It’s Labor Day so we simply could not resist putting up smoking pictures of men, well, laboring. We really don’t need an excuse to drool over sexy men, but this was just too easy. Please kick back, grab a beer, and celebrate your day off with these hard working hunks.

initiating the gallery...

There are some fashion rules you should follow.

Never show your legs and your cleavage at the same time? That’s a good one.
No denim on denim? Also a keeper.

Then, there are those rules that should just be ignored. Your purse doesn’t always have to match your shoes. You can mix prints. And most importantly you can wear white after Labor Day.

Of all the rules put forth by the fashion police, this one has always baffled me the most. Why is white only acceptable between Memorial Day and Labor Day? Why is it that this one color has such a limited lifespan, only to be paired with bikinis and boy shorts? From the plain white t-shirt, to the classic white button down, to winter white pieces, the color white is essential to every wardrobe, all year long. Below are some pieces that will make you want to wear white every day.

Yeah that’s right. We’re giving you another excuse to stay in elastic-waistband pants all day. You’re welcome.

Was summer 2010 your worst summer ever (Lemondrop)

The worst dieting advice from movies (All Women Stalk)

Would you wear these? (College Fashion)

Can your shoes clean the floor? (Fashion Pulse Daily)

Fall’s hottest trends (Hot Beauty Health)

8 ways to transform his style (YourTango)

Fictionary: Nail Fail resulting from a cocktail (Beauty Blogging Junkie)

Jerry Lewis wants to smack WHO in the face? (The Frisky)

Fall fashion tips for curvy girls (Fa(s)t Fashion)

Can you be smart and sexy? (Already Pretty)

Forget beach reads and focus on fall books (Tressugar)

Who wore it best? (Styleite)

An open letter to my friends…who are always wrong (Crushable)

September fashion bloggers to watch (Stylecaster)

The safe sex fashion show (video) (The Gloss)

Chanel wants to tattoo you (What’s Haute)

It’s Labor Day which means two things:

1. The perfect excuse to wash down a burger with an ice cold beer.
2. Summer is officially over.

I could use this space to share BBQ survival tips with you, but somehow that just doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a holiday; whether we’re enjoying the day with family or a bunch of frat guys with a grill, we should enjoy ourselves.

I’ve dished on all sorts of stuff this summer: my radical lifestyle change, what it’s like to be unhealthy, and even a few tips on how to stay healthy. But there’s one big topic I missed: how to stay happy. And with summer just about to fade away, I am sure us ladies can use all the happy we can get.

Let me briefly compare how I spent last summer to how I spent this summer:

Last summer I used my time off to “monitor” my eating, meticulously.
This summer I used my time off to make extra cash, read good books, and bask in the sun.

Last summer I ate the exact same thing for breakfast (a bowl of oatmeal), lunch (a turkey sandwich on wheat with a yogurt cup and applesauce), and dinner (a bowl of romaine lettuce with one chicken tender cut up in it) every day.
This summer I ate ice cream, hamburgers, waffles with Nutella, and channa masala. (Only sometimes in that order).

Last summer I never went out because socializing = food. The only thing worse than eating “bad” food was trying to talk my way around why I wasn’t eating.
This summer I met up with old friends and family members over chai lattes and gyros.

Last summer I spent hours every day on the elliptical machine, in my un-air conditioned loft.
This summer I did yoga, went for long walks, or used the stability ball — whatever felt good for me on a given day. I even took days off.

Last summer ended with me being a ball of nerves as I worried about going away to school and not having anything to eat in the dining hall.
This summer I am refreshed and ready to pick up some carrot sticks, pita bread, and hummus for lunch.

So, girls, it might have taken a very long time, but I believe I am finally understanding this “moderation” business. It’s tricky. I know how great it is to lose weight and feel good about yourself, and how scary it is to think about eating normal food. You will never go back to the way you were, believe me. Treats once in awhile will not hurt you. We ladies have to worry about a million different things in our lives. Do not fear food.

Whether you’re wrapping up summer internships, leading orientation, or chilling in your parents’ house right now, please enjoy one last treat before this semester really gets nuts.

Take a break, dude. You deserve it!

Part of the reason I write a Weekly Ten is because I’m paying homage to my man David Letterman (seriously, my dad hasn’t ever missed an episode), and partly it’s because I like lists. Particularly lists where I can prattle on about whatever issue I feel is super relevant. Ya know, like how I’m just not that into you or being super fabulously sober.

This week I’ve decided to list the 10 jobs that totally deserve to sleep in past noon on this very special Labor Day. Why is it even called Labor Day? Shouldn’t it be Not-Labor Day? But I digress. Some people deserve a break for all they do/deal with on a daily basis. I don’t have the power to give it to them, but maybe they’ll note my appreciation and hook me up in the future.

So here are the people both on and off campus that totally deserve the holiday and our respect on this last official day of summer.

10. The Pizza Guys
Now, I don’t know if you are on first name basis with your 2 AM pizza man, but I certainly am. Heyyyy, Dimitri! Let me tell you, the guys who work the counter at the hot spot pizza place deserve this day more than anyone. I can’t even fathom the amount of drunk kids that Cappy’s (Northeastern’s pizza joint… only apropos when wasted) deals with. Hopefully they’ll take this day off, enjoy no one vomiting on their counter and maybe indulge in some food that isn’t deep fried.

9. College Janitors
Throwing sawdust and cleaning up vomit? Peeling pizza off dorm hallways? Scrubbing out showers covered in nasty, cheap beer? Please take a beach vaykay. We heart you and all you do for us.

8. Heidi and Spencer
Just take a vacation from the media, for the love of God.

7. The ladies who make the sandwiches in the cafeteria.
Recently, my good friend went to order a sandwich off the menu, but she had a few demands. Here’s how it went down.
Friend: Okay, I see that you have the Hemenway Special Sandwich. Yes, I want that. But can you make it a wrap?
Sandwich Woman Glares
Friend: Thanks… whoa! What are you doing with that mayo? No mayo. No actually, light mayo.
More Glaring
Friend: Can you substitute the ham for low fat turkey?
Sandwich Woman: I MAKE THE SANDWICH!

You totally deserve a Labor-less Day, lady.

6. Any and all taxi drivers
Mostly because my roommate insists that every cabdriver he drunkenly encounters is Ben Bailey and demands that the cabbie: “ASK US A QUESTION! WE’RE IN A CASH CAB!!! WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? COME OOOOONNNNN BRO!!” I won’t be leaving my bed today, so hopefully they’ll get to enjoy this day off as well.

5. The Health Clinic Nurses
“I totally don’t know how I got these ping pong balls stuck in there…”

4. The Bouncer.
Take this holiday to shave your neckbeard and not listen to Taio Cruz or make calls on “who’s real and who’s not” on their IDs.

3. Campus Security
Take the day to make the types of decisions that you bust students for. Maybe take a trip to the hospital for alcohol poisoning, walk a mile in our shoes. Or, you know, one broken high heel. Hypothetically.

2. The People Who Give Out Parking Tickets.
REALLY?? I was only 60 seconds late to get back to my car. Come on! Screw Labor Day, take a Labor Year.

1. The Dean
Helicopter parents, pompous professors with tenure, students who want A’s (even when they only showed up for a good four days of class) and alumni wondering why oh why the basketball team just can’t quite win the NCAA tournament. Ringleader, take a break from the campus circus and kick back with “The Economist” and a nice glass of wine. Enjoy a Monday without Mommy calling and asking why little Quentin can’t have his very own dorm room with a school-provided humidifier. You most definitely deserve it.

[Yup, this post was originally run in 2009, but these people still deserve a day off. And so do I.]

After countless barbecues and Bud Light Limes (or being stuck inside at your unpaid internship all day), summer is sadly coming to an end. Waaaaah (Snooki voice). But seeing your tan fade doesn’t mean there’s no more time for fun in the sun.

I’ve got three words: Labor Day weekend.

The last hurrah of summertime, so to speak. And to honor the goodness that was the past three months, we’ve created the perfect end-of-summer playlist to give this season the proper send-off.

Get your freak on right here.

Labor day is all about spending the day thinking about how you don’t have work…if you’re a million years old. For those of us still in school, it’s all about going out hard on Sunday (ugh how strenuous was syllabus week, huh!?) and spending the day in your pajamas watching marathons all.day.long. And don’t even think about taking the effort to reach for that remote. Today is all about doing absolutely nothing. So that’s why we’ve put together this amazing list of every single marathon happening on Labor Day. Enjoy.

Oh and make sure not to get too many chip crumbs on your roomie’s Snuggie. She’ll never let you borrow it again.

Discovery Channel – Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe: So you’re feeling slightly depressed about your own job (or lack thereof) and you need the kind of “at least that’s not me” pick-me-up that can only come from watching a man crawl around in sewage for 8 hours. This is for you.

TLC – Little People, Big World: Need a change of scenery from your boring, ho hum life? How about looking at the world from 3 feet off the ground?

ABC Family – Secret Life of the American Teenager: Nothing says “Labor Day” quite like never ending teen pregnancy scares and fighting with your parents over curfew. For an entire day.

A & E – Hoarders: Honestly, I can’t imagine how anyone can watch more than 2 minutes of this show let alone an entire day’s worth. But if you like feeling nauseous and depressed, you’ll definitely want to keep your TV tuned in to A&E all day long.

Bravo – Real Housewives of New Jersey: If we needed a valid reason to watch this sh*tshow, it wouldn’t exist.

Disney – Suite Life on Deck: If you are feeling like you’re five again, why not check out Suite Life on Deck – and repeat after me, “I am still a grown up adult, I am still a grown up adult.”

Food Network – Semi-Homemade Cooking: Because the only way to get over the sting of not getting mom’s famous coleslaw is to watch food porn on the couch while munching on Chinese take-out.

FX – Two and a Half Men: Because there is no Jersey Shore marathon and apparently this show is funny.

Gameshow Network – Baggage: Stop worrying if your sext to your  T.A was inappropriate and focus on people who actually have real relationship issues. Like really real issues. They wouldn’t be on the Gameshow network if they were just messing around.

Hallmark – I Love Lucy: Sick of color TV? Craving the days when Snooki wasn’t being mentioned on every network? Well pull a Pleasantville and hunker down for a day of good old-fashioned fun. Old-fashioned being the key word. Lucy and Ricky manage to have a baby, yet never once talk about how that happened.

History – Pawn Stars: Throw the History Channel a bone. They’re trying so hard to be hip and fun and cool. It’s like watching your Mom log on to Facebook. You just can’t help but feel sorry for the old gal.

HGTV – House Hunters International: What’s that? You’ve seen every house in America! No worries, we’re going international!

Soap – Beverly Hills 90210: This is where it all began, people! Before Gossip Girl, The O.C. and the new (and crappy) 90210. Where we first learned how to deal with abusive boyfriends, cults, divorce, suicide, and what it’s like to be inexplicably rich and angsty. And, of course, there will be plenty of high waisted, acid washed jeans.

TBS – The Office: It wouldn’t be a long weekend without some major awkwardness (Michael Scott is on par with hooking up with someone on your floor) and some Scranton comedy.

TNT – Bones: If you have a slight craving for some modern Law & Order meets House (i.e. dark humor) and an excuse to feel like you uncovered a mystery per episode, tune into Bones.

Travel – Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations: Think Eat, Pray, Love + steroids – inhibitions and you have Anthony Bourdain’s food show. It’s revolting and appealing all at once. Not too much different than the thought of eating breakfast when you’re hungover.

TV Land – The Nanny: For the masochist in all of us.

U.S.A – N.C.I.S: The perfect show to flip to when your R.OT.C crush walks by the lounge. Other than that…we’re not sure why people under 50 turn this on.

VH1 – The T.O Show: Otherwise known as  “How NOT to Behave if you’re a human being.”

WE – Ghost Whisperer: Lost your Oujia board? No worries! Check out the show that’s making it possible for Jennifer Love Hewitt to keep her career.

Put down that back-to-school shopping list; don’t even think about buying textbooks just yet.  I’ve got your final pre-fall moments all planned out in this ultimate bucket list:

Snag Some Pool Time
Preferably all weekend long.  Pretty soon the temperatures will drop and your bikini will just look out of place amongst all those North Face fleeces.  Worship the sun while you still can, and while it’s still appropriate.

Indulge in the Fashions
White.  Linen.  Sundresses.  Seersucker.  Flip flops.  Okay, maybe not flip flops, but there are definitely a few items in your closet that have an expiration date.  As much as I’d love to see snowsuits made of madras, it’s probably never going to happen (and would also probably fit into that “too much of a good thing” category).  Throw ‘em all on now before the fashion police beat down your door and force you into cashmere.

Chow Down and Drink Up
While no one says you can’t enjoy a frozen beverage or a good hot dog after the summer season, for some reason it’s just not as fun.  Go to the grocery store with your friends and insist on last barbecue – kabobs, margaritas, corn on the cob, watermelon…go all out!

Play Those Dumb Games
If you’ve been to the beach, chances are you’ve seen the idiots three feet in front of you playing that game with the paddles and ball that looks like tennis except for the fact that there’s no net.  Yeah?  Know what I’m talking about?  Or other games like bocce ball and badminton.  You know they’re not going to be fun, but it’s in the spirit of summer to give it a try anyway. And you can drink while you do it, so there’s that…

Escape Town One Last Time
Plan a fun escape with your favorite friends.  It doesn’t need to be far or expensive, maybe just an overnight to the shore or a day trip to that fabulous outlet mall.  Before your weekends become devoted to football (and, you know, studying), throw everyone in the car and insist on one last jaunt.

Sleep In
If you’re going to have a class before noon, I really don’t need to say any more.

TV: All. Day. Long.
Pick a show you want to get into this fall and rent the previous seasons on DVD.  Then fix up a bowl of popcorn, put on your comfiest clothes, and settle in.  Is it possible to do nothing and still feel as though you’ve achieved so much?  Time to find out!

Run Through a Sprinkler
Because if you do it in October, you’ll just look like an idiot.

Read a Book Not for School
Pretty soon it’s going to be all French philosophers and wars no one remembers.  Gross.  Even if you insist on keeping it a little higher-brow that Twilight, still read something you want to read…while there’s still enough free time in your day.

Shop those Summer Sales
As much as we’d like these great deals to stick around, it’s just impossible.  Buy cute camis to layer in chillier weather and maybe some bikinis for next year.  It won’t help the weather stay warm, but it’ll definitely keep your wallet full and your wardrobe stylin’.

Relive Summer All Year Long
And just becuase the summer is over and we’re sipping on pumpkin lattes doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating the summer spirit.

"Did you guys know this beer can make your hair stronger, too!?"

Labor Day may be an awesome third day to a typically-too-short weekend, but sadly, it’s also pretty much the last day of summer. But just because those summer days are drifting away, does that mean the fun is o-v-e-r?

Not for CollegeCandy readers! Psh, we can have fun no matter where we are and September is just brimming with some awesome stuff to take part in. Here are some fantastic things to do after Labor Day that don’t involve any heavy labor… or white shoes.

1) Enjoy (useful?) beer at tailgate.
Beer has better uses than just giving you the guts to talk to that cutie you’ve been eying at the party. You can use it to clean your hair and unclog pores, make your own facial mask concoction, and draw a uniquely-colored bubble bath.

2) Do the Downward Dog.
You can get a full week of free yoga at a studio near you during the first ever National Yoga Month. And since yoga is supposed to improve your sex life, why not try it? Your boyfriend can thank me later.

3) Get ready for the New Moon movie premiere by using Twilight makeup.
The Julie Hewett Los Angeles Twilight Palette was inspired by the phenomenon that is the Twilight saga. The Twilight Palette contains the following four eye shadows: Brunette, Pola, Black Chandelier, and Swank. Together, they make for a quite a sexy, sultry and mysterious look. If only it also came with Taylor Lautner.

4) Learn how to decrease risk for ovarian cancer.
It’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so take this quiz and see if you know how to limit your chances of being one of the 21,000 women that get it each year.

5) Stay away from Swine Flu.
I had no idea that the primary targets for Swine Flu were young people as opposed to the older generation for the general flu. Everyone: wash your hands! Can’t stress it enough. At least now with this sweet iPhone app I know where the latest outbreaks are (AKA where not to go).

6) Be bold and embrace the new fall makeup trends.
Purple, blue and nudes are in! At last that’s what Becki Newton of Ugly Betty says. And since I totally love her and want to be her and trust whatever she says, my toenails are now a rich plum color. Too cute.

7) Watch the U.S. Open.
Andy Roddick’s hot bod is more than enough reason to tune in. And after all the eye candy, put on an adorable tennis skirt and try to imitate the Williams sisters’ moves (and grunts) on the court.

8) Improve your health by doing more volunteer work.
Studies have shown that even people who did just 40 hours of volunteer work yearly lived longer and saw other very significant health benefits including reduced rates of depression and Alzheimer’s. Oh and, obviously, greater life satisfaction. Mia Hamm volunteers, so why shouldn’t you? She probably does it better though.

9) Rumored Apple event on September 9th???
Anyone know the deets? Will my computer now be obsolete…again? Will there be a $10 iPhone? Is Steve Jobs still alive?! Ahhh! Must. find. out.

"OH MY GOD!! THEY'RE BACK!!!"

Don’t get me wrong – I love me a summer day at the beach. The smell of sunscreen, flip flops, and feeling the hot sand beneath my feet makes me very, very happy. But there is nothing quite like a crisp Fall day. I love jean-jacket weather. I love busting out all my fall clothes from that duffel under my bed. I love getting my back-to-school dramatic haircut. I love anything and everything that has to do with pumpkins (especially the candy corn ones).

Fall, I heart you.

With Labor Day just around the corner, it’s time to say goodbye to our white sundresses and helloooooo (nurse) to leather boots, college football and Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks. (Note: I said hello to those twice…on Monday.) Oh yeah, and also to long nights in the library, 40 pounds of textbooks and early morning classes. But let’s ignore that stuff for a moment and celebrate the best season ever.

Here is what the CollegeCandy writers love most about Fall. What’s your favorite part?

Laura – St. John’s: All the food… pumpkin, apples, Halloween candy, Thanksgiving… yum.

Brittany – University of Richmond: My favorite thing about Fall will be trying to find a date willing to take me to the premiere of New Moon.

Ava – NYU: Fall means back to school, which allows me to indulge my inner dork. Who cares about classes when I have the chance to mull around Staples? Even after so many years of being a student, school supply shopping never gets old.

Lauren H. – The New School: I adore fall, but if I had to pick my one most favoritest thing, I’d have to go with the weather. Fall air is like taking a big breath of energy drink to me!

Brithny – Duke: Call me a dork, but going back to school! I love the smell of new books, and also meeting new people, especially that cute one sitting across from me in English class…

Thu – USC: The season premieres of all my favorite shows. Let’s hope my GPA doesn’t suffer quite as much this time around.

Lauren – University of Michigan: Boys in hooded sweatshirts. Mmm mmm mmmmmmmm.

Charlsie – Hollins University: Hearing the leaves crunch underneath my feet while wearing a new J Crew cardigan.

Donnette – Manhattanville College: I love the general atmosphere of Fall. It’s a season of starting/trying something new. It’s a season of change.

Kari – Florida State: Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Lattes. FINALLY!!!

Lindsay- University of Texas at Austin: The colder weather gives me an excuse to stay in bed all day where it’s warm.

Caitin – University of Alabama: That crisp feeling you get when you go outside.  And the pumpkin cream cheese muffins at Starbucks. Mmm!

Leah – Ryerson University: I love fall clothes – sweaters, coats, scarves.

Elizabeth L – UC Berkeley: FOOTBALL GAME DAYS!!

Elizabeth – University of Missouri: The perfect weather; I don’t get to class drenched in sweat and I don’t have to wear 8 layers to go to the dining hall… just yet.

Carly – Grinnell: All the great flavors that the coffee shops roll out with in the fall. Pumpkin-spice latte? Yes, please.

Samantha – UC Santa Barbara: Snacking on candy corn, “Autumn Wreath” scented candles, the sun going down earlier, crisp days and nights, gorgeous leather fall boots and bags, and pumpkins! What other vegetable can you bake treats with, carve, and use for decoration?! Amazing!

Sarabeth – University of Texas: This local restaurant busts out its pumpkin pancakes for fall. SO.EFFIN.GOOD.

Desiree – Columbia University: I get to break out my sweaters but it’s not so cold that I hate life. Cashmere, merino wool, mohair…I love it all. Oh and the triumphant return of the Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks.

Ness – Sheridan: Finally getting to wear those gorgeous sweaters and boots I’ve been drooling over since summer. Why must designers preview fall/winter so early? It’s just mean!

Kim – Stanford: Fall clothes: boots, scarfs, and hot cocoa just make me want to cuddle up by the fire with a good book.

Brianna – Fordham University: Cashmere, my leather motorcycle boots and not sweating my makeup off the second I walk out of my apartment

Kiki – University of Missouri: Those half-zip pull over fleece sweatshirts are my favorite thing about Fall. That and school supply shopping, I’m a sucker for Office Max.