By Taylor Girtman

For several nights, I was having the worst time falling asleep — and loud neighbors and looming assignments were not helping matters. I remembered back in high school, I would use a white noise machine to help concentrate on late night papers, and it actually helped. So I searched for a white noise app to block noise and and calm my night stresses. I came across an app with a variety of natural sounds along with a multitude of different meditation sessions. Out of curiosity I opened a sleeping session and listened to the 10-minute recording. Some parts of it were a little too solemn for my tastes — however, it helped me fall asleep that night.  

The next day I played around with the app and discovered breathing sessions where you inhaled, held your breath and then exhaled for as little or as long as you wished. I did this for a few minutes and surprisingly I felt instantly at peace (likely because I was procrastinating and stressed about finishing a paper).

The app I use has a setting to create reminders to meditate each day. Since I had already completed a few sessions and enjoyed them, I figured I could take a few minutes out of my busy day to spend alone and clear my mind.

Now, every day at 2 p.m., since early January, I spend a few minutes in silence – just breathing.

I am not the type of person to make resolutions, especially ones involving physical activity, but I set a goal of spending at least two minute a day meditating. When I see my “calmness reminder” I now get excited to do nothing – no working, no talking, no stressing, nothing! I never knew how much I needed to do nothing, but after each session I become a calmer, more productive version of myself.

Though there are types of meditating that include someone verbally calming you, I personally prefer spending time focusing on the air entering and leaving my lungs; its simplicity is comforting. There are countless benefits to your mental health from meditating, and research backs them up.

1. Physical health improvements

Not only does mediation balance your mental health, but it can reap physical benefits as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, some research links meditation to decreased effects of high blood pressure, headaches, chronic pain and heart disease. Though research is still working to fully support these beliefs, meditation is a great support to regular medical treatments.

2. Better quality of life

Incorporating meditation into your daily routine could also improve your quality of life.  According to a study on the connection between meditation habits and their effects, “longer years of meditation practice predicted higher levels of psychological/spiritual quality of life.”

Conversely, spending too much time each day meditation could have adverse effects. Finding the perfect balance of time spent meditating could make you a happier, more successful person.

3. Alone time

Between classes, internships and other responsibilities, a few minutes alone to collect thoughts and literally catch your breath are necessary. Dedicated meditating time allows college students to enjoy some alone time without the opinions of friends or nagging of family. Spending time alone can be fun and is rewarding after a long day of socializing.

As a self-proclaimed workaholic, meditation has brought so much to my life and hopefully these long-term effects kick in soon. It may not be for everyone, but there's no harm in spending a few minutes each day (maybe even today?) finding the best you through meditation.

Read more from college women about mindfulness, meditation and spirituality & check out our collaboration with the Meditation Studio App.

Adding to the list of the many women in Hollywood coming out in the #MeToo movement is Jennifer Lopez, who recently told Harper's Bazaar her story of sexual misconduct and how she handled it. As sickening as her story is, just like the other #MeToo testimonies, J.Lo didn't let it stop her from using her voice to stand against the treatment she faced.

When asked whether or not she's experienced the harassment other women in Hollywood have dealt with, Lopez mentioned a horrific experience with an unnamed director. "I haven’t been abused in the way some women have," she told Harper's Bazaar."But have I been told by a director to take off my shirt and show my boobs? Yes, I have. But did I do it? No, I did not."

She went on the explain how she didn't tolerate the behavior and honestly, it's extremely brave. "When I did speak up, I was terrified. I remember my heart beating out of my chest, thinking, ‘What did I do? This man is hiring me!’ It was one of my first movies. But in my mind I knew the behavior wasn’t right. It could have gone either way for me. But I think ultimately the Bronx in me was like, ‘Nah, we’re not having it.’"

How amazing is she?!

The Shades of Blue star, who just recently donated $1 million to the relief efforts in Puerto Rico and helped ex-husband Marc Anthony with a telethon that raised another $35+ million, also made a speech in the country in support of the Time's Up Movement alongside her boyfriend, Alex Rodriguez. Lopez was in Puerto Rico on January 7, the same day as the Golden Globes, where she wore black to stand in solidarity with others in Hollywood who wore black on the red carpet that evening.

“We are humbled and proud to be a part of this effort," she said in her speech. "Today is the Golden Globes in Los Angeles and a lot of the women with #TimesUp are standing up for equality, to be treated equally and for sexual harassment. And I stand here today in black, doing the same from far away. And it’s the same thing here in Puerto Rico. We want to be treated equally."

Yes, girl!

After reading J.Lo's response to the harassment she dealt with in her acting career, I have so much respect for her bravery and strength. She didn't let her voice go unheard and with that, I applaud her ability to say, "no, I'm not taking this." I am so glad Lopez is part of the Time's Up movement to show women everywhere that behavior of this nature should not be tolerated.

By Morgan Whitehouse

Some of my most vivid memories from childhood are when my aunt would come to visit, turning my younger brother’s bedroom into an impromptu guest room and in turn forcing me to share my room with a human whose goal in life was to drive me insane. Aside from the forced sibling bonding time, the memories of my aunt coming to visit always stood out to me because of the strange noises we would hear coming from her room every morning – “ommm, ommm, ommm.”

Being the nosy child that I was, I absolutely had to know what she was doing in there. When she said she was meditating, I lost interest and probably went back to fighting with my brother. My aunt has always been someone who is very in tune with her emotional and spiritual sides, so news like this wasn’t surprising to me. I don’t think I thought much about meditation again until much later in life.

Now that I am a 20-something with 20-something problems, I’d like to think I am much more invested in my overall health and wellness. As I became more interested in yoga, sought out methods to cope with stress and struggled with anxiety as a young adult, this concept of mindfulness and meditation kept coming up.

Doctors would suggest meditation to ease anxiety, yoga teachers would have us practicing both mindfulness and meditation – one of my college classes even dove into the concept of mindful eating. Still, I didn’t do much with the information I was being given and pushed the idea to the side.

As I got closer and closer to graduation, I started suffering from occasional panic attacks. Not the casual, “I’m freaking out” type of panic attack, but the scary, feel like I’m having a heart attack, death is near type of panic attack. If you’ve never had one, I envy you – it’s not a fun feeling. When these continued and started happening more frequently, my doctor once again suggested meditation, and I decided it was time to see what the hype was all about.

Straight out of the dictionary, meditation is described as “engaging in mental exercise (such as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.” Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years for relaxation, stress reduction and general emotional well-being.

During meditation you experience a deep mind-body connection, clearing your mind of any thoughts and focusing your attention on your inner consciousness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation based on increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. It’s all about focusing on what you experience as it happens, observing thoughts and emotions, but letting them pass without judgment.

For me, these practices have been unparalleled in dealing with my stress and anxiety. Today, when I’m hit with a panic attack (which is much less frequently), nothing helps more than simply acknowledging what is happening, letting it happen, and moving on. It’s much less scary when you know what’s going on.

And, with my ability to be mindful, I find that they tend to pass much quicker. 

Another common struggle for those of us dealing with stress and anxiety is trouble sleeping. I think all of us – even if you don’t struggle with anxiety – can think of a time when you’re just about to drift off to sleep, and your mind decides to bring up a thought that spirals out of control. With mindfulness and meditation as tools, you can acknowledge the thought, let it pass, and get back to clearing your mind. Focus on your breathing, repeat your calming mantra, or use visualization to form mental images. The great part about meditation is there is no right way to do it – just do what works for you.

So, what does meditation mean to me? Meditation means a way for me to not only deal with, but understand my stress and anxiety. Meditation means coping with and working through my anxiety without medication, therapy payments, or doctors visits.  Meditation means I can be the calm, happy, confident person that I know I am. Looks like my aunt had it right all along.

Read more from college women about mindfulness, meditation and spirituality & check out our collaboration with the Meditation Studio App.

By Renee Collett

Ever since I was young, I’ve felt incredibly curious about my spirituality. But, like others, I was misled by the term “spirituality.” Being spiritual is often misinterpreted as being religious, being connected to God, being an avid member of the church, synagogue, mosque, etc. And as a young girl who was not affiliated with any particular church, I assumed that getting in touch with my spiritual side was impossible for me to do.

I ignored the unexplainable sensations in my body that activated my spiritual side. It wasn’t until I did some extensive research that I learned the true meaning of spirituality. It’s so much more than being religious. In fact, it’s different for everyone which makes it all the more special. For me personally, it’s getting in touch with some higher power, reading my horoscope and astrological analyses, connecting with nature and Earth and drawing Tarot cards when I need to be enlightened or some extra guidance.

I’ve made it my 2018 goal to embrace my spiritual side daily. Although it's only two months into the new year, I already feel the difference. I’m so much more aware of my surroundings and the energy of myself and others.

I feel like I can literally feel the vibes emitted by others, and I myself have practiced sending positive vibes to those around me. I read my horoscope on a daily basis to see how my stars align. When I’m feeling down, I draw a Tarot card after asking my higher power a question pertaining to my current situation. And it's always relevant. I wear my rose quartz and cross necklace every day, and I swear it makes a difference. When I’m feeling anxious or sad, I stand barefooted outside on either the grass or pavement and imagine myself growing into the Earth, becoming one with world, like a tree. And when I do this, I feel completely removed from the intensity of any life problem. Sure, skeptics may scoff at my practices. But that’s just another thing that spirituality has taught me; spirituality is such a deeply personal thing and, if it makes me happy, it’s not worth explaining myself or convincing others to join.

Being mindful is key to connecting with your spiritual side. And its not easy. At least it’s not for me. I’m a naturally anxious person and have struggled with anxiety for most of my teenage years and early adulthood. I tend to let my thoughts dictate my actions. The spiraling of negative thoughts puts a huge damper on my self-esteem and body image.

Practicing mindfulness is incredibly difficult for someone who is constantly “in their head," so to speak. Connecting to my spiritual side encourages me to be mindful, which means acknowledging the negative thoughts, then letting them go. And although I still struggle with being mindful, its definitely helped me to be more in tune with my body. I take deep breaths and imagine the negative energy and thoughts literally escaping my body with each exhale. Incredibly enough, visualizing the action actually works.

Another aspect of embracing my spiritual side that people don’t often relate to being spiritual is the connection of mind, body, soul and music. Music has always done something to me. It has always seemed to move me in ways that it didn’t move my friends. Certain songs make me feel elated and so overly emotional that I’ll actually cry because of the intensity of my feelings. I just thought that I was sensitive or overdramatic! But it wasn’t until recently that I realized how music is a major part of my spirituality.

And I’m not talking about chanting music or songs in Sanskrit (although this is totally amazing, too). For me, I can forge those connections with the music of Kanye West, Lorde, Frank Ocean, and other popular artists all over the top charts. Although Kanye’s “Only One” is simply a tune for some people, it’s so much more for me. What’s that feeling in the pit of my stomach or the chills on my arms that I get when I hear the song? That’s me connecting to my spiritual side too.

Something that I want to reiterate is the how personal spirituality is for everyone. You don’t need to prove your spirituality to anyone as long as it speaks your truth. I often feel embarrassed for admitting my spiritual practices.

But that’s what my 2018 resolution is all about: It’s for being unapologetically moved by Kanye. It’s for drawing Tarot cards when I’m looking for the answer to a seemingly unsolvable question. It’s for practicing yoga outside in winter with no mat in order to root my feet into the Earth and to be one with nature. It’s for squeezing my rose quartz and cross necklace every morning to activate the positive energy needed to start my day. It’s for praying to God whenever I feel called to do so. Most importantly, though, it’s for me and nobody else — and really that’s the most amazing gift that embracing my spiritual side has given me.

Read more from college women about mindfulness, meditation and spirituality & check out our collaboration with the Meditation Studio App.

Republican candidate for Maine's House of Representatives, Leslie Gibson, quit the race on Friday after negative publicity surrounding his tweet against the survivors of the Parkland, Florida shooting. The survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have recently made themselves known for their activism in fighting for gun control.

Gibson, the only candidate in his race until recent events, called one of the teens a "skinhead lesbian" in his rage-filled tweet. The teen in question is Emma Gonzalez, one of the more outspoken survivors of the shooting. 

“There is nothing about this skinhead lesbian that impresses me and there is nothing that she has to say unless you’re a frothing at the mouth moonbat,” read Gibson's deleted tweet.

According to reporters, Gibson's tweet was in direct response to Gonzalez's increasing number of Twitter followers. Gonzalez's following has grown as she voices her opinions on the government's attempt to get a handle on gun control policy in the United States. Recently, Gonzalez denounced President Trump's plan to arm teachers.

But Gonzalez isn't Gibson's only victim of verbal abuse. Gibson reportedly called David Hogg, another Parkland shooting victim-turned-activist, "a bald-faced liar." The move was a mistake, as Hogg took the opportunity to solicit for an opponent for Gibson on Twitter.

His tweet gained popularity and two other candidates declared that they would enter the race — Democrat Eryn Gilchrist and Republican Thomas Martin Jr.

Gibson announced that a conversation with Martin was what led him to make his decision. But Gibson isn't the only person to say hateful comments about the Parkland students. Luckily, their critics don't receive much backup. The media has repeatedly turned on people like Gibson, including high profile politicians like Donald Trump Jr., who liked a tweet that suggested the shooting victims had been coached to promote a specific agenda. 

Despite comments like these, the students are moving forward with their activism - and even clapping back at their critics. Hogg told Buzzfeed News that the critics are ridiculous.

“I just think it’s a testament to the sick immaturity and broken state of our government when these people feel the need to peddle conspiracy theories about people that were in a school shooting where 17 people died, and it just makes me sick,” said Hogg. "It’s immature, rude and inhuman for these people to destroy the people trying to prevent the death of the future of America because they won’t."

One of the many reasons to love Demi Lovato is her openness about her mental health journey and her journey to sobriety. The "Confident" singer celebrated six years of sobriety on March 16, and became emotional when fellow performers DJ Khaled and Kehlani helped her celebrate her "sober birthday" at a concert. 

Peoplereports that after Demi shared a message with concert-goers, DJ Khaled said, “What you’ve overcome through trials and tribulations, through dark clouds, you’ve found the sunshine and now the sun shines on you forever.” He then led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" to celebrate Demi’s anniversary. Where are my tissues?

On Sunday night, police said that Austin, Texas saw its fourth bomb explosion this month. The explosion took place in a residential neighborhood in Travis County, injuring two bikers. The injuries are reported as non-life threatening, as Austin PD shared on their twitter. 

According to Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Sunday’s explosion was most likely triggered by a tripwire. Police said that the previous three explosions were not – they involved suspicious packages delivered to people’s homes, as the Washington Post reported. Those explosions resulted in two injuries and two deaths.

While police haven’t found a clear connection between the bombings, it's been reported, as New York Magazine noted, that the attacks appear to be targeting prominent black families in the Austin community. Sunday night’s news was alarming enough for the city and state to raise the reward money for bombing-related information to $100,000. Meanwhile, police are warning Austin residents to take extra precautions.

Manley specifically asked residents,” “to have an extra level of vigilance and pay attention to any suspicious device, whether it be a package, a bag, a backpack, anything that looks out of place and do not approach it.”

He’s also asked the residents in the Travis County neighborhood to give the police time and space as they investigate. They currently suspect a racial motivation, as the bombings are mostly affecting areas heavily populated by people of color. And while the Austin police haven’t officially declared this motivation or any ties between the bombings, experts speculate that they are connected and evolving.

Former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt told NBC News that even if the bombings aren’t connected or racially motivated, the bomber(s) are learning. According to Van Zandt, tripwires are a more sophisticated bomb than packages.

"This is something we see with serial offenders, serial killers, serial bombers, serial arsonists. Unfortunately, they learn as they go," said Van Zandt. "And they're wondering what police know so they can change."

Manley agrees with Van Zandt’s analysis, emphasizing the police’s need for additional information. Until then, the police are providing extra support for the neighborhood by escorting them out of their homes and vigilantly checking for suspicious packages. Although tensions are high after Sunday night’s incident, police maintain that they are able to gather more forensic evidence that can help find the bomber(s).

As for the two injured bikers, officials report that they were taken to a local hospital and treated. The bikers are in good condition. Here's to hoping that Austin police can solve this scary mystery soon.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have been in an on-again-off-again-back-on-again relationship since they starred in 2010’s The Last Song. And after going through multiple break ups and reconciliations, the two have been happily re-engaged since 2016. While sources have reported various reasons for the break ups, including conflicting work schedules, we are now getting insight into one major obstacle their relationship faced.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Liam’s parents took a long time to warm up to his relationship with Miley.

A source told ET that, “While Miley’s parents have always adored Liam, Liam’s parents were not sold on Miley and her outrageous behavior. Miley has been very open about her drug and alcohol use, and that didn’t bode well with his family’s far more conservative lifestyle.”

Miley has never been shy when it came to making provocative art (or talking about her drug use), but in recent years, she seems to have calmed down, which, according to the source, has helped her foster bonds with Liam’s family.

ET’s source also addressed the wedding rumors that have been following the couple since their first engagement in 2012. Miley has apparently “come up with all sorts of different wedding plans,” but is also keeping a “tight lid on when and where the wedding is going to be, to keep it an intimate affair.”  

Miley and Liam have been through a lot in their nine years, and whether or not they get married, they seem to really care about each other. Hopefully these two will be together forever!

In what I personally believe to be one of the least surprising music announcements of 2018, Fifth Harmony has announced that they will be taking a hiatus to pursue solo projects.

The band releasedthe following statement on their social media accounts, to much dismay from Harmonizers:

Unfortunately, this should come as no surprise. After former member Camila Cabello pulled a Zayn Malik and left the group last year, other members of the group have continued to branch out as well. Lauren Jauregui signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records in January, and released songs with Halsey and Steve Aoki. Normani Kordei debuted "Love Lies" with Khalid for the Love, Simon soundtrack just in time for Valentine's Day this year. Ally Brooke not only had a guest spot on Topic's "Perfect," but also signed a solo deal just last week. Dinah Jane was also featured on Daddy Yankee's track "Boom Boom" last fall.

Instead of it being sudden, the hiatus has really been a gradual process over the last several months, with each girl proving that she is fully capable of holding her own as a solo artist. It's also not uncommon for an artist to go solo from inside a group. Not just with One Direction, but also with acts such as Nick Carter leaving the Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake branching out from *NSYNC.

It's also important to note that these ladies were not originally a group, but rather thrown together back in 2012 on X-Factor. For them to have survived for as long as they did is a miracle. 

The shows they have scheduled for the rest of the year will follow through as planned, but there will not be anything more beyond that for the time being. The length of the hiatus is unspecified, but if the One Direction hiatus is any indication, it will be years before the girls come back together as a group.

So, what do you guys think? Surprised or totally saw it coming? Let us know on Twitter at @hercampus or @missmeganmann!

I think we can generally agree that oral sex is one of the best things you can do with your partner, but it's also a total struggle. When you're hyper focused on pleasing yourself and your SO while simultaneously trying to be not awkward for once in your life, oral sex can become a juggling act that’s so hectic and overthought that it sucks (lol) all the pleasure away.

Whether it’s penis or vagina, we have some oral sex tips up our sleeves that will *blow* you away. We’ll help you get educated on everything about giving and getting head, and talk you through the awkward parts. Let’s just say that after we’re done, you’re going to be next level.

Giving

Penis

1. Protection

Robyn Berry, a staff member at Planned Parenthood in San Luis Obispo, has the full scoop on keeping your mouth and their genitals nice and protected. “First make sure both you and your partner have no sexually transmitted infections, and get tested regularly every few months,” she says. “Oral sex is relatively low risk if there’s some sort of barrier involved, but the best things to use are condoms or Sheer Glyde dental dams.”

To use protection, have your partner wear a condom or place the dental dam over their penis. You can go along pleasuring each other like usual, but the barrier will prevent harmful bodily fluids from being transferred between you two. If you’re not a fan of the latex taste, try a flavored condom! We recommend browsing babeland.com for your favorite flavor, because their lubricant is water-based and won’t give you a yeast infection if you use it for vaginal sex later.

It may seem lame AF to use protection for oral sex, but also, why wouldn’t you? When all the stress of risk is alleviated, you can relax and feel sexy instead of being worried that something bad will happen. Plus, using a condom or dental dam doesn’t take away any of the feelings of pleasure.  

2. How to give a blowjob

The key to giving an out of this world blowjob is knowing all the hot spots that make your partner tick. You should definitely ask your partner first what they prefer, but we also have a few pointers for you too.

First off, remember that even though it’s called a blowjob, you still want to be using your hands in tandem with your mouth. Using your hands to cover the parts of your partner’s shaft that your mouth can’t reach is going to make them feel full and out of their mind with pleasure, almost as if you’re deep-throating them. Another part you don’t want to ignore is their testicles. Playing with their balls while you’re sucking and putting some pressure on their perineum (the space between the testicles and butt) will have bae coming faster than you imagine.

Also, please remember that you have teeth, and unless your partner asks you to, you can just put those babies away. That should be blowjob tip number one.

Ariana*, a senior at Pennsylvania State University, shares her boyfriend’s hot spot. “The thing that makes my boyfriend really crazy is when I stick my tongue in his meatus-hold which is the tiny hole in the tip of the penis,” she says. “Works every time!”

She also has an incredible fake deep-throating tip to share. “I stick my tongue to the roof of my mouth and just go down until he hits the back of the underside of my tongue,” she says. "He says it feel like I’m deep throating him, and I never gag, so it works for both of us! The only thing is being careful not to get toothy with your bottom teeth or this could easily backfire.”

Before touching your partner anywhere new for the first time, make sure to ask their consent. Experimenting and trying new things during oral sex is something you should do regularly to keep your sex life fresh, but always double check what your partner is and isn’t comfortable with.

Vulva

1. Protection

For cunnilingus, you’ll need to place a dental dam over your partner’s vuvla to act as a barrier between any harmful bodily fluids and your mouth. For extra fun, use a water or silicon based lube which will not only keep the dam from breaking, but you’ll get a yummy flavor. Again, we recommend bableand.com because their lube does not contain harmful sugars that may cause a yeast infection.

If you want to learn more about STDs and how to have safe sex aside beyond oral, this video by Planned Parenthood is extra helpful.

2. How to go down

Umm, hello clitoris? Your partner will tell you what feels good, but when eating out there’s a few main tips you should follow. Most of what you should be doing is licking and sucking their labia and clitoris, even penetrating with your tongue if that feels good for your partner. Spend some extra time targeting their clitoris and playing with their nipples. Don’t forget to use your hands in this instance too, because getting fingered in tandem with mouth action is the best feeling ever.

Emma*, a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, definitely knows how to please! “My girlfriend’s favorite thing is teasing,” she says. “For us, oral sex is usually just foreplay but it’s honestly the best part of the sex. If you gently run your fingers up and down her labia but don’t really go for it right away, then all of a sudden just go crazy with your tongue on her clit, you’ll win. You’ll just win.”

Alright ladies, off to the races!

Come to terms with the less pleasant

Maybe oral sex isn’t always sexy from your end. Bodily fluids are weird, there are down-there smells you’ve never encountered before and it’s easy to get caught up in the fact that you’re putting your mouth all over the thing your partner pees out of.

Even though oral sex may on the surface seem gross or dirty, this intimate time with your partner should never be an act of martyrdom on your part. Treating it like a job or an unappealing activity you must do as part of your relationship is only going to make it worse. Remember that a body is a body, and it isn’t going to be smell like a Yankee candle or taste like vanilla ice cream. Appreciate your partner for their humanness, and getting lost in their pleasure and yours will keep your mind from getting hung up on anything yucky.

If you’re continually grossed out and want to avoid the situation at all costs, that’s a strong indicator you aren’t comfortable having oral sex. If that sounds like you,Scarleteen can help you explore your readiness. While you may be trying to pleasure your partner, we also want our collegiettes feeling good emotionally, because you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your own comfortability to make your partner happy.

Related:6 Things Everyone Is Insecure About When It Comes to Sex

Receiving

Communicate

You know what’s not fun at all? When two people try to have oral sex but neither has voiced their opinion about what they want and everyone is fumbling around feeling hella awkward and nervous. Don’t be that person. If the thought of your partner sticking their tongue inside you repulses you, then say it. Put on your big girl panties and have a talk with them about what gets you wet and how to make you cum. Talk about any boundaries you have, and make sure to listen to your partner too. Communication is key for receiving oral sex.

“Make sure you feel safe and comfortable with the person,” says Ashley Drayton, a Georgia State University alumna. “Having that comfort will make you feel less awkward and nervous. You should also tell each other what you like and don’t like, but ultimately if both parties are comfortable and passionate about pleasing each other, then it will be amazing.”

Let’s be honest, talking about sex can be a lot harder than actually having sex. It’s nerve-wracking to open up about your desires and make yourself vulnerable. However, communication is a hundred percent necessary, both for you to give consent about where your partner can touch you, and also because deep down we both know you want a good orgasm out of this. Keep in mind that when you do talk about it, you shouldn’t be criticizing your partner’s performance. It should be a mutual conversation, and if your partner isn’t okay taking any guidance, then leave them in the dust.

The last aspect of communication we want to touch on is that it’s okay for you to ask for oral sex! If you're dying for your partner to spend some time eating you out, just tell them and we guarantee they’ll be so turned on by how confident and ready you are.

Related:How To Tell If You’re Having Good Sex

Relax

We cannot stress this enough. Your vagina does not smell weird. You are a sexual goddess. You are Beyoncé. You do not have to feel insecure with your body or overthink whether or not your partner is actually enjoying eating you out.

However good a time you might have performing oral sex on your partner, it’s different when the tables are turned. It’s easy to get caught up in worrying if your partner is totally grossed out by you, and being so insecure and self-conscious is distracting you from the waves of pleasure your partner is giving you. The key to receiving oral sex is finding beauty in who you are, loving your woman self and realizing that your partner wouldn’t be giving you head if they weren’t totally in to you.

Danielle*, a junior at Kent State University, shares her experience with overthinking during oral sex. “I’m super shy naturally, so during oral sex my performance anxiety is off the charts,” she says. “I’m always worried about being awkward or not coming, but throughout college I’ve learned that it’s actually a really amazing experience if you can quiet thoughts about your body being gross or having insecure feelings.”

To truly relax and enjoy oral sex without letting negative thoughts creep in, spend some time getting to know your genitalia so you can trust in your body. Clean it by bathing regularly, and definitely don’t douche because it throws off your pH balance. Masturbate and get to know and love your vagina, because that’s pretty much what your partner is experiencing. Getting used to yourself down there and knowing exactly how you are should eliminate some insecurity that your vulva is some kind of gross monster.

Next, find some acceptance. Oral sex isn’t going to be perfect, clean and end in an orgasm every time, and there shouldn’t be that expectation. It’s okay if your partner eating you out doesn’t make you come, and it’s okay if you’re quiet or loud or shy or riding their face. Oral sex is, at its core, a time dedicated to pleasure and to grow in intimacy and connection with your partner.

Cherish it for its imperfections and awkwardness, and you’ll be enjoying yourself more in no time.

*Name has been changed

Well, it looks like Rob Kardashian's best birthday present is still his daughter Dream!

The reality star turned 31 on St. Patrick's Day, and he commemorated the day with a picture of his baby girl, who turned one last November. The picture features Dream sitting in a toy car wearing a furry white vest, a navy shirt, and red bow-adorned pigtails. Rob used a St. Patrick's Day filter from Snapchat to complete the image, which he also tweeted using the caption, "Happy Birthday to me :)."

The doting dad continued posting cute shots of his baby girl throughout the day, including a video of Dream playing in her white toy car, while Irish music played in the background. 

Dream's mother and Rob's ex-fiance, Blac Chyna, wished Rob a Happy Birthday via her Instagram story, despite their troubled break up last year.

Other members of the Kardashian Klan also sent birthday love to Rob, including mama Kris Jenner, who made a collage on Instagram with the caption, "Happy birthday #robkardashian!! You are the most wonderful son a mom could ever ask for and I thank God for you every day! It brings me so much joy to see the incredible father you have become. I am so proud of you!! Love, Mommy x #HappyBirthdayRob #ProudMama."

Sister Khloe posted a photo of her younger brother and niece to her Instagram, writing, "Happy birthday Rob!!!! This year is YOURS! I can’t wait to see all you conquer! Seeing you as a father has been so rewarding! You’re an incredible father, brother and friend! I can’t wait to raise our daughters together! I love you Bob."

We sure hope Rob's year is as Dreamy as his birthday looked!

Naya Rivera is a gal on a mission.

The actress took to Instagram over the weekend to post her audition for the upcoming remake of West Side Story. In the video, she notes her name, height (she's 5'4) and that she will be auditioning for the titular role of Anita. 

While it's totally not surprising for someone with such a powerful voice to audition for a musical, Rivera also happens to be Latina. The characters in West Side Story are almost entirely all Latino, but unfortunately the 1961 film adaptation of the 1957 stage show was pretty much whitewashed—with the exception of Anita, who was portrayed by iconic Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno. For this remake, Steven Spielberg plans to remain true to the work and have an all Latin cast, making Rivera perfect for the role. 

Being super talented and Latina aren't the only factors that could give Naya a leg up in this audition—Spielberg should probably also take into account that she has already played Anita for the world to see. According to E! News, the actress sang Anita's parts in "America," which she performed during season three of Glee. The part was practically made for her!

A casting call was put out for the Spielberg-led remake in January, seeking three Latino performers for the roles of Anita, Bernardo and Maria, as well as a Caucasian actor to portray Tony. Broadway star and Pitch Perfect alum Ben Platt recently placed his own video online for the role of Tony, per Just Jared.

Only time will tell who the Oscar-winning director will choose for his leads.

Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon announced her candidacy for governor of New York on Monday. If you haven’t heard the name Cynthia Nixon, you’ve probably at least heard of Miranda Hobbes, the absolutely iconic character she played on SATC. Unfortunately, Miranda is a fictional character, so we don’t have the option of voting for her. But, in the spirit of SATC, make yourself a Cosmopolitan this evening as you and your girls sit down to do your research on Nixon’s candidacy.

People have been speculating, as NBC News noted, about Nixon’s potential candidacy for months. Back in August, she said on TODAY, "I think there are lot of people who would like me to run... but I think the number one is education. We've got a real problem on our hands in New York state."

On Monday, she finally confirmed her candidacy in a video on Twitter, in which she said, “Our leaders are letting us down...Something has to change. We want our government to work again, on health care, ending mass incarceration, fixing our broken subway. We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us. It can’t just be business as usual anymore.”

Nixon has never run for office before, and her opponent, current Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is “a two-term incumbent (and son of a three-term governor) who is sitting atop more than $30 million in campaign cash,” according to the New York Times. Her biography on her campaign site states,  "Cynthia Nixon is a lifelong New Yorker and progressive activist who is running for governor to fight for a better, more equal New York."

If elected, Nixon will be the first openly LGBT governor in the state of New York, as well as the state’s first female governor. And, regardless, the gubernatorial election in New York State just LVLd up its reaction .Gif game.

While previous studies have shown little progress in the area of male contraceptives, a new study has just been released showing that a prototype of a male contraceptive pill appears to be safe, Newsweek reports.

That's right, viable male birth control could be in the near future according to this month-long trial — which means men might finally be sharing the responsibility of birth control with females in a big way. While it's true that men already have the option of using condoms as a contraceptive, a pill would mean that males would have similar options as females when it comes to prescription birth control. 

The prototype is called Dimethandrolone undecanoate or DMAU for short. It was tested in a study on 83 men ages 18-50 who took the experimental drug for 28 days. The drug is now ready to be tested for long term use in another study and according to senior investigator Stephanie Page MD, the success was "unprecedented." As Page told Newsweek, previous attempts at developing a male contraceptive have failed, due to the effects of oral testosterone which can cause liver damage. This new drug addresses this issue and has so far shown promising results. 

This could be an attractive option for contraception since pills may be preferred by some men over longer-term injections and gels. The drug works similarly to existing female birth control because it uses hormones to stop sperm production. If it continues to be successful, it could mean a viable daily oral contraceptive for males, something that could definitely bring change.

This new drug would definitely offer more options for both males and females when it comes to contraception but don't forget: birth control doesn't protect from STIs and isn't a replacement for good old-fashioned condoms. 

A football coach and five team members at Wheaton College have been accused in a lawsuit by their former teammate of condoning and covering up violent hazing that ultimately left him severely injured. Student and former Wheaton College football team member Charles Nagy is alleging that he endured severe hazing including physical violence and threats of sexual violence, and that hazing is a common practice on the Wheaton College football team.

Now 21, Nagy withdrew from the team after the attack in 2016, and has accused five football team members of abducting him from his dorm in March of 2016 and then beating him with pillowcases covering his face. He has two shoulder injuries that he claims he received that night, which required multiple surgeries and have ultimately ended his football career. 

The five team members have been indited and plead not guilty. According to evidence from the case, there are several text messages from the team members urging Nagy to return to school and "work it out." Wheaton's coach, Mike Swider is accused of advising the boys to reach out to Nagy and strategizing with them to cover up the hazing incident.

The college has denied the allegations that hazing was ignored and allowed to continue with university staff's knowledge. In a statement released to the Daily Herald, Wheaton College officials said, "We take the allegation that any member of our community has been mistreated in any way to be a matter of grave concern. We strongly deny that the college has allowed a permissive environment of hazing or violence, and are confident that it will not be found to have legal responsibility." 

However, the suit calls it an "open secret" that hazing goes on within the football team and traditions are passed down from each class, and also claims that Coach Swider met with the five players the day after the incident and tried to cover up the incident and blame Nagy. 

While there have been efforts to stop and end hazing on college campuses across the nation, incidents like this show that the harmful practice is still alive and well in some places. 

In case you missed your chance with its now-iconic Unicorn Frappuccino last year, Starbucks is maybe, almost definitely dropping another ~mystical~ drink — and you may be able to get your hands on it in just a few days.

According to Instagram posts by multiple people claiming to be baristas and various Starbucks locations, Starbucks' newest frapp concoction is the Crystal Ball Frappucino — and it's just as Instagram-worthy as it sounds. Leaked photos and promotional materials for the drink show it has a marbled, blue and white base, and its signature whipped cream top will feature either pink, blue or green crystal sprinkles.

One Starbucks location in Florence, Alabama even shared that the drink is peach-flavored, making it the perfect spring pick-me-up. (Though no word just yet on whether it contains any actual caffeine.)

Because Starbucks has yet to release any info on the drink themselves, according to Business Insider, the coffee chain wouldn't comment on whether what we're seeing is too good to be true — but considering the drink has looked pretty much the same across photos leaked by stores everywhere from Wisconsin to Alabama, we're guessing something is definitely up.

Most baristas and locations have said the drink will be released March 22 and be available for only four days, or until supplies run out — meaning you should probably run, not walk to your nearest store on Thursday morning.

Spring is coming and with a new season comes the opportunity for new styles, brandsand outfits! However, sometimes we want a fresh, new brand to shop but don’t know where to start. Here are a few you might just fall in love with.

1.If You Like Nasty Gal, Check OutHLZBLZ

HLZBLZ is an edgy, streetwear brand inspired by musicians and artists around the world while always representing the “liberators of the ‘bra burning 60’s.” This female empowering brand is perfect if you like that femme boldness of Nasty Gal in your wardrobe. HLZBLZ kicks it up a few notches!

2. If You Love Champion, Steady Hands Has Your Aesthetic

Champion is all the rage right now. Try impressing your friends with pieces that fit the same aesthetic but come from a small business putting out just as dope clothing. With this independent brand, each piece is cut and sew, which means they hand pick the fabric and hand make the items. There are no third-party suppliers or manufacturers involved so each piece is uniquely made with the customer in mind! This brand is definitely one to check out.

Related: 8 Hacks for Finding the Best Stuff in Thrift Stores

3. If You Like Free People, You’ll Love Coco + Jaimeson

Coco + Jaimeson is a brand that is carried at Buckle, Dillard’s, Tilly’s, and many other stores and has a total Free People vibe! Floral patterns, flowing pieces and available at a much more college-student-friendly price. You can find everything from the perfect cardigan to the most beautiful dresses with this brand. Try out Coco + Jaimeson for your next function!

4. If You’re Obsessed with Urban Outfitters, Try Nova Supply Co.

Almost everyone loves a good shopping trip to Urban Outfitters – and honestly who could blame you? – but Nova Supply Co. is a brand with a very similar look. The basic tees and sweaters are super comfy and their body suits are totally poppin’. The Nova Supply Co. tagline is “Handmade by us for you” and that’s exactly what Canadian Designer, Clayson, wanted for the brand, he wants to make each customer feel the creativity he puts into each item. They’re about to drop their Summer line-up so make sure to keep an eye out for that!

5. If Your Favorite Brand is White House Black Market, Try Avec Les Filles

Avec Les Filles is a brand coming up in Macy’s that collegiates are loving. Abby Piper, a senior at Notre Dame, says “Avec Les Filles is a brand that my friends recently discovered at Macy’s and turned me on to,” she says. “As hinted by the name, it’s French-inspired style, so chic and clean, but also has trendy pieces. I feel like any style—edgy, preppy, classic, girly — could find something there.”

Just like White House Black Market, Avec Les Filles is the type of brand to take you from class to internship to happy hour.

You’ll find more than one gem in each of these brands and your spring and summer looks will be so poppin’. What are some of your favorite brands that are lesser known?

Despite seemingly burying the hatchet last year, and even rumors that Katy Perry would make a cameo in Taylor Swift's music video (though they turned out to be false), it seems the infamous feud between goddesses of pop Katy Perry and Taylor Swift might still be alive and well.

In a clip from the recently-rebooted American Idol, on which Katy is serving as a judge this season, one contestant apologizes to Katy before telling the judges that he looks up to Taylor Swift, referencing their long-standing feud. In response, Katy says, "I love her, as a songwriter, as well."

While the moment is subtle, many fans are interpreting Katy's choice wording of her love for Taylor as a songwriter and not necessarily as a person, as being super shady. Of course, Katy's comment could also have simply been an accidental slip of the tongue.

As recently as last year, Perry had offered an open apology to her supposed sworn enemy, saying, "I forgive her and I’m sorry for anything I ever did, and I hope the same from her. I think it’s actually like, I think it’s time. There are bigger fish to fry, and there are real problems in the world," so we're definitely hoping it's the latter, and not the former. (Because powerful women should *always* build each other up, not tear each other down.)

As a quick refresher, Katy and Taylor's feud started in 2013 over backup dancers that left Katy's tour to work with Taylor. While we won't go into details, it inspired both Swift's hit 'Bad Blood' and Perry's song 'Swish Swish,' so it's safe to say it's run its course — can we all just get along now please?

So, you’ve built a beyond amazing resume. Community service, internships, job experience—you have it all. And, being the #girlboss that you are, you’ve had a LinkedIn account for like, the past three years. But unfortunately, that doesn’t matter if employers aren’t looking at your profile, or worse, can’t even find it. How can you take your LinkedIn account to the next level, increasing the chances that a potential employer will find it and actually want to stay on the page once they do?

1. Engage with others (effectively)

LinkedIn is a professional community where you can (and should!) engage with others. This can include sharing original content, such as a portfolio or recently published pieces, commenting on other peoples’ posts or participating in discussion. You can also connect with others by following certain companies or organizations and by joining groups—particularly those centered on helping people to get recognized by employers in their field(s) of interest. By being an active member on LinkedIn, you'll increase site traffic towards your personal account and appear more often on the main home feed and within group activity, thus gaining a more recognizable presence on the social platform.

2. Make the first move  

If you’re looking to break into a certain career field or get an internship at a specific company and you can find the recruiters on LinkedIn, be proactive and connect with them yourself instead of banking on them eventually finding your page.

Of course, there are definitely certain guidelines that you should adhere to when reaching out to a recruiter or employer to ensure that you come across as your best and most professional self. Donna Serdula, an expert on optimizing online presence and the founder of Vision Board Media (known for its incredible LinkedIn Makeover services) affirms, “A college student can absolutely send a connection request to a recruiter or even potential employer as long as they provide a personalized message.” Make sure your message is concise and to the point (hint: proofread, proofread, proofread!), and make sure your message doesn't sound like you're asking for a job out of the blue. Serdula emphasizes that a message to an employer on LinkedIn is not the place to ask for a job, but instead to share your interest in and your desire to learn more about the company. “The secret is coming across as friendly and inquisitive versus desperate and needy,” she explains.

You can then hold the recruiter's interest by participating in discussions that the recruiter begins through a status or forum, or by joining and engaging in a group that the recruiter is a part of (which can easily found on that person's page).

“Show your engagement,” says Serdula. “Get involved and like, comment and share.”   

3. Give the right first impression

Your LinkedIn photo is the very first impression you’ll give someone who is looking at your profile. So is yours one that will convince a recruiter or employer to do more than simply glance at your page and move on to the next candidate? As a college student, you probably can’t justify going out and paying for a professional headshot. But, that doesn’t mean you should settle for taking a selfie and calling it a day (seriously, never use a selfie as a LinkedIn profile picture)! A professional and high-quality picture can completely take your LinkedIn account to the next level and can even be the deciding factor on whether employers take you seriously as a potential intern or future employee.

If you’re at a loss of where to get a photo of yourself, try having your roomie or a photographer friend take a quality snap of you against a blank backdrop. Depending on how different you look and what year you are, you may even be able to comb through your high school senior pictures for a good headshot. If all else fails, see if your college’s career services department takes headshots for a reduced price—they may even offer them for free!

Related: How to Write a Professional Bio for Twitter, LinkedIn & More

4. Customize your URL

Take your URL from a long line of random punctuation marks and letters to a clean and concise mini description of exactly whose profile it is. First, head over to your LinkedIn profile. You’ll see what your URL currently is for your profile page listed directly below the “View profile as” button in your bio box. Click on the settings gear to the right of the URL and then look over to the right-hand column where it says “Your public profile URL.” Click on the editing pencil and type in your name to create your very own customized URL.

Not only will this SEO-friendly customized URL make your LinkedIn account one of the top Google hits should anyone search for your name online, but it will also allow you to easily share your profile with others. Says Serdula, “Customizing this link makes it easy to include on your resume, business cards, email signature [or] other social media profiles.” It will be easy for others to remember and thus easy for you to market yourself as a branded young professional!

5. Let people know you want to be found

LinkedIn isn’t a place where you have to maintain an overly successful appearance all the time; it’s fine—beneficial, even—to let others know you are up for something new.

In addition to joining groups focused on recruiting new candidates to a certain field, using your professional headline is a great way to communicate to others where you stand work-wise—just be sure to remain somewhat subtle in your job search.

“Create an engaging narrative that acts as a digital introduction. Use your summary to tell the world who you are and how you help people and businesses,” says Serdula. And for all of you with “Seeking new employment” splattered across your profile, Serdula suggests replacing it with the less overt phrase: “Open to opportunities.”

Already employed but looking for something new? You may want to think through letting your professional colleagues and boss know via LinkedIn that you are open to advancing into a different career path. After all, your current employer might get rid of you proactively before you find a new job if they know you're planning on leaving! So use discretion and think carefully before deciding whether or not you want to communicate such a message.

6. Don’t forget to let employers know where they can find you

Far too often, a LinkedIn user will have an amazing profile with everything from previous work experience to honors and awards and organizations they are a part of completely filled out. They seem like a great hire, a must-have employee and are attracting successful amounts of traffic to their page. But there's just one problem: they fail to let anyone know where and how to contact them.

According to Serdula, “Opportunity can't knock if it doesn't know which door to knock on.”

Therefore, you absolutely must include your contact information on your profile in an easy-to-find way. At the very least include your personal or work email, but if appropriate, feel free to also include a personal website or online portfolio, social media handles and a cell phone number.

Related: 5 Mistakes You’re Making on LinkedIn (& How to Fix Them)

7. Get Recommended

Particularly if you’ve had a killer internship experience or have a great professional reference that you’ve made, getting a personal recommendation can tremendously enhance your LinkedIn profile. Not only will recommendations make you a more credible and employable candidate, but it will allow your profile to be seen by more viewers because it will show up on the recommender’s personal page as well as your own.

When making a (courteous!) request for a LinkedIn recommendation, make sure you tell the person why you are asking them specifically. What have you done for them or shown to them that makes you a great person to recommend? Also give them a quick idea of what specific skills, traits or services you want the person to recommend you for. Did you meet deadlines exceptionally well? Were you always willing to take on new projects? Were you a great team player? If and when you do receive a recommendation, be sure to send a thorough thank you message to your reference, and even return the favor if applicable! But, needless to say, remember that not every supervisor or connection you contact may be comfortable or feel justified giving you one. 

8. Master LinkedIn SEO

LinkedIn uses a Boolean search engine, which means that the content you include within your profile can make or break whether your page is seen by recruiters searching for similar candidates. Make sure you complete each and every part of your profile in order to maximize its appearance in searches—especially your professional headline, which is one of the most SEO-sensitive fields on LinkedIn, according to Serdula. But don’t forget to fill out the more generic information too, such as your geographic location, your major and minor and your interests, which can all be enormously helpful in maximizing your appearance. Also be sure to include targeted keywords that are specific to the industry you are interested in.

“Your profile will only be found for keywords that exist within it so be very strategic when writing your profile. Identify upfront what keywords a person would use to find someone like you.” Serdula says. “Once you know your keywords, make sure to sprinkle them throughout your profile in a natural, organic way. Use [them] as part of your narrative—not as a bulleted list.”

So while your profile shouldn't read like a laundry list of over-used industry terms, be sure to be specific enough with your word choice in order to be the top hit on an employer's search. 

9. Make yourself click-worthy

Recruiters check out countless potential employees and interns on LinkedIn every single day, meaning that many won't even continue on to your full account page if you haven’t captured their interest almost immediately with your thumbnail, name and position title. So, to grab their attention, make these things pop! Once again, it's vital to make sure that your thumbnail picture is appropriate and represents you as the young professional you are. To ensure that recruiters know they have found the right potential new hire, also be sure your name is listed as they would expect to find it (as in, no nicknames). And where you should really focus on enhancing your LinkedIn account to ensure a recruiter will follow through to your full page is your professional headline—again, an extremely SEO-sensitive area. How? Make it detailed but concise, leaving the recruiter knowing exactly who you are and interested in learning more about you.

Utilize the space you have to list one to three of your roles, experiences and even interests. For example, if you're a writer, you can write, “Editorial Intern for X Company | Contributing Writer for Y Company | Web Content Enthusiast.” Take special note of the use of the “|” pipe divider or vertical bar punctuation mark, which, according to Serdula, allows you to list targeted keywords that will give your fully-optimized LinkedIn profile an increased search ranking.

LinkedIn is all about being proactive. It’s a social network, and to completely master it, you have to know the best practices in order to attract employers, remain an active participant and abide by its professional social norms. Most of all, be social: sitting back and waiting for the employers to come to you may sound easy, but doing so is extremely limiting. If you're willing to put yourself out there, the interview and job offers will be floating on over in no time!

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.)

Police Are Searching for a 'Serial Bomber' in Austin

While officials were initially hesitant to draw any connections between the four bombs that detonated in Austin, Texas over the last month, Austin interim police chief Brian Manley told the New York Times on Monday, "We are clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point," after a fourth bomb injured two people over the weekend.

In total, the bombings, which began on March 2, have left two people dead and four wounded. Authorities believe the "serial bomber" they describe is targeting people of color, as the first three bombs were packages left in residential areas highly populated by people of color.

Parkland Suspect's Brother Arrested After Trespassing at High School

Zachary Cruz, the younger brother of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people when he opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was arrested Monday after he was found trespassing on the school's campus, the Huffington Post reports. Cruz, who had reportedly previously been warned by authorities to stay away from the school, told police he was there to, "reflect on the school shooting and to soak it in."

As of Monday night, Cruz was still being held in the Broward County jail, where his brother, who faces 17 counts of murder and potentially the death penalty, is also being held.

A Self-Driving Uber Hit and Killed a Woman in Arizona

After spending over a year testing its autonomous cars in Arizona, one self-driving Uber hit and killed a 49-year-old woman as she was crossing the street Sunday night. Local police told BuzzFeed News that the car was, "in autonomous mode at the time of the collision, with a vehicle operator behind the wheel." According to the investigation, neither the driver nor the victim were impaired at the time of the accident, though the car showed no signs of slowing down as it approached the victim.

In a statement, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is cooperating with law enforcement to understand what happened.

Meme of the day:

Because it's Tuesday, and therefore, it's probably all of the above.