Girls' Life articles from April 2005

Girls' Life archives from April 2005

Find your perfect pen pal!
April 1, 2005... Ever wish you had faraway friends? Girls who could let you know what's up. in Wisconsin? A bud who knows the trends in Tuscaloosa? Or maybe just someone you can tell your innermost secrets--without the chance of your entire school finding out?...

Karen the editor's page.(food habits)
April 1, 2005... My mother is French. Very French. Heavy-accent, flair-for-major-drama, "everything is better in France" French. When I was a kid, my mom often hauled me over the pond to Paris for extended stays, trips I only sort of enjoyed. Despite my pride...

Plastic meltdown.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I was really glad you wrote "About Face: A GL Special Report on Teens and Plastic Surgery" in your F/M '05 issue. Sometimes I really hate my body and have considered plastic surgery. This article really changed my mind. --A reader I...

A done deal.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... "GL's Fabulous Guide to Dealing with Guys" in your F/M '05 issue was a real eye-opener. I had been searching for something that related remotely to my issue with a boy that I don't really have any feelings for. He thought we were going out, and...

Life lessons.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I loved "Libby's Friend Forever" [Fiction, F/M '05]. I totally bawled my eyes out! My brother's close friend was in a tragic car accident and has been in a coma for two years. This story, though fictional, was very real to me. I'm glad that all...

A better you.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... My New Year's resolution was to try and become a better person. Your "Killer Confidence from A to Z" [F/M '05] helped me to shine! --Jocelyn

Summerland's heat wave.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I was so excited about the Jesse McCarthey article [GL Cutie, F/M '05]! I think he is so hot! I always love to hear what is going on in his life and in his acting and singing career. Thanks bunches! --Jordan

For our junior writers.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... In all the issues I have read, I have not seen much work submitted by young readers. Do you think you could start a poetry or short story section for readers to submit their work? I've always wanted to influence girls my age and know that...

Penny pinchin' prices, please.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I'm extremely disappointed that your magazine seems to think every girl is a millionaire. There is no way my friends and I could afford to buy a $58 wallet or $95 pullover sweater. Could you please try to feature clothes that a girl on a budget...

BFF blues.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... "Your Bud's Got the Blues" [GL Friends, F/M '05] really helped me understand how to deal with my friends when they're going through tough times. One of my friends in particular was having family problems. I didn't know how to confront this...

Make your own nifty notes!(Reader Letter Of The Month)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... I won a GI contest a few months ago. Your magazine is fun to read, and I loved my prize! So thanks, GL. --Miranda We loved Miranda's thank-you card so much we asked her for the easy how to's: Grab colored card stock, ribbons, glue,...

Root canal.(Short Stuff)
April 1, 2005... Three cheers for root beer! It should be your carbonated beverage of choice--if you treasure your teeth, that is. A study at University of Maryland, Baltimore, found that root beer is easier on tooth enamel than other sodas. Coke, Pepsi and Dr....

Butt out!(Short Stuff)
April 1, 2005... We're not blowing smoke when we report that cigarette use among high school students is down an impressive 40 percent since its peak in the '90s. Celebrate that happy stat on April 13, 2005, the 10th anniversary of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free...

She's a real sport!(Short Stuff)(Alex Morency)
April 1, 2005... She's athletic. She's 13. And she's the president of Pretty Tough Sports, which distributes sports-themed goods designed for girls. "I've loved sports--tennis, soccer and basketball--since I was 4," says Alex Morency. "But when I tried to...

Cookie monster!(Boo! Hiss!)
April 1, 2005... The girls just wanted to surprise her with some fresh-from-the-oven cookies. Unfortunately, their neighbor didn't appreciate the kind gesture... and she sued. Huh? Taylor Ostergaard, 18, and Lindsey Jo Zellitti, 19, were ordered to fork over...

What's your dream?(Boo! Hiss!)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Maybe Rich Girls cured you. Or Paris Hilton. Or For Love or Money. Whatever it was, most teens don't measure happiness in dollars and cents. When asked how they'd define the "American Dream," nearly half (47 percent) of teens polled went for...

Manga master.(Cool Girl)(Karen Remsen)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... If one could earn a black belt in Japanese artistry, Karen Remsen, 16, did when she scored a top prize in Tokyopop's manga competition. Her story about a girl who dresses like a dude so she can compete in fencing won Karen $500 and a spot in...

Dear Carol.
April 1, 2005... Dear Carol, Sex ed is starting at my school soon. Even though we will split into two groups (girls and guys), I'm not ready. We'll talk about periods and having sex, right? I don't want to talk to my teacher about that stuff. Only my...

Gotcha covered: you've got your BFF's back 24/7, right? So when is it cool to slide your girl an alibi--and when is it not?(BFFs)
April 1, 2005... Telling a fib to help your bud wiggle out of a sticky sitch is totally a no-brainer, right? Wrong! Covering for your bud can be harmless... sometimes. Other times, it can land you both up to your ears in big trouble. THE NO-SHAME GAME ...

BFF dilemma of the month: whenever I do something wrong, my mom blames my friends. I'm losing them because we can't hang out anymore.(BFFs)
April 1, 2005... My mom thinks all my friends are bad examples. How can I make her see that they're good people? Try to see your mom's point of view, and consider making a few friends outside of your group. Get to know some new girls, and learn to have...

How fab is your style?(Giveaway)
April 1, 2005... Hey, fashionista! Gram Slam! ($12.95, Fine Print) tots you and your pals design a personalized fashion book. Fill out your most unforgettable fashions (and ones you want to forget), then pass it on. This must-have accessory comes with enough...

Who, me? Jealous?(Friends)
April 1, 2005... She's the best friend ever, She's sweet and smart, shares her designer duds, and even has a hot BF with cute friends. So why are there days you wish she'd just evaporate? As you're bemoaning your most recent zit, how can you help but...

Get stacked: wedge yourself into spring's freshest look.(Fashion Look Of The Moment)
April 1, 2005... Sweet with a sundress $60, Seychelles, nordstrom.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pair with a denim mini $165, C. Ronson, (212) 625-9074 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dress up cuffed jeans $154, C. Ronson, (212) 625-9074 ...

Take your pink.(Beauty Look Of The Moment)
April 1, 2005... Tired of colors that are brash and bold? This spring, everything is coming up pink. Wink-wink. $45 Feeling cheeky? Pick from three pretty shades Scott Barnes Chic Palette in Posh, scottbarnes.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] $8...

White out!(Body Q&A)
April 1, 2005... My hair is auburn, but I have some white hairs. They're really annoying to pluck. My mom says redheads get white hairs. Redheads tend to have a variety of colors that make up the auburn. Some strands are light brown, some are deep red, and...

Boys are way gassier than girls.(Fact Or Fiction?)
April 1, 2005... Fiction, but kinda fact. The average person, male or female, farts 20 times a day. Studies show that boys and girls toot equally. But it might seem boys pass more gas than girls, says Dr. Shekhar Challa, a gas-troen:erologist in Topeka, Kan....

Back and forth.(Guys Q&A)
April 1, 2005... My BF and I always break up and get back again! My friends are tired of it, but my BF and I still like each other. I tried forgetting about him, but I can't get over him. Should I go back with my ex-BF for the millionth time? BILL Old...

Boy tug-of-war with your BFF.(Guys)
April 1, 2005... BFFs share everything from makeup to secrets... but what are the rules when two girls like the same guy? Ever since Ben switched to Annie's math class and was assigned to the seat in front of her, staring at the back of his head gave her...

Back off, bud.(Ask Lucky)
April 1, 2005... My brother's best friend has a crush on me. Every time he comes over, he tries to sit by me or flirt with me. I like him, just not in that way. Subtlety can be the best bet to avoid hurt feelings, but it doesn't always get the message...

Don't panic!(Life)
April 1, 2005... Hit with an out-of-left-field prob? Don't freak. Here's how to figure it out without wigging out! Just when everything seems to be groovy--kaboom!--life tosses you an icky curve ball. Maybe it's a school crisis. Or your BFF is icing you....

Pocket change.(Try it!)
April 1, 2005... Have a pair of jeans that don't fit? No need to dump them at Goodwill. With just a few snips and caboodles, you can turn that old de him into a fabulous bag you'll never outgrow. WHAT YOU NEED jeans with belt loops * needle and thread *...

Go animal crackers.(Be the first to ...)
April 1, 2005... Still stuck on simple stick figures? Go wild with a drawing utensil and Drawing is Easy & Fun ($8, Galison), a portfolio set of 12 notecards with easy step-by-steps for all you aspiring not-quite-Picassos. Create a cow, frog, penguin and host...

... String someone along.(Why not?)
April 1, 2005... Sure, you could go the chocolate 'n' flowers route for Mother's Day, but Mom will be psyched for somethin' that lasts more than a week.... like awesome handmade jewelry. We don't mean that macaroni necklace you strung in second grade. The...

So the drama: Disney's Kim Possible Movie.(Girl's life: top 10 flicks)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Ooh, Kim has a major crush. In this Disney Channel original movie, Miss Possible falls for the new boy at Middleton. His name is Erik, and guess who's way jealous? Yep, Kim's best boy bud Ron Stoppable realizes he has developed...

A sound of thunder.(Girl's life: top 10 flicks)(Movie Review)
April 1, 2005... Here's one your BF will actually want to see with you. Jurassic Park meets Independence Day in this film based on a story by sci-fi master Ray Bradbury. It's 2055, and time travel is all the rage--adventuresome tourist types can go back to...

Beauty shop.(Girl's life: top 10 flicks)(Movie Review)
April 1, 2005... And now for girls' night out... Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) has had it with her overbearing boss (Kevin Bacon) at a swanky Atlanta salon. So, with shampoo girl (Alicia Silverstone) in tow, she blows him off and opens up shop on her own. It's a...

Eldar Djangirov, Eldar.(Jams)(17-year-old plays classic jazz on piano)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Think jazz is a just-for-parents genre? Not! Check out 17-year-old Eldar. We're clueless to the pronunciation of his last name, but can you say "prodigy"? The teen from the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan tears up classic jazz pieces on...

Lifehouse, Lifehouse.(Jams)(Sound Recording Review)
April 1, 2005... Some say three's a charm, and we're certainly charmed by Lifehouse's self-titled third CD hitting store shelves any day now. You're probably already hooked on the first single "You and Me," which has been getting tons of radio play. Our...

All that remains, This Darkened Heart.(Jams )(Sound Recording Review)
April 1, 2005... Behind the metalcore instrumentals and screaming vocals are some poignant--and swear-free--lyrics, Your folks might not let you crank up the volume, but how can they object to poetic lines like, "and so the night wears on and so my patience...

Printed treasures.(Bytes)(printedtreasures.com)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Are you totally tech-y but not so creative? Well, computer-crazy chicas, tap your inner artist with printable fabric sheets. Pull an image up on your PC, and toad the fabric into an inkjet printer. Get sew-on, iron-on or peel-and-stick versions...

Boy2Girl.(Reads)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
April 1, 2005... Boy2Girl by Terence Blacker Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16 It starts as a dare when Sam enters posh London Bradbury Hill School posing as a girl. On the first day, Sam takes out the school bully, catches the eye of an upper-class stud and is...

Click Here (to find out how i survived seventh grade).(Reads)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
April 1, 2005... Click Here (to find out how i survived seventh grade) by Denise Vega Little, Brown & Co., $15.99 Computer-savvy Erin keeps her diary on a strictly-for-perfecting-her-webmaster-techniques site. It's a totally private place to spill her...

Call Me Maria.(Reads)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
April 1, 2005... Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer Orchard, $16.95 Maria gives up Puerto Rico to go to New York with her father. The move transforms her Papi into El Super, the tenants' hero with a toolbox and guitar. But Maria misses her mother and her...

Caleigh Peters.(Spotlight)
April 1, 2005... AGE 16 HOMETOWN Los Angeles CLAIM TO FAME Caleigh is a correspondent for NBC's Extra!. "Reach," the first single from her upcoming full-length CD (due out this summer), is the title song for the Michelle Trachtenberg flick Ice Princess. Caleigh...

Tadhg Kelly.(Cutie)
April 1, 2005... AGE 16 HOMETOWN Chicago but lives in Claremont, Calif. CLAIM TO FAME Stars as Ben Singer, big brother to Emma Roberts' Addie, on the Nickelodeon hit series Unfabulous (Wednesdays, 8 p.m.). OH, BROTHER On TV, Tadhg (pronounced Taig) is the older...

Jamie Lynn 101: Jamie Lynn Spears is sweet, polite and the star of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101. And, yes, she wears shoes to the restroom. We watched her like a hawk.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... Jamie Lynn Spears is short--barely over 5 feet tall. You could probably lose her in an elevator. Try imagining her, then, in a cavernous New York City Lower East Side photo studio, packed with her room, her older brother/manager Bryan, her...

Go West.
April 1, 2005... We just love free-spirited finds like spring's girly, pretty things. This time around, the urban cowgirl trend means flouncy skirts, soft colors and easy shapes that are super cute. New trend alert! Wear a top under a flirty dress, and...

Do you rush to crush? Boy cah-razy? Super-choosy? Or somewhere in the middle?
April 1, 2005... There's something about spring that turns a gal's attention to, well, crushing your brains out. So, do you dig on a new dude more often than you change your socks? Or do you take your good, sweet time waiting for a quality guy to catch your...

Be a supersitter! Baysitting. It's an awesome way to pull in dough for sweet summer spending. But it isn't all child's play--we're talking serious business here. We've got the tips to help you build your biz to the max ... because babysitting is about a lot more than just passing out Goldfish crackers and tying shoelaces.
April 1, 2005... Are you a natural-born babysitter, or do you find it more of a nightmare encounter with sticky faces and spit-up? Either way, we can show you how to turn a tot-filled night playing with Silly Putty and Crayola into--cha-ching!--real, hard...

My BFF taught me how to ...
April 1, 2005... LIVE EVERY DAY TO THE FULLEST. I used to be very conservative. At school dances, 1 was the wallflower--until I met my BFF. She can't dance at all. Neither can I. But at the last dance, she went to the middle of the floor and boogied like an...

Your wackiest period mysteries--solved! Whether you've had your period or are playing the waiting game, you probably have a zillion questions. Well, hold on to your seats because we're about to pull the plug on all your confusion.
April 1, 2005... Yeah, yeah. Getting your period is supposed to be so cool since it means you're officially growing up. But when you feel bloated, cranky, pimply and crampy on a monthly basis, it's tough to be all that grateful. Dealing with good ol' Mother...

'I had my stomach stapled': at 18, Michelle weighed 312 pounds. Her life was in jeopardy. After many unsuccessful dieting attempts, Michelle took a drastic step to rid herself of her weight problem. Here, she shares the story of having her stomach cut to the size of an egg.
April 1, 2005... Since I was about 10, I've been overweight. At that time, I weighed 180 pounds--as much as my dad. Although my family was supportive, kids at school made fun of me, saying things like "Fatty, fatty!" or "Hey, two-by-four!" In ninth grade, a...

The new blues: this spring denim gets a whole new look thanks to fresh details and glam extras.
April 1, 2005... the new bohemian jean Look for: Sewn on beads and shells. Try them with: floaty top is made sporty by layering on a cute tank. Pull it all together with glam heels Bonus! The pair also has a trendy scalloped boot cut and...

The GL Bikini Body Workout: with sun, surf and handsome hotties looming on the horizon, it's time to strut the sand with a whole new body-lovin' attitude. Let our works-for-everybody workout help you get your bikini-best bod.
April 1, 2005... Looking good in a swimsuit isn't about having the hottest body on the beach. What it really comes down to is how great you feel. Girls come in all different fabulous shapes and sizes, and you can pretty much thank Morn and Dad for yours. But no...

10 fresh & fab spring looks: dig outta your beauty deep freeze with the hottest colors and brightest ideas for spring.
April 1, 2005... THE BEST WAYS TO GET GORGEOUS THIS SPRING! Spring's best clothes are sweet, pretty and effortless. Isn't it time for your hair and makeup to be, too? We found 10 easy beauty trends (and five great hair ideas) to help you keep it simple...

Makin' the cut: how to go for a new style and leave the salon with a look you'll absolutely love.
April 1, 2005... THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF GETTING A NEW 'DO So you're ready to pull an Ashlee Simpson and give your hair a new look? Fab! Before you head out, brush up secrets to getting the perfect new style for you. SEEK OUT A GREAT STYLIST You...

Cherry smash! Splashes of bold color and mod accessories make for one totally groovy pad.
April 1, 2005... TAKE YOUR ROOM FROM FRILLY TO FABULOUS When Jessica, 14, got straight A's, her parents did more than toss a few reward bucks her way. They got in touch with interior designer Lane Oliver, creator of Digs A Go-Go, a do-it-yourself bedroom...

The April fools: Caroline loves a good joke as much as the next person. So when her BF dumps her without warning, will she have the last laugh?(Fiction)(Short Story)
April 1, 2005... On the first of April, my BF Tim Nolan tells me he "only wants to be friends," and I am convinced it's just a joke. It is, after all, April Fools' Day, and we've been together for three months. We're standing at my locker after last...

Smackers[R] sports spotlight.
April 1, 2005... Marie Langeway Smackers salutes tennis player Marie Langeway. Her Smackers fave? Starbust Candy Flavor Lip Gloss in Strawberry Watermelon "I love playing tennis and take lessons. It has taught me that hard work pays off and...

Star signs.
April 1, 2005... Taurus 4/20-5/50 APRIL School is important and all, but so is your sanity. Pouring your heart into your studies is certainly admirable, but if you really want to maintain peak performance, you've gotta recharge your batteries. Give the...

Pssst ... no cheating.(And how was your day?)
April 1, 2005... The teacher had just handed out history tests, and the whole class was silent. I realized I hadn't brought a pencil, so I whispered to the girl in front of me and asked for a pencil, She didn't hear me, so I whispered a little louder. Suddenly,...

Lights out.(Celeb Moment)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... I'm afraid of the dark, and my old roommate knows that. I was in the shower when she came home and decided to play a trick on me. She cut the power, and I totally freaked out! I thought I was home alone. I got out of the shower, grabbed a towel...