This week, I’ll be taking a simple sundress (we’ve all got one!) and shaping it into three completely different outfits, using just accessories (okay, and one cardigan). With warm weather just around the corner, girls around the country will be breaking out their favorite leg-baring dresses and skirts. Make sure you can get the most wear out of your favorite summer staple by mastering the art of accessorizing!

Look #1: Music Festival Friendly

One of my favorite things about summer is the crazy abundance of music festivals and outdoor concerts. Whether you’re hitting up Summerfest, Bonnaroo, or Lollapalooza, there’s definitely a genre of music and a scene for you.

Be festival-ready by accessorizing with boho chic accessories and a trendy fedora. Pile on your favorite long necklaces (the more the better!) and stack bangles and bracelets on your arms. Sandals that strap in the back will be sure to stay on your feet – and the fringe is adorable. While a pink sundress on its own might be precious and girly, by adding these hippie-inspired accessories, you’ve got a completely new, edgy, and summer-friendly style. Now go find a concert!

Look #2: Special Occasion Pretty

As the end of the school year winds down and summer begins, you might find yourself with a schedule full of special events. I know that this time of year for me means awards banquets, graduation ceremonies, family brunches, and grad parties. Don’t stress! Thanks to that amazing power of accessories, all you’ve got to do is throw on the same sundress that you rocked out to before.

Stay classy, feminine, and conservative by keeping accessories simple and shoulders covered. A short-sleeved embroidered cardigan and a white belt will change the look of your dress, while classic wedges give you some height while still showing off your new summer pedicure. Finally, don’t be afraid to add color to this outfit! A contrasting necklace and a shiny gold bracelet will express your style and a pastel crossbody will keep you right on trend. Put on your parent-charming smile and enjoy your end-of-the-year events.

Look #3: Everyday Fun

Finally, a sundress is the perfect summer outfit. No need to find matching tops or clean bottoms; throw on a sundress and you’re good to go! While this dress can be applied to other occasions in life, don’t forget to rock that sundress (or, hopefully, a few different ones) every single day.

Add some color to your dress with a bold scarf and contrasting accessories like a green bag and hot pink bangle. A necklace will give you a quick accessory that won’t get in the way of everyday activities – I’m partial to long pendants but feel free to switch it up.

This ensemble shows how even just throwing on a printed scarf can change the whole look of an outfit. The neckline becomes drastically altered without changing anything to the dress! Color is added and focal points change.

Your turn!

I love shopping for accessories; I also love shopping for clothes. It’s so easy to stay budget-friendly by learning how to transform pieces of your closet into completely new looks simply by adding a few accessories. Re-wearing is key!

Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo - Think Like A Man ft. Rick Ross

IDEAS FOR THE SUMMER

Wouldn't it be great if summer lasted year-round? There would be no school and you could lie on the beach every day. The only work you’d do is on your tan! As they say, all good things must come to an end. Sigh!

You still have time to make your summer unforgettable! Make a list of all of the things you wanted to do during the summer and then do them! Here are some tips to get you started.

Everyone loves a killer barbeque! Ask your parents’ permission to have a few friends over for an end of summer cookout. To keep things cheap, assign each of your friends a dish or snack to bring. You should take care of the entree, like hamburgers and hot dogs. Make personalized invitations with something as simple as construction paper and crayons! Write which dish your friend should bring on the invite and supply her with a recipe.

Give your party a theme and ask your friends to dress accordingly. Who doesn’t love a luau? Decorate your backyard with Christmas lights and tiki torches. Going the extra mile with details can make your party unforgettable! And don’t forget your camera! The pics will be great material for your summer scrapbook.

If camping out in the wilds is not your style, try it in your backyard. Throwing a slumber party in your backyard can be a great way to bond with your BFFs. Pitch a couple of tents in your backyard. Ask each friend to bring a sleeping bag, a pillow, a flashlight, and a scary story.

Using your oven, make yummy s’mores. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Break a graham cracker in half and place a marshmallow on top. Bake for about 3-5 minutes, but keep your eye on it so the graham cracker doesn’t start to burn. Remove the cookie sheet and immediately place a piece of chocolate bar and the other half of the cracker on top, gently pressing down. Allow the s’mores to sit for 1-2 minutes so the marshmallow can melt the chocolate.

When your backyard is at it’s darkest hour, pile into one tent with your flashlights and take turns telling scary stories. It’ll be tons of fun scaring each other and if anyone’s too scared, your house is 20 feet away!

Before the end of the summer, you need to tell that hottie you’ve been crushing on that you like him. Everyone around you can see how goo-goo eyed you get when he comes sauntering over in your direction! Your crush is the only one who’s oblivious to your longing stares.

Be honest. If you really like him, you should ask him out. Invite him to a friend’s party or ask him to go to the beach. Think of something casual at a place where there will be other people to talk to. This will take the pressure of the two of you.

Of course it will suck for a little while if he turn you down. You’re a strong, beautiful young , and you’ll get over it! At least you tried—imagine a winter full of “what if’s” and you’ll be happy you made the attempt.

However you plan to end your summer, make sure it includes your best friends!You’ll share these memories all winter long!

Nobody's Perfect - J Cole

Keri Hilson - One Night Stand ft. Chris Brown

Okay, so you’ve been waiting for this night since you were a teeny little freshman. Four long and exhausting years have gone by and it’s finally time—PROM NIGHT! Planning your big night needs to start ASAP With some advice for prom!

Advice for prom: The Prep
Waiting for that perfect guy to ask you to be his date is so 40 years ago. Wait long enough and you’ll be watching reruns with your mom on prom night. The guy you want to go with may be too shy, so take some Advice for prom and ask him yourself! He’ll be impressed by your courage. Don’t have a date? No worries! Plan to go to the prom with a group of your girlfriends. Who needs dates when you have awesome friends?

About a month and a half before the prom, start looking for the perfect dress. You want to find something that feels comfortable and expresses the true you. The best places to try are bridal boutiques and department stores. Don’t delay on alterations if they’re needed. The last thing you want is a wardrobe malfunction on the dance floor! What you wear under your dress is important, too. Be sure to have a bra and undies that are comfortable and work with your dress.

No one needs the stress of having terrible hair and makeup on prom night. Practice different ‘dos a couple weeks before the big night. Do the same with your makeup and practice different looks. Ask your hairdresser if you can come in a week or so beforehand to do discuss what you want. This way, you’re not stuck with a style you hate.

Advice for prom: The Emergency Kit
In order to keep your supermodel look all night, an emergency kit is essential.

• To keep your hair beautiful, bring a tiny bottle of hairspray and bobby pins.
• Even if YOU don’t have your period, grab a tampon and a pad; you could save a friend from a disaster! Tampax Compak tampons are so small they will fit right into that little, to die for, purse!
• Clear nail polish works great if you get a snag in your pantyhose. Dab a little clear nail polish on any hole to stop it in its tracks.
• Lipgloss is a girl’s best friend. It’s foolproof and will give you kissable lips in just seconds.
• Stash at least $20 in your bag in case of emergencies.
• Cell phone, if you have one

Prom night is meant to be a time that you spend with your friends, dancing and looking fantastic the whole time. The last thing you want is any last-minute drama.Follow our advice for prom and have a fun and memorable time with your best buds!

Time Management For Teens: Because You're SO Over Elementary School

It's your first big step towards teenage-hood—middle school. That's right, girls! Your days at elementary school are over. Your days will now be filled with time management for teens: homeroom, three minutes between classes, and carrying around a bag full of textbooks. Does life get any better? I think not.

Your first year at middle school is no doubt a very exciting event. All these years you've been in the confines of one room all school day. Now your day will have a mix of different classes and different teachers. The experience can be overwhelming and you might want to learn about time management for teens.

You are not alone—your peers are going through the same thing. No one can find their 5th period science class and everyone's a little scared and intimidated.

Once you get over the first week jitters, you'll see that middle school is a lot of hard work AND fun. The most important thing is to know time management for teens.

The first step to time management for teens is being realistic about the commitments you want to and are able to make. Middle school is full of great activities, whether it is sports, the debate team, or the orchestra. It's hard not to join everything! Sports can hold practice up to two hours a day—that's a huge commitment! Most clubs meet twice a week and even on the weekends. If you're not willing to make the commitment or you don't think you'll be able to attend every practice or meeting, don't join.

Here's a time management for teens tip: To figure out how much time you have for everything, make a grid with 7 boxes across (Monday–Sunday) and 24 boxes down (unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in a day!). In the boxes, write down everything you do in a typical week. Don't forget the time you spend with your friends or when you're on the computer. It might scare you to see how busy, busy, busy you are! You may even see that you need to cut back on a few activities.

Prioritize your responsibilities. Schoolwork and family is number one. After the first couple of weeks of the new school year, you'll get a sense of how much time you need each night for homework and studying. Sleep should be high on your list of priorities. If you don't get enough sleep each night, you will be grumpier and more tired throughout the day. You won't be able to fully concentrate in class. How can you squeeze in more sleep? If you're spending three hours a night chatting over IM with your friends, and you don't feel like you're getting enough sleep, cut down on chat time!

Time management tips for teens: Don't spread yourself too thin. It's nice to be involved with everything, but it will only make you forget about yourself! You need time to just lie around and watch a movie or read a book. This is called relaxation. Say it with me all of you busy bodies! Relaxation! You need to relax every once in awhile so you can revive your body and mind. Sometimes your parents pressure you to take on too many activities. If you feel super stressed out, sit them down and tell them how you feel. Suggest that you only do two or three activities, instead of 300! They may have thought that you wanted to do all of these activities. Be honest with them and they'll admire your maturity.

A great time management tip for teens idea is keeping a calendar. Write EVERYTHING down. You'll never have another, "I didn't know there was a math test today," moment ever again! You'll also never overbook yourself. Whenever someone wants to make plans, you can pull out your handy dandy calendar! Each quarter or semester, sit down with a new grid. Write down everything that's going on during the week. If you're overwhelmed, cut back!

Frizzy Hair Remedies

You don't need to commit Frizzicide anymore with these frizzy hair remedies!

Does your hair sometimes look like you just stuck your finger into an electrical outlet? Are there days your hair appears two feet taller than it was the day before? Chances are if your hair has even the slightest wave or curl, it's susceptible to frizz. Fortunately we live in a time that embraces every hair texture and helps us with the rules we must follow to care for it properly.

If the frizzies are your problem, take a look at BeingGirl's list of frizzy hair remedies.

DO massage your scalp and hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Natural oils will remain in your hair, relaxing the frizz.

DO shampoo no more than three or four times a week. Look at what happens to your jeans when you wash them. Detergent is much stronger than shampoo, but the bottom line is that shampoo strips the hair after each wash.

DO rinse with the coldest water you can stand. The cold water locks down the hair cuticle and makes hair look sleeker, less frizzy.

DO use a big round brush to smooth your hair as you dry. The advantage of aluminum brushes is that the inner core warms with the heat of the dryer, providing the double advantage of heat and styling at the same time.

DO carry an umbrella if you think it might rain. Wet hair leads to frizz. And wear a hat to cover your head in the sun and the wind.

DO have your hair cut regularly. No matter how long your hair is, split ends only add to the problem.

DO blow dry in a downward motion. Running the hair dryer over hair up and down causes the cuticle to frizz and split. Divide hair in sections with curler pins and dry one section at a time.

Another frizzy hair remedy is DO try using a hair pick when your hair is wet, then finger comb when your hair is dry. If you have bedhead in the morning, spritz your hair with water and finger comb into place.

DO consider hair products that protect against UV rays (they have an SPF, or Sun Protection Factor).

DO buy a showerhead water filter. It gives you chlorine-free and harsh mineral-free water that helps make the products you use more effective.

DO drink a lot of water. The health of your hair also comes from within.

DON'T overuse blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. The more heat you use to style your hair, the more you are drying your strands out. If you must use one, set it at a lower temperature than you normally use, and use a thermal protectant on your hair before you begin.

Another frizzy hair remedy is DON'T rub your hair with a towel when wet. Let your hair set in the towel for 10 minutes instead, then take the towel off. Use a hand towel to squeeze the hair up from the ends to the roots.

DON'T touch your hair while it's drying.

DON'T use fine-tooth combs and brushes.

DON'T use styling products with high alcohol content or shampoos with sulfates.

DON'T let your hairstylist use a razor to layer your hair. Although layering is good, razors contribute to split ends.

The most important DO is to love your hair. Many are jealous of the regal quality of curly and wavy hair!

Haircuts For Face Shapes

You see the hottest celebs, and you'd die for a haircut just like theirs. Before you run out and change your look, compare their facial structure to yours to make sure the style will be as flattering on you. Ask your mom if she knows what type face shape she has. Don't be surprised if she doesn't. Since the face you're born with is the one you'll be looking at for decades to come, it pays to find out whether your face is round, oblong, oval, heart-shaped, or square. We thought we'd help by supplying a guide for figuring out what face shape you have and what hairstyles will enhance your natural beauty. Read on to learn how to find the best "haircuts for face shapes."

Haircuts for Face Shapes: Find Out the Shape of Your Face

While you can outline your face shape on a mirror with lipstick, or drape it with a towel and ask your friends to help guess the shape, there is actually a scientific way to determine your face shape once and for all. Since the knowledge will last a lifetime, it's worth the extra few minutes. Do it with a friend to make sure your measurements are accurate.

Use a tape measure to measure your face across the top of your cheekbones, extending from the edge of one cheekbone to the exact point on the other cheekbone. Write down that number. Then run the tape measure across your face to measure, horizontally, the widest part of your jawline. Write down that number. Then measure across the widest part of your forehead, above your brow line, and below your hairline. Write down that number. Finally, run the tape measure from the tip of your hairline to the bottom tip of your chin. Write down that number.

While most people's faces are not perfect examples of any shape, here are the general rules for finding the best haircuts for face shapes.

• If your face is longer than wide, you have an OBLONG face.

• If your face length is almost exactly 1½ times longer than the width of your face, you have an OVAL face.

• If your face is just about as wide as it is long, you have a ROUND face.

• If you have wide cheekbones and/or forehead, and a narrow jaw, you have a HEART-SHAPED face.

• If your forehead and jaw line widths are close to equal, you have a SQUARE face.

Flattering Haircuts for Face Shapes

If you have an oblong face, you want to add some width. Avoid long, straight hair with no tapering. Long, soft wispy bangs, short-to-medium length and face framing layers are great choices.

• If you have an oval face, your face is considered perfect. Mix up your looks with any length hair. Try the slicked back look. Forget heavy bangs, which are not flattering haircuts for face shapes that are oval.

• If you have a round face, an off-center part can help build height and volume. Avoid anything that poofs out to the sides that might give your face a full moon effect.

• If you have a heart-shaped face, a side part and chin length or longer haircuts are the most flattering ways to show off your great cheekbones.

• If you have a square face, soften your look with a little wave, wispy layers, and short to medium length. Stay away from center parts and straight bangs.

Now that you know best haircuts for face shapes, if you see a style that you like in a magazine, and it doesn't adhere to the rules, modify it slightly, and wear it anyway. The bottom line is to have fun when figuring out the best haircuts for face shapes. All that matters in the end is that you're happy. If you are, you'll look great, no matter what the experts say!

Chapped Lips Remedy

Chapped Lips Making You Cranky? Lip Service: Chapped Lips Remedy

The coming cold weather can be very hard on all parts of your body. Faces flake, hair dries, hands redden, and feet crack. And for young girls especially, lips chap. Just as the harsh winds whip and the humidity plummets, we figure the time is right to offer some chapped lips remedy advice.

Chapped lips are caused by overexposure to wind, sun, or dry conditions in any season, but winter is especially problematic. Lips are vulnerable since they have an extremely thin outer layer. They retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out quicker. The automatic remedy when your lips feel like the desert is to lick them. Unfortunately when the saliva evaporates, they'll feel even worse.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the best chapped lips remedy for your aching lips is to first protect them from the elements.

1. Apply an unflavored lip balm with sunscreen wherever you go. Petroleum jelly, Vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, or even a skin moisturizer will work to keep your lips greasy and properly moisturized, and prevent them from drying out. Emollients like lanolin, oils of any kind, shea butter, and vitamins are other useful ingredients to look for in a lubricating balm. Slick it on often during the day.
2. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
3. Another chapped lips remedy is to wear scarves or jackets that block the wind from getting to your lips.
4. Ask your parents to invest in a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home after they turn on the heat. Everyone's skin is happiest when the relative humidity in your house is 50% or higher.
5. If you wear lipstick, make sure it's glossy; matte lipstick tends to dry out your lips. Before applying your lipstick, dab on a very small amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly.
6. If your lips are badly chapped, remove the dead skin by rubbing a wet, warm washcloth over your lips to gently loosen the flakes. You may need to do this more than once as your lips heal.
7. To keep your lips smooth and soft, slather on a bunch of petroleum jelly, then use a toothbrush, in a circular motion, to massage your lips. Wipe the excess off with a tissue.
8. Avoid flavored lip balms. They can be more fun and certainly taste better, but they also give you an excuse to keep licking your lips, making them wear off quickly and are not a good chapped lips remedy. Choose one with all natural ingredients; pure vegetable oils and butters with beeswax provide a safe barrier. Coconut oil is mild and soothing, and coconut butter is rich and creamy; both are perfect for the lips.
9. Medicated lip products sound good, but they usually contain menthol, peppermint oil, or other additives that can further irritate your lips. Be sure to read the ingredients on the side of the tube before you buy one.
10. Avoid anything that's drying. That includes long hot baths and showers, deodorant soaps, and any product or cleanser that contains alcohol.