Girls' Life articles from December 2003

Girls' Life archives from December 2003

Karen the editor's page.
December 1, 2003... My junior year in high school, the editor of the school paper gave me the somewhat bland task of profiling Derek Delinger, a fab track prospect who'd recently transferred to my humble high. In the month he'd been at my school, he had managed to...

Find your perfect pen pal!(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 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?...

Kiss and tell.(We've Got Mail!)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... "How to Kiss" [O/N '03] is gross! I thought the article would include things like "kissing isn't important." I'm sorry, but learning how to kiss perfectly is not necessary. In my opinion, this article does more harm than good. --Shannon...

Beauty booty.(We've Got Mail!)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I am very disappointed with the eye shadow section of "GL Beauty School." Nowhere do I see green eyes! You only include blue, hazel and brown. Please consider other eye colors next time. Sorry we didn't make it more clear that you groovy...

Fashion fix.(We've Got Mail!)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I really enjoyed the fashion tips you gave in "What Am I Going to Wear?" [O/N '03]. At times, GL features styles even the most self-confident girl would never sport. You've come down to earth, giving me ideas for clothes I'll actually put on!...

Quiz whiz.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I just got the [O/N '03] GL and took all the quizzes. I am really impressed that you included three of them! I love your quizzes and always look forward to them. Keep 'em coming! --A reader If you can't get enough quizzes, check out...

Sweet 'n' sassy.(We've Got Mail!)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I definitely appreciated "Whirl With a Bad Girl" [O/N '03]. I'm the wild child in my group, and this article proves that not every sassy chick is a bad person! --A reader

Ga-Ga for gum.(We've Got Mail!)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I saw GL's article on how gum improves memory, and I've decided to take matters into my own hands! I'm trying to get gum-chewing allowed in school, and I'd like to know where you got your info. We love girls who take matters into their own...

Readers say Stevie Brock rocks!(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I am a huge fan of GL Cutie Stevie Brock [O/N '03]. But I was surprised to see some things in the article that I know he would never say about his fans, friends, family and Aaron Carter! Please, clear this up because I don't want anyone to...

Jammin' straight to the judge!(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Mixed CDs make great holiday gifts. But if you're planning on burning those songs you downloaded from Kazaa or Grokster, you could end up seriously burned. Just ask Brianna Lahara, a seventh-grader from New York City who found out the hard way....

Snow days!(Short Stuff)(Chill)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... How much of a shot does a disadvantaged inner-city kid have at ever ripping down the side of a mountain on a snowboard? Slim to none... if it weren't for Chill. Chill, founded by Burton Snowboards, is a program that takes kids ages 10 to 18...

Party pix.(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Wanna make your New Year's get-together a slammin' pah-tay people will talk about until, like, 2010? Toss that plain confetti in the recycling bin, and usher in your greatest year yet with Confoti. This festive fun takes your fave pics and...

Hello, Dolly!(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Since Barbie flew onto shelves in 1959, there's been a Disco Barbie, an Island Fantasy Barbie, even a Viking Barbie. But Ammar Saadeh, head of NoorArt, felt there was a hole in the lineup. Mattel doesn't offer a doll Muslim girls can relate to....

Twice as nice.(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Want to give a gift that benefits a good cause? No, we're not talking about adopting a manatee. We're talking about Presents for a Purpose, a company started by Alayna Kassan and Cynthia Warner, two courageous chicks who both survived Hodgkins...

One woman show.(Cool Girl)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Watch out, Amanda Bynes! Austin-Nichole Zachrich, 15, is hot on your heels. She sings, dances, acts and hosts her own show on public-access TV. The spunky and hilarious program Austin-Nichole & Co. covers current events, trivia, craft ideas,...

Dear Carol.
December 1, 2003... Dear Carol, I'm 16 and a serious over-talker, especially when I'm excited or nervous. People get very irritated with me, and I don't know how to stop. Please help me break this habit. Gabby Dear Gabby, Don't just think, I...

Sis bliss: we think that for the holidays you should look at your sister in a whole new light.(GL friends)
December 1, 2003... Oh, sure, your sister plucks every last nerve. Especially when she borrows clothes without asking or, worse, snitches you out. But with some attitude adjustment, you might realize you have a built-in best friend. THE AGE DIFF You've...

A photo-finish friendship: want to give your BFF something personalized this holiday season? Create a friendship book!(GL friends)
December 1, 2003... It's meaningful in a way a store-bought gift can never be. Your bud will know you put your heart and soul (and, hello, oodles of time!) into making it special. And, hey, she can't exchange it! THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD FRIENDSHIP BOOK ...

Power puff.(GL fashion: look of the moment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... It's snowing puffer jacket! We just don't recommend trying to catch them on your tongue. Hot chocolate sold separately. Guess.com, $98 Blanc Noir, $95 Wet Seal.com, $59 Tommy Jeans, $98 DKNY Juniors, $130 gojane.com,...

Sugar 'n' spice nice!(GL beauty: look of the moment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... These beauty treats are no lump of kohl. Get it? If you do, log on to girlslife.com to win everything on this page. And have a gorgeous holiday. Perfect for the 6-year-old you babysit. Strawberry Shortcake Triple Lip Gloss by Townley,...

Sick as a dog! When I am in a car and have to sit in the back seat, I feel super-nauseous. Help!(GL body: Q&A)
December 1, 2003... Ick--motion sickness is especially common in girls ages 10 to 13. It happens when your senses get all out of whack. Your inner ear, which keeps you balanced, tells your brain you're moving. Meanwhile, your eyes only see the back of your...

In a stranglehold.(GL guys: Q&A)
December 1, 2003... DAVE I advise you not to strangle him. But this dude definitely has issues. Tell him you like having him as a BF but that there are other rewarding parts to your life. Explain that you're not going to give those up to appease him and that he...

Your '04 romance resolutions: a sweater set and some shower gel are fine holiday gifts. But wouldn't you rather have a new BF?(GL guys)
December 1, 2003... Ever feel you didn't do so hot romantically in 2003 because of your hair, hips, face or whole personality? It's sick how hard a girl is on herself. Even if you don't know it, in the game show of life, you're in the lead, lady. If you really...

Split decision.(GL life: ask lucky)
December 1, 2003... My mom recently told me she is going to leave my dad after I graduate high school. She said she doesn't love him anymore and thinks marrying him was a mistake! I wish she hadn't told me this. I guess I should accept it, but I'm still freaked...

This is only a test ...: Does the mere thought of taking a test make your stomach flutter and your lips stutter? Here's a lesson in how to take your next test with finesse....(GL life)
December 1, 2003... You've studied for days, maybe even weeks, absorbing facts and figures. You've read and re-read your notes, and had your parents and sibs quiz you from a stack of index cards. You know the information inside and out, and feel ready to ace this...

Become a knit wit.(Be the first on your block to ...)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Word is out that knitting isn't just for grandmas anymore--it's the new hobby of choice for people who want to relax and destress. Seems even celebs, such as Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bullock, are picking up the knitting needles and trading in...

Be your own BFF.(Why not?)
December 1, 2003... You feel like you're going to blow, and you need to vent NOW! Confide in a secret pal (a.k.a. your private journal). It can help when you need to brag or blow off steam or tell a secret or even talk behind someone's back. Give your diary a...

Rockin' rock candy.(Make it!)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... January is National Candy Month. Who knew? Rock somebody's world with some homemade candy. One word of caution: The sugar mixture can cause sever burns if spilled, so be careful. We're not kidding! WHAT YOU NEED 1 cup water * 2 cups sugar...

Top 10.
December 1, 2003... See CAT IN THE HAT Uptown Girl Dakota Tanning phoned us (swear!) and told us Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat is one of her fave books of all time. Now it's a movie, and she's in it. As Sally Walden, she gets to tear up the house with an...

Caitlin Wachs.(Spotlight)(Brief Article)(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... AGE 14 HOMETOWN Malibu, Calif. FAMOUS FRESHMAN Caitlin is a normal ninth-grader in public high school, even though she's playing a neurotically cool and popular teen in Fox's TV comedy Cracking Up, debuting in January from the producers who...

Jeremy Sumpter.(GL Cutie)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... AGE 14 HOMETOWN Montgomery County, Ky., but he now lives in L.A. CLAIM TO FAME Jeremy is playing the boy who never grows up. Peter Pan hits theaters Christmas day. HE CAN FLY! "I auditioned for director P.J. Hogan, and he thought I was good, so...

Get this party started!
December 1, 2003... The only thing more fun than holiday meals and presents is holiday fashion! That's why we rounded up the best trends of the season and put them into one easy party planning guide--an outfit for every occasion, every day of the week. Then we...

Get your best holiday look! Change up your look every night of the week!
December 1, 2003... Picking seven perfect outfits to match your every holiday mood is hard enough. The good news is that we've made creating different beauty looks really easy. Just follow our easy number system! The bonus? We've picked the perfect handbag to...

10 friends every girl needs! Invite 10 of your closest friends ... Wait. Who has 10 close friends? After reading this, you will.
December 1, 2003... How many friends does a girl need to change her life from pretty good to gorgeously great? The answer depends on your definition of "friend." In school, you might get the idea that defining "friend" and spelling "friend" are one in the same:...

Winter dance wow: maybe it's your first school dance. Maybe it's your friend's bat-mitzvah. No matter what the occasion, here's how to have the perfect big night out!
December 1, 2003... Festive moods. Great music. Mistletoe! What's not to love about the holiday dance season? We have everything you need to know for a fabulous time at your next major school dance or party--from getting dressed to slaying stress. THE PREPS...

What's your gift-giving holiday groove? There's no time like the present to talk about presents!
December 1, 2003... When picking out the perfect present, do you have a creative talent, a sentimental streak, a funny side or a practical bent? Will this holiday reveal your true range in the art of gift exchange? Before you break out the wrapping paper, take our...

Shaking shyness: just in time for the holiday social rush, we show you how to break outta the shy shell. The best part is that these are shy-busting tips you can put to use all year round.
December 1, 2003... That cute new guy only wanted directions to the guidance counselor's office. Duh! You could have told him where it is... or even offered to walk him there. That is, if you could manage to get the words to roll off your tongue--the tongue that...

Your best year ever! Whatever your New Year's resolution--more friends, a spot on the team, better grades--we have the secrets to making your dreams come true.
December 1, 2003... Most girls' mental image of success is probably J.Lo on Its Good to Be... or Sarah Hughes scoring gold on ice or Condaliza Rice informing the country about international affairs. But what about unfamous things and less-obvious successes?...

Got a case of the holiday blues? Those Halloween costumes are barely stashed away, yet the holiday hype is already on. 'Tis the season to be jolly, right?
December 1, 2003... Not feeling so festive this year? Seems everyone else is sooo stoked--chowing on cookies hot from the oven, hitting garland-clad malls, flinging tinsel over just about everything. But the thought of picking out a tree with the folks or going...

GL's astronomical astrological 2004 cast: want the scoop on boys, buds, grades and fam for the upcoming year? Search no more.... We've got your 2004-and-411!
December 1, 2003... CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 TO JANUARY 20 COSMIC COLOR Indigo ASTRO SCENT Magnolia LUCKY DAY Saturday STELLAR TRAIT Stupendous patience CELEBS WHO SHARE YOUR SIGN Kate Bosworth, Kristin Kreuk, Samantha Mumba FRIENDS...

The blizzard: a major blizzard has been predicted all week, but 15-year old Haley Peters is more concerned about the movie date she has planned with her crush. When Haley's mom gets snowed in at work. Haley has to cancel her date to babysit her sisters. That's when she learns what's really important.(Fiction)(Short Story)
December 1, 2003... I'm sitting in the bedroom I share with my two sisters, putting the finishing touches on a paper for my freshman English class. It's due tomorrow, and I've been putting it off all week. The weather forecaster has been predicting major snow...

Deck out your boudoir!(Your Room)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... To heck with "deck the halls." We're showing you how to decorate your bedroom for the holidays... and beyond. This is not your father's tool kit! Learn the art of d.i.y. room decor with these cool tools for girls only. The Barbara K...

Star signs.
December 1, 2003... Capricorn 12/22-1/20 DECEMBER You might have a mental to-do list a mile long. But file it away for now, and enjoy the holidays (and your birthday!). Save your energy juice for later, when cool yule stuff can't distract. JANUARY Party's...

Tearin' up on the dance floor!(And How Was Your Day?)
December 1, 2003... It was at a holiday dance with my new BF, and I had the perfect dress. We were dancing to a slow song when I accidentally stomped on his foot. He tripped and stepped on my new dress, and I fell to the floor. My dress ripped straight up the...

Three's a charm.(Celeb Moment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... "I was really into devil sticks, which is sorta like juggling. I had just learned a new trick and was so psyched that I gathered the whole family to watch right before Christmas dinner. Only when I threw the stick, it came down and bopped my...