Cold weather signals cute scarves, hot chocolate and the holidays. However, with cold weather also comes dry, chapped skin. Some skin care products can be very costly, especially for those of us on a collegiette's budget. Have you ever thought of making your own skin care products? It's super easy and affordable; plus, it will keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated. We created our own cleanser, exfoliating scrub and moisturizer. Now, we've giving you step-by-step instructions so you can DIY your skin care routine, too!

Cleanser

Cleanser is the first step to any skin care routine. It is very important to wash away any dirt or excess oil from your skin before using other products. For the beauty on a budget, here's how to make your own DIY cleanser.

What You’ll Need:

• One teaspoon of raw honey
• One teaspoon of baking soda
• Three tablespoons of coconut oil
• Container 

Step 1:

Add the coconut oil, honey and baking soda into a bowl and mix until blended evenly.

Step 2:

Pour the contents into the container and store at room temperature.

Related: Easy DIY Lip Scrub for Smooth, Kissable Lips

Exfoliating scrub

You've properly cleaned your skin, but what about those pesky dry patches? The solution: exfoliating scrub. Exfoliating removes all those dead skin cells so your skin can appear healthy and glowing. DIY exfoliating scrub is inexpensive, easy to make and perfect for winter weather.

What You’ll Need:

• One cup of ground up oatmeal
• ½ cup of honey
• ½ cup of coconut oil
• Container 

Step 1:

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until you have a smooth, sticky consistency.

Step 2:

Scoop the mixture into the container using a spoon or spatula.

Moisturizer

After exfoliating, it's very important to make sure you moisturize your skin. Moisturizer keeps your skin soft and hydrated, which is especially important once the temps drop. Moisturizer also gives your skin more elasticity, preventing wrinkles in the long run. High-end moisturizers can be expensive and not all of us beauty lovers can afford to break the bank on one product. DIY moisturizer is simple, cost-effective and just so happens to smell delicious.

What You’ll Need:

• ½ cup of coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of liquid vitamin E
• 5-7 drops of essential oil or tea tree oil
• Container

Step 1:

Pour all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix until smooth.

Step 2:

Pour the contents into your container to store.

Now, you're prepared to face the cold weather and fight off dull, drab skin with your very own DIY skin care routine!

You wouldn’t go out with scuffs all over your favorite pair of pumps, would you? Probably not—you’d polish them to make them look as awesome as possible. The same should go for your resume!

We know that with your super-busy collegiette schedule, you have great experiences listed, and now you just have to make the finishing touches—the polish. But what are the quick fixes you can make in order for your resume to go above and beyond?

We talked to Emily Miethner, the founder and CEO of FindSpark, a website that gives young professionals the tools to get a great job or internship, to get the lowdown on a few ways to polish your resume and make it the best it can be.

1. Rewrite the sections that you wrote quickly

With great things come a lot of time and effort—we’ve all heard that one before! When it comes to your resume, you need to take your time on it to make sure it comes out perfect.

“To make the biggest difference, you definitely need to put time in,” Miethner says.

As much as you may like to be, you’re not Hermione—you can’t simply wave your wand and create a perfectly written and formatted resume. If there are parts that you did write a little too quickly, make sure you go back and touch them up. Start each bullet point off with an action verb, like “led,” “coordinated” and “developed.” Be sure the skills you choose to highlight from a certain experience are truly the ones you want to emphasize, and make sure they show all that you do!

2. Get rid of any irrelevant experience

We’ve all heard before that undergraduate resumes should be limited to only one page, so it’s really important that your one page shows your best possible self to potential employers.

“You want to make it as clear as possible that you’re relevant for the job as quickly as possible,” Miethner says. That means getting rid of work experience that might not necessarily show why you’re a perfect fit for the company.

So your two summers waiting tables at the local diner? Not super necessary on the resume you’re submitting to that investment banking firm. Miethner says that while jobs like these definitely had a purpose, they don’t show immediately why you can contribute to a professional job or internship.

Instead, Miethner suggests cutting out your summer job so you have more room to expand upon your experiences with the accounting club at your school. Although accounting club isn’t necessarily work experience, it shows your potential employer more immediately that you have the skills to contribute and succeed at the job for which you’re applying. When it comes to putting your work experience on paper, cut out the waitressing and retail jobs—unless they directly relate to the full-time job or internship you’re looking for!

Miether also says you should list your most relevant experiences first. So, when applying to the investment banking firm, you should probably list your experiences with accounting club first and your experiences as the treasurer of your dance team second. Both clubs have given you skills that you can use in investment banking, but accounting club definitely highlights those skills more and should always be listed first.

3. Update to a great font and layout

As much as we love flowery graphics and pretty borders, we don’t really love them on our resumes. Instead, Miethner suggests keeping your layout simple. Don’t go over-the-top with incorporating color or special designs, Miethner says. Instead, make sure that it’s simple and easy to read.

Miethner says choosing between serif and sans serif fonts is important. Sans serif fonts (think of fonts like Arial, Calibri and Helvetica) don’t have those little horizontal lines at the ends of the letters. Serif fonts (think of fonts like Times New Roman and Cambria) do. This font you’re reading now? It’s a serif font. The default font on your Twitter feed? A sans serif font.

Miethner is a fan of the sans serif font for resumes (so Arial, Calibri or Helvetica) because they lend themselves to titles and bolder type. “I think it’s much easier to read a sans serif font than a serif font,” she says. “Most resumes nowadays are read on the screen, and it’s scientifically easier on the eye to read sans serif on a screen.”

Like everything else, color should also be simple. A pop of color in your header can go a long way in making your resume stick out, but make sure you don’t go too crazy—only use one color, and make sure it’s featured in simple accents.

As far as formatting goes, Miethner says, bearing in mind simplicity, you should keep it consistent.

“Whatever format you do choose, you have to stick with it through your entire resume,” Miethner says. “Otherwise, it’s going to get confusing.”

Read over your resume to make sure all formatting choices are made consistently throughout the entire resume: Make sure you keep your titles the same font size, and make the decision if you’re going to use periods at the ends of bullet points or not. Keep track of the use of commas, dashes and semicolons as well. An inconsistent format is not only confusing for the reader, but shows that you were careless—it’s going to make the hiring manager wonder what else you might get careless about!

4. Check your bullet points for accurate information

Nobody likes having to sort through clutter, and simplicity isn’t limited to your font and layout choices—you should keep it simple in your experience descriptions, too! Miethner says you should avoid repeating duties you did for different organizations.

“I feel like one mistake people make is if they have similar roles, they can get repetitive bullets,” Miethner says. “Make sure that every bullet shows a different skill or accomplishment.”

Miethner suggests highlighting the different and varying duties you had with different jobs and organizations not only as a way to give yourself more room on your resume, but to keep from wasting the time of the individual reading your resume.

This will also help hiring managers see the really important skills on your resume. Instead of cluttering it with repetitive information, the hiring manager’s eye will be directly drawn toward your bullet point about displaying exemplary knowledge of AP Style as an editor for your school paper or your ability to make price negotiations through your campus programming board. There’s no need to distract them from what you can really do with a bunch of fluff!

5. Save it in multiple formats

Have you ever downloaded a worksheet from a professor and the layout on the page was all wrong? That’s because their version of word processor might be different from yours, so the formatting gets all out of whack when opened on a different computer.

You should take that knowledge and apply it to your resume, too. Save it on the default format (.doc, .docx, etc.), but also save it as a PDF. Saving your resume as a PDF is kind of like saving it as a picture, so there’s no way your formatting can get messed up. When sending documents to a hiring manager, be sure to send him or her both formats and let him or her know that you’ve done that for his or her convenience.

6. Spell out all acronyms

When looking over your resume draft, make sure you hunt down all of those acronyms and spell them out! This will give the hiring manager a better idea of what you’re talking about on your resume and will increase your chances of getting recognized for your accomplishments.

So, if you were a member of your student government association, don’t just list SGA President on your resume. Instead, you should spell out the entire acronym—Student Government Association. The same thing goes with different conferences and competitions you participated in. If you were on your college’s cheerleading team and went to the National Cheerleaders Association Collegiate Championship, don’t just say, “NCA National Champion” on your resume; instead, spell the whole title out.

7. Change the file name

If you’re anything like us, your resume originally had a file name that was really ambiguous, like “resume,” or something like that. Instead, change it to “[First name] [Last name] resume.”

This not only looks way more professional, but makes your resume a lot more identifiable and easy to find for hiring managers, especially when they’re handling a whole swarm of candidate resumes. Nothing would stink more than getting overlooked for a job because the hiring manager couldn’t locate your resume.

It’s always a great feeling when you go out for the night and everyone compliments your super-cute, shiny pumps. You’re looking flawless, and everyone knows it. You’re going to get that great feeling when you polish your resume, too! Good luck, collegiettes!

Britney fans have supported the denim duo with Justin Timberlake and the VMA Britney-Madonna Kiss, but there are tons of other Britney moments that are certainly underrated. In honor of the pop queen's 34th birthday, we simply have to pay tribute to our favorite, underrated Britney moments. 

1. When we learned how to avoid creepy kids and oral exams (1989)

Christina and Britney are SO smart, what would we do without their Mickey Mouse Club life lessons? Below, you'll find the best uses for bad breath spray. Though, we personally would NOT use it to avoid going to the movies with Justin Timberlake. And avoiding a conversation with Ryan Gosling? Yeah, not that either. 

2. STAR. SEARCH.  (1992)

Just another reason why the show Star Search should make a serious comeback. Star Search also brought Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morissette, Christina Aguilera and QUEEN BEY to the stage. 

3. When she introduced us to some friends of hers...  (1999)

Oh, Britney! Of course we know your friends Justin, JC, Joey and Lance. Seriously, if you have yet to see this epic remix + VMA performance, do so immediately. "Britney? Britney . . . Spears?"

4. When we met her first true love, Woodrow the Homeless Man (2000)

JT had tough competition back in the 00s—Woodrow the Homeless Man. Among the amazing moments of Britney hosting SNL, was when she fell in love with Woodrow (or you may know him as Tracy Morgan).  PLEASE, NBC, give us another Britney SNL. Also, it's really hard to find—but we found a version HERE. 

5. When she surprised her #1 fan (2001)

We can all only dream of that moment we call our friends and say "Britney Spears is at my house." Also, in this instance, we can ALL get ready for a party in less than 30 minutes. You can re-live this moment + her performance at Hawaii's Waikiki Beach with the Britney Spears - Live and More! DVD. 

6. One word: Documentaries.

Personal favorites include 'Diary' Diary of Britney Spears (2001) and Britney: For the Record (2008). We really get a glimpse into Britney's life with these two, and just want to give her a hug, hang out with her, etc. 

7. The Original Live from Las Vegas (2001)

Britney's Dream Within a Dream Tour was just that - a ~dream come true~. I must confess, I still believe... that jeweled bras and and see-through cowboy hats can serve as appropriate rain attire.

There are obviously tons of underrated moments - these are just our favorites! Have any favorites that didn't make this list? Tell us below!

We know that finals week can be rough. Between studying for your exams and trying to finish all of your semester projects, the end of the semester is always stressful. But what if it didn’t have to be? What if you went into finals week feeling energized and stress-free and looking totally stylish? Good news: now you can! All you have to do is enter to win the Ultimate Finals Survival Swag Bag, brought to you by Her Campus and Luvo. 

One lucky collegiette will win:

• A $100 Luvo Credit (because Luvo’s tutoring services and study guides are all you need to ace your exams)
• $100 Starbucks gift card (to keep your energy up)
• $100 Visa gift card (for food delivery, so you never have to stop studying)
• A 30-minute personalized workout from YouTube trainer Lauren Hefez (to keep you healthy heading into exam week)
• A Kate Spade scarf (to keep you cozy and on trend)
• An adorable mug (for all that coffee you’ll be drinking)

Ready to end your semester the right way? Enter to win the Ultimate Finals Survival Swag Bag now! 

The Ultimate Finals Survival Guide

By the time you reach your twenties, you sort of feel like you should have it all together. You're supposed to have a job, know how to host a fancy adult dinner party and maybe even have a cat (or at least be able to keep, like, a plant alive). But instead, life as a twentysomething is filled with roommate problems, soul-sucking first jobs and the occasional ~crazy~ cocaine-fueled night—and Girls has sympathized alongside us for the past few years. 

But then, you get to that age ("25 and a half years old," according to Marnie) where the pressure to be an adult adult hits, hard. And while we only have a few minutes of season five's trailer, the Lena Dunham-helmed HBO show clearly understands the struggle. We find Hannah in that apartment we've grown to know and love as our own, sharing a space with her long-time ex and a new boyfriend. There's everybody's favorite, Shoshanna, who's moved abroad (and dyed her hair pink) in response to her quarter-life crisis. In the meantime, Marnie's trying to convince everybody that getting married (!!!) is totally the right thing for her to do. And somehow, Jessa's looking like the most grown-up one among them all.

It's looking exactly like the kind of shitshow twentysomething life is—and if nothing else, we're glad to be in this mess together. Watch the full trailer below, and catch the series premiere on HBO and HBO Now on Sunday, February 21!

Thinking about getting a tattoo? They may have more benefits than we originally thought.

The study, "Tattoos, Gender and Well-Being Among American College Students," was conducted by Texas Tech University sociology professor Jerome Koch. Dr. Koch examined 2,395 college students from six public universities in the U.S. to test "the correlations between escalating numbers of tattoos and depression, suicide ideation, number of suicide attempts and self-esteem,"according to Mic.

"The only significant correlations we found [were] that women with four or more tattoos had a statistically significant elevation in self-esteem over others in the study," Dr. Koch said.

Although women with four or more tattoos had higher self-esteem than other in the study, they also had more previous suicide attempts. How do these two go hand in hand?

Women may actually be using their tattoos as a means to overcome past experiences or feelings of depression, Koch found. Women have used tattoos as a method of self-recovery by "moving on from a dark period by reclaiming their bodies as their own with art, which then sends their self-esteem through the roof," Mic reports. This can include covering scars from surgeries, domestic abuse or self-harm. It makes sense—After going through something terrible, a tattoo is a permanant reminder that you survived and could do so again.

"This study is, we believe, the first of its kind in reporting elevated levels of positive emotion as connected to higher levels of body art acquisition," Koch said.

Perhaps more research on this topic will cause people to do away with negative stereotypes about women with tattoos. We can only hope that people will come to accept that some women use tattoos as a form of personal expression or as a means of overcoming hardships.

photo credit: Ink via photopin(license)

The college selection process is hard. There are so many different kinds of schools – large, small, public, private, rural, urban – the list goes on and on. One of the many choices to make when deciding where to apply is co-ed or single sex education.

The women below chose to attend a women’s college and they explain their decisions below, plus whether or not they were ultimately happy with their choice.

“My mom is a Mount Holyoke alum, so growing up I never thought of women's colleges as being different from any other school. I looked at several women's colleges when applying along with other co-ed universities. It came down to this school giving me the best quality of education for the amount of money I was offered, but the close-knit community at Mount Holyoke really pulled me in. I really forged an identity here and have grown so much stronger in voicing my opinions, and I think I owe it to my school encouraging self-determination, supportiveness, and never fearing change.”

-Jessica, Mount Holyoke College Class of 2018

RELATED: "You go to a Women’s College?!" What It's Like to Go to a Single-Sex School

“At first, I didn't really mind that Saint Mary's was an all-women's college—I didn't particularly pay close attention to whether my potential schools would be co-ed or single gendered. It just so happened that Saint Mary's was relatively close to home, offered an outstanding science curriculum, and offered numerous activities to participate in while in school. However, as I matured throughout my college years, I realized how much attending a women's college impacted my life. The education at Saint Mary's instilled confidence that I never thought I would have ever experienced! I grew more confident and certain in my work ethic, decision-making process, and approach to obstacles. I was, and still am, challenged in every aspect academically; however, I have become more confident in my strategies to accomplish a challenge and gain knowledge along the way. I have expanded my interests to include topics or subjects that I never imagined I would previously. I enjoy hearing different students' backgrounds and why they also chose a women's college. One of the best things, if not the best, is the community atmosphere that Saint Mary's has to offer. The tight-knit sisterhood is extremely supportive of each other,. Developing close friendships with my peers and professional relationships between the faculty and professors helped me develop as my own person, and maintain the confidence to take on the next step in reality. I never once looked back at my decision to come to Saint Mary's, and I never will.”

-Olivia, St. Mary’s College Class of 2016

“I'm a journalism major, and journalism is such a male dominated field. I thought it would be best to attend a women's college so I could learn about my field with women who have the same goals as me. The factor that specifically impacted my decision was the fact that women's college graduates are reported to be happier than women who went to co-ed colleges. I figured if I'm happier, then I'll be more successful! I'm happy with my decision! My university is so small that it gives me any opportunity I want, and every opportunity is what you make it!”

-Kenya, Brenau University Class of 2018

“I did not call myself a feminist until I discovered Saint Mary's College. I chose it to feel inspired and empowered by the many women before me. I came to grow in my own confidence and education. I could not imagine attending a different college because Saint Mary's has become my home away from home and has helped shape me into a woman who is outspoken and strong.”

-Caroline, St. Mary’s College Class of 2018

RELATED: Is A Women's College The Right Choice For You?

“At a women's college I felt that it would be a group of young women who were focused on building each other up rather than tearing each other down. It would be people who genuinely wanted to see you succeed and I couldn't be happier with the decision.”

-Anna, Barnard College Class of 2019

“I choose to attend a women's college because it felt more like home than any other co-ed college I had visited. It felt safe and comfortable, like I could be myself without anyone judging me. When I visited Saint Mary's, I could feel the bond and sisterhood the girls had. Everyone was so happy and smiled at each other on campus. The students seemed so confident in themselves, and I too wanted to grow into myself and be confident as a woman. I am extremely happy with my decision. I feel that I am more prepared to take on the real world because of how empowered my women's college has made me feel. I believe that I have gained a great education where I was encouraged to participate and debate openly in class, since there were no boys there to intimidate me. I’m also happy with my decision because I have had the opportunity to meet amazing women who I will forever have a bond with. Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.”

-Mary, St. Mary’s College Class of 2015

“Applying to schools I thought I would never end up at an all women's college and I told everyone I applied to Saint Mary's but I would not go there. In the end it came down to Saint Mary's and another school and I ultimately felt like all of the girls seemed a lot like me and that everyone was after the same kind of college experience that I wanted. It stopped seeming strange to go to school with only girls and started to look like an amazing opportunity to make great friends.”

-Therese, St. Mary’s College Class of 2016

RELATED: Where Did the 50 Most Powerful Women Go to College?

“I don’t dislike going to a women’s college but I have to say it definitely limits my educational exposure. I really miss having a male perspective in my classes and find myself seeking more and more opportunities at Columbia to satisfy that variety. Luckily Barnard and Columbia really share a social scene (Greek life, dining halls, etc.) so these parts of my college experience were not bad, but it is more on the academic side that I feel the effects of being at a women’s college.”

-Lynn, Barnard College Class of 2016

“I liked the tight community that a small women's college had to offer. It's different from any school I've ever been to.”

-Reilly, St. Mary’s College Class of 2019

“I chose to attend a women's college because I wanted to be surrounded by intelligent, driven women who all have the drive to succeed in life. It's great that all of your peer leaders are women, as well, because it gives you the confidence in yourself to do similarly incredible things. I'm incredibly happy with my decision, I've made more friends than I've ever had and the atmosphere on campus is very welcoming; the girls are my family and the college is my home!”

-Anna, St. Mary’s College Class of 2019

Thanksgiving break = over. All that’s left is just a couple of weeks before the semester ends and you return home for winter break. But no one ever tells you that even though these weeks seem short and easy, they’re actually the longest and most difficult times you’ll have to push through. It gets the best of us; honestly, we’re not sure that we’ll all get out of this semester okay. Here are some signs that you might succumb to the torture that is sandwiched between the two best breaks.

1. You’ve stopped going to classes. I mean, who wants to trek through the snow to go to an hour lecture anyway? Especially when you could be sleeping.

2. Cooked meals? That’s funny. You’ve switched out your fresh veggies for some ramen and chips…always a good sign.

3. When someone asks your how your multiple papers are going that are due next week...and you haven't even started them.

4. You keep telling yourself that you don’t need to study *that* hard for your upcoming exam, since there will be other ways to make up any lost points...until you realize that this is the last thing going towards your grade.

5. Your friends finish their finals early so you're stuck at school alone.

6. When you do actually make it to the library to study, you spend too many hours on social media instead of studying.

7. When your midterm grades are released, you can’t help but cry.

8. So you spend all of your time studying for finals to make up for it, and lose sleep in the process.

9.  There are times when everything gets too overwhelming and you can't help but think you won't survive.

10. Your calls to Mom are becoming more and more frequent as you desperately try to find motivation to make it through.

11. The amount of Netflix you watch is directly proportional to the amount of studying you don’t do.

12. You've worn the same sloppy outfit so many times in a row that your friends start to comment on your lack of clean laundry.

13. You tell yourself that if you act calm and collected, then you will become calm and collected.

14. But really you’re just over the semester and ready to go home.

15. As you finish each final exam, you get more and more excited until you’re done with it all and you can FINALLY go home.

While the final stretch of the semester may seem daunting, we know you’ll all make it through! Study hard, take care of yourself, and before you know it, you’ll be home enjoying the relaxing winter break.

Everyone knows there is a reason why great heroes like Superman and Spider-Man work alone. That’s because working in a group is probably a form of torture in some countries. No one can ever meet up at the same time; no one wants to be the one to present, etc. Below is the series of events we can all relate to while working in a group.

You look at your assigned group members and realize you’re going to be doing most of the work.

You all exchange phone numbers and emails, but no one ever sends any messages.

So you set a time to meet and get ideas flowing, only to have everyone cancel at the last minute with a lame excuse.

And when you can all finally sit down and talk about the project you're like:

But then you realize the rest of the group is like: 

And (of course) everyone either forgot their laptops or they “aren’t working” so everyone uses your computer. Therefore making you responsible for the work.

Then once everyone realizes the project isn’t due until the end of the semester, everyone (but you) suddenly has lost all drive to get this thing done early. 

When the end of the semester comes, it’s a race to get it all done and your group regrets not listening to you and choosing to procrastinate.

And then when it’s time to present your project, everyone suddenly has a fear of public speaking and asks you to do it.

But you know when everyone has to do group member evaluations, you’ll get an A and you can secretly tell your professor how awful the rest of the group was.

Once the project is finished and graded, you know you really earned that good grade on your own, and, thankfully, never have to see these people again.

Even though it really is annoying that you all got the same grade when only one person did most of the work. 

Then everyone thinks they're friends and the following semester they'll say hi to you on campus. 

You swear you will never do another group project, until the next time a professor assigns one and you realize how cruel the world is. 

But even though group projects are stressful and a part of college, you know you can handle them, just like anything else life may throw your way. 

Two people attacked the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif. on Wednesday morning, killing 14 people and leaving 17 wounded. The attackers have now been identified as Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, a married couple. Both were killed in a shootout with police. The shooting happened at a holiday party for the San Bernardino County Public Health Department, where Farook worked as a health inspector. The motive for the shootings is still unclear.

"They came prepared for what they did and they were on a mission," said Chief Jarrod Burguan of the San Bernardino police in a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. Burguan also suggested that there was no evidence at that point that the incident was related to international terrorism. However, CNN reports that Farook was "in touch over the phone or social media with more than one international terrorism suspect."

The couple was armed with semiautomatic handguns and assault rifles. An official told the New York Times that all the guns had been purchased legally—Two by one of the suspects killed in the shooting, and two by a third party.

In the aftermath of the shooting, politicians have responded with calls for action on gun control, as well as the usual thoughts and prayers. People are clearly starting to get tired of inaction—The Atlantic reported on the phenomenon of "prayer shaming" after a tragedy. The New York Times reports that on average, there's a mass shooting every day in the U.S.

As of now, the victims of the shooting have not been publicly identified. The LA Times reports that anyone attempting to find a relative who they think may have been killed or injured in the shooting should call a family assistance hotline at (800) 637-6653.

Emma Watson has always been a powerful role model for girls and women everywhere. Besides portraying countless strong female characters in some of our favorite movies, she also gave a speech representing HeForShe last year, inspiring many to join the fight for gender equality. The UN Women Goodwill Ambassador spoke about how the time to make a difference is now, and continues to follow her own advice.

Related: Malala Yousafzai Says Emma Watson Inspired Her to Be a Feminist

Watson was featured on the cover of PORTER magazine for their Winter Escape issue, and had some interesting follow-up comments regarding working with HeForShe. According to her interview, HeForShe advised Watson to avoid using the word "feminism" in her now-iconic speech. Coming from an organization with a name like HeForShe, a suggestion like that seems pretty ironic.

"I was encouraged not to use the word 'feminism' because people felt that it was alienating and separating, and the whole idea of the speech was to include as many people as possible," Emma told PORTER. "If women are terrified to use the word, how on earth are men supposed to start using it?" 

Whatever the reasoning behind HeForShe's outrageous request was, we're happy that Emma went with her instincts and we're willing to bet that HeForShe was, too. After all, her words of wisdom, and use of this "F-word" generated a lot of buzz for the feminist movement. 

Do you think Emma Watson's speech would have been as big of a hit as it was if she followed the advice she was given? Let us know, collegiettes! 

Sometimes a relationship ends in a big way. Maybe you and your SO got in a huge fight or one of you seriously broke the other’s trust. But other times, it’s not so clear. All relationships go through problems, so when things just start to feel off, it can be difficult to tell whether a relationship needs to end or whether it just needs a little TLC to make things better.

Everyday details can make a significant difference in a relationship, but are they worth breaking up over? Or is this just your typical rough patch? We’re here to help you work through your problems with some sure signs it’s time to let go.

1. Your relationship consistently isn’t satisfying your needs

If you feel unhappy more often than not in your relationship, then it’s definitely time to take a closer look at what’s going on. To do this, Jeffrey Sumber, a licensed professional clinical counselor, recommends making the distinction between non-negotiable needs and wants.

According to Sumber, non-negotiable needs are those things that you just can’t compromise on, and they can be different for everyone. For example, one of your non-negotiable needs might be that you need to feel appreciated.

“[In this instance, if you’re] in a relationship where [you] feel an ongoing challenge around not feeling appreciated, [you] should run away from it because [you’re] not going to feel fulfilled,” Sumber says.

Wants, on the other hand, are those things you can give a little wiggle room. You might want an SO who will talk with you about political issues, but that doesn’t make news aversion a deal-breaker. You have to identify those aspects of a relationship that you must have to feel fulfilled, and then make sure that you’re getting those things.

If you’re feeling unfulfilled, try talking it out with your partner before breaking up. When starting this conversation, Sumber recommends speaking in terms of your own needs rather than your SO’s shortcomings.

“[The issue] needs to be about me and not my partner,” Sumber says. “I might communicate my need in terms of an expectation, like, ‘I need you to appreciate me more,’ and my partner might feel obligated and defensive.” Instead, you might say, “I don’t feel appreciated.”

If your relationship perks up and stays up after this conversation, odds are you were just going through a rough patch. But if you’ve communicated your needs more than a couple times and nothing has changed, it’s time to let your relationship go.

2. You’re being physically or emotionally abused

If your SO abuses you physically even once, it’s time to walk away. You should never tolerate violence in a relationship. Call The National Domestic Violence Hotline if you need help leaving an abusive relationship or need someone to talk to.

However, there are more types of abuse than just physical abuse. We often overlook emotional abuse in relationships. We may even attribute the feelings associated with it to one partner’s oversensitivity or already low self-esteem. But if your SO makes you feel bad about yourself or always points out your flaws, you need to take those feelings seriously and leave.

“Any partner who uses physical violence will do it again,” Sumber says. “The challenge is to also consider the emotional violence, or abuse, that happens if one partner is constantly chipping away at the other’s self-esteem. I don’t think that a partner ever has the right to say you look terrible, because we are all beautiful and we all have gifts and we all have challenges.”

If your SO critiques your appearance, your intelligence or anything else about you in a way that is hurtful and not at all helpful, it’s time to break up.

3. You’re not communicating

Do you and your SO speak less and less to each other when you’re apart? Have you stopped sharing your feelings with each other? Or maybe you just have nothing to say. Communication issues are all too common in relationships, and if you’re experiencing them, it’s time to take a look at the causes behind them.

If you and your SO have been together for some time and your conversations still feel forced and uninteresting, you may not really be compatible.

Robert, a senior at Vanderbilt University, says that communication issues were the biggest sign that his first relationship needed to end. “[My ex and I] needed other things to fill the null space,” Robert says. “Every silence was uncomfortable, and we didn’t have anything to say anymore.”

However, sometimes communication issues do arise from a rough patch. For example, maybe you’re both busy and stressed, and your moods are taking a toll on your communication habits. If you feel like this is the case in your own relationship, try putting in some extra effort.

Rhonda Ricardo, author of Cherries over Quicksand: Romance Secrets, Laughter, Wit & Timely Tales to Paradise, says that “The stories I collected [for my book] reveal the fact that heartfelt, daily enthusiasm is extremely important for sustaining loving energy and exciting passion. For example, when your partner texts you a question like, ‘How are you doing?’ if you answer, ‘Great! How are you?’ you just missed a huge opportunity.”

But maybe you are the only one putting in the effort and your partner consistently shoots you down. Or maybe you just don’t feel like trying anymore.

“If you do not feel like including him or her in your good news right now, stop and think about how it will feel to not have them with you to share your accomplishment,” Ricardo says.  “Also think about how it would feel to not have them there if your goals fall flat and you need a caring embrace.” Does this seem okay to you? That’s a sign that it’s time to let go.

4. You’re no longer excited by your relationship

You’re young. You’re in the prime of your life. And you’re totally bored. It’s clear that things can’t stay the way they are, so you need to figure out what’s going on.

Like communication issues, sometimes boredom is actually the symptom of a rough patch.

“I always think that if I’m bored, I’m crazy. There’s just so much to do,” Sumber says. “If I feel bored in the least, then I need to check myself and not my partner. I should never just sit in front of the TV because my partner prefers to sit in front of the TV.”

In this case, tell your SO you’re feeling stuck in a rut. Suggest an adventurous date idea. Your fun and exciting ideas might just rub off on your SO and pull you out of this rough patch. 

But if your SO is never interested in doing fun, exciting things with you even after you’ve made the effort, you might need to look back at your non-negotiable needs. If having an SO who is your fascinating partner in crime is important to you, it’s time to find someone who can fulfill that need.

Jessica*, a senior at the University of Massachusetts, says that she knew one of her relationships needed to end when she stopped finding it interesting. “I just wasn't excited anymore,” she says. “I didn't look forward to dates or phone calls. It became more of an obligation than a want, so I ended it.”

Ricardo says that you can’t force your SO to be more interesting; you can only make sure that you are living a life you personally find exciting and fulfilling.

“If your partner continuously finds it easy to turn away from you at your best and most fascinating and is not interested in ever being fascinating, warm and loving to you anymore, you will become bored, and you’ll know they are not the one for you,” Ricardo says.

5. You feel pressured to change

If you feel like you have to change for your SO, then you’re likely not with the right partner in the first place. Although your SO might help you grow as a person or give you respectful suggestions for self-improvement, you should never feel like your back is up against a wall.

If you and your SO have different goals and values, consider this: It is possible that your SO can challenge you to consider perspectives that you have never thought of before, and this could be a good thing.

“In our twenties, we are evolving in our understanding of self,” Sumber says. “It’s likely that most of our values are constantly evolving. If we get stuck in our values, we become stuck and stagnant.”

But if your SO is pressuring you beyond your comfort level to change your own values, you need to call it quits. Ask yourself, “What is truly in alignment with what I am? Is my partner making demands I’m not comfortable with, or is my partner challenging my boundaries?”

Even with something as simple as a haircut, your SO should never make you feel like being who you are is a deal-breaker. And if you feel like that’s the case, it’s time to move on.

When you find yourself wondering if your relationship is meant to last, Sumber recommends asking yourself, “Who am I? What do I need? And what will I do about it?” And if it turns out that your relationship isn’t just in a rough patch, it’s going to be okay.

No matter what, you deserve a life that fulfills you, relationship included. And, as Ricardo says, “Why would you settle for less than a wonderful love life? You are amazing!”

*Names have been changed.

It’s no secret that our generation loves social media. At any given moment we’re checking Facebook, updating Snapchat, or slapping a filter onto our favorite photo of the moment before uploading it to Instagram and raking in all the ‘likes’.

It's clear that there's a special place in our hearts for the perfect glow those Insta filters give our photos—Because Instagram filters are the newest trend in pop culture-centric baby names for 2015.

Quartz reports that Instagram filters Ludwig, Reyes, Juno, and Valencia are quickly climbing to the top of the list for most popular baby names of 2015. Interestingly enough, more traditional names that were big last year, such as Emma, Aiden and Sophia, have decreased in popularity since 2014.

According to BabyCenter, an online parenting resource, it’s also worth noting that the name Lux has skyrocketed by 75 percent in popularity during 2015, when Instagram debuted its own photo editing tool by the same name. Coincidence? Likely not.

“This is the first time we've seen technology break through as a source of name inspiration. Photo-sharing is a daily and emotional part of Millennial's lives, and those two ingredients can trigger love for a name.” said Linda Murray, BabyCenter’s Global Editor-in-Chief, in Glamour.

Data from over 340,000 parents was used in calculating the prevalence of our favorite Insta filters in newborn nurseries this year. Time reports that “the findings are unofficial”, but we can expect the official list of top baby names from 2015 to be released sometime in early 2016 by the U.S. Social Security Administration.

So what do you think? Would you name your child after an Instagram filter? Let us know in the comments!

Whether it’s a freelance job, a remote internship or you’re just trying to get a bit of studying done, working from home sounds like a dream come true—that is, until you actually try to get things done. While working from home sounds easy in theory, avoiding distractions (Roommates! Netflix! Facebook!) can be a struggle. Need some help staying focused and motivated? We’ve got you!

1. Set up your workspace

It may seem obvious, but the easiest way to actually get things done at home? Make your space feel a little less, well, home-y – meaning doing work in bed is probably not the best idea. Ally Meyerowitz, a junior collegiette at San Diego State University, says a desk makes all the difference when it comes to her work as the editor-in-chief of The Odyssey at SDSU.

“I would suggest sitting upright at a desk because if you work in your bed you are just going to be tempted to fall asleep and not do any of your work,” Ally says.

Just because you’re at a desk doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your workspace! Taylor Carson, a Her Campus intern who works remotely, says that creating a comfortable and inspiring workspace is the key to her success.

“Set up a space in your house that is perfect for you,” Taylor says. “For me, this is my bedroom, where I designate a whole corner of the room to my desk and workspace. I also recommend decorating the space with things that motivate you. I have one of my articles framed on my desk.”

Decorate your space in a way that will make you want to spend time there. Whether you put up inspirational wall art, invest in a coffee machine to have at your desk or even get some cute plants to put on it, having an organized, pleasant workspace will make focusing and actually getting things done so much easier.

Related: 8 Things You Should Never Do at Work

2. Look professional, feel professional

That whole thing about making sure to leave your bed? That includes taking off your pajamas and getting dressed for the day. We know, we know—but Erica Maybaum, a collegiette who interns remotely with financial company Fiserv, says dressing the part is the easiest way for her to get into a productive mindset.

“As odd as it sounds, my biggest tip is to get dressed as if you are heading to a casual day in the office!” Erica says. “I find that if I roll out of bed and start working in my pajamas, I never really get into that ‘workday mindset’ and end up getting nothing done.”

Feeling ready to take on the day doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pull out the business casual wardrobe—no need for pencil skirts, blazers and heels here! However, when working from home, try getting up, showering and getting dressed for the day like you normally would. When you look put-together, you’ll feel more put-together.

3. Get out of the house

Sometimes, successfully working from home means actually leaving home. Erica says that having an alternative location to go to in case your home is too full of distractions is always a good idea. 

“Another tip I have is to go to a coffee shop or a library and work from there instead of home,” Erica says. “It keeps me from wanting to go on Facebook or to make something in the kitchen, and sometimes it's nice to just get out of my ‘home office.’”

Places like coffee shops or a library, if you’re on campus, are great to head to if your roommate wants to have friends over or you’re having trouble keeping off Netflix. Plus, who doesn’t love a little caffeine to fuel a productive day?

4. Unplug

We’ve all had the experience of sitting down to start a paper or get some studying done, only to find ourselves Facebook-stalking our exes or browsing our favorite online shop. Iris Goldsztajn, a senior at the University of California – Los Angeles, uses an app to keep distractions at bay.

“I use this app called Self Control for Mac!” Iris says. “You can create a blacklist of websites to block and it will block them for the amount of time you want. Then you literally can't open any of those sites, even if you restart your computer.”

If you find yourself constantly pinning away on Pinterest or scrolling through Tumblr to procrastinate getting work done, consider downloading an app like Self Control to keep yourself in check.

Can’t stop checking Instagram on your phone? Keep any technology (aside from your computer, of course!) out of sight, out of mind by turning it on silent and placing it in a drawer across the room from you or even by asking a friend to keep it from you until you finish your work!

5. Musical motivation

If music doesn’t distract you, consider turning some of your favorite tunes on as background noise to keep you focused. Ally says classical music especially helps her avoid getting off task.  

“I like to play classical music in the background as well when I'm in my room,” Ally says. “If you need a little music, this is definitely the trick. The music will really help you focus and stay focused and it's also very relaxing.”

A major bonus about working from home is that you can play whatever your music of choice is to motivate yourself and make the weekday grind a little more enjoyable. Spotify has plenty of productivity playlists (yes, it’s a thing!), which are the perfect way to soundtrack a long workday.

6. Give yourself a break

Last, but certainly not least, make sure to avoid burnout. Ally says that sometimes, planning a time to step away from working for a few minutes and recharge is the best motivation.

“Allow yourself to have breaks,” Ally says. “Since I'm in charge of editing all of the articles on my team, I tell myself, ‘If I edit X amount of articles, then I can take a 5 to 10 minute break of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, and get a snack if needed.’ It helps you stay focused so you don't get fidgety and uneasy while working.”

When you’re busy #GirlBoss-ing it all day at your desk, it can be easy to lose track of time and spend hours working. Whether you grab some coffee, lunch or respond to texts from friends, make sure to get up and take breaks every now and then! You might be surprised by how refreshed you feel when you come back to your desk after allowing yourself 5 to 10 minutes of “me-time.”

Like with anything else, the more you work from home, the better you’ll be at it! Once you learn what works and doesn’t work for you when it comes to staying focused, you’ll be a productivity queen in no time! 

We've all heard the stories of college romance turned lifetime of happiness. So how were we to know that's not ~always~ the case? We'll admit we suffered from denial for quite some time, but we're using our experience to educate others who have zero chance of finding their soulmates in college. Below are the 13 stages of accepting that there are just no good love interests at your school.

1. You arrive at school as a naïve freshman and find a seemingly endless amount of cuties strolling around campus.

"Oh my gosh, I can't wait to tell my grandchildren that this is how it all began." 

2. All of your friends are in adorable relationships, so you think it can happen to you, too.

Looking back, the fact that all their SOs went to different colleges than you should've been a red flag. 

3. And even better—you end up sitting next to the same cute guy in class every day.

*pictures him in a tux atop three tiers of glistening fondant* 

4. After a couple of weeks, you finally get his number and you’re beyond excited.

You even begin to wonder what you'd name your children (hypenated last name, of course; if he doesn't agree with you on that he never really loved you at all, right?).

5. But it turns out that his idea of a date is a lackluster dining hall meal followed by an offer to Netflix and Chill.

"Um, no. If I wanted to be watching One Tree Hill in bed right now, I'd obvi be doing that alone."

6. On top of that, you realize it’s all air inside that pretty head.

"Like, that personality is not gonna win you any trophies, dude. So you better hope your looks don't fade."

7. But you try not to discourage yourself since there are plenty of fish in the sea…right?

This is the only time you've ever cared about the male to female student ratio at your school.

8. You convince yourself that if you go out to parties you'll find "the one."

Because that's how the Disney princesses did it. 

9. But you quickly realize that all these guys want are hookups.

"Sorry, what now? You don't want to build me a white house with blue shutters?"

10. That’s when you really start to question your chances of finding your soulmate on campus.

"Maybe if I stop looking he'll find me. That's what my engaged classmate said anyway."

11. Suddenly, you find what appears to be the light at the end of the tunnel—a boy in your class who is smart, funny, passionate and insanely attractive.

Jackpot!

12.  And then, you find out he has a girlfriend.

Life. Officially. Over.

13. So you give up, accept your womanly independence and decide that you have much better things to be doing than hunting for boys.

You should totally date yourself. You know, at least until you graduate from that barren land.

As you embark on your last semester in college, the nostalgia starts to hit. Apparently, you have to graduate and stop doing the things you've been doing for the past four years. It's been real, but there are some things you'll be doing for the last time ever as a senior. As sad as it makes you, you'll definitely make the most of the good times (and say buh-bye to the bad ones).

1. Last class enrollment

Your senior standing may have made this process a whole lot better, but you definitely won't miss fighting over those last requirements. Peace out, class enrollment.

2. Last lecture

So you were probably bored in many of your classes and you definitely missed a bunch, but this one is bittersweet. Learning is cool sometimes.

3. Last chance to get a cute TA

If you're anything like us, all your friends have the most attractive TAs—and you somehow got this far in college without ever knowing that joy. Fingers crossed for your last semester!

4. Last night at the library

All-nighters are the bane of your existence, but there is also a sense of comfort in knowing that everyone is in the same boat. You'll probably end up feeling nostalgic about your library-dwelling days.

5. Last final

Bye now. No regrets.

6. Last college football game as a student

^ You when you come back as an alum.

7. Last time getting swiped into the dining hall

What do you mean, grilled cheese and fries aren't all you can eat in the real world?! Surely there's been some mistake?

8. Last frat party

It was fun while it lasted, but you are SO ready for classy cocktail parties—or even just parties where the bathrooms have, like, toilet paper.

9. Last acceptable game of flip cup

But like also, who is going to stop you?

10. Last time drinking Keystone and Prestige (hopefully)

Light beer and what you can only guess is rubbing alcohol? Erm, no thank you—pass the Chardonnay.

11. Last time wearing yoga pants on a week day

THIS IS SO UNFAIR

12. Last time sleeping until noon on a week day

9 to 5, here you come.

13. Last unpaid internship (also hopefully)

Finally all your work experience is going to ~pay~ off!

14. Last annual school traditions

*sobs*

15. Last date function that's not, like, a wedding

They can bar you from date parties, student group galas and ROTC balls, but they can't force you to grow up.

16. Last spring break

Going to Mexico or Florida for spring break is probably the #1 most college thing to do and that definitely won't be happening after graduation. But even if you volunteer or go home for the break, the point is you still have a break from responsibilities. Sprang breakkk foreverrr!

17. And for many of us, last year in school EVER

Thx mom and dad.

Whether it’s a freelance job, a remote internship or you’re just trying to get a bit of studying done, working from home sounds like a dream come true—that is, until you actually try to get things done. While working from home sounds easy in theory, avoiding distractions (Roommates! Netflix! Facebook!) can be a struggle. Need some help staying focused and motivated? We’ve got you!

1. Set up your workspace

It may seem obvious, but the easiest way to actually get things done at home? Make your space feel a little less, well, home-y – meaning doing work in bed is probably not the best idea. Ally Meyerowitz, a junior collegiette at San Diego State University, says a desk makes all the difference when it comes to her work as the editor-in-chief of The Odyssey at SDSU.

“I would suggest sitting upright at a desk because if you work in your bed you are just going to be tempted to fall asleep and not do any of your work,” Ally says.

Just because you’re at a desk doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your workspace! Taylor Carson, a Her Campus intern who works remotely, says that creating a comfortable and inspiring workspace is the key to her success.

“Set up a space in your house that is perfect for you,” Taylor says. “For me, this is my bedroom, where I designate a whole corner of the room to my desk and workspace. I also recommend decorating the space with things that motivate you. I have one of my articles framed on my desk.”

Decorate your space in a way that will make you want to spend time there. Whether you put up inspirational wall art, invest in a coffee machine to have at your desk or even get some cute plants to put on it, having an organized, pleasant workspace will make focusing and actually getting things done so much easier.

Related: 8 Things You Should Never Do at Work

2. Look professional, feel professional

That whole thing about making sure to leave your bed? That includes taking off your pajamas and getting dressed for the day. We know, we know—but Erica Maybaum, a collegiette who interns remotely with financial company Fiserv, says dressing the part is the easiest way for her to get into a productive mindset.

“As odd as it sounds, my biggest tip is to get dressed as if you are heading to a casual day in the office!” Erica says. “I find that if I roll out of bed and start working in my pajamas, I never really get into that ‘workday mindset’ and end up getting nothing done.”

Feeling ready to take on the day doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pull out the business casual wardrobe—no need for pencil skirts, blazers and heels here! However, when working from home, try getting up, showering and getting dressed for the day like you normally would. When you look put-together, you’ll feel more put-together.

3. Get out of the house

Sometimes, successfully working from home means actually leaving home. Erica says that having an alternative location to go to in case your home is too full of distractions is always a good idea. 

“Another tip I have is to go to a coffee shop or a library and work from there instead of home,” Erica says. “It keeps me from wanting to go on Facebook or to make something in the kitchen, and sometimes it's nice to just get out of my ‘home office.’”

Places like coffee shops or a library, if you’re on campus, are great to head to if your roommate wants to have friends over or you’re having trouble keeping off Netflix. Plus, who doesn’t love a little caffeine to fuel a productive day?

4. Unplug

We’ve all had the experience of sitting down to start a paper or get some studying done, only to find ourselves Facebook-stalking our exes or browsing our favorite online shop. Iris Goldsztajn, a senior at the University of California – Los Angeles, uses an app to keep distractions at bay.

“I use this app called Self Control for Mac!” Iris says. “You can create a blacklist of websites to block and it will block them for the amount of time you want. Then you literally can't open any of those sites, even if you restart your computer.”

If you find yourself constantly pinning away on Pinterest or scrolling through Tumblr to procrastinate getting work done, consider downloading an app like Self Control to keep yourself in check.

Can’t stop checking Instagram on your phone? Keep any technology (aside from your computer, of course!) out of sight, out of mind by turning it on silent and placing it in a drawer across the room from you or even by asking a friend to keep it from you until you finish your work!

5. Musical motivation

If music doesn’t distract you, consider turning some of your favorite tunes on as background noise to keep you focused. Ally says classical music especially helps her avoid getting off task.  

“I like to play classical music in the background as well when I'm in my room,” Ally says. “If you need a little music, this is definitely the trick. The music will really help you focus and stay focused and it's also very relaxing.”

A major bonus about working from home is that you can play whatever your music of choice is to motivate yourself and make the weekday grind a little more enjoyable. Spotify has plenty of productivity playlists (yes, it’s a thing!), which are the perfect way to soundtrack a long workday.

6. Give yourself a break

Last, but certainly not least, make sure to avoid burnout. Ally says that sometimes, planning a time to step away from working for a few minutes and recharge is the best motivation.

“Allow yourself to have breaks,” Ally says. “Since I'm in charge of editing all of the articles on my team, I tell myself, ‘If I edit X amount of articles, then I can take a 5 to 10 minute break of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, and get a snack if needed.’ It helps you stay focused so you don't get fidgety and uneasy while working.”

When you’re busy #GirlBoss-ing it all day at your desk, it can be easy to lose track of time and spend hours working. Whether you grab some coffee, lunch or respond to texts from friends, make sure to get up and take breaks every now and then! You might be surprised by how refreshed you feel when you come back to your desk after allowing yourself 5 to 10 minutes of “me-time.”

Like with anything else, the more you work from home, the better you’ll be at it! Once you learn what works and doesn’t work for you when it comes to staying focused, you’ll be a productivity queen in no time! 

We’ve all seen the photos on Instagram of the Kardashian/Jenner clan looking amazing post workout—and yes, there's a secret behind it. They’re usually wearing a frightening contraption called a waist trainer. Ever since they began endorsing them they have been popping up everywhere and I knew I had to give it a go.

Day 1: 2 hours of wear

The waist trainer arrives!! I was so excited to wear it and the first step was to attempt to get it on... key word here being attempt.

Oh my god was this difficult. I literally felt like a sausage being unsuccessfully stuffed into its casing. I was sure I wouldn’t be able to get the stupid thing on, but after a few tries I was able to fasten all the closures up, and honestly, I felt like crap. This thing HURT. It was uncomfortable and I hated it instantly, but if Khloe could do it then so could I, so I stuck it out for a few hours. 

I've heard you're supposed to start off waist training slowly and start with two hours a day, so that’s what I did. At the end of that two hours, I was ecstatic to take the trainer off and was disgusted at how gross and sweaty my tank top underneath was. By the end of day one, I was already dreading day two of this experiment.

Day 2: 8 hours of wear

I woke up knowing that I had to put the trainer on right away because I knew I didn't want to put in on after a meal… can you imagine how much of a disaster that would be?!

It was still difficult to get on, but after lying down on my bed and sucking in as hard as I could, I managed to get it done. Not the easiest or most attractive thing in the world, but hey, it worked. Today I decided I was going to wear it for the full 8 hours because I wasn't going through all of this just to take it off after a measly two hours.

Related: 10 Times Kim Kardashian Was All of Us

I wore the trainer all day including to class, which provided some wardrobe issues. I didn’t want my whole class to see that I was trying to be a Kardashian, so I wore it it under a giant hoodie to hide the fact I had it on. I must say that it was incredibly uncomfortable to drive in, but it is pretty ideal for sitting in class as it helped immensely with my posture! When I took the trainer off my stomach kind of hurt but I took a little nap and was comfortable again when I woke up.

Day 3: 8 hours of wear

The trainer went on without too much of a fight! It still wasn’t the easiest thing in the world but it was so much easier than the previous two days!

I wore it around the house for a few hours and then again to class, hiding it under another hoodie. I was more comfortable in it today and was able to drive in it without being outrageously uncomfortable and even managed to take a nap it in. There was some discomfort throughout the day but nothing like the first day and once again, I did manage to wear the trainer for the full eight hours.

Day 4: 8 hours of wear

Since my job involves constant walking around, lifting and bending over I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle the waist trainer during a shift so I decided to wear it once I was done with work for the day.

Related: 13 Experiences All College Girls Have, as told by Kim Kardashian

Once again, it was kind of a pain to get the thing on but once it's on, I ended up not really minding it. I slept for about two hours while wearing the trainer and the rest of the time I was sitting down, working on homework. I still cant get over how good my posture is when I’m wearing it!

Day 5: 8 hours of wear

Since I didn’t have much going on today I figured I would wear the waist trainer around the house again while I work on assignments and watch TV before getting ready to go out for the night. I have quickly discovered the trainer is so not meant for lounging and being comfy on the couch which is annoying for when I just want to scrunch up and watch TV, but it does work for laying down flat which is fine with me because #LazyGirlProblems.

Day 6: 6 hours of wear

The trainer was actually easy to get on today! I literally had the urge to scream "Hallelujah!" when I was able to snap it up with ease because I was just not down for another waist trainer struggle. I wore the trainer under a cute sweater with jeans while I ran errands and got ready for a night out with my girlfriends.

Related: 9 Weird Beauty Tips: Myth or Fact?

Day 7: 0 hours of wear

I have to be honest, I didn’t wear my trainer today because my hangover got the best of me and I could not imagine being hungover while wearing it. As I looked over at in on my bed I knew Kim or Khloe would muster up the energy to get it on, but I couldn’t be bothered. Hey, I don't have staff to help squeeze me into it! So instead, I laid in bed as comfy as could be and told myself I would try again on Monday!

Even though I slacked off on Day 7, after a week I did notice a difference in the size of my waist—so if that's the look you're going for, this is an easy way to help you accomplish that.

Although the first few days were rough, I’m going to continue to use my trainer and hope the results keep up. Since I’m not comfortable wearing it under most outfits but am okay with sleeping in it I’m going try to get my training in at night so I don’t have to stress about it during the day and I’m guaranteed at least 6 to 7 hours of training. Plus, the idea of working towards a smaller waist when I sleep is ideal, am I right?

We’re working late into the night on research papers, interning unpaid at companies that may not hire us after graduation, all the while trying to keep up a “healthy” and “youthful” appearance. With no cash to hit up the salon once a week, we’ve gotta get creative. Welcome to the Her Campus DIY routine—get a facial, mani, pedi, body soak and hair treatment all with items you can find at home (or for cheap at the grocery store). Prepare to feel pampered without feeling spoiled.

Brightening facial

You need:

• One lemon
• Three whole strawberries
• One banana

This DIY face mask is sure to brighten up a tired complexion. The vitamin C in the strawberries lightens dark spots, the lemon exfoliates and the banana conditions.

How to:

1. Remove the stems from the strawberries and dice.
2. Mash the diced strawberries in a small bowl with the banana.
3. Add the juice of one lemon, and apply to the face, avoiding the eyes.
4. Leave on for 15 minutes, or until the mask starts to feel dry.
5. Rinse off with cool water.

Rejuvenating manicure

You need:

• One lemon
• Half of one cucumber

If your nails are dull and yellow, all you need is this soak to liven them up. The lemon bleaches stained nails and the cucumber soothes dry hands.

How to:

1. Slice the lemons and cucumber into a bowl of cool water.
2. Soak hands for ten minutes.
3. Push back cuticles with an orange stick and paint nails as usual.

Exfoliating pedicure

You need:

• Epsom salts
• Olive oil
• Brown sugar

We're pretty sure all of us have rough feet every now and then. To slough off dead skin without the help of a professional, try this two-step pedicure. Epsom salts relax tired feet, and the brown sugar exfoliates skin.

How to:

1. Soak feet in warm water with Epsom salt for 10-15 minutes.
2. Mix 2 parts olive oil to 3 parts brown sugar to create the scrub.
3. Rub into feet and rinse thoroughly.
4. Apply your favorite body lotion or cream to feet. You can put on thick socks right away to really soak in the moisture!

Body Soak

You need:

• Milk
• Honey
• Essential oil (lavender works great!)

This soak is a traditional milk bath—Cleopatra did them all the time, allegedly, so the routine has stood the test of time. If you have a tub at your disposal, do not wait to try this relaxing, exfoliating soak. The lactic acid in the milk helps to slough off dead skin cells, and the lavender and honey soothe and smell great.

How to:

1. Fill the tub with warm water as normal, adding a small amount of lavender essential oil and honey as you go (this helps the scent spread through the water).
2. Mix in about 4 cups of milk. Use regular whole milk, or buttermilk if you’re feeling fancy.
3. Be sure to do a quick rinse-off in the shower after!

Hair treatment

You need:

• Olive oil

Yep, that’s it. This simple conditioning treatment works better than high priced hair masks, and is so easy to do!

How to:

1. Shampoo hair as usual in the shower.
2. Towel dry hair, and apply 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil to damp hair (skip your roots if your hair tends to get greasy).
3. Wrap your hair in a towel and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
4. Hop in the shower again and rinse your hair thoroughly.

These routines are simple to do, whether you’re home for the holidays or cooped up in a dorm room or an apartment. Try them out and share your experiences! Do you have any DIY spa treatments you like?

We all know finding your Prince Charming is not something that is easily done, but thanks to MouseMingle.com—a brand new dating site just for Disney lovers—anything is possible, you just have to believe in the magic.

The site was created by Dave Tavres, who, oddly enough, used to work as an engineer on the Disneyland Railroad. Tavres created the site because he found it very difficult to find someone who shared the same deep love for Disney as he did. The site serves as his way to find a Minnie to his Mickey and to hopefully help other people do the same.

Mouse Mingle gives online dating a whole new meaning with all of its intriguing profile features, offering its users a chance to interact on a more interpersonal level. You'll develop your profile by answering questions about your “Disney nerd level,” your favorite Disney songs and movies, your favorite prince or princesses, or even what type of Disney pet you are, giving users the ultimate Disney dating experience.

This isn’t the first dating site related to Disney, but it is the only site that actually asks you Disney related questions (whether you are looking for a full-blown Disney wedding, or just looking for someone to share a love of Disney with). Anyone can access users’ profiles and photos, but if you wish to get in contact with someone, you'll need to pay $12.55 (the “55” is a homage to the year the park opened) monthly membership fee.

So, uh... what's your level of Disney obsession?