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Join the Be Bold, Be Bald! Movement!

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Fighting cancer is a battle no one should have to endure – especially alone. This October, stand in solidarity to honor those who bravely fight cancer and raise money to help fight back with Be Bold, Be Bald!

Be Bold, Be Bald! is a national fundraising event held on October 20th where participants “go bald” by boldly wearing a bald cap (or even shaving their heads!) to support everyone who has been touched by cancer – and raise money in the process for their choice of over 50 cancer charities.

Her Campus is teaming up with Be Bold, Be Bald! to encourage you to put your vanity aside and rally your friends and family to raise money for this worthy cause. Start a team (or go solo!) and you and your teammates will each have the chance to win a beauty package worth over $250 courtesy of Yes To, H20+ Beauty and other amazing partners! The team that raises the largest amount of money per team member will be gifted with over $1000 worth of prizes from Harper Wilde, Her Campus, Alma Mater and more as a special thank you from Be Bold, Be Bald!&Small Army for a Cause.

Be Bold, Be Bald!


Keep Summer In Your Beauty Routine with This Giveaway from L’Oréal Paris

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Picking out your back-to-school look for the first day of class just might be as hard as deciding what to pack for college altogether. After all, first impressions are everything, and if you want yours to count, it doesn’t hurt to make an entrance as if a radiant, bronze goddess just walked into the room.

Her Campus wants you to ooze confidence from head to toe and feel prepared for anything this school year. That’s why we’ve put together a grand packing list to help you select all the trendiest items for your dorm, closet and more. And yes, thanks to L’Oréal Paris, we even included all of the recommended beauty essentials in the guide as well.

But that’s not all. To absolutely guarantee you shine with flawless skin and on-point makeup, we’re giving one lucky winner some of the L’Oréal Paris items featured in the 2017 College Packing List and available at Walmart!

If you want that effortless summer glow to last you through the year, all you have to do is enter to win the giveaway below. Then, read on to see what’s included in the prize pack.

Keep Summer In Your Beauty Routine with This Giveaway from L’Oréal Paris

 Here’s a preview of what you’ll win from L’Oréal Paris:

After you enter the giveaway, make sure to check out the rest of the College Packing List for more tips on what to bring for your best school year yet!

13 Signs You're the Extra One of Your Friend Group

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Extra? Who, ME?! Yep, you're extra AF if these 13 signs sound just like you.

1. You've never been underdressed for any event. Ever. In your life. 

Athleisure for class? Over your dead body. 

2. Your Instagram aesthetic is expertly curated. 

Unless, it's like gourmet cookie dough or an especially sensual slice of pizza. Soft smiles or candids only. 

3. You loooooove Snapchat filters. 

Bored in bed? Dog selfie. Bored at work? Flower crown selfie. Procrastinating in the library? Butterfly selfie.

4. Your Snapchat stories always last at least a minute. 

Whenever people complain about how long your story is…but still watched the whole thing.

5. Double texting is one of your strengths. 

You could type one boring paragraph or send a bunch of frantic, incomplete sentences, each with the confetti effect. 

6. You relate to Tom Haverford from Parks and Rec more than you'd like to admit. 

This is something you've probably thought about before. 

7. And in his honor, you "treat yo self" once a week.

You know what? You guys are right! I definitely deserve that new eyeshadow palette AND a Lush bath bomb! 

8. If your eyebrows and nails aren't perfect, your day is ruined. 

You don't watch all those Instagram videos of eyebrow threading and nail tutorials for yours to look busted, okay?

9. You overcommit to theme parties and costumes at Halloween. 

While other people may wear black jeans, a black T-shirt and devil horns, you're rocking a red leather jumpsuit complete with a cape. 

10. You're fully prepared to treat your baby the same way DJ Khaled treats Asahd. 

Even if you don't drop an album, you'll probably still recreate this photo shoot. 

11. You're weirdly competitive about the pettiest things. 

Letting someone win? What even IS that?

12. Your school supplies, laptop stickers and room decor are color-coordinated and super cute.

You just took a deep breath, didn't you?

13. You're never going to change. 

Sorry, not sorry. 

The Defense Secretary Has Frozen Trump's Transgender Military Ban (For Now)

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Late Tuesday night, Defense Secretary James Mattis announced that transgender troops will be allowed to continue serving in the military, pending the results of a study of experts on the matter - effectively freezing the transgender military ban that President Trump announced earlier this summer, USA Today reports

In a statement, Mattis said that the ban would not go into effect until he had received advice from a panel of experts from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security on how it would be implemented.

"Once the panel reports its recommendations and following my consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, I will provide my advice to the president concerning implementation of his policy direction," Mattis said. "In the interim, current policy with respect to currently serving members will remain in place."

Mattis's announcement comes only days after the White House said that it would soon issue more detailed guidelines to the Defense Department on how to proceed with the ban - however, details on the ban have continued to remain murky ever since it was announced. Many were already speculating that Mattis would be more concerned with service, and find a way to offer leeway to transgender members already serving in the military - and it appears that his latest statement confirms that he's not rushing to implement the ban any time soon.

Meanwhile, the ACLU announced yesterday that they have filed a lawsuit challenging the ban's constitutionality - so it will be interesting to see how that may take shape following Mattis's statement.

MAC Has a Secret Sale Section on Its Website That You Absolutely Need to Know About

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Considering how much money we spend on our beauty addictions, we like to save a little money whenever we can. (Especially considering, you know, the whole broke college student budget thing.) One brand that's usually hard to get at a discount? MAC. That is, until now.

Teen Vogue reports that the cult-favorite brand actually has a secret sale section, that somehow, basically none of us knew about until recently - but the secret is finally out. To shop it, you'll need to head to the MAC website and look for the "Goodbyes" section at the top of the homepage. Click it, and you'll be taken to a magical place where tons of MAC products are 40% off.

The sale section offers tons of products including lipsticks, eyeliners and eyeshadows, all of which the brand is trying to sell in order to make room for new products. We're talking $12 Plushglass and an eyeshadow palette featuring four gorgeous neutrals for only $27. Heaven is real, and it exists on MAC's website.

You'll have to be quick though - once a product is gone, it's gone forever, so make sure to check the "Goodbyes" page to scoop up the last of your favorites too!

7 Things College Admissions Officers Don’t Tell You

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Applying to college can be scary. Naturally, we rely on the more educated people around us to provide insight into the overwhelming process of attending (and getting ready to attend) college. College admissions officers can be a great resource when beginning the college hunt, but they may not always be able to give you all of the information you need.

Different admissions departments may be able to tell you different information; there is no uniform university admission department. So, what can you go to the admission office for? Admissions officers can give you advice on the application process as well as surface knowledge of other university departments. However, they can also connect you to other members of campus who may be able to answer the questions that they can't.

Admissions officers may not be able to give you all of the information you need, but here are some tips from our group of experts.

1. It's not all about a 4.0

When in the home stretch of your senior year, don’t get caught up in trying to get that 4.0. Yes, your GPA is important, but don’t let it take over your life. So many students cram a bunch of AP and IB classes in at the last minute (I know I did!) in hopes that it will give them the extra edge when it comes to getting into their dream school. In all fairness, it might.

However, more important than your GPA, are the classes you take, “A student’s GPA, but more importantly their transcript, is the most important factor to us. The transcript (from 9th grade, on) tells us a story. It answers the questions: what type of environment was the student in, what types of classes did they take, did they challenge themselves within reason (no, we don’t need to see that you’ve taken every single AP or IB class your school offers), did they diversify their learning by taking a wide variety of classes…?” says Kaitlyn Rice, an admission counselor at Willamette University.

2. Getting involved shows your personality

Extracurriculars are an invaluable addition to your college application; they have the ability to make you stand out amongst a sea of applicants. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t have a stellar GPA, having a unique application can give you that extra boost and somewhat make up for your GPA. (Maybe mention something about how being in an extracurricular can show parts of your personality/interests that a GPA—a numerical unit—can’t reflect on its own!)

“Make yourself unique ... Every college you apply to has people with good grades therefore you need to have stuff that makes you stand out from the crowd,” says Zaynah Javed, a first-year student at UC Berkeley.

If you’re not sure where to start, joining clubs, student leadership, or volunteering can be great ways to beef up your application.

In addition to looking great on your resume, all of those experiences can also help you gain experience and insight into the world post-high school.

Related: 5 Ways to Get Ahead on College Applications

3. Your workload is going to shift in college

One of the most difficult things to prepare yourself for is how your workload is going to shift once you start college. Though this is something that college student faces, it isn’t discussed very often.

Julie Zeilinger, author of College 101: A Girl’s Guide to Freshman Year, and founder of The FBomb, shares her insight on the transition from high school to college academics.

“Many first year students are unprepared for the radical differences in their schedules, workload, and time management both require,” she says. “While most high schools operate on a system of 7-8 straight hours of classes, college students only have a few hours of classes every day. Their time is far more open and flexible— but the workload out of class often greatly increases compared to high school.”

Even though college demands less of you when it comes to physically being in class, it somehow is still capable of taking up more time. Everyone manages their time differently, so it can be difficult for admissions officers to advise on college organization. Regardless, it’s best to start revamping your organizational habits before you’ve started your first year. Some helpful tools for maintaining an organized schedule include getting a planner that you’re actually excited to use and a white board for your room—and utilizing your phone. Calendar. (Those reminders can be a lifesaver!)

4. Electives can make your transcript more well-rounded 

Most high schools allow you to take some elective classes during your last year. Before you make any decisions about what electives you want to fit into your schedule, consider how they’ll look on your application. If you’re applying to an English program, what will a chemistry elective add to your application?

In some cases, it may be helpful to tailor your elective choices to fit the major you want to pursue. That being said, if you’re hoping to be an English major and you really want to take one last chemistry class, go for it!

“Knowing that college admissions officers do weigh how relevant your high school courses are to your perspective major, high school students can easily explain in their admissions essay(s) why they chose to take certain classes and how they will help their college studies,” says Chelsea Jackson, a junior at Iowa State University.

Though it’s important to take classes you think will help you with your major, Rice says that a diverse transcript may make you more appealing to a liberal arts college, “we know you will have a wide array of classes you’re required to take at Willamette (as is the case with any traditional Liberal Arts institution), so we need to know you’re setting yourself up to be successful in this type of environment.”

While having high school elective classes that help aid your future major is important, if you’re attending a college that promotes a liberal arts curriculum, a wide variety of classes may give your transcript a diverse edge.

5. Don’t trust the acceptance rate

While visiting campuses and searing potential colleges online, you’re bound to get caught up in the acceptance rates of your top-choice schools—but it doesn’t always make sense to look at them as a defining factor in your college hunt.

“Generally speaking, I try to be as much of an open book as possible, but the one topic I don't address on my own is the idea of selectivity as suggested by the ‘acceptance rate,’” says Rice. “The fact of the matter (for WU at least) is that the percentage of students that we admit is based entirely on simple mathematics. If we know we need to enroll a certain number of students—remember, enrolling is different than accepting."

Though the accolades you discuss in your application do play a role in whether or not you’re accepted into a university, the actual percentage of students admitted relies heavily on how many students the school is able to admit. To an extent, your acceptance letter may depend on the amount of people who apply to your university of choice.

6. You’re going to need time to adjust

Even though you may feel completely prepared for the experience ahead of you, heading off to college can still be a whirlwind of new experiences. No matter how many articles you read or people you talk to, it’s still difficult to gauge how your professors will be, or how high of a workload you may have.

When talking to admission counselors, it may be important to consider asking them about the teaching environment at the school.

“The expectations of faculty here are extremely high. Students coming in are often times high achievers already, so they can and do adjust, but I think a deeper introduction to the expectations of classroom participation, writing standards, and research/internship opportunities outside of the classroom would give students the chance to get even more out of their time at WU,” says Rice.

Certain programs, like pre-college summer programs, are designed to help you integrate into a college atmosphere. However, if you’re unable to attend one of those programs, university staff can give you useful insight.

7. The college that holds the most clout may not be the college for you

One of the most common misconception that Rice sees has to do with how students view specific, more selective, universities, “students stress themselves out about getting into the “best” college, which people all too often define as the ones with the lowest admission rates. If students would channel their energy into considering the college that will help them in authentic pursuits in both academia and co-curriculars, they will find the place that’s best for them.”

It's easy to get sidetracked by the college that looks impressive, or the college that the people around you want you to go to. Be careful not to get lost in all of the pressure associated with choosing a university; it’s important to focus on the college that fits your needs the best.

If there’s something university-related that you’re curious about, don’t hesitate to contact an admissions officer from your university of choice. “Admissions officers at the very least will not judge you for any questions or concerns you have and, in fact, may actually be impressed that you're holding them and their school to high standards and are self-possessed enough to make sure their process and school is a fit for you, too,” says Zeilinger.

Even if they aren’t able to answer your question, they’ll be able to direct you to the right person.

6 Healthy Summer Habits (& How to Keep Them Year-Round)

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For all of us collegiettes, summer marks a clear change of rhythm. Whether you're working a job, interning, taking summer classes, traveling or just kicking back and relaxing, you're bound to have more time to do you – and the beautiful weather doesn't hurt, either. During the summer, we’re often healthier, happier versions of our school-year selves; we pick up good habits and are just all-around more relaxed. HC put together some of the things we do better May through September, as well as tips from collegiettes and experts for how to carry these good habits into our busy college schedules.

1. The habit: eating a more balanced diet

In college, irregular eating patterns are pretty much the norm. We skip breakfast, stress-eat chips and candy and often go for late-night greasy fare. But over the summer, fresh produce tends to be more readily available, and we also have extra time to prepare meals and sit down to enjoy them. In addition, with our stress levels down to a minimum, we’re less likely to snack erratically.

Sara Heath, a senior at Assumption College and a contributing writer for HC, has noticed some positive changes in her diet this summer. “I've been way more apt to eat better foods, like all of the seasonal fruits and even more veggies, as a way to stay hydrated,” Sara says. “I've been eating lots of carrots and celery just to snack on. I'm also obsessed with watermelon.”

How to carry it into the school year:

Like Sara, if you've been eating better in the past weeks, you probably want to keep it up once school comes around. “I've been feeling so much better, so I definitely want to carry [this diet] into the fall when I go back to school!” Sara says. “My biggest concern going back to school, though, is that fresh produce is kind of expensive and I have to pay for my own groceries. I'm afraid I'll go back to lots of simple carbs because they're cheaper!”

There are many ways in which your new healthy lifestyle could slip up when you go back to college, but don't worry! According to registered dietitian Nancy Clark, “you will choose to carry your good habits with you into the school year when you stay mindful of the benefits of healthful fueling and enjoyable activities.”

Remind yourself why you wanted to eat wholesome foods in the first place. “You'll realize that when you eat (and sleep and play) well, you not only feel better, but you also feel better about yourself,” Clark says. If you remember how good you felt during the summer, it should motivate you to go the extra mile to eat well during the school year, too.

But even with the right amount of motivation, eating right in college can be a real struggle. Luckily, Danielle Kemp, the dining services dietitian at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has some great tips to help you hold on to your healthier summer diet. First, an easy way to avoid eating the same things over and over is to “include different-colored fruit and vegetables to maximize your overall daily nutrition,” Kemp says. So get creative with your groceries and try something new! “It’s fun and you might find something you love,” she says.

Whether you live in the dorms or an apartment, always “aim for a colorful, balanced plate that is full of nutrients,” Kemp says. As for snacking, “it’s okay when it’s done right. Enjoy fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains.” This is also a chance to get creative and test new combos. Kemp suggests pairing an apple with almond butter, string cheese with whole-wheat crackers or dried fruit with nuts for some homemade trail mix.

Another important tip? “If you are on the run, don’t skip breakfast,” Kemp advises. If you have a fridge, prepare overnight oats or a smoothie the night before and enjoy it on the go—emphasis on enjoy. “Don’t forget to enjoy your food,” Kemp says. “It provides our bodies with nourishment, so try to make the time to slow down and savor it.”

2. The habit: exercising regularly

Over the summer, exercising can feel more natural than forcing yourself to hit your school gym. For instance, you might go for a bike ride, a swim or a hike and not even realize you're working out! But even if you love going to the gym or doing workout videos, it's much easier to find time to do so during the summer months. You could even sign up for that yoga class you've always wanted to try!

“This summer, I've been working out regularly, which I haven't done for a while,” says Julia Flaherty, a junior at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. “Lately it's been an average of four to five days per week. It's the time I take for myself to feel good about who I am.”

How to carry it into the school year:

Our college schedules can get insane at times, but it's important to remember to incorporate exercise into your school routine. “Being physically active regulates the body in so many ways,” explains Andrew Ames, a certified personal trainer, barre instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles and creator of Butt N Gut fitness. “Fitness fuels the brain with endorphins and other chemicals that help improve overall performance, including on an exam or presentation.”

You don’t necessarily need to block off a whole hour to exercise, especially during busier times like midterms or finals. “Walking and taking stairs, even in 10-minute bouts, is far better than just sitting and studying,” Ames says. “Walk the campus while you study your flash cards, park further away and take the stairs wherever you need to go…Remember, working on your fitness doesn't mean you HAVE to go to the gym. Find something fun that gets you moving.”

Another great way to ensure you continue to exercise regularly once the summer is over is to enroll in fitness challenges. Some colleges offer programs to help you reach your fitness goals, like the team-based challenge at the University of North Georgia, or programs in which you pay a deposit that you get back upon completion, like at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. If your school doesn’t offer fitness challenges, you can use apps like MapMyRun, on which you can win prizes for completing the challenge. Workout calendars like this one are also an effective way to motivate yourself.

3. The habit: getting your beauty sleep

You know what they say – you can't sleep, study and have a social life in college. You have to choose two. But since many collegiettes skip the “study” part over the summer, sleeping is much easier to do, and the benefits are endless!

Besides feeling more energized overall, going to bed early could mean waking up earlier and being able to enjoy what the morning has to offer! Aparna Vancheswaran, a junior at the University of California at Los Angeles, says that during the school year, she never goes to sleep before 2 a.m. Since she has been able to go to bed earlier in the summer, she gets to try new breakfast recipes when she wakes up. “And I'm rather enjoying not looking like a zombie,” she says.

How to carry it into the school year:

You’ve probably noticed that when you’re sleep-deprived, everything seems more difficult. You feel sluggish, less productive, in a bad mood and more prone to mindless snacking, among other things. “Remember that your mood, your focus, your metabolism and your grades all require adequate sleep,” says Michael A. Grandner, PhD, an instructor of psychiatry and member of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania. “So it is important to make sleep a priority.”

Finding the time to sleep in college can be horribly challenging, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. “Avoid caffeine within six hours of sleeps,” Dr. Grandner advises. “Avoid screen time in the middle of the night. Try to minimize noise and light, even if it means using an eye mask and earplugs.”

Even following these tips, chances are you won’t be able to get the recommended amount of sleep every night (between seven and nine hours, according to Dr. Grandner). In that case, “naps in the middle of the day can be a great way to recharge and make it through an afternoon of classes or work,” he says. So allow yourself that power nap, because you’ll most likely do what you need to do better afterwards anyway.

4. The habit: being a social butterfly

The summer is the perfect time to step out of your friendship comfort zone and meet new people. Whether you're home, at school or abroad, there are plenty of occasions to connect with friends of friends or total strangers.

Garance Merholz, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles, is taking summer classes and loves making new friends. “I'm being more social!” she says. “I decided to just go for it and talk to people whenever I want. It's been pretty awesome.”

While meeting new people is lots of fun, summer is also your time to strengthen your relationships with old friends from home or from school, like Sarah Estephan, a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles, has done. “This summer, I've decided that I can only have positive and loving people in my life,” Sarah says. That being said, this summer has made me realize who my true friends are, and I couldn't be more thankful for them.”

How to carry it into the school year:

Unfortunately, we don't always allow ourselves quality time with our good friends during the academic year. So whenever you feel tempted to blow off your friends to get ahead on next week's homework, remind yourself that you need to prioritize people sometimes. For Sarah, spending more time with her real friends is “the only way [she] can guarantee next year will be successful.”

As for meeting other people, college campuses are full of fascinating people with lots of different backgrounds and interests. The problem is, once you've settled into a friend group, you don't necessarily feel the need to go out and meet people as much, when you could actually benefit from it a lot.

Because she’s enrolled in summer school, Garance has noticed how rewarding being more of a social butterfly can be in college. “Now I have study buddies in my classes, and I'm making new friends everywhere!” she says.

Joanne Cantor, Ph.D., the outreach director of the Center for Communication Research at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, advises: “Have fun! Don’t be a workaholic. Your work will be of higher quality – and you’ll be healthier and happier all around.”

5. The habit: finding new passions

Whether you've been meaning to make that DIY lamp you spotted on Pinterest or you dream of learning to play the guitar, summer is the perfect time to develop new skills. Kasia Jaworski, a senior at Villanova University, tried her hand at cooking last summer. “Something that I picked up last summer that I continued through the school year (and up until now!) was trying a new recipe every week,” Kasia says. “During the summer, I had the time to look through my Pinterest board and cookbooks I had and I picked out a new dinner recipe every week!”

Achieving new goals will not only spice up your summer routine, but it will also make you proud and give you skills to show off. Just do it!

How to carry it into the school year:

Hopefully you'll love your new talent so much that you won't want to give it up just because classes are starting. “I liked [cooking] so much that I did it all last year as well,” Kasia says. “The recipes don't have to be elaborate or difficult, but I wanted to try something new to switch up what I was eating week to week.”

If you love doing something enough, you should find time to do it. It will make you happier and healthier, which means you're bound to do better in school and everything else as well!

Set aside a time every few days or every week, for instance, to pursue your newly found hobby. By working it into your schedule, it won’t feel like something you can do without.

6. The habit: disconnecting from social media

Let's face it – we’re all pretty much addicted to our smartphones and social media. But in the summertime, it gets somewhat easier to not use technology all the time; we spend more face-to-face time with our friends, and we don't have to set constant reminders for all our busy-girl obligations. It's liberating to find out just how much we can get done when we’re not constantly checking Facebook.

Claudia Dimuro, a senior at New York University, finds that “during the summer, it's extremely relaxing to take time out of the day to separate yourself from your phone/any other type of social media tool.” And we couldn't agree more, but it's often easier said than done to keep that up once fall rolls around!

How to carry it into the school year:

If disconnecting from time to time is so relaxing, why don't we do it in college, too? Well, it's easy to get into the bad habit of constantly scrolling through our Instagram feed, and a boring lecture can seem like a great place to do it. But be careful! “Multitasking (checking Facebook or surfing the web, for example) while in class or while studying dumbs down your brain, makes things take longer, reduces your memory for what you're doing and makes you do a poorer job,” Cantor warns.

Concentrating is difficult, and technology can get in the way. Instead of always having your phone on hand, “turn off your alerts or leave your smartphone behind even for a short period of time,” Cantor advises. “Don't overload yourself with information or trivia from the Internet. Make sure important people can reach you in emergencies, and get back to everyone else when you have time.”

There's a reason we love the summer – life just seems so much easier with fewer obligations. We get into healthier habits, we have more fun and we feel great! That's why it's a good idea to carry your summer habits into the school year so that you can feel more relaxed in a time of high stress. So keep on doing things you love and making time for your friends and for yourself, and you'll improve every other aspect of your life in the process.

A Professor Was Fired After Calling Harvey Floods 'Instant Karma' For Voting For Trump

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A visiting professor at the University of Tampa was fired after tweeting that the floods, damage and destruction from Hurricane Harvey in Texas was "instant karma" for how the state voted in the 2016 election, the Washington Postreports.  

“I don't believe in instant Karma but this kinda feels like it for Texas," Kenneth L. Storey, a sociology professor, tweeted on Sunday. "Hopefully this will help them realize the GOP doesn't care about them.”

Not a good look, Ken. 

Say what you want about a state's politics, but with at least 9 people confirmed dead and a so-far hard to gauge level of devastation from the storm, the comments come off as particularly callous and cruel. People on social media thought so too — and soon the blow-back had Storey deleting his tweets, his attempts at follow-up and his profile picture.

Two days later, the University gave Storey das boot. In a statement they wrote: 

"On Sunday, Aug. 27, visiting assistant professor of sociology Kenneth Storey made comments on a private Twitter account that do not reflect UT's community views or values. We condemn the comments and the sentiment behind them, and understand the pain this irresponsible act has caused. Storey has been relieved of his duties at UT, and his classes will be covered by other sociology faculty. As Floridians, we are well aware of the destruction and suffering associated with tropical weather. Our thoughts and prayers are with all impacted by Hurricane Harvey."

The Tampa Bay Times also reported that Storey issued apologized later on Monday, writing that the short 140-character mistake didn't represent his true views.

"What they see in those tweets is not who I am," he said. "How I worded it was wrong. I care about people. I love this country. I would never want to wish harm upon anyone."

Regardless, during such difficult times (which remain absolutely political), it might be best to check the more petty parts of your politics at the door. 


The Trumps' Baffling Visit To Texas, Explained

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Hurricane Harvey has made history in just the past five days with record-setting rainfall and difficult (as of yet) to measure damage throughout the Gulf Coast region. Americans have been watching closely to see how President Donald Trump handles this test of leadership — but after a few tweets, and finally, during his visit to Texas, came a storm of controversy.

POTUS and FLOTUS touched down in Texas on Tuesday — and here's everything that's happened since then:

Trump has not once mentioned or talked to any victims—yet.

According to The Washington Post, Trump spoke to a large crowd of people upon landing in Corpus Christi. So, that's what he talked to them about: "I just want to say: We love you. You are special. . . . What a crowd. What a turnout,” he said.

Some of his supporters were there with signs and he was also wearing a USA hat (that sells for just $40 on his website). The short speech matched the attitude of Trump's tweets leading up to the visit — tonally funky. 

Rescue operations are being launched and, according to The Washington Post, at least 9 people have been reported dead. Houston's major airports have been closed and the area is seeing terrible flooding.

But Trump has failed, so far, comment on any of the victims, deaths, rescue missions, or places to donate money and supplies.

The Internet was furious about Melania's shoes.

The New York Times said it best: "When is a shoe not just a shoe? When it is a pair of very high, needle-thin heels worn by the first lady of the United States on her way to the site of a natural disaster." 

To give Mrs. Trump some credit, she did change into sneakers when they arrived. However, no one is sure why she wore stilettos in the first place. It seems like the team surrounding her didn't think it would be a problem. Her communication's director said “It’s sad that we have an active and ongoing natural disaster in Texas, and people are worried about her shoes.”

No one is particularly worried about her shoes, just worried about the message she's sending. 

Trump met with officials to talk recovery plans.

According to CBS News, Trump went to Austin the same day to meet with Texas Senators and officials from the Department of Public Safety and the Emergency Operations Center to go over plans ofr recovery. Trump has concluded that the recovery will be "long term," which isn't saying much.

Critics of Trump were quick to compare his performance reacting to a national-scale tragedy to those of his predecessors, noting that the human connection to the tragedy is still — at least on the surface-level — lacking. 

However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has commented that the president's soft side is just not being demonstrated in front of the cameras and insisted that president has been  plenty helpful to the Lone Star State.

"Behind the scenes the president has shown character and compassion," Abbott said. "He helped get Texas prepared."

Ivanka Trump Backs Administration Plans To Toss Out Obama-Era Equal Pay Rules

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On Tuesday, according to Huffington Post, the Trump administration decided to halt implementation of President Barack Obama's equal pay initiatives established in 2009. 

Equal pay advocates see it as an attack on progress toward closing the wage gap while the Trump administration sees it as merely tweaking the policy. 

This week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo that said the "revisions include new requests for data on wages and hours worked from employers with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees." The data being collected was supposed to be groundbreaking information on how people are being paid in the work force — but, the OMB has concerns about "privacy" and the stacks of paperwork the rule created.

In the past, Ivanka Trump has told the public that she is committed to fighting for equal pay for women. However, she still gave this move her stamp of approval, saying "while I believe the intention was good and agree that pay transparency is important, the proposed policy would not yield the intended results.” 

As this removal comes just a few short days after Women's Equality Day, the timing sends a bad enough message in itself for many in the movement for equal pay. 

Vicki Shabo, the vice president for workplace policy and strategy at the National Partnership for Women and Families, told the Huffington Post that Ivanka's backing of the step away from this program is particularly troubling. 

 “For somebody who has long held herself out as a champion for women and for gender equality, it’s really disappointing," Shabo told Huffpost. 

Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, also said the so-called "tweaks" were actually "an all-out attack on equal pay." She added that, if you're a business owner who wants to keep systems where women recieve unequal pay a secret, "the [Trump] Administration has your back."

And, apparently, so does Ivanka. 

Dean Has Become the Most Unlikable Person on 'Bachelor in Paradise'

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Let’s call Bachelor in Paradise what it is: a show for the least remembered and/or liked Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants to put their faces back out there in an attempt to garner some measure of fame and attention. Occasionally love happens in the midst of this madness (Carly and Evan! Jade and Tanner!), but a whole lot of crap goes down, too.

For every 10 contestants you barely recognize from whatever season they were on, there’s one you absolutely love. You thought they were too good for Paradise, but here they are. One such Paradise participant is Dean. We met Dean during Rachel’s season; his baby face and miserable family situation won us over, and we were all ready to make him the Bachelor. But if BIP has shown us anything, it’s that Dean is a hot mess unfit for reality TV or a relationship.

Dean paired off with another fan favorite, Kristina from Nick’s season, right out of the gate. When the show was forced to shut down production, Dean went to Kentucky with Kristina. And when they returned to filming—something Dean might not have thought would happen when he made the decision to go home with Kristina—they seemed pretty solid.

Enter Danielle Lombard (aka D-Lo), another contestant from Nick’s season. Every man was interested in her from the moment she stepped on the beach. Why? Because she’s “hot.” Granted, she is hot, and there's nothing wrong with being hot, but isn’t everyone in this franchise hot?

Dean set his sights on D-Lo, but rather than ending things with Kristina, he continued to reassure her of their relationship, all while flirting, kissing and going on a date with Danielle. This is not unusual on Bachelor in Paradise, but it’s been festering for weeks, and I’ve had enough.

Dean thinks it’s okay to keep Kristina on the hook because he’s been open about wanting to explore his connection with Danielle. But one second he’s telling Kristina how intriguing and smart she is, and that she’s getting his rose; the next he’s telling D-Lo she’s the kind of woman he could fall in love with.

He’s made clear that he’s mostly interested in Danielle because she’s hot. He’s admitted that he worries D-Lo will never be as into him as Kristina is, and that’s probably why he keeps hanging on to Kristina.

Kristina is right there hanging on with him, though. He’s feeding her every line she wants to hear, but he’s also not willing to ignore his attraction to Danielle to invest in his relationship with Kristina. I don’t think that’s going to change and Dean is not going to choose between them.

But why even give him a choice? I hope Kristina and Danielle recognize the game he’s playing and move on before any more feelings get hurt.

And to anyone out there who’s been fantasizing about dating Dean (I get it; I’ve been there a few times), praise be: BIP showed you the true Dean before you tried to slide into his DMs.

New Year, A New You: 4 Love Resolutions for the New School Year

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It’s a new school year, which means, in all its cheesy glory, a brand spanking new you! You may not realize it yet, but those summer months of internships, relaxation and sun have matured us all—it’s better to blame it on the tan than the actual fact that we’re growing up, we’re big girls now. That being said, we’re saying goodbye to the days of promising ourselves we’ll find a boyfriend or girlfriend while stuffing our faces with Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream on the couch. This year, collegiettes’ love resolutions will be about confidence, self-respect and everything else that will rock everyone’s world…starting with our own. We’ve compiled a list of four love resolutions (and tips for putting them into action) that will make this school year the best one yet.

1. I will confront my crush.

“I think my new semester's love resolution is to finally have a conversation with this guy I've been crushing on. We met at a party, he seemed super into me and even asked for my number, but I get very nervous whenever I see him!” Kelsey from Boston University says.

So you’ve been crushing on this guy or girl for, we don’t know, ever. Well, this year, it’s time to take some action. If he or she hasn’t made a move yet, then it’s your time to step up to the plate—the ball’s in your court.

We know, easier said than done. However, in the grand scheme of life, what do you have to lose? You’re not dating, so you can’t break up. If you’re friends, confronting him or her won’t completely and totally ruin your friendship, assuming you let yourself move on. If you’re acquaintances, then you could end up as friends—and almost every great relationship starts off with that as a solid foundation.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a Professor of Psychology at California State University and a relationship expert who’s been featured as one of Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers, adds that pining after someone for so long can get pretty tiring. This year, it’s time to rip the bandaid off with one quick pull. “As I see it, you may as well get in there, be yourself and see what happens,” Durvasula says. “Waiting is not likely to create change, and in the interim, someone else may snatch him or her up.”

The absolute worst thing that can happen is he or she says no. But if that’s the case, then he or she clearly wasn’t good enough for you. After a well-deserved trip to your fave froyo joint and a Sex and the City marathon, you’ll be as good as new—and you’ll eventually have a story to laugh about with your girlfriends (not to mention a completely valid reason to seek revenge…totally kidding. Maybe.).

“But keep in mind, even if he or she says no—you are still you," Durvasula says. "It isn’t an indictment of you. Think of the guys or girls you have said no to—it wasn’t personal, it just wasn’t a fit,”

How To Do It?

Like we said before, it’s a whole lot easier to imagine a perfect situation where you approach that campus cutie in your chemistry lab, ask him or her out and then ride off into the sunset together living happily ever after. But let’s get real—college isn’t exactly the set of a Disney movie (although I’m sure more than a few of us have lost a shoe after a night out…or before the clock struck midnight).

So just how exactly do you go about creating your 21st century, fairytale-esque, I-just-hope-I-don’t-have-anything-in-my-teeth dreams a reality? While there are no foolproof scenarios you can concoct, there are ways to talk to that special guy or girl without desperately wanting to crawl under your bed and hide forever.

Durvasula recommends approaching him or her wherever and whenever you feel most comfortable.

“If you are at the same party, wonderful, a perfect place to approach," he says. "Time it right, catch his or her smile across the room or comment on something he or she is looking at or wearing. At the end of the day, the more times you take the initiative, the bolder you will get, and the boldness will ultimately get you to the right match for you.”

Scenario: 

If you see him out, go up and talk to him! Parties are all about mixing and mingling, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary to start chatting him or her up. With a little liquid courage if you’re of age (and we mean a little—we’re not trying to channel Cady Heron by throwing up on Aaron Samuels), be that confident collegiette that you know you are deep down inside. If you’re nervous at first, ask your friends to come with you, letting them know that once conversation is flowing, they can subtly and slyly walk away. So, what are good conversation starters? Class, summer, Greek life, even the breed of his or her dog—anything you’re interested in! A pretty good go-to is, "Hey, how are you? I haven’t seen you around in a while, what’s new?" But what if you guys haven’t really formally met? Well, if you have mutual friends, ask them to casually introduce you two. We're also a supporter of not-so-accidentally bumping into him or her. From there, you can apologize for your clumsy (but not alcohol-induced) trip and strike up a conversation. But just remember, this is the 21st century; there’s no need to wait for him or her to ask you for your number. Be confident and cute, and ask him or for his or her digits! You’d be surprised how sexy confidence can be.

Just remember collegiettes, however you decide to approach him or her (aka lure him or her in), be direct! Psychotherapist Mary Waldon, LCSW says, “Ask for a date. Call it a date. No need to go on and on about your feelings and the history. Just say you like him or her and ask for a date.” Let’s be honest, you have about five minutes (read: seconds) before his or her mind wanders off. Catch his or her attention while you can!

2. I will say goodbye to hopeless hook-ups

“I won't go into random hook-ups with the hope that they will turn into relationships," Taylor* from University of Michigan says. "Instead, I'll indulge in a few spontaneous hook-ups, but the rest of the time take things slowly and give guys a chance to get to know me before I let them get to know me in an intimate way." 

Random hook-ups and DFMOs—dance floor make-outs—have seemingly become staples of the college experience. But why? Does anything beneficial really come out of shoving your tongue down a stranger’s throat? While we can all agree that random hook-ups are basically pointless, a lot of collegiettes still take part in those awkwardly public, very drunk make-out sessions… usually in hopes that it will turn into something more. Although we're taking a wild guess here, we're going to assume that about 99.99 percent of these one-time hook-ups stay as just that: one-time hook-ups. However, there’s no real mystery to this one.

“There is nothing wrong with a bit of rolling around together, unless there is a part of you in the back of your mind that hopes it will become something more,” Jeffrey Sumber, psychotherapist and adjunct professor at National-Louis University, says. “Let's be honest with ourselves first. People get turned off when they find someone who says he or she just wants to hook up but then [wants] more afterwards. Many people want the truth and get frustrated when the ‘truth’ isn't the message at the outset.”

When it comes down to it, a fun little romp between the sheets just doesn’t establish anything but a physical connection.

“Both sex and relationships thrive with honesty. Be honest about whichever it is you are after, relationship or sex. If it is both, then I'd recommend beginning with connection and taking it a few notches slower on the physical plane. If a guy or girl is too impatient after a few dates, then he or she is probably not the right guy or girl for you,” Sumber says.

So come fall semester, we’re making a change. Say goodbye to constant, hopeless and empty hook-ups, and say hello to finally making a legitimate connection with that hottie at the bar.

How To Do It?

Fight the urge! Instead of going straight to the hook-up, try making out what he or she’s all about and getting to know him or her — show off your self-respect and confidence. By the end of the night, after an awesome conversation, you decide if it’s the right time for that special first kiss. Keeping him or her guessing all night long will definitely hold his or her attention, and who doesn’t like a little chase?

Scenario:

You met a frat star last week and totally fell for him. But he only texts you when he’s drunk late at night. He’s only interested in hooking up, but you want more—you really like him. There are different ways to handle this: you can wait it out for a little and see where it goes, or play hard-to-get and say no when he calls you at 2 a.m. to come over and “hang.” In a situation like this, he’s usually only using you for a little you-know-what. If you’re looking for something more, you have to express that, otherwise things will stay just as they are, as pointless hook-ups. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) outright say, “I want a relationship. Right now. Or else,” but you can suggest going to dinner one night or seeing a movie (outside of his Netflix account and his bedroom).

3. I Won’t Jump Into A Relationship Too Quickly

"I'll take my relationships day by day," Alexa from JMU says.

This one goes hand-in-hand with number two. We all love meeting new guys or girls with the hopes of something bigger and better coming along with him or her. But at the same time, sometimes we tend to jump too soon. Here’s how it goes: you meet a nice guy or girl, you hit it off and you start picking out country clubs for the wedding reception. That is how it works, right? Surprisingly enough, not exactly (don’t worry, our minds were blown too). As it turns out, too much too soon can, and most likely will, scare any guy or girl off in a heartbeat.

“While I’m a fan of being honest about one’s excitement and interest, [you] need to remember that [your] enthusiasm might be a bit much for someone [you] are just getting to know,” Sumber says. While Sumber doesn’t believe in following a specific set of rules when it comes to the dating scene (waiting to for him or her to call you, no double-texting, etc.), he does add that it’s best to “give yourself some space to marinate in the experience! Allow yourself to truly feel the feelings without rushing to the next interaction.”

If you think about it from his or her perspective, wouldn’t an obsessive, stage-five clinger turn you off, especially after only meeting him or her a week ago? While this is obviously a more extreme case, it does get the point across: slow it down, and get to know him or her before you start picking out baby names.

But while you’re off trying to play it cool, even though you’re completely and utterly gushing on the inside, don’t forget to show some interest. “People like that you are interested. In fact, most people will not pursue you unless they know in no uncertain terms that you are interested,” Sumber says. So while you’re desperately attempting to ignore him or her at a party, just give up the act and shoot him or her a smile from across the room.

How To Do It?

While all the voices in your head are screaming, shouting, chanting, “Text him or her! Text him or her! Text him or her!” hold yourself back. Although it’s perfectly normal (and sane) to shoot him or her a text here and there when something reminds you of him or her (‘I saw the soccer team practicing today, you guys looked great out there’ or ‘I literally waited in line at Dunkin’ Donuts for two hours today, you’re right, I definitely should invest in my own Keurig’), don’t abuse the fact that you have his or her number, sending him or her text after text after text with no reply from his or her end. If you’re looking for something more, play it cool in the beginning to see just where this thing goes.

Waldon agrees, noting that collegiettes shouldn’t over-text or be too available. “If you have a tendency toward this type of behavior, enlist the help of a friend to help you rein it in,” she recommends. “A few basic rules of thumb: don’t text again until you receive a text back. If you tend to be an over-texter, make a pact with a friend. Either check in with the friend before you text or text your friend instead!”

Scenario:

You met a girl at a party and completely and utterly fell head-over-heels—she’s literally your dream come true. Problem is, she’s still suffering (seriously, suffering) over her recent break-up with her ex-girlfriend. You figure it’s fine; she has to get over it eventually. So you text her saying you had fun hanging out and all that jazz. She responds, but nothing much comes from the conversation. What do you do next? While you can always go for the classic "I will stalk you until you decide to marry me" move, you’re probably better off letting her come to you. She’s still heartbroken, so by throwing yourself at her, you’re only bound to become her rebound. She has to make the decision to move on on her own terms. Pushing or persuading will do nothing but hurt the situation. It’s a slow process, but if you suggest grabbing coffee together when she’s ready (something light and easy), something positive can surely arise.

4. I Will Make My Relationships Work

“I'm going to be a freshman and I'm going to school [five] hours away from home where my boyfriend of two years is staying! So my love resolution is to keep my relationship as strong as possible without being able to see him often," Laura from University of Wisconsin says.

Every year, collegiettes across the country vow to keep their boyfriend or girlfriend and to stay in a relationship during the school year. Whether you’re at the same school or 500+ miles apart, every relationship takes work. While it may seem easier just to call it quits, having a long-distance relationship in college is doable, especially with all the technology that surrounds us (shout-out to Facebook, Skype, texting and all that’s in between). But before deciding on anything this groundbreaking (I mean, choosing a new nail polish color takes tons of deliberation for us), make sure that this is not only something you want to do, but something that you should be doing.

“College is an extraordinary time—time for self-discovery and the discovery of others, and a long distance relationship can often distance a person from staying in the moment at her own college and in her own college experience,” Durvasula says. However, if you’re ready and willing to make the commitment, then you can make it work.

How To Do It?

Communication is key. You can’t be with someone if you never speak—that’s what marriage is for (totally kidding). We all have our ridiculously busy schedules (who knew college would be more taxing than anything else we’ve done thus far?), but we do have down time. While there’s the obvious phone call, Facebook message, Tweet and email, Durvasula also recommends adding something a little more romantic (and foreign to our generation) to your relationship: snail mail. Just picture it: how absolutely melt-worthy adorable would it be if your boyfriend or girlfriend wrote you a handwritten letter? Yeah, we thought you’d agree.

But don’t forget to make time for your college friends–they are the people you’ll be spending the next four years making fabulous mistakes with. So how do you go about this extreme balancing act (we'd like to see Gabby Douglas try this one out) and still come out with gold? It’s all about the scheduling.

“Schedule limited Skype, FaceTime or phone time, a beginning and an end time, so you know when you will connect with your boyfriend or girlfirend, and still be able to live your life at school,” Waldon says. “Schedule time to get together, plan trips to each other’s campus and incorporate friends into at least some of that time.”

Scenario:

Since he asked you to the prom your junior year, you’ve been basically glued to your boyfriend’s hip. You’ve stuck by each other through thick and thin, but now it’s time to go your separate ways—how heart-wrenching is that? But you’ve both thought long and hard, and decided that you can defy the statistics, you can overcome the stigma and you can have a long distance relationship. So you set off to your different schools to live different lives, while still holding on to what you have as a couple. You both want to have the full college experience (whatever that is) that everyone keeps talking about. So while you Skype every Monday, Facebook chat every Wednesday in class and text almost all day long, you also make sure you’re spending time with your new college friends. One weekend, you focus on your college world, only talking to your boyfriend here and there—you update him about everything on Monday. Another weekend, one of you visits the other at his or her school, absorbing each other’s own college life. You’ve figured out your own schedule and way to have a lasting relationship, and only you two can make it work after putting in what you think is the perfect amount of effort.

So collegiettes, did we miss your love resolution for the new school year? Let us know what you’re pledging to when it comes to love this year in the comment box below!

The 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Is Officially Headed to Shanghai

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For the first time ever, Victoria's Secret is coming to Shanghai for their annual iconic fashion show. The catwalk of the year will air Tuesday November 28 on CBS at 10 p.m. EST.

Although New York has hosted many of Victoria's Secret's shows, the brand has made its mark on London, Paris and Miami. This year will be the first for the lingerie retailer to host in China, a decision that may lead to their impending expansion into the Asian market. Earlier this March, popular models such as Alessandra Ambrosio, Josephine Skriver, Sui He and Ming Xi have touched down in China to visit the branch of new stores that have opened across China in anticipation of the upcoming show. 

Although the official line up has not been finalized, models confirmed to be walking this year so far include lAdriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, Martha Hunt, Romee Strijd, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell and Taylor Hill and many more. We need to watch this, like, right now. 

The Shirt Taylor Swift Wore In Her 'Look What You Made Me Do' Video Probably Just Revealed Who's Out Of Her Squad

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Taylor Swift just dropped her first single in two years at the 2017 VMAs, and it throws so much shade that we *almost* can't handle it. We also think one of her costumes acted as a major reveal for who's still in T-Swift's famous squad, and who's out.

In perhaps the most iconic part of her music video (you know, when she's standing atop her old personas looking unapologetically fierce), one of the "old" Taylors is wearing a shirt identical to what she wore in her "You Belong to Me'" video. The only difference? The names signed on it happen to be the names of her squad members...and some noteable ones are missing.  

As seen from the shirt, those still in her squad are Selena Gomez, the Haim sisters, Gigi Hadid, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lena Dunham, Ed Sheeran, Patrick Stewart, Abigail Anderson, Martha Hunt, Claire Kislinger and Todrick Hall.

Looks like Karlie Kloss, Lorde, Ruby Rose and a few others are ~officially~ out. A fan pointed out this theory on Twitter, and Taylor kind of confirmed it by liking the fan's post. Ouch. 

Filled with a ton of not-so-subtle shade and a selection of iconic looks, the music video is now available to watch. Check it below!

Corinne Olympios Says Alcohol & Medication Are to Blame for Her Blackout on 'Bachelor in Paradise'

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If there’s one thing I remember from health class in high school, it’s that alcohol and certain medications don’t mix. From antibiotics to common cold relievers, there are numerous over-the-counter and prescription medications that have unexpected side effects when they interact with alcoholic beverages. The scary thing is that people do it all the time, completely unaware of how in danger they are. Bachelor in Paradise contestant Corinne Olympios is one very public example.

In an interview with Chris Harrison this week, Olympios revealed that a combination of over-drinking and medication caused her to black out. While the media blamed DeMario Jackson for the sexual misconduct scandal that stopped production, Corinne doesn’t blame him at all.

“The first day, unfortunately, I don’t remember much of,” she said. “I definitely over drank. I was also on some medication that you’re not supposed to drink on, which I didn’t know, and the combination of the two was just not a good combination.”

Alcohol and medication affect everyone differently, which was evident in Corinne’s case. Most of the contestants and crew members had no idea that she had blacked out during taping. From Nick’s season of The Bachelor, I remember how outgoing and bubbly she can be. With a busy party scene, I can understand how it probably didn’t appear like anything was wrong.

“It can look like you’re totally present and you’re totally there, and your mind is nowhere near it. It impairs your judgment. It’s just crazy,” she explained.

Moving forward, Corinne told Harrison that she’s slowly reducing her usage of the medication that partially caused her to black out. I’m happy that she’s finally come forward to clear the air and educate others on the dangers of mixing alcohol and medication.


When Treating Yourself Is Actually Bad for Your Health

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We all have those rough days when we’re exhausted, grumpy and maybe even cramping. All you want to do after class or work is go home, crash on the couch and finish off a carton of ice cream. After all, you deserve to treat yourself—right?

Unfortunately, doing so can be counter-intuitive. You’d think that it would be the same as taking care of yourself, and while it is good to give your mind a break and relax, it’s important to consider the impacts on your physical health if you’re always ordering take-out or binging Netflix for five hours after every long day.

Similar to YOLO, the treat yo’self mindset is a way of justifying a behavior that typically would not be considered as healthy or self-improving, says Tatum Murray, a lifestyle blogger at ThePace.co. As a millennial herself, she’s noticed the treat yo'self attitude all over social media, like when a friend posts the phrase alongsisde an Instagram photo of an ice cream cone. It's often attributed to unhealthy food choices, and it's dangerous when it becomes an excuse for us to eat whatever we want.

For Michelle Marie, a holistic health and wellness coach, she thinks "treat yo'self" has a great message and meaning behind it—when interpreted the right way. But the general attitude has become a trendy sensation and an overused phrase that many people use out of context and too often. We all have habits that we think are treating ourselves, but should actually be avoided.

"Some bad habits to deal with stress may include emotional eating, a night out involving binge drinking, smoking, as well as poor sleep. As a primary care provider in a detox clinic, I find recreational drug use as a means to deal with stress to be an epidemic of growing concern," says Aisha K. Khan, PA-C, MS, MHS, Academic Director of the Physician Assistant Institute. Indulgences can take many forms, but it's important to treat yo'self in moderation. 

Finding comfort in comfort food

Who doesn’t want some creamy, chocolatey goodness to fight the pain of cramps? Ice cream on your period is the classic stereotype. “I see a lot of it on Instagram. Posts with a whole gallon of ice cream saying ‘I'm on my period so I deserve it’ treat yourself kind of thing. I'm not a big fan. First of all, dairy and sugar is the last thing you want to be eating on your period,” says women's holistic health practitioner Jenna Longoria. Ice cream contains arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, which can actually cause cramping or increase inflammation. Have a chocolate chip ice cream cone once in a while, but try to avoid dairy when on your period if you've found that it actually makes things worse instead of better. 

Now let's say you hear some great news and want to go to the closest bar or burger joint to celebrate. After all, Chick-fil-A is right across the street! Instead, focus on eating real, whole foods. “By doing this, treating yourself will look a lot different then eating fast food fries and a milkshake,” Longoria said. “Instead, ‘treat yo'self’ will look like spending a little extra for those hand cut fries cooked in quality oils from the farm to table restaurant or grandma's homemade pie. Food made with love.”

Murray likes to use the many easy, healthy recipes available on Pinterest and other sites online to cook her own meals. “Look for a recipe that looks enjoyable to you and give it a try!” she said. “Cooking for yourself means you know every single thing that goes into your meals, so you can understand the nutritious value of what you're eating.” Don't worry, though — you can still occasionally treat yourself to those delicious fried potato wedges or slice of chocolate cake. Just don't make a habit of it!

Wine not?

So what about those celebratory drinks? No one’s saying you can’t have champagne on your birthday; however, you shouldn’t be binge drinking to celebrate your accomplishments, even though you might want to let loose after a promotion or grad school acceptance letter. “If it’s a once a week, kind of ‘treat yourself to a nice glass of wine or a margarita with friends,’ that's fine,” Longoria says. “But if it's a ‘I'm going to go binge drink because I got an A on my final’ then that's pretty pernicious and can lead to unhealthy habits.”

So for girls night out, relax with your gal pals, but don’t finish off a whole bottle of wine. Longoria likes to live by the 80/20 rule. She eats super healthy 80 percent of the time, and on the weekends she might have a gluten-free pizza and some wine. “It is important to indulge in a little of what we fancy and to approach food with a balanced attitude,” Longoria said. “Diets install the feeling of deprivation and guilt. This type of attitude reinforces negative patterns and behaviors, and paves the way for binge eating.” 

Non-stop Netflix

Ah, our love of Netflix runs deep. But eye strain, sleeping difficulties and slower metabolism can result from parking ourselves in front of the TV to watch a full season of House of Cards or The Office. Though of course one episode here and there is fine, avoid binge watching for long periods of time. 

Having too much sedentariness is obviously bad, Frank says. She tries to get active by riding her exercise bike for an hour while she answers emails, reads the New York Times online or has conference calls. She loves to walk with her partner outside in the Pacific Northwest. But she also makes time for TV. "Friday mornings are usually delayed with any long-term projects because much Shondaland becomes available on iTunes, and what's a compassionate, intelligent woman to do—not check in on what her girlfriends are doing?? So also be concerned about too little Shondaland," she says. Find the balance between your favorite Netflix show and talking a walk outdoors. 

A late night out

Whether you stayed up late for homework or decided to hit the town with your friends, it's easy to fall into that exhausted college student cliché. It's exciting to stay up until 2 a.m. at a bar, but celebrations don't need to result in sleep deprivation.

Instead of treating yourself to a night at the club, try treating yourself to a day in bed. According to Frank, napping is good for you. There is a circadian rhythm that troughs mid-afternoon, and it's a natural time to nap, especially if you're sleep deprived. "My classmates in med school would often doze through a post-lunch lecture. I'd get up from my seat, go find a call room or empty library room and sleep for 15 minutes, spontaneously awakening, and ready to go for many more hours of lectures, study, and patient care," she says. 

It may take you awhile to be able to fall asleep quickly, but practice makes perfect. "It's worth getting good at: there's abundant data showing that good sleep improves essentially all other health outcomes, it's available to most of us as a health promotion technique, and is pretty cheap," Frank says. 

It's all about moderation 

Moderation seems to be a nutritionist's favorite word. Khan agrees, "All things in moderation." We hear it all the time, but it absolutely applies to treating yourself after a long day. 

For example, you don't really need to be getting Venti Starbucks drinks on the daily. I know, I know, we all love Starbucks. But that doesn’t mean we need it in excess. Marie said two prime examples of the treat yo'self attitude are purchasing material items that you can’t afford or don’t need, and eating foods that do not serve your body or align with your health goals. We can apply this logic to our Starbucks drinks, because no one really needs to drop $6 on a Venti drink. Skip the Venti Frappuccino and opt for a tall if you really want to indulge after a long day. 

And no matter what your guilty pleasure is, just make sure you're not making it a daily habit.

So please, enjoy a glass of rosé or a slice of pizza on special occasions, but remember that a treat means something out of the ordinary. Don’t treat yo’self on the daily. You’ll be treating yourself in the long-term.

150 Evangelical Leaders Dropped An Anti-LGBTQ Manifesto Called The 'Nashville Statement'

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A coalition of more than 150 evangelical leaders released a startlingly anti-LGTBQ manifesto titled the “Nashville Statement” on Tuesday morning. The manifesto adamantly preaches against same-sex marriage, being transgender and gender fluidity, as well as other hot topics regarding the LGBTQ community.

According to the HuffPost, the members of a meeting arranged by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s annual conference in Nashville on Friday created the highly controversial and discriminatory manifesto.

The manifesto is a list of 14 articles and each article includes an affirmation and a denial— so basically two different ways of stating these hurtful viewpoints. The entire statement is available on Tennessean.

(Although, notably, the mayor of Nashville Megan Barry had an amazing clap back on Twitter to the writers of the statement named after her city.)  

“The spirit of our age does not delight in God’s good design of male and female," The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood President Denny Burk told HuffPost. "Consequently, confusion reigns over some of the most basic questions of our humanity. The aim of The Nashville Statement is to shine a light into the darkness-to declare the goodness of God’s design in our sexuality and in creating us as male and female.” Um, shine a light into the darkness? I don’t think so-this manifesto is the opposite of woke.

Many LGBTQ pastors and religious organizations are also pushing back against the damaging statement as well. 

 “This is indeed yet another sad day in the history of the modern evangelical movement," Brandon Robertson, a Christian pastor and LGBTQ activist, told HuffPost. "The most heartbreaking part of this statement is that this document will promote and perpetuate teachings that will cause verifiable psychological harm to LGBT+ Christian youth in churches around the world.”

And the concern for LGBT youth is incredibly real. As LGBT and mental health advocacy group the Trevor Project notes on their website, LGBTQ youth are significantly more likely to end up homeless or to attempt suicide upon experiencing family rejection, discrimination, and criminalization for their sexual or gender identities. 

 

"LGBTQ youth represent as much as 40 percent of the homeless youth population," according to the Trevor Project. "Of those 40 percent, studies indicate that as many as 60 percent are likely to attempt suicide. Positive family relationships are some of the most important factors in reducing the risk of youth suicide."

However, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, “Americans are becoming more accepting in their views of LGBT people and homosexuality in general, and the number of people identifying as LGBT has grown in recent years.”  

Bless up America and keep heading in this direction of acceptance. We don’t have time for you, Nashville Statement.  

This Deleted Scene From 'The Devil Wears Prada' Hints at a Completely Different Story

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There are only a few movies that are iconic in my book, and The Devil Wears Prada is one of them. Can you even call yourself a writer, a fashionista or a Meryl Streep fan if you don’t love this film? Before starting a new job, you’ve probably dreaded the possibility that your new boss is an ice queen like editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. The film has its brief yet powerful moments of humanizing Miranda, but they are few and far between.

However, Refinery29 says that after a deleted scene from the 2007 movie recently hit Twitter, fans have realized that they could've actually sympathized with Miranda. Picking up from a scene in the final version, filmmakers hint that Miranda was dealing with an alcoholic husband on top of managing a magazine and maintaining family life. Seconds after helping Emily name one of Miranda’s colleagues at a party, Anne Hathaway’s Andy saves the day again by distracting a man that Miranda’s drunk husband insults. Miranda even thanks Andy for the intervention, showing a completely different side than what the actual film shares. 

Some responses to the eye-opening clip insist that this tiny moment completely changes the movie's message. Although we get the gist that Miranda's home life is far from perfect, this detail seems to emphasize that even more.

Blake Lively Almost Turned Down Her 'Gossip Girl' Role to Go to College

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With Gossip Girl’s 10th anniversary approaching, it’s hard to imagine the show without its iconic (aka, perfect-looking) cast. Even a decade after the show’s premiere, Blair and Serena are still friendship goals, and the roles helped Leighton Meester and Blake Lively skyrocket to fame. However, in a recent Vanity Fair feature, Lively admitted that she almost didn’t take the chance to star on Gossip Girl. Um, a world without Lively as true style inspiration is definitely not one I’d want to live in.

Prior to the show finalizing its casting in 2007, Lively had decided that acting may not be for her. “I realized that [acting] was a business as much as a craft,” she told the magazine, which wrote a piece about the show’s anniversary. “People will go see your movie based on your standing and all of that, and it didn’t make sense to me because I was 18 and being an artist.”

When showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage came across Lively as a possibility for Serena (thanks to online forums’ suggestions!), she initially wasn’t thrilled with the idea. “I said, ‘No, I want to go to college. Thank you, though,’” she recalled. “Then they said, ‘O.K., you can go to Columbia [University] one day a week. After the first year [of the show], it’ll quiet down. Your life will go back to normal and you start going to school. We can’t put it in writing, but we can promise you can go.’ So that’s why I said, ‘O.K. You know what? I’ll do this.””

Of course, despite her wishes, we all know that the craziness of Gossip Girl didn’t really allow for college. “But no, the show didn’t slow down,” Lively said. “It just got more and more.”

She may not’ve gotten her college education, but I think it’s safe to say that taking on the role of Serena paid off for Lively in the end. With a busy film career and an adorable family, things have definitely only gotten better for her post-Gossip Girl, and she credits the show for being a strong starting point.

“I can’t speak for everyone else, but we all owe so much to this show, and I think that it would be silly not to acknowledge that,” Lively shared.

Call me nostalgic, but hearing this news might inspire a Gossip Girl rewatch for me!

16 Reasons Why We All Want Friends Like The Bold Type's Jane, Kat & Sutton

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Finding best friends is a journey. From middle school to high school to college, we all want the ultimate squad that inspires us, makes us laugh and pushes us to be stronger. While The Bold Type is giving us major lust for NYC living, it's also serious friendship goals. These are 16 reasons why we wish we had lifelong besties like Jane, Kat and Sutton. 

1. Because good friends help you distinguish between jealousy and inspiration

Inspiration, always.

2. We always want a second point of view

The truth comes out in that closet. 

3. We want friends who are driven

Just like Sutton. You go, girl!

4. Good friends are professional but not afraid to have fun

Screaming in the subway? This trio is goals.

5. The best friends disagree but still support each other

No matter what, even if you disagree with all of their life choices. 

6. We all want pals who will do anything for us

Like pulling a Yoni egg from your vagina or trying weird sex positions with you, of course. 

7. Because Kat, Sutton and Jane build each other up

Instead of tearing each other down. 

8. Good friends root for each other

Even in the competitive world of the magazine industry.

9. Friends are there to comfort each other

And say you're not an idiot.

10. Quality friends have quality time together

Like watching porn together. No matter how busy they are.

11. Because best friends don't accept failure

They push themselves and their homies to succeed.

12. BFFs spread kindness


Take a cue from Kat.

13. Motivated friends make great friends

The Bold Type with a capital BOLD.

14. They own their sexuality

15. And accept each other 

No matter who they love.

16. Because not only do strong friends stand up for themselves

But they also stand up for each other.

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