To Kill a Mockingbird

Hey, everyone! Today, I'm going to be talking about a book I just finished reading for my English class. It's called To Kill a Mockingbird and I have blogged about it before. I'm making this blog because it was a very interesting story and I wanted to share my opinion about the entire book with you. The beginning of the book was a little dry and not that interesting, but once you get to the end, it get's more and more interesting because of all the activities that happened throughout the book. So, I'm going to be sharing a summary of the main parts of  the book with you. The main characters were: Scout Finch (narrator), Jeremy Finch (brother of Scout) Atticus Finch (father of both Jem and Scout, works as a Lawyer), Tom Robinson (an African-American man who was convicted of a serious crime), Boo Radley (the neighbor who never came out of his house), and Bob Ewell (a mean, poor man). The book was written in the 1960's, in Alabama. It took place in Maycomb, which is a small town in the time of the Great Depression. In Maycomb, everyone knew each other and the kids really wanted to know what Boo Radley, the strange neighbor, looked like. Scout had a hard time in school because kids made fun of her dad, who was defending a black man in his next trial. The book has a few offensive words, but it was used in history, and it's important to know the type of language that was used back then for racism. There are a lot of life lessons that Atticus teaches his kids. They are at a stage where they are growing up and getting to experience real world activities. I don't want to spoil the book if you have not read it, so I will tell you about each character's characteristics. Scout is a six-year-old girl who is intelligent, funny, a tomboy, she can read at a young age, and is also very interested in her family backgrounds. Jem is a young boy who is more mature than Scout and is also very protective, and independent. Atticus is a lawyer and very protective of his children and is also very respectful to everyone, even if they are not to him. Tom Robinson is a black man and is very family oriented and is also very caring because he helped Mayella Ewell. Mayella convicted Tom of raping her even though he did not. And lastly, Bob Ewell is Mayella's father and is a lazy, evil, and rude man who tried to kill Atticus and Tom.

So, I hope you enjoyed reading my blog this weekand if you haven't read the book, you should read it because a lot of interesting things happen!

Testing Week

Hey guys! Today, I'm going to be telling you about my week. This week in school is when we are taking the end of the year tests. Which means waking up earlier in the morning and studying all the time. This whole week and last week I have been going on the practice test website to study for math and science. We just finished taking the English part of the test and I'm glad we are, because I had to write and read so many complicated text. Overall, the English test was hard and challenging. On Thursday and Friday we are going to be taking the Math part and I feel pretty confident about it. I'm very good at math and I have been studying hard, so I hope I will get a good grade. A few weeks later, we are going to be taking the science exam and I'm very nervous for that. I have a feeling it's going to be really difficult and complicated. So. even though this whole testing thing is stressful, it's all worth it at the end when you get your results. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and could relate, if your also taking these big tests.

Diy Starbucks Drink

Hey, everyone! Today in my blog, I will be showing you a quick and easy Starbucks Java Chip frappuccino recipe. This drink is also known as the double chocolate chip frappaccino. If you love a sweet and chocolaty drink, then this is the drink for you and I suggest you make it. I have made this before using the recipe below, and it taste the same as the one from Starbucks! So, I'm gonna show you how to make your own Java Chip Frappuccino, which saves your money as well.

The ingredients your will need are 4 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 4 tablespoons chocolate chips or chunks, 3 cups freshly brewed coffee (optional), milk, ice, and whipped cream for the top. By the way, the amount of ingredients can be different depending on how much or how many people your making it for.

After you gather all your ingredients, mix the ice, chocolate syrup, milk, chocolate chips, and the coffee together in a blender. Make sure its thick and creamy at the end. Next, pour your mixture into however many glasses you need. Top with whipped cream and and chocolate syrup or chocolate powder for extra flavor.

 Again, if you really like chocolate and you have a sweet tooth, then you should definitely try this drink and it's really refreshing to on hot days. I hope you enjoyed this recipe and try making it for yourself!

My Bucket List

Hey, everyone! Today, I'm going to be doing something different. I'm going to be telling you guys a few things that are on my bucket list. A bucket list is a list of accomplishments and experiences that someone wants to achieve before they die or become old. I got this blog idea from my friend, Alisa. Having a bucket list and setting goals for your life is very fun and important. So, now I'm going to telling you a few things that I want to achieve before I get older.

1. I want to travel to different countries and go around the world with my friends. It expresses you to a lot of different cultures and also you get to meet a lot of people. Some places I would like to go are; Italy, England, and Greece. These are my top favorite because they all have so many different things to do and a lot of beautiful sceneries.

2. Learning a new language. This one is my favorite because, learning a new language is challenging, but at the end, you can speak to someone in a foreign country. It's also good to learn how to speak all sorts of different languages from around the world.

3. Trying a new sport. If you know me, you know that I don't do a lot of sports. Besides in physical education at school when we play a little basketball and soccer. But I want to have a goal in learning a sport so I can play it all the time. Like I love soccer, so I can join a team and do it every week. Since I have school and a lot of work, it's hard to fit in another activity, so I'll have to wait for the summer times.

4. Getting rid of my fear of heights. This one may be common, but I have a goal to make sure it happens. Like I would be so happy if I could go on all the roller coasters at Six Flags, and not be terrified. Getting rid of a fear is important and it shows that you have courage. Going on the huge roller coasters seems very thrilling and exciting, so I can't wait to ride them all with my friends.

That were all my goals and bucket lists for now. Once I get older, I'll probably add a few more stuff on there. Experiencing new things throughout your life if very fun and important, so I'm gonna try to make all this stuff on the list happen. Hope you enjoyed reading my blog, and if you haven't made your bucket list, you should start!

Advice for middle school

Hey, everyone! Today, I'm going to give you all advice about middle school. I decided to do this, because it's almost the end of the middle school years for me, and throughout the three years I have learned and experienced a lot of amazing things. If you are reading this and entering middle school, I hope this helps you and gets you prepared. Also, if you are graduating this year, you can probably relate to the advice I'm going to give you. So, basically, middle school is a time in your education when you learn to become a young adult and you get ready for high school. There will be a lot more homework, respect, and responsibilities. For me, middle school was the best three years of my life. I have met a lot of different kinds of people and I'm learning so many things that I didn't know before. It seems stressful at times, but there always up's and down's.

The first advice is to always obey the rules and try not to get involved in trouble. This is important when it come to peer pressure and other stuff. So make sure you have good friends and follow all the rules and dress codes, even though it may be difficult sometimes.
Another important advice that I have learned is to avoid drama and don't start spreading rumors. It's better not to get involved in that stuff because it can lead into trouble. Just try to focus on your school work and choose your friends wisely. Choosing friends wisely is important in middle school and throughout your life, because there's a less chance you'll start drama and you can tell them anything, and trusting people is very important too.

Lastly, academic skills are extremely important when taking challenging classes or getting good grades. Always stay on track in class, take notes, make sure to ask a lot of questions, always participate, and study hard for your tests. It's also important to not procrastinate during the night or week of your test.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and I hope it was helpful to you. Middle school is very fun and I have learned so many different things and became a much more responsible person.

Nowruz - Persian New Year

Hey, everyone! Today, I'm going to be talking about the traditional celebration of Nowruz. For those who do not know what Nowruz is, it is the Persian New Year and also the first day of Spring. It is celebrated throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. It is a thirteen-day festival celebrated by Iranian's all around the world! In Farsi, Nowruz means "new day", and it includes many days of preparation. My family likes to do spring cleaning a couple days before Nowruz so that everything is ready and the table looks nice. Last Saturday, my family and I celebrated the New Year by being all together and talking about the new year. We also exchanged gifts in a tradition of Nowruz.

Now, I'm going to be talking about the most important tradition for Nowruz, which is the table display called Haftsin. In Farsi, Haftsin means " Seven S's". These seven items on the table have spiritual symbols and all represent important things. The first item on the table is Sabzeh, which is grass or wheat growing from a dish, and it symbolizes rebirth. The second item is Samanu, a sweet pudding made from wheat germ, which symbolizes affluence. The third item is Senjed, the dried fruit of the oleaster tree, symbolizing love. The fourth item is Sir, gloves of garlic, symbolizing medicine. The fifth item is a Seeb, which is a red apple, symbolizing beauty and health. The sixth item is Somaq, which is sumaq berries, symbolizing sunrise. And the seventh item on the table is Serkeh, which is vinegar, symbolizing patience and age. As you can tell, all these seven items start with an S! Other items on the table included a Sonbol, which symbolizes the coming of Spring, or Sekkeh (coins) symbolizing wealth and success, a mirror, colorful eggs, and a bowl of goldfish.
Lastly, the dancing and singing figure, known as Hajji Firuz, is an announcer for the Persian New Year. He is represented as bringing blessing and happiness for the spring time.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and learned more about the Iranian celebration of Nowruz, and hope you had a great new year!

Photo Credit- http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cFwSQ_7e-iI/VQxsWfBEezI/AAAAAAAAF7Q/rf8kfiqtccU/s1600

High School

Hey, guys! This week I'm going to be writing about going to high school. I thought of this because I am in 8th grade and middle school is almost over. As middle school went by, I have become a more intelligent and responsible person. I have a lot more knowledge of what is going on in the world and I also learned so many different things in school. I have made some wonderful friends and met a lot of great teachers as well. Going to high school, I feel like there will be many different types of teachers and people. The dress code will be more "high school" appropriate and you will become a more independent person. Some things I'm excited about high school are meeting new people, being in a larger school, choosing the subjects I'm interested in, learning new material, and growing up into a young adult. Although you have a lot more freedom, it also means more responsibilities. I also have fears such as getting lost, having very hard work, getting bullied and not being with any of my friends. A lot of people say that some older kids pick on the younger kids, but I think if I hang out with my good friends, I will be just fine. Another advice is to just be yourself and don't let anyone tell you what to wear or how to act. It's also good to stay away from peer pressure because it may not lead to good things. So, in conclusion, I think high school will be a challenging but a very good experience for me becoming a young adult. I will have to be more organized and always focus on my school work to be successful in life.

I hope you enjoyed my blog! - Mona

Fuller house!

Hey, everyone! Today I'm going to blog about the new show that is playing on Netflix called Fuller House. It is known as a reunion show from the original version, Full house. Full house was an 80's show on ABC. If you haven't watched Full house, then the characters and events might confuse you in Fuller house. Fuller house is like a sitcom to the original show, showing all the cast grown up about 29 years later. A lot of people say it's "cheesy" or "not as good" but I believe that it's really good and entertaining. I also think that it's cool how each character grows up but still has their same humor like before. However, I'm kinda sad how Michelle didn't want to be on the show anymore because she was like the main character in Full house. Oh and I love how the family always hugs and they all get along now. I can not wait until Netflix releases season 2. I have a feeling it's going to be really good! Anyway, If you haven't watched Fuller house, I suggest you watch it because it's great when you want to laugh. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog!

DIY Passion Tea Lemonade

Welcome back to my blog! Today I'm going to be showing you how to make your own passion fruit tea lemonade from Starbucks! If you have been to Starbucks, you probably have tasted this drink. It's very refreshing and also very good for warm weathers. It's a perfect mix of fruity, sweet and tart. In the spring and summer time, I usually always get the Passion Tea Lemonade. Sometimes you may not want to buy it and save money instead, so I'm going to show you how to make this delicious and easy drink with ingredients you may already have lying around in your kitchen.

First gather up all your ingredients. This includes Tazo passion tea bags (you can buy at target), a sweetener of your choice (sugar, honey), ice, water (for heating), and lemonade. There is no exact measurement because you can make as much or as little as you would prefer. 

The next thing you will need to do is make the tea. Just take the tea bags and place them in hot water, into a container. Let them sit for a few hours or so to make the flavors all come out. By the way, this may take a long time for the tea, but it's all worth it at the end. Next remove the tea from the heat and add your sweetener. Let the drink sit in the refrigerator for one hour and then take it out. After, add your lemonade to the tea mixture. Make sure to mix it very well. Next take a glass and put ice and add your Passion Tea Lemonade. Enjoy! 

That's how you make your very own Passion iced tea lemonade! It takes a long time to make but you will not regret it. Thanks for reading my blog, and I will talk to you guys next week! 

School Adivce

Hey, I'm back with another blog! As you can tell by the title, I'm going to give you advice about school and how you can get better grades. In one of my previous blogs, I wrote about tips for getting better grades and doing well in the class, well today it's about things like being organized and how to manage your time wisely. School is very important in your life and it also helps to determine your future and goals. So doing well and learning new ways to manage and be organized is very important.

The first tip is being organized. Being organize is very helpful and important when you have multiple classes and worksheets. You can find papers and worksheet's easier by using folders or binders. Seperate each class by using colors or highlighters. There are many ways to be organized, so you can find the way that you like best. Arranging your textbooks and materials are very helpful too. Another part of being organized is keeping a calendar. Write down when all your assignments are due and when you will take your tests. This way you can always be aware of upcoming events and ways to study properly.

The second tip is writing notes and asking questions. Notes are a key for taking tests and keeping material inside your head. You can write down all the important stuff that you need to learn and it's a great way to review for a test. But make sure you are listening to what the teacher is saying and not what is being written on the board. Asking questions are also very important because it will keep you active and also shows your teacher that you are participating in the class discussion.

The last tip is to plan and always put effort into all your work. Homework is not a fun thing to do, but it a way to progress what you know outside of the class. If you have a lot of work to do in one night, make sure to plan ahead or make a schedule for each assignment. Also, it's important to take breaks once every often so it will keep your mind fresh and not cram up all the information. Lastly, if you have a big project or essay, start them early! This is very important because instead of waiting until the last minute, it's better to be over with it soon and not have to worry about it later on when you don't have enough time.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and use my tips to improve your school studies! I'll talk to you guys in my next blog.

To kill a Mockingbird

Hey, everyone! At the moment, I am reading a book called "To kill a mockingbird" by Harper Lee. Harper Lee died yesterday, which was really unfortunate considering I just began reading her book. So, as I read the book I decided to write about each chapter and it seems like a good story so far. Today in my blog, I will be talking about chapter one. The first chapter of the book isn't really that interesting because it has very complicated text and is just introducing the characters, but the story starts to get better and more interesting throughout the rest of the chapters.

The story starts by introducing the narrator and her brother's story. Scout is a confident and intelligent  girl who is also referred to as a tomboy. Scout starts to describe her brother, Jem's, broken hand injury. They start to discuss their family's history and what causes led to Jem's injury. The first of their ancestors was Simon Finch, a fur trader who left England and found a farm on the banks of the Alabama river. The farm was very successful and had supported their family for many years. Jem and Scout's dad, Atticus, became a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb was a tired and old town. Also, his brother, Jack, became a very good doctor in Boston's medical school. Calpurnia, their black cook, helps to take care and raise the kids after their mother died. During the summer of 1933, a young boy named Dill moves in next door to stay with his aunt. Dill was a very active and intelligent boy, who had become the Finches new close friend. One day, all three of them decided to go to their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, and convince him to come out of his house. Boo Radley was the next door neighbor who has never came out of his house after he supposedly murdered his father. So, Dill challenges Jem to run over and touch the door of the house, which is also known as the Radley's place. As Jem does the dare, he see's a slight shutter from the inside of the door and they all became scared.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog of the first chapter of "To kill a Mockingbird" and I will be continuing the rest of the story later on as I read it.

Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Recipe

Hey guys! Today, in my blog, I'm going to be sharing a delicious recipe with you. The recipe is a homemade strawberry and banana smoothie. This smoothie is quick and easy to make, but also is very healthy for your body. I usually drink it in the morning's, when I'm going to school, or in the afternoon when I'm doing my homework. It will make you energized and help you concentrate more for your day! So now I'm going to show you how you can make your own smoothie..


The ingredients you will need are two cups of Frozen strawberry's, one fresh peeled banana, one cup of milk, one cup of ice (if you want), one tablespoon of honey, and a splash of vanilla, if desired. After you gathered all your ingredients for the smoothie, slowly mix it into a blender. Make sure that the mixture is thick and creamy. Next, put the smoothie into a cup, or a to go cup, if your going to school or work. By the way, you can add more ice if you want it to stay cold and fresh.

I hope you enjoyed my blog and will try making this smoothie yourself!
 ~ Love, Mona

The Best Day

Hey guys! In this blog I'm going to be writing about my day yesterday, Friday 29, 2016. Yesterday was a great day, so many great things happened, and I also met one of my favorite youtubers! So, get ready as I tell you all about my day and the feelings I experienced. 

So, the first exciting thing that went on yesterday was the Honor Roll. The Honor Roll is a ceremony at school for kids who earned a GPA of 3.3 and higher. Last semester, I earned a 3.5, so I was eligible for the ceremony. The feeling I had was very excited, because this was my third time attending the honor roll ceremony. I felt so proud of myself for making it through middle school with good grades. My dad came to the ceremony to congratulate me and I felt really good that my friends where with me to celebrate. 

Christian Collins

The second best thing that happened yesterday was getting all A's on my test! I had three test, and I was so happy that I passed all of them, because now I have straight A's. The first test I took was English, and It was really easy. The second test I took was science, which was also surprisingly easy considering I got a really good grade on it. Lastly, I had a history test and it wasn't challenging as the others. 

The last thing that happened yesterday was meeting one of my favorite youtbers. His name is Christian Collins, and his youtube name is WeeklyChris. I was at Starbucks with my friends, Alisa, Jasmine, and Noor. Later, Jasmine told me that he was at whole food, which is right next to my school. I  didn't have a chance to see him at whole foods, but luckily 10 minutes later, I saw him in his car. Many girls were running up to him and taking pictures. I was really excited so I also ran to and I got to hug him! It was one of the best feelings I've experienced and I'm so happy I met him. 

Thank you for reading my blog, I loved sharing my experience with you!  Also, check out my friends blog : akirgiz.blogspot.com ! 

Study Tips!

Hey it's Mona, welcome to my blog! Today I'm going to be showing you tips about studying better and getting better grades in school. Sometimes school is hard because you may have a lot of homework and tests, so it gets stressing, but if you follow these tips you will be sure to do better..

1. Paying Attention. This may sound really basic, but it's very helpful and important during class times. It may be hard to pay attention during the whole time, but make sure you do. Sometimes teachers will say something very important and suddenly it's on the test.

2. Studying at Night. Studying is not the most interesting or fun things to do for school, but it's very important that you do. And don't wait for the last minute to study, because it can be very stressful and you might forget it the next day. Also, don't study everything it at once, study the material little by little so it will be easier to memorize and learn.

3. Taking Notes (In Color). Taking notes is a very important part of studying. A tip is to use different colors, like highlighters, so you can highlight the important ideas and stuff that is going to be on your homework or test. This makes studying easier and will help save time. Also it will make you want to look at your notes more!

Example of Colorful Notes

4. Read Everything! This tip is very important when studying or doing your homework. It is important that you read everything so you get a better understanding of the topic. Also the text book gives a lot of notes and more practice.. if you need it. Don't skip the things that look boring, because it will probably help you.

5. Treat Yourself. Taking breaks and giving yourself a treat is a also an important part of learning something. It will help not cram everything in your brain and learn things little by little. Put a candy or treat next to each chapter or paragraph your reading, and you'll be motivated to read more and do better.

I hope you find these tips helpful and use them for studying or homework. Good luck!

Diy Starbucks Drink

Hey, welcome back to my blog. I hope you all had a great new year! In this blog today, I'm going to be doing my first DIY (do it yourself). The best drink I've ever had at Starbucks was the Pumpkin spice latte! It's a hot drink filled with lots of flavor and whipped cream on the top. Since the seasons are almost over, Starbucks might not sell it anymore, so I'm going to show you how to make your own Pumpkin spice latte! It's fun to make and you can drink as much as you want for cheaper. So, let's get started...

First you have to gather your ingredients. 2 cups milk, 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 cup of espresso, and whipped cream (optional). After you gather and prepare all the ingredients, it's time to make the drink. Combine milk, sugar and pumpkin in a pot and stir over medium heat until steamed. Next, remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pumpkin spice. Transfer the mixture into a blender and whisk till foam appears. Lastly, pour into mug, add espresso and top with whipped cream.

I hope you will enjoy this drink if you decide to make it :) and I hope you enjoyed my blog!