Oh, teenage Gemma. The things I wish you knew, about life, love, and so much more. But since that’s a lot to cover in one letter, let’s start with something a little simpler. Dating. The things you don’t know, teenage Gemma, could fill an O Chem textbook. If only I could share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned, sometimes the very, very hard way.

First, the basics.

Be honest with yourself, always. Do you like him, or do you like how much he likes you? Because, trust me, that will never be enough in the end. It’s flattering to have someone who clearly worships the ground you walk on, but don’t get so wrapped up in what he thinks of you that you don’t really think through what you think of him. It’s a two-way street, and there is nothing wrong with deciding that someone simply isn’t for you. Dating isn’t about long term commitment, it’s about trying something on for size. If it grows into something more serious, that’s fantastic, but if not, there is nothing wrong with deciding it’s not really for you. You’ll both hurt a lot more the farther you let it go.

In that same ‘be honest’ vein, be honest about yourself! If you think a band sucks, say so. Don’t pander to someone’s tastes to make them think you’re cool. You know what’s cool? Having opinions and sticking by them. Remember who you are, always. They should be as interested in learning from you as you are from them, and if they blow off your interests, that’s a pretty big red flag. Read More »

True fact: I went years without cable.  And I never complained.  But, as soon as I was old enough to babysit, I would put the kids to bed and turn on the TV and embrace the goodness of TLC. Those were the glory days of The Learning Channel, because it’s gone downhill since then.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are still some shows I’ll watch.  After all, I am a self-diagnosed What Not to Wear addict, and, like many other College Candy writers, I adore Jon & Kate Plus 8.  Not to mention I now dress up while grocery shopping, all because of Take Home Chef, Curtis Stone.  This sexy Aussie can ambush me and make me dinner anytime.

But, it ends there.  Lately, I can’t even watch show previews on TLC, because even they freak me out.  The Learning Channel either needs an overhaul (starting with this guy), or a new name.  Our suggestion: The Scary Channel (dun dun dun). Read More »

Dear PMS:

Why?
Just why?

Who do you think you are? I mean really. You come around once a month like that annoying friend you don’t really want to hear from, yet every month, without fail, she asks you for plans and you feel sort of obligated. So you give in, but then coffee turns into an all day shopping ordeal and by the end you want to tear your hair out because now not only did you learn that you can’t stand the person you are with, but  – bonus lesson! – you learned that eating cookies DOES in fact equal having to buy a size up in your jeans.

Well that’s how I feel with you. Only instead of a day, it’s 5 and the only person I can’t stand to be around is myself. (The part of the too-tight jeans rings true thanks to you making me feel the urge to eat a bag of something salty, which of course leads me to want something sweet, which then of course leads me to want a tuna sandwich. I know! I don’t get it either!)

You make me weepy. I cry at Disney commercials (true story) and when the cheesy music comes on as the lesson is learned at the end of Full House. Strike that – you make me actually want to watch Full House. Read More »

Working at a bookstore, I run into plenty of what I call “book snobs.” People who will only read a book if it’s received 5-star reviews from the most prestigious of literary critics, if it is on the Bestseller list or if it’s won the flipping Nobel Prize. Even though these people see themselves as the cream-of-the-crop of book readers, I think they are just shallow and narrow-minded. Plenty of books, even fluffy ones, can have great messages and really strike a chord within the reader.

That’s one of the reasons that I read teen fiction. It always has a great message and doesn’t try to be precocious. Teen fiction – written to inspire a love of reading in young peoples’ hearts – is written soulfully and simply. And I love it.

One of my favorite teen fiction reads is “Looking for Alaska” by John Green. This is Green’s debut novel and, in my opinion, his best to date (although “Paper Towns” and “An Abundance of Katherines” are great as well!). He writes from the perspective of a naive teenage boy, finding his first love. I find this book so beautiful and honest and, most importantly, quirky. Read More »

Eyeliner is the one makeup staple that I just won’t leave the house without. Liner-less eyes make me feel like a zombie and I inevitably get bombarded with “are you sick” or “did you not sleep well” type questions.

I’ve tried so many different liners just trying to find that perfect one. And then I realized there isn’t one. The trick is that with so many different varieties, there are perfect liners for different occasions! Certain lifestyles and situations fit better with a particular type of eyeliner. I’ve outlined the different types of liner and the pros and cons of each so you can decide which ones are right for you: Read More »

A hostage standoff leads to Tragedy at the American Civic Association.

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Hard-to-find beauty products are just a click away.

Top ten things you’ll never want to find at your guy’s apartment.

Another Heidi Montag song leaked!

Get Miley Cyrus’s look for under $100.

I’m fairly confident that if it weren’t for coffee, I’d never make it to Friday. Sure, Dr. Hyman thinks it’s easy to give it up, but I just don’t know. I basically keep the coffee maker next to my bed – if I can’t get up without it, how does that man expect me to get through the day?!

There is just so much to do during the week that I need a little pick-me-up (Okay, a Venti pick-me-up) to do it. Like finding a summer job or internship. Or dealing with an annoying roommate, making my very own lip balm, and avoiding the calls of all those boys who can’t seem to get enough of me. (Yes, coffee also makes me extremely lovable.)

But I guess I will try. This weekend, as I attempt to lose my v-card (in video game form) and shop up a storm (because I’m PMSing), I will forgo the coffee. I will probably get a little too cranky for my boyfriend’s liking (and he will probably never want to move in with me), but it’s for my health, right?

Speaking of health… STDs are scary.

We’re back with another edition of G.W.W.E. (Guys We Wanna Eff)! Heating up CC this week is the owner of those effable baby blues, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.

Let’s go waaay back (to 2002) to the release of  Bend it Like Beckham, when JRM got his first big acting break.  He starred as Joe, the Irish soccer (okay, football) coach who quickly fell for his culturally-conflicted student, Jess.

I loved this movie for two reasons: first, because it showcased Keira Knightley during her awkward stage before she was really famous, and second, because JRM totally stole the show.

His impeccable brogue and pursed pout had my teenage tongue a-waggin’.  Plus, due to the English colloquialisms peppered throughout the film, the characters kept referring to Joe as “fit” (translation: effable), which inspired me to dream of my own physical condition after a long night with JRM.

But that was just the beginning. Read More »

Today, Demi Moore helped to save a suicidal woman via Twitter.

For the few of you who don’t already know, Twitter is a social network in which users can follow updates on friends, celebrities, and strangers alike. Some well known users include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Tina Fey, Perez Hilton, and Satan, who answer the age old question, “What are you doing?”. Users are invited to twitter about details of their everyday life, updating profiles to share how a waxing appointment went, what kind of cigarettes they bought at the bodega or who they’re having lunch with.

A distressed woman, known on Twitter as Sandieguy, chose to update her followers with her suicide plans. After a long series of updates such as,  “hurting”, “does anyone care?”, and “thinking about killing myself”, Sandiguy sent a message to Moore which read, “getting a knife, a big one that is sharp. Going to cut my arm down the whole arm so it doesn’t waste time”.

Out of 383,047 followers, Moore saw Sandieguy’s message and responded by saying, “hope you are joking”, and later added “Everyone I was very torn about responding or retweeting that woman’s post but felt uncomfortable just letting it go”.

Moore’s update sparked concern as her followers flooded the San Jose Police Department reporting SandieGuy’s threat. When police intervened they found SandieGuy unharmed. Moore later wrote, “Today is a prime example of the power of collective consciousness and our incredible ability to create change when we come together!”

[Every week our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]

As much as I love the elaborate looks of our Monday night addiction, Gossip Girl,  there is something to be said about looks that are simple yet fabulous. Enter Blake Lively in real life. This outfit needs no accessories. It doesn’t need a flashy handbag or bright colored pumps.  It is simple, flattering… and still sexy.

Simple outfits like Blake’s let the focal point of the outfit be YOU. So many times in Hollywood (and in our own lives) we see people acting as walking, moving hangers. But like our gal pal Blake, it is so much sexier when you wear the clothes and the clothes don’t wear you.  With the season’s chain necklaces, gladiator sandals, bright colored rompers, braided headbands, and multicolor scarves it gets harder and harder to keep it classy and simple and not let the trends overpower you.

But Blake proves it’s possible…and totally chic.

So with that I bring you this week’s Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: Blake Makes Basic Look Goooood. Read More »