Tara Block
Assistant Editor, Sex & Culture
nostalgia

12 Totally Sweet '90s Knowledge Nuggets From New Book

All hail girls of the '90s!

All hail girls of the '90s! There's a new book on the horizon that celebrates the decade of jellies and Tamagotchis: The Totally Sweet '90s by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper and Brian Bellmont (out June 4). The paperback breaks down the hottest trends, toys, video games, songs, and boy bands of the decade with a status update and fun fact on each. Like whatever happened to The Oregon Trail? You'll have to check out the book when it's out for the answer to that one, but I pulled out some of the craziest fun facts on 12 of my faves from the '90s from Lisa Frank to Squeezits. Check 'em out now!

Lisa Frank School Supplies
"Yes, Lisa Frank is a real person, and to no one's surprise, she loves color. Her sons are named Hunter Green and Forrest Green, and she told the Daily in 2012 that 'my house really is purple. And yellow and hot pink and light green and orange.'"

Slap Bracelets
"Slap bracelets were invented by Stuart Anders, a Wisconsin shop teacher who was experimenting with thin bands of metal."

Baby-Sitters Club Books
"In the updated books, mention of a cassette player was changed to 'headphones' and a perm became 'an expensive hairstyle.'"

Caboodles
"The first-ever Caboodle was pink, and was created in 1987. The idea was inspired by a 1986 People magazine photo of Vanna White using a tackle box to store her makeup."

Dream Phone Game
"The game's instructions warn you that the included instrument is 'not a real phone.'"

Scrunchies
"According to the New York Observer, former singer Rommy Revson patented the scrunchie concept as the Scünci in 1986, naming it for her poodle."

Cassette Tapes
"In 2011, the phrase 'cassette tape' was removed from the concise version of the Oxford English Dictionary. One of the words it made room for? 'Sexting.'"

Tamagotchis
"The virtual pet sparked its own psychological term: The Tamagotchi Effect supposedly describes when a human develops an emotional attachment to a machine."

Pogs
"Pog stands for 'passion fruit, orange, guava,' and came from a Hawaiian drink whose bottle caps were reportedly first used to play the game."

The Olsen Twins
"In 2004, the sisters skipped their high school prom so they could host Saturday Night Live."

Oprah's Book Club
"The only real flops among Oprah's choices were her final two. Charles Dickens's Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities never moved above number 52 on USA Today's bestseller list. 'Dickens let me down,' Winfrey reportedly said."

Squeezit Drinks
"For a brief time, one Squeezit version came with tablets that you would drop in to change the juice's color."

community

"Should I Tell Him That I'm Upset?"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community. Add your advice in the comments!

I've spent quite a bit of time (alone and with others) with a guy over the last few months and met some of his friends and family. I'm not completely sure how I feel about him, but I think I may be more interested in him than I'm willing to admit to myself. Last night, we had plans to hang out, alone, although we hadn't decided what to do yet. We set this up four days in advance. The day before, he asked if I wanted to go to dinner with his friend who was visiting. I said OK, but I was a little hurt, I guess because I was looking forward to spending time alone with him. Should I have been hurt? I ended up not going because I was also upset that he didn't offer to pick me up. This actually made me really upset. Should I be upset? Should I tell him that I was upset with him?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice.

Advice

5 Expert Tips on Having a Loved One Officiate Your Wedding

The wedding ceremony can be overshadowed by the dancing, booze, and food of the reception, but ceremonies truly hold the heart of the big day: it's when the couple officially begins the rest of their lives as spouses.

The wedding ceremony can be overshadowed by the dancing, booze, and food of the reception, but ceremonies truly hold the heart of the big day: it's when the couple officially begins the rest of their lives as spouses. The "I dos" are led by the officiant, and selecting the person responsible for that moment should not be taken lightly. And more and more couples are choosing loved ones for this meaningful duty over clergymen. "In the past few years, we've seen a big surge in the number of couples asking a friend or family member to officiate their wedding," San Francisco wedding planner Jubilee Lau of Jubilee Lau Events told us. "It seems as if the consensus for such a decision is to bring in another layer of personalization to the ceremony." If you're planning on having someone you know officiate your wedding, Jubilee shared five tips:

Dad Might Not Be Best
"Normally, we would advise couples to refrain from asking immediate family members, as sometimes they get too emotional to carry themselves well in front of all the guests," Jubilee notes. But if you or your spouse-to-be has a dad who can handle the responsibility without getting weepy, go for it. Jubilee said they had two weddings recently where the groom's father officiated and the ceremonies were a success.

Public Speaking Skills Matter
It's OK to be picky. This isn't a competition for who you're closest to, it's about who would do the best job. Jubilee adds, "We recommend that they invite someone who is normally a good public speaker (they should be eloquent and articulate), that they feel very comfortable with, and who would have the time and patience to work with them on the ceremony content."

It's More Than a Daylong Commitment
This leads us to Jubilee's next point: "A good officiant does more than just read a script." You need to find someone who's willing to put in the time and effort, not just expect to show up on the big day and say a few words. "He/she should be prepared to spend some time with the couple to understand the elements that they want to bring into the ceremony — religion, families, culture, traditions, etc. — and then help them to incorporate it well." No slackers allowed!

Pair Him/Her Up With a Pro
Chances are that the friend or family member you ultimately choose has little to zilch experience officiating a wedding, and you don't want to be babysitting him or her on what goes into the undertaking. Jubilee offers this solution: "What we've done before is to pair the friend/family member up with a professional officiant, who then helps to write the ceremony. That way, they can properly advise on the content, but the clients still get the benefit of having a close friend officiate on the day of." There may be a fee for the professional (around $300-$500), but it's probably worth it to avoid any major slip-ups.

"Short and Sweet" Doesn't Mean Generic
If you've ever sat through a rushed ceremony, you know that short isn't always better. It can result in everyone at the reception feeling like they're just attending a fancy party, not celebrating a personal, significant joining of two people vowing to spend the rest of their lives together. "Although many nonreligious couples opt for a 'short and sweet' nondenominational ceremony, we always remind them that it should still be meaningful and represent who they are," Jubilee notes. "After all, the ceremony is the core of the reason why everyone is there that day!"

— Additional reporting by Annie Scudder

Link Time
nostalgia

Artistic Twists on Disney Princesses (and Other Heroines)

While our adult selves may cringe at princess culture and the outdated stereotypes that come along with it, there's just something special about the Disney princesses we grew up with like Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Aurora, and Ariel.

While our adult selves may cringe at princess culture and the outdated stereotypes that come along with it, there's just something special about the Disney princesses we grew up with like Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Aurora, and Ariel. And they aren't all damsels in distress; the newer crop of the crowned ladies have attempted to be better role models for little girls. These include Princess Sofia the First and Brave's Princess Merida.

Merida is about as modern as they come, being one of the only Disney princesses who's not only a bow-and-arrow-wielding tomboy, she has zero interest in finding her Prince Charming. Because of this, Disney has been in hot water recently for creating a "sexy" version for their princess site, and it looks like a petition to change Merida back has worked: the company swapped the art back.

But whether these Disney princesses — or, for the purists, animated heroines — are classics or newbies, they've inspired many creative artists who've transformed them into thought-provoking modern art. So while we wait for The Real Housewives of Disney to become an actual show, satiate your obsession with some of our favorite artistic renditions of Disney princesses!

women

Been There, Done That: Is Hipster History?

Hipster haters, unite: apparently 27 percent of Americans think hipsters should pay a tax for being "so annoying."

Hipster haters, unite: apparently 27 percent of Americans think hipsters should pay a tax for being "so annoying." Public Policy Polling also found that 42 percent have an unfavorable opinion of hipsters. And with the negative stereotype the subculture carries, it's no wonder even hipsters hate hipsters. These recent poll results may be a sign that we're reaching a saturation point with the too-cool-for-school group. So as we maybe, possibly enter a new posthipster era, let's take a look back at hipster history.

Movies

Sofia Coppola's Greatest Lines on Growing Up Girl

Happy birthday, Sofia Coppola!

Happy birthday, Sofia Coppola! The director, who turns 42 today, has been working on her latest film, The Bling Ring (out June 14). It stars Emma Watson as the latest — and, arguably, least likeable — Sofia Coppola heroine. And the group is an elite one, as Sofia has only directed five full-length feature films: The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, Somewhere, and now, The Bling Ring. Besides dreamy atmospheric shots and an emphasis on music, Sofia's films are known for exploring the expectations, complexities, and trials of growing up as a girl and what it means to be a woman. Click through for some of the most poignant lines from Sofia-directed films on female adolescence, motherhood, and everything in between.

community

"He Emailed an Ex to Say He Dreamed About Her"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community. Add your advice in the comments!

So here we go. Let's keep it simple. I have a wonderful, kind, and caring boyfriend. We will be together two years at the end of this month. Here is the problem: While I have never caught him cheating on me, when we first started dating (like two months in) I caught him sending messages back and forth with his ex-girlfriend and some other girls, and I wasn't too happy with the content. We spoke about it, and he stopped.

So, he hasn't done anything like that in a LONG time (I've checked up on him), but recently I was at his apartment before he got home and went to use his computer to log into my gmail. Well, when I typed in "gmail" it automatically opened his account because he was still signed in, and the first thing I saw was a message from his ex-girlfriend. Of course, I read it. (You would, too.) There was only one message each way. It was one to her saying that she was in his dream, asking her how she was, how her son was, etc. Also that she has a new hairdo. The message back to him was, kid is doing great, life is good, my new hairdo is awesome blah blah.

Here's where the problem lies. I know that the message is innocent. But he has told me time and time again that he doesn't talk to his exes because it's a waste of time. This girl was his "first love" in college and it ended terribly and he was totally head over heels in love with her. He doesn't think that I should talk to my ex-boyfriend (who is struggling with a drug addiction so he messages me every once in a while to ask for forgiveness, part of the 12 steps), but it's OK for him to message her and tell her that he had a dream about her? I don't want to bring this up because I don't want him to think I was snooping (I really wasn't . . . he shouldn't leave things logged in), but now I am feeling insecure. Any tips?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice.

women

Hannah Horvath on How to Survive Your 20s

Happy birthday, Lena Dunham!

Happy birthday, Lena Dunham! The actress, filmmaker, and writer turns 27 today, closing out another highly successful year of her relatively young life. The creator and star of the Golden Globe Award-winning HBO show Girls signed a $3.5 million book deal last year, and she uses her popularity for good, participating in political ads last election and fundraising for mental health causes. Lena has also shown her refreshingly fearless and bare-it-all personality, literally baring it all in her countless nude and sex scenes as Hannah Horvath on Girls and speaking out about body image and her struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder. Both Lena and her alter ego Hannah have a lot to say on what it's like being a 20-something woman in today's world. So we're looking at some of Hannah's best moments and lines to illustrate how to survive your 20s with some cupcakes, dancing, and self-reflection.

TV

Let's Typecast the Latest Crop of Bachelorette Boys

On Sean Lowe's season of The Bachelor, it was pretty clear Desiree Hartsock — aka "Des" — was the fan favorite.

On Sean Lowe's season of The Bachelor, it was pretty clear Desiree Hartsock — aka "Des" — was the fan favorite. And while she didn't win Sean's love, the 27-year-old bridal stylist has a whole new crop of cuties to choose from as the next star of The Bachelorette. Her 25 eligible bachelors have been announced, so ahead of the May 27 premiere, we're asking you to weigh on what "type" of contestants these fellas will be. Is the magician getting the boot? Will the hot doc make it far? Check out Des's pool of eye candy now, and give your two cents!

Movies

4 Titillating Tidbits About Hillary Clinton Biopic

Raise your hand if you'd watch a movie following a 20-something Hillary Rodham while she's deciding between her political career and her boyfriend, Bill Clinton.

Raise your hand if you'd watch a movie following a 20-something Hillary Rodham while she's deciding between her political career and her boyfriend, Bill Clinton. Yeah, that's what we thought. Where can we buy tickets? Well, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but a Hillary Clinton biopic screenplay has Hollywood all atwitter, and we don't blame them. Titled Rodham, it was No. 4 on Tinseltown's coveted "Black List" (a list of film execs' favorite scripts), but as of yet it only has a production company — Twilight's Temple Hill Entertainment — and a director, James Ponsoldt.

Thanks to Hillary's autobiography Living History, we got a glimpse into her past, and we're going to find out even more about her tenure as secretary of state in her next memoir, out in 2014. Now we'd love to see the life of the possible 2016 presidential candidate played out on the big screen. The script was written by a 39-year-old writer from South Korea, Young Il Kim, and he had us intrigued at "there's a scene with Hillary and Bill making out." Even more hot and heavy details have recently emerged, as The Daily Beast has obtained a copy of what may be the final screenplay. Find out more about the screenplay now, and tell us: who could you see playing a young, lovestruck Hillary?

Impeachment Irony
The story follows Hillary as she's struggling to find the balance between work and romance. Ironically, her job at the time — as the youngest attorney on the House Judiciary Committee — was working to impeach President Richard Nixon, while her boyfriend was rising political hopeful Bill. This same impeachment process would be used against Bill during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Office Romance
Hillary gets flirtatious with her impeachment committee co-worker, former Governor (and Republican) William Weld, in the script. She describes him as looking like Ryan O'Neal in Love Story, and there's a scene in which they "draw closer for that inevitable kiss" just to be interrupted by a call from Bill.

Steamy Scene
Since Hillary and Bill were in a long-distance relationship during those courtship days — Bill was trying to get his political career started in Arkansas, while Hillary had her own high-stakes career in Washington DC — they made their time together count. Il Kim spilled that there's a scene where they hook up in her Dupont Circle apartment. According to the script, they "devour each other" in a makeout scene that includes Hillary getting pressed against the wall and Bill tearing off her top before he "buries his head into her cleavage." There's also a scene in which Hillary tells Bill, "I f*ckin' love you. I mean that. I love you and I want to f*ck you."

Sexy Songs
The writer dishes that there's a scene in which Hillary puts on makeup while singing Carly Simon's "You're So Vain." Bill also gets in on the musical numbers, wooing Hillary by playing "Happy Birthday" and "Hail to the Chief" on the saxophone.

Wedding

Give Your Bachelorette Party Fifty Shades of Flair

Bachelorette parties are known to get a little wild, and celebrating the last single hurrah for a bride-to-be naturally lends itself to a sexy theme.

Bachelorette parties are known to get a little wild, and celebrating the last single hurrah for a bride-to-be naturally lends itself to a sexy theme. So it's no surprise that E.L. James's erotic trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey makes the perfect bach-party inspiration. Handcuffs, masks, whips, and steamy games are just a few of the elements that, used creatively, will have partygoers giggling while celebrating the soon-to-be Mrs. (Christian Grey). Nipple-clamp cookies, anyone? Click on for more Fifty Shades of Grey bachelorette-party ideas!

TV

Kristen Wiig's SNL Characters Share Laugh-Out-Loud Life Advice

Are you ready to "Wiig" out?

Are you ready to "Wiig" out? This weekend, fan favorite Kristen Wiig will be back on the Saturday Night Live stage to host the show (see the promos with Fred Armisen here). We've loved seeing more of Kristen on the big screen — especially after she killed it in Bridesmaids — but after seeing her as part of the cast for seven years, we've missed her hilarious SNL characters and impersonations. As we welcome Kristen back to the stage, let's look back at some of the best lines from her ladies, like Surprise Party Sue, Target Lady, Kathie Lee Gifford, Penelope, and "Tan Mom" Patricia Krentcil. Check them out now, and tell us: who's your favorite Kristen character?

women

27 Books Your Mom Will Love This Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday, and if you're looking for the perfect last-minute gift for Mom, we've got some books she's sure to love.

Mother's Day is this Sunday, and if you're looking for the perfect last-minute gift for Mom, we've got some books she's sure to love. Whether she's looking for something lighthearted and funny or an emotional memoir, these page-turners take on the issues mothers and mothers-to-be can relate to. And many of these are great for daughters, too, so you can borrow it when Mom's done! Check out books that will make great Mother's Day gifts now.

community

"I Snooped. Now What?"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community. Add your advice in the comments!

So I snooped out of pure curiosity about his female friend. I know of her and I know they are close, but he never talks about her. So I read some text messages about six-plus months ago, some flirty banter back and forth and him suggesting that they should hook up. I have been with my boyfriend for three years and I felt like I got slapped across the face when I read this. This girl refused, but it got me thinking, what if she didn't? They have not exchanged any messages or calls since last November.

Now I am torn about whether or not I should let this go because it was a long time ago or should I bring it up? Nothing has been wrong with our relationship (I guess other than my snooping), and he has been affectionate and loving.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice.

women

10 Things That Made Us LOL This Week

This week we found out that a surprisingly high number of people don't know when Cinco de Mayo takes place (hint, it's not May 15), Joffrey wants to make a Belieber out of you, Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look was inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire, and moms make the best movie reviewers.

This week we found out that a surprisingly high number of people don't know when Cinco de Mayo takes place (hint, it's not May 15), Joffrey wants to make a Belieber out of you, Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look was inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire, and moms make the best movie reviewers. If you need an end-of-the-week chuckle, we've rounded up the most giggle-worthy photos, GIFs, memes, and videos of the past seven days. So click through the 10 things that made us LOL this week and get your laugh on!

community

"My Boyfriend Doesn't Trust Me"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community. Add your advice in the comments!

Alright, I'll just start this by saying my boyfriend and I have been together for two and a half years. He is the most loving, caring, perfect guy ever. He is exactly like me personality and goal wise. But there's only one (big) problem. Ever since the beginning, he has never trusted me and it's gotten really bad. I can't talk to guys at all, which I don't mind at all, honestly. I don't have friends anyways so it doesn't matter. But if I do talk to them, he's threatened to either kill them or himself. I know that isn't actually true, but it still upsets me. He's very insecure and always has been.

And what makes him like this is that I started talking to him at the end (but still during) a long, horrible relationship. He thinks I will do that again, although I know I won't. It was different then. I was searching for a way out and I found it. And it came in the form of him, and it was perfect. Not once did I ever cheat, except for emotionally I supposed since I longed for him. But nothing more than that until the other relationship ended. I don't want people telling me to end my relationship because I won't. It's only this one problem and I know there must be some way through it. What I need is your help on how to get him to trust me and believe me when I say that will never happen again. Thank you.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice.

nostalgia

See How Kids These Days Are Asking Dates to Prom

When I was a teenager we didn't have iPhones, we didn't text, and our prom photos are actual, physical photographs (they are pre-Facebook, luckily).

When I was a teenager we didn't have iPhones, we didn't text, and our prom photos are actual, physical photographs (they are pre-Facebook, luckily). But it's a whole new world out there for high schoolers these days. I was curious about how modern teens do prom, so I started browsing Instagram — something we also didn't have in high school — to get a glimpse into the proms of today. While the fashions may be a far cry from what we wore a decade or longer ago, the ways teens ask their potential dates haven't changed much, besides, of course, the ones utilizing modern technology (yes, there are some texts in there). So this prom season, see the creative and not-so-creative ways the teens of today are asking their dates to their high school dances!

relationships

Would You Wear Clothes That Advertise You're Single?

There's a new Kickstarter project hoping to kick-start your love life: Kari Holt's Gutzy brand offers "meet me" t-shirts and tanks (hoping to branch out into workout wear) for men and women that signal to others that you're single and open to meeting potential partners.

There's a new Kickstarter project hoping to kick-start your love life: Kari Holt's Gutzy brand offers "meet me" t-shirts and tanks (hoping to branch out into workout wear) for men and women that signal to others that you're single and open to meeting potential partners. The items even feature numbers that you can look up online to send a message to someone you spotted on the street wearing the Gutzy attire. (Making Missed Connections obsolete?) The company pitch says that engaged and married people have rings to show the world that they're taken, so why shouldn't single people have a symbol that shows they're "available and approachable"?

The idea is a clever one, although the shirts are a bit lacking in the style department in my opinion — and not exactly subtle (why not just wear a pin that says "single"?). But fashion aside, do you find the concept of relationship-status clothing intriguing? Or would you rather meet guys the old-fashioned way?