As college students, we pretty much think of ourselves as invincible, I know I certainly have. Until recently that is. I’ve been in car accidents, including one where my car hydroplaned off a cliff. I’ve drank myself to the point where I should have gone to the hospital. I’ve had my life threatened. But those things never quite hit me to the point where I realized I could have died.

On January 2nd, I woke up at 4:30 in the morning with a searing pain in my left lung and back. It felt like two cinderblocks were pushing on either side of me and every breath felt like a knife going through my lung. I have a low pain tolerance, but this was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I managed to walk to my parents’ room to wake them up as I was gasping for air. My mom helped me back into my room while my dad furiously researched the new medication my dermatologist put me on, convinced it was a side effect. I eventually fell back asleep, but when I woke up again I was greeted by pain that was even worse than before. My mom came in to check on me, and I told her I needed to go to the hospital.

In the emergency room, one of the doctors listened to my symptoms and said “I think you may have a blood clot in your lung.” What? A blood clot? In an 18-year old? I was so confused and scared; I immediately started bawling. They quickly took blood out of my left arm while putting an IV in the other, and I woke up in the middle of a CT-scan. They did ultrasounds on my legs to make sure there were no clots because that’s where most clots originate. About an hour later, another doctor came in and told me they did find a clot in my lung.

I was terrified. Read More »

[Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, saddest things he hears on his college campus. Join the Overheard revolution!

Leave your own overheard convos in the comments.]

Boy: “Hey, you gotta stay here, it’s dicks only.”

Girl: “That’s fine, I didn’t want to come anyway… What?”

“So how much vodka are you supposed to put in a jello shot?”

“All of it.”

“Don’t you know who my father is? Mr. Jonathan Associated-Press?”

“Is he related to Jonathan the Husky?”

After a moment:

“It’s… it’s last names, buddy.”

“Uh-oh. Lookin’ bad down there. Gotta trim the forest. All the little pubic people are gonna die.” Read More »

The Super Bowl is only a week away. Yes, one week.

One week until buffalo wing/pizza/guacamole heaven. One week until the biggest sporting event of the year. One week until the big halftime show. Are you ready for some football?

If you’re like many of the ladies out there, you don’t know many of the facts about the upcoming “big game” and you may not even care, but what better way to impress those sports lovin’ hotties at the Super Bowl party? And isn’t everything more fun when you know what’s going on and have someone to root for?

So without further ado, here is a basic Super Bowl XLIII 101.

The Teams

The game pits the top team in the NFC (National Football Conference), the Arizona Cardinals, against the top team in the AFC (American Football Conference), the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Arizona Cardinals:

-This is the first time in team history that the Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. With 61 years under their belt, they have held the second longest championship drought in American sports.

-The Cardinals made it into the wild card round of the playoffs with a 9-7 record and shocked footballs fans everywhere when they won all 3 of their playoff games, despite being underdogs in each game. They are only the second 9-7 team in history to make it to the Super Bowl. Read More »

[I like to think of myself as a pretty easy going gal, and try not to sweat the small stuff. But sometimes (ok, maybe slightly more often) the general cluelessness, carelessness and overall stupididty of some things and or/people really gets to me. I find that venting is the most efficient way to rid myself of the stress that idiots, wrong meal orders, lack of cell phone ettiquette and cheese flavored products (that don’t even contain any freaking cheese!) induce.

So, in an attempt to avoid an ulcer or an unfortuante road rage incident, I vent to you, dear reader. Please feel free to join in and comment about anything–really, anything–that pissed. you. off. this week. Let it all hang out. I feel you.]

1. Health and Fitness Contradictions: Some say to eat more fiber. Others tell me to focus more on protein, and still others say to get rid of everything and stick to a diet of grapefruit and tabasco sauce. Which is it, people? Stop with the contradictory research and just tell me what is going to get me back the body I had before I discovered my obsession with bacon on my pizza. Because right now, I’m eating a lot of fiber, protein and grapefruit and it doesn’t seem to be helping. Read More »

[Post courtesy of out friends at StyleBakery.com. For more awesome fashion, style and beauty news, check them out!]

Most of us who lived through the ’80s would rather forget the decade of big hair, big shoulder pads and all-around bad style. Well, don’t look now, many of those fashion don’ts are making a comeback – whether you like it or not. Here’s a rundown of some trends on the horizon that should come with a warning label: Wear At Your Own Risk: Read More »

Last time you heard from me, I was telling you all about the pros and cons of Goodbye Sex. Well, as promised, my boyfriend and I reunited….in the bedroom.

Here’s part two: The Pros and Cons of Welcome Back Sex!

Pro: Happiness to have them back

It’s a wonderful feeling to see them again. And touch them. And kiss them… It’s easy to get swept away in that happiness, and it feels amazing once you get to lead them into the bedroom…or the couch…or the kitchen table….or – well, you get my point.

Con: That happiness wears off

Just as soon as that happiness hits you, it wears off. Once the “festivities” are over, you get right back into the routine of things. It’s as if they were never gone at all. I’ll let you decide if that’s a good or bad thing.

Pro: It’s wild

You’ve both been deprived and letting your imaginations run wile, so there’s some lost time to make up for. It was some of the most passionate, hottest sex I’ve ever had. It’s amazing to just let loose.

Con: It can get TOO wild

I can’t lie; there were some injuries. While getting into the heat of the moment has it’s benefits, take it easy. Getting too rough leads to pain. And in some cases, embarrassing bruises/red marks that you don’t want to explain later. Read More »

Suspicion and jealousy ruin a lot of relationships. And, thanks to the internet, we can ruin relationships as quickly as we can make them. It’s an ugly cycle, but it brings out the truth in some situations, whether or not we want to see it.So, would you ever read a boy’s email?

It’s a crazy b*tch move, sure. You might even argue that if you can’t trust a person enough to not read their email, then you shouldn’t be with them. But is that always true? Read More »

[Welcome to my Weekly Love List, a list on all things I love. Because if I love them, well, obviously you 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. Dolce Vita “Ellie” Sandal. Maybe it’s because I don’t have the ankles to wear them. Maybe it’s because it’s currently -5 outside and I would give my left foot to wear them (literally). But either way I love these bad boys….

2. MyPublisher.com. So, a while ago I told you about my love for Shutterfly and their photo books. Well, ladies, I’ve found the Louboutins of photo albums. Mypublisher.com turns your books into coffee table books. And I am convinced there is NO better coffee table book than one filled with your most treasured pics. Think about it: when was the last time your coffee table books were more than just dust/shot glass collectors? Or, more importantly, when was the last time you even had a coffee table book? (Aren’t those tables supposed to be danced on?) Now here is a coffee table book worth l-o-v-ing. Read More »

[We all get bogged down with the required reading lists handed to us by our over-zealous professors. When we aren’t laying in bed with a textbook and 3 highlighters, we are resting our eyes (and brains) with a little TV. No one wants to read any more than they have to.

Not so fast, girls. I am here to show you some books that are totes worth reading when the 347 pages of History/English/Psych reading are finished. Books that will make you laugh, cry, and change the way you think. Good books (which I know is hard to believe when you think of the stuff assigned for class). Stick with me and you will spend a lot less time watching Real World reruns, and a lot more time enjoying books again.]

A lot of books aimed at women are chock full of shopping, sex and other things that are stereotypically “feminine.” Not this book. The Red Tent is the most female-empowering piece of writing I have ever found.

If you’re familiar with the Bible or the Broadway musical, you know the story of Joseph and his technicolor dreamcoat. This is the story of Joseph’s sister Dinah, who is only mentioned ONCE in the whole Bible! But even if you’re not religious and have no interest in religious history, this book is still worth your time.

Diamant creates a rich and vivid backstory for Dinah and also reveals the female-worshipping ways of the Old Testament. The history itself is fascinating, and even with the barren backdrop of the desert, this book never gets boring. The writing is perfection, too! Diamant is an accomplished author and has a great hold on the English language. She takes advantage of beautiful metaphors to enhance the story and enthrall the reader. Read More »

It is FREAKING COLD outside. Now that all the fun of the holidays is over (not counting Valentine’s Day cause, let’s be real, that’s not fun for most of us) the warm joyous feelings towards winter are gone and we’re left with nothing but bitter, bitter cold.

Living on a college campus makes it even worse. There’s no hopping in your heated car and driving to your heated destination. You are forced to put on your boots and puffy coat then trudge through wind chills and snow drifts to get from class to class. The result is insatiably dry skin, cracked lips and peeling cuticles. But there is hope! Here are some strategies to fight the battle against Jack Frost.

Non-Medicated Nighttime Lip Balm

Bedtime is the best time to restore the moisture that the cold weather steals from you during the day. Talking, eating and licking your lips means that lip products only stay on for a matter of minutes. Not enough time to make any real change, it only offers temporary relief. But while you sleep products have more time to moisturize. Avoid products with menthol or camphor (Like Carmex or Medicated Chapstick). The tingling cooling sensation is nice, but these ingredients are actually very drying. Any moisture gained is immediately lost again and you are back at square one.

Try Rosebud Salve ($6 sephora.com)

Bonus Tip: You can use this balm on your cuticles too! Read More »