Fall semester is in full swing and it’s starting to feel like you’re doing the same thing every week. Class. Study. Drink. Hangover. Poor Theme Party Costume Choice. Homework. Switch things up by taking advantage of a long weekend or your fall break (if you’re that lucky) by checking out our Weekend Getaway guides.   We’ve already covered Boston, Toronto and Austin. Now, we wanna take you on a road less traveled (unless you’re Paula Deen)…to Savannah, Georgia.

To the young, curious child version of myself, Savannah, Georgia was synonymous with Girl Scouts —the scratchy uniform I hated, the vest that always seemed to have less badges than the rest of the other Brownie Scouts, and, of course, Girl Scout Cookies! Yum, I love those things!

However, that’s only one part of Savannah. Yes, Girl Scouts of America was founded there by Juliette Gordon Low and I’m sure visiting brings back many fond memories to the to former Girl Scout tourists.  But, Savannah is filled with centuries of history, charm, and even some ghosts! If you’re looking to get out of the hustle and bustle of your college campus for a long weekend, head down to the ol’ South and check out quaint Savannah, Georgia!

Touristy Spots:

River Street- Located right on the Savannah River, River Street is one of the most historic areas of Savannah.  The cobblestone streets take you back in time hundreds of years as you take in the historic beauty. There are numerous shops, restaurants, and even street performers that will provide entertainment for hours.  One of my favorite shops is the River Street Sweets candy shop.  Here, you will find the most delicious saltwater taffy, as well as fudge, chocolate, praline treats…you name it, they have it!  Seriously, bring your wallet and your sweet tooth! At the end of River Street is the Waving Girl statue.  According to legend, Florence Martus waved at passing ships, waiting for her own true love to return.  She never missed a ship in the forty years that she greeted the passing ships. Tell me that’s not romantic?!

Take a Tour- Seeing Savannah by tour trolley is the best way to soak in all the history it has to offer.  I suggest Oglethorpe Trolley Tours. For only $15 you can see 90 minutes worth of historic hot spots, beautiful churches, and cemeteries. All tours are narrated by a tour guide, so you’ll learn some interesting facts about historic Savannah. Plus, you can get on and off the trolley and explore on your own. Seriously, this is the way to go—you’ll get the most bang for your buck!

Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthplace- In case you weren’t able to visit as a brownie scout, you must visit now and pay some homage to the lady, Juliette Gordon Low, that made those Thin Mints so famous!  Her southern mansion gives insight into early Girl Scout history, as well as shows some of what daily life was like during the early 1900s.

Restaurants:

Huey’s on the River- Located right on River Street, Huey’s on the River offers some New Orleans’ flair in Savannah.  Expect long waits, but the food will make up for it, especially the beignets, or the gumbo, or the muffalettas. Yum! Order anything on the menu, you can’t go wrong.

The Lady and Son’s Restaurant- Paula Deen. Need I say more?! Paula Deen is my absolute favorite chef, so when I heard that she had a restaurant in Savannah I had to try it! Everything she cooks clogs my arteries makes my mouth water! I don’t know if it’s my butter obsession or because when I eat any of her recipes, calories don’t matter to me, but her food is pure bliss.  And The Lady and Son’s Restaurant is no different!  The food will leave you more than satisfied and the dessert will warm your soul! Lady and Son’s is definitely a must-try!

The Pirate’s House- This restaurant has been in service since 1753.  Originally, The Pirate’s House was an inn for seafarers and offered them food and drink in exchange for stories about sailing the seven seas.  Today, it acts as a restaurant serving only the most delicious food! The menu ranges from seafood to pasta to steaks and burgers. Try any of the jolly ol’ grub and you won’t be disappointed.  A fun fact: the restaurant is claimed to be haunted because of the secret passageways under the restaurant that led to the river. Spooky!

Nightlife:

Oktoberfest- One of the biggest festivals in Savannah takes place on River Street each year.  Enjoy a part of the original Oktoberfest, Savannah style.  Between the Weiner Dog Races, bratwurst, and hundreds of beers from around the world, you can’t go wrong. There’s even a fried beer stand this year! At night, you can enjoy the Fireworks put on annually by Wet Willies Restaurant (also another cool restaurant to try)! Sounds like a good October weekend to me!

Ghost Tour- No history is better than haunted history! Savannah is known for the supernatural occurrences so you MUST try out one of these tours.  There are many companies that offer ghost tours, so pick creepiest one and put your ghost hunting skills to work!

Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub- The good ol’ Irish settled in Savannah, so there’s a huge Irish cultural influence there.  Check out this pub for some delicious Irish-American pub grub, grab a pint and enjoy the awesome performers that will have you singing along to “Molly Malone” all night long. Slainte!

Lodging:

The epicenter of Savannah is River Street. Some recommended hotels are the Hyatt Regency or for a more historic feel the River Street Inn, which dates back to the 1800s.  Both are quality hotels, located right on River Street, and provide you with easy access to numerous historic hot spots, restaurants and shops!

What will make you feel like this?

It’s sad but true, but when it comes to jobs there is often a big disparity between what will make us rich and what will make us happy. Just ask all those recent grads making six figures at their finance jobs; I can guarantee most of them are not all smiles after 90-hour work weeks.

The problem (especially in this economy) is that people are more concerned with the ching ching than those warm fuzzies they get when they’re doing something they love. I totally get it; money is a great thing and I know from experience how crappy life is when you’re makin’ nothing. (I swear, I was about 2 quarters away from being homeless on the streets of NY at my first post-college job!) But what about your happiness? Does that count for anything?

This week I asked my writers – many of whom will be off looking for real jobs in the near future – to take a break from the bustle of their lives and think a little bit about their futures.

If happiness were the nationals currency, what job would make you rich?

Makes you think, doesn’t it?
What’s your answer? And how different is it from the path you’re actually on? Let us know in the comments!

Carly – Grinnell: Children’s book author. I’m close to getting there!!!!!

Norah – Drake University: Working for an organization for young women – something like Girl Scouts or Girls Inc.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: If happiness were my dollar bill, I would be a horse trainer. If I could spend countless hours with horses AND be getting paid via happy vibes, my life would be complete. I wouldn’t complain being a fashion designer either; if only I could sew a button on my own jacket….

Zahra – Northwestern University: Being a professional book reader (not editor, reader) or salsa dancer.

Jasmin – University of Missouri: I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut.

Alex – Lakehead University: Traveling! Going all over the world, staying in beautiful hotels and villas, eating the most decadent foods and seeing all the wonderful sights. I love traveling but it’s just so darn expensive!

Katie – Michigan State University: Fashion designer, hands-down. A close second is exactly what I studied for: photography.

Lauren – University of Michigan: Telling jokes on stage. But only if people don’t heckle me.

Jessica – FIT: Dancing would make me a billionaire

Noa – CU Boulder: Beer pong coach?

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: A food critic.  Who wouldn’t want to eat for a living?

Ricki – University of Michigan: Celebrity party planner

Sarabeth – University of Texas: If I were a writer for SNL, I’d be Oprah rich.

Jessica – Delaware: A kindergarten teacher. I absolutely love kids, and I don’t think teachers get paid enough for what they do!

Cristina – Michigan State University: Somewhere between being a make-up artist, the editor of Nylon Magazine, a DJ (like Leigh Lezark), and the girl who moans in rap songs. Possibly all four at once.

Amy – University of Iowa: Trampoline Tester (One that tests how fun they are, not how safe; I just want to jump, not get hurt!)

Samantha – UC Santa Barbara: My summer job as a team leader at Camp Galileo working with an amazing staff and to-be kindergarteners.

Emmy- Loyola University Chicago: If there are any jobs where you just read all day, I would be so rich from doing them!

Charlsie – Hollins University: If I could write freelance and make cupcakes on the side, I would be rolling in the dough!

Hannah – Assumption College: Definitely a personal trainer, Jillian Michaels’ style.

Kelly – University of Iowa: Daydreaming about drinking sangria on the beach with my cute Spanish teacher. If only.

Sara C – Fordham: I’d be a pro runner, or someone who trains runners. Unfortunately in the real world, those jobs usually go to people who can run 4 minute miles, or used to be able to in their prime. But if I could live off happiness alone, I’d run all the time!

Brithny – Duke: Any kind of job that would make me famous. Currently in the process of pitching my own reality TV show to MTV: Shanghai Shore.

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No one's getting booty in this room. Trust.

It’s the Scout Motto: Always be prepared. But I don’t think my Girl Scout troop leader was referring to booty calls when she ingrained that piece of advice into my head.

On a college campus you never know who you’re going to meet… and then want to take back to your room… to get to know each other better. The last thing you want is to bring a suitor home one night and have them leave the next morning without their wallet because it’s lost in a sea of your dirty laundry (true story). Or worse, bring them home and have them remember they have “somewhere to be” (at 3 a.m.) after spotting your My Little Pony collection on your nightstand.

Being prepared for spontaneity may be an oxymoron, but it has safely guarded my dignity and late night encounters thus far. Here are a few life tips I have adapted in my quest to divide and conquer, without letting those boys see my Spanx.

Good Idea: Have some sexy lingerie out on the bed. There’s no reason your guy can’t be led to believe that you sleep in see-through nightgowns every night of the week. He can file that one away right alongside “girls never poop.”
Bad Idea: Procrastination and laundry are my two archenemies, but it’s simply never a good idea to have your dirty laundry sprawled across the floor, including the granny panties you’ve been wearing all week. Helpful tip: no one will see it when it’s stuffed at the bottom of your closet.

Good Idea: Having pictures of your friends displayed throughout your room.
Bad Idea: Having a framed picture of your dad holding a 12-gauge shotgun. Let’s be real. That’s not going to set the mood.

Good Idea: Candles may be banned in dorm rooms, but try your best to keep your room smelling nice. The scent of fresh laundry or perfume wafting through your room will keep your guy coming back for more. Or, at the very least, he won’t be repulsed by the aroma of old milk and mildew.
Bad Idea: Having three half-eaten boxes of pizza scattered around the room. Two-day old pepperoni has an unforgettable scent that is sure to make you gag upon catching a whiff. Moldy cheese is not an aphrodisiac – don’t forget that.

Good Idea: A freshly made bed with crisp sheets and fluffy pillows.
Bad Idea: A freshly made bed covered in 42 pillows shaped like cats.

Good Idea: Continual bikini line and leg hair maintenance.
Bad Idea: Not shaving from November to April to reduce your heating bill and still keep warm. He may love to stroke your hair, but not when it’s on your legs.

Good Idea: Having a copy of the Kama Sutra on your bookshelf amongst other notable books and novels. Impressive and sexy. Now he can love you for your brains and your sexual prowess.
Bad Idea: Asking him to read you a few chapters of Twilight before bed. It’s either that or a chapter from Sex for Dummies, which has a prominent place on your nightstand. Awkward.

Good Idea: Having a variety of condoms readily available to you.
Bad Idea: No matter what anyone says, neither saran wrap nor chicken skin is an acceptable form of birth control.

Those girls pretend to be innocent, but we’re onto them!

 Elisabeth Moss and Fred Armisen are getting married!

Hayden Panattierre’s look for less! SO cute!

A straightener AND a crimper? Yes, please!

Shia LeBeouf with some sexy scruff…yum!

The secret love lives of our presidents…hmm, curious?

MTV’s on our side!

Russell Brand has sexual powers? What?!

Little kids are so cute and funny, even when they don’t mean to be.

Little Rudy is not a cokehead!!

Kelly Osbourne back in rehab…shocking.

OMFG! Did you hear that it’s Girl Scout Cookie season!? Hell yeah! I walked past a table of those delectable little cookies cute little troopers yesterday on my way to class. And let’s just say I enjoyed a few (Ok, an entire box of) Tagalongs during a 2 hour lecture.

I don’t know who came up with these treats, but my hat is off to you!

There is something for everyone – even the health conscious out there. And you don’t even have to feel bad about eating them, because you are doing a good deed just by buying them! There are so many different kinds that I feel bad choosing a favorite (kinda like my parents…who obviously chose me), but I definitely have a soft spot in my heart – and on my ass – for the Peanut Butter Tagalongs. So. effing. good.

Which ones are your favorites?

Yeah, baby; Girl Scout Cookies are on sale!

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Facebook sensoring content related to Gaza and the situation in Israel.

Obama is already getting down to business.

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Britney’s blog has been hacked. Hilarity ensues.

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Unexpected beauty buys.

I think we can all agree that this is a “WTF” moment. You don’t steal money from a Girl Scout, no matter how stupid you are! Girl Scouts, in the eye of the American public, are on approximately the same level as troops in Iraq or bald eagle chicks.

Plus, how traumatizing would it be for the Girl Scout to watch her hard-earned money be plucked away like that? True, I can think of worse things, but not many.

I was a Girl Scout once. Not for long, because I hated wearing the uniform and I wasn’t girly-girl enough to hit it off with all the other girls, but I know what it’s like to shoulder the doom and responsibility of big-ticket cookie profits.

It’s freaking hard to sell $150 worth of cookies. You can only guilt so many boxes’ worth out of relatives, and after that it’s all going door-to-door in the bitter cold, peddling your sales pitch to people who politely feign interest until they can close the door without causing you to burst into tears.

Forget teen pregnancy, teen drug use, and teen drinking…it pains me to know that there are teens in America willing to steal Girl Scout cookies for fun and profit.