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How To Wear All The Culottes You Bought Last Year

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By now, you've probably jumped on the culotte bandwagon — after all, 2015 wouldn't have been the same without them. Looking back on the year, though, maybe you didn't get as much wear out of these wide-legged pants as you'd hoped — or maybe you just never quite figured out how to make them work with the rest of your wardrobe.

Since culottes aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the start of a new year is the perfect time to find fresh ways to style them (or just find a way to wear them, period). To give life to one of the biggest trends of the past, we've come up with four cool ways to wear all the different varieties you may have bought, from super-dressy to wildly-patterned. We're betting you haven't thought to wear culottes like this before — once you start, we guarantee you won't stop, even when the next pants fad rolls around. Click ahead for inspiration.

The Dressy Culottes
If you haven't reached the point where you're grabbing for your little black culottes in place of your LBD, we're here to convince you that it's time. Match the volume on the bottom with a peplum bustier on top, and throw on a white tee underneath to keep things from feeling too fancy. Finish off this statement-making look with dangly earrings and an unexpected flat shoe, and you have an evening look that says a mouthful — without seeming like you've tried too hard.

Tibi
Pleated Jacquard Culottes, $773 $541, available at Net-a-Porter; Nicholas Double Bonded Bustier, $375 $225, available at Moda Operandi; Rag & Bone Basic Brando Tee, $105 $52, available at Avenue32; H&M Long Earrings, $9.99, available at H&M;Alaïa Cutout Leather Brogues, $2,850 $1,282.50, available at The Outnet.

The Denim Culottes
Super trendy and slightly more difficult to style than your typical pair of skinny jeans, denim culottes were the statement jeans most people had to get their hands on last year. Rather than rocking with your average turtleneck and lace-up flats (though we still love that combo just as much), switch things up by wearing your wide-legged bottoms with tight, ankle-hitting sock boots, and a flowing, '70s-style top. Classic accessories, like a simple gold bangle and mustard crossbody, give these pants new life.

Zara
Vintage Fade Culotte Jeans, $49.90 $29.99, available at Zara; ASOS RUBY Ankle Boots, $69, available at ASOS; Zara Embroidered Blouse, $39.90 $25.99, available at Zara; Forever 21 Crescent Bangle, $6.90, available at Forever 21; Elizabeth & James Scott Small Half-Moon Suede Saddle Bag, $495, available at Neiman Marcus.

The Patterned Culottes
Play with proportions by pairing printed culottes with a long (but still simple) sweater dress, causing just the bottom of the pants to peek out from underneath. And instead of thinking that a plaid like this only works for the office, show an off-duty feel by wearing it with a casual white sneaker and cute mini backpack. Don't worry about "losing your shape," either — simply opt for a sweater with a tie if you're looking to accentuate your waist.

River Island
Grey Smart Check Trousers, $70 $30, available at River Island; Aritzia Vauzelles Dress, $165 $99, available at Artizia; Mango Lace-up Leather Sneakers, $79.99 $59.99, available at Mango; KARA Small Textured Leather Backpack, $440, available at Net-a-Porter; Jefferson NYC Radius Ring, $90, available at Jefferson NYC.

The Colored Culottes
Those pale pink trousers you bought in the warmer months are probably feeling a little spring-y at this point. Make them winter appropriate by sporting them with an off-the-shoulder tunic layered over a coordinating turtleneck (yep — like this). Bolder accessories help tie the look together, and allow it to feel more seasonal. Dare to be different with a metallic platform shoe and some simple mismatched studs.

J. Crew
Double-serge Wool Culotte, $178 $99.99, available at J. Crew; & Other Stories Leather Platforms, $145, available at & Other Stories; Tibi Off-The-Shoulder Plaid Tunic, $325, available at Moda Operandi; Polo Ralph Lauren Merino Wool Turtleneck, $155, available at StyleBop; Catbird Tiny Dancer Stud (Single), $28, available at Catbird.



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This 30-Day Upper-Body Challenge Will Transform Your Arms & Shoulders

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This article was originally published on August 3, 2015.

“I have, like, no arm strength.” If you’ve ever said this (or even thought it), this is the challenge for you. “Women are often very critical about their arms,” says personal trainer and fitness expert Angelique Millis. “But, then they’re surprised at how quickly they respond once they start using weights.” By integrating resistance training into your fitness routine, you improve your posture, coordination, stability, and of course strength — and you can even affect your body composition, reducing non-lean mass (a.k.a. fat) and increasing lean mass (sleek, toned, powerful muscles).

The exercises chosen for our 30-Day Arm Challenge are ones the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has pinpointed as best for activation of the primary muscles used — in other words, these moves give you the the best bang for your buck. The challenge starts slowly, with just one exercise per day, so you learn proper form and don’t get too sore. As the month progresses, you’ll begin doing more sets and reps and combining the exercises into super-sets and circuits for the greatest benefit. “You’ll get stronger and more functional for real-life activities, such as lifting a suitcase into the overhead bin,” Millis says.

All you need to complete the challenge is a pair of dumbbells; Millis suggests starting with five-pounders, though you can increase the weight or use different weights for different exercises, so you feel appropriately challenged. It’s clutch not to race through these moves; instead take your time to feel your muscles work — both on the exertion (the pushing or pulling action) and on the release. On days when you’re doing more than one set (noted by “x2” or “x3”), take a one-minute break before starting the next one. And on days that have more than one exercise, do them back-to-back with minimal rest, only taking that one-minute break between sets if there are more than one. The schedule also includes all-important rest days, which is the downtime your muscles need to repair from the work you’ve done, so they can become stronger than ever.

Click through to see our fundamentals guide for the calendar and each exercise’s how-to.

Here's the calendar in full!

Bent-Over Rows ("Rows")
One of the best moves for your upper back, you’ll also get a little core work from stabilizing your body position. Grasp the weights by your sides. Hinge your upper body down by sticking your butt way back and letting your knees bend slightly; you want your back to stay flat and your head to be neutral to your spine. As you hinge, let your arms hang down in front of you, fingers facing your body. Inhale, then exhale as you pull your elbows back and wide out to the sides; you should feel your shoulder blades pinch together as if you’re trying to trap a pen between them. Inhale as you lower your arms back down. Take your time with both movements, feeling your upper back work on the way up and on the way down.

Overhead Presses ("Shoulders")
This exercise works the shoulders. Begin by holding the weights in your hands about level with your head, with elbows bent and wide and fingers facing forward — think of your arms being shaped like football goalposts. Soften your knees (no locking them!), and inhale; then, exhale as you press your hands up and above your head so the bells come close to each other but don’t touch. Inhale as you lower them down. Again, don’t rush the movement: Feel the resistance of the weights, both on the way up and on the way down. Be sure you’re not arching back with your body when you press up. If you notice this, sit back ever so slightly, with even softer knees, and stay firm through your belly button to keep your core tight and aligned.

Biceps Curls ("Biceps")
These work — you guessed it — your biceps (a.k.a. guns). Stand up straight with your knees soft, holding the weights by your sides. Turn your hands so your palms are facing away from you. Inhale; then, exhale as you curl the weights up toward your shoulders, keeping your elbows tight by your sides. Inhale as you lower your hands down. Take your time here, too.

Tricep Kick-Backs ("Triceps")
This is an excellent move for the triceps, the muscles on the backs of the arms. Because the exercise is performed in the same body position as the rows, you’ll also get some great core work here, too. Hold the weights by your sides and set yourself up in your forward hinge with knees bent, butt sticking out, and back flat. With your fingers facing in toward your body, pull your elbows up so your upper arms are parallel to your ribcage; your elbows will be bent, with your hands hanging. Inhale; then, exhale as you straighten your arms fully. Inhale as you allow your arms to re-bend. Keep it slow and controlled through both parts of the movement, and don’t let your torso position change during the entire set.



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These Doctor-Recommended Scalp Treatments Can Make Your Hair Grow Faster

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In the beauty world, it can be difficult to differentiate between clever marketing and meaningful advances. For example, the past few years have seen a rapid increase in the attention placed on the scalp.

What was once a niche market wholly owned by Head & Shoulders or prescription products — neither of which are very alluring — is now populated by more and more brands selling products designed to create and maintain a healthy scalp. And more and more salons and spas are offering scalp treatments for a myriad of reasons.

But unlike their predecessors, these new scalp products (masks, toners, even scrubs) and services are meant for everyone, not just those who have a problem to correct. Translation: Dandruff isn't the only reason to give your scalp a little TLC.

But do we really need to think about the skin that's hidden by our hair? Or is it just one more thing to buy for no reason? We posed this question to two different trichologists (experts who specialize in the hair and scalp) and learned that there are many benefits to a weekly — or even monthly — scalp-care routine. Think: more voluminous hair, less bumps or pimples, more shine, and, in some cases, even faster-growing hair!

Ahead, our doctors break down six common issues that can be corrected and controlled just by adding scalp care to your beauty routine.

Issue: Excess Oil: Skip a day between shampoos? Yeah, right — you can barely go a single day without greasy locks.

Solution: Having excess oil on your scalp can be a drag, but it can often be controlled with scalp care. "Apply a scalp toner containing astringent, such as witch hazel, to your scalp each morning," Anabel Kingsley, a trichology expert at Philip Kingsley Clinic, told us. "If you're shampooing less than every other day, shampoo more. If you have fine hair, shampoo daily." She also notes that products containing zinc can also help, as it can regulate sebum production.

Applying an exfoliating scalp mask can also help to hit reset by cleaning out the oil ducts, says David Kingsley, PhD, a trichologist in New York. (Yes, these two trichology experts have the same last name but are not related. Weird, we know.) "Think of the biology of the scalp: You have sebaceous — or oil — glands, and there are a lot of sweat glands on the scalp as well," he explains. "A deep cleanser, like a mask, will be cleaning these out, so of course you're going to get a healthier scalp."

Just like a face mask, there are no rules for the frequency of use for a scalp mask. In general, use anywhere from twice a week to once a month.

Scalp-Care Routine: Trya shampoo, likeJohn Masters Organics Zinc and Sage Shampoo, a mist, like Philip Kingsley's Scalp Toner, and a mask, like Dr. Kingsley's British Science Formulations Stimulant Scalp Mask.

Issue:Poor Growth: You've noticed your hair growth has slowed.

Solution: "Scalp health can have huge implications on hair growth," Anabel Kingsley told us. "It is, after all, the environment from which hair is produced. If the scalp is not cared for properly, flaking and itching are much more likely to occur — and research has proven that a flaky scalp can cause excessive hair fall in certain individuals."

However, this one comes with a small caveat: Dr. Kingsley reminds us that you cannot actually make your hair grow faster or thicker than it's genetically capable of doing. However, you can correct issues that are hindering its growth or density. "Could a home treatment increase the speed or growth of your hair? Sure, but there's only an optimum speed your hair can grow, so you can't get it any faster than that," he explained.

Scalp-Care Routine:By correcting any pesky scalp issues (even minor ones) at home, like itching, flaking, or clogged pores, you can often help your hair to grow to its full potential. A healthy scalp creates the best hair. If you don't have any issues, try adding in a stimulating or exfoliating product weekly to see if that sparks a return to fast growth, like Rene Furterer's Complexe 5 or Dr. Hauschka's Revitalizing Hair and Scalp Tonic.

Issue: Itchy Skin: Your scalp is dry and itchy enough to bug you, but not bad enough to see your doctor or create noticeable flakes.

Solution: Just like the skin on your face, the skin on your scalp can become dry, itchy, and just plain uncomfortable due to things like the weather, poor diet, or hormonal changes. Think about what would happen if you stopped moisturizing your face during a particularly dry winter: itch city. Anabel Kingsley suggests the same basic remedy that you would provide for your face or body: exfoliation and hydration.

"Use an exfoliating scalp mask twice weekly to soften the skin and remove dead skin cells," she says. You can also use a scalp mask that contains soothing, moisturizing, and exfoliating ingredients, such as aloe vera and salicylic acid, she says. You can use the mask anywhere from twice weekly to once monthly (or even just as needed) until the problem subsides.

Scalp-Care Routine: Try Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt or Dr. Kingsley's British Science Formulations Stimulant Scalp Mask to exfoliate, then add a moisturizing formula, like the brand's Moisturizing Spray.

Issue: Bumps: You get random bumps on your scalp that can become irritated, or just plain bug you.

Solution: Anyone who has ever had a blemish on their scalp can understand this one all too well: They're hard to stop touching, and getting rid of them is a mystery. "Your scalp can break out due to hormonal fluctuations and improper hygiene," Anabel Kingsley says. "If you wash your hair infrequently, oils and sweat simply sit on your scalp and can block the follicle and turn rancid." To rid your scalp of bumps, she recommends washing with an antibacterial shampoo when a breakout or single blemish occurs, then misting your scalp with a toner daily. "Applying an exfoliating scalp mask twice weekly will also help," she says.

"You should be able to take care of bumps at home," Dr. Kingsley says. "You wouldn't necessarily see a doctor if you have a bit of a breakout every now and again on your face, which is basically what you're talking about on the scalp." He also recommends an exfoliating scalp mask to help clear the pores.

Scalp-Care Routine:Try Philip Kingsley's Flaky Scalp Shampoo and Scalp Toner, then add in the brand's Exfoliating Scalp Mask or the British Science Formulations Stimulant Scalp Mask.

Issue:Lackluster Hair: You can remember a time when your hair was shiny and bouncy, with a natural volume. Now? Not so much.

Solution: Similar to how minor scalp issues can affect your hair growth, they can also play into why your hair is lacking shine, volume, or a generally healthy appearance. "If your scalp is flaky, or dirty, or whatever the issue may be, you may not be getting the natural, clean oils your hair needs, so it will be dull and lifeless," Dr. Kingsley told us.

Sure, no one wants an oily scalp, but when those fresh oils work their way down the hair shaft, you get a healthy mane and a healthy scalp. "If you can get the clean oils…then you get more sheen and potentially more hair body as well. If it's cleaner at scalp level, then that's really where you tend to get the body of the hair. Sure, you can put mousse on and other things like that, but a healthier scalp, healthier hair, no question!" he says.

Scalp-Care Routine:Use this guide to correct any minor issues you may have, and brush hair regularly with a natural-bristle brush to distribute the oil from the scalp down the hair shaft. If you don't have any issues, try a monthly mask or treatment (like the options on slide 2 or Phyto Phytopolléine Botanical Scalp Treatment) to correct a lack of body and shine.

Issue: Flakes: Your itchy or irritated scalp has moved on from pesky to troublesome and is now producing annoying flakes.

Solution: An itchy or irritated scalp can quickly escalate into a flaky scalp, but it's not always because your scalp is dry. "A lot of people think [having flakes] is a dry-scalp problem, but it's normally actually an oil problem," Dr. Kingsley explains. "It's caused by a lipophilicyeast, which means that it eats oil." But before you freak out, he assures that "everybody has it on the scalp, but some people seem to be more affected." The solution? "An exfoliating scalp mask…is designed to get rid of the buildup of flakes and clean the oil glands out." Translation: Control the oil and you can help control the problem.

Anabel Kingsley adds that flakes can also be caused by cells turning over too quickly. "The best way to return skin cell turnover to normal and to clear a flaky scalp is to use an antibacterial shampoo and scalp toner daily until symptoms subside," she says. "However, flakes can also form when skin cells are allowed to build up on the scalp. Skin on the rest of your body, such as your arms, legs, and face, is removed when you touch it or it is rubbed off on your clothes. But on your scalp, dead cells simply get trapped near the root of your hair, leading to the appearance of flakes." The remedy? "Shampoo more often and exfoliate once to twice a week."

Scalp-Care Routine:Try Dr. Kingsley's British Science Formulations Scalp Mask for Flaky Scalp and Philip Kingsley's Flaky Scalp Shampoo.

Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!



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30-Day Kettlebell Challenge For The Absolute Beginner

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This article was originally published on September 10, 2015.

The kettlebell looks something like a cross between your grandma’s purse and an old-fashioned teapot, but it's been getting a lot of attention at gyms these days — and not just for its often candy-colored paint job. “Using a kettlebell can be one of the most efficient ways to train,” says Lauren Brooks, a southern California-based certified kettlebell coach and owner of On the Edge Fitness. “It allows you to get very strong and conditioned, all within one workout.”

The secret is its unique displacement of weight, which is ideal for being swung dynamically, rather than pulled or pushed against gravity, like dumbbells. The result is a more metabolic (read: calorie-torching) workout, often in less time than a traditional weight-training session. “It also shapes the butt very nicely and helps keep the abs strong!” Brooks adds. “Who doesn’t want that?”

The aim of this monthlong challenge is to get you swinging a kettlebell both safely and effectively. The first lesson: It’s not about the arms. “You actually use the hips, glutes, and abs to power the movement,” says Brooks. “Once those posterior chain muscles are activated all at once, the arms simply help guide the movement.” To get you there, you must hinge and deadlift before you swing — all of which are explained in detail below.

You’ll need a kettlebell in the 15- to 20-pound (or 12- to 16-kilogram) range. You may find that you’ll want to increase the weight of your kettlebell as you get stronger, which Brooks encourages. However, don’t do it on a day when your reps are also increasing (for example, don’t do it on Day 18, wait for Day 19).

Even after the first few days when you’re learning, you’ll start every workout with a set of hip hinges to remind your body of the proper motion and to warm up. “I also like to add a 30-second plank to the warm-up, to ensure muscle activation throughout the abs, glutes, and quads,” Brooks says. “This really sets people up for success with the top of the kettlebell swing, because a plank is the top of a swing, just reoriented so you’re on your feet.”

On days when you’re doing more than one set (x2 or x3), take a 30- to 60-second rest between sets. The day after a Rest Day will be more intense than the previous workout, so definitely don’t skip those breaks — they’re essential to letting your muscles recover.

Here's the full calendar.

Hip Hinge
This exercise teaches your body to get the power for the swing from the glutes and hamstrings. Start with your feet grounded on the floor about hip-width apart. Place your fingertips on your hip bones. With your hands, push your hips toward the wall behind you, allowing your body to fold at the waist and the knees to bend slightly. Your butt should go straight back—not down, as it would in a squat. “Feel your hamstrings (the backs of your thighs) stretch out,” Brooks says. “To keep the chest from collapsing, train your gaze on a spot about 10 feet in front of you on the horizon.” Now, clench your glutes to push your hips back forward so you’re standing tall. If you’re having trouble getting the hips to go back smoothly, try this trick: Stand about 10 inches from a wall and actually bump it with your tush as you hinge (kinda like you’re knocking a door shut behind you).

Kettlebell Deadlift
Once you’ve got the hip hinge down, it’s time to add some weight. Place your kettlebell on the ground between your feet. Hip hinge down, bending your knees just enough so you can grab the handle in both hands, arms long in front of you. Take care not to let your chest drop, despite the added weight — keep your eyes up on the horizon. Squeeze the butt muscles to come back to your standing position. Between reps, don’t bring the kettlebell all the way to the ground. You should feel more intensity in the booty thanks to the heft of the kettlebell. This is what they mean when they say to lift with your legs, not your back!

Nike jacket.

Kettlebell Swing
OK, now it’s time to get flying. Place the kettlebell between your feet about six inches in front of your toes. Hip-hinge down to touch the handle with your fingers and grasp it as you lean the kettlebell in toward you, so it’s teetering on its back edge. With chest still proud, inhale and hike the kettlebell up between your legs (think “thumbs to bum”) then quickly reverse direction, exhaling and thrusting your hips forward so the kettlebell sails out in front of you. Your arms will be fully extended, with hands ending up somewhere between belly-button and chest height, and you should be standing tall at the top of the swing. Inhale as your arms come down and you do another hinge, exhale as you thrust forward to keep swinging. When it comes time to stop, do so carefully when the bell is at its lowest point by not hip-thrusting the bell forward, instead letting it float out and come to rest on the ground where it begin.



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Singer Natalie Cole Has Died At 65

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nataliecoleembedPhoto: Erik Pendzich/Rex/REX Shutterstock
Singer Natalie Cole has died at 65, the Associated Press reports.

Cole's publicist has confirmed the "Unforgettable" legend passed away Thursday night.

"Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived...with dignity, strength, and honor. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever," her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole wrote in a statement to the Associated Press.

Daughter of jazz great Nat "King" Cole, Natalie inherited her father's stunning vocals but was determined to forge her own artistic identity, initially shying away from material reminiscent of the King's. Nat King Cole died from lung cancer when Natalie was 15 years old.

Ironically, it would be her father's music and vocals that led to her career crescendo. Her 1991 album Unforgettable... with Love, featuring a digital father-daughter title duet, sold 14 million copies and garnered Cole an Album of the Year Grammy Award. Other hit singles include "This Will Be,""Our Love," and "Pink Cadillac." In all, she collected nine Grammy Awards and 21 nominations.

Outside the recording studio, Cole's personal life wasn't without its sour notes. In May 2009, Cole underwent a kidney transplant due to hepatitis and other health complications stemming from a heroin addiction, which she chronicled in her 2010 memoir Love Brought Me Back. In recent months, Cole had been forced to cancel tour dates due to an unnamed illness, NBC reports.

As news of Cole's death began to spread on Friday morning, friends and fans began paying homage on Twitter.

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The Best Ways To Recycle Last Year's Tech

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Whether you got a new phone for Christmas or your New Year's resolution is to declutter your space, one thing's for sure: You need to do something about the collection of old phones in your pad.

Keeping your old phone forgotten in a dusty drawer does nothing for you, or the phone. Instead, gather it and get rid of it the right way — through recycling or donation.

If your first thought is, Ugh, that sounds like so much work, guess what? It's actually not! Your wireless carrier, your phone manufacturer, and even nonprofit organizations want to make it as easy as possible for you to get your unused phone into the hands of someone who needs it. Your old iPhone could save someone's life. And if it's too cracked and broken to be worth using, that's okay, too — recyclers may still find useful components inside that they can pay you for.

We promise: Once your old phone is gone, you won't miss it, and you may even feel good about its new home. Here's how to resell, recycle, or reuse the tech you don't use anymore.

Use a Carrier Buy-Back Program
Most wireless carriers offer buy-back programs to take your old phone off your hands. Generally, you fill out a form describing what product you've got and its condition, they'll give you an estimate of its value and send you a prepaid box or shipping label, you mail in the old phone, and then you get paid. Your wireless provider will either get it cleaned and fixed up so they can sell it refurbished, or, if it's in bad shape, they will send it to a recycler.

Here are links to AT&T's, Verizon's, Sprint's, and T-Mobile's buy-back programs.

Recycle It With the Manufacturer
Gadget makers such as Apple and Samsung also offer their own buy-back and recycling programs, and they work the same way as carrier buy-back programs: Fill out information about the device online, send off your old phone or tablet (they pay for shipping), and then you're sent some money. With these programs, you can often send back any old computer or phone, whether or not it still works (Apple will even recycle PCs for you!). It will then get sent to a recycler, who will break it apart, take out the components that are worth reselling (that's why you often get paid in these scenarios), and properly dispose of the rest.

Here you can check out Apple's, Samsung's, Dell's, and Lenovo's programs, but many other device manufacturers also offer recycling and buy-back services.

Drop It Off at a Recycling Kiosk
The next time you head to the mall or the grocery store, grab your old phones and bring them with you. Recyclers such as ecoATM have kiosks at a variety of locations, including Safeway stores and malls. You place your device in the testing station, it runs some tests to determine the device's condition and value, and then it gives you money for your old gadgets on the spot — kind of like a Coinstar machine.

Donate It
If you don't care about making a quick buck, there are a ton of charitable organizations that desperately need old cell phones.

You can donate a phone to Verizon's HopeLine program to support survivors and victims of domestic violence, or to Hope Phones to help fund health-care programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

You can also donate to Cell Phones for Soldiers to provide troops with free communication services. Or you can donate to Secure the Call, an organization that gives 911-capable phones to domestic violence shelters, senior citizen centers, and police and sheriff departments so community members can contact police or medical services in an emergency.

Don't Throw Your Old Phone Away
Whatever you do, do not toss your old electronics, particularly phones and iPods, in the trash. Batteries, disposed of in a landfill, can leech harmful chemicals into the environment. But on top of that, lithium-ion batteries, which are popular in mobile devices, pose an additional risk: If overheated, or smashed or punctured, they can actually catch fire or explode.

Visit this site for more detailed information on different types of batteries, and how you can properly dispose of them in your area.

Don't Forget to Erase It First
Before you sell or donate your old phone, be sure to back it up and then erase its contents.

iPhone owners, you'll want to make sure your photos and videos are backed up to iCloud, or synced to another cloud storage option like Dropbox. Alternatively, you can plug your old handset into your computer and offset all the photos manually. After you've done that, you'll want to sign out of iCloud and then delete that account from the phone. Then, head to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Your phone should now be ready for its new owner.

The process for Android phone owners is similar. Remove the SIM card and memory card (if applicable) if you haven't already. Back up your phone (Google makes this process pretty easy), then go back into the settings, find the Backup/Restore section, and Factory Reset your phone.

If you want, you can wipe down your old phone and put it back in its original box before you send it back, too. But the most important thing is to make sure you have the data you want off the phone, and that you are logged out of all accounts before it leaves your hands.



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This 30-Day Challenge Will Change Your Mind About the Treadmill

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This article was originally published on December 7, 2015.

Let us just start by saying: Non-runners, don’t click away! This challenge is for you, just as much as it is for the pavement-pounders. Okay, so maybe the weather outside is frightful, or maybe you simply prefer the treadmill over the park for its proximity to creature comforts like water and the bathroom. If you’re among the many who view the treadmill as a necessarily evil for staying in shape (or just kind of evil in general — we do have some evidence for that), we hope to change your opinion.

You already know the myriad health benefits of running: a stronger heart, stress relief, blood-sugar control, and increased bone density, to name a few. But you can get those from other forms of cardio, too. So why take the treadmill for a spin? “I can’t think of anything more natural than walking and running,” says Janet Hamilton, MA, CSCS, exercise physiologist and coach at Running Strong in Atlanta. “We weren’t built to swim — we don’t have gills — and god didn’t have bicycles. We are built to walk and run.”

That said, if you haven’t done much or any running, you can’t just hit the spinning belt and expect to leave five miles in your dust. (In fact, if you try it without proper prep, you could end up injured.) Your whole body — muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones, as well as heart and lungs — needs time and training to acclimate to the demands of running. “If you’re not currently doing some form of aerobic exercise, you don’t start a running program,” Hamilton says. “You start a walking program.” Once you feel comfortable sustaining a brisk walk for 20 minutes, that’s when you can introduce some running.

This 30-day challenge does just that, taking you through bouts of walking and running, interval-style. Established runners, your intervals can be jogging and running. Intervals are not only more enjoyable and less boring than a long run at a steady pace; periods of both intensity and recovery have been shown to be more effective at improving cardiorespiratory capacity — a.k.a. your aerobic health — than the typically slower slog of a maintained pace over the same length of time. Bonus: Intervals burn more calories, too. In addition to playing with speed, in some of these workouts, you’ll adjust the incline, too. This creates indoor “hills” to summit, building strength.

Always warm up for five minutes at the beginning of your workout, and cool down for five at the end — at a comfortable walking pace (~3.0mph). This will make each session about 30 minutes total. The number in parentheses is how many minutes to spend on each action. When there’s a x2 or another number, repeat the previous action or sequence that many times.
30DayChallenge_Threadmill_MaryGalloway_UpdateIllustrated by Mary Galloway.
Your brisk walk should be comfortable, but spirited — between 3.0 and 4.0 mph, most likely. Run pace is where you’re working hard but can still hold a conversation; running begins at ~4.5 mph for most people. If you’re totally out of breath, you’re going too fast. Seasoned runners: You can interpret “walking” as a slow recovery jog and “running” as a strong effort, say a six or seven on a 10-point effort scale.

Workouts labeled “incline” are runner’s choice but should be at no more than 5% — 2-3% is a good place to start. If the incline feels like it’s too much, or you need to hold onto the machine, reduce the incline or the speed slightly.

Rest or cross-training days should be just that. Take the day off, or try another workout mode, whether a class, stretching, strength training, or another form of cardio. And if you need a rest day sooner than allotted, take one!

Form Check: Running On A Flat
1Photographed by James Farrell.
For good running posture, think tall. Keep your chin level to the ground, and don’t look up or down at TVs or the console. “It’s not crucial where on your foot you land first, heel vs. mid-foot,” Hamilton says. “This is unique to your body mechanics.” Instead, keep your rhythm light and quick and upbeat. No matter what, don’t hold onto the treadmill; you want your arms to swing naturally down by your waist.
Form Check: Running Uphill
2Photographed by James Farrell.
On an incline, you want to maintain your effort level, rather than trying to “attack” the hill. You’ll naturally shorten your stride and lean into the hill slightly. Keep your chin level and your footfalls light. Think about picking up your feet and pumping your arms, keeping your elbows back.

Special thanks to Technogym.

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Your 2016 Horoscope, Revealed!

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This article was originally published on December 21, 2015.

Is it just us, or did 2015 fly by at supersonic speed? How is it even possible that the ball’s about to drop on 2016? Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. We’ve lived and learned over the past 365 days. And we’ve made some mistakes we’d like to bury in the vault (#SaturnInScorpio). But a new year always brings the promise of fresh starts — and fresh stars. Which is why we’re carrying on the tradition of tapping our resident astrologers the AstroTwins for some cosmic guidance on what 2016 has in store.

Read on for the highlights reel, and snag the Twins' 2016 Planetary Planner for the extended forecast on love, money, health, and essential dates for 2016. A special 30% discount is available for all Refinery29 readers; use the code "refinery" during checkout.


Aries
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Restless Rams are learning the power of patience in 2016 — and results that come from a consistent effort. While this may not be the MOST exhilarating year of your life, it could be the most grounding. And let’s be real: Stability is nothing to sneeze at. Until September, lucky Jupiter is parked in your sixth house of work and healthy living. Plus, restrictive Saturn plops down in your travel zone all year. So when life’s routines make you want to scream, grab your stability ball and weights instead of your suitcase. You could get into the best shape of your life — especially if you start eating clean and green. The work you do could also help you make quite a name for yourself, so don’t rush off to happy hour the minute the clock strikes 5 p.m. And it’s not like you have to snuff out your wanderlust. But the vacations you take in 2016 should be meaningful pilgrimages — like trips with a learning component, teacher training, or a visit to your ancestral homeland. Some Aries could enter a degree program, with Saturn adding strength to your higher-education zone until the end of 2017.

Cupid takes the wheel on September 9, as big-hearted Jupiter moves into Libra and your partnership zone for a year. Do we hear bells? You could meet The One, get married, or put some ink on an epic business deal. This could also happen during the Libra lunar eclipse on March 23. Don’t rule out long-distance relationships, because you could meet your match while traveling this fall or find that life’s circumstances take you away from your sweetie for a few months. With your ruler Mars weaving in and out of your erotic zone for the first three-quarters of the year, there WILL be some sexy adventures in bed. Circle April 7 — the date of the Aries new moon — as your cosmic New Year. Your dreams come to life by the Aries full moon on October 15.

Taurus
Romantic renaissance, anyone? Cupid’s got you in his crosshairs in 2016, and the results could be epic. Until September 9, super-sizer Jupiter drifts through your fifth house of amour, opening your heart to love — and even giving some Bulls a case of baby fever. But romance won’t be a light and fluffy affair in 2016, since serious Saturn is parked in Sagittarius and your “playing for keeps” eighth house. But hey, there will be plenty of soul-baring connections and richly rewarding romps in-between the sheets. If you’re ready to put a ring on it, reserve the chapel before September 9. The urge to merge will extend to your business life as well. Investors could put dollars behind your dreams, or you could crush it with a crowdfunding campaign. Raise your financial IQ, because you could also make bank playing the market or investing in real estate. Cross out April 29 to May 23 for any major moves, though, because Mercury will be retrograde — in Taurus, no less — then.

Get ready for your close-up! The year 2016 brings fame and recognition for your big ideas. People trust you as their leader and you’ll be pulling strings — and even directing videos, like sign-mate Gigi Hadid. With all this attention heading your way, add more color to your closet and maybe try a different hairstyle. In September, your daily uniform will be more Lululemon than Louboutin, as Jupiter decamps to your sixth house of work and healthy living. Put in time at the Pilates studio AND the office, as you could end the year with a major feather in your cap and a steady paycheck, to boot. The new moon in Taurus falls on May 6 this year, a day for initiating a big personal goal. You’ll reap the rewards on November 14, under the light of the Taurus full moon.

Gemini
Bring on the fabric swatches, reclaimed wood, and mod chandeliers! Your nesting instincts take the wheel for a chunk of 2016 as expansive Jupiter cozies up in your domestic fourth house until September 9. Finding a place to call home feels essential to your sanity now — and that could mean redecorating or even relocating to a new zip code (or country code), where you step out your door and it’s like, “Yes. I am with my people.” And those new digs could potentially be a cohabitation station. With maturing Saturn hunkered down in your partnership house for two years, you’re giving the whole serious-relationship thing some genuine consideration. Your bae can NEVER be basic, but what you considered boring in 2015 may hold appeal in 2016. Don’t be so quick to judge a book by its cover. Coupled Gems could even get engaged or marry quietly and traditionally this year, surprising friends who were sure they’d be eloping to Ibiza or living as domestic partners indefinitely. Love gets fun and exciting again when Jupiter moves into your romance house for a year on September 9. There could even be a pregnancy then, or a pet adoption.

Career-wise, 2016 is a much better year than you’d had since 2013! Saturn could bring long-term contracts and profitable business partnerships, especially with women. Good thing you like working as a tag team so much. But don’t get saddled with anyone who slows you down. Only movers and shakers for Team Gemini! You could relocate for work, too, or set up a home office and make your own hours. Keep your mind on your money, even if you’re making bank. Your ruler Mercury turns retrograde four times in 2016, each time forcing you to review your finances and polish up your professional presentation. (The dates: January 5 to 25, April 28 to May 22, August 30 to September 22, and December 19 to January 8, 2017.) Refine, review, and revise. Tightening your belt is not gonna kill you, Gemini. It will make you appreciate what you already have. The new moon in Gemini arrives on June 4 this year, so embrace a new path or adventure then. As a social creature, this might also involve selecting a new wingwoman, festival buddy, or BFF for your 2016 missions. The wins will come with the corresponding full moon in Gemini on December 13.

Cancer
Ready to earn those social-butterfly wings? With super-sizer Jupiter in your social-networking zone for most of 2016, you’re rising to Level: Adele popularity. Where do you want to make your mark? The people you’re surrounded with will have a major influence, so choose your comrades wisely, Cancer. Two is the magic number, and you could team up with your best friend, coworker, or even a sibling to create something amazing. When it comes to entertainment, you won’t have to travel far to get your fix. The local scene bubbles with possibilities, so give all those Groupons and ClassPasses a whirl. Not loving where you live? Time to relocate, Cancer — perhaps in association with a job at a startup or a degree program (both Jupiter’s domain). Some Cancers will be ready to put down roots when Jupiter moves on to their domestic zone on September 9. Learn what you can about real estate, as you could make a wise investment this year. Career-wise, 2016 will bring slow and steady growth. With taskmaster Saturn trudging through your work sector, there may be dues left to pay before you can leap up another ladder rung. If you DO get a promotion, the learning curve will be steep. Get a coach or mentor to ease the transition. P.S.: Office Martyr is NOT a title of distinction. Instead of burning out doing everything solo, learn to delegate, outsource, and streamline your systems. Finding a healthier work-life balance also means making time to prepare healthy food and get in those triweekly workouts. Saturn insists!

Love will be playful and passionate, as sultry Mars weaves in and out of Scorpio and your fifth house of romance between January and August 3. But for a change, you might prefer to play the field (and up that sex number a little) instead of drifting into the couple bubble. If you’re in a relationship, the year demands more dress-up dates, exotic vacations, and sexy surprises. Easy does it, though: Stressful Mars can pile on the pressure, giving you wedding or baby fever in a way that could be overwhelming. Nevertheless, you COULD settle into domestic bliss — and even start a family — come September. The 2016 Cancer new moon arrives on July 4, doubling your desire for independent action. Get a solo mission underway, and you’ll do your spotlight dance by the corresponding full moon in January 2017.

Leo
Cool your crimson-soled heels, Leo. In 2016, it’s the cool, composed, and competent wheel that gets the oil — not the squeaking one. All year, long, wise, maturing Saturn slow-winds through your fifth house of fame and romance. The goal in all areas of life is to shimmer with a sophisticated sparkle (as opposed to blinding with a megawatt beam). How to do that? With some good old-fashioned elbow grease, love. Jupiter, which took a wild ride through Leo for half of 2015, has chilled considerably and will spend three-quarters of 2016 in Virgo and your grounded, hardworking second house. Roll up your silk sleeves (or change into a vintage band tee), and just concentrate on creating something awesome. Practice definitely makes perfect, even if you’d rather not post your process on Insta. Don’t worry: You won’t lose your edge by going low-key; in fact, you’ll improve it. Respect and applause is coming, but it will be earned on merit and results. Money is on its way, too: Jupiter could reward you with a bountiful income by the fall.

Romantically, Saturn gives you the urge to settle down. What once seemed boring now has “sweet serenity” written all over it. Give the nice ones a legit chance, Leo, even if they are better at providing emotional support than scouting out a Williamsburg whiskey bar. With Mars racing through your mothering and fertility zones, it might be time to rock the cradle — or adopt that labradoodle for your hit of unconditional love. Domestic bliss could involve moving in with your honey or getting a two-bedroom with your BFF. Your social life heats up in the fall, when Jupiter heads into Libra for a year on September 9. Forgot how to flirt? Jupiter revives your gift of gab then. You’ll have 'em BEFORE hello. Another exhilarating window for romance comes this summer, while Venus tours Leo from July 13 to August 6. Circle August 2: the date of the new moon in Leo, which is kind of like a bonus New Year. Set intentions, and take initiative. You’ll reap the rewards in 2017. A bounty could already come on January 23, when 2016’s only full moon in Leo helps you manifest big results from all your hard work of LAST year. Score!

Virgo
Listen up, Virgo: 2016 is like a giant coming-out party for you — but is the world even ready to handle you? Who cares?! For the first time since 2003, you have lucky, liberated Jupiter cruising through your sign, and your focus is on living life to the fullest, every damn minute of the day. This cycle, which lasts until September 9, is all about embracing the new and taking risks — not exactly Virgo specialties. But be patient with your learning curve, and don’t ride yourself for any mistakes you make as you grow. In 2016, it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Who wants to do shots? Of truth serum, that is. Jupiter in your sign can make you quite outspoken. Warning: You could also run the risk of TMI and overexposure. Writing a tell-all memoir, recording a Periscope series in your underwear, or announcing a big secret on Facebook could be dicey terrain. Spin your own stories, yes, but keep some sort of privacy policy in place. Call in the coaches and consultants! With all the new steps you’re taking, it would be wise to get some support from people who’ve already been down the same road. A solar eclipse in Virgo on September 1 will be a stellar day to shine and start something new. Just be warned that Mercury will be retrograde in your sign from August 30 to September 22, so consider this a soft launch, then piggyback on it with another valiant push one month later, on October 1.

Domestic issues could feel demanding in 2016, as stern Saturn is hunkered down in your home and family sector all year. While you might put down roots — and even buy property — you could feel restricted by family duties and household responsibilities. Don’t take on too much. Female friendships can be rewarding, yet challenging this year. Keep the mean girls (stylish and enviable though they may be) OUT of your girl gang. Love could come with a spare set of keys or even a co-signed lease this year. At the very least, you DO stand a chance of falling for someone “kid-tested, mother-approved.” And with two eclipses rocking your relationship realm — on March 8 and September 16 — a love affair could heat up fast. Or you could go from breakup to makeup (or vice versa) in the blink of an eye. When Jupiter heads into Libra (leaving Virgo in the process) on September 9, you’ll be able to get your feet back on solid ground. Money could flow in, too, courtesy of all the exploration you did in the first three-quarters of the year. You can let those practical details wait until the fall!

Libra
Who needs legalized pot? For much of 2016, you’ll feel like you toked on a giant cosmic bong. Blame it on (or thank…your call) Jupiter, who is drifting through Virgo and your dreamy, surreal 12th house until September 9. There’s a time for action and a time for letting go. For three-quarters of the year, your lessons fall under the “surrender” category. Letting go is the way to grow. Use this time to detox from unhealthy vices; start a yoga and meditation practice; quit a lame job and backpack through India; or find a great therapist, acupuncturist, and work Yoda. This could be a fantasy-rich time for romance, since you’re more willing to drop your boundaries and open your heart. And if you fly higher than Snoop Dogg on Soul Plane, it will be a genuine sense of bliss, not a stoned daze. (Here’s hoping.) Please don’t feel guilty about moving at a slower pace or going off the grid for periods of time. You’re going to need the rest! On September 9, lucky Jupiter blasts into Libra for a year — the first time since September 25, 2004 — creating a seismic shift in your life. It’s "all systems go" again as Libra 5.0 takes the wheel. You could make major changes in Q4 of the year, like going back to grad school, moving across the country to be closer to your community, or taking a job in the London office. There’s also a Libra lunar eclipse on March 23 that could bring big changes your way — the rewards of two years of hard work.

Although you’ll require more alone time in 2016, you won’t go MIA. Solid Saturn is parked in Sagittarius and your zone of kindred spirits. Pairing up — with mature, responsible people — could bring some epic success your way. Lawyer up, Libra, because you know what they say about assumptions. It may seem awkward to talk contracts with friends, but it will be far worse to battle it out with Judge Judy when you have an irreconcilable “misunderstanding” later. Money could flow in through a steadier source, as go-getter Mars weaves in and out of your income zone for the first half of 2016. That boring desk job could bring stability to cash-light Libras, even if it’s just a temporary gig. Your ruling planet Venus cruises through Libra from August 29 to September 23, and you’ll radiate charisma from every pore. This could be high season for love; just vet the candidates carefully since Mercury will be retrograde then.

Scorpio
Deep sigh of relief: After three INTENSE years, things are finally settling down on Planet Scorpio. As of September 17, 2015, taskmaster Saturn’s tour through your sign is firmly in your rearview mirror, and the aftershocks are fading away. Now, you get to plant your feet on solid ground and catch your breath…well, kind of. Momentum-boosting Mars makes a biennial visit to Scorpio in 2016, and for longer than usual. From January 3 to March 5, and then again from May 29 to August 3, the excitable planet will cruise through your sign, providing a rocket launcher for your dreams. Take action around big ideas, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way. Figuring out work and money could be priority number-one in 2016. You don’t just want to make bank; you also want a career you enjoy. So where’s the gap? Sign up for specialized trainings, seminars, and consultant sessions, and maybe even go back to school if that’s what it takes to lock down the dream job and the higher pay. You may already have the skills, but do you have the connections? With jovial Jupiter cruising through your team-spirited 11th house until September, this is the year to make “network” a verb. Socialize strategically, because a killer business connection could come via a friend-of-a-friend. You could get heavily involved in politics and campaigning for the presidential candidate of your choice. Embrace your inner activist in 2016. The 11th house is the tech sector of the zodiac wheel, and you could give those Silicon Valley gazillionaires a run for their startup capital with one of your own inventions or apps. Geek out!

Your love story will be epic and NSFW while Mars slinks through Scorpio until August, giving you off-the-charts sex appeal. Single status could be your preference with the lusty, independent planet here. If you’re in a relationship, fill the shared calendar with adventure dates — and let yourself flirt a bit; it is your sport. Two eclipses in your romance house — on March 9 and September 16 — could bring swift developments in your love life, including an engagement or pregnancy. Lovestruck Venus cruises through Scorpio from September 24 to October 20, keeping the heat full-blast this fall. But everything chills out considerably on September 9, when Jupiter floats on to Libra and your healing, transitional 12th house for a year. You’ll need more solitude and dream time then; some Scorpios could even take a gap year or a summer to sail around the world with their love — or even as a solo expedition!

Sagittarius
Active Sagittarius, you’ve got the #SportySpice thing dialed in, but in 2016, think along the lines of athleisure when selecting your go-to comfy pieces. With your ruling planet Jupiter cruising through your career zone until September 9, you’ll be spending time in bigger meetings with important people — and quite possibly as the project lead or (glug) the boss. Though Forever 21 may be your spirit age, your wardrobe, résumé, and other “branding” need to sing with sophistication now. There are TWO full moons in Sagittarius — on May 19 and June 20 — ensuring that you’ll come into your own more than ever. But since you're an indie-spirited sign, being responsible for other people can make you break out in cold sweat. Don’t worry! Taskmaster Saturn is also on its second of three years in Sagittarius, grooming you to step into this next level of leadership. You’ll work harder than ever this year. And you’ll see RESULTS. Your moment WILL come, Grasshopper — especially while go-getter Mars visits Sagittarius from March 5 to May 29 and again from August 3 to September 27.

Mars in Sagittarius also makes you sizzle with raw sex appeal this spring, summer, and fall. Circle these hot spots on your calendar for getting your freak on. But Mars will also weave in and out of your 12th house of fantasy and illusion from January to March and early in the summer. Run the background checks before falling head over wedge loafers for “The One.” Maybe you HAVE met a legit candidate for the role of your other half…but you could just as easily be mistaking a rogue for a royal. Coupled? Careful about playing with fire, because your raw reptilian urges could overtake good sense. (But hey, open-minded as you are, you might wind up happily ensconced in a throuple or some other unconventional arrangement.) Teamwork makes the dream work when Jupiter moves on to your collaboration house for a year on September 9. Phew! You could also strike gold with a digital venture, and even raise capital by crowdfunding in the last quarter of 2016.

Capricorn
You tend to be more practical than fanciful, Capricorn, but 2016 is totally different. With your ruler Saturn parked in your 12th house of fantasy all year, you’ll swear that unicorns exist and that spirit guides are sending you strong, clear messages at every turn. (It’s true — all of it.) Although you have the business savvy to start a successful psychic hotline, you’re also realizing that there’s more to life than work, work, and, oh, more work. In 2016, you’ll find your fulfillment from pursuing your art, doing charity work, and starting a serious meditation practice. Traveling will play a role, too, as jet-setting Jupiter tours your worldly ninth house until September 9. Rack up those frequent-flyer miles with trips around the globe. That yoga retreat in Bali has “Capricorn” written all over it. In love, sparks could fly with a cutie from a different culture, or someone you meet while traveling. Already involved? Start saving up for an adventurous couple getaway: surfing in Nicaragua or backpacking around Southeast Asia, maybe? Some Caps could even relocate for love or give a long-distance relationship a try.

If you’ve already bitten your nails down worrying that you’ll lose your edge in 2016, just relax. On September 9, lucky Jupiter zings into Libra and your 10th house of success for a year, shuttling you back to the executive suite once again. Burn the dusty festival backpack (and take a long, hot shower), and grab your leather laptop case. Your exploration from earlier in the year could morph into a killer business plan or maybe a profitable imported-goods company that provides micro-financing for an indigenous population. There are also two new moons in Capricorn this year, which means you’ll grow in epic ways. Like a triple shot of New Year’s energy, plant seeds on January 9 and December 8. You’ll harvest results midyear, during the Capricorn full moon on July 19.

Aquarius
Fasten your garter belt, Aquarius: 2016 is your Year of Erotic Exploration. Until September 9, “just do it” Jupiter cruises through your sex-positive eighth house giving you a (cough) leg up in the seduction department. Fulfill those fantasies of having a threesome, trying some bedroom cosplay, becoming a master of tantra, whatever! Jupiter is all about stretching your boundaries and taking risks. But keep that privacy policy intact: The eighth house is the zodiac’s chamber of secrets — and what happens in your bedroom ain’t nobody’s business but your own. Amorous Venus tours Aquarius TWICE in 2016 — from February 18 to March 13 and again from December 8 to 31 — extending the Valentine’s Day vibes. Coupled Aquarians could buy property together, put a ring on it, or dive into therapy to bring back the love. Hint: resentment, secrecy, or unspoken expectations may be the source of your issues. And you’ll be as potent in the boardroom as you are in the bedroom. Get to work on pitches, proposals, and business plans. This year, investors will want to put dollars behind your dreams. One caveat: Anyone you get into bed with (literally or metaphorically) has got to give you a proper RDA of autonomy. On September 9, Jupiter moves into Libra and your worldly, free-spirited ninth house: You won’t take kindly to clutchy, needy behavior — even if you exhibited some yourself earlier in the year. Grab your passport and backpack — a bohemian adventure awaits. You could go back to school, do a teacher training, or take a year in the Berlin office. Cast a wide net!

Career will be a big focus in 2016, as go-getter Mars weaves in and out of Scorpio and your ambitious 10th house between January and August. You’ll be fired up about your goals — but there could be some stops and starts. Don’t pressure yourself to figure it all out at once; enjoy the journey of discovery. With structured Saturn in your 11th house of teamwork all year, finding the right collaborators could be the key to your professional progress and fulfillment. You’ll enjoy working with a team, and even motivating your social network to be more active. Give “sweatworking” a go: Who says you can’t talk business on adjacent elliptical machines or at the raw-juice bar after a noon yoga class? You could also make a mint from an invention, app, or downloadable product. Geek is chic in 2016!

Pisces
Double up, Pisces! In 2016, you could meet your soul mate, creative twin, or long-lost business partner. Chalk it up to lucky Jupiter sailing through the partnership zones of your chart all year. Opposites attract, so don’t be so quick to judge any hopeful candidates. Cross-cultural connections simmer with extra spice. Just stay open-minded, Pisces, because someone who totally breaks from type could turn out to be your missing puzzle piece. Already in the couple bubble? Your relationship could take a serious turn in 2016, especially when Jupiter heads into Libra and your playing-for-keeps eighth house on September 9. You’ll be bringing sexy back in an epic way then, so start setting aside a budget for that Agent Provocateur shopping spree this fall. Jet-setting Jupiter makes 2016 a great year for traveling as a couple or enjoying a vacation romance — one that could turn into a long-distance relationship.

Stay focused on professional goals. With structured Saturn in your career zone all year, you’ll make a slow but steady climb up the ladder. You could be groomed for an executive role or open up shop with your own LLC. Don’t forget the golden rule of business: It’s all about who you know. Put your attention on the influencers and powers that be — and pay your dues if you need to. Those “below your pay grade” coffee runs and later nights at the office CAN gain you loyalty points, as long as you don’t let people take advantage of your kindness. Polish up your “branding” and your work wardrobe. Sophistication is a must. If you’re transitioning into a new field, Saturn might just send you back to the ivory tower or an intensive training. Pro tip: Don’t rush to quit your day job before you have another economic-stability plan lined up. Motivator Mars will activate your career house for a good chunk of the year, lending momentum to your ambitions. Also adding to the #CantStopWontStop vibes? There are TWO eclipses in Pisces this year — a solar (new moon) on March 8 and a lunar (full moon) eclipse on September 16. The directive is simple: Invest in yourself, and the rewards will be bountiful. After all, you’re the best natural resource you have in your arsenal!



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29 Pieces Of Affordable Activewear To Buy In The New Year

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A whole new set of gym gear can turn your new-year workout mindset from avoid at all costs to somewhat exciting — that is, until the newness of it all wears off. But with newcomer athletic brands slaying the game (we're looking at you, Outdoor Voices, Vimmia, Aday, and so many more), finding a cool new sports bra or pair of leggings has become a shopping-excursion norm. And, when wearing gym clothes beyond the yoga studio has become a full-fledged fashion trend, it's no surprise that fast-fashion retailers are taking note, emulating the trends we know and love and providing them in a more affordable form.

While you often get the quality you pay for, it's not always necessary to splurge on all of your soon-to-be sweat-saturated gear. Stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Aritzia, are offering up a selection of goods that aren't just cute but, mostly at under $50, won't break your bank, either. Ahead, we've rounded up 29 workout basics — minus the Lululemon prices — that will take your fitness routine from 0 to 100 in the new year.

H&M
If your workout wardrobe usually follows an Outdoor Voices or Sweaty Betty aesthetic, H&M's pieces have a surprisingly style-forward vibe. While we're stocking up on the comfy and chic pullover running tops, the store also offers a wide variety of basic running gear, ski- and snow-wear, and base layers that double as streetwear. (Did we mention they're available in fun colors and patterns, too?) In addition to the main collection, the H&M+ line stocks a limited offering of sportswear.

H&M Sports Tights, $24.99, available at H&M.

A racerback made for serious activity.

H&M Sports Bra High Support, $29.99, available at H&M.

To be worn pre-, during, and post-workout.

H&M Hooded Outdoor Jacket, $49.99, available at H&M.

Just add a neon bra.

H&M Mesh Sports Top, $17.99, available at H&M.

This low-support piece comes with removable padding to adjust to your workout.

H&M Sports Bra Low Support, $14.99, available at H&M.

You can pick up yoga mats, headbands, socks, and other gear here, too.

H&M Yoga Mat, $34.99, available at H&M.

Abercrombie & Fitch
For workouts that lean toward low-impact, Abercrombie & Fitch has a small but strong collection of basics. There, you'll find shorts, leggings, tanks, and an assortment of low-support, stretchy sports bras in basic shades (white, black, gray, and navy). Note: Most of its exercise fare is online-only.

Abercrombie & Fitch Active Shorts, $30, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Pair this with an over-the-shoulder sweater for a true athleisure look.

Abercrombie & Fitch Active Mesh Bra, $30, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Wear this cropped tee for a yoga session...or just around the house.

Abercrombie & Fitch Wrap Front Crop Tee, $30, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Printed leggings are a simple way to make a grueling workout a bit more fun.

Abercrombie & Fitch Active Crop Leggings, $44, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

When your Calvins need a day off.

Abercrombie & Fitch T-Back Slim Bralette, $18, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Worry about sweating less in something strappy.

Abercrombie & Fitch Active Strappy Back Tank, $38, available at Abercrombie & Fitch.

Gap
You may be more familiar with Gap Inc.'s fitness empire Athleta, but the retailer also boasts its own (albeit lesser-known) sportswear line GapFit. The eponymous collection is broken down by activity: barre, yoga, running, and more, and sticking true to the brand, it offers more patterned and bright-colored options than you'll find at other stores.

Gap GFast Bold Print Leggings, $64.95, available at Gap.

This layering tank sports a mesh back for extra breathability.

Gap Mesh-Back Tank, $34.95, available at Gap.

With low-impact workouts, you can get two wears before a wash in this reversible sports bra.

Gap Low Impact Reversible Sports Bra, $34.95, available at Gap.

We feel cozy just thinking of a winter run in these sweats.

Gap Studio Lined Pants, $59.95 $44.99, available at Gap.

Thumbholes? Check. Do we really need anything else?

Gap Geometric Quarter-Zip Pullover, $59.95, available at Gap.

A basic top to wear in and out of the gym.

Gap Breathe U-Back Crop Top, $34.95, available at Gap.

Aritzia
Aritzia already stocks all the comfy basics you need for everyday wear. But a few of the outside brands it carries, like TNA, Community, and Parklife, mix the store's normcore elements with sportswear, making for some seriously versatile fitness pieces. The prices run a bit higher than those of other fast-fashion lines, but most items are typically marked under $100. Now that's what we call chic athleisure at a competitive cost.

TNA Cadence Pant, $60 $55, available at Aritzia.

This bra is made with contoured, double-layered cups for extra support.

Community Atomism Bra, $45 $32, available at Aritzia.

She dunks, she scores.

Parklife Dunk Shorts, $50 $30, available at Aritzia.

We'll gladly incorporate an oversized poncho into our daily wear.

Community Kratos Sweater, $110 $75, available at Aritzia.

This pair of leggings is made with fast-drying technical fabric, perfect for sweating in.

TNA
Stride Pant, $55 $50, available at Aritzia.

Start your New Year's resolution right with a cute bra that gives you one more reason to work out regularly.

Community Rasa Bra Top, $30 $26, available at Aritzia.

Forever 21
Whether you're on a really tight budget or your approach to workout gear is "more is more," Forever 21 has you covered. With everything ringing in under $35 (save for items from the few outside brands it carries), there are hundreds of affordable pieces to choose from for every type of exercise imaginable.

Forever 21 Active Heathered Hoodie, $17.90, available at Forever 21.

Proof ombré works everywhere.

Forever 21 Active Dip-Dyed Capri Leggings, $19.90, available at Forever 21.

This bag converts into the perfect weekender in a pinch.

Forever 21 Active Run Graphic Duffel Bag, $24.90, available at Forever 21.

Keep your workout fresh with an alternative sports bra option.

Forever 21 Active Zipper-Front Crop Top, $14.90, available at Forever 21.

Retain heat during an outdoor run with this scuba-knit hoodie.

Forever 21 Active Hooded Scuba Knit Jacket, $29.90, available at Forever 21.

Get tons of fashion inspiration, behind-the-scenes shots, and #OOTDs on Refinery29's Fashion Instagram. Follow us there — we'll see you in your feed!



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Demi Lovato Ushers In 2016 With A Diva Performance & Bittersweet Memories

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demiembedPhoto courtesy of ABC.

Dazzling in sequins and fur, Demi Lovato owned Times Square as the New Year's clock counted down to midnight. Performing her addictive hits "Cool for the Summer" and "Confident" for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, Lovato closed out 2015 on a high note, literally.
Before wowing the crowd, Lovato shared a more intimate farewell to 2015. Offstage, it was a bittersweet year for the chart-topping singer. On her Instagram, Lovato memorialized loved ones lost throughout the year: her uncle Billy, her great-grandfather Buddy and his namesake pup, as well as her Doberman Spawn.

2015. As incredible as this year was.. This year was also extremely rough. Filled with some of the highest highs, I experienced some of the lowest lows. I said hello to a lot of amazing experiences and said goodbye to many that I love but everything happens for a reason and my skin got a lot thicker this year. I learned that no matter how painful things can be, things do get easier and time really does help heal all wounds. I'm so blessed to live the life I do, with the people I love by my side. I'm hoping that 2016 will be a bit lighter with more hellos and less goodbyes but whatever next year brings I know I'm stronger than I was a year ago. Cherish the moments you have with your friends and family, take too many pictures and always find the humor in things. Life's too short for negativity and drama. Spread love, not hate and most importantly be grateful. #RIP2015.. We love and miss you already Spawn, Papa, Uncle Billy, Chris and Buddy.

A photo posted by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on

In her Insta tribute, Lovato shared some wise advice we could all learn from for the coming year: "Cherish the moments you have with your friends and family, take too many pictures and always find the humor in things. Life's too short for negativity and drama. Spread love, not hate and most importantly be grateful."

And as she proved last night in Times Square, it doesn't hurt to be "Confident," either.


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Yes, Nordstrom, Yes!

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Your relatives have all gone back to their respective households, the eggnog has been poured down the drain, and the ornaments are being removed from your Christmas tree as you read this. As much as we adore the holidays, let's be real: We're all a little relieved they're over. And, look at that, you survived! (Albeit with fewer commas in your bank account than before.)

But hey, just because the holidays have passed doesn't mean the gifts should grind to a halt — whether you're gifting yourself or family and friends. The new year is here, and stores are stocking up on the latest and greatest beauty products you're bound to be obsessed with in 2016. One of our favorite retailers, Nordstrom, always has some of the best beauty-product selections out there. Which is why we're always psyched when a new season rolls around and all the latest and greatest hit shelves.

Ahead, we highlight all of the goods coming to Nordstrom this month. Some you can pick up now, some are hitting its site in the coming weeks, but all are launches you should be pretty excited about.

A Nordstrom exclusive, Kiehl's new detoxifying mask will kick-start that new year, new you mentality.

Kiehl's Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque, $32, available at Nordstrom.

Another exclusive! Turmeric has long been touted as an anti-inflammatory savior. That combined with the antioxidant powers of cranberries will help breathe life back into a tired complexion.

Kiehl's Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque, $32, available at Nordstrom.

Spring is coming early this year at Nordstrom in the form of Tom Ford's new spring color collection, which will include eight shades of the brand's patent-finish lip color, a high-definition eyeliner, a brow sculptor, and other must-haves.

Tom Ford Spring Color Collection, $45-$80, available in January at Nordstrom.

If you thought Giorgio Armani's original Maestro foundation was good, just wait until you get your hands on the upgraded version. It not only provides coverage as well as a subtle glow, but it has double the SPF protection than before.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup Bi-Phase Elixir SPF 30, $64, available in January at Nordstrom.

Want to give your skin extra-extra protection against the UV rays? Look no further than Armani's new primer infused with SPF 50.

Giorgio Armani
Maestro UV Skin Defense Primer SPF 50 PA+++, $64, available in January at Nordstrom.

Is one of your resolutions to eat more veggies, but the thought of replacing your lunch with salad every day turns you all the way off? Same, tbh. These supplements are an easy-yet-effective way of getting your greens without sacrificing your sanity.

8G Greens Superfood Supplement, $12.50, available at Nordstrom.

If you pick up this eye-and-cheek palette from Chantecaille, 5% of proceeds go to support Traffic and its efforts to encourage the widespread adoption to the FairWild Standard.

Chantecaille Le Magnolia Eye and Cheek Palette, $83, available in January at Nordstrom.

Charlotte Tilbury is coming out with a new and improved version of her already to-die-for Magic Cream. "It's like having your own personal facialist in a pot!" Tilbury says. (She's not wrong.)

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream Intense Repair & Skin Healing, $145, available at Nordstrom.

Knowing how well the Magic Cream works on your visage, just imagine what it'll do for your stubborn undereyes.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Repair Rejuvenates, Smoothes & Repairs, $60, available at Nordstrom.

Let the Luna do all of the deep-cleansing work while you sit back and watch it improve your complexion.

Foreo Luna Mini Compact Facial Cleansing Device, $99, available at Nordstrom.

You've probably already heard of — and hopefully use — GlamGlow's Supermud mask. Well, the brand is launching a new treatment to help brighten and even out your skin tone. It has slight exfoliating properties, which will help with overall radiance.

GlamGlow Flashmud Brightening Treatment, $69, available in January at Nordstrom.

We spied two of these new matte liquid lip colors backstage at Fashion Week this year and have been awaiting their arrival ever since. The formula, which goes on like gloss and sets in seconds, was used to create the matte lips at Marchesa, Rachel Zoe, and Carolina Herrera.

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour, $20, available in January at Nordstrom.

Ariana Grande's MAC collection is another highly anticipated launch for 2016. That deep-purple lipstick is exactly what we need to get cracking on our break-out-of-our-beauty-rut resolution.

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande Collection, $14-$16, available in January at Nordstrom.

Give your undereyes some TLC with the latest eye serum from La Mer.

La Mer Lifting Eye Serum, $240, available in January at Nordstrom.

As if Diorskin's Forever couture-inspired liquid foundation couldn't get any fancier, it's also formulated with SPF.

Dior Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Wear Makeup, $50, available in January at Nordstrom.

Apply the foundation with this sponge that gives your regular ol' Beautyblender a run for its money.

Dior Foundation Sponge, $20, available in January at Nordstrom.

Before throwing on your base makeup, don't forget to swipe on some of the brand's primer for guaranteed flawless coverage.

Dior Diorskin Forever Primer Base, $45, available in January at Nordstrom.

Set your makeup with this loose powder for a long-lasting matte result.

Dior Diorskin Forever Loose Powder, $52, available in January at Nordstrom.

Last but not least, complete your look with Dior's new 2-in-1 blush and highlighting duo.

Dior
Diorblush Sculpt, $43, available in January at Nordstrom.

Rose, Bleue, or Verte, each scent from Tory Burch's Jolie Fleur collection is inspired by the flowers and colors in the designer's very own garden.

Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Collection, $90, available at Nordstrom.

Probably one of the fanciest sheet masks we ever did see, Dermovia's lace masks have been referred to as shapewear for your face by People StyleWatch. Its calming properties will have you reaching for it over and over again.

Dermovia Lace Your Face Rejuvenating Collagen Mask, $15, available in January at Nordstrom.

Just because it's gray outside doesn't mean your skin needs to reflect that depressing fact. Nordstrom now stocks Nars' Hot Sand collection, which will help you get that beach glow through your first snowfall.

NARS Hot Sand Illuminator, $30, available at Nordstrom.

A new Nordstrom exclusive, Nars' Sand/Orgasm blush and bronzer duo will have everyone wondering whether you just got back from vacation in the middle of February.

NARS Hot Sand/Orgasm Blush & Bronzer Duo, $42, available at Nordstrom.

Want some insider info? This duo and the previous one are both limited editions, so we would hop on these while they're still available.

NARS Hot Sand/Laguna Blush & Bronzer Duo, $42, available at Nordstrom.

Pick up this Kabuki brush to make sure your blush/bronzer duo gets the best application treatment.

NARS Hanamachi Kabuki Brush, $42, available at Nordstrom.

A cult classic in the beauty world, Nars' The Multiple sticks are a must-have for highlighting, contouring, and providing an effervescent year-long shine.

NARS The Multiple Stick in Hot Sand, $39, available at Nordstrom.

Top your faux-vacation look off with a swipe of Hot Sand lip gloss to round out your sun-kissed vibe.

NARS Hot Sand Lip Gloss, $26, available at Nordstrom.

Because guys need loving, too, you can pick up a bottle of Bleu Noir from Narciso Rodriguez for your beau. The spicy fragrance has hints of musk and nutmeg, which makes it a perfect winter scent.

Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir, $89, available in January at Nordstrom.

YSL's Touch Éclat concealer is beloved in the beauty world, and its formula is being expanded into a foundation.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation SPF 22, $58, available at Nordstrom.

It just wouldn't be right to have one without the other.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Le Teint Brush, $45, available at Nordstrom.

Laura Mercier's Paris After the Rain palette is exactly how we imagine the romantic city appearing post-storm.

Laura Mercier Paris After the Rain Palette, $55, available at Nordstrom.

Press pause on wrinkles with Fresh's new age-delay firming serum.

Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum, $75, available at Nordstrom.

Wide eyes, curled lashes, can't lose.

Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara, $30, available at Nordstrom.

This may be Miu Miu's first fragrance, but if the classic and sophisticated scent is any indication, it won't be the last.

Miu Miu Eau de Parfum, $116, available in January at Nordstrom.



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The Times Square Ball Account Tweeted An "Unacceptable & Indefensible" Joke

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The person overseeing the Twitter account for the Times Square ball drop didn't stop to think before he or she tweeted out an offensive joke last night.

Last night's New Year's Eve festivities were soured when the account for New York City's main event shared two tweets that many found to be insensitive. Both tweets were eventually deleted from the verified account, which has over 20,000 followers.

The first tweet linked race to the economy.

"The Ball this year has become racist due to the dismal state of our economy in 2015," it read.

It then tweeted "#BallLivesMatter," a play on the #BlackLivesMatter movement protesting violence against Black citizens by police officers.

The offensive tweet quickly caused an outcry within the Twitter community. Many users slammed it for being tone-deaf.

"The tweet was unacceptable and indefensible. As soon as event organizers became aware of it, it was removed immediately. The person responsible was an independent freelancer and will not be engaged again," a spokesperson for New Year's Eve in Times Square told Refinery29 via email.

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Here's Why Kanye Dropped A Nike Diss Track

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For Kanye West, dropping singles is becoming a New Year's Eve tradition. Like he did with "Only One" in 2014, West released new track "Facts" on SoundCloud just hours before 2016. The release wasn't a complete surprise, as Kim Kardashian West began hyping anticipation on Twitter.

What may stun some are the "facts" West released. Unlike the sweetly sentimental "Only One,""Facts" is a straight-up diss track with a seemingly unlikely target: Nike.

"Nike, Nike treat employees just like slaves," he riffs. "Gave LeBron a billi' not to run away."

But West's beef with the activewear giant isn't out of the blue. In 2013, Yeezy severed his creative partnership with Nike, alleging the company didn't pay him high enough royalties for his Air Yeezys, and postponed release of his Red Octobers lace-ups, Spinreported. He even directly addressed Nike CEO Mark Parker during an especially boastful interview, declaring himself "the number-one most impactful artist of our generation, in the flesh." Or, in plain-speak: Your loss, Nike.

"Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy, they line up for days," West raps early on in "Facts," referencing his Yeezy Boost collaboration with Adidas. "Nike out here bad, they can't give shit away."

After jumping ship from the swoosh, West quickly hopped aboard with Adidas, and released six Adidas Yeezy Boost sneakers in 2015. The most recent Boosts, which went on sale December 29, instantly sold out, and Footwear News declared Yeezy Boosts its Shoe of the Year.

So maybe Kanye really does have his "Facts" straight. Judge for yourself, below.



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How ClassPass Helped Me Recover From An Awful Breakup

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It’s been 42 days since my long-term partner and I ended our relationship. In the present moment, a salty puddle is forming on the floor beneath my eyes. The pain is incredible; I can feel it in every part of my broken self. Then, he speaks.

“Rest,” he says, and the pain stops. “You get 15 seconds, and then we’re going again.”

The speaker is a trim, bearded fitness instructor at a studio in Hell’s Kitchen. The puddle accumulating below me isn’t tears; it's sweat. I’m three-fourths of the way through a class called TRX 30/30, and it's the third class I've attended via ClassPass, the popular fitness membership program designed to encourage people to try a range of exercise classes. As the sweat drips down my body, I say a curse and a blessing. I momentarily hate Beardy McFit, yet I'm full of gratitude for both him and my new fitness regimen — a.k.a. my breakup recovery tool.

As anyone who has experienced the dissolution of a long-term relationship knows, it's a bit like being reborn. Not in the twirling around, “hills-are-alive” kind of way — more like an actual birth. It can feel as if you’re slipping out of a warm, comfortable place into the harsh open air, assaulted by foreign sounds and faces.

Four weeks A.D. (After Dissolution), I had already exhausted a number of coping mechanisms: I had listened to the new Adele album, binge-watched Jessica Jones, and eaten cookies for dinner. But since my breakup, which happened to occur the day after I ran the New York City Marathon, the one self-care action I hadn’t been taking was working out.
I was driven by a search for the strong, independent version of myself — the me I had lost track of while trying and failing to make a relationship work.I had wanted to feel empowered by the new, open horizon of my life — to embrace its vast potential. In reality, though, I felt hollow. Some turn to dating sites for this reason, but I was beyond uninterested in finding someone new. I was driven by a search for the strong, independent version of myself — the me I had lost track of while trying and failing to make a relationship work.

Enter my friend Anna, a ClassPass devotee who had recently endured her own A.D. era and was determined to convert me. Scrolling through the app on her phone, I was floored by the sheer breadth of options: strength training, belly dancinglong sword? The most obvious boon of ClassPass, for the recently single, is that it offers structure — whether you’re planning in advance for those newly free weekday evenings or trying to fix a last-minute bout of Sunday-afternoon blues. It also incentivizes accountability; when you register for a class, you must either go or face a fee.

While structure and exercise are surface benefits that are significant on their own, my foray into ClassPass also helped me reach unexpected insights — the first of which was the power of focusing on the present. I’ve heard that the heartbroken are often loneliest at night. But for me, mornings are hardest. Every day that dawns socks me in the chest with a fistful of memories and anxieties about the future. Fleeing from this morning feeling, I hauled myself out of bed and across town to a Kundalini yoga class, where I discovered a pleasant truth: Precious little can fill your mind when you’re panting like a dog.

Each class required patient focus on the task at hand, and the byproduct of that focus was an almost spiritual union of mind and body in the present. Relationship memories might creep up on me later, but during my hip hop dance class, I had one goal and one goal only: Drop that booty.
Relationship memories might creep up on me later, but during my hip hop dance class, I had one goal and one goal only: Drop that booty.I also learned to embrace looking uncool and began to relish failure. By the time many of us reach our late 20s, we’re in a groove. We have an established routine; we’ve been trained to do a particular job. We’ve cultivated hobbies and become knowledgeable about our specific interests. As adults, it’s so rare to be in a place where we’re starting from zero.

Yet I discovered that there’s nothing more joyful and rewarding than allowing yourself to look like a complete and utter fool. When you start at zero, you have everything to gain. Somewhere around my fifth hard-driving set at my first RowHouse class, I shed my defenses of irony, indifference, and skepticism, and I began leaning hard into my own ignorance. As a result, I began to feel, not exactly happy about, but less debilitated by my newfound singlehood.

The most powerful insight was presented to me during the first class I ever attended through ClassPass. It was Kung Fu — an experience as humbling as it was fortifying. I’m sure I looked as utterly out of place as I felt, since I was the tallest person in the group and the only one not wearing a plain, black uniform. As we assumed positions, I bobbed along, red-faced and half a step behind.

Toward the end of class, the instructor interrupted our roundhouse kicks with a question: "What must you let go of if you wish to succeed?" After being met with silence, he prodded, "It starts with an 'E.'"

I knew the answer. It was the thing that had been screaming at me throughout this experience. It was the thing that I could never quite let go of in my relationship, and it had followed me like a shadow, baring its nasty teeth.

"Ego," I said, relieved to name it aloud.

The instructor glanced over. "Exactly."

I’ll probably never be able to fully let go of my ego, and it may be years before I make enough peace with it to try and inflict it upon someone new. For now, I’m learning. And if nothing else, at least I have a curriculum.



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Looks Like Those Kendall Jenner & Harry Styles Vacation Rumors Are True

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Kendall Jenner and Harry Styles were seen hanging out together just before New Year's — spending some time chilling in the Caribbean.

A fan spotted the two in a restaurant in Anguilla on December 29, according to reports from E! News, the network home of the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star. The gleeful tweeting and Instagramming of a 1D fan who was thrilled to run into a member of the band was, as always, adorable — although not quite as adorable as that 1D fan who live-tweeted her flight sitting next to Styles earlier this year.


The photos E! obtained, however, didn't make it especially clear that Jenner was also there, capturing only the back of her head.

But new photos shared by Us Weekly clearly show the friends hanging out together on a yacht in nearby St. Barths. It's a needed vacation for Jenner, who shared on her website that she had been hospitalized for exhaustion after working too hard and that her resolutions this year include chilling out more. With her first magazine cover of 2016 already under her belt, hopefully she got some good downtime in the Caribbean sunshine.

Styles is on hiatus from One Direction.

They picked great places to relax. The Caribbean islands, located near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, are known for their coral reefs, tropical climate, beaches, and luxury resorts. For more active vacationers, there are also great surfing and windsurfing spots. A nice full-body scrub, facial, and dipping your feet into the ocean sounds like an ideal winter vacation to us!

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Caitlyn Jenner Settles Malibu Car Crash Lawsuit For Unnamed Sum

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Nearly a year after the incident, Caitlyn Jenner has settled one of multiple lawsuits relating to a February 2015 fatal car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Jessica Steindorff, who was driving the Prius involved in the crash, has settled with Jenner for an undisclosed amount of money, The Independentreports. Steindorff's lawsuit sought compensation for the injuries she had sustained in the crash, Entertainment Tonight notes, claiming a loss of wages and earning capacity.

As Refinery29 previously reported:"During the accident in question, Jenner, who was driving a black Cadillac Escalade, rear-ended a Lexus sedan, which slammed into a Toyota Prius before crossing into oncoming traffic and colliding with a black Hummer." The collision killed Kim Howe, the 69-year-old driver of the Lexus that Jenner rear-ended.

The reality star and transgender advocate has been embroiled in a legal pileup ever since.

In May, Howe's two estranged stepchildren filed a lawsuit alleging Jenner was driving carelessly and above the speed limit. Then in August, the five people injured in the accident reportedly sued Jenner for $18.5 million.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found that Jenner had been driving too fast, but ultimately declined to press vehicular manslaughter charges.

While this puts to rest one aspect of that tragic day last February, separate lawsuits involving Howe's stepchildren and the Hummer passengers remain ongoing.

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The Cosby Show Star Celebrates Engagement With Stunning Ring

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Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played youngest daughter Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has gotten engaged to former football player Ed Hartwell. It's the first marriage for the 36-year-old actress, while Hartwell was previously married to Lisa Wu of TheReal Housewives of Atlanta fame. The 37-year-old athlete has one son, Ed, Jr.

The former child star celebrated the engagement with a smoochy Instagram post.

"Happy to spend not only my new year but my life with this guy," the bride-to-be gushed. You may also notice the prominent rock she's sporting on her ring finger.

Happy to spend not only my new year but my life with this guy!!! ❤️ #BlessedBeyondMeasure

A photo posted by keshiaknightpulliam (@keshiaknightpulliam) on


Sounds like a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. Who needs fireworks when you've got powerful bling? Congratulations to the happy couple!



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Make Your Cleanse A Taco Cleanse

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Your New Year's detox can be a lot more painless than you anticipated.

One diet fad that's picking up steam in Los Angeles is the taco cleanse, devised by self-proclaimed "taco scientists" Wes Allison, Stephanie Bogdanich, Molly R. Frisinger, and Jessica Morris. The group has authored a new cookbook, The Taco Cleanse: The Tortilla-Based Diet Proven to Change Your Life. They advise a vegan taco diet as a cleanse. It's alternative for sure, but it sounds delicious!

The plan is pretty simple: Eat three tacos a day, for 30 days. The recipes are all vegan (no real-deal cheese or grilled steak, sorry) and make the most of ingredients like avocado and cayenne pepper. The book's site boasts lofty benefits like the ability to grow a beard, conceive a child, or, at the very least, "realign your chakras into an optimal taco pattern."

In other words, take it with a grain of salt. Better yet, a dollop of salsa.

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VisitHell's Club, Where Boogie Nights& Scarface Party With Skywalker

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0hellsclub2Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX Shutterstock.
Blade, Tony Montana, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Trinity, Vincent Vega, Austin Powers, and Patrick Bateman walk into a bar and...wait. WTF?

Some of your favorite films collide in this seriously cool, intensely trippy movie mashup, courtesy of film editor extraordinaire Antonio Mario Da Silva. Scenes from True Romance, Saturday Night Fever, Dirty Dancing, Scarface, Trainspotting, The Mask, Terminator, Basic Instinct, Cocktail, Collateral Damage, Carlito's Way, and yes, A Night at the Roxbury come together seamlessly in one epic nightclub scene while "Stayin' Alive" pumps out of the speakers. Tom Cruise is bartending (and scanning the crowd, gun in hand). Sharon Stone is writhing on the dance floor with Michael Douglas. John Travolta and Michael "Smooth Criminal" Jackson are feeling the music. And multiple Al Pacinos oversee it all.

Characters flirt, give each other the evil eye, and ultimately engage in a gun battle that leaves one iconic gangster dead. Watch below to see it all unfold. Is it just us or do Tony Manero and Anakin Skywalker totally have a connection?

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Celine Dion Sings Incredible Rendition Of Adele's "Hello"

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On New Year's Eve, Celine Dion gifted the world a spectacular rendition of Adele's Hello. In her long-running show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Dion belts some of her classic tunes like "Because You Loved Me," but nobody expected her to offer such a stunning cover of Adele's ballad.

Before launching into the song, Celine called Adele her favorite singer and teased the audience about her appearing in the show.

“If I may, I would like Adele to be part of our New Year’s Eve,” Celine said. “So don’t panic, she’s not in the building. Do we need to change the battery in my microphone? It kind of lost it a bit. Adele, hello? Hello?”

What's most impressive is how well Dion has maintained her powerful voice. She still's able to hit notes and ad-lib like it's 1998.

This isn't the first time Dion covered an Adele hit. She sent fans into a frenzy when she sang "Rolling in the Deep" during a 2012 show.

Now, can we get Adele to return the favor by covering "My Heart Will Go On?" That would fulfill every music lover's fantasy.


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