Tag Archives: teen

The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis

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The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: February 5, 2014
Hearts: ♥♥♥♥

Percy Jackson fan? This book is right up your alley!

One Boy
 Jack McKinley is an ordinary kid with an extraordinary problem. In a few months, he’s going to die.
 One Mission
 Jack needs to find seven magic loculi that, when combined, have the power to cure him.
 One Problem
 The loculi are the relics of a lost civilization and haven’t been seen in thousands of years.
 Seven Wonders
 Because they’re hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

So, let me give you a bit of a backstory, this book follows this kid, a special kid with a mystical heritage. Kinda cliché, I know, but it’s worth it.

His name is Jack, and he has this gene called “G7W”, that only the highest royals from the long lost land of Atlantis had. Having it means that (other than the lambda that appears on the back of your head that you can’t shave) whatever you’re good at, you’re the best at, from brains to athletics. It basically enhances you.

Awesome right? Nope

It of course has a little bit of a downside, it kills you when you hit 14 years of age, so when Jack hits 14, he passes out at school and is taken to the hospital, where he is practically kidnapped by the Karai Institute. This institute is determined to save all kids that have the gene by delaying their deaths (with a series of constant “procedures”) and training them so they can help find the cure with their abilities.

The cure? they’re not sure, they know the have to get all 7  loculi, these wierds orbes of light and energy that, when brought together, are supposed to cure them, but they can also grant a lot, A WHOLE DAMN LOT of power, so Jack and his friends may be either getting the cure, or helping create a new wolrd order, you know, normal teenager stuff.

It’s a pretty good book, simple and clean. The characters are deep enough to not be bland, they don’t really develop though. Also, the way Peter Lerangis writes kinda confuses me from time to time setting-wise, but it’s understandable. All around a pretty good book, not overly complicated and easy to follow. 

 

No Sweat: How to Get the Right Sweatshirt

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No sweat: how to get the right sweatshirt

Around the world there are many different names for the sweatshirt. You might find it called a sweater, a jumper, a pullover, a jersey, a guernsey, a tank top and a hoody amongst many others. 

Opinion differs in different countries about the exact nature of the sweatshirt and who invented it. The history is cloudy and the exact design confusing. Should it be made of wool or cotton? Is a top you where for rugby or football a sweatshirt? … there’s a lot to think about.

So, in an effort to clear things up a bit, let’s try and break down just what a sweatshirt is. You never know, it might help you figure out which is the one for you.

OK, so a jumper or pullover, as they are often referred to in the UK and USA, is more like a woollen, warm item of clothing. A tank top is a short-sleeved jumper in the UK and a waistcoat in the USA.

A jersey, or as we call it a guernsey, is what you wear when you’re playing sport for a team. It’s usually made of synthetic material and often doesn’t smell too good – especially if you forget to wash it between matches.

A hoody is getting a little closer to a sweatshirt in that it’s often made of the same cotton-based material as a sweatshirt, except that it has, well, a hood – obviously.

Hoodies also sometimes have zips up the middle, which would make it closer to a cardigan (which until recently were definitely not cool unless you were in your 70s).

So that leaves us with the pure sweatshirt. It’s a long-sleeved item, made from thick cotton, sometimes but not always with a fleece inner lining.

Its original design saw it used for sports and working out, with the thick cotton absorbing the sweat – hence the name. These days, the sweatshirt is worn for much more than just working out though and it comes in many colours, sometimes plain but often with writing, slogans or designs on.

Most major sports and fashion brands will make a sweatshirt and it’s a comfortable, practical and good-looking piece of clothing.

You’ll still have to argue with some people about just what makes a sweatshirt but as long as you’re happy and comfortable wearing yours, it really doesn’t matter what you or anyone else calls it.

About The Author: Martin McEwen is Australian based fashion stylist who loves streetwear. An ex pro-skateboarder, he now offers styling services to some local streetwear fashion labels.

How to Wear Less and Still Look Modest This Summer

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How to Wear Less and Still Look Modest This Summer

Summers are only getting hotter and dressing modest is getting harder and harder to do. For all of you who have an internal conviction about dressing too skimpy there is hope. The only option is not to sweat through all of your clothes this summer.

Cleavage

Covering up your cleavage is one of the easiest ways to feel modest and appropriate for any occasion. For ladies who have a bigger bust this is a harder task but it is not impossible. The problem comes in where all the popular styles of tanks and tees revolve around a low neck line. Don’t give up on dressing in style just yet, there are ways to get around this issue. When you are dressing more casual wearing a cute, bright, solid or printed sports bra (with a strapless bra, of course!) under your tank or tee will higher your neck line and add a pop of color to your outfit. Also adding a bandeau (which is a strapless undershirt that only covers the bust section) will cover your cleavage and add a new dimension to your outfit.

Material

When choosing what materials to wear this summer make sure you are choosing materials that are thin, loose, and breathe easily to help keep you as cool as possible. Materials such as cotton and polyester are the best for the hot summer and possible humidity.

Don’t Layer

Layering in the hot summer could be your worst mistake. Most girls layer because it makes them feel more covered and secure but during the summer all it’s going to make you is hotter. Crop tops are a huge trend and girls who want to dress modest tend to still wear them with tanks underneath but this might not be the best idea. Investing in longer tanks and tee that do not have to be layered with a tank to cover your mid section is the smartest. This does not mean that you have to sacrifice style this just means that you have a different style.

Shorts

Short are a fundamental to summer attire and finding the right shorts that make you feel cute and covered at the same time is not always the easiest task. To find shorts that are longer and maybe less tight you will probably have to shop at a higher end store but the plus side to that is they will last longer and endure more wears. Finding the right length of shorts is a delicate balance between hoochie and dorky. This just means you will have to look a little harder to find the perfect pair but I promise they are out there.

Author Bio: Ally is a writer for Smith Monitoring, a leader in home security systems. She is a fashion stylist and enjoys finding new ways to dress while still looking modest.

Switched by Amanda Hocking Book Review

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Switched by Amanda HockingThe land of Forening is a strange place. It is home to changelings, manks, trackers, and so much more. Wendy has just learned that she is a changeling. Which means she was switched at birth with a human and has mind powers and is basically a troll Princess. Now Finn who is her tracker a.k.a. a glorified babysitter is taking her back to Forening to meet her birth mother. Now she has all the responsibilities and powers not sure how to take it all in. Finn seems to help but he is off limits.

Switched by Amanda Hocking.  It seems to me the books I don’t have big expectations for are always the ones I love. I picked this book as an impulse buy. I waited a good six months to read it. I should not have waited for this series. I love the world that is created. Wendy’s reaction to what is happening is understandable and is much like I would handle it. As the series continues in Torn and Ascend Wendy grows into her powers and also how to handle the responsibility of who she truly is. She has a great destiny and I think you would enjoy the ride.  I gave this book 4/5 but the second and third books were 5/5 stars. I only gave the first one 4/5 because I didn’t like some of the characters but I grew to love them all.

NOOKA Mindstyle

Posted on by Posted in Pop Culture, Style, Tech .

Looking for something different to accessorize with? Nooka has the answer! They have created an entire company based on the idea of being different and looking great while doing so. The products that they sell boast a modern and simplistic look, while also pertaining to the functionality of everyday use. They create fun and creative ways to make everyday task, such as checking the time on a watch, more exciting. Their lines range from watches, to eye-ware, all the way to other types of apparel. Their product lines have grown over time, and new and innovative products are definitely in the future of Nooka.

While some may say their products are a little too ahead of our time, meaning they look too futuristic, Nooka thinks otherwise and is proving that with their continuing success in the world of modernism. Most of their products are a little more expensive than their competitors, but that is simply because the quality and design is superior at Nooka. It may cost a little more to get a Nooka product, but you seriously get the look that you pay for. While I must admit some of their products will more than likely make you stand out everywhere you go, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, Nooka makes products specifically for those who want to stand out.

Celebrities are more than willing to wear Nooka products and show off the brand, in fact Miley Cyrus has been seen wearing their sunglasses with everyday clothes, making them the focal point. It’s not hard to see how Nooka is taking this generation by storm, and it’s not too hard to see how they will only continue to succede in a world where being different and looking ahead of your time is not only acceptable, but celebrated. With the mindset of “mindstyle”, Nooka is making a lasting impression.

Bradley Moore’s Photography

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Bradley Moore is a photographer in the making, who has been doing photography unprofessionally for three years now. The imagery he manages to capture with the lens of his camera serve well to show the natural beauty of the environment. Moore took the time to talk about photography, and the effect it has had over his life.

“I was given a cheap simple digital camera as a gift, and I’ve always loved the outdoors, and I decided I wanted to forever capture a single moment in history that’ll never occur again exactly the same, because in today’s world not many take the time to see nature in its most beautiful moments.” Moore responded when asked what led to him getting involved with and interested in Photography.

Moore describes photography as being a doorway, an escape from life, which gives him the ability to capture any moment in time, reserving it forever. “Sometimes I get frustrated when I snap about 50 pictures of one scene and none of them turn out the way I wanted. But the best feeling is when I capture the moment in a single shot, or at most 3, that’s thrilling. I agree with the old phrase that the journey is sometimes better than the destination.” Replied Moore when asked about how he felt when he captured the image he wants to preserve.

While Moore is exceptionally talented at photography, he has some doubts about making a career at it. He stated, “Personally, I would love to become a self-employed, starving artist type of photographer… that doesn’t necessarily starve. But I’ll most likely only keep it as a hobby through my life. My goal ultimately in photography is to glorify Almighty Jehovah God that created the universe and all its beauty, picture by picture.”

Moore has a bit of advice to those of you who are interested in getting involved in photography, be it as a career goal, or as a simple hobby. He said, “If you see something you like, snap a pic of it. Do it for yourself. All in all, you are always you’re biggest, hardest art critic. When you capture a moment no one else sees, it’s like your own little secret between you and Mother Nature.”

Not all of Moore’s photographs are planned out, at times, he just sees something he wants to capture, and he has to run and get his camera, and hope that he gets back in time to catch it with his camera. While other times, he plans out trips, to capture specific images. Thus, his photography is a combination of impulse and planning.

To sum up photography, Moore said, “The genius of the watchmaker is that he leaves details in his work that not everyone will see, but those studying the watch will eventually see the beauty.”