COOL CHICK... 1970S STYLE!

Recently I wrote about growing up in the 1970s, and lots of you liked the fashion pics I posted... so I thought I'd share some more seventies style with you!

Cathy says:
I remember when C&A was a cool place to buy your clothes. OK, maybe not a COOL place, but a place... it was a department store that sold clothes for all ages, and it was cheaper than a lot of the other shops, so most of my clothes as a teen came from there. I had a dress a little bit like the ones on the right when I was thirteen - very pretty and cute with lots of ruching and a flowery print. Two years later I had a brown party dress (who ever decided that brown was a party colour?) made of various contrasting Indian prints, and some tassels hanging from the waist, also from C&A. I never quite looked like the girls in the illustrations in Jackie mag, but I tried to follow the fashions, even when I wasn't all that sure I liked them much.

Make up was even harder than clothes.... I didn't have a clue. My first foray into the world of make up came at the age of eleven when I went on my first trio to town without an adult in tow, with a school friend called Siobhan. She was quite grown up and sophisticated... she loved the colour purple (almost as cool in the 1970s as brown!) and had a brilliant pair of purple flared dungarees and long light brown hair as straight and shiny as a model's. We headed straight for the make up counter in Boots and tried as many samples as we could - then we both bought an eyeshadow. The same eyeshadow, the coolest one in the whole shop. It was a tiny, push-up, lipstick-like tube of purple eyeshadow and cost about 40p. We ran into a nearby department store and went straight into the Ladies loo, where we smeared stripes of purple onto our eyelids and strutted around town feeling very grown up. We probably looked ridiculous, but who cared? We didn't.

A few years later, my favourite make up item was a strawberry flavoured lip gloss. It made my mouth look sticky and shiny, but it tasted nice. When punk came along, I got very good at painting on bright yellow eyeshadow alongside purple and blue. I looked like I had a couple of black eyes, but again, who cared? It was the fashion! I didn't have much money for make up as a teenager, so I never really got to experiment too much... but a friend once shared her glitter gel with me at a party, painting my cheeks and lips and eyelids with silver sparkles. That was the day I wore my first and only high heels and danced all night with a boy I'd never met before in a shiny blue bomber jacket and clumpy boots. I got blisters and had to walk home carrying the shoes... bad news. And I never saw the boy in the bomber jacket again, which was probably a very good thing. I tried to be a cool chick in the 1970s, but I didn't really succeed. The 1980s, though... well, that was a whole different story. I'll tell you about it sometime... ;o)

Could YOU have had fun as a teen in the 1970s? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

GEORGE: SPEAKING UP FOR LIBRARIES

Twelve year old George cares so much about libraries he came along to the Speak Up For Libraries lobby at Westminster. He made one of the best speeches of the day and had his photo taken for the newspapers with a bunch of bestselling authors! 

George says:
On Tuesday 9th February I went to London after being invited to attend the Speak Up for Libraries rally in Westminster. I was asked to be a junior reporter at the event, and wanted to attend as I feel so strongly about the situation libraries are in right now - so many are being closed. I prepared a short speech beforehand, just in case I had the chance to speak, and luckily I was able to give that speech. Although I was nervous, authors Cathy Cassidy and Eve Ainsworth were especially supportive, and I was so glad to be able to speak up and make my point.

Our government say they want all children to have a library card, but this is hypocritical when they then close libraries right across the country. There is no benefit to closing libraries. It is like shutting off a child's access to knowledge. There is no legal requirement for schools to have a library, so how can children find the books they need if they have no public or school library? Many families cannot afford to buy books, and certainly not enough books to satisfy young, curious minds.

At the rally we heard how some children use libraries to escape problems at home or school, and also to access brilliant literature and do homework. Not only this, the visually impaired can borrow spoken word stories, book onto courses and socialise; the unemployed can use the computers to look for work; families with young children can co to Rhymetime and Storytime and meet other new parents. Libraries are a safe place for people with mental health issues and offer contact for the elderly who might not see or speak to anyone for days and days. My local library holds sensory storytime sessions for children with additional needs, who may not always feel comfortable or welcome in mainstream toddler groups.

Before the Speak Up For Libraries rally, I worried mainly about how library closures would affect children like me, but after hearing the speakers I learnt that library closures will affect the whole of our society.

Cathy says:
George is a brilliant speaker... the star of the show as far as I was concerned, and is now part of a new YOUTH LIBRARY CAMPAIGN I am putting together. Do YOU feel strongly about library closures? COMMENT BELOW to have your say and email me via the 'email Cathy' link on www.cathycassidy.com if you are interested in being part of the YOUTH LIBRARY CAMPAIGN.

AMY: I WAS CHOSEN AS HEAD GIRL!

Reader Amy tells us what it's like to be chosen to be Head Girl of your school... 

Amy says:
Back in Year Seven, I had no clue that one day I might be Head Girl. I was quite shy at that point, but I settled into secondary school quite well, even though I was the only person from my primary to go to that school. It was scary to start with, but there were lots of girls in the same situation as me. I had a few problems with friendships in Year Eight and Nine, but by Year Ten I had made some great friends who helped me to build my confidence and encouraged me to take the opportunity of being Head Girl... I am really glad to have them!

By Year Ten, I was already a student leader and I was then selected along with seven other girls from my year, to take part in interviews to become Head Girl. We were interviewed by a panel of other students and had to do a presentation to the Head Teacher and head of student leaders, about what we hoped to do in our time as Head Girl should we be selected. I'm not sure why I was chosen - the other girls who were interviewed are amazing, and four of them are now my deputies, which is great! I am really flattered to have been chosen. I think part of it could be that I am quite articulate, which I get from reading so much! I used to take part in the annual Kid's Lit quizzes, which were amazing, and a great way to make new friends.

My school is great at getting girls to achieve - the motto is 'Enjoy, Achieve, Aspire.' We're a girls' school and they try to show us as many career opportunities as possible and make sure we know we can achieve as much as any male could. Right now there is a lot of focus on STEM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths - as there is such a lack of women in those fields. It scares me to think that the girls in my classes who excel in these subjects may not get to use their skills just because those careers are so male-dominated.

Our school is strict on uniform. We had a new design four years ago which I like much better than the old version, although it's still green which is not the most popular choice alas! The school is strict where it needs to be, but most teachers are laid back unless the students push it. One of the things I have helped to set up this year is a 'Year Seven Zone' where year Sevens can come if they want someone to talk to. Me and my deputies go there so that they can ask us questions and talk to us about stuff, which is great. There is also a support staff of student leaders who run an agony aunt email service for girls with any issues.

It's strange to think the younger girls look up to me, but a friend told me I should appreciate this and do something good with it. It was good advice, and now I try to encourage and support everyone as much as I can, especially during speeches and assemblies which is where I can make the most impact.

Cathy says:
Wow... Amy's school sounds pretty awesome! Do YOU ever dream of being Head Girl? What changes would you make? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

SALLY: NO SWEAT!

Reader Sally has a sticky problem to solve... read on and find out how Summer Tanberry would handle it!

Sally says:
I'm thirteen and most of my friends are wearing deodorant... actually, I feel like I'm the only one who isn't. Recently my dad said he thought me or my brother were smelling a bit weird after a hike, and secretly, I think it may have been me. I was too shy to say anything. I asked my mum recently at the supermarket if I could buy some deodorant as I was starting to sweat a lot more, but she says I don't need it because I shower every day. She doesn't understand! Don't say I should just sneak it into the trolley - seriously, my mum would just take it out again and return it. I find it very hard to talk to my mum about personal or girly things, but this is a problem I cannot ignore... what can I do?

Summer says:
It doesn't matter how clean you are, at puberty your body begins to perspire much more and as the day wears on, stale perspiration will not only feel wet, sticky and unpleasant but will also begin to smell. Exercise - like dance for example - can make matters worse, as can stress. As a dancer, I make sure I shower daily and use a good anti-perspirant deodorant once I have dried off, and body odour is not then a problem. Note, don't just buy deodorant - that will only mask the smell - you need an anti-perspirant deodorant. If you cannot talk to your mum about this, how about writing her a letter to explain your concerns and asking if she will reconsider. If she won't discuss the matter then, try asking your dad to have a word on your behalf. If that fails, use your pocket money to buy what you need. It's not ideal, but if your mum isn't able to see that you are growing up you may need to take matters into your own hands. Best of luck!

Cathy says:
Excellent advice from Summer - do YOU agree? Can you talk to YOUR mum about personal things? COMMENT BELOW and have your say!

MY PASSION: PHOTOGRAPHY

Reader Emily shares her love of photography with DREAMCATCHER in today's post about awesome and inspiring hobbies...

Emily says:
I think I have always had a love of photography. When I was in Reception we learned how to take pictures, and while everyone else was taking photos of their shoes, I remember actually looking at shapes and objects to make a cool image. I took some pretty good pictures for a five year old! I don't have those old pictures now, and over the years I stopped thinking about photography until I was nine and got my first iPod. The thing I was most excited about was the camera element! I ran straight outside and ended up taking about 300 pictures of just one flower! I used up all my picture storage within a day and my mum and stepdad were not happy with me, to say the least!

That novelty did wear off, but when I got an iPhone 5S for my fourteenth birthday things stepped up once again. My stepdad told me the camera on it was really good, so I tried it out and discovered he was right. When Christmas rolled around I was fascinated by the lights on the trees and the candles... the different qualities of light had me hooked!

Right now, photography is just a hobby, but I am choosing my options soon and I am hoping to take photography as a GCSE. My step-mum's friend is an amateur photographer, and she has looked at my work and says I have some potential; other people have also said my pictures show promise, which gives me a boost! I've heard that photography is not an easy GCSE to take, so I will take that into consideration, but it's not every day you get the chance to study your passion! I think photography helps you to see the world in a new way. If I don't take it as a GCSE subject I will follow it as a hobby anyway. It's my favourite way of passing the time when I'm feeling bored, and it also gets me off social media! Whether you try it as a hobby or as something more serious, I definitely recommend photography!

Cathy says:
Love these photographs... I might be asking Emily to take some pics for the DREAMCATCHER blog in future! Are YOU an avid photographer? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

A READER'S STORY: PICTURE PERFECT

Reader Ribh's fan-fiction story from Summer Tanberry's point of view is a real tear-jerker... make sure you have a box of tissues nearby!

Ribh writes:
As I flick through the photograph album with Mum, Paddy and my sisters beside me, tears sting my eyes. The photos are full of happy memories, but life's mishaps mean that they're upsetting memories now, and it hurts to see the photos. The others don't feel the same as me; they are laughing and saying how cute we were as children, while my heart breaks a little.

There is a picture of me, aged nine, walking in the forest near Tanglewood... there's snow on the ground and I'm carrying a lantern and a basket. Tears of sadness and joy flow down my cheeks - it's a perfect picture. I was with Mum and Dad - my real dad - and my sisters, and we were going for a winter picnic with our Christmas Day leftovers. We were happy then. I remember sharing in the feast, then dancing in the snow with the little lace skirt floating out around me.

Those were the days, the days when my eating disorder had not yet taken me over. The days when I always felt free and happy, when the love of dancing filled me up and lightened my soul. Back then my dreams were filled with images of dancing at the Royal Opera House. Now those dreams have turned into sleepless nights wondering what went wrong, wondering how the dreams turned to dust, how the world became a place filled with regret and heartache.

The tears streak my cheeks as I look at that old photograph, and I hate myself for letting an eating disorder destroy my dreams. I can't tell my sisters how I feel - they'd just worry even more about me than they do already. I am left feeling isolated and alone, looking at this fragment of a picture perfect life that was soon to fall apart, reminding me of the hopes and dreams I have lost, the happiness and freedom I have never quite found since. I may not be that happy chid any more, but I still have a child's innocence and vulnerability.

'You OK?' my twin Skye asks, and I wipe the tears away and pull a silly face.

'Sure,' I say. 'These old pictures are just so funny! How cute were we?'

I pretend that the tears are from laughter, and the innocent, vulnerable child is hidden yet again.

Cathy says:
Sniffle! Fab story, Ribh, and one that really taps into the deep sadness that Summer is hiding from her sisters. Gulp! Did YOU enjoy Ribh's fan-fiction? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

QUIZ: A NEW GIRL AT TANGLEWOOD...

Imagine there's a new girl at Tanglewood... a distant cousin of the Tanberry-Costello sisters, who just turns up for a visit. What would she be like? Take our just-for-fun quiz and see what your choices say about YOU!

1. You arrive on the doorstep of your distant cousins, with just a rucksack and a smile. What is your name?
a/ Viola
b/ Zanisha
c/ Kelly
d/ Marie-Louise

2/ The sisters ask where you have been living up until now. What do you tell them?
a/ With your Great Aunt Alexandra, in a large, rambling house in the Scottish Highlands.
b/ In a tower block in inner city London, although only because you are the secret daughter of a famous rock star and trying to avoid the publicity.
c/ In a small terraced house in Oswaldtwistle.
d/ In a down-at-heel chateau in the south of France.

3/ Paddy and Charlotte want to know why you're visiting unexpectedly. You can't tell them the whole story, but you do reveal...
a/ That your Great Aunt Alexandra once lived at Tanglewood, and you're curious to find out more about the family connections.
b/ That you're on the run from the papparrazzi....
c/ That you haven't had a holiday in ages and Kitnor looked pretty cool.
d/ That you have a huge and exciting family secret to investigate!

4/ You are given the gypsy caravan to stay in. You find it:
a/ Filled with the spirits of lost souls... your psychic powers won't let you get a moment's sleep!
b/ Old-fashioned and a bit draughty... and scary at night!
c/ Like heaven, after sharing a bedroom with an annoying little sister for the last six year of your life!
d/ Cool, quirky and private enough for you to work on your investigations.

5/ There is only one sister at Tanglewood you can confide in. Who, and why?
a/ Skye Tanberry - she knows all about the history of Tanglewood and is able to connect with the friendly ghosts who still linger there.
b/ Honey - she is soooo cool, like the big sister and role model you never had!
c/ Cherry Costello - she understands you and doesn't judge you for being a little bit of an outsider here.
d/ You can't trust anyone... this secret could rock the whole family!

6/ After a week, you disappear as unexpectedly as you arrived. Why?
a/ Your job is done. You've communicated with the lost spirits and set them free... they're able to rest in peace now, and you can finally let go of the sad story from your Great Aunt's past you've been uncovering.
b/ Your rock star dad has arrived in London. You'll be back... and you'll bring him along, to sing at the next Kitnor Chocolate Festival!
c/ You've had an amazing week, but if you stay any longer the family might find out that you're not related at all!
d/ Although you hold in your hands a secret that could pull the Tanberry-Costello family apart, you just cannot tell them. You have learned to love and respect them too much to ruin things, and some secrets are better off untold.

Now count up your results...
MOSTLY A:
You love mystery and intrigue, and delving into the past can offer plenty of that! You believe in ghosts and spirits and feel that the past is like another layer, just beyond the present - almost close enough to reach out and touch.
MOSTLY B:
You are looking for drama, glamour and thrills from a book - and also from life! You often dream of having a movie-star mum or a rock star dad... and you'd love to read about a character like Zanisha pitching up in the sleepy backwaters of Kitnor!
MOSTLY C:
You like your stories to be believable and based in reality, but perhaps with a twist in the tail. Like your character, you would love a chance to be welcomed with open arms into the cool and quirky world of Tanglewood... even if you don't really belong there!
MOSTLY D:
Romance, secrecy and a sense of danger are things that bring a story to life for you... Marie-Louise poses a threat to life at Tanglewood, though the sisters don't realise. Thank goodness she likes the family too much to drop a bombshell into their world! But... what IS that secret? ;o)

Cathy says:
Love this fun quiz... there could be a whole new book based on it. Or maybe four! Which character were YOU the most like? COMMENT BELOW and tell us more!

SKYSCRAPER HEELS… YES OR NO?

Do you like high heels? More to the point, can you walk in them? Readers share their love-hate relationships with high heeled shoes!

Kate says:
My favourite shoes are these blue suede platform sandals. I am not usually a high heels girl but platforms feel different - a bit less wobbly! They are very high - four or five inches - but the platforms under your feet make it seem less. Still, it took me a while to work out how to walk in them! My gran says everyone wore them in the 70s and I quite like the idea that I am being vintage when I wear them, but in a different way from the lace dresses and ballgowns style of vintage! The shoes make me feel tall (well, they would!) and powerful, and I love that they are so different and unique. I couldn't run for the bus in them, though - I'd probably break my ankles! They came from Afflecks Palace in Manchester which is three floors of awesome vintage and alternative fashion shops, and they cost £22 which is a bargain for the amount of times I have worn them and the compliments they've got. So I am not a high heels girl, but I AM a platform soles girl! They are the 'height' of cool!

Hazel says:
I'm not allowed to wear heels higher than two inches until I'm fourteen (almost there!) but I am definitely a fan. I'm not too keen on platform heels but I love stilettos - they just add elegance to every outfit! The colours and styles are amazing - I really fancy a pair of bright red heels!

Niamh says:
As much as I love my flats, I am just over five foot and my friends are all around 5' 8". I only really wear my heels on a night out, and even then I have to have a quick practice the day before. My highest pair are seven inches high with an inch and a half platform sole... true killer heels!

Rebecca G says:
I love my heels and wear them almost every day. They give me a sense of confidence. I can only wear about four inches though!

Rebecca T says:
I'm a disaster on heels! I had to have 4cm heels for prom... I could have had some gorgeous 8cm heels but I couldn't stand up in them. They'd have gone so well with my dress, too, and I'm really tiny height-wise so they'd have looked great. Ah well. I struggle not to trip over in trainers, let alone heels!

Annemarie says:
I wish I could walk in heels, but I just can't!

Holly says:
My dance shoes are the only high heels I'd really wear. I love them because they are so comfy (apart from right after a dance competition, when they really aren't!) and really pretty. The big bonus is that they make me 2.5 inches taller which is great when you're just 5' 4". As for normal heels, not a chance - they look pretty but they kill my feet until I take them off. Dance shoes excluded, I own two pairs of heels, my wedges and my prom shoes.

Grace says:
I can't walk in high heels. I can barely walk in a straight line in bare feet, so heels are a big no-no for me.

Violet says: 
Probably not, though I can't say I've tried! I wear platform boots but don't count them as they are still flat soled. High heels look uncomfortable and are not my style at all. Mum always suggests I try because I'm really short, but I don't see the point in looking taller if I spend most of my time face down on the floor or staggering around like Bambi!

Thanks to Kate, Niamh and Holly for the fab pics! Loving those shoes, too!

Cathy says:
I am hopeless... I have only had one pair of high heels, when I was sixteen. I wore them to a party and couldn't dance in them, then had to walk home in my stocking feet, carrying them... epic fail! I am strictly a flat boots kinda gal these days. Do YOU like heels? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

EMMA: THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN AT THIRTEEN!

Reader Emma shares a few home truths with her thirteen year old self in today's DREAMCATCHER post… a must-read!

Emma says:
The teenage years, It's that time in your life you spend your childhood waiting for - there is no feeling that compares to that build up to your thirteenth birthday, and that gut feeling that tells you nothing will be the same again. Here are some of the things I wish I'd known back then. Although knowing me, if someone had told me I'd have pretended I was 'too mature' to listen!

• You can't always get what you want, but you don't necessarily get what you need either. Sometimes, you work hard and do everything right and things STILL don't work out. This is just one of life's hard truths. Don't worry, though - life still tends to throw some good things your way every now and then, too.
• At age thirteen, the chances are you'll be at secondary school and learning to organise your study and revision skills, sometimes for a midterm exam that you KNOW is not going to benefit you in the future. It may be a pain, but you have to learn it anyway. Do it sooner rather than later. Studying in a panic, ten minutes before an exam, is not good. Nor is running away and starting over under an alias. Trust me, spare yourself the mental trauma and do the work!
• You don't have to figure out who you are overnight! In most teen movies you've ever seen, the main character has a lightbulb moment where they 'find themselves'. Chances are that won't happen. You're more likely to work things out as you go along. Small things you don't take much notice of at the time can combine to make you who you are!
• People who are remembered are often those who are kind to others. That's right - not the best dressed girl, the best looking boy, the most popular person, but the kindest. In twenty years time, the chances are you're going to remember the person who helped you when you were down, not the well-dressed but not-so-nice popular kid.
• Have fun. It's OK to go a bit crazy. This is the stage of your life when you are allowed to  get a bit reckless at times and blame it on your age. That's OK! There's no moment when you will be expected to know everything and grow up on the spot. If we were meant to do that, we'd have been going to school seven days a week and working in an office at age fourteen!
• The majority of people are morally good. Everyone has their own cross to bear and when you come across someone who seems less strong morally, don't let them get to you. No-one knows what happens behind closed doors, and you don't win points for fighting back. There will be times when your instinct tells you to do it, but trust me, when you fight fire with fire, all you end up with is a bigger fire!

Picture posed by reader ALICE - many thanks Alice!

Cathy says:
Fab advice from Emma as always… what do YOU wish you'd known at age thirteen? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

MIA: I WANT TO TELL HIM THAT I LIKE HIM...

It's problem page time on DREAMCATCHER again... reader Mia has a boy-related worry for Honey Tanberry to unravel!

Mia says:
There is this boy in my class... and I really like him. The trouble is, he doesn't know this! I made a Valentine's card for him but in the end one of my friends had to hand it over as I was just too nervous. I really want to tell him that I like him but I am really scared. What can I do?

Honey says:
If it were me, I would just come out and tell him... or I'd try a bit of flirting so he was in no doubt that I had my eye on him. Not everybody is as upfront as I am though, so let's find a less in-your-face way to help him get the message! The Valentine's card should help... he'll already know that someone is crushing on him, and should be looking around for clues! If you're quite shy and anxious about this, why not go low-key and get chatting to him as a friend? That way the pressure is off and you can talk about silly, ordinary stuff and actually get to know each other a bit. If the attraction stays as strong as ever, good! You can build on this by mentioning a film at the cinema you're dying to watch, or hint that it's been ages since you last went ice skating or whatever, and see if he takes the hint! Once the pressure is off a little bit, he will be free to let you know if he likes you too, which is definitely progress. Not all boys mature as fast as girls do, so even if he does like you he may not feel ready for a relationship. Don't be sad if he doesn't share your feelings... cupid has rotten aim sometimes, but if you get to know him as a friend you'll have gained a mate anyway, and that can't be bad. And if that all seems too long and drawn out... well, just take a deep breath and tell him you fancy him to bits. It always seems to work for me!

Cathy says:
Honey cuts to the chase as usual... would YOU take her upfront and direct approach or can you suggest something more subtle? COMMENT BELOW with your suggestions fro Mia!

ZOE: SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKES!

Reader Zoe, a university student, took a study break to road-test a fab recipe for salted caramel cupcakes... if they taste as good as they look, we're in business!

You will need:
150g softened butter
150g caster sugar
3 free range eggs
150g self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the buttercream:
50g softened butter
200g icing sugar
pinch seasalt
spoonful of salted caramel sauce
little cubes of fudge

To make:
- Preheat oven to 180c (160 if it's a fan oven, gas mark 4). Line a cupcake tin with 12 paper cases.

- Place butter & sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs gradually until the mixture is smooth.

- Stir in the flour, baking powder and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

- Spoon a little mixture into each cupcake case and bake for 25 mins until golden brown and firm to the touch.

-Set the cupcakes onto a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

- Make buttercream. Place butter in a bowl with 1-2 teaspoons boiling water, add icing sugar and beat until smooth, stirring in seasalt flakes. Ice the cupcakes.

- For extra amazing cupcakes, drizzle shop-bought salted caramel sauce across the tops of the cakes and scatter on a few cubes of fudge to complete the decadent effect. Invite some friends over to share - you will be very popular indeed, I promise!

Cathy says:
Swoon... this recipe is to die for, and Zoe's results are gorgeous... yum! Have YOU got a cool recipe for DREAMCATCHER? COMMENT BELOW to tell me more!