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Dear Marlene!
Monday, August 2nd, 2010Zero Tolerance Too Far or Not Enough?
Friday, July 30th, 2010Click Here To Go Back To JAM!
David Morales had planned to meet his new pen pal with a hat decorated to honor troops.
His plan didn’t go so well.
Each child in David’s class at the Tiogue School in Coventry, was suppose to design their own hat to wear. David decided to use army figurines on a camouflage hat. The problem?
The figurines were carrying guns.
The Tiogue School has a zero tolerance policy and images of guns and drugs can’t be found on clothes, hats, or any other supplies like notebooks. The superintendent banned the hat and asked David to replace the soldiers with ones that are not carrying guns. Unfortunately, David only had one figurine who had binoculars, and ended up wearing a plain baseball cap.
Christan Morales, David’s mother said her son was inspired to honor the military after striking up a friendship last summer with a neighbor in the Army. Banning the hat, “sent the wrong message to the kids, because it wasn’t in any way to cause any harm to anyone,” she said. “You’re talking about Army men. This wasn’t about guns.”
Who’s in the right? The school has a healthy reason for requesting those images not be present, but is it different when the representation is our troops?
Let us know what you think!
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Meet Shannon Tavarez
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Click Here To Go Back to JAM!
I wish I was introducing you to the amazingly talented, 11 year old Shannon Tavarez under different circumstances.
Unfortunately, The Lion King on Broadway star, found out this April that she has leukemia.
Beating out hundreds of hopefuls last year, Tavarez was cast as “Nala,” and performed for six months before having to halt her budding career.
Right now she needs a bone marrow transplant and hasn’t found a match. Her physician, Dr. Larry Wolfe, of the Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, says the task of finding her a match are harder than it seems. Tavarez’s mother if of African-American descent and her father is Hispanic. The donors of minorities and people with mixed origin are few and far in between.
Done by a simple cheek swab, the DKMS (Bone Marrow registry) can process a registrant simply by mail. If you’re between the ages of 18-55, it’s simple to sign up, one of the JAM team members filled out the registration and it literally took less than ten minutes to fill out the form, swab the cheeks and send the package back. Here’s a link to read about Shannon and how to become a donor:
https://www.dkmsamericas.org/bone-marrow-donors/become-marrow-donor
It’s hard to deal with an illness like cancer, but with the support and love from friends and family, it sometimes helps the bad things not seem so bad anymore. Tavarez has lots of love and support from her cast, friends and families and even other Broadway show friends like “Wicked.” Do you have someone that is going through something difficult? Like maybe a death in the family, or even an illness? If you do, sometimes one of the best things you can give, is a smile and a phone call. Check on them often, or send a card–you can even click below to print out cool JAM downloads to decorate!
Keep JAMming with JAM downloads!
That’s Not “Fetch”-Teen Dating Sites
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Click Here To Go Back To JAM!
321teenchat, IMVU, Kizmeet, PlentyofFish, sound familiar?
The JAM team weren’t that familiar, but we all have seen a couple of ads around facebook and other teen and tween sites that we visit often. So we decided to do a little research. And unfortunately what we found as they said in the movie, “Mean Girls,” was not fetch!
Some of these sites target 13-19 year old, don’t require a fee or parental permission and have open chat rooms and connecting to other people, with the idea of finding, “love.”
It’s cool to meet new people and “network” as we say with people all over the world, but chatting on dating websites as a 13 year old, with someone who is possibly 19 (or older for that matter) is pretty scary!
According the FBI’s website on Crimes Against Children, they say that a chat room is one of the most dangerous places on the web. You never know who you are talking to and people aren’t always who they seem. The site says to look and report these things if you see them:
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Anyone you don’t know who asks you for personal information, photos or videos.
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Unsolicited obscene material from people or companies you don’t know.
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Misleading URLs on the Internet that point you to sites containing harmful materials rather than what you were looking for.
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Anyone who wants to send you photos or videos containing obscene content of individuals 18 and younger. (The possession, manufacturing, or distributing of child pornography is illegal.)
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Online enticement for offline sexual activities. (No one should be making sexual invitations to you online – and it’s an especially serious crime for adults to do it.)
So you want to date? First, talk to your parents. They have the best advice on when it’s a great time for you to date, where to meet people and who’s good dating material!
Want to talk to people online or meet new people? Of course browse around the JAM page! But here are a few other “safe” sites to explore:
Loveisrepect.org
Kidzworld.com
Lipsmacker.com
Ellegirl.com
Keep JAMming and build your own Comp Card!
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Click Here To Go Back To JAM!
With the school year almost six weeks away (time is flying!), it’s never too early to get started on those back to school deals. A lot of retailers are starting to target to all those proactive parents and students with deals you can’t pass up!
Here’s some deals that we found over here at JAM, that are too good to pass up!
Supplies
Office Depot
Rulers, Notebooks and paper starting from $0.50
Staples
The One Cent and $1 Sale is back this summer with tons of deals on everything from highlighters to notebooks.
Walgreen’s
$0.90 School supplies like, folders, staples and three-hole punchers
Fashion
Children’s Place
$10 on Kid’s denim, shorts & skorts
Kohl’s
$5 Tees and Tanks
Macy’s (www.Macys.com)
$0.99 Shipping on clearance merchandise. Use coupon code: 99cents
Also, remember before you check-out at online retailers to take a peek at www.retailmenot.com. If you search the retailer that you’re about to shop from, sometimes they will feature online coupon codes like free shipping, percentages off, or even free gifts.
Now that makes back to school shopping all the more worth it!
Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s post on what’s hot and NOT, for “Back to School” fashion.
Keep JAMming with the JAM’s Survival Modeling Cheat Sheet!
Navigating the Net Safely
Monday, July 26th, 2010Click Here To Go Back To JAM!
With so many ways to keep up with friends and family over the internet, you definitely want to do it in a safe way. It’s hard to keep your personal information protected when anyone, from anywhere is allowed to log on.
Follow these tips to make sure you stay safe and protected from harmful people who prowl the net!
1. Group your friends!
Visit Facebook’s friend page and group all your friends into separate categories. For example, “Friends of Friends,” “Middle School Friends,” “Family,” or even “Bestie’s.” Then, go to privacy settings and set up how you want to share your personal information. Maybe you don’t want “Friends of Friends,” seeing your photos, or even if you don’t want your “Family” posting those embarrassing kindergarten pics or tagging you in the family photo, you can hide your wall from them. However you want to set it up, you can!
2. Keep it in the past!
It’s hard not to let your friends know that you and the family are on your way to the Bahamas for summer vacation, but you don’t want strangers knowing where you guys will be! Instead of updating before you go, update when you come back letting the world know how much fun you had. If you really want everyone to know that you’re going on vacation or to something cool like an amazing concert, don’t give details, say something like, “Going to an amazing concert with friends”!
3. Protect your tweets!
So everyone is famous on Twitter. We keep up with each other on the minute or even the hour, but make your page private. Unlike Facebook where you can only approve friends, the entire world has access to your tweets, twitpics, or links. By protecting your tweets, you get to approve your followers and keep your personal information safe.
4. Peep your profile!
After you’ve read an amazing blog post on JAM, you want to comment. Just be sure your profile doesn’t contain any personal information. If you do, don’t put all three of the “Dead Give-Aways”: Name, Birth date and Location. Those three indicators make it easy for anyone to find you, just by doing a simple search! If you have your real name on your Google or other account, don’t include your birth date AND location, or if you have your birth date and name, don’t list your location.
Being able to connect to friends and family just by the internet is pretty cool. But some things, the whole world doesn’t need to know! Especially when it comes to your safety and well-being. Surf the net, but be smart and be safe!
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JAM In The News!
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Click here to go back to JAM!
This week some great sites used Marlene’s modeling and tween lifestyle expertise for their sites!
Child Mode, a great resource for all things fashion & style for children and teens, met up with Marlene in L.A. where she sat on the panel of judges at the Next Direct & Wilhelmina Children’s Model Competition. (Stay tuned on the JAM Blog to hear more about the Next Direct Competition!)
Editor of Child Mode, Nadia Carriere, looked to Marlene as an expert in the child modeling industry. When asked what Marlene looks for in a child model, she commented, “When I meet with aspiring models, the first thing I am struck by is their natural beauty and the twinkle in their eyes.” Read the rest of Marlene’s interview on Child Mode, HERE!
Popular family site, Savvy Auntie, also looked to Marlene for an expert story. The May article, “Celebrate The End Of The School Year With Your Nieces And Nephews,” highlights 5 great activities for teens and their parents & mentors to do before the school year comes to an end. Check out the 5 fun activities, HERE!
Stay tuned for more JAMmin’ news!
Keep JAMming to enter our latest contest! YOU could win exclusive prizes from Twist Magazine & JAM!
Easter Egg Roll-ing At The White House!
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
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Yesterday President Barack Obama and the First Lady held the “Easter Egg Roll” at the White House in Washington D.C. Thousands of kids and their parents hit the great lawn to search for Easter eggs all around the White House grounds.
This year the theme of the Easter Egg Roll was “Ready, Set, Go!” which was set to promote health and wellness. The event had live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling. All the activities encouraged children to lead healthy and active lives and follow the First Lady’s ‘Let’s Move!’ initiative, a national campaign for combat childhood obesity.
Even celebrities came out to the big event to support Mr. and Mrs. Obama and participate in the Easter activites! Many members of the cast of Glee were there along with singer Sara Bareilles, actress, Reese Witherspoon and tween idol, Justin Bieber! Along with classic covers of pop stars like Aerosmith and Michael Jackson, Bieber performed his hit ‘Baby’ to tons of adoring fans.
The event looked like TONS of fun and we loved the fact that the Obama’s were proactive in giving kids and teens great acitivies and tips for how to lead a healthy lifestyle. JAM is always giving you great tips to keep you feeling great from the inside out, which always starts with a positive self-image. Check out the 4 Self-Esteem Boosting Activities that will help you keep a positive attitude, even when you’re feeling down!
If you didn’t get a chance to participate this year, be sure to check back on the White House site, here, to get tickets for next years’ event!
You can even purchase commemorative Easter eggs online. Check them out, here.
Keep JAMming to get even more great tips…5 Healthy Habits That Will Change Your Life!
Great Money Saving Tips For Prom!
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
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As another school year comes to a close this spring, most teen girls are focused on prom and looking their best for this exciting yearly event. What they tend not to realize is that prom can be a great expense for parents, who are often expected to pay for everything from that perfectly styled hairdo to the dream dress she’s set her heart on. Throughout my years as president of Wilhelmina Kids & Teens, I’ve spoken to so many mothers and daughters about their experiences with prom planning, and I know just how frightening the price tag for the night can be. I always tell moms that with a little bit of communication and planning, you and your teen can work together to create the ultimate prom night, all while staying within the family budget.
Step 1 – Create a “Prom Budget” with your teen. When she says she needs a new pair of heels, have her do a bit of research to find the best possible style at the lowest available price. Sometimes this will mean she may not end up with her first choice item, but until money grows on trees, a bit of compromising is essential. The “Prom Budget” is a great start to teaching the basics of financial planning and reasonable spending.
Step 2 – In keeping with the family budget, you and your teen should be prepared to bargain hunt in unlikely places. Ensure that you both keep an open mind while the two of you scour the shelves of thrift stores and consignment shops. These shops are especially great for finding unique vintage accessories — you’d be surprised at the tons of gorgeous jewels available at discounted prices! Remember, shopping at second-hand stores doesn’t always mean having to buy second-hand goods. You’re also very likely to find brand new items mixed in with the older treasures. Many consignment shops also specialize in pre-owned formal wear. Since most girls only wear their prom dresses once, chances are the dresses you find will be in like-new condition. Why pass up a deal like that?
Step 3 – Discuss possible alternatives to costly professional services for nails, hair, and makeup. Offer to give her an “at-home manicure” with a new bottle of her favorite nail polish. If it’s a fancy ‘do she’s after, mention that by buying hair products and helping her style her own hair at home, she’ll be able to achieve the same look many times over instead of paying loads of money for a one-time salon visit. Soft curls pulled back into a loose ponytail makes for a simple yet classic prom night look. Perhaps your teen even feels comfortable doing her own makeup; if not, many department stores offer a “beauty makeover” for free, with the purchase of just one product from the salesclerk (try Elizabeth Arden or Estee Lauder). Call them up and talk to them about making an appointment.
Step 4 – Prom night transportation can be a huge expense, so it’s time to discuss ways to save. For just about all prom-goers, a limo is the undisputed way to go. Tip: Don’t rent a limo for the entire evening. You’ll end up paying mostly for time spent waiting around in parking lots! Instead, consider dropping off your teen and her friends at dinner, and then hire a limo take the group from dinner straight to the prom. The larger the limo the better — more room means more people to share the bill!
You can find all this info & more on our ‘Prom on the Cheap’ YouTube video!
Become a JAM member at http://www.justaskmarlene.com/ to get all the inside scoop and greatest and latest tips on modeling, fashion, beauty, fitness, and self-esteem from Marlene Wallach’s Secret Journal.
Check out all my articles complete with great self-esteem activities & tips for girls here on Ezine: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marlene_Wallach
Keep JAMming to find 4 great self-esteem boosting activities to have you feeling confident, today!
Fashion For A Cause
Thursday, March 25th, 2010Click here to go back to JAM!
Singing sensation, Shakira, is teaming up with Hard Rock International to create limited editions t-shirts and bracelets to benefit the Barefoot Foundation. The shirts are selling for $26 and the bracelets for $12, where 15% of all purchases will benefit Shakira’s favorite charity. Shakira says of her endeavor, “I hope to increase international awareness and support of for the Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation), an organization that is extremely close to my heart.” She stresses that every time fans wear the t-shirt they are helping to break the cycle of poverty. You can purchase Shakira’s cause-worthy designs, here.
You can also walk with a cause in a new pair of Converse PROJECT (RED) sneakers. PROJECT (RED) and Converse are teaming up in an initiative to help fight AIDS while enouraging customers to express themselves. You can actually write on your own shoe what YOU love. This is a great chance to show your creativity and help out a great cause. Proceeds from the purchase of Converse’s PROJECT (RED) LOVE will go towards the fight against AIDS in Africa. Click here to learn more about Converse’s PROJECT (RED) LOVE and where you can purchase these super cute sneakers.
Aside from products for purchase, there are also ways you can use YOUR fashion to donate to a great cause. With Fashion Delivers, you can donate your gently used clothing to aid victims of disaster throughout the world. Check out the amazing things Fashion Delivers is doing, and how you can help…here.
Helping people less fortunate than you and making the world better are essential components to a happy life. It’s true! Being a well-rounded person means that charity work has a place next to hanging out with friends and enjoying hobbies. You’ll be suprised how great it feels to focus on the needs of others. It offers a sense of satisfaction you can’t find any other way. Check out My Self: A Guide to Me in the My Tween Lifestyle Collection to get more tips and activities on giving back and how it can positvely affect your self-esteem.