fun to make and I definitely enjoyed the process.

Ingredients

  • 18 oz white chocolate
  • 14 oz condensed milk
  • 2.5 cups coarsely crushed oreos

Directions

  1. Line a pan with parchment paper
  2. Prepare a double boiler and melt the white chocolate and condensed milk with the boiler, stirring often.
  3. Remove the bowl with the chocolate and condensed milk and add in the crushed oreos. Stir gently.
  4. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan. Spread evenly.
  5. Let the fudge set by cooling it for at least 45 minutes
  6. Cut the fudge as you wish and enjoy!

4 Graphic Novels I Enjoyed

Graphic novels are almost like normal books. They capture a lot of the same emotions and talk about problems in the same way. The only difference is that they are usually lighter and more fun to read. Here are some of my favorite graphic novels.

  1. Raina Telgemeier books

I absolutely love the graphic novels that Raina Telgemeier writes. She writes many different ranges of books. 2 of my favorite books by her are Smile and Sisters which talk about her experiences with mouth troubles and her relationship with her sister. I also enjoy her graphic novel take on the novels written by Ann M Martin. The Baby-Sitters Club series is so lively and it’s one of my favorites. I also love her stand alone books.

2. Go With The Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann

This book talks about periods and how one certain middle school never had pads and tampons stocked up. It is really exciting and I love how the authors tied in the theme of friendship in as well. Each character’s personality is so different and I loved the idea of protests. This is such a great book and you should totally read it!

3. 5 Worlds series by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

This series is so captivating and exciting. Each graphic novel ends with an enthralling cliffhanger and makes you want to read the next book. It follows the story of Oona Lee and her friends who are trying to save the 5 worlds from extinction. There are so many plot twists and everyone has secrets. I love the fantasy element and it’s so fun to read! This is a great series and the last book is coming out soon!

4. Emmie and Friends series by Terri Libenson

This series is so upbeat and I love the problems and solutions. It’s really fun to read and each book can be read as a stand-alone or a series. It’s one of my favorite series, because of the realistic characters. It’s so fun to read and I always can count on Emmie, Brianna, and Jamie (even though I haven’t read her book yet- it’s on my TBR) to cheer me up. This is such a great series and I really think you should read it.

What are some of your favorite series?

6 Book Series you Should Totally Read

I really love books that are series. These are some of my favorite series, which are ages 9-12.

Fantasy:

  1. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

This series is amazing. I just love the crazy plot twists that no one ever sees coming (unless you’ve already read the series). This series has recently come to an end and I know that I’ve cried a lot and laughed a lot when reading these books. All the characters are either princes/princesses or their sons/daughters. When you start reading this, make sure you are reading for one of the craziest series ever. This is a great series!

2. The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

This series takes place in a storybook world. Two twins, Alex and Conner Bailey, accidently fall into a storybook! They meet their beloved fairy tale characters, but they are all different. In this series, you’ll figure out how Alex and Connor adjust to this new world. They make friends with some unlikely friends and go on many adventures with them. Also, the backstory to this story is being explained in The Tale of Magic series. I really love this series!

Realistic Fiction:

  1. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

This book is hilarious and sweet. I love how I always feel immersed in the adorable story. Every part plays out well and I love the writing style. This book makes me feel happy and I giggle every time I read it. You’ll definitely go on an adventure with Rosalind, Skye, Jane, Batty, Hound and their friends. Each of the Penderwicks has a different personality which makes this series perfect. The sisters get along well (usually) and you can count on them to spice things up!

2. The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers is another lively series with siblings. Journey along with Isa, Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, Laney, and their many pets in this series. You’ll also get introduced to many loving characters like Ms. Josie, Mr Jeet, and Orlando. These siblings try to help, but sometimes (usually) it doesn’t work out well. I love the relatable events that happen and the addition of writing magic. I really love this style of writing as well. You can count on these kids to take you on the adventure of your life!

Historical Fiction:

  1. The Seeds of America trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson

This series talks about slavery. The first book, Chains, is in the perspective of Isabel, a young girl born into slavery. The second book, Forge, is in the perspective of Isabel’s friend, Curzon. The last book, Ashes, was in the perspective of Isabel again. These books talk about heavy issues as Isabel and Curzon go on a quest to escape slavery and find Isabel’s sister. There are a couple of plot twists and you might be surprised at what happens.

2. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale (not the spy, the author)

This graphic novel style comic is hilarious and informative. I learn so much about the Civil War just by reading one of these books. They are hilarious and make me laugh every time. There is an element of fiction for sure and I recommend that you start from the beginning to fully understand the series. In it, the spy Nathan Hale tells tales of what will happen in the future. It is super interesting and I love the writing style.

These are some of my favorite series to read in multiple genres. What are some of your favorite series?

Mint Girl Goes to Verandah

I went to Verandah recently and tried the chef tasting menu there. Here are some of my favorite parts about it.

1. The Flavors

The flavors were very vibrant and came through well. The spices were added perfectly to create a stunning and tasty masterpiece. This food was familiar to me but still very exotic and on a new level. Paneer and gulab jamun always remind me of home, but when I tried them in Verandah, it was like rereading my favorite book and finding a new thing in the midst of it that I wasn’t able to figure out before.

2. The Presentation

This was fine-dining at its best. The service was impeccable and the food was plated perfectly. My favorite plating was the dessert course. The way it was arranged looked marvelous and delicious. It was also my favorite course.

3. Indulgence

I really liked how they provided special mocktails with different courses. They paired perfectly and added a nice sweetness.

4. Freshness

The vegetables and greens on the plate were all home-grown, adding to the fresh taste of the dishes. They also provided a crunchiness, that made eating them all the more delicious. I especially liked the edible flowers for decoration. They looked really nice and acted as a palette cleanser. A special mention to the chocolate mint decorating the dessert.

All of these elements tied together really nicely and made my dinner at Verandah a 5 star experience. I highly recommend everyone trying the chef tasting menu at Verandah.

3 amazing podcasts for kids

I have been listening to a lot of podcasts during the quarantine and they all make me laugh and giggle. Here are 3 of my favorite podcasts to listen to.

  1. Brains On!

In each episode, the host, Molly Bloom, will answer questions about one topic with a kid host. There are also additional fun activities like the mystery sound. You can send in questions and mystery sounds as well. It’s really fun and I always learn a lot of things after each show.

Did you know that my question was featured in a episode? It was in the episode about color! This is the episode

2. The Big Fib

In this podcast, the hosts, Deborah Goldstein and Ethan Berlin (L.I.S.A), invite 2 adults to talk about a topic and 1 child to guess which adult is telling the truth and which one is telling a lie. Along the way are hilarious comments and sound-effects. I really enjoy this show and totally recommend it to you.

3. Smash Boom Best

In each episode, there are 2 debaters, each arguing for a different topic. A kid host listens to each round of debating and marks a point for the side which they think won that round. I love the different rounds of debating and how fierce it can get. It’s really a great podcast.

These are some of my favorite podcasts which I think you should listen to. What are some of your favorite podcasts?

Board Games to Play with Your Family

During the quarantine, I am spending a lot more time with my family. Board games are really fun to play (even if some of them are a bit long). They bring my family together and we can spend a lot of time laughing over these games. These are some of my favorite fun driven games. I do play some strategy board games like Photosynthesis and 7 Wonders, though.

Telestrations:

This is a drawing/writing version of the classic game, Telephone. This game relies on your artistic ability and your interpretive ability (don’t worry, the worse you draw, the funnier it is). Keep passing your board until you end up with yours. My family’s favorite part about this game was when we shared how our first word had evolved into something totally different. I was always in fits of laughter during this game and I definitely recommend it.

Double Ditto:

This game is perfect for all ages. Try to choose the same answers as your opponents and score a “double ditto”! Before the time is up, you should have written 2 answers for a topic which you think everyone else would write. My family’s favorite part about this game is when we compare the answers and see how alike we thought.

Imagine:

This game challenges how you describe a job, an object, a movie, and many more. With the transparent cards that are included, you get to act out something that you choose. My family’s favorite part was when we tried very hard to get it but to no avail.

Sushi Go!:

This game is very fun and easy. You’ll start collecting cards and trying to score the most points quickly. This game has 3 rounds and is very enjoyable. My family’s favorite part about this game is when we compare and hand out the points accordingly. Another fun thing about the game is the types of food. There are nigiris, puddings, sashimis and so much more!

These are some of my favorite games to play. What are yours?

The Mint Girl’s Thoughts on Quarantine Rules

Lately, like most of the kids around the world, I’ve been having online lessons instead of going to my school. We created some online essential agreements and I started thinking about some of my previous in-person classroom rules and how they have changed. Last week, our teacher assigned us a few questions about the new situation we are in. I decided to share them here.

What are some rules that you think are important for us to follow as members of the community?

This one required some careful thinking, but I came up with a few rules that I hope everyone follows. 1. Take care of others and realize how your actions could affect them.
2. Think about how we can help or hurt others before we do something.
3. Realize that some people have different rules or different strengths/ weaknesses.
4. Have fun together no matter where you are in life and what’s happening around you.
5. Be kind to yourself and to others.

Do you view rules positively or negatively?

I view rules positively, but they can make me feel negative sometimes. I think rules are good, but sometimes they can feel annoying. For example, I’m not a fan of the social distancing/lockdown rules, but I know that they are being kept to protect us and keep us safe during the quarantine. Most rules are made to keep us safe or keep us in order. These rules might feel constricting, but they are made for our own good.

What is a rule that is hard for you to follow?

A rule that is hard for me to follow is going to bed on time. I always want to keep reading, or drawing, or playing instead of going to sleep. I don’t like sleeping and it takes me a while to go to sleep, so I usually lie in my bed until I drift off. This time for me is very boring.

Compare and Contrast rules at home to rules at school.

At school, I find it much easier to focus and pay attention, but through online learning, many people are talking, there’s background noise, and people could be texting you. It’s much harder to focus and that is very annoying if you’re trying to work on a project or an assignment.

What are the rules of Social Distancing and how have they affected you personally?

Since we have to be 6 feet away from each other, I miss hanging out and playing with my friends. I can text them, but it just doesn’t feel the same. One good thing about this situation is the online learning. I think it’s fun and I like being able to stay at home without driving too far for some of my classes. I also like having Lunch Bunch and hanging out with my teacher and my friends.

Rules can be good or bad, but they’re there for a reason. As community members, it is our duty to follow them as much as possible. What are some of your quarantine rules?