Hope's Happy Blog

Have you ever been out of your home state before? Maybe even outside of the country you live in? Do your family or friends take road trips every year to new places? My family usually takes incredible vacations every summer. Today I will be telling you about my favorite places I have been to on family vacations. Those places include Disneyland, Yellowstone National Park, and Punta Cana.

The first place that I loved visiting was Disneyland. I loved going on all the crazy rides. Some of my favorite rides include Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Soarin, and many more exciting rides. Next, I enjoyed seeing all the Disney characters and getting them to autograph my notebook. My favorite Disney character to meet was Minnie Mouse. The other Disney princesses were also awesome to meet like Elsa, Anna, and Aurora. Lastly, I loved trying all the Disney-themed foods and drinks. My family got a couple of foods to try there, some of which consisted of a soft and creamy pineapple gelato from an Aladdin-themed shop and a chocolate Mickey Mouse ice cream popsicle.

Next, I had so much fun going to Yellowstone National Park. My family and I went on many different hikes, and those were some of my favorite things that we did there. I especially liked it when the hike ended at a body of water like a rushing waterfall or calm lake. While we were there, we saw so many fascinating animals. Grizzly bears, black bears, bison, and mountain goats were my favorites, and I loved watching them interact with their natural habitat. Finally, I enjoyed viewing all of the stunning natural features. We saw breathtaking geysers, bubbling mud pots, cascading waterfalls, and steaming hot springs.

Last but not least, one of my favorite vacation destinations was Punta Cana. One reason I loved visiting Punta Cana was because it was my first time traveling outside of my home country. It was amazing to see how that country was different from my own. Next, I loved going to the picturesque beaches. If you walked as far down the beach as you could, you could enjoy the crystal-clear waters all by yourself and run on the sparkling warm sand. Finally, my family and I went on some once-in-a-lifetime excursions. We went zip-lining through the tropical vegetation of a vast jungle. Then, we fed fresh fruits and vegetables to wild monkeys while they climbed on our heads and shoulders. Finally, we cruised through dirt and mud in exhilarating dune buggies.

I love to go on vacations. They give you a break while you also get to explore the adventures of the world around you. It is even more enjoyable to go on trips with your family. My family and I have gone on many vacations, but I have three that stand out the most to me. Disneyland, Yellowstone National Park, and Punta Cana are my three favorite family vacations we went on.

What kind of car do you drive? You may have a Honda CRV or a Toyota Highlander. You might even own your dream car! Today I will be telling you about my three dream cars. A  Jeep Wrangler, a Mustang convertible, and a Cadillac Escalade are all at the top of my list.

The first car I would love to own is a Jeep Wrangler. I adore the extraordinary look of a pure snow-white Jeep Wrangler with its open doors and top. I would enjoy driving around in the summer and feeling the wind in my hair and face. Lastly, I imagine my friends and I driving to the beach in it. Next, I would like to get a Mustang convertible. I very much like the stunning, sleek appearance of the convertible. I just know that I would love to cruise around with the top down. Finally, my friends and I would snuggle up in the back and watch a drive-in movie in it. The last vehicle that I would own would have to be a Cadillac Escalade. I adore the elegant and breathtaking features of a glistening white Cadilac Escalade. The comfy luxurious leather seating and spacious interior make this vehicle perfect for road trips. I also find it super fancy that when you open the door, the steps come out for you, like your own step stool. 

Everyone has their special kind of taste when it comes to cars. What draws you to your dream car? Maybe you like the cool style of a Ram F150 or the imposing image of a fancy McLaren. My top three dream cars are a Jeep Wrangler, a Mustang convertible, and a Cadillac Escalade.

One of the many reasons I love my best friends is that they have the three characteristics that any best friend should have. Your best friend should be loyal, trustworthy, and supportive. First, your friend needs to be loyal. If you have a dependable friend, you can be sure that they will stick by you through good times and bad. When you need them, they will always be there. Second, a good friend will be trustworthy. They will respect your limits and keep all of your secrets to themselves. Your friend might be a fake if they don’t respect you. And last, your best friend will be encouraging. They should motivate you to do your best, even when it is hard. If your friend is supportive, they won’t get jealous of you when you succeed. I am very glad that all my best friends have these three qualities: loyalty, trust, and support.

 Have you ever seen the commercials of animals out in the cold without a home and wondered if these commercials were real? Believe it or not, these commercials are true. Many animals have been dumped by their owners into fenced cages, thrown into garbage cans, and even used for animal fights. Did you know that about 6.3 million animals enter US animal shelters nationwide every year? Of those 6.3 million, 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Now, let me tell you why I believe that adopting animals is more effective than buying them. Adoption saves money, has better chances of availability, and saves lives.

First, adopting an animal can save you money. “Many shelters and rescues provide a significant amount of medical care prior to adoption, including spaying or neutering, first vaccinations, and parasite protection,” says the Humane Society. When you adopt, many times the shelter takes care of all the pet’s medical needs, saving you some money. Next, adoption is either free or low-cost. Adoption can cost anywhere between $50 to $150, while buying a pet can cost $600 to $1,200. Finally, you’re helping more than just one animal. Most of the money that people donate or give to the animal shelter goes toward helping other animals. Adopting also creates more space in the shelter to house more animals. 

Second, shelters have better chances of availability. When you adopt a shelter animal, they are ready to go home right away or whenever you are ready. However, when you buy an animal, you may have to wait 6 to 8 months before you can pick up your pet. Next, the animal shelter will always have pets available. There are never enough homes for all the animals that are born every year. The Humane Society says, “Each year, 8 to 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized because there are simply not enough homes for them.” Lastly, there are so many animals at the shelters that you can interact with many different types of animals and breeds. “We want potential adopters to look that individual dog in the eye, experience its friendly disposition, and fall in love with its cute ways,” says Jacksonville Humane Society’s Savanna New.

Finally, you will save a life. Many of the pets that end up in shelters have been dumped, given up on, or mistreated. By adopting an animal from a shelter, you are not only giving them a home but also a second chance at life. Second, you could save an animal from being euthanized. According to the ASPCA, 1.5 million animals are euthanized in US shelters each year. By adopting, you could save that animal from dying. Last, it makes a world of difference for the animal you adopt. Adopting a shelter animal may not save all of the animals, but it will make a dramatic difference for your pet. Although cats and dogs in shelters are taken care of, it is no comparison to having a home and a family to love.

My pets are wonderful; they always make me smile and feel happy. So, for a variety of reasons, you should think about adoption if you’re wanting to get a new pet. Adoption increases the likelihood of availability while also saving money and lives. Every time you see those commercials with sad animals, let this phrase pop into your head. Don’t shop; look to adopt.

When did you learn to cook? Maybe you learned how to cook from a relative when you were young or just experimented in your kitchen as you got older. I believe that kids should know how to cook for themselves. Cooking encourages an adventurous palate, imparts an essential, but important life skill, and improves academic skills. First, cooking stimulates an adventurous palate. Kids can be picky eaters, and bringing them into the kitchen can help them open up to new tastes. For example, encouraging kids to taste some of the ingredients they are cooking with can help expand their palate. Next, cooking imparts basic but important life skills. Learning how to cook early can improve kids’ cooking skills and also relieve stress for college students who have to cook for themselves. “You will also learn life skills like eating healthy, budgeting your money, and cleaning.” “Cooking is also less expensive than eating at restaurants, fast food joints, and school cafeterias,” says Cooking With Egg. Lastly, cooking improves academic skills. It teaches children to listen, observe, and follow instructions to the exact. Cooking also teaches kids about adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions in 3D so they can understand them better. Making their own food helps improve reading comprehension as well. In conclusion, cooking is substantial for kids and will help them in their future. Cooking encourages an adventurous palate, imparts an essential but important life skill, and improves academic skills. That is why I believe that kids should learn how to cook for themselves.

There are many different lessons you can learn from many different teachers. You might learn a math lesson from your teacher, how to keep your body healthy from your doctor, or what is wrong and what is right from your parents. I have found that some of the most memorable lessons I have learned have come from my pets. There are many lessons that they have taught me, but I find that these are the most important: never underestimate someone or something because of its size; family and friends matter; face your fears.

Therefore, the first lesson I learned was from my cat, Rosie. She has taught me never to underestimate something or someone because of their size. When I watch her play and hunt in the backyard, I realize that even though she is just a quiet and petite cat, she is very strong and brave. She has fought an animal twice her size on numerous occasions and has won against it. This reminds me to always stay strong and courageous when people who are bigger than me push me around and get in my head. I also remember what she has taught me when I feel too weak, small, or dumb to do something. From then on, I changed my attitude and tried to be brave and fearless like her.

Next, I learned a lesson from my dog, Zeke. He has taught me that family and friends matter. He always gets so sad when my family and I leave him home alone. However, he is ecstatic and seems like he is walking on air when we get home. He loves to be around people every second of the day and never seems to be annoyed by them. This teaches me to love my family and friends even when I am frustrated or annoyed with them because one day they could be gone. I especially like how, even when someone is enraged at him, he is completely unaware of it and continues to love them.

Lastly, I have learned a lesson from my cat, Peanut. The lesson I have learned from her is to face my fears. Peanut is always timid and gets spooked at every little sound or movement. I am always trying to help her be confident and not scared of things by being gentle with her when she is scared. I realize from helping her that we can’t have other people protect us from everything that scares us in this world. Because of that, she motivates me to face my fears and be confident in myself. I now know that we can’t hide behind a blanket and wait for the scary part of our lives to be over; we need to withstand our fears and be unafraid.

In conclusion, I believe that many people take for granted the lessons they can learn from their pets. You can learn lessons that humans may not be able to teach you. For example, my pets have taught me never to underestimate someone or something because of its size, that family and friends matter, and to face my fears. Therefore, my advice to you is to watch your pets once in a while; they may be waiting to teach you a lesson.

Many times I have been stuck at home on a rainy day, bored, and with nothing to do. I can never find any fun activities that I enjoy doing. When I do figure out what to do it is usually some of my favorite hobbies, baking, arts and crafts, and watching a movie. 

My first favorite activity to do when I am bored is bake. I enjoy spending time finding new recipes and watching them form in the bowl as I add more ingredients. I also cherish sharing what I have baked with my family and friends. Also, research shows baking is a good thing to do when you are bored because it helps kids grow their motor skills and patience. My second enjoyable hobby is arts and crafts. I adore finding something new to customize or spotting something old to redecorate. Additionally, I use the things I have crafted to decorate my room. Research points out that crafting makes kids more creative and helps them express themselves. Lastly, I enjoy watching movies. I love to snuggle up in a blanket on the couch to watch my favorite movie. I also like to eat mouth-watering snacks while I watch movies. In addition, research shows that watching movies will improve your mood and reduce stress. 

Being bored can suck the fun out of a day. It can seem like there is nothing in the world that can take away your boredom. That is why I always like to do some of my favorite activities when I am bored, baking, arts and crafts, and watching a movie. 

Have you ever snuggled with a bunny or cuddled up against its velvety fur? Did you know that bunnies make extraordinary pets because they’re quiet, they have huge personalities, they bond closely with their owners, and they come in all kinds of shapes and colors? Therefore, I believe bunnies make awesome pets because they can teach responsibility, are low maintenance, and are trainable. First, owning a bunny can help teach responsibility. Research at Michigan State University says “One of the major reasons, and an important life skill, for owning a pet is to teach responsibility”. Learning to be responsible and to make decisions is an important part of becoming an adult and an essential life skill. My second reason is that compared to cats and dogs, bunnies are fairly low maintenance. For example, bunnies are low maintenance because they don’t need to be taken out for walks and do not need to be groomed. Unlike dogs, bunnies do not need to run around and get their energy out. Because of that, you can leave bunnies by themselves for longer than you could leave a dog. You can leave bunnies by themselves for the day or longer and they will be completely fine. Also, not all breeds of bunnies need to be groomed so they will not need to see a groomer weekly or monthly. Lastly, bunnies are easy to train. “Rabbits are fully capable of taking all kinds of training, learning commands, and performing tricks both useful and fun,” says professional animal trainer Barbara Heidenreich. By training a bunny you can teach them not to chew on furniture or go to the bathroom on the floor but instead, teach them to go in a litter box. In conclusion, I believe bunnies make awesome pets! Bunnies can teach responsibility, are low maintenance, and are trainable.