You're Not Alone

If you're one of those girls who doesn't like talking about your body, or you feel gross when you're having your period, or you feel like no one understands you and what you're going through... please remember:

You're not alone.

Puberty, menstruation, and the "joys" that go along with it are perfectly normal. They mean your body is healthy. Even if you aren't happy about it at the time, it is a good thing. Don't forget that every girl has gone through the same thing as you. Every woman you see is probably either menstruating, or will be in the next 2 weeks.  Supermodels get their periods, celebs get it, your teachers get it... all women go through this.

Roughly 334 million women all over the world are all menstruating at the same time you are.

I hope this helped.

Love always,
~Alli

Tampon Myths: DEBUNKED!

Maybe back in the olden days they believed these myths, but now we know that they are just that- MYTHS! Completely false! Here's the truth about tampons to help set your mind at ease and help you be informed. Feel free to share it with your friends to help them out, too!

Tampons protect for 8 hours. According to the outside of most tampon boxes and the leaflet inside, tampons protect for "up to" 8 hours. The actual protection will only last as long as the absorption material can collect blood. During heavy flow days, tampons may last only one or two hours. During light days, teens may find it difficult to remove and change tampons every 8 hours because flow is light and a dry tampon just doesn't want to come out as easily as a saturated tampon. 

You cannot sleep in tampons. This is a huge myth. Tampons are safe during sleeping and waking hours if used properly. Flow tends to be lighter at night, for some teens (including me!), so the tampon should last through 8 hours sleep, but what happens if the teen is sleeping longer than 8 hours? Wearing a feminine napkin to bed instead of a tampon is safer 100 percent of the time. Overnight pads absorb much more than panty liners and regular pads, so invest in a thick, absorption pad if you plan on sleeping longer than 8 hours. That way you won't have to worry about how long you sleep. You won't feel a pad when you're sleeping anyway, so why risk it?

The tampon string never pulls off. The withdrawal string breaking is an extremely rare occurrence, but it CAN happen...  If it does break, DON'T PANIC! It is usually a simple matter to reach the tampon with your fingers. Wash your hands and use the same position you used to comfortably insert the tampon to remove it. If this can’t be done, you should see your doctor the same day.

Virgins cannot wear tampons. Having sex has nothing to do with wearing tampons. Some mothers want to protect their daughters from anything related to insertion into the vagina, but this is an old wives' tale. Virgins can insert tampons into the vagina as can teens that have lost their virginity. The tampon may tear the hymen, but a torn hymen can also occur from sports, gymnastics, horseback riding and other activity.

Teens can only use "regular" tampons. Tampons are graded based on absorbance. Some girls start out with "teen" tampons and quickly progress to regular and then super on heavy days. Teens should choose tampons based on period flow. At the end of 8 hours, if the tampon string is just tinted with blood, the absorbance is just right. If the tampon does not last 8 hours, move up to a more absorbent size or change more often.

Tampons can get lost inside you if you push them in too far. No. The opening at the end of your vagina is only the size of a pencil point-much too small for a tampon to fit through. The tampon is held in place by the walls of your vagina until you pull on the string to remove it.

Tampons can fall out. When inserted properly, the muscles around the entrance to the vagina will hold the tampon in place so it cannot fall out. 

If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Love,

Alli

Tbox review!

                We have a review of a really neat product we were sent for you girls today! Meet the Tbox.  What is it, exactly? Basically, the Tbox is a tampon holder. It can house up to 8 tampons. It has suction cups on it so it can easily attatch to the side of your toilet or in other smooth surfaces, so you're never caught off guard again!

REVIEW 

Amii: "The design is really cute and girly. The suction cups are also really great, but I think sticking it on the toilet is kind of weird for me. Handy, but weird. I stuck it on my bedroom mirror and it works great! I rate it a 6 on a scale of 1-10."

Alli: "I feel like this product would work well for so many girls. If you have your own bathroom or a guest bathroom, it's nice to keep a Tbox in there. Otherwise, this would be great for your locker or to just throw in your purse when you're on the go. I have a lot of brothers, so I personally wouldn't put this in one of the family bathrooms, but it's a good concept. These products are sturdy and well made. There are a few different patterns and colors to choose from, which are all really cute."

You can buy the Tbox at their website: http://tboxgirl.com/buyonline or from Amazon.com. You  can also check to see if your local Walgreens has them available.

 

Dauzat Designs Giveaway Winner

It's time to announce our blog giveaway winner! One lucky gal will receive a Maxi Pouch from the lovely Dauzat Designs! You can read our full review of these here, they are really handy to have at that time of the month!


The winner of our very first blog giveaway (chosen by random.org) is.... (drumroll please)

SARAH
Sarah says "This would definitely come in handy at work. As a writing tutor, sometimes our Writing Center is full of tutoring sessions, and when I have to go upstairs to use the bathroom, it's just a little TOO obvious when I take my whole purse with me. Haha. This would be discreet!"

Congratulations, Sarah! I hope you love your pouch! Dauzat Designs will be in touch soon.

Okay girls, even if you didn't win, I highly recommend that you check out the affordable tampon and pad pouches from Dauzat Designs. Amii and I both LOVE ours.

PERIOD PRODUCTS

If you’re like a lot of girls, when you first started your period, you used whatever your mom gave you. Chances are it was the same product she uses. Eventually, you started experimenting with other options to find what's comfortable for you. Let's face it, your body is different than your mom's and most likely so is your period. Maybe you're not happy with the pads or tampons you're using now, or you're wondering how to use the correct products. It can be hard to figure out which is right for you, since there are SO many different choices!

So let’s start with pads. They come in all shapes, sizes and absorbencies. I like ultra thins with wings during my first couple of days when my flow is normal to heavier. If you play sports or are active, wings are especially good to give you extra proctection.

Depending on what’s on the calendar (like swimming, soccer, or ballet), I’ll switch to regular tampons. If you've just started using tampons, it's best to use size "lite" with a plastic applicator. If you have a heavier flow, try "normal" or even "super." Just make sure you aren't using something too absorbant. Oh yeah, and I recommend tampons with plastic applicators, especially for noobs. ;)  They're much easier to use.

Pantiliners are a great idea to use a few days before you know you're going to get your period. That way you're covered in case you start earlier. I suggest using em at the very end of your period too, when minor spotting spells the end of Aunt Flo.

Oh, you might want to keep a package of overnight pads around too, if you bleed heavily at night since you won't be able to change for 8+ hours. Those are great to break out if you're invited to a sleepover and you're on your period.

You may have noticed I didn't mention anything about brand name. Always, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex, drugstore brands...it's up to you. A "regular" tampon is a tampon, right? You can choose if you prefer name brands or store brands. Don't be fooled by those cheesy commericals on TV- don't let the ads influence what brand you buy. The girl that's smiling so big and looks like a skinny supermodel on the Kotex commercial...she isn't really menstruating. If she was, she wouldn't be smiling so much.

So mom, thanks for sharing your stash with me. But I’m pretty sure I’ve got things covered from here.

Until next time,

Alli

Start out the school year right with these must-haves!

Every year we all wonder "what do I need for school this year??" Well, all you girls out there, these are my must-haves that every girl should need!

For your locker:
1. A sturdy locker shelf to raise up your books, making it easier to grab what you need in between classes without straining out your back from bending over. You can easily make or buy one at Staples, Wal*Mart, or Home Depot for $5 or less.

2. A small magnetic mirror so you can make sure your picture perfect for every class (or boy) that comes your way :)

3. An easy-to-grab pad or tampon holder you can grab when that joyous time of the month comes so you can be prepared in a pinch! We currently have a give-a-way from Dauzat Designs that has cute and practical pouches for all you girls in need and trust me, they are worth it :) and if you don't win our fabulous give-a-way (which you should totally enter *hint, hint*), you can visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/dauzatdesigns and pick one up for the upcoming school year!

For your classes:
1. A planner or agenda to write down each days homework assignments. It is definitely useful and helps you from forgetting when things are due!

2. A binder or folder to take everything home in in one place. It makes everything easier to carry and convenient as everything is in one place

And for you:
1. A backpack or cute tote to carry everything in. It also can keep your pads and tampons away from the eyes of everyone else and it will be better than carrying everything and risk dropping it!

2. A good fitting pair of dark washed jeans. It's a staple. All girls need a pair of jeans they feel good in. End of story.

3. Some bling. Some jewelry. Make yourself feel good. If you look good you feel good :)

And good luck to everyone this school year! Make it your best!

Lots of love,
Amii

My favorite website for girl info: BeingGirl

If we don't post frequently enough for you, or don't have the topics you want to see, I recommend the Being Girl website, http://www.beinggirl.com/ .
It's my favorite site for girl information- everything from tampons to relationships. There's a product selector so you can figure out which feminine products are best for you, get free samples, there's a beauty section, quizzes, and more! Everything girl related is on the site.

Just wanted to give you the recommendation. Hope it helps you girlies!!

Love,

Alli

THONGS: Pros and Cons

As you probably know by now, Amii and I loooove making lists of pros and cons- for everything! It makes it easier to figure out which decision is right for you. Today my list of Pros and Cons is about.. *gulp* THONGS.  If you're wondering whether they're for you, here are some things you might want to take into consideration.

PROS

-No "VPL"
-You only have a small wedgie instead of a big one, if you're wedgie-prone with other underwear!
-Some girls forget they're there.
-They're small and don't take up much space.
-Lots of girls like to feel like they're wearing "big girl panties"

CONS

-Some parents don't approve, so if you're young, you might have to check with your mom first.

-Some girls find thongs uncomfortable.

-Hygiene is more of a concern when you're wearing a thong. (Trying not to go into TMI, here!)

-It's harder to wear a thong when you're on your period.
- You need to make sure your pants aren't too low rise when you have thongs on. Otherwise you might have the infamous "whale tail" peeking out from over your jeans.

What are your thoughts? Do you love em or hate em?

If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Love,

Alli

Five Great Money Saving Tips For The Savvy Fashionista In You

Especially in these tough economic times, girls still want to look good, even if splurging on a $200 bag is out of the question. So, what do you do to still get "the look" without burning a hole in your pocket? Well,  I have some tips and tricks for you!

1. If you see a product you like, find an off brand or store brand. With medication this is pretty easy, just find the same thing under a different name. Well, with Runway looks and top of the line clothing stores, its a little harder to do that. If you print out a photo of a look you like, say from a magazine or online source, take it with you to the store and recreate it for less. No, the shirt wont be Dolce and Gabanna BUT you still have a comparable look and for a much nicer price. :)

2. Don't forget to buy staples. Now, I'm not talking the metal things you put in a stapler to hold your papers together, but something like a nice pair of black slacks, a good pair of dark jeans, a white cami, a good fitting bra, etc. These pieces are the kind of things you want to work off of and can dress up or dress down. They are the foundation to a good wardrobe and easy to find, and if they don't fit perfectly, you can send them to a tailor or (if you're good with a sewing machine and have one) tailor them yourself. They will last for a long time and save you from wondering if you have something that matches every new top you buy. And for all you girls out there, I bet you've already got a lot of these items in your closet just waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is find a  few things to jazz them up. :)

3. Don't buy everything at once. By doing so you immediately burn a big hole in your pocket and, if your not having a good day, may blow this month's rent money before you know it. By shopping in small increments, you still will have a wardrobe that looks amazing without paying a fortune.

4. Hit the sale racks. Anytime something's on sale it doesn't necessarily mean its damaged or broken. Most stores just want it out so they can bring in a new line. By shopping on sale days, you not just save money but save having to work an extra few hours every week to pay off your spendings. Another way is to cut coupons. Yeah, Grandma Pearl and Grandpa Joe did that in the Depression, but you'd be surprised how much 50 cents here or there adds up. A great time to shop (if you don't mind crowds) is a few days after each holiday. Most things are half price or 75% off and are still perfectly good.

5. Save your change. At Wal*Mart or BJ's (I can't remember now) we found a jug that holds change but counts it as you put it in. Every time I come back from the store or have loose change we put it in the jug. In six months we have passed the $100 mark- all in change. With the jug, you can't take it out until you absolutely need it or have a plan for what you want to do with it. For us, its a great way to save up for that summer trip, without having to save out $5 every week, and still be able to have a great time. It also shows us how change does add up and is a great learning tool for younger siblings or younger children in general. It also makes it more fun to spend as you know you personally have saved it yourself.

Now, hopefully all you girls out there will become great at saving your money for everything else life throws at you and don't forget to enjoy these last few days of warmth before good Old Man Winter arrives!

Lots of love,
Amii