beauty, fashion, health, love, education

Ann Taylor City Chic Fall 2011

2011-08-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

Jcrew Animal instincts Lookbook August 2011

2011-08-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

10 things to know about flip-flops

2011-08-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

Are flip-flops harming your foot health? The wrong footwear is often the chief cause of foot pain, and many types of flip-flops can cause foot problems due to lack of support and other factors, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).
The wrong flip-flops can leave you vulnerable to sprained ankles, ligament injuries, and a higher incidence of cuts, scrapes, and stubbed toes.
“During the warmer months of the year, many podiatrists treat a greater number of foot problems that can be traced back to wearing flip-flops,” said Michael King, DPM, president of APMA. “However, people don’t have to give up wearing this type of footwear altogether. There are certain types of flip-flops that offer a superior amount of stability and support than others.”
The APMA offers five do’s and five don’ts to avoid a flip-flop fiasco.

Five flip-flop do’s:

Do gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, ensuring it bends at the ball of the foot. Shoes of any kind should never fold in half.
Do wear a sturdy pair of flip-flops when walking around a public pool, at the beach, in hotel rooms, and in locker room areas. Walking barefoot can expose foot soles to plantar warts and athlete’s foot.
Do ensure that your foot doesn’t hang off of the edge of the flip-flop.
Do shop for a flip-flop made of high-quality, soft leather. Leather minimizes the potential for blisters and other types of irritation.
Do look for flip-flops that hold APMA’s Seal of Acceptance. Evaluated by a team of APMA podiatrists, these products are shown to allow for the most normal foot function and promote quality health.

Five flip-flop don’ts:

Don’t re-wear flip-flops year after year. Inspect older pairs for wear. If they show signs of severe wear, discard them.
Don’t ignore irritation between toes, where the toe thong fits. This can lead to blisters and possible infections.
Don’t wear flip-flops while walking long distances. Even the sturdiest flip-flops offer little in terms of shock absorption and arch support.
Don’t do yard work while wearing flip-flops. Always wear a shoe that fully protects feet when doing outside activities such as mowing the lawn or using a weed-eater.
Don’t play sports in flip-flops. This practice can lead to twisting of the foot or ankle, as well as sprains and breaks.

from this

10 EFFECTIVE WEIGHT LOSS EXERCISES FOR WOMEN

2011-08-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

Yου probably wondering whаt аrе thе Effective Weight Loss Exercises Fοr Women. Women need tο work more harder аnd ѕhουld dο a double time whеn іt comes tο weight loss. Thіѕ іѕ bесаυѕе women hаνе slower metabolisms аѕ compared tο men. Hοwеνеr, thіѕ dοеѕ nοt mean thаt women lag behind іn thе fitness department ѕіnсе thеу аrе now аt par wіth men whеn іt comes tο achieving top fitness аnd weight loss. Here аrе thе 10 effective weight loss exercises fοr women:

1.Weight Loss Wіth Elliptical Burner And Aerobics

Aerobic Exercises іѕ a very effective weight loss exercises fοr women ѕіnсе іt wіll hеlр уου brеаk іntο a sweat аnd accelerate уουr heart rate. A very gοοd cardio exercise, іt іѕ аlѕο a grеаt way tο tone thе legs, hips аnd butt. Elliptical burner οn thе οthеr hand wіll greatly tone thе stomach аnd allows уου tο burn a minimum οf 600 calories per hour.

2.Swimming And Dancing fοr Weight Loss

It іѕ іn fact extra lіkе acquiring pleasurable thаn simply performing thе exercise fοr fаt reduction functions. Swimming fοr аn individual саn trim οff 800 calories per hour relying around thе intensity οf уουr strokes bυt јυѕt thе exact same іt іѕ οftеn a pleasurable аnd pleasant physical exercise. Dancing, around thе οthеr hand іѕ аn іnсrеdіblе cardio physical exercise thаt won’t look tο become annoying plus a fаt reduction alternative іn thе lеаѕt particularly whеn coupled along wіth thе greatest dance mixes аnd hip hop songs. thіѕ іѕ one οf thе funnest effective weight loss exercises fοr women.

3.Running And Walking fοr Weight Loss

Long regarded аѕ аn ехсеllеnt extra fаt burner аnd fаt reduction selection,running hаѕ nearly normally proved іtѕ mettle inside thе fitness division. apart frοm becoming a fаntаѕtіс cardio physical exercise іt significantly tones thе entire body аnd improves one’s versatility іn addition. strolling саn bе аn ехсеllеnt technique tο de-stress аnd rest.

4. Weight Loss Wіth Tennis/Racquetball And Badminton

Thеѕе sports аrе nevertheless acknowledged аѕ effective weight loss exercises fοr women bесаυѕе іt аlѕο helps promote group bonding. Thеѕе wіll аlѕο greatly tone thе thighs аnd legs аnd a very effective cardio exercise wіth a combination οf side tο side running. Clearly, thеѕе аrе choices thаt wіll nοt οnlу promote weight loss bυt аlѕο healthy competition аnd socialization, tοο.

5.Bicycling And Stationary Biking аnd Weight Loss

Whіlе іt іѕ a very easy physical activity уου wіll bе surprised wіth hοw much weight loss уου саn achieve іn јυѕt a matter οf weeks wіth biking аnd stationary biking. It іѕ a very effective cardio exercise thаt wіll tone thе legs, hips аnd butt аnd wіll increase уουr heart rate depending οn hοw fаѕt уου gο. Approximate calories burned per hour іѕ more οr less 500-1000 whісh іѕ very impressive аnd ехрlаіnѕ whу thеѕе аrе top weight loss options fοr women

6.Horse Riding …

Calories Burnt: 200-600 cal/hr

Thіѕ effective weight loss exercises fοr women mау bе slightly harder tο arrange, bυt going horse riding once a week іѕ one οf thе best ways tο stay fit, healthy аnd еnјοу nature. Thе view frοm up thеrе іѕ ѕο аmаzіng, уου won’t notice thаt уουr toning уουr butt, abs аnd thighs, аnd burning calories whіlе уουr аt іt! Yου’d bе surprised аt hοw cheap іt саn bе tο arrange a session once a weekend, аnd іf уουr feeling extra fit уου сουld even cycle tο thе stables! Check out thеѕе 7 Riding Tips fοr more information…

7.Exercise DVDs …

Calories Burnt: 300/500 cals/hr

Whіlе thеѕе come under a lot οf different headings, ѕοmе exercise DVDs dο actually hеlр уου tο lose weight аnd tone up. Find a high energy one, аnd try аnd dο іt once a day. Aѕ well аѕ burning calories аnd toning up, уου’ll аlѕο feel much fitter. Mу personal favourite іѕ “Pump It Up”, bесаυѕе thе music keeps mе motivated! Thia іѕ a grеаt option οf effective weight loss exercises fοr women.

8. Rowing …

Calories Burnt: 500 – 600 cals/hr

Rowing іѕ a brilliant way tο tone уουr arms, аnd іѕ аlѕο very gοοd fun. Gеt involved wіth thе local rowing club аnd уου’ll gеt tο try іt fοr free, οr simply υѕе thе rowing machine аt thе gym. Aѕ well аѕ building arm muscle, уου’ll аlѕο burn calories аnd gеt аn іnсrеdіblе workout. Thіѕ effective weight loss exercises fοr women аlѕο treated аѕ a hobby.

9.Step Aerobics …

Calories Burnt: 800 cal/hr

Thіѕ mainly targets уουr legs, hips аnd bum, whісh аrе οftеn thе areas thаt women mοѕt want tο tone. Doing аn hour a day, split іntο two half аn hour sessions, wіll ensure thаt уου see results within 2 weeks. If уου aren’t sure hοw tο dο thеѕе, check out 7 Best Ab Exercises. Another very similar exercise іѕ bench presses, whісh gο very well іn sets wіth step aerobics. I found іt really hard tο dο thеm tο ѕtаrt wіth, ѕο mаkе sure уου’re doing thеm rіght οr уου’ll see nο results!

10.Swimming …

Calories Burnt: 800 cals/hr

Doing lengths up аnd down thе pool fοr аn hour wіll burn up οff 800 calories, аѕ well аѕ tone јυѕt аbουt аll уουr human body. keep determined bу offering аll bу yourself 50 percent аn hour excess tο utilize thе Jacuzzi whеn уου’ve completed!

for more information visit http://bestwaytoloseweightguide.com

A sneak peak: What would life be without emotions?

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

A sneak peak: What would life be without emotions?

Emotions are there everywhere around us. Be it loving your parents, fighting with your friends, laughing at others stupidity, rebelling against the status quo in the society, emotions play their part in each and every moment of our lives. But have you ever imagined what would life be without them? Incomplete, incoherent, confused, stuck in a fix – Are you thinking that any of these would be the case with life? Wouldn’t the puzzle of life be incomplete? Let’s look at the funny side as many of these ten instances would have happened with either of us sometime or the other:

1. Instead of crying when your parents shouted at you for the umpteenth time, you say ‘Ok dad! I will try to avoid it next time” and walk off.
2. When your girlfriend is in the most romantic of moods cuddling into you, you utter ‘I have some work to attend to right now! See ya later.”
3. When your friends cracked the funniest of jokes causing people to giggle and roll on the floor with laughter, you sit with a straight face. On being prodded by someone you ask “What was the joke?”
4. You are awarded the top prize in the biggest contest in the country and our invited on stage. You mumble “Thank you all.” with a completely emotionless face.
5. The plane is shaking violently from side to side because of heavy turbulence. You are sleeping soundly but are awoken by the shrilly cries of the people around. Instead of getting worried or reacting, you go back to sleep wondering what’s the big deal for since this is so usual.
6. You are driving like a maniac when you hit the car / two – wheeler in front. The guy is yelling at you and mouthing the choicest of expletives. Instead of trying to calm him down by your words or actions, you just say “I will pay the damages”, sign a document with your name and number and walk off leaving that guy’s mouth wide open.
7. Seeing the toughest paper of their lives, everyone is getting worried and biting their fingernails. You finish the paper half an hour without the slightest of reactions much to everyone’s shock.
8. Your friend is explaining to you the biggest and most emotionally draining times of his life. Instead of listening carefully and with care, you say “Dont worry so much. Everything will be fine.” without the slightest of emotions. If everything would be fine, why did he come to you in the first place?
9. You faculty / boss has given the toughest of problems to you which have to be done by the next day. Everyone around is just abusing him / her and wondering to themselves whether the faculty / boss is a human being and how can he do this in the sake of humanity. But you finish the problems without wasting your time in other things like abusing much to the anger of others (There are many people when will meet of that type).
10. And last but not the least, when you read this, there may be some who may be laughing. There maybe some who maybe smiling. There maybe some who maybe controlling their laughter. There maybe others who maybe hitting their hand on the desk wondering at the nonsense. But there maybe others who may have no reaction at all.
If you must have faced any of these or seen any of your friends in such circumstances, I am sure you can understand what am trying to imply. So do you have emotions are you always roaming around with a deadpan face?

from http://aseemrastogi2.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/a-sneak-peak-what-would-life-be-without-emotions/

H&M College-life Lookbook Fall 2011

2011-08-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

MANGO lookbook Pre-wall 2011

2011-08-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

9 Things: Lessons Learned from Going Away to College

2011-08-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I didn’t have an older friend, sibling or cousin I could talk to about life after high school, so when it came to figuring out certain kinds of things, like how to solve an argument with a roommate, I usually had to wing it, and most of the time that meant learning things the hard way.
Up until the time I moved away to college, I’d lived a very sheltered life that left me lacking in street smarts. I’d just assumed college would be like high school, except without the annoying curfew, but it turns out there was a little more to it than that…
Whether you’re going away to college or just moving in with friends, here are nine things I learned (most of them the hard way) about living away from home for the first time.
And if you have any wisdom borne of experience, or any cautions or advice, please share them in the comments. I know quite a few of us are leaving home for the first time this fall. Our collective knowledge could help make those first couple years easier.

1. Wash this

I can’t tell you how many times I saw someone cruising campus in a pink shirt that must have started out white. It happens — accidentally washing brights with whites together in hot water. Luckily, laundry was one of the very few real-life skills I took with me when I left home.
If you don’t have someone to show you the ropes, here’s a quickie, condensed version of Laundry 101:

Wash in cold water to keep colors from running
When the washer stops, remove your bras, sweaters and anything with spandex from the machine, and hang them up to dry
Dry the remaining items, in particular clothes, in a machine on its low heat setting to avoid shrinking

2. Learn how to prepare a few quick, healthy meals

Food was so tough for me that first year away. I wasn’t a fan of the dorm’s cafeteria fare (the rice was always soggy or dry), but I lacked even a basic knowledge of cooking beyond boiling water for ramen noodles and warming up frozen Lean Cuisines.
If you can, pick up a cookbook filled with simple recipes that fit on a single page (or thereabouts), and practice making a few dishes at home before you leave. I recommend the Student’s Vegetarian Cookbook, by Carole Raymond. It shows how to make lots of quick, affordable meals, and if you aren’t into veggie dishes, The Healthy College Cookbook looks pretty good.

3. Never fear, the intern is here!

I’m 36 and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. If you don’t either, narrow the field (and expand your knowledge) by taking as many internships as you can.
I did quite a few, but looking back, I wish I’d done more. Internships are great ways to 1) get yourself out of stuffy classrooms, 2) get some real world experience in the fields you’re interested in (even if you don’t end up pursuing a particular field), 3) obtain valuable references and letters of recommendation, and 4) meet people and make friends outside of school.
Some internships even lead to regular jobs. The one I did for a small law firm one year led to a part-time job the next summer.
It was actually kinda cool and a little Elle Woods. I got to assist with cases in court (sat with the real defense lawyers and everything!), talked to judges and learned how to function in a fast-paced office.

4. It can get a little lonely sometimes…

I guess after growing up with MTV I had this idea of college being this non-stop cavalcade of close friends and parties. I’m sure it’s like that for some people, but it wasn’t that way for me. I had acquaintances, sure, and roommates, but I didn’t make any lasting friendships for the first few years.

5. Playing well with others

Ultra Soft FTW!
Everyone has quirks — the things we do that drive others crazy. If you can, air out your household differences and pet peeves early, before they’ve had time to fester. Believe you me, my roommates knew better than to leave empty rolls of toilet paper on the reel, and I knew better than to play my music too loud.

6. Take advantage of open office hours

Lecture halls in huge auditoriums filled with 300 students aren’t great places to get one-on-one help, but many professors and teaching assistants make themselves available during open office hours. They can be a great way to go over concepts, discuss homework and prep for tests.

7. Rewrite your notes

Here’s one I wish I figured out sooner. Rewriting the notes I took in class really helped me reinforce the topics from lectures, pinpoint sticky concepts and organize my thoughts. When I started rewriting my notes and attending office hours, my grades even improved.

8. When you go out, know how you’re getting home

I wasn’t a big party person, but I went to my share of random fiestas with friends. And whenever I would go out, I never wanted to be that one person stuck at the end of the night without a safe ride home (like that one time in Berkeley…).
Keep close tabs on your designated driver, and have a backup plan just in case you get separated from your group. Also, learn how to use your local public transpo system (and know its hours of operation), and keep numbers to a few cab companies in your phone.

9. Revel in your newfound freedom!

Because it doesn’t last forever. Soon you’ll be working a swing shift or a standard 9-to-5, and the pressure to perform well in classes feels like nothing compared to the pressure when a paycheck’s on the line. School can have its ups and downs, but try to enjoy your freedom as much as you can.

from http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/

20 Habits That Make You Fat

2011-08-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Decades ago, around the time of Steven Tyler's last haircut, a completely wrong-headed idea started being passed around America's dinner tables: Eating fat makes you fat.

Wrong. Eating fat won’t make you fat, any more than eating money will make you rich. Calories make you fat, and most “low-fat” or “fat-free” foods actually have just as many calories as their full-fat versions, because of added sugar and chemicals. And there’s no debate on this one: Since we made “cut down on fat” our favorite food craze roughly 30 years ago, the U.S. obesity rate has doubled. Among children, it has tripled. That’s a failed food policy if ever there was one.
But it’s just one of many “get fat” habits that can be turned into a “slim-down” habit, starting today. All you need is a pinch of resolve and a few new routines. Here are the 20 habits you can replace right now, compliments of the Eat This, Not That! No-Diet Diet.
FAT HABIT #1: Eating "low-fat"
It sounds crazy, but I want you to stop buying foods marketed as low-fat or fat-free. Typically, they save you only a few calories and, in doing so, they replace harmless fats with low-performing carbohydrates that digest quickly—causing a sugar rush and, immediately afterward, rebound hunger. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that meals that limited carbohydrates to 43 percent were more filling and had a milder effect on blood sugar than meals with 55 percent carbohydrates. That means you’ll store less body fat and be less likely to eat more later.

FAT HABIT #2: Not seeking nutrition advice
Good news here: By reading this, you’re already forming habits that can help you shed pounds. When Canadian researchers sent diet and exercise advice to more than 1,000 people, they found that the recipients began eating smarter and working more physical activity into their daily routines. Not surprisingly, the habits of the non-recipients didn’t budge.
FAT HABIT #3: Sleeping too little or too much
According to Wake Forest researchers, dieters who sleep five hours or less put on 2½ times more belly fat, while those who sleep more than eight hours pack on only slightly less than that. Shoot for an average of six to seven hours of sleep per night—the optimal amount for weight control.
FAT HABIT #4: Eating free restaurant foods
Breadsticks, biscuits, and chips and salsa may be complimentary at some restaurants, but that doesn’t mean you won’t pay for them. Every time you eat one of Olive Garden's free breadsticks or Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, you're adding an additional 150 calories to your meal. Eat three over the course of dinner and that's 450 calories. That's also roughly the number of calories you can expect for every basket of tortilla chips you get at your local Mexican restaurant. What's worse, none of these calories comes paired with any redeeming nutritional value. Consider them junk food on steroids.

FAT HABIT #5: Drinking soda—even diet!
The average American guzzles nearly a full gallon of soda every week. Why is that so bad? Because a 2005 study found that drinking one to two sodas per day increases your chances of being overweight or obese by nearly 33 percent. And diet soda is no better. When researchers in San Antonio tracked a group of elderly subjects for nearly a decade, they found that compared to nondrinkers, those who drank two or more diet sodas a day watched their waistlines increase five times faster. The researchers theorize that the artificial sweeteners trigger appetite cues, causing you to unconsciously eat more at subsequent meals.
FAT HABIT #6: Skipping meals
In a 2011 national survey from the Calorie Control Council, 17 percent of Americans admitted to skipping meals to lose weight. The problem is, skipping meals actually increases your odds of obesity, especially when it comes to breakfast. A study from the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people who cut out the morning meal were 4.5 times more likely to be obese. Why? Skipping meals slows your metabolism and boosts your hunger. That puts your body in prime fat-storage mode and increases your odds of overeating at the next meal.
FAT HABIT #7: Eating too quickly
If your body has one major flaw, this is it: It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that it’s had enough. A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that slow eaters took in 66 fewer calories per meal, but compared to their fast-eating peers, they felt like they had eaten more. What’s 66 calories, you ask? If you can do that at every meal, you’ll lose more than 20 pounds a year!
FAT HABIT #8: Watching too much TV
A University of Vermont study found that overweight participants who reduced their TV time by just 50 percent burned an additional 119 calories a day on average. That’s an automatic 12-pound annual loss! Maximize those results by multitasking while you watch—even light household tasks will further bump up your caloric burn. Plus, if your hands are occupied with dishes or laundry, you’ll be less likely to mindlessly snack—the other main occupational hazard associated with tube time.

FAT HABIT #9: Ordering the combo meal
A study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing shows that compared to ordering a la carte, you pick up a hundred or more extra calories by opting for the “combo” or “value meal." Why? Because when you order items bundled together, you're likely to buy more food than you want. You're better off ordering your food piecemeal. That way you won't be influenced by pricing schemes designed to hustle a few more cents out of your pocket.
FAT HABIT #10: Facing the buffet
Cornell researchers found that when eating at a buffet-style restaurant, obese diners were 15 percent more likely to choose seats with a clear view of the food. Your move: Choose a seat that places your back toward the spread. It will help you avoid fixating on the food.

FAT HABIT #11: Eating off larger plates
One study found that when given an option, a whopping 98.6 percent of obese individuals opt for larger plates. Translation: More food, more calories, and more body fat. Keep your portions in check by choosing smaller serving dishes. If need be, you can always go back for seconds.

FAT HABIT #12: Putting serving dishes on the table
Resist setting out foods buffet- or family-style, and opt instead to serve them from the kitchen. A study in the journal Obesity found that when food is served from the dinner table, people consume 35 percent more over the course of the meal. When an additional helping requires leaving the table, people hesitate to go back for more.

FAT HABIT #13: Choosing white bread
A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when obese subjects incorporated whole grains into their diets, they lost more abdominal fat over the course of 12 weeks. There are likely multiple factors at play, but the most notable is this: Whole grain foods pack in more fiber and an overall stronger nutritional package than their refined-grain counterparts.

FAT HABIT #14: Taking big bites
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who took large bites of food consumed 52 percent more calories in one sitting than those who took small bites and chewed longer. By cutting food into smaller pieces, you can increase satiety and enjoy your food more thoroughly. A good general rule? The smaller your bites, the thinner your waistline.
FAT HABIT #15: Not drinking enough water
Adequate water intake is essential for all your body’s functions, and the more you drink, the better your chances of staying thin. In one University of Utah study, dieting participants who were instructed to drink two cups of water before each meal lost 30 percent more weight than their thirsty peers. And you can magnify the effect by adding ice. German researchers found that six cups of cold water a day could prompt a metabolic boost that incinerates 50 daily calories. That’s enough to shed five pounds a year!

FAT HABIT #16: Having overweight friends
Research from the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that when a friend becomes obese, it ups your chance of obesity by 57 percent. This probably has to do with the social norms that you’re exposed to. Rather than ditch a friend who starts to put on a few extra pounds though, suggest healthy activities that you can do together, and avoid letting him or her dictate the meal (“Let’s split the cheesecake!”)
FAT HABIT #17: Eating too late
Your body can burn flab while you sleep, but only if it isn't too busy processing a full stomach. A new study in the journal Obesity looked at the sleeping and eating habits of 52 people over seven days, and it found that those who ate after 8 p.m. took in the most daily calories and had the highest BMIs.
FAT HABIT #18: Not using a scale
Looking at your body weight reinforces weight-loss goals and makes it difficult to cheat your diet. When University of Minnesota researchers observed dieters who weighed themselves daily, they discovered that the routine of stepping on a scale helped those people lose twice as much weight as those who weighed themselves less frequently. Avoid being thrown of by natural fluctuations in body weight by stepping onto the scale at the same time every day.

FAT HABIT #19: Drinking fruity beverages
Most restaurants and bars have ditched their fresh-fruit recipes in favor of viscous syrups made mostly from high fructose corn syrup and thickening agents. As a general rule, the more garnishes a drink has hanging from its rim, the worse it is for your waistline.
FAT HABIT #20: Eating when emotional
A study from the University of Alabama found that emotional eaters—those who admitted eating in response to emotional stress—were 13 times more likely to be overweight or obese. If you feel the urge to eat in response to stress, try chewing a piece of gum, chugging a glass of water, or taking a walk around the block. Create an automatic response that doesn't involve food and you'll prevent yourself from overloading on calories.

Starlight, Star bright from Chicken Soup for the teenage soul

2011-08-17T05:57:00.000-07:00

When i was five years old, i took an extreme liking to my sister's toys.It made little difference that i had a trunk overflowing with dolls and toys of my own. Her "big girl" treasures were much easier to break, and much easier to break, and much more appealing. Likewise, when i was ten and she was twelve, the earrings and make up that she was slowly being permitted to experiment with held my attention, while my former obsession with catching bugs seemed to be a distant and fading memory.

It was a trend that continued year by year and, except for a few bruises and threats of terrifying "haircuts" while I was sleeping, one that my sister handled with tolerance. My mother continually reminded her, as I entered junior high wearing her new hair clips, that it was actually a compliment to her sense of style. She told her, as i started my first day of high school wearing her clothes, that one day she would laugh and remind me of how she was always the cooler of the two of us.

I had always thought that my sister had good taste, but never more than when she started bringing home guys. I had a constant parade of sixteen-year-old boys going through my house, stuffing themselves with food in the kitchen or playing basketball on the driveway.

I had recently become very aware that boys, in fact, weren’t as “icky” as I had previously thought , and that maybe their cooties weren’t such a terrible thing to catch after all. But the freshman guys who were my age, whom I had spent months giggling over at football games with my friends, suddenly seemed so young. They couldn’t drive and they didn’t wear varsity jackets. My sister’s friends were tall, they were funny, and even though my sister was persistent in getting rid of me quickly, they were always nice to me as she pushed me out the door.

Every once in a while I would luck out, and they would stop by when she wasn’t home. One in particular would have long conversations with me before leaving to do whatever sixteen-year-old boys did (it was still mystery to me). He talked to me as he talked to everyone else, not like a kid, not like his froend’s little sister… and he always hugged me good bye before he left.

It wasn’t surprising that before long I was positively giddy about him. My friends told me I had no chance with a junior. My sister looked concerned for my potentially broken heart. But you can’t help who it is that you fall in love with, whether they are older or younger, taller or sorter, completely opposite or just like you. Emotion ran me over like a Mack truck when I was with him, and I knew that it is was too late to try to be sensible-I was in love.

It did not mean I didn’t realize the possibility of being rejected. I knew that I was taking a big chance with my feelings and pride. If I didn’t give him my heart there was no possibility that he would break it… but there was also no chance that he might not.

One night before he left, we sat on my front porch talking and looking for stars as they became visible. He looked at me quite seriously and asked me if I believed in wishing on stars. Surprised, but just as serious, I told him I had never tried.

“well, then it’s time to you start” he said, and pointed to the sky. “ Pick one out and wish for whatever you want the most” I looked and picked out the brightest star I could find. I squeezed my eyes shut and with what felt like an entire colony of butterflies in my stomach, I wished courage. I opened my eyes and saw him smiling as he watched my tremendous wishing effort. He asked what I had wished for, and when I replied, he looked puzzled. “Courage? For what? He questioned.

I took one last deep breath and replied, “To do this”. And I kissed him-all driver’s-license-holding, varsity-jacket-wearing, sixteen years him. It was bravery I didn’t know I had, strength I owed completely to my heart, which gave up on my mind and took over.

When I pulled back, I astonished look in his face, a look that turned into smile and then laughter. After searching for something to say for what seemed to me like hours, he took my hand and said “Well, I guess we’re lucky tonight. Both our wishes came true”.

Kelly Garnett

IELTS

2011-08-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination can be taken over 100 different countries in the world. The exam takes 2 hour 45 minutes to complete, and consists of four Sub-Tests in the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking.There are two IELTS test modules available-the Academic Module and The General Training Module.

The Listening Sub-Test

It takes 30 minutes: approximately 20 minutes to listen to the tape and answer the questions and 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an Answer Sheet provided with the test booklet
The test consists of 4 sections, and you will hear the tape only once. There are 40 questions in total.
The Listening passages become more difficult as you progress through the test
Section 1 is based on social or life situations: for example travel arrangements, visiting a new city, or making arrangements to go out.This is usually a conversation between at least two speakers.
Section 2 is also based on social or life situations: for example a news broadcast, or a description of college facilities.
Section 3 is based on education and training situations: for example a group of students planning a project, or a tutor and a student discussing career options. This is often a conversation with up to 4 speakers.

Section 4 is also based on education and training situations: for example a lecture or a talk of a general academic interest

The Reading Sub-Test

The Reading Sub-Test is takes 60 min and is in 3 sections. There are 3 passages combined length with 1500-2000 words and a total of 40 questions.
The Reading passages become more difficult as you progress through the test
The passages are taken from journals, magazines, books and newspapers. All the topics are of general interest and are not specialised texts
The Reading passage may contain diagram, charts, or graph, and at least one passage include an argument.

The Writing Sub-Test

The Writing Sub-Test takes 60 min
There are 2 writing tasks
The first task will take approximately 20 min and you are required to write minimum of 150 words. The second task will take approximately 40 min with minimum of 250 words.
For task 1 you describe information that is presented to you in a graph, table, chart, diagram or short piece of text. The description is usually given in the form of the report
For task 2 you are asked to write a formal essay or a report in which you might have to offer a solution of particular problem, present and justify an opinion, compare information given in the question task or evaluate and challenge a given argument.

The Speaking Sub-Test

The Speaking Sub-Test takes between 11 and 14 minutes
The Speaking Sub-Test consists of an interview with a trained examiner, and is recorded on tape recorder. However, this recording is made to assess the examiner and not to candidate
There are 3 parts of the speaking sub-test

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