But sometimes you actually need to look cute and put together even when it’s raining, so for those days, we’ve got these rainy day hairstyles. They’re easy, fast and will help prevent frizz by keeping your hair tucked away neatly. They’re adorable enough to impress everyone around you while still being easy enough for you to do before school. Check out my 10 favorites from some YouTube beauty vloggers: 

This 5-minute updo puts a fun twist (see what I did there?) on your average bun.

This vintage look might take a little bit of time, but it’s also really adorable.

This cute braided look will look great even if you get caught without an umbrella.

Sock buns are the perfect hairstyle for a rainy day and once you add braids, it looks even better – plus, it will impress all of your friends.

If you’re good at doing a French braid, then you should quickly become a pro at this hairstyle.

Why do a plain old boring ponytail when you could do one with a little more oomph?

Braids are obviously the easiest hairstyle for a rainy day and this side one is made by cuter by a front twist.

This video has three cute and easy looks in one. Love them all!

This hair crown might be a teensy bit more complicated than some of these, but it’s so cute that it’s worth it!

This messy bun really doesn’t even look that messy at all.

Which of these hairstyles was your favorite? Are you going to try any of them? How do you do your hair on rainy days? What kind of hairstyles do you want to see? Tell me in the comments!

10 easy summer hairstyles to keep you cool

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It’s almost that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about summer, silly. I’m talking about final exam time – our favorite time! JK, it’s no one’s favorite time (unless you really, really enjoy studying and then I sort of envy you a little bit). The barrage of final exams that we all face at the end of every school year can bring on a ton of stress. It’s like, all you want to do is enjoy the warmer weather and dream about spending your days on the beach, but instead you’re dealing with an endless amount of notes, textbooks and studying. It’s enough to drive a girl crazy!

Final exam stress can be super tough to deal with. Not only are you worried about the end-of-the-year assignments you might have going on, but you also have to study, study, study. Taking a break seems impossible. Doing anything else only makes you think about how you should be studying… but you’re not. You start freaking out about finding the time to study, the best ways to study and how your parents may or may not react to your grades.

So, how do you deal with final exam stress? Luckily, we’ve got an expert to remind us to take a deep breath – slowly, slowly – and calm down. That expert is Amy Poehler, who address school test stress in her latest Ask Amy video. As I’m sure you can guess, I loved her advice.

Amy reminds us that it’s important not to overwhelm yourself. She says, “…take things day by day, piece by piece.” So, yeah, you could sit there and think about all of the studying you have to do for history and math and science and English and… you get it. You could sit there and think about all of that and freak yourself out, or you could set up time to study for each class and only focus on what you’re studying for at the moment, instead of thinking about EVERYTHING that needs to get done.

Amy goes into a few other tips on how to get through the stress of final exams and end-of-the-year schoolwork (watch the video below for more of her awesome advice) and also advises against cheating. Because, girls, cheating isn’t worth it. Seriously, it’s not. It’s the easy way out and I know you guys are all better than that.

To sum it all up? Amy says, “If you can sleep, breathe, work hard, wish for the best and do everything you can to prepare, I bet you’ll do well. As well as you can. And that’s all anybody can ask for.” Exactly!

Watch the video below to check out everything Amy has to say about final exams stress:

Now get off Gurl.com (but come back!), go study and don’t forget to breathe. And sleep. And RELAX. You’ll make it, we swear!

What did you think about Amy’s advice? How do you deal with final exams stress? Are you already freaking out about studying? Tell us in the comments.

Your complete guide to studying for finals

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In fact, I’m dealing with this right now. Lucky me, right? When I recently was told that one of my friends was talking crap about me behind my back, I felt confused, then furiously angry, then indignant (how dare she?!), then sort of sad and then just totally sad. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has dealt with this kind of situation. People can be cruel and some people don’t have the guts to tell you to your face that they have a problem with you – instead, they just talk about it to others.

So, how do you deal when you find out that your supposed friends are making you their number one topic of conversation? It’s easy to flip out Real Housewives-style and cause a dramatic scene, but before you go that far, try these tips first. Trust me.

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Don't Jump To Conclusions

When you first hear that a friend is talking about you, your first reaction might be to freak out and do a bunch of stuff you'll later regret. I know it's hard, but try to stay calm until you know the entire story. Your friends words could have gotten taken out of context or maybe she was even misheard. Or maybe she never even said anything at all (see the next slide)! Before you do anything, try to figure out the entire story.

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Is This From A Trusted Source?

Like I said, don't jump to conclusions. Consider your source - can you trust this person? Is this someone you're close to who doesn't usually lie about this stuff? Or is your source a total drama queen who enjoys stirring up the pot? Sometimes people make these things up - and that's why it's important not to jump to conclusions right away. Get as much info as you can from your source and then go with your gut.

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Don't Start Talking About Her Also

Once you hear the things your friend said about you, you might want to get even with her by saying some stuff about her also. Resist the urge to get revenge by spreading your own nasty comments. Why? Because bashing each other behind each other's backs is only going to make this whole thing worse. Plus, if you blab about her to someone else before you confront her and she hears about it, she can throw that right back in your face - and then you're both wrong.

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Is This Worth Fighting Over?

Think about what your friend said about you: is it bad enough to warrant a full-on friend fight, or worse comes to worst, a friend war? If you confront your friend, it may start an argument - not only between the two of you, but also between you and your source. That person may not have expected you to go back and say, "So-and-so told me what you said about me." Get what I'm saying? If what your friend said really sucks, you have every right to say something to her. But if she just said something like, "Ugh, her outfit last night was so ugly," it may be best to ignore that catty behavior and just silently move on to better friends.

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Confront Her

The absolute best thing to do in this situation, if you're really upset? Confront your friend. It might be tough, but it's the best way to try to figure out the whole story and to find out why she said what she said. The confrontation should ideally happen in person, although during school or work is never a great idea. You can call her if you want, but just know that it will be more difficult to see how genuine she's being through the phone. And texting is never the place for a fight. It's way too messy.

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Try To Be Mature

See that picture? Don't do that. When you decide to confront your friend about this, try to be as mature and calm as possible. Running up to her screaming and cursing isn't going to solve anything. Instead, just be honest. Say, "I heard what you said about me and it made me really upset. Why would you do that?" Try to talk it out and get to the root of the problem. And you can definitely let her know exactly how bummed out you were about the whole thing. She should know what she did was hurtful.

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Reconsider Your Friendship

In the end, it's up to you whether or not you want to continue a friendship with this person. Consider the circumstances: was this a one-time offense? Why was your friend talking about you? Did she seem genuinely sorry? If she barely apologized or if she's done this a few times already, chances are, she's more of a frenemy than a bestie. You don't need friends like that in your life, so don't feel like you have to forgive her and keep her around.

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Have you ever had a friend talk about you behind your back? What did you do? Were you ever the one doing the talking? Tell me in the comments.

How to know if your BFF is really your BFF

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This week has pretty tough, hasn’t it? Since the horrible bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, it’s virtually impossible to go online, especially social media sites, and not get bombarded with disturbing images of what’s going on. Things have been even more difficult today with this manhunt of one of the suspects happening.

Personally, I’ve seen many, many sad and horrific images online that I almost wish I didn’t see. I’ve also read a ton of misinformation that has made me feel scared and anxious, only to find out an hour later that it was totally wrong. I guess that’s to be expected when news comes to us so quickly through the Internet. Every single news site wants to be the very first one to break something big – and it seems like they don’t care if that information might be wrong. It’s impossible to avoid the terrible images that are being passed around.

The sad part is that this whole situation almost feels like deja vu. When the Sandy Hook tragedy happened, you couldn’t go on any site without being reminded of the terrible events that took place. The same thing happened with the Dark Knight movie theater shooting. You almost don’t want to look at these things because it can be too much, but then you feel guilty not paying attention.

While it’s great and important to be informed about what’s going on close to home, it’s also important to give yourself a break once in a while – and that’s exactly what Amy Poehler talks about in her latest Ask Amy video, which came at exactly the right time.

Amy gets a question about looking at things online, and says, “…What do I want my eye to see? How can I keep myself informed and connected without exploiting people and harming myself?” She adds, “It’s been tough, hasn’t it? Doesn’t it feel like we’re just bombarded with stuff now? That everywhere we go, there’s just some picture that’s worse than the one before? I wonder if we could soften our hearts and minds and eyes and I wonder if we could give our eyes a break and maybe try to see things in a different way. See things by reading about them and talking about them and listening. I don’t know, I kind of feel like my eyes need a break, don’t you?”

In times like these, you not only need to keep yourself informed, but you also need to remember that it’s okay to take a break from these disturbing images and sad stories sometimes. If you only pay attention to this sad news, it’s going to bring you down and it will be the only thing you think about. As Amy says, “It’s okay to not be looking at what everyone else is looking at all of the time, to know what you’re ready to see and not see.”

Watch Amy’s video for more excellent advice on how to deal with these situations:

Have you had trouble dealing with disturbing images online? Was this advice helpful to you? How do you feel about what’s happening in Boston? Tell us in the comments.

If you want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening, do so here

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So how do you deal with a clingy friend? How do you nicely tell that girl to give you some space without alienating her forever? It’s not the easiest thing in the world, but it is possible if you’re polite and honest and follow these 7 tips below.

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Don't Feel Bad Saying No

You should never feel like you have to hang with your friend if she asks and you have nothing else really going on. You also shouldn't feel like you have the obligation to invite her everywhere you go. If you don't feel like hanging out with her one day, a simple "I can't, I'm busy!" is totally fine to say. If she's the kind of clingy friend who is going to press you until you tell her what you're doing, don't bother lying - that just makes things more complicated. Instead, just say, "you know, I'm tired and kind of just feel like bumming it on my own." If she gets insulted, that's something she needs to learn to deal with.

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Do Your Own Thing Sometimes

Like I just said, you should never feel like you have to invite your friend everywhere you go. Don't feel guilty about hanging out with other friends when she's not there. It's actually good for you to have a variety of friends! You don't have to leave her out of everything, but don't include her in everything either. Also important? Don't hide that you're doing your own thing. That will make her feel like either something shady is going on. Even more than that, it's not going to help you make the point that you two have your own lives.

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Encourage Her To Do Her Own Thing

Encouraging your friend to get her own life without insulting her is a little tricky. Try something like this: if she asks if you want to go to a party next weekend and you don't, say, "Nah, I'm not into it, but it sounds fun. You should still go!" Help introduce her to other people so she can get some more friends of her own. Try to be subtle, but firm, until she gets the hint.

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Don't Always Answer Her Right Away

If this girl is the type who texts you and/or calls you all day long, consider taking some time before you reply. If you're always immediately available whenever she gets in touch, she's going to naturally assume you like talking all day. I'm not saying you should ignore her, but let her know you're busy with your own stuff by not responding for an hour or so once in a while.

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Let Her Know She Can Have Her Own Opinion

Few things are more annoying than that person who has all of the same opinions as you do. You know what I mean - you say you hate the new Beyonce song and she chimes in with an, "OMG, me too!" when you know she was jamming out to it a few hours earlier. When you guys are talking about something, try to get her to state her opinion first and then say yours. If she changes her thoughts to be more like yours, you can gently and sort of jokingly say something like, "You can think something different than me!" Or you can just straight up call her out on it and be like, "Girl, I KNOW you like this person. Don't say you don't!" Sometimes being blunt (without being nasty) is the only way to get your point across.

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Talk To Her

If none of this stuff is working and she's still getting on your last nerve, you may need to suck it up and talk to her about how she's acting. Tell her you love being her friend but you just need a little bit of space sometimes. Will she get insulted? Yes, probably. Will she get angry? Yeah, that's also possible. But being honest and talking it out is better than talking about her behind her back - that's a sure way to ruin a friendship, while this way may save it.

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Seriously Think About If The Friendship Is Worth It

And if literally nothing works for you? Maybe you should start considering whether you really want to continue being friends with this person or not. I mean, if your friend is annoying you more than she's not annoying you, that's not a great sign. It might be time to cut ties or step back entirely for a little bit.

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Do you have any clingy friends in your life? How do you deal with them? What does your friend do that is super clingy? Tell me in the comments.

I lost my BFF – because she was jealous of my boyfriend

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Amy Poehler – kind of my role model.

In Amy Poehler’s latest Ask Amy video, she gives some seriously great advice about how to be courageous enough to take more risks. As usual, Amy’s advice is perfect – which is why I’m constantly posting her videos! I totally agree with the number one YouTube comment, which said, “Somehow, no matter what the subject, Ask Amy is exactly what I need at the moment. Amy knows before I know.” 

If you feel scared to do something you’ve never done before that you want to do, then you definitely need to watch this video. Taking risks is hard and the idea of them can be terrifying – it’s completely normal to feel afraid to do something new, no matter what it is. But taking risks and trying new things is also a really big part of your life – it’s important to learn how to be courageous enough to get over your fears and just do something. Who knows, it could even change your life!

But that’s all easier said than done – and unfortunately, there’s really only one way to conquer your fears. As Amy says, you just have to do it. She says, “The only way you’ll find out if you’re supposed to be with someone is to go for it. The only way you’re going to find out if you’re in the right place is to stand in the place. So, you can guess for a long time, ‘what if I screw up, what if I mess up’, you can think about every bad scenario … or you can just do it and see what happens. Because great people do things before they’re ready.”

I know it’s really scary to just jump into something, but getting out of your comfort zone can give you some pretty amazing experiences. It can allow you to learn so many things about yourself. And the best part? Once you’ve done it the first time, doing it all the times after that won’t be as hard because you’ve already been through it. Sometimes you really do just need to push yourself. As Amy says, “Courage, risks… yes. Go. Now.”

Watch for more of her amazing advice right here:

What is something you want to try but you’re scared to do it? How do you conquer your fears and act more courageous? Tell me in the comments!

How to say goodbye the right way

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Not only does this save you money, but it will also save you time. You can practice beforehand to make sure you like it and if you don’t? Just try something else! All of these looks are glamorous, fabulous and easy to do on your own – or you can have a makeup-friendly buddy do it for you. Check out these easy prom makeup tutorials:

This dramatic silvery look is classic and really pretty. It may look like a lot, but remember all of the pictures you’ll be in – your makeup should stand out!

This look is heavy on the eyeliner with a good amount of glitter, so only wear this if you want to get noticed! What’s awesome about it is that the girl uses super affordable drugstore makeup.

Want to channel Megan Fox during your prom? Then you need to try this pretty eye makeup right now.

Want a pop of color? This tutorial shows off a gorgeous pink eye makeup look.

Maybe you want to go more natural while still looking glam. If so, this makeup is perfect. It’s also awesome for any other event you’ve got going on.

If you’re on the hunt for something super cheap, then watch this super colorful tutorial using drugstore makeup.

This look is much more natural than the others while still looking beautiful and shimmery.

Black and gold has been a very trendy color combo this year and this super pretty look demonstrates exactly why. This would be great with a black dress.

Want to go with something more purple? Check out this purple smokey eye. It will absolutely get you noticed!

This colorful, glittery smokey eye is gorgeous no matter what color your dress is.

If you’re not afraid to show off a little color, go for this dramatic blue smokey eye.

The pop of blue eyeliner under the eyes is what makes this so special – and it’s perfect no matter what color you’re wearing.

Which of these looks was your favorite? Will you be doing your own makeup? What other kinds of makeup do you want to see? Tell me in the comments.

12 Prom Hairstyles For Short Hair

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Looking to ace that math test next week? Girl, I’m here for you. I know that with everything else going on in your life, doing well in school can seem super tough – but I’ve got a super easy tip that will help you get good grades.

A new study shows that mindfulness training can help improve your test scores. Mindfulness training is basically meditating, so what researchers are saying is that meditation can help make your test grades better. So, basically, thinking about absolutely nothing is the way to get a 4.0. Sounds kind of odd, right?

Yeah, but apparently, it works. Researchers found that this training, “which teaches how to center one’s thoughts on the present moment,” improved GRE scores and memory. They studied a group of college students. One group spent 45 minutes, four days a week for two weeks learning about a specific subject, while the other group spent the same amount of time learning how to clear distracting thoughts out of their head.

All of the students studied took two tests before and after the research period. The researchers found that the mindfulness training “significantly improved” their GRE scores and their working memory test scores.

Basically, researchers discovered that when students were better able to control their minds and not have their thoughts wander all over the place, they were able to get better grades. The mindfulness training helped them learn how to clear their heads and focus on the test in front of them, rather than their plans for the next weekend or something like that. So what it comes down to is less distraction equals good grades – which is kind of a no-brainer.

So how can you apply this to your life? While I definitely wouldn’t cross studying off the list entirely (you obviously need to know the materials before you take the test, this isn’t a miracle or anything), I would say that you should also try incorporating meditating into your study time. Or maybe set aside 30 minutes a day to work on meditation. Researchers in this study has students sit with their legs crossed and gaze lowered and had them focus their attention on one sensory experience, like breathing or tasting something or hearing something. You then allow your mind to rest for that time instead of trying to control what you’re thinking about.

Granted, this is easier said than done – it can be hard to sit silently without any interruptions, especially in the days of Facebook and Twitter and constant text messages. But maybe this could be good for you. And if it can get you better grades, I’d say it’s worth it, right?

Plus, mindfulness training can help you with other stuff also. It’s been shown to help with depression, anxiety during sex and even ADHD. It can be sort of relaxing, so that also may help you with stress. Positives all around!

Do you think you’ll try meditating to get better grades? What are your tips for getting good grades? Does this sound stupid to you? Tell me in the comments.

Your complete guide to studying

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All of these looks are so easy and DIY – there’s no need to spend lots of money on a hair stylist when you can just do these yourself! The other great thing about these short hair updos and styles is that they’ll work for pretty much any occasion, not just prom. Going to a wedding? Bat mitzah? School dance? These are perfect! Or, if you just feel like being fancy, some of these can even work for a regular day at school. Check ‘em out and let us know what you’ll be trying:

If you can braid hair, then you can do this super easy updo. Adding a flower or bow ups the glam factor.

This slightly messy yet still elegant updo is too cute! Perfect for dancing.

If you’re not looking to spend a lot of time on your hair, go for this one. People will think it took a lot longer than it did.

This bohemian look is just fancy enough for prom, but could also be perfect for a hot summer day.

Not looking for an updo? You can still curl short hair, girl! Here’s how:

This romantic updo looks so much harder than it is. Everyone will be totally impressed.

If you’re looking to keep things super simple, a top knot is the way to go. Bet you didn’t think you could do that with short hair, huh?

With the front braid and the curls, this hairstyle is perfect for prom.

A classic French twist is always a good idea. It’s elegant, simple and still impressive.

These pretty braids are great if you’re going for a more casual look.

If your short hair is curly, you definitely need to check out this easy style.

This twisty, braided updo is amazing for medium length hair.

Which of these hairstyles was your favorite? Are you going to try any of them? What other kinds of hairstyles do you want to see? Tell us in the comments!

Your complete guide to prom prep

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Want a gorgeous corsage but don’t want to spend a bajillion dollars? (Yeah, bajillion is a number. Ask your math teacher. But, like, don’t tell her we told you to, OK?) Well, then Jamie’s got just the craft for you. This is an awesome way to save money on Prom so you can spend more on the stuff that counts…like post-Prom snacks!

Also, check out Jamie DIY Corsage Package Giveaway to make your very own corsage!

What parts of Prom are you going to splurge on and which are you going to save on?Tell us in the comments!
 

Amazing Prom shoe idea that’s totally budget friendly!

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