The holidays are sneaking up fast and that means lots of eating and relaxing at home with friends and family. The hardest part is after break when you’re trying to recover from over-indulging in mom’s homemade pie. Thanksfully, we have Activité Pop to make getting fit and feeling good easy!

With a timeless, chic look and the latest technology, Activité Pop helps you embrace healthy habits in style. The Activité Pop allows you to keep track of your day-to-day activity including time, steps, sleep and swim. Sync it to any Android or IOS device for seamless tracking — and with a battery life of eight months, you’ll never have to worry about losing your data! Take it from our founder, Annie Wang, who absoloutely adores her Pop!

We’ve partnered with Withings to give one lucky winner their own ActivitéPop Pink! Ten lucky winners will receive 20% off of an Activité Pop in their choice of color.

Enter to win now! 

Activité Pop

Last Wednesday night, our favorite feminist appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to discuss the premiere of her new movie, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.

Related: Here's How Jennifer Lawrence Responded to Being Called 'Bratty'

When J-Law arrived, Jimmy quipped that there's been talk of a QVC infomercial featuring two dancers that look an awful lot like Jenn and himself. Playing along, she replies, “Yeah, people tell me about this all the time, but I’ve never actually seen it.” Fortunately, Jimmy says he's recorded the clip—then, right before our eyes are Jennifer and Jimmy, looking like they just stepped out of an ’80s music video.

The duo introduces us to new dance moves like “lunchbox salute,” “slurp the soup,” and, their favorite, “check the door,” in a series of 3 clips. In between each, Jennifer and Jimmy appear back in their normal attire at the desk, noticeably out of breath and disheveled. “I don’t really see the resemblance,” Jimmy says while J-Law gets back in her seat.

Between Jennifer’s cropped blonde hair being totally visible beneath her dark brown wig and Jimmy getting almost too into the moves, the skit is a total success. We’d definitely be down if the “Come Dance With Us?” tapes became a reality.

If you've ever felt like you couldn't wear something because of a personal insecurity––height, weight, complexion, etc.–– rest assured that you are not alone. Millions of women across the globe feel the same way, but we shouldn't! It's no secret that many clothing retailers today are launching campaigns to fight the fashion industry's strict definition of beauty. One of the best campaigns as of late is called the "I Wish I Could Wear"campaign, and it's run by a company you'd never expect: Amazon.

Yup, you read that right! Amazon Fashion UK unleashed the campaign on Nov. 12 to empower women everywhere to wear whatever the hell they want. 

The retailer enlisted the help of albino model, Ingrid Behague Sockeel; London Tall Girl, Marsha Campbell; and plus-sized activist, Ana Pizarro to show the world that self-confidence is a woman's best accessory. These empowering women were paired with three girls––Fiona, Lauren, and Natalie––who were chosen from social media based on their own insecurities.

In the first part of the video, three ridiculous fashion stereotypes are called into question: pale women shouldn't wear bright colors, tall women shouldn't wear heels, and plus-sized women shouldn't wear trendy clothes. 

What happens next is amazing––the ladies go shopping, find fabulous outfits, and prove to everyone just how stupid these stereotypes are. The way they exude confidence is simply inspiring. 

"It was important for us to involve Ingrid, Ana, and Marsha—three strong women who dress for themselves and celebrate what makes them different," Amazon Fashion Content Director Siobhan Mallen told Buzzfeed. "We created this campaign with the hope that it would help to empower women to wear what they like, and not feel limited by their perceived flaws."

Fashion rules don't matter. Confidence matters. 

Check out the full campaign here.

When your busy life as a collegiette starts to get crazy, your dorm becomes the oasis you retreat to in order to escape from it all. Sometimes, though, your messy dorm room can lead to even more anxiety—a cluttered room is a cluttered mind, as they say. We here at HC want to help you feel as relaxed as possible, so we put together a few dorm room DIYs that will make you 100 percent less stressed this semester. 

1. Curtains to hide your clutter

You couldn’t possibly fit all of your stuff in your room without lofting your bed—but seeing all of that clutter underneath totally stresses you out. Using table top curtains as an alternative bed skirt is the perfect way to hide the clutter and stay sane! All you have to do is tie the curtains to your bed frame with ribbon or twine. Make sure you measure the length and width of your bed so that you buy curtains in the right size.

2. Comforting candles

Candles infused with essential oils are a form of aromatherapy, and candlelight also creates a peaceful ambiance within your room, which can totally help you de-stress after a long day. Beyond smelling amazing, lavender is known to help relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia. Make a few of these DIY lavender candles and you'll be on your way to relaxation station in no time!

3. Soothing string lights

The soft, dim glow of string lights is just what you need to unwind after a long stressful day. The harsh lighting of the typical fluorescent overhead bulbs found in dorm rooms can give you a major headache. Instead of subjecting yourself to that, come home to your dorm and enjoy the ambience of lamp-light with a nice cup of tea. 

4. Succulents & other indoor plants

There are so many benefits to keeping indoor plants in your dorm room! Keeping indoor plants increases oxygen levels in living spaces, simply through the process of photosynthesis. Plants also purify the air, since they naturally take in toxins, and they release moisture into the air, which can prevent dry skin, colds and sore throats. Beyond that, it's scientifically proven that being surrounded by plant life boosts happiness and reduces stress. Bonus: succulents are low maintainance (they only need to be watered every few weeks) and are super small—you can fit them anywhere in your room! 

5. Binder clips to organize your cords

Having to search for charger cables is so annoying. You come home after a long day and all you want to do is plug in your laptop and phone, but you can’t find your chargers anywhere—or if you can, they're all tangled up. Thankfully, you can use binder clips to completely alleviate this problem! Learn how here.

6. Wall calendar to keep your life together

Your planner literally saves your life daily, but it's also nice to have your important events and deadlines hanging up on your wall as a constant reminder. Keep your life organized and stress-free by creating a DIY calendar for your room, like this one. You’re sure to be on top of all of your deadlines!

These dorm hacks will help you unwind after a long day, and they'll help to get you through the week without losing your mind. Happy relaxing, collegiettes!

If you have a good eye (or any knowledge of U.S. geography), you may have caught a mistake in the map Ben Carson tweeted on Tuesday.

If you look at the real map he tweeted on Wednesday, you should notice the difference.

Prrrretty embarrassing for someone running for President of the United States, though Refinery29 points out that it could have been a dumb mistake by a campaign staffer. Still, though, shouldn't Carson have people on the lookout for possibly campaign-derailing gaffes like this? Surely someone who has seen a map of the U.S. before should have noticed that New England just...doesn't look like that.

College application deadlines are right around the corner! But before you hit the submit button on your dream school’s application, you need to make sure you’re not making a mistake that could affect your chances of being accepted. College admissions counselors read plenty of applications, so with their feedback below, you’ll be able to have a great application that is mistake-free!

1. Typos and grammatical errors

“The biggest mistakes continues to be very poor proofreading and editing of essays and other written material in the application,” says Jacqueline Murphy, the director of admission for the undergraduate program at Saint Michael’s College.   

Cindy Boyles Crawford, a senior assistant director of admissions at the University of Georgia, also stresses that students should “be careful when using ‘thesaurus words,’” or words that applicants get from thesauruses that makes it seem as if they have an extensive vocabulary. An extensive vocabulary is great, but using a word incorrectly will hurt you more than it will help you.

In order to avoid grammatical errors and typos, Crawford stresses the importance of checking over your work. “Proofread, proofread, proofread. Then, proofread some more!” she says.

Reread your entire application before you send it in, not just the essay, to make sure you aren’t making any mistakes that could lower your chances of acceptance. If you have someone else read it for you as well, he or she may notice an error that you missed.

2. Not completing all aspects of the application

If you forget required parts of the application, your application may not be considered for admission. Jane Crowley, the associate director of operations for the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Boston College, says, “Every college or university has its own requirements, and it is up to the applicant to know what those requirements are and complete the application appropriately.”

Murphy suggests that you “double and triple check everything you enter into an application before you push the submit button. Follow the on-screen instructions to a T, and if you do not hear back from the colleges to which you have applied confirming receipt of the application, you have probably done something wrong.”

3. Not telling your guidance counselor where you’ve applied

It’s not all about the application! In order for an application to be considered, you also need to submit transcripts and letters of recommendation through your high school guidance counselor. 

Maureen Mathis, Assistant Provost at Saint Joseph’s University, stresses that “if your guidance counselor doesn't know where you applied, then they can't send your transcript or letters of recommendation.

“Stay in good communication with your counselors and pay attention to the guidelines and timelines they provide so you can be sure to get everything taken care of in a timely manner,” Mathis says.

4. Sending in too many letters of recommendation

If an applicant submits too many letters of recommendation, not all of them may be considered in the decision process. According to Crowley, “If a counselor has time to only review two recommendations and the first two are chosen, they may not be the best ones.”

In order to avoid your best letters being cast aside, Crowley suggests that “if two teacher recommendations are requested, send two; not one or four.” Quality, rather than quantity, is better in this case. If you choose your teachers wisely, the admissions counselors will be able to receive the best letters.

You should also make sure you follow up with teachers who are writing your letters of recommendation to make sure they have sufficient time to write the letters and submit them to the schools.

5. Not showcasing your achievements properly

Don’t be afraid to explain things throughout your application in order to make sure your points get across.

“If you’ve made a mistake that requires an explanation in your application—own it!” Crawford says. “For example, you made a C or D in your freshman year of high school. Explain what happened and tell us how you’ve grown from this experience.”

Crawford also suggests that you should be specific in your responses. For example, “if you write, ‘Summer 2013: Went on a missions trip,’ tell us where. What did you do? What impact did this experience have on your life?” she says.

Crowley agrees with Crawford, adding that “if you are using the Common Application, be sure to complete the activities section. Not everyone has the time to review comprehensive resumes, so this list is important.”

Any one of these application mistakes could make or break your chances of getting into your dream school, so staying on top of deadlines and making sure to complete your application properly will help the process run smoothly. The application process may be long and nerve-wracking, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be impressing admissions counselors in no time!

If you've spent the last several years of your lives relying on Pretty Little Liars for your weekly plot twist (or seven), you're probably pretty disappointed that the series will be coming to an end after season 7 next year. However, never one to leave her fans without something to think about, Executive Producer I. Marlene King told Good Morning America that we may be seeing our favorite Liars on the big screen after the series comes to a close. 

Season 6B of PLL doesn't premiere until Tuesday, January 12, but worry not! There will be a special episode next week on November 24 to help get us through the next couple of Liar-less months. See you in Rosewood.

The wait for Adele's new album 25 has been one most of us could hardly handle. There are only so many times we can listen to "Hello" before falling to our knees and begging Adele for more, and we think we can safely say that we all hit that point after listening to the single on repeat for several straight hours the day it was released. Now, 25 is finally here and to say we are freaking out would be an understatement. Through her last album, 21, we ugly cried, sang our hearts out and even thought fondly of our first SOs from all the way back in middle school. Now, 25 is here to bring us on the same emotional rollercoaster in 9 distinct stages. Starting with...

1. Total Freak Out

Before we can even start the album we're trying to compose ourselves for what's to come. We call our BFF's, scream into the phone, dance around the house. After our mutual freak out, we calm ourselves down enough to hit the play button.

2. "Hello, It's Me..."

...the new contestant for American Idol because we have all these words memorized and are more than ready to belt it out. 

3. Excitement

Adele is totally willing us to dance with the second track of the album, "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," and we are up for the challenge. The lyrics are soul-wrenching in a way only Adele could write, but the tune is upbeat and we are ready to dance out our feelings (which there are already a lot of).

4. Preparation 

The second the song, "I Miss You," comes on and we all know this is about to become the song we belt in the car, whether it's with our BFFs or alone on the way to pick up eight chocolate bars because this song has us singing with tears rolling down our faces. It's reminiscent of "Rolling In The Deep" and it's totally pulling at our heart strings. The only thing we can do at this point is buckle up and prepare for what's ahead (which includes "River Lea," another song to get emotional over).

5. Unleash the Floodgates

Be ready to go to Costco to buy a bulk package of tissues because the songs "When We Were Young" and "Remedy" have us sobbing. We may get a momentary reprieve, but just when we think we're done crying Adele brings the tears right back with "Love In The Dark,""Million Years Ago" and "All I Ask."

6. We Can Do This

"Water Under The Bridge" has us feeling our own strength; it's inspiring us to ask for what we want. We may still be in tears, but we are feeling powerful.

7. Feeling The Love

Whether you're in a relationship or are on the lookout for one, "Sweetest Devotion" has us feeling the love. Adele leaves us believing that true love is real and that we too will find someone who will be our "sweetest devotion."

8. Gratitude 

After 25 ends, when our mascara is streaked down our cheeks and our voices hoarse from singing, all we feel is gratitude. If we could, we would hug Adele for a million years and tell her how much we adore her and how thankful we are for this masterpiece. But because that isn't an option for most of us, we'll just have to show our thanks by listening to this album on repeat until our roommates force us to stop.

9. Anticipation

We know it's a lot to ask, but we already can't wait for Adele's next album. Let's just hope it isn't in another five years (but if it is, we totally support you Adele and we'll be waiting).

Here's to the queen. 

Oreo Churros are a thing. We repeat, Oreo Churros are a thing! Yup, let's talk about it.

Just when we thought that there could be no more Oreo mash-ups, J&J Snack Foods has surprised us again! After making a smashingly successful debut around this time last year, the creme-filled Oreo Churros will soon be available at retail stores nationwide. 

"We were overwhelmed by the national buzz surrounding the original Oreo Churros,"said Gerry Shreiber, CEO & President of J&J Snack Foods. "[We] immediately began working on a product line extension so that the snack was available to dippers or grippers." 

The bite-sized treats will be found in the frozen section of your local supermarket. 

We can't help but love that they're creme-filled. It totally brings the Oreo-churro combination together perfectly. 

Is anyone else hungry?

Living in a foreign country is a unique experience in and of itself, but living in a foreign country during several major terrorist attacks is another story.

I am currently a student at BYU studying French and global business. I’m here in Paris working as an accounting intern for a fashion company for my fall semester. I had done a study abroad in Paris two years ago, so I knew the city well coming back a second time. This time, I expected to live as a true Parisian rather than an American tourist.

Little did I know, I would get way more than I bargained for.

On Friday, Nov. 13, I finished my internship as usual around 5 p.m. I headed home to pack for my flight to Ireland that evening, set to leave at 10:30 p.m. Walking on my usual route, I was blindly unaware of the fact that in just a few hours, this city would be filled with fear and brutality.

My three friends and I had bought our plane tickets to Ireland through RyanAir, which departs from a small airport about an hour and a half outside the city. I made sure to leave my apartment by 6:30 p.m. in order to make it in time. My friends and I arrived at the airport without problems. All three of us have a basic French cell phone that allows us to make calls and send texts, but only within France. This does not include data. So, if we ever need the internet, we have to be connected to wifi.

We began boarding our plane around 9:40 p.m., just 20 minutes after the first attack occurred in Paris. Unfortunately, we had absolutely no knowledge of the events that were occurring. It seemed that none of the other passengers did either.

Around 11:50 that night, the pilot announced that we would be landing in 30 minutes. 50 minutes rolled by before I realized how long it had been since the pilot’s announcement. We descended around 12:50 a.m. Everyone grabbed their bags and filed out. However, just as the majority had gotten off the plane, security came racing out, forcing us all back onboard for questioning.

Once my friends and I got back on the plane, a man informed us of “a couple small shootings” in the 10th and 11th arrondissement in Paris.Then he said, “They think it was ISIS." I was shocked; everyone around me started to look so timid and scared.

The woman working on the plane looked at our passports. Then, they asked each of us several questions: “What is your name?” “Why have you come to Ireland this evening?” “Why were you in Paris?”

We got into the Dublin airport and quickly searched for wifi to connect to. As my phone connected, I received 156 text messages from concerned family members and friends. Frankly, I didn't even know that I had that many contacts in my phone. As soon as I connected to the wifi, I received a FaceTime call from my aunt and uncle. I answered––still not fully aware of the extent of the attacks or the severity of the situation.

They frantically asked if I was safe, and informed me of what had occurred. My heart dropped. I immediately thought of my friends and coworkers in Paris living through this horrifying experience. I was completely stunned and had millions of emotions running through me. I contacted my family immediately, to find each of them in hysterics––For hours, they didn't know if I was even alive. I was becoming increasingly aware of the severity of the situation, and I had never been more terrified.  

We went through customs, where employees asked us similar questions to the ones we were asked by the woman on the plane. This time, however, they were documenting our answers. Although we were miles away from Paris, I could still feel the sheer panic and concern of those around me.

When we arrived at our hotel, we sat and contacted everyone who was concerned about us. As we were reading all the articles we could find and watching raw footage from the attacks, our overwhelming sense of panic was obvious. We soon realized that we were the last plane to depart from Paris that evening. The reason we landed so late was because the plane had to circle Dublin until it was deemed safe to land.

As we learned more information about the situation, our fears grew. In my life, I have never been more relieved than I was when I saw each of my friends in Paris mark themselves “safe from the terrorist attacks” on Facebook. The feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed each of us as we thought about the future violence that would come out of these attacks.

We didn't sleep much that night, and when we did, all four of us had nightmares about the attacks. The next day, we decided to go into Dublin for some sightseeing, in an attempt to take our minds off of what had  happened. As we walked through the city center, a larger crowd of people passed us with French flags in their hands and wrapped around their bodies like blankets.

There were thousands of them, so we decided to join the march. We followed the people to an Irish government building in the city center. There, we had a moment of silence that was followed by the singing of the French national anthem by the whole crowd. The feeling of unity and compassion overcame me, and I started to cry with the thousands around me. For the first time, I felt peaceful.

For days, we read article after article, sick to our stomachs and wondering if we would even be able to return to Paris. We spent the majority of our time on our phones, responding to concerned friends and family. The attacks had occurred in places that I often go to––All I could think about was where I would have been if I hadn't been in Ireland for the weekend.

As our trip ended and we returned to Paris, I felt terrified to see what I was coming back to. I took the metro to my apartment and have never felt so uneasy. People around me seemed quiet and somber, and the metros and streets felt empty.

About a week has passed since the attacks, and I am trying to find a balance between living in fear and being aware of my surroundings. It’s comforting to see global support for Paris. At the same time, I fear those who want to fight extremism with extremism. I pray that we can fight terrorism with caution, and not let the fear take over our lives.

Photo credit: la tour eiffel via photopin(license)

At Her Campus we hold in high-esteem the collegiette who keeps informed about current events. However, sometimes news is dismal, and we know how disheartening it can be to hear of worldwide suffering but feel powerless to make a difference. In an ideal world, you would do something each day to better the lives of those suffering, right? Imagine that by getting dressed in the morning and accessorizing for your day, you could personally serve and help sustain a population of besieged women in a country across the globe. Sound too good to be true? We thought so too, but The Brave Collection, a Brooklyn based line of handcrafted jewelry, brings this notion to life.

Jessica Hendricks founded The Brave Collection during her post-grad travels to Cambodia, where she immediately became aware of the alarming day-to-day that young Cambodian women endure. Human trafficking, the act of recruiting, transporting or harboring individuals for forced labor and sexual exploitation, plagues Cambodian women exhaustively, thus rendering Cambodia a hazardous and restrictive country for women to live.

Inspired by the female survivors she met, Jessica partnered with Cambodian artisans to create a line of stunning bracelets and necklaces, hoping that her project would de-stigmatize and spread awareness of this form of modern day slavery. Each unique piece is hand-carved and woven by artists who come from compromised and hostile backgrounds.

Jessica donates ten percent of proceeds to empowering Cambodian women and girls against human trafficking, so purchasing from The Brave Collection is a surefire way to help make a concrete change. The brand’s Cambodian artisans work in supportive and creative fair-trade studios where they receive additional benefits through health insurance and stipends for their children’s education.

Support Cambodian women and victims of human trafficking by engaging with The Brave Collection’s initiative. You can help generate an open dialogue about the dangers and hardships that human trafficking bears! To help you get started, we’regiving away a 20% off discount code to all The Brave Collection jewelry for every collegiette who enters below! Not only will you look great in this jewelry, but also you’ll feel even better wearing pieces for an important cause.

Celebrate the bravery of those afflicted by human trafficking, and your own courageous spirit, by entering below!

Brave Collection

Since the tragic Paris attacks that occurred last week, the political world has talked of little else. Yesterday, in a vote of 289 to 137, the House of Representatives passed a bill in favor of tightening screenings and security procedures of any Syrian refugee attempting to enter the United States, for fear of more acts of terrorism. Under the bill, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the director of national intelligence, and the director of the FBI would be required to screen each Syrian applicant to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens.

While the Senate still must vote on the bill, the White House has already promised that President Obama will veto the bill if it reaches him. The bill is in opposition to his moral plea for sympathy towards Syrian citizens attempting to flee to safety. Those in favor of the House bill consisted of both Democrats and Republicans. “Slamming the door in the face of refugees would betray our deepest values,” Obama tweeted after the news of the bill’s passing broke. “That’s not who we are. And it’s not what we’re going to do.”

Obama added that the entire process of conducting a refugee screening is already very high security and takes nearly two years. “That somehow [refugees] pose a more significant threat than all the tourists who pour into the United States every single day just doesn’t jibe with reality,” he said. Governors in many states have already declared that they will not welcome Syrian refugees.

Democrats seem to be on both sides of the issue. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democratic Representative from New York who supports the bill, told the New York Times: “I started out strongly opposed to it. But then I read the bill and realized that what it actually required was simple certification. My back and forth with them was to make sure I wasn’t missing something.”

The bill is set to be brought to the Senate after the Thanksgiving recess. Democratic senator Harry Reid of Nevada has promised that it will not be passed. This seems to be a very morally complex issue that has divided many—the chances of a refugee posing a threat to the United States are probably very low, if we follow President Obama’s way of thinking. Even so, a safety risk is a safety risk—but we’d also be risking jeopardizing the safety of thousands of innocent refugees for the sake of avoiding a threat that may have never even existed.

College is hard. Friends make it easier. Whether you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to proofread your paper, you’re going to need your friends to get you through your four years at school. We’ve put together a list of some of the greatest kinds of friends you'll meet in college. 

1. The Girl Who Watches the Same Shows as You

She’s the only person you know who will understand (and appreciate) your obscure Gilmore Girls references. You know that no matter what, you two can curl up on a rainy day and watch season after season of your favorite show without judgement.

2. The Party Girl

When you need to go out, she’s your girl. She’ll make the plans, pick your outfit and introduce you to the all the right people at the party. She makes sure that you get home safely and provides you with your favorite hangover food for the next morning. Parties are her domain and she’ll make sure that you have just as much fun as she does. 

3. The Bookworm

An often underrated friend, the bookworm is always there when you need her. Not only does her studious lifestyle motivate you to actually read your textbooks for once, but she’ll also proofread your papers and give you study tips. She’s also the one who’s smart enough to bring snacks to study dates. 

4. The Mom

Can we please get a round of applause for the moms of our friend groups? They are real-life heroes. They will make you soup when you’re sick, tuck you in after a long night, and make sure that you’re still eating when you’re stressed. They are the heart and soul of the college experience and we will never be able to thank them enough. 

5. The Girl Who’s Always Single

She’ll listen to your boy drama and give you the best advice. She reminds you not to settle. You’re good enough on your own! We love her for her honesty and for keeping us sane. 

6. The Problem Solver

Also known as the Leslie Knope of your friend group, the Problem Solver is always there for you with top-notch advice. Five minutes after you’ve explained your problem to her, she’s ready with a 10-step, color-coded plan to help you fix it. 

7. The Chef

You can smell the cookies she baked from down the hall and she’s more than willing to share them with you. Her Pinterest boards are the stuff of dreams. You know that if you ever need to eat your feelings, this girl will help you out. 

8. The Class Clown

This friend has the comedic art of timing down to a science. She always knows when to throw a joke into the conversation and how to make even your humorless professor laugh. She’s your go-to movie date when the biggest comedy of the year comes to the big screen, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

9. The Fashionista

While the entire campus is wearing sweatpants or leggings to their 8 AMs, this girl is photo-ready. She’s not judging you for your daily choice of leggings, but she knows you can do better. When you let her, she’ll style you up in the latest trends and send you out into the world looking like a million bucks. 

All of these girls put together make for the ultimate #SquadGoals. How many of these friends do you have?

What you binge-watch on TV can sometimes be a reflection of what you like to do. Let's see if we can guess what your favorite TV show is with this quiz:

To the girl who thinks she needs a boy to be happy,

We know how you may feeling and we know it is hard. You may find yourself constantly craving the love and affection that was present in a past relationship––after experiencing something so great, how is it even possible to live without it?  

When you put your trust in someone and they let you down, you may find yourself searching for that "next one" to fill the void. This pattern isn’t just mentally and physically exhausting, but it can also destroy every ounce of self-confidence that you have.    

It's easy to feel alone sometimes. After all, when you find yourself hours away from home, buried in schoolwork and other responsibilities, life can be extremely stressful.  You might feel a desperate need for “someone” who can bring you a source comfort that seems to be lacking in your life.  However, you have to believe in the power of fate.  

In all aspects of life––especially love––anything you have to force is probably not truly meant to be.  Do not place your emotional well-being into someone who, deep down, you know isn’t right for you. More importantly, don’t trick yourself into settling for less than you deserve in moments of vulnerability.

Boys are not band-aids. You don't have to ignite a new flame to heal the burn of an old flame. Time is the best medicine and it makes you so much stronger in the end.

The first step in loving someone else is wholeheartedly loving yourself.  Never convince yourself that the reason why you're single is because you're not good enough for someone.  Everybody has a plan––maybe yours is just taking a little longer to be put into action. Once you start embracing all the great things in your life, you will surely be on the road to true happiness. As your independence grows, your confidence will grow right along with it.  After all, the best relationship you can have is the one you have with yourself. 

You have your a lifetime ahead of you and you will encounter many different people along the way. Not just in relationships, but in life as a whole, the best things happen when you least expect them. Good things come to those who wait and you deserve the best!

College is the time to learn some pretty big lessons, especially the ones that happen outside the lecture hall. Lessons in dating are no exception: you meet the types of people you mesh well with, the ones you should probably never talk to again and all the ones in between. Let’s take a bit of time to review some of the girls you’ll probably date, shall we?

1. The Bi-Curious Girl

This girl is like a hidden treasure chest on every college campus. No one has hooked up with her, and no one knows she’s queer—partly because she doesn’t even know if she’s queer!

You’ll find her in a crowded house party one night, her eyes scanning you up and down. You’ve heard about her, but she’s definitely had her eye on you for a while. She exudes the adventurous, “I’ll try anything” attitude, which you find super sexy. But she’s also extremely inexperienced, so it’s important to have a lot of patience with this one.

Best-case scenario: she’s into you and this is the start of something new and amazing. Worst-case scenario: she dumps you and goes back to her boyfriend.

2. The Hook-Up You Always Go Back To

Everyone has one of these in her life. Just as soon as you think you’re over her, she texts you again, and boom, you wake up in her bed the next morning. She’s never consistent, and while you might have hoped to have something serious with her once upon a time, you know by now that it’s not an option.

While she’s a good girl to have around for a friendly date or hook-up every once in a while, just make sure you don’t fall for her too hard. She likes to keep it light and casual, so trying to make it any more than that could be disastrous.

3. The Girl Everyone Warned You About

If Taylor Swift was queer, she’d already have a whole album written about this girl. While this girl is extremely attractive, charming and so into you, you still have plenty of reasons to tread lightly in this situation.

She slept with your friend, your ex and, rumor has it, even the cute grad student you had as a TA last semester. While dating so many people isn’t the problem (do you, boo!), almost everyone in the queer community has something bad to say about her. The subtle hints you might come across are her less-than-likeable friends, her inability to DTR (define the relationship) and the whole her-not-being-considerate-of-your-feelings thing. Did we mention she slept with your friend?

Do yourself a favor: get this girl out of your system super quickly.

4. The Athlete

Whether its softball, basketball, hockey or something else in between, this girl is a total pro at what she does. You’ve seen her training at the gym, but when you see her in the middle of a game, you’re totally attracted to her drive and determination. After congratulating her on her latest win, you decide to turn the charm on and ask her out.

You soon realize that she does not just save the competition for sports; she eats, sleeps and breathes this stuff. She’ll challenge you to whatever she can think of. Maybe she’s just trying to impress you, or maybe this is just the way she is with everyone—honestly, you can’t really tell. Either way, you’ll eventually get sick of this relay race that is trying to capture this girl’s heart and just call it quits.

5. The Stage-Five Clinger

You meet this cutie in class, and she seems super normal and cool to hang out with. You finally get her number, and before you know it, you’re texting every second of every day!

Except when you’re not. And that’s when it begins.

She’s blowing up your texts, calling your phone, tweeting you, Facebook Messaging you, the whole nine yards, desperately trying to see why you’re not responding to her. What was once a beautiful, innocent thing has now turned into an absolute nightmare. Make sure to check under your bed and in your closet before you go to sleep; she might be in there waiting for you.

6. The Tinderella

It all started with a swipe right; the rest was history. You know her just by seeing her around at all the Pride Club events being good-looking and a seemingly awesome person. You were always too scared to say hi to her in real life, so when she came up on your Tinder, you decided to go for it. Just as soon as you swiped, that one beautiful phrase appeared on your screen: “It’s a Match!”

You end up talking to her on Tinder, keeping the flirt game strong, and then you finally make plans to meet in person. So you decide to keep it casual and hang out at your local café. But before you can finish your caramel macchiato, the conversation has fizzled out. You realize that either a) you have absolutely nothing in common or b) you’re not all that into each other. Typically this is a no harm, no foul situation, but it’s also pretty awkward when you see each other in public again and have to explain to your friends how you know each other.

7. The Queer Queen

If there was a queer-girl achievement award, your campus’s LGBTQ+ Center has probably already given it to her. She’s the president of your queer women discussion group, she’s an active attendee of your GSA and she’s successfully figured out a plan to turn her queerness into a career.

The good thing is she’ll keep you motivated and on your toes at all times; her focus and drive empowers you to succeed. The bad thing might be that she doesn’t really have time for you due to her super-hectic schedule. She doesn’t plan on stopping until she lands a full-time job upon graduation—or until she has successfully taken over the world.

8. The Damaged Girl

We’re going to have to serve you a steaming plate of realness with this one. We love this girl because, like a puppy, she’s so sweet and defenseless that you just want to sweep her off her feet and cuddle her forever. She’s always talking about how she feels like she’s not good enough for you and how you deserve better. Your motherly instincts kick in when you realize how badly she needs someone to nurture her and have her realize her self-worth.

But then you realize exactly how much attention she needs. She’s been hurt before, and you feel like you need to drop everything to help her. You soon realize that she has a lot of things she needs to work on within herself before she can be with someone else. Let her go, and if it’s meant to be, maybe you’ll come back together when she has everything figured out.

9. The Girl You Swear is “The One”

This girl needs no explanation. After all of the mishaps, trials and tribulations, you finally find your dream girl. Just like everyone has always told you, she appears out of nowhere when you’re not even looking. You’ll get to know her and experience an instant attraction. She seems perfect in each and every way, whether it’s looks, personality and you know, the ability to actually function in a relationship.

This girl has caught your eye and is now stealing your heart. Make sure to cherish her and build your relationship with her, and who knows? Maybe she really is the one you’ve been waiting for.

No matter what kind of people you date in college, make sure to remember that each one is a learning experience. Even if it turns out badly, at least you’ll have a story to tell!

Want to write for Her Campus’s LGBTQ+ section? Apply here!

It goes without saying that The Hunger Games movies have been widely successful, but the films’ producer, Nina Jacobson, still regrets how the casting was done, specifically in the first film.

We all remember Buttercup, Prim’s pet cat (read: adopted child) whom Katniss despised. 

Related: 10 Ways Trying to Get a Job is Basically 'The Hunger Games'

Well, you might remember, back in the first movie of the series, Buttercup was played by a black and white cat. This went against the description that author Suzanne Collins gave as Buttercup as a long-haired ginger cat. This mistake did not make Jacobson happy.

Jacobson revealed that she saw the cat the day it was being filmed, when it was too late to find a replacement. She wasn’t directly overseeing casting of the famous feline, and it showed. They were forced to film with the black and white cat. Jacobson was totally unsettled by the faux pas and let everyone know during filming. She persistently asked if scenes with the cat could be reshot, and even considered using special effects to make the cat the proper color.

Luckily, a new cat was given the role for the following movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire when the new director, Francis Lawrence, came on set. This definitely pleased everyone, including Suzanne Collins!

Did you catch the mistake when you watched the first movie? Regardless, if this was the only casting error in the movies, it's a job well done!

Nothing perks up a chilly day quite like a hot hairstyle. As winter approaches, it’s time to retire your salt spray and brace yourself for a fun new chop, whether bold or subtle.

Some of our fave celebs have given us major #hairgoals to live up to this year, so here are five of our most beloved styles of the season.

Textured Bangs

This style means adding cute, piecey bangs to your look to play up your hair texture, whatever it may be. For the perfect length, your fierce fringe should skim your brows. It looks best when styled with loose, tousled waves which totally amps up your overall style. Celebs such as Kerry Washington and Naomi Campbell have been spotted with this style.

Contoured Cut

Yes, you really can incorporate contouring into everything nowadays, including your hair cut! Layers are usually a common request when it comes to a killer hair cut, but this style ditches that logic and opts for a more angled shape. Ending at the collarbone, the length and strong angles will slim your face and make your cheekbones pop. Make like Taraji Henson and take the plunge for this fab cut.

Blunt Bob

When going for this look, keep it asymmetric and create a deep part on your favorite side. Willow Smith isn’t the only girl who can whip her hair back and forth! Tossing all your hair to one side like Rachel McAdams does looks chic and sexy.

Razored Trim

For collegiettes with long hair who want to keep the length while ditching the dead ends, opt for a razored trim to get the healthy hair your crave. This is a technique used by stylists to make sure split ends say sayonara, but still allows you to maintains a long, tousled ’do like Emily Ratajkowski.

Happy Medium

This cut is difficult to describe—it’s not exactly medium-length, but it’s not super long either. Instead, it’s the perfect sweet spot in the middle that has lovely ladies like Chrissy Teigen looking #flawless. It allows you to think less about maintenance and more about the adorable burgundy lipstick you need to try while sporting your luscious locks.

Look out for all five of these fabulous styles next time you’re out and about. We’re sure you’ll be able to spot these trends around town!

One of the best parts about colder weather is the opportunity to splurge on adorable boots! We've gathered our favorite pairs to give you some inspiration for your holiday wish lists. Whether you're into knee-highs or booties, HC has you covered.

1. The Billie Boot in Suede ($228, Madewell)

There's nothing like a pair of ankle-grazing booties... especially when they're in this stunning wine color.

2. BCBGeneration Valor Pointed-Toe Boots ($97.99, Dillard's)

The mid-calf boot is the silhouette of the moment—and what better way to wear the trend than in a sleek black leather style?

3. Steve Madden Ohio ($99.95, Zappos)

The fringe on these puts a chic twist on classic booties. Totally wearable for class, work or the bar!

4. Timberland Bramhall ($159.99, Eastbay)

If you're digging the Timberland trend on campus, these boots are for you! This style puts a girlier spin on the classic waterproof boots.

5. Baez Bootie ($299, Matt Bernson)

Chelsea boots just got an ultra chic update! We love the leopard print pony hair—it elevates any look, whether you're going casual or looking to turn heads.

6. Dolce Vita Garnett Suede Boots ($140, Shopbop)

These taupe beauties are the perfect neutral shade—plus, the buttery soft suede has just the right amount of slouch!

7. Matte Chelsea Rain Boots ($60, J.Crew)

Already worried about the bad weather that's sure to hit anytime? Well, stop—because these boots will make you wish for precipitation. In a luxe matte texture, they're so chic you could pull them off even when the sun's out!

Which pair of boots will be at the top of your holiday wish list, collegiettes?

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from WIN-WINFOOD by Lucie Javorska, a Her Campus Blogger Network member. Read the full post here.

The holiday spirit is almost tangible and I feel like eating pumpkin pie twice a day! Besides making an actual healthy pumpkin pie (which I heartily recommend) you can make yourself a glass full of this holiday dessert in 5 minutes flat.

The not-so-secret ingredient that makes it all thick and creamy is chickpeas. It’s amazing how useful this veggie is in healthy dessert making! Mixed with pumpkin puree, your favorite sweetener and pumpkin spice, this treat tastes unbelievably good. The pumpkin pie pudding is also entirely plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free and oil-free and can be made 100% sugar-free and nut-free if you like. The best part? You probably have all of the necessary ingredients already in your pantry.

Read the full post here.