Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list on all things I love, because if I love them – well then obviously you may (and should) love them too.As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Right now it’s all about Britney’s comeback, but after spending my Friday night in a bowling alley with a bar and massive music videos playing that made me think it was 1999, I started to wish the comeback was for someone else: our dear friend, Whitney. As in Houston. As in “It’s not right, but it’s okay,” and all the other amaaazingness that she brought before she went all drug bust on us. So, as Whit once said, Greatest Hits CD, “I will always love you.”

2. While doing some research on great gift idea websites, my BFF Google suggested a site called kaboodle, which reminded me of Caboodles. Which made me get all nostalic, and there is nothing I love more than nostalgia. So my curiousity was piqued and as it turns out- Caboodles? Still in business (and still an awesome gift for your nostalgic friends). I think I still have my turquoise, pink and purple one from the 80’s – nothing better than lifting up that clip and opening the top layer just to find more sparkley blue eye shadow beneath it!

3. Ok, enough missing my middle school days. Right now I heart these scarves. They spruce up an outfit, hide the cleaveange in front of your grandma, and make you look effortlessly coooool.

4. Keurig Individual Coffee Maker: When you live alone making a whole pot of coffee just seems useless. This may just be the best invention ever. So many flavors, brews super fast (when you wake up late for class), and makes that perfect cup for late night studying and hangover cures alike.

5. Ojon ‘Rub Out’ Dry Cleanser. For days when you oversleep but realllly shouldn’t have because your hair looks like Danny’s from Grease (or just actual grease?). Fear no more. This stuff does the trick when you need to stretch it out for one more day and it smells good. Not like grease at all; more like heaven. Now that is (Summer) lovin’.

[I used to think I knew everything...until I found myself stranded in the middle of adulthood with no map and no one to guide me when I got lost. I have learned a lot since then - from how to balance a checkbook to how to sew on a button - and will share my wisdom with you. Every Monday I will be back to teach you how to do something useful, even if it also happens to be completely random. Because, hey, you never know when you just might need to know how to change a tire...or mix a perfect martini.]

It happens—you’re out to dinner (most likely with someone you find attractive), you order some sweet-potato fries, and suddenly the glob of grease that was on its way to your mouth is blossoming all over your new white sweater/ blouse/ pants/ tank/ beautiful item of clothing. You might have to keep that glob around for the night (and swear to god that it is the only thing attractive boy is looking at), but you can get it out. Yes, even without mom’s help.

The first rule of thumb for getting rid of (embarassing) grease stains is more of a don’t than a do: don’t toss that sucker in the laundry basket when you get home and “deal with it later.” Detergent and water will NOT remove grease stains, so you’re going to have to get tough.

Now onto the do…

Perhaps the easiest thing to try is a stain-removal spray. You can find them in any store right by the detergents, and if you spray them on stains pre-wash and rub them in, they’re supposed to take any spots right out. I say “supposed to” because my spray is a little full of itself and doesn’t work quite as advertised.

If that doesn’t work, this page will totally bail you out. This person has compiled dozens of tips featuring numerous household items that will likely be able to save you in a pinch.

Most successful for me have been the following: Read More »

For some reason, spring earned this rep for being the season of love, with summer at a close second (and I think that Grease had a much heavier hand in that than the fact that it’s wedding season). Winter gets credit for hot chocolate and snuggling and sleigh rides (which is bullsh*t, because I have never seen the romantic side of frost bite, dry skin and goose bump-induced leg hair). But fall—sweet beautiful autumn – is where it’s at, people.

The sky is bluer than ever; the trees are gorgeously scarlet, olive and burnt sienna (a shout out to my fave Crayola!); cute boys are tackling each other, shirtless in the late afternoons all in the name of football. Your hair is looking f*cking awesome thanks to lower humidity levels. What better time to fall in love, or be in love?

Whether your just celebrating your fab relationship or enjoying the company of that cute guy you just met in Stats, take this fall semester to ‘fall’ in love with these seasonal date ideas. (Ok I’ll stop being obnoxiously cheesy now.) Read More »

Ah, summer time. Three whole months of no classes, no homework and no outstanding commitments. What is a girl (or a handsome boy) to do? There’s the inevitable catching up with your girlfriends, shopping trips and family obligation time… but every gal (and lad!) should find themselves a little summer romance.

From my personal experiences, summer flings can be quite delightful; you get to have three months of non-committed fun, living for the moment.

I spent three months one summer at the beach, where I met a cute, surfer boy who took me to every beach bonfire there was. During the days, we hung out on the beach, basking in the sun and getting to know each other – to a limited extent, as we both acknowledged what would happen at the end of August – and at night we spent time laughing, dancing and enjoying the moment, with an occasional make out or two. Wink. Wink. Read More »

This is the second of two graduation playlists.

Graduation should be a fun, carefree, and altogether joyous affair. It’s an intimidating transition, so sadness is inevitable, and wallowing for awhile is not only acceptable but encouraged. So if you’re graduating soon, take a listen to the mopey mix first.

After you’re through with the crying, sad slide shows, and memory books, it’s time to get to happy. Break out the boombox, call up the ladies and break out the booze. You made it! It’s time to celebrate…with song.

1. Good Morning – Kanye West

This is the lead-off track on Kanye’s latest disc for a reason. It’s smooth, soulful and perfect for lounging in the sun during finals week.

2. I Gotta Move – Ben Kweller

Leaving town? Here’s one song that makes it sound just as exciting as it actually is.

3. I’m Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon To Your Star – The Boy Least Likely To

This is a great little ditty about a band starting out. It’s amazing how similar college is to going on tour.

4. Wild Night – Van Morrison

Some of your favorite memories of the last four years probably center around some wild nights. (And in case you’re curious, this version is a lot better than the John Mellencamp one.) Read More »

As a little girl, when my parents wanted a little quiet time, instead of popping in a Wee-Sing video they put on Dirty Dancing or Grease. By the time I was eight I could recite every line. And while the abortion references escaped me, the whole good girl can change a bad boy idea did not.

I got older and my favorites gravitated towards Pretty Woman, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About You, and as a result, I have suffered a life-long affliction with bad boys.

Not the bad boy in the sense that they served jail time, smacked me around or started bar fights. No, they were bad boys in the sense that they were bad for me, and I stuck around like a barnacle on a humpback trying my best to fix him (you know, just like I learned from Julia, and the rest of the girls..)

It is a classic formula, the one I equate to my relationships: one bad boy with a fatal flaw (every ex I’ve ever had) + one good girl (me) + an undeserving amount of love, support and patience that will change them into the perfect man (the problem) = reality.

Case and point: The cheater, a repeat offender. The boyfriend, did not believe in romance – an obvious problem for a girl who believes the premise of The Notebook is not asking too much. The real bad-boy, with regular altercations with the law and other bad-boys. And, the self-proclaimed “laid back” boyfriend, too laid back for a job or to be counted on. Read More »

So, I realize that a lot my peers have a strange fixation with this thing called “the summer hook up”. As my friend and co-blogger Sol so eloquently, (actually she just corrected me, it was belligerently) put it;

Solgurl88: IT’S THE SAME THING AS HOOKING UP IN THE WINTER

Solgurl88: how come people never say

Solgurl88: ‘winter hookup!’(?)

I added that question mark in there for ya, buddy. But poor AIM grammar aside, I have to agree with her. A hook up is a hook up, why the classification?

Well, I suppose for people who vacation in a foreign country, or somewhere other than where they normally reside, the ‘summer hook up’ symbolizes the opportunity for a no-strings attached ‘relationship’ of sorts. (Those people are not to be confused with me, I am doomed to work endless summer jobs with either all females or no attractive co-workers for all college eternity.) Read More »