There are too many reasons to love Halloween. For one, you get to dress up like an absolute idiot — or a slut, whichever you choose — and no one judges you. Although, if you’re dressing like a slut, you might be fair game for some judgment but that’s a totally different issue. Not into dressing up? Wear all black and you’re still a goblin in disguise! You really can’t go wrong on Halloween. But, what I really love about this awesome holiday is ALL THE FREE CANDY YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON. (I mean, it was totally way more acceptable to go door-to-door begging for candy when I was five but…whatever.)

Woo hoo!

Have a favorite candy you only feast on once a year? Break the chains of your super strict diet on the night of the living dead?

Well, well, well, do I have some torture for you! Feast your eyes (since you can’t feed your stomachs) on the best of the best from the trick-or-treat bowls.

There are a lot of perks to experiencing Halloween as a college student, that’s a given. But remember Halloween as a little kid? When you looked forward to more than the drinking games and the slutty sexy costumes?

Sure, I loved the costumes, and the candy, and the pumpkin carvings, but for me it was really all about the movies. And not those crazy, creepy, scary ones either, but the fun ones. You know, the ones about friendly ghosts and clumsy witches and great pumpkins…
Allow me to refresh your memory…

10. Beetlejuice. Originally this one was going to be higher up on the list. But as I rediscovered the plot of this Halloween time horror, I realized it was actually kind of creepy. Way to get your big break though, Winona Ryder.

9. The Little Vampire. Think back, way back. Before Twilight. Before Edward Cullen. Before vampires were ever associated with glitter. Remember when you actually thought vampires were kind of scary? It made the idea of a little boy being BFFs with a vampire so much cooler.

8. Casper. The friendly ghost. The special effects may not seem as cool as they used to, but it’s still worth a re-watch. Upon looking this one up on IMDb I discovered there was actually a plot behind this movie. No, I’m not going to tell you what it was. Watch it; you won’t be disappointed.

7. Underwraps. A favorite in my household growing up. My brother was obsessed with it. And it didn’t help that the Disney channel aired it every other day that first year it came out. We watched it over and over (and over) until I knew the lines by heart. Never could quite get use to the fact that they named the mummy Harold, though.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Come on. It’s Tim Burton. And a classic. And I don’t care what those brats are saying today, it will always be better than The Corpse Bride. End of discussion.

5. Double, Double Toil and Trouble. The Olsen twins have a movie for every occasion, and Halloween is no exception. Back in the day I couldn’t get enough of these two. But now I kind of wonder how Shakespeare would feel about Mary Kate and Ashley stealing his lines…

4. Halloweentown. Yes, another Disney channel original movie. But I can’t help myself. These people know how to do Halloween. After seeing this movie, I secretly hoped that one day I would “come of age,” and find out I had magical powers too. (Reading the Harry Potter books shortly after did nothing to help this notion disappear.)

3. The Worst Witch. My personal favorite. Poor Mildred Hubble, things never seemed to go right for her. But her life wasn’t all bad, I mean she had teachers named Miss Cackle, and Miss Spellbinder, and a cute little grey cat. And she had her own theme song…Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the worst witch of them all?

2. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown, much like the Olsen twins, has a movie for every occasion, and unlike the Olsen twins, every one of his holiday specials is worth watching. Linus and Sally spend the night in a pumpkin patch. Charlie Brown gets rocks in his trick or treat bag, and Lucky is just plain mean. Business as usual.

1. Hocus Pocus. The best Halloween movie of all time. It’s a fact. The other night, one of my friends posted on Facebook that she was watching it. The status now has 28 comments, all with various versions of “best movie ever,” and “OMG I love that movie,” along with actual quotes from the movie. Plus, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one with a crush on Max, right?

So what do you think, ladies? Did I get all of your favorites? Which ones did I forget? There’s no limit on childhood memories. So dust off those VCRs, pull out those old VHS tapes, grab some candy corn and start reminiscing.

Time for a movie marathon!

Got a special place in your heart for Top 10 lists? We do and we’ve got some doozies.  Get ‘em all out right here.

Like Reese’s? Yeah, me too. Honestly, I’m not sure I can ever trust someone who doesn’t. The problem is that a girl can’t subsist on peanut butter cups alone . . . but it’s fun to try.

No, seriously, the problem is more that those things are crazy unhealthy. Not only will they set you back more than 200 calories and 13 grams of fat for a pair, but they’re full of artificial flavors and preservatives. And that, my lady friends, is why I make my own. (Well, that and the fact that the CVS lady looks at me funny when I come in and buy, like, 12 Reese’s packs before 10am.)

Now, I need to be clear here—these homemade treats aren’t really much healthier, but they do taste better, they don’t contain any weird artificial stuff, and they are far more effective at impressing your friends. Plus, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper to make a dozen of these than it is to buy six packs of Reese’s. So what are you waiting for?

What You Need:
(The recipe is based on this charmer from AllRecipes, my go-to recipe source.)

• 1 (11.5-ounce) package semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup of all-natural peanut butter (you can use Jif, but I prefer the hippie stuff)
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (that’s the powdery stuff)
• 12 muffin-cup liners
• Muffin pan

What You Do:
1. Place the muffin liners in the muffin pan.

2. Put half the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl, and zap the chips in the microwave for 1 minute on HIGH. Take them out and stir them, and continue to microwave them in 30-second increments on HIGH until you can stir them completely smooth.

3. Distribute the melted chocolate evenly among the 12 muffin-cup liners. Then use a flexible spatula or a spoon to creep the chocolate 1/2 inch or so up the sides of the liners so it’s not all stuck in the bottom (creating a little bowl for the PB).

4. Put the chocolate shell bottoms in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are firm.

5. While those little cups of goodness are chillin’, use a whisk and a small bowl to combine the peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar. (This is where the natural PB comes in handy – it’s a lot thinner than the other stuff, making it easier to stir.) Leave it at room temperature until the chocolate shells have firmed.

6. Take the shells out of the fridge and distribute the peanut butter mixture evenly among them.

7. Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave in the same way you melted the first half of them.

8. Spoon the melted chocolate over the top of the peanut butter cups, spreading the chocolate to the edges of the liners. Refrigerate the finished cups for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are firm.

And that’s all there is to it! Soon you’ll be chowing down on homemade peanut butter cups in your bedroom where none of your roommates can find them on the couch with your girls while you catch up on the first season of Glee. I know – total girls night perfection.

Chocolate. That is one word and gift from heaven I will never get sick of. It tastes good with – um – everything. I never don’t want it. And even when I try to cut it out (like today) I find myself crawling back to it (as in eating it as I write this).

Another thing I never get sick of?

Creating my own things. Whether it’s a photo book, a necklace, a personalized hoodie or my own snack bar, building something from scratch that I know I will love always makes the final product that much more fun and enjoyable.

So when I heard about Createmychocolate.com I needed no convincing. It’s just like the URL says: you can create your very own chocolate bars. Can I get a HELL YES!? I spent hours trying to craft 3 perfect bars and, let me tell you, with so many options it was HARD. From pretzels, to cereal, nuts, fruits, sugary bits of heaven and various spices, you can craft the most amazing, delectable chocolate bar of your very own.

Choose from white, milk or dark, and then add your favorite fillings. Seriously, there is NO way not to find a heavenly combo that will be your personal BFF through those though times in life, like finals, breakups, and PMS. Not to mention you can get creative and add things you never thought would work (like basil? Who knew?!).

You can name your own bar, or create an adorable personalized gift for a friend. They even let you decorate the wrapper (to say thanks, happy birthday, etc.).

…Or you can do like I did and order a dozen for yourself.

This bar makes me say BRING IT ON to emotional eating, because the more excuses to enjoy some chocolate the better. Duh.

The options are endless and it can get a little overwhelming, so let me help you get started.

My favorite combo: dark chocolate with banana, pretzels, coconut and peanut butter drops.
Runner up: dark chocolate with dried raspberries, cashews, dried blueberries and coconut.

Oh, and don’t worry about eating all this chocolate. If you start gettin’ a little thick in the middle, you can always buy some pajama jeans.

Shopping for V-day gifts can always be hard, but when it’s a brand new situation, it’s even harder. You need something fun, simple, and cute, but nothing too much – or too little. You need to show you care and are thinking of that special someone, but don’t want to make them think things are moving too fast.

To help you out, here are some suggestions of gifts to give, and – as a bonus – gifts to avoid.

Gifts to Give

Candy- This one’s an oldie, but a goodie. Who doesn’t love some kind of candy? Plus, it’s practical, because it’s edible. You could go the traditional route and just get a Whitman’s Sampler, but I’d recommend an assorted bag of loose candy (Dylan’s is a good place to look, and they even have some pre-packaged assortments, though sometimes local places are just as good and easier on the wallet). It’s a lot more personal than just picking a box up off the shelf, and way more fun to purchase anyway. Not to mention it’s (hopefully) all candy they like, which means less waste (how many times have you thrown away all those coconut candies?) and a cute way to show how thoughtful you are.

Cookies- Your significant other not a fan of candy? Or maybe you just wanted to do something a little different? Maybe cookies are a better route. If you like to bake, this could even be something for you guys to do together. Or, if you’re like me and don’t feel like poisoning them just yet, check the baked good sections at supermarkets – they’re made fresh daily, and most stores have desserts themed to the holidays.

Scarf- If you live up north, this is a great gift; it’s practical, simple, and good middle-ground. It’s not too much, but definitely nicer than a pair of socks. Bonus points if you can knit do this by hand.

Hobby Supplies- If you know your Valentine’s hobbies, this is a great way to show them you care. My ex and I started dating right before V-day and he gave me a journal that year since he knew that I loved to write. Pick a gift that specifically relates to his/her favorite thing to do – whether it be craft supplies (like yarn so s/he can knit you that scarf), sheet music, a journal, a movie poster or DVD. Just make it something that shows you put thought into finding a gift special for them.

Book- Okay, before you ignore this option, hear me out. Sometimes this is one of the best things you can get a person; it’s great because there are so many types of books so you can pick one specifically with your significant other in mind (see hobbies above). For example, if you’re dating someone who’s a bit of a geek, the XKCD book is a great gift, plus some of the proceeds go to Room to Read, which is currently raising funds to build a school in Laos.

Board Game- Not only is this fun, but it’s something you can play together, and it’s something s/he can use over and over, especially in a dorm. Or at Denny’s, if you’re my friends.

Gag Gift- Already have a few inside jokes? Gag gifts are always great, especially if you and your date aren’t fans of big romantic gestures or commercialism. Picking something relating to a joke you both share is a great way to celebrate the holiday without feeling too intense- and who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh?

Gifts NOT to Give

- Unless you two have been really good friends, and you know sizes, do not buy clothing, especially anything that borders on intimate, like PJ’s, boxers, etc.

- Extra emphasis on not buying lingerie, for either party. If it’s a new situation, that’s just a little intense/awkward.

- Jewelry is great, but it’s really, really hard to know what the other person likes until you get to know him/her well. Or if s/he even wears anything beyond the same daily piece(s). Save your money for a later date of greater significance.

- Sex toys, handcuffs, lube, etc.- Yes, I know I said gag gifts are good, but these are a little much. Like lingerie, even if you both appreciate this sort of thing, if you’ve just started dating and it’s your first V-day, this might send the wrong message, and any awkwardness depletes the fun of these.

Basically, if you and your date are just starting out, try for something simple, fun, and personal, but nothing too over-the-top. The day should be about having fun with each other and getting to know each other better, not trying to buy each others’ love.

(Editor’s Note: We realize we’ve featured these before, but they are so freaking good and perfect for V-day that we just had to bring them back.)

OK, so we’ve only got 5 days until Valentine’s Day. And that means 5 days until you are inundated with cards, candies and treats…. and you still have nothing to give anyone else.

Have no fear! I’ve got the perfect little treat that is cheap, super easy to make, and is so totally delicious you will make hearts melt across campus.

Behold: the Oreo Truffle.

You don’t even need a real kitchen to whip up these little nuggets of goodness, making them the perfect Valentine’s Day gift (for your lover/friend/self) for the college girl. And you can customize them any way you’d like: add chopped nuts, colored sprinkles, graham cracker crumbles…. the options are endless.

What you need:

1 package of Oreo cookies
8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened (just leave it out of the fridge for a bit)
16 oz. of chocolate chips
Sprinkles or crushed candy (candy canes, Valentine’s hearts, anything!)
Wax or parchment paper
A Blender

Stop. Truffle Time:

1. Make sure blender is completely dry (unless you wanna make play-dough).

2. Dump Oreos into blender and mix on high until the cookies become fine crumbs.

3. Mix together the 3 cups of cookie crumbs and the softened cream cheese until well-blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.

4. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

5. Melt chocolate chips in microwave on high for 2 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to stir.

6. Dip balls into melted chocolate and place on wax or parchment paper.

7. Decorate! Sprinkle on some candy bits, drizzle with white chocolate, eat a few, or roll them in sprinkles.

8. Serve cold for best taste. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Enjoy (with your honey, or your BFFs, or your Sunday TV marathon)!

These little bundles of joy make Valentine’s totally worth enduring.

Stained Glass cookies are super adorable and totally versatile: you can hang these on a wreath, on your tree, by the window…or just eat them. That last option is definitely #1 for me. I’m not wasting perfectly good baked goods on a tree or, worse, a fat man with a beard.

They may seem difficult to make, but they’re super easy. And a fun activity on a cold Saturday with the roomies. Oh, and did I mention they’re only 90 calories each? YES. Because there should never be a positive correlation between holiday season and your waistline.

Materials:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup margarine, or 1 stick of butter, softened
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 2 large eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 package (10 to 12 ounces) of hard candy, such as jolly ranchers
* Festive-colored ribbon
* Plastic wrap
* Hand mixer
* Ziploc bags
* Cookie cutters, regular and mini-sized
* Nonstick baking pan
* Drinking straw
* Rolling pin

Steps:
(Note: If you really don’t wanna spend so much time and energy making the dough, you could get a pre-maid sugar cookie roll, eat a little raw [we won't judge], then skip on down to step #6.)

1. Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the sugar, margarine/butter, and shortening until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until blended.
2. Slowly pour the flour mixture in while beating, stopping just before fully blended.
3. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. While dough is chilling, separate the hard candies by color into each Ziploc bag. Use a rolling pin (or a hammer) to gently crush the candy into small pieces.
5. Preheat the over to 350 degrees.
6. Take the dough out and place on a well-floured surface. Roll each piece of dough until 1/8 inch thick.
7. Use regular-sized cookie cutters and cut the dough into 3-4 inch shapes. Now take the mini-sized cookie cutters (or a knife) and make another shape in the middle of each cookie. Place the cookies on the cookie sheet.(Note: the cookie sheet MUST BE nonstick so the candy doesn’t get stuck!)
8. Take some crushed candy and sprinkle it in the hole in the middle of the cookie.
9. If you plan on using these as decorations, use the straw and poke a hole into the top of each cookie. If you just plan on eating them, don’t worry about it.
10. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
11. Let the cookies cool and frost those bad-boys (props if you can make cute designs)

If you wanna hang ‘em, loop some ribbon through the hole. If you wanna eat ‘em, let the frosting harden before shoving them down your throat.

[Recipe inspired by Fancy Flours Bakery.]

Jennifer Aniston’s getting a talk show.

Morehouse College bans sagging?

Which candy is the worst for ya?

I’ve heard of cat ladies, but a cat girl??

Things are getting worse for Lohan.

Disney princesses deconstructed.

Yup, thanks to the genius and generous marketers at Mars Chocolate, we’ll all be jumping for joy real soon. The “Real Chocolate Relief Act” is here.

Starting this month, and continuing through September, the company will be doling out a quarter-million tasty treats on what they call “Free Chocolate Fridays.” ‘Free’ and ‘chocolate’ in the same sentence? Now that’s something to smile about.

Just register (in two seconds) here and wait for your mouthwatering coupon to arrive. Note: the coupon is not edible. DO NOT EAT THE COUPON. Instead, walk (or sprint) to the nearest drug store, bodega, gas station, etc. to pick out your very own FREE Snickers, Dove Bar, 3 Musketeers – whatever tasty treat you fantasize about (or am I the only one who daydreams about silky, smooth, cocoa-y goodness melting in my mouth?).

Oh, and more good news: this isn’t one of those one-time only things. You can request a coupon every Friday. So get out of bed, sign up for some free chocolate, and wipe that frown off your face. Tomorrow is the weekend and you can celebrate with free effing candy bars!

Life. is. good.

We seriously curbed our smoking habits after a pretty serious waffle binge a few years back, but we let loose – munchies and all – once a year. And that day is comin’.

We’ve already started stocking up the CollegeCandy fridge with all of our favorites: Cheez-its, tater tots, Boboli, Double Stuf Oreos, peanut butter M&Ms, etc… Now all we need is some good ole’ hashish; good thing they deliver that sort of thing in NY.

People seem to be pretty particular about their munchies. Some like it salty and others like it sweet. Some like a little crunch, while others prefer things that don’t require chewing. We are very intrigued by this (probably because we are high right now), so this week we asked the CollegeCandy writers what they prefer to chow down on after hitting the bong/bowl/brownie.

What do you crave?

Laura – St. Johns: Anything with peanut butter… Mmm.

Brithny – Duke: POCKY!!! Although I was born on Pocky Day, so I’m a little biased :]

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Don’t judge, but it’s Frito chips with a little cream cheese. nom nom

Thu – USC: Hot brownie + ice cream = HEAVEN

Kari – FSU: 3-d Doritos….sadly they don’t make them anymore.

Kathryn S.: Chips and salsa all the way, baby!

S.E. – Fordham: My favorite munchie would definitely be chicken rolls at the local pizza place by campus. Every time I’m drunk/high I crave one of them.

Caitlin – University of Alabama: Chinese food and brownies mmm

Kiki – University of Missouri: I eat disturbingly large quantities of Special K Red Berries cereal straight from the box, no milk necessary.

Sara C – Fordham: Haagen Das chocolate sorbet. I convince myself that it’s healthier because it’s sorbet. Or, anything with peanut butter!

Donnette – Manhattanville College: Cheetos, Cheez-its, trail mix, Reese’s (in all forms). Pretty much anything with dried fruits, peanuts, cheez, and/or chocolate.

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: Applesauce – no lie.  The texture just does it for me!

Lauren – University of Michigan: Um. Anything? Seriously, if I can get my mouth on it, I want it. (Wait…that came out wrong.)

Charlsie – Hollins: Anything sweet. I am obsessed with candy as a meal option; I usually eat it for lunch.

Leah – Ryerson: Cheetos, cupcakes and nachos… just not at the same time.

Ashley Elizabeth – CU Boulder: Graham crackers and peanut butter M&Ms

Cristina – Michigan State: My favorite munchies would have to be…actual Munchies. Doritos, Cheetos, Sun chips, Pretzels. Heaveennnnnn.

Erica – Kent State: I love those little cheese cubes.  Or hint-of-lime tortilla chips with mango (or peach) salsa. Mmm!

Carly – Grinnell: Mmmmm. This coffee shop near my house makes these amazing cookie bars called “wilderness bars.” They have raisins, nuts, sesame seeds, chocolate chips… ahhh, they’re so good.

K – GWU: If still cognizant of my health, blueberries or green apples are so tart and good, but is anything better than being stoned with a bowl of cereal? Chocolate Special K and Lucky Charms come to mind

Liza M – Minnesota: Cheesy breadsticks WITH blue cheese. OMG.

Kelly – Simmons University: French bread and gouda cheese

Jess T – Columbia University: Chewy candy (Laffy Taffy, sour belts, Now & Later, etc.). Great, now I’m hungry.