Sometimes daytime makeup can get boring. And sometimes daytime in general (like when you’re at a dull internship)  can get really, really boring. And that is when it’s time to make a change (hello, Michael Jackson reference) and add a little more oomph to your look. But is it possible to go a little bolder on your eyes without crossing into “going out makeup” territory? Yes! It’s called the daytime smokey eye and I’m going to show you how it’s done.

You can do it with any colors you want, but I’m going with some beautiful neutral shades.

Before you watch, though, can we just talk about how it’s been a year since we started CC Beauty Live? I can’t either! This has been such a great experience and I want to give something back to you all for your loyal viewership. So watch the video (all the way to the end!) for my surprise!

[Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month we’re following Christie on her quest to stop gossiping. The first few days were rough. The 2nd week was full of excuses. And then she reunited with her BFF/gossip partner in crime. How’s she doin’ now?

This week was fairly boring, I will admit. It was mostly spent packing to move into my apartment, finally leaving the country and heading back to the city. Therefore, I haven’t really hung out with people nor had much time to get really involved in any sort of gossip.

Phew.

I did, however, attend a job interview this week. The interview was going well, I was wowing her with everything I had, and then she asked, “Was there ever a time you just really didn’t get along with someone and had to be courteous toward them anyway?” Obviously, a job interview was not the place to go, “ohhhh girl, let me tell you,” so I just took a moment and smiled. This challenge has come in handy, it seemed. I told them I just didn’t get along with someone in high school, but had to be courteous to them because I didn’t want to cause a disruption in the classroom. There, nothing negative said about that person.

The old me – before this challenge – wouldn’t have left it at that, trust me. I most definitely would have used that to my advantage, adding at least one negative comment about her. Instead I seemed mature and collected. Read More »

Writing about Inception isn’t comparable to writing reviews about Toy Story 3 and Eclipse. In all honesty, I didn’t know anything about the movie going into it, except that Leonardo DiCaprio starred (and that was enough for me), but I was pleasantly surprised by the film. It was long and complicated, but mostly rewarding, although I did have some problems with the acting, which I will get to.

Inception is based on the concept that, through technology, people are able to invade the dreams of others. It is not thoroughly explained, but it is assumed that this technology isn’t accessible to the public; instead, the military and powerful (or possibly just rich) people are able to make use of it. Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are partners who specialize in gathering people’s secrets from their dreams. It turns out that when someone’s dreaming, they put their secrets into safes that are present in their dream world.

Still following?

Basically if you have a dream one night, and DiCaprio is breaking into a safe in your house, that’s bad news, because he’s finding out your deepest, darkest secret. Inception is the concept of planting an idea in someone’s mind, which is a lot harder than just invading their dream, because the idea has to be put so deep in someone’s subconscious that they have to believe they came up with it on their own. The owner of a powerful corporation wants the heir to his rival corporation, played by Cillian Murphy, to be subconsciously convinced, through his dreams, to disassemble his father’s empire. Although the task is seemingly impossible, DiCaprio is sold when he is offered the ability to return to America, which he hasn’t been able to do because of allegations against him in the States. DiCaprio intends to bring along his crew of six people into Murphy’s dream so that he can go back to the U.S. and finally see his children again. Read More »

There are some things you shouldn’t fake but you do anyway. We’ve all done it. I did it last night. Heavy breathing, a little writhing, a moan or two, and you’re got yourself a straight up ‘big O.’ Hey I just wanted to get some sleep, I was too damn tired for a marathon sex sesh.

It doesn’t mean that some things aren’t better faked.

Sometimes you just don’t have the time to read the New York Times every morning, or take up sailing to impress the hot preppy guy in your economics class, or even make sure your life isn’t a complete disaster. In this case, sometimes a girl just has to fake it. Hey, you think I actually have time to read the whole Economist every week to fit in with my superstar Ivy peers? Hells no.

How to Fake Knowing About Current Events:

1. Pick up the Economist from the library, read the first 5 pages where they summarize all the major events that happened in the past week in bullet points.

2. Skim the world section of the Times every morning, usually you can pick up the main points in 10 minutes- things in Iraq continue to go to hell, terrorism lives on, etc.

3. Every Sunday the Times summarizes all the major news stories of the previous week. Plus all the stories rock.

Read More »

I feel like I’ve been picking dull books lately, so, like last week with “The Curious Incident…”, I’m taking another highly recommended book for a test drive. My mom has been raving about “The Poisonwood Bible” for years and even though we don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to literature, I decided to finally cave.

“The Poisonwood Bible” starts out as the Price family of Bethlehem, Georgia arrive in the Belgium Congo in 1959, as missionaries. Nathan Price, a patriarch in every sense of the word, believes that his no-nonsense form of Christianity is just what the Congo needs, so he moves his family to a remote fly-in village. His family consists of his passive wife, Orleanna, and four daughters: Rachel, Leah, Adah & Ruth May. They are all good Southern girls, but they have no idea what to expect in Africa and come drastically unprepared, literally and figuratively. One of my favorite parts of the book, which illustrates this point so well, is when Mrs. Price decides to make a Betty Crocker cake for her daughter’s 16th birthday. She opens the cupboard, only to find that the Congolese weather has mutated the mix beyond use. The family lives through their time in Africa, learning of the Congo rebellion against their Belgium rulers, but the book also continues on for another 30 years. Each character narrates their own unique chapters and lives, but they all have in common their experience in Africa.

Kingsolver has really created a wonderful novel. I learned so much about Africa in the ’50s and ’60s and also missionary work, two subjects I had zero knowledge of. She seamlessly integrates the political aspects into the actual story, which is challenging. I believe she also portrays the African people of the village in an accurate light and gives them a voice despite Nathan’s harsh attitude towards them. I also enjoyed the fact that each daughter was given her own chapters and able to give her perspective on each experience. All four of them represent different qualities; Rachel is self-absorbed, Leah is loyal to a fault, Adah is clever and doubting and Ruth May is innocent. All of them were able to contribute something different to the overall development of the story and I liked that Kingsolver changed each chapter up so dramatically. It kept even the duller parts interesting and fresh. Read More »

The following post is courtesy of our gal pals over at CollegeFashion.net. Check them out for all your fashion and beauty needs!

Versatility is everything when it comes to fashion on a budget; when shopping for new clothes in summer, I always look for pieces that will work in hot weather and easily transition into fall.

With the spirit of transitional dressing in mind, I found 3 pieces that are perfect for the warm summer months, but can easily be worn into fall and winter. For each piece, I’ll show you how to wear it “now” (in summer), and “later” (in fall/winter), to help you get some wardrobe bang for your buck. Read More »

What a week! I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’ve been busting my butt at the gym, trying to look cute before classes start again. There’s a lot of stress to look banging when the school year starts again, what with the new slew of potential Freshmen boys roaming through campus. But before I can begin my 5k regimen (or chug a protein shake on the couch), let’s the review the week that was.

- Lindsay’s finally gone to jail. Thank god it’s only 12 days; I don’t know if I wold have made it through 90.

- He dumped you but still texting you? Three words: what. a. douche. Walk away, girlfriend.

- Feeling stressed? A little too much on that plate of yours? Stop. Breathe. Relax. And find out why stress does a body bad.

- We may not all have the money or time to travel the world when trying to get over a break up like in Eat, Pray, Love, but there are a few things that help. First step: load up on the chocolate. Yes please.

- The Jersey Shore “celebrities” went on strike. But before we could send in the replacements, MTV gave in to their demands. Apparently being orange warrants $30K per episode.

- We’re intelligent. We’re sexy. We’re worthy of love. Yet somehow, there are still so many dating myths that even, we, the smartest women believe. Read More »

The lights, the celebs, the crazies – all reasons to love H-Wood. Even more reasons:

1. Lindsay’s finally locked up (for a few weeks anyway) and, hopefully, Mel Gibson will follow in the near future.
2. Secret weddings never get old (yeah, I’m talking to you, Orlando & Miranda)
3. There’s always a scandalous split going on.

Sigh. I wish I’d thought of the E! network before Larry Namer and Alan Mruvka did. I’d be making BANK.

But I digress. Let’s get back to the week that was. As usual, the fine folks in Hollywood provided us with endless entertainment that had nothing to do with their careers. Especially hoochie mama, Taylor Momsen. That girl is a hot mess and a half, but I’m loving every minute (and pound of eye liner). Read More »

Earlier this week, I went on a date. Yes, a real live college date. They’re rare, but apparently they didn’t go the way of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and do still exist.

I agreed to grab dinner with a guy who had been in my honors seminar this past semester and I didn’t think anything of it. When he came to get me before dinner, I just figured it was on his way or something. But then he paid for dinner and insisted that we go to a movie… and it was around there that I started to catch on.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against dates. Nothing at all! Hell, in the hook-up culture that is college, I like the idea of them. It’s a lot easier to get to know someone when you’re sober (and not already making out…). But I had forgotten how SO not enjoyable first dates are. Seriously, it was like an interview, but a really, really, REALLY weird interview. With awkward silences. And flirting. Read More »

Just when I thought college couldn’t get any better, two BYU brainiacs (or lazy sacks of shadoobie) went ahead and turned things up a notch. To a death-defying 5 mph. Where couch cushions replace rims, a La-Z-Boy on wheels may have just exceeded my Top 5 Inventions list.

Who needs a golden lab puppy to pick up chicks when you have a transportable comfy couch?
And how much easier would it be to have a little party-time makeout sesh when there’s a loveseat right outside? Hellooooo comfort, goodbye walk of shame!

Gah. If only those uptight administrators at BYU didn’t ban stroke of genius. It could change the face of college for. e. verrrrr.