In January, Vanessa Hudgens’s father passed away from stage four cancer. Hudgens and her family stepped out of the public eye for a time so they could privately mourn their loss. Dealing with death is a tough process for anyone to go through, but sometimes talking about it is even harder. 

Now, Hudgens is opening up about her father’s death in an interview with People, discussing what she and her family have been going through these past few months.

“There are highs and there are lows. It sucks, but death happens. It never makes it easier but it happens to all of us. It's just something we have to get through until we all meet again in heaven."

Hudgens also expressed that although this process is difficult, she is very thankful and appreciative that she has had lots of love and support from her mother throughout this emotional journey: “My mom looks out through such beautiful eyes. I've learned to follow her lead."

We love that Hudgens is sharing her struggle with the world since many others are dealing with the same thing. And we know she will remain strong with the amazing support system she has on her side.

World-renowned Yale University has been under fire for the past few decades for naming a residential dormitory after politician and white supremacist, John Calhoun. When student protests erupted during the fall, calls to rename the college took over the mainstream media. But on Wednesday, Yale president Peter Salovey announced that the name was here to stay, The New York Times reports.

Salovey said that renaming the college would be "hiding our past," and that the name should spark tough conversations at Yale, according to the Times.

Student activists were not happy with the decision, though some of the demands they've asked of the administration have been met. Yale has agreed to invest over $50 million into efforts to diversify the faculty of the university. One new dorm will be named after Anna Pauline Murray, a black female legal scholar and civil rights activist. The other new dorm will be named after Benjamin Franklin. 

While students and faculty were excited about the selection of Murray, Franklin, who owned slaves at one point, was a questionable selection. 

While the choice to keep the dormitory named after Calhoun may seem like a step back for the progress of Yale, Salovey seems convinced that they are moving in the right direction.

If your favorite way to treat yourself is heading over to Chipotle for dinner, then you might be in luck: Chipotle is coming up with a rewards program that will give you free stuff for being a loyal repeat customer, according to Cosmopolitan.

The past year has arguably been difficult for the beloved Mexican grill, which has been trying to recover from several outbreaks of E. coli and Norovirus that scared customers away.

Chipotle reported a loss of $26 million in the past three months, which Mark Crumpacker, Chipotle's chief development and creative officer, believes stems from a decrease in frequency of visits by their top customers. The New York Post reports that 57 percent of frequent customers haven't visited the chain during the past three months. This rewards program will be an attempt at getting them back. It could very well work, because after all, who doesn't jump at the chance to get double stars at Starbucks when they're having a promotion? Even if you're spending more money than you usually would, it doesn't quite feel like it if the money will get you closer to free stuff.

There aren't many details about the program yet, but get ready to start hitting up Chipotle a lot more in the coming months—you know a free burrito bowl will be just the incentive you need. 

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is laying off more than 200 members of his campaign team, CNN reports.

The news follows after Sanders lost four states during Tuesday's primaries: Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The decision is apparently an effort to focus on his staff members left in states that have not yet voted in the primaries, which Sanders' adviser told CNN is the natural progession of any campaign.

“We want to win as many delegates as we can, so we do not need workers now in states around the country,” The New York Times reports Sanders said. “We don’t need people right now in Connecticut. That election is over. We don’t need them in Maryland. So what we are going to do is allocate our resources to the 14 contests that remain, and that means that we are going to be cutting back on staff.”

A college newspaper is under fire for publishing two racially insensitive cartoons, The Huffington Post reports. The cartoons are shown below.

The Whetstone at Wesley College published two cartoons created by Bryheim Muse, a black student, on Friday, The Huffington Post reports. The images each show drawings of black characters making racially and sexually offensive comments like "I'm late for my abortion" and "You just look like a hoe!"

The newspaper is a student operation independently run from the college, a fact which Wesley's president made clear in an email to the campus community along with his dissaproval for the cartoons, according to The Huffington Post. However, the school and newspaper did work together to host a forum for students to voice their feelings and concerns about the issue.

“It is humiliating to know that we were dehumanized by a fellow African-American male. He essentially gave the white students a reason to disrespect and think less of us. That comic promotes hate speech,” Wesley student Shaylynn Bivens told The Huffington Post.

"I just feel like it's inappropriate, and it kind of offends me," another student, Tymira Holman, told WBOC. "I know that we have student events where students that aren't minorities feel let out and discriminated again and then something like this is just not OK to me."

Following the incident, several students, including those from the school's black student union created a list of demands (including increasing the school's percentage of black faculty and staff by 10 percent) to be presented to the school this week, The Daily Mail reported.

Despite the persistent prejudice in the world, we can’t deny that as a country we’ve come pretty far in taking steps to end racial discrimination. Before all of you start yelling about how I’m wrong, just take a deep breath, have a calming sip of tea and acknowledge that nowadays, in our millennial generation, we are actively open and accepting to diversity in a way that our forefathers would have gagged at. The very fact that you would even argue against me about the extent of our progress is evidence enough that we are concerned with acknowledging the inherent humanity and rights of all people. It’s fantastic, and we should be proud of ourselves for that!

Disappointingly, prejudice has evolved along with our mindsets and has adapted to become subtle and internalized. What’s shocking to me is how sneaky racial discrimination is when it comes to encountering a couple in an interracial relationship. One second you’re looking at young lovers holding hands, and then suddenly the deep dark part of your brain whispers, “I wonder if their kids are going to be white or black?” BOOM! It’s out. Though you might never say one hateful word, your mind will endlessly wonder what their freaking babies will look like.

Interracial relationships and marriages may be on the rise, but we still see them differently. Additionally, the person who’s actually in an interracial relationship is going to have a different set of experiences than a white, heterosexual cis couple, and that’s solely based on the fact that the entire universe can’t seem to get over it. Race will continually be injected into their relationship because society will put a big red stamp on their foreheads that reads, “This is different.”

We want to highlight the experiences of people in interracial relationships. We want to remove that stamp and lay bare and open what it is like to be them, the pros and cons and everything that goes along with them.

Pros

You open yourself to learning about a new perspective

In high school, I went over to a classmate’s house and she just happened to be the daughter of Filipino immigrants. Their house was starkly different than mine, and for dinner her mom made lumpia, adobo and bibingka. I stuffed my face until pork was coming out of my eye sockets.

This is what dating someone from a different background than you is like all the time, but you get food more often, so I would even say it’s better. In all seriousness though, in an interracial relationship you will gain such an in-depth perspective of the joys and struggles that exist within a different culture, beyond the food and outward differing lifestyle appearances.

“No, you can’t ever fully understand someone else’s life, but you can be deeply immersed in it empathetically, emotionally and culturally,” says Katie Kim, a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles. “My girlfriend is Taiwanese and I will never have grown up Asian in a predominantly white Catholic school like she did, but to the best of my abilities I can be part of her life and know the people in her Taiwanese community. Honestly, it’s fun.”

Your partner can teach you about their experience within their own racial community, giving you the opportunity to see the world from new eyes. Not everyone has that chance of exposure. You can’t put a price on that; it’s too valuable.

You escape from your ideological viewpoint

This is a really important aspect of the conversation to address, because part of existing within an ideology means that you aren’t aware of the ideology until you’re outside of it­–and if you’re interracially dating, you’re definitely outside of it. Many of us have a stereotyped picture in our heads of what love is supposed to look like, and when we see something different, it tends to make us squirm.

Psychologist Karen Wu studies multicultural relationships at the University of California, Irvine, and has found that students in interracial relationships tend to be more open to all types of relationships in general. “They don’t feel as strongly about homosexual or multiracial partners than the people who are in ‘traditional’ relationships. Because they’ve had that mask removed, they’re comfortable with couples that are considered non-traditional.”

For people in an interracial relationship, their life is different because they have broken away from that white picket fence romance. They have open eyes that are aware that what they take for a normal, loving relationship defies everyone else’s standard. The beautiful thing about this is that now they know how to truly cherish what is considered “different.”

“I’m the palest skinned woman you’ve ever seen, and I’m dating a black guy,” says Lindsay Lambert, a junior at the University of Oregon. “To be completely and shamefully honest, before I dated my boyfriend I probably would have stared at an interracial couple too. The moment you enter into a non-traditional relationship you pretty much gain a magic superpower that lets you see the world differently than before. It’s like–now me and my friends that are lesbians, gay, interracial or whatever can all gather around and laugh at the way people look at us. They don’t understand the beauty of diversity.”

This may be one of those situations you just have to be in to truly understand, but regardless, certainly one of the pros is opening yourself up to the challenge of changing the status quo and breaking away from ideological relationships.

Related: 5 Things You Shouldn’t Say to an Interracial Couple, as told by NeNe Leakes

Above all else, you have the privilege of loving someone

In every sense, it’s a normal relationship until someone outside of your relationship points out that you guys look different. It’s like saying that one of you is an orange and the other is a banana, completely disregarding that you’re both fruit in the first place!

“What I’ve found is that though race is interjected into multiracial relationships, above all else the couple tends to disregard that most of the time because for them it’s just dating and sex, it’s not about ethnicity,” says Wu.

“I didn’t realize I was in an interracial relationship until someone pointed out to me that I was in an interracial relationship,” says Carmen Pacheco a junior at the University of Colorado Boulder. “It had always been like, ‘Hey, I love this person and we are dating and that’s cool.’ It wasn’t about race.”

Sometimes, you need to take a step back and appreciate the fact that you have a cool person who reciprocates your fuzzy feelings. Don’t let the world intrude on what belongs between you and your SO!

Cons

Living with the assumptions of everyone around you

Relationships are built on love and should not be defined by the comments and wondering eyes of strangers, plain and simple! Too bad this planet is overpopulated and everybody is constantly in each other’s business.

People make so many negative and ignorant assumptions about those of us in interracial relationships. They treat you as if being attracted to someone from a different ethnicity is a fetish, or even worse, just a phase. Your family might think you’re rebelling by dating outside of your racial heritage. Some will attribute your relationship to you not being able to gain the interest of anyone with your own coloring. It never ends.

“People say the stupidest things, and I could talk about that pretty much forever,” says Taylor Avdalovic, a senior at the University of Alabama. “I’m in an interracial relationship at a college in the South, and racism is still deeply ingrained here. I can’t tell you how many times one of my friends or even a family member has made some ignorant comment about why I’m in a multiracial relationship, trying to delve into why I’m making such a strange choice. It doesn’t happen often enough that I can’t live with it, but when it does happen it really irritates me.”

Society is multifaceted, and you ultimately have no control of how strangers or those that are close to you will treat you. What’s important is that this is your opportunity to correct them. Turn their hurtful comment into a learning experience. Educate them on why you’re proud to be with your partner and why there is nothing wrong with your choice. This is your moment to be bold and own your confident self, and in doing so honor your partner.

Always being socially conscious of how you look

Things that are different make people uncomfortable. When you’re in an interracial relationship, you learn this quickly. If someone stares at me when I’m walking around with my boyfriend, I tend to wonder, “Is there something on my face? Is there green stuff in my teeth?” But oftentimes it is not. It’s simply the fact that I am a white woman who is dating a noticeably Latino man, and admittedly it adds a level of social consciousness to how we appear to the world whenever we are out in public I’ve learned that this is part of my relationship dynamic, but more importantly I’ve learned that this is flaw of society, and it has nothing to do with me.

Wu has found that for students there are definitely social costs. “The most notable negative experiences occur in public,” she says. “Sometimes they’re not even direct. As humans we are able to sense other peoples’ reactions to us, and I’ve received quite considerable feedback that socially, interracial couples tend to receive more stares, head shakes and people quickly looking away. It’s damaging. It’s a social cost that shouldn’t exist.”

You are beautiful people, so please don’t worry about everyone else. Just enjoy your time together and skip merrily off into the sunset, free from subtle racism and the internalized inclination to discriminate.

Related: 17 College Women Get Real About The Lack of 'Old-Fashioned Dating' On Campus

People making your relationship a bigger deal than it actually is

It doesn’t have to be a big deal at all! If someone makes your relationship about more than two people enjoying each other, then they’re projecting an expectation on you and it’s not nice.

“My boyfriend and I were out to dinner, and an older woman came up to us and literally said, ‘You two are the key to finally ending racism.’ I just wanted to scream at her! I wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her and yell, ‘NO WE AREN’T! WE ARE JUST TWO PEOPLE WHO LIKE EACH OTHER!’” says Taylor Steinbeck, a senior at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. “It’s just dating, it’s not a political statement.”

Those of us in interracial relationships are not trying to ignite a civil rights movement, end racism, prove a grandiose point or even publicize interracial dating. We are just trying to find a person who will put up with us for an extended amount of time and have an eternal Netflix-watching partner. It’s not a big deal unless you make it one.

Basically, what I’m getting at here is that the pros of an interracial relationship outweigh any sort of discrimination or judgement. It is a privilege to be deeply loved by a partner, and that itself makes the onlooking eyes of the world irrelevant. Yes, as a generation we are much more accepting of diversity than ever—but it doesn’t mean the problem is gone. Being an interracial dater is difficult for a lot of us young people still today, and being aware of the pros and cons that we experience is significant both to understanding our shared experience and for being aware that we recognize that negativity has no place here.

Four years later, and you're about to enter the exhilarating world of media. Whether you're going into journalism, public relations, advertising or marketing, we know you're going to love these grad gifts. 

UNDER $25

Retractable Lanyard ID Case, $14, available at Vera Bradley

You’re going to need your work badge or ID on hand if you’re an on-the-go career woman. We love this lanyard since it can be easily clipped to clothes and hold several cards.

Hot Stuff Ceramic Mug, $14, available at ban.do

Every #GirlBoss needs this mug in her life.

The Career Code: Must-Know Rules for a Strategic, Stylish, and Self-Made Career, $12.91, available at Amazon

Who better to take advice from than the stylish and genius founders of Who What Wear?! This inspiring (but totally approachable) book has the tools you need to smartly and strategically build a life you love. 

Got It Sorted File Folder Set - I Am Very Busy, $14, available at Dormify

Help the busy gal in your life get orgnized in the cutest way possible.

Devil Wears Prada Decorative Pillow, $25, available at Etsy

All hail Miranda Priestly.

UNDER $50

iPhone 6 Case, $39.99, available at Sonix

Perfect for any emoji addict.

Blogging > Jogging Sweatshirt, $29, available at Jawbreaking

Because jogging is so last year.

Idiom Journal, $38, available at Anthropologie

Get the scoop with one of this sleek, pretty journals.

OVER $50

Quilted Marlo Satchel, $258, available at Vera Bradley

Talk about the perfect bag. This sleek satchel keeps everything organized in perfect style.

Taylor Headphones, $199.95, available at Frends

Headphones don't get more chic than this. The fashionista in your life will love these jewelry-inspired beauties!

Start Spreading the Mews Dress, $79.99, available at ModCloth

Whoever said newspapers were dying was seriously disturbed.

Icon Trench Coat, $298, available at J.Crew

No aspiring journalist is complete without a classic trench coat.

Bid day was like Christmas, but like also so much better. You made dozens of new friends, got a bunch of cute stuff with your letters on it and unlocked 4 years of just having the time of your life. But upon entering the dark abyss known as "the real world," you will be subtly (but rudely) reminded that throwing up gang-like signs in pictures and wearing cat ears not on Halloween isn't acceptable anymore. So make the most of these sratty things before it's too late, collegiettes!

1. Wearing your letters everywhere

Emphasis on "everywhere."

2. Calling your lineage "big" and "little"

Do you even know their names?

3. Calling friends "sisters"

This was always a little awkward anyway.

4. Taking ~candid~ pics in random fountains and/or parks

Apparently real-life adults don't color coordinate for pictures...?

5. Throwing what you know

You'll never know what to do against a sunset ever again.

6. Crafting gifts for every birthday and/or holiday

We've heard rumors that grown-ups shop for gifts at other places than Michaels. *gasps*

7. Referring to your chapter's values in everyday conversation

8. Owning three tiaras, five leis and two pairs of cat ears

#essentials

9. Relying on free food

Between your chapter meal plan, catered events and random candy always popping up in the house, you basically never have to grocery shop.

10. Hanging out in frat houses

Whether you're at a party or just hanging out with your friends in the frat, there just aren't a lot of reasons for you to be seen in a fraternity after graduation.

11. Keeping the Greek keyboard on your iPhone

This will probably make your life easier, TBH.

12. Having events planned for you

Now you're going to have to buy tickets to things yourself, organize transportation, pack a lunch... So. Much. Responsibility.

13. Making puns with your letters

Coming up with Insta captions is going to be a nightmare.

14. Asking WWTFD (What Would The Founders Do)

Party like it's the 19th century.

15. Sharing closets with like 100 people

16. Scoring all the free stuff

You've never had to pay for a hair tie as an undergrad.

17. Having fun, probably

What even is life after Greek life?

If there is one srat thing you won't be forced to give up (besides your Lilly and bows and general adorable-ness), it's the beautiful friendships you made and the lifelong memories. BRB, quietly sobbing in a corner. But don't worry, you're gonna kill it out there, girl.

I’m all about new beauty products. I'm willing to try anything—plus, opening new product is like Christmas morning to me!

The latest trend to hit stateside is K-Beauty, or Korean beauty. The Korean culture ingrains the values of great skincare into its girls from birth, and of course, I’m always looking for that “magic” product that will give me baby smooth skin 24/7. It’s certainly a lot to get into for the first time, especially if you’re seeing all of the kind of weird ingredients in the products, including bee venom, donkey milk, and snail secretions. But I took these strange ingredients as a challenge and headed down to my local Ulta to see what I could find.

I purchased TONY MOLY’s Intense Care Snail Hydro Gel Mask for $8 which includes snail mucus filtrate, an ingredient that stimulates formation of collagen in the skin (think the stuff that makes your skin elastic). This wasn’t my first foray into the sheet mask game, but it was certainly a new experience. The gel with which the mask was made retained moisture much better than those that I’d tried previously, and it was most definitely slimy, just like a snail! It didn’t gross me out as much as it fascinated me.

This mask came in two pieces: one for the eye and nose area, and one for my cheeks and around my mouth. You can see the jelly like texture in the pictures, but that also helped it to stick to my skin without budging, so I could walk around my house and scare people without it falling off. I kept it on and relaxed for about 45 minutes, and even after I took it off, I could tell there was still a ton of moisture in the mask. I rubbed the leftover serum into my skin and voila! I was glowing! The next morning, I could still feel the softness of my skin without adding on any extra moisturizers. I would say this mask was worth the price tag, and it’s something I’d purchase again.

The Korean beauty community obviously knows what they’re doing. Sheet masks are a fun, inexpensive way to have a mini spa day in your own space. Overall, I found it fun to try something new from another culture, and I can’t wait to do it again. Now that I’ve tackled snails, there will probably be more “weird” beauty products in my near future. Bee venom, I’m coming for you!

If you follow Zedd on Twitter or Kesha on Instagram, you may have seen some hints that the two are collaborating on something.

Can you spot Kesha in the background? She later Instagrammed a picture confirming that the two were working together.

If you remember, Zedd offered to produce a song for her in February. The song, a remix of Zedd's "True Colors," officially comes out tomorrow, but you can listen to it now below!

As if Rihanna and Calvin Harris's surprise performance of "We Found Love" at Coachella wasn't enough, the two have teamed up again on a new song called "This Is What You Came For." And guess what? T. Swift is super excited, of course.

Harris teased the single on Twitter this afternoon (it will be released tomorrow—eep!), and it didn't take long before Swift got in on the action.

If the song is anything like their Coachella performance, it's going to be amazing. We've had the preview on repeat all day!

This year's list of the 100 most influential people from Time is even better than last year's. Some of the most notable people range from Pioneers like Aziz Ansari, who, jokingly, is “very flattered to be named Time’s No. 1 only influential person,” to women who are changing the world like Caitlyn Jenner. Also under this category was Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is currently taking the Broadway stage by storm with his hit production, “Hamilton.”

To name a few more, under the Titan's section is Apple CEO, Tim Cook, Pope Francis, Kathleen Kennedy, Stephen Curry, and, of course, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg. From the Artist's section, we have the famed Kendrick Lamar, Taraji P. Henson (a.k.a. Cookie Lyon), Melissa McCarthy and Ariana Grande. As some of the most influential leaders in our country, we have Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump (is anyone else noticing a trend, here?). Time also named Nicki Minaj, Karlie Kloss, Adele, and Leonardo DiCaprio as their Icons, but who wouldn’t?

And all of these incomparable people were honored at the Time 100 Gala. Take a look below for a glimpse at a night with some of the most powerful people in the world. 

What could be better than getting pulled up on stage to dance with Beyoncé during one of her concerts? Nothing. Nothing compares to the indescribable experience these two fans had after Sasha Fierce pulled two lucky divas up on stage to accompany her during “Single Ladies” at her first Formation World Tour show. 

Take a look at the performance below:

OK, now we’re officially jealous.

It turns out that the fans she pulled up on stage actually have some killer moves, and Queen Bey was VERY impressed. If anyone can impress Beyoncé, then you can basically conquer the entire world.

The Formation World Tour kicked off yesterday at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, and she will perform her second show of the tour in Tampa, Florida at the Raymond James Stadium on Friday, April, 29.

Break out the sweatpants and up your caffeine intake. That’s right collegiettes, it’s final exam season. It’s the bane of our existence, the reason we’ve been stuck in the library for 17 hours and the only thing standing in our way before summer. While we know that modern literature and bio-chemistry are important, this time of year would be so much easier if we were just tested on things we actually cared about. If we had exams like these, there’s no doubt we would ace them, without the cramming and all-nighters.

1. What Instagram Filter Makes Us Look Most Tan

It’s always a toss up between Valencia and Hefe.

2. Finding the Best Online Shopping Sale

40% off or no deal.

3. Taylor Swift Lyrics: A Comprehensive History

Sure you can ace the “Blank Space” section, but how’s your “Teardrops on my Guitar” knowledge?

4. Match the Celeb to their S.O.

Our performance on this exam = ***Flawless.

5. Creative Nail Polish Names

It’s an open-ended essay so you can explain why you chose “Tickled Me Pinkie” over “Damsel in This Red Dress.”

6. Fill in the Blank: The Notebook Famous Lines (complete with Ryan Gosling visuals)

“If you’re a ­­­­_______, I’m a _______.”

7. Name that Real Housewife

When in doubt, just write “the one that likes wine.”

8. Facebook Stalking a Crush

It takes skill to stalk without accidentally liking something from three years ago…

9. Netflix Original Series

Prove it by naming all the characters from Orange is the New Black.

10. Ways to Eat Nutella

Bonus points if you remember Nutella Pizza. 

11. Ranking the Best Late Night Delivery Places

Studying for this exam requires extensive mozzarella sticks samplings.

12. Texting with Only Emojis

Wine Glass + Dancing Twins + Pizza Slice = Thumbs Up!

13. Snapping the Perfect Selfie

Better step up your Duck Face game or you’re looking at a B-

14. Creative Ways to Procrastinate

Learn to crochet, make origami swans, perfect your headstand, read every Her Campus article on the homepage…

15. Lazy Style 101

Rock that messy bun with pride, girl.

May your procrastination breaks be long and your exams be easy. 

We've been longtime fans of Ariel Winter—she's a talented actress and outspoken on the things she cares about. So it doesn't surprise us in the least that she plans on going to college—and like most graduating high school students everywhere, she's finally made her choice as to where she'll be going. She recently announced her college decision on Instagram, and she's super excited about it!

The Modern Family actress has a lot to look forward to. Will she major in theater or something else entirely? We can't wait to find out.

Congrats to Ariel, and go Bruins!

Your best friend, caretaker, nurse, partner-in-crime, teacher, personal chef, driver and maid. Yes, we’re referring to mom. Mothers are the backbone we’ve relied on our entire lives. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, what kind of gift could possibly measure up to her awesomeness? Answer: the Vera Bradley Ella tote!

But wait—it gets even better. Vera Bradley is giving you an Ella tote for both you and your mom in the color of your choice. So, why haven’t you entered this giveaway yet?

The Ella tote is the ultimate day-to-day travel bag, perfect for any gal on the go. It allows you to stylishly carry it all. The Ella tote comes equipped with two large slips and a zip pocket, plus a hidden magnetic closure pocket at the top seam. Available in an amazing selection of colors and styles, the toughest part will be deciding which one you want. Keep in mind you have someone to swap with!

Don’t just take one day out of the year to show your appreciation for mom! Take to Instagram using the hashtags #verabradley and #mommoments to enter this giveaway and showcase all that adoration! Why does she inspire you? Tell us what makes her your role model!

Giving is always better than receiving, but it’s also great when everyone gets something. Vera Bradley can’t wait to hear all about your amazing moms. Enter this giveaway today! 

Vera Bradley Tote Giveaway

In a recent interview with Glamour UK, the magazine’s June cover girl, Kylie Jenner, declares that she identifies as a feminist. "I'm a young woman, for one thing, and I don't depend on a man or anybody else. I make my own money and start my own businesses, and I feel like I'm an inspiration for a lot of young girls who want to stand on their own,” the youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan says proudly.

Jenner—who, along with sister Kendall, was recently listed as one of Time magazine’s most influential teenagers—has made a name for herself as a successful entrepreneur. The 18-year-old continues to make headlines with her super popular Lip Kits, which sell out every time she restocks them. 

In the future, Jenner says she’d like to focus less on her social media platforms and public appearances, and more on her entrepreneurial ventures in the beauty world. “By 20, I want to have the whole of my cosmetics line out because that’s my primary focus.”

We're definitely excited to see how Jenner continues to make a name for herself! 

On Wednesday night, Justin Bieber posted an adorable black and white photo of him and his pup in dreamland. The pop star cleverly captioned the photo, “And on the 7th day…”—a reference, no doubt, to the biblical passage that tells of God’s creation of the heavens and the earth. As the passage goes, on the seventh day God rested. He—as in God—blessed the day and made it holy. 

Instagram trolls, as they tend to do, hurdled over the witty caption and viciously attacked Bieber for daring to compare himself to God—a noble (maybe?) but terribly misguided mission. And the tabloids weren’t too easy on him either.

The “Sorry” singer was quick to adjust his Instagram caption, clarifying that he was in no way comparing himself to God and apologizing to anyone who was offended by the implication. As for the tabloids, he blasted them for once again picking on him.

We're guessing it's too late now for them to say sorry. 

With graduation just around the corner, it's time to show the ones who've helped you through the years just how much you appreciate them! These DIY gifts—expertly selected based on the recipient's zodiac sign—are the perfect way to show your BFF some love on this exciting day.

Aries

As an Aries, your BFF is the closest thing you have to a sister. Make these cute mugs so no matter where you go, you know you'll always have a sister to rely on.

Taurus

No distance can keep a Taurus from her BFF. This cute wall art will serve as a friendly reminder that you're just a call away.

Gemini

Geminis are basically the same person as their BFFs. Make matching bracelets for yourself and your bestie to show the world how much you love each other!

Cancer

Cancers love the beach, so plan a getaway before real life has to begin and surprise her with this cute beach survival kit. 

Leo

Every girl needs that simple something to jazz up her desk. Craft these cute leopard mason jars to keep your BFF organized.

Virgo

You can never go wrong with One Tree Hill. Make a DIY canvas with your BFF's favorite OTH quote to keep her inspired!

Libra

The sign for Libra is the "scales of justice," which means you so weren't surprised when your BFF told you she was going to law school. Give her the tools she needs to become the next Supreme Court Justice with this survival kit. 

Scorpio

Scorpios love to travel, and any reminder of their travels makes them super happy. These signs will remind your BFF that every step in life is an adventure.

Saggitarius

Saggitarius friends tend to be super sentimental. Make your BFF this Instagram collage of your favorite pics together so she can cherish all the great times you've shared.

Capricorn

If your Capricorn BFF is heading off to college or grad school, this survival kit will save the day. Your words of wisdom will definitely help to make the first day less intimidating!

Aquarius

Memories can't be replaced. Your Aquarius BFF is probably a bit nervous to graduate but bottling up all your best memories will reassure her that there are more good times to come. 

Pisces

Let's be real, any graduate would appreciate money—turning it into a cute craft is just an added bonus. Help your BFF get a little something for herself with these cute dollar butterflies. She'll appreciate it to no end.

No matter where you're graduating from or where you're heading next, this is an extremely exciting time. Your BFF will appreciate anything you give her, but we guarantee she will appreciate your friendship even more. 

With classes, jobs, internships, Greek life, clubs, sports and everything else we have going on as collegiettes, it can be difficult to find time to prepare a healthy meal every day. And honestly, we aren’t all exactly ready to sign up for Top Chef, either. We know the struggle can be real, so we compiled a list of healthy recipes that are simple and only require five steps or fewer to make! They’re easy enough for anyone to make, so you can make a meal no matter how busy your schedule is or how minimal your cooking skills are.

Breakfast

1. Oatmeal Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Recipe from Food.com

There is nothing better than pancakes in the morning—especially when they’re made from healthy ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! These pancakes are a great way to start your day because they’re filled with a balance of fiber and protein to keep you satisfied and energized ‘til lunch. Fiber is important for digestive health and prevents you from feeling sluggish, and protein helps to boost your metabolism. You can switch up the recipe by experimenting with different toppings, like banana, berries, honey or nut butter.  

Ingredients:

• ½ cup oatmeal
• ½ cup cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 egg whites

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender.
2. Heat skillet over medium-low heat and spray skillet with cooking spray.
3. Pour ¼ cup of batter onto skillet and cook for 2 minutes, then flip to other side.
4. Continue with the rest of the batter.
5. Top with your favorite toppings!

2. Greek Yogurt Parfait

Recipe from Whole Living

If you know you have a long day ahead of you, start your day with this yogurt parfait. Greek yogurt is loaded with protein, which helps you stay fuller longer, so you won’t be starving an hour later. Mixing in fresh fruit and walnuts adds sweetness and crunch, making for a very yummy breakfast!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
• ½ cup fresh fruit of choice (berries, chopped apple, kiwi, mango—go crazy!)
• ¼ cup chopped, toasted walnuts
• ½ tablespoon honey

Directions:

1. Layer yogurt, fruit and walnuts into a glass, alternating each layer until the glass is filled.
2. Drizzle honey on top.

Lunch

3. Turkey, Avocado and Hummus Wrap

Recipe from FITNESS Magazine

This wrap is a perfect midday meal for you to whip up in between classes or make in the morning to take with you on the go. The hummus is made from chickpeas, which are a great source of fiber, protein and manganese. Manganese is important for strong bone health. The avocado contains a large amount of potassium, which is a natural electrolyte that promotes heart health and strong bones and aids in digestion. Eat this energy-boosting wrap so you can skip that fourth cup of midday coffee!

Ingredients:

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 2-3 tablespoons red pepper hummus
• 3 slices low-sodium deli turkey
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• Pickle slices

Directions:

1. Spread tortilla with hummus.
2. Layer on turkey, avocado and pickle slices.
3. Roll wrap, then slice.

4. Three-Bean Pasta Salad

Recipe from Martha Stewart

A pasta salad is perfect to make the night before you have a long day of classes because it can be stored in the fridge to take for lunch the next day. This one incorporates beans, which are high in fiber and antioxidants. The fiber will keep you energized and antioxidants are great for your overall health. Store the salad in a small container and you’ll have a lunch that’s easy to tote around with you!

Ingredients:

• Salt and pepper
• 6 ounces small pasta shells
• 3/4 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into thirds
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 can (15.5 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15.5 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 4 scallions (white parts only), thinly sliced
• 5 stalks celery, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes fewer than package instructions.
2. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes more.
3. Drain and rinse with cold water.
4. In a medium bowl, combine mustard, vinegar, honey and oil.
5. Add pasta mixture, pinto beans, chickpeas, scallions and celery; toss gently. Season with salt and pepper.

Dinner

5. Hummus and Roasted Veggie Pizza

Recipe from FITNESS Magazine

Pizza always sounds good, but we all know it’s not exactly a health food. Luckily, this pizza is more nutritious than the one you ordered in when you were too lazy to cook. Rather than pizza sauce and cheese, this one is topped with delicious roasted veggies and hummus. If you can’t go without cheese on your pizza, add a few sprinkles of crumbled goat cheese, which pairs well with the smokiness of the roasted veggies. Try making this recipe next time you’re craving some pizza—it will take the same the same amount of time to make as the pizza guy did to deliver!

Ingredients:

• 1 whole wheat pita
• Handful of your favorite veggies (try spinach, tomatoes and zucchini)
• 2 tablespoons hummus
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Roast veggies on a baking sheet for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. Top pita with hummus, add the roasted veggies, then bake for 10 minutes.
3. Slice and enjoy!

6. Zesty Taco Salad

Recipe from POPSUGAR

Taco Tuesdays will be even better with this amazing salad. Made with fresh, flavor-packed ingredients, this meal is a fiesta in a bowl. The protein from the beef, cheese and beans will keep you satiated when you’re cranking away at that paper in the library all night. It makes two large salads, so you can make it for you and a friend, or make both servings and save the other one in the fridge for lunch or dinner tomorrow.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 3/4 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 3/4 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 head of red leaf lettuce
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed
• 3/4 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled
• 3 radishes, thinly sliced
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup tortilla chips, crumbled
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large lime, juiced
• 3 tablespoons minced cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the jalapeños and garlic and cook for about a minute.
2. Add the ground beef, 3/4 teaspoon cumin, chili powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to break up the ground beef and cook through, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
3. Wash and dry the lettuce. Tear apart. Evenly arrange the beans, cheese, radishes, green onions, tomatoes and tortilla chips. Split the ground beef mixture between the two bowls.
4. In another small bowl, combine 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and minced cilantro. Add the lime juice and olive oil. Whisk together.
5. Pour dressing evenly over salad and toss together.

7. Big Green Stir-Fry

Recipe from Hungry Girl

If you’re craving Chinese food, check out this recipe before getting takeout. Packed with a variety of veggies and lean protein, this stir-fry has an Asian-inspired flavor but is much lighter and less salty than the fare you’ll get at a restaurant. And it only takes about 15 minutes to make! This recipe also makes two servings, so partner up or save the leftovers.

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips 
• 1/8 teaspoon each salt and black pepper 
• 3 cups sugar snap peas 
• 2 cups chopped asparagus 
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms 
• 1 tablespoon light/low-sodium soy sauce 
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic 
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed ginger 
• 3 cups chopped spinach leaves 
• 1/2 cup canned sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1/2 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Bring a wok (or large skillet) sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. 
2. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add snap peas, asparagus, mushrooms, soy sauce, garlic and ginger. Add 2 tablespoons water, and cook and stir until veggies are soft and chicken is cooked through, about 7 to 9 minutes. 
3. Add spinach and water chestnuts. Cook until spinach has wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. 
4. Sprinkle with almonds and serve! 

With these recipes, there’s no excuse to miss out on a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. A meal with just five steps or fewer means you can have it ready in less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite TV show. We all tend to get into bad eating habits at school, so try one of these out the next time you’re in a time crunch and want a nutritious, tasty meal!