I. Heart. School supplies.

Yes, we know summertime can be oh-so-sweet, but now it’s August and summer’s winding down with school just around the corner. As much as summer rules, from the beach to margaritas, there are so many perks to heading back to campus and gearing up for classes.

Here are the top 10 reasons that you can feel good about ditching the bikini for some books!

10. School Supplies
Is there anything sweeter than shopping for new pencils and binders? And highlighters? And an adorable bag to carry it all in? I love back to school shopping for supplies solely because I love thinking of new ways to organize.. and then obviously not following through with any of it come the first day of school. But still – gotta love the crisp pages of a new notebook. Sigh.

9. Dorm/Apartment Shopping
After stocking up on post-its of all colors, there’s no better excuse than back to school to get some brand new decorative pieces for your dorm and apartment. Low on space? Check out the container store, definitely a top fave. Want fun, quirky decorations? Check out Anthropologie’s sales!

8.  School sports
Get pumped for football, hockey and basketball. Even if your school isn’t a Div I college, it’s still amazing to pre-party bond over some sport, even if it’s just squash.

7. Fall clothes
So over shorts and tanks? Slip into some cute new jeans, sweaters, dresses and jackets. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had it with my gladiator sandals. I can’t wait to bust out my boots and scarves again!

6. Exciting (or not) new classes
Okay, so maybe Bio 101 isn’t exactly riveting stuff, but new classes mean new potential friends (and boys!), kickass profs (and boys!) and absorbing all sorts of interesting educational material (and boys!). Cause that’s what college is all about, right? Or…

5. Excuses to drink…
From keggers to birthday parties to pre-gaming absolutely any activity (like another pre-game), this is the only time in your life where you can justify drinking in the middle of a weekday. Live it up.

4. Seeing everyone again
How much does it suck when you go home in the summer and all your college besties are hundreds of miles away, totally out of your reach? Reuniting with your group of friends is an amazing feeling, not to mention meeting back up with those…

3. College crushes
A whole new year to get at that cutie from your Sociology class. Leave the hometown kid behind and move back to your college squeeze!

2. Something to do every single night
There’s always something happening on college campuses, whether it’s a comedy show, concerts, sports games, parties… it’s hard to not be busy, busy when you’re back at school. No more summer boredom blues wasted away watching reruns of the Kardashians! (Or, at least if you are watching, you’re doing it with your friends which makes it infinitely better….and more acceptable.)

1. Complete. Freedom.
Kick back, crack open a beer (in the shower) and breathe a sigh of relief. You’re back on your own! No more parentals scrutinizing your every move or a summer job to tie you up at all hours. You’re back on college time. Finally!

And sometimes amidst classes and internships and jobs and scrounging around our kitchens for something to eat before our 6-hour library run we all have a pang of longing for that time in our lives. The days when we could sleep all day and not feel guilty that we missed a lecture, a study group and a day’s worth of quality homework progress. And then wake up, have mom make us a snack and drive us to the movies (where she’ll buy the ticket).

But while we do have a ton of responsibility now that we are “grown ups,” we also have a ton of new privileges now that the parentals aren’t breathing down our necks. And let me tell you – I’d trade in my Barbie Jeep for my curfew-less existence any day.

We can eat ice cream for breakfast
Far gone are the days of mom force-feeding us spinach and carrots, taunting us with the fact that we aren’t going to get that scrumptious brownie if we don’t finish all of our dinner. If I want to eat a bag of chips and chocolate cake for lunch, then I’m going to and there’s no one to stop me. Major plus for the grown ups.

We can live in a pigsty
When you played with your toys your mom would inevitably come in screaming that it looked like a tornado had ran through the room. Then she counted down from ten as you jumped into action picking up all of our Barbies and Beanie Babies. Not anymore. Want to toss your jeans over there? Done. That empty cereal bowl on the couch? Totally fine. (That is…until she comes to visit.)

We can do whatever we want, when we want to
As a kid you basically have someone telling you what to do at all times of the day. You go to school from 8-3, have a snack while you watch some cartoons, do your homework, have dinner and are in bed by 9 pm, sharp. There is really very little room for negotiation and when you tried, you’d only end up getting yelled at later when your mom came into your room and saw you playing with your stuffed animals on the floor. Now we have the freedom to decide what we want to do and when we want to do it. If we want dinner at midnight, we can. If we want to go to bed at 3 am, we can. Even if it’s at someone else’s house.

We can pick out our own clothes
I will never forget the embarrassment that was picture day when my mom made me wear a Mickey Mouse turtleneck and a pair of overalls. That picture still sits above the TV in my parents’ living room and it is a constant reminder of how good it is to decide on my own fashion fate these days. Oh you think that zebra print v-neck is cute, mom? Get it for yourself. I’m all about this low-cut LBD…and you can’t stop me!

We don’t believe ridiculous lies
Yes, Santa and the Easter bunny are awesome, but it’s also ridiculous that anyone would believe a fat man in a red suit jumps down every chimney in the world in one night. Or that TV rots our brains. Or that bread crust will make our hair curly. As grown ups, we are enlightened on the big joke that all the adults have been playing on us and make up some lies of our own (“Yeah mom, I’m just staying in this weekend to study for the big exam! What? No, that’s just the TV. Yeah, I’m watching ESPN’s National Beer Pong Championship.”)

We can ride shotgun
How much did it suck to always be strapped in the backseat missing all the scenery and stimulating conversation in the front seat? Yeah, waving to those fools behind you from the back of a station wagon was fun, but now you get radio control/to your destination without wanting to barf.

We can swear
When you utter your first forbidden four-letter word, the room becomes silent. Before your parents freak out. They don’t want to be known as the couple that has the kid who curses. You’ll never be invited to play dates with that filthy mouth! Now when you let some profanities slip, it really isn’t that big of a shocker. And even if it is, what can your parents really do about it?

Single. Free. Blissfully happy.

[Alright ladies, let's give a big CollegeCandy welcome (Read: raise those shot glasses!) to our new single lady! Her name is Emmy and she's a single gal living it up in Chi-town. She's hot, smart...and nowhere near ready to put a ring on it.]

Back in August, my mother and I were standing in Target debating exactly which organizational bins I would need for college when she turned to me and said, “Emmy, please don’t date anyone seriously at the beginning of college. I really don’t want you to get tied down too early.”

Alright, so this was a random topic of discussion for the Home Organization aisle of Target, but I still found myself taking my mom’s opinion seriously. After all, the woman knew her stuff when it came to under-bed storage, so surely she was a wise sage in all things relationship. The truth is, staying single for the beginning of college had been my plan anyway. I dated the same boy for the last three years of high school and being single is a relatively new experience for me. One that I am figuring out and not yet ready to give up. The breakup process was beyond painful, but now I am learning to really enjoy being a single girl.

Yes, sometimes I miss having that male shoulder perpetually there to cry on, and a standing date if there is nothing better to do on a Friday night. For the most part though, I just feel free. I am not always glued to my phone texting or talking to him. I have no one else’s opinion or schedule to take into account. I am not someone’s girlfriend, but rather a person in my own right. I don’t feel guilty when other guys ask me out. I can genuinely enjoy getting to know all the new people, boys included, that I am meeting with no qualms. Plus, it’s a lot more fun to go to parties when you are free to flirt and dance all you want. Then leave and share a large pizza with your girls.

I finally gained back the control over my own life that I didn’t even realize I’d given up. I just finished mapping out my four-year plan for college. It was so exciting, and I realized that at this point in my life, my academic ambitions are trumping my need to find a boy worth dating.  Silly as it might sound, I was reminded that I am an individual, with goals of my own.

At this point, I am not in any rush to be in a relationship. This is my time to focus on me. It might sound selfish, but I am excited! When else am I going to have the opportunity to study in a different country for a year and not feel guilty for leaving everyone behind? I know that the experiences I have on my own will help me define myself more clearly and make whatever relationships I do have in the future that much healthier.

I am having a great time in college thus far; I have a great group of friends and a perpetually full calendar. It seems like I am always meeting new boys and not immediately looking at them as potential dates makes getting to know them as actual people easier.

So for maybe the first time in my life, I am actually following my mom’s advice. I understand the importance of taking time to be single for awhile and the benefits it will have for me in the long run.

Just don’t let my mom know that I was actually listening!

See ya later, Single Status!

It’s weird how it happens. One day you’re screaming “THIS IS MY SONG!” every time “Single Ladies” comes on at the bar, and the next…well, you’re doing the same thing, but it’s not actually true. After just over two years of being the most single person on the planet, I actually took the dive. It happened really unexpectedly with a cute acquaintance I have known for years. We started talking a little more, and things took off out of nowhere.

I used to want to jack people in the face when they said, “When you stop looking for a boyfriend, you’ll get one.” And even though that is exactly what happened, that’s still really annoying advice. I think I hate it largely because it takes the situation out of your hands; as if you have to be in some sort of cosmic state of perfect personal balance just to get a damn date. I think a better way to phrase the advice is this:

Beating yourself up over not having a boyfriend or becoming depressed that “there’s no one out there” isn’t going to make your perfect mate appear out of thin are. There are times when 5 guys ask you out in a week, and there are times when your only male interaction for months is with your Environmental Science professor (hopefully not the wrong kind of interaction…). You can control your love life, but only to a certain extent. You don’t completely control who you meet, when you meet them, or (even as much as we try) how they feel about you.

I think what these crappy advice givers mean to say is if you can be happy without a boyfriend, you won’t turn your love life into the biggest stress-sesh since applying to grad school. Hello, school is pressure, work is pressure, your parents are pressure…dating shouldn’t be. It’s not going into your GPA, so live a little. There are perks to being single, and there are perks to being coupled, so exploit what you have. Learning to enjoy your status no matter what it may be is the biggest breakthrough for women since the water bra; both help you work with what you’ve got.

While I do really dig my guy, I’m going to admit it: I already miss being single. My single friends glare at me when I say this, but I mean it. Look, just one week after finally taking the plunge into exclusivity, I met a super hot grad student from NYU while I was out (I’m pretty sure the relationship Gods were testing me). I couldn’t give him my number. It was more traumatizing for me than when my first goldfish died. So the next time you’re blubbering about flying solo, just remember; you get to mack on anyone and everyone, and you don’t have to shave your legs everyday. Love the perks while you can!

[Since Dannia went and got herself a man, we're lookin' for a new Single Lady. If you know someone who's living up the single life, have her send an email to editor@collegecandy.com. We want to share her experiences with the world.]

I can also safely say that I’ve learned quite a bit about college life from my experiences so far – or at least enough to help me survive the remainder of the semester. So take out your laptops and notebooks, because there’s going to be a quiz on this stuff next week:

1. I love freedom!
For the first time…ever, really, I have the power to make my own schedule, write my own rules, and run my life the way I want to. This new-found freedom was a little overwhelming at first, since there was so much to explore on campus and only so many hours in a day, but I’ve found a comfortable rhythm that allows for flexibility when necessary. For example, I usually hit the books after dinner, but if there’s an Apples to Apples game going on in the lounge at the same time, I’m so there.

2. College dining usually sucks, but the soft serve machines rule.
Even if the food isn’t always wonderful, you can always count on the soft serve machine (and sugar cones!) to cheer you up at the end of a disappointing meal. Seriously. I want one for my room.

3. The best discussions are to be had outside the classroom.
I’ve been involved in many deeply intellectual class discussions, but nothing beats spontaneous jam sessions with my hallmates or lounging on the lawn talking about the cultural implications of Disney movies. Staying up until 3 a.m. discussing the intricacies of the universe with my friends is far more rewarding than reading the confessions of St. Augustine. (No offense, Augustine.)

4. You + hilarious friend + quiet library = bad.
If you go to the library to do work, sit as far away as possible from your friend who can make you laugh with just one look. Don’t ask questions, just do it. Learn from my mistakes.

5. When it comes to reading, divide and conquer.
Yes, yes, I know. Procrastinating is much more fun. But I’ve found that if you take that 400 pages of reading you have this week, break it up into smaller chunks, and do a little bit of reading each day, you’ll retain the information better and won’t go insane from cramming for 30 straight hours over the weekend.

6. Professors can make penis jokes, too.
At least, that’s all my film professor does during his three and a half-hour long lectures. I suppose he gets just as bored by the material as we do.

7. In college, a capella is considered a sacred art.
I don’t know why, but a capella seems to be purely a college phenomenon. If you try to start an a capella group in high school, your peers look at you funny. But when your college a capella group sings N*SYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” in an eight part harmony outside the dining hall, you become campus gods (and goddesses).

8. Make friends with plenty of guys so you can borrow their clothes for the gender-bender party.
Just make sure the guy you loan your clothes to isn’t so big that he’ll stretch them out. Don’t learn this the hard way. Rest in peace, favorite sweater.

What new things did you learn about college during your freshman year?

There’s a great many things to do and places to see in this world of ours.  As humans, our lives are pretty short (and if you party like I do, it’s probably going to be even shorter).  So we have to prioritize!  We have brains for a reason and that reason is…reasoning (well, at least some of us use them for that purpose: see comment about partying above).  Let me be your voice of reason as I show you all the things you should be doing right here, right now.

Sex sells and nobody knows that better than our generation.  We watch hours upon hours of gossip and celebrity news for the latest update on who’s bonking who.  We twitter about the Walk of Shame.  We scour Facebook for photos of last night’s hook-up.  We strut our stuff at the bar/parties/anywhere social, stalk some prey, and make the kill.  Then we share all the details with our friends over Bloody Marys and Sunday brunch.

As much as it pains it to say this, maybe we should…stop.  Seriously.  I was skeptical at first, but after some good ‘ole internet research I might have to have a little chat with my boyfriend (just kidding…maybe).

- Less Drama:  Yes, all relationships have drama, regardless of any sexual component.  However, I’ve noticed that the drama usually increases when people get naked.  Suddenly, your partner’s past becomes much more important and you become extra attached…and why wouldn’t you?  You just exchanged bodily fluids.  No sex = less drama.

- Freedom:  Sex usually involves some preparation, such as spending mucho time in the bathroom shaving, exfoliating, moisturizing, plucking, etc. and picking out matching underwear sets (unless you’re in a long term relationship, in which case most of those go out the window).  Nix the sex and feel the freedom!  Shave only if you want to, wear mismatched underwear, and let the stray hairs roam for a couple more days.  Ahhh…let freedom ring.

- Control:  I can’t count the number of tragic Sundays I have spent recovering from the night before and debating whether I should call first or wait for Mr. Right Now to call.  Sex can complicate relationships and make you feel like you’ve lost control of the situation.  Hell, that’s the theme of most of the episodes of Sex and the City. Why not cut out sex, clear your head and stay in control?

- Less Mess:  Bodily fluids, condoms, hair…once you think about it, sex can be kind of disgusting.  Without sex, you won’t need to worry about getting the horrible smell of latex and sweat out of your bedroom.  Also, chances of finding a pesky condom wrappy hiding under your bed at inopportune moments will decrease dramatically (let’s hope).

- More Time:  All the time you spend sweatin’ it up in the sack with your partner can be used for studying, exercising, socializing with friends, or just relaxing on a beach somewhere.  Just think of how many times sex has gotten in the way of your Medieval Art History homework…

- No babies/STDs:  Without a sex life, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you won’t have that scary moment when you frantically calculate the days between your last period and right now and realize that something might be off.  Also, unless you spend a lot of time rubbing yourself all over public toilets, you’ll be STD free!

- Masturbation = Win:  Most of the benefits you receive from sex can be replicated with  masturbation.  Also, you will develop a deeper understanding of yourself and how you experience pleasure.  When you finally start having sex again (whenever that might be), you’ll know exactly what you want and hopefully, how to communicate that to your partner.

Ahhh, Fourth of July.

It’s not a holiday that carries the burden of gift exchange, and you don’t feel guilty if you don’t spend it with your family. Is that why it’s one of the best days to celebrate? People make plans for the Fourth months in advance, which is more than we can say for St. Patrick’s day, its celebratory-drunkfest cousin. So what is it that makes Independence Day so special? I mean… other than the fact that we have freedom of speech and right to assemble and such.

1. Fireworks.

They appeal to everyone. The rebels can light stuff on fire and blow things up. The artists can appreciate the colorful patterns of light against a midnight sky. And the lovers can tell themselves it’s okay if they just did it in a park on a blanket. Fireworks and Fourth of July are like Mistletoe and Christmas. They just aren’t as cool if you pick the wrong day.

2. Hot Dogs.

Am I the only one that kind of thinks Joey Chestnut is hot? Or the only person who has the SNL Saturday TV Funhouse featuring Takero Kobayashi bookmarked? Seriously, my inner fat kid can live vicariously through these competitive eaters. It’s like rubbernecking a bad car crash — you can’t help but cheer when 90-something-pound Sonja Thomas proceeds to chomp 8 hot dogs in about 15 seconds. Sonja, your metabolism is the kind of freedom every girl wishes for this Fourth of July.

3. Bank Holidays.

This year, the 4th occurs on a Saturday. My office is having a half day on the 2nd, and a full day off on the third. That’s a 3 1/2 day weekend, all because we gained our independence from the Brits a couple hundred years ago. Score! Many of us that do have to work can rest assured that we’re getting time and a half, and a lot of places have extended their patriotic holiday to include closings on Monday the 6th. Awesome!

4. Bikinis.

Really, the 4th is the only summer holiday. Sure, if you live some place with consistent warm weather, like California, Florida, or Hawaii, you can have pool parties and cookouts whenever you like. But even if it is nice weather year-round, can you really justify a bathing suit at Christmas dinner? Whether you’re having a party or a family get-together on the fourth, you can express your independence in a string bikini and get away with it this weekend

5. Colored booze.

For St. Pat’s, they dye the beer green. BFD. For the fourth, you have a plethora of options, especially since there are THREE patriotic colors. From red strawberry daiquiris to blue Electric Iced Teas, you can mask your social drinking problem and look festive all at once! A lot of barbecues will be supplying cherry and blueberry Jell-O shots for the occasion, or just swing back a PBR and boast that you’re a true, red-blooded American.

If these aren’t enough reason to love the fourth, then I suggest you flip on TBS — hello, Independence Day is bound to be playing on repeat. Not only can you get your daily dose of Will Smith, but you can repeat the line “Welcome to Earf” until it’s just not funny anymore.

What type of independence are you celebrating this year?

We have a lot of freedom here in the wonderful U.S.A. Freedom that people around the world would die for. Freedom that people around the world do die for. But do we appreciate that freedom? Not as much as we should. In fact, being that we’ve been raised to be independent and fearless females, there are a lot of freedoms we have that we don’t recognize often enough.

Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day and in honor of that, I’m going to enjoy my freedom from my diet and eat 2 hot dogs I asked the ladies of CollegeCandy what freedom they appreciate most in their lives. Me? I love the chance to share my opinions with the world. And to eat ice cream for breakfast now that my parents aren’t watching me.

What about you?

Alex – Lakehead: I enjoy the freedom of doing what I want with my money. No student loans (yet!) is liberating!
Caitlin – University of Alabama: My freedom is being able to drink lots of wine by myself without feeling pathetic

K – GWU: I can’t help but be thankful for having a baller sound system in my car so I have the freedom to mourn Michael Jackson correctly (i.e blasting my MJ playlist 24 sev).

Kayla – California State University, Sacramento: My boyfriend is in the army and I am lucky to have him back home from a long separation. This Fourth of July, I’m celebrating freedom from running to the mailbox everyday in hopes of finding a letter. I’m celebrating freedom from fearing for his safety and comfort. And I’m celebrating freedom from celibacy!

Donnette – Manhattanville College: Freedom of EXPRESSION is the best. I like not being 7 when my mom told me what to wear!! If I want to wear a tutu and polka dot stockings I can.

Thu – USC: Staying out until the wee hours of the morning without having to report to anyone. Ahh, how I’m going to miss that next semester.

Marisa – Wesleyan University: I’m really looking forward to being free in just about every sense when I start college this fall. My independence day is September 1!

Vivian – Rutgers University: Freedom to stop shaving my legs after tights became fashionable again. What? You know you’ve done it too!

Kathryn – University of Wisconsin-Madison: The freedom to not have to write any papers, study for any exams, complete any group projects, or prepare any class presentations. The joys of being a college graduate!

Charlsie – Hollins: Currently, I love the freedom and independence of being abroad for the summer. Nothing is more amazing than being able to see new things, learn about another culture, and find yourself in it all at the end of the day.

Sara C – Fordham: It might sound ironic, but I love having independence from the internet when I’m away from my computer. Unlike what seems to be 99% of the population, I don’t have a Smartphone. I l-o-v-e having freedom from the chains of email and Facebook that have encircled most of my friends 24/7. When I’m offline, I am offline!

Cristina – Michigan State: I’m a big fan of being independent from the parents at school and coming home from a party at 5am if I feel like it with nobody to answer to but myself.  Hellz yea.

Sarabeth – University of Texas: I’m permanently moving away from home this year and I’m free from having to clean up after my parent’s un-house trained dog! Yippie!

Kathryn S.: I broke up with a longtime boyfriend to pursue a career… and had the freedom to land the best job ever!

Dannia – Loyola University, Chicago: Now that I’m 21 I’m free from having to memorize a fake ID that looks absolutely nothing like me.

Carly – Grinnell: I just quit my job to work freelance and I am SOOOOO happy to have the freedom to work whenever and wherever I want!

Lauren – University of Michigan: I should say that I’m so lucky to be able to be and do whatever I want as a woman, but what comes to mind first is the freedom I feel when I fart in a loud bar and no one can hear it.

Liza M – Minnesota: In winter, I love having the freedom to not shave my legs. I’m living in jeans and sweat pants anyway, so who’s gonna know?

Melanie – Northeastern: I love that I have the freedom til 2 pm on the weekends when I’m hungover. Too bad we don’t have the freedom to legally order drinks until age 21…

Ricki – University of Michigan: I love having the freedom to wear whatever crazy outfit I want without my mother telling me that I look ridiculous in strange prints or giant jewelry.

Here’s a secret: the editors of CollegeCandy are not in college anymore. And we cry about it every day. Seriously. We thought running a site for college girls would help us stay young, but waking up every day and reading about your college lives makes us want to do a keg stand…and then cry in the corner.

When we were still in school (only a short time ago, thankyouverymuch), we took it for granted. The freedom, the endless flow of money into our bank accounts, the drink specials, the endless flow of men up and down the hallways of our dorm… We never appreciated what we had. And now we are in the real world. And it sucks.

We felt it was our duty to remind you how good you have it. Life will never be as awesome as college – you can’t stay home from work because you feel like it, you can’t trip and fall on a cute and available guy, and Thirsty Thursdays no longer exist. So take a moment and think about your favorite thing about college life. Our writers did and here is what they have to say:

Brithny – Duke: The only thing better than the word “sale” is the word “free.” And in college, it means free shirts, hats, stress balls, bobble-heads, Tylenol, trainers, spotters, tutors, and for my wilder friends, an endless fishbowl of condoms.

Amanda – Wagner: I love being able to manipulate my schedule to have Fridays off and, if I can manage, to have my earliest class at 1pm.

Mazuba – Westchester Community College: The freedom to make your own schedule and not have to get up at 5am to be at school at 7:45 like in high school. We all need our beauty sleep and time to recover from the tequila shots the night before!

Charlsie – Hollins: All the sketchy things I have done out of boredom with my best friends. These moments have shaped who I am and my college experience entirely, and I know I will look back on them forever.

Sarah – East Carolina University: College Football! Nothing better than spending all day tailgating and watching the game!

Sara C- Fordham: Living in such close proximity to my friends. Even though I have an apartment now, being in school means most of my friends live in a 3-block radius. And of course in the dorms all you have to do is walk down the hall to see your best friends. Every night is like a sleepover!

CJ – UConn: Drinking while you work.  I can write a paper with a glass of vino in my hand, but at work-work…. not so much.

Donnette – Manhattanville College: Being on my own and still getting money from my parents

Thu – USC: Independence. Doing what you felt like doing when you feel like doing it.

Alex – Lakehead University: The freedom!

Anna – Northeastern: The convenience of everything – the gym, grocery store, cafeteria, classroom buildings, and my work study job are all a 5 minute walk away!

Sarabeth – University of Texas: The 3am food runs.

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: Game days.  One of the only times where it is socially acceptable to get trashed during the day and pass out by 6 PM.

Liza M – Minnesota: Being able to do whatever I want whenever I want without having to ask (or tell!) anyone.

Johnie – PSU: Knowing I’m in this safe place between high school and the real world…no worries!

Cristina – Michigan State University: Coming back from parties at 4:30am and not getting bitched at.

S.E. Fordham: Being able to go to bars a couple times a week and no one thinks anything of it. After college this is called being an alcoholic.

Carly – Grinnell: The chance to be with friends whenever and wherever. It’s easy to take that for granted until you graduate and suddenly everyone you know is scattered all over the globe.

Liza – Grove City College: Living with all of your best friends!  You never really get to have everyone you like living in the same building after college…

What’s your fave?

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

We’re just one week away from one of the most historical inaugurations in American history. So, in honor of that, I thought why not go a little patriotic when I’m out and about this weekend…

A cute top in blue with silver embellishments is definitely a fun and easy way to show some U.S. pride. You could also just wear an American flag as a dress, but this is probably a classier and chic-er option.

There is nothing more American than a pair of boot cut jeans. They also happen to look great with heels and are a good way to elongate/slim your legs. I’ve always been a fan of Gap’s boot cuts.

To add some real all-American pop to your outfit, go with one red detail, be it shoes, a clutch, or even red lipstick.

Just don’t go too overboard with the red. If you go for the lipstick or clutch, wear a muted silver shoe.

And because the embellishments on the top are an accessory in themselves, all you need is a simple pair of earrings (like some hoops) to avoid looking like a decorated Christmas tree.

Now you’re ready to get out there and create your some fireworks. You know, to celebrate your freedom.