Unless you’re some kind of superhuman who makes lofty goals and actually keeps them, you’ve probably broken a few New Year’s resolutions in your day. So you should probably just be like me, take the high road and not bother to make any.  But if you’re seriously stubborn and determined to make a positive change in  your life, make sure not to choose any of these…because as we’ll show below, they’re way too easy to break.

I will not talk to my ex. Unless if it’s birthday….or our anniversary…or a Friday night….right? Then it’s only polite to give him a call.

I will not procrastinate studying. Except when there is something way more important going on, like eavesdropping on my roommate’s conversation with her mom. Fascinating stuff.

I will limit partying to once a week. As long as we all agree not to count Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and “special occasions.”

I will go to lecture everyday. Minus days when the weather is bad. Oh and days when I feel under the weather. Or also, I guess, on days when Weather.com says there’s more than a 10% chance of rain.

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And by ‘big news’ we mean ‘a hot, hot man.’

Quick and easy ways to get over that break up.

Get sexy feet by NYE!

People who get paid to touch your junk – an (interesting) infographic.

5 hawt bandage dresses for under $50!

Watch kids get puppies for Christmas. Then melt.

3 sexy scents for winter.

A year in Gaga insanity.

Love/hate relationships aren’t just reserved for you and that hot-but-arrogant dude in your study group.  It’s a sometimes-sad truth that frenemies can be found anywhere: on the latest episode of Gossip Girl, at home when your sister borrows your favorite dress and rips it, in Starbucks when the longest line in history stands between you and your morning caffeine fix…heck, even on campus you’re often left feeling a bit bipolar.

If you think I’m exaggerating, you’re probably still enjoying the honeymoon phase of your friendship with the dorm’s biggest partier or that amazing professor who teaches the most boring subject matter.  Take a look at these top offenders and see where you weigh in… Read More »

While every college girl shares many of the same college experiences (Procrastinating, Blue Book exams ), she also carves her own path and has her own unique adventure. Have you ever wondered what it’s like for other girls? What it’s like to be an online student? To get married?! To be a commuter student?Well wonder no more. Our one-of-a-kind CollegeCandy writers (and readers!) are sharing their unique experiences and opening our eyes to different college worlds.

Being an international student is kind of like being a celebrity. No, seriously, hear me out. Everybody wants to talk to you. Everybody think you’re really interesting. Everybody is fascinated by you. At first.

Everyone wants to hear about your lifestyle and your culture, and they find everything you say hilarious. Like celebrities, everybody already has their own ideas about you. Everybody already thinks they know you because of what they’ve seen on the TV or what they’ve been told. And then they’re disappointed when you aren’t exactly how they imagined. They realize you’re not exotic or exciting. They realize, well, you’re just like them really.

Like a celebrity representing their brand, I feel like I’m constantly representing my country. Sometimes I force myself to conform to stereotypes and revel in my Britishness far more than I would do at home.

Being an international student is kind of a double-edged sword. A lot of time I love the attention. I know that all I have to do is open my mouth and people will be all over me with “ohemgee, where are you from?” It’s especially fun in my Shakespeare class, where my teacher is always making comments only I’ll understand, or apologizing for generalizations. Everywhere I go people strike up conversations with me the minute they find out I’m English.

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In recent conversations with new post-grads, I commonly hear the same defeated yet wishful comment:

“I’m so ready for the new year.”

And you know what? I couldn’t agree more. After a year of ups and downs, college graduation, and a weird new existence of life after college, I too am ready to get rid of my frenemy, 2010.

Personally for me, 2010 has been very strange. It was either really good or really, really bad – no in between. I haven’t had a year this bipolar since venturing off to college in 2006. Needless to say, my relationship with the past twelve months is something that I’m not looking to hold onto or cherish because, well, if this were a real life relationship, I’m pretty sure my BFFs would tell me to kick that jerk to the curb.

So, at the stroke of midnight, I’m doing just that.
See you never, 2010!

OK, so 2010 wasn’t a total bust. Half of it was spent rounding out my senior year of college (which rocked my socks off), and I did learn a lot about myself. It’s just that like many post-grads, I feel like since graduation all the things I’ve wanted to come true haven’t. While most people have had a few lucky breaks, the majority of us are still searching for that perfect opportunity, that new something that energizes us. We’ve grown cynical and lost the faith that we’d find our passion and go on to do great things with our college degrees. We have run out of steam to find what we’re looking for and the confidence that we can even get it. Read More »

[When moving into either a dorm or an off-campus apartment, your wardrobe will face two major challenges: 1. A major lack of funding (to add more to it), and 2. A major lack of storage space (for all the crap you've got). For these two reasons, maximizing what you already own becomes essential. That's why you need to learn to Shop Your Closet. Each week, I’ll show you how to wear 1 item 3 ways – with the stuff you most likely already own! – to get the most out of your purchases.]

It’s the week after Christmas, you’ve spent the weekend enjoying holiday treats and all you want to do is bum around the house. It’s cold outside. You’re cringing at the thought of stumbling out into the treacherous terrain, but you made plans to meet up with a friend. Standing in front of your closet, you stare at the few things you’ve got and wonder how you can possibly stay warm.

Well, grab your trusty pullover sweatershirt, and I’ll show you how to wear it without looking like a slob! Read More »

Not as fun as it looks. Trust me.

I’m always broke in December.

Finals week requires huge amounts of energy drinks and junk food to calm down stress for efficient studying, all worth it after the semester’s grades are posted.

Christmas calls for countless purchases from overcrowded malls to slowly rid the stress of giving gifts to loved ones, all worth it when they open their presents and have that priceless smile on their faces.

New Years’ Eve, however, for some reason, is like some huge competition to see who outdoes themselves and their bank accounts the most for the best Morning After story or the craziest Facebook pictures. And the stress that causes is never worth it, no matter how good that kiss was as midnight. Is it really worth hundreds of dollars to be at a club in Vegas while Jay-Z or Jay Sean or B.o.B. or Beyonce perform for the last twenty minutes of 2010? Do I seriously need to stress out over plane tickets or hotel rooms or my friend’s cousin’s roommate who can’t handle their alcohol?

NYE isn’t Go Big or Go Home; it can definitely be Go Big AT Home with your best friends. So if you want to avoid the “OMG, I can’t believe I spent that much money on a night that totally sucked,” here are the only 5 things you need for a killer NYE.

Bangin’ beats.
It ain’t a party without some jams. But who needs to shell out $75 to go to some bar with a DJ when you’ve already got all the same beats on your iPod? Be your own DJ and put together a playlist of YOUR favorite music of the year. It’s way better than being forced to grind with a stranger to every Katy Perry song of all time.

Sweet sips.
Alcohol is alcohol, and just because it’s served in some fancy glasses doesn’t mean it tastes any better. Vodka makes you just as drunk and happy when you pour it from a handle yourself, people.

Fun friends.
No one likes high maintenance party people, and thank goodness you aren’t one of them tonight. So control your guest list and celebrate the end of an amazing year with those who made it that way.

“Happy New Year!” headgear.
So you’ll know what night it was when can’t remember and look back at pictures. Top hat or headband, take your pick!

Sparkles of some sort in your outfit.
Because it’s New Year’s Eve and it’s practically protocol.

Contrary to what everyone says, you don’t need all that (overpriced) glitz and glamour for a great New Year’s Eve. And if the way you start the year determines what the rest of the year is going to be like, partying with your best friends for the night is definitely the perfect way to start.

I realize that my beloved T.Swift has been getting some harsh words thrown her way. There are a lot of people out there who don’t love her, her songs, or her “NO WAY! I can’t believe I won AGAIN!” award speeches. Some people question her talent. Others question her character. Some even wonder when she’s gonna start straightening her hair.

I am in none of those categories. Taylor’s lyrics may not be as boundary crashing as GaGa and she might not have a voice like Beyonce, but we can all relate to her songs about heartache and that feeling you get after an amazing date. Tay Tay gets it and more importantly, she gets us. So don’t turn your back on the girl who introduced you to a happier side of the story of Romeo and Juliet!  We always need a best friend like Taylor Swift in our lives to sing us through the bad times AND to give us a lyric high after an amazing night.

So here are 5 reasons why Ms. Swift is the ideal BFFAEAEAEAEAE…..

Taylor Swift will never leave you. Her music can forever be with you, on your iPod, ring tones, blasting it in your car…I think you get the point. T.Swift will always be your friend, even when there is no one around. Which leads me to my next point…

Taylor Swift comforts you when no one else can. Sometimes friends just don’t know what to say, but T.Swift…she knows what to say. Better yet, she puts what to say in a catchy song that you can belt out to get rid of your frustrations. Taylor, like you, has been through some pretty messy situations and can probably relate to them just as well as your friends. But unlike your friends, you can put her on repeat and dance to her advice in your PJs.

Read More »

Finals are done, break is here, and Christmas songs are a playin’.  Life is as sweet as mom’s home-made apple pie.  As we enjoy this holiday season, with the glistening, bright lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and much needed home-cooked food, it is also time to start planning those annual New Year’s resolutions.  As a senior in college, I can report from experience that there is a prevailing rationalization among my peers that, given its deleterious consequences on one’s health, clearly needs to stop. Hence, a perfect New Year’s resolution.  The rationalization spoken among my peers goes very much like this:

“Because I am young and in college, I can now treat my body like crap and get away with it.  After all, college really is only about three things: studying, relationships and overindulgence.  Heck everyone else is drinking to what would technically be considered alcoholism in the real world, indulging in all-you-can-eat dining halls, pulling all-nighters and living off of coffee and candy in between.  What is socially acceptable must be okay! I’m still healthy because [insert a plethora of excuses here].”

If this sounds a bit like you, I’m going to bring you back to reality.  Even if you feel reasonably fine now, this lifestyle will surely lead to ill health in the long run and will just perpetuate bad health habits post graduation. There is a reason why over two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and cancer and heart disease rates are skyrocketing. Our bodies cannot handle the stresses we are placing on them over time and the long-term effects are sure to appear if we do not take action NOW to protect ourselves.

After all, there is nothing more empowering than taking care of oneself and feeling great. Why not make this year’s New Year’s resolution about just that?  Here’s a list of suggestions, along with motivating facts, to make a healthy New Year’s resolution become a reality: Read More »

People did it. Glamour did it. And now I’m doing it. Sort of. While those two lovely magazines counted down the sexiest men of 2010 (I really, really love the fact that it rhymes this year) I am taking a slightly different approach. You see, those magazines seem to be making their decisions based on appearances only, but yours truly, well… I’m more focused on their, erm…skills.

Perpetually single girl that I am, I am in desperate need of a boy to kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve. And if I’m going to dream, I might as well dream big, right?

Ten guys. One wish.

To kiss them all on New Year’s Eve.

10. Taylor Lautner. If he agrees to kiss me at midnight, I won’t even write a song about him afterward. Promise. (Sorry T.Swift, I just couldn’t resist. I actually really like “Back to December.”  Honest.)

9. Eric Dane. McSteamy. McHottie. Whatever you want to call him, he’s McKissable. Just ask the Seattle Grace Nurses. Or Lexie Grey. Or even Bradley Cooper. (What? You haven’t seen Valentine’s Day?)

8. Matthew Morrison. Yes, I know he’s the teacher from Glee. But I’d like to remind everyone of that Rocky Horror episode, you know, the one when Schuester took off his shirt and started singing “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” …Yep. I thought so.

7. Chace Crawford. Come on now, ladies, did you really think I was going to get through an entire Weekly Ten without mentioning Gossip Girl? Shame on you! Nate has earned his rightful place on this list. In fact he’s actually locked lips with every one of the lovely ladies of Gossip Girl except for Lily VanderWoodsen/Bass/Humphrey, and I think that might only be because he can’t remember her entire last name. My last name, though? It doesn’t matter. These lips are ready for some smoochin’. Read More »