BREAKING NEWS HERE. I don’t know what the heck you wanted from Santa for Christmas this year, but this is a gift that’s way better late than never. Drop your diet plans, dust off your checkbooks and dial up the Girl Scout in your life, because the troops have announced a brand new cookie flavor.

Yes, it’s true, it’s that time of year again when those little devils come back out and tempt you wherever you go—yeah, I’m talking about them Girl Scout cookies. Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Tagalongs and Trefoils aren’t just raising money for little girls nationwide, they’re making my life more delicious. It’s a win-win situation.

In honor of the organization’s 100-year anniversary, a new flavor has been announced. It’s called ‘Savannah Smiles,’ named after the Georgian hometown of founder Juliette Gordon Low and supposedly in the shape of a smile, meaning it’s cut into semicircles. That’s right, they’re half-cookies. And the flavor is described as a “cool and crisp lemon wedge cookie,” so I’m seriously hoping it tastes more like a miniature lemon custard rather than a sour cup of lemonade from a neighborhood stand.

A few things you don’t need to know: five of these half-cookies, which is considered a single serving, is 140 calories and has 5 grams of fat (including 1.5 grams of saturated fat), 23 grams of carbs and one gram of protein. Hey, everyone needs protein, right? And they’re lemon flavored, so that’s like a serving of fruit or something…yes, this new flavor is definitely the nutritious one.

Even more important: Girl Scout cookie-buying season kicks off this Tuesday! Make some room in your pantries and squeeze your gym time in now, because soon, your freezer will be stocked with so many stacks of Thin Mints that you won’t even miss those pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Does this flavor sound like any good? Either way, what Girl Scout flavor is the best? Yes, this is worth a debate.

Ashley is a UC San Diego grad who is holding on way too tightly to a potential career in magazines and goes to Vegas all too often. She’s fascinated with celebrities and strawberry beer and doubles as a pathological texter/emailer/blogger. Feed the addiction with tweets @cashleelee. Thanks in advance.

So imagine my delight when I saw a recipe for them that was simple enough to do in a dorm kitchen!

What You Need:

* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

It’s Cookie Time:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

2. Grab an hand mixer and a large bowl and cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets. (Or roll that dough out and cut out some fun little shamrocks for a late night, post green beer snack on Wednesday!)

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

These little pieces of Heaven are sure to garner you a dorm fan club. Just be sure to keep them safely hidden…

[Recipe provided via Allrecipes]

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.

All the cookie dough you can eat and none of the Salmonella? Hell to the yes.

Any type of cookie dough is a good type of cookie dough in my book. Cookie dough ice cream, homemade cookie dough, even store-bought Nestle cookie dough is delicious. Especially when eaten directly from the plastic tube with your fingers while watching old episodes of Sex and the City.

You know what’s not good in my book (or stomach), though? Salmonella. Which is exactly what I’ll get if I keep on keepin’ on with my cookie dough habits. Sometimes – like when I’m chowing down on some dough to prevent a mid-finals meltdown – I try not to care about the havoc those raw eggs are wreaking on my body, but it’s there. And it’s wreaking. So you can imagine my excitement when I found this faux cookie dough recipe in Glamour magazine; it’s a lot healthier for your bod than the real stuff (there’s even wheat germ!) and even has an added peanut butter flavor, which just makes it even more scrumptious (not to mention totally safe to eat).

Trust me: this stuff is as tasty as it is easy to make.
And it’s really easy. Deliciously easy.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp of peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
1 banana
1/3 cup of rolled oats (not instant oats)
A pinch of cinnamon
2 tbsp of wheat germ

Preparation:

1) Sprinkle the wheat germ on a small plate.

2) In a bowl, mash the banana with a fork and stir in the peanut butter, oats, and cinnamon. Mix together until well-blended.

3) Pick up a spoonful and roll it into a ball with your hands, then roll the ball into the wheat germ until it is evenly coated.

4) Repeat until all the “batter” is all used up.

5) Enjoy your faux cookie dough balls!

6) Send a thank-you note to Glamour magazine.

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.]

There are so many fun couple-activities to do when the cold sets in, besides the obvious sexy time. I mean, that’s always fun but who wants to get naked when its ch-ch-chilly out?

Here are some other great ideas to stay warm with your sweetie.

1. Make hot chocolate together – I’m not talking about the “microwave the water then empty a packet into the mug” hot chocolate. Spend some time together in the kitchen and make true homemade hot chocolate. It’s a great way to bond and you’ll have a delicious treat when you’re done! Or if you’re not into hot drinks, bake some Christmas cookies or something. Pretty much anything that uses the oven/stove will work to get nice and warm.

2. Pick a Fight – There’s nothing wrong with a little play fighting every now and then, especially because it will warm you up… and it involves a lot of touching. For those of you who DO want sexy time in the middle of winter, you can spice things up by initiating a little couch-to-bed wrestling match.

3. Pick a Snow Fight – Sometimes the snow outside really is tempting. Especially when it only snows once a year here at my campus. So get bundled up and go play in the snow! There’s nothing like a snowball to your boyfriend’s head to help you work out some of that angst leftover from when he ditched you for the boys last week. Plus, there’s nothing better than that hot bath/shower together once you get back inside.

4. Have a Marathon: Keeping up with all of the good shows on TV during the semester is impossible, and unlike “The Hills” or “Cougar Town,” there are a lot of sitcoms that both you and you guy can enjoy together. Get the seasons on DVD, pop some popcorn or make some hot chocolate and curl up on the couch all day. “It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Arrested Development” are hilarious to both girls and guys (which isn’t an easy feat) and will keep you entertained for hours. Or get into a drama series that you’ve never watched before like “Lost” or “House” by starting from the beginning and catching up on what you’ve missed.

5. Dine-in: So it’s freezing cold outside and neither of you feel like bundling up in 8 layers and braving the wind-chill to get to the restaurant. Plan a menu (CollegeCandy has plenty of recipes!) that you can make at home and cook it together (or if your cupboards are bare like mine, order in from your favorite restaurant), then light some candles and have a private, romantic dinner for two. What makes dinner at home even cozier? Spread out a blanket and some pillows on the floor and have an indoor picnic.

The best part of all these ideas (well, most…): they keep your legs covered, because, let’s be honest, no one wants to shave in the winter.

Now go get cuddling!

Got any other winter date ideas

Yum!

I don’t know about you, but this year I’m in serious money-saving mode.  As much as I’d love to go buy my biffies matching pairs of Alexander McQueen’s 10-inch Alien Heels (if you don’t know what these are, you obviously haven’t seen Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance video), college girls don’t have tons of moolah to buy the most fabulous gifts out there.

Besides, gifts are most meaningful when they require time and thought. And they’re even better when people know that you put blood, sweat and tears (and maybe even a little pee pee if looking through old pictures really makes you laugh) into them.

So if you’ve got tons of people to give to but not tons of money to do it, try some of these DIY gifts on for size. They’ll work for absolutely everyone on your list and you won’t have to drop serious cash or serious elbows at your neighborhood holiday sale.

1. Photo Collages
Photo collages are meaningful gifts that can be given to anyone – family, friends, boyfriends.  Now, I don’t mean just some poster with photos erratically hacked with cheap scissors and doused in Elmer’s glue. Get a cigar box and some Mod-Podge (a specific glue excellent for collages) from a craft store, plan the arrangements of photos before you start cutting, and use a paintbrush to glue them down. Then paint a thin layer of Mod-Podge on top of the pictures,  let it dry and – Voila! – you’ve got a super cute jewelry box full of your favorite pics and memories. You can even get some cute puff paint and embellish.  Cheap, cute, and sure to impress! (This also works with frames, mirrors, boxes, or anything else that you’d wanna personalize!)

Not an artsy fartsy? Don’t worry! You can do it all online, too!

2. Cookie Mix in a Jar
If you’re known for your cookies (or even if you’re only known for tossing them…) this is a really great gift that people can’t help but love. Even better: it’s something you can make in huge batches and keep on tap all season in case you need a quick gift.

It’s cookies. Big, delicious cookies.

All you need is a jar (like for jelly) and some simple ingredients. Decorate the jar with ribbon, stickers, etc., then in the jar, layer 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, a dash of salt, 1.25 cups granulated sugar, and 1 cup of chocolate chips. (You can throw in other fun ingredients like candy or nuts, too.) On a piece of paper, write the following directions: mix this up with 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla! Shape into balls the size of walnuts, place on lightly greased baking sheets about two inches apart. Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Enjoy! Yum.

Tie the paper onto the jar with a ribbon, throw in a box of Celestial Seasoning’s Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea and your giftee will want to marry you.

3. Bath Salts
Since you already have cute jars from making your adorable cookie mixes, why not make some bath salts, too? These are great for the family ladies in your life – mom, grandma, aunt – because no sane college girl would ever lay her body in those nasty dorm bathtubs. And bath salts encourage people to take time out to relax – something your mama definitely deserves! Plus, you don’t need much to make something totally impressive.

Get some Epsom Salt (enough to fill your jars), some food coloring, and your favorite perfume (or one of those perfumes you stare at but never actually put on…I, for one, have an obscene amount of perfume stockpiled in my bathroom and I KNOW I will never get through them all). Just mix the Epsom salt in a huge bowl with the food coloring and the perfume until the color is even, and spread the mix on a sheet of wax paper to dry. Once it’s dry, put it in the jar and wrap it up! Easy, right?

You can use the salt right away, but it’s even better if you let it sit for a week or two.

These gifts are not only super easy and cheap, but they show thoughtfulness and love. And that’s much better than any gift you can buy… except maybe for those Alexander McQueen Alien Shoes. Those are still pretty rad.

Ugh. I'd much rather be catching up on Glee than doin' this ish.

Thanksgiving. Sigh.

After being more stuffed than the holiday turkey, it’s time to come to terms with the fact that the holiday season has begun. Whether you celebrate Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or none of the above, it’s a given that you will be inundated with all kinds of holiday-ness over the next 6 weeks.

Whether you love it or hate it, every aspect of the holidays comes with some pros and cons. Yes, even getting lots and lots of presents. Have you ever had to do the fake “OMG I LOVE IT?!” upon opening the most awful gift ever followed by months of excuses when grandma doesn’t see you wearing those giant, sparkly cross earrings she got you? It sucks.

So, this week I’m gonna break down the ten best/worst things about the holidays. Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Season

10. Christmas music
Jingle Bell Rock? Loathe it. “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” by FOB? Love it.

9. Cookies
And Candy. And Gingerbread houses. And fruit cake (ew!). So many calories – yuck. However, like my mom says, calories don’t count on Xmas! Work it off before Spring Break and you’re in the clear.

8. Shopping
Shopping can be a bitch, especially if you hate mass crowds and fighting for a coveted Burberry coat. Skirt the crowds and the lines and shop online.

7. The Relatives
Embrace your family’s wackiness instead of taking a shot every time your crazy distant relative makes an inappropriate comment or asks you when “you’re going to start settling down.”

6. The High School Holiday Reunion
If you don’t want to deal with the HS frenemies, then don’t. Trade those tedious “Oh my godddd how have you beeeeeen”s for a quiet night in with the fam or a few cocktails with your besties.

5. Traveling
Pack only what you need, and CARRY-ON! Makes life a little less painless at the holidays.

4. Tacky Christmas Movies
Put on some giant sweatpants, make some hot cocoa (with a hint of Bailey’s) and embrace it. Especially “Elf“! I like to drink a little Irish Coffee every time Will Ferrell sings.

3. Presents
Learn to love what you get, even if it’s an ill-fitting sweater. Think of the DIY possibilities! Sweater turned handbag?

2. Tree Decorating
Detangling lights = not fun. Going through all the ornaments you’ve made through the years? Kinda fun. Making new ornaments with party pics of you and your besties? A total blast.

1. Eggnog
Sorry, I have no answers here. This sh** sucks. Unless it’s in the form of a milkshake from McDonalds. OMG, yum.

I made them for my BF’s family (gotta try to impress them, right?) and they went absolutely nuts (tee hee) for them. They were actually trying to barter with one another for just one more cookie. If that’s not a good sign, I don’t know what is.

You may want to make a few extra if you plan on sharing them. Or prepare to break up some fist fights.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (about 1 jar) coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.

3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.

4. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture.

5. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate.

6. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

7. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

8. Break a few apart so you have an excuse to eat them, curse them for burning the roof of your mouth, then let the rest cool to be served to your friends (or yourself later).

I’ve always known that eating cookies could make my ass a little bigger (just ask my favorite pair of Joe’s), but now it looks like they can do the same thing for my tatas.

There is a new cookie on the market in Japan that promises to increase your breast size. Aptly called F-Cups, the cookies contain Pueraria Mirifica, a natural breast enhancer. Just eat two cookies a day and (allegedly) you’re on your way to a bigger bra size.

I’m not really sure these would taste all that good, but a midnight snack that can increase my cleavage? Looks like it’s time to get rid of my Double Stuffed and get me some Double Ds.