I’m not sure if it’s just this time of year, or if it’s because I’m about to end one job (which pays my bills), but lately I just feel like I’m constantly drowning. You know, that feeling where you’re just stuck underwater and you can’t get up no matter how hard you try…so you just keep sinking. Taking on more things to bide the time, but in reality wishing you had less on your plate.

It’s times like this when I usually run away to avoid an extreme panic attack. Don’t believe me? I’ve gone as far as San Diego just to escape from this feeling. But this time, mostly because of my lease, I’m forced to stay in one place and fight this thing out. Although I am still taking a passive aggressive approach to escaping by applying for The Bachelor (not that I have any hope at being chosen). Since I’m attempting to deal with this like a grown up, I figured the best escape would be to create a mental happy space…like a perfect little desert island filled with my ten favorite things:

initiating the gallery...

What are your must-haves for an imaginary desert island? Does yours come complete with a cabana boy?…if so I might need to island hop. 

As summer internships and jobs wrap up and summer comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to make a quick getaway before school starts. Don’t worry–you don’t need a lot of money to get away and enjoy a little piece of summer if you follow this guide!

Set a Budget!

The first thing you need to do is look at your funds and see how much money you have to spend; a.k.a. “create a budget.”

Choose a Destination!

Once that is in order, you can decide where your destination will be. If you have enough available funds, you might choose to go somewhere further away from home, but if money is an issue, weekend or day trips may be your savoir.

• Got Dough?-Places like Florida, or the Carolinas might tickle your fancy, and probably will be able to accommodate you on short notice, whereas places like the Bahamas may be booked.
• Low on Dough?-Places like Washington, DC, Gettysburg, PA, NYC, or the Jersey beaches make perfect day trips. There is a lot to do in these areas, but not too much that you would be overwhelmed or run out of time to do the things you want. You can visit trazzler.com to find more local getaways near you. Read More »

Whether you’re heading back to school, entering the college atmosphere for the first time ever as a freshman, or maybe you’ve already graduated and just wish you were still back at school, CollegeCandy has everything you need to go back to school in the know, in style and with some great conversation starters.

• Need some dorm decorating tips to bring your 10×10 abode to the next level? We’ll get you started.
• Feel like a naive Freshman but don’t want people to see you that way? Take some advice from an upperclassman.
• Want to throw an impressive party to meet some new people (and hopefully some lifelong friends)? We’ve got all the tips on how to dress, how to act, and even how to drink.

I mean, let’s be honest: we all wish it could be summer forever, but eventually the time of papers, lab partners, and sorority sisters returns. Good thing you have all of us here at CollegeCandy to help you get back into the swing of things!

Click right here to check out our back to school section!

It’s that time of year again, summer internships are ending, soon-to-be freshman are crowding the lines at Bed Bath and Beyond and those of us not heading back to college are forced into finding a more permanent life option.

Don’t get me wrong I will not miss the 400 dollars I drop for books every semester, or my five in the morning study sessions…but the parties, my friends being down the hall, not having to pay rent are all things that will be severely missed come September.

Instead I’m being forced into real life. Which involves finding a full-time job now that my paid summer internship only has two weeks left. But, because I have two weeks left of the good life, here are ten things I’m going to still be day dreaming about during the cold winter nights:

1. Late night bonfire beach trips. Not only is s’mores my favorite food group (because yes it is in a league of its own) I love late night talks over burning wood, and the old musty smell it gives off when paired with low tide.

2. Moving. This time of year is always filled with boxes, because in August is when I finally go through all of my school things to decide what I actually need to bring. Granted I never fully pack until the last night.

3. Playing outside.  I love being outside, and during the summer every time of day is open for some outdoor activity.

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It’s officially almost August, the month where everyone seems to realize in a collective stress-bomb – that summer is almost puttering to an end. I don’t know what happens to June and July, they get shoved into summer’s trunk like a murder mystery and I always want to make the most of my August once it rolls around.

So while we count down the days to summers end, I figured why not begin a little end-of-summer bucket list (before stores everywhere start sending me coupons for thick knit sweaters and those weird things that zip up your leg…boots…is that what they’re called? Great, I’m ready to put on my flip flops and get started. Take these simple 31 tips (duh, one for each day in August) and make sure you fulfill every single one before summer peaces its way outta dodge. Read More »

We know. It’s a three-day weekend and you have yet to get out of your pajamas. Heck, you have yet to even get out of bed. That’s cool with us. That’s why sweats were invented. And actually, if we had our way, you wouldn’t get out of bed all day. Because it makes us feel better knowing we’re not the only sloths around we have an insanely awesome round-up of links from our very favorite people on the web.

Yeah that’s right. We’re giving you another excuse to stay in elastic-waistband pants all day. You’re welcome.

Was summer 2010 your worst summer ever (Lemondrop)

The worst dieting advice from movies (All Women Stalk)

Would you wear these? (College Fashion)

Can your shoes clean the floor? (Fashion Pulse Daily)

Fall’s hottest trends (Hot Beauty Health)

8 ways to transform his style (YourTango)

Fictionary: Nail Fail resulting from a cocktail (Beauty Blogging Junkie)

Jerry Lewis wants to smack WHO in the face? (The Frisky) Read More »

After countless barbecues and Bud Light Limes (or being stuck inside at your unpaid internship all day), summer is sadly coming to an end. Waaaaah (Snooki voice). But seeing your tan fade doesn’t mean there’s no more time for fun in the sun.

I’ve got three words: Labor Day weekend.

The last hurrah of summertime, so to speak. And to honor the goodness that was the past three months, we’ve created the perfect end-of-summer playlist to give this season the proper send-off.

Get your freak on right here.

I’m a die-hard fan of summer.  I mean, come on.  Shirtless guys, gorgeous weather, no school…what’s not to love?  But as we find the best season of all coming to a close – mega sadface – I can’t help but feel there are a few quintessential summer activities left to squeeze in.

Put down that back-to-school shopping list; don’t even think about buying textbooks just yet.  I’ve got your final pre-fall moments all planned out in this ultimate bucket list:

Snag Some Pool Time
Preferably all weekend long.  Pretty soon the temperatures will drop and your bikini will just look out of place amongst all those North Face fleeces.  Worship the sun while you still can, and while it’s still appropriate.

Indulge in the Fashions
White.  Linen.  Sundresses.  Seersucker.  Flip flops.  Okay, maybe not flip flops, but there are definitely a few items in your closet that have an expiration date.  As much as I’d love to see snowsuits made of madras, it’s probably never going to happen (and would also probably fit into that “too much of a good thing” category).  Throw ‘em all on now before the fashion police beat down your door and force you into cashmere.

Chow Down and Drink Up
While no one says you can’t enjoy a frozen beverage or a good hot dog after the summer season, for some reason it’s just not as fun.  Go to the grocery store with your friends and insist on last barbecue – kabobs, margaritas, corn on the cob, watermelon…go all out!

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Careful: Those splinters are no joke.

I don’t know what you ladies have been up to this past seven days, but I just got back from the greatest week of my entire summer, visiting my best friend out West. We spent a lot of time just watching movies, talking, and shopping at the biggest mall in North America (for real). Basically, I enjoyed a nice relaxing vacation with the impending start of school being the farthest thing from my mind.

That is until I got home from my week away to find a bunch of  back to school letters from my college staring me straight in the face. That’s right, much to my chagrin, summer is slowly but surely coming to an end.

While this summer has been a sex-free one for me (yes, still! I’m proud of myself too), I have enough sexy summertime memories to be aware that summer might be the greatest season for havin’ sex (although, I don’t think there’s a bad season, really).  Maybe it’s the fact that we’re all wearing little clothing to begin with, or that we can feasibly get naked outside without potentially losing an appendage to frostbite (hey, I am Canadian), but there’s just something fundamentally sexy about summer.

A few months ago, former Sexy Time writer, Kelly, composed a bucket list of places to have sex before you’re done college. With sleeping until noon soon getting replaced by 8am classes, and bonfires replaced with late-night study sessions, I figured that now is a good time to take Kelly’s lead and compile a list of places to get freaky while the days are still long and we’re not yet back to hitting the books.

So, with only a few short weeks until you’re back in the stacks, grab your summer fling and have a little fun: Read More »

So although I know some of you have already gone off to college and pimped out your brand new dorm room, lots of us are still languishing around the pool, savoring the last few weeks of this glorious summer.

Speaking for myself, the past 2 months of blissful relaxation have been more or less bitchin, and the thought of buying textbooks and attending freshman seminars feels like a dagger to the heart. I’d rather not waste my last few weeks with my darling high school summer friends just bumming around and drowning my sorrows in queso dip, so in between buying dorm room supplies and re-reading all the Harry Potter books, I’ve been looking for ways to truly relish these memorable last days:

I’ve had a Toast Night: I decorated my backyard with paper lanterns, candles and tons of Christmas lights and invited about 12 friends over to be merry and toast the past years of our lives, the wonderful summer and our hazy futures. It was the perfect balance of totally precious and disgustingly cheesy, something we all needed to commemorate 12 years of schooling… and an occasion to drink outside.

I’ve been soaking in the sun: I don’t know if it’s just me, or if it’s everyone, but I aspire to arrive at college the shade of a well-toasted marshmallow. This is the last span of time to get natural sun and Vitamin D (which we all lack come wintertime) and a perfect excuse to lounge around the pool and gossip and hang with your pals. Just make sure you slather on some SPF. Read More »