My bartending style tends to run less towards the carefully measured, tried-and-true recipes and more towards the “What’s in my fridge right now?” trial-and-error method. I rarely use actual measures, because what is “good” depends on how many people are drinking, how liquored up they want to be, and how well they hold all that liquor.

That being said, I have a few favorite drinks that do really well in cold weather.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate:

This ain’t your grandma’s hot cocoa. (Or maybe it is…) I like to add a few drops (or shots) of Peppermint Schnapps to hot chocolate for an immediate warm-up. Make the cocoa with milk if you like it creamier.

Cinnamon Vanilla Cream:

One day my love of Starbucks and alcohol collided, and this drink was born. I just poured some Cinnamon Schnapps into my Vanilla Crème, and – voilà – an innocuous looking brew. Yes, I did keep it all in the Starbucks container. You can make your own Vanilla crème by warming up milk, adding a drop or two of vanilla extract, sugar to taste, and topping it off with whipped cream.

Hot (Spiked) Apple Cider:

First, you need to find some alcoholic apple cider. It’s probably somewhere between the beer and wine sections. Two bottles is a good amount to start with. On the stove, get it simmering with two cinnamon sticks, a tablespoon of cloves, a little bit of sugar and some nutmeg. What really makes it piping hot though, is the addition of either rum or apple brandy. Be generous, ladies – the apple cider has lost most of its alcoholic content in the heating process. Read More »

Though it’s getting a bit chillier these days, it’s still Fall, pumpkin-flavored anything is still awesome, and there’s basically nothing better than waking up and making yourself pancakes on a blustery morning, afternoon, or night.

Ok, so maybe having some hottie do it for you would be nice, but you’ll forget all about that once you bite into these badboys.

This recipe is slightly complicated, but it’s nothing a relatively cheap trip the neighborhood grocery store and 30 minutes in the kitchen won’t fix.

And, like that thick trainer at my gym always says, “no pain, no gain.” I’m pretty sure he’s talking about a 45-minute run on the treadmill, but I just think it means all that cooking will be worth it when you’re filled with 2 lbs of pumpkin pancake bliss. Read More »

The leaves are starting to change and the temperature is starting to drop, bringing in the season of hot- cocoa-and-tv-nights and cute, cozy clothes. While layering sweaters and scarves might seem like a no-brainer, there is another way to ensure you stay warm. And chic.

With a hat.

Yes, while you always listened to your mother when she told you to zip up that jacket, you probably tuned her out when she started nagging you about a hat. “You lose most of your body heat through your head,” she’d yell behind you. Not that you cared; you’d rather lose body heat than look dorky and mess up that hair you just spent 30 minutes straightening.

But not anymore. Hats are all the rage (just ask The Budget Stylista) and I’ve got 16 right here that will make your mama proud. They not only serve the ever-functional purpose of keeping you warm, but they also add a whole new layer of cool to your winter ensembles. Oh, and did I mention how wonderful they are for covering up an unfortunate hair day? Because bad hair days happen.  Especially if you’re doing a walk of shame across campus.  But no one will know if you throw a little cap on top.

And don’t tell me you’re not a “hat person.” Everyone can be a hat person, especially with the variety of styles. Just take a gander and you’re sure to find one that you love and that loves you back. Read More »

With fall here, it’s time to start adding new outerwear to your closet, and while many people argue that everyone needs a boyfriend blazer, I think everyone should be picking up this military jacket from Banana Republic. This sharp, dapper blazer can pull together any combination of a T-shirt and broken-in jeans (you know, the super comfy ones you wear every other day) when a decent outfit takes too much effort, or make you look even smarter when paired with a crisp, collared shirt.

It features pockets at the chest and waist, a standing collar, shoulder epaulets (for that extra touch of cool), a concealed button placket and cinching at the waist that creates the perfect hourglass shape. Roll up the sleeves for a more laid back look or add a necklace or two for some glam. Available in black and gray, it practically goes with everything, so, like your jeans, you can wear it every other day as well.

Planning my next trip to Banana Republic as we speak. See you there?

The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and you can wear cute scarves without looking like a jackass. We all know that that means… MIDTERMS!

October is the best month of the whole year: apple cider, long weekends (Columbus day), and Halloween parties galore. Of course, the world is a cruel place, so amidst all the fun fall festivities, we also get crushed with the madness of midterms.

I think it’s about time we stop letting a few little exams ruin the best party month of the year, so I’ve put together a guide with everything you need to enjoy your midterms.

Study-Group Sloshfest

A lot of people find it more tolerable to study in a group, and a lot of people find it more tolerable to be in a group when they’re wasted. Why not combine the two? Set up a study group, ask each other questions, and anyone who gets one wrong takes a shot. When someone passes out, use their skin as notepaper to write out difficult facts or formulas. They won’t forget the answers next time!

The Best Friend/ Boyfriend / Boy-Down-The-Hall with Adderall

I can guarantee that someone you know has an Adderall prescription. Find them and get to know them; they are your new best friend. If you’re able to obtain a few (or fifty) Adderall, you’ll be able to put off all your studying until a night or two before your exams, leaving your weekends completely free for apple-picking and Halloween parties! Read More »

It’s officially fall, and I’m going bananas over pumpkins right now. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie blizzards, pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks; you name it I’m obsessing over it.  Simply the aroma of pumpkin pie baking in the kitchen is enough to send me over the edge. There is a valid reason for that, however. Well, at least for men.

According to Dr. Alan Hirsh, there is a significant connection between Thanksgiving and sex. The mere scent of pumpkin pie alone increases blood flow to a man’s penis by 40%, therefore increasing his sexual appetite. Just another reason for us women to learn how to bake, am I right, ladies?

But sexual stimulation is not the only benefit of this staple fall fruit (yes, it is a fruit). Pumpkins are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. And one cup of pumpkin will only dock you 50 points from your daily calorie intake. Also, pumpkin seeds are chock-full of protein, not to mention magically delicious. Read More »

Happy fall, everybody!

After months of sun and sweat, it’s finally time to enjoy good TV and cozy autumnal fashion—or not. The weather is perfect: it’s warm enough to work out outdoors, if you’re into that kind of thing, but cool enough to make getting close to a special someone—meaning someone who can take direction—even more appealing… especially if you’ve already had a few.

Fall also carries a few dangers with it. We’re going to have to start resisting the temptation to take any shortcuts with our schoolwork, being vigilant about that porky flu, and keeping track of how many baked goods we eat (especially if we choose to pull a Michael Phelps. Munchies can be murder). But as long as we still get to party—responsively, of course!—it’s all good.

Also, this happened this week. It doesn’t really have anything to do with anything; we just like linking to a picture of a giant baby every now and then.

I freakin’ love fall. I actually don’t think I can communicate in coherent sentences how I feel about the season. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach just thinking of the crisp air, the cozy sweaters, whip cream melting into mug of hot chocolate….I think I might have just wet myself.

It is impossible for me to pick just one fall thing as my favorite. And, believe me, I have tried on more than one occasion to pinpoint what it is that has forged this intense love affair.

So perhaps I can’t make a neat little list, but I can rant about it for a while. If you love fall too, you might want to prepare yourself. This little listicle may send you running towards your nearest Starbucks in leather boots and all the scarves you own in search of a latte and a scrumptious baked good.

Fall is My New Years
I know January 1st is when most people set a resolution, sign up for gym memberships and dump their dud of a boyfriend in hopes of upgrading to a new hottie. But my personal New Years is September 22nd (….the first day of fall if you haven’t caught on yet). This is when I find my surge of motivation. I crack open my new books (with the help of a yummy caffeinated beverage, obviously), get my ass back on an elliptical (with the new fall line-up to distract me from the burning tingles running through my calves) and reconnect with people who I may not have seen over the summer months (if this reconnection happens to occur over, let’s just say, a Pumpkin Spice Latte, then so be it. I’m just sayin’). Just like New Year’s Eve, fall instills in me that ambitious hope that come Christmas I will be a smarter-happier-8-pound-lighter version of my current self. Read More »

"OH MY GOD!! THEY'RE BACK!!!"

Don’t get me wrong – I love me a summer day at the beach. The smell of sunscreen, flip flops, and feeling the hot sand beneath my feet makes me very, very happy. But there is nothing quite like a crisp Fall day. I love jean-jacket weather. I love busting out all my fall clothes from that duffel under my bed. I love getting my back-to-school dramatic haircut. I love anything and everything that has to do with pumpkins (especially the candy corn ones).

Fall, I heart you.

With Labor Day just around the corner, it’s time to say goodbye to our white sundresses and helloooooo (nurse) to leather boots, college football and Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks. (Note: I said hello to those twice…on Monday.) Oh yeah, and also to long nights in the library, 40 pounds of textbooks and early morning classes. But let’s ignore that stuff for a moment and celebrate the best season ever.

Here is what the CollegeCandy writers love most about Fall. What’s your favorite part? Read More »

For a long time, I thought Newport News was a total “mom store” with terribly outdated and, well, momish stuff.  Then, a few months ago  I noticed some of their stuff in mags like Lucky, InStyle and Glamour and realized that they actually had some super cuteness going on.

Since then I’ve bought several items from them and they’re not only stylish and well-made, they’re great for a gal on a budget. Which is me. And you.

I combed the entire website and found so many adorable things, many for under $20, but here are my top 8, MySpace style: Read More »