Girl Up is Looking for Teen Advisors

Put your stamp on the world and become a Girl Up teen advisor. Girl Up is a campaign of the United Nations (UN) Foundation. The mission of this organization is to empower American girls to help other girls in developing countries. These girls often do not have the same educational, independence or basic necessities to live (food, water, shelter), as we do. As a teen advisor, you would give your opinion on programs and serve as spokespersons for your community.

If you are interested in becoming a teen advisor, here’s what you’ll need to do:

You will receive an application by June 1st if you have been chosen as a candidate.
Note: This program is open to girls in grades 7-12.

Visit the Girl Up website for more information. You can see profiles of last year’s teen advisors and see a video of a teen advisor discussing her experiences.

Depression is Real

There has been a lot of discussion about depression recently.  Disney TV star, Demi Lovato and Broadway and film actress, Catherine Zeta-Jones have shared their struggles with mental health. Unfortunately, many choose to keep their depression or other forms of mental illness hidden for fear of being stigmatized, especially in communities of color. Like cancer, depression is an illness. People, who may not have much awareness about mental illness, may label those with illnesses are “crazy” or “nuts.” These words minimize mental illnesses, which are brain disorders, as something people have created themselves and should be able to control. Depression is real; it’s not a fake illness that people use to get sympathy or draw attention to themselves.

Teens should be aware of depression, so they can recognize the signs in friends or themselves and get the help they need.

According to helpguide.org, some signs of depression may include:

  • Sadness or hopelessness
  • Tearfulness or frequent crying 
  • Withdrawal from friends or family
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Fatigue or lack of energy
It was important for me to discuss this topic, too, because I have close family members and friends, who have had challenges with depression. If you need help or recognize the signs above in friend, please share with your parent, teacher or school counselor, so he/she can get help in discussing thoughts or issues. In fact, receiving counseling means you have the courage to admit you need family support and guidance from a mental health professional. Depression is real, but with proper treatment, it can be managed and people can lead productive lives.
-Jen Threat

Keep Your Smile Beautiful, Give Your Mouth Some Love

Hi,

Oftentimes, we put so much focus and energy into staying fit and eating healthy, we neglect one of most important areas of our body, our mouth. It’s part of our body and we should show it some love, too. It’s one of the first things people see when they look at us or speak to us. Let’s make sure we present the best possible image of ourselves and it can make us feel good, too. Yolanda, one of our Double Dutch bloggers, gives tips on how we can take care of our lips, teeth and gums, so we can maintain the perfect smile. These tips are really easy. You’ll just need to put in a little extra time to create the million dollar smile.

Have a great day and smile,

Jen

Perfect Smile

Everybody is always talking about staying in good physical shape and having good hair, skin and nails. It’s about time we talked about our lips, gums and teeth. So, here are some tips on taking care of them.

1. Lips
Moisturize your lips with suitable moisturizing lipcare products (e.g Lip-ice/balm/Vaseline). Lips become chapped when dehydrated, so keep them moisturized. Don’t use lip products that dry your lips. Licking your lips too much also makes them dry; so, don’t do it! If you are prone to cold sores, make sure you have cream, which prevents cold sores with you always. Apply it when you feel the slightest tingle. (Acyclovir creams, Zovirax cream). Avoid certain foods which may irritate your lips. Foods containing an amino acid called, arginine, triggers cold sores in some people.

2. Gums and Teeth

If plaque is not cleaned off your teeth regularly, your gums will become red, swollen and they may bleed, which may lead to the gum disease, gingivitis. Brush every surface of your teeth twice a day. Most dentists would recommend to brush for at least two minutes. Limiting sugar between mealtimes is particularly important. This next tip is a hard one:

Don’t eat acidic food or drinks such as fizzy drinks or citrus fruit juice between meals, as these also encourage tooth decay and erosion.

More tooth care tips:
*Use fluoride toothpaste to protect against decay.
*Use a toothbrush with a small head and synthetic bristles.
*Replace your toothbrush every month.
*Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
*Don’t smoke. Smoking stains the teeth and increases the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

Lastly, visit your dentist regularly. At check-ups, they will be able to detect any problems early, and provide advice and treatment.

Songs for Mama

Sunday is Mother’s Day! Here are some songs you can download for your ipod playlist or burn onto a CD gift for mom. Yes, some moms still swear by CDs.

Check out the list below of “Mama Songs” based on your mother’s music style:

Hip Mama
Dear Mama – Tupac
Hey Mama – Kanye West

Soul Mama
A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
I’ll Always Love My Mama – The Intruders

Strong Mama
I’m Every Woman – Whitney Houston
Superwoman – Alicia Keys

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Jen

Black Girls Rock! Queens’ Camp for Teen Girls

Black Girls Rock! presents its Queens’ Camp for teen girls ages 12-17. The overnight camp is a two-week leadership program to help girls from all social and economic backgrounds develop into strong leaders. The camp will be held in Rhinebeck, NY from July 16-30, 2011.

Black Girls Rock! is an organization founded by former model turned-DJ, Beverly Bond, to mentor girls and elevate their self-esteem. Bond believes the Queens’ Camp will encourage a global sisterhood, since the camp is open to girls from across the globe. She explains her goal for the camp, “Our goal is to foster the participants’ intentional pursuit of excellence and integrity. . .so they will be sound leaders.” Some of the focused areas of leadership include academics, creative and performing arts, public service and civic engagement. Camp activities will include sports, hiking, arts & crafts and volunteer programs. In addition, there will be workshops on culinary culture, DJ 101 and spoken word.

All girls accepted to the camp will have a full scholarship to attend. If you have what it takes to “rock” this camp, download an application on the Black Girls Rock! website. The application must be emailed or sent by mail no later than June 3, 2011.

Good Luck!

Jen

Got the Rainy Day Blues?

It’s been raining all day here in New York City. Don’t let the rain get you down and stop you from having some fun.
Here are some activities you can do indoors to keep from getting bored:
  • Surf the net. This is the perfect time to research colleges, summer jobs or get more info on a school project that’s due in a few weeks.
  • Give yourself a manicure or pedicure.  Pick some fun colors from your local drug store or dollar store. Get some nail care tips on our blog.
  • Take a class at a gym or rec center. There are many great ways to get pumped up with a high-intensity class like spinning or relax through yoga.
  • Experiment with fashion. Look in your closet, your sister’s or mother’s and see how you can reinvent your style for a job interview or your BFF’s birthday party. You’ll have more time to play with clothes, and not when you’re rushing out the door for school.
  • Watch a movie. Pick up some popcorn or your favorite snack and create a movie experience at home. Check out a free movie at your local library or download a movie from Netflix.
Hope this helps to make your day more sunny:)

Jen

Double Dutch E-Newsletter: Great Gifts for Mom

Hi,

Mother’s Day is this weekend, so if you’re still deciding on what to get Mom, check out my ideas for gifts that fit a teen’s budget and some are even, free! We also discuss Memorial Day and include links to our most recent blogs.

Read our Double Dutch E-Newsletter for May!

Enjoy!

Jen

I Love New York!

“I Love New York!” is the phrase that represents how residents of New York City and tourists feel about New York City.

I was thinking about this when I went to Manhattan today. It’s so easy for me to stay in Brooklyn, especially for work, shopping or whatever. I really need to go into Manhattan more often, because I realized seeing this beautiful city gave me the motivation to move to New York City almost 15 years ago. The skyscrapers. The department stores. The fashion. I love it all! This city has an energy, like no other. I’ve taken the city for granted at times by not experiencing all the culture this city has to offer.  I pass by historic landmarks, but haven’t visited some of them at all or in a really long time.

I saw tourists from other states and countries with cameras snapping away on Fifth Avenue. These people have probably saved their hard-earned money on airfare to visit buildings we can visit by train. I’m making it my mission, this year, to be a tourist in my city by visiting or revisiting New York City sites tourists travel from miles away to see. I’m up for the challenge, are you down? It’s not necessary to spend money in expensive neighborhoods, but they’re great for window shopping and fashion inspiration. You never know what fab outfit or completely outrageous outfit you may see walking the streets of New York City. But you won’t find what’s out there by staying in your neighborhood. So, be adventurous and explore what New York City has to offer.

Below are some must-see sites and neighborhoods in Manhattan and beyond.

Sites to Visit
The Empire State Building
Rockefeller Center
The Statue of Liberty
Central Park
Botanic Gardens (one is in each borough)
The Bronx Zoo
Coney Island
Staten Island Ferry
Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center
Museums (The Met, MOMA, Natural History Museum and many others)

Macy’s-34th Street
Yankees Stadium-The Bronx
CitiField/Mets Stadium-Queens
Madison Square Garden
Queens Center Mall
Junior’s Cheesecake-Brooklyn

Neighborhoods to Visit
Fifth Avenue/East Side (streets in the 50s-60s)
Madison Avenue (streets in 50s-60s)
Broadway/Theater District
Chinatown/Canal Street
Tribeca
Lower East Side
Union Square
Times Square
Greenwich Village
Soho
Little Italy
34th Street/West Side
Harlem

P.S. There’s a post by DD blogger, Yolanda, which includes a song about why it’s cool to be peculiar.

ARE YOU PECULIAR?

PECULIAR PEOPLE WHERE YOU AT? If you are wondering what that is, take a look at this

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

so let me ask again? ARE YOU PECULIAR?

Peculiar Me Lyrics

Everybody looks at me – Like what’s it gonna be?
I’ve got my hot style,-I flip it round and they can’t handle me
Coz I keep my smile and pass it round, the joy that sets me free
Can’t help, can’t help but be peculiar me

It’s a possibility (how can I do this?)
To break the chains that hold you down(I just keep going back)
Confined by the ways of this world (what are they gonna think)
Afraid to be just who you are(I wanna be like her)
But you were created(look at me!)
Not duplicated(what do you mean?)
An original masterpiece(is that me?)
By the creator God who is (so let’s tell em)

It’s a possibility (yeah you can do this)
To stand above the crowd (you know better)
When everybody’s spreading hate(what if that was you?)
Battered, bruised and scarred(can I make a suggestion)
Why don’t you share some love(unity and peace)
Give a little kindness(that’s what we need)
Be the one,(go that extra mile) to make some changes

Lovely song, lovely words! IF YOU’RE PECULIAR, EMBRACE IT!

Yolanda-Lin