When it comes to Fourth of July festivities, there’s a lot to look forward to. With barbecues, fireworks, family, and friends, what’s not to love about this holiday? This Fourth of July, we’re giving you even more reason to anticipate the holiday: delicious recipes to get you in the USA spirit! These red, white, and blue treats are as pretty as they are tasty, so whether you bring them to a picnic, serve them at your family dinner, or enjoy them solo, these patriotic dishes will be sure to please.

1. Red, White and Blue Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Recipe courtesy of Baking Bites

It’s no secret that fruit and chocolate is a match made in heaven. By dipping strawberries in white chocolate and dusting them with blue sugar, you’ll get a dessert that’s easy to make and super satisfying to eat

Ingredients

• 1 pint strawberries
• 4 oz white chocolate
• Blue sanding sugar or sprinkles

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet or cutting board with wax paper or parchment paper.
2. Chop up the chocolate roughly with a knife if it’s in block form. In a medium-sized, microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat it in 45- or 60-second intervals, stirring between each time to ensure that the chocolate is melting evenly and not burning. Meanwhile, place blue sanding sugar into a small bowl and set it aside.
3. When chocolate is smooth, dip the berries 3/4 of the way into the chocolate, dip the tips into the blue sprinkles, and place the berries on wax paper.
4. Berries can set at room temperature if you live somewhere cool; otherwise, refrigerate them until ready to serve to allow the chocolate to set up.

2. Patriotic Vegan Fruit Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of The Lunchbox Bunch

This layered smoothie is filled with healthy ingredients, so you get a load of vitamins with each patriotic sip. This treat is sure to help you beat the summer heat!

Ingredients

Red Layer:

• 3/4 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 2 fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup coconut water ice cubes
• 3/4 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 tbsp agave syrup

Blue Layer:

• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup acai juice
• 1/2 cup coconut water ice cubes
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries

White Layer:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 fresh banana
• 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 tbsp agave syrup
• 3 tbsp fine flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup coconut water ice cubes

Garnish:

• 5 strawberries, sliced into rounds
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• Pinches of coconut flakes

Directions

1. Chill serving glasses in the freezer (it helps layers stay separated better).
2. Blend up the red layer; add all the ingredients, but blend the fresh strawberries in last.
3. Place the red smoothie into a container and place in freezer until needed.
4. Blend up all the blue ingredients; again, always blend the fresh fruit in last.
5. Pour it into a separate container and place in freezer.
6. Wash out your blender very well to create your white layer.
7. Add all the white layer ingredients and blend until frothy and smooth. 
8. For a fluffier, icier, white layer, add more ice.
9. Now, you can remove the red and blue layers from the freezer, as well as your frosted glasses, and begin assembling the smoothies.
10. Place enough red smoothie in each glass to fill 1/3 of the glass.
11. On top of the red layer, place one thinly sliced strawberry round.
12. Next, pour another 1/3 full amount of blue smoothie mix in each glass.
13. Next, add 4 to 5 fresh blueberries on top of the blue layer.
14. Next, spoon the white layer smoothie into the glass until it is filled to the brim.
15. Garnish: Place a sprinkling of coconut, one blueberry, and one strawberry slice in each glass.

3. Watermelon Feta Salad

Recipe adapted from Red, White and Blueberries

Watermelon and feta are a dynamic summer duo—the flavors and textures complement each other well and make for a refreshing combination. Watermelon is always a staple at July Fourth parties, so this salad that puts a spin on a classic will definitely be a hit at yours!

Ingredients

• ½ seedless watermelon
• ¾ cup blueberries
• ¼ of a medium red onion, sliced
• ½ to 2/3 cup feta cheese
• Juice of 1 lime and 1 lemon
• Large handful of fresh mint and parsley

Directions

• Place sliced red onion, lemon juice, and lime juice into a small bowl. Allow onions to sit while preparing the rest of the salad.
• Cut watermelon into 1-inch cubes.
• Cut mint and parsley into tiny pieces.
• Combine watermelon, blueberries, onion, feta cheese, mint, and parsley into a medium sized serving bowl.
• Allow salad to chill for 30 minutes before serving so flavors can meld.

4. Grilled Chicken with Cherry-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

Recipe courtesy of EatingWell

While hamburgers and hot dogs are usually the stars of Independence Day barbecues, juicy, grilled chicken is a healthier but equally satisfying alternative. In this recipe, chicken gets marinated in a cherry-chipotle sauce, giving it a unique flavor that is perfect for a summer barbecue.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed) dark sweet cherries, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1/3 cup cherry preserves
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, or more to taste
• 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed

Directions

1. Stir cherries, broth, preserves, ketchup, vinegar, chipotle peppers, thyme, and allspice in a small, deep bowl. Transfer to a shallow nonreactive dish large enough to hold chicken. Add chicken and turn to coat well. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours, or overnight.
2. Preheat grill to high. Oil the grill rack. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Transfer the marinade to a medium skillet.
3. Bring the marinade to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce is reduced by about half (12 to 15 minutes).
4. Meanwhile, reduce the grill heat to medium and grill the chicken until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle (7 to 9 minutes per side). Let the chicken cool slightly; serve with the sauce.

5. Layered Berry Trifle

Recipe courtesy of Recipe Girl

This cake is so beautiful to look at that you may be reluctant to dig in, but once you have your first bite, you won’t be able to stop! Made from berries, whipped cream, and pound cake, this trifle cake is light and fluffy, so it’s a great way to end a big meal on a sweet note.

Ingredients

Syrup:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup water

Layers:

• 12 oz pound cake or butter loaf (store bought works)
• 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 cups fresh blueberries
• 3 cups fresh strawberries

Directions

1. Prepare lemon syrup: in a small saucepan, bring sugar, lemon juice, and water to a boil over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar completely. Let cool.
2. Slice cake into ¾-inch slices. Then, brush over both sides of each cake slice with syrup. Quarter each slice.
3. Beat cream cheese with sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and slowly add cream. Continue beating until mixture resembles soft whipped cream.
4. Arrange half of the cake pieces in the bottom of a glass serving bowl or dish. Spoon half cream-cheese mixture over the cake in dollops; spread to the sides of the dish. Scatter half of the blueberries and strawberries on top. Repeat layering with cake, cream cheese and berries. Pile additional strawberries on top.
5. Cover and refrigerate until chilled (about an hour). You may also refrigerate overnight.

6. Red, White, and Blue Jell-O Push-Up Pops

Recipe courtesy of Craftaholics Anonymous

Remember push-up pops from back in the day? These Jell-O pops aren’t just for kids, though! People of all ages will enjoy this fun, crafty treat. You can find push-up pop containers at craft stores at craft or party stores, or online at sites like Amazon or Etsy.

Ingredients

Blue layer:

• 3-oz package blue Jell-O
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water

White layer:

• ½ envelope unflavored gelatin
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla

Red layer:

• 3-oz package red Jell-O
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water
• Cool whip and blueberries to garnish

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, dissolve blue Jell-O in one cup boiling water. Stir in one cup cold water.
2. Carefully spoon two tablespoons of the liquid Jell-O into each push-up pop container. Refrigerate for 1-1.5 hours, or until firm.
3. In a saucepan, sprinkle unflavored gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water; let stand for one minute.
4. Add the milk and sugar; heat over medium heat, stirring until gelatin and sugar are dissolved. Let mixture cool for about 5-10 minutes.
5. Whisk in sour cream and vanilla. Spoon two tablespoons of the white gelatin mixture into each push-up pop over the blue Jell-O. Refrigerate for one hour or until firm.
6. In a medium bowl, dissolve red Jell-O in one cup of boiling water; stir in one cup of cold water. Spoon red Jell-O over the white layer. Chill until set, about 1-1.5 hours.
7. Fill the remaining space in the push-up pops with cool whip and garnish with blueberries.

7. Fourth of July Cocktail

Recipe courtesy of Food Network

Move over, beer—there’s a new BBQ drink this Fourth of July season. This red and blue cocktail is festive and fancy but still easy to put together, so you can sip in style without breaking a sweat.

Ingredients

• 1 oz watermelon schnapps
• 1 big splash cranberry juice
• 1 very thin slice jalapeno or Serrano pepper
• 1 slice lemon
• 1 slice lime
• 1 ½ oz tequila
• ¼ oz blue curacao
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Watermelon wedge, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Mix the schnapps and cranberry juice in a shaker; pour into an ice-filled glass.
2. Combine the jalapeno pepper, lemon and lime slices, tequila, blue curacao, and simple syrup in the shaker. Slowly strain into glass over red layer.
3. Garnish with watermelon, if desired.

Whichever red, white, and blue recipe you decide to whip up for your friends and family (or just yourself, we’re not judging!) this Fourth of July, you’ll be sure to wow everyone with your patriotic culinary skills. Even the fireworks will be jealous that you’re stealing their thunder.

Got any other festive Fourth of July recipes? Share in the comments below!

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

What’s the best way to stay healthy while at college? I love making smoothies and cooking homemade food, but I know that’s going to be nearly impossible at school. –Elise

Elise,

You’ll find that your dorm and dining hall don’t offer you the same cooking comforts as your home, but do know that you won’t have to sacrifice your health because of it!

It’s not a graduation requirement to gain the freshman 15. In fact, I had a friend who actually lost weight during freshman year instead of gaining it!

The first step to staying healthy on campus is to make sure that you have a minifridge in your room. This will let you store nutritious snacks so that you don’t head to the vending machine for junk food when you get the munchies. You’ll also be able to prep your food early and store it properly the day beforehand if you know that you’ll be on the go the next day.

In terms of cooking homemade food, most dorms have a common area on the hall with a kitchen area, an oven, a stove and sometimes a fridge to use, too, if you decide not to get a minifridge. You may be required to have a meal plan if you’re living on campus, but if you want to cook your own food on occasion, you can definitely do that in this space. Plus, your cooking will make the whole hall smell so good!

You also don’t have to worry about not being able to make smoothies once you go to school. My neighbor last year got a blending machine similar to a Magic Bullet where she would load up her fruits and base into the cup that could be taken on the go so that she wouldn’t have to give that up, either. As I mentioned before, you can just store your fruits and base in your minifridge or common-area fridge so that you can use them when you need them.

If you won’t have a car on campus your first year and you’re worried about how you’ll get your fresh ingredients, ask a friend with a car to drive you to the grocery store when it’s convenient. If you go to school in a city, it will also benefit you to look into public transit options. Make a list of what you’d like to buy ahead of time so you know exactly what you need and you won’t have to waste time roaming the aisles. Even better, if you hear someone talking about grocery shopping, politely ask if you can join on the trip, and pitch in a few dollars for gas to show your appreciation.

Lastly, search Pinterest for some easy recipes. You’ll be able to find ones that fit your budget and your resources—score! Also, read our tips for how to eat healthily when you do go to the dining hall to help you to feel more empowered and in control of what you’re eating.

We all know that interns are the lowest employees on the company totem pole, which means that trips to both the local Starbucks and the Xerox machine are probably inevitable. However, that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a “coffee-and-copies” type of internship if a couple weeks have gone by and you still haven’t been asked to do anything meaningful. Rather than complaining to all of your friends about your wasted summer and spending all of your mental energy daydreaming about Zac Efron, here are eight ways you can transform a “meh” internship into a super-productive experience.

1. Talk to your supervisor

Although it may seem obvious that you didn’t sign up to be an intern so you could spend all of your time doing mindless chores, your supervisor might have no idea she’s not using you to your full potential. However, if you’re considering going up to her and saying, “I’m bored,” abort mission! That’s the number one thing you should never utter at work.

"Avoid putting yourself in the victim role, but be honest and forthight," says Lisa Orrell, author of Your Employee Brand is in Your Hands: How Any Employee Can Create & Promote Their Own Personal Leadership Brand for Massive Career Success! "Your adviser will probably assume you have things to do if you don't say anything."

Orrell recommends asking for a meeting with your boss and respectfully asking for more responsibilities. She also says this is a great time to restate your strengths.

“Are you strong at Excel, PowerPoint or another type of software? Are you good at social media? Even if you brought those things up during the initial interview, your supervisor may have forgotten,” Orwell says. “You’ll jog their memory and they’ll remember other tasks and projects they can have you do.”

For example, you could say, “During the interview, we discussed my research skills. Is there anything I can help you with that would utilize those skills?”

Maybe you’re a talented writer and your blog is your baby. Ask your supervisor if you can help work on the company newsletter. Or maybe you’d like to help out with the company’s Twitter page (you’re so great at clever tweeting!).

Don’t think you can’t use this strategy if you have the opposite problem: being too busy, but with busywork. You should still respectfully ask for more higher-level tasks by reiterating your strong suits. Succeeding at these will have a domino effect: your supervisor will see that you’re capable and responsible, which will lead to more challenging projects. This will further prove your potential!

2. Manage your time

If, even after talking to your supervisor, you’re still bogged down with chores that require approximately 2 percent of your mental capacity to complete, than try to do them as quickly as you can without sacrificing quality. In other words, don’t make the time “go by faster” by checking Facebook at every consecutive 10-minute mark, as tempting as that may be. The faster you complete the boring tasks, the sooner you can get to more stimulating ones.

“There will always be a juggling act at work that tests your ability to complete the things that need to get done and those you would prefer to be doing,” says Joan Snyder Kuhl, founder of Why Millennials Matter, a Gen-Y speaking and consulting company. “If you approach your internship with a project-management mindset, then it will help you organize your time to execute the top priorities set by your boss and allocate time for developmental opportunity projects.”

This may require writing copious to-do lists, blocking social media on your phone and laptop and arriving at the office early and staying late. But even if you have to buy an extra cup of coffee and sacrifice a couple sushi nights with your girls, it will be worth it. Your boss will notice what a strong and dedicated worker you are, which will — hopefully — lead to projects that actually require some thinking.

3. Come up with your own project

“Taking initiative” is a career buzzword, but there’s a good reason for that: it’s super impressive. There’s no better way to show your supervisors you can think for yourself, find areas for improvement and develop solutions.

According to Snyder, the first step in creating your own task is to understand the business model of the company you’re working for.

“You need to ask yourself, ‘How do they make money? What’s important to them? What drives their results?’” she says. “Any project you devise should help them get their results faster.”

There are also projects that apply to almost every industry.  For example, if you notice that meetings are run inefficiently — they always run over their scheduled times, people become restless, no one stays on topic, etc. — you could research ways to run meetings more effectively and then share the info with your supervisor or team.

“Sometimes, especially at small companies, employees are out of touch and relying on antiquated ways of doing something,” Orrell says. “They’re so busy doing their jobs, they don’t have time to re-organize their processes.”

If nothing jumps out at you to fix, the last approach is sitting down with your supervisor and other team members and asking them what niggling problems they have at work.

“It could even be something like, ‘our storage room is incredibly disorganized, and none of us want to deal with it, but we complain about it all the time,’” Orwell says. “Even if it doesn’t directly pertain to your major or your career, you’ll look like a rock star for solving an ongoing problem.”

4. Go to other departments

If you still don't have enough to do, you can go to other departments — but tread carefully. Walking over to another wing of the building and volunteering your help may seem vastly preferable to sitting at your desk and idly swiping through Tinder to pass the time; however, doing so without asking your boss first is a serious faux pas.

“You don’t want to alienate your supervisor by unintentionally making them look bad,” says Jason Dorsey, author of My Reality Check Bounced! The Gen-Y Guide To Cashing In on Your Real-World Dreams.

Instead, go to your supervisor and tell him or her you’re interested in helping out, say, the marketing department, because you took a couple of marketing courses in college and would like a chance to learn more about the field.

“When you ask, don’t forget to say that the work that they have assigned you obviously comes first and you’ll get that done before helping the other department,” Snyder says.

You can also find opportunities for work by sitting in on company meetings (with your supervisor’s permission) and listening carefully. If someone is assigned a project he or she seems less than enthusiastic about, he or she would probably jump at an offer for an extra pair of hands. And even if the employee does accept a task with a smile, he or she may still want your help! After the meeting, send him or her an email saying, “I’d love to contribute to X project. Are there any tasks I can do for you?”

Stay alert and you won’t have to resort to swiping right and left for entertainment. Meanwhile, your go-getter attitude will impress the whole office.

5. Network

Whether you’re doing grunt work or helping out on a major project, you can definitely make connections so that even if you walk away with nothing else, you’ve still gotten a lot of value out of your internship. According to Dorsey, an intern should network every single day, but not just at work.

“If you’re in a small office, there may simply not be that many people, and you’re already getting to know them,” he says. “If you’re in a big company, there may be hundreds or thousands of people at your location, so meeting all of them is impossible and a waste of time.”

Dorsey advises building a core group of contacts by consistently getting meals with your coworkers and holding friendly conversations. After that, you can expand your network outward.

“Make new friends when you go to get coffee, eat lunch, take a break or [are] in areas of the building where people naturally congregate,” he says. “Be the person who says ‘hello’ first, and your network will naturally build.”

In addition to making connections organically, you also can — and should! — request an informational interview with professionals in the company or area where you’re working.

“Interns should send polite emails asking for 15-minute coffee meetings to learn more about that person’s career path, field or just any advice they may have,” Snyder says.

Take advantage of the one time in your life where you can pull the “student card.” And thankfully, you can schedule meetings outside the 9-5 workday, so even if you’re busy unjamming the copier, networking is totally doable. To learn more about informational interviews, read this comprehensive guide.

6. Develop your skills

If you’re still a little bitter about how your internship expectations differed from reality, look at this as a fantastic opportunity to broaden your skill set. Start by observing what’s highly valued at your workplace and then find areas for self-improvement.

“Maybe you aren’t really strong at Excel, but the company uses it quite a bit,” Orrell says. “You could ramp up your skills within a couple days, and that would open the door towards people asking for your help.”

Teaching yourself how to code, reading tutorials on SEO (search engine optimization), practicing your Photoshop and image-editing skills, improving your writing and even learning practical business skills are all great uses of your time that you can do for free and on your laptop (YouTube, anyone?). Plus, they’ll look way better on your screen than Facebook’s characteristic blue-and-white page, should your supervisor should happen to walk by.

7. Research the competition

By examining the competition, you can improve your knowledge and potentially help your company. Try looking at other companies in the field and figuring out what they do differently than the one you’re interning for. What works? What doesn’t? If you find anything yours could change to increase its competitive edge, summarize your results in a Word document or PowerPoint and send them to your supervisor. Your employers will love that you recognized such an essential part of being a successful business.

8. Request to job shadow

For a hands-on learning experience and a way to get a feel for different roles in the company, see if there’s anyone willing to let you shadow him or her. Dorsey says asking to job shadow is a good idea as long as you don’t request a whole day.

“Make it more manageable by asking if there are specific blocks of time that work well for them for you to tag along,” he says. “That way they don’t feel obligated, and it increases the likelihood they’ll say yes.”

According to Orrell, you should shadow someone at the level above you as well as someone above that person, if possible.

“That gives you a really good picture of what to expect and what skills you will need as you move up the ladder,” she says. “In addition, it can help you determine if that’s even a career path you want to pursue.”

Orrell also advises starting in your own department and then branching out. For example, if you’re interning with marketing, start there, then move to sales, and then move to the next related tiers, such as distribution, customer service or manufacturing.

With a little creativity and effort on your part, virtually any internship can be productive! Today, you’re making friends with the baristas at Starbucks and filing documents ceaselessly; tomorrow, you’ll be taking over the world.

If you’re a pre-collegiette soaking up the sun before stepping on campus for the first time in the fall, you’re probably experiencing a bit of anxiety about making new friends at school, and you're totally not alone! While freshmen Facebook groups and accepted student days can be good ways to meet the masses, it can be hard to find people you really click with, especially if you go to a bigger school. Pre-collegiettes, meet JoinU, a brand new app by Cloud Castle for eCampus Ventures. It's officially your new best friend as an incoming freshman, and the best part is that it'll help make other best friends--of the fellow freshmen variety. Plus, it's completely free.

JoinU is an app for your iPhone that uses your Facebook login info to connect you with students and users from your university. All you do is log in, select your school, anticipated graduation year, dorm building and major (if you know it!) and any extracurriculars you're interested in. The app will then match you up with users who have listed similar items as you have and give you the option to join communities based on dorm buildings, classes, or activities. In the future, JoinU hopes to add space for a more detailed bio and a roommate survey feature to allow users to connect and find potential roomies (like the girl who shares your obsession with Orange is the New Black and late-night fro-yo). 

Similar to Tinder, JoinU allows users to "like" other users if they have things in common, but a user is only notified if both users have independently "liked" one another. So no need to worry about what that cutie down the hall will think if you like his profile; he'll never know! Unless he likes your profile back, in which case... you go, girl. 

Dan Thibodeau and Justin Gaither, the innovative minds behind JoinU, are no strangers to the college marketplace, having already achieved amazing success with their roommate-finding service RoomSurf and textbook-trading service TextSurf. It's safe to say that these guys know what's up when it comes to giving college students what they want and need, and JoinU is certainly filling a specific niche. 

According to technology website BetaBeat, “20,000 high school seniors from 50 countries have downloaded JoinU.” These numbers are especially impressive when you consider that the app was only launched for iOS on April 15 of this year and already has student users on over 200 campuses. 

This app really captures what it means to be a connected collegiette and an involved underclassman; in the words of co-creator Dan Thibodeau: “That’s really what college is about: what’s going on around me, who’s doing it, and can I get involved?” Couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Hoping to be a well-connected and confident collegiette come move-in day? Be sure to check out JoinU on Facebook and Twitter and download the free app for yourself. Who knows? You might even meet your future roomie!

Since 2012, Mattel has quietly been producing a doll that has never made it to the shelves of Toys ‘R’ Us or onto an online store site. The doll’s name is Ella, and she’s part of the Barbie clan. However, Ella is a little different from Skipper or Ken — she has cancer. As a result of chemo, she is bald.

Mattel started producing Ella as a way to give girls suffering from cancer comfort and a character that they can relate to. Instead of making the dolls available for retail, the manufacturer distributes them to hospitals around the U.S.

According to Melissa Bumstead, mother to a four-year-old with cancer, Ella is more than just a toy.

“We had no idea how we would tell [our daughter] that she would soon be losing her beautiful, curly blonde hair,” Bumstead said. “When the charge nurse brought us Ella, I cried. She is in a very fancy dress and still looks like a beautiful Barbie that any child would be excited to play with... and relate to.”

Unfortunately, the hospital where Bumstead’s daughter was being treated only had six Ella dolls, and they soon ran out. This led Bumstead to start a petition asking Mattel to make more of the toy. 

Three months later, her petition had 10,000 signatures. It didn’t take Mattel long to agree to ramp up their production of Ella dolls.

"We make Ella for just one reason — because it's the right thing to do,"Mattel spokesperson Alex Clark told Yahoo. "The idea is that a boy or girl can play and interact with a fashion doll that is going through what they're going through. Ella is not a doll we will ever sell. It's a donation we make." 

Between Ella and Entrepreneurship Barbie, it seems that Mattel truly is is expanding the definition of Barbie, one doll at a time.

Name: Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith
Age: 43
Job Title and Description: Screenwriter, Novelist and Poet
College/Major: Occidental College/English and Film double major
Website: kiwilovesyou.com 
Twitter Handle: @kiwilovesyou

 
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

Kirsten Smith: A typical day usually entails doing pilates in the morning, then coming back and drinking green tea while answering emails, typing up story note, typing in script pages from the day before or doing any kind of creative writing work that inspires me. Then usually I’ll head over to my longtime writing partner Karen’s house and we’ll brainstorm, write or rewrite.  Then three or four nights out of the week I’ll have a drinks meeting that involves brainstorming or working on another idea with an actor or writer friend. I like to have multiple projects going at once. 

What is the best part of your job?

KS: The freedom to create a script for a movie that I want to see—within certain parameters and trends. Also, being able to work from home and essentially keep my own schedule is fantastic, but it’s also a curse because I have homework every night for the rest of my life.
 
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

KS: I got an internship at CineTel Films while I was at Occidental College, where I read scripts and wrote coverage on them (essentially a book report synopsizing the screenplay and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses). I also would run errands for my boss, but mainly it was coverage and research. 

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

KS: I might have been more financially thrifty since the business has shrunk so much, so I’d have cautioned myself to save a bit more money.  Also there are a few great ideas I had that I didn’t pursue quickly enough. It always hurts to see that somebody else “stole” your great idea. Katie Dippold said she wrote The Heat in two and a half months–which is really fast—because she woke up in terror every morning thinking that she’d read about someone else selling the same idea.

You’ve written so many great screenplays (Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, Ella Enchanted, the list goes on and on!) and now you’ve written your second book, Trinkets. What advice do you have for college women looking to go into any type of writing?

KS: Really challenge yourself to write every day. If you have a goal of writing a novel or short story or a script, read a bunch of them and just start writing.  A friend of mine also gave some good advice recently: always finish your early efforts, and don’t stop and start something else if you don’t like it. 

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

KS: Without a doubt, it was Catalaine Knell, who gave me my first internship at CineTel Films. She could have easily had me focus on being a good worker, but she was always reminding me that I was a writer and that was my calling, and that I needed to keep writing.  She even read my poetry and asked me to write an original poem for a movie that CineTel was making. So my first screen credit is a “poetry by” credit in Poison Ivy 2.
 
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

KS: I remember seeing Madonna on Dick Clark’s showwhen I was a teenager and she was like,  “I want to rule the world” and she had so much confidence and ambition, it really inspired me. 

And I always liked that Rilke quote, “I don’t want to be a poet. I want to change your life.”  I love the idea that as a writer I could aim to change the world in some way–bringing light and power and positivity into it.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

KS: I stopped writing poetry for a few years and I got a bit rusty. I think if I’d have continued to at least write a few poems a month I would have kept that muscle stronger. Fortunately I’ve gotten to write two young adult novels, Trinkets and The Geography of Girlhood, and they’ve allowed me to continue to express myself outside of screenwriting. I also love telling stories about young women trying to grow up and making mistakes and right now those stories are out of favor in film, so it’s exciting to be able to still explore them on the page.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

KS: We were having a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his suite at the Penninsula. He’d given us a blind script deal so we were there to pitch him ideas and he would then send us off to write the script.  We pitched him one idea he didn’t like, then we pitched him another one and he yelled, “That’s brilliant!” and threw the apple he was eating across the room. Then he offered us another script to write and I said, “Only if you get on your knees and beg.” And he did.  

A few days later, Legally Blonde opened and we were having a party for our friends at the Beauty Bar in LA and we put Harvey on the list.  I remember the bouncer was like, “Why do you have Harvey Weinstein on your list? Seriously?” Like obviously he wouldn’t come.  Then around 11:30 p.m., Harvey showed up to congratulate us on having the number one movie in the country.       

Also, my mom following Reese Witherspoon around the premiere of Legally Blonde was pretty hilarious. She went full stalker.

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

KS: Read Deadline, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap so you know what’s going on.  Work for free as a PA on college productions that you find in Backstage.  Read tons and tons of scripts. Come up with one movie idea a day, read Save the Cat, start writing a script and finish that script and start another one.  That last one is really my writing partner Karen’s advice but I’ll steal it from her for this. Writers are kleptomaniacs, after all. 

Harvard and Yale students can now spend their study breaks playing with "loaner puppies" as part of the schools' dog therapy programs.

At Harvard, stressed-out students can reserve 30-minute sessions with Cooper, a Shih Tzu who visits Harvard Medical School’s Library two days a week. Yale now has two dogs on campus: Finn and Monty. Monty is so popular with students that during the year, he had a wait list of students hoping to spend some time some quality time with him. 

Ivy League universities aren't the only ones offering dog therapy programs, however. Schools like Kent State University, who created a Dogs on Campus program to help students deal with separation anxiety, and the veterinary medicine colleges at Tufts University and Virginia Tech have also started dog therapy programs in an effort to benefit students. 

According to an essay written in the research journal College & Undergraduate Libraries, "college students face many of the same issues as the elderly, such as living away from home, often leaving pets behind and adjusting to an impersonal institution." In addition, "studies have shown that interacting with an unknown dog reduced blood pressure, lowered anxiety, and reduced self-reported depression among college students.”

With fall move-in day closer than you think, we at HC are looking forward to yet another year of dorm life! Sure, the showers might become scalding hot when someone flushes the toilet, but college is the only time when you get to live in the same building with all of your friends, and that makes it all worth it. And even the dingiest dorm room can look so much better with some creativity and a few basic craft supplies. Whether it's your first semester in college or the beginning of your senior year, these DIY ideas are sure to spruce up your room! 

1. Flower lights

These adorable flower lights are perfect for spicing up a string of Christmas tree lights. All you need are a few colored cupcake liners and scissors. Cut the cupcake liners into flower and leaf shapes with a hole in the middle of each, and then tape or glue them to the back of the light.  

2. Clothesline picture holders

You're not limited to photos! Hang up notes, cards, movie ticket stubs, and other paper memories to create an eclectic yet super easy display for your room! 

3. Washi tape pinboard

If you haven't discovered washi tape yet, you've been missing out. It's colorful, it comes in a bunch of fun patterns, and it's easily removable. Use it to decorate your wall, mirrors, windows, or this adorable pin board! 

4. Mini corkboards

Don't have room for a large corkboard? Buy or cut smaller shapes for a cute yet equally effective pinboard. 

5. Cookie tray magnet board

No need to buy an expensive magnetic board! Grab a fun, colored cookie tray from the local supermarket and stick it on the wall with a few poster stickers. Then, decorate it with a variety of adorable magnets. See more detailed instructions here.

6. Cheese grater earring holder

An affordable, easy way to keep your earrings from tangling: spray paint a cheese grater and hot glue large beads to the bottom for feet. Further instructions can be found here!

7. Chalkboard table

Spice up a thrifted table with some chalkboard paint. Use it to jot down your creative whims, phone numbers, to-do lists, or doodles! 

8. T-shirt doormat

This one takes a little more time, a plain plastic or rubber doormat, and five to eight T-shirts, but the result is a cozy rug! Cut the shirts up into strips and hot glue the strips into rows on the doormat.

9. Braided laundry basket

Another idea involving old T-shirts, but this one has a more complicated braiding pattern. Check here for full instructions. 

10. Colorful floor cushions

Cut strips of colorful fabric and sew them onto two large fabric cricles, then stitch and fill them to make giant, comfy floor cushions. More detailed instructions can be found here.

11. Pillowcase laundry bag

Attach an embroidery hoop to a nice pillowcase for a really easy, always-open laundry bag.

12. Brick bookends

Need bookends? Spray-paint a brick with gold, then decorate it with trims of lace or other fabric for a glamorous, feminine touch.

13. Mason jar supplies holder

A really easy supplies holder: take a vintage wooden picture frame and hammer nails into the top at equal intervals. Then, dangle mason jars with some twine to hold paintbrushes, scissors, and writing utensils. Can we say hipster?

14. Toothbrush holders

You can buy StickOnPods, or you can simply attach a plastic toothbrush travel case to the wall with glue or removable wall stick-ons. 

15. Can organizer    

Add fun scarpbook paper to a few different sized cans for an easy, unique, and functional supplies organizer! More instructions can be found here.

16. Shoebox charging strip

Keep those power cords from getting tangled in a neat little box. You'll need a ribbon box and a power strip.

Is Nicki Minaj dissing Iggy Azalea? After learning of her fifth consecutive win for Best Female Hip Hop artist at the BET Awards last night, Minaj concluded an already memorable acceptance speech— in which she said she avoided calling an ambulance in a life-threatening situation because she didn't want it to end up on TMZ —by throwing some shade at her competitor Iggy Azalea, who left the BET Awards in a wheelchair due to a broken toenail.

“What I want the world to know about Nicki Minaj is when you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it,” said Minaj, apparently referring to the rumor circulating that Iggy Azalea does not write her own lyrics.

“No, no, no shade, no, no, no shade,” Minaj assured the audience immediately afterwards. But isn't it shade? Just a little bit, Nicki?

The rapper said that she was one of the only artists still “spitting metaphors and making you think.” Minaj concluded her speech by saying, “I hope and pray that BET continues to honor authenticity, and that’s all I'm gonna say about that.” Come on, let's just call 'em like we see 'em: this definitely seems like some more shade thrown Azalea's way.

So, was Nikki Minaj’s insult to Iggy Azalea born out of a genuine concern for authenticity, or is she just trying to get ahead in the competition between the two artists? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, collegiettes!

1. Patriotic Glitter Candles 

Via A Pumpkin & a Princess

What you'll need:

• Candles
• Clear crystal glitter
• Mod Podge
• Foam brush
• Twine
• Custom Fourth of July tags

Steps:

1. Remove labels from candle jars and coat with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
2. Pour glitter into a tray and roll jars in glitter to coat. Allow to dry for a few hours.
3. Tie twine and custom tags around the mouth of the jar.

2. Fourth of July Table Runner

Via The Shabby Creek Cottage

What you'll need:

• Burlap table runner
• At least 3 star-shaped stamps or foam (click here for pattern)
• Wax paper
• Disposable plates
• Red, white and blue paint
• Iron
• Sharpie
• Scissors

Steps:

1. If you're making your foam stars yourself, trace the star pattern onto the foam with a Sharpie and cut out the stamp using scissors.
2. Place a sheet of wax paper underneath the burlap table runner to protect the surface you are working on. 
3. Pour a small amount of each color paint onto a sturdy disposable plate and press your star stamp into one of the colors and then onto the burlap table runner.
4. Add as many stars as you would like in red, white and blue and let dry for several hours.
5. Once dry, place wax paper over the stars and iron over the wax paper to seal the paint down.

3. USA Letters

Via Better Homes and Gardens

What You'll Need:

• Wooden letters (available at craft stores)
• Foam paint brushes
• Red, white and blue acrylic paint
• Polyurethane

Steps:

1. Paint the wooden letters with the red, white and blue paint -- get creative!
2. If you want to reuse your letters, coat them with polyurethane to keep them from fading or chipping.

4. Red, White & Blue Mason Jars 

Via It All Started With Paint

What You'll Need:

• 3 mason jars
• Red, white and blue acrylic paint
• Washi tape
• Wine cork
• Foam stars
• Glue
• Sandpaper
• Small paintbrush (optional)
• Clear enamel spray paint (optional)

Steps:

1. Paint two of the mason jars with the white acrylic paint and one with the blue, being sure to cover the entire jar.
2. Using Washi tape, tape off the stripes on the two white jars and use the red acrylic paint to create stripes. If needed, touch up with a small paintbrush after removing the tape.
3. Glue a few of the foam stars (available at craft stores) together and then glue the stack to the wine cork to create a stamp. Dip the stamp into the white acrylic paint and add stars to the blue mason jar.
4. Once completely dry, go over the jars with sandpaper to give them a distressed and vintage feel. Add a coat of clear enamel spray paint to keep the jars from chipping.

5. Star Medallions

Via Martha Stewart

What You'll Need:

• Cottin fabric (about 2 1/2 feet per medallion)
• Heavy spray starch
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Fusible webbing, 1/2 inch by 20 yards
• Strong double-sided tape
• 1/4-inch-wide ribbon

Steps:

1. Cut a length of fabric keeping in mind that the width will be the diameter of the medallion and the length should be 1.6 times the width (break out your calculators!).
2. Fold fabric accordion-style in 1 1/2-inch sections (see link for image). After each fold, spray with starch and iron. Continue up length of fabric, making sure that your first and last folds are going in the same direction. 
3. Stitch along the middle of the folded rectangle to create a pivot point (see link for image).
4. Trim both ends of the pleated rectangle at a 45-degree angle, so the angles slope towards the raw edge of the fabric, creating the starlike points.
5. Connect the sides of the rectangle by fanning out fabric from center stitch and adhering with fusible wedding; iron. Sandwich a piece of ribbon (long enough to hang the medallion!) between the fusible webbing and the fabric.
6. Connect the remaining sides with fusible webbing, or tape for easy disassembly and storage. Stitch monofilament through the fused edge in the back and hang.

6. Ombré Party Tub

Via Mad in Crafts

What You'll Need:

• Galvanized steel utility tub
• Sandpaper
• Red, white and blue aerosol paint

Steps:

1. Use sandpaper to roughen up the tub and give the paint something to adhere to. Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any debris.
2. Holding the can of red aerosol paint about 5-6 inches from the tub, spray the red paint around the top 1/3 of the tub until you are happy with the opaqueness. Let dry completely before moving on. 
3. Spray a band of white aerosol paint under the red band and let dry before finishing off with a band of blue aerosol paint around the base of the tub.

7. Fourth of July Crayon Stars

Via Match Made on Hudson

What You'll Need:

• Crayons in varying shades of blue
• Crayon sharpener (mechanical works best)
• Wax paper
• Packaging paper
• Iron
• Star-shaped cookie cutters
• Sharpie
• Scissors
• Red thread
• Blue-and-white striped straws

Steps:

1. Remove the crayons from their paper wrappings and use a mechanical crayon sharpener to create wax shavings from the blue crayons. Spread these shavings onto a sheet of wax paper.
2. Fold the other half of the wax paper over the shavings and fold up the open sides to create an envelope of sorts.
3. Place a piece of packaging paper on the ironing board, followed by the wax paper with crayon shavings, followed by another piece of packaging paper. 
4. Iron the stack on medium heat until the shavings are completely melted.
5. Once cool, trace stars onto the wax paper using star-shaped cookie cutters and cut out with scissors.
6. Poked a hole at the top of each star and use red thread to attach stars to the striped straws and hang.

We'll definitely be trying out these adorable Fourth of July DIYs for a festive Independence Day. Which ones will you try, collegiettes? Let us know in the comments section!

In a study published this month, Facebook revealed that it altered the News Feeds of almost 690,000 of its users so that some would receive more positive posts and others would receive more negative posts. This change occurred for one week in early 2012, according to CNN.

The study asserts, “When positive expressions were reduced, people produced fewer positive posts and more negative posts; when negative expressions were reduced, the opposite pattern occurred.” In other words, seeing a more positive News Feed when you first log on can cause you to post more positive things yourself, while seeing a more negative News Feed could cause you to write more negative posts. Read the full scientific article here.

While the experiment is “almost certainly legal” and approved by both internal and institutional review boards, anger erupted from Internet users when they got wind of the nature of the experiment, according to the Atlantic. We're not thrilled that the social network made some of its users (maybe even you) feel bad on purpose. But then, where does manipulation end and science begin?

What do you think, collegiettes? Should Facebook have informed those participating in the experiment? Or do users of social media often forget that they are using Facebook’s terms of use—not their own? While this experiment was legal, was it right?

You had a lot of big plans for this summer: finally get that perfect tan, catch up on some reading, take a road trip with your best friends, make some extra spending money at your summer job and maybe, just MAYBE, have that fairy-tale summer fling you’ve always dreamed of.

Unfortunately, you probably got home for the summer and realized that you left all of that dateable eye candy back at school, leaving you to spend a summer full of way too many solo froyo trips and movie dates with your mom. Don’t worry, collegiettes – you’re not alone! Here are 19 thoughts we’ve all had during a summer dry spell.

1.  I don’t need a guy. I’m totally fine being single and free this summer!

2. Just kidding, I need a guy – ANY GUY – to come cure my summer boredom.

3. Where do people even meet guys when they’re not in college? The mall? The beach? Is there some kind of website where I can buy a summer fling?

4. Oh well—at least my friends are single, too. We’re all in this together! At least, that’s what I thought…

5. Sandy and Danny fell in love at the beach and I can’t even get a guy to rub sunscreen on my back. Sunburn, here I come.

6. Wow, I’m actually getting really tan! Too bad no one is going to get to appreciate my tan lines…

7. If I watch one more rom-com by myself, I WILL lose it. Seriously, who’s going to comfort me after an emotional re-watching of The Notebook?

8. Wow, that lifeguard is pretty cute. Maybe I should pretend to drown so he’ll give me CPR?

9. Maybe I’ll meet up with this guy I met on Tinder. It’s not THAT big of a deal that he uses “ur” instead of “you’re” … right?

10. I can’t even remember the last time I kissed a boy. What if I forgot how to kiss?!

11. You know what? I’ve got this. I have a whole season of The Vampire Diaries on Netflix to keep me occupied. I don’t need a guy to entertain me!

12. Whoops, I finished an entire season in two days. Let the manhunt continue.

13. I need to cuddle with someone. ANYONE.

14. Since Mr. Prince Charming clearly isn’t planning on making an appearance this summer, my new motto is:

15. Wow, that guy on my brother’s soccer team is really cute. I mean, is it REALLY that big of a deal that I’m three years older than him?

16. Ugh, I’m so hungry, but I have no one to go to dinner with.

17. Summer dating is hard – how am I supposed to flirt with someone if I don’t have class with him three times a week? Do I even remember how to flirt?

18. Summer sunsets are so pretty. This would be so romantic … if I had someone to watch it with.

19. Is summer almost over? Can I go back to school where there are actual parties and lots of cute guys?

Ever heard of a swimsuit model who willingly posts double-chin selfies and scarfs down Taco Bell?

Meet Chrissy Teigen: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model, Twitter enthusiast and Mario Kart aficionado.

While the modeling industry has a reputation for projecting negative self-esteem on young women, Chrissy is redefining the standards of beauty in the industry by proving on a daily basis that there’s nothing more beautiful than being who you are—your dessert-loving, selfie-taking self.

Here’s why we love her:

1. She loves food

Anyone who follows Chrissy on Twitter or Instagram knows that food is a big part of her life. Aside from posting mouthwatering pictures of her meals (who knew supermodels ate bacon-stuffed anything?), she spends a lot of her time cooking and blogging about her foodventures on her blog, So Delushious. Her blog gets right to the point, divided into three parts: Stuff I Make, Stuff I Eat and Random Ramblings.

2. She’s got style

When she’s taking a break from modeling in bikinis, Chrissy rocks the red carpet by playing with colors, patterns and plunging necklines. While her look may be unpredictable, she consistently stays chic and classy.

While she often goes glam, she doesn’t sacrifice comfort. For this year’s Oscars, she had pockets put into her gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown. (How else was she supposed to live-tweet one of the most prestigious award ceremonies of the year?)

3. She’s proud of her body

Her husband, John Legend, isn’t the only one who loves all of her “curves, edges and perfect imperfections”!

Chrissy’s open love of delicious food shows that she takes a healthy approach to her swimsuit bod. Her frequent food-related posts send the message that a fit, healthy body is something to be proud of, and that you don’t need to get there with extreme diets.

4. She loves animals

Already the proud owner of two dogs, Puddy and Pippa, Chrissy announced on Twitter June 8 that she and John adopted a three-legged French bulldog named Penny because “her first family were buttheads and we are happy to shower her with love for the rest of time!”

NEW FAMILY MEMBER ALERT!! She is our new little tripod lovebug. Yes. She has 3 legs WHICH IS MORE THAN YOU OKAY pic.twitter.com/6kqifCpGWm

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 8, 2014

5. She’s open about drinking.

While many celebs hide any type of publicity surrounding alcohol or drug use, Chrissy is open about her love of wine (she frequently confesses to drunk cooking, eating and tweeting) and her choice to stay away from marijuana.

My idea of a great night already involves complete paranoia and horrible food. I don't need the marijuanas.

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 16, 2014

While she tweets that she chooses not to smoke weed, she let her fans who do smoke know that she’s not passing judgment on their actions, just making a personal choice:

I'm not telling you to stop injecting or smoking pot/weed. i am just sharing my story. i have zero judgments and love you all. <3

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 16, 2014

6. She knows the female struggle

haaaaa i just realized i got my period dates mixed up and i'm not pms'ing i just love pizza and ranch and being a bitch

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 9, 2013

Whether she’s deciding which extensions to put in her hair or admitting to messing up her spray tan, Chrissy lets us know on a daily basis that she’s right there with us struggling in girl world.

7. She’s totally honest

How much time must pass before it is acceptable to tell your parents you doctored most of your progress reports and report cards

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 15, 2014

It seems even supermodels feel guilty and need to open up about their past mistakes! Chrissy often admits to everyday mistakes, such as leaving the oven on or going too far on social media. We can relate!

8. She’s not afraid of an unflattering selfie

The next time you take a selfie from seven different angles and spent an hour picking the perfect filter, just remember: even models are capable of the double chin. Thanks, Chrissy!

9. She plays video games

Defying the “girly” model stereotype, Chrissy passes time playing on her Nintendo DS. She often tweets about her gaming adventures playing Animal Crossing and Mario Kart. Proof that she’s a serious gamer? In 2013, she had a Mario-Bros-themed 28th birthday party!

10. She’s a proud wife

Married to John Legend since September 2013, Chrissy is constantly praising her hubby. For example, she told Vegas Magazine, “He is such a romantic and so completely loving.”

It seems the feeling is mutual—John’s recent smash hit, “All of Me,” is written about her!

11. This, because this is how all holidays should be celebrated:

Celebrate Father's Day by showing me your #hotdads

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) June 15, 2014

Remember the first time you stepped onto your campus? Perhaps it was during a college tour, or maybe it was right at the beginning of fall term freshman year. Either way, we definitely recall gazing up at the seemingly enormous, elegant buildings, awestruck that we were going to live here for the next four years. Whether you're looking forward to heading back to adobe-inspired academic buildings by the coast, a metropolitan campus or a truly Hogwarts-inspired castle amidst Northeastern foliage, take a few minutes to check out these gorgeous campuses around the nation! 

1. College of the Atlantic: Bar Harbor, Maine

Though perhaps not what you might think when you hear the words "island school," College of the Atlantic is aptly named, nestled in the charming town of Bar Harbor on the quaint Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. Its dedication to being environmentally sustainable makes the incredible ocean views an added benefit. CoA is powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and is also surrounded by acres of farmland, forest and orchards. 

2. Kenyon College: Gambier, Ohio

In the midst of suburban Ohio, Kenyon College's mix of Victorian gothic and Greek revival architecture truly comes alive in the fall when the 10-foot-wide Middle Path, which spans the entire college and into downtown, bursts into fiery orange foliage. Though fall is short-lived, the first midwestern snowstorm promises to turn campus into a winter wonderland.

3. Pepperdine University: Malibu, California

Who wouldn't want to go to a college just minutes away from a Malibu beach? Pepperdine University's 830-acre campus is just steps away from the Pacific Ocean and sees sunshine almost every day of the year. No wonder this college was voted The Princeton Review's #1 most beautiful campus in 2006 and 2007!

4. Lewis & Clark College: Portland, Oregon

Exploring this 137-acre campus is bound to be like Lewis and Clark's own expedition into the west! The centerpiece of the college's stunning architecture is the Frank Manor House, which was originally built as a mansion. The campus also features a trail lined with native tree species discovered by the college's namesake. 

5. Dartmouth College: Hanover, New Hampshire

Dartmouth isn't all brains! This Ivy League campus screams quintessential New England, with its 18th century colonial architecture, its location in a classic college town and the miles of pine forest surrounding the campus. Hiking trails along the Connecticut River and Upper Valley promise phenomenal views year-round. 

6. Florida Southern College: Lakeland, Florida

Florida Southern College students get to soak up some sun on a gorgeous campus full of sandstone architecture. In fact, the college is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright structures, which he named Child of the Sun, inspired by Floridian weather. The surrounding town, Lakeland, boasts 38 named lakes that students can make use of.

7. University of California, San Diego: San Diego, California

UC San Diego might just have it all. With its southern California sunshine and palm-tree-lined walkways, the campus is a prime example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Students also enjoy an ocean view, as the beach is just a short distance from campus.

8. Illinois Institute of Technology: Chicago, Illinois

While most campuses might boast of their traditional ivy-covered brick buildings, Illinois Institute of Technology breaks out of the mold with its innovative, modern buildings. Inspired by factories and warehouses, modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe constructed the main buildings almost entirely of steel and glass.

9. Yale University: New Haven, Connecticut

Yale's bragging rights aren't limited to its stellar academics - it also has a gorgeous campus. Most of the college is built in classic gothic style with a few centerpieces, including Connecticut Hall, built in the Georgian style. Walking through Yale's sprawling green quads, brick paths and ivy-covered iron gateways will definitely transport you back to the Middle Ages. 

10. Duke University: Durham, North Carolina

The Duke Chapel is without a doubt the highlight of this campus. Built in Collegiate Gothic style as most of the rest of campus is, the chapel is known for its soaring stone arches, stained glass windows and intricate detailing on every rooftop turret and ridge. The 8,600-acre campus also features Duke Forest and the Duke Memorial Gardens, which are filled with local trees and flowers for students' enjoyment and study.

What American doesn’t love Independence Day? Hands down, the Fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays: no work or school, a whole day to hang out with our friends and an excuse to brag about how awesome the good ole USA really is (seriously, so awesome). This year, whether you’re lounging on the beach, in a boat or in your backyard, we’re here to make sure you’re celebrating in style.

1. Backyard BBQ

If your big plans for the Fourth include a daylong feast in the backyard (or the front yard, for that matter), comfort is key. Throw on a pair of your favorite denim cutoffs (the best ones are usually the ones you make yourself) with a casual T-shirt and your trusty white sneakers. Our favorite tees are this one from Sincerely Jules ($33) and this one from Urban Outfitters ($34). As for sneaks, you can never go wrong with a pair of classic Converse high tops ($55)—although we’re digging the Italian brand Superga ($65) these days, too.

2. Patriotic Cocktail Party

Put a fun twist on a cocktail dress by skipping the dress altogether. No, we’re not suggesting you show your patriotic flair in your birthday suit; we do like the idea, however, of a romper paired with bold accessories. This cobalt-hued romper ($34.99) from Necessary Clothing would look pretty fantastic with a pair of killer wedges from DV Dolce Vita ($47.99) and patriotic sparkles, like this necklace ($40) from BaubleBar. Whether you’re sipping a fruity cocktail at a shindig with your parents or are attending a cocktail party with the girls, a rockin’ outfit will garner more attention than the fireworks themselves.

3. Beach Bummin’

First of all, if you get to spend Independence Day lounging at the beach or the pool, we’re super jealous. If you happen to be so lucky, then you need an awesome patriotic swimsuit to relax in (isn’t that basically a law?). This bandeau top and printed bottom ($23.99) are perfect for lakeside frolicking, beach-volleyball playing or poolside lounging.

If you’re a true patriot, finish off your celebratory ensemble with a beach tote from American Apparel ($18) to transport your belongings and a pair of festive flip-flops ($24.95). Soak in those rays, Independence-Day beach bums!

4. Watching the Fireworks

If your big Fourth of July plans involve a trip to see the fireworks with your summer fling, casual yet cute is probably your best bet. We like the look of a cropped tank from Revolve Clothing ($38) with your favorite denim cutoffs and trusty sneakers. Who knows? Maybe fireworks won’t be the only sparks flying on the night of the Fourth!

Whether you’re scarfing down hot dogs by the dozen, lazing on the beach with your besties or stealing a smooch under the fireworks, we know you’re going to have an amazing Fourth of July this year. We love you, USA! 

From her role on the hit show Orange Is the New Black to her TIME magazine cover, it’s hard to not know who Laverne Cox is. The trans activist, actress and producer is one of the most popular stars in Hollywood, and she’s using her fame to educate the world about trans issues (while looking stunning in the process). Here are just a handful of the many reasons we’re obsessed with Cox.

1.Her perfect performance of trans inmate Sophia Burset on the binge-worthy Orange Is the New Black.

Sophia, a former firefighter with a strained relationship with her son, does the inmates’ hair and makeup and faces transmisogyny from inmates and staff. She ultimately proves to be one of the funniest and most complex characters on the Netflix series.

2. How gracefully she handles invasive questions.

Katie Couric committed a major faux pas when she asked trans model Carmen Carrera about her “private parts,” but Cox’s response about the objectification of trans people made us all cheer.

3.Her friendship with fellow trans activist and author Janet Mock.

Mock, author of Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, and Cox are both trans women of color in the spotlight, and their mutual support, as shown in this HuffPost Live discussion, is the stuff dreams are made of.

4.She’s producing a documentary about trans teens for MTV.

Who better than Cox to produce and host a documentary about the lives of trans youth? The show, Trans Teen: The Documentary, should be out in the fall, and while we don’t have too many details yet, we still can’t wait.

5.She manages to be an activist and actress while still looking flawless.

Who says you can’t look gorgeous while you raise awareness?

6.She gives hope to LGBTQ+ kids who get bullied.

Even though she was bullied as a kid, she’s making sure that kids know that it can and will get better and that their identities are valid.

7.She stresses the importance of intersectionality in feminism.

A fight for equality means recognizing that race, gender, sexual orientation and a whole bunch of other stuff matter, and that one woman’s struggle is not every woman’s struggle.

8.She’s helping to normalize trans identities.

When people can see a story they relate to on screen, it can help them feel less alone, which is something Cox understands.

“I got a letter from a … trans youth’s mother who said that he transitioned because of me and because of seeing me on the show it gave him the courage to talk to his parents about who he was, and they’re supportive and loving and now he’s started his transition,” she told MTV News.

9.She’s making sure the world knows that “man” and “woman” aren’t the only genders people can express.

“We still live in a binary world in which the idea is imposed on us that there are only two genders; we need to change that perception,” she told The Independent.

10. Because of this picture.

Ellen Page and Laverne Cox? What more could we ask for?

These days, pretty much everyone takes notes electronically. Gone are the days of pencil and paper (for the most part), as we usually take our laptops or tablets to class to type out the most important points of a lecture. However, it’s pretty annoying to haul a laptop around all day, so we at Her Campus set out to see if we could find a tablet that works for note-taking so we can finally leave our laptops at home.

We got a hold of two devices: a Surface 2 and an iPad Air. After testing both tablets, we named Microsoft’s Surface 2 the winner! While both were great at everything you’d expect to do on a tablet (e.g. watching movies, playing games, surfing the Internet, etc.), the Surface 2 went above and beyond by doubling as a mini laptop for taking notes in class. Here are a few reasons why.

1. You can get a cover that doubles as a full-sized keyboard

With a Surface, you can get a cover that clicks right into the tablet and doubles as a full-sized keyboard. Not only does it help your screen stay protected, but it also makes it super easy to take notes in class! Just prop up the screen with the built-in stand and unfold the cover to type like you would on a laptop. Our Surface has an adorable purple keyboard, but the covers also come in blue, pink and gray. No matter which hue you choose, you’re bound to have the most stylish keyboard in class.

2. Microsoft Office RT is included for free

One of the greatest parts about the Surface is that it comes with Microsoft Office RT (Microsoft Office for tablets) already installed for free. If Word isn’t your thing, you can also use OneNote, which is Microsoft’s note-taking app that is, in a word, awesome. With OneNote, it’s easy to format and add sections to your notes, and you can make a tab for each of your classes. You can even go into “draw” mode and use your finger to write directly onto the screen.

3. Its split-screen feature

Say you’re taking notes in class and your professor says a word that you’re not quite sure the meaning of. Instead of switching screens, Googling, losing your place and then falling behind in lecture, you can use the split-screen feature on the Surface 2 to look things up while still taking notes. On the iPad, you can only use one app at a time, but with the Surface, multitasking becomes super simple. This multitasking feature works for any app, like Facebook, Netflix, Tumblr, Skype, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.

Basically, we’re obsessed with the Surface 2. We’ll definitely be using it to take notes (and watch movies) for a long time! 

This post was sponsored by Microsoft. All opinions are our own.

In a decision that inspired uproar and passionate discussion, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Hobby Lobby, a craft store managed by a Christian family, and all other family-owned corporations cannot legally be asked to pay for insurance coverage for contraceptives that violate religious freedom, according to the New York Times.

According to CNN, Hobby Lobby opposes only four of the 20 methods of contraception that the Affordable Care Act required them to cover. These four are what the family behind Hobby Lobby deems “abortive products,” such as Plan B and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Birth control pills are, therefore, still covered.

In this Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the craft store and another Christian family-owned corporation, Conestoga Wood Specialties. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, said that “the requirement that the two companies provide contraception coverage imposed a substantial burden on their religious liberty,” according to the New York Times.

Those on the opposing side, however, fear the implications of the decision. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg wrote what Mother Jones called“a blistering dissent.”

“The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield,” Justice Ginsberg wrote. She included several other key points, including the concerns about the cost of contraceptive measures like the IUD relative to a minimum wage salary; a woman’s choice that is informed not just by her physician but by her employer; and the idea that women may be influenced by the religious beliefs of her employer, a for-profit corporation. Plus, Ginsberg warns that this precedent could impact future rulings on a for-profit company's requirement to cover insurance for other medications and medical services such as antidepressants and anesthesia.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also expressed concerns about the Supreme Court decision. According to TIME, Clinton called the decision “a really bad slippery slope.” She also said, “It’s very troubling that a sales clerk at Hobby Lobby who needs contraception, which is pretty expensive, is not going to get that service through her employer’s health care plan because her employer doesn’t think she should be using contraception.”

According to NBC News, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, "It is our view ... that Congress needs to take action to solve this problem that's been created and the administration stands ready to work with them to do so.”

So how does this ruling affect you, collegiettes? According to ThinkProgress, if you work for Hobby Lobby or Conestoga Wood Specialties, you will now have to pay out of pocket for Plan B, Ella, or an IUD. If you work at one of the 48 other for-profit companies whose lawsuits against the contraceptive converage provision are still pending, your health care plan could also be affected in the future now that the Supreme Court has set this precedent. If you’re not affiliated, stay tuned—there could be another lawsuit in the works, and no matter where you work, issues around reproductive rights are pertinent to the lives of all women.

Picture someone running “like a girl.” Now picture someone throwing “like a girl.” Kicking, punching, fighting… “like a girl.”

Did you imagine strong, confident actions or weak, comical ones?

A new video by Procter & Gamble’s Always brand, produced by Lauren Greenfield, shows what several male and female young adults do when they’re asked to run, throw and fight like a girl. They make feeble, flouncy attempts, laughing at themselves as they do so.

The video then changes focus, asking six pre-adolescent girls to do the same. Unlike the adults, they throw themselves into their movements, sprinting around the room and punching the air with vigor.

“When did doing something like a girl become an insult?” the narrator asks.

According to a study by Always, sometime around puberty. That’s when the vast majority of girls start to perceive “like a girl” as a negative statement. Not surprisingly, it’s also when more than 50 percent experience a sharp drop in confidence.

The video ends with the tagline “Change the rules” and asks people to share what they do #LikeAGirl on the brand’s Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #LikeAGirl. Always says it wants to make the phrase one that “represents the strength, talent, character and downright amazingness of every girl.” 

So now picture someone running “like a girl.” Has your vision changed?

TFiOS fans, this is so not “okay.” The green bench that Hazel and Gus cuddle and kiss on (and spoiler alert: where Gus reveals his cancer has come back) has vanished from Amsterdam. A major tourist attraction for fans of the book and film, the missing bench is making our hearts break all over again.

It’s been gone for more than a month, but no one has noticed until this week — possibly because someone put a large flower pot in its place.

So who took it? Rabid fans? Delinquents? Those who lived nearby and were unhappy with the increased tourism the film brought to the neighborhood? The city hasn’t ruled any of these possibilities out. It could have even been the local government itself, which may have taken the bench away for repairs.

“It's a bit embarrassing, because we do keep good track of them, but it's gone all right,” says city spokesman Stephan van der Hoek said. 

The Fault in Our Stars fans had asked about the MIA bench, especially since a map of the city marked with prominent locations from the movie had begun to circulate.

Fortunately, the city has said it will replace the bench with an identical one in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, van der Hoek joked, “Keep your eyes on eBay.”