Of course, being trendy isn’t easy, and it definitely isn’t cheap. So to help out those of you who want to look trendy without spending a ton of money, we’re hooking you up with The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Summer Fashion Trends. You can thank us later.

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Monochrome

Monochrome is back, but you don't want to look like you're just following the crowd with this trend. Become a mime so that you can look on trend without coming across as if you're trying to look on trend.

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Fringe

Fringe isn't just for the 70s anymore. It's everywhere these days. So why not just put your clothes in a paper shredder to emulate the same look at home?

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Mullet Skirts

Mullet skirts (also known as high/low skirts) are super popular right now. But if you want to go for a less expensive twist on the trend, just grow a mullet. It's a fun 80s throwback that'll get you tons of compliments.

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Garish Florals

Garish floral prints have hit the runway and your favorite stores. But why spend so much money looking like everyone else when you can wear a one of a kind floral ensemble? Pour glue all over your favorite shirt and then roll around in a nearby garden. Voila! You've got your very own avant garde floral outfit. The additional dirt and bugs also give your look a little extra edge.

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Hologram Clothing

Shiny, hologram clothing is everywhere these days. You can rock the same silvery rainbow look by wearing some old CDs. Sure, you might blind everyone you're near, especially at the beach, but at least you'll be trendy!

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Clear Clothing & Accessories

Clear/see through accessories are big right now, especially with clutches and high heeled shoes (they're not just for strippers anymore!). But why not go full speed ahead with this trend by wearing clear clothing as well! Get some cling wrap from your kitchen and wrap yourself up in it. Very edgy.

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Geometric Color Blocking

Geometric color blocking, inspired by Mondrian paintings, is still very in style. So why not just steal a Mondrian painting and use the canvas as a dope dress? Everybody will want to know where you got it, but it'll be your little secret.

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Stripes

Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, you name it: Stripes are more in fashion than ever. You can make sure you're on top of this trend 24/7 by applying your sunscreen in stripes across your body. That way, even when your striped clothes are in the wash, you can still look stylin'.

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Leather Skirts

Leather and summer don't seem like they'd mix, but even summer weather can't cool off this blazing hot trend. But cows are super cute, right? If you want to be on trend without having a heavy conscious, just walk around with a cow instead.

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Wear What You Want!

Forget the trends and wear whatever you like, whether it is in style or not. Don't sacrifice your personal sense of style for a trend that you're not too fond of. You'll probably look awesome regardless.

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Which summer trends are you into right now? Do you even pay attention to trends? Tell us in the comments! 

10 Summer Makeup YouTube Beauty Tutorials You Need To Try

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While it hasn’t always been great, I’m appreciating being an only child more as I get older. I mean, there are a ton of perks. Here are the 10 best things about being an only child:

I never have to fight for my parents’ attention.

It’s less expensive. Less mouths to feed, cheaper family vacations and my parents don’t have to worry about sending a bunch of kids through college. And honestly, sending one is expensive enough. So holla for saving a lil’ money.

I never have to share with anyone else. It’s all mine!

I don’t have to compare myself/be compared to my siblings. This always happens to my friends with brothers and/or sisters, especially in school from teachers who had their older siblings! Sounds like an inferiority complex waiting to happen. Luckily, I never had to deal with any Jan Brady Syndrome.

Only children tend to mature faster than people with siblings.

My clothes are mine and mine only. I don’t have to worry about my siblings borrowing (aka stealing) my clothes without my permission or rummaging through my closet while I’m away. And no ugly hand-me-downs!

I don’t have to worry about my sibling blabbing to my parents about something that I shouldn’t have done.

Only children have so much alone time that we have to figure out ways to entertain ourselves, especially as kids. Because of that, I have a huge imagination and am naturally creative.

I never had to babysit my siblings or drop them off/pick them up when I’d rather be doing something else, anything else.

I’ve always been incredibly independent and always will be.

Are you an only child? What do you love about it? Tell us in the comments!

The 10 best things about having a sister

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With Father’s Day coming up, we thought it would be a great idea to list some of our favorite dads from TV and movies. Of course, we don’t have enough room for all of the great dads, but consider the ones who didn’t make the list as honorable mentions.

Marlin from Finding Nemo

Marlon swam the entire sea for Nemo, and I’m pretty sure this scene left me in tears when I saw it in theatres. This scene really doesn’t get old.

Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is one of my all time favorite sitcoms, and Uncle Phil is probably my favorite dad (next to my own, that is). He supplied his nephew Will with a lot of tough love, but he was always there for him when push came to shove.

Danny Tanner from Full House

I’m pretty sure that there was a touching moment between Danny Tanner and his daughters at the end of every episode of Full House. Sure, they were usually pretty cheesy but it was always the best kind of cheese.

Phil Dunphy from Modern Family

Dads who think they’re cool usually aren’t, and Phil is no exception. But he’s still one of our faves.

Sam McGuire from Lizzie McGuire

Sam McGuire dad was always pretty goofy and aloof, but that never detracted him from showing some serious love and support for his kids.

Sandy Cohen from The OC

A modern classic, the OC’s Seth Cohen is probably one of the most down to earth lawyers that I’ve ever seen. Come on, he’d have to be to take in a trouble-making kid and treat him as his own.

Red Forman from That 70s Show

Red Foreman doesn’t exactly come across as a caring father about 99.9% of the time, but in the end his strictness stems from some serious love for his kids. And hey, at least he told his son that he loved him that one time…

Sandy Koufax from Big Daddy

For some strange reason, I was obsessed with this movie as a kid. While Adam Sandler’s dysfunctional time as a temporary dad was funny and heartwarming, the most important lesson that I took away from this film was a little trick about bent cans.

Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights

Nothing destroys me faster than big ol’ super manly men have heart to hearts with their daughters. Moments between Coach Taylor and his daughter Julie are perfect examples of this. My heart!

Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show

Cliff Huxtable. Enough said. He was the quintessential parent of the 80s, and I still wish that I could cop all of his sweaters.

Who are some of your favorite dads from TV and movies? Which of the dads in the list are your favorites? Tell us in the comments!

15 Cheap And Free Father’s Day Gifts
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Anyway, one night I realized just how many hip hop videos of that era took place on beautiful beaches. I mean, this was back when record labels actually had the money to plop their artists on a South American beach and use a ton of helicopters and speed boats without including a really blatant product places. You know, back in the good ol’ days.

So here’s a roundup of our favorite beach themed hip hop videos from the 90s and early 00s.

Angie Martinez, Lil Kim, Left Eye, Da Brat & Missy Elliott – Ladies Night

Okay, this is seriously one of the best female hip hop collaborations in the history of collaborations. Flawless.

Jagged Edge featuring Nelly – Where The Party At

I remember watching this music video so much in the summer of 2001 that I wanted to throw my television out the window. But 12 years later, I’ve found it in my heart to appreciate its cheesiness. And you gotta love the early 00s fashion (by love I mean “yikes!”)

Sisqo – Thong Song

Classic. Enough said.

The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize

One question: Can you imagine a music video like this today? With high speed chases and a ton of helicopters? If so, can you imagine it without a giant Pepsi advertisement in every frame? Didn’t think so.

JAY-Z – Big Pimpin’

Mr. Beyonce Knowles before he was Mr. Beyonce Knowles.

Ja Rule ft. Christina Milian - Between Me & You 

But where’s Ja Rule now? That’s what I want to know. Where’s Ja?

Wreckx-n-Effect – Rumpshaker

I don’t know about you, but I make sure that I bring a saxaphone and a massive camcorder whenever I hit the beach.

Nelly ft. P. Diddy & Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather

Remember when songs from an upcoming blockbuster would have clips from the movie in the music video? I mean, I don’t miss those days but they, you know, happened. This video is a great example of that awkward era.

Snoop Dogg Ft. Pharrell – Beautiful

Let me just note that this video was made 10 years ago. Pharrell looks exactly the same today. The man just refuses to age.

Salt-N-Pepa – Shoop

I saved the best for last. Look, this may not be set in the sandy beaches of Brazil or Florida (try Coney Island), but it’s got some down-to-earth charm about it. And I have a lot of love in my heart for videos that turn the male gaze on its head so that the men are the objectified, scantily clad ones for once. Call it a double standard all you want, but while you do that I’m going to replay this video over and over again.

Which of these songs has you dancing in your seat? Which beach-centric hip hop videos did we miss? Tell us in the comments!

Flashback: 15 Summer Songs From The ’90s To Jam Out To

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What’s worse than a first date marked by paralyzing uncertainty and worry? Here’s what’s worse: A first date marked by paralyzing uncertainty and a sudden fart.

Well, even if your first dates tend to be full of fun and lacking embarrassing bodily functions, you can’t help but think about potentially awkward scenarios, right? And if you don’t think about those things, well, we’re making you think about it now. Take our Would You Rather poll to see what situations you’d rather face on a first date.

What’s one of your most embarrassing first date stories? Do you have any rules you live by when it comes to first dates? Tell us in the comments!

How To Have A Perfect First Date: 8 Tips To Help You Stop Worrying
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So yeah, as dicey as friendships can be, they’re so important to our overall sense of well being. But who hasn’t had some sort of problem with a friend? Here’s some of your comments about friend drama.

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What’s the biggest fight you’ve ever had with a friend? Do you think it is easy to restore a friendship once it’s been broken? Tell us in the comments!

My Best Friends Are Dating And Now I Feel Like A Third Wheel

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Me and my (awesome) natural hair.

My hair is incredibly important to me, especially since I wear it in a natural hairstyle. By natural, I mean that I don’t use any chemicals to straighten or alter the texture of my hair. Relaxers and perms are very popular among black women, and I have nothing against people who use them! What you do with you hair is a personal choice and nobody’s business but your own! But I’m very happy that I leave my hair in its natural state because, well, I think it looks awesome!

Despite the growing popularity of natural hair in recent years, there is still a big stigma against it. Black hair in its natural state is often seen as unattractive and unruly, and it definitely fails to meet euro-centric standards of beauty. If you’re skeptical about how deep rooted these standards are, look at most of the hairstyles in your average magazine or advertisement. Trust me, you’ll have to spend a fair amount of time finding anyone with my hair texture. If you’re still not convinced look at it this way: I’ve had friends who decided to relax their hair so that they can appear more professional for jobs in media or business. How sad is that?

Frankly, screw euro-centric beauty standards because my hair is fabulous. Here’s 10 reasons why I love my natural hair.

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The Coolest People Are Rocking It.

Interest in natural hairstyles is growing and it is becoming incredibly trendy. Celebs like Willow Smith, Solange Knowles and Viola Davis--just a few of my favorite black celebs--are rocking natural hairstyles and looking fabulous.

It Scares Off Losers

Angela Davis is a political figure who should be known for more than her awesome afro. But let's be real: Her hairstyle was seen as radical back in the day, and in some ways it still is now. People love to associate afros with being angry and militant and scary, and honestly the people who are dumb enough to make those stereotypes deserve to be scared. So I hope that my hair worries at least one person everyday.

It Is A Money Saver

I can save a lot of money by not getting my hair chemically straightened every few weeks. Also, I rarely need to buy shampoo! Most shampoos contain sulfates that are really rough on natural hair. Many people with natural hair rarely use shampoo, which means that my bottle of shampoo lasts FOREVER. Seriously, I'm talking one bottle every year and a half or so, personally. Saving money is always a plus in my book

It Makes A Statement

Since there are still many people who disapprove of natural hair, wearing natural hairstyles in public always makes some kind of statement whether I like it or not. But usually, I like it, because it looks awesome! The more gravity defying it looks, the better.

Rain Won't Mess With It

In case you didn't know, black hair naturally curls when water touches it. For natural ladies who don't straighten their hair, this means that rain is no longer the enemy of our 'do. For women who have their hair chemically straightened, well, my heart goes out to them. I hope their umbrella is super durable!

It Is Incredibly Versatile

People underestimate the lengths to which black hair can can transform. I'd argue that black hair is the most diverse and most versatile hair type out there. It can be straightened, locked, twisted, braided, and transform into an awesomely voluminous afro. There are so many options! It almost makes me want to have two heads just so I can play around to my heart's content!

It Can Be A Makeshift Pillow

Uncomfortable rides in airplanes or cars can be a real pain in the neck. Literally, a pain in the neck. Luckily when I'm in those situations and donning a fro, my hair provides a little bit of a cushion when I don't have a pillow. It's not much, but it's something.

People Try To Copy Us And Fail Miserably

People who don't have our hair type love to try to emulate our most popular styles. This is especially evident with cornrow style braids. All I have to say to people like Ke$ha who try to rock this look is...no. Just, no.

I Can Become Scary Spice Whenever I Want

Enough said, really. We all know that Scary Spice was the coolest of all of the Spice Girls. Stay jealous.

It's Just Amazingly Badass

Frankly, I just think that natural hair is straight up beautiful. I mean, of course, I have my bad hair days but I just love how awesome natural hairstyles look. Whether it's braids or fros or everything in-between, natural hair is straight up cool and nobody should ever feel ashamed of it.

Do you have natural hair? What do you think about euro-centric beauty standards? Tell us in the comments!

 
Why I Love My African American Hair
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So here’s a playlist to nights spent whispering to each other until you fall asleep, waking up to discover your friend snores and growing up.

What songs remind you of your friends? What is the number one thing that every girls night needs? Tell us in the comments!

Playlist: 10 Sad Songs For Indulging In Your Sadness

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Surprisingly I’m not a loser.

You know that movie Never Been Kissed? It’s the one where Drew Berrymore is a journalist who has never been in a relationship and is assigned to go undercover as a high school student to report on the lives of teens living that tough late ’90s suburbia life.

Well, aside from all of that undercover junk, I’ve realized that the older I get, the more I start to relate to Drew’s character…but a little less thirsty.

So I’m going to tell it to you straight: I’m 22-years old and I’ve never been kissed. I’ve never slept with anyone. I’ve never been on a date.

And as much as I would love to have experienced all of those things, let me let you in on a little secret: It’s not the end of the world. Seriously. It’s not.

If you feel like you’re some big ol’ loser because you’ve never been kissed, or never performed oral sex in a school bathroom stall, or haven’t reached any of those touching romantic milestones yet, know this: Milestones are stupid and there is always time. Your love life isn’t a race and you’re probably awesome.

Your sexual prowess (or lack thereof) has no bearing on how desirable you are. This is something that I’ve had to learn. It wasn’t until college that I was asked out by a few guys…all of whom I turned down. It wasn’t until college that I had mutual romantic interests, but time, place and that fickle little thing called life got in the way. Things happen, moments are lost and sometimes neither things nor moments are going on and you can feel pretty dejected. Believe me, I’ve been there. I know how it feels to feel left out when your friends share their crazy hookup experiences right in front of you. I know how it feels to wonder why everyone manages to hookup or date while you’re left in the dust, even when you put yourself out there. It can really suck. It just doesn’t make sense, right?

You’re right, it doesn’t make sense. Life doesn’t make sense, and love is particularly senseless.

Yeah, it’s a little funny (ok, weird) that there are a ton of 15-year-old girls out there who are more sexually experienced than I am–and more power to them for experiencing all the awesome things that romance has to offer. But it’s really okay not to have experienced those things yet. You’re really not as alone as you think you are, honestly.

I’m very aware of the possibility that I come across as a massive loser confessing all of this, but I honestly don’t care. Sure, I’d like for my current status to change, but I’m really not agonizing over it; and any of you who are in the same situation shouldn’t worry about it either!

Of course I have moments when I feel like I’m going to be forever alone, and I’m admittedly self-conscious about how a future boyfriend or hookup would react to this information, but those moments are pretty rare and fleeting. I know that something is going to come along, so what’s the point of feeling sorry for myself? I’m funny, I’m smart and I have an awesome sense of style. I have amazing friends and I’m a pretty happy person.

Look, I may not have been kissed yet, but my awesomeness isn’t determined by whether or not I’ve pulled tongue with some dude when I was in 9th grade. And neither is yours.

And if you’ve never been kissed and don’t feel at all comforted by my words of wisdom, at least you know that somewhere out there there is a chick who managed to graduate college without getting laid. There’s still hope for you.

Have you never been kissed? Do you feel like left out when it comes to love? Tell us in the comments!

Am I Going To End Up Alone Forever?

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Anyway, seeing movies as a family is rare, but watching an R-rated movie is rarer than Halley’s Comet. Why? Uh, I can’t be the only one who finds watching anything remotely racy and explicit with my parents to be incredibly awkward. I just can’t be. Well, I know that I’m not because GIF Girl agrees with me. Here’s her experience watching R-rated movies with her parents in GIFS!

You don’t come into the movie expecting anything gratuitous nudity. I mean, it’s a movie about something tragic like war…

 Or a comedy.

And the violence isn’t the problem.

And the language isn’t a problem, either.

Nope, the problem is when the boobs and peen start coming out.

Look, I know that it says a lot about us as a culture to be so prudish about the human body; I think it’s ridiculous. Why do we feel more freaked out by a penis on the big screen than somebody’s head getting chopped off? But I’m not going to lie: As soon as the nakedness turns into a sex scene, the awkwardness is unbearable.

Honestly, I forget to breathe. Instead of focusing on the movie, I’m worried about what my parents think if all of this sudden surprise!sex.

I turn to dad who looks stoic as ever.

But I’m sure he’s wondering just how much I know about the mechanisms of sex. 

We never had the talk, okay? Thanks, school.

Anyway, my mom looks like she is about to laugh because she feels just as embarrassed as I do.

But then she decides to cover my eyes once things get really heavy.

And I’m like…

Excuse me?

I’ve seen it all before, mom. I just turn the channel before you notice.

And speaking of watching TV, isn’t it ridiculous that when I’m watching something on TV, it looks like a puritanical dreamland when only I’m there.

But as soon as my parents come downstairs it becomes straight up soft-core porn.

I learned that the hard way with Girls and Game of Thrones. Maybe I just need to stop watching HBO around my parents. But I’m starting to think that there is some kind of conspiracy going on…

The media just wants us to feel as awkward as possible about genitals and sex around our patents. And it’s working, because I end up feeling like this.

Do you have an awkward story about watching scandalous stuff with your parents? Does watching racy stuff with your parents not bother you? Tell us in the comments!

Your Relationship With Your Parents & How You Deal With Them
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