[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like socks with sandals!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

In case you’ve been living in a hole for the past week (or, you know, busy paying attention to important world events), Heidi Montag got plastic surgery… like seriously! While we and pretty much everyone else has been clear on what we think about her new “look,” it got me thinking. One of the big things people have pointed out about Heidi’s work (aside from the sheer number of surgeries) is her age – specifically that she seems incredibly young to be having work done.

Now we’re not talking about medically necessary surgeries or reconstruction here, I’m talking the pure “make me pretty because I want it” type of thing, and I admit, I can see the appeal. While I have always been a proponent of the “love yourself the way you are” mentality, there are definitely days where I have wished I could wake up with a smaller nose or bigger boobs or a magically flat tummy – and I know I’m not alone. I was always taught that self-esteem is important, and most of us wouldn’t think twice about, say, coloring our hair or getting a gym membership to boost our self-image.

Isn’t plastic surgery just an (admittedly extreme) extension of that?  Read More »

In honor of tonight’s season finale, the best Jersey Shore video of all time.

10 things worth spending on.

The Kardashians are working Fashion Week?

Why isn’t this my Target?!

What does Jessica Alba think about her cellulite?

Will Kim and Reggie go all the way?

[Last week our Single Girl shared her feelings of jealousy for all her coupled friends. Looks like the grass is always greener....]

I’m getting to that point with my boyfriend that things are getting really comfortable. Since we live together I get to see him 24/7 which unfortunately means he sees me 24/7. AKA he sees me when I have no makeup, am in my sweats, and getting ready for bed. Honestly, there’s really no mystery left.

Flip over to my best friend Erica and her new boyfriend. She’s having all the fun of finding out all about him and she still spends an hour in the bathroom before dates. Then there’s my friend Haley who’s totally taking advantage of being single at college parties and can have a make out sesh whenever she wants with whomever she wants. I love hearing them talk about all the excitement of Erica’s new relationship and Haley’s latest exploits, but it’s starting to hit me that I will most likely never get that kind of excitement again. And I’m jealous!

I do love my boyfriend, and I’m totally OK with giving up stuff like finding out the hot guy at the bar is terrible in bed, or having a blind date with a guy with bad breath, but am I really ready to never have another first kiss? Another first date? Another first sexcapade? Read More »

There are very few things sexier than a stiletto heel. Stilettos give off a “femme fatale” image; “femme” in the way they enhance your legs and “fatale” in the way that if you fall in them you could die. But that’s a risk this girl is willing to take for the beauty of a stiletto heel.

There are a million different stilettos, combining every trend imaginable.  For the trend-shy gal with impeccable balance, wearing a stiletto with instantly add flair to an outfit.  And for everyone else, stilettos are the easiest way to spice up an otherwise ho-hum ‘fit, as well as experiment with different trends.  And though they are not practical for everyday wear (unless you’re Posh Spice), they are always little pieces of art. Seriously, when I’m not wearing them, my shoes double as beautiful bookends. Now that’s what I call multipurpose!

With so many gorgeous possibilities there truly is a pair of stilettos for everyone (or every outfit). Here are a few pairs that have recently left me drooling. I want, I want, I want! Read More »

The split between Conan O’ Brian and NBC is official, and like any break-up,  someone is sitting home, drinking tequila and crying themselves to sleep.

But surprisingly, that someone is not Conan O’Brien.
In fact, it looks like Mr. O’Brien might actually be doing better than ever.

While Conan may be totally getting the bad end of the deal with NBC, a bright hue of spotlight has been pointed directly in his path.  The publicity of The Tonight Show has been higher than ever, crushing his opponents, Letterman and Leno, in ratings.

But beyond simply tuning in to see what Conan has to say about the sitch (which, I admit, is the reason I started watching him), this entire debacle has given Mr. O’Brien tons of high-larious new material for the show. Seriously, the Tonight Show has never been better. Tell me you didn’t LOL when Conan went against the rules of bad-mouthing NBC by doing it in Spanish. “NBC is run by brainless sons of goats who eat money and crap trouble.” It’s Conan at his best.

And let’s be honest – America loves a good underdog story and Conan is most definitely the (insulting) underdog in this situation. He got Kanye’d and, much like Taylor Swift, now he’s got millions of people fighting for him across the country (there’s even an entire Facebook movement in support of him!) Sure, he had a strong fanbase before, but this has taken him to a level of fame he’s never seen until now.

It’s unfortunate that Conan is being pushed out of NBC, but with $45 million in his pocket and a whole slew of new super fans, getting the shaft might be the best thing that ever happened to this guy’s career. NBC, on the other hand, well their just effed.

You go, CoCo!

Tonight is the season finale of the Jersey Shore.

Let’s all take a moment of silence.

In preparation for this tragic ending I am beginning to practice the coping skills I learned from my therapist to use when dealing with a break-up.  Because this is a break-up. A really painful one.

You see my relationship with The Jersey Shore began like any other meaningful relationship.  I saw a preview and was interested.  I didn’t know exactly what it would offer me, but it seemed attractive enough for me to find out.  I committed to the first episode and was anxious to see how things would go, just like any first date.  By the end…I was hooked.

I am the first to admit my own psychosis…I became a stage five clinger.  I stalked The Jersey Shore by watching YouTube clips, looking for trailers, anything I could.  Our relationship blossomed as I became more and more intrigued with each character and I felt as if I actually lived in the house and could call the Duck Phone my own.  I found myself referring to the characters and constantly contributing my input to their lives.  “Did you SEE that girl The Situation brought home? Even he could do better than that!”

Read More »

Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? A really great local band? An awesome website? A product that truly changed your life? Amazing deals at Starbucks?! Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Make your kindergarten teacher proud and share!

We love make your own stuff around here. That is, when we aren’t the ones that actually have to make it. (Because who wants to make dinner after a long day of class? Helloooooo, cereal for dinner!)

Make your own granola mix.
Custom build your own photo art.
Design your own Nikes.

As long as someone else is doing the customizing, I am ALL about making things myself. I’m picky and I like things my way; just ask anyone who has ever been out to dinner with me. I customize my order like it’s my job, which makes the waiter’s job that much more difficult. But I don’t care – I want what I want and that’s that.

Which is why I am obsessed with Element’s Make-Your-Own Snack/Energy bars. I always love to have a bar handy in my bag when 5pm rolls around and the entire library can hear my stomach rumble, but I always catch myself saying “I wish this bar had chocolate or cashews, or dried cherries, or a protein boost” only to be disappointed. Element has heard my prayers (and probably my stomach rumbles) and is now offering every single one of our picky selves the opportunity to create a healthy snack just the way we like it. Read More »

If there is anything in this world I can rely on to be there for me (besides Dove Dark Chocolate) it is my big, bottomless, purse.  Chapstick? Got it. $2.41 in all dimes and pennies? Got it. Four flattened Milk Duds? Got it.  The Vegas Map and some Floss Picks? You’ve guessed it, I’ve got it.

I’m not the only one who loves me an oversized bag. According to Alan in The Hangover, even “Indiana Jones has one.” And why not? Besides holding Skittles and $80,000, huge bags are the perfect way to tote your most needed (and maybe not-so-needed) belongings. But they don’t come without their issues, namely back pain and  the embarrassment that comes with accidentally swinging that thing too close to a wall of breakables.

Big purses have made their statement in the fashion world and their way onto women’s (sore) shoulders worldwide. But as much as we all love ‘em, and boy do I love mine, there seems to be some extra “baggage” that comes with the bottomless wonder.

Pro: The Olsen Twins are right about one thing: big bags slung at your side do make you look slimmer.
Con: Try navigating a packed bar with this thing. You may look thinner, but you won’t feel it as you’re trying to make your way through the throngs of drunks with an extra 6lbs on you. Not to mention a wet shirt when you inevitably knock everyone’s drinks out of their hands.

Pro: You can fit virtually anything in your big purse. There are pockets and mystery caverns to put your most valuable items. My purse is like a transformer; one minute I keep all my books in it and the next minute I have secret mini shots of Smirnoff in a mystery back pocket.
Con: You can’t find anything in that behemoth! Good luck finding your ringing phone; every time you reach for it you pull out hand lotion, a half-eaten sandwich or – score! – that roll of quarters you’ve been searching for. And you know this is a problem, which is why you put that phone in the pocket. But of course you don’t remember that as  you scour the bottom of the bag for the faint sounds of “Tik Tok” playing somewhere in there. Read More »

[While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

Ashley lives in the room next door to mine so I see her a lot. Yet somehow, every time I spot her in the hall (or lounging on her bed) she’s wearing something different that looks amazing on her. Ashley’s got serious style. She not only knows what looks good, but she knows how to put things together that other people wouldn’t think of. And it always works.

The thing I probably love most about her fashion sense is that she always looks unique. She takes trendy pieces and makes them all her own, something I think we all wish we knew how to do. Plus, she’s not afraid to mix colors, patterns or styles and she always makes it look so right. If you see her around campus and you’re a fashionista, take notice; you’ll probably get some awesome ideas for how to spice up your wardrobe. Read More »

I see the new Massachusetts Senator without his underpants.

Fitness for the snowed in!

Conan gets a little revenge on NBC.

Anyone ever try one of these??

No more plastic surgery for Heidi.

Mischa Barton can’t act. Just ask Stabler!