Showing posts with label social community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social community. Show all posts

Friday, October 12, 2007

Tween Girls are EVERYWHERE on the Web




We asked AllyKatzz Tween/Young Teen Girls: How Many Websites do YOU have an account on?
7% said only 1 website
25% said 2-3 websites
67% said more than I can count

They're everywhere on the web.... even imdb. Here's what they say:

"well i have a lot I got Tagged,Bebo,Ally Katzz,Mizz Bimbo,My Dollmaker,Meez,Blingee,The N,I-Dressup,I got Yahoo,Hotmail,Trollz,Millsberry,Club Penguin,Imvu and datz bout it."

"i have too many to count i signed up for so many wesites and accounts i just dont know anymore!"

"More then I can count.... well i can count some.....Allykatzz of course, myspace, club penguin, neopets, imeem, icarly"

"cartoondollemporium, icononator, christianforum"

"uhmm like half of the websites out there! there are soo many I use! The ones I use most often though are allykatzz, imdb, myspace, myyearbook, facebook, yahoo (email), pagii, photobucket, care2, blogger, elf, foodnetwork, youtube, girlslife, seventeen, and esnips. woah that's a lot already!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Tween Girls - Would you Rather?


The thoughts behind these AllyKatzz votes:

"I would have a sleep-over.It's more funner than having a day by my-self."

"I'm an only child, so i guess I have enough days to myself, lolz. I would totally have a sleepover! xoxoxo"

"S.L.E.E.P O.V.E.R!!!!! OOOO! I WOULD INVITE BOYS TO STAY OVER WITH ME AND THE GURLS!"

"Day to myself I'm more of a alone type plus I'd rather be w/ animals and myself rite now not really in the mood to be aound ppls I just moved and feeling sad I couldn't sleepover if I wanted to my friends are in another state(not trying to sound whiny or nething just saying wats true)"

"Hi I am millerprinces25 and I am really not that suprised because I don't think anyone would really want a day 2 their selfs!"

"i would have a day to my self cause if u have a day to urself, that means u can do ne thing u want, which is have a sleep over too, so u could do both"

"A day to myself...thats what I normally have! But if I had a someone invite ME to a sleepover, I would go! They would have to be best friends of mine! But I like being by myself, reading and listening to music and just thinking. It's more fun in nature, like camping in the woods and stuff!"




Posted by Denise Restauri

Friday, June 8, 2007

This Week's TWEEN GIRL Book Review


Straight from their AllyKatzz.com blogs:

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
I love this book. It's about a girl named Mia Winchell who has synesthesia, which means that she can see colors, more like blobs of difrent colors. Like for her she can see colors from words, and letters. Unlike ppl who don't see them. She try's to keep her secret when someone finds out and tells the whole 8th grade, then she is coverd in questions about her colors. I would give this book 2 paws up!! I really couln't put it down!! (2 paws up is highest AllyKatzz rating!) Review by 11-year-old girl from CA

Best Books EVR
2 of the best books i evr read: 1) The Wanderer (By: Sharon Creech) 2) Absolutely Normal Chaos (By: Sharon Creech). Review by 10-year-old girl from Minnesota

The Best Book I Have Ever Read!!
Uglies and Pretties!
I read the Uglies and the Pretties and I love them! They are awesome books! They are my favorite. I love the whole storyline, its so creative. The whole book only took me a few days to read! I cant wait until I read the Specials! Review by 13-year-old girl from Michigan

A 12-year-old girl from Canada beat her to it…
The Best Book I Have Ever Reasd Is Definitly SPECIALS BY SCOTT WESTERFELD!! I LOVED IT!! It made me laugh it made me cry [escpecially wen _____ died :'( ] I would rate it a 500000000000000000000000/10 and recomend it to everyone!

New Book Alert!
The sequel to WIcked has come out! It is titled "Son of a Witch". Clever play on words, huh? Review by 14-year-old from CA

THE TITAN'S CURSE = BEST BOOK EVER!!!!
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan is the best book ever! i read it in less than 3 hours, and it has more than 300 pages! The whole series of Percy Jackson and the Olypians is an awesome series, even if your not into greek mythology! but greek mythology is wicked awesome! i recommend the other 2 books b4 titan's curse too! The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters!!! Review by 11-year-old girl from RI

Whose Read The Christy Miller Series?!?!?!
Well! I have to say ! Robin Jones Gunn is one heck of an author!!!!!! Her Christy Miller books rock! I recommend them for ages of 9-16!!! Read them,you'll fall in love!!! I'll read you the thing on the back of book 1:::"Summer Promise-14-year-old Christy Miller has the dream Summer ahead of her in sunkist California, staying with her aunt and uncle in their beachfront home. Aunt Marti loves to shop, and those curfers are cute- especially Todd. Christy promised her parents she wouldn't do anything that she would regret later, and some of her beach friends are a little wild. But Todd and his "God-Lover" friends are giving Christy a new image of all things eternal. Can this summer live up to it's promises?" This is a Christian book, and I am a Christian....it makes you think of being a Christian in a totally new way! Review by 10-year-old girl from Tennessee

Happily After All
This is an awesome book! It's called Happily After All. It's great, although I can't remember what the author's name was. It's a great book about this girl who's dad is a great guy and all, and then her dad dies. Which is sad, of course. Well, after her father's death, she finds out he might not have been perfect after all. It's pretty interesting, and a definit must-read!
Review by 10-year-old girl from Indiana

The Sisters Club
This book is kinda for 5th graders, but I still love it! It's about 3 sisters (Joey, Stevie, Alex) who make a club with just them. A lot of cute and funny things happen, like Joey and Stevie TRYING to make family dinner, and the oldest sister Alex trying to be Beauty in her school's Beauty and the Beast play and impress a boy (Scott Howell, but as her little sisters call him, Scott Towel). Even though it's for younger kids, it's still one of my fav books. Review by 12-year-old girl from Oregon

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Tween Girls and Revealing Outfits


We asked tween girls: “Would You Let Your Friend Leave The House Like This?"

Here’s the AllyKatzz tween girl Pulse-Check Research results:

Of course – 6%
NO! – 74%
Yes, but I would let her walk ahead of me – 7%
Why not? I love this outfit! - 13%






Some of their comments:


"is that michel jackson???"

"wHATS SO BAD ABOUT IT???"

" um i dont like the outfit its kind of...reaveling up top there but yhe bottom half is totally cute and wud walk next to her..mabey"
"that would be the meanest thing ever"

"OK, my friend is not an...YKW"

"i have NOTHING against letting my friends show thier own style, but unless ou're going swimming or something, theres no need to show that much skin!! i would just suggest a less revaling versoin of that outfit!!"

"ewwww never"

"no way it shows 2 much skin i would be a horrible friend if i let her out of the house like that duh!!!!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Is Her Weekly Reader REALLY People Mag???


Article in
NYT on Sunday, May 27:
Grade-School Girls, Grown-Up Gossip
What happens when her weekly reader is People?

The article is about tween girls - how they get grown-up gossip and what they do with it.

In the article:
Picture #1: 5 tween girls. Each girl is engrossed in one of these magazines: People, InTouch, Life, US and Star.

Picture #2. 2 girls reading an adult celebrity tabloid. The caption: READ ALL ABOUT IT Arielle Urvater, left, 11, and her sister Jessie, 8, of Manhattan are quite aware of the tabloid antics of Paris, Lindsay, Britney and their ilk, but that does not mean they approve. “We’re well educated,” Arielle explained. “We know that drugs aren’t good and that smoking isn’t good.”

Is this reality or is this about a handful of girls that make a story for a holiday weekend?

Last night, we posted a pulse check poll on allykatzz.com… a community of 30K tween girls from across the nation - to find out where tween girls REALLY get their celebrity gossip. The results:

1. Tween/Teen Magazines including Twist, J-14 and Tiger Beat: 55%

2. Adult Magazines including People, US, Star and InTouch: 29%

3. Online: 16%

Here are samples of the comments the girls posted along with their votes: These sample comments are from tween girls ages 10-13… from NYC, Oregon, Ohio and Washington.

“Yeah I picked Tiger Beat/Bop. It tells me info on stars I like, not just a million ones I dont know that well. Plus, its not as big of a gossip thing as the other teen magazines. People, US, and mags like that talk about adults I dont know, so i dont read those! And the Internet lies a lot...~~CiAo”

“PEOPLE! all the way!!”

“watz STAR??”

J-14, I have a subscription. It has good posters, a calender, and plenty of news on people I actually know. So what if it's not the most accurate, it's a good read!”

“im not that into celeb gossip. but when i want to hear it i get it online or on the news. it can be interesting sometimes!”

Posted by Denise Restauri

Friday, May 25, 2007

TOP BOOK PICKS FOR THIS WEEK




This week's AllyKatzz Book Club Review - what tween girls are reading and loving NOW. Definitely great reads for this holiday weekend. For more of their top picks, check out last week's review below- May 18 posting.

Sharon Creech. Review by “punkrockrules” age 11, NY
Sharon Creech is one of the best authors out there!She has inspired me so much!If you havent read any of her books i suggest you read them.SOME of her books are: Walk Two Moons (which i loved),The Wanderer (which i loved too),Love That Dog (it was sweet and nice), Totally Normal Chaos (which was pretty good,though it has mature content),Pleasing The Ghost (which was a nice and interesting book) and TONS more!check your library or bookstore for some of her books!You will LOVE them!Write back and tell me what are YOUR favorite books and authors and what you think about Sharon Creech!

The Westing Game. Review by “mileyfan95” age 12, California
I just finished a gr8 book called The Westing Game! It was like, the best mystery book I hav ever read! This is what it said on the back: (A bizzare chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samual W. Westing's will. And although no one knows why the eccentric, game loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger-and a possible murderer-to inherit his vast fortune, one thing's for sure: Sam Westing may be dead....but that won't stop him from playing one last game!) So, if u think this book sounds interesting, plz plz plz let me no cuz if I think enuf ppl like it, then I will start posting the chapters. Trust me, this book is vey unexpectable so evry time u read a chapter, make sure u let me no who u think is the murderer!!!

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Review by “cheerygirl” age 10, Florida
Its a wonderful stry thats about a girl who moves fro new york to new jersey and has to make new friends and i give this book a two thumbs up.

Uglies. Review by “its_me!” age 13, Colorado
my FAVORITE books in the HISTORY of the WORLD are Uglies, Pretties, and Specials by Scott Westerfeld. they are a trilogy and they are FANTASTIC!!! i highly reccomend them.

More Uglies: "I started reading the Uglies. It is totally the BEST book ever. I finished reading it and started the 2nd book called the Pretties. They also have a third book which is called the Specials. When I read the books, I can't stop. Uglies is about a girl who lives in Uglieville and when the people there turn 16, the get an operation that makes them pretty and they get to party all the time! I'd tell the whole story but I don't want to give anything away... "Review by Balerina, age 12, Utah

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

PUPPY LOVE???


Tween girls today are smarter, savvier and more opinionated than we were at their age. They aren’t playing with toys… they’re into music, fashion, their individuality AND BOYS. Puppy love? No way… in their minds, puppy love is for kids, not tweens. Tween love is REAL. Here's what they're saying on their AllyKatzz blogs:

I need HELP!!!
by I love Potato, age 13
“Ok I'm dating this guy named Devin AKA Potato!! He is really nice && cute, sweet..all that stuff!! But he is already saying he loves me && that he wants to marry me && he is being serious well I'm 13 && he is 14 its a little early to thank about that && I do love him but not marry me love..lol!! But I'm afraid to tell him to slow it down a bit becuz I'm afraid he will get mad!! But then agian he isn't that kind of guy that will get mad over that! So what should I do && if I don't go with ur idea don't get mad but I will appreciate it and alot of ppl go through this so I know you can help!!

Tween Girls Ages 9-15 Responded:

from tommyboy, age 9
“i dont really no about this stuff but,if i were u i would say,"i think we should slowwwwwww down a little."and if he gets all mad maybe hes just not the guy 4 u. well, thats all i got because im only 9 yrs old. i hope uget it the way u want it.... want 2 b bb? ” (bb = blog buddy aka friends.)

from Eskimoluvr, age 10
“O gosh that guy is pushing it just tell him "ya i am not reADY" AND THEN QUICKLY CHANGE THE CONVERSATION”

from countryprincess, age 11
“ok if ur only 13 take it slow. and if u love him tell him u do but say ur way to young to think about that and you would like to at least finish high school heck even JUNIOR HIGH would be better i mean ur in like 7th grade?? u like just got out of middle school!!!!!!! hope it works!!”

from penguingurl411, age 12
“when he says that again just tell him you want to slow down or say i love you to but not marriage type of love. if he truly loves you than he'll understand. if he doesnt get it then maybe its best that your just friends.”

from Glamrgrrl6, age 13, Minnesota
“wow. I'd tell him to slow down. Ur not ready for that. If he keeps saying those things tell him that he's lucky that he is in a relationship with you and that he shouldn't be saying things like that, because, eventually, he'll scare u away.”

from BLONDE_08, age 14
“there is a girl at school like that with her boyfriend! Your not really going to be togather forever.....and it the relationship will end sometime....and alls your bf is doing is making that time come quicker! Trust me......just let him do it! Your only 13 ”

from Llama_MILK_wizard, age 15
“whoa! Gee, that's a toughie. I've dated guys like that. For a while I just kinda went with it. Like when he said, "I love you" I would just say "yea." Finally he moved so I guess I just didn't have to deal with it. I'm not sure though. I guess you'll just have to wait till he moves! lol! But seriously, maybe you should just say yea like I did and if he askes you why you say that you can say, "Isn't it a bit tttooooo early to think about marriage?!?!"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Monday, May 21, 2007

I'm a FAiLuRe


Pressures girls put on themselves to be super girls.
Where do they get it from? From their teachers? From their parents? Safe bet: they aren’t born thinking, “I must get into Harvard!” They get mixed messages from the adults in their lives every day. About their weight, their looks, their accomplishments. So the next time you tell the tween girl in your life to “Just do your best!... mean it and STOP there. Hopefully this AllyKatzz blog from a 13-year-old girl from Alabama, will make us all think twice before we add, “Because you aren’t going to get into Harvard with YOUR grades.”

"I'm a Failure. I feel lyk a failure right now. Okay see at my school at the end of each year we have an award ceramony. Well today was the last day and all year I work on my grades cuz I wanted to make straight A's.I QUIT BASKETBALL FOR IT!!!!!!! Well 2day the principal was giving out the A-honor roll awards. I DIDN'T GET IT!!! I got on the A-B honor roll award. Now I feel lyk a failure. Y? Cuz I did my best!! I DID MY HARDEST!! And my hardest. My best isn't good enough!!! How in the world am I supposed to get in to SOSU and Alabama Crimson Tide. If I'm on the A-B Honor Roll?? They look back all the way to the 7th grade. THATS THE GRADE I'M IN!!! So now I know what a failure feels lyk. I'm sooo sad. Any advice??? bye. and no I'm not saying PEACE OUT! Cuz I'm not at peace right now. so goodbye."

Responses from AllyKatzz girls:

“Thats REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!!! You shouldn't flip like that!!! Its still honors! I got a F in math a few quarters ago because of the teacher. Its a long story but I promised myself it wouldn't happen again. Now I get strait "A'S"!!!! I have a 100 in math class now! So don't juge yourself so harshly from one grade. ~~~ They look back to 7th grade??? OMG! R U sirious? I wanna get into YALE!!! Shoot... ANyway. Think about it. ” By a 12-year-old girl from Connecticut.

“You are so not a failure! Some kids do terrible! Getting c's, d's and f's! This one kid at my school flunked 7th grade, you are not a failure!” By a 12-year-old girl from Nevada.

“trust me you are not a failure. Think of how much worse it could be you could be one of the people that tries their hardsest and still only comes up with a C. I'm an A-B student too and all my friends are A's so I feel really low on the totem poll when we all get our math tests back but trust me it will get better I can guarantee it. Also if you want to get into a good college I suggest doing lots of extracurricular stuff or find a sport that you really excel at.” By a 14-year-old girl from New Hampshire.

“Hey, that's not being a failure. A failure is straight F's! An A-B honnor is good, really good. At least you're not trying out for Hartford!” By an 11-year-old girl from Wisconsin.

Posted by Denise Restauri

Friday, May 18, 2007

Tween Girls Do Love To Read!


NEWS: Tween Girls Do Love to Read! We have polls to support that claim. But better than polls and cold stats, I read tween girls’ blogs every day - they're saying that they love to read. In fact, The AllyKatzz Book Club is one of the top clubs on the site.

Tween girls do hate reading boring books aka “gotta read for school" books. But, they love reading GREAT books. It’s really that simple. So let’s help them get GREAT books to read.

Starting today, I’ll post weekly book reviews from the AllyKatzz girls… books tween girls are talking about now. So when you’re at the bookstore this weekend, instead of staring at all those books, now you’ll have a clue what to look for based on what other tween girls are saying. Note: 2 Paws UP is the ultimate ranking in the AllyKatzz review system.

“The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson. I give this series 2 paws up! It's a young adult fiction and it's sooooooooo cool! Me and my mom are reading the series right now! i'm on the second book, The Lake House and she's on the third book, The Angel Project.” Age 13.

Elsewhere... Okay, so we had to read this book in school for this thing called a "Literature Circle". Of course, I thought I was going to get a terrible book and be so booooooored. But instead, I got this book assigned called "Elsewhere". It's by Gabrielle Zevin and it RULES! 'Tis about this girl named Liz. She dies and goes to a place called Elsewhere (Gabrielle Zevin's version of Heaven, I guess). At first, she's all freaked out because she doesn't know where she is! But she meets many people along the way, like Owen Welles (whom she falls in love with), Thandi (a girl who died from gunshot), Curtis Jest (an English rocker), and her Grandma Betty, who died before Liz was born. This book has a teeny weeny bit of mature content, so I rate it P-G for the content and 5 out of 5 stars for the overall book!” Age 12

“If yal want to know a good teen aged based book series check out the Mates, Dates series by Kathy Hopkins. they are totally awesome.” Age 12

The City of Ember. The city of ember is the best book ever! I love it! it is an awesome cliff hanger! you have got to read it. My class is reading it and they are only on chapter 11 and i finished it and theres 20 chapters. now im on the second one and after this one there is a prequal which tells about what it was like before the main characters of the first one were born! i would tell u about the book but i would get to carried away and tell the ending. i will say that Ember is a poor city and is running out of everything because the builders left "Just enough"! it is an awesome book and u have got to read it!” Age 12

Out of the Dust is an amazing book. I'm going to write down the review of it from the back of the book. A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better-playing the piano-is impossible with her wounded hands. To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma-and the surprising landscape of her heart. This is an amazing book. It won the Newberry Medal too. You really should read this story of hardship, hope and love.” Age 11

"Manga is my life. I love Fruit Baskets." Age 12

Thanks to Random House for sending us books to give way to AllyKatzz girls. Ally, my 14-year-old daughter read 2 of these books: Life As It Comes by Anne-Laure Bondoux and The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde. She gave them both 2 Paws UP and she’s not easily impressed.

If you’re a publisher or author and want to send us books for the AllyKatzz girls to review, please send me an email: denise@allykatzz.com. The girls will be forever grateful!

Posted by Denise Restauri

Monday, May 14, 2007

Heros



A girl from Colorado asked…

“Everyone has a hero. It can be family, a celebrity, a sports person... anyone! Well, who's YOUR hero? Please tell me!”

Here are some of the answers:

“my hero is my best friend and Savior, God.”

“My Hero...hmmm....probably my mom. she's always there for me when i need her!”

“Katie Voigt and my grandma! ”

“oh and my brother-i dont think he realises it becuz we fight a lot...........”

“hey, miene is any1 woo keypes therr hed held high and beleaves in anything”

“my mommy”

Friday, May 11, 2007

Interferences - So Stressed

This is the top blog on AllyKatzz.com today... so many tween girls have learning differences that go undiagnosed. These learning differences result in feeling "stupid" and low self esteem. That leads to girls falling into the "dumbing down" trap and pleasing everyone, especially boys. And it goes downhill from there.

"Hey, you mite have noticed im not exactly the best speller on this syte! Well this is really hard 4 me 2 say, but i have dylexia. If you dont no wat it is, its a disorder you have and it makes it harder for you to learn and memorize things. Orlando Bloom has it to, i think hes soo cool because he memorizes all those lines. Im hoping to be a actor myself, im really outgoing. But back to the point, im so stressed becayse my dance is infearing with my schoolwork, i aalready had to miss grade 6 a few years back because i had to go to this huge competition. I alwayz have a bunch of homework cuz i miss sxhool due to dance. The teacher also has me have seppearte things because im not smart enough, i have lots of friends but i feel so left out you know? dance is taking over my life. but in a good way? i love dance and cant let go."

Stats show that 1 in 10 people are dyslexic, but it could be much higher because there are many people who struggle without being aware that they are dyslexic... especially tween girls who slip through the cracks. Here's a listing of some "famous" people who are dyslexic: Orlando Bloom * Tom Cruise * Dave Foley * Danny Glover * Whoopi Goldberg * Jay Leno * Keanu Reeves * Billy Bob Thornton * Robin Williams * Walt Disney * George Washington * John Lennon * Cher * Einstein * Muhammad Ali * Leonard Da Vinci * Thomas Edison * Richard Branson * Pablo Picasso.

I can't wait to see how the girls respond... I'm hoping that they'll "come out of the closet" about their learning differences and share their stories. You can find out by checking her blog over the weekend.

Posted By Denise Restauri

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

I HAVE PROBLEMS


This tween girl's blog shows that you can't judge a girl's happiness by her cover. Leda Siskind, allykatzz.com's Advice Pro, gives girls and US great advice. Leda is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist AND the mom of a teenage girl.

Dear Leda, I have problems.
My life is not very good. I have friends and I'm an overly hyper person, well most of the time. At school and when I'm talking to my friends, anywhere...anytime, I'm relaxed and carefree. It's a whole different story when I'm alone. I can just be sitting there reading a book or story, and out of nowhere I think everyone has a better life than me. I think about how a lot of people are skinnier than me, how I'll probably never get a boyfriend(I may deny that I want one, but I truly do), and what I really want to be when I grow up is nearly impossible for me to be. I've tried suicide. I just can't do it though. I've yet to try and cut myself. I can't take this anymore and I just want to cry. I need to find a solution, and fast. Please don't just tell me that "Suicide is not the answer." or "You need to think of all your good qualities." I hear that suicide is not the answer from my friends all the time. I've tried thinking of my good qualities and I can't seem to find any. I have self-esteem problems, and I know this. I think I need to stop naming of my bad qualities so I won't go and try suicide again. Please help me with this problem. I need to know what to do. Thanks for listening.

Leda's Advice:

Dear My Life, I think, sweetie, that you feel very uncomfortable about who you are and what life has in store for you. You would be surprised how many girls feel just as you do now…But life is just not that black and white – all or nothing! You state you have friends – so you already know how to keep a friend (including, some day, a BF), you state that you know how to be “carefree” and you even mention reading – so you have some positive skills you are overlooking because everything is seen as “never” and “always” – in the negative. And you also know that hurting yourself is not going to help you. I think, deep down, you would like to feel better about yourself, yes? So here are two choices for you:
1.) Ask your parent to see a therapist. You can tell them you have self-esteem problems or it’s about school or whatever you feel comfortable with. A good therapist will help you look at how to cope with all this sadness.
2.) Talk to a C.A.R.L.A – a CARLA is a Caring And Responsibly Listening Adult. This can be an aunt, a counselor at school, a teacher, the mom of a BFF. Sometimes it really helps to have an understanding woman who’s been a teenager (and somehow survived) help you out.
And one more thing: If you feel like hurting yourself ever again, tell a BBF to stay with you until the feeling goes away and then tell your parent and seek professional help. Feeling depressed should not lead to self harm – ever! Good luck – you can get through this. You are worth it.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

does anyone know how to speak "boy?"


This, from a 12- year-old girl from China is one of today's top blogs on allykatzz.com. Love her attitude!!


"ok, i can speak chinese and english and i'm currently taking spanish, but one thing i can't speak: boy. how do u know if ur crush likes u? if he talks 2 u all the time and tells u everything and follows u around at the dance, does that mean he likes u? if he asks ur bff if u like him, does that mean he likes u? someone plz help. i'm seriously pulling my hair out. (they should seriously write a book about this language!)"

And a girl who calls herself Advice and Dimplez has this comment:
“Oh i know how to speak boy!!! Well some signs are: he stares at u but doesnt say anything, gives u a compliment, does anything to be near you, looks at the side of u when talking to you and lots more. If he talks to u all the time n follows u and tells u everything, its a strong possibility he likes you. If he asks ur bff it DOES mean he likes you. Boys will do anything to try to find out if they like you. Need any more translations let me know lol! =]”

Monday, May 7, 2007

OH BOYZ


BOYFRIENDS AKA BFs (not to be confused with BFF = Best Friend Forever - that can be a girl or a boy, but not a boyfriend!) make our tween girls crazy! On AllyKatzz.com, we started a club that the Girls LOVE... it's the BF club. Sounds so simple ... and it is... it's a place for tween girls to talk about what they love and hate about boys. The girls are trying to figure out what's going on in those fuzzy boy brains. And it starts young... Today's Top Blog is from an 11-year-old-girl...

"There are 2 boys that I like and I'm scared to ask either of them out. One kid I sit next to in science and ILA and Math and we have a connection but I'm not sure if he wants to have a friend connection or more than that.. The other guy is only in my homeroom and Spanish class but he is the same (friend/connection wise). My friend says me and him look cute next to eachother ( Which makes me Smile Secretly ) LOL! I need to know if either of them like me but im shy and I dont know how to find out..i think they'll reject me :-'("

Girls sent her backatchas aka comments... here's their advice:

from illfeily, age 12
“first off, don't say that you think they'll reject you. have some confidence in youself! And if they do, it just shows that they're not good enough for you if they don't like your awesome personality! Don't take it too hard if they don't want to go out with you. Maybe they're just not ready for that yet, and want to see how things go. Second, try to hang out with each of them and find out what qualities they have. Whichever one you feel you have more of a connection to, then you should go for it with him.”

from chellybelly, age 15
“That's what I'm Scared and pretty much every girl is scared about... Beign Rejected and Gettin Hurt... I'm always scared of getting hurt. But If You don't take risks... You mite as well just stay home. Live Your Life With No Regrets. Life goes on. And Pain goes Away. But Havin Memories is the best. If Your not gonna risk it all you Mite as well just give it up... But That's What I think... And mayb i should take my own advice kus I'm scared... But I'm rele weak. And You shouldn't be scared of gettin hurt. Kus life goes on and eventually u'll get over it... Good Luck tryin to get My advice... I'll try to take it too...”

Posted by Denise Restauri

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Great Girl Blog Of The Day


"OMG all the boys in my school are gross, tho my friend, she thinks not, BUT she likes this guy who is like GROOOOOSS HE IS NOT EVEN 50% CUTE FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!!!! Ok and he is like so gross. But like my school has no cute boys and i really want a cush but most of le' boys are like so gross looking, or their cute, but older than me, or cute, but younger than me!!! OMG help!!!! I realy need it. ~LOST IN A NON-CUTE BOY OCEAN~" by maisho, 14 year-old girl from CA

Posted by Denise Restauri

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Look at these Books...


This week’s book review… In our allykatzz.com book club, tween girls rate books:
2 Paws Up = Fabulous!
1 Paw Up = So-So
No Paws Up = Skip It

Here are some of their top “2 Paws UP”…


Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
“This is the best book ever!!! any one who loves romance should read it !!!!!! it's about a grl named bella and she falls in luv w/ a hot vampire ! and stephanie meyer is now my new fav author, besides Meg Cabot! READ IT!!!!!!” Review by Rehobothgrl1, age 12

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
"there is this book called star girl by Jerri Spenneli. it's about this wierd girl who tries to fit in with every one else.she also changes her name ALOT. one was Pocketmouse. she has a RAT name cookie. but anyway, she get's a makeover and everyone hates her more! so she goes back to being her plain old selph..... for more GR8 details, read the book." Review by gothgirl, age 14

Chicken Soup for the Girl’s Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen and Irene Dunlap
"This is an AWESOME book that helps girls understand other people's life and how they get through it. I read it cover 2 cover and it made me cry." Review by redcarpetwalker, age 15

Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
"has anyone read the book? it's SO good. it's about this girl who goes to boarding school after her mother's death. and she starts having these strange visions that take her to another realm. she takes along these other girls: felicity, pippa, and ann into the realms too. a great book,though it can get alittle freaky at some parts, 2 paws up!" Review by smartgirl, age 12

Posted by Denise Restauri


Saturday, April 28, 2007

Think You've Had a Bad Day?


When you think you've had a bad day or a bad week, try to remember that our tween girls have a lot to deal with in their worlds. We really need to LISTEN to what they are saying... like these stories... straight from their allykatzz.com blogs...

"i dont feel good... ok yeah well i went to the doctor and they made me wait in there for a hour and a half and then they looked at my ears and it was all red and crummy and so they made me wait another hour for something and then they gave it to me and then it took about another hour in cvs to get my medicine and so i was like all worn down and whiny. and then we got home and amy wouldnt stop gripping at me, and my stepdad is in the worst mood. he is like, IM SO SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE NOT DOING WAHT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO! YALL GIRLS ARE SO IRRESPONSIBLE! WHHEN I SAY CLEAN THE POOL AND LIVING ROOM U CLEAN IT! THATS IT UR GROUNDED! And i am like HUHLLLOOO IM SICKKK!!! and so im extremely grumpy and my mom wont listen to me becacuse "she doesnt have time to listen to me grip, because she has billls to pay and why must she carry all this weight on her tiny shoulders" ugggh!!!! im tired of all this! i wish everything was perfect! and then like my real dad wont answer his phone! and so i dont have anyone to vent to and i mean kaci wont listen cuz she is like somewhere and amy is weird and jace is gone and my older brother is in collage! agggggggh!!"

Are tween girls picked on for their smarts? "It's fun to be smart, right? Knowing that you'll always do your best and have friends in your classes and such. But then there's the kids who are 'less smart' or just don't try as hard as they could, and that usually leads to [smart kids] getting picked on and made fun of, because you're 'brainy'. Has this ever happened to you? I know it has to me plenty of times, and it doesn't help that I wear glasses, either. But I enjoy school, and I think they should too, so just ignore them, or 'kill them with kindness' my mom always tells me, and eventually they'll bug off."

My life sucks... "i really need some advice on cheering myself up. cuz i feel like giving up on trying. my friends aren't in my class and at lunch ppl just randomly look at me and whisper to each other. i don't wanna hear ppl say to just ignore it, caz i just can't. almost every night in my bed i just break down and cry. i don't know what to do. and it's not just school it's at home too caz my grandpa alwayz teases me and i just can't take it (plus he critzices me and my dad all the time). nobody likes me and i only have two frndz and i barly ever see them. i reely need advice on living life, caz i wanna quit.help me plz (i've even gone goth inside)."

Boys confuse our tween girls big time. "One day they like you the next they dont... How are you supposed to know??????????????? This guy that i like my best friend likes to and he is so complicated and its like OMG can he make up his mind because one day he likes me the next he likes her...We both call him Mr. complicated!!!"

Mi~own~lil~lalaland. When your tween girl appears to be in LaLaLand, listen closely… she may actually be there!
"at my school, appearance was everything. what you wore, what you looked like, your weight, your bffs and your bfs, thats all that mattered. no one cared about anything else. you were always judged by your appearance, and if you didn't make a good impression, people would look down on you. now i'm the kinda girl that would be looked down upon. i wasn't pretty, i was nerdy, hung out with the smart kids, a band geek, had no guy friends. i was not near popular at school. one day i hear an announce ment that the first school dance was next friday. "ok," i thought. "nothing big." but then i get asked to the dance by a jock. whoa. i was in total and complete shock. i could not believe my ears. of course i accepted! so i met him at the dance, and he had bought a rose for me. i had never had anything like that happen to me before, and i was already in high school! soon enough, a slow song came on and he asked me to dance. i was like, "omg im dreaming this, someone wake me up before i actually think its true. " i never woke up, so i danced all night and partied with my date, and finally when it was time to leave, i got a kiss from him. my first kiss ever. i could not wait to tell my friends about the dance! but then again this all happened in mi~own~lil~lalaland"

Posted by Denise Restauri

Thursday, April 26, 2007

GOTHIC LOLITA is NOT for U.S. Tween Girls



This is great for tonight's dinner conversation… ask your daughter what she thinks about the “gothloli” look. Some tween girls were blogging about this Japanese Street Fashion so we showed 1,000 allykatzz girls this photo and asked them to give us their pulse check. Here’s what they said – be fun to see what YOUR tween girl says…

12% - Love it, Want it!
19% - COOL, I might wear it sometimes
40% - Cool, but not for me!
29% - ICK! No Way!

A 12-year old girl from CA says: “subtract the stockings, shoes, and bag and give her knee-high stilleto boots w/a boho bag in pink it will be a VERY cute outfit.”

While a 14-year-old girl from CA has this take: I wouldn’t wear it but I love the person with the guts to do it!”

And this 15-year-old girl from Wisconsin thinks like a mom: “psshh over my dead body!”

Posted by Denise Restauri

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

FAB AllyKatzz.com Safety Review


Ken Cooper, creator of Family WebWatch gave AllyKatzz a great review... including: "College students are hired to monitor every bit of information that is being transmitted on its site. So you won’t find any photos with provocative poses or trash talk. Finally, a site that gets it!" Please check it out!

Posted by Denise Restauri

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

To IM or NOT to IM?


An email from a parent to me: “From a parent perspective this IM stuff is really disturbing and a bit out of control. It is hard to know how to exercise appropriate controls.”

I can so relate. Ally, my tween daughter, was IM and text message obsessed. She was texting on her sidekick3 and IMing on her laptop… sometimes she did both at the same time, to the same person. I’m not making that up. Then the “friends of friends” started to appear… and one of those friends wasn’t the 14-year-old friend’s cousin that he claimed to be and that lead to my declaration: “NO IM or texting for the next month.” At first, Ally wasn’t sure how she could survive without her lifeline to the outside world. I made a suggestion, “Talk on the phone and have a REAL conversation.” She looked at me like I just dropped in from Pluto. She insisted that NO one talks on the phone. But within a few days, a strange thing happened…the phone actually starting ringing – Ally’s friends were calling her. Fast forward 30 days: Ally wasn’t bugging me to get her texting and IM rights reinstated. Here’s her take on IM, texting and talking: “it’s so much better to talk to my friends… but I never knew what I was missing because ever since 6th grade, IM and texting are our lives.” They're tweens... they only know what they know.

We asked the tween girls on allykatzz.com to tell us if they could live withOUT IM and texting. Results were mixed. Just wait til they hear about the 13-year-old Teen Texting Champ… she won $25,000 for having the fastest texting fingers in the nation.

Posted by Denise Restauri