Spring break is right around the corner, and if you’re lucky, that means friends, sun, sand and bikinis. However, after a winter of eating junk food and binging on Netflix, you might not feel quite bikini-ready. If you’ve been slacking on healthy eating and regular workouts, now is the time to get back into shape! Whether you want to tone up everywhere or focus on one specific area, here are some fast ways to get toned and look your best in time for spring break!

1. Crab push-ups

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We all want biceps that can rival Jennifer Aniston’s, but arms can be a difficult area to target. Crab push-ups are a great way to tone multiple arm muscles at once for maximum results.

1. Get in the “crab walk” position: sit down on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, with your palms on the floor and your fingertips facing inward towards your body.
2. Push up with your arms to raise your body off the ground.
3. Slowly lower yourself back down, stopping just short of touching the ground, and repeat.
4. Do 20 reps.

These can be challenging at first, so try starting out doing 10 at a time if you need to, and adding more as you get stronger!

2. Arm circles

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Arm circles are an incredibly simple and effective way to tone your entire upper arm. To challenge your muscles, use wrist weights or hold a small weight (one to three pounds) in your hands.

1. Keeping your arms straight, hold them out to your sides so your body makes a “T” shape.
2. Move your arms in wide, slow circles.
3. Complete about 25 reps (one full circle is a rep).

3. Reverse crunch

Ab workouts can get repetitive and monotonous, so change it up by introducing some new exercises! The lower abs are a difficult area to target just by doing crunches and sit-ups, so the reverse crunch is a great way to tone this area.

1. Lay on the ground with your knees slightly bent (as if you were doing a sit-up) and your arms at your sides.
2. Raise your legs until your hips are slightly off the floor.
3. Slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
4. Complete 15-20 reps.

4. T-bends

T-bends are a move that can help you whittle your waist and get that coveted hourglass figure.

1. Using a pair of light weights (about three to five pounds), hold your arms out in a T-shape.
2. Keeping your arms straight out, slowly bend at the waist to the side, and then return to the starting position.
3. Repeat on the other side.
4. Complete 10-15 reps.

5. Warrior I pose

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Yoga poses can be extremely effective for toning. The Warrior I pose is a great way to tone your legs and give you a great head-to-toe stretch at the same time!

1. Raise your hands above your head and arch your back.
2. Lunge forward with one leg, so your knee is at a 90-degree angle to the ground.
3. Hold this pose for 30 seconds, and then repeat on your other leg.

6. Side leg raises

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To tone the muscles on your hips and the outsides of your legs, which are often hard to target during regular exercise routines, consider trying side leg raises.

1. Lay on your left side with your legs straight out and your left arm cushioning your head for support.
2. Slowly lift your right leg, keeping it straight, until it is at about a 45-degree angle from the ground.
3. Hold the position for a few seconds, and then slowly lower your leg, but don’t bring it all the way down.
4. Repeat 15 times on each side.

To make this exercise even more challenging and effective, try adding ankle weights.

7. Medicine ball squats

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Squats are one of the most effective moves for toning your booty to make sure you’ll rock your bikini bottom! To make a basic squat even more effective, incorporate a medicine ball into the move.

1. Choose a mid-weight medicine ball, eight to 12 pounds depending on your preferences, and hold it out from your chest.
2. Squat down so your knees are at a 45 degree angle to the floor, making sure your knees don’t go past your toes.
3. Slowly raise yourself back upright.
4. Complete 20-25 reps.

The added weight from the medicine ball will make your muscles work harder, leading to faster results! Squats can often be difficult to do correctly, so try watching this tutorial to ensure you have perfect form and won’t injure yourself.

There’s always pressure to get into perfect shape for spring break, but don’t stress out too much. Eat right, work out, try some of these toning exercises, smile and you’re sure to rock your bikini no matter what!

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a workout class led by Luke Milton, a trainer who appears on Khloé Kardashian's fitness reality show Revenge Body, at his Training Mate studio in West Hollywood. I was expecting to lose my will to live a little bit during the 45-minute class, but I actually got through it with minimal damage. Yes, that is a humblebrag (you guys, I'm, like, sooo fit). Besides being somewhat easier than I had anticipated, the workout was lots of fun, went by quickly, and was definitely effective, judging by how my hamstrings feel right now. Here's everything you need to know about Luke and Training Mate, and a little more than you wanted to know about me.

Luke Milton

Luke hails from Australia, where he was a professional rugby player. Back in Sydney, he founded his studio, Training Mate, which he brought to Los Angeles in 2013. There are now two locations—one in Studio City and one in West Hollywood. In the U.S., Luke is best known for his work on Revenge Body With Khloé Kardashian. The premise of the show is to help people regain confidence after a breakup by training them and providing makeovers, which is actually a pretty smart concept if you think about it. In person, Luke is friendly and welcoming; his energy is overwhelming and slightly intimidating if you're at all shy and awkward like me. He describes himself as "not drunk, just Australian," and likes to make jokes about buns. Because who doesn't?

My fitness background

For reference, I work out four to five times a week, alternating between reformer pilates, barre, spin, Fitness Blender videos, and the occasional run or hike. I have been exercising pretty regularly for five years. I'm definitely no fitness buff (I can barely do a pushup, fam), but I'm also not horribly out of shape.

The class

The workout is a 45-minute circuit training session. There are three stations, each of which is comprised of three exercises that each participant performs for 45 seconds in a rotation, three times over. So that's: 3 x 3 x 3. The class concludes with a core series and a stretch. The format of the class I took was as follows:

Station 1

• Burpees with a step-up
• 4 jump squats & 4 jump lunges with TRX
• Weighted side lunges

Station 2

• Deadlifts
• Elevated bridges
• Squat pulses on a bosu (I did them on the floor because my balance is embarrassing)

Station 3

• Mountain climbers (I HATE mountain climbers)
• Rowing machine
• Spin bike climb

Core (each exercise performed once for 45 seconds)

• Tabletop crunch hold
• Toe touches
• Tabletop crunches
• Plank hold
• Side plank hold
• Penguin crunches
• Russian twists (complete with Russian-themed puns courtesy of Luke)
• V-sit
• I'm probably forgetting something

Because each exercise is only performed for 45 seconds at a time, it's very feasible for people of all fitness levels ("you can do anything for 45 seconds"). I struggled the most with the jump squats (owwww), the mountain climbers and the toe touches. Otherwise, I feel like pilates adequately conditioned me for this, and I was really proud of myself for getting through it (can you tell?). And I'm 100 percent not saying that this workout wasn't useful or effective—as I mentioned, I'm definitely feeling it in my hamstrings, and I expect to feel it in my ~buns~ tomorrow. I guess what I'm saying is that it was more fun than painful, which in no world is a bad thing. If you're in the L.A. area, Training Mate is an awesome workout option. You can sign up for class packages here.

Revenge Body With Khloé Kardashian airs every Thursday on E!

Love triangles are nothing new on The Mindy Project. First came Cliff and Danny (although she was OBVS going to pick Danny), and then last season we saw Mindy debating over whether to get back together with baby daddy Danny or stay with new beau Jody. When she chose to be alone instead, I thought it was the end of love triangles with Mindy Lahiri at the center and rejoiced. Love triangles may be exciting, but they're also an overused trope in the rom-com world. However, it appears that the show is hoping the third time's the charm with a new love triangle. This time it's Mindy versus the ex-wife. This could get ugly, real fast. 

After Ben and Mindy's reconciliation last week, we find Mindy finally meeting Ben's ex-wife, Patricia. Ben claims he didn't want them to meet because his ex is "crazy," but Mindy insists that no woman could be crazier than her. When Mindy finds out that Patricia wants to get back together with Ben and plans on moving back to New Jersey to make that a reality, she freaks out. Yet again, she finds herself entangled in a love triangle…only this time she's the one competing for someone's affection. 

We all know Mindy can be a bit overly enthusiastic and dramatic, but the idea of pitting two women against each other in a battle for who can be the craziest in order to win a man seems beyond this show. This love triangle only enforces harmful stereotypes about female relationships and emotional stability, especially considering Mindy seems to have very few female friends on the show. The idea that a woman has to be "crazy" and competitive to find and keep love is an outdated and overused concept. Although Mindy has concerns when she finds out Ben had an affair during his marriage, she should be confident enough in her relationship to trust that Ben isn't interested in reconciling with his ex-wife, even if Patricia is sure she can win him back. 

Considering the Mindy/Danny/Jody love triangle was only reconciled at the beginning of this season, isn't it a little soon to be jumping into a new one? One of The Mindy Project's greatest strengths has always been Mindy's ability to mix amazing chemistry with humorous romantic situations, but with Mindy meeting Ben so quickly after vowing to stay single and now a budding new love triangle, the show seems to be jumping around a little too much. It's time to ditch the overhyped love triangle and let Mindy find love without having to compete for it. 

By Jacklyn Gilmor

In virtually every coming-of-age movie, along with the Queen Bee and the Hot Jock, there is a stereotypical ‘Loser’ with a blotchy, pimple-spotted face. This character is usually viewed as gross and untouchable, unattractive and unimportant. They may even be nerdy, which makes them even more of a target for the casual insults tossed around by the glowing, clear-faced popular characters.

I always felt a little like that character.

I’ve had inflammatory acne for almost ten years–since grade four–and I’m now nineteen. It’s not showing any signs of clearing.

I used to hate my face

I used to look at my face in the mirror and cringe. I would pick at it and pull at the skin because I just wanted to get rid of it, and I hated how my face was a sea of red bumps. Was I ugly? Was I that loser in the movies that everyone thought was gross and untouchable?

It was awful. I had (and still have) every kind of pimple under the sun: blackheads scattered across my cheeks and nose, whiteheads rising under my cheekbones, painful red bumps on my jawline, scars littering my forehead and chin… I thought there was no way I could be considered pretty with all that tainting my features.

I’ve tried virtually everything: creams and exfoliants and face washes galore. I’ve used coconut oil. I wash my face twice a day. But it seems to be a hormonal problem, so I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it. In my high school years I discovered makeup, and although it didn’t completely hide the fact that I had acne, it did a decent job of making it look less red and–as I saw it–made me appear more attractive.

I thought if I just wore the foundation and concealer, I’d be halfway normal, and no one would ever have to see the hideous marks in their full, painful glory. I couldn’t leave the house without a full face of makeup.

Plot Twist

I am beautiful.

At some point, I realized that my acne was here to stay, and I decided to change my perspective. It wasn’t really an exact point in time, but more of a process wherein I decided that I wasn’t going to be ashamed of something that was a part of me, that I couldn’t change. I began to look in the mirror and focus on the features that I liked instead of allowing myself to see only what I hated. Exhibit A: my eyes. I’ve always thought I had nice eyes, big and framed with long lashes. So I put on some mascara and strutted my stuff. Exhibit B: my smile. Sometimes I smile too much, but it’s okay; I decided I had a nice set of teeth and a happy grin, so maybe I should smile more often. I was more than the series of pimples that dots my face, and I needed to realize that. After a while, I noticed that others saw that too. I’d catch a cute guy looking at me when I wasn’t wearing any makeup sometimes, or I’d get someone I just met telling me I looked pretty.

A Newfound Confidence

So some days, I don’t even wear makeup. None. No mascara, and especially no concealer on my pimples and scars. Surprisingly, I find that I feel more confident without it, because if I can bare my true face, acne scars and all, to the world, then I can do anything.

I went down to my university’s cafeteria the other day, having been in my room all afternoon working on an assignment. I had my hair in a messy bun, my glasses on instead of contacts, and definitely no makeup. As I stood in front of the glass partition to the kitchen, deciding between empanadas and stir fry ("be healthy," I was telling myself, but the empanadas looked SO good), the older lady serving me smiled. She had the sweetest eyes. “I wish I still looked like you,” she said. “You have a beautiful young face.” Her words almost brought me to tears. Even though I had decided that I could go bare-faced in public, I still have moments of self-consciousness. I still go through periods where I get an especially nasty breakout and doubt my own attractiveness. But that one little compliment changed my day. I was reminded again that I am more than my skin condition, that I have so many parts of myself to be proud of.

It’s a Part of You

Acne isn’t something to be ashamed of. It doesn’t make people cringe away from you, and certainly doesn’t make you ugly. It’s a battle you go through sometimes, and it makes you tough. So when you’re scrubbing away in frustration with that hundredth bottle of face wash that’s supposed to do wonders, remember this: you are gorgeous. Your acne does not define you, it is simply a part of you, and you notice it more than anyone else. 

To sum it up: you are tough, you are unique, and you are beautiful. And maybe you have acne. Accept it, and embrace it, because your life will be so much better for it. Believe me, I know.

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

Glamorous may seem like a contradictory word to describe introverts to some but it is actually an accurate way to describe a lot of us. The stereotype is that we are plain, boring, unexciting people, but many of us are very creative and have numerous ways of expressing ourselves. Some of us paint, some of us sing, and some of us use our style—from delicately designed nails to sporting a pair of eye-catching shoes. For introverts, being glamorous isn’t just liking to wear makeup or nice clothes, it is literally our form of expression. So with that in mind (and being the introverted glamour girl that I am), I decided to share with you some literary picks that are great reads for our special breed.

The Irresistible Introvert by Michaela Chung

All of the books on this list have changed my life in some way but this one has done so the most. Being an introvert can be so confusing sometimes and this book has answered most, if not all, of the questions I have ever had about myself. From internal demons to external struggles, this book touches on it all. The author also makes this book even more enjoyable. Michaela Chung is a stylish blogger with a love for salsa dancing and traveling—she’s just like us! I have to read her book with a highlighter in hand because of the numerous statements of value and inspiration. This is simply a must-read for introverts.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Anyone who knows me knows about my endless love for The Wizard of Oz. That’s not only because I could watch the 1939 film on repeat and not get tired of it but because I really do love the story itself. There is a reason this tale has endured in the midst of countless others—from the quirky characters to those beautiful silver slippers that every little girl wishes she could grab right out of the book and try on for herself. But for introverts, the aspect of the unsuspecting hero is what really resonates. The Wicked Witch of the West underestimated the power of a young shy girl and let’s face it, a lot of people don’t expect much from us either! This story encourages us to do the “impossible” but it is also about appreciating what we have and never taking advantage of the ones who love us the most. Us introverts need that reminder sometimes as we can be so overcritical of ourselves.

Read the full post here.

When you compare the queen of Twitter's husband to a cartoon aardvark, you must prepare yourself for all kinds of savagery. 

One Twitter user made a "lowkey"comparison of John Legend and Arthur earlier this week, claiming that the two look alike. The tweet quickly racked up thousands of retweets and likes, as all of Twitter basically agrees that the resemblance is uncanny. See for yourself: 

Naturally, Chrissy Teigen had the most perfect response, reminding us once again why she is the ultimate.

Chrissy is known for her clapbacks and Twitter sass, so it's no surprise that she utilized the famous Arthur fist meme in response to the tweet. Apparently John Legend had a response of his own, but it's not nearly as savage as Chrissy's. (Mostly because he doesn't even know who Arthur is. Like, what?!)

Oh, John. 

While Trump may not have gotten his ban, he certainly isn't going to let that stop him from cracking down on immigration. According toThe New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security is planning on rolling out drastic changes based on Trump's newest executive order. In a set of documents released Tuesday, several government agencies are gearing up for inensified focus on illegal immigration, led by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Not only does he want his wall to keep people out, Trump also wants to make it REALLY hard for the undocumented immigrants who are already here.

The polices include a widespread plan to crack down on "abuses" in which minors who come into the country by themselves receive protection, even when they have a parent living legally in the U.S. And while the government was previously focused on deporting undocumented immigrants who committed violent offenses, the new reforms seem to show that immigration agents will now have the power to detain and deport those who commit ANY criminal offense. The documents also detail an expedited deportation process. Prior to the Trump administration, the only people expedited were those who were in the country less than two weeks and were within 100 miles of the border. Under the new plans, anyone who has been in the U.S. for less than two years is eligible for expedited deportation. Obama was known as the Deporter-In-Chief, but his administration was never this hard on immigration.

In order to accomodate these new policies, the relevant agencies will have to add more resources. ICE, will likely have to add 10,000 agents while Border Patrol estimates they will have to add up to 5,000 new agents. There are also plans to expand and create more detention facilities to accomodate the sheer volume of immigrants. Local law enforcement officers would also have the power to enforce immigration policy.

Additionally, the administration plans to add an office to aid families whose loved ones were killed by undocumented immigrants, according to the Times. Authorities will also be able to prosecute parents who smuggle their children into the country. Despite these sweeping reforms, DREAMers, or people who were brought into the U.S. illegally as children, seem secure. The Department of Homeland Security has said they will be unaffected. 

As with any Trump rollout, there is already opposition mounting from pro-immigration activists and sanctuary cities. Meanwhile, CNN reports confusion among many politicians and agents alike. But the Department of Homeland Security seems committed to these new policies.

According to NBC, the documents are currently under interagency and White House review. However, if approved, the Times reports, these programs would roll out relatively slowly to make sure everything's done right.

Confession: I regularly cry at TV shows. Tbh, watching Parenthood just about killed me. So when I heard that This Is Us was going to reduce me to Parenthood levels of tears on a weekly basis, I was ready for the emotional cleansing to begin.

I watched week after week, waiting to really get choked up over something. It almost happened when I thought Dr. K was going to die on Christmas Eve. And when I realized Kevin’s ex-wife is Sophie—the same Sophie we witnessed him fall in love with at his Princess Bride-themed 10th birthday party. And again when Kevin cradled his brother as he suffered from a crippling anxiety attack. I’ll admit I got misty-eyed. But I never really cried.

Until “Memphis.” This week’s episode, appropriately titled for Randall and William’s road trip to the city where William grew up, had plenty of sentimental moments. William telling Tess and Annie goodbye, looking down on them. Randall taking his biological father a half day off course to “meet” his adoptive father and pay his respects. William’s journey from Memphis to Pittsburgh playing out in flashbacks.

These are the kind of perfectly sappy This Is Us moments I’ve become accustomed to. After making it through these hearty scenes, saying goodbye to William was a punch to the gut that I wasn’t expecting.

William’s death was all it took to break my cry-free spree. I didn’t just shed a single tear or let my eyes fill up with water without sacrificing a drop. I SOBBED. For a solid 10 minutes.

I, like Randall, thought William would be returning to New Jersey, to see the girls, Beth, Jessie and the others before dying. From the moment Randall stopped denying the ER doctor’s assessment of William and let the news sink in to the time the ducks waddled in front of Randall’s car on his drive back home, I was ruined.

I have become attached to William. I knew his death was coming and that it would be hard. Each week, I’ve remarked, “I really don’t want him to die.” Sixteen episodes was not enough to prepare me. A million probably wouldn’t have been either.

I guess my reaction is a testament to William’s presence on the show—his growth from stranger to part of the family—and the compassion, regret and humility Ron Cephas Jones has brought to the character. This Is Us won’t be the same without William’s present coinciding with the Pearsons’.

At least maybe his death has readied me for Jack’s inevitable demise. Though I’m sure I’ll be a puddle of tears then, too.

Transgender students in many states may once again have to fight for their right to be recognized as the correct gender.

A White House official said Wednesday that President Trump will give back to state governments the ability to determine policies for transgender students in schools. For example, states will be able to decide whether or not schools must allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. Barack Obama's administration required all schools to recognize transgender students as their chosen gender, saying they were protected under Title IX, which stipulates that educational institutions cannot discriminate on the basis of sex.

Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary said the president “believes that the transgender protections are a states’ rights issue and not one for the federal government.” According to the Huffington Post, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was against rescinding Obama’s order but was convinced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to sign off on it. Spicer later stated that DeVos wasn’t against signing the order at all, and that there were no disagreements between her and Sessions.

Trump has been very inconsistent on transgender rights. During his campaign, he said that transgender people should be able to use the bathroom they choose, but he clearly doesn't feel strongly enough about that to continue Obama-era protections.

This should go without saying, but transgender people should absolutely be recognized as the gender they identify with. But for now, transgender students will have to fight at the state level for their rights. This definitely isn’t the end of the discussion in terms of transgender rights in the federal government—in March, the Supreme Court will rule if Title IX does indeed apply to gender identity. So let's not totally lose hope.

On Tuesday, a federal judgetemporarily blocked Texas from cutting off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, citing that the state had presented no credible evidence to support claims over secretly recorded videos taken by anti-abortion activists in 2015. The heavily edited videos are what led to a mass Republican effort across the United States to defund and ultimately shut down Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.  

This decision came just two months after Texas governor Greg Abbott promised constituents that he would remove Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding in Texas, upon the release of the very misleading video, which featured a Houston clinic. According to The New York Times, the secretly recorded video from April of 2015, “purported to show Planned Parenthood officials trying to illegally profit from the sale of aborted fetal tissue and discussing the issue with abortion opponents who posed as representatives of a biomedical company.” However, United States District Court Judge Sam Sparks wrote in his ruling on Tuesday, "A secretly recorded video, fake names, a grand jury indictment, congressional investigations—these are the building blocks of a best-selling novel rather than a case concerning the interplay of federal and state authority through the Medicaid program. Yet rather than a villain plotting to take over the world, the subject of this case is the State of Texas’ efforts to expel a group of health care providers from a social health care program for families and individuals with limited resources."

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says the state will appeal on the repeated accusations that Planned Parenthood "manipulated the timing of abortions to benefit researchers." Planned Parenthood denies these allegations and Sparks says there is no evidence to back up any of these claims.

While the battle between state lawmakers and Planned Parenthood has been ongoing since Roe v. Wade, Texas is the sixth state in the country where federal courts have kept Planned Parenthood eligible for Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion-related services. Abortion already cannot be paid for with federal money, due to the Hyde Amendment. The Associated Press reports that Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana have fought similar battles.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards called this a “victory for Texas women," saying We will never back down, and we will never stop fighting for our patients.”

Warning: Spoilers ahead! Oh, and you'll want to grab some tissues. 

In last night's episode of This Is Us, titled "Memphis," an emotional journey unfolded as Randall and William (Randall's biological father) traveled to his hometown of Memphis, Tenn. Battling Stage IV cancer, this episode would be William's last. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died in the comforting hands of his son.

This was obviously a very emotional episode for both the viewers and the actors, so creator Dan Fogelman attached a short yet powerful personal letter to the episode's script in order to bring some comfort to the cast. He posted a screenshot of the note on Twitter after the episode aired so that fans of the show could read it and cope with the heart-wrenching events as well. 

*Cue the ugly cries* 

Ron Cephas Jones, the actor who plays William, remembered how he first felt after reading the script, CNN reports. "I remember us walking out of the building after the first read, and each of us were waiting for one of us to confirm what we'd just read," said Jones. "It was this feeling of, 'There's something special here, and I don't know if it's real or not.'"

We hope that the letter brought comfort to the cast, and we thank Dan Fogelman for sharing it with us! (Even though it made us bawl all over again.)

Spring is almost upon us, which also means that all the cutest spring items are coming to shelves near you at Forever 21: the brand all girls know as the go-to for stylish and budget-friendly buys. it's time to brighten up your wardrobe (yay!) with soft, dreamy pastel colors. HC has got your back—look pretty in pastel and get spring break-ready with these cute, stylish items that you can find right now! Got spring fever? These items will give you shopping fever. Happy almost spring break, collegiettes!

1. Tie-Dye Cover-Up Romper ($15.90 at Forever 21)

2. Seafoam Button-Front Denim Mini Skirt ($15.90 at Forever 21)

3. Dusty Pink Combo Knit Dress ($15.90 at Forever 21)

4. Blue Low-Top Canvas Sneakers ($12.90 at Forever 21)

5. Light Blue Forever 21 Plus Size Off-the-Shoulder Top ($14.90 at Forever 21)

6. Satin Baseball Cap ($9.90 at Forever 21)

7. Pink Faux Fur Bomber Jacket ($27.90 at Forever 21)

8. Olive Contemporary Skinny Jeans ($15.90 at Forever 21)

9. Dusty Blue Forever 21 Plus Size Open-Shoulder Dress at ($24.90 at Forever 21)

10. Light Yellow Contemporary Knotted-Sleeve Top ($17.90 at Forever 21)

11. Lace-Up Back One-Piece ($24.90 at Forever 21)

12. Faux Leather Choker Set ($6.90 at Forever 21)

13. Blush Forever 21 Plus Size Crisscross Bodysuit ($15.90 at Forever 21)

14. Yellow Cropped Raw-Cut Hem Hoodie ($19.90 at Forever 21)

15. Tie-Dye Bralette Bikini Top ($14.90 at Forever 21) & Tie-Dye Print Bikini Bottoms ($12.90 at Forever 21)

16. Contemporary Longline Blazer ($34.90 at Forever 21)

17. Contemporary Bodycon Dress ($14.90 at Forever 21)

18. Pink Faux Leather Flap-Top Backpack ($24.90 at Forever 21)

19. Light Grey Forever 21 Plus Size Midi Skirt ($11.90 at Forever 21)

20. High-Rise Skinny Pants ($19.90 at Forever 21)

21. Yellow Chiffon Halter Neck Dress ($24.90 at Forever 21)

I hope you find the perfect, spring-approved pastel outfit, collegiettes!

While UGGs and leggings are one of our go-to weekday winter outfits, it turns out that there are tons of other ways to style our favorite furry boots. (And stay super warm and comfy doing it!) If you’re looking to step up your winter shoe game, consider coupling your UGG boots with something other than your favorite pair of yoga pants. Here are five fashion-forward ideas for styling your UGG boots.

1. Dress them up

Since UGGs are seen as casual shoes, consider going for a more chic look with the rest of your outfit. Try leather pants or a patterned maxi skirt. These nontraditional choices will look great paired with your UGG boots.

2. Add accessories

If you’re content wearing your UGGs with skinny or boyfriend jeans, play them up with legwarmers or knee socks. The added pop of color or fun pattern will take your UGGs from boring to boot-iful.

3. Play with color

Brighten up your neutral colored UGGs with a burst of color. Choose a pair of pants in a fun, solid hue like red or dark purple. Your outfit will add some cheer to even the grayest of days.

4. Layer, layer, layer

Contrary to popular belief, dresses can be worn with UGG boots. You just have to layer. Wear tights, socks, or tights and socks under a short (but warm) dress. Don’t forget to add a statement necklace!

5. Be you

Every collegiette has her own unique sense of style, so let yours shine through! If you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, chances are it looks good. So rock those UGGs however— and whenever—you want.

“Balance is the key to success,” as the old mantra goes – that is, if balance is defined by juggling work, money, love, friends, and a hefty to-do list, all while walking on the tight rope called life.

We know it’s hard to find balance, but maybe it’s time to stop looking for that elusive key and embrace the mess instead. Ann Shoket, who you might recognize as Seventeen’s editor-in-chief for the better part of a decade, has mastered the art of embracing the mess to achieve “THE BIG LIFE,” and she’s written a book on how you can, too. And guess what? We’ve teamed up with Rodale to give 50 winners a signed copy of her new book!

Enter to win a signed copy of THE BIG LIFE by Ann Shoket!

To put it quite simply, Ann is a Badass Babe. She leads a community of empowered, young women dealing with complex issues in today’s fast-paced world, and she knows how to help you get what you want. As Ann describes it, “you want The Big Life – that delicious cocktail of passion, career, work, ambition, respect, money and a monumental relationship. And you want it on your terms.”

From discussing the valuable takeaways of characters like Carrie Bradshaw and Andy Sachs, such as in this excerpt, to giving you the lowdown on juicy, TMI topics you can’t even ask your friends, this book is the guide you’ve been searching for.

The winner of the giveaway will be announced in our newsletter, so stay tuned! If you haven’t already signed up, you can subscribe here to keep up to date with all things collegiette.

Well, Kylie Jenner has done it again. 

After the successful launch of all of her lip-kits, eyeshadow pallets, and even more, it is no surprise that Kylie Jenner is expanding her beauty empire to include highlighters, or as she calls them, "Kylighters." According to Teen Vogue, Jenner revealed in a series of Snapchats the six different shades that range from light pink to a darker brown, all metallic.

The shades, Banana Split, French Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Cotton Candy Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, and Chocolate Cherry, will all be launching on February 28th and based on the reactions on Twitter, people are pretty excited about this. 

I guess I need to get my credit card out. 

More than 10 Jewish community centers across the United States were evacuated Monday for bomb threats, leading President Donald Trump to finally condemn anti-Semitism on Tuesday, after long skirting around the issue. According to NBC News, the Jewish Community Center Association of North America reported, “phoned in threats for centers in Alabama, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and New York."

Fortunately, no one was injured and no arrests were made, but these are far from the first threats the Jewish community has received this year. Reuters reports that in total, 69 anti-Semitic incidents have occurred this year. And it's only February! Schools that were in session on the grounds of these community centers were evacuated, police dogs were forced to search the area, and after all threats were thoroughly investigated it was discovered that this was all part of a "frightening nationwide hoax targeting Jewish communities," according to The New York Times.

The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating the threats, NBC reports. David Posner, a director at JCC Association of North America who advises centers on security released a statement saying,“We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats, and the repetition of threats intended to interfere with day-to-day life."

And then, of course, there was President Trump's long-awaited statement. "The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump said while visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, according to CNN. These words were too little too late for some—after all, Trump told a Jewish reporter who asked a question about anti-Semitism to be quiet during a press conference just last week, and released a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that failed to mention Jews.

Trump's past statements aside, these threats are a very serious matter, and it's up to our political leaders to unite and stand against these hateful acts.

It's 100 miles long and a world away from New York City, but Long Island creates a unique brand of woman that you can't help but love. Or love to hate. We're a tough bunch to get along with, and if you're dating one of us, then you'll totally relate to these 18 things. 

1. She will either share listicles like this on a weekly basis or roll her eyes at those who do

There will be no in between.

2. She will eat almost anything

Growing up with lots of different nationalities and a proximity to fresh seafood has made her fearless when it comes to food.

3. She will plan for traffic even if it is only a few miles

Just another day on the good ol' L.I.E! 

4. She will accidentally quote Billy Joel lyrics to you more than she means to

And she may be wrong for all you know but she may be right.

5. She will reminisce fondly about the nights spent tearing up dance floors at banquet halls celebrating her friends’ 16th birthdays

Oh, you didn't spend every weekend of sophomore year attending mini-weddings that cost at least $3,000?

6. Her hangover cure will be a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich (maybe with hashbrowns if she’s particularly emaciated)

7. Her pride for LI is validated considering the A+ talent her island has churned out (Kevin James, Ralph Maccio, Rosie O’Donnell)

And Walt Whitman, Jackie O, Jerry Seinfeld…

8. She knows all the lyrics to “Empire State of Mind,” “New York, New York” and “New York State of Mind”

It’s not her fault, though. They just get played at every New York sporting event!

9. She’s used to being near water, so too much time spent inland will make her a bit panicky

Not like she'll swim in it—it's just nice to know it's there.

10. She will feel passionately about whether you should drive or take the LIRR into New York City

Of course she won’t call it New York City. She’ll just call it “the city.”

11. She'll be bitterly disappointed when she realizes most other states do not get Jewish holidays off

This one just hurts.  

12. She’s the type of girl to sneak wine in a thermos

Don't ask us why (another accidental Billy Joel quote), but she's always a woman to me.

13. She knows someone who knows someone who’s related to someone who had a reading done by the Long Island Medium

Sure, there's a million people on Long Island, but we somehow all know Theresa Caputo.

14. She believes anything above the city is considered upstate

Even you, Westchester County…

15. She will roll her eyes at tourists in New York but will then spend 30 minutes taking a candid picture for her Instagram against a plain wall  

Sure, if she's not a tourist then there's no reason her followers need to know she went to the city, but that logic doesn't work for her.

16. Her sense of humor may not be the most politically correct

Read any New York Post headline and you'll see why.

17. She will politely remind you that F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote this about the area she grew up in

It's nbd. 

18. And that Schmidt from New Girl said this about the area she grew up in: 

(631 forever, though.)

Earlier this month Melania Trump filed a lawsuit against Mail Media, the parent company of the Daily Mail, stating that an article published by the Daily Mail, falsely claimed she was an elite escort in the sex business, which in turn destroyed her chances of creating “multi-million dollar business relationships” as FLOTUS.

The suit was initially filed claiming the story by the Mail harmed her, “unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to “launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships.” Her complaint cited her “multi-year term during which the plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world,” and according to Buzzfeed, she planned to develop products including apparel, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, hair care, skin care, and fragrances within her brand.

Once the suit was made public, Trump received harsh criticism from many people, claiming she was attempting to cash in on her position as FLOTUS and use this is an opportunity to build her brand. However, her lawyer denied any allegations and reported to the Guardian, that the lawsuit had been misinterpreted. He stated, “The First Lady has no intention of using her position for profit and will not do so. It is not a possibility."

Trump recently settled a similar defamation case with a Maryland based-blogger, who claimed Trump was a former escort. According to the Daily Mail suit, the judge in the Maryland blogger case stated in court, "The court believes most people, when they hear the words 'high-end escort' that describes a prostitute. There could be no more defamatory statement than to call a woman a prostitute." The blogger retracted her statement and was forced to pay a "substantial sum" of money to Trump as part of their settlement.

On Friday of last week, the Daily Mail claim was refiled in New York and did not mention any of Trump’s personal brand or business ventures, but rather cited her emotional distress as the leading cause in filing this claim.

So there's a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow flag—The legalization of same sex marriage may have reduced the teen suicide rate. In a study published Monday by the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, researchers found suicides decreased in high school students, particularly LGBT students, when a state legalized same sex marriage prior to the Supreme Court decision.

The study collected state high school suicide rates and surveys from 1999 to 2015 and compared the states where same sex marriage was legal to those were it wasn't. For states with legal same sex marriage, the suicide rate among lesbian, gay and bisexual high school students declined 14 percent, while among high school students overall, it declined by 7 percent. States that did not legalize same sex marriage did not see any measurable change in their suicide rates. According to Cosmopolitan, attempts dropped by around 134,000 after same sex marriage was legalized.

Julia Raifman, the lead researcher, said in a press release, "Permitting same-sex marriage reduces structural stigma associated with sexual orientation. There may be something about having equal rights—even if they have no immediate plans to take advantage of them—that makes students feel less stigmatized and more hopeful for the future."

While this is good news and demonstrates how important social reforms are, suicide rates are still rising in the U.S. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people from ages 15 to 24. LGBT people in that age range have an elevated risk for suicide, as well as HIV, depression and substance abuse. The CDC also reported that nearly 40 percent of LGBT students said they had seriously considered suicide. The lead researcher on the Johns Hopkins study, Raifman, believes schools and administrators should call for more attention to LGBT populations because of their high risk for life-threatening health problems. Raifman also called on politicians and public figures to be mindful of the human impact of their policies. "Policymakers need to be aware that policies on sexual minority rights can have a real effect on the mental health of adolescents. The policies at the top can dictate in ways both positive and negative what happens further down," she said in the study's press release.

The Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage in June of 2015. Prior to the ruling, same sex marriage was legal in only 35 states, with more recognizing marriages without issuing marriage licenses.

In a decision announced by the Defense Ministry of Turkey on Wednesday, Turkey’s military will now allow female soldiers to wear Islamic head scarves. 

According to Euronews, this decision “signifies a major shift in the armed forces, which have always seen themselves as the guardians of state secularism.” Islamic women in the Turkish military have President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to thank, whose party, the AK Party, has Islamist roots and has been campaigning for religion to take a more prominent place in public life in Turkey since 2002. 

Ravza Kayaakci, a lawmaker for the AK Party, was thrilled with the decision. “I think it is a very important step in the path of democratization,” she told the New York Times. 

This is a big move to try to change the intolerant secularism and sexism that exists in Turkey. Though the majority of the country is Muslim, state authority has subjugated and controlled religion in the past. “It’s a dream come true,” said Merve Kavakci, a political scientist and head of postcolonial studies at Uskudar University. “This is a clear victory for women empowerment.” 

Along with allowing headscarves in the military, the AK Party has been an advocate of religious freedoms in many other spheres including civil service fields and universities, according to Reuters. Although this is a step forward, still there are restrictions. The headscarves must be worn under a hat or cap, should not cover the face and should be patternless and in harmony with the uniform’s color.