Girls' Life articles from February 2004

Girls' Life archives from February 2004

Karen the editor's page.
February 1, 2004... One of the greatest things we get to do here at GL is, in our little way, change people's lives. OK, we're not exactly creating world peace around here (though that would be nice) but, after 10 years, it's still a total thrill to get a letter...

Find your perfect pen pal!(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... 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?...

Take a byte out of crime.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I really appreciated "Jammin' Straight to the Judge!" [Short Stuff, D/J '04]. I just got a new computer with a CD burner. I was so excited to download music and burn my own CDs. I thought I'd never get caught, but the article made me realize I...

Sisters in harmony.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Thanks for the article about the two sisters who sing together [GL Friends, D/J '04]. My younger sis and I are the same ages as Alexa and Natalee. The advice Alexa gave seems to work. Now I let my little sis win some of the arguments--and sit...

Buh-bye, shy!(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Your article on how to break out of the shy shell ["Shaking Shyness," D/J '04] really helped me. I've been participating more in school and even talking to guys! This article changed my life--and I'm sure it did the same for other shy people....

Party hardy.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I loved the fashion feature "Get This Party Started" [D/J '04] because I had a school dance and was totally clueless as to what I should wear. You saved the day--and the dance! --Carrie I was surprised to see your fashion picks for...

Test triumph.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I'm glad you included "This is Only a Test" [D/J '04]. I understand the material in school but totally choke when it's time for the big test. Your article taught me to chill out and be confident!

Photo-friendly.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... "A Photo Finish Friendship" [GL Friends, D/J '04] was great. I'm making a friendship book for my BFF whose grandmother just died. I think it will cheer her up. Thanks for the rockin' idea!

10 friend flub.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... "10 Friends Every Girl Needs" was degrading. You wrote, "If you like nothing more than working, studying or doing chores on the weekend, you are somewhat of a freak." Also, you should never be friends with someone just because they're smart....

Snow job.(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I was reading "The Blizzard" [Fiction, D/J '04] with interest and was shocked to read, "Even though I live in Vermont, my high school closes if there is so much as a flake." Nice try, but over the course of one winter, most towns get from 11...

Oops!(We've Got Mail!)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2004... Our O/N '03 issue incorrectly credited the illustrator for "Goodbye, Rejection" on page 54. Jim Spence created that kick-butt drawing. Guess you could call this a "rejection" retraction. Sorry, Jim!

Happy ending of the month!(We've Got Mail!)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Thank you for letting me share my story ["What Almost Dying Taught me About Living," O/N '02]. The response I got from girls who read the article was really fantastic. So I just want everyone to know I'm doing much better (as you can see), and...

Star power.(Short Stuff)(Sisters Teaching About Relationships)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Think it'd be all Hollywood romantic it your BF were to screen your Valentines and become insanely jealous if any were from other guys? Or do you think it'd be a sign of a potentially dangerous relationship? How do you know the difference?...

Privacy patrol.(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... I Ming your BFF with secret plans of bailing outta bio club after school? Think twice before you type, 'cause Mom and Dad can be miles away at work--and reading every word. SpectorSoft has launched an innovative, yet controversial (and way up...

Her-story.(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Know the expression, "She's such a card!"? Well, you can score a whole collectible deck of dynamite dames. The Women's Museum of the Smithsonian Institute has teamed with Arrid to put out trading cards that highlight the contributions of fab...

Career connection.(Short Stuff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Wanna learn all about cool careers in the government, medicine, TV? Or even find out if your dream job is actually your idea of a nightmare? Well, the Job Shadow Coalition, in partnership with Career Corner TV, allows students nationwide to...

A little fashion never hurts.(Short Stuff)
February 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: To add insult to an injury, you're destined to commit fashion faults for at least a few weeks. Ugly casts. Frumpy crutches, riot so fast! Keep the fashion police at bay with Broken Beauties, which provides...

Homerun for equal rights.(Short Stuff)
February 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The hard-hitting players of the Blaze, and all-girls softball team in Grants Pass, Ore., won an outstanding battle on the field... and in court. The girls had to share a practice field with the city's...

Suitcase worker.(Cool Girl)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Aubyn Burnside, 18, is no newcomer to community service. Case in point: She was just 9 when she discovered that foster children in her hometown of Murrells Inlet, S.C., had to use black plastic trash bags to tote their belongings from foster...

Dear Carol.
February 1, 2004... Dear Carol, I've been going to parties where there is drinking. I don't want to drink, but I don't know what to say when people offer me alcohol. Too Much Peer Pressure Dear Too Much, Here are three things you could say: 1....

'Tude about your dude! Your BFF doesn't exactly dig your BF? What's up with that?(friends)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... You and your crush are finally an item, but your BFF is suddenly icing him out completely. What's got her so down on him? Hmmm, let's check out some possibilities... GREEN WITH ENVY Wouldn't you be a tad envious? You're ga-ga over a great...

Greetings she will gobble up.(BFF Giveaway)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Valentine's Day comes and goes, but you toy your best bud year-round, Show it with Candy Care greeting cards that have tasty treats inside, Your kind words will be that much sweeter. There's one for almost every holiday and occasion, and some...

Forever friends.(friends)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Ever wonder what it really means to be a true-blue friend? In the novel Circle of Friends by River Cocco. six 13-year-old thick-as-thieves buds find out just what it takes to puff together and make their friendship last. Expecting to cruise on...

BFF dilemma of the month.(boyfriends)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... 'I am the only one of my friends who doesn't have a boyfriend. How can I keep from feeling like a third wheel?' 'All day long, my friends talk about their BFs, and I never have anything to say since I don't have one. I feel left out.' ...

Bud boundaries: nothing's better than a BFE ... but what would you do if your friend were stepping out of bounds big-time?(friends)
February 1, 2004... Face it--friendship is great, but it takes work. The people you adore the most can also hurt you the most. Mix-ups and misunderstandings do happen. But when do you forgive and when do you get furious? Figure it out by testing your BFF...

Wrist watch.(Fashion: look of the moment)(wrist purses)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... It's a purse! It's a bracelet! Nope--it's the groovy new wristlet! Cooler than a clutch (and so much less bulky than a shoulder bag), these little wonders hold everything you need--without you having to hold them. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Pretty in pink.(beauty: look of the moment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ... and ravishing in red, these little beauty lovelies are sure to turn heads. [IILUSTRATION OMITTED] Captions: Show your shower a little love! Tea Rose Glycerine Heart Soaps, three for $15, crabtree-everlyn.com Sassy candle,...

Ohm at home.(Body: Q&A)
February 1, 2004... In the winter, there are plenty of flu bugs. Why is it so much harder to catch the exercise bug? Maybe because it's icky and icy out, and working out at home can be as appearing as cleaning your room. What you need to do is make physical...

Chocolate! Purely a guilty pleasure? Pure fiction!(Fact or Fiction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Candy cravers, unite! Studies show Chocolate has properties that combat Heart disease-tanks to flavanoids from the cocoa plant. They lower cholesterol and prevent fat buildup in arteries. But don't think this is a green light to go all...

Good, bad, ugly.(Guys)
February 1, 2004... I broke up with my BF, and he didn't take it well. He spread rumors about me cheating on him. Then he told all the guys to never ask me out because I'd cheat on them, too. But I never cheated on him at all! BILL Knock the kid down a notch...

She's battin' eyes for your guy: have you ever had the cutest, most perfect guy as a boyfriend--only to have your BFF steal him away? It happens and when it does, it hurts ... a lot.(guys)
February 1, 2004... For months, Natalie has been going out with juicy Josh, making her the envy of all her friends. Josh is a star athlete, star pupil and even starred in the school play (no kidding). He's all-around practically, well, perfect. Best of all,...

The friendship test.(life: ask Lucky)
February 1, 2004... I think my friends might be using me. They ask for money every day, and after I give it to them they go, "You're the best!" Then, on projects and stuff, they copy off my paper. When I say "no," they just go, "Geez, you're so mean!" It hurts my...

Gettin' outta hot water: whether you're treading lightly or in way over your head, we show you how to burst that big ol' bubble known as trouble.(life)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Has your BFF ever iced you out because you let a secret slip? Ever told your morn you were going to the movies (G-rated) when you were really going to a party (with seniors) and then been blatantly busted? Totally spaced on a friend's b-day?...

Score some brownie points.(Why not?)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Think an ooey-gooey greeting card is the way to your crash's heart? Maybe. But we're placing our bets on these ooey-gooey brownies. Bring a batch of these to class and be all, "Try one of my brownies, Kevin!" He'll think you're the sweetest...

Get your poetic license.(Be the first on your block to ...)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Are you filled to the brim with dreams, notions and imaginings that are just burning to be put to the page? Well, get ready to be inspired, because we've got Angst: Teen Verses from the Edge ($8.95, Workman), an anthology of outspoken poetry by...

Sachet away!(Make it!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WHAT YOU NEED fabric * matching thread * newspaper * marker * needle * straight pins * pillow stuffing * potpourri * lace, decorative beads or iron-on designs WHAT YOU DO 1. Cut a 10-inch square from your fabric. If your fabric is...

Catch that kid.(Flicks)
February 1, 2004... Twelve-year-old Maddy isn't just scooping coins from the change jar--hope, she's pulling off a bank heist. Her dad is in need of lifesaving surgery, so Maddy and her buddies are out to get the cash to cover the medical costs. Think these kids...

You got served.(Flicks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... It's still cold out, but the weather's perfect for watching babes burn up the big screen. See some hot moves by majorly hot dudes like B2K and Marques Houston. B2K's Omarion plays David who, with bud Elgin (Marques), leads one of the coolest...

Agent Cody banks 2.(Flicks)
February 1, 2004... When the CIA has a top-secret mind-control device lifted by one of their own, they once again call on their lean, mean, teen crime-fighting machine. Cody's back! This time, he's infiltrating an elite boarding school. He's got all new gadgets...

The Prince and me.(Flicks)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... What better reason to plant yourself in a theater seat than to see a love story in which the girl gets Prince Charming? He's Prince Edvard of Denmark (Luke Mably), but Paige (Julia Stiles) only knows him as Eddie at school. Serious sparks fly...

The Fattening Hut.(Reads)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... by Pat Lowery Collins, Houghton Mifflin, $15 Helen's carefree life takes a punch when she's told it's time to enter the fattening hut to prepare for marriage. In order to conform to tribal custom, she must do nothing but sit and eat until...

Mable Riley: a Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril and Romance.(Reads)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... by Marthe Jocelyn, Candlewick, $15.99 Meble dreams of fame and adventure as a writer. Ambitious thoughts at a time when young women are expected to be school marms until they marry and have babies. Even Mable's best friend Hattie is Miss...

SSX 3: EA Sports.(Games)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Winter is waning, so catch some air on the slopes in SSX 3, a fly snowboarding game. The girls own the downhill-skills spotlight, with lots of cool characters, like wild-child Allegra or Kaori, who speaks Japanese! A slammin' soundtrack...

Oh! From the girls.(Jams)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Various Artists This CD contains rare and live tracks from Dido, Avril Lavigne, Erin McKeown, Tori Amos and 12 other female musicians. And there's a movement in the music. The proceeds go to Oh! Get the Money, a public service program that...

Warming Up.(Jams)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Ruby Fradkin "Ragtime" Ruby is compared to legendary jazz musicians Count Basie and Professor Longhair. But Ruby's talent may be a bit more prodigious than her counterparts--she's 12! Playing since age 6, Ruby's moving on up from her...

Blackstar.(Jams)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Yahzarah The sweet-and-spicy lamentations of love and life as sung by Yahzarah are the perfect recipe for wooing. Combining R&B, soul and warm undertones of hip-hop, Yahzarah belts out her best work on "Wishing," "Feel Me" and "Love is...

DaRazkalzCru.(Cutie Special!)
February 1, 2004... Our gift to you fox Valentine's Day? Six babes so adorable we wanted to squeeze them into a heart-shaped box and deliver it right to your door. For now, this will have to do! Cut 'em out, stick 'em on your notebook! glue 'em to the wall....

Tyler Hoechlin.(Cutie Special!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGE 16 HOMETOWN Corona, Calif. CLAIM TO FAME The handsome new kid on the block on WB's 7th Heaven. "I'm the guy who moves in across the street, and I start dating Cecelia. Which was kind of a Camden family trauma when they first found out. But...

Freddy Adu.(Cutie Special!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGE 14 HOMETOWN Tema, Ghana. But seven years ago, he moved to Potomac, Md., a suburb near Washington, D.C. CLAIM TO FAME Freddy was just Signed to Major League Soccer, and hopes to make the U.S. team at the 2006 World Cup. Not only is he a...

Greg Smith.(Cutie Special!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGE 14 HOMETOWN He's moved a lot but lives just east of Charlottesville, Va. CLAIM TO FAME He's a boy genius, who attends grad school at University of Virginia, striving toward not just one PhD--but four! He earned a bachelor's degree in...

Kevin Alexander Clark.(Cutie Special!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGE 15 HOMETOWN Highland Park, Ill. CLAIM TO FAME Kevin has been playing drums since age 3, which landed him the role of 10-year-old Freddy Jones in School of Rock. SURROUND SOUND The skins are Kevin's nourishment of choice, but he's tried 'em...

Drake Bell.(Cutie Special!)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AGE 17 HOMETOWN Toluca Lake, Calif. CLAIM TO FAME Drake and his co-star Josh Peck from The Amanda Show on Nick, now have their own show, aptly named, The Drake and Josh Show (it airs 7:30 p.m. on Sundays on TeeNick). BAND FRONTMAN Drake is also...

"GL, make me over!" Seven girls. Seven days. Seven big changes. The outcome? Nothing short of amazing!
February 1, 2004... We randomly chose seven readers to have a week like none they've ever experienced. While many teen magazines have given girls new haircuts or darker shades of lip gloss, we at GL had to take it a step further. Like, a lot of steps further! ...

The secret language of like: sneaky ways to let your crush know you pig him--without saying a word!
February 1, 2004... Brandon has gotta be the most boss boy to ever eat tater tots in a school cafeteria. Not only is he an ultimate hottie, he's captain of the boys' b-ball team, student council prez, an honor roll staple, plus a totally friendly, funny guy. ...

What makes you so darn irresistible? There's something about Mary. And Carrie and Sarah and Cindy and Sue ... and you! Can't put your finger on it?
February 1, 2004... Ever wonder what it is people love about you? And while we're on the subject, what pieces of your personality could you tone down a bit and crank up a notch to make you even more magnificently magnetic? 1 Your gang is spending a snowy...

Ending the Mom wars: deja vu. Are you at odds with a parent over the same prob ... over again? Here's how to make peace, once and for all.
February 1, 2004... You're constantly clashing with parent over the same tired issue. Maybe she's set an outlandishly early curfew... which you always seem to accidentally-on-purpose break... which leads to an even earlier curfew. Or maybe Morn won't let you...

Can you take the heat? Pop quizzes, buzzer shots, split-second decisions, pressure is everywhere, can you handle it?
February 1, 2004... Pop quizzes, Buzzer shots, Split-second decisions, Pressure is everywhere. Can you handle it? Your parents expect straight A's. Your coach says you re not playing up to our "potential." Your teachers tell you to "apply" yourself better....

Your 10 most embarrassing body questions answered: you're going through puberty (duh), and you have questions (who doesn't). The only problem? You're afraid to ask! No worries--we took your most baffling body Q's to the experts for you.
February 1, 2004... You've got things on your mind. Private things. While your hormones are having a wild party inside your bod, your brain is racing wig questions about what s really up with what's going on down below. So where do you find decent answers about...

100 fab spring & fashion beauty finds ... all under $20!
February 1, 2004... Who says you can get something fabulous for (next to) nothing? Not us! We found dozens of rocking new looks, all for dirt cheap. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Bag with interchangeable snap-on letters, $18, Gurls Luv Bags by Zone 88...

Losing my dad: none of my friends could understand what I was going through.
February 1, 2004... Beth White, 16, wanted to be close to her dad while he was drying. But his illness made him a stranger to her. Now, she shares her heart-breaking story of losing her father to cancer. When I think of my dad, I remember all the special times...

Knockout room re-do's.(Your Room Special!)
February 1, 2004... Four girls. Four cribs. Fab friends. A few designers. A couple of carpenters. And a whole bunch of bedroom-bumping imagination. GL girls get complete pad overhauls thanks to the team from ABC Family's home-decorating show Knock First (tune in...

Star Signs.
February 1, 2004... Aquarius 1/21-2/18 FEBRUARY Oh, you'll be looking into your crystal ball and thinking about the futures--PSATs, perhaps? Balancing body and mind (try yoga]) puts you in an ideal place for planning ahead. This is your month to take control...

Mistaken identity.(And How Was Your Day?)
February 1, 2004... I decided to walk up to my crush and hand him a homemade valentine signed, "Please be my valentine. I like you." I saw him talking to his friends in the hallway with his back to me, so I thought I'd drop the card into his bag without him...

Slammin' V-Day ...(Celeb Moment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... It was the day before Valentine's Day, and I was putting all the Valentines I'd made into everyone's locker. When I got to one particular locker--my secret crush's--I saw him coming my way, so I tried to hurry and put the Valentine in before he...