While saying this week was a disappointment for the rights of transgender people would be a massive understatement, at least one good thing has come out of the Trump administration's decision to revoke protections for transgender students in public schools.
Mic reports that in the first 36 hours since the announcement was made that the White House would be reversing the Obama-era protections, the Trans Lifeline (a crisis hotline for the transgender community), received over $51,000 in donations. The organization's website was so busy it reportedly crashed.
The organization reportedly speculates that many of the donations were a result of high-profile celebrities like Katy Perry posting about the urgent need for donations on social media:
Trans Lifeline's director of communications told Mic that the donations accounted for 13% of its yearly budget - and that the money is much-needed.
"We still get calls every day that go unanswered because we don't have enough capacity," Pérez told Mic in an email. "With this money, we will be able to pay for more staffing to work towards meeting the needs of our community as that need grows, with the increasing pressure from the political and social climate."
The reversed protections were put in place by the Obama administration, and directed public schools to recognize transgender students as the gender they identify as on the basis of Title IX, which prohibits gender-based discrimination. Instead, the Trump administration plans to hand the responsiblity for laws regarding transgender rights in public schools back to the states.
The best cure for the midwinter blues is looking forward to the next fun thing on the horizon, and one of the greatest parts of college is planning for spring break! Although it’s only a month into the semester and your days of fun in the sun may seem far away, that glorious week off will come sooner than you expect. If you’re planning on traveling during spring break this year, it’s a good idea to plan ahead so that you have extra spending money. Check out our list of ways that you can cut your spending this winter so that you have plenty of cash come March.
The key to saving money is to not waste money on things that you don’t really need!
“It’s important to understand what your true needs are, and that what you want isn’t necessarily what you need,” says Jeffrey Goodman, first vice president of investments for the financial services company Raymond James & Associates. While your twice-weekly (or even daily) Starbucks drinks can feel like a necessity, they really aren’t. Try to limit your coffee runs to once a week, or even better, switch to making your own coffee at home before you run to class.
Let’s say that you get your Starbucks fix twice a week. At approximately $4 per drink, you’d save $8 a week, which adds up to $48 saved by March!
Another unnecessary expense that could get in the way of your saving is that inevitable trip to the campus café for a quick bite to eat between classes. Instead of falling into that snack trap, plan ahead and bring something with you to snack on, like nuts, a granola bar or fruit.
You could also consider investing in a bobble, a filtered water bottle that you can refill over and over, instead of constantly shelling out money for bottled water. These are great for the environment, too; using one bobble for two months equates to using 300 single-use water bottles!
Getting a job isn’t just good for bulking up your resume; it can also help you put some extra money in your pocket during the semester. Do some research to find out if your university is offering any on-campus, part-time student jobs, like in the student union, in the library or at the campus bookstore, and check out the restaurants around campus as well.
Odd jobs here and there such as babysitting can also be a good option. “I asked my sorority sisters for any babysitting families they wanted to ditch for a night or two,” says Kirsten Ballard, a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. If you work a part-time job that pays $10 an hour for 10 hours a week, you could earn an extra $600 by March!
You’re being careful with your money and watching what you spend, when all of a sudden you come across a pair of heels that you just can’t resist—and your credit card is within your reach. We know it can be incredibly hard to make good financial decisions when it’s so easy to whip out a card to pay for a meal or online shop. We suggest keeping your card out of sight so that you won’t be tempted and only withdrawing enough cash for what you need for the week or month.
“I took my credit cards out of my wallet and just get cash out once a week for gas and necessities,” Kirsten says.
If you do have extra cash on hand, make sure to keep it in a safe or somewhere it can’t easily be found.
“…If you have credit cards, be sure you don't charge more than you can pay off when the bill comes in the next month,” she says. “This is where having a budget and tracking your spending can help you stay out of credit card debt. Be very diligent about this, because you don't want to graduate from school with both student loan debt and credit card debt.”
When you have a specific event to save up for, it’s important to create a realistic budget and stick to it. While this isn’t the easiest thing to do in the expensive world of college, Goodman says “it’s important to have discipline and self-control when it comes to your budget.” Plan your week in advance and think about how much money you’ll need for the necessities, like snacks, groceries and gas (while allotting some of your funds for the fun stuff).
Learning to effectively budget now is a skill that will be beneficial for the rest of your life. The sooner you know how to handle money, the better! For more budgeting tips, check out our article on how to make your college budget.
Harzog suggests “downloading one of the budgeting apps so that you can keep track of your spending via your smartphone.” For example, the free Mint app can help you stay on top of your expenses by connecting directly to your bank account and tracking your transactions. The app even lets you set goals for yourself! All you have to do is set a date for your spring break trip and enter how much money you’ll need by that time, and Mint will do the rest.
“There are several similar budgeting apps on the market, so do a little research and find the one that you’re comfortable with,” Harzog says.
Cooking for yourself means improving your culinary skills, eating healthier and, of course, saving money. Eating out can be extremely expensive, especially if you go to college in a big city, and those weekly dinners out can quickly add up.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to make meals yourself in your dorm or apartment kitchen. “My roommates and I would sometimes cook together instead of going out to eat,” says Becky McColl, a recent graduate of the University of Delaware. “It's a lot cheaper than going out, so it's a great way to save money, and cooking together is a lot of fun!”
If you live with roommates, you could have one day a week where one person makes a meal for everyone else, or have fun dinner themes, like Mexican night!
If you do go out, try to limit yourself to only eating out every other week, and be sure to check out websites like LivingSocial and Groupon first for coupons. Kirsten suggests ordering water instead of soda, which will also help you stick to your budget. Since restaurant portions are often hefty, save and bring home half of your food so that you have a free meal the next day.
7. Take advantage of your student ID
Make the most of your student ID and use it at local businesses that offer student discounts or for free admission to museums and local events.
“When you do go off campus for entertainment, take advantage of your student discount whenever possible,” Harzog says. “And don't be afraid to ask the manager of a restaurant or a store if they'd consider giving you a student discount.”
8. Use your friends as motivation
There’s power in numbers, which means that you’ll have an easier time motivating yourself to restrict your spending when the people around you are doing the same thing! If you and a group of friends are planning a spring break trip together, you can motivate each other to make decisions that will result in more money in your wallet (and less post-spending regret).
“The environment you’re in can make a difference,” Goodman says. “Spending time with people who have common interests and goals will help you stay on track.”
Tape photos of beaches and palm trees all over your dorm room, create a “Spring Break Fund” jar that you and your friends can put extra change into over the course of the semester or even print out a Ryan Gosling “Hey Girl, Save Your Money” meme for extra motivation—whatever it takes! When you do go out with friends, plan ahead and make sure that you both can afford it so that you don’t end up footing the bill for a friend and going over your budget.
Saving money can be easy as long as you commit and make a conscious effort to do so every day. By creating a budget, limiting extra spending and looking for ways to have fun for free, you’ll be on your way to growing your spring break fund in no time!
President Trump's less-than-amicable relationship with the press is no secret - but POTUS made an unprecedented move on Friday that seriously has people concerned.
According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration blocked several major news outlets from attending an off-camera press briefing held by Sean Spicer, including CNN, the New York Times, Politico and the Los Angeles Times.
On Twitter, Los Angeles Times reporter Noah Bierman tweeted that media outlets such as Breitbart, One America News Network and The Washington Times (which have all reported positively on the Trump administration), were all allowed into the press briefing, also known as a "gaggle."
Breitbart, OANN, Washington Times are all in White House briefing. CNN and NY Times (and LA Times) not allowed in.
As Refinery29 points out, controversial White House chief strategist Steve Bannon used to be chairman of Breitbart, which only makes the whole situation look worse.
The Associated Press and Time both boycotted the briefing, and Jeff Mason, president of the White House Correspondents Association, condemmed the selective exclusion.
"The WHCA board is protesting strongly against how today's gaggle is being handled by the White House,"Mason told Mashable.
Previously, Spicer had promised to never limit media access to the White House, but yesterday's press briefing makes it appear that he's changed his tune - and considering President Trump's recent incessant bashing of organizations like the New York Times as "fake news media," we hate to say we're not surprised.
Once the six most greatly incomparable months of your life are over, the only remnants you have leftover are to maintain the friendships you formed. Even though this will be your most expensive friendship ever...your loyalty to each other will put an actual LDR to shame. These pals have taught you why investing in experience is more valuable than ever investing in material items. Here are 15 things for all people who agree that there is no better way to build a friendship than by traveling:
1. Your only motivation to find a job after college is visit your abroad friends
2. You either fantasied or actually tatted your bodies together abroad
3. You used each other as an excuse to not attend class
4. The selfie was a vital staple of your friendship
We're all about getting our ~glow up~ on, but unfortunately, it turns out that one ingredient in our favorite shimmery, sparkly and glittery products could be seriously problematic.
Teen Vogue reports that a recent investigation done by British broadcaster ITV found that mica, a mineral found in tons of makeup products, is commonly mined by child laborers as young as six years old in India. The mineral is known for its ability to easily be ground into a fine, shimmery powder, which is why it's so common in things like highlighters and shimmery eyeshadow.
In India, children are only allowed to work at the age of 14 in non-hazardous situations - but the investigation estimates that around 75 percent of mica is mined by underage children working illegally in mines, which poses major health risks to them including respiratory and lung diseases. Working also typically forces these children to forgo education.
While companies such as Lush have already pleged to eliminate mica from its products, Broadly reports that it's not mica that's the problem, but the way that it's mined.
"Mica is not a problem, nor is mica mining," Liz van Velzen of child relief agency Terre des Hommes told Broadly. "If the mining companies would pay living wages and make sure working conditions met international standards, parents would be able to work safely and earn enough to provide for their families and send their children to school."
Considering many families depend on mica mining for a living, a boycott won't exactly solve things either - instead, consumers (a.k.a. us) need to demand that cosmetic companies insist on using only child labor-free ingredients, according to Velzen.
While the week leading up to the Oscars is normally filled with exclusive party after party, one Hollywood talent agency decided that 2017 called for something a little different.
According to Elle, United Talent Agency (UTA), skipped its usual pre-Oscars bash in favor of holding a political rally to protest the current political situation, namely Donald Trump's immigration policies.
In a statement about its decision, UTA said, "United Talent Agency (UTA) has canceled its traditional Academy Awards party and will instead host a rally at its Los Angeles headquarters on the Friday afternoon of Oscar weekend. The gathering – ‘United Voices’ – aims to express the creative community’s growing concern with anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States and its potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas and freedom of expression."
Michael J. Fox and Jodie Foster were among the star-studded lineup of speakers at the event, who are all clearly ready to use their celebrity for good.
"This is our time to resist," Foster told the crowd during her speech. "It's our time to show up and demand answers. It's our time to tell our elected officials to do their job. We will not tolerate chaos, ineptitude, and warmongering."
While Elle reports that there were a few heckling comments from Trump supporters at the rally, the event was a peaceful one.
In addition to hosting the rally (which let's be honest, could otherwise be seen as a publicity stunt), UTA also donated $250,000 to the ACLU and the International Rescue Committee.
Pretty much any anyone that identifies on the LGBTQ specturm can probably remember at least one instance in which they were asked some pretty uncomfortable questions - which is why this professor's questions that nail everything that's wrong with how we treat LGBTQ people are so important.
Twitter user @sincerelyelise, tweeted a photo of the questions her professor put on a lecture slide for her Human Sexuality course, and the image instantly went viral, garnering 18,000 retweets and 30,000 likes.
The professor took uncomfortable questions that LGBTQ people hear all the time, and flipped them for a heterosexual person's perspective - forcing you to put yourself in the shoes of someone who as been asked a question that's basically impossible to answer.
"The slide is supposed to be funny, but she made us really think about why it was so funny,"Elise told BuzzFeed. "A lot of people in the class had probably never been asked these questions before, so I think she was trying to show them what it would be like, but in a humorous way."
Elise also told Buzzfeed that, while most of the response has been positive, she didn't want to reveal her professor's name or her school because she had received slurs and death threats after posting the tweet.
While the professor's questions are hilarious, they're important in a much more serious way - readers are immediately forced to put themselves in the shoes of LGBTQ people who hear questions like these every day. It's the quick reminder society needs that being anything other than heterosexual isn't a "lifestyle choice," but rather something deeply ingrained that people can't change about themselves.
Taxes. The word alone can induce feelings of fear, confusion and anxiety. When should you start filing? Do you really need to keep all those receipts? What's the best way to get the most tax write-offs? Whether you use tax preparation software or go to a professional to get your taxes done, we're breaking down a few tax-related mysteries that you might not know about!
1. There are deductions you probably don't know about
To put it simply, tax deductions are expenses that can be deducted from taxable income. "A tax deduction reduces the income that an individual is taxed on and therefore decreases the amount of overall tax liability," says Genevieve, a tax manager for a large hotel chain. What are some tax deductions you should be aware of? We broke down a few of them for you:
Anyone who donates to their favorite charity knows how good it makes them feel. Be sure that the charity you're donating to is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Some institutions like public schools and churches are automatically qualified and eligible, but if you aren't sure, there is a charity look-up tool you can use to double check an organization's eligibility.
Do you donate clothes or household items to Goodwill? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will reward you for your generosity. Bring your items that you'd like to donate and you'll receive a receipt to hang onto until tax season rolls around. The IRS will ask that you calculate the fair market value of your items since that value is ultimately what determines the amount you are able to deduct. Not sure how to figure out the fair market value? Goodwill has a valuation guide that you can use!
Owning an environmentally-friendly car not only benefits Mother Nature, but it could work in your favor when you file your taxes. Those who own an energy-efficient vehicle, like an alternative-fuel car or hybrid, may be eligible for tax breaks.
If you're a teacher and you buy school supplies for your class, you're able to deduct up to $250.00 for all classroom-related expenses that weren't reimbursed.
Do you work from home as a freelance writer or run your own business from a home office? You can claim necessary work items like separate phone lines that you use strictly for business or computer software that you need to do your job as tax deductions. The IRS calls this a home office deduction and lists points to consider if you're thinking about taking advantage of this when you're filing your taxes.
2. Tax penalties and fines
Tax penalties and fines are not fun to deal with, but you can't avoid them if you don't know what they are in the first place! Did you know that you can be fined for not having health insurance? And that the fees go up every year? The government will calculate what you owe when you file your taxes.
"An individual can face various penalties as it relates to his or her federal income tax return, and should be aware of any potential exposure and the resources available," says Genevieve. "Some examples include any accuracy-related penalties, as well as any late-payment penalties, but there could be other potential exposure that an individual must be mindful of."
It doesn't matter whether you are owed a refund or not—the IRS will charge a flat fee if you file your return more than 60 days after the deadline. You might not have to deal with the same types of penalties that apply to taxpayers who do owe more tax on the filing deadline, but just because you're due for a refund doesn't make you exempt from late filing penalties. If you think you might be cutting it close, apply for an extension so that you don't have to worry about a late fee.
"For federal income tax purposes, an individual can file a Form 4868 'Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return' in order to receive a 6-month extension," says Genevieve. "However, it is important to note that an individual must still pay the income tax due by the original filing date, and that this is only an extension of time to file the tax return itself."
The deadline for filing IRS tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2017, but if you feel like you need an extension, read up on the special rules first!
A sole proprietor is someone who is self-employed, like a self-employed freelance writer or business owner. There are a lot of differences between working as a sole proprietor and working as an employee for a company. The big difference is that your taxes aren't withheld the same way. As a full-time employee, taxes are taken out of each paycheck automatically. As a sole proprietor, taxes aren't withheld; it's your responsibility to pay them.
During tax season, as an employee of a company, you may see a return since taxes have been coming out of your paycheck throughout the year. As a sole proprietor, you will have to pay federal and state income taxes when it comes time to file.
As a freelancer, there is an underpayment penalty for not filing quarterly. When you calculate how much in taxes that you owe, and you haven't had any withheld throughout the year, the IRS will issue a penalty for underpayment. To avoid this, you can make quarterly payments to the IRS directly, especially if you are self-employed and you don't have an employer to withhold your income for you.
5. There are refund time limitations
Though an unlimited amount of time to claim your refund would be great, it's not a reality. If you file a tax return and are owed a refund from the IRS, you generally have about three years to claim your refund. If you don't file a tax return, you have two years to obtain your refund.
6. If you can't pay your taxes on time, it's not the end of the world
The IRS's advice if you owe money on your taxes? Don't panic. They advise you to pay as much as you can by the April 18th deadline even if you can't pay the full amount of taxes you owe. According to IRS.gov, "Pay as much as you can by the April 18 deadline, because the IRS charges failure-to-pay penalties and interest on any unpaid balance, which increases the amount you owe." As for the rest? You can apply for a payment plan, or apply to pay in installments online.
Tax season can be daunting, but if you have all the right information—and if you're in-the-know when it comes to these greatest mysteries—filing doesn't have to be a total nightmare.
After decades and decades (okay, not really) of searching for the oh-so-special someone that will make you feel like Beyoncé singing “Love on Top,” you finally met someone! They are actually pretty awesome, and you're lowkey getting your hopes up that this is maybe the true love you've been looking for. These are the 15 ways you totally feel different when you first meet that person.
1. You suddenly believe in true love.
2. You start to project every #RelationshipGoal picture onto you and your potential SO
3. You’re okay with the fact that "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" may no longer apply to you
4. You realize that you have to start ordering things in pairs
5. You can truly indulge in the meaning of Netflix and Chill
6. You understand that wearing sweatpants every day won't cut it anymore
7. Neither will pajamas
8. You wonder how early is too early to change your relationship status on social media
9. You are way more inclined to tell people “I met someone”
10. You are incredibly comfortable deleting your Tinder account
11. You start to worry that your friends may think you are abandoning them
12. Wearing perfume will be as much as a necessity as brushing your teeth
13. But that also includes checking your teeth after every meal
14. You cannot afford to leave your room in a #SorryNotSorry state anymore
15. You are already planning where you will have your foot poppin’ kiss
Chances are if you’re reading this, you were a child of the ‘90s. Although the modern age is definitely exciting, there are things about life in the ‘90s we desperately wish we could bring back. Check out these 19 reason why your life in the ‘90s was significantly better than you life now.
1. You didn’t know what exams and final papers were.
You didn’t know how harsh life could get.
2. You could enjoy Sunday morning cartoons.
The Power Puff girls were your first squad.
3. Because you never had to cook your own meals.
Thank God kids can’t use stoves.
4. Your Tamagotchi was your only real responsibility.
If only this was still true.
5. You still had hopes of marrying someone in a Boy Band.
Too bad Justin Timberlake is no longer available.
6. Everyone understood Clueless references.
The best movie of the century.
7. There were still more Harry Potter books (and movies) to be released.
Back when you still had hope for the future.
8. No one cared about your relationship status.
Since everyone thought you were too young for a boyfriend anyway.
9. Social Media didn’t control your life.
You had to actually call your friend to make plans.
10. Naps were an enforced part of your day.
Thanks Mom!
11. You didn’t have to pay for everything yourself.
Another perk of being a child.
12. You were young enough to order Happy Meals from McDonalds.
You had to collect all the toys you could.
13. Nirvana and the Spice Girls were still releasing new music.
Quality music.
14. It was before you realized how complicated your love life could get.
Boys are the worse.
15. Because Friends was just starting.
And that meant you had a decade of new seasons to watch.
16. Same with Sex and the City!
You would give anything to see your favorite ladies with fresh eyes.
17. Reality T.V. hadn’t taken over your life yet.
As much as you love the Kardashians, sometimes it’s too much.
18. Fashion was at an all time high.
We miss when chunky boots and butterfly clips were acceptable party attire.
19. The toys and board games were legendary.
We mean Furby.
The 90’s were definitely a great time to be a child! As much as we do miss the ‘90s, we don’t think we’d want to trade everything we have in the 2000s (hey, iPhones and Instagram) to relive the pre-social media days. But a little nostalgia never hurts.
Although neither person has ~actually~ confirmed the relationship that has Hollywood in a tale spin, The Weeknd and Selena Gomez continue to be as adorable as ever.
Why you might ask? Well, at The Weeknd’s show this past weekend in Amsterdam, girlfriend of the year, Gomez, went to cheer him on even amidst her super crazy schedule.
According to Cosmopolitan, Gomez shared a series of pictures on Instagram of her backstage at the show and shared an Insta-story of her sitting in the auditorium with The Weeknd singing on the jumbotron in the background. Can you say #goals?
And if that weren't enough, a source told Us Weekly that Gomez plans to be at even more of his shows, no matter where they may be. “She has a ton going on so she can’t drop everything, but she will show up on off-days," they said.
Since being elected in November, it is safe to say that Trump's relationship with the press has been anything but smooth. From locking them in basements to not allowing them to attend press briefings, some would even say that their relationship is quite unhealthy, to say the least.
So, what do you typically do when you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship? Well, you either attempt to fix it by communicating with your partner, or you dump them. Trump, the Commander in Chief of the United States of America, is taking an unconventional path instead: running away. Mature, right?
On Saturday, Trump communicated to the world using his favorite social media site, Twitter, that he would not be attending the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.
I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!
"I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!" Trump said about the event which is to take place on April 29th of this year. The dinner is typically quite star studded with anyone from Kendall Jenner to Meryl Streep being in attendance so one would think that this would be Trump's favorite kind of event.
According to NPR, the annual event honors journalism with awards and scholarships but because of Trump's relationship with journalists and the press thus far (see above), it is not surprising that he will not be in attendance. The last president to miss the function was Ronald Reagan in 1981 who actually has a pretty good excuse- he was recovering from being shot. Trump's excuse? "This wasn't a president that was elected to spend his time with reporters and celebrities," his deputy press secretary told ABC.
So basically, Trump does not want to be in a room with people who dislike him because that may set him up for humiliation of some kind. Makes sense.
Spring break is our first real chance to soak up the sun after a long, dreary winter. With this freedom, the only thing on your mind should be having a good time. The last thing you want to do is spend forever doing your hair, especially if you’ll be near the water!
Go from boring hair to beach bombshell in a matter of minutes with these five easy hairstyles. Whether you’ll be catching some waves in Florida, flip-flopping through the sand in Cancun or simply watching Hawaii Five-0 in your dorm, be sure to try out these cute hairstyles to look cute no matter what you’re doing.
1. Tousled Topknot
This super easy, laid-back look can be done on wet hair after a dip in the pool or a swim in the sea. It also doubles as a great post-workout hairstyle.
What You’ll Need
Hair tie
Leave-in conditioner
Wide-tooth comb
Anti-frizz serum
Instructions
Taking a wide-tooth comb, gently untangle your hair, starting from your ends and working your way up to the roots.
Apply a leave in conditioner or your choice. We recommend Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-in Cream ($8.49).This helps to replace the moisture in your hair that has been stripped away by the pool or seawater.
Work a small amount of serum into your hair; we recommend L’Oreal’s Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Serum ($6.99). This traps the moisture of the leave-in conditioner and also helps to tame frizz.
Secure your hair in a high ponytail using the hair tie.
Twist all of your hair into a coil and wrap it up into a ballerina bun.
Secure the ends of your hair to the bun with bobby pins to ensure that it stays.
Use your fingers to carefully fluff the bun for more volume.
2. Lovely Low Side Braid
This look is great for a long walk on the beach in the evening, yet stylish enough for an outdoor concert.
What You’ll Need
Comb
Hair ties
Instructions
Take the comb and create a center part that starts at your crown.
Gather your hair into a low ponytail on your preferred side. Secure with the hair tie.
Separate your hair into three sections and do a simple braid. It doesn’t have to be perfect; the messier the better, actually!
Secure the end with another hair tie. If you don’t have shorter layers that will stick out, you can remove the first hair tie.
3. Sultry Scrunched Updo
Curly-haired girls will love this easy, sophisticated look. Try this for a night out with the girls.
Gather your hair into a loose ponytail at your desired spot.
At the base of the pony (above the hair tie), take your fingers and create a space (about the size of a golf ball) that your ponytail would be able to fit through.
Carefully push your ponytail through the loop and pull gently to secure the twisted knot.
These quick and easy hairstyles are also great for class and running errands on weekends. Armed with these cute ‘dos, sunscreen and sunglasses, you’re sure to have a super-chic spring break!
When something horrible but funny happens in the world, it is more than likely that Chrissy Teigen is the first person to crack a joke about it. Even when her husband John Legend is the center of that something.
On Friday evening, Legend’s Twitter was hacked and things got a bit intense, as you can guess. The tweets, now deleted, discussed Trump in a series of vulgar and profane tweets. According to Cosmopolitan, one read, “I can’t stand by and be silent, @realDonaldTrump, you’re a b---h ass n---a and if I see you, I’m stomping your s--t you f--kin’ cheetoh.” Oh boy.
But it didn't last long. After Legend found out what was happening, he took back control of his account and issued a series of apologies.
I'm back. My hacker was vulgar and kinda hilarious. I'll try to be funnier from now on so he won't feel the need to ghost write for me.
But because Chrissy couldn’t resist making fun of the situation, she tweeted a screenshot of a message she got while the hacker was still making moves on Legend’s account.
High school seniors, I salute you. As if it isn’t enough to have to worry about making the most of the little time you have left with the people you’ve spent the last four or more years with, throwing in the need to master the SAT and graduate with an impressive GPA only adds fuel to the fire.
They say that college is supposed to be a period of time filled with endless amounts of fun, growth and soul-searching. So, making a college decision is probably one of the most important decisions we’ll ever have to make, right? As my college career comes to a close, I can’t help but to think about my time as a senior in high school and everything I did (and didn’t do) to find the right school for me.
Call me crazy, but I actually made my college decision without ever going on a single college visit. My first day setting foot on campus came after I had already agreed with a $300 security deposit to prove it. Looking back, I realize that this could have taken a turn for the disastrous and I could have realized that this wasn’t the fit for me. Luckily, I was able to find a home here––but I’ll say that, as a senior in high school, it’s important to take advantage of the time that you have and take a trip to one of your perspective schools instead of going in completely blind the way I did. That way you can get a good look at the types of people and experiences you'll be exposed to ahead of time.
"I know that I would've ended up where I did in the end but it would've been nice to have something to compare this to," says Brittany, a senior at the University of Georgia. "I would've wanted to compare the opportunities that would be awarded to me here as opposed to other schools."
College visits play a critical role in helping you make your college decision for numerous reasons, the most important being determining if there’s a fit. With all of the online resources that give students a glimpse into life at their dream schools, it’s easy to find out everything you need to know about a school just by typing a few words into a search engine and clicking a button. But, getting a firsthand look at your future school gives you the opportunity to see everything you need to see up close and allows you to get involved with your new college community ahead of time!
I can’t remember even attempting to talk to my high school counselors to discuss college and scholarship options. It was so easy for me to completely put off applying to a school just because of the cost. Sometimes, as soon as I got a look at the numbers I instantly got discouraged. Yes, in-state tuition is a wonderful thing, but not having that option should never stop someone from applying (or going) to their dream school(s).
“I just wish I had taken the time to do my research on how to pay for school out of state,” says Sarah, a junior at the University of Georgia. “I know people who are going to better schools in other cities and they're basically paying the same amount of money as I am. I'm not exactly mad about where I ended up but, in hindsight, I wish I had looked into things a little more."
There is a lot of money out there and a lot of organizations that are willing to help students pay for school. Take a look at the scholarship opportunities that your prospective college or university has to offer and go from there. Maybe the state you live in has a unique merit-based scholarship program, like Georgia's HOPE Scholarship or the LIFE Scholarship in South Carolina. My advice to seniors is to utilize your high school counselors and make sure they keep you updated about scholarship opportunities, grants and where you stand in the process of your college search. It’s a tough process but you don’t have to go at it alone. Your counselors are there for a reason, so never be afraid to ask for a little help.
3. Considered more than just the location
There are a lot of deciding factors that come into play during the search for the perfect fit. We consider factors such as geography, cost, religious affiliation, teacher-to-student ratio and more. But, as a senior in high school, the only thing I was concerned with was not being too far away from home. Looking back on my senior year, I think of all of the colleges that I completely disregarded because of the location. I wanted it to be easy for me to run home for anything––in case of an emergency, a short break, or for no reason at all.
It’s normal for a college freshman to be a little homesick, especially if home is a little longer than a normal car ride away. If you’re feeling iffy about being too far away from home, consider that everything will always work out in the end and look forward to all of the positive things that your college career holds. Once you finally find your home on campus and get the hang of this college thing, your situation will only get better.
4. Attended a pre-college orientation
Many schools offer academic summer programs that give students a head start with life at their dream schools. There were plenty of pre-college programs available at my university––the only problem is that I didn’t attend them.
Pre-college programs and events can give you your first small taste of what it’s really like to spend some time away from home and at the place where you plan on spending the next four (or more) years of your life.
"It's kind of like going to band camp or something before school starts," Brittany says again. "It definitely would've been good to meet those people and form a relationship with them beforehand so I could at least have someone to bond with during the craziness of really starting out as a college freshman."
It’s also a great way to bond with your classmates, as well as upperclassmen who have already been in your shoes and know what it’s like to feel a little lost and out of place. It’s okay to step out of your comfort zone for a second just to know that you’ll end up happier and more comfortable when it counts.
Though I’m definitely in love with where I ended up, the moral of the story is that you should be aware of the opportunities that are presented to you before your first day of classes. Making the effort to look into your dream school a little more is guaranteed to help you find the perfect fit.
We all know that one girl who only wears leggings. Whether she’s at the gym, running errands, going to class or going out for the night, you bet you can catch her in leggings. In fact, that sounds a lot like you! If leggings are the only thing in your wardrobe, you'll definitely relate to this.
1. You can never have too many pairs
Leggings are life.
2. Leggings are pants
And don’t tell me otherwise.
3. No, we are not wearing them to call attention to the lower half of our bodies
4. And don’t even think about dress-coding me
5. Truth is, leggings are just so comfy, we don’t want to get out of them
Girls just wanna wear leggings.
6. We can't imagine life without them
7. What the heck were we wearing before leggings came along? Jeans?
SO uncomfortable.
8. Jeggings > jeans
Bless whoever made jeggings.
9. Finding leggings that aren’t see-through is a miracle
It’s even harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
10. Black leggings are a staple
Every girl needs her go-to pair of cotton black leggings.
11. They can be worn year-round
12. And for just about any occasion
You have leggings for the gym, grocery shopping, leisure wear, going out, etc.
13. You live in fleece-lined leggings in the winter
Bears have fur to keep warm. You have fleece leggings to keep warm.
14. Thinking of wearing anything other than leggings is unfathomable
What do you mean I have to wear dress pants to work?
15. If you don’t leave the house in leggings, then the first thing you do when you come home is put on leggings
To make sure the Oscars started with a bang, Justin Timberlake opened the award show, pulling out all the stops with his performance of “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”
The song, which is nominated for an Oscar this evening in the category of "Best Original Song," is from the animated film Trolls, and based off his performance, I wouldn't be surprised if it won.
Everyone in the audience was dancing and singing along. The atmosphere was definitely more lively than we're used to seeing at the often stuffy Academy Awards.
Watch a clip from the performance for yourself below. I dare you to not get off your seat and dance.
Viola Davis has always been one of our favorite actresses to cry along with on-screen in The Help, Fences or maybe even a very intense episode of How to Get Away with Murder. At the 2017 Oscars, a whole auditorium and, let’s be real, the nation ugly-cried along with Davis when she swept up the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in Fences.
Davis has been pegged as the favorite for this category throughout awards season, claiming the Golden Globe and the SAG Award along the way. Tonight, her rewarding journey certainly hit its peak in an acceptance speech that came straight from the heart.
“There’s one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered—and that’s the graveyard,” Davis explained. “People ask me all the time, 'What kind of stories do you want to tell?' And I say, ‘Exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories.’ We are the only profession to celebrate what it means to live a life. So here’s to [Fences playwright/screenwriter] August Wilson, who exhumed—and exalted—ordinary people.”
After delivering the classiest thank you to the original creator of her character and her costar/director Denzel Washington, Davis really stirred up our feels when she thanked her family. First giving a shout-out to her parents and reminiscing about playing with her sister, she really made us weep when she turned her attention to her husband in the crowd, telling him, “I’m so glad that you are the foundation of my life."
Host Jimmy Kimmel summed it up best when the ceremony returned after a commercial break: “Viola Davis just got nominated for an Emmy for that speech at the Oscars.” True, Jimmy, true.
Here’s to Viola for always inspiring us with her words on-screen and off!
Nowadays award show hosts have to find unique twists to make their hosting style stand out from the rest. At the 2017 Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel first followed in many other hosts’ footsteps by handing out a treat to the hungry audience—this time it was candy, making the coolest entrance inanimate objects could pull off—and then clued the audience in on his next big plot: luring tourists into the Academy Awards. No big deal, right?
Kimmel arranged for an unaware tour bus group to be led into the Dolby Theatre, telling the celebs, “On the count of three, we’ll turn the lights on and everybody yell ‘Mahershala,’ okay?”
Like classic tourists, the visitors came equipped with their phones and selfie sticks, snapping pics as the Oscar crowd greeted them. We met eager folks like Gary from Chicago, who basically won over the hearts of every actor in the front row. While the rest of their group seemed a little taken aback, Gary and his fiancée Vicki took the surprise by storm, shaking hands with Ryan Gosling and Nicole Kidman and even getting gifted Jennifer Aniston’s sunglasses. Um, where was our invite?
Once Kimmel learned that Gary and Vicki were engaged and that Vicki was a fan of Denzel Washington, there was no denial that this moment was going to be a special one for the couple, with Kimmel asking, “Denzel, will you be the best man at their wedding?”
It may not be too official, but instead of giving a RSVP, Denzel decided to “marry” Gary and Vicki in front of Hollywood’s greatest stars.
