Namelia-J's movie pick

"The City Of Ember" - Namelia-J's Pick





When mankind is about to come to an end, a group of scientists decide to create and populate a city deep underground. The city of Ember is to last for 200 years after which its inhabitants are to retrieve from a strong box instructions to return to the surface. Over time however, the message is lost and life in Ember is rapidly deteriorating. Their power supply is failing and food is being rationed. It's left to two young adults to unearth the secret of Ember and to lead the way out.


We think: This is a nice movie about global warming - a problem that we are facing right now. We would not be surprised if this is what our future will be like if we do not take care. The cast is also not bad but could be better. Overall, this is a pleasantly good movie to watch.



"Marley and Me"

After their wedding, newspaper writers John and Jennifer Grogan move to Florida. In an attempt to stall Jennifer's "biological clock", John gives her a puppy. While the puppy Marley grows into a 100 pound dog, he loses none of his puppy energy or rambunctiousness. Meanwhile, Marley gains no self-discipline. Marley's antics give John rich material for his newspaper column. As the Grogans mature and have children of their own, Marley continues to test everyone's patience by acting like the world's most impulsive dog.


We Think: Light hearted and funny, this is the perfect movie to watch with your whole family. Watching this movie made me think twice about ever owning a dog. I cringed at every single thing Marley did - some of them my old dog used to do before. Although the movie is a tad predictable, it is a fun movie to watch. I laughed at alot of the things that Marley did that drove his family up the wall. Once again, a great movie to watch with the family! :)


"Dragonball"

The story begins with Goku, who seeks out upon his adoptive grandfather Grandpa Gohan's dying request to find the great Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls. Of which he has one, in order to prevent the evil Lord Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the Dragon Balls to take over the world. And Goku's quest is to obtain the mystical Dragonballs before Piccolo does.


We Think: This movie is very predictable but it is not that bad. We love the martial arts in this movie. We think that was pretty great. However, die hard Dragonball fans may not be too happy about this movie for very obvious reasons. But that doesn't mean you should give this movie a miss.



"The Race to Witch Mountain"

For years, stories have circulated about a secret place in the middle of the Nevada desert, known for unexplained phenomena and strange sightings. It's called Witch Mountain, and when a Las Vegas cab driver (Dwayne Johnson) finds two teens with supernatural powers in his cab, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure he can't explain. They work together to discover that the only chance to save the world lies in unraveling the secrets of Witch Mountain, and the race begins.

We Think: This movie was boring. At the beginning of the movie, I was confused to what on earth was going on. Half way through the movie, my eyes were already half closed and I was nodding off to sleep. I found the alien, Sara, very irritating for reasons you will find out when you watch this movie. I found myself wishing that she would just shut up. It was also very predictable. Another minus point.

Turn off the lights on the 28th!

No doubt nearly everyone has heard about the upcoming Earth Hour on the 28th of March? It is being announced on the radio nonstop, constantly reminding us about it. For those of you who do not know, we will tell you. On the 28th of March, we are all to switch off our lights at 8.30 PM for one hour. Yes, from 8.30 PM till 9.30 PM. Don't forget! We at Namelia-J fully support this act of helping to prevent global warming.

But don't just do this one good deed and then promptly forget all about it once the hype is all over. No. Saving the environment takes more effort than that.




We should all make it a habit to always save the environment in our own way (no matter how small) everyday because together, we can make a difference. So, if you are clueless, read on because we are going to give you ten tips to make you a more environmentally conscious individual.





TEN TIPS TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Do not wash the dishes with the water running continuously.
2. You may have heard this a million times before, but we are going to repeat it again. Reuse, reduce, recycle! It is the only way to go!
3. Bring your own shopping bag to the mall instead of accepting the plastic ones when you make a purchase in a store.
4. Compost your vegetable scraps.
5. Switch off the lights when you leave the room.
6. Set a timer on your air conditioner instead of letting it run throughout the night. Even better, use a fan instead.
7. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones - using polysterene containers is very harmful to the environment since it is not biogradeable.
8. If you must use plastic bags, use a biodegradeable one.
9. Join a carpool.
10. Wash and dry only full loads of dishes and laundry.

And that's about it! Of course, there are many many MANY more ways to help save the environment. We are just helping you towards your first step. Now, let's show Mother Nature that we love her and at the same time, help provide a better future for generations to come.

Announcement: Namelia-J is no longer a four women show

Yes, you read right. Namelia-J is no longer run by four teenage girls with nothing else better to do. Our numbers has dwindled down to a mere two! But fret not, this situation is temporary. Our editor, Hannah and our very own blonde-but-not-really-a-blonde Sofia have both taken off for National Service, leaving a very blur Melissa as the substitute editor and the kick ass graphic designer Hajer to fend for themselves for THREE WHOLE MONTHS. Let's hope I will be able to keep my cool since I have not the faintest idea on what to write about.

Hajer and I are going to miss Hannah and Sofia. It is going to be weird without you around, Hannah, since we have always been around each other since we were what, seven? And Sofia too. I will miss hanging out and talking about a whole bunch of nonsense with you. There was almost nothing that I could not share with the both of you. *Rubs forehead in frustration* I can't wait to see the both of you again in three months time. And please don't forget us - you'd better not.

Anyways, enough with the rambling. This isn't my blog to sob in, after all.

I hope that I, Melissa, will be able to fill in Hannah's shoes and be able to maintain the blog style of posting that is Namelia-J.

Thank you,

Melissa

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk!

For those of you wondering why we haven't had time to update much, we're telling you now that tomorrow, at least 3 out of the 4 Namelia-J staff are facing their very own doomsday!

That's right! The ever frightening, heart-breaking SPM results are coming out tomorrow, March 12th, around 10am; and more than half of our crew are all ready quaking where they stand.

So, yeah, we'll be honest with ourselves and the rest of you reading out there that we haven't been the most studious of individuals back in high school. But, hey! Like they say: no use crying over spilled milk, am I correct?

If there were any good coming out of this, it would be the fact that at least you readers out there have a heads up: take it from us this time around and do not play the fool if you're not ready to deal with the consequences!

Start your school year good by hitting the books early -- don't regret it later on.

Well, that's all the advice we can give to you now. If anyone of you guys have advice for us in return, don't hesitate to share 'em, yeah?

Wish us luck! (Because we'll definitely need it!)

New Namelia-J Badge!

Yes, another one! Namelia-J bids a fond farewell to our old badge and a hearty hello to this uber cool new one.

Love it, hate it, whatever. Just enjoy it! ;)

Guide for the Beautiful Plus-Sized Teen

Just because you are a plus-sized teen doesn't mean you can't be a fashion queen! Check out some of these style tips. By Zue.

Don't Ever Hide Under Baggy Clothes!

The biggest fashion mistake that plus-sized teens make is hiding themselves under layers of over sized, baggy clothing. The intention is to conceal their extra pounds by covering themselves up. Unfortunately, wearing baggy clothes only makes you look bigger, and it hides the shape and figure that you do have. A baggy, long shirt will mask your waistline and make your body look much wider than it actually is. Plus girls actually need a more tailored, well fitting wardrobe than their smaller counterparts! Get clothes in your size, or one size larger if you like a slightly loose fit - but no more than one size above your actual size. Remember, your curves are beautiful! And so are you! Nikki Blonsky's not afraid to show her curves!



Accentuate the Positive.

Being a teenager is all about being fashion forward. Develop a personal style, and always accentuate your favorite attributes. For example, if you've got great calves, don't be afraid to wear a skirt that is cut above the knee to show them off. Just because you're not a size four doesn't mean you can't wear stylish outfits. A beautiful, voluptuous shape is entirely worth showcasing! Adopt America Ferrera's positive attitude.



Be Colourful.

You've probably heard that black is slimming, and while this can be true, why would you want to look like you are going to a funeral every day of you life? Come out of mourning, and add some splashes of vibrant color to your life. Not only will you look better, but you will feel better. Bright colors can actually lift your spirits. Also, when you wear black, you blend into the background of things and when you wear color, you stand out - and yes, that is what you want! If vibrant colors just aren't you, consider deep jewel tones, like teal, burgundy and plum. While it is advisable to avoid horizontal stripes if you're trying to look more slender, you shouldn't shy away from patterns. See Queen Latifah!



Try To Accessorize.

Fashion isn't just about clothes. It's also about the accessories, as every fashionista knows. Plus girls can pull off bold, stylish looks with ease! You should coordinate your outfit with your shoes, jewelry, and handbag. Your hair and makeup are also integral to your style. So many plus-sized teenaged girls simply ignore their appearance because they feel that if they're not skinny, there's no use in trying. This could not be further from the truth! Take care of yourself and nurture your appearance. An ample booty doesn't mean you can't also have the hottest hairstyle. Look through celebrity hair style magazines, and ask your hairdresser to replicate the style for you - be sure to bring along the picture. Also, make sure that you ask your hairdresser to walk you through the techniques that he or she used to create the style - so that you can do it yourself at home. Be confident like Adele.

Plus-sized young women can be fashion mavens! It's all about accentuating the positive and developing your own personal style.

Remember, you are beautiful too. ;)

BOOKS, Pick of the Month: March

Did you all notice that nowadays most books are all about vampires? There is just something so intriguing about them, don't you think? So we at Namelia-J have decided to do book reviews on four vampire novels this month! And let me tell you, trying to decide the pick of the month was very difficult because these books were just so GOOD.

"Marked" by P.C and Kristin Cast
Namelia-J's Pick of the Month



When sixteen year old Zoey is marked by the Tracker, she knows her old life is over. Now she has to leave her friends and family to join the House of Night School, where there's only one subject Zoey needs to study: Vampire 101. Of course, there's always a catch, and this one's nice and simple: if you fail, you die...

We think: Someone please give the mother and daughter team which consists P.C. and Kristin Cast an award! This is the first book in the House of Night series. They have created an intriguing story where readers can definitely relate to the characters. Sadly, the book ended when the excitement was just beginning. I would like to read more of the Casts' works on House of Night series and hopefully, the rest will be just as good, if not better!




"Blue Bloods" by Melissa De La Cruz

Schuyler Van Allen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes to the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates. But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler's life changes dramatically. The death of a popular schoolmate haunts her in unexpected ways. And strangest of all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her. Once an outcast, Schuyler is is thrust into Manhattan's most exclusive social circle. Its members are the powerful, the wealthy, and - as Schuyler soon discovers - the inhuman. They are Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires, and for centuries they've been invincible. Now something is preying on this elite group, and Schuyler wants to find out the truth. But is she the most vulnerable of them all?

We think: Sexy and compelling, this is definitely a book that you should read. I think Melissa De La Cruz has created one of the most interesting concepts of vampires, far different from your traditional stake-fearing vampire. Give this book a try and you will see for yourself that you will get addicted to Melissa De La Cruz's Blue Bloods series.

"Cirque Du Freak" by Darren Shan

Darren Shan is just an ordinary schoolboy - until he gets an invitation to visit the Cirque Du Freak... until he meets Madam Octa... until he comes face to face with a creature of the night. Soon, Darren and his friend Steve are caught in a deadly trap. Darren must make a bargain with the one person who can save Steve. But that person is not human and only deals in blood...

We think: As the first book of the Darren Shan saga, it is a great start to a great series. This series is full of unexpected twists and turns that will keep you begging for more. This book even made me cry at one point because of the emotional part of it. You can't go wrong with this book. Even J.K Rowling, the genius behind the Harry Potter series, reviewed this book, saying, 'A compelling book... a plot full of twists which leaves the reader hungry for more.'

"A Girl's Guide to Vampires" by Katie MacAlister

Nowadays, finding The One really can be a pain in the neck. Joy Randall should know. She's been looking for the right guy for years. But, as yet, no real man has lived up to the heroes of the vampire romance novels she's completely addicted to. So when her friend Roxy suggests a holiday to the Czech Republic, Joy simply can't say no. After all, it has everything: A craggy romantic landscape; tall, dark, handsome strangers; Immortal, undead, bloodsucking fiends... OK, the last one is just Roxy's imagination. Because vampires don't really exist... or do they? Plagued by dreams of a handsome stranger, haunted by a mysterious prophecy, and pursued by three pale, brooding, sinister suitors, suddenly, Joy isn't so sure...

We think: The beginning of the book is really slow and boring, it is only later on that this book gets interesting. But not interesting enough. Not only that, but I found that Joy's bestfriend, Roxy, is really annoying. I think this book might have strayed away from the plot somewhat. But this book is not all bad. There is definitely a few highlights in this book. But not enough to call this book good.