The F Word

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The Santa Barbara shootings has caused some interesting reactions that showcased America's flaws on its outlook towards females. The shooter, Elliot Rodger, took innocent lives because he was a misogynist. He believed that women owed him sex and hated women.

News sources are contributing his actions to mental illness. Blaming mental illness is essentially saying that people who are mentally ill are violent and destructive, which is not the case. Putting the heavy weight of this event on mental illnesses is extremely rude and belittling to everyone with one. Rodger was probably mentally ill -- he was never officially diagnosed, but that didn't cause him to shoot innocent people. His hatred towards women and misogyny was the cause.

The blame on mental illness stems from America's blind eye on the subject of women. Americans think that all the sexes are equal and everything is just and true, when that is not the case. The people who are aware of and actively fighting against the differences between the ways each sex is treated are called feminists.

Women in America have a lot of freedom compared to women in other countries. But that doesn't mean Americans are accepting and forward thinkers. Most gender inequality now is socially and culturally based. Rape jokes are constant and considered funny and harmless, while every 1 in 6 women are actually raped. Women are paid less, every dollar a man makes a woman makes 80 cents, yet women who aren't stay-at-home moms are stigmatized to be bad mothers. Every decision a woman makes is criticized or not looked at as equally important.

There are a lot of expectations and social views that keep women from reaching their full potential. Women's choices are suppressed by fear every day. Fear that something like the Santa Barbara shootings will happen to them. That they rejected a violent misogynist like Rodger and one day will be killed, beaten or raped for saying no.

Rodger hated women and was a part of the Men's Rights Activist (MRA) group. Their purpose is based around degrading, hating and fearing women. Rodger subscribed to numerous MRA accounts on YouTube and watched their videos. Rodger was an angry, misogynist virgin who found his rejection so appalling that he thought murder was an adequate response. And this is not the first time a male was rejected by a female and responded with violence. When Women Refuse is a whole blog dedicated to finding news articles about men attacking women when they get rejected. 

Misogyny kills. Misogyny is based on male's fear of women having rights and being considered an equal sex. This is where feminism is pivotal in the change of America's thoughts, views and actions towards women and rape culture. The Santa Barbara shootings has let feminist thoughts become more mainstream and seep into social media. Technically feminism stands for the social, economic and political equality of the genders, but feminism stands for so much more than that. 

Feminism is what you --  being the feminist -- make of it. There are feminists who are radical and burn bras and hate men, but that is not the core of feminism. Feminism is about women and men helping anyone who identifies as a female free themselves from the social boundaries that the patriarchy has created to keep females limited. Feminism is looking at the patriarchy and saying "Fuck you." 

The social media take over is all centered around the twitter trending topic #YesAllWomen. This hashtag was in response to men constantly saying "Not all men..." when anything like the Santa Barbara shootings happen. So to counteract this weak and measly excuse for gender inequality and sexual assault #YesAllWomen trend was created.

This trend is simultaneously horrifying and mesmerizing. It has shone a light on the dark and quiet truths of America's rape culture and truly shows how women are still being treated poorly. As a result, for women to feel safe they shrink their personalities and voices. Females become mute for safety because some men think women are only roaming the earth for their pleasure and become shocked and angry when they open our mouths and form coherent thoughts and opinions. 

As a woman and a feminist I constantly wonder what it must feel like to always feel safe. To not worry about someone drugging you or being sexually assaulted when its dark out. Men have such a security blanket and women have nothing. Women have nothing because some men feel like they are entitled to take that security away from them. 

Feminism is a band of equal rights heroes who want every woman to know that they should speak up. There is an entire social movement that will support them if they do. Feminism is not a war on men, it's a war on inequality. If someone chooses not to be a feminist that is fine, but it is naturally assumed that they know what feminism is when they reject it. 

Too many times is the answer to the question "Why aren't you a feminist?" is "Because I don't hate men" when the the real answer should be "Because I'm fine with women being considered the lesser gender." Feminism has nothing to do with "bringing men down." It's all about bringing women up and telling men that women have all the same rights and power they do. As the late Maya Angelou said, "I am a feminist. I've been female for a long time now. I'd be stupid not to be on my own side."

Awareness and education on this subject are the turning points for social change. Feminism is not a scary or dead concept. It is alive and thriving. Women are speaking up and everyone needs to listen.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Shake Your Booty

It's finally Friday, which means it's the weekend! That also means a huge majority of people -- myself included -- are going out and are going to get their groove on. Tonight I'm going to see a local Athens, Ohio band called Uptowne Buddha perform. Their genre is funk/soul/rap, so essentially it's one huge, live dance party. The last time I saw them my sister Anna, our friend Megan and I got pulled on stage for their last song and danced our respective asses off. I also conveniently brought a disposable camera with me so here are some subpar quality photos.

Anna & Megan

Anna, Megan and I

Uptowne Buddha

On stage

Go listen to some Uptowne Buddha while you're pre-gaming and getting ready. Shake your butt with your friends and with strangers. Go have fun, it's Friday.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Wardrobe Goals For Spring

Online window shopping is an art I've perfected while away at college. The past week provided a rare warm-spell, (the temperature reached the mid 60s, hallelujah) and spring fever hit me with full force. Spring and summer is when I take a more feminine approach to outfits. It's just too hot for black boots and baggy sweaters.

This season I'm looking for clothes that have personality. Clothes that hold individuality and also casual enough for day-to-day wear are so important to my spring style; comfort and cuteness rolled up into one.

If I had enough money I would buy up all of the patterned baby doll dresses available. Also, pink, patterned overall shorts would make their way into my closet.

The cheapest piece I included are the cutest pair of pug socks I have ever seen. The patterned slip-on sneakers are perfect for my trip to Europe this summer. They're fun but are neutral-colored so they can be paired with a lot of outfits.

In a perfect world, these are what would be transformed from my online shopping cart to my wardrobe this spring.

                                                       1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Bang, Bang, Bangs

I haven't had bangs in three years, but 2014 was giving me good bang vibes. So I followed my gut and got my hair chopped.

Every baby picture shows me sporting bangs. I grew up with them. Also, might I add, every baby picture of me is terrible. Absolutely horrendous and embarrassing. These are probably the best ones, and I look like coconut head from Ned's Declassified on the right. Clearly my face hasn't changed at all (I did get better at smiling, sort of, and taking pictures) so getting my hair snipped across my forehead wasn't a huge deal to me.

Most girls stray away from getting bangs because they don't know how to maintain them. I haven't had bangs in a while, but I've formulated a routine that is basically fool-proof. When you wake up and you're fringe looks like a sad quiff that would belong to a member of a boy band, DO NOT FREAK OUT.

First, go and wet your bangs, but don't press them down that's the trick. While they are wet is the time to style them. Then after they've been air dried spray dry shampoo onto them. This will give your bangs some bounce and make it looked like you've showered (we've all been there, no worries). Lastly, blow dry your fringe. Blow dryers are magical and will make your fringe perfectly piecey and give off an effortless look. Presto! The sad boy band quiff is gone and your bangs look chic and clean.

A huge pet peeve of mine is when girl question whether they can pull them off or not.  Come on ladies, grow some confidence and wear or do whatever the hell you want. If you want bangs then go get them! Across bangs can be styled and cut in various ways to be complimentary and veered towards a particular style. Here is a wide range of bang inspiration to wet every fringe-wannabe girl's appetite.

http://woohair.com/

Audrey Hepburn had a classic face and iconic bangs. Her's are rather daring because they don't graze her eyelids. But if Hepburn can wear them then there are plenty of other women who can too. I would recommend brining a picture in to the hair salon so you get the exact cut and shape you want.

http://www.juxtapost.com/

http://www.hitherandthither.net/

Jane Birkin was, in my opinion, the coolest girl from the 60's. Her style oozes elegance and ease. Her piecey, long bangs that don't seem so put together helped her achieve that look. Birkin was also the inspiration for Hermès Birkin bag. The point is if Birkin's good enough for Hermès she's good enough for you. 

http://flavorwire.com/

http://www.last.fm/

Marianne Faithfull another great fringe muse from the 60's. I don't know what it was about that era, but bangs were so cool. Faithfull was the former flame to Mick Jagger, frontman for The Rolling Stones and the frontman of my heart. Faithfull was a master at styling bangs. The middle parted fringe is very chic, Alexa Chung is also huge fan of it. But, Faithful also knows how to rock the classic full eye grazing fringe.

http://www.bellasugar.com/

Françoise Hardy is my personal fringe inspiration. She's french and fully captures the cool French girl vibe. Hardy has a side part and splits her fringe accordingly, which is what I do almost regularly. Run your fingers through your bangs, muse them up and let them fall accordingly for a perfect French, Hardy inspired look.

http://glamourcouture.blogspot.com/

http://www.stylebistro.com/

Rashida Jones has long and wide bangs that fully encompass her forehead, which is different than the previous looks. The Harvard graduate knows that having bangs allow for really easy, cute hair styes. Bangs look so chic when hair is pulled back either in a pony or bun so much that Jones does it on the red carpet.

A misconception about across fringe is that it needs to lay perfectly across the forehead. Unless you're going for a Zooey Deschanel look on the daily, that is not the case. Bangs are very versatile and can be cut and styled in various ways. So many style icons have sported the across fringe, use them as inspiration and get bangs.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

London Up and Comers

This past week I've had two artists on repeat, Banks and Rudimental. Both London natives, but two completely different sounds. Banks, who's full name is Jillian Banks, has one EP and is expected to release her first full-length album this year. She opened for The Weeknd this past year and Billboard said "[She] evokes the smoky vocals of Lana Del Rey paired with the ominous soundscapes of The Weeknd..." 

Banks - "Waiting Game"

Banks - "Warm Water"

Rudimental, on the other hand, consists of four Englishmen who produce electronic dance music.

They mostly produce the drum and bass and have featured artists sing their lyrics. This past year they dropped their debut album Home, which immediately took the number one slot in the home country. Home has a lot of great featured artists like Childish Gambino, British newcomer Ella Eyre and Emeli Sandé. They also told Company Magazine in their December issue, that they just finished recording a song with a famous U.S. rapper. Rudimental is going to make huge waves over in the states.

Rudimental - "Waiting All Night"

Rudimental - "Feel The Love"

Both Banks and Rudimental are making their rounds on music festival circuit this summer, so keep a look out for them.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Festival Season

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Festival season is amongst us, ladies and gents. Coachella released its 2014 lineup three days ago and music lovers were swooning, myself included. But not all of us have $375 casually laying around to blow on a Coachella ticket, and don't forget the cost of airfare or gas and a place to stay. Also, the festival is in conveniently in the middle of April (WHY APRIL? WHY?). So unless the stars align and you have the ability to just pay for a Coachella ticket with no other expenses, there's really no point on blowing so much cash. But no worries, festival season doesn't start and end with Coachella. There are festivals all over America (it's called festival season for a reason).

1. Sasquatch! Music Festival
May 23 - 25 and July 4 - 6
Quincy, WA
Keep your eyes peeled for the 2014 lineup, because there is no set release date. For 2013, Sasquatch! had Mumford and Sons, Vampire Weekend, Grimes and the Arctic Monekys on their lineup. General admission tickets are $325, and last year's tickets sold out in 90 minutes.

2. Governor's Ball
June 6 - 8
New York, NY
The 2014 lineup hasn't been announced yet but by looking at last year's headliners Kings of Leon, Guns N' Roses, Kanye West, Feist, Kendrick Lamar and the Avett Brothers I'm going to assume 2014 won't disappoint. General admission tickets are $230 with a $20 fee. I'm going to assume it's a processing fee.

3. Bonnaroo
June 12 - 14
Manchester, TN
Bonnaroo is one of the most popular music festivals. The 2014 lineup is highly anticipated to live up to last year's which included Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Drake. The weekend pre-sale tickets already sold out for a whopping $234.50 so general admission regular sale tickets are likely to be more expensive than that.

4. Firefly Music Festival
June 19 - 22
Dover, DE
Who would have thought little Delaware could hold a music festival with performances by Foster the People, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Alabama Shakes and Matt & Kim. The 2014 lineup hasn't been announced yet, but the little state pulls big names, so I would be on the lookout for when it drops. General admission tickets are usually around $200. One of the cheaper fests.

5. Bunbury
July 11 - 12
Cincinnati, OH
The good people of Bunbury revealed three performance for Saturday June 12th before the entire festival lineup is released on February 20th. The three performances are Fall Out Boy, Paramore and New Politics. They will all be playing on the second day of the festival. Bunbury is hinting at some major artists if Fall Out Boy, Paramore and New Politics are all just on one day of the weekend long fest. General admission tickets are only $130.

6. Lollapalooza
August 1 - 3
Chicago, IL
Lolla is high up on the popular fest charts. This year's lineup hasn't been announced yet, but 2013 had The Cure, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails as headliners. Lolla usually sells out really fast and general admission tickets are around $230.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The internet is at your disposal to uncover great festivals that are close to home and are relatively cheap. May we all attend great music festivals this year and not break the bank. Amen.

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By: Sarah Weingarten

Tips and Tricks

According to movies, having a Mom who was a former representative of Clinique an an older sister I should have received the holy grail of makeup tips. But I didn't. Everything I know about beauty I've discovered from magazines, the internet or trail and error.

Recently my older sister asked for some makeup advice. I thought this was amusing (because she's older, so she should be teaching me stuff), but I told her some of my tricks regardless. So here's a handful of my most coveted beauty tricks and tips.

http://www.lifeloveandlacquer.com/

1. Nail polish is so expensive. I'm not about to spend $9 on one OPI polish (I wish I could, hell I wish I could buy Butter polish). But I buy Spoiled polish instead, which is only $1.99 and can be found at CVS. The polish maintains a good consistency and has a wide bush for easy application. It chips easily, so I would invest in good top coat. I use Sally Hansen advance hard as nails top coat.

http://www.womansday.com/

2. Stop buying shaving cream, It is honestly the biggest waste of money. Swap out you shaving cream for conditioner.  All shaving cream is doing is softening your leg hairs to create an easy close shave. Conditioner is made to soften your hair, and is a lot cheaper than shaving cream. Buy a hug pump of the cheapest conditioner, and violà, you are all set.

http://pakifashion.com/

3. Use multiple eyeliner products and layer them for extra stay power. I personally like gel and liquid liner. First I start out with Revlon gel liner, then I go over it with Sephora liquid liner. My liner stays for hours and is super dark. If pencil is more your thing, I would recommend MAC kohl eyeliner. The trick to great eyeliner is to use multiple kinds, so stock up.

http://beautyfool.com/

4. Exfoliate your lips for a smooth, soft, kissable mouth, Exfoliated lips will help lipstick and gloss lay evenly. You can buy exfoliate or make your own, I've done it both ways and I don't have a preference. ELF lip exfoliate is the one I'm currently using. When I make my own I combine Vaseline and brown sugar, but the internet is full of different recipes. 

http://theinbetweengirls.com/

5. Rim your waterline with white eyeliner. It will instantly open up and brighten you eyes. This is because the white liner enhances the whites of your eyes. I'm currently using NYX slim eye pencil, but obviously any liner will do just make sure it's a pencil and not a cream liner. 

http://www.maskcara.com/

6. Contouring your face is an art. It will make you look like you were born with impeccable bone structure or enhance it. All that is needed is blush, bronzer and highlighter. I use NYX cream blush, ELF bronzer and Rimmel London radiance shimmer. The difficult part is where the hell do these products go. I reference this contouring picture, which shows hot to contour based on face shape. The picture is from the makeup blog Mask Cara, which can teach you how to contour way better than I ever could.

http://blogs.ubc.ca/susannayao/2012/11/16/beauty-queen-sephora/

7. Sign up for Ulta and Sephora emails. There are so many freebies and coupons, I cringe when people pay full price. Hell, if you like a product so much go to the company's website and sign up for their emails. Chances are they will have their own freebies and coupons. The more freebies the merrier. 

Hopefully you learned some new beauty tricks and will be able to teach your older sister something too!

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By: Sarah Weingarten

New Years Resolutions That Are Worth Keeping

http://web.stagram.com/n/apairandaspare/

The arrival of a new year always means the start of proposed resolutions with a reputation to sizzle out and die by the time Valentine's Day rolls around. But that's because usual resolutions are not maintainable nor fun, more chore-like. Here are five resolutions that are worthy of your time and effort and don't undeniably suck.

1. Flossing Every Day

Wow sounds really lame, right? But flossing is actually extremely important to your overall health. Flossing helps make your smile whiter because it gets rid of food that would rot and yellow in between your teeth. Flossing sounds a hell of a lot cheaper than fancy teeth whitening products. Also, because floss will get rid of the rotten food in your mouth, it will help maintain better breath. You will also live longer if you floss regularly. It helps reduce your chance of heart disease, which is the number one leading cause of death in America. If only someone told you how important flossing was beforehand! Oh, right, your dentist. 

2. Call Your Mom (at least) Once A Week

You only have one mom. She probably misses you a lot more than you miss her, so calling her once a week will make her smile until you call her next. It doesn't have to be a super long phone call, just check in with her to tell her about your life (she might actually give you some good advice, considering she's been around longer than you have) and ask her about her life. Deep down I think all kids just want to make their moms proud and happy, and deep down moms just want to continue being included and relevant in their kids lives as they grow up. A simple weekly phone call kills two birds with one stone. 

3. Mix Up Your Makeup 

For the new year shake up your beauty routine and throw in something new. Personally, I want to make eyeliner a staple in my everyday makeup routine, which at the moment only consists of mascara and eyebrow pencil. I feel more badass and put together when I have eyeliner on. Make 2014 the year of lipstick or colored mascara, whatever floats your makeup boat. 

4. Bedtime

Set a reasonable adult bedtime like 10 or 10:30 and stick with it. Staying up until 4am and sleeping into 1pm will only suffice for so long. Getting more sleep and having a regular sleep schedule will improve your health, body weight and skin. Staying up super late and hating yourself when you wake up has absolutely no benefits. 

5. Self-Love

2014 is a great year to fall in love with yourself (actually any year and any time is good, but whatever). Stop being so self-conscious and start doing what you love. Don't worry about what you're not or what you haven't done yet. Think of how amazing you are right now. Think of all the amazing qualities and features that are personally yours. Don't beat yourself up if you didn't make it to the gym today, or yesterday, or for a whole month. Love who you are and everything that makes you, you. Loving yourself is a daily pursuit that may last longer than a year, it might take your whole life. But loving yourself and being free from the bounds of self-consciousness is amazing and a positive goal to attempt to achieve. 

Happy New Year!

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By: Sarah Weingarten