Some people say that "cancel culture " — figuratively cancelling a person or trend when we don't agree with it — is wrong because we need to learn from our past mistakes. But when it comes to the wellness world, there are certain fads that probably should be cancelled, because they're potentially dangerous to our health.
Of course, health is an incredibly individualized thing. Some people are drawn to unconventional health treatments for legitimate reasons, like feeling disbelieved by doctors or lacking access to affordable healthcare, for example. But the problem is, when so many people get on board with a specific trend, we often end up trusting it as gospel. And that's not always a good thing, because these trends aren't always harmless.
In 2018, there was no shortage of bizarre health trends that blew up on the internet. Ahead of the new year, here are the ones that we'd be perfectly find leaving in 2019. Or, to put it in very 2018 terms: "Thank you, next."
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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.
Today, as part ofYour Spending In Your State: a manager working in casino gaming who makes $64,279, per year and spends some of her money this week on La Croix.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $840 (I live alone.) Student Loans: $250 Car Payment: $312 Netflix: $13 Hulu: $15 Amazon Prime: $13 Internet: $45 Electricity & Gas: $80-$100 Car Insurance: $145 Cell Phone: $120
Day One
5:50 a.m. — I wake up to start my week. (Since I work in the gaming industry, my week starts on Tuesday instead of Monday.) I hit snooze a few times and then take my dog for a quick walk while my coffee brews. I'm already running late, so I get ready in a rush. My assistant and I have a busy week ahead of us, so I stop to get us both bacon breakfast burritos from one of my favorite spots. $11.83
11:35 a.m. — The morning goes by quickly and after I accomplish five of the 25 items on my to-do list, I reward myself with lunch. I call a few work friends, and we head to one of our go-to restaurants for a quick bite. My boss sees us heading out and joins. I order a chicken sandwich with fries and an iced tea, and my boss picks up the tab ($7.35).
3:45 p.m. — The afternoon has been filled with meetings and problem-solving. My assistant and I decide we need a break and take a walk to the convenience store. I pick up a candy bar for sustenance and resist a sundae from Dairy Queen. $1
5:15 p.m. — I arrive home, feed my animals, and contemplate what I should make for dinner. Nothing seems appealing, and I didn't defrost any chicken, so I opt for takeout. I got an email for free delivery from Grubhub, so I order from a local taco place. I order enough for lunch tomorrow. $25.85
10 p.m. — I get into bed and follow up on a few work emails I received throughout the evening. Then I read some articles before falling asleep.
Daily Total: $38.68
Day Two
5:30 a.m. — I wake up with the first alarm that goes off and let the dog out to do her business. Wednesdays are very busy for me, I have to be at work by 7:30. I make coffee and toast and eat it on my drive. My tank is a little less than a quarter full, so I stop to fill it at a local gas station in my neighborhood. $32.18
1:30 p.m. — I'm unable to take a break until well after my normal lunch hour. I didn't realize how hungry I was. I forgot the leftover tacos from last night in my fridge, so I go make a salad at a salad bar ($2.32). While eating, I text my boyfriend, who lets me know he can spend the evening with me. He wants a home-cooked meal, and I oblige. He agrees to pick up a pre-seasoned pork tenderloin on his way to my place. $2.32
5:30 p.m. — I arrive home, and my boyfriend and his pooch are already there. He is a saint and has already walked the dogs, so I start on dinner. I make the tenderloin, some garlic mashed cauliflower, and asparagus I had in the freezer. We eat dinner while watching 90 Day Fiancé.
8 p.m. — We decide to take the dogs for a walk to work off dinner. I live in a relatively active part of the city and there are several shops along our normal route. We pass by a custard shop, where we get a sundae to share. The woman at the shop recognizes us and gives us free dog treats. $4.35
10:30 p.m. — Get into bed. My boyfriend finishes up some work while I read and catch up on the celebrity gossip for the day. The dogs are peacefully asleep at our feet dreaming of puppy ice cream cones.
Daily Total: $38.85
Day Three
5:50 a.m. — Alarm goes off, but my boyfriend convinces me to hit the snooze button and get into work a little late. I get out of bed, text my assistant to let her know I'm running late, and get ready. While I'm in the shower, my boyfriend makes coffee, toast, and eggs, and lets the dogs out for their morning business. I head off to work while he heads back to bed, both dogs taking my place on the bed.
11:30 a.m. — Another busy morning of meetings, but I manage to get away for lunch with my normal work crew. I brought my leftover tacos from Tuesday, but find that the tortillas are now inedible, so I get some rice and piece together a taco bowl. $0.85
3 p.m. — I take a break from work and browse Groupon, where I find a deal for tickets to the Nutcracker ballet. I text my boyfriend, convince him it will be fun, and purchase the tickets. He tells me he was able to work from home today and is still at my apartment. He wants to grill hamburgers for dinner and asks me to pick up a few things on my way home. $106
4:40 p.m. — I pick up hamburger buns, chips, cheese, tomatoes, and avocado. When I get home, the burgers are almost done. We eat while watching a few more episodes of 90 Day Fiancé. Then we clean up and head out to run a few errands. $16.76
6:45 p.m. — I'm out of a few of my beauty essentials, so we go to Sephora. The saleswoman convinces me to try a new night cream, and I spend more than I had originally planned. $103.71
8 p.m. — My boyfriend and I hit up our favorite liquor store on the way home and pick out a bottle of Scotch to enjoy over the weekend. It's his turn to buy, so he pays ($75.83).
10 p.m. — The dogs are restless, so we decide to take them for a quick walk before settling in. We return from the walk and get into bed. I pick up a novel I've been reading, and he returns a few work emails before drifting off to sleep.
Daily Total: $227.32
Day Four
5:50 a.m. — I wake up and decide to try to be on time to work. As I get ready, my boyfriend makes coffee and offers to make me eggs. I decline and opt for toast so I can eat it on my commute to work. He heads back to bed with the dogs, and I head into work for the day.
11:15 a.m. — I have lunch again with my work friends. I get chicken strips and an iced tea. $7.35
1:30 p.m. — I get a text from my boyfriend saying he has to head into the office and won't be at my apartment when I get home.
4 p.m. — I leave work early to make my standing nail appointment. This is the only thing I budget for that is completely frivolous. I enjoy feeling pampered for a few hours every other week. I get a pedicure and manicure this time, but since the weather has changed, I've only been getting pedicures once a month. $65.43
6 p.m. — I get home and take the dog for a walk, resisting the urge to pick up dinner at one of the restaurants on our regular route. I get back home and warm up a leftover hamburger from last night. Then I settle in and catch up on This Is Us while eating.
10:30 p.m. — Get into bed, read celebrity gossip, and FaceTime with my parents to confirm their travel plans for the holidays.
Daily Total: $72.78
Day Five
8 a.m. — Saturday! I'm able to sleep in a bit. My sister stops by and convinces me to take her to breakfast. We drop by one of our favorite waffle places, where I get a ham and cheese waffle and a latte, and she gets an eggnog waffle and coffee. I pay, since she's a poor college student. $23.41
2:30 p.m. — I get ready to head into work, and I text my assistant to see if she's eaten. She hasn't, so I pick us up a late lunch from Chick-Fil-A and get my day started. $17.08
10 p.m. — Saturdays are typically work-event days, and sometimes I end up working well into the night. Today, I'm lucky and can leave at a relatively reasonable hour. I head home, let the dog out, and get a sad face for not taking her for a walk. I snack on some yogurt I have in the fridge and settle in for the night.
12 a.m. — I read for a while before drifting off to sleep.
Daily Total: $40.49
Day Six
8 a.m. — I'm able to sleep in again. I wake up, let the dog out, make some coffee and a breakfast burrito, and get ready for a Humane Society event I'm attending today.
10:30 a.m. — My friend and her dog arrive to pick me and my dog up for the event. She already bought us tickets and won't let me reimburse her, so I insist on buying lunch. We attend the event and meet a whole bunch of new dog friends.
1 p.m. — We grab lunch at one of the food trucks. I get a Thai chicken wrap with a La Croix, and my friend gets a Frito pie and a Diet Coke. I pay. We sit at a table to eat while the dogs run around and play. $23
430 p.m. — I want fajitas for dinner, so I run to the store after dropping the dog off at home. I pick up some chicken, bell peppers, tortillas, sour cream, and a few other essentials for the week. My boyfriend texts to say he'll be over later in the evening. I tell him I'll have dinner ready, and he's excited. $34.56
12 a.m. — We spend the evening watching the first three Planet of the Apes movies, eating fajitas, and enjoying Scotch. The we get into bed and fall straight asleep.
Daily Total: $57.56
Day Seven
10 a.m. — Finally get out of bed and get the day started. One of our favorite thrift stores is having a sale, so we decide to head over. While I get showered and ready, my boyfriend makes coffee and an egg scramble from the leftover fajitas.
11:30 a.m. — Starbucks drive-through time. I order a iced green tea, and my boyfriend gets a dirty chai latte. I have a free drink with my Starbucks app, so we only have to pay for one. I pick up the tab so I can get the points. $4.35
2:30 p.m. — I find a few good things at the thrift store and walk away with an 11-piece tea set, a few glass pitchers for tea, and a liquor decanter. The tea set will be a gift for my friend's upcoming birthday. My boyfriend found some electronics that he's going to resell on his Ebay page. We pay separately for our items. $43
4:30 p.m. — We get home and realize we haven't eaten since breakfast, so we order BBQ from a local place via Grubhub. I get ribs, and he gets brisket. He ordered from his app, so he pays ($53.40).
7:30 p.m. — We take the dogs for a walk and stop for a custard sundae. Our normal cashier isn't there, so the dog treats aren't free this time. $8.54
10 p.m. — We get into bed, and I return some work emails. Then I indulge in my nightly celebrity gossip before falling asleep.
Daily Total: $55.89
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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Good (and gross) news for popaholics everywhere: The second season of Dr. Pimple Popper is practically here. Come January 3, the medical-mystery reality-show phenomenon that rocked the world — and became the highest-rated freshman series to hit TLC's cable network in the last five years — will grace your TV screens once again. As the last season taught us, you'll want a jumbo box of Kleenex ready on the coffee table, because the real stories in each episode will have you holding back tears (in addition to trying not to gag).
As a refresher, the Dr. Pimple Popper series follows the practice of dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, and the devastating skin conditions she treats in the field. (Take a peek at her YouTube channel for an idea of what you're in for.) But fans will tell you that it's not the weight of the bulging neck tumors or the satisfying scenes of pus finally busting free of a 10-year-old cyst that keeps them invested in the show. Rather, it's the patients' emotional backstories — like the 22-year-old girl from St. Louis who tears up getting dressed each morning, trying to yank a pair of jeans over the massive mystery lump on her lower back — that really reels you in.
For fans — and the curious uninitiated — we have your exclusive first look at the highlights from the soon-to-come season, below, and the teaser clip proves that the new episodes are going to be even more heart-wrenching than anything shown in season one. Press play and see for yourself.
Whether you're left slack-jawed from the lumpy sack one girl pulls out from behind her ear, the shoulder welt herniating calcified blood, or the stringy charcoal-colored pus spewing out from under the skin — it's clear this season is going to be like nothing you've ever seen before. We'll have to wait for the hour-long premiere episode on January 3 to get to know the patients behind these big boils and full-body rashes, but we have our fingers crossed that Dr. Lee will deliver the happy endings once again.
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Need a holiday hostess gift for your roommate's parents, who let you co-opt their ski cabin? A trinket for your cousins, who haven't looked up from Snapchat since they got home? A Secret Santa gift that won't get traded three times? Bath & Body Works is the way to go.
The store, which has long been our destination for last-minute holiday shopping, seems to be on over-drive this year. Between the 100 new festive scents and candle discounts so good it feels like you're stealing, the mall staple is churning out holiday must-haves that even the speediest of Amazon Prime deliveries can't touch.
Among the 300+ holiday items in store are choice gift sets that are not only comprised of the most universally-loved body care products (Vanilla Bean Noel, anyone?), but — and this is the best part — also come already wrapped in reusable baskets, ribbon-tied bags, and metallic boxes. It's enough to make holiday shopping as easy as adding a few gift cards to cart, while showing that you care enough to, you know, not do that.
See our favorite ways to give for maximum impact and minimal effort, ahead, and get ready to impress everyone from your 70-year-old grandma to your 17-year-old cousin.
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With every new season comes a whole new crop of eye candy to shop for. Pages and pages to be exact. But navigating the new arrivals section can feel daunting: Between the overload of budding trends and the general excitement of seeing all things new, we tend to shop with eyes bigger than our wallet. It's easy to get caught up in adding everything you see to cart, then having a small cry when your checkout page lists 20 items and a price with one too many zeros.
To offer a helping hand, every month, we'll be breaking down the best items in the market that you can buy for under-$150. Think of our curated shopping guide as an easy way to keep you in the know, without making you splurge. From of-the-moment collaborations to the latest trickled down runway trends, you'll be able to give your closet a mini boost on the cheap. Click on — the winter collections are calling your name.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Unless you're a seasoned pro in the styling department, we're pretty sure you'd agree that curling irons are one of the most hard-to-master beauty tools. It's not only a headache figuring out how to properly work them, but the process that goes into finding the best one for your needs isn't that intuitive. There are a ton of different curling irons on the market that vary in size and shape — heck, some of them even rotate!
As arduous as it may be, the difference between a stellar barrel and a so-so one can drastically change your curl result. Luckily for us, brands have been stepping up their tool game over the past couple of years — introducing more modern, high-tech, and easy-to use contraptions that help address specific preferences. Translation: These aren't just carbon copies of the irons you've seen in the past. The latest and greatest offer better heat control, handling, and results!
To help you find the right one, we had three women — with varying hair types and curl wants — test out some of the best-reviewed irons on the market. Click ahead to see which ones fared best. And, while you're at it, check out some of our tricks to master curls. (But, whatever you do, don't be this girl.)
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When your life is moving too fast — your inbox is overflowing, you desperately need a haircut, and you're wondering how the hell we're already a week into December — it's hard to feel in control of anything. But one way to instantly find your footing, and feel like a badass planner who has it all together, is to get your holiday shopping started on the early side.
In fact, you can get it all done today, on your laptop, with one single virtual shopping cart. That's right, because Ulta Beauty has the most gift-able seasonal sets from all your favorite brands, making it super simple to bang out the bulk of your holiday shopping while you're kicking back with a glass of red wine watching The Holiday.
Because you know you'll need a little something for your best friend, your sister, and a couple white elephant swaps, we rounded up the best picks from Ulta's Holiday Gift Guide, broken down by price point. Click through all of the goods, ahead.
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"I can tell by the smell of that perfume, it's like 40 dollars too sweet," Carrie Underwood once sang, in one of the sickest fragrance-related burns to date. It's brutal, but understandable: Most of us hear "cheap perfume " and think of saccharine-sweet, alcohol-heavy, vanilla-coconut scents that suffocate us in elevators.
But it doesn't have to be like that. In fact, what if we told you there are a bunch of fragrances on the market that come cheapand chic? Yep, believe it. Ahead, click through to shop our favorite under-$50 fragrances that don't sacrifice quality or aesthetic.
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When it comes to winter, you can probably guess the sort of benefits you'll want in an essential oil. Considering the chaos of the holiday season and the dark, dreary, and, in many cases, snowy months that follow, we could certainly use some varieties that help boost relaxation, clarity, and positivity.
Of course, as trendy as essential oils may be at the moment, you should know how to use and shop for them before setting up your diffuser. If you're pregnant or have allergies, asthma, or other health conditions, always consult your doctor before using a new essential oil. That way, you can enjoy its effects without any concerns of having a sensitivity or reaction to it.
Here, we highlight five types of essential oils that are perfectly suited to ease your wintertime woes.
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The idea that fashion is art — and vice versa — has been debated for eons. Some designers and visionaries will tell you fashion is made to be used, to function, thus disqualifying it from being art. And some will tell you that fashion is wearable art. No matter which side you fall on, you can always win an argument by settling on the fact that (most) fashion is meant to be digested (and enjoyed) on a cerebral level. And it's a conversation Dior's artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri is tackling with the French fashion house's latest art project: Dior Lady Art #3.
Everybody knows the Lady Dior bag, right? Well, it's one of the most iconic handbags ever, thanks in part to noted carrier Princess Diana, and is one of the few pieces designed by Christian Dior himself still sold today. For the third time, Dior has collaborated with a team of artists to put their own spins on the luxurious tote. But for the first time, Chiuri and company have compiled a female-only cast of 11 artists from all over the world to interpret the bag: Olga De Amaral of Colombia, Polly Apfelbaum of the U.S., Burçak Bingöl of Turkey, Lee Bul of Korea, Isabelle Cornaro of France, and others. The bags make their global debut at Art Basel in Miami this week.
In the slideshow ahead, you'll see the legendary Lady Dior bag redesigned using dozens of different mediums: metal, plastic, gold chains, cotton, fur, embroidery, ropes, and so much more. The bags will be produced in limited edition quantities. and are currently exclusively available for purchase at the Miami Design District boutique, should you catch yourself in the Sunshine State anytime soon. But, come January 2019, they'll be available at select boutiques across North America and around the world.
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Since ordering wine online can feel like more of a gamble than buying in-store with friendly assistance, we consulted a wine expert for virtual guidance. Sayle Milne, certified wine educator and founder of Wine Savvy NYC, dished on the delicious and affordable bottle options that we can add to cart for convenient doorstep delivery. "When it comes to the holidays, most of us fall into two categories: you either sparkle or you stress. I definitely fall into the stress category, which is why I am always looking for ways to simplify my to-do lists," Milne confessed. "Shopping online most definitely has its pros. I am a huge proponent of ordering in bulk or buying the case, as it is one less thing for you to think about or additional errand to run," she shared.
We've rounded up 11 of Milne's holiday suggestions (from sparkling to red and even non-alcoholic) that you can order online (from Amazon to Drizly and more). "Holidays are about time with friends and family (even the unexpected who stop by), so being prepared by placing orders early and having plenty of wine stashed is a great way to avoid added stress. Did I mention you can order in your pajamas?" Cross wine off your holiday to-do list by adding the ahead bottles to cart.
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While the glitzy parties, twinkling lights and saccharine made-for-TV movies would have us believe that the holidays are all happy all the time, this time of year — especially after a year like this one — are the hardest for a lot of people. Between once close-knit families finding themselves on opposite sides of every argument and the tragic news notifications we receive on a nearly-hourly basis, it seems only right to use this holiday season, especially, to give back.
No matter your cause of choice — from the ACLU to Planned Parenthood — there's a fashion brand making it their holiday mission to help you support it. So before you tackle that formidable Hanukkah-Kwanza-Christmas list you've been putting off, see how you can check off every name on your list andgive back to those who need it most.
Ahead, we've rounded up 14 brands that are dedicating this holiday season to doing good. Because while we might be living in trying times, there's always something more we can do to help.
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The future of beauty is here — and you’re invited. Check out the rest of our 2018 Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Awardswinners for a full look at the products, brands, and people that are breaking the rules and redefining beauty standards, one lipstick at a time.
As much as we'd like to book weekly blowout appointments, root touch-ups every six weeks, and a scalp massage once a month, our wallets just aren't set up like that. Sure, healthy hair is an investment, but it doesn't always require you forking up hundreds in cash all the time (a girl's got rent to pay, after all).
This year, the hair products that dropped at drugstores and other beauty retailers were equally effective and affordable — and we tried them all, so you have to do is sit back, save money, and let your hair thrive. Among the products our lengths and ends have fallen in love with are sweet-smelling conditioner, charcoal-infused stylers, and treatments that make our hair look fresh out of a Pantene commercial. The best part? Our favorite Beauty Innovator Awards honorees are all under $20, and we're spilling all the details, ahead.
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Riawna Capri called it. A year ago, the celebrity stylist and co-founder of L.A.'s Nine Zero One salon predicted rich and buttery hair colors would replace icy and ashy hues on the heads of cool girls everywhere — and she was right. Now that we're rounding the corner on another year, we checked in with the mane oracle to find out what she sees for 2019. Her answer? "It’s a switch up from the traditional golden beachy hues," she notes. But instead of simply swinging right back to platinum shades, Capri sees a tendency toward more neutral territory, or what she's calling "dirty brunette." In fact, Capri is so confident in her choice, she's asked colorist Lauren Burke to create the look on her own hair.
"A dirty brunette has a more neutral, smoky vibe rather than super icy or super warm shades," she explains. "Instead, it's a perfect balance of both." To strike the right chord, Burke highlights hair, then applies toner to mellow lifted strands to the lightest of brown shades or darkest of blondes. The result is a slight shift in color that complements different skin tones and features the way a full-stop blonding often won't. But don't just take Capri's word for it, see how dirty brunette is about to become the freshest thing to hit 2019, ahead.
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Last month, we ran a Money Diary from Alice Little, a legal sex worker in Nevada who managed to book $1 million in a calendar year. We followed up with Little to chat about the diary and how she became the most successful legal sex worker in the country (it involves a 60-to-80-hour work week).
Can you talk about what's changed in your life since you did a Money Diary last year? "One big change is that I’ve had to hire an assistant to help me manage my busy schedule, help take care of all my animals, and do some of the editing that I've simply run out of time for. I’ve got a podcast called Coffee with Alice, a show on YouTube, and I’m doing sex toy and sex book reviews.
"I pay my assistant around $40,000 each year, and I have it set up right now with her as a private contractor underneath my personal LLC."
You also mentioned in your diary that your minimum booking is now $2,000. "That is an absolutely massive change. Whereas before, I might have been available in lineup, I'm now available by appointment only. I was getting so many requests that I had to make a business decision and say, okay, I can’t handle three or four appointments each day and still be able to do my work in a way that I can feel comfortable. I had to adjust my business model so I could still get days off and manage my schedule in a way that works for me."
Are you seeing clients less? "I would say I spend the majority of my time still working with my guests in a one-on-one context, but I've definitely taken some of my free time and dedicated it to my other projects. If I don’t have an appointment, I can finish up a sex toy review or get together show notes for a podcast. All of those little administrative tasks take up a surprising amount of time. In between that and social media photo shoots, I'm probably working a good 60 to 80 hours a week."
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Whether you’ve got diehard team spirit for your school’s football team or have never watched a game in your life, the magnitude of college football fandom cannot be denied. That’s why, ahead of the College Football Playoff, we teamed up with ESPN to explore how college football left a lasting impact on one woman’s life. Read ahead for more, then check out the Playoff yourself, Saturday, December 29 on ESPN.
Until autumn of the year I turned 21, I’m not sure I had ever watched a college football game. Some people inherit the college teams of their parents or their city, but not me. I grew up in Canada, where college football doesn’t exist — at least, not in the American way where it seems entire cities adopt college football teams as their own. But when I was 21, I got into the University of Southern California and everything changed.
It’s an understatement to say I was terrified to uproot my life and venture from Edmonton, Alberta — a quiet city on the Canadian prairies — to Los Angeles, California. When I got accepted, my parents and I sat around the kitchen table in shock.
“Why are you crying?” my dad asked me. “This is a good thing.”
There would be so many great opportunities at an American school, he told me. Think of the networking, the school clubs, the college football. At the time, we didn’t realize just how big college football was at USC, but the thought of “American college football” sounded momentous in and of itself. It felt like something you had to experience at least once in your life, up there with seeing Big Ben in London or eating croissants in Paris.
I wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to be part of it all. So just a few weeks later, we packed up the family van and my entire family made the three-day trek to drop me off at school.
Arriving in L.A. was a complete culture shock. I’d vacationed in the States growing up but didn’t fully appreciate the fundamental differences between our two cultures, which were only accentuated by the fact that I was boarding in a sorority house on Greek row. It felt a little bit like living on a movie set.
I didn’t know a single person in the entire city; I’m actually not sure I knew anyone in the entire country.
I forced a brave face while my family helped me unpack. But when they were gone, the loneliness set in. I didn’t know a single person in the entire city; I’m actually not sure I knew anyone in the country. How do you start off in a place where you know no one? My strategy became going to the movies by myself. Sitting in a dark theater obscured the fact that I was alone.
It’s safe to say my social life was not off to a great start. The loneliness gripped me every time I had a spare moment to myself. I felt guilty for moving so far away and leaving everyone I loved. I wondered what my family was doing without me and if my dog would still remember me when I came back.
Still, I didn’t want to give up and take the loneliness lying down. I was determined to make my first semester a success. And as luck would have it, there was a friendly, chatty girl named Lauren living down the hall from me who managed to make friends with everyone, even me. She was also a boarder at the sorority but had transferred a semester before me. If I was living in a movie, she was the knowledgeable best friend who swooped in to pull me out of my tailspin. Perhaps the most valuable tips she dispensed were about football.
According to Lauren, I needed to quickly get season football tickets, buy a game-day outfit, and, most importantly, learn the fight song — she sent me a video link for practice, which I blasted in my room when no one was home. I was determined to fit in on my first game day.
I still had no idea just how big college football was at USC, but it was starting to become clearer. “I won’t assign a group project this weekend,” my English professor told the class the Friday before our first home game. “It would be terrible of me to try to make you meet up on a game day.” My classmates sighed, relieved. I, on the other hand, silently judged them for not putting in the effort.
Some parts of campus were such a tightly packed mess of cardinal and gold that you could barely wind your way through.
On game day, as we neared campus — several hours early as per Lauren’s direction — I could already sense the energy of the crowds. USC on game days became the gathering place for all of Trojan nation. Some parts of campus were such a tightly packed mess of cardinal and gold that you could barely wind your way through. I suddenly understood why we couldn’t do a group project on a game day.
What I remember most about that first game is Lauren pulling me through the throngs of people from tailgate to tailgate, arriving at the center of campus just in time to hear the marching band play the fight song. You couldn’t imagine an experience more antithetical to sitting in a dark movie theater alone.
Social psychologists who study the way sports impact our lives say that identifying with a team lessens feelings of loneliness, depression, and alienation. Research also shows that college students who identify with an on-campus team tend to feel more connected to the entire campus, not just other fans. I understand this completely, because at that first home game, under those bright lights, I experienced it myself.
Being in the student section for a game was like nothing I had ever been a part of. I was madly trying to memorize everything that happened, so I could tell everyone back home. As far as I could make out, there was some crazy cheer that resulted in girls being thrown in the air. This in addition to a host of other chants Lauren was trying to get me to memorize, including the many times Trojans have to hold their fingers in the air in a “V” for a victory sign.
At some point during the game, I stopped saying 'they better win' and started saying 'we’d better win.'
Nobody sat down once for the entire game — and it wasn’t even a playoff game or anything special. More importantly, everyone seemed to know what was happening on the field. My football knowledge was elementary, but the students around me did their best to kickstart my education. Still, I can’t even remember who won that first game. What I remember is that at some point during the game, I stopped saying “they better win” and started saying “we’d better win.” I stopped thinking, You guys have a lot of crazy chants, and starting thinking, We Trojans sure get into it.
After the game, we stopped for messy, bacon-wrapped hot dogs in the rose garden on our way home. “This is an L.A. tradition,” Lauren told me between bites. I sat on the sidewalk beside my new friend, devouring my hot dog and contemplating that: a new tradition. Traditions are one of the fastest ways to feel at home. I had just found my first new one in L.A. As a bonus, it came with bacon.
Thanks to Lauren’s advice, I purchased the football season tickets. So I got an entire semester of bacon-wrapped hot dogs, tailgates, and football cheers. Even if it took a while to find regular friends, I knew every weekend I could count on becoming part of a community.
Two degrees and a thousand bacon-wrapped hot dogs later, I’m a sports writer; I’ve traveled around the globe covering world championships. What I like most about sports is what I learned from college football. It’s not really about who wins the game. More than anything, it’s about being together.
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Maybe you write in a bullet journal every day. Maybe you keep track of your workouts in a notebook. Maybe you have an old school diary, complete with an itty bitty lock to keep any intruders out of your business. But, if you're someone who reads multiple horoscopes every week and can name the current moon phase at a moment's notice, you're probably best off writing all your thoughts down in a moon journal.
In general, a moon journal is a structured type of diary that asks the user to write down their plans, moods, or daily tasks in the context of the moon's phase. Some may offer daily, weekly, or monthly queries or topics to inspire reflection, while others simply list the moon's daily movements and leave it up to you to infer its meaning. After all, it's believed that every lunar phase has a different effect on our emotional state — keeping that in mind while venting about your day may prove helpful in understanding your feelings.
With the new year right around the corner, there's no better time to pick up the habit of journaling in time with the moon. Ahead, check out some of our favorite picks for the lunar events of 2019.
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Shopping for your other half may be the most stressful on your list. When it comes to settling on a gift for the apple of your eye — whether that be your S.O., your sibling, your best friend, your dog, your boss, your grandma, or anyone else — the pressure is on. You want to impress them with something different, something meaningful, and something you know they’ll actually use.
While there are tons of gifts that fit the bill, it can be hard to find them — and even harder to decide which one is truly perfect enough for your number one. To help you get it right this year, we’ve rounded up 26 gifts that are just plain genius (and nowhere near plain). From functional items like a wireless charger you can take anywhere, to a Le Labo fragrance testing set, to a silk pillowcase (goodbye bed head!), chances are high that you’ll find the present you’ve been looking for all along. Click through to meet your match's match.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Some people are inherently impossible to shop for — the primo offender being the girl who already has everything. In your life, maybe that's your picky older sister who returns every gift you've ever given her. Or perhaps it's your soon-to-be mother-in-law (s eriously, how many handbags can one woman own?). Whatever the relation, there's a good chance she's causing you a splitting headache right about now.
But before you reach for another Advil, or scroll through your 14th page of Amazo n results, consider the universally-loved beauty gifts, ahead. From dainty rhinestone barrettes to a luxe silk eye mask — all under $100 — they're guaranteed to charm the pants off anyone on your list, including the one who already owns 11 pairs of Yeezy joggers.
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If there's ever a time to help a friend up their amateur bartending games, it's during the holidays. This feast and family-filled season opens up a whole slew of entertaining opportunities to impress your hosts while reaping the benefits of their well-stocked apartment. While you can certainly turn to corner store corkscrews and Solo cups as accoutrements with your chosen bottle of spirits, accessories that double as stylish decor pieces take your guest offering into serious present zone.
Ahead we've lined up a unique mix of boozy buys that apartment bartending giftees will covet — whether an amateur sommelier in need of artful wine racks and stoppers, or a casual cocktail-crafter searching for swanky bar carts and serving trays. Scroll ahead to shop the finds that will take at-home mixologists from boring basics to elegant experts...With actual booze and a few fashion to beauty and decor finds included, too.
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