Grammys & Newly Released Albums

"Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music."

Hello everyone!

How are you all? Are you excited for Valentine's Day? Just wanted to say that I am still working on the getting artist interviews done and will hopefully be blogging about those soon! Can't wait, I'm really excited! :)

Thought I'd use this time to catch up on what's going on in the music world right now. Did any of you catch the Grammys? Beyonce took home 6/10 she was nominated for and Taylor Swift won 4/8 of the ones she was nominated for, including Album of the Year! If you didn't get to watch the performances, which by the way were AMAZING, check them out on YouTube (www.youtube.com). Beyonce, Lady Gaga w/Elton John, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Pink, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Drake, and others performed! Also, if you get the chance, check out the Michael Jackson tribute that was performed by Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, and Usher!! Overall, it was a great award show, congrats to the winners...you can go here http://www2.grammy.com/grammy_awards/Winners/ to see a complete list of winners.

Also, a lot of great albums came out this past Tuesday!!

To name just a few:

Lifehouse-Smoke and Mirrors
Lil Wayne-Rebirth
Jamie Foxx-Body
Nick Jonas and the Administration-Who I Am
Toni Braxton-Pulse

Upcoming albums that I'll probably check out (February 23...check them out if you can!!)

Michelle Branch-Everything Comes and Goes
The Rocket Summer-Of Men And Angels

Check them out and let me know what you think!

I'll catch you next time!

-Labanya

Learning Curve: Halloween

Hey guys!!

Tomorrow is one of my favorite holidays of the year: Halloween!! As a college kid I'm sure you're thinking that you're too old to dress up, trick or treat, or really do much of anything for this holiday. Really there's a lot your can do on Halloween.

HauntedHay Rides
Haunted Houses
Costume Parties

This year Selena Gomez is encouraging her fans to trick or treat for UNICEF. Instead of getting tons of candy ask the people around your neighborhood or dorm to donate a few dollars to the organization.

There's so many other options for the holiday. I hope everyone has a safe & fun weekend. I'm going out with my mom tonight (we seem to be doing that a lot lately. I don't mind. I like spending time with my mom) and then to my sister's last marching contest of the season tomorrow! Another BUSY weekend!! :D

Love you guys!!!

<3 Jen

One Pimple is One Too Many - Movies

Hello beautiful people!

How are you today? Let's talk about something near and dear to my heart - MOVIES

It's no secret that I wish to be a film producer someday... and what better way to be prepared than to watch some awesome movies?
My favorite movie is A Walk to Remember. It's a beautiful love story between Landon and Jamie, based off the popular Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name. It's rated PG-13 so check with your parents before watching.

Another movie that never ceases to make me smile (and imo - is one of the most quotable) The Princess Bride. Released in 1987, I find it just as funny and as relevant as any other movie out there today. If you haven't seen it I would completely recommend you checking it out.

& finally, a movie you've probably been hearing a lot about it recently. I've been waiting for this movie ever since I can remember. I learned to read when I was 3. This was one of first books I ever read. To see it come to life has always been a hope of mine. And in a week or so, it will be a reality.


:)




What's your favorite movie?


Have a good week everyone!

Ariel

Postscript: For more up to date Movie Reviews, check out Shannon's Weekly Updates! :)
Second postscript: I apologize for the short entries lately. Finals and such! Hopefully things will settle down by next week! :)

Learning Curve: FAFSA

Hey guys!

One of the most important pieces of paper you will fill out for college is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA. This is an application that you'll need to fill out for federal & state grants, work-study, and loans.

Your school conselor should have paper copies of the FAFSA forms. You can also find itonline. I find the online version a lot more convient to my lifestyle. It's easier to check on what's been processed & what I still need to fill out or send in. Also, filling it out online can speed up the time it takes for them to process your paper work. So you get to "Go Green" and find out how much money you'll get for school faster. :D

A few things you'll need in order to fill out the FAFSA:
1. Income Tax Returns: most grants, loans, and financial aid in general is based on income; either your's, your parents', or both. My mom files her taxes online and when she does that they always ask her if she has a dependent that will fill out the FAFSA (or something along those lines, I'm nor 100% sure what it actually says). Talk to your parents to determine if this is something that you'll need to do.
2. PIN: if you decide to fill the forms out online it is recommended that you apply for a PIN number so you can go through and make changes, if necessary,check the status of your application. They usually ask a lot of security questions so be sure to write all this information down in a secure location so you have it when you need it.

The first day you can fill out the FAFSA is January 1 and it's recommended that you fill it our early rather than late because of other scholarship deadlines that might be tied into your FAFSA.

Be sure to check with the colleges you're applying to for their list of deadlines.

Again, if you need ANY kind of college information, check out collegeboard.com, previous columns of mine on here or, just ask ME in a comment & I'll come up with the best answer I can find.

Good Luck to everyone! I hope you're all enjoying whatever fall weather is in your area. It's nice & cold here today, PERFECT Friday Night Football weather. Getting the coat, gloves, blanket, and hot cocoa out at the game tonight. :)

Just a bit of a heads up, I won't be here next week. Next Thursday I'm going to Tulsa, Oklahoma with some friends to see Honor Society!!! I'll be spending the entire weekend with them since I don't get to see them much any more. I'll be back the next week though with more tips, tricks, and stories about college life.

Have a great weekend guys!

♥ Jen

One Pimple is One Too Many - Inspiration

What is your inspiration? What drives you to succeed - in spite of your circumstances?


I've had many opportunities to fail. I just haven't taken any. - Jesse Duplanits
Making mistakes is inevitable. We all can agree to this. However, half the battle is in your mind. If you think you're going to fail - no matter the problem - you will most certainly do so. However, if you have a mindset like Mr. Duplantis, more often than not you'll be successful. Think of Thomas Edison. "I didn't fail. I merely learned a 1000 ways not to make a lightbulb."

Before we can acquire great power, we must acquire wisdom to use it well. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The things we go through can help us more than they hurt us, if you choose to view it that way. Instead of letting the things that go against you keep you down, learn from them and move on. Be an eagle and soar!

Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever. - Leo Buscaglia
It's true. Life's too short to be "moody" all the time. Failed a test? Skinned your knee? Got into a fender bender? Don't worry! You can always retest. Antiseptic and a band aid. Car insurance. :)
Seriously though, life is really too short to be wasted on complaining. Live and let live. Make the most of today because tomorrow many never come.

If it wasn't for you I would never be who I am. - "Where Are You Now" by Honor Society
There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna want to make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side - it's the climb. - "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus
I can't say I'm a fan of Honor Society but I will give them props for a beautiful and true song...
People come and go in life - it's okay. Who they are and how they long they were in your life will fade away...
but what will remain is the memory of your time together and what they did/said in your life that contributed to the person you are today. That's why it's so important to be conscious of the people you surround yourself with. Look at your group of friends and ask yourself honestly - are these the people I want to be like? If they are, great! If not, work into changing that.

The Climb is one of my favorite songs of 2009. Hands down. Some of you may scoff because she's a Disney girl but if you look past that and see the lyrics, it really is inspiring...


Dream. Dream the biggest dream you can ever imagine.
Then believe.
If you can dream it, you can do it.


Have a great week everyone!


Ariel

Genres of Music-Rap

Hola mis amigos!!! Hope all of you had a great week and are having an awesome weekend!! I know I'm trying my best but I'm exhausted. Senior year is wearing me out already!!

Anyway, today I'll be giving you guys some info on Rap music AKA Hip Hop (Some rap can also called R&B). Rap is something that started back in the '70's and is an incredibly popular genre nowadays. According to ez-tracks.com, "today hip hop music is one of the fastest growing and most popular forms of music in America or the world," despite the controversial lyrics contained in some of the songs.

Like other songs, most rap songs contain personal stories, important events, social events, or just something the writer/artist went through during a period in their life. The rhythmic beats and the personalized messages that are transmitted through the songs are two reasons why rap music is so popular nowadays. For some, the lyrics are extremely relatable and rhythm is catchy. Rap music also helped bring about breakdancing as well.

And although rap music is catchy and often has good messages, it's not for everyone. The lyrics sometimes talk about violence, drugs, and other topics which may not be suitable for some. But it still remains a popular genre. For me, a lot of the songs are super catchy!! Some of my favorites include:

-Party Like a Rockstar-Shop Boyz
-Get it Shawty-Lloyd
-Make me Better-Fabulous
-Don't Matter-Akon
-Lose Yourself-Eminem

Alright guys, my apologies for the short blog, but that's it for today!! Have a great week everyone!

-Labanya

One Pimple is One Too Many - Reading

Hello <3


Today I want to talk about one of my favorite pastimes: Reading.

Now, before you run off because you get enough reading recommendations from school - I thought I'd point something out.

People always tell me that they're not readers. Reading isn't their thing. They've tried to love reading but aside from news stories, required reading from school or traffic signs, they just can't quite get lost in a book.
I say: You haven't the right book. Everyone loves to read, if they don't they just haven't found their book yet.
What do I mean by "their book"? That one book that changed the way you thought, the one that grabbed ahold of you from the very first page and didn't let go until you closed the cover, the one that made you laugh and cry until you couldn't do either anymore....
Let's find your book shall we?


My book was A Picture of Freedom- The Diary of Clotee: A Slave Girl from the Dear America series. I learned to read when I was three so I was always a "bookworm" but this is the first book that I remember reading over and over and over again. It's still on my bookshelf. I haven't read it in years but everytime I see it, I smile because for me, reading the Diary of Clotee inspired me to not only love reading - but to keep a consistent journal and write stories.

Since then I've found many books that I love.

Love Rules by Dandi Daley Mackall
Through Painted Deserts & Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Reconstructing Natalie, Daring Chloe and Dreaming in Technicolor by Laura Jensen Walker
the Christy Miller & Sierra Jensen Series

& my favorite author:
Melody Carlson
I gladly & completely recommend anything she has written. <3



There are so many books out there. Historical Fiction. Drama. Thriller/Suspense. Romantic comedy. Biographies. Inspirational.
I couldn't possibly name them all here.
I would say this:
Check out your local library.
Or even a popular bookstore.
Think about what you find interesting and I can guarantee, there will be a book about it.
If you need help, ask an employee. (Especially if you're at the library. The all love books there ;))


Happy reading!


Ariel

P.S. Weekly book recommendations are right here! Check out Amelia's Book Review Column! :)

Genres of Music-Pop

Hey hey hey!! Hope all of you are having a fantastic weekend so far!! I'm glad the weekend finally came...this past week was incredibly hectic for me...who knew senior year would be so packed and crammed?

Anyway, I thought I'd continue talking to you guys about different genres of music. Today, I want to cover pop music, which also happens to be one of my favorites!! When I first started purchasing cd's, which was about the 4-5th grade (my first actual cd was Britney Spears, before then I had bought a cd that had several pop songs on it) and I've been addicted to pop music ever since!! To me, pop music is extremely catchy, and again, because I'm a dancer, it's also convenient to choreograph to it!

Pop music seems to be an incredibly popular genre these days...and there's many artists whose music falls into that category.

-Coldplay
-McFly
-Spice Girls
-Natasha Bedingfield
-Girls Aloud
-Sara Bareilles
-John Mayer
-Honor Society
-Jonas Brothers (you knew it was coming :P)
-Demi Lovato
-Miley Cyrus
-Vanessa Hudgens

Most Disney channel and Nickelodeon stars who also sing are considered to be included in the pop music genre. Also, some artists' music can be classified as more than one genre. For example, Jordin Sparks' music would probably be considered Pop and R&B, while some bands may be considered as both Pop & Rock.

And while speaking about pop music, of course, I can't forget artists like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, N'sync, and Westlife. Let's also not forget the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson (RIP<3) I realize this blog is getting quite lengthy, but I'd like to quickly point out a couple of songs that I think you all should go check out at www.youtube.com or at iTunes. :)

-Over You by Honor Society
-Falling Down by Selena Gomez & the Scene (Don't forget, Selena and the Scene's album Kiss and Tell is dropping September 29th...be sure to check it out!!
-Gift of a Friend by Demi Lovato
-Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus
-One Time by Justin Bieber
-She Wolf by Shakira
-Obsessed by Mariah Carey

That's just a handful!! If you would like new song/artist suggestions in any music genre, please feel free to send me a Twitter DM or an @reply to @Lalalabanya.

That's all for today!! Talk to you all next week! :)

-Labanya

Learning Curve: College Essays

Going through my tweets of the last week, I saw a lot dealing with writing college admission essays. I never really had to write an admission essay, so I don't have a lot of personal experience with the process. I did have to write an essay about myself to send in with my housing application last year when I was living in the dorms. One of the best websites I can recommend for any of your college related questions/information is College Board.com. They've got a lot of really great tricks/tips, just really good college information. If the name sounds familiar, these are the same people that do A.P. (Advance Placement) test.

A few of the tips they have about college admission essays seem really helpful & I wanted to share them with you.


1. Keep Your Focus Narrow & Personal: Don't try to explain EVERYTHING you've ever done. Just like with any other essay, find a main point & elaborate on it. Pick a few related events that you think paint a good picture of who you are. Even if you don't have that much to explain, if you explain it well & in enough detail you're usually pretty good.

2. Prove it: Just like any other essay, you need to prove the point you're trying to make with specific examples, quotes, facts, reasons. Sometimes it's better to let your story...well...tell the story..

3. Be Specific: Essays that say "I volunteered at the nursing home 3 times a week. It was fun." or something along the same lines are boring. ELABORATE! Tell them WHY it was fun! Is there a certain patient that would do/say crazy things that you bonded with? What about the time Mr. Jones started the food fight in the cafeteria? (these are totally made up, but hey, it could happen!) Essays like that are the ones that really stand out.

4. Don't Write What You Think They Want to Hear: When you do, you end up sounding fake. Be yourself & write the essay you want to write. Don't worry if you don't think it's up to "college standards". Most essays are for the purpose of getting to know the applicant better, not judging you on your writing ability.

5. Don't Write a Resume: Everything like that that they need to know is already on your application. They don't need your life story either. Most schools just want to know why you would be a good addition to their school, not how when you were 4 you broke your arm because your sister pushed you out of the tree house.

6. Keep it Short & Sweet: Don't get wordy, it's not impressive. College professors have hundreds of papers to read and grade at a time. Say what you want to say in the most simple way possible.

Example from College Board:

Okay: "Over the years it has been pointed out to me by my parents, friends, and teachers—and I have even noticed this about myself, as well—that I am not the neatest person in the world."

Better: "I'm a slob."

7. PROOFREAD!: You might think it's awesome, or you just want to be done with it and don't really look over it. That could be a mistake. Read it 2 or 3 times. Print it off & have your parents, grandparents, friends read it. They might have something really good to add or tell you that the wording of a sentence is weird and that you should change it.

These aren't just college essay tips, these can be applied to any kind of paper you have to write. College essays aren't meant to be scary or intimidating. Take a deep breath & let your fingers do the talking. It'll turn out better than you think, I promise.

Hope everyone had a great week. Things are finally starting to settle into a normal pattern around here, but that doesn't make it any less busy or hectic.

♥ Jen

One Pimple is One Too Many - Humor

Hello all!

By now everyone should be back in school - how is it going for you?
Let's take a break from all that learning for a second and talk about something anyone can do.

Laugh.

Laughing is truly one of the best medicines. Studies show that laughing can actually boost your immune system and improve your overall quality of life. So if you're feeling a little down or stressed because of school/work/family/friends etc...

Take a deep breath. Go ahead. Breathe in. Breathe out. Good.

And get ready to laugh!

(This is my kind of humor. Enjoy! :))


Have facebook? You will relate. I promise.


Remember Meekakitty (aka Tessa)? This is my favorite. NOM NOM NOM!


I love this show. I'm not sure when the new season comes out but check your local listings. You will not be disappointed.


This isn't exactly funny, more like ridiculously amazing. She rocks at editing.



I would do this in a heartbeat. Join me?



You knew this was coming. I've watched this probably 7738293711345 times. :)


Okay so I had WAY too much fun going through my favorites and finding videos for you all. Hah :)

Have a great week everybody!


Ariel

Twisted Tween- "Celebs that Make a Difference" by Hannah and Cailin Loesch

iCarly’s Reed Alexander -he’s no Nevel!

Hello everyone! We hope you all had a good week. We finished our first week of school and WHEW! Summer is definitely over.

With all the stress that school can bring, we found a great place for you to go if you need someone to talk to. Best selling author of many books geared to tweens/teens Annie Fox has started a twitter to give kids a place they can feel safe to ask questions on things that matter to them. She gives great advice. Follow her on twitter @HeyTerra .If you have not read any of her books, you should check them out. Her most recent books are “The Middle School Confidential Series”. Also “Too Stressed to Think”, and “The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating” She knows what she is talking about, and she shares her wisdom! Not on twitter? Go to Http://heyterra.com/teens/

This is National Child Cancer Awareness month so we would like you to check out the Seany Foundation Http://www.theseanyfoundation.org/

A non- profit foundation to carry on Sean Robins legacy of battling Ewings sarcoma, and to find a cure for cancer.

Do what you can!

So here is what you have all been waiting for! This weeks celeb that makes a difference is iCarly’s own Reed Alexander!

You know him as iCarly’s evil Nevel, but believe us when we tell you that Reed is nothing like his character!

Reed makes community service a priority. Helping people in need and making a difference is important to him. Finding a cause and working together to make a difference is something his whole family believes in! We have found with this series of blogs, that most kid’s who go out of their way to give back, have parents that have influenced them, by their actions.

If your family is not involved in a cause- then you be the one to start making a difference! It can be a great way to spend time together!

Reed has been working with the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K) He specifically works with the Nicholas R Chiera Foundation, a non- profit organization to raise money for the R.O.C.K program as well as other programs. The R.O.C.K program provides the children a chance to experience summer camp, while it gives them the special medical care they need.

This year Reed co-hosted the Chiera Foundation Charity Ball and Golf Tournament. All the proceeds were given to the R.O.C.K program’s . This enabled family weekends, support programs, and a fantastic scholarship fund for children with cancer to pursue their dreams of attending college!

For more information about this foundation and how you can help contact;

http://www.chieragolfclassic.com/ and is run by Lou Chiera

Reed has helped to raise funds for hurricane victims who have lost their homes, and are trying to rebuild their lives. He enjoys helping to provide victims of these unfortunate circumstances relief, which includes basic necessities. Things that we all take for granted mean the world to someone who has nothing!

A few years ago one of Reeds friends was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to an immediate diagnosis and treatment, her condition has really improved. In support of his friend he supports an organization called Autism Speaks. It raises money for research to figure out exactly what causes autism, treatment, and trying to find a cure! Reed helps to raise funds to support these goals. To contact Autism Speaks and find out how you can make a difference go to: http://www.autismspeaks.org

When asked why do you feel it is important to help people in need? Reed responded: “We are all people- we all deserve help from each other.” “If there is anything we can do to help out in the world, it is to bring a positive change to people” “It does not have to be anything tremendous-just something easy and small,can make all the difference.”

Well, one thing is for sure- Reed does big things to make a difference, and we all can learn something from him!

Reed says everyone should find a cause that interests them, and then do whatever you can to support it! It is easy and fun to do!

Reed loves acting, writing, and reading. He is currently working on a new project that he hopes will inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, and take good care of themselves. We can’t wait to see what that is all about!

We are sure that there will be a lot more in store for all of us, when it comes to Reed Alexander. His acting talent is incredible, and now we know his commitment to making the world a better place is just as amazing!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks “Celeb that Makes a Difference” We thank Reed for taking the time to answer our questions!

REED ALEXANDER ROCKS!

Have a good week and be inspired to find some way (whether it is big or small) to make a difference in someone’s life.

Keep it Real!

H and C

One Pimple is One Too Many - Music

Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul. - Anonymous

Music. One of the few things on earth that can connect people instantly.
What do you think of music?
What are your some of favorite bands/singers/songs?

Donna (@teddy_dunn) says her favorite song is Morning Light by Truman because:
it's so inspiring to me... it talks about how she thought her life was horrible, but now she's on top of the world...

@IsabellaAnna says she doesn't have a favorite song. When asked why she says:
I can't pinpoint a song that's my favorite just because there's so many great songs out there. They mean something different to me at different times.

Jen (@jeng2008 - & one of our column writers) says:
music defines my life. having me choose my favorite song is like asking me to pick my favorite sibling, it can't be done. i could come up with a few good choices, but just one, near impossible.

my favorite song ever would probably be "i want you to want me". i think the first time i heard it was when i first saw "10 things i hate about you"...the original with heath ledger & julia stiles...there's something about the lyrics that are just so raw, and, in my opinion, what ever girl thinks when she has a crush on a guy

I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
And I'm begging you to beg me

I want you to want me
I need you to need me
And I'd love you to love me
in John Tucker Must Die, Kate (Brittany Snow) says (paraphrased) "why can't love be like an old pop song? "i want you to want me"...that's it..." or something along those lines, it's been awhile since i've seen the movie...it's just one of those songs that every time you hear it, you grab your hairbrush & belt out the lyrics...or at least i do. :P

favorite song right now? this is the hardest to answer because i like soooo many different songs. anything that inspires you to make a difference or be a better person is what i would say. i think that's why i like the song "Send it On" so much.(My note: Send it On is by the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato & Selena Gomez) if you really listen to it & take apart the lyrics, there's so much meaning to the song. be a better person, create a better planet...the possibilities are endless...it's like a Pay It Forward program...one act of kindness can become 2 & 2 becomes 4...all the way down the line until the one little thing that you did has created a movement without even trying...

~ ~ ~
I asked Labanya (@lalalabanya - our resident music expert) 1. Who do you think is the most popular band/singer in 2009? 2. What band/singers would you say have been the most influential and have the most staying power? 3. What traits would you say that gives them that staying power? 4. What are some of your favorite bands? 5. What is your favorite song and why?
Here's what she had to say:
Hmm..most popular band/singer. I don't know if I could choose just one. Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, and Jonas Brothers (of course :P), Coldplay are doing really well right now. I do think that all having staying power, if they play their cards right. Black Eyed Peas is another one. Most influential-again, JB, Miley Cyrus, in some ways, Demi. I think they're influential because the songs they write, a lot of people can relate to and a lot of the lyrics definitely help some get through their day, just by listening to a particular song. Jordin Sparks is someone who I can definitely has staying power. The lyrics in her songs are relatable to teens/tweens.A lot of artists also have nice personalities so, I think people can look at them, not only as an artist, but also as a friend or just someone who can empathize. Favorite bands: JB (:P, music is extremely catchy and I love their lyrics), Honor Society (same reasons), Jordin & Demi (I can definitely relate to their music), Green Day (again, relatable lyrics), Carrie Underwood, Paramore, Shakira. I'm a dancer, so I guess you could say any artists who have catchy music catch my eye lol. Favorite song? Wow, that's difficult. Um. I really love Let it Rain-Jordin Sparks. The message is beautiful...basically, don't be afraid to say what you mean and let it all out <3. Another one The Climb-Miley Cyrus. Again, I love the message. And 1 more, Black Keys. That one definitely helps me get through my toughest days and sometimes, I almost feel like it was written for me.


Personally,
My favorite band is Switchfoot. They're one of the few bands that I will purchase the entire album without having listened to any of the songs before. However, my favorite song is Fix You by Coldplay. (It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful, touching songs I've ever heard. If you've never heard it before, take a listen) I couldn't possibly name all of the bands that I consider amazing (or the songs) but usually what I'm listening to now can be found on my blog's playlist.

What does music mean to you? What are some of your favorite bands/artists? How about the questions I asked Labanya? What would your have been?

Remember:
The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen. - August Rush

Have a happy Monday,

Ariel

Learning Curve: Going GREEK

Greek has been one of my favorite T.V. shows since it premiered on ABC Family a few years ago. As much as I love the show though, there are some questions it brings up about college life & the Greek system.

So, what's the big deal about Greek life and why is it such a focus in our culture in teen movies & T.V. show?

Just as there are horror stories that everyone hears about college life, there are also horror stories about Greek life that sometimes scares people away from even considering joining a fraternity and sorority.

If you've watched any Hollywood film or T.V. show (like Greek) in the last 10-15 years, they paint an unrealistic version of Greek life, one of college students partying, getting drunk, hazing rituals that are insane...the list goes on...

And, yes, Greeks are known for knowing how to throw a pretty good party, that's not all they are about. Most fraternities & sororities have a much bigger purpose, one of brother/sister hood, about making friends that will last a life time, increasing school spirit, and making the community a better place.

If you are considering "Going GREEK", check your schools webite to see what chapters are on campus. They can vary from campus to campus. If you don't know the first thing about the Greek system (like I was) here's a few pretty good websites that I found:

http://teens.aol.com/college/sports-activities/greek-life

http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/campuslife/fraternities_and_sororities.html

http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/campuslife/college_greek_life.html

Hopefully these help you make the right choice about becoming "Greek".

♥ Jen

One Pimple is One Too Many - Blogging/Vlogging

Hey Everybody!

How are you doing today? Wonderful I hope!

Today I want to talk about blogging and vlogging.

Blogging
I've had my blog account since the beginning of time. (Otherwise known as December 2004.) Originally, it was a place for me send out random thoughts/quotes/poems etc into the blogosphere. The summer of 2007 I created a new blog with the specific purpose of keeping in touch with friends that I had met over the summer. Over time it evolved into a wonderful place to voice my ideas, thoughts, dreams and aspirations to the world. In blogging I've found not only a great outlet, but the chance to review books for two different publishing companies! (I've even had the opportunity of interviewing an author and having multiple authors read my reviews of their book!) The best thing is: anyone can be a blogger! You don't have to pay any money or have an extensive knowledge of grammar and vocabulary: all you need is a valid email and an idea! There are many different blog sites to choose from: Xanga, LiveJournal, Tumblr and of course Blogger. Choose the site that's right for you!

Here a few blogs that you might find interesting:

Face Replace - it hasn't been updated since April but the idea is intriguing enough! (The idea was co-started by Charlieissocoollike! More on him in the vlogging section :))
Yetton Adventures - Joy Williams used to be one of my favorite singers in middle school and I enjoy your music to this day! This is a blog chronicling her married life and her music
Weeno Photography - I just happened across this site one day and have been a faithful follower ever since. If you love quirky photography and a witty photographer to boot, you're in for a treat!

(Psst! Don't forget to check out the personal blogs of all our Column Bloggers! :))


&

Vlogging

Since the dawn of youtube in 2005, there have been vloggers (which in internet speak means: Video Bloggers) Basically, instead of writing an entry about what you did that day - why not talk about it? And with the extra help of cool graphics and editing, you can make a unique contribution to the vlogging world!

Some of my favorite vloggers are:

Charlie is so cool like - a British teen talking about his world and taking you along for the ride. (I'll be honest, I'd watch even if he was boring - I absolutely LOVE British accents! :))
Meekakitty - is a formal model living in New York. She is random, a little crazy and a whole lot of weird - but I think that adds to her appeal :) (My personal favorite? Toys Rus Adventure. Check it out! :))
Jonas Brothers You knew it was coming :) Usually used as a tool for promotion, you can catch the latest details on what's happening in the JB's busy schedule. Sometimes though, they post a video just for fun. (Joe's single ladies dance/JB&Demi's "Soap Opera"/Nick J Show to name a few)
Taylor Swift Taylor's videos have actually encouraged me to make my own videos. She's directed two of her music videos (The Best Day & I'm Only Me When I'm With You) and makes a habit of putting together a video compilation of what she's done recently. (Her newest video is about her upcoming trip to London, touring with Brooks & Dunn and hanging out with Demi Lovato! All set to the fabulous song known as One Time by Justin Beiber :))


IMPORTANT NOTE
While I believe that being honest with your readers/viewers is important, I would strongly recommend you don't post/talk about your personal information (your last name, address, where you attend school, email etc.) As always, I would suggest keeping an open communication with your parents when it comes to blogging/vlogging. Encourage them to read your blog/watch your vlog and even create an account for themselves! Not only will they appreciate you for including them into your lives, but you gain trust with them as well.


Stay safe and happy blogging/vlogging!


Ariel

Movie Suggestion: Post Grad

I'm so excited for Alexis Bledel's new movie! She's one my favorite young actresses. She's absolutely adorable with her bright blue eyes and her cute little happy dance. Plus the girl she plays in this movie totally reminds me of Rori Gilmore. Takes me back to the golden days of the Loraleis. Oh, bliss.
And her love interest, Zach Gilford? Ahhhhhh! I'm probably biased since I have a thing for hott nerds but...he's such a hott nerd! Not many guys have the brains AND the brawn--but Zach does. He's spectacular :)

One Pimple is One Too Many - Hoops & YoYo // Project Beauty // MLIA

Hey Everybody!

How are you doing? Wonderful I hope!
I wanted to share three things that have really made my week!

Hoops & YoYo
are a funny card company that started out as part of Hallmark and eventually grew into a big time company of it's own! Not only are there paper cards but they have e-cards, talking calendars, and more! If you ever need a to laugh, check them out!

Project Beauty
(@ProjectBeauty) is an organization was started in part by one of our very own Column Bloggers Labanya! (@lalalabanya). Labanya and her friend Leah (@leahkayxo) decided to make a positive difference in their world and started Project Beauty - a place on twitter where you're encouraged to be the best that you can be and to never give up - no matter how tough life gets. If you haven't already, I would definitely recommend checking it out.


MILA
is the acronym for My Life is Average. I personally think that everyone's life is extraordinary. (Remember: we all have a great story to tell) but the sheer genius of this site is amazing. It's fun to read about the random but completely hilarious things people go through everyday. (And is much better than reading depressing stories from that other site.)


Hope you guys are doing well! Have a great week!


Ariel

P.S. Need help on something I haven't covered yet? Email me at arielsmiles(at)rocketmail(dot)com! Don't worry - all names will be kept anonymous. Can't wait to hear from you! :)

One Pimple is One Too Many - Dreams

What are your dreams?


Work... is not what we do for a living but what we do with our living. - Bill Bennet
What do you want to be when you grow up?

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Want to be the youngest person ever to climb Mount Everest? Or be the fastest in the sport of Speed Stacks? There's no stopping you! Commit to a goal and put forth your best effort to complete it!

I'm not afraid to tell fall, it means I climbed up high. To fall is not to fail; you fail when you don't try. - "Get Up" by Superchic{k}
The biggest failure anyone can do is to simply not try. You never know what you can accomplish until you step out and do your best. Even if you mess up or you miss your goal by a little bit, it's okay! Get back up and try again!

Life is a rollercoaster. Try to eat a light lunch. - David A. Shmaltz
Ups, downs and spins all around - life is crazy sometimes. (Much like a roller coaster). The key is to not take yourself too seriously. Yes, you should have goals and stick to them. By all means! But remember: life is meant to be enjoyed. Take a break every now and then. Read a book or go hang out with friends... don't be SO FOCUSED that you miss out on all that life has to offer!


Hope you all accomplish all of your dreams!

Ariel

P.S. Need advice on something I haven't covered yet? Email me at: arielsmiles@rocketmail.com :) Don't worry - all names will be kept anonymous. Can't wait to hear from you!

Twisted Tween- No Voice No Choice!

This weeks blog is a subject that is going to make you question if anything anyone says is true!

For example, if you are going to watch a show called Teen Choice Awards wouldn't you think that the awards were chosen by the teens? In this particular case the answer is - NOT!

Finding this information out was a huge disappointment to us, and everyone we know. We went out of our way to take the time to get online and vote for the people that we thought deserved to win. If we knew that we were wasting our time, and that our votes were not actually deciding the winner, we would not have wasted our time!

Posted on the screen for a second of the awards show was this:

"Winners for the teen choice awards were determined through voting on the teenchoiceawards.com website. The results of the voting were tabulated electronically by teenchoiceawards.com and confirmed by a committee of Fox representatives. Teenasaurus Rox Inc had the right to determine the winners from among the top four vote getters of the nominees in each of 88 catagories. Ultimate choice was determined solely by the producers."

Sound like teen choice to you? Sounds like producers choice to us! And they chose from the top 4? At least if they had chosen from the top 2 it would have been slightly more fair! Either way it was absolutely NOT teen choice...

iCarly had better ratings than all the other shows it was up against- and yet did not receive one TCA? Does this make sense to you? Seems pretty fishy to us! We think they got totally robbed! Everyone we know watches iCarly, and everyone we know voted. Were our voices heard? Maybe they were heard, but completely ignored. Oh how we hate to be ignored, don't you? This should also be upsetting to the people that won. When you win something you want to win fair and square. In this case why did they bother to even have the teens vote? The producers could of had their winners in mind all along! Again- NOT TEEN CHOICE!

So next year, unless they release a statement saying that they have changed their voting rules and decision making process we have one word for them.... Boycott!

So that is our rant for the week.

Keep it real! H and C

Ashley Tisdale - Guilty Pleasure by Celina

Ashley Tisdale's album,"Guilty Pleasure" is officially on sale today!
Go show your support by purchasing it and rocking out to her awesome songs
One more thing,"Lovedrunk" from Boys Like Girls stars Ashley Tisdale
Go watch it!

One Pimple is One Too Many - Friendship

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships. - Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln had it right. Friendship is an important (and some consider the best) part of one's life... the question is then: what is friendship?

Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weight thoughts nor measure words. - George Elliot

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... it has no survival value, rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. - C.S. Lewis

What qualities do you look for in a friend?

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. - Oprah Winfrey
The "friends" who are always around when you get some extra cash or have cool clothes aren't really your friends - they only want what they can get from you. Instead, look for the people who genuinely care about you and have your best interests at heart.

A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows us the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of our faults. - Charles Kingsley
Best friends. An instant connection where the two of you immediately clicked and you've been inseperable ever since. Or maybe you have a friend that you don't hang out with a lot but you know if you ever called with an emergency they'd be right there (and vice versa). Friends that become like family... the people you love, trust and depend on no matter what. These are the kind of friendships to look for.

One last note:

The only way to have a friend is to be one. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
See someone sitting all by themselves at the lunch table? All by yourself in a class with no one you know? Get out there and make some new friends! Smile to people. Introduce yourself and shake their hand. You may not become BFF's eternally but at least you'll have a smiling face to sit next to!


Me ke aloha pau ole a hui ho.
(Hawaiian for
""With everlasting love and affection until we meet again.")

Ariel