Got something awesome everyone needs to know about? Email your “The Know” ideas to Jill@collegecandy.com and I’ll pass them along to everyone right here, every week. Sure it may not be a resume builder, but it’s a whole lot more fun than updating that sucker. And it will earn bragging rights that lil ‘ol you turned thousands of readers on to your latest obsession. Really, who doesn’t want that?

My Starbucks Rewards

For someone who knows a lot about Starbucks, I didn’t know (or was too lazy to read about) their new “My Starbucks Rewards” programg, but then I heard some girls chatting about their free mochas and nothing gets me going like news of free mochas so I did a little research.

And this is something everyone needs to know about.

We all know Starbucks is like crack. It’s addicting and expensive, especially around finals. But now, Starbucks wants to reward you for your loyal dependence on their soy Americanos. All you have to do is register your Starbucks card (like that one stocked in your stuffing on Christmas morning) and depending on how often you go, you will earn different rewards. Every time you swipe that sucker you will earn a “star” (feels so third grade, only there is no Lisa Frank folder to put it on!). Earn 5 stars and you will get benefits like free syrups, a free extra shot, free soy milk, free calories – all those things that make your drink muy expensivo. Read More »

Mmmm. When it hits your lips....

Happy National Coffee Day! You know Americans have a serious caffeine addiction when they single out an entire day in which to celebrate it. But before you check your jittery and wide-eyed self into rehab, let’s take a moment to consider the benefits of that aromatic Americano you pick up every morning at your local Starbucks.

First and foremost, coffee produces mental alertness. A pumpkin spice latte in the morning wakes you up, energizes you and improves performance, both academically and, I imagine, in the sack. And it’s legal and socially acceptable. So go on and abuse it, weary college student, no ones judging you.

Coffee is the drink of the escape artist. Things in the library getting too intense for your liking? Escape to the coffee shop for a breather. The thought of spinach in your teeth on a first dinner date worrying you? Ask him to get a casual cup of coffee instead. If avoidance is your game, coffee is your salvation.

Plus it’s loaded up with antioxidants, which are so hot right now. A cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin in the morning will make your skin a no-fly zone for free radicals.

On the same token, coffee has been proven to protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Evidence to be found here, here and here. So, in essence, coffee is basically the caffeinated polar opposite of Diet Coke, which will kill you, apparently.

And last but not least, a cup of coffee will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Which, if you’re wondering, is the caffeine stimulating your bowels. Yummy.

Coffee is a lifestyle choice. Consumers of this drug, excuse me, drink of choice come together in coffee shops across the nation and discuss life, love and why over a steaming cup of their favorite brand of brain food. So celebrate this day with your loved ones, and then hit the bathroom immediately after.

Years of coffee drinking and way too many hours at my local Starbucks has instilled in me few quarks: a sever caffeine addiction, height maxing out at a towering 5 foot 2 inches, and a fine-tuned sixth sense on identifying loser guys based on their coffee drink of choice.

Allow me to fill you in on my revelation:

Frappuccino: Absolutely not datable. Fraps are merely a milkshake with a thimble of coffee in it (obviously to make it more grown-up) and put in a fashionable cup to show off how trendy/cool/grown-up one is by carrying it around. Guys who go to Starbucks and order frappuccinos do not actually like coffee, but don’t want to feel lame for carrying around a McDonalds cup with what they really want – a milk shake. It has been my experience that the frappuccino guy is full of as much crap as his frap, steer clear. Read More »