Yesterday, I ran the infamous Bay to Breakers 12K. It was an amazing event and the energy level was off the charts! There were tons of costumed runners (and un-costumed ones as well, if you get what I’m saying), the weather was beautiful and everyone was just so happy and excited to be there. Including me. I will never get bored of running the city.

My official finish time was 1 hour and 17 minutes, which is pretty awesome. Especially when you consider what was going on in my life leading up to race day.

For the past few weeks and even months, I have been bombarded with finals and papers and work and group projects, all of which didn’t allow me enough time to properly train. I mean, the last run I did was a 2-mile warm up the week before. And my last run before that? [Crickets.] I honestly can’t tell ya. As I lined up yesterday morning to run, I felt completely unprepared. In fact, I even woke up late (don’t ask). My body was in full stress mode just moments before embarking on this 7.45 mile race.

I crossed the finish line (go me), but as soon as I did, I knew the day would be painful. Like, really painful. No one’s body can take that sort of stress without being properly trained! I ended up walking another 3-4 miles that day (why not?) and when I got home, I passed out. I woke up feeling like an old woman, with body pains everywhere (including places I didn’t even know existed). Between my lack of training before the race and my lack of proper stretching after, I was completely tense and, in all honesty, a total mess.

And that’s where today’s life lesson is comin’ in: the post-workout recovery. It’s important. Really, really important. Even if you feel totally fine after a trying workout or a long run, your body needs to recover. And you need to allow it to do so. With these 3 steps: Read More »

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It’s official. It’s summertime.

Okay, so I know that technically it’s not officially summertime, that’s not until sometime in June, but for us college girls classes are over, finals are done, and summer is in session. And there’s lots of reasons to be happy about that (like the three bs: beaches, bikinis, and boys), but there are also a few downsides to the start of summer. Like the end of good TV, and the return of really, really bad reality TV. (Speaking of, when does Bachelor Pad start anyway?)

But at least they go out on a high note, you know? Those season finale cliffhangers are a killer, but they also make the show memorable and make sure we keep thinking about their show even when it’s not on. And it works. In fact, I’m still thinking about a few of my favorites. 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. This week we’re showcasing our favorite celebrity commencement speeches. You know, the ones that didn’t don’t make students fall asleep.

You’re welcome.

Read More »

Summer season is almost upon us! While everyone else is going crazy at the gym, doing celery diets, and blowing their budget on summer dresses, we’re just chilling out and getting ready to enjoy the sun. Who needs to be hungry and sweaty all the time when you can get ready for the season with our 5 simple summer secrets:

1. Brighten your smile. After countless cups of coffee during the week and maybe, possibly, one too many vodka cranberries last Saturday night, your teeth are in dire need of a boost. Due to the fact that I was cursed with braces in high school, I became increasingly self-aware of how my teeth look at all times. Yes, you can go ahead and laugh at me as I turn to my friend and ask her to do a “teeth check” with me. But here’s the thing, a whiter smile gets you noticed. In the winter, your skin is paler and dry from the cold and lack of sunshine, so not having your whitest smile is not as noticeable. But in the summer, having white teeth against tanned skin can make all the difference.

My whitening mechanism of choice: Crest White Strips. They are cheap in comparison to professional whitening AND they work!

2. Tame your brows. And flashback to when I was 10 and being made fun of because I had a unibrow…awesome. Good thing my mom taught me well at a young age! Having too much eyebrow hair in between and on your brows gives off a messy look, especially for those of us with darker hair (ehhemm, me!). The best part about summer, besides not having class, is being able to hit the pool. I’ll be the first to tell you the boys don’t come running if you get out of the water and your eyebrow hair is slicked down to your face. Trust me. Having sculpted brows can make all the difference in how you look. Whether you’re into thicker, thinner or high-arched eyebrows, it’s time to get you to a waxing salon or save your money and give yourself some bangin’ brows.

Read More »

So we’re social media obsessed here at CollegeCandy HQ. We’re on Facebook, we’re on BlogLovin, we do StumbleUpon, and we’re obvi on Twitter.

Not only do we tweet about CollegeCandy.com and not only do we tweet hilarious things that cross our mind, but we also tweet out contests and giveaways and all kinds of fun things. And that’s why we’re almost at 7,000 followers (sorry to brag). So as a little treat to our followers we’re teaming up with (hottie super chef) Rocco DiSpirito and throwing a Twitter-only contest tomorrow. His new cookbook will not only help you get healthy for the summer, but it will also guide you into making the smart decisions in the kitchen.

Want to win a copy of his new cookbook, NOW EAT THIS!? Well, you’ll have to follow us on Twitter to find out how you can enter. But before you start following us, take a moment to get more details on the book we’re giving away.

Award-winning celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito changed his life and his health without giving up the foods he loves or the flavor. He has lost more than 20 pounds, participated in dozens of triathlons, and – after an inspirational role as a guest chef on The Biggest Loser – changed his own diet and the caloric content of classic dishes on a larger scale. In NOW EAT THIS! DIET, complete with a foreword by Dr. Mehmet Oz, DiSpirito offers readers a revolutionary 2-week program for dropping 10 pounds quickly, with little effort, no deprivation, and while still eating 6 meals a day and the dishes they crave, like mac & cheese, meatloaf, BBQ pork chops, and chocolate malted milk shakes. The secret: Rocco’s unique meal plans and his 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snack time, all with zero bad carbs, zero bad fats, zero sugar, and maximum flavor. Now readers can eat more and weigh less-it’s never been so easy!

Sounds too good to be true, right? It’s not. And even better, YOU could get all this for free. What are you doing still sitting there? Hop on Twitter and follow us!

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I’m all for theme-parties but this story out of the University of Pennsylvania is ridiculous. Having attended almost as many frat parties as classes during my four years, I can tell you that these kids don’t know the first thing about how to throw a great rager. As a wise and learned scholar in the art of drinking, I feel compelled to tell these ivy-kids what not to do, just in case they get caught again.

1. Live stock of any kind should be avoided. Sure there’s bound to be the odd misogynistic pig of the Frat boy persuasion, but in general things like camels should not be making an appearance at your party. Not only is it cruel to the animal, but after an hour or two, the odor is going to be cruel to everyone else.

2. Underage girls. They’re young and don’t know any better… which is great if you can get them in your room, but odds are they’ll end up getting sick in the bathroom from being too ambitious with shots. Not to mention, getting caught serving alcohol to minors is a serious offense. Let’s stick to the mature, seasoned upperclassmen and let the freshman drink where they’re supposed to: in the dorms.

3. Unmanned jungle juice. You smart ladies don’t accept drinks from guys you don’t know, or when you can’t see exactly what goes into it, so why should the party drink of choice be any different? If no one’s watching the jungle juice you could be in serious trouble. If you thought the prom punch getting spiked was a bad idea, consider the consequences of tons of girls drinking from the same, potentially roofied, beverage. That, by the way, was probably mixed in a dirty trash can. Shambles, much? Read More »

Yesterday, it was almost 80 degrees in my college town. Today, it’s supposed to be in the mid-70s. This is my favorite kind of weather: not too hot, but warm enough to flounce around in a sundress. The unfortunate thing about this weather, though, is that it makes me want to eat summer foods. You know what I’m talking about: watermelon, buckets of frozen yogurt, fresh strawberry pie, raspberry anything…

These foods aren’t all in season yet (and I really should stay away from the fro yo), but some berries are, like blueberries. Blueberries are not only absolutely delicious, but they are extremely good for you. Nutritionists suggest that blueberries contain high levels of antioxidants, which may help treat and prevent some illnesses. Blueberries are also high in Vitamins C and E and manganese, as well as dietary fiber.

That’s a lot of good stuff, which means we should all probably be eating more of these tasty little orbs. And I’m going to make sure we do just that.

This week’s recipe is super easy, incredibly healthy and bursting with bright flavors. It’s great for a picnic lunch or even a mid-afternoon I’m-hungry-and-need-something-to-hold-me-over-until-dinner snack. As usual, don’t feel restricted by the ingredients I picked. The great thing about salad is that it’s easy to mix and match and change flavors. So add whatever you like! I like to use arugula in this salad because the spicy, almost bitter taste is great with sweeter fruits and dressings. With all salads, I need something crunchy on top – I like sunflower seeds with this salad, but crunchy chow mein noodles would also be really good!

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We love braids here at CollegeCandy.  I mean, who doesn’t?  They’re cute, easy, a great fix for frizzy hair, and sophisticated.  Unless you’ve got the Pippy Longstockins thing going on.  Don’t do that.  There are a zillion braid variations that all have the same basic idea, but some can be a little tricky.

Enter: the wrap around French braid.

Don’t worry, I am about to show you how to make this happen.  I spend a lot of time in front of the mirror trying to figure out how to do these braids.  Sure, I could watch videos or look it up, but I do it for you!  And it gives me an excuse to ignore my other responsibilities.  But I digress.  Braids are perfect for summer, but this braid has a special place in my heart.  Why?  Because it wraps around and keeps your hair off of your neck!  That way whether you’re laying out, walking around town, or going out at night, your braid won’t be sitting on the back of your neck getting all gross.  Problem solved.

And while I have your attention, Alabama still needs your help. Click here to see the drop off locations in your state if you have donations for the tornado relief!  Your support is much appreciated!

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow us on YouTube and check out my other videos right here! And for more beauty related tips, check out my website and follow me on Twitter!