Healthy Eating Options at a Barbecue

SNACK
There's nothing wrong with a little nosh before the main event-just be mindful of where you dip your chip.

Best
Tortilla chips with salsa
(11 chips, 2 tbsp. dip): 151 calories, 7 g fat (Switch to a baked variety to cut 33 calories and 4 grams of fat.)
Pretty Good
Tortilla chips with guacamole
(11 chips, 2 tbsp. dip): 209 calories, 16 g fat
Worst
Potato chips with ranch dip
(11 chips, 2 tbsp. dip): 301 calories, 26 g fat

MAIN COURSE
The trick to making grilled meat more diet-friendly: Curb portion sizes by pairing it with plenty of veggies. You'll fill up your plate, so you won't feel deprived.

Best
2 beef and veggie kebabs
(with 2 oz. sirloin and 1 cup tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms): 146 calories, 11 g fat
Pretty Good
Hot dog
345 calories, 19 g fat
Worst
3 barbecuepork ribs
594 calories, 34 g fat

SIDE
Grilled corn on the cob has a fraction of the calories in mayonnaise- or oil-drenched salads.

Best
Corn on the cob
(1 ear): 59 calories, 1 g fat
Pretty Good
Pasta salad
(1 cup): 240 calories, 1 g fat
Worst
Potato salad
(1 cup): 358 calories, 21 g fat

Flip Flops!

Flip Flops are the perfect late spring-summer-early fall shoe, and they are just so comfy, which is why I decided to make a post about them. (Shoe pictured is a Tory Burch Pink Flip Flop from Nordstrom with Metal Logo detailing, a shoe I am planning on getting for myself) Again, they are in the order of what look you are going for.

• Daring: Victorias Secret Metallic T-Strap Sandal
  
• Glam: Charlotte Russe Glitter Flip Flops
  
• Classic: Tory Burch Pink Flip Flop(Shown Above)
  
• Edgy: Urban Outfitters Leather Metal Thong Sandal
  
• Girly: Havaianas Womens Pink Floral
  
• Fun: Havaianas Slim Pois 
  
• Boho: Victorias Secret Beaded Gladiator Sandal
  
• Cute: Roxy Mimosa Flip Flop
  

How To Flat Iron Your Hair, With Volume!

1. Wash Your Hair Use a shampoo that smells really good and that will work well for your hair during the process (preferably Herbal Essences). Use a conditioner that's volumizing. You can also use 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner for this. If you have thick hair, use a handful of conditioner. If you have thin hair, use a little less. When finished showering, rinse your hair with cold water for a minute or so. (After washing your hair, rinsing it with cool water adds shine and reduces frizz. )
2. Apply a quarter-size amount of thick anti-frizz serum to your damp towel-dried hair to keep your strands smooth. Rub the serum over your hands, then run your fingers through your hair from roots to ends.
3. Dry your hair. Do basic hairdrying with a with a round barrel brush. Blow-dry hair on high heat starting with a three-inch-wide section in front. Use a round brush with holes in it so the heat can reach all your strands. Aim the dryer directly at the round brush, first from above and then from below. Spray the roots with a root booster or volumizer. Also spray the hair with a heat protector spray.
4. Section hair in 1-1 1/2 inch sections. Clip up excess hair. Start with the comb at the root of the hair in the section you want to flat iron, then pull the comb through the hair followed by the flat iron. While the hair is still hot from the iron, take your round brush and brush from the root to the end creating volume and body in the hair. You can brush it straight or turn your hand while brushing to create a slight wave. Repeat with each section. You might want to use a larger barrel brush, but not too large.
5. Spray your hair with a light hold hairspray. Let it cool. Flip head upside down and finger comb through the hair. Use a small amount of smoothing serum to smooth an excess frizz.

From wikihow.com

Must-Watch Movies!

These are some movies I think every preteen-teen girl needs to have seen, because they just come up so very often in conversations.

1. Pineapple Express 
   
2. Tropic Thunder
   
3. Superbad
   
4. 1 of The Scary Movies
   
5. Step Brothers
   
6. Don't Mess With The Zohan
   
7. Twilight
   
8. Role Models
   
9. Yes Man
   
10. 13 Going on 30
    
11. Mean Girls
    
12. Forest Gump
13. 1 of the Indiana Jones movies

Since I posted this rather early in the summer, you should be able to watch maybe 1-2 of the movies on this list each week and hopefully be able to see all of them by the start of the school year. 

Bathing Suits!

Now, this is more of a post for summer, not the school year itself, but who says you cant reinvent yourself while wearing a totally cute bathing suit? Again, these are in a list by what look you are going for:

• Daring- Victorias Secret Monokini

• Glam- Bling Bling Blue Victorias Secret Triangle Top and Ruched Bottom

• Classic- Black Delias Cinched Bandeau One-Piece

• Edgy- Charlotte Russe Studded Halter Top and Bottom

• Girly- AE Polka Dot Halter Bikini

• Fun- Delias Hot Tuna Pop Art Halter Top and String Bottom

• Boho- Charlotte Russe Seven7 Embroidered Halter Top and Bottom

• Cute- Charlotte Russe Seven7 Twist Triangle Top and Bottom
  

As you can see, they are all on the less expensive side, but still totally cute. That is because I believe that you should be saving up your cash for an amazing back to school wardrobe!

Healthy Choices/Diet

Make healthy choices this summer to make losing weight so much easier!

If you want chocolate...

try a peanut butter and banana smoothie(Peanut butter has natural oils that keep your hair and skin soft and hair shiny!)

If you want french fries...

try water and pretzels

If you want some cookies...

try a mini pizza(A whole-wheat muffin with tomato sauce and cheese is the perfect snack!)

Style.

To me, a girl should appear accessorized and completed. It says she thinks she is worth spending an hour getting ready(even if she didnt!).

The Fabulosity Five-Point Fashion Manifesto

By Kimora Lee Simmons

From Fabulousity, What it is and How to Get It.

1. Style is a form of self-promotion
2. Developing a style is like your brandmark; it will get you noticed and remembered.
3. Fashion betows authority and power on the wearer: Dress to impress, and you will be taken seriously
4. Great style says, "Here I am! Pay attention to me!" I value myself enough to put effort into this, and you should too.
5. Style is individual. Style is subjective. Nobody can grade you on it.

No-Nos

This is a list of things to remember to NEVER get when you go shopping.

• Baggy, sloppy T-shirts. These dont flatter anyone!
• Stripper tops that leave your belly hanging out. Why this is a no is pretty self explanitory. 
• Broomstick skirts; hippie-girl skirts; long skirts. They make your legs look shorter if you are under 5'5", very few people under that height can pull them off, but if you can, go for it!
• Anything see-through(EXCEPT possibly t-shirts, if layered correctly). That's just too much
• Birkenstocks. No. Just no.
• Distressed leather pants, punk-rock torn t-shirts, etc
• Wide-brimmed top hats

Exam Week.

I will try to make a bunch of posts today, seeing that this week is exam week and I will be very busy. Just wanted to keep you updated.

P.S. I made a twitter account http://twitter.com/summermakeovers

Teen Closet Essentials

These are things that are essential to a teen's closet(aka 'The Basics"). Majority of these things, it does not matter where you buy.

-jeans in a unique wash, like black or colored
-a pair of patent flats
-a pair of baggy sweatpants to lounge in
-cute underwear
-an extreme belt, like super skinny or super thick
-a bathing suit that you feel confident in
-a tube dress, you can wear it as a skirt too by folding it over
-heels that you're comfortable wearing to school (not sure how old you are, but in high school, they are a must!)
-a cute, casual dress, wear it with tights in the winter, bare legged in the fall, etc.

Those are your closet basics. I will make a post soon with store reccomendations, by budget.