[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

There a few things about New York I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to, like the inexplicably constant reek of urine it the subway and, maybe it’s just because I’m from Texas, but where I come from horse cops demand respect and are not meant to be pet by tourists. Every time I pass by the cops on horseback in Times Square and see tourists gleefully petting these horses, I can’t help but wonder how people in this city are okay with their tax dollars going toward novelty horse cops. But believe it or not there are some things I have gotten used to, like checking out local event sites to see what’s going on in the city daily. Read More »

Women are always complaining about making daytime clothes appropriate for nighttime extravaganzas, but HELLO! Making sweaty sports clothes look appropriate, and even stylish, for school is a much harder challenge. Thankfully, it’s totally possible.

As all you fitness-conscious ladies know, there’s practically no time to change between class and practice (and if there is, you know that going home to change means you’ll sit down on the couch, catch something good on TV and never get up again) which means you gotta find some clothes that do double duty. And designers like Puma make it so much easier with adorable workout wear that works both on the elliptical and in the classroom.

Here’s a list of our top favorites:

Lifestyle SL Hoodie: Can we just say how adorable the colors of this hoodie are?! The bright aquamarine blue is sure to get you in that athletic spirit and the energizing orange is bound to keep you focused in class. Plus, that hand-drawn heart below the PUMA logo is just too cute.

Soccer Scimmel: This is one of the most stylish pieces in the line. It’s a cropped top! Cropped tops have been on runways and celebrity bodies all throughout the season, and now it can be on you too! During class you can pair it with a pair of high-waist jeans and then at the field you can throw on a pair of shorts and you’re ready to (literally) tackle what’s next.

Soccer Capri: Sweatpants are always problematic. They’re too long, too short, too baggy, too tight – the complications are endless. However, these capris solve all those problems. Not only are these the perfect length and fit, they come in fantastic colors. We love the green!

Lifestyle Windbreaker: Whether you’re on your way to class or on your way to the gym, you need something to protect you from the elements of Mother Nature. But at the same time, you want something that will make a statement. Luckily, this item can do both!

Over the years, college kids have developed a universal stereotype as sex-crazed alcoholic party monsters. And while that may be true for some of our classmates, it’s a little bit off to say that this is all you can expect from campus populations. Or is it?

Just kidding, of course it is. How can you say we’re all the same when there are SO many more stereotypes out there that we can place college students into? Extensive research into the subject–aka watching a few Old School-esque campus-based movies–will give you a little insight into the type of people you can expect to meet once you set out to earn your degree.

But how do you know if all of these stereotypes are true? Things may vary from campus to campus, but overall there are a few people you can expect to make and break the stereotypes that have been established by years of party school movies and headlining college scandals. Here’s a little guide to what I’ve learned to be true and false regarding college stereotypes.

The 10 kinds of guys you should avoid at all costs

Will you do the movie marathon of ‘Harry Potter’ films in theaters??

How to keep the original Gleekers on TV after they graduate

The many women in George Clooney’s life

Is Kim Kardashian losing her curves for the big day?

Our favorite Mermaids in pop culture

Katy Perry used to tape down her chest

Surprise of the day: potato chips make you fat

Why some girls always have a boyfriend

[Like it or not, we all judge people every day. Especially when it comes to their fashion choices. From the girl with the too-short skirt for class to the old guy who insists on wearing short shorts and doing butterfly stretches at the gym (yeah, try to get that visual out of your head), it's impossible not to form an opinion. And now we're gonna share those opinions with the world. Every week, I'll be highlighting a celebrity look that I may love/hate/not understand and see what you, my college fashionistas, think about it. So put on your Joan Rivers fashion cap (which is undoubtedly made out of all the skin she's had nipped and tucked over the years) and let it all out.]

When I was 13, I was not a style icon. I favoured t-shirts with Disney characters and jeans with words on the back in rhinestones (shudder), so it’s natural that I am jealous of Elle Fanning, who is a whole eight years younger than me and wearing Marc Jacobs. Read More »

It seems as though the Hollywood is putting out more sequels and remakes than original ideas nowadays, and if it’s this bad now, we can only imagine how bad it’s going to be 30 years from now. Oh well, even if the writers of the future are even more out of ideas than they are now, at least there are a few recent movies that they could remake and then play on TBS during Saturday afternoons.

What movie would you like to see remade and which movie should Hollywood never touch again? What movies do you consider to be the classics of this generation?

[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

Life in college was pretty carefree. For the most part your friends were happy and full of laughter and smiles and funny stories. Sure there were always those times when you had to console a friends  over a break-up or you had to rub another friend’s back when she failed out of orgo and realized she’ll never be a doctor. But those were minor setbacks.

Then you graduate and everyone’s mood takes a turn for the worse. You’re jealous of that friend who got a job before you (I mean, c’mon, you had 19 internships, and she spent her summers at the beach) and you’re angry about living at home,  and you’re lonely because all your friends are miles away. Relatives and strangers remind you everyday that the economy sucks and you start reading the news and you realize we’re at war with 19 countries and that people are trying to outlaw abortion.  And you get this feeling of overwhelming depression. Like, wow, life sucks.

The worst part is that you’re not the only one in this downward spiral of sadness. All your friends are too. Everyone is lonely and depressed and confused and upset. Gchat convos that used to be about Glee and sexting do’s and don’ts are suddenly about rejected resumes and big life questions.  Everyone’s depression feeds off each other and before you know it, your once fun group of galpals is like a support group for angry people.

Read More »

Even though the human race is evolving (well… if watching “Jersey Shore” and reading trashy gossip blogs counts as “evolution”), we have all these new diseases and disorders to watch out for. Ever since Blackberry Neck was established as an actual “disfiguring disease,” I felt it to be my personal duty to spread awareness about other technical conditions that you may or may not be at risk for.

1. Internet Addiction – Do you check your social networking circuit (Facebook, Email, Twitter, blog roll, etc…) more than 5 times per day? Do you prefer to keep your laptop or smartphone with you at all times? Do you spend way too much time and money buying stuff you don’t need online? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from Internet Addiction. While it’s kind of a joke here in the US, Korea actually has rehab centers for this “disease.”

2. Text Thumbs Trauma – Whether you’re sending rapid-fire-reply texts to a potential love interest, having a heated debate (that started out of boredom, but has now become just annoying), or tweeting every unimportant detail of your life to hundreds of people who don’t even know you, Text Thumbs Trauma (or TTT) always comes along when you don’t want it to. you can try shaking out your hands or cracking your knuckles, but the only true cure for this inconvenient condition is some hand-free (and phone-free) entertainment.

3. Guido’s Ear – Blaring bass-heavy music through ear buds is definitely one of the best feelings in the world, but the side effects are hardly worth it. If you’ve been noticing hearing loss, ear ringing, or a repetitive back beat that you can’t get out of your head no matter what, you may be suffering from Guido’s Ear. While some of the effects might be long-term and/or permanent, there’s a simple way to not make things any worse: turn down the volume — if only by a few notches!

Read More »

Ordinarily when we think about sex we instantly flash back to our most recent lovefest with our boyfriends. Chances are it was a hot, steamy session filled with excitement and overflowing with passion. There are those few times, though, that we have our hesitations when we’re about to take it to that next level, especially with a new guy. So what are we so afraid of? We all have our fears when it comes to sex, and more times than not, those fears aren’t without merit. I’ll share with you a few of my own fears, counting down from the not-so-bad to the absolute scariest.

7. My self confidence is low today: what if he can tell?

6. What if we share an awkward moment (like queefing!) that kills the mood?

5. What if I don’t climax?

4. What if he doesn’t reach the big O?

3. What if the condom breaks?

2. What if I get pregnant?

1. What if this happens? Seriously — gah! — I don’t even know what I’d do.

We’ve all got ‘em, so what are your own fears? Share them with me in the comments below!

[Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.]

Since last week’s MBMJ bag was uber cute, yet uber pricey, I wanted to hunt down an affordable purse with just as much chic-ness for this week! I’m often so disappointed by the quality of cheaper brands’ purses; the seams rip open after a few wears, the faux leather looks terrible and the shape isn’t functional at all. It’s almost more difficult to find purses that are a good bang for your buck when you’re shopping bargain rather than high-end. Thank goodness for brands like Melie Bianco, who realize that not everyone can drop hundreds of dollars on a purse, but everyone deserves good style and quality!

The Melie Bianco Ethnic Applique Hobo is one of the prettiest bags out there. The tribal pattern will definitely stand out in your purse collection, but the neutral colors Melie sticks with make it super wearable. Even the mint – it goes with a whole host of shades and really spices up an outfit. The faux leather is quite nice and the wrap detail on the handle really up the ante. This bag is just a delight for the eyes!

On the inside, you’ll find a full fabric lining, a couple slip pockets and a back zipper pocket for valuables. One downside is the magnetic closure; it’s not as secure as a zipper, but the hobo shape of the bag wouldn’t work with a zipper. The handles have a generous drop, so you’ll have no issues slinging this over your shoulder on the run or over a heavy coat.

The ethnic trend is SO hot for summer and why not use your purse as a canvas to display that? The $60-70 price tag is also a huge bonus – you won’t feel bad about stuffing this under a cramped airplane seat and setting it in the grass at a music festival. Trust me, having a few great stylish bags that can get dirty without you having a coronary is a good thing!

If you’re interested, several etailers deal in Melie Bianco, and you can also purchase directly from the company at meliebianco.com.