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3 Foolproof Ways to Sound Professional on the Phone

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When it comes to acting professional, face-to-face interactions usually come to mind, but what about on the phone? It’s hard enough to calm your nerves when talking to a potential employer or supervisor, but doing it over the phone can be extra tricky. One of the main things you might worry about is how your voice sounds, but there are tricks to make you strong and confident. Don’t be too self-conscious about how you sound; after all, it’s what you’re actually saying that matters most!

Expert Dr. Paul Bailo, author of The Essential Phone Interview Handbook and PR pros Meryl Weinsaft Cooper and Jessica Kleiman, co-authors of Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded at Work weigh in on how to make your voice sound professional over the phone.

1. Warm up your vocal cords

You can say as many tongue twisters and vocal exercises as you want, but there is an extra secret ingredient to making your voice sound smoother. “Having a teaspoon of honey can help to soothe your throat,” says Dr. Bailo. By doing this, you can avoid having to cough or clear your throat in the middle of an interview. This is the perfect way to prevent your voice from trailing off while answering an important question. Before you start reciting scales to warm up your voice, grab a spoonful of honey instead.

2. Slow it down

Here’s an important tip for all you fast-talkers. It’s normal to talk fast on the phone (especially when you’re nervous!), but it’s important to take the time to annunciate. “Talking in a slow natural voice will help you focus on each word you are saying,” explains Dr. Bailo. By slowing down, you will also have time to gather your thoughts and write down or remember any important information throughout the interview. “Taking time to write down notes and referring back to earlier parts of the conversation will help you seem engaged and smart,” say Cooper and Kleiman. Don’t rush the conversation; instead, speak slowly and clearly to help you in the event that you start to get tongue-tied.

3. Stay seated and keep smiling

As strange as it may sound, facial expressions and body language have an important role during a phone conversation. “Try to smile as you are speaking with your interviewer,” suggest Cooper and Kleiman. “Believe it or not, that smile will translate into a warmer tone in your voice.” Another thing you can try is sitting down while speaking on the phone. “Sitting down during your interview will help you have a stronger, more focused voice,” says Dr. Bailo. You wouldn’t lie down or frown during an interview, so don’t do it on the phone either!

Don’t be intimidated when talking to a future employer or supervisor on the phone. Instead, take the time to prepare your voice beforehand. This way, you can let go of those nerves and feel extra confident for your interview! Even though the person you're speaking with can’t see your face, they can still get a sense of how you interact with people based on how you speak on the phone. By the end of the conversation, you’ll know you’ve nailed that interview!


Show Yourself Some Love with These DIY Beauty Treatments

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If you thought Valentine's Day was just a day for going on a romantic date and being spoiled with gifts and chocolate, you're wrong! Although we surely don't mind any of those things, you should take a little time this V-day to show yourself some appreciation. Get creative and treat yourself with these at-home DIY beauty fixes! Whether you are in a relationship or unattached, these treatments can get you ready for your romantic night out or give you the opportunity to spend the night pampering yourself solo. 

Coconut Rose Lip Balm

Ready to prepare that pout? My Baking Addiction has an amazingly luxe, easy-to-do recipe for a tempting cocunut rose lip balm. You'll need:

  • 1/8 cup cocunut oil
  • 1/4 cup beeswax
  • 1/8 cup shea butter
  • 1 tsp cocunut extract
  • 1/4 cup rose petals
  • 1 tsp sweet almond oil

Melt all ingredients in a small saucepan and then pour them into sealable containers. Let the ingredients cool and firm up and they will be ready to use. Not only will these be super hydrating, but they'll smell great and look pretty too!

Garden Rose Water

Here's a good one for the week after Valentine's Day, when those roses are starting to wilt... Whether your loved one spoiled you with a huge bouquet or you nabbed yourself some great after-V-day flowers on sale, Indie Lee's got you covered with a great way to recycle your petals. Either pluck the blooming petals from a handul of flowers or wait until the petals start to fall off. You'll need:

  • 1 cup of distilled water
  • 1 cup of rose petals
  • 2 drops of lavendar essential oil

Add rose petals to hot water that has been boiled in a saucepan. Then, push the petals into the sides of the sauce pan with a spoon to release the natural oils. Let the mixture cool and then grind half of the petals into a paste before returning the paste to the saucepan. Let the mixture seep for an hour and then strain the liquid with a cheesecloth pressing as much of the oil from the rose petals as you can. Transfer the rose water to a sealable container, discarding the petals, and then add lavender oil. Enjoy!

Blooms & Bouquet Body Oil

For those of you that love slathering on body oils, this is another awesome way to reuse your V-day bouquet from Indie Lee. You'll need:

  • 1 cup of jojoba oil
  • 1 cup of rose petals
  • 2 drops of lavendar essential oil

Warm the jojoba oil in a double boiler. Put the rose petals in a mason jar and crush them with a craft stick to release oils. Next, you need to pour the warm jojoba oil over the petals, filling up to the top of the mason jar, making sure you cover all of the petals. Add the lavendar oil, seal the jar, and let the oils diffuse for 4 weeks. After that, strain the mixture into a sealable container and prepare to say hello to softer skin!

Happy Valentine's Day, collegiettes!

What to Do if You’re Feeling Lonely in College

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In college, it’s easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond. Even when you’re surrounded by so many people all the time, you may find yourself feeling lonely, especially when your semester is busy and stressful, a few of your friends are pairing off with boyfriends and your family is miles away.

At some point, we all experience moments of loneliness, but if you’re feeling lonely more often than not, or so alone that it’s getting in the way of your happiness and daily life, then you may need more than just a quick cuddle session with your BFF to turn those feelings around. We spoke with Dr. Kachorek, a clinical psychologist from Ann Arbor, to learn how collegiettes can overcome loneliness.

Understand that it happens to everyone

Although your emotions are unique to your own experiences, loneliness is a feeling everyone goes through at some point. Kachorek says college students are prone to feeling this way because they’re removed from their homes and previous comfort zones.

“[Loneliness is common], particularly for people who are either transitioning from a different college or a first-time student moving to campus away from home,” she says. “Typically, peoples’ support networks that they’ve established at their primary residence are no longer accessible, and as a result, that can add in feeling lonely.”

Kachorek says that the diverse and competitive nature of college can leave students feeling out of place.

“In addition, I think that comparing yourself to a diverse range of people around you, particularly if you attend larger colleges, can result in those students feeling more out of place, wondering if they belong there, if they deserve to be there or if anyone is like them,” she says.

Acknowledge what you’re feeling

Loneliness may be prevalent on college campuses, but it doesn’t have to define your experience!

“The first step is to recognize that you’re feeling that way and validate that it’s something that most people feel at some point during their college careers,” Kachorek says. “After identifying it, you want to think about in what ways you’re feeling lonely or out of place.” When you identify what’s making you feel lonely, it will become easier to address those feelings and focus your efforts.

Kachorek says “the person has to come to understand more about what [the loneliness] means to them and why and how they feel that way. Exploring more about it is actually the best way to make the feeling go away.”

Don’t try to minimize what you’re going through or tell yourself that “it’s not that bad.” According to Kachorek, that “can actually have the opposite effect because then the person feels more alienated.”

So instead of brushing your feelings of loneliness aside or trying to convince yourself it’s not a problem, acknowledge the fact that you’re feeling alone and try to reflect on what is making you feel that way. You could do this by talking about it with a friend or a family member, or just by writing it down if you don’t feel comfortable sharing these feelings with others.

Be proactive

You may be feeling lonely now, but you will get through it, especially if you take a proactive approach! The more you put yourself out there and open yourself up to new experiences, the less lonely you’ll feel in the long run.

Change your mentality

It’s easy to let your emotions overwhelm you and distort your perspective. When this happens, loneliness takes a hold on your life and prevents you from being yourself. But what happens when you change your way of thinking?

Instead of believing that you’re truly alone, try looking at it from a different angle. Maybe your distant friends are stressed with school and that’s why you haven’t heard from them. Maybe there are a ton of new people out there who would love to hang out with you, but you haven’t reached out to them yet. Maybe everyone else just looks like they’re having more fun in their Facebook and Instagram pictures, but in reality they sometimes feel lonely, too.

When you start to feel that you’re the only person who feels the way that you do, take a step back and consider an alternative point of view. To help you change your perspective,   

make an effort to reach out to friends, both old and new, and take a break from comparing yourself to others on social media. You can also try finding a way to relax, such as yoga, to get some peace of mind.

Meet new people

You’re used to going through the motions—go to class, study, come home, sleep. What if you mixed up your routine? Next time you sit down for lecture, strike up a conversation with whomever’s sitting near you. Ask her about an upcoming assignment, how she thought the homework went or anything else that comes to mind. You may find that you have something in common with someone who was previously a stranger!

Opening up to new people helps lessen the sting of loneliness. Grabbing coffee with a new friend from class is a perfect, low-pressure way of getting to know someone further.

Morgan, a Boston College graduate, says conversation is the perfect outlet for connecting with another person, which will ultimately make you happy.

“Don't turn inside yourself, though it is tempting and easy,” she says. “Stop that in its tracks. It can be anything as simple as saying hello to the mail carrier or the person serving your lunch.”

Get involved

If you’re unhappy with your current extracurricular activities (or lack thereof), it’s time to get out and get involved in something new! This is the best way to stay busy, keep your mind off of feeling unhappy and meet new friends, all at the same time.

“My recommendation to students is to really try and find a group of people that they can obtain support from, whether it’s through a church group or a sport activity or just an interest group, so that they can try to connect with other like-minded individuals,” Kachorek says.

Once you find an activity that you truly enjoy and you’re surrounded by people whom you get along with, you’ll be more satisfied, and the loneliness should pass.

Brooke*, a junior from Middlebury College, says she overcame loneliness by finding activities that made her refocus negative thoughts.

“I've struggled with loneliness since I got to college and it comes and goes in waves, but the best way I've found to keep it at bay is to get involved,” she says. “I find the more idle time I have to think about negative things, the worse I feel. Go for a run, take up an instrument, grab a sketchpad, go for a drive or even crack open the books—anything that occupies my mind makes me feel instantly better.”

Seek help if your feelings aren’t improving

There’s a thin line between prolonged loneliness and depression. You might think you can overcome feeling alone without help, but confiding in a therapist can make all the difference.

“At any point if you feel like you’re at risk of harming yourself… and if you feel like your life is not regulated and you’re unable to do things that you’d like to do, it’s often a good time to consult for help,” Kachorek says. “A consultation doesn’t mean that you enter therapy, necessarily; it just means that you ask for objective, professional feedback as to whether or not the intensity of your symptoms is beyond what should be expected for the circumstances you’re in.”

If you’re concerned about your feelings, there are various questionnaires online, such as Beck’s Depression Inventory, to assess if what you’re experiencing could be depression.

“It can tell you whether or not your levels of loneliness and sadness are reaching a critical point,” Kachorek says. “If so, those people should try and look into therapy through their local college [or] university or the larger community.”

She adds that you should explore different therapy options, because what works for one person might not help another.

“Certain types of therapy can be obtained: some, such as cognitive behavioral, are quicker, but others, such as psychodynamic therapy or psychoanalysis, can help a person get an understanding of what is troubling them so that it is addressed at its core,” Kachorek says. “This will prevent a deeper issue from resurfacing via a different symptom or problem later in life.”

Briana, a senior at Georgia College & State University, says seeking professional help is important for addressing the gray area between loneliness and depression.

Having suffered from depression, I know that sometimes it's hard to distinguish between it and loneliness,” she says. “It's normal to feel lonely once in a while, but when that becomes the norm, you're probably in trouble. I got to a point where I would feel lonely in a room full of people, and I often isolated myself on purpose. If you're doing anything like that, you should seek professional help and treatment.”

Brooke also found that her loneliness stems from depression and separation anxiety.

“For me, loneliness was definitely depression,” she says. “I've been diagnosed with depression and anxiety… so being alone not only makes me sad, but extremely anxious… it affected me in a lot of ways, particularly in that I struggle with getting out of bed if I feel really alone or depressed.”

A combination of clinical therapy and medication helps Brooke cope with feeling lonely.

“I am on a low dose of anti-anxiety/depression medication and I also go to a counselor at school when I feel like I need to,” she says. “I have a counselor at home that I touch base with probably twice a year. Both have been incredibly helpful and I've noticed a big difference in my ability to cope with loneliness.”

If you’re interested in speaking with a professional, try looking into the local counseling options at your university. Most clinics are free for students and have staff members who are more than qualified and ready to help.

 

It’s time to stop your loneliness in its tracks and realize that you are not alone. Everyone feels lonely at some point or another, even if their smiling faces on your Instgram feed suggest otherwise. With our suggestions, we hope that you’ll be able to conquer those feelings of loneliness, because you deserve to be your happiest self!

Do you have advice for how to cope with loneliness? Leave a comment below.

*Name has been changed.

New York Fashion Week, Fall/Winter 2015: Concept Korea

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For the fashion-obsessed, New York Fashion Week, when designers send what will soon be the next season’s most coveted looks down the runways at Lincoln Center, is the holy grail week-of-all-weeks. So, when I was given the opportunity to attend Concept Korea’s F/W 2015 show (after many years of obsessively live streaming and stalking NYFW via social media), I jumped at the chance.

Concept Korea isn’t a designer itself, but rather, is a project conceptualized by the Korean government and supported by the New York fashion industry that allows Korea-based rising design stars to present their work at NYFW. Concept Korea’s eleventh season included three up and coming designers: Beyond Closet by Taeyong Ko, Leyii by Seunghee Lee and Resurrection by Juyoung Lee, all of whom proved they are fresh forces to be reckoned with.


 

I mean, it's been a pretty good day

A photo posted by caroline pirozzolo (@c_pirozzolo) on

From the minute I stepped foot in the tents that morning, I knew my first NYFW was going to be even better than my wildest fashion-girl dreams could have imagined. (I’m fairly certain I’d never seen so many well-dressed people in my entire life than I did during my first five minutes at fashion week!) The buzz and excitement in the tents, even at 9:00 a.m. on a Friday morning, was contagious and I tried my best to keep from fashion fangirling as I made my way to the line to get into the show.

After standing in line for about 15 minutes, we were finally ushered into the show. I was originally supposed to be standing without a seat assignment (ugh!) but luckily for me, I was able to snag one of the empty second row seats (score!). Like fashion week clockwork, the lights lowered and the music started, and that’s where the real fabulousness began.

The first line to show was Taeyong Ko’s Beyond Closet—and it started Concept Korea off with a colorful, punchy bang. Beyond Closet is a menswear line—but not your typical navy and black, shirt and tie menswear. Instead, the look was cool, edgy and colorful, with just the right dose of rebel via rocker-esque leather pants in the opening look, and a leopard T-shirt paired with plaid pants in another look.

While minimalism seems to have had the fashion world in its grip for the past few seasons, it was refreshing to see plenty of colors, prints and an overall vibe that didn’t take itself too seriously.

As a self-described minimalist, I fell in love with the second line, Leyii by Seunghee Lee. With a palette of primarily camel and grey, beautifully cut knits, and on-point tailoring, the vibe was simple and austere, in the chicest way possible. The makeup look was dewy and barefaced, accompanied by a simple low ponytail and deep side part combination, which was perfect for letting the understated clothes do the talking.

The minimalist vibe has been going strong for some time, and Leyii took the look to the next level by adding pops of purple into the mix midway through the show—a simple triangular accent on one skirt in one look, and a violet turtleneck vest in another. Also, can we talk about those amazing oversized clutches? Perfection.

Resurrection, designed by Juyoung Lee, was the last line to show. It was clear that Resurrection, like Beyond Closet, was all about the rebel customer who isn’t afraid to stand out. Instead of loud prints, however, Lee played with interesting textures and fabrics in darker colors, which gave the collection an edge without making it seem too serious. Resurrection’s fur game was strong, and by the end of the show, I was dying to put on one of the oversized jackets as I headed back out into the frigid NYC air.

Especially with menswear, an all black or gray look can risk coming off as boring, but Resurrection’s play with textures and interesting proportions were anything but. (Proof? A classic tailored suit that was made edgy and young by its metallic, kimono-esque fabric.)

The development of fresh and up-and-coming talent has always been central to the fashion industry, and as a collegiette hoping to make it in the industry myself, Concept Korea is an initiative I can totally get behind. These three designers have proved they have what it takes to succeed in a global market, and I’m definitely hoping that they found many more new fans in the rest of the fashion crowd. (The enthusiastic cheers and applause at the finale were definitely indicators that they had!) My only question now is, when can I get these pieces stateside? After all, I’m still lusting over those Leyii oversize clutches.


 

loved EVERYTHING about the minimalist vibes at Leyii at @conceptkorea_kr 

A video posted by caroline pirozzolo (@c_pirozzolo) on

Check out more about Concept Korea and its F/W 2015 designers here!

Emma Watson Stars in Creepy Thriller, Proving She Can Do Anything

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The Alejandro Amenábar-directed drama Regression has (finally!) released its English trailer. Our first look into the film was the Spanish teaser trailer, which amped up the spookiness with eerie visuals and an ominous metronome. The trailer gives us some insight on Emma Watson's character Angela Gray.

Emma has shown us a wide-ranging set of acting skills since Potter. She's taken on everything from being the spoiled rich kid in Sophia Coppola's Bling Ring, a part in the biblical adaptation of Noah under Darren Aronofsky, a free-spirited girl in teen drama in Perks of Being a Wallflower and of course, a role as a future Disney princessRegression will serve as the Brit's foray into thrillers and looks to be her most chilling film yet.

In the film, Emma's character accuses her father of commiting an "unspeakable crime" of which he cannot remember. Ethan Hawke plays a detective looking into the case and The 100's Devon Bostick plays her brother, Roy. The film feels in the vein of fellow cult drama Martha Marcy May Marlene. It's got us really psyched... and also a little scared.

We anticipate nothing less than a powerful performance from the young actress. It's exciting to see her take a detour from book adaptations. We cannot wait to see what she does next!

 

New York Fashion Week, Fall/Winter 2015: KYE

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At just 26, Kathleen Kye of KYE has been featured in W Korea, Vogue Italia, Complex magazine, and innumerable others. She launched her collection in 2011 at 23 after graduating from London’s renowned Central Saint Martins School for Art and Design, and since then has collaborated with Adidas HK, had her clothes worn by Rihanna and, this year, is one of three winners of Korea’s prestigious Samsung Fashion and Design Fund, which aims to improve “the fashion status of Korea by supporting global design talents.”

Backstage and in the show rehearsal, I only knew what I saw, which was beautifully tailored contemporary sportswear with a wacky but not tacky sensibility. I think these days it’s much too easy to get away with having a practically non-designed ‘athleisure’ brand—for example, putting an unusual pocket on a nylon hoodie and charging $300 for it, when you could get the same hoodie at The Sports Authority for $30 (and it might even last longer). But Kathleen Kye’s sweatshirts are just as visually interesting and detailed as her suit jackets, which for me is the entire point of the genre: to raise athletic wear to the high design standard of traditional ready-to-wear items like skirts, pants, dresses, blouses, and so on.

KYE’s collection, which included both pieces for men and women, embedded Las Vegas-style slot machine cherries and 7s on sleeves of sweatshirts, waistbands of skirts, and more. Her velvet jackets and sweatpants—which normally one might relegate to one’s elderly uncle—were pristinely tailored and, for lack of a better word, funny but in a self-conscious, ‘you’re laughing with me, not at me’ kind of way. Kye is able to get away with a lot in terms of funny too, at least with me, because the garments are so thoughtful and well-constructed. Normally I don’t know if I would be into a furry powder blue jacket (above) embedded all over with equally-spaced rhinestone chunks, but she sold it to me because of its clean collar and back detailing with a fluff of red. In fact, can I have one? I want to wear it like Rihanna with jeans.

The details really drew me to the collection overall, and this was exemplified in the show’s beauty looks as well. There was bold red lip and black cat eye by Dick Page using Shiseido cosmetics, and bold fake nails, each printed with those same aforementioned cherries and 7s, along with the KYE logo.

In the collection itself, I was especially entranced by a grey plaid pencil skirt with silver studs forming a heart on either side of a seam and a navy pinstripe jacket with what forms a heart on the elbows when you stand with your arms at your sides (below). Kye’s collection for Fall/Winter 2015 is quirky and smart, as her past collections have been—she wants us to be in on the joke with her. When you get there, it feels like a pretty great place to be.

Take a look at some more images I took here, and be sure to check out the KYE site for more!

Links We Love 2.15.15

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The "Golden Rules" of Facebook relationship etiquette. [YourTango]

A lesson in entrepreneurship from a doll. [The Wall Street Journal]

Guys watch ‘The Notebook’ for the first time. [Bustle]

13 differences between the ‘Fifty Shades’ movie and book. [Funny or Die]

Why Harvard officially banned professor-student relationships. [The Huffington Post]

The Hubble spots a ‘smiley face’ in space. [Newser]

The top 99 outstanding women of 2015. [AskMen]

Let's celebrate all kinds of love. [YouTube]

10 times reporters asked female celebrities the wrong questions. [BuzzFeed]

Is the professor bossy or brilliant? [The New York Times]

10 Ways to Wear Pantone's Fall Colors Now

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With New York Fashion Week in full swing, Pantone just released their top 10 colors of Fall 2015. Every season, Pantone surveys runway looks from the most influential of designers, and reports on what's hot. This upcoming season, natural, earthy tones are blending with bright, bold colors. They remind us of the '70s with their smooth and rich hues that take us back to nature. Get ahead of the trend and rock them now!

1. Dried Herb

Work this Forever 21 Drawstring Cargo Dress ($22.90) with tall boots, tights, and a scarf through the winter, and with strappy sandals in the spring!

2. Reflecting Pond

 

The Downing Bucket Bag ($138) from J. Crew is petite, but big enough for all your necessities!

3. Stormy Weather

These silky slouchy grey Emilia pants ($198) by Emerson Thorpe will upgrade any casual look.

4. Biscay Bay

Rock the Sporty Spice look with Superga's Cotu Classic sneakers ($45).

5. Desert Sage

Get an effortless, comfortable-chic look with the help of this Raw-Edged V-Neck Tunic Top ($69), tights, booties, and a hat to top it all off!

6. Oak Bluff

Switch up your typical uniform of a t-shirt and jeans with this striped Lata tee ($39.95) with lace details from Anthropologie. 

7. Marsala

 

These glossy rain boots ($148) from Hunter will keep you dry, warm, and lookin' cute in the snow or rain!

8. Cadmium Orange

Wearable technology is so in, especially when it's as chic and bold as Jawbone's UP24 ($129.99).

9. Cashmere Rose

Aerie's Softest Lace Bralette ($19.95) in the most stylish of hues will have you tickled pink!

10. Amethyst Orchid


Step into sprintime with this flirty gingham skirt ($71) by Mink Pink.

Which colors are you most excited to wear, collegiettes?


The 15 Best Celebrity Photobombs of All Time

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Celebrities have provided us with some epic photobombs over the years, and we’re sharing our favorites with you! As you're enjoying the long weekend, take some time to scroll through these hilarious photos, guaranteed to make you laugh til your stomach hurts. (You’re welcome.)

1. Neil Patrick Harris

The How I Met Your Mother Star couldn’t help but include himself in this selfie featuring Ian Somerhalder and teammate Joshua Sarse during the 2013 Celebrity Beach Bowl. Luckily, Ian found the unexpected photobomb to be funny, Tweeting, “Sometimes you get photo bombed by Neil Patrick Harris…Awesomeness,” and posting the photo on Twitter.

2. Rihanna

'90s kids rejoiced when Full House stars Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier reunited on Good Morning America in 2014 to promote their Super Bowl commercial. Coincidentally, Rihanna also stopped by GMA on the same day to discuss her role as a spokes woman for MAC Viva Glam. Based on this photo posted on Facebook by Saget, we have reason to believe RiRi was also excited to witness the reunion.  

3. Justin Bieber 

The infamous, self-proclaimed prankster couldn’t resist photobombing former couple Katy Perry and Russell Brand at the MTV VMAs in August 2011.

4. Jennifer Lawrence  

Jen’s candid interviews are amazing, but her over-the-top photobomb at the Catching Fire premiere in New York City is even better!

5. Aaron Paul  

Fans of Breaking Bad loved seeing Aaron Paul show off his silly side while photobombing costar Bryan Cranston at the 2013 Emmys.

6. Zac Efron     

If this throwback from High School Musical 3 doesn’t give you major feels, then we don’t know what will.  

7. Joe Jonas  

Joe’s hilarious photobomb at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards proved that there’s no bad blood between him and his ex, Demi Lovato.  He posted the pic on Instagram with the caption, “Just like old times.”  

8. Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita’s expression as she photobombed fellow Oscar winner Jared Leto backstage in 2014 was certainly a highlight of the night!

9. Jared Leto

Leto turned the tables later that evening at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, creeping behind actress Anne Hathaway during a photo op.  

10. Selena Gomez

We love this fun photo actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt posted while backstage with Selena Gomez at the 2013 MTV VMAs!

11. Emma Stone

We can always rely on Emma and her spunky outgoing personality to shine through, even while photobombing boyfriend Andrew Garfield!

12. Kelly Clarkson  

Kelly obviously couldn’t contain her excitement when she realized she was sitting behind Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at the 2013 Grammys. Can you blame her?

13. Jennifer Lawrence  

JLaw strikes again! Jen photobombed pal Taylor Swift while on the red carpet at the 2014 Golden Globes. Needless to say, the photo posted by Ryan Seacrest on Instagram instantly went viral. 

14. Benedict Cumberbatch   

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch added some humor to the 2014 Oscars red carpet when he hilariously photobombed British group U2.

15. Jimmy Fallon, Chris Evans, and Chris Pratt  

 

We saved the best for last: Fellow Marvel actors Chris Evans and Chris Pratt generated a lot of buzz during this year’s Super Bowl via competitive, yet funny Twitter exchanges. However, they took it a step further by teaming up with Jimmy Fallon and photobombing unsuspecting fans at the NBC Super Bowl Red Carpet event held in Phoenix, Arizona. This video is a must see!

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit the Career Center

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Spring semester is in full swing, and the summer internship hunt is on. Or maybe you’re a senior approaching graduation way faster than you’d like and you’re starting to panic about finding a job. No matter what step you’re on in terms of your career, you should make a trip to your school’s career center this semester. We know it can be rough to face the reality of job- or internship-hunting, but professionals at your career center can help you out in more ways than you realized. We’ve come up with a few reasons collegiettes should make a visit to their college’s career center ASAP.

1. You Can Perfect Your Resume

This one is basic but oh-so-important. Often, your resume is the first thing an employer will see when you apply for a job, so it needs to get across all the most important information about you and your experience in the most concise, easy-to-read manner possible. If an employer has hundreds of resumes to go through, yours may not get more than a two-second glance, so it’s important to catch his or her eye. Who better to help you do this than trained career professionals?

Irene, a senior at Boston University, visited two different career centers: her school’s general career center and one specific to her major. “First, I talked about my resume with someone who specialized in communication, which helped me decide how to best phrase my accomplishments in past internships,” Irene says. She then took her adjusted resume to the general career center, where the advisers provided her with guidance on formatting it professionally.

If your school only has one career center, make an appointment with one associate, and then ask if he or she can recommend anyone who specializes in your specific career field. Some career center associates work more with certain industries than others, and they know their way around those specific job markets. Getting two perspectives will help you achieve the best results!

Your resume carries a lot of weight when you apply for jobs. It has to convince an employer that they should call you in for an interview and hire you, so one poorly-worded phrase can make a huge difference. Even just having a professional proofread it for typos could make the difference between you getting hired and not.

Once your resume is perfected, ask a career center associate if the center has professional resume paper you can print it on. Resume paper can be expensive, and while it’s not mandatory, it can make your resume stand out. If your resume is the one thick, sturdy sheet of paper in a pile of hundreds of flimsy ones, it’s more likely to get noticed by an employer. Many career centers allow students to print on resume paper for free; see if your school’s career center is one of them!

2. You Can Find an Internship

Whether you have no clue what you want to do with your life or you already have your dream job planned out, your career center is a great resource for locating a job or internship. Make an appointment with a career counselor to discuss what you might be interested in doing or to figure out which internships or jobs you should apply for.

Katherine, a junior at the University of Rochester, went to her career center for help finding an internship. “The counselor was also able to give me the contact information of an [alum] who had done an internship I was considering, so I could email her for advice on the application,” she says.

Your career center has worked with a ton of students in the past; the career centers employees often know people you can talk to who have gone through exactly what you’re doing and are willing to help.

According to Rachel Tannenbaum, associate director of student programming at Barnard College Career Development, many students don’t realize the kind of resources their school provides for them. She says most schools even have their own job or internship posting sites for their students. “Many students delay logging on because they either do not know about it or how to use it,” Tannenbaum says. Your career center can show you awesome websites like these, so head in and see what you’ve been missing!

3. You Can Find a Mentor

Your career center can give you access to a whole new network. Every school has alumni who have gone on to achieve great things. “A college’s alumni network is a rich but often underutilized resource for students,” says Tannenbaum. “Counselors at your career office can facilitate the meeting, mingling and learning between yourself and an alumnae of interest.”

Ask a career development associate if he or she can put you in touch with an alum in your field. The alum may be able to help you land a job or internship, or at least tell you how he or she made it in the industry and provide some advice. Your career center wants to help you connect with alumni, and often has structured programs to facilitate these connections.

Alumni are a great resource because they’ve been in your exact position and have worked their way up from it. They know what you’re going through and are usually happy to help students of their alma mater. Make an appointment at your career center to see how they can help you build these alumni connections, and check out our article about networking with alumni!

4. You Can Practice Your Interview Skills

We all know interviews can be terrifying. You never know if you’ll connect with the interviewer, or if they’ll stick to traditional interview questions or go for ones that are a little more out there. It can be difficult to prepare for an interview, but your career center can assist you with this.

“Career service professionals will get into character and provide a simulated interview experience,” Tannenbaum says. “Also, many offices will even tape the interview so you can see with your own eyes how you’ve performed.”

It may seem scary or embarrassing, but your career counselors are there to help you; they know what kinds of questions you may be asked and can help you work out the best possible responses.

5. You Could Get a Grant

Having an unpaid internship can be difficult for a lot of students to manage. That’s why many schools offer internship grants. With an internship grant, you can apply to receive a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars depending on your school and which semester you’re doing your internship.

Visit your career center’s website to see if you can find some preliminary information about what types of grants are available and to which students. Make an appointment at your career center to discuss the application process and requirements; these processes can be tricky to navigate, so it can be extremely helpful to discuss them in person.

Katherine visited her career center to learn more about internship grant opportunities. “[I] found out my school has a program that gives students grants for internships on a first-come, first-serve basis,” she says. “This isn’t a program they really advertise on the website, but the career counselor was eager to give me information about it.”

Even if you’ve never heard about one, visit your career center to see if they offer a grant program like this. Being an unpaid intern can be hard on your budget, so a grant can make a world of difference!

6. You Can Master LinkedIn

Plenty of students are intimidated by the concept of LinkedIn. While we collegiettes love to Instagram and tweet all day long, the idea of a professional social network can be a little daunting. However, LinkedIn is the perfect way to make connections in your field. Get a head start and make an account now if you don’t already have one!

The key to LinkedIn is understanding how it differs from other social media sites. Career counselors know how you can use it to your advantage. “Not only can career service professionals show you how to use [Linkedin], but also how to brand yourself with a strong online profile,” Tannenbaum says. Make an appointment with a career counselor to find out the best way to take advantage of this awesome networking tool.

7. You Can Figure Out Your Future

If you have no idea what you want to do with your life, you’re not the only one. Plenty of collegiettes struggle to figure it all out. What do you want to do after graduation? What do you have to do to meet your professional goals? You may have a lot of questions about how to pick out the right path.

Fortunately for you, career counselors are trained to help you make all these decisions. “Whether it’s through an in-depth counseling session or via a career assessment such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, you will leave your career services office with a greater sense of how your values, skills and personality align with potential career paths,” Tannenbaum says.

The career center is there to help guide you down your professional path. If you’re having a hard time figuring out what kind of job you want, what you should major in or anything else career-related, a career counselor can walk you through your difficulties and help you make the decisions that will benefit you most.

 

So, collegiettes, if you thought you didn’t need to visit your career center, think again! Your school’s career development office is full of people whose job is to help you get a job. Check out your school’s website for information on how to contact professionals at your career center, or drop by the office and schedule an appointment with a counselor. Making a visit this semester will give your career the boost it needs!

Her Story: My Ex-Boyfriend Threatened to Kill Me

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“What the f*ck did you do with it? I will f*cking kill you, b*tch!”

These were the unpleasant words my ex-boyfriend yelled as he tried to strangle me against one of the walls in my apartment.

It was a cold December evening and my ex and I had plans to hang out. Both of my roommates were out of town for the weekend, so I thought it would be fun to order pizza and spend the night watching movies together. We had decided that I would pick him up after work and take him back to my place. When I didn’t hear from him by 5:30 p.m., I became a little concerned and tried calling him several times, with no success.

I didn’t hear from him until much later that night. He told me that he was at a friend’s house, and asked me to pick him up. I was pretty upset, not only because he was getting back to me super late, but also because of who he was hanging out with.

You see, my ex is a drug addict, and this friend he was hanging out with is an addict as well. Because they spent time in the past using drugs together, I knew that they probably weren’t doing productive things that evening. It made me nervous to know they were hanging out.

At that point my ex-boyfriend had been clean, as far as I could tell, for about a year or so. During his sobriety, he had accomplished some great things; he got a new job and was starting to pay off some of his debt. He cut off old friends and seemed really focused on changing his life. Despite our many issues, I was proud of him. The thought of him slipping back into old habits made me nervous.

I drove to his friend’s house and waited in the driveway for nearly twenty minutes before he came outside. As soon as I saw him, I knew that he was high. Really high. My heart dropped.

My ex got into the car and we drove to my place in silence. I was furious, but of course, he was completely out of it. When we got to my apartment, he immediately passed out on my bed and I got to work, searching for whatever drugs he may have brought inside with him. I ended up finding a handful of pills in his coat pocket and flushed them down the toilet right away.

Shortly after, I tried waking him up so that I could take him to his mother’s house for the night. He was pretty groggy, but coherent enough to remember the pills—he needed to make sure he had them before we left. When he realized they were gone, he began destroying my apartment—knocking over my bed, dresser and bookcase, and trashing the living room too. It was nearly midnight, but he went from 0 to 60 before I could even blink. I had seen this level of anger from him before, but it’s still scary every time—I had no idea what he was planning on doing next.

When he realized that I had probably done something with the pills, he directed all his anger towards me. That’s when he started strangling me, threatening to kill me.

I struggled to get from his grip and when I finally succeeded, I snatched my keys, ran out and into my car. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I needed to get away from him. I drove around aimlessly, thinking about our last four years together. I had done so much to help this man turn his life around, despite all the ways he had controlled, manipulated, and intimidated me.

I thought of all the times he had attempted to strangle me before that night—and yes, there were many. I thought about the way he would ignore me in public if he felt I was being too friendly with other men. I thought of all the money I had lent him and the rides I had given him. I thought about how he pressured me to delete all my male friends on Facebook, and about that time he threw my work laptop down a flight of stairs because he was angry with me. I thought of how I never told any of my friends how mean he could get and how I knew deep down he wasn’t a good man for me to be with.

Since meeting him when I was 21, I often doubted our relationship and whether it was a good fit for me. He was my first serious boyfriend and I desperately wanted it to work out between us—enough that I put up with more than I should have. But after he tried strangling me for the first time about three months into our relationship, I wondered if my situation was a little more toxic than I wanted to admit. Over the years, numerous arguments turned physical and I felt overcome with shame and embarrassment, never telling my loved ones what I was going through. This cold December evening was just one of many violent nights—one too many—and I knew that after four years of abuse, this incident needed to be the last.

After I’d been gone for some time, I started to head back home and check on the damage he’d done. I figured that if things were still unsafe, I could call the police. Thankfully when I got home, he was calm. I asked him a second time to get into my car so I could take him to his mother’s house. To my relief, he agreed.

After dropping him off, I drove back home, called off work, and cleaned my apartment. Then, I finally lost it and cried for hours.

Over the next couple of days, I began to really think about whether this relationship was what I actually wanted. Though leaving our familiar relationship terrified me, I ended it. The night I did, we talked in my car about why we needed to stay away from each other. He apologized and thanked me for being there for him. Then we said our goodbyes and he left.

Before driving home, I tried to compose myself. Though I finally accepted how abusive he was, I was still really upset. Instead of putting the key into the ignition, I reached down to take a look at my Blackberry. On it, there was an email with a subject that said:

“Hey! Are you going to claim your prize?”

In hindsight, I can acknowledge this sounds like spam, but I ended up opening the email anyway. And it’s a good thing I did; right after breaking up with my boyfriend of four years, I won a free vacation to Las Vegas. I remembered that I’d entered a sweepstakes two weeks ago; and I couldn’t believe I had actually won.

As silly as it may sound, it was at that moment I knew I had made the right decision. Even though I was terrified of figuring out how to live life without him, I knew that the Universe was nudging me down a different path, one far away from my ex-boyfriend.

My trip to Las Vegas was the start of a fabulous year for me… a fabulous, yet difficult year. But it was also the beginning of my healing. There were moments I doubted my decision and times he would try to get me back. Being single for the first time in four years was really hard, especially when many close friends were beginning to get engaged. I also dealt with a lot of regret—I hadn’t fully enjoyed my last year of college or first years of my new career because of the stress of that relationship. Yes, the pain was overwhelming, but with the help of a support group and counselor, I healed.

For the first time in years, I was single. I lived alone in my own apartment and I started graduate school, too. I trained and ran my first 10K and got a promotion at work. I discovered a lot about myself, including my passion for helping women seek healthy relationships that support their well-being. I also found a love for writing, and realized I was a darn good social worker, too.

Five years ago, I would have never imagined myself living this life—one where I’m writing and teaching and connecting with women all over the world. Writing a book has been a lifelong goal of mine and I am proud to say I’ve done just that. And today, I’m married to a wonderful man who treats me with respect every single day. Though my life is not perfect, it’s healthy. And now I get to encourage women leaving toxic relationships to build healthy lives as well.

Cheryl Strayed once said: “Be brave enough to break your own heart.” Yes, sometimes in life, we have to break our own hearts—a choice that requires the utmost bravery. Whatever you are going through right now, if you know in your gut it’s time to walk down a different path, please don’t ignore that feeling. Yes, your life may turn into something you would have never imagined for yourself—but if you think about it long enough, you just might realize that’s probably a good thing.

A. Robinson is a writer and breakup coach living in Pittsburgh, PA. She’s the author of Respected: How One Word Can Change More Than Just Your Love Life and writes for Glamour.com, Bustle.com, and xoJane.com. Learn more about her work here.

 

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14 Things That Can Be Your Valentine

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It's that time of the year again! All everybody seems to be talking about are hearts, red roses and chocolates. But who says you need a bouquet (or even an S.O.) to celebrate all that love? We bring you a list of awesome things that can be your Valentine (feel free to choose them all)!

1. Pizza (Duh!)

Pizza

Who doesn't love a slice of hot, crispy pizza (or a cold, fresh-out-the-fridge one too)?! Lose yourself in the delicious aromas of your valentine. The best part? Cheapest date ever!

2. Your Netflix account

Netflix

Picture this: A semi-lit room, the aroma of microwave popcorn, the comfort of your bed (or couch) and just you and Netflix! How much more romantic could it possibly get?

3. A bottle of wine

wine

Do you know what's the best part about having wine as your valentine? You don't have to share it with anyone! *guzzle guzzle*

4. The Notebook on DVD

the notebook kiss

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more..." Just the kind of love we have for watching The Notebook over and over and spending a Valentine's Day devoted to the romance.

P.S. Don't forget to keep some tissues handy. With great romance comes great tragedy. *sniff, sniff*

5. A tub of ice cream

ice cream cat

OM NOM NOM NOM!

6. A Fifty Shades of Grey movie ticket

fifty shades of grey

Don't pretend you weren't thinking it already - Fifty Shades of Grey hits theaters right before Valentine's Day, after all. Mr. Grey will see you now.

7. Ryan Gosling

ryan gosling hey girl meme

Let's be honest - you don't need a Valentine if you have the "Hey Girl" meme to stare at all day. So stare away - we won't tell anyone! Ryan won't, either.

8. A snuggle with a cozy comforter

snuggle cat

What better way to spend Valentine's Day than wrapped up in your comforter in the coziness of your bed? Snuggling with your bed sounds like the perfect way to spend Valentine's - your bed is relaxing, comfortable and it loves you back.

9. Shopping

shopping minions

Your perfect valentine is right around the corner... at the mall. #treatyoself

10. A night out with your friends

katy perry night out

T.G.I.V. - Thank God It's Valentine's! Celebrate the day of Cupid with your friends and paint the town (or your house) red!

11. Chocolate

chocolate VS

There's S.O., and then there's M.S.O. - Most Significant Other, or chocolate. Chocolate stays with you in times of both joy and sorrow, and if you're Adriana Lima, it makes you look sexier while stuffing your face!

12. DIY Projects on Pinterest

DIY

If you've got a creative bone in your body (or just wish you did...), celebrate Valentine's Day with Pinterest! Browse through virtually limitless options and do a DIY project that satiates the creative genius in you.

13. Spa

britney spears womanizer

Celebrate Valentine's Day by pampering yourself with a date with your local spa! A spa is the perfect valentine, because, c'mon, what other valentine comes with sauna?

14. Karaoke night in

karaoke bridesmaids

If you don't want to venture out, the obvious answer is to invite your friends over for a night full of karaoke fun. Order some pizza and celebrate with champagne while you're at it - you're falling in love with fame (which is WAY better than boring old crushes, anyway).

Ask a Collegiette: Will My High School Besties Stay by My Side in College?

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Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

How do you deal with being away from all of your high school friends? I'm currently a senior at a boarding school, so I live with my friends and they are like my second family. Have you been able to keep your high school friendships alive?  –Sarah

Sarah,

Usually when I think of boarding schools, I’m reminded of Zoey 101, so I hope yours is just as cool! If you’re anything like Zoey, you probably have some pretty great friends – ones you won’t want to lose when you leave for college.

When it comes to staying close with your friends from high school, I’ve founded that technology nowadays is super helpful. We have all sorts of ways to stay in touch with our friends from all around the world – Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook, the works – so it makes going away to school a bit easier knowing you can still be connected.

Even though all of these apps and sites are a huge help, the key to maintaining high school friendships in college is this: being intentional. College life can be very busy, and trying to manage your time and balance all of your commitments is stressful, so you need to make it a point to set time aside to catch up with friends. To make sure you give them the same time and respect you would if you saw them in person, try and get all of your homework done and complete any other assignments you need to do before you plan on speaking to them. When you do this, you’ll give your friends your full attention and get the most out of your short amount of (digital) time together. If you start to feel as if you don’t have much in common now, since you’ll all have different classes and professors, maybe you can bond over similar #collegeproblems. It’s comforting to vent over how annoying 8 a.m. lectures are, how much reading you need to do and how you always end up turning to a Netflix binge instead!

You can also start planning fun activities with your hometown friends for when you see them over your school breaks, if that makes you feel better during the times when you’re really missing them. This way when you go home on your breaks, you’ll be able to make the most of the short amount of time you’ll get to spend with them. Hello to froyo and Starbucks dates and jamming out to Five Seconds of Summer on full blast!

I also want to remind you that you’re going to meet a ton of cool people in college. It’s a time filled with new experiences and exciting events, so you’ll be able to meet more friends before you know it, and they’ll become your third family. You seem like you value your relationships since you asked me this question in the first place, so as long as you keep that same attitude when you head to college, you’ll be fine. Best of luck!

Fill out my online form.

Getting Attached After Sex: Myth or Fact?

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We’ve heard it so many times: Guys can detach themselves after a hook-up, keeping the experience entirely physical. Meanwhile, for whatever reason, biological or otherwise, collegiettes like us have a harder time keeping emotions out of the bedroom.

Is this really true, though? Can boys really avoid attachment? Are girls unable to detach themselves and make sex an entirely physical act? It’s not usually something that gets covered in class, so how’s a collegiette to know the truth? We at Her Campus wanted to find out!

Your Brain on Sex

The hook-up culture that exists on college campuses leaves a lot of questions unanswered for both men and women. “Did that mean something?” and “Does he/she realize that I don’t want a relationship?” are common questions from both sides. Whether you’ve had a one-night stand or you’re trying to turn a hook-up into something more, navigating the aftermath of casual sex is never an easy task. The preconception that many collegiettes have is that men are “only after one thing,” and that a relationship isn’t in the cards. Recent studies, however, have shown that sex isn’t strictly a physical act for men or women!

A 2011 study conducted by psychology professor Jim Pfaus at Concordia University in Canada revealed that there is an “overlap between sexual desire and emotional love in the brain’s insular cortex.” They are still different receptive areas of the brain, meaning that the two emotions are different, but the overlap means that the connection between love and lust is stronger than once thought. It explains why, when someone has what they think will be casual sex, he or she ends up feeling attached afterwards. These receptive areas of the brain are the same for both men and women.

The main biological difference between men’s and women’s reactions to sexual experiences is the release of hormones during and after sex. During climax, women release higher levels of oxytocin (the “cuddle hormone”) than men do. This unavoidable release causes higher levels of post-sex attachment in women than in men. Males, on the other hand, have lower dopamine levels after sex, resulting in negative withdrawal symptoms and the occasional desire to flee from their partner. It’s bizarre, but not something that they can control. Basically, for women, sexual needs and attachment needs are more highly related than these needs are for men. 

What have collegiettes experienced? Hannah*, 20, from Canterbury Christ Church University, says it’s “definitely possible” for girls to have sex without attachment. “I was having sex with an ex for quite a while, and didn’t get re-attached,” she says. She says she’s also had a one-night stand “and definitely felt nothing afterwards.”

Her experience is not out of the ordinary. Riley*, a student at the University of New Hampshire, says “it’s easy not to get attached” after sex.

Love at First Sight?

What about one-night stands? Is it possible for men (or women) to grow attached after casual sex? It would appear so, according to a study done by Match.com. According to this study, 31 percent of the people surveyed had transitioned from a one-night stand to a long-term commitment. Similarly, 43 percent of men and 32 percent of women admitted to having felt love at first sight, without even having sex. This is encouraging news for men and women who are looking to make a relationship out of a one-time sexual encounter.

It is, of course, difficult to make general statements about gender and attachment. The level of emotional attachment during and after sex is different for each person, regardless of gender. Dr. Helen Fisher, a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University, says, “Some people have sex first and then fall in love. Some fall head over heels in love, then climb into bed.”

The Takeaway

In other words, attachment happens at different points to different couples; there isn’t a foolproof formula for lust turning into love. Though it may take a woman a while to figure out whether or not she wants to pursue a relationship with someone she hooks up with, relationship coach Lisa Shield suggests that men know “immediately when they are interested in having more than just a sexual relationship with a woman.” So if he comes back after you’ve hooked up once, it could be that he’s interested in something more.

In short, it’s hard to tell whether men and women are truly incapable of having completely “casual” sex. For each gender, the stakes are slightly different. However, the release of hormones on both sides during sex triggers emotional attachment on a certain level. That being said, the hormones are different and have different effects on each gender.

The best thing to do is to be completely honest with your partner about your hopes and expectations for your relationship, whether they include sex or not.

*Names have been changed.

11 Atrocities Girls Suffer Through in the Name of Fashion

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Calling all fashionistas! New York Fashion Week is officially underway, which got us thinking about the completely outrageous ways in which women suffer for style. We’re poking fun at some of the most extreme (but not completely surprising) things we put up with for the sake of looking great.

1. Wearing heels in the snow

Fashion editors are notorious for attending designer shows in heels despite the weather. Even more devoted than the postal service, these ladies wear their favorite pumps no matter what the conditions.

2. Tight clothing

We’ve all had moments when we possibly outgrew—or maybe shrunk in the dryer—the best piece in our closet. But that won’t keep us from wearing those skinny jeans, regardless of the fact they cut off our circulation and leave us gasping for the tiniest of breaths. No big deal!

3. Leather pants

You know those days when you decide to upgrade from your usual, boring leggings into sleek, leather pants. And then something you never saw coming happens. You have a Ross moment. Just don’t call Joey for advice.

4. Body temperature confusion

On insanely cold days all you want to do is cover up and layer to the max, but when you step inside the heated oasis that is the indoors, you’re suddenly roasting. You can’t bear the thought of deconstructing your effortless layering, though. You’ll eventually cool back down, right? We’re sure this problem is rampant at those packed fashion shows in freezing New York, too.

5. Undergarments in general

High fashion ensembles require expertly curated undergarments. Ever heard of Spanx, strapless bras, and seamless underwear? While these items are especially innovative, they’re also unbelievably uncomfortable. Expect to be pulling and tugging to keep everything in place and avoid a wardrobe malfunction!

6. Tote bags a.k.a. black holes

If you’re going to an elite designer fashion show, you’ll definitely need to pack everything but the kitchen sink in your purse. Enter the tote bag. The bigger the better is what most of us think… until we’re digging for our hairbrush, breath mints, and lipstick to no avail. Never trust a tote!

7. The winter dress dilemma

It’s likely you bought a multitude of adorable dresses over the summer, and now that it’s cold, uncovering—and shaving—your legs seems like an act of torture. But if you really want to wear a chic sheath, you have to brave it. Good luck!

8. Jumpsuit + bathroom = tears

While jumpsuits may be all the rage right now, trying to use the bathroom in a one-piece is like playing a game of Twister. Let the frustration ensue.

9. Tangled in jewelry

Accessories are mandatory for any proper outfit, but prepare to deal with twisted necklaces, rings that get stuck in your cable knit, and bracelets that clang every time you move an inch.

10. High-waisted pants

Yes, they’re the cutest way to make people forget about your boring, worn-out bottoms. But we bet you didn’t consider bloating after a big lunch or guzzling a few drinks. We’re not ashamed to admit we’ve popped a button open toward the end of the day on several occasions.

11. Dress code

How do men constantly get away with ignoring dress code? Possibly because the rules of menswear aren’t nearly as strict as for women. Study up on the difference between business casual and black tie before attending any event, or you’ll likely end up hiding in the corner.

Oh, the struggle is real! In what crazy ways do you suffer for fashion, collegiettes? 


11 Ways to Have an Awesome Morning

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While you might feel that you have set yourself up with the best schedule ever, unless all of your classes start past noon there are probably days when rising and shining in the morning are not at the top of your “things-I-want-to-do” list. In theory it is very nice of Pinterest to think that cutting up fruit and vegetables for a breakfast smoothie is a morning hack that is actually going to happen. However, there are definitely easier ways of starting your morning off right. Here are a few morning tips that are totally possible for even the most non-morning person.

1. Pick out your outfit the night before

When putting together a well-thought out, runway-ready look, the outfit that you leave your room in probably very rarely consists of the first clothing choices of the morning. When you wake up five minutes before you have to be out the door, chances are you will not be putting together the most spectacular thing that you have ever worn. However, deciding what to wear the night before does make it possible to look like you’ve been through five outfits when it really only took you five minutes. It will also allow you to check the weather to avoid a weather faux pas in your rush to get ready.

2. Strategic placement of something warm & cozy

One of the most unpleasant parts of the morning is making the transition from warm bed to cold outside world; it’s not really much of a motivator. To combat the cold, have slippers, a robe or a sweatshirt in arm’s reach that you pull on to make your journey from your bed to the closet or shower that much easier (and warmer)!

3. Built-in browsing time

If you give a girl a phone, she is probably going to want to check her social media accounts ASAP. Let’s face it, after shutting off your phone alarm it is basically second nature to check for any new social media activity, e-mails, or texts that you received while you were sleeping. The problem is that depending on how much sleep you got, you might have way more to look at than you have time to go through. If you simply cannot start your day without scrolling through your Instagram feed, wake up five to ten minutes earlier to catch up on everything that happened while you were sleeping. Not only will you feel updated, but you also give yourself a little bit of time to adjust before taking on your day.

4. Wake up your makeup

Just like us, makeup is so much more effective when it is warmed up and ready to go. A noteworthy morning hack for anyone who cannot leave the house prior to completing a morning beauty routine is to warm up your makeup while getting ready by putting it in a waistband or in your bra. While this might seem strange, you can get more out of your makeup when it is warmer as opposed to cold which means you get better morning glam and longer lasting makeup.

5. Make your alarm your favorite song

Is this a cliché way to have a better morning? Yes. Are you going to be any more excited about being woken up from your beauty sleep? Nope. Will you be more inclined to get up to listen to your favorite than an obnoxious arrangement of notes? Probably so.

6. Leave yourself a nice wake-up message

While you might think writing to yourself is weird, a little morning encouragement on an alarm goes a long way. Something like, “Have a great day!” or, “Smile, it’s Friday!” will definitely help you to start your day on a positive note.

7. Treat yourself

If you have some time before your morning class, go treat yourself to a nice breakfast! Even though you might not want to leave your bed any earlier than you have to, eating a good breakfast will keep you energized and feeling good for the rest of the day.

Dani Kluss, a freshman at California Lutheran University, knows how to get in a good breakfast without even having to stop at a dining hall or restaurant. “I'm gluten free so what I do in the morning is I take some of the Chex gluten free instant oatmeal packets and make it in my microwave,” she says. “It's great because you don't need any measuring cups to measure the amount of water or milk to put in it because it the packet can be used as a measuring cup—they put a line on it to measure!”

8. Write down one thing that you are looking forward to that day

This starts your morning off positively and motivates you to get going, keeping in mind that at some point in the day you definitely have something you are excited about coming your way.

9. Set aside an easy morning snack the night before

For days when you know that you absolutely do not have the time to eat breakfast, prepare a little snack the night before that you can eat while you are getting ready to make sure that you don’t go to that early morning class with zero energy. You do not have to whip out your professional gourmet chef skills, but something like dry cereal or a banana and peanut butter will keep you from feeling hungry until you can get a real meal in.

Miriam Smallman, a junior at George Washington University, knows the importance of getting in an energizing breakfast. “My power breakfast in the mornings is oatmeal with soy milk, a sliced banana and cinnamon, which is thought to help curb hunger,” she says. “This can normally keep me full, focused and energized for at least four hours. It's a recipe I swear by!”  

10. Pack your bag the night before

We girls are notorious for having more than one bag that we carry around on a weekly and even daily basis. For this reason, making sure the right stuff is in the right bag is very important. Pack your things in the correct bag the night before to decrease the chance of forgetting an essential item in an early morning rush.

11. Start a group message with your friends to encourage each other

When all else fails, who better to turn to then your friends, who are probably going through the same morning struggle as you are. Be each other’s motivators! Waking up to a silly meme or a pre-Instagram throwback Thursday will definitely brighten up you and your friends’ days. However, if you do not see your friends in class, a strategically sent disapproving emoji face might also do the trick as well.

Those 8 a.m. classes won’t magically become more interesting, but don’t underestimate the power of a strong cup of coffee and these simple tips! 

We're Giving Away Hundreds of Dollars Worth of Accessories!

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Are you a statement jewelry type of girl, or do you prefer more classic, understated pieces? Whatever you’re drawn to, there’s one place that has it all: Honeybee Boutique.

Started by a 2013 University of Maryland grad, this online jewelry boutique is our secret to on-trend necklaces, rings, bangles and more—all at a collegiette-friendly price. The best part? We’re giving away three $100 gift cards to shop anything on the site! You’ll find beautiful everyday pieces like this elegant Barred Pendant, cheeky must-haves like this Laugh Out Loud Bracelet and glam of-the-moment jewels like these Double Bubble Studs. Bonus: All three of these pieces come in well under $100, so you can get these and tons more with your shopping spree.

It should come as no surprise that Honeybee Boutique lives by the mantra, “Life’s a party. Accessorize accordingly!” So we’re giving you a hand with that with an exclusive discount just for Her Campus readers! Enter code HERCAMPUS at checkout for $5 off your purchase—and don’t forget to enter below for your chance to win 1 of three $100 gift cards!

Fill out my online form.

A Beginner’s Guide to Finances, Contracts, Taxes & Other Scary Terms

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Graduating from college means a lot of things: no more exam stress, a guilt-free early bedtime, and the ever-looming label of “adult” that you get once you’re in the real world. So what does an “adult” need to know? As it turns out, a lot of things. Being a real person is about more than knowing how to make a dinner with your oven instead of your microwave or when to walk away from drama—it’s about scary money stuff, too. These pro tips should help you start navigating the rough (but awesome!) waters of adulthood.

1. Finances

Whether you want to retire one day, or work until you’re 100, there is no denying the fact that you need to plan ahead. The first step to planning ahead is understanding your income and how to
manage it.

FICA

In the immortal and all-too-real words of Rachel Green, “Who is FICA and why is he getting all my money?”

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and is the portion of your wages that contributes to Social Security and Medicare. Social Security provides benefits for retirees, the disabled and people with limited income. Medicare is used to help pay for medical bills for certain people over the age of 65.

What you earn before FICA is known as gross pay, and what you are left crying over after FICA is your net pay.

401(k)

We hear about them all the time, but what actually is a 401(k)? It’s a retirement plan that’s offered by your employer. Each month, you are able to put in a part of your gross pay salary, and your employer may (hopefully!) match your contribution up to a certain amount. If your employer does offer to match, try and put in the maximum amount so that you get the full benefit of the plan—hey, it’s free money!

Your 401(k) is tax-deferred, meaning it isn’t taxed while it grows, but it will be when you go to make a withdrawal for Spring Break 2052. While there are exceptions, the general rule is that your 401(k) is untouchable until you are at least 59 and a half years old; until then, just keep an eye on it—your money should be working hard and earning you more through stocks and other investments. Don’t worry if you’re not an investment wiz; according to Jon Ten Haagen, a certified financial planner, an employer will typically have an investment company manage your account, distributing your investments throughout several options. You can usually pick and choose from the multiple investment plans your company offers. It’s your account, so you can always have a say in how it’s being invested!

You can also opt for a Roth 401(k), a slightly less common option. Roth 401(k)s are different from Traditional 401(k)s as they take money that has already been taxed, meaning that when you eventually make your withdrawal for that retirement party, you won’t be taxed on it.

IRAs

Since a 401(k) is sponsored by an employer, you will need to make other arrangements for your money if you leave that company, or if your company doesn’t sponsor a plan. Thankfully, there are other options! You can roll your money over into an individual retirement account (IRA). There are many different kinds of IRAs, but the main types you should know are the Traditional and Roth.

Traditional IRAs are tax-deferred, like a 401(k), so you only pay taxes when you go to withdraw your money after retirement. There are two different types of IRA’s that you should be aware of before setting yours up: a deductible IRA and a nondeductible IRA. Deductible IRAs will save you money immediately, as whatever contributions you put into it each year are taken out of your taxable income. A lower amount of taxable income means lower taxes!

Nondeductible IRAs, on the other hand, do not save you any immediate money, as you contribute to them with after-tax dollars (the money you have left over after paying your taxes). In addition, you stop paying into a nondeductible IRA at 70 and a half years of age (scary thought!) and are required to make regular withdrawals called “required minimum distributions.”

Lisa Signorelli, a certified public accountant, explains that traditional IRAs help grow money faster than other taxable accounts, such as investment and bank accounts. “You don’t have to take some money out each year to pay taxes on the growth,” she says. “Therefore that money saved is earning more money, and your balance grows much quicker!” The more money in your account, the more it earns, so it’s beneficial to keep as much in there as possible.

A Roth IRA is similar to a Roth 401(k), in that it also uses after-tax dollars, meaning there is no tax when you eventually withdraw, and like a traditional IRA your money is able to grow; without the burden of taxes! With a Roth IRA you can continue adding funds indefinitely, and there is no required minimum distribution.

If you are interested in setting up an IRA you can do so at your local bank, with a broker or even by yourself online! When deciding between accounts, Signorelli says there are two major things to consider. First, do you have enough income to ensure that you will be able to keep your money in the account until you can withdraw it without penalty, and second, will you be in a higher or a lower tax bracket when you are able to withdraw? She explains that normally we fall into a lower tax bracket after retirement, so it could be very beneficial to pay taxes when you go to withdraw, as they will be lower than if you pay them beforehand.

FICO score

If you’ve had to apply for a credit card, loan or are renting your own place, you know that there is a thing called a “credit score” that’s kind of like the adult version of a report card. The goal is to keep your FICO score healthy. The score is named after the Fair Isaac Company, a predictive analytics company. A credit score is actually made up of three separate scores: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, and these are what banks, credit companies, lenders and landlords look at before giving you a loan. Your credit score is essentially a representation of how risky you are as a borrower. If you have a low score, these lenders will think twice before loaning you money, and if they do, will tack on higher interest rates as collateral in case you can’t make your payments. If, on the other hand, you have a healthy, high score, you are in a much better bargaining position!

Jeff Ostroff of Car Buying Tips stresses the vital importance of a credit score when it comes to getting a loan, such as when you’re looking for your first car. “One of the biggest components of your credit score is your length of credit history. This is why it’s important to establish responsible credit early.” The way to good credit, he says, is to pay off your card every month, and not to carry anything over, as “lenders don’t like to see balances on your credit portfolio.” If your credit score is already less than ideal, he advises you to avoid “credit doctors” (the people in those TV commercials with the annoying jingles!) and work directly with your creditors to pay off your debts; this way, it’s actually more likely that they may remove any black marks from your score. Thankfully those bad marks will come off after 7 years; but that’s a long time. “There is no easy way to repair your credit once you have ruined it, unless you have 7 years to wait. Being proactive is the best course of action,” he says.

Signorelli adds that the healthier your credit score is, the higher your chance is at securing a better interest rate on loans.

Bank accounts

When it comes to the world of banking, you have more options than just your basics. We’re all experts when it comes to our checking and savings accounts—we can transfer money in between the two faster than we make a Tinder swipe. But what about a certificate of deposit (CD), brokerage account and a money market account?

A CD is a longer-term way to save your cash; you can face a penalty for withdrawing money too early, forcing you to keep the money where it is. Often times a CD will have a higher interest rate than a savings account, but not by much, unfortunately. A brokerage account is a way to actively invest your money without using your 401(k), and you can opt to make the investing decisions yourself or have a broker make them for you. Finally, a money market account is a safe, slow way to grow your cash over time, as it is Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured and has a higher interest rate than your basic savings account. Usually both CD’s and money market accounts can be set up at your local bank; some will even offer brokerage accounts as well. When opening an account, Signorelli advises to consider how long you can invest your capital for, what your short term money needs are (for example, are you prepared to sell the account quickly to liquidate it?) and how much risk you are prepared to take in your investments.

APR

These three letters are always floating around credit card commercials, but do you know what they mean? They stand for annual percentage rate, and that is the interest rate you have agreed to pay to your credit lender. For example: if you don’t manage to pay off your credit card bill by the end of the month, you are charged interest on the remaining balance; that interest is the APR. When looking for a lender or a new credit card company, ensure you have thoroughly read all the fine print and you’re completely sure you are actually getting the right APR. Often, companies will hide a limited time offer in their fine print, and after one month you will be left with immense interest rates regardless of your credit score!

2. Leases and contracts

At some point the signing of a little piece of paper will legally bind you to something be it a lease on a house, a loan or a car. These contracts can be complicated, so make sure you ask questions or consult a professional before signing anything you’re unsure of, and always, always read the fine print!

Lease on an apartment

Niccole Schreck, a Rental Experience Expert from Rent.com http://www.rent.com advises you to always have a full apartment inspection before you move in.“It’s crucial that any existing issues or damage is noted within your rental lease before you sign,” she says. Another way to protect yourself from pre-existing damage is to take time-stamped photos, says Schreck, as “there’s a direct connection between the shape of your apartment when you choose to leave and getting your deposit back when you move out.”

Protecting yourself and your apartment doesn’t stop at the contract, though. Schreck recommends getting renters’ insurance to protect your belongings for the duration of your lease. “Renters’ insurance is an inexpensive and important part of protecting your belongings,” as the building’s own insurance won’t protect you individually, or your possessions. You can find basic coverage from your normal insurance company, sometimes for as little as $15 (or even less, if you are bundling with car insurance)! Be careful though, most renters’ insurance policies will not cover flood damage, which Schreck says must be purchased separately.

Often when you go to sign a lease, there is a section at the bottom for a guarantor or a co-signer. Who is this person, and why are they on your contract? They are a safety net for the landlord, and will be legally responsible to pay any fees if you cannot.

In every lease there are things you should be aware of, such as the length of lease, penalties for early termination, when you need to notify the building manager of a move-out date, pet policy and deposit fees. Each of these things will change depending on your unique contract, but you should know to look for them and understand them before you sign!

Lease on a car

When you go to sign on a lease on your first car, Ostroff advises you haggle the selling price of the car down. “Never haggle by monthly payments but rather,” he says, “haggle by the selling price of the car.” The reason behind this is that lenders use the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to determine the cost of your lease; the lower the MSRP number is, the lower your payments will be. The breaking of a lease can result in hefty fines and other undesirable consequences, and going over the alloted miles during the lease term can cost you a lot, so always make sure you know the terms of the contract and can keep them.

Independent contractor vs. employee

It turns out that not all jobs are created equally! An employer can hire you as an employee or as an independent contractor. Independent contractors tend to cost less because they are not entitled to benefits the same way employees are, explains Signorelli. In addition to paying a salary, most employers will also offer things like insurance, medical coverage and overtime pay—all of which adds up! When a company hires an independent contractor they essentially act as a consultant. In addition to not receiving the same benefits, independent contractors are also taxed differently. Their taxes will not come out of their pay, like those of an employee, so they are responsible for paying their own quarterly, rather than once a year—more on this below!

3.  Taxes

Tax season is notorious for being stressful—but it doesn’t have to be. Thankfully, there are handy programs from sites like TaxSlayer.com or TurboTax.com to walk you through every step, but it’s helpful to know the basics before you get started.

Filing Taxes

One of the most important things to do when filing your taxes is to file them on time. If you’re late, you can face penalties and interest, Signorelli warns. Depending on your employment, you will have a certain type of tax form to file: a Form W-2 or a Form 1099-MISC. Both of these forms will be given to you by your employers by January 31st, but you can also find them on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.

A Form W-2 is for employees, and it will show the income you earned throughout the year and what taxes have been withheld, or taken, from your income for Social Security and Medicare. According to TurboTax.Com https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/IRS-Tax-Forms/What-is-a-W... the amount withheld is subtracted from your tax bill when you prepare your federal and state returns; that amount determines whether you are entitled to a refund or if you need to make an additional payment.

A Form 1099-MISC reports income for independent contractors, or for any miscellaneous income you received that has not yet been taxed. “There will not be any withholding of tax from that income,” says Signorelli, “so make sure you pay in what you think you will owe during the year. These are called estimated payments.” You can use the Estimated Tax Worksheet on Form 1040-ES to estimate your taxes. You are also expected to file Form 1099’s on any money you have earned through investments, stocks or mutual funds and any withdrawals made from a Traditional IRA.

Tax deductions

Ahh, tax deductions; they are money back in your pocket—but you definitely have to work for it! Signorelli explains that the government issues “standard deductions,” which are subtracted from your income before it is taxed. The standard deduction is $6,200 for an individual, but if you can accumulate more than that amount in personal deductions then you can deduct that amount instead! Some examples of things you can claimed as tax deductions are interest paid on student loans, the cost of travel if you moved for a job, charitable contributions, doctor copays and even the cost of a work uniform. In certain cases tuition and fees can also be deducted—the IRS has an application to check on your eligibility.

Pre-tax and after-tax benefits

Pre-tax is any money you make before taxes, and after-tax is the money you have left over after taxes. Most things going off a pre-tax rate are good things, especially medical savings accounts and commuter benefits. They save you money because you take away those costs from your income, meaning your overall taxable income is lower. Since these are costs you’d be spending anyway, if you can get them through your employer you can get a little something back come tax time. Signorelli says some employers will also offer ‘after-tax’ benefits, such as reduced costs for health and life insurance, however, she notes, they don’t come off your tax bill.

Whatever you’re looking to do—open up a credit card, lease a car, or maybe get a head start on your taxes—we hope this little guide of terms will help! Good luck, graduettes!

How She Got There: Julie Walsh, Founder of fitBallet

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Name: Julie Walsh

Age: 29

Job Title and Description: Founder of fitBallet

College Name/Major: UC Irvine/Dance and Global Cultures

Website: www.fitballet.org

Twitter Handle: @fitballet

 
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

Julie Walsh: Right now, I’m juggling all aspects of owning a business. I train individual clients, teach classes and handle social media and marketing. There really isn’t a typical day, both because my training schedule is different every day and because I’m always trying to jump-start new projects.

What is the best part of your job?

JW: It’s a pure meritocracy. You need some luck to make it big, of course, but for the most part it’s all about how hard you work and how creative you are. I really like getting out of bed every morning knowing I get to shape my day: what do I want to solve, who do I want to talk to? I really need to impose a meta-structure to make sure I don’t get lost on social media or the Gilmore Girls archives, but having that freedom makes me feel fully awake and like I’m working to my full potential. 

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

JW: I’m not sure there’s an entry-level position that leads to starting a business! You kind of have to just dive right in. That said, everything I did before starting fitBallet helped prepare me in some way. I went to Harvard Law School and practiced as an attorney for several years, and that made me comfortable with working long hours and with the legal aspects of starting a business. Teaching dance classes helped me understand how to break down and explain physical concepts. Even my summers as a camp counselor in college were helpful, because they taught me how to be “on” as a teacher and hold the attention of a difficult crowd.

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

JW: I wish I’d known that the fitness industry is about support and motivation rather than information. Most people don’t need information on how to work out. They need help getting out of bed in the morning, getting to the gym. Once I understood that, I revamped the services I offered to be more personal, and that really helped the business take off.

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

JW: My father. He owns a business also, and watching him constantly hustle from the time I was a child really informed my idea of what it meant to be an entrepreneur. I never went into this thinking that running a business was a 9-to-5 endeavor. I knew I was going to have to work constantly, and I was excited about it, because he’d shown me how thrilling it is to be responsible for your own future.
 
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

JW: “No one knows what they’re doing, either.” When you’re starting a business, it’s easy to think the advice that more established people give you is pure gold. Just listen and do as they say and you’ll be a huge success! But what worked for them might be totally wrong for you, or they may be misremembering their own first steps…a million different factors are at work in everyone’s personal story.

People love to look backward on their own lives and superimpose a narrative: “I did X and then Y, and then Z happened. So if you also want Z, do X and Y!” You can mine that advice for the parts that’ll work for you, but then you just have to evaluate each situation as it comes and do your best.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

JW: Taking things too personally. When I first launched my business, I had this latent assumption that I wouldn’t have to promote myself too much. People would see what I was offering, and they’d come to me, and it would be this great sitting-around-a-campfire situation. When that didn’t happen, I took it personally, thinking what I was offering wasn’t right or wasn’t enough. That was a mistake.

I was confusing the need for intense marketing with the inherent value of my business. I’ve noticed that women often feel uncomfortable marketing themselves and their businesses. Once you stop conflating yourself with your business, it’s easier to promote the business.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

JW: Watching the transformation of my clients’ bodies. It’s so incredibly rewarding to see someone’s physical shape change—to know that their life is now objectively better, because they’re healthier—and to know that you were partially responsible for that. It’s so intimate when someone invites you to be part of his or her struggle for health. When he or she succeeds because of something you created, that’s a crazy moment.
 
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

JW: Responsibility. Mistakes can be corrected, but you can’t fix the attitude of someone who isn’t reliably showing up ready to work. I’m incredibly invested in the success of my business, and I need to get the sense from an employee that they care, too.

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

JW: Be sure you’re picking something you’re absolutely passionate about. Starting a business is work, regardless of how much you like the area you’re working in. You need an enormous amount of drive to carry you through all the taxes, scheduling issues, and everything else that crops up. Wait until you find the subject that speaks to your soul and then go for it.

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7 Beauty Looks Perfect for Mardi Gras

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Green, purple and gold will be everywhere you look this Tuesday as collegiettes everywhere celebrate Mardi Gras! Whether you're in New Orleans or not this year, now is the time to be festive. But with such bright and bold colors, Mardi Gras looks can end up making you look a little clownish. So how do you get the look without being totally overwhelming? Below are a few ideas to help you celebrate Mardi Gras without going overboard!

1. Gold nails

Get an awesome gold glitter polish, like the Milani Jewel FX in Gold ($4.49) and give yourself a mani. No one will be able to look away from your sparkly fingers!

2. Plum lipstick

Purple lipstick might be a little much (it's hard to pull off!)—but just about anyone can work a rich plum shade! Splurge on MAC Lipstick in Diva ($16) or save on this Wet N Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Sugar Plum Fairy ($2.29)!

3. Gold & purple smoky eye

For a subtle and classy Mardi Gras look, use a shimmery gold shadow on your lid. Define your eye by using a dark purple in the crease. The Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Collection ($49) from Too Faced has both shades!

4. Boho headbands

Head to your local craft store and buy some green, purple, and gold ribbon and create a braided headband. You can also find ribbon that's already Mardi Gras themed and use that as well! Add some big, beachy waves for an adorable boho-chic look.

5. Cute accent nail

Using green, purple, and metallic gold polish, create a fun pattern on your ring finger as an accent nail. Paint the rest of your nails with a glitter polish, like China Glaze in Glitter All The Way ($4.95)!

6. Purple hair

Don't worry, you don't have to permanently dye your precious locks! Stock up on some temporary hair color, like L'Oréal Hairchalk in First Date Violet ($19.95), to apply to your hair—you can wash it out as soon as you're done celebrating!

7. Bold eye shadow

Create an amazing eyeshadow look using all of the Mardi Gras colors, which you can find in the IT Palette Color Spectrum ($19) by Sephora Collection. Apply green to the inner third, gold to the center, and purple to the outer corner, making sure to add color to your bottom lash line, too. You'll definitely get the party going!

Which Mardi Gras look will you rock tomorrow, collegiettes? 

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