Say whaaaat? Look, my “healthy” snacks barely make it under a hundred calories. How in the world can my dinner top that?

Introducing one of my absolute favorite foods – spaghetti squash. Now, this gourd was introduced to me about a year ago, but I never actually bought into it. I thought it was just another one of those healthy food items that tasted really bland and would just be a phase. Boy, was I wrong!

It’s called spaghetti squash because it is the perfect substitute for pasta. It has a medium-heavy texture that looks like spaghetti and tastes a little sweet. Want to know the best part? Here are the nutrition facts for one cup of this delicious squash:

42 calories, 0g fat, 10g carbs, 2g fiber, and 1g protein

Ummm, amazing! It tastes great paired with marinara sauce and turkey meatballs. Due to my crazy work out schedule, I have to eat more than one cup (which is a huge splurge, I know) but it’s so fulfilling. If you ever have a food cheat day, this will easily put you back on track.

I’m not a homemaker, so anything that involves lots of preparing and waiting is not my thing. Fortunately, it’s super easy to make this. Here’s the quick and easy!

1. Purchase spaghetti squash. It’s only $2.99 at Trader Joe’s and I think it turns out to be a similar price at other supermarkets.

2. Cut the squash in half or poke 10 holes in it. If you can get it to cut open, it will look like a pumpkin inside. Simply pull out all of the seeds.

3. MICROWAVE it! I know, right? It’s like making cup of noodles. Microwave the whole squash on high for about 15-17 minutes (depending on how big the squash is). You can also steam or bake it, but it takes much longer.

4. Take it out of the microwave. Use a fork to scrape the inside of the squash. It will come out in strands, just like spaghetti! So fun. It’ll be extremely hot, so just be careful.

5. Serve with marinara sauce, meatballs or sauce up your own creation.

So easy, right? I’m not skipping any steps – I promise! Try your miracle 100-calorie dinner and let me know what you think. I’m so addicted to it and I hope you love it too. Remember, a healthy body is comprised of 80% nutrition and 20% fitness. Fill your body with only the best.

While we can’t predict if your invitees will go gaga over a hand-carved ice luge, we can give you the answers to throwing an absolutely awesome house party.

1. Invest in a variety of alcohol…and lots of it

Nothing says lame party like the house that runs out of alcohol before midnight.  People at parties have this great habit of making a drink, holding onto it for five minutes, and then forgetting about their cup and pouring another drink.  Therefore, buy more.  It is absolutely okay to get cheap vodka and cheap rum if that means that more people can drink it.  You and your friends will have the leftover alcohol to use for the rest of the year.  If you need a guide, there are 17 shots in a fifth and 40 shots in handle.

2. Don’t forget the beer!

Even if you aren’t a beer drinker, a party without a keg means no flip cup, no beer pong, and a larger chance that someone will throw up in your house, since hard alcohol drinks will get people drunk faster than beer.  Set up the keg in the corner somewhere, and make sure you have lots of cups.

3. Jungle Juice and Jello Shots

In my personal opinion, Jello shots are awesome and fun for a few people, but if you are having a party with over 75 people, they are a waste of good alcohol and a waste of money that can be spent elsewhere.  However, Jungle Juice is easy to make, can be made as strong or as weak as you want, and minimizes the amount that people pour their own drinks into cups, helping you somewhat monitor how much they are drinking and how much alcohol is consumed

4. Make an awesome playlist

Have you ever been to a party where all of a sudden the Pokemon theme song comes on?  I’ve hosted this party.  Make an exceptionally long playlist with every song that people might want to hear at a party so that nothing embarrassing happens to you…putting your iPod on shuffle is the kiss of death. Need help? Check out these great suggestions!

5. Lock up your iPod or Computer in a room on the first floor

Because parties are all over Facebook these days and it is likely that some people you don’t know are going to show up to your house and drink your alcohol.  While this isn’t really a big deal, you would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to your valuables.  Take it from someone who had her iPod stolen during welcome week…lock the iPod in your room, and plug it into speakers or an extension cord that you can wire under the door.

6. And while your on it, get rid of your food

Reeses Puffs.  Pretzels.  M&Ms.  A bottle of Sangria.  All things that I have seen stolen at various parties.  Drunk people are hungry people and hungry people will raid your fridge and your cabinets.  Make sure that you’ve stashed anything important in your room, and if you are able to lock your fridge, by all means, just do it.

7. What goes on Facebook is there for everybody to see

If you want a smaller party with only people you know, try to make it a private event on Facebook.  Otherwise, it is really hard to dictate who comes through your front door and figure out who is a “friend of a friend” versus who “just got bored and saw a party and wanted free alcohol.” Also, a lot of school’s have their public safety guys cruise Facebook looking for open events where they can bust underage drinkers.

8. Invite your close friends to pregame

It’s a good idea to have 20 people or so at your house at the beginning of the night.  Nothing is more awkward than starting the night with your four roommates and 10 people from freshmen year who you haven’t spoken to since then.  Having people who you know at your house early makes it less awkward when your less close friends stop by, and also is an easy way to start your party.

9. And the last thing…ending the party

If it is 4am and you still have some stragglers, turn off the music, start cleaning, start putting things away…these people will get the idea….

Any other advice for first time party throwers? Any questions for the party experts? Share below! And feel free to check out our insider’s guide to the college party scene.

Here are 59 cheap, fun, and easy activities that everyone can do on their day off. And yes, sleep in is one of them.

1. Recover from the thirsty weekend without guilt.
2. Film a lip dub. Lady Gaga is always a fun choice, and there is always the possibility that she will Tweet you to fame amongst her little monsters.
3. Rewrite that resumé and polish up that portfolio, this is the time to apply for part-time jobs and internships that start in May!
4. Day-cation. Find somewhere fun in your town to spend the day. Preferably free.
5. Better yet, take a trip! Everyone needs a vacation from their vacation, right?
6. Find a scenic landscape and have a photoshoot. You and your friends are all overdue for new profile pictures.
7. Movie (hopping) marathon. Ryan Reynolds has a new movie out this weekend and you know you’ve been wanting to see Black Swan.
8. Study? Nah.
9. Make a photo collage for your side of the room. If you want motivation, create an “I Want” board out of magazine cutouts with everything that’s on your wish list.
10. Burn a CD (or make a new iPod playlist) of your favorite songs. If your iTunes library has mutated into the thousands, this task could take all day.
11. Host a clothing swap with your friends. You save money and a trip to the mall while finally cleaning your closet and getting new clothes (new to you, at least).
12. Start the P90X workouts. Again.
13. Do it like a middle school sleepover and take a spa day – manis, pedis and maybe even that haircut you’ve been needing (hint: you need it).
14. S’mores. Even if you don’t have a gas stove, you definitely have a microwave.
15. Errands? Goodness, no.
16. Hit up a show: stage musical, poetry reading, improv comedy troupe, concert. Especially now that Gossip Girl is on hiatus, there’s no excuse for putting off quality amusement anymore.
17. Head to a busy place and pretend you are a trend hunter. Walk up to random people in cool outfits, introduce your work, and spend the day taking fashion photography.
18. Work out. HARD. Then reward yourself with some delicious desserts.
19. Try a new recipe! Plenty of time to mess up and start over, if necessary.
20. Experiment with a new make up routine in the safety of your own apartment.
21. Go through your Facebook and detag the unflattering photos – both personally and professionally. It will be a very productive day off!
22. Recollect your walks of shame and submit your Morning After story to College Candy.
23. Write some snail mail letters to your friends at other schools. Who doesn’t love getting a letter over an email?
24. Paint. Even if you are awful, there’s nothing more satisfying than covering a blank canvas with whatever you’re feeling. If it sucks, just claim it’s abstract.
25. Play in the snow. Soon it will be gray and dirty and disgusting, so make a snow angel while you still can without risking an infection.
26. Hit up CVS, buy color-in-a-box, and dye your hair.
27. Have an internet sabbath. For the entire day, shut off your computer and see what the boredom inspires you to do.
28. Sleep! Sleep in, take a nap, go to bed early. Just catch up on your shut-eye and recharge for the following week.
29. Go home for the day, enjoy mom’s cooking, and relax.
30. Visit a friend at a different school.
31. Play a pickup game of soccer with some friends
32. Clean out your makeup drawer – did you know that most products have a pretty short shelf life?
33. Break out the old Saved By The Bell DVDs and have a marathon.
34. Make a collage box.  It’s easy, all you have to do is grab an old shoe box and cover it with magazine clippings.  If you come up with something really great, use it as a gift box.
35. Paint your room.  A simple pop of color on one wall will really add dimension and the illusion of size.  Pick a color like yellow if you need an instant mood lift.
36. Organize a cook-off with your closest friends.  Assign one dish to each person and then have a dinner party with the results (it may be a good idea to set aside pizza money….you know, just in case.)
37. Speaking of pizza, vow to try a new exotic topping on your day off.  Truffle oil and artichokes taste fab.
38. Make a YouTube video showing the world how you create those perfect spiral curls.
39. Set up a LinkedIn profile.  It’s never too early to make connections.
40. Start a blog.
41. Challenge your friends to a FIFA tournament.
42. (If you’re lucky enough to go to school in a warm place) Have a picnic! (If not, have an indoor picnic.) Spread a blanket out on the quad and indulge in goodies like pasta salad and miniature sandwiches.  Make sure you bring enough for the all the new friends that you’re sure to make.
43. Brainstorm ideas for a new club or student org.
44. Day drink!  Ordinarily we don’t condone alcoholism, but since you’re just starting a new semester, we’ll let it slide.  Get your friends together for a day of cocktail making and see how many fun drinking games you can come up with.
45. Write fan fiction for your favorite TV show.  It’s not only for twelve-year-old girls and creepy old men.
46. Try the new mutli-colored nail trend.  That way, you have a day to decide whether or not you’re a fan before you debut the look in public.
47. Make a scrapbook!
48. Re-vamp your wardrobe.  Cut up old t-shirts, add brooches to blazers, just be creative!
49. Go online shopping and compile a wish list. Then you’ll have a reason to start saving that money.
50. Donate old clothes and shoes, especially if you have old winter coats lying around.  They could really benefit those who are less fortunate.
51. Try out a dance workout DVD.  You may look like an idiot, but you’ll have fun and hopefully sweat off the calories from last night’s cookie break.
52. Have a Disney movie marathon.
53. Make a DIY Blair Waldorf style headband with craft supplies.
54. Cut out inspirational quotes and tape them all over your room.
55. Write a Facebook note with your own list of things you’d like to do on your next day off.  Tag your friends and challenge each of them to contribute new ideas.
56. Buy a piñata, fill it up with candy, and invite your friends over to take swings.
57. Call your high school BFF for a catch up session.
58. Stock up on fresh fruit and make a delish smoothie.  Circulate your concoction through your hallway and challenge floormates to come up with a better combo.
59. Nail your favorite necklaces to your wall – not only is this a great way to store jewelry, it also makes a super cute decoration.

Whew! That should keep you busy. And if it doesn’t, I’m sure there will be a Kardashian marathon you can enjoy….

Dear Tuffy Luv,
I’m pretty sure you already answered a question like mine but I couldn’t find the answer, so here goes. I’m a high school senior applying to college and I’m having a bit of a problem with my safety school. It’s brilliant: great nightlife, safe area, amazing dorms and has a course that I love. One bad thing though: it’s my hometown. The dorms are down the road. The campus is a 10 minute drive from home. Not that I don’t love my hometown and my folks, but isn’t college my one chance to become independent and get a little space? When it comes down to it, I want to be able to stumble home drunk at 2 a.m and not have to worry about seeing people I know on every street corner.

Would staying in town for college be a waste of an experience? [Ed. Note: No! Just ask our commuter student!]

Should I apply to a worse school just because I don’t want to stay in my town? I mean, my folks think I should stay in dorms (and I will) but still. Any advice would be lovely

- Confused about College

Dear Confused about College,

Well, I’m more of a relationship columnist, but…well, I really like your question. So, okay, I’ll come at this from the angle of forming new (and dealing with old) relationships via college, yes?

Yes, a major function of college is to have new experiences. You may indeed feel the need to “stumble home drunk at 2am” (although, if you do, and this goes for ALL OF YOU, please NEVER NEVER do it alone!!! Stumbling in any condition at 2am anywhere is not safe enough to go it alone!!!), and certainly that is harder if you’re worried about running into people.

But, look, you’re certainly not gonna bump into your parents on campus. So that’s a plus. And I think it’s really great and supportive of them that they want you to live in a dorm even though the school’s so nearby. It’s cool that they want you to have new experiences without them.

This leads me to believe they’ll probably kinda leave you alone. So you can check that off your list of worries.

As for running into people you know from, say, high school–well, they’ll all be busy having their own new experiences. I doubt they’re gonna care what you’re doing, just as you probably could give a shoop about what they’re doing out at 2am.

Who knows? You might even find that, outside the context of high school, someone you’ve known for years and never connected with could be really cool. Old associates often become new friends.

And, honey–if it’s a good school, that, honestly, is more important. Don’t go to a worse school just to avoid old neighbors! Seriously, girl. You got a good head on your shoulders. Go to a good school and use it!!! Besides, it’s your safety school, yes? You may not even end up there.

Here’s to hoping you get into your first choice and have all the exciting, brand-new, branching-out experiences you crave and deserve! (WHILE, of course, maintaining your GPA!!!!!!!!)

Hearts & Skulls,
Tuffy Luv

Need more Tuffy Luv? Check it all out here!

I mean, what is not to love about Halloween? It is a night of pure debauchery devoted to stuffing your face with Twix’s and candy corn without guilt, wearing the sluttiest of slutty costumes without shame, and inevitably hooking up (a man in a mask? yum.) without judgment due to all the socially acceptable scantily clad outfits.

Halloween is basically one long session of foreplay. Only bummer about the best day of October is the walk of the shame the next morning. Maybe you thought the Lady Gaga costume was a good idea for the 31st, but you may not think so while you’re walking home the next morning in a bright blue pantless body suit with smeared eyeliner and glitter all over your face.

So to avoid being the solo slut this Hallow’s Eve, dress up in a group costume with your friends so you can walk home together.

Group costumes are interactive, more creative than the insert Sexy in front of anything costume, (ex: sexy nurse, sexy teacher, sexy plumber, sexy firefighter, sexy scuba diver, sexy nun?), and ideal for a quality Facebook profile pic.

So here are our top ideas for this year:

The Cast of the Jersey Shore
This one is just obvious. Someone could dress up solely as Snooki’s guidette puff or Situation’s abs, but all you really need for this epic coed group costume is some self tanner, douchetastic tshirts (for tshirt timeeee) or a boobtastic dress and some high quality hair gel or a bump-it. Put it all together and you’re officially descendants of everyone’s favorite shore. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can actually buy Snooki, Pauly D, and The Situation costumes from Ricky’s or Spirit Halloween. And if you’re already a self-proclaimed guido or guidette, just go as you are and fist pump the night away. (Just make sure to GTL before you go, of course.) And lastly, if you’re Pauly D… then well all know you’ll be dressed up as yourself dressed up.

Beer Pong Game/Team
Interactive, relateable, and full of balls. Sounds perfect, right? Buy the costume or make your own, but a beer pong team is the perfect drinking focused group costume. You need many people to make this costume a reality: refs, red cups, ping pong balls, drunk frat guys and sorority girls, and obviously… beer.

Katy Perry and her California Gurls
This song and music video made every guy’s fantasy come true as soon as whipped cream flew out of Katy Perry’s boobs. You don’t even have to be from California to pull off this Candyland-inspired costume. All you and your group of gals need are sparkly daisy dukes, cupcake bras, and bright wigs. Extra points if you find a guy man enough to wear a suit of candy and carry a pimp cane like Snoop.

Alcoholic Beverages
The possibilities are endless. This may just be the best DIY group costume out there.
Margarita/Corona= A feisty Spanish costume! Grab a sombrero and you’re good to go. Stay focused and only drink tequila all night.
Bloody Mary = Traditional catholic school girl outfit meets serial killer. Dress up in the cliché costume but add fake blood and wounds all over.
Red Headed Slut = Find your closest ginger friend, cause this one is all hers.
White Russian = White dress, snow boots, and a Russian white toggle hat. Anything Soviet related works.
Lemon Drop = Easy. Yellow dress. Maybe carry a lemon or two.
Manhattan = I <3 NY shirt. Done. Or dress up as one of the Sex & The City girls.
Kamikaze = Wear a pilot costume or air force costume and just run into people all night long.
Skinny Bitch = If you’re skinny and a bitch, then you pretty much have this one wrapped up. You know who you are.
Pink Panty Dropper = Wear leggings and a bright pink thong over them around your knees all night. Be careful though, this costume tends to stop being a costume after a while… and just starts being real life.
Champagne = Wear the flashiest dress you can find and put on a New Year’s hat. Toast all night long. Pop them bottles with pride.
Captain Morgan = Pirate costume and the pose. Plus, you get to carry a sword.
Shirley Temple = make the biggest alcoholic in the group dress up like the 4-year-old actress

Disney Princesses
I don’t know how such sweet fairy tales got turned into every guy’s fantasy, but I like it. There is a Disney princess for basically every type of girl. Who knew Walt was so dirty?

Holidays
Celebrate the best holiday by dressing up as all the other holidays!
Christmas = Mrs. Clause, an elf, or wrap a box in wrapping paper, cut out arm holes, and be a present!
Fourth of July = For the true American girl. Wear an American flag bandana, daisy dukes, and cowboy boots….or just go as Sarah Palin. Cause what is more American than her?
St. Patrick’s Day = Dress up as a leprechaun or just drink more aggressively than every other person all night. Irish car bombs should be your drink of choice.
New Years: Put on your best party dress and a New Years hat!
Valentine’s day = Cupid costume. A bow and arrow is clearly necessary.
Easter = For the girl who secretly really wants to wear that sexy playboy bunny costume.
Mardi Gras = Put on a masquerade mask, wear feathers, a purple or green boa and you’re set.
Earth Day = For the hippie/bohemian of the group. Dress like you’re at Woodstock. Wear tie-dye, a headband, and hold up the peace sign all night.
Cinco de Mayo = same as the Margarita costume from above!

Need some more inspiration? We got you covered.

What are your awesome group costume ideas? From sexy to slutty to funny, we want to hear them!

We launched a photo contest at the beginning of the semester that challenged all our readers to send in a Welcome Week photo that said “I love being back at school.” While we expected a few good ones, we were in no way prepared for the awesomeness onslaught we got when we started looking through your photos on our Facebook wall. From slip and slides to ski shots, we were impressed with your Welcome Week spirit…and jealous of how much fun you are all clearly having.

And of course, the winner will be having a lot more fun when she goes home with $500 from lulus.com!

We chose our top five favorite entries (which was hard, let me tell you) and posted them here so YOU can vote on which one most says WELCOME WEEK. Because, honestly, we’re too busy looking through our own Welcome Week photo albums (insert nostalgia) to pick our favorite.

You have from now until noon ET on Monday, September 27th to cast your vote. Then we’ll close the polls, count the votes and announce the BIG WINNER on Twitter and Facebook (so start following us, fools). And then she’ll jump for joy and spend the next 10 hours poring over Lulus.com, figuring out how she’ll spend that $500!

P.S. If you’re one of the lucky finalists, be sure to promote your photo on Twitter and Facebook! $500 dollars worth of new clothes is at stake. This is no time for modesty!

Check out the finalists then scroll down to vote for your favorite below.

The Finalists:

“The senior is an easily entertained species. Here it can be observed during its ‘Welcome Week,’ drinking many fluids and watching freshmen prey move in. But for every 3 surviving seniors, 1 does not make it through the week.”
Submitted by Caroline.

“I’m so excited for to be back at- zzzzzzz.” (Good call on the 2 bottles of water, though!)
Submitted by Alexandra.

Campus maintenance really shouldn’t leave those garbage bags just sitting around.
Submitted by Kelly.

No need to stop the party to attend the first day of classes at Texas State.
Submitted by Erica.

Two porches, one pong table. One hella awesome Welcome Week.
Submitted by Sarah.

Let’s face it: we all make stupid decisions. Like choosing a fifth over a review session, or bringing that guy home…who stole our iPod in the morning. That’s part of college life… and a big part of what makes it so memorable. But there are some choices that have longer lasting repercussions; things we do now that will haunt us later.

So here are the 11 things from your 20’s you will most definitely regret when you’re 40.

11. Risque Internet Photos: What’s the point of having technology if you can’t use it to send a naughty pre-shower photo to your BF? Nothing will turn him on quite like a naked photo popping up in his inbox while he’s brushing up on his Stats knowledge. You trust him, so what’s the worst that could happen? How about a break up? Or the “forward” button? No matter what you think, those photos are going to come back and bite you in the (naked-with-a-spot-of-cellulite) ass. Just show him the real thing and let him turn to his imagination (or internet porn) for a mid-class pick me up.

10. Trendy Tats: You totally love butterflies/stars/unicorns now, but I can bet money that you won’t want them plastered on the top of your foot or your lower back forever. No one wants to see a mom with a rose tattoo on her left shoulder, so think before you ink.

9. Choosing guys over your girls: You get caught up in your relationship sometimes and blow off the girls. Fine, we get it. But when sometimes turns into “What the hell ever happened to Mary?” there is a problem. Especially when Mr. Douche Bag finally breaks up with you and you come crawling back to the girls with a tub of Edy’s and a box of tissues and they aren’t there to wipe the snot from your cheek. Do you really want to spend the rest of your days holed up in a dirty apartment watching your man play Rock Band and chug Natty Light? Learn the balance, honey.

8. Getting married too young: I’ve seen it too many times – people graduate, freak out and hold onto whatever they can of their youth. And they get married.  And become super lame married people. It may be pure bliss now (and lots and lots of kitchen-ware), but just think about all the awesome stuff you will miss by being tied down in your twenties, all that freedom: to travel when you want, to take a job wherever you want, to sleep with whomever you want, to party as late as you want, to discover yourself, to sleep with whomever you want…. Plus, do you really want pictures of your friends doing keg stands in your wedding album? I thought not.

7. Smoking: Mmmm tobacco. It feels so good when it hits (and consequently blackens) your lungs. Especially after you’ve had a few Rum and Diets. And you look so cool doing it. But you know what doesn’t feel good? Chemo. And you know what doesn’t look cool? Your wrinkley face or your kids stealing the pack from your tobacco stained purse and trying it for the first time. When they are 6. This sh*t will kill you, so stop it. Right now! Seriously, put down that Marlboro Light, sister.

6. Not traveling enough: Trust me on this one – you will never have the time, money or freedom to travel like you do now.  Pretty soon you’ll be working late nights and counting down the minutes until the that will be chock full of grocery runs and Bed, Bath and Beyond trips. Try finding time in that busy schedule to jet-set to Europe and “find yourself.” Pack your bags and see the world now, before you’re too old to experiment with drugs in Amsterdam and enjoy a ping pong show in Bangkok.  Pick up a travel book and start planning!

5. Bad Credit: You can’t live without that Coach bag right now. You just have to have that DVF dress for the date party. Everyone else has an iPhone and you want one too. You’ll just charge it and worry about it later, right? Wrong, bitches. Ruining your credit now on stupid stuff (yes, I am telling you that bag is a stupid investment) will totally eff things up for you in the future. Things like getting a house, a car, a boyfriend (bad credit is a total turn-off) and sometimes even a job. Spend wisely, ladies. That bag is going to be out of style in .25 seconds anyway.

4. Not finishing school: Do we really even need to mention this one? Could you think of anything you’d regret more when you are 40 and working the checkout lane at your neighborhood Wal-mart? That is, assuming, you can even get that job in this economy.

3. Pre-vacation tanning: You tell yourself that you just want to get a base tan before Spring Break in Cabo. Sure, you will look fiiiine in that white shift dress for the 6 days after you return, but that wrinkley, skin cancer-ed mess is not going to look so hot when you’re 40 and you look like a Sharpei.

2. Stilettos: Part of becoming a woman is rockin’ the hottest pair of the highest heels. They make your legs look sick (that’s a good thing), make the men beg, and your jeans are too long to wear with anything lower. Why wouldn’t you wear them? I’ve got one hyphenated word for you: hammer-toes. You want to spend the later part of your life looking at that in a sandal?  Make your Feet Happy with these ultra comfy and cute socks..

(Editor’s note: I was going to put a picture of a gross foot here, but you Google “gross feet in sandals” and tell me how it makes you feel.)

1. “It feels better without condoms” sex: You’ll probably regret this one right off the bat as you spend your senior year chasing a kid around the dorms, but you’ll seriously regret it later when you look back at your life and realize how much you missed out on because you were busy changing diapers and bouncing a kid on your knee. Oh, and no one likes a woman with a bumpy vagina. I’m just sayin’; those genital warts will never go away.

"I take 10 minute showers! I'm killing the planet!"

For the past few months I’ve been talking your ear off about why the earth is in trouble and how you can go green to save our environment.  And while it’s great to do whatever you can to protect the planet, there is such a thing as caring a little too much. According to the New York Times, there has been an increasing amount of people that report anxiety and stress because they feel like they are never as green as they would like to be.  And, believe it or not, such anxious thoughts about the environment can have negative impacts on your emotional state, your health, and your relationships.

How do you know if you’re just a concerned citizen or full-blown green stress case?  Read on for the answer and for ways to manage if you’re glowing green just a little too brightly.

Are you green stressed? There’s a huge difference between being concerned and being down right obsessed.  Before you go any further, ask yourself a few questions:  Are you happy with your efforts to help the environment?  Do you feel like you’re doing enough to go green?  Are you willing to give up your green efforts to preserve some of your favorite activities?  If you answered yes to all of these questions, then congrats!  You are helping in a way that is both healthy for the environment and healthy for your well-being.

Didn’t pass the test? Then you may have some anxiety issues related to going green. With all of the information out there, it’s hard to feel like you’re ever doing enough to counteract the rest of the world’s indifference.  Before you start ripping your hair out, realize that this is more of a psychological issue than an environmental issue.  An obsession with going green is just the same as an obsession with losing weight or making money – you never feel like you’re doing enough.

So how do you fix it? Unless your stress is very severe, a quick reality check is just the ticket to snap you out of it.  First of all, think about all of the things you already do to help the environment.  Do you recycle?  Turn off the lights and water when you’re not using it?  Bike or walk to work or school?  Believe it or not, most people don’t do any of these; you’re way ahead of the game!  On a similar note, don’t compare your efforts to those of others!  Not all environmentally friendly methods are compatible with everyone’s lifestyle.  Pick your favorites and make a pledge to stick to those.  As time goes on, slowly try to incorporate other changes into your routine if it works.  Which brings me to my last point…

What is important to you? We already know that the environment is high on your priority list, but think about the other things you enjoy doing.  Personally, I love to go out, drink a few beers, and hang out with my friends.  I’m not going to let the fact that I’m wasting a few aluminum beer cans ruin my night.  Going green is all about protecting your passion, so be sure that you protect all your other ones as well!

We’ve heard it all our lives: diamonds are a girl’s best friend.

While I agree that diamonds are fun and sparkly and pretty, most of them can’t give you an orgasm (unless that rock is HUGE). And I think every girl’s best friend should be able to do that. Therefore, I’m going to disagree with Ms. Monroe on this one and argue that my vibrator is my best friend, and is probably the best friend any of us could hope for.

Not gonna lie, I’ve always been a big fan of masturbation. I’ve been doing it since I was fairly young, and have always believed that it’s a healthy thing to do.

I spent most of my formative years manually stimulating myself, but counted down the days until I turned 18 and was finally able to buy my first vibrator. (What? It’s healthier than counting down to buying cancer sticks!) Once my long-awaited birthday finally arrived, though, I realized that I had no idea what to look for. There were hundreds of different kinds – waterproof, G-spot, realistic, dildo, vibrator, with testicles (who really wants that?), ones that you can stick to the wall, and the list goes on.

I had always prided myself with being fairly knowledgeable about all things sex (which I accredit mostly from watching Talk Sex with Sue religiously since 6^th grade), but sorting through the oodles of synthetic phalluses to find something that would make me scream like a banshee seemed somewhat daunting.

And my first trip to the sex shop didn’t help.

Standing there, surrounded by rubber (or silicone or latex or glass) dongs, made me feel a little uncomfortable. Especially considering I was there with a friend and her super liberal mom.  I started poking around (no pun intended) the goodies awkwardly.  After passing things like this, I realized that people came in here for much kinkier things than I did and instantly became much more comfortable. Twenty minutes later, I found my perfect toy (good size but not ridiculously large, curved in all the right places, and had 10 speeds) and left there a happy little lady.

I’ve since been to a few sex shops, mostly just to look (although, I did pick up a few more toys here and there) and while I don’t think I am in any way a pro, I do feel I have collected a few tips that some ladies might find helpful when purchasing their first sex toy.

Which, I can’t say enough, is something every. single. woman. must do.

Look online first. Checking out sites like this will help you get a better idea of what’s out there and what to look for. I found that being able to browse the penis catalogue online made me feel much more comfortable than being shocked at the freaky shiz I was going to find in the store.

Become familiar with the different types. As I mentioned before, there are many, many, many types of sex toys. What you want to buy is all about how you plan on using it. Solo? You may be looking for a vibrator or dildo. Using it with a partner? You may be looking for something more like a pocket-rocket or other toys for two. Assess your personal situation so you aren’t overwhelmed when it’s finally time to buy.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You should never be ashamed to ask questions. After all, if someone is working in a sex shop, chances are, they’ve heard freakier questions before. Plus, they want to help you, so suck it up and get some guidance. They know their stuff and can help you find the perfect toy for your needs.

Have Fun! While going into an adult shop for the first time can be a little nerve wracking, just remember to have fun. There is nothing the people in those stores haven’t seen, so there’s no need to feel self-conscious about your purchase. Bring a close friend or your partner with you if that will ease your nerves, and remember that it’s okay to laugh at the 2 foot long dong hanging in the corner. It’s also OK to buy one…

Summer date ideas? Thanks, Tuffy!

Olivia

P.S. Cheap ones would be good because I’m still in college! Thanks!

Dear Olivia,

Do I have some ideas for you? Answer: Yes. Yes, I do.

(1) Go Swimming

Find out where the neighborhood pool is. (Even better if you can find a neighborhood beach!!) Slather each other with sunblock and head over for a guilt-free indulgence. Yeah, you’ll have to put up with all the neighborhood kids, but it’s so much cuter that way, anyway. At the end of the day, when you’re done splashing and sunbathing, take a cool nighttime walk home.

(2) Paint Each Other

Pick up some cheap supplies (don’t worry about quality here–this is just for fun) and paint pictures of each other. Laugh hysterically at what you each come up with–and compliment each other for seeing things other people would never have seen. Got a little messy? Shower’s this way…

(3) Have a Neighborhood Date

Do all the stuff you’d do if you were visiting your town. Do the local tourist attractions (no matter how lame). Look in the paper and find events. Spend the whole day like you were on vacation in your own town. Eat at the neighborhood favorite. And then go home and finish the vacation with dessert! (Winkyface.)

(4) Learn Something New Together

This is a great chance to get to know each other! Spend at least an hour talking about all the different things you always wished you knew how to do. Compile a list and then find the things you have in common. Pick something to learn and find an event or a class at which you can learn it. And then learn the heck out of it. Voila! Something new you can do together whenever you want!

(5) Volunteer Together

Find something you both feel passionate about – kids, animals, old people, iguanas, bananas, anything works – and find a local organization that helps. Volunteer together once, once a week, once a month, whatever. You’ll bond and do some good at the same time.

Have fun, summer cat!

Anybody else have any great date ideas?! Post ‘em below!

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv