As you all might have heard (via our many drunken texts from the land of Sin), CollegeCandy was invited on a trip to Las Vegas last week courtesy of the fine people of Planet Hollywood and Harrah’s resorts. We always knew we had to hit up the Vegas strip, so we accepted. And then did cartwheels around the office.

“WOOOO! VEGASSSSS.”

After we finished chest bumping, we made a list of all the things we wanted to do and, despite our inability to find someone to marry (the men of askmen.com rejected our advances), we definitely lived it up for the 4 days we were there. And now, after the 7 days of it took us to recover from one MASSIVE hangover, we are back to share with you the 10 things we learned on our trip to The Happiest Place on Earth.

1. The best chaser for a vodka soda is 25 layers of chocolate cake.

2. An all-you-can-eat buffet is NOT a challenge. (But it is an opportune time to wear an empire waist dress, like the chic and comfy Criss Cross Applesauce dress from Lulus.com.)

3. Bottle service isn’t just for douchebags. Seriously, it might be the best thing to ever happen. If you have the money to splurge, it totes makes a difference. No elbowing your way past drunk patrons to get that vodka soda. No tip toeing back to the table as you attempt not to spill that martini. Just sit back and let your personal waitress pour you one (or many).

4. Elvis is alive!

5. And has really bad breath.

6. Bros really aren’t that bad. In fact, they don’t pop their collars, wear ridiculous hats or even call us “babes.” Who knew?

7. Life is good when you’re a high roller. Planet Hollywood (and all of Harrah’s properties) reward their best patrons with a Diamond Card that lets you bypass lines, get one-on-one service, and secures you a misting chair by the pool. And, trust me, when it’s 105 outside, that misting chair is KEY. As is instant access to the buffets when you’re hungover and jonesing for some waffles.

8. Wanna be a high roller? Pick a game and learn the rules. Then get up close and personal to the pit boss and the dealer. (Miss you, Gil!) They won’t be able to hook you up with any extra chips, but they will make all that time spent at the tables way more fun. And if that doesn’t work, just get really, really drunk and bet it all. Make it rain, baby!

9.Vegas is the happiest place on earth. You like good food? Try Koi at Planet Hollywood. You like booze? You can get an Eiffel Tower full of it at The Paris. Enjoy shopping? Check out City Center – they’ve got every. single. designer on the planet. You like boys? They’re everywhere. And they’re drunk. There is literally something for everyone. Which makes me wonder: why didn’t I go to UNLV?

10. Vegas hangovers are no joke.

You want a chance to learn a few things in Las Vegas? Harrah’s is hooking you up with 15% off all room reservations through December 30, 2010. Pick a date (Fall Break, anyone??), grab your girls and get ready for the best time of your life. Just don’t smoocheroo with Elvis. Trust.

As a freshman, you might have been awed by the mere expanse of food before you. Inspired by the hustle and bustle of upperclassmen milling expertly around the different food stations, you were elated to find that dessert is served at every meal. But come October, the honeymoon glow dimmed to a faint flicker, and your affair with the dining hall turned into something of a mess.

The economic, all-you-can-eat style buffet, serving food that is generally fatty, sugary, and over-processed, leads many collegiates to pack on the pounds as they struggle to navigate this danger zone. Whether you’re shoveling tasteless food as fast as you can to make a class in ten minutes, or leisurely enjoying a couple hours of all-access binging while chatting with friends, the cafeteria offers a wide variety of ways to overindulge. Here are a couple of tricks to help you avoid the pitfalls of college dining:

1. Survey the Scene. Make a tour of the available options of the day so that you don’t load up on all the stuff at the beginning of the line, only to have to nab a second plate for the food at the next station.

2. Use Your Head. You’re in college. You know that salad is healthier than a cheese steak. Make sure that you fill up on foods that are high in fiber, with good protein and complex carbohydrate content, like big leafy salads with lots of veggies, or a sandwich on whole grain bread. In general, limiting fat is a good idea, though there are such things as “good” fats (think avocadoes, or fatty fish, like salmon). Beware though: things that should generally be high in fat and sugar (like cookies or chips) but that claim to be healthier versions are generally just loaded up with sodium and artificial sweeteners, which are TERRIBLE for your body.

3. Subsitution When You Can, Moderation When You Can’t. What this little motto means is that, if you’re happy to enjoy an apple instead of your banana-split sundae, that’s a great way to cut down on sugar- and caloric-intake (obviously). But if you really just can’t make this switch, be sure to observe moderation, whether that means only eating half the portion offered, or maybe even just a couple of bites.

4. DON’T Deprive Yourself. If you’ve ever tried a diet that demands you give up all the “bad” (and often delicious) foods you enjoy, you know that these sort of cold-turkey routines fail. When they do, they leave you diving for the forbidden food, only to gobble up five times the amount that would normally have satisfied you.

This lesson is very relevant in a dining hall setting, where chances are menus will repeat on a bi-weekly basis. Don’t get caught up in the famine-mentality that tells you to eat everything you can now because you’ll never be able to eat this meal again. If you really enjoy a particular dish made at your dining hall, don’t deprive yourself. But if it happens to be a full-fat macaroni and cheese, or a double fudge brownie the size of your knee, make sure that you limit how much you allow yourself to indulge (see tip 3).