I’m officially a college graduate and am joining the masses of recent grads sobbing audibly as they scroll through their Facebook photos from the past 4 years moving to a new city and a new life. As I pack up my boxes once again, I’ve realized that my college dorm décor may not exactly suit for the real world.

I want to update my room style from posters of David Beckham and Edward Cullen (I love you, RPatz – if you’re out there….call me. Seriously….) to shabby chic art, furniture, and frames. I want my room to scream “I’m a fabulous adult” and not “I frequent college poster sales,” and I don’t want to spend a lot of money to do it.

Instead of bringing along a DIY corkboard (perfect for any college dorm), I decided it was time to display my favorite college mementos, pictures, and reminders in a more sophisticated way. So I scoured the internet and the few flea markets that exist in my neighborhood to get design ideas until finally I came across an old miniature dress form.

Dress forms have been a symbol of chic fashionistas since sewing was invented. To me they scream modern yet vintage décor, and can be used for more things than just designing clothes. Instead of traditional frames or tape to mount my favorite pictures and mementos on a wall, I transformed the dress form into its own display board, frame, and jewelry case.

So here is an easy, creative, and inexpensive way to step up your style and display tidbits of your life. Read More »

“College is the best time of your life.” If you are in college, you will indisputably hear this more than a few times throughout your undergraduate years. Being told over and over again that college is in fact, “the best time of your life” is kind of intimidating – especially after graduation, leaving questions such as “If these past four years have been the very best, then what will I look forward to in the future?” to pop up.

My personal M.O. was to toss that belief aside as I embarked upon this next stage of my life. Why dwell in the past just because I won’t have the security of undergraduate antics to hide behind anymore and it’s time to face the music of the real world? (Despite John Mayer warning us that there’s no such thing as the real world, just a lie you got to rise above.) Instead of idealizing college as many people do, I have taken the approach that it’s okay to look back fondly and smile, but to not hold it too close or else I’ll never let go. And who wants to be one of those girls in their mid-30s recounting their college days as if they just happened?

However, I am not always perfect at sticking to my plans. Read More »

Question for La Tuff? Email her at TuffyLuv@collegecandy.com for a chance to be featured in this column.

Dear Tuffy,

Okay so I have a dilemma and I have been offered a LOT of advice on it but none of it seems to be the right fit for me. Maybe you can offer some third party advice that is more direct. There is a boy I currently like. Problems:

1) He just got out of a long term relationship. Attempting to make a move now would just be pointless as he probably isn’t looking to jump into another relationship.
2) He lived in my dorm last year and we’re both back in the same dorm now. Dormcest: Yay or Nay?
3) We are good friends. – I fear I am in the friend zone.
4) I am lazy/shy. I want him to make the first move but I think if I wait to long he might find someone else.

Any advice you can offer would be great.

-Help Read More »

Apparently ridiculous college courses are the new trend on campuses all over the world.  I’d go so far as to call them “unnecessary,” but the 440 people who just enrolled in Potsdam University’s e-mail flirtation class would beat down my door (or fill my inbox…) in disagreement.  Yes, you read that right- one German university is actually offering a master’s course on how to flirt via modern technology.  It promises to give you the skills to “get someone else’s heart beating fast while yours stays calm.”

At first glance, I thought this was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard; seriously, a class that teaches nerds to be better sexters?  But really, it’s probably going to be really helpful to some of these people.  Everyone deserves to know how to drop a well-placed “Did U know I used 2 be a gymnast?” or a “Miss ur face, come get in my bed.”

Of course, this got me to thinking; what are some other quirky classes that college students actually need?  (I mean, beyond all that Astronomy…tooootally going to use that one day!) Read More »

It’s that time of month again when I nobly purchase my Maxim magazine, a pack of Dove Dark Chocolates and snuggle up on my couch to scan the half nudey pages of the man bible.  I’m really starting to get used to this.  I’ve learned a lot the past few months of scanning the pages chock full of boobs and booze, and this month did not disappoint.  After staring at this months saucy cover, (Dania Ramirez’s swimsuit is seriously cute) I was in for another overdose of nice sports cars, sex jokes and Hometown Hotties 2010.

Go ahead, look over them all.  My dark chocolate started to taste like ash while I skimmed through them… I really need to start going on brisk jogs. For hours at a time.  Lucky for me, each hottie had a snippet quote below her picture and let me tell you, some of them really had me giggling/shoving dark chocolate down my throat again.  How can you feel bad for yourself when one girl claims: “I can make my boobs bounce!”  Oh my heavens, girlfriend! Like, me too!

Speaking of booby bouncing, JWWOW was nice enough to let her ginormous freckled boobs fill a four page spread. (I’m surprised they didn’t have 3D glasses for the big [hehe] event.) The photoshoot seemed to take place at a cheap New Jersey swimming pool (standard) and JWWOW was wearing (gasp!) a bright swimsuit and heels. The article was dedicated to JWWOW sharing her fashion advice. Which is also, funny.  Does any of her advice go beyond; “You’ll look fresh to death with a spray tan?”   A few more promisingly hilarious articles were a ‘Subtext of Condoms’ feature and ‘The 20 Biggest Bitches in Sports.”  I have to give kudos to Maxim, that shiz was dead on. You may even wanna hop on over to your neighborhood Borders and flip through to see what I’m talkin’ about. Read More »

First look: Dolce Vita shoes for Target.

Kate Gosselin gets a major DWTS snub.

Is your late night booty ruining the environment?

Uh, even I can’t stop looking at Blake’s boobs.

Ancient dildo dug up. Yes, that’s a true statement.

You’re in love with a friend…now what?

Let someone else talk, lawyer!

Before the hurricane of tears that will be next week’s season finale of The Bachelorette, Monday night gave us one last chance to revisit some of our favorite men who sadly didn’t receive a rose from Ali.  While the only people we wanted to see some faces were strategically missing (ahem: Justin R., Frank, and Evil Craig M.), the ones that were present were all smiles and had nothing but sweet things to say about a certain blonde who gave them the boot.  I was expecting at least one of the guys to ask Ali a “hard” question when she finally came out to talk to them, but alas, it was still all sunshine and butterflies.

The lack of drama, however, didn’t mean there weren’t points where I found myself grimacing, lusting, and laughing with a mouthful of seltzer water (that really hurts, btw).  Here were my favorite moments of the evening:

Chris N. as the “Phantom”

So that explains why we never saw him!  I knew I wasn’t alone in asking, “Who the hell is that?” every time he came on screen this season.  The clips of him lurking in the steamy, luminescent water as Chris L. says in the background, “He’s totally in his natural habitat” were beyond amazing.  Looks like we found Nessie!

Weatherman referring to Ali as being “mystical”

Uh, Jonathan…she’s a girl, not a unicorn.

Jesse’s shaved head.

Hot damn!  I mean he was good looking before, but now…psh!  Long gone are the days of pick-up trucks and cow tipping.  We’re definitely not in Missouri anymore. Read More »

Girlfriend can’t catch a break.

I don’t think the NY Times likes Snooki very much.

Apparently, we should all marry for money.

So, Amanda Bynes is not retired?

That’s an interesting pairing….

Let The Situation backlash begin!

As college students on a budget, we sometimes have to sacrifice our favorite beauty regimens in favor of our weekly trips to Dollar Beer night (or maybe we are actually being responsible and shelling out a few hundred dollars on a semester’s worth of textbooks). But just because we want to save some money doesn’t mean we have to look like dingy hags with 12 cats and a knitting room.

How?
With a little DIY, of course.

When it comes to treating yourself, you don’t need to shell out the big bucks for a professional; you can get the same results right there in the privacy of your bedroom. And we’ve got all the secrets. From great first date make-up and hair ideas, to cheap ways to bring your closet from drab to fab, here is your do-it-yourself guide to looking and feeling great.

The DIY Manicure. Even those cheap-o $12 manicures add up, so save that dough and manicure your own fine hands. You’ll have to head to your local drug store to stock up on all the essentials, like this season’s most fun and funky colors, but you’ll end up spending way less in the long run. And it’s worth it for Zebra-print nails.

The DIY Wax. If you’re especially daring, check out these seven tips for a successful at-home wax. And if you want to try the latest vajazzling craze without the awkwardness of having a strange woman in your area, there are now peel-and-stick rhinestone designs you can apply (and take off….) yourself.

The DIY Facial. We all want that perfect, glowing complexion but it’s not always (or ever??) practical to drop $90 on a salon facial. e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Creative Director explains step-by-step how to get that dewey but not greasy look yourself. And if you want to be really resourceful, you can even make face masks and body butter from leftover items in your pantry. Yum. Read More »

[For most college students, summer means one thing: an unpaid internship. We’ve been there and we feel your pain. Whether you’re making copies, making coffee runs, or just trying to make your mark on the industry of your dreams, it’s much easier to get through it all with a little help from your (CollegeCandy) friends. So come back every week to listen/sympathize with/vent with our anonymous intern as she does her thang at a big time magazine in New York City. Because, let’s be honest, what else do you have to do in that cubicle all day?]

Let me start this off by saying I love my internship. I mean really, I do. I know I might complain about it sometimes, but in the end I enjoy my time here and have gotten amazing experience. I’ve met a ton of cool people and I’ve been able to see my name in print numerous times (a fabulous feeling). I know I’m interning at a place where hundreds of girls would love to be and I don’t take it for granted.

But here’s the thing: I graduated over a year ago. And this whole not getting paid thing? It’s getting more than a little bit frustrating.

When I graduated college, I decided to give myself the summer off. Despite my mom’s annoying pleas to “think about my future” and apply for some jobs, I spent my time stumbling into my house drunk in the wee hours of the night and lounging at the beach all day. I had led a life where things had come relatively easy for me, so I figured that when I was ready for a job, it would be waiting for me. Read More »