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Here's Why People Are Calling for an Audit of the Presidential Vote

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Academics and activists across the country are asking U.S. authorities to audit the 2016 presidential election vote in battleground states, where the race was closest, in case the results have been skewed by foreign hackers. Auditing would analyze a small sample of votes in these states to ensure no tampering occurred and confirm whether there is a need for a further recount.

In an op-ed in USA Today, UC Berkeley statistician Philip Stark and MIT cryptographer Ron Rivest argue that an audit should be conducted. Part of their concern is the fact that the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency concluded the Russian government was behind the DNC email hack, and that it was Russian hackers who attacked U.S. voter registration databases, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Verified Voting, a nonprofit that advocates for transparent elections, along with several other groups, created a Change.org petition calling for an audit of the election due to these hacking concerns. As of now, over 180,000 people signed the petition.

Dozens of professors specializing in cybersecurity and elections have also signed an open letter to congressional leaders requesting action by lawmakers, The Guardianreports.

A new Twitter hashtag, #AuditTheVote, appeared on Nov. 19. One of the hashtag’s creators, Melinda Byerley, explained on Twitter that its purpose was to collect public information and data that could verify or disprove the possibility of election fraud and hacking.

Despite election results that shocked many in America, not many Americans believe the election results were tampered with. A Washington Post-ABC News poll found 33 percent of Clinton supporters and just 1 percent of Trump supports believe Trump isn’t the legitimate winner of the election. Although Trump won over the Electoral College, Hillary Clinton leads the popular vote by over 2 million.

While an audit would be more time-saving and less costly than a complete recount of all of the votes in states that request it, based on public opinion, it is unclear how necessary it is. Nate Silver, a famous statistician who founded the publication FiveThirtyEight, tweeted to say he thinks election tampering is pretty unlikely. The Electoral College is set to officially elect Trump as president on Dec. 19.


Here's What (We Think) is in Store for 'American Horror Story' Season 7

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Last Wednesday marked the end of season 6 of American Horror Story. After just 10 episodes, we saw the highly anticipated reveal of the theme on premiere night, the death of many a character (as per usual) and the return of many old faces (Hi, Lana Winters). Even though the season just ended, we already find ourselves asking, “What’s next?” We have some clues to unravel to figure that out.

Confirmed: A Revival of “Freak Show”

It’s already been confirmed by Ryan Murphy himself that next season will focus either solely or heavily on “Freak Show.” “Next year, we will be going back to some Freak Show characters, deeper histories and mythologies. So we’re sort of still exploring season 4 in season 7,” Murphy toldEntertainment Weekly. This is a little too truthful of Murphy for my liking and it just screams “he’s throwing you off!” you know?

Going back to characters, histories and mythologies??? For a season that was one of the worst, what could be so worthwhile that Murphy would want to head back? Well, it was the first season that really showed a connection between the others, with Pepper being a key player in both this season and season 2, “Asylum.” It also had a rich background of 1950s Florida, with so many different backstories it was hard to go in depth with each one. Maybe there are some missing details Murphy wants to get off his chest, like the Mott family tree, which he introduced again in “Roanoke” with Peters’s character Edward Philippe Mott. And I highly doubt it’ll be all about the characters of the fourth season. There has to be new ideas and plots for it to be good.

AHS: “At Sea”

Following the season 6 finale, AHS’s Twitter posted a video of waves with the words “Sweet Dreams” that cuts to the creepy, faceless dolls from “Roanoke,” with the caption “The monsters are all gone.” While Murphy has already said this coming season will have to do with “Freak Show,” is he throwing us off with that rather odd and candid clue? Maybe we will see much more than just a backstory and emphasis on the arguably failed season, but maybe the location will lead to a seaside theme as well (“Freak Show” was set in Jupiter, Florida, right on the coast). 

And what’s with the “monsters are all gone” text? It’s highly unlikely that it’s random or means nothing, as we are talking about Ryan Murphy here. This notion of monsters takes place a lot through the series, heck Mother Monster herself was in “Hotel” and “Roanoke.” However, my guess is closer to the origins of “American Horror Story,” going back to the very first season. Tate Langdon (RIP) says, in one of his many morbid monologues, that “All monsters are human.” So, does this allude to a season that has no people, just the dead? Creepy, but highly intriguing.

Ghosts Making a Comeback

Going off of that, every season has left us with a slew of dead people. And since we know that in Ryan Murphy’s world, the spirits of the dead are never really at rest, could this mean that past characters can come back and be a part of the new season, even though they’ve died in past seasons? But of course.

We’ve already see this, with the whole premise of “Murder House” and “Roanoke” revolving around ghosts and their very real threat to the humans they come in contact with. So this opens up the a very long list of characters that could come back and wreak havoc for season 7’s protagonists. We could see Queenie’s ghosts seek some sort of revenge for her death, possibly any of the asylum’s victims as well as anyone else from “Hotel,” what with all the main characters dying by the end of the season anyway.

The manic return of old favorites seems highly likely considering Murphy has said that the interconnected seasons will“explode” in the seventh installment. And we’ve already seen one actress play multiple characters (Sarah Paulson as Shelby, Audrey and Lana Winters), so the fact that they all play so many shouldn’t be a problem either.

Confirmed: A Murder House/Coven Crossover

At EW’s PopFest this year, Ryan Murphy one hundred percent confirmed that a future season will be a direct crossover between “Murder House” and “Coven,” the two seasons that are absolute fan-faves.

“It’s not going to be next season, but we are going to do a season that’s a crossover between Murder House and Coven together, which is very bizarre,” said Murphy. Again, this is a complete one-eighty from the shroud of secrecy that surrounded season 6, so I’m waiting for the catch. We’ll see what happens, but if we get Tate, Violet, FIONA (Jessica Lange!!!), Cornelia, Zoe, etc. all in one shot, we’ll be A-okay. And he said it won’t be for season 7, but as with all things AHS, anything is on the table.

Where Mr. Ryan Murphy is involved, we never truly know what’s going on. But the tidbits he is giving us, along with the amazing cast is sure to make another great season, despite what the theme could be. 

24 Women Who Are Breaking The Glass Ceiling

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Glamour’s latest YouTube video features 24 of the strongest, most admirable female celebrities literally shattering the glass ceiling (well, technically, the glass wall). Stars like Sports Illustrated cover girl Ashley Graham, Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Vogue’s longtime editor-in-chief Anna Wintour enthusiastically and symbolically smash the patriarchy in this vicariously cathartic experience.

Zendaya, the only woman who takes on the task barehanded, exclaims at the end, “That makes me feel good!”

Internet trolls, as they do, were quick to criticize: “Females have a lot of catching up to do. Mentally handicapped, emotional children will never be President”—a nod to democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton that only further validates the need for more videos like this.

Thankfully, others were just as excited as we are, proclaiming: “Yasss lady power!!!!” We couldn’t agree more. Watch these inspiring Glamour Women of the Year tell us why they’re shattering the glass ceiling.

Quiz: What Thanksgiving Food Are You?

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As the holiday season continues to roll out, us collegiettes can look forward to the double whammy of vacation breaks and food not served in our everyday dining halls. Between the turkey, stuffing and the pumpkin or sweet potato pie (Oh my!), we also often find it hard to solely identify with just one food. So, take this quiz to find out just which Thanksgiving food has a forever place in your heart and tummy!

 

 

What To Do When a Friendship is Falling Apart

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College is a time to discover yourself, learn new things, gain experiences and make friends. This process may involve losing some friends along the way. Whether you went to a school where you knew absolutely no one or you had a couple of besties by your side, you’re most likely a different person than who you were on move-in day freshman year. A longtime but long distance friendship from home may suffer from lack of communication, or a friendship with someone at school may start to fizzle out simply because you’re both different people.

Some of us may be okay with losing a friend or two, as college offers us the chance to grow and discover ourselves; others may not be so okay with that idea. "It's a unique time of life. You'll be thrown together in the same place with others who are just as interested in meeting new friends as you are," says Irene S. Levine, PhD, psychologist, friendship expert and producer of The Friendship Blog. "But even though it's an opportune time to make new friends, you may also lose some friends along the way." Here’s how to know whether a friendship is worth saving and, if so, how you can revive it.

Is the friendship worth saving?

Deciding whether or not a friendship is worth saving is really up to you. Of course there are many things to consider when making this decision. How long have you been friends? What did this friendship contribute to your life? How does this friendship affect your other friendships? And finally, the most obvious question: Do you want to be friends with this person? “Friendships are voluntary relationships and should be mutually rewarding,” says Dr. Levine. 

These are all important things to consider when your friendship hits a rough patch. Being friends with someone you’ve known for a long time can be really special; in a way, they know you better than anyone else. “Your shared history can never be replaced," Dr. Levine reminds us. They’ve watched you grow up; and you, them. You experienced a lot of important things together, like middle and high school, dances, first boyfriends, graduation and now college.

And there’s the actual friendship and what it’s contributed to your life to consider. Has this person made you a better person? Have they helped you to grow and improve? Have you learned from them in any way? This is what friendships should be, after all. Friends should be people who inspire you, push you, love you and help you.

Something you may also want to consider is how this friendship affects your other friendships, or how ending the friendship will affect your other friendships. Are you and this friend in friend groups with your other close friends? Will ending things with this friend make things awkward and complicated for your other friends? Not to say that you should stay in a friendship just to make it convenient for other people. We’re not saying that at all. It may just be something you want to consider. “In some cases, you may choose to remain casual acquaintances by seeing each other less often or only socializing as part of a group,” says Dr. Levine. 

And finally, do you want to remain friends with this person? You can think about it all you want—you can complain, question, cry about it—but it really comes down to whether or not you want to try to make this friendship work. How important is it to you? Is the friendship worth the fight? "Your answers to these questions need to be carefully considered because once you lose a friendship, it’s hard to repair it at the same level of intimacy,” Dr. Levine says.  

Related: 5 Signs It’s Time to End a Friendship

How to save it

Let your friend know that the friendship has felt off

"No relationship is perfect so if you value a friendship, it’s important to work out misunderstandings or missed expectations,” says Dr. Levine. It’s important to let your friend know that you’ve felt that something’s been wrong in the relationship. Chances are they’ve probably noticed something has been a little off, too. It’s not fair to them to continue in the friendship if they don’t think anything is wrong while you’ve been worrying about it. 

Talking through these issues together can really help you two build the friendship back up. Be careful not to accuse or get hostile. Be honest and open as you talk through the problems you’ve noticed in the friendship, and hopefully your friend will do the same.

Make a conscious effort to improve things

Part of the reason your friendship may have gotten rocky in the first place is that you and your friend have stopped texting, talking and hanging out as often as you used to. To make sure it doesn’t happen again, make a conscious effort to text them and make plans with them.

With busy schedules, it may be hard to find times to hang out with your friend, which is what may have happened in the first place. If this is the case, try to find a regular time that works for both of you, perhaps weekly. Maybe you’re both free Thursday mornings; get coffee! Maybe you’re both free Tuesday nights; watch This Is Us together! Having a scheduled time to hang out every week takes away the effort of carving out a specific time each week. 

Communicate openly and honestly

This is just as important to maintaining the relationship as it is to getting it back on track. No matter what the relationship, it’s always important to communicate openly and honestly. If you tend to shy away from confrontation, don’t think of it that way. Think of it as a way of maintaining a healthy relationship.

If your friend does something that bothers you, let her know in a kind and respectful way. If you need to cancel plans to work on homework, just be honest about it. There’s no need to make up excuses. If you’re both truthful, your friendship has less chance of failing again.

Make your friendships a priority

College is all about juggling priorities. Between classes and homework, student organizations, internships and jobs, it can be difficult to balance things. While all of those things are important, personal relationships are important, too.

Just like you make it a priority to call home every week (or every day for some of us), make it a priority to talk and hang out with your friends. The friends you have at college are practically your family away from home at your home away from home. Treat them like it, and make them a priority in your life.

Though college is a time of growth and change, you don’t have to change so much that you grow out of your friendships. Your friends are growing, too, so make an effort to discover what you have in common. Friendships are important, so if you want to save one that’s falling apart, put in the time and effort to do so.  

The 33 Stages of Your Post-Thanksgiving Food Hangover

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year: an excuse to spend time with family and stuff yourself with delicious home-cooked meals. As you gorged on your favorites, you probably underestimated the effect it was going to have on you…and your body. Here’s what happens when you take the eating too far and experience a food coma like never before (except, you know, like maybe last year…and the year before that…)

1. You’re super satisfied but also kind of sad.

Which is how you feel after literally any meal.

2. You regret not posting a photo of the feast.

Oops, you were too busy digging in.

3. You do regret uploading all those turkey preparation pictures, because that was precious time you could’ve spent eating.

Do people not realize that there is nothing aesthetically pleasing about a dead, crispy bird?

4. Now that your plates are empty, you’re wondering just what the hell you actually ate.

Where are your mashed potatoes? How did your lap get covered in macaroni salad? Why do your fingers smell like yams?

5. You’re tempted to get another serving.

The utensils are practically begging you to use them.

6. The embarrassment sets in, because you literally ate like a monster.

Maybe this is why your younger cousins keep staring at you in fear.

7. A few relatives wonder if you're okay.

I'm fine, grandma—just holding in a fart that could destroy an entire village!

8. You're too stuffed to respond…or move for that matter. 

This is what happens when you decide to have three servings of stuffing…and green beans…and buttered rolls…

9. The itis has officially arrived, and you just want to sleep for a thousand years.

And wake up to a hot stranger kissing you, even though you’re looking more like Shrek than Sleeping Beauty right about now.

10. Soon you've got a full-blown stomach ache. 

Stomach: It hurts. Mind: I TOLD YOU TO STOP. I TOLD YOU.

11. You've got people passing you dishes, encouraging you to have more.

What did you do to deserve this torture? 

12. The nausea has grown stronger.

Your tummy feels like a balloon that’s ready to pop.

13. When your stomach starts making noises, you know it's about to go DOWN.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

14. You try to excuse yourself calmly and gracefully from the table.

In reality, you move like someone lit a fire under your ass (which is kind of what it feels like).

15. That scene from Bridesmaids starts to play in your head as you rush to the bathroom.

REALLY FEELING THE BURN RIGHT ABOUT NOW.

16. You’re not even sure what’s going to happen when you get inside.

Will you poop? Throw up? Cry? 

17. When you finally hit the toilet, your lower body is practically screaming GAME OVER.

Now would be a good time to start praying for your immortal soul.

18. You curse yourself for not being able to put down your fork earlier…or spoon…or hands.

Cue flashbacks of grabbing helpless pieces of cornbread and shoving them into your face.

19. There are a few knocks at the door, but at this point, you’ve kind of blacked out.

Can you just be left alone to die? Is that really too much to ask for?

20. You just want to crawl in your bed and stay there forever.

Dear life: "I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative."

21. And you don't even want to imagine what you look like right now.

Brb while you donate all the clothes that won't fit you anymore to your nearest shelters.

22. Actually, you plan on avoiding mirrors for the rest of your life.

You can’t bear to see the creature staring back at you.

23. You swear that you’re never going to eat again as long as you live.

As long as you have oxygen and wine, you’re good.

24. And you try to think of any excuse that'll keep you from having to return to the dining room.

Maybe your mom will forgive you for being rude if you explain that you just crapped out your organs.

25. Of course, you suck it up and prepare yourself to face the outside world once again.

This is harder than that time you tried to run for five consecutive minutes.

26. Naturally, everyone noticed your disappearance and has to comment on it.

Your uncle is making farting sounds while your aunt is shoving Pepto Bismol into your hands. Lovely.

27. So you pour yourself a few drinks, because that's the only way you'll be able to handle anything at this point.

Which is probably 100 percent a bad idea…fortunately, bad ideas happen to be your specialty!

28. You don't feel as sick as you did before…but are still proceeding cautiously. 

Wow, good thing you're sitting right by the cranberry sauce that looks like bloody Jell-O.

29. Now that you're feeling better, you remind yourself that you're allowed to indulge today.

Even though you overeat on a regular basis, but whatever.

30. And then it happens—someone brings out the dessert. 

You cannot say no to sugar. No. Absolutely not.

31. It doesn't matter if you're hungry—your mouth automatically shifts into munch mode.

Someone brought cannolis. Have mercy.

32. Seriously, who are you to resist PIE?

Pumpkin, coconut, apple—oh my!

33. You know you’re going to regret eating this much tomorrow morning, but you just don't care anymore.

Besides, you’re just going to poop it all out anyway.

The Ultimate Guide to Interning Abroad

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If you’re interested in both studying abroad and getting an internship, why not intern internationally? Interning abroad can be a great way to get two fulfilling experiences at once: it allows you to gain hands-on experience in your desired field while also immersing yourself in a different culture. If you’re interested in finding an internship abroad, consider this your go-to guide for the process!

One year before: Do your research

While study abroad program applications probably won’t be available for a few months, it’s always a good idea to get started early with some initial research. Think about what countries you might want to live in, what fields you could work in and what kinds of programs you want to commit to. Depending on the options available at your school, you’ll either go abroad through your college or through an external program. Either way, start off the process by doing some research and seeing if interning abroad is something you’re interested in. Check out what is required financially, whether or not your course schedule will allow it and what sort of visa requirements there are for each country.

If your school offers study abroad information sessions, don’t hesitate to take part! Information sessions are often a great introduction to the application process. If your school doesn’t offer such sessions, consider sitting down with a study abroad advisor. They should be able to offer you some information about what internship programs are available and what students have done in the past.

“Be diligent,” says Gretta Dattan, a senior at the University of British Columbia who interned in the United Kingdom. “Start looking for summer internships in January, and check out positions you normally wouldn’t.”

If you’re not sure where to start your search, there are tons of great resources online! Check out some great external program websites such as Intern Abroad, or peruse past study abroad students’ blogs for a little more insight.

7 to 9 months before: Narrow it down

As you get closer to the study abroad application deadline, start narrowing down your search. Decide where you want to study and intern abroad, and pick one or two study abroad programs you might want to apply to. By now, you should have a good idea of where you want to go and what you want to do in terms of an internship. Look at which programs are designed solely for studying abroad and which programs offer internship placement. 

“Definitely look for a program that has lots of options in whatever field you want to go into after graduating,” says Natalie Kelly, a senior at Santa Clara University who studied and interned abroad in London. “I chose my program based on the location, but there weren't too many options for my major. While they were able to find me a good placement, it was not necessarily what I was hoping for when I went into it.” 

Though Natalie may not have gotten the position she was hoping for when she initially applied to intern abroad, she still learned a lot throughout her experience—which is often the case.  

“The biggest piece of advice I would have for students thinking of interning abroad is to be flexible and not to get stuck on where they'll be interning,” says Michelle Kasmauskis, the Program Manager of Internships at Arcadia University. “Any placement will provide a valuable experience with transferable skills that can be used again in future internships and jobs.” 

To get ready to submit your internship program application, start by figuring out exactly what materials you'll need to submit. Chances are that there will be parts of your application that you’ll have to work on separately, like letters of recommendation or a resume. In order to have these documents ready to submit along with your application, reach out to past professors, mentors and supervisors for their help. Ask if they’ll vouch for you in the form of a reference or write you a recommendation letter for your program. Additionally, be sure to update your resume so it’s ready to be sent out to potential internship programs.

4 to 6 months before: Apply and interview

Most study abroad applications are due between four and six months before the departure date, though the timeline greatly depends on the country you’ll be traveling to. For example, countries like Australia operate on completely different schedules, so application deadlines might vary. Either way, it’s a good idea to start working on the application well before the due date.

Many programs that include an internship have an internship placement program, which means that when you apply for the study abroad program, you’re also filling out forms to apply for an internship.

“I applied in April, which is about five months before I started,” says Kristina Udice, a senior at Emerson College who interned abroad in London. “I sent out my resume and whatnot and in July, I got an interview!”

Most internship programs will help you polish up your resume and prepare for interviews, since they have already established relationships with the internship site. Most applications will ask for your GPA, references and a resume, as well as supplementary questions. Be sure to take your time and complete the application thoroughly!

3 months before: Sort out logistics

After you’ve been accepted into a program, it’s time to sort out the specifics—for instance, obtaining a visa, updating your passport and starting to learn the language. Just because you've submitted your application doesn’t mean there aren’t other important ways to prepare!

Natalie, who went through the Foundation for International Education to secure her study abroad experience, says, “I had to get a Tier 4 visa, which FIE helped us out with getting. This visa restricts the number of hours you work, since you are also supposed to be a student with it.”

If you’re staying more than a few months, chances are you’ll have to obtain a special visa in order to intern abroad. The standards vary from country to country, but in many places, you’ll need special documentation in order to work. Check out your country’s regulations far in advance, so you can apply for and obtain your visa before you go abroad.

“The biggest challenge for me was interning in a country where I did not speak the language,” says Kristina Zagame, a senior at the University of South Carolina who interned for six weeks in Chile. “Even though I Love Chile was an English-speaking workplace, going out for assignments was a little tricky because I didn’t know Spanish and couldn’t really talk to a lot of people if they didn’t speak English.”

If the country you’re going to has a primary language other than English, this is the time to start learning! Even if your classes or internship will be in English, it’s always important to immerse yourself in the culture and learn the local language.

1 to 2 months before: Make final preparations

Now that you're anxiously awaiting your departure date, it’s time to make those final preparations! Take the time to research the culture of your host country. Not only are you about to live in a different part of the world, but you’ll also be immersed in the work culture as an intern, which might be vastly different than the kind of culture you’re used to. Look up how people dress, how they interact and what is considered disrespectful in the workplace. 

“My biggest advice for collegiettes interning abroad is to try to learn and understand cultural differences before you start working!” says Kristina. “Time is a very loose concept in Chile, and this took a while to get used to in the work place (although, I did enjoy the unimportance of punctuality)! It is important to understand that what might be completely acceptable for us in the workplace may be seen as disrespectful or rude or weird in another country, and vise versa.”

If you have any questions about cultural differences, ask your future employer or study abroad advisor before you arrive so you know what to expect and how to act.

Between updating your resume, interviewing for positions and obtaining a visa, preparing to intern abroad can be a long process! But the opportunity to get two great experiences in one makes all of the work totally worth it in the end. Good luck, collegiettes! 

7 Delicious Ways to Eat Thanksgiving Leftovers

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Thanksgiving, one of the best holidays to come home for, is right around the corner! With food, football, friends and family, we all have something to be thankful for. By the way, did we mention all the food?

Although the Thanksgiving feast is great, sometimes the dishes you can make with leftovers are even better! Here are seven creative and delectable recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers.

1. Turkey stock

Recipe fromChow

One of the most versatile foods you can make with your Thanksgiving leftovers is turkey stock. Stock, or broth, is used as a base in multiple varieties of soups and cream sauces. This stock can be used to supplement chicken stock and works with several of the recipes seen below.

The trick to making great turkey stock is to fully clean the bones of the turkey. Although this sounds a little gross (who wants to touch slimy meat?), it’s definitely worth donning a pair of gloves and stripping down the bones. You’ll be so proud of your yummy turkey stock that you won’t even care!

Ingredients:

  • 1 turkey carcass
  • 2 medium stocks of celery, coarsely chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
  • 1 medium bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions:

  1. Break up carcass with a meat mallet or cleaver, so it fits in a stockpot (at least 15 quarts), and then add remaining ingredients.
  2. Add enough cold water to cover the bones by two inches and bring to a boil over high heat.
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer, skimming occasionally, until turkey flavor comes through in the stock.
  4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a large, heatproof container. Let cool to a room temperature, then refrigerate or freeze.

2. Turkey pot pie

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

This turkey pot pie takes all the best parts of Thanksgiving leftovers—the turkey and veggies—and puts them into one convenient package. What makes this pot pie so great is the sauce. Made of both broth and milk, the creamy sauce is thick with a smooth texture and salty undertone. If you want to make more use of your Turkey Day leftovers, substitute the 1 ¾ cups of chicken broth for turkey broth instead.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups peas and carrots (freezer mix)
  • 2 cups chopped green beans
  • 1 cup celery
  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 2/3 cup chopped onion
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 4 cups cubed turkey meat
  • 4 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).
  2. Place the peas and carrots, green beans and celery into a saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer over medium-low heat until the celery is tender, about eight minutes. Drain the vegetables in a colander set in the sink and set aside.
  3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and cook the onion until translucent, about five minutes. Stir in flour, salt, black pepper, celery seed, onion powder and Italian seasoning; slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Remove from heat; stir the cooked vegetables and turkey meat into the filling until well combined.
  4. Fit two pie crusts into the bottom of two 9-inch pie dishes. Spoon half the filling into each pie crust, and then top each pie with another crust. Pinch and roll the top and bottom crusts together at the edge of each pie to seal, and cut several small slits into the top of the pies with a sharp knife to release steam.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until the crusts are golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes. If the crusts are browning too quickly, cover the stew with aluminum foil after about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

3. Fried stuffing bites

Recipe fromDelish

These stuffing bites are a snap to make and are great to have in the fridge when you want to do some late-night snacking. If you love to stay up late and watch movies while eating leftovers (who doesn’t?), then this is the recipe for you. Cranberry sauce optional!

Ingredients:

  • Leftover stuffing, cut into cubes, about 2 to 3 cups
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons milk
  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Directions:

  1. Preheat oil in a pan.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Coat each stuffing cube with this egg wash, then dredge in the bread crumbs until fully coated and set aside.
  3. Once oil is at temperature, fry stuffing bites in batches until golden brown, about four minutes time. Drain onto a paper towel.

4. Turkey soup

Recipe from EverydayMaven

This hearty turkey soup is another great recipe to use with your newfound turkey-stock skills! If you want to use up more leftovers than just the turkey and the turkey stock, substitute the vegetables in this recipe for leftover carrots and potatoes from your family’s feast. When putting precooked vegetables into the soup, remember that they will cook faster than raw ones. To avoid that overcooked potato-mush texture, drop the leftover veggies in the broth five to 10 minutes before the soup is done.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium onions (or 1 extra large), finely chopped
  • 2 medium stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 3 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 8 cups turkey stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds cooked turkey breast meat, cut into ½ inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup frozen sweet peas (unsalted)

Directions:

  1. Place parsley and thyme on top of a cheesecloth and fold over sides. Roll until tightly sealed and secure with a rubber band or piece of string.
  2. Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Once hot, add butter and then chopped celery, onion and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally for 10 to 12 minutes.
  3. Add cubed sweet potatoes, herb bundle and turkey stock. Stir to combine and raise heat to medium high. Bring to a boil.
  4. Once boiling, lower heat to a simmer and cook eight to 10 more minutes until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
  5. Add ground black pepper and remaining kosher salt if necessary. Toss in cubed turkey meat and frozen peas. Continue cooking for three to four minutes until turkey and peas are warmed through.
  6. Remove herb packet.

5. Leftover omelet

Recipe from Food.com

Omelets are a wonderful way to use leftovers because there are so many options. As long as you have eggs, cheese and fillings, you can make an omelet! Fiha Adbulrahman, a first year at Rutgers University, says her favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers is to “take the turkey scraps and some of the vegetables to make an omelet with cheese.” The best part? After making the omelet, “I pour gravy all over it!” Fiha says.

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup evaporated milk
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons butter
  • 1/3 cup cooked turkey, chopped
  • 3 teaspoons onion, finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons tomato sauce
  • 3 teaspoons green pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 slice processed cheese, torn into pieces

Directions:

  1. Combine eggs, evaporated milk, salt and pepper. Beat well.
  2. Combine turkey, onion, tomato sauce and green pepper.
  3. Melt butter into 8-inch skillet, preferably with rounded sides, over medium heat.
  4. Pour into the egg mixture.
  5. Let cook without stirring until it is about three-quarters cooked, with just the top not cooked.
  6. Carefully loosen with metal spatula and turn.
  7. When the underside is cooked, spread the turkey mixture on one half of the omelet.
  8. Spread the torn cheese pieces over the turkey mixture.
  9. Fold omelet over to cover the filling.
  10. Serve as soon as the cheese is melted.

6. Leftover cranberry sauce muffins

Recipe from Kitchen Treaty

These muffins are a wonderful breakfast for the morning after Thanksgiving, so you can get your leftover game started bright and early. They are also a great vegetarian meal for those who don’t share the turkey love.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup and 3 tablespoons rolled oats (3 tablespoons are for the tops)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cups leftover cranberry sauce
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Grease a 12-cup standard–size muffin tin (or add liners).
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 cup oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, milk, vegetable oil and egg.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.
  6. Divide the batter between the 12 muffin cups, about ¾ to all the way full.
  7. Sprinkle with the 3 tablespoons oats.
  8. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops spring back when you touch them and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry.
  9. Let cool for about five minutes, then serve.

7. Mashed potato pancakes

Recipe fromJust a Taste

When you think you might not be able to take another bite, put the mashed potatoes down and save them for this great recipe. Making these potato pancakes is not only a creative way to use your leftovers, but they’re so easy to make that you can cook them with your younger cousins who are visiting!

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups chilled leftover mashed potatoes
  • 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions, green and white parts
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoons plus ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil for pan-frying

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, stir together the mashed potatoes, cheese, scallions, egg and 3 tablespoons flour until combined. Using your hands, divide the mixture into 12 portions. Roll each portion into a compact ball, then flatten it into a pancake about ½ inch thick.
  2. Place the remaining ½ cup flour in a shallow dish and carefully dredge each pancake in the flour.
  3. Heat three to four tablespoons of vegetable oil into a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  4. Fry the pancakes in batches until they’re golden brown and crispy on both sides, three to four minutes. Add more oil to the pan as needed between batches.

One way to show how thankful you are is eat all your leftovers before they spoil. Use these tasty recipes to devour all your leftovers creatively. Don’t forget the slice of pie for dessert!


The Gilmore Girls Deserved A Better Ending

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

As someone who caught on to the Gilmore Girls craze after it hit Netflix, I have waited quite a while to know how the Gilmores’ story would end. Granted, I have not waited as long as tried-and-true WB-era Gilmore fans, but still, I’ve had months going on years to think about every possible scenario. At least that’s what I thought.

In my dream world, Lorelai and Luke were happily married, and Rory finally chose a beau. I went back and forth on whether it should be Jess or Logan, but I wanted a feeling of finality to Rory’s love life. For my sanity to remain intact, I needed Rory to stop being so wishy-washy and make up her mind.

The season seven finale, which eventually served as the original series finale, left the Gilmores’ love lives somewhat up in the air. Rory had just turned down a proposal from Logan, and Lorelai and Luke were kissing on the street and trading bickering banter over coffee pours in the diner.

As a lover of all things Rory and Lorelai, I was happy with the mother-daughter duo going about their lives as normal, maintaining their quick rhythm, even if they were both single. But the series was so much about love and relationships that I couldn’t settle with the Amy Sherman-Palladino-less ending we were given when the series was canceled.

So when the Gilmore Girls revival was announced, I thought we’d finally get our answer. Yes, Luke and Lorelai are now married, and their wedding was entirely sweet and romantic and Stars Hollow-y. But after watching Rory and Logan rekindle their friends-with-benefits, no-strings-attached relationship—which didn’t work out so well for them in season five, I must say—for four installments, I thought Rory was moving toward her happily ever after.

But Logan was engaged and he and Rory said a completely devastating and seemingly permanent farewell in the lobby of a New Hampshire bed and breakfast come “Fall.”

And then there’s Jess, who appeared in the Netflix event much less than I would’ve liked. He only briefly showed us how much he still cares for Rory near the very end of the revival, staring longingly at her through her living room window. It was short, but a very meaningful glance.

With minutes left, Rory’s romantic future seemed quite dim. Then she and Lorelai exchanged the final four words:

“Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m pregnant.”

It makes sense, right? This moment is the entire series coming full circle. But it also leaves so much up in the air. Who is the father of Rory’s baby? You might think Logan, but there are rabid Team Jess fans in comment threads around the internet at this very moment arguing that that one look through a window meant he could very well be the daddy.

Regardless of if you even care who the father is or how Rory’s love life will turn out, there’s the very obvious question of whether Rory will tackle life as a single mom. It seems kind of a given, if this plot point is meant to mirror Lorelai’s story.

I totally realize these are all just details, but I don’t know yet if I can be satisfied with this conclusion of Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love that Rory will have the chance to emulate her mother and possibly raise a baby right alongside her. What better story could we ask for?

But I need more than a shocking cliffhanger of an ending to satisfy me. And frankly, I think the Gilmore girls deserved better.

Looking for more Gilmore Girls revival content? Find (and share) it here!

Rory's Career Was Too Predictable in the 'Gilmore Girls' Revival

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

Rory Gilmore: journalist. It’s something we’ve been hearing about since 2000. If a young, pre-Chilton Rory knew one thing, it was that she wanted to be a journalist—the Christiane Amanpour of her day.

Last we saw Rory, she was heading out to follow then-Senator Barack Obama on the presidential campaign trail, reporting on the front lines for an online magazine. So did she make it big as a journalist?

Well, if you count a major New Yorker article (so major that Luke printed it on the back of his menus!) and a few other features here and there, Rory Gilmore was a full-fledged journalist. With regular trips to London, a forgone apartment in Brooklyn and several bylines, Rory seemed like she had it all together.

In reality, she was rootless, as teased in the Netflix series’ trailers. She was working on a biography, which fell through. Then she decided to slum it at Sandee Says, a website that had begged her to join their staff consistently for a year. But Sandee changed her mind about Ms. Gilmore after she gave quite the blasé interview. And eventually she took over the Stars Hollow Gazette to keep her hometown paper from going out of print.

Not exactly what I—or a teenage, or even Yale grad, Rory Gilmore—pictured when we envisioned her bright journalistic future.

Eventually, Jess—her always-there-when-she-needs-him life compass of sorts—suggested she write a book about her and her mother. After much hesitation from Lorelai, Rory ran with the idea, entitling it Gilmore Girls.

While it’s a sweet concept, isn’t this the conclusion every other ‘00s-era teen drama comes to eventually? Dawson Leery wanted to be a filmmaker. Instead, he settled for a knockoff teen soap based on his life in Capeside, with the ingenious name, The Creek. And One Tree Hill’s Lucas wrote a book called An Unkindness of Ravens, which Julian later tried to make into a movie.

So ending yet another soapy teen TV show in this way seems a little predictable. It would be a charming idea—if it hadn’t already been done so many times before.

Looking for more Gilmore Girls revival content? Find (and share) it here!

10 Totally Unprofessional Things You Should Stop Doing Now

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Professional is a word you’ve probably heard constantly— in many ways, shapes and forms—throughout your college career. Your professors preach the importance of professionalism. Your parents insist you’ll get nowhere in life if you don’t start acting more professionally. Even your great grandma thinks you’d be better off if you swapped your bunny slippers for a blazer.  

Professionalism is, without a doubt, one of the most sought-after keys to success. Wondering how you should go about unlocking this important practice? The first step toward figuring out what to do is knowing what not to do, so we conversed with collegiettes and consulted a collection of experts to determine the things that’ll send you straight to the bottom of the professional pool.

1. Showing up late

Many collegiettes think that arriving a little late is no big deal. Maybe the mile-long line at Starbucks held you up. Maybe you snoozed your alarm one too many times. Regardless, even if you still made it to class with enough time to add your signature to the sign-in sheet, late is late.

Tamara Peters, the Associate Director of Career Development at Rutgers University Career Services, stresses the consequences of failing to abide by the clock. “You’ll hear this again and again—please show up on time, or earlier,” she says. Sure, running late lessens the length of time you’ll get to spend learning. But, according to Peters, “It’s disruptive to enter a classroom or lecture hall after class has started” because you’re also taking time away from those who did make it to class with minutes to spare.  

Peters says “punctuality shows that you respect your professor and the time they’re committing to educating you.” Possessing the ability to arrive promptly is proof of professionalism, so putting it into practice now will make you more likely to follow your future work schedule.

2. Completing assignments late

Every paper or project you turn in reflects on your work ethic. Therefore, falling behind on assignments is just as bad as being late.

Barry Drexler is the President of ExpertInterviewCoach.com, a source of programs and services that provide aspiring professionals with the skills needed to nail job interviews. He thinks “consistently missing deadlines on important projects” leads professors and employers to believe that you’re an unreliable person. Because professionalism corresponds to your reliability, missing the cut just won’t cut it.

Related: 7 Things Your Boss Wishes You Knew 

3. Complaining and gossiping

While wine may be pretty popular, whining is not. Isn’t it crazy how much of a difference an h can make?

Drexler says “being negative in any way” is a sure sign of unprofessionalism. That’s because listening to you whine and complain will lead others to feel as though you’re hard to please and, ultimately, not worth having on a team.

Peters agrees with this, adding that participating in gossip could also land you in some seriously hot water with your classmates and coworkers. You may not be the only one with plenty of sour things to say about your supervisor. However, it’s always better to bring them up with him or her than behind his or her back.  

4. Texting

All right, so it would be a lie to say that professionals don’t text. Even the most prestigious pros pass along a few digital words here and there. But professionals don’t text their ways through meetings.

“In today’s technological world, college students like to be constantly connected,” says Val Matta, Vice President of Business Development at CareerShift. She points out that “checking smartphones during lectures” is unprofessional because texting while we’re supposed to be taking notes tells our professors that we don’t care enough about what they’re teaching to tune in entirely. Professors aren’t oblivious. They can see when you text, and, believe us, it looks bad.

Flip your phone, put it in your pocket or do whatever you need to do to make it less of a distraction. Otherwise, Matta says your texting habit could rear its auto-corrected head in the presence of an employer and lead to trouble.

5. Disengaging from discussions

Matta also indicates that the negative connotations of texting have to do with the relationship between distraction and disengagement. “Interrupting a speaker or disengaging from the lecture fosters poor professional communication skills,” she says. This is because undivided attention is a two-way street. You can’t expect another person to consider you a professional if you are, as Matta states, “Making phone calls, texting, hanging out on social media or even running errands” instead of awarding him or her 100 percent of your attention.

Drexler adds that it’s your responsibility to know what’s going on in class or at work. If you find yourself asking questions about content that’s already been covered, then there’s a strong chance the individual on the receiving end of your inquiries is questioning your professionalism.

6. Forgetting who your friends are (and aren’t)

There’s a fine line between companion and colleague—so fine, in fact, that you may find yourself forgetting it exists.

“Friends are friends, and work is work,” says University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras senior Ashley Ortiz. Peters agrees with this distinction. “Just like in the professional world, there’s a level of formality, structure and respect that should be given to a professor,” she says. “Don’t assume you can call him or her by his or her first name, and don’t communicate in-person or through e-mail the way you would with a friend.” No matter how buddy-buddy you think you are with your bio instructor, blurring the line could, as Ashley concludes, “cause drama and misunderstandings.”

This line can be even more difficult to distinguish once you venture into an internship or job. Vicki Salemi, Career expert for Monster.com and author of Big Career in the Big City, makes an excellent point. “Your supervisor might be around your age or younger than you,” she says. “Even if this is the case, you should always respect who you’re reporting to because the age of that person doesn’t matter.”

Acknowledging boundaries will allow you to be better off professionally, so do what you can to maintain appropriate relationships with those around you.

7. Swearing

We’ve all had that professor or manager who drops F-bombs left and right. Should his or her potty mouth grant you permission to hop on board the expletive train?

According to Salemi, the answer to that is a big ol’ no. “Hearing your boss swear doesn’t give you a free pass to start swearing at work,” she says. It’s often tempting to model ourselves after our surroundings, especially in work environments. But Salemi clarifies that cursing right out of the gate knocks you down a couple rungs in the professional ranks because your foul language will encourage others to form equally foul impressions of you.

8. Forgetting to look the part

When it comes to work, impressions are everything. That’s exactly why Salemi says you need to be “polished, poised and articulate” in all areas of your life.

Temple University senior Maggie Andresen almost learned this the hard way. “I was fortunate to receive a paid internship at a respected newspaper, and didn't realize until my editor pulled me aside that the title on my online portfolio could be construed as unprofessional to employers. He told me it was the only thing that made him hesitate before hiring me,” she says. Although Maggie’s editor recognized her talent as a photographer, one seemingly small detail nearly blew her chances of working for him.

Of course, website names aren’t the only online obstacles. “Not every part-time job is created equal in the eyes of future employers,” says Regent University sophomore Michaela Bonner. “If you're a student by day and a bartender by night, don't fill Facebook with questionable or ‘sexy’ photos from work.”

Tidy up your timeline, tighten your personal brand, tuck in your shirt and take a moment to organize your desk. Otherwise, your sloppiness will, as Salemi suggests, put a damper on your professional aspirations.

9. Calling off commitments

Have you ever felt like you could—and should—do it all?

“This is something I've actually dealt with recently,” says University of Missouri-Columbia junior Micki Wagner. “For my journalism major, my school requires us to do a semester in the university-owned community newspaper.” Last week, Micki’s editor asked her if she could help cover the university’s homecoming parade. “I said yes, knowing I couldn't take it on because I have so many other projects I'm working on. But I said yes anyway because I felt like she wanted me to. Long story short, I ended up having to back out of the homecoming parade.”

The pressure to take on as many tasks as possible pushed Micki to overbook herself. Though other reporters were able to fill in and finish the job, she concludes that “the professional thing to do would've been to just say no from the jump.”

Case in point—committing fully to a few projects is more professional than stretching yourself too thin.

10. Making excuses

Whereas Micki owns her mistake, some of us are more inclined to blame our bad moves on everyone (and everything) but ourselves.

Peters points out that each excuse you drop eats away at your professional credibility. “If you’re not getting the grades you want or the results you desire, making excuses conveys that you’re not accountable for your own academic performance,” she says. Drexler adds that deflecting your errors or refusing to be proactive in correcting them might discourage others from working with you because it’s difficult to collaborate with a classmate or coworker who believes she does no wrong.

Have you been strutting down the path of professional success, or are you guilty of a few too many of these moves? Regardless of whether you’ve done none or every single one, these acts of unprofessionalism will always try to stand between you and a bright future. So, instead of swearing up a storm or pinning your pitfalls on your group members, Drexler, Matta, Peters and Salemi agree that your best bet is to sharpen your communication skills, solve problems in smart ways and stay curious about the people and places surrounding you. 

The 8 Best Cameos in the 'Gilmore Girls' Revival

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

With pretty much all the major players from the original Gilmore Girls coming back for the Netflix revival, we knew we were in for a treat. But Amy Sherman-Palladino and team also surprised us with a few outstanding cameos.

1. Sutton Foster

Foster hails from AS-P’s short-lived Bunheads, but her appearance in the Stars Hollow Musical was a non-stop laugh and even gave us an unexpected jolt of the feels.

2. Mae Whitman

We already knew GG superfan Whitman, who played Lauren Graham’s other TV daughter in Parenthood, would be guesting, but she was just too cute interacting with Lorelai and Rory. Oh how we wish it could’ve lasted longer.

3. Jason Ritter

The fact that Ritter was Graham’s longtime love interest on Parenthood made this cameo all the sweeter.

4. Peter Krause

Okay, at this point it’s just a backdoor pilot for the Parenthood reunion, but we would watch Graham argue with her on-screen brother/off-screen boyfriend for HOURS.

5. Famous chefs everywhere

Rachael Ray is just one of many celeb chefs who tries to fill in at the Dragonfly in Sookie’s absence.

6. The real Paul Anka

The real Paul Anka returned to haunt Lorelai’s dreams again—this time in sunglasses.

7. Louise Goffin

In the revival, she’s the town troubadour’s sister. IRL she’s Carole King’s daughter, who sings on the show’s theme song with her mom. GG is known for its dynamic mother-daughter duos, after all.

8. Not Chad Michael Murray

How hard would it have been to get CMM back for that super short bit at Chilton that launched Paris into full-on meltdown mode? Whoever you are, you’re a poor man’s Chad Michael Murray, you Tristan Dugray wannabe.

Looking for more Gilmore Girls revival content? Find (and share) it here!

5 Tips for Dealing with Last-Minute College App Stress

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In high school, the first semester of senior year is a college pamphlet-filled, application-loaded blur. Trying to get good grades, running around to extracurriculars and dealing with the college application process is a lot to handle! Of course, the college applications stress really maxes out during winter break, the apocalyptic moment of the entire process.

Are you coming into winter break extremely behind on your college applications and freaking out? There’s no need to worry; Her Campus is here to help you figure out how to get everything done!

1. Stop, Drop and Organize

The key to surviving the winter break college app craziness is organization. If you don’t already have one, create a college admissions binder ASAP! This binder should include a list of all of the schools you’re applying to, a calendar of deadlines (not just official deadlines, but also dates for when you’d like to get your teacher recommendations, tests, actual apps, etc. completed) and a checklist for what you need to get done and when.

Kate Masters, a sophomore at Wesleyan University, says that her college admissions binder saved her from near catastrophe during the month leading up to the January 1 college applications deadline. “Around the first week of December, I realized that I was falling way behind on all my applications,” she says. “I hadn’t written most of my supplements, nor had I been checking in with my college counselor to see if she’d sent in my transcript or other materials. I was actually going into meltdown mode from stress!”

However, one of Kate’s friends talked to her about creating a binder for her entire admissions process, and she said it saved her from disaster. “I quickly drew up a detailed calendar for the month ahead, writing out every single task I wanted to complete as well as the date and time on that day I wanted to complete it,” she says. Kate also had daily, weekly and monthly checklists to make sure that her different tasks got done in a timely manner.

“I’m so, so happy I took the time in that last month to get my head in the game and get organized,” Kate says. “I honestly don’t know how I would’ve finished my 11 applications without that binder.”

Jillian Feinstein, an college admissions consultant and founder of the admissions advice company CollegeApp Chick, says that creating an organized system will allow you to see when applications overlap, especially when it comes to essays. “Make sure to look at every supplement before you get started,” she says. “Often a lot of topics will be open-ended enough that you can recycle your essays and use them for multiple schools.” If you know what each college expects and see some places where the same essay could generally work, why not save yourself the hassle of writing extra essays?

2. Finish Your “Essential” College Apps First Before Starting Others

A lot of students get caught up in the frenzy of applying to college and find themselves applying to way more schools than they originally intended to. However, before you click your computer mouse excessively and break the bank on application fees, narrow down exactly which schools you want to apply to.

Sure, creating a college list seems simple, and it’s something you should’ve already done way earlier in the semester. But you’d be surprised how many students freak out and add a ton of colleges to that list at the very last second!

Kate made this mistake when applying to schools, even after creating her college apps binder. “I got so caught up in adding schools and trying to finish everything that after about a week, I realized that though I was getting a lot done, I hadn’t actually completed or sent in any applications yet,” she says. “I took another step back and drew up a college list of the top six schools that I really wanted to apply to—and I worked on those six applications first.” It took Kate a day to adjust her entire college apps calendar, and it made a huge difference in terms of her efficiency. She finished all of her necessary applications first before moving on to other schools.

Feinstein recommends separating all of your schools into different groups. “Put essays into ‘chunks’ with different deadlines,” she says. “If there are schools that you really aren't too fond of, or are just ‘extras’ on your list, save those for last.” Doing so will allow you to focus on the apps that you truly care about instead of caving into the last-minute panic.

3. Find Someone to Proofread Your Applications for You

It can be frustrating, time-consuming and inefficient to write your applications and essays and then try to proofread and edit your own work. Instead, find someone to help you!

Lucy Cruz, a junior at the University of Florida, had her mother and brother read over her college applications, essay supplements, college-related emails and scholarship applications. “Having my family there to help me with all of my application materials was incredibly useful,” she says. “I was able to work on other applications while they edited, and then I would go back and read over their suggestions and corrections.”

Lucy also explains that having a “team” to help her with her application process helped her turn in higher-quality applications. “I remember the first time I gave my mom a college essay to read, I was stunned at how many typos and usage errors I’d made and never caught,” she says. “How could I have read all of those essays so many times and never found some of those blatant errors? It was crazy!”

Are you stumped trying to figure out who could look over your work? Feinstein has some suggestions. “The two best resources are your English teachers, who aren't afraid to pull out a red pen or two, and your guidance counselors, who are swamped but read enough essays to know what works and what doesn't,” she says. “Other great resources are your friends who graduated [high school] last year who are good writers.”

4. Work in Different Places

When Lucy first started working on her college applications, she typed up everything exclusively at her room. However, when the December rush rolled around, she became weary of her baby-blue walls. “I really needed a change,” she says. “But I also needed somewhere that was relatively quiet, so I started hitting up this empty café in town.”

Soon, Lucy had transformed the café into her workspace. When she wanted to get her college apps done, she’d make the short drive over, buy a latte and get to work. “It was a nice change of pace, and I was also able to focus on my college applications without the distractions of my family, friends or pets,” she explains.

In addition, there was an added bonus to working this is particular space: It had no Wi-Fi. “I’m such an Internet addict!” Lucy says. “Working on my applications at home was almost impossible after a while. I’d try to turn off the Internet or use SelfControl, but nothing worked; I’d just find myself back on the World Wide Web.” Being by herself in a different space and without the distractions of electronics gave Lucy the ability to power through her applications.

5. Take a Break and Find a Support System

Think of how many friends and classmates you know who are going through the same exact process. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could all sit down and talk about how stressful the admissions game is? It turns out that doing so can be highly beneficial to you!

During the last four weeks until her college application deadlines, Kate went out to lunch or dinner with her friends once a week to catch up and decompress. “It was so nice to feel like I wasn’t trapped in my room all the time working on applications,” she says. “It was also helpful to take these small social breaks to recharge. A lot of times I’d come back to my applications feeling refreshed and ready to work!”

Feinstein agrees that it’s easy and vital to take a little time for yourself. “Even though you may feel like you're in a time crunch, you need to stretch your legs and take a few deep breaths every 30 minutes or so,” she says. “Go take a walk or do five minutes of yoga. Every few hours, go out and take a real break. Focusing your mind on something else will help you get your brain back on track.”

You’ve Got This!

Don’t find yourself in a tizzy; plan out your month, and stick to it! Find an environment where you can get everything done as well as people who can help support you and look out for you when you’re completing your apps. Your entire support system is there; you just have to find it!

17 Major Reveals From 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

With all of the hype leading up to the Gilmore Girls revival, it is no surprise that we were on the edge of our seats the entire time we were watching waiting for every major reveal. And boy, they did not disappoint. Here are the 17 biggest reveals from A Year in the Life

1. Stars Hollow is literally the same as it was in 2003

With town meetings, Miss Patty and Kirk, not much has changed around Stars Hollow. Frankly, it seems like time has not even passed. 

2. Richard Gilmore passed away from a major heart attack 

The most heartbreaking part of the revival was the flashbacks to Richard's funeral. Seeing Emily raw and vulnerable is rare, and tbh, we prefer her when she is yelling at people. 

3. Paris and Doyle got married and have kids 

And then promptly got divorced because Doyle is in the film industry now and is too "cool" for Paris. 

4. Paris owns a fertility empire

We knew that Paris was going to be some form of HBIC, one way or another. Did we expect her to own a company that helps women find surrogates to carry their babies? Nope. But either way, we are impressed. 

5. Michel has a partner named Frederic 

Throughout the series, there never was any real insight into Michel's personal life. But in the revival, we learn that not only is he in a happy relationship with a man named Frederic, but kids might also be in the near future. Oh boy. 

6. Rory wrote a big story for The New Yorker 

A big chunk of the revival is focused on Rory's job. We suspected that it would be something with writing, so we weren't surprised to find out she had a hit story in The New Yorker. But we were surprised to find out that she doesn't really have a steady job. 

7. April went to MIT 

Is anyone even surprised? 

8. Stars Hollow has a secret bar

First off, we didn't even notice that Stars Hollow didn't have a bar until it was brought up in a town meeting. But it turns out they do actually have one, which they hide from Taylor. 

9. Lane and Zack are still musicians 

And they have extremely beautiful children who are probably absolutely terrified of Mama Kim. 

10. Richard Gilmore left Luke lots of money in his will 

But the catch is that Luke has to franchise Luke's Diner with that money. Although Lorelai later makes a deal with Emily to use the funds to expand the Dragonfly.

11. Dean has a wife and kids and lives in Scranton

Married life didn't work out so well for him the first time, but this seems to be going…better.

12. Sookie left the Dragonfly

She's growing food or studying food or something like that.

13. Rory and Logan had an affair 

After years of trying to guess who Rory ends up with, we were extremely surprised to see Logan and Rory were already together in the first episode of the revival. But it's not all good. Logan is actually engaged to a French woman, and Rory has a boyfriend named Paul who no one can remember. It's not as magical as we thought, and their dalliance ends by the time "Fall" rolls around. 

14. Rory is writing a book about her and her mom

Working title: Gilmore Girls

15. Emily moved to Nantucket and quit the DAR

Totally out of character but we did love her "bullshit"-peppered meltdown.

16. Luke and Lorelai finally got married

In the gazebo, natch.

17. Rory is pregnant 

Those final four words threw us for quite a loop.

Even with all those reveals and surprises, we are still not emotionally prepared for Gilmore Girls to be over for good. 

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The 29 Funniest Moments From 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

It's been nine long years since the last episode of Gilmore Girls aired on television, and consequently, nine long years since television has seen a script that could measure up to the notoriously fast-paced wit of Gilmore Girls. While there's a myriad of gags, quips and giggles to choose from, here are 29 of the best jokes from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

1. When Lorelai delivered an apt description of the giant Richard Gilmore portrait

2. When Paris knew she could totally get away with murder

3. When Michel had nothing but contempt for all those B-level actors

4. And when he really just wanted to meet Jennifer Lawrence

5. When Kirk screened his second short film

6. And when Lorelai unknowingly made a cameo

7. Also when the film looked like this

8. When Emily and Luke sat down to discuss his imminent mortality

9. When Rory and Paris reunited with Headmaster Charleston and Paris had no patience for small talk

10. When Emily proved to be up on the lingo

11. When Paris gave some Chilton students harrowing insight into their futures

12. When Paris made a bunch of teenagers cry and still wondered what was up

13. When Paris admitted that being a mother was tough

14. When Paris had a funny way of showing her gratitude

15. Literally just any scene with Paris

16. When Lorelai couldn't look at anything without making a food analogy

17. When Rory was relatable, but with a twist

18. When April was so shamelessly April

19. And so recklessly 22

20. But mostly just shamelessly April

21. When Michel voiced his opinions about parenthood

22. When the town put together a production of Stars Hollow: The Musical

23. When it was months after the fact and Rory was still fresh out of undies

24. When there was some raunchy mishandling of a piping bag

25. When Sookie and Michel had a heartfelt reunion

26. When Jess thought Luke looked hot

27. When Luke knew his girls too well

28. When Lorelai was equal parts supportive and threatening

29. And last but not least, the biggest joke of them all

Because HA!

I trusted you, Palladino. I trusted you.

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The 18 Best Pop Culture References From 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

What would the Gilmore Girls revival be without dozens of pop culture references packed into its four episodes? Amongst the big reveals and familiar faces, Lorelai and Rory fast-talk their way through the 21st century, proving that they are still just as relevant today as they ever were. From the Kardashians to Game of Thrones, here are the 18 best pop culture references made in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

1. The Kardashians

Lorelai tells Luke that she was “organizing her magazines by Kardashian” on the cover.

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

“Apologize to your parents," says Paris. "Tell them you’ll pay them back for the two semesters you spent studying Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s effect on the feminist agenda.”

3. Gone Girl

“I’ll send you a DVD with my top picks. I’ll also include a copy of Gone Girl. NPH was great in that," says Paris.

4. Uber

Kirk's ride-sharing business, Ööö-ber, is an obvious copy of Uber.

5. Brexit

Naomi's all-too-real quote: “God, I hate England. I’m voting for Brexit. It’s just a protest vote. It will never win.”

6. Skrillex

Rory jokes about Michel to Lorelai, saying, “Play him some Skrillex. That always calms him.”

7. Airbnb

"The other will stay behind and just rent the space to the next person like it's an Airbnb," says Emily on Luke and Lorelai's "roommate" situation.

8. LinkedIn

"You invited me on LinkedIn," Francie reminds Paris.

9. Lena Dunham

The Girls star gets two shout-outs in the revival. Rory moves out of her Brooklyn apartment and says, "Lena Dunham will just have to get along without me." Paris mentions that Dunham is moderating a panel at the 92nd Street Y, too.

10. Cronuts

Crodoughcakes are being hailed as "the new cronut."

11. Yelp

"I'm a big Yelper," says a man Rory interviews while in line for the crodoughcakes.

12. Star Wars

Rory has a one-night stand with a guy dressed in a Wookiee costume. So many Star Wars jokes follow.

13. Game of Thrones

Rory has the boy at the pool call her Khaleesi. She also refers to Nat Compton as a White Walker. 

14. Spotlight

Rory mentions The Boston Globe and Spotlight while discussing the Stars Hollow Gazette with Lorelai.

15. Hamilton and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Hamilton gets multiple shout-outs during the Stars Hollow Musical. 

16. Katy Perry

Katy Perry wants to buy a convent from a bunch of nuns.

17. Kanye West

Lorelai quotes Kanye West to Emily: “I ain’t saying he’s a gold digger.”

18. The Social Network

Lorelai tells Rory to drop the “The” in her manuscript The Gilmore Girls because it’s “cleaner.” This is a nod to Justin Timberlake's Social Network line.

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The 25 BEST Moments From 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

Since the Gilmore Girls revival has come out, we basically haven't stopped screaming. We keep smacking the people next to us in excitement, and we know we're going to have to rewatch it at least 15 more times this weekend. There are a lot of best moments in the revival, but we've tried to narrow it down to the highlights for you. 

Winter

1. When Luke makes dinner for Lorelai and Rory

Because nothing has changed! 

2. Kirk's pet pig, Petal

3. Emily quoting The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

And wearing jeans!!!!

4. RORY AND LOGAN KISSING 

(Please enjoy this terrible early 2000s photo of them.)

5. Paris running a surrogacy clinic? 

And she's rocking her Bonnie/How to Get Away with Murder haircut!!!

Spring

6. We see Mr. Kim for the first time ever

7. Lorelai and Emily go to therapy together?

Like, how did you think that would go? 

8. The town hall meeting! 

9. a film by kirk

10. Rory and Paris head back to Chilton

11. Doyle and Paris fight like the old times

12. The girls head to the Big Apple

Summer

13. We find out that April hasn't changed at all

14. When Rory decides to save the Stars Hollow Gazette

15. The Secret Bar

Like, we are screaming. This is too much. Also, Zack got so old? Lane looks the same, but Zack looks so old. 

16. Distributing the Stars Hollow Gazette

17. The play

Parts of it were funny. Parts of it were fast-forwarded through. 

18. Jess shows up!!!

19. When Lane is there for Rory

Fall

20. When Lorelai does Wild

21. The Life and Death Brigade shows up

We're not crying, you're crying. 

22. When Lorelai calls Emily

23. When Luke goes on his rant

We won't spoil the bit that comes after, but FINALLY OMG. 

24. When Rory reminisces 

Okay, this is our favorite of the episodes. We are def crying now. 

25. Rory and Lorelai kiss and make up over ice cream

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5 Foods You Should Eat Mindfully

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The constant struggle to eat healthy and in moderation is a normal problem for many collegiettes. We all love a good 2 a.m. pizza binge or McDonald’s run, but there are definitely certain foods we should limit in our diets to keep our health in check. However, there is not a single thing that you should absolutely never eat.

According to Dr. Jessica Jones, a registered dietitian and adjunct professor at Messiah College, “A common myth is that there are good foods and bad foods, but there aren’t. All foods can be included in a healthy diet, as long as they are eaten in moderation.”

That being said, there are still foods to avoid eating on a regular basis, especially if you’re looking to reach your fitness and nutrition #goals.

1. Potato chips

Nothing beats our desire for a salty snack quite like potato chips. Whether you’re an original flavored or sour cream and onion type of girl, chips rarely disappoint.

However, after the PMS cravings tone down, we recommend limiting your potato chip intake. Every brand is a bit different, but they are often high in empty calories, salt and trans fats. When combined, these three factors can influence the way you feel and can even make you feel bloated.

When it comes to differentiating between different brands, Dr. Jones says, “A potato chip is a potato chip; all brands are essentially the same regardless of the flavor.”

She also had some great advice when it comes to portion control while crunching on your favorite kind of chips. “I would recommend taking a handful and putting it in a bowl, and then putting the bag away, or keeping snack-sized bags around to help balance out portions. If you do want more chips, it then becomes a conscious decision to go back and get more versus mindlessly eating from the bag” she says.

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to classic potato chips, Dr. Jones recommends “baked chips and crunchy veggies with ranch/hummus/peanut butter dip, or any dip for that matter!” To maintain a balance between healthy and treating yourself, Dr. Jones says, “if you eat potato chips daily with a sandwich, maybe try a side of crunchy veggies with dip or any kind of baked chips 2-3 days of the week, and have your regular chips on the remaining days.”

2. Fatty meats

There is nothing wrong with having meat in your diet, since lean beef and chicken are great sources of protein and iron. However, you should limit eating fatty meats like salami and sausage on a regular basis.  

The main culprit in these types of meats is saturated fat. For many collegiettes, your total daily saturated fat intake should be about 12 grams. When you eat a serving of many packaged meats, you will often go over this amount just from this one food item. By choosing lean meats and incorporating them alongside other non-meat sources of protein, your diet will be more balanced and well-rounded. 

Dr. Jones says that “lean chicken, ham, Canadian bacon and turkey provide good protein and a little less fat than salami, sausage and bacon.” 

RELATED: 10 Simple Tips for Staying Healthy in College

3. Ramen noodles

Although they are a common college staple, affordable and easy to make, Ramen noodles are not your healthiest dinner option.

One package contains 14.25 grams of fat, so you’re getting about 130 calories from fat alone. They also contain an above average amount of saturated fat, which can raise your risk for heart disease and wreck havoc on your digestive system.

Even though it’s both cheap and filling, limiting the amount of Ramen in your diet will help you to keep your fat intake in check and leave you feeling healthier.

4. Fast food

When you’re in a rush or waiting on a paycheck, heading to your fave fast food joint for dinner is often a common occurrence. It’s convenient and tastes so good, but it's important to make sure you're not eating it daily.

To keep your blood pressure and heart health in good condition, try to make sure you aren’t eating fast food more than once a week. Dr. Jones offered some fabulous advice for the times when you are trying to decipher between various fast food restaurants. 

“Many fast food restaurants are expanding their menus to include side salads, entree salads and additional fruit, vegetable and yogurt options. Also, choosing grilled over fried meats at any fast food restaurant will be a good choice. I know that Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Panera have perfectly healthy, balanced and tasty options available for customers wanting to make that choice” she says.

5. Frozen dinners

As finals draw near, finding the time to cook a nutritious meal is practically impossible. Frozen dinners take the pain out of cooking, since you can easily microwave a meal from your freezer and enjoy it in a matter of minutes.

The portion size of many frozen dinners is what tends to add an extra unhealthy layer to the meal, in addition to an excess amount of unhealthy fats and additives. Before you finish the meal, you probably have consumed a fair amount of your daily calories and a surplus of your recommended daily sodium intake.

How can you tell which frozen dinner options are healthier than others? Dr. Jones says “it's hard to say which frozen dinners are the ‘best’ because often frozen dinners such as Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers are extremely low in calories—between 200-300 calories a meal—which can leave you hungry.  

To make the most of frozen dinners, she recommends “choosing a dinner that includes vegetables, protein and a carbohydrate and has between 500-600 calories a meal. This ensures better nutritional adequacy and would be comparable to a meal that you would be served at the cafeteria or would make on your own.”

By watching what you eat and allowing yourself to indulge with junk foods on occasion, you will satisfy all of your cravings without ruining all of your fitness achievements and healthy eating.

Like Dr. Jones said, a healthy diet is all about the 80/20 rule, which stresses the value of filling your plate with healthy foods 80 percent of the time and still allowing yourself to enjoy all of the other foods you love the rest of the time.

“It’s all about getting the best nutritional bang for your buck, in a sense,” she said, “but you can choose what you want to eat as long as it follows that type of model.”

15 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' Moments That Made Us Ugly-Cry

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

We laughed, we cried, we laughed while crying—these were the inevitable stages of watching Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. We're finally back with our girls, our Stars Hollow, our grumpy old backwards-baseball-hat-wearing Luke and our Kirk (plus his adorable pig, Petal), and we couldn't be more emotional. We knew we'd inevitably end up crying, if only for the fact that Edward Herrmann, who played Richard Gilmore, passed away in 2014 and wouldn't be able to join the revival. These are the 15 (expected and unexpected) moments that made us cry the most while we binge-watched our return to Rory and Lorelai.

1. Rory returns to Stars Hollow

2. Those flashbacks to Richard's funeral

3. A Second Film by Kirk premieres

4. Rory and Logan say farewell…for good?

5. Jess convinces Rory to write a book

6. Rory's memories in the Gilmores' house

7. Sookie returns to the Dragonfly

8. Emily says "bullshit" to the DAR, finally

9. Lorelai calling Emily with her Richard story

10. Emily kisses the painting of Richard

11. Every moment between Jess and Luke

12. Jess looks in Rory's window

13. Luke and Lorelai finally elope

14. The entire wedding scene

I'm not crying, you're crying!

15. The last four words

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11 Things That Didn't Happen in 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' But Should Have

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Warning: If you have not seen Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in its entirety, STOP READING NOW. The below is filled with spoilers.

We've all been waiting forever for this moment—the Gilmore Girls revival finally hitting Netflix. Whether you watched the show in its original run and knew all about the season seven controversy or you binge-watched it on Netflix and felt a lack of closure after the end, you've probably been sitting on all kinds of questions for the last nine years. We have too. And while A Year in the Life answered many of them, it also left us with so many moments that should have happened but didn't.

1. Emily sees Lorelai get married

Given how many jokes there have been about this, it would've been nice if Emily could've seen Lorelai get married. 

2. Rory chooses a guy

We get the whole woman empowerment theme going on, but we also need answers!

3. The town wedding

This show is notorious for skipping over crucial moments (Sookie's wedding, Rory and Dean's first breakup), but it still would've been cool to see the whole town come together for Lorelai and Luke.

4. Paris and Doyle get back together

They were the ultimate power couple, despite their flaws. Paris is a BAMF who doesn't need a man, but that doesn't mean she should be divorced from Doyle.

5. A small explanation about Mr. Kim

He either rose from the dead or we're supposed to believe he was there the whole time?

6. Jess at Luke and Lorelai's wedding

Why was Lane there but Jess wasn't? Luke and Jess are clearly on much better terms, so what's going on here? 

7. Lane and Zack break up

If anyone was going to get a divorce, we wish it would've been Zack and Lane instead of Paris and Doyle. Lane deserved so much better.

8. Rory publishes her book

It was cool to see Rory writing a book based on her and Lorelai's life (even though it's done to death in TV shows), but it would've been even cooler if she'd published it, or at least gotten confirmation from a publisher that they wanted it. 

9. Closure with Emily's new beau

It seemed a little weird that Emily was happy dating someone new, especially since she cried after her first date while she and Richard were briefly separated. We would've preferred she mourned and moved on without the romantic entanglement. 

10. Lorelai gets over her issues with Jess

We get it, he broke your daughter's heart years ago, but he's also Luke's nephew and it's clear how much he's matured now. Seeing Lorelai apologize to him (and vice versa) or just a simple nice moment between the two would've been epic.

11. More Sookie

Yeah, we know this one is because of Melissa McCarthy's schedule, so we can't blame the storyline. But it also seemed a little out of character for Sookie to be so out of touch for so long.

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