As the semester begins, I’ve found myself back to the daily grind, sitting in classes and willing that minute hand to tick just a little freaking faster. But despite so many things being the same (the classes, the books, the late nights IMing the roommates down the hall…), it is a brand new year, and the perfect time to make some big changes.

Your slate is clean (and your pants still fit!), so let this new school year be your opportunity to start fresh and make good, healthy choices.  It’s always good to start out with goals you actually will end up completing, so here are some small, completely doable changes for you to consider so that this year finds you healthier and even more fabulous than the last!

Dear Water: We Love You.
We all know water is muy importante. It keeps you feeling full, prevents dehydration, and clears your body of toxins. Sweating, drinking alcohol, and merely functioning every day (especially in college) cause a loss of said water and it’s up to you to replace it.

Yes, if you want to be healthy with a fabulous complexion, you need to drink the water.

That being said, don’t freak out about the eight glasses per day thing – its not just plain water that does the trick, and the amount you need depends on how active you are. Also, if you’re one of those people who hates drinking water by itself, don’t forget that fruits, vegetables, tea, and other things we consume everyday have water in them, too. And don’t forget about Crystal Light – make it your BFF this year. Read More »

Just because you’re a college student doesn’t mean you have to drink like one. I mean, come on; vodka and Crystal Light gets old after awhile. Why not try something a little more…sophisticated? (Editor’s Note: You can still chug it like a college lady.)

These cocktails are guaranteed to make all your friends love you, and, of course, get everyone very, very drunk.

So welcome to the world of sophisticated drunkery.

What better way than to start of the list that with a drink that compliments fall season upon us?

Warm Fall Evening

1 part Absolut Peach

1 part apple flavored vodka

1 part Absolut Mandarin

1 part cinnamon syrup

1 part hot apple juice / cider

Cinnamon

Combine and serve in a glass.

Fall flavors not really your thing? How about a drink that is guaranteed to warm you up in the cold days and put your drinking skills to the test? Can you handle hot sauce? Read More »

I know eating out of vending machines isn’t healthy.

My mom always told me anything that doesn’t go bad after three weeks is made out of stuff you shouldn’t put in your body anyway.

For the most part, I listened to her. But every once in a while…slipping a few coins in a tiny slot and watching that King-Sized Snickers plummet towards your waiting hands is truly the only thing that can get you through a day.

And then of course, the diet industry went and ruined everything.

Kraft Foods, the makers of that oh-so-natural bright orange cheese, have begun to test out vending machines that are stocked with only South Beach Diet approved options. Yes. South Beach Diet.

As in…lame alternatives for bread, sugar, and whole grains. Read More »

I’m not a big make-up girl. I mean, I don’t really leave the house without a little bit of blush and eyeliner and tinted lip balm, but any kind of heavy concealer or shadow looks stupid on me, and I always, always, always get that shit in my eyes. No matter what. Mascara is also my enemy.

Thank god I have long enough eyelashes, because I just can’t bare the old stinging sensation when it somehow manages (and it always does) to get into my contacts.

But for all my naturalistic ways, I can’t say I’d be happy with using Skittles and Crystal Light to make myself pretty. Thank God I have the freedom to go to the drugstore. The inmates at the Charlotte County Jail aren’t so lucky. They’ve gotta improvise.

“We get some hair grease stuff and put it on our lips.” An inmate recently told reporters, “The ink pens that I have, we use as the eyeliner. This is coffee, the eye shadow. We use the glitter from cards, so thank goodness people send cards with glitter on them.” Read More »