Like most families, mine gathers around the dinner table on Thanksgiving and (after making fun of each other for a few minutes) shares what they are most thankful for that year. Growing up, I hated this tradition; it was so cheesy and lame. But now that I’m an adult (and an adult that comes from a family that never says nice things about one another), going around the table at Thanksgiving allows me to tell my family how much I love them…

And suck up for better presents come Hanukkah.

But really; it’s important to stop and show gratitude for all of the things we typically take for granted. Like my new niece; yes, even though she peed on me last weekend, I am thankful to have her in my life. Or the fact that I not only still have a job, but I have a great job (and a liquor store right next to my office!). Or my incredible friends who support me and laugh at my jokes… even when we all know they’re not funny.

Gosh, when I stop to think about it, there are just so many things I am thankful for. Maybe I should really show some gratitude year round….

But anyways, being that we’re really freaking close to Thanksgiving dinner (stuffing!!!), I thought I’d ask the CollegeCandy writers to share what they’re thankful for this year. (Apparently everyone’s giving thanks for their boyfriends… whereas I’m giving thanks that I don’t have one so I can eat as much pumpkin pie I want on Thursday night…) Read More »

A lot of my friends can’t believe that the day after Halloween all of the pumpkins and skeletons have instantly transformed into turkey posters and Christmas balls. But I absolutely love it.

There is nothing better than walking through the streets (or the sidewalk in front of your dorm) bundled up in a cashmere scarf past Christmas lights twinkling on railings and storefronts. After spotting wreaths hanging from lampposts in my ‘hood I spent my weekend sipping hot cocoa, flipping through the holiday edition of my favorite mags and watching Thanksgiving inspired recipes on the Food Network. It was my very own glorious holiday bubble.

And then, like that, it burst.

I opened my computer to find an email from my friend trying to figure out our plans for New Years Eve. Which is nearly 7 weeks away. SEVEN! New Years?! You mean the celebration that is on December 31st?! Is she for real?

First of all, there are two very important holidays between now and NYE. Neither of which I have planned, and both that I love more than any other. Why rush the most glorious time of year? When New Years Day rolls around you are only left with nothing but a massive hangover and memories of a holiday season passed. New Year’s marks the end of the holidays and sends you packing up your suitcase and heading back to school for a new semester of essays and homework and stress. The decorations vanish, the cheer disintegrates and you’re left with nothing but dread for the next holiday: Valentine’s Day. Read More »

Which family will we be dining with!?

With Halloween over and done with and Christmas decorations lining hte aisles of my local CVS, it can only mean one thing: holiday season has begun.

But along with the amazingness that is Thanksgiving and Christmas, comes with one big question:

Where the heck am I going to spend the holidays this year?!?!!

With my awesome boyfriend came an awesome family, and they’ve really welcomed me as one of their own. Fortunately, his mom made the question of “Where am I spending Thanksgiving?” easy. She got tickets for herself, her older son, Matt, and myself to go see the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving day! It’s our early Christmas present and it’s a dream come true for my boyfriend. I mean come on, he’s a guy who grew up in Texas; going to see his favorite team in the new behemoth that is Cowboy’s Stadium is the best Christmas present ever. Read More »

I’m pretty sure there is nothing better in life than a really fantastic sale section. Especially at a store stocked with things you already love. Take home some awesome finds on the cheap? Yes please!

Much like Urban Outfitters and Express, Tilly’s is chock full of really cute stuff at a somewhat “affordable” price. But it is in their fabulous sale section where you really hit the fashion jackpot. They’ve got everything from basics to statement pieces to stock your closet, and all of it is ch-ch-cheap. Here are a few items I found to be totally darling and will fulfill your inner frugalista. Read More »

It’s about that time when I start looking around for my holiday go-to outfit. It may seem a little early given that we just entered November, but the second Halloween ended I saw Christmas decorations shoot up in every Manhattan storefront, so I’ll take that as my cue.

Now, it isn’t easy to compile the perfect ensemble. Holiday parties, dinners and dates pop up in short notice and with any extra cash sent directly to the Christmas gifts fund we can’t run out and buy a new outfit for each one (well, we could, but let’s try to remember it’s the season of giving…to other people). So you have to have the perfect outfit to get you through the season, and all the events it brings about.

And I ladies, have found the one item that will instantly make anything in your closet party appropriate. Read More »

I can’t believe Christmas has already passed. Is this year flying by or what? New Year’s is less than a week away, which means it’s only two weeks until I’m breaking my resolutions.

So, are you happy that winter’s finally arrived, or have you added a “Days to Summer” countdown to your Myspace profile? To determine whether the glass of egg nog is half empty or half full, let’s weigh the pros and cons of winter!

Pro: We get a month off from trekking around campus just when the temperature hits below zero.

Con: The “spring” semester starts in January. Brr!

Pro: Whatever holiday you celebrate, you’re bound to get some free stuff over break.

Con: You’re bound to get some free stuff you don’t want for the holidays, especially from your Grandma, who means well, but hasn’t been in style since the Great Depression.

Pro: Homemade treats, including (but not limited to) pumpkin pie, fudge, Christmas cookies, popcorn balls, and anything with chocolate in it.

Con: The calories that come with those treats.

Pro: You can get away with layering baggy clothes after indulging in the above treats.

Con: Spring break (and bathing suit season) is still just around the corner. Read More »

The holidays aren’t supposed to be about presents. They are about family, friends, charity and appreciating everything that we have.

Yeah, yeah.

We get that, but we still l-o-v-e the gifts! We love giving em and getting em (and then going to the store and getting all the deals on the gifts those other people returned).

This year CollegeCandy got new iPod speakers (woohoo!), a giftcard to Ikea (yayyy), and a 30 rack of Miller Light (yeah, our brothers aren’t too creative). Oh, and someone got us a Spin Spa… are they trying to tell us something? I mean, we shower daily almost daily. And we use a vanilla soap! Do we smell? Is it that obvious? Couldn’t someone have just told us!?

Anyways, moving on. We want to know what you got this year. Better yet, tell us: what is the best gift you have ever gotten? What about the worst?

Dear Whomever it is That Brings the Presents,

We’ve been good this year. No, really. Stop laughing! The sporadic nights of binge drinking/copying those Stats problems/”borrowing” a few rolls of toilet paper from the university bathrooms are nothing worthy of lumps of coal, right? I mean, we went to class, we worked really hard and we got ourselves one step closer to being real adults! That must mean something.

Like, I don’t know, that our holiday wish lists might be fulfilled this year? That we won’t have to suffer through more socks from Grandma, and more educational DVDs from the aunts and uncles? That we won’t have to fight the tears as everyone else gets Mario Kart for the Wii and we are stuck with a pair of ugly light wash jeans?

We don’t want much and we laid it all out below. You know, so there are no mistakes. (Oh, and some of us are celebrating Hanukkah, which starts Sunday night, so you may want to get on the shopping ASAP. Don’t worry, though; you have 8 days to get it right.) Thanksmuchbye!

Love,

The CollegeCandy Writers

P.S. We left you some cookies and milk. Hope you like Cakesters! Read More »

The holiday countdowns have begun! Most of you are already at home enjoying your first week of winter break (and the rest of you are suffering through that last annoying final). Either way, ’tis the season for holiday gatherings, and I can’t think of anything that goes better with mistletoe, ugly sweaters and egg nog than some holiday tunes.

Some are old, some are new, and some are new versions of the old favorites (Radiohead doing ‘Winter Wonderland’? Hell yes!), but all will put you in a great mood no matter what holiday you celebrate!

Host your own pre-game pre-holiday party here.

Like a magpie, you gravitate towards things that are shiny: cell phones, TVs, anything that allows you to play Rock Band. But just because you love ‘em doesn’t mean you know much about ‘em. That’s where we come in. Every week we will be highlighting the best, coolest and shiniest in technology. Consider us your personal Geek Squad.

And let us tell ya; with CC on your side, geek has never looked so chic.]

So you’re running around trying to find the best deals on EVERYTHING while getting everyone (and yourself!) exactly what they want. But are you really getting the best deal possible? Or are you just getting the best deal right now? Before you drop a pretty penny on that new flat screen maybe you should look into the future some.

TV

The best time to get a new one of these bad boys isn’t actually the holiday season. Although they are big sellers around Christmas, that’s not when the best price drops happen. A better time to buy one of these bad boys is before the Super Bowl. So wait a month or so and you might be able to snag a better deal. Read More »