If you flip through any magazine, you’ll find at least a dozen advertisements for the newest beauty product that guarantees the best hair/skin/nails you’ll ever have. But when you actually go to try them, you find that they’re packed with ingredients that you can’t even pronounce. No one wants that! 

Before you hit the drugstore to fix your next beauty woe, wander to your kitchen instead. There are a ton of natural beauty remedies that you can try, and the best part is you already have most of the ingredients at home!

1. Olive oil for dry skin

Olive oil is rich with vitamin E, which is amazing for you skin. Take 1 tablespoon of olive oil and combine it with three tablespoons of lemon juice and five tablespoons of sugar. Use this exfoliating mixture in the shower and rinse for soft, smooth skin. Just be careful while you finish showering because olive oil is extremely slippery!

2. Baking soda for yellow teeth

You could easily buy some whitening strips for a pearly smile, but they tend to be expensive and can damage your teeth. Instead, grab three teaspoons of baking soda and mix it with one tablespoon of water. Create a paste with your toothbrush and brush away! The baking soda will help remove stains and whiten your teeth with a couple uses.

3. Avocado for frizzy hair

Now your favorite guac ingredient can actually tame your unruly hair too! Mash up a half of an avocado with a banana and apply to your hair. Put on a plastic shower cap, wait ten minutes and then rinse with cool water. The fatty acids in both ingredients will make your hair silky smooth instantly.

4. Brown sugar for chapped lips

Forget your chapstick and try this quick fix for chapped lips! Put a teaspoon of brown sugar on a wet washcloth and gently rub your lips. The sugar will naturally exfoliate them so they're nice and smooth. Want to keep your lips moisturized all day long? Apply a little bit of coconut oil. Both remedies are easy (and yummy!) ways to prevent dry lips.

5. Tea for dull hair

No matter what your hair color is, we can all use a little shine boost every once in a while. Steep 2 teabags (chamomile for blondes, rooibos for redheads and black tea for brunettes) in two cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Refrigerate the tea, jump in the shower and wash your hair. Then pour the cooled tea mixture on your hair and work it in root to tip. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then rinse your hair off again. Apply conditioner and enjoy your shiny hair!

6. Lemon for blackheads

Blackheads are annoying, and pore strips can really hurt. Instead opt for a more natural remedy—all you need is a lemon and some honey! Cut the lemon in half and drizzle about a teaspoon of honey on it. Then rub the lemon on your face, focusing on the areas that are most prone to blackheads. Rinse your face off and apply moisturizer. Repeat this method a few more times if you don’t immediately see results.

7. Nutmeg for acne scars

What’s worse than pimples? The scars they tend to leave behind. To reduce the appearance of acne scars, combine half a teaspoon of nutmeg, a half a teaspoon of cinnamon and a quarter teaspoon of honey and apply to the scar. Let it sit for about 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse it off. For really stubborn scars, dab a small amount of aloe vera on them afterwards. 

8. Egg whites for puffy eyes

You stayed up late last night and have to wake up early in the morning. Naturally your eyes will be a little puffy from lack of sleep, so use this easy remedy to reduce the swelling before you head out the door! Beat the whites from one egg in a bowl until stiff. Add a little witch hazel (if you have it) and then apply the mixture under your eyes with a small makeup brush. Let it dry for 15 minutes before you rinse it off. You'll trick everyone into thinking you got a full night's sleep! 

9. Oranges for rough skin

Whether you have rough elbows, knees or heels, this super simple remedy will take care of it. Slice an orange in half and rub it on your dry areas in the shower. That’s it! Not only will you smell citrusy and fresh, the acid from the orange will get rid of all your rough skin.

Life after college: whether you've been dreaming about or dreading it, it's most likely not what you expected. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. But for those of us who either chose to or got stuck moving back home after college, being back in your old stomping grounds of your bedroom that 12-year-old you decorated, brings all new struggles of its own. Here is what every postgrad goes through after moving back home.

1. Living under your parents rules again.

2. Having to answer the question, “So what are you doing with your life,” basically every 15 minutes.

3. Actually trying to figure out what you are doing with your life.

4. Student loans… never. ending. student. loans.

5. No longer being a five-minute walk from all your friends.

6. No longer being a five-minute walk from all the bars.

7. Not being able to sleep in until 2 p.m. without being judged.

8. Working a lame/tedious/horrible part-time job to save up money.

9. Having to make your bed (which you probably haven’t done in ages) or risk being yelled at for being a slob.

10. The perks of free food and laundry slowly losing their appeal… or worse, no longer being free because mom and dad are making you pay rent.

11. Saying goodbye to the best four years of your life and hello to the great unknown of what comes next.

What’s better than eating a donut? Eating a donut (with a side of coffee) in your bed. According to the Huffington Post, Dunkin’ Donuts is planning to create a mobile app that will allow customers to place orders and have them delivered to their front door.

“We’re now developing mobile ordering [and] doing a private test,” says Dunkin’ Donuts brands chairman and CEO Nigel Travis. “We’ll move to a more public test later this year. We’ll probably launch mobile ordering sometime next year.”

The decision for delivery may be a response to other similar brands, like Starbucks, announcing that they’re starting to deliver to select markets. Chipotle, Taco Bell and Burger King have similarly announced future delivery options.

“There’s a lot of competition,” Travis says. “One of the things I like about our business is you wake up every day and you’re competing.”

It doesn’t matter if you love glazed donuts or prefer a bagel and coffee, one thing’s for sure: Dunkin’ delivery will drastically improve our mornings. 

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

1. Pick out your outfit the night before

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

2. Strategic placement of something warm & cozy

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

3. Built-in browsing time

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

4. Wake up your makeup

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

5. Make your alarm your favorite song

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

6. Leave yourself a nice wake-up message

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

7. Treat yourself

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

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

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

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

9. Set aside an easy morning snack the night before

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

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

10. Pack your bag the night before

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

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

When all else fails, who better to turn to then your friends, who are probably going through the same morning struggle as you are. Be each other’s motivators! Waking up to a silly meme or a pre-Instagram throwback Thursday will definitely brighten up you and your friends’ days. 

Those opening work shifts won’t magically become more interesting, but don’t underestimate the power of a strong cup of coffee and these simple tips! 

As your high school years come to an end, there’s likely a lot on your plate. If you’re a rising junior, you’re thinking about taking AP and IB classes, figuring out your interests and boosting your resume. If you’re heading into senior year, you’re all aboutcollege applications, admission interviews and the Common App essay. But whether you’re a junior or a senior, you’re bound to also start thinking about another very important thing: the SAT. And this year, it’s going through a total makeover.

What is the SAT Suite of Assessments?

The SAT Suite of Assessments basically refers to the following redesigned tests: the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 8/9 (both launching October 2015), the PSAT 10 (launching February 2016) and the new SAT (launching March 2016). The combined “SAT Suite,” as it is referred to, is lauded by the College Board as transparent, straightforward and reflective of challenging work you would find in the classroom and apt to predict college readiness. The exams also have interconnecting content and scoring methods, making them a combination of tests that succeed in recognizing students’ growth, ability and need for improvement.

“The SAT Suite of Assessments makes it easier for students to navigate a path through high school, college and career by providing unmatched benefits to students, educators, districts and states,” The College Board claims.

What is the SAT changing?

Good question.

The College Board, the administrator of the SAT, found that 57 percent of students in a 2013 study would require remediation in at least one subject in order to be academically successful in college-entry courses worth academic credit (aka, what you’re paying your hard-earned money for). They even put out a report describing the situation as a “circumstance that represents a tragedy for those individuals whose potential isn’t being realized” as well as a “serious threat to the nation’s economy and democracy.”

Following those somewhat scary-sounding findings (you’re probably thinking, “I just want to make it to graduation in one piece, okay?!”), plans for the redesigned SAT were announced in March 2014. According to Kate Levin, Associate Director of External Communications at the College Board, “The new SAT is more focused, useful, and clear for students, parents and educators than ever before.” She adds that the new SAT is a “key piece” to their mission of increasing access to things like scholarships and challenging coursework.

Now, before you start freaking out even more than you probably already are (that plate is getting a lot fuller isn’t it?), keep calm: we’ve outlined all the changes you can expect in the redesign.

What should I expect?

Overall, Levin shares that the new SAT is going to test students on what she describes as “the few things evidence shows matter most for college and career success and reflect what students are learning in classrooms across the country.” It is comprised of fewer questions and can potentially take less time to complete due to an optional portion of the test.

Further, the new SAT is formatted differently and uses a different scoring method than before. Compared to the current SAT which primarily tests general reasoning and vocabulary, the new SAT will test these in a more sophisticated way, aiming to better its focus, relevance and transparency.

(Want the info straight from the source? Here’s a breakdown of the major changes you can expect provided by The College Board

More of a visual learner? Check out this great Wall Street Journal video on five things to know about the new SAT!).

Number of questions asked:

Original: 

Critical Reading: 67

Writing: 49

Essay: 1

Math: 54

Total: 171

Redesigned:

Reading: 52

Writing and language: 44

Essay (optional): 1

Math: 58

Total: 154 (155 with essay)

The redesigned SAT consists of significantly fewer questions; however, don’t think that the difficulty or quality of the questions has also decreased. The questions are being assessed based on criteria that will hopefully improve college readiness.

Time Allotted

Original:

Critical Reading: 70

Writing: 60

Essay : 25

Math: 70

Total: 3 hours 45 minutes

Redesigned:

Reading: 65

Writing and language: 35

Essay (optional): 50

Math: 80

Total: 3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the optional Essay portion)

Depending on whether or not you choose to complete the optional essay portion, the redesigned SAT could be much shorter in terms of time than that of the original. The same test-taking rules still apply, though: use the full time available to make sure you’ve answered all the questions completely and thoroughly!

Format

While all your pre-collegiette predecessors were taking a SAT composed of Critical Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Essay Tests, the new SAT is going to be formatted quite differently. The redesigned SAT will include an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test (which includes the Reading Test and Writing and Language Test), a Math Test and an optional Essay (yes, optional—you read that right!).

The College Board affirms that the redesigned format of the new SAT is most apt in being able to predict post-secondary readiness—even more so than the original.

Scoring

Original:

A point is given for every question answered correctly and a point is deducted for all incorrect answers.

Unanswered questions are considered to have no impact on score.

Possible score could range from 600 to 2400

Critical Reading: 200 to 800

Math: 200 to 800

Writing: 200 to 800

Essay: scaled to multiple choice Writing

Redesigned:

Incorrect answers are not penalized.

Unanswered questions are still considered to have no impact on score.

Levin affirms the scoring scale will return to the 400 to 1600 point scale. 

Evidence Based Reading and Writing: 200 to 800

Math: 200 to 800

Essay (reported separately): each of three Essay “traits” are scored from 2 to 8

Subscores are provided for each test.

Yep—no point deductions for wrong answers! “This move to rights-only scoring encourages students to give the best answer they have to every question,” shares Levin. Note that the range of scores has changed significantly, so remember that when applying to colleges later on down the road (if they haven't updated their SAT requirements for admission, you could be left thinking you don’t stand a chance of getting in!).

The redesigned scoring methods can accurately measure growth, as well. According to the College Board, “Every exam in the SAT Suite of Assessments is scored using the same scale... This means that students with a 400 on any of the Math sections would have received a 400 on any other Math section had they taken the other Math section on the same day and performed at the same level.” How’s that for consistency and transparency?

How is each section of the test changing?

Evidence-based reading and writing (including reading test and writing and language test)

The Reading Test of the redesigned SAT aims to test your reasoning and comprehension skills. It will be comprised of what College Board describes as “appropriately difficult passages” from previously published publications and will cover a wide variety of subjects and contexts, following the theme throughout the test of making the SAT reflective of the numerous fields of study and real world contexts a student will be exposed to in their post-secondary work.

“We’re getting rid of obscure vocabulary words,” Levin says, adding that the new test aims to engage the test taker in close reading instead of prompting fast memorization of words.

The redesigned test will also require you to analyze graphics and longer passages, which will test you on your command of evidence. You must also show a deeper understanding of the meaning of words and how words help shape the passage as a whole. Interestingly, the redesigned SAT will also always include a passage from a “Founding Document” (think Declaration of Independence or Bill of Rights), or a passage related to one, in order for students to demonstrate not only their ability to synthesize and analyze a historical document, but also to demonstrate their citizenship (throwback to all of your history and government classes—here’s to hoping you retained all that information!).

In the Writing and Language Test, the College Board has used research to determine that students will best be tested through an assessment of passages that will test students’ revision abilities according to traditional English grammar as well as their ability to analyze text and make claims according to the text’s features. The College Board also notes informational graphics, word meanings and command of evidence as concepts they are evaluating in the test.

Math

The math section of the redesigned SAT can be divided into three main parts: Problem Solving and Data Analysis, the Heart of Algebra, and Passport to Advanced Math. The redesign, Levin says, allows the SAT to test you on what officials are saying are the more essential areas of math. Problem Solving and Data Analysis tests you on your quantitative reasoning abilities and includes problems regarding ratios and percentages; The Heart of Algebra includes problems on abstract systems and linear equations as well as general reasoning, and Passport to Advanced Math will challenge you on more intricate and complex equations and problems, thus both giving you an insight to and testing you on post-secondary math readiness.

While there will be some problems that fall outside of these three sections of the test, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, the Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math will test what research has found to be the most necessary math-related skills for young students to have when entering college, as well as the most useful math skills people use in the real world. The College Board has also put a huge emphasis on having these math problems allude to science and social science contexts, as well as other fields of study you would encounter in college and beyond, allowing students to connect mathematics with the real world. Also, get ready for a whole lot of charts, tables and graphs comin’ your way.

Students are permitted to use a calculator on part of the test; the other part of the Math Test must be done without a calculator. As with the original SAT, the non-calculator section of the Math Test can be easily done without use of a calculator (aka our lifeline with buttons).                      

Essay (Optional)

As compared to the original SAT, the redesigned SAT’s essay is completely optional. The essay will be given to you at the end of the test instead of at the beginning and you will now have 50 minutes instead of 25 to write it, giving you ample time to show off your reading, writing and analysis skills—the same skills the new essay aims to test you on and the criteria upon which you will be evaluated. In the essay portion, students are required to analyze a previously published text and clearly explain how the author uses linguistic, persuasive and stylistic devices to persuade the reader (remember, this is an analysis, not an opinion piece!). The College Board is attempting to make the essay portion of the test similar to an assignment you would find in a college course, thus making it more of an indicator of your college readiness.

Some colleges may require an essay, so make sure you are well aware of the schools you are applying to and their specific requirements ahead of time! To do this, check their admission section of their website or speak to your high school counselor or a representative for the university.

Check out The College Board for more information!

How can I prepare for the new SAT?

So, you are aware of all the changes coming your way for the new SAT. But how should you prepare for them?

Practice, practice, practice. As obvious as it seems, doing practice tests and sample questions are going to be some of the most effective ways of getting ready to rock the SAT. Whether you take the online sample tests or go out and buy test prep booklets and study guides, getting familiar with the format and types of questions is going to be beyond helpful (don’t forget to time yourself, too!).

If solo studying isn’t your thing, study groups can be extremely helpful in getting you prepared to take the new SAT. When forming a study group, make sure your study buddies are people you can actually rely on to show up and focus (as in, maybe not your best friend who you can’t help but goof off with when you’re together). Also be sure they are somewhat on the same academic level as you (it’s not going to benefit you if you spend all your time teaching a friend something you already know, or if you can hardly keep up with the group you’re studying with). To make the most of your study group, assign each other roles and duties for each session (is each person going to teach the group a section from a study book? Is one person responsible for making copies of sample tests?). Also, be sure you begin studying weeks, if not months in advance (seriously!).

Another option for getting prepared for the new SAT is to enroll in prep classes. These can be a great option for those who are just not skilled test takers, because you get to work with officials and tutors who can coach you on how to best segment your time, when to know to move on to a new question if you are stumped, or just tips and tricks on acing the SAT. Classes can be expensive and often fill up way in advance, so be sure you communicate with your parents and guidance counselor and keep an eye out on classes if you are interested. Also, be sure to check and see if your school offers free or reduce-costs prep classes.

Want to make sure you are absolutely prepared for each and every change the redesigned SAT is going to bring your way? Levin says that the College Board has just created a landmark partnership with Khan Academy, and together they have produced what is called Official SAT Practice. Levin describes this as “the first-ever free, high quality, personalized, and official practice tools for the new SAT.”

“Official SAT Practice on KhanAcademy.org has been designed to level the playing field for all students who are interested in taking the SAT and preparing for college,” she says, adding that the program goes above and beyond to get students ready for the test. Within the practice sets provided by the partnership, there are four College Board-written full length practice tests, eight  diagnostic quizzes and thousands of practice questions (all available for free at any time!) that are sure to make you a master of the redesigned SAT. In addition to the tips, tricks, video lessons and instant feedback available to you, Levin says this partnership can give students instruction on how to interpret the new scoring guide as well as specific practice recommendations for the test.

But of course, prepping for the SAT doesn’t have to be a total cram session. “The best way for students to start practicing is to take challenging courses in high school and work hard in those courses,” adds Levin. That means AP, IB and Honors classes, studying hard and truly learning the information taught to you (as opposed to just memorizing it for the upcoming exam!).

How will this affect my college applications?

A national switch-up of everything SAT-related basically means a big headache for admission offices and students alike. But don’t worry: Levin says that both scores from the current and redesigned SAT will be accepted by colleges until the year 2018.

“The vast majority of colleges and universities support the changes to the exam, and students should be aware that most colleges and universities are prepared to accept and use scores from the new SAT,” she says.

Not sure which test you should expect this year? According to Levin, most 2016 students will take the current SAT during fall, but possibly the new SAT in the spring. Students in the class of 2017 can also choose which exam to take, but they should feel confident taking the new one.

When it comes down to it, just remember that everything related to the redesign of the SAT is there to help you succeed—definitely not to stump you or make the test more of a challenge. “It’s an achievement test [that] focuses on the few things that evidence shows matter most for success in college and career,” assures Levin.

And most of all don’t forget that the new SAT changes are implemented spring of 2016!
 

We all know that procrastination prevents productivity, but why is it so hard to quit? It seems that whenever there's a deadline on the horizon, this famous foe rears its ugly head. Thankfully, a new study may have the answers we need to cut procrastination out of our lives once and for all. Specifically, it suggests that time categorization is the key to successful scheduling and the driving force behind proper time management. 

According to the study, we tend to interpret deadlines as falling into one of two categories—present or future. Deadlines labeled as present concerns pose no problems—it's very likely that we'll start working on them as soon as they're assigned. Problems arise when assignments are labeled as future concerns. In these cases, we make the quick decision to put them off as tasks to complete "someday"—a dangerously vague deadline.

So how can we apply this information to improve our time management skills? Two surprising findings may suggest the perfect time-saving tactics.

We segment time to categorize deadlines

The finding: One finding demonstrated that even when participants were given the same exact amount of time to complete a task (6 months), their timeliness on completing the assignment depended on how those 6 months fit into the calendar year. Basically, if a task is assigned in June and the deadline for completion is in December, we are more likely to categorize the assignment as a present concern.

However, if it's assigned in July and the deadline gets pushed back to January of the next year, the task quickly changes from a present concern to a future concern. Crazy, right? Similarly, deadlines that fall within a pre-segmented amount of time from the date they were assigned (a week, a month, a year, etc.) appear more urgent to us than assignments that fall just out of that timeframe (for example, 8 days away instead of 7). 

Our suggestion: If you've got an assignment or goal on the horizon, set milestones for its completion. For example, break up the task into smaller bits, and allocate a specific (but not random!) amount of time to complete each piece. Just make sure your chosen deadlines are within pre-segmented timeframes, such as within the next day, week, or month.

For example, if you're aiming to lose 10 pounds total, make it your goal to lose 2 of those pounds in the first week. The Huffington Post suggests that by breaking goals down into concrete steps, they become far more realistic and far less abstract and unattainable. By dividing goals up into smaller components with quicker deadlines, they seem more urgent and present, not to mention less overwhelming and off-putting.

We can trick our minds into categorizing goals in specific ways

The finding:One portion of the study used color-coding to test participant responsiveness to deadlines. Participants were given a calendar corresponding to their assigned tasks. Different dates were shaded different colors, which in turn altered how participants percieved deadlines. If the date that the task was assigned and the due date of that assignment fell under the same color segment, participants viewed the assignment as a present concern and assessed it as something they should begin immediately. However, if the date that the task was assigned and the due date of that assignment fell under different color categories, participants viewed the assignment as a future concern and decided to put it off! Who knew something as simple as color could alter perceptions?

Our suggestion: Get your hands on a planner or calendar, stat. Once you've got one, make it a habit to incorporate color into your scheduling. For example, let's say you highlight the current week pink. If you're worried about procrastinating on a particular task you've just been assigned, purposely write it down in one of the pink boxes to make sure its interpreted as a present concern! Seems easy enough, right?

What's great about this tactic is that even if a deadline doesn't fall in a pre-segmented timeframe (such as within the week or month), you can personalize your color segments into whatever shapes and sizes you want, so if you want it to fall in the same color category as the current date, it can! Additionally, if you're more into electronic planning, Google Calendars are great in that they allow you to assign a color to everything you schedule, so if you haven't utilized those settings, try them out!

No matter what tactic you use—segmenting or color-coding—be creative and adaptable. Only you know what schedule works best for you, and different methods may work for different people. As long as you're making some sort of visual representation of your goals and are breaking goals down into concrete steps, you'll be on your way out of the procrastination danger zone in no time!

We all make numerous food decisions every day, whether it’s grabbing a sandwich for lunch or eating chips for a snack—these are choices. Most of the time, we choose to eat to satisfy hunger; however, there is such a thing as using food as a coping mechanism. “Emotional eating” is not a diagnosable eating disorder, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously. It can happen when you are eating out of anger, sadness, loneliness, stress or even as a result of positive emotions. It can be hard to determine whether you are an emotional eater, so we’ve gathered some of the major signs of being one, and how to deal so it doesn’t interfere with your life!

1. You crave certain foods when you’re upset

If you find yourself yearning for a pint of ice cream when something bad or upsetting happens, you might be an emotional eater. According to Jennifer Calo, clinical registered dietitian and nutritionist at Compass Nutrition, “Most emotional eaters will crave fried, fatty foods or sweets when stressed or upset.” This is because carbohydrates and fats actually activate the pleasure centers in our brains, allowing us to feel soothed and satisfied.

Laura Bumberry, a clinical psychologist at Webster Wellness Professionals, suggests using pros and cons to decide if fulfilling the craving is in your best interest. “For example, if you know that eating ice cream will be soothing in the moment but that you will have significant guilt afterwards, you may consider other coping skills first,” she says. It’s important to consider both short-term and long-term outcomes.

2. You don’t pay attention to how much you’re eating or whether or not you’re full

When you’re feeling emotional and you turn to food, you are unlikely to realize how much you’re actually eating. This can be tricky because doing so is common when watching Netflix, for example; however, it’s only related to emotional eating when you’re eating for an emotionally driven reason. “Emotional eaters often eat mindlessly, meaning out of containers (like chips out of the bag rather than in a separate bowl) without paying attention to portion sizes or their fullness cues,” Calo says. For example, if you find yourself ordering a large pizza or eating an entire box of cookies after a tough day, you’re not going to think about how much you’re really eating.  

To combat this mindless eating that’s brought about by your emotions, Bumberry suggests checking in with yourself during and after eating to rate your level of fullness on a 10 point scale—you can even use online scales to help you determine whether you’re hungry or not. You should also always portion your food, rather than eating straight out of a bag or box.

3. You feel guilty after eating  

Once you realize what you’ve just actually eaten, you might feel guilt or shame. According to Calo, this perpetuates the cycle of negative emotions. After the guilt, the cycle leads you to restrict or starve yourself because you feel so bad about what you’ve eaten. This restriction only leads to more emotional eating, starting the cycle over. 

When you do find yourself feeling guilty, it’s important that you forgive yourself. Instead of dwelling, Bumberry recommends planning your next meal so it is more balanced.

4. You use food to celebrate

This one is a little more difficult to gauge because of how regular it is. It’s common to celebrate something with food, whether it’s a birthday with cake or even the holidays with a big feast. However, this can become problematic when you celebrate every single small accomplishment—or just every time you’re feeling good—with food, because you are likely just looking for a reason to over-indulge.

The next time something positive happens, you might want to consider some alternatives, like celebrating with a nourishing activity such as a massage or a pedicure.

5. You eat to avoid your feelings

This is the most obvious of all the signs. Using food to avoid feeling sad or angry only makes matters worse. While it may offer a temporary solution, it’s only because food can be “numbing,” according to Calo. “People turn to food for comfort rather than dealing with negative emotions,” she says. In the end, though, those feelings will still exist.

Rather than eating, Calo says that dealing with your negative emotions via journaling, or talking to a friend or therapist, will help in the long run. While it may be uncomfortable, it’s better to release these emotions because bottling them up could lead to an addiction to food as a coping mechanism.

Additional Ways to Deal

Registered dietitian Adrienne Raimo has a specific strategy to follow in order to avoid emotional eating. First, identify what a difficult moment or emotion looks like for you. Taking a moment to identify these and what they may be trying to communicate is very important. Next, write down how you typically deal with each emotion. Lastly, prepare another healthier way you can handle the emotion.

Calo suggests alternative activities such as going for a walk, taking a 15-minute bubble bath, aromatherapy, knitting, calling a friend or journaling. Things like meditation and yoga are also helpful for dealing with your emotions.

Finally, Bumberry says that it can be useful to seek support from a clinician who specializes in eating-related issues. If your eating behaviors are causing significant emotional distress, problems in relationships, health concerns or any other quality of life problems, it is recommended that you seek professional help from a nutritionist or a psychologist. Your college counseling center likely has many resources available to you for free.

Emotional eating can be extremely difficult to deal with. Rather than being discouraged by your actions or feeling bad about yourself, take the time to identify what you’re doing and treat your body the way it deserves to be treated!

Summer has arrived! Now we finally have some time to sit back and relax. Whether you’re lounging by the pool or taking a trip to the beach, you’ll need to find an awesome summer playlist to rock out to! That’s why we’re giving away five Tori Kelly “Unbreakable Smile” Gold Bundles, including her new debut album, signed poster and flash tats!

Tori Kelly first hit the music scene when her cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” reached more than 22 million views on YouTube. Her soulful voice and powerhouse performances landed her spots on Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith’s tours, and her latest performance at the 2015 Billboard Music awards officially elevated her to star status. Tori will release her debut album June 23, and we want you to have it!

Enter now for your chance to win one of five Tori Kelly “Unbreakable Smile” Gold Bundles! Check out Tori’s website for all her tour and music updates, and keep up with her by following her on Twitter and Instagram at @torikelly. Good luck, collegiettes!

Tori Kelly Prize Pack Giveaway

With so many of our favorite novels being adapted for the screen, there are always mixed feelings about how the movie compares to the book. If it were up to us, we think we'd make great casting decisions for these books-turned-films so that the characters align with the ones in our heads. Here are five books that we wish would be made into films, and who we think should star in them.

1. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This heart wrenching, New York Times best selling novel tells the story of Hannah Baker, who leaves a series of tapes for her classmate Clay Jensen. A film was reportedly in the works, with Selena Gomez set to play Hannah, but the movie never began production. Logan Lerman was rumored to play Clay, and personally we think he’d be perfect for the part. As for Hannah, Taissa Farmiga has our vote.

2. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Two of Sarah Dessen's books were adapted for the movie How To Deal, which wasn’t very popular. We’d like to see one of Dessen’s many well-loved books on the silver screen, and The Truth About Forever is our pick. The novel is about a girl named Macy who gets a summer job as a caterer. There she meets Wes, and they play a game of “Truth.” This game continues as their relationship deepens. If it were up to us, we’d cast Penn Badgley as the artistic Wes, and Dianna Agron would play Macy.

3. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars was a huge success, Paper Towns hits theaters soon, and Looking for Alaska is headed to the big screen as well. We might as well add John Green's An Abundance of Katherines to the list! The book follows Colin Singleton on his quest for love. He meets the quirky Lindsey Lee Wells along the way, and they become friends. We think Chloe Grace Moretz would make a great Lindsey, accompanied by Dylan O’Brien as Colin.

4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time recently opened as a Broadway play, and we think it would make a great movie as well. A film adaptation may be in the planning stages, but no production has begun. The story follows Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old with high-functioning autism, as he tries to solve the mystery of his neighbor’s murdered dog. Though he’s a bit older, Keir Gilchrist (It’s Kind of a Funny Story) could definitely play Christopher.

5. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

We may have read Stargirl in middle or high school, but we still love the timeless story. This New York Times best seller would make a fantastic movie, fit for all ages. Again, a film version was planned, but never happened. In the YA book, a boy named Leo meets the out there Susan Caraway, who goes by the name Stargirl. She doesn’t care what others think of her, in contrast to the rest of the high school student body. Leo is intrigued by Stargirl, and they form a relationship. We'd pick Ansel Elgort to play Leo, and Madeline Carroll (Flipped) for Stargirl. This film would definitely have an indie feel.

You finally did it. You walked across that stage with your cap perched precariously on your head and hey, you may even have done it in heels. You have your degree and you’re finally out of college. Graduated and a member of  the real world. Congratulations! So, what’s next? Your fab—or not so fab—new apartment. Moving into a new apartment for the first time can be an extremely daunting task. Some of these are obvious, like couches and chairs, but some are definite necessities you may have overlooked. Check out everything you’ll need to make your new “house” a home.

1. Kitchen

• Pots and pans
• Dishes and bowls
• Cutlery
• Serving utensils
• Serving dishes
• Blender
• Standing mixer
• Can opener
• Bottle opener
• Dish towels
• Coffeemaker
• Broom
• Dish soap
• Dish drying rack
• Duster
• Dustpan
• Hand soap
• Microwave
• Toaster and/or toaster oven
• Mugs
• Oven mitts
• Paper towels
• Garbage bags
• Wastepaper basket
• Tupperware
• Water pitcher/filter
• Sponges
• Swiffer
• Plastic wrap
• Aluminum foil
• Slow cooker
• Wooden spoons
• Slotted spoons
• Colander
• Knife set
• Meat thermometer
   

2. Bathroom

• Bath towels
• Hand towels
• Bath mat
• Shower curtain
• Rug
• Cleaning supplies
• Scale
• Air freshener
• Shower organizers
• Toilet plunger
• Toilet paper
• Toiletries
   

3. Bedroom

• Bed frame
• Comforter
• Several sets of sheets
• End table or nightstand
• Hangers
• Closet organizers
• Shoe rack
• Under-the-bed box
• Storage boxes
• Over-the-door storage units
• Desk and chair
• Safe
• Jewelry box or stand/organizer
• Full-length mirror
• Dressers
• Alarm clock
• Curtains or blinds
   

4. Living Room

• Couch
• Chairs
• Coffee table
• Floor lamp
• Ottoman
• TV stand
• Throw blankets
• Throw pillows
• Area rug
• Curtains or blinds
   

5. Laundry

• Hamper and/or laundry bags
• Lingerie bag/mesh wash bags
• Drying rack
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Garment bag
   

6. Technology

• TV
• DVD player
• Game consoles
• Computer/laptop
• Wireless Internet router
   

7. Miscellaneous

• Flashlight for emergencies
• Emergency/First Aid kit
• Batteries
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Extension cords
• Surge protectors
• Fan or air conditioner
• Doormat
   

8. Home Improvement

• Shelving
• Adhesive hooks
• Nails
• Basic tools such as a screwdriver and hammer
• Bookcases

So, that’s it! Hopefully, after reading this handy little guide, you’re just a little more informed about what you’ll need to make your move-in day more exciting and less stressful. Who knew we needed so much stuff just to live?! 
 

So you’re turning 21 soon, huh? Everyone’s probably asking you if you have any huge plans for the big day, but you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing yet. Unlike most of your other birthdays you’ve celebrated in the past, your 21st is pretty much a rite of passage into the adult world. This might put some added pressure on planning your big day, but have no fear! We compiled a list of fun things for you to do for your 21st (that aren’t just going to a bar or a club) that are guaranteed to make this your most memorable birthday yet.

For girls who drink

1. Go to a boozy brunch

Bottomless plates and mimosas? Yes, please! Brunch is one of the few times where drinking before noon isn’t frowned upon, so what better way could there be to kick off your birthday? Getting your buzz on in the a.m. while eating delicious breakfast food is how every birthday girl should start her day.

2. Paint wine glasses

Now that you’re 21 and can legally drink all the wine you want, you’re probably going to want some cute wine glasses. The easiest way to get the glasses to come out just like you’re picturing them in your head is to draw or print out the image you want to paint on your glass, stick the paper on the inside of the glass and trace it. Here’s a super easy DIY tutorial to follow if you want to paint your glasses, and a DIY tutorial to follow if you want to glitterize your glasses. They’re both easy peasy and can even be done by those of us who don’t have a crafty bone in our bodies.

3. Drink your way around the world (Disney World, that is)

When you went to Disney World as a kid, you probably had no idea it was a drinking hot spot, but it’s actually a great place to celebrate your 21st! In Epcot, you can get margaritas in Mexico, beer in Germany and sake in Japan, just to name a few. Drinks are also available in Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and almost all the hotels on site. Check out this full list of suggestions and prices. We suggest printing out a map of the park as well and planning your day ahead of time instead of just wandering around the park looking for bars and restaurants.

4. Host a wine and cheese tasting

When most people think of wine and cheese tastings, they picture a candlelit setup in a nice restaurant or a dinner party and lots of expensive wines and cheeses. Your 21st birthday wine and cheese night doesn’t have to be this formal! Grab some Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s, some cheese and crackers from the grocery store and a chick flick to pop in during the party for the best low-budget wine-and-cheese night.

5.  Take the classy route

If you and your friends are feeling all grown up and want to celebrate your 21st with class, go to a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Order fancy drinks, eat artistically presented small plates and enjoy the finer things in life like adults in the movies do. Don’t forget to order a nice bottle of champagne to share with the table and order something fancy for dessert, like crème brûlée. You and your friends will feel like you’re living in the lap of luxury.

6. Have a booze-infused potluck

Like most other 21-year-olds, you probably don’t have stacks of cash lying around your apartment. If that’s the case for you, too, have a potluck-style party to celebrate your 21st. Instead of your guests each bringing a huge dish, see if they would be willing to bring a slightly smaller dish along with some alcohol. The alcohol doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, and the food doesn’t have to be anything super intricate. As long as there ends up being enough for everyone, you’re all set.

For girls who don’t drink

7. Do a 21 selfies challenge

Before you go out for the night, have your friends write down 21 funny selfie ideas that you have to complete before the night is over. You could try anything: a selfie while a stranger is giving you a piggyback ride, a selfie wearing a random person’s shirt or a selfie of you dancing on top of a table.

8. Do 21 dares

Have your friends each contribute a few things to a list of dares that all include the number 21 for you to complete on your 21st birthday. Things like getting 21 phone numbers from strangers, leaving a $21 tip at a restaurant and going to 21 different locations in one night are all great possible dares for your list. If you need help thinking of ideas, take a look at some classic dares to put the 21 twist on.

9. Go on a road trip

Many car rental companies like Avis, Enterprise and Hertz have changed their minimum age requirement for renting from 25 to 21. This means that you can finally rent a car under your own name and go wherever your heart desires. Go 10 miles, go 100 miles, go wherever you and your friends want! Pack some yummy snacks, make a killer playlist and hit the road to explore your nearby towns.

10. Have a mocktail hour

If you and your friends aren’t into the whole drinking scene, having a mocktail hour is a fun way to stay in the spirit of celebrating. Look up some recipes for mocktails, and don’t forget about the food! Pigs in a blanket, spinach puffs, cheese and crackers and quiche are some cocktail-hour classics that you can easily buy at the local supermarket.

11. Donate to charity

Instead of your friends taking you out for drinks or dinner, ask them to donate the money they would have spent that night to a charity of your choice. Donating money to charity is a great alternative way to honor your 21st if you don’t plan on going out and spending a lot. Asking your friends to donate $21 is a fun way to tie in your birthday with the cause. If not money, you can ask your friends to get you a small gift from a company that gives back to charity with each purchase.

When planning your 21st birthday celebration, the number of options out there might seem a bit overwhelming, but these are a great start! No matter what you do on your big day, just remember to be smart and drink responsibly.

We all want a golden glow once summer hits—when we're baring skin in shorts, sundresses and bikinis, having a little color is a must! Whether you're naturally tan or need a little help in that department, the safest way to get the shade you love is with self-tanner. Those at-home lotions have earned a bad rap: streaky legs, orange palms and a not-so-nice smell. But you can get a natural, gorgeous glow without baking in the sun's rays—so long as you follow the tips below!

1. Do a test patch

Self-tanner isn't the easiest to remove, so be sure the coloring is exactly what you want before you slather yourself head to toe. You may also be sensitive to ingredients found in some tanners, like DHA, which can cause redness and itching.

2. Wax or shave the day before

Putting self-tanner on uneven skin is not the wisest decision, so make your legs completely smooth 24 hours before applying self-tanner. Don't apply self-tanner immediately after shaving, though; it could irritate your skin!

3. Exfoliate before using tanner

If you rub lotion into your skin without exfoliating first, dead skin cells will absorb the tanner and create splotching. It's simple and easy to exfoliate, and leaves your skin glowing and smooth.

4. Make sure you're completely dry

This one sounds pretty obvious, but it's essential. After drying off with a towel be sure to allow your body another 10 to 15 minutes to air dry completely!

5. Moisturize dry areas

To prevent the tanner from creating uneven color, moisturize the areas that are dry to prevent them from absorbing more color than other parts of your body. Make sure to get places like your nose, knees, and elbows.

6. Protect your palms

No matter how good your self-tanner technique, everyone will know your secret when they see your orange palms. Prevent this mishap by wearing tight, disposable gloves or washing your hands after every application. Some tanners even come with an applicator mitt!

7. Use the right amount for each area

Your face obviously needs way less tanner than your legs. Use the guide above to get an estimate for how much product to use on each area of the body.

With these steps, anyone can master the art of self-tanning. So protect your skin while still getting that summer glow, collegiettes!

This video will restore your faith in humanity. Hatch, an educational program by SheKnows, asked a group of young children about their thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner. The interviewers showed the kids a photo of Caitlyn as an Olympic star in the '70s, and then another picture of Caitlyn from her Vanity Fair story. When they were told that the two photos depicted the same person, the children were surprised, but accepting.

They were then shown both positive and negative tweets about Caitlyn, to which they reacted with empathy. The children expressed support and understanding. "I think they are just scared of change," one child said in response to a transphobic tweet. "They just want everything to stay the same because they just don't know how to handle it."

With a few simple words, these kids showed a huge amount of wisdom. "Who she wants to be is who she should be," said one. Another stated, "It's important for you to be yourself, because if you're not yourself, then who are you?" Watch the amazing video below.

Tired of having to sort out the “nice guys” from the “bad boys”? Want to move up from one-night stand to full-time girlfriend, but unsure of how to do so? Stop worrying, because Real Live College Guy Dale is finally here to help with all of your collegiette love kerfuffles and help steer you clear of any unnecessary drama during your brief but ever-important time in college.

In January, my ex and I split up after almost three years [together]. It was very hard to deal with, but I needed out. He was too controlling and I was scared it would get worse. After the breakup, I found comfort in his best friend. I developed feelings for this best friend, and we began hooking up. After a few months, it ended because he didn't have the same feelings. I went to a bar to drown my sorrows in Fireball whiskey, and I had sex with my ex's other best friend. I know that this is an awful situation. I should not have gone after his best friends, but I cannot change what happened. People have asked my ex about his friends and me. He has confronted me, and I say nothing happened. I don't want to lie to him, but I know this will hurt him more than anything. I feel so guilty. Please tell me what to do! I'm in desperate need of some help. – Worthless at WVU

WVU,

Whew. In my opinion, you’ve made your bed—now you have to lie in it (no pun intended). Here’s the thing, though: you’re telling me that you “don’t want to lie to him,” but you already did. At this point, if you don’t want to hurt him anymore, just don’t talk to him about it. I’m not telling you to continue lying, but the two of you broke up. Unless you really feel like you have to tell him what you did, I don’t see a reason to. The fact that you slept with two of his best friends —really going for the throat there, huh?—will just send him over the edge. I guarantee it.

So you already lied to him. If you know that telling him the truth will hurt him more than anything, don’t tell him. Ignorance, in this case, is bliss. You really screwed him over here. I understand that he might have been controlling, and maybe if you two had stayed together it would have gotten worse, but I don’t think that excuses your actions.

My other tips? First, don’t drown your sorrows in any kind of alcohol. Been there, done that. Not healthy, emotionally or physically. Second, try not to have revenge sex with your ex’s best friends. There are so many other guys you could have hooked up with, and the last people you should have gone after are his friends. Finally, unless you really feel like you have to tell him, let it go. You made a mistake. You’re young; you’ll get over it. So will he.

I’m guessing he already knows the truth, though. Honestly? His friends probably told him already. I think he’s confronting you because he wants to hear you admit it yourself and, when you do, he’ll finally be able to say goodbye… probably with an added “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Dating is a huge part of college life, but it’s not always pretty. If there’s anyone who knows heartbreak, it’s our forever role model, Lauren Conrad. Not only can we come to her for fashion and career advice, but she’s weathered her fair share of lousy fellas. Therefore, this makes her the perfect gal to guide us through the college dating world.

You tell all your friends you love being single. No restrictions, no one to answer to and the chance to date any guy you want. But really, you’re like…

So when you spot a cutie in your 8 a.m. class, you couldn’t be happier.

You proceed to stalk him on Facebook, Instagram and sadly, even LinkedIn.

You’re too nervous to ask him out, so you awkwardly stare at him hoping he’ll read your mind and sense your devotion towards him.

And then it happens. You start hanging out, and you can't believe how perfect you are for each other.

Until one day, he does something that changes your opinion of him forever.

But you decide that you can change him.

You start to read into every little thing he says and does.

But his mixed messages turn out to be overwhelmingly negative. Like so negative that you think he may not even be interested.

You try to spin the situation to make it seem positive. Maybe he’s just shy or embarrassed or doesn’t mean what he says.

You don’t know how to explain it, but it’s just not working anymore.

It’s best for both of you if you part ways.

And you’re totally fine with that…

Until he says he still wants to be friends.

So you’re pretty clear that you want nothing to do with him anymore.

And once he finally gets the message, all you want to do is forget about guys forever.

Until the next one comes along.

Looking for a job or internship is never easy, but perhaps the worst part is writing the cover letter that will land you an interview. Feeling desperate? Cocky? Underqualified? Whatever the case, just once, you should be able to say what you're really thinking while writing a million cover letters in the hopes of finding the perfect job. 

1. What you say: “To Whom it May Concern” 

What you really mean: I don’t know your actual name, but I’m pretty sure this is how adults communicate, right?

2. What you say: “My name is [Insert Name Here] and I am an [Insert Lengthiest Name For Your Major Here] at [Insert University.]”

What you really mean: This is where I introduce myself, right? I need to sound smart. Maybe I should add a minor? Another major? Forget it, I need my PhD before I can send out any more cover letters. 

3. What you say: "I am a diligent worker and I always stay on task."

What you really mean: I heard that the word 'diligent' makes me look smart. And I pretty much stay on task. Like 99 percent of the time. Okay, 50 percent. Depends if I can access Netflix.

4. What you say: "I have extensive experience using Excel."

What you really mean: I made a spreadsheet once. Please, don’t make me do it again. 

5. What you say: "I am great with deadlines and never fail to perform any task asked of me. "

What you really mean: I will stay up all night and be miserable, but I’ll never let you fire me. 

6. What you say: "I believe that my passion and drive qualify me for this position."

What you really mean: I am not qualified, at all, but I am passionate about getting a job. 

7. What you say: "I have been dreaming about a job in [insert job market here] since I was just a little girl."

What you really mean: I’ve been dreaming about this job ever since I realized that a career as a professional world traveler and wine enthusiast wasn’t as lucrative as I thought it was. 

8. What you say: "My degree has prepared me for anything that may come my way."

What you really mean: I learned how to nap in college. Can I nap at this job?

9. What you say: "[Insert extremely specific fact about prospective job] is what drives me to work for your company."

What you really mean: [I found this on your website] and I know it makes me look like I know what I’m talking about. 

10. What you say: "Thank you for your consideration."

What you really mean: Please consider me. Please? 

11. What you say: "Sincerely."

What you really mean: This makes me seem sincere. Not too sincere, right? Just the right amount of sincere. Like, the kind of sincere that will make you take pity on me and hire me.

You may or may not be aware of an extremely popular practice that occurs in other regions of the world, known as female genital mutilation (or FGM), but after reading this article we hope you'll spread the word. In many cultures, women must be virgins and "pure" when they get married, so it is a common practice to remove part or all of a woman's outer sexual organs in order to preserve this purity. The culture dictates that if a woman's parts are removed, she will subsequently have less drive and be less likely to have premarital sex. But this horrific and painful procedure can also cause infertility, death during pregnancy/childbirth and infections. According to World Health Organization predictions, some 125 million women across the globe suffer from FGMs, but with new legislation from Nigeria, that number might change. 

Outgoing Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan passed a game-changing bill through the Senate on May 5, which would effectively ban the practice of FGMs in Nigeria. The same bill also states that men will not be permitted to abandon their families without providing financial aid. 

The reason this bill is so important is not only because a quarter of Nigerian women have had an FGM, but also because Nigeria is the most populated and one of the most important countries in Africa, so this decision carries possible ramifications for other countries as well. Organizations against FGM hope that the decision will create a precedent for other bills to follow. 

Still. the fight against FGMs is far from over, and if you're hearing about this practice for the very first time, that might just be the reason why. It is a highly obscure and underreported issue, and it's important to raise awareness—it's time for this harmful and dated practice to be over, once and for all.

Madame Tussaud's gallery is known for honoring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. While there is diversity among the wax figures, Laverne Cox will be the first transgender to be featured in the gallery. The Orange Is The New Black star has made a huge impact in the transgender community over the past years, and we couldn't be happier that she is being honored.

"I hope that this will be a source of inspiration for everyone who encounters it to believe that their dreams matter and are possible," says Laverne. She will be revealing the wax figure on June 26th, just before the 45th annual Pride Celebration & Parade weekend in San Francisco. Hopefully this inspires others to join in on equally representing transgender individuals—everywhere. Congrats Laverne!

When you’re on the job hunt, polishing your resume, writing a killer cover letter and prepping for the interview seem like all it takes to get the job, but that’s no longer enough. Today, social media is such a huge factor in scoring that sought-after position. Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can help you in so many ways—but they can hurt you, too. That’s why we got the scoop on how to make your accounts work in your favor, so be sure to check out these crucial tips!

Facebook

1. Clean it up

We’d like to think that potential employers are scoping out our social media accounts to find out how talented we are, but there’s a part of us that knows they’re really searching for dirt. So go through your tagged photos, statuses and link shares and remove anything that may seem even remotely offensive. That means any photos from last weekend’s rowdy party, your curse-word-filled rant about the bad day you had and the harsh comment you published alongside a link to a politician’s latest speech should go.

While you want to cleanse your profile of any potentially offensive content you published, Neal Schaffer, a social media strategy consultant, also says it’s necessary to scour friends’ posts on your profile and then remove inappropriate content. “You almost become guilty by association if a recruiter finds something inappropriate published on your own wall, even if by someone else,” Schaffer says.

If you have a friend who tends to post vulgar things on your wall, you may want to consider removing him or her as a friend on Facebook entirely, Schaffer advises. If that’s too drastic of a measure for you, Facebook also has a setting that requires you toreview and approve any posts made on your timeline.

Since your Facebook history may be vast, you can use the free app SimpleWash, which scans your entire profile and timeline for profanities, anything suggesting aggression and words of sexual nature or relating to alcohol. By the end of the search, the app gives you a letter grade based on how much it found.

2. Update your “About” section

Though Facebook may not be considered a professional networking site, it’s still a good idea to update your profile in a professional manner with basic information, such as your school, major or current job. If your resume lists your current major as advertising but your Facebook page lists the economics major you had before you switched six months ago, the discrepancy will confuse an employer and could reflect poorly on you.

According to Schaffer, you should be cautious if you choose to list your political party preference or religion. “Showing your affiliation is a risk,” he says. “It could work for you, but it could also work against you, and you’d never know it.” To prevent any potential stickiness, you may want to withhold your preferences altogether.

LinkedIn

3. Craft a professional branded headline

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a simple headline that explains you’re a student at MIT, make yourself stand out more by explaining what you currently do besides going to school, or what you are aspire to be, Schaffer says. “Ideally you want to … showcase your strengths and differentiate yourself in the limited [amount of space] you already have,” he says.

So instead of writing, “Student studying urban planning at MIT,” you could write, “Aspiring community development director and senior at MIT majoring in urban planning.” If you currently have an internship or hold a leadership position in an organization or campus club, be sure to mention it in your headline. By being as specific as possible, readers can see how you stand apart from others, and they’ll decide whether or not to read on from there.

4. Include a professional summary

The professional summary, which is located at the top of your page, is almost like an elevator pitch because it’s your one chance to draw a potential employer in. “With your summary, you have full control of what people will learn about you, and you can give [potential employers] a good picture of what you’re really about beyond your resume,” says Emily Miethner, founder of MCG Social, a boutique social media agency. “You’re really missing out on an opportunity if you don’t create one.”

For your summary, you could use generic terms to describe the type of worker you are, but alack of personalization will bore a viewer. Instead, include your interests and accomplishments in a non-robotic way. “You want to talk about what your specific passions are and how you are pursuing them,” Miethner says. “You want to impress whoever’s reading, so maybe expand on your biggest accomplishment that you could only mention briefly in your resume.”

5. Add other forms of media

Depending on what field you plan on going into, take advantage of the interactive feature of LinkedIn that allows you to attach your work. If you spent all summer writing for your local newspaper, you definitely want to attach your best articles. If you were a research assistant for a study, include the study, even if there isn’t a designated section with your name on it.

Adding media on LinkedIn is especially crucial if you’re going into any type of creative field. “As human beings, we process visual content much faster than non-visual content, so play that to your favor by adding any presentations, photographs or videos you may have worked on,” Schaffer says.

Twitter

6. Clean it up

Tweeting is about sharing your thoughts and opinions with others, but you don’t want to share so much that it ends up costing you a job. Scroll through your past tweets and weed out any that may be inappropriate.

“As a rule of thumb, stay away from sex, religion and politics,” Miethner says. “So remove old tweets that may involve those topics and try to steer clear of them for future tweets.”

Beyond the topics Miethner mentions, it might be hard to discern what qualifies as offensive to the average person, but try to avoid any negativity, whether it’s about yourself or someone else. Don’t tweet about your horrible tendency to procrastinate or about how rude one of your professors was to you; neither message will reflect well on you.

7. Publish a personalized yet professional bio

Unlike LinkedIn, Twitter is not explicitly a professional tool, but you still want to act professionally, including in your bio. If you want to play it extra safe, you can copy and paste from your LinkedIn headline. But if you want to add a bit more flair, Twitter is the best place to do so.

“To some extent, Twitter is more playful, so you can have a different twist in your bio,” Schaffer says. “But make sure it’s still a part of your brand and it isn’t potentially offensive.”

If your current Twitter bio explains that you’re an aspiring engineer who studies at the University of Maryland, you could add a detail at the end that is less formal in tone, such as the fact that you’re a running enthusiast. Just don’t add any excess fluff (you only have 140 characters, anyway) and definitely leave out silly hashtags like #followforfollow or #yolo.

8. Interact with other influencers in your field

Using Twitter to socialize with friends is okay, but if you’re looking for a job, you should be joining or creating a conversation that involves professionals and topics from your field. “I’m a huge fan of putting yourself out there in a positive way as much as possible so others can get to know you,” Miethner says.

For example, if you dream of working in the magazine industry, join the conversation by tweeting about a particular article covering a subject you are passionate about. The next step would be retweeting or even replying to a tweet published by an editor from your favorite magazine. Even if your tweets don’t garner a response, it will show that you are actively putting in an effort.

“I recommend [engaging] once a week,” Schaffer says. “Try to post something that would be positive for your personal brand.”

While engaging may entail retweeting industry news or other interesting things you find, the bulk of it involves your active participation. Twitter is like one large conversation made up of millions of people, so join in and tweet at others in your field by asking them questions or responding to their tweets. You may not always get a response back, but at least you’re showing an eagerness to take part in the conversation.

On any platform

9. Think about your privacy settings

Whether you decide to scroll through your entire Facebook and Twitter histories or just adjust all of your privacy settings to make your content hidden, it’s completely up to you. But if a potential employer tries to look you up and sees that all of your profiles are hidden, you’re sending him or her a certain message, Schaffer says. “If they see that everything is private, they will start to wonder what you’re trying to hide,” he says.

Although there’s a risk in making too much private, Miethner says that it really depends on the career field you are entering. “If you’re applying for a social media job, you don’t want to make all of your accounts private, but with most other fields, there’s no definitive rule of thumb,” she says. “If there’s one platform that employers will understand if they find it’s private, it’s Facebook.”

10. Correct any inconsistencies

You want to make sure that across the board, all of your profiles have the same information. The layout and presentation may not necessarily be the same, but the details you publish about yourself should not be different. If you update one site, update them all. If you mention that you’re a senior on Twitter, but on LinkedIn you’re a junior, a potential employer could get confused, and you’ll just end up looking sloppy.

Schaffer suggests making your profile photos the same throughout; that way, an employer who’s already seen your LinkedIn profile can more easily confirm they’re looking at the right Twitter account. More importantly, he says keeping the same photo will strengthen your public persona. “Branding is all about consistency,” Schaffer says.

11. Proofread, proofread, proofread

Checking your accounts (especially LinkedIn) for errors may also seem intuitive, but you can easily ignore the task if you’re wrapped up in cover letter and resume editing. If you feel burnt out from proofreading, ask a parent or friend to read through your page. The fresh set of eyes will not only help in terms of finding potential spelling errors, but also in terms of how it reads from a perspective other than your own.

When it comes to Twitter, you may not want to go through your entire history checking for mistakes, but keep in mind that you should always double-check what you type before you hit tweet. How embarrassing would it be if you applied for a copy-editing job and an employer came across a tweet in which you accidentally typed the wrong version of “there”?

Now that you know the most crucial ways to update your profiles, you’re already on your way to having an impressive online presence. Who knows—maybe going through your old posts will be a funny walk down memory lane.

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