Oh, thank you sweet baby Jesus.

It. Is. Over.

I never have to look at another pumpkin if I don’t want to. Or an apple.

This week might have been the hardest. I’m totally eating my own words when I say this but it is not okay to eat pumpkin and apple combinations every day for one month. That is 30 days of the same thing. What the hell was I thinking?

Yesterday I broke down (again) and had another pumpkin spice latte. I am so tired of those damn things. First of all… a small was 4 dollars. Four dollars? That’s about half of what it’s going to cost me to get wasted and make bad choices at happy hour tonight.

So why do I keep buying them? Because it’s quick and easy and, c’mon lets be honest, who doesn’t love carrying around a Starbucks cup? Especially in the chilly fall weather. I’m such a sucker for stereotypical things (like when the weather outside is frightful, I really do think that the fire is so delightful). Read More »

Happy 4th of July ladies!

I hope you enjoy this holiday and appreciate the day off. Whether you’re spending it at the beach, watching fireworks, or firing up that grill, July 4th is a day to celebrate. It’s a day to reflect on how we got here and remember the people that made this country so great. It’s a day to appreciate our country and everything it has to offer us, whether it be the big things or the little things.

Today though, today I’m going to focus on the little things…

10.  Driving. On the right side of the road that is. I don’t have much experience abroad, and I have absolutely no experience driving abroad but I can tell you this much: I don’t think it would work out to well for me. So yes, I’m thankful to have my Jeep, and my license, and my ability to drive on the right side.

9. Red, White, and Blue. Primary colors often get a bad rep. But there’s something  great about red, white and blue- when the three are thrown together, whether that be on the American flag, or an Uncle Sam outfit.

8. BBQs. Nothing says America quite like a good old hot dog or hamburger right off the grill. (The fact that neither hot dogs nor hamburgers were invented here is completely irrelevant.)

7. Football. I know other countries have football as well, but their football is actually our soccer. Which makes sense because in soccer you actually use your feet. I don’t know why we call it football, but I love the sport all the same. And I appreciate the irony.

6. Thanksgiving. A holiday dedicated to, amongst other less materialistic things, eating so much food that we bust the buttons on our jeans? Dedicated to turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie? Yes, please.

5. Our Youth. Not so much American teenagers on their own, but rather our collective youth. As a country. 235 years old may not seem too young but in comparison to most well-established countries, we’re spring chickens. Yes. I  did just say “spring chickens.”

4. Apple Pie. Why apple pie is such an American tradition I’m not so sure. I just know that it is. And I appreciate that. In fact, I appreciate it even more when it’s pipping hot and topped with vanilla ice cream.

3. Jeans. When I went to London in my junior year I was shocked and appalled by the lack of denim. I know America invented blue jeans and because of that we embrace it wholeheartedly, but it wasn’t until then that I realized other countries had not. I’d never survive.

2. American Authors. I know that when most people think of the classics they think of British Literature, but  America has some pretty amazing author as well. Fitzgerald. Twain. O’Connors. McCullers. Hemingway. Dickinson. Whitman. Just to name a few…

1. The Melting Pot. Yes, there’s an overlying “American” culture but part of what defines that culture is the diversity of our country. There is no one way to be an American, and that’s all sorts of freeing.

Time to turn this into a  love fest. What are the reasons you love the U.S. of A? 

That's going straight to your thighs, ladies.

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to seriously over-indulge in some delish foods without feeling like a total piggy. A time to eat until you can’t button your pants anymore. A time when the leftovers are better than the original.

But hold on a second – have you ever stopped to think about how many calories you’re ACTUALLY consuming? Between the piles of mashed potatoes and second helpings of pumpkin pie, you are most likely taking in enough calories to last you a week.

Yes, it’s true, Thanksgiving can definitely be a time when you can cut loose and not worry about your diet and exercise regiment, but do you really want to totally sabotage that healthy diet?

If you answered yes to that question, stop reading now and go indulge in a few plates of stuffing for me. Everyone says ignorance is bliss and that couldn’t be truer than at Thanksgiving dinner.

If you answered no, here’s a list of the average amount of calories in some of our favorite holiday dishes. Read it, learn it, know it, then choose wisely

Turkey: Thankfully, the centerpiece to any Thanksgiving dinner is also one of the healthiest parts – before you add that delicious gravy, that is. Four ounces of white meat is only about 180 calories, but if you go for dark meat, 4 ounces goes up at 323 calories. And with gravy, it can be as much as 350 calories. (And remember, most of us eat a lot more than 4 ounces, so these numbers obviously vary.)

Stuffing: My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner, I usually take 2 or 3 giant scoops of this stuff. Or at least I did, before I realized that the average stuffing recipe has 165-190 calories per half cup. That means I’m probably taking in 600 calories in stuffing ALONE. Read More »

Finally — summer’s over! It’s time for sweaters, boots, Starbucks’ signature fall drinks, and for those leaves to start falling. You could spend all fall hunched over your computer worrying about mid-terms, or you can get in touch with your seven-year-old self that took time to relish the changing leaf colors, the local pumpkin patches, and of course, the cooler weather.

Here are five things that you probably enjoyed during your childhood that you can still enjoy this fall. (Editor’s Note: especially if you add a little spiked apple cider.):

1. Go Apple Picking: Throw on some jeans, find a cardigan, and head to the nearest apple orchard. Now that fall is here, apple orchards should be open to the public. Not sure where the closest apple orchard is? Check out Pick Your Own for all the details of the farms and orchards near you. Not only will this get you outside to enjoy the nice fall weather, it will give you a reason to bake. Once you pick out those perfect apples, call your mom and ask for her apple pie recipe, make some caramel apples, or brew cider (feel free to add alcohol, of course). Baking isn’t your thing? Well, you know what they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and that can’t hurt either. Read More »

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. This week we're doin' things a little differently. And by different, we mean delicious. Get ready to make one delectable dessert.]

Seriously, who doesn’t love some combination of cinnamon and apple? No matter how you make it, you literally can’t go wrong with this stuff.

Apple pie has always been an American fave, sure, but that term “easy as pie” doesn’t really apply to me. What is easy about cutting up a billion apples, making a crust and then waiting to eat it? So when I decided I wanted something similar, I made myself something akin to a mini apple pie, sans the irritating process of cutting up apples. Preparation can be a bit bothersome, but trust me, it is WORTH it. Read More »

While diving into a giant slice of warm apple pie (the kind with the crumble topping) and a melty scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, I thought to myself,

“Holy sh*t, this is better than sex.”

And I totally meant it. That treat was pure heaven: creamy, sweet, indulgant…and I didn’t have to have awkward conversation with it after.

There aren’t many things I think that highly of, but I would give up sex for that dessert any day. (Or every day if it was fat free.) Like me, the rest of the CollegeCandy writers love getting frisky, but this week they weighed in on the very special things in life that are truly better than sex.

Olua: A good book. Call me a nerd if you want, but I’d usually rather be reading on an uneventful night than doin’ the dirty.

S.E. – Fordham: Gooey butter cake is way better then sex. It melts in your mouth, tastes like heaven, and is sweeter then any orgasm.

Kathryn S.: The thrill of the chase, because you can imagine “the perfect moment,” you don’t have to worry about “the morning after,” and because Chuck Bass instigated it on Gossip Girl.

Erica – Kent State: I don’t know why, but I am absolutely in love with pizza. I can’t tell you how many nights I have decided to skip going home with a hot guy in favor of returning to mi casa because I knew my roommates were going to order something from Pizza Hut. Read More »

It’s Fall, and few things make me drool harder than homemade applesauce (in case you were wondering what else could possibly trump applesauce on the list see: the cast of Ocean’s 11, dental work, and a good nap).

I digress. Homemade applesauce is surprisingly easy to make and cooks up really fast. It’s a great way to use apples that are starting to get mushy, or a fun way to make use of your haul after a visit to the orchard. Plus, it’s a lot less work than making a pie.

For your consideration, here’s my really simple recipe.

3 Pounds of apples – That’s 6-8 apples for those you without food scales. (Any variety will do but Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Macintosh and Honeycrisp work really well.)

¾ – 1 Cup of Sugar

½ Cup of Water

2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon (more to taste if that’s what you’re into)

The juice of half a lemon Read More »

When my boyfriend and I split, I went through usual grief: denial, depression, rage. Well, mainly rage. I had all this excess energy bottled up, so I considered my options. I could buy a pint of ice cream and watch every depressing episode of Sex and the City and cry my eyes out, I could go downtown and blow most of my bank account on fabulous shoes, or, I could do something productive like writing my humongous paper. I wound up taking a walk downtown and found a farmers’ market with a huge selection of fall fruit.

I ended up buying 5 pounds of apples.

When I got home, I decided it was time to put all my energy to good use and bake a pie. I turned up loud, energetic music and started up the oven. As a semi-professional cook, making delicious things was always a kind of therapy, and was a way to channel my emotions. I asked one of my male friends if baking a pie was an appropriate response to a breakup, and I was told, “Only if you’re planning on throwing it at his face while it’s still steaming hot.” Aah, right to the point.

So now I present the:

I’m-Too-Good-For-Him-Anyway Apple Pie: Read More »

Usually sports bore the crap out of me, but for some reason I love watching the Olympics. Maybe it’s because I used to swim on a team (a long, loooonnngg time ago) and kind of relive that heart-stopping moment of hearing the starting buzzer every time I see it on TV. Maybe it’s watching girls who are more in shape than I will ever be in my entire life flip themselves around on a balance beam and land on their feet. Maybe it’s all those hot, sweaty guys. Who really knows. For whatever reason, I heart the Olympics big time.

Since nothing makes me hungrier than watching other people exert themselves, I’ve devised the perfect Olympics Dinner. It’s Team USA themed, scores a 10 in the taste factor, and is relatively easy to make. Join me in celebrating athleticism with decidedly non-heathly food, won’t you?

Go Team USA! Dinner:

All American Hamburgers:

2 stalks of celery

2-3 pads of butter

Ground meat (enough to serve 4)

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1 ounce package McCormick gravy mix (or some other kind) Read More »

Every once in a while, I’ll go to a bar and someone will hand me a drink and I’ll take a sip and instantly want to puke. I mean, who actually enjoys stuff that tastes like turpentine mixed with a splash of soda?

Yesterday being Cinco De Mayo, a day seemingly dedicated to the art of delicious drink making, I decided to come up with cinco drinkos that actually taste good (so good they’re named after desserts!) and are easy to make with stuff you might actually have in stock:

Cupcake

Mix a half cup Sprite with a half cup of vanilla vodka. Que delicioso!

Thin Mint

Throw a shot of creme de menthe into your hot chocolate and disfrutas!

Apple Pie

Mix an ounce of tequilla with an ounce of apple cider and a splash of lemon juice. Mix in some butterscotch schnapps and you’re buena. Read More »