Red solo cups litter the floors and tables, filled with either Busch Light or some untrustworthy concoction made by the bartender. So called “bartender” is actually some frat boy wearing a beer helmet and a sign around his neck that says “007.” There are two guys holding a kid by his ankles in his attempt to do a kegstand, and there’s a few couples dancing in the living room to the latest radio hit (by couples I mean complete randos, and by radio hit I mean Justin Bieber).

Just a normal Thursday night.

So you and your group of girlfriends have spent the last hour getting ready for this Sigma Kappa Rho party, and have your slinkiest dresses on. As soon as you walk in the door you force your way through the mob (aka slutty sororstitues) at the bar (aka kitchen table) and ask for the infamous Jungle Juice (aka Death).

“Nice choice, ladies. You’re gonna feel it after one cup of this, it’s that insane,” the frat boy says as he hands over the cups full of icy blue liquid.

You take the cups and proceed to down half of it in one go; it’s the easiest way to get drunk, and at a party like this, you definitely need to be drunk. With your new alcohol-induced vision, or lack thereof, the not-so-attractive guys become pretty damn handsome, and therefore better potential for a make-out sesh. Because that’s the whole point of a frat party; you get drunk, then hook up. That’s what you do in college.

Now fast-forward four years into the future. You’ve just graduated and have landed a sweet job at a marketing company, with enough income to fund your Upper East Side apartment. OK, probably not apartment; more along the lines of a prison cell, with room for a bed, and well, that’s it. But it’s still pretty awesome for a recent college grad.

But now that you’ve got this great career, what about the state of your love life? After all, all you did in college was hook up. And like one of College Candy’s articles said, only 12% of hookups lead to relationships.

Wait… what?!

You wonder why no one had told you about this before. If you had heard about it, maybe you would’ve been less prone to seek out the one night hookup and be more attuned to finding an actual relationship with the guy, blah blah blah. But it’s OK. You can start now. What’s that thing called… oh yeah, dating.

So you head out with your girlfriends to the local bar you heard was pretty hot, or at least that’s what it said on Yelp.com. You sit at the bar and scan the room, eyes finally resting on the cute guy decked out in Armani with… is that a Rolex?

What are you supposed to do now?

Do you make the move first, or do you try to catch his eye and get him to come over to you? Is more alcohol required, or are you supposed to stay sober? What if he’s not actually nice at all, and is a total creeper? And how are you supposed to know – he’s not a friend of a friend of a friend. He’s a random guy that cold kill you…and once you’re alone with him, there’s no sorority sisters, fraternity brothers, hallmates, or campus police to help you out. But, then again, he could be nice. And if you don’t go back to his place for “a drink,” what do you do?

How does real dating work? What does it look like and how do you do it when all you know is what you learned in college, and what you learned in college was late night booty calls followed by walks of shame? Look, I’ve had plenty of experience in the college dating scene, but by normal standards, I’m a dating virgin. I’ve never been on an actual date, let alone really “dated” anyone. I’ve hooked up with plenty of people, yes, and some of those have turned into something more serious, but as far as “dating” goes? What the eff is that? How do I do it?

As I near the end of my college experience and take a look back, I have to wonder: is the college not-so-dating scene of our present hindering the happy endings of our future?

Anyway, after looking at the price tag I realized that I didn’t need to fork over my hard earned money for some organization and sanity – I could make these myself! And so can you.

You don’t even need a good taste in music. In fact, it’s probably better if you don’t like the record you’re melting… All you need is a little time and some H2O and you’re on your way to adorable dorm decor.

Materials:
2 vinyl records – you can get these super cheap at flea markets, old-school record stores or from that collection that’s been gathering dust in your parents’ basement.
1 pot of boiling water
1 heat resistant bowl (or another large pot)
1 flat piece of wood

This Is How You Do:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, making sure to have enough to fill your heat resistant bowl to two or three inches.

2. Pour the water into the bowl (be careful), then dip your record into the hot water, until around ¼ of the bottom is submerged.

3. Once the record heats up it should bend easily. Put slight pressure on the record so it bends, forming a 90 degree angle. Take care to not move your hand so much so the water line is straight.

4. If you want, you can use the piece of wood to flatten out any waves that form in the record. Simply press the flat part of the wood onto the bottom of the record. (The record should still be in the hot water for this step.)

5. Lift the record from the water, give it a moment to cool, dry it with a towel, and you’re done! Repeat all the steps to make your matching bookend.

Now all you need is your Harry Potter collectors’ series (oh, and all those boring text books) to put your retro bookend to good use.

So why not use them for something cute? We’ve already showed you how to make a t-shirt pillow, a t-shirt bag and a fabulous t-shirt scarf, and we’ve got one more trick up our sleeve (pun totes intended): the t-shirt bracelet.

Everyone knows that accessories really make the outfit, and this homemade accessory is no exception. With two very cute varieties, the t-shirt bracelet is free, super easy to make, and even easier to customize. Plus, with the 1,000 shirts you’ve got lying around, you can make a bunch of these to mix and match and add some serious pizazz to an everyday outfit.

Choose your favorite design, and use your favorite colored soft cotton tees to make these comfy bracelets that are perfect for summer.

Materials:
1 sleeve of a cotton t-shirt.
1 pair of scissors.

Steps for loop bracelet:
Grab a bright t-shirt, add some beads and you’ve got the summer bracelet.

1. Lay the shirt out on a flat surface and cut the sleeve hem off.
2. Cut the rest of the sleeve into horizontal strips, each about an inch wide.
3. The strips will have now become loops. Leave one loop out to tie the rest at the end.
4. Take each loop and stretch it out into a ring. The loops will start to curl on their own.
5. Place all the loops together, and use the single loop left over to tie the rest together into one big bracelet.
6. Tuck the end into the wrapped loop.
7. Add beads to fancy it up a bit, or use different colored t-shirts to make a multi-colored bracelet!

Steps for braided bracelet:
Use blue, yellow and white tees for the perfect nautical accessory!

1. Lay the shirt out on a flat surface and cut the hem off horizontally across the bottom of the sleeve.
2. Cut the rest of the sleeve into thirteen horizontal strips, each about an inch wide. (Though I totally recommend using a few different shirts in different colors for a multi-colored cuff.)
3. The strips will have now become loops. Cut one end of the loop so they become really long strips.
4. Leave one strip out, but separate the rest into four groups of three.
5. Tie each group of three strips together and braid each one, leaving the end untied.
6.  For each braid, untie the previously tied knot at the top and tie the two ends together, forming a braided loop.
7. Using the leftover strip, loop all four braided loops together and wrap the strip around, then tuck the end in.
8. Braided bracelet, done!

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2010/05/18/do-it-yourself-tuesdays-t-shirt-bracelet/feed/ 2 Brithny - Duke University tshirt bracelet 2 3 http://collegecandy.com/2010/04/20/do-it-yourself-tuesdays-the-t-shirt-scarf/ http://collegecandy.com/2010/04/20/do-it-yourself-tuesdays-the-t-shirt-scarf/#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:30:29 +0000 Brithny - Duke University http://collegecandy.com/?p=59158 ]]> It doesn’t matter if you go to an Ivy League school or a community college, there’s one thing that all colleges have in common and that’s FREE STUFF. Namely, free t-shirts. My dresser is currently overflowing with them (of varying sizes) and there’s no need for all of that cotton getting in the way of the cashmere and the silk.

But I don’t want to throw them away! That’s wasteful and with Earth Day coming up, I don’t think I could do it. So I’ve started looking for fun ways to reuse my t-shirts. There’s the obvious pillows, bags and blankets, but now I’ve discovered a super chic new project: t-shirt scarves! Scarves are the easiest way to add some oomph to an outfit, and now you can do so for free.

Below are two different types of t-shirt scarves – pick the one you like best, or make ‘em both. Lord knows you’ve got plenty of material to work with.

Materials:
1) A cotton t-shirt, any size any color
2) Scissors

Fringe Scarf:
As seen above.

1)    Cut the t-shirt horizontally just below the sleeves so you’re left with the square-looking bottom half.
2)    Cut one of the sides so the shirt becomes a long rectangular piece of fabric.
3)    Lay the shirt upside down so the seamed bottom portion of the shirt is on top. (This will allow you to have a strong edge to keep the scarf intact.) If there is a design on the shirt that you want to see, keep it facing up.
4)    Make small vertical incisions about 1 inch apart, depending on how wide you want each strand.
5)    Once you’ve made all your cuts, pull each strands up so it tears further up the fabric and gives the fringe a more “curled” look.
6)    Add any adornments (pins, buttons, etc.) you choose to your fabulous, totally green, totally unique new scarf!

Ring Scarf:
For this scarf, you may want to grab a couple of shirts in different colors to make a fun combo piece. Also, the larger the shirt the bigger the loops, which means a longer scarf.

1. Just as before, cut the t-shirt horizontally just below the sleeves so you’re left with the square-looking bottom half.
2. Keep cutting the bottom half of the shirt horizontally so you end up with loops. Usually an inch per loop is wide enough, but the measurements don’t have to be perfect!
3. Take each loop and stretch it so the sides curl up a little. It should be almost double in length now, more than enough for you to wrap.
4. Hold all your loops together and take one hem piece (you can cut off part of a sleeve for this) and wrap it around all the loops and tie a knot so they’re bundled together.
5. Throw it on over a white t-shirt and jeans and work it, girl.

Warning: Insanely Addictive.

The edges are crispy and savory while the insides are soft and piping hot. They’re so much better than the fries you buy at the concession stand or a fast food restaurant, because they’re actually made from potatoes. They’re easy to make and even easier to devour. Just writing this makes me want to whip up a batch and chow down. In my bed. While watching an ANTM marathon.

You can use regular or sweet potatoes for this recipe, or even mix them up in the same batch, which I do here. These fries are already healthy (and totally natural!), but you could make them have a lower glycemic index than starchy russets by choosing waxy potatoes, such as new potatoes or red potatoes. Really, this is the perfect college recipe – healthy, easy, tasty – so memorize it. It will get you through the rest of your college career, I guarantee it.

Ingredients:
1 pound waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes
1 pound sweet potatoes, cut in half crosswise
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt (coarse sea salt works best)
Paprika and cayenne pepper
Baking pan lined with aluminum foil

Potato Time:
1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Yes, 500.

2. Cut the potatoes into wedges that are about 1/4 inch thick at the thickest point. The shape doesn’t matter, so don’t worry if everything comes out a little lopsided.

3. Place wedges in a large bowl, and toss with the olive oil, salt, paprika and cayenne pepper to taste. (Or throw in your own spices. Garlic salt works well, too!)

3. Spread the potato wedges on the pan in an even layer. Put them in the oven, and roast 20 minutes or until tender.

4. Remove the pan from the oven, and loosen the potatoes from the foil using a spatula. Return to the oven and cook for another five minutes.

5. Serve at once, seasoned with more salt, pepper, or ketchup if desired.

Note: These are best served right away (and good luck trying not to house them all immediately), but can hold in a warm oven for about 30 minutes.

Everyone knows about the infamous DFM. Dance Floor Makeout, for those of you living under a rock (or some of my nerdier Asian friends). Usually they don’t last past a couple of songs, and definitely not past twilight. During this time of lip-locking and hip-grinding, you can definitely get a sense of whether you’re compatible or not. Trust me, some DFMs are just …bad.

But then that one good one comes along and it makes everyone around you dancing seem like they’re in slow motion, a gray blur in the background. He’s tan and ripped and the hottest guy in the club, and you’ve got him in your arms. All you can think about is the way your body seems to connect perfectly, like a jigsaw puzzle with only two pieces that fit together as if by magic.

Even though the DJ stops spinning, you both don’t want the night to end so you walk to the beach, hand in hand. Not just palm in palm, but the kind of hand-holding where you touch finger to finger, and hold on tightly like you’re never going to let go. You sit in the sand and listen to the waves crashing onto the rocks. You talk about your family, your friends, your likes and dislikes. It’s like an audio edition of Sparknotes: Life. And it’s better than any book you’ve ever read. You find out you both are obsessed with Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, dislike chocolate, and have a dog back at home with the fam. And he only goes to school a few hours away. It’s just too perfect to end.

It’s already night number two out of the four-night package deal you booked with your friends, but you both make sure you see each other nights three and four. Night three was the night you made out in the water slide, and night four was the night in the lifeguard chair overlooking the star-shaped pool. That was also the night you found out he’s never had a serious girlfriend during college so far. And the night you had to say goodbye.

So now it’s been almost two weeks and all you have are texts to prove that he exists. Like most guys, he’s not an avid Facebooker and he would never get a Twitter, so using social media to stay in touch is pretty much inapplicable. You’ve texted back and forth a few times asking how school is going, but never longer than a couple texts in a row at one time. You’ve talked about him and his friend driving over and visiting, but it hasn’t happened yet. So now you wait…. and wonder.

And by “you,” I mean, “me.”

I’ve never had a DFM make it past the dance floor, and I’m not sure if it’s worth it or not. When I’m out with my friends and around new guys I sometimes think about him and how perfect it seemed. But how well can you really know someone in three days? I sometimes wonder if I miss him, or just the idea of him. Or if I even know him well enough to miss. What are the chances of meeting some random guy on Spring Break in the Bahamas and have it (whatever it is) carry across the Atlantic Ocean? Is it unrealistic to think something real can come out of a Spring Break fling? Am I wasting my time and energy on something that could never be real?

(Editor’s Note: We realize we’ve featured these before, but they are so freaking good and perfect for V-day that we just had to bring them back.)

OK, so we’ve only got 5 days until Valentine’s Day. And that means 5 days until you are inundated with cards, candies and treats…. and you still have nothing to give anyone else.

Have no fear! I’ve got the perfect little treat that is cheap, super easy to make, and is so totally delicious you will make hearts melt across campus.

Behold: the Oreo Truffle.

You don’t even need a real kitchen to whip up these little nuggets of goodness, making them the perfect Valentine’s Day gift (for your lover/friend/self) for the college girl. And you can customize them any way you’d like: add chopped nuts, colored sprinkles, graham cracker crumbles…. the options are endless.

What you need:

1 package of Oreo cookies
8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened (just leave it out of the fridge for a bit)
16 oz. of chocolate chips
Sprinkles or crushed candy (candy canes, Valentine’s hearts, anything!)
Wax or parchment paper
A Blender

Stop. Truffle Time:

1. Make sure blender is completely dry (unless you wanna make play-dough).

2. Dump Oreos into blender and mix on high until the cookies become fine crumbs.

3. Mix together the 3 cups of cookie crumbs and the softened cream cheese until well-blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.

4. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

5. Melt chocolate chips in microwave on high for 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to stir.

6. Dip balls into melted chocolate and place on wax or parchment paper.

7. Decorate! Sprinkle on some candy bits, drizzle with white chocolate, eat a few, or roll them in sprinkles.

8. Serve cold for best taste. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Enjoy (with your honey, or your BFFs, or your Sunday TV marathon)!

These little bundles of joy make Valentine’s totally worth enduring.

There are some things you learn in life (and in textbooks) that you never forget.

We went to the moon in 1969.
Plants live by converting sunlight into energy through the process of photosynthesis.
Cows have four stomachs.

All of those things are important to know if you want to pass that middle school test, but when it comes to the real stuff – the life lessons – textbooks don’t hold a candle to TV. Yes, I’m serious.

TV – even the crappiest of the crappy reality shows – has taught me some invaluable lessons about life and the world. Things you can’t get from a 2 hour Intro to Biology lecture or a 4-credit History of English course. Below are a few of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from my nights spent on the couch, chips and salsa in hand.

One Tree Hill taught me: Never get married at 16, never shoot your brother, and never hire a hot nanny.

The Office taught me: Sometimes our superiors are inferior and we just have to deal with it.

One Big Happy Family taught me: It’s possible to be fat and happy, as long as you don’t mind breaking a chair on national television.

Teen Mom taught me: Use condoms. DUH.

The OC taught me: To give Jewish boys a chance.

Lost taught me: When you encounter a hatch, creepy cabin, or force field, do not go inside.

Friday Night Lights taught me: Explosions In The Sky always sets the mood… for football games, and for, uh, other things as well.

The Bachelor taught me: Pretty girls are crazy.

Desperate Housewives taught me: No one is off limits; not even your plumber, ex-husband, or neighbor.

How I Met Your Mother taught me: Awesome X Awesome = Awesome Squared.

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson taught me: Things always sound dirtier when you say them in a British accent. “Would you like a banana?” (See??)

Late Show with David Letterman taught me: Never sleep with someone you work with… unless you’re a late night talk show host.

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien taught me: NBC sucks.

Real World taught me: Being a stereotype will actually get you far in life. If being on a reality show is considered “far.”

Friends taught me: “We were on a break” is not a valid excuse for anything.

Thank you, cable television, for guiding me through life. I don’t know where I’d be without you. And after watching Lost, I don’t even want to think about it.

All the cookie dough you can eat and none of the Salmonella? Hell to the yes.

Any type of cookie dough is a good type of cookie dough in my book. Cookie dough ice cream, homemade cookie dough, even store-bought Nestle cookie dough is delicious. Especially when eaten directly from the plastic tube with your fingers while watching old episodes of Sex and the City.

You know what’s not good in my book (or stomach), though? Salmonella. Which is exactly what I’ll get if I keep on keepin’ on with my cookie dough habits. Sometimes – like when I’m chowing down on some dough to prevent a mid-finals meltdown – I try not to care about the havoc those raw eggs are wreaking on my body, but it’s there. And it’s wreaking. So you can imagine my excitement when I found this faux cookie dough recipe in Glamour magazine; it’s a lot healthier for your bod than the real stuff (there’s even wheat germ!) and even has an added peanut butter flavor, which just makes it even more scrumptious (not to mention totally safe to eat).

Trust me: this stuff is as tasty as it is easy to make.
And it’s really easy. Deliciously easy.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp of peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
1 banana
1/3 cup of rolled oats (not instant oats)
A pinch of cinnamon
2 tbsp of wheat germ

Preparation:

1) Sprinkle the wheat germ on a small plate.

2) In a bowl, mash the banana with a fork and stir in the peanut butter, oats, and cinnamon. Mix together until well-blended.

3) Pick up a spoonful and roll it into a ball with your hands, then roll the ball into the wheat germ until it is evenly coated.

4) Repeat until all the “batter” is all used up.

5) Enjoy your faux cookie dough balls!

6) Send a thank-you note to Glamour magazine.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

I knew I wanted to feature Amalia for my fashionista-of-the-week from the moment I saw her walking to Psych class, leggings tucked into her buckled riding boots and a funky bright-blue American Apparel zip-up on top. Her clothing choices draw attention, probably because she takes her fashion inspiration from all over the world,  including Portugal and Brazil, which she’s visited many times (…not for the sun or the beach or anything).

And when it comes to jewelry, I really think she started the statement jewelry trend; I have yet to see her without a glam bracelet or a pair of adorable dangly earrings that somehow totally make her outfit. She’s got spunk and is not afraid to be big and bold in her fashion choices, and that’s just the way the boys like her. Well, that and her booty, but that’s a whole different post.

Name: Amalia S
Year: 2011
Major: Psychology and Latin American Studies
Amalia in 3 words: bootylicious, empathetic, fun

1) Describe your personal style.
Really eclectic and always changing. Two weeks ago I hated animal print, now I can’t get enough of it. I also really love bright colors, no matter what time of year it is.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.
Jewelry; I feel naked without my necklaces and rings. Also, during the winter I am never seen without a scarf on, usually one from H&M.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
Forever 21, BP at Nordstroms, and American Apparel.

4) Ok, well that was three, but I’ll take it. What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
Right now, Betsey Johnson. She’s just so much fun, lots of pink bows, animal print, and pearls. She’s the definition of eclectic.

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?
I’m really into these leggings that look like jeans. I’m all about fashion, but being comfortable is also super important to me. The jean leggings look great with boots and can be dressed up, but are just as comfortable as regular leggings.

In the photo:
Dress: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Vines and Roses
Bag: Coach
Bracelets: flea market in Brazil

[Is there a fashionista on your campus whose style should be celebrated? Someone who is always pushing the style envelope and lookin' damn good doing it? Someone who always seems to put together the coolest outfits, no matter the occasion? Send us a picture and she (or he!) could be featured in a future Campus Couture!]