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I’m a huge cry baby – some of you should know this, since I’ve written about it before. I cry everywhere and in front of anyone. While I have gradually accepted the fact that I will, at some point, cry in front of everyone I’ve ever met, I wasn’t always so okay with that. When I was younger, I hated the fact that I cried so much. I hated that I couldn’t get through a tough situation or conversation without bursting into tears or that I couldn’t confront someone without crying. It was embarrassing and I felt like it made me look really weak and stupid.

My point is, I can understand the girls out there who feel embarrassed about their crying fits. So obviously, I loved the latest episode of Ask Amy, during which a girl asks Amy Poehler how to stop crying during tough conversations. Where was this video when I was in high school?

Amy responds in her usual amazing way and reminds us all that crying isn’t the worst thing in the world. In fact, sometimes we NEED to cry in order to feel better. As Amy says, “Sometimes you have feelings and they come up and you’re allowed to feel them. Crying gets the sadness out.”

But she also gives some tips on how to control your crying and how to confront difficult situations without being overwhelmed by your emotions. And, let’s face it, I think we could all use a little bit of this advice sometimes. Because, as Amy points out, there are some times when maybe you should hold back the tears – like when talking to your boss.

My favorite line? She says, “If someone asks you why you’re crying, you can just say, ‘because of how wrong you are.’” BAM.

Watch the video for more awesome advice:

Do you cry a lot? Do you get embarrassed when you cry? What do you think of this advice? Tell me in the comments.

How to deal with final exams stress

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It’s Monday, which means Hayley is here to talk about one of her crushes! Today’s crush is of the television variety – specifically on the TV show, Parks and Recreation. The comedy stars Amy Poehler (one of our favorite ladies), but as Hayley points out, the whole cast is awesome… and that’s just the start of why the show so crush-worthy!

What other reasons are there for her crush on Parks and Recreation? Watch the video to find out why you should be watching this TV show too! Be back here tomorrow at 4 p.m. for another new episode of What’s Up With Hayley!

Do you watch Parks and Recreation? Who is your favorite character? What TV show(s) do you have a crush on? Tell us in the comments!
 

What did Hayley think of The Great Gatsby movie?

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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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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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Amy strikes again!

Saying goodbye can be really, really hard. I’m not talking about saying goodbye to a friend after an awesome hangout sesh or to a boyfriend when he’s going on vacation for a week. I’m talking about the tough goodbyes, like when you end a relationship or when someone moves away. Figuring out how to say goodbye to someone you really cared about is never fun and so sometimes, we avoid it as much as possible.

But the truth is, you should learn how to say goodbye to any kind of situation or person, no matter how hard it may be. Getting closure is an important part of getting over something and moving on. So how exactly do you do it?

We’ve got advice, in the form of one of our favorite inspirational ladies ever, Amy Poehler. Amy did yet another amazing Ask Amy video and during this one, she’s giving advice on how to say goodbye. This particular video might get a little sappy and corny (there’s a part where she compares life to “a string of peals that make up the necklace of your life”), but her advice is still awesome, as usual.

There are a lot of things I love about this video, but these lines may just be my favorite: “Goodbyes are temporary because no one ever really leaves and nothing lasts forever. And if you can remember those two things, that people are always with us because they’re in our hearts and in our memory; and the only thing we can depend on is change.” So true!

Amy stresses how important it is to pay tribute to the people or places you’re leaving. Like I said before, closing ties with something or someone can really help you get over whatever it is you’re leaving. Disappearing without properly mourning what you’re leaving is going to leave you feeling like things are unfinished.

I also like that Amy points out that saying goodbye and change in general is just a part of life that we can’t avoid. As much as we would all like some things to go on forever, most things do come to an end. It’s important to keep that in mind and to know that those changes are just opening us up to new experiences in life. How wise is she?!

Watch the video and get more of her advice right here. Also, bonus: at the end, you spot one of her adorable little kids.

Keep this advice in mind the next time you need to say goodbye to someone or something. I think it’ll help you out a lot.

So what do you girls think? Are you going to follow her advice? Who was the last person you had to say goodbye to? Or the last situation or place? How did you do it? How do you feel about goodbyes? Tell us in the comments. 

How to be nice to people you don’t like

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Can she be my new BFF?

Sometimes we can make new friends without even realizing what we’re doing. A conversation gets started and the next thing you know, BAM, that girl who sits next to you in homeroom is your new BFF. But sometimes, it’s not so easy. And that’s where this amazing new Smart Girls advice comes in.

Whether you’ve just moved somewhere new, transferred to a different school or are just looking to expand your social life, you’ve probably wondered about making new friends at some point. Good news: Amy Poehler is here to help you! Okay, well, she’s not here, because if she were I probably wouldn’t be writing this because I would be too busy fan-girling out. But she’s here in spirit, via YouTube.

The newest episode of Ask Amy has arrived and this one is all about how to make new friends. As usual, Amy gives us tons of great advice. For one thing, be yourself. And, yeah, I’m sure that’s what you always hear – but Amy goes into why reinventing yourself, like a lot of people try to do when they go somewhere new, isn’t also necessary.

Amy also points out that you don’t necessarily need to go out there and make a group of 20 new besties. Sometimes, you only need one new friend who can open tons of doors to new experiences and other new people. When you focus on only meeting one new person rather than a bunch of new people, you’re putting a lot less pressure on yourself.

But my favorite part of this video is when Amy talks about how making friends is a lifelong thing – she’s constantly making new friends, even at the age of 41. I feel like sometimes we all think that we’ve only got a few shots at making good friends – like in high school or college, that’s it. But as Amy points out, you can make new friends your whole life. Sounds so sweet… and true!

Check out the advice for yourself:

Are you currently having trouble making new friends? What are your tips for meeting new friends? What question do you wish you could ask Amy? Tell me in the comments!

How to talk to your crush

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Other than the game and Beyonce, the best part of the 2013 Super Bowl were these Super Bowl commercials! | Source: Hulu

Aside from the big game itself (and the killer halftime show), the 2013 Super Bowl commercials were the reason everyone didn’t want to run to pee during breaks in the field action. Sure, a lot of this year’s Super Bowl commercials were gross–we’re looking at you, GoDaddy–but some of them were pretty awesome. We rounded up our favorites.

One may make you cry, but the rest will make you giggle. Of course, the real question is whether these super expensive Super Bowl commercials will actually make you buy anything–but who cares when you have Amy Poehler, pandas, prom and a goat to entertain you?

Oreo: Cookie or Creme?

Not only did this make us hungry, but it also made us laugh. Loudly. Shh!

Kia: Space Babies

Who needs a sex talk when you have astronaut pandas?

Amy Poehler for Best Buy

In case you didn’t love Amy Poehler enough already, here she is asking how to transfer photos of puppies dressed like hot dogs.

Budweiser: Clydesdales

We’re not suggesting you drink. We just got misty at the sight of this horse reuniting with its trainer.

Taco Bell: Viva Young

Adorable old people acting like, well, you in a dream sequence? Fun.? Yes. Yes please.

Audi: Prom

The car maker managed to cram in an entire developed character into a one minute commercial. Most movies can’t even do that over an hour and a half. You can pretty much feel this guy’s adrenaline rush just watching this!

Tide: Miracle Stain

While it annoys us slightly that the dude couldn’t do his own laundry, we do love the revenge his Ravens-fan wife gets. Go girl!

Hyundai: Epic Playdate

Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips, a fantasy world, and, oh yeah! There’s cars and stuff too.

Doritos: Goat for Sale

The shrieking goat may be our favorite part.

Time Warner and The Walking Dead

Walkers are totally the norm. Oh, and there’s Norman Reedus as the flawless fan favorite Daryl Dixon. You’re welcome, Deadheads.

The Lone Ranger Trailer

Johnny Depp. The end.

What was your favorite 2013 Super Bowl commercial? Were there any Super Bowl commercials you hated this year? Tell us in the comments!

Relive Beyonce’s Super Bowl 2013 Halftime with these GIFs!

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Can I be any more obsessed with her? No.

If you didn’t already fall in love with Amy Poehler when you watched her host the Golden Globes (look at this GIF of her canoodling with George Clooney! Look at it!), then you’ll definitely fall in love after you watch this video.

Amy’s Smart Girl video series is back (yay!) and the first video for 2013 is about how to deal with negativity. I’m loving this video because I feel like this is a topic that people don’t address enough, but it’s something that we all deal with on a regular basis. And, obviously, negativity can be a real bummer. How much does it stink when you’re in a happy, singing and dancing mood, and then your Negative Nancy friend ruins it for you with some lame statement about how things suck? It stinks a lot.

Luckily, Amy has some seriously awesome advice. She starts by addressing the fact that everyone in general is way too negative about themselves. Amy says, “We talk about ourselves in ways that we would never talk about our friends and family. We say the meanest things about ourselves out loud, on the Internet, to our friends and in our head.” Unfortunately, this is so true. It brings to mind a scene from Mean Girls, when the girls are all in Regina’s room complaining about random parts of their body, like their “manly shoulders” and “weird hairlines.” Admit it: how many times have you done the same thing with your friends?

How can we stop doing that? As Amy suggests, give yourself a break! I love everything she has to say about accepting compliments. I’m definitely guilty of refusing compliments, as I’m sure most of you can relate to, and Amy’s advice is something I really needed to hear.

My favorite words of wisdom from this video? “People who are negative tend to want to demean people’s ideas. They say what they don’t like, but they don’t really say what they want to do. It’s very hard to have ideas. It’s very hard to put yourself out there. It’s very hard to be vulnerable.  But those people that do that are the dreamers and the thinkers and the creators and they’re the magic people of the world. So try to strive to be one of those.”

Watch the video right here to listen to everything Amy has to say. I promise she’ll be one of your celeb girl crushes after this:

What do you think of this advice and video? How do you deal with negativity? Have you ever found yourself refusing compliments or complaining about yourself for no real reason? Tell us in the comments!

Watch Amy explain how to deal with parents

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The best and worst things about being sick are so, so true [The Frisky]

Just a little “Aww” for your Monday featuring some very helpful dogs [BuzzFeed]

Check out these hunky fictional male athletes from TV and movies [HerCampus]

A bro takes on recapping HBO’s Girls, hilarious! [CollegeCandy]

You tell us, who wore this red strapless dress better: Zooey or Jennifer? [Hollywire]

Is “you can never have too much of a good thing” a stereotype? [HuffPo Teen]

Eek! Kate Middleton and Prince William announce their baby’s due date [Global Grind]

Justin Timberlake released his new single last night. FINALLY! [Crushable]

Think with your head, ladies, not your vagina [YourTango]

It’s Liam Hemsworth’s birthday! My birthday wish is for him to break up with Miley [Teen]

Do you think these 10 musicals need to be movies? [Smosh]

Your BFF is a guy, but rumors are flying that you like him. How do you deal?

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Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were only two reasons the 2013 Golden Globes were amazing! | Source: WENN

Adele, Argo, Anne Hathaway, and Jennifer Lawrence may have technically been the winners at last night’s 2013 Golden Globes ceremony, but let’s be real–we all were winners. With hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, there was no way the show wasn’t going to be a party.

In case you missed the fun on TV–or just didn’t feel like sitting through the commercials–we’ve rounded up the best GIFs of our favorite stars from the 2013 Golden Globes for you. Grab your popcorn, settle in and get ready for all of the highlights!

Okay, seriously? Adele wins at everything forever.
She has the highest selling album of 2012, a new baby and wins almost every single award she’s ever been nominated for–and now she can count a high-five from James Bond in her list of accolades. No wonder Adele was so stoked when she won for her “Skyfall” theme song.

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Of course, there could only be one winner.
Sorry, Taylor Swift! Even though your songs for The Hunger Games soundtrack were swell, you can’t win ‘em all. But don’t worry. You’ll survive. Maybe you can even write a song about how hard this was for you!

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Or maybe Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio can console one another.
Dude, seriously. There could be an award for “Best Leonardo DiCaprio” and we think he’d still get snubbed. What is the problem here?! Don’t be sad, Leo. You’re still King of the World.

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Ooh, is this a new love connection?
Hey, Selena Gomez? Instead of this off-and-on nonsense with Justin Bieber, why not land yourself this cutie patootie Josh Hutcherson?!

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Anne Hathaway has the right idea.
How cute was her speech?

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Jennifer Lawrence is hilarious!
Way to reference The First Wives Club in your acceptance speech, J-Law!

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Okay, Lena Dunham. You’re adorbs.
How cute is she with Jack Antonoff from Fun.? We want to be in on this hug! Not in a creepy way, though.

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We don’t need a reason.
Is there such thing as too much Robert Pattinson? No? Didn’t think so.

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And now for the real stars, Amy and Tina!
Between Tina’s drag (doesn’t she remind you of a supremely awkward Russell Brand?) and Amy’s canoodling with George Clooney, they were utter and total perfection. Love these ladies!

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Did you agree with the winners and losers of the 2013 Golden Globes? Who would you want to host the Golden Globes next year? What was your favorite 2013 Golden Globes moment? Tell us in the comments!

Meet more funny ladies who would be great hosts next year!

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