The Fab Gal

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• Plan Ahead - It's okay if you aren't super-organized, but it is good to keep some kind of calendar or planner so you know what's coming up. Write down all of the important stuff - tests, dances, games - and keep it somewhere that you will see it all the time.


• Prioritize - Yes, you are a Fab Gal, but you can't do everything and save the world in the day. Sometimes, you have to make decisions about what is most important. Maybe today it's most important that you go to the first football game, but tomorrow it might be more important for you to study for your math test than watching the latest episode of Wizards of Waverly Place. You just have to choose wisely.
  
• Stay Healthy - It's so important when you are really busy to take care of your body. Make some room for healthy meals and time to work out. Also, make sure you give yourself time to sleep and recuperate. That way, your body will be able to keep up with your busy life, and you will feel so much better.


• Don't Waste Time - There are some things, that even though we enjoy them, are really a waste of time. For example, I could spend hours on Facebook. Would I really accomplish much? Probably not. So I try to set a time limit - say, 45 minutes - so that I can do what I enjoy but have more time for things that are really important.


• Have Fun! - This is crucial for a busy Fab Gal! You do so much, and you deserve to have time to just kick back. Having time to kick back with friends, go to a movie, or do whatever you enjoy can be refreshing after a long week. So make sure your schedule is rounded out with play time. Trust me, you deserve it!

How do you balance your busy schedule, FGs? What do you do to stay healthy, stay organized, and have fun? Leave a comment to let me know (see the instructions on the side). Of course, you can always e-mail me at fabgalsite@gmail.com.

xoxo

Labels: balance, fab gal, organization, school, teens

Did you catch The Cheetah Girls: One World last Friday? Just what you would hope for - catchy music, amazing setting, crazy-good dancing - super cheetah-licious. But the story got me thinking, how could The Cheetah Girls, three tighter-than-tight best friends, turn on each other? Sure, they've got the shot to be a world-famous movie star. Would real girls do that to each other? It could definitely happen - competition gets the best of us sometimes.

Labels: Cheetah Girls, competition, fab gal, friends

Hey Fab Gals!

I want to talk about something a little different than our usual today, although I am sure it is something you have encountered before: teen drinking and partying. I promise I won't go into the whole peer pressure, "just say no" schpeel - that is what health class is for. What I do want is for you to be smart like I know you are.

The most important thing is for you to decide what your comfort zone is, before you are even in a situation where you have to test it. Will you drink? How much? With who? Where? It's something you need to think about for your health, your safety, and truly your reputation. That is the biggest concern for me - I don't want to be the girl who has done it all (and remembered none of it). And whatever you do, stick with a girlfriend who will look out for you and make sure you stick to your limits.

But for real, I also want you to know that if it's not comfortable for you at all, that's cool. Partying is really big at some schools, but you don't need to do it if you don't want to. HOnestly, it sounds a lot cooler to say that it's not your thing than to pretend that it is. Hey, I like to go out, have fun, meet cute boys. But drunk boys aren't that cute. Maybe they're only cute if you're drunk.

Seriously, there are plenty of other ways to make friends and have a good time. It's much more important to stick with what you're comfortable. We FGs are rock stars - we don't need a drink to prove that.

xoxo

The Fab Gal

Labels: comfort zone, drinking, fab gal, partying, teens

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Labels: being yourself, fab gal, friends, individuality, school, teens

• Show Interest - Even if you are a shy gal, and the other person is a big talker, it's okay. Just show that you are an attentive listener - even just smiling, nodding, or saying "okay," or "cool!" (when appropriate) shows that you care what they are saying, so they don't take your shyness for aloofness.
• Have Background Info - If you are in an interview or some other formal situation, it's good to know what you are talking about! Look over information about the club or business so you can talk, but also so you know if you have questions (a great way to keep the convo moving!).
• Just Talk - If things feel weird or awkward, don't freak - there is always some level of weirdness when you're talking to someone for the first time. Try to think of something to say, if you can - even if it's just about the latest episode of your fave reality show or something funny that happened to you that day. You might be surprised what you have in common!
• Compliments Work - People love to feel good, so if you need a way to start up a convo, compliment someone, even if it's just a "Hey, great shoes!" It makes them feel special, and it gives you somewhere to start. But be genuine - people can usually tell when you're being fake.
• Be Yourself! - I hate when people say this, but it is so true. Sure, being yourself means that not everyone is going to love you. That's just the cold truth. But if you just relax and be natural, you won't feel like you need to keep up an appearance, and you will certainly stand out from the crowd.

How about you, Fab Gals? What do you do or say when you're meeting new people? Leave a comment to share (there are instructions on the side if you don't know how!).

xoxo

The Fab Gal

Labels: conversation, fab gal, first impressions, meeting new people, self-confidence

So we've all known them. Maybe they're not as scary as The Plastics, but you heard they made a girl cry. And everybody talks about them, but not to their face - hello, they're the mean girls! You're pretty sure they don't have a nice bone in their body.

Believe me, I've known plenty of them. Those girls always scare me - I always feel like less around them. But when I was at camp this summer, I saw things from a different perspective. Since all of us were around each other 24/7, we established our opinions of the other campers, fair or not, pretty quickly. There were a few girls that pretty much got pegged as mean girls. Neither of them was in my close circle, but I got to know them both well enough to know that was not true at all. The first one, we'll call J, came off a little hard - but she was actually a really considerate person, and she always came to me for a second fashion opinion. The other one, also J, actually - everyone thought she had a bad attitude, but the truth is, she was just outspoken and opinionated, and was hilarious and really nice underneath all that.

So it made me kinda sad when I heard people saying bad things about these two, because they weren't any more flawed than anyone else there. It made me think twice about some of the people, the mean girls, that I had been so intimidated by before. Certainly, there are some girls that do lash out and do really nasty stuff to bring other girls down, for no apparent reason. But maybe sometimes we put people in their position before we have really given them a chance. It's just like any other stereotype - the smart girl, or the shy girl, or whatever. It doesn't give anyone the chance to see past that title, however true or untrue it might be.

I'm not saying you need to be best friends with the "mean girls" at your school, and if someone is treating you badly, you definitely should not take it. But next time you start to feel intimidated or talk about someone behind their back, think if you really know who this person is. You might be surprised to know that they really aren't a mean girl at all.

xoxo

The Fab Gal

PS - I have been updating The Fab Gal Myspace, and the blog there is available for you to leave comments about the site. Check it out!

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• Technology - We FGs now quite a bit about the ins and outs of texting and social sites. Of course, Audrey did not the chance to make a Facebook, but I know she would have been careful with hers. Adding a billion friends you don't know, and airing out you dirty laundry in nasty notes or embarrassing photos... not very classy. Not everyone needs to know everything about you, nor should you let them.


• Boys - Well, the book said Audrey would never ask out a boy. While I think that rule is definitely worth breaking, but you should still uphold some Audrey standards. You should uphold your standards for how you are treated, but don't put so much pressure on the situation. You're Fab - you don't need a guy to prove it.


• Style - Audrey had the most amazing style. Ever. She was tasteful, but totally unique, and people are still trying to emulate her. Do what works for you. Maybe designers will be watching you one day.


• Manners - While I never met her, it is clear that Audrey could make an impression ( a good one). Everyone loved her, and I think it had to do with respect. No matter where life takes you, treat everyone like they matter, because they do. Listen when people talk, be polite, show you care - you won't be forgotten.


• Goals - Big dreamers we are, us Fab Gals. Audrey certainly had good luck, but she also relied on humility and hard work. Be confident enough to know you can get what you want, but be humble enough to remember hard work and where you came from. Roots and wings (that's what my mom says, but Audrey would agree I'm sure).

So go watch Breakfast at Tiffany's, then put that Audrey class to work!

xoxo

The Fab Gal

Labels: Audrey Hepburn, class, fab gal, respect, style

Labels: breaking plans, fab gal, new experiences, new year, self-confidence

Labels: assests, fab gal, self esteem, top 10

Labels: boys, communication, dating, fab gal, relationships

• Eat Lunch with a New Crowd - School lunch is lame. But you know what else is lame? Sitting in one place everyday. This is your chance to mix and mingle with new people. You might be scared, but others are probably more scared than you. So go for it, at least once a week.
• Get a Study Buddy - If you need it, don't procrastinate. Maybe math's not your thing. No biggie. Just don't put it off - teacher's want to help, but it's harder to pick up the pieces than to just get help in the first place.
• Try Something New - Sign up for that activity or club you've always wanted to try. It may be hard, but it will be worth it. Even if it doesn't turn out to be what you expected, you'll at least meet new people and have the experience.
• Make "Me" Time - When the school year starts, it's hard to find time to get everything done. But you need to have some balance. Keep time to exercise, get good sleep, and watch your fave show. You body (and your spirit) will be glad you did.
• Have Fun! - With all of these goals, or whatver you want to do this year, enjoy it! Celebrate your successes, or just celebrate your life. Give yourself room to be surprised and have fun, because that's what it's all about.

What are you hoping to do this school year, Fab Gals? What's your fave thing about going back to school? Leave a comment to let me know!

xoxo

The Fab Gal

Labels: fab gal, goals, new year, school

Labels: emotional eating, fab gal, self esteem

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Around spring break, I decided to take up running. I'm a terrible runner. I just wasn't naturally built for it. I decided it would be good to work at something taht isn't natural to me, to conquer it. And secretly, I was hoping it would make me super-thin. You never see a runner that isn't way toned, and I figured this could be my ticket to hotness.

A few weeks in, after a particularly hot and sticky run, I had a moment of clarity: no matter what, no matter how hard or fast I ran, I would never have Jessica Alba's body. It sounds foolish. But that was a very humbling moment. Why should I be working so hard if my body isn't going to cooperate? I just assumed it would.

But I also realized this: Jessica Alba doesn't get to be me either. That's a darn shame. I am funny and smart and beautiful just like this. Yes. I am jealous of her body, it's true, but what we're really jealous of is the money and clothes and fame and hot boyfriends. And I'm pretty sure Jessica would tell you her flat abs didn't win those things.

So I still run. It's a perfect fit for my endless energy, and I love the way it makes my body feel. And it is good to know I'm doing something I never thought I could. And that's going to have much more payoff than good abs.

xoxo

The Fab Gal

What kind of challenges have you overcome? Let me know here by comment, or at The Fab Gal Myspace.

Labels: body image, challenges, fab gal, goals, running