Say whaaaat? Look, my “healthy” snacks barely make it under a hundred calories. How in the world can my dinner top that?

Introducing one of my absolute favorite foods – spaghetti squash. Now, this gourd was introduced to me about a year ago, but I never actually bought into it. I thought it was just another one of those healthy food items that tasted really bland and would just be a phase. Boy, was I wrong!

It’s called spaghetti squash because it is the perfect substitute for pasta. It has a medium-heavy texture that looks like spaghetti and tastes a little sweet. Want to know the best part? Here are the nutrition facts for one cup of this delicious squash:

42 calories, 0g fat, 10g carbs, 2g fiber, and 1g protein

Ummm, amazing! It tastes great paired with marinara sauce and turkey meatballs. Due to my crazy work out schedule, I have to eat more than one cup (which is a huge splurge, I know) but it’s so fulfilling. If you ever have a food cheat day, this will easily put you back on track.

I’m not a homemaker, so anything that involves lots of preparing and waiting is not my thing. Fortunately, it’s super easy to make this. Here’s the quick and easy!

1. Purchase spaghetti squash. It’s only $2.99 at Trader Joe’s and I think it turns out to be a similar price at other supermarkets.

2. Cut the squash in half or poke 10 holes in it. If you can get it to cut open, it will look like a pumpkin inside. Simply pull out all of the seeds.

3. MICROWAVE it! I know, right? It’s like making cup of noodles. Microwave the whole squash on high for about 15-17 minutes (depending on how big the squash is). You can also steam or bake it, but it takes much longer.

4. Take it out of the microwave. Use a fork to scrape the inside of the squash. It will come out in strands, just like spaghetti! So fun. It’ll be extremely hot, so just be careful.

5. Serve with marinara sauce, meatballs or sauce up your own creation.

So easy, right? I’m not skipping any steps – I promise! Try your miracle 100-calorie dinner and let me know what you think. I’m so addicted to it and I hope you love it too. Remember, a healthy body is comprised of 80% nutrition and 20% fitness. Fill your body with only the best.

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities (like Lake Bell) are spending $5,000 and more on an ensemble, you an spend way less...and save the rest for Margarita Mondays.]

Whitney Port is definitely my favorite blonde fashionista to come from The Hills (sorry, LC!) I’ve always admired her mix of boho, preppy, vintage, and contemporary pieces. She’s trendy, but still very much true to herself. Her looks are always fresh, never seem too contrived, and could easily be worn by an ordinary college girl.

Loves it. Read More »

[It's a new year (which I am having trouble remembering when I have to write the date on anything), meaning it's the perfect time to wipe that slate clean and start anew. And we're gonna help you out. Every Thursday in January we're bringing you advice from experts on ways to improve yourself and your life. From mental health to making the most of your workspace, we'll all work together to get our lives, health and GPAs back on track. First we feng shui-ed our rooms to make them happier, more productive places. Then we centered ourselves so we could handle whatever comes our way. Now let's get our finances in order with Fool.com's Dayana Yochim.]

Let’s face it, “the talk” is awkward for everyone: You, picturing your parents at your age; your parents trying to cover all the bases (protection, safety, responsibility and the long-term consequences of your young-adult actions) before letting you leave the nest.

You know we’re talking about the “money talk,” right?

What’s the big deal? Well, unlike the mechanics of procreating (which, if you’re reading this, we can assume your mother and father mastered at least once), there’s a good chance that your parents made a mess of their own finances back in the day. They might even feel like they’re still unqualified to offer sage advice. After all, this stuff isn’t taught in most schools, which leaves most folks learning money lessons the old-fashioned – and very expensive – way: At the school of hard knocks.

I’m here to do your folks a solid and give you six money management tips that will help you avoid graduating with a major financial hangover. Read More »

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities (like "damn, she always looks so cute," Ashley Tisdale are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.]

Confession: I miss hot-mess Nicole Richie. You know, 2003, fresh out of rehab, best friends with Paris Hilton, multi-colored, slightly raggedy extensions rocking, flashing boobies at fashion shows Nicole. I mean, sure, the babies are cute, her hair always looks silky and glorious, and the same antics that a 22-year-old engages in are a lot less cute in a 30-year-old. But still. I’m always a little bummed when not-Lindsay-tragic hot messes start domesticating themselves, because their uninhibited messiness is kind of admirable.

But it’s no big, because now I can admire Nicole for her banging sense of style. She’s the reason we all know who Rachel Zoe is, because Ms. Zoe is the one who gave Nicole a makeover even Cher Horowitz would be impressed by. And after Nicole became a style icon, suddenly every Hollywood starlet under the age of 30 was in Rachel’s care, but while they all looked like clones, Nicole always stood out. She has a strong sense of self that comes through in the outfits she wears, so while she may be uber trendy, she never looks dull or uninspired. Read More »

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities (like "damn, she always looks so cute," Ashley Tisdale are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.]

I have such a girl crush on Blake Lively and her sense of fashion it’s borderline unhealthy. She possesses an incredibly eclectic style that is grounded in a love of all colors, combining different textures, and emphasizing her 10 feet long stems and fabulous cleavage. I personally applaud the fact that she even wears clothes, because if I had her body, I would probably never not be naked. I’m just saying.

Anyway, so New Year’s Eve is over. The hangover has finally passed. You’ve been tagged in 100 photos, but only half of them are still associated with your name (there was no reason for the almost nip-slip or the midnight kiss with the random to be documented, right?). As you click through all the party photos, maybe you’re still in awe of the outfit you’ve put together, and how well it photographs. Maybe you’re wishing you could always be so sparkly. This week, I’d like to offer a resolution that would actually be fun to keep – incorporate more sequins into your wardrobe. Granted, my love of sequins is probably a little bit excessive, but seriously, why should sequins be reserved for New Year’s Eve and that one other random cocktail party you go to each year?

Try this Blake Lively inspired look on a random Thursday night, and see if you don’t feel approximately 30 times more excited about the night ahead of you. Read More »

Heather and Bailey star in WE TV newest series, Downsized, about a Brady Bunch-esque blended family of nine trying to get by after their father’s business went under. Having gone from a family income of $1.5 million a year to something way, way less than that, these girls have had to majorly curb their spending and are learning that there is, in fact, life after Saks.

So what have these ladies learned from the unfortunate demise of their no-budget lifestyle? Here are their top 10 tips for saving money, without skimping on style:

1. Shop at stores like the Goodwill, Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange. Get the whole stigma of wearing someone else’s hand-me-downs out of your brain. These stores sell gently used name brand clothing at very affordable prices. If you’re patient and open-minded, you can find really great and unique things for your ever expanding wardrobe.

2. Only buy sale items!! You’d be shocked to see how fast most items make their way to the sale rack. At the end of the day you will be happy you waited it out a bit when you get that sweater at 50% off.

3. Map out your shopping trip in advance! Every girl loves a day of shopping just for fun, but this often leads to unnecessary and impulse purchases. Knowing what you need (which is different than want or even “oh my god, I want that SO BADLY!”) before you hit the mall is a great way to curb a wandering eye!

Read More »

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities (like style superstar, Rachel Bilson) are spending $5,000 on an ensemble you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I adore Selena Gomez. Her face looks as if it were lifted from a porcelain doll. Her hair is so luminous and luxurious. Her music is perfect for those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your PJs with your hairbrush (in contrast to those times when you’re dancing in front of the mirror in your highest stilettos and a bottle of Smirnoff). She is the personification of rainbows and unicorns and puppies and everything that is fluffy and G-rated in this world. I love it.

Selena’s style is just as unpretentious and down-to-earth as the rest of her image. She’s totally youthful, fresh, and laid back. She is that girl who swears she “isn’t even into fashion,” but she always looks current and hip, and you never see her wearing the same ensemble twice.

She is essentially every friend I’ve ever had and secretly resented totally admired.

Luckily, this easy-breezy style fits perfectly into the college style scene and, even better, is not at all difficult (or expensive) to emulate. Read More »

For most normal college grads, the time directly after the cap tossing/couch burning/heavy drinking of graduation weekend comes a period of extreme depression mixed with a tinge of confusion that leads many to make rash decisions.

For some, this means getting a job in Investment Banking or getting (gasp) engaged. For others, this means getting a pet.

Whatever choice they make it is important to remember that college does nothing to prepare us to make such decisions, or for any sort of real life interactions and experiences after we move out of our student housing, clutching our hard earned (ha!) degree.

So, for those of you just entering college or currently enjoying the amazingness that it is, allow me, a recent college finisher, to shed some light and expose the truth.

College is awesome.
College is drunk.
College is staying up all night in the library trying to find someone to hook up with in the stacks.
College is all about making friends and doing stupid things together.

College, however, is not about preparing you for life. Below is a list of things that four (or five/six/seven if you are smart) years in higher education neglect to teach you: Read More »

When you’re in college, everyone knows there are the classes you take because you have to and then the classes you take because they’re actually going to help you in life.  Anthropology of Magic?  A major sophomore year mistake.  Unless my letter to Hogwarts got lost in the mail, I’m never going to need to know how to read tea leaves.  Wine and Spirits?  Fun, but again- not exactly functional in the job world.  (That is, unless I’m going to “networking” events where there’s an open bar.)

Unfortunately the classes that actually will help you down the road are few and far between.  Sure math is important and English is pretty essential, but what about:

Intro to Hangovers on the Job
So you went on a weeknight bender and now you’re dealing with the aftereffects.  The real world isn’t like college where you can just curl into the fetal position, skip class, and ride out the storm.  Oh no.  You’ve gotta put on that pencil skirt, slide on those pumps, and look like you’re ready to get sh*t done.  Do you know how to not puke in a board meeting?  Or how about not falling asleep on your keyboard?  Skipping greasy hangover brunch?  This class would open your eyes to all those things and more.

Read More »

[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even for comfy, everyday outfits!) you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I’m convinced Blake Lively is one of those women who was genetically engineered to make 90 percent of the female population feel woefully inferior in one way or another. Her hair, her figure, her relationship with Anna Wintour, her relationship with Penn Badgley, her thriving acting career, her work wardrobe, her beautiful personal style… there’s something for everyone to hate on.

And the worst part is, she has the audacity to seem really sweet and fun, so you can’t even really hate her. In short, she is perfect.

And so is this outfit. Read More »