7 Underrated Hollywood Hunks

Each year, typically around November or December, People Magazine publishes its highly anticipated feature, "The Sexiest Man Alive," complete with a jaw dropping, drool inducing cover and photo spread of Hollywood's hottest male celeb of the year. Merry Christmas to us.

However, the people at People (ha..ha...), tend to grant this coveted title to heavy hitters like George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, Bradley Cooper and Ryan Reynolds. In other words, the expected. But what about the other equally handsome hunks in Hollywood? Sure, they may have less extensive repertoires, but what they lack in Oscar-winning experience, they make up for in their own sheer physical perfection. 

Here are - what I believe to be - seven underrated hunks of Hollywood. While they receive ogling praise every now and then, I think they deserve a little bit more lovin'. And after taking a peek at these pics, I'm pretty sure you'll agree. 

In no particular order...

1. Garrett Hedlund 

Hedlund has landed some pretty major roles in movies like TRON: Legacy, Country Strong and most recently, Unbroken. Soon, you'll get to see him as Hook in the newest adaptation of Peter Pan, Pan (2015). Hot man as the bad guy? I can dig it. 

2. Jensen Ackles

Ackles is mostly known for his roles in major television series like Supernatural, Days of Our Lives and Dawson's Creek. But he is so. much. more. If you look at him too long, you might actually melt.

3. Michael B. Jordan

While Jordan made appearances in movies and television series as early as 1999, his big break didn't come until his role as Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station. Jordan's upcoming projects include Fantastic Four (2015), Fantastic Four 2 (2017) and Creed (2015). Oofta, that smirk.

4. Taylor Kitsch

Kitsch is best known for his role on NBC's Friday Night Lights from 2006-2011. But, since his beginning on the small screen, he's starred in major motion pictures like John Carter, Savages and Lone Survivor. Plus, look at that man-bun material. 

5. Tom Hardy

With films like Inception, Lawless and The Dark Knight Rises under his belt, Hardy is making his way up the cinematic ranks. Up next? Hardy will appear in The Revenant (2015) alongside Leo Di Caprio. Talk about a hottie with a body. 

6. Sam Claflin

Claflin is probably best known for his role as Finnick Odair in the blockbuster series, The Hunger Games, but he's also had roles in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman. Soon, he'll reprise his role as William in The Huntsman, due out next year. Added bonus: he has a British accent.

7. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Like Hardy, Gordon-Levitt has also starred in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. But don't be fooled, Gordon-Levitt is more than just an action-film-kind-of-guy. He's also starred in films like 500 Days of Summer (a total chick flick) and Don Jon (a comedy/drama/romance kind of concoction). Coming up, he'll take on the leading role in Snowden, due out later this year. JoGo has got some seriously classic good looks going on. 

Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Leaving for College

On May 9, 2015, I finally graduated from the journalism program at the University of Colorado Boulder with my B.S. in News Editorial, an additional field of study in Communication and a minor in Women's Studies. It was a long ride. It was a fun ride. It was a trying ride. Still, getting my diploma was one of the most important life successes I've experienced thus far.

Even though my undergraduate career was incredibly fun (a time in my life I will truly never forget), there were moments in which I found myself questioning every decision I had ever made. That being said, here are five things I wish someone had told me before I left the comfort of home for the unfamiliar college experience that awaited me.

1. It's definitely hard to leave home...but it's not impossible.
When I was a junior in high school, my mom and I drove out to Colorado to tour my top two choices for college: Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Deep down, I knew I would eventually end up in Colorado, but my 17-year-old self wasn't entirely sure about making the move a reality just yet. I mean...I'd lived in the same state, same town, same house my whole life!
After visiting CSU, I still wasn't entirely convinced I belonged there. Sure, the town and university campus was beautiful, but was it enough to sacrifice moving 1,000 miles away from all of my friends and family? After what felt like hours of thinking and talking it out with anyone that would listen, I realized that CSU wasn't the right fit.
My next visit was scheduled at CU Boulder. After touring the stunning campus, experiencing the college-town vibe "The Hill" and Pearl Street had to offer, and being swept off my feet by the natural beauty of the foothills, I knew I had found the perfect fit. Boulder is where I belonged.
But how was I supposed to tell my family and friends that I was leaving? How was I supposed to tell them that I was going to move to a place where I knew almost no one? How was I supposed to tell them that I had no idea when I was coming back? To be honest, figuring out how to answer those questions--and how to answer them in a way that proved I was positive that my decision was the right decision--was one of the more difficult tasks I had ever encountered. I was scared; I was terrified really. But I knew that if I didn't make the move now, it would be even more difficult to make it later on. In the end, making the decision to move to Colorado was hard, but it wasn't impossible.

2. In the same vein, it's perfectly acceptable to miss home once you've left. 
About four months after leaving home, I started to question my decision to move. I missed home. I missed my family. I missed my friends. Sure, I had met plenty of nice people and got to experience things I never would have back home. But at the same time, that didn't seem to offset the feelings I had about being so far away from everything and everyone I loved. And because I had told everyone back home that I was positive about the move, I didn't feel like I could express my feelings of negativity. I didn't want people to think I had failed. After talking with my brother, I realized that it was okay to miss home. It was natural to miss home. In fact, almost everyone experiences a time where they feel vulnerable and miss the comforts of home, and those feelings are perfectly acceptable.

3. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone, but remember to stay true to yourself.
Before leaving for college, I never had to switch or transfer schools, so I never had to learn how to make new friends. In fact, the friends I made when I was a little kid were the same friends I had when I left for college. I learned quickly that if I wanted to meet new people out here in Colorado, I had to leave my comfort zone and take nearly every opportunity that came my way. I started conversations with mere strangers (something I rarely ever would have done in the comfort of my own home town), which lead to invitations to join clubs, go to parties, attend shows and just hang out. It was a weird experience, but I had to remember that everyone else was in the same position; everyone else was trying to make new friends as well. It is also important to keep in mind that you have to be your true self when opening up to knew things. If you don't like what you are experiencing, recognize that discomfort and try something else. Not everyone you will meet will be your best friend, in fact, some people won't want to be your friend at all, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try.

4. It's okay to take a break from the "college life" and focus on yourself. 
College, as everyone knows, is a time to experience new things and meet new people, all while balancing school work and, for many, a part- or full-time job. College is hard. Balancing all of your different priorities is hard. Making sure you have enough time for your friends is hard. While most people tell you to do as much as you possibly can while you're in college (which I agree with...to a point), you can't forget about yourself, your own mental stability and your own health and well-being. It's important to take a bubble bath (if your run-down college house even has a bath..let alone one you are willing to lay in), drink a glass or two of wine, meditate, go to yoga, go to church or do whatever it is that gets you centered and rejuvenated. College is hard, but you shouldn't make it harder than it has to be.

5. But all that being said, cherish every minute of your college career: the good and the bad. 
Make decisions for yourself, but realize that you may question those decisions a time or two down the road. Live the college life, but don't forget to live your own life. There will always be good experiences and bad experiences, but once you find your balance, you will be able to cherish every last experience that got you to that point of serenity. My recommendation for anyone in college or about to head off: don't forget the friends you make, the risks you take, or the laws you break...because college is the best time of your life.

**To be clear, I do not advocate on behalf of breaking laws...usually.

spring break ... the bank

The countdown has officially begun.

I have less than one month until spring break finally graces me with its wondrous pleasure. I usually don't do anything terribly extravagant or exciting for school breaks, BUT things have quite a different outlook this time around. In a few short weeks, my family and I will be on a plane headed to Hawaii. I have never been to the "Aloha State" before, so this trip will be a totally new and exciting experience for me. Just the thought of spending a week at the beach - drinking fruity drinks with tiny little umbrellas and working on a killer tan - gives me goosebumps.

All of my excitement turned into panic when I found myself wondering, "What am I going to wear? What am I going to pack?" If you know me at all, I'm sure you can imagine that it was at this point in the thought process that the online window shopping began...

Unfortunately, I'm the stereotypical super poor college student, and the likelihood of me getting the chance to buy all of the items I deem to be "vacay necessities" before I leave is pretty slim. Nevertheless, I spent a good hour and a half or so putting together the ultimate day-at-the-beach outfit. Here are my top 5 necessities for the beach!


1st necessity: a fun and exotic swim suit.
Darling Daisy Flutter Bikini, Forever21 - Top $10.80, Bottom $10.80

2nd necessity: a sun dress that can act as a suit cover up
Racerback maxi dress, alloy.com - $19.90

3rd necessity: trendy summer sandals
Sinicle Sandal, by Steve Madden - $49.95

4th necessity: a wide-brimmed sun hat. Because how often to you have a reason to wear one?
Weaved Sun Hat, Forever21 - $14.80

5th necessity: a beach bag to hold your towel, sunscreen, bottle of water and cell phone
Beach Tote, Target - $24.99

Breaking that bank...but a girl can dream.

Worst. Movies. Ever?

In the past couple of years, I've seen some pretty awful movies. So bad in fact, I often find myself thinking, "What are the worst movies I've ever seen?" Here are a couple film flops that I've recently had the misfortune of coming across.


The Campaign
I might be in the minority with this pick, but give me a second to explain. I love a good comedy just as much as the next person. Dry humor, classic comedy, you name it. BUT, when a movie gets completely spoiled by the trailer, what's the point in sitting through the entirety of it? All of the gut-wrenching punch lines were given away in the trailer weeks before the movie was even released!

The Bling Ring
This movie couldn't have been more anti-climactic. There was absolutely NO substance. Instead, it was a terribly bland re-telling of an equally bland story. In fact, this movie was so awful that it was pulled from most theaters within a couple of weeks. To make matters worse, Emma Watson's attempt at an American accent was just uncomfortable.

Cabin In The Wood
This movie starts out like any other scary movie made in the last few years. A group of friends decide to head out to a remote cabin for a few days of fun and relaxation. But, low and behold, there is something strange, something scary going on in the cabin. All of a sudden there are monsters and creatures coming out of no where. I completely missed the connection between the horror film genre and strangely placed sci-fi creatures.

That's My Boy
Adam Sandler has completely lost his touch. This terribly dreadful "comedy" seems to go on and on, with but a few laughable punch lines. Grown Ups, Jack & Jill, and now this? Maybe he should think about retiring?

Spring Breakers
I literally can't think of a worse movie. Spring Breakers had NO plot line, AWFUL acting, and IRRITATING characters. You can deduce all you need to know about the movie by looking at the poster. I will never get those 94 minutes back...

Which movies have totally killed your vibe?

PSA!

As some of you may know, the following topic of discussion is particularly near and dear to my heart ...

If you haven't seen or heard, yet ANOTHER photoshop scandal has made its way into headlines recently. This time, the controversy surrounds Vogue magazine's cover photo and spread of Lena Dunham.

For those who might be unaware, Dunham is both the producer and star of the HBO hit series, Girls. The show has received plenty of criticism and backlash about casting, story line, nudity, et cetera, but that has only helped to propel it further into the realm of extreme popularity. And, as expected, as the show becomes increasingly popular, so too do the stars - most notably, Dunham.

Just like her show, Dunham has been the focal point of unwarranted criticism. Her appearance - generally in relation to her weight - has been, and clearly continues to be, a topic of discussion amongst the media. Although Dunham always responds in a manner that suggests she is not only unfazed by the comments, but also that she is completely comfortable in her own skin, the criticism just doesn't seem to fizzle out.

It's no secret, Dunham doesn't have the body of a Victoria's Secret model, but then again, how many of us do? Instead, Dunahm rocks a body that is but a reflection of the norm in our society. She is not a stick. She is a woman with curves, and she is proud of it.

Now, a while back, Vogue made an international pledge to use "healthy" models within the pages of their magazines. Since, Beyonce (a self-proclaimed modern-day feminist), Michelle Obama (a health and fitness spokesperson), and Jennifer Lawrence (a voice for positive body image) have all graced the cover of the U.S. Vogue.

That being said, it isn't necessarily a shocker that Vogue chose Dunham for their next cover. However, you'd think that in putting Dunham (a curvy woman known to have positive body image) front and center, Vogue would be working toward cultivating a healthy body image for women. And it's true, having Dunham grace the cover is a step in the right direction as far as breaking hegemonic stereotypes is concerned. BUT, in my opinion, that one step forward is only followed by two steps backward once the photoshopping comes into play.

Recently, Dunham told Time that the controversy surrounding her shoot "confuses" her. According to the article, she said, "I don’t understand why, photoshop or no, having a woman who is different than the typical Vogue cover girl, could be a bad thing." (Time article)

Although I agree with her in that having an atypical woman on the cover of Vogue isn't a bad thing (in fact, I think it's a GREAT thing!), I disagree with her view on the use of photoshop.

I understand that the photoshop used on these photos isn't drastic, but I think it's the principle. Photoshopping someone who has come out as having a positive body image and that speaks in favor of being comfortable in one's own skin nearly defeats the entire purpose of placing Dunham on the cover. In essence, this is Vogue telling their readers that although Dunham is a great role model for embracing who she is inside and out, she still needs touching up in order to be accepted in our society. One step forward, two steps back.

**You can see more of the before and after photos from her shoot here.
 
The controversy surrounding models, photoshop, unrealistic ideals, and body image is not new. And unfortunately it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. There are plenty of instances far worse than Dunham's, and I understand that. I just find it to be incredibly important for women AND men to know the difference between realism and idealism.

At this point in my life, I can't do much to make a difference one way or another, but I hope by educating myself (and hopefully others) and speaking out about it, changes will be made.

//Images courtesy of Google//

The Law of the Lady

After a good 22 years of life as a lady, I've compiled a list of "must-dos" and "must-haves" for any 21st century lady looking to make the best out of the life she's been given.

1. A good Little Black Dress never goes out of style. Always classy, always fashionable. We can thank Audrey for that.

2. Bring your biggest purse to the movies. You can fit more candy, chips, and soda in a bigger purse. It's not rocket science.

3. Sometimes less is more. For example, make up and accessories. Please do us all a favor and refrain from going over board with eccentric colors and bedazzling.

4. When in doubt, always buy the second bottle of wine. Girls nights with wine and magazines are the best nights.

5. It is well worth your money to buy salon brand hair care products. Our hair is our pride and joy, why not treat it right?

6. Always carry a nail file. You never know when a nail is going to break and ruin your day.

7. Always keep a super secret, yet easily accessible, stash of chocolate for some serious stress relief. The little Dove chocolates are pretty neat; they just might cheer you up for 2.5 seconds.

What did I miss? What are your lady "musts"?

The Fault In Our Stars - Book Review

There's not a whole lot of things I enjoy more than a great read. Whenever I get a break from classes, one of the first things I do is ditch my awful textbooks, cuddle up by the fire, and lose myself in the pages of a New York Times Best Seller. Whether it be an autobiography or memoir, murder mystery, chick lit, crime fiction, or even romance novel, chances are, I'll give the book a go.

The most recent NY Times Best Seller I read was "The Fault In Our Stars," by John Green. To my knowledge, the author doesn't include a synopsis on the back cover (at least for the hardcover edition), so I'll do my best to give you an idea of what the book is about...

[[The story is told by Hazel Lancaster, a young cancer patient that is simply going through the motions of life; a life only those who've experienced cancer can truly relate. Hazel is forced by her parents to attend a local support group for kids with cancer. It is their hope that this support group will not only help get Hazel out of the house, but that it will also help her to make friends. Hazel isn't exactly keen on the idea of sitting through support group, but she goes anyways. It is at one of the dreaded support group meetings that Hazel meets Augustus Waters, a handsome young man in remission. Hazel and Augustus find themselves falling deeper and deeper in love with each other, all the while keeping in mind that their chances of living a long and bountiful life with one another are very slim.]]

"The Fault In Our Stars" was quite a bit different than most of the books I've read. I was totally taken aback by the ending - it wasn't quite what I had been expecting. But, then again, I suppose "the unexpected" is what makes a book great, and what makes a great book a New York Times Best Seller. I loved John Green's style of writing. It's almost as if he wrote the way he might have spoken as a young adult, which made it an easy and enjoyable read. I think my favorite aspect of the book was the way in which Green was able to incorporate a touch of humor within an honest tale of young love and death. I would strongly suggest this book to any one of my friends or family members.

However, if you're the kind of person that would rather watch a movie than read a book, then you're in luck. "The Fault In Our Stars" comes to theaters this summer!