The 2017 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit, or Met Gala, as it's most often referred to, has come to an end! Among its star-studded red carpet were some truly gorgeous gowns, and even more beautiful hairstyles. Some of the loveliest of all were created by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, and now I'm going to let you in on exactly how to recreate them yourself! Formal inspo, anyone?
Bella Hadid
Bella's look was all about smoothing down flyaways and amping up the shine. Starting with damp, clean hair, Jen recommends prepping with a volumizing spray. On Bella, she used Ouai Wave Spray and Christopher Robin Instant Volumizing Mist to nourish hair follicles and create some hold.
Next, she blow-dried her hair on medium heat using a 1-inch round brush. After drying, she bended the ends of the hair inward with a 1.5-inch curling iron (tip: a straightener can be used to create the same effect)!
If you're re-creating the look, set the style with a bit of hairspray. For Bella, Jen used Marula Rare Oil Perfecting Hair Spray. For long-lasting shine, apply a few drops of Ouai Hair Oil to the bottom half of the hair.
Lastly, Jen teased the hair around the root for added volume, and applied Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil to fill in any gaps in the hairline.
Next, use a smoothing nozzle on your hairdryer to dry hair straight on high heat. Then, use a flatiron to straighten your hair once more.
To conquer flyaways and add a healthy glow, use a hair oil just on the tips of the hair. Shea Moisture makes a great 100 percent argan oil product, and it's affordable, at only $9.99. Next, whip out the hairspray and comb all your hair back away from your face.
For extra hold that will last all evening, use Ouai's Matte Pomade to smooth hair down, and you're done! If you want to truly channel Chrissy, you can adorn yourself with an ethereal hair accessory from Jennifer Behr's collection.
Kendall Jenner
Unlike with Bella and Chrissy's styles, Jen opted for a more textured, tousled look for Kendall.
Taking Ouai's Wave Spray and Bumble and Bumble Gel, prime damp hair in sections to achieve a wet and glossy look. Then, dry hair with a diffuser attachment on high heat.
With a 1-inch curling iron, add some bend starting from just above the ear. Add Ouai Hair Oil from top to bottom for mega shine.
Pro Tip: Apply the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Palette Duo or a similar brow powder to fill in the hairline. According to Jen, it helps hair photograph better!
Selena Gomez and The Weeknd reportedly reached another major milestone at the Met Gala on Monday night. Not only did they make their first public appearance as a couple on the red (or should I say blue and cream?) carpet, but according to E! Online, Selena whispered an “I love you” into her man’s ear.
E! reported overhearing the profession of love as the inseparable couple posed for photos. Glamour points out there's no audio or video evidence to prove this actually happened, but what's a little thing like "evidence" got to do with the joy we're all feeling right now?
Pictures from news outlets and Gomez’s Instagram prove the pair are not afraid of a little (or a lot of) PDA. We're certainly not complaining, though.
A 21-year-old man was arrested for wounding three students and killing one in a stabbing at the University of Texas on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The suspect, Kendrex J. White, was a biology major at the university.
Students were standing outside of the school's Gregory Gym when at least four male students were stabbed. One student, Rachel Prichett, told the AP that White was standing right next to her before he stabbed someone behind her. "He grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved the knife in it. I just started running as fast as I could," Prichett said.
.@UTAustin#UT student who was arms length from the stabber just spoke to me. Says stabber was "eerily calm," he stabbed a student right next to her. pic.twitter.com/c2j51RyQiR
Other students ran away as well, screaming and warning other people in the area. First-year student Harrison Brown died at the scene, and the other three taken to the hospital have not been identified. Once the University of Texas Police arrived at the gym, they approached White and arrested him.
Austin Police said in a live press conference Tuesday morning that White was an individual "suffering from a mental health issue" and was "recently involuntarily committed." They cannot find anything that suggests he was targeting specific people or groups. This makes it even harder for police to find a motive for the stabbings.
Those who knew White suspected something was wrong. One of his classmates told Dallas News that White missed almost a month of Spanish class, and KVUE reported that in April, he was arrested for driving under the influence. Unfortunately, no one mentions discussing White's mental health or offering help to him. It's unclear if teachers, deans or advisors reached out to White after his unusual behavior. Until more information is released on White, no one will know if that would have made a difference.
Starbucks has come up with yet another specialty drink, according to Refinery29. In the past few weeks, Starbucks has released the Unicorn Frappuccino, a “sweet pink powder, mango syrup and sour blue drizzle” confection and the Dragon Frappuccino, which is a “green tea [frappucino] with vanilla bean powder and berry swirl.” These drinks come in eye-popping neon colors and unusual flavor combinations, making them great for Instagram, but less great for getting your caffeine fix or, you know, enjoying what you're drinking.
The Midnight Mint Mocha (which is honestly hard to say all at once) is a little different. Starbucks describes the drink as a “beautiful layered beverage starts with scoops of extra-dark cocoa blended with coffee, milk and ice, infused with cooling mint sugar crystals and cut with a layer of whipped cream.” And they didn’t forget the finishing touch, as the drink “is then topped with more whipped cream and a dusting of dark cocoa."
“We were inspired by thoughts of dark starry nights, looking up at the sky with a cool summer breeze,” says a Starbucks beverage development team member. Starbucks knows it’s only a matter of time before moody drinks dominate the Instagram Explore page, I guess.
Starbucks girl hooked it up with a venti midnight mint mocha. Probably my new favorite drink now. pic.twitter.com/7pee4vGvro
The new frappucino is available in select stores starting Tuesday, May 2, along with the returning S’mores Frappuccino. Now we just have to decide on the best filter to highlight all that dark, chocolatey goodness.
No matter what they wear, Mary-Kate and Ashley always turn heads, but at the Met Gala, they finally wore colors instead of all black! Mary-Kate wore a beige lacey gown, while Ashley wore a lacey white number, pairing it with an embroidered jacket.
I'm digging the fact that the twins look like a couple of badass witches from the best coven on the block. From their hair and makeup to their oufits, they just seem so confident.
As Cosmopolitan points out, both of their looks seem to be inspired by their previous outfits at the 2005 Met Gala, especially Mary-Kate's lace gown and chunky jewelry. MK is her own inspiration, and we all have something to learn from that.
I will forever be an Olsen Twin fan. I grew up with these girls, therefore I am obessed with them, and I would totally join their coven.
The Met Gala is all about being daring and celebrating fashion. Celebrities show up in beautiful and out-of-the ordinary outfits, and it's magical. As celebrities slay the carpet, we have to make do with lurking on Twitter. Well, a Twitter user decided to cure her FOMO by creating Met Gala outfits at home and sharing a short video on Twitter. Quenlin Blackwell made her DIY haute couture look good though with her killer catwalk.
The teen wrote, "I wasn't able to make it to The #MetGala but here are my outfits for the event!!..These looks took YEARS to create." She won the internet's heart in only 38 seconds. Not even Jaden Smith holding his dreads or Rihanna's incredible dress got this much Internet love! Quenlin got over 90,000 likes on Twitter and people are trying get her on the actual Met carpet next year. Make it happen, Twittersphere!
I wasn't able to make it to The #MetGala but here are my outfits for the event!!..These looks took YEARS to create. pic.twitter.com/6jXnpRdTCB
Your big day is almost here. Or maybe it’s a semester or two away, but you’re a perfectionist so you’re already planning for it. Regardless, your graduation day is on the horizon. Although all the stress of studying for finals and finishing class assignments is drawing to close, you’re just beginning to worry about what you’re going to wear under your graduation gown. Luckily, your horoscope can help you figure about what you should wear to graduation.
Capricorns are innately responsible and serious individuals. Because you're an Earth sign, you typically aren’t attracted to material items, which can makes your fashion sense very eco-friendly, but you still have realistic plans about your style budget. You’ll likely be wearing a flowy dress from the H&M Conscious Collection. Being the environmentally-friendly fashionista that you are, you also probably have a fascination for floral designs.
Aquarius
You’re an independent spirit, though others might dub you stubborn. But you’re definitely just independent. Regardless, your independence is a part of your best and worst qualities. Because you love diligently planning, you love working, as the professional world is very organized. Naturally, your career is also what inspired your professional style. Likely, you will rock an elegant fit-and-flare dress with capped sleeves to graduation. Thankfully if you have a dress malfunction, you can easily mend it. After all, you’re a quick thinker, who is very resourceful
Pisces
Not only are you an artistic person, you’re also a romantic at heart. Whether or not you’d like to admit it is completely up to you. However, your fashion mirrors your personality seamlessly. Your romantic persona will be represented in ruffles on a dress and gentle colors, from pastels to an array of reds. However, your artistic side can be seen with an intricate pattern or embossed design on your dress.
Aries
Aries are incredibly tenacious and confident people, so it makes sense that you live to wear comfortable clothes. Quite frankly, you don’t give a damn if anyone cares either, because you feel and look comfy. That’s all that matters. On graduation day, you’ll be found in a relaxed-fit shift dress and some flats to match. They’ll probably be slip-on too.
Taurus
You’re addicted to neutral tones and intriguing textures, which is why you’ll feel most comfortable rocking a tan or gray dress with some sequin focal points. While others might find your stubborn nature bothersome, your stubbornness is what allowed you to pick the perfect graduation dress without second-guessing your decision. Ultimately, your obstinacy is what will make you incredibly confident in your graduation dress.
Gemini
Geminis are extremely expressive people, who are also very inquisitive which is presumably why you love making creative and bold fashion statements. You can be seen expressing your artistry with vibrant colors and vivid patterns, such as a striped dress with some elegant statement accessories. Ultimately, your obstinacy is what will make you incredibly confident in your dress.
Cancer
Cancers are sensitive individuals who love to embrace ladylike fashion. From silks, satins and everything shimmery, you have a fondness for soft styles rather than sultry outfits. Because you like everything that shines, you will likely indulge in a velvet shift dress, which has subtle sheen, or a wearing an eye-catching metallic dress to graduation.
Leo
Leos are super stubborn, crazy creative and somehow also especially lazy. Being a Leo myself, I love any type of unique fashion and anything that might draw attention to myself. After all, Leos enjoy practicing self-love by wearing clothes that highlight their best features, which makes vibrant patterns and peplum dresses a Leo’s best friend.
Virgo
Virgos are uber-critical of all of their life decisions, and their style isn’t an exception. While you love neutral hues, you love to combine your earthy color choices with an accent color. Because you love planning ahead, you are drawn to clothes with intricate details, such as lace embellishments. Although you adore colorful dresses, you love pairing a bright bottom with a tan, gray or beige top.
Libra
Libras thrive off of the company of others. You can be on your own, but you’d love receiving feedback from your friends and family, which is why you probably brought a couple of your friends along when you were trying on dresses. However, you also love anything trendy and new. Let’s face it, you’ve already found an off the shoulder dress in the most flattering shade of yellow.
Scorpio
While you adore looking feminine, you also love edgy style staples like leather and tulle-embellishments. Because you’re a Scorpio, you have a reputation of being overtly sexual, but you just love your risky style choices. However, your bold fashion choices can range from showcasing a dress with multiple patterns or prints to wearing studded stilettos.
Sagittarius
Two words: easygoing fashion. You love opulent style choices, but you also like being relaxed, which is why a skater dress made from a comfortable fabric would be perfect for your graduation day. You'll likely pick a dress with the softest fabric, so you won't mind being stuck in it during a lengthy graduation ceremony. Plus, you might even compliment your dress with some leggings.
Even if you don’t follow your horoscopes religiously (or at all), your zodiac sign can help you find your perfect graduation day outfit with minimal hassle. With how stress graduation day is, who wouldn’t want to reduce some anxiety? While you can tailor your graduation outfit to your specific astrological-themed personality traits, you can rely on your sign for far more than just your daily horoscope. It's too bad your zodiac sign can't actually help you answer those annoying questions about what you're going to do after graduation.
On Monday night, Kim Kardashian Snapchatted a photo of what, at first, looks like merely a snap of the back of Kylie's dress - but if you look closely, Kendall can be seen in the background, getting rather ~handsy~ with A$AP Rocky.
According to Us Weekly, that wasn't the only time Kendall and A$AP Rocky were spotted acting couple-y all night, either. They're about as close as can be in Kylie's already-famous bathroom selfie, and were even spotted dancing the night away at Rihanna's afterparty. I'm calling it, you guys - there's definitely something going on here. While the rapper and model have been rumored to be an item since as early as August of last year, this is definitely the first time we've had photo evidence of their "more than friends" status.
Despite all the PDA, though, we're not holding our breath for a confirmation any time soon (at least on Kendall's end.) The May Harper's Bazaar cover star told the magazine that she prefers to keep romantic details on the DL until things become really serious.
"If I’m not fully, fully in it with someone, why would I make it public to everyone else?" she told Harper's Bazaar. "If I don’t even know what it is, why would I let the world know? I’m doing my thing. I’m having fun. I’m being young." I feel you girl.
While she's kept a relatively low profile in the months following the 2016 presidential election, but on Tuesday at the Women for Women International event in New York City, the former presidential candidate opened up about how she plans to keep fighting the administration she lost to.
"I'm back to being a private citizen, and part of the resistance," she told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. She later added that she plans to hold the Trump administration accountable in order to ensure that progress that's been made toward gender equality doesn't go backwards.
"I am going to publicly request that this administration not end our efforts making women’s rights and opportunities central to American foreign policy and national security,” she said.
Hillary Clinton says misogyny played a role in her 2016 loss and warns not to "go backwards" on gender equality https://t.co/s6zk2Rkj2K
During the interview, Clinton also talked about what she believes was the reason for her loss - and she wasn't afraid to be very pointed about it. When asked by Amanpour whether she though misogyny was part of the equation, she noted that it was only one of many obstacles her campaign encountered.
"Yes, I do think it played a role," she said. "I think other things did as well. Every day that goes by, we find out more about the unprecedented inference, including from a foreign power whose leader is not a member of my fan club. It is real, it is very much a part of the landscape, political and socially and economically," she said of gender inequality.
Here's hoping that the Trump administration actually gives some consideration what Hillary Clinton, citizen activist, has to say about women's rights and gender equality.
Dating is hard enough, but sometimes it can be difficult to date someone with a different sexual orientation, especially someone who's bisexual. After all, you likely haven't experienced the same lifestyle as your SO. Whether you just started dating a bisexual girl or you aren't sure which questions are appropriate to ask her, there are a few things you need to know.
1. She isn’t "experimenting"
Maybe you’re the one who’s experimenting. It’s tough coming out to anyone, whether you’re bisexual, gay, lesbian or pansexual. Stop trying to delegitimize her sexual orientation.
2. Don’t ask her, “If you had to choose one, which would you pick?”
Ugh. Every bisexual person gets asked this at least once in their life. It’s like making someone choose between tacos and pizza. You couldn't possibly choose because you like both.
3. She isn’t constantly horny
Just because she’s attracted to both men and women doesn’t mean she’s a light switch.
4. You can’t turn her straight or gay
Just because she’s dating you doesn’t mean she’s suddenly “switched” her sexual orientation. Seriously, stop trying to make her something she’s not.
5. And no, she isn’t doing it for "attention"
This might be a new concept to most people, but women don’t do things just to get attention from men and other women.
6. She isn’t afraid of commitment
Well, she might be—not every bisexual gal is the same. Regardless, being a bisexual girl doesn’t suddenly make you fear or hate committed relationships.
7. She isn’t somehow more likely to cheat on you
Being bisexual doesn’t suddenly give her the urge to cheat. Liking both men and women doesn’t make her attracted to every single person that strolls past.
8. Stop interrogating her about every minute detail of her past relationships
Seriously, there isn’t anything special about her past relationships, so don’t push the topic. Unless you’re at a point in your relationship where she’s comfortable talking to you about her love life and past sexcapades.
9. She isn’t in denial
No, she isn’t secretly a lesbian who’s using you to get to your sister.
10. She probably doesn’t want to have a threesome
Do you ask all your SOs if they want to have a threesome? No? Then stop this.
11. Her sexual orientation doesn’t make her "hot"
Just stop fetishizing sexual orientations in general. OK? Thanks.
12. Don’t compare her to famous bisexual women
While you might think it’s flattering to say she’s just like Megan Fox or Angelina Jolie, these references get old real quick.
13. Don’t ask her when she decided to be bisexual
You don’t just choose to be bisexual, or any other sexual orientation for that matter. She might not have always known that she was bisexual. Hopefully that’s what you were trying to ask.
14. No, she won’t help you talk to women and/or men
I mean, one of the unspoken rules of being in a monogamous relationship is to not flirt with other people, right?
15. She can talk to other people without catching feelings
Calm down, she was just ordering a macchiato. The barista isn’t a threat to your relationship.
16. Don’t tell her, “You don’t seem bisexual”
What does a bisexual girl act like anyway?
17. Seriously, it isn’t a phase
Bisexual men and women aren’t mythical creatures. We exist, and we aren’t suddenly going to grow out of our bisexuality.
We're all kind of in freakout mode over how cute Selena Gomez and beau The Weeknd were at the Met Gala last night - yes, Selena's mom included.
As Teen Vogue noticed, in total mom fashion, Selena's mother Mandy posted one of those half-sweet, half-totally-embarrassing mom comments on The Weeknd's Instagram of the couple walking the blue and gold carpet.
"Glowing, smiling, looking health and equal love. Mama is happy XO," Mandy's comment on the photo read. Aww! Mom! You're so cute but also stop embarrassing me. #Relatable.
Considering the fact that the photo has 2 million likes and more comments than anyone could probably feasibly count, I kind of love whoever managed to find this little gem, proving celebrity moms are just as protective as IRL ones.
Not only does Mama Gomez approve, but Selena was reportedly spotted telling The Weeknd she loves him last night, meaning things must be getting *serious*.
If you were bummed and maybe a little bit outraged when Dunkin' Donuts decided to discontinue its signature Coffee Coolatta drink, you weren't alone - but don't worry, because Dunkin' is going to try to make you love them again.
Cosmopolitan reports that the coffee chain has finally announced a replacement - and they're even planning to offer freebies to win you back over. Called Dunkin' Frozen Coffee (which is admittedly not as cool-sounding as a Coolatta), the new drink is meant to taste more like "authentic" coffee instead of a milkshake, and contains only coffee extract, ice, liquid cane sugar and dairy. Like any other Dunkin' coffee, you'll be able to add flavor shots and swirls to your heart's content.
In case you're feeling skeptical - and we don't blame you for having trust issues - the company is offering free 3.5 ounce samples of the new and improved frozen coffee drink from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 19th, so mark your calendars, DD devotees!
Pretty Little Liars has had its fair share of sickening moments over the last seven years. But Tuesday night’s episode was especially icky. Here are the things that had me ready to barf.
When this creepy AF doll that looks nothing like Hanna showed up at her door
Not only is the face stitched on this thing, but it also leans to one side. And omg, why am I trying to prove this is weird? It’s just weird.
When Toby asked Yvonne to marry him… like, right then
I knew this was going to end badly as soon as he suggested it.
When Hanna cut the doll open and blood. squirted. everywhere.
Blood? REALLY? Another valuable PLL lesson: Dolls bleed just like the rest of us.
When the board game gassed Caleb in the face
Throat closing up. Can’t breathe.
When Toby and Yvonne actually got married, and then SHE DIED
I’m Team Spoby ~forever~, but Yvonne deserved so much better than this.
(But at least this happened.)
(#spoby)
When Nicole was waiting for Aria in Ezra’s apartment
1. You're chill AF during the weeks leading up to finals. You figure you've got plenty of time left so you don't even bother making a game plan.
2. But two weeks before the last day of classes, one of your professors reminds you that your final is cumulative. So obviously you blame them for ruining your life.
3. But your professor looks at you like...
4. So you figure it's time to get serious. You've locked yourself in your room for the next 48 hours and you plan on being super ~productive~.
5. By productive, we mean spending half an hour strategically placing your books, coffee, and laptop around your desk to send your friends a few Snapchats just to prove how serious you are.
6. And studying for 20 minutes tops and highlighting a few things just to take two hour intervals in between to scour the internet for Buzzfeed taste test videos.
7. But, once you finally get back on track and learn a few things, you decide to reward yourself with just one episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
8. Five episodes later you start having a mental breakdown when you realize that, at this rate, your fate isn't looking so good.
9. You have so much studying left to do but you decide to take a nap because priorities.
10. Once you wake up, you attempt to study some more, but then you start looking at your notes like...
11. At this point, you've accepted the fact that concentrating isn't exactly going to be easy for you.
12. And you consider changing your major a few times. I mean, who wants to study cellular biology for a living anyway?
13. But then you think about the fact that you need money to live...
14. ...so you can do things like this.
15. Once test day comes, you walk into the classroom like...
16. And you give yourself a pep talk before your TA hands out the exam.
17. But once you get the test, you look at the first few questions like...
18. And you start to look around to see if anyone else is as lost as you are.
19. Eventually you suck it up and just finish the test. You don't even look your professor in the eye as you hand it in.
20. But a few days later when you check your grade, you think it's too good to be true.
21. But then you reassure yourself that you're smart af and you decide not to question it.
22. Naturally you decide to go out and celebrate the only way you know how.
If you're anything like me, achieving the perfect cat eye can take hours of concentration, but even then your efforts can seem fruitless when the eyeliner doesn't turn out the way it's supposed to. Luckily, makeup artists have come up with handy eyeliner hacks like using tape or string. I love finding new ways of completing the perfect eyeliner with minimal effort, but one Instagram user, @visagieby_gunay, came up with an eyeliner makeup hack that could literally slice you.
The makeup artist posted an Instagram video of her using a SCISSOR BLADE to apply her liquid eyeliner. This girl literally pressed a knife-like object onto her face in the name of beauty, so she's obviously either fearless or insane. I'm assuming no one taught her how to handle scissors in a safe way when she was a child because that's the only logical explanation I can come up with. One false move, and the makeup tutorial could have quickly resembled a Quentin Tarantino movie rather than a simple eyeliner hack.
In the end, her eyeliner did look sharp af, but the risk involved is too great in my opinion. What's the point of slaying your eyeliner if you potentially have to follow it with a visit to a hospital?
It’s no secret that relationships aren’t easy—whether you’re in high school, college or embarking on life as a full-time adult. Sometimes, outside factors like school, distance, time and careers can come between couples, making it seemingly impossible to work around them. While the old saying, “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” definitely still rings true, not all relationships are destined for eternity—and that’s totally okay. You can be happy with someone now while knowing you’re not meant to be with them forever. We asked relationship experts for advice on how to navigate relationships you know aren’t meant to last.
While dating in college may seem more serious than the relationships you had in high school, you shouldn’t feel pressure to have a long-term relationship just because you’re older or more mature. However, it goes without saying that you and your SO should always be on the same page about the status of your relationship, or else the other person could end up feeling seriously hurt and confused.
“I believe it is fine for college women to date someone they know they don't want to be with long term as long as that is made clear from the beginning,” says Kim Olver, a relationship counselor. “Dating someone ‘in the meantime’ is unfair to that person if they think this could be a happily-ever-after relationship. When you know a relationship is coming to an end, it is essential that you both have healthy communication about it. It is likely one person is ready for the relationship to end while the other one is not. If you are the one who is ready to end it, then you should be the one to respect your partner's needs for closure.”
College is a great time to figure out what you like and what you don’t, and that goes for dating and relationships as well. If you’re feeling stuck in your current relationship and want a break, or you’re single and want to give dating a try without a huge commitment, you should give yourself the freedom to make those decisions without feeling any guilt. Just make sure you’re forward about your intentions with your SO, as their idea of a relationship in college could be totally different from yours.
2. Avoid getting too attached
Especially if you’re new to a relationship, it can be really easy to become emotionally attached to the other person and want to spend all your time with them. However, doing so can lead to major heartbreak down the road when one or both of you decide to call it quits.
“The best way to approach a relationship that has an expiration date is to not let it get too intense,” says Dr. Carole Lieberman, a relationship expert and media psychiatrist. “Keep things low key. For example, space out the occasions when you get together, do things in groups, keep your options open and plan how you’re going to meet [new people] after the inevitable expiration date of the relationship.”
Avoiding serious attachment can help you and your SO keep things civil down the road, if you do decide to break up.
"My usual inclination isn't to end the relationship, even if I know it won't last," says Gina Escandon, a junior at Cal Poly State University, San Louis Obispo. "I tend to ride it out and enjoy my time with that person. Of course that means being mindful, and not getting really emotionally attached. But if both people are aware of the situation, it's usually fun to just enjoy the rest of your time together for what it is, and have a happy ending rather than a bad break-up later."
If keeping things low key is a serious problem for you and your partner, you may want to talk about the possibilities of a long-distance relationship or getting more serious about going long-term. However, if the end is in sight for the both of you, you can make things a lot easier on yourself if you avoid getting too attached too quickly.
3. Weigh the pros and cons of staying together and breaking up
Regardless of the state of the relationship you’re in, communication should always be at the center of it. If you’re both dreading the impending break-up, then you need to weigh the pros and cons of doing so to make sure that you’re both making the right decision.
“Talk about the immediate future and where you see yourself after college,” says Olver. “Should you both have plans that do not easily include the other person, then be honest about that and talk about the options. Sometimes it's better to maintain the friendship rather than to go through a messy breakup. The other consideration is that it is wonderful to experience intimacy and to have a person with whom you can share your life, even if it is temporary.”
Keeping in constant communication about the future of your relationship is a great way to ensure that you’re both on the same page, and that each of you will be prepared should you decide to call things off.
“In deciding whether or not a college relationship is worth pursuing, don’t languish in a dead-end relationship just for the sake of having a date you can count on,” says Dr. Lieberman. “This is wasted time that could be spent following other passions, or looking for someone new. Settling for a bad relationship erodes your self-esteem. You begin to think that you’re not worth a better partner than this and it becomes depressing.”
While relationships are important, they should never get in the way of your long-term goals.
"Me and my last boyfriend had this issue," says Jazmyne Jackson, a sophomore at Boston University. "He was going to college in New Mexico and I had one year left of high school. Our long term plans took us in opposite directions too--he wanted to settle down in California and I wanted to live in New York. There was no point in salvaging something when we just had different long-term goals."
Your college years are precious and shouldn’t be spent stuck in a relationship just for the sake of being in one. Follow your heart when it comes to deciding whether or not you and your SO should stay together.
4. Learn to live in the present
While planning for the future can be inevitable when you’re in a relationship, it’s important to make sure that you and your SO are focusing on the present. No one should feel obligated to plan for a long-term relationship in their 20s if they’d rather be focusing their time on other things such as school, careers or other passions.
“When you both agree that a breakup is inevitable at a particular time or event, then living in the present is the only way to go,” says Olver. “I believe that is the only way to be in any relationship since the present is really all there is. People get too caught up in ‘forever’ relationships. There is never a guarantee any relationship will last forever, even married ones. Don't be worried about a hypothetical situation in the future that may never happen, just enjoy the moment and allow the relationship to grow into whatever it becomes."
Relationships can be amazing and rewarding, but they should never add negative pressure to your life—especially during your college years. Focus on the now and what you can add to each other’s lives, and the rest will fall into place, whether or not you decide to stay together. Always put your happiness first, collegiettes!
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series never shied away from killing off beloved characters. But in a move that provoked a massive reaction from the still gigantic Potter fandom, Rowling apologized for killing off the highly controversial Severus Snape.
Rowling knew this would stir up trouble, as she outright admitted in her tweet.
OK, here it is. Please don't start flame wars over it, but this year I'd like to apologise for killing (whispers)... Snape. *runs for cover*
And to the surprise of absolutely no one, a flame war did break out. Some fans talked about the beauty of Snape’s story while others mentioned how poorly he treated characters like Harry and Neville Longbottom. Gizmodo notes there were also fans who argued Rowling should have apologized for killing off another character: Harry’s mother, for instance.
@CalumMcSwiggan@jk_rowling She can kill whoever she wants! She created the universe so she's free to do what she wants with it!
@jk_rowling Snape had to die for the truth to come out. But even though he wasn't killed at the Hogwarts battle, WHY WOULD YOU KILL DOBBY SO BRUTALLY JK
This isn't the first time Rowling has apologized for character deaths. The Boston Globe reports the author apologized in previous years for killing off Fred Weasley and Remus Lupin. The HP obsessed will appreciate the fact that her mea culpa came on May 2, aka the anniversary of the über deadly Battle of Hogwarts.
Whether Rowling will apologize for other deaths in the future remains to be seen, but it's hard to imagine another apology provoking such a dramatic response. (Unless, you know, it's Voldemort.)
President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office concluded last week. In that time, his administration couldn't manage to repeal and replace Obamacare. The end of this week could pose an opportunity for Trump to pass a new health care act—now that House Republicans plan to approve at least $8 billion in extra spending.
This spending money is linked with an amendment proposed by Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan, The New York Times reports. Upton, among other moderate House Republicans, hesitated to support the new health care bill originally because it lacks protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Upton, an influential centrist Republican, has served in the House for 30 years and is known for negotiating with Democrats on tough issues like health care in the past. Winning his support could clear the path to success for Trump’s troubled health care bill.
“I cannot support this bill with this provision in it,” Upton said to WHTC, a local radio show.
This “unsupportable” provision, proposed by Rep. Tom MacArthur, would allow state governments to apply for waivers to evade providing certain essential health benefits to Americans. These include maternity care, mental health treatment and emergency care. The waiver would also allow states to ignore the current law mandating equal insurance rates for people of the same age, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions.
Many people with pre-existing conditions fear that they may lose coverage and “are going to die because of a vote we might be taking,” Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida told the Times.
According to ABC News, Upton’s amendment would provide $8 billion over five years to offset high insurance premiums for people with serious pre-existing medical conditions. However, many experts say that the extra money won't be nearly enough to provide the coverage needed.
This issue went viral after Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional monologue about his newborn son’s heart troubles. His son, Billy, was born with a heart defect and needed open-heart surgery. "No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life… it just shouldn’t happen," he said.
"You know, before 2014 if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you'd never be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition,” Kimmel continued. “Don't let their partisan squabbles divide us on something every decent person wants. We need to take care of each other.”
The video had more than 7.3 million views on YouTube by Wednesday morning. Even Barack Obama tweeted out his support.
Well said, Jimmy. That's exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy. And congratulations! https://t.co/77F8rZrD3P
“Well said, Jimmy. That’s exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy.”
The House is set to go on recess Thursday until May 16. There is no vote scheduled leading into the Representatives leaving Capitol—and they can be sure to hear from a LOT of angry voters back home if serious changes to the new health care bill aren’t made.
Today in dress codes that unfairly target girls and women, the BBC reports that a 12-year-old girl in Malaysia was banned from her chess tournament for wearing a dress that event officials deemed too “seductive.” The dress in question, pictured below, hit just above the girl’s knees.
The girl, whose name has not been revealed to local media, was removed mid-match by concerned officials. In addition, she was told that her dress was a “temptation from a certain angle, far far away.”
She was then given the option buy trousers—which other participants wore to the tournament—if she wanted to continue competing. But by the time she and her mother were given this alternative, it was 10 P.M. Shops had closed, and wouldn't open again until after the tournament started the next morning. Without something else to wear, she was forced to withdraw from competition.
But how does wearing an above-the-knee dress to a chess tournament affect other participants, exactly? Especially if the wearer is 12 years old?
In a passionate Facebook post, the girl’s chess coach, Kaushal Khandar, asked the same question and defended his student. He wrote that “this bright young girl was recently the champion of her district [...] and has shown tremendous potential in Chess. This incident has left her extremely disturbed and embarrassed.”
Khandar called the incident “completely out of line” in his post. Facebook users seemed to agree: his post was shared over 3,000 times and received more than 4,000 reactions.
Local politicians and government officials in Malaysia also agreed with Khandar. In a statement to the Star, a Malaysian newspaper, a member of the government’s Department for National Unity and National Integration affirmed that the girl was “decently dressed.” Further, “playing chess has nothing to do with dressing,” she said.
While the tournament happened in mid-April, the Malaysian Chess Federation has just begun to investigate the incident, according to Newsweek. We hope they reach the same conclusion that we did: excluding a girl from a chess tournament for her (perfectly appropriate) dress is absurd.
In another episode of senseless police violence against unarmed people of color, a police officer used a rifle to fatally shoot a black teenager last Saturday evening in Balch Springs, Texas—but this time, the officer will face consquences. The New York Timesreports that Roy Oliver was fired on Tuesday for killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was leaving a party at the time.
Balch Springs police were responding to calls reporting underage drinking at the party, escalating to a questionable series of events and Edwards’ death.
At first, Balch Springs police claimed that they heard gunshots in the vicinity of the party; then, that a vehicle including Edwards was reversing towards them in an “aggressive manner,” prompting one officer to shoot at the moving car. In front of three other teenagers, including his two brothers, Edwards was shot in the head through the car door. He was pronounced dead upon arrival to a local hospital.
The Washington Post reported that Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathan Haber retracted an original statement about the vehicle’s direction after reviewing body cam footage of the shooting. He added that Oliver’s use of a weapon did not meet the police department’s “core values.”
According to a database managed by the Post, more than 330 people have been shot and killed by police in 2017 alone. Edwards was the youngest so far.
Despite understandable outrage at yet another police shooting, USA Today reports that Edwards’ family has asked sympathizers to refrain from protesting or marching until after his funeral. The Edwards family has called for Oliver to be arrested on murder charges, according to the Times.
While all unwarranted deaths by police shootings are tragedies, Edwards’ loss has severely impacted his community. Mourners from his high school have described Edwards as “very well-liked by his teachers, coaches, and fellow students," according to USA Today.
