Girls' Life articles from April 2006

Girls' Life archives from April 2006

She's all that.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I really admire Amanda Bynes [Hangin' With, F/M '06] as a down-to-earth girl. She has such an original look, rather than the Hollywood stereotype. It's important for girls to know there are refreshing actresses like Amanda. --Maddie I...

Pen Pal wow.(Letters: WE'VE GOT MAIL!)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Thanks for putting in Pen Pals [Pen Pal/Masthead, every issue]. I have now made nicer and more genuine friends--we're like identical twins! --Jenna

Ice princess.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I was jumping up and down when I saw Kimmie Meissner [Spotlight, F/M '06]! I watched her short and long performances during Nationals and just fell in love with her. She's naturally talented and glides so beautifully on the ice. --A reader...

Ring of truth?(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Thank you for putting Drake Bell [Curie, F/M '06] in your magazine. He's awesome and really good-looking. --Emily I didn't think much about Drake Bell before, but now I really respect him. It's so cool he likes older groups like The...

You go, Ella grrl!(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I am so fond of the new GL mascot Ella Bella Mae [Karen The Editor's Page, F/M '06]. She's so cute! --Molly I love Ella. Her page on girlslife.com is so creative and totally GL! --Emily

Stranger no more.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Erica Poole's story ["Stranger In My House," F/M '06] was inspiring. It made me realize how much Erica--and others living with someone who has the disease--has to overcome. --Gabrielle Thanks for "Stranger In My House." My mother is...

Ditch the diet.(Letters: WE'VE GOT MAIL!)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... I loved "The Don't-You-Dare-Diet Diet" [F/M '06]. It gave girls important information for a healthy body without over-exercising or starving themselves. --Anne Marie

Log on to get your kiss on.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Could you do an article on kissing in the next issue of GL? I'm unsure about how to kiss, and I need help! --Abbie You aren't the only one asking for advice, Abbie. That's why we've put tons of great info on girlslife.com, including...

Tanning bed--bad!(tan can cause skin cancer)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... We've told you before, but we're going to rub it in like sunscreen. Tanning, whether by the sun or at a salon, can cause skin cancer. And this is not something you have to worry about only during adulthood. Skin cancer rates have jumped 20...

Sport a new look.(Short Stuff)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Give 'em your ugly, your old, your outdated, overused and tattered team uniforms. Longstreth Women's Sports, which provides apparel and equipment for female athletes, is having a team makeover contest. Girls' softball and lacrosse teams are...

Be jeweled.(Cassy Saba-designing jewelry )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Cassy Saba, 15, has paved herself a road of semi-precious stones. The founder of Cassy's Sassy Jewelry began designing jewelry at only 10 years old. "My mom would wear a necklace to work and come home with a list of orders," Cassy tells us....

Creation rocks the nation.(We Are Family Foundation )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... OK, when we got this CD from a teen group called Creation, we didn't expect much. But we spun Window Into the World, and now we're pumped! They're six New York City 12- and 13-year-olds who formed their band two years ago in fifth grade. Now...

Pay day ...(girls' future salary expectations are right up )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... ... YOUR WAY. For the first time ever, girls' future salary expectations are right up there with boys'. So say the results of the 2006 Junior Achievement Worldwide Interprise Poll on Kids and Careers. When the survey question was first posed...

The week is strong.(raising funds for syringomyelia patient)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Sisters share clothes, friends and even a bedroom, but Katlyn, 14, and Stephanie, 18, are linked by another bond. The girls have syringomyelia, a disorder that occurs when fluid that should flow through the brain and spine becomes trapped in...

She can fly!(Kristen Garcia at Civil Air Patrol)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The sky's the limit for 14-year-old Kristen Garcia. She's the only girl among more than 20 boys in the Lebanon, N.H., Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary cadet program (cap.gov) offered for kids by the U.S. Air...

Dear Carol.(managing friends)
April 1, 2006... Dear Carol, One of my best friends is anorexic. She was beautiful but, now, she's pale, and you can see her bones through her skin. She knows she has an eating disorder, but says she can't stop. I'm really worried about her. Don't...

Listen up! Now hear this: you can be the all-ears gal everyone wants to befriend.
April 1, 2006... You love to talk, don't you? But how well do you rate as a listener? Good gab involves keeping zee lips zipped on occasion. If you master the art of listening, buds will come to you with all their dish. Just follow a few simple rules.... ...

Head case.(keeping iPod safe)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... So you and your bud got iPod Nanos? Steffi Swapsets are just what you need to keep from looking like techno-dorks. They're headbands with discreet docks for earphones. Plug 'em in to your musical device, and you've never looked cooler. And...

BFF dilemma of the month: I really wish my mom were as cool as my BFF's mom. How can I make my relationship with my own mother better?(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... My mom always embarrasses me in front of my friends. But when I am with my BFF's mom, I feel totally comfortable. Laugh with your mom when she embarrasses you. Your friends might appreciate her humor it you laugh right along with her. But,...

To heck with it? You've gotta love your bud despite her flaws, right? Weil ... not necessarily. Sometimes, it's perfectly fine to draw the line.
April 1, 2006... No friend is flawless. Duh. But you overlook the bad stuff because she makes you laugh, conjures up wicked-good ideas and is admirably bold. It's just that, lately, you can't ignore how she cuts on you, spills your dish, or plucks every last...

Just peachy: orange you glad it's spring?(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GET A FRESH GLOW Peachy bronzer is the perfect way to subtly add realistic color to not-yet sunkissed skin. PEACH IS HIP FOR TIPS Wear it on fingers or toes. Opaque shades pack a fun, fruity punch. Get this look... Peach...

Anchors away: seaworthy style floats your boat.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GET DECKED OUT IN JUST A FEW PIECES You may be your crew's cruise director, but no need to dress the part! Top, $39, Hot Kiss. Mini tie, $10, and earrings, $9, fredflare.com. Sunglasses, $13, Accessories for Target. Tote, $36, Top It...

It's the pits.(personal care)
April 1, 2006... My armpits are always black. I scrub so hard that they turn red. I shave, but it's not hair. Help. Save the scrubbing'--it won't help. A few things can cause darkening, explains New York City dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad: 1) You could...

She's guy shy.
April 1, 2006... Guys ignore me, saying they don't want to go out with a "shy girl." Thing is, I'm outgoing at home and with buds. DAVE Rather than slink into your shell when around guys, pretend you're kicking back at home with friends. You'll be in the...

The no-go guys: some guys are mega-cute, smart, funny ... and totally off limits! Is the guy you dig outta bounds?
April 1, 2006... The sun's shinin', birds are chirpin', and you have your eye on a guy. He seems perfect in every way--except for the pesky little fact that you know, deep down, liking him is just plain wrong. Sooner or later, almost every girl has a thing for...

Shallow gal: everyone in my grade knows how, but I can't swim--and swimming is required at my school. Can you give me tips so I don't have to take a baby class?
April 1, 2006... Take a deep breath (before hitting the water!) to calm your anxiety. As with anything new, don't immediately dive into the deep end. Start in shallow water with the basics, like holding your breath underwater and hanging onto the edge while...

'Yes' is the word: tired of being controlled by your parental units? Here are GL's tips to having it your way.
April 1, 2006... Parents are good at saying "no." Can Alyssa stay over? Not tonight. Will they buy you a Land Rover when you turn 16? No way. Can you go to that boy-girl party next weekend? Not a chance! So, why do they shoot you down so often? And, more...

Pom pilot.(Make it!)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Seriously, could these be any cuter? Old-school pom-pom crafts are really easy, really fun and really adorable. We used a pom-pom maker to turn a wad of yellow yarn into a hip chick.... WHAT YOU NEED Bucilla Doodle-Loom *...

Have sticky fingers.(strawberry-smothered French toast )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Want to show Mom some love this Mother's Day? Bring her breakfast in bed! Make her this strawberry-smothered French toast and she'll think you're the sweetest thing ever. And it serves four, so you get some too. Score. WHAT YOU NEED ...

Help wanted.(girls and guys working as volunteers)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Hangin' with your crew doesn't always have to mean PS2 or Project Runway marathons. Instead of chowing on chips 'n' dip, how about chipping in? Recruit your girls and guys to do some good outside the living room during National & Global Youth...

Girls' Life top 10.(Movie review)
April 1, 2006... Flicks American Dreamz Yes, it stars Mandy Moore and the plot involves the U.S. prez. No, it's not another fluffy first-daughter flick--it's a comedic spoof on TV talent shows. When the president's public approval rating seems to be...

Sonya Kitchell rhymes with ... Mitchell. As in, Joni, Sonya's folk-American idol. Except, guess who didn't show up to her own tribute concert.(Interview)
April 1, 2006... Jazzy, sultry singer Sonya Kitchell, on the brink of 17, has been likened to Norah Jones. But she prefers the comparisons to her idol, the legendary songstress Joni Mitchell. Sonya recently had an amazing opportunity to perform at New York s...

Wisteria's devious desperado: desperate housewives hottie Shawn Pyfrom gives us the goods on being bad.(Interview)
April 1, 2006... Shawn plays Andrew Van de Kamp, the teenage bad boy of Wisteria Lane. Talk to him about his own life and ya gotta wonder--is he really acting? As Andrew, Shawn Pyfrom has tortured the bejeezus out of his uptight mother Bree (played by...

What's all the fuss about JoJo: two new movies. One new CD. It may not sound like a lot, but we have the very strange feeling JoJo is about to earn her one-name status.(Joanna Noelle Levesque )(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... With the exception of rappers, it takes a special person to be on a first-name basis with the world. No debate, membership in the single-name club is the most chill-Madonna, Beyonce, Usher. Granted, JoJo's not on the same level as Madonna, but...

Karen the editor's page.
April 1, 2006... When most people talk about their families, it's a pretty straight-up conversation. I have this many sisters, this many brothers, blah blah blah. But do my family tree and you'll need a flow chart. I have two half-brothers, two half-sisters and...

Get along better with your mom in one easy step.(KAREN'S TiP OF THE MONTH)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... No doubt about it, mom-daughter relationships are complicated. We look to each other for approval and understanding and, when one thinks the other is being critical, watch out. Next time you're ready to explode on your mom, ask yourself this:...

Spring trends we love: long, cold winters are for the birds. Time to come out of the cold and warm up to pattern, color and anything-goes easiness.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Peasant Prints LOOK FOR Big prints with easy shapes and muted tones. Go for ruffles and crinkled textures in soft pinks and purples. WEAR IT! Layer a medium-print pattern with something softer underneath for a look that flows. Mix and...

Are you a take-charge gal? Is being in control the way you roll--or does taking the lead totally freak you out? GL's quiz can pinpoint how you master your universe.
April 1, 2006... No doubt about it--a confident, assertive attitude truly can get you ahead in life. On the flip side, being a micro-managing "me" monster is pretty much a total turn-off. The secret is to strike a balance between the two. But, first, you've...

It's hip to be happy! Want to feel awesome every single day? You can--here's how to make it happen.
April 1, 2006... Last year, you had the absolute best birthday ever. You woke up psyched, then dashed downstairs to find your mom had made your fave French toast breakfast. You got tons of super-fab presents (everything from the iPod you were big-time cravin"...

Is it really over? Are you and your BF broken up for good--or for just this second? This quiz has the answer.
April 1, 2006... Things could be way worse. You could be like Jennifer Aniston, with your school newspaper running weekly cover stories including photos of you making a sour face because you really enjoy Lemonheads, and a caption that reads, "She still doesn't...

Best April fool's ever! We've gotta hand it to ya. You, our dear readers, have pulled off some hilarious practical jokes. For your April Fools' amusement, here are the best. But be warned: GL is not responsible for any groundings, friend fights or detentions that may result. Read at your own risk?
April 1, 2006... WATER WORKS Last April Fools' Day, my sister and I wanted to get our older sister... that is, if we could think of a trick. At our house, we have one of those spray nozzles on the garden hose. We knew she was about to wash her car, so we took...

Playing the game of her life.(Dakoda Dowd-golfer)
April 1, 2006... Maybe you haven't yet heard of 12-year-old Dakoda Dowd but, soon, everybody will know her name. She's one of the top-ranked golfers in the United States and, this spring, she'll be one of the youngest golfers to play in the Ladies' Professional...

We want to live in t-shirts! The humble tee. It's as indispensable to a girl as her favorite jeans. Here are four fresh "that looks so cute" ways to wear yours.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... LAYER IT! Add spunk by layering tees with different colors, patterns and textures. We started with a solid pink tank, layered on a striped cami, and topped it with a cropped, bright-green V-neck. A touch of lace adds just the right amount...

Make peace with your hair! We are declaring a truce between you and your 'do. Here's how to solve whatever devilish hair dilemma is keeping you from loving your locks.
April 1, 2006... TAME MY FRIZZ THE PROBLEM OUT-OF-CONTROL FUZZY HAIR THE SOLUTIONS Frizz happens when your hair is thirsty for moisture. First, restore your 'do by using a deep-conditioning treatment (we like Nature's Gate Jojoba Revitalizing Hair...

Welcome to the jungle.
April 1, 2006... Yellow-striped wallpaper with a rubber-ducky border? Talk about tame. A mod safari look is more what Christie Naus, 13, had in mind for her new room. That's why she called in the help of GL's fave designer Lane Oliver, creator of the Digs A...

The social injustices of Brazelton high: sometimes, a girl's gotta fight for her rights. And other times, girls just wanna have fun.
April 1, 2006... I'm sitting at the kitchen table, watching my mom wrap a Merle Haggard CD for her man-of-the-minute Arnold, whose birthday is this week. Her men last as long as it takes me to read a book--two to 10 days, depending on how interesting it (or he)...

GL star signs.
April 1, 2006... Aries 3/21-4/19 APRIL Birthday girl, you are so super busy this month! And with all the school, crush and faro demands that are in your face, you might be flaking out on your fitness routine. Not good. Three words: Dance Dance Revolution....

And how was your day? Marco oh-no.
April 1, 2006... My sister and I were playing Marco Polo at the pool. It was my turn to be "it," so I called out, "Marco!" My sister yelled, "Polo!" so I went in for the kill. I pinched her butt and said, "Gotcha!" I opened my eyes and realized I had just...

When a stranger calls.( an experience when alarm went off)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I was 9 and home alone. I was walking around the house, feeling OK on my own. I wandered into the basement, and the alarm went off! I screamed and ran upstairs. I called the police and had them come see who was in my house. I even made them...