Fans were stunned and awestruck when Beyonce released her single, "Formation," last weekend, but the timing made sense. Bey was set to perform alongside Coldplay at the Super Bowl 50, and the song would create a pre-performance buzz.

The single delivered, and that pre-performance buzz worked its way into a widespread media controversy. Viewers were upset about the way Beyonce openly celebrates black culture, particularly in the scene where a young black child stands in front of a group of police officers and the video pans to graffiti on a wall that reads "Stop shooting us." The video is rife with allusions to police killings and Hurricane Katrina.

The controversy heated up when Bey performed "Formation" at the Super Bowl—alongside a group of women dressed as the Black Panthers. Bey wore an outfit that was likely a tribute to Michael Jackson, and the women dressed as Panthers formed an "X" symbol, which many viewers believe was meant to stand for Malcolm X. 

New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani called Beyonce's performance "ridiculous" and "anti-police." He went on to say, "What we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers. And focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, okay. We'll work on that. But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe."

This isn't surprising at all, considering the backlash that the Black Lives Matter movement often gets from the public: That to stand up for black lives lost to police violence is inherently anti-police. 

Bey's performance was not anti-police. It was a call to action. It was a call to justice, and served as a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Beyonce used the release of "Formation" to acknowledge that, yes, she has achieved great wealth, fame and success, but she's still aware of her roots, and she's aligning herself with the black community and the current movement.

I have nothing to say about "Formation" as a song. As writer Abby Norman eloquently summed up, as a white person, "Formation" is not for me. I love Beyonce, and I think her songs are often powerful feminist ballads that any woman can belt out. But "Formation" isn't about me, and I think it's important to say that. 

I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and I stand with Beyonce's support. Yes, every situation is individual, but we cannot ignore that racism still runs rampant in the United States, present in every aspect of society. Believing that racism is entirely absent from law enforcement and the criminal justice system is ignorant. Systemic racism is a problem that is embedded in the bones of this country; it's in the very structures that hold privilege in place. 

I'm not anti-police or anti-law enforcement in any way. I have family members who have served in various ways to protect our country and I have the utmost respect for the dangerous and necessary job that law enforcement officers perform daily. But Giuliani and so many others miss the point completely when they toss aside what the black community is saying about police violence.

The way dissenters are starting to say, "Not all police officers" sounds an awful lot like the "Not all men" comeback to women's protests against rape culture and sexism. No one said that all police officers are inherently racist and will take any opportunity to shoot a black person. I know I certainly don't believe that. What the Black Lives Matter movement is saying, and what their allies are saying, is this: It may not be all law enforcement officers, but we're not here to argue that, or here to fight the police. We're here to fight against the systemic racism in our society that allows this to happen. We're here to fight against the anti-black rhetoric that spreads like a rash every time another young black person is killed or another black community is deprived of equal rights and access to basic resources. 

It's extremely important for a movement like this, which has already faced a lot of public and media backlash, to be supported by someone who is as well-known and respected as Beyonce. After her performance, Bey announced a fund to benefit children in Flint, Michigan following the recent water crisis. This is no accident. Beyonce is taking a stance, and it's an extremely public and crucial one. She's saying: I'm not here for the racism and anti-blackness that's present in every fiber of our country, from our criminal justice system to our politics to our allocation of resources.

Bey's message was bold, and bold is exactly what this country needs right now. The fact that so many people have spoken out against Beyonce, even going as far as to boycott her—including fans who previously supported her—after she released a music video and performed at the Super Bowl in a way that celebrated her blackness, just shows how badly we need it. People cry, "Racism no longer exists!" but then turn on a public figure the moment she dares to say how proud she is to be a black woman. 

Those in support of boycotting Beyonce have moved beyond a hashtag campaign (#BoycottBeyonce) and are now planning live meet-ups. The event notice says, "Let's tell the NFL we don't want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again!"

Ironic—considering reverse racism doesn't exist—but not surprising. The reactions to Bey's "Formation" and Super Bowl performance are, if anything, a testament to how deeply embedded racism still is. 

As an ally, I won't stand for it. "Formation" may not be about or for me, but that doesn't matter. Black lives matter, and Beyonce's bold and powerful black performances matter. 

Adele will be featured in the March issue of Vogue, and her interview simply couldn’t have gone better.

Adele offered some wonderful insights into her development through the years, specifically regarding her image. While she highlights many things she doesn’t like about her body—her “bum chin,” “potato fingers” and “intense” forehead among them—she admits that she still loves herself. "I was just shocked that all of a sudden I was 25! But actually I like myself more than ever. I feel so comfortable in my own skin. I really like how I look, I like who I am, I like everyone that I surround myself with."

As Adele so beautifully put it, you don’t have to love every inch of your body—and likely won’t—in order to love yourself. She has come to a place in her life where she is able to accept that. And instead of ignoring her flaws, she accepts her quirks as just another part of who she is.

You tell 'em Adele.

When she isn’t taking selfies or Snapchatting, social media guru Kylie Jenner is basically taking over the world (sorry, Kim). From cosmetics to a clothing line, there really isn’t anything that the 18-year-old can’t do.

Just a few days after announcing her new clothing line with sis Kendall, King Kylie announced which area of the beauty industry she plans to take over next: nails. 

Kylie told WWD: “I wanted to do something innovative and accessible to my young fans” And so she did. Kylie is now launching three limited edition nail polish collections with Sinful Colors, Nylon reports. The first, a 20-piece collection of jewel-toned shades, will launch this March. The other collections are expected to release in April and May of this year. 

The bottles retail for $2.99 each and will be sold at stores like Walgreens and Target. This lower price point is certainly more accessible, compared to her $29 Kylie Lip Kits. 

If these nail polishes sell out anywhere near as quickly as her Lip Kits did, we would call it a success. Any ideas on what Kylie will do next?

Fans were stunned and awestruck when Beyoncé released her single, "Formation," last weekend, but the timing made sense. Bey was set to perform alongside Coldplay at the Super Bowl 50, and the song would create a pre-performance buzz.

The single delivered, and that pre-performance buzz worked its way into a widespread media controversy. Viewers were upset about the way Beyoncé openly celebrates black culture, particularly in the scene where a young black child stands in front of a group of police officers and the video pans to graffiti on a wall that reads "Stop shooting us." The video is rife with allusions to police killings and Hurricane Katrina.

The controversy heated up when Bey performed "Formation" at the Super Bowl—alongside a group of women dressed as the Black Panthers. Bey wore an outfit that was likely a tribute to Michael Jackson, and the women dressed as Panthers formed an "X" symbol, which many viewers believe was meant to stand for Malcolm X. 

New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani called Beyoncé's performance "ridiculous" and "anti-police." He went on to say, "What we should be doing in the African-American community, and all communities, is build up respect for police officers. And focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, okay. We'll work on that. But the vast majority of police officers risk their lives to keep us safe."

This isn't surprising at all, considering the backlash that the Black Lives Matter movement often gets from the public: That to stand up for black lives lost to police violence is inherently anti-police. 

Bey's performance was not anti-police. It was a call to action. It was a call to justice, and served as a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Beyoncé used the release of "Formation" to acknowledge that, yes, she has achieved great wealth, fame and success, but she's still aware of her roots, and she's aligning herself with the black community and the current movement.

I have nothing to say about "Formation" as a song. As writer Abby Norman eloquently summed up, as a white person, "Formation" is not for me. I love Beyoncé, and I think her songs are often powerful feminist ballads that any woman can belt out. But "Formation" isn't about me, and I think it's important to say that. 

I stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and I stand with Beyoncé's support. Yes, every situation is individual, but we cannot ignore that racism still runs rampant in the United States, present in every aspect of society. Believing that racism is entirely absent from law enforcement and the criminal justice system is ignorant. Systemic racism is a problem that is embedded in the bones of this country; it's in the very structures that hold privilege in place. 

I'm not anti-police or anti-law enforcement in any way. I have family members who have served in various ways to protect our country and I have the utmost respect for the dangerous and necessary job that law enforcement officers perform daily. But Giuliani and so many others miss the point completely when they toss aside what the black community is saying about police violence.

The way dissenters are starting to say, "Not all police officers" sounds an awful lot like the "Not all men" comeback to women's protests against rape culture and sexism. No one said that all police officers are inherently racist and will take any opportunity to shoot a black person. I know I certainly don't believe that. What the Black Lives Matter movement is saying, and what their allies are saying, is this: It may not be all law enforcement officers, but we're not here to argue that, or here to fight the police. We're here to fight against the systemic racism in our society that allows this to happen. We're here to fight against the anti-black rhetoric that spreads like a rash every time another young black person is killed or another black community is deprived of equal rights and access to basic resources. 

It's extremely important for a movement like this, which has already faced a lot of public and media backlash, to be supported by someone who is as well-known and respected as Beyoncé. After her performance, Bey announced a fund to benefit children in Flint, Michigan following the recent water crisis. This is no accident. Beyoncé is taking a stance, and it's an extremely public and crucial one. She's saying: I'm not here for the racism and anti-blackness that's present in every fiber of our country, from our criminal justice system to our politics to our allocation of resources.

Bey's message was bold, and bold is exactly what this country needs right now. The fact that so many people have spoken out against Beyoncé, even going as far as to boycott her—including fans who previously supported her—after she released a music video and performed at the Super Bowl in a way that celebrated her blackness, just shows how badly we need it. People cry, "Racism no longer exists!" but then turn on a public figure the moment she dares to say how proud she is to be a black woman. 

Those in support of boycotting Beyoncé have moved beyond a hashtag campaign (#BoycottBeyonce) and are now planning live meet-ups. The event notice says, "Let's tell the NFL we don't want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again!"

Ironic—considering reverse racism doesn't exist—but not surprising. The reactions to Bey's "Formation" and Super Bowl performance are, if anything, a testament to how deeply embedded racism still is. 

As an ally, I won't stand for it. "Formation" may not be about or for me, but that doesn't matter. Black lives matter, and Beyoncé's bold and powerful black performances matter. 

Nearly 200 students at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. have been affected by a stomach virus outbreak that began on Tuesday night. According to Philly.com, 22 students have required hospitalization. The Montgomery County Health Department is currently trying to determine the cause of the sickness, which at one point seemed to originate in the campus dining hall. Campus officials closed the dining hall on Wednesday in order to gather more information on the origin of the illness, but it reopened on Thursday night after being given an all-clear.

As of now, classes have been cancelled until Monday while health officials work to sanitize all buildings. WPVI-TV reports that students are going home for the weekend to escape the illness-ridden campus. Earlier this week, students began falling ill and reaching out to the campus health center about their symptoms. By Wednesday, over 100 students, staff, and faculty members were experiencing vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. 

"It is common at this time of year for gastrointestinal illnesses (GI), such as Norovirus, more commonly known as the stomach bug, to be circulating in the community, particularly in institutions like colleges and long-term care facilities where people are living in close quarters," the Montgomery County Health Department wrote in an email to USA Today College. Norovirus may sound familiar from late last year, when more than 100 Boston College students came down with it after eating at a local Chipotle.

The Montgomery County Health department is still investigating the cause of the outbreak, though it may take up to a week for the results to be revealed.

Can you believe that no Democratic debate had ever been moderated by women alone? Well, that was true—up until last night. History was made when PBS NewsHours co-hosts Judy Woodruff and Gwen Ifill hosted Thursday's Democratic debate.

It may shock you to find out just how few women have actually gotten to moderate debates. While Time reports there were women involved in debates in 1972, 1984 and 1992, that was...well, that was it. Until 2012, when a petition was created that called for the “inclusion of women."

Woodruff and Ifill both have impressive histories in political journalism, according to International Business Times. Both have moderated vice presidential debates, and have covered elections for years as journalists. They also became the first all-female anchor team on a U.S. network in 2013, when they where appointed the anchors of PBS NewsHour.

But it is not just the Democratic party that is making history; last month Sandra Smith and Trish Regan were the first-all woman team to moderate a GOP debate. And Megyn Kelly has been frequently in the news for her role as a moderator for Fox News, pissing off Donald Trump so much with a question about sexism that he refused to attend the next debate she moderated. It's about time women took a bigger role in the presidential debates, especially with women taking the debate stage on both sides of the party line—Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nominee and Carly Fiorina for the Republican nominee (though she just dropped out). Let's keep up the good work, America. 

Ryan Reynolds had quite the response when Entertainment Weekly asked if he would ever want a son. Without even a moment’s hesitation, People's Sexiest Dad Alive dove into his explanation of why he “loves being surrounded by estrogen.”

As we already expected, his reasoning has a lot to do with his little girl, James: "Having a daughter was a dream come true for me…I never admitted it out loud, to myself or my wife, but I really wanted a little girl. It's the best."

Reynolds also erased any doubt we had that James could be an only child: "If I could have nine daughters, I would be thrilled…I wonder if we’ll have a boy one day, I wonder how that’ll go.” We personally wouldn’t object to a half-Lively, half-Reynolds boy walking around. Fingers crossed!

Ah, Valentine’s day. Love is in the air. The birds are singing; the flowers are blooming, and you--Well, you literally couldn’t care less. Here are 15 signs that you DGAF about Cupid’s holiday!

1. The only thing you’re counting down are the days until all that chocolate goes on sale

2. You get confused for a second when your friends start talking about the upcoming holiday

They know Easter isn’t for a while, right?

3. People complaining about needing a date annoy you

4. You’re excited to binge watch Netflix roommate is gone for the night...

5. ...Or you’re dreading the upcoming sexile

But hey, you can always take your pajamas and laptop to the library!

6. Valentine’s-related Twitter and Instagram hashtags are lost on you

Pretty much the only trending tag that fully makes sense to you right now is #NationalPizzaDay

7. You’re excited for the real holiday this week... President’s Day!

8. You know a last-minute Tinder Valentine's Day date isn't something you want to try out

A Valentine's date seems like a lot of pressure to put on a stranger. 

9. Taking a page from Leslie Knope, your Galentine’s Day preparations are well underway

10. With all the pressure already on you because of midterms, you’re glad you don’t have to go out and buy a gift or plan a date

11. If you’re in a relationship, you and your S/O are glad to be chilling out super casually this weekend

12. The overly pink and heart-themed designs everywhere, from the mall to the drugstore, and it’s making you feel a little bit Scroogey about the holiday

13. You’re still wishing Cupid’s arrow would land on someone... Like maybe the entire financial aid department at your school

14. You don’t bother ordering flowers for yourself today. You treat yourself on the regular

...Buuut maybe it would be nice to splurge a little extra today)!

15. Pity party? More like pizza party

Can everyone stop with this “Single Awareness Day (S.A.D.) nonsense already?!

Romantic comedies can be amazing chick flicks—but let’s be real, they’re completely unrealistic. Here are five problems every romantic comedy lover experiences:

1. Rom com characters do NOT exist in real life

I am not ashamed to admit that I am madly in love with a myriad of romantic comedies’ best leading men. There’s Noah Calhoun, of The Notebook, who fell for a girl and simply wouldn’t take no for an answer—but in a non-creepy and totally heartfelt way. Then there’s Graham of The Holiday, whose favorite girls were not other women, but in fact his two adorable daughters. There’s also Kevin Doyle of 27 Dresses, who is actually not a cynic but a man in need of love. There are so many more. Don’t get me wrong. I really do enjoy falling for these fictional characters, but they are just that: fictional.

Falling for these men will never lead me anywhere. While it’s a great way to pass time on the elliptical, in bed or in the shower, it just won’t happen. They won’t take me out to dinner, meet my friends and someday marry me. So in the end, fun as it is, it’s time and energy that perhaps would be better spent on a real man.

2. Leading men don’t actually exist

No one in real life can ever be that good, because “that good” does not exist. The men in these movies are dreamt up to be the perfect guy, and then played by incredibly attractive actors. Realistically, I know this, but it is still a disappointment each time I have to face the fact that no one is going to hold a boom box up to my window.

Odds are that I will not be chased down for a date, followed across the world or written to every day for 365 days because a man is hopelessly in love with me.  These movies that I love so much have created my dream man and he’s fictional, and that is heartbreaking. 

3. Rom coms are always just a little too perfect

It seems as though in movies, the guy someone just knows when his lady needs something. She’s having a rough day? There he is with ice cream, his amazing body and of course a bottle of vodka. She didn’t have to tell him she was sad. He just knew. Not only can they tell when you are hurting, but they also know exactly what you need to feel better.

This makes the idea of having to actually tell people when you need something feel like a let down. I have found myself more than once wishing that whoever I was with at the time could just tell when I needed them. Unfortunately, this always just ends up with me feeling silly for thinking that a guy could ever know what I wanted without me telling him.

4. Don’t compare your real life BFF to the movie BFFs

Movie best friends never seem to be busy. They are pretty much just sitting around waiting for their best friend to call them, or even better, they just show up at their house. They, like the boyfriend, also have mind reading abilities. They can sense when their girl is down, and are always available to make her feel better.

The first is when the friend shows up at the door in cutesy pajamas with some strong alcohol, a movie and chocolate, and says something along the lines of “tell me everything.” This is typically followed by a musical compilation of scenes in which the two friends laugh, drink and just have an incredible girls night. The second option is when the friend once again shows up at the door using her mind reading powers, holding a stunning dress and saying something like “we are going out.” This too is then followed with music and scenes of the friends looking hot on a dance floor somewhere, also with large quantities of alcohol.

Now, I don’t know about you, but my friends cannot read minds. In addition to this, they have their own lives. As great as my girls are, they can’t drop everything they have going on to take me out when something goes wrong in my life. If all my friends did this every time shit hit the fan in another friend’s life, we would always be drunk. Still, it would be nice if friends were around whenever you were hurting, and to be able to still look gorgeous in the process. It would also be nice to live in some alternate universe where chocolate and alcohol don’t mess with the impeccable body all leading ladies seem to have, but beggars can’t be choosers.

5. You can’t change a bad boy

We all know these movies. The one where the girl falls for a guy who she knows is bad news. She knows he is a player, he cannot commit, he is just trouble and all her friends tell her so. Still, she just knows he is different. After a few emotional scenes with dramatic music, where the girl swears she is done with him, he realizes she is all he ever wanted, and he changes. Sure, he was against monogamy before, but that was when he didn’t know her. He didn’t realize how incredibly deep and interesting she was. 

This though is not the case. It is not possible to change people. If they change, it is because they wanted to. Going into a relationship with the idea that the person can be changed is never a good plan.

There’s a lot to love about rom coms—but we shouldn’t be using them to forge our expectations for our love lives anytime soon. 

If you’re looking for a festive way to cook up some Valentine’s Day fun, look no further! We came up with a list of easy recipes for the sweet people in your life. Whether you’re spending the night with the girls or looking to surprise that special someone, we’ve got the yummiest ways to show your love.  

1. Valentine Heart Kebabs

Recipe from Parents

Ingredients

• 1 cantaloupe
• 1 honeydew melon
• 1/2 watermelon
• 1 6-ounce container plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Directions

1. Cut fruit into 1-inch-thick slices. Using a small, heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut hearts from melon slices. Poke a hole in each heart with a toothpick, going from top to bottom. Then, thread popsicle sticks.
2. Stir together yogurt, orange juice concentrate and honey until well combined. Serve with hearts.

2. Heart in a Basket: Egg and Toast

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• Slice of bread
• 3 teaspoons butter
• 1 egg
• 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter

Directions

1. Using a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, remove the center of a thick slice of bread and toast it. Melt 1 ½ teaspoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
2. Place bread slice in skillet and cook until underside if lightly browned. Add another 1 ½ teaspoon butter and flip bread. Fit cookie cutter, coated with cooking spray, in bread’s cutout heart, and crack an egg into cutter.
3. Cover skillet and cook until egg is set, 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to remove cutter. Serve with toasted heart for dipping into yolk.

3. Rasmopolitan

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) raspberry-flavored vodka
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Chambord
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
• Raspberries for decoration

Directions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodkas, Chambord, lime juice, simple syrup and cranberry juice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass.
2. Garnish with raspberries; serve.

4. Chicken Noodle and Heart Soup

Recipe from Sophistimom

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 large carrots, cut into hearts (see instructions below)
• 1 medium onion
• 2 celery stalks, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
• 2 stalks fresh thyme (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 large sage leaves (optional)
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 2-3 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• Pinch cayenne pepper (use your own discretion)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 pound small pasta, such as farfalle or rotini, cooked for about 1 minute less than the recommended cooking time
• Fresh parsley

Directions

1. Peel the carrots. Then, use a paring knife to cut out a notch all the way down the length of a carrot. Remove the little wedge.
2. Use a potato peeler to gently round off the pointed edges.
3. Flip the carrot over, and shave off wide peels on each side of the bottom of the heart. Keep peeling until the two sides meet in a point.
4. Cut it into slices. Repeat with the rest of the carrots.

Directions

1. In a large pot set over medium-low heat, combine olive oil, carrot hearts, diced onion, celery, thyme (both kinds), bay leaf and sage. Sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes).
2. Add in stock, 1 cup of water and vinegar. Add in cayenne pepper, and bring to a boil. After about 20 minutes, check the soup for flavor, and add more water, salt and pepper as necessary.
3. In each individual bowl, place the desired amount of chicken and pasta, cover with a ladle of the soup and top with parsley.

5. Homemade Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

Recipe from Baked Bree

Ingredients

• 3 packets unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 vanilla bean (seeded)

Directions

1. Pour 1/2 cup of water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the packages of gelatin over the water. Give it a whisk. Let the mixture sit while you make the sugar syrup.
2. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat; do not stir this mixture.
3. Once the sugar dissolves, raise the heat to medium-high and cook until a candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Put the gelatin mixture and the scraped vanilla seeds into the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment.
5. Slowly pour the sugar mixture into the mixer while on low speed.
6. Whip on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes. It will have gained volume and turned bright white. Add the vanilla.
7. Dust the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan with powdered sugar. Be very generous with the sugar, or you will never get the marshmallow out of the pan.
8. Pour the marshmallow out and smooth.
9. Let the pan sit out, uncovered, overnight.
10. The next day, cut out using a sharp knife, or cookie cutters.
11. Dip the cookie cutters into powdered sugar so that you can get them out. Also, dust the marshmallows again (especially the sides) so they do not stick together.

6. Pizza Made With Love

Recipe from Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 prepared pizza dough
• Your favorite sauce
• Fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and sliced
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Your favorite toppings

Directions

1. Preheat oven and a pizza stone to 550 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one hour. Have dough in a lightly greased bowl covered with a towel while oven is preheating.
2. Place pizza dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper.
3. Stretch dough into a heart shape. Trim with a knife as needed.
4. Spread sauce over dough and top with favorite cheese and toppings.
5. Use a cookie cutter to punch a heart shape out of a red bell pepper.
6. Transfer pizza and parchment (will help keep the heart shape) to the hot pizza stone.
7. Cook 8-10 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is bubbly.

7. Conversation Heart Cookies

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Note: You’ll need to make the icing before the hearts.

Royal icing ingredients

• 2 pounds confectioner's sugar, sifted
• 10 tablespoons meringue powder
• 1 cup water

Royal icing directions

1. Combine confectioner's sugar and meringue powder in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
2. Mix on low speed until combined, about 1 minute.  With mixer on low, gradually add water. 
3. Mix on low until smooth and the consistency of thick honey, about 5 minutes. Do not overbeat.
4. If icing is too thick, add more water, a little at a time, beating to desired consistency. If icing is too thin, continue mixing for 2 to 3 minutes more.
5. Icing will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 week. Stir with a rubber spatula before using.

Conversation hearts ingredients

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for surface                                                                                
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder                                                                                                          
• 1/4 teaspoon salt                                                                                                                        
• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened                                                                                    
• 1 cup sugar                                                                                                                                    
• 1 large egg                                                                                                                                     
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Royal icing                                                                                                                                
• Gel-paste food coloring (such as leaf green, lemon yellow, peach, red, rose and violet)

Conversation hearts directions

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
2. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy.
3. With mixer running, add egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low.
4. Add flour mixture gradually, beating until just incorporated.
5. Divide dough in half; flatten each half into a disk and wrap each in plastic.
6. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour (or overnight).
7. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in top third and lower third.
8. Let 1 disk of dough stand at room temperature just until soft enough to roll, about 10 minutes.
9. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to just under 1/4-inch thickness, adding more flour as needed to keep dough from sticking.
10. Cut out cookies with a 2-inch heart cutter, and place them 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
11. Roll out scraps once and repeat.
12. Repeat with remaining disk of dough.
13. Freeze cookies until very firm, about 15 minutes.
14. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through and switching from top to bottom, until edges turn golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes.
15. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies will keep, covered, for up to 1 week.
16. Divide royal icing into 1/2-cup portions in small bowls.
17. Tint each with a different gel paste food coloring, starting with just a drop, mixing well, and adding more, drop by drop, to reach desired shade.
18. Transfer 1 bowl of icing to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/8-inch round plain tip. Pipe the outline around edge of each cookie, then fill in with frosting. Poke air bubbles with a toothpick.
19. Transfer decorated cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and let stand uncovered overnight until dry.
20. Arrange stamp letters to create desired phrases. Fold a paper towel into quarters.
21. Squeeze a small amount of red gel-paste food coloring onto a paper towel, and press stamp in coloring. (You may need to blot stamp a few times on a clean paper towel if coloring is too thick.)
22. Lightly press stamp on top of icing in center of each cookie.
23. Let stand until dry, about 30 minutes.
24. Stamped cookies will keep, covered, for up to 3 days.

8. Champagne Fondue

Recipe from Examiner.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups champagne or sparkling wine
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
• 2 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• Pinch ground white pepper

Directions

1. Toss the grated gruyere cheese with the flour and set aside.  In a large saucepan, heat the champagne and the shallots until the mixture boils.
2. Reduce heat to medium and add the cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is almost completely melted.
3. Add approximately 1/2 cup of the Gruyere cheese and continue to stir until the Gruyere is almost melted. Continue adding the gruyere in 1/2 cup portions until all the gruyere has been added. The fondue may look lumpy, but it will become smooth as the cheeses melt.
4. Add the Parmesan and the nutmeg and continue to stir. Increase the heat to high and continue to stir until the mixture slowly bubbles.
5. Continue to cook until the fondue is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season to taste with the pepper and serve.

Love hasn't come easy to Khloe Kardashian. After her recent breakup with James Harden, she's looking for romance in a new place: online. But there's no Tinder-loving for Khloe (...although we all know the Kardashians are all about secret social media profiles). Instead, she's turning to OkCupid to find her next bae... just like many of us might have been known to do post-breakup.

She revealed her profile on her blog. Her photo is giving us major beauty envy—those braids! Those lashes! Those brows!

But as glam as she looks, the rest of her profile shows that beneath it all, she's just an everyday girl:

Self Summary: Taking every day as it comes.

The First Thing People Notice About Me: My friend Malika says, “My eyes”

Favorite Books, Movies, Shows, Music, and Food: My favorite book is “The Coldest Winter.” My favorite movie is “Troop Beverly Hills.” My favorite TV show is “Sex and the City.” R&B music is my jam, and I can’t get enough Italian food.

I Spend a Lot of Time Thinking About: My family.

On a Typical Friday Night I Am: Working or hanging out with my nieces and nephews: Penelope, Mason, Reign, Saint and North!

The Most Private Thing I’m Willing to Admit: I always, always have Hot Tamales in my nightstand! I’m actually going to eat some right now.

Somehow, we're not convinced that Khloe will find her next great love on OkCupid—but girl, you do you.

It's no question that when it comes to style, Kendall Jenner has it. What we love most about her is her ability to pull off just about any look, from tomboy to feminine to high-fashion. That's why she's the perfect icon to look to when you're trying to put together an outfit. We're taking a look through some of her top fashion moments and picking out all the perfect Valentine's Day looks.

1. Playful romper

Perfect for the girly girl, this spotted romper is equal parts playful and sexy. Love the choker? Get a similar look with this floral number from ASOS ($38).

2. Casual dress

Not having an over-the-top date night? Opt for something that's simple and chic, like this easy one-and-done dress that cinches in at the waist. Opt for Kendall's look and pair the dress with booties, or if you need to be a little fancier, throw on your favorite pair of heels!

3. Off-the-shoulder

This off-the-shoulder beauty is just the right amount of sexy! We love the way she wore the dress with super high, strappy heels—you can find a similar pair at Nasty Gal ($88).

4. Chunky sweater

Still cold af where you are? A chunky turtleneck and a sleek midi skirt with a up-to-there leg slit is the way to go. Add pumps, and you've got an outfit!

Two teenage girls were shot and killed early Friday morning in what appeared to be a murder-suicide, according to ABC 15.

The shooting occured at Glendale's Independence High School around 8 a.m., and caused the school to go on lockdown.

ABC 15 reported that the situation was contained, and not considered an "active shooter situation." As a result, investigators are not actively searching for a potential shooter, and have no one in custody for the fatalities.

According to CNN, a suicide note was found near the bodies, and detectives believe the girls were in a relationship.

Independence High School is reeling after the tragedy, Azcentral.com reports. Both girls were well-liked, and one, identified as May Kieu, was the sister of a teacher at the school.

"They were both amazing people," J.C. Robertson, a junior at Independence, told Azcentral.com. "I walked home crying my eyes out."

"Our hearts and minds are with the families who lost their children today," the principal of Independence wrote in a letter to parents. "We offer our deepest condolences. As an Independence community we will support the families and each other."

We all remember the iconic day when the new iPhone update gifted us with tons of new emojis, (we're still obsessing over the unicorn & taco emojis!) and, recently, an app was created to give us Kim Kardashian emojis to send to our group chats. 

Ben Gillin is an American designer who had some strong feelings about society's unhealthy obsession over the Kardashians, mainly Kim. When he saw that there was a set of emojis made for her, he decided to find a new "Kim" to recreate via tiny cartoon caricatures, according to The New York Times.

These emojis, available to download as an app, were made to mock the Kim Kardashian emojis. Gillin wanted to show how ridiculous he felt her image was by replacing her with another Kim, Kim Jong-un. The emojis show the North Korean ruler doing some of the same things Kardashian did in her emojis. He's seen crying, laughing, and even pictured as a full body character. 

One of the emojis features former N.B.A. star Dennis Rodman, who claimed he became friends with Kim Jong-un after singing him "Happy Birthday" at a basketball game back in 2014.

Jong-un and Kardashian share more than a name—They share being ridiculed on the internet as well, and Gillin chose to use that to his advantage. In recent years, Jong-un has become a sort of on-going joke on the internet. This seemed to peak when the movie The Interview came out in 2014 and based its entire plot around making fun of North Korea and its ruler. 

As hilarious as these emojis are, they should be seen while keeping Gillin's intentions in mind. He didn't create them to honor Kim Jong-un, but rather to show how outrageous he feels it is to idolize a person for the wrong reasons, to the extent that there are emojis of them. 

"Kim Jong-un is obviously a terrible person, but in some respects what the Kimoji app is doing to society is also terrible," Gillin told the BBC.

So, do you agree with Gillin—Are emojis for celebrities taking it a step too far?

Twitter has introduced a new algorithmic timeline option that allows users to modify their timelines to highlight tweets, with the tweets that Twitter thinks you'll want to see the most showing up first. 

"You follow hundreds of people on Twitter—maybe thousands—and when you open Twitter, it can feel like you've missed some of their most important Tweets," wrote senior engineering manager Mike Jahr in a blog post for Twitter. "Today, we're excited to share a new timeline feature that helps you catch up on the best Tweets from people you follow."

Last week, BuzzFeed reported on the change, and Twitter users had kind of a meltdown once they learned that the site would be introducing a more Facebook-style timeline, ditching the traditional display of tweets in reverse chronological order. Not surprisingly, this revelation resulted in the formation of a hashtag: #RIPTwitter.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey made sure to calm everyone's nerves by clarifying that the change won't be nearly as drastic as people think it will be, and it certainly doesn't mean that traditional timeline is gone for good. 

This change may come as a reaction to the recent halt in Twitter's user growth. On Wednesday, the site revealed that its number of monthly visitors in the fourth quarter totaled the exact same amount of monthly visitors reported in the previous quarter—320 million. The algorithm was probably introduced as part of a plan to attract new users and to increase engagement. 

One way to think about this is by thinking about it as a more amplified version of the "While you were away" feature that was introduced last year. But, whether you're for or against the change, the good news is that it's completely optional and you can turn it off if you're not too fond of it. 

"Here's how it works," Jahr writes. "You flip on the feature in your settings; then when you open Twitter after being away for a while, the Tweets you're mostly likely to care about will appear at the top of your timeline—still recent and in reverse chronological order. The rest of the Tweets will be displayed right underneath, also in reverse chronological order, as always."

As you've likely already heard, a long-awaited Gilmore Girls revival from Netflix is underway. While fans were arguing about which guy is best for Rory (Jess, obviously), they may have missed that another beloved Gilmore Girls couple is set to appear. That's right—Rory's BFF Paris will be reunited with her one true soulmate Doyle in the upcoming reboot. 

Related: The Return of Rory's Boyfriends Changes Everything About the 'Gilmore Girls' Revival

Danny Strong, aka Doyle, posted this picture with Paris Geller herself, Liza Weil, on Instagram this week. Don't they look just as adorable together now as they did on the original series? We can only hope this fantastic image means the power couple has been ruling the world in the nearly nine years since the show was canceled. 

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that the revival just wouldn't be the same without Paris and Doyle. 

Any guesses about what these two have been up to since we last saw them?

If you've ever stepped inside a Whole Foods store, you know that it's essentially hipster heaven, but in the best way possible. It has every type of health food you can think of, and then the ones that you can't (Ever heard of chicken lemon kale sausage? Whole Foods has). The only problem is that it's very expensive—much too expensive for your average college student trying to save money wherever possible.

Well, recently Whole Foods announced that they'll soon be opening a second chain of stores called 365 by Whole Foods. These will still be healthy grocery stores, much like Whole Foods, but will have more inexpensive items to better fit the budgets of most of their current shoppers.

In order to get even more people into these new stores, Whole Food plans on introducing a program called Friends of 365. This will involve small businesses being invited to sell their products or services to 365 shoppers. The intruiging thing is that 365 seems to be considering having tattoo parlors setting up in these stores as well!

And that's not the only surprise you can expect to see while perusing the produce aisles at 365. The company website says, "Friends of 365 may be any type of business — from food and drinks to fashion, body care products, services, and more. (Record shop? Tattoo parlor? Maybe!)." That "Maybe!" is what we're zeroing in on. We can only imagine some of the outrageously cool shops 365 will welcome.

Whether you’ve been involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, standing with Mizzou, or picketing for Planned Parenthood, Collegiettes all over the United States are protesting—more than they have in decades.

A UCLA survey found that today’s students are way more interested in politics and civic engagement than they have been in 50 years. Among the 141,000 college freshman surveyed, almost 10 percent of students said that they expected to participate in protests—And that number grew among black students, “one of six of whom said they expect to demonstrate,” according to The Washington Post. Similarly, about 60 percent of students planned to vote while in college. This is nearly 6 percent higher than last year.

“The protests on college campuses as well as communities in Ferguson, Baltimore and elsewhere really resonated with freshmen,” said Kevin Eagan, the director of UCLA’s Cooperative Institutional Research Program, according to the Post.

College students are also a lot more liberal than they used to be. The majority “supported same-sex marriage, abortion rights, affirmative action, legalization of marijuana and equal pay for women,” according to The LA Times.

Student activism seems reviving at colleges around the U.S. With issues of civil rights, reproductive rights, immigration coming to a head with the 2016 election, protesting is more important now than ever for making our voices heard.

What we are about to tell you is not going to be easy, so you might want to sit down. A Friends reboot is not happening. Ever. 

Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane broke the news, yet again, when they told The Hollywood Reporter that an official reboot of the series will never happen. The show, which aired its final episode in 2004 after ten years on the air, concluded as the creators had intended, Crane says. “To revisit those characters just seems like a bad idea — you don’t want to see them hang­ing out in the coffeehouse now.”

Kaufman added, “It will never happen, but no one tends to believe me. It shouldn’t happen. That show is about a time in your life when your friends are your family. Once you start having a family, that time of your life is over.”

*Cue all the feels and tears* 

We suppose the NBC reunion special—airing February 1st—will have to be enough. But even that is a little disappointing because no Chandler. How do we file a complaint about all of this?

Remember the good old days when Valentine’s Day was all about bringing candy to your elementary school classroom and exchanging Disney Princess-themed cards? There was no pressure, no stress, and no expectations—just a sugar rush that rivaled the one you had on Halloween. But fast-forward ten years and (if you’re a single collegiette) the holiday becomes a dreaded day of self-pitying, eating chocolate that your imaginary boyfriend bought you, and glaring at that couple holding hands. Lucky for you, it doesn't have to be that way this year. If the only spooning you’ll be doing this Valentine’s Day is into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, read on to find out how to spend the holiday of love solo—and enjoy it!

Pamper yourself

Who says you need a king to make you feel like a queen? Follow in the footsteps of Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation and Treat Yo Self by primping and indulging in all your guilty pleasures. Get a manicure. Make a DIY facemask and listen to your favorite Pandora station while it sinks in. Moisturize away all the damage that winter has done to your skin. Deep condition your hair. Finally take the time to shave your legs—especially if you can’t even remember the last time you did (…uh, summer?). Get that Frappuccino at Starbucks that you usually pass on.  Do whatever you want to do because this Valentine’s Day you can have your cake and eat it too—and go back for another slice.

Have a movie marathon. . . 

...But ditch all the classic Rom-coms that will remind you that you’re Forever Alone. Instead, opt for comedies. Invite over your other single friends, make some popcorn, sit back and relax, and laugh until your stomach hurts (or maybe that’s from all the chocolate…whoops). There’s nothing wrong with re-watching a movie you’ve seen a hundred times, like Mean Girls, Superbad, Bridesmaids, or Wedding Crashers (or maybe re-watch The 40 Year Old Virgin to remind yourself that things could be worse). Looking for something more recent that you never got around to seeing in theatres? Try Boyhood or The Skeleton Twins. Don’t have enough time for a movie marathon, or even just one movie? Watch an episode of your favorite TV show!

Teach yourself the “Single Ladies” dance

Bonus points if you dance along to the video wearing a black leotard and heels. Even better if you dance alongside your other single ladies!

Host a potluck dinner

While your wifed-up friends are having candlelit dinners with their significant others, you can host a delicious potluck dinner. Whether you live in an apartment, house, or dorm room, invite friends over for a potluck dinner. Designate different people to bring an appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. If your crew is lacking cooking skills or kitchen access, check out this list of meals you can make in the microwave for easy, convenient ideas. Or, snag food from the dining hall or different restaurants on campus and pretend you made it. Bon appétit!

Read up

When was the last time you’ve read? Not a textbook, or an article for class, or your Facebook newsfeed, but a book you actually want to read. Reading for pleasure is hard to fit into a busy schedule, but it can be so relaxing—and it can take your mind off of the roses and teddy bears and candy hearts invading your day. Deena*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, renewed her love of reading over winter break with Gone Girl, a recently published novel by Gillian Flynn. “I could not put it down. I highly recommend it,” she says. Whether it’s a new bestseller, a Chelsea Handler book, a raunchy Fifty Shades Of Grey-esque story, or even a magazine, pick up something to read. Even if it’s just for the 20 minutes you would be spending scrolling through Instagram, it’ll make you feel better. 

Indulge in some retail therapy

You don't even have to buy anything; window-shopping or online browsing is therapy too. Spring is right around the corner, so get a head start on planning how you want to update your wardrobe. Check out this article on the timeless rules of style for ideas! 

Work it out

Just because you’re single doesn't mean you shouldn't get any action on Valentine’s Day… in the gym, that is. “Exercising is a great way to blow off steam, clear your mind, and feel good about yourself,” says Cate*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan. “If I’m ever in a bad mood or stressed, I go on a run and always feel better after.” Try something fun you’ve never done before, like Zumba. Don’t feel like trekking to the gym? You can work out in your room. And if you equate exercise with torture or are just feeling super sluggish, something low-impact and relaxing like yoga can do the trick.

Do something nice for someone 

The holiday is all about celebrating love, so you might as well use it as an opportunity to show the people in your life that you care about them. Even if it’s something small, like calling your Grandma who you haven’t talked to in weeks, or treating your friend to fro-yo, you’ll feel good about it and so will they—it’s a win-win! You could even find a volunteering or community service event on campus that day and get a group of friends together to go help out. 

Have a girls’ night out

Nice restaurant, frat party, your favorite bar, concert, dance club, student-produced play—your options are endless. However you and your friends like to have fun, make the most of Valentine’s Night by dressing up and going out. Try a new place you’ve been meaning to go to, or look online to find out if anything exciting is going on around campus or in the area. You may even get some free drinks out of it; single guys get lonely on this holiday too! Wherever you go, make sure to make a reservation in advance if possible!

In the words of Sam Adams (the rapper, not the beer), “Single doesn't mean I’m looking for somebody.” College isn’t about getting an MRS. degree. You have your whole life to find love—take the time you have now to discover yourself, have new experiences, grow and be independent, and make amazing friends. Recognizing all the reasons you love flying solo will remind you that it’s nothing to mope about.

However you choose to celebrate, make this Valentine’s Day a good one.  When you think about how great being single in college really is, you’ll be digging into that Ben & Jerry’s in celebration, not self-pity.