Prince William and Kate got a puppy!

Weirdest relationship ever.

Five things to talk about before the big move in.

Learn how to wear shorts with tights.

Justin Timberlake‘s finest fashion moments.

5 break up myths.

Superbowl ads and their mismatched marketing.

Daniel Radcliffe puts on his serious face.

How much do A-listers really make?

No more slipping your older, cooler friends a twenty in line at the liquor store for getting you your goods. No more getting completely annihilated before the bars because your drinking has to end the second you leave the security of your own home. And best of all, no more trying to scrub off those despised black X’s in the bathroom sink of the bar.

Ladies, you’re about to enter a magical time in your life where paper wristbands are your new favorite accessories and Tylenol is your new best friend. So toss that fake I.D. aside and get ready for a ride.  You’re turning 21.  Now how do you survive it?

Pre-Drinking Preparation. It’s all about getting your room ready for your future drunken self.  Before you go out for the night, make sure your room is ready for your return because you might not even know who you are, let alone how to get into a bed, by the end of the night.

1. Pull the covers back on your bed to make it easier to pass out in.
2. Put the garbage can next to your bed. Obvious reasons.
3. Set a container of bottled water next to you. When you wake up, you’ll be thirsty…but there’s a good chance won’t feel like moving.

It may seem pointless now, but you’ll thank yourself later.

Plan Your Outfit Accordingly. If you’re wearing that cute, little dress you’ve been saving for weeks for your special night, you may want to invest in a pair of compression shorts to wear underneath it.  After multiple shots, you could very well end up rolling around on the floor of the bar thinking you’re a world-famous break dancer. Trust me, it happens. In the morning you’ll be glad everyone didn’t get a look at your Barbie underwear.  Or, see you in your birthday suit.

Designate a “Mom” for the Night. Or multiple Moms. Depending on your level of wildness, it may take more than one person to keep you under control on your big night. It’s always a good idea to have someone there to make sure you don’t drink too much…and then hold your hair for you the next morning when you do. This person also comes in handy when you’re trying to get home at night. Choose to have a drinking Mom, or end up waking up in someone’s front lawn when the sprinkler system goes off. It’s up to you.

Take a Picture— It’ll Last Longer. Since the likelihood of you remembering your night is pretty much nonexistent, you’ll want a team of photographers (a.k.a. your friends) to help you relive the craziness…over and over again.  If you have a successful night, your pictures will be nowhere near Facebook appropriate but they will definitely give you a good laugh and something to show your grandkids someday.

Don’t Lose Your S#^&. Believe it or not, there’s a feeling that’s worse than puking your guts out the morning after a great night out— the feeling in your gut when you realize you’ve lost your license, student ID, and everything else you took out with you the night before. To avoid this problem, you have a few options:

Option #1: Have a friend carry the important items you’ll need to get into the bar, such as your license and money.

Option #2: Put your important items in a wristlet…and duct tape the wristlet to your wrist.

Option #3: Stick your important items in your compression shorts if you decide to wear them. Nothing can escape the compression shorts.

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too. Your 21^st birthday only happens once so live it up.  If you want to do snow angels in the middle of a parking lot on the way home from the bar, do them.  If you’re in the mood for some take-out after you get back, order it. With dessert! And if your friend’s man is lookin’ extra fine, he’s yours! Okay, just kidding on that one. Guess we can’t have everything we want.  But seriously, you’re the birthday girl. Take advantage of that!

I’m proud to say I survived my 21^st…in a blizzard.  And I may or may not have indulged in some snow angel making. You’ll never know. How did you survive your 21^st birthday?

CollegeCandies, today is a very special day.

Today is the birthday of not one monumental figure in pop culture, but two. Because not only is today the 17th birthday of Justin “everyone freaks out when he cuts his hair” Bieber, it’s also the birthday of everyone’s favorite childhood author, Dr. Seuss. Yes, the man who brought you The Cat in the Hat was born on the very same day as the boy who brought you “Somebody to Love.” So who to celebrate? Which one will get the coveted CollegeCandy celebration?

Well, we just couldn’t choose. So instead we came up with a way to honor both of these legends. In honor of Dr. Seuss I will be presenting you lovely ladies with a poem, but in order to bestow upon Bieber the honor that he deserves, that poem will be about him. So ladies, may I present, for you enjoyment, Oh The Places You Can Find a Bieber Fan

Ahem..

The young Justin Bieber has quite a few fans.

He has them eating out of the palm of his plans.

They populate the planet like no other,

One after another, after another.

Justin Bieber fans are everywhere, you see,

And their ages range from thirty to thirteen to three.

That’s why you can find them everywhere,

They are there, and there, and there.

You can find Justin Bieber fans in the quad.

You can find them on the dancing squad.

You can find one when you run,

…Or in a Forever 21.

You can find Justin Bieber fans at a raging party,

Maybe drinking a bit too much of Bacardi.

You can them find them on YouTube,

And I’m sure many have even flashed a boob.

You can find Justin Bieber fans losing their bras.

(But he’s only 17 so they won’t get very far.)

You can find them walking down the street.

Or on the bus, in the adjacent seat.

You can find Justin Bieber fans at his concerts too,

Screaming so much they begin to turn blue.

You can find them in a high school class,

Some with his name tattooed above their ass.

You can find Justin Bieber fans on CollegeCandy.

They’re the ones that will keep this poem handy.

You can find them all over the internet,

Some you’re glad you’ve never met.

You can find Justin Bieber fans dancing to his songs.

They’re probably getting the lyrics wrong.

You can find them in the dining hall,

And you can definitely find them at the mall.

You can find Justin Bieber fans in your dorm.

What? Don’t act like that isn’t the norm!

You can find them sitting next to you in Chem,

Then, you’ll whisper “it’s one of them”

But Bieber fans are everywhere, you see

In fact, you might even find a Bieber fan in me.

Happy birthday Biebs! Happy birthday Dr. Seuss!

WELCOME TO OUR BIRTHDAY PARTY!

We’re officially four years old and we couldn’t be happier.  Over the past four years we’ve gone from a teeny-tiny little blog struggling to get visitors to becoming the LARGEST blog out there for college women. (Sorta like how Suri went from pacifiers to high heels….) Not to sound cocky, but GO US! Okay we’re done patting ourselves on our backs. Intern, stop rubbing my feet and start patting me on the back, will ya?

Where was I? Oh, right. Our birthday party. Anyways, we couldn’t have gotten where we are today without ALL OF YOU! And that’s why we’re celebrating our big day by giving back to you.

Earlier this week we asked you to tell us (via Facebook) what your favorite CollegeCandy post is in the world — and you guys came out strong with a variety of awesome content (some we didn’t even remember!). So instead of sending you a slice of cake in the mail, we’re gonna eat it ourselves delivering a gift to you all day long.

Our top ten most-liked CollegeCandy blogs ever!

Just like a very special episode of a TV show, we’ll be running things a little differently today. Instead of putting up our usual Friday blogs, we’re going to be featuring the blogs that you picked! And, just like we promised, the person who submitted the most-liked post is going home with the most awesome goodie-stuffed Clava bag.

But that’s not all. We’re still giving out presents all day. Discount presents that is….check out all the awesome companies that want to save you some money in honor of our BDAY bash!

-Use “GOEDU” to get 25% off at Shoedazzle until March 15, 2011
- Use “COLLEGE20″ to get 20% off at Fantasy Jewelry Box and Designs by Stephene.
- Use “COLLEGE” to get 15% off at Clava from now until March 18, 2011.
- Use “COLLEGE” to get 20% off at Tarte until March 15, 2011.

Thanks for celebrating with us! Enjoy a day of CollegeCandy hits!

I don’t know about you guys, but I feel like the longer our relationship goes on, the greater the pressure there is to give him a seriously kick ass gift. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s “the thought that counts” and yes, David would be equally happy with an iPod or a 3 day cruise (speaking from experience…unless he was just faking his excitement to make me feel better). I just love the process of finding the perfect gift for my perfect boyfriend. (I feel the same way about gift giving in general. It takes me a solid 2 months to Christmas shop.) And after 2 and a half years, I’ve built a pretty impressive record for gift giving.

Of course there are the times when I get it totally wrong (I thought getting him a sex toy for graduation was both hilarious and practical- he did not agree), and those are the gifts that haunt my memory while I try to find his 23^rd birthday present.

It can be hard shopping for your boyfriend. You know him so well, you should be able to spot from a mile away the thing or experience he’d love most. But, unfortunately it’s not always that easy. So whether you’ve got a boyfriend with a summer birthday, your anniversary is coming up, or you just want to surprise him with a little something, I’ve compiled a go-to boyfriend gift guide. Happy shopping!

Hobby Gifts

Does your man have a passion or pastime that he absolutely loves? What about getting him an upscale accessory? David is chess obsessed, so I’ve been trolling the internets to find a nice chess set for him. Does your boyfriend love poker? Check out this Texas Hold ‘Em chip set with a table (and it’s only $99!) For bonus points, tell him to invite the boys over for a poker night, complete with man-food and his favorite beer provided by you.

Dating an athlete?

Well, even if you’re not, chances are the guy you’re dating loves a certain sport (or all of them). If he’s baseball obsessed check out this cool score ticker. David’s been obsessed with it since he saw it at the mall, so it’s definitely on my list of possibilities for him. If your man is more the kind of guy who likes to get in on the action, think about signing him up for a sports league. Depending on where you live and what sport you register him for, prices range from around $50- $75 for seasons that last for a few months. A lot of leagues have happy hour specials and post-game sponsor bars with drink specials included in the registration fee.

Road Trip!

Take advantage of summer time, gas up your tank and pack him a weekend bag without him noticing. Tell him you guys have to go run errands, and hit the open road. Blind folds are optional (and awesome) and so is telling him where you’re headed. Check out what deals are around where you’re living. Hit an amusement park for the weekend (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is calling my name), see if you can rent a beachfront condo (or better yet, ask a friend or relative if you can stay there for two nights), check out last minute hotel deals near the beach. Even if you stay in or near your hometown, staying in a sweet hotel will make it feel like a vacay. And the weather is gorgeous (but the mosquitoes haven’t noticed yet) so why not go camping for the weekend? Use your imagination and get excited to totally sweep your boyfriend off his feet.

If all else fails…turn to video games.

No matter how old he’s turning, he probably still loves video games. Here are the hottest video games out right now, ranked by sales. Just make sure you get a game that’s compatible with his system, and when in doubt, call his best friend to ask what they’ve been playing lately.

What’s the next gift you’re thinking of giving your boyfriend? Do you have a tried and true method for picking the perfect present? If so, let’s hear it!

Dear YouTube,

Happy Birthday!!!! You may only be 5 years old, but in your short lifespan, you have changed my life forever.  You have given regular people celebrity status, and for that, I am forever grateful.  You are there for me whenever I need you.  Whether I’m bored in class, can’t sleep, or need to be sidetracked from my homework, I can always count on you.

I don’t know where I would be without you today.  You were there for me the time Charlie bit my finger and there was blood everywhere.  I was so nervous for my first school dance, I thought it would be the end of ze world but you taught me the evolution of dance and I was able to shake that booty girl. I had so much fun dancing the night away to numa numa and it made me so hungry. Thank god it was peanut butter jelly time when we crashed at my house.

I will never forget the time we picked up david after his trip to the dentist and took him to the theme park with us.  There was a bit of a scare with that fat kid on the roller-coaster but otherwise we had so much fun, our hands were up and we were screaming weeee the whole time!! I cant wait to celebrate your birthday at the Korean karaoke bar tonight, it’s gonna be a blast!

So many more memories to come! BFFAEAE!

Loyal viewer and friend,
CollegeCandy

Yeah it’s not the fairest thing in the world and we really shouldn’t have to depend on guys for anything, let alone a vodka soda, but I like to think we deserve a free cocktail now and then for everything else we have to deal with. And if the guy is willing to buy it, who are we to say no?

Let’s be honest: we’re in a recession, college tuition is going up and we’ve gotta save all the money we can for when we’re jobless after graduation. We have to be wary of what we spend and creative in how we save. And, thanks to our XX chromosomes (and our boobs), there’s no easier way to save a few bucks than at the bar.

And here are three very easy and creative ways to do so.

Bachelorette Party
This one probably won’t work on a college campus where a) everyone knows who you are and b) most people aren’t getting hitched, but it’s the quickest way to free drinks if you head off campus for a night or hit the bars in your hometown. Pick a girl in your group to be the bachelorette and go all out. Get her the veil, the sash, the tank top with “Last Night of Freedom” printed across the front. Then hit the bar. Dudes love a challenge/hate impending nuptials  and will be begging to buy her (and her friends) drinks. And if they’re not beating down your door and throwing Jager shots your way, ask them. Pretend you have to do a scavenger hunt and one of the items on the list is getting a guy to buy you a beer (and then another is to get a Long Island, and a vodka tonic, and a Red Headed Slut shot….) They won’t be able to say no. Bonus: seeing as you’re so obviously in a relationship, none of them will expect anything in return!

21st Birthday
The big 2-1 is a sacred event and everyone, whether they know you or not, wants to make sure you have the best night of your life. Already 21? No one has to know that. Just put on that birthday crown, grab a group of friends and head out. Make sure everyone at the bar knows it’s your 21st and you’ll be elbow deep in shots and cocktails in no time.

Bad Break Up
You’re going to have to bust out some acting skills for this one, but it will all be worth it in a few hours when you’re chowing down on late night pizza and haven’t spent a dollar all night. Gather a group of a few friends and designate a dumpee. Stand next to the bar and start chatting it up with some guys. Once the conversation is flowing, make mention of the fact that you were just dumped. Via text. After a year long relationship. Pepper the convo with a few “I need to just not think about it for the night”s, and “I’m single and ready to mingle!”s and you’ll be sipping on something tasty (and free) soon enough.

Throwing a birthday party in NYC was far more challenging than any birthday party I ever threw at college. At Syracuse you only had to choose between throwing your party at one of four bars. And considering the bars were all frequented by stereotypical groups, it was usually an obvious decision.

But in the city I had to choose between one billion bars. Did I want to go to a pricey club? A dive bar? A 24-hour Chinese buffet? How could I possibly compare the  bouncers-behind-velvet-rope-experience and an endless-supply-of-General-Tso’s-Chicken-experience? I eventually chose a bar-lounge that was described as chill and uptight at the same time. Which was perfect because I was planning on wearing a skin tight dress with converse sneakers.

Not only was the party planning more difficult than ever, but the gift requesting got complicated as well. Last year I asked my parents for a miniature pony and a 100 inch flat screen installed on my ceiling. But this year I had long debates with myself about whether I should be practical (money to buy groceries) or ridiculous (money to buy a live-in maid). I alternated my practical and fantastical requests among the relatives; I’m now the proud owner of a CVS gift certificate and the heart of the ocean featured in Titanic.

However, despite all the hardships of turning 23, I’m happy to be starting a new year. While 22 was full of amazing memories, stealing stories, and walks of shame (refer to my Senioritis blogs), it was also full of unemployment, living with my grandparents, and a general feeling of loneliness (refer to my first 15 Life After College blogs).

This is a new year. I’m a writer living in NYC, blogging about my life. I’m practically Carrie Bradshaw minus the West Village apartment, high salary, designers, sex stories and the ability to start every narrative recap with “Later that day, I got to thinking.”

So while the birthday party planning might have been a little harder, I’m hoping the whole “getting older” will make living  and surviving a whole lot easier.

Week after week (after week after week…), CollegeCandy and our pal John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, and saddest things he hears on his college campus. And we know he’s not the only one who hears this stuff. Join the Overheard revolution! Listen in on some weirdos’ conversations and share them in the comments or send ‘em over to us to put in next week’s post.

(Woman, to her son, in a CVS.)

Mom: Look! Thanksgiving! You’re not scared of Thanksgiving, right?

Kid: Waaaah!

(Two students in an education class.)

Student 1: One of my girls spelled “pennies” wrong today. I was laughing way too hard to correct her.

Student 2: The funny part will be when she’s working with the national treasury. ‘The most outdated part of our financial system is the penis!’

(Woman in a breakfast restaurant.)

Woman: Look! It’s the chronosaur! He’s a time-traveling dinosaur who fixes history’s mysteries!

(Two girls, talking in a clothing store.)

Girl 1: Nothing about your butt makes sense.

Girl 2: The laws of physics hate my butt.

(Girls meeting up in the morning.)

Girl 1: What’d you do last night?

Girl 2: Not much. Watched a lot of the Batman animated series. Felt a lot of inappropriate things.

(Girl, talking to her boyfriend.)

Girl: I don’t really care about you. I just need to leech out your warmth.

(Guy, talking to a girl at a party.)

Girl: It’s so cold!

Guy: You know, you’re only cold because women don’t actually produce any body heat. It’s true.

Girl: Geez, really? Wow.

Guy: I know. Crazy.

(Guys, early in the morning, at breakfast.)

Guy 1: If I have to get woken up forcefully, at least it’s by someone yelling ‘wanna play Dungeons and Dragons?’

Guy 2: You should be glad I didn’t just poop on your head. I wanted to.

(Guy, stopping people outside an apartment.)

Guy: Wait! You can’t go in here!

Guy 2: What?

Guy: You’re not a resident of Bell Town! Strangers aren’t allowed in ever since the monster attacked!

(Guy, greeting another guy.)

Guy: Hey, man! Happy birthday! I drank all your vodka and passed out.

I DON'T WANNA GROW UPPPPP

While most people begin planning their birthday celebrations months in advance and turn the entire birthday month into a party all about them, the thought of my November birthday is making me ill. Instead of spending my back-to-school days partying with my friends at football tailgates and planning my Halloween costume, I’m having near-panic attacks about my impending b-day.

Why? Because I’m turning 20 and it is scaring the crap out of me.

I haven’t always been afraid of my birthday. When I was a wee tween, I was so excited to turn 14 I had a countdown on my wall. I was constantly reading books that made it seem like the age to be. The girls seemed so sophisticated and mature, usually because they were dealing with things like getting their first kiss (which I coincidentally got when I was 14…I knew it would be an awesome age). Getting older was exciting, too. There were so many great perks that came with a new year: higher allowance, driver’s license, R-rated movies. But then I turned 18 and all the scary changes that came with that age threw me for a loop.

I was filled with anticipation about going to college and starting a new part of my life, but I was also depressed that the life I had known was coming to an end. So, as a way of dealing with that, I half-jokingly, half-I’m-so-dead-serious-it’s-not-even-funny denied my birthday. I just pretended it wasn’t going to happen. People would ask me “What do you want for your bithday?” and I was all, “Uh, no thanks, it’s kind of just not coming around this year.”

And the big 2-0 is worse. Sure, I’m one step closer to legal drinking, but I’m also one year closer to having to fully take responsibility for every aspect of my life. And I’m scared that my adult life is just going to stop being fun.

I can’t see myself being fulfilled with just a job, husband, and kids. I know my idea of fun will mature – after all, there was a time when all I wanted to do was dress up in my Belle dress and recite the dialogue, verbatim, as I watched Beauty and the Beast on VHS. But knowing this doesn’t mean it doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of me.

I love who I am now, and I adore how my life is. I’m nervous it’s going to go by too quickly. Right now, the possibilities for my life seem endless. I’m just beginning to discover what I’m capable of, and what the world may have in store for me. It’s the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever had, and I want to hold on to it for as long as possible.

We’ve all heard it before: “Enjoy college! Best years of my life, I tell ya, went by way too fast.” I can practically see the wistful longing for those days of debauchery in the speakers’ glazed-over eyes. Another year and another birthday means another step closer to being that person.

Even though it’s difficult, I’m trying to embrace the fact that I’m getting older. I’m sure some amazing things will come with age so I’m doing my best to look to the future, not the past.  More importantly, I’m trying to realize that getting older doesn’t mean I have to stop enjoying life. I don’t have to be some married lady with kids and a garden; I’m going to be one of those really active old women who climbs mountains and radiates joie di vivre. Either that or I’ll be some old creeper, hustling my way into college parties to take body shots with the freshmen.

What about you, fabulous readers? Are you excited to get older? Dreading it? Or are you experiencing a whirlwind of confusing emotions when it comes to aging?