Archive for November, 2009

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Thanksgiving – My Favorite Holiday!

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

turkey

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I find it’s true of a lot of my friends too.  No pressure about gifts and parties – just lots of amazing food we all love and a chance to enjoy time with your loved ones.  I always like to take look at fun and  interesting things about the holidays and here’s some food for thought (LOL) about Thanksgiving.

TRUE OR FALSE – Thanksgiving is held on the last Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving is held on the fourth Thursday in November which  is sometimes the last Thursday of the month and sometimes it is not.   Some years there are five Thursdays in November.

WHAT IS THE LARGEST PUMPKIN EVER MADE?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin ever baked was made October 8, 2005 by the New Breman Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio and had the following ingredients:

900 lbs. of pumpkin

62 gallons of evaporated milk

155 dozen eggs

250 lbs of pie crust

300 lbs. of sugar; 3.5 lbs. salt; 7 lbs. of cinnamon, 2lbs pumpkin spice

WHEN DID THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE START?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started as the Macy’s Christmas Parade in 1924.  It consisted of Macy’s employees and animals from the Central Park Zoo to kick off the holiday selling season.  The current day parade has 3 million people in attendance with another 44 million people watching it on TV.

THE AVERAGE ADULT CONSUMES HOW MANY CALORIES ON THANKSGIVING?

4500 CALORIES!!  That’s a lot of turkey.

CAN A TURKEY FLY?

Domestic Turkeys can’t fly but wild turkeys are fast – up to 55 mph for short distances.

DO TURKEY’S DO THE TURKEY TROT?

The turkey trot is a ballroom dance from the 1990′s named after the short jerky steps that turkeys make.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Xoxo,

Marlene

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Myjellybean.com!

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

We LOVE Myjellybean.com, a fun and safe web community where teenage girls go to find everything they love on the web. Check out Myjellybean.com for fresh daily horoscopes, chat boards, style and beauty, dating tips, quizzes and games, fitness info, dream dictionary, popular advice column, exciting contests and sweepstakes, and tons more awesome stuff. We have teamed up with Myjellybean for an awesome giveaway and are so excited about continuing to work together in the future. CLICK HERE to check out Myjellybean and enter their contest featuring the My Tween Lifestyle Collection!

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Beauty Peek Inside

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

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Hairstyle File

So many hairstyles, so little time. In order to get the right look for your locks, it’s important to know yourself. Are you a wash-and-go girl, or do you wield a blow dryer like a samurai? It’s also important to know your hair type. Here’s how to find the right hairstyle for you.

Stick Straight

First, squeeze the excess moisture out of your hair after you wash it. Next, divide your hair into sections and apply a little straightening serum or pomade for some extra shine. To keep it all organized, take a big clip and clip the sections while you work on them one at a time. Pull down the section you’re working on with a flat brush and blow dry, aiming the nozzle of the blow dryer down as well. This will help minimize frizzies.

Crazy Curly

The most important thing to remember about curls is to let them do their own thing after they’ve been washed. Brush out your hair right before you get into the shower. Use conditioner as part of your regular shampooing routine, since curly hair tends to be dry. After washing, do not comb or brush your locks. Simply scrunch your hair with your fingers and apply a curl stylish cream for added hydration and style control. Lastly, twirl one-inch sections around your finger if you want to make ringlets. Let those curls air dry, then spend that extra time thanking your lucky stars that your hair is so easy – wash and wear.

Wonderfully Wavy

Fight frizz with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Look for shea butter. Shea butter, the natural fat extracted from the fruit of shea trees, is a rich moisturizer used in many cosmetic products. After squeezing out the extra moisture from your hair, apply a dollop of curl-sculpting cream. Divide your hair into four sections and style each one separately, scrunching up the hair while your blow-dry it. A diffuser attachment is a good tool to add to your blow dryer, since it blows hot air indirectly, which keeps it from flattening waves. Soon you’ll have waves as big and beautiful as the ocean.


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Fitness Peek Inside

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Let’s Get Cooking!

Knowing how to prepare your own food is essential to maintaining a health, balanced diet. Cooking doesn’t necessarily need to be super involved. There are plenty of quick and easy ways to prepare healthy and delicious food.

Here are some plain and simple ideas for snacks:

Frozen Grapes: Pop four handfuls of grapes in a plastic zip-top bag and put it in the freezer. Do it in the morning so you’ll have a tasty snack when you get home from school.

Protein Sticks: Wrap a piece of lettuce around some string cheese or a slice of low-salt lunch meat and you’ll be good to go.

Trail Mix: Mix a handful of raisins, dried cranberries, and unsalted nuts or granola in a zip-top bag. Carry the mix in your backpack for a quick snack in between classes.

Mexicana Relish: Mix a small container of plain, low-fat yogurt with three tablespoons of salsa. Spread on a few crackers and enjoy. The mix will stay fresh for five days in the fridge.

Frozen Yogsicles: Spray a clean, empty ice cube tray with cooking spray and spoon some of your favorite flavor yogurt into each section. Place a toothpick in the middle, allow to freeze, and – voila – you have yogsicles.

Fruit Smoothie: Combine one six-ounce container low-fat vanilla yogurt, half a banana, two handfuls of strawberries (or any fruit you like), and four ice cubes in a blender. Blend on high until the ice cubes are crushed. Pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

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Fashion Peek Inside

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Size Yourself Up: The Importance of a Good Fit

One size doesn’t always fit all.  People are like snowflakes – each one of you is your own unique self. You may have a long torso, or super short legs, which can make it difficult to find clothes that fit. No matter how cute that dress in the store is, if it doesn’t fit, back on the rack it goes. If clothes are too tights, you can look like you’re wearing something that was in the dryer for too long. Clothes that are too baggy not only make you look like you’re wearing a potato sack, they usually make you look heavier than you really are!

Skirts and pants should sit at the waist or slightly below, on the hips.

For pants, the crotch should not ride up and make a V between your legs – when that happens, it could be that the cut doesn’t work for you, or you that you need to try the next size. The pants are too big if the crotch hangs down more than half an inch. The fit should be comfortable but not too baggy.

When it comes to shirt and jackets, shoulder seams should meet at the shoulder’s edge, not go beyond. Here’s an easy test to check for the proper fit or a jacket or a shirt: If you can’t easily lift your arms or if the buttons pull, try a bigger size.

Special Tip. Okay, if you’re really, really, really obsessed with a dress that’s a little too snug, try every single one that the store has in your size. Machines at the factory don’t always cut the fabric exactly the same, so you might find one that’s just a little bigger!

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Attention All New York State Resident Parents!

Friday, November 20th, 2009

cae

On a serious note, I am on the Board of Directors of an organization I believe is critical to a well rounded education and meaningful for students in the New York City School system – The Center for Arts Education  (CAE).  CAE is dedicated to ensuring that every New York City public school student has quality arts learning as an essential part of their K-12 education. CAE believes that every child in every school has the right to an enlightened education, of which the arts are an essential ingredient.  I strongly believe the arts help promote the health and well-being of children, including academic and personal growth, critical thinking and analytical skills, and the motivation to stay in school and excel. The arts also help engage students and help transform schools into places of inquiry and wonder, where excitement, discovery, and imagination thrive.  Quality arts education is central to a complete education…and in New York it is required by state education law.  If you are a New York State resident, I urge you and your parents to take a close look at the following letter from Richard Kessler, Executive Director of CAE, and for more information on CAE’s work on behalf of our children please visit www.caenyc.org. Thank you in advance for your support!


Dear Friend,

This upcoming Monday, November 23rd, the New York City Council is holding a hearing to examine the status of arts education in New York City public schools.

The hearing agenda will include a discussion of Resolution #837 which calls on the Department of Education to ensure a minimum level of funding at all schools for arts education.  With the support of people such as yourself, The Center for Arts Education has been instrumental in advancing this resolution and getting thirty-three Council Members to sign as co-sponsors.

You can further join CAE in this effort by attending the council hearing on Monday and adding your voice to the growing chorus of individuals and organizations in support of a vibrant arts education in city public schools.

The restoration of a per pupil allocation is a key ingredient in the effort to ensure that all of New York City’s 1.1 million school children are receiving equal access to the arts education to which they are entitled by state law.

The hearing will be held on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 250 Broadway, New York, NY, at 1:00 p.m. in the 16th Floor Hearing Room.

If you are interested in testifying or attending, please contact CAE’s Director of Public Engagement Kira Streets, at kira@caenyc.org or (212) 971-3300 ext. 324.

Thank you for joining the fight to restore dedicated funding for arts education in NYC public schools!

Sincerely,

Richard Kessler

Executive Director


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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

dakota

It’s always fun to see the development of an actor’s career in film.  What’s even more exciting is to see a beautiful, talented young actress blossom before your very eyes into a full-blown and glam movie star!! HER NAME IS DAKOTA FANNING and from I AM SAM in 2002 to the new vamp in NEW MOON, this 15 year-old princess seems to have done all the right things along the way.  One of the special things about her is her interest in going to a regular high school and being as much like a regular young teen as possible.   Dakota and her fellow Vikings on the cheerleading squad – from Campbell Hall Episcopal in North Hollywood - stepped up the school spirit during the football game for their high school football team.  The 15-year-old actress is used to walking the red carpet at film premieres, but she also got to walk the red carpet on the football field when she was crowned homecoming princess during an away game on Friday, October 30th in Encino CA.  Dakota talks about wanting to have all the regular high school experiences that create the memories she wants to have too. The kind of experiences there’s no time to have ever again.

Although I missed the LA premiere because I was on vacation at Canyon Ranch, I heard that Dakota, while looking super cute in Valentino, dished on how she got her vamp role, “I didn’t audition, but when they came to me seeing if I wanted to be in it, I was really excited to be a part of it and so happy they wanted me to be in it,” she explained. “It’s such a great honor.”  This is a young starlet who knows how it work it.

Can’t wait to hear what you think of Dakota and NEW MOON – comment on this blog or let me know on Facebook or Twitter (justaskmarlene1).

Xoxo,

Marlene

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My Spa Experience!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

mountainbiken

Now that I am back home, I am reflecting on a fabulous and rejuvenating experience at a leading spa out west in Tucson, Arizona!

There was a lot of diversity at the spa with people from places as far as South Africa with a wide variety of reasons for being there. This always makes things interesting because you get to learn a lot about what’s going on in different parts of the country and the world.  Some people were there to figure out what to do about their boyfriend, others for their annual U.S. medical exam, and others hoping to find the inner strength to make a big life change. I took part in everything from traditional Western medicine to Eastern healing sessions.

One of the special things about this Spa was it seemed like everyone was truly there to make your stay exactly what you wanted it to be 24/7.  No question was too big or too small and there was never any judgment. The first day I was at the Spa I met with a Guest Advisor who spent at least 2 hours talking to me about my needs and interests.  She also checked in with me from time to time and we were constantly tweaking my schedule.  She introduced me to some programs that I never would have thought to do – for example – Me and My Relationship with Food. It gave me a better understanding about why I eat when I eat other than when I’m actually hungry. I also got a chance to do some of my favorite activities – like riding my bike. This wasn’t just any bike ride – we left at 6 AM and rode in the nearby national parks – climbing to an altitude of an additional 2500 feet from where we started.  It was a really steep climb, but the views were breathtaking – and it felt so good, mostly on the way down the hill on this 18 mile ride.

One of the things that made the trip really special was that I went with my sister.  My sister and I are very close but sometimes find it hard to spend time together because she lives in Toronto and I live in New York.  Being at the Ranch, we did what we love to do – physical activities in beautiful weather and we got to do it together.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

I came away with a few great recipes that I wanted to share with all of you!  Remember that you must check with your parents before doing any cooking.

BANANA DELIGHT – Slice up 2 Bananas and add 3 teaspoons of melted frozen orange juice.  Mix together carefully in a bowl without mashing up the bananas.  Add more of the melted frozen oj – to taste. What a delightful snack!

MAMA MARLENE’S WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA – Take a readymade whole wheat pizza crust.  Cover the pie with tomato sauce leaving the thin rim around the crust.  Sprinkle about ½ cup low fat/fat free mozzarella all around.  Put it on double folded tin foil or on a pizza tray.  Pop the pie in a 400 degree preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or to taste.  Cut slices with a pizza or serrated knife and enjoy!  (One of the reasons to use whole wheat is because you digest it more slowing which means you stay satisfied longer than regular pizza dough.)

Xoxo,

Marlene

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Seven Sassy Stocking Stuffers!

Monday, November 16th, 2009

gifts

Check out my list of some of the best gifts for teens and tweens this Holiday Season!

1. The My Tween Lifestyle Collection –My Life, My Self, My Beauty, and My Look tackle the subjects of health and fitness, self-esteem, beauty, and fashion in a fun and visually-exciting manner. I wrote the books to help every girl have her unique beauty shine through so she can look and feel her best! Any one from the collection or all of them is the perfect stocking stuffer.

2. A Dream Journal – A colorful small notebook or moleskine will make a perfect dream journal and stocking stuffer this year. Dreams race through our heads so fast that we often don’t remember them unless you write them down. Keep your dream journal and a pen right next to your bed and write down everything you remember when you wake up. You’ll find yourself with a collection of exciting dreams that will be fun to go back and read!

3. A Jump Rope – Exercise is an important part of feeling great in both body and mind – even at a young age! Jumping rope is a fun and easy way to exercise indoors now that the weather is beginning to change. A jump rope is good for both aerobic fitness and strength training.

4. Lip Gloss – Whether or not you want to admit it, a lot of tween girls are eager to experiment with makeup. I love LipSmackers from BonneBell – perfect for young girls who are just starting to wear lip gloss. They come in fun and delicious flavors like Dr. Pepper, Pink Lemonade, and M&M, and you can buy them at your local pharmacy!

5. A Funky Scarf – A colorful scarf is the must-have fashion item for this winter! Have you ever thought about the fact that scarves have two different functions? They keep you warm and they’re a great fashion accessory! They can add color and texture to an outfit and can be worn in many different ways…even as a headband!

6. Personalized Toiletry Kit – No girl’s collection is complete without a cute bag to keep a small toothbrush, floss, face wash, and moisturizer in. Head to your local drugstore and fill it up with travel sizes of your daughter’s favorite products. Great for sleepovers – she’ll always be prepared for a night away from home!

7. Manicure/Pedicure Set – Great for a do-it-yourself spa day. Go to the drugstore and pick out a few wild colors like bright pink, deep purple, or even green. Add in a nail file and some glitter, and she’ll have everyone thinking she went to the salon!

What are you hoping to get for the holidays? We can’t wait to hear from you!

Xoxo,

Marlene

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JAMming with Teenreads!

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Teenreads.com is a great website dedicated to bringing teens info and reviews about a variety of books and authors. I had the opportunity to act as a guest blogger on Teenreads last week – check it out!

Marlene on Teenreads!

Xoxo,

Marlene

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