In the Survival Skills for Badass Bitches series, writer Melanie LaForce walks you through everything you need to know to survive the outdoors, tough situations, and/or the forthcoming apocalypse.  This summer I watched a helicopter, outfitted with a tank and snorkel, suck water out of Lake Gregory to fight a wildfire less than a half mile away. This fire had started in a house in a crowded neighborhood, and made “a run up the mountain,” as they say. Because of the immediate danger to human lives, this particular...

There’s a lot of talk these days about defunding the police. But what’s being done to reform criminal justice in the stages of the incarceration process after arrest and prosecution?  One organization trying to answer that question is the Parole Preparation Project (paroleprepny.org). Parole Prep provides advocacy and volunteer support to currently and formerly incarcerated people serving life sentences in New York State, while seeking to transform the parole release process. As attorney Michelle Lewin, 33, the group’s executive director explains, “What we do is essentially train...

Back before COVID-19 hit, we never could have imagined that masks would become a must, but here we are. And while we’re grateful for this protective accessory, it’s got an unwelcome side effect: maskne. As if pandemic stress wasn’t triggering enough, the mask-induced sweat, bacteria, and humidity of your breath can provoke breakouts. We asked Jennifer Black, an L.A.-based licensed acupuncturist and board-certified herbalist who specializes in dermatology, how to deal. Here are her tips plus some of her favorite prods. –ILANA KAPLAN Wash your face.Black...

Winter weather and a lack of outdoor space don't have to dash your gardening dreams. It turns out, you can harvest kale right in your living room, or carrots in your kitchen. Indoor gardening is a fun, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way to grow your own food. According to Jasmine Jefferson, the founder of Black Girls With Gardens (blackgirlswithgardens.com)—a collective that provides education, support, inspiration, and representation to Black women and women of color through gardening—there are other benefits, too. “It’s really nourishing physically, spiritually, and...

We are pleased to introduce our new columnist Sarah Potter, a professional witch, tarot reader, and practitioner of color magic. Sarah will be providing her Tarotscopes for the season in each issue of BUST. Here are her pulls for December, January, and February 2021. Sagittarius:Page of Swords(Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)Stand up for what you believe in and speak up, Sagittarius! You have an abundance of energy and a desire to channel it towards the greater good of humanity. Put your confidence and enthusiasm for justice...

Learning to feel at home in your body is a lot of work. I’m a body confidence advocate now, and still on a recovery journey after struggling with body image issues and bulimia for nearly a decade. I didn’t think I was good enough to show up as I was. But I am, and so are you. Here are my tips for how to ditch shame.  1. No more diets. Diets take away your freedom and make enjoying food feel like rebellion instead of pleasure. 2. Unfollow #bodygoals....

Aaaaaaaannnndd in the blink of an eye, 2021 is coming to a close. Thank god. This year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least. If your resolution from this past year never came to fruition, you're not to blame. Still, when considering potential methods of self-improvement to tackle in 2022, it’s crucial to be kind to yourself. A New Year’s resolution is supposed to be a goal that can be worked towards throughout the incoming year for the sake of putting...

Crepes are the world-class cousin of the basic breakfast pancake; drench them in warm boozy caramel sauce and hearty, flame-kissed seasonal fruit, and suddenly you have an elegant (and dramatic!), easy-to-customize dessert that will be the epic finale to any fancy meal or romantic dinner. Dessert Crepes with Flaming Fruit(Makes 4 generous servings, at 2 crepes & fruit each) What You'll Need : Vegan Crepes 1 3/4 cups plain soy, oat, or almond milk 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. cornstarch  1 Tbsp. sugar ¼ tsp. salt Non-stick cooking spray or softened vegan butter...

Due to environmental concerns, I’ve been a vegetarian for the past decade. Now that I’m responsible for my own food shopping and meal preparation at school, I’ve been taking steps towards going completely plant-based. Or, at least, consuming more plant-based foods. Fortunately, one of my roommates this year is already vegan, so I was in an environment conducive torward this kind of dietary shift. Here are some tips I’ve learned for going vegan without too much stress or breaking the bank. Don’t worry -- this isn’t...

“So you lied to me,” my partner said with an uncommon tinge of anger. The ride to the grocery store seemed as good a time as any to admit I’d been secretly smoking, despite my out-loud resolve five days prior to stop: I was sick, and I needed to prove to myself I could do it. I needed to go thirty days without weed. We didn’t speak for the rest of the car ride, and parted ways under the fluorescent lights of the produce section. Twenty...