Like the rest of the world, we are saddened by the tragic loss of Michael Jackson. He is in our thoughts and our hearts go out to his family and three children. We thank him for his astounding contributions to the entertainment industry. He will be missed. Here are some amazing photos of Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal.
Xoxo,
JAM
When my friend Rosaria told me that her son Alex would be receiving the Salutatorian award (that means he had the second highest academic average in his class!) at his upcoming graduation from middle school, I thought he might have some valuable advice to share with our readers! Alex was asked to write a speech and addressed his entire class and their families at his graduation from Tuckahoe School in Southampton, NY. In addition to his outstanding academic achievements, Alex was also awarded with the National Physical Fitness Award and Perfect Attendance in his last semester, making him a model student. I caught up with Alex yesterday and asked him a few questions…
1) Salutatorian is such an honor. What was your first reaction when you got the news that you’d be speaking at graduation?
I immediately thought, “Uh-oh, now I have to write a speech!” Seriously, I was pleased at my accomplishment although I already knew I had been doing well and in high honors all year.
2) What was your most memorable middle school experience?
Graduation is sure to be the most memorable experience from middle school. However, there are many other excellent ones like all the outdoor trips, which included camping, rafting, rappelling, hiking and much more. Being awarded prizes for academic achievements has been rewarding. Lastly, completing the Regents exams was also quite an accomplishment.
3) You obviously performed very well in middle school. Can you give our readers any study tips for succeeding academically?
The most important thing is to always do your homework and pay attention in class. The rest will come easily.
4) What advice would you give to our readers who are entering middle school in the near future?
Always pay attention and be on the teachers’ good side by behaving well and being respectful.
Here at JAM we want to congratulate Alex on all of his impressive achievements and wish him good luck in high school! If you’re in middle school, what advice can you give our younger readers? If you’re heading to middle school soon, ask us a question – keep on JAMming!
Xoxo,
Marlene
Birthdays are a funny thing. When you’re young you can’t wait for them to come and when you’re older you dread the thought of having yet another one.
Where am I on birthdays? These days, between my books coming out and the busy season at the Agency, I’ve been too busy to give it much thought. My birthday came and went last Monday and my husband Steven and I had a lovely private celebratory dinner at a new hip restaurant on Central Park South. I thought that was that – how could I have possibly known that something extraordinary was in the works behind the scenes?!
Turns out Steven had single-handedly planned THE most amazing SURPRISE birthday party on record!!! Aside from the luncheon in a five-star restaurant at the St. Regis, 20 vases filled with my favorite white roses, and JAM balloons and m&m’s with my portrait on them – I was surrounded by 60 of the most amazing women I have ever known, all gathered in one room. Accomplished women who collectively had a million other things to do came to wish me a happy birthday!
There was so much joy and love in the air that I was brought to tears when the spotlight was on me to talk about the occasion. But what does this have to do you with you? You can use it as a wake-up call to think about the people in your life that you cherish. Let’s make a resolution to let one person every day know how much you care.
I invite you to be part of this wonderful celebration by watching the video posted below-a birthday gift from our very own JAM videographer!
Xoxo,
Marlene
We know prom season is coming to a close, but when Marlene’s nephew Andrew came into the office on Friday for some prom advice, we were inspired! After we helped him pick out his tie and a corsage, we asked him about his plans for the prom.
JAM: Who did you go to the prom with?
Andrew: I took my friend Marianne from school.
JAM: What were you looking for in a prom date?
Andrew: I wanted to go with someone who I could be myself around and have a great time with. I wanted it to be a worry-free, night of fun.
JAM: How did you get to the prom?
Andrew: A group of 20 of my friends rented a limo that took us from pictures to prom, and then to the after-party.
Andrew had the right approach. Just because you don’t have that special someone, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the prom! These days, a lot of high school students go to the prom with friends. The most important thing is to go with someone you can have fun with. Yes – every girl wants to look fabulous at her prom, but the people you surround yourself with will guarantee a memorable night.
Don’t want to go with a date? Round up a bunch of boys and girls from your class and go together! Put on that beautiful dress, take pictures, and then head to the prom in a party bus. The more people you can dance and hang out with, the more fun you will have! Prom is supposed to be a celebration of your high school experience, one last hurrah with your fellow classmates. It is a great way to say goodbye before everyone goes their separate ways. So get dressed up, hit the dance floor, and make the most of this magical evening. Let us know what you think about the prom and keep on JAMming!
Xoxo,
Marlene
We usually think of mothers making sacrifices for their children, but let’s not forget on Father’s Day weekend that there are many dads raising their children as well. We hope all of you show your dad how much you appreciate everything he does this Father’s Day! Here at JAM, we are truly inspired by Odeya’s story and we want to share it with you. Enjoy!
I had the most amazing experience living with my dad. I remember just arriving in the US. I was only eight years old and flew all the way by myself from Israel to Alabama. The plane landed and a lady took me up an elevator where my dad was waiting to see me. At first I didn’t recognize him because he grew a beard and then he yelled “Odeya!” and I ran up to his arms. We hadn’t seen each other in a year. It was a very exciting moment. It took me a little time to get used to living with just my dad, but we had so much fun together. We would stay up all night telling jokes, and went out for ice cream almost every week. It was fun because if I felt like doing something like going shopping or out to eat he would say “If that makes you happy, then yes.” There was no “ask mom” anymore. But it wasn’t all fun and games. My dad could be a ton of fun, but he still needed to do his job. Like he would always make sure I was safe, and if I was going somewhere without him, I always needed to call him as soon as I got there. And because my mom wasn’t there I needed to help with most of the house cleaning. But it was always teamwork! It was great having my dad play two roles in my life. Now that my whole family is here, my dad and I are just as close and he can be the fun, crazy, and funny dad he was always.
Xoxo,
Odeya
This Father’s Day, Odeya, her two sets of twin brothers, and her mom and dad are inviting family friends over for a barbeque. Make sure to become a JAM member and tell us what you have done to make Father’s Day special for your dad. One lucky story will be chosen on July 6th to win a $100 American Express gift card for you to spend on spoiling your dad! Check out the GIVEAWAY section on www.justaskmarlene.com for more details. Happy Father’s Day from JAM!
We found this article by Sheryl Butterfield on examiner.com…take a look!
Teenage acne is a normal rite of passage in adult minds. An American Medical Association study, however, showed that teens with acne “are likely to have lowered self-confidence, a poor self-image and are less inclined to participate in social activities.” A Family Education excerpt from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Parenting a Teenager refers to the study, stating: “Eighty-three percent of teens worry at least sometimes about their complexion.” Nearly half the teens surveyed “felt that their complexion affected how other people reacted toward them.”
Pimples need to be dealt with on physical and psychological levels. Teens’ focus on appearance is tied into their self-esteem. Acne is an obstacle to feeling the confidence they so need in adolescence. Parents and teens should get a handle on the information out there about acne:
Myth: Acne is caused by eating chocolate, greasy foods and drinking soda.
Fact: Ingesting these items has not been medically linked to acne. However, it can’t hurt to try a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Some people have allergies that may be affecting their skin. The Homemade Acne Remedy Web site recommends eliminating sugar, white flour and refined foods, dairy and red meat from your diet. The idea is that hormone-treated cows and sugar both “clog up our digestive tract and allow toxins to leak into our systems,” thus upsetting inner balance.
Myth: A dirty face equals acne.
Fact: Even kids who religiously wash their face can experience acne. That said, teens should wash gently twice daily with clean hands and no washcloth (bacteria lurks). Scrubbing only irritates breakouts.
Myth: Popping a zit clears the way for healing.
Fact: Squeezing “acne lesions” makes acne worse.
So what exactly causes this curse of adolescents?
Most medical professionals agree that heredity may cause acne to develop.
Hormones cause oil ducts to produce oil during puberty. Additional oil can mean clogged oil ducts. When the ducts get plugged up, whiteheads form and progress into pimples.
Stress can be a factor for some teens.
Girls may break out before their period because hormone levels change.
Sports equipment can rub on skin, causing breakouts where friction occurs.
Makeup brands may need to be reevaluated.Dirty, oily hair hanging around the face and dirty hands touching the face can lead to pimples.
So what should you do? If you’re feeling self-conscious about acne, JAM suggests you visit the dermatologist with a parent so you can figure out the safest and most effective way to clear up your skin!
Xoxo,
Marlene
Carol and Abby Levin; Photo: Michael Priest
Today I was among over 700 woman philanthropists at a luncheon honoring Mother/Daughter power which was showcased at the UJA’s In Her Footsteps luncheon. The presenting organization UJA, was established and is supported by a Jewish population that cares for those in need and recues those in harm’s way. UJA was among the first organizations to provide significant help immediately after Hurricane Katrina as well as other human catastrophes. UJA helps Jews and non Jews alike to repair the world- the UJA Woman’s Philanthropy group raised over $26 million.
Back to the luncheon, there were two Mother/Daughter pairs being honored in recognition of their exceptional work in the area of giving to charity. Each Mother/Daughter pair talked so lovingly about their devotion to each other and to the cause for which each of them works so hard. It was especially significant to me because I know one of the honorees and I know how difficult the last 12 months has been for her and her daughter due to personal upheaval. The thing is that the needs of others don’t stop just because we’re distracted with our own life drama and their work was clearly not to be halted because of it. You might call it good citizenship, you might call it philanthropy, whatever you call it, it’s something each of us has a responsibility to do.
I don’t know if you have ever given thought to the needs of those less fortunate than you, if not, maybe it’s time. Whether it’s through your church, your synagogue or your local hospital, this summer might be the perfect time for you to explore things you can do to support your community and incorporate good citizenship into your life.
Like Talia, one of our JAM VIP’s and one our JAM mom’s Yolanda writing about her daughter- there are lots of JAM girls that are already on the CARING road to good citizenship. I’d love to hear about things that you and your family do in the community and would be happy to include them in the BLOG. Keep me posted.
Xoxo
Marlene
The competition started with a bang on Wednesday night’s performance show of So You Think You Can Dance. I was impressed with all of the dancers, but America’s votes would inevitably put six of them in the bottom three couples. On last night’s results show the bottom three couples were revealed:
1) Tony Bellissimo and Paris Torres – On Wednesday night they danced a Hip-Hop routine. The judges were not blown away and said that the performance was not memorable.
2) Vitolio Jeune and Asuka Kondoh – They danced a Broadway routine, which the judges felt lacked emotion.
3) Jonathan Platero and Karla Garcia – On Wednesday they danced a high-energy Tango that the judges really enjoyed.
Each of these six dancers had to perform a 30-second solo in their own style on last night’s results show. At the end of the show, the judges eliminated one male dancer and female dancer, based on their solos and previous performances on the show. Hip-hop dancer Tony Bellissimo and his partner, Paris Torres, a Contemporary dancer, were eliminated from the competition. Did you agree with the judges? Do you think America’s votes put the right couples in the bottom three? Let us know who YOUR favorites are so far!
XOXO,
Marlene
When I arrived at the office yesterday I got some very exciting news that I want to share with you all! JAM was featured in the most recent issues of the Staten Island Advance newspaper and New York Family magazine. The Staten Island Advance called the website, “a playful online world brimming with unique perspectives on modeling, fashion, health/fitness, and self-esteem.” Check out the complete articles from both publications below and let us know what YOU think! Keep on JAMming!
XOXO,
Marlene
Last week on So You Think You Can Dance, the judges selected the top 20 finalists who will begin competing for America’s votes on Wednesday, June 10th. The 20 finalists will be paired with a dancer of the opposite gender and be required to dance to in a variety of genres. From Latin Ballroom to Contemporary, this season features talented contestants from all styles of dance. Make sure to stay tuned to find out who is in the running to win Season 5 of SYTYCD and be named America’s Favorite Dancer.
Dancers to watch out for:
Asuka Kondoh is a 25-year old Latin Ballroom dancer who has been working as a Latin Ballroom instructor for the last two years.
Melissa Sandvig is 29-year old Ballet dancer who has been dancing for most of her life. She is the only Ballet dancer in the competition.
Paris Torres is a 19-year old Contemporary dancer who began dancing when she was 6 years old. She proved to be a solid competitor throughout the audition process.
Tony Bellissimo is a 20-year old Hip Hop dancer who has been dancing for most of his life. The judges were a little worried about his lack of formal technique, but were won over by his personality.
Brandon Bryant is a 19-year old Contemporary dancer whose first audition brought judge Mary Murphy to tears. However, not all of the judges were impressed.
Evan Kasprzak is a 21-year old Broadway dancer who went through the audition process with his brother Ryan. In the end, Ryan was cut from the competition and Evan was put through to the top 20.
The 20 finalists aren’t the only dancers making headlines these days. Wilhelmina’s own Peyton and Spencer List competed at The Dancing Classroom’s Third Annual Dance Festival at Columbia University. The twins danced their way to 1st place in the Tango, Fox Trot, and Swing. We are so proud and encourage everyone to get out there and dance!
Make sure to check back soon for updates about tonight’s episode and Thursday’s results show – you know we’ll be watching.
XO
Marlene