In the current downtime, we felt it was high time to look back on her best, most popular pimple-popping moments from the past year. From squishy inflamed cysts to flubbery pus balls (and every exploding ear blackhead in between), we're rounding up eight viral moments worth watching again. Relive them in all their oozy glory, ahead.
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Ever walk into a store with a specific mission — say, to restock on toilet paper — and leave with a million other goodies? Let's be real, you have, and you've probably told yourself every excuse in the book to justify the dent to your savings account: The sale on those Chelsea boots was just too good to pass up! I totally forgot I really needed [insert thing you don't need]!I just got paid and deserve to treat myself to a new liquid lipstick!
The store that takes the cake on said failed #winning missions? Target — especially come the holiday season when you're aimlessly roaming the aisles in search of the perfect gift for your face-mask-'gramming work wife, turtleneck-obsessed BFF, or eccentric Aunt Becky who loves...well, you're not sure what she loves but you know she's into all things quirky and colorful. To make checking off all the people on your gift-giving list a whole lot easier (and to avoid said aimless roams), we've rounded up our favorite beauty sets anyone is sure to love. So pick these up, queue the cheesy superhero music, and dare we say mission accomplished.
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The Republican-controlled Ohio Senate voted 18-13 on Wednesday to pass a so-called "heartbeat bill.” If the legislation becomes law, it would ban abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks of gestation. At that point, most women don't even know they're pregnant.
The bill, which the Ohio House of Representatives passed in November, was amended so that transvaginal ultrasounds would not be required in order to detect a fetal heartbeat. That provision means that some women could still have access to abortion care at 11 or 12 weeks of gestation. Because there were changes, the legislation now goes to the House for another vote before being sent to the governor’s desk.
The bill looks to criminalize abortion providers who offer the procedure after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which often happens around six weeks of gestation. If a woman has an abortion after that point, her physician would be charged with a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to one year in prison.
The legislation makes exceptions if the woman's health is at risk and if a medical emergency prevents physicians from detecting the fetal heartbeat. However, the bill contains no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. On Wednesday, Democrats presented amendments to add exemptions for sexual assault and incest survivors, and include mental health as part of the exemption in case a woman’s health is in danger. The Republican majority rejected the changes.
A similar heartbeat bill was also passed by lawmakers in late 2016, but Republican Gov. John Kasich vetoed it then, arguing the bill was "clearly contrary to the Supreme Court of the United States’ current rulings on abortion." (Instead, he signed a 20-week abortion ban.) If the new heartbeat bill makes it to his desk before he leaves office, Kasich has said he would veto it again. But Republican Governor-elect Mike DeWine has promised to sign the bill after he is sworn-in in January. The Ohio Legislature could also have enough votes to override Kasich's veto if the bill passes before DeWine comes into office. State Rep. Christina Hagan, one of the authors of the legislation, said the Legislature plans to do this in November. "The point is: it’s time," she said during debate at the time. "It doesn’t matter if the governor is with us or against us."
November's vote caused outrage among reproductive health advocates. "Anti-abortion ideologues should not attempt to insert politics between a patient and their physician. What we’re seeing is state legislators, John Kasich, and Mike DeWine playing politics with women’s lives," NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said in a statement provided to Refinery29 at the time. "This abortion ban would block patients from the care they need and deserve. If enacted, this legislation would worsen the reproductive health care crisis in our state. The decision to have an abortion is not a political decision."
If the bill becomes law, we can expect it to be challenged in court since pro-choice advocates say six-weeks bans are unconstitutional. This is because of the U.S. Supreme Court 's 1992 decision on Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld a woman's right to choose an abortion before viability. (Research says a fetus is not considered viable before 20 weeks of pregnancy.) Ever since that ruling, courts have said banning abortions before the 20-week mark is unconstitutional.
But the possibility of a legal challenge is exactly the reason why anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing these bills, said Elizabeth Nash, senior state issues manager at the Guttmacher Institute. "Assuming that [Ohio's six-week abortion ban] passes and becomes law, it will be part of this nonstop attack on abortion rights," she told Refinery29.
Anti-choice advocates have felt emboldened by the current administration because both President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision determining a woman has a right to choose an abortion. And since the new balance of the U.S. Supreme Court has been officially cemented to the right with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Nash said we can expect even more states will try to pass anti-abortion legislation with the hopes of it bringing the legal challenge that makes abortion illegal in the United States once again.
"We are going to see a number of states, if not passing extreme abortion bans, [at least] debating them and seriously consider them in 2019. Most of the attention has been focused on the Supreme Court and passing restrictions that are unconstitutional right now, but could provide the court with the opening to undermine or overturn Roe," Nash said. "There are multiple opportunities for the courts to weigh in. It’s a very dangerous time, if you support abortion rights."
During debate in November, state Rep. Ron Hood explicitly said he hopes the heartbeat bill will be used to challenge Roe. He is also the co-author of a total ban on abortion introduced this past spring. The legislation proposed to charge with murder — a crime that is punishable by the death penalty in the state — both abortion providers and women who underwent the procedure. The bill never left the Health Committee, though it might be reconsidered.
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If you recently found yourself wondering, h ow the hell we are halfway into December?! — we can relate. Other than a working title for our annual holiday disaster drama, it's also the panic inducing feeling we get as we glance at our Google calendars, prompted by a co-worker's cheery question, "Have you finished all your holiday shopping?" No Susan, no we haven't. Turning into a last-minute shopper isn't our first choice, but the idea of blowing our budgets at the beginning of the month isn't a great option, either. And so we wind up holding onto our bucks as long as possible. But now, how do we unstick ourselves from this halfway through-December gift-less dilemma? Well, here's one idea: the under $20 food find.
Hear us out, not only are edible gifts affordable (especially when compared to buys in other categories), but they also have potential to be endlessly customizable with a little noshing know-how. Plus, you easily can pick one up just about anywhere at any anytime, tie it all together with a bow, and call your gift shopping complete. If you're still feeling fresh out of ideas, let us do you another last-minute solid: Ahead, find a lineup of impressive food-related finds all for under $20 that you can buy now (or later). Hey, you have some time left before 2019 to shell out that Jackson — so Susan can put a sock in it.
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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We're taking a headcount — who's ready to stay up way too late on "school" nights, suffer through two weeks of toe-pinching heels and drink a little too much champagne? Ready or not, it's officially holiday party season, and with gift exchanges, office parties, family get-togethers and New Year's Eve festivities on the horizon, your schedule's probably filling up fast. Which leaves us with just one question: What in the world are we going to wear? And who has the time to figure it out?
Between finishing up work before holiday travel and finding that one perfect gift for all of your loved ones, there isn't a whole lot of time to think about you this time of year. To help you find some balance, as well as a party dress or two, we combed through page after page of metallic and sequins to round up this season's best holiday outfit options. From gold frocks to LBDs, there's no shortage of party dresses to choose from in the mix ahead.
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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“Just mess me up!” Words you'll never hear as someone sits in the salon chair for a blowout. But every time I go to a professional to get my 3B curls straightened, somehow I leave a poodle-looking mess. Most recently, I visited a swanky NYC spot for a "blowout." The crystal chandeliers, champagne at reception, and high-tech equipment suggested that my strands were in for a luxurious treat. But when the stylist pulled out a large round brush and blowdryer to straighten my thick AF hair, I knew it was going to be a problem.
As soon as I walked out of the salon, my hair evaporated into a ball of frizz. And during my cab ride home, I fumed over how I'd have to spend hours smoothing my hair on my own. The sad part: This wasn't the first time this happened. Ask any of my friends with natural hair, and you'll hear similar grievances.
The fact is: Not every stylist is knowledgeable about Black hair, but that doesn't mean that getting your hair heat styled in a salon — the right way — is impossible. Whether you have bi-weekly appointments or consider yourself a newbie, we asked the experts to break down everything there is to know before booking a blowout for natural hair, ahead.
A blowout and silk press aren’t the same thing.
If you're looking to straighten curly hair, the main thing to note is that a blowout and silk press are sisters — not twins. Often, customers mistake one for the other. "A blowout and silk press go through similar steps, but the results are different," Koni Bennet, hairstylist and owner of Vanity Salon, tells Refinery29. "With blowouts, your service is usually done with a round brush and blowdryer." Done this way, the blowout gives a fluffy and voluminous effect.
"With a silk press, the flat iron is the star of the show," says Bennet. "Your hair is dried straight with a blowdryer and paddle brush. Once all the curls are made smooth, your hair is pressed in small sections using lightweight, shine-enhancing products." The final result is super-sleek, bone-straight strands.
Knowing exactly what you want will help you communicate to your stylist, which brings us to our next point...
It’s always good to call ahead.
Before you get to the salon, you want to make sure that you'll be paired with a stylist who can deliver the results you want. When you have natural hair, that might require prepping the staff first.
Ursula Stephen, celebrity stylist to Zendaya and Ciara, suggests giving the salon a call prior to your appointment, especially for natural clients. "You know your hair better than anyone, so communicate your needs and concerns to your stylist as much as possible beforehand," Stephen says. "Consultations are important because your service might take longer or cost more, depending on your needs."
Some salons have a notes field when you book online, you can utilize that space to leave written tidbits about your hair type, so you're paired with the right stylist. Remember: At the end of the day, everyone wants you to have a good experience and be happy with your results.
Expect to spend more time and (possibly) more money.
Like Stephen mentions above, choosing between a silk press and blowout will impact your time in the chair and how much you swipe when it's all said and done. Because a silk press requires straightening small sections of hair, you could spend 30-40 extra minutes at the salon, compared to a standard round-brush blowout. You can also expect to dish out extra cash for a silk press at most full-service salons. For perspective: A blowout at Stephen's Brooklyn space will cost you $65, whereas a silk press starts at $90.
At some blowdry bars, tacking on the flat-iron won't influence the cost of your visit. "We never change the price or charge extra for the use of additional hot tools," says Julie Parks, lead Drybar stylist. "For some clients, a blowout is enough. Others might require getting the flat iron passed through the entire head — either way the price shouldn't change."
Heat damage is real, so look out for the warning signs.
Just because you find a stylist familiar with styling natural hair, doesn't mean you can sit back and close your eyes during your service. No one is immune to heat damage. Excessive heat on curly strands can cause the shaft to temporarily (or permanently) loosen. And while you're in the chair, there are some red flags to look out for.
"If you notice your stylist didn't apply heat protectant spray or serum to your hair before pressing, that's definitely a no-no," says Bennet. Additionally, be on the lookout for stylists who get heat happy. "Your stylist should have thoroughly smoothed your hair with a dryer first," she says. "If he or she is passing the flat iron over your hair more than twice, then too much heat is being applied."
Bennet also says it's a common misconception that seeing smoke during a silk press means that your hair is burning. "A little steam is normal," Bennet says. "It's usually the plate of the flat iron steaming the [water-based] product on your hair, not burning it," she explains.
Keeping these pro tips in mind before you go to the salon or blowdry bar can be the difference between a botched — and brilliant — service.
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A few years ago, my partner introduced me to a concept he calls "a baseball bat gift." It's a gift that you get for someone with the purpose of then using it yourself. For example, if you're someone who likes to play baseball, you'd get someone a baseball bat as a gift so you can both play together. I don't know if it's actually a thing, but it is certainly a brilliant way to spin something you want into a thoughtful "gift" for someone else. And honestly, isn't that what the holidays are all about?
If you live with your partner, chances are you have a mental list of all the stuff in your apartment or home that you both need to get, but never have an occasion to buy. Romantic gifts are fine and all, but useful gifts show that you really know what your loving roommate needs.
Given that, ahead we found the best practical gifts to get your live-in partner that you can totally use, too. There's not a baseball bat in the mix, but these gifts will be a win for your whole "team."
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This time of year seems to come with a veritable cornucopia of stressors: there's your seemingly endless gift-shopping list; the inevitable end-of-year scramble at work; and let's not forget every single holiday cocktail party. Many of us have likely come to expect this from winter season — but knowing that they're coming doesn't make them any more manageable.
The good news is that, even if you're stuck working behind your desk (or mingling in the same velvet cocktail dress) every night until mid-January, there are ways you can manage — and even reduce — your stress.
Ahead, we spoke with Lisa Levine, M.S., L.Ac., founder of the Maha Rose Center for Healing in Brooklyn, NY, about the simplest ways to manage stress, no matter the source. Read on to start feeling chiller than a snowman.
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Unless you're holiday shopping online — and sometimes even then — it takes the tactical planning of a military operation to avoid multiple stops and then having to double back because you forgot something. Caveat: eBay, where if it's on their wish list, it's ready for you to buy, all in one go.
You might know the retailer as the place to unearth rare finds (and it is), but you don't have to search very hard at all to discover chic, on-trend gifts from A1 brands such as Louis Vuitton and Moncler. Besides, we've already compiled eight most-fashionable-friend-worthy ideas ahead, so you can put your feet up. This year, retracing your steps definitely won't be necessary.
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Welcome toHype Machine, our hit-list of the top reviewed products across the web — according to a crowd of die-hard shoppers. Call this your 4-star & up only club, with entry granted by our devoted-to-the-goods shop editors.
To bring you up to speed, we recently launched a new series, Hype Machine, where we round up the top reviewed items on the internet. Boots, sex toys, humidifiers, body pillows (!!!); we're aiming to make the process of shopping for all of your favorite things as painless as possible.
And while our editors are adept at scraping the internet to find the best of the best, we're turning to you, our readers, to hear which products you live and breathe by. In one of our recent installments, we covered the Internet's top rated black leggings and immediately received a ton of amazing feedback in our comments section. You all provided some great insight on the leggings you swear by and the ones you thought should have made the cut.
For our next Hype Machine subject, we're turning our lens towards one of winter's most essential layering pieces: black tights. Whether your favorite pairs are opaque, full-control, sheer, lined with fleece, dipped in glitter — whatever — so long as they're black, we want your input on which brands make your ride or die black tights and why you love them.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and look out for our full story on Friday detailing all the best black black tight worth your hard earned cash and valuable space in your sock drawer.
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Imagine it's a windy December morning, and you're standing on the sidewalk waiting for the light to turn. The bone-chilling breeze whips across your face, leaving your chapped lips quivering and your hair a tangled mess. Sounds like you should've stayed in bed. But now, consider the same day, but you've just had a haircut. All of a sudden, the cold air is fresh and crisp, and Mother Nature is your personal wind turbine, flipping your ends to perfection.
All you need to turn your winter hair into something along the lines of the latter scene — a style you can't wait to wear out the door and refuse to cover with a beanie — is to schedule a salon appointment. Not sure what cut you're looking for? Try one of the five chicest, most versatile styles that are poised to be huge in 2019.
Ahead, we're breaking down the hair trends that are picking up major cool-girl traction right now, only to hit fever pitch come the new year. More than just photo inspiration, we have pro style tips and product recommendations for how to rock the cut all winter long. Take this handy guide to your next appointment and prepare for warmer walks to work.
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Polyamory, open marriage, ethical non-monogamy — based on some of the comments I got on my recent Money Diary, the words apparently conjure up soap opera-style scenes of drama and jealousy, plus lots of juicy speculation about what’s going on in the bedroom.
Actually? It’s all about the scheduling.
When my husband and I opened our now 10-plus year relationship a few years ago, we had lots of conversations about boundaries and expectations. We expected to have emotional growing pains as feelings came up that we hadn’t anticipated. But neither of us was prepared for how complicated our lives would become from a scheduling perspective.
I have a standing date with my boyfriend, A., for Saturday evenings. Toward the end of each month, we sit down with our calendars (Google for A., an old school planner for me), and we schedule our dates for the upcoming month. If one of us can’t make Saturday work, due to things like travel, commitments to our other partners, or family events, we’ll reschedule that week’s date, usually for Friday or Sunday evening.
My husband and his friend with benefits (FWB) aren’t obsessive planners like me and A., so they schedule their dates a few days ahead of time. They tend to spend time together on Saturday evenings since that’s usually when I’m with my boyfriend, but based on schedules they sometimes meet up after work or during the day on Saturday or Sunday.
My husband and his friend with benefits (FWB) aren’t obsessive planners like me and A., so they schedule their dates a few days ahead of time.
Once the dates are on the calendar, then we need to figure out where everyone is hanging out so that all parties involved get the privacy they need. Both my boyfriend and my husband’s FWB live with their respective partners, so this can be tricky. When my husband and I are coordinating who gets the house, we have to consider my schedule, my husband’s schedule, my boyfriend’s schedule, my boyfriend’s partner’s schedule, my husband’s FWB’s schedule — it can be a logistical nightmare. If he doesn’t have other plans, my husband will sometimes hang out at a coffee shop for a few hours so that I can get the house; my go-to is heading over to my very understanding sister’s place.
No matter how carefully plans are made, they can be derailed in very polyamory-specific ways. Last month, I was planning to spend the night at my boyfriend’s house while his partner was out of town with one of her other partners. The getaway got canceled due to a last-minute illness, leaving me and A. without a place to stay and thwarting my husband’s plans to host his FWB at our place. I’m typically a frugal person, but in this particular instance I was frustrated enough to throw money at the problem, and I booked a hotel room so A. and I had somewhere to go. (Granted, I used hotel loyalty points from business travel, so I only had to pay $37.50.) In our two-year relationship, this was the first time A. and I had to pay for a hotel room.
My husband and I have joint finances, so the idea of using our money to pay for a hotel room with my boyfriend may raise some eyebrows — especially considering that I took a drastic pay cut when I quit my day job in the legal industry and made my side gig as a freelance writer into a full-time career. Currently, my husband earns about $86,000, and my income, since I started freelancing full-time in February, will be about $15,000. However, our money has always been ours — when we were monogamous and I was working a traditional job, and now that we’re polyamorous and I’m freelancing. We combined our finances when we moved in together after college (we were engaged at the time), and we’ve never looked back.
It helps that my husband and I are extremely compatible financially, skewing towards the “very frugal” end of the spectrum. We view our financial goals as something that we work towards as a couple, regardless of our individual incomes: paying off our mortgage quickly, saving for retirement, spending money on travel instead of stuff. I’ve always made significantly less money than him, although in the past there hasn’t been such a dramatic discrepancy — previously, I earned about $50,000. Long-term, I’m trying to transition to more copywriting work to increase my freelancing income, as well as taking on editing work. My husband has been very supportive of my career change — he’d rather have me do something that I’m passionate about (even if I make much less money) than stay in a job that made me miserable.
It helps that my husband and I are extremely compatible financially, skewing towards the “very frugal” end of the spectrum.
The amount of money we spend on our other relationships has never been an issue, probably because neither of us spends all that much. My husband and his FWB go out for dinner a couple of times a month and alternate who pays. My boyfriend is on a tight budget (never-ending home renovations and supporting a partner in grad school), so we tend to do a lot of budget-friendly activities: going for walks around the lakes, watching movies in the park, baking cookies, wandering around the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
If one of us was uncomfortable with how much money the other was spending on another relationship, we would certainly bring it up. But it wouldn’t be more emotionally charged than a conversation about any other sort of purchase. We’ve always been very open with each other about our spending and run big-ticket purchases by the other one in advance, and polyamory hasn’t changed that.
The day-to-day realities of a polyamorous relationship are much like the day-to-day realities of a monogamous one: trying to balance commitments and priorities, making plans for the future and for Friday night, supporting each other through the ups and downs. Having been on both sides of the fence, I know that in my case a polyamorous relationship involves more frequent and franker communication about my needs as well as a concentrated effort to not take either of my relationships for granted when life gets stressful.
Sure, polyamory is more work than monogamy. Trying to make a decent income as a freelance writer is more work than sticking with my stable job in the legal field. But for me, the fulfillment I get from polyamory and freelancing are worth the extra effort — and I have two men who love me that are cheering me on.
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Before the Kardashians and YouTube, most of the general public had no idea what contouring and highlighting was. Still, one quick look at the history books will tell you that people have been using matte bronzer and shimmery powder to create facial illusions for centuries.
In the mid-1500s, stage performers would use chalk and soot to exaggerate their facial expressions for the audience. When artificial lighting was finally developed 300 years later, actors ditched the dirt for waxy, oily creams (a.k.a. "pancake makeup") to accentuate their features under the spotlight. From then on, contouring evolved, touching everyone from the drag communities buried deep in uptown New York to Kevyn Aucoin's band of '90s supermodels. And eventually, the industry-only technique hit the mainstream market, launching what has become one of the fastest-growing makeup categories.
Now, a new iteration on the look is here, spearheaded by Instagram's makeup artist du jourNam Vo. She says that contouring isn't exactly dead (despite reports), but she's more drawn to a plump, three-dimensional, healthy glow. Vo captures her mastery of this particular look with IG hashtags, like #highlighterporn, #glowgasm, and most importantly, #dewydumpling, emphasizing that, right now, it's all about moist, delicious skin — and who doesn't want that?
To master the look at home, we asked Vo exactly what she uses to make the "dewy dumpling" look a reality, from skin-care must-haves to highlighting creams and powders she can't live without. Her answers, ahead.
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In our seriesMy 6-Figure Paycheck, women making more than $100,000 open up about how they got there and what exactly they do. We take a closer look at what it feels like to be a woman making six-figures —when only 5% of American women make that much, according to theU.S. Census— w ith the hope it will give women insight into how to better navigate their own career and salary trajectories.
Job: Attorney (Senior Associate) Age: 33 Location: Charleston, SC Degree: Bachelor's & Juris Doctor (JD) First Salary: $40,000 Current Salary: $115,000
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"I vacillated between wanting to be bartender and a journalist. My favorite movies growing up were Cocktail and His Girl Friday, which left huge impressions on me.
"Ultimately, I decided on journalism because I loved investigating a topic and having an outlet to inform others about a certain subject."
What did you study in college?
"I ended up pursuing journalism in college and obtained a communication degree with a concentration in print journalism and a minor in history. I also wrote for the newspaper. After graduating, I spent two years in the real world before I decided to go to law school."
Did you have to take out student loans?
"I was lucky that my parents paid for my undergraduate education. I was the first in my family to pursue post-graduate work. My parents supported my decision, but I was on my own and had to take out student loans and an additional loan for studying for the bar.
"I’m very close to paying off my bar loan, but I had to take out $150,000 in law school loans, which, despite making sizable payments every month, the balance has increased to $220,000.
"I’m in the middle of a transition — marriage, home renovation, etc. — and hope to get more aggressive to have these loans paid off in the next 10-15 years."
Have you been working at this job since you graduated college?
"When I graduated from college, I was lucky enough to work in marketing in Washington D.C. for two years. While marketing was not my passion, I fell in love with commercial real estate and decided to go to law school with the intent of practicing real estate and historic preservation law, which is what led me to move to Charleston.
"I quickly learned that I had other interests in law school and decided that trying cases was a better fit. After law school, I worked for two small law firms that allowed me a lot opportunities to be in the courtrooms and run cases with little micromanagement. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of growth, so I weighed my options before taking the leap and joining my current law firm."
How would you explain your day-to-day role at your job?
"Every day is different and exciting. As a civil trial attorney, I handle a variety of different cases that take me all over the state. I’m either meeting with clients, drafting court documents, writing legal briefs, advising clients on their cases, attending mediations, or going to court. It’s fast paced, but I am fortunate to work with a great team."
Did you negotiate your salary?
"I did! I switched jobs a year ago from a small family-owned law firm to work for a mid-sized regional firm with multiple offices and more than 200 lawyers.
"I wanted more than what I was currently making and decided to shoot for the moon by asking for what I thought someone in my shoes would make in a more metropolitan area. I reviewed legal market surveys and also weighed that with the company’s benefits, which were amazing.
"Initially, I did not receive what I asked for at my initial interview, but after 6 months I received a raise that met my initial request."
Is your current job your “passion”? If not, what is?
"It depends on the day! I love the challenges associated with practicing law and how every case presents its own unique challenges. There are days where I doubt whether I’m really making a difference as every fledgling lawyer dreams, until I remember that each case is personal for my clients, and what I do does matter to them.
"I sometimes see my law school classmates who don’t practice law and think how nice it must be to take a different career path, but I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else."
If you could, would you change anything in your career trajectory?
"Nope! I’m on a partnership track, which is exciting and daunting at the same time. Soon I’ll need to start shifting my focus from making my billable hours toward business development and client engagement. I’m also considering whether I want to pursue a judgeship, which would require additional professional considerations."
What professional advice would you give your younger self?
"Don’t max out your student loans! Law school was a blast, but it’s no fun paying essentially a second mortgage every month for the foreseeable future."
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This holiday season, nine out of 10 Americans* will wreck their bedrooms panic-trying-on party looks before resigning themselves to last year's dress, given a once-over with the lint roller as they beg their ride-share drivers not to leave yet. Don't be like them.
Instead, when your festive-'fit ideas feel about as stale as a gingerbread house on January 1, open your mind to a fresher approach — one that also saves you from having to deal with the aftermath of an F4 indoor tornado. With fashion-forward Simply Vera Vera Wang pieces and vital intel from Vera Wang herself, we've put together three modern, coolest-girl-in-the-room looks, featuring unconventional layering, pro accessorizing, and even a few big-picture styling ideas for some macro-level inspiration. So while you might still want to hang on to the aforementioned lint roller for extracting stray fuzz from your bell-sleeve puffer or lace-hem dress — worn under a swingy turtleneck — at least you'll no longer have to be that quick (or stressed out) about it.
*Believable but unproven statistic made up for demonstrative purposes only.
Jackets Are Outerwear — But Treat Them Like Accessories
You asked for black velvet, the fabric of the season, and you got it. But here, its light-attracting properties have been rendered as a wide-legged jumpsuit instead of the stock-standard dress. Tie everything together with an obi-inspired belt, drop earrings that could double as personal disco balls, and — wait for it — a lightweight puffer. Huh? Sure, a marshmallowy jacket might read more streetwear than soiree, but what better way to surprise and delight than with a genre mix? Plus, Wang says, you get the added benefit of temperature control, necessary when going from the frigid outdoors to a sweltering event space and back again.
"Puffers are so light and easy," says the designer, who calls herself "an outerwear collector." "You can even wear a little sexy slip dress and feel comfortable outside and party indoors."
And if the climate is somewhere between polar and tropical, you can adjust accordingly by draping your puffer over your shoulders or zipping it up partway and pushing the top down for an off-the-shoulder effect. Saves you from having to wait for coat check, too.
Don't Underestimate The Transformative Power Of Non-Puffer Accessories Either
Sometimes you just don't feel like going out. But during the holidays, there's a bit more emphasis than usual on keeping plans — social pressure that might make you pray for a freak nor'easter so you can skip your 18th Secret Santa exchange of the month. So how do you dress when you're obligated to show, but you'd rather stay in pajamas or track pants? Behold, the Big Three of two-minute party dressing, according to Wang: jewelry, handbags, and makeup.
Wang says she's a fan of earrings in particular, like the high-shine chandelier styles shown in the top-most image, for going (however sluggishly) from couch to cocktails like that. Add a chain-handle frame bag for structure — you need an element with a stronger shape to play against the slouchier silhouette of the clothes — and pay a bit more attention to your hair and makeup to inject more polish. (You can devote the time you would have spent picking out a new outfit to creating a glossy winged eye and sleek center part.) And if you're feeling a bit chilly, "Faux fur looks fabulous and adds texture to any look in cold weather," Wang says. We're sure we have a stole laying around somewhere...
Try The One Thing Vera Wang Wants To See More Of This Holiday Season (!!!)
It's an unexpected one. "I like layering," Wang says. "Dresses over skirts or pants, or skirts over pants, look easy and modern." Or try a sweater over a dress to make a trompe-l'oeil skirt, like we've done here: A chunky cowl-neck worn over a midi-length dress adds warmth and creates interest by showing off the delicate lace hem. This is also a great opportunity to mix and match textures, either by pairing knits, as we've done with the second sweater-and-skirt look, or by contrasting warmer and cooler fabrics (satin and wool, for example).
Consider What You'll Be Doing, Not Just Where You're Going
When you're planning an outfit for a night out, the normal thought process begins and ends with the weather forecast and your itinerary for the evening (and maybe who you're going to see, if we're being honest). But Wang brings up another factor that's less often considered: what you're going to do once you've arrived. Here, your eye might be drawn to the tinsel-y sweater and tall boot first, but it's really what's in between that's the star: As Wang says, "Feminine but cool pleated skirts create movement." Intricate folds, fluid fabrics, and dangly embellishments: These emphasize every shimmy and step so that you don't just walk into a party — you make an entrance.
Whatever You Do, Make It Your Own
Or as Wang says, "Be yourself." Just as the season makes social demands of us, it perpetuates certain sartorial clichés that can be subverted — if you want to. Wear trousers instead of a little black dress. Or wear an LBD — but under an oversized sweater. Wear all black — with variety in texture, it's just as festive as red and green. Above all — and Wang says this is what she's planning to do this holiday season — wear what makes you comfortable. Guess we're staying in PJs then.
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This story contains spoilers for Riverdale S eason 3.
Season 3 of Riverdale has been… a lot. A murder trial! Teenage fight clubs! Gargoyle Kings (whatever those really are)! Moredrugs that apparently taste like candy! It’s all the drama you would never expect in one tiny town.
Truth be told, Hiram probably isn't and V & R probably will, but we don't really care about any of that right now. After last night's shocking episode, all Twitter can worry about is Archie's dark-chocolate roots.
Here's a quick catch-up: After Archie and Jughead escaped to Toledo (to crash with Jughead’s mother and sister), they quickly learn that anyone who helps Archie escape Hiram's kung-fu grip will likely die. Therefore, the two must part ways — for both their safety. By the end of the episode, Jughead is on his way back to Riverdale with hot dad F.P., while Archie bids adieu to his own father near the Canadian border.
But before he flees into the woods, Archie takes the time to color his hair brown with an unidentified box of temporary hair dye in an attempt to mask his identity. (Somehow we're supposed to believe Fred Andrews made time to stop at a local Walgreens for a box of hair dye for his on-the-run son... OK, whatever.)
Naturally, fans are freaking out about his dark hair transformation.
Some dig it.
Dying Archie’s hair brown is a game changer. Holy mother of god 🤤 thank god the oompa loompa Orange is gone. #riverdalepic.twitter.com/J7Eee3dPSA
Shits getting out of hand in #Riverdale !!!!! How will jughead get back to Betty? I still don’t understand Hiram’s big plan !? Is Archie even Archie anymore without the red hair!? HOW are we going to wait until mid January!??? 😩🤯🐍
Unfortunately, we have to wait until January 16 to find out whether or not Archie's weak attempt at a disguise will work, but until then, we're betting actor KJ Apa (who plays Archie) is very happy he can ditch the fake red hair for now.
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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 two weeks 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 wrap up your holiday shopping.
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 — some are even on super sale — making it easy to bang out the bulk of your holiday shopping while you're kicking back with a glass of red wine and a bottle of nail polish while watching The Holiday.
Because you know you'll need a little something for your best friend, your sister, and a couple white elephant swaps next week, we rounded up the best picks from Ulta's Holiday Gift Guide, broken down by price point. Click through all of the goods, ahead.
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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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:an assistant director working at a nonprofit who makes $36,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a bag of Gardetto's.
Occupation: Assistant Director Industry: Nonprofit Age: 25 Location: North Dakota Salary: $36,000 Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,250
Monthly Expenses Rent: $0 (My house and most utilities are provided by my job.) Student Loans: $0 (My college tuition was covered by my grandparents, my parents, and scholarships.) Car Insurance, Internet & Phone Bill: $220 Health Insurance: Covered by work Car Payment: $0 (My car has been paid off. My parents bought it for me in high school.) Streaming Subscriptions: $40 Retirement: $300
Day One
5:35 a.m. — My dad wakes me up — we have to leave at 5:45 to get to the airport, and I forgot to set an alarm! I slap some water on my face and finish packing my bags. My sweet mom made me a to-go cup of coffee, which I down on the way. My dad, a frequent traveler, somehow ends up in the parking area of the wrong terminal of the airport. He drops me off at the elevator, and I wait in the security line and power walk to the right terminal, and then to my gate about five minutes before boarding. I want to grab something to eat on the way to my gate, but I'm more worried about actually getting on this plane. I was supposed to go home yesterday, but my flight got canceled because of weather. TBH, I wasn't mad about spending an extra day in the warm South before heading home to frigid ND.
9 a.m. — I am starving, despite the gummy bears I had in my carry-on that I ate on the plane. During my short layover, I stop at a newsstand for a water, energy bar, and bag of Gardetto's. Then I sit down at my next gate for about 10 minutes before I board. My plane is so tiny that after they scan my boarding pass, I have to walk for about five more minutes and down some stairs before I go OUTSIDE and onto the ramp to my plane. The lady sitting beside me is clearly North Dakotan — super sweet, tells me about the terrible weather, eats a piece of white bread during the flight that was packed in her bag, and orders a tomato juice with ice (and not the spicy kind) from the flight attendant. $11.45
1 p.m. — Once we land in North Dakota, I pay for parking at the airport ($36). It's snowing. Thankfully not enough to impact the roads, but I'm still annoyed. I fill up my tank for the long drive ($27.42). $63.42
6 p.m. — Once I get home, I unpack and start the laundry. Then I write a grocery/Target list for tomorrow — I had stashed a lot of stuff in the freezer before I left, but I am running out of cat litter. I eat some popcorn, M&Ms, and gummy bears for dinner and then pledge to eat some actual food tomorrow. I catch up on the TV I missed while I was gone — Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Below Deck. It's fascinating to me to watch people who have such completely different experiences and mindsets from me. I make myself a mug of tea and turn off the lights around 10:15.
Daily Total: $74.87
Day Two
6:30 a.m. — I wake up early to work out in my living room and eat the last Luna bar in the box I have at home, then pack my purse in my work bag since I have to go into the city today. I suit up for the North Dakota cold (three degrees this morning, ugh) and walk the five minutes to my office.
2:30 p.m. — I live in a tiny town about two hours from any major city. Today, I'm driving to the closest city to interview someone for a job. When we're done with the interview, I take advantage of being in the city and go to Target. I buy cat litter ($32.98), shampoo, conditioner, allergy meds, and Chapstick ($22.16), and the few groceries I need for this week: some potatoes, apples, snap peas, limes, ham, Luna bars, and La Croix ($32.28). The cat litter is the biggest expense — I buy a lot at a time since it's heavy and I'm not in the city a lot. $87.42
4 p.m. — I also take advantage of being in the city to get my nails done. The dip manicure costs $40, and I tip $10. On my way out of town, I treat myself to Chick-fil-A. I loaded money onto the app a few weeks ago, so I use that to buy my dinner. At home, I watch some TV with my cats, who are not happy that I was gone ALL DAY after being gone ALL WEEK. They both pile on my lap for a few hours, and I go to bed around 10:30. $50
Daily Total: $137.42
Day Three
7:30 a.m. — I snooze my alarm a lot this morning. When I finally do wake up, it's snowing — yuck. I eat a Luna bar and pack myself some leftover frozen pizza for lunch.
9 a.m. — Once I get into the office, I have two emails from the job candidate about the snow. We postpone the interview. One of my other coworkers is on vacation for a few weeks, so I do some of the things on her list that need to get done this week. Then I microwave my leftover pizza in our office kitchen and chat with the only other person in the office today, who's leaving early. I make some calls and do some other administrative work, then finish the rest of my coworker's list.
2:15 p.m. — Since my one coworker has already left, I get bored by myself and look around on Amazon to see what looks fun. One of my hobbies is decorative planning (kind of like scrapbooking, but for planning!), and I've been thinking about getting a laminator to go along with it. I find a laminator and laminating sheets on Amazon for about $30, but my shopping budget is blown from Black Friday sales. I use the points from my Amazon Prime card instead and order both.
5 p.m. — I usually leave the office around 4 p.m. during the winter because it's our slow season, but since I was the only one left in the office today, I had to cover the phones until 5. By the time I walk home and shovel my sidewalks, there is no sunlight left. Between that and the fact that the roads are probably still slick from earlier, I decide to put off going to to the grocery store. (I realized I'm out of lettuce and need it for the salads I'm going to make this week.) I cook a Blue Apron meal that I got delivered last week for dinner and hang out with my cats on the couch.
7:45 p.m. — I've been texting with a friend about going to see The Nutcracker in a few weeks. I was in it for years as a kid, and I like to try to see it every year. I haven't been since I moved here, and I'm excited to see a new version! It's a dance studio, not a professional company, and that's my favorite kind of Nutcracker :). I buy the tickets so we can sit together — she's going to pay me back later. $70
Daily Total: $70
Day Four
6:30 a.m. — I wake up early again and do some yoga in my living room. I feel like my body's made of lead this morning, even after my usual cup of coffee. I'm hoping my coworker will be bringing in pizza today (she was going to yesterday, but didn't come in because of the roads), so I don't pack anything for lunch.
9:30 a.m. — I make a pot of coffee at work because I still feel exhausted and get started on some projects.
12 p.m. — My coworker didn't come in because the roads are still yucky where she lives, so I run home at noon to make a sandwich. I bring it back to the office along with some Cheez-Its and a La Croix. I have a ton of different projects I'm thinking about right now, and I can't seem to concentrate on any, so I break up my afternoon into 30-minute chunks to work on a bunch of them.
4:30 p.m. — I head out of the office for the day. I'm determined to finally get some lettuce! I made the mistake of not wiping the snow off my windshield yesterday, so when I start my car there's enough ice to make it look like a Coke bottle. It takes me nearly 10 minutes and the help of the defroster to scrape it off so I can see. I Snapchat my mom to tell her I hope she's proud, because I've never worked this hard for lettuce in my life. Once I get into town, I stop at the gas station across from the store to fill up. It's 5:06 by the time I get to the gas station and every light is off, but thankfully there is one credit card machine for all four pumps, so you can get gas without going inside. Small town living. Since I drove into the city yesterday for work, I make a note to remember to report my mileage so I can get reimbursed. ($25.32 expensed)
5:15 p.m. — I drive 50 yards to the grocery/hardware store and leave most everything in my car, unlocked. I find a bag of baby spinach that looks okay, which is a big win for this store. I usually like a spring mix, but beggars can't be choosers here, especially with the romaine ban. I also pick the greenest, least offensive looking head of iceberg lettuce. I don't have any cash on me, and I know there's a $5 minimum for cards, so I grab a bag of chips, too. This store is so small it doesn't even have name-brand Ruffles, so I settle for the local generic brand. When I get home, I snack on the chips while I cook some chicken breasts I took out of the freezer this morning. I am so excited to eat this salad. Along with the lettuce, spinach, and chicken, I also add carrots, snap peas, olives, goat cheese, and Caesar dressing. It's delicious even without the spring mix. I put a second helping of everything but the greens into a Tupperware for another salad later this week. $5.46
Daily Total: $5.46
Day Five
6:30 a.m. — I get up early again, but don't feel like working out, so I skip it. I have a Luna bar and coffee and then finish putting together the salad from last night to take with me to work.
12 p.m. — My coworker brought in that pizza today! We eat it together in the office, and I have a few bites of the salad as well. She also brought me some lefse, which I am excited to take home and try this weekend. Lefse is a Norwegian food, kind of like a potato tortilla, that is everywhere in North Dakota during the holiday season.
5 p.m. — After I walk home, I'm not that hungry, so I eat some more chips that I bought on Tuesday and settle in on the couch with my cats. I make myself a Moscow Mule after a few hours and at around 10 p.m., I settle into bed.
Daily Total: $0
Day Six
9 a.m. —I get up and start the kettle for my French press, then make myself bacon and eggs with goat cheese. It's a perfect Saturday breakfast. A few hours after I eat, I set up in my living room and do the workout I skipped yesterday.
5 p.m. — It's been a super lazy day — I've been watching Netflix for hours. I chat with my friend who I'm going to visit next weekend for a concert, and we make some more solid plans. I've been checking the weather because I'm nervous about the eight-hour drive, but it looks like it's going to be super clear (though cold). I sent her some planner inserts I designed for her earlier today. She loves them and tells me I should sell them. It's an interesting idea — seems like it should be pretty easy to maintain a small Etsy shop. I spend the rest of the evening researching, but I'm not too committed to the idea.
Daily Total: $0
Day Seven
12 p.m. — I sleep allll morning and then get up around noon for a quick breakfast of an Rxbar and coffee. Then I watch a little TV until I feel really awake. I pop in a load of laundry, do a longer workout, and write down my to-do list for the rest of the day.
4 p.m. — After I clean the house, I spend some time getting my planner ready for next week. I think some more about that Etsy shop, and decide to continue doing some more research. I think it would be worth it as long as I at least break even, but it's a pretty saturated market as far as I know. While I'm doing this, I get tired of standing — I have a standing desk in my office that I meant to buy a stool for when I bought it this summer. I've been looking on and off but can never find anything I like. I finally decide to just get something, and Wayfair is having a big sale. I find a stool that mostly matches my other furniture, and order it. $68.24
7 p.m. — I make myself a sandwich for dinner and sit down with my cats. Then I turn on a few movies and stay up a little later — I know it'll be hard for me to sleep tonight since I slept in so late. I've been thinking about those gummy bears I had Monday on the plane all week, so I just order them ($16.86) along with whiteout tape ($5.03) for my planner. I'm hoping I can appropriately portion out the five-pound bag... I guess I'll find out next week. $21.89
Daily Total: $90.13
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When it comes to gifting, adults are generally easy. You can always reach for a little succulent or a fancy bottle of wine and expect a smile. But kids, well kids tend to be a little outside our wheelhouse. Unfortunately, there's no true one-size-fits-all gift for every kid on your list —they're picky little giftees! And unless you've been stealing their letters to Santa, it's tough to read a kiddo's mind.
So we've attempted to break down the best gift to get children in every age bracket, whether they belong to you, a relative, or a friend. From infants, to preschoolers, all the way to preteens, we've tapped the best gifts that are sure to get an excited reaction, even if they're only capable of drooling right now. Just remember this general rule: If it's not your kid, save the parents a headache and don't buy them anything noisy.
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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The act of gifting during the holidays should be a completely selfless act. But if you can pick out the perfect gift for a loved one and save yourself some cash... then it's a win-win situation, right? Look, we get the desire to shower your family and besties in cute gifts, but the reality is, no one should go into debt or sacrifice necessities just to partake.
Luckily, if your shopping list is lined with people who squeal at the release of new Fenty Beauty lipstick and spend their Sunday evenings masking, then the present possibilities are both affordable and endless. The beauty aisles are officially decked with skin care, hair, and makeup gifts for every budget, but if you aren't ballin' this year, you can still pick up something good. Ahead, we rounded up some of our favorite beauty gifts — all under $20.
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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