Fashionably Fab: (YOU)

Being fashionable doens't always have to break your pockets. There are numerous ways you can look good while spending less money. Before you throw out all those old clothes in the back of your closet think twice. Many trends come back around sooner than later. You can dress up and old pair of jeans with boots, heels, a stylish jacket, and so on. For ladies adding accessories to your wardrobe gives you numerous looks with the same outfit. An accessory adds glitz to your already glammed up style. For men a fresh cut, nice cologne, and a stylish shoe or boot will do you just. Everything that you purchase dosen't always have to have a high end price tag. Many stores have several clearance racks that you can clean up on several pieces of clothing. If you shop off seasons you get excellent deals at almost 75% off. Now that sounds like some shopping well worth it. Take your time when your shopping for fabulous clothing. Shop at multiple locations for better deals on pricing for the same piece your looking for. Envision a look for yourself and try to replicate a unique style. Also consignment shops have amazing steals that can add more style to your already fashionable wardrobe............

Hott Topic: (Education)

They say the key to success is to get a proper education. Graduating from high school is very challenging now days for teens. Certian standards have to be met before you can walk across the stage. Most feel like if you have put your best foot foward academically than earning your diploma is a notch under your belt. Well, think again. Now teens also have to pass standardized testing before they can even walk across the stage and receive their already hard earned diploma. Teens have been challenged more so now than ever. Some states are calling the teens out with theses new standardized testing. Is it the teens that should be challenged or should we challenge our educators? If the educators are not teaching the proper material to our teens than how do we expect to continuously test our teesn. Are our educators given the proper tools to educate our teens? If there aren't proper materials to educate our teens, than who shall we blame? Why continuously take from our schools without giving back to them? Is it more important to tear scchools down and than over crowd the remainders? Is it more important to rebuild football fields and soccer fields than to purchase updated books for our teens or provide tutoring after and during school? Isn't it crucial that we properly educate, train, and support our teens for they are our future???????????

Love Charms: (LOVE)

Love, what is the meaning of this word to you? The book defines love as a strong affection arising for another  based on kinship or personal ties. So with this being defined as such, we all have a keen instinct for love. From the time of birth, to toddler stage, into pre-teen and teen years we develop our own feelings for love. As we hit puberty we are flooded with all types of feelings. We sort through so many different types of emotions. We start having attractions to the opposite sex. The first is always considered our first love. Wow, we have begun to say i love him/her. Not our parents or anyone can tell us anything different. We spend countless hours daydreaming about the one we love. We get tongue tied when we talk about them or when we conversate with them. So now were into the dating stage. We are now "In Love". Being in love and loving someone at this point bares no meaning to us, it's all the same. All we know here on out is that love is love and we are living abundantly in it. We think about this person all the time, talk about them daily, and can spend all our time with this person. We doodle their names on anything we get our hands on and every time the phone rings we jump to get it as if our life depends on it. LOVE takes us all as passengers so if you aboard be ready for the ride of your life.............

News & Views: (Birth Control)

We all hear so many different views on what age we should get our teens on birth control. We also all have different opinions on what age we should have the talk with our teens on sex. With every child no two are alike. Each child requires a different approach that will surely keep us as parents on our toes. I say start teaching children as soon as they arrive at the doors of school. Once children walk through the doors of school someone is already subjectively inflencing your child. Children are very smart and most learn from observation. Some think,  just because you educate on the subject matter of safe sex prevention that your giving the ok to teens to do just that. Its not saying that but in fact the opposite. The most popular taught safe sex prevention method is ABSTINENCE. There are numerous safe sex prevention methods for teens you just have to have the right one for your teen. Along with safe sex prevention methods comes plenty side effects that could be harmful to your teen. Parents and teens can benefit on getting re-educated  with the newly updated safe sex prevention methods. If the parents aren't educated properly how do we expect to educate our teens with the proper information????

Fashion 411:

All of us have an inner unique style. What we put into ourselves is what we get outwardly. There should be no limitations when we are being creatively unique. Who decides what's fashionably correct or fashionably wrong? Everyone will have an opinion but if you let others dictate your style than your no longer you. You have become a replica of societies standards of fashionable bloops and blunders. We all get inspiring ideas when looking at celebs in music videos and tv shows, shopping around, visions from season to season, and so on. Great ideas come from those who go way beyond the standard of what is considered the norm. Knowing what looks good on your specific body type is the first step in being fashionably fab. The next step is then matching clothing with your personality type. We wear and purchase certian clothing  based on how we are feeling.  With these few things being said why not make your next move in fashion your best move yet..............

Beauty 411:

What is the definition of beauty? Beauty is defined as a quality that gives pleasure to the senses. So what does this mean for you? Everyone has their own defining factor as to what is beauiful in their eye. Some can look at a persons physical appearnce and say he/she is very beautiful. Some can sit and hold a conversation with a person and after it is over, they walk away saying "what a beautiful person he/she is" based on their personality and their way with words. Some can be defined as beautiful just on the way they interact with their children, friends, & neighbors. Others will be defined as beautiful based on the kind gestures they make such as volunteering at homeless shelters, giving freely to charitable organizations, and always having an open arm for the less fortunate. With all the ways we can look at beauty through our very own eyes we also hold the key to being Beautiful ourselves. Beauty is never just an outward appearance it's more of an internal appeal. So the next time you hear that you are Beautiful believe that you are in every aspect of your bone...................

Love & War: (The Battle of the Heart)

Have you ever dated someone thats very smothering? You feel like you are loosing yourself while your with this person. Most teens today are involved in relationships at a rapid rate. Some teens feel the pressure of their relationships as they get a little older. They realize that they no longer want to be seriously involved . They  miss hanging out with their bff's  and just enjoying the everyday life. They also come to realization that it was way too soon to be totally committed to this one person. If you ask  teens today how do they feel about being in serious relationships most will say they wouldn't want to be in one. Teens learn by repetition and the home life. If their friends are seriously involved then they sometimes follow suit. If their friends are all just casually dating  more than likely thats what their doing too. Most teens like their freedom and relationships can sometimes be smothering to them. I say enjoy your teenage years, give yourself plenty  time to love yourself, and never forget what's most important to you............

News & Views: (Teen Bullying)

What age do we notice that are babies are no longer our little babies? Right before our eyes they grow up into their own person. We as parents have nurturing instincts the day they are born. We love unconditionally their whole lives expecting nothing in return. We cry as we drop them off for the very first time as preschoolers. We don't want to leave our babies alone with all these strangers. From this point on they start becoming into their own person and have started to develop independency. Once they transition to kindergarten they now make friends of their own and parents now have little helpers as they start maturing more and more. We like to teach our kids to share with others but for some this is not as easy. We see children having tantrums in the malls, screaming and yelling when they are told no, and also hitting and kicking the parents  in some cases. Is this what leads to teen bullying as the child progresses into the teenage  years? Teen bullying is a very big problem today in some schools. How can we teach our children that this is a very serious offense? Should there be treatment programs offered at the schools for the bullies as well as for the bullied? Should we charge the parents for their childs actions? If the parents aren't taking this serious than how can we expect our teens to. Teen bullying in some cases can lead to suicide, teens dropping out of school, and far more serious crimes. I say the schools and the parents get more involved with the day to day activities of our teens. If everyone is turning their heads looking the other way who is to save the lives of our teens??? You be the judge on this one............

Hott Topic:(Teen Nightlife)

Everyone likes to have a good time. We as adults sometimes forget all the fun times we had in our teenage years. House parties are now a thing of the past for most. Todays teens have ventured on a whole new spotlight of fun. A party now, isn't a party unless it's extravagant and filled to capacity with a boatload of guests. Teens now plan Sweet 16 B-Day bashes that parents spend lucrative amounts of cash on. Parents buy outlandish gifts for their teens in hopes that they will be responsible. Do parents live out their teen lives through their children? All parents want to give their child more then they had as a child growing up. We still should set boundaries with our children while still providing a realistic way of life. So many new, fun, and exciting things now days for our teens to enjoy. Clubs were said to be for the older teens. Now teens as young as 12  or maybe even younger can go party until midnght. Is it safe to say that many parents are ok with this? At what age do we allow our minor teens to attend nightclubs? Most teens look forward to a weekend of fun just to go to the nightclub. If parents boycotted these clubs, would this cause chaos? A club with an age group between 11-18 causes for parental supervision and a raised eyebrow. Parents aren't staying, owners aren't observing, & is their enough security? Numerous thoughts run rampant in my mind as i write this article. I'm all for our teens enjoying their youth but with more parental involvement. The nightlife will always be here teens. It was there as i was teen and it's still here as i am in my adult years. Once you experience everything at such a young age, now what will you have to look forward to? You be the judge on this one..............

Trends & Blends: (Jeans, Jeans, & more Jeans)

Who decides whats in and whats out? Teens have always been the majority determining factor of all trends. New styles are embarked upon us month after month. If just a handful of teens decide at that very moment it's a go than the trend starts. It's like a hurricane hitting multiple cities at a time before anyone has a chance for a clear picture. One minute a certain tennis shoe is the hottest for a couple years than its back to the vault it goes. One style that never will fade is a pair of jeans with a fitted t-shirt. Jeans have evolved over the years dramitcally. New styles, cuts, fits, and numerous ways their worn. A pair of fitted jeans worn with a a stilleto boot  adds sex appeal vs. a pair of loose jeans worn with a work boot which gives a more casual look. This style has history behind it and every age group can give account on this never dying trend. Teens today are more tuned in to becoming the trendsetters of the day. What adds the glitz to any outfit it what you do individually  to make your style your own. Any trend at the time is a sure winner for that era so we just wait and see what the next one will be. They say history is a repeater and we all are witnesses to this never ending style. You be the judge on this one................

Love & War: ( The Break Up)

Why are some break ups like a hangnail? The burning and aching feeling is there throbbing everytime it's snagged. Just like your heart breaking, aching, and tearing into pieces as you think you'll never love again. They say the sweetest loves are the young loves. Young love has the greatest chances to blossom. It teaches you lessons early on, that will carry over with you thru adulthood. I say a feeling that all have experienced is a "Broken Heart". No one can tell you how or when you will get past a "Broken Heart" but i can tell you that you will. This for some will be the darkest moment in their lives, so they think. Sometimes the break up only lasts a week, maybe a month, or even just a day for the young. Most will have only one true love that they never really get over. All will have the many possibilites of could haves and would haves. The young heart bounces back faster than a semester of High School. No one ever knows if their relationship will last a lifetime but we all would love to defeat the odds. Can you accept that one day he/she will break your heart? At that moment you will vow to never love again. Shortly there after you will have new interests. The pains of the heart are just mere lifes lessons that make you into the beautiful person you are. Love and Love again~

Hott Topic: (The Bond)

Who do you tell your secrets to? Is it you bff or your boyfriend/girlfriend? Is it your parents or your brother/sister? Why is it so hard for teens to confide in their parents? Are parents too busy to sit down with their teens these days? Times have changed. When in kindergarten we take more time making sure the daily needs are met. We find ways to have meals together and have that quality time. We say "I Love You's" and tuck our little ones into bed at night. We attend opens houses, parent/teacher conferences, and help plan parties. Certain needs must be met at a young age in order for progression. Breakfast is now on the go for most parents due to early am working hours. Dinner is now prepared by some teens due to late evening working hours by their parents. Do parents notice the changes in their teens as they grow up right before their eyes? Parents come in from work tired merely saying hello's and how was your day, before hitting the shower then off to bed. Do teens feel like they can't talk to mom or dad because parents have had a long hard day at work? Do parents bring home the daily stressors of work,which could be affecting  the relationship with their teens? Bff's have now taken on the role as the confident and the person who will always have a listening ear. Parents in some cases have now been bumped from the driving seat to the backseat when it comes to their teens confiding in them. Teens now spend countless hours on social networks, playing video games, and surfing the net while at home even while parents may be home. The connection that should to be there is no longer. Parents and teens are now so busy and wrapped up in their own worlds they have lost the bond. I say we all take a look at ourselves and make time for our parents/teens. Parents take back the stolen role and teens give your parents a chance. What do you think??? You be the judge..........

Love Charms: (High School Sweetheart)

Can a High School Sweetheart last a life time? Some say it never dies and others bare to differ. When your in middle school crushes come and go like ladies change their acessories and as young men change their shoes. Once we embark on the next journey of High School, crushes turn into love interests. High School boys seem so much more mature, are taller, more muscular, and they smell good ect. We have stumbled upon a whole new era of young men who have sparked our interests. High School girls seem to have taken more pride in themselves. They have become Miss Fashionista's. They too have caught the eye of the young men who would have just snarled and glared in the past. Now we have new couple alerts as we pass each other in the hallways. We have I Love You's written on the bathroom walls and doors. We see couples holding hands walking the hallways. We see that he is now carrying her books as he walks her to her classroom. As he begins to walk away he turns back and kisses her softly on her lips. Shes smiling as she walks into her classroom. She doodles on her folders I Love You's as she takes notes in class. She is wearing his jersey or his jackect & she loves the scent of him on it. He also now tells his friends he will catch up with them later since his intersts have become more into her as she is into him. They spend countless hours talking on the phone and texing each other after school. They go to the movies, hang out at the mall, and out to dinner on the weekends. She goes to all the football and basketball games with her girlfriends as they watch the players hard on the courts and fields. Young ladies and young men have now transformed into what we call "Love Charms" which means he/she is the one i love. This goes on throughout the remainder of the Highschool years. Now we have ended our four year journey, What's next for these romances? Will they continue on as they exlplore the "College Life"? In the past most Highscool Sweetheats are just that. New Love Stories have hit them both again as the campus life takes over........ You be the judge on this