So much cuter than a baseball hat.

One really good reason to invest time and energy into your college friendships: those people just may become your business partners later in life. Or so was the case for Hannah Robertson and Kelly Reynolds, founders of Hello Robertson.

I recently discovered their accessory line and am in love, mainly because of the adorable Anthropologie-meets-Blair-Waldorf-esque headbands they sell, but also because their friendship/partnership started in the best place ever: College, obvs. Hannah (the creative brains, hence the name) and Kelly (the business side behind the operation) met and became friends at Florida State University, then both found themselves in NYC post-graduation where this brand was born.

Their headbands, or “hansies,” are handmade with vintage fabric and add a great boho chic touch to any outfit. What’s more, they just rolled out some school specific headbands that are perfect for sporting events. Let’s be honest, most school spirit items are not feminine, not to mention just plain ugly. These girls found a way to fill that void by creating something trendy and unique at the same time! (They’ll even make one for you special if your school isn’t currently offered!) And if school spirit isn’t your thang, check out their full line of just plain adorable hair accessories here.

I got the chance to ask these two a few questions about college, creative inspiration and what it’s really like to go into business with your best friend. Let’s just say, these girls offer a whole lot more than just some really cute head wear.

CC: You two are best friends…and work together. How do you not kill each other??

Kelly: Actually, all in all, it’s fantastic. We met in design school and kept each other company during our all-nighters working on projects. Let’s just say a lot of caffeine and laughter were involved. We learned early in our friendship what each of our strengths and weaknesses were. We actually balance each other out rather well. It can be tough from time to time but we think it has strengthened our friendship and work relationship because we are able to very real with each other, no sugar coating.

Hannah: Did we mention that we’re also roommates now in NYC?

CC: Wow, I don’t know how you do it. What is your best college memory together?

Kelly: Wow, we’ve had some great times. Our friendship was founded on interior design classes, and, well, garage sales. It was our Saturday morning tradition—get up early, go to Chick-Fil-A and then hit up tons of garage sales.

Hannah: Not exactly the typical college kid Saturday morning!

CC: Well, the Chick-Fil-A seems pretty standard. What is your source of inspiration?

Kelly: My environment. Everything I see—old doors, seasons, great buildings, the sweet old lady’s dress crossing the street, a sunset, etc. I believe there is inspiration all around us we just have to train the eye to see it.

Hannah: Fabric. I see it and can’t keep my hands off of it. I just have to create something with each little piece.

CC: Finish this sentence: If only I’d known ____________ when I was in college…

Kelly: The world is not as big as you might think. Work hard, make good contacts in everything you do and ask a lot of questions.

Hannah: Things don’t always workout the way you plan; they come out better than you can imagine.

And there you have it. Cute headbands and proof that there’s more to college friends than drunken nights and some Facebook photos.

I took a yoga class during my senior year of college. Somehow, the dingy and cramped gymnasium-esque room, ratty exercise mats and lingering body order stench kind of zapped the whole “zen” experience. But I still felt great when it was over and wanted more, more, more. However, with limited funds in college, the idea of joining a local studio was out of the question.

That’s why I’m obsessed with Yoga Month and knew you lovely readers would appreciate it as well. You can get a free week of yoga at participating studios across the country anytime during the month of September! I know there’s only a week left (I just found out about it myself!), so go here right now and search your zip code to find a location close to your campus.

Never tried yoga? Well then, this is the perfect opportunity to try it out for a week and see what you think. I mean, it does have just a few benefits: less stress (it can even change your gene response to stress!), boosted mood (and perhaps a cure for depression and anxiety) and better posture (it may even reverse that slumped over look that happens after hours of computer usage). And hey, if the body bonuses don’t do it for you…what about totally adorbs yoga gear like Lululemon (which is cuter/nicer than 90 percent of normal clothes I typically wore to class)? I’ll take any excuse to shop some sales.

Yoga Month is totally free, so why not?

All of those reasons are why the idea of working out in the privacy of my own apartment or dorm, was much more appealing from time to time. When I lived in my sorority house, my roommate turned me onto Denise Austin and her DVDs. Unfortunately, our floor space was limited so we couldn’t easily exercise at the same time, but somehow we each managed to squeeze in quite a few workout sessions in that tiny room.

Luckily, that experience prepared me for living (and working out) in a tiny NYC apartment post-college. However, funds are limited to say the least, so I can’t afford to buy DVDs extraneously. That’s why, in the time since I’ve been out of college to now, I have discovered a number of great, FREE workout options that you can follow to get fit, toned and best of all, do them in your underwear at home!

Here are some of my favs:
- Exercisetv - On this site (the online component of the ExerciseTV channel, which, if you have DVR/Time Warner cable, you most likely have available to you for free), there are tons of free full length workout videos available to watch or download that range from cardio to pilates. Here are a few examples: Zen in Your Den, Absolutely Amazing Abs or Ballet Strength Workout.

- Yogadownload – I just stumbled on this site a few months ago, and LOVE it so far. They have hundreds of free 20 minute yoga programs. And that amount of time is just about right for me; I tend to get a bit bored and antsy with super long yoga sessions. Plus, if I’m feeling up to it, I’ll do two different 20 minute routines in a row to change things up. Everything from gentle-hatha yoga to hot-power fusion is available, free of charge.

- Squeezeitin – Although this site is targeted a bit more towards busy moms (which I am far from), I think we can all relate to the aspect of not having much time to squeeze in a workout during a hectic day. So, the short videos with catchy titles like Va-va-va vacuum or Countertop Push-ups reinforce the idea that anyone really can incorporate fitness to their daily life. Sitting around watching reruns of Gossip Girl? Grab some canned foods and curl those biceps. Cleaning your disaster of a dorm room? Do some lunges instead of just meandering around.

- YouTube – Yes, that same youtube that provides us with our daily smattering of entertaining lip dubs and painful, but hilarious, videos of people falling. There’s actually a large amount of health/fitness videos available on there if you have the patience to search. Just to get you going, check out this four part “Weight Loss Yoga” series from a great NYC yoga instructor.

What are your favorites? Any other websites I’m missing?

Staying on any kind of workout schedule (or just schedule, for that matter) is close to impossible in college. With each day comes different classes, meetings, part time jobs, social engagements and perhaps most importantly, happy hours. Trying to adhere to the same gym or running time is an unlikely feat for most of us, not to mention the fact that when I’m presented with the choice between a sweat session or a sipping session, more often than not, the cocktails win. Wah wah.

But, a great way to stay motivated and keep your activity levels up is to train for a race! I know this sounds a bit intimidating at first, but let me tell you from personal experience (I ran my first half-marathon last year), it’s totally doable and well-worth it. Knowing that I was going to be sweating out 13.1 miles at a specific date gave me the extra boost to get out of bed in the morning or squeeze in a run whenever I could. I was able to drop a few lbs, improve my overall fitness, raise money for a charity and still go out with my friends at night all at the same time!

Don’t worry, you don’t need to jump right into a half-marathon. There are a number of distances that are great starting points. Consider a 5K (about 3 miles) or a 10K (6.2 miles) to get the ball rolling. Not sure where to look? Check out Running in the USA, which has perhaps the largest database of available races. You can search by state, month and distance. Most have some type of theme, which adds to the fun and you usually get a free t-shirt. And, I mean, what college student doesn’t need another free shirt (especially Greeks, who are seriously lacking in the themed clothing department)?

In terms of training programs, a few websites I like are womenshealthmag.com which has a wide variety of resources for beginners to the more advanced, and runnersworld.com where you can actually enter in some basic info and get a customized program for free. To find new running routes in your campus town, go to mapmyrun.com where you can enter your own or search through others’ favorite routes.

To be dead honest, I didn’t follow a very strict training regime. I just made sure to run consistently at least three weekdays, and then take a longer run on the weekend. I started out with three miles during the week, and five on the weekend, gradually working up to six miles during the week and ten miles on the last weekend before my race. AND, contrary to what most people think, I never had to give up going out or partaking in a cocktail (or two). Now, don’t get me wrong, everyone is different in terms of training habits, but I just want to stress that training for a race and still having a social life is possible! I’ve done it!

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, I raised over $1,000 for charity while running. If you want to run for a cause (other than operation-get-rid-of-muffin top), here are a few options to check out: teamintraining.org, stjudeheroes.org, and determination.acsevents.org.

Hope you take this information and run with it! Sorry, I couldn’t resist…

Not to mention that once I’ve consumed a few bites of one, it’s all downhill from there and I find myself consuming way more calories than I would have prior. Frosting is my gateway drug and I cannot control myself when I’m near it.

Up until now, I always thought my problem was completely mental and something I just had to force myself to get over. Then, I read an article in the Washington Post on Dr. Kessler, a Harvard-trained doctor, lawyer, medical school dean and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who spent months dumpster diving behind chain restaurants such as Chili’s to find out the real amount of fat, salt and sugar used to make dishes like the Southwestern Eggrolls.

What he discovered (and details in his book, The End of Overeating) was surprising and clued me into why this high intake of sugar had such a great effect on me…

“Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain’s chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat.” So it’s not just me! The sugar is actually f-ing with our brains! Sweet, sweet validation (no pun intended).

Apparently “highly palatable” foods — those containing fat, sugar and salt — stimulate the brain to release dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure center of our brains. Over time, the brain gets wired so that dopamine pathways light up at the mere suggestion of the food, such as driving past a chain restaurant (or bakery!) and the urge to eat the food grows larger. Once the food is eaten, the brain releases opioids, which bring emotional relief. Together, these little bastards (dopamine and opioids) create a pathway that can activate every time a person is reminded about the particular food.

This sounds complicated but actually makes sense when you think of what happens when you eat a meal or treat you’ve been craving. I can almost feel my body sighing as I inhale a cupcake. The process described above is also why, Kessler thinks, many restaurants put so much fat, salt and sugar into their foods, hence the reason for his dumpster diving.

And the details from these excursions are pretty gross: “The labels [from boxes] showed the foods were bathed in salt, fat and sugars, beyond what a diner might expect by reading the menu, Kessler said. The ingredient list for Southwestern Eggrolls mentioned salt eight different times; sugars showed up five times. The “egg rolls,” which are deep-fried in fat, contain chicken that has been chopped up like meatloaf to give it a “melt in the mouth” quality that also makes it faster to eat. By the time a diner has finished this appetizer, she has consumed 910 calories, 57 grams of fat and 1,960 milligrams of sodium.”

That’s pretty sick considering that’s just the appetizer BEFORE the actual meal.

I have a completely different outlook on my cupcake addiction after reading this article. Yes, it’s fine to indulge from time to time. But, many of the “indulgences” that we think are totally fine are extremely bad for our bodies. I think Kessler said it best in this quote at the end of the article: “We need to make a cognitive shift as a country and change the way we look at food. Instead of viewing that huge plate of nachos and fries [or box of cupcakes!] as a guilty pleasure, we have to . . . look at it and say, ‘That’s not going to make me feel good. In fact, that’s disgusting.’ “

Cupcake, I’m looking at you.

Here are the gross details, from this article: The FDA said it has received 23 reports of serious liver injuries, including liver damage that resulted in a transplant in 2002, liver failure, jaundice, seizures and cardiovascular problems. The reports include the 2007 death of a 19-year-old man living in the Southwest, which was reported to the FDA in March.

Death, people! And for what? The hopes that a supplement, which is not regulated at all, and could, for all we know, have dog poop in it, may help you lose a tiny bit more weight? To fit into a smaller size? To see results like the commercials (which really just use two different people!)?

I’m pretty sure the cons outweigh the benefits in this situation…

If you ever thought that it was a good/safe idea to take a dietary supplement, think again. According to a recent article on CNN, dietary supplements sold before October 1994 are not required to undergo any FDA review before going to market. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 required manufacturers to ensure a supplement to be safe before marketing. But manufacturers still don’t need to register a product with the FDA or get approval before selling a supplement...The agency can take action against an unsafe supplement once it’s on the market.

Which means that companies can basically put whatever they want on the market, and only after somebody is injured or dead, will the FDA do anything to stop them.

Bottom line: Stop taking Hydroxycut, and really, any “dietary supplements” for that matter. There’s just no way to tell if they’re really safe. There are plenty of healthier alternatives to lose weight that won’t risk your life. You may think working out and eating healthy will kill you, but it’s this sorta stuff that really will.

I am curious to know: Have any of you ever taken supplements? Was it a good or bad experience?

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone…And when it comes to shaping up, sometimes it helps to have the motivation of others spurring you on. For me, the most dedicated I have ever been to regular gym-going and eating right was when I either had a goal in mind (running a half-marathon last summer) or when I had others keeping me accountable (during my office’s version of The Biggest Loser).

Well, there’s a website I recently discovered that enables you to form a little fit challenge with your friends: fatbet.net. The premise behind it is that “the declaration of goals, combined with regular tracking and the fear of losing a group ‘Fatbet’” works better than going at it alone. And I have to say, it’s a pretty great idea, not to mention totally free and easy to do.

To start, you can sign up for a free account. After that, set your weight-loss goal, enter dates, and create a Fatbet wager. Then, send people you know a Fatbet challenge (word to the wise: you may want to make sure that they want to lose weight before you send them the invite…). Each day, you can track your personal and Fatbet group progress. When the Fatbet ends, all who reach their weight-loss goals win. Those who don’t pay the Fatbet wager (like streak across campus!).

Just a warning: the website is nothing fancy. It’s definitely a no-frills operation, but it gets the job done. Perhaps that’s because it was started by “three pudgy guys” who realized they were getting a bit hefty while drinking beer on vacation in Hawaii and challenged each other to lose some weight. Out of their weight loss experience, and 90 pounds later, fatbet.net was born.

Start betting and start losing (weight)!

Yup, that’s right! At mixmygranola.com, you choose every single thing that goes into your very own special mix.

How does it work? There are four easy steps:

First, you pick your base (options are organic granola, french vanilla granola, organic muesli and low fat granola), and then you can add in dried fruits (I chose dried mangos, bananas and raspberries…yum!) and nuts (omega-3 rich flax seeds for me). To top it off, if you want to add some treats to the mix, pick from “extras” such as gummy bears, yogurt covered pretzels and chocolate chips.

And that’s all! Just click to order and within a few days, you’ll have a (large) container of ready-to-go granola. Mine came within two days after I placed the order and I must say, it is delicious. It even has the exact nutritionals for my personalized mix pasted right on the side so I know exactly what I’m eating, unlike when I pour a fatty bowl of the stuff in the caf. I just measure the stuff into single serving plastic baggies and grab and go on my way to class. Easy, healthy, delicious.

OMG I’m so in love. And you can start your very own love affair with mixmygranola. CollegeCandy linked up with the men behind the blend and are giving a $25 gift certificate to a very lucky granola-lovin’ CollegeCandy reader. Just tell us, in the comments below, what your ideal granola combo would be and we’ll pick a winner. You have until 5pm on Tuesday, April 14th to get your entry in. We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, April 15th.

Yay granola!

Well, now researchers at UC San Diego have performed the first U.S. gastrectomy, a procedure where 80 percent of the stomach is removed, through an area that should never have anything other than a baby coming out of it.

Yup, that’s right, they removed a chunk of stomach through a woman’s vagina.

All in the name of weight loss.

I was baffled after reading this and had to find out details… Apparently, the procedure is very promising for the future of obesity surgery. According to the article, “This new ‘natural orifice’ technique may be an attractive alternative for the 200,000 U.S. patients who undergo surgery for the treatment of obesity each year.”

I’m sorry, but I think I’ll keep my ‘natural orifice’ off limits as an exit route for parts of my insides. But maybe that’s just me. The article goes on to note some positives about the procedure for those who have specific complications that would prevent them from getting the surgery any other way.

What do you think? Would you ever consider this?

I’ve come to realize that while working a high stress job in the city that never sleeps, moments of pure “zen” are few and far between. I go to bed at night lulled by fire engine sirens and cars honking and then wake up to fight the crowds of people in order to smash myself into a sweaty subway car.

The only time I feel clarity and almost a sense of euphoria is while running. I know, that sounds virtually impossible to be peaceful while huffing and puffing on the treadmill, but it’s true.

Science has just proven that I’m not the only crazy one. Running literally gets you high…

According to a new study done by German researchers, running releases a flood of endorphins to the brain, resulting in mood changes. The more endorphins to the brain, the greater the effect.

I knew I wasn’t crazy. It’s comforting to know that running — something that is good for your body in other areas as well — can actually give you such a natural high.

Who needs drugs and alcohol when you have a treadmill?

Okay, maybe that’s not quite an even exchange, but you get the point…