You got this, girl.

Alright post-grads, future post-grads, and people who think they are post-grads but are really just thirty-years-old and clinging on to their blissful youth.  For some reason as a post-grad myself, I’ve found it easiest to write about things that depress me.  I guess I just like an excuse to indulge in brownie sundaes nightly. But the truth is, the post-grad life isn’t depressing!  In reality, it’s a beautiful time for all of us to open doors after some have been slammed in our faces.  Think about the power you obtain in that single movement!

But I digress.

When we leave college, we immediately assume we’ve lost so much. And by so much, I mean everything. I’ll be straight up honest with you: when I was in college, I was an annoying, cocky, lady-child (in the best way possible). I think it had something to do with the fact that while I was living the dream, napping intensely during the week, drinking until 3AM, getting in everywhere for free as long as I flashed someone my boobs student ID – basically living like a homeless celebrity – I felt as if nothing could get past me.

College was my own protective placenta of awesomeness; a slice of time when I could bask in everything that was working out for me (i.e. free food, a semi-careless attitude, eating whatever sat in front of me, not worrying about what anyone thought).  I know I’m completely sounding like a cocky a**hole, but college made me feel weirdly confident.  I felt like I could do anything, dream anything and, most importantly, see everything clearly.  Perhaps it was some evolved pair of college beer goggles, but I saw everything without any glitches, scratches or worries.  I knew that by the end of the semester I would have survived somehow and I could look forward to a fresh slate in January.

When I graduated, though, I lost that college invincibility factor.  I was no longer sitting on the top of the world or starring in my own personal Fantasia movie, controlling whatever I wanted with my ‘I-don’t-give-a-sh*t’ magic wand.  I was sitting in a world engulfed by people who would not adhere to me, who wouldn’t pay my loans and who didn’t give a rat’s about how entirely awesome I was at college.

I tried to get back in touch with that ‘amazingness’ factor for so long but couldn’t find it because I didn’t have college to back me up.  I didn’t have all my friends constantly telling me how fun the weekend had been. I didn’t have professors praising me for joining clubs on campus. I didn’t have parents patting my back when I made it on the Dean’s List or did well on a test.  I left college and suddenly, an amazing, satisfying life was entirely up to me. I no longer had college to define what was happening. I needed to define this new life myself.

Well, that’s scary…

…And the soul reason why I think everyone should keep a piece of that college cockiness within them (in good measure, of course) as a post-grad and hold it close to their heart.  Many people view cockiness as a negative quality, but I believe cockiness can be turned into an element of confidence that helps us get by. Especially when we’re facing the unknown head-on. We don’t need to shove cockiness in other’s faces (i.e. make YouTube videos where we talk about how amazing we are and how our bodies are fueled with Tiger Blood); we can simply remind ourselves of our personal greatness (because we’ve all got it, girls, even if it doesn’t feel like it right about now) and use it to believe in ourselves and push ourselves forward.

In college, I believed I could do anything I wanted, from acing a class to bonging 2 beers in one funnel. As a post-grad, I continually want to believe I can do anything.  I want to feel invincible.  And I don’t want to have to chug a few shots of liquid courage to get there. (Trust me – drinking just isn’t as easy when you’re out of college. Sad face.) That is when I channel my inner cocky college girl. I don’t need my friends or parents or teachers to back me up here; I got everything I need to kick ass out here and take some names (and numbers. Call me, boys!). I’m an adult, dammit. A woman. I learned everything I need to know about my profession and have the skills I need to be successful out here.

I know it now, so I’m lifting my head up and forging on.

I used to just be really good at college, but now I’ve got a whole new list of things to feel good about. Watch out, world – cocky bitch comin’ through.

Dear Mr. Thong Inventor,

I would like to preface this letter by saying that your work has made a large yet incredibly skimpy contribution to my adolescent years. And while I do believe in the nobleness of your cause, I am rather puzzled by the method to the madness of such an invention. As I hold up the tiny piece of fabric that is my underwear, several questions come to mind, such as:

Which came first: The thong, or “The Thong Song”?
The first time I heard The Thong Song, I was 11-years-old. Try explaining to a sixth grader, still under-clad with flower-print Hanes granny panties, the concept of a thong. Watching a leprechaun of a man do cartwheels on the beach doesn’t really do that good of a job of explaining the exact science behind the thong. In fact, I’m pretty sure I thought he was singing about summertime footwear up until 2001, when I realized I needed to wear this contraption to be socially acceptable.

Where the devil did you get this genius idea?
Was it a public service project? Did you see one too many VPLs (Visible Panty Lines, for you not-in-the-knows) and proclaim “I’ve had it! I’m inventing buttless underwear!” To you, Mr. Thong Inventor, going commando just wasn’t an option. Now that point I can understand, as I probably have not washed my jeans since the opening night of “Sex and the City.” And who really likes walking around with that, “I’m wearing the pant equivalent of dirty underwear” feeling all day? Yeah, neither do I. So really, Mr. T.I, you were the answer to my laundry-lazy, VPL-phobic prayers.

How the hell did you get it to catch on?
No seriously. It takes pure skill to get a woman to try on a permanent wedgie, let alone make it a long lasting trend in the sexy lingerie industry. Think about it: it’s a tiny scrap of cotton, satin, silk, or pearls (hey, I dunno what kinda stuff you’re into…) that is designed to chill between your butt cheeks all day. But women still go crazy for them! They even tease other women that don’t wear their underwear up their ass.

I remember my friend Emilie was the first of our 8th grade “group” to wear a thong. She finally caved in after much ridicule from her older sister regarding a tragically obvious VPL in a tacky polyester skirt (honestly, can you blame the older sis?). The day of her thong debut, she literally screamed in agony every time she bent down to open her locker. Even after witnessing her shriek six times before the end of third period, I still thought “Man, I gotta get me one of those!”

Even now, as a “mature” college girl, I will not be caught dead touching a pair of grannies, let alone wearing them during a hook up. You didn’t just sell them to the women of the world, you fooled guys into thinking they were the sexiest form of underwear. Yeah, I get the whole “more is better” thing when it comes to women’s asses, but that still doesn’t really explain to me why butt floss is an attractive option. You must have had to have some pretty solid endorsements to sell this baby to the masses. In this case, I think this product would even be a toughie for the OxyClean man (and that’s saying something – that guy could get me to buy anything). Was Sisqo dancing around a few lubed up beach babes really all it took?

Please find time in your busy pants-dropping schedule to get back to me as soon as possible. Seriously, we need to talk. I have a great idea for an invisible lingerie line that could really use a boost…

Yours truly,
Miss Thong Investor

[This story was originally posted by Elizabeth - UC Berkeley]

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

So we don’t know if you’ve noticed, but here at CollegeCandy we’re a little bit obsessed with the internet.

We read a lot of blogs. From the really big ones to the really little ones. We read about food and fashion, college and real life. About television and movies. About post grads and pre grads…You get the idea. But the point is that as bloggers, we CollegeCandy girls can really appreciate other blogs, especially college blogs, run by college students for college students. We’ve done our research on these, searched far and wide and now we want to share the fruits of our labor with you.

These are our favorites. So click on the links and start reading!

1. College Prep

College Prep goes beyond college life and provides readers with fashion, inspiration, organization, and a heavy dose of pink & green.

2. College Curlies

College Curlies is an online space for those interested in maintaining their natural hair via quick, easy, low-cost styles and routines.

3.  College Times

CollegeTimes publishes useful tips and controversial opinions aimed  at the college audience.

4. College and Fashion

Fashion inspiration for the college student.

5. Points in Case

Points in Case is a college humor publication serving up smart, savvy and irreverent comedy to half a million readers a month.

6. College Girl

CollegeGirl is a mix of both high end and local fashion news and events written from the honest perspective of a college girl student.

7. College Eats

NYCollegeEats follows the life of a New York City pre-med college student as she attempts to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle.

8. The College Survival Handbook

The College Survival Handbook is a growing collection of almost everything an average college kid needs to know to survive

9. College Thrive

CollegeThrive features tips  and advice for students in areas like academics, health, and general college living.

10. Surviving College Life

Surviving College Life is your guide to the ins and outs of college, from how to get along with a roommate, to having fun on a student’s budget, handling the basics of living on your own, to making it through college classes, it’s a little bit of everything college right at your fingertips.

Are you a college student with an awesome blog you want to share with the world? Submit it to submissions (@) collegecandy.com.

When the news of Prince William’s engagement to long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton hit the Internet several weeks ago, hearts all over the world broke in two. Women’s dreams of becoming the newest member of the Royal Family were shattered in an instant. It’s undeniable that Kate’s life will soon be transformed; she’ll suddenly enjoy the glamorous and luxurious life of a Blue Blood– a way of life that is envied by any female that has ever watched a Disney princess movie.

Yet, there have to be some downsides. There must be some aspects of “normal” life that she will miss. Perhaps the Royal Life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Frankly, I adore being a college student. And, I’m not so sure I would be able to sacrifice the awesomeness of my current lifestyle to become the prim and proper Princess of Wales.

In order to sort it all out (and make myself feel a little better about my dream husband taking someone else as his wife), I thought I’d do a little comparing and contrasting. Who really has it better – Princess Kate or little ol’ me?

Social Life

Princess: Formal Balls and Galas

College: Frat Parties and Dollar Pitcher Nights

Point: Princess
Black tie dresses and hobnobbing with the Queen beats a jungle juice hangover any day.

Cuisine

Princess: Norfolk shrimps, lamb or locally-shot game

College: Mozzarella Sticks, Pizza, Cheese fries

Point: College.
If you can’t dip it in Ranch dressing, I don’t want it.

Daytime Wardrobe

Princess: Fitted dresses or blouses, diamonds, and hair properly blown-out (by her personal stylist, of course)

College: Sweats and a ponytail

Point: College.
The Royal Jewels would be nice, but not nearly as nice as elastic waist pants for a day full of classes.

Roommates

Princess: Prince William

College: 5 girls and 2 mice

Point: Princess
It’s Prince Freaking William!

Extracurriculars

Princess: Polo and Hunting

College: Tailgating before football and basketball games

Point: College
Hm…shooting animals or doing a beer bong? College FTW.

Travel Accommodations

Princess: The Royal Squadron

College: The Chinatown Bus

Point: Princess
I bet the Royal Squadron doesn’t smell like feet.

Shopping

Princess: Bruce Oldfield’s Design Studio

College: Sale Racks of Urban Outfitters

Point: Princess
Duh.

Dance Moves

Princess: The Waltz

College: The Dougie

Point: College
Double duh.

Personal Life

Princess: Non-existent, thanks to the Paparazzi obsession with the Royal Family.

College: Non-existent, thanks to snap-happy friends and Facebook updates.

Point: Draw
Although there is something to be said about not having that bar-corner makeout sesh on the cover of Us Weekly…

Friends.
Family.
Happiness and health and blah blah blah.

Those are all great things to be thankful for, important things, yes.  But what about the not so important things, the little things that we all take for granted? Here’s what I’m thankful for this holiday season…

10. Trashy Tabloids. Reading about the problems of the rich and famous makes everything in my life seem so much less problematic. Sure, maybe I’m having boy problems, but at least my guy didn’t leave me for Angelina Jolie. And maybe I’m worried about wearing a bikini to the beach, but at least there’s no one zooming in on my butt cheeks. (At least not that I know of.) Celebrity scandal really helps me see the big picture.

9. Steve Madden’s Fall Boot Collection. Whenever I’m having a bad day, I just head over to Steve Madden’s website and stare at some shoes. Laugh if you want, but it totally works. They’re like works of art, I swear. And even though I’ve put myself on a boot buying ban until after the holidays, I still enjoy purusing the styles. And you will too.

8. Chocolate. I’m sorry; do you really need an explanation for this one? I didn’t think so.

7. Iced Caramel Macchiatos. Yes, I know they are overpriced and if ordered correctly can contain more calories than a Big Mac. But I love them and their ability to combine the perfect amount of sweetness and bitterness, to retain the taste of coffee while still allowing me to enjoy the caramel flavor. They feed my caffeine addiction, and for that I am eternally grateful. And the cute guys that work at the local Starbucks don’t hurt either.

6. Thirsty Thursday. An excuse to start the weekend a day early? I’ll take it. Drink specials? Yes please.  A reason not to feel like a couch potato when by Saturday night I’m in sweats watching reality TV and writing The Weekly Ten?  Perfection.

5. Reality TV. By now I think it’s been pretty well established that if women and a television genre could wed, CollegeCandy and reality TV would be on their honeymoon already. But I still had to take a moment and give thanks for the likes of Kim Kardashian and Pauly D. My life would be a whole lot less interesting without them.

4. Wikipedia. Professors always talk about the unreliability of Wikipedia, and maybe that’s true on some accounts.  But whether I can’t remember the name of that actress who played opposite Freddy Prince Jr. in She’s All That (Rachel Leigh Cook) or want a quick plot synopsis on one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, Wikipedia is always there for me. Take that professor!

3. Facebook. The ultimate method of procrastination. The perfect tool for stalking. The place where you can go to find out exactly what happened the night before. A great way to stay in touch. The social networking site that got me off MySpace!  Without Mark Zuckerberg and co., I’d be friendless.

2. Class Cancellations. Last week, my class was unexpectedly canceled. I’d been working on a big paper all weekend, and was less than prepared for my classes that day. And also not entirely sure I’d be able to make it through them without falling asleep halfway through the presentation I was supposed to be giving. Minutes before my alarm went off, my Blackberry beeped. Class was canceled. I hit the snooze button and caught up on my sleep. And it was beautiful.

1. CollegeCandy. The ultimate source for all things college. I stumbled upon this site way before I started writing here and I haven’t been able to keep away since. Why would I? Whether I need guy advice (God, how great is The Dude?!) or a silly distraction or an awesome playlist, CollegyCandy has me covered. And for that I am thankful.

What about you girls? What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

[Check out Jenn's other musings-in-the-form-of-a-list here.]

A wave of humid, stale air hits you the minute you step inside. You feel your hair instantly frizzing up. But the room is dark and every girl in there is suffering from the frizzies, so you pull it back, grab a few cans of (crappy) beer from yet another muscley frat boy and get your party on.

You’re dancing, sweating, having a good time when it hits you: you have to pee. And not just a little bit. A lot a bit.
As in, one more bump and grind and it will be dripping down your leg. You grab your friend, pull her close and scream into her ear, “BATHROOM!??” The music is so loud, though, she can’t hear you.

“WHAT?!” She mouths as she gets low, low, low, with a guy with giant pit stains. You try screaming again, but it’s no use. So you break out the gestures, pointing to your bladder then pointing in the direction of the stairs. She finally gets it, leaves her perspiring prince behind and joins you in the hunt for a clean-ish bathroom.

You climb the stairs, passing couples making out along the way. As you near the top you see a long string of girls lining the hallway. Obviously, this is the line for the bathroom. And obviously, you have no choice but to wait in it (because, unlike those boys, you can’t just head outside and empty your bladder into a bush).

The line moves slowly, giving you and your friend some time to reflect on the not-so-hottie she was getting dirty with on the dance floor. And the trashy girls coming out of the bathroom. And how drunk you are. And how if you wait one more second you are going to pee on your skirt.

Finally, it’s your turn. You and your friend run into the bathroom and lock the door behind you. Your friend holds your purse and fixes her hair as you attempt to hover over the seat-less bowl. You pray to the gods above that your legs don’t give out; who knows what sort of diseases lurk in the stains that litter the bowl. Thinking about it makes you throw up in your mouth a little, so you focus on the task at hand:

Hovering.

As you squat and release the 6 cans of beer you’ve consumed since entering this sweatbox you begin scanning the room for toilet paper. You see a couple Playboys, some condom wrappers, a notebook and a book of matches, but not one roll of TP. Anywhere. Your friend starts opening cabinets and drawers.

“There’s shaving cream, a bottle of lube and – ew! – a pair of dirty boxers, but no toilet paper,” she reports.

You weigh your options:
1. Drip dry. Ew, gross.
2. Notebook paper?
3. Drip dry. Ok, maybe not so gross.
4. Crumpled up magazine paper?
5. Drip drying may be the only option.
6. How many diseases could there really be in that pair of boxers?
7. Oh eff, I’m gonna have to drip dry.

You do a little shimmy shake, stand up and quickly pull up your undies. You no longer feel like you have to pee down your leg; instead you feel like you already did. You do a mini waddle to the sink, rinse your hands (because, obvi, there is no soap), grab your purse and exit the bathroom.

Yeah, we’ve all been there. You are not the first girl to contemplate the notebook paper, and definitely not the last to leave the bathroom with a little pee pee in your panties.

No matter how crazy you think your personal situation is, it is not just you. So, let’s bring it all out in the open. Right here. Because you are not alone - we’ve all been there before.]

You spent all day curled up in bed with a hot beverage in your hand and thick socks on your feet. You debated even getting up to pee. Your bed is so warm and the world is just so cold. Your roommates join you in the middle of the day to watch old episodes of Sex and the City. Normally you’d be at the gym, or the library, or walking around campus, but not today – not in the dead of winter.

There is no way in hell you are getting out of bed.

When your phone rings at 9 you assume it’s the pizza guy delivering the large white pie you ordered with the roomies. You purposely left the front door unlocked last time you ran to the bathroom (with the blanket over your shoulders) so he could let himself in and bring the pizza to your bedside.

Only it’s not the pizza guy; it’s your guy friend. You pick up and it takes two words (beach party) for you to kick off those wool socks and get you out of your warm and toasty bed.

“The boys are having a beach party tonight. We have to go! We can pretend it’s warm out! We can’t lock ourselves in side all winter, girls!”

The roommates are in, obvi. It’s a party. It’s gonna be fun. You will be inside most of the time, and you will be too drunk to realize how cold you are when you’re not. And it’s a party!

You quickly trade in your feather duvet and hot cocoa for a skimpy bikini and tequila shots. The next thing you know, you are standing in line outside of a house (with a living room filled with sand) wearing nothing more than a bikini and a pair of shorts, waiting to fill your empty Solo cup with extra cold beer. Your Uggs are keeping your toes warm, but that doesn’t mean much when the snow is coming in over the top of the boots.

You can’t feel your hands. You can’t control the dripping from your nose. Your ears are bright red. You have a hard time singing along to Beyonce with the incessant chattering of your teeth.

But you don’t care about any of that. You are having an awesome time. Who cares about the cold?

Yeah, we’ve all been there too. There are just some things (read: parties) totally worth venturing out for.

Ah, fall. With its gorgeous colors, crisp air and back-to-school excitement, it’s undoubtedly my favorite season. The only problem with fall is that it leads into my least favorite season, winter. Being a New England gal, I’ve begrudgingly grown used to braving heavy snow and freezing temperatures, but there’s something else about winter that I’m not wild about.

It’s that, well, I get downright…mannish.

My appetite grows with the cold weather and I start scarfing down everything in sight. Science says that is my way of packing on extra pounds to stay warm, but I know it is just that warm Mac and Cheese just tastes so. good. in the winter.

I bundle up in clothes that don’t exactly show off my figure so I can be warm, and let’s just say I get a little lazy about regularly shaving my legs. And forget about wearing something pretty and feminine, like a short skirt. Nope, it’s my warmest baggy jeans and clunky boots all the way. With my hat pulled down over my hair, I’m one step away from getting an, “Excuse me, young man” when I bump into someone on the street.

I am getting a bit worried that my boyfriend will soon forget what it is like to date a girl, so I am making it my goal to retain a bit of femininity this winter. Below are a few things we can all do to draw the line between hibernating animal and college girl braving the winter winds.

If you want to look cute and feminine and still stay warm, there are ways. For one, you may not want to shave your legs every day, but a pair of pantyhose will hide that and keep your legs warm if you opt for a skirt. Use your layers wisely: start with a silk undershirt for warmth, and then a nice form-fitting shirt and sweater combo should be enough to keep you warm.

On the outside there’s not much you can do to dress up a parka, but go for a tailored pea coat for as long as you can hold it out. Dress up those somber winter colors with a colorful hat and scarf combo. And for that touch of boho chic, get a pair of cheap wool gloves and cut the fingers off. I need my hands to be warm in winter while having the dexterity for writing/texting, and I’ve received many compliments on my handmade fingerless gloves.

If you’re still feeling overly masculine, do something pleasantly girly, like curling up with a mug of hot chocolate. The best part of winter for me is feeling cozy indoors, especially if you’ve got someone to cozy up with. Bonus if that someone doesn’t care how often you shave your legs, or how much winter pudge you’ve packed on.

So, let’s bring it all out in the open. Right here. Because you are not alone - we’ve all been there before.]

You woke up early to work out before class. After an hour on the elliptical and thirty minutes in the weight room (20 of which were spent staring at the dudes at the bench press), you head home to get ready for your day. You shower, throw on a pair of jeans, and grab a yogurt and some fruit on the way out the door.

For lunch you eat a salad (with the dressing on the side), and an huge glass of water.

Your afternoon snack is a Ziploc baggie filled with Kashi and, if you really need it, a Grande coffee with 2 pumps of Sugar Free Vanilla from Starbucks.

For dinner you have a veggie burger and a baked potato. You treat yourself to a can of Diet Coke. You feel full and satisfied; all this healthy eating and living isn’t really as hard as you were expecting it to be!

While you are downing the last of your D.C. your roommate runs into the room and invites you to the bar.

“Come onnnnnn. Pleaaaase? I don’t wanna go aloooooone. I promise it will be fun. I’ll buy you drinksssss!”

You weren’t planning on going (in fact you were planning on laying in bed and watching Sister Act 2 with a bag of Smart Pop Kettle Korn), but she looks so pathetic…and you wouldn’t mind having a drink.

So, you go. And one Vodka and Soda (a very low calorie beverage) leads to two, which leads to shots, which lead to cigarettes, which lead to beers. Eventually you are too drunk to make good decisions and all that hard work you did all week is out the window. Even that dance you did to “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” can’t touch the calories you just ingested.

And then it gets worse.

When you get home you remember that whole healthy living thing you’ve been doing. You beeline to the kitchen for some carrot sticks, but it only takes one bite to realize that carrot sticks are the last thing a drunk person wants to eat. You try some whole wheat toast (ew), a bowl of cereal (nope), and even some salty pretzels (make you want to vom).

Then your roommate’s pizza gets delivered. It smells so good. Mmmm, look at that gooey cheese.

Before you know what you are doing, you are elbow deep in cheese and sauce, and dipping breadsticks into Ranch dressing. It is over in a minute, but the damage is done: 3 slices of pizza and 4 breadsticks. You begin to feel guilty (even though you know it was totally worth it), so you get up and go to bed.

In the morning you wake up feeling hung over, achy and in serious need of some water. As you get up to head to the kitchen you spot yourself in the mirror…with tomato sauce smeared across your cheek. And the whole night (especially the ending) comes rushing back to you. You quickly realize that you are going to have to get back to the gym after class.

Dammit.

2. Talk to people and say things we would never have the balls to say in person (“You are being a bitch,” “I totally heart you.”)

3. We can procrastinate on everything in favor of the endless entertainment the inter-webs provide.

The sheer number of blogs and awesome websites out there is astounding…and nearly impossible to navigate. Which ones are good? Which ones are bad? Which ones will flash giant naked men on our screen? (Editor’s Note: Those are my favorite!) Which ones talk about all the stuff I want to hear?

That’s why we are here.

There are so many great college blogs out there and we want to share them with you. Because, after all, we college kids gotta stick together. So, here are a few of our favorites for today:

1. Absolut College Girl: She’s a college girl with something (actually, a lot of things) interesting to say.

2. Society and Style: Just reading about her daily life makes us tired…and slightly addicted.

3. The Student Body: Health and fitness tips for college students and college students only.

4. College Slackers: Just what it sounds like – the perfect place to go when you don’t want to do any work.

5. School is Hard: Because it is…and help is nice.

Got any other blogs you love? Let us know; we’are always looking for more!