The first two wonderfully warm months of summer are coming to a close, but there is still so much to do! Is there a place that

“Last summer we went on a short backpacking trip in the White Mountians. This is me on the summit of Mount Jefferson.” -Emily, 15, New Hampshire

you have not yet visited? A craft project that is still not complete? Or maybe even a book that still has not been read.

Now is the time to make your summer bucket list (a list where you can write down all of the things you still would like to do before the summer is over).

1. Place each summer activity on its own little scrap of paper.
2. Then put them all into a sand castle pale, bucket, or box you already have. You can decorate the front of the container you choose and write Summer Bucket List on it.
3. Every day for the last month of summer you can pick from one of your choices, or you can save them for whenever you are out of things to do for the day.

There are so many fun and easy things to do during this time. Here are some summer tips from the girls at NewMoon.com

• SJ, 10, Ontario suggests making a scrapbook. You can use magazine photos, or even photos you have taken yourself. Try doing an outdoor photo shoot and snapping some pictures of the scenery around you.
• This poem by Hannelise, 10, British Columbia describes the beauty and relaxation of hiking. If you live in an area that has any state parks, maybe see if your family would like to go for the day!
• A mad tea party is a creative and silly idea that Friday, 13, Minnesota thought of. With such great weather an outdoor tea party is a great way to cool off with some delicious refreshments, and have fun!
• Lots of girls love Kool-Aid for a yummy drink, but have you ever thought of putting it in your hair?  Abby, 14, Ohio tells you how to get colorful temporary highlights using Kool-Aid, definitely a good thing to try out before you are in school! (Be sure to get permission from a parent or adult before dying your hair to match Blue Berry Blast!)
• Find a cause that you are passionate about. Anna, 17, Pennsylvania started a thread about the ways you can make the world a better place.
• One thing that I wanted to try this summer was making homemade ice cream! It is super simple:
  • I first filled a large plastic bag full of ice cubes and rock salt.
  • Next I poured milk, a tiny bit of vanilla, and some sugar in a smaller baggie.
  • I placed the small baggie into the large plastic bag, shook it for about 5 to 15 minutes, and ice cream was made!

“This is what my alleyway looks like in the summertime. I love these flowers!” – Cleo, 12, Minnesota

There is much to do for the rest of the season, so don’t stop now! Make the most out of the time you have left of summer, there are endless ways to keep yourself entertained. Whether you go on an exciting vacation, or find new ways to use ingredients or materials that you already have at home, find the fun in everything.

What will you put on your summer bucket list? Tell us your ideas in the comments below!

Whitney
New Moon Intern

What has been your favorite blog so far this summer or even this year? Maybe you loved our posts about outdoor activities like gardening, or running a lemonade stand. Or maybe you really enjoyed the blogs that are about real current events such as The 2012 Summer Olympics and The Hunger Games. Whichever it may be, we are always happy to know that you girls are interested in our weekly stories – and we want to know what you would like to hear more of!

It is so important to us to write about topics that girls want to hear about, and one way to be sure that we are doing just that is by getting feedback from all of you! Is there a subject that you are fascinated by and want to know more about? Is there an issue that you would like other girls to be more aware of? Let us know!

Here’s a review of some topics we’ve covered so far this summer:

• One of the first blogs to kick-off the summer was about staying energized  throughout the season. So many girls had suggestions on how to be active including ideas like canoeing or performing a show.
• The Perks of Gardening, ties in with that first blog because it talked about eating and growing organic foods, and staying healthy all summer long!
• During the week of Margaret Fullers’ Birthday, we celebrated by inspiring others to continue working on their reading and writing skills. Margaret was a role model for women in the early 1800’s and helped with the topic for the following blog about the explanation of Women’s Studies.
• The Value of Friendship we talked about how to be a good friend.
• In the Earn and Save Money post we hoped to motivate you all through our tips to work with others and the importance of learning how to be responsible with the money you earn.

Our blogs are meant to inspire girls to learn more about different subjects, and to spark ideas of your own through our advice.  If you have any topics in mind that you would like us to write about share them with us in the comments below!

We can’t wait to see what you come up with – stay tuned to see if YOUR topic gets chosen for a future blog post!

Whitney
New Moon Intern

I have recently finished reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the first two novels of The Hunger Games trilogy. I was interested in reading the books after seeing so much feedback from girls on NewMoon.com, which included both good and bad reviews of the series.

“Me on my eleventh birthday with my hunger games books” -Lunar Lara, 12, Illinois

The Hunger Games are very popular books to read among adolescents, and the movie was a hit! For the 1st Annual Girls’ Choice Movie Awards Winners The Hunger Games was actually ranked #1! It is easy to see why this trilogy has gained such widespread love from its audience. Not only is there romance and action, but also a kick-butt heroine, Katniss, who, in my opinion, really breaks down many gender stereotypes.

Check out The 2012 Girls’ Choice Movie Awards page to see what other movies made it on the list, what the favorite girl movie characters are, and much more!

 
Katniss is one of the main reasons why girls have become so interested in The Hunger Games books. Girls all over the world relate to the character because they find strength in themselves after reading about the endeavors of a young heroine.

“This is how I imagined Katniss from the Hunger Game.” -Eliana, 12, Kentucky

Here are what some New Moon Girls have to say about Katniss and The Hunger Games:

• Emma, 13, Minnesota said, “I absolutely, completely LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t put it down!!! There are NO good spots to stop reading.”
• When Luna asked the question “Who Is Your Favorite Girl Book Character” one of the responses was, “Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games trilogy, because she is able to fight without anyone getting in her way. She is also imperfect, which is a good thing because no one can achieve perfection.”
• Maya, 9, Pennsylvania listed Katniss as one of her inspirations!

Although some girls have found the trilogy to be a good read, there are others who do not find it very appropriate. The Hunger Games movie that is out now is actually rated PG-13, so it is understandable that the novels may not be suitable for all ages. Wellies, 9, Delaware said, “OK, so I’ve read the book, and my mom was fine with it, but she won’t let me see the movie.”

Everyone seems to have different views on what is or is not okay to view regarding the series. Another New Moon Girl, Raindrop, 12, Alberta said about the movie, “If it is as violent as the book there is no way I will be allowed to watch it.”

The trilogy does have some intense scenes that may be even more extreme when portrayed in the film. If you have read the books, be cautious before you decide to see the movie. Ask a parent what they think about it, or maybe even ask them to see it with you or preview it before you watch it.

For those of you who may have never started The Hunger Games, don’t sweat it! Stick to what you like, there are other strong female characters out there!

Whitney
New Moon Intern

Cami, 9, Michigan at her gymnastics meet!

The first Olympic Games was in Athens in 1896, but women were not allowed to participate in the events back then. It would not be until a few years later, 1900, that women were able to take part in the sports. Although women were finally taken into consideration they still had restrictions to what activities they could join.

It is now 2012 and the summer Olympics will be starting up this month! It is exciting to see how far we have come from those early games that consisted of so many limitations. We now have star female athletes that shine in a variety of sports from tennis to hockey.

There are a lot of really cool women athletes who will be included in the London Olympics this summer. Each one has her own story and skill that contributes to her many accomplishments.

Here are a few to look out for:

• Diana Lopez is a Taekwondo athlete who won a bronze medal in Beijing. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, kind of like karate! It will be exciting to see how she does alongside her brother who is also competing!
• At the young age of 16, Gabby Douglas was participating with the gymnastics team in the Olympics. She helped to bring a gold medal back by showing the world her talent at the uneven bars.
• Kara Patterson is a track and field role model who takes part in throwing in women’s javelin. Javelin is a unique sport, it involves the throwing of a lightweight spear as far as possible. It’s unbelievable to think that it wasn’t until 1928 that women were even accepted to compete in the Olympics track and field!
• With a handful of medals to her name, Dana Vollmer is an exceptional swimmer. She helped her team win the gold medal for the 4×200-meter freestyle relay team during the 2004 summer Olympics. Along with that, she has won a total of twenty-seven medals in international competitions for swimming! It will be interesting to see what she does next!
• Lila, 12, Hong Kong wrote an article on Reed Kessler, a new addition to the 2012 Equestrian team and the youngest ever to be a part of it!

There so many strong women and girls who are working hard to achieve any goal that they set their mind on. Because of the Olympics, the world can see the amazing girls and women who are top athletes in their sports. After years of being told, “No,” we now shine alongside our fellow male athletes. That in itself is a huge accomplishment made by all women.

“This is me with my friend Jackie. We are at a swim meet and having a lot of fun!!!!” -Kirby, 12, Ohio

Do you have a favorite sport that you like to watch during the Olympics? New Moon Girls tell us why they love the Olympics Games and who their favorite athletes are!

• Lizzie, 12, Colorado wrote a story about how inspiring she finds Olympic figure skating.
• This poem by Sage, 13, British Columbia expresses the sense of community that the Olympics create.
• Posie Rosie, 14, Maryland wrote about Venus Williams, amazing tennis skills and how she got to where she is today.
• Anna, 10, Arizona wrote about the importance of following your heart in her story Olympic Adelaide Speaking Up.

Will you be watching the Olympics? Upload your stories, poems, pictures, and videos about everything from your favorite events and athletes to the sports you love to your My Stuff, and email it to us at submissions@newmoon.com. We’ll feature girls’ content about it on our special Olympics page on NewMoon.com – coming soon!

“I run track and this is me when I am receiving the baton to run a 200m” -Anna, 12, Michigan

Whitney
New Moon Intern