Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Kevin Aeh, Refinery29

If you hit the snooze button at least a dozen times before crawling out of bed, you're probably not a morning person. But, admit it: You wouldn't mind starting the day with a little spring in your step - without having to employ the help of a Trenta coffee. And, sure, getting up and at 'em makes you more productive, but it may boost your mood as well. Last year, a study conducted by the University of Toronto suggested that morning people tend to be happier than night owls.

RELATED: How To Get A Good Night's Sleep EVERY Night!

So, how do you become a morning person - especially if getting out of bed feels like a chore? That's the question we asked a panel of experts, who responded with some surprising tips that have us actually looking forward to sunrise. Say goodbye to groggy wake-up calls and hello to brighter days. Your new life as a morning glory starts...now.

More from Refinery29:

9 Magical Superfoods You've Never Heard Of

5 Simple Brain Tricks

By Connie Wang, Refinery29

It starts innocently enough: You feel like you need more clothes - oh, and accessories, books, gadgets, and doodads - than you expected for your trip. Next thing you know, you're dusting off that jumbo suitcase from underneath your bed for your weekend trip, checking your 50-pound suitcase at the airport, losing your luggage, and having to do the weekend with one outfit.

RELATED: How To Find The Right Bathing Suit For Your Body

If it's happened to you once, it's probably enough to scare you into the carry-on club for the rest of your air-travel life - no matter if you're going on a weekend getaway or a multi-week extravaganza. And you're not alone. We've been there...several times and, as a result, have become pro-packers. Ahead, we reveal our space-saving tips for doing it carry-on style, every time.

More from Refinery29:

Our Editors' Travel Tips (& Packing Lists!)

10 Style Tricks For Perfect Summer Days

1 Piece, 3 Ways: Your Striped Shirt Gets A

By Lauren Caruso, Refinery29

Everything is so much easier in the summer (hello, tousled hair!). But, with warm weather's effortless insouciance comes a trade off: melting. No, we're not talking about that leather pencil skirt that you should have saved for an overcast day, but rather, your eye makeup.

RELATED: Stamp It Out: A Fool-Proof Cat Eye Trick

No matter how precise we are in front of the mirror on a humid morning (they're coming!), we always seem to get to work with some seriously smudged eye makeup - well beyond the point of a casually undone smoky eye and more like "rabid raccoon on a bender." Not a good look.

Let's face it: Not any old waterproof liner will do the trick. That's why we're bringing you eight of our go-to picks - we're talking everything from a lilac-hued cream that's perfect for green-eyed lasses to a cat-eye-ready, black-as-night liquid liner - that won't just make your eyes pop, but will stay in place all day long. Now, all you have left to do is

By Liz Black, Refinery29

When I wrote about Gabi Gregg's capsule collection for swimsuitsforall just a couple weeks ago, I honestly was not expecting the level of ire that came with using the term "Fatkini," a term coined by Gregg herself.

You see, I'm fat. You can call me plus-size, curvy, voluptuous, or full-figured, and they're all accurate descriptions of my body shape. And so is fat. That word once had a huge negative connotation behind it to me, and I've shed tears over being called "fat," so I can understand the anguish that can come with such a tiny word. But I have embraced my body, my weight, my size. I'm active and I eat a plant-based diet; I know I'm healthy, and no amount of pounds is going to tell me otherwise. This is my body, and I accept it as such. So, I no longer view "fat" as an insult - to me, it's become more of a descriptor word (like skinny, tall, short), and nothing more. But not everyone views "fat" the same way.

The most vocal of our readers jumped to the

By Annie Georgia Greenberg, Refinery29

So, the goose has landed - or, should we say, Prince Harry has officially arrived on American soil. And though he may have started his patriotic tour in the nation's capitol, he'll be making his way to Manhattan any time now. Naturally, we've taken it upon ourselves to roll out the royal red carpet in his honor (or at least a hot dog stand or two) and put together a must-see hit list with everything from burlesque to burgers.

RELATED: Oops! Did Kate Middleton Just Spill Big Details On The Royal Baby?
RELATED: Kate Middleton Finally Debuts Her Baby Bump!

Here's where we think Prince H should let his signature rust-colored hair down and cut a rug (or more). Welcome, ole' chap! Enjoy our beautiful metropolis, and remember, you can always call on us if you get stuck on where to go (or find yourself in any sort of partially-nude legal trouble).

1. Morgan Memorial Hall of Gems at the American Museum of Natural History
We know, we know, a bit of an

By Megan McIntyre, Refinery29

Listen, we get that the artful application of the perfect cat-eye, or the mastery of an intricate braiding technique are accomplishments to take pride in, but sometimes we just don't have the energy to put that kind of effort into our daily routines.

Over the years, we've picked up some pretty great time-saving tips - line your inner rims with a nude eye pencil to make your eyes pop, spray dry shampoo on your roots to hide unwashed strands - but our usual go-tos were starting to feel a bit "been there, done that." Time to call in the pros.

RELATED: Ginnifer Goodwin's Secret to Great Skin is Perfect for Lazy Ladies!

We tracked down 11 of the most creative and inventive minds in the beauty biz and coerced them into divulging their top-secret beauty cheats. These are the insider tricks that they use backstage and on their celebrity clients, when time is short and the stakes are high. And, every single one is a shortcut to a more gorgeous you, no tricky

By Tara Rasmus, Refinery29

Well, this is a hairy situation. Not-for-profit organization Locks of Love (LoL) is under fire as Nonprofit Investor (NPI) reports that the charity has over $6 million worth of donations that are presently unaccounted for, based on information reported by Locks of Love staffers.

RELATED: The Best New Shampoos For Your Hair Type

Locks of Love collects hair from donors, then turns the hair into wigs for children with alopecia. But, according to NPI, the numbers don't add up. NPI is calling for the charity to publicly disclose the amount of donations it receives each year, along with information on exactly how each donation is used. To give people an idea of its findings, NPI has created a 10-page report (and, for a bite-size tastes, an infographic) that illustrates the numbers behind LoL's current operations.

We'll see how this situation develops, especially if NPI's Reddit chat takes off. In the meantime, we can all take a lesson from NPI's advice to the

By Connie Wang, Refinery29

One of the best things about the summer is also one of the worst things about dressing for it: spontaneity. Friends call you up while you're at brunch with the beau, asking if you're interested in heading on an impromptu road trip? Of course you're going. Get a text message while you're at work inviting you to a last-minute rooftop shindig that evening?

RELATED: Senate Passes Online Shopping Tax

You're there! But all those calendar switch-ups make dressing for the day slightly problematic. What's cute-yet-comfy and casual for the a.m. but sophisticated enough for the p.m. - and makes you feel put-together despite how many kabobs you've had from the grill? The perfect summer dress, that's what. In that spirit, we've found 15 fun options that all ring in under $100. Check out your new go-to in the slideshow ahead.

Want even more R29? Get the latest news, tips, and can't-resist stories delivered straight to your newsfeed, in real time. Like us on