I love the fantasy version of dating where everything’s shrouded in a pink mist and it rains sunshine and daisies on you and your perfect mate. Music plays when you kiss, you’re wined and dined, showered with gift boxes from Tiffany’s… and everything’s fantastic because, duh, you’re in love. Or what Dane Cook refers to in many a sketch as “lerve.”

Clearly in Fantasyland there is no concept of money, which is the primary reason I would LOVE to move there and live happily ever after with Christian Bale.

Let’s face it, ladies, the dating game has gotten out of control with expenditures. If you’re doing distance, travel just to see the other person will cost you a small fortune. Between that, the upcoming holiday season, birthdays, anniversaries, Hallmark holidays and oh, remember the generic DATES you’re going on? Yeah those. They’re all costing you.

I admit, there’s nothing more fun than splurging a little on a date-night outfit, heading to a fancy schmancy dinner, going away for a weekend, or getting tickets to a concert or sporting event your new fling would die to see; it makes you happy to make other people happy, I get it. But frankly, unless you’re one of the those lucky bitches who have Mommy and Daddy as your personal piggy bank, odds are you’re young and broke. And more than likely – unless you’re dating up – so is the other person. (Note: Dating up would be the ideal way to do it if money is your concern… I don’t attract these guys, but if you have advice on how to do so, please comment away below. PLEASE.) Read More »

A few weeks ago, while hanging out with a guy friend I met seven years ago when I was a younger (and skinnier) version of myself, something unpredictable happened to me. The guy is great: he has a super-sweet taste in music, a killer style and an overall hilarious personality. Basically, the male version of me.

Anyways, we were hanging out and I realized that every time I have hung out with him lately I have found myself imagining him naked. In my bed. Kissing my neck. Which made me realize that maybe my feelings for him weren’t quite so platonic anymore…

I started to contemplate ways that I could take our friendship to the next level, which meant that I didn’t just want to hook up with him (though that part was nice), but instead, I wanted to, like, turn this dude –my life-long pal- into my BF.

Let’s just say it’s been a few weeks since the initial breaking-of-the-ice-first-awkward-kiss-after- seven-years-of-friendship, and said dude is STILL not my BF. (Yeah, it didn’t turn out so well for me.) So, I decided that in order to prevent other lovely CC readers from committing the same embarrassing atrocities, I would share several Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to taking friendship to the next level, all from my personal experience (and humiliation). Read More »

JC Penney may not be the same maven of style that is, say, Fifth Avenue, but they have recently rolled out with a few things that are definitely worth a second look. And a purchase. And some instant gratification from wearing it all right outta the store.

Their newest lines come from tons of fabulous, fashionable designers like, Nicole Miller and Ralph Lauren. They are trendy, good quality and easy on the wallet. I don’t know about you, but I’d take a $15 top over an $80 one any day. With prices like these, I can get triple the wardrobe!

Here are a few highlights from JCPenney’s newest collections. Click on the look to get the deets…and buy the item. Read More »

I would have never dated me three or four years ago. Sure, I was lovely in most ways and I was a catch in most ways, but there was one little thing about dating that I just didn’t get: being friends after the breakup.

When my heart was broken before, I knew exactly how to manipulate the story to victimize myself and follow up with passionate vengeance. I never even gave a guy a fair chance to break up with me without it being ugly. And looking back on that, it makes me thoroughly sad.

These days, I understand relationships as more than ultimatums or pending doom and broken heartedness. Now I get it.

If I was that close to a guy before, close enough to let him be the only boy I would even kiss, he must have had something to contribute to the world and my life more than sex, right? Right. So why would I cut all of those positive things out of my life just because we made a decision to end the intimacy?

Upon realizing just how much I was giving up when I cut off all ties with my exes, I began changing my ways. I am now friends with all of my exes; yes, every last one. I have rebuilt the bridges I burned and, in fact, just hopped on a plane last month to go visit my most recent ex. As a FRIEND. And we had a great time!

When you are of the mentality that you can’t be friends with a dude after you break up, you are already hindering your relationship. You are already screwing up its natural course of growth and making aspects of the relationship ugly that don’t need to be. Damning your post-breakup relationship to Hell is not only immature, but it’s sad; if you liked a guy enough to date him, you should like him enough to be there for him when you’re done dating one another. Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list, on all things I love. Because if I love them - well then obviously you may (and should) love them too. As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Old navy. Okay so Old Navy is not new- but it is list worthy, and let me tell you why. They have STEPPED UP their styles, but have kept their prices down- which makes me want to get jiggy at Old Navy. C.U.T.E. tanks for $10? Now that is something worth loving.

2. Hey, It’s Free! Couple your college budget with the failing economy, and the fact that air is still free seems pretty amazing. But, thankfully, this blogger came to the rescue with free stuff for all! Check it out for free loot like Free MP3s from Amazon.com, free food, etc.

3. Kindnotes.com – With Thanksgiving and the holidays just around the corner, here is a cute gift idea that is affordable, original, and filled with love. A custom made decorated jar with 31 mini-printed envelopes for each day of the month. You can either write a personal note on each, or pick from a library of over 300 different messages. After all, it’s all about spreading the love. Read More »

If you’re as addicted to caffeine as I am, you are probably broke (not to mention a real gem in the early morning hours). But, like any good junkie, you’re more than willing to flip the couch cushions in search of a few quarters, or sell your kidney to pay for a grande White Chocolate Mocha on your way to school.

I have to admit, I’m a huge Starbucks fan, and am usually fine with shelling out a few extra dollars to indulge in something tastier than Folgers. Still, I need a new winter wardrobe… so I’m weaning myself off of overpriced coffee drinks (that taste like dessert) and makin’ my coffee at home.

I know it’s a bold move, but after playing around a bit I have learned a few things: 1) Making your own coffee can save you billions, and 2) It is really, really easy. Here are a few tips:

1. Flavor it Up.

Whenever I make my own coffee, no matter how good the brand, or how carefully I measure the coffee-to-water ratio, it always seems to taste like dirt. My solution? Flavor, flavor, flavor. Syrup, syrup, Equal, syrup. Seriously, who just gets a latte from Starbucks? Everyone has their signature: the Pumpkin Latte, Caramel Macchiato, White Chocolate Mocha…what do they have in common? Manufactured taste. Instead of shelling out $4-$5 a day for Starbucks, buy a bottle of Torani Syrups. This brand is used in tons of coffee shops across the country, so you might not even taste the difference. Read More »

[Every Saturday I am here to bring you the best beauty products, tips and ideas. Last week I helped ya out with great Halloween makeup (that you can wear year-round!). I am sure it all came in handy last night. Today I am bringing you beauty products that will change your life! I know that seems a bit dramatic, but I'm telling you: these products are revolutionary.]

Urban Decay Primer Potion ($16 sephora.com)

This little tube may look like is holds a genie, but it actually delivers with something truly magical. Just dab this colorless cream on your eyelids before you apply shadow. It will stay on for-ev-er. If you hate having your shadow all gunked up in the crease just a few hours after you put it on, this product is your holy grail. You can put on your makeup before you go to work, go out to dinner, then a club, – get in at 1am and your eyeshadow will still look fab. Also try it just underneath your bottom lash line to keep eyeliner in place. Once you try this product, you won’t be able to live without it.

DDF Glycolic Body Lotion ($42 sephora.com)

Okay so it is a little bit pricey for a body lotion. But this is not a cucumber melon type moisturizer to make you smell pretty – it’s a serious solution to a very common skin problem: Chicken Skin! Almost half of all girls have it. That red bumpy weird pimply skin on the back of your arms and legs. If you have ever had it, you know it can be embarrassing and down right gross. Believe it or not, just a quick application of this stuff on trouble areas and you will see results in just THREE DAYS. Your Chicken Skin will turn to alabaster in no time. Once you’ve achieved the desired result, you can use the lotion 3-4 times a week for maintenance. Try it for a week, and your skin will forever be addicted. Read More »