Welcome to Hindsight 2020, Refinery29's column reflecting on the women running for president and the lessons learned (or not!) from 2016.

Like pretty much every Democrat in America, I was dreading the first of two debate nights, each featuring a full roster of 10 candidates battling it out for the presidency. The format sounded messy, disorganized, and convoluted from the get-go, and most Americans probably couldn't even name two-thirds of the folks on the stage.

But then, Sen. Elizabeth Warren emerged as the welcome breath of fresh air she's been throughout her whole campaign, positioning herself as the star of the debate, just as many expected her to be. With her bold proposals and proclamations, she immediately distinguished herself from the pack — but you could also argue that the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party was the true "winner" on Wednesday night. In banding together on issues and refusing to battle each other directly, Warren and Julián Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, scored a victory for progressives, letting their policies shine through rather than giving in to Democratic drama.

The debate was Warren's to lose; she was the top poller by far among all of the candidates on stage (and is in third place overall behind former Veep Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders), and she’s been gaining momentum for months. Castro, after a very small bump of excitement at the start of his campaign, was in the middle of the pack and losing traction, finding himself adrift among a way-too-big pool of male candidates running with little name recognition. His goal was to stand out and make people walk away with an actual impression of him — and hope that it would translate into donors, press, and hype.

On both fronts, Warren and Castro delivered — and gave major visibility to the left wing of the party and progressive policies in the process. For proof, look no further than effusive praise from progressive tone-setter Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "I really do think this was a breakaway night," she told late-night host Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night. "I think Elizabeth Warren really distinguished herself, I think Julián Castro really distinguished himself. I think Cory Booker did a great job in talking about criminal justice."

I asked Julián Castro if he’d talked with or heard from any other candidates since last night. “Sen. Warren texted me saying congrats and you did a good job,” he said. #DemDebates pic.twitter.com/xHmnvDHE2B

— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) June 27, 2019

It’s important to mention that Warren and Castro weren’t necessarily competing against the cream of the crop. Let’s be real: It was hard at times to tell the mediocre white guys apart, and unlike the women, they talked over everyone the entire time. Warren and Castro distinguished themselves in part because they kept it respectful.

Early on in the debate, Castro was assertive and even combative with his opponents, but he pointedly steered completely clear of attacking all three women on the stage: Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Whether the reason was optics (he’s probably aware that people would go wild over a man interrupting a woman yet again) or policy (there were so many other fish to fry), it was a smart move that paid off dividends.

When it comes to policy, Warren and Castro were two of only a few candidates to directly mention abortion when talking about reproductive rights, with Castro going so far as to talk about the importance of reproductive justice and trans inclusion, earning huge applause and praise from advocates. Warren was one of only two candidates, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, to call for an end to private insurance, in addition to giving her explicit support for Medicare for All, once again to audience applause.

Additionally, Warren and Castro were seemingly the only two candidates on the stage to back what Vox called "the most radical immigration idea in the 2020 primary;" decriminalizing U.S.-Mexico border crossings without papers. One of Castro’s hallmark proposals is his extensive plan on immigration reform (which Warren supports), and he took fellow Texan Beto O’Rourke to task for his lack of immigration policy specifics in one of many skirmishes throughout the night. In doing so, Castro made a compelling case for why he is the stronger "immigration candidate," while O’Rourke proved he has trouble standing out against opponents who aren't Ted Cruz (which is kind of a low bar).

I didn’t watch the debates last night. But I can tell Castro did well based on how pundits and politicos are tweeting about his performance. And I can tell Warren did well based on how much bots and trolls are trolling about her. Being a woman is fun!

— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) June 27, 2019

Only time will tell whether Castro upped his momentum in the long term after this debate, whether Warren will continue her rise in the polls, and whether both can make waves when they make it to later rounds with the likes of frontrunner Joe Biden and progressive stalwart Bernie Sanders. As the pool narrows and there aren’t as many moderates and centrists to serve as a stark contrast, Castro and Warren may have no choice but to take on one another.

That said, for the first night of debating in a chaotic format among a way-too-crowded field, we got two candidates with much-needed progressive ideas owning a slate of indistinguishable moderates — and given that we’re still roughly 500 days away from Election Day, that’s good enough for me.

Lily Herman is a contributing editor at Refinery29 and the founder of political volunteer network Get Her Elected. Follow her on Twitter. The views expressed are her own.

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It’s the best and brightest month of the year. It's LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It’s time to hit a parade — break out the rainbow flag temporary tattoos, colorful garb, and, if you’re anything like me, multi-colored, eco-friendly glitter. In recent years, the LGBTQ+ population has made some serious strides worth celebrating. In 2015, the U.S. legalized same sex marriage, and this year Taiwan did the same. But no matter how far we’ve come, we still have a long way to go on both a national and global level. As it stands, 70 countries across continents criminalize same-sex sexual activity, as International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Association World reports.

With that said, there are plenty of places in the world that celebrate pride with parades where people can be who they are and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. This year, it's World Pride in New York City, and four million people are expected to come into the city for parades, performances, and other amazing events. World Pride commemorates the 50th anniversary of the protests at the Stonewall Inn. In June of 1969, patrons and employees at the Stonewall galvanized against the common police raids at LGBTQ+ friendly bars. On June 28, police attempted to arrest and badger people at Stonewall — including trans women of color. But they resisted. Four nights of riots ensued, Vox reports. A year later, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Umbrella Committee put on the first ever Pride March.

The tradition of marching has continued throughout the years, despite discrimination and backlash from governments around the world. This Sunday, June 30, millions will march for World Pride in New York City. But it's not the only important march that's happened this Pride Month. Around the world, there have already been important and inclusive parades this month. Here are just a few moments from Pride Parades across the globe.

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Name a piece of clothing more versatile than a pair of leggings — we'll wait. Far from being exclusively worn at the gym, the stretchy, body-hugging garment can be dressed up or down, making them a wardrobe essential for anyone who loves feeling peak comfy at all hours of the day. That said, we know that finding your perfect pair can take some time (and lots of uh, potentially see-through moments), so we're here to talk about the best leggings with your life in mind.

Speaking of perfect pairs, we've linked up some of Refinery29 's favorite leggings with every occasion on your calendar, fitness related or otherwise. (Raise your hand if you love to rock a pair of Outdoor Voices Springs while parked on the couch.) From your weekend grocery store run to barre class, Sunday brunch to a night out with your friends, these are the pairs of stretchy stalwarts to have in your arsenal. Including some tried-and-true brands — plus newcomers on the cusp of blowing up on Instagram — here are 2o stylish leggings for you to live in.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been in office for nearly seven years, but she remains virtually unknown to the general public. That has been a major challenge as she seeks the Democratic presidential nomination and runs against a crowded field of 24 candidates, many of whom have higher national profiles than her.

The first presidential primary debate on Wednesday was an opportunity for Gabbard to cut through the noise and introduce her platform to a nationwide audience. But out of the 10 candidates on the debate stage, Gabbard had the third-lowest speaking time at only 6.6 minutes, tied with former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, The Washington Post reported.

By comparison, the top three candidates with the most speaking time were Sen. Cory Booker at 10.9 minutes, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke at 10.3 minutes, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 9.3 minutes. This even led Gabbard's sister Vrindavan Gabbard to tweet on Tulsi's account, "It's clear who MSNBC wants to be president: Elizabeth Warren. They're giving her more time than all the other candidates combined. They aren't giving any time to Tulsi at all."

It's clear who MSNBC wants to be president: Elizabeth Warren. They're giving her more time than all the other candidates combined. They aren't giving any time to Tulsi at all. -V (Tulsi's sister)

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) June 27, 2019

Despite this setback, Gabbard was able to make a splash that can potentially help her presidential bid. According to Google Trends, she was the Democratic candidate most people were searching for, followed by Booker and Warren. (Maybe it was her sister who helped out.)

Map: before and after the #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/7y3iNoJR1N

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 27, 2019

So, what do you need to know about Gabbard? She served in the armed forces and was deployed to Iraq twice with the National Guard. After serving in the Hawaii state Legislature, she was elected to federal office in 2012, making history as the first Hindu and the first American Samoan in Congress. Gabbard was considered a progressive rising star, mostly because of her stances on the economy and the fact that she is a veteran who opposes U.S. military intervention efforts abroad. During the 2016 presidential election, she made news when she resigned as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in order to officially endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign.

However, Gabbard's star has dimmed in the last few years, mostly over issues such as her past anti-LGBTQ+ remarks (she's apologized and has since advocated for LGBTQ+ equality), her conservative stances on Islam, and her willingness to meet with and advocate for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a dictator who has carried out chemical attacks against his own people.

Gabbard launched her presidential bid in early January, but has not been able to break past the 1% average in national polls. Her platform is focused on addressing climate change, criminal justice reform, access to healthcare, and military-nonintervention. Time will tell whether this post-debate Google boost will earn her more attention in the long run, but one thing's for sure: We'll be keeping an eye on her sister's tweets.

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It’s clear that presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a badass. She served in the Iraq War, is a Major in the Army National Guard, is the first Hindu member of the U.S. Congress, and is an avid surfer. Her appearance during the first Democratic primary debate for the 2020 presidential election, also resulted in her being the most Googled candidate of the night. And perhaps her strong showing had something to do with her intense debate prep, which included a vigorous morning workout with her team.

Gabbard posted a video of the early morning sweat sesh on Twitter, where she can be seen doing mountain climbers, jumping jacks, and pikes before the debate. ABC News reported that many members of her campaign staff did the workout , too. They described it as a “team bootcamp.”

After sweating out the nerves, Gabbard gave her staff high fives and words of encouragement, ABC News reported. “Starting out this Wednesday morning, great workout,” she said in a campaign video, covered in sweat after HIIT in the humid, 90-degree Miami heat. “I know we’re running on low sleep, low fuel. Today’s gonna be a big day, an important day... All we’ve gotta do is continue to lead with our hearts and remember who we’re fighting for. Thank you very much.”

Gabbard isn't the only woman in politics known for "fitting it in." Think: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's workout routine.

Morning of first #DemocraticDebate, behind the scenes in Miami https://t.co/n6rAgZ1sH7 #DemDebate #TULSI2020 pic.twitter.com/vdqFzBsjXN

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) June 27, 2019

She finished her speech saying to her staff: “I want to say thank you because our team is unlike any other.” It’s definitely a different approach to prep for a debate with cardio — but it clearly paid off. Google Trends search for Gabbard spiked during the debate, and Vox reported that her shining moment occurred when she corrected Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan about the fact that it was al-Qaeda behind 9/11, and not the Taliban.

Maybe Ryan should consider joining Gabbard in her next pre-debate workout sesh.

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Anyone will tell you that new motherhood is a joyful experience — colored, of course, with bewilderment, anxiousness, and abject exhaustion. Feeding and clothing a newborn is no simple task — and you’re supposed to get yourself dressed, too? At a time when you’re getting by on so little sleep that you may qualify for insanity, and your body is changing its shape and size practically by the hour, assembling any kind of outfit becomes a Herculean task.

Now, we firmly believe that a new mom should wear whatever makes her feel the most comfortable, and we are in no way advocating that you should dress in some totally reinvented type of way after giving birth. However, here on the Shopping team, we’re students of fashion, and style is deeply connected to our sense of well-being. That’s just us. We have a feeling that if you’re reading this article, you’re in the same boat, and you might be looking for some insight on how to put yourself together during a time when it feels like you have very little energy, and very little control.

In order to figure this out, we went straight to the source: actual moms. We polled some R29ers — including our executive creative director, Piera Gelardi — and some of the most stylish fashion-industry mothers we know, grilling them on what they reached for in those first few chaotic months of motherhood. (Veterans of motherhood also filled us in on some of the pieces they still rely on years later.) Their suggestions ran the gamut from technical maternity gear (a mega-supportive, double-duty nursing/pumping bra) to the unexpectedly kid-friendly (an edgy, oversized button-down offering easy boob access) to the simply genius (a handbag insert that turns any tote into a super-compartmentalized diaper bag). The one thing all these picks have in common? They made these style-inclined new moms feel pretty good about themselves — and that's a tiny luxury everyone deserves.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

Today: a senior HR consulting manager living on a yearly combined income of $255,000 who spends some of her money this week on prenatal vitamins.

Occupation: Senior HR Consulting Manager
Industry: Technology
Age: 29
Location: Seattle, WA
My Salary: $155,000 + $30,000 bonus + $65,000 stock grant
My Husband's Salary: $70,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $4,806.16
Gender Identity: Woman

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: $2,500 (we pay a little extra toward the principal each month)
HOA: $100
Loans: $0
Cell Phone: $30 (subsidized through work)
Electricity: $150
Water: $150
Garbage: $50
Internet: $65
iCloud Storage: $2
Hulu: $12
Property Tax: $811 (we don't pay this monthly, but this is the monthly value)
Donations: $1,000 ($600/month to a school for young women in India, $400/month to a local homeless shelter. Typically give to other causes through stock or bonus proceeds, but those are more sporadic.)

Day One

6 a.m. — Alarm goes off and I am super groggy. I flew back to Seattle last night from a week-long business trip, and I caught a nasty head cold while I was there. My husband leaves me a bowl of peanut butter oatmeal and honey-ginger-lemon tea next to my nightstand while he packs our joint suitcase for our trip to San Francisco. Bless him. Apparently I picked out my clothing while on NyQuil last night, but it looks weather- and family-appropriate at least. We pack our dog into the car and drop him off to our doggy-sitter before driving to the airport.

7 a.m. — We leave our car in the long-term parking lot and hop on the shuttle to the airport with my in-laws, my sis-in-law, and her babies. Both of them are already crying, and we are just starting. Luckily there are six adults to take turns holding the babies, and they are so sweet it's worth it. I tip the shuttle driver $5 for helping with our bags, car seats, and strollers and off we go to the plane! $5

1:45 p.m. — Land in San Jose and head straight to Costco. We had food on our flight over — my in-laws generously paid for our flights and upgraded us all to first class. Sadly, breakfast on the plane was a not very satisfying egg-and-bacon sandwich, so I grab a few samples from Costco while we gas up the rental car and pick up gifts for the extended family we are visiting — two large bouquets of flowers and two bottles of wine. $65.38

4:30 p.m. — After driving around for a while to get a specific brand of milk for the babies, we finally arrive at the hotel and realize we are starving. I chug a bottle of water and take some DayQuil to head off this cold. I'm determined to not miss this family trip, so I rally and put on a swimsuit for some pool and sun time before dinner. I grab a quick and crazy-expensive plate of chips and guacamole for $18 and a $6 tip — sigh. At least both chips and guac seem to be freshly made. Consider getting a glass of frosé, but decide against it since it's another $18 (!?) and comes from a machine. $24

8 p.m. — Out to dinner at an Italian restaurant, and the babies are in meltdown mode from travel, car time, and no naps. As soon as we sit down, the toddler starts to scream, so the adults alternate taking him for walks around the street. Luckily the food (and drinks!) come quickly — I split a Caesar salad with my husband, and get the branzino with vegetables and steal bites of my husband's pasta. The branzino is great, but the Caesar salad has a bit too much anchovy for my taste. I also get a strawberry-basil cocktail, which is good to start, but I end up walking the toddler around before I can finish my drink. My in-laws grab the check before the babies have a full-blown meltdown.

8:30 p.m. — In order to soothe the toddler, we decide to stop by Happylemon for some bubble tea on our way to the car. I decide to do a split cup of an Oreo bubble tea, and they end up making us two full drinks! Score. $5.50 and tip of $1. $6.50

Daily Total: $100.88

Day Two

9 a.m. — Grab breakfast at the hotel before our full day of family events. I order a chai latte and huevos rancheros and share crème brûleé French toast with my husband. The food is delicious, but my tastebuds are messed up from the cold and the DayQuil, so I keep adding extra salsa. My in-laws put the breakfast on their room tab to make it simple. They are really generous with all of us, so we usually try to pick up at least one tab on these trips.

11 a.m. — We arrive at the family house for the birthday party with the flowers in tow. I spend time chatting with my husband's extended family, while my mother-in-law and the aunts pick up a variety of food from their favorite spots in Chinatown. We end up with a feast — shu mai, har gow, chow fun, bean curd with minced pork, garlic green beans, lychee ice cream, and key lime pie. I eat too much and start to feel groggy as the party continues. I sneak off to take another DayQuil and play with the kids until it kicks in and it's time to go to our second event.

6:30 p.m. — After visiting with some other family members, we decide to swing by In-N-Out for burgers. At this point the babies missed both naps today and are not happy sitting in their car seats, so we grab the food to go and each go back to our hotel rooms. My sister-in-law pays, and we take our animal-style cheeseburgers and animal-style fries back up to our room. I am tired and cranky from so much family time, and have to remind myself that we all like each other and this too shall pass. I only half believe it and go to bed after reading my Kindle for a few hours. I've been reading On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, but I'm having a hard time getting through this book compared to the last book I read, The Hate U Give.

Daily Total: $0

Day Three

9 a.m. — I wake up in a better mood after a good night's sleep. We decide to go outside the hotel for breakfast and end up in a cute brunch spot in San Jose with outdoor seating. They don't balk at the size of our group or the two kids, so again we take turns walking the toddlers to keep them entertained. I order a cold brew and a goat cheese, spinach, and bacon omelet with a side of fruit to share with the kiddos. It is surprisingly good for being so simple, as is the cold brew. I need to make my own cold brew this year — I finally have a French press and coffee grinder, so I at least have the means. I pick up the group's $107.30 tab and tip $27, since they waived the cost of one of our entrees. $134.30

1:45 p.m. — We arrive at the airport, and I grab a water bottle after having a coughing fit at the gate. I'm pretty sure my cold is no longer a cold and has morphed into some form of allergy/sinus infection hell, so I also hand out some Airborne vitamin tablets to my extended family in the hopes they will fend of the sickness. As we are boarding the plane, we encounter a very rude gate agent who scolds us for boarding late (we were trying to tire out the babies before getting on the plane, and we're not bringing bags on board). She is condescending to our party, and then does a complete behavioral change for the white male passenger who gets in line behind us. Encounters like these could be absolutely nothing, but as a POC there is always that nagging question of why we receive different treatment. I confirm the passenger behind us did not get the scolding we did and note the gate agent's name to send feedback to the airline. $4.34

5:45 p.m. — We finally land, get the airport shuttle, and make it back to our car. The flight did not go well with the kids, and I give my sister-in-law MAJOR kudos for her parenting skills and patience, but my husband is on edge after all the family time and dealing with screaming toddlers for several days straight. We pay for parking for both cars with a coupon ($55.02) and hurry back to the dog-sitter to pick up our dog. We pay $100, plus a bottle of wine for the two nights. $155.02

7:30 p.m. — I am on edge after the back-to-back travel, and our fridge is empty, so we decide to grab conveyor-belt sushi near our house for dinner. We grab a variety of plates — seared salmon, avocado rolls, spicy tuna rolls, and tofu rolls. My husband is leaving for his own business trip starting tomorrow, and we both complain about the recent travel and work and decide that next weekend we are going to veg out and do nothing. After dinner we cuddle with the dog and watch reruns of The Office while my husband packs his bag for the work trip. The dog is EXTREMELY suspicious of the suitcase and follows me around before jumping in bed. He is not allowed in there, but I am too tired to fight it and cede him the center of the bed before falling asleep. $37.90

Daily Total: $331.56

Day Four

5:50 a.m. — My alarm goes off, and my husband takes the dog for a walk. My head is throbbing, so I make a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and soy milk to coat my stomach before the allergy medicine and Advil take charge. I make my husband a latte, and we both get ready so I can drop him off at his office before he takes a Lyft for his flight with his coworkers. We chat about his trip and my OB-GYN appointment later in the day on the drive to his office.

8 a.m. — I swing by Starbucks and get a cold brew with sweet cream and a spinach feta wrap on my way to the office. Since I was traveling and on PTO last week, I am in back-to-back meetings before my doctor appointment, and I have a major meeting this afternoon to prepare for. I multitask during some technical calls in the morning, and my team can cover and pull together a few slides to ground my meeting this afternoon. $8.91

1:30 p.m. — I leave the office at 12:30 to get to my 1 p.m. OB-GYN appointment, only to find out it was actually scheduled for 1:30. I am annoyed with myself, since I left a meeting early to drive here, and I'm anxious for what the doctor is going to tell me today. I had two miscarriages last year, and after extensive testing, counseling, acupuncture, and self-reflection we took a year off from trying to conceive. It was absolutely critical for my mental health, and since I am in a healthier headspace we have just started trying again (though this was a "practice month" due to all the travel around ovulation). Last year I had discussed going on progesterone with my doctor, and I am disappointed that she does not recommend it and hands me some literature to read on the latest study. I pay my $25 copay and cry quietly in my car in the parking lot for a few minutes before driving back to the office. $25

4 p.m. — I make it back in time to print out my slides and meet with the EVP. I am pleased the meeting goes well, and he agrees with all of my recommendations. I love it when that happens! My mood has definitely improved since my appointment, and I finally text back and forth with my husband after his flight lands to talk about the doctor's recommendation and if I should go on progesterone. Since my stomach is now grumbling, I scrounge in the office kitchen and score some green tea, stale blueberry muffins, and the remnants of a fruit salad (e.g. watery cantaloupe). Leave the office at 5:30 to get home.

6:30 p.m. — I get home and take the dog for a long walk while listening to a podcast. I've been listening to White Lies and am disgusted but not surprised at the brokenness of the criminal justice system. I'm feeling pretty bummed by the time I head home, so I do a quick call to my bestie who lives across the country. We chat about work, my day, and the experience with the doctor. She points out that the doctor probably didn't think I was an idiot, since she printed out a research study article to share with me, filled with statistical detail. I appreciate this insight, since I left the appointment thinking my doctor (who I love!) thought I was someone who had WebMD'd a solution to my miscarriages. I heat up a frozen Trader Joe's chicken tikka masala and read the research study before opening up the laptop to prep for my meetings tomorrow. I finish work around 10 and read for 30 minutes before I shoot a quick text to the husband and fall asleep.

Daily Total: $33.91

Day Five

8:15 a.m. — I get up early to drive the dog to daycare. Since my husband usually drives him in, I realize I had the wrong address and waste a bunch of time driving around an anxious dog before getting to work. My dog has separation anxiety, and daycare twice a week is critical to keeping him socialized and tiring him out when I'm working. I get into the office late and decide to take an extra ten minutes to get a tall soy blonde latte and sous-vide egg bites. $9.90

1 p.m. — I attend a company-sponsored panel of LGBTQ+ employees talking about their experiences at our company. I love the company that I work for and our commitment to our values, but that doesn't mean we can't do better, as evidenced by the stories shared by our employees. I get kind of weepy hearing about their experiences and spend 30 minutes debriefing with my employee who attended with me. The event has a few sweet treats, but I want something savory for lunch, so I swing by our corporate deli and get a cup of chicken noodle soup for $5.45 and a tip of $1. $6.45

4:30 p.m. — I head out of the office early so I can go pick up the dog from daycare, drop him at home, and go pick up groceries from Trader Joe's. I grab a few bananas, corn, bell pepper, grape tomatoes, cauliflower gnocchi, kale & cashew pesto, ground beef, and shakshuka starter. After getting home, I make a huge batch of pesto cauliflower gnocchi, toss in some precooked chicken and tomatoes, and eat while I catch up on some work. I am leading a big project at the company, and we have run into technical issues the past month, hence the evening work and recent travel. I think we have a resolution path forward. $40.87

8:30 p.m. — I finish up work, scroll on Instagram, and read the news while I start watching Southern Charm from the beginning. I weirdly enjoy most Bravo shows while not actually liking any of the people, but this one feels like a true (and nice) escape from my West Coast lifestyle. I sip some candy cane green tea and eat half a banana before letting the dog out and getting in bed. My husband calls at 10:30, and we are both cranky that we didn't have a chance to talk all day. I am not my best self when I'm tired, and he cuts me some slack and agrees to chat before he gets to the airport and flies back tomorrow.

Daily Total: $57.22

Day Six

5 a.m. — I wake up early to take the dog for his walk and continue listening to the White Lies podcast. It is surprisingly warm and beautiful today, so I pause the podcast for part of the walk and try to be present, but find my fingers are itching to check my work email...so much for mindfulness. I make myself a Nespresso and add hot water to make an Americano. I prefer a latte, but our milk steamer is not working well. I grab a banana and hit the road.

7:20 a.m. — I get into the office early, since I arranged a breakfast spread for a few of my employees who have recently won some work awards. I ordered veggie and bacon breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, almond croissants, and a massive fruit platter, which I got to expense. I spend the first 30 minutes of work chatting with the team, and I am happy that our EVP decides to swing by and congratulate my team. I am thrilled that my team got the recognition for their hard work after several months of long nights and stressful work. My exec assistant helps set up and tear down the food, so I can make it to my meeting on time — she is the best! ($187.50 expensed)

1:30 p.m. — I grab my Trader Joe's tikka masala from the fridge and heat it up between meetings while I ignore the giant sheet cake in the kitchen. There is constantly food in our kitchen, and I usually will pass on the cake or sweets...unless I am hungry and waiting for my microwaved meal to heat up. I cut myself a small slice and finish it within the four minutes it takes for my food to heat up. No regrets!

4 p.m. — I leave early so I can get to my acupuncture appointment on time. I started acupuncture for fertility reasons, but honestly the stress relief and meditation is worth it on its own. I have a lovely chat with my acupuncturist about my basal body temperature chart (all over the place this month with my travel and cold), as well as the progesterone. She offers a different point of view on that, and I appreciate that she recommends a balance of both Western and Eastern medicine. We spend the last 15 minutes talking about my issues with the insurance company — my health insurance covers up to 25 visits a year with a $15 copay, but the insurance has been kicking back the recent visits, and no one can give either of us an explanation as to why. Currently there are five visits of $100 that have not been approved, so I make a note to follow up. I pay my $15 copay for today and $30 for the herbs she recommends and leave feeling lighter. $45

7 p.m. — I swing by the teriyaki place on my way home to pick up food, since my husband gets home tonight (!!!). I'm a little annoyed that my tofu teriyaki is more expensive than any of the meat options, but it is delicious and worth it. We open a bottle of wine and have a few glasses while catching up on travel, the doctor and acupuncture appointments, and some drama at his work. I should work tonight, but it's important to my mental health to spend time decompressing with him, and it's sweet how excited our dog is to see him. $39.62

10 p.m. — I realize I am almost out of prenatal vitamins, so I make an order at a trusted pharmacy online to get a three-month supply. My doctor advised me to start taking the vitamins before we get pregnant, and in return for daily nausea I have noticed my hair has grown like crazy — at least there is a bright side! I also sneak one last peek at work emails and reply to a few before logging off for the night. $89.11

Daily Total: $173.73

Day Seven

7:15 a.m. — My husband apparently fixed the milk steamer and makes me a "to-go" soy latte and peanut butter and banana oatmeal that I drink and eat once I get to the office. I send off a few emails before I get into my morning block of meetings. We have a team boating offsite this afternoon, so again my calendar is compressed in the morning.

11:45 a.m. — Finished with all of my meetings! There will be food on the boat this afternoon, so I swing by the grocery store to grab a bottle of white wine for our adventures. I drive over to the address on the meeting invite and realize this is a yacht club that probably has a dress code. Oops! Luckily no one says anything about my T-shirt and ripped white jeans or gives me any trouble as I find the boat for our cruise. $23.17

4:45 p.m. — The food spread is pretty epic, but sadly we did not bring enough wine — we run out almost immediately! A glass of wine, a Bud Light, and several hours later, I am very glad that I carpooled. It was great catching up with our broader team and spending time with people I don't interact with frequently, but I am feeling my energy drain quite a bit and know I need to veg out before I go out to trivia night with friends. Luckily we are all down to be quiet on the long drive back to the office, and I use the time to send out some emails and check on the status of some deliverables for my project. Finally get home 15 minutes before we need to leave for trivia...ugh.

9 p.m. — My husband drives us over to the Mexican restaurant for dinner with friends and trivia. My energy level is low, so I decide a house margarita might help (spoiler alert: it does not) and order carnitas tacos. I get a little bit competitive during trivia; luckily my husband knows my triggers and runs interference with our friends. We somehow end up winning second place in trivia and get $10 off our tab. It comes to $62.50 and we tip $12. I read in bed for 10 minutes before my Kindle drops on my face, and I am out for the night. $74.50

Daily Total: $97.67

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The 2020 presidential primary season is well underway. A grand total of 25 Democrats have thrown their hat in the ring in an attempt to beat President Donald Trump, which has led the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to whittle it down to 20 for the first debate. There is a total of 12 primary debates scheduled.

In many ways, the first Democratic primary debate is the first opportunity for the Democratic presidential hopefuls to make their pitch to voters. In such a crowded field, the main question they need to answer is: Why should voters pick you as the Democratic presidential nominee? It's a tough task, if you ask us. But that's something the DNC says it has taken into account.

"The DNC has taken unprecedented steps to ensure that this historically large field of candidates gets the opportunity to make their case on the debate stage to a wide audience," DNC women's media director Elizabeth Renda told Refinery29. "We committed to an inclusive, fair, and innovative approach for all aspects of the 2020 debates, and we're working hard to ensure that our candidates have a meaningful conversation on the debate stage. To make that a reality, we took historic steps, like requiring that all 12 DNC-sanctioned debates feature a diverse group of moderators and panelists that include women and people of color. We're confident that with the standards we've established, our candidates will have a conversation that addresses the concerns of working Americans, not a back-and-forth about hand size."

This can all seem overwhelming, so we're here to walk you through the process. Ahead, everything you need to know about the first presidential primary debate.

When is the first Democratic primary debate of 2019?

Candidates take the stage for the first Democratic primary debates on Wednesday, June 26, and Thursday, June 27, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL. The debates go from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on both nights.

Who are the Democratic candidates who qualified for the first presidential debate?

The DNC decided that candidates must have received campaign contributions from at least 65,000 individuals and hit the 1% threshold in three separate polls in order to qualify for the first debate.

The 20 candidates who made the cut are former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, Gov. Jay Inslee, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Tim Ryan, former Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Sen. Michael Bennet.

Who did not make the Democratic debate?

The four candidates who were left out of the first debate are Gov. Steve Bullock, Rep. Seth Moulton, Mayor Wayne Messam, and former Sen. Mike Gravel.

What is the Democratic debate lineup?

The candidates are split into two groups of 10 for each night.

Wednesday, June 26: Booker, Klobuchar, Warren, Gabbard, Ryan, Delaney, O'Rourke, Castro, de Blasio, and Inslee.

Thursday, June 27: Biden, Bennet, Gillibrand, Harris, Sanders, Buttigieg, Hickenlooper, Swalwell, Williamson, and Yang.

Who are the Democratic debate moderators?

As we exclusively reported before, the DNC is requiring for the first time that each debate includes at least one woman and one person of color as moderators. The five moderators for the first debate are Rachel Maddow, Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, Chuck Todd, and José Diaz-Balart.

According to NBC, the format is similar on both nights. Holt, Guthrie, and Diaz-Balart are moderating the first hour of each debate. In the second hour, Holt appears again with Todd and Maddow as co-moderators.

What will the debate topics be?

Commentators are pushing the moderators to ask tough questions on topics including immigration, #MeToo, and socialism. There's also a big push among activists and others to talk about the pressing issue of climate change.

According to a poll by Refinery29, 28% of our readers want climate change to be front-and-center in the debate, 19% care most about abortion and reproductive rights, 11% think the economy is most important, 11% care most about immigration, and 6% consider healthcare the most crucial issue. As far as candidates, our readers are most interested in hearing from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, at 55%, while 15% chose Sen. Kamala Harris and 15% chose Sen. Bernie Sanders as the candidate they most want to hear from.

How do I watch the Democratic debate tonight?

Click here for our primer on how to watch the Democratic debate tonight.

Who won the first Democratic debate last night?

According to many pundits, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Julián Castro made the strongest showing in the first Democratic debate on Wednesday night. "In banding together on issues and refusing to battle each other directly, Warren and Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, scored a victory for progressives, letting their policies shine through rather than giving in to Democratic drama," writes Refinery29 contributing editor Lily Herman.

Warren and Castro set a high bar for discussing immigration, reproductive rights, and more, earning effusive praise from progressive tone-setter Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

What is the Democratic debate schedule?

Here is when and where the upcoming primary debates are scheduled for.

Second Debate: Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI.

Third Debate: Thursday, September 12, and Friday, September 13. The location has not been disclosed yet.

Fourth Debate: October 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Fifth Debate: November 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Sixth Debate: December 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Seventh Debate: January 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Eighth Debate: January or February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Ninth Debate: February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

10th Debate: February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

11th Debate: March 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

12th Debate: April 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

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An Alabama grand jury charged Marshae Jones, 27, with manslaughter after another woman shot her during a dispute outside a retail store in Pleasant Grove, AL, in December, causing Jones to lose her 5-month-old fetus. On Wednesday, she was arrested and taken into custody, AL.com reported.

The fight was allegedly over the father of Jones’ unborn child, and police originally charged the shooter, Ebony Jemison, 23, for manslaughter. But the case against Jemison was dropped after the grand jury failed to indict her.

Jones’ indictment has sparked an outcry among reproductive rights activists against the treatment of women, particularly women of color, in a state that has very recently passed a law criminalizing abortion at any stage, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

“The state of Alabama has proven yet again that the moment a person becomes pregnant their sole responsibility is to produce a live, healthy baby and that it considers any action a pregnant person takes that might impede in that live birth to be a criminal act,’’ Amanda Reyes, president and executive director of The Yellowhammer Fund, an organization that helps provide women in Alabama with access and funding for abortion services, said in a statement provided to Refinery29.

“Today, Marshae Jones is being charged with manslaughter for being pregnant and getting shot while engaging in an altercation with a person who had a gun,” Reyes added. “Tomorrow, it will be another Black woman, maybe for having a drink while pregnant. And after that, another, for not obtaining adequate prenatal care.”

Officials had already begun blaming Jones for the death of her unborn child at the time of the shooting. “It was the mother of the child who initiated and continued the fight which resulted in the death of her own unborn baby,” Pleasant Grove police lieutenant Danny Reid said. “The investigation showed that the only true victim in this was the unborn baby.’’

Reid said the investigation also showed that Jemison was defending herself by shooting Jones. It doesn’t appear that Jones herself had a weapon. However, Reid argued that the fetus was “dependent on its mother to try and keep it from harm,” and that Jones “shouldn’t seek out unnecessary physical altercations.”

Reyes said Yellowhammer is committed to getting justice for Jones, as well as making sure she is released from jail on bond, assisted with legal representation.

Jones is being held on $50,000 bond at Jefferson County Jail.

"This is what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of color without means in a red state," tweeted Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “This is now.”

Today, Marshae Jones was indicted for homicide when someone shot her in the stomach while she was pregnant, ending her pregnancy. They said she "started it." The shooter went free. This what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of color without means in a red state. This is now.

— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) June 27, 2019

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Katie Sturino is having a busy summer. Between running her plus-size fashion blog @the12ishstyle, promoting her product line @megababe, and planning her dream wedding, she found time to add another title to her resume: designer. Working alongside the size experts at Stitch Fix, she created her very first 100% size-inclusive clothing line — and it retails for under $100.

The 21-piece collection, which ranges in sizes from 0 to 24 and XS to 3X, launches this week exclusively on StitchFix.com, the world's leading online personalized styling service. "Stitch Fix is a brand that about a year ago, I didn’t know much about," Sturino tells Refinery29. "But then I went to go visit their headquarters and was blown away by their expertise in fit and really how much they paid attention to the way that a curvy body differs from a straight size body. They had a whole team of people who were actually going into factories and educating on fit. It was so impressive and so different from anything that I’ve seen before."

It was important to Katie to collaborate with a brand that makes size inclusivity a part of their DNA. "I wanted to be able to get clothes out there that I could dress all my friends in. Really, I wanted to be able to say, 'Hey, you’re a size 8, you can wear this.' 'You’re a size 22 and you can wear this.' It was all about diversity, and as we go on in this fashion and sizing conversation, we’re going to see more full ranges of sizing instead of separate sections for different body types."

Refinery29 spoke with the designer and entrepreneur about everything from the modeling industry to her opinion on plus-size mannequins. Read on for more.

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No shade to iceberg lettuce, but most of us don’t salivate over our desk salads. Raw vegetables aren’t quite as seductive as, say, French fries. But in their defense, salads are low-lift, they don’t require that we spend our Sundays engaged in that thing called “meal prep,” and they’re vegetable-heavy, which the internet tells us is good for us.

That said, on occasion, we’d like for our lettuce-based lunches to come with a little more pizzazz. So, we’ve gone ahead and come up with five different ways to bring your salads to life without totally overturning your lunch routine. It’s like the culinary form of bedazzling. Ahead, see what inspires you — then go get stoked to pack tomorrow’s lunch.

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As much as we want the breezy connotations of "I'm going to the beach" to ring true, in reality the whole excursion is a Production. Whether you day-trip from city to coast or partake in a weekend share-house situation, these summertime excursions can go from chic straw hats and soft Turkish towels to forgotten sunscreen and third-degree burns real quick. To save you from collapsing under the weight of your (once again) overloaded tote, we streamlined a beach accessories packing guide to better serve you.

Get yourself closer to that effortless beachcomber vision by arriving adequately equipped with the comprehensive list ahead. We cover all the lounge to splash-around bases from folding chairs you can actually carry to durable bags that still look stylish, SPF goods that hold dual beauty power, sand and surf-safe fashion finds, water-resistant entertainment, and even some snack-packs, too. Scroll on to shop and put the breeze back in beach weekend.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Welcome to Travel Diaries, a Refinery29 series where we tag along as real women embark on trips around the world and track their travel expenses down to the last cent. Here, we offer a detailed, intimate account of when, where, and how our peers spend their vacation days and disposable income: all the meals, adventures, indulgences, setbacks, and surprises.

This week's travel diary: A 29-year-old senior copywriter goes to Paris with her boyfriend to finalize the purchase of their Parisian apartment.

For questions, feedback, or if you're interested in tracking your travel expenses during an upcoming trip email us at traveldiary@refinery29.com.

Age: 29
Occupation: Senior Copywriter
Salary: $85,000 (plus $1,000 - 3,000 a year freelancing)
Annual Number Of Vacation Days: Last year, my agency introduced a flexible time off policy which has grown increasingly popular because it allows employees mental freedom while saving the company from having to pay out unused vacation time. In addition to the week off between Christmas and New Year’s, I took 25 days, so I think the change is a win-win.

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Trip Location: Paris, France
Trip Length: 5 days

Travel Companion: Boyfriend
Travel Companion Salary: $200,000 (plus annual bonus)
Travel Companion Number of Vacation Days: 20

Transportation
Cost: The cost was $545 for my ticket from NYC to Paris, Bordeaux to Madrid, and Madrid to NYC. After Paris, my boyfriend and I spent four nights in Bordeaux (we bought train tickets from Paris for $50), and from there, I met a friend in Madrid before flying home. My boyfriend’s ticket was $625 from NYC to Paris, and Paris to NYC, including the cost of one checked bag both ways. To travel back to Paris from Bordeaux, he took the train (the ticket was miraculously $19 the day of).

When did you book? Do you think you got a good deal?
I booked my flight about a month ahead of my departure. Given that I booked a multi-city ticket, I think I got a great deal.

Total: $1,239

Accommodations
Costs: I am very into hotel credit cards, so I always try to book accommodations using points, or a combination of cash and points to help keep trip costs down. Plus, with European hotel rooms being notoriously small, it helps to have a loyalty card for upgrades! In Paris, we stayed in the Opéra district at the Marriott Ambassador Hotel for $250 a night.

Total: $746.93

Miscellaneous pre-vacation spending
The day of my flight, I saw that there was a Retrofete pop-up sample sale going on. They are a popular Israeli clothing line that’s been all over social media, so I excitedly ran over there to score a cute dress for my trip. They were out of the robe dress I wanted, but I found something better in its place. Normally $600, I scored an adorable black-sequined bodysuit and flare pant set for $150. It’s also the perfect outfit for my 30th birthday, so I already have a few occasions to wear it on. Update: If I needed more validation, the brand came up in conversation with friends while I was in Madrid, and it turns out my friend’s friend who was with us is close with the designer couple. He sent a picture of me in my outfit to them and they responded immediately, saying I looked gorgeous in it!

- 2 Tickets to Atelier des Lumières: $32
- 2 Tickets to Taste of Paris: $127
- 3 tickets to the Louis Vuitton Foundation: $53.86

Total: $362.86

Miscellaneous post-vacation spending: I had a couple of dresses dry-cleaned that cost $24.80

Do you have credit card debt as a result of booking this vacation?
No, I do not have credit card debt as a result of booking this vacation. I am big on saving so I can enjoy vacations without stressing about finances!

Day One

8:45 p.m. — The Uber arrives at our Brooklyn address and my boyfriend, B, loads our bags into the trunk. B and I usually share a large suitcase to check, and each brings a carry-on. The driver confirms our destination, JFK, and before I know it we are cruising along the Belt Parkway. Finally able to fully relax, I take one of those deep, shuddering sighs that only happens when I know I have zero responsibilities for the next week, or in this case, ten days. I recently switched teams at work and don’t start the new one until I return, so in a way it feels like a break between jobs. $40.50

10:30 p.m. — After a long queue to check our bag, we are seated at a café by the gate. B is munching on a ham and cheese sandwich ($8.55) and I steal a few mediocre bites. As we wait to board, I crack open Jane Eyre, a classic piece of literature that somehow slipped through the cracks of my high school reading list. It is surprisingly relevant, and I am here for the growth and strength of Ms. Eyre! $8.55

11:25 p.m. — Wheels up! I plan to sleep on this red-eye but think twice when I spot A Star is Born in the entertainment selection.

Daily Total: $49.05

Day Two

12:20 p.m. — We land and head straight to baggage claim. Our bag appears after several minutes and we walk outside to the Roissybus ticket machine. There are other public transit options, but this bus goes straight to Opéra, which is only an 8-minute walk to our hotel, Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador. $27.50

12:50 p.m. — Over the course of the 40-minute bus ride, B and I chat about our plans for the next few days. This is our fourth trip to Paris together during our 3-year relationship, and while we don’t need an excuse to keep coming back, we are here to finalize the purchase of a two-bedroom apartment! I am still in disbelief that my francophile fantasy of having my own pied-à-terre is coming true. Here’s how it happened: I spent over a year looking at properties online, lusting after tiny, overpriced apartments. One search yielded a new-build in Puteaux, a suburb just west of Paris, with apartment plans that looked surprisingly affordable for my price range. I initially inquired about a studio apartment, something I could afford on my own, but after discussing the prospect over dinner, my boyfriend and I decided to go 50/50 on a two-bedroom, 1.5 bath unit. My half of the down-payment and fees was $65,000, nearly all of my liquidity, but it was worth it. To try and put it into words: between following author George Clason’s advice in The Richest Man in Babylon, adhering to no-spend days, and taking on side hustles, I fed every bit of savings to my proverbial piggy bank. The day I signed for the apartment was the day I smashed that piggy bank and went oui, oui, oui all the way to my new French home.

While I won’t have the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre at my doorstep, it’s only a 12-minute metro ride to downtown Paris, and more space for a price I can afford. Going on my second year living in Brooklyn, I definitely see the value of having more living space in exchange for a short commute.

2:40 p.m. — Once we throw our bags in the room, we walk to a nearby branch of Banque Populaire to transfer the remaining funds to the notary before our meeting tomorrow morning, and we are cutting the transfer a bit close. For the 20% down payment, B and I put money into a shared French account. However, we are responsible for ensuring the funds from the lender who approved our mortgage are transferred to the developer, which is what we are trying to do now.

3:12 p.m. — The bank representative assures us everything is set so we can now move on to the next matter of importance: coffee. We walk to a luxury department store nearby called Printemps. Their rooftop food hall, Printemps du Goût, is the best place for a quick bite and gorgeous views. I am definitely overpaying for the latte I order ($5.98), but the unobstructed vista of the Eiffel Tower is beyond price. B buys us croissants ($6.82) and we devour them as we walk through the stalls. There is brightly colored fresh produce, wines from all corners of the country, and delicate pastries dressed with a buttery sheen. Sit-down restaurant service is offered, but we opt to find lunch elsewhere. I take my latte à emporter (to go). $12.80

5:45 p.m. — Even though it’s cloudy, it’s warm enough to walk around without coats, which is a nice change from our last visit in February. We turn the corner on Rue Cadet in the 9th arrondissement to find an outdoor market. There is a parade of rotisserie chickens, fruits, vegetables, and cheese; so much cheese. We pop into a bakery on the corner for mini canelés ($3.41). Further down a nearby street, we see a line for a small brasserie and know it must be good. I order one of my favorite comfort dishes, a croque madame, and B gets the croque monsieur. They are essentially gourmet ham and cheese sandwiches, only mine dons a fried egg on top. We sip down espresso to perk up, and B gets l’addition (the check) ($29.34). $32.75

8:15 p.m. — After more meandering by foot, I am happily snacking on sweet strawberries from the fruits and veggies market while perched at the bar of the newly opened Mikkeler, on Rue de Rochechouart. We initially discovered Mikkeler in Iceland, during a collaboration event, and have been enjoying the beer brand ever since. B is a craft beer enthusiast and excitedly chats with the bartender. I double down on fruit and order a cherry sour beer, drifting back and forth from the book I’m reading to the conversation. $6.82

9:50 p.m. — When it’s time to go, B settles the tab ($27.31) and orders an Uber ($9.10). We wash up and fall into bed, happy and exhausted. $36.41

Daily Total: $116.28

Day Three

9:30 a.m. — We are walking at a brisk pace to make it to our meeting on time, but how can there be such urgency when I haven’t had my coffee yet? I see a brasserie on a corner up ahead and quickly order a cappuccino à emporter. The proprietor doesn’t accept credit cards and I am short a euro, oops! He waves me off and we continue on our way. $2.24

10:07 a.m. — The notary office is stately with a stone facade and dark mahogany interior. We are greeted by our real estate broker, a representative from the developer’s office, the notary, and a translator. The notary begins with the agreed upon layout (we were able to make bespoke changes) and then transitions to the rest of the documents and contracts. There is nothing we haven’t seen before; this is a necessary step to ensure the developer and buyer are aligned. The meeting lasts two hours. At the end, B and I initial the document on digital pad, then the notary does the same, and just like that, we’re homeowners!

12:30 p.m. — The next step in the process is to choose the finishes for the apartment, but that won’t happen for another six months. For now, we celebrate! Our real estate broker takes us for Champagne and we talk about our journey thus far. He tells us that only a few units are unsold in the building (there are 68 apartments total), which bolsters my confidence. I always wanted to make a sart investment with my liquid savings, and since the stock market never interested me, a tangible investment like real estate was most appealing. All it took was finding the right one.

When I dug into the research, I found intriguing advantages to buying in France. For starters, we were approved for a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage of 2%, and, because we are buying a new build, we only have to pay 2.5% of the purchase price for conveyancing fees and registration taxes. In Paris, because most buildings are older (the common term being, “existing properties”), that same figure jumps to 7-10%. It is also common for the developer to pay broker fees on new construction properties.

1:10 p.m. — We walk to Le Seraphin in Saint Germain for lunch. Our real estate agent tells us this place comes recommended from a colleague. Inside, it’s cozy and smells delicious. I order an Aperol spritz and the daily special (fish and mushroom risotto), and some chocolate cake for dessert. Our real estate broker talks about his upcoming wedding and shows us the ring he proposed with. It isn’t the overstated diamond I am used to seeing; it is classically French, more subtle than showy. The conversation turns to politics and we speak of the “Yellow Vest” protestors, Macron, and inevitably, Trump. At the end of the meal (the broker paid) I am slightly tipsy, ready to enjoy the shining sun and galavant around Paris as a girl who proudly owns a small piece of it (even if it is a subway ride away). We say our goodbyes, thank him for the lovely meal, and hit some bookstores in the area. I will read anything set in 1920-40s Paris, and have formed somewhat of an obsession with the infamous literary circle that used to live here. Nertz! No section for used books. I shouldn’t be surprised considering only half of a spindly wooden table is dedicated to books in English. I brush my fingers along the spines before making my way to the exit.

5:00 p.m. — B peeled off to get some work done about an hour ago, leaving me to window shop in the Marais. There are a myriad of wonderful boutiques, my favorite being Manoush, on Rue de Vieille Temple. I love their playful attire and want everything in sight. As a master’s graduation present, my dad bought me a stunning navy shearling coat with Swarovski crystals running down the front from this exact location. Five years later, it is still in like-new condition and I feel like a Russian princess when I wear it. I walk out empty-handed and meet B at BrewDog where he is posted up. His glass is full (his third, I suss out), so I order a cider for myself and we discuss dinner options for later. $36.40

7:13 p.m. — The rain is coming down and B orders an Uber to take us to the 11th for an exhibit at the Atelier des Lumières. The all-digital art museum has garnered mass attention for its incredibly immersive experience. I am glad I booked tickets in advance, as they are completely sold out for this weekend. Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works appear on each wall in an animated style that makes me feel like I am living inside each painting. It culminates in Starry Night, and the second screening on Japanese art begins. I think I like this more than the Van Gogh. Rice paper screens part to expose geishas in kimonos, and the musical accompaniment is as soothing as a cup of tea on a snowy day. Hokusai’s Great Wave is featured in this set, and I am completely enamored. B and I stay through part of the next showing to root ourselves in the moment. We leave enlivened and inspired. $10.34

9:17 p.m. — For a late dinner, we walk to an Israeli restaurant nearby called Shouk Paris. I’ve had it bookmarked in my Paris Instagram collection for a while. The food does not disappoint. The grilled octopus is the best I’ve had; tender with a bit of char, accompanied by microgreens and a delicious yogurt sauce. The hummus is flavorful and light, and I can’t get enough of the warm and fluffy pita bread. The kebab is also extremely flavorful and melts in my mouth. B and I are too full for dessert ($52.70); he orders an Uber to take us back to the hotel ($10.05). $62.75

Daily Total: $111.73

Day Four

9:30 a.m. — It’s another busy day! A friend I haven’t seen in 15 years is meeting up with us for the day. She is flying in from Toulouse and I am so excited to see her! I did an exchange program in high school where I stayed with a host family. We were in the same class at the regional high school I attended, and became close friends by the end of my stay. I check my phone to see if she’s off the plane, but there are no new messages. B pulls me back into bed.

10:23 a.m. — Uh oh! She is in the hotel. I jump out of bed and try to get ready as fast as possible. French people operate on the same understanding that people did before cell phones – if you agree on a plan, that’s the plan. At home, I am used to constant updates, like, “Hey, are we still on for later?”; “Running a few mins late!”; “K, walking in, where are you?...” but maybe it’s because people flake more often. Technology is both friend and foe.

10:47 a.m. — I hope she’s not upset for having to wait! We hug and I exclaim that she looks great. I mean, of course, she’s French. I hand her a small gift (a Roxanne Assoulin choker) and she says she has something for me, too, as she produces a circular tin box of lavender candies from Toulouse. I formally introduce her to B, and the three of us hop in a cab to the Grand Palais for the Taste of Paris food festival. It’s a happy coincidence we are here on the same weekend; the highlighted event features the city’s most coveted chefs and pastry chefs, with plates ranging from $10-$14. We pre-paid for tickets and loaded money onto a virtual card we can use to purchase plates with. $18.21

12:00 p.m. — I look up at the large glass dome, coated in raindrops. It is the perfect backdrop to the elegant food and wine stations set up throughout the exhibition hall. We start with coffees (my friend picks up the tab) and then make our way around the space to choose dishes we want to try. A jazz band plays in the center of the hall; a pastry chef articulate the details on a sheet of lemon tarts; I am struck by delight.

1:15 p.m. — This may be the fullest I’ve felt outside of Thanksgiving. My favorite tasting was a veal ravioli with truffle cream sauce, and a flower-shaped chocolate mousse cake from George V, the restaurant at the Four Seasons. There were other good dishes, but despite my fullness, I could easily devour a second helping.

3:06 p.m. — We don’t have too much time left before my friend has to leave for the airport, so we move quickly through the Louis Vuitton Foundation. About a 20-minute cab ride ($23.91) from the Grand Palais, La Fondation Louis Vuitton is in the forested area of Neuilly-sur-Seine, practically next door to where our apartment is! There is an exhibition on Impressionism (pre-paid) and my friend sounds like a museum guide as she illuminates the distinct features and themes behind the great works of artists like Manet, Seraut, Cezanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. Her art knowledge is incredible and I am inspired by her passion. $23.91

5:25 p.m. — After saying goodbye to my friend, me and B walk to Puteaux to see the progress on the apartment building. Unfortunately, it is pouring buckets. We linger long enough to walk the perimeter of the construction site and then head to a nearby restaurant called Eugene, where we order happy hour cocktails ($27.32) and dry off. Small bites come with our drinks, so I fill up on a plate of charcuterie and cornichons to share. We chat with the bartender, who coincidentally shares the same name as me, and learn that Puteaux is attracting more and more young couples who are being priced out of Paris. This confirms our research, but it feels good to hear it from someone who works here. When our drinks are gone, B orders an Uber ($19.49) to the hotel. $46.81

8:45 p.m. — After showering and lounging about the room, we set out for dinner. There is a place that came recommended by our real estate agent called John Viande, a casual spot with great burgers. It’s jean jacket weather and I enjoy every step of our mile-long walk. We share a salad, loaded fries, and a burger with gruyere cheese and caramelized onions. Normally, we don’t seek out at-home comfort food abroad; but that doesn’t mean I don’t gobble up every juicy bite of this gooey burger and fries. The restaurant fills up with a large party as we finish up the remaining fries. We flip-flop over ordering dessert before compromising on pastries in the morning. B grabs the check and we walk back to the hotel. $40.84

11:02 p.m. — Lights out! I am exhausted from another long day. I brush my teeth, tell B to floss (even though I know he won’t), and do a speedy version of my nighttime skincare routine: gentle face cleanser and firming moisturizer. I keep a travel cosmetics case full of sample-size products that are perfect for vacation. In a sleepy daze, I get cozy under the covers and whisper “bonne nuit” to B, and to Paris.

Daily Total: $129.77

Day Five

10:38 a.m. — Sleeping in is my favorite indulgence. If I didn’t have to work and pay bills, I would live my best life in bed, with a stack of books and an oat milk latte. Speaking of books, I am excited to travel to Bordeaux’s Mollat Bookshop where Montesquieu last lived. Never having been to Bordeaux, I am excited to spend the next five days roaming the picturesque countryside, visiting the acclaimed Château Phélan Ségur for wine tasting and lunch, and day-tripping to the medieval town of Saint-Émilion.

12:10 p.m. — We have just enough time to get a pastry and coffee at Printemps du Goût before making our 1 p.m. train to Bordeaux. I get the same latte as before ($5.98) and take one last look at Eiffy before rushing off. B hails a cab ($9.11) and we arrive at the train station in time to start our next adventure. $15.09

Daily Total: $15.09

How did you prepare for this trip?
Having been to Paris several times in the past, I had some go-to’s, but also used Instagram hashtag searches to find new restaurants to try.

Did you use credit card points/miles to pay for parts of this trip? If so, please explain further:
I used my Marriott Hotel credit card to pay for our stay in Paris, and my boyfriend Venmo’d me the cost of the 3 nights because I used points to pay for the next leg of the trip in Bordeaux.

What was your favorite part of the trip?
Book-shopping in St-Germain is my favorite activity in Paris. That, and walking around. The architecture is stunning, and stopping into any one of the numerous bakeries for a snack is my idyllic way to spend an afternoon in Paris.

What was the best meal or food you ate while you were there?
Both le Seraphin and Shouk were top-notch; I would happily go back to both. And while we didn’t have time this trip, we usually go to Kitchen Ter(re), an incredible Italian restaurant with truly delicious varieties of pasta. And you can’t come to Paris without a reservation at Le Potager du Père Thierry in Montmartre. It’s a really tiny restaurant that serves some of the best authentic French food I’ve had. Ugh, there is never enough time to do everything.

What advice would you give someone who is traveling to the same location?
Get off the tourist loop after visiting the sites. Some of the best views and photo opportunities are found from wandering around. My favorite areas are St-Germain and the Marais.

Is there anything about your trip you would do differently in retrospect?
Honestly, no! I had a wonderful time.

Would you stay at your hotel again?
Yes, I liked the location and the room was very comfortable.

Is there anything you wished you had time to do, but didn’t?
My boyfriend still hasn’t been to the Louvre. If we had another day, we would have gone there.

Travel Diaries is meant to reflect individual women's experiences and does not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

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After years of public calls to censor Donald Trump on Twitter – which heretofore have not been granted — Twitter is finally introducing a policy that could add warning labels to the President's most inflammatory and threatening Tweets.

Today, Twitter announced that it will begin overlaying warning notices on Tweets that the platform deems in the public interest to view but that might still otherwise be in violation of site rules.

The notice will say: "The Twitter Rules about abusive behavior apply to this Tweet. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain available."

From here, users can elect to still view the Tweet. But the Tweets with these notices on them will feature less prominently on feeds and won't show up in safe search, Explore, Recommended Tweet push notifications, live events pages, notifications tabs, or Top Tweets on timelines. According to Twitter's announcement, this new policy is intended to "to strike the right balance between enabling free expression, fostering accountability, and reducing the potential harm caused by these Tweets."

It will apply to verified accounts with more than 100,000 followers belonging to government officials or those running for public office. As for what qualifies as an offending Tweet that serves the public interest, an internal Twitter team will determine this by taking into account "the immediacy and severity of potential harm from the rule violation," "whether preserving a Tweet will allow others to hold the government official accountable," "whether there are other sources of information about this statement available for the public to stay informed," "if removal would inadvertently hide context or prevent people from understanding an issue of public concern," and "if the Tweet provides a unique context or perspective not available elsewhere that is necessary to a broader discussion."

Sometimes, we decide that it may be in the public’s interest for certain Tweets to remain on Twitter, even if they would otherwise break our rules. We're going to start using a new notice to make it clear when we make these decisions. Read more:https://t.co/XqlJ9KHgir

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) June 27, 2019

Twitter, which has until this point largely taken a position of "don't shoot the messenger" when it comes to Trump's most incendiary Tweets — despite his many threats of violence to other nations and people on the platform — has stated in the past that “Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate." But now, Twitter is finally acknowledging its responsibility in intervening when the President and other world leaders espouse dangerous rhetoric cloaked as free speech.

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Anthropologie is now offering an extra 50% off its already discounted home sale selection. The deals start on bespoke decor accents, span breezy bedding essentials, and you better believe they don't stop at boho-style furniture pieces. Essentially, it's our apartment-oasis shop dreams come more affordably true.

No need to hunt through a virtual field of products and pages to score the best elegant steals, because we've crafted a super-sale treasure map of the freshest finds from the half-off sale ahead. If you've been saving up for a bigger-budget home investment, then now's the time to shop the shiny items temporarily available for a little less of a serious splurge. Don't blow your summer budget on full-priced home buys, scroll on to cart a bespoke outdoor rug for a deal instead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of Wayfair employees streamed out of the company’s Boston offices and congregated in Copley Square to protest the home-goods retailer's refusal to stop supplying furniture to immigration detention centers on the U.S.-Mexico border. They chanted, waved signs with slogans like “Solidarity with Migrant Families,” shared sunscreen, and fought back angry tears at the thought of having unwittingly become a part of what many consider to be human rights abuses on the part of the U.S. government.

“I’m proud to work at Wayfair,” Elizabeth Good, a manager, told the crowd on the unseasonably warm day. “And I’m proud to continue the dialogue that will lead to us ending the support of concentration camps at our southern border.”

“We don’t want to profit off of being complicit in human rights violations,” she said, to loud cheers. “That’s the message — pretty clear.”

The walkout comes amid renewed outrage at the conditions in border migrant detention centers, with escalating reports of unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and cruelty. Advocates, lawmakers, and historians alike have likened the facilities to concentration camps and demanded that the Trump administration take action. It has been widely reported that migrant children are being held in custody for weeks without access to adequate food, space to sleep, or even basic necessities like toothpaste — which is in direct violation of the law thanks to the 1997 Flores settlement agreement.

The employees are asking that Wayfair commit to the requests of a letter they wrote, posted on Twitter, urging the company to end business with contractors like BCFS, a nonprofit government contractor that helps manage the centers, establish a code of ethics that would prevent such future business deals, and that all profits from sales to detention centers be donated to Texas immigrant legal services nonprofit RAICES.

The leadership team has tried to appease employees by donating $100,000 to the Red Cross, which, while generous, to many seems largely symbolic. Any type of donations to migrant centers are being turned away by Border Patrol, according to the Texas Tribune.

.@Wayfair stated in an email today that they will be making a donation of $100k to the @RedCross. This is great news! And proof that Wayfair can & does do good.

However, the Red Cross has nothing to do with these ICE-operated facilities.https://t.co/UehtJibmWF

— wayfairwalkout (@wayfairwalkout) June 26, 2019

On its website, under the heading “Our Promise,” the online retailer says that, “Wayfair believes everyone should live in a home that they love.”

Standing in front of the 150-year-old Trinity Church, employees and advocates echoed this sentiment. Some of their signs even read, “A Cage Is Not A Home To Love.”

Many employees were hesitant to speak with Refinery29, but when they did they shared a similar message — they did not want to have any part in profiting off incarcerating children.

“I’ve had this job for seven years, I started straight out of college. It was my first job. This is the first time that I felt like I needed to hit the streets to make sure that I was proud of my company. That I was happy to work for them and we’re adhering to those Wayfair values, like — everyone deserves a home that they love!” Madeline Howard, a Wayfair product engineer who helped organize the demonstration Wednesday, told Refinery29.

The protesting employees didn’t seem to have any concerns about losing their jobs, even though they were hesitant to go on record when asked about this.

“Definitely not, there’s a culture there that really encourages voicing your opinion,” one worker, who requested not to be named, told us.

For the employee organizers and supporters in the middle of the mix, doing call-and-response shouts for justice, there seemed to be a sense of righteous anger. For the anonymous staffers who stood around the perimeter, there seemed to be feelings of deep disappointment and despair. While there was talk of moving in the “right direction,” there was a feeling overall of hearts broken as a result of putting profit over people — over children.

On Tuesday, the company’s co-founder and chief technology officer Steve Conine hosted a "packed" staff meeting that was also described as "cringeworthy," according to The Atlantic, which obtained audio recordings of the meeting. Conine declared that he was "very much against these detention centers," but also emphasized the company’s "duty not to be a discriminatory business" and rejected workers’ demands.

Conine seemed to be rejecting assigning any kind of morals or values in the Wayfair workplace, saying in the recording, “We do a hundred thousand orders a day right now. There are hundreds of organizations every day that we’re selling to that many of us in this room would not approve of. ... We also feel like we have a duty not to be a discriminatory business.”

The company’s brass seem to be following the direction of other tech companies by distancing themselves from anything other than providing a service, and claiming that not providing said service to everyone is somehow discriminatory. It remains to be seen if this tactic, which seems at best naive in our current political landscape, and at worst, predatory, will pay off for Wayfair in the long term.

The central ethical question that has emerged is what role a company like Wayfair can play in this ongoing crisis. While many are calling for the migrant detention centers to be shut down, many of the people in them are still going without beds or other basic necessities. Isn't providing beds at least solving a temporary need?

Many Wayfair employees don’t seem to think so. An anonymous employee, who was wearing their purple Wayfair shirt, said, “The ideal situation is to close the detention centers. We should not be holding kids prisoner. And the fact that the company is profiting off that is not okay, and they’re not the only company doing it.”

Refinery29 has reached out to Wayfair for comment, and we’ll update this story when we hear back.

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Biden, Bernie, and Kamala — oh my. Here we go again. With the first night of the Democratic primary debate wrapped up, we're tuning into round two tonight, which features the two old white men leading in most polls: Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Also on the roster are Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Michael Bennet, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Andrew Yang, and Marianne Williamson. Without opening statements, each candidate will have 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to any follow-ups, putting them under immense pressure to stand out in a crowded field of 2020 hopefuls.

Whether or not you decide to watch, read on to find out the most important moments of the second Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential election. We'll continue to update this story as the night goes on.

The candidates started the night by attacking Trump.

It took exactly five minutes before candidates decided to attack the rival not in the room: President Donald Trump. While their counterparts in the first night of the debate mentioned POTUS a handful of times, Joe Biden attacked him on his first turn. "Donald Trump thinks Wall Street built America," he said. "Ordinary, middle-class Americans built America."

Sen. Kamala Harris moved in with criticism of Trump's tax legislation, saying the measure added $1 trillion to the American debt. Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed in as well, calling the president a "phony," a "pathological liar," and "racist." He added: "That's how we beat Trump. We expose him for the fraud that he is."

Joe Biden: “I'm still hanging on to that torch.”

California Rep. Eric Swalwell, 38, took aim at Biden, saying that 32 years ago the former Veep said it was time to "pass on the torch" to the new generation of political leaders. He asked whether Biden still felt this way today: "If we’re going to solve issues, pass the torch." Biden, who will turn 78 two weeks after the 2020 presidential election, was unfazed. “I'm still hanging on to that torch,” he said.

Sen. Kamala Harris (a.k.a. Momala) told the kids no one is interested in watching a "food fight."

After the exchange between Rep. Eric Swalwell and Joe Biden led to multiple candidates arguing over whether age should have any bearing on someone's ability to lead the country, Harris put a stop to the drama. "America does not want to witness a food fight," she said, "they want to know how we're going to get food on their table."

The precise moment Kamala Harris proved herself to be the adult on the stage:

“Hey guys, America does not want to witness a food fight, they want to know how we’re going to put food on the table.” 🔥 🔥 🔥

She is the clear winner thus far!! #demdebate2 #Kamala2020 pic.twitter.com/blshpLNaU4

— Madam President Kamala Harris (Supporters) (@flywithkamala) June 28, 2019

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand refused to be interrupted.

While the male candidates have happily bickered, interrupted, and yelled over each other two nights in a row, the women have had to toe the line between being firm and coming off as rude. (Thanks, patriarchy!) But Gillibrand was having none of it when Sen. Michael Bennet tried to hijack her chance to speak about her support for universal healthcare. She said: "No, it's my turn!" Bennet backed off.

“No, it’s my turn,” @SenGillibrand says as she is interrupted, speaking for women in meetings across America

— Caitlin Huey-Burns (@CHueyBurns) June 28, 2019

When asked if their healthcare plans would cover undocumented immigrants, every candidate raised their hand.

In a show-of-hands moment, the candidates came to a consensus on one issue: allowing undocumented immigrants to receive health insurance. “Our country is healthier when everyone is healthier,” Mayor Pete Buttigieg said, before pivoting to his views on immigration policy. “We shouldn’t have 11 million people without a pathway to citizenship.” Joe Biden said additional people buying into healthcare would reduce costs for everyone else.

Trump has, of course, been firing off tweets for the second night in a row. He wrote, "All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!"

All Democrats just raised their hands for giving millions of illegal aliens unlimited healthcare. How about taking care of American Citizens first!? That’s the end of that race!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2019

Candidates condemned the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda.

Candidates went after Trump for his administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy, which has led to the separation of thousands of migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. They also spoke up against holding migrant children in immigration detention centers. "In Colorado, we call that kidnapping," said former Gov. John Hickenlooper, of the separation of families. Author Marianne Williamson said the conditions at the detention centers should be called "collective child abuse."

Sen. Michael Bennet said he is reminded of his mother when he sees migrant children being split from their families at the border, because she was separated from her parents during the Holocaust. "What we should be represented by is the Statue of Liberty," Bennet said, not Trump's border wall.

Sen. Kamala Harris challenged Joe Biden on Obama's deportation policies.

Harris said that one of the few policies on which she disagreed with the Obama administration was the deportation of undocumented immigrants. (Nearly three million people were deported under his administration.) "The policy was to allow deportation of people who by ICE's own definition were non-criminals," she said. She pointed out that as attorney general of California, she stood against the criminalization of immigrants.

"I want a rape victim to be able to run in the middle of the street, to be able to run down a police officer and report the crime against her...and not be afraid of being deported," Harris said.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg addressed the police shooting in South Bend.

Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, IN, was asked why diversity on the police force in South Bend still lags behind in light of the recent fatal shooting of a Black man by a white police officer. "I couldn't get it done," Buttigieg acknowledged. "My community is in anguish right now. It's a mess and we're hurting." Rep. Eric Swalwell challenged him: "You're the mayor," he said. "You should fire the chief."

Buttigieg: "Until we move policing out from the shadow of systemic racism ... we will be left with the bigger problem of the fact that there is a wall of mistrust put up one racist act at a a time." #DemDebate2 pic.twitter.com/71J709gr1h

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 28, 2019

Sen. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden sparred about Biden's record on race.

Sen. Kamala Harris confronted former Vice President Joe Biden over his past record on the issue of race, in perhaps one of the most emotional moments of the debate.

"I do not believe you are a racist," she began, before adding that it was hurtful to hear Biden speak highly of two segregationist senators and his work opposing busing. "You know, there was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me."

There was a little girl in California who was bussed to school. That little girl was me. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/XKm2xP1MDH

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 28, 2019

Biden immediately defended himself, saying he's worked throughout his political career for the rights of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

"Vice President Biden, do you agree today that you were wrong to oppose busing in America then?" Harris asked. Biden replied: "I did not oppose busing in America. What I opposed is busing ordered by the Department of Education. That’s what I opposed."

As a young senator, Biden called busing a "bankrupt concept" and worked with other lawmakers, mostly conservative, to limit the scope of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned school segregation, and to stop the federal government from threatening to hold federal funds if schools did not desegregate.

Sen. Kamala Harris discusses race and calls out Joe Biden for opposing busing. "It cannot be an intellectual debate among Democrats," she says, "we have to take it seriously." #DemDebate2 pic.twitter.com/43Nzspluio

— CNBC (@CNBC) June 28, 2019

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand took a not-so-subtle swipe at Joe Biden by mentioning the Hyde Amendment, on which he has flip-flopped.

"Women's reproductive rights are under assault by President Trump and the Republican Party," Gillibrand said. "I think we have to stop playing defense and start playing offense. But let me tell you one thing about politics... When the door is closed and negotiations are made, there are conversations about women's rights and compromises have been made on our backs. That's how we got to Hyde, that's how the Hyde Amendment was created, a compromise by leaders of both parties." She added, to applause: "I have been the fiercest advocate for women's reproductive freedom for over a decade."

Marianne Williamson said her first call as president would be to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern.

Asked what their first priority would be as president, many of the candidates focused on economic inequality or the encroaching threat of climate change. Not Williamson, who is Oprah’s personal spiritual advisor. She said she would call New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who once said that New Zealand was the best place in the world to raise a child.

Williamson said she would tell Ardern: "Girlfriend, you are so wrong."

#DemDebate2
Marianne Williamson: Is this the Prime Minister of New Zealand?

Jacinda Ardern: *hangs up*

Marianne: pic.twitter.com/gGp8gRnbSx

— 🍸Martin 🏳️‍🌈 (@iMartinski) June 28, 2019

Marianne Williamson: "I'm going to harness love for political purposes."

The candidates each had 45 seconds to make their closing statements. Williamson's was one of the most memorable. "This man has reached into the psyche of the American people and he has harnessed fear for political purposes," she said of Donald Trump. "So, Mr. President, if you're listening, I want you to hear me, please. You have harnessed fear for political purposes and only love can cast that out. So I, sir, I have a feeling you know what you're doing. I'm going to harness love for political purposes. I will meet you on that field. And, sir, love will win."

Sen. Kamala Harris has a "3 a.m. agenda." (Ours is just to get some sleep before the next debate!)

In her own closing statement, Harris promised "to prosecute the case against four more years of Donald Trump," adding: "[T]his election is about you. This is about your hopes and your dreams and your fears and what wakes you up at 3 o'clock in the morning. And that's why I have what I call a 3 a.m. agenda that is about everything from what we need to do to deliver healthcare to how you will be able to pay the bills by the end of the month."

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Sen. Kamala Harris confronted former Vice President Joe Biden over his past record on the issue of race, in perhaps one of the most emotional moments of the first presidential primary debate's second night.

Biden, who was in public office for more than 40 years, sparked outrage earlier this month when he spoke of working with racist conservative lawmakers who believed in segregation. He has also faced questions over his previous opposition to the practice of busing, an effort to allow for the integration of schools after Brown v. Board of Education. At the debate stage, Harris addressed Biden, saying she had a question as the "only African American candidate" in the group.

"I do not believe you are a racist," she began, before adding that it was hurtful to hear Biden speak highly of two segregationist senators and his work opposing busing. Harris continued: "You know, there was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me."

There was a little girl in California who was bussed to school. That little girl was me. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/XKm2xP1MDH

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 28, 2019

Biden immediately defended himself, saying his comments had been misconstrued. "I did not praise racists, that is not true. Number one," he said. "Number two, if we want to have this campaign litigated on who supports civil rights and whether I did or not, I’m happy to do that." He added that he's worked throughout his political career for the rights of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

"Vice President Biden, do you agree today that you were wrong to oppose busing in America then?," Harris insisted, "Do you agree?" Biden replied: "I did not oppose busing in America. What I opposed is busing ordered by the Department of Education. That’s what I opposed."

That's somewhat accurate. As a young senator, Biden called busing a "bankrupt concept" and worked with other lawmakers, most of them conservative, to limit the scope of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned school segregation, and to stop the federal government from threatening to hold federal funds if schools did not desegregate.

WATCH: Harris says she doesn't think Biden is a racist, but she talks directly to Biden about his having worked with segregationists on the issue of school busing. #DemDebate2 pic.twitter.com/Ytb2xvOhux

— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 28, 2019

As someone who grew up with this experience, Harris emphasized the devastating effect these efforts to prevent busing at the federal level had. "There was a failure of states to integrate schools in America. I was part of the second class to integrate Berkely, California, Public Schools, almost two decades after Brown v. Board of Education," Harris said. Biden interrupted her: "Because your City Council made that decision."

"So that's where the federal government must step in," Harris fired back. "That's why we have the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act. That's why we have the Equality Act. That's why we need to have the [Equal Rights Amendment], because there are moments in history where states fail to preserve the civil rights of all people."

In a tweet, a Harris spokesperson confirmed that she supports busing as a practice to allow for school integration. Though it is illegal, school segregation is still a problem across the U.S. to this day.

Harris is already breaking ground as a Black woman and daughter of immigrants running for the highest office of the land. The exchange between her and Biden was powerful not only because of its rawness, but because it reminds us that history matters — and our political leaders should be held accountable for the role they play.

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In a 10-person Democratic primary debate arena, it’s bound to get messy, with everybody wanting to have their voices heard — and some (*cough cough* male) candidates were especially shouty. As expected, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders made the debate the “Biden and Bernie Show.” But they weren’t the only ones doing the interrupting on Thursday night.

“No, I’d like to say something,” Sen. Michael Bennet retorted when Savannah Guthrie asked him to await his turn. “Senator Bennet, we’re going to get to everybody, I promise.” Shortly afterward, Guthrie had to stop the former Veep from interrupting as well.

However, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the three female candidates on the debate stage, wasn’t having it when Bennet tried to hijack her chance to speak on her support for universal healthcare. “No, it’s my turn!” she cut back in, and Bennet backed off.

Gillibrand gave the male candidates a run for their money and decided to cut in as well — leading some on Twitter to call her out, while others celebrated her gumption. During the conversation on Medicare For All, the New York senator cut in to take credit for the portion of the bill she wrote allowing people to keep their private insurance during a transition period.

Love to see gillibrand jumping into the fray and interrupting—typically the privilege of male candidates.

— Emily Peck (@EmilyRPeck) June 28, 2019

Gillbrand really came in here with an interrupt constantly strategy. Same as De Blasio. Guess it's a NY thing?

— Lincoln Michel (@TheLincoln) June 28, 2019

Gillibrand interrupting the men is my sexuality.

— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) June 28, 2019

While the public took note of Gillibrand’s interruptions, she ranks low in talking time with only 7.5 minutes (the fifth most silent candidate of the night).

Mayor Bill de Blasio was notably guilty of barging in on other candidates’ response times on the first night of the debates. According to The Atlantic, the women on-stage were much more likely to speak only when directly addressed by the moderators, which speaks to a very clear gender dynamic. On night one, only Sen. Cory Booker and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke were able to break 10 minutes, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren following with 9.3 minutes.

Leading night two by a long shot, Biden spoke for over 13 minutes. Sen. Harris follows with 11.9 minutes, becoming the woman with the most speaking time across both nights of the debate.

For lower-polling candidates, the debates are their only real chance to appeal to the American public and build their base of supporters. When frontrunners like Sanders and Biden hog the mic, they are strategically edging their smaller opponents out of the race.

“No, it’s my turn,” @SenGillibrand says as she is interrupted, speaking for women in meetings across America

— Caitlin Huey-Burns (@CHueyBurns) June 28, 2019

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In 2003, Target introduced an innovative design collaboration with Isaac Mizrahi, who at the time was selling his clothing line in Bergdorf Goodman, kicking off the hysteria that would be come the high-low collaboration. Since then the big box-retailer has introduced partnerships with designers like Rodarte, Alexander McQueen, Missoni, and most recently Vineyard Vines for a taste of luxury at a fraction of the price. In the resale market, the pieces from earlier high-low collaborations are now considered high-ticket relics from a distant past — except, as Fashionista discovered some are being mislabeled.

"Since its inception in 2011 as a premiere resale site for contemporary and luxury fashion labels, The RealReal has listed and sold hundreds of items designed by Prabal Gurung," Fashionista published on Thursday. "(A dress similar to the one seen above is listed at $1,695.) However, this isn't a genuine Prabal Gurung dress, but a piece from the brand's 2013 collaboration with Target. It originally sold for $39.99 at the mass-market retailer."

Reportedly there are 10 different cases of items being misclassified, including a pair of Victoria Beckham for Target trousers (originally priced for $40 at Target, but selling for $275 on The RealReal); an Altuzarra for Target sweater (listed for $49.99 at Target but selling for $175) on The RealReal; and a Peter Pilotto for Target printed sweatshirt (initially priced at $29.99, but selling for $205) on The RealReal.

But how does something like this happen? One former The RealReal employee says it boils down to the amount of products that need to be authenticated in a short amount of time. Employees are not adequately trained to spot the fakes, but also, the fakes are getting better, the former authenticator tells Refinery29. As far as the items that Fashionista found that were mislabeled, the former employee says they went through the copywriting team and not the authenticity team. "They know some of the stuff but they are not really trained, and they have to do a certain number of copy per item every day," the source explained. "So its really numbers-based and they are going really quickly."

Ideally, an authentication process requires multiple people to sign off on an item. For instance, at What Goes Around Comes Around, CEO and Co-Founder Seth Weisser tells us that items go through three levels of verification. "Within this process each item is both verified as well as uniquely entered into our proprietary system to insure our needs are met to protect our clients," he says via email. "This also permits us to re-verify any single item should a question arise." Since the company's launch in 1993, he maintains it has never sold a fake item. "Our system is so programmed and secure that any counterfeit would be identified."

Vestiaire Collective operates in a similar manner, even going as far to sign a 'Fight Against Online Counterfeiting Charter' back in 2012. "The first step of the authentication process is completed by our curation team who carefully checks all of the submitted images for any irregularities and also looks at the reliability of the seller," Vestiaire Collective's Head of Authentication, Victoire Boyer Chammard tells Refinery29. Next, she says a dedicated in-house team of experts who are trained authenticators from luxury, fashion and auction houses do physical checks. "We have specific category experts including ready-to-wear, vintage, streetwear, jewelry and watches. Quality control is also very important, so diligently checking the quality of fabric, for example, if its leather it should feel and smell like leather. As a global resale e-comm, we have warehouses in France, US and Hong Kong where authentication experts physically examine product every day."

When Refinery29 reached out for comment, a spokesperson for The RealReal provided the following statement: "The RealReal is a data-driven company and we are constantly testing new concepts. In this case, we are currently doing broader testing arounds collaborations to determine demand for us to expand our offerings. We've seen strong interest in pieces from collaboration collections by a very diverse set of brands, from Louis Vuitton to Nike to KITH. We're considering permanently accepting Target collaborations with luxury designers who are part of our accepted designer list, as they are limited-edition pieces that can be difficult to find."

Further, as the statement reads: "We recognize the opportunity to improve transparency here, so we've updated our product pages for designer collaboration pieces with more detailed information — and will do so with new collaboration pieces we offer in the future. As with all pieces sold on The RealReal, we stand behind our authenticity guarantee. As always, if a customer isn’t fully satisfied with an item they’ve purchased, we will work them to make it right."

Business of Fashion is reporting the resale industry is primed to bring in $51 million by 2023, but as The RealReal's fiasco shows us, it has quite a few flaws to work through first.

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