Holiday season is by far my favorite time of the year. It’s a season of excessive desserts, eggnog, sample sales, boots and of course, lots and lots of gifts.

What’s not to love?!

No matter which holiday you celebrate, gift giving is a staple of the holiday season. But there is some major pressure when picking out a gift for that special someone. And in this not-so-fabulous economy, a lot of people don’t have the resources to buy the perfect gift anymore.

Well, like I always say, if you can’t buy it make it. (Okay, so I don’t usually say that on day-to-day basis, but you get my point.)

Homemade gifts can be some of the most cherished and beloved gifts. There’s nothing better than seeing someone’s face light up as they unwrap and enjoy a gift you made especially for them. But not all homemade gifts are created equal. Frankly, some just plain blow. Hard. Re-gifted presents and macaroni necklaces won’t cut it anymore, so I’ve rounded up a list of the best homemade gifts that don’t suck. Read More »

Some of you lucky ducks are already done with finals and may even be boarding the next flight back home. While you’re sitting in front of the TV (all day, every day) this winter break deciding what to do with all that extra time, why not do a little work on that hot bod of yours and strengthen those abs? You can even do this super easy move during commercial breaks!

I know when it comes to flattening that belly you’re tempted to bust out 100 crunches, but try planks instead. Fitness experts everywhere tout them as the best moves that engage the WHOLE body while centered around the core muscles. That means they work your abs and everything else that helps keep you tight and toned and strong. Just pair these strengthening and toning moves with cardio exercises (anything from running to swimming to Spinning) to burn the layer of fat that might be covering your six-pack and you’ll have your goal figure in no time.

So, you ready for some side planks??

Read More »

My crush on Paul Rudd just got a lot bigger

Stop trying to make this non-couple happen

Top 100 videos of 2010 mash-up

All time most embarrassing celebrity parents

3 ways to wear holiday wear

Ew, here are the creepiest Santas ever

How to do the smokey eye look

Guess what Beyonce got Jay-Z for his birthday

Billy Ray Cyrus annoys me

Dumb celeb quote of the week

Let’s be honest. There were times when you weren’t sure you’d make it. You were optimistic back in August, but less so as the months wore on. You started your countdown on Halloween, and were ready to tear your own hair out over Thanksgiving break. By the time finals week had rolled around you had already checked out. But somehow, somehow you’ve managed to make it through.

Well…almost.

Another few days and you’ll be free and clear. Done. Dunzo. Getting the hell out of Dodge. The fall 2010 semester will be over and you’ll be able to do whatever you like over the break. Want to know what I’m looking forward to the most? Read More »

You didn’t leave all your work until Sunday night did you? What!?! You did. That’s okay. No stress. You’ll get it all done. We’re so sure that you’ll get it all done that we’re giving you a few more excuses to procrastinate.

You’re welcome.

Read More »

Since I started college a lot has changed. I went from doing all my class readings in advance to cramming them in right before the final.

I went from playing it safe with a cranberry vodka on the weekends to a nice scotch at the end of a particularly trying weeknight.

I went from crushing on different guys (all with the same bad boy attitude) to dating guys from all ends of the college major spectrum. In high school we were labeled by our extracurricular activities, from the football stars to the choir geeks to the French club sluts.

But in college, our majors are our labels. And because your major says a lot about you, I’ve decided to put my own major (journalism) to work and tell you which majors you have to date before you graduate.

The Music Major:
Because who doesn’t want to be a seriously smoldering musician’s muse? But before you cue the swooning, let’s dig a little deeper because, after all, with a musician, that’s what you’ll be getting: depth. Put the stereotypes of John Mayer and what he may or may not have done to Taylor Swift aside because while a musician tends to get a bad rep for being a bad boy, he’s more than your average player. He’s deep, insightful, genuine and not afraid to tell the truth. He’s the kind of guy that you can stay up all night talking to and never once think to check the time. He’s supportive and caring.

The catch? The usually shy and independent music major tends to keep to himself so you’ll probably have to make the first move but believe me, when he’s serenading you outside your bedroom window, you’ll be glad you did. Read More »

5 shoe styles every college girl should own

Best college party theme ideas

Use your student discounts for holiday shopping

12 colleges with the worst professors

10 questions not to ask your professor before the final

A freshman looks back at her first semester

Newly single freshman loses confidence in 30 seconds

Are internships the new entry-level job?

How to throw the best holiday college party

College sex tips for women

Getting through exams when you’re unprepared

The holiday seasons are all about eating too many dips, spending way too much money on frenemy gifts, and watching Elf on repeat. This year we’re prepared to take the stress and the frustration out of holiday gift giving by giving you the ultimate gift guides to buying the perfect presents for your favorite people (and we’re splitting into 3 different price ranges so you can choose the gift based on how much you actually like the person!). So set this series as your favorite because all week we’re bringing you the best.

It’s tough to buy gifts for the friend who loves to read. The choice should seem obvious, shouldn’t it? Buy a book. But what type of book? What has she read? What does he want to read? Hardcover or paperback? New or used? The questions are endless. And that’s before you even get into accessories. Are bookmarks too cliché? Will she even use them? Are all those gadgets really necessary?

All valid questions. But more importantly, all answerable questions. College Candy is breaking down the answers for you. With prices ranging from $11.99 to $139 we’ve got all your bases covered, from the books, to the book lights to the book shelves.

So no more standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble staring at the stacks of bestsellers attempting to figure out which one is actually worth reading. I’ve done the hard work for you and scoured those (cyber) shelves to provide you with the best gift options for the bookworms in your life. Read More »

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

I am currently studying abroad in an unspecified location in the world. We’ll just say… not in the U.S. (really narrowing it down there). My host university always organizes events at bars and such for students, but my roommates and I usually just pass on them because they just wind up being these huge all-American fests. But the other night we actually decided to go because this particular bar, in the red-light district, was serving unlimited free wine and beer between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. and, honestly, who could pass that up?

We did our usual pregame before the bar and all 4 out of my 4 roommates wound up getting wasted. Literally, couldn’t stand up, needed-to-borrow-the-flip-flops-I-conveniently-had-in-my-purse wasted. Mind you, it was only around 8 p.m. We hadn’t even left the house and I was already fully concerned about my roommates’ well-being, mainly because bouncers in this particular city are extremely strict with blatantly belligerent people trying to enter into their clubs (I wonder why…).

But I was worrying for nothing. Somehow all of us managed to get let in and the real (free) drinking quickly began. After we all scurried over to the bar to grab some drinks I wound up chatting it up with an adorable American guy for a really long time while all my roommates disappeared into another adjacent room. I wasn’t too worried though; it was a pretty small place. Only when I finally made my way over there, let’s say around 9:30 p.m., 2 out of the 4 girls were missing. Read More »

Final exams. Holiday parties.  End-of-semester ragers. Shopping, shopping, and more shopping. That last chance to hook up with the dude from Middle Eastern History, or your eagerly awaited reunion with your hometown honey.  You get the picture: this time of year, there’s a lot on your plate. So if you’re looking for something to fill up your plate (literally), may I be the first to suggest: clementines! Not only are they portable, affordable, and in-season, they’re powerhouses of Vitamin C—quite necessary to combat your surely-tired immune system from supporting your hectic schedule.

Easy Meals:

1. They’re the poor-man’s Mandarin oranges. Peel apart the baby slices and toss in your salad (I like them with feta cheese, peppers, craisins, and walnuts, with a little oil and vinegar for kick).
2. Two clementines a day give you 120% of your daily Vitamin C. Feeling a little sniffly? Toss ‘em in your bag on your way to class to nibble on during your lecture. (You’ll be glad you didn’t skip!)
3. Peel apart the slices of three clementines and toss in a blender with some vanilla frozen yogurt and dash of cocoa powder for a light, refreshing smoothie Read More »