Girl Talk Blog

Summer Reading!

grltlk — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:06:58 +0000

We’ve all heard the phase, “reading is fundamental”! Well it’s true! And no, to answer your question, it is not always boring. Reading can be fun as well as entertaining and enlightening. Don’t think of it as reading chapter after chapter in a text book. It’s time to think about summer reading for yourself. Think of it as absorbing yourself into an interesting story in a novel that will keep you turning the page. The key to reading for your own personal enjoyment is to read books that interest you or best relate to you. If you’re into art or music, try reading art or music related books that allow you to gain more knowledge of the subject. Or maybe you enjoy a good novel with an ending that leaves you waiting for the sequel. Whatever your choice may be, I hope you decide to pick up a book and cut down a few hours of sitting in front of the television! Reading during your down time can be relaxing.

If you’re into group activities or projects, why not start a book club of your own and invite your friends? You can collectively select books that interest all of you. There are websites that help you start you own book club, run your book club, and even help you to choose what books to read. You can find books that best suit your age, interest, hobbies, and concerns. You can make up questions and organize discussions to collectively discuss the book and hear others’ views, while informing each other. You can choose a book of the month or depending on how fast your book club reads, try a book a week! What is summer without warm weather, trips to the beach, and a great book to dive into! If you don’t start a book club with your friends, why not join a book club at your local library or near by recreation center. Challenge yourself and others to read a few books this summer and exercise your brain. If you’ve faithfully read every Harry Potter book and you’re eagerly searching for other fantasy novels, try searching for others like it on amazon.com. Or if you’re into heart-warming series, try reading all parts of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. To find a book that best suits you, try going to Barnes & Noble or Borders online.

So pick up a good book and let your mind soar and your thoughts wander. Happy summer reading!

A little inspiration from a positve organization!

grltlk — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:39:12 +0000

Greetings All,

Ever hear the expression “age is only a number”? Well, in this case it’s completely true! You are never too young to get involved or make a difference, no matter the size. If you have the urge to help others at age 10 or 18, go for it! I’ve always believed that “if you speak loud enough, your voice will always be heard.” If you have a dream or an idea that you are passionate about, pursue it! Get together with other positive people, put your ideas together, and start planning!

People of all ages are changing the world - one person, one day, and one idea at a time. Action Without Borders is a non-profit organization which aims to connect other organizations, people, and resources to help build a world where everyone can lead free and dignified lives. The organization was founded in 1995 by executive director Ami Dar. Action Without Borders has a vision to live in a world where “every person who wants to help another has the ability to do so, and no opportunities for action or collaboration are missed or wasted.” Action Without Borders runs the website idealist.org, which aids connections between individuals and institutions that are interested in improving their communities. One of its resource centers, Idealist Kids & Teens, is designed to introduce you to the world of non-profit organizations, activities, and issues that kids pursue. It can help you find information about how to start a project to help your local community - or even our global community! Use it to find information on youth volunteering and non-profit websites for young people dealing with important issues such as human rights, the environment, arts, and many more.

What’s so unique about this non-profit organization is that is has over twenty organizations that were started and are run by kids and teens such as yourself. They started out with ideas for projects to help their communities, and with time, dedication and hard work, those projects grew into organizations. A number of the kids started organizations after devastating events in their lives, life-changing encounters, and memorable trips and visits. But many started them just with the idea that they wanted to change the lives of others for the better. Some of the organizations include Grandma’s Gifts, Kids For A Clean Environment (Kids FA.C.E.), Kids Konnected, Ryan’s Well Foundation, The Victorian Hands Foundation, Teen Force, and countless others. Be sure to check them out!

One unique organization was started by a four-year-old, Alexandra “Alex” Scott. She founded Alex’s Lemonade Stand for pediatric cancer research. She was diagnosed with cancer a couple of days before her first birthday. At age four, she decided to do something to raise money for a cure. She opened her first lemonade stand in 2000, with the idea to donate the earnings to her hospital. From then on she had an annual lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money. On August 1, 2004, Alex died at the age of 8. Word began to spread of her youthful humanitarian efforts and donations came poring in worldwide. As a result, Alex’s Lemonade Stand has raised over $5 million for pediatric cancer research.

Anything is possible and your options are endless. Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard. Get involved in your community for your sake and for the sake of others. If you reach one person, you have made a difference. Every little bit counts!

Get involved, be heard, and make a difference,

Summer Essentials!

grltlk — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:20:08 +0000

Greetings Everyone,

Summer is here so enjoy the warm weather in style! So what is on the list of summertime fashion essentials this year? Let’s start with bathing suits. Should you go with two-piece bikinis or a one piece cut-out? Both are in style, so the key is picking a suit you will be comfortable in. Shorts, capris, and skirts are all must-haves during the scorching hot summer days. For trips to the pool and the beach, you’ll need some water-friendly shoes and beach cover-ups. Find a pair of neutral flip-flops that go with all outfits or stock up on flip-flops of all colors! Gladiator sandals are all the rage this season, so stash your sneakers away and give your toes some sun! Fun accessories such as jeweled hair clips, lightweight scarves, and bright printed bags are also fun summertime favorites. Dress in colorful tees, tanks, and sheer shirts to keep cool while you sport the latest trends.

Fashion is fun, but skin and health products are essential. It’s important to select the best sunscreens, moisturizers, and hair care available. Protect your skin from harmful UVA rays by investing in a quality sunscreen or facial moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher.

The summer sun combined with humidity can really harm your hair - causing split ends and dry, brittle hair. To minimize the damage, try using less heat on your hair. Let your hair air dry in the summer sun instead of blow drying it and cut down the amount of times you break out your flat or curling irons to style your hair. Invest in hair care products that replenish and add moisture back to your strands.

So after you’ve dressed to impress and you’re on your way out the door, don’t forget to pack your summer essentials!

Keep cool in style,

Summer Camp Fun!

grltlk — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:50:24 +0000

Hey Girls,

Summer brings not only warm weather and longer nights, but also three months of school-free time for fun and activities! So, after you’ve taken a little bit of time to relax with cold lemonade by the poolside after a long school year, get out and have some fun! Make this a summer to remember — one that you can enjoy and look forward to going back to school to tell everyone about.

For those of you who don’t have concrete plans set for the summer, try going to summer camp! Or better yet, apply to work at a summer camp and get paid to have fun! There are a variety of teen summer camps to choose from. There are camps for just about anything and everything you can think of — sports, art, music, computer and graphic design — and countless others!

Find a summer camp in your area that interests you. Enjoy graphic design, web design, or just intrigued with computers in general? Then search for a cyber camp near you! Or for those of you who want to get away and experience a new environment, try overnight summer camps! There are adventure camps full of fun activities like canoeing, horseback riding, rock climbing, scuba diving, windsurfing and more. You could even try expanding your horizons and spend your summer in another country. Apply for a cultural exchange program to learn about and even help other countries.

The options are endless! Don’t sit around glued to the television when you can get out and enjoy summer weather and awesome activities. Look into different summer camps in your area today!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer,

GreenLaces

grltlk — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:05:41 +0000

Greetings Everyone,

Everyone can do their part to preserve our environment! Wouldn’t you like to stand out in a crowd as well as spread environmental awareness? More so now than ever, people are concerned with being eco-friendly. Consumers are more inclined to purchase clothing made of organic cottons or hybrid cars for better gas mileage. People everywhere are embracing the green lifestyle!

Global warming has always been an important issue, and now concerns for the earth have started a new environmental movement! Catchy slogans and organizations are influencing consumers to commit to sustaining the world’s environment. GreenLaces is a new organizational movement spreading environmental awareness. It was created this year by Natalie Spilger and Joanna Lohman in efforts to unify the green movement. The mission of GreenLaces is to “aim to unify environmentally conscious individuals and leverage athletics to reduce our environmental impact.”

The laces represent a personal promise to unite and empower individuals, while making a pledge to make a positive impact on the environment. GreenLaces believes that people are their own billboard, so why not display something positive and effective? The GreenLaces are a symbol of personal commitment to the preservation of the earth’s natural resources. The laces are green in color - and in theory! They are even made right here in the United States from 100% plastic.

GreenLaces assists athletes of all sports. In fact, one of the organization’s goals is to garnish the shoes of 1,000 Olympic athletes during the summer 2008 games in Beijing. Ultimately, GreenLaces hopes to distribute one million laces worldwide by 2009.

Become a part of this positive movement to help the environment. And don’t forget to check out the Girl Talk website for more information on GreenLaces and other ways you can help the environment!

To a greener life,

Plans for the summer

grltlk — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:57:02 +0000

It’s practically summer - the best time to get outside and have fun!!! I don’t know about you all, but I’ve had enough of the cold weather. I’ve started a list of things I plan to do this summer and thought I’d share it!

1. Go on bike rides with my family and friends
2. Take hikes
3. Go swimming – at the beach and at the pool!
4. Plant a garden
5. Walk and play fetch with the dog
6. Make a slip and slide out of a tarp, soap, and a hose!
7. Attempt to make a home-made kite and fly it
8. Play sports, of course! I love pick-up kickball, basketball, and soccer games.
9. Go miniature golfing
10. Practice yoga
11. Get tickets to a baseball game
12. Go roller blading
13. Have picnics!

Those are just a few things I’ve thought of so far! What kinds of things are you planning to do this summer? Write a comment and let me know!

Kylee in NYC for The Today Show!

grltlk — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:28:52 +0000

While Kylee was running around in New York City getting ready to be on The Today Show, yours truly was at her side! Check out some of the cool pictures of our trip!

Getting into the limo at Time’s Square - now that’s service!

Kylee’s personalized limo sign - sweet!

Backstage with Dr. Kimberly Williams…

…and Jenna Wolfe!

All in all, it was a pretty cool trip.

The Today Show Talks About ALot2Lose.Com!

grltlk — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:34:00 +0000

Check it out!!!

On Sunday morning, The Today Show hosted our “Reel Girls, Real Life” contest winner, Kylee Darcy and Dr. Kimberly Williams, a Clinical Neuropsychologist, to talk about underage drinking and the creation of the public service announcement “What You Don’t Know” on ALot2Lose.com. Check out the segment here.

Pretty cool, huh? What do you think? Let us know by commenting below!

Introducing “What You Don’t Know” on ALot2Lose.com!

grltlk — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:47:54 +0000

It’s been a year in the making and the finished product is finally here! Thanks to your votes, Kylee Darcy won Girl Talk’s “Reel Girls, Reel Life” PSA contest, and got to film the commercial with the pros. “What You Don’t Know” is now playing live nationwide!

We all know that underage drinking is not only illegal but can also lead to serious consequences such as car crashes, health problems, and even death. These are, of course, serious issues that need serious attention. However, the social consequences of underage drinking are often overlooked. What’s more is that the vast majority of teens believe that girls have even more to lose than boys when under the influence of alcohol. “What You Don’t Know” emphasizes both of these issues.

Two thirds of American teens admit that they – or someone they know – have made regrettable decisions linked to drinking. We’ve all heard stories about teens doing embarrassing things while under the influence of alcohol. No one wants to get into fights with a friend for no reason, tell a crush about embarrassing secrets, trip and fall or get sick in front of everyone, or forget your curfew. Underage drinking can only lead to trouble – not to mention, it’s illegal! When you drink underage you put yourself and your friends at risk for doing all of these stupid things and countless others. Reputations, relationships, and dignity are often compromised or even ruined. Drinking underage is just not worth it!

“Of course underage drinking is illegal and can lead to tragedies like car crashes and deaths, but the negative social consequences are much more prevalent,” says Kylee. “I hope my commercial will make teen girls think twice about all of the dangers of underage drinking.”

We hope so too, Kylee!

Be in “The Know” - check out Kylee’s professional PSA, “What You Don’t Know,” now!

We also want to send a shout-out to our friends over at AllyKatzz who posted an awesome micro-site of ALot2Lose! The AllyKatzz girls have blogged and commented on the topic of the video and have also created a cool poll. Check it out here!

New Ask Katie Questions and Answers!

grltlk — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:04:27 +0000

Hey Girls!

I have finally finished looking over all of the questions you all sent in during the month of March!!! You can now view them on the Girl Talk website in the Ask Katie section. The rest, of course, are right here on my WordPress blog! I made a new page on this blog so that you can easily access the questions at any time. Check out the new “Ask Katie” tab right next to my “About” tab! Snazzy, huh? To view the WordPress batch of questions, click that “Ask Katie” tab or right here! Be sure to bookmark that link so that you can check back for new questions each month!

Take care!