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restaurant host and freelance writer.

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December 22, 2005

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August 4, 2014

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"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love" - Albus Dumbledore

Hi, I'm Laura. I'm a senior in college & I'm slowly deciding what I want to do with my life. I love Harry Potter, coffee, writing, and sleeping (amongst other things). I'll never claim to know everything, but I'm confident in my ability to help people with their problems. Feel free to send me an inbox question; I'll get back to you!

A few thoughts I've gathered from my teenage years (and being on this site for most of them!):
1. If you Google song lyrics, the song will come up 99% of the time.
2. Dress to fit your body type, and buy the size that fits. If you're a size 6, squeezing into a 4 won't make you look skinnier. It makes you look fat when you aren't.
3. You will never regret waiting to lose your virginity.
4. There is such a thing as a stupid question, but we're all allowed to ask them.

BU 2014 :)

wicked awesome conversations

^my forum, liven it up a little?

advice

I'm doing a report for school so please don't say "we can't answer this or else we will banned". I'm not planning on doing it I just need facts for my report. Is it true that cigarettes and weed fill you up therefore you're not hungry anymore?

Actually weed makes you hungry. That's why it has medical uses- it stimulates your appetite. And it's also why stoners get the munchies. My driving instructor used to be a cop, and tells us all stories about various stoners, haha.

Cigarettes tend to make people eat less, like when people quit they tend to gain weight from increased appetite/cravings.

-LM
[16/f]

If I got my permit before September of last year, do I have to pay the extra fee (extra $200) or go the extra 15 hours?!!?!? Cuz that would be just ridiculous.

You do realize that every single state is different, right?

Anyway, in Massachusetts, anyone who got a permit before September of last year doesn't have to do 12 hours with an instructor, they have to do 6. and they only need 12 supervised hours with a parent, not 40.

So do a little research and you'll get your answer.
Or add additional info, with your state.

13/f

what can i read for the summer thats somewhere from 200-500 pages long? i need some good quality interesting books that ill like

That is a VERY vague question. How will you knw what you like automatically?

Anyway, I recommend:
Authors:
- Scott Westerfeld
- Sarah Dessen
- Kurt Vonnegut

Books:
- "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini.
- "Scrambled Eggs at Midnight" by Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler.
- Go Ask Alice
- "Anatomy of a Boyfriend" by Daria Snadowsky.
- "Forever" by Judy Blume
- "Slam" by Nick Hornby.
- "Prep" by Curtis Sittenfeld.
- "My Most Excellent Year" by Steve Kluger.

Also, browse the young adult/nonfiction/fiction/whatever you like section of your library or bookstore. I guarantee that you'll find something that interests you.

-LM
[16/f]

Ok, so at the end of June I'll be going to a metal festival, for three days :)
(I'm an insane metal fan :D )
The thing is that my period might fall on that weekend.
And I'm kinda worried.
I'm not camping so I can wash properly every night when I go home.
But the whole day there is worrying me.
I can't ask my mom to get the pill that stops it or whatever.
And I use tampons..
So any tips to stay clean from about 11am to 3am(as in 3am in the morning)

Companies like Always make disposable cleansing wipes that I think are individually packed. I know they come atrached to pad wrappers. You could try using those. Use a higher-absorbency tampon to minimize the chance of a leak, and have a pad/liner as a backup. Between all of that, you should be okay.

Ok this is kinda weird, but i really need help. so ok im 17 male. ok i lost my virginity when i was 14. i have had sex with only two people. i have been in love with this girl when i was 15 but she really, really hurt me. after that i was never the same, i felt like i couldn't trust and i wanted to date but i also didn't. Im not a sex addict or anything. but now i finally starting letting people in, but yet everytime we go to have sex, i dont' get turned on By ANYONE. its like i lost all interest in sex. is that Normal? whats wrong with me? i feel like i can never have sex..cause im never turned on anymore. can someone PLEASE HELP ME!?

Well my guess is that you're worried that you'll get hurt again. Because that happened last time you let someone in.

My best advice [which might suck, or might help you] is to try and move on from your past. Sure, she hurt you wicked bad. But be strong, and learn from it. Try to realize that not everyone's going to treat you like that. And a decent girl will respect that you got hurt in the past. Once you're comfortable around a girl again, that "spark" will be there, and you'll know it. I doubt there's anything wrong with you, besides maybe "loss of faith in others" syndrome.

And keep in mind that I'm a girl. I will never get entirely how guys think, but I know how girls think, so I tried =]

Hope I helped you.
-LM
[16/f]

alright so i went to the dermatologist about a week ago for my acne problem, i had it all over my chest and back, and she gave me these pills to take, im guessing some sort of antibiotics. now Ive been taking them and at first everything was fine, but lately like starting 3 days ago i started to feel sick. not in an emergency way, just very nauseated like i was about to throw up. i know that some acne meds have side effects such as nausea but i dont know if this one does or if its something else. and well my question is, how do i stop it!????? thanks! =)

Well, it might have helped us if you included what antibiotic you were taking. But I'll try anyways, since I've been on lots of things for my acne.

I've taken doxycycline, and cephalexen in the past three years or so. I found that they made me nauseous if I took them on an empty stomach, so try taking them in the morning, or after your first meal. If you're like me, and cannot eat breakfast 99% of the time without getting sick, take them when you can remember. Like, it's recommended for most things to be taken early, but since you can't take meds to school, taking it when you get home should be okay.

Also, something as simple as a cracker or two [so, I'm guessing you could eat a saltine in the morning, at least] might be enough to stop the sick feeling.

If the nausea continunes, call your dermatologist and ask what to do next. It might not be working for you, or you could be allergic to it. Good luck!

Oh and as an unrelated side note, antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of other medications such as birth control. I don't know if this applies to you or not, but it's worth knowing.

tmrw is my bf birthday. we started going out yesterday. and im not sure what to do. he is going to be busy all day. plus he doesnt even doing anything for his birthday.

Make him a cake and get him a card.
Write something cute on both.
[Obviously use frosting on the cake, not crayon]

If you were good friends before you started dating, I'd get him a little present too, like a giftcard or something; otherwise a cake's enough.
Since he's not doing anything otherwise, he'll be like, "zOMG, CAKE! ♥"

I found a product in the local Food City here called Wash 'N Curl. I read the label and it pretty much says that it helps your hair to curl and adds volume. It also claims to be good for dry and damaged hair.

I found the website here:

http://www.washncurl.com/

I have very thin, straight hair with lots of dead ends. My hair is pretty stick-straight naturally so I'm really unsure if this could help bring some wave to it and/or help me with curling it.

It's definitely worth a try. I've used similar products, but I have crazy-curly hair, so I used them for the dry/damaged benefits.

Trimming your dead ends will also help with the thinness- because you'll be able to notice added volume better, and your hair wont be/seem as dry.

i want to be able to go out with my friends like every other weekend but my parents wont let me, they make up excuses so i dont go. like 'oh your rooms not clean.' or 'no do this' or 'you have to watch ur brother tonight' they only let me go out like once a month with my friends.

how do i let them get me to go out more?

Do the things they're asking of you without complaining.

They'll realize you're more responsible, and willing to cooperate with them.

If you truly think they're being unreasonable [like, your room would pass the white glove test and is cleaner than an operating room] sit down with them [maye during dinner, when no one's stressed] and ask if you can have more time to spend with your friends. Explain that nurturing friendships is important, and you don't want to miss out on things.

Good luck!
-LM
[16/f]

JW..but.....are guys less attracted to you when your having sex and your vaginal area is hairy....jw

If you're close enough to someone to be having sex with them, you could ask what they'd prefer, but ultimately do what you'd be most comfortable with.

It's your body and your choice; and they're probably psyched that they're having sex with you to say all that much about it, unless you ask.

ok so i just got done reading "all american girl" by meg cabot.

and at one point at the beginning it says that she "e: dyed all of her clothes black "e.

i only wear black. but i wasnt always this way, so i have A LOT of clothes that are not black....including denim jeans.

and i was just wondering how you would want to do that? because there are a lot of cute non- black shirts i have that im not willing to give up just because they arent my favourite colour! how would i dye them black PERMANENTLY???

THANKS!!

Rit Dye. You can buy it at Target, walMart, etc, most likely in the laundry aisle.

I'd highly recommend only doing a couple pieces at a time, and use a 5-gallon bucket or something, and to do it outside. Otherwise you'll have a lot of explaining/scrubbing/cleaning to to.

Also, I'd advise agianst dyeing everything. Keep a couple really nice shirts to wear somewhere black would be inappropriate.

Good luck!
-LM
[16/f]

p.s. If you liked All-American Girl, read the sequel, Ready or Not, too!

17/f
My boyfriend and I are both super indecisive and can never think of anything to do. Any ideas?

The other answers have covered date ideas well.
I suggest hanging out with mutual friends/other couples. That way, your time together is
1. Casual and relaxed
2. Fun [more people = w00t]
3. Less awkward. You're much less likely to be sitting there staring at each other, about to die of boredom, if lots of people are around to do something]
4. Make lists of things you like, put them in a hat/jar/Guitar Hero box/bag/pillowcase, and pull one out everytime you're bored.

If you can drive, drive somewhere close [gas is expensive but hey... cars get good mileage so borrow one!] and go somewhere you've never been before, like a diner or mini golf place.

-LM
[16/f]

Wasn't sure where to put this so sorry ahead of time. I am 18.5 yrs old and my whole teen age life i've always has severe acne. It bothers me so bad that i feel ugly and emberassing. Is there any home remedies or great products that work? I do clean my face at night and in the shower (rarely sleep with makeup on) and i do put acne cream stuff on my acne before bed

please help one hopeless girl

thanks!

I feel your pain. Luckily, I found a treatment schedule that worked for me, and I certainly hope that the same happens for you.

I ahve an FAQ on the subject:
http://www.advicenators.com/qview.php?q=510619

And I don't know if I put it in there or not, but since you're 18, a good consideration could be Accutane. There's risks involved, but the benefit might outweigh them in your case, since your acne still hasn't gone away and it's affecting your life.

Best of luck! =]
-LM
[16/f]

i need new clothes.
i like dresses
skirts
skinny jeans
anything bold or with bright colors

black is good too

idk how to describe other than lowering it to labels i like stuff that falls under the catagories:

scene
punk

either of these two are usually right

i also like cute accesories like bows

help?

know where i can find clothes like these?
but not hot topic or anything most everyone has

Simple answer? Anywhere.
You just have to look and buy the color you want.

Charlotte Russe has a lot of basics wicked cheap- like t-shirts, tanks, tube tops, camis... and dresses too.
Skinny jeans can be found anywhere that sells jeans, pretty much. It's a matter of finding the washes you want. Check Aeropostale, Charlotte Russe, American Eagle, etc.

Delia's seems like an ideal store for you. Check out their website, because their stores leave much to be desired. At least in my area.
www.delias.com

I'm not that great with accessories, so I'd suggest shop around, make your own, and thrift stores maybe? Some of them are really good.

Good luck
-LM
[16/f]

i am a 19 yr old girl and when i shave my legs it still looks they're hairy (even when they're smooth) because of the pores are so black and so huge... is there anything i can do to fix this or put on it to elimnate this? I am tired of having it look like i havent shaved when i obviosly have. It is just all dotted and spotted looking!

PLEASE HELP

I've got a similar problem.
You're got a few options, and since none of them are dangerous I guess you could try them all [just not at once- OUCH!]

1. Use a really sharp razor every time. Dull razors don't cut as closely to the skin, making hair get stubbly faster. Which makes the dots bigger. And lots of sahve gel, or something like soap/conditioner/whatever you want. Shaving without anything will leave you with RED dots.

2. Use a depilatory like Nair Pretty. These dissolve hair slightly below the surface and make it grow back slower, and not as stubbly [because the hair is dissolved, not cut]. Downsides to this include the smell [which goes away when you wash in the shower after] and the discomfort. It might burn, so have something like Aloe Vera Cool Blue [the stuff for sunburns with lidocaine or whatever] to soothe your skin.

3. Completely removing the hair with a method like waxing or an electric razor that actually rips the hair out by the root. The latter is rather painful [imagine dozens of tweezers ripping your leg hair out at high speeds] but the result is simply awesome. Hair comes back thinner, slowly, and NO MORE DOTS! Because the root is totally gone. Waxing is a bit more annoying, because you have to wait for the hair to get sort of long, and it can get messy unless a professional does it. Nair Peach Melon Wax is inexpensive and works fairly well, especially for less than $10.

Soo that is a VERY long answer, but I hope it helps you. Oh, and getting a tan over the summer seems to help disguise it too. Use sunscreen always, of course. But by being outside you'll develop some color that will help, or try a self-tanner.

-LM
[16/f]

okay. so i want to give my boyfriend a blowjob. but im scared to get an STD. but theres only been one girl he's been "with" and thats one of my bestfriends. they used to go out. but i know for a fact that shes clean & has been tested because she has only been "with" him to. can i be sure he still doesnt have an STD even though i know for a fact my bestfriends been tested?

There's a very slim chance, more likely than not you'll be totally fine.
To be safe, use a condom.
Oh, and don't brush your teeth or floss or anything like that immediately before or afterwards. It creates tiny cuts that can spread an infection more easily, if he DID have one (or you, for that matter. Herpes and I'm pretty sure a couple other things can be spread like that).
Plus, it'd ruin the moment to jump up and go brush your teeth. If the taste bugs you have a drink nearby. We can't go into any more detail though because there's underage users. Including me =P

-LM
[16]f]

my boyfriend has cheated on me once before and he told me a year later.

he lives far away now and i only get to see him twice a week.

yesterday he was sitting on the bus with this girl and shes like i dont want to talk I'm busy because i wanted to talk to her.

and she was copying off my boyfriends homework.

and also this gay guy keeps saying to people how he wants to have sex with my boyfriend. and my boyfriend doesnt even say no he gets flattered.

should i breakup with him?

For the cheating, yes, that's a good reason to break up with someone. Espeically if they waited a year to tell you.

But for lending homework? No way. That's ridiculous. It's a homework assignment, not a lapdance...

And I actually laughed when I read the last part of your question. My (guy) friends say that to my boyfriend all the time, and they're always just joking around. Like "I'd go gay for you, in a totally heterosexual way!!!" Even factoring in that a gay guy said it, I wouldn't worry about it and just laugh along, accepting that my boyfriend is desireable =P

So whether or not you forgive him for cheating on you is up to you. I'm way too forgiving of a person; if he cheated early in your relationship, he may have assumed that you weren't exclusive yet. Or something, like I said I'm forgiving... but if it's a regular thing and it doesn't bug him, or if he did it again recently, I'd dump his sorry ass.

-LM
[16/f]

Well couple of weeks ago my boyfriend had girls over at his house & he lied about it. Well now i just cant trust him & its so hard not to be with him all the time to make sure , he lives in a neighborhood FULL of freaking whores & his friends are the greatest influence on him either. He says he's getting tired of it because i always have some smart stuff to say about it , Im just SOO scared its going to happen again even though he says its not but im scared because of my scaredness & not trusting him that its eventually going to break us up because he says he's already tired of it , idk what to do & tomorrow he's getting his license so it makes things worst on my part . idk what to do , helpppp !

He probably didn't want to tell you because he knew how'd you react.
You need to be able to trust your boyfriend to be friends with the opposite sex without cheating on you.
If you can't accept that he has female friends, the relationship won't work out because you don't trust him, and trust is something you need to make things work.
Yeah, it wasn't the greatest thing on his part to lie that he wasn't hanging out with them... but look at it from his presepective, and the situation doesn't seem entirely fair. If your only reasoning for him cheating on you is "Oh... he's hanging out with girls and I'm not one of them?!" you're the unreasonable one. I'm not trying to be mean, it's the truth. It's unfair to force your boyfriend to abandon female friends just because he's going out with you.
Of course, if he actually cheated on you (and you have reliable proof/evidence) your suspicions are more justified.

-LM
[16/f]

right its long division.. i never got the hang of it and probably never will... all i need to know is what do i do with the remainder at the end? how do i turn my results into a fraction or whatever they're called...

like:
3
_____
30 | 100
____|
70
____

30 (remainder)

then what? i know that the answer is 3.3 (thank god for calculators!) but how did you get the 3.3?????

Well I stil don't understand your example, but let's say that you were dividing 51 by two. you would have 25, with a remainder of one.

At this point, you can add a decimal point to 51 (add .0 to it underneath the division sign, and add a decimal to the anwser on top, so you'd have 25. )

Then, you can bring down the zero. Two goes into 10 five times.

Now, you have a decimal instead of a remainder.

Alternatively, you could make a fraction (1/2) and divide it out to get a decimal. But the "adding a zero" method is much easier and keeps everything organized and precise.

EDIT: There is no remainder now. The 10 you had left over, becomes 100, because you can bring down that zero and keep dividing. It's a repeating decimal, like theymos said. I think between us we answered your entire question. Inbox me if you still need help, I loooove math.

My boyfriend and I are thinking of having sex. I'm a virgin. He isn't. He's been tested and he doesn't have any STD's or anything. Well I want to be on birth control, but my parents are really religious and I can't go to them about this. They will freak. So I was wondering is there a place in Oklahoma, Kansas, or Texas where you can get birth control without your parents? I'm 16 so I'm still a minor. I'm going to use a condom, but I want the best protection I can possibly have because I will not put myself in that kind of situation.

You'll most likely need a doctor's prescription.
At the very least a place like Planned Parenthood might be able to help you.
Keep in mind that your parents might eventually find out that you're on this. If you ever need medical care, it needs to be known what medications you're on.
If you go to your regular family doctor, and use your [parents'] insurance, I'm not sure how the charges would show up. Like, if you needed a pelvic exam [usually you do, if they think/know you're sexually active] I don't know how it's listed on the statement, so ask your doctor about that. You might have to pay out of pocket, which would be much more expensive.

Birth control is 99% effective when you take it correctly. Which means the same time, every day. Well, within an hour is okay (I know this for a fact because my doctor told me) Miss more than one dose, and you won't be protected again until next cycle. So make sure to take it religiously. Otherwise you might as well be swallowing Skittles. If you're still concerned about pregnancy, consider using a spermicide too.

And of course, condoms are only fully effective if they're put on correctly. Practice beforehand and make absolutely certain that you know what you're doing. There's a very slim chance of them breaking, if used/removed in the right way.

-LM
[16/f]

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