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How to Get Rid of a Sudden Breakout

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One day, you glance in the mirror and proudly notice that your skin is close to clear. But then it happens: You have a stressful paper to write or you overindulge on late-night pizza, and boom! Acne. We’ve all been there and it’s frustrating, to say the least. Wasn’t acne supposed to end when we graduated high school? Thankfully, there are plenty of simple solutions to this common problem. Although we’ll never completely get rid of those annoying red spots, the following tips will definitely help!

What causes sudden breakouts?

1. Stress

It’s no secret: Stress has detrimental consequences on your health, and your skin is no exception. Dr. Kenneth Mark, a dermatologist based in New York City, explains that being worked up is one of the most common causes of sudden breakouts, especially in such a fast-paced environment as a college campus. Stress leads to the overproduction of sebum and the clogging of pores; these two things combined are the reason pimples appear. So when you’re stressing about that paper or your love life, you’re more likely to get those evil little spots.

2. Hormones

According to Dr. Mark, your hormonal cycle is one of the other leading causes of unexpected breakouts. Acne is common during PMS, because our levels of the progesterone hormone spike. In combination with testosterone, this hormone leads to the production of sebum and works to tighten our pores, which is why we break out at this time of the month. Just the PMS news we needed!

3. Greasy food

A healthy diet is crucial to your beauty routine and will leave your skin feeling and looking as clear as ever. Conversely, go too hard on late-night munchies or ice cream sandwiches and you might find yourself with a nasty pimple. “While traditionally we were taught that diet did not influence acne, there is a newer school of thought implying that indeed what we eat could also be playing a role,” Dr. Mark says. “It makes sense; we are what we eat.” Ugh, did we really need another reason to pass up the Nutella?

4. Sweat

Whether you wore a hat that day, you stayed on the phone too long or you didn’t wash your face after working out, leaving sweat on your face will inevitably lead to a breakout. This happens because sweat “is a physical irritant that can clog the pores,” according to Dr. Mark. Gross, we know.

How can you prevent sudden breakouts?

1. Exfoliate regularly

We know to wash and moisturize our faces every day, but we don’t always think to exfoliate. According to Dr. Mark, this is super important. “All acne starts with clogged pores,” he says. “Using a daily exfoliant is key. Something as simple as Neutrogena acne wash with 2 percent salicylic acid once or twice a day can accomplish this.” There are also some less harsh at-home products for sensitive skin, such as Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub ($5.60 at Drugstore.com).

2. Get a prescription

This is definitely not the easiest solution, but heading to the dermatologist can often be the most effective way to prevent acne. “There are also topical prescription medications and, for those with severe enough acne, oral medications such as antibiotics or even birth control pills,” Dr. Mark says. Since these treatments aren’t available over the counter, you need to consult an expert if you think they could be right for you. But if you can’t make it to the doctor’s office, you can also consult virtually with a derm from your phone!

3. Get a monthly chemical peel

If you are able to see a dermatologist but don’t want to take a drug on a regular basis, “another great preventive method is monthly in-office chemical peels,” Dr. Mark suggests. “These are ‘superficial’ peels where an acid or combo of acids is applied to the skin, that serves to exfoliate the dead layer of skin cells and unclog the pores.” Can’t make it to your derm (or find it too costly)? Try an at-home peel, like the PORE MEDIC Derma @ Home Peeling by Dr. Jart+ ($42 at Sephora)—the two-step process exfoliates, gently removes impurities and leaves skin clean and blemish-free.

4. Destress

We know—it’s probably easier said than done, but taking a breather can really go a long way when it comes to clear skin. So talk to a friend, online shop, do some yoga or walk around the block; your skin will thank you!

How should you treat a sudden breakout?

1. Try an over-the-counter cream or gel

One of the easiest ways to treat a breakout is to head to your local drugstore and pick up a cream or gel that contains benzoyl peroxide. Clean & Clear’s Persa-Gel ($6.99 at Ulta) is a good choice. This ingredient is an antiseptic that kills bacteria associated with acne.

Another alternative to benzoyl peroxide is salicylic acid, an exfoliating ingredient that unclogs the pores. That being said, to figure out which one is best for you, you may need to consult an expert. But whatever product you use, make sure to hydrate your skin regularly, as these harsh chemicals can dry it out—leading your skin to produce even more oil and causing more breakouts!

2. Go to the dermatologist

Once again, “if you have access and time, the best way to nip a flaring zit in the bud is go to the dermatologist for an injection of medicine,” Dr. Mark says. “It usually will be gone or at least much decreased within 24 hours.”

3. Do not pick at your skin

You’ve probably been told never to pick a pimple, and with good reason. “You will only increase the inflammation, make it more noticeable, and even increase the risk of scarring,” Dr. Mark says. So keep your hands away from your face—at all costs!

4. Try a home remedy

There are many home ingredients that you can use to treat a pimple. Blot your pimple with toothpaste or a crushed-up aspirin (you can mix it with water to create a paste) that you leave on overnight, or by day, you can try putting a dab of lemon juice on your pimple.

5. Try an overnight treatment

If you’re not convinced DIY methods will work and can’t afford to see a dermatologist in a pinch, why not try an overnight treatment? Use a Q-Tip to apply Mario Badescu’s famous Drying Lotion ($17 at Mario Badescu), which uses a formula of salicylic acid, calamine and other ingredients to eliminate pimples overnight. Or, stock up on Acne Absorbing Covers by Nexcare ($7.99 at Walgreens), which are essentially like little stickers you can leave on overnight to absorb oil and help battle your breakouts.

Sudden breakouts are annoying to say the least, and between late-night munchies and all-night study sessions, they happen way too often in college. But with these tips and tricks, you should be well equipped to get rid of those evil little spots.
 


Win a $150 Shopping Spree Customized to Your Personal Style!

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Maybe you know the latest runway trends better than you know what’s happening in your history lecture; or maybe you have your daily uniform that stands the test of time. Whatever your personal style, you probably have a go-to place to shop when you’re looking to upgrade your wardrobe with something that’s totally you.

But we can do better than that—we’re introducing you to boohoo, the ultimate style destination from across the pond that caters to every style, whether you love girly details or have an edgier look. We’ve partnered up with this massive e-boutique to give away four $150 shopping sprees! With a hundred new pieces hitting the site every day (and all at amazingly affordable prices!), you’ll be able to refresh your entire wardrobe.

So tell us—what’s your personal style? Let boohoo’s #WeAreUSA campaign guide you: there’s We Are Now, featuring actress Bella Thorne and her trendsetting and feminine look; We Are Bold, which showcases singer Angel Haze and her edgy, underground style; We Are Fit, highlighting DJ Hannah Bronfman and her cool-girl, athletics-inspired wardrobe; and We Are Free, featuring model Chloe Norgaard and her festival fashion chic.

Who are you? Enter below—and let us know whether you’re Now, Bold, Fit or Free—and you’ll score a chance to win a $150 boohoo shopping spree based on your personal style!

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If This Happened to You, Would You Report It?

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On the subway this morning, you notice a man staring at you. He inches closer and closer until he is practically leaning into you—and you really don't want him to. Would you report it?

 

Yes.

At least that’s what the campaign “Report It To Stop It” is encouraging women to answer. Transport for London created the campaign to try to tackle sexual harassment and assault on public transport. The campaign’s new video shows a woman experiencing sexual harassment from another transit passenger, and with each action, the video asks, "Would you report it?"

Although many might think the obvious answer is “yes,” this response is not as common as you’d think. According to Transport for London, 90 percent of unwanted sexual attention on the tube goes unreported.

Women often do not report sexual harassment for a number of reasons, which are listed on the campaign’s Tumblr page. Some women are afraid that they won’t be taken seriously, or that it’s not a big deal in either their lives or the lives of police. Transport for London assured that they will always treat victims with respect. “Nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable on their journey,” read the campaign’s Tumblr page. “No incident is too minor.”

“You can report anything of a sexual nature, including rubbing, groping, masturbation, leering, sexual comments, indecent acts, or someone taking photos of you without your consent,” according to the “Report It To Stop It” website.

Both men and women can experience unwanted behaviors in public. Therefore, both genders should always feel empowered to report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Although the “Report It To Stop It” campaign is a step in the right direction, Transport for London left out one thing. Getting people to stop harassing others in the first place is the best way to stop sexual harassment.

The 7 Types of People You Become After College

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In college, you have everything you could possibly want: free food and access to a gym (which you probably never went to but the idea is nice), best friends as roommates, unlimited themed parties, and, in retrospect, great classes. In the real world however, life gets a little more difficult. Graduation comes quickly, and all of a sudden you’re supposed to be an adult. You probably have a 9-to-5 job, bills to pay, little free time, and if you want to party, you have to pay. All this “adult stuff” can change you, hopefully for the better… but sometimes for the worse. Take a look at the seven types of people you could become college:

1. The nostalgic one

“Why can’t we just be at [insert your popular college bar here] right now? I miss it so much,” you say every time you’re out with your friends. If this is you, you can’t get over the fact that college is over. You’re in denial and all you want to do is act like college was the best time of your life. In hindsight, it’s easy to forget about the bad things.

Tip: Take a moment to think about the all-nighters (especially during finals week), the inability to get away from the people you didn’t want to see, and all the boys who didn’t want to “be serious”… maybe you’ll stop your complaining.

2. The “Help Me, I’m Poor”

You wonder how you’re going to pay for your morning coffee every time the subway fare or gas prices go up. But while you’re always whining about how everything is so expensive, you rarely decline invites to dinners, shows, and concerts. You eat out most nights a week, yet you don’t think you can afford to pay for a weekend at the beach with your friends. Hmm… are you really keeping track of what you’re spending and are you spending it wisely? 

Tip: Try using free websites and apps that help you keep track of your money, like Mint and Good Budget. The best part about these sites is that you can link them to your bank account and credit cards, creating your own tailored budget each month. The sites let you create categories of your spending as well, so you can know if you are overspending on things like travel or food.

3. The workaholic

You wake up at five, head to the gym, work until 9 pm, order food, check your email, go to sleep around midnight, wake up and do it all over again. You don’t do anything besides work because there’s just no time. You even keep food in your desk drawer because you rarely take real breaks where you actually leave the building. Your head hurts most nights because you can’t think straight after staring at your screen for ten hours. You don’t go five minutes without checking your work email, even if you’re on a first date. You are a workaholic

Tip: There’s a time for work and a time for play. If you don’t let yourself have any of the latter, you’ll burn out and that’s not healthy! Make a plan a few times a week to relax, shut down all your electronics and not think about work. Even if that means scheduling things like reading a book or exploring a new museum, you need that personal time to keep yourself energized.

4. The wanderer

You graduated, and now you’re just taking life as it comes. You don’t really know if you like your job or not and you don’t know what you want to do with your life. Ever since college ended, you’ve just wanted to explore different cities, jobs, relationships— everything. You don’t like to settle down and you don’t see why you have to—your options are endless! You change your mind every other day. You are a wanderer.

Tip: It’s fine to wander for a bit after college ends, but it can be easy to get lost. You need to take time to really think about what you like and don’t like, and what your ultimate goals are. Write down what’s working for you and what’s not in all areas of your life, just so you feel like you are on a path to somewhere (even if you’re still unsure what that path is!).

5. The partier

You can’t say no to an invite, and Thursday through Sunday, you’re out on the town! If your friends are being lame and won’t go out with you during the week, you’ll still have a few drinks at the bar. You never know whom you might meet! 

Tip: The city never sleeps, but eventually you need to. It’s fun to have a good time as a college grad, but make sure you still have a few days to yourself to recharge.

6. The serial dater

You have a date every other night this week. You meet guys when you’re out, through friends, and online. You check Tinder, Hinge, and JSwipe like an addict. It’s not that you’re lonely, you just like meeting everyone. You don’t know what you want but you think you’ll figure it out if you just date enough people…

Tip: There’s nothing wrong with dating in your post-college years—you finally have access to meet so many different people outside of your school’s bubble! Just make sure you’re thinking about the qualities you like or don’t like, so when you’re ready to settle down, you know exactly what you’re looking for.

7. Social media-obsessed

If you can’t go ten minutes without checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Foursquare, and/or Pinterest, you are O.W.S.M (Obsessed with Social Media). Ever since college ended, you feel like you have to show everyone that you’re loving life in the real world, which means posting lots of pictures. You text your friends to ask which filter to use and what to write in your caption on Instagram. You get anxious if you have to wait to see how many likes you get when your phone dies, and you even take down your picture if you don’t get at least eleven within the hour. While using social media is becoming the norm in our culture, you’ve taken it a little too far.

Tip: Set limits. As in, don’t spend more than five minutes choosing an Instagram filter. There are more important things you could be doing than spending all your time staring at screens.

Life changes after you leave college, and so will you. Whatever you’ve become, make sure that you’re not taking post-college life too seriously. It’s fine to be nostalgic for your college days, spend your own money on what you actually want to spend it on, and post photos of brunch on Instagram, but make sure you’re taking the time to learn and grow. Be sure you’re taking advantage of all that the adult world has to offer—make the most of it, graduette!

How She Got There: Bella Weems, Founder of Origami Owl

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Name: Bella Weems
Age: 18
Job Title and Description: Founder of Origami Owl
Website: origamiowl.com
Twitter Handle: @Bella_Weems and @OrigamiOwl

What does your current job entail?

Bella Weems: As the founder of Origami Owl, I really wanted to get a better understanding of how each department within the company operates, so I recently did an internship within my own company and learned a lot about how all departments function day to day, how our employees support each other and the importance each department plays in the success of the company. I decided that the creative and product development areas of the business are the perfect place for me to grow and expand my creativity! 

In addition, I continue to work closely with our PR team and appear on behalf of the company at events and press appointments. I am passionate about sharing my story with others and the opportunity Origami Owl brings to a person’s life. 

What is the best part of your job?

BW: The best part of my job is being able to motivate and inspire people to reach their dreams. I try to encourage people to take a leap of faith by sharing my own story. I also LOVE interacting with our 60,000 plus Origami Owl designers! When I have the opportunity at our yearly conventions to spend time with the designers, I love hearing their stories and when they share what’s in their lockets; every story is different and unique. 

How did you juggle being a teen and running a successful company?

BW: I juggled being a teenager and running the company by using my time wisely. I always made school my main priority because that was what was important to me, but at the end of the day, I just had to find a healthy balance! I would be at the office every day after school and I was always so excited to be there. I also have always had great support from my family, especially my mom, who has been by my side from the beginning, encouraging me and helping run the day-to-day business/operations.

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

BW: One person who changed my professional life for the better would be my mom. My mom truly believed in me from the very beginning. She has taught me how to be successful, because in her eyes, you are successful when you’re paying it forward and being a force for good, and I continue to learn from my mom every day. I watch how she does things and take note; she is so good to others.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

BW: I have been blessed to be given many words of wisdom from people I admire. However, one quote that really sticks with me on a daily basis is from Audrey Hepburn: “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible!” I think it’s important to believe in yourself and who you are and remember you can reach your dreams no matter how big or how small.

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

BW: With Origami Owl, we did not expect the amount of growth we encountered, and we grew at such a fast rate that we were running out of product. That was one struggle we had in the beginning. We pushed through it, created a plan to fix the issue and made the best of the situation. I believe that with success comes a whole lot of failure. Any successful person would agree. But if you persevere you can accomplish anything. 

What is the most surreal moment of your career so far?

BW: It is always so surreal when I see people wearing my jewelry! It is truly humbling and puts things into perspective for me. It makes me so excited, and I feel truly blessed.

What do you look for when hiring someone?

BW: We really look for someone who brings a positive attitude every day to work and of course great talent that can benefit the company! We always encourage people to be a force for good and pay it forward, so when we are hiring people, we look for someone who embodies our mission statement and our core values. The values mean everything because the foundation of the company was built on these from the very beginning. 

What is one thing you wished you knew about the industry when you first started out? 

BW: I wish that I would have known how much this industry (direct sales) touches and changes lives for the better. Allowing people to build their own businesses, giving them the opportunity to interact with others and change lives, both personally and professionally, is such a blessing. I know for me, especially in the beginning, this opportunity gave me confidence to approach people, present myself as a business owner and share the Origami Owl story with others. It also has taught me the importance of listening to others so I can assist them with building an Origami Owl Living Locket that represents who they are and what their personal journey has meant to them. It humbled me that people would open up and share special memories while I helped them put together the perfect locket that represents the beauty of their story.

What career advice would you give your peers?

BW: The advice I would give to my peers is never give up on your dreams! You never know what can happen! I believe that there is no dream too big. Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you up and inspire you to be your best self! Also, seek advice from people whom you trust and those that have done great things with their own lives. I lean on my family quite a bit. Family is very important to me! Never forget to always be yourself.

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5 Ways to Strengthen Weak Nails

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I've always been jealous of anybody with thick, long nails. Mine are constantly splitting, breaking, and peeling. They frequently look like stubs and the only way to get them "long" is to keep them constantly painted so they can't break before they grow out. For a polish fanatic like me... the struggle is real. But the future looks bright—here are five ways to strengthen your nails, and keep them healthy!

1. Biotin

Biotin is the true healer of weak nails. It has B and H vitamins that work together with other vitamins in your body to nourish your hair, nails and skin. Those with weak nails may be lacking the essential vitamin. Of course, before you start to take Biotin pills, you should always consult a doctor and make sure you take the correct dosage.

2. Intense moisturizer

Nails become brittle and weak because they are dry and lack moisture. Using a moisturizer daily, or even a few times a day, can drastically improve your nails and hands. Look for mositurizers that contain Vitamin E, avocado oil, or shea butter like Dermalogica's Multi-vitamin Hand and Nail Treatment ($26).

3. Fortified nail polishes

 

While we use nail polish to make our nails look pretty, they can also help strengthen our nails and protect them as well. Consider using polishes that are specifically made for strengthening and improving nails. Sally Hansen Miracle Cure ($8.99) is clear so can be used on its own or as a base coat under your favorite polish. It fills in cracks, stops peeling, and intensely moisturizes to strengthen nails fast!

4. Safe nail polish remover

 

Pay attention to what you use to remove your polish. Many removers contain formaldehyde and acetone, which can dry nails out, so look for removers with a low acetone percentage, like OPI's Expert Touch Laquer Remover ($6.09). It hydrates and nourishes nails, but still removes polish fast.

5. Give your nails a break

We hate to say it, but the best and quickest way to help your nails grow strong and healthy is to keep them polish-free. Your nails need to breathe, and unpolished nails also soak up moisturizer better.

What are your tips and trick for maintaining strong, healthy nails, collegiettes?

9 Ways to Transform Your Body by Summer

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Amidst the stresses of midterms and internship and job searching, getting bikini-ready for summer might be the last thing on your mind right now. We believe that any body wearing a bikini is a “bikini body,” but for collegiettes who want to tone up a bit before heading to the beach this summer, now is the time to start planning. Not only is slower change healthier than last-minute quick fixes, but it also leads to results that will last way past summer. According to Cassey Ho, a YouTube fitness guru, 12 weeks is the perfect amount of time to make a change in your body. Change your ways now, and you will see a difference by summer.

1. Change your attitude

First things first: don’t just think about it in terms of getting your summer body. Wait, didn’t we promise that following these steps would get you that hot summer bod? Yes, and they will—but there’s no way you’ll be able to follow through on them for three months unless you revamp the way you think about diet and fitness. Instead of thinking about it as a three-month or 12-week responsibility, think about it as a lifestyle change in order to become more fit. 

“I always tell people it’s like looking for a career,” Ho says. “You’re not going to look for [a job] just for the money; you’re going to look for the one that makes you happy, and by making you happy and you trying to do the best that you can at this thing that you love, the money will come. So it’s the same with working out. You find the joy in it first, and those abs will come.”

2. Find inspiration

Whether it’s by starting a blog, making a Pinterest board or decking out a wall in your room with motivational pictures and quotes, a little inspiration can go a long way. Display your goals, curate workout how-tos and recipe ideas and have a place where you can check in to remind yourself of what you’re doing and keep yourself on track. Three months may seem like a long time to keep yourself in check, but surrounding yourself with inspiration and motivation will make it go by in a breeze!

But be wary of where you look: The Internet can be full of dangerous “thinspo,” or unhealthy images encouraging people to strive for unrealistically thin bodies, so seek out blogs and boards that place an emphasis on healthy transformations. A good rule of thumb is if something makes you feel guilty about or ashamed of how your body is now, it’s not a healthy source of inspiration to get your body to where you want it to be! Maintaining realistic expectations rather than holding yourself to an unattainable ideal will help you stay on track. 

3. Cut the crap

Alright, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: your diet. If you want to transform your body by summer, there are undoubtedly things you’re going to need to change about the way you’re eating. According to Ho, results come from 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise and genetics, so before you do anything else, make the decision to cut out the bad stuff from your diet.

“Get rid of refined carbs like white bread and white rice, sugary drinks like soda and fried foods,” Ho says. “You don’t need those unnecessary calories and toxins in your body. Once you start eating clean and eating closer to the earth, the better your body is going to feel and the better you’re going to look.”

So, what does it mean to eat clean? Ho suggests filling your meals with vegetables and lean protein. A rule of thumb when it comes to vegetables is to eat your greens. They’re full of fiber, which are great for digestion and keep you full, so you won’t be tempted to snack unnecessarily. Lean proteins—that is, low-fat proteins like poultry and fish—build muscle mass and help you lose weight.  If quitting the fried foods cold turkey is too much a change to handle, try gradually phasing them out of your diet by reducing your intake on a weekly basis.

4. Find a type of exercise you love

Finding the joy in working out can be hard; we know. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is drag yourself to the gym, hop on the treadmill and plod along for a half an hour.  After too much of that, being healthy starts to feel like a job. For that reason, if you want a lifestyle you’re going to stick with in the long run, you have to think outside the box and find an exercise that you actually enjoy doing—and not just because it will bring you results.

“If you’re going to the gym, hating every second of it and dreading going back, that’s not something you can stick to,” Ho says.

Finding an exercise you really click with can take some experimenting, so don’t be afraid to jump around. Try some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or take a yoga class. Find a fitness YouTube channel or DVD that hits the right spot or start lifting weights with a friend. There isn’t just one right way to break a sweat, so start looking around for your perfect match now and you’ll have a better chance of sticking with it ‘til summer. 

5. Pick a program

If breaking a sweat and monitoring your diet seems like enough work on its own, give yourself a break from the planning and leave yourself in the capable hands of the experts. There are a ton of 12-week programs out there designed to whip your butt into shape. You could check out Ho’s free 90 Day Challenge that combines her Pilates videos and an exclusive meal plan. If you’re not fainthearted, give P90X a go to dabble in resistance and body-weight training, cardio, plyometrics, ab work, martial arts and yoga all in the same program. Or try some tough love with Jillian Michaels’s Body Revolution. Or you could try the dozens more plans just waiting for you! Look around for a plan that suits your interests, whether that’s online, at your local gym or in the health aisle of your local bookstore (remember what Ho said about loving what you’re doing!), and get down to business.

6. Mix it up

For optimum results by your summer deadline, avoid plateauing by keeping your routine varied. Even once you pick your favorite exercise from above, take into consideration what might still be missing. Both engaging your muscles via weight training and cardio are important for full-body results.

“Once muscle is gained, your metabolism gets higher and you’ll be burning more calories throughout the day. But, of course, cardio is great for heart health,” Ho says. “Doing both is really best.” 

7. Bring on the water

If you’re not already chugging water on a daily basis, now is the time to start. Not only will you need water if you’re upping your fitness routine, but drinking more water will reduce your cravings for other drinks with empty calories, according to Ho. Not to mention, she points out, it flushes out toxins and makes your skin look awesome. And who doesn’t want to have clear, glowing skin this summer?

If adding water to your daily routine is new for you, you can’t go wrong with the standard eight 8-ounce glasses a day. That may sound like a lot, but remember, a standard reusable water bottle will likely hold upwards of 20 ounces! Knock three of them back throughout the day and you’ll be good. Invest in a reusable water bottle and start carrying it to class every day.

8. Learn the golden moves

For those collegiettes who get intimidated in the face of complicated exercise plans, crowded gyms and fancy routines, a total-body workout is still possible by mastering a few simple moves. Ho suggests doing the following moves, starting with three sets of 15 reps each and increasing your reps when the moves start to feel easy.

The burpee: One of the best total-body workouts out there, the burpee provides cardio and engages your arm and core muscles. To perform it, begin standing up straight and squat down to place your hands on the floor in front of you. Then, kick your feet back to a plank position, do a pushup and immediately return your feet to the squat position. To finish, jump up from you squat position as high as possible, and repeat!

The eagle crunch: This modified crunch really engages your core muscles. Start by laying on your back and crossing your legs at the ankles and your arms at the wrists, like above. Next, stretch out, lengthening your fingers away from your toes and flattening your back to the mat. Then draw your elbows back toward your knees, pulling your belly button to your spine, just like a normal crunch!

Squats: No list of basic but effective moves is complete without giving a shout-out to the squat, the ultimate booty and leg workout. Proper squat form is imperative to avoid injury in your knees, so listen up! Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and extend your hands straight out in front of you for balance. Then, lower yourself down (it helps if you imagine you're sitting in a chair) and keep your head facing forward. Allow your back to arch slightly as you sink down. Keeping the weight on your heels, lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your knees are over your ankles. Then, return to start position.


Half-cobra pushup: To work your arms and core with this modified push-up, start by lying on your stomach with your arms bent and your hands pressed flat on the ground next to your armpits. Then, assume the half-cobra position by pushing up using your chest and keeping your legs flat and elbows bent. Then you just repeat—easy as that!

The up, up, down, down: This is another exercise that works your arms and core. As a bonus, it’s also killer on your shoulders. Check out Ho demonstrating how to do this move below!

9. Trust the process

No matter how sore you are, it’s easy to get discouraged when results don’t show up overnight. It’s important to keep in mind that if you stick to the plan you set out for yourself, you will see results eventually. Like Ho said, 12 weeks is long enough to see your body change significantly, so trust the process and change will come!

Once you put your faith in process, all that’s left to do is to get moving. See you on the beach, collegiettes! 
 

9 Outfits You Can't Get Away With in the Real World

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College is full of opportunities... like giving us the chance to wear (pretty much) whatever we want 24/7! We feel equally as accepted when we're in leggings as we do in our walk of shame look. Unfortunately, after college, some of our favorite outfits are no longer acceptable. For now, let's celebrate the looks we love, but will definitely be judged for post-college. 

1. Wearing the same sweatshirt three days in a row

But Drake says that's when we're the prettiest!

2. Micro... micro mini skirts

Sometimes we just wanna flaunt our assets... but maybe as we get older the hemline should get a little longer.

3. Leggings all day, every day

As much as it pains us to admit, leggings aren't considered real clothes in the adult world.

4. Questionable Halloween costumes

Ugh... we might have to actually plan ahead for this one.

5. The oversized shirt and "Norts" combo

It's pretty much a uniform.

6. Bare feet

You know when you're at a formal event and you take your shoes off, and suddenly your night is like 10000x better? Yeah... unfortunately this is less acceptable post-college.

7. Wearing his clothes the morning after

It's almost better to just own your walk of shame outfit...

8. Not wearing pants

Yeah, this is definitely less cute when you're not living in a dorm. We might actually have to like, get out of bed.

9. Sunglasses inside

People will respect you in the library, but probs not at a desk job.


7 Things That Happen Upon Taking Your First Women's Studies Class

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There are a number of general education requirements that Gender and Women's Studies classes often fill at universities. But whether you signed up to fill a bio requirement or to indulge in your passionate feminism, no need to fret. Because GWS classes are consistently, in a word, badass. These things things are bound to happen upon taking your first Gender and Women's Studies class: 

1. You learn more about lady parts than you thought imaginable

It's only the first day, and your professor has already asked 200 strangers to draw the vulva. You're sure you've got this down, until your new prof. debunks you and makes you realize you really have no idea what the proper anatomy of your downstairs female fun parts is like. You can't imagine what the small percentage of boys in the class feel like... Let the learning begin!

2. You gain a stronger sense of pride in being a woman

As you listen to and read about the struggles that women have overcome throughout history, whether in health care, social justice, or sexual inequality in the bedroom, you can't help but feel even prouder to be a woman. You can often be heard marching back to your dorm room after class, screaming, "We've come this far, now let's close that orgasm gap!"

3. If you weren't a feminist before taking a GWS class, you are now

Your professor confidently states on the first day that you will become a feminist by the end of this course. And ever is she right. We GWS-ers swear on Gloria Steinem that you'll join the fight for gender equality after your first Women's Studies course! It's impossible not to believe that women deserve equal opportunities after learning about the oppression our gender has faced throughout history. Plus, you know, common sense.

4. You learn more about your body and how it functions

The day you finally understand just how each particular hormone and cell of the menstrual cycle functions, you will have an epiphany of sorts. You will learn the true size of the clitoris, what PMS really is and the effects of certain contraceptives on your body. It's almost scary to think you didn't have this knowledge pre-GWS! 

5. You beg your partner to take a GWS class

"I don't understand women," they say. "Where's the clitoris?" they ask. "I'm not a feminist," they claim. Well, we sure hope these aren't things your partner says. But regardless, guys tend to make up less than 10 percent of students in GWS lecture halls. Little do they know how valuable their newfound knowledge would be to pleasin' the ladies - and being a better-rounded human being in general. If as females, we gain more respect for women by taking these classes, just imagine the effect on guys! Run, don't walk, to your BF's dorm (if you have a male partner). Get that kid enrolled. 

6. You actually look forward to your class readings (for once!).

You're used to reluctantly looking at your syllabus each week and seeing yet another daunting list of readings to complete. But with GWS, you're reading about the kickass accomplishments of women throughout history, the intricacies of how your sexual organs work (this is really for your benefit) and truly interesting social events, gender debates and more. Who wouldn't want to read about a bunch of really, really cool shiz that women have done?

7. You want to change your major to Gender and Women's Studies.

You're already double-majoring, but it couldn't hurt to throw in a third, right? Okay, maybe you'll have some reconsidering to do. But you can't help but feel an intense interest in Gender and Women's Studies, just after one class. Who wouldn't want to be the next Margaret Sanger or Audre Lorde?

Yoncé would approve.
 

Lipstick Hacks: Everything You Ever Needed to Know

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We learn a lot of things in college, many of them extremely useful. But there are some things college doesn't teach us about life essentials. Especially when it comes to lipstick. Wouldn’t it be nice if how to apply lipstick properly, and how to make sure your lipstick truly lasts all day, were part of the curriculum? But have no fear; we're here to spill our trade secrets! Here are some lipstick hacks that every girl should know.

1. How to fix lipstick when it melts

Everybody loves a sunny day. But with sun comes heat and it can be all too common to come back from a day out, only to find that your lipstick has completely melted. To rescue it, microwave the remaining bits in a plastic dish until it's in liquid form, pour it into a travel-sized pot and stick it in the fridge to harden. You can then apply it using a lip brush! Tip: you can also do this with two different shades and combine them to make your own customized color.

2. How to remove lipstick without getting it all over your face

Bite Beauty's Lush Lip wipes ($12 at Sephora) are not only effective at removing color, but are also incredibly moisturizing as they're infused with melon extract. Plus, they smell amazing and are made with food-grade ingredients!

3. How to remove lipstick stains from clothes

Long-wearing lipstick is great on your lips... and not so great on your clothes. For those times when you get lipstick on your favorite shirt, dot the shirt with a soft cloth and some rubbing alcohol. Then, rub some dish detergent over top and wash. If all else fails, cover the mark in stain remover and let sit.

4. How to apply lipstick flawlessly

  1. First exfoliate! The key is to avoid that scaly look. Store bought lip scrubs, like these ones from Bite ($18 at Sephora) or Fresh ($22.50 at Sephora), are effective, but a DIY mixture of Vaseline and sugar works just as well. Apply with your finger or with an old toothbrush in circular motions.
  2. Swipe on a thin coat of lip balm for moisture. We like Burt's Bees' Beeswax Lip Balm ($3.30 at burtsbees.com).
  3. Next, apply a layer of concealer. This provides a neutral base for the colour.
  4. Border the edges of your lips with a clear or matching lip liner, such as the No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner by No Cosmetics ($15 at Sephora), so that your lipstick won't drift outside the lines.
  5. Paint on the color using a lip brush for control.
  6. Blot with a tissue and apply another layer.

5. How to make lipstick last all day

There is nothing more annoying about lipstick than having to constantly reapply it. But there are some simple steps you can take to make sure it lasts all day. 

  • Blot and reapply the color twice, instead of just once. Multiple layers provide ample staying power.
  • Start with a base of matching lip stain, lip liner or concealer first. This provides something for the lipstick to grip onto, sort of like a base coat on your nails does.
  • Add a clear seal over top, like Lipcote Lipstick Sealer ($12.95 at Amazon) to lock in color.

6. Creative ways to use lipstick

In a pinch, lipstick is an ideal multipurpose product. It can double as a blush; just dab three pea sized dots along each cheek bone and blend. Brown shades work well as a bronzer if applied in the hollows of your cheeks. Certain colors can also be used as eye shadow! Purple, burgundy and gold or bronze shades are perfect.

7. How to reattach a broken end back to the tube

So you've been a little too liberal with your lipstick application, or maybe you weren't paying attention and tried to put the cap on while it was still rolled up. Now your favorite color has broken off the base. Don't fret! Just place the broken end back on top of what's left in the tube and use a lighter or a match to melt the edges together. Let cool and it's as good as new!

8. How to tell when lipstick has expired

We're all guilty of sometimes keeping our makeup long past its expiration date. But it can be unhygienic to keep makeup for too long, as it could lead to infection. Yuck! A basic rule of thumb: lipstick usually lasts for around 2 years. To help it last as long as possible, wipe off the end after each use. Make sure you throw out your products if they start to smell differently or change texture or color. 

Can Your Relationship Survive Finals Week?

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Finals week can turn any collegiette into a sweatpants-wearing, Nutella-hoarding, stressed-out, grouchy mess. We’ve all had days when we woke up, knew we had six chapters of economics to study and a hefty final research paper to write and realized that we probably should not have the privilege of human contact that day.

But when you’re in a relationship, it’s not so easy to simply tell your SO that yes, you will be living in this self-induced solitary confinement full of pizza and tissues. Being in a relationship during times of stress is hard. Luckily for you, we’ve come up with three easy tips to make sure that finals week is a test for your brain, not for your relationship.

1. Communicate your expectations clearly

It’s no surprise that any good relationship has crystal-clear expectations and communication. Whether you need 24 hours to study with your cell phone completely off, a break for coffee every six hours or a motivational text every hour until that sociology final, your SO will want to be there for you — if he or she knows what to do.

“Openly discuss your needs and expectations for during finals,” says Jasbina Ahluwalia, a relationship expert and founder of Intersections Match by Jasbina. “Don't expect him to read your mind — express your needs and encourage him to share his by actively listening.”

Setting your expectations and schedules can help take some of the stress out of finals; if you know he’s studying all afternoon, you won’t be stressed out that he hasn’t responded to your text!

“We will usually talk about the upcoming week so we can be sure to set times to hang out together,” says Krysta, a junior at Wayne State University, of her and her husband. “Of course, having a schedule isn't the most romantic and spontaneous thing, but finals week is so hectic—it’s better to go in … prepared.”

Ahluwalia says that a great way to support your SO during finals week is “by expressing your needs, cutting each other slack and helping each other focus on your studies instead of distracting each other.” If your SO knows that your dream of becoming a doctor can’t come true without good grades in chemistry, maybe he or she will be more chill about you not responding to a text or canceling dinner at the last minute.

Every collegiette wants something different from her SO during finals week, and it’s up to you to decide what you want and ask for it. 

2. Sync your schedules (and your breaks!)

Along with clear expectations comes the responsibility of knowing your SO’s finals schedule — does he or she have three finals at the beginning of the week, a final every day or just papers due at the end of the week? Knowing your SO’s schedule will help you because you’ll know when he or she may get stressed.

Ahluwalia suggests “coordinating your schedules to find small blocks of time to connect during finals week.” To be the most supportive of your SO and to find times to take breaks, however, you have to know what’s going on! While you may not necessarily prod your friends for their finals schedules, knowing your SO’s can really make things easier for your relationship. 

“My husband and I will usually plan out the week ahead of time so we know when each other will be busy,” Krista says. “That way we can plan who makes dinner, who goes to grab chips for movie night, etc.”

During the stressful time of finals week, a girl has to eat, exercise and take other forms of breaks from studying. Ditch your bad studying habits and learn how utilize breaks best in your studying. Include your SO in these activities — you won’t be lonely, and he or she will love to see you when you’re taking a break. 

However, Ahluwalia suggests thinking twice before you study with your SO: “You know yourself — will his studying with you provide comfort and moral support, or distract you?” Will your SO actually be helpful while you’re studying for that chemistry final, or you should hit up your lab partner as a study buddy instead?

“Consider taking breaks together for essentials, like meals and stress-reducing workouts,” Ahluwalia says. “During your finals-week breaks, be present and focus on each other.  Also keep in mind that touch can be a great stress reliever.” 

Knowing you have time with your SO to look forward to can help ease a long day of studying. “We spend the day studying, but pull ourselves from the books at night,” Krista says. “We will have dinner together, watch a movie or go for a walk – anything we can do together for two or three hours away from the school environment.”

After finals, plan something fun. “Immediately after big tests, we are usually pretty tired, so we will probably watch a movie together or just hang out,” says an Alice*, a junior at Stanford University, of her and her SO. “But the weekend after big tests or finals when we've had a bit more sleep, we love to go hiking together!”

3. Let your SO know you care

During finals week, make sure that your SO feels loved and supported. “Send him short texts or write him little notes and [leave] them on his book or pillow,” Ahluwalia says. Before finals week, she says, you can make “thoughtful gifts like a ‘finals basket’ filled with Starbucks gift certificates, his favorite snacks and loving notes.” You’ll be less stressed if you know that you’re supporting your SO, and it will make him or her feel great, too!

“Consider planning a special break for the two of you immediately after finals, like a special celebratory date night or romantic getaway,” Ahluwalia says. “It will provide a light at the end of the tunnel and give you concentrated time to reconnect.” Start planning those reservations at that favorite restaurant now so that you don’t have to worry about it during finals week!

“I think that a big part of support in any relationship is being a good listener, so one of the ways that I support [my SO] during finals is by being aware of what he has going on and listening to how he feels about everything,” says Kate*, a junior from Stanford University. “I also know that finals period is one of the most stressful times at school, so sometimes the best way to support someone is to listen without the need to give a lot of feedback, or even just spending time together that doesn't have anything to do with tests or studying.”

Letting your SO know that you care about him or her means being attuned to his or her needs and desires. Even if you may want to discuss every detail of your calculus final, your SO may not want to talk about that tricky question on the economics exam. 

Studying for finals can be a long and stressful process, but supporting and being supported by your SO can make everything a little more manageable. Your relationship doesn’t have to take a toll when textbooks have to become your new SO; instead, you can make your relationship even stronger when you two face adversity together. 

*Names have been changed.

11 Signs You’re in Denial About Graduating

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The end is near, or so that’s what everyone has been saying. You choose not to pay attention to all that talk because, as a senior, it’s depressing, terrifying and heart-wrenching all at the same time. You’ve stuck your fingers in your ears and sang “la la la” because you’ll do anything to drown out talk of graduation (even reading the word gives you chills).

Like many others in the class of 2014, you may be flat-out refusing to believe that you’re graduating soon from the school you’ve grown to love. You’ve walked the halls at ungodly hours, enjoyed (or endured) campus dining and gained a second family and home at college. We understand your unwillingness to leave and have seen the same misty-eyed look in other seniors. If you can relate to any of the following points, then somebody needs to call the doctor, because it means you’ve got a bad case of denial (don’t we all wish we could be #foreveryoung?).

1. You ignore all the warning signs.

You’ve set up your email to filter any messages that contain the following words: “senior,” “ceremony,” “graduation,” “commencement,” “end,” “last” and “goodbye.” If you don’t think about leaving school forever, then it won’t happen. That’s how it works, right? You also refuse to transition from your student email that has so faithfully notified you of weekly pizza deals and online clothing sales. The email you used before (beautiful_gurl1992@yahoo.com, anyone?) was from way back in high school, and your next email will be your professional email that will stick with you for a while—your student email represents everything sweet and perfect about this stage of your young adulthood. And now graduation is trying to take that away from you? Say it ain’t so!

2. You avoid conversations about the future of your friendships and relationships.

When you grab froyo with your roommate of three years, you don’t talk about how these late-night dessert trips will soon be a thing of the past or how keeping in touch will be infinitely harder when you start your jobs in different cities. You just focus on the here and now, not the fact that your entire friend circle will disperse in a matter of weeks, never to reunite and hang out as frequently or as effortlessly as you do now ever again. No biggie.

3. You hate when underclassmen get nostalgic, because you know you could be way more nostalgic… if you wanted to be, which you don’t.

They haven’t even been around for that long—what are they getting teary-eyed over? You roll your eyes at non-seniors who are posting about their last day of classes… for the semester. Though you were in their shoes not long ago, you feel like there’s a generational gap between those who are returning to campus next fall and those who are being mercilessly chucked into the real world. Non-seniors only need to worry about one summer, while graduating seniors need to worry about the rest of their lives.

4. You pretend there will be plenty of opportunities to finish your bucket list.

Is your schedule too booked for that annual art exhibit you’ve always wanted to see? You lie to yourself and think, “Next time.” Because there will totally be a next time. You’ve successfully convinced yourself that you will always be a resident of this city and that you will always attend this school. It’s the only life you’ve known for the past four years, and admissions cannot kick you out because you’ve already scratched out the expiration date on your student ID.

5. You haven’t figured out necessary post-graduation arrangements, such as booking flights back home or securing housing.

As much as you love talking about what your plans are after graduation (sarcasm), you’re struggling to work out the minor details of grown-up life, like where you’ll sleep at night. Things usually fall into place with time, so instead of browsing Craigslist for cheap apartments, you’re spending your time looking through the bands coming through town next semester. You can almost smell the residual sunscreen from the long summer and the smoke from back-to-school BBQs.

6. You haven’t started packing or even sorting your things into “keep” and “discard” piles.

This dorm/apartment is your home. You haven’t even purchased packing boxes because the idea of shipping all your stuff to a location that is not here freaks you out. Plus, you just can’t bring yourself to throw away all the useless freebies your school has given away—because who knows when you might need an inflatable replica of your school mascot?

7. You make new friends and act like you have forever to bond.

There’s something about senior year that makes you open up and appreciate the classmates you’ve spent years ignoring. You’re probably guilty of saying something like, “Why did we not hang out earlier?!” between hugs and squeals of delight for newfound friendship. Maybe you’re reaching out now because you hear it’s hard to make friends after college—not that you have to worry about that, since you are never, ever leaving.

8. Your cap and gown are stowed away in an unknown location.

Come to think of it, you haven’t seen your cap and gown since the day you picked it up. But you’re pretty sure you’ll be able to dig around and find it the day of graduation, so why bother looking now? You have more important things to do, like sleep until 2 p.m. and not study for that final you are totally done with. The worst thing that could happen is you show up to graduation without the proper attire, but worse things have happened to many people before you (read: graduating, period).

9. You say “see you later” instead of “goodbye.”

You don’t need to ask people when they’re leaving school, because you already know the answer: soon. Finding out exactly how soon would be overkill for your heart, so you prefer to end every interaction with a casual “catch you later” instead of the sobbing, wet mess it could easily turn into. It’s usually less awkward for everyone if you keep your emotions bottled up inside. So instead of a proper farewell, your friends should expect to receive a very impersonal mass text announcing your soon-to-be absence from their lives.

10. You don’t know any details about graduation weekend.

How many ceremonies do you have to attend? What’s the dress code? Will there be free food? For being the reason for so many celebrations, you sure are clueless about what’s going on. Your parents expect you to lead them through the busy weekend, but they’re in for a surprise. You haven’t made any restaurant reservations or RSVPed with how many guests you plan to bring to graduation.

11. You still measure time in terms of summers and school years.

As a working adult, the word “summer” will no longer be synonymous with a break. How sad is that? Even though you’ll soon be operating on the calendar year, you still find yourself asking your friends where they’ll be this summer. The only thing sadder than being so far away from them is that there’s no guarantee you’ll see them at the end of it. No more back-to-school bear hugs, “I’ve-missed-you-so-much” tackles or screams of excitement when your group of friends is reunited on campus. But soon you’ll totally have that 401(k), which just as cool, if not more.

We hate to see you go, collegiettes. Parting ways with college can feel like a breakup, which is why our best advice is to have a clean break. Commencement will be like the pulling off the Band-Aid, but you’ll start healing before you know it. You’ll see your friends at reunions, and you’ll always have the memories of your crazy college days whenever you visit campus.

5 Models Who Are Changing the Definition of Beauty

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Long gone are the days where one type of man or woman defines the beauty standards for their entire gender. Thanks to big thinkers, dreamers and motivators, there is a new array of role models for people to look up to that have all accomplished some incredible things. They’re the ones who have taken qualities that could be seen as unusual or unordinary and proved to us that they’re just as beautiful as anyone else. Here are the courageous models who are making us reevaluate our standards of beauty:

1. Winnie Harlow

A 20-year-old Toronto native, Chantelle Winnie Harlow has become a new beauty icon best known for her unique skin color. Winnie has vitiligo (the disease that also affected Michael Jackson), which has caused light blotches of skin to form on her body and face. She is the first model to have this condition and she has used it as her inspiration to keep striving for bigger and better things. From appearing on America’s Next Top Model to walking in Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief show to being the star of a Diesel campaign, this girl has shown us that embracing our differences can result in some truly amazing things. She’s also friends with Drake, so that’s pretty cool.

2. Jack Eyers

Jack was recently the first male amputee model to walk at New York Fashion Week, but that’s just one of the bazillion modeling gigs he’s had. He has been featured by brands such as boohoo, Barclays, Tango and the charity Scope. When Jack was young, his right leg was unable to form properly, so he chose to get it amputated at the age of 16 and continue life with a prosthetic leg. Since then, he has not been shy about, nor has he tried to hide what makes him different. He has been known to prefer wearing shorts as opposed to long pants, proudly showing off his prosthetic. We’re not at all surprised his career is going so well; the boy is awfully handsome. Along with his rock-hard body from working as a personal trainer, it’s safe to say he won’t have any trouble finding new modeling jobs in the future.  

3. Erika Linder

Gender roles—and norms—look so different than they did even a decade ago. More and more people have been able to outwardly express themselves and be their truest self thanks to role models like Erika Linder. Famous for her androgynous look, Erika is one of the most versatile models in the biz. She has been featured in menswear shoots where she’s in a full-on suit and tie, and she’s also seen in photos where she’s wearing lacy dresses and chandelier earrings. Her hair has been long and short, and she rocks both looks with ease. Her gender-neutral look has allowed her to serve as inspiration to people who may not feel that they fit within specific definitions of one gender or the other. She also really likes dogs, tweets things we’re all thinking and is very musically talented. Where can we sign up to be Erika’s new BFF?

4. Robyn Lawley

She was the first plus-sized model to be featured in Australian Vogue, GQ Australia and Australia Cosmopolitan and the second plus-sized model to be on the cover of Elle France. However, you probably know Robyn best from her recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue feature. The first ever plus-sized model to be featured in the magazine’s history and towering at a little over 6 feet tall, she proved that you don't need to have one specific body type to look gorgeous (despite what the media seems to suggest sometimes). She has written articles for The Daily Beast addressing the weight obsession that our generation seems to have, touching on topics such as celebrities getting bashed for gaining weight and the thigh gap craze. Also, her food blog, Robyn Lawley Eats, has recently landed her a cookbook deal with Random House that will be filled with some of her family’s recipes and tips for eating healthy when traveling around the world.

5. Jamie Brewer

You’ve already seen and loved Jamie on American Horror Story, so here’s one more reason to obsess over this amazing woman. It can be difficult for individuals with Down syndrome (or any other disability) to find a celebrity role model they can really relate to—but Jamie does just that. She was the first-ever model with Down syndrome to walk in New York Fashion Week and absolutely crushed any skepticism people might have had about people with this genetic disorder being able to achieve great things. Not only can she rock the runway, she also has a passion for inspiring others in the Down syndrome community. She has done a lot of work within her home state of Texas and non-profits such as the National Down Syndrome Congress and American Association of People with Disabilities of the United States to help encourage and empower others like her.

Our perceptions of what we view as "beautiful" are widening to include all of these people who are making us question why it's taken so long for them to have their time in the spotlight. What do you think about the changing definition of beauty, collegiettes?

5 Surprising Cities to Start Your Career

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New York City, D.C., Los Angeles — we all know the hottest cities to flock to after graduation.

The pressure to relocate to one of these classic places can be overwhelming, but many of us —whether it’s because of a lack of funds or an aversion to densely populated areas — might feel a bit apprehensive about making the move.

Rest easy! These aren’t the only places you can go to jump-start your post-college career. There are a host of smaller cities that offer just as many great opportunities that you might not have thought to consider. We did our research and spoke to some graduettes to bring you a list of cities to keep on your radar as you begin the infamous job hunt.

1. Birmingham, Alabama

Population: 200,000

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $660

Prominent industries: health care, education, finance

Livability, an online resource that researches American communities, lists Birmingham in its ranking of the top 10 best downtowns. The area is continuing to progress: Several projects involving renovation and housing — like the development of new residential spaces surrounding Regions Field — are helping to bring people downtown.

Jaime Ritter, a graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham who currently lives and works in Birmingham as a journalist, says this is her favorite part about the city.

“I love watching it constantly grow and evolve,” she says. “It’s come such a long way in the five years I’ve lived here, and I can’t wait to see what else it has in store!”

Health care is a major industry, thanks to UAB and its attached hospital, one of the area’s largest employers; as of May 2013, almost 40,000 people were employed in the health care industry and related occupations in Birmingham. Education and finance are also highly popular, with around 20 percent of the female population of Birmingham employed in both of these industries.

Move here if: You’re looking to ease into the post-college lifestyle.

According to Area Vibes, Birmingham has a cost of living that’s about 17.2 percent lower than the national average. This is great for recent grads trying to establish a career.

“Every place was completely affordable and inclusive,” says HC alumna Elana. “I never had to worry about not getting a reservation at a restaurant or being priced out of a place.”

Compared to more expensive cities, Birmingham could be the perfect place for those of you stepping out on your own for the first time!

2. Columbus, Ohio

Population: 800,000

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $698

Prominent industries: education, health care, arts/entertainment

Columbus stands as the 15th most populated city in the U.S., ahead of other metropolitan areas like Seattle, Miami and Boston, making it the perfect place for collegiettes looking to mingle.

“Most people wouldn’t think of this city in Ohio as a place to start their career or life, but it is actually a super fun and exciting place to be,” says Malone Ryan, a sophomore at John Carroll University in Ohio. “There is always something new to do in Columbus, no matter what type of person you are. From art museums to cultural festivals and more, you will never get bored here.”

Move here if: You have a passion for fashion.

“Columbus is an up-and-coming major fashion hot spot,” Malone says. “The city embraces all kinds of styles, people and walks of life and is a great place to start your career.”

Columbus is home to over 500 fashion designers, and the headquarters of many popular brands are located in the city or close nearby, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret and Express — the perfect hub for any fashion-forward professional. The city ranks third in fashion employment, right behind New York and San Francisco, making it one of America’s leading boutique districts. As a result, many companies are looking to expand in the area: ELOQUII Design, Inc., is currently taking steps to complete a sevenfold increase in the number of jobs added to its Columbus branch by 2017.

3. Nashville, Tennessee

Population: 620,000

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $1,048

Prominent industries: education, music/entertainment

This Southern music hotspot ranked in the top five cities in the nation for the highest levels of job creation. Nashville has a growth rate expected to outpace the national average by 2017, with an estimated 140,000 new jobs to be created by 2018.

“It is such a fun city and growing so fast,” says Erica Barrett, an alumna of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who has lived in Nashville. “There are so many opportunities, and not just in music. The nightlife is a blast, they have tons of sporting leagues and clubs for young singles, there are lots of networking opportunities in the community and I found it to be a true melting pot — my friends were from everywhere!”

Move here if: You’re looking to break in to the music industry.

While other opportunities are available, Nashville is the perfect city for collegiettes interested in a career in music. Erica cites this as the reason for her move to the city after she graduated: “I knew I wanted to work in [the music industry], but didn’t want the fast-paced life of NYC or LA. It was an amazing place to begin my career, and I was able to do everything they did in the larger hubs career-wise.”

Music in Nashville is a billion-dollar industry that has led to a host of opportunities in several related fields, such as recording studios, booking agencies and publishing companies. As of 2013, Nashville has 27,000 jobs in the music industry, so the musically inclined who are looking to make it big should pack a bag and head down south.

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Population: 450,000

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $962

Prominent industries: business/finance, arts/entertainment

Metro Atlanta saw an increase of 64,000 jobs in 2013. Home to Delta Air Lines, UPS, Coca-Cola and the media conglomerate Turner Broadcasting, the city ranks fourth in the nation in hosting the most Fortune 500 companies.

This major transportation hub is home to the world’s busiest airport, making Atlanta one of America’s premiere international cities, as well as a global business and trade center. Over 1,300 foreign-based businesses have operations in the area, employing over 81,000 people.

Move here if: You want to be a star of the silver screen.

Move over, Hollywood. With hits like The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire shutting down city streets, Atlanta is a booming market for film and television production.

In 2013 alone, the city invested in 142 film and TV projects, spending almost $940 million in the process. The reason? Tax breaks. The state of Georgia offers tax credits to companies spending at least $500,000 on production. In addition, the state’s official Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office lists cast and crew jobs on its website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

These incentives draw companies to the area: Pinewood Studios, which is based in the UK, recently opened an Atlanta branch in 2014 (and is already set to begin filming Marvel’s ANT-MAN). Moreover, this increase also brings job opportunities in related fields, such as catering, equipment supply and transportation.

“Atlanta has the talents and the resources to become the next major movie hub,” says Marisa Tontaveetong, an alumna of the Savannah College of Art and Design. “It’s heading that way right now.” If you’re looking for your next big break, then Atlanta is definitely the place to be.

5. Research Triangle Park (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), North Carolina

Population: 2,700,000

Average rent (one-bedroom apartment): $750

Prominent industries: research and development, technology, medicine

This region gets its name from the three universities that mark its boundaries: Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Triangle surrounds the cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Research Triangle Park (RTP) was founded in 1959 and is now one of the largest research parks in the world. RTP is home to over 170 companies, including Cisco, United Therapeutics and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Current development plans hope to add up to 100,000 jobs to the area.

Move here if: You want to make a major scientific discovery.

The Triangle is a leading center of research and development in America. Almost $300 million is invested each year for research and development at the Triangle’s universities, in fields as diverse as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, innovative technologies and advanced medical care.

Ashley Xu, an alumna of the Ohio State University, had an invaluable opportunity working in the Triangle. “I had a great experience at Duke Hospital because it’s one of the nation’s best trauma centers,” she says. “It provided me with a variety of educational opportunities involving rare diseases and first-rate technological advances.”

If you want to be on the cutting edge of science and technology, the Triangle should definitely be on your list.

You don’t have to move to the classic big cities to succeed in your career, collegiettes! A lot of amazing opportunities can be found in places that fly just under the radar. They may not have the historic glamour of New York or Los Angeles, but if you want to save money, are interested in a niche field or simply prefer a more laid-back lifestyle, then these cities definitely have something to offer. Keep these surprising places in mind as you begin your post-collegiette job search!

Order our Book, The Her Campus Guide to College Life, NOW!

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Hey collegiettes!

We know you love reading HC on your laptops, your smartphones, and your tablets... but now you can truly curl up with HC because our first-ever book, The Her Campus Guide to College Life, just hit stores!

Order your copy online here or head to your local Barnes & Noble! And be sure to check out our upcoming schedule of book signing events and see if we're coming to your area!

The Her Campus Guide to College Life: How to Manage Relationships, Stay Safe and Healthy, Handle Stress, and Have the Best Years of Your Life covers everything you need to know to rock college, from how to get along with your roommates to how to avoid the 'freshman 15', deal with tough professors, snag internships, decide whether to study abroad, and much, much more.

Whether you're already an upperclassman or are just getting ready to go off to college next fall, this book has everything you need to survive and thrive on campus when it comes to all aspects of your life. Our book also includes handy resources like a template roommate contract, dorm room grocery list, and more.

Want a sneak preview? Read an excerpt from our book here then order your copy!

I can't wait to hear what you think!

HC Love,
Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus


9 Ways To Find Out If She Likes Girls

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Have you ever instantly fallen in love with the girl you pass everyday while walking to class? Or the girl you sit next to in 8 a.m. Brit. lit? You know how it goes: Our first thought is always, “I wonder if she likes girls?” And instead of doing the logical thing—you know, just asking her if she likes girls—our minds race through these nine irrational ways to figure out for ourselves.

1. Ask about her list of closet celebrities

Trust us, pretty much every girl who is into girls has her list of celebrities that she swears are secretly in the closet. We will fight someone to the death to defend this list, and no one can change our minds about it. If she does not have a well thought-out list that she truly believes in, then there’s a good chance she is not into girls.

Bonus tip: According to The Gay Women channel on YouTube, when you ask her if she thinks Kristen Stewart is straight, her answer can tell you a lot about her sexuality. Spoiler alert: Whatever she thinks Kristen Stewart is, she is, too.

2. Ask her if she has watched the Carmilla web series

There are many amazing LGBTQ+ web series on YouTube right now, and let’s be real, girls who like girls can’t resist watching characters they can relate to (can anyone, really?). And we definitely can’t resist vampires who are into girls. Enter, Carmilla. If she hasn’t watched it – or heard of it – then it is pretty likely that she does not play for your team. If she hasn’t heard of it tell her the premise and see if she is interested!

3. Ask her who her favorite character from The L Word is

Admit it, The L Word is your guilty pleasure. We have been through it all with the characters and stuck with it even though we couldn’t stand Jenny. The show hits almost every LGBTQ+ demographic, which draws all of us in. Most likely a girl won’t have watched or be watching The L Word unless she’s into girls, so ask her about it. Pro tip: Make sure Jenny is not her favorite character, because then she might be crazy.

4. Stalk her on social media

We all do it. If you know her name you can find most of her social media sites. Look at what she Tweets about, what kinds of pictures she posts on Facebook and what she writes on her blogs. Bonus points to you if you can find her Tumblr, because that’s where you will most likely find out who she truly is. In your super-sleuth mission, look for Tegan and Sara on her music likes and see how many gifs of The L Word she has reblogged. Analyze the data you collect and come to an educated conclusion.

5. Ask her when the new season of Orange Is the New Black comes on

We all love to debate whether or not Piper and Alex belong together. Find out if she’s as much of a fangirl as we all are. If she knows the exact release date, then there’s a good chance she likes the ladies.

6. Ask about the clothes she cannot live without

Keep a running tally of how many times she wears flannels every month, because according to Khadijah Thompson, a student at Johnson and Wales University – Charlotte, “There’s got to be some kind of ratio there.” We all know we can’t live without our flannels (always paired with our Birks), and if she can’t either…You know what that means.  

7. Play the “what are the odds” game

Many college students plays this game. We ask, “What are the odds you will jump in the pool fully clothed?” or “What are the odds you will go sing to that stranger?” Well, it’s time to step it up, ladies. Ask her, “What are the odds that you will kiss that girl over there?” or, if you’re feeling super brave, ask her, “What are the odds that you will kiss me?” Based on her reaction and the number range she chooses, you can pretty much tell if she likes girls.

8. Ask about her likes and dislikes

Ask if she likes any certain sports (bonus points if she plays softball or rugby). Ask her about certain books with LGBTQ+ characters. Ask her if she listens to Tegan and Sara. Has she seen Blue Is the Warmest Color? Does she fangirl about any LGBTQ+ characters in TV shows? There are countless other things we are all obsessed with that you can play off of to mention to her.

9. Just ask her if she likes girls

Okay, you realized by now that we were kidding, right? All of these ways to ask are simply based on stereotypes, and we don’t all fit into every one of them – some of us don’t fit into any! We are all unique individuals, and the only way to really know if she likes girls is to straight up ask her. So be brave and go for it.

What It's Like to Get Your Nose Pierced

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Much to my father's chagrin (I believe his exact words were "Why do you want a hole in the middle of your face?"), I decided to get my nose pierced last week. Again. This was actually the third time I've pierced my nose, and I thought it would be fun to bring HC's amazing collegiettes along to debunk any myths about nose piercings (or any piercings, for that matter) being scary or painful. The truth is, if you know what to expect, it really can be a fun and enjoyable experience.

I've broken down the process so you can get a feel for what it's like to get your nose pierced, and I've included pictures from the actual piercing to help ease any fears you may have (Spoiler alert: you will not look like Carrie, covered in blood!).

Find a reputable and professional piercing studio and piercer

It's so important to find a good, clean piercing studio for your piercing. If the piercer is inexperienced or the studio seems dirty or outdated, you may have a higher risk of contracting an infection or of your body rejecting the jewelry. After scouring the annals of Yelp, I finally settled on Ancient Arts Body Piercing and Adornment, which happens to be right down the street from the Her Campus offices.

Keep in mind that many piercing studios double as tattoo parlors, so don't let that deter you from choosing an otherwise excellent piercing studio. I got my first nose piercing when I was 17 at a tattoo parlor in Rhode Island; I think my dad almost had a heart attack when he saw all of the tattoo artwork hanging on the walls, but he relaxed when he realized how professional my piercer was. By the way, like any other piercing, in almost every state you have to be 18 years old or have a parent present in order to get a piercing.

The main reason I was drawn to Ancient Arts is because the senior piercer, Matt Ronin, had received such amazing reviews. A licensed paramedic with over 25 years of body piercing experience, Matt seemed like the perfect choice.

Fill out paperwork

Any good piercing studio will scan your identification and have you fill out paperwork prior to your piercing. This paperwork will outline any risks associated with your piercing and acknowledge your consent (and your guardian's, if you're a minor). The form I filled out at Ancient Arts also asked what medications, if any, I take on a regular basis. Matt explained to me that certain medications lower your immune system and he would customize my aftercare instructions based on any medications I might be taking. No one had ever asked me that at my previous piercing experiences, and I was definitely impressed. If your piercer doesn't ask you this, offer up that information and explain why it may be important!

Pick out your jewelry

Once the paperwork is out of the way, you get to pick out your jewelry. Ancient Arts had all sorts of handmade jewelry for every part of the body, and it was fun to be able to pick what I wanted. I ended up going with a plain titanium halfdome, but Matt explained that there are tons of different options for nose piercing jewelry: "It's all titanium, so you can choose gems or a titanium halfdome or opals and all kinds of other stuff."

Prepare the piercing site

Once you've filled out paperwork and picked out your jewelry, your piercer will take you into the piercing room and get you set up. You will most likely be sitting in a reclining chair (the kind they have at the dentist) while your piercer goes in and disinfects the area to be pierced and makes sure everything is clean and sterile. Before coming anywhere near your nose, your piercer should obviously be putting on new gloves; don't be afraid to speak up if he or she doesn't!

In this photo, Matt is disinfecting my nose and feeling for any scar tissue buildup from my previous piercings. Once everything is clean, your piercer will take a surgical marker and make a dot where he or she wants the piercing to go. In my case, Matt placed the dot right over the scar from my last piercing. Your piercer should show you the placement and check that you're happy with it before proceeding. 

Expect a little pain

Now let's get into the good stuff: the actual piercing. Your piercing will most likely be done with a sterilized needle with the jewelry attached to the end so that once the needle has gone through the side of your nose and out the bottom, the jewelry will slide right into place. Matt asked me if I was ready and then told me to close my eyes while he counted down. I'm not going to lie: it hurts. I have four piercings on my earlobes and four on my cartilage, and those were nothing compared to a nose piercing: I would give it a 3.5 or 4 out of 5 on a piercing pain scale. My eyes immediately started watering (I was NOT crying...), and it definitely stings for a second, especially when your piercer twists the actual jewelry into place. 

Once the jewelry was in place, Matt cleaned up some blood around the site of the piercing and asked me how I felt (some people get woozy!). I then sat up and Matt handed me a mirror to check out my new piercing and the placement. I loved it! It's totally normal for the area around your nose to be a bit red and tender for the first few days after a piercing while your body adjusts to the jewelry, so don't worry if that happens to you.

Discuss aftercare, infection and changing your piercing

Matt sat down with me after the piercing to talk aftercare; he was very thorough and knowledgeable in his guidance. He asked me which facial cleanser I used (Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser, $6.39 at Ulta) and said that was okay; he then told me to gently clean around the piercing when washing my face with warm water. Past piercers have recommended Bactine Original First Aid Liquid ($5.99 at Walgreens), a first aid liquid or spray, to keep the piercing sterile and prevent infection. I spray a little Bactine on a Q-tip and go inside my nose and around the piercing to keep it clean about two to three times a day for the first two weeks, and then switch to once a day. As Matt points out, "It's easy to take care of because it's on the center of your face and you're not going to let it fail." Another tip to keep in mind is to try to avoid covering your piercing in foundation or concealer while it's healing. Otherwise, it may become infected!

If you do notice some excessive irritation or redness around your nose ring, don't immediately assume you have an infection. "A lot of people think that just because there's a reaction going on, there's an infection going on," says Matt. "Infections are hard to come by... [irritation] is often just part and parcel of the person's own body reacting to what's going on."

Matt recommended leaving my nose jewelry in for at least six weeks before changing it to make sure the piercing is fully healed. The jewelry Matt put in my nose is a J-shaped hook, so it won't come out unless I deliberately choose to remove it (the word "hook" sounds painful, but I honestly can't even feel the piercing in my nose!). I've tried to replace my nose ring myself in the past and it was a huge mistake - that's the reason my first piercing closed up. If you do want to change your piercing, definitely go to a professional. Try to go back to the piercer who pierced your nose originally, and he or she will usually switch it out for free. 

Admire the finished product

This photograph was taken about two hours after my piercing and, as you can see, the redness was almost entirely gone and it was no longer painful. The entire process only took about 30 minutes and cost $52 for the piercing and the actual jewelry, plus an additional $10 for a tip. I love the placement of the ring and I'm happy I went for the titanium halfdome rather than a gem because I think it makes the piercing a bit more subtle.

I am so happy with my nose piercing and with my experience at Ancient Arts. I felt comfortable and informed during the entire process and my piercing has healed beautifully - I feel like I've had it for ages! If you're considering getting a piercing, whether on your nose or elsewhere, keep in mind what Matt told my friend Marissa after she remarked that she didn't have any interesting piercings: "You're not boring; it's just about making whatever part of your body you choose more lively."

If you're in the Boston area and you're looking for a piercing, check out Ancient Arts Body Piercing and Adornment's website or Facebook to give them a call and find out where to stop in for a consultation or walk-in piercing. Wherever you are, and wherever you go for your piercing, keep these questions in mind to make it the best (and healthiest) experience possible!

7 Procrastination-Proof Finals Hacks

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Finals week is just around the corner! Though that should mean that you’re getting organized and figuring out the best ways to tackle the many projects, essays and exams on your to-do list, chances are that it actually means you’re scrolling through Pinterest and endlessly streaming Friends on Netflix. No judgment. We’ve all been there. 

If you’re like us, you put the “pro” in “procrastination,” and finals week is a prime time for you to push everything off until the very last minute – but this year can be different! This year, you can finally get your life in order and maybe, just maybe, you can even pass your hardest class (orgo, anyone?) with these simple procrastination-proof finals hacks. You’re welcome.

1. Create a study schedule

The first thing that you need if you’re going to successfully tackle finals week is a study schedule. Using Microsoft Office 365 you can put together a timeline in Excel so you know exactly when you should be studying for your econ. exam and when you should be doing research for your Hispanic lit. essay. Save it to OneDrive so that you can access it between the library and coffee shop via Office Online. And if you can set precise times for yourself to complete each task in Outlook, finals week will feel so much easier (and you’ll feel so much less like you have to stress-eat a family-sized bag of Doritos to calm your nerves). Plus, you’ll know exactly when you can take a well-deserved Netflix break.

2. Take your group projects online

Group projects can be rough. There’s always that one girl who can’t make any of the group meeting times because she’s overly involved in extracurricular activities and that one guy who doesn’t contribute so much as a comma to the final project. To avoid all of these issues (and make pulling off a group project significantly easier), use Office Online to tackle group projects as a team without having to be in the same place. Everyone can work together in a Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint with each person’s edits showing up in real time. This way you can call that guy out for not contributing (since you can see whether he does or not in the document’s edit history!) and you give that hyper-busy girl no reason not to do her part after she finally gets home from all of her meetings. Win-win.

3. Stop writing notes and start snapping pics

Frantically copying down everything that your professor writes on the whiteboard is now (finally!) a thing of the past. To get all of the same information without the hand cramps, use Office Lens to snap a pic of the professor’s notes on the board. Office Lens will automatically save an image of the notes, then, using optical character recognition technology, it’ll convert the image to a word document so that you can easily find all of the information you need to ace the upcoming exam. Sounds like something Hermione would have tried at Hogwarts...

The same applies to copying down a classmate’s notes – just snap a picture of her notebook with Office Lens, and the app will automatically generate a text document for you. Which is great, because chances are that she was not interested in letting you borrow her sacred notes for an extended period of time just before the exam. Now instead of spending your time copying notes, you can spend your time studying! 

4. Carry all of your notes with you all the time – on your phone!

When you’re trekking back and forth from your dorm to the library multiple times a day, you’re bound to forget at least one of your notebooks in the process. Then you’re stuck, because you’re totally ready to crank out that term paper, but you don’t have the notes to do it. What’s a collegiette to do? Well, for starters, you coulduse a template to create portable notes that you can easily access on your phone or from any computer, any time. This eliminates that “Well, I forgot my notes, so I guess I can’t do any homework” excuse that always ends with you lounging in your yoga pants watching Netflix instead of completing your assignments. Yeah, we see you.

5. Close all of those extra windows and tabs so you can concentrate

When you’re writing a term paper, you almost always end up with a dozen windows and tabs open as you switch between sources. Trying to keep track of which quote came from which source when you’ve got all of those tabs open is overwhelming! Instead, as you search online for sources, you should drag any text, web pages or pictures you plan on using into OneNote. It’ll save the URL associated with each web page or item you plan to use so that you don’t have to keep switching between windows, and it’ll make your life a lot easier when you need to make your bibliography page at the end. The quicker you get through it, the quicker you can join the Gossip Girl marathon your roommates are having in the living room, right?

6. Use an MLA or APA template to keep your formatting straight

When you’re writing a Shakespearean lit. report, chances are you’re writing in MLA format. Meanwhile, you’ve got a psychology paper due the same day that you’re supposed to write in APA format (#collegiettestruggles). Switching back and forth between formats can get confusing when you’ve got too many assignments at once, which, hello, is finals week in a nutshell. Instead of switching between citation styles, use the automatic MLA and APA template generators on Online Office. That way you can spend less time worrying about whether you’re sticking to the right format and more time worrying about stuff that actually matters to you... like planning your post-exam celebration.

7. Make a comprehensive assignment calendar

It’s one thing to set up a study schedule so that you know when to hunker down at your desk and drown yourself in Bio readings. It’s another thing to know when all of these assignments that you’re working on at once are actually due. Make a comprehensive assignment calendar that includes the due dates for every worksheet, quiz, essay, term paper and exam you’ll face in the coming weeks so nothing slips through the cracks. And hey, if you’re really looking to organize your life as finals week approaches, you can put your study schedule and your assignment calendar on the same document – just make sure to color code it so that you know which entries are which!

Have your cake and eat it too (or watch Netflix and ace your exams, too) thanks to these procrastination-proof hacks. Say goodbye to regretting your old study habits and say hello to the Dean’s List! 

7 Ways to Keep Your Relationship Going After Graduation

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For recent college grads, there’s a universal feeling of heart-stopping panic when facing new post-graduation realities. For some, there’s even more to it: “What’s going to happen to my relationship when we move to different cities?”

After being able to see each other every day, transitioning to a life of you in one place and your SO in another can be hard, because, let’s face it: all long-distance relationships are hard. Collegiettes around the country as well as Julie Spira, dating expert and founder of Cyber-Dating Expert, weighed in with tips for making it work.

1. Start the conversation early

While it’s clear that a conversation between you and your partner needs to happen when facing a transition to an LDR, Spira says it needs to happen early. “My best advice is to talk about your newly defined relationship before school is out,” she says. Talking things out sooner rather than later prepares you for the incoming change to your relationship and alleviates the pressure you might feel if you put off the conversation for too long.

That’s what Danai Kadzere, a junior at Harvard College, did with her boyfriend. “Though we had only been official for a few months by then, my boyfriend opened the discussion about post-graduation relationships plans in late February/early March,” she says. “I really appreciated it because communication is essential, and leaving decisions for your penultimate day together hardly sounds like a good idea.”

This conversation can of course be a hard one to start, but realize that your partner will appreciate the respect you’re showing him or her and your relationship by bringing it up. Make sure communication is open between you and your partner and that you both feel secure in the conversation. Showing your SO the respect of being open-minded will prompt him or her to act that way as well and get you both in that habit for when you ultimately go long distance.

Try starting out by discussing whether or not your relationship is even ready to become long distance. If you find that it is, then discuss some clear boundaries with your partner. It might be hard to bring up tough subjects like boundaries without sounding needy (or too distant), but it’s talking about those subjects that will keep your relationship healthy in the long run.

2. Be clear about exclusivity

Starting a life in a new city after graduation is exciting you’ll be in a new place filled with new people who could potentially be your lifelong friends. You could also notice there are new people that you’re attracted to, and you might wonder if your SO is seeing the same with people in his or her city.

It’s important to be clear with each other about whether or not you’re allowed to date other people. Nobody likes being cheated on, especially when your partner doesn’t even know what he or she’s doing is considered cheating, so defining exclusivity is crucial to a new LDR. Make sure you both know that you’re dating each other and only each other, or that you’re allowed to see other people as well.

Spira advises that if you don’t think you can make an open relationship work, be upfront about it. “Trust is everything in a relationship, regardless of your zip code,” she says. You and your partner trust each other, so act in such a way that shows you deserve that trust.

3. Communicate, communicate, communicate

The buzzword of any LDR (newly defined or not) is always communication. “To maintain a healthy LDR, communication is key,” Spira says. “Talking about your relationship goals, agreeing on how often you’ll be getting together [in person] and having continuity in your text messages and phone calls will help your newly defined LDR flourish.”

Communication doesn’t just mean trivial stuff, either. While it’s important for you and your SO to keep up-to-date on each other’s everyday happenings, communicating about your thoughts and feelings regarding the relationship is vital. If you miss your partner, tell him or her you do! Let your partner know if you’re feeling neglected (or suffocated), and be open about how to deal with that.

Openness and judgment-free communication are the best ways to prevent jealousy. “When the dating rules change and you’re no longer seeing each other every day, it’s not unusual for someone to get jealous or insecure,” Spira says. Keep the jealousy out of the relationship by reassuring each other that you care and are still invested in the relationship. Prevent other arguments by being upfront about things that might be bothering you.

Problems don’t get resolved unless you and your partner both know the problems exist. If you have a problem with an aspect of your relationship, tell your SO about it (but make sure you keep an open mind to his or her response)! Accept that issues between you and your SO are going to arise. The best way to keep them from being detrimental to your relationship is to address them early on and in a calm and rational manner.

4. Let technology become your best friend

Take solace in the fact that technology has made LDRs way more doable. Use apps like Skype, Snapchat or FaceTime and even simple text messages to keep the spark between you and your SO alive.

“Try every day to share a little bit about your day with your boyfriend or girlfriend through text, phone call or email,” says Brittany Dillard, a sophomore at Xavier University.

Technology can help keep the romance alive in your relationship, too. Spira suggests going on literal dates via Skype. “Let technology become your best friend,” she says. “Set up Skype or video dates where you put on your favorite dating outfit and lipstick, toast to a glass of champagne or wine while on your video date and give each other virtual hugs until you can be together again.”

Get creative with your Skype dates. Try connecting by cooking and eating the same meal, reading the same book and then discussing it together or even playing the same online game! You may not be able to go on night-on-the-town dates over Skype, but connecting through these smaller and more intimate activities will help you appreciate your partner and the time you spend with him or her even more.

5. Make a couple’s calendar

While in college, making a couple’s calendar may have sounded a little crazy and overbearing, but when transitioning to an LDR, it can actually be very useful. Buy each other calendars and fill them in with both of your schedules. Include daily things, like when you’re at work, as well as dates when you’ll travel to visit each other.

“You kind of have to know each other’s schedules and be [aware] of any time differences,” says Hayley Brunk, a junior at Tiffin University, about her LDR. “It's really helped us, I think, to know what we both have going on and communicate about when we can do what.”

Take note of when he or she is at work, when he or she does personal things like go to the gym or doctors’ appointments and when he or she might have to do business travel, and have your SO take note of your schedule, too. This will help you work out a Skype and phone-call schedule.

Take note of bigger events, too. Mark in your couple’s calendar when the two of you may have a wedding to attend together or a family event that dates are welcome to attend. If you’ve graduated but he’s still in school, mark down one of his big sporting events or homecoming weekend. Knowing these important events can help you do anything from work out a visiting schedule to being able to wish him luck on a big work presentation.

Know that in an LDR, you won’t be able to be there for everything. Spira reminds couples that, “in reality, there will be lonely nights and disappointments for special events and holidays when the two of you can’t be together.” If he can’t make it to something big or vice versa, know that this doesn’t mean that you don’t love each other; it just means that you’re far from each other and in a tough relationship.

6. Remember that small surprises matter

One of the benefits of an LDR is that you now have an excuse to do random, special things for your SO (and hope that your SO does these for you, too)! Scour Pinterest for awesome LDR gift ideas. Send your SO romantic letters via snail mail or leave him or her envelopes of love notes around his or her home on a visit for him or her to find after you leave. The surprise will mean the world to your partner.

Keep track of important anniversaries and dates (perhaps on your couple’s calendar?). Let your SO know he or she is special by saying “happy anniversary” on your anniversary. Wish him or her luck on a big work presentation. Let your partner know he or she’s in your thoughts during a busy week for him or her. “Little random acts of kindness go a long way,” Spira says. “Remembering anniversary dates in your relationship will help each other stay connected.”

Remembering the small stuff not only makes your partner feel special, but also lets him or her know that you’re still into the relationship. It’s important to feel secure in your relationship to prevent jealousy, and it’s only fair to make sure he or she feels secure as well.

“Make sure to provide positive reinforcement to your partner of your devotion to the relationship and never take each other for granted,” Spira says. If the relationship is important to you, it’s crucial to make sure your SO knows it.

7. Don’t be afraid to end it if it’s not working

Being far away from a loved one is tough, and there are plenty of rookie mistakes each person in a LDR will probably make before learning how to make it all work smoothly.

“Some of the biggest mistakes a new LDR couple makes is assuming their love is so strong that the distance won’t matter,” Spira says. The distance will matter. The distance will always suck, and it will always feel like you are missing out on something, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fulfilling relationship from far away. Keeping that in mind, it’s important to be able to recognize when maybe this LDR thing isn’t working.

The signs of a failed LDR can be anything from issues unique to the relationship to simply not being able to handle the distance. Some couples might find it’s time to end things when missing each other becomes too much, jealousy takes over the relationship or they end up meeting new people. The important thing is to always communicate and evaluate the relationship when you need to. One of the biggest injustices you can commit in any relationship, whether long distance or not, is to neglect to acknowledge that the relationship is no longer fulfilling for you.

You and your partner might find that you both have fallen in love with your new cities and you never want to leave. Relationships can’t be long-distance forever, so it’s important to determine how long you and your SO are willing to do this for. If neither of you plan on moving to the same city eventually, it might be time to figure out if an LDR is for you.

Be open with your partner about both of your needs to determine what to do next. Whether it’s going on a break and being clear about what that means or having a definite breakup, the best thing you can do for yourself and your partner is to be honest — even if it hurts. Letting a relationship go too far without acknowledging its shortcomings can only end in heartbreak, whether it be in the form of cheating or an explosive fight. If something isn’t working, talk it out with your partner, and know that it’s okay if it didn’t work.

Don’t be afraid of what’s ahead for you and your partner following graduation, even if you are moving to two different cities. Being open and honest about what you both need and being willing to compromise will help any new LDR flourish. You have so much ahead of you in this new chapter of your life, and by maintaining a healthy and realistic relationship with your partner, you can make it work!

How to Style Your Hair When You're Trying to Grow it Out

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Chopping off long locks always seems like a good idea, until you decide to grow it back... and you enter that weird stage where it's too long to style like a short cut, but too short to really do much with it. Growing that hair back can be a long and slow process—but with a few handy tricks, you'll be able to pull off those overgrown bangs or that long bob just fine. 

1. Hide long bangs

 

Trying to grow out your bangs? Once they start to get longer, it feels like your only choices are to have hair in your face 24/7, or just cut them again so, you know, you can actually see. While attempting to pin them back with bobby pins still leaves loose wisps in all the wrong places, a strategically-placed french braid on either side of your head will weave too-long bangs into a 'do that'll keep loose strands in place until they're long enough for other styles! 

2. Add (fake) length

It's time to get out your straightener! Especially if you've got curly or wavy texture, smoothing your hair out into a sleek, straight style will add inches to your look. Be sure to apply a good anti-frizz serum, like John Frieda's Frizz-Ease ($7.97) to give some major shine to your new, longer (sort of) locks!

3. Shorten your style

Need your hair to be a tad shorter to hit the right length? Do the opposite, and try out some loose waves. Let your hair air dry (it'll give it some more natural texture!) and then wrap strands of your hair around a curling iron, alternating directions as you go to get that piece-y vibe that Emma Stone is rocking above. And don't worry too much about frizz or flyaways—it'll only add to that casual, "I woke up like this" feel.

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