about

♥♥♥♥♥♥
The name is Leah. I live in Cincinnati, OH. I really love to give advice! I have been here since November of 2004. But prior to joining here, I was always been seeked for advice. Still to this day, my primary concern is always helping someone out in need.

I am likely not the best columnist here, but I can quarantee I am very dedicated and concerned when I answer a question. If I answer a question you're not satisfied with, I will ask why, so I can try my best to change my answer. I only give people information that I know; not information that I might know. And if I notice a columnist giving you a wrong answer, you'll know I'll be correcting their response!!

I do allow everyone and anyone to ask a question. I may have listed favorite categories, but I really have no preference. I do love making new friends!! It's no problem to contact me by e-mail or IM. I do have a Myspace, and I will gladly give it out if asked! If you ever need advice, if you feel like ending it all, if you feel like no one cares, I am here!! Talk to me.. I will listen and I will help you!!

♥Leah

advice

are there any signs youre going to get your period for the first time? and ifso how long after you get the sign will you get your period?

A whole lot of yellowish/whitish discharge in your underwear, growth changes (getting taller), Your waist is widening, while your hips shrink a bit, making you look curvy. This may take weeks to months before you can actually start. It takes time.

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I am a 35/f whose teenage daughter has been living with her father for most of her life.

When her father and I divorced it was decided she would live there because I wasn’t financially stable enough to give her a comfortable year-round home but she has always spent most of the summer with me.

While things have changed a lot now. I make a good deal more money, pay child support and have a much more comfortable home for her. She’s decided she wants to move in with me for the rest of high school because the high school in my area has a much better art classes and several of her friends attend it.

I’m delighted of course, the thing is, she is afraid to tell her father about this decision. She says she’s mentioned maybe moving in with me before, and it’s upset him or he has taken it as a joke. She has asked me to come over and be with her as she discusses the move with her father.

So my question is: Should I be there while she tells her father she has chosen to live with me next school year? I want to be there for her, but I don’t want her father to feel threatened or ganged up on. Part of me thinks she is old enough to be able to talk to her dad about this herself (I’m sure he’ll be a bit hurt, but he isn’t an ogre or anything, he wont go nuts.) So I’m quite torn, please advise.

The earlier Columnists are right: let your daughter tell him yourself. But remind her to tell him that she wants to live with you however she still cares for her father and would really like to visit often as she can. Yeah, he will be a bit hurt, but it will be nothing to worry about. Sooner or later he will understand that your daughter wants to live with you because of the good school opportunities and the friends she has, and that she will be happy there.

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how do u make the little hearts thing where you can actually see the heart???

thanks in advance

Two things you can do, actually: The most common, easy way to do it is ♥. Another way of doing it is to put in the font Webdings and type the capital Y. Use the webdings method for things such as Instant Messaging or E-mails, and for the ♥ you use that in websites (commonly for Myspace, Xanga, LiveJournal, etc)

I hope I helped!! =)

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ok-
I'm f/13 and almost everyone aroungd where I live isn't virgin from age 11/up My friends and I are witch includes 2 boys- I was wondering, since alot of people(except parents) think we are wierd, Do you think it's wrong to be virgin?

It's never wrong to be a virgin. In fact, 1 in 4 people who have sex end up having a baby. And 1 in 6 end up getting STDs. Also, don't think being a virgin isn't 'cool'. You would rather be a virgin, get married, and have sex with someone you love deeply and you will stay with them, than having sex now and later regretting it. And I will proudly admit that I am a virgin and I am 16 years old. It doesn't matter to me at all. Although sometimes I get the pressure to have sex, I choose not to because it's rarely ever worth it. However you can always try aternative methods of sex like dry sex (which is just rubbing against each other, not doing the "real" thing) or you can stay abstinent from sex. Don't worry about what other people think. Be proud you are a virgin, and you should know in a lot of cases, if young people do have sex they can wind up getting STDs or getting pregnant. Just think about the consequences. It's better to be a virgin than to be at some significant risk of becoming pregnant, right?

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Ok. how do you make out? cause i have no idea how to or what it is! can someone tell me what it is and how you do it? I REALLY NEED HELP! and if the person your doing it with knows how will you look like an idiot or can they not even tell?

The easiest advice you'll hear: Don't think about it!! Just follow what he is doing. All you do is stick your tongue into his mouth and he'll follow your through!! Trust me 100%! Everyone is dealthy nervous their first time or two, but once you experience it you'll know it's not-as-hard as you think.

Just remember to follow him and do it at his pace. And when you're doing it don't think about anything.

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hey, well im thinking about starting to wear eyeliner. so i have a few questions about it. the first one is when you apply eyeliner do you apply it on both the top and the bottom? what looks btter? another question i have is when you apply eyeliner do you apply it above or below your eyelashes. also what color eyeliner is best? black or brown? last thing is should i use liquid eyeliner or the regular kind? thanks in advance.

-caitt

Applying eyeliner for the first time is pretty difficult. When I started to apply eyeliner it took me awhile to get it on correctly. So don't worry if it doesn't look so-right when you first apply it on.. just as a note.

Some stylists recommend doing it on the top and bottom of the eye; most stylists prefer that wearing it on the bottom would be much neater. If wanting to put it on the top or bottom, use light colored eyeliner, like neon greens, pinks, or blues, And a little glitter would be nice.

To make it look simple yet cute, do it on the bottom of the eye. If you want it to bring out your eyes, use dark colors, especially black. Brown if you wish. Most people would want that "punk" or "classic" look so they use the simple black eyeliner.

Now to apply it on: Use an easy-glide eyeliner pencil. Gently and slowly, mark the bottom of your eyes right above your bottom eyelashes, just like as if you were using a crayon. Don't apply too much, or it can easily smear overtime. For beginner, I much prefer the simple eyeliner pencil, so it would be easy for you. But after awhile once you get used to that, take it up a notch. Use the liquid eyeliner. Do the same as before, but you got to be extremely careful. If you accidentaly get a little in your eyes, it can cause some irritation. The great advantage to this however, is it's hard to smear liquid eyeliner, since it dries up and actually lasts much longer than a pencil.

Most are even water-proof, so going for a swim won't harm it over a short period of time. Yet sometimes it can be tricky to get if off. Just using makeup remover will do the trick.

I hope I helped. Good luck!

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Why has my parents got baby oil next to their bed...my friends keep saying all this stuff and its just floating around in my brain. I need straight answer its not like i can ask my parents

Baby oil can be used for massaging. Sexually or non-sexually, it can be used for cosmetic reasons. Your mom could be using it to smooth the skin or remove makeup. It could also be used for the aromatic smell, to make the room smell like a fragrance scent.

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Hello; I'm 14 and I have no money.
I need a job since my parents don't provide me with enough money to get food when I am out.

I need to know what kinds of jobs besides baby sitting I can get at 14.

You can probably work at grocery stores. I heard minimum age is 14 years old. A lot of places can offer jobs for people your age, as long as you have a work permit (papers that give you written permission from your school and parents) to legally work.

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i have diarreah all the time. whats wrong with me ?

It could be a lack of fiber. Low amount of fiber in the system can cause Diarrhea. Also, lack of water, nutrients, and exercise can also be it. And medicines that you might take could be a reason. But to get rid of symptoms, get some over the counter stuff for it, and eat healthy. Don't eat junk food or drink soda, that can make it worse.

If it persists or worsens for 7 days, contact a Doctor. It's not normal for this condition to last that long.

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I want to start babysitting again so I'm making a flyer. I only babysit for kids who are potty trained. How do I put that on a flyer and still sound professional?

When I put up fliers in babysitting a year ago, I just made it sound simple. For a good advertisement, put colorful pictures on the fliers (if color isn't an option black and white is fine, too). And don't put in so much information. Give it a title and a catchy line. Like on my flyer, I said: "Need a Babysitter?!? Then call me!!" And give a few characteristics about your and the kids you'll babysit. For example.

*I am 15 years old, and I have babysat many kids before.
*I love kids
*I am a responsible person

And for the restrictions on what kids to babysit, you may say:
*Only kids who are potty-trained and at least 2 years old.
* No more than 5 kids

Don't make the flyer so long, nobody likes to read lonngg advertisements. People like to see color, which catches their eye more easily than a paper with words on it.

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i want to watch daria. is it still on?

Yeah Daria is still on. It's on Noggin around 4 or 5 in the morning on most days. Sometimes right after Degrassi or Sabrina.

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do u get addickted to pot the first time u smoke it

my friend says shes done it 4 times and she gets tired after it or somethin and her eyes are all red

what are the indications that someones been on drugs. any drugs notj ust pot thanksss

There is no physical addiction to pot, even after the first time. And the indications for it are red bloodshot eyes, tiredness, laziness, and have low motor coordination.

For other drugs it's generally the same indications. If you see people with bloodshot eyes, smell "different", and/or seem less motor or mechanically coordinated. Like someone who would be drunk.

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whenever I go to the carribean for a few days, I spend a lot of time in the sun without sunscreen. i would usually get a tan but then the tan would turn into a sunburn. about a week after i leave, my skin starts to peel. would putting on sunscreen keep my skin the same way, or give me the tan without the sunburn/peeling. thanks

To get a tan without the big risk of getting sunburnt, use sunscreen that contains Cocoa Butter in it. It allows your skin to darken, as you are getting UV protection. However, a lot of them have low UV protection like SPF 5, 10, or 15. But ones with Cocoa Butter works great.

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ok... i have like really bad acne and i need to know what products would help that. do you know any really good products? 13/f

Great ingredients: Salylic Acid, Benzol Peroxide, Sulfur, Resorcinol. and Triclosan.

Salicylic acid is an ingredient used in many over-the-counter acne medications. It is often found with pads as applicators (such as Stri-dex pads). It is also used to treat other skin disorders including dandruff, psoriasis, calluses, corns, warts, and more.

Benzoyl peroxide is available in prescription and over-the-counter medications, in cream, gel, and wash form. It is an anti-bacterial agent.Benzoyl peroxide kills P. Acnes, the bacteria that causes acne. Also, there is a mild drying and peeling effect which is thought to help prevent breakouts.

Sulfur has been used to treat acne for thousands of years for its peeling and drying actions, and is found in various washes, soaps, and creams.Sulfur provides peeling and drying of the skin. Although it is effective at breaking down existing blackheads and whiteheads, it may also promote the development of new ones by increasing cell adhesion.

Resorcinol is used to treat acne, but also eczema and psoriasis among other skin conditions. It is sometimes combined with other acne medications, usually sulfur, and rarely stands alone. Resorcinol helps breakdown hard, rough skin, which means it is good at breaking down existing blackheads and whiteheads.

Triclosan is also found in many handwash liquids and diswashing liquids. It's antibacterial, which kills bacteria under and on the surface of the skin, preventing and treating pimples.

GREAT products that contains one or more of the ingredients above: Clean&Clear, Clearasil, ProActive, Stridex, Oxy, and Neutrogena.

And personally to me, they all work great. I once had acne myself and they all cleared it up quickly, as I was experimenting a bit. But I thought the best ones were Stridex and Clean&Clear.

Things to look out for: Inflammation including itching, burning sensation, rashes, reddish bumps, and dryness.

For more information on acne, and how to treat it visit this website: http://www.acne.org/

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14 female. when ever i like a guy i tend to give or loan them money. most of the guys i liek are not trust worthy o i usuially never get my money back. everyone knwos that i ALWAY have cash on me i cant lie to them and say "sorry i dont have any money on me." I am afraid to ask them for the money back after i stop liking them, one because i am embarrasses and two:: because it has been so long that they have forgotten. during the last school year this one boy i was crushing on would ask me for a dollar every day for 3 or 4 months. i would say yes everyday and as a resuly gave him around 40 dollars and he never even liked me as more than a frined. i know the boys are jsut using me but i cant help my self. if anyone has any advice on how to stop or anthign to say to the boys who ask and try to use me i woudl greatly appreciate it!. thanks a million andone =)

haiely

Be assertive! Tell them if you hand them money they'll pay you back. But before you do, hand money to people that you can trust. Like your friends, or family. Don't give it out just to become cooler and be liked more. It's not the answer. So speak up for yourself and don't let people walk all over you.

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Well, This guy, whos a year older than I, is really confusing me. You see, weve known eachother for a few months, and at first, my friend claimed to really like him, but she.. Well, shes a skank. And, after awhile she started hating him, and I kept hanging out with him because we became close friends. He began to like me, and at that time I didnt like him back, and he told another friend of mine that he planned to ask me out, And my friend convinced him to wait awhile, and I showed signs of just wanting to be friends, because I didnt want to hurt him, and so he never asked me out. but, In the middle of all this, i realized that I really do like him a lot, but i didnt want to controdict myself.So eventually, we started losing touch, and he got a girlfriend. But then, one late night on aim, we stayed up the entire night talking, and now were closer than ever. He always tells me how special I am to him and how much he loves me, but he still has a girlfriend? I dont know.. I really think I love him. But, should I.. I dont know, what should I do? Before you answer this you should know, hes not your typical player, hes not very attractive and is like, reallllllly smart and not "nerdy" but .. leaning more toward that side. He has a charm to him, and I dont get it. I realllllllllllly need help. Should I tell him how I feel about this?

Yes, tell him how you feel. Don't try breaking them up, or black-mail anyone. This could just get worse. Tell the guy how you feel. Tell him you want to go out with him, or take things to the next level.

And don't feel ashamed if he says he can't go out with you at the moment. A lot of times it takes time to change things like these around. So tell him your feelings and things should go well. Good luck.

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hi.

im a 20 year old female. for the past couple of days, i have been feeling very uncomfortable down there. the skin between my vaginal lips seems to be more red than usual, and it feels raw. by that i mean it is ichy and it burns when i touch it!! i know it's not an std... im in a long distance relationship and i haven't had sex in a month so that's not the reason for this either. there is no foul smelling discharge, no unusual bumps or anything, no burning when i pee... just the skin between the lips, and around the vaginal opening is red and feels irritated and is soo annoying and painful.

i bought some Vagisil cream and applied it there today, but i don't know if it's helping. actually, it burned when i peed for the first time today after i put the cream on. please help, i don't know what to do. has this happened to anyone before? i don't want to go to the gyno unless i REALLY have to because i have no health insurance right now. is this serious? what should i do? keep using vagisil? THANKS SO MUCH!

I know how you feel. I get that a lot. It could be an infection, but before you make sure of it. Try these tips:

1)Apply aloe vera on the vaginal lips. This can cool and soothe.
2) Apply hydrocortisone cream. This can relieve the burn and itch.
3) Wear loose underwear. Tight underwear can just worsen it. It traps oxygen and can cause more irriation. And I am including thongs, too.
4) Wear looser jeans if you can.

Try all of this for about a week. And if there is no dramatic improvement, contact your primary physician or gynocologist immediately. It could be an infection or just some inflammation that needs prescription cream for it.

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16/f
is there something that will make your teeth yellower? because i hardly EVER drink any pop i usually drink alot of water or orange juice and i use this whitening stuff but my friends all have whiter teeth than me and they drink pop and all this stuff. is there foods or something that will do this to my teeth or any drinks i should stay away from? also is water like good for your skin will it help clear it up at all?

thanks!

Well with most over-the-counter whitening products, it takes weeks to months for dramatic improvement. Doing it professionally at the Dentist will cost such a fortune.. but they have whitening strips out there that you put on your teeth, and while it keeps your teeth looking white, it helps you to get them whiter as well, and you take them out at the end of the day. And they have the same thing to put in at night or for just an hour a day. Get toothpaste with complete tartar control and with whitening ingredients, like Crest and Aquafresh. They work great. Also, try the pre-brush mouth wash, which whitens teeth instantly and gets germs out of your mouth. I hope this helped!

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i made a slide show from pictures i have on my software photoimpressions. is there any way i could upload it to photobucket or any other website to get a code to put it on my myspace?? thanks will rate good answers!

Yes, you can download it from your computer, by browsing for the pictures in your files to photobucket. And photbucket offers the code for every picture that you browse and upload with. I hope I helped =).

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ok this is a really weird question but if any of you use AIM and are all into like pretty profiles and stuff well if you've ever seen it.. like when you highlight something in the profile and theres text there, like its invisible then you highlight it and you see it. well how do you do that? usually i'd just copy and paste it but i don't know of anybody who has it anymore. and like if you try to use white text it comes up gray. so is there like a code or trick you have to do?? thank you

Simple! If you have a white background, just type it in white text; or black, do it in black text. Whatever background color it is, make the text the same color!

And to make it easier, just type it down in default font color, and when done highlight the text and make it to the color of your background.

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