Girls' Life articles from August 2006

Girls' Life archives from August 2006

Find your perfect pen pal!
August 1, 2006... 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?...

Weight a minute!(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... "Special Report: Weighing In" [J/J '06] made me feel better about myself because my body isn't exactly as I want it to be. You spread the message that being thin isn't all that matters and that you should love yourself for your inner beauty....

Gettin' Carrie-d away.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Not only does Carrie Underwood have an amazing voice, she sounded great in your interview ["As Fate Would Have It," J/J '06]. She's not all caught up in her fame and fortune. She sounds like one of the nicest people out there-and she's an...

Hey, shorty.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I want to say something to a girl from Dear Carol in your J/J '06 issue. She "desperately" wants to be taller. Well. I'm 4-foot-11 at 15 years old, and I'm proud to be vertically challenged. She needs to be happy with who she is. Think of it...

Well wishes.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I really enjoyed "Living on Borrowed Time" [J/J '06]. Being a cancer survivor, I can relate. Now, I don't feel like the only one who has been through tough times. --A Reader I absolutely loved "Living on Borrowed Time." I was nearly...

I'm a winner!(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Thank you so much for your contests/ giveaways at girlslife.com! I got home yesterday to find a package from GL, and it made my day! --Caitlin

Love Notes.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I am really glad my friend told me about GL. You've taught me a lot about growing up! After subscribing, I am confident with myself. GL helps me realize how awesome it is to be a girl. I'm sure millions of girls agree that your magazine is the...

Carrie Underwood.(Carrie Underwood wins awards at Country Music Association Awards)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... When GL interviewed Carrie Underwood for the June/July '06 issue, she let us in on a secret: She was hanging her hopes high on winning in the New Female category at the 2006 Country Music Association Awards. Well, the girl from Oklahoma can...

Bearded chefs.(services at spatulatta.com)(James Beard Award)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... "You know how you can have a sub for math class? Now, you can have a sub... for lunch," Isabella Gerasole, 10, isn't referring to substitute teachers--she's making a sandwich. Isabella and her sister Olivia, 8, are hosts of spatulatta.com, a...

Hand-me-down habits.(bad influence of older siblings, research)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Not only is your older bro obnoxious, but he could be a bad influence on you. A recent National Institutes of Health study shows that kids with at least one older sib are more likely to do stuff that can get you grounded for life--drinking,...

The green season.(students shows benefits of landscaping in school faciliites)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The red-brick building is so old-school. Some students in Cincinnati are paving the way for a green-school trend (as in, earth friendly). The first to take part in Earth Day Network's National Civic Education Project (earthday.net), the kids...

Get in line.(students in line for the Skate in School program)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... No skating permitted on school grounds? Not so fast. Millions of students are in line for the Skate in School program. Instead of silly stickball or jumping jacks, you can skate-slalom, roller-race or play street hockey during gym class. Tell...

She's a spellbinder.(Kerry Close wins 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Do we need to spell it out for you? Kerry Close, 13, did just that at the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The gal from Spring Lake, N.J., was crowned queen of the bee after spelling "ursprache," which means "a parent language," Kerry says,...

Major changes.(declaring college majors one year before, regulation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... You don't have to worry about choosing an academic major until college, right? Not so if you live in Florida. High-schoolers in the Sunshine State have to declare majors--it's the law! The bill that requires it was just signed into action by...

The other world cup.(2006 World Sport Stacking Championships)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Pyramids aren't just for cheerleaders anymore. No one knows that better than Lexi Rindone, 13. Lexi won Individual All-Around at the 2006 World Sport Stacking Championships for her combined time of 13.48 seconds in all three events--that's the...

Ice Princess.(Jasmine Roberts finds bacteria in Ice of fast food restaurants)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Jasmine Roberts, 12, of Tampa has put the freeze on her fast-food visits. Why? It boils down to her Benito Middle School science experiment. What Jasmine discovered was that ice at some restaurants had more bacteria than toilet water. Ew!...

Dear Carol.
August 1, 2006... Too Much Distance I met a guy online, and we've chatted for a few months and traded pics. We want to meet, but I live in the United States and he lives in Australia. I can't just forget him and move on, but we don't have enough money to...

Ouch, that's smart! Seems your BFF is "gifted and talented." So where does that leave you?(managing friendship with best friends)
August 1, 2006... Your best friend is in honors math and advanced language arts, otherwise known as the "smart" classes? Keep your friendship in check without feeling like you've been reduced to her intellectual inferior. THE ART OF BEING SMART No,...

New pal corral.(friendship)
August 1, 2006... Whether you're the new girl in school or you just want to expand your social circle, scoring cool friends is easier than you think. Even the most confident gal can freak a little at the thought of putting herself out there to meet new...

Mixed berries: as she always says: the more the berrier.(lipsticks)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Makeup pro Brigitte Reiss-Andersen reveals the secrets of berried treasure 1 PICK YOUR BEST BERRY Cool berry tones, like raspberry, work on light, olive and dark skin. Warm-reddish tones, like this cranberry gloss, work on beige,...

Forget me knot: be ready to take a look when you go with the bow.(fashion trends)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Get this look... This fall, mix in one great ribbon piece for a feminine but not too-cutesy look 1 TIME FOR SWEET TRIMS Ribbon is a darling detail on bags. This Alice in Wonderland tote is perfect paired with jeans and a tee. 2...

Skinny me.(weight gaining, headache treatment, and using lavender for better sleep)
August 1, 2006... I'm 13 and only weigh 94 pounds. My mom is thin, so I guess it's hereditary. Should I eat junk food to plump up? Since being thin runs in your jeans, um, genes, ask a doc if you should even try to pack on pounds, says Dr. Susan Bartell,...

Boy shopping.(boyfriend girlfriend relations)
August 1, 2006... I'm 13 and very developed. Guys in my grade don't like me, but older guys flirt with me all the time. Why aren't younger guys more interested? DAVE The very things that make you attractive to the older dudes are what intimidate boys your...

Kiss, don't tell.(frienship and family relations)
August 1, 2006... My dad acts weird about my boyfriend coming over. I told my stepmom I've kissed my BF, but how do I tell my dad without upsetting him? Almost all fathers always see their daughters as little girls. Even by the time you're dating and...

Back to cool.(school stress management)
August 1, 2006... Think you can't control those knocking knees or that blush rush? GL has the cure! G'bye, easy-breezy days of summer. Hello, school stress! Ugh. Science projects, mean teachers, friend fights and crazy crushes are enough to give a girl a...

Binderlicious: be organized and cute.(GL FUN STUFF)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WHAT YOU NEED * binders * past GL magazines * scissors * glue * clear packing tape WHAT TO DO * 1. Flip through your magazines, and find fun colorful letters to spell out the names of your classes. Find different shapes and sizes--you can...

Sassy stick-its: hang in style with personalized magnets.(decoration)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WHAT YOU NEED * poster board * scissors * colored markers * glitter * stick-on gems * decorative foam shapes * self-stick magnets WHAT TO DO * 1. Cut fun shapes out of poster board. 2. Color with markers, and decorate with glitter and...

Notes to self: our twist on the classic locker accessory.(decorating pads)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WHAT YOU NEED * newspaper * corkboard cut to fit inside your locker * spray paint * colorful duct tape * fun decorative objects from the craft store * mirror * tacky glue * puffy paint * push pins WHAT TO DO * 1. Go outside, and put down...

Save your dates: download our adorable locker calendar!(calendar art)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WHAT YOU NEED * blank GL calendar * way to laminate your calendar * dry-erase marker * ribbon * glue * tape WHAT TO DO * 1. Log on to girlslife.com to print out our blank calendar in color or black-and-white. 2. Get calendar laminated at an...

My super ex-girlfriend.(boy-girl relations and breakup)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Sure, breaking up is hard to do. But it's especially tough for Matt, who tries to dump his girlfriend gracefully. But, as it turns out, she's Jenny by day and superhero G-Girl at night. And, oooh, she's not happy about the split. So she cuts...

Step up.(Girl's LIFE top 10)("High School Musical")(Movie review)
August 1, 2006... Tyler (Channing Tatum) is more "reform" than "perform." But when he's court-ordered to do a community-service stint at a Baltimore performing-arts high school, the tough guy finds out what it really means to be on his toes. He partners up with...

Material Girls.(Girl's LIFE top 10)(Movie review)
August 1, 2006... This riches-to-rags story stars Hilary and Haylie Duff as wealthy heiresses to a cosmetics fortune that goes bust. But there seems to be a scandal behind the demise of the family makeup biz, and the girls are out to expose the, uh, cover-up....

Akeelah and the Bee.(video recording)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... This Bee wasn't killer at the box office, but it's all the buzz on DVD. Akeelah is a fictional contender (see real-girl winner, SS, page 13) who spells her way from L.A. to D.C. More than wordplay, this film tackles tough issues like fear,...

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: don't you fake it.(music bands)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Just when you think this energetic (and juicy-cute) quintet sounds like any other emo band, the guys switch gears to metalcore mode mid-song. Is it rock? Is it punk? Is it pop? The posse keeps you guessing on charged tunes like "Atrophy" and...

The Truth Squad: self-titled.(JAMS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... At first, you kinda want to roll your eyes at these mine Black Eyed Peas posers. But the beats are undeniably bad in a good way. Jade, Miki, Taylor and Boo Boo put out a vibe that makes you want to get off your hump and dance, dance, dance....

Driving Force: A&E.(A&E Television Networks to launch new program on drag-racing)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Ladies, the race is on! Sisters Courtney, 17, Brittany, 19, and Ashley, 23, inherited the need for speed from their drag-racing dad John Force. The true-life series tracks the dragster jamming clan on and off the racing strip. Vroom! Premieres...

The Strictest School in the World.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse Kids Can Press, $16.95 Emmaline is sent to a school full of secrets, monsters and a ghastly headmistress. She plans to escape in a flying contraption. Will she fall to her doom or get...

Just for You to Know.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... Just for You to Know by Cheryl Harness HarperCollins, $16.99 What happens when you put Carmen, 13, in charge of five--soon to be six--kids? You get humor and heartbreak, along with a healthy reminder of what it means to be part of a family....

Dairy Queen.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Houghton Mifflin, $16 Since Dad's accident, D.J. runs the family farm, giving her uncanny athletic abilities. And because of her brothers, D.J. knows football. A girl on an all-male team? Rah-rah!

A girl like ... Rihanna.(conversation with the singer)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... You shake it to "SOS," and sing loud and proud to "Pon de Replay." When GL spoke to Rihanna, she'd just wrapped a New York show and was jetting to Italy and Portugal. But the beauty from Barbados isn't just touring her heart out. Rihanna was...

Mitchel Musso.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... AGE 14 HOMETOWN Somewhere in Texas WHY YOU KNOW HIM He's BGF Oliver Smokin' Oken on Disney's wildly popular Hannah Montana. WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIM Mitch has a dog named Stitch. WHAT'S NEXT? Mitchel is starring in the major animated...

The sweet life of Ashley Tisdale.(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Please do not talk to Ashley Tisdale about how she looks like Hilary Duff. She knows. She's heard the comparisons umpteen times, and she's over it. She has talent and blond hair so, presto, she got hired. That's how Holly wood works--executives...

This was my idea!(KAREN the Editor's Page)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... Here at GL, we always have just one person in mind when we create each issue--you. And, like any good friend, we're always open to suggestions. This past May, we asked over 1,000 GL girls what you most wanted to see in the back-to-school issue....

How to ... we've got fall's nine biggest trends and the no-fail ways to wear them--right here. Fashion class is now in session.
August 1, 2006... 1 work a vest without looking like a waiter 2 stay warm without killing your style 3 incorporate embroidered pieces without looking like a craft project 4 be pretty in ribbon and lace without looking like you're in your underwear...

Back to school survival guide: from putting the kabosh on first-day jitters to acing final exams, here's how to take your school year by storm.
August 1, 2006... You've hit the store for a fresh stack of binders. You snapped up a new stash of your favorite pens. You've even found a couple super-stylin' fab fall outfits (so what that it's still 94 degrees outside?). But, then, as you are lying in bed one...

What kind of back-to-school makeover do you need? Want a spankin' new you for back-to-school but have no clue where to begin? Change is good, and we're here to help ya figure it out!
August 1, 2006... There's no better time than back-to-school to bust out a brand new you, but what if you have no idea what you need to change? GL assigns you to take this quiz, pronto. [1] Ya love her dearly but, last year, you couldn't help being jealous...

Out of focus: Ann 16, never fit in at school and figured she was just not smart. But that changed after she was diagnosed and treated for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Now, nothing can keep this girl from reaching her goals.(Personal account)
August 1, 2006... When I was little, I thought I was just like any other kid. But by fourth grade, I was sure there was something different about me. I couldn't keep up in school, and I found it impossible--no matter how hard I tried--to pay attention in class....

Mouse trap: imagine you're on MySpace and meet a totally cool guy who says he's your age, lives nearby and has tons of things in common with you. Would you let him into your life--or remember that he's a complete stranger?
August 1, 2006... No doubt about it, hangin' out online is even cooler than self-tanners and Vanilla Coke. Pre-Internet, all you could count on for friends were kids from your school, church and neighborhood. Now, with a few keystrokes, you can reach out to the...

You've got the right? It might be hard to believe you have any rights at all when you can get totally grounded for something your little brother did. Brutal. But teens do have rights, and here are some you should know about.
August 1, 2006... The days of chugging Pepsi from a school vending machine are probably gone. And remember when boys used to wear low-ridin' pants that fell to their knees? Seems teens have less and less rights--and not just at school. But can a teacher give you...

There's no place like home: imagine: no more teachers, no more books, no more students' dirty looks ... and it's September. Wait--could you have hit that snooze button one too many times?
August 1, 2006... I'm definitely just a normal kid, like everybody else. I have an 18-year-old sister and a close relationship with all of my family. But, unlike other kids, I never go to bed on Sunday night and dread having to go to school the next day. I...

Makeup bag bliss.(girls grooming and skin care tips)
August 1, 2006... Hundreds of cosmetics lines. Thousands of shades. So which are perfect for you? GL asked Debra Macki, celeb makeup pro and creator of Debra Macki. Cosmetics; and nail expert Essie Weingarten, founder: of Essie Cosmetics, to cut through the...

12 new, pretty, do-them-in-five-minutes ways to wear your hair this fall.(hairdressing)
August 1, 2006... 1 MESSY TIED-BACK HAIR How to keep messy from looking sloppy? A chic center part and a luxurious pony holder. Comb your hair back with your fingers, and secure your hair low to one side. Let pieces at the front fall out to frame your face....

Skirts are the new jeans! Don't believe us? Throw on your favorite top then, instead of reaching for denim, try on one of these fresh new fall skirts.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Your fitted zip-front hoodie goes girly when paired with a tiered skirt. Add cowboy boots and a trendy cropped vest, then layer on hold necklaces to tie your look together. Love your curves! This lacy top is adorable with jeans. But add a...

I thought I was chatting with a teen ... Brittany had lots of friends on MySpace. One was Matt. But the "New Teen in Town" turned out to be someone who gave Brittany the shock of her life.(Personal account)
August 1, 2006... BY BRITTANY, 16, AS TOLD TO SANDY FERTMAN RYAN My Space is great. You basically have your own website, and people read your stuff, look at your photos and ask to be listed as your "friend"--which means they can go to your personal pages....

Star signs.(Column)
August 1, 2006... Leo 7/23-8/22 AUGUST You're ultra-pumped to prep for school. While you're shopping for supplies, hit the mall for a mini-makeover. Recycle your look. Coot clothes + a different 'do = a spankin' new you. SEPTEMBER Once you get your...

And how was your day? School bus idol.(embarrassing moments)(Personal account)
August 1, 2006... I was on the bus for a field trip, listening to my iPod with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes, everyone was giggling at me. I didn't even realize I had been singing out loud! As I was using a public bathroom, I noticed there was no...

Heckle & hide.(Celeb Moment)(embarrassing moments)(Personal account)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... I was singing in a show at school, and everybody thought it was corny that I was doing a country song. I was a freshman and felt like a little dork, and all the seniors were in the audience. I got onstage and started singing a Shania Twain...