Little Monsters Rejoice!

If you are a Little Monster, a.k.a. Lady Gaga fan, the wait is over. Raise your claws, because Lady Gaga’s highly-anticipated 3rd album, Born this Way, has been released today. According to the daytime talk show, The View, the album is already #1 on itunes in over 22 countries. So grab some of your girls for a listening party or go visit her website for upcoming TV performances and all things Gaga.

And another thing. . .
The official first day of summer is only a few weeks away. It’s never too early to start adding fruit to your diet to keep your body in shape. Read Yolanda’s blog about the health benefits of eating apples. The phrase, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,” may actually have some truth to it after all.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!

There’s more to apples than we think! There are several benefits associated with apples and apple juice. Apples are a great source of several vitamins, and nutrients. They not only provide fiber and pectin, (which help keep our bodies running efficiently and in good health but have been included in the diet of people who have weight loss goals.

Here’s a list of apple benefits:

Benefits of apples

1) Great source of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre reduces risk of heart disease therefore “APPLES ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOUR HEART.”

2) Liver toner and blood purifier. Apparently, apple juice helps fight infections and viruses via blood purification as well as through acting as a liver toner.

3) Fight skin eruptions.

4) Source of VitC. It is better to eat apples with their skin on. About half of their Vitamin C content is found underneath its skin.

5) Weight Loss. Apples also make a perfect snack for dieters.Due to its fiber content, apples help you feel full quicker and longer thereby preventing you from binging on other sugary or fatty foods.

6)Protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s. Phenolics, which are the antioxidants found in apples, protect the nerve cells from neurotoxicity.

7) Teeth cleanser. Apples are slightly acidic and, because of this astringent property, they make an ideal product form cleaning and whitening the teeth. The Crunchy action of apples, act like natural toothbrushes when they are chewed in your mouth. Their crunchy parts help scrub the stains off your teeth. However don’t expect your teeth to whiten in a day. The process will take a while.

Fascinating! Who would have known, the hidden “power” of apples.

Support Your Sisters!

As females, we can be really hard on each other with our criticism and negative talk; we should be there to support each other. We may have different family backgrounds or cultures, but in a lot of ways we are alike. We want the best for ourselves and we should want the same for others, too. We shouldn’t feel less than if we feel someone has more than we do. Others’ talents can serve as a positive example of what we can achieve for ourselves.

So, if you’re not sure how to support the girls around you, start with some of these suggestions:

1. Congratulate someone when they do well in a class or get accepted to the high school or college of their choice.

2. Compliment someone you don’t know on something you think looks cool: hair, shoes, clothes.

3. Listen, if your BFF is having a bad day, and think of something fun you can do together.

4. Call someone to let them know you’re thinking about them. If talking on the phone is not your thing, a text, Facebook or twitter message will do.

5. Show your support by going to see a friend or family member if she has a performance or is planning an event.

These are a few ways you can “show some love” for your friends. It will make you feel great and let your friends know that you have their back, 100 percent!

Life After High School

You’ve spent most of your life in school and now, the end of high school is almost here. You’ve had a fab time as a senior. You’ve laughed until you were crying tears. And. . .you’ve cried tears over  the break-up with “your boo.” You’ve studied soo hard for your math exam and were thankful when you had a “B” on your test. So the question is, you have the diploma, now what? With the celebration and high-fives of graduation, you may need to take a moment to think of your next move.

1. Get ready for college. If you’re leaving for college in the fall, summer may not be a time for you to put your feet up and relax. You may want to get a job to have money for books, supplies and entertainment (sports, school events, parties). Use your time during the summer to make sure all of your school paper work is complete. I knew a few people who made it to campus, only to find out their financial packages had not been paid for the semester. Lastly, take this time to get all the supplies you need to make your room feel like home.

2. Go to a trade school or arts school. Let’s face it, college is not for everyone, but you can still go to school for something you love. If you are great with your hands, there are schools to teach you the proper techniques to make repairs on cars or do electrical work. If you love the arts, there are also schools for acting, dance and writing programs.

3. Work a retail or fast food job. These are not seen as glamorous jobs, but you never know where they may lead you. These jobs are great if you have a positive attitude and love working with customers. Many retail and fast food companies have incentive programs to keep their employees motivated. Who knows, you could be promoted to a manager in a few years. Many directors and senior management in fast food companies and retail jobs started as entry-level employees.

4. Research job industries. You may not know what you want to do and that’s okay. You can start with making a list of all the things you have fun doing and find out if there is a career that fits your interests. Your school guidance counselor and local librarian can help with this, too.

5. Find a training program. There are many jobs that want to hire young talent and are willing to pay you while you learn. Companies that have programs like this include retail, insurance and technology companies.

6. Be an intern for the summer. There have been many business executives and entrepreneurs that gained career experience as interns. There are many paid and unpaid internship programs by non-profit organizations and corporations. They’re a great way to learn more about an industry and it could possibly lead to a job.

Good luck and have fun!
Jen:)

Girls Can Ball, Too! Jordan Brand Signs Maya Moore

Jordan Brand signs, b-ball player, Maya Moore! Congrats to Moore for becoming the first female basketball player signed to the Jordan Brand, a division of athletic retailer and manufacturer, Nike. Moore is considered to be one of the best to ever play the game. She successfully led the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Huskies to a 150-4 record. Maya Moore was also instrumental in UCONN’s NCAA titles wins in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Read more about Maya’s dynamic basketball career here. I’m sure this will pave the way for other ladies in the game. I can’t wait to see how her “sneakers” look.

Today was also the launch of Beyonce’s video, “We Run the World (Girls).” If you missed it here’s a link to her video. Go Bey!

have a great night,

Jen

CollegeTalk Scholarship (16yrs and older)

CollegeTalk Scholarship

Provided By: The College Inquirer

Deadline: August 14, 2011

Type of Award: Scholarship

Amount: $750

Awards Available: Unspecified

Website: http://collegeinquirer.com/scholarship/

Description: The CollegeTalk Scholarship is available to students ages 16 and older. To be considered, you must, in 600 words or less, tell who you want as your president from 2012 to 2016.

Applicable Majors: All Fields of Study

Additional Information: Please visit the sponsor’s Web site for additional information.

Preppin’ for Tests

Hey, it’s Monday!

We have reached mid-May. Wow, where did all the time go? Anyway, Monday is a great day to get reenergized and get back on your grind. I’m sure you have so much on your plate right now with school events, projects and of course, final exams. Don’t worry, our girl, Ariam, is here to give you tips on how to prepare for finals without getting stressed. Yes, it is actually possible to get ready for finals and have fun in the process!

Have a great week,

Jen

Finals Week: Don’t Stress it!

You can’t imagine the stresses one endures during “Finals Week.” For some classes, grades rely on finals week. Yesterday a friend of mine told me she hasn’t taken one exam for her Women Studies class. I was shocked! “So you mean to tell me, this final exam counts for more than half of your final grade?”
Already I knew the answer.
Some teachers drown in grading papers and preparing lectures all semester that they don’t have much to grade students. And this final exam counts for your grade in the class.
Luckily, my professors were smart enough to assign quizzes and tests throughout the semester so the final exam doesn’t weigh as heavily.
But it doesn’t matter! Please prepare yourself for finals week.

Here’s some tips:
1. Get adequate rest.
This is why your exams are spaced out. An average person needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep in order to function. Don’t kill yourself memorizing concepts, dates, and chapter notes until 4 a.m. The only thing you’re guaranteed to get is a cranky attitude when you wake up.
2. Make a study schedule.
Better yet, make a study bag. Fill it with pens, #2 pencils, highlighters, post-its (anything you think will come in handy while studying).
Make a schedule where you devote a number of hours per day to each subject. Spend 2 hours reviewing science; 2 hours on math and so forth. Master your schedule, so you’ve covered all topics that might show up on the final.
3. Pack early (College students)
Unless you go to a boarding school, this may not apply. But, take notes because you will have this dilemma in college. Pack as early as you can, so once you’ve completed your exams you’re ready to go!
Don’t wait till the 11th hour to start packing. Start early! Begin with simple packing like selling back your textbooks, so you can get rid of your bookshelf. And for the books you think will come in handy next semester– throw it in a bin!
Now start gathering your clothes (esp, summer dresses/skirts) and put them in the bin. Don’t forget to wash them too! There’s nothing more annoying than coming home with dirty clothes.
Make sure you take all necessary items: photo ids, keys, wallet, money! You don’t want to leave anything that may be get stolen.
4. Have fun!
This may sound cliche, but don’t spend the entire week stressing over a 2 hour test. Go out for a walk, hit the gym, call some buddies, catch up on your favorite tv shows, etc. Have some “me” time and do things that relieve stress.
5. Eat breakfast on the day of your exams.
Have some cereal and orange juice (if you’re not a breakfast person). I use to hate eating in the mornings because I did it so my mom could get off my back before I leave for school!
Breakfast is an essential meal of the day, so take your exam on a full stomach.
Last but not least, good luck!!

Street Meat!

It’s getting warmer, so we are getting into street fair season, where you will find different types of street meat (and some veggies, too). The street fairs take place throughout the five boroughs from spring until fall. The fairs are great ways to see different ‘hoods in New York City and is a great lunch option if you’re on the move and hangin’ out with your girls.

Check out one this weekend and click the link below for more info:

9th Ave. International Food Festival
Manhattan, from 42nd to 57th Streets
Saturday, May 14th & Sunday, May 15th
12-5 PM (rain or shine)

You are Beautiful, No Botox Necessary!

Today there was a segment on the morning TV show, Good Morning America, discussing a San Francisco mother giving her 8-year-old daughter the cosmetic procedure, Botox. Yes, Botox! The little girl competes in beauty pageants and her mother, who does the procedure herself, justifies giving her daughter Botox because “other moms are doing it.” In the GMA interview, the mom does not reveal her source for Botox, since it only available to doctors. See the interview for yourself here: Link to Botox Mom

I knew I had to blog about this today, in order to emphasize to girls, “You are beautiful.” If your nose is a little bigger than you’d like or you wish you weren’t so skinny; it’s okay, you were meant to look exactly as you do. Loving you gives you the confidence to know that you are smart and beautiful, despite any “perceived flaws.” There is not any reason you should request a cosmetic procedure as a girl or a teen, if it is NOT medically necessary (accident, illness). By changing who you are, you erase all the features which make you unique and the features you have inherited from your parents and other relatives. Embrace who you are, there’s only one you in the world.

Have a great day,

Jen