Kelsea Ballerini has been climbing her way to the top ever since she got her start in country music. Now, with a Grammy nomination under her belt and a headlining tour underway, it seems the 23-year-old country music singer/songwriter is having her best year yet.

Photo Credit: Austin Lord

We got the chance to see the superstar in concert at Boston’s House of Blues. With a line around the block outside the venue hours before the show started, it’s hard to imagine this is Ballerini’s first solo tour. But that fact is not lost on her.

“Putting together this tour, I was a little bit nervous because I’ve been opening for two years, so I didn’t really know how to put together a 75-minute show,” she told us. “But we’re almost done and even looking back on it already, I feel like it’s been one of the most reassuring and reaffirming things I’ve done as an artist. To see every song on the record have a life and people know every word has been cool—to get up close and personal with people and just say thanks.”

Of course, a successful performance relies on expert song choice. Her now-Platinum ballad “Peter Pan” is among her favorites to sing live. “People sing that song louder than I ever can, and it’s just so cool seeing how that song connects to people in ways I’ve never seen before.” Probably because we’ve all dealt with a guy who refuses to grow up, right ladies?

Incorporating covers into her set also helps to keep Kelsea’s music interesting and fresh for those fans who know her lyrics by heart and love to belt them out with her. “I love doing covers that tell stories leading into one of my songs,” she said. “So I do a mash-up of ‘Let It Go,’ ‘Sorry’ and ‘Apologize’ talking about the story behind ‘Peter Pan,’ so that’s been really fun to incorporate.”

Although going on the road is every musician’s dream, you have to wonder how she manages to stave off homesickness. For Kelsea, it’s all about making her surroundings feel like home, no matter what city she’s in. “I’ve made my bus kind of my home away from home by decorating it with a bunch of sparkles, throw pillows and cozy blankets, so it’s kind of become my little sanctuary on the road.”

Kelsea doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon either. She’s been working on new music for a while and has even been debuting some of the tracks in concert. (Spoiler alert: We heard one, and it’s fantastic!)

The response Ballerini has received thus far has exceeded her wildest expectations. “To see people know every word to every song that isn’t released yet and only exists on YouTube has been crazy,” she shared. “Especially my song ‘Roses’—it doesn’t exist anywhere but people have given it such a life, and I’ve only played it nine times total.”

Photo Credit: Austin Lord

It’s no surprise that Kelsea continues to break barriers and set new limits for herself as an artist and a woman. We have a feeling 2017 is going to be even better!

With the holiday season in full swing, you’ve done your fair share of shopping. Between buying school spirit-wear for your grandparents, and spending way too long picking out the perfect holiday dog collar, you’ve forgotten to treat yourself! We’ve got the perfect bundle of some of our favorite brands, because we think you deserve it, collegiettes!

With a passion for purpose, Dagne Dover focuses on exceptionally smart designs that allow you to feel in control of your life and not worry too much about the things that can slow you down. With a unique blend of utility and style they’ve created a thoughtfully-minimal collection of products that go further than the rest.

While a cavernous black-hole bag can make you feel just as disorganized as its contents, a sophisticated, organized handbag makes you feel ready for anything. Dagne Dover lets you feel like you’ve always got it together. Let Dagne Dover shoulder the burden so you can focus on the things that really matter this holiday season.

Stay cozy at the lib this finals season with Mindy Mae’s Market: a boutique fashion destination that brings first-rate, expertly styled clothing to your everyday life.

Privilege Clothing is a global fashion destination for style enthusiasts. Fuel your Privilege Clothing craving with a $200 e gift card!

State of Grace is a premium loungewear line designed for life’s less graceful moments. These easy to wear, quality pieces are designed with deadly hangovers, pizza addictions and Netflix marathons in mind. Sport a State of Grace water bottle at your next yoga class.

While your gift of giving is commendable this holiday season, it’s important to not forget about treating yourself! Enter below to win this basket filled with unique products!

Treat Yourself Goodie Basket

Celebrities, they're just like us! Turns out that they too sometimes forget to wish their besties a happy birthday. Blake Lively celebrated Taylor Swift's 27th birthday a little late with a sweet Instagram, which she posted last night. 

To make up for being tardy, Blake shared an adorable selfie of the two blue-eyed blondes captioned, "People Who I Not Only Really Love, But Also Really LIKE, That Were Born Yesterday." She added, "you know how I feel." We think she does!

Lively also used the opportunity to give a shout-out to her brother-in-law Bart Johnson (you know, Coach Bolton from High School Musical), who shares a b-day with Swift. 

Now that Blake is all caught up on with her birthday wishes, what will she spend the rest of her week doing?

Hate to admit it, but finals are right around the corner *starts sobbing*, and collegiettes everywhere are getting ready for the most dreadful week of the year. What's the most stressful part you ask? The library. Here are 15 signs you know it's finals season, and the lib has lost all chill. 

1. People actually started bringing sleeping bags and camping out

2. The line at Starbucks is equivalent to Frodo's quest to Mordor

3. The book aisles have turned into nap nooks

4. There are literally no seats or tables available

5. Which will lead to people sleeping and studying on the floor as a last resort

6. The library has reached max capacity

7. You have never faced a bigger struggle than trying to find a close outlet to charge your laptop

8. Good luck trying to find an open computer

9. The vending machines somehow ran out of your favorite snacks

10. If you managed to find an open seat, you're now surrounded by a whole bunch of random people

11. You've never seen a longer line to the bathroom

12. You've convinced yourself that a wooden library chair is more comfortable than your bed

13. You've resorted to using tears to underline important notes because they're more sustainable than highlighters

14. Watching someone else's breakdown is easier than studying

15. Everyone around you looks like this...

After listening to "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" on repeat, the question still bothering everyone is how exactly the Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift collaboration came to be. We're definitely not complaining—just curious. 

For the most part, Jack Antonoff—AKA the producer mastermind behind three songs on the eternally brilliant 1989, among other genius musical productions—orchestrated the collaboration. "I spoke to her on the phone, and she heard the song because Jack had played it to her. So she really liked it, and she went in the studio the next day," Zayn said on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. 

Still, just reaching out to Taylor Swift to see if she wants to be on a track? Bold move. But Zayn had some insider knowledge that helped him build up the courage to ask her.

Turns out, the collab can partly be accredited to Gigi Hadid, Tay squad member and girlfriend of Zayn. "The interesting thing was that she is actually friends with Gi, so she already reached out because Jack had just played her the song anyway, just because we'd done it together and she really liked it and she'd mentioned to me that she liked the song," Zayn said. "So I already kind of knew in the back of my head that she liked it."

Now that that's settled, we'll just go back to listening to the song on a loop. 

The holiday season is all about color and delight—so what better way to celebrate than with some sweet seasonal tats? Here are some of the best holiday tattoos (permanent or not!) that we know will bring you cheer.

1. Ring in the New Year

Simple, chic.

2. Oh, Deer

This design is too cute!

3. All I Want for Christmas

This sheet is full of the best of the season, from Cindy Lou to a gingerbread man.

4. Travelling Gingerbread Man

Because why not?

5. Puppets on Parade

For the fun of it.

6. Snowflake Heart

Always lovely.

7. String of Lights

Love these!

8. Snowfall

Because you're a ~special snowflake~.

9. Listen carefully

A great way to keep it understated, but fun.

10. Deck the Halls...

...WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY, FALALA LALA LALA LALA. (I like the holidays—can you tell?)

11. Candy Cane Lane

So sweet.

12. Tree Tops

Could this BE any cuter?

13. You're So Deer to Me

Absolutely precious.

14. Wrapped in Red

Is this what Kelly Clarkson meant?

15. Twin Trees

Literally a million times better than friendship bracelets.

16. December Blooms

Getting a strong Rifle Paper Co. vibe here.

17. Wreath Goals

Too lovely for words.

Happy holidays, collegiettes!

Sex sells—that's the idea. It's certainly the idea in a lot of TV shows, movies and plays that use steamy sex scenes to create an *exciting* experience. But how exactly do they do it? How do they make these scenes so hot and convincing without anyone actually having sex? Refinery29 sat down with sex choreographer (which apparently is a thing) Yehuda Duenyas to get the dirty deets on how productions pull off great sex scenes.

Pre-Game

Like any scene, sex scenes involve planning ahead. Duenyas makes sure to separate the actor from the character. In these opening dialogues, he wants "to create a bumper between, 'Oh my god, I'm going to actually be naked on stage rubbing up against this other person,' as opposed to, 'I'm playing a role.'"

Comfort 

A lot of his process involves making the actors comfortable—because real sex can be awkward and fake sex can be even worse. Duenyas emphasizes that consent is incredibly important to creating a sex scene. Just like real sex, no one should have to do anything they didn't agree to. 

"I've seen [plays] where, you know, one actor is gung ho—and this could be male or female—and is just going for it. And it kind of blows through personal boundaries and makes the other person feel like it's going too fast, or uncomfortable. And if you get into that really uncomfortable place, it's actually a lot of work to unwind that," Duenyas says. 

Nudity can also sometimes be an obstacle to overcome. As Duenyas explains, in one play he was working on, "We actually all got naked together on stage and just hung out naked for five minutes [and] just got comfortable with the idea that we were going to be naked in front of other people."

Just chilling, naked, with your costar and "sex choreographer" doesn't sound very comfortable, but Duenyas points out it's a way to shed the shame we've become accustomed to associating with sexuality.

Logistics

Sex scenes actually involve an incredible amount of technicality. Before the actors even get naked, Duenyas has them do a mundane walk-through of how the scene will play out. 

Then, the scene we see on camera really begins to unfold. Duenyas says they move on to rehearsing naked, strategically placing pillows and blankets. Next up is the "real nuts-and-bolts stuff. Like, 'When you lie down, and she has to put her knee right in between your legs, and you need [to] make sure that your balls and your dick are up off the bed so she doesn't crush them, so you need to hold them with your hand.'" You know, the obvious concerns. 

Who knew so much planning went into making a sex scene look effortless? We'll def be watching way differently the next time our fave characters get down.

The day I never thought would come has finally arrived. I know we've been down on you, 2016, but who knew you would be the one to give us the first-ever look at Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's ADORABLE daughters?

This is a particularly momentous occasion for James, who has managed to stay out of the spotlight for two years. The couple's oldest daughter hit the unveiling of Ryan's Hollywood Walk of Fame star with mom and little sis in tow. It goes without saying that this was the cutest thing that has ever happened literally ever.

Excuse me while I pick out a frame for this photo.

James obviously inherited her mother's sense of style.

Baby Reynolds, given that the public doesn't know her name yet, is obvi still a little camera shy.

Now that I've seen ~real~ photos of these children, I may have nothing else to live for. Oh well—TOTALLY worth it.

Gigi Hadid is at it again! The ultra-famous model has gone au naturel a second time for high-end footwear brand Stuart Weitzman. In her latest ad, she wears nothing but the designer brand's "Clinger" sock boots, appearing effortlessly nonchalant in black and white. Weitzman hoped to capture an image with "distinctively minimalist aesthetic" while still putting the boots front and center.

Gigi is not new to Stuart Weitzman: she has starred in multiple ad campaigns, including one with fellow VS Angels Joan Smalls and Lily Aldridge, as well as partnered up with the brand to create the Gigi boot. This girl can't be stopped! You go, Gigi!

While showing the New York Times around her colorful and quirky office, Terezfounder Zara Tisch revealed the inspiration for creating her brand's wildly imaginative legging designs. "I wanted something that would make me feel good about myself," she explained. "But there wasn’t something that I could just go to a store, pick out, wear and smile and feel fun about." What better way to do that than by spreading "love, freedom of expression, female empowerment, inclusivity & positivity" through everyone's favorite athleisure garment, leggings? 

Some of Tisch's most popular designs include:

Women's Emoji Performance Capri Leggings ($75.00 at Terez)

For when you want to wear your heart on your sleeve legs.

Women's Skull Performance Leggings ($78.00 at Terez)

Scarily cute. 

Women's Fair Isle Purple Performance Leggings ($78.00 at Terez)

Perfect for a cozy night in this winter.

She's even been noticed by celebs like Olivia Wilde and Lena Dunham:

Would you wear these leggings, collegiettes?

Tyra Banks' version of America's Next Top Model, while not always the most inclusive, did dip its toe in the small sector of the modeling industry that's accepting of diverse body types. Cycle 13 featured exclusively girls who were 5'7'' and under. And Cycle 10 gave us the series' one-and-only plus-size winner, Whitney Thompson. 

So when we heard the series was returning on VH1, we hoped a new wave of body positivity would take over. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Just ask Orange Is The New Black actress Danielle Brooks, who took to social media to air her frustration after watching the Cycle 23 premiere of ANTM. 

Brooks, a strong advocate for body positivity, was disappointed by the lack of plus-sized models in this season's lineup. In an Instagram post, she wrote, "Out of all 24 girls not one was plus. You had an Asian, African, a red head, transgender, an androgynous sister, even twins...(much love for that) but not 1 plus size woman-when 67% of women are plus in the US??"

While Brooks feels that the show is diverse in several ways, she pointed out that the Rita Ora-fronted iteration missed out on a huge opportunity to showcase not only a variety of body types but also designers of plus-sized fashion. 

Preach, girl!

Brooks ended her post by addressing plus-size women. "We are worth these incredible opportunities. We deserve to be seen. I'm going to continue to push back and speak up for that young girl that wants to model, wants to act, wants to be upfront and needs to be reminded that she is just as deserving as anyone else."

We need more voices like Danielle's advocating for ALL body types. It's great to see such an influential actress loving her body and taking a stand for those who aren't being represented!

The overall internship process is a struggle, and you deserve a break. You have to apply like crazy to positions you might not even get, come to terms with being broke AF while working your butt off and also somehow find the time to focus on your studies. Overwhelmed? Same. That’s why we have a few career building suggestions you can do on your own time without the stress of intern life.

1. Blog

You’re already sitting at your computer all day watching Netflix, so why not fit in some productivity? Blogging is cheap, fast and necessary for any person trying to market themselves to future employers. You get to have a website all to yourself to humblebrag about your accomplishments and lowkey pretend like thousands of readers are invested in your daily life. Girl, get on this!

Hayley Brandt, a junior at James Madison University, is a fashion blogger and has found blogging to be necessary for establishing her personal brand and connecting with other women who share her passion. “My blog is handy because I can send interested employers to it, and they’ll see a polished, fashionista version of myself I want to sell them,” she says. “I can also network with women who have my same minimalist fashion style and career interests, and one day we might help each other get hired!”

Whether you’re a numbers whiz whipping up your own math theory, an aspiring writer or future POTUS, your blog is a tangible way for people to get familiar with you and your skills. Plus, whatever you blog about will be practice for the real thing one day! Make sure to check out platforms like WordPress and Squarespace for your first blogging experience. This creative outlet is definitely a collegiette-approved way to build your career.

Related:Which City You Should Work In, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

2. Certificate Programs

Maybe your major isn’t cutting it, or you can’t stand sitting in your gen ed lecture any longer. If you’re looking for a new area of study, we recommend completing an online certificate program to add supplementary knowledge towards your professional interests and put that extra cherry on top of your resume. Even if you’re so over classes and homework, a certificate program involves short term study for all the rewards.

Tammy Martin is a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and while she specializes in helping engineering students find their paths after college, she works with Cal Poly students from all majors. Dr. Martin thinks that any student pursuing a multifaceted career should pursue an extra certificate. “Many students are surprised to hear about the option of certificate programs, but I recommend one at least once a day,” she says. “I just had an Architectural Engineering student come in who was worried about his success in areas of design and art, so I pointed him to online programs that would be more marketable on his resume than an internship would be when he enters the workforce.”

Sarah Ahern, a junior at UCLA, has tried this approach and loves how helpful her certificate is. “I got a feature film writing certificate from UCLA because I want to be a playwright but I thought this would help me too,” she says. “Now if I ever want to write film scripts or need to for my job I’m totally equipped to do it, and I feel like it makes me more desirable to hire since I can do both.”

From massage therapy to medical transcription to court reporting, any hiring manager would be so impressed to see that you took the time to put this extra skill under your belt. Also, can’t we agree this sort of training is way more rewarding because of how specifically targeted it is?  A certificate or two will do wonders to build your career. Don’t wait any longer!

3. Network

It’s true that you have the power to make your dreams happen, but having help from others doesn’t hurt either! Networking with professionals and peers that share your career interest will help teach you what steps you need to take to get your dream job, give you a foot in the door to more opportunities and guarantee you a few friends in the business. Some of the people you network with may be your key to an internship or employment opportunity, so take advantage of communication.

Lucy Campbell is a junior at Aberdeen University and has seen the benefits of networking. “After my first internship I stayed in touch with everyone I met through LinkedIn, and then the summer after one my co-interns I worked with got hired at a law firm and helped me do a summer program there by giving me a recommendation,” she says. “During the program, I networked like crazy and tried to meet everyone, and since then I’ve kept in touch so maybe someone will hire me later.”

To network, start by reaching out to all the professionals you know so far. Check in and see how their lives are, then ask if they know of any open opportunities. Even if they say no, still ask to conduct an informational interview with them. For every new experience, try to make a genuine connection with people and lasting professional relationship. Not only will these new friends help you build your career, but also keep you feeling supported.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Networking

4. Volunteer

If you’ve failed at getting an internship and Googled “internship alternatives” (we know you have), you’ve probably found that one of the top recommendations is to spend your time volunteering instead, just to something to put on your resume. However, just because you didn’t get that internship shouldn’t make a volunteer opportunity into settling. In fact, volunteering is a gratifying way to pursue your passion while also giving back in a meaningful way. ~Plus~ you get to put it on a resume so it’s a win all around.

Morgan Mazzocco, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, has found that volunteering is invaluable. “I want to go to grad school for museum studies, but in the meantime I’m volunteering in local museums to get experience,” she says. “I think people get turned off by the idea of working for free, but in a way volunteering is just like doing an unpaid internship. Through volunteering I’ve learned how to handle art and set up exhibits, which gives me so much prior experience to what I’ll do in grad school.”

Dr. Martin agrees that volunteering is something you should actively pursue. “Oftentimes volunteering will give you hands on experience that an internship won’t. You should put multiple volunteer activities on your resume by the time you graduate.”

The most important thing is to volunteer somewhere that matches your professional interest. The work can help you learn a specific skill or fill in gaps in your knowledge. This supplementary learning may be even more valuable than an internship would have been, so definitely seek out volunteer opportunities. You’ll be thanking us later!

5. Start your own project

If an internship isn’t in your future, then take matters into your own hands and start a personal passion project. If you’re an artist, then illustrate your own graphic novel. If you’re a physics buff, then compile some independent research. Whether you travel, design or invent, take that time you would have spent interning to create tangible work you can show off. It’s personally fulfilling, and if your project is successful then definitely seek out getting your work published or bought. Even better, university departments will often pay for your independent project, so talk with your department head to see what options are available. Let’s be real, we’d take pretty much any cool opportunity that comes are way, especially if we don’t have to pay for it.  

Don’t get stuck thinking that an internship is the only way to advance your future. From marketing yourself on social media to asking your professor for a reference, there are small things you can do every day to set yourself up for unprecedented success. When you are ready for an internship, make sure to check out our job and internship board for the best opportunities. We can’t wait to see how you do!

If keeping yourself from going over your Christmas budget wasn't hard enough already, Kylie has just upped the ante big time. After opening up her first holiday pop-up store for her wildly successful brand Kylie Cosmetics, the Kardashian starlet has announced on her brand Instagram that with every online order, customers will receive a free "Merry" Lip Kit. The free products include a lip liner and liquid lipstick in the shade "Merry," a true red with slight blue undertones from the holiday collection. It's no surprise that Kylie fans the world over are going crazy for the announcement, which means that if you want one of the coveted lip kits, you better act fast!

One lip kit not enough to satisfy your craving? Kylie's also holding a giveaway for her "Holiday Box," which includes eight full-size Matte Liquid Lipsticks, 2 full-size Glosses, her Kyshadow Holiday Palette, 1 Snow Kyliner Kit, and all three of her holiday edition Crème Shadows. How's that for a stocking stuffer?

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Fashion Food Fotos, an InfluenceHer Collective member. Read the full post here.

Blackheads have been an issue for me for as long as I can remember. As soon as I was old enough to know that faces had pores, and that sometimes pores had dirt, I became borderline obsessed with fighting the oxidized sebum buildup known as blackheads. For me, draining a pore is as satisfying as popping bubble wrap. Sorry if that depiction grosses you out, but it’s true. Figuring out how to get rid of blackheads was my mission every night after brushing my teeth. My extractor was my friend, and the constant redness on my T zone let everyone know it. Eventually, I was lucky enough to develop even more skin issues (dry, sensitive skin, hormonal acne, you name it) and knew I needed a skin care makeover. After months of reading, research, and talking to professionals, I’ve finally admitted that I needed to throw out my extractor and deal with my clogged pores in a more delicate way. Below, I’ve compiled a list of the best 7 tips I have on how to get rid of blackheads.

Oil cleanse first

Using an oil cleanser isn’t just great for removing makeup, it can also help loosen the dried out sebum in your pores (AKA blackheads). I know it seems counter intuitive to rub oil all over your face when that’s the very thing you’re trying to get rid of, but remember that oil and water don’t mix! How can you get that oil out of your pores when it naturally repels the water you’re washing your face with? Exactly. I use pure Jojoba Oil as my first cleansing step, since it is chemically very similar to the sebum your pores, and therefore is better at “mixing” with the blackheads and cleaning them out. Be sure to do your research when buying an oil cleanser, there are a lot of brands that have “oil cleansers” that “rinse clean” that are actually not made of oils at all, but synthetic ingredients that are meant to feel like an oil before you add water to it. While these cleansers are great for breaking up makeup, they don’t serve the purpose we are looking for here.

Steam

Read the full post here.

If you haven't been living under a rock, you've probably heard of a little brand called Kylie Cosmetics. Founded by reality TV and social media star Kylie Jenner last year after the mega success of her first lip kits, the brand has grown to include not only matte liquid lipsticks, but metallic shades, eyeshadows, and eyeliner as well.

The brand hasn't escaped criticism, though—from the beginning of her first launch, customers complained that her liquid lipsticks were too drying and thick, while others reported that they received empty packages in the mail. Now people are saying some of her lip kit shades are inconsistent.

Reddit user taffslavender posted this pic of her full size and mini versions of the color "Kristen," asking other users if they had an explanation for the difference in color.

Several other people chimed in about their own experiences with color inconsistencies, with some even saying Kylie Cosmetics shipped them a color different than what they had ordered. One user noticed that the offending shade looked suspiciously like Kylie's "Ginger" lip kit instead, with several people agreeing.

Will we ever learn the truth? Probz not. But with Kylie and her team constantly reviewing and improving her products, we're hopeful that she'll fix the problem soon.

Whether you’re talking about a boyfriend, brother or guy friend, every girl has sent a text or two like this to her best friend. Maybe you’re frustrated with the male species or unsure how you’d live without them, but at least your best friend (usually) has all the right answers.

1. "Do you think his first name would sound good with my last name?"

"And tell me I'm not being creepy."

2. "Why are guys’ pants either too baggy or super tight?"

"I will never understand men’s fashion."

3. "How can I tell if he’s into me?"

"Other than asking him directly, obviously."

4. "What does it mean when he texts you ‘Hey, what’s up?’"

"He can’t simply just want to know how I’m doing."

5. "Do you think he’s a fuckboy?"

"I don’t want to give my heart to another player!"

6. "What in the world do you buy a boy for Christmas?"

"They’re seriously the hardest people to buy for."

7. "I wonder if he's as good a kisser as his mouth makes him seem."

"Are your suuuuure I'm not a creep?" 

8. "Why are boys so confusing?!?!"

"They don’t know how hard they are to deal with."

9. "How do I tell him I just want to be friends?"

"Because I think he’s looking for a bit more than friendship."

10. "He’s hurt me for the final time. We’re done."

"Okay, I mean we’ll actually be back together by next week."

11. "I think he's the one."

"Even though we're only a couple hours into our first date." 

12. "Do you think that we’d make cute babies?"

"I’m most definitely a creep now." 

13. "What kind of girls do you think he’s into?"

"Aka. Do you think I’m his type?"

14. "OMG that guy from last night just sent me a dick pic."

"And yes, it’s making me very uncomfortable."

15. "What dress do you think he’ll notice me in?"

"I just want him to notice me when I walk in a room."

16. "Boys suck."

"Please bring over some ice cream and Nicholas Sparks movies ‘cause it’s going to be a long night."

17. "Why can’t all boys be like Ryan Gosling?"

"Every time he plays a different character I fall in love all over again." 

18. "Seriously, what would we do without boys?"

They drive us crazy, but we love them anyways.

If anything is true, it’s that boys can definitely be confusing. Whether you need your friend’s help decoding a message or figuring out if he’s into you, we bet you’ll always be sending texts like these to your girlfriends to help you figure out what’s going on inside the male mind.  

1. This internal dialogue: “Okay, so if I get up now, I have 15 minutes to change and 10 to be out the door. Easy!”

“…That is, if I even make it out of bed in the next half hour.”

2. The fact that starting a project an hour before it’s due has become so second-nature to you that you aren’t even sure if you could get started earlier and actually finish it

3. Swearing every time you’re late that this will be the last time

But you mean it this time! …Okay, or maybe once or twice more.

4. Your friends are so used to your lateness that they’ve started telling you events start earlier than they actually do

That way, you might just manage to be a couple minutes late instead of twenty.

5. You’ve downloaded at least three different calendar apps by now

And you’ll keep downloading them for the rest of your life… One of them has got to actually be helpful!

6. Getting a watch as a passive aggressive birthday present

With a card that might even have a little doodle of the white rabbit on it. That’s you!

7. The satisfaction of running into a room just as the clock ticks the exact minute you were supposed to arrive

Shouldn't you be getting some kind of award for this?

8. Professors’ glares and pauses when you walk in late and have to take about three hours to find somewhere to sit down in the lecture hall

Sometimes you have to just give up and sit on the floor anyways.

9. Real adrenaline rushes come from work emails asking how the project you have due tomorrow is coming along

It’s going great, boss! I’ve definitely actually started working on it. Totally didn’t forget about it until I got this email just now. Just gonna stay up all night working on that…

10. Missing the openers at concerts, which can be either a blessing or a curse

Either you were pumped to watch them open, or you didn’t know who they were anyway and now you’re that much closer to seeing the headliners come on!  

11. “Hey, remember when that thing happened yesterday?” “No, what?” “You were here!”

But you were late. Late enough to miss that hilarious thing that happened in the fifteen minutes before you arrived. It’s okay, you’ll hear your friends telling their kids about it in a few years. It was that funny.

12. Questioning how you still have any friends even though you’ve made them all wait half an hour for you to show up at least once…

13. And being grateful that they still love you anyway!

14. Apologizing at least three times a week while all flustered and exhausted

I’m really sorry it took me so long—You can tell by how out of breath I am right now, right?

15. That awkward moment when your excuse for your lateness sounds totally fake—but it isn’t!

16. The internal debate over whether to actually come up with a fake excuse or not

And these are the ones that sound more real…At least, you hope so.

17. Getting ready to leave in 15 minutes, flat

You have an 8 a.m. tomorrow? It’s cool, you can totally wake up at 7:45 and make it there on time. Probably.

18. The satisfaction of arriving somewhere early for once…

19. And the total cluelessness about what to do until the actual starting time

20. Having everyone’s eyes on you when you walk into a room late

Christmas came early this year in the form of not one but two Carpool Karaoke segments this week. Last night, James Corden was joined by the OG Carpool Karaoke guest Mariah Carey and sang along to her classic hit "All I Want for Christmas is You." The pair teamed up with a special cast of all-star celebrities including Adele, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez. 

The video brought things full circle by featuring celebs that appeared in past Carpool Karaoke episodes. Ending the year with a special holiday-themed segment was the perfect way to round out 2016. And it was a throwback that we didn't know we needed because this song is the ultimate karaoke song and has been getting us into the holiday spirit for decades. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are typically secretive about the lives of their children, but all our dreams came true when the actors brought James and their newest daughter to Ryan's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. While we can all agree that Blake and Ryan have the absolute cutest family ever, one thing we weren't aware of is how similar James and Blake look—especially when comparing her to Blake's childhood photos. 

In a photo uncovered by Us Weekly, James looks almost identical to Blake as a child. 

Just look at the curly tresses, gray eyes and carefree smile! Oh, and let's not forget their similar funky fashions at such a young age. We can only assume that James will grow up to have the amazing fashion sense her mother does. 

There is something about the holidays that really makes us feel the love and be overwhelmed with gratitude for the special people in our lives. From ice skating while holding hands to warm nights cuddled up with hot cocoa to a perfect New Year’s kiss, this time of year makes our hearts grow three sizes. While we know our hearts are swollen with love for our significant others, how do we know they are feeling the same way? We asked Dr. Carole Lieberman, M.D., Beverly Hills psychiatrist, to find out. Here are some sure-fire ways to know if your beau loves you more than the sun, the moon and all the stars. 

1. They make time for you

Though it may seem simple, making a consistent effort to make time for you shows how much someone cares for you and enjoys your presence. We’re not talking about someone calling you every Saturday night at 3 a.m. kind of consistent, we’re talking about someone who makes time for you even when they don’t have it. Someone who truly cares about you will go out of their way to see you, even if it’s just for half an hour between classes during finals week.

Dr. Lieberman says that someone “always trying to persuade you to get together—and not just for sex” is a sign someone is sincerely into you. Someone who truly loves you will make small excuses to see you just because. In truth, they don’t need a reason. Wanting to spend time with you is more than enough.

2. They truly listen

Whether it’s listening to you rave about your new favorite band or complain about a teacher you aren’t getting along with, someone who really loves you will listen to you fully without judgment or distraction. And they don’t listen because they have to, they listen because they want to and they genuinely care about your feelings, thoughts and ideas. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a loved one’s eyes sparkle when they talk about something they love and nothing more special than hearing a loved one open up to you about something painful for them that most people don’t know. These moments foster the special connection that couples who truly love one another have. Dr. Lieberman tells us that in the moment, you can tell they are truly listening if they look you in the eye and respond to you in a way that shows they’re thinking about you.

"If they return what you said in future conversations, or take action on something you mentioned that you would like, this is proof that they cared about what you were saying," Dr. Lieberman says. When someone truly listens, they’ll remember the little details that even you forgot about. Sarah Hong, a senior at the University of Michigan, says that she feels particularly loved when her significant other “remembers the smallest details, things even I wasn’t paying attention to.” It shows that they care about what she has to say, and that they were fully present when they were hanging out. In a time where it’s easy to get sucked into Instagram or distracted by Netflix, it’s hard to find something as comforting as someone who stays with you in the moment and listens to what you have to say wholeheartedly.

Related: 16 Signs You're Dating the Person You're Meant to Be With

3. They care for you when you’re sick

They don’t need to be at your bedside with a cold washcloth and ibuprofen, but when you’re sick they are sincerely sorry and ask if there is anything they can do to help. Maybe they send simple texts throughout the day to ask how you’re feeling or maybe they stop by and bring you soup, saltines and ginger ale. Dr. Lieberman says, "Some small gestures commonly used to express love can be anything from a hug, to bringing you chicken soup when you’re sick.” These gestures are seemingly small, but when you’re feeling low they can mean the world.

Someone who really loves you wants the best for you mentally, physically and emotionally. Josephine Brown, a freshman at the University of Michigan, says that her boyfriend choosing to hang out with her when she’s sick “even if something big was going on that night that he was missing” would really show his dedication to her.

4. They care about the little things

Someone who truly loves you cares about the little things, like how you like your coffee or whether you like to study with or without music on. It’s these little details that make you who you are and because they care for you fully, they care about finding each and every one of these little details out.

Colin, a sophomore at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, says, "Anyone can be pleased by a nice dinner—you don’t know if you’re loved by that or not." But when his girlfriend brought him a fan, which he likes to have on as he sleeps, to make him comfortable when he stayed the night after a family fight, it showed him how much she loves him. It meant a lot to him that she paid attention to something as small as liking a fan on before going to bed and proved to him just how much she cares.

Dr. Lieberman tells us we’ll know if they truly appreciate the little things about us and the little things we do for them if the person smiles genuinely, says thank you “and then does some sweet little thing for you in return.” Relationships are all about give and take, and appreciating and savoring these moments are what makes it all worth it.

5. They tell you they love you

Though it’s easy to be shy about your feelings, when you truly love someone you can’t hold it in. Someone who really loves you will tell you—not only once, but probably a hundred times. Some of those hundred will be with words, and some will be with actions. The actions don’t always have to be extravagant like a bouquet of roses—Dr. Lieberman tells us that sometimes it can be as simple as a hug. She continues to say that “putting in a lot of effort into making your dates special” or “texting you cute messages that make you smile just to let you know they’re thinking about you” are ways that your significant other lets you know they love you without saying it outright. Although, we do love to hear those three little words!

cute-college-couple.jpg

While there are ways your significant other can express their love for you such as bringing you soup when you’re sick or sending you a simple text message to remind you they’re thinking about you, when they truly love you, you’ll just know. Whether it’s from the sparkle in their eyes or a smile they can’t contain, their love for you will be written all over their face. And when you find a love that true, make sure to show them you love them just as much, and don’t let them go.