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Gender Diversity is Finally Coming to Our Emojis

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If you have ever been frustrated at the clear lack of female emoji options, don’t fret. Many others have been too, and now Unicode is making a change.

Up until now, emojis of women were limited to brides and princesses, whereas emojis of men were police officers and detectives.

In addition to adding in 33 new emojis for our enjoyment, Unicode and its “Emoji Subcomittee” have now agreed to add in 11 "professional emojis" showing both men and women in certain occupations. While the update will not include every job you could possibly think of, some of the most notable include a coder, scientist and mechanic.

In a blog post announcing the updates, Google said that their decision to add an emoji for coding comes from a desire to get more young women involved in the profession.

“These new emoji are one of several efforts we’re making to better represent women in technology, and to connect girls with the education and resources they need to pursue careers in STEM,” Google wrote. “One such effort is Made with Code, which helps girls pursue and express their passions using computer science.”

Users will have the option to choose the gender and race of these new emojis once they become available to use Android and other mobile platforms in the coming months. Get ready to talk about work through emoji in a whole new way!


Everything You Need to Know About the Economy for the 2016 Election

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It is imperative to know what’s going on in the economy, especially during an election year. You need to know what the candidates’ economic plans are so you can choose the person who you think will do the best job getting all of us jobs. Here is an important look at how the U.S. economy is performing in regards to the job market, new labor laws and taxes—and how the Presidential candidates promise to fix it all. 

The Economy in a Nutshell

Upon graduation, many of us search for high paying jobs straight out of school. A strong economy gives us a better chance to find one and pursue our #CareerGoals. Whether it's through job creation, a flourishing stock market or a raised minimum wage, the economy is the focal point of our futures. 

What’s Up with the Job Market?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics hit the nation with a bombshell when it released May's Jobs Report. The report found that U.S. job growth was the slowest it had been since 2010. The U.S. only created about 38,000 jobs in May, compared to the 158,000 job that experts expected to be added. 

Safe to say, it left Americans scratching their heads. What happened in the labor market for this unexpected halt to happen? Well, first things first, many economic experts believe that the recent Verizon labor strikes had something to do with it, especially since Verizon is one of the major companies that the BLS looks at for its monthly reports. The strike resulted in about 35,000 workers being counted as "unemployed" in the report. But, even taking this into account, that only puts the U.S. at about 70,000 jobs — close, but not close enough to the expected number of job creations that Americans need to fully get back on their feet from the recession.

Even with the very slow growth in American jobs, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent. This is the lowest that it's been since the month before the Great Recession began in 2007.

However, the decline could be due to the fact that almost half a million people left the labor force—which means that they either stopped actively searching for work or just decided they didn't need to work anymore (i.e. stay-at-home parent). It's important to remember that the unemployment rate only includes those that are employed and actively searching for work. A federal report only including these numbers doesn't exactly paint a full picture for us. If we include discouraged jobseekers who basically gave up and part-time workers, the unemployment rate increases to 9.7 percent, which isn't that great. 

While we are still seeing some effects from the Great Recession, job growth was pretty robust overall in the last year. In the current job market, recent college graduates can be more hopeful to find a job right out of school (or after that post-grad trip to Paris or Thailand you have planned). 

Minimum Wage & Overtime Rules

Lawmakers across the nation are starting to address the minimum wage issue. Following the examples set by San Francisco and Seattle, cities, counties and state governments are beginning to approve increases to the minimum wage, up to $15 an hour. Lawmakers, such as in California, often choose to implement the change over the course of a few years so that businesses will have time to adjust to the increase in workers’ pay. The new $15 minimum wage is a 107 percent increase over the federally required minimum wage of $7.25. This is very promising for college graduates, especially since many of us enter the workforce through a lower level job and have to make our way up the "career ladder." With a higher minimum wage, recent grads can work an entry-level job while still making a livable income. 

The Obama Administration also recently announced changes to federal overtime rules. Workers are now eligible for "time and a half" overtime pay if they work over the usual 40 hours a week and make under $47,476 annually (increased from $23,660). Now, businesses must pay their employees overtime, or they can try to maneuver around the rule by either increasing their workers’ pay over the income threshold or capping the workweek at 40 hours. 

This new rule makes an additional 4.2 million Americans eligible for overtime pay. As you begin your career, you are going to be putting in long hours to get ahead. With the changes to overtime rules, employers will have to pay you exactly what you deserve from your hard work. With more hours, you could even see a boost in your paycheck! More money for other things (like Starbucks).

Taxes

Taxes have definitely played an important role thus far in the election, as they will in your ~real life~. While Democratic candidates are interested in raising taxes to make the wealthy pay more than other Americans, Republicans usually aim to cut taxes for the middle-class and businesses. Depending on which candidate wins, more money could come directly out of your paycheck for tax payments. 

Taxes today are actually relatively low compared to the past, especially for the rich. During the 1950s, the top bracket income tax rate (i.e. the income tax on people who made over $200,000/year) was in the 90 percent range for single Americans.

While higher taxes mean that you don’t get to see all of your earned income go into your bank account, tax profits usually get reworked into the federal budget to fund things like the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and public education.

So What Are the Candidates’ Economic Plans?

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton’s platform is to raise American incomes and fight inequality. According to Clinton’s websites, her economic plan focuses on strong growth, fair growth and long-term growth.

Minimum Wage

According to Hillary Clinton’s website, she plans on raising the federal minimum wage to $12. However, many have criticized Hillary’s stance on the issue due to past discrepancies over the particulars of her stance. At one point, she said she would approve a $15 minimum as president. She then clarified by saying that $12 would be universal, and that local and state governments should raise the minimum wage even higher in places that have higher living costs (i.e. New York City).

Taxes

Clinton called for a 4 percent tax increase on the top 0.02 percent on taxpayers (those who make $5 million or more per year). Other than that, she plans on keeping the current tax brackets.

Hillary also wants to add the “Buffett Rule” to the existing tax rules. The Buffett Rule, for those who aren’t familiar with Warren Buffett, basically means that any taxpayer making over $1 million every year would have to pay a minimum tax rate of 30 percent. Tax breaks from investments or charitable donations would not be able to dip below that amount.

Besides those two major details, not much else would really change between Obama’s current tax policy and Hillary’s plan.

Wall Street

According to the Washington Post, Hillary Clinton promised she would dissolve larger banks if they happened to pose a risk to the economy. However, “dissolving” or breaking up the banks is sort of an unclear term—many are unsure of what this would mean in practice. It would take a pretty dire situation for a president to be able to impose serious restrictions on banks through Congress.

In addition to banking, Clinton’s tax plan pushes for a Wall Street focus on long term investments rather than immediate profits (which are easily a source of corruption and instability). Currently, investors receive tax breaks on profits reaped from the stock market, even if those profits are immediate and not-longstanding. To counter this, Clinton proposed a tax break on investors only if they hold onto their shares for a certain number of years.

In exact terms, a taxpayer making any more than $415,000 per year would have to hold onto a capital asset for six years before scoring a major tax break. However, some worry that this would discourage wealthy people from heavily investing in the stock market, leading to a net loss for the economy over time.

Other Promises She's Made

She promises to create a New College Compact, where she will invest $350 billion so students don’t have to take out student loans and will decrease interest rates for student loans. She also plans to address women’s workplace issues, such as equal pay and reproductive rights, by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act and stopping attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and protect the Affordable Care Act.

Will It Work?

The Tax Policy Center (a left-leaning financial research center) predicted that Hill’s plan would increase the GDP by 0.5 percent from 2017 to 2026. The report also predicted a $1.1 trillion profit gain over the same time period.

However, the Tax Foundation (which is notably a conservative firm), predicted that the Clinton plan would actually reduce the GDP by 1 percent over the long-term and hurt national revenue.

One important thing to note is that Hillary has said she’d have her husband, former president Bill Clinton, on her economic team. At the end of his presidency, unemployment rates were at a 30-year low. Having him on her team could bode pretty well for the economy, but a one-time success does not guarantee a successful economy the second time around.

According to Kyle Kondik, from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, "we can expect a high level of continuity with Obama’s policies" in regards to jobs and wages if she is elected. However, the policies that she has outlined, such as a raising the minimum wage and increasing taxes on the rich, will be difficult to pass with Republican-held majority in Congress.

Senator Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders may have endorsed Clinton, but it's still interesting to take a look at how his plans differ from the two major candidates'. Sanders’ platform focuses on income and wealth inequality, especially when it comes to limiting the top percent of taxpayers and corporations from taking more than their fair shares of the nation's wealth. 

Minimum Wage

Bernie Sanders takes a hard line on a $15, across the board, minimum wage without qualification. He also sees a clear difference between $12 and $15 as a minimum, unlike presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton. “That’s the difference between the way we do politics. I’m trying to set a high bar,” said Sanders, according to the Huffington Post.

Taxes

Being the candidate with the least fame and notoriety coming into the race, Bernie has made up for it with detailed plans on many, if not all, the major issues. Instead of trying to explain the differences fully, I’ll let Bernie’s campaign chart show the differences. In essence, he wants to create more tax brackets so that the top earners in the U.S. have to pay an upwards of 50 percent of their incomes in taxes in order to fund federal programs like national health care and affordable college tuition.

Senator Sanders’ economic plans would cause all Americans to see an increase in taxes. Reports have also shown that his tax plan could actually increase the U.S. debt by approximately $18-21 trillion. However, his proposals do have economic strengthening benefits to it, such as providing free public education to increase the average workers’ skill levels.

Wall Street

If nothing else, Bernie is famous for his policies on Wall Street—and for good reason. Sanders takes an extremely progressive stance on reforming Wall Street. His campaign site promises to “break up the largest financial institutions in the country,” through a number of new laws. For example, the proposed “Too Big to Fail, Too Big to Exist Act” would restrict large banks from accessing Federal Reserve discounts and insurances on risky activities. However, many of these new acts would need to pass through Congress to actually be enacted, which is a difficult feat. 

One big pro to Bernie’s plan is that much of the profits on new taxes on investors and big businesses would be used to fund debt-free public education. No wonder Bernie is winning the majority of young adult voters!

Other Things He Wants To Do

Sanders will invest $1 trillion in infrastructure to put at least 13 million Americans to work, while another $5.5 billion will go to a youth jobs program to provide one million jobs for disadvantaged youth. Sanders is also fighting for the Paycheck Fairness Act (which is currently before Congress) to ensure that women are paid the same as men.

Will It Work?

Bernie Sanders’ platform is to focus on income and wealth inequality. According to a report by the Tax Policy Center, Bernie’s tax plan would raise over $15 trillion in revenue in a ten-year period and boost the GDP by more than 6 percent. He promised to use the revenue toward federal social programs (like national healthcare).

However, many research firms do not think his tax plan can really do it all. The Tax Policy Center and the Urban Institute predicted that Bernie’s programs would cost $33 trillion to actually enact—pushing the country into $18 trillion in debt. Note: the current national deficit is over $19 trillion, so the plan would almost double that number.

Bernie’s campaign asserted that healthcare spending would be a lot more efficient than the research predicted, so the deficit wouldn't actually increase.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan consists of four goals: to provide tax-relief for middle-class Americans, simplify the tax code, grow the American economy and not add to the debt and deficit.

Minimum Wage

Similar to many of Donald Trump’s political views, his stance on the minimum wage is somewhat unclear and has changed several times. He has tweeted "Goofy Elizabeth Warren lied when she says I want to abolish the Federal Minimum Wage. See media—asking for increase!" However, she may not have been lying...at least not entirely.


In an interview on May 8, 2016 with NBC’s Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, Trump said, "I'd rather have the states go out and do what they have to do," when it comes to a minimum wage, but that the federal government should not set a floor.

"Having a low minimum wage is not a bad thing for this country," Trump said in a televised interview with MSNBC on August 20. "We can't have a situation where our labor is so much more expensive than other countries' that we can no longer win."

On the same day as his aforementioned Meet the Press interview, Trump also talked to George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. "Well, I am looking at [an increase in the minimum wage] and I haven't decided in terms of numbers. But I think people have to get more."

Trump's stance is essentially saying that somehow people need to earn higher wages, but the federal government should stay out of it entirely. This is a somewhat unenforceable and libertarian standpoint. States could easily swing one way or another; California has instated a $15 minimum wage by 2023, while four states (Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota and Wyoming) maintain a $7.25 minimum (the lowest wage federally allowed in the country). Having a federal floor keeps states from dropping the wage even lower, a point Trump will need to clarify in the coming months.

Taxes

According to Forbes, Donald Trump’s tax plan offers tax cuts on every single income level. The best savings are unsurprisingly found in the highest income level, dropping the top tax rate from almost 40 percent to 25 percent.

Trump also plans on cutting the amount of tax brackets to just four. The lowest would completely exempt people with an individual income under $25,000 from taxes.

The Trump tax cuts will be fully paid three ways. First, Trump plans to eliminate most loopholes available to the wealthy. Secondly, Trump will allow businesses to bring their corporate monies back to the United States with a one-time 10 percent tax rate and will stop the deferral of taxes on corporate income earned abroad. Thirdly, Trump will eliminate corporate loopholes, which are strategies that companies use to reduce their tax burden. He also promises to stop businesses from going abroad, not by outlawing it, but by cutting the corporate tax rate to 15 percent to encourage businesses to stay here.

However, Forbes warned that more money saved on taxes means a huge cut in federal spending—however, it’s unclear exactly where the budgets would be cut. If spending can’t be cut, the country could add enormously to its trillions of dollars in debt or borrow even more money from China.

Wall Street

As a big businessman himself, Trump plans to reduce taxes on corporations to 15 percent. However, he also promised to limit deductions for large businesses, so that they’d still need to pay at least some taxes.

While the top tax rate on capital gains for Hillary’s plan nears 50 percent, Trump’s is only 25 percent. He also did not mention any plans to force investors to hold onto investments long term.

Will It Work?

Unfortunately for Trump, research centers think his tax cuts and largescale deportation of immigrant workers will seriously hurt the economy. The Tax Policy Center predicts that his tax plan would lead to a 4 percent drop in the GDP and a $9.5 trillion loss of profits over ten years.

Trump proposes that this tax plan will help to increase wages for Americans, but will this actually happen? According to a report by CBS Money Watch, it appears that, while American families would see some tax cuts, the rich would be the ones to see the significant savings.

The Moody Economic Report spells out an even worse situation. Moody’s Analytics predicted a long recession from 2018 to 2020 if Trump is elected. This would lean to a 3 percent fall in the GDP and over a 7 percent unemployment rate. However, Mark Zandi, co-author of the report, advised President Obama and has donated to the Hillary campaign. We can only assume he isn’t the biggest fan of Donald Trump, so the report isn’t exactly unbiased.

The economy determines a country's stability and often global standing. On a more individual level, a good economy can help you find a well-paying job. Many Americans fork over about 30 percent of their incomes to the government, so it's our job to make sure that money is used wisely. The only way for you to make that choice is to get out there and vote!

What Bedding You Need Based on Your Zodiac Sign

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As summer ends and many of us are heading to college or planning some fall redecorating, you may be in need of décor inspiration. Lucky for you we’ve partnered withBed Bath & Beyond to give you the down-low on the best bedding for your zodiac sign so that you can sleep somewhere stylish and perfect for your personality. 

Aries

You are enthusiastic and adventurous, and you should have only the most stylish bedding to keep up with your thrill-of-the-moment lifestyle. This Anthology™ Kylie Comforter Set is just as outgoing as you are, and shows off your pink, purple and blue power colors. After sleeping in a bed like this, how could you not wake up joyful every morning?

Taurus

Luxury might as well be your middle name. You want the best of everything and need a bedding set that matches your expensive taste. We recommend opting for the kate spade new york Willow Court Comforter Set. A soft blue scheme will make you feel secure and warm, and the dainty florals are just an added bonus of coziness. 

Gemini

You’re a sharp one, Gemini, and you should sleep in a bed that’s just as mindful and creative as you are. You’ll be thrilled with décor that’s intense and multi-colored, just like this Shannon Reversible Quilt Set in Pink Floral. Not only is it adaptable and versatile, but it’s perfect to recharge your brain after a long day of class.

Cancer

They say pink is the color of love, and so the Anthology™ Mina Comforter Set is sure to highlight your hopeless romantic side. Whether you’re feeling artsy, sensitive or craving a cuddle, your bedding should offer intimacy and a lovely style that caters to your soft side.

Leo

Your bed should be as radiant and bright as you are! Leos are true leaders, and tend to possess cheerful, charismatic attitudes. As one of the most stylish of the signs, we recommend the Anthology™ Gold Glam Mini Comforter Setwith a powerful metallic and white color scheme that represents the true royalty you are.

Virgo

You’re an earthy girl, and proud of it! As a Virgo, you’re a student who’s totally down to earth, compassionate and creative. This Intelligent Design Cinna Coverlet Set has watercolor flowers and soft sketched leaves to combine your colorful and caring sides––and makes your room super chic too.

Libra

You make sure that all aspects of your life are in constant harmony, and you’re an expert at balancing work and relaxation. After a long day of classes, you need a cool, peaceful bed to climb into. This Anthology™ Happy Indigo Reversible Comforter Set is consistent and welcoming, making it the perfect bed for any easy-going personality to rest in.

Scorpio

You’re bold and dramatic, and you should have bedding that makes a statement. That means bright, solid colors to communicate your inner strength and passion. This exciting yellow Chic Home Premier Comforter Set perfectly represents who you are inside and out, and is sure to impress with its outgoing style.

Sagittarius

Your personality is one of the brightest and most optimistic of the signs, and all your friends know it. Your bedroom needs constant splashes of color to match your free spirit. Spontaneity is key for your décor, and we think the Teen Vogue® Kaleidoscope Comforter Set is the only thing colorful enough to complement your campus style.

Capricorn

Capricorns are known for their reliability, and you should have bedding to match. Neutrals and basic furnishings suit you well, since you don’t want anything gaudy that might mess with your conservative atmosphere. This INK+IVY Cotton Jersey Knit Duvet Cover Set complements any environment and is sure to provide the steady comfort you’re looking for.

Aquarius

You are nothing if not unique, and your bedding should be completely original and innovative––something that nobody else on campus can pull off. The Laural Home Fashion Sketchbook Comforter shows you off as the ultimate trendsetter. It will be obvious just how creative and intellectual you are to anybody that comes in your room

Pisces

We know that you could easily spend the entire day in bed daydreaming, and you need a bed to accommodate that! You’re focused on the imaginative and other worldly, and this DKNY Urban Sanctuary Duvet Cover in Ivory can combat that buzzing in your brain with its soft comfort. You should sleep on cream or ivory colors to keep you grounded, otherwise your dreams might just carry you away.

Shop ALL of our favorite bedding at Bed Bath & Beyond—and be prepared to have the cutest bed in your dorm!

This Model Publicly Body-Shamed a Girl at the Gym

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Former Playmate of the Year Dani Mathers is in serious trouble after posting photos of a naked woman at the gym to her public Snapchat story. Mathers posted not one, but two photos of the woman—naked—captioning them, “If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.”

Screenshots of her snaps went viral, forcing 29-year-old Mathers to delete her Twitter and Instagram accounts. That hasn’t stopped people from lobbying for her punishment. The Twitterverse, for example, finds Mathers guilty not only of exploitation of privacy, but also cyber bullying and body shaming.



The public's wrath hasn't gone unheard. Mathers was fired from the Heidi and Frank radio show, and has been banned from all LA Fitness clubs. A spokesperson for the gym told TMZ, "Her behavior is appalling and puts every member's privacy at risk. We have handled this internally and also notified the police."

Still, Mathers doesn't seem to have a good grasp on what, exactly, she did wrong. She issued a half-assed apology on Snapchat that clearly wasn't thought through:

“I just wanted to acknowledge a photo that I accidentally posted on Snapchat earlier today and let you guys know that that was absolutely wrong, and not what I meant to do. I have chosen to do what I do for a living because I love the female body and I know that body shaming is wrong and that's not what I'm about, that's not the type of person that I am. That photo was taken to be a personal conversation with a girlfriend, and because I am new to Snapchat, I didn't realize that I had posted it and that was a huge mistake.”

Honestly, it’s hard to decide what infuriates us the most: the fact that she took the photos in the first place, that her excuse was that it was supposed to be a private gossip sesh or that she doesn’t seem to understand what she did wrong. 

Tom Hiddleston Denies Hiddleswift is a Publicity Stunt

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Ever since Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift were spotted getting cozy in public, we've had tons of questions swirling in our minds. Yes, Taylor's list of famous exes is lengthy, but it's safe to say that no one saw this relationship coming. While the paparazzi have been snapping plenty photos of them in every city (and country) that they've visited thus far, many have been wondering if the relationship is in fact a genuine one, rather than a massive publicity stunt. Considering how quickly the relationship escalated, it's only natural that people speculate about the authenticity of Hiddleswift. Admit it, you've probably read all the ridiculous conspiracy theories online. Now, Tom is finally commenting on his relationship with the pop singer, and he's ready to put all the rumors to rest.

During an interview with THR, Tom was asked his thoughts on the rumor that his relationship with Taylor is simply a publicity stunt. His response is everything we have hoped for.  

"Well, um. How best to put this? That notion is—look, the truth is that Taylor Swift and I are together, and we're very happy. Thanks for asking. That's the truth. It's not a publicity stunt."

Will this put all the haters' speculation to rest? Probably not, but the main point is that Hiddleswift is REAL and they're quite happy together, regardless of what other people might think.  

Katy Perry's Surprise Olympics Anthem Will Give You All the Feels

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This year's Olympics are quickly approaching, and Katy Perry is here to get everyone pumped up with a brand new, unexpected track. With the highly-anticipated event in Rio coming up, the singer released "Rise," a song that is guaranteed to inspire and motivate you to get off the couch.


 

TOGETHER WE #RISE (on @Applemusic now)

A photo posted by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on

It has been a while since Katy released new music, hence why KatyCats around the world were in a frenzy when she randomly released the song, without any prior buildup. In addition to dropping the song, NBC also released a video to promote the Olympics, with the anthem playing as a series of athletes are seen overcoming obstacles. 

 

Since dropping the inspiring track, Katy has also made it clear that the song is intended to apply to everyone, not just the athletes who will be competing in the Olympics. Moreover, Katy felt that the song is appropriate, considering all the tragic events that have been happening around the world. 

"This is a song that's been brewing inside me for years, that has finally come to the surface. I was inspired to finish it now, rather than save it for my next album, because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite," she said. "I know that together we can rise above the fear—in our country, and around the world. I can't think of a better example than the Olympic athletes, as they gather in Rio with their strength and fearlessness, to remind us how we ALL can come together, with the resolve to be the best we can be."

"I hope this song can inspire us to heal, unite, and rise together. I am honored that NBC Olympics has chosen to use it as an anthem before and during the Rio Games."

Kim Kardashian Has Had It With Taylor Swift

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Ever since Kanye West released "Famous" and referenced Taylor Swift in it, everyone has been giving their input on the drama. We all remember that 2009 VMA moment when Kanye interrupted Taylor while accepting the Best Female Video award. However, it seemed as though years later, the artists had put aside all their bad blood (pun intended)—especially after Taylor presented Kanye with the Video Vanguard Award at last year's VMAs.

Since "Famous" was released, many of T. Swift's friends and family have been quick to come to her defense. Several weeks ago, we heard Kim Kardashian's opinion on the drama between the frenemies, when she called out Taylor for being a liar. In an interview with GQ, Kim explained that Taylor knowingly gave Kanye approval to use that infamous lyric about the pop star. "She totally knew that that was coming out. She wanted to all of a sudden act like she didn't. I swear, my husband gets so much shit for things [when] he really was doing proper protocol and even called to get it approved," Kim said. 

On Sunday's episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim further reiterates her thoughts and makes it clear that she will always be #TeamKanye. During the episode, Kim vents to Kourtney, explaining why she came to Kanye's defense in her GQ cover story. "I just felt like I wanted to defend him in it," she says.

She elaborates, saying that she's done with all of the drama and hatred that Kanye receives. "I feel like I've had it, with people blatantly treating my husband a certain way and making him look a certain way…at this point, I really don't give a fuck and I will do whatever to protect my husband."  

Well, it looks like this feud won't be ending any time soon.

Britney Spears Dethrones Justin Timberlake for Song of the Summer

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This summer, radio stations have been playing Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling" nonstop, hence why the catchy track has been dubbed the ultimate summer jam. However, Britney Spears just released a new song, and she's already dominating music charts. Prior to releasing "Make Me," Brit posted a teaser online, sending fans into a frenzy.

Needless to say, when the song, which features G-Eazy, officially hit iTunes, it immediately surged to the number one spot, bumping Justin's tune to the second spot. Sorry Justin, we love you and all, but Britney's song is just as catchy as yours.

In the song, Britney sings about just wanting to let loose and have fun on a Friday night. And let's be honest, we've all been there and done that. Considering that it's summertime, Brit definitely chose the perfect time to release "Make Me."  

Check out the new track below, and prepare to have it on repeat!


15 Places to Go This Summer Instead of The Beach

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Summertime is synonymous with beach time to most people. This is even more true when you are living on the coast or anywhere else with easy accessibility to the beach. While the appeal of spending day after day doing nothing but sunbathing and flirting with good-looking lifeguards is totally understandable, there are a ton of other ways to spend your precious and limited free time this summer. For those who cringe at the idea of spending the summer covered in itchy sand and living in constant fear of an unbearable sunburn, take a look at this list. You’ll find some much more exciting things you can do this summer instead of becoming a semi-professional beach bum.

1. Travel

Whether you have the opportunity to study abroad in some exotic place or just take a road trip with your friends to go camping a couple hours outside of town, traveling is traveling. It is always exciting to visit somewhere new and experience new things and new cultures. If you have the means to do so, get a one-way ticket to another country and explore until there is nothing left to find. If money is a little tight, take a weekend road trip to a nearby town you’ve never been to and pitch a tent with your best friends. You’ll create memories that will last a lifetime and get a breath of fresh air from your usual routine.

2. Concerts

There are so many amazing music festivals and summer concert tours going on during the sweltering months of summer. Get crappy seats that cost $20 for a band you’ve never heard of or front row seats for your favorite singer. Either way, you’ll end up having a great time.

3. An amusement park

Most cities are within an hour or two of an enthralling and fun-filled amusement park. While the cost of a ticket can sometimes be a little steep, a lot of parks have deals for in-state residents or large groups of people. Do some research and find out what kind of opportunities are available to you.

4. Museums

Wherever you live, chances are there is a decent museum somewhere around you that you can easily get to. If you live in or near a major city, this is an even better idea. If you’ve never taken the time to visit the local art or history museums in your area, now is your chance!

5. Work

Getting a job has its obvious perks—sweet, sweet cash flow and something to occupy you every day. Apply for jobs at local restaurants, ice cream shops or stores, and see what happens. Worst case scenario, you hate your job but go back to school with a huge wad of cash to spend at happy hour. 

A lot of internships are unpaid, but the experience that you will gain is payment enough. For all of the Type A planners out there, it is never too early to get a foothold on the professional world and start training for you future career. 

6. The gym

Let’s be real here, all of those drunchie-induced pizza binges during the school year didn’t help your figure very much, and you probably didn’t have a ton of time to spend at the gym. It’s okay—it’s college; we’re all busy. Now that it is summer, you have enough free time to work out whenever you want. Whether you join a gym or sweat it out in your living room, now is a great time to get active and get in shape.

7. Volunteer

No matter where you volunteer, the feeling that you get from doing so is unlike any other. Being able to improve your community or help a person in need is one of the best things that you can do with your free time. 

There are a ton of ways to get involved in volunteering. If you are a serious do-gooder, check with your school about service trips that are going on this summer. You could help people across the world. If you’d rather just get your toes wet when it comes to service, consider visiting your local animal shelters, nursing homes, preschools or any other service opportunities that bring a sparkle to your eye.

8. Your favorite reading spot

One of our favorite things to do over the summer is read, read, read. During the school year, most students don’t have a lot of time on their hands to read for pleasure, and if you are anything like us, you have a number of books on your to-read list. Summer is the perfect time to kick back and make a dent in your reading bucket list.

9. Have your friends come to you

Everyone has a stash of barely used board games buried somewhere in their house. Have a nostalgia night and invite over all of your friends to play a board game that no one has thought about in years. You might be in your twenties, but you are never too old for a full-fledged Uno battle.

10. Visit your school friends

Being home from college for the summer can be strange. You go from spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with your best friends to spending three full months without seeing each other’s faces outside of FaceTime. If you have friends from school that live within a few hours of you, go visit them or have them visit you. If they live a little bit too far to drive, scour the Internet for cheap plane tickets and make a week of it. Let’s be real—three months is way too long to go without your school family.

11. On a picnic

Find a picturesque park, a large wicker basket and a plaid tablecloth, and you are good to go. Picnics are an iconic summertime activity for a reason, so why not join in on the fun? Get some fresh air, bask in the sunlight and enjoy some delicious homemade sandwiches and lemonade with your closest friends.

12. The lake

If you aren't the biggest fan of the beach scene, maybe a lake trip is more your speed. Lakes offer a wealth of opportunities when it comes to entertainment. Boating, tubing or just floating around are some of lake-goers' favorite pastimes.

Related: 13 Beach Problems We Know Too Well

13. Brunch

Millennials are literally obsessed with brunch. Without the worries of an impending paper deadline or upcoming physiology exam, you can don your cutest sundress, grab your pancake-loving friends and enjoy your bottomless mimosas in peace. 

14. Stay in

So maybe this isn’t the most productive use of your time, but at least you will finally be able to join in on conversations about House of Cards or Orange is the New Black without looking like a fool.

15. Your bed

College is hard and time-consuming, and if you want to succeed academically and still have some fun, chances are you spent the past nine months doing just about anything but sleeping. Don’t feel bad about sleeping for sixteen hours straight or spending a day doing nothing but lounging around—you deserve a break.

Forget the beach; there are so many other places you can go this summer!

11 Things ALL Girlfriends Do Even Though They Won't Admit It

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All girlfriends want to be the best woman they can be for their partner, but that doesn't mean we don't occasionally get a little crazy and do some unspeakable things. All girlfriends can secretly relate to these 15 sneaky habits. 

1. Checking your SO's phone when they're not around.


2. Texting your SO's friends if they're not replying back to you.


3. Blatantly stalking their exes on social media.


4. Checking what photos they have recently liked on Instagram. 


5. Tracking your SO on apps like Find my Friends. 

6. Waking up in the middle of the night to make sure they're still there.


7. Keeping up with your SO's latest social media posts. Like all of them. 


8. Pretending like you don't care when they talk about their exes. 


9. Or when they want time with their friends instead of you.


10. Keeping all the mean messages they've ever sent you just in case you need blackmail.


11. Basically, you're the master at creeping.

7 Summer Adventures You Need to Go On With Your Friends

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Are you a victim of the couch-inertia epidemic running rampant in collegiette summers? Are you and your friends glued to the couch like zombies, ordering the same Domino’s pizza and watching the same Netflix shows every weekend? Break the cycle! Let Her Campus help you concoct some easy yet memorable summer adventures that you’ll never have time for during the school year and that you’d never think of while watching the last episode of Friends for the 10th time.

1. Try all the new food trucks in your area

Best to do with:

The friend who always complains that you’re always eating at the same places

If you’re tired of the same old restaurants in your town or you don’t have the money to pay for an expensive fine-dining experience, switch up your usual pizza-and-Netflix routine to go chase down some delicious food trucks! Eat outside and sample a bunch of food. Food trucks are awesome because they’re usually not quite as expensive as a restaurant would be, and they’re fun to visit because the people who run them tend to be super friendly. The Great Food Truck Race, anyone?

If you live somewhere like Boston or San Francisco, there may be food truck schedules for you to peruse before you head into the city. Before you go, be sure to see where the trucks are, which ones you want to go to and how much they cost. Try taking public transportation instead of a car so you don’t have trouble parking in the city.

2. Visit the farmers market and have a picnic

Best to do with:

The friend who always asks if the apples are organic

Check out a farmers market and tailor your Sunday brunch to exactly what you and your friends want! Look online to find a farmers market near you—you can use websites like LocalHarvest to find one. If it’s in a remote place, it may even be worth a longer drive! You can bring a blanket and disposable plates and silverware, find a sunny spot to sit at and have an Instagram-worthy picnic. Definitely get a baguette, fresh cheese, lots of berries and some fresh veggies.

Sophie Dodd, a senior at Middlebury College, had a great experience going to a farmers market. “We picked up some amazing fresh avocados and [I made] homemade guacamole, which we enjoyed with chips on my deck,” she says. “It was so nice to catch up with an old friend and try out my skills in the kitchen, and there's something about getting your produce from a farmers market that makes it even better!”

Farmers markets are a great place to meet local vendors, support sustainable farming and enjoy the undeniably fresh environment. Don’t forget to ask for free samples and bring back some fresh flowers for your room!

3. Take a roundabout road trip

Best to do with:

The group of friends who never has enough time to catch up

Now that you have the guide to the perfect road trip and these road-trip apps you won’t want to leave home without, spice up your traditional there-and-back road trip with this idea: pick four destinations in a doable distance from your home—one to the north, south, east and west. Next, hop in the car, pick the perfect Songza playlist and have a circular road trip that’s more interesting than just a there-and-back ordeal. Use Urbanspoon to find some new, interesting places to eat and check out if there are any beaches or bodies of water nearby to swim or tan. Don’t be afraid to go a little farther than usual or to get lost—the point is not the destination!

4. Go on a hike and pack your own trail mix

Best to do with: 

The active friend who feels trapped at her desk job this summer

Hiking doesn’t have to be as hard as a 10-day trek through the wilderness or as commonplace as a walk around the reservoir; make it short, intense and not without pictures of you and your friends overlooking the gorgeous view at the top of the hill. Pile your friends in the car early in the morning and use the day to its full potential.

“Early on in the summer, my sister and I decided to go for a hike/jog on the local trails by my house,” says Kasia Jaworski, a senior at Villanova University. “It was really fun to explore some of the trails that I hadn't been to before. We took fun pictures of us doing yoga poses in nature (Instagram-worthy of course... I did ‘tree pose’ on a fallen tree trunk). It was really fun to just catch up with my sister, put away our phones and enjoy the nice weather!”

You can find trails (and reviews of trails) on websites like AllTrails. Try looking for a trail with a waterfall, a gorgeous overlook or a beach at the end. Make sure you wear hiking boots or sturdy sneakers, and get plenty of sleep the night before—a day hike can be exhausting!

Before you set off on this adventure, pack up some homemade trail mix: Try a mixture with nuts, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and, of course, a few M&M’s for sweetness! Before you leave, be sure to eat well with snacks like these. A hike is the perfect way to get that glute workout you’ve been wanting during bikini season and enjoy the weather you crave during fall, winter and spring!

5. Go rock climbing

Best to do with:

The friend who’s always willing to ride the roller coaster

Nothing gets your blood flowing like the thrill of touching the highest point of the rock and looking down to see the ground far below you. Indoors or outdoors, rock climbing is a great workout and an awesome skill to learn for an active, healthy lifestyle! It builds full-body strength and gives you a rush when you finally reach the top of the wall. You and your friends can learn to belay one another together—your friends will save your life. Literally. Check out this website for places to climb. Who knows—if you really love it, you could join a climbing gym or start climbing at your college when you go back in the fall!

6. Learn a new skill and volunteer for a good cause

Best to do with:

The one always trying to do good

What’s more adventurous than volunteering to build someone’s house? A free, rewarding adventure for you and your friends could be learning the ins and outs of building houses and knowing that you’re dong good for a family in need. You can even do a Women Build with Habitat for Humanity, where you can build with other women. If there aren’t any Habitat for Humanity projects near you, look into volunteering at an animal shelter or making dinner for a local homeless shelter. There’s no adventure like learning a new skill and helping others in the process!

7. Try a totally new activity on the cheap

Best to do with: 

The friend always hunting for the best sales of the season

Try something totally new—whether it’s painting, sailing, skydiving, kickboxing, fishing or paintball! Look on Groupon to find deals for fun activities and adventures to do near you with your friends. The new experience could be worth the amount of (already discounted) money you have to pay! Who knows what new passions you’ll find, people you’ll meet or experiences you’ll have?

Collegiettes, summer can get a little boring if you run out of things to do. Make the most out of your summer by taking advantage of everything around you and keeping an open mind to new experiences. You might be surprised by how much you can do in one place this summer without traveling anywhere exotic or spending lots of hard-earned pocket money. 

Juicy Couture Tracksuits Could Be Making a Comeback

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These days, we're all about athleisure—who doesn't love a good pair of sneakers or a pair of sweatpants you can pull off in public? But if you think about it, athleisure has been around for longer than you might recall—in the early 2000s, the Juicy Couture tracksuit was at the height of ~cool~. And ready or not, the iconic velour staple of the likes of Paris Hilton and "cool mom" Amy Poehler is gearing up for a major comeback.

With 2016 marking the 21st anniversary of the tracksuit, Juicy Couture is relaunching with a few modern adjustments, like tailored, slim-fit pants, plus a whole new crew of brand ambassadors (no, Paris isn't among them this time). The campaign, aptly named #TRACKISBACK shows the slew of cool-girl-next-door ambassadors outfitted in different variations of the track jacket and explaining their personal styles—which all vary. Check it out below and decide for yourself: Is track back? If it means cozying up in some soft sweats come fall, we wouldn’t mind. 

Prabal Gurung is Teaming Up With Lane Bryant On a Plus Size Collection

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According to InStyle, Prabal Gurung, a favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama and many other impressive women, is going to be coming out with a collection for plus-sized women’s clothing brand Lane Bryant early next year!

Lane Bryant is known for its superstar partnerships, previously tapping the likes of Christian Siriano and even young college students at the Otis College of Art and Design. Not only is the brand pushing the envelope in its fight to bring beautiful, stylish clothes to women with bodies the fashion industry often fails to represent, it also isn’t afraid to hand the sartorial reigns over to other beloved designers.

Of the collection, Gurung stated, “I truly believe that confidence is the key and I continually strive to create clothing that allows women to look and feel their absolute best.” We need more of this! Gurung also stated that department stores tend not to buy the clothes he offers in larger sizes. This needs to change, but, until then, we’re glad Lane Bryant is here to accommodate!

Lane Bryant CEO Linda Heasley added that the company is “delighted to welcome” the designer and only has the best of hopes for what’s to come from the relationship.

Lane Bryant also came out with an ad campaign in response to the plethora of Victoria’s Secret Angel commercials that become inescapable around the time of the VS fashion show, dubbed the #ImNoAngel movement. This campaign flipped the stereotypical image of a lingerie model on its head and encouraged “normal” women to be their sexy selves.

Kudos to Lane Bryant and Prabal Gurung for rejecting the trend of high fashion in favor of the high road. We can't wait for the collection to launch in March of 2017!

Kylie Jenner Reveals Her Biggest Beauty Mistake

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Kylie Jenner has been taking the beauty world by storm with her must-have lip kits. But the youngest member of the famous Kardashian family didn’t always have the perfect pucker.

In an interview with big sister Kim in Allure, Kylie discloses the biggest mistake she’s ever made in the beauty world—overdoing it on the lip injections.

“I got excited and felt like I needed to do a lot,” the young beauty mogul told Kim. “Then I had to go back and have it fixed… thank God I didn’t end up on Botched.”

Looks like the lip queen has been dethroned! Just kidding, we literally wouldn’t trade our lip kits in for anything in the world. Actually, we should probably go buy another one before they sell out again. 

6 Myths Debunked: The Truth About College

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Let’s face it, whether it’s because your high school years consisted of marathon-watching every season of Boy Meets World, Greek and 90210, browsing through Her Campus on the daily or listening to your Frat Star brother’s tales of blackout keggers, one-night stands and too many pastel polo shirts, you probably have some pre-conceived ideas of what college is going to be like.

Don’t believe everything you hear! To separate fact from fiction, check out the truth about these six common college myths:

Myth #1: The Freshman 15 is inevitable

Reality: With all-you-can-eat dining hall food, weekend nights of drinking (usually accompanied by late-night snacking) and busy schedules that seem to leave no time for exercise, weight gain can be an easy trap to fall into.

But not everyone packs on the pounds. Many collegiettes even find that their scale number goes down freshman year!

“Maybe it's because I go to a city school and there's a lot of walking, but I actually ended up losing weight when I went to college,” says Kelsey Mulvey from Boston University.

“I didn’t gain anything because I didn’t live on campus! I actually lost a lot of weight because I would work out every day,” explains Hailey Craig from Columbia University.

So don’t freak out! The Freshman 15 is totally avoidable with the right mix of self-control and exercise. Check out HC's "5 Ways To Avoid The Freshman 15: How Real Girls Did It", “Pick It or Skip It: Dining Hall Edition” and “15 Ways to Get Gym Motivation (That Actually Work)” for more tips on keeping college weight off the healthy way.

Myth #2: You will drown under piles of homework

Reality: There are most likely going to be times when you feel like your academic workload is slowly crushing the life out of you, but hey, there were probably also times when you felt similarly in high school. College is usually not much more difficult than high school, just different, as is explained in HC’s 5 Ways Your College Classes Will Be Different From Your High School Classes.

No one is going to force you to do your work like your parents or teachers might have done in high school. You need to handle your newfound independence and learn to manage your time.

“You do get a lot of homework, not going to lie,” says Hailey. “But you just have to make a study schedule to help you out. This will help you TONS because if you get it done right away or when you’re not busy, you will have plenty of time to mingle and have fun!”

To stay on top of homework, try keeping an assignment notebook, tracking due dates on your phone or on a calendar or planning days to work on long-term assignments so they get done a little at a time. You should think about every week ahead of time to know when you’ll have free time to study.

A lot of the time, you won’t have very much homework on a day-to-day basis because most of your assignments will be long-term, not short-term. It’s important to make sure you still do a little bit of work every day even if you don’t always have something due the next day, or even that week, to avoid creating stressful situations.

So, yes, if you have a 20-page research paper that is assigned at the beginning of the semester and you wait until the night before it’s due to start writing, you’re going to have a bad time. On the other hand, if you find the right balance between work and play, you’ll be golden.

Myth #3: You won’t have a social life if you’re not in a sorority

Reality: The truth is that sororities aren’t for everyone. If your decision to rush is based solely on thinking it will get you an instant friend group, you might want to reconsider.

Although the social component can be a major factor in rushing, it shouldn’t be the only one you consider. If you’re still having trouble deciding check out HC’s Collegiettes Weigh In: To Rush or Not to Rush?

While many colleges have a large focus on Greek life, there’s always a social scene outside of it. “I'm not in a sorority and I had a fabulous social life in college,” says Erica Avesian, a recent grad of University of Michigan. “As long as you put yourself out there and make a point to meet people, you will be just fine. There are plenty of other social organizations to join.”

You’ll be able to find a group of people you love to hang out with without going Greek, so if sororities aren’t your thing, don’t join one!

Myth #4: College guys are more mature than high school guys

Reality: Although high school boys don’t magically become men when they enter college, this one really does depend on the individual.

Many of your male counterparts will still act incredibly immature. They’ll want to play video games and sleep around and spend the majority of their time with their even more juvenile friends.

“College guys are even more immature than high school guys in my opinion. They think they can get away with everything now that they are away from their parents,” says Erica, a student at University of Michigan. “Sit in a room full of frat boys and you will feel like you're in the cafeteria with a bunch of seventh graders.”

But mature college guys DO exist.

It is possible to meet guys in college who have future goals, a savings account and a sense of humor that doesn’t revolve around farting. Some will learn how to act like adults – you just have to find them. Try looking for boys in your classes or at your club meetings rather than at frat parties and bars. They’re more likely to have things in common with you and want a more serious relationship.

Myth #5: You won’t have any fun if you don’t drink

Reality: Drinking is common in college, but that doesn’t mean everyone does it. In fact, there are a large number of college students who never drink.

Drinking should always be a personal choice, not one you make because you think it’s expected of you. If you don’t feel comfortable, then don’t do it!

This totally doesn’t mean that you have to sit in your room while your friends go out. Contrary to what some may think, you’re allowed to be sober at a party. Getting your dance on and flirting with cute boys don't depend on blacking out, or even having one drink. But if you still end up feeling uncomfortable, try carrying around a cup of water or soda so no one asks you why you’re not downing drinks.

Party scene still isn’t your thing? It’s definitely possible to have a social life outside of it.

“I don't drink, and about four or five of my friends don't,” says Hailey. “If it bothers you that all your friends drink and you don’t, talk to them about doing non-alcoholic activities.”

Try having a movie marathon, going to a concert or doing karaoke night! Drinking isn’t the only way to have a crazy-fun college weekend.

Myth #6: Everyone has a ton of dating and sexual experience

Reality: A big fear of many collegiettes is not having enough romantic experience as an incoming freshman. But this should never be something you’re worried about. The dating and sexual history of every single person you meet in college will be different; no one has gone through exactly the same things!

“A lot of girls go into freshman year thinking they're big losers if they haven't swiped their V-cards yet, when in reality, that's just not true,” says Quinn Keaney, a recen alumna of the University of Pittsburgh. “Just because they never met the right guy (or girl) in high school doesn't mean they'll be doomed to the same fate all through college.”

According to HC’s Ultimate College Girl Survey results from 2012, 43 percent of girls entering college are still virgins!

Whether you have lots of experience, no experience or somewhere in between, it doesn’t matter. College can be a time to change things up, keep doing what you’ve been doing or just get started. Don’t lose sleep about what others are doing or have done in the past, just focus on you.

So collegiettes, now that you could probably be the star of a college-themed episode of Myth Busters, you should feel ready to have an amazing year at whatever school you’ve chosen. The truth is out, use it!


7 Refreshing Poolside Treats That Won't Ruin Your Beach Bod

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Whether you're swimming all-day or lounging by the pool, you're going to get hungry! Most of us naturally reach for the standard popsicles or other ice cream treats, but they're full of things that will reverse all of the hard work you've spent on your bikini body. Not only do these frozen treats contain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, aritifical colors and sweeteners, they have little to no nutritional value. Instead, dive into these healthy alternatives that are super easy to make, so you can enjoy your fun in the sun without worrying about your waistline. 

1. Frozen Grapes

Frozen fruit in general is a great poolside snack, but grapes specifically only contain 62 calories per cup! They're also rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and essential minerals like potassium and iron. All you need is a cup of grapes (try to use red ones because the darker skin carries even more antioxidants) and a Ziploc bag.  Make sure to wash the grapes thoroughly and wipe them dry. Then, toss them into a Ziploc bag, store it in your freezer for an hour or two and enjoy! If you want to avoid getting your fingers sticky, add a lollipop stick or skewer to the mix (preferably 8 inches long, but any size will do).

2. Pomegranate Juice Cubes

Ditch the popsicles for these bit-sized juice cubes! At only 15 calories per cube, these refreshing treats are perfect for maintaining your bikini body. Pomegranate juice is high in sugars, but it offers the biggest nutritional payoff with high levels of antioxidants, potassium and vitamin K. All you need to make this "super" summer snack is pomegranate juice and an ice tray. Just freeze the juice for an hour before you enjoy this healthy alternative. You can also pop a cube or two into a glass of water or plain seltzer for a naturally flavored refreshing spritzer.

3. Caprese Skewers 

Tomatoes are one of the season's star superfoods, with more than a third of your daily recommended vitamin C. They're also rich in vitamins B6, E and K, fiber and potassium. Enjoying them with a little fat--like mozzarella cheese!--helps absorb those necessary nutrients even better. You don't have to be a master in the kitchen to assemble this fun take on a traditional caprese salad, and each skewer is only 58 calories. Alternate tomatoes, basil leaves and mozzarella cheese cubes onto ten 6-inch wooden skewers. You can eat the skewer as is, or combine vinegar and oil in a small bowl to make a light dressing. Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over skewers and sprinkle with salt and pepper for an added punch.  

4. Frozen Lemonade

 

An upgrade to a summer staple, it's hard to beat a tall glass of frozen lemonade on a hot day. Ringing in at only 80 calories, this tangy slushie will keep you cool as you hang out by the pool. It takes about 15 minutes to make this delicious drink, but make sure that your blender can handle this recipe -- it can be made in 2 batches if necessary! Blend together one cup of fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons's worth) and a cup of granulated sugar. Add 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of cracked ice and blend, and repeat one more time. If you want your frozen lemonade to have more of a tart taste (and be even healthier!), only use 1/2 a cup of sugar! 

5. Sweet and Sour Cucumbers 

Dressed with nothing but a little vinegar, salt and sugar, this cucumber salad is fresh and sweet. At only 34 calories, this healthy snack will keep hydrated while you soak up the sun. To make it, slice two unpeeled cucumbers. Place the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let the cucumbers stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, three tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 tablespoon of pepper in a large bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Drain the cucumbers well, pat dry and add the dressing. Toss well. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes and up to two hours. Add some dill to the dressing to really draw out the sour taste of the cucumbers!

6. Watermelon Sorbet 

Watermelon is always a hit during the summer months! This icy snack is dairy-free and low in calories. In a small saucepan set over medium high heat, whisk together 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1 1/4 cups water until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and let it cool. Next, cut up a half of a watermelon into small chunks. In blender or food processor, combine the watermelon with 3 tablespoons of lime juice (about 3 1/2 medium limes). Pour the mixture through a strainer to get out all the seeds and pulp. Then take your cooled sugar mixture and add it to the watermelon and refridgerate for one hour. After it's chilled, use an ice cream maker to thicken your sobert, which should take about 25-35 minutes. Enjoy it right away or put in the freezer to firm it up some more! 

7. Creamsicle Smoothie

 

Healthy, convenient and refreshing, smoothies are ideal for hot summer days. Though it tastes like those iconic vanilla-and-orange popsicles, this creamsicle smoothie is a balanced summer treat with carbohydrates and protein. To make this delicious smoothie, blend together 1 whole frozen banana, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 3/4 of orange juice, 1/2 cup of coconut milk (or substitute it with coconut water to make it even healthier!) and 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. You'll instantly feel like you're on a tropical island!

You've worked hard to get bikini body ready and unhealthy frozen treats can set you back. So while you show off your rockin' bod at the pool, snack on these healthy snacks instead! 

17 Movies to Watch When the Patriarchy’s Bringing You Down

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In 2016, we hope to say that we live in a more progressive world devoid of sexism, racism, ableism and other forms of discrimination; however, there are always those moments that remind us we are far from the just world we so often dream of. They usually happen just when we are trying to have our Beyonce moment of fully embracing our feminism, only to have it interrupted some idiot mentioning that women are not at equal to men. These debates, though necessary, can get tiring and annoying, so here are a list of the best movies to watch when the patriarchy's weighing on your feminism.

1. The Cheetah Girls

This film series was all about girl (or should we say "growl") power, and being able to overcome anything with the help of your squad.

2. Pariah

This film was all about intersectionality, with reflection on being LGBTQ+ within the black community, all told from the focal point of a teenage girl.

3. Pretty in Pink

One of the 1980s classics, Molly Ringwald dismantles high school politics and the old theory that the popular girl always wins.

4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

This film’s premise is literally in the title, but it shows how sisterhood is one of the main factors to bringing down the patriarchy rather than letting it bring you down instead.

5. The Color Purple

Though this film takes place decades ago, it shows how a black woman in the South finds the courage to overcome male dominated society and fend for herself and family.

6. Mean Girls

Though this film may seem to bring up more female stereotypes than it breaks, it does so in a comedic way that females have the ability to transform from a “mean girl” to “actual human being.”

7. Steel Magnolias

The film represents sisterhood in all forms, and shows that women can be both strong (steel) and sensitive (magnolia).

8. Waiting to Exhale

Another film displaying sisterhood, starring the ever-amazing Whitney Houston. This film showed how four black women all at different places in their lives can come out resilient with the help of each other.

9. Mulan

Just one of the Disney princesses on this list, Mulan defies the princess stereotypes, as she levels herself as a warrior among men.

10. Frozen

Another film that has continued to halt stereotypes, Frozen is more the tale of two sisters than it is a romance. Definite girl power. 

11. Just Another Girl on the IRT

This is a coming-of-age film centered around a young girl growing up in New York who learns about the world as she continues to make education her priority.

12. The Heat

Starring the power team of Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock, this film brings down the patriarchy for you by establishing these two as "getting the job done" women, ~much~ better than their male counterparts.

13. Mi Vida Loca

This film embodies the coming together of young women as they overcome boy problems and gang trouble to provide for their children and families.

14. A Cinderella Story

Though based on Cinderella, this isn’t your typical Cinderella story. Sam (Hillary Duff) standing up for herself is definitely the best moment of the film (even better than the final kiss at the end!).

15. Charlie’s Angels

Need we say more?

16. Real Women Have Curves

This body positive film follows a young girl’s quest of self-discovery and her desire to attain a college education despite her naysayers.

17. Brave

This movie’s title describes not only about the protagonist in this film, but Merida totally triumphs by outwitting the belief that she needs to be married to succeed. She decides to fight for her own hand in marriage.Which movie(s) have you seen? Tell us in the comments!

We Ranked Every Ben & Jerry's Flavor

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Summertime means a lot of things, but most importantly it means it's finally hot enough outside to eat ice cream every day. Arguably the best brand in ice cream history, Ben & Jerry's has become famous for coming up with ultra-creative flavors - all of which we would happily consume. While all of us have a different favorite pint that we could easily down in one sitting, we've decided to rank every flavor currently available. Here's what we've decided.

46. Vanilla Toffee Bar Crunch

Let's be real: This one is pretty simple. They could have gone a little further.

45. Cherry Garcia

Too. Many. Cherries.

44. Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz

There are literally two other flavors exactly like this.

43. Vanilla

...Really?

42. Coffee Caramel Buzz

See #44.

41. Pistachio Pistachio

Just...no.

40. Chunky Monkey 

This one's good, but it's not very original. 

39. Save Our Swirled

The love child of raspberry sorbet and Rocky Road. Meh.

38. Triple Caramel Chunk

Isn't this basically the same as the other caramel vanilla one?!

37. Peanut Butter Cup

Before you hate us for putting anything with peanut butter so low on the list, you should know that there are at least THREE other peanut butter B&J flavors that are way better than this basic one.

36. Blondie Ambition

This would be better if every bite didn't taste like biting into a sugar cube.

35. Karamel Sutra

This would have been higher on the list if weren't yet another caramel flavor.

34. Vanilla Caramel Fudge

Someone needs to call these guys and tell them that they're making too many caramel flavors.

33. New York Super Fudge Chunk

This one is good...but can't we switch out the nuts for some cookie dough or something?

32. Peanut Butter Half Baked

WHY WAS THIS A LIMITED EDITION???

31. Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch

More coffee? Nah.

30. Salted Caramel

...More caramel.

29. Spectacular Speculoos

This newbie is amazing, but it's high up for being *another* caramel flavor. Sorry.

28. Peanut Buttah

All right, from here on out, the decisions were just impossible to make.

27. A Swirled of a Difference

Every PB&J lover's dream come true.

26. Chocolate Fudge Brownie

AKA: What you eat when you're on your period.

25. What a Cluster

Peanut butter ice cream. Yes all around.

24. Strawberry Cheesecake

Bonus points for originality in the "thick graham cracker swirl."

23. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

This one is just a classic.

22. Boston Cream Pie

*Doesn't know what Boston Cream Pie even is*

*Inhales this entire pint regardless*

21. Hazed & Confused

Also known as THE NUTELLA FLAVOR.

20. Chocolate Peppermint Crunch

A great twist on mint chocolate chip ice cream.

19. That's My Jam

This is the better version of that other raspberry and chocolate one.

18. Peanut Butter World

There are no words to describe this perfection.

17. Chocolate Therapy

Has been proven to be just as good as actual therapy.

16. Chubby Hubby

Say it with me now: Peanut butter AND pretzels.

15. Brewed to Matter

See, THIS is how you do a coffee ice cream. Throw some brownie batter in there.

14. Boom Chocolatta

This new flavor is literally sold out everywhere we go, so it must be incredible.

13. Peanut Butter Fudge

We will eat anything that includes a "peanut butter fudge core."

12. Cheesecake Brownie

So simple and so perfect.

11. Cinnamon Buns

Because you can eat it for breakfast. Right??

10. Mint Chocolate Cookie

Like Mint Chocolate Chip...but with Oreos.

9. Red Velvet Cake

No words needed.

8. S'mores

We'd take a pint of this over a real s'more any day.

7. Cake Batter

Omg omg omg omg omg omg.

6. Banana Split

Instead of having to go out and find a place that actually still serves a banana split, stock your fridge with this perfection.

5. Everything But The...

All of our favorite flavors in one pint? Sign us up.

4. Phish Food

A staple Ben & Jerry's flavor, this one has gotten us through so many midterms and heartbreaks.

3. Milk & Cookies

Mouth. Watering.

2. The Tonight Dough

This is #2 partially because of how amazing it is and partially because it has bae's face on the container. Either way, it's deserving.

1. Half Baked

The one you've all been waiting for... The flavor of all flavors, the foodgasm of all foodgasms, Half Baked is our eternal favorite.

Here's When You Can Get Kylie Jenner's Newest Lip Kits

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Kylie Jenner just announced three new additions to her arsenal of lip kits and if we're going to be honest, we already can't wait to get our hands on them. After launching a series of bold colors (like her blues, Freedom and Skylie, as well as her matte and metallic blacks), Kylie's now making some additions to her more traditional color palette. The summery new colors—Kristen, Maliboo and Ginger—are each as wearable as the next, and we've set our alarms for these drop dates.

1. Kristen: July 20


 

KRISTEN. I fell in love with this beautiful strawberry matte! Launching July 20th @ 3pm. #newshadealert #SummerSurprises

A photo posted by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on

We can already envision ourselves wearing this bright, fun pink poolside.

2. Maliboo: July 20


What girl doesn't need another neutral lip color?

3. Ginger: July 22


When Kylie calls a color her fave, you listen.

What Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Says About You

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Whether it’s Ben & Jerry’s (who are better than actual SOs, let’s be real) or a scoop from your local creamery, ice cream has a special place in our hearts. With endless combinations, toppings and flavors, it never ceases to amaze us. Even if we’re willing to try any variation of our beloved frozen treat, our favorite flavors can tell us a lot about our personalities. 

Vanilla

While some might view this as the boring choice, vanilla lovers prefer “classic.” You appreciate a sophisticated LBD and consistently rock red lipstick. You may opt for pale pink nails over neon purple polish, but you rather be true to yourself than pretend to be anybody else. Sure, you might be a little cautious, but you’re also extremely loyal. You’ll let the haters hate hate hate because at the end of the day, you know what you like.

Chocolate

It’s hard for people to dislike you because you’re charming, extroverted and extremely passionate. Plus, chocolate lovers are generally fun and flirty. You love a good party and have been called a overly dramatic more times than you care to admit. But you don't mind being the center of attention because you absolutely love it. 

Strawberry

You’re such a sweetheart! If you prefer strawberry ice cream, you’re a really good friend, full of kindness. You tend to look on the bright side of things and make everyone smile whereve you go. It might take a while for you to open up, but once people see your sweet side, they love you even more. 

Coffee

Whether you like the hot, caffeinated version or not, preferring coffee ice cream means you're laid back and totally chill. You don’t mind spending time alone either, especially if you’re curled up with a good book. Your sarcasm might take some people off guard, but your intelligence and sophisticated flair make up for it.

Black Raspberry

Blame it on your edgy style, but one thing’s for sure: you play by your own rules. It might come off as a little bit rebellious, but it also makes you incredibly interesting. You’re a great judge of character, which means you only have a few close friends that you share your adventures with. Everything you do seems artsy or cool because you’re always on the cutting edge.

Rocky Road

Let's be real, you’re probably going to be a CEO someday. You wake up ***flawless, and you’re basically a boss in every way. You get want you want because you’re extremely goal oriented and ambitious. Plus, it’s hard not to be envious of your killer confidence. 

Mint Chocolate Chip

Everyone can appreciate mint chocolate chip ice cream…and you! You’re super nice and a great listener. Friends always talk to you about their drama because they know you’ll give great advice. You’re the definition of calm, cool and collected, always staying rational and levelheaded no matter what life throws at you.  

Cookie Dough

To put it simply, you’re the life of the party. Your sense of humor and happy-go-lucky attitude makes people want to be around you all the time, which you don’t mind because you love to make people laugh. The simple things in life make you happy, and you don’t take yourself too seriously. 

Whether you feel like your favorite flavor embodies your personality or not, we can all agree on one thing: ice cream is the best. 

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