Like puberty, going through menopause is a natural part of life. But change isn't always easy, and symptoms of menopause can be incredibly uncomfortable — namely, hot flashes. So when one girl's mom began having bad hot flashes, her dad took it into his own hands to make things easier for her by building a "menopause fort."
On Tuesday, Laura, who goes by @feminist_tinder on Twitter, tweeted photos of a shed that her dad built for her mom in the backyard.
"Speaking of # RelationshipGoals my mom's hot flashes were really bad so my dad built her a menopause fort in the backyard with an art studio," she wrote.
The fort has two beds because her mom's hot flashes make it difficult to share a bed, but her dad still wanted a way to sleep beside her, she explained.
there's two beds cause my mom can't share a bed when she's having hot flashes but my dad still wants to sleep beside her 🛌🛌 @carriestienenpic.twitter.com/snjtskRgwt
Laura tells Refinery29 that her parents have been married for more than 30 years now, but dated for a few years before they were married.
"Straight out of high school he started working as a landline technician, now he works from home helping other phone guys service landlines over the phone," she told us. He's now semi-retired, she says, so the fort wasn't a full-time project, but it took him about two months to build, using the layout he used for a similar shed that he had built the summer before.
"My mom actually calls it a 'she shed,' but I like calling it a menopause fortress," she says.
Laura also tells us that he built the fort about three summers ago, and since her family lives in northern Canada, her parents don't use it all that often in the winter.
"In the summer they spend almost every night in it," she says. "My mom's not menopausal anymore but they still love sleeping out there. You can kinda see under the leaves there is a fire pit, my dad loves to built a campfire and sometimes set up a movie projector against a bed sheet on the shed."
Photo: Courtesy of @feminist_tinder.
Relationship goals, indeed.
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For many fans, last night’s This Is Us was business as usual with the tears and the tissues. Perhaps it’s because I was finally doing my taxes at the same time, but for me the episode didn’t pack as much of an emotional punch. Make no mistake about it, it was still a tenderly emotional experience. Even in death, William proves that the world didn’t deserve him as his last wishes unfolded on the Pearson family. We already know that he never planned on returning from his road trip to Memphis with Randall because of his failing health. In the wake of his death, Beth finds a note he left instructing the couple to let their young daughters plan the party to celebrate his life. They have a day filled with sweet treats and toasts to William. Because eulogies aren’t “fun.”
However, the unsung hero, once again, is Beth. Sure, William lost another father, and their young daughters lost a grandfather that they had grown to love. But Beth is the person who spent the most time with William. She helped him manage his health while everyone else was at work and school. Last night, we learn that she’s rightfully angry that William didn’t leave her with any way to memorialize him or say a final goodbye. Randall, finally able to see beyond his own grief, forgoes his own eulog… ahem, toast, to William and let’s Beth have the floor. I set my W-2’s aside in order to hear Beth’s emotional speech where she called him an endearing, dancing card-game cheater and friend.
It was the Beth moment that I had been waiting for ever since she gave William the third degree in episode 2. Not only did we get great acting from Susan Kelechi Watson, but This Is Us set up a promising trajectory for her character. In the wake of William’s death, Randall’s fragile mental health and newly found unemployment, we already know that Beth will have to pick up much of the slack.
This is an opportunity for the show to get honest about the emotional and physical labor that many Black women are expected to take on for everyone else. They can also make my dreams come true by diving deeper into Beth’s story line.
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This story was originally published on Apr. 18, 2016.
It's no secret that many people have opinions, solicited or not, about female body hair. Many of these people insist, in fairly vehement tones, that it has no place in polite society. That attitude has recently prompted more and more women to come out on social media and embrace their natural body hair, redefining what it is, and, more importantly, what it's not — i.e. something to be ashamed of.
Plenty of women eschew the razor for practical reasons (shaving is a time suck, it irritates skin, it's expensive over time). Others, however, grow their body hair and display it proudly (even colorfully) as a form of self-expression. Still others choose to remove however much hair they want, whenever they want to — which is empowering, too. Either way, all of these ladies are sending a message, announcing that "typical" grooming standards don't dictate their lives. And to us, that's awesome. Challenging the status quo is beautiful.
That's why we've decided to celebrate women who embrace their natural body hair. We collaborated with two models — Ivy Stewart and Lee Armoogam — who are doing just that. Together, we're shining the spotlight on body hair by highlighting it in fanciful, frivolous ways, using materials both whimsical (confetti) and natural (moss). A fair warning here: Some of these photos are NSFW, depending on where you work, of course. But this isn't just about bells, whistles, and follicles. Both women have well thought-out reasons for ditching the razor (or the laser, or the epilator, or waxing strips...) that have taught us a lesson or two.
Our goal at Refinery29 is to empower and inspire the women who empower and inspire us. Because, to us, the most badass women are those who define beauty on their own terms.
You've never seen beauty quite like this before. Check out our Beauty Innovator Awards for the smartest, funkiest, most fresh to death products of the year.
"There are certain things I do for my personal appearance and upkeep," Ivy says (like this glitter 'stache!). "Shaving just isn't one of them."
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"Pits" is sort of a sad word — but nothing a dose of pink, purple, and glitter can't cheer up.
MM6 Maison Margiela Stone Washed Cotton Denim Overalls, $645, available at Luisa Via Roma; Baserange Mississippi Bra in Grey, $62, available at Need Supply Co.; Baserange Rib Tank Camisole, $82, available at Rennes.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"Keeping my natural body hair made me feel more comfortable," Lee says.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Kicking back in a moss merkin.
Thakoon leotard; Nike sneakers; model's own jewelry.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Lee says her Instagram followers sometimes comment on her decision not to shave, even if the photo in question doesn't show her body hair. "People say it's 'fucking disgusting,' and I'm like, 'We're human, and we grow hair. How is that disgusting? How are you going to tell another young lady that her natural body is gross and wrong?'"
Alexander Wang top.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Double the stubble: Sprinkles on the left, glitter on the right.
Adam Selman shoes.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"I stopped shaving fully when I was 15," Ivy says. "I went to camp and it was a pain in the ass to shave my legs. I was at camp, where I was supposed to feel free, and here I was shaving!"
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Just because Ivy is embracing her body hair now doesn't mean she never shaves — and that's okay, too. (Your body, your choice.) "I shave my pubes every few months if it starts to feel uncomfortable," she says. "I just go by what my body is telling me."
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"Free the nipple" takes on an entirely new meaning with wildflowers in place of nipple hair.
MM6 Maison Margiela bikini top.
Wouters & Hendrix Palm Tree Pendant Necklace, $199.92, available at Wouters & Hendrix.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"Being a young woman, you grow body hair naturally as you're growing up — yet we're told to get rid of it," Lee says. "It's actually weird if you think about it."
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Talk about a happy trail.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"One of my really good friends has body hair, and she put up a photo [on Instagram] of her hairy stomach and people actually thanked her," Lee says. "They said, 'My stomach looks like that, too. Don't shave anything.'"
Left: Alexander Wang bra; Alexander Wang shorts; Karen Walker sunglasses.
Right: Adam Selman Blue Nudist Logo Baby T-Shirt, $150, available at Browns; Alexander Wang Bite High-Rise Frayed Shorts in Black Fade, $185, available at Neiman Marcus.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
"For me, it's more for comfort. I wasn't trying to make a statement," Ivy says. "Although I think the statement it does make is a positive one." Bottom line? Embrace what makes you feel good, and ignore the rest.
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Photographed by Olivia Locher.
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I've always been curious about how representatives and senators come up with the names of the bills they sponsor. They have to accurately represent what the legislation stands for; bonus points if they can make you remember the title or incorporate a catchy acronym. It's no easy feat.
But I'm mystified as to why would anyone introduce a healthcare bill and call it "The World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017."
Nope, this isn't a joke, it's a real thing, and you can see it for yourself here. The bill, sponsored by Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
But if that one fails, the GOP can count on Sessions' extraordinarily amazing plan to pick up the slack.
And if you were wondering, yes, they will actually be calling it as the "World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017" whenever they have to make reference to the bill. Can you imagine House Speaker Paul Ryan or anyone else saying on the floor, "Now, let's move on to discuss the World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017. All in favor?"
Dear lord.
Oh my god, they're actually LITERALLY referring to it as "World’s Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017" pic.twitter.com/oSRYWBoJNY
In our hasty embrace of spring weather, we went straight from stuffy boots to skin-baring sandals, forgetting our beloved sneakers in between. But considering the fickle hot and cold temperatures we've experienced lately, transitional footwear is a must. To get back in season, we mined the new crop of sneaker deliveries for options that are not only suitable for sunny days ahead, but also check all the aesthetic boxes.
The four footwear styles ahead are tailor made to fit into your workweek flow and after-hours plans. From knit texture sneakers, like Reebok's spankin' new Zoku Runner silhouette, to rainbow-printed options like Vans' latest slip-on style, there's plenty variety to choose from. And with these 12 fresh options at your fingertips, it's only a matter of time before you're starting trends of your own.
Knit Textures We've seen a plethora of sneakers incorporating knit-weave uppers into their design. The result: a breathable, sock-like shoe that'll keep your feet nice and ventilated for the warmer temps ahead.
Missguided Lace Up Sneaker, $31, available at ASOS.
APL Techloom Pro Sneaker, $140, available at Bandier.
All-Over Monochrome If you wanted solid color sneaks a few years back, you'd have to custom order them yourself. Now, you can score fully-coated footwear in the candy color of your choice from just about anywhere ( sans the customization fee).
Acne Studios Adriana TurnUp In Misty Jade, $450, available at Acne Studios.
Common Projects Classic Lace-up Sneakers, $410, available at FarFetch.
Puma Suede Classic Mono Iced Women's Sneakers, $59.99, available at Puma.
Chunky Soles Last year was all about the creeper flatform, but this season we're seeing a fresh iteration of the elevated sneaker through chunky soles. It's a playful way to add a height boost without going full-on Baby Spice.
Prada Leather Sneakers, $610, available at Net-A-Porter.
Eytys Off-white Jet Sneakers, $290, available at MyTheresa.
Opening Ceremony Black Zosma Slip-on Sneakers, $315, available at SSENSE.
Rainbow Patterns Whimsical rainbow stripes have been cropping up on a number of spring kicks. Try an in-your-face graphic pair, or go more subtle. The choice is yours.
Turns out, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's official split may not be signed, sealed, or delivered just yet. People reports that, according to an anonymous source, the couple is working toward staying together. One source claims that reconciliation had always been an option for the couple, who first announced their separation in 2015.
"Jen has called off the divorce," the source said. "She really wants to work things out with Ben. They are giving things another try."
The source continued, "There is always a chance of reconciliation. They love each other. They also really, really love their kids, and those kids love their parents."
The couple's split has always been under intense scrutiny. Speculations about marital infidelity immediately followed the divorce announcement. Us Weekly reported that Affleck was involved with their nanny, Christine Ouzounian right after the split. (The assumption was that Affleck had been close to Ouzounian prior to the couple's separation.)
At the time, representation for Affleck told Refinery29, "The story is full of lies. You shouldn't be able to hide behind 'blind sources' and attempt to destroy families going through a difficult time. We are considering legal options."
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the 2015 breakup, both parties seemed devastated. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Garner said that the 10-year marriage wasn't a publicity stunt — it was a genuine relationship, and one that she wanted to survive.
"It was a real marriage. It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work." She also gave this heartbreaking admission: "Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughter’s wedding."
She said: "You know what we would say in my hometown about that [tattoo]? ‘Bless his heart. ’ A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario?... I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes."
As of August 2016, it seemed the couple may have been back on track. Garner appeared on the Today show to promote her film Nine Lives, and, as is custom, spoke about the divorce. She said, "We are definitely a modern family. We're doing really well."
Their efforts to stay together seem to be primarily for their kids, Violet, 12, Seraphina Rose, 8, and Samuel, 5.
A source connected to Garner said of the possible reconciliation: “Ben is making a big effort to take care of himself. They are not back together, but there seems to be hope. Jen is hoping they can stay married. Ben doesn’t want a divorce either."
We wish these two the best — it seems like they've had a rough couple of years.
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While social media might not always be great for your mental health, new research has shown that one social platform in particular might actually be a helpful medium for those who are struggling with mental illness.
According to a new study, Instagram specifically has become a supportive place for those experiencing depression. The study, conducted by researchers at Drexel University, looked at a sample of 800 Instagram posts, pulled from over 95,000 posts hashtagged with #depression over the course of a month.
Researchers examined whether users were just expressing emotion to get their feelings off their chest or if they were doing so to seek social support and interaction. The authors also looked at specific topics that were being discussed, such as body image, relationship problems, illness, or eating disorders.
On the whole, 41% of these posts sparked positive, supportive comments from other users — and posters who wrote captions that seemed to seek out social support received more positive comments than those who didn't.
What did those captions entail?
For starters, those who wrote captions that told stories or gave details about their struggles — rather than simply alluding to their problems — received more empathetic comments, such as "I know how that feels," "I have been there," or "You are strong and beautiful." And posts that mentioned a specific illness received twice as many comments as those that didn't. (Guess the comments section isn't always as a pit of despair, after all.)
When users posted about behaviors such as self-harm, or struggling with eating disorders, they were more likely to receive positive comments discouraging unhealthy behaviors than they were to receive comments that stigmatized them. This finding surprised researchers, since these posts often make users targets for bullying or insensitive commentary.
"Physical or mental health and body image concerns are stigmatized, rarely disclosed and frequently elicit negative responses when shared with others," the authors wrote. "We found that these disclosures, in addition to deep and detailed stories of one’s difficult experiences, attract positive social support on Instagram."
So why Instagram in particular?
Researchers think that its relative anonymity (at least when compared to a site like Facebook) allows users to feel more free to share their struggles. They also found that users on Reddit were more likely to open up about sensitive topics, and since both Reddit and Instagram allow anonymous profiles or pseudonyms, it makes sense that people on those platforms are more comfortable discussing topics such as depression and mental health.
Despite previous studies that have linked social media to heightened loneliness and other problems, it's good to see that we can still make the internet work for us. And given that Instagram rolled out a feature last year geared towards suicide prevention, it sounds like the tech giant is trying to use its power for good.
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I have a love-hate relationship with This Is Us. On the one hand, I'm invested in the link between Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack's (Milo Ventimiglia) flawed parenting and how it affects their children in the present. On the other hand, This Is Us is straight-up cheesy and, most of the time, groan-worthy. That's not to mention the fact that two of its heroes, Jack and Toby (Chris Sullivan) are often controlling in their relationships.
But the main criticism of This Is Us I keep coming back to each week is how the show treats Toby and Kate (Chrissy Metz). The couple met at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, and both of them always seem to be wrapped up in storylines that are related solely to their weight. Case in point: Last week, fans realized we have no idea what Toby does for a living, and we don't know much about Kate's work, either.
When my editor brought this point up, I wasn't surprised. In This Is Us ' first season, we've seen the two Pearson brothers, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) go on incredible emotional journeys. We know a fair amount about their personal lives, their jobs, their hopes and dreams. But if you had to list what we know about Kate, it's a lot tougher. She's... a plus-size person who really wants to lose weight, right? And she was someone's personal assistant once?
After the topic came up, my colleague Kaitlin Reilly wrote a short post about how we don't know what Kate and Toby's jobs are. The story has 45 reader comments — a lot more than your average news story typically gets. Naturally, there's a divide: Some people are exclaiming that it's just a TV show. But some have the same reaction I did on Friday, which boils down to: "Well, yeah, of course they don't have jobs — they only have storylines about being fat."
To people who have never been overweight, this might seem like a stretch. But anyone who's struggled with body image will recognize that it's not. For Americans who aren't thin, it can often feel like everything ties back to your weight somehow. Just look at the recent backlash against Nike's plus-size line — which comes in spite of the fact that concern trolls constantly exhort fat folks to exercise.
So, in some sense, Kate's character makes sense. Her weight has been scrutinized by everyone from her friends to her mother for most of her life. And of course she'd feel disappointed that her various attempts at weight loss haven't been as successful as she'd like. But it shouldn't be the only thing defining her story (or Toby's).
Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBC.
Even if Kate and Toby are focused on getting healthier, weight loss is not the only characteristic of any real person's life. As shocking as this might sound, fat people have hobbies, interests, and dreams, just like straight-size people. But we have no idea what Kate and Toby like to do, other than watch football.
One Reddit user suggested that Toby is a TV writer. That would explain why he wanted to stay in L.A. and didn't suggest he and Kate move to New York so she could still work for Kevin. (I don't remember the TV writing being mentioned, so if you have a source episode on that, please comment!) And we did see one episode where Kate was a new woman's personal assistant — but, naturally, the punch line was that she was only hired because she was fat, and her boss wanted her to help her overweight daughter.
There's no denying it's progressive to see a plus-size woman starring in a major network TV show. But while Chrissy Metz is an incredible actress, that progress is diminished by how This Is Us portrays Kate. Did we really need the first shot of her in the entire show to involve staring into a sticky note-filled fridge? For as developed as Randall and Kevin's characters are, Kate is painfully one-sided. The closest we came to a non-weight-related Kate plot was her singing at Kevin's aunt's assisted-living home. But since that early episode, her love of singing has never been mentioned again.
It is possible to create a multi-dimensional fat female character on TV, though. While much has been written about Kate, Toby, and This Is Us on the whole, FX's Baskets has quietly flown under the radar and given us a realistic portrayal of a plus-size woman. In the show's second season, Louie Anderson's Christine resolves to get healthier after learning she has diabetes. We've seen her self-conscious struggle to fit in at a pool-based exercise class; we've seen her debate whether or not to eat a complimentary chocolate at a hotel. But we've also seen her fall for a new man (who she didn't meet during a weight-related activity), travel to new cities, and develop new hobbies. This Is Us could take a page from Baskets ' playbook here.
This Is Us doesn't need to cut out Kate's weight loss journey as a storyline. It's empathetic and believable. But we need to see more about who Kate really is — beyond her body, and beyond her relationship to her family. What does she enjoy doing? What are her career goals? Until she and Toby do more than hit the gym and go to a weight-loss wellness retreat, I'll refrain from being too excited about just how progressive these characters are.
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Allison Williams' weeknights probably look more like yours than you'd think. Take this past Wednesday, for example. Rather than walking a star-studded red carpet for her wildly praised film, Get Out, she took part in an intimate gathering with Keds in honor of International Women's Day. Okay, maybe no one's asking you to sit on thought-leadership panels, but once there, Williams and the other guests of honor took part in the types of conversations you might have with your inner circle — around femininity, female empowerment, and style, to start. The resulting dialogue was transformative, insightful, and ripe with actionable takeaways about what each of us can do to continue to fight for female equality.
Following the #beboldforchange panel, we stole some one-on-one time with Williams to delve deeper into her spirit of activism. From how fellow Girls alum Lena Dunham inspires her to speak out to her hopes for women in the next decade to what she considers to be "the magic sauce to create change," Williams proves she's just the feminist we need.
Girls is a show where the women are completely in charge. How do you think it has empowered women?
"The show has provided an example of four women showing audiences most (if not all) of themselves. And that kind of portrayal — a realistic, non-aspirational one — is empowering. From what fans of the show tell me, Girls has helped them feel better about their bodies and their lives and [improved] their self-esteem. That’s a huge victory as far as a television series goes."
How do you feel about the series coming to an end?
"I’m really sad that it ended. I knew it would, but I also knew I'd never be ready for it when the day came. I anticipate missing it a lot right around April when we’re usually gearing up to shoot again."
Lena Dunham is very outspoken on issues close to her heart. Has that pushed you to become more vocal, as well?
"I’ve learned so much about activism from Lena. I’ve always had deeply held beliefs, but watching Lena do her work has given me so much to learn from. Compared to Lena, most of the advocacy I do really only has one side (kids deserve good educations; withholding treatment for HIV/AIDS is bad). I have an enormous amount of admiration for the work she does, and I admire her guts to put her own reputation on the line in defense and support of others."
I like to play strong women, yes, but more importantly I like to play real, 3-D women.
You have a history of playing strong female characters. Is that intentional?
"I like to play strong women, yes, but more importantly I like to play real, 3-D women. Women who I could picture encountering someday. Not a facsimile of what a woman might be juxtaposed against a male protagonist. Even if she falls short of her best intentions or her best self (ahem, Marnie), I like playing people who at least feel they have some amount of agency. I don’t believe in putting out into the world female characters who we don’t want our young girls modeling themselves after in some way."
Has there ever been a time in your career when you felt at a disadvantage as a woman?
"To say that there has been any moment in my life when I’ve felt disadvantaged would be incredibly tone-deaf and self-unaware of me. I have been so fortunate. Have there been instances in which I think maybe I’ve been treated differently because I’m a woman? Yes — chiefly by the media. But that word — disadvantaged — is not a word that I can, in good conscience, apply to myself. I’ve been disproportionately lucky and privileged, and I intend to spend the rest of my life working off that credit by giving back and paying it forward."
When you think of the women you look up to, who and what traits stand out?
"When I look at my mom and my grandmother, I see two women who are self-governing, self-assured, and self-possessed. They are powerful, intelligent, savvy, driven, loving, giving, and insightful. I was always taught that nothing should stand in my way just because I’m a girl, and I owe that in large part to them. I also thank my dad and my grandfather for broadcasting that same message. They consider my mom and grandmother equal in every way. If anything, my dad and pop pop acknowledged long ago that they are outmatched by their mates."
You took part in the Women's March earlier this year. What other steps are you taking to feel empowered and make a difference?
"I think the number one thing we all must do as citizens is brush up on our civics. What are the rights we are given as per our Constitution? I want to know everything about what is going on, to stay vigilant, to read between the lines, to get information from different sources, and to look up facts that seem dubious. That’s what I’m focusing on — the activism work that comes from the heart, the causes that speak to me, the stories that tug at my heartstrings or seem unfair or un-American in some way. That’s where the work should go. That’s the magic sauce that creates change."
That’s what I’m focusing on — the activism work that comes from the heart, the causes that speak to me, the stories that tug at my heartstrings or seem unfair or un-American in some way.
Is that what made you want to partner with Keds?
"I have always loved Keds, and when I learned that the brand's slogan is 'Ladies First,' I loved it even more. Keds has been making women more comfortable in their own shoes for 100 years. Back then, very few other people cared at all about the comfort that women experienced — it was a time when women were still expected to look pretty and behave as objects, first and foremost. I’ve marched for women in Keds, which is as true an embodiment of its brand as I can imagine."
How does this go hand in hand with International Women's Day?
"On a day that celebrates women, it feels really appropriate to celebrate with Keds. It’s on days like these that I feel fortunate to work with a brand that already cares deeply about women and girls. I don't have to shoehorn someone who doesn't put women first into doing something for IWD."
This is such an important time for women. What's your advice for those who are worried about speaking up, perhaps due to fear of judgment or to having family and friends who don't share their point of view?
"I’m not going to sugarcoat it: It’s not always easy to stand up for what you believe. But imagine where we would be if nobody had conquered that fear. Educate yourself so you can debate even the fiercest foe. Arm yourself with knowledge and self-love and hit the streets. You’ve got this. You’re a woman, after all."
Finally, what do you hope to see over the next year, five years, 10 years?
"Equality. Autonomy. A presidency."
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Is anything better than plugging in your headphones, firing up your music app of choice, and jamming out to that brand-new song you're obsessed with?
Don't get me wrong; I love my go-to playlists. The classics are great. But something amazing happens when I hear an awesome new track for the first time. I am filled with anticipation, enthusiasm, and pure bliss as I wonder to myself, Will the chorus be as good as the hook? or Wait — did I just discover my new favorite artist?!?
New music is one of the best mood-boosters ever to me, and I want to share it with you. So each week, I'm pulling together the most popular (as in, they have over 100K listens within the first few days of their release) and most exciting new music out there for you to turn on, tune in, drop out to.
Let's get listening. If you have any new pieces of musical gold, leave a link in the comments below. And be sure to check next Friday for a whole new slew of songs.
"Liability" — Lorde
Lorde's second single off her forthcoming album gives us an intimate glimpse into her private life. And a song full of raw emotion.
"Sleepover" — Hayley Kiyoko
We love Hayley Kiyoko because her honest lyrics encapsulate what lust and love is like for every type of relationship. Her latest track she sings about the unrequited love she has for her best friend.
"3WW" — alt-J
This super chilled-out track isn't what you'd expect from the alt-rock indie Brit band. But it's delightful.
"High" — K. Flay
K. Flay's fiery angst anthems are sometimes exactly what you need to get through your day.
No matter how big or small your wedding is, one thing you’ll want to keep an eye out for is wedding crashers. Yes, they are real, and no, they aren’t always as fun and entertaining as Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were in the movie.
It happens more than you’d think, especially at venues where there are multiple weddings happening in one night, or where the guest count is so high that no one is likely to notice. It's easy for outsiders to sneak in, blend in, and enjoy as much free food and booze as they can before anyone realizes and kicks them out.
But there is one situation in which you might welcome an uninvited guest — and that's when said guest happens to be a major celebrity. Every now and then, whether on purpose or by accident, a star stumbles into a wedding celebration. And sometimes, they stick around long enough for a picture, a dance, or even a champagne toast.
Ahead, seven of our favorite stories about celebs (hello, T. Swift!) who randomly turned up at the weddings of normals.
This couple's wedding was pretty much #goals already. But then, Chris Hemsworth walked into their photos and took it to the next level. According to Brides, Anneka and Kent from Perth, Australia, were married on Friday, March 3, in Byron Bay. It just so happens that the actor was surfing there with his wife and three kids. The newlyweds were taking photos on the picturesque beach when the best man noticed Hemsworth, who had been staying nearby to film Thor: Ragnarok.
"It was Chris Hemsworth on the beach, and [the best man] was like, 'Hey, do you think you could get a photo with the bride and groom?' And he said, 'No worries,'" Anneka told news.com.au. Hilariously, the bride didn't even recognize Hemsworth right away. "I was wondering why we were getting a photo with a random person? I was saying, 'Who is this person?'" she said. "[Kent] was getting embarrassed that I kept asking who this person was and he said, 'Chris Hemsworth.'"
If you grew up listening to Taylor Swift’s love songs, then having her show up at your wedding unexpectedly would pretty much be a dream. That's exactly what happened to one New Jersey couple at their June 2016 nuptials. According to Brides, it wasn't entirely a happy accident; Taylor agreed to drop by after learning (via the groom's sister) that the couple were huge fans of her music, and they had recently gone through a very difficult time in their lives. She posed for photos, played a few hits, and made sure it was truly an affair to remember.
What better way to ask your bridal party to “get in formation” than having Queen Bey there to back you up? While vacationing with Jay Z in Portofino, Italy, a bikini-clad Beyoncé apparently wandered into an old church, only to find that a wedding was being held inside. While Bey didn't dazzle guests by breaking out into a dance routine, she did take some lovely snaps with the bride.
In September 2014, one Chicago couple was taking wedding photos in their hotel lobby when they ran into none other than Snoop Dogg (Lion?) and his entourage. The groom’s mother reportedly convinced Snoop to pose for a photo, which he later posted on Instagram — and which, we can only assume, is framed in the couple’s house.
Imagine having JT show up at your wedding? It’s probably one of those moments where you have an internal debate over whether you should just smile and hug him hello, or go in for the kiss and potentially anger your soon-to-be spouse. Either way, it happened just last summer to a bride and groom in upstate New Hampshire, who calmly posed for a photo with with the "Sexy Back" singer, before continuing on with their special day.
One bonus of getting married in a city like Miami is that you never know which stars might be eating at the restaurant next door, or laying on the beach just steps from your ceremony. Back in 2014, this couple’s friends spotted Serena Williams on the beach next to the venue, and — as good friends do — asked if she’d pose for a pic. She said yes, ran over (in her leopard print one-piece swimsuit), and they all lived happily ever after.
Is there anything more delightfully meta than having your wedding crashed by one of the stars of Wedding Crashers? Decidedly not. That's what happened when Bradley Cooper bumped into this couple mid-wedding photo shoot at the Georgetown University campus (Cooper's alma mater, and also the groom's). Luckily, for all parties, real Bradley Cooper seems to be much cooler than the jerk he played in the movie.
The new adaptation of Beauty And The Beast, starring Emma Watson, is modernizing in every possible way. Belle herself is now an inventor, LeFou will have an "exclusively gay moment," and Ariana Grande and John Legend made a music video for the song "Beauty And The Beast." Now, E!reports that composer Alan Menken added a totally new original song, and you'll never guess who sings it.
It's true that no Beauty And The Beast movie would be complete without the vocal stylings of Céline Dion, who sang the pop version of the title track with Peabo Bryson in 1991. However, this time around, Menken has her doing something different. The 48-year-old is the perfect fit for the new song "How Does A Moment Last Forever" which will play during the credits of the film. Emma Watson will also sing a portion of it in the main film, which is good or bad news depending on how you feel about her singing voice.
The song is pretty classic Disney, using a lot of flowery words without really being about...anything.
"How does a moment last forever? / How can a story never die? / It is love we must hold onto / Never easy, but we try / Sometimes our happiness is captured / Somehow, our time and place stand still / Love lives on inside our hearts and always will / Minutes turn to hours, days to years and gone / But when all else has been forgotten / Still our song lives on."
Then there's some stuff about moments and memories and shadows and love flowing like a river. Spoiler alert: love is what makes a moment last forever.
Despite the changes, Refinery29 had a chance to view the film and reported that it's still just as magical as the original. You can catch the movie, and the new song, when it hits theaters March 17.
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After modeling for a swimwear company, a 19-year-old woman was subjected to a tirade from its owner, who called her "so fake," and shamed her for "sitting with your legs so far apart."
Stevie Alger, an Australian model, had posed for photographs for Aquadiva Swimwear, a Queensland-based brand. But when she found out which photo of her the brand would be using in the store, she admitted feeling a little self-conscious about the photo — and Aquadiva's owner did not take it well.
In a series of screenshots of their conversation via Instagram direct message that Alger provided to the Daily Mail, Alger wrote that she doesn't really like the photo of herself, but said "I know I can't do anything about it."
A post shared by Aquadiva 👙 🌸 💖 (@aquadiva_swimwear) on
Allison Appleby, the owner, told Alger that she looked "gorgeous" in the photo, but got defensive, asking, "Don't you like our swimwear?"
After Alger didn't response, Appleby apparently snapped and wrote, "So disappointed in you Stevie — I personally chose you because you seemed like such a nice girl. This is such a rude and immature way to treat us."
"‘You don’t seem to be self conscious in your latest post with the way you are portraying your self image — sitting with your legs so far apart!" she continued. "It seems like you are just like a lot of other Insta girls – so fake. From Allison.’"
"Oh wow that is by far one of the meanest and rudest messages I've ever received," Alger responded. "I think it's fair for every girl to feel self conscious from time to time."
When the Daily Mail reached out to Appleby for comment, she was less than remorseful, instead commenting on how Alger putting the conversation out in public could ruin her family business.
While she admitted, "I feel so sick to the stomach about it," she also told Daily Mail, "she got one nasty bitch slap from me and now I'm getting hate mail from people who don't know the full story."
"The power of Insta influencers is very terrifying," she continued. "How they can tear down family businesses in a matter of hours... it's not healthy for any of us."
Keep in mind: All Alger did was share screenshots of a conversation in which Appleby tore her down for feeling self-conscious about a photo. As far as we can tell Alger didn't ask for the brand not to use her photo, or make demands for them to remove it from their Instagram.
"I absolutely think what she said and how she has handled herself is wrong in so many ways, but I think it will be best to end it here to hopefully move on," Alger told Daily Mail.
Though it's great that Alger is able to move on, let this be a reminder: We should all be above slut-shaming by now.
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College junior Martina Maya-Callen stood outside in the snow last Friday, wearing nothing more than a nude body suit and carrying a sign that said, "Write on me."
Maya-Callen braved the freezing weather to raise awareness for eating disorders and negative body image. On her body were words like "ugly," "fat," and "unworthy" written in black ink. But those weren't the words her fellow students wrote on her body, they're the words she wrote on herself.
"I stood and wrote words all over my body in black marker that I had previously felt about myself," she wrote in an Instagram post about the project. "Then I invited the public to write on my body in the color of eating disorder awareness."
A post shared by Martina Desiree (@martina_desiree_) on
The student also constructed an 8.5-foot closet, which she stood next to during the hour she was outside, according to The Flyer, a student newspaper at Salisbury University where she goes to school.
Inside the closet was an art project that shows the thoughts of someone who has an eating disorder or negative self-image. According to The Flyer, the walls and ceiling of the closet were blacked out and covered in ripped magazine pages, measurement tapes, and weight scales with disparaging self-descriptive words.
Maya-Callen kicked off the art project by stripping down into her body suit, writing disparaging words on herself, and making a speech to the crowd about body image.
“What a crazy idea, to be happy with yourself just the way you are!” she said during her speech, according to The Flyer.
A post shared by Martina Desiree (@martina_desiree_) on
Students who had gathered around were then encouraged to write body positive messages on either Maya-Callen or the closet door. While she was only outside for an hour (and, props to her for making it a whole hour outside in the snow, wearing just a body suit), the closet was up throughout the day for students to look inside or write on.
The project was a huge success, and we're hoping that Maya-Callen, who is no stranger to activist art projects, decides to take on more live art performance. She clearly has a knack for it.
"Truly, I am so proud and happy with the result," Maya-Callen wrote in another Instagram post. "Would have never imagined even a month ago that I would have the strength, self-love and power to do this. I've come along way."
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This article was originally published on May 31, 2016.
When you start scrolling through Instagram and spotting the same throwback trend over and over, it might be time to admit it's gone mainstream. Call it the Gigi and Kendall effect, but, like most '90s pieces, chokers are, once again, having their moment in the spotlight. Instagram darlings and indie brands alike have been pairing them with every look, from swimwear to formal attire — and we're sold.
To quell any naysayers, the chokers coming back in style aren't quite reminiscent of the stretchy tattoo types you'd find in a movie theater gum ball machine. Instead, they're a collection of velvet ribbon, twisted metal, BDSM vibes, and dainty collars that complete any #OOTD. Click through to shop 33 iterations ranging from the bold and the cool, to the pretty and bohemian, because if 2016 was any indication, chokers aren't going anywhere.
If the backlash to Nike's new plus-size campaign has taught us anything, it's that we still have a long way to go toward making fitness a welcoming place.
"[Plus size women] feel like fitness isn't for them — that they’re not invited and that they're not capable," says Louise Green, founder of plus-size fitness company Body Exchange and author of the upcoming Big Girl Fit: Embrace the Body You Have. "But rightly so, given the messages that we are presented with every day. We don’t see [diversity of sizes in fitness]. And it creates this myth that fitness isn’t approachable, because we can’t see ourselves."
Fixing the problem, she says, starts with increasing visibility. "When we can’t see ourselves, it creates this unknown, and then barriers and fear around fitness," she explains. Here, we talked to Green about her own fitness journey and how the fitness industry can be made truly inclusive.
What inspired you to pursue fitness?
"When I was 29, I decided that I wanted to finally get healthy. I had been living this party lifestyle, so I decided on yet another attempt to lose weight that I was going to join a running group. When I arrived at the group, I was terrified, because I was bigger than everyone else. I was worried I was going to get left behind or they were going to think I didn't belong.
"To my surprise, our run leader introduced herself, and she was a plus-sized woman. It was literally first time I had seen a woman of size in fitness leadership or as a runner — it was a total surprise to me. I worked with her for 12 weeks, and over that time, she really encouraged us to live to our highest athletic potential.
"There was never any 'Bikini season's coming!' or 'If you run this far, you're expending this many calories!' There was none of that, and it was a completely different approach to fitness for me. It really inspired me because I thought, Maybe I don’t have to be battling my weight and counting calories and obsessing all the time. Maybe I can be like her and live my athletic dreams in this body right now."
Photo: Courtesy of Vairdy Photography.
What have you learned about your body from your fitness journey?
"First and foremost, it taught me that my body is extremely powerful. It is capable of amazing things, and it has more value than aesthetics. That was the biggest shift for me — I was chronically trying to look better, and now it's more about athletic achievement, feeling my own physical power, building body-confidence, and self-esteem."
What does it feel like to train other plus-size women?
"It feels incredible, because I had such a profound shift. It really feels fantastic to share my experience with other women, because many, many women who come to me are still hating themselves, hating their bodies, and they want to lose weight. It's really cool to watch them have that same shift that I had and just tap into their athletic power. Then all that other aesthetic, weight-loss stuff becomes secondary."
What advice would you give someone who doesn't feel welcomed by the fitness industry?
"The biggest piece of advice is to seek out the right support like I had with my running coach — somebody that really resonated with my version of health. In my book, I talk about how to find those people. [That means] becoming the CEO of your body, and interviewing and vetting people like any CEO would. When you have the right coaching and support, you can navigate through these difficult situations."
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Some rituals are so common that, by now, they’re just a fact of life. Your aunt will always ask you if you’re dating anyone yet at the Thanksgiving dinner table. The concert headliner will always come back for an encore. And, if you’re at an action movie, somemysterious scene will pop up after the credits, so you better stick around.
Sure enough, after the insanely long credits of Kong: Skull Island, a cryptic scene plays out. Well, cryptic for me. Given the amount of riotous cheering this scene elicited from the audience, a lot of people knew what was happening and were pretty darn excited.
The scene opens with Conrad (Tom Hiddleston) and Mason (Brie Larson) sitting sulkily in front of a one-way mirror. Conrad yells at the figures on the other side of the mirror, promising that they won’t tell anyone about the horrors they saw on the island. Given Mason’s blank stare, they’ve been there for quite some time.
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock
Eventually, the figures on the other side of the room make contact. Though Conrad and Mason are expecting U.S. authorities, the people who emerge are their compatriots from the mapping expedition gone awry: San and Houston, both scientists.
San and Houston reveal that they’re members of Monarch, a secret governmental organization that aims to find (and eradicate) the world’s monsters.
Turns out Conrad and Mason aren’t being punished. They’re being recruited. After San and Houston reveal their identifies, they show their captives footage of another monster who's been roaming about since the dawn of civilization.
The footage shows cave illustrations of a massive lizard with a fringed spine, and a few Japanese characters. Put together the dots, and it’s pretty obvious. Godzilla’s back, and so are his nemeses: Mothra (a giant moth), Rodan (a pteranodon), and Ghidorah (a three-headed dragon).
And that’s not much of a surprise, either. This post-movie scene merely confirmed what fans of big monster action movies have long hoped for: Godzilla's returning in 2019 for Godzilla King of Monsters.
Even more importantly, the teaser officially confirms that King Kong and Godzilla exist in the same reality. By linking Kong and Godzilla, Legendary Pictures has given birth to a whole new universe of action movies. By 2020, the monsters will duke it out in their very own movie, Godzilla vs. Kong.
Kong: SkullIsland is merely the first installation in a brave new world.
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Daylight saving time has its pros and cons. Pros: it stays light longer. Cons: we lose an hour of sleep. It might mess with your horoscope. And it's not even strictly necessary. Okay, so it mostly sucks, but that extra hour of sunlight after work sure is nice.
The rest of it, however, is a groggy mess. And while our bodies will eventually adjust to the time change, until then, we'll be looking towards our favorite morning drink to help us get going. Ahead, we've rounded up 12 of our favorite bottled coffees that will get you out the door and going, no brewing or waiting required.
All of High Brew's canned cold-brew coffees are fair trade certified.
High Brew Dark Chocolate Mocha, $34.80 for a 12 pack, available at Amazon.
If you REALLY need an extra jolt of caffeine, Stok's cold brew comes in shot form so you can add "more coffee in your coffee."
Stok Unsweetened Coffee Shot, $15.01, available at Amazon.
Do cold brew your way with concentrate and customize away.
Bizzy Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $9.50, available at Amazon.
The same coffee you know and love from Starbucks, no pants required to get a cup. One bottle will make around six cups of icy goodness.
New Orleans is one of America's great coffee towns. Bring the flavor to you, no matter where you live, with Blue Bottle's satisfying elementary-school-style cartons.
Blue Bottle Coffee New Orleans Iced Coffee, $4.36, available at Jet.
Lucky Jack's double black cold brew is infused with extra espresso, just because.
Move over unicorn foods, y’all are about to be dethroned. Someone has just discovered a whole new way to use vibrant colors in a breakfast dish, and it is oh so cute. Interestingly, this new trend also draws inspiration from a favorite mythical creature, the mermaid. A food stylist named Adeline Waugh recently posted a photo of her newest funky creation, which she has dubbed mermaid toast.
You may recall that it was Waugh who first introduced us to the concept of unicorn toast back in January. We immediately fell in love with her colorful take on breakfast, and she’s back with yet another bold jumpstart to your day. Mermaid toast features several brilliant shades of blue-green, and it's got a few flecks of gold that mimic the glittery scale's of a mermaid's tail.
The toast is clearly gorgeous, but just how exactly does Waugh achieve the look? According to Cosmopolitan, the color comes from blue green algae powder, which you may recognize as one of the key ingredients in the unicorn latte that got a lot of attention at the beginning of this year. Waugh mixes the algae powder with almond milk cream cheese and spreads the concoction in an eye-catching way onto her toast. Waugh wrote in the caption of her first post about the toast that at first, she was unsure what to name it, but then landed on Mermaid Toast to, as she said, "continue the tradition of naming toast after mythical creatures." Plus, it seems to work well since sea creatures probably have to deal with a lot of algae.
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We're just a little more than a week away from the spring equinox, but winter has one final full moon to call its own. The Full Worm Moon, as March's full moon is known, will reach peak fullness at 10:54 a.m. on Sunday, March 12.
As with many other Native American moon names, this one has a seasonal tie: The timing of the moon coincides with warmer weather and the appearance of earthworms. You might also hear the moon called the Sap Moon, since this is when tapping maple trees typically starts. Bring on the Vermont maple syrup and pancakes.
The moon's mid-morning peak means that it will be harder to see than others, especially for those on the East Coast. However, Space.com reports that you'll still have good views from Saturday, March 11, through Monday, March, 13.
This month is packed with astronomical events. The arrival of the vernal (or spring) equinox on March 20 is the first of two days in the year when the day and night are each as long as the other. March is also one of the peak times to catch the stunning Northern Lights. If you're not in Alaska, Iceland, or other northern regions, you won't be able to see them, but Slooh.com will be live streaming the Aurora for a special St. Patrick's Day Show.
But first, gear up for the Full Worm Moon and (hopefully) warmer weather ahead.
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