RED the Book

RED Hearts: Beauty: To Dye For - Easy Ombré

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:50:00 GMT

By Zulay Regalado, 24, reporting from Miami on the first at-home hair coloring kit to rock her locks

I’ve always admired anyone who has braved the world of at-home hair coloring and lived to tell the tale. Unfortunately, I lack in the “visionary” aspect of this art. I usually fork over the $100+ to treat my hair with professional hands (and I swear I can hear my wallet sob from inside my purse).

My current hair obsession is the ombré, a two-toned coloring technique worn by celebs like Jessica Alba and Drew Barrymore. Shivering wallet in mind, I began to research DIY techniques to replicate this popular style and add some variety to my long, sometimes wavy, mostly chestnut hair.

Thankfully, the gods of DIY dying spared me the embarrassing aftermath that would surely come of this little project, and I discovered the Feria Wild Ombré Hair Coloring kit by L’Oreal Paris. In typical “do first, cry later” fashion, I gave it a try. The kit comes with an applicator brush, and distributing the transformative potion was surprisingly as simple as brushing my hair. I chose the Medium to Dark Brown color, and after several seconds of waiting for my head to catch fire and finding nothing but perfectly two-toned locks, I was ecstatic. The best part? I paid less than $20 for the entire process. My wallet sobbed that day, but this time it was tears of money-saving joy.

Check out the step-by-step ombré application tutorial below, and visit your local drugstore for your L’Oreal Ombré kit

RED Hearts: Beauty: The Gel Manicure Comes Home

admin — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:11:00 GMT

By Camila Henao, 19, reporting from Chicago on the secret to perfect polish—for weeks

My nail polish collection is more extensive than I’d like to admit. Sometimes I think I must have the full spectrum from OPI, Essie, butter London and Sally Hansen, and I’ve picked up plenty of random and valued polishes at the dollar store. I love painting my nails and trying new things.

Trust me on this next part: I am a smart and serious student and person with the right priorities. I know the place of chipped polish on the hierarchy of tragedies in this world.

Still, it frustrates me that it seems no matter what base, polish or topcoat I use, by the fourth day or so my manicure is looking pretty shabby. I’d heard that the answer to this is gel polishes, rumored to stick around for three weeks, but I’d never tried them in a salon—or had any idea you could use them at home.

So the Gelish Basix Kit was a revelation, enough that I now want to buy all of the cute shades of polish in their line and leave behind the collection that took me so long to build. (I did my feet in Tiger Blossom, a deep, delicious candy red, and see my hands in Up the Blue. Both are near-pristine pretty ten days in, impressively past the usual tipping/chipping point.)

Going Gelish is a bit pricey: the Basix Kit is $50; the LED Curing Light that sets the gel is $70; and the polishes are $15. But it’s so worth it for the staying power, especially if you’re someone who pays for salon mani-pedis (do the math) or just a fanatic like me, who always needs the next new nail thing.

Plus, the whole gel process is easy, a successful at-home science experiment. The kit includes a nail surface cleanse that you prep with; a pH bond, which helps the foundation stick; and a topcoat to seal everything off.

It also comes with a remover that won’t damage your nails, but you’re not going to need that for a good long time, up to 21 days later. As long as you can get past admitting that you’re willing to invest in the beauty of your nails—we’d never point fingers—Gelish belongs in your collection.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: The Coolest Country

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:20:00 GMT

By Jordyn Turney, 23, reporting from San Diego on Kacey Musgraves, a singer-songwriter she loves

When country singer Kacey Musgraves’ debut single “Merry Go ‘Round” came out last fall, I was immediately floored. The clever, charming first-person tale of small-town ennui was full of the resignation and desperation that these places where a lot of Americans spend their lives—where I spent a lot of my life—are famous for. That one song reminded me so instantly and evocatively of the dirt road I grew up on that it inspired me to write a novel. Yes, it was that good.

And a couple of weeks ago, when Musgraves released the full album, Same Trailer Different Park, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it wasn’t just one song I loved, but all of them. The lyrics are catchy without being inane, beautiful but still bracing, and the music buoying them up is perfect. Gritty and pretty, this is the sort of country that feels like a throwback to earlier times and the classics that play in radio retrospectives. (It’s also the sort of country that plays on today’s primetime television: Musgraves co-wrote “Undermine” the duet that Juliette Barnes and Deacon Claybourne sang on the second episode of ABC’s Nashville.

No, you can’t say Musgraves makes candy-pop. Her music is irresistible and smart. It has staying power. And though “Merry Go ‘Round” continues to be my favorite—it did inspire an epic literary undertaking, remember—there’s enough room in my heart for every song on this album. From “My House,” the happy ode to RV-living, to the love-is-stupid anthem appropriately called “Stupid,” each of these songs is an emotion, or an experience, boiled down to its essence. Kacey Musgraves is a refreshingly real voice in music, one whose songs make the truths of small-town life big-time moving.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Love Me Tinder?

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:05:00 GMT

By Charlotte Steinway, 24, reporting from New York City on the romance and heartbreak of a new dating app

Only a few months ago, it was Snapchat that all my friends were abuzz about. Now, the app embraced by that most fickle college and post-graduate world is Tinder. But where Snapchat was presumably made for digital use among real-world people who already know each other, Tinder turns it around, taking digital connections into the real world. The dating world, that is.

Unlike dating sites OKCupid and Plenty of Fish, Tinder requires little to no effort to become a member. You're in—as long as you've got a Facebook account and are willing to let complete strangers view your mutual friends, interests and selection of curated profile pictures. Sign me up, I thought, because here I don't have to write up an extremely-witty-yet-totally-accessible profile and can find a couple of flattering (i.e. Instagram-filtered) pictures.

Sure. I'll let you know how that worked out for me in a moment. Till then, here's how Tinder works: You use a left or right swipe to indicate whether a person's photo, name, age and mutual friend or interest count is to your liking. So at heart, the app is just as rating-and-dating simple—and at that, nearly as superficial—as the now-archaic site Hot or Not. But what sets it apart is its geographic relevance (the app uses GPS to scan your location and match you with nearby users) and its chat function, which serves the sole purpose of launching a conversation between two users who have "liked" each other.

As a former sociology major, I found the user trends most fascinating. As a person potentially doing the liking and being liked, I found the results at turns scintillating, discouraging and hilarious.

Faced with the number of guys whose profile photos feature either Avicii or a recently caught fish (seriously, I got one about every eight swipes) to those who initiate conversation with, "So how many push ups can you do?" I've started to reconsider my enthusiasm for my immediate dating pool. But then every so often, you'll get matched with say, someone who went to college with your roommate, works in your office or randomly knows your best friend. And all of the sudden, you're reminded that you may just "meet" someone the very same way my own parents met 25 years ago—through mutual friends.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Library Love - Check It Out

admin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:57:00 GMT

By Carey Dunne, 23, reporting from New York City on her volumes of affection for cool rooms full of books for borrowing

Libraries get a bad rap. They're dismissed as fusty nerd havens or avoided in post-traumatic student disorder as exam study hellholes.

Unfortunately, it is not well known that they are actually fun, and also, cool.

I love libraries: They are cathedrals of free knowledge. I got my first library card when I was five, from the New York Public Library on 42nd Street. White marble lions sit guarding this library, with Lego lion replicas just past the entrance. (Amazon.com is not guarded by lions, and also does not have a big ceiling painted with cherubs.) I knew that cards of this size and shape were important objects usually meant only for grown-ups. I flashed it at all who walked by on my way home, so they would see that I held the key to infinite wisdom and power.

For years, fiction writer Jorge Luis Borges was the director of the National Library of Argentina. In his famous short story The Library of Babel, he considered the institution's infinite power: “I suspect that the human species... is on the road to extinction, while the Library will last on forever: illuminated, solitary, infinite, perfectly immovable, filled with precious volumes, useless, incorruptible, secret.” I would add quiet to its virtues—in the city, sometimes the only haven of silence I can find. And, as Borges says: “Everything is there: the minute history of the future, the autobiographies of the archangels... the Gnostic gospel of Basilides, the commentary on this gospel, the commentary on the commentary of this gospel, the veridical account of your death, a version of each book in all languages.” Libraries also help build your muscles. I recently checked out Carl Jung's Red Book and weighed it: 10 pounds. Kindles and Nooks and iPads keep readers weak.

Most public libraries also have various free programs, say, an anime club for teens, story readings for kids and film screenings. Libraries also happen to be the best places to get new releases of DVDs—you don't have to buy them or wait months for them to be available on Netflix.

Plus, in the tradition of Borges's Babel and great storytelling, we present some of the Coolest Fictional Libraries:

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer: At the Sunnydale High School Library, Giles, like many librarians, is only disguised as a fuddy-duddy. In truth, he possesses ancient mystical wisdom. Buffy goes to him for vampire-slaying guidance and books about werewolves and demon eggs. The library is her main hang, aside from the cemetery.

In The Breakfast Club: Being stuck in the library goes from punishment to party.

In The Music Man: Marian, and the song about loving her madly, is proof that “librarian” is one of the world's most desirable jobs.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Hermione Granger's discovery of gillyweed in the “restricted section” means that Harry Potter would have died in book four if it weren't for libraries.

In Party Girl: I mean, this is the story of a broke dance club queen (Parker Posey) who discovers the seductive allure of the Dewey Decimal System. If you're not convinced, watch Posey dancing epically on library tables.

Three whispered cheers for libraries.

RED Hearts: News: Cold and Flu Relief, Naturally

admin — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:55:00 GMT

By Zoe Mendelson, 22, reporting from New York City on easy, organic remedies to get you through the sick season

I am not the kind of person who refuses to take an aspirin for a headache. "No, no, I don't like taking drugs…" I'm all for organic and and the politics of food, including working to launch this journal. But the no-compromise, pharmaceuticals-are-evil people drive me crazy. Medicine has its place. Take the aspirin, dude, your head will almost certainly stop hurting.

I think though, especially in this country, most of us fall on the other end of the spectrum. When we have colds and flus, we think it's normal to pump ourselves full of symptom-masking drugs that often do us more harm than good. Medicines designed to fight congestion dehydrate you. And that mucus is your friend—it's your body's natural way of getting the bad germs out of your system. Interrupting the process may not be the best route to getting better. What is? Besides TONS of SLEEP and WATER, here are some of my favorite natural cold and flu remedies:

1. Fresh Ginger Tea. Get some whole ginger, slice it into thin strips, and boil it in water for about a half hour. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and soothes nausea/stomach discomfort, too. I like to add lemon—the vitamin C is good for you, and the citrusy touch feels good on the throat. I scoop out almost an entire lemon. I love the pulp. I also add a little bit of apple cider vinegar, because I love the flavor (but not everyone does). Drink hot with lots of honey.

2. Reishi Mushrooms. The Reishi mushroom—a tree fungus that can be used to make medicinal tea—is one of those things that the Chinese have known about for a few thousand years and Western science is just beginning to catch onto. These mushrooms are amazing for your immune system and almost every other system in your body. They balance bacteria levels and are even good for alleviating stress. Check out www.reishi.com if you want to read the studies. Finding the cure-all fungi may take some hunting down in your nearest Chinatown, but I swear by them. Worth the effort and more.

3. Steam Tent. Put a big pot on the stovetop with about three inches of water in it. If you have eucalyptus oil, add a few drops. Boil the water and then turn off the flame. You've cooked yourself some serious relief. Take a towel and put it over your head. Lean over the pot, make a tent with the towel. Insta-steam room. It will make you cough your head off, but it can really clear your head and feels amazing in the end.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Girl On Fire - On Fire

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:20:00 GMT

By Jessica Goodman, 22, reporting from Los Angeles on the hottest song out there

Every once in a while a song comes out that creates a movement, a "Call Me Maybe" or "Gangnam Style" we can't seem to get enough of. These songs catch on for a reason. They have a beat, a common message, or just hilarious new dance moves. Yet one amazing and enlightening song, "Girl On Fire" by Alicia Keys, offers so much more than that. It recognizes all the tough things we as girls and women do.

As musically irresistible as it is culturally important, and by an artist who's proved she's anything but a one-hit wonder, "Girl on Fire" has been grabbing some attention—but not enough, not covered-by-Cookie-Monster or at international Psy-levels. I personally think everyone out there should sing praise to Keys for her genius take on the power of girls and women to overcome obstacles and prove ourselves.

The lyrics make it easy for any girl to relate: "Looks like a girl, but she's a flame/So bright, she can burn your eyes/Better look the other way/You can try but you'll never forget her name. She's on top of the world." It's a strong message: This girl could be anyone. This girl could be you. Others see and admire her intelligence, her courage, her dedication—her fire. "Everybody stands as she goes by."

But the song tells a larger story, too. It shows you how far women have come. Keys debuted the song at her 2012 VMA performance, where she had Gabby Douglas up there doing flips, a perfect tribute to a year in which Yahoo named their first female CEO and our country elected a record number of women to serve in Congress.

Keys created an anthem that tells the world every woman and every girl has her challenges. This song is something to take into the new year, when you work on becoming a bigger and better version of yourself. It's your reminder that 2013 has barely begun, and there's so much that can (and will) happen. You know as well as Keys does that there's nothing diminutive about that "just" in "She's just a girl, and she's on fire."

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Snapchat Judgment

admin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:31:00 GMT

By Charlotte Steinway, 24, reporting from New York, NY, on an amusing new app that has improved her sense of selfies

I first heard about Snapchat the same way I hear about most other important things in my life—events in the Middle East, album releases, my friends’ lunches—on Twitter. In fact I even remember the exact wording of the tweet that mentioned the once-unknown phenom: “Oh, so Snapchat is the app for sexting,” it read.

Obviously, I had to Google it. I found humor in the fact that the 21-year-old founder refuted all claims that Snapchat was intended to be a “sexting app." The way it works is you take a photo (presumably of yourself), and then set the amount of time that the recipient can view it before it disappears from their phone "forever." Plus, with a 12+ age rating on iTunes (for “mature/sexual themes & mild sexual content or nudity") and app images portraying girls in bikinis, it hardly seemed to be built just for sending funny selfies to friends.

But boy was I wrong. As someone who grew up when the selfie was in its incubation period (i.e., the MySpace era), I’ve come to appreciate the camera on my iPhone 4 almost as much as the next middle school tween. So I didn't need much convincing to download the free app, which Forbes deemed “the biggest no-revenue mobile app since Instagram.” Now, a week and a half later, I've found myself sending friends photos of my half-asleep visage in the middle of my open office plan, birthday cake scrawled with rainbow stars and hearts (in addition to being able to draw over the photo in Kid Pix-like colors, you're also able to add up to 36 characters of text), and even letting out the occasional LOL at my friends' photos. (These have included a checkered outfit choice emblazoned with the words "Gingham Style.") But by far the funniest part of the app is the fact that you receive a notification when the recipient takes a screenshot of the photo—and then there's nothing you can do to rescind it from their archive. Now that, my friends, is why I don't sext. Even if it is on Snapchat.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Gifts that Give to Girls

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 01:45:00 GMT

By RED editor Amy Goldwasser, reporting from NYC on one-of-a-kind, handpainted gifts—cookies and cards—that help an awesome organization in her neighborhood after a brutal storm

There are few things in this world closer to my heart than cookies and the Lower Eastside Girls Club. To think of them together brings me great joy. To know that they were both compromised by Hurricane Sandy makes me want to help. And eat cookies.

Now, for the holidays, all these sweet things come together, in a couple of entirely special, entirely handcrafted, entirely girl-made items: a Holiday Cookie Tin ($30 includes shipping to anywhere in the U.S.) and a collection of Celebrating Women Greeting Cards ($20 for a collection of 12).

These are gifts that benefit everyone involved—with original art and baked goods, yes, but also with post-storm relief and life-changing cultural and job programs for an amazing group of New York City girls, age 8 to 18, whose neighborhood and homes were hit hard. And the organization’s Sweet Things Bake Shop on Avenue C was flooded, just when high-season was about to bring mother-daughter baking teams employment for the holidays, their ovens fired up to meet demand. But our dedicated pastry chefs persevere! From donated kitchens around town, they’re making their worth-waiting-for-every-year gingerbread brownstone cookies (and even something called a pfeffernüsse), as exquisite and delicious as ever.

Less edible, though equally beautiful and arguably more educational, are the greeting cards (printed on recycled paper with earth-friendly inks) that include women worth telling the world about, Eleanor Roosevelt to Rosa Parks to Comandante Ramona. No two revolutionaries—like no two hand-painted snowflake butter cookies—are alike, and every one will spread cheer to the lucky person who receives it and the lucky girls of the Lower Eastside Girls Club.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Wild About Horses

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:25:00 GMT

By Jordyn Turney, 22, reporting from San Diego, CA, on the new album from Band of Horses, who always ride high on her list.

The list of artists whose albums I always, always buy is a short one, easily counted on one hand. And on this list is the indie-rock Band of Horses. It started with getting hooked on the song "The Funeral" from their debut LP, Everything All the Time, and then I discovered it wasn't just that one song I liked, but all of them.

With the Seattle band's fourth album Mirage Rock just out, I'm once again reminded of how much I love their music. The rustic sound of this new one is a change up from their earlier albums—which is always risky but admirable and in this case, really pays off. It’s a bit grittier, more solidly rock than the efforts that came before it. But the songs are just as sadly upbeat as ever, with melancholy lyrics set to impeccable, mountain-tinted beats. Music tends to make me think of images, and this latest Band of Horses offering conjure clear mountain skies, falling-down old houses with fading porches and drinks in mason jars.

While some of the songs, like "Shut-In Tourist," would easily fit in with their earliest albums, most of them, like the first track "Knock Knock," have a sound that's changed just enough. It’s markedly different while still being true to the Band of Horses I fell for. My personal favorite from the album has to be "A Little Biblical," an upbeat, catchy little ditty intriguingly matched with melancholy, more mature lyrics. And the closing song "Heartbreak on the 101" is a winding road trip well worth taking, proving that this band's talent is anything but a mirage.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Happy, Healthy Halloween Treats

admin — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:21:00 GMT

By Emily-Nicole Johns, 24, reporting from New York, NY, on fun, adorable foods for the spooky season without the ghastly amounts of sugar

When it comes to Halloween, sure, I love the costumes and the extra layer of eyeliner and the DIY decorations. But my absolute favorites are the treats you can eat! Candy corn, monster pops, chocolate zombies, jelly brains, popcorn balls, and ANYTHING pumpkin-flavored…. I know, I’m scaring myself, too. If your October sweet tooth is anything like mine, who am I to say boo about it? You don’t have to deprive yourself. But it is worth working some whole foods into your diet of severed gummy fingers. The simple snacks here are Halloween central and great alternatives to taking in ghastly amounts of artificial ingredients and sugar.

Peanuts: Peanuts have little to no additives and preservatives and are packed with rich omega-3 fatty acids that boost brain function. For Halloween, you can turn these nuts into creepy little menaces by spraying them with black food coloring and water and roasting them in the oven for 20 minutes at 250 degrees.

Pretzels: These twisted snacks are surprisingly (and awesomely) high in calcium and vitamin B, which can help your eyesight in the haunted house. One tasty way to work them into a Halloween party is to sandwich almond butter between two whole-wheat crackers and stick pretzel "legs" into the sides. Add raisins for eyes (or craisins, if you’re after the bloodshot look). Another fun and adorable option—pretzels dressed as pumpkins!

Pumpkin: Don't even get me started on how much I love a pumpkin. Not only is this guy delicious, it's good for you, too! Pumpkin delivers vitamin C and fiber and enhances your immune system, essential during the cold season. The seeds are superstars as well. They help build stronger bones (no skeletons here!) and are absolutely delicious when roasted and topped with savory or sweet seasonings. Tessa, a college student turned cookbook author has a wonderful (almost) healthy pumpkin chocolate chip square recipe.

Apples: Apples are straight up your friend. They’re full of fiber, promote weight loss and are good for the heart. When it comes to Halloween and this fruit, I'm right back at a haunted corn maze, dressed like a Power Ranger (pink, obviously) and eating one covered in candy or caramel! For a healthier, homemade version of the caramel apple we all grew up with, check out this AWESOME recipe.

Popcorn: Popcorn is definitely one of my favorite snacks, all year round. And I just found out that it’s apparently rich in antioxidants, which help protect our cells from toxins. Hellooo Poptober! Here are ten ways to put a spooky spin on it.

Now stop your Snicker-ing and have a happy, healthy Halloween!

Get the full set of RED Hearts posts-in Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, and News.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Hot for Hispanic Heritage Month

admin — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 02:01:00 GMT

By Zulay Regalado, 23, reporting from Miami, FL, on her favorite books and foods—and flamenco dress past—to honor Latin American culture

One of my favorite months growing up was always September 15 to October 15—an intriguing mid-month to mid-month period to honor the many traditions and personalities of the Hispanic and Latin-American community during Hispanic Heritage Month. As a child, it was the one time of the year (besides Halloween, of course) that I could get away with parading around school in my native Cuban ruffled flamenco-style dress. It was also a month filled with all the yummy empanadas and tamales that I could get my hands on, and books—a lot of books.

Each day was a new opportunity to learn about iconic writers such as Pablo Neruda and Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who paved the road for many Latin-American authors. While I am not currently parading around my college campus in said ruffled flamenco dress, my love for Latin-American literature carries on.

Here are some of my favorite reads for one of my favorite months of the year:

Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz-Cofer
Fifteen-year-old Maria is a native Puerto Rican living on the island with her mother. When she makes the decision leave her home and move to the barrio of New York with her father, Maria struggles to balance the two layers of her culture. While she's trying to adjust to completely foreign surroundings, she finds an original and life-changing solace in poetry.

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
Angel Rodriguez is an independent young woman who lives in a struggling neighborhood. In an effort to overcome her surroundings, she focuses on making a name for herself in the art world through her painting. The road is longer than Angel imagined (of course it is), and she must eventually choose between two graffiti artists who are vying for her talent and her heart.

Estrella's Quinceañera by Malin Alegria
While it is tradition in Hispanic culture for a girl's fifteenth birthday to be nothing short of a huge celebration, Estrella wants no part of the cheesy hype. Her mother, however, insists on throwing her the biggest party possible, complete with a mariachi band and an enormous dress. It's a trying time for Estrella as she tries to fight off her mother's dead- set ways, grow into her own person and, most importantly, date a boy who she knows would never be accepted into her family. She's got to grow up someday, no?

Grab an empanada and enjoy!

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Carly Rae Jepser Calls Back

admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:42:00 GMT

By Jessica Goodman, 22, reporting from Los Angeles on a new album that lifts the "Call Me Maybe" star out of one-hit wonderdom

Is it late enough into September to start thinking Billboard's 2012 Song of the Summer has year-round staying power? Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" has hovered in the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 29 weeks now, and "the most catchiest song I've ever heard" (that's fellow Canadian and CRJ discoverer Bieber talking) has created a YouTube movement, as lip-synced by Harvard's baseball team, Miss USA contestants, Olympic athletes and just about everyone else. It's so infectiously viral that even Cookie Monster has his hand in the jar.

This is a song you just can't get sick of!

Which means...this is a singer with a lot of pressure on what comes next. Carly Rae Jepsen's freshman album Kiss was released this Tuesday, and it seems the whole world, Sesame Street to Main Street, is watching. One wonders if she's just another one-hit wonder.

Even though I went into to this album with that same skepticism, I believe Kiss is more than a maybe vote for Jepsen's staying power. It's a collection of sixteen songs that any girl can relate to. She pretty much puts music to the unspoken words on the tips of our tongues and telephones—those things we know we feel but just don't know how to say.

"The Kiss," the new single, really captures that universal romantic agony of "The kiss is something I can't resist...I wish it didn't feel like this." I won't tell you how it ends, but it's about learning to trust your heart and take risks.

I think Jepsen has a huge chance at making it beyond the meme. Her music and her passion remind me a lot of Taylor Swift, who has had tremendous success from album to album. "Call Me Maybe" was just the first sign of what this girl has to offer. I expect we'll be calling for more music for many years and most-vieweds to come.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Used Books Utopia

admin — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:48:00 GMT

By Lisa Chau, who turns 24 today (happy birthday, Lisa!), reporting from Ann Arbor, MI, on the magic of buying books in the real world

I used to make my older sister drive me to the bookstore so I could buy the newest Harry Potter before it sold out. It took a lot of persuading and many promised back rubs. I would go home with a crazed grin on my face, plop on the couch, and read while telling myself, "Oh, I only have half the book left...I only have a few chapters...one more page!!!" until I finished, realizing that I had forgotten to eat any meals (true love can do this to you). Certainly there was no time in there for giving massages.

Of course, it now takes seconds to simply click and have reading material appear in front of your eyes. Everything is too easy these days (gosh, I sound so old!). As convenient as eBooks are, I want to hold on to buying physical books for as long as I can. Finding real books is way more magical than being able to access thousands with a tap. The experience of it all still matters to me.

Also, there are still tons of books written before my time that I'm dying to read, not just the new ones. And there's no way my wallet will ever be able to keep me in crispy new pages. Lucky for me, I like used books. The wear and tear of the cover, the funky smell of glue and paper, and surprises like finding a super cool Sauron bookmark in my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring fill my heart with that fuzzy feeling never conjured in cyberspace or megastores.

With Friends of the Library organizations across the country, you can buy used books for as little as 50 cents. Simply ask your local public library if they have a program (they probably do)! A few weeks ago I went to The Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library sale and found The Bluest Eye (classic), My Horizontal Life (the previous owner had underlined the word "fart" and nothing else), and a battered copy of A Clash of Kings (I know you're a Game of Thrones fan) for THREE DOLLARS!

Since Borders became an empty and lonely space on one of the busiest corners of downtown Ann Arbor, Dawn Treader has become my favorite bookstore to stroll into on a whim—and it's independent. My BFFL Yelp can help you find an indie bookstore near you (that's the kind of easy clicking I approve of). If people don't continue to buy their books in stores, there won't be any bookstores in the near future, eBooks will take over, our kids won't know what books are, paper will become extinct, we'll forget how to write, and the world as we know it will never be the same. Too dramatic? I think not.

If you've got your arms full of unwanted books (do me a solid and NEVER do this), donate them! Used bookstores and Friends of the Library programs will gladly take them out of your hands and put them into the hands of those who do want them—in a real-world act of Harry Potter-worthy magic.

RED Hearts: Fashion: Animal Magnetism: He is the Walrus

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:31:00 GMT

By Zoe Mendelson, reporting from New York, NY, on the magical healing powers of packing a stuffed animal

Packing always seems to come with the end of summer—off to college, back-to-school, last-gasp road trip. And it's always way more difficult than it should be. You look around your room, and you're so used to grazing over everything in its usual spot that you can't even see it to know to pack it. Packing for college is an extra challenge because you can't really know what you're going to want in your new room and need in your new life.

Besides the obvious, here are my top-three packing recommendations: 1. Shoes (I forgot to do this); 2. Hydrogen peroxide (I have found it's a miracle remover of most any stain); 3. Your favorite stuffed animal (I am not joking). In fact, item number-three is perhaps the most essential. Yes, it's a blatant symbol of childhood in a place where you want to seem grown up. But you know what? Nobody else knows whether to be cool or nice either—and being nice will get you a lot farther.

The beginning of college can be, not to scare you, but really, really lonely. And I think the loneliest moments are those spent awake in a strange new bed at night, especially when amplified by the awkward silence between you and your roommate. There is, I promise, no better remedy for that than a stuffed animal.

This is my stuffed animal. His name is Mooky and he is a pink walrus. He has a beany butt, he is a very good snuggler and neck pillow, and he is so cute it is truly ridiculous. (The patch on his tusk is a skin graft that my grampa sewed on him last week to mend a dog bite.) One look in his little black, eerily expressive eyes and even grown men are brought to baby talk. Mooky is not just a creature comfort but a soul healer and something of a celebrity for it. He may or may not have a Facebook. Just saying.

My best friend just went through a tough breakup and simultaneous solo move to a new city, so I lent her Mooky (hard to part with, but I knew she needed him). She was so sad to give him back that I decided to get her a Mooky of her own. When my other friends caught wind of this, well, let's just say I ended up buying five more Mookys…for girls who just graduated college, who are in law school, and who are, I promise, very very cool (and nice).

Anyway, if you too are very very cool and nice and don't have the right childhood beast of your own to pack, Mooky might be the greatest stuffed animal ever made. He is available on Amazon for $8-$15, plus shipping.

RED Hearts: Fashion: DIY Seashell Style

admin — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:14:00 GMT

By Carey Dunne, 22, reporting from New York, NY, on the free jewels to be found on any beach this summer

If you’re at the beach, trying to distract yourself from this summer’s extreme heat, no need to go looking pirate-style for an X that marks the buried treasure spot. The real jewels are usually in plain sight.

People have been adorning their bodies with seashells for ages: In Hawai’i, wearing jewelry made from puka shells was thought to ensure a peaceful voyage for seafarers, and eastern Native American tribes traditionally carved symbolic designs into polished whelk, mussel, and conch shells to make gorgets, pieces of armor for the throat. Today, high-end designers like Mesi Jilly sell their shell-based jewelry at places like Bergdorf Goodman.

But you can avoid Bergdorf prices and seaside town gift shops by making shell jewelry yourself, for free. Last weekend, I took my first trip to the beach this summer and collected a bunch of gold- and copper-colored shells. It took less than an hour to make them into a necklace.

I used shiny, thin iridescent Anomiidae, also known as jingle shells or mermaid's toenails. It's easy to poke holes in them with a safety pin. (For thicker shells, you might need a drill.) Your jewels may come in an ocean of options; the world is your oyster. In fact, even oyster shells can be turned into charms, as seen on Lillydallie's Etsy shop.

Or, for one-stop beachcombing, you can find a single large shell you like, then dip it in bright paint and/or draw on designs and put it on a chain. Black suede string or leather cord works, too. Etsy shop Seashore Love cites "Saved by the Bell awesomeness" as inspiration for this stripey creation.

Another idea: Add beads or objects to your necklace. I strung spare metal watch parts onto mine. At the shop Evolution in NYC's Soho, I found a small blue boar's tusk for $1 and wrapped it in copper wire. To make the necklace in this photo, I poked holes in the shells with a safety pin and made a symmetrical-ish pattern. Then I strung the shells and watch parts on a black silk string; I fixed them in place by dripping hot candle wax around each.

Jingle shell earrings, like these from Maidstone Jewelry on Etsy, can be made simply by buying earring hooks and a piece of wire. Add a small bead or a pearl and fasten the shell.

Now just try to stop saying "She sells seashells" as you browse Etsy or by the seashore.

RED Hearts: Fashion: Mr. Taylor, Superstar Among Sneakers

admin — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:52:00 GMT

By Charlotte Steinway, 24, reporting from New York, NY, on can't-kick classic kicks

By no means do I consider myself "a sneaker person." Granted, I occasionally wear the New Yorker's rotation of Vans, Keds, and Nike Dunks (namely on the weekends when I intend to either cross the Williamsburg Bridge or venture above 14th Street by foot). In the summer, my footwear of choice is sandals; in the winter, it's a go-to pair of combat boots. Through all seasons, however, classic Chuck Taylors have always held a special spot in my heart—and my Polly Pocket-size closet.

I first got to know Mr. Taylor in third grade: It was Twin Day, and my veritably fashionable eight-year-old peers said I could only be a part of their precocious hipster tribe if too I bought a pair of black Converse low-tops. I complied. And in the 15 years since, I can definitively say that footwear purchase was my most timeless. That's not to say I didn't fumble a bit along the way, though. I also owned a pair of orange-striped Adidas Shell Toes, denim Pumas, and best (or worst, you decide) of all, a rainbow-tinged pair of sneaks eerily similar to this pair of Jeffrey Campbells ($124.99), which, mind you, are currently on the market.

But amid other rough sneaker territory—involving platforms, curly shoelaces, and that terrifying "stuffing" trend—my trusty Converse never failed me. And while I've wavered between colors (black and white) and styles (low- and hi-tops), the chicness of basic white low-tops ($44.95) was underscored during a semester spent in Paris, when I actually convinced my mother to ship me my pair from home so I could "assimilate with French culture."

Just last month, I decided to replace the pair of black hi-tops ($45) I've owned since my feet stopped growing at the age of 14. And even though I'm a financially independent (family cell phone plans don't count, right? right?!) 24-year-old living 3,000 miles away from home, I somehow couldn't bring myself to buy them without my mom. So when she came to visit, we took a trip to the SoHo Converse store—and each got ourselves a pair.

Get the full set of RED Hearts posts-in Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, and News.

RED Hearts: News: Sweet (and Savory) Summer Fruit Salads

admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:18:00 GMT

By Amy Goldwasser, editor of RED, reporting from New York City, on the season's coolest no-cook combos

July is about fruit for me. Berries definitely come to mind before fireworks, and if the packaging were more convenient, I’d carry a watermelon with me at all times —right there with the cardigan that fights over-air conditioning.

What’s special about this July and fruit, though, is that I’ve discovered a way to make its juicy, summer sweetness even better: adding something savory. A drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette or a dose of fresh black pepper really brings the flavor of the fruit out in delicious contrast.

My summer 2012 favorite in this category, simple perfection with a little bit of surprise, is a watermelon, basil and balsamic vinaigrette salad. I like Newman's Own Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing—which, oooh, I now see they also recommend over pears. Good idea, Newmans. Ideally, the basil is homegrown (this is the easiest plant to keep happy, just a bit of sunshine and a windowsill will do), and the watermelon from a farmer’s market, but you can’t go wrong here. Just put it together to taste. You can also add cheese. Fresh mozzarella works well, as does feta. (I'm prone to taking the feta rec from this blogger who confesses, “I may or may not have eaten watermelon for dinner three nights in a row.”) If you're into fancying it up, or wielding a melon baller, or geometry—cubes are always cute—here's a classy amuse bouche version.

Berries, too, are instant balsamic BFFs. Just pour some over the top of strawberries, with or without a shake of black pepper. Or bring it into the dessert course: A scoop of vanilla gelato with blueberries and strawberries and balsamic will end any meal on the grill in style—kind of the elegant, grownup version of the old red-white-and-blue Firecracker Popsicle.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: How to Rock the Open Mic

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 01:27:00 GMT

by Zulay Regalado, 23, reporting from Miami, FL, on facing her fears and singing for her summer

Singing has always been a passion that I’ve held dear to myself—and my shower. That’s about it. If you’re like me, you cringe at the thought of standing, let alone singing, within sight of more people than you can count on both hands. I can forget basic conversational English the second I have to introduce myself to a few strangers. Should you share my affliction, here’s a fun way, I swear, to soothe your nerves this summer: open mic nights.

Facing your fear and putting yourself out there will feel like the greatest accomplishment of your life. Basically because the idea terrified me, I decided to make good use of my summer without schoolwork and found a few venues close to home that cater to amateur performers—open mic nights can feature anything from poetry and monologue readings to comedy to your own rendition of your favorite Adele song. My first time on the mic, I imagined all 30 bodies in the room walking out in unison while I sat on a dark stage in shame. But the image melted away the second I closed my eyes and began to sing “Misery” by Pink and Steven Tyler. I knew I was hooked.

By then I realized it didn't even matter to me if I'd scared away the entire audience (I didn't, not a one). I was having a blast and sharing my love of music with others. I'm convinced it's the bonding going on in that room—the very human experience of risking and surviving public humiliation—that has even led to me making a few musician friends who want to feature me on their demo albums!

If it's your first time on the mic, here are some tips to help shake the stage fright:

-Choose a piece that makes you happy and comfortable: What's your go-to in real life? What do you read or sing or listen to when no one's watching and you want to cheer yourself up? That same magic will work on an audience. For me, beyond the rare Pink and Steven Tyler collaboration, I'm happiest with Adele (and have realized you don't need to be the British queen of soul herself to kill it on stage).

-Invite some friends! Nothing like having some familiar faces front row cheering you on.

-Feel out your crowd and engage them as much as possible. Open mic crowds are generally a no-judge zone, so don't worry about acting silly or throwing in some quirky one-liners before you perform. If you're feeling extra fearless, take requests.

While I may not be fearlessly selling out arenas all over town just yet, I’m slowly expanding my social network and developing better conversational skills. Most important, I’ve learned to never let my nerves keep me from doing what makes me happy. Who knows, maybe you’ll see me on American Idol someday. Just remember to vote for me.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: The Explosive Fiona Apple's New Album

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:29:00 GMT

By Alison Smith, 21, reporting from Allston, MA, on a misunderstood artist's—and idol of hers since elementary school—long-awaited return

There’s something about Fiona Apple, in her music and in interviews, that’s always on the edge of falling apart, right there on the verge of a catastrophic explosion. But that’s her power; to call her fragile would be a severe misinterpretation.

An artist who’s been ridiculed for 15 years as overly angsty, somber and unappreciative, Apple’s discomfort in the spotlight only adds to the art she chooses to release—again, on her fourth album, The Idler Wheel..., which is out this Tuesday. “I just want to feel everything,” is the strength you can’t fault her for, and one she repeats in “Every Single Night,” the first single off The Idler Wheel…. (And in true Apple idiosyncrasy, these ellipses are not actual ellipses, but a stand-in for the 20 words that follow.) Yes, TIWIWTTDOTSAWCWSYMTRWED is a perfect reintroduction to Apple after a major recording gap following her last album, 2005’s Extraordinary Machine.

“Every Single Night” takes the listener from quiet melismas to tribal booms. The song falls in line with Apple’s themes of contrasting melancholy, inwardly directed yearns with commanding outbursts. The music video was released last weekend and features images of a giant octopus, snails, and Apple spooning a skeleton. As a fan who has placed Apple on an (anti-heroine) pedestal since elementary school, I value the last moment of the video, when her eyes widen jokingly, in exaggerated resistance to being the star.

The rest of the new album, streamed early on NPR, is rife with guttural growls. But the most surprising moment takes place on the final track, "Hot Knife," when a schoolyard chant overturns Apple's declaration that she is butter and her man is a hot knife. The chant, giving dominance instead to Apple as the hot knife, is a refreshing change of pace. The lyrics put her in a position of confidence in non-broken relationships.

While I am incredibly excited for The Idler Wheel…’s release, I’m equally delighted to have Apple back in the press. (Check out her infamous 1997 Best New Artist acceptance speech at the VMA’s) She’s always been refreshingly outspoken about misconceptions of her character and music. This time around, we can hope the reluctant role model—more hot knife than butter—continues to move young girls to reject the judgments placed upon them and to employ their individual voices.

RED Hearts: News: Dropping F-Bombs

admin — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:34:00 GMT

By Maya-Catherine Popa, 23, reporting from New York City on feminism and a new book that reinvigorates the f-word for a new generation

“Are you having a boy or an abortion?” asks clumsy Admiral General Aladeen, Sasha Baron Cohen's character in the summer flick The Dictator. The whole theater erupts in laugher. While I usually enjoy Cohen's brand of boldly roasting contemporary figures, trends, and controversies, I am struck silent. His success lies precisely in his ability to expose real examples of bigotry. So why I should I be laughing?

We know that women, and young girls especially, are the target of human rights violations worldwide. In our own country, we have a 2012 presidential candidate who would like to see Roe v. Wade repealed. Yet I have sat in a classroom full of female students who, when asked if they considered themselves feminists, only gingerly raised their hands or altogether refused to identify with the term.

Julie Zeilinger, 19 -- a fellow Barnard student who’s witnessed an unsettling aversion to that f-word in these very classrooms -- is making huge strides to ensure the re-appropriation of feminism for our generation. Since founding the feminist blog TheFBomb.org in 2009, Zeilinger has been one of the Internet’s most influential voices on the issue, and her book, A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism is Not a Dirty Word comes out this week.

While second-wave giants like Bella Abzug (the Bella we should be reading about), Germaine Greer, and Gloria Steinem fought for our public and private voices, it often feels as though Americans in their teens and twenties have become complacent and apathetic, not willing to keep the movement in motion. Under the name of progress, we’re reluctant to argue against anyone who claims “Women are equal now, so what's the problem?”

Between anti-heroines in books, reality television portraying the shallowest, most Snooki- or bachelorette-skewed examples of feminine conduct, and longstanding cartoony depictions of bra-burners, the feminist movement for my generation has been ridiculed and tainted. It’s all too easy for the media to parody women -- and for women in turn to make fun of one another to prove that they can take a joke.

If girls and women our age can't seem to piece apart feminism's meaning from its slandered connotations, then how can we expect anyone else to? This includes policy makers and the people, women and men, we surround ourselves with every day. How do we reclaim the f-word? Women's rights are human rights -- isn't it about time the jokes stopped?

RED Hearts: Entertainment: It's Complicated: Books About Friendship

admin — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:46:00 GMT

By Jordyn Turney, 22, reporting from San Diego, CA, on YA novels that aren't afraid to explore the heartbreaking nature of friendships

I just read I Heart Daily co-editor Melissa Walker's newest YA novel, Unbreak My Heart, and it really got me thinking. The book is, on the surface, about a romance. But underneath that—at its core—the cute, sun-soaked story is really about a best friendship fractured and the painful question of whether or not it can be repaired.

Friendships, broken and unbroken, are in our lives, on my mind, pretty much all the time. I even wrote about one personal experience of such a split. Unbreak My Heart doesn't shy away from the complicated side of friendship, and these other great YA books don't either.

Mostly Good Girls, by Leila Sales
This book manages to be both funny and heartfelt and a little bit excruciating, all at the same time. Violet and her best friend Katie attend an all-girls private school and, in their junior year, discover how different they really are. It's a realistic tale well told.

Like Mandarin, by Kirsten Hubbard
In the brilliantly written setting of Wyoming, good-girl Grace pursues a friendship with Mandarin, the wild girl she longs to be. This book explores the thrilling and fast-paced friendships that so many girls experience at one time or another. The friend that's just a little prettier, just a bit more popular, and—so you think—a lot more perfect.

Twenty Boy Summer, by Sarah Ockler
As in Unbreak My Heart, there's a boy at the center of this book as well. A boy and a secret that, in a summer of beginnings, threatens to tear best friends Anna and Frankie clear apart. The all-too-familiar struggles, secrets, and fights are heartbreaking in this moving story.

RED Hearts: Entertainment: See StarKid Soar

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:39:00 GMT

By Lisa Chau, 23, reporting from Ann Arbor, MI, on an awesome musical theater company—coming to your town

Musical theater. Pigfarts. Friendship. Slap bracelets. These are just a few of the things that come to mind when I hear Team StarKid.

StarKid is a sensational musical theater troupe formed in 2009 by a group of University of Michigan theater grads (including Darren Criss, aka Glee's Blaine) and now based in Chicago. Or you might know this team as the creators of the brilliant parody A Very Potter Musical, which had a budget of under $150 and pretty much took over YouTube.

I recently got involved with StarKid for their first national concert tour, The S.P.A.C.E. Tour, manning their merchandise tables with the one and only Ann Arbor T-shirt Company. I had no idea what I was signing up for—beyond living on a bus with performer-types for five weeks—and boy, was I in for a surprise.

Walking up to the first S.P.A.C.E. venue was spectacular. I had never seen so many crazy-dedicated fans in one place. They were all decked out in their pink sunnies and SuperMegaAwesomeFoxyHot tees, singing StarKid songs in unison, happily on their sixth hour of waiting in line to get the best spot in the venue. This happened at every stop on the tour.

It didn't take long to realize why people are so in love with this act. StarKid reminds us all that everything will be okay, friends will always have your back, and you should shoot for the moon because you can surely get there.

And that, my friends, is totally awesome.

StarKid is currently preparing for their second national tour, Apocalyptour, where they will attempt to please the Mayan gods with their mad musical skills before the world as we know it ends. Apocalyptour begins May 9 at the House of Blues in Chicago and runs through June 10, ending at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Get your tickets now before it's over – the world, that is.

Check out Team StarKid's latest musical, Holy Musical B@man!

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Bake Good

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:46:00 GMT

By Erika Kwee, 21, reporting from Houston, TX, on an avid baker's easy, healthy ingredient swaps

Scones, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, blondies, muffins—if it's a baked good, chances are I've either made it or eaten it in the past month. I'm avid about it. Plus, spring always seems to come with a host of occasions that call for homemade treats. I'll bake away for Easter, Mother's Day, birthdays, events, fundraisers, or for no reason at all. I even co-taught a course in it this past semester at my school, Rice University.

There's something that scares me about the craft, though, and it's the sheer nutritional wasteland of most baked goods. Cups of refined white flour, sugar and butter and chocolate—not the kind of ingredients anyone should be eating on a regular basis. I'm all for staying true to the integrity of a recipe, and no doubt the classic elements taste delicious in nearly any combination. If I'm in the mood, there's no way you could ever get me to bake anything other than my mom's original chocolate chip cookie recipe.

But there are times when I'm up for something different—for tweaking a recipe to experiment with flavors and texture, adding complexity, and maybe in the process even bringing in a few extra nutrients.

I like to surf baking blogs for ideas, and there are a bunch out there with terrific healthy recipes. Some of my favorites are Oh She Glows(vegan), Texanerin Baking (Erin can "go putting weird things in" her cookies, like chickpeas, and somehow make it work), and Chockohlawtay (from a college sophomore majoring in nutritional science). Here are some ingredient swaps and strategies I picked up along the way and taught in my baking class:

• Flour: Try using whole wheat, white whole wheat, spelt, oat, or gluten-free flour mixes instead of regular all-purpose to add fiber, protein, calcium, and iron! I find that you can get away with replacing all AP flour in a recipe with white whole wheat and hardly notice the difference. If you're using whole wheat or another heartier flour, blend it with the AP so your baked goods don't turn out overly dense or gritty.

• Eggs: Substituting chia seeds or ground flaxseed for eggs ventures into vegan baking territory, which I think is awesome and shouldn't just be for vegans. Chia seeds and flaxseeds both add healthy omega-3 fats and can lower the cholesterol in a recipe. To replace one egg, simply mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of warm water and let sit for 5 minutes or until mixture is gelled (flaxseed gels less quickly than chia seeds).

• Butter/oil: Greek yogurt is a great alternative to butter. It tastes great, even on its own (take that, butter), cuts fat, and increases protein in a recipe. Replace one half the amount of butter prescribed with half the amount of Greek yogurt. I know that was confusing: For example, if the recipe calls for 1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons), use 4 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt. Oil is of course more liquidy than butter, so applesauce or regular yogurt are good subs for half the oil called for.

We modified a molten chocolate cake in class, and it was amazing. So were scones with springy add-ins that were not chocolate chips: craisins, orange zest, fresh coconut.

Happy, healthy baking!

RED Hearts: Entertainment: Boy Bands Are Back!

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:26:00 GMT

By Jessica Goodman, 22, reporting from Los Angeles, CA, on One Direction she's proud to follow

There was a time, before the common era of Justin Timberlake as solo act and movie star, when boy bands reigned. JT was the lead singer of N'Sync, and 98 Degrees, the Backstreet Boys, and so forth turned the century and lots of teen girl heads. Greet today's news depending on how you feel about this 1990s-into-2000s chapter in music history: Boy bands are back!

And a pack of artfully rumpled British-Irish cuties called One Direction—five of them, all under age 20—is reviving the trend with a global frenzy. In true this-century style, Liam, Harry, Niall, Zain, and Louis were brought into stardom after the boys had applied to appear individually on The X Factor in the UK and failed to qualify. Guest judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested they get together and perform as a group. One Direction placed third and signed to Simon Cowell's label.

Their first single and biggest hit to date is "What Makes You Beautiful," which recently won Best British Single at the Brit Awards. But its appeal is universal: If you watch the video or really listen to their lyrics you can for sure see why girls are going crazy over them!

Not to read too much into a message delivered via boy band, but the song makes you realize you don't have to be somebody else for a guy. It's about having the courage to not be shy about who you are—which is the real beauty females have. You don't need makeup and you don't need to be insecure. Just be proud to be someone strong and brave, and people will notice. Surely Justin Timberlake would agree.