Making the rounds to see all your family over the holidays takes quite a bit of effort. There’s breakfast and parade watching at Grandma’s, a quick stop at your aunt’s house, the annual Thanksgiving Day movie and, of course, dinner with the whole family.

It’s especially tough to juggle it all if your parents aren’t together anymore. You want to be fair and spend equal time with both sides of the family, but that’s easier said than done.

Add a comment to share how you split your time with family over the holidays, and how you try to make that time memorable. And have a happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

When it comes to showing your emotions, from frustration to excitement, sometimes you just need to let it all out. But if you could let them out in a creative way, imagine the amazing things you might do.

You could focus all that emotion into your computer keyboard, by sharing your thoughts in a blog. You could use that emotion to power your moves in a dance class. Or you could take those feelings and turn them into notes on the piano. Whatever your talent, using your emotions as energy will help you express yourself and further develop that talent.

So how do you express yourself creatively? Add a comment to tell us about your talent and how you use it to convey your emotions.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

After a long day at school, you sit down to dinner and your mom asks, “What did you learn today?” You shrug and give her one of the usual replies – “Nothing much,” or “Same old stuff.”

But you had to learn something new, right? Isn’t that how the saying goes? I bet if you take a good look back at your day, you’ll find that you did learn something. Maybe it was small, a bit of trivia you’d never known before. Maybe it was a lesson learned the hard way, like never eat the Salisbury steak at lunch again … ever. Or maybe it was something about yourself that you didn’t know until now, like that you actually enjoy running in gym or speaking in front of the entire English class.

The new thing you learn every day doesn’t necessarily have to come from your homework. If you just take a moment to think back on the day’s events, you’ll probably find you learned much more than you remember. To share something you learned today, add a comment – we’d love to learn something new, too!

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

No matter where you’re headed or for how long, there’s nothing more aggravating than realizing that your period is going to land smack dab in the middle of your vacation. It puts an instant damper on any trip.

But you don’t have to say goodbye to carefree relaxation and hello to crabby crampiness. A little preparation can go a long way to make sure that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.

Be sure to pack plenty of pads in your suitcase (and if you’re flying, pack pads and an extra pair of underwear in your carry-on, too, just in case.) If your trip involves a lot of activity, like hiking or swimming, be sure to pack plenty of tampons if you feel comfortable using them. (Check out Kotex® pads and tampons to find the ones that fit you best, wherever you are.) Finally, to ease cramps, bring along a heating pad or, if there’s a hot tub in your hotel, hop in to relax for a bit each day.

Do you have a tip for traveling while on your period? Or a story about a trip when you weren’t so prepared? Add a comment to share it.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

There was a time when you needed Mom and Dad’s help for everything. Getting dressed, doing your schoolwork, even getting a snack required a helping hand.

But now, you’re growing up, becoming more independent and doing certain things on your own, like feeding the family pet or doing your own laundry. Sometimes the things you can do on your own are a big help to the others in your family. Maybe you have a list of chores that your parents expect you to complete each week, or a younger brother or sister that you have to baby-sit or help out with every once in a while.

What is one thing you do on your own that makes you feel more independent or grown-up? Add a comment to tell us about it. And whatever it is, be proud of it – learning responsibility is what growing up is all about!

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

Every year, when the final bell rings on the last day of school, summer seems so full of promise. The possibilities are endless! You might go on vacation, meet a new friend or two, read a great book … who knows? But it always seems that when fall rolls around, you look back at your three months off and wonder, “What did I do?”

Maybe you slept in, lay by the pool or chatted on the computer, all of which is great – there is always room for some down time on summer vacation. But think about what you did to make the summer stand out. Does anything come to mind?

This year take a moment to think about what you can do this summer that will really make a difference. Then add a comment to tell us about it. Volunteer to walk the neighborhood dogs, start your own babysitting business, volunteer your time to a community project … it’s summer – the possibilities are endless!

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

Our moms teach us so many important things – how to tie our shoes, braid hair, make cookies and pick out our own clothes. Though they seem small, they’re memories that last a lifetime. But it seems the lessons from mom that stick with us the most are the ones that really shape who we are.

My mom is the queen of performing random acts of kindness. She’s the kind of person who would put change in a perfect stranger’s empty parking meter, or chase after and return a can of soup that had rolled out of someone’s car at the grocery store. She taught me to always do the right and kind thing, whenever given the opportunity. I’ve always thought that if I were even half as kind as she is, I’d be on the right track.

To celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day, tell us about the most important thing she has taught you so far. Whether it was something small, a huge life lesson or something that made you a better person, add a comment to share.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

You wake up, go to school, head to practice for a few hours and go home to study, do homework and go to sleep to do it all over again the very next day. You work hard to get good grades, play hard at your sport or hobby and try hard to stay in touch with friends. With so much packed into each and every day, it’s easy to see how girls today can get stressed out.

There’s a fine line between staying involved in extracurricular activities and overdoing it. When you find that you don’t even have a moment to relax, or when a hobby or class you once loved begins to seem like a chore, it’s safe to say you’ve crossed that line. It’s time to take a step back and see what you can do to lighten your load a bit.

Do you have a hectic schedule? How do you find time for yourself? And what’s your secret for balancing family, friends, school and everything else you do? Add a comment to share your tips with us all.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

Keeping my room clean was never something I was very good at. I had clothes all over the place (both dirty and clean, with no real system to differentiate the two), my backpack dumped out onto the floor (where is that sparkly pen?!) and I probably didn’t make my bed for whole school years at a time. But after some “encouragement” from Mom now and again, I was forced to pick everything up and put it all away. No harm, no foul, my room was good as new.

Doing my part to keep the environment clean is a little more complex. Cluttering our earth with car fumes, plastic bags and empty pop cans isn’t something I can just undo. I try to be very conscious with my actions, no matter how small they seem, when it comes to preserving our planet. I walk to school, I use an eco-friendly tote instead of plastic bags, I recycle all my cans, magazines and bottles, and I drink tap water. Small things, I know. But imagine the difference it would make if everyone did just a few small things.

What do you do to help the environment? Whether it’s big or small, add a comment to share your “green” habits. Because when we all do our part, it adds up to something really great.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

Valentine’s Day can be a rough day for us girls. We often hold high expectations of what could happen (maybe I’ll have a secret admirer, maybe I’ll have three secret admirers, maybe my celebrity crush will realize that I’ve been “the one” all along!) But sometimes our imaginations and our love for romantic comedies get the better of us, and we end up a little disappointed.

You know what? That’s all right. It’s fun to dream and hope for our own movie moments. As long as you love yourself for who you really are, you know that someday someone will be lucky enough to be your Valentine.

So to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, show yourself a little love. Whether it’s your knowledge of all things punk rock, your ability to quote movie lines, or your willingness to try anything once, tell us what you truly admire about your own personality. Because someday, someone else will love that about you, too.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi

Here we are again, at the beginning of another new year. It’s a time to look back on the previous year and remember all the fun we had, the music we listened to and the things we learned.

But it’s also a time to look forward. It’s exciting to think about what’s to come in 2009 – new trends, cool gadgets, upcoming movies and everything else in between. For me, it’s my family’s trip to Florida. I’ve got a countdown going right on my desktop.

What are you looking forward to this year? Getting your braces off? Going to your first dance? Starting a new hobby? Whatever it is, add a comment to tell us why 2009 is going to be a great year for you.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi
a Kotex Resource

Everyone wants something this holiday season. We head to the malls and online to find the perfect gifts for every person on our list, because we love to see the looks on our friends’ and family members’ faces when they open up something they really want. I’m no different – for me, a digital camera and a cute new winter coat would do the trick.

But there’s another kind of wish list each of us carries around. The one with the things we really want, the things money can’t buy. Things like health, peace and happiness all fall on this list.

So what’s on yours? Whether you wish it for yourself or another, add a comment to tell us all about the one thing you want this holiday season that can’t be bought.

See you in the New Year!
Miss Maxi

a Kotex Resource

Everyone’s family can be a nuisance at times. Maybe your brother listens in on your telephone calls, your dad wears those goofy pants and your mom insists on calling your friend’s parents to make sure they’ll be home during her party.

Yes, family can be quirky and a little embarrassing. But for the most part, your family is there for you. Just mention some guy picking on you at lunch, and your brother is all over it. Dad is always ready with a corny joke to cheer you up when you’re down. And you know you could go to Mom with any one of a thousand dilemmas (girl-related or otherwise) and she’d take time to sit down and help you through it.

With the holidays approaching, it’s the perfect time of year to realize just how great family is and how thankful we are to have them by our side. Add a comment to tell us about your family – who’s a part of it, what they do that really drives you nuts, and what they do that just makes you super-thankful they’re around.

Happy holidays! Until next time,
Miss Maxi
a Kotex Resource

Cliques can turn making new friends into some kind of audition. Instead of getting to know you, to see if you have similar interests, hobbies and sense of humor, you’ve got to have the right clothes, the right hair, know the right people and say the right things. The truth is, even though the girls inside most cliques seem cool and confident, they’re usually insecure, tend to follow the crowd, and don’t have many opinions of their own.

So what can you do to steer clear of cliques and form true friendships with people who like the real you?
• Know who you are and what you value. Ask yourself if you want to be friends with these girls because you have similar interests and ideals, or because you want to feel accepted.
• Get involved in activities that make you feel good about yourself. You’ll end up being surrounded with like-minded people who enjoy the same hobbies – a good combination for a great friendship.
• Have a mind of your own. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion and voice it. Real friends will appreciate your courage and honesty.

Do you have a problem with cliques at your school? How do you and your friends deal with them? Or maybe you’re in a clique and need a little advice on getting out. Add a comment to let it all out.

Until next time,
Miss Maxi
a Kotex Resource

Hey, girls. Hope you’re all getting excited about heading back to school. You’ve got classes, teachers, friends, sports and everything else that goes along with a new year on your mind. The last thing you want to think about is your period. You want to focus on being you and living your life, while keeping that time of the month in the background as much as possible.

One way to keep your period from making headlines is to have the right protection on hand. Whether you wear pads or tampons keep a few in your backpack and locker. If you have a close friend who doesn’t mind, give her a back-up pad or tampon, just in case you run out. Then when it’s her time of the month, you can return the favor.

And remember, use a pad or tampon that’s absorbent enough for your flow, and change it every four to six hours to prevent embarrassing leaks.

Another way to keep your period to yourself is by using products you can easily conceal, and knowing how and where to hide them. Kotex® Ultra Compact Ultra-Thin Pads come neatly folded inside a tiny storage pouch you can stow it away in the palm of your hand. A tampon is easy to conceal, too – just tuck it up inside your sleeve, holding it against your wrist with your fingertips, and no one will ever know it’s there. In a pinch, you can hide your products in your cell phone case, your coin purse, or in between the pages of your textbook for a quick trip to the bathroom.

What do you do when it comes to keeping your period, pads and tampons to yourself? Add a comment to share your stealthy tricks.

Until next time,

Miss Maxi
a Kotex Resource

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Edited by MissMaxi at 09/04/2008 7:55 AM PDT