The Beer Institute (are there any research positions available?) has released a map charting each U.S. state’s annual beer consumption, and, naturally, it’s become a viral Internet hit. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since this is the kind of map everyone wishes they could’ve studied in high school history classes. But what is surprising is the state whose 21+ population consumed the most alcohol in 2008: Montana. What’s going on out there, and why am I not going to school there?

(Click on the map to see it large and in charge.)

Where does your state fall?

There have been countless instances where I’ve found myself shoveling nachos, ice cream or third helpings of dessert into my mouth. Realizing my own utter gluttony, I’ll drop the spoon or the cheesey chip and think, “What in god’s name am I doing?” Because the truth is I’m not even hungry. I’m bored or annoyed or just craving something that has nothing to do with food.

It took me years to identify any of this as emotional eating. I think because almost all of my girlfriends experienced the exact same thing. We’d even declare Sunday as the “Day of Eating” which made it OK to binge on the “bad stuff,” i.e. s’mores, pizza, bagels with cream cheese, to list a few. And the next day, of course, we’d all be at the gym, furiously working off the excess calories.

Looking back, I see how incredibly unhealthy and unbalanced this was. Yet, so many people turn to food to comfort themselves. In order to forget feelings from sadness, anxiety, loneliness or boredom, they reach for high-calorie, sweet, salty and fatty foods. And usually, they wind up eating way too much, which of course contributes to weight gain and guilt.

The good news is, all of us can regain control of these habits and get back on the healthy path. Read More »

Did Sarah Palin tell anyone of her plans?

Is this recession going to be a depression?

Miley Cyrus is single, y’all.

What not to say on date numero uno.

Did Chris Brown steal Kanye’s lady?

A final tribute to Billy Mays.

I used to be extremely opposed to the iPhone. I mocked it, I thought it was childish and a waste. I was a proud user of the Blackberry for many years… until one day my Blackberry began to fail me. Calls were dropped (thanks a lot AT&T) and the phone was beginning to deteriorate. I was ready for an upgrade.

I visited my AT&T store, picked up the new Bold and immediately had issues. I was getting up to 150 text messages in a minute due to some virus. I went back, replaced it twice, only to keep having the same issue. I finally was so aggravated one of the employers was able to convince me to buy an iPhone. My whole world was turned upside down. No one even knew who I was anymore.

Now, three iPhones later (what? They break easily… especially after a few dirty martinis and my habit of throwing things in frustration) I’ve come to terms with the thing, if only for the apps. The service still bites (thanks again, AT&T) and I’m not the biggest Apple fan, but I do love my iPhone apps. 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 or send ‘em over!]

(Middle-aged woman in at a grocery checkout.)

Woman: Excuse me. Sir, can I ask you a question?

Bagboy: Yes, ma’am?

Woman: Where do you keep the Snickers bars and condoms?

(Girl, approaching a guy.)

Girl: So, I have a question for you. I mean, a guy question. It’s awkward, kinda.

Guy: Yah?

Girl: What’s up with… ice cream? Read More »

If there is one thing I have accepted about myself, it is that I always, ALWAYS, prefer appetizers to entrees. I don’t know why, but for some reason those little bits and pieces always sound way more enticing than a big ol’ plate of….just about anything. Maybe it’s because I have a hard time settling on just one thing, but this goes a long way in explaining my love of party food.

I love all things bite size (well, when it comes to food…), packed with flavor, and eaten with my fingers. One of my personal faves in this category is BLT bites. I was a late–comer to the BLT party (I thought I didn’t like bacon for years. How crazy is that?!)  but now that I’m on board, I can’t get enough. These little gems have the same enticing flavor combo as the big sandwich, but they’re mini, so they’re instantly better. The filling is jam-packed with unbelievable flavor – smoky bacon, sharp, salty cheese, fragrant herbs – while the ripe tomato shell gives it a fresh and summery feel. Deeeee-licious.

BLT Bites

16 – 20 cherry tomatoes
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup chopped green onions
3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Read More »

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

For a quick style update, add a bangle or two. Or three. Or four. These versatile pieces can be stacked, mixed, and worn with anything!

If you’re wearing a solitary bangle, make sure it contrasts somewhat in color and texture to the rest of your outfit. For example, pair a beige wooden bangle with a pink and white floral dress.

If you’re wearing several bangles, make sure they contrast with each other. A set of metallic bangles that come together can look hot, but when trying to create your own mix, avoid picking bracelets that look the same. Mix square shaped with round, wood with metal, neon with black, prints with solids, etc.

Here are 10 bangle bracelets that will brighten your look this summer and add a pop to any outfit: Read More »

Now that a lot of us hold weekly office jobs, it makes perfect sense that we want to soak up as much sun as possible on the weekends. However, too many girls make the mistake of not wearing sunscreen while sitting in the sun to compensate for their pale bodies…and end up looking like a lobster instead. Not only is a red face less attractive than a pale one (and much easier to fix with a little bit of bronzer), but burning your skin opens you up to the dangers of melanoma and skin cancer.

About 60,000 people each year are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer, and we want to help you learn how to treat your red and itchy skin to avoid this! Well, that and show you some really easy ways to look cute despite being a different color than most members of the human race:

Keep skin hydrated: If your first shower after the beach left you with tears in your eyes because the water stung so bad, you need to keep your skin hydrated with lotion. The most soothing gels and lotions have aloe vera in them, and this will help soothe your skin and prevent itchiness (and therefore scratching and scarring). You can also use hydrocortisone if your burns are really bad.

Drink liquids with vitamins: Water helps to keep your skin hydrated, but is also really important to keep you hydrated after a long day in the sun. To get the most bang for your buck, be sure to drink things with vitamins C and E in them, as they are crucial in repairing damaged skin cells and ensuring that your body is healthy once your sunburn clears up.

Exfoliate: GENTLY buff away the dead skin. Don’t do this too roughly, as it will irritate your body, but just enough to make sure that the skin cells underneath are not trapped. And you’re not flaking off on your couch/bed/friends for the next two weeks. Read More »

Lady Liberty wouldn't be caught dead in a fanny pack

Patriotism is kicking into high gear as our Nation celebrates its big birthday today.  Suddenly, the crowds on the streets look like they got lost on their way to a (slightly chubby) reproduction of an American flag-themed musical.  With fanny packs…lots of fanny packs.

In contrast to the more traditional elements of American style (bedazzled jean jackets, tie dye and reverse fit denim), people are going all out to show their love and support for this great nation. In the form of sequins. But is an American flag parachute jacket really the way to show someone, especially our forefathers, you care?

I don’t know about you, but it’s things like this that make me question my pride in America. I know this is the land of the free, but shouldn’t we be free of fashion like this? Read More »

I’m always keeping my eye out for the newest historical thriller. (Wow, that sounded really nerdy….) They are a perfect combination: history + suspense. I love when an author can turn a simple historical fact into a full blown novel, especially when there is intrigue involved. Needless to say, I was quite excited to find “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane” in my mailbox. Not only is it based on an infamous point in American history, but also includes a little supernatural, making it fiction perfection in my book. (No pun intended.)

“Deliverance Dane” takes place in 1991 and also 1692. For you history buffs, you will recognize 1692 as the year that the infamous Salem witch trials took place, where nineteen men and women were hung for allegedly committing “witchcraft.” The witch trials are regarded as a huge blemish in American colonial history, but with “Deliverance Dane” Katherine Howe uses a new approach: that maybe some of the women did actually practice some witchcraft.

The novel flip flops between two time periods and storylines. In one, set in 1991, Connie Goodwin, a graduate student at Harvard, is stuck repairing her grandmother’s ancient house in the small town of Marblehead, Massuchusetts, near Salem. In another set in 1692, Deliverance Dane (a fictional character) is being put on trial for witchcraft.

One day while cleaning, Connie finds a slip of paper in a Bible with Deliverance Dane’s name on it and begins an adventure to find out who Deliverance was. Along the way, Connie meets Sam, a brilliant man who abandoned his academic career to repair church steeples. Together they venture deeper into Salem’s dark and twisted history, tracing Deliverance’s family all the way up to the present day – and trust me, there is a twist there! When Sam has a horrible accident, Connie must look to the past and confront her own heritage to save his life. Read More »