Dear Nicole

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:

 

Dear Nicole,

I've been having some problems with my mom. I'm not in any of the hobbies I want to be in. A while back, I asked if I could be in cheerleading. My dad tried to convince my mom to let me be in it. The answer was "yes"! Then my principal decided not to have a cheerleading squad for a while. Recently my school announced that cheerleading was back on. I got the forms that I needed and asked my mom again. Her answer was "NO"!!! The sad part is all of my friends are going to be in cheerleading. I just want my mom to treat me like a teen that needs adventure.

A:I’m sorry to hear you don’t feel like you’ve been able to really live out your teen life in an adventurous way. Problems with parents can be tough and very tricky, especially when you still reside under their roof. I suggest you start with a serious talk with your mom. Let your dad know what you plan on doing and see if he can help in any way. Set the mood, meaning make sure your mom is in the mood to talk and let her know what she is in for. Make a meal for her or just make sure she is comfortable, and prepare to have a deep discussion. Now, there are some rules when trying to get someone to really hear you when you speak. The first is to avoid anything that may offend them or put them on the defensive. A way to do that is by using I statements not You statements. For example, “I really want to be more involved in school and it really disappoints me when I have to pass on great opportunities” instead of “You never allow me to be involved at school and you’re really making me upset.”

Another thing to remember is that conversation is a two way street. Try your best to avoid talking over each other. Let her finish her points no matter how difficult they are to hear. If she interrupts you, let her speak and then finish your point. Your goal is for her to HEAR you not for you just to get your point across. Lastly, be solution focused and prepared. If you want to participate in extracurricular activities, then you should have a plan on how you are going to do so. If it’s safety that your mom is concerned about, talk to your admin and provide her with a list of staff that supervise the activities. And the fact is, grades are not the only criteria colleges and universities look at when considering applicants. They want to see a well-rounded person and that includes participation in extra activities. Be prepared to have to divide your conversation in to parts. Sometimes parents need a moment to think about everything. If you see your mom is getting agitated or is no longer listening, back off and revisit the conversation another day. Hope this helps.

Nicole

Weekend Guide

Going with our Holiday theme of the Weekend Guide, we stumbled upon this article from the Pace Press titled "In No Particular Order, Ten Things to Do During the Holidays". We found it to be a cool list and thought it would be a great idea to share, especially to those who've just wrapped up finals! Enjoy :

The end of the semester is finally in sight. Winter holidays are approaching. Finals are ending. A month-long break is in your future. Life is good. But wouldn't your life be a little better if you had some suggestions for how to spend that long vacation?

10. Catch up. Since the semester is over, you might actually have some time to do what you want in the coming weeks. So make use of that time to do everything you really wanted to do during the semester : Read some books for fun. Go to the movies. You could even get ahead if you buy your books ahead of time and do some reading for next semester's courses (just kidding).

9. Reacquaint yourself with the outside world. Visit your old aunts, tell your friends that you are actually still alive, and find out what happened on your favorite TV show for the last month.

8. See the sights. If you get the chance, don't miss out on your opportunity to be a tourist and visit all the holiday displays around the city. Check out the Rockefeller Center tree. You might even check out the Origami Tree at the Museum of Natural History.

7. Party. Not that you'd procrastinate or anything, but now that you are done staying up until four in the morning writing papers and studying, why not stay up until four in the morning for a good reason? Come on, you know you want to paint the town red, grab a paintbrush!

6. Pad the resume. Do something you can put on your resume to impress prospective employers or grad school admissions committees. Consider getting a short internship at a friend or family member's place of business. Apply for some scholarships. Do some community service. Submit your novel for publication (sorry, English major). You get the idea.

5. Shop. Spend all the money (or all those gift certificates) that you got from whatever winter holiday you celebrate and spend it on cool stuff while you can. Do not wait until the end of break to spend this money. You will feel guilty and buy your books instead of that CD, bag, mp3 player, fill-in-the-blank, that you have been wanting all semester. This is not an appropriate way to spend your holiday cash.

4. Visit family and friends. Spend some time with your family while you can, because if you dorm other opportunities are minimal. While you're at it, why not look up those high school friends you haven't seen since . . . well dates aren't important, just make up for lost time.

3. Travel. Have you been dying to spend New Year's in Vegas? Did you leave your heart in San Francisco the last time you visited? Whatever the reason, if you like to travel, you probably have one or two exciting destinations on your holiday itinerary.

2. Get a job. Perhaps you are tired of being a broke college student. If so, you may want to get a job during your down time off in order to improve your financial situation.

1. Sleep. If you have fantastic time management skills, this might surprise you, but catching up on sleep is in fact the number one thing students want to do during their time off. So, much like a hibernating bear, you might want to try to stock up on sleep now before another cycle of papers and exams begins next semester.

To read this article in detail, go ahead and visit : The Pace Press

;)

Jake on Teen.com

Check out BFF Season 2 host, Jake Hurwitz (from Jake & Amir), as he and BFF-for-the-moment, Kim, go at it and see if they can become true BFFs :



;)

Weekend Guide

In light of the Holiday Season, we here at BFF thought it would be best to surround this month's weekend guides with things that encompass the holiday theme. Last week we gave you a great Girls' Holiday Night out idea and for this weekend (for those of you who dare), you and your BFF(s) can set up an Ugly Christmas Sweater Holiday Party!

Decorate the house with some cute and funky holiday decoration. Cook up some good food or if you are on a budget, have your friends bring the food and you provide the drinks or vice versa. You can print up cute invitations or even send out e-invites through awesome sites such as pingg.com. Make sure you note the one, absolute rule : everyone MUST come in an ugly Christmas sweater. If not, then what's the point of having the party?! Imagine all of the hilarious pictures you and your friends will be able to laugh at for years!

Cooking food and decorating sounding like too much work? For those of you 21 and over, you can even opt for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Holiday Bar - Hop. The laughs will increase as all of you will be seen in ugly sweaters out in public!

Let us know what you have planned for this weekend. Drop a line below!

Celebrity Wednesday!

Here on BFF we celebrate everything that ties Best Friends, and what couldn't be better than showcasing every week, our favorite celeb BFFs! Celebrities are constantly in the limelight and it's obvious that they need that one person they can lean on, which brings us to this week's favorite pair of Celeb BFFS:

Justin Bieber & Usher

After discovering the newest teen heartthrob, Usher has been showing up everywhere with Justin Bieber. These two studs have formed a pretty tight bond and Bieber even looks up to Usher as a brother - figure. Check out both of these guys bustin' some moves on a recent episode of Ellen :

For more info on Justin Bieber, visit his official website @ : JustinBieberMusic.com
;)

Dear Nicole

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:

Dear Nicole,

One of my friends has been constantly telling me that I've changed in a bad way. I've asked many other people if I have, and they all say NO! This friend has also said that my BFF and I aren't meant to be BFFs, which ticks me off a lot. Now she's saying I have to sacrifice my friendship with 5 people in order to have her accept me. She believes that I am a bad person because of those 5 people I hang out with, which I don't think is right at all. Many people have said that they like me more this year than last. She is the only person telling me bad stuff. What should I do?

A: Sounds like you may be dealing with a frenemy more than a friend. I would go with what most people are saying, especially your close friends and family. Sometimes negative and even jealous people come into our lives. They stunt our growth with the mean things they say and do. Don’t let this happen to you. Now, if she has a point and there are some things you feel you may need to improve on, fine. But sacrificing friends for her to “accept” you is ridiculous. What will she need to maintain your friendship next… your blood? That is not how friendships are formed and that is not what friends do. Be honest and upfront with her about how she is making you feel, and then leave it alone. Not everyone is healthy enough to sit in the front row of your life. Maybe she needs a ‘parking lot’ position. In other words, either she shapes up or ships out! Hope this helps!

Nicole

;)

Fashion Friday

Created for "Urban Nomads", REBELDNCE is an up-and-coming label by designer MaiKhanh Bertrand. What does the label mean? Bertrand says, "REBELDNCE MEANS POWER THROUGH ART AND CELEBRATION. It tells us that our most powerful form of rebellion is the positive and creative energy we put out into the world." Her clothing is for both men and women but only those who dare to wear these bold pieces are welcomed. They currently do not have a store in New York, but if you'd like more information on this label or the designer, visit their official website @ REBELDNCE.com.


Check out some of their pieces below:

;)

Celebrity Wednesday!

Guest blogger Sammi Hanratty, star of the upcoming film 'The Greening of Whitney Brown' has decided to share her story with us about how her and her BFF, Kaitlyn, became Best Buds:

I met my best friend Kaitlyn Dever on the set of "American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong." From the first day we met, we instantly became friends. We like hanging out together and just making up crazy voices and characters. We also like making movies of the different characters and then editing them for our families to watch. Kaitlyn is someone I can trust and I know she will always be there for me; she's the best!! That's why Kaitlyn's my BFF!

Check out a couple of pics from Sammi on set of "The Greening of Whitney Brown" below :

For more information on Sammi, visit :

SammiHanratty.com

Sammi-Hanratty.net

You can also follow Sammi on her Twitter Page:

twitter.com/sammihanratty1

;)

Dear Nicole ...

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:



Dear Nicole,

I'm a junior in high school and I've been having problems standing up for myself when personal attacks have been made against me. What's the best way to remain a lady, but still get my point across without arguing?

BFF SEASON 2 FAVES

Already missing BFF Season 2? Well no worries! We'll be posting up some of our favorite episodes for you to watch!

Check out episode 2 with Pat & Carolyn!

;)

Fashion Friday : THE WAFFLES GIRLS REVIEW TWILIGHT FASHION!

We all love New Moon. But in our collective Team Edward / Team Teenwolf haze, what often gets lost is the brilliant costume design and fashion you find in these films, which for fashionistas like us, is a real crying shame! So when BFF asked us to drop in for Fashion Friday, we here at Waffles+Falafels didn't hesitate to pick New Moon fashion as our topic of choice, We hope you enjoy our spotlight on these fashion-forward monsters. And if not, just look at the pictures dammit!

Good news for albinos, librarians and those with deathly low blood circulation- tans are out, pale is in! Interested in getting that ghostly gleam? We recommend staying out of the sun for at least 7 weeks or wearing SPF 5millionbilliontrillion to ensure that pasty complexion, because, let's face it; nothing goes better with your weekend outfit than a layer of heavily caked on baby powder. Nothing. - Hillary Bankz

Fashion forecasters and tastemakers have long predicted the inevitable marriage between fashion and technology so it's nice to see the costume department of New Moon really embracing this emerging trend. While still at least a season away from hitting runways, expect to see skin suits like the ones above (in most body types and ethnicities) on the racks of major retailers soon, and don't be surprised if "abs" becomes 2010's must-have look for back to school. - Icey Ana

From the bathroom to the runway, expect to see an emergence of the bathrobe hitting Paris, New York, and London in late 2010. Not only does the bathrobe compliment all figures, it encompasses comfort and style to create a look that is hard to resist. Dust off yours and try it with a skin suit today for a truly classic look. - Hood Charlotte

This season, black is the new black, so the less sleep you get the better, because everyone knows red goes really well with black, and this season red eyes are hot hot hot! Can't function without your beauty sleep? Don't stress, You can stilll achieve this look by throwing dirt in your eyes regularly. - Hillary Bankz

It's rare you see a fashion trend held over from a previous season, or multiple seasons for that matter. But when it does happen, it's pretty safe to say we have the makings of a new classic look on our hands; one that will define a generation. And thanks to Twilight, we finally have it! That's right, the nineties had the Rachel Haircut and we have none other than... the KStew Forehead! Expect soccer moms to start rocking this soon- OH SWEET SKULL! - Icey Ana

Got a take on the Twilight takeover of the fashion industry? Leave a comment and let us know!

xoxo

the waffles girls

www.wafflesandfalafels.com

Weekend Guide

Looking for something to do this weekend with the BFF? Well don't worry, we've got you covered. Every Thursday, we'll be supplying you with an overload of ideas on what you, the BFF, and anyone else can do to ensure that your weekend isn't a total dud.

This weekend, try making your BFF a BFF BRACELET! It can be a solo project or you guys can do it together. Here's a really cool instructional video we found on how to get you started!

Enjoy!

;)

Celebrity Wednesday!

Here on BFF we celebrate everything that ties Best Friends, and what couldn't be better than showcasing every week, our favorite celeb BFFs! Celebrities are constantly in the limelight and it's obvious that they need that one person they can lean on, which brings us to this week's favorite pair of Celeb BFFS:

Camilla Belle & Maria Sharapova

The Russian tennis champ and The 10,00 B.C. star have turned into BFFs as of late. You can catch these two gal pals attending couture fashion shows and industry events together. They even decided to travel to Europe with one another! Both Maria and Camilla turned 21, and Maria can be quoted saying, "I have had to deal with a lot of ups and downs in my life, on and off the court. But the number one thing is not to be disappointed by that, or by losses, or by negative things, things here and there. You have to find a way to keep your head even though it’s pretty tough.” And that is why she has her BFF Camilla to help keep her head on straight.

Who do you want to see up on Celebrity Wednesday next week? Drop a line below!

;)

Dear Nicole ...

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:

Dear Nicole,

I have a problem! I don't know how to choose a profession. I'm from Latvia, and I don't want to study here after high school. I'm in my last year now. Can you give me some advice on how to find tests for self-evaluation and choosing a career?

A. Great question. I would suggest you start with your guidance counselor at school. They should be able to point you in the direction you need to go regarding your interests and possible school or training programs. Now your school may not have a faculty member like a counselor who can help you with something like this. If that is the case, then you can find a local community college. Many community colleges actually have career centers. There they can offer you written inventories and other checklists that will help you figure out what path you may want to take. There are also many people who enter college without a declaring a major for at least a year so that they can figure out what they like and are good at. Internships are also a sure bet to help you figure out what industries may interest you and which ones you totally want to avoid! Hope this helps!

Nicole

;)

Music Monday

Jay Sean is a British song writer and record producer. Raised in Southall, a town in West London, Sean displayed musical talent at an early age. Sean started his hobby of rapping at the age of 11, in a hip hop duo called "Compulsive Disorder" with his cousin Pritpal Ruprai. He went to a private boys school and won himself a place at the Barts & the London, Queen Mary's school of Medicine & Dentistry in London to train as a doctor. After two years Jay Sean secured a one million pounds record deal and dropped out to pursue his Musical career. His current song 'Down' featuring Lil Wayne has been topping the charts in the United States, as it has been easily reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Top 100.

For more info. on Jay Sean, visit his official website : JaySean.com

Got an idea for Music Mondays? Drop us a line below!

Black Friday

Have fun shopping! Let us know all the cool things you buy today. Drop a line below!

;)

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

For those of you who celebrate,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you, your family, and your BFF!

Be sure to save us some pumpkin pie!

;)

Celebrity Wednesday!

Here on BFF we celebrate everything that ties Best Friends, and what couldn't be better than showcasing every week, our favorite celeb BFFs! Celebrities are constantly in the limelight and it's obvious that they need that one person they can lean on, which brings us to this week's favorite pair of Celeb BFFS:

John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell

They may play step brothers in the movie, but these two friends have been collaborating on funny films and hamming it up on the red carpet for years. What's better than working with your best bud AND being able to crack jokes at the same time?

Got a suggestion for next week's Celebrity Wednesday? Drop a line below!

;)

Dear Nicole ...

TeenDiariesOnline.com is a site dedicated to everything for the teenage girl. From music, fashion, and advice, it’s no wonder that we found this site to be a girl’s true sanctuary. Within the site there is an anonymous advice column called Dear Nicole. It’s a place where you can reach out for a bit of advice or a little direction. We all know life has its little (or maybe huge) complications. That is why we here at BFF decided to team up with TD to present you with, “Dear Nicole”:

Dear Nicole,

I want to be more social. That has been my goal for a long time because I've been quiet for years in school. I'm in high school right now, and I feel as thought I'm confident in being beautiful, smart, and successful, but I can't figure out why I'm so quiet. HELP!

A. One thing I had to learn in life is that it’s perfectly okay to be me. For example, I’m pretty quiet too. I don’t go to many parties or clubs. I love to be outside doing things most girls my age don’t like to do like fishing, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, etc. For the longest time, I used to beat myself up for not wanting to rush to the next Jay Z concert but guess what ~ that is who I am. Those are my interests and that is OKAY. I say that to emphasize to you that it’s OKAY to be quiet. It sounds like you know that you are Beautiful, Smart and Successful and that’s all that matters. Some of the most profound and interesting people don’t speak a lot. But when they do speak, its something poetic and amazing. Maybe that’s you. If you are still interested in getting out there a bit more, join a few social clubs at school and start there. That is a good way to speak up a bit more and meet some pretty interesting people. Hope this helps!

;)

Music Monday

Get ready because the Mechanical Kids came to party!! Get to know this new group as they introduce themselves to you:

How we came together:

Mechanical Kids was started in 2006 as an acoustic side project by vocalist Seann Bowe, formerly known as A West Way Home. Through out the next 3 years of playing with other bands, he decided to make something more out of A West Way Home. Gathering good friends Dj Alvarez and Brad Brown from former band Rescue, they started to progress the project with the single "For My Own Good". Over the course of a few months, Tom Carrillo joined the band along with Mike Severson from former band With Hours Waiting. Shortly after the name change and a couple more recordings, Steve Pitzl from Saved By Stereo tagged along.

It's quite clear that these boys have something definitely going for them. After being claimed by AP Magazine as a Hometown Hero, they are getting ready to tour along with playing as many shows as possible.

Expect to hear more from Mechanical Kids, for this is just the beginning.

Influences:

Fall Out Boy, Owl City, Black Eyed Peas.

Inspiration:

ghost hunting, Ding-Dong-Ditch, dancing, acting like kids

For more info. on the Mechanical Kids visit :

www.myspace.com/mechanicalkidsus

www.purevolume.com/mechanicalkids

www.twitter.com/mechanicalkids

We hope you and your BFF are prepared to be boppin' your head to the music of the Mechanical Kids.

;)