All About Hair Products

 

Tired of the same old look everyday? Learn all about hair products for a new look every day of the week. Go wavy one day, simply straight the next. Get some va-va-volume, do an up-do, or just add some sparkle.


All About Hair Products: Mousse


Get fuller and bouncier hair without making it sticky or heavy. Some mousses help de-frizz, too. Mousse usually comes as a foam, like whipped cream, but can be a gel, too. Use on clean, towel-dried hair. Mousse works best on fine and normal hair; not as great on very curly or very thick hair.


To use: Spray a small bit into your palm. Run your hands through your hair starting at the scalp in the areas where you're looking for lift. Best place to start: the hair around your face. To make your hair extra-springy and soft-looking, turn your head upside down and scrunch the rest of your hair, starting at the roots. Using a hairdryer or towel, dry your hair as best you can in this position. Flip your head up when you're done, being careful not to hit any furniture! The result: Va-va voom!


Watch out: Too much mousse can leave your hair crunchy and flaky. Good for cereal; bad for hair.


All About Hair Products: Gel


Get strong hold and control. Add shine and de-frizz, too. Gel can play up or smooth down curly hair, depending on how you use it. It works well on most hair types, and you can find a gel that's best for you. Use it only when your hair is wet.


To use: Place a dime-sized amount of gel in your hand. Rub palms together and wet them a little to make it easier to apply. For curly or natural-looking hair, scrunch the gel into wet hair and comb through with your fingers. To keep hair straight, smooth it on instead of scrunching, comb through with your fingers, and smooth down any frizzies. Avoid getting gel on your scalp or roots, which can make your hair heavier and flatter. You'll look stylin'!


Watch out: Too much gel can leave your hair wet looking and sticky all day. Can you say, "Wash me?"


All About Hair Products: Hair Wax


Get a slick look like a tight bun, slicked-back short hair, or a really defined style that won't move. Hair wax is good for hard-to-control hair, and gives you shine and serious control.


To use: Start with a pea-sized drop on a small section of hair to see how it works. Use the smallest amount necessary to get the look you want. You can always add more on stray hairs after you're done styling. You'll look seriously slick—and maybe even a little dangerous!


Watch out: Too much wax can look goopy, greasy, and over-styled, and may be hard to wash out.


All together now: "Ewww!"


All About Hair Products: Hairspray


Set your hair after styling or use it to create pin curls or waves.


For a finishing touch, apply hairspray to dry hair after you finish styling. Hold hairspray a few inches from your head. Lightly spray your picture-perfect do all over. For extra bounce and lift, flip your hair upside down and lightly spray your hair at the roots. Shake head out to let it settle and dry, then flip it up, avoiding any hazards like furniture or mirrors. (Ouch!)


To create a pin curl or ringlet, wind a small section of hair around your finger. Spray it lightly with hairspray and wait a moment for it to dry or aim a cool hairdryer at the curl for a few seconds. Gently let go and let the curl spring out. Spray the curl lightly again to help it set. You'll look all-day fabulous.


Watch out: Most hairsprays contain some alcohol, and alcohol is flammable. If you use styling tools like a flat iron, crimper, curling iron or even a hot hairdryer, wait until you're done styling your hair before you spray it on.


All About Hair Products: Leave-in Conditioner


If your hair is more stressed out than you are, leave-in conditioner could become your hair's new best friend. After swimming, tanning, or sweating, or too much blow-drying, hair product use, or chemical treatments, your hair is THIRSTY! Give it a refreshing moisture treatment with a dollop of leave-in conditioner after shampooing. Your hair will thank you for it!


All About Hair Products: Flyaway Smoother


Can you say fried? If you're cursed with a case of the frizzies or if you have a few stray hairs that just don't want to follow the rest of the crowd, don't learn to love it or live with it. Smooth on a touch of anti-frizz serum to make your hair shine and smooth down flyaways.


All About Hair Products: Shimmer


When you're looking to glam-up, finish your look with a little shimmer spray. Who says only the stars can shine in the spotlight?


A note about product use: Too much of any product can make your hair look greasy or dry and flaky instead of fabulous. When getting to know your hair products, less is definitely better, and healthier, than more.


Now that you've learned all about hair products go out, and try a few to see how many great looks you can get out of one haircut.

 

The 5 Bras Every Woman Should Own

The wrong bra can add pounds, make you look lumpy, and leave you sore and itchy at the end of the day. 

The right bra, on the other hand, can make you can look like a million bucks no matter what you're wearing – a T-shirt, button down shirt, or the infamous little black dress. 

Lingerie and department stores can be bewildering places, overflowing with hundreds of styles and colors and teeming with salespeople hoping to upsell you into more bras than you need or fancier brands than you can afford.

 

1. Everyday Bra

The everyday bra is the equivalent of the cotton panty — not the sexiest garment, but the most reliable. The major requirement of an everyday bra is that it look great under clothes. 

The only kicker of the everyday bra is that since you'll be wearing it most days, you need to have more than one. Bras need 24 hours to recover their shape and breathe after a full day of wear, and need to be laundered after every few wears. So, to be exact, you need three everyday bras: one to wear, one to rest, and one that can be in the laundry without denying you a solid bra option. 

An everyday bra should have straps that are centered above the nipple (which gives your breasts the best lift and your shoulders the most comfort) and have a wide enough back strap to prevent any spillover that will look lumpy under your shirt. An optional feature is a light lining to keep your nipples from showing. 

If your cup size is DD or larger, I advise having at least one everyday bra with seams in the cup. Although they don't offer the smoothest line under clothes, seams are the best way to provide support. 

2. Black Bra

Not just for wearing under black clothing, a black bra is the right choice for clothing of any dark color — brown, grey, navy, burgundy, teal — and for clothes with awkward sight lines. (You know, those button downs with a tendency to bulge open at the bust or bat wing sleeves with peek-a-boo armholes.) 

A black bra won't show under your brightly colored clothes in photographs the way a white or nude bra will. And also, black looks nicer peeking out of necklines or armholes than lighter colors. "When people catch a glimpse of a white bra, they think, 'Uh oh, I just saw underwear.' But a black bra looks more like lingerie; it's less noticeable and more appropriate." 

3. Strapless Bra

Think strapless bras are only for strapless dresses? Think again. These little wonders make it possible to wear a wide range of necklines without fear of peekage: Boatneck, deep V, one-shoulder, scoop and square. 

And if you've heard that you should go down a size in a strapless bra, that's a myth. If you go down a size in a strapless, you're probably wearing the wrong size in your everyday bra. Manufacturers design strapless bras to conform to the same size requirements as bras with straps. 

If you'd like a little more fun and versatility, consider adding:

4. Plunge Bra

These are similar to everyday bras, but they have a lower center panel. A plunge bra allows you to unbutton one more button or wear a deep V-neck with confidence.

5. Date-Night Bra

For those nights when you want a little more oomph, consider a lacy number, or a bra in a fun color or pattern. Because every woman deserves a pretty bra. 

How to Look Glowing and Rested on Zero Sleep 

 We've all been there: A late night out with friends; up in the middle of the night with a crying baby; too much caffeine consumption in the afternoon. All of the above will keep you from catching those vital Zs —and leave you looking less than lovely the next morning.

Want to know how to get rid of dark circles, puffy eyes and pale skin? You can't turn back time, but there are a few ways to fake it. I asked three experts how to hide the proof of a bad night, and tested their advice for myself.

1. Dr. Jeannette Graf, dermatologist, New York City: Get to work fast with some triage.

• Get 20 minutes of brisk exercise or cardio. This may be the last thing you want to do after a big night, but it will give you some color as it increases circulation.

• Hydrate! If you are drinking some morning joe to wake up, beware that it can also be a diuretic and increase dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of water with some lemon or lime.

• Try a cool compress for puffy eyes. Dr. Graf especially likes cool cucumbers or cotton soaked with cooled green or black tea. The tannins and caffeine help puffy eyes. (Plus you will look sort of glam while you recover.)

2. Rita Csizmadia, owner of Rita's Beautiful Skin Institute in Santa Monica: It's all about a few minutes of skin pampering.

• "You want to make sure that you give your skin a good exfoliating scrub, such   as Nia24's Physical Cleansing Scrub, to gently remove dead skin cells and increase circulation," she says. "The increased blood flow to the skin will help give your skin plumpness that is usually gets through the rejuvenation cycle of sleep."

• If have some extra time, you can steep some chamomile tea bags or mints in hot water. Use this water to wash your face.

• Keep an eye cream in the fridge. The coolness will help minimize eye puffiness. Also, it just feels nice putting on cool eye cream!

• If you are tired of drinking water to hydrate, try some fresh fruit.

• "Also, you want to make sure that your skin is well-hydrated on the surface," Csizmadia says. She suggests both a light hydrating toner, such as Murad's Hydrating Toner, and a light moisturizer, like Chi Yang Golden Glow Moisturizer.

3. Dr. Gerald Imber, plastic surgeon and author of The Youth Corridor: Planning ahead is your best defense.

• Stock up on melatonin to help with sleeping cycles.

• When you get home from a late night, prepare your morning-after remedy. "Green tea bags that have been steamed and cooled in the refrigerator or freezer can be applied to the eye area to decrease puffiness with natural caffeine components," Dr. Imber says. 

If all else fails: Conceal. I asked makeup artist Jessica Lauren for a few helpful tips:

• "I would start with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type. Follow that with a firming eye cream that is also good for dark circles," she says. "Teamine eye cream is one of my favorites."

• To hide dark circles, try a yellow-based concealer.

• As far as eye makeup goes, a light shadow is best. One with a light reflector is even better. White eyeliner also cans help the whites in the eyes appear whiter if they are blood-shot.

My own approved morning-after favorites? Regenerist Anti Aging Eye Roller helps me reduce puffiness while the tiniest bit of It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye lightens my dark circles. For futher wake-up makeup, I like CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Shadows worn over BareEscentuals Brightening Eyelid Primer.

As for the complexion, a shower plus 20 quick jumping jacks does wonders. But I also like some Revlon PhotoReady Foundation and pink blush on the apples of my cheeks to get some color.

And now, I am off to get some sleep until the next big night calls for these remedies.

Info from StyleUnited.com

Just Like Mom...

When you were a little kid, you shared everything with your mom, you were just like mom. She knew what you did and what you thought from the moment you woke up to the moment you went to sleep. But lately, there's more stuff you want to keep private. You may have questions you feel she can't answer, and you may feel less just like mom than you were before. Then again, maybe you and your mom are closer than ever, and there's nothing you can't talk about.


Whatever your relationship is like, there's one thing for sure. You and your mom have a lot in common. Just being a female puts you in a special category with all other women.


When you have questions, you probably turn more to your friends and other great resources (like my blog!) than to your mom. Here's a big secret: no matter how alike or different you are from each other, your mom was a girl once, too! You have questions just like mom. She went through what you're going through now.




This Mother's Day, you could do the usual cards, flowers, or breakfast in bed, but consider trying something new. Get in some mother-daughter bonding. Spend time together and you'll discover you have a lot more in common than you thought! You may not need your mom to pick out your clothes or wipe your nose anymore, but now she can be there for you in many new ways that are just as helpful.


Girl stuff: feminine products you and your mom have in common


Since Tampax tampons were introduced in 1936, chances are your mom and even your mom's mom heard about them, tried them, and may still use them today. Pads have been around since the beginning of last century (around 1900), so your mom and grandma knew about those too. Deodorant was invented in the late 1800s (thank goodness!), and guess what? Chances are your mom learned about it from her mom. In terms of getting rid of all that leg and armpit hair, Gillette invented the first razor created just for women in the early 1900s. When Gillette Daisy, the first disposable women's razor came out in 1975, your mom was introduced to a whole new way of taking it all off. What does this mean to you? Well, with all the same trusted brands and new and improved versions of these products, your mom is practically an expert on the topic of what to use and how to use it.


Hey, Mom! Let's talk.
Your mom may have decades of experience with the neat and not-so-neat joys of being a woman, but there's one area that may be new to her. Even if you're ready to talk to your mom about growing up, she may not know how to bring it up and talk about it with you. Well, now that you're becoming a woman just like mom, take charge of the situation and begin the conversation yourself! Not sure how? Here are some key conversation starters:


-Mom, your legs look so nice and smooth. I think I'm ready to shave mine, too. Can you show me how?
-How old were you when you first got your period?
-Your deodorant smells nice. Can I get one for myself?
-Can we go to the drugstore together? I'd like your advice on some girl stuff.
-Mom, when you were in Junior High (or High School), did you ever feel out of place (or different, or however you're feeling now)?


Wondering when's a good time to start talking about being just like mom? Bring it up when you're in the middle of doing something together—in the car, out in the yard, walking around the mall, or washing dishes. Keep it casual, not too serious. Talking with your mom about growing up and becoming a woman can be comfortable and easy. You'll learn a lot and it'll bring you closer together. Then, the next time you talk with your friends, you'll have the real scoop to share.

SUMMER's ALMOST HERE

During the summer it is so easy to say, "I have nothing to do!" No more excuses-here is a list of 50 random things to do the next time you are bored!


1. Gather up a few friends, and have a picnic in your back .
2. Go on a walk and take pictures of trees, flowers, dogs, etc.
3. Buy some fashion magazines, pick out a couple of really cute outfits, and try to recreate them for less!
4. Bead some bracelets and sell them for charity.
5. Volunteer at the local animal or homeless shelter.
6. Clean your room!
7. Bake some cupcakes and deliver them to friends and family.
8. Play some childhood games like "Sorry", "Candyland", or "Pretty Pretty Princess".
9. Take your dog for a walk.
10. E-mail a friend you haven't spoken to in awhile.
11. Do 25 jumping jacks!
12. Look through old family scrapbooks, photo books, and yearbooks.
13. Make a root beer float.
14. Go to the movies with your siblings.
15. Go window-shopping with a friend.
16. Write a poem.
17. Make fresh, homemade fruit juice.
18. Give your dog a bath.
19. Make dinner for your family.
20. Baby-sit for a neighbor.
21. Have a sleepover party and watch scary movies.
22. Plan a vacation you want to take next summer.
23. Plant flowers in your yard.
24. Sign up for a class.
25. Have a bubble bath.
26. Make a mixed CD of your favorite songs and title it "The soundtrack of my life".
27. Order a pizza.
28. Splash around in a plastic kiddy pool.
29. Buy some crayons and a coloring book.
30. Read a book based on a movie you have seen.
31. Make a scrapbook of your baby pictures.
32. Get a job or an internship.
33. Start a diary and write in it everyday.
34. Spend the day at the library.
35. Draw a self-portrait.
36. Make a collage out of old magazines.
37. Run around in the sprinklers.
38. Go to a museum.
39. Go out for lunch with one of your parents.
40. Jump in the pool with your clothes on.
41. Eat last night's leftovers for breakfast.
42. Learn to sew or knit.
43. Invite friends over and have a tea party.
44. Swing on the swings at the park.
45. Tie-Dye a t-shirt or bed sheets with Kool-Aid!
46. Make a smoothie.
47. Learn how to define and spell 5 new words from the dictionary.
48. Make popsicles in your freezer.
49. Put on the radio and dance.
50. Go camping in your backyard!

Demi Lovato - Skyscraper

5O Things to do this Spring & Summer!!

1. Gather up a few friends & have a picnic at the park.
2. Go on a walk and take pictures of trees, flowers, dogs, etc.
3. Buy some fashion magazines, pick out a couple of really cute outfits, and try to recreate them for less!
4. Bead some bracelets and sell them for charity.
5. Volunteer at the local animal or homeless shelter.
6. Clean your room!
7. Bake some cupcakes and deliver them to friends and family.
8. Play some childhood games like "Sorry", "Candyland", or "Operation".
9. Take your dog for a walk.
10. E-mail a friend you haven't spoken to in awhile.
11. Do 25 jumping jacks!
12. Look through old family scrapbooks, photo books, and yearbooks.
13. Have a car wash with some friends .
14. Go to the movies.
15. Go window-shopping with a friend.
16. Write a poem.
17. Make fresh lemonade.
18. Give your dog a bath.
19. Make dinner for your family.
20. Baby-sit for a neighbor.
21. Have a sleepover party and watch scary movies.
22. Plan a vacation you want to take next summer.
23. Plant flowers in your yard.
24. Go to a water park.
25. Take a bubble bath.
26. Make a mixed CD of your favorite songs.
27. Order a pizza.
28. Have a water balloon fight with your friends and cousins.
29. Buy some crayons and a coloring book.
30. Read a book based on a movie you have seen.
31. Make a scrapbook of your baby pictures.
32. Get a job or an internship.
33. Start a diary and write in it everyday.
34. Spend the day at the library.
35. Draw a self-portrait.
36. Make a collage of things you like out of old magazines.
37. Run around in the sprinklers.
38. Go to a museum.
39. Go out for lunch with one of your parents.
40. Jump in the pool with your clothes on.
41. Write about how you envision the future.
42. Learn to sew or knit.
43. Visit an elderly person at a nursing or retirement home.
44. Swing on the swings at the park.
45. Tie-Dye a t-shirt or bed sheets with Kool-Aid!
46. Make a smoothie.
47. Draw on a poster using finger paint.
48. Make popsicles in your freezer.
49. Turn the radio up loud and dance.
50. Go camping in your backyard!

6 Ways to Make the Most of

Spring Break at Home

Spring Break is right around the corner. And while some of you will be jetting off to beaches and wearing bikinis, I know a lot of you, like myself, will also be home for Spring Break. But just because you won’t be tanning by day and clubbing by night, that doesn’t mean you won’t still be able to have a fabulous Spring Break!

Catch up on sleep! Get yourself organized! Enjoy having nothing to do for an entire week! Spring Break is like a nice little, mid-semester time out. So use it to your advantage, and make the most of your week without plans.Here are six ways to make the most of your at-home Spring Break.

1. Cross some things off your to-do list -- We all have that list of stuff to get done that’s always at the back of our minds, but that we never actually manage to get to. These to-do items always seem to get pushed aside because you have so much else going on. Well, now you don’t. So start tackling those tasks, whatever they may be! It’ll feel really good to get them done, and you’ll be getting ahead for the long-term!

2. Read A New Book -- Whether it be a current bestseller, a childhood favorite, or something you started for class and never finished, just pick up a book and start reading. Lose yourself in another world for a little while and revel in the accomplishment you’ll feel after you’ve completed it. Bonus points if you don’t use a kindle/e-reader/nook!

3. Try A New Recipe -- Tune into some shows on Food Network or hop online and look up some cool recipes or even desserts.

4. Spend Time With Your Family -- If you’re home for the break, make sure to schedule in some quality family time, whether it’s taking your little sister out for ice cream, having dinner with your grandparents, or participating in a good old fashioned family game night. You may not necessarily be happy to be home for Spring Break, but I bet your family will be happy to have you, so enjoy their company while you have the chance.

5. Make Plans For Summer -- You may not have been able to go away for Spring Break, but maybe you’ll be able to plan a vacation for summer break, whether that be a trip to Thailand, or a weekend at the beach. Start planning and start saving now, and you’ll have something to look forward to.

6. Pamper Yourself A Little -- Spring Break is an excellent time to indulge in all those beauty rituals you never have time for during the semester. Get your hair trimmed. Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. Or splurge on a massage. Whatever you do, make sure its something that relaxes you. Then get some sleep and make sure to recharge so you’re stress-free and full of energy once you’re back at school.

Info from CollegeFashion.net

Audio Push - Up N Down

Backpack Ergonomics

What's in your backpack? Textbooks? Cell phone? Water bottle? Sneakers? Science project? Gym clothes? Musical instrument? If you're anything like the kids we interviewed, we bet it's all of the above. And if that's the case, you're one of millions of students who walk the halls hunched forward in an attempt to keep from tipping over and don't know much about backpack ergonomics. Lugging around the weight of the world has resulted in a new phenomenon—backpack pain.

It's probably not news to you that kids are carrying weightier piles of books home as part of a drive to boost academic performance through increased homework. School children often report shoulder and back pain due to ferrying too heavy a load back and forth to school. With some kids, it's not the weight that's causing the pain, but the way they carry their backpack over one shoulder, causing them to walk with an incorrect posture.

 

Some schools are so concerned about this problem that they're coming up with their own solutions. A school district in Seattle forbids the use of backpacks beyond the locker area. A few towns on Long Island are trying to supply two sets of science and social studies textbooks, one for school, and the other for home. If you're experiencing discomfort, learn about backpack ergonomics in order to save your back. 

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children carry no more than ten to twenty percent of their own body weight in their backpack. Typically that means the bags should weigh less than fifteen pounds.
2. Backpacks should be strapped around the waist to prohibit the bag from bouncing against the spine. This will help to prevent slouching, which can cause spinal misalignments and a lifetime of spinal problems.
3. Both straps should be used so that the weight being carried is distributed evenly. Lots of kids just pick up their bags and fling them over one shoulder. It might be the quickest and easiest way at the moment but the imbalance can lead to a strain in the spine and chronic lower back pain.
4. If you have only a single strap, cross it over your shoulder so that the weight is equally balanced. If the bag is resting on your right hip, have the strap on your left shoulder.
5. The best backpacks have straps that are at least two inches wide and well padded. The bottom of the backpack should not go below the waistline.
6. The heaviest objects should be packed closest to the back. But if the backpack has compartments, the weight should be distributed as evenly as possible.
7. Make sure the backpack is neither too big, causing it to ride up on your hip, or too small, causing you to carry the weight in the upper part of your back.
8. Rolling backpacks or "rollies," have retractable handles and rubber wheels. That's the good news. Unfortunately they have to be hauled up staircases, don't roll well in the snow, and are too bulky to fit in some school lockers.

Backpack Safety: A Weighty Issue!

'Tis the season to buy a new backpack. You might not give it much thought, but 40 million teens agree it's the one school supply that can't be beat for keeping you organized. Although within a week, it's used and abused, shoved in your locker or in the corner of your room, nothing else keeps your science homework, lunch money, or iPod so conveniently close at hand.

A backpack safety problem occurs when kids buy backpacks that aren't designed to carry all the stuff they're cramming into them. Studies have found that most kids carry 20–25% of their body weight in their bags when doctors say 10–20% is the maximum for good back health. (Translated into English that means if you weigh 100 pounds, you shouldn't be carrying much more than 15 pounds; 120 pounds, 18 pounds.) Use your bathroom scale to get an idea of what the proper weight for you feels like. When you overload your backpack, you end up leaning forward, putting too much pressure on your back and neck.

How to make sure the new backpack you buy follows backpack safety rules:

1. When you go shopping for a new backpack, check to see tha it has two padded straps that go over your shoulders. The wider the straps, the better. Tight, narrow straps that dig into your shoulders can interfere with your circulation, causing tingling, numbness, and weakness in your arms and hands.
2. A backpack with a metal frame may give you more support, but check that it will fit inside your locker.
3. Try it on for size. Shoulder straps should rest equally on both shoulders. The backpack should sit snugly against your back, so it doesn't bounce. If it hangs below your hips, instead of resting on the curve of your lower back, it's too low. If it rests on your neck, it's too high.
4. Consider using a support strap like a waist belt, which distributes the weight through the pelvis and hips. A belt helps alleviate pressure on your back and makes heavy loads feel much lighter.
5. Practice putting it on and taking it off. It should be easy to get on and off as you move from class to class.
6. Look for styles with compartments. Use side pockets for oddly-shaped items.
7. Try out one of the packs with wheels.

Here are some backpack safety tips to avoid becoming one of the 74% of teens who complain about back pain after spending a day with their backpack!

• Pack the heaviest items closest to your back.
• Stop often at your locker and remove items you don't need.
• Bend at your knees when lifting the backpack to your shoulders.
• Plan ahead and spread out your homework assignments so you won't have to tote home all your books.
• Pack only what you really need. Ask yourself, Will I really use this today?
• Always use both straps so you don't tilt sideways and overburden one side, even if you don't look as cool.
• Be aware of how much space your pack takes up to avoid hitting others when turning around or moving through the aisles of the school bus.

First Choice School

First choice turned you down? Why it's not the end

Many high school students have a first choice school that they'd love to go to. In reality though, many colleges are much more expensive and tougher to get into than you may have anticipated. For example, it's much more expensive to go to college out of state without loans or scholarships. So the college that's more affordable for your family and easier for you to get into may override the more appealing school. 

You may be let down or disappointed at first, but it's important to realize that college is a wonderful opportunity and not to be taken for granted. Being able to go to college at all is something many people dream about doing, but just can't manage it. So first of all, be grateful you can go at all.

Give it a chance

Also, any college, not just your first choice of school, offers great opportunities and is a great place to start out. After a semester or two you may realize you may really like the school you're attending even if it wasn't your first choice school! If you decide you don't want to be there, you can always transfer to another college once you "get your foot in the door," and get a few credits at your first school.

Finally, like any opportunity, college is what you make it. Successful people come from all different colleges. So get in, get started, and do as well as you can.

UnCool: The Book About Fitting in at School

Maybe you aren't great at fitting in at school (whatever that means). Maybe you can count your friends on one hand. Maybe the people you do hang out with are more "out" than "in." So?

It's cool to be uncool. All it means is that you don't fit the mold. You don't adhere to the status quo. You're unique, quirky, interesting. Different.

Maybe you like to read poetry, make art, or build weird crap that flies. Maybe you're a budding fashion designer or bass player or marine biologist. Maybe you're still figuring out exactly who you are and who you want to be. But you know this: You'd rather be considered a little bit of a misfit than exactly like everyone else fitting in at school. Still, there's no denying that not fitting in at school can sometimes be a real pain in the neck. Choosing to be authentically you, quirks and all, isn't always the prettiest or simplest path. That's where the book,Uncool, comes in handy.

With Uncool, you'll ponder the social world around you, learn the all-important Rules of Misfitness, and gain a better understanding of your arch nemesis. You'll also get pointers on how to refine your fashion aesthetic and how to handle frenemies. You'll learn to align yourself with fellow free thinkers and how to figure out where you feel comfortable fitting in at school.

You'll be guided through the sucky parts of being socially on the fringe, and find out how great it is to be awesomely, independently, absolutely yourself. Along the way, you might even realize you're more uncool than you thought. Which, of course, only makes you that much cooler. Here's an example of the tips and tricks you'll learn to about fitting in at school:

A few of The Unrules

• Be kind to your fellow misfits.
• Believe that black is a color suitable for any occasion, worthy even of being added to the rainbow.
• Think. Be. Think and be different.
• Throw caution to the wind. Take chances with fashion, hobbies, hopes, and dreams.
• Be okay with wearing things that your mother, grandmother, or old neighbor thinks are ugly.
• Don't be afraid to look weird.
• Write a blog. Make a documentary film. Publish a 'zine. Learn the accordion. Build a radio-controlled blimp. Express your individuality in a healthy, creative way.

Of course, it goes without saying that the only real hard and fast rule of not fitting in at school is that there are no real hard and fast rules of misfitness. In other words, as a misfit you're free to chuck what you like. You can toss this entire list and make up your own. Or just weed through it, adding and editing as you please. For more, check out Uncool.