[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, Melanie is putting her health first and going to the gym....every day....without excuses. We watched her suffer through her first week, and breeze through week 2. This week, though, Melanie faced a whole new sorta challenge.]

So, just wanted to let you guys know that this stupid One Month Challenge is officially cursed. When my sister gave up her penchant for junk food for a month, her and her bf broke up. Fast forward 2 challenges later, I broke up with my boyfriend, who was living with me and my roommate. All drama aside and cutting to the chase: I skipped a day at the gym. Oops. However, I have been getting a significant amount of cardio in from my sporadic post-break up sobbing in public/indiscriminate panic attack dry heaving. I can already feel my abs tightening.

Now, I’ve started to work out even harder at the gym, pushing myself to my full limits. Actually, skipping a day made me work even harder. I think my body needed the rest. Except this week really, really sucks for working out. There’s nothing I want more than to curl up on the couch clutching my bottle of Pinot Grigio, my two new boyfriends Ben and Jerry and weep while watching “It’s Complicated” because I will never find a guy like John Krasinski. But oh no, I have to take my multi-vitamin as per Jillian Michaels, pound out some time at the gym, do crunches, do my sobbing abs exercise and try my damndest not to skip another day. Read More »

Wardrobe essentials for college girls

Survive winter fashionably

Awesome everyday earrings

Look as pretty as a royal

Turkey day attire made easy

Trend alert: Femme Trouser

Get Anne Hathaway’s gorgeous look

The holiday collection you’re going to want

How to know if your make up is expired

Can’t afford cashmere? Try cashmink!

12 reasons to go to Urban Outfitters

This dress is on my holiday wish list

There is one thing in life you don’t understand until you get into college (besides a cheap vodka hangover).  And that one thing is theme parties.  And the one thing you don’t understand about them is how amazing they are.  Seriously, they should be a religion, or a hobby, or a competitive sport…OK, I know I’m getting a little carried away here but…

Theme parties are the cheese to my macaroni.

They are fashionably expressive, sexy trashy, and if there is anywhere (besides the local dive bar) where anyone gets absolutely crazy – it’s a theme party.  Franzia bags look juicer and beer served up in a red cup looks all the more tantalizing.   In my four years in college I can safely say that I’ve mastered the theme party.  And I think everyone should be given an equal opportunity to enjoy the ropes of a solid opportunity-to-get-creative slutty.

I’m here to fill your brain with theme party kit knowledge.  Go ahead and dedicate a separate bin for your theme party goods.  With the holidays coming (and with them a whole crop of creative theme parties), I promise it will be worth it.  You will need these things to get you through these trying times. Trust me.

Read More »

[The following is a guest post from our gal pals at CollegeFashion.net. They're like college Rachel Zoe (with a little extra meat on their bones). Have you checked them out yet?!]

One of the best ways to battle the cold and look perfectly seasonal during winter is to wear a cozy, cold weather vest. Before you say anything, hear me out: There are ways to do so without a) looking like you’re about to go skiing, b) evoking images of the Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters, or c) having people ask why you’re wearing a life preserver, like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. All it takes is a little creative styling.

So next time you’re having the dreaded “sweatpant” battle (my roommate keeps the house at 68 degrees, so I grapple with this decision on a daily basis) reach instead for a fuzzy pair of socks, the softest thermal top you own, and a warm winter vest. They come in tons of styles and materials, so you’re bound to find one you like. Read More »

Disclaimer: Many Harry Potter fans sit in the theater picking the movie apart in terms of being an accurate adaptation, but I believe the film should stand alone as a part of its own art form, which is first and foremost a film, not a book. I’m NOT saying that the books aren’t amazing – I do think that they are – but I AM saying that I’m going to look at this film as its own entity, so stop reading now if you are looking for a comparative piece.

That being said, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is actually a good film. Even though its title is quite the mouthful. The acting is well done (with some notable exceptions, which I will get to). The directing is impressive, with the help of some wonderful set design. And the underlying themes of the film will always be prevalent, but they work particularly well now.

You’ve been living under a rock, you say? Good, because I’m about to explain the plot of Harry Potter, so brace yourself. Part one of the seventh film in the series picks up at the end of summer. (Need a reminder of where we left off? Get it here.) Voldemort’s rise to power is in hyperdrive. Ever the multi-tasker, Voldemort is trying to find and kill Harry while also searching for another unknown mystical object. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are trying to find some mystical objects as well. Horcruxes are divided up parts of Voldemort’s soul that need to be destroyed in order to kill him. The BFFs are also coping with the death of Dumbledore (and trying to understand the weird sh*t he left them in his will). Ron and Hermione remain crazy for each other, but still won’t make out already.

And you thought you had problems just because they stopped selling Four Loko at the convenience store. Read More »

Can we all just agree that this week never even happened?  I mean, really, did it?  It seems like everyone’s been tying up loose ends and preparing for the madness that will be next week.  Here at CollegeCandy, it’s been no exception.

Whether you’re eager to get home and enjoy some home cookin’ for the first time in months or are dreading sitting at a table with twenty of your closest relatives, we’ve taken the time to prepare you for just about anything!  After all, those Thanksgiving dinner rolls can be just as deadly than a nosy aunt.

Sure it’s not the healthiest holiday, but those green beans aren’t sooo bad for you, are they?  Guess again!

Try beating the holiday bulge by pre-planning your plate.

“You’re studying what? Gosh golly, why ever wouldn’t you just go into medicine like your father?”  Thanks grandma.

Whether your blood’s boiling or the wine’s flowing, avoid these Thanksgiving partyfouls. (Oh and CLICK THE LINK TO WIN A PRIZE!)

Need to distress after T-Day?  Make the most of your time at home with these great chill out tips.

And don’t forget to brush up on your “guy speak” for when you get back to campus!

If you want to get a jump start on some Christmas shopping, take a peek at these sensational candles that we just looove. Read More »

We all know how quickly things happen in Hollywood, and this week is no exception. One day you’re happily married, the next day your husband is sexting other women. We all know how that is, right?

Large Movie Theater Popcorn With Extra Butter

1. Eva Longoria has filed for divorce from husband Tony Parker.  This surprising news came out after several days of her publicists saying the rumors were false, but Eva tweeted the news herself.  Apparently, Tony was sending inappropriate texts to his former teammate’s wife! Yikes, that’s a major no-no.  Sad news, but I’m pretty sure Eva will have someone new and better soon enough.  Who the heck would cheat on her?!  She can wear a jacket without pants for goodness sakes!

2. This.is.bananas: Rachel Zoe is preggers!  The fabulous fashionista has finally admitted she’s pregnant.  We’ve been speculating for the past few months, and now we know for sure!  Rachel tweeted that she and hubby Rodger are “beyond excited.”  Congrats!!  I bet this baby will have the most fantastic outfits and beat out Suri for best dressed kid.

3. Teen Mom, Amber Portwood, has been charged with two counts of felony and a misdemeanor for domestic violence against baby daddy, Gary Shirley.  Amber has responded saying the reports are false and without proof that Leah was there, she can’t be charged for a felony.  MTV has handed over all footage to the authorities in cooperation.  If convicted, Amber faces a $10,000 fine and up to three years in jail.

4. Famous Hollywood publicist, Ronni Chasen, was murdered this week. This is such a strange and sad incident, and investigators are baffled.  Ronni was driving home after attending the “Burlesque” premiere and was shot in the chest five times before crashing into a pole.  She was brought to Cedars-Sinai where she was pronounced dead.  So sad, our thoughts are with her family and friends.

5. Former American Idol, Chris Daughtry and his wife Deanna had twins!  The couple had fraternal twins, Adalynn Rose and Noah James, through a surrogate.  Congrats, you two! Deanna already has a 13-year-old and 11-year-old from a previous marriage.

Small Smartpop Popcorn

1. Mischa Barton has a reality show?  Sadly, this is true.  The starlet wants to be portrayed in a more positive light, so what better way to do that than to have your own show. Sigh. We just want to remember her as Marissa Cooper.

2. Toy Story 3 is gunning for Best Picture at the Academy Awards!  While there’s a separate category for animated pictures, the Pixar team figures, why not? No animated film has ever won for Best Picture, but it looks like Toy Story 3 definitely has a shot.

3. Paranormal Activity 3 is coming next Halloween.  No! Stop it, we don’t need anymore of these scary movies. More Pixar, please!

4. Get excited: Flava Flav is launching is own lines of flavored vodka and fried chicken! Yeah boii!!!

5. Matthew Morrison is so hot I can’t stand it! [Editor Note: neither can we...more topless vaporubs please]

As a senior in college, I’m scared to graduate. I’m terrified of turning my tassel because it’ll mean I’m leaving a world of overly caffeinated morning classes, Greek life costume parties and, apparently, the opportunity to play competitive Quidditch. And like most of my generation, I might possibly find myself (not) contributing to the nation’s economy by suddenly joining the unemployment rate.

If that were to happen, then I would take responsibility for it. I would acknowledge that it was my fault for wanting to be at the top of the beer pong tournament bracket instead of at the head of my class curve, and for being too anxious/lazy/[insert excuse here] to apply for graduate school programs. My socioeconomic failure would not be simply boiled down to the fact that I didn’t major in some form of engineering.

But Dori Jones Yang over at The Huffington Post disagrees. According to her, studying anything that does not directly lead to a future career in technology will “speed up our own decline as a society.” These supposedly impractical majors include literature, theater, art, politics, creative writing, psychology, English—fields of study that Yang categorizes as “all the fun stuff.” Apparently, we liberal arts kids live in a “dream world” that is lit by Hollywood stars and concert spotlights, and we inevitably aspire for contentment after graduation on Mom and Dad’s couch. We drop our calculus classes when they start to get difficult because we don’t like a challenge. Because we can’t handle it.

Read More »

So you’re going home for Thanksgiving.  Clean clothes, fresh sheets, and comfort food? Wise choice, my friend, wise choice indeed.  While you’re sitting ‘round the table giving thanks for the bountiful feast laid out before you, it might be best to omit these observances from your polite dinnertime conversation…

1. This year I’m thankful for not catching herpes from that guy who I found out (too late) had sex with half the Greek Village.  The female half.  Mostly.  I think.

2. I was hiding an open bottle of vodka under the table, but it’s not there anymore.  You think the baby took it?

3. This stuffing would be ten times better if I was drunk.

4. Could you do that again with the cauliflower soup?  When you pour it that way it kinda looks like jizz.  Don’t you think?  Anyone?

5. Hey, Uncle Joe- you’ve got a little of that soup dribbling down your chin.  Hahaha!  Heh.  Heh…

6. Whoop!  Looks like little Frankie was the one with the vodka.  I think he just threw up in the green bean casserole.  Or wait, is it supposed to look like that? Read More »

As much as we want to deny it, if my frozen toes are any indication, winter is on its way. And with winter comes lots of dark, gloomy fashion. The black and gray sweaters, the dark jeans, the Uggs. Ugh.

But why? Winter is a beautiful season – all that bright, sparkly white snow – so I say it’s time to trade those winter woes for winter whites. The fashion gods say we aren’t supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but I say hell to the no. And so does my favorite fashion maven, Rachel Zoe. (The girl may be crazy, but when it comes to style, I totes trust her.)

The trick to successfully pulling off white in the winter-time is making sure you keep your look more “snow angel” and less nautical/I’m on a (mother effing) boat. So avoid those light, loose fabrics and mix in heavier pieces (think suede, velvet, heavy sweaters and thick tights).

Need some help? Here are three ways to wear white in the winter. Read More »