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It’s spring! Take your dates outdoors into the sunshine

Katy Perry really overdid it on the makeup!

Spring break is fast approaching, and since most schools scatter their vacations, some students may find themselves stuck at home. But even if you’re not hitting the slopes or playing on the beach, follow these five sure-fire ways to beat boredom and have just as much fun (if not more!) at home.

1. Plan a Road Trip and Visit Other Friends

The great thing about spring vacations in college is that, unlike Thanksgiving break, they’re not at the same time. And while that may be a good thing if you don’t want to awkwardly run into people from high school at your hometown bar, beat boredom and plan a mini-vacation to go visit your friends who are still in school. You’ll still get the feeling of being back at school, just on a different campus. Have them give you a tour of their favorite places to eat, drink and be merry. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, drive all the way to your state’s border, and pull a Mandy Moore in A Walk To Remember by being in two places at the same time. How cool is that?

2. Plan a Stay-cation

While you may be jealous at the people that are heading to South Padre or Panama City Beach over break, you can bring the beach to you without spending the huge price-tag on airfare and hotels. Google local tanning facilities in your hometown and get a spray tan, if available. This is an easy and safe way to add some color without stepping on a plane. Make your own tropical drinks (try these recipes from Food Network), put together a rockin’ island-themed playlist (to make it seem like you’re actually at the beach), lay out the beach chairs in your living room, pick up a trashy beach novel, and just relax. Be sure to add these five tunes on your beach-ready soundtrack:

“Brown Eyed Girl” Van Morrison

“Smooth” Santana featuring Rob Thomas

“Island in the Sun” Weezer

“California Girls” Katy Perry

“Soak Up the Sun” Sheryl Crow

3. Hit up the city hotspots

If you’re already bored of the same hometown places and have exhausted out the mall, venture to a new place! Take a day trip out to a city or town you’ve never been to before. Check out local guides for places to eat and shop and sites to see. Or, if you’re close to your nearest metropolitan city, take the train downtown with your friends and hit up the landmarks that make your city what it is. Be sure to also check out non-touristy places and hidden gems of the town to make your trip actually worthwhile.

4. Take Up a New Skill
You have ten days at home, and that is plenty of time to start something new. If you’ve been meaning to read “The Hunger Games” series before the first movie comes out on Mar. 23, now is the time, free your mind and get into a book you actually want to read. If you’re into scrapbooking, dig out old photos and get your creative juices flowing (and brainstorm would make a great Mother’s Day gift).

5. Volunteer

Make some extra money and put your time away from school to a good cause. Visit an animal shelter, tutor local high school kids, babysit your neighbors – the possibilities are endless. You know you’re not going to get any homework done at home, so donate your time and improve our society. Besides, you can use that hard-earned cash for a new spring wardrobe: at least the groundhog-predicted sandal season is only a few weeks away!

So, while your friends might brag to you about their amazing spring getaway, you’ll not only have a “back-from-the-beach-without-going-to-the-beach” glow, but also some cool experiences, and some money for the rest of the semester. Now that’s what I call a vacation.

Have any more tips to create the ultimate spring break at home? Share below!

[Lead image Brocreative/Shutterstock]

There is just a whole lot going on in this outfit. In attendance at the Miu Miu show, Katy Perry paired a pink pleated dress with “flamed” Prada shoes and, of course, an electric blue pony tail. While I am definitely digging the purse, this outfit just isn’t working for me. There are a lot of colors, a lot of flames and the jacket just has a kind of matronly feel to it.

Perry is never one to blend in with the crowd and I commend for for that — usually I get pretty into her outfits, no matter how ridiculous they may be. I’m all for innovation, but this one just falls flat.

…But then again, who else could ever manage to pull off blue hair? Seriously, I can’t come up with anyone.

So what do you think? Is the California Girl, er gurl, hot or a hot mess?

I am pretty happy with myself. It took three torturous middle school years and four years of high school full of insecurity to get me to the point where I actually like who I am and how I look (most days). But sometimes I see certain celebs, and I think, “I would kill for her (insert body part here).” I know celebs have stylists, personal trainers and hair/make-up people who help them look amazing, so it’s hard not to get jealous (because I can barely curl my own hair).

This isn’t a post about how I feel inferior to celebs and hate myself. This is about how I’m totally happy with my body, but if someone offered me Britney Spears’ stomach circa 2000, I would have no problem saying, “Yes,please!” So here’s to you hot celebs, you have the best body parts, and I may just have to kill you and steal them right off your hot bods.

initiating the gallery...

[Lead image via Violanda/Shutterstock]

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Looks like Russell Brand has filed for divorce from Katy Perry. A little over a year after they got married in India, it’s shocking to see that Russell is the one pulling the plug on their relationship. Not only was he starry-eyed in love with Katy (and telling everyone who would listen), but he also got the better end of the deal in this marriage.

Katy, we understand breakups are tough. Really, we do. But in this scenario you’re actually winning. Don’t believe us? Just look at the fact that you’re super talented, totally hot and rich as get out. And Russell…well…he kinda looks like a crazy person.

I have an extremely complex relationship with Katy Perry. I love her music and I hate her personality. I blast her songs and I mute her interviews. Because as much as I love her catchy tunes, I can’t stand her “how can I use my boobs to my advantage” personality. Like I said, it’s pretty complex. Kind of like her rider that was released earlier this year. Now I know that all celebrity riders are demanding and diva-esque, but there’s something about seeing them in infographic form that make them see that much more ridiculous.