It’s usually about mid-August, after a summer of humid hair messes and chaffing, I am begging Mother Nature to let winter come. I want to be able to not start dripping the second I step outdoors, I’m bored of all my summer clothes and overall just over the season in general.

When winter finally arrives, I’m happy as a clam. I’m looking forward to a solid three months of bundling up, celebrating holidays and the crisp winter air that comes with the drop in temperature.

But when we actually find ourselves knee deep in freezing temperatures (aka now), I find myself less than enthused at certain things that the season brings with it.

Don’t get me wrong – winter is still one of my favorite seasons and I’m enjoying everything it has to offer, but I always seem to forget the little annoyances that come along with the great stuff. While I love it more than anything, there are some things I’d be crazy to not be hatin’ right about now.

initiating the gallery...

[This post was originally by Brianna - Fordham University]

So winter arrived in a big way this week. I went from complaining that it was never going to get cold to injecting a hot chocolate drip in my arm. And while most years I use the cold as an excuse to dress like the pigeon lady from Home Alone 2: Kevin’s Parents are so Self Involved They Don’t Notice When He’s Not On Their Plane…Again, this year I decided to change it up and actually dress like a real person during the winter months. But because I’ve been layering leggings on top of long underwear (and under sweats), I don’t really know where to start. Thankfully CollegeFashion has got us covered. Check out their advice for awesome winter looks!

Remember when you were a little kid, and you’d actually wake up on time for school… just so you could huddle next to the radio and listen for your school to be called on the list of snow days? With winter’s doom impending and temperatures dropping faster than The Situation’s pants, we can’t help but cross our fingers and pray.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Are snow days something you never grow out of? Or, in college, do they prove that miracles really can happen? Here’s how our anticipation of snow days has evolved since grammar school.

Then: A snow day meant a day off from times tables.
Now: We don’t have to finish copying someone else’s MiniTabs before Stats lab.

Then: We would make a beeline to the street and get all the neighborhood kids together for a snowball fight.
Now: We don’t have to brave arctic winds to walk to class and sit through lecture with snotsicles hanging from our frostbitten faces.

Then: Since we were already up at the crack of dawn, we could take advantage of the snow day and start building a snow man as soon as we got “the word.”
Now: We can go back to sleep for about six hours, and wake up just in time for happy hour.

Then: Snow days meant putting on snow pants and trekking to the biggest hill in town for a full day of sledding.
Now: Snow days mean putting on our beer coat and trekking to the bar for a full day of boozing.

(Note: I love how college students use a blizzard as an excuse to go to the bar, yet even when school isn’t canceled, we deem it too treacherous to walk to class.)

Then: For some unfortunate children, snow days meant driveway-shoveling duty before the parents got home.
Now: After the storm passes, we have to shovel our cars out from behind the snow banks the university plows have inevitably created throughout the parking lot.

Then: We could spend a whole extra day working on our vocabulary exercises!
Now: We could start that research paper that was due three days ago… but who are we kidding? Those episodes of Law and Order SVU aren’t going to watch themselves!

Then: We had an excuse to drink hot chocolate for breakfast.
Now: We have an excuse to drink a thirty-pack for breakfast.

I think it’s clear that snow days are one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Honestly, snow delays and cancellations are one of the top reasons to attend a university in a colder climate. I feel bad for those of you who are earning degrees in Hawaii, Florida, California, or any other season-less state. You will never experience the joys of the world’s most beautiful Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card: the beloved snow day!

Want mas? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.]

It’s official.  It’s effing cold out there, people. As Jay Leno so proudly stated recently; “It was so cold in Minneapolis, Brett Favre was texting pictures of his chestnuts roasting over an open fire…”  Basically, things are getting pretty desperate.  And, the cold isn’t only ruining peoples social lives and baby soft skin in the midwest.  People are rubbing baby oil on themselves before they go outside everywhere, because the wind is a whippin’ all across the country.

Brrrr, baby, brrrr.

Whenever I walk outside, my teeth hurt, I can’t hold a conversation past how cold I am at the moment, I go into a full state of spastic arrest whenever I get into my ice cold car, and snotsticles are starting to make my nostrils feel like Narnia.  And Narnia hurts.

My Ugg boots have salt embedded into their soft skin and my hands are dry enough to pass for an old lumberjack’s.  Somebody hurt Mother Nature’s feelings last year, because this year, she is a cold-hearted bitch. Who wants go to outside into that?

But, there’s hope.  Remember, hope begins with small increments of positivity and optimism.  If you absolutely have to go outside to go to class and/or to get drunky drunk, better make like a personal Olympic team and MOTIVATE yourself.

1. Imagine Going Outside as a Free Facial Treatment!
OK, think about it: come summer, zits are doing more popping on your face than popcorn at a movie theater.  All that heat and sweat turns your face into a palette of grease!  Come winter, the cold dries it all right up and if you treat your skin right, those whipping winds can actually work wonders on your mug. Whenever I go outside, I point my face towards the wind and let that natural, stabbing breeze zap all of the potential marks on my face. That makes the long walk to class (or to my car that is parked outside that I will then drive to class) so. much. easier.

2. Warm Up Before You Head Out.
Before you bear the cold, do some jumping jacks or jump rope in your kitchen. If you’re really ballsy, run around your house like a hamster and get that blood pumpin.’  Once you get outside, you won’t even notice the cold.  The sweat at the nape of your neck will freeze and your heart will panic, but at least you will be warm, thoroughly worked out, and happy.  (Side Note: It helps to amp up the Jock Jams on your iPod before you take the dive outside.)

3. Use Going Outside as an Excuse to Get Valid ‘Boy Help’
Need to de-frost your windows?  Car stuck in a mound of snow the size of the Appalachian Mountains?  Car too cold to consider starting for a nice gal like yourself? Imagine getting help from your cute neighbor or the hottie that lives in the next apartment.  He will feel totally manly helping you out, and then you can treat him to a warm cup o’ thank-you-so-much-for-your-manly-arms joe afterward.

4. Do It Like an Eskimo
Who cares about being fashionable when you can be warm?  Remember those turtle-fur neck thingies that you drooled on when you were little and playing outside?  Find one and wear it.  Throw on the earmuffs and body suit. This is not the time to be wearing out your miniskirt and 9 inch heels. Newsflash: tights do not equal pants!  You wanna be warm? You’re gonna have to bundle, bitches. I’m talking look-like-an-astronaut-cuz-you’re-so-decked-out-in-hot-layers bundled. Going outside won’t be a problem. (Editor’s Note: Walking and effectively bending any extremities might be a problem…)

5. Use it as an Excuse to….Eat….A lot
Okay, how do think the squirrels survive?  They stock up on acorns and gain some thunder thighs for the ride through winter.  I’m not saying you have to binge, but treat yourself to some treats and pack on some heat.  Once you have a few pounds worth of warmth, take the outdoors by storm.  If you had one Lean Cusine, go ahead – have two.  You’ll thank yourself when you are trying to survive the first five minutes in your car when the vents are kicking out cold air and your hands are sticking to the steering wheel.

6. Rub Baby Oil All Over Yourself
If you are (for some odd reason) going outside to partake in an exercise activity of some sort, rub baby oil all over your bod.  While I understand life isn’t a Beyonce music video, the oil will seal all of the warmth generated from  your productive body and keep you warmer.  Baby oil is the North Face of toiletries.  Go at it.

Got any other tips to keep warm and survive this brutal winter? Share ‘em below. Seriously, do it. I have to head to class in an hour and I can’t find the motivation to get out of my bed. Heating blanket, how I love thee.

It might just be time to buy some new winter weather accessories to punch up your wardrobe.

Whether you pick up one for yourself as you race around the mall to do your Christmas shopping, or include them in your wish list to Santa, there are a lot of cute and cozy options to choose from. And with options like these, there’s no need to look like a giant marshmallow all winter long. In fact, these are so cute, you might even come to kinda, sorta miss them come spring.

[Click on the images for all the shopping info!]

This Week’s Ingredient: Cranberries!

They’re sweet. They’re tart. They’re harvested from bogs. And they’re a deep, beautiful, fire-engine hue. If your only exposure to cranberries is in combination with their fermented partner, vodka, then you’re totally missing out (not to mention that the “cranberry juice” served in bars is basically just sugar water). Long celebrated for their ability to prevent urinary tract infections, cranberries are also thought to enhance digestive health and prevent kidney stones. It’s not customary to eat raw cranberries as they are far too tart to snack on alone. Hence the popularity of dried cranberries and juice–but beware that both contain added sugar to temper their tang.

Easy Meals

1. Add dried cranberries to a romaine salad with crumbled feta for a simple and healthy plate of different textures and flavors.
2. Any combo of cranberries and oatmeal (for breakfast, in cookies) adds a twist to the classic oatmeal & raisin duo.
3. Place cranberry juice in an ice cube tray with popsicle sticks inserted in each divet for homemade pops.

The Recipe: Cranberry Apple Sauce

I made this recipe (from Simply Recipes) for family at Thanksgiving as an alternative to the more traditional cranberry sauce and it was well received, but it’s even better as a summer snack. Make a batch to have on hand as a sweet, cold alternative to ice cream or as a tasty side for a sandwich!

Ingredients:

* 3 to 4 pounds of peeled, cored, roughly chopped Granny Smith apples (or other good cooking apple such as Fuji, Jonathan, Mcintosh, or Gravenstein)
* 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
* 2 Tbsp lemon juice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 cup of brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients in a large (5-quart) pot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer and cover. Cook 20-30 minutes, or until the apples can easily be mashed.
2. Remove from heat. Mash the apples and cranberries with a potato masher to the consistency you want.

Store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, or freeze for up to a year.
Makes 1 1/2 to 2 quarts.

Ditch the wood-burning fireplace: Everybody loves to cozy up next to their beau in front of a cozy fire.  Unfortunately, burning all of that wood can end up leaving quite the carbon footprint.  But don’t worry, you don’t have to give up your fantasy of the perfect winter fire; just be sure that you’re using a natural gas fireplace.  According to the Sierra Club, burning natural gas instead of wood will reduce your carbon footprint and pollution contribution.

Cozy up in Patagonia: Patagonia is one of the best names out there when it comes to winter wear.  Not only do they make high quality stuff, but they make it with environmentally responsible materials such as recycled soda bottles and organic cotton.  Right now I am loving the Women’s R1Pullover.  It makes me wish I was freezing my a** off just so that I could curl up in one.

Christmas lights go LED: Not only to LED lights use less energy to run, but they also last longer so you don’t have to keep throwing away burnt out bulbs.  Plus, some energy companies like PG&E offer a rebate for using LED Christmas lights instead of the regular ones.  Be sure that you still use the LED ones responsibly by only turning them on at night time and turning them off before you go to sleep.  And so you know, there’s no need to keep burning them after New Years, so convince Dad to get out the ladder come January 1^st.

Say no to fake Christmas trees: Although fake Christmas trees don’t shed and can add for years, they still have a large environmental impact.  Most are produced overseas, made from plastic, and eventually end up in a landfill.  Instead, opt for the real thing – they’re renewable, natural, and biodegradable.  If you still feel a little guilty about wasting a tree, you can look into a rent-a-tree program.  These programs give you the tree when it’s still living and then pick it up after the holidays to reuse it the following year.

After doing a little research, however, I discovered that being green does not mean being heinous.  In fact, it means quite the opposite.

Here are my favorite green tips that also make you hotter.  Read on, pretty lady…

Ditch the dryer: Using a hair dryer for only 5 minutes a day for an entire year uses enough energy to power a basic light bulb for 3,259 hours.  And guess what?  You don’t really need it!  Drying your hair frequently can crack the hair’s cuticle and withdraw moisture, leaving you with dry and brittle strands.  Naturally drying your hair even just a few days a week can save your strands and save the environment.  If you just can’t live without your daily drying, opt for an eco-friendly one.  The Go Green dryer is made from recycled materials, is printed with soy ink, and uses 26% less energy than a normal dryer.

Turn down the scalding shower: Not only do long, hot showers waste water, they are also a huge energy expense.  Cut down your shower time and the temperature, and you can save tons of money on your monthly bill.  Plus, cold water is good for your bod!   Hot water can have very drying properties, both to your skin and your hair.  Taking a colder shower leaves your hair silkier and your skin softer, all while increasing circulation and bumping up your immune system.  Now how’s that for a morning routine?

Drink tap water: If it’s really that gross, then invest in a Brita filter.  Water bottles cause tons of unnecessary waste every year, much of which ends up in landfills instead of in the recycling.  Plus, delivering water bottles across the world burns fossil fuels, contributing to global warming.  If that doesn’t convince you, consider the health effects.  Most bottled water does not cross state lines, making them exempt from the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for drinking water.  Tap water, on the other hand, is highly regulated and contains more of the teeth-strengthening mineral, floride, than bottled water.  Plus, simply filling up an aluminum water bottle instead of purchasing a bottle for $1 a pop, allows you to save money while drinking more water, so you can put that money to better use (i.e. on yourself!).  Everybody knows that water does a body good by making your skin clearer, aiding digestion, and hydrating the skin, so drink more of it… from the tap.

Steer away from chem lab cleansers: Look at the ingredients list of any common beauty product and you will see a plethora of science-babble words that not even Bill Nye could understand.  Most of those ingredients are synthetic, requiring energy and emitting toxic waste to produce.  And guess what?  What’s bad for the environment is also bad for your skin.  Harsh facial cleansers, such as toner, astringent, and acne washes can actually make acne even worse.  Drying out the oil on your face causes your skin to go into “panic mode” and produce even more oil than before, leaving you with more acne than you had when you started.  Instead, try to use products with natural ingredients.  A good rule of thumb that I like to use is to not put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t want to put in your body.

You see, I am not your typical girl who is always on the man-hunt. Don’t get me wrong – it’s not that I don’t want to meet someone, or enjoy flirting at the bar and the like – it’s just that there are things I L.O.V.E about being a single lady. Things that I’m not so keen on giving up. Things I want to enjoy for as long as possible now before I get married to some dude who thinks a fun weeknight involves South Park and Dutch Oven-ing me.

So here is this weeks Love List: Why all my single ladies love being single.

1) My legs keep me a lot warmer in the winter than my taken friends. I live in Chicago and it is COLD. Actually cold doesn’t even describe it – it’s like an arctic tundra (do those words even go together?). And being single makes that not-s0-bad. How? I love that I don’t have to shave my legs in the winter if I don’t want to. Is it a little embarrassing in yoga when my teacher happens to see that my ankle hair could be braided and beaded like I just spent a week in Jamaica? Sure, but at least my legs keep me warmer than those soft Jergened up legs of yours.

2) I can wear grandma undies whenever I want to. Call me what you will but I am not a fan of thongs and Hanky Pankys are just uncomfortable (yes I said it). I am a happier camper in regular undies and thanks to my single status, there is no one to impress with a lacey piece of floss up my butt.

3) After a long day I can come home, sit on my couch, watch my girly TV shows and my chick flicks without someone saying I have no taste in TV. I can shop online and spend ‘that long’ debating over which color I should get those wedges in. I can play around with makeup, throw different products on my face and spend all day watching The Millionaire Matchmaker while reading fashion magazines and not feel guilty about making someone else do it with me. And I don’t have to pretend that I care about No Country for Old Men. Or knowing every line in Anchorman and quoting it like a religious person quotes the bible.  Because I don’t. I really, really don’t.

4) No Bikini Waxes! (Unless I plan on wearing a bathing suit). This really needs no explanation. Which leads me to my next point…

5) I save a whole lot of moolah which can be used for other things than the painfulness that is overpriced Brazilian waxes. $60 can buy me a lot of things (like said shoes mentioned in #3) so for that I LOVE being single. Sure I may be a little hairier, but I’m also a little bit richer.

What do you LOVE about being single?

Of course I’ve trekked through the snow on my way to class, stayed in bed for days on end and silently cursed the snow plows that prevented a well deserved snow day, but did I really enjoy winter? With February already behind us I’m left with a laundry list of to-dos before winter is gone for another whole year.

In case anyone else is in the same predicament, I have the top ten things everyone should do before winter comes to a screeching halt.

1. Cafeteria tray sledding. “Borrow” some trays, grab five of your friends and head over to the hill behind the dorms before all that snow turns to a slushy mess.

2. Mix peppermint schnapps and Cocoa. It’s the perfect complement to sledding. Just remember, kids: wrap up the celebration with this warm concoction. I learned the hard way that the liquor and sledding combo don’t end well.

3. Bake cookies (or just eat all the dough).

4. Take advantage of winter sales. When stores need to get rid of their winter inventory to make room for all the bikinis it means gigantic sweater sales. Winter may be on its way out, but there’s no reason not to go out in style.

5. Keep warm with someone hot. There is no better way to spend a cold night than getting steamy with the guy from next door.

6. Make your own ice luge.

7. Bundle up in warm trendy layers. I can’t get enough of wooly tights, boots, scarves and mittens.

8. Snowboarding, skiing, ice skating. I’m not an athlete but there’s something about repeatedly falling down that just makes me happy.

9. Movie Marathon: Stay in all day long and watch a lot of crappy movies. Once it gets warm you won’t get the chance.

10. Self proclaimed snow day. Who says your campus has the final say in what is deemed “safe” to travel in. I say send your professor a quick email, get the notes from a friend and spend the day enjoying winter the right way.