I LOVE you, Hulu!

What I am about to type might shock and disturb some of the readers. However, for the sake of our internet browsers’ sanity, I am just going to say it: There are more websites out there besides Facebook and Google.

Did everyone survive that truth? Though I adore a good Facebook stalking sesh and Googling my name from time to time, I believe that the following sites don’t get enough cred. So let’s bookmark these babies and get our computer mouses (mice?) acquainted with them sometime soon. Perhaps on the next study break, after the email has been checked several times or maybe when we finally realize that the cute guy in Bio has his profile set to private. Bummer.

1. Notecentric.com: No more unwanted panic attacks from losing Wednesday’s notes from Chemistry. Notecentric is a web based note taking application that allows you to type, store and organize all your notes onto one site. All the notes you type are saved and stored together so stray lectures on loose leaf will no longer be an issue.

2. Chegg.com: I think we can all admit that the last place we want to head to at the beginning of the semester is the bookstore. Although we can hardly resist a new hoodie, it’s the close to $700 that we spend on books each semester that puts the dent in our bank accounts and our spirits. Chegg is a textbook rental site where college students can sell their books to the site and also rent books. You simply order the books, have them shipped to you, and return them at the end of the semester. A sweet bonus: Chegg plants a tree every time someone rents books; financially AND environmentally friendly!

3. MakeMeBabies.com: Here is a side tip for the upcoming frat parties: DON’T tell that guy you have been eyeing all night just how adorable you think your children would be together. But feel free to find out for yourself in the privacy of your own dorm room. This hilarious site allows you to upload images from your computer and morph them together. The outcome: your “future children.” Between you and I: Bradley Cooper and I would make some really attractive children together.

4. 6pm.com: A gal pal of mine turned me onto this site and my life and wardrobe have never been the same since. Looking for a little red dress to wear out to the bar? How about choosing from 234 options? 6pm offers the best sales and discounts on name brand clothing and puts them all in one central location so it is easier for you to shop. Bonus points: You can snag a pair of leopard pumps for 50% off without even having to take your slippers off to try them on.

5. FreeRice.com: Instead of merely writing that 1,000 word essay on world hunger why not help end it? FreeRice.com is a site that donates 10 grains of rice to the World Food Programme for every question that you answer correctly. So put those multiple choice skills that you racked up during SAT class to good use! I give you full permission to let your professor know you were flexing your brain muscles while actively relieving poverty across the world. The more answers you get right, the more rice you give.

6. Fastweb.com: I wish I had taken advantage of this site more during my four years at college. I say this now, when I am up to my hips in student loans. Fastweb is a quick college search engine for financial aid, student loans and college choices. Create a profile, fill out the surveys and watch as Fastweb matches you up with scholarships that you are eligible to apply for. Some are essays while others are creative projects but it does not hurt to take on an extra opportunity or two to rake in some cash to put towards the tuition.

7. CollegeFashion.net: It is a known fact that college students are not exactly on the level of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” status during a four year stay at a university.  Aside from thanking Easy Mac and local pizzerias by campus for their amazing delivery deals, we should also thank CollegeFashion.net for making our wardrobes more affordable. College Fashion is a blog for stylish college girls in need of updates on the latest trends, deals, steals and tips in the fashion world. College Fashion is the only fashion blog written for college students, by college students; it is nice to know that these fashion tips are not coming from a woman behind a desk whose jean style expired and retired nearly three years ago.

8. Pandora.com: The other day my brother came up with this idea to create radio stations that played music similar to your favorite artists. I introduced him to both a reality check and Pandora. Simply create a new station, whether it be an artist like Drake or a song by the Frey, and let Pandora come up with matches to keep your eardrums happy for hours to come. This free site may be killing off radio stations everywhere but you won’t see me minding as I turn on the Jack Johnson station.

9. Hulu.com: So once you draw yourself away from the three-year-old Justin Bieber fanatic on YouTube hop on over to Hulu. The love child of NBC and FOX, Hulu gives its worldwide Webbers free access to streaming movies and TV shows. Miss that episode of Grey’s? Needing to get caught up on LOST before someone spills the finale to you? Now you have it right at your fingertips. Did someone say popcorn and a study break?

10. Supercook.com: This is a major life changing website for all you CollegeCandy readers who have a kitchen. Instead of the typical cooking site where it lists the ingredients and you head out to the grocery store, Supercook asks you to type in the ingredients you have. After you have entered in the data, Supercook searches its database of recipes and spits back a variety of delicious meals. You can start cooking right away! This is perfect for a last minute dinner with the roomies. Simply type in what is laying around your kitchen (skip the moldy milk in the fridge) and let Supercook dish back the dinner.

Bonus:

CollegeCandy.com: Oh my goodness. Look! You are already here! No, but in all seriousness, CollegeCandy is a top site to read up on issues and topics written by college girls for college girls. Even before I began writing for CollegeCandy it was my go-to site for advice on roommate issues, blind date traumas and the sweet secrets of college life.

2009 was a great year for awesome products; God knows everyone had to be creative this year and recession-proof any product launch. But which products were best?

Here’s a rundown of the best stuff we got to call our own in 2009. If we were lucky. And if not, fingers crossed the prices will drop on this ish in 2010!

Snuggie
Now available in leopard! If there was any kind of product phenomenon last year it was definitely the Snuggie. I sadly did not get one and I immediately turned Christmas-tree green with envy when I saw anyone’s status onFacebook reading “Just got a zebra print Snuggie from Grandma!” A blanket, with sleeves? If that’s not bringing brilliance, laziness and amazingness to a whole new level, well, I’m just not sure how it could be anymore American. Oh yes it can. Because now? You can get a Snuggie for your pooch! My Yorkie is totally getting hooked up for her birthday.

The iPhone 3GS
iPhone upgraded, and it was good. Video functions, voice recognition and a whole slew of apps that could pair with your trendy phone made 2009 the year of the smart phone. If you aren’t into it (or actually have decent phone service and use Verizon), you’ve got the new Blackberry or the Droid to keep you constantly updated.

Twitter
Okay, is Twitter a product? Debatable, I suppose. 2009 was truly the year of the tweet. It brought celebrities, companies and information in the form of 140 characters to our fingertips. I mean, seriously, I can’t even imagine my life without knowing how Rachel Zoe is spending her vacation at all times.

The Flip
A teeny little camcorder, smaller than your cell, that records over 60 minutes of footage? Perfect for those mornings when you just can’t exactly remember what you did (or where you left your heels) last night.

Marc Jacobs Bruna Bag
In PURPLE? If heaven was a handbag, this would be it. If you can’t afford the splurge (I know I can’t), Marc by Marc Jacobs also released some of the hottest bags of the year.

Barbie Escalade
If only I was 5 again. Power Wheels with serious attitude.

Hulu
Who do you turn to when you’re alone, lost and scared on a weeknight? Everything on TV is terrible, Jersey Shore is a repeat or Snooki just isn’t delivering that night. Your DVD collection has lost it’s luster, including every episode of Arrested Development that you’ve watched at least 19 times. Well, there’s something that can help. Hulu! Where else can you catch up on SNL clips (because, really, why bother watching the entire show anymore), particularly “What Up With That” featuring Kenan, or entire episodes of “Always Sunny” that your DVR managed to accidentally eat? And did I mention the mminimal commercial interruptions and the luxury of watching it wherever your laptop goes and WiFi exists (like in your lecture hall)? I heart you Hulu, don’t ever change. Or charge.

What were your faves of ’09?

Today, July 13th, is “Embrace Your Geek Day.” Here are the top 10 totally embraceable things that we geek out for. And we’re not ashamed to admit it. Online.

10. Harry Potter
Ugh, is there anything sexier than a wizard in glasses? I literally screamed when I saw the preview for “The Half Blood Prince” in theaters.

9. Arrested Development
Seriously, I know every single line to this show. Points if you can do every family member’s imitation of a chicken. (Yeah, I can do that too.)

8. Twilight
Okay, admittedly, I’m not a twi-tard, err, I mean “twi-hard,” but I can’t resist drooling over Robert Pattinson’s perfect hair.

7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon is a God. Enough. Said.

6. Anything and everything Apple
iPhone, MacBook, iPod. I want it all. I’m pretty sure there’s an app for that.

5. The Sims
Devastatingly addictive. Who doesn’t love building houses, creating lookalikes of your friends and neighbors, and – oh my god I’ve spent four hours straight on this game.

4. Seth Green
And all of his endeavors. Robot Chicken anyone?

3. GeekStuff4U
I don’t know what this is or what it does, but I approve.

2. Hulu.com
Addictive and full of the best of the best things to geek out to. Missed Andy Samberg’s latest Digital Short? Hulu that sh*t.

1. BO. BURNHAM.
Please, please, please, please marry me.

Melanie currently interning in NYC, taking full advantage of all margarita specials and those blonde summer boys. Stalk her on Twitter: @tinkermellie

Below are some of my absolute faves. Got some of your own? Please, please please, let me know!

1. Two Buck Chuck: Well, in the case of my Trader Joe’s, it’s Three Buck Chuck – it seems to vary depending on where you are. BUT $3 for totally decent wine is aces with me! As a sidenote, the genius wine guy at my local shop told me that anything between $5 and $20 is generally not worth it. The cheap bottles are every bit as good as the mid-range ones (like $7-$15) so don’t bother! Cheap wine can be good wine!

(1B. I’ve got to give a shout out to Trader Joe’s in general. I cannot get enough of this store, because it has delicious bargains, and makes my goal of cooking my meals at home to save money totally attainable. It also has so much awesome frozen, pre-diced, pre-cooked food. Excellent finds for those of us both poor and busy!)

2. e.l.f. (or Eyes, Lips, Face, if you want to get technical about it): Go to eyeslipsface.com for THE BEST beauty bargains around. I’m not exaggerating; it’s genius. It is to my adult self what Wet ‘n’ Wild was to my elementary school self. All their stuff is well-formulated and pretty, and it is all….wait for it…..$1!! That’s right, one dollar! Eyeshadows, liners, mascaras, nail polish, you name it, all in a huge range of irresistible shades. And I do mean irresistible; the hardest part is not going insane and buying everything you could ever want, because you think, “hey, it’s only a dollar!” and then you’ve spent $50. Oops.

3. Payless Shoe Source: The best place I have found for trendy, seasonal shoes! Shoes here are rarely above $30, and those are the super pricey ones. They’ve also jumped on the whole team-up-with-fancy-designers bandwagon, so they’ve joined forces with labels like alice + olivia for some killer footwear. I’ve been jonesing for some gladiator sandals this spring, and guess where I found ‘em for under $20?!

4. Whole Foods Shampoo and Conditioner: I love this stuff! A regular sized bottle of their shampoo or conditioner runs you $1.99, and a massive one will be about $4. Not only does it work really well, and leave you with shiny, silky hair, but it comes in great scents, which is by far the most important part for me when I’m showering first thing in the morning! It just makes the day a little nicer, you know? My personal fave is the pink grapefruit, but they’ve got a bevy of beautiful scents, and if you’re sensitive-skinned (or simply trying to cut down on chemicals where you can), they have a fragrance free version.

5. Hulu.com: It’s sad to say, but my cable has had to go, and I’m pretty sure netflix is next on the chopping block. Since internet is simply indispensible, I will be relying on hulu for my television and movie needs. It has a rad (sidenote: I’m trying to bring back the word rad) current selection of TV shows, and the movies run the gamut from classic Jim Carrey (does that even make sense?) to indie selections from SXSW. Clearly, they don’t have everything, but they’ve got a lot, and it’s free!

Those are some of my go-tos, when it comes to saving some of my dollars. Got any faves of your own? Share ‘em! We’ll pull through this together!

Warner Brothers announced this week that they’re launching theWB.com. The website will be the premiere destination for free, streaming, WB content. This includes everything from old favorites like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, and Smallville to shows Warner Brother’s had their hand in like Friends and The OC. The website will also feature older programs (The Jetsons, Gilligan’s Island) and brand new WB content created especially for the online venture.

Why is this such big news? It gives some of these shows a brand new forum and a chance to garner new fans. I am a TV fanatic but I never caught wind of Veronica Mars or Everwood. Now, I, and millions of others will have the opportunity to do just that, and for free.

Initiatives like iTunes, Hulu (a website featuring free Universal and Fox television shows and films), and TheWb.com, not only gives these programs a second chance, but they’re changing the way we conceptualize and watch television.

TV is not something you ogle after dinner time anymore. You can watch it on your phone while you ride the bus to work, you can watch it on your laptop when you get to work or you can record your favorite shows and watch them whenever and however you want. It’s a fascinating shift to watch and websites like this are at the vanguard of this movement.

So be on the lookout for theWB.com, not only to catch up on those old episodes of One Tree Hill, but to catch technological history in the making. And if nothing else, these old promos should get you excited.

Here’s hoping they bring back Jack and Jill.

After a long, cold winter and a bitter Writer’s Strike, NBC’s The Office is finally returning to the airwaves tonight at 9/8C. What better way to celebrate the return of one of the best comedies on television than hosting an Office Party? Unlike the lame, boring parties you may have at work, this one can be fun, easy and inexpensive! So round up the Party Planning Committee and let’s get crackin’.

Keep your food simple. Nothing is worse than people slurping, chomping, or spilling messy dishes while you’re trying to catch every joke in a new episode. If you’re not much of a gourmet, here are some simple snack recipes with an Office twist.

- Finer Things Club Paninis

- Dunder-Muffins

- Stanley’s Pretzel Day Soft Pretzels

- Kevin’s M&M Cookie Bars

If party games are more your style, check out some of these Office themed games including a crossword puzzle, Office solitaire and trivia questions.

And if you need a quick refresher course from the first part of season four, you can check out all of the episodes online for free on NBC or Hulu.com.

Enjoy the festivities and happy viewing!