Alice Vol. 2 No. 3

CHARLOTTE OC

Q&A wtih trendy singer-songwriter

48 HOURS IN

BIRMINGHAM

Hottest spots in the Magic City

ESCAPE

ARTIST

Examining escapism

in pop culture

ETERNAL

$3.99 Vol. 2, No. 3

SUMMER

Keep your head in the clouds and your feet in the sand as you

shine in refreshing florals, throwback styles and dreamy trends

The University of Alabama | May 2017

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LOOKING AHEAD

Grab your ice cream cones and leave

your shoes at home as Alice braves the heat

in this exquisite summer issue. Join us

beneath sprawling moss-draped live oaks or

on the waterfront as we explore the trends

this season has to offer. The possibilities

are endless.

Photo by Alex Green

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Letter from the Editor

On the web:

Twitter: @Alicethemag

Instagram: @Alicethemag

facebook.com/Alicethemag

alice.ua.edu

Alice on Pinterest:

pinterest.com/Alicemagazine

Editorial and Advertising offices for Alice Magazine are located at

414 Campus Drive East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

The mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

Phone: (205) 348-7257.

Alice is published by the Office of Student Media

at The University of Alabama.

All content and design are produced by students

in consultation with professional staff advisers.

All material contained herein, except advertising or where

indicated otherwise, is copyrighted © 2017 by Alice Magazine.

Material herein may not be reprinted without the

expressed, written permission of Alice Magazine.

Summer is just around the corner. The temperature is rising,

the sky seems bluer and sunscreen is an absolute must. My senior

year is now coming to a close (waterworks may have taken place).

This year has been a season of lasts and now this is my last Alice

as editor in chief. With this being my final issue, I wanted to

make sure that I “left it all on the field.” Every time I see Alice

on the stands at the Supe Store or in the hands of a student, my

heart swells. I couldn’t be more proud of this magazine. Having

the opportunity to work with the magazine this year has been

a dream come true. I couldn’t imagine my senior year being as

wonderful without this position. I have loved every single second

of working for this magazine. From the late nights laughs of

productions to the moments of frustration from the April rain

showers that made our photo shoots very difficult to get finished

— it has been so rewarding. I cannot say enough good things

about Alice. She’s a mentor, a fashion expert and someone that

has made me realize my potential as a leader. She’s something

different to other people — discover what she has to offer you.

With all that sappiness being said, let’s talk about this issue.

As I say every issue, the team and I have put all of our

hearts and souls into this magazine. But, hey, it’s true and I

want to recognize the incredible work ethic and creative genius

of the editors of Alice. This summer’s magazine is definitely

the most innovative that we’ve ever done. The Ten Bleaching

Commandants on page 5 is something I will definitely urge

people to check out (With recently bleached hair myself, I have

been pouring over it). The fashion spreads are seriously stunning

— turn to page 16 and get ready to be blown away. Read The Big

Reveal to see the latest trend: fishnet tights (pg. 34). As many

people will probably be attending summer weddings, catch up on

our Wedding Survival Guide (pg. 41). Check out our article on

alternatives to the pill (pg. 58) and nudity in art (pg. 62). Flip

to our Coffee Crawl on page 70 to know about the newest coffee

shops in town. What is summer without a good book? Go to page

80 for Dreamy Pool Reads and page 87 for Poetry for People Who

Don’t “Get” Poetry.

While working on this season’s issue, our time was split by

spring break. For part of that week I was able to go to New York

City with Allie Binford, the next editor in chief of Alice. I know

I’ll miss this magazine, but I also know that’s in great hands

and I can’t wait to see where Alice is headed. As we adventured

throughout the city and even at the top of the Empire State

Building, Allie would bounce around incredible ideas for the

future of Alice. Get ready, people, great things are coming and

it starts with this issue. I’ll just leave you with this: *Cue “Don’t

You (Forget About Me)” here.*

Paige Burleson

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Editorial

Editor in Chief PAIGE BURLESON

Creative Director MARIA OSWALT

Photo Editor EMILY HEATH

Managing Editor CLAIRE TURNER

Market Editors ALEXIS DANZO AND ALLIE BINFORD

Beauty Editor KAILA WASHINGTON

Lifestyle Editor RACHEL WILBURN

Fashion Editors ALLIE BINFORD AND EMILY HEATH

Food and Health Editor MADISON SULLIVAN

Entertainment Editor ELLEN JOHNSON

Features Editor ALEXIS FAIRE

Social Media Coordinator DONICA BURTON AND CLAIRE TURNER

Contributing Writers EMILY ADAMS, HALEIGH AMEND, CHRISTINA AUSLEY, VONDRA ARNOLD, SERENA BAILEY, KATIE BELL,

EMILEE BENOS, MIA BLACKMAN, SARA BETH BOLIN, PAIGE BURLESON, CARSON COOK, ANNA CRAIN, LOTA ERINNE,

ANALIESE GERALD, JO HANNA HILL, KATIE HUFF, ANNA KLEMENT, LAUREN LANE, MIKELAH LUKE, LAWSON MOHL,

MARIA OSWALT, KALLEN SEBASTIAN, KALI STURGIS, KIRBY TIFVERMAN, CLAIRE TURNER, DANIELLE WADDELL,

AUDREY WATFORD, CAROLINE WELLS, CARSON WOODY

Contributing Photographers PRESTLEY BRAMLETT, ALEX GREEN, TEAH SHAW, MARIE WALKER, SARAH WESTMORELAND

Contributing Designer MARY KATE HOLLADAY

Models ARI BARLEY, LUCY COOK, REAGAN CUNNINGHAM, ALEXIA DUGGER-MAYE, ALANNA FAGAN,

EFFIE GUENTHER, MEGAN HILL, HALLIE HUDSON, ADAM KIM, SARA MORGAN, DONNA PATE, MADYSON SMITH,

LINDSAY TATMAN, ALYISCIA THOMAS

Hair and Makeup HALEIGH AMEND, EMILY HEATH, ALLIE LOWERY

Advertising

Advertising Manager RUFUS ALDRIDGE (cwadmanager@gmail.com)

Advertising Creative Director GRANT SNOW (cwcreativemanager@gmail.com)

Sales Representatives (205) 348-7845

JADE LEDET, LIZZIE MIZENKO

Advisers

Editorial MARK MAYFIELD (msmayfield1@ua.edu)

Published by UA Office of Student Media

Director PAUL WRIGHT

[2] Alice May 2017

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Table of

Contents

Beauty

5 BLEACHING COMMANDMENTS

7 A WRINKLE IN TIME

9 DON’T SWEAT IT

11 IS YOUR SKIN WORTH THE

SPLURGE?

13 THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL

Fashion

16 HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

22 COLOR THEORY

28 LET THE GOOD

TIMES ROLL

34 THE BIG REVEAL

ABOUT THE COVER: The call of seagulls and crashing

waves set the scene for our sunrise shoot in Fairhope and

Montrose, Alabama. Pat Hall, a UA alum, and Charlotte

Carey graciously let us into their homes and clued us in on

the places to see around the Mobile Bay area. From tropical

and breezy beachwear to cleancut formal outfits, this

edition of Alice has it all. Sun-soaked streets and nautical

views served as the perfect backdrop for our little getaway.

Cover photo: PRESTLEY BRAMLETT

See story: PAGE 48

Lifestyle

37 48 HOURS IN BIRMINGHAM

41 WEDDING SEASON SURVIVAL

42 PACK ATTACK

44 BOTTLE IT UP

45 REVIVING RESOLUTIONS

Alice May 2017 [3]

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Features

48 ETERNAL SUMMER

58 HARD TO SWALLOW

62 EXPOSED

64 ESCAPE ARTIST

Health

& Food

68 SHADE OF YOU

70 COFFEE CRAWL

71 BREAK IT DOWN

72 SUMMERTIME SWEETS

73 SUPERFOODS

75 ON THE BRINK OF NO STINK

77 WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT EXPIRATION DATES

Entertainment

78 SO YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO HANGOUT

80 DREAMY POOL READS

82 TAKE A CHANCE

83 Q&A WITH STUDENT COMEDIAN

85 THE SHORT LIST

86 A DOC A DAY: DOCUMENTARIES TO MAKE YOU THINK

87 POETRY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T “GET” POETRY

88 CHARLOTTE OC

Alice would like to thank

the following stores for

providing outfits and

accessories for photo shoots:

LULUS.COM

MARKET HOUSE

AZ WELL

LAVISH

PANTS STORE

TWICE AS NICE

LUCCA

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SUPE STORE

[4] Alice May 2017

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BEAUTY

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

By Kali Sturgis

As summer approaches, tans get

darker, days get longer and hair definitely

gets lighter. Take a look at our

hair bleaching bible to get that sunkissed

look while keeping the locks

happy and healthy.

DOs

Do listen to your stylist. One of the

hardest tips to follow, but the most

important to acknowledge: listen. The

majority of us who like to dye our hair

will often go for a color that we find

amongst social media or our favorite

celebrities. Showing a picture to your

stylist prior to your appointment will

guarantee your stylist’s ability to be

able to (or not to) color your hair how

you would like it. So if your stylist tells

you that the color you want is unattainable,

ask what they could do to produce

a hair color you can happily sport, or

find another stylist who is confident

in their hair coloring abilities, and

see if they’re willing to get you your

dream color.

Do sleep in argan oil or coconut oil

the night before bleaching. Easy to

do, easily accessible and reduces hair

damage from bleach; oil isn’t just for

cooking. Seventeen.com dishes Kylie

Jenner’s hair stylist’s trick to having

healthy hair after bleaching. Coat your

strands in argan or coconut oil the

night before you bleach your hair, then

go to sleep with the oil to let it soak

into your locks and scalp. If you’re

concerned about messing up your pillowcase,

wrap your head in a towel

or wear a shower cap to prevent leakage.

Just don’t forget to wash it out in

the morning!

Do give yourself time to bleach. This

is super important. Try bleaching on

a weekend to give yourself time to go

slowly and appraise your results. Then

you won’t be rushed to fix any mistakes

while worrying about having to be seen

in public with discolored hair.

Do be gentle with your hair. People

wonder why their hair becomes so

damaged after bleaching. The main

problem comes from continuing their

usual hair routine. When you bleach

your hair, the actual hair follicle is forever

changed. Invest in a deep-conditioner

and use it once or twice a week

along with always conditioning after

Alice May 2017 [5]

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shampooing. This will add that extra

moisture your hair needs. When it

comes to showering, your hair is already

going to be dry and inelastic,

and washing your hair multiple times

throughout the week will cause major

hair breakage. So reduce your everyday

wash to every other day or even try

every two days. Remember those oils

that were so great for the night before

a bleach? You can do the same thing

before a hair wash to keep your hair

hydrated and protected from environmental

damage.

Do get regular trims. A lot of people

try to avoid this tip when they’re

on the kick of letting their hair grow

out, but this is so important to follow

through with. You should be getting

your hair trimmed at least every six

to eight weeks so that your hair stylist

is able to remove all of the previously

damaged hair for new, healthier

hair to grow in its place. Continually

growing your hair overtop damaged

hair does not magically make a happy,

healthy head of hair.

DON’Ts

Don’t try and bleach your hair yourself

if you have virgin hair. This point

is kind of an obvious one, but if you’ve

never dyed your hair before, then going

to a professional is a lot safer than

standing confused in the beauty aisle

of your local convenience store. It will

also ensure that you come out of the

salon with practically perfect bleached

locks. So put down that sketchy box of

drugstore bleach and call your locally

appraised hair salon to avoid damaging

your hair and a bad hair day.

Don’t overlap bleach in the same

day: Genuinely think before re-bleaching

your hair. Bleaching your hair already

strips the hair follicle and causes

it to be prone to breakage. Waiting

at least a day before bleaching your

hair again allows the scalp to relax

from sensitivity you can obtain from

bleaching. This will also help reduce

hair damage that can occur during the

bleaching process.

Don’t use permanent hair dye to

dye your hair. According to hercampus.com,

permanent dyes disintegrate

the hair cuticle due to the process of

pulling out your natural hair color and

sequentially putting new color back in,

unlike semi- and non- permanent dyes

that avoid damaging the hair by coating

the hair follicle with color like a

gloss. Semi- and non-permanent dyes,

also, last for about four to six weeks,

so you won’t have to worry about being

stuck with a color you dislike for a long

time or continuously having to go get

root touch-ups.

Don’t use (as much) heat. Obviously

we all can’t avoid hot tools for

as long we color our hair, but we can

regulate how much heat we use. Keep

the heat on low to avoid as much hair

damage as possible. Patting your hair

dry (not scrunching) or using a blow

dryer and round brush can go a long

way compared to straightening your

hair. If you do use heat, make sure to

apply some sort of heat protectant to

your locks to reduce as much damage

as possible.

Don’t leave the bleach on for too

long/too little. Leaving bleach on your

hair and scalp for too long can cause a

variety of mishaps to occur, including,

but not limited to: chemical burns on

your scalp, damaging your hair follicle

and frying your hair to the point

of it falling out. While this all sounds

completely terrible, leaving bleach

on for too little can also cause some

problems. Not allowing enough time

for bleach to sit on the hair won’t allow

the bleach to lift the original color

from the hair, which will cause those

dreaded brassy tones to show up. So

make sure you follow the bleaching

instructions carefully.

Getting that perfect summery glow

to your hair can definitely take a toll

on your strands, but follow these tips

and you’ll be able to rock lighter locks

while keeping it all intact. *

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

[6] Alice May 2017

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BEAUTY

Photo by Emily Heath

By Anna Klement

Everyone ages. Let’s face it, most of you reading this are

in or around your 20s. When it comes to skin care (and

life in general), we’re in that awkward age gap between

too old to have baby’s butt skin, but we’re not yet past the

teenage acne stage. From the inspiring words of Britney

Spears, we’re “not a girl, not yet a woman.” However, you

can’t help but see dozens of labels shouting out to you as

you pass through the beauty aisle at Target — “anti-aging”

this, “reverse fine lines” that.

Do you ever wonder in the back of

your mind when will be your time

to step up to the plate and face the

unknown of age related cosmetics?

We’re sparked by these fascinating

terms like “collagen” and

“retinol,” but what do these things

actually mean? If you’re clueless

about where to begin, read on to

learn how to really take care of your skin: there’s no time

like the present.

The truth is, you’re not going to learn the intimates of

anti-aging skincare in your chemistry or anatomy class.

Aging is a natural process of life. With the society we live in

now, it’s hard not to be concerned about fine lines and wrinkles

that are doomed to pop up on our face one morning.

But don’t lose yourself in a world that requires anti-aging

as a beauty standard — do it to love your skin and keep it

healthy. My grandmother always says, “take care of your

We’re sparked by these

fascinating terms like

“collagen” and “retinol,”

but what do these things

actually mean?

skin now so you don’t have to pay for it later.” She’s the brunette

version of Christy Brinkley, and I think I owe my entire

top shelf to her as far as good products and good genes

can go. Looking for your guide to keeping your skin fresh?

Here’s Alice’s take on tackling anti-aging in your 20s.

Sunscreen. You should be lathering up — Every. Single.

Day. It doesn’t matter if it’s pouring rain outside; sunscreen

is essential to the health of your skin. Prolonged sun exposure

speeds the aging process tremendously. Infrared rays

(hair dryers, ovens, phones) can also damage skin, hence

why you should never be caught

without this essential layer of protection.

Radiation penetrates skin

and attacks collagen. Stick with a

SPF of 20-40. FYI- a higher SPF

than that doesn’t actually work to

protect your skin.

No smoking. Cigarettes contain

over 400 toxic chemicals. These

chemicals causes blood vessels to

constrict, which decreases blood flow that is essential to

healthy skin . Smoking can also lead to puffiness, wrinkles,

blackheads and scars. This is one of the most detrimental

things you can do to your body when it comes to trying to

age gracefully.

Be gentle with your skin. Use eye cream, serums and oils,

even if you have oily skin. When you break out, your body is

trying to make up for lost nutrients. Dab eye cream on with

your ring finger so the vitamins absorb fully in your skin. Using

your ring finger gives you the perfect amount of control

Alice May 2017 [7]

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while also keeping your touch gentle

— the tools to your skincare are

your hands! Since skin is thinnest

around the eyes, they often

age first, so be sure to take care of

that area.

Daily regimen. Implementing a daily

skin care regimen will get you into the early

habit of taking a few extra minutes to show

your skin some TLC. You can modify this list

to what fits your lifestyle, but here’s an overview of

some great steps to a routine:

#1. EXFOLIATE Use an exfoliator 2-3 times a

week to remove dead skin cells.

#2. CLEANSE Use a gentle cleanser daily, even if

your skin isn’t sensitive.

#3. TONE The necessity of toner in your routine is

highly debated between all sorts of online blogs and

dermatological testimonies, but it can be worth it if

you’re looking to improve your complexion. You can

substitute this with micellar water, which removes

excess dirt and has similar benefits to a cleanser.

#4. MOISTURIZE This is an incredibly important

step. Moisturized skin helps prevent aging. Your

skin craves moisture (think about when your lips

get chapped), so in addition to this, drink tons

of water.

#5. OILS This is for those of us with skin like

the desert. Skip this step if you have oily skin, as

the oil is meant to provide nutrients your skin lacks.

#6. SERUMS Something all skin types should take

the time to do. Something like a Vitamin C serum,

which plumps skin, does just the trick.

#7. EYE CREAM Small amount, ring finger,

tapping motions — simple as that. You can actually

use any excess on the skin around your lips to help

with fine lines and wrinkles.

#8. SUNSCREEN Can you tell how important

layering on some SPF is? Use this in conjunction

with everything else.

Befriend a dermatologist. Remember to eat well and

consult a nutritionist if you’re interested in vitamins and

supplements. These things play a huge role in your outward

appearance, although you might not see results as fast as

the other tips. Try not to get too stressed out over aging

because it’s the natural cycle of life. Aging is unavoidable,

so take care of your body, and your body will love you back

— after all, you only get one in your lifetime! *

Crisis Pregnancy?

We want to help you.

Free Counseling,

Adoption, and

Multi-Level

Support Services

Available

205-324-6561

info@cfsbhm.org

www.cfsbhm.org

[8] Alice May 2017

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BEAUTY

DON’T

SWEAT IT:The

best waterproof

makeup of

the summer

By Haleigh Amend and Kelsey Zaroff

Summer means cookouts, beach

trips, pool days and high temperatures.

But after hours of sweating you

might glance in a mirror at your makeup

and think, “YIKES.” The good

news is, Alice won’t let melted makeup

kill your summer vibe. We’ve got the

secrets to waterproofing your makeup

for when things get hot and steamy (we

mean humidity, of course). No matter

what, your makeup will look as fresh

as it did when you first applied it.

THE PREP

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily

Liquid Sunscreen

Before reaching for your makeup,

you want to start with a sunscreen.

Doing this will prevent wrinkles for

when you’re older and decreases your

chance of getting skin cancer. Also,

who wants a burned face? The type of

sunscreen you use can make or break

the lasting power of your makeup, so

it’s important to use one that’s lightweight.

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer

Daily Liquid Sunscreen is oil free, so

you won’t break out or look greasy.

Milk Blur Stick

Let your sunscreen soak in for five

minutes before following the next

step to make your makeup melt-proof:

primer. The Milk Blur Stick will help

you achieve the flawless matte complexion

you’re after.

THE FACE

It Cosmetics Your Skin But

Better CC Cream

Once your skin is fully prepped for

makeup, adding a light layer of CC

cream will give you the coverage you

need without looking too overdone.

The It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better

CC Cream will give you a natural

look with insane coverage and an extra

dose of SPF 50.

NYX Gotcha

Covered

concealer

If you’re not

a fan of CC cream,

you can simply just spot

treat areas that you need to

hide. The NYX Gotcha Covered

concealer is waterproof and full coverage,

so you know it’ll keep everything

covered no matter what.

NYX HD Finishing Powder

A setting powder is going to be your

saving grace for banishing shine.

Carry this with you to touch up when

Alice May 2017 [9]

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you see shine attempting to break

through. Translucent is best because

it’s colorless and won’t get cakey when

you add more to your face throughout

the day. We love the NYX HD

Finishing Powder.

Physicians Formula

Butter Bronzer

To add a subtle bronze

glow to your skin, apply

a light colored

bronzer — like the

Physicians Formula

Butter Bronzer

— to the areas the

sun would naturally

hit your face. With a

large, fluffy brush, apply

the bronzer to the hollows

of your cheeks, temples and

under your jaw. For a fully bronzed

look, apply the bronzer down to your

collarbone and neck as well.

Makeup Revolution Sun

Kiss Highlight

Make your cheekbones pop with a bit

of a golden highlight. Dust on some of

the Makeup Revolution Sun Kiss highlight

in the color Sun Kiss. The shimmer

in this highlighter is finely milled

so you’ll look naturally lit from within

rather than looking like you just

doused yourself in glitter — or sweat.

Tarte Cheek Stain

A healthy dose of color on your

cheeks will keep your face looking

fresh. The Tarte Cheek Stain is perfect

because it is a stain rather than

a powder which will leave your cheeks

with a rosy flush even after swimming

in the ocean. There’s a wide range of

colors to choose from so there’s a shade

to flatter every skin tone.

THE EYES

NYX Eyebrow Gel

If you like to keep your brows fleeked

at all times, try the NYX Eyebrow Gel

— it’s waterproof and long-wearing.

Your brows will look natural and defined

like normal, but this brow gel is

specifically formulated to last. It won’t

be going anywhere when you swim or

sweat, and it’s also affordable.

Revlon ColorStay Cream

Eyeshadow

The Revlon ColorStay Cream Eyeshadow

is a quick way to add a wash

of shimmery color to your eyes with a

swipe of your finger. These come in an

array of colors that give you options

for every occasion whether it’s for day

or night.

NYX Proof It Waterproof

Mascara Top Coat

If you don’t want to buy a specifically

waterproof mascara just to go to the

beach, opt for the NYX Proof It Waterproof

Mascara Top Coat instead.

With this product, you can transform

any mascara you already own into a

completely waterproof product.

Now that we’ve shared all of our tips

and favorite beauty products for summer,

it’s up to you to create your signature

waterproof summer look. When

you do, take a selfie and make sure you

tag Alice on Instagram. *

[10] Alice May 2017

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BEAUTY

Photo by Alex Green

Floral dress: Buckle

By Vondra Arnold and Anna Crain

There is something satisfying about

having aesthetically pleasing, high end

and raved-about skin care products

sitting on your countertop. Who doesn’t

love going into Sephora and picking

out their favorite beauty guru’s holy

grail moisturizer or face mask? Are all

high end skin care products worth the

hype? Or are there equally as effective

and affordable products out there when

you aren’t willing spend the rest of your

money on a tiny tube of eye cream?

ASK THE EXPERTS

When is comes to skincare, there

are products that are worth the high

price tag and others that you can

find at your local CVS for $10. The

big issue is deciding what products

to splurge on and what products

you can put on your shopping list

for your next grocery haul. Price is

not always the best indicator of the

quality of a product. Dr. Neal Schultz,

Founder of DermTv.com and creator

of Beautyrx.com, shares that when

you buy higher end products, you are

paying for ingredients, formulation,

the way the ingredients are actually

mixed together, packaging, prestige

and perception.

When buying skincare products,

ingredients are crucial factors that

affect the quality. There are two

different types of ingredients: active

and vehicle. Active ingredients are

treating agents. They’re things like

Vitamin C, caffeine, and glycolic acid.

Vehicle ingredients make up creams

and lotions, which active ingredients

are dissolved in. Dr. Ellen Marmur

says, “Some of the more luxury

department store brands may have

more premium ingredients in them,

though that doesn’t mean drugstore

brands aren’t efficacious.” So be on the

lookout for those ingredients during

your next skin care routine update.

Alice May 2017 [11]

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WHEN IT’S OK

TO SPLURGE

Schultz suggests splurging on treatment

products such as eye creams,

moisturizers, exfoliants and antioxidants.

These products tend to have

more active ingredients, which are

usually significantly better in higher

end products. Alice has done the

research for you and discovered the

products that are actually worth

the splurge.

DR. DENNIS GROSS C+

COLLAGEN BRIGHTEN & FIRM

VITAMIN C SERUM $78

This illuminating gel-serum packed

with Vitamin C will brighten up your

face — great for that 8 a.m. you stayed

up all night for. The fast absorbing

gel helps smooth skin and reduce fine

lines. The serum is loaded with the

antioxidants niacinamide and CoQ10,

which help fade the appearance of

dark spots and prevent future signs

of aging.

CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE

INTENSE $39

If the name isn’t convincing enough,

customer reviews say this product is

like drinking a huge glass of water

— but for your face. This moisturizer

locks in moisture without leaving

your skin feeling greasy, no matter

what your skin type is. Other customer

reviews share that this product is excellent

for the winter time and is great

with or without makeup. It’s sure to

become your go-to daily moisturizer.

FIRST AID BEAUTY FACIAL

RADIANCE PADS $30

When it comes to exfoliation, you

want a product that is going to penetrate

into your skin. It needs to dissolve

the oil and makeup that builds

up deep in your pores. Dr. David

Colbert, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist

in NYC, suggest using exfoliator

with glycolic and lactic acids. First aid

Beauty’s Facial Radiance Pads fit all

the requirements and do just the trick.

ORIGINS HIGH-POTENCY

NIGHT-A-MINS MINERAL-

ENRICHED OIL-FREE RENEWAL

CREAM $43

If you don’t like serums but still

want their benefits, wearing a night

cream may be for you. Night time is

when your skin is able to regenerate

and heal. Experts say antioxidant enriched

night creams are most effective

at reducing redness as well as moisturize

dry skin. Origins formula is a

creamy mineral formula filled with vitamins

and oils.

WHEN TO SAVE

YOUR MONEY

It’s still possible to treat your skin

without paying the big dollar. Products

like facial wash, toner, body lotion

and even face masks will do just the

job coming from your local drugstore.

Of course, some drugstore products

will be a bust, but there are plenty of

fantastic items you can pick up on your

next Target run.

CETAPHIL DAILY FACIAL

CLEANSER $10

Cleansing your face is one of the

most important parts of your skin routine,

but this doesn’t mean you need

to spend a fortune. Since cleansers

are only on your face for less than a

minute, you don’t need to splurge on

ingredients that could be found in your

[12] Alice May 2017

moisturizer and serums. This product

gently removes makeup, dirt and oils

without drying out your face. Packed

with glycerin and Pro-Vitamin B5,

Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Cleanser will

leave your skin feeling soft and clean.

MARIO BADESCU’S RANGE OF

TONERS $15

Toner is one of those products you

can go with or without. Since it’s not

a necessary skin care step, there’s no

need to buy something fancy. Toners

range from complex treatments to basic

hydration, so it’s best to find a toner

that fits your skin type. Aloe and

chamomile-infused toners are designed

for those with sensitive skin, while glycolic

acid and AHA-packed formulas

fight uneven texture and brighten dull

skin. Clarifying astringents are best

for acne prone skin. Mario Bedescu’s

range of toners are designed for a variety

of skin types, all at a friendly price.

GARNIER SKINACTIVE CLEAN +

PORE PURIFYING 2-IN-1 CLAY

CLEANSER AND MASK $5

Yep. You read correctly, $5. Ever

wanted to indulge your skin in the

new trend of charcoal face products?

Well, now you can. Garnier’s new clay

cleanser and mask uses charcoal, while

kaolin unclogs pores and removes surface

impurities. You can use this product

as a daily cleanser, but get the

added benefit of it being a mask. In

just five minutes and $5, you can treat

you skin.

Next time you go out shopping for

your next skin care products, consider

this: “don’t cheat yourself, treat

yourself.” We want to take care of our

skin and make sure it’s flawless, but

take the time to look into the products

you’re buying so you know exactly

when to pull out a credit card. *

---

BEAUTY

By Lawson Mohl

Photos by Emily Heath // Makeup by Bobbi Brown

Alice May 2017 [13]

---

“Although we love the

smokey copper eyes

and mulberry lips of

the colder months, this

season is the time

to experiment.”

If there’s one season that gives off

that “anything goes” vibe, it’s summer.

Although we love the smokey copper

eyes and mulberry lips of the colder

months, this season is the time to experiment.

Bold, bright colors are becoming

the summer staple; to hell with

the rule that says you can only emphasize

your eyes or your lips — never

both. If you’re ready for the whimsy

that comes with the warm weather,

let Alice help you find your signature

summer look.

SPECTRUM SHADOWS

Out of all of the makeup categories,

eyeshadows have perhaps the widest

range and availability of textures,

finishes and colors. Don’t be afraid to

make your eyes stand out; that ‘80s

blue eyeshadow fear has morphed into

a sought after statement look. Makeup

brands have begun to cultivate a range

of bright eyeshadow palettes, making

it simple to create every eye look over

the rainbow. You can choose to stick to

a color palette — like a warm sunset

eye or cool toned galaxy lid — or combine

totally unrelated colors to really

make an impact. Look for eyeshadows

that aren’t chalky and don’t have a

lot of fallout. To make the color stand

out as purely as possible, prime your

eyes with an eye primer, and use a flat

packing brush for the lid. This makes

it so you layer the pigment straight on

rather than buffing it out to be more

sheer. Then blend out your crease for a

seamless, airbrushed finish.

PUCKER UP

One of the easiest ways to make a

statement when you walk out the door

is to play up your lips with a bold color.

There’s no need to stick to the traditional

reds and nudes — teal, lavender

and electric orange are all underrated

options great for making your lips pop.

If you’re not ready to dive into the deep

end of the rainbow, try an orangey-red

or a hot pink; you can still be daring

while keeping your look suitable for

every day. Before you apply any bright

[14] Alice May 2017

---

lipstick, make sure your lips are exfoliated

and moisturized. You want to

give your lipstick as much of a smooth,

even canvas to work on, so you can

build up that pigment. Look for a liquid

lipstick or a bullet lipstick with

some coverage to really make your

lips eye-catching.

GET IN LINE

Graphic liner is a fast growing trend

that is perfect for those of us who want

to spice up that classic cat eye. The

great thing about graphic liner is that

it gives you full license to break the

conventions of drawing on your normal

wing: many of the styles employ geometric

shapes, sketchy lines and symbols.

If you want to create the look but

you’re not sure where to start, look for

natural lines around your eye that you

can accentuate with eyeliner. Trace

your liner along your crease and connect

it with your normal eyeliner into

the shape of an open wing. Skip top

liner altogether and extend your bottom

lash line with a double flick. Or do

away with lines and ink out some cool

dots instead. Don’t think you have to

stick to black either; some of the most

fun looks involve a cobalt blue, pure

white, or an ombré of several colors.

When it comes to getting graphic, liquid,

gel and a creamy pencil liner are

the way to go. Don’t forget to have a

small clean up brush and some concealer

on hand so you can sharpen and

define your look.

So whatever your comfort level is,

don’t be afraid to be a bit more free

with color this summer. Take advantage

of this time to try new things, be

creative and just have fun with your

look — after all, with all of the colors

of the rainbow at your disposal, why

not use them? *

SPRING101

> TRENDS 2016

@THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

STYLE.

online on facebook + university-mall.com

1701 McFarland Blvd East

Open Daily 10am-9pm, Sunday 1pm-5:30pm

PLAID . COLD SHOULDER . TIE DYE . SUEDE

FRINGE . BACKPACK PURSES . VIVID COLOR

Alice May 2017 [15]

---

FASHION

HEAD

IN

THE

CLOUDS

Photo by Teah Shaw

Airplanes and location courtesy of Abe Alibrahim

[16] Alice May 2017

---

Blazer: Az Well

For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth

with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been

and there you will long to return.

– Leonardo da Vinci

Photo by Emily Heath Photo by Emily Heath

Alice May 2017 [17]

---

Photo by Sarah Westmoreland

[18] Alice May 2017

Photo by Emily Heath

---

White flowy top: Market House

Pants: Az Well

All sunglasses: Lulu’s

Gray jumpsuit: Lulu’s

Photo by Emily Heath

Alice May 2017 [19]

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Blue jumpsuit: Lulu’s

Photo by Emily Heath

[20] Alice May 2017

---

Photo by Emily Heath

Photo by Teah Shaw Photo by Sarah Westmoreland

Alice May 2017 [21]

---

FASHION

COLOR THEORY: GOLDENROD

Photo by Alex Green

[22] Alice May 2017

---

Photo by Alex Green

Romper (above): Lulu’s

Romper (left): Pants Store

Alice May 2017 [23]

---

Photo by Alex Green Photo by Alex Green

Goldenrod blazer: Forever 21

Striped dress: Forever 21

[24] Alice May 2017

---

Alice May 2017 [25]

Photo by Emily Heath

---

Cool Looks for a Hot Summer

It’ll be a summer of comfort and style in these bold, bright and colorful outfits –

inspired by the sunny streets and untouched beaches of Cuba. The Havana Collection,

available at The Trunk Show boutique inside both Supe Store locations.

Floral flowy v-neck

¾ length sleeve dress

by JODIFL - $36

3/4 length sleeve floral wrap romper

by JODIFL - $34

Chambray ruffle shorts

by jella c. - $21

Cold shoulder long sleeved

tunic w/ eyelet lace trim

by EMME - $40

---

Black strappy crepe dress with embroidered

bodice by JODIFL - $36

Ditsy floral wrap dress

by JODIFL - $36

Strappy cropped top

by daytrip - $19

Shorts: short linen ruffle shorts by

veryJ - $26

---

FASHION

LET THE

GOOD TIMES

ROLL

Photo by Alex Green

[28] Alice May 2017

---

Photo by Alex Green

Red two-piece: Lavish

Black off-the-shoulder top: Lavish

All other items: Twice as Nice

Photo by Alex Green

Alice May 2017 [29]

---

Photo by Teah Shaw

Photo by Alex Green

[30] Alice May 2017

---

Photo by Emily Heath

Alice May 2017 [31]

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Photo by Emily Heath

[32] Alice May 2017

---

Photo by Alex Green

Bralette: Lavish

Black bead necklace: Lavish

Photo by Alex Green

Alice May 2017 [33]

---

By Kallen Sebastian

This season, less actually is more.

Clothes that show a little skin have

made a major appearance in both runway

and day-to-day fashion. From

nude and sheer to cutout and mesh,

clothes seem to be doing a lot more

showing and a lot less telling.

Perhaps this is a result of recycling

styles from the ‘80s, or perhaps it’s

a byproduct of the lingerie trend:

whatever it is, everyone seems

to be getting on board.

Although we may not

all be so bold as to

wear an entirely sheer dress like Rihanna

or Kim K, we’re starting to see

their vision.

So arrives sheer tops, fishnets and

cutouts of every kind. Fishnets aren’t

limited to their classic design: we’ve

seen a variety of colors and sizes on

the streets (and the internet). If you’re

feeling an early 2000s throwback, try

layering fishnets over nude tights or

try a pair underneath torn denim, giving

you a little grunge while keeping

you in 2017. Even better: try it with

high-waisted fishnets that peek above

your jeans.

If full-on fishnets aren’t for you,

don’t think you have to go all-out to

be a part of the movement. Nude fishnet

ankle socks paired with loafers or

converse are a great way to add a little

spice while keeping it subtle.

Shirts and bodysuits with lace-up

cutouts are also a simple way to show a

little skin without baring it all.

If you’re not quite so Madonna and

a little more Jane Fonda, you will be

pleased to know that athleisure hasn’t

missed the cut either: mesh leggings

and strategically-placed cutouts are

making bold entrances into the athletic

work. It gives workout gear a little sass

without losing its function.

With summer right outside our windows,

it’s no wonder we want to show a

little skin. This season, add some intrigue

to the equation. *

[34] Alice May 2017

---

Photos by Emily Heath

Grey skirt: Twice as Nice

Mesh shirt: Twice as Nice

Black top: Az Well

White pants: Pants Store

Blue two-piece: Az Well

Blue fishnet: Forever 21

Alice May 2017 [35]

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LIFESTYLE

Photo courtesy of Prestley Bramlett

[36] Alice May 2017

---

48

hours in

Birmingham

By Emily Adams and Christina Ausley

Birmingham: our local big city with a southern, small-town feel.

Whether you’re visiting for the food or the sights, it’s the perfect

city to spend a weekend. Birmingham’s historic downtown area,

up-and-coming music scene and delicious southern eats are all conveniently

located only an hour from campus. Treat yourself to some

retail therapy, make evening plans to see the hottest show in town

and, most importantly, leave a little room for a bit of spontaneity.

Day

1

No

weekend excursion would be complete

without a luxurious hotel room.

Stay at the newly-renovated Hampton

Inn and Suites’ Tutwiler Hotel for its

convenient downtown location and affordable

room options. The Tutwiler is

perfect for anyone who admires southern

elegance and appreciates modern

conveniences.

9 a.m. Chez Lulu and Continental

Bakery is a little slice of Paris right

here in the deep South. Step into this

corner bake shop to sample the best

Alice May 2017 [37]

---

delicacies Chef Carole Griffin has to offer.

Every bite of her crepes, baguettes

and tarts is a taste of authentic French

cuisine (just ask her many loyal customers).

The doors to the bakery open

at 7 a.m., and since every item on the

menu is made fresh daily, it’s definitely

worth making the early morning trek.

Stop by for a delicious breakfast bite

and ask for the daily special. You won’t

be disappointed!

The details: 1909 & 1911 Cahaba Rd. /

$9 / chezlulu.us

10 a.m. Once you’ve had your daily

sugar fix, head to the Market at Pepper

Place. A retro farmer’s market located

in the former Dr. Pepper Syrup Plant

and Bottling Company, Pepper Place

offers the freshest food and trendiest

wares on the market. With over a hundred

Alabama-based artists, artisans

and crafters present each week, the

market is a hub for tourists and locals

alike. Be sure to take the time to explore

the rest of the historic Lakeview

Design District during your visit here!

The details: 2829 2nd Avenue South /

Varies / pepperplacemarket.com

12 p.m. From Pepper Place, it’s only

a short walk to one of the quirkiest

shops in town: What’s on 2nd. A treasure

trove of undiscovered vinyls, vintage

movie posters and collectibles of

all kinds, What’s on 2nd will keep you

busy for hours as you lose yourself in

its ever-changing inventory. Stop by

this local favorite to find that perfect

vintage piece for your apartment or to

peruse a bit of pop culture history.

The details: 2323 1st Ave. N. / Varies /

whatson2ndbirmingham.com

1 p.m. After a morning of exploring

the city, you’re probably looking forward

to some quintessential southern

eats. Saw’s is barbecue at its finest,

and the heaping plates of mouthwatering

brisket, chicken and pork are

Photos from top left to bottom: Light Tunnel, Seth Doyle;

downtown Birmingham, Blair Blackmon; Birmingham sign,

Morgan Stevenson; Penny & Sparrow at Iron City, Emma Bjornson

[38] Alice May 2017

---

definitely worth the wait in line. (Get

here before the lunch hour rush to

snag a spot at the front.) Saw’s is an

award-winning eatery, and it’s easy to

see why when the homemade sides are

just as delicious as the main course.

The details: 1008 Oxmoor Rd / $15 /

sawsbbq.com

2 p.m. There’s nowhere better to grab

dessert (and to relax after a satisfying

meal) than Church St. Coffee and

Books. Come here to lounge with a new

bestseller in the cozy upstairs reading

nook, buy a homemade gift for a friend

or try a tasty treat off the unique

café menu. The Breakup Cookie is a

cult-favorite and locally famous for its

chocolatey deliciousness.

The details: 81 Church St., Mountain

Brook / $10 / churchstreetshop.com

7 p.m. For a picture-perfect moment

after the sun sets, visit the Light Tunnel.

An underpass turned art installation,

the Light Tunnel is the creation

of artist Bill FitzGibbons. Using thousands

of LED lights on a computerized

system, FitzGibbons turned a historic

Art Deco tunnel into a technicolor wonderland

perfect for cyclists, pedestrians

and Instagram enthusiasts to enjoy.

The details: 2501 5th Avenue North /

Free

8 p.m. To wrap up your first day in

Birmingham, catch a show at Iron City

Music Hall. Originally built in 1929 as

an auto factory, Iron City now hosts

one of the most phenomenal music

scenes in Alabama. Featuring upcoming

acts such as Mayday Parade and

Sister Hazel, Iron City is the perfect

venue for a girls’ night out or a rockin’

date night. With its three stages, two

bars and restaurant, there’s sure to be

something that catches your eye at this

downtown music hall.

The details: 513 22nd St. S. / Varies /

ironcitybham.com

Day 2

The sun rises on day two and it’s

time to kick-start your last 24 hours in

the Iron City. Stretch your legs and get

ready for a day full of French cuisine

made with local ingredients and views

to die for. Use these tips, but also plan

ahead by making reservations if you’re

in the mood for a nicer sit-down lunch

or dinner under the city lights of Birmingham.

8 a.m. Let’s toast! If you’re in the

mood for a tasty morning treat, try

this: Trattoria Centrale. Start your

morning off right with Trattoria Centrale’s

famous French toast in a trendy,

European-styled café. If French toast

isn’t your thing, the café also offers

fresh scones, omelets, sandwiches and

orange juice — all made with local and

organic ingredients.

The details: 207 20th St N / Varies /

trattoriacentrale.com

If you’re closer to Clairmont Avenue,

Bogues remains open from 6 a.m.

– 2 p.m. and offers a unique spot for

breakfast, brunch or lunch. This Birmingham

gem offers traditional southern

hospitality and cuisine from biscuits

and gravy to a stack of blueberry

pancakes, not to mention the prices are

more than reasonable.

The details: 3028 Clairmont Ave / Varies

/ boguesdiner.com

9 a.m. If you want to see the true view

of Iron City, check out Birmingham’s

Vulcan Statue. Home of the largest

cast iron statue in the world, this giant

stands tall over the city. For just $6,

you can climb up the steps to the top

and view Birmingham in all its glory.

The overlook is a great photo-op and

can be accessed in the early morning

or late evening for spectacular sunrise

and sunset views. With Birmingham

known as “Steel City,” how could you

miss this 50-ton iron giant?

Alice May 2017 [39]

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The details: 1701 Valley View Dr / $6 /

visitvulcan.com

11 a.m. If you’re looking to walk off

those blueberry pancakes or French

toast, Railroad Park offers an array

of walking paths and trails. The park

also offers free exercise classes like

yoga and Zumba whether you’re in the

mood to relax or get your heart rate

up. Visit http://www.railroadpark.org/

for the park’s schedule of events.

The details: 1600 1st Ave S

12 p.m. In need of a little pick-me-up?

If you’ve spent your afternoon walking

the trails or climbing the Vulcan Statue,

you’re more than likely in need of a

sugary or caffeinated boost. For a hip,

rustic and local coffee shop, try Urban

Standard Coffee for a house-made chai

latte or iced coffee.

The details: 2320 2nd Ave N / Varies /

urbanstandard.com

If you have a sweet tooth, try Doodles

for homemade sorbet or Savage’s Bakery

for an intricately-frosted cupcake

or cookie. Both locations are long-running

and local favorites.

The details: (Doodles) 3236 Cahaba

Heights Rd. (Savage’s) 2916 18th St S

/ Varies / savagesbakery.com

2 p.m. Let’s turn the page, if you’re

looking for a little taste of shopping, be

sure to sort through Jim Reed Books.

This historic book store offers thousands

of novels, magazines, newspapers

and antiques fit for almost any curious

visitor. The best part about this

shop is that it offers around 250,000

uncatalogued items up for discovery.

Ask for just about any obscure item,

and they’ll find it for you.

The details: 2021 3rd Ave N / Varies /

jimreedbooks.com

Outside of books, Charlemagne Records

and Renaissance Records offer

thousands of vinyls to skim through

and purchase. Whether you’re looking

[40] Alice May 2017

for classic rock, alternative or vintage

pop, both of these businesses will more

than likely have exactly what you’re

looking for.

The details: (Charlemagne) 1924 ½

11th Ave S / Varies // (Renaissance)

2020 11th Ave S B / Varies

6 p.m. Once dinner time rolls around,

try Bottega Restaurant for upscale

Italian fare or Hotbox for a fun take on

Asian food for less than $10. Though

both locations couldn’t be more different,

both offer some of Birmingham’s

best cuisine and local favorites.

The details: (Bottega) 2240 Highland

Ave / Varies / bottegarestaurant.com //

(Hotbox) 4036 5th Ave S #2 / Varies /

hotboxbhm.com

8 p.m. If you’re looking to wrap it up,

enjoy Birmingham’s nightlife watching

the sunset from Red Mountain

near English Village, purchasing a

ticket for the night’s performance at

Alabama Theater or checking out

Moonlight on the Mountain. Moonlight

Photo by Noah Hinton

on the Mountain provides a unique

musical atmosphere where you’re encouraged

to bring your own drinks

and snacks, as they don’t serve any of

their own. Instead, the intimate setting

offers live acoustic acts, poetry

readings and comedians. Visit http://

www.musiconthemtn.com/events/ for

their schedule of events and more information.

The details: (Red Mountain) 2011

Frankfurt Dr / redmountainpark.org

// (Alabama Theater) 1817 3rd Ave N /

Varies / alabamatheatre.com // (Moonlight)

Bluff Park Shopping Center, 585

Shades Crest Rd

Check out the app “Birmingham IN

Guide,” where you can get a layout

of the city’s restaurants, hotels and

attractions. The app also supplies directions

to each location and customer

comments to help you find the parts of

Birmingham that best accommodate

your preferences. *

---

Wedding

Season

Survival Guide

By Katie Bell

With the sunshine comes the bride:

summer wedding season is upon us.

From what to wear and who to bring,

this time of year can be a little daunting.

Travel, lodging and registry gifts can

be enough to make your head spin. We

know you know the Golden Rule (don’t

wear white to a wedding), Alice has

the best tips to not just surviving but

thriving for every summer celebration.

Lots of planning goes into a wedding

from the bridal party’s side, and being

prepared on your side can help the big

day transition smoothly. It’s a special

event celebrating the couple’s big day,

but a bride is just as worried about her

guests having fun as she is walking

down the aisle.

First and foremost, RSVP to wedding

invitations by the suggested date

given. This helps the bride plan for catering

and seating, while also showing

appreciation and respect for the hard

work that went into designing, organizing

and mailing those invitations.

Next, book a hotel or Airbnb for the

weekend if applicable. Always go in

with friends to reduce the cost and

make a fun road trip out of it if you

don’t fly. Also, monitor the bridal registry

and pick a gift within your price

range or go in with a friend on an expensive

item.

As far as bridal showers go, don’t

sweat if you can’t make all of them —

the bride will understand. Pick a party

that works with your schedule, RSVP

and enjoy the time celebrating the bride.

DO

“Pick the right shoes. Don’t wear a

pair with skinny heels that will sink

into the ground if it’s outside. Dress

for the venue.” - Molli, 22

“Take a date that you know can handle

the agenda for the day. A ceremony

and reception can sometimes be allday

events, and mixing that with alcohol

and strangers and be overwhelming

for some. Take someone who would

be excited to go.” - Kelley, 22

“Eat a little something before you

go. You never know what the food table

will look like and partying on an empty

stomach can be risky.” - Kim, 54

DON’T

“Don’t blow your budget going to

every party or shower a couple has.”

- Angel, 38

“Don’t post pictures of the wedding

before the professional photographer

does.” - Allison, 35

“Don’t experiment with spray tans

a few days before a wedding if you’ve

never gotten one before. I did once …

let’s just say it didn’t go very well.”

- Kady, 22

Nobody wants to provoke a bridezilla.

When choosing an outfit, steer clear of

anything that could potentially overshadow

the bride or bridal party. Don’t

be the guest on her phone the whole

time — this means putting it away for

the ceremony and reception.

You are responsible for your plus one

date, which means choose a respectful

date who knows how to conduct himself

or herself around an open bar and new

people. At the end of the night, don’t

worry if you’re unable to say goodbye

to the bride and groom. Offer congratulations

and praise at some point of

the night when the bride and groom

are available; saying goodbye can be

hard in a reception room full of people.

Overall, remember you are there to celebrate

the marriage of a friend and to

have fun. *

Alice May 2017 [41]

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Pack

[42] Alice May 2017

By Lota Erinne and Carson Woody

Whether you’re spending a summer

in Paris or just going home for the

weekend to visit family, there is one inescapable

issue when it comes to traveling:

packing.

It’s the least glamorous part of any

trip, yet it’s arguably the most important.

After all, how can you enjoy

a getaway with friends if you’re scrambling

to replace those sandals you left

at home or worrying about how to deal

with the catastrophe of a shattered

bottle of foundation? An organized, efficiently-packed

suitcase is the key to

starting any trip on the right foot, and

we are here to help you unlock the keys

to a stress-free vacation.

WEEKEND TRIP

Whether you’re going on a fun getaway

with your friends or traveling

for something more serious, everyone

needs to know how to pack for a weekend

getaway. All you need for this short

trip is one bag and maybe a large purse

or tote bag (seriously, those things

can hold everything). Here’s what

you’ll need:

Shirts: It’s tempting to dump your

entire closet in your suitcase, but stay

strong. You’ve worn the same shirt for

the past four days (#RealTalk). Two

or three shirts should do the trick.

Pants: Depending on the weather,

two pairs of pants or shorts should

be fine. For a lightweight solution

that barely takes up any space,

bring leggings.

Underwear: Here is where you can

splurge. Underwear hardly takes up

any space, so overpack a little on this

in case of emergency. Pro tip: you can

pack underwear inside other things —

like shoes.

Toiletries: Just bring the basics.

Wherever you are going will most likely

have shampoo and conditioner, so

remember the essentials: your makeup

bag, a toothbrush, some deodorant and

personal medications.

A WEEK

Weeklong trips pose a dilemma:

Should you stick to one small-to-medium

sized bag? Or would it be better

to bring two bags or just upgrade to a

big suitcase?

One big suitcase is fine for air travel,

but less is definitely more if you’re

driving to your destination. It’s best

to cram all you can into a suitcase

that’s not too tough to maneuver and

doesn’t take up much space. Here

are a few tips to maximize efficiency

and keep your long-suffering zipper

from busting.

Pack socks and underwear in shoes.

This technique, as weird as it sounds,

will keep your shoes from flattening

out. Lay them on their sides with the

soles touching each other to keep from

getting your clothes dirty — no one

---

Attack

wants to open their suitcase and be

greeted with a dirt-streaked surprise.

Roll your clothes. You’ve heard your

parents lament your habit of just

throwing everything in the bag, and

now it’s time to listen to them. While

folding is the most common practice,

rolled up clothing saves even more

space and is easier to sift through

without yanking out the contents of

your suitcase.

Don’t cut corners. Once your bag

seems full, take a moment to reassess.

Are there empty spaces in the corners?

Could you reposition your makeup bag

to create more room? Never miss an

opportunity to fit a few last things in

your bag.

Get stacked. Place anything fragile

— glasses, breakable makeup containers,

etc. — between layers of softer

material. Be sure to pack everything

tightly to minimize jostling as you

travel and keep your belongings intact.

STUDY ABROAD

Congratulations: You are about to

embark on one of the most exciting adventures

of your college career. With

all the paperwork and detailed planning

behind you, you want to make

sure that that last piece — packing

— is as painless as possible. As with

any lengthy trip, a well-packed suitcase

is essential. However, you don’t

have to pack literally everything you

own just because you’re going to be

gone for months. Remember: you can

buy things in other countries too, so

that pillow that’s taking up space in

your luggage has got to go. What you

need are the essentials, and a few other

lesser known items that people tend

to forget.

Medicine: If you take a regular medication,

research it and make sure it is

allowed in your destination and on the

plane. It’s best to pack a full supply for

the duration of your trip.

Clothing: Roll your clothing so it fits

better in your suitcase. You’ll be gone

for a while, so bring all your staples,

including at least one nice outfit. Pay

attention to the weather as well, and

pack accordingly. If you need to bring

a big winter coat, wear it with you

while you travel to save space.

Photocopies of all important documents:

This is the most important one.

Make sure you have copies of all the

documents you need (passport, visa,

etc.) — actually, make multiple copies

and store them in a secure place.

Credit Card without Foreign Transaction

Fees: No one wants to pay extra

fees when they are already traveling

and spending money.

Toiletries: Keep these minimal. Most

of these items can be bought in any location,

so free up some space in your

suitcase and leave them out.

Shoes: You don’t need more than

three pairs of shoes — wipe that grimace

off your face, you know you don’t.

Pack one for casual day-to-day wear,

one formal pair and one pair for more

rugged terrain.

Leave some room: When you eventually

have to go home (yes, you do have

to leave at some point), you’ll want to

bring a few mementos back with you.

Leave some extra space in your suitcase

to store memories made on your

amazing time abroad.

OVERALL TIPS

A suitcase is a suitcase no matter

where you take it. The following strategies

are useful for trips of any length

— keep them in mind every time you

travel and you can’t go wrong.

Check the weather forecast for your

destination and prepare accordingly.

Plan your outfits, or at least have an

idea of what you’ll need to wear.

Make a list of everything you pack.

When you’re coming home, go back

over the list and be sure you aren’t forgetting

anything.

Travel is going to be a bit hectic no

matter what, but you don’t need to

let the stress take over the fun and

adventure of the journey. When in

doubt, focus on the necessities and

remember that if your forget something

it won’t be the end of the world.

Happy Traveling! *

Alice May 2017 [43]

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LIFESTYLE

BOTTLE IT UP

By Danielle Waddell

With sweltering heat right

around the corner, hydration

is key to keeping up

with your summer bucket list. Not

sure what type of water bottle best

suits your summer needs? Here’s our

list of hyped-up water bottles, their

perks and downfalls.

A+ Nalgene Tritan Wide

Mouth (32 oz.) $10.99

Easy on the nose. Users say Nalgene

bottles don’t hold the “smell,” as compared

to some other bottles. If you’ve

experienced (and hate) the “smell,”

here’s your new BFF!

No limitations. The Tritan’s wide

mouth allows for lots of ice and water

without the difficulty of fighting a

strange or small mouth shape.

Tough skin. Nalgene users gush

about the bottle’s durability. No

amount of drops, falls or abuse drive

the bottle to leak.

Shape of you. Nalgene bottles

come in all shapes and sizes, so be

sure to check out which one best fits

your preferences.

A

Hydro Flask (21 oz.

Standard Mouth) $32.95

Baby, I’m worth it. User Mallory

McIntosh said the bottle is heavy duty,

long-lasting and perfect for keeping

cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot.

For long summer days on the beach,

ice cold water is more than worth the

extra money.

Tough Skin. McIntosh says the nice

exterior of Hydro Flasks fade quickly

[44] Alice May 2017

with a few drops to the floor, so handle

your Flask carefully.

Shape of you. Be aware of the different

mouth shapes; different people

have different preferences. Research

what’s best for you before purchasing

your bottle or any add-ons.

A heavy load. Hydro Flask products

tend to be rather dense (part of

the temperature technology), adding

some weight to your daily cross-campus

travels.

Tinted, not tainted. Users say the inside

of your Flask may stain from coffee

or tea — a warning for those easily

panicked by signs of staining.

A-

S’ip by S’well $24.99

Baby, I’m worth it. Keeps your hot

drinks scalding and your cold drinks

frigid.

Ice, ice, baby. The small opening

makes getting peculiar-shaped ice into

the bottle tricky, so be aware of your

freezer’s ice shape.

Size matters. On the topic of size,

S’ip is a bit on the small side, but

Erika Pope said she loves the size —

S’ip fits into backpack pockets beautifully.

Thankfully, S’well’s handy

temperature-keeping strength is found

in all their bottles for those seeking a

little more water room.

Don’t sweat it. Pope raved about the

bottle’s no-sweat power. Dry hands

for days!

B+

Brita Filtered $18.99

So fresh, so clean. With a built-in

Brita water filter, users can drink

nearly any water, anywhere — a major

bonus for world travelers.

Work for it. Due to the filter itself,

along with the shape and science of

the spout, it takes a bit more effort to

drink water from this bottle as compared

to others.

Clean freak. Cleaning the bottle

proves to be quite a hassle as areas of

the lid are difficult or nearly impossible

to reach.

A piece of cake. Replacement filters

for the bottle are inexpensive and easy

to replace.

B- CamelBak Chute

(0.75L) $15.00

I’ve got it handled. Chute users love

the harnessed cap that folds back and

snuggly slips into the handle. No worries

about losing the lid or having it

fall on your face mid-sip.

Clean freak. Frequently compared

to the difficult-to-clean Eddy mouthpiece,

Chute’s wide mouth allows for

easy cleaning.

Rain drop, drip drop. While some

users never experience leaking issues,

others say the Chute leaks no matter

how well or tightly the cap is screwed

on. Give the bottle a thorough trial run

before allowing it the space next to

your laptop.

Tough skin. The Chute can take a

hit (or two, or three…) While reviews

say a few falls might further affect the

leaking, the bottle itself proves to be

tough stuff.

Summer is fun, but not when you’re

dehydrated. Whether hiking your way

through summer (Nalgene for the

win!) or relaxing on the beach day-byday

(hello, Hydro Flask), don’t forget

your most important accessory: your

water bottle. *

---

LIFESTYLE

Revamp

and Revive

Your New Year’s

Resolutions

By Mikelah Luke

It’s sweet summertime right now,

and, between all of the beach trips and

days in the sun, you realize that you

haven’t even thought about your New

Year’s resolutions since January. But,

hey, it’s okay, it happens to the best of

us. In fact, statistics have shown that

about 45 percent of people who make

resolutions each year don’t maintain

them past six months. If you don’t

want to be one of those people and

you’re looking for a way to get back on

track, here are our five steps to revamp

and revive those resolutions, so you can

get out of that “better luck next year”

mindset and you’ll be able to show the

rest of this year who’s boss.

Step 1: Revisit

The first thing you need to do is revisit

your resolutions. Think about

what it was you wanted to change or

start doing and write it down. Along

with doing this, you want to make sure

you’re being realistic when it comes to

making your resolutions. It’s great in

theory but ending world hunger can’t

be done in a year. It’s a better idea to

have realistic goals that you can complete

in a decent amount of time. You’ll

feel loads better in the end when you’ve

actually accomplished what you set out

to do.

Once you’ve got your thoughts together,

try to prioritize your list by

what’s most important to you. Figuring

out those things can make the entire

process a lot less stressful. Let’s

face it — you probably already have

too much stress in your life, so you

should try to cut out as much of it as

possible.

Step 2: Support

So you’ve got your new and improved

Alice May 2017 [45]

---

list: what’s next? Get a support system.

We honestly can’t stress this enough

— if you don’t have someone there to

help motivate you, you’re more likely

to fail compared to someone who has

a whole army of people behind them.

I’m not saying you need an entire battalion,

but a couple of people, or even

one, is always better than none. For example,

it’s easier for most people to go

to the gym with a friend than it is for

them go to by themselves. It’s always

helpful to have someone go with you to

help motivate you, and that same logic

applies here.

If you’re trying to eat more vegetables

or cut out sodas from your diet,

you can always expect to have weak

moments. Sometimes you’d rather eat

the cupcake instead of the celery and

having someone to tell you, “No, remember

that you’re trying to cut that

stuff out,” can help you move leaps and

bounds towards your goals.

Step 3: Baby Steps

While your support system can help

hold you up during your weak moments,

you have to first remember

that taking small steps is essential.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you

can’t change your whole lifestyle in a

day either.

You always have to remember to take

it one day at a time; while it can seem

like it’s easy to just cut out half of your

regular food groups in one day, trust

me, it’s not.

Step 4: Patience

Speaking of failure, it happens to everyone.

Failure is a part of life and unless

you have the willpower and determination

of a bull, you’ll probably fail.

But, even if you do mess up, you

have to remember not to be too hard

on yourself. Stuff happens and life can

always get the best of us. If you’re at a

tailgate and you decide to try that football-shaped

cupcake instead of going

for the vegetable platter, it’s completely

fine. Sometimes cheating is good for

you, and you have to try not to feel too

guilty about straying from the path

you’ve set out for yourself.

Always remember to take care of

yourself first. While sticking to a goal

can feel great, mental health should

always be your top priority. A healthy

mind is always the first step to creating

a healthy lifestyle.

Step 5: Keep It Fun

Last but not least, make the process

fun. If you’re too clinical about this,

it won’t be something you want to do

every day and you’ll go right back into

that “better luck next year” mindset.

Try to find ways that can make you

happy to be making lifestyle changes.

If you can find ways that you enjoy

you’ll want to do it everyday and then

eventually it’ll become a habit. Reward

yourself along the way — when you

reach a milestone, go buy those shoes

you’ve had your eye on, or treat yourself

to a facial and a night in with your

dog. The little things always add up in

the end and can really make changing

your life worth it.

Alice knows that being a student

can be tough, especially when you

feel the pressure of keeping up with

homework, internships and social lives

as well as your personal goals. We’ve

been there and know how rewarding

it feels to complete a New Year’s resolution.

Hopefully these steps can help

you as the mid-year slump approaches.

There’s always time to turn the year

around and with our guide and your

people around you, you’ll have that list

of resolutions finished in no time. *

[46] Alice May 2017

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48

58

62

64

Features

Eternal Summer

Hard to Swallow

Exposed

Escape Artist

Photo by Alex Green

Alice May 2017 [47]

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Photo by Prestley Bramlett

Black floral maxi: Lulu’s

[48] Alice May 2017

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ETERNAL

SUMMER

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimm’d;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st;

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

–William Shakespeare

Styling by Allie Binford

Hair and makeup by Allie Lowry

Alice May 2017 [49]

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Photo by Prestley Bramlett

Green maxi: Lucca

White jumpsuit: Market House

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

[50] Alice May 2017

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Alice May 2017 [51]

Photo by Alex Green

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Striped two-piece: Pants Store

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

[52] Alice May 2017

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Photo by Prestley Bramlett

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

Alice May 2017 [53]

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Photo by Prestley Bramlett

[54] Alice May 2017

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White tank: Market House

Black top: Az Well

Striped skirt: Az Well

Light blue dress: Lucca

Striped pants: Market House

Photo by Alex Green

Alice May 2017 [55]

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

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Photo by Alex Green

Photo by Alex Green

[56] Alice May 2017

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Tan dress: Lucca

Navy jumpsuit: Lulu’s

Alice May 2017 [57]

Photo by Prestley Bramlett

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Photos by Marie Walker

[58] Alice May 2017

HARD

TO

SWAL-

LOW

A look into fertility awareness and

hormone-free alternatives to the pill

By Maria Oswalt

---

The ‘80s had Heathers, the

‘90s had Clueless — if you

ask any college-aged woman

today what she considers the

most quotable movie of her generation,

I’d bet good money she says it’s Mean

Girls. The 2004 teen comedy became

a cult classic with its witty one-liners,

which continue to be relevant over a

decade later. My favorite quote comes

from the skeeziest character in the entire

movie — Coach Carr, the health

teacher. Parodying abstinence-only

sex education, he proclaims to a gym

full of teenagers:

“Don’t have sex,

because you will

get pregnant and

you will die.”

Various studies, including one in

2007 from the National Center for Biotechnology

Information in the U.S. Library

of Medicine, suggest that abstinence-only

approaches to sex education

don’t delay or prevent sexual activity

in adolescents — so I wouldn’t recommend

Coach Carr’s tactics. However,

that’s a debate for another day. Rewatching

this scene made me recall the

sex education I received growing up in

north Alabama.

Despite the anti-sex stereotypes

surrounding the Bible Belt, the sex

education I received in high school

was relatively comprehensive. I vividly

remember when my tenth-grade

health class watched The Miracle of

Life — well, actually, I remember the

smooth surface of my desk against my

forehead and the faint smell of Clorox.

I’d put my head down to avoid seeing

too much, and the girl sitting behind

me generously narrated every gruesome

detail, so I wouldn’t miss out.

Outside of the awkwardness of that

film, my health teacher did a decent

job explaining the biology behind sex,

talking about the dangers of various

STIs and even discussing the pros and

cons of barrier methods vs. hormonal

methods of contraception. Something

that never came up, however, was the

science behind fertility. I was shocked

when, at 20 years old, I learned that

there were natural, hormone-free ways

to avoid pregnancy that were nearly

as effective as hormonal

contraception.

I was doubly

shocked when I

learned that the

pill is classified as a

Group 1 carcinogen

by the World Health

Organization. If

there were healthier

options, why

weren’t we learning

about them? I was

already an adult (well, as much as you

can consider a 22-year-old who wears a

Pikachu onesie every so often an adult)

when I realized that I knew next to

nothing about how my fertility worked

— and a quick survey of my friends revealed

that I wasn’t the only one feeling

that way.

“The only sex ed I got was in seventh

grade, and they basically told us, ‘Use

the pill. Use condoms.’ It wasn’t until I

was in college that I learned anything

about the possible consequences,” said

Georgia Gallagher, a freshman from

Denver. “I feel like most women are

in the same boat as me, and they take

it because they don’t realize there are

other options.”

Genevieve Aucoin, a senior from Atlanta,

echoed her sentiments. “Most of

what I remember from my high school

sex ed was a single transparency they

put on the projector that showed the

different kinds of birth control and the

pros/cons of each. I think there was

something about the Rhythm Method,

and they said that it was ineffective

— that was all they told us about

‘natural alternatives.’”

Mary Katherine Holladay, a sophomore

from Athens, Alabama, said

that she received an abstinence-only

sex education. She eventually got her

information about contraceptives from

friends and friends’ parents.

“I’ve tried multiple forms of birth

control, and for the most part they had

a negative effect on other areas of my

life, such as my mood,” Holladay said.

“It just wasn’t worth it. Hormones,

for me, haven’t been an effective or

worthwhile solution.”

As college-aged men and women, it’s

imperative that we make well-informed

sexual health decisions — so what exactly

are the consequences of using

hormonal birth control? What are our

options in regards to natural methods?

PILLS N’ POTIONS

Let’s start at the very beginning (a

very good place to start). The history

of the pill is riddled with controversy,

and not just because of the typical drama

surrounding contraceptives. Many

ethically reprehensible practices were

involved in its development — for example,

in the 1950s, biologist Gregory

Pincus, gynecologist John Rock

and Dr. Edris Rice-Wray couldn’t find

enough women willing to endure the

painful side effects from the trial runs

of their hormonal contraceptives, so

they turned to forcing women to participate

in their studies. “These women

weren’t told what the pill was for;

instead, they were supposed to shut

up, take their medicine, and submit

to frequent, invasive medical exams,”

writes Bethy Squires in her Broadly

article “The Racist and Sexist History

of Keeping Birth Control Side Ef-

Alice May 2017 [59]

---

fects Secret.” She goes on to mention

that the development of birth control

for men was considered, but it was

eventually dismissed due to the side

effects. “It was believed that women

would tolerate side effects better than

men, who demanded a higher quality of

life,” she writes. Beyond the trial runs

of hormonal contraceptives, as it was

brought into the consumer market,

the risks continued to remain under

wraps. Thankfully, modern technology

has reduced the number of side effects

related to the pill, but it has not

eliminated them.

Estrogen acts as both

a promoter and an initiator,

so higher levels of estrogen

in the body lead to much

higher risks of breast cancer.

[60] Alice May 2017

A RISKY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

With this knowledge, it’s no surprise

that there are so many misunderstandings

surrounding the pill’s side effects.

Recent studies link use of the pill with

everything from depression to a higher

risk of breast cancer.

A November 2016 study from Denmark

is the most recent one to find a

correlation between hormonal contraceptives

and depression. This study

reported an 80 percent relative risk

increase in the likelihood that a 15- to

19-year-old taking oral contraceptives

would later be put on antidepressants

as well. Other types of hormonal contraceptives

— such patches, rings and

injectables — reported higher rates

of correlation with depression than

oral contraceptives.

When it comes to breast cancer, the

connection comes from increased estrogen

levels. According to the American

Cancer Institute, cancer is caused by a

mutation in a cell’s DNA. Carcinogens

are factors which can aid in the development

of cancer in one of two ways:

either they speed up the cell division

rate as a “promoter,” which increases

the chance that a mutation will occur,

or they are an “initiator,” which directly

causes the mutation. Estrogen acts

as both a promoter and an initiator, so

higher levels of estrogen in the body

lead to much higher risks of breast

cancer. While oral contraceptives as

a whole have been labeled as Group 1

carcinogens because of this, the pill

comes in many forms with varying

levels of estrogen, so each type comes

with a different risk level.

Other, less severe side effects that

have been linked to the use of hormonal

contraceptives include nausea, mood

swings and a loss of libido.

As our culture increases its awareness

regarding the hormones we put in our

bodies through our food, it is equally as

important to consider the effect of the

hormones we consume through contraceptives.

While the knowledge of these

side effects might not affect every person’s

sexual health decisions, it is important

that this information is more

widely known.

NO EASY ROAD

The primary reason that natural alternatives

to the pill are not utilized is

a lack of convenience. They require the

user to study and chart their own fertility

levels — hence why they are often

referred to as fertility awareness-based

methods, or FAMs. They can also be

referred to under the umbrella of Natural

Family Planning.

According to the Guttmacher Institute,

a sexual health research and policy

organization, only 1.4

percent of people avoiding

pregnancy use FAMs. It

makes sense that — with

the convenience of simply

taking a pill rather than

charting and learning about

fertility — a whopping 25.9

percent of contraceptive users take

the pill.

When it comes to effectiveness, however,

the two are almost equal. Studies

from the Guttmacher Institute reveal

that the percentage of women using

FAMs who will have an unintended

pregnancy over the course one year

of “perfect” use is only 0.4–0.5, compared

to 0.3 percent of women who

“perfectly” use the pill for a year.

WHADDUP FAM?

So what constitutes a fertility awareness-based

method? A common misconception

about FAMs is that they are all

essentially the Rhythm Method. The

Rhythm Method, developed in the early

twentieth century, is calendar-based

— users chart their periods and use

mathematical projections to estimate

the next time they will ovulate. This is

not nearly as effective as other FAMs,

which typically require the user to

monitor more than just timing. Furthermore,

twenty-first century medical

technology has greatly improved their

effectiveness. Today, the most common

FAMs are the Creighton Model,

the Symptothermal Model and the

Marquette Model.

CHEERS TO THE

FREAKIN’ CREIGHTON

The Creighton Model of NFP focuses

on female cervical mucus. Users learn

from a certified instructor about the

various types of mucus and how they

relate to fertility and hormone levels,

and then they monitor and chart their

observations every day. While there is

a bit of a learning curve, this method

can be highly reliable if done with the

help of an instructor; a five-study composite

compiled by NaProTECHNOL-

OGY found the method-effectiveness

of the Creighton Model to be 98 percent

and the use-effectiveness to range

from 94.6 to 97.9 percent.

---

BE A SYMPTOTHERMAL

KIND OF MAN

(I tried, y’all. There are zero good

puns using the word “symptothermal,”

so I did what I could).

The Symptothermal Model also

monitors cervical mucus, but in addition,

it reqiures the user to track

their basal body temperature as well.

This dual-tracking method has been

found to have an accuracy rate of 99.5

percent when used properly with an

instructor’s help.

Both the Creighton and Symptothermal

models are especially useful

for women with irregular cycles who

might have trouble relying on calendar-based

methods like the Rhythm

Method. Although it is more time-intensive,

monitoring the body’s natural

signs and functions to estimate ovulation

is much more reliable than merely

relying on statistics.

BACK ON THE MARQUETTE

The Marquette Model tracks hormone

levels to determine fertility with

an at-home urine test. This model is

more high-tech than the others and

requires less training, but that comes

with a price — the cheapest fertility

monitor, from Walmart, will set you

back $110.99. Higher quality monitors

can cost up to $200. If you can

afford it, the Marquette Model is easier

to use, and it has been found to be 97

percent reliable.

THE MORE YOU KNOW

The benefits of FAMs go beyond

just being a hormone-free way to avoid

pregnancy. If someone using FAMs

decides that they do want to get preg-

nant, the body literacy gained by using

FAMs makes achieving pregnancy

much easier. Furthermore, it is empowering

to better understand the way

your fertility works. Men and women of

all ages can benefit from having better

body literacy.

“I’ve actually been charting since

I was eighteen,” Aucoin said. “Since

then, I’ve learned a lot more about my

body and why it does the things it does.

It’s not some big mystery any more.

[Fertility awareness] has given me an

opportunity to get to the base of my actual

health problems, helping me treat

what needs to be treated rather than

merely treating the symptoms.” *

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Although many prefer the traditional

pen-and-paper style of charting, if

you’re a techie kind of gal, there are

apps that can help you chart, track,

and estimate your ovulation cycles.

Here are a few of top recommended

apps for Natural Family Planning:

OVUVIEW

Ovuview’s tagline is “Period

and fertility taken seriously.”

Available only for Android users,

OvuView uses the Symptothermal

Model to monitor your period,

fertility, and more.

KINDARA

Kindara boasts that they are

“the most powerful and trusted

fertility app on the market.” In

addition to the app, they also offer

a bluetooth-connected basal

body temperature thermometer.

Kindara is available for both Apple

and Android users.

GLOW

Glow is new and unique in that

it is the only app to offer both

male and female fertility tracking.

They allow you to input your

current symptoms, medications

and other factors that might affect

your charting. A review from

How We Flourish (howweflourish.com)

highly recommends this

app; however, they also warn that

you should not rely solely on its

predictions. The author states,

“[Glow] attempts to tell you your

percent chance of getting pregnant

on a given day — DO NOT

pay attention to these numbers!

They are simply estimations and

mean nothing about your own fertility

— trusting them is basically

trusting the calendar method.”

NAPROTECHNOLOGY

Interested in learning more

about FAMs? Want to talk to

a professional? Look into finding

a NaProTECHNOLOGYspecialized

doctor near you.

NaProTECHNOLOGY (short

for Natural Procreative Technology

and often shortened

further to NaPro), is a relatively

new reproductive science

that focuses on fertility awareness.

NaPro-specialized practictioners

can help you navigate

the world of FAMs and discover

how increasing your body

literacy can lead to an overall

healthier lifestyle.

Alice May 2017 [61]

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[62] Alice May 2017

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EXPOSED

Photos by Marie Walker

Text by Claire Turner

From Native American cave paintings to every piece in

the Museum of Modern Art, art has defined and refined

our culture, setting examples and breaking barriers. Art

is years spent chipping away at a slab of marble; art is the

scent of oil paint in a warehouse; art is the snap of a camera;

art is dark charcoal on fingertips. Art is a great wave

coming over the horizon; art is a sculpture of a god. Art is

a collection of fruit in a bowl; art is a woman posing nude

on a bed.

Or is it?

A great debate exists that argues whether or not nudity is

actually considered art or pure objectification. However, everything

in art is technically objectified: a tree, an animal,

an idea. According to Susanne Langer, author of Mind:

an Essay on Human Feeling, art is “the objectification of

feeling and the subjectification of nature.” Basically, this

means art is taking something of value and turning it into

an object while the subject desperately wants itself to be

known. Artist and muse, working hand-in-hand.

Think back to the classics. Sandro Botticelli’s 15th-century

Birth of Venus, which depicts a long-haired nude woman

emerging from the sea in a seashell while modestly trying

to hide her body; Edouard Manet’s Olympia from 1865,

which shows a nude woman on a bed staring confidently at

the viewer; and Pablo Picasso’s 1907 The Young Ladies of

Avignon, which portrays five Cubist nude women, known

to be prostitutes. Each work was and is celebrated for the

artist’s mastery, yet in today’s world, a well-known feminist

like Emma Watson poses semi-nude for a magazine and is

criticized for being a hypocrite. Bodies define feminity at its

core: more than homemakers, more than prostitutes, more

than child bearers ... beneath it all, women are women no

matter what they are wearing.

How can a painter of a nude woman be more acclaimed

than the woman herself? The nakedness of a woman who

is cloaked in confidence and shrouded in mystery deserves

to be the center of attention. Alice wants to commemorate

women of all types, no matter their shape, color, role or belief,

and remember that a woman is a woman over and under

her clothes. *

Alice May 2017 [63]

---

Escapism through film and literature

By Paige Burleson

[64] Alice May 2017

---

After all the hype, I finally

gave in. My mother, sister

and I shuffled into the dimly

lit theater with our torn

movie tickets. I stopped dead in my

tracks as I rounded the corner, seeing

the room was almost entirely full, and

the movie didn’t start for another 30

minutes. We stood at the front for a

few seconds as we scanned the rows,

looking for a seat. Faces peered down

at us, and I began to feel uncomfortable.

We decided to split up — I lost

sight of my mother as she went left,

and my sister, Katherine, and I went

right. I asked a middle-aged man if he

was saving the two seats beside him,

and, thankfully, he wasn’t. Katherine

and I did the awkward dance to get to

them, and we collectively let out a sigh

of relief when we claimed the chairs

as ours.

The previews started and after each

one, Katherine and I would quietly discuss

if we would see it or not. The film

began to roll, and the screen lit up with

bright colors and singing and dancing

in an L.A. traffic jam as the ever-wonderful

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

appeared. As I began to feel immersed

in the movie, all of my cares, worries

and doubts of society, politics, school

and my future faded away. The only

two things that could bring me out of

this blissful trance were the man snoring

next to me and the ending of La

La Land.

DEFINE IT

When I returned to my bed in Tuscaloosa,

Alabama, I put the needle on

a Duke Ellington record and pulled up

Google. Merriam-Webster defined “escapism”

as “a habitual diversion of the

mind to purely imaginative activity or

entertainment as an escape from reality

or routine.” People escape the burdens

of their life mainly through film,

literature and music.

Some forms of escapism are through

nostalgia for decades past. Listening

to Frank Sinatra can transport you

from 2017 to a “simpler time,” just like

reading The Great Gatsby can push the

politics of today out of your mind and

replace it with prohibition and wild

parties. Another form of escapism is

through the fantastical, such as Game

of Thrones, Lord of The Rings and other

popular books that are turned into

movies or TV shows.

Vogue created a list of 21 escapist

movies that will truly make you want

to buy a plane ticket to a glamorous location,

each filled with striking scenes,

dazzling colors, fashionable outfits and

the desire to escape. Some of the more

popular movies on this list include: The

Talented Mr. Ripley Atonement, The

Grand Budapest Hotel and The Blue

Lagoon. In this May 2016 article, one

Vogue editor described watching Blue

Crush as, “The location and the entire

plotline tapped into my 20-something

(read: present day) dropout dream to

take up surfing full time, live on the

beach and date a pro quarterback.”

These movies (and many more) are

intended to entertain, but they also

create an innate sense to gravitate towards

the idea of dropping everything

and escaping into the screen.

THE SWEET ESCAPE

While looking for the definition, my

Google search also brought up the

question about whether escapism is just

Alice May 2017 [65]

---

avoidance. The word escapism usually

carries a negative connotation. Some

articles, such as “How to Snap Back

to Reality” and “Leave your Fantasy

World and Live in Reality,” described

the downsides of too much escapism.

Other articles say that escapism can

help alleviate depression and can promote

a creative lifestyle. The one thing

that these articles and studies agree on

is moderation. I am not a professional

psychologist, but I do believe that I (an

almost-journalism graduate) should

not tell you what is right or wrong.

How about I present you with the information

and you can come up with a

conclusion for your personal life?

A Lifehacker article said, “[Escapism]

allows a momentary reprieve

from your circumstances, giving you

a chance to recharge your batteries

before you jump back into the fray.”

The writer agreed that escapism is a

normal way to get away from the feeling

of being overwhelmed. When not

in moderation, escapism can also be

detrimental. Patrick Allan, the writer

of the Lifehacker article, said, “Think

of escapism like sugar or salt. You can

sprinkle it on top of your life to make

it better, but too much will ruin the

whole thing. It can cause problems at

work, damage personal relationships

and maybe even cut yourself off from

normal social circles.”

Writers such as C.S. Lewis and

J.R.R. Tolkien were advocates for escapism.

They escaped through writing

and we escape through their words. In

C.S. Lewis as Philosopher, the writers

said that Lewis “considered that used

in moderation, escapism could serve

both to refresh and to expand the

imaginative powers.” Even inside the

novel, The Lion, the Witch, and The

Wardrobe, the children escape from

Nazi Germany into the countryside

and eventually to the land of Narnia.

Without Lewis’s imagination, we also

wouldn’t be able to escape to his world.

In Tolkien and the Modernists, Theresa

Freda Nicolay said, “Tolkien argued

for escapism in fantasy literature as

the creative expression of reality within

a secondary (imaginative) world.”

Escaping to Middle-Earth in Lord of

the Rings wouldn’t exist without Tolkien.

These novels and movies have affected

people across the world. These

writers created worlds for their characters

and readers to fall into when

their surroundings get overwhelming.

Now, the movies of our childhood are

being made into live action films, and

escaping to Neverland, Wonderland

and other fantastical realms has never

been easier.

In a study about “Culture and Politics

in the Great Depression,” Alan

Brinkley says that in 1929, Americans

escaped the depression through

magazines, radio and movies. He said

in Life magazine in the 1930s “most

of the pictures give no indication

that there was such a thing as a depression;

most of the pictures are of

“Think of escapism like sugar or salt.

You can sprinkle it on top of your life

to make it better, but too much will

ruin the whole thing.”

[66] Alice May 2017

bathing beauties and ship launching

and building projects and sports heroes

— of almost anything by poverty

or unemployment.” Most films of that

time were “consciously, deliberately set

out to divert people from their problems,”

said Brinkley. In no way am I

comparing our society and politics to

that of the Great Depression, but I believe

that any stress about presidents,

money or war can be escaped through

film and literature just as they did in

the past.

BUT I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE

Hello, my name is Paige and I’m a

daydreamer. My head is perpetually in

the clouds. I’m a talented escape artist.

No, I can’t escape from chains or

boxes, but I am pretty dang good at

escaping reality. Whenever I’ve had a

long day, my favorite way to escape is

to read any of the Harry Potter books

(I could never choose a favorite).

The world of magic that J.K. Rowling

created holds a special place in my

heart. I can to be completed captured

by her words and able to keep my stress

at bay — at least for a few chapters.

When I start to feel overwhelmed by

graduation, I lay at the end of my bed,

turn on my globe string lights and put

on a Penny and Sparrow vinyl on the

record player. Records automatically

make me feel better. The scratching

sound the player makes before the music

begins takes me back to a time before

I was born; an era that I’ve experienced

only through books and movies.

Through watching Z: The Beginning

of Everything on Amazon, I saw Zelda

Fitzgerald (then-Zelda Sayre) go from

an Alabama beauty to an icon of the

‘20s. I felt as if I was traveling along

with her from Montgomery to New

---

York City. After just binge-watching 13

Reasons Why on Netflix, I have needed

to escape through happier means.

When wanting to turn off my mind

and relax, I tend to watch 20-minute

shows that I’ve already seen. My personal

favorite is Scrubs, perfect for

those wanting to laugh and relate to

the characters.

Movies are a whole other obsession

of mine. I think any Tim Burton or

Quentin Tarantino movie has the best

cinematography for escape. Netflix recently

added Midnight in Paris to their

site, and it sat in my queue for a few

days until my roommate convinced

me to watch it. Woody Allen (another

talented escapist director) brings the

lovely Paris to life, but with a twist.

Gil (Owen Wilson) finds himself transported

to the 1920s at the stroke of

midnight. It’s a must see for those that

love the Jazz Age and the scenic views

of France. Lion, a true story about a

young boy getting lost in India and

finding his way home after 25 years,

has breathtaking scenes of India and

the beaches of Australia. It was also

nominated for a few Oscars, so, you

know, no big deal. The plotline will

have you in tears and the views will

leave you breathless.

Last, but not least, I give you Fantastic

Beasts and Where to Find Them.

As you already know, I’m quite the

Harry Potter nerd, so when this movie

came out, I was first in line to see it.

I was once again able to travel to this

magical world through film and I forgot

about all the worries I had a few

minutes before the lights dimmed.

BON VOYAGE

There you have it. Escapism is the

act of escaping reality through entertainment.

In moderation it’s a good

thing for your mind and soul, but

abusing it can lead to avoidance. So I’ll

just sit (still on my bed) with the Duke

Ellington record waiting for me to flip

it to the other side. And I’ll talk to you:

The girl who is stressed out about finals,

or the girl who is going through

a bad breakup or the girl who doesn’t

know what will come after graduation.

Escape. Escape through film, television,

Netflix, music, a book or whatever.

Just escape. You’ll always find your

way back. *

Alice May 2017 [67]

---

HEATH & FOOD

Shade of You:

Tanning Bed Alternatives

By Audrey Watford

With summer just around the corner,

the pressure to be bronze

goddesses in our beachy Instagram

posts also brings the unhealthy pressure

of tanning bed use. It’s easy and

affordable, plus you can see quick results

before your eyes, but it’s not worth

the damage to your skin. The mildest

of side effects are early wrinkling, sunspots

and freckles, not to mention the

increased risk of skin cancer, resulting

in difficult treatments and surgeries to

remove damaged skin. Why chance all

of this when there are healthier ways

to achieve that covetable glow?

Self-Tanners

The first, no-fail option is applying

tanning products wherever you are,

from the comfort of your home to a

hotel room. Options for self-tanning

range from sprays to mousse gels to

wipes. TanTowel is great for fair skin

tones and beginners, although the

[68] Alice May 2017

glow can be deepened with a darker

shade option. The towelette allows a

more thorough coverage, and the tone

is forgiving if you miss a spot or two.

TanTowel also offers a spray that can

be used for spot tanning, such as legs

or face, and both applications begin to

show up within two hours. It is available

at Ulta or Amazon.com. Jergens

Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer is a

great option for those who worry most

about pale legs. It is available in Fair

to Medium and Medium to Tan shades,

and you can use it in replacement of

your regular body moisturizer. It can

be found at Target, Wal-Mart and

most drugstores. St. Tropez Self Tan

Classic Bronzing Mousse is the best

option for any skin tone, even the fairest

of complexions don’t look orange.

St. Tropez offers a tan applicator mitt

to rub the foam all over the body, and

you can immediately see a difference.

You can add multiple layers depending

on how dark you want to be, and the

foam is available in three sizes at Ulta.

Spray Tans

Spray tans are an effortless option

for last minute tanning. Palm Beach

Tan in Tuscaloosa offers beds and

sprays, but Tara Spath, the store

manager, recommends sprays for

skin health.

She said UV light from tanning beds

automatically draws vitamins and

nutrients from the skin. Palm Beach

spray tans last three to five days, and

the color can be restored at any time

with another spray and without skin

damage. You can choose between

sprays in a computerized booth or by

hand by one of the staff, whichever you

are more comfortable with. The salon

offers a college-friendly Silver package

of $19 a month, but the best package

is Platinum for $69.95, which includes

unlimited sprays and discounts on

all additives for a longer lasting tan.

If you have sensitivity to the odor of

spray tans, Palm Beach offers scents

to add to the Mystic spray booths to

lessen the smell.

---

Base Tans Debunked

By Carson Cook

Natural Tanning

The last, most beneficial option is

tanning naturally outside. Not only

does sunlight improve brain function

and sleep quality, but it also provides

the richest glow to your skin. The Skin

Cancer Foundation recommends at

least a SPF of 15 or higher for acceptable

UVB protection for normal everyday

activity and a SPF of 30 or higher

for extensive sun exposure. Adjusting

the angle of your body toward the sun

periodically makes for a more even tan,

and the reapplication of sunscreen is

best every two hours, especially on the

sensitive skin of your face and neck.

An after-sun moisturizer with aloe infusion,

such as Hawaiian Tropic Silk

Hydration, is a great way to soothe and

replenish skin after a day in the sun.

Regardless of the option you choose,

all are much healthier than the harsh,

direct UV rays of tanning beds — it’s

like a hot box for cancer. Taking care

of your skin is so important, and we all

want to look young forever, don’t we? *

With summer right around the corner, drug

stores everywhere have set out brightly-colored displays

of sunscreens that many of us walk right past.

Yes, getting some vitamin D from the sun can be

healthy, but only if you’ve protected yourself from

the harmful UVA and UVB rays.

UVA rays hit the surface of your skin, causing

sunburn. UVB rays penetrate deeper into the epidermis

layer, which is where most cases of skin cancer

occur. How can you be sure that you’ve protected

yourself from both types of rays? Make sure the

sunscreen you choose says “Broad Spectrum.” This

means your lotion will protect from both UVA and

UVB rays. It is also highly recommended to use a

sunscreen with SPF 30. Less than SPF 30 is not

enough protection, and anything higher than 30

does not actually protect you more. In fact, many

who wear sunscreens with super high SPF end up

burning because they think the higher SPF will

protect them and forget to reapply every two hours,

as recommended.

Another commonly held belief is that once you

have a base tan, you will not burn. Getting a base

tan is the equivalent of wearing an SPF 4, which is

essentially no protection at all. The best sunscreen

will be a lotion, not a spray or powder.

There is no way to know for certain how much of

the sprays or powders are absorbing into your skin.

The best sunscreens contain two important ingredients:

zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Wearing

sunscreen is important every season and even when

you are not tanning. One of the most common places

of skin cancer forming is on the left arm from

your car window while driving.

Alice May 2017 [69]

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HEALTH & FOOD

Coffee Crawl

By Caroline Wells

Alice tries three local coffee shops

Oooh, coffee. I am convinced the

word “coffee” lights up the pleasure

receptors in the brains of every college

student. It is coffee’s bitterness

and warmth that draws us in and its

caffeine boost that keeps us coming

back for more. It’s the early morning,

the late night and the afternoon cups

of coffee that keep us alive. Recently

in Tuscaloosa, coffee shops have

been popping up everywhere. Alice, of

course, wanted to try them all out, and

this is what we found.

Heritage House

Heritage House is the traditional

local coffee shop in Tuscaloosa loved

by every college student that walks

through its doors. It has expanded into

three locations in town and the newest

location is Alice’s favorite. Large

windows and long tables make this

Heritage House feel like home. If you

are a fan of the flavored coffee, Heritage

House’s specialty coffee menu will

make all your dreams come true. I got

the Bama Blitz coffee (vanilla, caramel,

roast of the day, steamed milk). It

was smooth, sweet, and delicious. For

all of you black coffee warriors, the

Turtle Kisses roast is a must try.

O’Henry’s

Although O’Henry’s is one of Tuscaloosa’s

coffee franchises, its environment

nestled in downtown feels

inviting and homey and anything but

a chain coffee shop. It offers a large,

covered outside patio for good weather

days and many single tables for days

when studying alone is a necessity. If

you are a sugary-sweet coffee lover,

this coffee shop is for you. O’Henry’s

drinks are crafted with true Ghirardelli

chocolate, making their lattes

some of the sweetest and tempting in

Tuscaloosa. If you are a fan of chocolate,

caramel, and coffee, The Snickerdoodle

Mocha must be your next

order. But, if coffee’s not your drink

of choice, O’Henry’s Hot Cocoa made

with Ghirardelli Chocolate will become

your new addiction.

Monarch Espresso

Two Alabama alumni recently

opened the newest coffee shop in Tuscaloosa,

Monarch Espresso. This coffee

shop has a big-city feel with its

dark brick interior and modern tables.

It appeals to true coffee lovers with

a simple but delectable menu. Some-

what of a hidden gem is the Cuban, a

velvety espresso with sweetened condensed

cream and steamed milk. They

also offer clean and rich tasting pour

overs. The Guatemalan pour over is a

dark and smooth coffee that delivers a

punch of dark roast flavor.

[70] Alice May 2017

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HEALTH & FOOD

Break It Down

By Analiese Gerald

The sun is hot and the beach

is waiting, and while there’s

an excited rush as everyone

buys their newest and cutest bikini,

there’s also the annual scrambling to

hit the gym and get that last-minute

beach body.

Since most quick-fix workouts don’t

produce the miracle results they promise,

I decided to look for a program

that was a little more trustworthy

when looking for my summer workout

plan, even if it meant some more time

and effort. I settled upon fitness guru

Shawn T’s Hip Hop Abs.

Shawn T is well known and respected

in the fitness world, and I have previously

done his infamous Insanity

workout program, (which was every bit

as insane as advertised, but so worth

the results). Hip Hop Abs is a monthlong

program that averages around

30 to 50 minutes a day and goes for

around $28 on Amazon. One month of

hard work in exchange for some toned

abs seemed both realistic and worth it.

I was ready to go.

Week 1

I started off my first day with the

program’s instructional video “Secrets

to Flat Abs,” which explained Shawn

T’s “tilt, tuck, tighten” technique, the

backbone of Hip Hop Abs. I learned

how to tilt my shoulders over, tuck

my hips under and constantly keep

my core tight, activating all parts of

my abs while it felt like I was simply

dancing along to the video. Even just

learning the technique had my abs

burning! When I moved onto the first

workout, however, I got a little discouraged.

Though the hip hop dance moves

were fun and easy at first glance, applying

“tilt, tuck, tighten” while still

keeping pace was less simple. Each day

I got the hang of it a little more, but

I still felt like I wasn’t fully following

the technique, and therefore didn’t feel

like my abs were getting as much of

a workout as they could be. Week one

wasn’t a total flop, but more frustrating

than I’d hoped.

Week 2

Week two, day two: something

clicked. Though I had been consciously

focusing on sticking to my technique

while following along with the workout,

beginning my second week there were

still some specific moves where I didn’t

feel any work being done in my core.

But practice makes perfect held to be

true, and I was finally able to complete

a workout tilt, tuck, tightening the

whole way through and keeping pace

with the dance moves. Along with this

improvement came the soreness, which

just motivated me even more. I wasn’t

immediately flawless — I still had to

pause occasionally to make sure I was

dancing correctly — but I finally felt

like every move had a purpose and was

making a difference.

Week 3

I was used to the dancing, and tilt,

tuck, tightening was coming more and

more naturally. This was the week

where I started to both feel and see

the long-awaited results. In the workouts

I noticed my stamina improve,

and that I was able to go longer before

getting tired and do more without being

sore. Visual changes were less noticeable,

but subtly started to appear.

I shaved off a small amount of weight

and there were the beginning hints of

defined abs. Another thing that made

a big difference this week was making

a conscious effort to clean up my eating.

Exercise that isn’t paired with a

healthy diet isn’t very effective, if effective

at all.

Week 4

I entered my final week with excitement

about where I was at and even

more excitement at the last bit of progress

I could make during the week.

There was definitely a sense of accomplishment

on the last day, and though

I didn’t stick to the program perfectly

(life happens), I stayed as consistent

as I could, and it paid off. The results

I started to see in week three became

more pronounced — my stomach was

noticeably flatter and abs more defined.

Besides just looks, I felt stronger

and had better endurance. Each

workout I was able to do longer without

getting tired.

Overall, I’d recommend the program

with the advice of sticking to it, even

if the tilt, tuck, and tightening takes

a while to get the hang of. No workout

program is going to give you Victoria’s

Secret abs in just one month,

and Hip Hop Abs may require more

focus than most, but I was happy with

the changes I saw and felt in my body

and my mind. *

Alice May 2017 [71]

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HEALTH & FOOD

Southern Summer Pops

Ingredients

1 cup sweet tea (your favorite brand or homemade)

¼ cup sliced peaches

Directions

Pour sweet tea into popsicle molds about halfway,

then place sliced peaches in each mold to desired affect,

pour in more sweet tea until the molds are filled

to ¼ of an inch of top. Freeze for at least four hours

before enjoying on the front porch.

By Jo Hanna Hill

Is there anything better than having a delicious

popsicle in the scorching summer heat?

Well, it could be better if you made that popsicle

yourself. These recipes are easy, fresh and just

as satisfying in the summer sun.

The following recipes make about six popsicles

from a standard mold. If you don’t have a popsicle

mold you can easily use paper cups — just fill

them to ¼ inch below the top, cover with plastic

wrap and stick a popsicle stick through the middle

before freezing.

Parfait Pops

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt

¼ cup sliced strawberries and blueberries

A sprinkling of Granola

Honey (optional, but delicious)

Directions

If using honey, drizzle honey on sides of the popsicle

molds first. Spoon a thin layer of yogurt in each

mold, sprinkle berries over yogurt and then top

the berries with more yogurt in alternating layers.

Repeat until ½ of an inch from top of mold, (ending

with a yogurt layer). Make sure to get yogurt

throughout the layers so the finished pop stays in

one piece. Top with granola before putting in stick

and freezing for at least four hours. Makes a perfect

breakfast for warm summer mornings.

1 cup lemonade

½ cup blueberries

¼ cup fresh mint

Smoothie Pops

Ingredients

1 banana

Frozen strawberries, blueberries and cherries

½ cup orange juice

½ cup plain yogurt

Directions

Blend all ingredients together (you can even switch

out these ingredients for your favorite smoothie).

Pour the smoothie mixture into molds, place sticks,

and freeze for at least four hours. Yes, you will probably

have extra smoothie after placing the mix in the

molds... but who’s complaining?

Blueberry Mint

Lemonade Pops

Ingredients

Directions

In a separate bowl, crush the blueberries and mint

together. Add the lemonade to the bowl and mix all

together before pouring into the popsicle molds.

Freeze for at least four hours for a refreshing pop.

[72] Alice May 2017

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HEALTH & FOOD

Superfoods

For the Broke College Student

By Lauren Lane

The word “superfood” often comes

with the connotation that it must be

overpriced and sourced from the Amazonian

jungle or an Asian village.

There is no actual legal or scientific

definition of a superfood, but they are

often defined as a nutrient-dense food

that can improve one’s quality of life

and provide a wide variety of vitamins

and minerals.

College diets are notorious for lacking

enough essential vitamins and

minerals; instead, they are often full

of salt, sugar and fat. Superfoods are

great options to add to our diets as

they add multiple vital nutrients, and

can be affordable if you buy them from

the right vendors. We have picked out

10 of our favorite superfoods for you to

try, and, if you buy them from Amazon

Prime instead of the Amazonian jungle,

you too can eat like Gwyneth and

Gisele everyday.

Dark Chocolate

You already like this list, don’t you?

Well, the kind of dark chocolate we

are talking about is not Hershey’s.

Dark chocolate must contain at least

60 percent cacao to be considered a

healthy addition to your diet. Cacao

is loaded with antioxidants, good fats,

fiber, minerals and vitamins, particularly

magnesium. Dark chocolate also

contains flavonols, which lower blood

pressure and protect us from UV rays.

Ghirardelli Intense Dark and Green

& Black’s are two affordable and

healthful options.

Black Beans

At less than a dollar per can, you are

almost stealing your optimum health

into existence by adding these to your

grocery list. Black beans are full of

protein, 14 grams per cup to be exact,

and 12 grams of fiber. They are also

high in Vitamin B6. Combine these

with quinoa, avocado and salsa for a

well-rounded, satisfying dish.

Flaxseed

These little seeds are chock-full of

Omega-3’s, both kinds of fiber, and

they have been known to reduce cancer,

cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The subjects of Charlemagne back

in the eighth century were required by

law to consume them because he believed

so much in their nutrient power.

Keep this superfood in your refrigerator

and blend it into smoothies or into

pancake mix.

Granola

Yes, granola. Ignore the refined

grain-laden, sugar bomb versions and

Alice May 2017 [73]

---

check out healthier brands such as

Purely Elizabeth. This brand of granola

is a combination of healthy fats

from coconut and cashews and different

kinds of nutrient-packed seeds,

proving itself worthy to be called a

sweet superfood snack. With flavors

like dark chocolate sea salt and banana

nut butter, you can enjoy snacking on

Purely Elizabeth granola on its own or

in yogurt.

Broccoli

With brussels sprouts as the trendy

veggie of the moment, broccoli has been

pushed out of the limelight. Broccoli

provides more than 100 percent of the

daily-recommended amount of Vitamin

K and C and is anti-inflammatory. It is

an excellent detoxifier and helps support

a healthy digestive system. Serve

this cruciferous veggie raw with hummus

or mixed into a healthy stir-fry.

Oats

Oats have been keeping breakfast

healthy for generations. Whether

you prefer them steel-cut, instant, or

soaked overnight, this whole grain can

be made differently every morning of

the week. Oats are full of filling fiber,

bone-building manganese and energizing

carbs to power you through 8 a.m.

classes and group projects. Make your

oatmeal Instagram-worthy by topping

it with sliced fruit, nut butter, coconut

flakes and whatever else will get you up

[74] Alice May 2017

in the morning.

Green Tea

Speaking of getting up in the morning,

green tea provides anywhere from

35-70 milligrams of caffeine and is full

of catechins, a special type of antioxidants.

Debates over whether or not

green tea actually helps you lose weight

have us unsure, but it is a healthier and

more relaxing swap for sugary drinks.

Harney and Sons Green Tea with

Coconut is a great starting point for

green tea newbies, as it adds a sweet,

tropical flavor to this otherwise bitter

drink without all the sugar.

Salmon

Salmon gets its acclaim from being

rich in Omega-3’s and being a good

source of protein. It is also full of Vitamins

D and B12, vitamins that can be

difficult to come by. This famous fish

is also good for our hearts, brains and

bones but needs to be wild-caught and

not farmed. Salmon is often served

with grilled veggies and healthy grains

to provide a nutrient-dense meal.

Leafy Greens

There’s a reason why your mom

made you eat them. Leafy greens,

such as kale, spinach, chard and cabbage

are some of nature’s most nutrient-dense

foods in the world. They are

a leading source of calcium and iron

and also provide a host of other minerals

and vitamins. Leafy greens are a

good source of fiber and help detoxify

the body. If the only kind of greens you

are used to are in spinach dip, blend

them into a smoothie until you can eat

(and enjoy) them in a salad.

Avocados

This fruit may be as trendy as the

Kardashians and for good reason.

Avocados are loaded with monounsaturated

fatty acids, which are known

to help with weight loss and reduce

cholesterol. They are also full of fiber

and adding them to any meal will keep

you full for hours. Sneak these into a

BLT or add them to a sushi roll for improved

heart health.

Red Wine

You’re welcome. Start feeling better

about Wine Wednesday and The

Bachelor on Monday nights thanks to

our friend, resveratrol. It helps prevent

blood clotting, inflammation and

reduces cholesterol and assists other

antioxidants in keeping our hearts

healthy. Pinot Noir provides the biggest

resveratrol bang for your buck

and should be purchased by brands

other than Barefoot and Sutter Home.

So next time your friend is trying

to justify her college diet of Taco Bell

and Cook Out, tell her about the superfoods

that are at her disposal and rake

in the thank-you’s. *

---

HEALTH & FOOD

“On The Brink of No Stink”

Tips for Deodorizing Smelly Workout Shoes

By Madison Sullivan

You lace up your tennis shoes and hit the boardwalk, the

sun sizzling on your face and the sea breeze whipping past

you. With the summer heat comes sweaty runs, long hikes,

trips to amusement parks and cycling classes that are all

fun and games until you slip out of your sneakers, seeing

noses crinkle in disgust.

Every athlete and gym rat knows the struggle that comes

with breaking in the perfect workout shoe. The smell. And,

as the summer months approach and the temperature soars

it only gets worse.

Although life is not the movie Holes, and “Sploosh” doesn’t

actually exist, I have put a few methods to the test (on my

countless pairs of equally smelly sneakers) to help you figure

out the best way to banish your tennis shoe funk once

and for all.

Disclaimer: Don’t actually use peaches and onions like in

the film.

The Store-Bought Method

What: Sneaker Balls Deodorizer

Where: Dicks Sporting Goods

Price: $4.99

Well, you’ll break a sweat by the time you get the packaging

open; so make sure you’re not wearing tennis shoes

during this part of the process or you’ll have to clean that

pair as well. Once I finally wrestled the packaging open,

I realized the deodorizers smelled like clean laundry and

looked like tiny soccer balls, so I was excited to give them

a try. I twisted them and popped them halfway into each

sneaker, leaving my shoes to sit overnight. The next morning

I took a big sniff and immediately regretted the decision.

They smelled almost exactly the same with a hint of

deodorizer mixed in. If you’re dead set on using Sneaker

Balls, I recommend using them as soon as you get a new

pair of shoes, popping them in every time you get home to

keep them from smelling from the get go.

Alice May 2017 [75]

---

The DIY Method

What: Washing Machine

Where: Any washer & dryer

Price: See your local laundromat

I’ll preface this by saying I was very wary of this method.

In the past I’d heard my friends swear by it, but could never

bring myself to put my grimy shoes into the machine that

I trust to clean my wardrobe. So, I waited until I was home

with my laundry expert of a mother before I finally gave

myself permission to put my pudding-stained (thanks to my

best friend), once white-soled, absolutely disgusting tennis

shoes into her pristine washer and dryer. Let me tell you,

I am a convert. In fact, I just washed another pair today.

Here’s how it’s done: pour Tide detergent into the machine,

tie the laces at the top with the tongue open, and start the

regular cycle on hot. My mom informed me that some people

take out their laces and wash them separately while using

this method — but since my laces were not the part of the

shoe that smelled, we left mine tied. Next, stuff them with

dryer sheets, wrap them with a towel and put them in the

dryer. Keep in mind that it will sound like your dryer is

falling apart. It (most likely) isn’t. Once we got my sneakers

out of the dryer, they smelled and looked new. I would

recommend this method to anyone who has the time and

doesn’t mind the noise.

The Quick Fix

What: Dry Shampoo

Where: Your dresser

Price: $3.00

I’ll admit that this is a secret trick I’ve used in the past

and I honestly never knew it was a thing other fitness junkies

did until recently. I discovered it one day when I was

about to go on a date and could smell my sneakers wearing

them… standing up. (Give me a break, I’m a health writer!)

The dry shampoo was the first thing I could find that had a

pleasant smell, and, as I leaned over to slip off my shoes and

spray it, I realized that its moisture wicking, smell-masking

design is the perfect quick fix for when you don’t have time

to spare. Granted, this is not a permanent fix, it likely won’t

last longer than a few hours, but I’d recommend it to mask

tennis shoe odor in a pinch.

So next time you’re scared to take off your shoes around

another living human being, remember these tips and try

them all out to see which method works best for you so that

you no longer have to live in fear. Pound that pavement and

be comfortably stylish in peace. *

[76] Alice May 2017

---

HEALTH & FOOD

What You

what you

Really

really need to know about expiration dates

Need to Know About

Expiration Dates

By Caroline Wells

Cool air rushes onto your face as you

open the fridge. You’ve never been this

hungry in your entire life. You feel like

a lion about to attack. As you look and

push around, your heart begins to sink

because, as always, there’s nothing to

eat. It’s not that the fridge is empty

or that there’s nothing on the shelves.

It’s actually packed. Someone looking

over your shoulder might think you

were crazy for even suggesting there’s

nothing to eat, but a closer look at the

contents of the fridge reveals the sad,

dirty truth: All the food is expired or

expiring too soon for comfort. All of it

will be wasted. You aren’t sure how it

got to this point; in the grocery store

your intentions were to buy, cook and

eat everything you bought. But somehow,

all of it has expired so now you

can’t eat it … right?

Well, maybe, but also maybe not.

An “enjoy by” or “consume by” date

is actually more of a “highly suggested

day,” more than a date when a product

will actually go bad, causing food illness.

In an article by The National Resources

Defense Council, titled “Wasted,”

the author notes that pounds of

food are thrown away because the average

American misreads “sell by” and

“best by” dates.

“‘Use by’ and ‘best by’ dates, commonly

found on both perishable and

nonperishable products, are manufacturer

suggestions for peak quality.

They do not indicate food safety, as is

commonly believed, nor are they regulated,”

the article stated.

If food is kept in an airtight, shallow

container in the refrigerator, you

might be able to consume it a few days

after the best by date. Unfortunately,

microbial growth is not stopped by

refrigeration or freezing, it is merely

slowed. So if there is green mold growing

in your Greek yogurt, it’s time to

throw it away and buy a smaller container

next time.

Some foods that are usually safe to

consume after the expiration date include:

canned goods, cereal, frozen

foods, cookies, chips, crackers, bread

without visible mold and dry pasta.

These foods will generally be okay to

consume past the expiration date, but

always use your senses. If it looks or

smells terrible, it’s time to chunk it.

Some trickier foods that can be consumed

after the expiration date involve

a small test to make sure they are safe

to eat. Eggs are usually fine to eat and

cook, but to test put them in a bowl

of water. If it sinks, it is still safe to

eat. If it floats, you can throw it out.

Hard cheeses like Parmesan and cheddar

are also fine, even if they have a

little mold growing on them. Carefully

cut off all of the mold before consumption

and the remaining cheese will

be edible.

Most of the time, produce is hard to

buy because it must be used so quickly

after purchase. Salad mixes can be

difficult to use before the stated expiration

date, but they are usually fine to

eat a few days after. Wilted leaves are

no big deal. If the leaves are soggy and

slimy though, pitch them. As for your

meats, freezing them is the smartest

way to preserve them. Cooking and

consuming raw meat that has been sitting

in your fridge for longer than four

days is not safe, but freezing/re-thawing

meat can extend the shelf life for a

few months.

“If it looks or smells

terrible, it’s time to

chunk it.”

Although expiration dates can sometimes

be up to interpretation, always be

smart with your choices when deciding

to consume something past the printed

best by date. So next time it’s midnight

and you’re rummaging through

the fridge for a late-night snack, take

a closer look at the packaging before

you ditch your attempts and drive

to McDonald’s. *

Alice May 2017 [77]

---

ENTERTAINMENT

So You’ve Never Be

Our Guide To Alabama’s Biggest

By Ellen Johnson

Florence Welch, one of the U.K.’s most acclaimed artists

of recent years, hails from South London. Florence + The

Machine is ranked 270th (an impressive number) in the

world for number of monthly listeners on Spotify. Her uplifting

anthem “Dog Days Are Over” was covered on the TV

show Glee. Her songs are a melancholy melting of pop and

soul sounds, the farthest thing from country music. Why,

then, was she singing on an Alabama beach in May 2016?

She was a headliner at Hangout Music Festival in Gulf

Shores, Alabama — that’s why. Under the moonlight, Ms.

Welch sang “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” adjacent

to the blue, big, beautiful ocean, bringing the 2016 festival

to a close. Hundreds of thousands of people have made the

musical pilgrimage to Hangout since the festival’s first year

in 2010. Since then, the artist chops have risen to a level

of almost outrageously cool: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie

Wonder, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Kendrick Lamar,

OutKast and Kings of Leon are just a few of the artists and

bands who’ve played Hangout over the years. Still can’t believe

this all happens right here in Alabama? It gets better.

This year’s headliners are Frank Ocean, Twenty One Pilots,

Mumford & Sons and Chance the Rapper. WHAT. You

read right. Around 40,000 people will flock to Gulf Shores

beaches again this year for a slammed lineup chock full of

music’s biggest names and the best of indie’s up-and-coming.

If you’re one of the ones lucky enough to trudge the

same sands as Frank Ocean and warm yourself under the

same sun as Mumford & Sons’ banjos, make sure you make

the most of your experience.

Here’s your Hangout quick guide; you won’t want to miss

a thing.

[78] Alice May 2017

1. Don’t fasten that wristband

until it’s where it belongs —

on your wrist

The Hangout wristbands, which are

your only means of entrance to the festival

everyday, will arrive in your mailbox

a few weeks before you make your

way to Gulf Shores. You’re going to be

so gleeful at the thought of dancing by

the waves to your favorite Head and

the Heart song that you’ll want to rip

that sucker out and play with it. Don’t.

Once you tighten the wristband, it cannot

be loosened and it won’t fit on your

wrist. That means no Head and the

Heart for you. So don’t tamper with

the wristband until you’re so close to

the sea you can smell the salt in the air.

2. Hydrate so you

don’t die-drate

You are allowed to bring an empty

water bottle up to two liters in size to

the festival. There are water stations

everywhere you go on festival grounds,

so you’ll be able to fill up your favorite

Camelbak or Nalgene and hydrate

yourself all the daylong. This is definitely

your best move — you won’t

have time to enjoy the music if you’re

too weak to walk.

3. You should eat, too

No outside food or beverages are al-

---

en to Hangout:

Music Event of the Year

lowed inside the gates. However the

food inside the festival, while pricey,

is delicious and satisfying. Anything

you could get to eat at a shopping mall

is available: pizza, Mexican food, Chinese

food, sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.

It might cost a little extra, but you’ll

thank yourself later when the only

sounds you hear are sweet musical

notes, and not the rumblings of your

stomach.

4. Get there early

Once the schedule is released, you’ll

realize that the bigger acts won’t start

until later in the day or evening. But

you, dear knave festivalgoer, have no

time to waste with so much new music

to discover. Eat some breakfast and

then get to the gates when they open

at 11 a.m. Head straight to whatever

act seems the most interesting. You

never know when your new favorite

band could be performing on the next

stage over.

5. Keep an open mind

You probably paid close to $300 for

your general admission ticket (or more,

if you’re swinging for VIP options),

and while it’s not cheap, it’s a great

deal for the amount of music you’re going

to be hearing. Many would pay that

amount just to see one of the headlin-

ing artists, but you’ll get to hear ‘em

all. But don’t forget about the names

you haven’t heard of before — LANY,

Frances, Joseph and Cobi may sound

unfamiliar now, but if you head into

their performances with an open mind

(and open ears) you might pleasantly

surprised.

6. Dress the part

It’s hot out there, so you will be most

comfortable in light clothing. Swimsuits

are an obvious choice, but if you

want to cover up a bit more try for

athletic material shorts, a lightweight

cover-up or a rash guard or surf shirt.

Funkier options include overalls and

anything tie-dye. Wear a comfortable,

sand-friendly shoe like Chacos or Sanuks

(back straps are helpful when

trudging from one stage to the next).

But your most important accessory is

sunscreen. Lather up several times a

day so you don’t get burned.

7. Stay close to the festival

If possible, you’ll want to find a condo

or house within walking distance

(say, around one mile away) of the

festival. You can leave throughout the

day and re-enter at any time with your

wristband, but it will be pretty hard to

sneak home for a bit if you’re staying a

bus ride away. There’s pretty much no

parking at the festival, so say goodbye

to your car for a few days. While many

condos do offer shuttles, you’ll thank

yourself if you stay close.

8. Embrace the fanny pack

Hands-free is the way to go when it

comes to festivals. A backpack will feel

too cumbersome, a purse too loose —

fanny packs are the sweet spot. Keep

your sunscreen, sunglasses and cash

in there for safekeeping.

9. Take it all in

You made it. You and 40,000 others

are all here together in this one place

for the same reason: to hear music. The

musicians are passionate about what

they’re doing, and hopefully you’re

passionate about what you’re hearing.

Take in each moment to realize what

you’re experiencing because it’ll be

over before you know it. Appreciate the

magic that is live music. Remember

that one James Taylor concert in the

‘80s your parents always talk about?

Well, Chance the Rapper could be your

James Taylor. *

Alice May 2017 [79]

---

ENTERTAINMENT

By Serena Bailey

Hot summer days spent lounging by the pool are the perfect

time to catch up on some reading. The school year is busy,

and those over-before-you-know-it months leave little time

for indulging in a novel or fiery non-fiction work. With sunny

days ahead, take some time for yourself, escape reality and

choose one of these dreamy reads. Here’s Alice’s list of recent

and upcoming book releases that will hit the stands just in

time to complete your personal summer reading list.

If you like sci-fi adventure…

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey

As three astronauts train to be the first humans on Mars,

they spend 17 months in one of the most realistic simulations

ever. Always under observation, the pressure to remain calm

and in-control is high. As they struggle to work in increasingly

claustrophobic quarters and with each other, they realize that

life in space is no less complicated than life on Earth. But,

as the line between what is real and what isn’t begins to blur,

they each must confront their own personal struggles and

examine their longing for discovery.

If you want to up your nerd cred...

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

The Star Wars galaxy is more than what you see on the big

screen. Follow the story of one of the Empire’s most cunning

generals as he rapidly climbs the ranks of the Imperial Army.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, he

seeks to gain the attention of Emperor Palpatine and become

his most loyal and successful commander by taking down

smugglers, spies, pirates and rebels. However, Thrawn’s

skill on the battlefield doesn’t translate to politics, where

he struggles to navigate a potential alliance with those who

could make or break his ascendance through the ranks.

[80] Alice May 2017

---

If you want to get political...

This Fight is Our Fight: the Battle

to Save America’s Middle Class

by Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren has made a name for herself in Washington

as being a fiery and outspoken force to be reckoned with.

Looking back on her own middle class childhood in Oklahoma

and weaving in stories from American workers, the senator

from Massachusetts examines the history and current state

of America’s middle class. From how it was born, how it

grew, why it’s currently under attack and what can be done

to save it, Warren looks at how political leaders like Franklin

Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and current leaders from both

sides of the aisle have influenced the lives and well-being of

American workers.

If you’re the tech friend...

Startup: A Novel by Doree Shafrir

Shafrir’s debut novel follows three characters as their lives

intertwine in a Manhattan tech startup office. Mack McAllister

is the creator of a $600 million idea, the mindfulness app,

TakeOff, and he’s about to launch a new version that could

turn it into a $1 billion business. Katya Pasternack is a tech

journalist looking for a hard-hitting story that will make her

one of the biggest writers in the industry. Sabrina Choe Blum

is a jaded mother and writer trying to break back into the

industry, whose husband is also Katya’s boss. When a scandal

embroils TakeOff and the company goes viral for the wrong

reasons, these three become entangled in the mess. It’s up

Sabina and Katya to get to the bottom of it, and tell a story

that the men in their lives would prefer stay hidden.

If you want some more mystery...

Into the Water

by Paula Hawkins

After the success of her debut novel, The Girl on the Train,

Paula Hawkins returns with a new psychological thriller. A

single mother is found dead in the same river where a teenage

girl met a similar fate a few months before. She leaves behind

a lonely fifteen-year-old daughter, who is now left in the care

of her aunt, a woman who never wanted to return to this

town and who’s a stranger in the eyes of her niece. As the

investigation goes on, secrets about the town and the river

will be dredged up from below its seemingly calm surface.

Alice May 2017 [81]

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Take a Chance:

Streaming Services Rejuvenate the Music Industry

By Katie Huff

A 23-year-old from Chicago, filled

with the purest form of happiness and

endless love for his hometown, made

history in February. You may have

heard of him. Among his fans are Beyoncé,

Kanye West and Barack Obama.

His most recent album is heavily influenced

by gospel music and focuses on

the many “Blessings” he has received.

He is most often seen with the number

3 stitched on his baseball cap.

Chance the Rapper made history at

this year’s Grammy Awards with his

three wins; the number three is fairly

constant in Chance’s life. He won best

new artist, best rap album and best

rap performance. The album, Coloring

Book, was released solely on music

streaming services, making it the

first album to be nominated and win

a Grammy without actually selling a

single copy.

Chance’s win lays the groundwork

for immense change in the music industry.

The Grammys would never

have considered a stream-only album

in previous years, but as the music

industry landscape changes, award

shows must adapt.

Spotify has more than 50 million

paying users, Apple Music has over 20

million paying users and SoundCloud

has over 175 million monthly users. As

streaming services such as these become

more popular, the need to buy a

CD on iTunes or at Target becomes insignificant.

The many features of each

service allow listeners to experience

their favorite songs in two clicks from

any location.

[82] Alice May 2017

With the Spotify app, you can listen

to the xx’s most recent album

through your headphones as you sit on

the beach, walk to class or wait at the

DMV. The ease with which one can listen

to music with the introduction of

these streaming services has changed

the music industry forever.

Artists are perhaps those affected

most by the push towards streaming.

Bands just entering the music industry

greatly benefit from streaming

services. Music can be uploaded to

SoundCloud in less than a minute. Any

SoundCloud user is capable of uploading

their tracks to the streaming services

and the music is available to the

public in an instant. Every minute, 12

hours of music is uploaded to Sound-

Cloud. The artists use SoundCloud in

order to increase their followers and

acquire a fanbase. SoundCloud does

not pay license holders like Spotify, so

it functions as a resource for artists to

connect with followers.

The upload process for Spotify is

done through labels and distributors

to protect against licensing issues.

Spotify has partnerships with labels

and a large percentage of the streaming

service’s profits redistributed

amongst the labels. While many worry

that streaming services put the music

industry in danger, many labels are

actually benefitting from the change.

Illegal downloads are far less common

because streaming service users can

pay a small amount for an immense

catalogue of music at their fingertips,

or they can make use of the free

streaming offerings.

Most streaming services offer artists

the ability to view their analytics.

This allows an artist to see how users

are finding their music, where their

listeners are and the listeners’ demographics.

The ease of access to statistics

such as these is beneficial to artists

as they plan how to release their

music and where to tour. Small artists

without labels are able to receive information

that they may not be privy

to otherwise.

Streaming services give artists control

of their music and diminish the

ability of large record labels to undermine

the artist. Chance the Rapper is

not signed to a label and he does not

need to be. He is able to release his

music on streaming sites and forms a

fan base through these sites. Coloring

Book debuted at Number 8 on the Billboard

200 chart, so the business model

is working for Chance. His profits come

from touring and selling merchandise,

including that famous “3” hat.

Music streaming services have revived

the music industry. Users are

able to listen to any artist at any time.

Because of streaming services like

Spotify and SoundCloud, our culture

has a widened appreciation for music

and an increased participation in the

music industry. Those that felt excluded

from music in the past are now welcomed

with open arms into the large

music communities of Spotify, Sound-

Cloud, Apple Music and Tidal. Now,

artists like Chance the Rapper consistently

contribute to the immense sea of

music found online and provide users

with an easy escape. *

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Q&A with Hallie Tarpley

The Hows, Hijinks,

and Ha-Has of

Being a Female Comic

By Mia Blackman

For Hallie Tarpley, second grade

was more than an arena for reading

and learning multiplication — it was

her first comedy gig. She’s now a

junior at The University of Alabama

majoring in telecommunications

and film. She got her start telling

jokes to classmates before storytime,

but since she has blossomed into a

rollicking stand-up act, performing

on real stages instead of classroom

carpets. She’s a regular at Stand-Up

Tuscaloosa, her favorite corny joke

involves zebras and her ultimate life

goal is to shake Tina Fey’s hand. This

funny lady isn’t slowing her roll or her

punchlines anytime soon, and she’s

defining for herself what it means to

be funny, and what it means to be a

woman in the male-dominated world of

stand-up comedy. Alice sat down with

Tarpley to talk life, comedy and all

things laughs.

Alice: What got you started

into comedy?

Tarpley: It started mostly with

television. Just loving comedic

television and then when I was nine, I

was in second grade, I started telling

jokes to my class. I would get a little

segment before story time and I would

get to tell a joke to everyone on the

carpet. They would be mostly jokes I

heard from joke books or comic strips

or something like that but sometimes I

would try originals and they would not

go over well. Like I would try to write

my own jokes and they were so bad.

Alice: Is there a comedian you look

up to?

Tarpley: I like Ellen DeGeneres a

lot but she’s so clean though so I feel

like we don’t have the same style. I like

Jen Kirkman, Amy Schumer, Sasheer

Zamata, Liza Treyger, Jenny Slate.

I like a bit of everything. Louis C.K.

obviously. I like Anthony Jeselnik,

he’s crazy. You never know where

he’s going.

Alice: How would you describe your

comedic style?

Tarpley: That’s a toughie ‘cause I

don’t really know. I think I can describe

the differences between myself onstage

and off-stage. I’m like a little reckless

on stage. Last night I was hosting a

show and I used language that I don’t

really use in day to day life. So I think

it’s just like a freedom to be a character

who’s like a little bit bolder and a little

bit more interesting as a character but

scarier as a person on stage.

Alice: What would you be doing if

you weren’t a stand-up comedian?

Tarpley: Oh my gosh. Just a

loudmouth probably. I do think about

this. I think you divide comedians

into “you can be comedically minded”

or “you can be funny,” and great

comedians are both. And not to say I

fall anywhere specific on that spectrum

but just from what I observed being

around other comedians is some people

are comedically minded and, to me,

that just means they’re critical and

upset by a lot of things. Someone

that’s funny can make that criticism

something that is funny and sellable.

I think I would just be a loudmouth.

It would be strange. I don’t know… I’d

probably just stick to my babysitting

job or something [laughs].

Alice: Do you ever feel pressure to

talk about a certain subject because

you are a female comic?

Tarpley: Not a certain subject but

I feel the pressure to be that much

better because typically I’m the only

female in a show. I’ve occasionally

done all-women shows, which are very

exciting, but usually there’s maybe

one other female and so I get really

upset with myself or the other female

comedian if either one of us are below

top notch. For the male ones, I don’t

group them because there’s so many

of them. Especially the straight, white

male comedian. There’s a lot of them

so you don’t feel the pressure to uphold

the whole situation on your shoulders.

So I definitely feel pressure to be very

refined, very prepared and I fall short

all the time. I think at the end of the

Alice May 2017 [83]

---

day it will make me better; it does

make me better.

Alice: How did you become involved

with Stand-Up Tuscaloosa?

Tarpley: I started actually with

Goulash Comedy out of Birmingham.

I followed Goulash Comedy on

Instagram and I saw they were having

an open mic in November of 2015. I

didn’t want to tell anybody so I just

drove down in the dark of night. I

brought one of my friends and lied

to everyone else. I tried it for the

first time and I didn’t come back to

January 2016. In that early winter

I met several Tuscaloosa comedians

who came down to do Goulash and

they were like, “You know we have a

stand-up group in Tuscaloosa.” and I

was like “Whaaat?” So then I liked the

page, went to a show, went to an open

mic and the rest is history.

Alice: How do you develop your

comedic material?

Tarpley: I usually bring around my

book that I carry all the time. I have

four editions of this book. I’ll just write

down things that stick out to me like

“Oh! That’s funny!” and it’ll come to

me in a perfect punch. And then other

times it’s things that bother me and

I’ll articulate why they bother me and

communicate it to someone through

some type of an analogy. I think this

would be worse than someone finding

my diary because nothing makes sense

in it. It says, like, “Buffalo text, alcohol

question mark, proving not a baby.”

It’s just absolutely senseless. I’ll also

write all my set lists down and jokes

just so I can look back at them.

Alice: Are there some topics that

can get racy? Who do you think has

more leniency to talk about those

topics? Male comics or female comics?

Tarpley: I think female because I

think males have the ability socially

to examine a wide array of topics

but I think with women in general

there’s like a purity that you expect

and when they defy that expectation,

it’s automatically funny. When you

[84] Alice May 2017

have me at 5 feet 2 inches, and I come

on stage and say things bigger than

what my appearance would suggest,

then there’s automatically a disrupt

of expectations. If you take someone

like Jenny Slate — she looks so nice,

wholesome and girl-next-door-esque

and then she says all this stuff like,

“Whoa! We’re going there.” But when

Anthony Jeselnik does it, it’s like not

surprising because he looks sinister,

like a scary man. I think women have

a better opportunity to defy those

expectations but I think it’s harder for

a woman to be a clean comic.

Alice: Harder to be a clean comic…

so is your set list kind of racy?

Tarpley: I try to play it pretty

evenly. I think I could assemble a clean

set, but in a college town, me doing

a bunch of dad jokes, I don’t think it

would go over quite well.

Alice: What is your favorite show

that you have ever done?

Tarpley: There was a show, Fresh

Ground Comics in Birmingham, and it

was like a ten-minute set on a Friday

night and I was so nervous cause

my mom had invited a bunch of her

friends to come and there was also a

girl I babysat in the crowd. It was just

very scary to have these people I knew

professionally and my mom’s friends

there and then to go up on stage and

behave in a way I normally wouldn’t

around my parents’ friends, but it

actually went really well and it was a

huge relief.

Alice: What is the funniest thing

that’s happened to you recently?

Tarpley: I got called a psycho

in some bar. This woman started

screaming at me because I was dancing

too close to her. She was wearing a fur

vest and it was extremely scary. She

was, like, 40, too, and bleach blond

and she was like, “You are standing

too close.” And then she went on this

rampage and her husband had to carry

her out of there. It was really nuts.

Alice: What do you think is the

biggest misconception people have

about female comics?

Tarpley: That who they are on

stage is who they are in person. I think

you could apply that to comedians at

large but with women I think it’s a

harder line.

Alice: What are your future projects

and goals?

Tarpley: Stand-Up Tuscaloosa

recently started a new show at the

Wheelhouse Sports Pub on the fourth

Wednesday of every month and I’m the

host of that show. It’s open mic and

I think trying to connect that with a

student audience is my immediate goal

right now. I think other open mics are

great, but they’re just geared towards

a more older population of Tuscaloosa.

But I think there are so many students

who would as comedians and audience

members have a better time there.

Alice: What is your ultimate goal

in life?

Tarpley: I think I would love to

shake Tina Fey’s hand. I just want to

say hello. I think that’s my ultimate

goal.

Alice: What is your favorite

cheesy joke?

Tarpley: What’s black and white

and black and white and green all over?

Alice: A sick skunk… maybe?

Tarpley: Two zebras fighting over a

pickle! It’s so good. It’s so simple and it

takes you on a journey.

Alice: As a comedian, do you

surround yourself with funny people?

Tarpley: Ummm, no. Sort of.

Yes. One of my best friends is also a

comedian but we can only spend so

much time together, cause it’s, “Punch,

punch, punch! Joke, joke, joke!” And it

gets so shop-talky that we have to take

a break. I feel like I surround myself

with eccentric people that inspire

comedy more so than people that are

funny themselves.

Alice: To finish off, what is the best

piece of advice you have ever received?

Tarpley: My grandmother says

this and my mom repeats it: “Make a

decision and make it work.” *

---

ENTERTAINMENT

The Short List:

Five Short Films You Didn’t Know

You Should Be Watching

By Emilee Benos

Director and Star Jim Cummings in Thunder Road

When most people think of standouts

of the Oscars or Sundance, or movies

in general, short films don’t usually

make the list. A real shame, because

there are so many great short films out

there. Alice compiled a list of the five

best short films of the last year you

didn’t know you should be watching.

Some tell stories of dreamers, some

of grievers, and some of frustrated

lovers, but all are worth watching

(plus, their short run times make for a

quick watch).

Thunder Road

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at

the 2016 Sundance Festival, Thunder

Road tells the story of a man giving

a eulogy for his mother using Bruce

Springsteen lyrics. Director and star

Jim Cummings originally conceived

the idea when he was drunk and heard

Springsteen’s Thunder Road on the

radio. In just 12 minutes, Thunder

Road goes from awkward, to comical,

to heartbreaking and back again.

What is perhaps most noteworthy is

Cummings’ delivery of the whole thing

in one continuous take. Thunder Road

originally premiered on Vimeo in July,

and is still available to view.

Her Friend Adam

What director Ben Petrie calls

“16 minutes of romantic doom,” Her

Friend Adam tells the story of couple

Robert (Ben Petrie) and Liv (Grace

Glowicki), and Liv’s gay friend Adam.

When Liv gets home from work,

what starts as a casual exchange

evolves into a full-fledged argument

over Robert’s dislike and mistrust of

Adam. The actors deliver real, raw

performances — Glowicki won the

Short Film Special Jury Award For

Outstanding Performance at the 2016

Sundance Festival.

Food For Thought

Director Davide Gentile originally

developed Food For Thought for World

Health Day 2016. Food for Thought

takes place in a diner, eliciting a sense of

childhood nostalgia. The film explores

how bad food can be detrimental to

your health. The cinematography is

a standout feature of the film, and

Gentile uses color, sound and closeup

shots to deliver his message and

make the film engaging. Food for

Thought leaves viewers full with an

important message.

Embers and Dust

Embers and Dust takes place

during Orson Welles’s infamous 1938

radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.

Written and directed by Patrick

Biesemans, the film follows residents

of a small town hearing the broadcast

about a fictional alien invasion for the

first time, and explores the fears of

the 1930s. The film brilliantly blends

fiction and reality, and the lighting and

cinematography effectively transport

audiences to the scene.

Stutterer

Stutterer won an Oscar in 2016 for

Best Live Action Short Film. In the

film, director Benjamin Cleary and

producer Serena Armitage explore

the problems that arise with modern

romance. The film stars Matthew

Needham as Greenwood, a lonely man

with a stuttering problem who begins

an online relationship with a woman

named Ellie. Greenwood fears meeting

Ellie in person because of his stutter.

Stutterer is a sweet and poignant

shoutout to today’s society. *

Alice May 2017 [85]

---

ENTERTAINMENT

A Doc

A Day

Documentaries

to Get You Thinking

By Sarah Beth Bolin

So we can all agree that Netflix is

one of the most important creations of

the 21st century. Hours upon hours of

the most talked about, cherished TV

shows and movies are available at the

tip of our fingers. But what do we do

when we get tired of mindlessly bingewatching

the same shows over and over

again? What if we want something to

help us think? Documentaries are

there to pick up where sitcoms and

dramas leave off. There’s something

out there for everyone, no matter what

your interest is. Lucky for us, Netflix

is a gold mine for documentaries.

Here’s a few that are set to inform

and entertain.

Poverty, Inc.

As a society, everyone wants to

help each other. We see someone in

poverty on TV and our heartstrings

are tugged. Companies like TOMS

thrive on a philanthropic platform that

help justify buying a pair of shoes so

that we can help people in need. We

send billions of dollars in relief aid to

natural disasters each year. But what

happens when the disaster is over and

people start relying on aid instead of

producing themselves?

[86] Alice May 2017

Happy

What really makes us happy? Is

it money? Family? Friends? Power?

Happy explores the idea of happiness

and takes us on a journey to find a true

form of it. Follow the filmmakers across

the world from Louisiana to sunny

Brazil to the small island of Okinawa,

Japan as they search for the answer to

this question. This documentary will

surely make you smile.

Making a Murderer

Okay, so if you haven’t heard of Making

a Murderer, you might be living

under a rock. This viral Netflix sensation

premiered in 2015 and has rocked

the world of criminal justice. Follow

the story of Steven Avery, who was released

from prison after 18 years for

a crime he didn’t commit. After starting

an investigation about corruption

in the police force, he was arrested

and convicted of the murder of a local

woman. Avery and a team of lawyers

worked for almost 10 years to get the

conviction overturned, and the popularity

of the series helped raise awareness

for false convictions and corruption

in the police.

The Hunting Ground

According to statistics, one in five

women in American colleges and universities

are sexually assaulted. But

most of these crimes are not reported.

Why not? The Hunting Ground

explores rape culture on college campuses

and exposes the stigma against

reporting sexual assault in American

universities. It also captures the stories

of survivors and explains their

decision on whether they chose to report

their assault or not. It’s definitely

hard to watch, but it’s one of the

most eye-opening documentaries you’ll

ever see.

Planet Earth

This documentary is seriously nostalgic.

Everyone remembers middle

school science classes — whenever

teachers didn’t want to actually teach,

they would roll out the box TV and

turn on Planet Earth. But these colorful

documentaries are still beautiful at

any age. The series explores so many

parts of the world, letting the viewer

experience places, people and animals

that they never would before. It’s a

great way to see the world without ever

actually leaving your couch. *

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Illustration by Shel Silverstein

POETRY

for People Who

Don’t “Get” Poetry

By Kirby Tifverman

Reading poetry for pleasure can seem like a daunting

task for even the most avid lover of prose. However,

good poetry has the power to resonate like no other

works can — sometimes a compilation of figurative language

can ring far more true than our favorite novel.

If you’ve been dying to dive into poetry, but you don’t

know where to start, here are the best poetry books to

read if you’ve never read poetry before.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein, acclaimed author of The Giving

Tree, wrote multiple volumes of poetry for children

throughout his life. He was a favorite childhood author

for many before they could fully grasp the life lessons

behind his silly words. Like all of the best children’s

fiction, the poems in Where the Sidewalk Ends are just

as enjoyable and authentically touching when re-read

as an adult.

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur wrote and self-published this #1 New York

Times bestseller in 2014. Milk and Honey is a collection

of poetry that weaves beautifully through four sections,

highlighting the reality of being a young woman. A story

of love and loss, joy and pain, any reader can relate

to this tale of the ups and downs — the milk and honey

— of life.

Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

A story of love lost and found again, Love & Misadventure

will strike a millennial nerve while navigating

the 2017 tumultuous dating scene. Pick this one up if

you’ve recently been dumped or just need your faith in

love restored.

The Complete Poetry

of Edgar Allan Poe (Signet Classics)

by Edgar Allan Poe

Before you dismiss this one for conjuring memories of

high school AP Lit, consider this: Poe was basically the

originator of both the crime and horror genres. Instead

of binge watching a Criminal Minds marathon, pick up

The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Like his famed

short stories, many of the selections are guaranteed to

make a chill run down your spine.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

A constant page-turner, Crank is the story of a young

girl and her terrifying personal demon. Crank, the

street name for crystal meth, haunts this story’s protagonist,

Kristina. As the monstrous drug infiltrates

Kristina’s relationships, life and personality, you’ll realize

just how thrilling poetry can be. *

Alice May 2017 [87]

---

ENTERTAINMENT

By Ellen Johnson

Sometimes teenagers and people in

their 20s need time to figure things out,

learn about themselves and discover

their world. But most don’t take that

path of self discovery after making an

album for Columbia Records. Charlotte

OC (given name Charlotte O’Connor)

is a different story. The British singersongwriter

made her debut album for

Columbia as a teenager in 2011, and

then temporarily stopped making

music to work a stint in her mother’s

hair salon. In 2013, she was back with

her EP, Strange, and a newfound fire in

her music. Her latest album, Careless

People, was released in March of this

year, and with comparisons to female

powerhouses like Sia and Lana Del

Rey, she’s one to watch in 2017. Alice

chatted with Charlotte about life,

influences and making music even in the

darkest hours.

Did you always know you wanted

to make music?

Charlotte: When I was 16 years old

I started playing guitar...I just had

the feeling, just incredible. It was a

really nice feeling and that’s when

I got the feeling I could do it. And

when I started writing that’s when I

got better and that’s when I realized I

[88] Alice May 2017

wanted to create something as a singer.

It’s another outlet for you in music

and It’s about creating. That’s the

moment when I realized I wanted to do

this forever.

You made an album for Columbia,

but it didn’t work out, and you

took a few years and worked in

your mom’s salon. How did this

experience shape you as an artist

and as a person?

Charlotte: I was so young. I wasn’t quite

proud of what I had done looking back

to it now. It’s not necessarily where my

head’s at. I think when I took two years

out I was grateful. I think I was losing

myself a little bit. I kept my head down

and tried to figure out what I wanted to

do and do all the stuff I was missing out

on doing when I was making a record.

When you’re that young and doing it it

kind of feels like you’re doing a chore,

and I think you need to take yourself

out of it to get back again and see. I

think being in music is fueled by being

hungry for it. If that hunger’s not there,

you’re not moving along.

Can you tell me about the

inspirations behind the new album

and how your hometown influenced

your music?

Charlotte: I’m from Manchester in a

town called Blackburn. It’s quite a

small industrial town. I grew up there.

It was boring in a way, but there’s also

this kind of folklore there — ghosts and

witches. [In my music] it’s not quite

home, but the idea of home and the

warmth to it. But there’s also a little bit

of coldness and a bit of quite majestic

about them and quite otherworldly about

them, which is how I see Blackburn: as

a warm place of my home, my parent’s

home. But there’s also this coldness of

being in a Northern town but also this

magical feel to it. I wanted my music to

be like that. I wanted it to feel like that.

Can you tell us about the songs

“Darkest Hour” and “Medicine Man”?

Charlotte: What I was going through,

being in a toxic relationship, I wrote

that song as a way for me to get my head

around it and for me to realize how I

felt about that situation. It was about

me evaluating it. It’s almost like a little

bit of a prayer. When things get really

bad you always kind of ask for help from

something or somewhere. “Medicine

Man” is about love. It’s about that

feeling of love for the first time. Love

is like medicine in a way. It’s somebody

there making it a little bit better.

---

You’ve been compared to artists

such as Sia and Lana Del Rey. How

do you feel about that?

Charlotte: I appreciate both of those

artists. I think that Lana really carved

the way for artists like myself wanting

to make pop. It’s a gateway for artists

like myself.

Who are your musical influences?

Charlotte: I’m always really inspired

by Aretha Franklin. I was watching

the Muscle Shoals movie and it’s super

interesting that she couldn’t find who

she was in the beginning. Nobody really

knew what to do with her and then all

of a sudden it was just her. With great

artists, you’re not easy to be placed. It

takes time to find. She’s always been

one of my favorite, if not my favorite,

female vocalist. I also liked Freddie

Mercury a lot when I was younger.

What music are you really into right

now/what’s the best album you’ve

heard lately?

Charlotte: I listened to the new Childish

Gambino album and I really liked that.

The Sampha album is amazing. The xx

album, the new one, is incredible.

Describe your songwriting process.

Charlotte: I kind of like making the

piano first and putting the melody on

top of it. It kind of merges together. I

like doing it at the same time. I don’t

usually go in with lyrics first. I usually

write the lyrics after the structure.

Do you have a favorite song to

perform?

Charlotte: I like performing “Medicine

Man.” It’s a lot of fun It’s like the sweet

spot in my voice so it’s really nice to

sing. Another called “Running Back

to You.” I completely lose myself in

that song.

What do you enjoy most about

playing live?

Charlotte: The fact that I’m not really

hiding behind anything. And it’s that

one moment where I can do that and

it just feels like I’m being my most

magnified self and there’s nothing I can

really do about it. And there’s nothing

really anybody else can do about it,

because I’ve got the microphone. It’s

kind of like a power to it. It’s like the

feeling when you were a kid, like being

a child again. The only way I can really

explain it. You don’t completely lose

yourself in it; you’re really present.

If you could tell your 16-year-old

self anything what would you tell

her now?

Charlotte: I’d tell her to stop messing

with her hair and stop back combing it.

I’d tell myself to stop wearing so much

makeup because I probably looked like

a drag queen or someone a lot older

looking. I’d also tell myself to drink lots

of water. And I’d tell myself to not try

and do things to please others, like it’s

about what makes you is you being you.

Somebody once said to me, “Be yourself

because everybody else is taken,” and I

think that’s just like quite an important

thing to remember. It’s the most

attractive thing when you see someone

truly being themselves. It takes time,

but once you find it, it’s easy. *

Alice May 2017 [89]