Discovery Girls

Q: Can my phone give me pimples?

A: We all love chatting on the phone, but we definitely don’t love the pimples it can cause! Yep, that phone you’re pressing up against your cheek can definitely lead to pimples. Oil and dirt can easily transfer from your skin, hair, and fingers right onto your phone, so the next time you answer a call that oil and dirt is heading right back into your pores to clog them up! But we’re not asking you to give up your phone! Just make sure to clean your phone after a few uses, and try not to hold your phone up against your skin. Use your hand (no more shoulder!) to hold your phone up to your ear but away from your face. Enjoy chatting!

It is no longer uncool to be a DORK thanks to Nikki Maxwell in the new book series Dork Diaries! Nikki Maxwell might not have a new iPhone or a seat at the popular girls’ table, but she’s one funny chick and a pretty talented artist.

OK, so maybe at first she wasn’t super excited to find out her back-to-school present was a diary and not a cell phone, but this diary ends up being the perfect place for Nikki to embrace her inner dork and truly tell it (middle school drama) like it is!

Have you ever had trouble fitting in at school? Tell us all about it! You’ll see that lots of other girls are going through exactly the same thing! And remember, standing out from the crowd is a GOOD thing!

If you’re an artistic type, like the book’s heroine, you’ll love the Dork Diaries widget. It lets you create your own cartoon! Click here to try it and embrace your inner DORK!

When Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone was released in the U.S., I was seven years old. Upon starting the series, I soon became fascinated and overwhelmed by the welcoming world of Harry Potter and all his life had to offer to a young reader such as myself. I was never one who sped through books or would read one book over the course of a day; especially with the Harry Potter series, I took my time and read the book as leisurely as I could. I would delve deep into certain aspects of the book so that I could really encompass myself into this Wizarding World of entrancing magic and spellbinding adventures. 

The Harry Potter series has always been an escape and an extra world of wonder for me; for those of you who are also Harry Potter fans, I hope you have enjoyed the series as much as I have! I plan to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida some day and am looking forward to the last two movies coming out this November and in July of 2011!  Here’s to Harry, Ron, and Hermione…my favorite trio in the charming world of literature and the true magic it can hold.  
 
Are you also a Harry Potter fan? What do you enjoy about it? 

Finalist #29

Congratulations to Paige, age 12, from North Dakota…

Finalist #30

And Ileana, age 12, from California!

It’s back-to-school time! And that usually means a trip to the store to stock up on school clothes and supplies! With all the cute stuff out there, it can be tempting to buy way more than you need! Of course, you can’t snatch up every cute thing you see. So how can you be sure you’re making smart choices? With a few quick tips, you’ll be shopping smarter in no time!

1 . Make a list. If you need something specific, having a list handy will help you avoid making impulse purchases.

2 . Think it over. Why do you want it? If it’s just because it’s on sale, or your friend has one, reconsider whether or not it’s really worth spending money on.

3 . Come back later. Leave it at the store while you browse around the mall. Chances are, you’ll forget about it or find something better in the meantime! If not, you can always go back and get it.

Have you already done your back-to-school shopping? Do you have any tips of your own?