If you planned on starting a diet today, don’t. Or at least don’t read any further. That salad with the “but it tastes just like the real thing” low-fat dressing and droopy lettuce is going to seem about ten times less appetizing than it did when you were looking at pictures of Kate Middleton, thinking to yourself I wish I was that skinny. Embrace a little sugar in your day. Load up on some visual carbs.

Feast your eyes, baby! Right now, we’re bringing you the anti-healthy lunch.

initiating the gallery...

Today is National Chocolate Day.

Yes, there is actually a day dedicated to chocolate and all it’s creamy, heavenly glory. And that is about as exciting as waking up on Christmas morning (yes, my parents still sign the gifts “Love, Santa.” Don’t judge).

It’s universally known that diamonds are a girls’ best friend, but truthfully speaking, I’d rather have a heart to heart with a chocolate bar any day. (Come on – diamonds can’t possibly taste as good as these.) And I will be taking full advantage of the fact that I have another reason, besides my mood-swing-menstruation-induced-coma, to justify stuffing my face with it this month.

Take 5 bars, here I come!

But why stop at stuffing our faces? Chocolate Day only comes once a year (and for an undisclosed amount time every month, but we’ll leave out that minor detail), so we better indulge while we can, in every possible way. And, honey, there are plenty more ways to enjoy a little cocoa than in Hershey’s form.

Philosophy 3 in 1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

Not only is the thought of bathing in hot chocolate more than appealing, but it’s also extremely convenient that you can indulge three (delicious) birds with one (chocolatey) stone. Less work = more time to indulge in that milk chocolate bath.

Tigi BedHead Lip Gloss

Yes, please! This is like the Lip Smackers for grownups! If you used to have a chapstick key chain when you were younger (Dr. Pepper, anyone?), this will excite you. There is a choice of Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Mint and Chocolate Cappuccino….or all three. Either way.

Melt Chocolate Body Fondue by Booty Parlor

Hey we never said this was a loner holiday. Celebrations are always more fun with two (wink wink).

Chox Away Soap by Lush

Trust me: it tastes...er...smells better than it looks!

This bar of soap is actually made out of white and dark chocolate. Wash yourself with a bar of chocolate (or have a nice, tasty snack in the shower)? Enough said.

Speechless Asymmetrical Dress

I take up any and every opportunity to purchase a new addition to my wardrobe. And the fact that this dress looks like someone poured melted chocolate over your body makes it totally justifiable for this holiday.

Chocolate Kiss Martini

I also take up any and every opportunity to drink, and now we all have a reason to be doing it on a Wednesday night. Plus, how many times have we stood drooling outside the liquor store as we guilt trip ourselves out of buying that Godiva liquor? Well girls, here’s our chance. It’s only once a year, right?

Living in the dorms is one of the most essential college experiences. Years from now, you’ll tell your friends and family of all your adventures and mishaps. You’ll never forget those obnoxious fire-drills at 3 am, the industrial blue carpeting, how hard it was for you to climb up into your bed…whilst drunk.

Most of all, when you look back you’ll remember the people you spent these times with, and all the friends you made. But when it comes to dorm buddies, there are the good friends (they don’t steal your shampoo and they grasp the concept of hygiene) and then there are your dorm BFF’s…

The Aspiring DJ: As annoying as his incessant Facebook messaging may be, the DJ is a good dorm friend to have. Not only does he have vast knowledge of the hottest clubs in town, he knows the cheapest best nights to go. His iTunes shared library is effing awesome and he’s always happy to demo his spinning skillz at whatever event you’re hosting (AKA whatever themed pre-party you’re having in your room, he’s happy to bring an equally festive mastermix). Not only is he the life of the party with his hilarious and entertaining personality, but he has a special place in his heart for nightly AYCD party buses. He wants as many of his friends at all his gigs as possible, so you’re always on the V.I.P. list when he MC’s at da club.

The Girl Who Always Has a Package Waiting: Of the UPS variety, not the Fruit of the Loom variety (trust me, that girl is not your BFF). She always has a message from your R.A. on her whiteboard “Package downstairs!” She always seems to be carrying a massive box up the stairs, and you, by all means, should help her carry that package. Because when she excitedly opens whatever baked goods/ treats her mom has sent her, she will inevitably share out of gratitude. The more you get to know this new friend, the more you’ll realize that Mom’s separation anxiety translates into brownies…and cookies, and peanut brittle and cupcakes. Girlfriend can’t possibly eat all that homesickness herself or she won’t be able to fit through the door to pick up her never ending stream of snail mail lovin’. This is where you need to be a good friend and split some of those ooey gooey calories… for her sake.

Your Study Buddy: When your R.A. inevitably slips a note under your door calling you to a mandatory hall meeting, do not sigh and lament this as time you’ll lose partying. Rather, prepare yourself for fun filled games like “two truths and a lie,” “guess who I am by what I wrote on this slip of paper,” and, my personal favorite, “sit in a circle and say your name and major.” The last one is particularly important, and you will want to listen very carefully for everyone with the same majors as you—they are your new study buddies.

You’ll have to take the same classes for the next four years, and even if you’re not in the same section, you can all help each other with specific assignments, studying for tests, sharing expensive books and occasionally e-mail each other to find out what you missed in class (obvi only applies if you’re in the same class). Be good to your study buddies, do not take advantage of them, and do unto your stubu as they would do unto you.

The girl Who Had Two U-Hauls on Move-In Day: Your little sis marveled at the amount of stuff some people could bring with them. Your parents silently thanked God that they didn’t have to help you move that much crap. You caught yourself thinking “Lucky Bitch won’t have to go to the gym later after carrying all those boxes up stairs.” You didn’t think much else about her until one night, as you were drifting off to sleep in your twin XL, you pondered what she possibly could have needed 2 trailers for. After all, the dorm came with furniture and a mini fridge. You managed to fit all your extra stuff in your backseat and your parents trunk. The only thing you could possibly think of is that she must have just needed an extra one for all her shoes, clothes and purses.

Bingo! You saunter down the hall to introduce yourself and see her clothes spilling out of her drawers, closet and falling off of her clothes rack. So exasperated is she by her need to organize all her (super freaking cute) stuff, that now would be a good time for you to generously offer some of your closet space. Perhaps you could store some of her dresses in your fave color and shoes in your size? Seriously, you are such a good friend.

The Guy With the Really Good Fake: You know who I’m talking about. About 6’3, brown hair, full beard, wears Dad shorts? Yea, him. Chances are, he’s had his fake I.D. since he turned 13…and he’s never been turned down. He’ll be the one hosting most of the dorm parties and pregames, due to his close relationship with Steve from Megadiscountliquor Barn. Be very polite to him, as he is using his gas money and incredibly valuable time to go on beer runs for you. Be prepared to pay a nominal convenience fee (but if he tries to charge you more than $5 extra take your business elsewhere) and never look him in the eye. Tell him Kari sent you—he’ll know what you’re talking about.

What kind of friends would you love to make in your dorm? What kind of dorm BFF are you? Know any of these people (especially the girl with all the clothes!)?

Mardi Gras is officially over tomorrow, so put your shirts down, drop those beads and celebrate the best day ever: Fat Tuesday!  I like to think of every Tuesday (or every day, for that matter) as Fat Tuesday, so I’m more than ready to celebrate.

A day devoted to all culinary indulgences? Sign. me. up.

Care to join me? Well, you can start by getting a free stack o’ pancakes at IHOP (much love to you, IHOP!), then move onto some of my favorite fatty indulgences. Click on the pics to find out where you can get your hands on such delicious celebratory snacks.

What are your favorite Fat Tuesday treats?

[Jill has been dabbling in the 4 Day Diet and sharing her journey with us. We saw her first week and the challenges she faced on week 2. Here, she shares her recent diet tribulations.]

This week started out great. I made a pump-me-up playlist and have been hitting the gym like nobody’s business. I’ve pushed myself to run that extra few minutes or try a new machine; I may or may not have even snuck in a workout of dancing in my apartment, underwear on, microphone (hairbrush) in hand. Hey, a calorie burned is a calorie burned, my friends, and burning calories to “We Built this City on Rock and Roll” is just a lot more fun than an extra squat.

However, as the week continued, I discovered what I didn’t like about this diet and why I have never liked diets in the past that tell you what to eat day by day. While I enjoy the food suggested for each daily plan, there are no options or guidelines for situations where those foods aren’t available. And let’s not forget that outside of diet books, real life happens.

So even if you try to be good and make comparable substitutions, you end up feeling like a failure  when you didn’t follow the diet exactly and, at the end of the week, your weight hasn’t changed.

This week was very much like that; between two birthday parties, a Grammy party, and a goodbye party for a co-worker, it was hard to find foods that fit what was on my daily plan. I tried to think of alternatives to a bowl of beans or some almonds, but the book doesn’t tell you how to handle real-life situations when the food choices are out of your control.

So, inevitably, you make bad choices (even though you tried so hard!) and throw the entire week of work out the window. Working hard for no results? Probably the most frustrating thing ever.

I did the best I could and tried to make the most similar swaps (with the exception of a cookie dough ball bite; I mean, you just can’t say no to those), but I still felt frustrated and annoyed at the end of the week.

I’m feeling a little less than excited about the 4 Day Diet today, but I refuse to give up. So, I turn to you, dear readers. What are your tips for planning around events where you can’t control the food situation?

This Valentine’s Day, it’s all about lovin’…

Presents, that is.

For:

The Frugal One – Not only are brownies yummy to eat, they’re cheap and easy to make, too! And if you’ve always saved the crust for last (since, obviously, it’s the best part), now you can make your entire brownie batch edge-y in this super cool pan.

The Sweet One – Nothing says “I Love You” like toilet paper. Really. Nothing.

The Artsy One -  Chances are, her wall is full of paintings but is missing one of these. Fish are so much easier to talk to than guys, anyway.

The Crazy One – Need to get back at an ex? Well, now you can take a stab at him. Violence is definitely the answer in this case. A very cute, useful answer.

The Forever-A-Kid One – Gum isn’t just for chewing anymore, people. It provides hours of entertainment to stop you from thinking about guys and relationships. Who needs a man when you can make art?

The Kinky One - This little puppy gives Fergie’s humps a run for their money. Guys are only good in the sack (or in one friend’s case, the back of a car!), but this cutie can travel anywhere.

The Techie One - She doesn’t need reminders of bad relationships in her new, wonderful life! So help her get past those old memories and create new ones in this little box of love (MySpace mirror pictures not included).

The Environmentally-Friendly One - Trying to get that cute guy in the cafeteria to notice you? Well, this super-cute lunchbox will definitely catch his attention, because as they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

The Romantic One - Still upset over that lost sweetie? She’ll laugh her tears away with this hilarious movie, and this guide on How To Get A Guy In 10 Days.

The Trendy One - Lost a lover? Get a new one! These Harajuku girls are so much better than guys anyway. Plus, they smell better.

“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.

Kari – FSU: My Sunday night routine: gooey pizza, fresh garlic rolls, a bottle of wine, True Blood, Entourage and a healthy dose of ice cream to get me through Little Britain so I can watch the Life & Times of Tim. Bring it on, Monday.

John – UConn: Fruit smoothies are perhaps the only thing better than sex, and mostly due to their convenience. A fruit smoothie can be enjoyed in class, while driving, while studying, and additionally a fruit smoothie never bruises your fragile ego, unless you make it REALLY poorly.

Noa – UC Boulder: Full House marathons (and not just because of Uncle Jesse).

Lauren – University of Michigan: Oreo milkshakes from Potbellys. Does sex come with mini Oreo’s on top? I don’t think so!

Suzanne – Tulane: Fitting into my skinny jeans

Heather – Penn State: Really great Italian gelato in the U.S. – it’s harder to get and it’s more consistently pleasing.

Elise – UCLA: PUMPKIN BROWNIES. Or a huge fatty slice of cheesecake with LOTS of graham cracker crust.

Carly – Grinnell: Dark chocolate, bread pudding, crème brûlée… I trust I don’t need to explain why.

Elizabeth – UA Huntsville: Cuddling up together to watch a movie or Ghost Hunters. It’s so relaxing and sweet and there aren’t any pressures at all (except to be quiet when they’re playing EVPs).

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Cheesecake. It’s amazing. ‘Nuff said.

Kelly – UMass: Nothing. and anyone who says something else is not having good enough sex.

What about you? What do you think is better than sex?

While everyone loves a good brownie, a brownie can be made exponentially better by adding peppermint (or peanut butter, caramel, marshmallow… the list goes on).

Mint chocolate brownies are the perfect treat as the weather gets colder, but really, they’re perfect for any time at all. Is there ever a bad time for a brownie?

The Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter

8 oz. of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (chocolate chips will work too)

1 cup sugar

3/4 t salt

3 large eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

25 small peppermint patties (my fave are York!)

Getting to Brownie Bliss:

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil with butter on it. This will make the brownies much easier to get out of the pan (the easier it is to get the brownies out of the pan, the sooner you can stuff your face).

Put the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl and set over a saucepan of simmering water. Gently stir until the chocolate is melted and then remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and salt.

Now whisk in the eggs, cocoa powder, and flour until the mixture is nice and smooth. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the pan.

Unwrap all your peppermint patties and arrange them over the layer of batter. Now pour the remaining batter into the pan, bake for 45-55 minutes at 350 degrees, and consume!

Sound like too much work? You can also make the mint chocolate brownies using a boxed brownie mix. Simply make the batter following the box’s directions, pour 1/3 of it into a pan, layer your peppermint patties, and pour the rest of the batter over. So technically, the brownies didn’t come from a box because you added your own special touch to them.

Now that I’ve had these, I want to make brownies with all sorts of candy bars inside. Snickers? Heath bar? This could get dangerous.

One thing I had never really delved into was pie baking. Brownies, cookies, cakes — I loved them all and I could bake them fairly well. But pies…if it wasn’t refrigerated, I hadn’t tried it. And then I had a craving for apple pie.

My fiance being the loyal supporter he is, accompanied me to the store and watched me stare at the shelves trying to figure out what looked yummy. I’ve never been one for cooking apples (sometimes I have an issue cutting them uniformly) and since this was my first foray into pie-world, I didn’t want to risk screwing up the um, very essential filling. So, without an official recipe, and without really knowing what I was doing I came up with the following plan. No, it isn’t good for you, but it’s darn tasty with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream.

You will need the following:

2 frozen 9-inch pie crusts

1 can apple pie filling

1/4 cup of Hershey’s Caramel Ice Cream Topping

1 tsp. (or a little more if you prefer but don’t get crazy–it’s a pie, not a tropical mojito) of Malibu Passion Fruit Rum

1 gallon of vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slightly thaw the pie crusts. Press one into your pie pan. Poke light holes in the bottom with a fork (this is to keep the bottom crust from puffing too much)

2. Pour the apple pie filling into the crust and spread it evenly.

3. Sprinkle the rum over the filling.

4. Take a swig of rum (totally optional but very tasty!)

5. Drizzle caramel over the filling.

6. Take the second pie crust and lay it on top of the filling. Carefully, so you don’t tear the crust (if you do, no biggie, it’s pretty forgiving), pinch the edges of the top crust and the bottom crust together to seal the pie. If you want to get fancy, be my guest. I just wanted pie, so mine was very, um, “rustic” looking. Last, take a knife and make four slits in the top crust, in a sort of cross pattern, so that the filling can vent and you don’t end up with an apple pie volcano. Might be cool, but very inedible overflowing into the oven.

7. Bake at 350 for approximately 35-45 minutes or until your crust is golden brown. I definitely had to keep a watch on mine since I didn’t have a recipe to go by. Plus, every oven is different.

8. Once the crust is nice and brown, take the pie from the oven. I personally believe there is no reason to let that sucker cool unless you have to give the ice cream a little time to soften. But if you wish, you can. I think the best way to do it is to put the ice cream on top of the stove while the oven is still warm and let it slightly soften that way. Cut a slice of pie, top with your ice cream and additional caramel and go to town!

Trust me, this pie is worth every calorie.

(Pie pic courtesy of martyfahncke.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/appl)

INGREDIENTS

* 14 ounces caramels

* 1/2 cup evaporated milk

* 1 package German chocolate cake mix

* 1/3 cup evaporated milk

* 3/4 cup butter, melted

* 1/4 cup chopped pecans

* 2 cups milk chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Peel caramels and place them all in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Heat and mix until all caramels are melted.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. While that’s happening, grease a 9×13 inch pan.

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together your cake mix, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, the melted butter, and chopped pecans. Place 1/2 of the batter in greased baking pan.

4. Bake for 8 minutes.

5. Place the remaining batter into the fridge. Remove brownies from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Drizzle caramel sauce over chocolate chips. Remove brownie mix from refrigerator. Using a teaspoon, make small balls with the batter and smash flat. Very carefully, place on top of the Carmel sauce until the top is completely covered.

6. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove and let cool.

*Note: In some stores you can find Kraft caramel bits which takes away the tedious task of unwrapping all the caramels.

[photo from the yummy www.ghirardelli.com]