communicate ~ #communication,#tweens,#tweengirls,#selfesteem

Hi girls! Tell someone how you really feel today! Some examples: ~ if you don't like her shirt, if you are asked you opinion...then say "not so much!" ~ if you don't like pizza and cheeseburgers... then say' "No, thanks!" ~ if your friend has the flu and wants you to come to her house...say "I'm sorry, but something has come up and I can't make it this evening." ~ if you fall down flat on your face at school in front of everybody... say, "Oh, get a grip!If you had an ounce of kindness,you would be helping me pick these books up!" ~ if you want to take karate classes instead of ballet... then tell them! They may understand and agree with you! Tell it!... if you don't, who will? Marie

Hello Kitty ~ #hellokitty,#headphones,#kidsheadphones,#tweens,#tweenblogging

(at Target) Hey girls, Hope you had a fantastic holiday yesterday. It's back to the books today! It may seem a little boring to some of you now, but keep on learning! You will be glad that you did! Hello Kitty has so many products out there today.The company makes everything from purses and lip gloss to lunch bags! How do you like these pink and black Hello Kitty head phones? Keeping up with big fashion ~ Marie Brewer

OMG! #omg #tweens,#tweengirls,#middleschool,#totes,

Here is an omg bag to place some things in. What makes you say "OMG!"? Sweet words, Marie

So much pressure ! #friends,#peerpressure,#adolescence,#tweenblogs,

What is peer pressure? It is when your friends would like for you to do the same things they are doing! You may really want to have those same behaviors....or you may not want to behave like that! When you feel PRESSURED to do something that you normally would NOT do, Or you want to FIT IN and be like everyone else in the group..... that is peer pressure!! (Do you want to jump in the river just because everyone else does?) Okay, pretty,smart girls!! Be your OWN person,~ Marie

denim jacket ~ #denimjacket,#outerwear,#cherokee,#jackets

(from Target) Hi girls! How are you keeping warm this winter? Sweaters, coats, jackets,ski jackets, leather, and capes are always good fashion choices! Keep it stylish ~ Marie Brewer :)

crafting ~ #artsandcrafts,#diy,#crafting,#crafts,#ducttape,#decorating

( at Office Max) Do you or someone you know love to decorate? Why not use your creative sense and make something pretty with duct tape... It's cheap,durable,waterproof and looks so cool~ Happy crafting! Marie

Fitness tips ~ #exercise,#fitnesstips,#zumba,#fitness,#tweens,#tweengirls

Hey now! Make sure you get your exercise in today girls! Fitness tips for tween girls: ~ Write down your workout activity on your calendar in your room or locker.This will help you to remember what you had planned for each day of the week! These should be activities that you like to do! ~ You can sort your exercise into 2 workout sessions.For example: The upper body workout can be done on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays would be the days for the lower body exercises. Things won't be so boring if you change it up! ~ If the body feels good, the mind will too! ~ GO! Marie

middle school ~ #middleschool,#juniorhigh,#school,#tweengirls,#books

What was your best experience in middle school? the worst? Keep on pushing! Marie Brewer

"Lady Cool",#picturebooks #ebooks,#kindlebooks,#childrensbooks#dogbooks,#pets,#

Hi girls! Do you have a pet at home? Maybe your friends or family has a dog or cat.It is a lot of work taking care of dogs.The one above is a girl dog.Her name is "Lady". She is looking in a book in the picture! Yes, she is a smart dog! It is my daughter's dog and I care for her while she is in New York. "Lady" is 6 years old and we have had her since she was a puppy. It took a while...(about a year) for her to become house - trained. She also chewed everything in sight! She would chew the heels of my daughter's shoes,wood,and just about anything she could get her jaws on! This beautiful brindle dog loves to go for walks,play,eat,sniff, and chase the cat in the back yard! Read her full life story and look at hear pictures in her book: "Lady Cool" by Marie Brewer ~ Find the book on Kindle and Amazon. Love your pet~ Marie

Rebecca ~ #marijuana,#drugs,#hotchocolate,#peerpressure,

It was snowing today in Iowa where Rebecca and Felicia lived with their parents. Felicia was in tenth grade and Rebecca has always looked up to her.They always had fun playing games,shopping,cooking,taking pictures,singing and other fun stuff. Rebecca walked home holding her owls umbrella and kicked a popsicle stick off of the sidewalk with her uggs."Who eats a popsicle in this cold weather?",Rebecca thought. She thought that she may make some hot chocolate after dinner and sip on it while she finished her English homework.Marshmellows on the top of the hot chocolate and a dash of cinnamon would be a great added touch. Rebecca loved school and was in seventh grade this year.Yeah, school was cool and she made A's and B's in her classes.Her parents told her that they were very proud of her!The only thing was ...there was something that was really bugging Rebecca. She was keeping a secret from her parents and she was not happy about it! OMG...she was stressing! It all began on the first Friday after the New Year started.Rebecca's parents went out to a movie that night.They asked Felicia to stay at home with Rebecca until they got back home.Felecia said,"Fine." Felicia wanted to go out with some friends,but it was okay with her.When their parents left,Felicia decided to invited 3 of her friends over to hang out at their home.There were 2 girls and 1 boy and Rebecca had met them before.Rebecca twirled around and sang: "I get to sing with the teens tonight...Yeahhh, it will be all riiiight..." Felicia told her that she was "Silly Becca". Well, Felicia could not decide whether to pop some popcorn or order out for pizza. So, she did both.The friends came by and they all watched a movie,talked,ate,and listened to music. Rebecca was tired and went to bed early. Felicia asked Rebecca to take her backpack upstairs and put it on her bed.Rebecca said that she would. About thirty minutes later,Rebecca had showered and changed into her pj's.She was brushing her teeth when she thought: "Oh, wow!I forgot to get Felicia's backpack!".Rebecca rinsed her mouth and headed down the stairway while brushing her hair.She got about halfway down the steps when she saw one of Felicia's friends trying to give her a marijuana cigarette.She overheard her sister tell her guy friend,"no! I don't smoke ... and I don't do drugs !!" He was telling her to try it..."just one time." Rebecca ducked down and sat on one of the steps of the stairs while Felicia continued to argue with her friend. "What is going on?",Rebecca thought. Finally, Felicia's friend slipped the marijuana into Felicia's backpack.He told her that she could smoke it at another time.Rebecca's heart was beating so fast! Then,Rebecca dropped her brush and Felicia turned around. She asked her sister why she wasn't in bed yet. Rebecca calmed herself down and in a tiny voice said, "I forgot to bring your backpack up..." Felicia said, " shew! go to bed, I'll bring it up! Nite Becca!" Rebecca flew up those stairs.She couldn't believe what had just happened!Should she talk to Felicia about it? Should she tell her parents? Fiddle sticks! This was bad!Rebecca was so freaked out that she could only sleep after hearing that her parents had made it home a few minutes later. Days passed and Felicia did not say a word to Rebecca about that night. Now,Rebecca had arrived home.She unlocked the door and closed her owl umbrella after shaking the snow off of it. At seven o'clock,everyone sat down to dinner.Grilled chicken,sweet potatoes, and spinach was on the table.Rebecca was silent during dinner and her mom asked what was wrong. She said that it was nothing.Rebecca glanced at Felicia,got up from the table and put her dish away. Rebecca asked her mom,"Where's the large pot? I'm going to make some hot chocolate."A few minutes later,the chocolate was ready and Rebecca poured it into a mug.She finished the last page of her homework while sipping on the yummy drink...It made her feel good inside...so good that she knew that she had to get the truth out of her brain.Rebecca pulled her mom into the laundry room and told her EVERYTHING about the marijuana. Her mom said that she would take care of it and hugged Rebecca so tight. Rebecca knew that the had done the right thing...and she felt so much better! Set your truth free...Marie

Do you wear a watch? ~ #watches,#girlswatches,#kohls,#tweenblogging,#tweens

How do you like this watch? Where would you wear it? Do you think you need a watch if you have a cell phone? Do you think people wear watches to be stylish? Make time count! Marie

New Day for Emma Sue ~ #childhoodobesity, #tweens,#tweenblogs,#selfesteem,#writing,#journalwriting,#healthy,

(from Justice) This was a new year and Emma Sue wanted to lose some weight.She is 40 pounds overweight and she does not like it. Emma Sue's parents have been trying to buy and prepare healthy foods.They told Emma Sue that she would need to stop eating foods that are high in calories and bad for her body.Pizza,fried chicken,cheese burgers,pasta,soda,cookies,pies,cakes,candy, and ice cream were off of the menu.Instead of these foods,Emma Sue would eat healthy meals and snacks. After searching on the internet and reading articles on weight loss, Emma Sue's parents had a plan.They would make turkey burgers instead of regular cheese burgers.Greek yogurt would be substituted for ice cream and the skinless chicken would be baked or grilled. Emma Sue was willing to eat less sugar and agreed to eat smaller meals.Her parents wanted this new lifestyle to be a family task.Emma Sue's mother began to shop for organic fruits,vegetables,and bought almond milk instead of cow's milk.She read the labels of the grocery items that she purchased.Sometimes Emma Sue would look at the label of a box of cereal...there were long words that she could not pronounce! The family had to watch the salt and sugar that they put into their bodies,so they bought a lot of fresh food instead of boxed foods.Emma Sue's mom taught her how to make kale with olive oil,garlic,vinegar,vegetable broth, and a pinch of nutmeg.For snacks, Emma Sue ate apples,greek yogurt,berries,nut,whole wheat crackers, and sunflower butter. Instead of snickers or other candy,she chose to eat a small piece of dark chocolate.She was happy to learn how to cook her own food. Exercise had to be added to their daily routines.Emma Sue's dad made up an exercise schedule for the whole family. They would exercise for one hour a day, seven days a week!Emma's parents woke up early before work and walked outside or used the treadmill before work. Emma Sue walked or ran with some friends after school.Sometimes Emma would run up and down the stairs/bleachers at the school.On the weekends, the family went to their backyard,the park,or the YMCA to play games and work out.She got better at exercising everyday! Her parents encouraged her and she wanted to play outdoor games without breathing so hard.There were kids who laughed at her at school and on the school bus.Emma Sue hated it.She wanted to fit in and have good times with the other kids.Yes, Emma Sue would show them! She would not give up on herself! In a couple of weeks, Emma Sue and her family began to see great changes in their bodies.They had more energy and Emma Sue's acne started to clear up! Her mom lost 6 pounds and her father lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks.Emma Sue lost 9 pounds in the first month.She was so happy in the months to come!She looked in the mirror and saw a nice girl with new energy and a healthy body. On that day, Emma Sue decided that she would never go back to eating foods that were filled with saturated fat and sugar. One evening in March, Emma Sue got on the school bus.A boy that was in a seat behind her yelled,"Hey!Emma Sue, how did you lose so much weight?" Emma Sue turned around, and said,"I just stopped eating the food that makes YOU stand up and ask crazy questions!" Yes, it was a new day for Emma Sue.She is a Power Girl! find your kindness, Marie