The holiday season is officially upon us, which means for the next month or so, there will be lots of holiday parties and opportunities to get dressed up! So why not celebrate the season by wearing some sparkle? Not just for craft projects or dance-recital makeup anymore, glitter can be found on all types of clothes and accessories right now — and what perfect time to wear it than during the holidays? Glitter is pretty, fun and festive, adding to the happy mood of the season. These glittery pieces are all great choices to wear this holiday season, and they’re all just $20 or less each!

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Imagine this scenario: It’s your first year out of the dorms, and you are living (ever so happily) in a nice little duplex off campus.  You can feel the Christmas spirit course through your veins like a Four Loko; quickly and aggressively. You and your lovely roommates decorate a mini tree with blinking lights your parents found in their garage. You drink spiked eggnog and laugh in the face of the holiday spirit.  Your eyes glide blissfully over your wonderful home.  You estimate it’s about large enough to fit at least thirty people comfortably, and maybe fifty if you send that Facebook invitiation out soon enough.

It’s time to throw a holiday party!

But, there is a twist.  Since you’re living off campus, you barely have enough money to support your Velveeta macaroni addiction, nearly enough time to crap, and the creative capacity the size of a kids meal.  You need a cheap, quick, and effortless way to throw a bomb-diggity party your friends will not forget.  And here at CollegeCandy, we’ve compiled a faboosh list of party throwing ideas that will fit your college girl needs for years to come!

Deck the Halls
Post-It Christmas Tree: I read InStyle recently (in the store – I don’t have $6 to spend on a magazine!) and they had great creative advice for decorating.  I’m sure everyone has quite the collection of post-its scattered across their room from all that studying.  It’s time to round them all up (all you need is three colors) and create a Christmas post-it scene on your refrigerator! It’s fun, festive, and easy!

Festive Decorations: If you want to create a cheap decoration, steal some pretty ornaments from the parentals and a vase.  All you need to do is drop all of those pretty ornaments in the vase and, just like that, you have yourself a beautiful centerpiece for your liquor/buffet table.  Even easier? Grab those twinkle lights from your room and shove a them in a vase (try to find the ones that don’t need to be plugged in) and use that as a festive instead.

Be a Santa, Baby
Secret (Sexy) Santa Gifts: Me and my friends mix all of our names in a bowl and draw names around Thanksgiving.  Then, come Christmas party time, we each secretly run out to the local sex-store and buy each other a saucy gift.  It’s hilarious, fun-awkward, and um….beneficial.

Make Your Own Christmas Cards: Construction paper and cute monogram stickers can be your new BFF.  Or, visit the Target aisle and grab a $5 gift box of Christmas cards.  I recently bought a cute Christmas puppy pack and I can’t wait to give them out! Inside, write them a poem, or why you’re grateful to have them in your life. (Yes, enjoying watching them as a sloppy mess every weekend counts.) Your friends will appreciate the small gesture of Christmas cheer.

Recipes for Destruction Holiday Cheer!
Cheap Appetizers: Most college parties don’t offer up food, but come on! It’s the holidays, so let’s make this a classy affair. Need some classy food on the cheap? Try Target or Trader Joe’s.  Puff pastries…bruschetta, quiche…you name it, they have it.  Throw those babies in your oven and POOF, you have a spread to impress the best of ‘em.  It’s also great to buy a California pizza, bake it, and cut it into tiny squares for an app as well.

Spiked Christmas Punch: Recently, I learned how to make a DELICIOUS punch.  All you need is a bucket of green Sherbet, a bottle of Canadian Dry, pineapple juice, and, well, whatever you want to spike it with. (My vote is for vodka. Even the cheap stuff tastes good in here.) Mix all of that goodness together, and you have yourself a tasty, cheap treat.  Need another great holiday drink idea?  Buy any blood orange or pomegranate strawberry punch and mix generously with vodka.  Put it in a large bowl with a ladle and it’s a chic-ed up and sophisticated version of Jungle Juice.

Cheapest Toffee: You don’t need to be classy to have toffee.  All you need to do is lay out some saltines on a pan (I know you have saltines, they are a great hangover cure).  Melt brown sugar and butter in a separate pot, pour it over the crackers, sprinkle some mini dark chocolate chips, and set in the oven for a few minutes.  Let cool, then break your creation into little bite-sized toffee treats.  Serve on a festive paper plate. YUM!

Be a Good Person, Spread the Christmas Cheer
Give Back: Since you’re extra generous this season, instead of charging friends five dollars for the mysterious punch, charge them a canned food item.  Later, you can take all of your good to the local food shelf and spread your overflowing Christmas spirit to all.

Go Caroling: Trust me, drunkenly stumbling up and down the street and singing Christmas songs at other drunk people’s doors is as fun as it sounds. For everyone.

Oh, and please, people – don’t forget the mistletoe!

I hope you’re all ready for the ultimate (and only the beginning of many) Christmas party of your lifetime! Do you have any great ideas to share?

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Like I raved all about last time, phenomenal artists came out with albums last month. Kanye West’s album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Nicki Minaj’s, entitled Pink Friday, are really the two big ones to pay the most attention to and give a full listen as soon as soon as you get a chance. They’re both nearly flawless, in my opinion. If you happen to have some sort of inexplicable resentment or animosity towards either one or both of them, I’m sure you’ve found it nearly impossible, at this point, to avoid hearing them somewhere or another. Not only are some of the tracks from their new albums already topping the charts, but Nicki and ‘Ye are also being featured in nearly every other popular hip-hop song out there right now. They’re basically the unofficial king and queen of hip-hop these days. Thus, unavoidably, (and to my great satisfaction) they’re also all over this month’s playlist.

Out of the very goodness of my heart, I handpicked some of the most catchy and upbeat songs from both of their albums so you don’t have to sort through the slow, mellow ones when you’re ready and looking to party. But don’t worry – if you’re not a huge fan of them there are also plenty of other great artists featured on this month’s playlist as well. Like Lupe Fiasco with his awesome brand new single that was just released last month. Or a not-so-well-known, but instantly appealing song by La Roux that contains her usual fun, electronic-pop beats. And, lastly, what would a December pre-party playlist be without Jay Sean’s new hit song, perfect for any New Year’s Eve celebration, that advises everyone to, “Party like, like it’s the end of the world.”

As for the rest of the songs, you’ll just have to click here to find out which other ones made the cut. Most importantly, happy holidays to all! Are all the doings and goings-ons in the month of December not the greatest excuse to party and celebrate?

It’s holiday time and at holiday time the LBD goes out the window (OK, not out the window. What a waste! More like to the back of the closet; we all know the LBD will be back by NYE) and in it’s place:

The LRD (the Little Red Dress).

From Thanksgiving to Christmas lord knows we are invited to tons of holiday parties. Some dressy and some a bit more casual. But either way, you can’t go wrong rockin’ an LRD. Nothing says “I’m Festive!” or “kiss me under the mistletoe, cute guy in the ugly sweater!” or “damn that peppermint/chocolate pretzel was good, spoon feed them to me please” like an LRD. Okay, so maybe the last one doesn’t need to be said in an LRD but, mmm, holiday chocolate.

Here are our favorite options for this year’s LRD. From santa red to darker hues to reds in a fun print – you just can’t go wrong! Dress them up with bare legs and a nude pump; dress them down with black tights and suede booties; OR, my all-time favorite combo, opt for grey tights and shoes. It’s less harsh and more unexpected than black (but this works for the more casual options only!)

Happy holidays, ladies in red!

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Mmmm holiday cookies.

I could eat my own weight in Grandma’s “Won’t Fail Fudge,” but do I really want to carry around an extra me in 2010? Not exactly. Spring comes quick here in Santa Barbara, so bikinis and spring runs are just around the corner. If you’re located somewhere where you’ll be wearing large sweaters for the next four months – lucky you! (I guess?) But even if you will be bundled up for a few more months, that doesn’t mean you want to have to trade your skinny jeans for your dad’s sweatpants thanks to a few weeks of indulging.

So, here ere are some tips for navigating holiday parties and rounds at the bar so you can enjoy yourself and still look damn good in the new year.

Surviving Those Holiday Gatherings
Food can seem like the main event at holiday parties, but isn’t the point to mingle and mix with one another?

1. Don’t Go Hungry! Pretty self-explanatory, but don’t do it! Eat sensibly throughout the day, and maybe skip a snack if you want to bank a few extra hundred calories for later.

2. Choose foods that are “worth” it to you. Choosing to have a little taste of the things that you’re really craving, say Christmas cookies or some mini-quiches, while holding back on the other hors d’oeuvres at the buffet line can save you hundreds of calories without making you feel deprived. Pick to have a small portion of your favorite one or two dishes, and load the rest of your plate up with veggies and low-fat dips. Some great options are salsa, guacamole, and other vegetable-based dips.

3. Protein, protein, protein! Choosing foods that are high in protein will help to keep you fuller for longer, and help you to combat bloat in your party dress because you will be fuller from eating less! Choose items such as cheese, nuts, small sausages, shrimp, or slices of meat. Just don’t go overboard! Stick to recommended serving sizes: 1 oz of cheese is about the size of four dice, 3 oz of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, and one serving of nuts fits in the palm of your cupped hand.

4. Keep a drink handy. Keeping a low-calorie drink or cocktail in your hand while socializing means that you can’t eat at the same time! Also, you won’t have to worry about talking with food in your mouth.

5. When all else fails, wear something slinky. You’ll attract attention and feel good. If you feel more confident, you’re more likely to make good choices about food and less likely to feel like binging on the nearest plate of sugar cookies. Think about it: wearing a big sweater means room for cookies! A slinky dress means one or two, but not the whole plate.

Bring on the Bar!
These days, I’d gladly take my vodka and tonic over a sugar cookie. But can’t I have both? Please?

1. Mix and mingle with something light. Substitute diet soda or diet tonic water when possible in your favorite mixed drinks. Juices are great to mix with, especially if the bar offers lower-sugar or sugar-free versions. Lime or lemon, and even a cherry, can flavor your drink for only a few calories. OR try flavored liquor on the rocks.

2. Choose wisely and lightly. Choose a lower calorie cocktail (especially if you’re having more than one – New Year’s Eve anyone?) Some good options include:

Wine Spritzer – Wine spritzers are half wine and half club soda. With three ounces of wine and three ounces of club soda, wine spritzers top out at about 60 calories and zero grams of fat.

Red wine or white wine (5 ounce serving)
Calories: 120

Champagne (5 ounce serving)
Calories: 120

Vodka tonic
Calories: 200 (or order it with diet tonic and lime for only about 100 calories!)

Regular beer (12-ounce serving)
Calories: 150

Light beer (12 ounce serving)
Calories: 100

Vodka Cranberry with just a splash of cranberry and mostly diet tonic
Calories: Under 150

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When you’re on a budget you can’t spend your money on just anything. You need items that are versatile, timeless and just plain pretty. And this beautiful dress from ASOS is all that and more.  It is short enough and reveals just enough skin with its strapless design for hitting those clubs on Saturday night. Put on some sexy, strappy heels and you are ready to conquer the dance floor.

When the party’s over, work this dress in a different way. You got a holiday party coming up? Slip it on with a pair of pumps and clutch. A nice family dinner to attend? Put a blazer over the top and you’re good to go. Wanna rock it out? Add a leather jacket, tights and a pair of ankle boots.

Unlike most mini dresses, this ASOS design is anything but typical. I really love the contrast created by the light drape, especially how it crosses the bust to the waistline and then back over again on the bottom. It’s not only flattering and elegant, but gives the dress a bit of intrigue as well. If you’re into the classics, go with the black and white version.  For a chic yet edgier look, choose the black on black. And if you’re all about the show stoppers, the red dress is for you.

With this dress in your closet you’ll have the solution to every wardrobe dilemma. Whether it’s a birthday party or a wedding, this dress is the answer.

The anticipation and build-up for the evening mean it’s never as good as you expect it to be. And no matter how much planning you do and how much money you spend, New Year’s Eve always fails to be an extraordinary night. Just because it’s the last night of the calendar year, doesn’t mean it’s going to be any more fun than any of the others. Trust me.

Reason #1 I Hate New Year’s Eve: First of all, it’s essential that you plan ahead. If you don’t make your plans well in advance, you’re risking having nothing to do. Parties get booked up, your friends make other plans, and you’re stuck watching the ball drop with your parents. I don’t like planning ahead. What if I’m forced into deciding to attend a party and then something better comes along? What if, in November, I don’t know what I’m going to be in the mood to do in December?

Reason #2 I Hate New Year’s Eve: Then there’s the expense. If you want to go out, you’re going to have to spend money, and probably a lot of it. Take last year, for example. A group of my friends made plans to go to a bar. We dished out the $75 that would allow us access to an open bar, bought fancy dresses, and got all decked out for the night of our lives. When we arrived, the bar was absolutely disgusting, the food nasty, and the people incredibly sketchy. It turned out we were only allowed to drink well liquor (when we could get near the bar). It also turned out that we could have paid $10 at the door and been allowed to attend the same party and order our own drinks. As if I would drink $65 in Grey Goose. The bottom line is that bars can charge whatever they please on New Year’s Eve and people will pay it. People like me.

Reason #3 I Hate New Year’s Eve: Midnight is just awkward if you’re single. When you’re single on New Year’s Eve and the clock hits midnight, you are left with only a few options. You can: a) Use this opportunity to hide in the bathroom and pretend you don’t realize it’s midnight, b) Participate in a group hug with all your other single friends, assuming you have any, or c) Kiss the guy closest to you, who may or may not be a huge freak. As you can see, none of these options are very appealing.

Reason #4 I Hate New Year’s Eve: It’s freezing out. You want to wear a cute dress and heels, but you’re going to freeze your butt off in the freezing, snowy cold. This is never fun. I’d rather be wearing sweat pants. In my bed. With a bottle of champagne.

This year, I’m giving it one more try. My friends and I made our plans in mid-November and are spending even more money this time. We have determined that by spending $110 to attend a party at a classy bar, we’re guaranteed a good time. Of course, we’re wrong. And it will probably be miserable. And next year we’ll go through the same thing all over again. Only it will be more expensive.

Pass the champagne, please.

All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]

The holidays are upon us, which means lots of fun excuses to get dressed up (and get drunk). But if you are going to make one pre-new years resolution this year it should be this (say it out loud with me): “I will NOT wear a little black dress to this years’ holiday parties.

There – don’t you feel better now?

What is with the black dress every year? There are so many options, especially this year! Options in ‘so bright you may need sunglasses to talk to me but I sure do stand out in a crowd’ colors. And the best part is? Unlike the celebs above, you don’t need to spend your life savings on a dress. We all know they get hot cider spilled on them at the party, anyways.

Need another reason to give up on black this year? How about the fact that you will finally be able to distinguish this year’s holiday photos from every other year you spent in the same drab dresses?! I knew you’d see the (bright) light.

And I am here to help. This week I bring you: Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: Not Your Average Black Party Dress.

Here are some fabulous bright blue dress options that won’t break the bank. All are equally cute, unique and (say it with me) NOT BLACK!

Shoes:

You can glam it up with a pair of killer heels, or take the cute-yet-comfortable approach with a hot pair of flats (which will look just divine with a pair of black tights if you need to keep warm!). Just do not do the Meester and opt for white pumps this time of year.

Bag:

Wear the black one as a clutch or throw the chain over your shoulder when holding your drink becomes more important than holding your bag. Or add even more fabulosity to the look by pairing the dress with this gold bag. (Unless, of course, your dress has sequins, in which case you you may end up looking like my grandma circa 1992.)

Bling:

It is a special evening, so special jewels are in order. You could go with some hot earrings or a great necklace, but I think cocktail rings are the way to go. Who doesn’t love the glamour of an oversized ring? It is the perfect amount of bling to look glamorous without going overboard.