"A razor? What are you trying to say, honey?

Christmas is fast approaching. (Five days, but hey, who’s counting?) While I’m sure you’ve already picked out the perfect gift for everyone on your list, I bet you haven’t given much thought to what you’re getting this holiday season.

Well…I have.

I’ve taken my favorite Gleek’s (Brittany S. Pierce!) advice and made my Christmas list early and sent it on its way to the North Pole. But I know that even someone as prepared and as considerate as me (making it easy for my parents by adding what I wanted for Christmas to their Amazon shopping carts) will more than likely get stuck with a few bad Christmas gifts. It’s okay though, it’s a burden we all have to bear, so I’ll brave the post holiday madness and head to the return lines.

I just hope I don’t get anything quite as bad as these gifts.

10. Scented Candles. Not only do they more often than not smell like nothing more than a cheap imitation of what they’re supposed to smell like (Birthday cake? Sand castles? Ginger tea and honey?), but they’re also a bit of a fire hazard.

9. Useless gadgets. I’m sorry but I never have and I never will have any use for your vibrating slippers, your Bumpits, your BeDazzler or anything else that has AS SEEN ON TV stamped across the front of the box.

8. Socks. I don’t care if they are Christmas themed, personalized, or striped. I don’t care if they are toe socks, or fuzzy socks, or just plain, regular, everyday socks. They are not appropriate Christmas gifts. And I’m sick of people passing them off as though they are. Just because they come in lots of funky patterns doesn’t mean they make a good gift. End of discussion.

7. Anything from Bath and Body Works. I’m not even going to touch on the whole scented thing because that was already covered. But really, let’s think about this, when was the last time you used cucumber melon body splash? When was the last time you wanted to? Scented soaps and creams and antibacterial soaps that smell like a garden? My allergies act up just thinking about them. No, I won’t use the bath salts or those cute little themed baskets that just seem so perfect either.

6. Picture frames with a photo of the gift giver in them. First of all, the picture frame is almost always something ridiculous that you would never use and doesn’t match anything in your dorm. Second of all, you are not going to place a picture of this person next to your nightstand like you two are finally going steady or something. Moving on.

5. Anything that looks like you got it as a free sample. I’ve gotten these gifts before, and believe me I’ve been able to tell. Oddly enough, when you give someone who hardly ever wears makeup Clinique cover up it’s kind of a clue that you didn’t buy the gift for that person. Oh, hey, is that a complimentary tote you’ve got there on your arm?

4. Fruit cake. Yes, people still give these. And yes, the cliché is still very, very true. No one wants a fruit cake, even if it is homemade, because chances are, it’s not very good. As for a peanut butter cup cheesecake….that’s a dessert I can get behind.

3. Themed gifts. You know, it’s Christmas, so obviously any gift you give or get has to, in some way, be Christmas related.  Your Aunt Mary is going to get you a Santa sweater. And, oh wait, Aunt Sue got you candy cane socks to match. Now all you need is one of those headbands with the reindeer antlers and you’re all set. Thanks Dad!

2.  Homemade coupons. No, I don’t want your free hugs. Or your promise to do my homework. Because I don’t want to hug you and I wouldn’t trust you to do my homework for me. Ever. So if you’re going to get me a coupon, that coupon better be a gift card. And by gift card I mean one of those things that look like a credit card and works in a real establishment. (Like Starbucks.) That means you can’t use crayon to fill this one out either. Pity.

1. Self-help books. We have issues. We know. The holidays are not the time to remind us of them. So just buy us a drink and leave it at that, okay?

What are the worst gifts you’ve ever gotten?!

Campus bookstores suck. They convince you that you need to buy a textbook for $150, and you’ll crack it open on that one day you were bored feeling studious, before realizing your exams are straight from the class notes/Powerpoint slides and you don’t even need that 10 pound eyesore in the first place.

No harm done, you’ll just return it, right?

Right, except that you’ll receive a measly $20 (if you’re lucky).

I for one am tired of returning my (barely opened) books for a small fraction of what I paid for them. It’s spring, and I need every extra dollar for what’s really important in college: new bikinis and happy-hour margaritas, duh! So I decided to compile a list of places to do textbook business that are better than the bookstore. Try one of these on for size and then take all that moolah to the bank (or Lulus.com).

1. Bookrenter.com
BookRenter.com is the leading textbook rental site – Its saves college students $1000s of dollars a year on college textbooks. Rent textbooks at bookrenter and get free shipping both ways! Bookrenter also has the largest selection and cheapest books making it the best book rental site out there!

2. Chegg.com
Offers free shipping, buyback at 100% of sale price, and they even plant a tree every time you sell a book (seriously!).

3. Ecampus.com
Sell back your books and you can enter into a sweepstakes to win a new Apple iPad! They also sell books for less than half their original price, so if you don’t win that iPad, you will have plenty of extra money to buy one.

4. Cash4Books.net
Same deal. Cash back, free shipping.

5. TextbooksRUs.com
Rated #1 by CampusGrotto as the best value, lowest price and best buy-back deals! Hollerrrr!

So there you have it, folks – plenty of options to make some serious money back on those barely-used books (unless you count “beer rest” as a use, in which case they were quite helpful) and get a deal on some newish ones for next year. Now you’ll never have to pay full price again and will only have to visit the campus store for cute sweats to wear when you’re hungover!

Being a girl has its perks, especially when it comes to scoring free drinks at the bar. But being a girl also takes a lot of work and costs a whole lot o’ cashola. Just think about all the things we need to pay for that guys don’t: waxing, haircare, makeup, Spanx, the list goes on.

Yeah, keeping ourselves groomed and primped is not easy on the wallet, but it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg (or a month’s rent).  Here are some of my favorite beauty products that all come in under 20 buckaroos. These things are just as fabulous as the expensive stuff and, hey, anything that’ll make me feel purty without making me cringe at the price is good by me. (Side Note:  You can get a lot of this stuff on Drugstore.com, an awesome website that carries nearly every beauty item you can imagine and has great deals on ‘em too.)

I am one of those girls who looks dead without a little gloss smeared across my lips and MAC’s lipglass is one of my personal faves. It’s ultra glossy, which is ultra sexy, and it lasts a really long time. There are tons of color options but  “Looks Like Sin” and “Lust” are by far my favorites.

Okay, so maybe you’re thinking, “This is supposed to be an article about beauty products, what is chafing gel doing on the list?”  Well, here’s a tip: this chafing gel does the exact same job as those super expensive-o make-up primers (like Smashbox’s oh-so-popular Photo Finish, which costs at least $36), and it costs under $8!  And – bonus! – for us curvy girls, it does its job and works wonderfully against that frustrating and painful chafing you can get in the summertime.

After years of buying uber-expensive mascaras and still having a hard time finding one I totally love, I discovered Lash Blast by Covergirl.  For under $10, it gives you gorgeous thick lashes without clumping. It even won an Allure Editor’s Choice Award, so you know it’s gonna rock your socks.

Unless I’m going out on the town, I usually only put on powder to smooth out my skin, rather than clogging my pores with foundation on a daily basis, and I love Loreal’s True Match.  They have a wide array of colors and it gives great coverage without feeling thick.

Blush is another one of my daily essentials; it gives me just enough color so I look so fresh and so clean and, you know, alive. I love Sephora’s line; it goes on nicely and naturally, there are a number of colors perfect for different skin tones, and it’s totally budget-friendly.

I’ll be honest, I was skeptical when I first heard of this product a few years back. I mean, the ’80s-looking bottle is enough to scare anyone off. But I decided to give it a go (my legs looked nearly transparent) and I loooooved it.  It’s not like self-tanner so if you end up streaked, it easily washes off. Really, though, it’s quite easy to do without looking streaky or blotchy, and it truly does smooth out my legs significantly.  Perfect for short shorts, skirts and dresses in the summertime.

There’s really not much that makes me happier after a long week than going to get a mani-pedi with the latest OPI shade. They definitely have the highest quality polish (the stuff lasts over a week) and an insanely large collection of colors ranging from the most basic nudes to gorgeous reds to everything fun & funky in between.  This season they introduced the Hong Kong collection, which I’m totes feelin’, especially this beautiful blue that looks splendid on my freshly pedicured toes.

I will never understand how companies can charge up to $30 for a shine spray. I mean, how hard is it to make?! That’s why I’m head over heels for this Matrix Shine Mist. It gives my hair a lovely shine, helps with frizz and fly-aways, and is made especially for all of us color-treated ladies out there. Oh, and it’s under $10.

It may not always be easy being a girl, but these products certainly help. And with all the money you save, you won’t even need boys to buy you drinks at the bar.

I’m going to be completely honest with err-body in the club gettin’ tipsy.  I’ve watched Mad Men maybe one time (or less) during Christmas break and wasn’t exactly its number one fan. But for some reason I couldn’t take my eyes off of Joan Holloway’s style and attitude on the show. And that’s probably the only reason I lasted as long as I did…

In the office, Joan wiggles around making the majority of her male (and some female, unsurprisingly) co-workers on the show pull at their collars.  Not because of her bold red hair or even the fact that she lets her curves do the talkin’ when it comes to her tailored-by-a-naughty-secretary office-wear.  It’s that one word we can never stop using: confidence.

If she wasn’t so completely and utterly secure and confident with herself (and her mad man skills in and out of the office), then I doubt she’d have as many fans as she currently does.  Wait, nope. That’s a lie.  There’s wayyy too much to love about Joan’s feminine and subtly sexy style that would make most men decide they really “need to work late tonight.” And if you looked as good at her, you’d have her sky high confidence, too. So why not take a little inspiration from everyone’s favorite red-headed-curvy-sexy-’60s-secretary?

Product Info: Red signature dress – Lulu’s, $35; Wool Jacket – Alloy, $72 ; Pen Necklace- Amazon, $20; Monochrome peep-toe shoe – Asos, $49.70; Rose crescent hoop earrings set - Forever 21, $3.80

This outfit represents Joan’s style almost too well. It’s understated yet sexy, easy yet glamorous. The red dress comes together in all the right places and would be perfect for a date. In fact, I think it’s safe to assume that your date is going to want to start grabbin’ your curves even tighter than the dress does.  The signature pen necklace is a recurring staple in Joan’s wardrobe, as are the earrings that look like you stole inherited them from your grandma.  The coat is more modern, since you don’t exactly want to look like you just walked out of the ’60s, but still gives you a little old school glamour. And then there’s the shoes. I have 6.5 words for you: Cream peep-toe Mary-Jane T-Straps.  Droooooool.

Now there is really no reason to get out of bed on Black Friday.

Part of me gets butterflies just thinking about racks and racks of discounted clothing. I’ve been dreaming of Black Friday since I woke up over the toilet in a Tinker Bell costume on November 1st; the cheap designer handbags, the plasma TVs, the stops at Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s to refuel, the high of leaving the mall with all of my Christmas gifts and some money left in my bank account. There is just something about being in a mall on Black Friday that cannot be replicated.

Then reality sets in and I realize that while in a perfect world I would be skipping through sales racks, after finishing these freakin’ essays, traveling home and stuffing my face for an entire day, my (Queen-size!) bed is going to be much more appealing than lines at 4 am in the freezing cold. And don’t even get me started on those slow-walking old ladies that always get in my way.

That being said, I will remain in my pajamas and snag the deals I can from the comfort of my warm home as my mother serves me delicious leftovers. For those of you who will be joining me in cyberspace, here are the websites to put at the top of your bookmarks list to ensure you get deals just as good as those over-caffeinated, line waiters pummeling their way through mall crowds. Internet, I love you.

BestBuy.com: You can get the door buster specials that people will be waiting in line at 3 am for a day early if you shop online. If you are in need for an electronic item bestbuy.com is a must visit on Thanksgiving Day. They have digital cameras for $49.99, GPS systems for $99, and plasma TVs discounted 1,000 bucks, in addition to a ton of DVDs and video games for any brother, boyfriend or guy you need to purchase a Christmas gift for.

Amazon.com: Anything you could possibly want is being sold on Amazon, and they are doing an awesome Black Friday sale this year (which has already started, by the way) where they search all the Black Friday deals other stores are giving and meet or beat those prices. A ton of jewelry is 40% off (with free shipping), you can get 50% off power tools for dad, and pick up some toys for little cousins or family friends. All the products have a limited quantity so if you see something you want add it to your bag before someone else snatches it up. But if you miss it, don’t worry; Amazon is adding new merchandise every day Thanksgiving week. And they have a fun little feature called “lightening deals,” where for a limited time a certain product will go on severe discount, so get your clicking reflexes ready. Aren’t sales so fun?

Kohls.com: Black Friday deals begin online at 12 am Friday, which means after you stuff your face on Thanksgiving, down some coffee (or Vodka…God knows we’ll need it with a house full of great aunts and grandparents) and get ready to shop until the wee hours of the morning. What’s cool about Kohl’s is that you can plan your shopping list now. They have all of their deals available to view online and you can add what you want to your wish list so when the sale starts you can simply click purchase. A TON of stuff is half off, from makeup and shoes to furniture and kitchenware. This sale is definitely a must visit!

Express.com: If you are looking for a New Years Eve outfit, a new winter coat or a classy outfit to dress your boyfriend in (those worn out jeans aren’t going to cut it when you bring him home for Christmas dinner with your family), then Express should be on the top of your favorites list. The deals are ridiculous and they are going on all week long. Leggings and tights are buy one get one half off, dresses are 30% off, and a large number of party tops are only $19.50. Polo’s and button downs for that special guy in you’re life (mine is totally my dad, don’t judge) are also buy one get one half off.

LordandTaylor.com: Hands down the department store with the best online savings. Virtually everything you could possibly want is discounted (25% off dresses, 20% to 50% off fall coats and 25% to 40% off handbags…you get the picture). Then using coupon code “BIG” gets you an additional 15% off regular priced items and $20 off clearance. If you are in search of an designer clothing, shoes, handbags or makeup, lordandtaylor.com is the best place to search out the best deals (deals are available now until Saturday).

What other websites are you cyber-shoppers planning on visiting on Black Friday? Share the wealth and let us all know!

So, you studying for that last final?
Trying to push your way to the end?
Wondering what the hell you are supposed to do about this giant blue book exam now that you have successfully skipped every class the entire semester?

You might be totally screwed, but you also may have a chance to pull a Mine That Bird (that’s a Kentucky Derby reference) and come up from behind! And you can win a $100 Amazon gift card just for trying!

“But fantabulous CollegeCandy editors, how would I ever be able to do that!?”

I’m glad you asked, dear reader. Let me introduce you to Shmoop.

Shmoop is the only other website you need in life besides CollegeCandy (and maybe TFLN). It is a site made for you, chock full of the study guides and aids you will need to succeed in those college classes. Ok, not all of them, but the ones that have all those ridiculous reading assignments that you would never be able to complete, even if you didn’t choose The Gauntlet on MTV over Hamlet.

We recently teamed up with the Shmoopies to reward all of your hard work by giving away three (3) $100 Amazon gift cards. All you have to do is visit Shmoop.com, find something on there that really helped you in your quest for blue book domination, and paste the link in the comments section below. Give us a short explanation of how that helped you and you are entered to win a gift card.

Yes, it’s that easy. Learn a little, win a little.

You have until Monday, May 11th at 5pm to get your entries in. We will randomly choose 3 winners and announce them on Tuesday, May 12th. Each of those Shmoop-worms (it’s like a book worm…without the book) will get $100 to spend any way they want on Amazon.com. Sure, you should probably spend it on books, but we won’t tell anyone if you put it towards the entire Saved By the Bell series on DVD.

So get Shmooping. And good luck on those exams – as much fun as college is, you really don’t want to have to re-take that class.

[Photo courtesy of icfusemag on Flickr.]

2008 was a fabulous year in music. Which means it will also be a fabulous Christmas (or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivous) for you if you know what to ask for. Here are the top 5 CDs I hope to find under my tree on Christmas morning…or, since it is 2008, the CDs I’ll buy with my iTunes gift card that’s in my Christmas stocking.

Kings of Leon- Only By the Night:

For me, this is the album of the year. I’ve always been a semi-fan of Kings of Leon, but it wasn’t until this most recent album that I became a super fan. I could listen to Only By the Night over and over and not get tired of it. And I probably will throughout the entirety of 2009. The other day, I got in my friend’s car and his radio was turned all the way up. “Having a party?” I asked. “Oh, ‘Sex on Fire’ was on the radio,” he replied. So yes, it was a party. And that about sums the album up.

Coldplay- Viva la Vida:

Every Coldplay album is a hit, so it should be no surprise that Viva la Vida is right up there with the rest of them. Though Chris Martin and the boys have threatened that this is their last album, I have a feeling they’ll keep going, especially after the huge success of this one. Coldplay does have some haters, but even those haters would have a difficult time denying the awesome-ness of the album’s title track. But to me, the standout song on Viva la Vida is “Lost.” It’s right up there with “The Scientist” and “Fix You.”

Girl Talk- Feed the Animals:

I had never heard of Girl Talk or Gregg Gillis until 2008 and now his new album, Feed the Animals, is in my top 5 of the year. The crazy thing is, he doesn’t even write/sing/play his own music. He just mixes (or “mashes”) the music. The album is filled with samples from pretty much every popular artist you’ve ever heard of. Feed the Animals contains clips from Jay-Z, Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Radiohead, Ben Folds Five, Ace of Base, 50 Cent, and about a billion more. Oh, I almost forgot the best part. You can pay whatever you want for Feed the Animals if you go to Girl Talk’s website. Which also means you can pay nothing if you want. Santa likes that.

Jason Mraz- We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things:

Jason can do no wrong in my book. And his new album is proof that as he gets older, he gets even better. The album includes lots of typical, fun Jason with “Butterfly” and “Dynamo of Volition,” but also some more mellow, absolutely beautiful tunes, like “A Beautiful Mess” and “Details in the Fabric.” Not only should this album be under your tree this year, but you should also ask for concert tickets as well. Nobody puts on a better show than the Mraz.

Frightened Rabbit- The Midnight Organ Fight:

Frightened Rabbit is one of those bands you’ve never heard of, but when you do, you can’t believe you lived without them. The boys in the band have hot Scottish accents and their music is fairly mellow, but also has the kind of beat that will get you moving. Even when the boys in Frightened Rabbit swear (which they tend to do), it sounds endearing. After listening to “Keep Yourself Warm,” I promise you’ll be hooked.

1. The Amazon Kindle.

I l.o.v.e this gadget. A super light weight, hand held device that lets you download entire books in under a minute. It holds up to 200 books, magazines, newspapers and blogs. You may think you like the feel of a book better but trust me – after playing with this bad boy for 20 minutes you will be obsessed too. It is the best for travel, for class books, for everything. I adore it. What I don’t love is the $359 price tag… so ask your parents for the holidays. And think about it this way: what you spend on the Kindle you save on books, because every book is $9.99 or less on the Kindle (and you save paper! And bookshelf space! Your allergies will thank you!!).

2. OPI France collection.

Specifically “You don’t know Jacques.” While my mom calls this color “a dead elephant” (really, mom, have you ever seen a dead elephant?!) fashionistas and fashionistas-not-so-much have showered me with adoring compliments simply for my nail color (and of course my winning charm and fantastic wit- but that’s neither here nor there. Side Note: how much fun do you think it would be to be the person who makes up the names of the OPI colors?

3. Trader Joes 100 calorie chocolate bars.

I should dedicate my whole list to the person who created these. I saw 100 calories and immediately thought either they will be TINY, or they will taste like CRAP. But it was neither!! And unlike those other 100 calorie packs out there – this is the real (all natural) deal. A great size, and a satisfying bar that is actual chocolate. Perfect for any chocolate craving that hits. And it comes in dark chocolate too. Heeeey antioxidants!

4. The Google Phone (A.K.A. G1 Phone.)

It’s a great week for gadgets, but if you are looking for a new phone look no further. It’s the best of the iPhone and the Sidekick rolled into one. I’m pretty sure Google WILL take over planet earth by the year 2012.

5. Farecast.com

If it’s one thing we are lacking as college students, it’s money. Especially now that you just bought a Kindle and a fabulous pair of Hunter Boots. But we still want to go on spring break, visit our friends from summer camp 1997 (LYLAS!), and, if you’re really lucky, find a ridiculously cheap flight to Florence to go back and visit the family you lived with when you studied abroad. Farecast is sort of, well, genius and it predicts if the price of the flight you are looking to take is going to go up or down in the coming days, and weather you should “Buy Now” or “Wait.” Saving you money for coffee, beer, and, of course, cute rain boots.

Jill SalamaLoading…

3:48 PM (5 hours ago)

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2008/10/25/the-love-list-have-your-kindle-and-your-spring-break-money-too/feed/ 4 Jill - University of Wisconsin kindle.jpg nlf15_youdontknowjacques.jpg choco.jpg g1.jpg homearrowguide.gif http://collegecandy.com/2007/10/25/feng-shui-for-your-dorm/ http://collegecandy.com/2007/10/25/feng-shui-for-your-dorm/#comments Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:28:17 +0000 CC Staff http://collegecandy.com/style/1350 So, maybe I don’t actually know anything about Feng Shui, but that has never stopped me before.

It is closing in on the cold, depressing months of winter after all, so let’s take a few deep breaths and maybe we can get through this together.

After all, aren’t you a little embarrassed to bring men home to your unwashed tattered sheets, thong strewn floor (actually that’s pretty hot…keep those there)? You’re in school, use your brain.

Let’s begin with …

So, maybe I don’t actually know anything about Feng Shui, but that has never stopped me before.

It is closing in on the cold, depressing months of winter after all, so let’s take a few deep breaths and maybe we can get through this together.

After all, aren’t you a little embarrassed to bring men home to your unwashed tattered sheets, thong strewn floor (actually that’s pretty hot…keep those there)? You’re in school, use your brain.

Let’s begin with the bed (that’s what she said).

I’ve seen a few different beds in my day and while 300 thread count sheets are so silky smooth they are definitely a little pricey. Never fear! There are a few other options than your classic green and blue checked flannel.

Unless you moonlight as a porn star, please avoid red satin sheets, there’s steamy and there’s sketchy and satin crosses the line in leaps and bounds. Buy these Twister sheets at www.stylehive.com and memorize this line. “How would you like to play a game of Twister…in my bed.”

Now that’s class.

Are your walls looking a little bare? You have a few different ways to go. A well placed tapestry tells the campus that you’re chill, down-to-earth, and probably have a little baggy of weed in your sock drawer.

Use a few posters from www.allposters.com as your soapbox to all inform all who dare enter your room how sweet you are. I recommend choosing one piece of art with sexual undertones- I’m fan of Picasso’s “Femme” for $20 and another highlighting you musical taste. Bonus points for smarm and or obscurity as in this little jem for $25.

Walls? Check. Now, if you haven’t already put up a few pictures from your glory days in high school, but not too many. You don’t want everyone to know that you peaked when you 17 and you probably won’t be squeezing into those size 2 jeans until you graduate and get away from the constant supply of delicious food. Don’t live in the past man, don’t live in the past.

Okay, you’re off to a good start. Your bed is made and your walls don’t completely resemble those of a minimum security prison. As soon as you throw in a few extras you’ll be ready to open up your space to friends and potential sexual partners.

Pick and choose from this list:

1. An exotic plant like a bright pink orchid or bird of paradise.

2. Tip jar for your bedside table. Humor is always sexy and you might get some quarters for laundry…

3. 6-pack of imported Hefeweizen from Belgium.

4. White Christmas lights to construct a make-shift chandelier, it looks so good if you do it right.

5. A few works to spice up your book shelf….the Vice Guide to Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll is on mine.

6. Couple of wine glasses, fill with hard candies. Practical and fruity. Add wine rack for bonus points.

7. Febreze baby, Febreze. When in doubt, pull the trigger, inhale the fresh scent.

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From the album, The Reminder. Buy it here.