Alright, you’re crushing hard on someone and they haven’t started to ghost you just yet, so you’re ready to take the plunge and ask them on a date. However, you don’t want to make some elaborate display of affection just to ask them to share eat individual taco twelve packs with you. After all, who would want to make something more complicated than it needs to be?

We get it, asking anyone can be nerve-racking. But seriously, you should just take the initiative and ask your special someone out on a date. Someone’s got to make the first move. Even if you are a lazy girl, you aren’t necessarily lazy or apathetic, you just implement resourceful hacks to get everything done in half the time. You’re essentially the lazy girl MacGyver.

And if you’re a lazy gal looking to ask a dude on a date, you shouldn’t use that as an excuse not to ask them. After all, lazy girls ain’t got time for excuses. You’re too busy formulating the latest and greatest abbreviations for already short words, so you don’t have to spend more than a minute sending the perfect text. Seriously, if you’re a fellow lazy girl who’s interested in a cute fella, you need to get over the weird stigma that girls shouldn’t ask a guy out on a date. It’s well past the dark ages and a lazy girl can ask out anyone they want to. Unless you want to ask your dog out on a date, which would actually be pretty awesome. You two could go on a long walk in the park and get some ice cream afterward. Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about awkwardly bumping into any of your exes.

This is why you need to eventually woman up and ask your potential new bae on a date, the lazy girl way. Whether you’re a professional lazy girl or you just adopt the lazy girl’s methodology from time to time, there are several ways that even the laziest of lazy girls can ask someone out on a date. After all, lazy girls like to go on dates too.

Related: 7 Ways To Take Your First Date To The Next Level

Send them a GIF or meme

Seriously, who doesn’t love a dank meme or a funny GIF? That’s right, everyone loves them, unless of course it’s some embarrassing GIF of you. In that case, it’s perfectly understandable why you have a hatred of GIFs.

GIFs are a simple way for any lazy girl to flirt, because you can have an entire conversation without actually typing a single word to them. Want to know how your beau is doing? Send them a GIF of Joey Tribbiani asking literally anyone, “How you doin’?” Did your eye candy send you that same GIF before you got the chance to do the same thing? Beyond them being a total keeper, you can easily send them one of thousands of thumbs up GIFs. It’s literally that simple.

Plus, sending a GIF takes virtually no time. Well, other than the time you’ve spent searching for the perfect GIF or meme. JK, you actually just went with the first relevant visual that says, “Date?” on Reddit. Unless of course you can’t find a GIF for your specific conversation and you must curate an entirely new GIF from scratch. But let’s face it, you aren’t about to do that — ever.

Personally, I love using GIFs to ask someone on a date, because it makes the whole date-asking experience less stressful. Because you can just send a special someone a viral image to ask them on a date, you feel less vulnerable because you don’t have to make a big ordeal about asking them out in person. And what lazy girl wouldn’t want to save some time and energy? Plus, asking someone out on a date through a GIF makes the whole experience more fun.

Ask them to prevent you from becoming a third wheel

As much as you try to convince yourself that you’re totally fine with being a third wheel with Becky and Justin, it gets pretty nauseating seeing those two make out for the twelfth time when you don’t have someone to nauseatingly smack lips with also.

Why not stop yourself from third wheeling it — at least for a little while — and solve your dateless quandary? Asking someone to go on a double date with you is a lot less stressful for everyone involved, because now y’all don’t have to put the weight of a steady and interesting conversation on just two people. Now, it’s four peoples’ burdens!

Rachna Shah, a freshman at Dartmouth University, explains that asking someone on a double date “can often be an easy way to get the guy to know you better.” Which is great idea, because double dates and group dates in general take the tension off every party, because you don’t know to put the put the pressure of holding an engaging conversation between just two people. If anything you could easily just ask your potential lover to help you go on a double date with your bestie. After all, who could leave you hanging like that?
Better yet, why not ask your friend to hook a girl up? After all, your bestie is probably borderline worried about your love life (or lack thereof) after you’ve tagged along to the fifth “three-person date” this week.

Send 'em some grub

After all, the way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. Even if they don’t have a heart, everyone likes some tasty food.

Don’t worry cooking is not necessary for this date-asking recipe. Leann Bailey, a Full Sail University alumna, explains her fail-proof method to asking someone out on a date. “I just randomly send a guy a pizza or a burrito with a goofy pick-up line to ask them out on a date,” says Leann. Woah, how have I not thought of this before?

After all, who says girls — even the laziest of girls — can’t send a guy an unexpected meal with a cute pick-up line asking them out on a date? Okay, the society might think it’s “weird” (whatever that is), but tell society to shove it! I mean, guys like getting pizza and pick-up lines, right?

Spontaneously sending someone a delivery of their favorite food is a great way to get them to go on a date with you. While you could deliver them a pizza in person, that's way too much work for a lazy girl like yourself. Instead, you should just craft a great way to ask them on a date and add ask the restaurant to write it in the box, under "special delivery instructions" that every online order form seems to have. Other than the time you spend ordering and drafting your clever pick-up line, this method takes little to no time at all. This way, you can spend the next 45 minutes or so waiting to get a text from the cutie you sent the edible date invite to.

Just you know, make sure they're actually home when you send them their grub, otherwise their roommate will snag it.

Seriously, just ask

No tricks, tips or hacks necessary — just straight up ask your love like interest out on a date. Your best chances of actually landing a date is to bluntly ask. And no, asking your SO or potential SO to hangout is not asking them on a date. Channel your inner Liz Lemon and ask your boo thing to go to a movie or something (so you can sue them for some petty reason afterward).

It’s 2017 and modern technology makes everything easier and quicker. Some people might find it an informal or insincere way to ask someone out via text or DM, but you should get over that outdated unofficial rule ASAP. While your smart phone might be a crutch in most scenarios, it’s a great way to get over the awkwardness of asking someone face-to-face if they want to go on a date with you.

Although virtual communication methods might help a lazy gal ask someone out, it can still be virtual impossible for you to get some inspiration to easily ask someone on a date. Like, where do you even start? Don’t worry girl, there are some lazy girl approved texts to send your crush:

• Hey, wanna grab drinks sometime? (After all, everyone needs to drink.)
• Can you bail me out and go with me to get food with my bestie and her boo thang? (Who wouldn't help a damsel in distress?)
• You're hungry, I'm hungry, let's go get lunch. (Short, sweet and to the point.)
• Are you my appendix? Because I want to take you out. (Who doesn't like a classic?)
• Wanna go to the dog park and play with strangers' doggos? (Or you know, steal them.)
• Did you want to come over to my place and eat a bunch of junk food and watch Netflix? (What lazy girl doesn't love a good Netflix and chill?)

Seriously, forming the perfect text to ask someone out on a date is that simple. If any of the pre-crafted texts above seem too artificial in you and bae's conversation, then feel free to be blunt and ask them to do something specific that you'd know that they'd enjoy. If they like fishing, ask if they want to go fishing sometime. I know, fishing seems like a lot of work for a lazy gal. Trust me, you'll just be sitting there by a relaxing body of water, getting some sun and chatting all afternoon. Just be sure that you're clear that it's just you two, to make it obvious that it's a date.

After all, honesty is the best policy, so why not be straightforward with your courting approach? You can save so much time by just asking a person on a date. If they say yes, that’s awesome. If they say no, that’s a lot less awesome. Regardless, you can get on with your lazy self, so you can have more time to be productive and update your LinkedIn profile. Who are we kidding? In true lazy girl fashion, you haven’t updated that thing in years — it still says you’re a babysitter in Rockford, Illinois. In reality, you’re just going to have more time to binge-watch Netflix, gorge on pizza and use the excess grease as a 5-minute moisture mask. I definitely haven’t done anything like that before.

You might think the hard work is over, but a lazy girl’s work is never done. While you’ve found the easiest hack to asking your crush, now you actually have to prepare for your date. You know, by finding the perfect lazy girl approved outfit to wear and an easy breezy hairstyle to match.

A Canadian man stabbed a police officer in the neck with a 12-inch knife at Michigan’s Bishop International Airport in what officials are calling “an act of terrorism,” The New York Timesreports. The suspect has been identified as 50-year-old Amor M. Ftouhi, who shouted “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” prior to stabbing Lt. Jeff Neville on Wednesday morning. Ftouhi now faces the possibility of 20 years in prison, as well as other charges.

As of Wednesday evening, Lt. Neville is in “satisfactory condition” and was even strong enough to fight back when Ftouhi attacked him. Four people helped capture Ftouhi, who was questioned and later charged with “violence at an international airport,” according to the FBI’s special agent in charge, David P. Gelios. Gelios’s team believes that Ftouhi did not have partners in the act and that a terrorist group likely hadn’t trained him.

According to authorities, Ftouhi entered the country through Lake Champlain last week, arriving at the airport Wednesday morning. After spending time in a restaurant, he went into a bathroom with his luggage, dropped his bags, and pulled out a knife. Ftouhi then attacked Lt. Neville at approximately 9:45. In addition to screaming, “Allahu akbar,” Ftouhi yelled, “You have killed people in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are all going to die.” Luckily, surrounding people were quick to intervene, preventing any others from being harmed.

“Suffice it to say, [Ftouhi] has a hatred for the United States and a variety of other things that in part motivated him to come to the airport today and conduct this act of violence,” Gelios said at a news conference.

News reports on Wednesday evening state that police are currently conducting a raid on a Montreal apartment building that is allegedly connected to the airport attack.

To the rest of the universe, it may appear that you and your best friend go to the same coffee shop every Saturday, wear the same swimsuit and talk with the same lingo. But little does the rest of the universe know how dedicated you are to your best friend, beyond those obvious actions. Here are 15 signs you’re low-key obsessed with your best friend:

1. The excessive number of posts you have tagged her in has made you a threat to Instagram. 

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2. You can't help feeling the teeniest bit jealous when she makes new friends.

3. When she doesn't have a boyfriend, you are the boyfriend.

4. You have her passwords.

5. You are the Kimmy Gibbler of her house.

6. You must update her about each minute detail that occured during your day.

7. Your texts display your undeniable love for each other.

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8. Nightly plans are never confirmed with her because you know you'll end up together eventually.

9. You don't get anxiety when she borrows your clothes because half of your closet is already in her house.

10. Your parents don't ask who you're hanging out with because they already know it will be her.

11. You've mastered reading her facial expressions.

12. Everything and anything reminds you of her.

13. Anyone you know who hasn't met her feels like they have because you won't shut up about her.

14. Your plans revolve around her plans.

15. If all else fails, you plan on marrying into her family somehow. 

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

I first heard the term “self-care” at my old job at a healthcare PR agency. Part of my job (and TBH, my most favorite) was working with bloggers/online health advocates who were living with chronic illnesses. Self-care was always an important topic of conversation–it was imperative for them to listen to what their bodies/minds needed, especially during times when they were in constant physical pain.

Ever since I was exposed to the notion of “self-care,” it seemed to pop up everywhere, for everyone (not just those living with a chronic condition like I originally thought). New articles and studies about how important it is for us to take care of ourselves, because apparently Americans, in general, are pretty terrible at it. I also started to realize that I didn’t really “practice self-care” up until this point. It’s not that I didn’t take care of myself–I’ve always eaten pretty healthy & exercised regularly–but truly practicing self-care takes a little more intention and awareness.

Within the last few months, I started making an effort to practice self-care & I’m baffled why I didn’t do it sooner. First of all, it feels great & makes you really happy, which seems super obvious because that’s the whole point of self-care, but you don’t realize it until you do it consistently. Second, self-care can really be whatever you want; there are no strict rules because it’s about listening to yourself about you want/need. At first, I experienced a weird sense of guilt because it felt like I was treating myself for no real reason, but once I got over that and realized  I deserve to be nice to myself (because again, obviously), self-care actually became really fun & something I look forward to.

If you’re new to this whole self-care thing, here’s a simple list to get you started. Everything below takes between 30 seconds and an hour to complete, making it easy to incorporate it into your day. Again, self-care can be anything you want it to be–it’s all about making yourself feel good–physically, mentally & emotionally–because you deserve it. Enjoy!

1. Buy yourself flowers

I love flowers. I’ve always loved them. I think flowers instantly brighten up any room & make you feel happy. In the past, the only times I had flowers in my apartment/at my desk were when boyfriends would send me them (which is always the best). But then I realized I can just buy flowers for myself just because I like them. I don’t need a reason besides that they’re pretty. Oh, and they’re relatively cheap at most grocery stores (shout out to Trader Joe’s–they have the best peonies) so you really don’t have an excuse not to buy them.

2. Get a massage

When I turned 24, I made a list of things I wanted to do before I turned 25. One of them included getting a massage because why not? I went the other week, and it was lovely. Sure, it might not be something I do very often but every once in a while it’s nice to treat yourself to some kind of pampering. Don’t like massages? Whatever, get a facial, pedicure, blow out, etc. If it makes you feel good & is relaxing, then it’s self-care.

3. Meditate/Just sit quietly

Up until this year, I rarely just sat by myself and been quiet. It’s hard to do it in college–there are people constantly around & life moves a million miles a minute. And honestly, being completely by myself/being quiet used to make me super uncomfortable. I’m an extrovert by nature so being by myself is not something I do well.

As an adult(ish) though, there are times that you are by yourself which definitely feels lonely at times, until you get comfortable doing it. The real world can also get overwhelming very quickly, but I found that I just take a moment to actually b r e a t h e, I can think a lot more clearly.

Of course, the best way to do this is to meditate (highly recommend the Headspace and Calm apps), but if meditation isn’t your thing (honestly, I’m still working on it because it’s really hard!), just sit & be. I love doing this down the shore in the mornings on the dock with my coffee. Or if I’m at work and I’m getting stressed out, I take a walk around the block. Sometimes it’s nice to take a mental break & not think about anything for a couple minutes.

Read the full post here.

When Pretty Little Liars began seven years ago, I came for the mystery. Who was A? And who killed Alison DiLaurentis? But the longer I stuck around, the more engrossed I became in the girls’ love lives. I stayed for the couples.

Whether you’re Team Spoby, Haleb, Ezria, Emison or all of the above, these are without a doubt the BEST couple moments in PLL history.

1. Aria and Ezra, perfect strangers (or so we think), make out in a bar bathroom

Forget the fact that Ezra was kind of staking Aria out so he could pump her for information for his book. This was the start of something beautiful, that would survive despite the age difference, a dead girlfriend who later came back to life and the illegality of it all.

2. Emily and Maya’s photo booth kiss

Emily was still hiding her sexuality at this point, which made her first girl-on-girl kiss with Maya so special. Plus, is there any cuter place to have a first kiss than in a photo booth?

3. Hanna hops in the shower with Caleb

While Caleb was showering, Hanna’s mom came in the bathroom, forcing Hanna to jump in with him. What ensued was a perfectly flirtatious exchange that set this soon-to-be couple in motion.

4. Spencer chooses Toby, despite her mother’s protestation

Having just been attacked by A, Spencer had a choice to make: listen to her mother and shun Toby because of his involvement in Alison’s murder case or ignore what people think and run to him. Of course she ran to him.

5. Hanna and Caleb have sex for the first time in a tent under the stars

After confiding in each other, Hanna and Caleb got it on in a tent. Was it a tent Caleb was living in because Ashley wouldn’t let him stay in the Marins’ basement anymore? Maybe. But that didn’t make it any less romantic.

6. Ezra and Aria kiss in the rain…again

Rain has always been Aria and Ezra’s thing, but this kiss, which brought traffic to a standstill in the middle of a downpour, was more memorable than all the rest.

7. Alison saves Emily

At a time when Emily and the other girls still thought Ali was dead, having her appear in a dream-like sequence when Em was nearing death from an A attack seemed like the best thing that could happen. Later finding out this moment was completely real only made it better.

8. Spencer buys Toby a truck

Pawning your sister’s wedding ring to buy your boyfriend a truck probably doesn’t seem like such a romantic gesture, but in Rosewood, it so is. She may have had to steal from Melissa, but the look on Toby’s face when Spencer tossed him the keys was more than worth the ensuing chaos.

9. Paige and Emily have a poolside reunion

No matter what state their relationship was in, Paige and Emily always seemed to find their way back to the pool. That’s what made this kiss so perfect.

10. Spoby makes up in a motel room

Seeing Toby as a member of the A team was one of the hardest moments Spoby fans ever had to endure. But once Spencer joined the dark side and confirmed what everyone was thinking—that Toby was working for A to protect his lady love—the two made up in a motel room. It was everything the Spoby faithful (myself included) wanted needed.

11. Emily and Alison, sealed with a kiss

Shortly after Ali came back from the not-so-dead, things heated up between her and Emily. The squealing feeling Emison fans had when Alison and Emily kissed in bed faded when Ali messed up later in the episode, but this kiss will still go down as their best.

12. Ezria gets back together

Aria and Ezra broke up in Season 4 after she found out about his little book project. But after he took a bullet at the hands of Shana, these two fell into their familiar couple routine, and we didn’t have to wait long for them to reunite.

13. Caleb stays with Hanna after the dollhouse

All the girls had a tough time after coming back from the dollhouse, but Caleb was the BF who held Hanna in his arms while she slept on an air mattress in her torn-apart room, making this one of the couple’s sweetest yet simplest moments.

14. Mike and Mona reunite

Mike and Mona were a short-lived couple, but when they were together, it definitely worked. Just as Mona deserved a spot in the PLL squad, she also deserved a little lovin’. Call me crazy, but I’m still hoping she’ll end up with Mike before the show ends.

15. Ezra proposes to Aria

We knew a PLL proposal was coming, but we didn’t know which couple it would be…until Aria was greeted by what seemed like a thousand candles and Ezra on bended knee at his apartment. As the first ship to get engaged, this meant everything.

16. Hanna and Caleb kiss even though he’s with Spencer

You either loved or hated Spaleb, but wasn’t everyone rooting for Hanna and Caleb to kiss while they set a trap for A.D. at the Lost Woods Resort?

17. Spaleb and Haleb collide

This is by far one of PLL’s most powerful scenes. Caleb came to apologize to Spencer, not knowing Hanna was also on the other side of the barn’s bolted door. The raw emotion and devastation each of these characters was feeling in this moment jumped off the screen, and you couldn’t help but feel it with them.

18. Spencer and Toby say goodbye

With Toby moving away from Rosewood with Yvonne, it seemed Spoby was over, once and for all. But the goodbye kiss they shared, at Spencer’s request, gave us hope that they were anything but done.

19. Haleb becomes endgame

As Caleb listed all the things about Hanna that annoy him, one stood out: she wouldn’t admit they’re meant to spend the rest of their lives together. #swooning

20. Spencer comforts Toby after Yvonne’s death

Toby and Yvonne had just gotten married; he should’ve be the happiest guy in the world. But seeing as his bride died minutes after their union, Toby was understandably upset. Without a word, Spencer knew exactly what was wrong and just held him while he broke down, proving their love for each other is more than romantic.

21. Alison wants to be a family

After years of false starts, Alison being impregnated with Emily’s baby was enough to make Ali admit she was in love with Em and wanted to be a family.

22. Hanna and Caleb “get married” in a tent made for two

This wedding might not have been official, but it sure was romantic. The perfect callback to Haleb’s Season 1 tent hookup, I couldn’t think of a better way for them to commit their lives to one another.

23. Three sex scenes and a wedding

PLL shippers, all your wishes are coming true. In the course of one scene, not only did Haleb get (legally) married, but Ezria, Spoby and Emison solidified their relationships with some piping hot sex.

I'm sure there will be even more legendary couple moments in PLL's series finale. But for the purpose of this list, did I miss anything?

Maybe your partner doesn’t hit you, but he constantly compares your body to other women. Maybe he doesn’t push you around, but he tells you how stupid and worthless you are whenever he’s been drinking. Maybe he tells you you’re crazy. Maybe he doesn’t hurt you physically, but he might as well because you feel that the emotional scarring runs deeper than the physical ever could. 

Writer and artist, Zahira Kelly, created the hashtag #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou to start an important conversation about the non-physical domestic violence that women experience every day. Across the internet, stories of verbal, emotional, financial and sexual abuse were outpoured by women in heterosexual relationships about the non-physical intimate partner violence that they experience regularly.

As collegiette women we need to be equipped to recognize the signs of emotional abuse so that we can engage in healthy relationships with partners who respect us, and also take action if we aren’t being treated like the queens we are. Below are common types of non-physical relationship violence that you may not be aware of. They are just as harmful as physical abuse and need to be acknowledged and understood so that everyone can recognize the signs of a dangerous relationship and take action. If any of this is triggering from a past or current relationship, please reach out to The National Domestic Violence Hotline for support.

1. He treats you like property instead of a person.

You alternate between living as an isolated trophy girlfriend and being micromanaged into a Stepford wife. It’s confusing as hell, but whatever way he treats you always leaves you feeling like you don’t belong to yourself. This feeling means that your partner is exercising coercive control over you in which he intimidates you while simultaneously isolating you from everyone else, so that he can essentially mold you and treat you however he wants.

“My boyfriend dictated every aspect of my life,” says Caitie, a junior at Biola University. “I let him control the way I ate so that I would stay skinny. He told me who I could and couldn’t hang out with. He told me how I should feel about my family, and what career path I should go into. Every time I let him influence me, all of the things he did and planted in my head were all to his benefit. I can’t believe I lost myself for so long. None of what he made me was actually me, but I was scared to stop going along with what he said because I knew he would leave me.”

Christina Kaviani is a campus psychologist and the coordinator of SAFER at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is an organization that provides education and support resource for addressing sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. She has found that the problem coercive control is a prevalent issue within college relationships just like Caitie’s.

"This cycle of emotional abuse and total life control can only be stopped if we educate young women," says Kaviani. "It takes an internal recognition to see the cycle of violence their relationship keeps them in, but first colleges need to provide information on relationship violence so that women can recognize it at all. The difficulty is that college women often deeply love their partners, and won’t be willing to act against him or challenge his control."

This type of emotional subordination is a key factor in emotional abuse. Never let your partner take advantage of you or degrade who you are. You are strong, and this is something that can be overcome by reaching out to your support systems or a college counselor. You are not in this alone, and you are capable of regaining a life independent of him.

Related: I Was a Victim of Domestic Abuse on Multiple Occasions

2. He either takes your money or makes you feel guilty for spending his.

Financial abuse is even less talked about than emotional abuse, but it occurs in 98 percent of all abusive relationships. Our experiences with financial abuse as collegiette women might be different than those of a married couple, but it still sneaks in to relationship violence in college. A lot of us college students are poor AF, so it can be nice to date someone who has money in college, because it means a free dinner every now and then. The dark side of this is that you may have found yourself in a position when you rely on your partner for money, or vice versa, and that money becomes something to hold over you so that you don’t leave the relationship.

“I’m a first generation Mexican college student, and I could barely put myself through my first year of college by myself,” says Claudia, a recent graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. “My sophomore year I started dating this guy who was really well-off financially and his family was really well-off. We dated for a long time, and because of that he felt responsible to help me out with money and some bills when he could because it wasn’t a hardship for him and his family wanted to help. I can’t believe I didn’t see the signs of financial abuse the first time he coerced me into having sex with him. He had helped me with a car payment and later that night wanted to have sex. I was on my period, and I said no, but he made me feel guilty by bringing up that he helped me with cash and that I should have sex with him. This sort of thing happened for another year until I left him, and then he stalked me for almost a year after our breakup.”

In college, it’s best to keep money separate from your relationship, because you never know what will happen with your partner. It’s dangerous to give your partner financial power over you because it’s an easy tool of manipulation and coercion. In fact, try to avoid mixing money and relationship dependency until you’re actually married with a bunch of kids and have to pay the bills as a unit. Until then, go dutch, and each buy your own Taco Bell.  

3. He manipulates you into uncomfortable situations.

While your partner may not physically force you to do something, intimidation and coercion are severe verbal forms of domestic violence. He uses tactics, deception and manipulation to corner you into a situation. This is a psychological form of consensual assault that’s not okay.

“When I was in college I was repeatedly psychologically coerced into having unwanted sex, drinking and generally making decisions that were emotionally harmful, and my partner knew it, and he continued to manipulate me so he could get his way,” says Kaviani. “Now, I see this same thing everyday with the young women I counsel, and I’m happy to share my testimony with them. My college partner was a master manipulator, and he knew how to read me. He would guilt trip me, tell me I was stupid and acting like a pussy or threaten to leave me whenever I challenged him. If your partner ever uses emotionally degrading tactics on you, it shows a sign of disrespect, and may even be a greater indication that this person is suffering from a personality disorder.”

A partner who truly values and loves you would never force you into anything, plain and simple. Do not allow yourself to be vulnerable to manipulation, and always consider your own needs above anything else when under this kind of pressure. Remember that you can always say “no” and that your partner will hopefully have to respect that.

Related: My Boyfriend Sexually Assaulted Me & I Didn’t Realize It

4. He purposefully makes you feel insecure about yourself.

Let’s be real—as college women we are already riddled with insecurity about everything, and we don’t need some loser telling us that we have fat thighs or cellulite as chunky as chili. Still, verbal abuse where you partner constantly puts down your physical attributes happens—a lot.

“He compared me to all his ex-girlfriends,” says Whitney, a senior at the University of Massachusetts. “He would compare my body to random women he saw walking on the street. One time he said I should try to look more like a video game character, which was an elf. What?! He didn’t say this kind of stuff all the time, but to this day it sticks with me.”

Even if your partner is saying something that hurts you unintentionally, you need to bring it up in a neutral and safe space, and approach the subject very sincerely. Don’t immediately blame them, and tell them how horrible they are, but make sure they know that their words are not okay.  You especially need to address the issue if he is purposefully making you feel like crap about yourself. This type of verbal abuse will haunt you for years. If someone is going to be critical and negative, ditch them. They’re not as important as your self-worth.

5. He makes it your fault—always.

Have you ever approached your partner about a sensitive subject, only to find yourself put in the position of the bad guy? You go to talk to him about a habit that upsets you or something he said to a friend that hurt your feelings. Suddenly he’s yelling at you, telling you that you’re imagining things and lying his way out of being accountable for his actions. He makes you feel crazy, and you start to believe it.

Let me tell you, there is NOTHING WORSE than making a woman out to be a confused psychopath all because she has feelings or opinions.

My freshman year of college I found myself in a long-distance relationship with my high school boyfriend. When he got to college he quickly developed harmful drug and alcoholic abuse tendencies that caused him act in ways that dishonored our relationship. Needless to say, I was pissed, and would openly confront him about his actions to try and work through them, but was met with a brick wall. More like a brick wall shooting fireballs at my face. After three years of dating me, he decided to tell me I was crazy and that he hadn’t been doing anything wrong. I had imagined everything because I secretly had trust issues and this was a manifestation of my problems. I believed him. I spiraled into severe depression, thinking that I actually was crazy until the moment he broke up with me. Two months after our relationship ended he admitted I had been right all along, but by then it didn’t matter because I was left with depression and anxiety, and scars that would long outlive him.

Take note ladies—if your partner ever makes your feelings your “fault” or tells you you’re “crazy,” then you punch them in the face and sashay away.

If you take away anything from this, please understand that emotional abuse is more often than not a precursor to physical abuse. Do not let the significance of emotional abuse go unrecognized, and encourage yourself and your friends to engage in dialogue and action that ends it. Resources and further information on abuse can be found through your college’s counseling office, in the Breaking the Silence Handbook and through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Every woman should be safe and respected in her relationships and we will get there, one positive relationship at a time.

Natural hair is finally increasingly celebrated in mainstream media, as celebrities such as Zendaya and Halle Berry, as well as models such as Maria Borges, let their natural textures shine. One artist took it to a whole other new level, making gorgeous art with her natural hair. Hers are definitely not your typical hairstyles, but rather legit art that will blow you socks off. An Ivory Coast native, 21-year-old fashion designer Laetitia Ky is the creative force behind an Instagram account with 17.6k followers to date.

Ky creates a variety of "hair sculptures" with her tresses, and it's absolutely jaw-dropping. Over time, her work has drawn lots of attention, and with good reason. "I'm very happy that lots of people are sharing my art," she told Buzzfeed. "It encourages me a lot, but at the same time, I feel a bit of pressure from the expectations for my future work. I really hope I will be up to it!" We don't doubt that one bit. Just look at this talent:

A little starstruck.

Yes, it's a tree!

Can we be besties?

LOLOLOL

Follow @laetitiaky!

After much anticipation, Senate Republicans have unveiled their new health care bill. If passed, the bill would eradicate much, but not all of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act—repealing most of its taxes, removing the mandatory insurance requirement and gradually slowing Medicaid expansion, reports The Washington Post.

This draft of the Senate bill comes as a response to the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill passed by members of the House of Representatives last month. According to an analysis conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, the House of Representative’s version of the health care bill would lead to 23 million people losing health insurance coverage by 2026, according to The Chicago Tribune.

According to the Tribune, President Donald Trump called on senators to make their version of the health care bill more “generous"—but from the looks of it, the Senate bill isn't much different from the House legislation.   

The New York Times reports that the Senate health care bill would allow people to buy health insurance through a new system of federal tax credits. This means that individual states would have the ability to cut services like mental health treatment and maternity care, which are benefits required by Obamacare. The Senate health care bill would also cut federal Planned Parenthood funding.

The Senate bill still has to be passed, though, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky, the chief author of the bill, is planning to make this happen before July 4, according to the Times.

All Democratic senators are already opposed, and if just two of the 52 Republican senators vote no, Vice President Mike Pence will have to break the tie, according to the Post. Some Republican senators who are looking to completely repeal Obamacare aren't impressed with the new bill because it isn't conservative enough, while other GOP members are skeptical because of McConnell's secrecy when drafting the bill. At the moment, it looks like the bill does not have enough votes to pass.

Until the Congressional Budget Office conducts their analysis of the Senate bill, we won't know exactly how many Americans could potentially be impacted by the health care legislation.

Following two Republican victories in the Georgia and South Carolina special elections, President Donald Trump made a stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Wednesday to give a speech covering a vast range of topics from immigration to his own media coverage. Although he seemed in good spirits after his party's two recent wins, Trump often went on negative tangents and rarely stuck to the script. In fact, according to The New York Times, he seemed to vent to the audience for the entire hour.

Besides revealing two important plans—to ban immigrants from receiving welfare for five years, and to add solar panels atop the planned wall on the Mexican border—the president vaguely alluded to the investigation of Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. In reference to both the media and Democrats, Trump said, “They have phony witch hunts against me. All we do is win, win, win. We won last night.” (He seems to be referencing his own remix of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win.”)

Although his approval rating has dropped below 40 percent, nearly 6,000 supporters showed up to the rally at the U.S. Cellular Center.

He continued to jump from topic to topic, such as the Paris climate agreement, which the U.S. is expected to withdraw from. Incorrectly alleging that the agreement was binding, he told the audience, “Like hell it’s nonbinding!” 

Ultimately, Trump credited himself with America’s future successes, saying, “I think healthcare is going to happen, and infrastructure is going to happen, and I look forward to being able to produce it.”

He summed up his own speech perfectly: “I have to be a little careful, because they’ll say ‘He lied!’”  Trump might need to find someone else to talk to, because going on an emotional rant in front of several thousand people just isn’t healthy—or presidential. 

On Thursday, President Donald Trump tweeted that he did not record any conversations with former FBI Director James Comey, nor does he have any recordings. This comes after Trump previously tweeted, “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” Today's tweets mean that Trump's former comment was merely an empty threat or the hope that someone else possibly recorded the conversations, according to The New York Times. 

Trump fired then-FBI Director Comey in May because of an investigation into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. The tapes—which still may or may not exist—could confirm a story that Trump asked Comey to pledge loyalty to Trump after the inauguration, but Comey rejected special requests that he considered inappropriate. Trump's original threat (about Comey hoping the tapes didn't exist) could be considered obstruction of justice if it was threatening Comey not to speak about the FBI issue.

Comey, however, is desperately hoping there is recorded evidence of Trump's awkward requests. Comey famously said, “Lordy, I hope there are tapes," during his Senate hearing. During the past six weeks, Trump neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the tapes. However, top government officials and agencies who normally track White House information said that no official recording system exists, according to CNN.

We'll just have to wait and see if the tapes even exist or ever come to light, but it's looking unlikely after Trump himself finally denied that he currently has the recordings. 

This past weekend, Rebecca Burger, French Instagram fitness blogger, died as the result of a freak accident involving a whipped cream canister, Cosmopolitan reports. The canister, which had been recalled by its manufacturer in 2013, exploded and struck Burger in the chest, apparently causing a heart attack.

While it is unclear from current reports whether Burger was alone at the time of her death or whether she could have been saved, both her family and the cannister manufacturer have commented on the incident.

Burger’s family spoke out via her Instagram to warn her 180,000 followers of the dangers of the dispenser.

In their caption, they implore Burger’s fans and followers to watch out for the canister, because although the item was recalled several years ago, many were not returned to the manufacturer. They also posted an announcement of Burger’s death on Wednesday.

Ard’time, the manufacturer of the whipped cream dispenser, expressed slightly ambivalent comments about Burger’s death, according to a USA Today article. “"Unfortunately, there are still lots of siphons of all brands that remain potentially dangerous as time passes," an Ard’time representative said.

The response was similar from a consumer reporting magazine. "It is, to our knowledge, the first time there has been a death from such an explosion. … We knew it would happen one day," said Benjamin Douriez, editor-in-chief of 60 Million Consumers.

A recent post of Burger’s expressed her love for life, and had an eerily prophetic caption:

Burger writes, “A beautiful day comes to an end. Many travels to come and new projects. Recently, I have taken time to sit back and think about everything I have already accomplished and everything I am about to experience... I tell myself that life is beautiful. We don't have credit on time so we have to enjoy it to the fullest

Our hearts go out to Burger’s family.

Last week, at a Pennsylvania high school graduation ceremony, valedictorian Peter Butera went a little off book in his speech to his fellow classmates and audience, The Washington Post reports.

Rather than give the speech that had been approved by the school, Butera changed things up at the end to deliver a biting criticism of what he felt was his high school’s harsh and limiting treatment of its student body and its student government.

After delivering the initial, school-sanctioned points, things took a turn in Butera’s speech. “At our school, the title of Class President could more accurately be Class Party Planner, and Student Council’s main obligation is to paint signs,” Butera said. At this point, the school’s principal, with whom Butera had apparently had a tense relationship all throughout his time at Wyoming Area Secondary Center, can be seen making a face of disapproval.

It wasn’t until Butera outrightly criticized the school’s administration that the principal intervened and had his mic cut. “Despite some of the outstanding people in our school, the lack of a real student government, combined with the authoritative attitude that a few teachers, administrators and board members have, prevents students from truly developing as leaders,” said the valedictorian.

Butera’s next sentence was hard to hear due to the cut mic, but he continued to attempt to project the rest of his speech before agreeing to leave the podium at the insistence of the principal. Butera was met with a standing ovation from members of the audience while the principal looked annoyed.

And the story doesn’t end there, though that video does.

The one and only Jimmy Kimmel invited Butera to speak during his Wednesday night late show, where Butera gave the rest of his speech. His speech went on to implore school staff to prize the education and empowerment of its students. I could cry watching this.

So what do you think? Gutsy? An admirable stand against an oppressive educational-administrative system? Or an inappropriate time and venue?

Ariel Winter is no stranger to the media's judgment, but things just got personal for the Modern Family actress and she isn't letting this one slide. Ariel and her boyfriend, Levi Meaden, are cute as can be, but according to Star Magazine, the couple is only together because Winter pays him to be with her. The tabloid also claims Levi is actually Ariel's personal assistant. WTF?

We aren't the only ones who are confused. Ariel took to Instagram to post a message for the magazine in response to its terrible story.

"Star Magazine is OBVIOUSLY a non reputable source and a trash magazine, but seriously how dare you make up stuff that you have no idea about?" Ariel wrote. "I have a BOYFRIEND and a PERSONAL ASSISTANT who are NOT the same person. I would NEVER pay my boyfriend ANY sort of allowance, nor would he EVER accept if I offered. He BUYS his own stuff whether it's for me or for himself, and he more than pulls his weight for our life. I HATE fake news, but I guess that's what our world has come to. Get your shit straight. I don't support anyone, and I don't need anyone to support me. He's got a full career (including something huge that's new) and works hard for it. He's not just someone's boyfriend. So if you don't know us, don't comment. Xoxo."

Hopefully Star will see Ariel's post and think twice about what they published, although that's not likely. Regardless, I hope Ariel and Levi don't let this story get the best of them. They're the only ones who need to know what their relationship is; they have nothing to prove.

If you don't think Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are the cutest couple in the history of the world, what Ashton told Howard Stern on his radio show Wednesday may change your mind.

From watching That '70s Show, we all know the couple was a match made in heaven, but there's a lot more to how they became an item. It all started when Mila and Ashton shared their first on-screen kiss—Mila's first kiss ever—as Kelso and Jackie. Get this: It was awkward!

"It was really weird. I was like, 'Isn't this illegal? Like can I—am I allowed?'" Kutcher told Stern. "It was really awkward because I'm like a 19-year-old kid." Ashton added that he wasn't into Kunis, considering her age. "She was 14! She was like my little sister. I wanted to make sure she was okay." Aww, how sweet.

Though Ashton was looking out for her rather than pursuing her, he said that Mila thought he was attractive back then, although she'll deny it. "She has like, a journal or like, a diary from when she was a kid where she wrote, 'Oh, this guy's hot.' She thought I was cute!" I mean, can you blame her?  

"At first I think she thought that I was good looking, and then shortly thereafter, I was just annoying to her, because I was like a big brother," he said. "It was like, 'He's annoying, because he's always looking out for my best interest.'" How did they not see the signs earlier?!

Though the couple obviously had a very friendly beginning, things changed years later when their relationship became more like their movies, No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits. Ashton said it was "weird and fast."

Thanks to a housewarming party Ashton was hosting, he and Mila eventually kissed IRL, this time sealing the deal. "I think I was smoking cigarettes at the time, and I was still a smoker," Kutcher recalled. "And she had quit smoking and she was like, she wanted me to like shot gun a cigarette smoke so she could breathe it in and I was like, 'All right.' And I started doing this. And gradually through the night, it got closer and closer and closer." Damn, they weren't messing around.

"You know, she missed smoking," Kutcher said. "I think it was pretty mutual, it was kind of obvious that things were happening."

And things definitely did happen, as the couple are now happily married with two children. Seriously, the cutest thing about Hollywood.

If you find yourself dealing with frequent urinary tract infections, know you’re not alone.

UTIs are the second most common infection, according to Everyday Health, and account for millions of doctor visits annually. If you find yourself dealing with multiple UTIs — specifically, more than twice in a span of six months — this is considered a recurrent UTI. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that one in five women have a recurring UTI. So, how are you supposed to deal with what seem like non-stop infections? We’re here to help.

First of all, what is a UTI?

Essentially, a UTI is when bacteria enters the urinary tract, resulting in frequent trips to the bathroom or burning feeling when you pee.

"A UTI is an infection of the bladder or kidneys," says Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine. "When healthy, neither of these have bacteria in them, so an infection occurs when bacteria gets into the urethra, which connects the outside of the body to the bladder, and proceeds up the body into the bladder or kidney. UTIs are more common in the bladder, and more common in women."

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, symptoms of a UTI include:

• Frequent urgency to pee

• Burning sensation when you go

• Pee that is tinted or has a strange odor

Why do you keep getting recurring UTIs?

1. You don’t pee when you should

A key factor in preventing a UTI is peeing. Basically, peeing is part of your body’s self-cleaning process (another reason why you shouldn’t be using hygiene products besides simple soap and water). It’s meant to flush out your urinary tract and get rid of harmful bacteria, like the kind that causes a UTI. Trying to hold it when you really have to go can result in a UTI.

2. You don’t drink enough water

Dehydration means infrequent trips to the bathroom, and then your body can’t execute its self-cleaning process. Drinking enough water everyday will keep harmful bacteria from infecting your urinary tract by keeping your peeing cycle regulated.

"Staying hydrated is always a good idea," says Gillespie. 

3. You don’t pee after sex

Again, peeing is a cleansing process!

"One of the easiest ways to prevent UTIs is to always urinate shortly after intercourse," says Gillespie. "Since UTIs happen when bacteria travels up the urethra and into the bladder (and the bacteria can be introduced with intercourse), think of this as a way to 'flush out the bacteria' before it has a chance to settle and create an infection."

4. You use scented feminine hygiene products

Since your body has its own self-cleaning plan, douches and deodorants are unnecessary. If you do use those products and they are scented, they can actually do your body more harm than good because they can mess with the balance of healthy and harmful bacteria. Plus, the fragrances can cause irritation.  

5. You wipe from back to front

This can transfer harmful bacteria towards your urinary tract instead of cleaning things up- so make sure you wipe from front to back.

6. You wear the wrong kind of underwear

Cotton underwear can help prevent recurring UTIs because it is a more lightweight and breathable material so it isn’t super sweaty and gross down there.

7. You use the wrong kind of birth control

Sometimes the pill can be preferable to other forms of contraception. "Consider a new method of birth control if you use spermicide, particularly if you also use a diaphragm, as that may increase your risk of recurrent infection," Gillespie advises.

Treating a UTI

As soon as you experience any symptoms, head to your doctor to get tested so you can be prescribed an antibiotic.

"One thing I see is that women mistake another infection (such as a yeast infection or other condition) for a UTI, since they may have similar symptoms," Gillespie says. "However, they have very different treatments! So, especially if you have not had a UTI before, it's important to see your doctor to get tested, so you can get treated appropriately."

Recurrent UTIs can occur when the first one isn’t treated soon enough. Your usual family doctor or healthcare provider can treat a UTI. Do NOT wait to go to the doctor--UTIs can quickly progress into bladder infections. Regardless of what the internet tells you, cranberry juice will not cure your UTI! 

Preventing a UTI

Essentially, drink lots of fluids throughout the day to keep your urine flow consistent and flushing out your urinary tract, so when you gotta go, go. Keep things clean down there with soap and water — nothing scented. Taking a probiotic can help regulate the balance between good and bad bacteria by boosting healthy bacteria that can then kill off any harmful bacteria. According to Women’s Health Specialists of California, eating acidic foods such as berries, citrus, and apples can also help prevent an infection.

And that urban myth that cranberry juice can prevent or treat a UTI? Not so much.

"When it comes to cranberry juice and cranberry products, there is not strong evidence that they help," Gillespie says.

UTIs may be uncomfortable to talk about, but they are even more uncomfortable (and even painful) to deal with. Taking precautions to keep your urinary tract healthy now will save you in more ways than one. If you are frequently dealing with UTIs, try the preventative measures suggested and try to determine the cause. Gillespie adivses to talk with your doctor if you continue to deal with a recurring UTI, as it may actually be something more serious, or you may be put on a preventative antibiotics.

We're officially living in the Age of Rosé. Not only have we been blessed with rosé gummies, but now we're also getting rosé cosmetics, because wine not?

Native is releasing a rosé deodorant with natural ingredients like coconut oil, beeswax and baking soda. I never thought smelling like alcohol would be a good thing, but this is totally worth being able to say you smell like the fruit of the vine. As the saying goes, you can't buy happiness, but you can buy wine-flavored deodorant, and that's kind of the same thing. And if you're looking for the full cocktail collection, the deodorant is coming from a limited edition boozy brunch line along with mimosa and sangria deodorants ($30 for all three).

My love of wine aside, rosé is actually a classy scent that ranges from smelling of mint and grapefruit notes to those of berry and currant. I'm curious how the sweet wine scent will translate into deodorant, but it seems just subtle and mature enough to keep me smelling slightly fruity all day long.

And if you're looking to round off your collection of rosé cosmetics, there's always this rosé shade of Kokie nail polish ($6) or Motives Lip Shine in Rosé ($18.95). Labiotte even sells these actual wine-infused lipsticks for about $15 for the true aficionado. So when did rosé become such a thing? Vanity Fair reported that the beverage spiked in popularity since 2009, around the time it came to dominate the glam Hamptons lifestyle. It eventually became known as "Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wine" so really, we may have lost Brangelina, but at least the couple helped us discover our love of rosé. And, like, rosé deodorant. I guess.

SaveSave

Following the reveal of the Senate Republicans’ new health care bill, former President Barack Obama has responded to the bill’s features, which would lead to the cutting of many benefits of the Affordable Care Act, according to The New York Times. Features such as Medicaid and maternity care are in danger of significant cuts under the bill.

Posting on his Facebook page, Obama wrote, “Our politics are divided. They have been for a long time. And while I know that division makes it difficult to listen to Americans with whom we disagree, that’s what we need to do today.”

Also in the message, Obama called upon senators to observe the new draft of the bill with a seriousness that goes beyond instilling Republican values. “I hope that our Senators, many of whom I know well, step back and measure what’s really at stake,” he said, “and consider that the rationale for action, on health care or any other issue, must be something more than simply undoing something that Democrats did.”

Although Obama pointed out that, with the Affordable Care Act in place, more than 90 percent of Americans “know the security of health insurance,” he also recognized that the system has its flaws. “It was not perfect, nor could it be the end of our efforts—and that if Republicans could put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we made to our health care system, that covers as many people at less cost, I would gladly and publicly support it.”

The lengthy response even included a subtle remark about President Trump’s unorthodox administration. “I still hope that there are enough Republicans in Congress who remember that public service is not about sport or notching a political win,” Obama wrote, “that there’s a reason we all chose to serve in the first place, and that hopefully, it’s to make people’s lives better, not worse.”

Obama closed his message reminding Americans that making a difference amidst this change is possible “if you’re willing to call your members of Congress…if you’re willing to speak out, let them and the country know, in very real terms, what this means for you and your family.”

After the release of the bill’s draft, President Trump expressed support for it via Twitter:

Regardless of politicial beliefs, everyone should keep in mind the words Obama tweeted with a link to his message:

If you're a bone-a-fide dog lover (get it?), you can never get enough of the adorable canines. And now, thanks to social media, you never have to be without a furry companion. After combing Instagram for the most photogenic pups from a range of breeds, I dug up 18 Insta dogs you need to follow immediately.

1. Marnie the Dog

2. Manny the Frenchie

3. Maru

4. Remix the Dog

5. Emma the Westie

6. Dean the Basset

7. Tofu the Corgi

8. Milo Meets World

9. Tuna Melts My Heart

10. Willamina 

11. Brussels Sprout 

12. Popeye 

13. Loki the Wolfdog

14. Barley the Samoyed

15. Doug the Pug

16. Jinkee 

17. Menswear Dog

18. That Golden Dog

And remember, this is merely a starting point for your pooch-y perusal. 

Less than a week after Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial was declared a mistrial, the star’s publicist has announced that Cosby will spend time this summer talking to teens about sexual assault prevention, Us Weeklyreports. Um, in what world is this okay?

Cosby’s publicist Andrew Wyatt appeared on the local talk show Good Day Alabamato discuss the possibility of Cosby returning to his regular work. “We’re now planning town halls and we’re going to be coming to [Birmingham] sometime in July…to talk to young people because this is bigger than Bill Cosby,” Wyatt said. “This issue can affect any young person, especially young athletes of today, and they need to know what they’re facing when they’re hanging out and partying, when they’re doing certain things that they shouldn’t be doing. And it also affects married men.”

Despite dozens of women claiming that Cosby drugged and assaulted them, the comedian is free on $1 million bail after the trial’s jury couldn’t determine whether or not he was guilty in harming the only woman whose case was addressed in trial. According to CNN, prosecutors will try to schedule another trial within 120 days.

Understandably so, the public hasn’t reacted to the news of Cosby’s speeches well, turning to Twitter to express their feelings. 

Although Cosby's team may be advertising his talks as educational, there's no doubt that someone with his history talking to people about sexual assault is disturbing. 

Sometimes the greatest love stories of Bachelor Nation are the friendships that contestants form while living together in the infamous mansion. While she may not have been besties with JoJo Fletcher when both women vied for Bachelor Ben Higgins’ love on TV, Lauren Bushnell revealed that JoJo reached out to her when Lauren and fiancé Ben broke up last month, Us Weeklyreports.

“[She] and I talked before and I shared that we were having struggles,” Bushnell shared with Us Weekly. “She texted me the day that the news or whatever broke just to check in, which I thought was really nice. We talked a little bit.”

Seeing as Lauren and JoJo were Ben’s final two contestants (and he said “I love you” to both of them!), it’s definitely admirable for former Bachelorette JoJo to look after Lauren post-breakup. Although JoJo is still with her Bachelorette pick Jordan Rodgers, the two girls talking proves that sometimes you just need your girlfriends to deal with difficult moments.

According to Us Weekly, Lauren is ready for some time on her own before finding love again.  “I’m just taking the mindset that I’m going to take it day by day,” she said. “If something happens, great. If not, then that is how it’s supposed to be. I’m just trying to focus on myself and my blog, focus on my projects and friendships and family. If something comes from that, great. I’ll be so happy.”

We’re cheering on Lauren during this new stage, and we hope she and JoJo will continue supporting each other along the way!