On Tuesday, Utah moved to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children, becoming the 19th and arguably most conservative state to make the pseudoscientific practice illegal.
The push was largely bolstered by support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which a majority of Utah’s state legislature belong. Republican Utah Rep. Craig Hall, who originally sponsored the proposal, praised the rule change in a statement as a measure that “will truly save lives.”
Conversion therapy seeks to reverse an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity by psychological or spiritual intervention. According to the Trevor Project — a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth — the practice can often result in amplified shame and stigma in patients, and parents who send their child to conversion therapy “risk seriously fracturing their relationship with their child.”
In addition to Utah, 18 states and the District of Columbia have enacted bans on the discredited practice since 2012, and a handful of additional states seem poised to join their ranks in the near future: Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia all have similar bills on deck for the 2020 legislative session.
While the American Medical Association notes that the implicit assumptions of conversion therapy — “that homosexuality and gender identity are mental disorders and that sexual orientation and gender identity can be changed” — are “not based on medical and scientific evidence,” the practice is still widespread in many red states across the U.S. We’ve rounded up some of the other states in the U.S. that have banned the practice of conversion therapy in landmark cases that are pushing this measure forward on a national scale.
California
In a major victory for gay rights activists, California became the first state to pass a ban on conversion therapy in 2012, with then-Governor Jerry Brown signing the law banning children and teens under 18 from undergoing sexual orientation change efforts. In a statement on the historic legislation, Brown said that the ban would target “non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide.” The bill had initially been sponsored by Democratic state Senator Ted Lieu, who said the law was intended as a tribute to a man who committed suicide after undergoing conversion therapy.
New Jersey
Although the Garden State followed California’s lead by moving to ban conversion therapy for children and teens in 2013, LGBTQ+ activists got a scare in 2019 after Liberty Counsel, a national religious and legal organization, sought to challenge the resultant law in the U.S. Supreme Court on the grounds that it violated First Amendment rights. Eventually, the high court declined to take up the challenge, leaving the New Jersey ban intact.
Maine
Most recently, Maine moved to install its own ban on conversion therapy in 2019, after a bill that had passed the state legislature the year prior was vetoed by then-Governor Paul LePage, a Republican. On May 29, 2019, newly-installed Democratic Governor Janet Mills moved to outlaw the practice once and for all, calling it “a harmful, widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine.”
“By signing this bill into law today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people in Maine and across the country: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are,” Mills said during the signing.
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It’s a common situation: one of your roommates is moving out, and the remaining renters need to search for someone to replace them. You sit down to talk about your ideal new roomie. When this happened to me last summer, my roommate and I decided that the new addition should be over 25 and have lived in New York City for at least a year. This was our only real criteria, but a few months earlier in 2019 another set of roommates in Portland, Ore. had a seemingly strange and celestial one: No Capricorns. The housing ad didn’t state so explicitly, but one of the existing roommates specified this to a potential inquiring renter. The message, which went viral, read: “This Virgo/Gemini house is a special place where soft mutable signs get to run free untethered by cardinal authorities.” This uncanny request might seem like a one-off, but these picky roommates are far from alone in considering someone’s astrological sign.
Last January, Mashable shared a similar story of renters who turned down an applicant because she was a Pisces. In November, John Paul Brammer’s advice column ¡Hola Papi! (formerly published by Out magazine, now a Substack newsletter) featured a questioner who asked, “Should I fake my astrology sign to be more employable?” after discovering their Libra bosses prioritized other Libras as new hires.
In September, Fast Company detailed how some start-ups are incorporating astrology in their company culture and even the hiring process. Occasionally dubbed “astrology discrimination,” “zodiac discrimination,” or “zodiac shaming,” this practice isn’t illegal — Capricorns are neither a protected class nor a historically-oppressed group. But some astrology fans say it’s annoying and it’s becoming increasingly widespread, particularly in dating.
“I lost out on a hand-modeling job when the person casting asked for our signs,” she says. “She basically lit up when the other girl said she was an Aries and was nodding and saying yes, I sense that energy from you. Then she asked me what my sign was. When I said Cancer, her demeanor visibly changed drastically, and she just kind of politely nodded at me with a forced smile. I was torn between laughing and panicking because I couldn’t believe she would decide between us based on a zodiac sign.” Sepulveres did not get the job.
Bringing astrology into the hiring process seems to be rarer in the U.S. than in other parts of the world. In China, a 2017 survey found that 4.3% of college graduates looking for jobs had experienced discrimination based on their Western or Chinese zodiac sign, according to The New York Times. And in 2009, an Austrian insurance company’s ad expressing preference for “Capricorn, Taurus, Aquarius, Aries and Leo” candidates sparked an investigation, according to Live Science. (The investigation concluded that in Austria too, zodiac signs weren’t protected by law in the same way as gender, race, and age.)
But while losing out on a job because of your sign isn’t all that common in the U.S., losing out on a date seems to be more so. In January 2019, dating app Bumble introduced new filters to let you screen out, say, a Sagittarian’s profile.
It’s not limited to Bumble. My Twitter query brought several DMs from people who had strong feelings about never dating certain signs. Sara, a Libra, met her now-girlfriend, a Virgo, after specifying she preferred earth and water signs. “After dating a Sag, Aries, and Leo right in a row, I decided I wasn’t dating fire signs anymore ever, and I’m not sorry!” she says.
Similarly, Rae, a Scorpio, decided to stop going out with Libras after dating three seriously. “I was very over being the mean emotional Scorpio to their rational, fair, objective Libra,” she says. “I mean, oof! The gaslighting! The arguments that got passively dismissed with a shrug when they were wrong!” She’s now dating a “wonderful, lovely Cancer woman.” She adds, “We met while I was refusing Libras, so I can confidently say I wouldn’t have considered her as seriously as I did if she had been one. She also happens to have no major Libra placements, SCORE.” Rae has also been on the other end of zodiac stereotyping. She was once propositioned for a threesome specifically because she’s a Scorpio, a sign said to be particularly sexual.
Astrology’s current boom — about 30% of American adults now say they believe in astrology and popular apps such as Co-Star are bringing in millions in funding — might be perpetuating this behavior. When I search my work inbox, it only takes a few minutes to find press releases telling me the signs most likely to cheat (Leo), least likely to save money (Pisces), and most likely to fake an orgasm (Taurus).
Media publications do the same: YourTango has written about “the zodiac signs most likely to overeat” (Scorpio, Aquarius, and Gemini topped the list), and Romper published an article about the “four most emotionally abusive zodiac signs” (Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, and Capricorn). Even the New Yorkerand The New York Times are reporting on astrology’s surge in relevance. As someone who writes about the stars all the time, I’m not immune: I haven’t flat-out turned someone down because of their sun sign, but I was thrilled to discover a recent date was a Capricorn (said to be particularly compatible with Scorpios — I’m one).
There’s one sign that seems to get more hate than any other: Gemini. “The old me used to love a Gemini / like a threesome, f*cking with him every night,” Lizzo proclaims in her song “Soulmate.” But it’s not just the pop star who’s biased. One Gemini, Halle, says, “People recoil every time I reveal my sign, it’s ridiculous.” Another, Iayana Elie, explains, “People automatically assume that I’m two-faced or not to be trusted. I once went to an event where as an ice breaker we were asked for our name, and our sign. Once I shared mine, it got tense, and I just made a joke out of it. But it’s moments like those when I have to prove myself to a group of strangers.”
My sun is in Scorpio, but my Mars is in Gemini, and even that’s enough to bring on Gemini hate. When I recently attended an astrology workshop, the astrologer who gave me a reading told me I should get off social media because my Mars sign might lead me to cause Twitter drama, like a certain notorious Gemini, President Donald Trump. (I did not quit social media. Nor have I started any Twitter blowups.)
Trump might play a role in all the Gemini hate, says Courtney Perkins, the Gemini behind the popular astrology meme Instagram Not All Geminis. But he’s not the only factor.
“I think it’s just bandwagoning,” she says. “It’s done by people who don’t really know a lot about astrology.” There are good and bad people of every sign, she adds, and every sign has negative traits. “We could be calling Aries tyrannical, or we could be calling Cancers manipulative wet noodles,” she says. “For Gemini, people come back to the two-faced thing, but there are other signs of duality: Pisces, with two fish swimming in opposite directions, doesn’t make up their mind easily. And Libra is equally superficial, if not more so. Every fault that’s assigned to Gemini is shared by another sign.”
A post shared by not all geminis (@notallgeminis) on May 28, 2019 at 8:19am PDT
Perkins also gets to the heart of why so many professional astrologers are annoyed by “zodiac shaming.” Your birth chart is so much more complicated than just your sun sign. “My best friends are Scorpio and Capricorn, which should not work, but we all have water moons,” which makes them astrologically compatible, she says. “That’s something you cannot tell off a Craigslist ad for a roommate. With every different placement, there are so many things that factor into compatibility.”
All of this astro hate aside, there are two main factors when it comes to judging people based on their sign. First, there’s free will. “Saying you don’t want to live with a Gemini because you think Geminis are gossipy is one thing, but you may have a perfectly sweet Gemini roommate applicant who has worked really hard to learn to use their words for the better,” Perkins explains. “People can learn to curb their faults.” Second, and perhaps the biggest, is that while astrology has been around for a very long time, it’s not scientifically proven and is supposed to be fun — excluding people is not.
As Brammer — the ¡Hola Papi! columnist — says: “We have enough rules and oppressive structures in our day-to-day realities. We don’t need them in our stars, too.”
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 24: Lizzo attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
But in the accompanying interview, the pop star shared that her confidence wasn’t always this strong. She opened up about her journey to self-love in a society that taught her to hate her body and her skin.
In her late teens and early twenties, Lizzo explained, she was in a relationship with someone who said he wanted to date someone thin. “Skinny guys like me,” she said. “But I remember he was like, ‘I’m a little guy. I need a little girl.’ ” She found herself trying to mimic Zooey Deschanel — “I can’t just wake up and be a white girl,” she said. When the relationship ended, she asked herself, “How can you be in love with someone when you’re not even you?”
“As f***ed up as it sounds, I needed that heartbreak experience,” she said. “I’m not sad, because I use the pain so constructively. It’s inevitable. The pain is human experience.”
After that breakup, Lizzo began working on her low self-esteem. “I’ve come to terms with body dysmorphia and evolved,” she said. “The body-positive movement is doing the same thing. We’re growing together, and it’s growing pains, but I’m just glad that I’m attached to something so organic and alive.”
But Lizzo also added that there’s her work deserves recognition regardless of her body — something some critics and interviewers miss. “I’m so much more than that. Because I actually present that, I have a whole career,” she said. “It’s not a trend.”
Now, Lizzo helps that her music helps others discover self-love. “As a Black woman, I make music for people, from an experience that is from a Black woman,” she said. “I’m making music that hopefully makes other people feel good and helps me discover self-love. That message I want to go directly to Black women, big Black women, Black trans women. Period.”
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CARDIFF, WALES – JANUARY 22: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Ely and Careau Children’s Centre on January 22, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. The visit is part of HRH’s 24-hour tour of the country to launch ‘5 big questions on the under 5s’. (Photo by Geoff Caddick – WPA POOL/Getty Images)
Amidst all of the buzz around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family, Kate Middleton was spotted yesterday tending to her royal duties wearing a black turtleneck with a pleated leopard print skirt from Zara. While the skirt is not currently listed on the Zara website (sad face), according to multiple outlets, it cost $13. Though the price tag and outfit choice might come as a shock to some, this isn’t the first time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn a Zara item. In fact, one might even go as far as to call her a Zara superfan.
Earlier this month, Kate wore a houndstooth dress by the brand that originally cost $129 — but was marked down to $35.99 — before it sold out, according to Insider. In the past, she’s been spotted wearing $50 black Zara work pants and a $35 sparkly Zara necklace. She even wore a Zara dress to her sister Pippa’s wedding. While Kate’s longstanding affinity for the mainstream brand has been the subject of many articles, fan blogs, and more, Cosmopolitan went as far as tracking all of her best Zara moments.
As the media and fans alike have relentlessly obsessed over her Kate’s style choices, particularly her ability to successfully execute a high-low wardrobe and rock casual looks while still looking regal, it’s worth pointing out why her love of Zara matters.
The royal family was infamous for its mysteriousness and inaccessibility until Princess Diana came into the picture. With her iconic athletic sweatshirts and biker shorts, Diana stole the hearts of people across the globe. She was a bit of an outsider (though her family is said to have had ties to the royal family); she was kind and nurturing; and in a way, she was almost one of us. While Kate’s family also has ties to the royal family, there’s a similar air about her, and it is through her style that she’s also developed an even deeper approachability.
Therefore, when the Duchess wears a brand like Zara, it makes people feel like they can connect with her and potentially own something she’s worn, too. While Diana fans saw images of her on the pages of their newspapers and magazines (gossip ones especially), and could emulate her style, thanks to the advent of digital media, we can see images of Kate within hours of an appearance and easily find out the brands behind her clothes. It’s no wonder many of the items she wears sell out immediately.
While Zara’s relative accessibility has helped make Kate a more approachable royal, it’s important to note that the company is one of the major brands that has come under fire for its fast fashion practices. With this, it would be impactful if Kate further used her platform to talk about how to be a more mindful consumer. And while she’s already a fan of re-wearing clothes and donned ethical fashion label Beulah, we’d love to see her support more affordable, eco-conscious brands, too.
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Early 1990s queer ball culture in New York City was legendary, and continues to be relevant — so much so that one Copenhagen-based brand designed an entire collection around it. And with its puff sleeves, patterned tights, and clashing prints, the line acts as a reminder of why we fell in love with fashion in the first place.
This week, Stine Goya launched its Spring Summer 2020 collection, which was inspired by films like Kiki and Paris Is Burning — both of which portray New York’s ballroom culture, an iconic institution for the LGBTQ community. Kiki is the story of a group of young, Black, queer New Yorkers who, in the early ‘90s, gathered at the Christopher Street Pier in Greenwich Village to practice ballroom (the performance art form that Madonna famously appropriated in her music video “Vogue”). Jennie Livingston’s Paris Is Burning is a 1991 documentary surrounding the stylish and competitive ballroom competitions that took place in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
To recreate the expressive quality of these films, Stine Goya combined bold, extravagant patterns, vibrant colors, and over-the-top silhouettes. “Our new styles — the Fina & the Leor — are tighter. Shoes — the Indyas — are taller,” the press release reads. Everything was taken to new levels, just as ballroom called for.
Goya went on to create a new hand-painted design that can be seen throughout the entirety of the collection. She calls it the Dancers.
This isn’t the first time that the brand has been inspired by dance. For her Fall Winter 2019 collection, inspired by Truman Capote’s famous Black and White Ball, Goya had 10 models, all dressed in sustainable garb, perform a contemporary dance choreographed by Puerto Rican artist Kianí Del Valle. The performance was meant to portray that sustainability doesn’t have to be so serious or limiting, but rather it can be, like the dance, a chance to let loose and have fun.
But dance isn’t the only common factor between the two collections. Just as in her FW19 collection, SS20 contains a sustainable message. “The vibrant Polka Dot and Hearts stories across the Mainline are created entirely from recycled polyester,” the brand explains. “The Ina Dress, featuring hand-sewn applique fabric flowers, combines GOTS Certified Silk Organza, Tencel Lyocell and Lenzing Ecovero Viscose with intricate embroidering techniques.”
See how Stine Goya brought both films to life by shopping the entire SS20 collection, available now on StineGoya.com.
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Oracle cards are like tarot cards' younger, chiller cousin. They can show any imagery, and there's more room for the person working with them to interpret their meaning.
Amanda Michelle Jones, who also goes by AMJ, is the creator of Brown Girl Tarot, an online community for spiritual practitioners of color. They talked to Refinery29 about oracle cards.
But unlike traditional tarot decks, which come in packs of 78, oracle decks can include any number of cards. What's more, while tarot cards include a Major Arcana and a Minor Arcana arranged into suits, oracle decks don't follow this structure. There are no rules, andthe possibilities are endless.
What's the difference between oracle cards and tarot cards?
Although there are different schools of tarot and variations from deck to deck, “any tarot deck you pick up will have the Major Arcana covering what we call ‘The Fool's Journey,’ — in other words, major archetypes or lessons we encounter in life — and the Minor Arcana, which covers the more day-to-day experiences,” AMJ says.
“Oracle decks typically don't follow that setup. You may find a deck with 30-something cards or 80-something cards," they add. "One oracle deck might sort of mirror the tarot, while another could have absolutely nothing to do with tarot. But overall, the big difference is in the number of cards and whether it's split between majors and minors.”
The variety is evident in two of the oracle decks that AMJ recommends. The Adinkra Ancestral Guidance Cards is a 44-card deck featuring Adinkra symbols and philosophies (used by the Ashantis in West Africa). The OKANA oracle deck, on the other hand, contains 25 cards, with five in each element (Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, and Spirit). It also features proverbs from the Diloggún Divination system.
How do you use oracle cards?
When using oracle cards, AMJ recommends that you “go with your intuition." They explain, “When you get a new oracle deck, you're kind of learning a new language each time. So take time to just observe and get to know the deck.”
Doing a one-card pull every day is “a great way to get to know your deck while also honing your intuition and divination skills,” AMJ says. You can use traditional tarot spreads, such as a three-card draw, with oracle cards. You can also draw an oracle card before a tarot card reading to set an intention, or after a reading to reinforce the interpretation.
“As you explore the cards, let Spirit speak to you in whatever ways you need in the moment," AMJ suggests. "And definitely make sure to journal, whether that be by hand or digitally, then compare that to the guidebook that came with the deck.”
Since oracle cards are relatively unstructured, they can sometimes be a more appealing option for beginners. But experienced tarot readers also often incorporate them into spreads too.
“Sometimes a person wants to step outside the 'boundaries of the tarot' (or at least their perception of such boundaries),” AMJ explains. “Also, some folx find oracle cards to be less intimidating than tarot, while others see oracle as an introductory way to start divining with cards. Lots of people combine oracle with tarot to provide additional perspective to their readings. The possibilities are almost endless, especially if you try to get math-y and think about permutations and combinations.”
Here, shop a few of AMJ’s recommendations for oracle decks, as well as some picks from Refinery29.
Adinkra Ancestral Guidance Cards
This 44-card deck is designed to "help you channel information, messages and direction from your ancestors using the power and philosophies of Adinkra symbols."
BresiAndoLiving Adinkra Ancestral Guidance Cards, $, available at Etsy
Juju Magic Oracle
Available for pre-order now, the Juju Magic Oracle is currently in heavy rotation for AMJ. According to creator Stephanie Hanson, this deck "uses the themes of the ancient ritual of bone divination with African roots and simplifies it into card form."
Also available for pre-order, this set features 37 cards modernized from the 1840s Petite Lenormand deck, with "an undeniable infusion of African ancestry and culture."
This 44-card deck is "inspired by the Libyan Sibyls, the African prophetesses of the classical world."
Destiny Books The Sibyls Oraculum, $, available at Amazon
The Literary Witches Oracle
This 70-card deck features 30 women writers from Toni Morrison to the Hindu poet Mirabai, along with 40 symbol cards.
Clarkson Potter The Literary Witches Oracle: A 70-Card Deck and Guidebook, $, available at Amazon
Sacred Earth Oracle
This 25-card deck is designed to help you "commune with the timeless wisdom and wonder of Mother Earth for practical and spiritual guidance."
Helen Nelson Sacred Earth Oracle, $, available at Etsy
Moonology Oracle Deck
Based on the phases of the moon, this 44-card deck is designed to "provide answers to the user's questions about their life as well as offering teachings on moon phases and moon positions."
Divine Life Crystals, DivineLifeCrystals Moonology Oracle Deck, $, available at Etsy
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When you think about layers, chances are good that your mind gravitates towards images of back-grazing hair. It's a fair assumption, considering how many people with long locks have 'em, but you don't need inches to add movement and texture to your hair.
In fact, layers are well-suited for shorter hairstyles — no matter your texture — and can completely transform your look without sacrificing length. For example, a sharp, blunt bob instantly turns soft and effortless with a few wispy pieces. The same goes for curly hair and bangs, which become more dynamic and shag-like with added layers.
"Layers create shape, volume, and movement," says Damian Santiago, stylist and co-founder of Mizu Louis Licari salon in New York City. "On many haircuts, it adds a special sexiness that is very different from a classic blunt line." Into hair that's sexy, fun, and easy? Check out the layered cuts ahead.Give your curly crop new life by asking your stylist to add shorter pieces throughout. "Curls respond to layering really well, but cutting them varies by person," Santiago explains. He suggests talking to your stylist about your desired length and shape to determine whether a wet or dry cut is best for you.The same goes for bangs: A few snips can transform your look, so ask your stylist what kind of fringe works for your curl pattern and lifestyle. "It takes a confident woman to rock a kickass short cut," Santiago says. This one‚ with its short layers and face-framing pieces, is one of our favorites.The blunt bob is a staple haircut, but if you're bored by the sharp lines, simply ask your stylist to incorporate some subtle layering. Adding a few shorter pieces to the classic shape will instantly make your style feel edgier. Side-swept layers create a feathery effect that looks especially stunning on a fresh silk press.You can also add some shorter pieces to your grown-out pixie cut to give your style dimension. If you're at the annoying stage when you want to grow out a lob, but it's getting tough to style, ask your stylist for face-framing layers that'll make it feel fresh.
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10537064h)
Actress Annabella Sciorra (R) arrives to testify as a witness in the sexual assault trial of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein at New York State Supreme Court in New York, New York, USA, 23 January 2020. The trial, which is expected to last for about eight weeks, is based on sexual assault and rape allegations of two separate women.
Harvey Weinstein Trial in New York, USA – 23 Jan 2020
On Thursday, one such testimony was delivered by actress Annabella Sciorra, who took to the witness stand to say that Weinstein raped her. According to The New York Times, Sciorra testified that the assault happened in her New York City apartment, which Weinstein forcibly entered, in late 1993 or early 1994.
“I was trying to get him off me,” Sciorra told the jury. “I was punching him, kicking him. He got on top of me and he raped me.”
In graphic detail, she recounted the night of the attack to those in the courtroom. She described attending a group dinner with Weinstein at a Manhattan restaurant. Ultimately, he offered to give her a ride home. When she got there, she went about her business and began getting ready to go to bed. Then, someone knocked on her door. Sciorra testified that she thought it was a neighbor or her doorman, but it turned out to be Weinstein, who proceeded to push past her and enter her apartment.
Before she could get away, he grabbed her, took her to a bedroom, and raped her, she said. “I was just shaking like a seizure — I don’t know how else to describe it,” Sciorra testified. “I woke up, but I’m not sure if I fainted, blacked out or fell asleep.”
When a prosecutor asked her why she didn’t call the police to report the assault, she explained that the experience had left her feeling “confused.” “He was someone I knew,” Sciorra explained. “I felt at the time that rape was something that happened in a back alleyway in a dark place.”
Earlier this month, several Weinstein accusers stood outside the Manhattan courthouse where his trial is taking place to share their stories. Before Weinstein walked in, they stood in a designated penned-off area holding signs that read “Listen to Survivors.” Weinstein, flanked by bodyguards and his legal team, avoided looking at them as he made his way into the courthouse, with his walker in tow.
In total, Weinstein faces five counts of predatory sexual assault, criminal sex acts, and rape, for allegedly forcibly performing oral sex on former Weinstein Co. production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and the alleged 2013 rape of another woman, who has remained anonymous, in a hotel room. Although Sciorra’s alleged assault falls outside New York State’s statute of limitations, her testimony is certain to play a powerful role in determining Weinstein’s fate.
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It was only a matter of time before someone came up with the next logical copycat: This Smells Like My Penis. But the follow-up version has a slightly surprising origin story. Taxi, a Canadian ad agency, created the replica in the name of gender pay equality.
In an Instagram post, the agency debuted the product, writing, “We heard @goop was selling a Smells Like My Vagina candle for $75. So we made a Smells Like My Penis candle for $100, in accordance with Canada’s gender pay gap.”
A post shared by TAXI (@taxiagency) on Jan 21, 2020 at 6:17am PST
That’s right. According to Taxi, this candle costs 25% more than than its vagina-smelling equivalent, the exact percentage of the gender pay gap up north. The company is hoping to bring awareness to the issue with their attention-grabbing product. As the label reads: “Burn this candle for the scent of women getting paid 75 cents on the dollar.” The company also plans to donate all proceeds to the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
“As ridiculous as a Smells Like My Penis candle is — the fact that there’s still a gender pay gap in 2020 is far more ridiculous,” says Alexis Bronstorph, the executive creative director of Taxi.
You can pre-order your very own penis candle at www.smellslikemypeniscandle.com. Whether you actually burn it or not is up to you.
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Our earth is our home and our house is still on fire, young climate activist Greta Thunberg reiterated this week. At the World Economic Forum, Thunberg, who was recently honored as the youngest ever TIME Person of the Year for work in climate change, took the stage once again to call out people in power. During her talk, she scolded leaders around the world for doing “basically nothing” to address reduce carbon emissions despite the ever-growing threat of total climate catastrophe.
“Pretty much nothing has been done since the global emissions of CO2 has not reduced. If you see it from that aspect, what has concretely been done, if you see it from a bigger perspective, basically nothing,” she said.
On Thursday, after Thunberg received praise from even a member of the Royal family for her work, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin pretended not to know the world-famous activist and said he would recognize her after she “studies economics in college.” Thunberg responded with receipts: she said it doesn’t take a college degree to realize the climate crisis. On Twitter, Thunberg also called out Mnuchin on investments that “don’t add up.”
My gap year ends in August, but it doesn’t take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5° carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments don’t add up. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/1virpuOyYG
Each year, WEF gathers leaders in politics, business and finance who come together to discuss the most pressing issues. Thunberg used this meeting as an opportunity to yet again bring awareness to the climate crisis that is currently plaguing Australia with spreading fires. Ultimately, the teen activist explained that while it’s important that there’s generally more awareness of how serious the issue is, not enough has changed. To her, the world is still not treating it like an emergency.
“Your inaction is fueling the flames by the hour,” Thunberg declared. “Let’s be clear: we don’t need a low carbon economy, we don’t need to lower emissions — our emissions have to stop.”
According to Thunberg, this is the only thing that would keep temperatures from rising past 1.5 degrees. Along with other young activists, she is now calling for governments to stop funding the production of fossil fuels internationally to reduce the rapid rise of global emissions that threaten the earth. “We don’t want these things done by 2050, or 2030 or even 2021 — we want this done now,” she said.
The 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report speaks to the urgency of the issue that Thunberg is using her platform to elevate. It finds that countries can only release approximately another 420 gigatons of carbon dioxide to have even a 67% chance to keep temperatures under 1.5 degrees. According to scientific calculations, at our current levels of emissions, that amount of CO2 will be emitted within about eight and a half years. “Even with a 1C increase people are dying of climate change. Every fraction of a degree matters,” she stated.
Thunberg did however emphasized that she isn’t complaining about not being heard, because she’s being heard “all the time.” This is not about her, as she has repeatedly declared, this is about people caring about the facts and taking action. Thunberg’s rejected any awards that try to turn her into a celebrity rather than a vessel of change, and implores her young peers to take the same level of humility in fighting this cause. Along with fellow climate change influencers like Indigenous water activist Autumn Peltier and co-founder of the U.S. Climate Strike Isra Hirsi want action, Thunberg implores adults to take action at the highest level.
But, her disappointment in people who have power and fail to use it was palpable. She has consistently begged world leaders, including Congress, to listen to the scientists.
When asked what she’d like to see done in the next year and a half, Thunberg said, “That we start listening to the science and that we actually start treating these crises as the crises they are, because without treating it like a crisis, we cannot solve it.”
At the end of the day, we must all start working with more urgency. “Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fueling the flames by the hour,” Greta said, explaining that we must panic, but we must use that to fuel our efforts to save the planet.
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Welcome toTravel Diaries, a Refinery29 series where we tag along as real women embark on trips around the world and track theirtravel expenses down to the last cent. Here, we offer a detailed, intimate account of when, where, and how our peers spend their vacation days and disposable income: all the meals, adventures, indulgences, setbacks, and surprises.
This week’s travel diary: A 33-year-old integrated marketing manager skips Thanksgiving to go on a solo adventure in the Latvian capital, Riga.
For questions, feedback, or if you’re interested in tracking your travel expenses during an upcoming trip email us at traveldiary@refinery29.com.
Age: 33 Occupation: Integrated Marketing Manager Salary: $95,000 Travel Companion: Just me Hometown: New York City, New York Trip Location: Riga, Latvia Trip Length: 6 Days Annual # Of Vacation Days: Flexible/Unlimited
Transportation Cost: I departed JFK for Helsinki on Finnair. After a short layover in Helsinki, I flew Finnair to Riga. The reverse route was applicable to my return (RIX – HEL – JFK). The cash price was $641.11 but I redeemed 42,740 credit card points to cover the entire ticket.
I refuse to sit in the middle for flights longer than three hours and while I hate that even the nice airlines charge you to select your seat in economy, I couldn’t risk a middle seat on a nine-hour flight to Helsinki. I am a terrible plane sleeper so I booked my trusty aisle seats to avoid getting trapped in the window behind sleeping row-mates. On the outbound, I am toward the front to make it easier to get off quickly and make my connection, on the return I booked a cheaper aisle seat a little further back, since I’m just going home after deplaning. ($66.05).
Total: $66.05
Accommodations Cost: I am staying at the Hotel Bergs, a boutique luxury hotel just outside of Old Town. I decided not to stay in the tourist-centric area so the hotel is just outside, but easily walkable to the Old Town. I also chose a luxury hotel versus a cheaper, mid-range hotel because I wanted to get a massage while there and, at these prices, why not indulge?
The price for four nights was $456 but I booked the hotel on HotelTonight, which offered the booking with free breakfast and cancellation. I would not have booked it had it been nonrefundable (I like to hunt for the best prices until the last possible second). By booking on HotelTonight, I was able to use a ChaseOffer that applied to my credit card, giving me a 5% return to my statement on the purchase with a $15 maximum.
Total: $441
Miscellaneous pre-vacation spending New Coat – Mountain Hardwear Super/DS Stretchdown Coat. Going to a climate where there’s a high probability of precipitation, I figured my wool coat wouldn’t be the best idea. Since that’s my only coat, I used this trip as a good opportunity to finally get a water-resistant down coat.
Total: $149.14
Miscellaneous post-vacation spending International Day Pass on my cell phone: $10 a day
Total: $50
Day One
3:00 p.m. – It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I expect both Penn Station and JFK to be madhouses so I leave for the airport earlier than I normally would. I buy an LIRR ticket to Jamaica ($7.75) on the MTA app and head to the station. Luckily leaving early means getting to take an off-peak train with a cheaper fare. When I switch to the AirTrain at Jamaica I learn that the price has gone up over $2 since a couple of months ago! I swipe my MetroCard ($7.75), happy that I have enough preloaded because the lines to buy and fill cards actually are insane. Price increase or not, $15.50 and the one-hour door-to-terminal commute is light years better than whatever traffic I’d endure and what cab fare would be. $15.50
4:45 p.m. – The train and the airport are both surprisingly calm. I’m through security and deciding on plane snacks. I’d normally bring food with me but Finnair has strict 8 kg carryon limits and I was worried my bags would get weighed (combined they are already over this tiny limit). This terminal doesn’t have a Priority Pass lounge so I wander a bit, still one and a half hours until my plane boards! I settle on the mesmerizing aroma of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and get some pretzel bites to snack on now ($7.07) and grab some bottled water and candy for later ($13.70). $20.14
5:15 p.m. – I thought I had beat the system by checking in online and going right to security, avoiding the bag weigh process altogether. Nope! They called me up to the gate agent desk so they could verify my passport and there, they weighed our bags too. I removed my coat from my suitcase and snuck my makeup bag out with it so they could weigh my rolling carry-on, and it was a lovely 7.88 kilograms. Thank goodness they didn’t ask for my backpack, and that I didn’t have to check my bag.
6:30 p.m. – I’m nestled in my seat, check out the entertainment options (I’m excited to watch Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and hope that I can sleep on this nine-hour red-eye flight.
Day Total: $35.64
Day Two
10:30 a.m. – I land in Helsinki and deplane. I’m thirsty, need to pee, and have to make a quick connecting flight so I dart through the airport looking for passport control. This airport is bright and beautiful and all one building but it is a very very long corridor and the arrival gate is at the farthest end of it. I finally find passport control, get stamped, and continue toward my gate at the complete opposite end of the airport. Thirsty and tired since I didn’t sleep on the red-eye, I stop at the last shop before my gate area and get a Coca-Cola No Sugar. It hits the spot. $4.30
11:15 a.m. – I’m at my gate watching the little propeller planes (that I will soon be flying on) and the people are boarding from the back! I’ve never seen that before and it makes my choice of a seat at 4B seem terrible because I like to be off planes fast. After boarding they have to shift weight around so I volunteer to go to the back of the plane!
1:10 p.m. – We land in Riga and I search for an ATM at the airport. I need some euros and don’t know whether the cabs will take credit cards. I find one near the exit, think about various tips and reasons I will need cash, and withdraw 50 euros. Since my bank doesn’t have any partnerships with banks in the Baltics, this transaction comes with an ATM fee ($5) and a Foreign Transaction Fee ($1.65). Cash in hand, I decide against a taxi and call a Bolt (the Latvian version of Uber) and get a car to my hotel. ($9.70) $16.35
3:30 p.m. – I want to adjust to the time and after checking in to my hotel, decide to walk around and start exploring. After a couple of hours meandering the city with no real objective, the sun sets and I start to feel my hunger and fatigue. I stop at Narvesen (the Latvian version of 7-Eleven) to buy some candy. I love foreign candy, but the real reason for this purchase is to break the big bill the ATM gave me. The cashier looks at me like I’m rude to use a 50 for a two-euro transaction, but I need the change. $2.18
6:00 p.m. – I get dinner at Cydonia, a gastropub that the hotel recommended. It is really close to the hotel and has a menu with a lot of variety, but I would felt weird ordering fajitas in Eastern Europe. So I got a burger (better, right?) and a variation on a Moscow Mule. $25.78
9:00 p.m. – With the seven-hour time difference and the fact that I didn’t sleep at all on the plane, I have now been awake for over 30 hours. I get ready for bed, set an alarm for tomorrow morning, and pass out.
Day Total: $48.61
Day Three
9:15 a.m. – The only thing I actually have planned today are free walking tours. I like to do them when I first get to a new city because I can learn a little about the city while seeing the major highlights, and then decide where, if anywhere, I want to return to during my visit. On my way to Old Town for the tour, I stop at Caffeine near my hotel for a coffee to keep me warm ($2.04). However, the coffee is so small it doesn’t even last until the tour starts. I have a lot of walking ahead of me so I pick up a bottle of water at a Narvesen before the first tour begins ($1.42). $3.46
11:30 a.m. – A huge group showed up for the morning tour of Riga Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour, through Riga Free Tours, gave a good overview of the Old Town. We ventured through small, storied cobblestone streets and learned about the history of Riga, its architectural influences, the effects WWII had on the city. After this two-hour tour, I don’t think I need to come back to Old Town, but could definitely wander around here some more if I have time. Free walking tours are tip-based, so I give the guide a 10 euro tip and try to make the most of my 30-minute break ($11.00). Before the second tour begins, I go to Crumble Cake, a coffee shop the guide recommended for another hot coffee and a bathroom break. The cakes look so good but are definitely not portable ($3.64). $14.64
12:00 p.m. – The “Alternative Riga” tour begins, and I have the same guide I had in the morning. It’s a smaller group and we have a longer tour, exploring the “suburbs” as the guide calls it. It’s not really the suburbs, it’s just real Riga, where normal people go and live, versus the tourist-centric Old Town. He shows us Central Market (which is housed in former World War I Zeppelin hangers), takes us to the Holocaust Memorial, and gives a great tip about going to the top of the Latvian Academy of Sciences building for views instead of St. Peter’s Church. The tour concludes back in Old Town near the Opera House and I tip him another five euros. $5.50
2:30 p.m. – After four hours of walking tours, I need food! I head back to the Central Market to take it all in, as well as get some lunch in the food hall section. I do a couple of loops around the different stalls to decide what I want and choose Pel Man – a stand that sells pelmeni, a Russian-style dumpling (when in Riga!). I get the small order of beef & pork, which comes with 15 dumplings! They are served steamed, are so fresh and delicious and I eat them so fast, but I think next time I need to try them with the broth add-on ($4.85). I look for some dessert at the bakery stands and finally settle on something that looks like a blondie. The woman behind the counter doesn’t understand English when I ask her what’s in it, but it’s 70 cents so I buy it anyway ($0.77). I start picking it apart to eat, and it tastes like a chocolate chip blondie at first, but then I realize there’s some sort of jelly in the middle that has a banana flavor. It’s interesting and local, but also cheap so I finish it as I walk to the Latvian Academy of Sciences. $5.62
3:30 p.m. – The Latvian Academy of Sciences has a viewing deck in the city near the river. I was planning to go up to St. Peter’s Church for views, but the tour guide suggested this instead, so since I am back in the area I go for it. I buy a ticket, went up to the 16th floor, and could not have chosen a better time or location. Not only is it a golden hour, but since it had rained most of the day, I see a rainbow too! And it’s very uncrowded, at most, there are four people up here at one time, whereas St. Peter’s would have had many more in a smaller space. $5.50
4:45 p.m. – I don’t really have a dinner plan so on my way back to the hotel I stop by the mini-grocery store and grab some chips and a chocolate bar to nosh on. $2.75
6:30 p.m. – I heard about the Skyline bar for the views, but also that it gets busy and has a cover charge after 9:00 p.m., so instead of going after dinner I decide to go beforehand. I grab a seat at a tall table that overlooks the city and order a To The Moon, a specialty cocktail that contains two types of Riga Black Balsam. While I sip my drink, I search Trip Advisor for places to go for dinner. $16.62
8:45 p.m. – I try a few places that aren’t able to accommodate me right now and as I walk around looking for a restaurant, I come across Restaurant Riits which was on the list I pulled from TripAdvisor. They can seat me now for dinner and I order a local beer when I sit down. When the server comes back I order some bread and their roasted chicken entree, which comes with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables. The bread comes with delicious herb butter and the chicken is the juiciest, most delicious chicken I can remember ever eating. When I leave the restaurant, I realize it is just a couple of blocks from my hotel, so I go home and to bed very quickly. $15.44
Day Total: $69.53
Day Four
8:30 a.m. – My alarm goes off and I instantly regret the day trip I decided to take today. It took forever to fall asleep last night so I’m running on about four hours of rest. Because I’m paranoid about missing this 10:30 a.m. train to Cesis, I plan to get to the station extra early to buy a ticket and get coffee and breakfast.
9:30 a.m. – Oh my gosh it is gorgeous! After two days of constant drizzle, it’s finally sunny and bright! I am still regretting the decision to ride a train for two hours each way today instead of walking to a local Saturday market the tour guide told us about. But I’m awake, dressed, and nothing is going to change that so off I go!
9:45 a.m. – I arrive at the train station and start looking for somewhere to purchase tickets. After a loop, I decide to Google Translate “ticket” into Latvian and hope I can find it on a sign somewhere. I find the windows and buy my one-way train ticket ($3.50). I think I will need to take the bus back to Riga because of the train times and frequency (I used Rome2Rio to help me figure out the best way to get there and back). I again go hunting for some coffee and a croissant and finally find a place to get a (tiny) coffee and a cheese bun, which kind of tastes like an Asiago cheese bagel ($1.85). Before going to the platform, I visit Narvesen and buy a bag of pretzels. ($0.76). $6.09
10:30 a.m. – I board the train and it departs for Cesis. There are no screens inside to tell your stop and all announcements are in Latvian so I follow on my phone while I watch episodes of Peaky Blinders to try to keep up with my stop.
12:25 p.m. – The train arrives in Cesis. I look over the bus schedule before leaving the station and head out in the direction of the castle. Around the station, the city is pretty modern, but as I keep walking I finally come across the old medieval town that I read about. Instead of following my map, I turn in the direction of a cool-looking building and eventually get to the entrance to the castle grounds.
12:45 p.m. – The town has an old medieval castle in ruins, and the owners built a new one right next to it. The castles are available to tour, but I feel like just walking the grounds. I take a series of photos in front of the ruins and walk down the stairs to the frozen pond with a clever statue of a man standing on it and look for another way to exit the grounds than the one I entered. I walk up some sketchy stairs to find a dead-end (and a lot of broken stones) and carefully head back down so I can go back up the way I came.
1:15 p.m. – Upon exiting the park, I walk toward a beautiful church steeple. On a plaza just beyond the church, I see tents… a Christmas market! I peruse the stalls to see if there’s anything interesting and I stop at a bread vendor. I heard the rye bread in Latvia is supposed to be amazing, so I buy a roll from her to have a snack to nosh on while I continue to walk around. However, when I go to pull the bread apart, it’s so incredibly dense that I can’t rip it. I take a bite straight from the roll and the taste isn’t what I expected. After two bites I throw it out and carry on exploring this old town. $1.10
2:00 p.m. – I actually am hungry and start looking for a place to stop for lunch. The best looking places are pizza places, and I am planning to have pizza for dinner so I pass on those. More importantly, I need to find a bathroom so I look for another bakery or something small instead. I have looped around this entire little town and stop into what I thought was a cafe and bar to find a tiny space with just a couple of bistro tables. I buy an Americano and leave, deciding there’s not much else to do and go back to Riga earlier than anticipated. $1.65
2:30 p.m. – Back at the bus station, I visit the window to buy my ticket home. The one-way bus ticket is more expensive than the train ticket, which blows my mind! ($4.58) I need to use the restroom before this long drive, and something I’ve noticed in my last few European trips is they charge for public restrooms. No difference here. I spend 30 euro cents ($0.33) to use the restroom and then hit the Narvesen in the station for some snacks. I leave with a Peanut Butter Kit Kat, some string cheese, and water ($2.49). $7.40
2:55 p.m. – It’s starting to snow pretty heavily, so it appears I’ve made the right choice to leave. The bus arrives to pick up the passengers and on my ticket where it says “place” I think is a seat number, but it’s actually a boarding order. The driver is calling out in Latvian so after the first few people get on the bus, I ask another passenger what he said. They told me he said “eight,” which is my number! So I board and head for a window at the back. I watch a couple more episodes of Peaky Blinders on the two-hour drive while the snow continues to fall around us.
5:00 p.m. – Back in Riga and it’s already so dark. There’s a store I saw in Lonely Planet I want to go to, Bold Concept Store, that’s open until 6:00 p.m. today and closed tomorrow (Sunday), so I rush up to browse quickly. I have a tradition that instead of cheesy souvenirs when I travel, I like to get a little piece of jewelry, and that’s what I am looking for here. They have a lot of cute stuff but nothing that I have to have and am ready to spend $70+ on, but the girl working there tells me they might be open tomorrow. I want to shop around and see what else I can find but do decide to return tomorrow in the event they are open.
5:30 p.m. – I head to an Italian restaurant that got lots of good reviews, Casa Nostra. I ask for a table for one, but without a reservation, they have to check. I ask about doing takeout instead, but they come back and tell me they have a table for me as long as I can finish in an hour because of a reservation. As a single person who eats fast anyway, I tell them no problem as long as the food comes out quickly. I order a beer, a Pomodoro soup, and a Margherita pizza (and a to-go box). I’m watching my clock, and after a few slices of pizza, I attempt to flag my server down for a box and the check before heading back to my hotel. $18.19
6:45 p.m. – Back at the hotel just in time for my college football team’s big rivalry game at 7:00 p.m. I am worried about the streaming situation with my iPad and this game so I ask the front desk on my way upstairs if they know of any good sports bars that might possibly show American football games. They give me a couple of options and I go to my room to try to start streaming. Despite connecting with my cable subscription to the network’s app, it won’t show the live broadcast because I am not near a local Fox station and their Sports app doesn’t have anywhere to stream the games, only video clips so I am very confused and trying everything.
7:00 p.m. – My brother texts me to ask if I found any sports bars in Latvia and I recount my current streaming struggles. All of a sudden I get a FaceTime call from him, but I think I accidentally hit the FaceTime button while messing with the apps. He is actually FaceTiming me with his TV in the frame, to stream me the game (gotta love him!). I love this gesture and I chat with him and my sister in law for a bit while the first quarter gets underway. I give them a FaceTime tour of my massive hotel room and after we score our first touchdown, decide to call up one of the bars the hotel recommended. I ask if they can show this game, they look for a couple of minutes, and then tell me they can, so excitedly I tell them I’ll be there in 20 minutes. I thank my brother, say goodbye, and head out the door.
7:40 p.m. – I get to Kiwi Bar and see my game on one TV, which is all I need. I find one of the staff to tell them I’m the person who called for this, and I grab a seat at the bar and order a local beer.
11:15 p.m. – We hung with them the first half, but in the second half, our arch-enemies pulled away and ultimately kicked our butts. I pay for my beers, leave a nice tip (because they streamed this game from a computer for me!) and make my way home through Old Town. I had heard Riga has great nightlife, but it seems so quiet down here. And it’s starting to snow so my nighttime detour in Old Town, while pretty, is probably not the best idea. $10.91
12:00 a.m. – I get back to my hotel and reheat my leftover pizza from dinner. I finish the rest of my pizza while watching Netflix and go to bed.
Day Total: $45.36
Day Five
10:30 a.m. – I finally have a sleep-in day. However, I’ve been waking up all night with a terrible cough and runny nose. But I don’t want to waste daylight so I officially get up and get ready for the day.
11:30 a.m. – On the way to Big Bad Bagels for breakfast, I stop to pick up some cough drops (but the apothecary is closed) and some tissues ($0.42). The tissues come in super handy all day, as this cold is not going anywhere anytime soon. I had read in some Google and TripAdvisor searches that Big Bad Bagels was good, and being a New Yorker I had to see if the Latvian bagels measured up. They do! My everything bagel is the perfect mix of soft, chewy, and seeded ($5.51). $5.93
12:30 p.m. – There’s a street called Miera Iela that’s supposed to have cool shops and be a hip little enclave in the city, so I go north to check it out. However, I have learned that on Sundays shops are closed, so I am not sure what I’ll find when I get there. After a while, I don’t encounter anything… open… so I turn around because I know I want to go back to the Bold Concept Store and see if they opened today. En route, there’s an open pharmacy! Using Google Translate to communicate, I ask for some cough drops and walk out with some lime-y Latvian lozenges. $6.60
1:25 p.m. – Back at the (open!) Bold Concept Store, I gravitate toward these hammered silver ear crawlers that caught my eye yesterday. They’re more than I want to spend, but I like them and want to keep my tradition going. $65.08
2:00 p.m. – Riga is known for its vast amount of Art Nouveau-style buildings and many of them are concentrated in a certain neighborhood. I give myself a brief Art Nouveau tour on Albert Street and Elizabeth Street.
2:50 p.m. – After venturing down the windy waterfront and halfway across the Vansu Bridge, I find myself back in Old Town, at a Christmas market! I love European Christmas markets and this one does not disappoint. There’s live music, a wooden carousel that a man is spinning manually, a petting zoo, even pony rides! This is perfect for kids, and with lots of mulled wine, Black Balsam, and smoked meats, perfect for grown-ups too. I take in all the market has to offer and stop at a stall for a snack. I choose a donut that has little caramel pieces on the outside (yum) and when I bite into it, I find out there’s caramel inside too! $1.65
3:40 p.m. – The sun is setting and it’s getting cold, so I duck into a store to warm up for a bit. This store (Reserved) turns out to be a Polish fast-fashion retailer and my eye is drawn to neon. I see a neon yellow scarf, think about it for a second, look at the price tag, and decide I can wear two scarves on the plane home to avoid extra weight in my suitcase. $16.70
4:45 p.m. – On the way back to the hotel, I stop in a Narvesen. Earlier at the train station, I saw Salted Caramel M&M’s which I know my friend would love (as would I) and I want to pick her up a bag. I didn’t buy the M&M’s in the morning when I first saw them, so I visit another store in the chain to see if they have any. This store doesn’t have them, but the third store I go to does. I get two bags of the M&M’s, two bags of Haribo Berries for my roommate (who loves European Haribo), and a Coca-Cola Light. $7.20
5:30 p.m. – I drop my purchases off at the hotel and go to Restaurant/Cafe Mio, a restaurant I attempted to go to on Friday but they were full. I figured since it’s early it should be okay to find a table. When I arrive and ask for a table, they tell me they have reservations but can seat me as long as I finish in two hours. Totally not a problem. I order a glass of Rioja, an appetizer of bread, and a cinnamon roasted chicken entree with truffle mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are to. Die. For. They are so creamy and come out as this flavor trio with cheese, chive, and fried onions. These mashed potatoes with my chicken from Riits would be the most perfect meal ever. $25.47
Day Total: $128.63
Day Six
7:00 a.m. – I pack up, leave the maid tip on the nightstand ($5.50), and am checking out of the hotel because I want some time in the lounge (aka free food) before going to the gate. I learn what the local call I made to the bar about the football game cost me: $1.09. Hopefully, that’s cheaper than if I called from my cell phone. I call a Bolt car to take me to the airport ($10.65) and off I go. $17.24
9:00 a.m. – After hitting up the lounge for some breakfast, I stop in a shop to buy water ($2.20). I have a really close connection in Helsinki and fear I won’t have time to stop and get something there. On the way to my gate, a display catches my eye – a donation collection for homeless dogs. Animals are my heart and soul, and even though it’s very small, I drop in my leftover small coins, lightening my wallet ($0.10) $2.30
11:25 a.m. – My first flight lands and my second flight is supposed to depart at 12:40 p.m. I run from the actual end of the airport to the complete opposite side, stopping at passport control. I am so thankful that my flight is actually delayed a half hour, which gives me more time to get there before boarding. I manage to get to the gate before the boarding process begins and have time to visit the bathroom and get a few more snacks, I grab a bottle of water, some chips and a giant Twix at the closest kiosk, then reorganize my suitcase so I’m not putting so much under my seat. $8.21
12:45 p.m. – We start boarding, but our flight continues to be delayed. The 1:10 p.m. departure actually becomes around 2:00 p.m. by the time we get off the ground. But with the bad storms reported in the northeast, I am so excited to get home.
4:00 p.m. – We land at JFK about an hour later than scheduled amidst some wet snow in New York. I breeze through global entry and make a beeline for the AirTrain. I add some more money to my Metrocard to get through the turnstile at Jamaica ($7.75) and try to make the next train to Penn Station ($7.75). I miss it, but there’s another one along in 3 minutes, which is why I love JFK the most. $15.50
Day Total: $43.20
How did you prepare for this trip? I tried to use Instagram to prepare as I like to use it for inspiration, but there aren’t many Riga, Latvia tourism accounts. I did a lot of googling which led me to random travel blogs, as well as looking at Lonely Planet, Culture Trip, TripSavvy, and Fodors.
Did you use credit card points/miles to pay for parts of this trip? I redeemed credit card points for the cost of the flight. I would only go somewhere that had reasonable availability with points. The way Chase Sapphire Reserve works is that if you redeem for travel through their portal, your points are worth 1.5 points per dollar. So the $641 ticket was valued at 42,740 points (if the conversion was 1:1 it would have cost 64,111 points and if I transferred points to an airline loyalty program it would have been at least 60k points plus some cash for taxes). This redemption used about half of the points I had in my account, and I’ll spend the next few months replenishing my stash to take another trip.
Do you have credit card debt as a result of booking this vacation? No, I always pay my cards in full on time.
If flight, when did you book? Do you think you got a good deal? I booked my flight less than three weeks from departure and I think I got an OK deal. I wasn’t really looking at traveling to Riga much before I booked it to be able to compare the prices, it just happened to be the best-priced destination at the time. But soon after I booked it, the prices skyrocketed!
What was the best meal or food you ate while you were there? I had a fantastic dinner at Restaurant Riits which I found on TripAdvisor. It’s a small place in the downtown area that sources ingredients locally, and I had an amazing, juicy roasted chicken with grilled vegetables and roasted potatoes. The bread included local rye and some herb butter and I had a local beer with it and the price was very affordable. When I left, it turned out to be just around the corner from my hotel.
What advice would you give someone who is traveling to the same location? Be aware that most shops are closed on Sundays and many places generally close on the earlier side. People eat dinner early too (6:00 p.m. seemed fairly normal and restaurants got busy.)
Is there anything about your trip you would do differently in retrospect? I would not have gone on the day trip, I would have instead gone to a local market (Kalnciema) in a different section of the city. I ended up spending more time in transit than I actually spent at the destination and it took up a lot of daylight (which is minimal this time of year). I also would have loved to travel with enough time to visit the other major Baltic cities, Tallinn and Vilnius. It’s not easy to get there, so to see them all in one trip would have been great.
Would you stay at your hotel again? Absolutely! The hotel was nice, the room was massive, the location was great and I got a good deal. It turned out my room didn’t include breakfast, but it was still generally reasonable.
Where were you located in the specific city and would you recommend staying in that part of town? I stayed in Centrs, or the downtown area. It was nice to stay where local people go, as opposed to Old Town which I feared would only have tourist traps.
Is there anything you wished you had time to do, but didn’t? I wish I had gotten a massage at my hotel, especially since I booked a hotel that specifically had that amenity. The prices are much lower than in NYC at reputable spas. But since the days are short and I also wanted some sleep, I didn’t want to waste too much daylight with a massage. I wish I had gone to the Saturday Kalnciema Market which my tour guide recommended. I like to act as local as possible when I’m traveling, and avoid too many tourist traps but still see the necessities.
Do you feel like you were there for the right length of time? Would you have come home sooner or stayed longer given the chance? I could have done one less day if I didn’t do the day trip, and if daylight lasted later would have helped. If the price of the flight was better, I would have chosen to leave on Sunday (instead of Monday), which would have meant I didn’t go on the day trip and did my shopping on Saturday, avoiding the closed shops on Sunday.
I would recommend visiting Rīga on a longer trip visiting the other Baltic States, maybe in warmer weather.
Travel Diaries is meant to reflect individual women’s experiences and does not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
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While a layered haircut is never a bad idea — be it a feathered face frame or retro shag — this season, there's a noticeable swing the opposite direction to the blunt, no-frills cut.
According to industry pros, the single-length haircut is classically polished, makes hair look healthier, and is designed for versatility. Garren, celebrity stylist and co-founder of R+Co, says the trend is kind of a back-to-basics movement. "From short pixies to long cuts, the razor-sharp structure signifies a certain freedom from excess weight," he explains, adding that the fuss-free shape can then be styled any which way to add interest.
For proof of the blunt cut's trend spike, scroll through your 2020 style guide — organized in ascending order by length — and let it inspire you to go straight across at your next appointment.
The Short Bob
Call it a short bob or an A-line pixie, but this length — falling between the cheekbones and chin — is one of the shortest blunt shapes to take off this season.Supermodel Kaia Gerber has slowly been taking her blunt bob shorter and shorter, last seen with a pixie-adjacent cut that stops at her ears.Actress Bresha Webb shows us how a short, blunt cut parted straight down the middle proves effortlessly chic.
The '90s Bob
According to Garren, the classic bob — an incredibly popular style in the '90s — is one that cuts, with razor-sharp precision, right at the jawline. Take your clean bob, add a blunt bang, and all of a sudden you've turned your classic cut Parisian.Actress Laura Harrier's latest haircut is proof that a true bob is best styled with curls.
The Chopped Lob
If you want a little more length — but like the same crisp effect — go for a blunt lob, which should stop right at your shoulders. From Jennifer Lopez to Jessica Alba, tons of celebs have tried the blunt lob length, most often wearing the style sleek and straight to emphasize the sharp shape.Writer and director Janet Mock recently debuted a lighted and chopped lob that almost kisses her shoulder blades.The Long Chop
You don't have to sacrifice length for structure. Let your strands fall well past your shoulders, then dust them straight á laLea Michele.You can wear extensions or a weave for even more length and that same refreshing bluntness at the ends. Here, Mixed-ish star Arica Himmel shows us how a lengthy blunt cut can still have big personality — just add accessories.
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Our underwear drawers showcase a nine-to-one ratio of ultra comfy granny panties (the higher the waist the better) and itty bitty lace bikinis and thongs thrown in alongside matching bralettes. The former is trusty and reliable, providing us with everything we need for lounging around the house, errand days (worn under extra baggy sweats) and well, every other occasion we can possibly wear them to. The latter, on the other hand, is kept for one occasion and one occasion only: Valentine's Day.
That might be a bit of an exaggeration. We do, in fact, wear lingerie more than once a year, but it is true that the frequency at which we do is getting smaller and smaller. So since it's probably been a while since your last big lingerie re-up, we're using February 14th as an excuse to do exactly that. Ahead, we've rounded up 16 sexy red lingerie sets that'll add a nice kick to your 100% cotton-filled underwear drawer.
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.
Calvin Klein Flocked Hearts Strappy Thong, $, available at Urban Outfitters
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Les Girls Les Boys Leopard-Print Stretch-Mesh Underwired Soft-Cup Bra, $, available at Net-A-Porter
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Since the Oscars don't happen until February 9, many movie lovers are still thinking about 2019. But it's time to move on, people. The Sundance Film Festival kicked off on January 23, and new feature films, documentaries, shorts, and performance art pieces are on the way. Among this years entries, 46 percent of the competition films at Sundance are directed by women. That's an increase from last year's 42 percent. And while this, unfortunately, might not mean anything when it comes to your Oscar ballot, it's still exciting to see so many films, with so much variety, at a mainstream fest.
There are familiar names are showing at the festival this year. Director Julie Taymor will be showing her Gloria Steinem biopic The Glorias. Animator Brenda Chapman is making her live action debut with Come Away, about Peter Pan and Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Director Dee Rees is showing her Joan Didion adaptation The Last Thing He Wanted. And writer Emerald Fennell is making the move from TV to film with Promising Young Women.
And that's just to start. Read on for 23 Sundance movies directed by women to look out for this year, from a Taylor Swift documentary to a movie about what happens if aliens invade while you're on a technology detox. (And to check out the full list of entries from women head to the official Sundance Film Festival site here.)
Amulet
Directed & Written by Romola Garai Starring: Carla Juri, Angeliki Papoulia, Alec Secareanu, Imelda Staunton
Actor Romola Garai (Atonement, Emma) makes her feature directorial debut with Amulet, a horror movie about a homeless veteran, who is given a place to stay by a woman and her dying mother, only to find out there may be something more sinister going on between them. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Boys State
Directed by Amanda McBaine & Jesse Moss
This documentary follows a group of one-thousand 17-year-old boys participating in an experiment to design and build a government from scratch. The filmmakers set out to "remind us, ultimately, that democracy is not a spectator sport."Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Come Away
Directed by Brenda Chapman Written by Marissa Kate Goodhill Starring: Michael Caine, Keira Chansa, Angelina Jolie, Jordan Nash, David Oyelowo, Reece Yates
Director Brenda Chapman is known for her work at Disney and Pixar, including co-directing The Prince of Egypt and Brave. Come Away is her live-action debut, and it's an imagining of Peter Pan and Alice from Alice in Wonderland as siblings before taking off on their separate magical journeys. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Farewell Amor
Directed & Written by Ekwa Msangi Starring Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson, Joie Lee, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Nana Mensa
Tanzanian American director and writer Ekwa Msangi tells the story of an immigrant family, who reunite after 17 years. The father has made a new life in New York City, and when his wife and daughter arrive, they struggle to reconnect with him, but find hope through dance. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
The Fight
Directed by Eli Despres, Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg
The Fightis a documentary about ACLU lawyers as they fight for civil rights during the Trump administration, specifically rights for immigrants, women's right to choose, and voting rights. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
The 40-Year-Old Version
Directed & Written by Radha Blank Starring: TJ Atoms, Oswin Benjamin, Reed Birney, Radha Blank, Peter Y. Kim, Imani Lewis
Radha Blank, who has written for Empire and She's Gotta Have It makes her directing debut with The 40-Year-Old Version, about a 40-year-old struggling playwright, who decides to get back in to rapping.Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
The Glorias
Directed by Julie Taymor Written by Sarah Ruhl & Julie Taymor Starring: Timothy Hutton, Bette Midler, Janelle Monáe, Julianne Moore, Lorraine Toussaint, Alicia Vikander
Based on Gloria Steinem's memoir My Life on the Road and helmed by Julie Taymor (Across the Universe, Frida), The Gloriastells the feminist icon's story using several different actors to portray different parts of her life. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Herself
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd Written by Malcolm Campbell & Clare Dunne Starring: Clare Dunne, Conleth Hill, Harriet Walter
Mamma Mia! and The Iron Lady director Phyllida Lloyd brings Sundance audiences Herself, about a single mother in Ireland, who falls on hard times and decides to build a house for herself and her daughters "literally and metaphorically pouring the foundation of her own future."Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
He's The One
Directed & Written by Jessie Kahnweiler Starring: Alexandria Churchwell, Luka Jones, Jessie Kahnweiler
This short film is a "dark comedy about falling in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate." Viewers will have to wait and see the "shocking discovery" that changes things for the lead character and the man she falls for.Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Hillary
Directed by Nanette Burstein
Hillary, a biographical documentary about Hillary Clinton, spans five decades of her life and includes interviews with the politician, as well as ones with those close to her and her adversaries. It also features previously unreleased footage from her 2016 presidential campaign.
Kajillionaire
Directed & Written by Miranda July Starring Richard Jenkins, Gina Rodriguez, Debra Winger, Evan Rachel Wood
Kajillionaire follows a family of con artists, who invite a stranger to join them on their next heist. But, this changes things for the family's daughter, who was raised from birth to be a scammer, but begins to see her life in a different light. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
The Last Thing He Wanted
Directed by Dee Rees Written by Dee Rees & Marco Villalobos Starring Ben Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Anne Hathaway, Rosie Perez
The Last Thing He Wanted is an adaptation of Joan Didion's novel of the same name. It's a thriller about a journalist, who goes from reporting to part of the story when she becomes involved in risky arms deals in Central America.Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Lost Girls
Directed by Liz Garbus Written by Michael Werwie Starring Gabriel Byrne, Lola Kirke, Thomasin McKenzie, Oona Laurence, Amy Ryan, Miriam Shor
Based on the Robert Kolker novel of the same name, Lost Girls follows a mother who takes a search for justice into her own hands after her daughter goes missing. Her daughter had become an online sex worker, and authorities blame her rather than working to find her and help her family.
Miss Americana
Directed by Lana Wilson
Miss Americana is a documentary about Taylor Swift, focusing on her recent decision to be more open about her beliefs and personal life and use her voice in a bigger way. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Miss Juneteenth
Directed & Written by Channing Godfrey Peoples Starring: Nicole Beharie, Alexis Chikaeze, Lori Hayes, Marcus M. Mauldin, Kendrick Sampson
Miss Juneteenth revolves around a single mom, who was once named Miss Juneteenth in a pageant honoring the day slavery was banned in Texas. With her life not turning out as she hoped, she's prepping her teenage daughter to become Miss Juneteenth, even if that's not what she wants. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Mucho Mucho Amor
Directed by Cristina Costantini & Kareem Tabsch
Mucho Mucho Amor is a documentary about Puerto Rican "astrologer, psychic, and gender nonconforming legend Walter Mercado," who rose to fame with his televised horoscopes, before disappearing from public life in 2007. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Promising Young Woman
Directed & Written by Emerald Fennell Starring: Connie Britton, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Carey Mulligan
Writer and actor Emerald Fennell (The Crown, Killing Eve) makes her feature directorial debut with Promising Young Womanabout a woman who pretends to be drunk and then makes the men who try to take advantage of her pay in order to cope with a trauma she experienced.
Save Yourselves!
Directed & Written by Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson Starring: Johanna Day, John Early, Sunita Mani, John Reynolds, Gary Richardson, Ben Sinclair
Save Yourselves! answers the question: What happens if the Earth is attacked by aliens while you're enjoying a technology-free week away at a cabin? Well, you won't find out about it right away, to start. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Shirley
Directed by Josephine Decker Written by Sarah Gubbins Starring: Logan Lerman, Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young
Shirley is inspired by the horror writer Shirley Jackson, but it's not a traditional biopic. Instead, it centers around a couple who end up living with Jackson and her husband in their home in a small Vermont town. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Us Kids
Directed by Kim A. Snyder
The documentary Us Kids follows the survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who became major activists and inspirations in the fight for gun control. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Wander Darkly
Directed & Written by Tara Miele Starring: Vanessa Bayer, Aimee Carrero, Beth Grant, Tory Kittles, Diego Luna, Sienna Miller
Wander Darklycenters around a woman who "finds herself in a disorienting state of limbo, unstuck in time and witnessing life from a distance," following a traumatic event. With her partner, with whom she shares a child, she tries to figure out exactly what happened to her and try to move forward. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Worth
Directed by Sara Colangelo Written by Max Borenstein Starring: Talia Balsam, Laura Benanti, Tate Donovan, Michael Keaton, Amy Ryan, Stanley Tucci
Worth is about the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which had to literally assign a worth to the victims when deciding the compensation their families would receive. In the film, the attorney in charge of the fund is at odds with a community organizer whose wife died in the 9/11 attacks. Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Zola
Directed by Janicza Bravo Written by Janicza Bravo & Jeremy O. Harris Starring: Nicholas Braun, Colman Domingo, Riley Keough, Taylour Paige
In 2015, a series of over 100 tweets went viral when a woman named A’ziah King posted about a wild experience involving a new friend and their journey to go dance in Miami strip clubs that turned incredibly dark. Now, that story has been adapted into a film, Zola, that "frames the protagonist’s narrative in a groundbreaking exchange that plays with and questions perspective." Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Embrace
Director: Jessica Sanders Written By: Kathreen Khavari, Chuck Neal Starring: Kathreen Khavari, Eddie Huang, Mitra Jouhari
Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Jessica Sanders is a Sundance regular. She directed and produced the documentary After Innocence, about criminal-justice reform, and End of the Line, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival for Refinery29’s Shatterbox series. In Embrace, she depicts the story of Iranian American medical student Kat, who tries to save her family by taking on a surprising side hustle.
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Let’s face it: Periods can be weird. At various times they might be clumpy, brown, and, yes, smelly — and usually this is all totally standard. But what does it mean if your menstrual blood is thin and watery?
There are a few possible explanations, and they depend on what your baseline looks like — and if you’ve made any major changes recently, such as going on hormonal birth control or beginning to train for a marathon. “[People] tend to worry when their period isn’t exactly the same as usual,” Raquel B. Dardik, MD, an OB/GYN at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Refinery29. “But there’s a large variety of what’s normal.”
Many people notice that the color and consistency of their period blood changes from day to day. That said, if yours is suddenly light and watery throughout menstruation, and it never was before, it’s a good idea to check in with your OB/GYN to see what’s up. Here are some possible explanations.
It’s the first (or last) day of your period.
Some people notice that the first or last day of their period are lighter, with thinner, more watery blood. As Healthline puts it, at the beginning of your period this is “new blood flowing quickly from the uterus.” At the end, it’s the result of a low, light flow.
You recently began hormonal birth control
Generally, people who use hormonal contraceptives have less heavy periods, so if you recently started taking the pill, for example, you may notice a change. As Bedsider, an online birth control support network, explains, “The hormonal IUD, the implant, the shot, the pill, the patch, and the ring will all make periods lighter. This is because these methods… make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed.”
Another common explanation for a light, watery flow is perimenopause — the stage when your body is transitioning to menopause. This usually begins sometime in your 40s, though it can be earlier. According to the Mayo Clinic, during this time, your estrogen levels rise and fall unevenly, which can mean major changes for your menstrual cycle.
While there are many possible explanations for thin menstrual blood, if you’re at all concerned or curious, it’s always a good idea to visit a doctor, who can better evaluate your symptoms.
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Some days the hardest part of my workout is lugging all my equipment to and from the gym. The extra shoes, sweatshirts, headphones, phones, chargers, water bottles, extra weights, shower kit, pre-exercise snacks, post-exercise snacks... taken together it's heavy, not to mention awkward to carry.
Enter: a functional, durable gym bag. The right one can make all the difference, especially if you're currently relying on a hodgepodge of totes to get your stuff together.
We went through the depths of Amazon to come up with the absolute best gym bags you can buy on the site. These can fit all your gear, and will seriously simplify your trips to the locker room.
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. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
This sleek canvas backpack is water resistant, so it'll keep all of your favorite workout gear safe from damage. It's on the pricey side, but brilliantly designed: There's a false bottom that'll protect your possessions from damage even when you drop the bag on the floor.
NOBULL Waxed Canvas Duffleback, $, available at Amazon
Everyone needs a little pink pastel in their lives, am I right? This playful gym bag is cute and durable. It has a shoe compartment perfect for your keeping your sweaty sneaks away from the rest of your gear.
This classic Nike backpack gets an update from a bright and bold color palette. In addition to neon yellow, it comes in pink, blue, red — and the more traditional black, grey, and navy too.
Nike Brasilia Medium Training Backpack, $, available at Amazon
A one-shoulder sling backpack is ideal for yogis — especially ones who want to go hands-free on their way to class. Just strap your mat in and head on your way.
Aurorae Yoga Mat Carrier Bag, $, available at Amazon
This lightweight duffel won't add any weight to your baggage and comes in a ton of cute prints. It's also surprisingly spacious: One Amazon reviewer said they were able to fit in a two-piece bathing suit, towel, flip-flops, workout pants, sports bra, workout top, socks, size 7 sneakers, a padlock, large wireless headphones, and their phone with room to spare. Sold!
Vooray Burner Compact Gym Bag, $, available at Amazon
Carrying your yoga mat has never been easier with this travel bag from Y.U.M.C. Since the mat rests on top of the tote, you'll still have a ton of space inside to store your shoes, clothes, and whatever else you bring along.
Y.U.M.C. Travel Yoga Gym Bag, $, available at Amazon
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In case you missed it, a lot of internet "it" girls and other highly visible individuals are obsessed with soup right now. This is perfectly understandable: soup is, after all, the perfect winter meal — something hot and hearty that steams into your face as you sip it off your spoon. Sure, there is no seasonal embargo on soup. In fact, some might say that soup is as common and quotidian a meal as pasta or a sandwich and that nothing about it makes it special. But we think soup is actually somehow cooler because of it's un-specialness; it's like the edible version of normcore dressing.
And in the season of sick days, runny noses, and freeze-dried lips, it is also so much more than a foodie fashion statement. It’s a warm bowl resting on your belly, a cost-effective solution to dinner, and a quick and easy meal that you can prepare in the same bowl you’ll eat it from. What we're trying to say is: all aboard the soup train.
If you buy your groceries at Trader Joe’s, perhaps you've wondered what their extended soup offering looks like. Well, here is a list of some soups you should keep an eye out for on your next grocery run.
Pappa Al Pomodoro
This is naturally sweet and creamy tomato soup with enough chunk and flavor to be a standalone meal —for when you want something punchy to brighten up your desk at work. Hale & Hearty who?
Available only in the winter months in the freezer section. Priced at $3.69.
Hearty Minestrone Soup
If the word "hearty" is involved, you know the soup in question is a stick-to-your-ribs meal that boasts high scores on the coziness scale. Ten out of ten soup-loving Cool Girls give it the Cool Girl version of a thumbs up. Whatever that is.
Organic Split Pea Soup
This carton of this soup is $1.99. With a price like that, you can have the whole carton for dinner every day. Just dump it all in a pot to heat it up, and then ladle it into your bowl as you binge Cheer late into the night.
Tomato Soup (With A Twist)
Yes, tomato soup ($2.69) is the G.O.A.T., and yes, its bright red finish makes it one of the coolest soups. But it's not known for being the most filling, often relying on the decidedly less cool grilled cheese sandwich or Goldfish cracker to amp up the substance. But gnocchi, especially Trader Joe's tomato and mozzarella stuffed gnocchi, is a reliably thick companion to any meal.
Creamy Corn & Roasted Pepper Soup
If ever you struggle to make a meal out of hot vegetable smoothies, you can't go wrong by looking to the name for ways on how to – metaphorically – beef them up. Chunk it up with larger pieces of corn and red bell peppers that you browned in a pan. Or just enjoy with a side of corn on the cob.
Thai-Style Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup
This is probably Trader Joe's most-popular to-go soup. And it will go great with the scallion pancakes you'll attach to your team's Thai lunch order.
Trader Joe's Instant Ramen Cups
For $1.29, you can buy as many of these as you can carry and shove them into whatever cupboard (at work or at home) you reach into when you're feeling more thanjust peckish.
Carrot Ginger Soup
All I'll say is that I have, in fact, consumed the soup pictured here straight from the carton to wash down a jar of jalapeño-stuffed olives... and I've never felt sexier.
Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Red soups are the tastiest. Sorry to all other soup shades, but it's basically science.
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Today, Tinder announced a new batch of safety measures, including an integration with personal safety app Noonlight, Photo Verification, an in-app Safety Center, andadditionalmeasures to combat offensive messages. Over the coming months, these features will also be rolled out across Match Group’s other dating platforms: OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and Match.com.
Let’s talk details. First, there’s the Noonlight partnership. This feature will let Tinder users note the person, time, and location of their date, and allows them to easily alert emergency services if they feel unsafe.
Next, there’s the photo verification feature. Seemingly designed to weed out catfish, this allows members to self-authenticate their photos by taking a real-time selfie. That pic is then compared to their Tinder profile photos with human-assisted AI technology. Verified profiles will get blue checkmarks so potential matches know they are who they say they are (or at least, they look like what they say they look like).
Another new feature called “Does This Bother You?” will detect potentially offensive messages in the chats. Powered by machine learning, DTBY will ask members “Does This Bother You?” in response to suspicious messages. If the user says “yes,” they can then report the message. A related feature, “Undo,” will ask users if they really want to send that potentially offensive message — and undo that message if the user agrees to take it back.
Finally, the Safety Center will include tools and resources for these new features. Right now, they’re all being rolled out in select markets, so if you don’t have it yet, don’t stress.
Time will tell how these tools will play out IRL — some have already raised concerns about data security — but Tinder is proud of their work. “Every day, millions of our members trust us to introduce them to new people, and we’re dedicated to building innovative safety features powered by best-in-class technology that meet the needs of today’s daters,” Elie Seidman, CEO of Tinder, said in a press release. “I’m proud to share these updates, which represent an important step in driving our safety work forward at an unmatched scale.”
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For some reason, primers are one of the most polarizing beauty products out there. For every person who swears by their smoothing and oil-controlling powers, another considers the extra step to be totally pointless. But love 'em or hate 'em, brands are making the category harder to ignore in 2020 thanks to tons of new launches that promise to do more than ever.
"Primers were typically used for makeup longevity, to fill in wrinkles, or smooth out skin, which is all amazing, but the next evolution is having good-for-your-skin ingredients as well," says Moani Lee, a celebrity makeup artist who works with Kacey Musgraves. But that's not all: The newest primers push the limits on how long makeup can last, brighten skin, and more.
We've rounded up all the latest primers for your consideration, 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.
Glamglow SUPERMATTIFY Clarifying Oil-Control Face Primer
Massage this primer balm (yes, balm) onto your face before makeup to not only keep oil at bay, but fight blemishes with a blend of skin-smoothing acids.
GlamGlow SUPERMATTIFY Clarifying Oil-Control Face Primer, $, available at Sephora
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer
If you're a fan of Benefit Cosmetics' bestselling The POREfessional primer, then get ready, because the brand dropped a remix. This new release has the same oil-free, pore-minimizing power, plus a hit of hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid.
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer
Speaking of remixes, Urban Decay's turned its popular All Nighter Setting Spray into a primer for when you need your makeup to last through theapocalypse — or just a long, humid day.
Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer, $, available at Sephora
Physician's Formula Natural Defense Protect Your Prime Oil SPF 15
Smooth out your skin for makeup application while also protecting it from UVA and UVB rays, blue light, and pollution. Consider this lightweight oil the superhero of primers.
Physician's Formula Natural Defense Protect Your Prime Oil SPF 15, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Revlon PhotoReady Prime Plus Brightening & Skin Tone Evening Primer
Don't let winter's short days dim your glow. Created especially for those who crave brighter skin, this new primer is packed with blurring pigments, plus vitamins C and E, lactic acid, and lemon extract to make skin glow both immediately and over time.
Revlon Prime Plus Brightening & Skin Tone Evening Primer, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Bite Beauty Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer
Bite Beauty recently stepped into the complexion game with a new foundation, but didn't miss the opportunity to drop a primer, too. This hybrid grips your makeup to extend its wear while also delivering willow bark for oil control and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Bite Beauty Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer, $, available at Sephora
JOAH Pore De-Activator Pore Minimizing + Mattifying Primer
Love tea tree oil? This under-$15 find is for you. It can be worn alone or under makeup to smooth out the skin, but it's also infused with tea tree extract to protect and heal .
JOAH Pore De-Activator Pore Minimizing + Mattifying Primer, $, available at CVS
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer - Protecting Broad Spectrum SPF 30
We all know that wearing daily sunscreen is important, but adding it into a foundation formulation can sometimes mess with the color, so Laura Mercier created a weightless primer to extend makeup wear with a dose of SPF 30 to boot.
Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer - Protecting Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $, available at Sephora
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Booster Primer & Serum
Give your skin a hit of radiance with this serum-meets-primer hybrid, which you can wear alone or under makeup. With peptides and pearl pigments, the glow is real.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Booster Primer & Serum, $, available at Rite Aid
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When we last saw the intrepid doctors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital on theGrey’s Anatomy fall finale, Bailey (Chandra Wilson) lost her baby, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) was butting heads with the new head of pediatric surgery, Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood), Jo (Camilla Luddington) got her first safe-haven call from the Station 19 firehouse and ended up taking the baby home with her, Maggie (Kelly McCreary) quit her job because she has started to doubt herself after losing her cousin on the table, and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) found out that she’s four weeks further along than she thought, which means the father of her baby might be Link (Chris Carmack) or it might be Owen (Kevin McKidd).
And then to top it all off, a car crashed into the bar where Ben (Jason George), Captain Herrera (Miguel Sandoval), Jackson (Jesse Williams), Levi (Jake Borelli) and all the other residents were having drinks, so that was the big cliffhanger. But the other big cliffhanger happened in real life — Justin Chambers abruptly exited the show, so now Grey’s has to find a way to get rid of Alex Karev, which is A) going to ruin Jo and all the progress she’s made after the trauma with her birth mother, and B) deprive us of the best relationship left on Grey’s, that of Meredith and Alex’s friendship. That stinks.
But alas, let’s dive in to “Help Me Through the Night,” shall we?
First off, let’s get this out of the way — throughout the entire episode, I was on pins and needles wondering which resident the show was going to kill off. At various times, it seemed like it could be Helm (Jaicy Elliot), Schmitt, Parker (Alex Blue Davis), or Simms (Devin Way), Koracick’s (Greg Germann) new protege.
Thankfully, everyone survives the night. The biggest heartbreak of the episode is that after everyone is stable, Miranda finally takes a moment to cry about her miscarriage. It is absolutely gut-wrenching. Bailey is so tough that watching her breakdown is even harder than when other characters do it.
But because everyone survives the accident, the biggest news that comes out of the episode is that Owen (Kevin McKidd) realizes he has to stop waiting around and proposes to Teddy (Kim Raver). She says “no” at first because she doesn’t want him repeating old, destructive patterns, but he says he wants to start a new pattern: loving her for the rest of his life. It’s very sweet, though viewers know things are going to get pretty complicated when Amelia’s baby is born with bright red hair or something.
GREY’S ANATOMY – “Help Me Through the Night” – Following the car crash at Joe’s Bar and subsequent rescue efforts led by the Station 19 firefighters, Grey Sloan doctors work through the night to save the lives of their colleagues. Meanwhile, Amelia worries about sharing her pregnancy revelation with Link. Owen and Teddy take a big step, and Bailey deals with grief over her recent loss when “Grey’s Anatomy” returns THURSDAY, JAN. 23 (9:00-10:01 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)
CHANDRA WILSON
In all seriousness, Amelia is freaking out because she’s not sure who the father of her baby is, while Link goes on and on to Jo about how in love he is with his baby that he hasn’t even met yet. Amelia wants to tell him about her news, but she can’t bring herself to do it, plus they get interrupted by Owen and Teddy’s big news, so she settles for telling Link that “they’re” having a boy. Oh, this is going to be so sad.
Meanwhile, the harrowing trauma for all the residents at least lets both Helm and Meredith forgive Schmitt for turning Meredith in — though honestly, what is there to forgive? He didn’t know what he was doing at the time, he thought he was helping.
Finally, Jo spends the night making sure the safe-haven baby is OK, which means she gets to meet the new head of pediatrics, Dr. Hayes. She immediately sees why Cristina (Sandra Oh) send him to Meredith and we can all see exactly what’s coming here — Meredith and Hayes are totally making eyes at each other, but DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) realizes he royally forked up by asking Meredith for time and space, so he goes to Maggie (Kelly McCreary) for advice.
What’s the over/under on how long Alex is “visiting his mom in Iowa”? Three episodes before they have to do something else with him? Do you think they’re going to kill him off? Ugh, I hope not. That would be awful.
It was nice to see Webber (James Pickens Jr.) and Owen come over from Pac North, but Chambers’ departure also puts a kink in that. Will they figure out a way to keep Alex at Pac North and we simply never see him again, while finding a way to bring Webber and Owen back to Grey Sloan? Maybe.
Also this:
Jo: “I did not steal a baby.”
Meredith: “Well, that’s what I said when I stole a baby.”
Link: “Why are people stealing babies?!”
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