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!

Fourth of July Weekend is HERE!

Bring on the hot dogs, the sparklers, singing Bye Bye Miss American Pie on repeat and…the tacky American flag apparel.
But this year my friends, there is no need to don that over-sized American flag shirt from 1998. You can lose the red bandanna and pig tails because that looks good on no one (unless you’re 5 and even then I’m wary). This season is all about color, so you can safely do up the colors of our grand ol’ flag while still looking as fashionable as ever.

No matter what you’re up to this weekend- here are three outfits that should have you covered!

Day:

Shirt, Shorts, Shoes

Tuck this shirt into the cherry red shorts and go with some simple white sandals and a pair of aviators if you have them! Perfect for the 4th of July (or any summer day) it says festive without saying “I’m related to Uncle Sam.”

Pool:

Coverup, Bikini Top, Bikini Bottom, Sandals

This is the perfect ‘fit for chowing down on potato chips and apple pie by the pool. I love the casualness of the loose tank- and of course, the swim suit underneath goes perfectly with a raft and an iced cocktail.

Night:

Dress, Shoes, Cuff, Bangle

Whether you’re hitting a bbq at your uncle’s or the clubs downtown in your city- this outfit is flirty, festive and fun! You’re giving off the perfect balance of, “I’m being festive but not in an overkill, I-look-like-a-middle-aged-mom sort of way” and the, “I’m too cool for school to even acknowledge this holiday”
4th of July perfection!

So tailgate season is upon us and the time has come to bring out our barbecues, lazily relax outside and revile in the sunshine with our friends while we’ve still got beautiful weather on our side.  Or desperately hot, sticky, and humid weather, depending on where you go to school.  Whatever. The point is, it’s tailgate season and that means hot dogs and hamburgers and various other things cooked on an open fire. You drooling yet? Wait. Before you indulge in that perfectly grilled hot dog, there are a few things you should know.

Note: to those of you who want to continue to consume burgers and hot dogs in ignorant bliss, stop reading now.  If you are intrigued to know what these patriotic foods do to your body, however, let’s keep truckin’.

For all you hot dog, hamburger, and bacon lovers reading this, I really wish I could ease the blow of what I am about to report, but there is really no other way to present the facts: processed meat consumption, even more so than other forms of meat, is correlated to an increased risk of all types of cancer.  Red meat and processed meats contain more totally repulsive saturated and trans fats than any other animal product.  These types of fats have received recent media attention for their harmfulness to the human body, yet the fat issue doesn’t quite tell the whole story of why eating hot dogs, hamburgers, bologna, sausage, and other processed meats is ultra bad for you. 

Scientific studies show that consuming red meat and processed meats on a regular basis more than doubles the risk of many cancers, most commonly colon and pancreatic cancer.  Even eating just a bit of the stuff, like two or three ounces a day, has been shown to vastly increase the risk of cancer.  This is some freakin’ scary stuff.  Maybe that grilled hot dog will be less appetizing now that you know it will double your risk of getting cancer, and maybe even worse if you consume this stuff all through your childhood and young adult years.

While I am not done reporting on the scary involved in eating red and processed meats, I wanted to take a brief respite from presenting the negative and include some words of encouragement.  Veggie burgers taste absolutely amazing and there are SO many options on the market now.  Take Boca Burgers Roasted Onion Flavor, for instance.  Who doesn’t love the smell of mushrooms and onions on the grill?  I can personally attest that these burgers are hearty and flavorful.  Amy’s Organics sells like four or five different veggie burgers, all of which are dandy (The Texas Burger is a personal favorite).  How amazing is freshly grilled corn on the cob, a portabella burger, or veggie shish kabob?! So basically, even without a big, juicy (unhealthy) burger, all is not lost!

Okay, so back to the negative.  Turns out that toxic nitrogenous compounds are ever so abundant in red and processed meats.  Red meat also has a high heme (also called haem content).  Heme is an iron-carrying protein that has been shown in studies to eat up the cells lining our digestive tract and promote colon cancer.  Pleasant, right?

Other not so cool facts about meat:

1)   Animal products contain no fiber, remain in the digestive tract longer, and in general, slow digestive transit time.  This slower transit time heightens exposure to toxic compounds.

2)   Animal products contain far fewer antioxidants and other disease fighting chemicals than plant foods.

3)   Meat actually contains more fat than protein.  Did you know that broccoli actually contains more protein per calorie than a piece of steak?

4)  Studies (cited below) show that eating those hot dogs, hamburgers, bacon and balogna will increase your risk of depression and other mental health problems.

5)   Too much meat and dairy harm sperm (again references below).

6) Dioxin is the most toxic chemical known to science and is known to cause cancer in humans.  It is estimated that 93 percent of our exposure to dioxin comes through eating animal products, including processed meats. Dioxin settles and accumulates in fat, so the more animal food we eat, the more dioxin we get (last reference).

So there you have it.  The facts the Hamburger Helper Company and Oscar Mayer Inc. would like to keep under the rug.  I love tailgating as much as the next girl, but let’s recognize the truth about what those hot dogs and hamburgers can really do to our bodies.  Pass me the grilled veggies, fresh fruit, and veggie burgers please!

References:

1. Chao A, Thun JT, Connell CJ, et al. Meat Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer JAMA 2005;293:172-182.

2. Sesink AL, Termont DS, Kleibeuker JH, Van der Meer R. Red meat and colon cancer: dietary haem-induced colonic cytotoxicity and epithelial hyperproliferation are inhibited by calcium. Carcinogenesis 2001;22(10):1653-1659. Hughes R, Cross AJ, Pollock JR, Bingham S. Dose dependent effect of dietary meat on endogenous colonic N-nitrosation. Carcinogenesis 2001; 22(1):199-202.

3. Akbaraly TN et al. Dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in middle age. Br J Psychiatry. 2009 Nov;195(5):408-13.

4. Brinkworth et al. Long-term Effects of a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet and a Low-Fat Diet on Mood and Cognitive Function. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(20):1873-1880

5. Beezhold BL et al. Preliminary evidence that vegetarian diet improves mood. American Public Health Association 2009 National Meeting, Abstract 206464.

6. Leung BM, Kaplan BJ. Perinatal depression: prevalence, risks, and the nutrition link–a review of the literature. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Sep;109(9):1566-75.

7. Mendiola J, Torres-Cantero AM, Vioque J, et al. A low intake of antioxidant nutrients is associated with poor semen quality in patients attending fertility clinics. Fertility and Sterility 2010; 93(4): 1128-1133.

8. Arnold Schecter. “Intake of Dioxins and Related Compounds from Food in the U.S. Population,” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 63:1-18, 2001, http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/dioxininfood.pdf.

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.

4th of July weekend is almost here! Can I get a woot woot? Anyone? No?

Well, you will be woot-wooting when you know how much easier I am about to make your life. Surely you are going to a BBQ of some sort this weekend and as if figuring out your outfit isn’t hard enough (something that says, ‘yeah I’m patriotic’ but doesn’t look like it came from your dad’s closet) you also have to figure out what to make for your friend’s/aunt’s/brother’s best friend’s girlfriend’s BBQ. You want to look like you tried (showing up with a bag of Tostitos and salsa, albeit tempting, is not on your radar) but you are NO Paula Deen.

Hell, you’re not even Rachael Ray.

Well, thank god you know about this article. Drinks and desserts, my friends. Drinks and desserts. These are the crowd pleasers. The attention getters. And I’ll be damned if I send you to a party and let some other chick’s dish get more attention.

So here you go: two easy to make – but delightful to look at  and delicious to eat/drink -  4th of July BBQ potluck showstoppers.

God Bless America. And cake. And vodka. Amen.

The Drink to Know about:
The Strawberry Sucker
Add a skewer of blueberries for a splash of blue! So easy to make, so yummy to drink and the more your guests drink, the more impressed they will be with your creation!

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
1 ounce vodka (2 tablespoons)
2 ounces strawberry schnapps (4 tablespoons)
Club soda
1 strawberry, halved

Directions:
Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add the vodka and schnapps and top with club soda. Garnish with the strawberry.

The Dessert to Know about:
Red-White-and-Blue Strawberry Shortcake
So simple yet so pretty and it makes you look SO creative. Throw some coconut shavings in between the strawberries for texture if you’re a fan of the coconut! And if you’re feeling daring, go for a funfetti cake instead of a yellow. Whatever makes you happiest.

Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 pint blueberries, rinsed and drained
2 pints fresh strawberries, rinsed and sliced

Directions
Prepare cake according to package directions and bake in a 9×13 inch pan. Cool completely.
Frost cake with whipped topping. Place blueberries in a square in the corner, and arrange sliced strawberries as stripes to make an American flag.

Chill until serving. And then chill with a Strawberry Sucker as everyone licks their plates clean.

Ahh who doesn’t love a holiday where you get a three-day weekend? Is there anything better than waking up on a Monday and realizing you have absolutely nothing to do? Unless, of course, you’re one of the many who are trekking down to the beach, Florida, or anywhere awesome. Then you have the stress of traveling back home, getting probed by TSA, walking behind those slow people who take up the entire moving sidewalk, pay $45 to check your bag, all while your skin is radiating heat after doing the whole “It’s finally nice! I’m going to go with tanning oil today!”

Well, travelers, this list is not for you. This is for all my party peeps who are doing absolutely nothing this Memorial Day.

10. Day drink all day
Just start pounding those cocktails (starting with mimosas) and enjoy your second Sunday.

9. Real Housewives Marathon?
Okay, just me? Really though, catch up on all that crappy TV that’s been piling up in your DVR and get to watching Kelly Bensimon’s epic Blowpop breakdown. (Because nothing says Memorial Day like a crazy bitch from New York.)

8. Memorial Day Shopping
Wake up bright and early and smell the sales! Tons and tons of stores have amazing discounts for this holiday (and, really, you don’t even have to LEAVE. THE. HOUSE.) weekend so walk, don’t run, and scoop up your half-priced designer jeans asap.

7. Housekeeping, whatttt?
If you’re anything like me you have a giant pile of clothes sitting in your bedroom (and closet. and bathroom.) just waiting to be cleaned. Even if you don’t, this extra day is perfect for getting all these annoying spring cleaning chores out of the way. Points if you can incorporate #10 and turn household chores into a drinking game. Take a shot every time you vacuum a room? Take a sip every time you dust a shelf?

6. PBR-beque
Wrangle up your besties who don’t have any destination plans today and get to grilling. Get enough Pabst Blue Ribbon to last a year and stock up on hot dogs and hamburgers.

5. Try some of the things on this list
“Blink wildly and then close your eyes really tight for an interesting light show.” Well I know how I’m spending the rest of my day…

4. Run, walk, jog, elliptical.
Get your rear to the gym and start sculpting your guns. Gym’s usually dead (or sometimes closed) on this day, so you can spend all 24 glorious hours working up a good sweat.

3. Write a letter
Whether it’s to your Grandma or Lil Wayne in jail, pull out a pen and some paper and do it the old fashioned way.

2. Perfect your iTunes Library
Organize that shiz, download everything you’ve ever wanted in the past year but haven’t gotten around to, listen to old songs that you love and make your iTunes completely perfecto.

1. Nothing.
Seriously, do nothing. You don’t have work. You don’t have school. You have a whole Monday to sleep in until noon (or 4) and just chill out. Embrace it.

You are only a few hours away from a three day holiday weekend, ladies! Can I get a “what what”?! Memorial Day Weekend is the official kick-off to summer, which means only one thing: it’s time to get a bikini wax the inevitable family BBQ.

Truth: You love hot dogs off the grill.
Truth: Your family is ridiculous and you’d much rather spend the time with people who don’t make inappropriate jokes about hot dogs. Or at least people who make funny inappropriate jokes about hot dogs. And are under the age of 65.
Solution: CollegeCandy’s Memorial Day Family BBQ Drinking Game

Because Great Uncle Bert’s war stories (a war which he was not in) are easier to listen to when you’ve got Bud Light coursing through your veins. The best part? You can play alone and, being that you leave the BBQ with a killer buzz, you always end up the winner.

What you will need:
A case of domestic beer (we’re celebrating America, aren’t we?)
Various other alcoholic beverages
Your drinking hat

Let’s Play:
- Chug your first beer if you are the only single person there (over the age of 16)/chug your first beer if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend, but they are playing this game at their own family BBQ

- Take a shot every time someone asks you if you are dating someone.

- Take another if they don’t at least feign surprise when you say you are not.

- Take a double shot every time someone asks what you’re studying and/or what you plan to do now that you’ve graduated.

- Mix and drink a screwdriver every time your mother nags about your lack of job or job prospects (“What are you going to do with a Communications degree!?”). You’re screwed in this market, anyway.

- Take a Kamikaze shot every time grandpa mentions his time in WW2.

- Pour one for our fallen heroes if anyone even mentions the real purpose of Memorial Day.

- Bring out the beer bong if someone starts talking about ‘Ole Dubya (George W. Bush), John McCain or the “glory days before Obama.”

- Take a drink every time someone says something that could be taken sexually and someone immature (i.e. you) giggles/responds with “that’s what she said.”

- Have a shot of whiskey every time your father/uncle/grandfather/brother almost burns off their eyebrows or arm hair with the grill.

- Take a sip every time your father/uncle/grandfather/brother talks about how he is the master of the grill and no one can grill up meat like him.

- Assign three drinks to anyone who says they are on a diet and only want salad.

- Put down your drink and start crying if someone comments on how much you are eating/how you should be on a diet.

- Polish off whatever is open and not finished if grandma/some other woman in your family leaves a big, wet lipstick print on your cheek when she says goodbye.

By the end of the night, your family should be bearable and your legs should feel like Jell-0. A Memorial Day BBQ victory!

[Photo courtesy of jfizz 79 on Flickr. Thanks!]

There’s a great many things to do and places to see in this world of ours.  As humans, our lives are pretty short (and if you party like I do, it’s probably going to be even shorter).  So we have to prioritize!  We have brains for a reason and that reason is…reasoning (well, at least some of us use them for that purpose: see comment about partying above).  Let me be your voice of reason as I show you all the things you should be doing right here, right now.

It’s hard to be sure of what to eat these days.  Health reports come out with a study against a certain food one day and for it the next.  Do I eat the egg yolk or do I stick with the whites?  Are pomegranates that good for me?  How many more vitamins do I really need to take?  It’s confusing.  And I don’t like being confused about food.  I just like eating it.

Everyone’s heard the old adage, “Everything in moderation.”  Sounds pretty obvious, right?  You can eat your egg yolk (as long as you don’t eat five eggs a day) and not feel guilty.  Even dessert isn’t off limits if you don’t gorge yourself.  So this is why I’m going to give a shout out to something that has gotten a lot of bad press lately: meat.  It seem everyone is jumping on the vegetarian wagon, what with all the new vegetarian options out there.  Hey, I don’t have anything against tofu (I actually love tofu, but that’s a different story), but I have to defend my meat.  It’s delicious, packed with nutrition, and can be used in a million different ways.  Here’s why you should eat more meat:

Stronger Muscles – Meat has mad amounts of protein.  The health benefits are endless and as college women we suffer from some of the lowest protein levels of any age group (I blame cafeteria food).  Have a steak, gobble a burger, or grab a pork chop to pump up your protein levels.  There’s a reason they make protein powder: it helps build up your muscles and makes your workouts more effective.  If that means I’m going to get more benefit from the same amount of work (true story), then I now have a reason to drag my butt from the couch and go to the gym. With a steak.

Guy Cred – Meat has long been considered a man’s domain.  Men are in charge of the grill, they are the ones who traditionally hunt game animals, and they tend to be masters of meat preparation.  If you practice a bit or even take a barbecue class (they have those), you will get major respect when you step up to the plate and pull off a perfect medium rare steak (instead of a charred hunk of flesh).  You’ll probably get a Woman Of The Year award or something from Spike TV.

Shiny Hair – Want hair like you see in the shampoo commercials?  Then save your money on expensive product and head over to your local butcher instead.  Meat, particularly red meat and fish, can make your hair look all shiny and amazing like you’re an Herbal Essences model.  This is because of the high levels of iron and protein in these foods (and the fat content, which can be beneficial).  So, not only will your hair benefit, but your nails and skin will look amazing as well.  Done deal.

Piss Off Some Vegetarians – Sure, it may be petty and wrong and you might not even know any vegetarians, but some of them deserve to be antagonized.  Whether their patched-up, baggy corduroys piss you off or their unidentifiable, stinky vegan mash makes you sick, there’s a sure-fire way to get back at those annoying plant eaters:  eat meat.  This is what portable meat was made for, people!  Hot dogs, hamburgers, corn dogs, shish kabobs, and anything else that you can eat on a stick or with your hands.  Sweet, delicious revenge.

More Bang For Your Buck – Okay, so meat isn’t cheap.  However, it does have a ton of nutrition.  So if you were to try and get the same amount of nutritional value from veggies, you’d end up paying more for the massive amounts of greens you’d need in comparison to the small amount of meat that does the same thing.  See the value?  And I’d much rather have a turkey burger than five pounds of salad.  Just saying.

Look Classy – Nothing says “I’m a classy lady” better than a filet mignon.  Or a rack of lamb.  Extra points if you can actually cook these things (and cook them well…).  Think about it: every movie that includes a romantic dinner or a expression of extreme wealth has meat.  Steak Oscar, and coffee-rubbed hunks of beef (okay, now I’m hungry) are all a great way to say, “I’m classy and enjoy great food.”  Trust me, you’re not gonna see any tofu casserole on the menu of the restaurant on the top of the Eiffle Tower.

Ugh...

This summer is my last summer at home. While most of you can relate when I say that I’m ecstatic (believe me, I am), it may not be for the reason everyone expects. Read: living with the parents breathing down my neck.

You see, when I go home, I gain weight. Not just 3 or 4 pounds, but this summer I put on 10. freakin. pounds. Yes, I know this is my own fault, so don’t get on my case for knowing better, but I know I’m not alone. There is something about the summer that just means extra poundage. So how about we take a closer look at what goes on during the summer months so we can stop the madness?!?!

1) The campus gym is no longer 5 min away - Ok, this one hit me pretty hard. I love having a free gym at my disposal! No way am I going to pay buckets of money to use an elliptical in my hometown.

2) When it’s fifty million degrees outside, you want to stay in – I’m one of those people that no matter how far away my class is, I’d rather walk than take the campus shuttle. Well, with no class to go to, I have nowhere to walk. Also, I live in west Texas where it’s been over 100 degrees every day for the past month. Going on a walk for exercise is out of the question; I don’t want to burst into flames!

3) Parent’s kitchen = food anytime - When I’m at school, I’m on a strict budget, so I only eat when I need to. At home, I eat all the time because I’m no longer the one footing the food bill. I now eat when I’m bored (which is all the time since I couldn’t find a job this summer), when I’m sad (which is always since I am away from my friends), and when I’m awake (which is a lot since my parents wake up early and scream to each other across the house). Let’s leave the grazing for livestock, OK?

4) No friends to keep me in check – My friends on campus and I have sort of a check and balance system going on. We go to the gym together, we eat together, etc. If we see one of our friends doing something unhealthy, one of us will chime in and say something. We’re also motivation for each other; we constantly push each other for 5 more minutes on the stair stepper, or we have a salad night for dinner. With them gone, I’m on my own, and my own wants cupcakes. And it just so happens that my mom just baked 3 dozen of ‘em.

5) Outdoor BBQs: Everyone has them in the summer and, being that I will take any opportunity to hang out with people under the age of 45, I go to them. A lot. And I eat lots of delicious dips and chips and margaritas. And none of those things are low in calories.

With all of these changes from campus life, there’s only so much weight I can keep off with my mom’s Wii Fit. I’m honestly surprised I didn’t gain more, but I’m sure there is some more coming in the next 3 weeks before I head back to campus. I just hope I can still squeeze into my jeans for Welcome Week.

So tell me, how is home life different for your body?

Ahhh, Fourth of July.

It’s not a holiday that carries the burden of gift exchange, and you don’t feel guilty if you don’t spend it with your family. Is that why it’s one of the best days to celebrate? People make plans for the Fourth months in advance, which is more than we can say for St. Patrick’s day, its celebratory-drunkfest cousin. So what is it that makes Independence Day so special? I mean… other than the fact that we have freedom of speech and right to assemble and such.

1. Fireworks.

They appeal to everyone. The rebels can light stuff on fire and blow things up. The artists can appreciate the colorful patterns of light against a midnight sky. And the lovers can tell themselves it’s okay if they just did it in a park on a blanket. Fireworks and Fourth of July are like Mistletoe and Christmas. They just aren’t as cool if you pick the wrong day.

2. Hot Dogs.

Am I the only one that kind of thinks Joey Chestnut is hot? Or the only person who has the SNL Saturday TV Funhouse featuring Takero Kobayashi bookmarked? Seriously, my inner fat kid can live vicariously through these competitive eaters. It’s like rubbernecking a bad car crash — you can’t help but cheer when 90-something-pound Sonja Thomas proceeds to chomp 8 hot dogs in about 15 seconds. Sonja, your metabolism is the kind of freedom every girl wishes for this Fourth of July.

3. Bank Holidays.

This year, the 4th occurs on a Saturday. My office is having a half day on the 2nd, and a full day off on the third. That’s a 3 1/2 day weekend, all because we gained our independence from the Brits a couple hundred years ago. Score! Many of us that do have to work can rest assured that we’re getting time and a half, and a lot of places have extended their patriotic holiday to include closings on Monday the 6th. Awesome!

4. Bikinis.

Really, the 4th is the only summer holiday. Sure, if you live some place with consistent warm weather, like California, Florida, or Hawaii, you can have pool parties and cookouts whenever you like. But even if it is nice weather year-round, can you really justify a bathing suit at Christmas dinner? Whether you’re having a party or a family get-together on the fourth, you can express your independence in a string bikini and get away with it this weekend

5. Colored booze.

For St. Pat’s, they dye the beer green. BFD. For the fourth, you have a plethora of options, especially since there are THREE patriotic colors. From red strawberry daiquiris to blue Electric Iced Teas, you can mask your social drinking problem and look festive all at once! A lot of barbecues will be supplying cherry and blueberry Jell-O shots for the occasion, or just swing back a PBR and boast that you’re a true, red-blooded American.

If these aren’t enough reason to love the fourth, then I suggest you flip on TBS — hello, Independence Day is bound to be playing on repeat. Not only can you get your daily dose of Will Smith, but you can repeat the line “Welcome to Earf” until it’s just not funny anymore.

What type of independence are you celebrating this year?