By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
I am not a huge fan of Halloween but having two young girls, I need to show some enthusiasm for their favorite “holiday”. This does not mean that I can’t simplify things..
This year, we will prepare our traditional DIY decorations, like many of the ones I wrote about last year. As for the costumes, I am a huge proponent of Recycle-Reuse-Repurpose. No heading to a costume place to buy their favorite character costume. Anyway, this always makes me feel like “the worst mom ever”. I do take hand-me-down costumes and the girls’ dress-up box is [...]

Teens and tweens, are some of the hardest people to buy for. That is, unless you buy them the latest and greatest tech gadget… But wait! There are other gift ideas that do not start with the letter ‘i’.
We have put together this great list of gift ideas that will suit teens from the college student, the high school student and the even the tweens, who flipflop between Spongebob Squarepants and Selena Gomaz and Justin Beiber…

Boombox Pillow – What better way to update the look of their room than with accessories. This line of pillows gives the room a clear [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
When I attended MORE magazine’s Reinvention Convention this last June and heard Dr. Will Kirby speak about healthy skin (I wrote about this in an article, Ageless Skin De-Mystified), it had me wonder when I should start teaching my girls about skin care. And, are there any products out there, besides acne products and sunblock (did you notice how far we have come since the days of calling it suntan lotion?), that would help encourage tweens (between 8 and 12 years old) to start caring for their skin? I was, of course, looking for a [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I have both a son and a daughter (Lucky me. One of each and I was done!). Needless to say that my daughter has always been – way – more fun to shop for than my son. Boys’ clothing is so predictable and… boring. My son has always enjoyed “clowning around” with his personal style. In his early teen years he was trying hard to discover and differentiate his own fashion style from the same-same sea of cargo shorts, board shoes and logo’d tees. Whether it was to wear a neon pink striped beanie, stencil his [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Transform a school locker from drab to fab with LockerLookz fashionable locker decorations. Designed specifically with girls in mind that, especially those that want to make a personal statement of style beyond what they wear. LockerLookz has the perfectly coordinated set of accessories that are not only hip (do teens still say that? I think maybe not…) but also functional. Choose from a variety of themes to fit a new school year identity and select from items that include magnetic bling and things, wall covers, hanging chandelier (why not?), carpet and more.
The company was started by [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
It is that time of year again when all activities focus on preparing the kids to head back to school. We have already covered a SpendSmart Debit Card for teens and Dorm Room Art that uses Facebook and Twitter, so now let’s talk essentials: a good, practical but stylish bag for school. In the past we have reviewed some great bags that would work well for high school and college students too: the CARMAZZI 1Bag, Urban Junket Tote, U.S.E.D. Seatbelt bags, and Tilley’s Intrepid Bag. Still, here are a few more ideas that might help [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Is your teen going off to college in another city or state? Are they already missing there 800 closest friends? Here are some great wall art that will keep you (if you are friends with them on Twitter or Facebook) and their friends close.
Social Print Studio can make a 20″ x 40″ print of all their friend’s and family’s profile pictures (you may want to make sure they still really like them all). Simply choose your format, connect with Facebook (you will need to know their password or sneak onto an unattended computer, but you [...]

By Kristin Thomas, College Consultant & Guest Contributor
Part of being a college consultant – and an aspect I love – is attending conferences and visiting universities. As I type from my 11th floor beautiful, ocean view dorm on the University of British Columbia campus, and reflect on the major changes young people are experiencing in this phase of their development.
Being a college coach is all about relationships. In one of the many excellent sessions I attended today, Mike Haykin shared his interesting perspectives and knowledge on the importance of addressing developmental changes directly with both the students we work with [...]

By Kristin Thomas, College Consultant & Guest Contributor
Your teenager might still envision summer as the time completely disengage, but the reality is that more and more college bound students do actually plan ahead and think about what they do with their summers.  What would be the best use of their time? What activity meets their goals and would make them happy? Whether it’s related to travel, academics, service or employment, there’s a fit for your teen’s plans. Perhaps your high-schooler can commit to something that they wouldn’t have time for during the school year. Keep in mind that leadership roles and [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
I have two little girls and I am dreading (I should say, embracing) the moment when they reach that time in their lives when they leave the innocence of childhood to enter the ever changing  (I’m talking hormones) woes of womanhood.
Ah, puberty. I remember the not-so-pleasant experience of getting my first period at school. I think that I remember wearing white pants that day but I am sure that, in reliving my experience with friends over the years, I may have embellished the story a wee bit. What I do remember clearly – like it [...]