FCCLA state competition.

This was by far the best FCCLA event I've been to (with the one exception of nationals obviously... nothing can beat Orlando, Harry Potter World, and the beach). Obviously there are multiple reasons it was so great... so here they are (:

Four of us went: Me, Sam, Caitlin, and Katie. (Sam left a day early for her sister's baptism though)

Here is Sam's post about FCCLA

The day started out snowing, leaving school on Wednesday at 10:30, and of course sour gummy worms, stupid stories, and some crazy laughing out loud moments the WHOLE way up. We even found the cutest lemonade bottles at a gas station on the way. I'm a blogger... I take pictures of my cute packaging.

Then checking into the hotel... Gosh Katie, bring enough stuff there (;

oooppss... accidentally locked her out. our bad.

Dinner consisted of Panera and of course Katie had to get a kids meal. It even came with gogurt!

Then shopping for breakfast foods and snacks! People do not realize how much food four girls can eat on an FCCLA trip.

Then swimming!! However... I was told to never post the pictures we took at the pool.... soooooooooo have a picture of me eating yogurt and granola. oh, and katie eating a whooosh cookie (inside joke, don't worry.)

Thursday meant Katie and I competing!!!

ya can't take a picture without have a few pre-posed pictures!

 

Our presentation went super well. Like, I've never felt that good about how a project has gone before, not even last year with "Hold a Child's Hand". The judges said they wanted us a children. yeah, no big deal.

Then lunch at Woody Creek. and handing out our "you're attractive, pass it on" cards. they've sorta become a tradition because of Nationals.

 

THHHEEENNNN A PICTURE WITH MOSES!!!! Remember Yarnmione from Orlando? yep... that was this guy. frienemies, (friend-enemies) last year because Montrose beat him twice in Advocacy (sorry moses, I couldn't leave that part out) but now we're basically BFFs. It's whatevs.

Right around this time we found out that Katie and I were one of the top four teams in our event, and would have to do a runoff presentation on friday!


Then of course came opening sessions Thursday night! Because I was district president, I got to present our district on stage!

The motivational speaker was the best I've ever had. And you know what? I've heard about 11 before this. Scott Backovich. Look him up. Absolutely amazing, hilarious, but motivating. He talked about how we always need to help others, even when everything is going great in our lives. ugghhhh, it's just hard to describe the feeling you get after amazing speakers. Even a blog does not credit.


Then was our spa night! (although, it didn't end up being that exciting because we were all super tired.)

it's hard to smile with masks on ok? don't laugh.


Friday came along which meant wishing Caitlin and Sam good luck on their presentation and getting ready for round two of ours.

they were 2 hours behind. so we sat there.

and waited.

and waited.

and got starbucks.

and waited.

The second presentation went pretty well... not as good as the first time, but we were still pretty confident any ways.

Then we went back to the room for a few hours. Then the workshop, Rachel's Challenge (that was my last blog post). I can't even tell you how much that meant to me. It sounds corny, but I seriously think it changed my life a little. It definitely changed my perspective on things.

Sam had to leave, but the three of us got ready for the banquet and dance!!

FCCLA dances are the best. Obviously, once again, nothing can compare to the dance at the Gala at nationals, but just FCCLA dances in general are the best. You just dance like an idiot and it doesn't matter because you don't know anyone. ANNDD you are instantly friends with everyone. And it's just fantastic.

Then came Saturday... the awards. Caitlin and Sam got first! and then Katie and I waited and waited to be called. Finally... GOLD FOR MONTROSE. We stood there with like five other teams, waiting to see if we got first and therefore would qualify for nationals.

And there is was.

First Place Gold.

year two.

And then we drove home! Which involved some qdoba and this insanely awesome soda machine.

And then we got home!


Since there really is a posibitity I won't get to go to Nationals because I'll be working three jobs and because my parents paid for the big trip last year, I guess this will be my mini-FCCLA goodbye post (trust me, if I go to Nationals it'll be worse... and if I don't get to go to nationals I'll still probably do an ode-to-fccla post anyways.)

FCCLA was the best choice I made in high school. It really was. Through Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America I held many leadership positions, participated in very wonderful programs (particularly last years "Hold A Child's Hand" and this year's "The Tribe") and met many many wonderful friends. I still want to be involved in FCCLA however possible for the rest of my life. Every teenager should have a chance to learn and experience everything I have through the last four years.
I guess I'll shut up now before I get all depressed and whatnot.

But if you're reading my blog, and you're in high school, and you have the chance to join FCCLA DO IT.

so there we go. Gold again, plus a fantastic overall trip. I could not be more grateful for this experience and for my wonderful Advisor and her husband and for these wonderful girls (:

Sincerely,
Erica Michelle.

rachel's challenge.

I was going to save this for tomorrow's post all about state, but I honestly think that it deserves it's own post. during the conference there are workshops that you can go to. usually we skip the workshops for shopping, competing, or sleeping... but for whatever reason we decided to go to one workshop this year. the workshop was called Rachel's Challenge.

if you read nothing else of this post, go watch this video.

I have never felt so moved by a speaker or a workshop before. It opened my eyes to the world around me, and in all honesty, made me think about how I'm treating others. If I'm noticing the people that I should, if I'm talking to the people I should. It helped me realize that there is so much beyond myself. I cried through the whole workshop... if I could do anything over, I would go to that workshop again and again.


So yes, I accept Rachel's Challenge.

exciting news // music.

well, I got back from FCCLA state and then immediately went to the Pavilion to play in a quintet (is that the word?) for the CASA benefit. let me tell you people... I am tired.



well... I do have very exciting news however!

WE GOT GOLD!

AND WE QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS!!

yep... year two(: remember how we went to Orlando, Florida last summer for FCCLA nationals? Yep, this year Nationals is in Nashville! So... yes. All four of us (that's right, both Montrose teams) qualified, and yes, we totally and 100% plan to attend (heck, I'm not going to girls camp or trek this year, so why not?!?).

Maybe I should rephrase that sentence. We plan to attend as soon as we find a way to fundraise for a large majority of the money. So... yeah. But check out the hotel that we'll be staying at!!!

Note: this is the INSIDE of the hotel. holy crimony.

(google images)

So... yeah. I'll write a ton more about our little trip to Denver for State Competition. As soon as I get some pictures uploaded. At this point I feel like wrapping up in a blanket and watching Brave. So that's what I'm going to do.

But before I do that, I have wanted to update ya'lls on my current obsession of music. In reality, I've owned their first CD since the day that one of their songs was free on iTunes like a year ago. And their second CD didn't disappoint either. But for the last couple of months or so, ALL I DO is listen to Two Door Cinema Club.

So, yeah. Anywho. Hope everyone is having a fantastic day, and my State Competition will be up soon! (hopefully tomorrow). I just thought I'd let everyone know about our wonderful GOLD MEDAL!

Sincerely,
Erica Michelle

welcome to colorado.

1. I would love to tell you that I took these pictures in January, and am now just getting around to posting them. But no. Not at all.

I wore a t-shirt today people. with no coat. because it's april.

This is not ok.

The saddest part is that this happens every single April. and every single April I think that this year will be better. And it never is. People. I wore shorts like two days ago. It was 70 degrees LAST WEEK. THIS IS NOT OK. Walking out to lunch and seeing my car covered in snow... not ok at all.

2. We leave for FCCLA state tomorrow (yes, Katie and I get to go!) Here's to a weekend of random dance parties, all nighters, spa nights with the girls, and of course... whoooopin everyone in COMPETITION!!

3. 39 days and 21 hours until graduation.

4. 25 days of actual school left. and lets face it... because of tennis, fccla, and choir, I'll be missing AT LEAST 7 of those days... plus possibly more. not too sad about that fact.

5. I'm so tired. which shouldn't be possible since last week was spring break and I slept tons.

6. I got my graduation announcements... now just to address them to 76 people. anyone wanna volunteer to help? :(

7. Tennis.

really, there's not much to say about it. today our match got cancelled (obviously) but now I'm headed to a team dinner!


Well, that's all I've got to say... I'll be checking in after FCCLA state!!! Hope all of you are having a warmer April day than I am!

Sincerely,
Erica Michelle

tennis and general conference.

Yesterday we had another tennis match... the girl I played had to forfeit because she sprained her ankle in the first game... I felt soooooooo bad! then we had a team dinner which was just awesome as always (:

today I'm excited to watch General Conference once again!

Feel free to join in on the amazingness right here!

google images

Sincerely,

Erica Michelle 

peanut butter birds nests.

soo... my mom decided to get all creative and stuff for Easter. Therefore, we made these adorable little birds nests. and she really wanted to put it on pinterest (seriously, not joking), so here it is!

We used my mom's peanut butter rice crispy recipe (a million times better than regular rice crispy treats) and added in a few broken pretzel sticks.

First, you'll need these ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter
lots of rice crispies cereal
pretzel sticks

Add together the sugar, karo, and peanut butter in a  large pan on the stove.

turn on the heat to melt it all together.

 (this is an inbetween picture.) stir it a little bit.

until it looks like this:

don't let it get all the way to boiling. at this point, take it off the heat, and add rice crispies until it's the consistency you like it. also stir in a few broken pretzel sticks so that it looks more bird-nest-like.

using an large ice cream scooper, put mixture on wax paper, and press down the inside to form the nest. do this quickly, because the mixture drys pretty fast.

we broke more pretzels and stuck them on the outside of the nests, also.

let them cook for a few minutes, then add a couple Whoppers Robins Eggs.

then add Peeps!

and there you go! adorable, edible nests!

One batch made 13 nests, but that would vary depending on your ice cream scoop size!

spring break. {part 1}.

family, friends, prom-date-asking, all nighters, everything.

spring break has been the most interesting week of my life so far. really, I actually mean that. just in the five days off I've gotten a ton of sleep, then none, I've laughed, and cried a lot (i'll get to that story) and I've driven half of colorado it feels like. so... here goes a million pictures and an overload of stories from my dramatic life.

Danielle, Jayson, Evan, and Caitlin came into town for Easter. Can I just say that I have the cutest nephew and niece in the entire world? hate to brag... but please appreciate the following pictures. Obviously, the most fun activity is watering dead plants. and of course... the easter egg hunt!

they are the cutest (:

So... there you go... the cutest kids in the entire world!

Easter Dinner was also a success... my new goal is to get my mom a pinterest, so we started practicing our craftiness! We made the cutest rice crispy birds nests... don't worry, that'll be a blog post!

Then the whole family left... so I had to turn my attention to other important things...

Saturday night Katie and I drove up to Paonia for Lexi and Jacob's choir dessert show... it was pretty cool! Then tuesday, after much planning I did this:

So, my dear blog, this is Jacob. He lives in Paonia and we went to Paonia's prom together last year, and I thought to myself, I would love to go to prom with him this year! sooo... I asked him!

Let me tell you, if there is only one reason in the entire universe that I was born a girl, it's the fact that I wouldn't be able to ask people to prom. Seriously, I was soo nervous!

So, yepp.. I have a prom date and I couldn't be more excited! We're doubling with Katie and Nate!

So, let me tell you about my week spend with Katie and doing LOTS of FCCLA. Monday we started working at ten. Katie had to drive us around because my car was in the shop getting a new manifold (is that spelled right?).
Then we worked all day, and decided to let ourselves have a break and go see The Host. Can I just say the The Host is one of my favorite books, and I didn't have anything {really} to complain about the movie? I'm one of those people you have watching movies with because I tell you have much better the book is throughout the entire thing. But I actually really really liked The Host. Ya'lls should go watch it! Not to mention that seeing movies is ten times better if you get in free. Ya'lls should also work at a movie theater...

So monday night we were up until 1 working on FCCLA. (State is next week). Then tuesday we woke up. We had this sorta a plan: drive to Paonia to ask Jacob to prom, come back, I had a tennis match, then work on FCCLA. We were driving to my house to get my car to drive to Paonia, and my mom calls and is all like "Your match is away in Junction" and we were like CRAAPPPPP, there isn't enough time! Turns out that this is what we did:

Drove 1 1/2 hours to Paonia. Drove 1 hour to Grand Junction. Then drove back... the drive back was interesting though... my car started making this super weird sound, then it started smelling super bad. (think burning oil smell). So katie and I pull over, look around the car, then start driving again. And it starts smelling again. At this point, I was basically convinced that my car was going to blow up, so we started freaking out and called my mom. (luckily she was only a few miles behind us because she had come up to watch the match). So she got there, we called my dad, then my mom drove my car and we drove my moms. Turns out my new manifold is even more broken then the old one... I'm not sure what that means, but now I get to drive around my little old car that is now 100 times louder than it was before... that's pretty freakin loud. But it's gonna get fixed again, so whhheeewww.

Anyways, Tuesday night we went to bed at 7.

no.

not 7 p.m.

7 a.m. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT CONCEPT??? WE WERE UP ALLLLLL NIGHT.

and we were strictly working on FCCLA. for 12 hours straight. nothing else.

but it did get funny, at about 5:15 we were fighting over where to put a picture. I guess two 17 year old girls have a hard time getting along after no sleep. BBUUTT we found a solution. we stopped what we were doing a ate a bowl of cereal. It instantly fixed the problem! And, I'm not sure what, something was soooo hilarious, we were LITERALLY, I mean actually laying on the floor laughing then crying because we were laughing so hard.

see that clock? 6:46 a.m... when we were heading to bed.

Wednesday we presented our FCCLA project to my mom. Not to brag or anything, but this is the best presentation we've ever given. Our visuals are AMAZING.

My mom loved it. So we presented it to our FCCLA adviser...

sometime, if you see me in person, I'll tell you a very long and dramatic story. but long story short, she said no to us going to State.

don't worry, I spent the rest of the day crying. literally bawling my eyes out for hours. it's sad that FCCLA may end this way.

but on a happier note, I still have a couple days left of spring break! I best use them well!! and Katie spent the night last night and we didn't even talk about our FCCLA project!! (yes, that's three nights in a row that I've spent the night with Katie).
Sincerely,
Erica Michelle