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Conservatives Attempting To Discredit Taylor Swift Is A Played Out Pattern

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Taylor Swift decided early in her career that politics would not be apart of her platform as a pop star, but now she’s changed her mind and announced that she is voting for some Democratic candidates. It’s news that not everyone is happy to hear.

On Sunday, Swift posted a photo on Instagram with a caption explaining why she would be voting for Tennessee Democrats Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections. Swift cited the protection of human rights, including the LGBTQ community, and support for the Violence Against Women Act as being among her top priorities in determining her vote. She implored her followers to know their values and research candidates before voting. “For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway,” Swift wrote.

Shortly after Swift’s post, conservative politicians, writers, and Trump administration advisors – who claim to vote in line with their values – did not think Swift should do the same. Instead, they used the opportunity to belittle the singer.

“So @taylorswift13 has every right to be political but it won’t impact election unless we allow 13 yr old girls to vote. Still with #MarshaBlackburn,” tweeted former Arkansas governor and conservative pundit Mike Huckabee. Swift has been working as a professional entertainer for over a decade now. Many of her fans are of or well over voting age. Bu, his comment is a rehash of a sexist trope that suggests that teen girls’ opinions are somehow inferior to the rest of the world, which is a lot like the age-old argument that bands from the Beatles to One Direction don’t matter because their fans are teen girls. Harry Styles said it best in a Rolling Stone interview last year: “How can you say young girls don't get it? They're our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going.”

Conservative writer Charlie Kirk responded to Swift’s post by tweeting, “Before you endorse a candidate maybe you should learn something about the candidates. You have no idea what you are talking about. Marsha is a strong woman who will be the next US Senator from Tennessee.” Kirk later espoused on Fox & Friends that he thinks Swift had someone help her write the post. It’s a repeat of a refrain Swift has had to battle in music throughout her career. Ever since she took off as a successful artist, people have questioned if she writes her own songs, because, apparently, you can’t be as famous as Taylor Swift and be a talented songwriter. Her level of success doesn’t and shouldn’t negate her talent or ability to articulate her opinion, much less to research who is running in her state and write an Instagram caption about it.

Katrina Pierson, a senior Trump advisor also weighed in with her two cents. “So, over the weekend Taylor Swift announced that she doesn’t support women and endorsed a rich old white privileged man who supported the Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation instead? Weird and extremely tone deaf. #irony Please don’t shave your head next.” The only irony I’m detecting here is that Pierson, who works for a “rich old white privileged man” who nominated Kavanaugh in a process that couldn’t have been more unsupportive of women, thinks that the onus is on Taylor Swift to vote for a woman, Marsha Blackburn, even if she doesn’t share her values. It shows a lack of understanding of feminism. Feminism doesn’t mean voting for a woman just because she’s a woman. It means voting for someone who supports and believes in equality whether they are a man or a woman.

The condescension is unmissable. Because Swift doesn’t share their opinions, they attack her intelligence, attempt to turn her values around on her, and trivialize her fan base to suggest she doesn’t have any influence that matters which couldn’t be further from the truth. Taylor Swift has 112 million followers on Instagram and nearly 84 million on Twitter. Her influence is seemingly endless, and that kind of power can be intimidating. They don’t have to agree with her, but they definitely shouldn’t underestimate her.

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A Week In Washington, D.C., On An $80,000 Salary

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

We're going on book tour for our new book, Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Your Finances... and Everyone Else's. Next stop: Dallas on Tuesday, October 9! Grab your tickets here!

Today: a financial consultant who makes $80,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on The Screwtape Letters audiobook.

Occupation: Financial Consultant
Industry: Consulting
Age: 26
Location: Washington DC
Salary: $80,000
Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $1,833

Monthly Expenses
Rent: My fiancé, N., pays our rent, while the money I would be paying goes straight into our wedding fund. Our share of rent is $1,125, plus $75 for parking. We live in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate who pays the same amount as my fiancé does.
Student Loan Payment: $400 (I borrowed money from my parents for college and am paying them back.)
Wedding Fund: $2,000
Netflix: $0 (I mooch off my friends.)
401(k): I contribute 10% of each paycheck.

Day One

6 a.m. — My fiancé's alarm goes off and after letting it ring twice, he snoozes (a favorite pastime of his). I doze until 6:15 and then jump up to shower, as I know he will be snoozing for another half hour. I pack lunches, feed the kittens, make my morning coffee, and then jump back in bed. This may seem like a strange habit, but it's one of our favorite morning rituals and has made us late many a day. Not today though!

7 a.m. — N. heads out to drop off clothes at the tailor and then take the metro to work. I should metro with him, but have a lot to carry today, so I opt to take an Uber and avoid the disgusting humidity that plagues the Washington D.C. metro area. $7.24

10 a.m. — The morning is flying by and I snack on a vanilla yogurt I've brought from home. I have to attend a professional training after work today, so I've loaded up on home snacks. I browse Amazon for a housewarming gift for some friends. The couple recently did an engagement photo shoot for us for free, so we are feeling extra grateful to them and want to give a nice gift. I find a classic cocktail mixing set and throw in a gift card for good measure. $74.95

2 p.m. — I have a spinach, turkey, and feta salad for lunch and then realize I've forgotten my iPhone charger at home. I decide to pick up an extra to keep in the office and grab a Starbucks latte on the way back from the Target around the corner. $24.96

3:30 p.m. — I Uber to and from a professional training 30 minutes from my office. My company reimburses me for this travel. ($35.45 expensed)

8 p.m. — Feed the kittens and munch on leftover spinach salad while catching up on late afternoon emails I missed during training. Then I walk to meet N. at his parents' place to talk wedding catering. N. and I have both started new jobs in the last six months, so finding time to plan the wedding has been tricky. Late night slots like this have been key, and we hammer out important details! I walk home afterwards and promptly fall asleep even though the kittens are being brats and will NOT stop crying despite being warm, well fed, and very loved.

Daily Total: $107.15

Day Two

6 a.m. — N.'s alarm goes off. I am having none of it today, as I didn't sleep well last night due to overthinking about wedding details (planning does NOT come naturally to me). He gets up around 6:30 to shower, feed the cats, and bring me a coffee in bed. He is the best!

8:15 a.m. — I am finally up, although still dragging my feet. I shower, drink my coffee, and log onto my company laptop to check emails before Ubering into the office once again. I have a banana in the Uber for breakfast. $13.04

11 a.m. — I have an hour-long meeting with my less-than-pleasant client. Everyone expected a confrontational meeting from two department heads who inherently dislike each other, but it goes much more smoothly than expected. My colleague and I are caught up for an extra half hour getting additional “direction” from our client. We come away from the meeting with what feels like a million to-do items.

12:30 p.m. — Lunch. I have a leftover Chipotle burrito bowl that my future in-laws bought for me last night. (They're awesome!) I pair it with another banana to complete my meal. I browse BBC News while I eat and read about John McCain's life story – he lived a truly incredible life of service. I also preorder Bob Woodward's new book Fear: Trump in the White House on Amazon at my fiancé's request. $19.08

2:45 p.m. — I discover a formula error in something my team submitted last week. After verifying the mistake with several colleagues, we debate on the best way to address the error. Not a great look for the team, but much better for us to catch it before the client does. I grab a coffee with a colleague and friend from the nearby Starbucks to break up the afternoon. $4.96

5:30 p.m. — Have a ton of work left, but decide to call it a day and work from home, as I know it will be a late one. I love lots of things about my new job, but the hours have been long for the last few months and I'd rather be working in pajamas with kittens on my lap and a glass of rosé in my hand! I Uber home and have a light dinner of overnight oats, which had been intended for tomorrow's breakfast. Whoops. $15.82

9:30 p.m. — Fiancé arrives home. He had a late night working on a company proposal, and he's exhausted. He has been killing it at this new job — I'm so proud. He's a perfect combination of thoughtful, intelligent, and hardworking, all wrapped up into one. I make him a cup of tea and we cuddle on the couch until bed around 11 p.m.

Daily Total: $52.90

Day Three

6 a.m. — N.'s alarm goes off. We lounge, feed the kittens, and force them to cuddle until 7:30. I accompany N. to the metro, and we take the train to work together. He buys me a Starbucks latte on the way to the station, which helps as I sulk through the humidity and early morning crowd. My fiancé knows how much I hate morning commutes and using public transit, and makes jokes to lighten the mood. I really hope we move to the country someday. Maybe a cute little cottage with some land. We kiss goodbye before I get off at my stop.

11:30 a.m. — Walk with a colleague to grab a Guacamole Greens salad from Sweetgreen — love that place! $11.59

12 p.m. — I sign up for a six-week Intro to Yoga series at a studio near my apartment that is offering a discount. I used to run almost every day, but I got injured this year and have been wanting to get into yoga for a while now. This seems like a great opportunity to learn the basics and become one of the many yoga mat-toting young professionals I constantly spot around the city. $91.75

2:15 p.m. — Even though it's busy today, I take a break from work to update my LinkedIn profile. As I mentioned, I like my new job, but my fiancé and I think I should try to make the jump to a bigger company with more name recognition and better benefits (like his company). This can do a lot in our field and will make me more marketable to reenter the workforce should I decide to take time off within the next few years to raise kids we hope to have. I've always wanted to take time off when my children are young, but want to position myself well so I have the optimal range of options in front of me as I make these decisions.

7:30 p.m. — Leave the office for home — what a day. I'm very glad to be off tomorrow for wedding dress shopping with my mom and sister. Yayyyy! I Uber home to snack, pack, and continue working. $8.08

8 p.m. — Once I arrive home, I purchase The Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis on audiobook in preparation for my four-hour drive to meet my family members tomorrow. He's one of my favorite authors, and I'm hoping it will make the drive go by faster. $9.80

11:45 p.m. — I finally finish working! Solid 13-hour day in the books (and I forgot to eat dinner, so the two glasses of wine are hitting hard) but at least I focused for 85% of it! I love having flexible time off at my company so I can work extra hours for a few days to take a Friday off for something like wedding dress shopping and family time. I try to watch the Eagles game with our roommate, but the kittens have somehow knocked out our cable. Little lurkers. My roommate sulks, as he is an avid Eagles fan and now has to do work tonight instead of watching football. We will have to look into getting it fixed later on. N. arrives home from work very late.

Daily Total: $121.22

Day Four

6 a.m. — I get up to shower, finish packing, kiss N. goodbye, and hit the road. On the way, I stop at Dunkin' Donuts for a sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich and a coffee. The four-hour drive goes by fast as I listen to The Screwtape Letters audiobook. $5.45

11 a.m. — Meet my mother and sister at the bridal boutique. We spend the better part of the afternoon trying on a variety of wedding dresses. We don't end up finding the perfect one, and decide not to buy one in spite of the saleswoman's pushiness. The whole process is a lot of fun, and my mom treats us to dinner at a local Italian place afterwards. I order the chicken parm and a local IPA. It's so great to see them!!!

5:30 p.m. — We make the one hour drive to my grandmother's place, where we are spending the night. My grandmother is excited to see us. She's in her nineties and doesn't get out of the house much anymore, so she loves company. My uncle stops by to chat for a bit and asks lots of wedding questions that I don't have the answers to. After a short walk and catch-up on the phone with my fiancé, I head to bed as well.

Daily Total: $5.45

Day Five

9 a.m. — I wake up with no alarm. Sleeping in is a MAJOR luxury these days, and I fully enjoy it. I slept for over 10 hours, so I really must have needed the rest. I go downstairs and discover that my mother has been up for hours and has already made a coffee run and prepared a breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruit. What a life! I enjoy a lazy morning and have breakfast with my grandmother before my mother, sisters, and I head out to another bridal salon.

3:30 p.m. — I found a wedding dress! This salon ends up being fantastic and the owner is very friendly and helpful without pressuring me to buy. I even somehow enjoy the cheesy “say yes to the dress” cheering. It's just the perfect fit for me, and my mother and I decide to split the cost, since it came in a little over our budget. I pay my half up front. Totally worth it and nice to check something off the to-do list. We also find lovely bridesmaid dresses, but will purchase those later. This is the fun part of wedding planning! $1,380.71

6:45 p.m. — My sister, mother, and I head out to pick up sandwiches and smoothies for a light dinner. My mom pays, and we bring the food home to my grandmother's so we can all eat together. We contemplate heading over to my cousin's house to play with her new baby, but decide on a quiet night in instead. I finalize the wedding guest list and send it to my parents and in-laws for final review. Woohoo — another item checked off of the list!

12 a.m. — I call my fiancé and chat with him briefly. He has been watching a lot of cricket in my absence, which makes me laugh, as this is exactly what I predicted he would do. I finally go to bed after a super productive and fun day with family.

Daily Total: $1,380.71

Day Six

7:30 a.m. — I'm awake and ready (not at all) for the drive back to D.C. I grab a banana and coffee before beginning the drive. Weather is terrible with lots of rain and foggy conditions. I stop once at a rest stop to fill up on gas, browse Instagram, and stretch my legs. I hit traffic and put on some Taylor Swift tunes to jam to while I'm stuck there. I definitely get some weird looks from passing cars, but the mini dance party is totally worth it. $37.98

12 p.m. — I arrive back in D.C. with a bit of a headache from the gross drive and head straight to my fiancé's parents' house where I get some work done, add some items to our online wedding registry, and walk their adorable dog. I order some sample invitations and outfits for my bridesmaids online for our India wedding. $201.54

3:30 p.m. — My fiancé and I are getting married in both Christian and Hindu ceremonies, which means two times the planning. I suddenly feel a little overwhelmed with the whole planning aspect and have a short cry (in the bathroom so no one sees). This helps with both my stress and headache (thank goodness). I hope no one notices my eyes are red when I come out of the bathroom feeling a bit better. Sometimes you just need a good cry.

8 p.m. — My fiancé, his family, and I enjoy a delicious homemade Indian dinner of potatoes, meat, and vegetables over rice while watching Sunday night football. My fiancé is a huge football fan and very excited for the season to start back up again.

10:30 p.m. — We return home to discover the kittens have now knocked out the internet, and we still don't have cable as no one reached out to the company to put in a service request this weekend. I am immensely irritated, so it's a good thing they are so darn cute. We decided that this will be tomorrow's problem, as we are too tired to deal with it tonight. I read a chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, sip on a glass of red wine, and pass out (trying to ignore the “Sunday scaries” as I think about my insanely busy upcoming week!)

Daily Total: $239.52

Day Seven

6 a.m. — My fiancé's alarm goes off and we both doze per usual. I eventually get up, feed the cats, and Uber to work. $8.06

11:30 a.m. — Purchase some bottled water, chips, and fruit snacks from the café in our office building. The water in the fountains at my client site is disgusting, which means I have to buy water once or twice a week. Lunch is leftovers from dinner last night. $6.11

1:30 p.m. — So much work today! Thankfully there are only a few meetings, so I put my head down and try to be as productive as possible. An afternoon Starbucks run with my colleague helps break up the day. $5.04

5:30 p.m. — I Uber home from work and make a stop to pick up my fiancé's pants from the tailor. $9.13

8 p.m. — Leave home for my 8:30 soccer game. The team is sponsored through work, and I'm the co-captain, so I have to go even though I'm injured and would rather rest. We're short on girls, so I play defense the entire game and definitely don't run as much as I should, in a feeble attempt to prevent further stress to my heel. We play in a competitive league though, and I come home sore and sleepy. Thankfully, parking is free because the game is so late today.

10:30 p.m. — I'm too tired to work more tonight, so I simply shower and hit the pillow, leaving my fiancé working on the couch with the kittens.

Daily Total: $28.34

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

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Hope Hicks Lands A New Job That May Bring The President & Fox News Closer

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In the latest employee transfer between the White House and Fox, it was announced that former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks will be taking on the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for the network, bringing the presidency closer than ever before to the media conglomerate.

Her new role was announced on Monday by Fox’s chief legal and policy officer Viet Dinh. As Dinh praised Hick’s for her coordination of the administration’s communication strategy, he said that she “will define and project Fox’s voice to our relevant communities” in a message to staff.

Hicks previously worked on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and continued on to the White House before resigning in February after admitting to lying in her testimony to the House Intelligence Committee. Until her resignation, she was one of Trump’s closest and longest-working aides. This is just one of many crossovers connecting Fox to the White House. Trump is old friends with Fox media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Additionally, earlier this summer, former co-president of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network Bill Shine joined the White House staff as deputy chief of staff for communications. Trump has also hired a number of former Fox News employees to join his staff including: John Bolton who went from a Fox News contributor to national security adviser, former correspondent and co-host Heather Nauert who became undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and State Department spokesperson, and Tony Sayegh who left his job as a Fox News commentator to become the Treasury Department spokesperson.

This transition comes at a time of great change for the company which is, in part, being bought out by Disney. In a deal including the company’s movie studios and cable channel FX, Disney is buying most of 21st Century Fox excluding Fox News, Fox Sports, and the company's broadcast network and TV stations. That will become the new version of Fox that Hicks will be overseeing.

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The Secret Behind Your Best-Fitting Jeans

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Branded - Lycra: Frame

There are certain jeans that make you feel good. You know the ones — the pairs that fit like a dream wash after wash and never fail to beat out the pile of others patiently waiting to be worn. For model Jessica Clements, that pair is her FRAME Redgrave jeans, designed with LYCRA® dualFX® fabric. The effortless style has a shape that holds up all day long, no matter how hard she's hustling. (Because if you didn't already know, LYCRA® fiber is responsible for that extra resilience in a ton of different denim jeans — probably a few pairs you already own and love.)

Once super shy, Jessica used to feel like an outsider with too many quirks that set her apart. But as soon as she took the time to focus on her inner strength and what makes her feel confident, she blossomed. Watch Jessica's journey to embracing her unapologetically quirky self, her killer sense of style, and her realization that it’s what’s inside that matters most.

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It's Official: Jenna Lyons Has A New Job (& It's Not What You Think)

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When Jenna Lyons left J. Crew in 2017, it was unclear what she'd do next.

Lyons spent nearly a decade at the retailer, and her influence across the company, and across American fashion as a whole, ran deep. They didn't call her "the woman who dresses America ' for nothing. So, it should be just as arresting that Lyons has just announced her new gig. On Monday, it was revealed via a press release that Lyons is partnering with Turner on "a new, multi-disciplinary partnership at the intersection of lifestyle, home, fashion, and beauty."

We first got wind of Lyons' new venture when she appeared on our UnStyled podcast with Refinery29's co-founder and global editor-in-chief Christene Barberich. "One of the things I’m doing, which I shouldn’t probably talk about too much... is working on something where the materials are such that [they are in] fashion — the best things are often things that get better with age. If you think of a beautiful leather belt or leather jacket, or a perfect pair of jeans or a white shirt with a collar and cuff that are soft and beginning to fray — those things, I find so incredibly beautiful and far more elegant than anything pristine and new."

Per the release, the venture, which is set to launch in 2019, "will integrate all elements of today’s media landscape including television, e-commerce, social media, and direct to consumer platforms." It will also include a weekly television show produced by Our House Media, though specifics on what the series will entail are still under wraps.

"The first thing I thought [when talking with TNT] was it was a world I've had no experience with," Lyons tells Refinery29. "Given the world of fashion has changed so much, it felt like the right time to do something different but that still employed my skills and instincts around style and aesthetics. The whole process of exploring this was great, but also like the most intense speed dating I've ever done before."

The first step — and the move she's most excited about tackling first — is building a team. "To be honest, it's so nice to have a seat at the table, to be able to build this from scratch instead of reinvigorating a legacy brand, which was the subject of many of the recent conversations I've had since leaving J.Crew. Being closely involved in imagining what this could look like, mapping it out...I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of it."

In terms of life after fashion, it's not the most unconventional role Lyons could take on, though it certainly wasn't what we expected. After all, several industry icons have found another home in television. But Lyons isn't joining a model-or-designer-search-style competition — the fact that her next venture touches fashion tangentially proves her taste goes beyond what we wear. Lyons is a lifestyle brand. And at a time when fashion's most revered tastemakers are either male or reaching the end of their lifelong reigns, it seems Lyons is just getting started.

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Deciem Founder Brandon Truaxe Announces He's Shutting Down The Company

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If its embattled founder Brandon Truaxe is to believed, Deciem, the beauty company that brought us much-loved brands like The Ordinary, NIOD, and Hylamide, is closing down. Yesterday, Truaxe announced in an erratic Instagram video that he'd be shuttering the entire business.

In a minute-long clip confusingly geotagged to The White House, an emotional Truaxe speaks of "major criminal activity" from the backseat of a car, next to two men he says are colleagues. "Hi everyone, I am Brandon Truaxe, founder of Deciem," he begins. "This is the final post of Deciem. We will shut down all operations until further notice. We have two months. Please take me seriously."

View this post on Instagram

Without filters. A revolution is coming. Every one of you who has been laughing aT me will with certainty face criminal prosecution. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. has been the biggest stock promotion. Richard Duntas, Bernard Ass (LVMH), Marica “Tracy” (Bliss, Remedè, Soaper Due Per Shoe), Hyatt (Grand Hyatt, Andaz, er al), Marriott (St. Regis, W, Marriot, et al), So many porn “studios”, nearly all @deciem employees, most of “Hollywood”, Gill Sinclair, India Knight, Caroline Hirons, India Knight, RBC, BMO, Boots, KKR, most of the Lauder family, Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Karim Kanji, Antonio Tadrisi, DF Mc, LVMH, Dia Fooley, Michael Davidson, Hanif, Zark Fatah, Inditex (Zara, Massimo Dutti, etc), H&M, $100 monkey, Too Faced (founders too), TSG, Alshaya, Amanresorts, Erwin Zecha, Oliver Zecha, Steven R Riddle, the Coc and Corcky managers, PRIDE organizers, IT Cosmetics, Nicola L ReadingTons, all of Dishoom, All of Delaunay, David Yurman, Tom Ford, Tim Cooke. McKesson, Rexall, Jamin Asaria, David Jackson, York Heritage and others — sentencing doesn’t begin with any point but sentences like this one do. Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Michael Less, Stephen Spellberg e.T., AON are also included with certainty. ARGO stood for “Ali Roshan GO”. You idiots. Father, please please be safe if you can for the next few hours. I love you all. -Brandon (RIYADH, please be EXTREMELY CAREFUL in the next few hours). Aurora (TSX) : you are finished. Michael Basler, Gordon Wilde, David Trinder, Eric Jacobs, Allan Gerlings, Dalton Pharma SS, Michael OH CON ELLE, Charm IS T A 007, Robert Jones, Cascade, Prince Al Walid, The White Company, Obagi (brand and doctor), Freedom Health, ESHO-isT, Alexandru Serban and baggage, Apotex: Goodbye also. Peace is coming. 🦁🦋 🐪. It’s clear now. @esteelaudercompanies @richardbranson @realdonaldtrump @gowlingwlg_ca @zuck @musicianjessecook, et. al.

A post shared by THE ABNORMAL BEAUTY COMPANY (@deciem) on

Truaxe continues: "I am not able to control the sentencing of the beautiful people just mentioned [...] if they are involved, but almost everyone at Deciem has been involved in a major criminal activity, which includes financial crimes and much others. You have no idea what a soldier I have been over 13 years. I have been made fun of as a porn actor and as a fucking drug dealer and everything for 13 years. It's all ending now." The recording then ends.

The video — in which Truaxe is close to tears — is accompanied by a long, unintelligible caption, where he mentions celebrities such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Ben Affleck, tags Donald Trump, Richard Branson, and Mark Zuckerberg, and bizarrely alludes to a "$100 monkey," before finishing, "Goodbye also. Peace is coming. It's clear now."

This is far from the first time Truaxe has behaved questionably in the public eye: Earlier this year, he was accused of cutting the company's marketing team, seizing control of Deciem's social-media accounts, announcing the discontinuation of one of the company's lines without telling his collaborator, blocking or insulting fans who told him they were concerned about his behavior, and making racist comments about followers who questioned him. During this time, news also emerged that Deciem's co-CEO, Nicola Kilner, had been ousted from the company. (She rejoined just months later.)

The Deciem homepage is currently down, and some fans have pointed out on Twitter that they have noticed certain Deciem stores are also closed. Right now, The Ordinary and other Deciem brands are still available to buy through other stockists. That said, after a customer took to Twitter to ask Beautylish if they would still be able to purchase The Ordinary products "after the situation with Deciem," they responded: "We only have a small bit left and will no longer carry The Ordinary or any Deciem products as the founder has discontinued our partnership. Don’t worry we’ll have something coming to replace for you. In the meantime stock up!" Deciem also cut ties with Sephora earlier this year.

Understandably, lovers of the brand are worried, with a lot of people taking to social media to vent their frustration at the prospect of their favorite products being discontinued forever. "Just trying to wrap my head around the Deciem/The Ordinary stuff. Initial thoughts are, can I just go and quickly stock up on hyaluronic acid before things go totally tits up?" wrote one, while another said, "My favourite skincare line EVER, the Toronto-made icon that is Deciem/ The Ordinary is temp shutting down??? Call the police I’m about to collapse." Since the post went live, a lot of people have expressed concern for Truaxe, too.

Truaxe hasn't posted anything else since; his previous posts from this past week have been equally alarming, including screenshots of an article in The Wall Street Journal about the discovery of ricin in mail addressed to the Pentagon. Refinery29 has reached out to Deciem for comment, and will update this story when we hear back.

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UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Resigns From Trump Administration

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United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has abruptly resigned from the Trump administration, according to Axios. Haley, who spent late last month representing the U.S. at the U.N. General Assembly, reportedly discussed resigning last week with Trump.

Haley was confirmed shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017 and has had one of the longest tenures in a White House fraught with high turnover. After the New York Times published an scathing "resistance" op-ed from an anonymous White House official, Haley hit back with an op-ed of her own in the Washington Post, saying, "I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country. But I don’t agree with the president on everything."

Haley's resignation has came as a shock to some of colleagues, according to Axios. Shortly after the news broke, Trump said that Haley wanted to take a "break" and would be leaving at the end of the year. He also left the door open for Haley to come "back at any time." Trump also said that Haley had no plans to run for president and would be campaigning for him in 2020.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley is a former governor of South Carolina and had no foreign policy experience before assuming the role of U.N. ambassador but had been doing a steady and controversy-free job and was seen as an even-handed leader.

Trump said he will be nominating a replacement for Haley in two to three weeks.

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11 Group Halloween Costumes That Bring The Beauty Looks

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You may have to to hide your eye roll when your co-worker starts blabbing on about how she and her BFF are dressing as Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods for Halloween, but you have to admit that it's a pretty clever idea. Not only is it fresher than the cat costumes you and your best friend have worn for the past three years, but they probably already own all the important parts, save for the necessary manicure.

You and your friends — whether there's just two of you or a crew of six or more — can win best dressed this Halloween by serving some killer looks, because we've rounded up 11 group costumes that you'll actually want to take to the nines.

Whether you want to whip out the body glitter and hairspray in a ode to the girls of Glow, want to get perverse as the Heathers, or you're inspired by Dionne's box braids and plaid skirt suit from Clueless, you'll find the perfect costume for you and your crew, ahead.

Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Model Lineup

We're still talking about Rihanna's lush, jungle-themed NYFW Savage X Fenty runway show. Ride the fashion culture wave this Halloween by grabbing all of your costume-less friends and some sexy lingerie. Then, hit up the beauty supply store for Afro puff attachments, silk scarves, body glitter, and lots of temporary color spray.

Photo: Brian Ach/Getty Images.

The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling

The only way to do this '80s costume justice is to take a pointer from the cast of Glow. Translation: Go all out with your beauty. That means huge hair, blue eyeshadow, neon hairspray, and plenty of body glitter.

The Black Panther 's Nakia and Okoye

If you take beauty cues from Lupita and Danai on the regular, consider channeling the iconic cinematic duo for Halloween as their Black Panther characters. Picking just one look from the film might be difficult, so why not take the opportunity to rewatch for inspo?

Photo: Courtesy of Matt Kennedy.

The Saved By The Bell Cast

This formula couldn't be any easier to copy: three girls, three guys, hairspray, a bunch of scrunchies, and acid wash jeans.

Photo: Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.

Blair and Serena

Even if you're far from Upper East Side elite — both in location and spirit — you can play into the Gossip Girl aesthetic for the fantasy. You'll need: Blake Lively blonde hair (which probably means a wig), a brunette counterpart, and a heaping supply of sass.

Photo: James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images.

The Heathers

Or, if you prefer something a little more sinister, channel the OG preppy girl gang, The Heathers, with a mix of perms and plaid.

Photo: New World Pictures/Getty Images.

The Cast Of The Hills

Play on your teenage dream of living in Laguna Beach and kissing Stephen Colletti by dressing as someone from The Hills. Have heavily bleached blonde highlights? You're halfway there.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Destiny's Child

The "Single Ladies " look is overplayed, and channeling "Lemonade" requires a mega wardrobe lift, so take your Beyoncé costume old school with sparkles, matching makeup, and two friends.

Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images.

Cher and Dionne

Every Clueless fan wants Cher's white Jeep and Dione's dramatic hat collection, but dressing as the duo for Halloween is a far easier fantasy to achieve.

Photo: Paramount Pictures/Getty Images.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Fam

Imagine how much fun you'll have flipping your hair a la Hilary Banks and having an appropriate excuse to belt out the theme song. Sing it with us now, "In West Philadelphia, born and raised ..."

Photo: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.

The Golden Girls

Get yourself three friends, a few wigs, pantyhose, red lipstick and you're golden.

Photo: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo/Getty Images.

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4 Ways To Make Confrontation Less Intimidating

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How many times have you put off talking about an issue you were having with someone because you "don't like confrontation"? Whether it's a conflict with a partner, friend, or boss, plenty of us dread having to bring up an issue so much that we just keep putting it off.

Megan Fleming, PhD, a sex and relationship therapist in New York City, says that it's completely normal to dislike conflict. Disagreements can be inherently uncomfortable, and who among us would willingly sit in discomfort if we could do the opposite?

"Part of human nature is that we don’t like to be uncomfortable, and a lot of people feel like they can sweep [the issue] under the rug and it’ll go away, but we know that doesn’t happen," she says. "The growth is always in the discomfort."

Dr. Fleming says that when someone has a strong difference of opinion and we imagine having to confront them about it, we likely think that confrontation will involve aggression.

"Aggression feels unsafe, and if you imagine [the conversation is] going to be confrontational, your body is preparing to be defensive and get into protection mode," she says. "From that place, we’re not in a position to truly hear or understand where the other person is coming from."

Ahead, Dr. Fleming breaks down a few tips to make confrontation a little less scary.

Validate their perspective.

"You can’t talk someone out of their feelings, so you have to make room to hear their feelings and understand their perspective," Dr. Fleming says. "Then they can be more open to hearing your perspective, but until you validate them, they’re still feeling the need to be heard."

This doesn't mean that you have to agree with them, but you can acknowledge that you see their point of view by saying something like, "I hear you — are you open to hearing me?"

illustrated by Tristan Offit.

Plan for the conversation.

"If you want to have a productive conversation, have a sense of what you want to express and what you want the outcome to be," Dr. Fleming says. "Have a sense of what you think is a good outcome, a better outcome, and the best outcome."

You don't have to come planned with exactly what you want to say, but it's probably a good idea to go over (in your head or on paper) what points you want to get across.

illustrated by Tristan Offit.

Take a break if you need to.

Confrontations and conflicts can often be emotional, whether we like it or not. Dr. Fleming says that if you find yourself getting worked up, it's worth taking a minute to pause and ask if you can continue the conversation later.

illustrated by Tristan Offit.

Let your body do the talking.

Body language matters, too. Dr. Fleming says that before you even say anything, the person sitting across from you will be able to pick up on how you're approaching this conversation.

"If you’re coming from a place where you’re [trying to be] understanding, people will pick up on that," she says. "If you just want to get it over with, they’ll feel that too."

That means: No crossed arms and crossed legs. Instead, try sitting next to the person you're talking to so that you can indicate that you're on the same side, and that you're ready to listen.

illustrated by Tristan Offit.

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The Best Affordable Alternatives To The Ordinary's Top Sellers

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Update: Yesterday, Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe, whose once-“quirky” behavior quickly turned to erratic and even volatile over the past year, announced that the company would be shutting down, effective immediately. In a minute-long video posted to Instagram, an emotional Truaxe rambled on about “financial crimes,” “major criminal activity,” and the 2012 Ben Affleck film Argo.

Though the Deciem website has since been reinstated after several hours of deletion, the brick-and-mortar stores appear to be closed, and stockists like Beautylish have reported that Truaxe has discontinued their supply partnership, which can only mean one thing: We may well be looking at a world without $9 retinoids in the very near future. If you haven't already, now would be a really good time to track down some alternatives to your The Ordinary must-haves...

This story was originally published on April 7, 2018.

There are a lot of reasons to love The Ordinary: the simplified formulas, the potent ingredients, the mix-and-match possibilities, the low, low prices. Unfortunately, there are also quite a few reasons to not want to support the brand, which have become more and more apparent over the past few months as Brandon Truaxe, the founder and CEO of The Ordinary and its parent company, Deciem, has very publicly made a bit of a mess of it.

While boycotting a company whose divisive views you disagree with is fairly easy when it’s something like, say, a chicken-sandwich chain that opposes same-sex marriage, cutting The Ordinary out of your routine might feel like waving goodbye to good skin, especially if you’re not looking to sell a kidney in exchange for a new seven-step skin-care routine. But there are still ways to stock up on the good stuff without spending an insane amount of money, while getting to keep all of your organs. (Though you do only need one kidney, after all.)

Ahead, the best — and most affordable — product alternatives to try if you love The Ordinary, but aren’t in love with what’s going on behind-the-scenes.

If you like the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, try…

This gentle moisturizing cream contains three different types of retinol, for smoother, more even-toned skin and increased collagen production without irritating even sensitive types.



Indeed Labs Retinol Reface, $19.98, available at Indeed Labs

If you like the Vitamin C 30% Suspension in Silicone, try…

This powerhouse serum combines free radical-fighting vitamin C from Kakadu plum with echinacea and shea butter to keep skin soothed and nourished.



Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin Daily Vitamin Defense Serum, $11.35, available at Beauty Pie

If you like the 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder, try…

This unique booster makes it easy to get your vitamin C powder without the mess — it doesn't mix with the enclosed emulsion until you want it to, so it stays as fresh as possible in the meantime.



Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10%, $19.5, available at Sephora

If you like the Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, try…

The addition of vitamin E makes this solution gentle and soothing, not harsh, despite the high concentration of 10% glycolic acid.



Alpha Skincare Essential Renewal Lotion, $16.98, available at Ulta Beauty

If you like the Mandelic Acid 10% + HA, try…

You don't see mandelic acid all that often, which is why this lightweight gel is a godsend. Combined with proven skin-soothers like aloe, chamomile, and allantoin, you get the best of chemical exfoliation with the least amount of irritation possible.



Stratia Soft Touch AHA, $14, available at Stratia

If you like the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, try…

This cult-favorite BHA liquid is a little on the higher-priced end, but there's a reason it's so well-loved: You'll get noticeably smoother, brighter skin after just a few uses.



Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, $29, available at Paula's Choice

If you like the Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%, try…

Peptides, actives, resveratrol, hydrating ingredients like argan oil and aloe vera — this well-rounded lotion has everything, and is a serious source of antioxidants across the board.



Mad Hippie Face Cream, $25.99, available at Mad Hippie

If you like the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, try…

This silky serum does exactly what it promises, making skin smooth, "bouncy," and plump, without feeling sticky or clogging pores.



Glossier Super Bounce, $28, available at Glossier

If you like the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, try…

The perfect everyday moisturizer uses plant-derived squalane in a fragrance-free fluid base to leave all skin types soft and well-hydrated.



Fourth Ray The Lightweight Hydrator, $12, available at Fourth Ray Beauty

If you like the 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil, try…

A vegan, earth-friendly, phthalate-, paraben-, and cruelty-free marula oil priced just over $10 — what's not to love?



Acure Organics The Essentials Marula Oil, $10.99, available at Target

If you like the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, try…

The metal roller-ball applicator on this soothing under-eye treatment helps reduce the appearance of dark circles and under-eye puffiness on contact while caffeine, glycerin, and green-tea extract get to work.



First Aid Beauty Detox Eye Roller, $26, available at Sephora

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Yes, You Can Wear Sandals In Winter

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Let's just get one thing straight: There are some serious snow boots in our future, no matter how much we hate to admit it. But on other, less disastrous days of the transitional season, you can still get away with wearing your sandals and other sorta-open-footed, non-boot options until then. In fact, some silhouettes just beg for a sock; not only do they keep your toes toasty and protected against winter conditions, but they also add dimension to your look — and give your sandals a completely different feel from their summertime vibes.

We get that the fashion industry has been trying to push the whole shoe-sock styling trick since forever, but we also know there are still a few of you out there who have considered giving the look a try and just don't know how to go about it. It's time to finally master these winter shoe-sock pairings once and for all. If anything, this means your cold-weather shoe wardrobe is now twice as big — and what's not to like about that?

Pair The Sandal...
Yes, the strappiest sandal you own is fair game.



Marais Jardin Heel, $310, available at Marais

With The Glitter Sock
Because glitter socks are a wardrobe essential at this point.



Gestuz Glitter Ankle Sock, $14, available at ASOS

Pair The Strappy Heel...
It may be sexy alone, but it's even sexier with a sock.



Charles & Keith Embellished Heeled Sandals, $59, available at Charles & Keith

With The Embellished Sock
Double the fun.



Rachel Comey Lang Beaded Socks, $138, available at Rachel Comey

Pair The Mule...
A going-out shoe that won't kill your feet.



Rafa FÊTE SLIDE – PEONY, $350, available at Rafa

With The Tulle Sock
Now it's a party.



Rachel Comey Hynde Tulle Socks in Brown, $80, available at Need Supply

Pair The Ballet Flat...
Who says a flat can't be fancy?



Zara Patent Leather Ballet Flats, $29.9, available at Zara

With The Sheer Sock
You can't go wrong with a subtle statement.



Darner Socks Solid Powder Blue Mesh Socks, $38, available at Darner

Pair The Platform...
One of our favorite shoe silhouettes to pair with a sock.



Topshop Daphne Chunky Sandals, $20, available at Topshop

With The Ribbed Sock
The ribbed material dresses down the platform velvet in all the right ways.



Happy Socks Cilla Knee High, $16.8, available at Happy Socks

Pair The Court Shoe...
Your office-ready heel deserves some sock love, too.



Gucci Marmont Fringed Leather Loafers, $790, available at Net-A-Porter

With The Patterned Sock
Solid shoe, striped sock. Works every time.



Hansel from Basel Nautical Stripe Crew, $17, available at Hansel from Basel

Pair The Sneaker...
Ankle socks aren't the only option, you know.



Mango Leather Panel Sneakers, $69.98, available at Mango

With The Logo Sock
Because logo-mania goes hand-in-hand with a pair of trendy kicks.



Prada Logo Cotton-Blend Socks, $100, available at MatchesFashion.com

Pair The Slide...
The heel of your foot doesn't want to be freezing, either.



Oak + Fort Embossed Pointed Mule, $68, available at Oak + Fort

With The Cashmere Sock
These should make the whole situation a bit cozier.



Maria La Rosa Cashmere-Silk Ankle Socks, $92, available at Barneys New York

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appearance by Annie Georgia Greenberg; styled by Laura Pritchard.

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How Working With Black Women Makes Me More Successful

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Many Black women know what it’s like to walk into an office and discover that nobody else looks like them. As someone who has dealt (and continues to deal) with that feeling: it sucks. Your coworkers may become friends — allies, even — but they just don’t get it. They’re flattering, but you wish they wouldn’t ask a million questions about the weave you got over the weekend. They’re sweet, but when you learn about another hate crime, they can’t relate. You simply go to the bathroom to cry quietly alone.

But don’t get it twisted, this isn’t a sad story about how hard it is to be a Black career woman. This is about celebrating! My name is Laurise McMillian, and I’m the Social Media Editor behind @Refinery29 and @R29Unbothered the Instagram account dedicated to empowering and affirming Black women. People probably think that Unbothered begins and ends with our almost 40K Instagram followers, but it's actually a manifestation of the real-life Black girl magic that exists within R29's walls. I know that the community of Black women I have in my office is rare as hell — there is lots of evidence to suggest black women experience isolation and pressure to "dim their light" at work — but my R29 tribe has helped my workplace feel like home.

The abundance of Blackness I experience on a daily basis has given me a deeper purpose at work.

I remember when I first came to R29. I was nervous and intimidated as hell. But one day, as I was checking out freebies in our cafeteria, this girl with a really cute crochet hairstyle came over to me and introduced herself. She was Sesali Bowen, senior entertainment writer. I don't know if she sensed my nervousness, but she didn't show it. Instead, she told me about an online group chat that all of the Black folks in the company used to connect with each other. She also invited me to hang out with her and some of the other Black women in the building. The sense of sisterhood I experienced was almost instant, and soon after, that sense of belonging spilled over into other aspects of my job. Suddenly, I felt less intimidated — their presence affirmed the fact that I belonged here, too.

Beyond having coworkers to swap Insecure season four theories with, I also found mentors — people who went out of their way to give me opportunities I wouldn't have dreamed for myself. former social media editor Ally Hickson was one of the few Black women on the social team, and she embraced me as a little sister. She offered advice whenever I needed it, and always kept me laughing. Whenever I thought my ideas were too big, Ally would say “who gon’ check us, boo ” (wisdom from her love of The Real Housewives of Atlanta).

When Ally was finally given the greenlight to start Unbothered, a project she’d been working on for over nine months, she invited me to do the work with her. Instead of becoming defensive about no longer being one of the only Black women on the social media team, her actions and openness made it clear that there was room at the table for everyone. She understood that together we were stronger and more impactful. And anytime someone asked why a brand as diverse and inclusive as Refinery29 needed a safe place for Black women, she’d unapologetically tell them that the 50+ Black employees at the company wanted to see even more of themselves in the content they create.

Photo: Courtesy of Grace Bukunmi.

Ally has since gone off to do really dope shit in the tech industry, and I have been honored to pick up where she left off: @R29Unbothered has gained approximately 20K more followers, we've created a physical experience of black excellence at 29Rooms, and we've introduced new video series (if you haven’t watched our Go Off, Sis videos, check them out!). The abundance of Blackness I experience on a daily basis has given me a deeper purpose at work. No matter what department or team you’re on, you know you have a special support system at your fingertips. All you have to do is send a text, and your homegirl from two floors down will grab lunch with you outside so you can vent about stuff that might make you look like the “angry Black girl” if you complained in front of anyone else. These connections are a resource — just like HR or tech support.

I’m a Black woman with a strong background in design and editorial writing, and working on projects like Unbothered allows me to feed all my passions at once. But even people with seemingly “glamorous” jobs have those days. And when you feel like the only one in the crowd, those bad days feel even worse. That’s what makes my connection to my Black coworkwers so instrumental to my success: Whether it’s an impromptu turn up at our company happy hour or meaningful conversation on the train ride home, these women regularly help me make it through another day. I love them for that.

Welcome to MyIdentity. The road to owning your identity is rarely easy. In this yearlong program, we will celebrate that journey and explore how the choices we make on the outside reflect what we’re feeling on the insideand the important role fashion and beauty play in helping people find and express who they are.

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9 Of Photography's Rising Stars, According To J.W. Anderson

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Designer Jonathan Anderson of J.W. Anderson has long championed emerging talent and, since founding his label 10 years ago, has used his platform to spotlight up-and-coming artists, photographers, and designers.

Arriving at the brand's spring/summer 2019 show at London Fashion Week last month, guests were treated to a copy of Your Picture / Our Future, a coffee table book compiling the work of shortlisted entrants to a photography competition of the same name. Earlier this year, Anderson put out a call for aspiring photographers, ages 18-30, to submit their work for the opportunity to be featured in an exhibit in London. 50 of nearly 2,000 entrants were selected, and of those, three were chosen to shoot the label's fall/winter 2018 campaign.

"I felt as if we were given a chance," the designer said in a press release in February when he announced the initiative. "We were all young, new and coming through together, particularly when we launched our campaigns; it felt right to give somebody else that opportunity." Of the exhibition and resulting book, he said: "Fundamentally, it is about talent giving a chance to talent — this is something I really believe in."

For those who may have missed the London exhibition back in May, this book (sure to be a collector's item) is a chance to see not only what inspires Anderson, but also to look to the future of photography via its rising stars. Ahead, we spoke to some of the artists featured about what inspires them and their career highlight (thus far).

Your Picture / Our Future is $65 and available at j-w-anderson.com.

Malak Kabbani

What inspires your work?
"I grew up looking at works by Caravaggio and that was a big kick for me, but I don't think I can limit or pinpoint one source of inspiration. It could be the weather, a song, a person...I don't know how you could settle on one thing. When it comes to my work I think everything happening around me at that time is a key factor."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Different every day."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"The best is yet to come."

Stroma Cairns

What inspires your work?
"Family has always been my biggest inspiration. I always tried to capture both the chaos and tender moments between my siblings."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Honest, personal, intimate."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"Finishing my short film this summer that I have been working on for a while. It features two teenage boys who are hard of hearing. This is a project that is really close to my heart and excited for it to be released to the world!"

Stroma Caims

Emily Manning

What inspires your work?
"Friends, family, Nan Goldin, New York City."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Gay and proud."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"Interviewing my hero, John Waters, for i-D."

Kristina Podobed

What inspires your work?
"For me, this is the most difficult question to which I still have not found the answer. I just take the camera in my hands and the inspiration comes by itself or does not come."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Beautiful naked truth."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"A solo exhibition or publication of my book will be a great career highlight for me."

Noma Osula

What inspires your work?
"Lagos, Nigeria, experiences, movies and the internet."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Contrast, vibrant and relative."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"Being recognized beyond my continent this year. That was awesome. And being named one of the British Journal of Photography 's Ones to Watch for 2018."

Fabio Rovai

What inspires your work?
"I would like to start by saying that my works are inspired by performance and anthropology. Let me clarify this point: I love to show the crafting process behind a story and show a mood rather than portraiting the final result."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"My aesthetic is dark, melancholic, and nostalgic."

Christopher Barraja

What inspires your work?
"I had a stroke a couple of years ago which affected my speaking and the way I see things today. So I must say I am inspired by the little things that people don’t see and that often go unnoticed. I find them beautiful."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Nostalgia, youth, deviance."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"Being able to show my work in this project has definitely been a highlight. I am very happy to be part of such a beautiful body of work from around the world."

Pan Yi

What inspires your work?
"I love photography and I love the whole old school process of visually styling an image."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Calm, natural, spontaneous."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"To be honest, most of my photography jobs have been rather standard and commercial. So if I had to choose something, it would most definitely be submitting work for this competition, which has encouraged me a lot."

Alex La Cruz

What inspires your work?
"I am inspired by the transient qualities of the body and light, and the progressive intimacy between photographer and subject. I photograph what surrounds me."

Describe your aesthetic in three words.
"Soft. Vulnerable. Intimate."

What has been your top career highlight thus far?
"Working with Mariacarla Boscono for Equipment spring 2018 has been my career highlight to date. The campaign took on the form of a visual love letter to Rome. The resulting medium format photographs and film also featured her boyfriend Guido, which made it extra special and real."

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Will Ivanka Trump Be The Next United Nations Ambassador?

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Would you have imagined five years ago that Ivanka Trump could become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations? The answer is probably no. But because this is 2018, within moments of learning that UN Ambassador Nikki Haley was resigning from her position, political pundits across America began theorizing the first daughter could become the next U.S. representative on the international body that's been often maligned by President Donald Trump.

And the speculation is not baseless.

Last year, the New York Times reported there were talks that Ivanka could become UN ambassador if Haley replaced then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

That didn't happen, however: After Tillerson was fired by the president through a tweet earlier this year, he was replaced by former CIA director Mike Pompeo. But now that Haley is stepping down in January 2019 to become a private citizen, there's nothing stopping the first daughter from being appointed to yet another high level government position.

One of the reasons that sparked rumors Ivanka can become the next UN ambassador is that she began following a ton of Twitter accounts related to the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday.

That alone obviously doesn't mean anything, but the position could be a next step for Ivanka's climb in the political world.

The first daughter and senior adviser to the president has worked over the past year and a half to position herself as a champion for women and children. (Her success is highly debatable, however.) She has already taken the stage internationally on several occasions, from meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and representing her father at the G20 Summit  to leading the U.S. presidential delegation at the Winter Olympics earlier this year and helping launch a fund to aid female entrepreneurs.

Ivanka also has the seal of approval from Haley, who called her a "great friend" during her remarks at the Oval Office Tuesday morning.

In a Politico piece last year, Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, argued that the idea of "Ambassador Ivanka Trump" wasn't terrible.

"We’ve already passed the nepotism Rubicon, with Ivanka and Jared serving in amorphous White House roles in a manner that would have been unthinkable as recently as two years ago," he wrote. "So why not install Ivanka as U.N. ambassador? Would she really be so bad?"

The president is expected to nominate the next UN ambassador in the next few weeks. Whoever is selected would have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. If her dad nominates her, Ivanka once again would prove that anything is possible when nepotism is at play.

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I Got A Facial Workout At New York's First "Gym" For Your Face

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Beauty with Mi, hosted by Refinery29's beauty writer Mi-Anne Chan, explores the coolest new trends, treatments, products, and subcultures in the beauty world. Never miss an episode by subscribing here.

Don't make the same mistake I did and call a FaceGym treatment a facial. "It's a workout," Inge Theron, the brand's founder corrected me before introducing me to my "trainer" who would be guiding me through warm up, cardio, and cool down in New York's first "Gym For Your Face."

Trendy branding aside, Theron is actually correct: FaceGym isn't a facial. The sessions are better described as an intense form of facial massage through muscle manipulation and the use of radiofrequency and microcurrent machines. Theron has branded FaceGym as a new way to treat puffiness, aging, and overall skin texture — and, in a little over two years, has already made it a global sensation. This summer, she brought her studio from its original location in Manchester to Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City, with plans to open up even more locations stateside.

I went to the spa to try a workout for myself and witness the brand's newest tech: Skin IV — a hydrodermabrasion machine that uses water, oxygen, and the brand’s customizable serums to exfoliate and minimize the appearance of dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. The machine is designed to look just like those IV bars you may have seen A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow use after a nasty hangover, so it fits in perfectly with FaceGym's clientele.

In the video above, watch me get FaceGym's Game Face workout (which costs $375 including the Skin IV). The intense session wasn't relaxing by any means, but I left with brighter and glowier skin — which is all I can ask for from a facial. I mean, workout.

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12 Halloween Costumes Ideas Straight From Haute Couture

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Paris Haute Couture is a spectacle not unlike Halloween — over-the-top costumes, too many parties to go to in too short of a time frame, lots of gift bags that are all treat, no trick. So for the 99% of us who aren't buying hundred-thousand dollar hand-beaded gowns, the biannual event is really a great time to start brainstorming costume ideas. Last year, we had Gigi Hadid as a bouquet at Moschino, this year we have butterflies straight from Valentino couture.

There's a lot that can be gleaned from haute couture that isn't as prominent during the other fashion weeks: the makeup is bolder, the styling is more daring. The looks that come down the runway span from being unbelievably fantastical to almost possibly practical if it weren't for a multi-thousand dollars price tag. So if we can't have the real thing, we can improvise — even if it's just for one night. Come October 31, wear lots of hairspray, find a chic overcoat, and let your imagination run wild. At the end of the day, Halloween is all about confidence — and obscure runway references that only your most fashion-minded friends will get.

Gym Class Parachute  - Ralph & Russo

The greatest joy of our childhood, now in costume form!

Tomorrow Morning - Viktor and Rolf

Can we all agree that some kind of comforter/sleepwear costume is always the goal for Halloween?

Crossing Guard - Maison Margiela

Have your friends be the pedestrians and you've made a group outfit!

Girl Who Loved Horses In Middle School - Jean-Paul Gaultier

We all knew that girl who loved horses so much in middle school it extended beyond her pony pencil case.

Bioluminescent Algae - Iris Van Herpen

The natural occurrence that dominated our Instagram feeds for like a day.

Fantastical Pink Butterfly - Schiaparelli

A mask is an automatic costume win. Be the caterpillar for all of October and emerge as a butterfly on the last day of the month.

Bridal Catalogue Model - Dior

All you need is a satin dress and ribbon choker and you're the girl from that catalogue you flipped through when searching for a prom dress.

Your First Throw Blanket - Alexandre Vauthier

We all have that blanket: the one your friends used when staying over at your apartment. It weathered some spills and pilled too quickly and was almost 100% some type of animal print.

Can't Be Bothered - Giorgio Armani Privé

The laziest costume of the bunch. In fact, you don't even have to cross your arms to show your disdain for Halloween! Plus, it's enough of a distraction so nobody sees your real arms reaching for the bowl of Cheetos.

Chic Art Collector - Valentino

Great conversation-starters: How you hypothetically have a Frank Stella hanging over your mantelpiece; how Andy Warhol is overrated; how you discovered the best artisanal craftsman at your local flea market.

Lampshade - Guo Pei

It only makes sense that you are the lightbulb at the center of the lampshade because of how good an *idea* this costume is.

Normal Schoolgirl - Chanel

A midi pleated skirt ensures that nobody will mistake you for a sexy schoolgirl. Fingerless gloves mean you can major in philosophy and own a full encyclopedia and still be a badass.

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A Week In Philadelphia, PA, On A Joint $301,000 Income

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

We're going on book tour for our new book, Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Your Finances... and Everyone Else's. Next stop: Dallas on Tuesday, October 9! Grab your tickets here!

Today: a real estate development director who makes $126,000 per year ($301,000 when combined with her husband) and spends some of her money this week on Attico mules.

Occupation: Director
Industry: Real Estate Development
Age: 33
Location: Philadelphia, PA
My Salary: $87,000 base with a $39,000 bonus
My Husband's Salary: $135,000 base with a $40,000 bonus
My Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $2,561
My Husband's Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $2,917 (Our bonuses are paid yearly at the end of the year.)

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: $2,100
Student Loan Payment: $1,250 (for both myself and my husband)
Gas: $18 (This is much higher in the winter.)
Electric: $214 (This is much lower in the winter.)
Cable/Internet: $218
My Husband's Car Payment: $400
My Husband's Car Insurance:
$302.60
Spotify/Apple Music: ~$30 (I know we could save money if we agreed on one service and did a family plan, but we're both stubborn and cling to things we are used to, so here we are.)
Cell Phone: $52 (We're on my husband's parent's family plan, but we still pay our share, and my husband's work subsidizes his cell, so this is our share after all is said and done.)
Rent The Runway: $159
Water: $58.63 (This is pretty similar each month.)

Day One

6:45 a.m. — Wake up, dog snuggle, and then scroll Instagram/email/news/etc. I finally drag myself out of bed when my husband, A., comes back upstairs to get the dogs so he can take them both to daycare. I'm nervous because it's one of our dog's first time going. She normally comes to work with me and she's a rescue puppy mill breeding dog, so she has all sorts of anxiety issues that we've been working on for the four months we've had her. We're trying to socialize her and we think the occasional day surrounded by other dogs may help. I hop on our treadmill for a part-incline walk/ part-run workout. I cover 5.5 miles in an hour and call it a day.

8:45 a.m. — I shower, throw some makeup on, put my hair in a top knot, and make a green smoothie (frozen spinach, a whole orange, half a frozen banana, pineapple, and almond milk) to take to work with me, along with a Special K frozen egg sandwich.

9:30 a.m. — Leave for my walk to the office, stop and grab a coffee, and drop off a Rent The Runway return at the UPS store on my way. I do the unlimited program and I love it so much. It lets me focus my shopping on longer-term basic investment pieces and stop buying seasonal trends all while still being somewhat trend-conscious. $2.75

9:45 a.m. — I make it to my desk, and a barrage of issues have popped up. I put out a few fires and then set about my normal morning routine.

11 a.m. — I have a meeting with a staff member to go over some of her tasks. This is the first time I'm having this weekly meeting with her; her performance has been somewhat lackluster lately and I'm hoping that the weekly face-to-face will help hold her more accountable and increase her performance. Fingers crossed.

12:15 p.m. — My boss shows up and we have a weird conversation about an argument I started with him yesterday. I'm very vocal about my opinions and sometimes this leads to serious disagreements between us, but we usually manage to work through and patch it up. All my friends joke that I have a second husband at work because of the way we bicker.

1:30 p.m. — The office orders lunch and I get a salad topped with roasted brussels, squash, goat cheese, fried pita pieces, apples slices, and chicken ($17.49 expensed). I also get a credit card notification that A. spent $11.79 on lunch. $11.79

2:30 p.m. — Another meeting, this time to go over some unaccounted for expenses with the office bookkeeper.

4 p.m. — It's Friday and I'm officially out of mental and emotional steam. I browse the internet a bit, reading the news, and browse Intermix's website. I cave in and buy a pair of Attico faux croc kitten heel mules I've had my eye on for fall. I have a 15% off coupon code and they have an offer right now that will give me $50 back on my card as well as 4% cash back on Ebates. When I take all the rebates/coupons into account, the shoes are $390.64, which I feel like is a decent reduction from the $540 full price tag. $390.64

5 p.m. — I run out of the office right at 5 p.m. today. Normally I stick around the office until 5:30 or 6, but we have dinner plans with friends and I have to get the dogs from daycare and make myself presentable before our 6 p.m. reservation. I walk over to the daycare to get the pups, and they are super hyped to see me. The owner tells me our little anxious one did great, although she stuck next to her older brother quite a bit for guidance. I get a notification that A. spent $59.80 on gas. $59.80

5:45 p.m. — I'm ready to go, and grab an Uber to pick up our friends ($9.45 with $2 tip). A. is meeting us there straight from the office. We are doing the omakase at a hard to get into sushi spot, and everyone is very excited for dinner. $11.45

6:30 p.m. — We're all there and seated. We order a bottle of sake for our party and the omakase begins. Dinner is fantastic — 18 pieces of sushi, each handmade in front of us by the chef. My favorite bite is a scallop topped with lime juice, zest, and caviar, and the mackerel topped with sesame oil and sesame seeds takes a close second. I have a glass of white wine when we make it through all the sake, and A. orders another pour of sake for himself. Our half of dinner is $396.25 after gratuity. $396.25

8:30 p.m. — We go to a bar a few blocks from the restaurant. A. and I each have three drinks; they aren't cheap here, so the tab is $108 after tip. I have two really interesting daiquiris (no, not the frozen kind) made with Smith & Cross rum instead of the usual white varietal, so they are much funkier tasting than a normal daiquiri. I end the night with a glass of rosé. $108

10:45 p.m. — We take an Uber home and take the dogs for a walk around the block before passing out. Our friends live a block away from us and end up paying for our Uber.

Daily Total: $980.68

Day Two

8 a.m. — I wake up and lay around in bed for a bit. A. wakes up about 10 minutes later and immediately starts rushing about. We walk the dogs and get a coffee ($6.75). A. leaves to go get his car from last night, and then heads to a work event for a few hours. I do a BBG power workout and go for a three-mile outdoor run. (A.'s Uber is $6.89 plus $1 tip.) $14.64

10:30 a.m. — A. is still at work after I get out of my post-workout shower, and I'm feeling hungry. I defrost and toast a bagel and have it with smashed avocado and tomatoes on top. (I'm going to miss tomato season so much when it ends soon.) After my brunch, I set about to some closet reorganization and tidy up the first floor of our house a bit since we may or may not have guests stopping by tomorrow.

2:30 p.m. — A. is back. We have to go to Total Wine in New Jersey to pick up the booze for his sister's wedding shower that I'm helping host. $396 and a car full of booze later, we're on our way back to PA. We also stop at Target and grab some cleaning supplies and orange and grapefruit juice for tomorrow's mimosas at the shower. ($88.67 — we got A LOT of juice.) We drop off the booze and juice at the venue for tomorrow's event on our way home. $484.67

4 p.m. — We crash on the couch for a bit, have a snack (popcorn for me and tortilla chips with salsa for A.), and watch an episode of Patrick Melrose. I was very much not into the first episode, which I feel like was just a drug abuse filled shit-show, but I've been hooked since and actually appreciate why the first episode almost needed to be what it was to set up the story.

6 p.m. — We walk the dogs and I stop to get a card for the shower tomorrow. I also stop at my office to grab a pair of heels that I want to wear tomorrow that have taken up residence under my desk for the last few weeks. $4.99

8 p.m. — A. and I put on a Clash record and start cooking dinner over respective cocktails. Aviation for me, rum Negroni for him. I make bucatini in a fresh tomato sauce with clams. (I buy the frozen whole small clams and they are great for a nice and quick pasta sauce.) We hang out, have a couple more drinks, and listen to music before turning in for the night.

Daily Total: $504.30

Day Three

8 a.m. — Take the dogs for a walk and stop for coffees. $6.75

8:30 a.m. — Another BBG workout — today is legs and abs and a one-mile run outside.

10 a.m. — I shower and get ready for the festivities. It takes forever — I have long hair and it's a legitimate workout to give myself a blow out, and then I can't decide which dress to wear. I still have to pick up the four dozen donuts I ordered, and I am supposed to get there by 11. Time management life fail.

11 a.m. — I pick up four dozen custom donuts for the celebration — white chocolate strawberry, blueberry cheesecake, old-fashioned chocolate cake, and citrus glazed. Two kinds are vegan and two are normal, so all will be happy and fed at the event. Thankfully, donut pickup is only two blocks away from the venue and everyone is very much accustomed to my chronic lateness. I manage to arrive only 10 minutes late and find everything very much under control and running smoothly. $144

12 p.m. — The shower kicks off and everyone seems very happy with the food and beverage options. I sip on mimosas (really just champagne with a splash of juice) and pat myself on the back just a tiny bit for what a good venue I picked and how smoothly everything is going. I love entertaining and planning events for friends and family — it's so fulfilling to see them going well and everyone having a great time.

3:30 p.m. — Things have finally wrapped up; A. and other male family members showed up about a half hour ago and those of us still looking to hang out head to a street festival about a 10 minute walk away. I have a beer at the festival (someone else in the group pays) and A. and I pop into a local bar for one more drink and several snacks on our way home. $68

7 p.m. — We order and pick up Chinese food. We significantly over-order. $49

8 p.m. — I end up falling asleep on the couch promptly after eating an egg roll. A. wakes me up and drags me up to bed around 10 p.m.

Daily Total: $267.75

Day Four

7:45 a.m. — Get up, get dressed, and walk one of our dogs to daycare; the other one is going to work with me today. I don't normally take him this often, but we're starting with new house cleaners today and I want him out of the house. I stop and grab a coffee after I drop the pup off. $2.75

8:45 a.m. — Back home, I pay the cleaners. It's $240, but it's going to be $120 each visit after this time. Since it was their first visit today, they are charging us more because they want to account for the fact that they do things differently and (hopefully) more thoroughly than our last cleaner. $240

9:15 a.m. — Back out the door, this time with my other dog in tow. I drop off another Rent The Runway package at the UPS store on my way in.

9:35 a.m. — Get to my desk — eat a frozen egg sandwich I had in the office freezer and get to work.

11:30 a.m. — Get an email that I can pick one new item from my Rent The Runway — so I choose a pretty burgundy fall floral Nicholas long-sleeved maxi dress that I plan to wear to Yom Kippur dinner this week. I also do a quick Amazon Fresh order for the week: zucchini, tomatoes, kale, frozen spinach for smoothies, oranges, bananas, frozen mango, almond milk, almond creamer for my office, yogurt, granola, pre-cooked chicken breasts, bagged salad mix, a variety of cheeses for a mac and cheese I'm making for the holiday dinner on Wednesday, and dry pasta. $159

12:30 p.m. — I snack on some masala-seasoned popped water lily seeds (basically popcorn without the kernels, and literally the best snack discovery I've made in years) while figuring out what to order for lunch with some coworkers. We end up just ordering from a nearby deli — I get a spinach salad with chicken and avocado on top. $13.36

2 p.m. — The food finally shows up. (We ordered through GrubHub, which always takes way too long.) We should have just had one of us walk the four blocks to pick up, but it's Monday and we're all lazy.

5:45 p.m. — I leave work and pick up the other pup. We're due for a new daycare five-pack, so I pay $125. $125

6 p.m. — I get home to a spotless house! These cleaners were a world apart from our last person, and they are going to be much cheaper on their bi-weekly cleanings than the previous one as well. I'm thrilled and spend a slightly silly amount of time reveling in all the newfound organization and spotlessness.

6:30 p.m. — Once I get over my clean house high, I do an hour-long yoga class at home on YogaGlo. Kathryn Budig, the teacher of the class, might literally be my favorite human I've never met. She's just so effervescent and lively.

7:30 p.m. — I take a quick shower. A. gets home as I'm getting out, and we eat leftover Chinese for dinner and veg out on the couch. We watch three episodes of The Sinner, take the dogs for a quick loop, and go to bed.

Daily Total: $540.11

Day Five

6:30 a.m. — Lounge in bed for a few with the dogs and scroll Instagram before I get up and go for a three-mile outdoor run and do a BBG arms workout after.

8:45 a.m. — Done with my workout — so I make a green smoothie for breakfast (frozen spinach, orange, half banana, some frozen mango and pineapple). I also throw in a dollop of Greek yogurt to mix it up and add some protein. I throw together a quick salad (salad mix and chicken, so creative, I know) and grab a birthday cake-flavored One protein bar for a snack to take to work with me.

9 a.m. — I shower, very half-heartedly curl my hair with a wand, and throw on some vitamin C serum, tinted moisturizer, and lip gloss. I recently got eyelash extensions and it's reduced my getting ready time in the morning. I now need zero eye makeup for daytime events, which is great, but it took three hours to apply them and was kind of costly, so I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'll get them filled in again or not.

9:20 a.m. — Out the door with one of the pups and on my way to the office. I stop for an iced coffee en route. $2.75

9:35 a.m. — At work, I sip on my smoothie and answer many emails.

10:30 a.m. — Take a little mental break to book A. and me flights to Mexico City. We are going over the holidays with another couple and one of them just texted me to tell me the flight we were eyeing dropped in price. I have a lot of credit card points, so I use them for a significant chunk of the cost — so it comes to $153.40. (Tickets were $680 per person without the points.) I also get another Rent The Runway notification to pick an item, so I get another Nicholas dress, this time a rust-colored satin gown that I plan to wear to a wedding we have this coming Saturday. $153.40

1 p.m. — I take the dog out for a loop around the block and eat my salad at my desk while I work.

5:45 p.m. — I leave the office and stop and get my nails done. I have to get gel or the polish pretty much immediately chips off. I go with a pretty standard red color and zone out while the woman does my nails. ($27 plus $8 tip.) $35

6:30 p.m. — I stop back my office and pick up my dog, since I left her behind for the nail appointment. We walk home and run into A. as he's walking up to the front door. He's just dropping off his laptop and has to run to a community meeting — he's on the local neighborhood community organization's executive committee and has meetings for various issues about once a week for it. I walk the dogs to A.'s meeting with him and then continue on for a nice long walk with them.

7:30 p.m. — I start dinner while waiting for A. I'm making a healthy(ish) play on cheese fries. For the base I'm doing salt and vinegar roasted potatoes (very heavy on the paprika and garlic) topped with caramelized onions, leftover crumbled lamb merguez sausage, chopped up peppers, and manchego and other random cheese I find in our fridge . We also have some sautéed kale on the side. A. gets home while the potatoes are still in the oven and we chat about our days while finishing cooking and eating.

9 p.m. — We watch MSNBC for a bit, get depressed, and decide to make a switch to an episode of Shameless before bed. I also eat a frozen chocolate chip caramel almond cookie that I found while rummaging through the freezer. I always bake way too much when I make treats and end up freezing the leftovers.

Daily Total: $191.15

Day Six

6:30 a.m. — I wake up and then lie around in bed with the dogs and my phone for about 20 minutes. I get up and run 3.5 miles outside and do a BBG abs workout.

8:30 a.m. — Same routine as yesterday — make smoothie, throw together salad, shower, get ready leave. This time no dog in tow. A. is staying home for Yom Kippur. He fasts and is basically the grumpiest person alive when he doesn't eat, so he's going to work from home today and spare the world from his wrath. I'm not Jewish (just married a Jewish person), and I'm not fasting in solidarity.

9:15 a.m. — Make it to the office, get to work straight away, and try to be super focused since I'm leaving early to make mac and cheese for the Yom Kippur dinner tonight.

2:30 p.m. — I'm out the door. I ended up skipping lunch (and leaving the salad in my office fridge) because dinner will early and I decide I may as well also be starving when I get there since everyone else will be.

2:45 p.m. — Get to work on the mac and cheese. I decided to use gruyere, brie, and a mild cheddar. I toss in chopped onions that I caramelized first and I top it all off with thinly sliced tomatoes, panko, and some extra butter for good measure.

4:30 — Mac is ready and we have to get out the door. Dinner is 45 minutes away and we're going to be late!

5:15 p.m. — Get to dinner and there is So. Much. Food. I have a couple of glasses of wine and eat until I am more than stuffed while catching up with family and friends and playing with the resident pair of German Shepherds because if there is a dog in the house you better believe it's going to get the majority of my attention. Dogs > people, always.

9 p.m. — Finally home, and we watch the news on the couch for a half hour before taking the dogs for a walk and heading to bed around 10:30.

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven

7 a.m. — Wake up with a food hangover. Drag myself out of bed to do a leg workout and 30 minutes of walking at an incline on our treadmill.

8:30 a.m. — Shower, get ready, make smoothie, and leave with the dog.

9:15 a.m. — Get to work, put out some customer service-related fires, and settle in to the rest of my work day. I'm putting together lots of financial reports today so I shut the door to my office, turn on some music, and pray for a a lack of interruptions.

12:15 p.m. — A reminder pops up on my phone to spend a Saks gift card I have that expires at the end of the month. (It was a promotional gift card that I got for spending X amount of dollars during a promo last month.) I peruse the site for a bit and don't pull the trigger on anything. Everything I've got my eye on is kind of pricey and I'm not feeling like spending irresponsibly today. I reset the reminder to next week and if I'm still not feeling it, I'll pick something closer to the actual value of the gift card so I don't waste the $$. Its $400, so it feels silly to let it go to waste.

1 p.m. — I eat my salad while working. Afterwards, I take the dog for a walk and stop for an iced coffee. $2.75

3 p.m. — I'm starving and in need of a break, so I wander to the back of my office and find a bag of chips to tide me over.

5:30 p.m. — I head home with the pup, pick up the other dog at home, and take them both for a walk around the neighborhood.

6 p.m. — I do a half-hour YogaGlo class (Kathryn Budig again) and take a quick shower.

7 p.m. — A. gets home and we cook dinner and have some wine. I make pan-grilled flank steak over goat cheese polenta with sautéed zucchini and mushrooms on the side.

9 p.m. — We move over to the couch, split the rest of the bottle, and veg out in front of the TV for a bit, half watching the news and chatting while looking for the perfect Airbnb in Mexico City.

Daily Total: $2.75

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

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Oh Yes, Disney x Coach Is Back — & This Time, It's Super Affordable

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Update: Disney x Coach's Minnie Mouse collection just released its fall line-up, and it's the brand's most affordable drop yet. For anyone who's felt jilted by the contemporary label's pricing in the past, you're in luck: The all-accessories collection features an assortment of handbags, wallets, and keychains that start at $35 and max out at $375, a far cry from the $400 to $800 price tags from previous releases. After Coach debuted a see now, buy now offering this past fashion week featuring a new array of Disney characters, we're happy to see that our favorite female mouse is still leading the charge.

This article was originally published January 22, 2018.

What happens when an international icon finally receives the Hollywood Walk of Fame star she so deserves? You celebrate with a designer collaboration, of course. At the peak moment of Disney-meets well, all of fashion, Coach is grabbing the torch and spearheading the latest collection featuring none other than Minnie Mouse herself. Hot off the heels of Minnie earning her long deserved star (FYI, Mickey's had his for 40 years, so yeah, even female cartoon characters face gender inequality in the workspace), Coach has just launched a 19-piece special-edition offering.

Bringing back the Disney x Coach frenzy, the collection features handbags, ready-to-wear, and, for true Disneyphiles, a collectible Minnie Mouse doll crafted in pebble leather. As for the aesthetic, expect a perfect mash-up of Minnie's traditional style — polka dots, pink and red, nods to her vintage outfits — with Coach's Americana vibe. Stuart Vevers, Coach's creative director, shared: "It was kind of about bringing the icons of Minnie Mouse and the references of Coach together." In a release from the brand, they liken the collaboration to a meeting of minds; Minnie's imitable style meets "sophisticated and cool take juxtaposed with her fun spirit and femininity." While the details are all Minnie Mouse, the silhouettes are signature Coach. Polka dots are are reinvented in glittery and polished rivets, and retro Disney patches decorate hoodies and varsity jackets for an equally nostalgic yet modern feel.

But making Disney chic is not always an easy task. Only so many brands can trademark a silhouetted Mickey on a crewneck sweatshirt. So what better hands to leave it in than a self professed Disney-obsessed? When we sat down with Vevers, there was little doubt about his excitement to take on the project. He explained: "I really love Disney...it's definitely been me whose really pushed for these collections. Even in our [pre-fall] collection, we referenced the kind of dark side of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and took graphics from the animated films so it's just something that I love." This is far from Coach's first time making waves with Disney. Back in 2016, Coach released a Mickey collection that sold out, fast. The label saw so much success with it that it recreated a similar collection for its outlet stores with products that later made their way onto Disney's relaunched ShopDisney site.

As for Disney, it's been seeing a new market in millennials willing to dish out for luxury goods. From a Kenzo x The Jungle Book collection to Marc Jacobs' sweatshirts to Minnie Mouse's impressive resume of custom designed looks, luxury Disney fashion is proving itself to be the "it" thing. Even Vevers understands the love for Disney in the current marketplace. "I didn't go [to the Disney parks] as a kid so I watched the films and I remember going to the cinema to see the animated films so obviously...and I think that's why I love to go today. I get really excited and when I walk into the park, it's like this moment of escapism and joy." And in case you were wondering if the greater population is willing to shell out a large chunk of cash on a designer Donald Duck sweatshirt, the answer is yes. Vevers shed some of his own insight on the new meaning behind luxury: "Where luxury used to mean an investment, something formal, something sober...some of those old rules are just changing — a sneaker or a sweatshirt, a playful backpack. A cartoon character can be in the world of luxury today and I think that's kind of synonymous with a bigger shift in fashion which I think has been happening over the last few years and I think it allows for some more irreverence and some more unexpected hookups like this and I think that's what it comes down to." We're apt to agree when some of luxury's top-selling trends no longer revolve around Goyard totes, but instead more street-style wares, like athleisure.

But the number one Disney fan said it best: "Who says Minnie Mouse and luxury can't sit together," Vevers added. "I think it's about challenging some of those old rules. Why can't you invest in a bag that's inspired by Minnie Mouse? It's fun. It's playful." And what's a better investment than spending it on something you love?

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Taylor Swift May Have Led To An Increase In Voter Registration

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Good news for democracy: Taylor Swift's viral Instagram post shattering her apolitical reputation has led to a massive spike in new voter registrations nationwide.

According to the nonpartisan website Vote.org, about 212,000 people registered to vote since Swift announced she was supporting is Tennessee Democrats Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the U.S. House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections and encouraged her 112 million followers to go to the ballot box.

For context, the website registered a total of 56,669 new voters in August and 190,178 in September. As a non-partisan organization, Vote.org doesn't record people's political affiliation when they register.

On Sunday, Swift broke her longtime silence on politics, writing on Instagram: "In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now," she wrote. "I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country."

Vote.org also saw an increase in Tennessee, Swift's home state. More than 6,200 of the 7,554 new voters that have registered this month did so after Swift's Instagram post. The website registered just 951 new voters in August and 2,811 in September.

This might be because the singer specifically spoke against Rep. Marsha Blackburn, saying the Republican's anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-women's rights voting record terrified her. "These are not MY Tennessee values," she wrote.

It's not the first time we've seen a spike in new voters this year, either. After the Parkland school shooting earlier this year, there was an increase in voter registration, particularly among young people in Florida. Data by the Pew Research Center also shows that there was an increase in voter turnout this primary season compared to the 2014 midterm election, especially among Democrats.

Swift's Instagram post won't determine the outcome of this election, but an increase in voter registration is good news for democracy.

Tuesday marks the last day you can register to vote in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. Go here for more information about state deadlines and here for our guide on how to register to vote.

This story was originally published at 11:41 a.m. It has since been updated.

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16 Boiler Suits For An Easy All-In-One Outfit

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Heavy-duty workwear has become fashion’s latest obsession, bringing high-visibility jackets in neon green and orange and safety glasses into our lives and wardrobes. The industry's latest foray into practicality comes in the form of the boiler suit — an all-in-one look that's perfect for those mornings you just don't want to think about getting dressed.

Boiler suits, overalls, and utilitarian jumpsuits have taken over our Instagram feeds and the runways — just last week Stella McCartney showed a tie-dyed version in her spring/summer 2019 collection. And while you can stick to the classics (olive green, khaki, navy, and black), brands are also pushing the limits with bright colors and floral prints (an unexpected but welcome take). Ahead, find some of our favorite one-and-done pieces.

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