You’ve managed to squeeze those treadmill workouts in every day and navigated around the buffet-like lines in the dining hall to keep your diet well intact. It’s amazing how you can get through almost any obstacle … until Friday. What’s a girl to do when she’s got a full night of pre-gaming, partying and after hours in sight?

While the eat-nothing-all-day-and-drink-all-night diet may seem like a great idea, it’s pretty painful … especially once you’re staring drunkenly into some gross fraternity toilet bowl at 11 pm. Sip smarter and you will avoid the excess calories without the upchuck session.

Water does a body good. Sure, it’s not nearly as fun as beer, but the more water you get in you, the better you’ll feel the next day. Not only will it help you feel fuller from the start, but drinking water or a calorie-free beverage between alcoholic ones allows you to have a drink while consuming less calories.

Know your limit. You can be just as sociable even at a more sober level than you may be used to. If you know five drinks puts you over, don’t touch more than four. Making the rounds and chatting it up with your friends can help delay your drinking so that you guzzle less throughout the night.

Pick a new drink. Did you know the average margarita has 380 calories? That’s more than some people eat for lunch! While most of us think beer is the real culprit, you can gain twice as much weight by sipping on cosmos and vodka tonics and definitely more with those margaritas. Avoid those drinks made with high-calorie mixes.

Skip the snacks. Not only does alcohol have its own calorie count, it also makes you want to eat more. Eat something healthy before to avoid major hunger halfway through the night. Alcohol is the least filling of anything out there containing calories, which is never good at 2 a.m. when you’re surrounded by the key late night snacks: pizza and chips.

You can still be a party girl and stay on track with your diet. You’re just gonna have to ditch those sugary cocktails for the time being.

Are you depressed from the post holiday let-down? Perhaps suffering from break-up season? Tired of all the classes, dorm floor gossip and feeling like you aren’t contributing anything to your conversations, or the community?

Don’t let it all bring you down. Often times our beloved college campuses can feel like isolated bubbles keeping us separate from reality or any real world issues. But if you find yourself stressing out over eating that hamburger with fries last night, it’s time to get out (realize that some people have real problems) and make an effort to reconnect with the outside world.

Watch the news. That cable you get in your dorm is good for more than endless Laguna Beach marathons. Try surfing over to the BBC for international news or to any of the major networks to check in on the national happenings. Pre-law or poli sci major? Switch to fox or MSNBC for the shows that tend to discuss vicious political discourse. And hey — even the Daily Show and Kolber Rapport give you more news than Sex and the City reruns.

Put down the textbooks and pick up a newspaper. Any newspaper — local, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune. Many have world renowned reporters that give you breaking news and some quality gossip on the side. And there is recent research showing that college papers have some of the highest circulation rates (surprisingly there is more to them than the crossword). Who knows, you may like it so much you want to join the staff – an excellent way to meet new people and build that resume while staying current.

Look into studying abroad. Living in another country for six months is often a life changing experience. You’ll make new friends, see the world from a different perspective and gain a greater sense of independence. Lucky for you, the programs are all set up with housing, classes that will definitely transfer and side trips to make sure you get the most of your time abroad.

So pop your college bubble, build some esteem, be a better conversationalist and add some dimension to these long January days.

I’ve been seeing this guy for a few weeks, and I thought everything was going great, but he suddenly stopped calling and IMing out of nowhere! Should I be worried that I did something wrong?

First of all, if your relationship revolved around phone calls and instant messenger (save for if it was long distance) then you need to rethink how close you actually were.

We all love the beginnings of a good relationship. Hit it off with someone new, they’re cute, fascinating, funny, confident, and the package you always wanted but never had. You re-arrange your schedule to see them, debate for hours if you should send them a funny 0 but not too funny – text message to come off casual but really just in an effort to hear back from them. Maybe you change your routine a bit so you know you’ll run into each other outside work, class or the gym. In this stage, it’s all about interaction.

If somewhere along that line, your relationship falls to keeping in contact through phone and instant messenger, it’s not unreasonable to question the future. You haven’t done anything wrong, and if a relationship doesn’t work out your reaction should never be that you have. A waning relationship is just a sign of two puzzle pieces that don’t fit; so time to move on and find your match.

There’s nothing better than getting lucky! And the fun folks at Lady Luck Rules OK couldn’t agree more. Their gems are the stuff that dreams are made of with whimsical shapes like Crayola-colored cartoon Doe silhouettes and lucky dice. We’re pretty sure these charms will bring you far more than your boring old rabbit’s foot (gross!)

Leona Baker, a fashion school dropout turned stylist assistant, started Lady Luck Rules OK in a UK flea market stall in 2000 (Valentine’s Day to be precise). Her collection was the result of a love of rock and roll and all things 80s, not to mention a great affection for reworking heinous old costume jewelry into wearable pieces. It wasn’t until 2004 when Baker said farewell to her fellow flea marketers for greener pastures … er, greener cyber pastures … when she started selling her handmade wares online.

Today, you can find Baker’s work on the d&#8217colletage of celebrities such as the oh-so-stylish Mischa Barton and in specialty shops around the world. The line includes cute as a cupcake collections with names like “Tutti Fruity Sailor Girl” (think Carmen Miranda with a juicy piece of sailor suit clad arm candy … delish). Then there’s the “Go Go Girls From Outerspace” collection — a grouping of earrings and necklaces adorned with robots and laser guns so charming, you can’t help but think that maybe Go Go Girls would be more fun if they were ALL from Outer space.

Baker has also incorporated cute vintage-inspired totes and leg wear into her repertoire of so-cute-it-hurts tools for accessorization (ouch!) So go ahead. Get your luck on and prepare yourself for the fortune of compliments that are sure to come your way.

Luck Out at www.ladyluckrulesok.com.

Oh goodness, your hair.

You love it and wouldn’t want to live without it, but … snooze; you know it could use a little umph.

Come on, admit it. Your ‘do is screaming Blah! It’s time to transform your boring bob into tousled tendrils.

Answering your call for infinite styling possibilities, Pantene gives you Pantene Pro-V Texturize. This new collection is specifically designed to create texturized looks without leaving hair feeling stiff or crunchy.

The line of waxes and pomades creates flexible bonds between your individual strands of hair allowing for natural movement and the ability to shape and re-shape your look over and over, without having to add more product or needing a wash. Goodbye build-up.

The first steps in your coif transformation are Texturize! Shampoo and Conditioner, preparing hair for styling, while preventing damage. Second step, chose your wax or pomade styler.

Texturize! Sculpting Wax is ideal for women with short hair who want a piecey style with lift.

Texturize! Spray Wax defines curls and also creates a piecey look on layered locks.

Texturize! Moussing Foam Wax smoothes course or frizz-prone strands, allowing a naturally textured look on medium or long hair.

Texturize! Texture & Shine Defining Pomade is also a fabulous way to achieve a piecey look on layered locks.

Finish off your new texturized look with Texturize! Ultimate Texture Hairspray adding that often necessary extra hold.

Get your Patene product coupon here.

Products hit shelves nationwide February 2007, products range $3.99- $6.49.

Running shoes? Check.

Sweatband? Check.

I-Pod? Check.

Now just a few warm-up stretches before your morning jog. Sadly, the only running you’ll be doing is from the sidewalk back into your building because the cold is too chilly to handle.

Girlie, when it’s cold outside, get moving inside. There’s plenty of ways to get a workout done in the comfort of your dorm sweet dorm.

Get Your Groove On. If running to nowhere on a treadmill at your college gym isn’t cutting it, try finding a workout that is going to be fun and burn those calories. With a slew of trendy workout videos there ought to be something to suit your fancy. (Plus, you’ll learn new moves for the dance floor.) Try the Latin-fused Zumba or some midsection-moving belly dancing.

Unequipped. There are plenty of workouts that can be done with what your mama gave you. Say goodbye to yoga balls and bulky weights and try tuning into FitTV or catching Oxygen’s high-energy yoga hour, Inhale. You’ll get a gym-worthy exercise by being an active couch potato.

Simplify Your Life. Our mind has a funny way of focusing on the negative. So, if you haven’t worked out in a while, don’t sweat it. While catching up on My Super Sweet 16 do 16 squats during each commercial break. When studying for your calculus exam, add up 3 sets of V-sits. This strategy won’t help much for a cardio-workout but it will keep you physically motivated until you can carve out a portion of you weekend to get ready for swimsuit season.

Chances are most of us college girls took on a few fitness-inspired new year’s resolutions to get ready for spring break. So why let the cold freeze your fitness ambitions? Bring the heat indoors for a custom workout all your own.

CollegeCandy and the COED Media Group are currently looking to expand our community of bloggers and would like to give you an opportunity to have your words read by millions of readers every month.

Blogging for CMG will also provide you a chance to work with some of your favorite brands, bands, music labels and celebrities, while sharing your unique insight and perspective with other college students around the world.

Interested applicants should email the following:

• 3 sample works

• a list of topics your are interested in blogging about

• Your 5 current favorite trends

• 5 songs you are currently listening to on your ipod.

Click here to submit.

Extracurriculars were never your thing. And since you’ve been in college, life’s been pretty simple: doing well in class and partying whenever possible. But it’s a new year, a new semester and a time to think about jazzing things up.

No. We’re not suggesting you become that crazy hyped-up girl who juggles a million activities on top of everything else. But it is important to recognize that your campus has more to offer you than annoying papers and keggers.

How? Well, what are you interested in? Once you determine that, talk to people – classmates, professors, even “that girl” who seems to be the president of almost every club on campus. You may be surprised at what you’ll find when you venture outside that simple world of yours.

Worried about balancing a new responsibility? Just don’t overextend yourself. But if you’re really into what you’ve chosen to become part of, it won’t feel like a chore; you’ll actually enjoy it and learn from it. Plus it’ll beef up your resume.

The benefits? You’ll meet new people, experience new things, but above all you’ll feel as though you’re enriching your life just a little bit.

So put yourself out there and you might even begin to call yourself an extracurricular kinda gal after all.

I had two ex’s who I hadn’t talked to in a while call or im to wish me a happy new year, which I find both ridiculous and random. So basically … why do guys feel they need an occasion to get back in touch? What does it mean?

Yeah, the quick hello on a holiday is a classic move. Basically, guys can use a holiday as an excuse to drop an innocent “just wanted to say happy Flag Day” when in reality it is not that innocent. The true intentions of the male in question depend on the nature of your prior relationship.

If you were in a long, meaningful relationship with this guy then he may want to get back together. Or he may just be looking to reapply his Chronicles to your Narnia. If the two of you were in a more casual relationship, then he is definitely looking to do team push ups. Or he may just be looking to keep you around as a possible future hook up.

We call them back burners. As in “I’ll keep her on the back burner”. Men like to keep their options open. By dropping you a quick message he is maintaining the relationship. This way, if he ever ends up in the thralls of a cold streak or lonely after watching The Notebook, he can give one of his back burners a call and get an immediate date.

Trust me; if a guy is not interested in his ex-girlfriend, then he is not going to call her. Maybe he really has feelings for you, or maybe he just wants you to do that thing you do with the waffle iron and the lacrosse stick. You nasty!