A Day in the Life of a GL Intern: I Work in Advertising!

Working at Girls' Life is super exciting! I get to do different things almost every day, so I never stop learning. In the office I usually stay busy helping out with sales and advertising. Ever wonder where the ads in the mag come from? Well there’s a team of people at GL who work with different companies to bring 'em to you. I never knew until I started working here how much goes on behind the scenes just to get to that final product.

A lot of our advertising is done on the GL website, where girlies like you get to comment on what you see. To go along with new ad campaigns I get to write up advertorials that describe the new products to you chicas. I love reading the positive comments you leave because it shows that you’re excited about the books, clothes, video games and beauty essentials that I helped you find out about!

Lately, I’ve been working hard on our Holiday Gift Guide, which features 26 different prizes you can win this holiday season. Come on, showing you girls all these amazing products wouldn’t be any fun without giving you the chance to win something every now and then!

Spotted! New product that you're gonna LOVE!

I also spend time tracking our Twitter and Facebook pages, which are both great ways for you babes to stay up-to-date with everything GL. Another part of my job is to look out for new products that you girlies would love. This is one of my fave responsibilities because it gives me the opportunity to help you. Plus—it’s fun to see all the new styles, games and movies that are coming out (AND it always puts me in the mood for shopping!). GL always wants to give you babes the very best. I love a part of that through the ads and products we promote.

The best part of working here is definitely the people I’ve met. I get to work with a group of strong, intelligent, fun and creative individuals and I’ve also built relationships with all of you through your comments and modding. It’s all about real people working for real girls like you. Although it’s been 11 years since I got my first Girls' Life subscription, the magazine still stands for all the same things and helps young women in all the same ways it did when I started reading. I am extremely proud to be part of the team and to have the opportunity to bring this fantastic mag to all of you amazing girls!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/15/2009 7:00:00 AM 15 COMMENTS

Family Bonding Fun!

Family Feud
Go for a classic game night with a modern twist! Try hosting a tournament using each fam member’s favorite games. Split into teams (parents vs. kids) or host a plain ol' battle royale! Play each game and keep a tally of who wins what. And the winner of the entire tourney? They get to choose the delish dessert you can all prep together after the gaming is over!

Blast From the Past
Parents making you stay in for a movie night? Make it somethin' special. Ask mom and pops to rent a fave movie from their childhood and share it with you. Classic movies never lose their charm and it gives you a chance to get to know who your 'rents really are. And don’t forget the popcorn! Ask your parents to make a delish homemade popcorn recipe for an authentic cinema experience!

Broadcast News

Got a long car ride that doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon? Interview your folks to see how well they know you. Ask questions about your likes and dislikes and see how on or off the mark they may be. And after? Have them do it for themselves. Don’t be afraid to ask ‘em some questions about their past, too—anything to give the home team (you!) an advantage! You can even takes notes (like a real reporter!) and put everything down in a family history notebook later on. And the best part? They’ll appreciate you ditching the iPod and getting to know them better.

Chef Shuffle
Mom or dad complain that they always have to fix ya food? Set up a family cook-off one weekend night. Assign each family member a diff part of the meal—starters, salads, main dish, dessert—whatever you want, and let the culinary cuh-raziness begin. Just be sure that you all take turns with the stove and oven. If you've got a really little sib assign him or her to play sous-chef to someone older. At the end of the night you can all relax and enjoy your delicious meal. Plus there'll be leftovers for a few days after!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/13/2009 7:00:00 PM 11 COMMENTS

Be the Belle of the Bash

Never know how to act at a party or wish you knew those secrets that would make everyone (especially your super-cute crush) notice you? We’ve got five foolproof tips on how to get tons of compliments, meet new people and grab the attention of that guy you've been eyeing forever.

Ruffles, metallics, neons, fishnets—add somethin' extra to every ensemble. Creative combos like a little black dress and some shiny leggings will draw people in to compliment your outfit and kick-start your mingling. Unique pieces, like your grandmother’s necklace or a vintage tee are great conversation starters, so you’ll never be at a loss for what to talk about.

All eyes are on you when you walk into the party, so it’s important to look your best as you walk through the door. This can be the scariest part, so remember to take a few deep breaths before you head on in. Stand with your shoulders rolled back, head held high and back straight. Smile when you walk in and greet everyone you know. Your friendly, confident attitude will make you look comfy and guests will gravitate towards you.

Confidence is one of the most attractive things to guys, and it all starts with fierce eye contact. Try using a colored eyeliner along your bottom lid to really make your peepers pop. Once you’ve got killer eyes, keep everything else pretty natural. Emphasize your cheekbones with a liquid blush or bronzer. If you're feeling super-daring, go for a bold look with bright red lipstick to draw attention to your mouth. Your crush will be so focused on you and your lips, he won’t notice anyone else at the party.

Mingle, mingle, mingle! Strike up simple small talk with the people standing around you. Find out where they go to school, what kind of music they're into, what their holiday break plans are, if they’ve ever traveled anywhere cool.... Friendships and relationships all start with the standard "getting to know you" talk, so get gabbin'.

The more you smile, the more people are going to want to hang with you. No one approaches the girl with a frown, so paste a grin on that pretty face and walk around. Everyone loves a chica with a sense of humor, so don’t be afraid to laugh at a funny joke (and feel free to makes some yourself!). Nothing says “I love myself” more than a smile and positive attitude.

BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/13/2009 6:00:00 PM 29 COMMENTS

A Day in the Life of an Ex-GL Intern: 3 Ways GL is still Helping Me Out

Hey gals! My name's Kristen. You might recognize me from articles on the site, answers to your Qs (yes, I’m a MOD!), or my “Day in the Life of an Intern” article. Even though it’s only been a couple months since I wrote that post, a lot has changed. Not only am I non longer an intern at GL, but I’m also living away from home and on my own (well, if you don’t count my roomie) as a journalism student at the University of Maryland College Park! Go Terps!

In a field as competitive as journalism, experience is really your most valuable asset. I know, I know...cliché right? But that’s only ‘cause it’s true! I’m not gonna lie, the fun GL articles are way different from the hard-hitting news in our college paper. But even as a freshman, I’ve already been able to show off what I learned at Girls' Life. 

Having an internship doesn't just look great on my resume. I also already know how to meet deadlines, come up with story ideas, and take into account everything that happens behind-the-scenes. In the two months since I’ve been here, I’ve already written for a campus mag, handled media campaigning for a foundation and talked about the journalism school to prospective students.

My Halloween costume. Yes, that mask is made from a paper plate!

After coming up with story ideas, crafts, recipes, and more for all you girlies, my creative capacity is better than ever. What Halloween costume can you make out of clothes you already have—paper, colored pencils, paper plates, and fishing line? An Incredibles costume, of course (What can I say? I’m a poor college kid without a car!).

Whether I’m brainstorming a costume idea, pitching stories to campus mags, brightening up the drab dorm walls with collages, or helping a friend out with her look, the "think fast" creativity I learned at GL is always being put to great use.

 

3. Campus events + GL = Amazing Opportunities

On a big campus like this one, there’s always something going on. When I heard that Matt & Kim, one of my fave bands, was coming to perform, I was so excited! Since I’m still a contributing writer, I contacted GL right away to let them know about this amazing opp. And ya know what? The next week, I got to interview Matt Johnson, write up an article for GL’s site (keep your eyes peeled for it!), and go to the concert for free with a press pass! Can you say LUCKY?

 

Interning was a lot of work, but I never ever regretted it.  Coming in and getting the chance to do a lot more than just grab coffee for the editors is an amazing opportunity. Plus, it can help you out even after you’re out of the office. Thanks for everything, GL!

 

-Kristen Yeung

BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/8/2009 8:00:00 AM 18 COMMENTS