Summer. What a delicious season. From the fruit to the fruity cocktails, everything seems so much fresher in the warm summer sun (well, everything besides our under-arms). Everything seems so much easier (besides the monthly bikini waxes). Everything is just so much…better (except the condition of our intensive-care inducing sunburns).We love the summer; really, we do. But, just like the killer hangover that comes after an awesome night of Sake Bombing, summer does have some downsides. Our writers weigh in on their least favorite parts of the season:

Sarah – NYU: Being drenched with sweat before I even leave my apartment in the morning. Gross.

Stacy Kidd: The weather; it just loves to pour buckets on me when the forecaster predicts sun, and conversely make me sweat buckets when rain is expected. Fantastic.

Diana Vilibert: Cute summer dresses that end in discomfort, thanks to inner-thigh chafing. (What, just me?)

Kate Bean: Sweating in my knee pit…or wait… is it “leg pit”? Read More »

Every once in a while, I’ll go to a bar and someone will hand me a drink and I’ll take a sip and instantly want to puke. I mean, who actually enjoys stuff that tastes like turpentine mixed with a splash of soda?

Yesterday being Cinco De Mayo, a day seemingly dedicated to the art of delicious drink making, I decided to come up with cinco drinkos that actually taste good (so good they’re named after desserts!) and are easy to make with stuff you might actually have in stock:

Cupcake

Mix a half cup Sprite with a half cup of vanilla vodka. Que delicioso!

Thin Mint

Throw a shot of creme de menthe into your hot chocolate and disfrutas!

Apple Pie

Mix an ounce of tequilla with an ounce of apple cider and a splash of lemon juice. Mix in some butterscotch schnapps and you’re buena. Read More »

A bachelor’s degree is a funny thing. Depending on your major, it’s either the equivalent of an extremely pricey receipt with a huge FINAL SALE stamp on it, sending you off to continue your studies, or it sends you to work. In either situation, the joys of the undergraduate lifestyle are mourned on almost a daily basis.

No more are the nights of frat parties and pregaming at seven A.M. for football games. The real world isn’t all bad, don’t get me wrong, but before you make that giant leap to becoming a legitimate person, take the time to consider what lies ahead.

1.) The phrase “I need” has likely lost its charm with your parents. Unless it’s food or some sort of medical emergency, they know damn well you’ll spend any extra money to supplement your happy hour four work nights a week. They also know you’re making money, and therefore, shouldn’t spend it if you don’t have it. This is never not depressing. You can only fake having to go to the doctor so many times before they realize you’re on your own insurance, and sadly, cute little dresses no longer qualify as “emergency” spending. Read More »

There is no nice way to put this: it is f*#king freezing outside. And even though I am trying my hardest not to give into my yearly bout with depression, leaving the house is getting harder and harder to do.

And when I do force myself to venture out into the cruel, cold world – say, to go to work – it takes me a good half hour to warm up when I finally get back home.

I have tried everything in the book to get warm: thick socks, long underwear, hot tea. But none of it works. If you too are suffering with no relief from the bitter cold that settled in this past week, you may also be looking for alternative ways to keep warm this long and dreary winter.

And, trust me on this one, there really is only one way to do it: with the help of booze. Warm booze, that is.

Nothing warms you from the inside out quite like a hot cup of spiked cider. Or some old fashioned hot buttered rum.

Pair them with some gingerbread cookies (you can buy em at the store!) and old episodes of Sex and the City and you have yourself the perfect winter afternoon with the girls.

I get warm just thinking about it!

The recipes could not be easier. So stock up on these ingredients, throw on some wool socks and get ready for a warm and cozy winter.

Spiked Hot Apple Cider:

6 to 8 oz apple cider or juice

1 oz dark rum (2 tablespoons)

Heat the cider until it boils. Pour into a cup, add rum. Garnish with sliced apple or a cinnamon stick. Sip, warm up and enjoy! Read More »

It’s just a cocktail… or is it? Relationship expert Dr. Jackie Black says your drink of choice says alot more about you than you might think.

Click on a cocktail to see what secrets your favorite beverage reveals about your inner self.

                beer                          martini                          scotch                            red wine

                 lemon drop               champagne                  cosmo                             rum and coke

There is a slight chill in the air on this fine October morning, which can mean only one thing: Fall is here. Why so chipper, you ask? Why would anyone celebrate the end of summer and embrace the coming of sweater season?

Um. Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are back at Starbucks!

I am just obsessed with these things. And if you have never had one, get over to the nearest ‘Bucks (I am sure you are a mere 10 feet from one right now) and get one. You too will be hooked and totally excited about Fall.

And in the spirit of the changing leaves and all things pumpkin-y at Starbucks, I have found for you the perfect late night compliment to my favorite espresso beverage:

The Pumpkin Pie Cocktail

This drink goes perfectly with a pair of cozy sweatpants, a warm blanket and a night at home with the girls. For a truly perfect Fall evening, throw in a little Mystic Pizza (Julia Roberts’ movie debut!) and settle in. Read More »

As anyone knows, college is a cesspool of unhealthiness. There’s the lack of sleep, the surplus of late-night eating and, of course, the dreaded alcohol.

Fortunately, for all you weight watchers out there, there are some simple and tasty low-cal cocktails that everyone can love without fearing the love handles.

Cherry Pom-arita — A measly 105 calories!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. tequila

4 oz. Diet 7UP (or another diet lemon-lime soda)

1 tbsp. fresh lime juice

1/2 packet Crystal Light On The Go Immunity Cherry Pomegranate drink mix

ice cubes (for serving)

Directions:

Place tequila, soda and lime juice in a glass. Empty half of the flavor packet into glass, and stir well to combine. Pour over ice and enjoy! (Note: If you don’t like the Pom flavor, try any Crystal Light powder. They are all super delicious.) Read More »

I’m not a big drinker, but I love me a well-made cocktail.

Why, just the other weekend I ordered a $12 concoction that sounded wonderful at a swanky outdoor bar (the drink did not, in fact, taste wonderful, but you better believe I sipped that sucker dry — $12 cocktails are always to be finished, no matter what).

Because I’d rather go with quality rather than quantity, I was super psyched to read this little article in the New York Times about organic cocktails.

No more Red Bull and bottom shelf vodka here, these new fruit and vegetable fueled drinks are popping up in bars all over the United States.

With recipes “like freshly juiced organic carrots, Granny Smith apple juice, elderflower liqueur and vodka”, the new “organic” cocktail trend allows health conscious connoisseurs feel better about topping off that third drink.

And while nothing is going to make sipping an alcoholic beverage healthier than eating an apple, researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture recently reported, “adding alcohol to strawberries and blackberries increased their antioxidant capacity”. Read More »

If you’re a Harry Potter fan (and come on, how can you not be?) then you’ve wanted to try Butterbeer. The magical, frothy drink that warms your insides sounds incredibly delicious. And with a slew of Potter fans wanting to try the drink as well, there are plenty of different recipes to try.

So throw your own HP party (whether its for the upcoming book release or the new movie) and whip up a batch of Butterbeer for you and your muggle friends.

And if you don’t feel like going to the trouble, drop a shot of butterscotch schnapps into a pint of your favorite beer. It’s surprisingly delicious!

Cold Butterbeer

From Britta Blvd

1 cup butterscotch schnapps

7 cups cream soda (almost one 2 liter bottle)

-Carefully mix just before serving, adding the schnapps to the soda then stirring gently to mix well, or the fizz will dissipate too soon.

Hot Butterbeer

From Elanor Isolda at The Leaky Lounge Read More »

Memorial Day: A day to remember those who fought for our country, a day to spend with the family and, of course, a day to get drunk.

I know that may seem totally inappropriate – especially considering the countless people who have lost their lives for this country – but come on! No work, warm weather and BBQing outside create the perfect day for a cocktail…or 5.

You could do the “American Thing” and sit back with some beer and burgers. Or you could try something new, fresh and totally delicious. Like this amazing Pear Mojito. Nothing says warm weather like a cool and refreshing Mojito (mmm ruuuuum) and adding pear to the mix really kicks up the amazing flavor.

The recipe may be a bit more complicated than simply cracking open some Bud Light, but it is worth it.

What you will need:

- 1 1/2 parts white rum

- 1 part fresh squeezed lime juice

- 2 parts freshly extracted pear nectar

- 1 part simple syrup

- 4 sprigs mint

- seltzer

How you make it happen: Read More »