How Young is Too Young?
19 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Dating, Jobs, Life, Relationships
So if any of you are fellow Glee followers then you were as shocked as I was this week to see Finn, the adorable jock PROPOSE to Rachel Berry! My eyeballs nearly popped out of my head and my mouth went dry from hanging open for so long!!! But after I recovered from my shock, the proposal brought up a really difficult question for me. How young is too young to fall in love for forever? A couple of decades ago people used to fall in love and get married right out of High School all the time. And a couple of centuries ago people got married as young as thirteen. In some countries people still get married that young. I know that, that has been proven to not work out for most people, however, the hopeless romantic in me refuses to believe that for centuries no one was in love with their spouses. So, if its possible to be in love when you’re a senior in High School, it could be possible that the right thing to do is to get married. For some people, getting married keeps them from a lot of opportunities. You can’t go to college anywhere you want. Its harder to travel to cool places because you don’t want to leave your spouse and it’s too expensive to go together. And when you get married super young you never know what you’re giving up, but its scary to think that in a couple of years you could be regretting the decision, even if you still love the person. Most of us like to think that there is a such thing as true love that lasts forever. However, if that’s true then why can’t people remain in love but wait to get married until they’re older and know what they’re getting into? Some might say that if you’re in love and you know that you’re going to get married eventually then why wait? And there is truth to that too! Every couple is different, and when I see an eighty year old married couple who have been married for sixty-two years and don’t regret a minute of it, I believe that you are never to young and naive to really fall in love. However, that’s not for everyone! So for the other 99% of us, it may take a couple more years before we know that we’re ready. It doesn’t mean that the love isn’t real, or that you’re not meant to be together. In fact, if it is real, the test of time will be fool-proof anyway. But don’t let a relationship keep you from the opportunities that you could have in life.
~Charis
What Can be Fun, Stylish, and Comfortable? Shoes!
13 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Life, Misc.
One thing that I am always struggling with is finding practical shoes to add to my wardrobe. A good shoe should be interesting and unique, but still easy to match with lots of different outfits. In whatever you wear you want to feel beautiful, confident and comfortable, and shoes can be a huge part of that. But what shoes could possibly fit this entire description? Most shoes are either fun and unique, strictly for comfort, or really great with lots of clothes but painful. So here are some helpful hints of different kind of shoes that usually work for many different occasions and look super stylish:
1) The moccasin
These awesome shoes are super comfortable and warm for cold winter days. They are color neutral so they go with lots of different outfits. They look especially good with earthy tones and more of a hipster rustic look. And don’t be afraid to get your feet wet so long as you use the handy waterproofing spray.
2) Black Boots
These can be dressed up or down. They are simple looking so they are easy to match with things and they are super stylish right now. You can’t go wrong with a good basic boot!
3) Ballet Flats
Even though they are not exactly new to fashion, ballet flats still give an awesome statement with any outfit. They are cute and sensible, and can easily work with any outfit for any occasion. You can also buy them in all kind of colors and designs which makes it easy to find the ones that work best for you.
~Charis
New Year, New Possibilities!
12 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Dating, Family, Friends, Life, Misc., Relationships, School
Happy New Year! Have you ever noticed the strange slump that everyone gets in when the holidays end. We spend so much time looking forward to christmas and new years. There are parties and gifts exchanged and holiday magic. For the first time in a while the holidays give us an excuse to relax and forget about the things that are stressful for the rest of the year. Sports let up a bit, no school, family comes to town, and everything is about celebration. So how are we supposed to feel when that’s over? It seems like everyone goes back to the grindstone and things that we forgot to worry about are suddenly ten times more stressful. Plus its just sad that we don’t have the exciting things to look forward to. Suddenly winter is just cold and long and the highlights are over. But maybe they don’t have to be…
Whatever happened over the holidays, and whatever difficult things you need to return to now, remember that this is a brand new year. We all just got a fresh start that is on going. The things that disappointed us last year and the things we would like to be better at are a pile of endless possibilities for the future. You now have several weeks of normal, everyday life ahead of you to practice being the person you want to become. Make plans with friends, work harder in school, do the things you know you want to but aren’t sure you can. Because when it comes down to it, there will be a new year every year. And when the holidays are over and its time to get back to work, look at it as an invitation to see your life and yourself in a new light. You go girls!
~Charis
The Perfect Gift
15 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Crafts, Dating, Family, Friends, Make This!, Misc., Relationships
I’m sure everyone has been hearing lots about the consumerist angle in the holidays. Everyone being encouraged to spend less on each other and give more to charity, which is a wonderful thing. However, gift giving (when people don’t get carried away) is an awesome way to show people how much you love them. Gifts can be super personal and thoughtful without breaking the bank. Gift giving has the ability to remind every one of how much they care about each other, which is why it started in the first place. Saint Nick, according to the legends, would sneak into people’s houses and leave them special presents to boost their spirits and remind them that they are cared for. With that in mind, it can be really hard to figure out what kind of present to get for the special people in your life. The reason socks are so popular is because they are generic and everyone needs them. But how do you figure out something unique and special to get someone that lets them know that you were thinking specifically about them?
One place to start is to find out if they have any hobbies or interests that they don’t necessarily get to do in their normal routine. For example, I
love astronomy! But I don’t study it in school and I don’t have a lot of opportunities to do anything with it. But last year a friend good me a book on stars. It was really random seeming to everyone else, but I find myself reading it a lot! And I didn’t see it coming, so it was even more special that my friend knew such a small detail about me and was able to surprise me with it.
If you keep digging for secret interests and cant find any… you could always go with inside jokes. In all of the time that you’ve known this person you must have had at least one really good laugh over something goofy. No matter how abstract it was you can always find a picture on a t-shirt, or a mug, or some object that might represent that joke. And the best part is that every time they use it, it will make them laugh thinking about that funny time with you.
And last but not least, if all else fails you can always get sentimental! A picture in a cute frame with a letter about how much you love them will do the trick. Its cute, personal, and gives you a chance to tell them about how you really feel. It’ll give you a chance to really reflect on your relationship with that person and remember how much you care about them. What’s more perfect for the holidays?
~Charis
The Importance of Family this Christmas
13 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Family, Friends, Life, Relationships
As w
e’ve now entered the month of December and the Christmas season, it’s important to remember what is important in life. It’s not always about the Christmas presents that you receive each year; it’s the special people in your life who give you those gifts. This could be family, friends, your boyfriend or girlfriend, or anyone who you consider to be special to you. Take the time to be grateful for all those people, and let them know what they mean to you this Christmas.
Many of us have family traditions, especially when it comes time for the Holiday seasons. It might be anything from decorating the tree as a family to going somewhere or doing something fun. Family traditions are things that we should appreciate because they are events our families put time and value in, and they bring families together. If you don’t already have your own traditions, it might be fun to start some. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with your family. It can be with a group of friends or anyone you want.
As you open your presents Christmas morning, I challenge you to do something: take a moment to think about the name on each card. Think about what role that person has played in your life and why you’re thank
ful for them. It’s really easy to get caught up in the excitement of presents, being out of school, and having fun. If we take the time to show appreciation for the important people in our lives, we might find that our Christmas is filled with even more happiness and joy.
Stay Warm This Winter With Stylish Scarves
08 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, Beauty and Health, Make This!
Winter is here! Are you ready for it? The weather just keeps getting colder and it’s important to stay warm. An awesome way to keep from turning to a popsicle in the winter winds is to accessories with hats,gloves, and scarves! The most popular kind of scarf right now are pashminas. They’re soft, warm, big, and come in lots of fun patterns and colors. However, one of the most frustrating things is that its hard to figure out good ways to tie them. There are some obvious ways, but those can get boring really easily. So, here are three new fun ways to tie your pashminas that most people don’t know about…
1) Fold the pashmina in half first width-wise, then length-wise to form a loop. Place the loop around your neck and pass the top-end through the loop. Then take the bottom-end and pass it the opposite way through the loop.
2)Fold the shawl in half width ways and then place around the neck, with the loop draping round the front of the neck and the ends hanging at the back. Bring the ends to the front, then cross them over and bring the top layer back and through the loop you’ve created. Tighten to the neck and open out the fabric of the top layer.
3) Fold the pashmina in half width ways and place it over your neck. Tie it once loosely, then tie it again, but instead of pulling it tight into a knot leave it loose so it forms a chain link. Continue adding loose chain links as necessary
And there you have it! You’ll have the most stylish looking scarves out there =)!
~Charis
Bieber Gets Expensive – Dates with Gomez
02 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Celebs, Dating, Relationships
I’m sure you’re all aware of the teen celebrity relationship between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Especially since the hype about Justin being the alleged father of a girl’s baby and the paternity test, this couple has been in the spotlight often. First of all, they’re both well-known stars who are very successful, and second, many teenagers like Bieber and Gomez and their work. Do you care to take a guess at how much Bieber has spent on his dates with Selena? Over $1 million.
From the multiple vacations to the extravagent dates, the couple has spent a lot of time together on romantic outings. They spent time vacationing in Spain, and most recently they spent a long, romantic week together in Hawaii. Most teenagers would never have the means to vacation with their boyfriend/girlfriend for a week in Europe let alone Hawaii. What do their dates look like? They aren’t the typical “dinner and a movie” kind of nights. No, instead, he rents out an entire theatre for Gomez and himself and has food brought in. He takes her to hockey games where they sit in private rooms to be alone and romantic. A favorite extravagent date was one spent at the Staples Center for dinner and a movie. To buy only one VIP room in the center, it costs about $400,000 annually, so one can imagine it was a pretty penny to rent out the entire center for a night. Plus he had to spend at least a couple thousand on the giant screen to watch The Titanic, and let’s not forget about the steak dinner he ordered. The night, in total, cost at least $200,000 minimum.
As you can gather, their dates aren’t those of an average teenage couple. He is spending a lot of money on their nights/weeks out, and that’s not even factoring in the gifts he showers her with while on such dates. Do you think it’s a good thing that he’s spending this much money on his girlfriend? Do you think it’s necessary for a guy to spend a lot of money on a date, or do you think spending time regardless of the cost is enough? Let us know what you think!
Under the Mistletoe
01 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Be Safe, Dating, Family, Friends, Health, Relationships
The holidays are a great time to spend with family, an awesome break from school, and presents galore! There are always things to be thankful for during this beautiful time of cheer. However, sometimes it can be a dreary reminder to the single girls out there that they have no one under the mistletoe. Or a time when girls feel pressured by the special someone under the mistletoe to show extra affection. If you have never had either of these problems consider yourself lucky! For the rest of us, let’s discuss how best to navigate the tricky holiday-in-relationship (or lack there of) season.
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES… First of all I know how you feel. I’ve spent countless christmas’ watching my sister cousins and friends getting sweet gifts from their boyfriends and marveling over their young love. They never seem to notice that the time that they spend reflecting (to often a loud to you) 
about how thankful they are for their boyfriend, you feel like you’re missing out on something. Trust me, it’s not as glorious as it sounds. Being in a relationship is a great thing, but worth waiting for the person you actually want to be with. There are so many fish in the sea that it is often times really hard to find the fish that fits you. But the mistletoe will be there for the rest of your life. And eventually the guy who wants you and only you to share that with him will come along and add romance to your holiday. In the meantime spend the holiday fully committing yourself to appreciating you family and friends. Give them your full attention and you’ll soon be forgetting about what you don’t have.
HOLIDAY ROMANCERS… I’m sure he’s really cute, and I’ll bet he’s sweet to you. But no matter how great a guy is, your present for him can be thoughtful and
romantic without making you go out of your comfort zone. Any guy who is worth your time should want you to be happy during the holidays and shouldn’t be pressuring you “under the mistletoe.” So hold your ground. I know that you want to make him happy and let him know how much he means to you, but gift giving should be healthy and happy for both of you. Get him something that means a lot to him, however, what happens under the mistletoe is meant to be special for both of you. So don’t sacrifice your part of the experience because you feel pressured. If he really cares about you he will wait for when you are both ready.
~Charis
Just Enough
24 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Be Fit, Be Healthy, Beauty and Health, Health
Thanksgiving is an awesome time for everyone. It gives us an opportunity to really connect with our family, eat good food, be thankful for what we have…. and hey, no school! But one major downside to this holiday, and christmas and new years soon to follow, is that they are centered around food. There is no mystery as to why so many people join gyms after the new year. We all commit to loosing wait in the new year right after spending weeks centered around holidays full of awesome food. This can be a super good thing. However, it can also be a little nerve-racking for those of us who would like to eat the thanksgiving turkey and christmas cookies without becoming them. How do we handle this dilemma? For one thing, look into the calories and fat content of what you’re eating before you eat it. That way you wont have to feel like you are constantly and blindly stuffing your face. Also, remember that everything is good in moderation. I LOVE mashed potatoes with a passion. However, I would not eat piles and piles of them. More like one serving and then more if I’m still hungry. When you eat something really good the automatic reaction is to say “I want more” rather than savoring the amount you’ve had and leaving it at that. So try to eat everything in manageable portions and appreciate it while you’re eating it, recognizing that there is no need to eat and eat until you can’t fit anymore.
However, it isn’t good to be too hard on yourself. Always keep in mind that it is a holiday, so eating more than you would on any given day is perfectly normal. Dont become so restrictive with your eating that you don’t allow yourself to enjoy all the delicious treats. But enjoy them responsibly by eating until you have had just enough.
~Charis
A Christmas Treat
23 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized
Here is a very easy to make recipe of a Christmas treat that is really yummy. It’s called Christmas Bark, and you make it with white and regular chocolate swirled together with peppermint. It’s cheap and makes for a good treat whether it be to eat at home, take to a party, or give as a gift.
Step 1: Buy peppermint candies at the store and crush them up in a bag. First you’ll need to unwrap the candies individaully, and it’s a good idea to keep them in a ziploc bag to avoid getting candy everywhere. Crush the peppermint until it’s in small chunks.
Step 2: Get a microwavable bowl, and pour a bag of white chocolate chips into it. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat the chips up in incriments of 30 seconds until the chocolate is liquidy and thick.
Step 3: Now you can mix half of the peppermint chunks into the white chocolate. You’re ready to pour this mixture onto a sheet of wax paper in a ‘zig-zag’ shape across the entire sheet. Make sure to leave room in between the rows because you’ll be pouring milk chocolate as well.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 with the milk chocolate chips. When you pour it onto the wax paper, make sure to pour it in between the white chocolate to achieve nice swirls.
Step 5: Now to mix it a little bit, you can use the end of a knife and run it up and down the sheet vertically, swirling the chocolate into a decorative pattern.
Step 6: Finally you put it in the fridge to harden. Once it’s hardened, you can either break or cut up the block of chocolate into smaller pieces. It’s ready to eat or package however you want!
This is a fun and easy treat to make, and it’s great now that the Christmas season is coming up. Enjoy! Can you think of any other yummy holiday treats?
