Cinco de Mayo is also a good excuse to dress up your pooch. Just look at this handsome bandito bulldog! | Source: Shutterstock

If you’ve ever asked, “When is Cinco de Mayo“, you’re probably not doing so hot (or caliente) in Spanish class–”Cinco de Mayo” means “Fifth of May,” which is this Saturday!

So what is it? A lot of people think Cinco de Mayo is like the Fourth of July in the U.S. because of its name. However, Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexican Independence Day (that’s actually September 16!). Cinco de Mayo, which is celebrated regionally in Mexico (as opposed to just about everywhere in the U.S.!), is actually dedicated to the victory of Mexican soldiers over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This was a big deal because the French army outnumbered the Mexican army 2 to 1 and was considered the best army in the world at the time–they were under Napoleon’s leadership!

While the Mexican army’s victory was pretty short lived–the French went on to win the war a year later (but not for long), the Cinco de Mayo win gave the troops and country as a whole a huge morale boost and a ton of well-earned pride. It was also super important to America, too–if the Mexican army lost the battle of Puebla, it’s widely believed that the French would have gone on to help the Confederate army in the Civil War, which could have made things very different and very scary.

Today, most of Mexico doesn’t go nuts over Cinco de Mayo (do we celebrate the Battle of Ticonderoga every year? Right. Didn’t think so!). But because of the Civil War tie-ins–and the excuse to party–America loves to celebrate the occasion. Think about it: Nachos, Mariachi bands, an excuse to wear a sombrero, and warm spring weather? It’s the perfect recipe for an awesome time, which explains the parades, parties, and pinatas.

Bust out the guac and green, white, and red decorations and get ready to have a good time–but if you’re going out, be sure to drive safely! Bars celebrate Cinco de Mayo harder than anyone, and margaritas and motor vehicles do not mix.

Have you ever heard of anyone asking “When is Cinco de Mayo?” Have you ever been to a Cinco de Mayo party (or fiesta!)? What’s your favorite holiday? Tell us in the comments!

Thinking About Throwing A Cinco de Mayo Party? Here’s How!

You don't need a cape to save the world! | Source: Shutterstock

Before we go into how to go green and save the world for Earth Day 2012, let’s start with a metaphor. Picture your favorite pair of Converse. You love them so much that you wear them all the time, and they’re probably worn in, scuffed, and may have had the laces replaced. You figure, “No biggie, I can get a new pair when they’re worn out.” Soon, you get less careful about what you step in, what you spill on them, and if your dog chews on ‘em.

Now imagine that no more Converse were being made ever, ever again, and you had already kind of messed up what would be your last pair. You’d try to fix them up and take extra good care of them, right?

For the sake of argument, Earth is that favorite pair of sneakers. For a while on this planet, we didn’t realize what we were stepping in–what we were doing. We built factories and produced awesome things like cars, but they polluted the air and started draining our energy and resources. We began to do all sorts of things, from driving to creating medicine to using hairspray. These things made our lives simpler but complicated them later in the form of air and water pollution and a heavy carbon footprint, which has started to lead to global climate change. Now that we’ve seen evidence of the damage we’ve caused–from polar bears losing their habitats from melting ice to lung damage from air pollution to loss of rainforests to oil spills–it’s more important ever to go green, because, unlike a classic pair of Chucks that can be replaced, we only have one planet to live on! It’s something we need to remember not just on Earth Day, but every day.

You can go green with any color you want! | Source: Shutterstock

So how can you–yes, you, cute girl!–save the world? Reduce your waste! The more we all conserve, reuse, and recycle, the better off we’ll be in the long run.

And don’t worry, because it’s so easier than you think. You can start with your average shopping trip. Each year, we go through about 1 billion shopping bags–and that makes 300,000 tons of landfill waste!
Takeaway tip: Carry a cute reusable tote with you instead of using a new shopping bag each time! Not only are they adorable, but let’s face it–they’re a lot sturdier than the plastic bags that rip if you try putting a milk carton in. Another bonus? A lot of stores offer a discount for bags that you reuse!

Paper is another biggie. Did you know that the average American uses roughly one 100-foot-tall tree’s worth of paper and wood products every year? That’s a lot!
Takeaway tip: Yikes! You can cut down on that by continuing to read online magazines like Gurl instead of printed ones—and by using fewer napkins at the take-out spot. Yes, you’re messy, but not that messy!! And let’s be real, how often do you actually use all those extra napkins? Don’t forget to recycle your old magazines and newspapers, too–the more companies can reuse, the fewer trees need to be chopped down!

Your gadgets can also come in handy for saving energy. If we all recycled our old cell phones, we could save enough energy to power almost 19,000 homes for an entire year!
Takeaway tip: You know you’re never going to use that flip phone from seventh grade, so why are you holding on to it?! Recycle it and encourage your pals to do the same!

Recycling cans may even earn you cash. | Source: Shutterstock

Another tip? Reuse and recycle your metal. If we all recycled all of our aluminum cans for a year, we could save enough energy to light Washington, D.C. for almost four years–an entire president’s term!
Takeaway tip: RECYCLE! It’s not that hard, and in certain states, you even get a little cash back for your cans. It’s a win-win-win, girl!

Now that you know how you can go green and save the world this Earth Day, you can put your knowledge to use to ease our worries about the planet for a while–that way we can think about other things, too. You know, like shoes.

Do you have tips for going green? How can you save the world? How are you celebrating Earth Day 2012? Share your wisdom in the comments!

Saving The World Is Kind Of Hot Right Now. Here’s Why!

Sara Ganim's fearlessness brought on justice for sexual abuse victims. | Source: SaraGanim.com

In case you’re unfamiliar with the Penn State case, we’ll keep it short for you since it’s pretty disturbing: Former assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with a whopping 52 sex crimes involving 10 young boys. (For his part, Sandusky is saying he’s not guilty.) Since Sandusky was a local hero in the Penn State area, there had been a few whispers about his inappropriate behavior with young boys, but most people just didn’t believe it–picture your favorite teacher getting arrested, then multiply that feeling by about a zillion.

Sara Ganim wasn’t so quick to laugh off that particularly damaging brand of gossip. The longtime journalist (she started at her school paper when she was a sophomore!) began investigating hardcore. She started covering the scandal in 2009 after hearing an offhand remark–way before it became a national story. Sara had recently graduated from Penn State, so she was familiar with its football program and with the characters involved. Something unique that Sara did for her article is something you may well do everyday: she used the Penn State university message boards to round up her sources. Smart girl!

Sara kept working at her story after getting hired by the The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 2011, going as far as knocking on doors to score interviews with anyone who may have had an inkling on the case, including the victims. Sara got a lot of heat for reporting the story (a lot of it was written off as gossip)–until Sandusky was finally arrested seven months later. Sara beat ESPN and other major news outlets in reporting the horrifying crimes.

Head football coach Joe Paterno was forced out of Penn State after 45 years following Sara Ganim's reporting. | Source: Shutterstock

In November, Sara’s continued reporting led to the university ousting head coach Joe Paterno and president Graham Spanier amidst allegations that both men had known about Sandusky abusing boys, but that they didn’t do anything about it. This led to scary riots on campus and widespread outrage. Her reporting also sparked investigations of child molestation at the Citadel and Syracuse University. Her work may have saved others from the horrors and trauma of sexual abuse. She plans on covering the case further when Sandusky goes to trial this June.

At just 24 years old, Sara Ganim went from breaking news to making news. She’s now one of the youngest Pulitzer Prize winners ever, and the youngest ever to take home the Sidney Award for socially conscious journalism. We’re glad that we’re finally not just hearing from Sara Ganim, but also about Sara Ganim–because she deserves it!

Did you follow the Penn State scandal? Do you look up to Sara Ganim? Do you write for your own school paper? Are you gunning for a Pulitzer of your own someday? Let us know in the comments!

Looking For More Girl Power News? Got You Covered!

Who needs Tarzan when we've got Jane?! | Source: Andy Carvin

Jane Goodall has been in the news quite a bit lately, and trust me–she’s one of the coolest girls around. This nature crusader was trailblazer and a rule breaker back in the day when being an independent single girl wasn’t the norm!

When her parents split up, Jane lived with her mom on the coast of England, but she still adored her father, who may have sparked her love of primates. You know how when you were little and found something you loved a lot and were great at, like singing, drawing, or sports? Jane Goodall’s love of animals started similarly. Her dad gave her a toy chimp that she still owns today, which may have planted the seed for her love for the animals–but she also was raised with a ton of pets that she adored and loved climbing trees and reading–especially Tarzan books!.

Before becoming the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, Jane Goodall worked normal jobs like you to save up for her dreams–she went to London to become a secretary, then returned to her hometown as a waitress in order to earn money for her first trip to Africa, visiting a friend who’d moved to Kenya. She did this when she was 23 years old, which was almost unheard of back then! She became a secretary again, this time for Louis Leakey, a paleontologist in the area–she was so excited to chat with him about animals, and he secretly happened to be looking for a chimpanzee researcher. Was this stuff written in the stars or what?

Eventually, Louis Leakey and his wife, Mary, asked Jane to accompany them in what’s now Tanzania and proposed that she help then study chimps. They sent her to school back in London to prepare, then in 1960, when Jane Goodall was 25, sent Jane out into the wild–but there was a catch. It was considered “improper” for Jane to travel alone, so her mom came along for the trip. While that sounds super lame and annoying, Jane didn’t actually mind so much at the time, since she and her mom were tight–don’t we wish it was always that way!.

Jane Goodall discovered that chimpanzees tickle, hug, kiss, and use tools similarly to us! | Source: Shutterstock

The trip wasn’t easy, though. Imagine sleeping in a tent with your mom for four months. Then imagine snakes, wild animals, and getting malaria (with no medicine to treat it). Yikes! These are just a few of the things Jane Goodall dealt with in order to pursue her passion and to eventually become the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, living and working with them for 45 years!

Thanks to Jane Goodall (and other awesome trailblazing ladies!), you can travel anywhere you want without someone wagging a finger at you telling you it’s unladylike–and you can also get involved with the environment, animals, and your community with Roots & Shoots, Jane’s youth organization. She’s also one of the driving forces behind the movie Chimpanzee, which hits theaters on Earth Day. You can catch the trailer below!

Did you discover your passion at a young age like Jane Goodall? Do you have a favorite animal? Would you ever spend time in the wild? Tell us in the comments!

Are You Eco-Friendly? Take This Quiz To Find Out!

One Direction were hilarious on Saturday Night Live! | Source: Shutterstock

Did you see One Direction on SNL this weekend? That’s right, those talented cuties took the next step in global domination with their performance on Saturday Night Live. The adorable U.K. natives have taken the music scene by storm with their feel-good anthem, “What Makes You Beautiful,” which we absolutely love–not only is catchy, but singing along to it reminds us that hey, we’re pretty hot!

One Direction’s star power grew even more when they performed live from New York this weekend, where they brought not only their soaring melodies and adorable smiles (ohmigod, those dimples!), but also their sense of humor.

The guys donned wigs, mustaches, and bizarre ’70s style outfits in a SNL skit with host Sofia Vergara, where they played her kids… despite, once being made up, looking older than she did!

One Direction Appear in “The Manuel Ortiz Show” on Saturday Night Live

One Direction Perform “What Makes You Beautiful” on Saturday Night Live

One Direction Perform “One Thing” on Saturday Night Live

It wasn’t the only awesome thing that One Direction did last weekend. They also starred in an episode of iCarly and broke a record when they sold out Madison Square Garden–the third largest venue on the planet–in under one minute. That isn’t even the first time they made history, though:”What Makes You Beautiful” debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 way before it was even sent to radio, making the highest chart debut from a U.K. act since 1998, and they’re also the first British artist to ever debut at No. 1 with their first release. Not bad for a few guys who were runners up on U.K.’s X Factor!

So we’ve got good songs, good looks, massive success, and adorable accents to make us love One Direction. In case you needed another reason, or just felt like making your heart explode, we found one for you: They performed with puppies. Seriously.

One Direction Perform Acoustic With Puppies

Between the rescue pups and their Saturday Night Live vocal and comedic chops, One Direction light up our world like nobody else.

Did you watch One Direction on Saturday Night Live or iCarly? Do you have a favorite member of One Direction? What’s your fave One Direction song? Are you going to see them on tour? Or do you think One Direction are kind of overrated? Gush about it in the comments!

Wish You Could Read Guys’ Minds? Here Are A Few Tricks!

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12 pics of spring nail art that is definitely going to make you want a manicure [Global Grind]

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The importance of being awkward [HuffPost Teen]

Are long-distance relationships worth it? [College Candy]

She had a threesome, but it was nothing like the movies [The Gloss]

Find out more details about Katy Perry’s 3D documentary [Hollywire]

Does Charlize Theron really have a sex tape? [Celebridoodle]

10 celebrities who are shorter than you think [Teen]

6 worst topics for a kids book [Smosh]

Levi Johnston will be a dad again. Doesn't he have another hobby--or access to condoms? | Source: Shutterstock

Following his tumultuous relationship with Bristol (the former couple can’t seem to agree on anything, from whether Tripp was planned to whether or not they were drunk on wine coolers when they first had sex), you’d think Levi was too busy posing for Playgirl and penning tell-all books to handle another kid. Despite his busy PR schedule though, the 21-year-old Levi Johnston will be a dad again, this time with girlfriend Sunny Oglesby.

We don’t know for sure, of course, but it could be that this pregnancy happened because this Alaskan Romeo was too preoccupied to use protection: Levi has admitted that his new baby wasn’t planned, but that he’s “so excited” to be a dad again. He told TMZ, “Things happen and we are both happy with what came of it.” Interesting that these “things”–aka an “accidental pregnancy“–happened, and were announced when Sarah Palin is co-hosting the Today Show this week. Just sayin’!

Here’s the thing, though: pregnancies don’t just happen. They happen if you and your partner don’t take the proper steps to prevent them. Levi’s getting a lot of flack for this, but Sunny Oglesby is equally responsible for her body. (We think the world just figured that Levi would know better from experience by now.)

Seeing as you can’t get yourself pregnant (at least not without lengthy paperwork and a plan), pregnancy prevention and contraception isn’t just up to you–or your guy. It’s a shared responsibility. Even if you’re on the Pill, a guy should still use a condom–it’s the only way besides abstinence to prevent STDs, and it provides extra protection against pregnancy. Plus, sex is better when you’re safe, because you can relax and enjoy it instead of freaking out.

No glove? No love! | Source: Shutterstock

Fair enough, but how can you talk to your guy about safe sex? Check out this video for tips on how to explain to your partner that condoms are non-negotiable if he wants to sleep with you–and that they can actually be pretty fun!

Have you ever been with a guy who didn’t want to use protection? Have you ever had a pregnancy scare? Do you think birth control is the responsibility of both partners? Do you think it’s good that Levi Johnston will be a dad again? Sound off in the comments!
 
 

Remember Teen Mom Jamie Lynn Spears? Find Out What Happened To Her!

Source: Shutterstock

Sometimes the world surprises me in a good way. Lindsay Lohan is giving up dating to focus on landing her next big role and it seems that she’s even gotten some of her long lost fashion sense back—her court outfit was actually appropriate–cute, even!

Sure, LiLo has launched a billion comebacks and been given a trillion chances, but she was just so awesome in Mean Girls and Freaky Friday (heck, I even liked Georgia Rule!) that we’d still really like to see her come out on top.
 
 
 
But before she can re-re-re-conquer Hollywood, here are five things we sincerely hope Lindsay Lohan has learned by now:

 
 
1) Drugs are Bad. Like, Srsly.

Passed out after a late night | INFDaily.com

Lindsay can deny her drug use all she wants but I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, girls. And besides, you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge, so hopefully Linds has learned that pills, powders and anything else you put into your body doesn’t exactly make for a smashing career. Drew Barrymore learned the same lesson the hard way, landing in rehab at just 13 years old, but look at her know–successful, sober and happy! See, Lindsay? There really is hope.

 
2)   Bad Manners Aren’t Cute

Linds with her infamous F-U nails in court | INFDaily.com

True, we all have our little brat fits now and then, but we def prefer her professional looking manicure to her F-You nails she wore to court a while back. Plus, you’ll get a lot further in life with a well placed “please” and “thank you” than a shrill “Don’t you know who I am?!” Play nice, Lindsay. We know you’ve got it in you.

 
3)  Even Stars Can Get Fired

Crying after getting the axe! | INFDaily.com

Getting the axe from a job is one of the most humiliating, hurtful things that can happen. Now imagine if your firing was courtesy of a public letter from a producer, and suddenly you’re out millions of dollars, and your professional rep is in the toilet. Linds has gotten the boot from more than one movie because she was deemed un-insurable thanks to her endless partying and stinking attitude. It’s a rough lesson to learn, but just like Beyonce says, don’t you ever for a second get to thinkin’ you’re irreplaceable.

 
 
4)  Natural Trumps Fake

Source: Shutterstock

I won’t crucify a celeb for a few extensions or even some Botox. But Lindsay’s over-the-top altering of her face, hair and goodness knows what else left her looking ages older than 25. Linds, sweetie, once the injections fade out (3-6 months) please don’t go back for more! And we’re adoring your old school red hair–that’s the super pretty girl we know and love!

 
5) There Really Are People Rooting For You

Go LiLo! | INFDaily.com

Like all of us girls! Don’t let us down–you have talent, opportunity, and great boobs! Leave the drama behind, and show us what you can really do.

So girls, what’s your take on Lindsay Lohan giving up dating and her 1,487th comeback attempt? Do you still care or should this pony be put out to pasture? Would you want to see her as Cady in Mean Girls 2? Dish it all up in the comments!

Check Out These Love Lessons From Katy Perry!

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11 signs you’re on the date from hell [College Candy]

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How to deal when you’re jealous of your BFF

Sexual assault is not your fault. | Source: Shutterstock

Reports say that 20 to 25 percent of women and girls will be the victim of some form of sexual assault. That’s one in four or one in five. It could be you, it could be your best friend, your sister, or your cool aunt. The scary thing is, the number may be even higher than that because so many assaults are unreported, leaving victims to deal with it on their own and leaving perpetrators to roam the streets and claim more victims. This makes Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2012′s theme all the more important: It’s time to talk about it.

Why are girls afraid to speak up? They feel ashamed, they’re traumatized and just want to put it behind them, they blame themselves, or they think people won’t believe them.

Here’s the thing, girls: It is never your fault! Wearing a skirt does not mean you were asking for it. Flirting with a guy at a party doesn’t obligate you to sleep with him. Passing out doesn’t mean you consented. Drinking and doing drugs can blur your judgment and make consent issues very, very dangerous–but even if you’re under the influence, no is no, and legally an intoxicated person cannot give consent. Even saying yes at first, then telling the guy no and having him not listen is considered non-consensual.

Fair enough, but you’re probably thinking: How does talking help? Well, first of all, talking about sexual assault can help survivors realize they’re not alone, and can encourage other girls and women to come forward to report attacks.

Talking about physical boundaries and consent in relationships can help, too, since How do you talk about consent with the guy you like? Isn’t that an awkward conversation that can kinda kill the mood? Here’s the thing: If the guy isn’t a scumbag, it won’t bother him to talk things out with you. Voicing consent lets each of you know exactly what the other wants, so you’re both more likely to have an enjoyable experience–it’s hard to stay in the moment when you’re so worried about where his hands are wandering, and he’s probably afraid of getting slapped if he tests your limits (and, ladies, he should be).

You won't have to stress if you're prepared and know what to do in case of an assault. | Source: Shutterstock

Talking things out can prevent so many problems from occurring–and they can help remedy issues that have already gone down. If partners talk openly about sex and what they are and aren’t willing to do, we can diminish sexual violence. Similarly, if victims of sexual violence feel like they’re not alone, they will be more likely to speak up, which can help healing and prevent their attackers from striking again.

If you or someone you know are a victim of sexual assault, find help here. For more information on Sexual Assault Awareness Month, click here.

Are you recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month? What are you doing to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month? Let us know in the comments.

Need Tips On How To Talk About Sex With Your Partner?