On a day that’s all about indulging, it’s nice to lighten it up… just a little bit. Not too much, of course. Hot dogs and potato salad taste delicious, but that bloated feeling afterwards? Not so delicious, that’s for sure. Convince your crew to make some of this grilled chicken instead. Why?

One serving of chicken, about the size of the palm of your hand, contains 22 grams of protein. One serving only has between 100 and 130 calories, with very, very few of those coming from fat. Chicken is also a great source of iron, a nutrient that women tend to be deficient in.

So clear a little spot on the grill for a chicken breast or two.

Fourth of July Grilled Chicken

You’ll need…

• 3-4 chicken breasts (or more, depending on how many you’ll be serving)
• 2-3 limes, juiced
• 1-2 lemons, juiced
• 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce

Topping

• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
• 1 lime, juiced

How to make it…

In a small pan, place the chicken breasts so they aren’t overlapping. In a small bowl, combine the lime and lemon juice, soy sauce, and hot sauce. Pour over chicken breasts and allow to marinate for 20-30 minutes. Heat your grill to medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes on each side (or until done in the middle).

While the chicken is cooking, chop up the tomato, red onion, and jalapeño. Combine in a small bowl with the juice of one lime. When the chicken is done, serve with this fresh salsa on top and enjoy!

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My favorite holiday of the summer, the 4th of July, is just a few days away, which means a fun weekend full of spending time with friends and family and celebrating America’s Independence! And, since the 4th falls on a Monday, I’m also pretty excited about having an extra day off and the 3-day weekend!

Whether you’ll be spending your long weekend at the beach, a pool party, a family barbecue or partying with friends, I’ve got the perfect outfit for you! Show off your patriotic spirit in any of these cute outfits, all of which are less than $20!

Living in South Florida means I’ve seen my fair share of beach-goers. The beaches down here are filled with beautiful people with beautiful bodies and perfect tans. However, they aren’t always filled with people who are easy on the eyes. Nor is every beach day an episode of Baywatch. As summer approaches, more and more people are heading off to the beach to catch some rays and waves — which mean you’re going to do a lot of people watching. For better or worse.

Here are the 10 people you’ll definitely see at the beach this summer.

Here are three summer outfits to take you plenty more places than just your family 4th of July BBQ- from the beach to brunch, shopping to a soiree…all whilst feeling tres nautical!

Nautical Beach
This bold bathing suit draws the eye up keeping it fun and flattering. I love the simple crispness of the white cover up and sandals on the beach- not to mention it TOTES matches your SPF!

Product Information: Bikini Tip- Old Navy, $15; Bikini Bottoms- Old Navy, $15; Coverup- Gap, $28.99; Headwrap- Forever 21, $4.80; Flip Flops- Target, $12.99.

Casual Nautical
I love the fun cherry red bottom that screams “my (nautical) body’s too bootylicious for ya babe!” Pair it with these fun denim wedges for a bit of girlieness and a light weight button down for a touch of masculinity. I love this hat that serves both fashion (adorbs) and function (see ya later sun burned nose)- Grap the jean jacket for a cool summer night to complete the look- oh so put together, you!

Product Information: Shorts- Gap, $39.95; Shirt- Old Navy, $24.94; Jean Jacket- Old Navy, $29.50; Shoes- Target, $19.99; Hat- Old Navy, $10.50; Sunglasses- Forever 21, $10.80.

Day Time Dressy Nautical
This is the perfect nautical ‘fit to take you from a day on a boat to a bbq to a bar. Cute red dress with a flattering waist line, fun bangles and adorable slip ons. Swap out the shoes for soe wedges and the tote for a smaller bag and this look will take you even further… like to a walk of shame perhaps?!

Product Information: Dress- Lulus, $39; Shoes- Gap, $39.50; Bracelets- Delias, $12.50; Tote- Target, $29.99.

Everyone’s got a morning after story (though I’m sure the girl who watched people get it on at a table in front of her wishes she didn’t) and we wanna hear yours! Send it over to us and we’ll post it – anonymously, of course – right here!]

The summer after I graduated from high school I was excited to finally be free from compulsory family vacays to celebrate the 4^th of July. So to celebrate both America’s and my own newfound independence, I went big, I went all out – I went to a house party.

It was the kind of party I look back fondly on in remembrance of high school days. There was cheap vodka, a backup keg, and plenty of top shelf liquor plucked from the generous hostesses’ parents liquor cabinet. The night started out innocently enough, with keg stands, red and blue shots (white didn’t work out the way we’d planned), and plenty of high schoolers bragging about just how wasted they were.

As a mature, soon-to-be-freshman, I was so over the same un-graduated attendees that had been plaguing house parties for the last 4 years of my life. As I lamented the lack of “real men” with my equally sophisticated best friends, the college guys showed up.

There’s always a few; the ones who are so bored to death while visiting home that they will stoop to new lows and attend their buddy’s-little cousin’s-best friend’s party. Easily identifiable by their upscale party attire (not basketball shorts), college hats, and facial hair, heads literally swiveled when this otherwise unremarkable group of 4 guys walked through the door. Sensing the air of competition, the girls and I immediately discussed dibs before pulling down our Hollister tank tops and hiking up our Abercrombie shorts and plastering on our college-girl looks of indifference (an older, wiser friend had previously informed us that smiling makes you look younger).

All that scowling must have done the trick, because a few Keystones later, I was flirting charmingly drunkenly with my favorite undergrad. I could sense he was nervous, given the tendency of high school girls to lie about their age, so to put him at ease I showed him my license (really). Once he had properly satisfied himself that I was legally 18, the sparks flew. Pretty soon we were passionately sucking face on the couch while people took pictures of us, elbowing each other and shouting “FACEBOOK!”

As those with curfews slowly trickled out the door, others disappeared in pairs, and to impress my new friend with my maturity, I suggested we go somewhere a little more private. Unfortunately, a brief (and grope-filled) tour of the house proved every door locked and every bathroom –ahem—occupied. I suggested we take things outdoors for a little lovin’ au natural to find the Jacuzzi in use and the pool honestly too disgusting to swim in, let alone hook up in. And as we made our way deeper and deeper into the back yard, we saw it: a trampoline.

Needless to say, we “jumped” at the opportunity and “hopped” right on (OK I’ll stop now). The hookup got off to a rocky start (I had to feign preference for his school’s football rival to get him to go down on me), but finished with a bang—literally. Our hookup happened to coincide with the last of the night’s illegal fireworks displays, leading to my newfound appreciation for the missionary position (he missed the show, but judging by the look on his face, I don’t think he minded).

After bouncing our way off the trampoline and tiptoeing back through the house around passed out 16-year-olds, I walked him to the door and bade him a happy 5^th of July and goodbye for what I thought was forever. He ended up transferring schools and I still see him at the library; on those occasions I have to suppress the urge to salute him.

The Fourth of July is a holiday deeply rooted in its traditions. You hang out with friends and family (sometimes in costume…), you cook big slabs of meat on the grill, you wash those slabs of meat down with an icy cold (alcoholic) beverage, and you sit on a blanket in the middle of a street to watch pretty bombs explode overhead.

Ooooo!
Ahhhhh!

But no matter how many times you do it, as you walk back to your car – scratching those damn mosquito bites until you bleed- you always find yourself wishing you had prepared for the festivities a little better.

So, this year, CollegeCandy is gonna help you out. We’ve done all the preparing so you don’t have to. Print this sucker out before you go and you will be ready for your 4th of July celebration (and possibly another Y2K situation…what can we say? We like to be prepared).  

Bug Spray: Those bitches won’t have a chance in hell

An extra cushy blanket: Sure, that table cloth is bigger, but is that going to protect your back from the giant rocks that always seem to end up under your back?

A long sleeved shirt: Yes, it is 80 degrees now, but you may want it later. However, if you don’t bring it you could always find a hottie to snuggle up with….

Beverages: Filled with alcohol. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but fireworks are boring. Fireworks with a little booze in your system, however, are totally freaking AWESOME.

Snacks: To keep the annoying nearby children quiet…and because those beverages may make you crave a Lunchables.

A Romantic Partner: I am sure this isn’t as easy as grabbing a bottle of bug spray, but if you have one, bring ‘em along. Fireworks are always better watched while snuggling (and, see above, drinking).

Camera: Obviously, a holiday is a total Kodak moment. But, even more, there are sure to be some fantastic mullets milling around. There always are. Always.

Aspirin: In case you run out of snacks and the damn kids on the next blanket won’t. shut. up.

Condoms: Because fireworks are romantic. And you’ll have to thank that dude keeping you warm somehow.

Alka Seltzer: The 3 hot dogs you scarfed at dinner are bound to make a comeback at some point.

A DD: Drinking and driving is never a good idea.

American Pride Doesn't Have to Look Like This

Fourth of July is here! Commence drinking, hot dogs, drinking, and singing “Bye Bye Miss American Pie” and maybe burning your hand on sparklers (which I don’t care how old I get, they will always be so freakin’ cool).

I’ve already given you recipes for the bbq you’ll be hitting, and now we have one more thing to tackle: the Fourth of July ‘fit.

You need to look somewhat festive (i.e. I don’t suggest your skull tank or vintage “I love Canada” tee) but you don’t want to look like a walking advertisement for the US of A. I’ve got you covered: from red, white and blue festive to festive without being decked in the colors of our homeland, you will look like those American Girls that all those foreign boys (and the Counting Crows) talk about. And you will be ready to pull a Miley and Party in the USA. Woot woot.

Skirt
The skirt in all three colors is adorable (it comes in red, white or blue! Fancy that!), but I’m totally loving the red – it’s so fun for summer! Whichever color you choose, pair with an opposite color tank. I went easy breezy with red and white here, but you could easily swap out the red for a blue tank and it will look even more festive, but still very chic.  Or go for the navy skirt paired with the red tank. Or the white skirt paired with either a red or blue tank. It doesn’t matter – the white sandals go with any of them.

So many options! I love America.

Product Information: Tank – Old Navy, $8 ; Skirt – Urban Outfitters, $58; Sandals – Forever 21, $15.80.

Dress
Could this look be any cuter or easier to throw on? I think not. Plus, it leaves plenty of space for all those hot dogs/Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars you’ll be throwing down the hatch all night long. I’m a big time fan of you, red white and blue. A Big fan of your work.

Product Information: Dress – Lulus.com, $38; Sandals – Charlotte Russe, $10.

Shorts
This is a way to look festive even if red, white and blue doesn’t go with your skin tone/you don’t love rockin the american flag look. So cute with the Tom’s shoes!

Product Information: Tank – Forever 21, $13.80; Shorts – Delias, $34.50; Shoes – Tom’s, $43.95.

Pants
Ideal for those of us who can’t handle all those mosquitoes after dark, this look can really work for anything: day, night, 4th of July, or any random day of the summer. White boyfriend jeans are just adorable…and comfortable… and summery. Paired with this pretty red whirt (with blue detail) adds a nice feminine twist to the boyish pants. And the wedges are just a great way to get some height while staying completely comfortable.

God bless America.

Product Information: Boyfriend jeans – Gap, $59.99; Top – Lulus.com, $37; Wedges – Forever 21, $21.80.

It’s unfortunate that a glorious holiday that is supposed to be about laying out on the beach, getting burnt, and winning hot dog eating contests has turned into something so ugly and so misunderstood. Sure the Fourth of July is a day to celebrate our independence as well as our American pride, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an excuse to desecrate the colors red, white, and blue in such a horrible fashion.

So in a striking contrast to the phenomenal fireworks display you’re going to see this weekend, we present to you American patriotism gone horribly wrong.

[Click on the photos to see appropriate (and awesome) examples of patriotism.]

I think I finally understand why so many people hate America….

While there are many things about America that are less than lovable – Nascar, the current economy, the fact that Heidi Montag makes millions of dollars – we live in a pretty awesome country. And most of us don’t really appreciate all that we’ve got, like free education, freedom of speech… and Miley Cyrus.

So I thought it was about time for all of us to take a moment to reflect on what we love most about being Americans. Get your American Pride on in the comments below.

Katherine – University of Delaware: I love being an American because you can experience completely different lifesyles without ever leaving the country’s borders. Yet whether you’re from the south, the midwest, or the coasts, you still share a common bond.

Sara C – Fordham: What do I love about being American? Being able to be a woman who can speak her mind if she so desires. Being able to go for a run in a sports bra and compression shorts on a hot summer day. And Ben & Jerry’s. God bless Chunky Monkey.

Kari – Florida State: I love being an American most when I’m milling around a bar at Happy Hour and I can yell “F**K YEA, AMERICA!” Which will spark warm sentiments of agreement from other bar patrons. Not much more American than profanity and self-promotion!

Ricki – University of Michigan: The fact that I can wear whatever I want in the summer.  Can you imagine a country where women can’t wear shorts? 

Cristina – Michigan State: As corny as it sounds, freedom of speech.   The fact that I’m a lady writer who can broadcast my stories and opinions on the internet without fear that I’ll be stoned to death is a pretty sweet deal.

Brithny- Duke: I love how you can tailgate hard and throw beer around while dancing on top of a pickup truck one day, then pull on your best sundress and go to church the next.

Sammie – Fordham: American boys and college sports.  In that order.

Kaitlyn – Middle Tennessee State University: (Via Facebook) I absolutely love the cultural diversity of America. No where else in the world would I have a friend from every country, every ethnicity, every religious affiliation, etc all in one place. LOVE IT!

Alex – Lakehead University: Well, since I’m not American, let’s do Canadian. From a practicality point-of-view, I LOVE the free health care, but for fun, how about the amazing beers and outdoors! I’m happiest with a cold Coors Light in my hand, sitting on the deck of my camp, overlooking Lake Superior.

Lauren – University of Michigan: College football. Soccer might have hotter players, but there is nothing like a football Saturday.

Meg – University of Delaware: I love being American because I can eat what I want: Italian, Chinese, Thai and Mexican all in one week? I love food.

Charlsie – Hollins University: The classic taste of Coca Cola makes me proud to be an American. Nothing is better than opening a can of coke and taking that first sip — especially during the summer.

Carly – Grinnell: Honestly, I think I love the English language most–I know that is such a dorky answer, but I love being able to travel all over the world and knowing that many people will be able to understand me because they speak some English. Of course, that doesn’t diminish the fascination I have with foreign languages, but it is nice to speak such a socially valued language as a mother tongue.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: Baseball, Apple Pie, Chevrolet, and the fact Spencer Pratt is considered a real human being.

Christie – NC State: Coming from a military family, I guess I just love this country and the principles it was built on. Cheesy, but I’m a firm believer that the principles this country was built on is worth celebrating and defending. My favorite part of being an American I guess you could say is just that: being an American. God, I’m lame.