It happens to the best of us. That one extra shot at a pre-game or an extra round of flip cup can quickly lead to a night of forgotten mischief and bad decisions. While it’s completely fine to enjoy yourself and have a fun night, it’s also important to watch your back and make sure this one night doesn’t haunt you for the rest of your life (or, at least, the rest of your time at college). You may not be able to remember your night, but try to remember these tips because they’ll save you from (some) embarrassment and keep you safe.

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When the grey clouds start becoming a regular appearance in my weather pattern, I always find it harder to get out of bed, harder to smile and harder to step away from the pint of ice cream and brownie sundae waiting in my freezer. It’s days like these when not even Starbucks can cheer me up. So, because I always think ahead, I bought a day-by-day calendar all about being assertive and basically saying “No, thank you” more (but without the ‘thank you’ part).

And by “assertive,” I mean it’s filled with hysterical quotes about how it’s okay to be super-bitchy, because we all have those day/moments/weeks/lifetimes…when we need to insert an extra NO! into one thing or another. Or because we just need an excuse to make fun of the people still wearing leggings as pants.

So to help you out of this grey funk we all are stuck in, here is a weekly dose of the daily bitch. If this can’t encourage you to get out of bed and  go make fun of someone…I’m not sure what will…

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If you think your NYE outfit, alcohol supply and approximate cab fare combine to cost a pretty penny, just be glad you aren’t greeting 2012 from a nightclub in Vegas. It might sound fun at first: there’s a ton of options, the venues are gorgeous, and you can simply walk back to your hotel room whenever you’re ready to change outfits in time for breakfast, right?

Newsflash: unless you’re being escorted by a high-roller who is getting everything comp’d by the hotel, partying in Vegas on the last night of the year is serious business — literally, as in you’ll be spending a lot of money and the Strip will love you for it. Hotel room rates skyrocket and nightclubs prefer you arrive before 9PM. Before 9PM! You’ll hope to maintain a smooth buzz from overpriced mixed drinks until midnight so that you can participate in a cheap champagne toast and a sloppy kiss, and then hate your choice of heels when you suddenly decide to leave. Oh, and you’ll probably end up sleeping on the floor because you decided to cram way too many friends into the same room in order to make the weekend just a little bit more affordable.

Nevertheless, I’m actually headed that way this weekend, and here are the celebrities hosting overrated NYE celebrations on the Strip this Saturday, complete with pricing information. Now doesn’t that just look like SO much fun??! Oh man, I just can’t WAIT to empty out my wallet to party for a few hours alongside in the general vicinity of these amazing gods and goddesses!

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Which of these celebrities will probably end up partying in a half-empty nightclub because their prices were so ridiculous?

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.

A brunch recap sesh is the perfect only way to end an epic weekend.  It’s absolutely essential to make sure all parties are aware of the ridiculous things that happened Thursday through Sunday. After four years of recapping embarrassing, hilarious and truly epic weekends, I think I’ve nailed down a few key elements to make sure that you experience the ultimate brunch recap session every single Sunday.

1. Location, location, location. I mean, duh. Don’t share your crazy details in the hearing range of professors/exboyfriends/ex-bffs. You don’t want to have to deal with embarrassing apologies and awkward backtracking when you’re already nursing a hangover.

2. Speaking of hangovers… food is a must. Whether it’s an order-in morning, a corner table in the dining hall, or some noble soul who scrounges up the energy (and spare change) to get everyone Starbucks, you need something to curb that hangover. A venti coffee and  scone sound just about perfect. But then again, so does a bacon egg and cheese and quad latte… or maybe a mimosa. The possibilities are endless. Just get some food in that belly!

3. The friend who doesn’t black out. Usually, this is me in my group of friends. I’m the one who reminds my friends that they went home with their TA or tried to steal a lamp from main street or got in a fight with the wall. You know, typical college. But everybody needs that someone who actually remembers how you got home. Or that you finished three pizzas. Or that you tipped the delivery man in beer. Those precious, nearly gone forever details can make or break the hilarity of the morning after.

4. The friend with the camera. Plug that shiz in. Before you make a Facebook album with a dumb quote from the weekend that only your besties will understand and everyone else just thinks is weird, take a quick gander at what really went on. I mean, if your friend with the camera did their job and really played paparazzi, you’ve got a potential profile pictures somewhere in the bunch, or even better, blackmail.

5. Tissues. They can help clean up any mess. Whether its last-night’s make-up or laughing ’til you cry ( or maybe just plain crying if tequila was involved…), you’re gonna need some help after last night’s stories come to light.

What are your tips for the perfect morning after recap? Share your thoughts below!

As mentioned in previous posts, I love Halloween and everything about it. From being scared straight, to mocking the horrible fake blood in haunted houses, it’s the most magical time of the year. Plus, it’s the one time of year I can watch Halloweentown multiple times a day (which is exactly what I plan on doing today…judgement free zone).

But, because Halloween falls on Monday this year, my usual late night party escapades were moved to this past weekend. Leaving me with a bunch of left over pumpkin beer and candy  for actual Halloween (I know…rough life). And, since I live in the hood I’m refusing to participate in doling out candy, no way am I getting a “poisoned apple” on my favorite day of the year. I really just want to eat all of the left over candy by myself.

In celebration of this horribly haunted night here are my favorite things about Halloween…

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Newsweek just released their 2011 college rankings, and they’re pretty useless for prospective students. Top Schools for Activists? Boring. Best Schools for Foreign Students? I could just study abroad. Most Rigorous? Why would I want to challenge myself?

Here are five categories that Newsweek should have included on their list that prospective students would actually need to know about.

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A presentation by the American Psychological Association on college drinking recently released some statistics that may make you spit our your beer: 1. College students intend to drink to get drunk, and 2. College students use alcohol as an excuse for hooking up. Yeah. When I said you were going to spit out your beer, I meant because you’d be laughing with me.

If you ask any frat boy at a party he’d probably have told you these shocking findings, while saving money on the research. He might also then go and give one of his bros a big hug, saying “I love you man,” behaviour if questioned on, he would likely blame on the alcohol. Because, as Jamie Foxx has figured out, it’s pretty easy to blame it on the alcohol. Which college students inevitably do. So, in case the American Psychological Association wants to save some money next time, here’s eight more things college students blame on the alcohol.

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[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

It’s safe to say that coming from the land of Thirsty Thursday nights, where $5 liquor pitchers and $1 beers reign, to the land of $12 mixed well drinks has been an adjustment. It’s enough to wonder whether the experience from my unpaid internship is worth as I dish out more cash in one night than I do in a month at the bars from my university town. Of course I love my internship, but my drinking habit is hard to maintain in the city.

Tip #22 – Scope out bars by the universities around town.

Lately my friends and I have been spending our weekends (and some of our weeknights) at the bars around St. Marks Place because, whether the atmosphere is pleasant or not, the drinks are cheap. At The Continental $10 buys you five shots of anything and when you’re living on next to nothing, you cant be picky about minor details like the douchebag drenched in Cool Water pressed up against your back. We passed the NYU flags draped on buildings as we made our way to the street of bars. Though the ambiance doesn’t fit the hipster NYU stereotype- opting for more of a frat-tastic vibe instead- we were perfectly happy doing the stanky leg with our $4 drinks in hand…regardless of the fact that every guy was wearing the same Polo, just in different colors. Overall, you get what you pay for and most of the time, the value (judging by our BAC levels by the end of the night) is worth it.

Tip #23 – Make B.Y.O.B places your new favorite.

If the thought of strange men dressed in Affliction tees sweating on you as you squeeze your way past a crowded club makes you cringe, opt instead for a B.Y.O.B restaurant. NYMag.com has a great list of B.Y.O.B spots, organized by neighborhood, that’ll tickle the taste buds of even the pickiest eater. Panna II, an Indian restaurant in the East Village, has a great $10 dinner special and even includes dessert. Grab a bottle of two-buck chuck, your friends and you’ll have the perfect intern budget-friendly Friday night. Next on my list of B.Y.O.B restaurants to try is Cube 63 sushi with a six-pack of Kirin beer, courtesy of the liquor store around the corner.

Tip #24 – Pregame. Hard.

The best part about public transportation is that no one has to play designated driver. Take advantage of the subway and bus systems by pregaming at home, while the drinks are free and the playlist includes songs you actually like. Though we should all aim to retain consciousness at all times while drinking, there’s a definite sense of liberation in not having to worry about who’s going to be the responsible (read: sober) one to drive home. Most of the best parts of my nights out happen at the beginning while my girls and I are getting ready and people are just starting to arrive. There’s nothing quite like being greeted with a beer and “Racks on Racks on Racks” upon arrival. The internships are unpaid, the days are long, and the money is tight, so drink up and toast to being young, broke and fabulous in the city.

Seeking a little more guidance? Get the first 21 tips for living it up in the city right here!

Just kidding, of course it is. How can you say we’re all the same when there are SO many more stereotypes out there that we can place college students into? Extensive research into the subject–aka watching a few Old School-esque campus-based movies–will give you a little insight into the type of people you can expect to meet once you set out to earn your degree.

But how do you know if all of these stereotypes are true? Things may vary from campus to campus, but overall there are a few people you can expect to make and break the stereotypes that have been established by years of party school movies and headlining college scandals. Here’s a little guide to what I’ve learned to be true and false regarding college stereotypes.

What’s up fabulous College Candy readers!? Summer is finally here and we couldn’t be happier! (Welllll if Bradley Cooper was also here, we would be a little bit happier). We’re celebrating the warm weather the only way we know how…with a PARTY. That’s right, CollegeCandy is throwing our first ever party in NYC and we want YOU to come.

Why should you come?

Do $3 drink specials get you excited? How about fabulous goody bags for the first 30 guests? Perhaps insane raffle prizes get you giddy? Or maybe you just want to meet all your favorite writers in person?

Whatever the reason…we don’t care. We’re just excited to have you! So leave your internship worries at home, grab your roommate/friend/boyfriend (basically anyone besides your mom) and join us for happy hour!

Check out our Facebook page for all the details and be sure to Like us!!

MORE PRIZE DETAILS COMING SOON! But in the meantime, check out a sneak peak of what’s going in the goody bags and what we’re giving away in the raffle.