The Big Book of Girl Stuff

by Bart King

  Sadly, the quest for pricey perfume can have bad impacts on the natural world. For example, the Brazilian rosewood tree once peacefully grew in the wilds of the Amazon. When the perfume called Chanel No. 5 came out in 1921, that all changed. Chanel No. 5 uses rosewood oil, and soon the oil was being used in other perfumes, soaps, and scented candles. Today, the rosewood tree is an endangered species.

  Make Your Own Perfumed Body Scrub

  You can make your own perfumed scrub without destroying any species.

  You Will Need: A wide-mouthed glass jar with a lid you can clamp or screw down, kosher salt, olive oil, an essential oil you like the smell of (like lemon, eucalyptus, rose, or peppermint), and cinnamon.

  Fill your jar a little less than halfway up with kosher salt. Then pour almost as much olive oil into the jar and start mixing until it feels right to you.

  Next add in four drops of your essential oils and a tablespoon of cinnamon! Mix it all up completely. (There are no rules so if you want to throw in some lemon zest, rosemary, or flower petals, go ahead!) Then let it sit for awhile.

  When you’re ready to use it, just bring the jar with you into the shower. Take a scoop of the scrub out and rub it on your joints and your feet. Be sure to rinse it all off and don’t slip on the oily mix while you’re in there! (Don’t put your body scrub on your face, either. It’s not designed for it, and it’s probably illegal where you live.)

  Hot Tip! Here’s our hot tip with perfume: A little bit goes a long way. We’re sure you’ve noticed the boy who puts on half a bottle of cologne after P.E. class at school. He reeks! He thinks that since a little cologne smells good, a lot smells great. You know how wrong he is, so don’t make the exact same mistake.

  Makeup

  “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”

  —Gwyneth Paltrow

  Make up means “to invent.” So does that mean if you wear makeup you are trying to invent a new face for yourself, one that isn’t yours? Maybe that’s why some people call it fake-up! Women who always wear makeup sometimes say they feel “naked” without it on. So are women improving their faces with cosmetics or are they using it to hide behind?

  Many people have struggled with this question. In Alexandria, Egypt, it was once illegal for unmarried women to wear makeup because the men were worried that they would be tricked into marrying someone who wasn’t who she seemed to be. And nowadays, girls often argue with their parents about wearing makeup. Sometimes these arguments go all the way to a court of law. In Los Angeles, a judge once banned a Mexican-American girl from using makeup against her parents’ wishes.

  As far as cosmetics go, listen to your parents and “make up” your own mind. Just don’t let yourself become your own favorite hobby or after-school project. Then you really will be stuck on yourself!

  Most teenage girls in the U.S. do use makeup of some kind. There are bazillions of books and magazines out there with beauty tips about when you can wear purple eye-shadow (never!) or how to paint your toenails. You probably know more tips, tricks, ideas, and cool stuff than we do, but for those of you just barely getting into makeup, here are some of the basics.

  Makeup Basics

  If you are applying makeup to your skin and then cleaning it off again day after day, it’s actually pretty hard on your skin. So maybe the most important tip is this: Don’t use too much makeup! Experts agree that this is the most common mistake that girls make. (Of course, you don’t need experts to tell you that; you’ve probably seen these mistakes at school!)

  *In France, girls and women try NOT to look as if they are spending hours on their faces. French girls favor makeup that is so natural, you don’t notice it’s there. The key is not to try too hard. If you can see obvious makeup on a woman’s face, the French have a word for it: vulgaire (vulgar).

  Basic Safety! Don’t share cosmetics with your friends. Be sure to wash makeup off before going to sleep at night. (Leaving it for too long is bad for your skin.) Oh, and never keep cosmetics for more than six months. After that, they may have germs living in them. Ick!

  Base makeup/foundation: The idea of base makeup (or “foundation”) is to make your skin look like it doesn’t have any blemishes or look too shiny. So it’s important that the base you choose matches your skin type. Experiment with different shades till you get one that’s just right.

  Tip: Blend, blend, blend! Your face should not be a different color than your neck. And try not to overdo it. Some people call this “pancake” makeup, and it’s not usually a good thing to have your face compared to breakfast food.

  Concealer: This is a thick makeup that is good for hiding really bad blemishes . . . okay, pimples. Like your base, make sure it matches your skin. Tip: Try dabbing it on, instead of spreading it on. That way, it’s less noticeable.

  Eyeliner: Your eyelids are one of the most sensitive parts of your body, so be very careful using application wands with eye liners and mascara. (And never put on eye makeup in a moving car!) Apply the eyeliner outside of the lash line, away from the eye. Tip: Don’t overdo it, or you’ll have raccoon eyes.

  Eye shadow: The basic idea of eye shadow is that if you wear lighter shades of it, it will make your eyes appear bigger. Darker shades will make your eyes appear somewhat smaller. Tip: Remember, nobody has naturally purple eyelids unless they’ve been hit in a boxing match!

  Mascara: Don’t keep mascara for more than three months. If you’re going to use an eyelash curler, use it before you put on your mascara! And although waterproof mascara won’t “streak,” some girls’ eyes get irritated by it. Also, water-based mascara is much easier to remove. Tip: If your mascara gives you “tarantula eyelashes,” you’re overdoing it.

  Blush: By highlighting cheeks with a rosy color, a girl can look like she just exercised. How healthy! Either that, or like she’s blushing from embarrassment. Tip: Gel blushes are more difficult to apply than powder or cream blushes.

  Lip liner: If you can’t really tell where your lips end and your skin begins, then lip liners are handy. They also make a nice outline around your lips so your lipstick doesn’t “bleed” out past your lips onto your skin. If you want to use a lip liner, make a border around your lips, and then use lipstick or lip gloss inside the line. Fun!

  Lip gloss, lipstick: Do you want your lips to look “wetter” or more colorful? These are the difficult questions. Lipstick can also make lips look a bit bigger than they are, but be sure not to use it beyond the edges of your lips. Tip: Don’t choose a lipstick color that is so bright, hummingbirds are attracted to your face.

  Painting fingernails and toenails: Before painting fingernails or toenails, make sure that you wash them very well. Then trim and file them down. Once you start painting, use short, even strokes going in the same direction. When you’re done, dip a cotton swab in polish remover and carefully remove any excess polish around your nails. (Some girls also like to put cotton balls between their toes when painting them, just to be safe.) Tip: Both fingernail polish remover and some nail polishes are FLAMMABLE, so be careful. No burning candles when painting nails!

  *Petroleum jelly may be the best makeup that isn’t makeup. It can be used as a lip gloss or make eyelashes and eyebrows look glossy. A little bit rubbed into each cheek gives the skin moisture and color.

  Sleepovers and Slumber Parties

  “The older you get, the fewer slumber parties there are, and I hate that. I liked slumber parties. What happened to them?”

  —Drew Barrymore

  When a bunch of girls come over to spend the night, why is that called a “slumber party” or a “sleepover”? Almost no sleeping ever happens! But even if there isn’t much shut-eye, a slumber party is one of the most incredibly fun things that girls can do. Believe it or not, some girls have had to be hospitalized during them because they started laughing so hard, it turned into a medical emergency.

  Invitations

  When you decide to invite some friends
over for the night, it doesn’t have to be a fancy affair. But if more than just a friend or two are coming, you may want to send invitations. In addition to the obvious information like the date (duh!), you will want to tell your guests whether they need sleeping bags or pillows. Also remind them that they will need to remember to bring their toothbrush, pajamas, and maybe their favorite blanky. (Okay, maybe not. J)

  If you put “RSVP” on your invitation, that means Répondez S’il Vous Plaît. This is French for “please reply and tell me if you’re coming or not.” To make sure your guests understand this, only invite French girls to your house.

  Invitations can be printed on really nice stationery or handwritten on Popsicle sticks. It’s up to you! But when you hand them out, try giving them to your friends privately and one at a time. That way, nobody will feel left out if they don’t get one (because naturally everyone wants to come to your house!).

  There is no perfect number of people to invite to a sleepover. One friend can be a blast, and so can seven! If you end up with a total group bigger than five though, it can get a little crazy. (In other words, you may be asking for trouble!)

  *You may want to tell your friends just to wear pajamas over to your house. That way the fun can start right away!

  Finally, so your parents don’t go insane, you should probably set up a time for everyone to go home the next day. Otherwise, you could end up having two sleepovers in a row—a doubleheader!

  Supplies

  Your mom will be a huge help here, but in case she needs reminding, sleepovers are all about unhealthy food. (That’s pizza, popcorn, ice cream, soda, and chips in case you didn’t know.)

  It’s also fun to have on hand some musical instruments that don’t require skill to play (like tambourines, kazoos, bongo drums, and so forth). Goody bags for girls to take home after the party aren’t required, but are nice if you have the time to put them together. These could contain glowsticks, nail polish, hairclips, necklaces, little stuffed animals, bracelets, loofahs, large amounts of cash, whatever you want!

  Also, make sure to have plenty of toilet paper on hand. It’s amazing how many rolls of it a bunch of girls can go through, especially if they roll someone up in it or go out TPing someone’s house.

  Tip: Going to someone else’s house? Roll your pajamas, pillow, and supplies up in your sleeping bag for convenience. And don’t forget a flashlight!

  Other Preparations

  What room will you be hanging out in the most at your slumber party? Go in there before your guests arrive and move everything breakable out of it. Then move everything soft and fun into it. So, big lamps, mirrors, and your mom’s china go out, and stuffed animals, bean bag chairs, pillows, and Silly String in.

  Speaking of rooms, one classic sleepover problem is that while some girls might want to go to bed, others want to stay up late. To solve this, either have an agreed-upon bedtime (yeah, right), or have one room for sleeping and a different room for hanging out and being weird.

  Whether just one or seventeen of your closest friends are coming over, greet your guests at the door and make introductions to your family. A house tour is probably a good idea, too. Ask if your friend wants something to eat or drink, and then get down to having fun!

  Party Games and Activities

  Depending on how well you know everyone, you might want to plan two or three activities for your group. Although it’s not super imaginative, one thing might be a movie that everyone wants to see. Don’t just assume it will be fun to get together. It is possible for slumber parties to be boring. (But if it’s a slumber party, maybe it’s not so bad if your guests fall asleep? X)

  If you have three or more guests, a fun game is Mystery Sleeping Bag. One girl leaves the room, and the other girls zip themselves all the way up in sleeping bags. Then the girl is called back in to figure out who’s in which bag. She can try gently poking or feeling the bags, but the girls inside should try not to talk or laugh!

  We have left out a few classic slumber party activities from this chapter on purpose because we figure you already know about them. If you haven’t heard of these, ask your mom to explain them to you: “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board,” “Bloody Mary,” “Truth or Dare,” and “Who’s Got the Hedgehog?” (Also, check other chapters of this book—like “Fun Stuff to Do”—for more ideas for activities.)

  Party Themes

  As far as party themes, you don’t need to have a theme to have a good time, but sometimes a goofy theme can get everyone involved and excited about the party.

  There are all sorts of ideas that you’ve probably heard of, like Movie Parties, Decade Parties (1960s, ’70s, ’80s), Camping-In Parties, or Treasure Hunts. Naturally, Pajama Parties are an easy type of party to throw. What’s more fun than wearing comfy PJs and spazzing out?

  Here are a few other theme ideas:

  Bead Party

  String ’em up! A bead party can be as simple as you and your friends stringing beads together, or as complicated as inviting an expert come to show you and your friends how to make cool stuff with beads. To prepare, you’re obviously going to want to get some beads first. X You might want to go with a friend to a bead shop and start loading up, or you may want to shop with your mom online for them. (You can probably get better deals online; just be sure to plan ahead for shipping time.) Be sure to get beads with a good size hole in them; you want your guests to have fun stringing their beads, not to get frustrated.

  Karaoke Party

  There’s something about putting a microphone in a girl’s hand that turns her into an instant ham. If you have a video camera, be sure to record the performances. (If you have techno-skills, you can even make your own music videos!) Then prepare to rock the house with your talent!

  Hand-Painting Party

  Follow the directions for henna painting (see “Fun Stuff to Do”) to see if you have the patience and skill to paint each other’s hands or feet. Or if you have a budget, have an expert come in and paint for you.

  “Come as You Are” Party

  Your friends have to be game for this “spur of the moment” party. The idea is that you call them at a weird time (like early morning or after a soccer game) when the girl might be wearing something out of the ordinary. Whatever the girl is wearing when she is called is what she wears later to the party.

  Sleepover Slang!

  Squirreling: This is what happens when you are eating ice cream (that has chunks of goodies in it) with someone else out of the same container AND the other person keeps digging out the good stuff and eating it. Example: Hey! You’re squirreling all the little brownie pieces!

  Mall Party

  A field trip to the mall could be a LOT of fun, if you give it your special flair. As hostess, you split everyone on the field trip into two teams. The teams also need a digital or video camera, and a list of tasks to do.

  These tasks are worth “points,” and you decide how many points they are worth, depending on their difficulty. As the group goes through the mall, they have to record their accomplishments with their camera.

  Some ideas of tasks the teams could do for points are:

  Go to a café and order straws.

  Do the splits up the escalator.

  Kiss a mannequin at a certain store.

  Try on a wig.

  Play leapfrog down the hall to the bathrooms.

  Sing a song with a stranger.

  Go to a shoe store and try on the biggest pair of boots possible.

  You could also give each team a small budget (let’s say $15). Give the teams things to buy without going over budget. Examples of things the teams could get might be cheap and flashy earrings, chocolate from See’s, wristbands, or a new car.

  But remember, you really don’t have to have a theme for your slumber party. Since the whole idea of a sleepover is sharing time together, any activity you share will probably be worthwhile. Simple activities like playing board games or making your own pizzas are easy, but you could also have
more advanced crafts to try.

  Party Favors

  BTW, if you have party gifts and you don’t want to wait to give them away, try this. Find a hiding place for the gift, and then start unrolling a ball of yarn. Have one end of the yarn start at the front door, and after unrolling it around all the furniture that you can, have the ball eventually lead to the hidden gift. If you want to make it extra challenging, do this with all the party gifts and make the balls of yarn all the same color! (Make sure the girls looking for the gifts roll the yarn up as they search.)

  Things to Expect

  Since everyone gets so excited at slumber parties, it is not unusual for a girl or two (or everybody) to cry during it. This might happen because someone got her feelings hurt, or maybe during Girl Talk time, a painful secret or memory came out. If it happens at your sleepover, don’t be surprised, and don’t let it ruin anything. Have everybody (including you!) get it out of her system, and then get back to having fun.