This fall weather is quickly beginning to feel a lot like winter. Sweaters and tights are being traded in for winter fleeces and long-johns. You may think you’re good to go with your new crochet Uggs and long, puffy North Face jacket, but there’s a lot more out there this winter when it comes to accessories. Things that will not only make that walk to class a little more cozy and a little less frozen-snotsicles-dangling-over-your-upper-lip, but accessories that will make your life a whole lot easier.

And more fun.
And festive.
Basically, winter might be somewhat bearable this time around. Read More »

Yeah, I know this is blurry. It's hard to capture such fabulosity.

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

And if there’s one girl who’s got some fashion courage it’s Lauren. I spotted her on campus because, well, it’s impossible not to spot her. She’s always decked out in bright colors, bold accessories and some serious confidence. Oh, and her perfect hair helps, too.

We started talking fashion and before I knew it, we were back at her dorm. Where she showed me her closet. Sigh. It was a wonderful place.

Name: Lauren
Year: 2012
Major: Spanish and Religion
Lauren in 3 words: Chill, fly, gansta

1) Describe your personal style.

I have a very eclectic style; I definitely go for bright colors and fun animal prints, something really crazy. You can tell by my hair. Fierce.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.

Ipod. For sure. Read More »

Between running out of toilet paper, sitting on dirty pee stained public toilet seats, and producing gag worthy smells, going to the bathroom is definitely not the cleanest, girliest, most fun activity that occurs quite often in a day (I know I’d much rather be hangin’ out on TFLN).  But it is a part of our everyday lives and we kinda have to do it, so we might as well make the best of it, right?

Well, 2009 doesn’t just mean cool cars and advanced cellphone technology. It also means new and improved products for the potty.  Take a look at some of these new things that make the bathroom experience that much more pleasant. Don’t ask me why or how I found these. Seriously.

Poof
This latest product does exactly what it says. It literally makes the smell of your poop go “Poof!” This liquid deodorizer traps the odors of the big brown boys in the water, releasing a refreshing scent of Japanese mint to fill the air. Unlike an air freshener that can just leave the bathroom smelling like misty grossness (fresh spring breeze + poop = fresh and springy poop), Poof traps the odors before they can even try to escape the toilet. No more worries about having to hold it in after your hot date at a Mexican restaurant.

Go girl
Whoever said guys are the only ones that can stand when going to the bathroom? Just because they get to avoid the unsanitary toilet seats that get exposed to way too many butts in a day, doesn’t mean we can’t too!

iCarta
Okay, so this one may be a tad bit unnecessary, but it sure is freakin’ cool. It’s a toilet paper dispenser with a built in iPod dock and speakers. Because pooping is so much more fun when you’re doin’ it with the Kings of Leon. Read More »

I think I’d die without technology. I’m constantly texting, I check my email six times a day and I use Google for everything. When I’m bored, my DSi is there to entertain me. Everything I do is coupled with some sort of technology, which is probably pretty obvious since I write about it every week.

But, and here’s the catch, everything I find so essential now will be completely outdated in like three years. Think about it – that new phone/game system/computer that you JUST got and are totally obsessed with will be old news very soon. And you will long for the day that you can get an upgrade.

That’s really kind of depressing. And a total waste of money, no?

Being that electronics go bad faster than those rotting apples in your fridge, it doesn’t always make sense to get the hottest, newest thing. There are just some pieces of technology you do not need. So, before you head off to Best Buy to ogle the latest and thinnest TVs for next year’s apartment, let’s discuss the things worth investing in vs. the things you can just play with at your guy friends’ frat house.

The Cell Phone:
Some things are pretty much a no brainier. Sure you probably CAN live without it, but why would you want to? With society’s on-the-go attitude (and our overflowing social calendars) trying to track us down on a land line is nigh impossible. And trying to find a friend at a party? Good luck. What you don’t need, though, is the latest and greatest phone the moment it comes out. Wait just a few short months and the price on that sick new touchscreen phone will drop. Read More »

Ever since the great iPhone purchase of 2008 (and, more recently, the great music-obliterating hard drive crash of 2009) I have become completely obsessed with podcasts. It doesn’t help that the iTunes store is one of the more addictive things in this world, and shows you all sorts of great podcasts you might like based on what you have already subscribed to.

You can find a podcast for anything! Want to learn Spanish? Try Coffee Break Spanish! Dig indie music? IndieFeed!  Can’t get enough of LOST? The Lost Podcast is for you!  There are more topics than I could ever name in one short article, but trust me: if you’re interested in it, it’s out there.

There are several factors that make me predisposed to podcast lovin’. I enjoy walking absurdly long distances. I live in a city where long public transportation rides are de rigeur, and some days my poor shoulder just cannot bear the weight of another book. Even were these not true, I would probably still be on the bandwagon. Podcasts are fun, they’re informative, and best of all: they’re free! Yeah baby – I said free!

A rundown on my favorites: Read More »

College brings a whole lot of new experiences, new lessons and new people. But it seems that no matter what school you go to there are same characters on every campus. The frat house groupie, the sensitive all American, the cool girl, the Unhinged Coed, and the Americanized International.

Allow me to refine this status: Americanization is not to be confused with Westernization, nor is it a put-down.

International Students take up a demographic in most US colleges and universities. They are usually easily spotted on campus. No, not because that of clothing choices or accents, but because they maintain a certain wide eyed fascination and solemn intelligence. International students seem refined and sophisticated. Hard working and goal oriented. They worked hard to get to this prestigious American university and they keep that in mind as they work even harder to graduate.

Most International Students stick together, seeking the comfort of the familiar. They tend to sit back in class and take notes as the more abrasive and comfortable students take over answering the questions, debating the topics and joking with classmates. As soon as class ends, they head to the library or the comforts of their dorm room to get started on the reading assigned. They never join the rest of campus at the weekend parties.

But then something starts to change. As the semester rolls on and these students find themselves more at ease in their new environment, they begin to engage in common American customs. They become The Americanized International. Read More »

If you’re heading off to college in the fall, you might already be thinking about what you need to buy before you get there. And if you’re already there, there are things you must have but definitely don’t know about yet.

I’ve done some of the work for you and picked out the top five things that every college student needs.

1. Alarm Clock – This is an absolute necessity, although an annoying one. With all the fun stuff that you’ll do in college, it’s sometimes easy to forget why you’re actually there in the first place: CLASS! To make sure you’re getting your tuition’s worth by actually going to class, you’re going to need a reliable alarm clock. Of course, any old alarm clock or clock radio will do, but there are definitely better options out there. With the iHome iH4B, you can fall asleep and wake up to your favorite music. Plus, it charges your iPod, so you’re never stuck with a drained battery. I also really like the Clocky ® alarm clock, designed for people like me who turn off their alarm clocks without getting out of bed. I used to have to put my alarm clock across the room and run to the other side to shut it off, much to the annoyance of my roommates. This one, which has wheels and rolls around the room, probably would have annoyed them even more, but it definitely would have stopped me from going back to sleep and missing class for the umpteenth time. Read More »

Now that daylight savings is behind us, we can look forward to longer, warmer days! To celebrate the wonderful season of blooming flowers, running outside, and the warm weather, get started on that bikini body with a new “Spring Into Swimsuit Season!” circuit workout.  It’s a 30 minute circuit workout you can do anywhere, even your dorm room!The best part is that this workout not only blasts calories, but it also ignites your metabolism burning fat all over your precious body!

Have an iPod or iPhone? You can now download this very workout for less than a dollar! For just $0.75 you can buy the video and save it on your iPod. Next time when you go to the gym, instead of trying to remember what you saw on YouTube, you can just watch it again on your iPod along with tons of other helpful fitness videos.

It’s like having a personal trainer at the gym for a fraction of the cost. (Take that, recession!)

You can even do these videos at home and you don’t need to buy the equipment. Here is a breakdown of alternatives: Read More »

So, the world is awash in a sea of red and pink. There are hearts, roses, and tiny angels with bow & arrows everywhere. Sigh. Love.

If you’re like me then this time of year can be pretty lame. And SAD (that would be Singles Awareness Day). So instead of pining over the great romantic love that you’re not having, do what I’m doing and practice some self love. Spoil yourself!

Here’s my techie grab bag:

Something I Can Use: Although not exciting, if I give myself a gift, I want it to be something I can use. A day at the spa (or, more accurately on my budget, a spa-in-a-box) would be nice, but a new umbrella would be better. It’s cute and shiny. And blocks the rain. And it will make it oh-so-much easier for that perfect man to see me on that gray and dreary day.

Something That Sparkles: I like jewelry. And I’m a geek. Did you know there was a whole section of Etsy dedicated to the combination of those two things? That’s right, geek jewelry. I can’t actually decide what I want because it’s all so full of win. And since it’s Etsy it’s pretty much proven to be unique. Read More »

[I like to think of myself as a pretty easy going gal, and try not to sweat the small stuff. But sometimes (ok, maybe slightly more often) the general cluelessness, carelessness and overall stupididty of some things and or/people really gets to me. I find that venting is the most efficient way to rid myself of the stress that idiots, wrong meal orders, lack of cell phone ettiquette and cheese flavored products (that don’t even contain any freaking cheese!) induce.

So, in an attempt to avoid an ulcer or an unfortuante road rage incident, I vent to you, dear reader. Please feel free to join in and comment about anything–really, anything–that pissed. you. off. this week. Let it all hang out. I feel you.]

Unenthusiastic recipients: We’ve all been there: you spend hours– quite possibly even days–searching for the perfect gift for a special someone. You lovingly wrap it in unique and pretty paper before signing your name on the gift tag, anticipating that perfect moment when their face lights up with joy and gratitude, as they are thoroughly impressed by your gift buying skills. So imagine my frustration after saving my hard earned (and hard-not-to-spend-at-happy-hour) wages to buy my baby bro an iPod, only to watch him open it Christmas morning and proclaim “Cool. Thanks.” Ok now, I understand the whole males not expressing as much emotion concept; I understand that he’s a 16-year-old and slightly pissed off is his default setting, but come on, man! I think I deserved at least a Thank You hug. Read More »