Living in South Florida means I’ve seen my fair share of beach-goers. The beaches down here are filled with beautiful people with beautiful bodies and perfect tans. However, they aren’t always filled with people who are easy on the eyes. Nor is every beach day an episode of Baywatch. As summer approaches, more and more people are heading off to the beach to catch some rays and waves — which mean you’re going to do a lot of people watching. For better or worse.

Here are the 10 people you’ll definitely see at the beach this summer.

Peppered throughout magazines and blog sites are optimistic articles about delicious summer activities and fashion trends to anticipate and enjoy. However, there is one thing about summer that is so heinous and disgusting that I feel I must warn the masses before it destroys them: flip-flops, fashion’s Anti-Christ.

I can hear the gasps and verbal WTF’s already. I know, I know, flip-flops are practically the poster children for summer fun. Calm yourselves, I have reasons.

1) They Make Any Outfit 1/4 As Cute: No matter how much effort you put into your ensemble this morning or how much you paid for that sundress, if you add flip-flops to the equation it will look instantly less cute. Much less cute. So much so that it defeats the purpose of even trying to make a cute outfit and you should have just worn sweats.

2) Your Feet Will Get Dirty: Want to know why outfits are less cute with flip flops? Perhaps it’s because dirty feet are not cute. On anyone. And dirty feet are inevitable when flip flops are involved. Your toes will turn brown, your heels will turn black and your calves will be covered in whatever crap that flop is flipping up. Seriously, no one wants to see your cracked and crusted feet stomping around in fluorescent rubber contraptions.

3) They Make Your Legs Look Fat: For some reason, colored slabs of rubber are not the most slimming choice for summer fashion. Optical illusion? Perhaps…At any rate, you spent all winter in the smelly gym to look like this, so don’t waste it on flip-flops!

4) Shoes Should Not Be Noisy: Sexy can be defined as the sound of stilettos clacking across a marble floor. The opposite is true for the sound of flip-flops slapping against your dirty feet.

5) They Aren’t Practical: Let’s face it – having half-an-inch of rubber barely attached to your foot is not the smartest choice available in footwear. They lack traction, stability, and could cause bodily harm (or at least a serious bruise to your ego). Who hasn’t flipped out of their flop before, or slipped on a little spilled beer?

6) There Are Cuter Options: This season it is almost a crime to opt for cheap-o flip-flops when there are gladiator sandals and adorable flats! Fringes, patent, and metalwork – oh my!

Now that I’ve stated my reasons, I would also like to point out that nothing beats a lazy day on the beach with nothing but a pair of flip flops and a good book to keep you company. For me, however, the beach is where my flip-flops will stay.

[This story was originally posted by Katie - Michigan State]

Get it? Got it? Good. Want some more? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

It’s strange, but for some reason spending 45 minutes on the elliptical feels unnatural when the weather starts warming up. It’s like lying in a tanning bed when it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside.

Clearly, I’ve already grown tired of my normal workout routine for the year.

The solution? Exploring outdoor activities that will provide me with a sense of adventure as I tone up. Now you may be wondering, “Hmm, is there really anything fun out there that will burn lots of calories?” I felt the same. But the reality is, YES, YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! Check out these options below.

Kayaking
Benefits: Tones arms, chest, back and stomach. The paddle movement works every muscle in the upper body.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 calories per hour; this stat depends on your weight — the more you weigh the more calories you burn.

Rock Climbing
Benefits: Improves strength and endurance in calves, shoulders and core, as well as flexibility in the hips and hamstrings. Coordination, balance and mental focus will also be sharpened. Many climbers report a heightened sense of self-confidence and independence.
Calorie Burn: 600-700 calories per hour!!
** Beginners should look for an indoor climbing facility in their area. This is the best way to learn the ropes.

Surfing
Benefits: Improves endurance, balance (incredibly) and challenges all muscles groups. Surf stroke is also a great stress reducer and is an intense upper body work out.
Calorie Burn: 400 per 2 hour period. Most surfers spend half the day surfing, so that can burn up to 1200 calories!!!

Swimming
Benefits: Builds endurance, muscles strength and cardiovascular fitness. It can also be a very meditative exercise.
Calorie Burn: 300-400 per hour at a moderate pace.

Running on the Beach
Benefits: Increases endurance, stamina and builds muscle; the right way to run on the beach is to a) stay off the soft sand, run close to the tide, b) run at low tide which gives you a much firmer surface to run, and c) split the distance or time of your run in half so that both feet get equal time on a not-so-level running surface. (i.e. if you’re running for 30 minutes, turn around and go in the other direction at the 15 minute mark.)
Calorie Burn: 500-600 calories per half hour (seriously!!!). Because sand provides a greater resistance, you body has to work almost twice as hard to move against the surface.

Volleyball
Benefits: Increases agility, hand-eye coordination, strength … and social skills! There is nothing more fun/hilarious than getting a bunch of buds together for a match on the beach or sand pit.
Calorie Burn: 200-250 calories per hour (clearly not as great a workout as the others!)

So get out there and take advantage of the long, warm, sunny days coming your way. You’ll really have the chance to see what your body is capable of and, who knows, maybe you’ll find a true passion (or extremely hot guy) along the way.

I live for the summer.  In the spring, I count down the days until my last final and I miss it terribly during the fall.  I love the way the sun‘s rays touch my skin, I love reading novels lazily on the beach, my morning outdoor runs, and enjoying picnics and BBQs.  I love the skin-exposing, brightly colored fashions I get to wear.  I want nothing more than to be carefree during my favorite season, but unhappily I cannot be. There are two frightening words that come to mind whenever I’m wanting to bask in the sun and they are a constant reminder to apply sunscreen and limit my beloved time in the sun: skin cancer.

With that in mind it certainly is important to apply sunscreen, avoid tanning beds, and limit hours in the sunlight. But obvious these steps are not all that we can do to protect oneself from the sun’s damaging rays. It turns out that the foods we eat can have a protective effect!

The deal is this (and I am going to get a bit scientific here, so bare with me):  Cancer can only flourish in the body when cells that undergo free radical damage and the subsequent DNA damage (which happens when we spend too much time in the sun!) are unable to be repaired by the cell’s DNA monitoring and repair tools. Natural, plant based foods are rich in antioxidants and other cool, skin protecting chemicals, substances that are needed for these repair mechanisms to function most optimally.  Vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds and other “bright colored” foods are loaded with these protective substances. If one’s diet is low in vegetables and fruits, the body will not be supplied with enough nutrients for its cells to defend itself from oxidative damaged caused by UV radiation.  Studies have pointed to green vegetables especially, as skin cancer (and most cancers for that matter) fighting foods.

The concept of consuming a high-nutrient, plant based diet has been supported in an enlightening study conducted in Australia. Researches analyzed the diet, skin color, and sunlight exposure of 1,360 adults, aged 25-75, who participated in a community-based skin cancer study from 1992-2002. Two main eating patterns were identified: a meat and fat pattern and a vegetable and fruit pattern. Interestingly, the meat and fat pattern diet was positively associated with development of skin cancer, and even more strongly associated in participants with a skin cancer history. Increased consumption of the vegetable and fruit dietary pattern reduced skin cancer occurrence by 54%, with the protective effect mostly attributed to the consumption of green, leafy vegetables. In conclusion, the researchers deemed that a dietary pattern characterized by high meat and fat intakes increases skin cancer odds, while a dietary pattern characterized by higher consumption of green vegetables decreases it.

If you are thinking, “I don’t eat many fruits and veggies, or man oh man, I totally fit into the “meat and fat” group,” don’t sweat it.  Summer is the perfect time to try including more fruits and veggies in your diet. Cook a vegetable shish kabob or corn on the cob on the grill at your next BBQ, try a tossed salad for lunch or pack some fresh berries or watermelon with you on a picnic or at the beach.  Being away from icky dining hall foods and stressful school assignments that leave you with little time to prepare your own meals leaves you with more freedom to explore other eating options.

Added bonus? Eating more bright colored foods will help you stay slim and look great in a bikini!

Do you avoid wearing your hair wavy or curly in fear of the crunch? Do you blow dry and flat iron your hair just so you don’t encounter it? Then this video is for you.

For years I lived with crunchy waves, but now there are so many products to make your waves soft and lovable. Here are a few techniques you can use to have your hair looking beachy and touchable in no time!

Summer is in full swing and while we’re all busy toiling away at our internships and jobs, it’s hard not to dream about those relaxing and fun summers of our past. Not only did we have zero responsibility back then, but we had all of our friends to chase through sprinklers and get Dairy Queen with. Not anymore. With all of our college friends spread across the country and the dreaded 9-5 gig, summers just aren’t the same anymore.

But they don’t have to be a total bust. It is summer, after all.

When it comes to summer break, there are only 5 friends you need for optimal summertime fun. You keep these peeps around and you’re golden through Labor Day.

The Friend With The Pool.
Do you feel that? Yeah, that’s the sweat pooling in the small of your back and soaking into your now-stinky cami. It’s hot as balls out there and as much as lying nearly naked on your parents’ leather couch cools you down momentarily, it’s not even close to satisfying. What you need is a friend with a giant, refreshing body of water in his or her backyard. With a BFF like this there’s no battling small children with floaties at the neighborhood pool or all that sand that gets….up there…at the beach. It’s just pure bliss in raft and margarita form.

The Friend with an ID
If you’re an underager like me, this guy or girl is more popular than LeBron James. Find one now and hold on tight until the end of August. And if this person’s parents have a summer home out of town and leave him or her alone for days at a time, start a relationship. Yes, even if it’s a girl. Whatever it takes, right?

The Friend Who Is Still On Campus Nearby
Summer is fun and relaxing but, let’s be honest, living at home with the parental units can be extremely boring. There’s only so much you can do in your hometown before you start having cabin/”I can’t believe I have a curfew” fever. Enter: the friend who stayed on campus this summer. Just hop in the car and escape to freedom after work on Friday, get your party on, eat your 4am pizza and get back just in time for Sunday dinner courtesy of mom and pops.

The Friend With A Boring Job
Who else will keep you entertained with funny links, TFLN texts and major whining sessions when you’re at your boring job all day?

The Friend With The Awesome Job
Friend with awesome job = friend with awesome hook ups. Whether they’re mixing up ice cream at Cold Stone, hawking hipster-wear at Urban Outfitters, serving burgers at Red Robin (yummmmm), or assisting on big, celebrity events at a magazine, their paycheck means sweet discounts and freebies for you. That you can take advantage of. All. Summer. Long.

Are there any more friends you think every girl should have in the summer? Share them below!

It’s starting to get hot, hot, hot outside! While I’m stuck in landlocked Alberta, where no one has pools, I’m sure many of you out there are gearing up to start hitting the beach, or hang out poolside on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Whether you choose to wear a bikini or a one-piece, you’re going to need a cover-up for going to the beach, or even just covering up a bit to avoid extreme sun exposure.  Lucky for you there are some really cute options this year that will easily transition from the beach to the boardwalk (assuming you dry yourself up enough to avoid those pesky wet marks around your boobs…). Seriously, toss a pair of wedges and a few bangles into your beach bag and you can take these things all over town.

So put on your sunscreen, grab your shades and don a cute cover-up as you get ready to hang out by the water!

Yes, it’s officially summer, ladies!

While some people are crazy aren’t major fans of the summer season, most of us at CollegeCandy couldn’t be more excited. What’s not to love about flip flop weather, 7-11 Slurpee runs and going out without having to worry about whether the bar has coat check or not? And the way your sun-kissed skin looks in a coral sundress? Sigh. Is there anything like it?!

With the temps rising the our favorite TV shows coming to an end for the season, it’s time to bust out those summer whites, scrunch some gel into your hair and enjoy the best the summer has to offer. Here are a few of our favorite things. What do you love most out summertime?

Emmy – Loyola University Chicago: My favorite thing about summer is being able to sleep in ridiculously late and laying on the beach.

Sara C – Fordham: Favorite thing about summer? Definitey the overabundance of Mr. Softee roaming around the city. Nothing beats a twist at sunset with friends!

Cristina – Michigan State University: Sitting in the sun with a popsicle and a beer.

Rachael – University of Miami: I’m not a huge fan of summer (I’m almost albino pale, so no beach time for me, and I go to school in Florida anyway), but I guess what I most like about it is the overall sense of freedom: time to be a little lazy, catch up on pleasure reading, wear loose and flowy clothing, etc. Oh! and street fairs in Manhattan – I love shopping there, or even just walking around.

Carly – Grinnell: Favorite thing about summer: the warm weather. I FREEZE nine months out of the year in the Midwest, but summer is the one season during which I can feel as if I live in a tropical climate.

Norah – Drake University: I’m Minnesota-born, so for me, summer means weekends at my family’s cabin. Boating, tubing, waterskiing, hanging out at the beach, fireworks on the lake for the Fourth of July…I couldn’t be more excited. I’m also psyched to catch up on my reading–I just found a book club that’s reading Jane Austen and Willa Cather this summer.

Jessica – Delaware: Backyard barbecues! Who doesn’t love laying by the pool, sipping Coronas and eating cheeseburgers!?

Jessica – Hofstra: My favorite thing about summer is laying on the beach with my friends after a long night out – and talking about every ridiculous thing we did (and probably don’t remember).

Brithny – Duke: The excuse to get fro-yo every. single. day.

Alex – University of South Carolina: Walking the boardwalk at night and Dunkin’ Donuts Lemonade Coolatas (RIP).

Samantha – UCSB: Camp, my birthday and SUMMER FLINGS! Hot hot hot!

Christie – NC State University: I know it’s weird, but I love the smell of sunscreen. Second to that is the feeling of the summer breeze whipping my hair around with the windows down on a road trip.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: The simple pleasure of sitting on the front step with my Mom eating a chocolate dipped cone. And night boating to Jimmy Buffett and Sublime.

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Best part about summer is pool/hot tub parties. fo. sho.

Meg – University of Delaware: My favorite thing about summer is spending time in my backyard in the hammock with my dogs (me and two giant Bernese Mountain Dogs is a liiiiittle toasty…) and drinking every night with my friends on the deck. Oh, and playing manhunt around the neighborhood- yeah, I’m cool like that.

Alex – Lakehead: CAMP! Here in Northern Ontario, we refer to cottages as camps, and there is truly nothing better than a day of waterskiing, saunas and a bonfire with beers.

Charlsie – Hollins University: My favorite thing about summer is that every day is a good day to wear a sundress and sandals!

Ricki – University of Michigan: Being able to workout without having to enter a sweaty, smelly, gym.

Kari – Florida State: The best part about summer is opening all the doors and windows, grilling and relaxing in the pool with Coronas!

It’s that time of year again: The season of the skirt. In all honesty, shorts really aren’t my thing. Sometimes they squeeze in all the wrong love handles places and give me some serious wedgie dilemmas. That is why I have a great relationship with all of the skirts out there. They are girly, breathable, comfortable and wedgie-free. What more could a girl ask for?

One of my favorite things about summer is slapping on some sunscreen, shoving a towel and a Nicolas Sparks novel in my beach bag and throwing on a skirt and a tee. Then, come evening, all I have to do is slather some aloe on my arms, exchange the flip flops for some comfy wedges and hit the town for some summer lovin’. Care to join me/rub sunscreen on my back? First, take a lookie at these pretty numbers.  I promise they will not disappoint.

[Click on the skirt to get all the shopping info.]

I love the intricate bohemian detail on this colorful skirt from Target. It is casual and stylish but would look amazing with a sassy pair of wedges and a cute date.

Stripes are a big deal this season and I happen to be obsessed with them.  So lucky for me (and all of the stripes-lovin’ ladies out there) that this skirt exists. It’s cute and casual, and paired with a red or yellow top, is perfectly nautical.

I know American Apparel can get pretty wild at times, but this simple terry cloth miniskirt is great. With an elastic band it would be easy to throw on with your swimsuit and hit the beach, it comes in tons of pastel/earthy colors, and looks super comfy.

What a fabulous find! This beautiful and flowing skirt does not look its price tag at $12.50. Our utmost skirt-prayers have been answered with this day-to-night favorite.

As this skirt is only $9.80 I am completely smitten. It is sweet as candy and the polka dots would make you look youthful and playful. This would look really great with some light brown flats and a simple white tee.

I’m loving all of the denim out there this season. This skirt would look fabulous paired with some cute studded gladiator sandals and any color tank.

I love going out in the summer and sometimes I can’t figure out how to put together a hot summer outfit. This sexy skirt will definitely help. It screams summer-vixen and looks cool and classy. Oh, and it’s only $13.99. Yeehaw!

Last but not least, this versatile skirt from Express will go great with day and night, swimsuit or sexy top, beach or dance floor. I have a feeling this skirt will hug faboosh curves and look sleek on a slim figure. It is just for everybody and perfect for summer.

By now, everyone is looking forward to the summer. Thoughts of a pool, a raft and a cold beer are about the only things getting us through the hell that is finals week. But while I love me some summer sundresses and the prospect of a steamy summer fling, summer isn’t all rainbows and butterflies for me. Yes, this whiny girl with a Jew-fro has a bit of a bone to pick with summer.

Actually, I’ve got ten bones to pick. Not that I really understand what that little phrase means anyway. It’s sorta gross, right? Picking bones? All I can think about is that graveyard the hyenas hung out at in The Lion King.

Anyways, back to the list:

10. It’s really hot
Great for a day at the beach, not great for a day in New York City when you’re running late to your internship and have to stand in a 100 degree subway station (that always smells like pee) with zero breeze and you can feel the sweat start pooling on the back of your neck and between your boobs. By the time you get to work, your armpits are completely soaked through and you have to manually pull your thighs apart as they have molded into one thunder-thigh on the train.

9. It’s really humid
I don’t know about you, but my Jewish hair gets along with humidity much like Spencer Pratt gets along with anyone. Now that I think about it, Spencer Pratt’s hair might have the same issue.

8. Cars are HOT
You know that moment when you’ve taken a bite of pizza and as it hits/melts the roof of your mouth you realize, a little too late, that it’s really effing hot? Yeah, that’s about the same feeling as getting into a car that’s been sitting in the summer sun for awhile.

7. There’s no good TV on anymore
Every show worth watching (or at least scripted shows that you’re not embarrassed to tell the boy you have a crush on about) ends in the next 3 weeks. 30 Rock, Modern Family, Glee, The Pacific (if you haven’t been watching this mini-series on HBO, watch it OnDemand now!), Gossip Girl…. And what are we left with over the summer? Sunset Daze and Dance Your Ass Off?

6. Two words: bathing suits
Vom.

5. Sunscreen in my eye
It doesn’t matter how careful I am, I have not gone a week in the summer without getting sunscreen in my eye. And that sh*t BURNS. Oh my god, how it burns.

4. I spend all of my money
There’s something about a beautiful, sunny day that just makes me want to shop, shop, shop. (Perhaps it’s the promise of A/C in the store?) And if I’m not shopping, I have a hard time turning down al fresco dining or drinking. All lovely activities, until I realize all that hard-earned summer cash is gone, gone, gone.

3. My friends are not with me
My best friends are from everywhere from California to Boston…. and that’s where they returned to this summer.

2. But my annoying, overbearing parents are.
As are my 2 older brothers who still find “pull my finger” and “throw Lauren over the couch” funny.

1. Skin, skin, skin
Sure all the shorts, mini-dresses, bathing suits and tank tops are totes cute, but with that cuteness comes a whole lot of shaving and waxing. And more shaving. And more waxing. And a lot of cellulite exposed. Thank god for maxi-dresses, am I right?