I’m a firm supporter of the whole “quality over quantity” argument when it comes to stocking my closet.  I believe in having a handful of basic pieces that transcend the trends- a slow accumulation of great handbags, well-made shoes, and basic shirts and pants.  The problem with my little rule is that once in a while I see something so absolutely to die for that I just want to hand over my hard earned cash and make an impulsive splurge purchase.

Ladies, this stripe confetti ruffle shirt from J.Crew is the current #1 on my lust list.  It’s a departure from the standard white or blue button-down oxford we’re all used to wearing when we want to look polished and profesh.

A great addition to your Fall shopping list, it’s a straightforward button down with a cheeky side.  Just look at that ruffled collar!  Check those stripes!  Appropriate for class presentations, job interviews, and looking generally collegiate while posing with the school mascot next to a stack of newly purchased textbooks (wait, does that situation only occur in catalogues?).

Don’t think you need to banish the ruffled goodness to pencil skirts and formal occasions.  J.Crew has hit a home run and created the shirt dreams are made of with this one.  Half-tuck it into a pair of white short-shorts and throw on some cute sandals.  Roll the sleeves, don some aviator sunglasses and you’re stylin’ your way to the football game.

Want to snazz it up for date night?  Add a pair of killer sparkly earrings and stack up a few bracelets when you wear the shirt with a mini-skirt and ballet flats.  But be sure to unbutton the first three buttons so you don’t look like a nun…you do want another date after all.

There are a few certainties in college.

You will study.
You will dress up in costume at least once.
You will eat more Easy Mac than you have ever eaten before. And sometimes you will eat it on a cookie slathered in cream cheese.
You will have a roommate at some point.

Yes, roommates and college go together like SoCo and Lime. They’re good goin’ down, but sometimes things can get ugly very quickly.

You may come from a home with tons of siblings, or you might have enjoyed bunking with a girlfriend on a week-long camping trip, but nothing is quite like living with another person in the tiny hole we call a dorm room. While having a roommate has its challenges (hello, you’re sharing a tiny room, you’re bound to disagree at some point…most likely over the TV) it can also be fun. That is, if you do it right. Here are 10 little nuggets of wisdom to ensure your roommate experience is a great one. Read More »

Nicole Polizzi.  Get used to saying that name because, saddest news of the weekend, “Snooki” just might be dead and gone.  That’s right.  After having one drink too many (and during the day, no less), our littlest Jersey Shore-er was arrested for disorderly conduct.  Now don’t get your poof all deflated, she’s been released from the drunk tank.  I know, big exhale, there will be a season three.

There is some bad news, however.  Snooks decided she wants to change her ways.  After feeling her family’s humiliation by her poor behavior, she’s made some rules for herself.  No more day drinking, no more bingeing at night.  We’re dealing with a newly reformed woman.

My emotions are torn because on one hand, I’m sad that Snooki’s dad was all disappointed in her since deep down he knows she’s just a good Italian girl caught up in the limelight.  But on the other I’m super sad that this could perhaps be the end of a certain orange, teased, stumbling mini-mess I’ve come to love.

Seriously, how will this new change of heart affect The Greatest Show of Our Time?  Will Snooki Nicole play the role of DD while all her cohorts get schwasted in the pulsating glow of the strobe light?  Will she be in bed by 8:00 and get up with the sun for a morning jog down the boardwalk before enjoying a protein shake and Luna Bar?  Will she become healthier than me? Read More »

There is nothing like waking up ready to start a new day, only to behold what appears to be a gargantuan pimple on your face. Believe me, I’ve been there. Suddenly, what could have been a pleasant morning heads directly towards Awfulsville.  Instead of looking forward to running into a crush, the goal becomes to walk very quickly in the opposite direction….with your face buried behind your hair. Granted, I do realize that there are infinitely worse scenarios that can be inflicted upon a person, but at the same time us ladies should not have to face the awfulness of pimples amidst all the other chaos in our lives.

Simply put, the world would be a much better place if pimples did not exist.

So the question is: do these loathsome little suckers form haphazardly or can we control their formation?  It used to be that doctors claimed diet has nothing to do with acne. Well not anymore.  Upon doing some investigation, it turns out the medical research indicates that there is indeed much we can do to prevent zits – actions that don’t involve buying hoards of benzoyl peroxide creams and cover up.  In fact, what we eat largely determines how healthy our skin looks.

Welcome to my one-article class on eating your way to healthy skin. Nom nom. Read More »

Color me not-suprised.

But who was best dressed of the night?

Oh no! What did they do to Lea Michele?

Nick Lachey wants a reality show career.

Surprise! Taylor Momsen says something stupid!

Does bad sex have to be a dating deal breaker?

I. Heart. School supplies.

Yes, we know summertime can be oh-so-sweet, but now it’s August and summer’s winding down with school just around the corner. As much as summer rules, from the beach to margaritas, there are so many perks to heading back to campus and gearing up for classes.

Here are the top 10 reasons that you can feel good about ditching the bikini for some books!

10. School Supplies
Is there anything sweeter than shopping for new pencils and binders? And highlighters? And an adorable bag to carry it all in? I love back to school shopping for supplies solely because I love thinking of new ways to organize.. and then obviously not following through with any of it come the first day of school. But still – gotta love the crisp pages of a new notebook. Sigh.

9. Dorm/Apartment Shopping
After stocking up on post-its of all colors, there’s no better excuse than back to school to get some brand new decorative pieces for your dorm and apartment. Low on space? Check out the container store, definitely a top fave. Want fun, quirky decorations? Check out Anthropologie’s sales!

8.  School sports
Get pumped for football, hockey and basketball. Even if your school isn’t a Div I college, it’s still amazing to pre-party bond over some sport, even if it’s just squash.

7. Fall clothes
So over shorts and tanks? Slip into some cute new jeans, sweaters, dresses and jackets. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had it with my gladiator sandals. I can’t wait to bust out my boots and scarves again! Read More »

Ben Bator learned how to college at Michigan State University and even went to class enough to earn a degree in Advertising. Since then, he has read millions of examples of what to do (and not to do) in college through his website, Texts From Last Night, which he started in 2009 with his friend Lauren Leto. If ever there was an expert in all things college, it’s Mr. Ben Bator. (Or, as I like to call him, Master Bator. Ha!)

Want to know what to do and what absolutely-under-no-circumstances-no-not-even-when-you’re-drunk not to do? Let’s turn to the Dalai Lama of college debauchery to find out.

Do: Hook up with someone in your dorm

This is the one thing that everyone tells you not to do, but chances are that you will anyway. Let’s face it – it’s convenient. The 2:30am “Whats up” text is more innocent and the victory lap is far less stressful than a cross-campus speedwalk in the morning. Most advise against this for reasons that relate to the awkward proximity in the aftermath of the hookup. Having been through this, it’s really not true. Here’s what really happens: it’s awkward the first two times you see the other person. Then you see them 38 more times that week and it’s either on again or it’s no big deal. But, if you choose to take it to any other kind of level than a simple nod or wave, see #2.

Don’t: Date someone in your dorm.

While hooking up may create a few awkward situations, dating someone in your dorm is likely to make ALL of your relationships suck. Roommates will slowly come to resent you (and that “whore”/”man-whore” you’re dating), new friends will turn into former acquaintances and your relationship with the new boyfriend/girlfriend will turn your Friday nights into a dinner “date” off-campus and deciding between Grey’s Anatomy Season One or Two. Raaaage! But if you’re still sure that this won’t be you & he/she is “totally different” than anyone you’ve been with before, I’d advise that you look into transferring dorms as to avoid the inevitable awkward “we live in the same building” break-up. No one wants that. Read More »

[Everyone’s got a morning after story (some are more traumatic than others) and we wanna hear yours! Send it over to us and we’ll post it – anonymously, of course – right here!]

I met Josh* one night in October and thought he was cute. He was tall, had dark hair and eyes, a nice body and dressed REALLY well. (You know boy’s attire can be important, so don’t even deny it.) We met when I was pre-gaming in the dorm, so it wasn’t like I ever knew him when I wasn’t under the influence, and this tends to lead to bad decisions on my part. Very bad decisions.

Post-pre game with the girls (and him) we went out – a frat party, a house party, who really remembers? All I remember is what happened when I got back to the dorm, which I definitely wish I could forget. We ended up having a really drunken emotional talk (while watching Wedding Crashers) and I found out he was a virgin. Was. Until that night. Because all of a sudden, out of nowhere, we were hooking up. And then I swiped his V-Card.

This alone would have been bad enough, but afterwards we were sitting in his bed and he was all “Oh my god, I need to make some calls.” Thinking he was going to grab his phone and tell his roommate he could come back from his sexiling, I moved over to let him get out of bed. Only that wasn’t the call he was making.

He jumped out of his twin extra-long bunk, grabbed his phone and proceeded to call his best friend from home. I know this because this is how the conversation went: Read More »

College life isn’t kind to the carnivore. Meat is often expensive and time-consuming to cook, not to mention extremely perishable, and the Mystery Meat served in the caf won’t exactly sate a craving for prime rib. So what’s a girl gotta do for some quick, cheap, protein? Short of settling for cold cuts, which could possibly shorten your life and are very high in sodium, why not take a page out of the vegetarian handbook and opt for filling, delicious chickpeas?

This Week’s Ingredient: Chickpeas

Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are often very low in price and are great to have in the pantry as they keep very well. They have a wonderfully nutty, smooth flavor and are the primary ingredient in hummus. (Editor’s Note: Mmmmmmm hummus.) In addition to being a great source of fiber (which keeps you fuller for longer), chickpeas are high in molybdenum, a mineral necessary for the production of the enzyme sulfite oxidase, which breaks down sulfites–preservatives found in deli meats. Oh yeah, and they’re a lean source of protein, with 15 grams per cup.

Easy meals:

1. Toss over a salad for extra protein and flavor.
2. Roast for 35 mins at 350 degrees in a pan with diced eggplant, curry powder, tumeric, and pepper for a spicy, hearty, low-calorie side dish.
3. Mix with black- and kidney beans, basil, olive oil, and feta cheese for a light three-bean salad.

The Recipe: Chana Saag

Did you know that eating spicy food in the summer helps you stay cool? By doing so, your body starts to sweat and cool down, without actually raising your internal body temperature. No wonder hot-n-humid India has such a spicy cuisine! Try this easy version of a vegetarian favorite, chana saag, which is named for the two primary ingredients, chickpeas and spinach. Read More »

It’s summer, and it is HOT. And humid. And sticky.

For us ladies, having generally long hair is a pain in the summer months, especially those of us (not so) blessed with the curls. Step outside for just a moment and that coif goes from fresh to ginormously frizzy. You could pull it into a pony tail and hold down the front with an over-sized headband, but you don’t want to spend the summer looking like you just left the gym. If only there were a cuter alternative…

There is, and in this video I’ll show you exactly how to do it so you can be frizz free, cool and still look hot. Best part? No washing required! I swear, it’s a gift from God.