Name: Bethany Edwards
Job Title and Description: Co-Founder and CEO, Lia Diagnostics
College Name/Major: Master’s Degree in Integrated Product Design from the University of Pennsylvania/B.A. in Advertising from Temple University
Website: meetlia.com
Twitter Handle: @MeetLia and @bethanyaedwards
Instagram Handle: @MeetLia and @bethannedwards

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

BE: Co-founding and running a start-up does not come with a typical day. That's the fun and challenge. It often means continually walking the line between the two. I’ll give you a very timely example. This week, from Sunday afternoon till late Thursday night, we did a pretty intense video shoot. The entire team was involved from start to finish––8 a.m. till 9 p.m. As a start-up, you always have to do more with less. So we wrote the script, we videoed, we directed, we even built several props. It was truly all hands on deck and I'm proud of that. There's something so invigorating, tiring, and satisfying about founding a company. Those three things, that's what makes up a typical day. 

What is the best part of your job?

BE: Problem-solving and building something truly unique alongside our passionate and growing team.

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

BE: My first, full-time job out of college was at an advertising agency. I put my portfolio together with a girl who graduated with me. We had scheduled a meeting with someone at the agency simply to get advice on our “book.” We stayed up all-night cranking on our portfolio. I remember going to the meeting looking like I stayed up all night, disheveled hair and I sure didn't dress like I was going to an interview. We just wanted feedback. After flipping through our work, we got our feedback: “You can either make these changes and get a job at a top agency in New York or you can have a job here starting tomorrow.” We got in the elevator, doors barely closed, and we immediately started cheering. Our boss later teased us about hearing us celebrating. 

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable? 

BE: "Entrepreneurship is a journey, not a race." [and], "Always have two deals on the table."

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

BE: Not vetting vendors enough, and not cutting ties sooner when it wasn't working. We now do more traveling to physically go see facilities and meet with people in person. Being more OK with trusting my instincts.

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

BE: Being selected as a U.S. delegate and attending the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Meeting one of my most recent investors in an Uber pitch competition (a.k.a. pitching our company during an Uber ride).

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

BE: A willingness to want to build and a tenacity to do the work required. Someone who is a team player, a hard worker, and is self-motivated. 

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

BE: Don't feel limited by the title of your degree. Seek out opportunities to learn by doing. And don't underestimate the value of networking and meeting with people in person.

What's the one thing that's stood out to you the most in a resume?

BE: The designer in me is a sucker for well-designed, geometrically arranged resumes. Those always stand out to me. That level of detail and the challenge involved in arranging complex information in a way that will appeal to the person reading it. 

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

The Minimum Wage Will Increase in 18 States on New Year's Day

The Huffington Post reports that, starting today, minimum wage workers in 18 states will see a pay increase. While the federal minimum wage will remain at $7.25 per hour, these states are taking manners into their own hands and implementing minor increases. Some of the states even have laws requiring that the wage changes each year due to an inflation index. The wage increases range from $.04 to $1.00 among the 18 states.

UN Secretary-General Issues a 'Red Alert' for the World

In his New Year message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a "red alert for our world," calling for unity in the face of increasing global conflicts. Guterres said in the message, "On New Year's Day 2018 I am not issuing an appeal, I am issuing an alert—a red alert for our world. As we begin 2018, I call for unity...We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together."

Guterres, who started in his position in January 2017, encouraged worldwide leaders to make the same change and "rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals."

McDonald's Is Bringing Back Its Buttermilk Crispy Tenders

I'm usually able to stay away from fast food, but every now and then the cravings hit me and I'm on line at the McDonald's drive-thru. Although it's tempting to start off 2018 healthily, those plans may have to be delayed. McDonald's buttermilk crispy tenders are officially back in stores after totally selling out in the fall. When we were forced to experience this drought of crispy tenders, the chain promised the choice would be back by Dec. 28. Sometimes promises do hold true!

What to look out for...

Today's the day we've been waiting for with bated breath: the premiere of Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s season of The Bachelor. Whether you're an OG fan who watched Arie on The Bachelorette or if you're still figuring out who he is, this season ought to be a perfect balance between being a trainwreck and genuinely (a little) sweet. The show premieres at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. 

Thanks to all the beauty gurus and makeup bloggers out there absolutely slaying our Instagram and YouTube feed, it’s easy to learn the latest tips, hacks and trends in all things beauty. With such power at our literal fingertips, we can all step outside looking like we just spent hours with a professional makeup artist! However, although there are tons of YouTube and Instagram tutorials out there, we can’t help but wonder if there are beauty hacks that we’re missing out on. So, we rounded up a few collegiettes to gather up some tips and tricks that may not have exactly gone viral, but are definitely ‘Gram-worthy!

1. Use Visine to help with redness and dark circles

Yep, apparently eye drops do more than just fix red eyes! While there are plenty of makeup tutorials out there featuring color correcting makeup, a cheaper alternative may already be sitting in your medicine cabinet.

“My mom has a lot of funky makeup hacks, and putting Visine on her face is one of them,” says Kaelyn Scull, a senior at Carthage College. “Visine works as a quick fix for darkness under your eyes by minimizing the blood vessels, and it can even reduce the redness from a breakout.”

So while many beauty gurus turn to concealer for contouring, hiding dark circles from a late night out or to mask that pesky pimple, Visine is certainly a less-costly alternative—perfect for in-a-pinch fixes or a quick run to the store.

2. Use leftover conditioner as shaving cream

If you were to take a look in your shower right now, what would the shampoo to conditioner bottle ratio be? For some odd reason, shampoo bottles seem to run out way faster than conditioner bottles do, leaving us with half-full conditioners all over the place as we switch between haircare brands. So how can you put all that leftover conditioner to use? Tessa McKenna, a junior at Carthage College, has an idea!

“My hairstylist once told me that a great way to get rid of conditioner once the shampoo has run out is to use it as shaving cream on your legs! It’s nice because I feel like the conditioner makes your legs feel soft like it would do to your hair, and it spreads as easy and coats your legs like regular shaving cream would,” says Tessa.

Although putting conditioner on your legs wouldn’t be an immediate thought, it’s a great hack to save money and knock out two birds with one stone! Throw some conditioner on your ends and let it sit for a few while you get to work on your legs the next time you decide to shave (if that’s your thing, of course).

Related: 7 Beauty Hacks That Will Change How You Use Makeup

3. Apply eyeliner to your eyelash curler

It’s the ultimate lazy-girl hack that you probably haven’t seen on social media lately. If you use an eyelash curler, glide an eyeliner pencil along the top piece of the tool that touches your eyelashes and lid, and voila! Your eyes are lined and ready for a fresh coat of mascara.

“I value sleeping-in a lot, so I’ll do whatever I can to get ready for class in the morning as quickly as possible,” says Tessa. “If I’m running late for class, this is a great hack to cut-down on the time spent on my eyes. Plus, the eyeliner doesn’t appear as harsh as it would be drawn on.”

So, have no fear next time ya hit the snooze button—you still have time to look fabulous!

Related: 6 Beauty Hacks You Should Never Try

4. Extend your nose contour up to your eyebrows

Thanks to the Kardashians, facial (and even breast?) contouring is all the rage these days. However, while most beauty tutorials show the artists drawing delicate lines on the bridge of their nose, Taylor recommends extending the chiseled look up to your eyebrows—especially if you rock a pair of glasses like her!

“Because I wear glasses, when I contour my nose, I take my contour up through the curve of my nose by my eyes to the eyebrows,” says Taylor. “Not dramatically of course, but it adds extra depth to my face and helps add a little more drama to my nose contour (which gets hidden when I put my glasses on).”

There’s nothin’ wrong with a little more drama sometimes, so while it’s great to see so many tutorials out there showing an everyday contour look, it’s also nice to have this trick up your sleeve when you want your contour to be a little more poppin’.

While we could all practically list Beauty 101 as a class on our transcripts thanks to sites like YouTube and Instagram, there are just some tips and tricks out there that don’t make their rounds as much as the others. With these four hacks up your sleeve, you’ll be slaying the beauty game in no time.

Header image: Selena Gomez / Instagram

It has almost officially been a year since President Trump took office. Throughout this past year, Trump utilized social media more than any past president ever has, and his tweets often took center stage in the news cycle. According to CNN, Trump tweeted nearly 2,300 tweets this year, mainly using them to attack critics, denounce the media for their spreading of “fake news” and talk about his policies, such as the travel bans.

But even when critics and supporters alike told Trump that perhaps he should tone it down a notch on the tweeting, Trump ignored the criticism and declared his tweeting to be “modern day presidential.”

Here is a look back at Trump’s most memorable tweets of 2017.

1. Name-calling Kim Jong Un

“Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me “old,” when I would NEVER call him 'short and fat?' Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!”

The president’s tweet came during his five-country tour in Asia, where he emphasized the importance of complete demilitarization of North Korea, ABC News reports. Trump warned North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, to not test the United States and its allies and threatened that there could be military intervention if North Korea persisted with its pursuit of nuclear capabilities.

2. Fraud News CNN

“#FraudNewsCNN #FNN”

Trump has continuously been critical of the media, and has often argued that the media spouts “fake news.” In this particular tweet, Trump took aim at CNN, labeling them as “fraud news CNN” and “fake news network.” CNN took the tweet as a threat, NPR reports. “It is a sad day when the President of the United States encourages violence against reporters,” CNN said in a statement.

3. Covfefe

“Despite the constant negative press covfefe”

This tweet spawned thousands of jokes, according to The Washington Examiner. Unfortunately, Trump ended up deleting this one. This internet sensation became such a hit because it just didn’t make any sense and people were wondering if Trump had fallen asleep at the keyboard. To our dismay, the mysteries of “covfefe” were never solved.

4-6. Trump in Saudi Arabia

Trump visited Saudi Arabia in May as his first trip overseas as president, according to NPR. A few of his tweets during his trip there were highly retweeted.

“I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing....”

“....Some of those they are harshly treating have been “milking” their country for years!”

This tweet about Trump’s “great confidence” in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia caused some raised eyebrows since it came after the widespread arrests by the latter in what was deemed an anti-corruption investigation, Politico reports.

“Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead. #POTUSAbroad”

While this was a basic tweet, it was his initial stop on his first tour abroad as president, ABC News reports.

7. The Women’s Marches

“Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

The day after the inauguration, thousands of women took to the streets to protest Trump becoming the president, NPR reports. Trump’s Twitter account remained quiet, but the next day, Trump took to Twitter to criticize the protestors, “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.” However, a few hours later Trump wrote this tweet instead, saying that protests are the “hallmark of our democracy.”

8. The College Basketball Players

“Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”

While on his tour of Asia this past November, three UCLA basketball players were detained in China for allegedly shoplifting, NPR reports. Trump worked to get the basketball players released, but wrote on Twitter, “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!” After the basketball players thanked them and Trump acknowledged their gratitude on Twitter, Trump criticized the father of one of the players a few days later since the father claimed that Trump wasn’t as big of a factor in getting the young men released as Trump had suggested.

9. The London Terror Attack

“We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don't get smart it will only get worse”

After the devastating terror attack on the London Bridge in June, Trump took to Twitter to push for his travel ban, urging that events like this one was the reason that a travel ban was needed. “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” The following day, however, he was criticizing London Mayor Sadiq Khan after taking something the mayor said out of context, according to NPR.

10. #StandForOurAnthem

#StandForOurAnthem

Trump tweeted this controversial tweet during his feud with the NFL and its players who kneeled during the national anthem. For months, according to The Washington Examiner, Trump urged the players to stand for the national anthem or for the NFL to fire them for refusing to do so.

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

At Least 21 People Are Dead In Iranian Anti-Government Protests

Following protests that erupted in Iran last Thursday in response to economic anxiety (as well as rising fuel and food costs), 21 people have been killed, CNN reports. Iranian State Media also reports that about 450 people have been arrested over the past three days.

The protests have also brought on multiple tweets from U.S. President Donald Trump who also blamed the Obama administration's Iran deal.

According to CNN, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the protests on "enemies" of Iran and said they were "waiting for an opportunity, for a flaw, through which they can enter." 

"Look at these events over the last few days. All those who are against the Islamic Republic, those who have money, those who have the politics, those who have the weapons, those who have the intelligence, they have all joined forces in order to create problems for the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution," he said.

American Girl Introduces A New Astronaut For The Girls In STEM In Your Life

American Girl has introduced a brand new collaboration with NASA to bring space-obsessed girls a doll they can look up to: Luciana Vega, a 10-year-old aspiring astronaut.  

"3…2…1…Meet Luciana Vega! Our newest character is on a mission to be the first astronaut on Mars, leading the way for girls to explore their own curiosity about space and science—and helping their confidence soar. #CharacterCounts," American Girl writes via Facebook.

In a statement discussing the collaboration, NASA said that they were deeply involved providing information and input for Luciana's books, merchandise and for additional content on the American Girl app and website. 

Megan McArthur, a NASA astronaut who served on the project's advisory board, said "It is so important to find exciting new ways to inspire our next generation of space explorers. I always want to encourage girls and boys to pursue their dreams, no matter how big, and I think it helps to show how those dreams can become reality for any kid."

American Girl fans are not-only excited to welcome a new science-loving doll, but are also happy to see another young Latina woman represented among their ranks.

The New Years 'Super Moon' Was Gave A 'Yuge Start To 2018

The first full moon of 2018 wasn't playing around, giving a New Years Day show that could rival any fireworks. 

The moon wasn't just full but was also a "super moon," which occurs when the moon reaches its full phase on the same day it's orbit is closest to Earth.

A family in Long Branch, New Jersey is torn apart this New Years as a 16-year-old boy used a semi-automatic rifle to kill his parents, sister, and a family friend, CBS News reported. The child’s name is not being released yet but the victims names were Steven Kologi, dad, Linda Kologi, mom, Brittany Kologi, sister, and Mary Shultz, family friend. The brother and grandfather of the boy survived the attack.

The New York Daily News reports that the boy is being charged as an adult with four counts of murder and one count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

Monmouth County Prosecuter, Chris Gramiccioni emphasized to the Long Branch community that this was a domestic issue and the public shouldn’t be worried for their safety. Gramiccioni also stated that the 16-year-old is in custody but no motive has been reported.

Gramiccioni said during a press conference that the 16-year-old would be charged as an adult and face all four counts of murder. As NBC News reported, the weapon was owned legally and registered to a family member.

A little over just one year ago, Abraham Davis spray painted swastikas and the words “go home” on the front doors of the Masjid Al Salam in Forth Smith, Arkansas. Thankfully, the mosque was able to catch him on their security cameras.

Davis then faced a felony charge with community service and a large fine. What Davis didn’t know, is that forgiveness is an integral part of the Islamic faith.

So, to kick off the new year, President of Al Salam, Louay Nassri, paid a check of $1,700 to Davis to pay off the rest of the fine. According to Arkansas Matters, Nassri said “We thought this was the right thing to do. We thought if someone does something bad and came and apologized, you just forgive them. That should be the natural thing. We had no idea that this forgiveness would be an international story.”

In the Quran, there’s a verse that says “Let them pardon and overlook. Would you not love for Allah to forgive you? Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Nassri definitely demonstrated the true nature of the Islamic faith and fought this hate crime beautifully.

He even told the newspaper “If he [Davis] would’ve known who we are, he wouldn’t have done this…Education is extremely important.”

Here's hoping more people follow Nassri's example and make 2018 a year of being informed, educated and kind!

In a world where social media lets you to compare every aspect of your life to someone’s, it’s easy to feel like you’re always a step behind. It’s even tougher when the person you’re comparing yourself to is a close friend. Overcoming your jealousy isn’t impossible, and here’s how you can start the process.

1. Accept and confront your feelings

Why are you feeling this way? Chances are it’s not your friends’ success that’s upsetting you, but your own insecurity that you may not measure up. Misery may love company, but your friend’s shining moment is not the time to throw yourself a pity party. Jealousy can destroy a relationship, so we’ve got nip it in the bud. In college it's easy to fall into trying to “keep up” with everyone around you and get the best grades, join the best organizations and snag the best internships, and it doesn't stop after graduation. Don't let your life became a game of trying to outdo everyone else. Not only is it emotionally and mentally draining, but it's a sure way to make yourself feel like you are less than. When you stop worrying about how the world perceives you, you'll no longer felt threatened when others around you accomplish great things.

Hannah Harshe, a University of Michigan sophomore, says she overcomes jealousy by reminding herself of all the positives in her life. “I have amazing roommates who make me laugh every day, I'm incredibly successful in my own way [and] I am so, so proud of who I am," she says. "There's no point in sitting around being jealous when you have a whole life that you made specifically for yourself.”

2. Talk it out

Okay, so you don’t have to say “Hey, you need to stop being so happy and successful because it makes me feel like I’m not.” (unless their not-so-humble bragging has reached an obscene level) but you can open up and share your struggles, and trust that your friend will be there for you like you were once there for them.

Samantha Khandaji, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, says she reaches out to friends outside of the situation. “My old roommate got a job right out of college and recently bought a house. I was like ‘Wow, I am nowhere near [that],’ but when people are seemingly one-upping you and you’re like, ‘How are they doing that?’ and it's nice to have friends to talk to to that you can confide in.” 

Related: 7 Ways To Create Strong Female Friendships

Don't be afraid to reach out for advice either. If your friend landed a great job, ask them how! Have them took over your resume or give you some interviewing tips. It's is a totally constructive way to discuss your feelings and be productive at the same time.

3. Realize your time will come

Someone else coming up doesn't mean you are going down, and the best way to overcome that feeling is to come to terms with where you are in life and be okay with it. 

“I feel like this time in our life is especially hard because until [now] it was a pretty clear path,” Samantha says. “Middle school, high school, undergrad and after that everyone starts choosing different things. Maybe you choose to focus on your relationship, or your career, or you keep going to school, but I had to become comfortable in the life path I’ve chosen, and I was happy for her.”

If your friends have moved away after college and you feel left behind, try to embrace your current environment instead of  "catch-up." If you moved back in with your parents, reach out to old friends who are in still the area. Join a fitness class or community club to step out of your comfort zone and make the most of your surroundings. Just because you're not exactly where you want to be doesn't mean you have to be miserable along the way. Your journey is yours and no one else's. The same goes for your friends. Everyone goes through different seasons in life, and the timing will not always work exactly how you’d like it to. That doesn't mean that you will never accomplish your goals, it just means you need keep chugging along, trust the process and have faith things will work out the way they were meant to.

Related: What To Do When A Friendship Is Falling Apart

This time, it'll be a Fall Out Girl for Pete Wentz and girlfriend Meagan Camper.

The Fall Out Boy bassist announced the exciting news on his Instagram to close out New Year's Day with a photo of his two sons smiling and holding a pink present.

The couple began dating in 2011 following Wentz's divorce from Ashlee Simpson, who he was married to for three years. Simpson and Wentz share 9-year-old son, Bronx Mowgli.

Camper and Wentz are already parents to a 3-year-old son named Saint Laszlo. Wentz announced that pregnancy back in February of 2014 with another Instagram shot, at the time featuring the couple embracing with Wentz placing a hand on Camper's stomach. 

Wentz did not say when the baby is due.

Congrats to the family and here's to another round of emo baby royalty!

In November, Carrie Underwood had a fall right on her doorstep in which she broke her wrist. As she shared on her Twitter, Underwood had surgery and was doing well.

On Sunday, Underwood shared with her fans on her official fan page that she had sustained further injuries that she had not mentioned. The post, although private on the site, was been shared by many news sites, including CNN.

Underwood said that “In addition to breaking [her] wrist, [she] somehow managed to injure [her] face as well.” She goes on to say that a doctor told her husband Mike after surgery “that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in.”

Since the accident, Underwood has only posted one selfie on social media, which covered most of her face. It seems that she is hesitant to share photos of her face. “When I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different,” Underwood wrote.

We totally understand her hesitation and hope that Underwood heals quickly and well. We are also so happy that her fall wasn’t worse. We are sending her the best energy and hope that she recognizes how beautiful she is outside and in.

Underwood’s final comments in her post apply to us all: “I am grateful. I am grateful that it wasn’t much, much worse. And I am grateful for the people in my life that have been there every step of the way. I am determined to make 2018 amazing.”

As you get your 2018 started, turn up your favorite Carrie Underwood song (‘Before He Cheats’ has always been a favorite) and channel some of Carrie as you set out to make 2018 a year that is both amazing and full of gratitude. 

Since Matt Lauer was fired in November under accusations of sexual harassment, Hoda Kotb has filled in for him on "TODAY." Kotb has often served as a fill in for different anchors at NBC. Now, it has been announced that Kotb is officially replacing Lauer on the show. She will continue to co-host the popular 10 a.m. talk hour with Kathie Lee Gifford while adding the 7 and 8 a.m. hours with Savannah Guthrie.

It seems everyone at NBC is thrilled with Kotb’s promotion, as reported by E!

Her co-anchor Guthrie announced on "TODAY": "We are kicking off the year right because Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today. Let's give her a round of applause! This has to be the most popular decision NBC has ever made, and I am so thrilled!"

Kotb was also pretty happy about her new position: "I am pinching myself. I think we should send some medics to Alexandria, Va., where my mom has likely fainted after hearing the open of that show!"

While E!, a subset of NBCUniversal, discussed the emotions behind the event, CNN focused on the commercial effects.

“Every change on the morning show is closely watched not just by millions of fans but also by advertisers and business analysts -- because the show is a profit machine for NBC,” Brian Stetler wrote. He goes on to mention the former anchor of the show: “Lauer's firing does not seem to have hurt ‘Today.’ If anything, it has generated higher viewership in the short term.” Lauer has remained jobless since being fired from ‘Today.’

This change is a bigger deal than it seems. By permanently replacing Lauer with Kotb, NBC is breaking away from the precedent of male-female co-anchors. Quite frankly, this is huge. It is one example of millions of people becoming comfortable with having a woman in a position where they have always seen a male (kind of like president.) However, they’re making sure that the change isn’t coming as too much of a shock to their fans.

As E! reported, Kotb said of Guthrie: "We're sort of like sisters, and everybody wants a sister."

We’re all for girl power and sisterhood here at Her Campus. We also want to take a moment to highlight the greater movement that this change highlights. 2017 was full of powerful, influential men being revealed as predators and abusers by those that they had hurt. In fact, Time called these women of the #metoo movement the “Silence Breakers” and named them People of the Year. As we call out these men in power, it is important to remove them from power, as the ‘Today’ show removed Lauer. It is just as important to replace those men with diverse, strong women, just as ‘Today’ has done with Kotb. With each change, we take a step in reshaping the system to one more influenced by women, by us. 

On Monday,  Logan Paul, a popular YouTuber with over 15 million subscribers on his vlog channel, posted a video featuring the Japanese forest Aokigahara, more commonly known as the “Suicide Forest.” The video showed the YouTuber walking around the forest, finding the body of an individual who hanged himself (with the face blurred out) and making comments about both the deceased and the situation he and his group found themselves in.

He states that “Depression and mental illnesses is not a joke. We came here with the intent to focus on the haunted aspect of the forest. This just became very real.”

As the group becomes more uncomfortable he laughs and says “What, you never stand next to a dead guy?” After posting the video online for a few hours, he received a storm of objections and outcries from internet influencers and celebrities online.

For those who do not know the history or cultural significance of Aokigahara, the forest sits at the base of Mt. Fuji and is populated with a high density of trees, thus it’s nickname “Sea of Trees,” and little to no wildlife. It has long been thought of as “haunted” because of its quiet stillness. It has also been dubbed the “Suicide Forest” for the number of suicides that were reported and rumored to happen within the forest. The trend peaked in 2004 with 108 suicides. Many tourists visit every year hoping to experience the haunted aspects of the forest. Paul found and posted something more than just ghosts.

The YouTuber and his group were visibly shaken up in the video after finding the body. In an attempt to lighten the mood, they did shots of sake in the parking lot. Paul cracked a few jokes, and then stated that comedy was his coping mechanism for such events. He later urged two other tourists of the forest, including a small child, to "not go over there."

After the video began receiving severe backlash online, Paul removed the video from his YouTube account. Many were angry about his clear intention of using this victim of suicide as clickbait to gain more views on his video and channel.

Many were also very angry about his glib joke in the video.

Later on, he tweeted an apology.

But this apology was not received well.

Taylor Swift fans (Swifies, if we may) are known for being loyal die-hards, and if we sense something is off, we are quick to speculate. The latest issue to spark our interest involves none other than Karlie Kloss, a loyal member of the Squad for years, and her recent Insta post.

Kloss’s post, a video of herself playing basketball, seems innocent at first… but then we took note of the caption, “Swish swish.” Could this be simply just fun basketball repartee? Or could it be something else?

According to Bustle, fans are suspicious that the caption could be referring to none other than Swift’s number one most infamous enemy, AKA Katy Perry, and her 2017 single titled “Swish Swish.” To make matters even worse, “Swish Swish” alone has been suspected of shading Swift, as Elle notes.

However, Kloss did post for Swift’s birthday last month, which leads us to believe that Kaylor might be fine after all.

What do you think — Is Kloss innocent, or is there some Bad Blood brewing between the former besties?

A pub in Edinburgh has renamed itself The JK Rowling, after the renowned Harry Potter author and (unofficial) queen of the literary world.

The pub was originally named The Conan Doyle, after iconic Sherlock Holmes author SIr Arthur Conan Doyle, The Huffington Post reported.

The owners of the pub originally gave no explanation for the exterior design change, Metro reported. It was like the new name and image of JK Rowling had magically painted themselves. 

Some locals were not impressed with the surprise rebranding, with one person demanding for the pub to #ChangeItBack.

The Edinburgh News later revealed that the name change is part of Message From the Skies, a visual art installation that celebrates Edinburgh’s literary history. A short story written by Val McDermid, which features The JK Rowling, will be projected onto buildings and landmarks in the city. 

The city is known for inspiring writers including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson and Ian Rankin. Rowling herself could often be found cozied up in The Elephant House, a coffee shop in Edinburgh, writing a story about a certain boy with round glasses and a lightening bolt scar (cue Hedwig's theme). 

Before you buy a plane ticket to Scotland to raise a glass to Queen Rowling, you should know that the name change is only temporary. Message From the Skies will wrap up on January 25 and the pub will (sadly) return to its original look. But if you’re still looking for a magical drinking experience, you could always try Harry Potter themed bars like The Lockhart, The Horcrux Emporium and Perilous Potions.

This morning the music-loving world received some much-needed good news. Justin Timberlake is back! The “Mirrors” crooner is releasing his fifth studio album, Billboard reports.

There’s been a lot of buzz in the hours since JT made the announcement in a cinematic trailer on Twitter, but here’s everything we know so far.

First things first, the trailer revealed that the album is called Man of the Woods and will be released exactly a month from now on Feb. 2. Along with that, the caption of the trailer mysteriously says “FRIDAY…”, which USA Today has confirmed means the first single will drop this Friday! Are you excited yet? If not, don’t worry, we’ll get there because…

Pharrell is a collaborator on this album! We had our suspicions when Pharrell showed up in the trailer, clearly working with Justin as he recorded some music. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pharrell, Max Martin and Timbaland have worked with Justin on the album, which means Man of the Woods has to be good. While that’s all fun and interesting, we know what you really came here for is the music.

What we know right now is that this will be the most personal album the former NSYNC member has ever released. In the trailer on Twitter, Justin says that his family, specifically his wife Jessica Biel and 2-year-old son Silas, along with his hometown Memphis, TN have been the inspiration behind the album. “It sounds more like where I’ve come from than any other music I’ve ever made,” Timberlake told The Hollywood Reporter last February.

The trailer also gives us a little taste of the music that will be on the album, and it’s fire. “It feels like mountains, trees, campfires, like wild west, like now,” Jessica Biel says in the trailer.

Eeeeppp, our little fangirl hearts are so excited! Two days into 2018, and we’re already having a good year.

After being dumped by Emily Maynard on Season 8 of 'The Bachelorette' in 2012, Arie Luyendyk Jr. returned to the cameras last night for his second chance at finding love... on TV. 

Not everyone was thrilled that Luyendyk  was named the newest Bachelor back in September. With a long absence from the franchise and a failed public relationship with Courtney Robertson, the villain and winner of Ben Flajnik's final rose on Season 16 of 'The Bachelor,' Luyendyk  had an uphill battle to win over the hearts of viewers. 

Appearing on "Good Morning America," the former race car driver and current real estate broker spoke about how daunting it was to meet the women —all 29 of them— at once and how different his experience of handing out the roses was as opposed to vying for them. 

Noting that he watches the show as it airs— like the rest of the country — Luyendyk said that the best part is getting a second chance to see the women's initial introductions out of the limo when his jitters are gone and viewing their interviews to get their behind-the-scenes perspectives.

"For me, I’m having so many great conversations, but obviously you know seeing the interviews that the girls did and the jokes I didn’t get at the time because I was so nervous [surprised me],” Luyendyk said to Lara Spencer. 

With the freedom of being in the driver's seat (race car pun intended) this go-round came Luyendyk's added responsibility of eliminating women based on brief conversations and recognizing the extreme nerves that are natural for Night 1. 

"It was overwhelming at first and I think that first night I was just so nervous and it was a long time since I had been on camera before," Luyendyk said. "It was a lot of pressure and it was intense, for sure."

In the group of the 29 women competing for Luyendyk 's roses, single mom Chelsea snagged the first impression rose-and a kiss. Viewers saw her talking smack about other women on the show, but Luyendyk was drawn to her take charge attitude (she was the first to steal Luyendyk away for a private talk) and her openness with sharing her background story. She has been labeled as the first villain of the season and justified her behavior by saying "Mama Don't Play."

Another standout of the night was Brittany T., who actually got the first kiss of the season. A 30-year-old from Columbia, SC, Brittany T. challenged Luyendyk to a toy race car contest and the prize-you guessed it-was a kiss. At the end of the night, Luyendyk sent 8 women home, leaving 21 to compete for his attention next week. 

Utah’s Senator, Orrin Hatch, just announced his retirement plans at the end of this term. He is currently the longest-serving GOP senator in the history of Utah. What does this mean? For some Utahns, it is a relief that Senator Hatch is ready to leave. According to the New York Times, a recent poll shows that some voters do not plan on voting for Senator Hatch if he had a reelection.

President Trump and Senator Hatch have established a working connection — and the president has been pushing for Senator Hatch to continue to seek reelection for another term.

However, the senator said in a video posted to his Youtube channel on Tuesday that he decided to retire after speaking with his family.

Senator Hatch’s retirement can also potentially pave way for Mitt Romney, former Republican presidential candidate, to not only take the Senate seat but also a chance to get back into politics and to regain the political spotlight. However, Mitt Romney has been one of President Trump’s critics during the 2016 presidential elections, when Romney called Trump a “fraud.”

We respect Senator Hatch’s decision and wish him the very best in his future endeavors, and thank you for serving the state of Utah. Romney has not yet announced or confirmed whether he will be running for the Senate seat.

The Kardashian-West family's end of 2017 plans were interrupted by a scary episode involving Kim and Kanye's two-year-old son Saint. According to TMZ, Saint was brought to an L.A. hospital (Dec. 28) where he received treatment for pneumonia. During his stay, Kim and Kanye took turns spending the night in what must have been an incredibly stressful time for the two of them. Fortunately, Saint was released Saturday (Dec. 30) and sources say he is now doing well at home.

On Tuesday, Kim took the time to update her followers with some touching tweets about the experience. In the first of two posts, Kim wrote "Pneumonia is so scary." According to the World Health Organization, Pneumonia is the largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. An infection in the lungs, it can develop after a cold or the flu. Usually, children can fight it off, but, according to the British Lung Foundation, if their immune system is weakened, such as after a cold, they're at higher risk of developing sever pneumonia.

After sharing the news that Saint had recovered, Kim thoughtfully tweeted her thanks to the hospital staff who had helped get little Saint back on his feet. 

With everyone now safe and sound at home, the family can get back to preparing for another busy year. There's a lot to look forward too, including a baby sister for Saint and North and the launch of a new KKW Beauty Product. Here's to a safe and healthy 2018!

Now, more than ever, life and decisions are data-driven. From the number of steps we walk recorded on our Fitbits to the number of calories in that late night pizza slice, it’s hard to live in the moment and just have fun. So, while a data-driven culture can be effective in a workplace environment, it doesn't work so well when applied to yourself. We all want to be healthy, but numbers aren’t the best way to go about doing so.

“Most people don't consider general quality of life,” says Dr. Kelly Baez, a licensed professional counselor and Founder of FitShrink. Health is more important than just numbers. You have to consider other questions like: “Is it getting easier to do day to day tasks? Do you have more energy? Is it easier to take the stairs than it was last month? If you struggle with anxiety or depression, has there been any improvement? All of these are relevant indicators of improved health.”

Wellness is a journey, and not one that can be defined by numbers. Here are just a few numbers that don’t define you or your health.

1. Your BMI

Chances are that you’ve been in this situation: you go to the doctor’s office, get weighed and see that you’ve gained a few pounds and your body mass index (BMI) has increased. This may happen after your first semester at college or a study abroad or even your favorite holiday.

Yet what exactly does your BMI mean? According to Dr. Baez, BMI is "a tool that uses your height and weight together to categorize your weight as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, fails to take these variables into account." But the BMI was invented to help the government allocate resources over 200 years ago. It ignores waist size, relative proportions of bone, muscle, and fat, and it can make a one-pound gain the border between ideal and overweight.

Dr. Baez believes that numbers are used as the easy way out to explain trends in health and your overall health status. “It makes for nice looking charts but is not helpful in a discussion of ideal health goals.”

Stephanie Murray, a junior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, has struggled with her weight and BMI since her doctor sent her to a weight loss camp in fifth grade. "Since then, every number associated with my weight and size impacted how I saw myself,” she says. “In middle and high school, our scores on physical tests affected our grade in the class. I was a straight-A honors student but the fact that my BMI (35) and weight (that fluctuates from 230-250 lbs) determined my grade made me feel less of a person.”

But as time passed, Stephanie saw things differently. “Your BMI is a suggested number based on height and weight, not who you are or what you're capable of accomplishing as a person. Numbers are just numbers. Some higher numbers, like credit scores, are better and some lower numbers like parking tickets, are better, but they don't determine your personality. Be yourself because you only live one day at a time, and that, is the only number that matters."

Think about it this way — you wouldn’t tie your friend or your classmate’s worth to an outdated number. So, why do it to yourself?

2. Calories

There’s that old saying, “Quality beats quantity.” This isn’t only true in English classes when you’re writing up papers — it also applies to what you eat. “Calories aren't indicators of nutrition,” Dr. Baez says. “1600 calories of junk food and 1600 calories of lean protein, fresh produce and complex carbohydrates will have very different effects on your mind and body.”

Calories are just one measurement, and they certainly aren’t a comprehensive one. Moreover, there are serious dangers in extreme calorie counting. If you're planning to lead a long and healthy life, calories aren't the best way to get there. “Hard and fast rules aren't helpful for long term health,” Dr. Baez says.

Hannah Harshe, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, agrees. She believes that you shouldn’t be focusing on numbers to define your health, unless your doctor tells you to. “You were made a certain way, with a certain ‘happy weight,’ a certain number of calories your body wants, and a certain amount of exercise you need,” she says. “Your body, mind, and soul work together. Sometimes you have to say no to the chocolate cake because of your body and sometimes you have to say yes to it because of your soul. It’s challenging to know when to do what and what your priorities should be, but I promise that if you view food as a way to make one of your “selves” happier, everything will get easier.”

When everybody’s body composition and activity levels vary, it’s important to realize that your caloric intake isn’t the only factor that impacts your health. A calorie is not equal to another calorie, and just by reducing your caloric intake, your health isn’t sure to improve. 

Related: 5 Reasons Your Diet Won’t Work 

3. Health statistics

According to the CDC, 1 in 5 school-aged children is either overweight or obese. By 2025, 1 in 5 adults will be obese.

What do these statistics mean to you? You might interpret them as alarming, and with good reason. But you might also consider them as a warning. If you do, here’s why you shouldn’t.

“Statistics are generally considered at the population level,” says Dr. Angelina Sutin, an associate professor of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine. “This means that associations are found when looking at a lot of people together. A finding may or may not be true about any specific individual.”

Rather than looking at statistics, you can consider ranges for healthy numbers based off demographic factors, such as age, ethnicity. It's also important to consider family health backgrounds when reading health statistics. As you can see, health is definitely not as simple as a single number, or even a range of numbers. 

...Some numbers do matter, though

Nonetheless, numbers can help to build a bigger picture of your health. One important number is the number of hours you sleep each night. This is a good example of a complex number, as sleep needs vary based on age, activity level, and lifestyle. Studies from the National Sleep Foundation have found that the recommended range is 7-9 hours for young adults and 8-10 hours for teenagers. However, it's also important to notice to base off the number of hours you sleep based on whether you're excessively sleepy in the day or if you're performing large amounts of exercise.

Just like the 8 hours of sleep myth, there's also an 8 glasses of water myth according to the Mayo Clinic. The goal of eight glasses a day is understandable, but based on how hydrated and thirsty you feel, you may need more. 

Numbers such as blood sugar and cholesterol level are also important to your health, especially if your family has a history of diabetes or heart conditions. However, it's important to remember that these numbers aren't just a single number — they're levels and ranges.

So much of the future relies upon realizing our potential and working by ourselves and together to reach our goals. Defining ourselves by numbers won’t help us get there. Your health is incredibly important, but metrics and measurements can’t tell you whether you’re healthy or unhealthy. Dr. Sutin shared that there’s no one definition of health or well-being. “Health refers broadly to the condition of the individual,” she says. “This can be applied to different aspects of functioning, including physical health, emotional health, cognition health, etc.”Your health is determined by many factors, including but not limited to your sleep patterns and exercise.

At the end of the day, numbers like your weight and caloric intake will exist. It’s up to you to think about these numbers differently.  “It’s not the numbers listed that are the problem per se; the problem lies in the importance you place on them,” Dr. Jordan says. “It’s harder to quantify more important qualities like your level of grit, determination, integrity, creativity, leadership, compassion, loyalty to friends, inclusivity, kindness, sense of adventure, courage, self-reliance, passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and vision.”

While this may be easier said than done, it’s an important step on the journey to well-being — and it’s one that we’ll walk on together.

Tuesday marked the last day for Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken in the Senate, CNN reports. According to ABC News, Franken had served eight years in the U.S. Senate, but stepped down after multiple women stepped forward and accused Franken of sexual misconduct.

After the allegations came to light, Franken had apologized, but when his Democratic colleagues called on him to step down from his position, the Minnesota Senator resigned, ABC News reports.

Franken offered his resignation at 1 p.m. ET to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, writing that it “has been a privilege and an honor” to serve in the Senate, CNN reports.

“I am grateful to Minnesotans for giving me the chance to serve our state and our nation, and I am proud to have worked on their behalf,” Franken said in his resignation letter, according to The Washington Examiner.

During his Senate floor speech announcing his resignation, Franken said that he would “continue trying to be an educated citizen and an advocate and an activist” after leaving the Senate, CNN reports.

According to ABC News, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith will be replacing Franken in the Senate on Wednesday.

Minnesota will hold a special election to permanently fill Franken’s seat during the midterm elections in November, CNN reports. Smith has announced that she will run for the position.