If you think your NYE outfit, alcohol supply and approximate cab fare combine to cost a pretty penny, just be glad you aren’t greeting 2012 from a nightclub in Vegas. It might sound fun at first: there’s a ton of options, the venues are gorgeous, and you can simply walk back to your hotel room whenever you’re ready to change outfits in time for breakfast, right?

Newsflash: unless you’re being escorted by a high-roller who is getting everything comp’d by the hotel, partying in Vegas on the last night of the year is serious business — literally, as in you’ll be spending a lot of money and the Strip will love you for it. Hotel room rates skyrocket and nightclubs prefer you arrive before 9PM. Before 9PM! You’ll hope to maintain a smooth buzz from overpriced mixed drinks until midnight so that you can participate in a cheap champagne toast and a sloppy kiss, and then hate your choice of heels when you suddenly decide to leave. Oh, and you’ll probably end up sleeping on the floor because you decided to cram way too many friends into the same room in order to make the weekend just a little bit more affordable.

Nevertheless, I’m actually headed that way this weekend, and here are the celebrities hosting overrated NYE celebrations on the Strip this Saturday, complete with pricing information. Now doesn’t that just look like SO much fun??! Oh man, I just can’t WAIT to empty out my wallet to party for a few hours alongside in the general vicinity of these amazing gods and goddesses!

initiating the gallery...

Which of these celebrities will probably end up partying in a half-empty nightclub because their prices were so ridiculous?

Ashley is a UC San Diego grad who is holding on way too tightly to a potential career in magazines and goes to Vegas all too often. She’s fascinated with celebrities and strawberry beer and doubles as a pathological texter/emailer/blogger. Feed the addiction with tweets @cashleelee. Thanks in advance.

Before I even start in on this episode, let me just ask one very important question:

Who plans a wedding on their first date?! WHO DOES THAT? And who ends up at a wedding chapel and doesn’t even get married? Why the hell would you even plan that crap? Honestly, with 115 minutes left in the episode, I was hoping Ashley would say ‘I do’ and end this season on a high note. But she did not. And I had to sit through another 2 hours of over-produced and cheesy romantic TV.

So let’s get down to business. The business of oversharing and really depressing life stories, to be more specific.. Apparently everyone on The Bachelorette is damaged in some way. Or they just think the way to Ashley’s heart is through her….uh….heart. I mean, that maybe they can get her to pity them enough to pick them.

William’s Date/Life Story:
First up we had William, who shared how he lost his dad to drinking. A tearful Ash felt his pain having also dealt with a father’s alcohol problems. But she consoled him with a rose and a nice little makeout sesh in front of the Bellagio fountains. Thank god the little guy got a rose for all of his hard efforts. What hard efforts, you ask? Well, considering he was put to the task of helping Ash plan a fake wedding in Vegas (seriously, who the eff planned that ish?) then ended up at a wedding chapel where he was the only one saying I do…and then had to paddle a row boat in the middle of a giant fountain (!), home slice earned that rose.  Especially since some people would rather ” be swimming in pee than plan a wedding with her.”

Sidenote: I’d rather be wading through feces than have to look at Bentley’s stupid (hot) face one more time.

Group Date/More Sad Stories:
The city of romance…. Oh wait, it’s the city of trashed dreams and drunken hook ups. But I digress. So the lucky 12 were: Constantine, Ryan M. Chris, Ben F, Nick Bentley , West, Lucas, Stephen, Blake, Matt, and Ames. As soon as they landed they were brought to a theater where the Jabbawockeez were performing, which, by the way, was totally awesome. I had no idea those guys got themselves a show in Vegas. Finally, something good came from MTV! But back to the most awkward guy dancing I’ve ever seen point. The plan was to break the 12 lovely – well, 11 lovely and one totally douchetastic – guys into two groups of six and have a dance-off. If you can call what they did dancing. Whatever, they put in a valiant effort.

So that happened, which was really just a little time filler before more cheesy/cringeworthy/get way too personal on the first date moments went down. First, the other dentist, what’s his face, had a special moment with Ashley, where she confided in him that she thinks all dentists are the same/dance the same? and they may be too Type A together.  His response? They’ll just be “Twice as perfect.” Where’s my barf bag?

Then West, aka this season’s Emily, breaks it down for her and tells her how he lost his wife but is ready to find love again. Collective aww. Aren’t his eyes so dreamy??

And then, leaving some fantastic guys behind (cough West cough cough), Ashley leads Bentley into the suite, sits him down and tells him to shut up and to please, please, please, please, please, please stay. Not much for playing hard to get are you, Ash?  If only she could see the interview footage in which Bentley lets the audience know he wants her to “tickle his Pickle.” Douche is just killing with those quotes tonight.

Mickey’s Date/More Sharing:
The last 1-1 date was with Mickey, by default. Since the producers, I mean Ashley, couldn’t decided on whether to make a date with JP (swoon) or Mickey (who?), she made them decide with a Nerf Gun duel to the death. Well not really, but that would’ve made for a way better two hours of my life. They flipped a coin, Mickey won…and that was OK by me because he’s actually super cute.  Although it was pretty clear he wasn’t the one Ash was hoping for as she gave a lame attempt at “Ohh you, well, okay I guess I can work this” when he came off the escalator. Yes he got a rose, yes he joined in on the sharing (apparently Mickey lost his mom 6 years ago, he was her only child and a huge mama’s boy. For real, does anyone on this show not have some major drama in their past?!) From there they scaled a wall of wine and listened to Colbie sing “Brighter Than the Sun” on a fake beach, which I’m sure was a great moment in Ms. Colbie’s career. Somewhere along the lines of that time she wrote that song for the cotton commercials.

The Mask’s Moment to Shine/Overshare:
Aw, poor guy didn’t get a date. Probably because this week’s dates were happening in Vegas and not at Mardi Gras. Waaaah. He’s so deep. He wants to reveal himself to Ashley. He has had a hard life that led him to see people for who they are and not what they look like….or something. He wants her to like him for his personality. Which would be great, if he wasn’t totally creepy and boring and bland. With dead eyes. I feel bad for the guy – what with his brain hemorrhage and divorce – but he really just needs to take off that damn, quilted mask. Just think about the messed up tan lines he must be getting!

Gosh, so much emotional unloading, I feel like I need a full gallon of ice cream to feel better. And add in the fact that Douche McScruffy Hair is still around (that’s Bentley, in case you didn’t catch it), and I need to get me an XL order of McDonald’s fries to go along with it. (Emotional eating is my jam, yo.)

Why must you take me on such an emotional roller coaster every week, ABC, WHY?! And why must I get so invested, so quickly? Speaking of which, I can’t wait for next week: “I’m going to make Ashley cry, I hope my hair looks okay.” Said by Mr. Bentley, obvi. Next week’s episode looks like it will be a real tear jerker for Miss. Ashley; let’s hope girlfriend can pull through!

The Huffington Post recently published a list of 10 places every child must visit. On the list: The Smithsonian, Yellowstone and Ellis Island. I remember when I was a kid and my parents somehow found it in their souls to take to all of those places.  We were a big traveling family and my parents wanted me to see (and learn about) everything. Unfortunately, instead of taking in the beauty of the Grand Canyon, I sat in the dirt and cleaned up my Tamogotchi’s poop.

In a nutshell: I didn’t let it all sink in, learn something or enjoy it.
And I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.

However, now that we’re all grown up in college, we are presented with the perfect opportunity (and maturity) to do some exploring and really experience some cool things.  Some of these things we couldn’t appreciate entirely when we were little munchkins not old enough to play beer pong at a real, living, breathing frat party.  And some of these things we won’t be able to appreciate to the same extent when we’re out of college.

So while our minds are human sponges and we’ve got loads of time, it’s time to explore the top ten places every college student must see.

[Click on ANY image to view the gallery!]

As you all might have heard (via our many drunken texts from the land of Sin), CollegeCandy was invited on a trip to Las Vegas last week courtesy of the fine people of Planet Hollywood and Harrah’s resorts. We always knew we had to hit up the Vegas strip, so we accepted. And then did cartwheels around the office.

“WOOOO! VEGASSSSS.”

After we finished chest bumping, we made a list of all the things we wanted to do and, despite our inability to find someone to marry (the men of askmen.com rejected our advances), we definitely lived it up for the 4 days we were there. And now, after the 7 days of it took us to recover from one MASSIVE hangover, we are back to share with you the 10 things we learned on our trip to The Happiest Place on Earth.

1. The best chaser for a vodka soda is 25 layers of chocolate cake.

2. An all-you-can-eat buffet is NOT a challenge. (But it is an opportune time to wear an empire waist dress, like the chic and comfy Criss Cross Applesauce dress from Lulus.com.)

3. Bottle service isn’t just for douchebags. Seriously, it might be the best thing to ever happen. If you have the money to splurge, it totes makes a difference. No elbowing your way past drunk patrons to get that vodka soda. No tip toeing back to the table as you attempt not to spill that martini. Just sit back and let your personal waitress pour you one (or many).

4. Elvis is alive!

5. And has really bad breath.

6. Bros really aren’t that bad. In fact, they don’t pop their collars, wear ridiculous hats or even call us “babes.” Who knew?

7. Life is good when you’re a high roller. Planet Hollywood (and all of Harrah’s properties) reward their best patrons with a Diamond Card that lets you bypass lines, get one-on-one service, and secures you a misting chair by the pool. And, trust me, when it’s 105 outside, that misting chair is KEY. As is instant access to the buffets when you’re hungover and jonesing for some waffles.

8. Wanna be a high roller? Pick a game and learn the rules. Then get up close and personal to the pit boss and the dealer. (Miss you, Gil!) They won’t be able to hook you up with any extra chips, but they will make all that time spent at the tables way more fun. And if that doesn’t work, just get really, really drunk and bet it all. Make it rain, baby!

9.Vegas is the happiest place on earth. You like good food? Try Koi at Planet Hollywood. You like booze? You can get an Eiffel Tower full of it at The Paris. Enjoy shopping? Check out City Center – they’ve got every. single. designer on the planet. You like boys? They’re everywhere. And they’re drunk. There is literally something for everyone. Which makes me wonder: why didn’t I go to UNLV?

10. Vegas hangovers are no joke.

You want a chance to learn a few things in Las Vegas? Harrah’s is hooking you up with 15% off all room reservations through December 30, 2010. Pick a date (Fall Break, anyone??), grab your girls and get ready for the best time of your life. Just don’t smoocheroo with Elvis. Trust.

Every once in a while you receive an invitation that is impossible turn down. For some people it’s the Bat Mitzvah where JC Chasez was rumored to be performing. For others it’s an MTV-style Sweet Sixteen party where the birthday girl promised that everyone would get to hook up with her topless dancers. And for us here at CollegeCandy, it’s an all-expense paid trip to Vegas to party with the best of them and show our readers how to make the most of Sin City. We’re excited, we’re nervous, and we’re about to get a whole lot closer after sharing a hotel room for a week (FYI Lauren…guess now is the time to tell you that I sleep in the nude). (Editor’s Note: That’s OK, Jenni – I get gassy when I’m drunk.)

Not only are we psyched to be crossing off another item on our list of 25 things to do before you turn 25, but we’re also ready to participate in everything that Vegas has to offer. Based on  your suggestions (didn’t see the post asking for suggestions? That’s because it was on our FB page and Twitter-feed!), we’ve put together the ultimate Vegas bucket list, and we’ll be keeping you updated with photos, videos, and tweets as we cross each item off the list.

Pray for us! No, really. Please pray.

1. Get a photo with a D-List celebrity.

2. Win big, lose it all, and gain a valuable lesson about the risks of gambling on a blogger’s salary

3. Get married to a stranger just for the sake of not growing old with cats and knitting needles having a great/stereotypical Vegas story

4. Kiss an Elvis impersonator on the lips.

5. Go to an all-you-can-eat $10.95 buffet (in pants with an elastic waistband) and take full advantage.

6. Hold back Lauren’s hair as she throws up her $10.95 meal while telling her that eating that 5th sirloin steak was a mistake.

7. Live blog from a pool.

7.5. Laugh/cry at our Macbook-shaped burn lines on our thighs. Apply aloe vigorously.

8.  Skinny dip in the Bellagio fountain… after one too many free cocktails at the blackjack table.

9. Get photos with the cops who arrest us for skinny dipping in the Bellagio fountain.

10. Drunk dial our boss (nightly). Giggle. Hang up. Do it again.

Of course, with 4 days in Sin City, we’re also bound to break our new FlipCam, get into a fist fight with the dudes from BroBible, sexile one another, and promise god that we’ll never drink again if he lets us out of Vegas alive. Here’s hoping he’ll listen.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of KAO Brands. All opinions are 100% mine.

Alright ladies, let’s talk. Like most women, I’m a woman of indulgence. I love long shopping trips, great meals, and pampering myself whenever I get the chance. And now, thanks to the people over at Kao (makers of Curel, John Frieda, Jergens, Biore and Ban) I am getting the chance to do it all. For free!

Even better, you’re getting the chance too.

So here’s the deal:

Kao is giving away a basket full of awesome pampering goodies every day! The kind of stuff you know you want to buy but you don’t buy because you’d rather save your money and use your roommate’s shampoo/lotion instead. And then she gets all mad at you for using up all the conditioner and you lie and say it wasn’t you but she knows it was you and blah blah blah. Yeah, head over to the Temptation is Beautiful website to enter to win this basket and you could avoid all that. (You can enter every day!)

OR make it up to the roomie by entering to win a 3-day stay in LAS VEGAS for you and three friends, including $1,500 of spending money! Seriously, how could she be mad about a missing deodorant when she’s partying in Vegas?!

All you have to do is register on the Temptation is Beautiful site and take a little quiz with some super sexy lady (who looks like a much less crazy version of Kelly Bensimon) to determine how hot you are. You know, in case you don’t already know. I’ve been questioning my hotness lately so I took it; apparently I’m “just right,” and “men can’t resist my sexy look.” Which begs the question: why am I still spending my Sunday mornings alone in bed?

Anyways, take the quiz, share your results with us (I’d really like to know how hot the CollegeCandy readers are) and with your friends (Tweeting/Facebooking/emailing the link earns you bonus entries for the grand prize!) and you could be living it up with your girlfriends in Las Freaking Vegas!

Oh, and to all our fans around the world, unfortunately this is for US residents only. Sorry!

After seeing this headline on MSNBC.com this morning, we have three questions:

1. How slow of a news day is it if this is considered a “top story”?
2. Exactly who has the job of figuring this out?
3. Why did I plan that trip to Las Vegas for July??

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2010/02/26/wtf-friday-stinky-cities/feed/ 0 ccandystaff wtf smelly cities http://collegecandy.com/2009/10/16/single-and-re-thinking-my-game-plan/ http://collegecandy.com/2009/10/16/single-and-re-thinking-my-game-plan/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:00:06 +0000 Dannia- Loyola University Chicago http://collegecandy.com/?p=43825 ]]>

There's more to us than what's popping out of our dresses, you know.

I just got back from the happiest place on earth. And no, I’m not talking about Disneyland. Although Vegas is a lot LIKE Disneyland, but instead of candy you have booze and instead of rides you have prostitutes. Which I guess can be considered rides…. If I had spent more than three days there, my entire body and life would have started decaying as quickly as my morals did (just kidding guys, no secret marriages here!).

But beyond all the slot machines, free booze and horny people everywhere, Las Vegas is like single life grown in a petri dish; it’s bigger and more rampant, and it lets you observe some things. A lot of the weekend involved putting on our hottest outfits, going to the hottest places, and (hopefully) flirting with the hottest guys.  But somewhere in between flirting with the bouncer to get to the head of the line (which probably only works for Lindsay Lohan) and making eyes at the cute guy across the dance floor, it hit me: the giant singles meat market that is Las Vegas is not too far off from the giant singles meat market that is my life in Chicago.

Is the reason it’s so hard to get a date because things have just gotten too gosh darn shallow? Most of the single girls I know are pretty freaking cute, and everyone with eyes seems to wonder why they’re not taken. Well, maybe it’s because there are freaking cute girls everywhere, and they are in mass quantities at all your favorite clubs. And to all the freaking cute guys doing laps around said clubs, we ladies all look exactly the same: tight jeans, tall shoes, low tops…

And that seems to be all anyone really cares about.

I’m not opposed to getting to know people when I go out on the town at all, but to be honest, it doesn’t feel like there’s too much “getting to know” in the equation at all. A lot of it is putting on killer heels and busting out your boobs the best dance moves.

So what does that tell any potential date I meet? Sure as hell not that my favorite book is East of Eden or that I’m going to volunteer in Ecuador this summer. All it tells them is that I really, really like the song Poker Face (which is important to know if you plan on spending the rest of your life with me, obvi).

Now, I’m not hating on meeting guys at bars and clubs. I’m just saying, if you really expect something out of it, it couldn’t hurt to shake up how you go about it. Instead of luring someone onto the dance floor where he will grind his junk against your butt and it’s guaranteed the DJ will drown you out if you even pretend to care what the other is saying,  why not hang closer to the bar where you’re able to have a real conversation? And maybe instead of going for the Chuck Bass look alike, go for the guy with the quirkiest pick up line (actually, I wouldn’t hold it against you if you just went for the Chuck Bass look alike…).

You can still dress sexy and dance sexy… just make sure the guy who’s trying to get your number knows you’ve got a personality under those clip-on extensions. You’re at least guaranteed a more exciting first date. Or a first date at all.

As humans, we have inner demons that can only be quieted by indulging in our uncontrollable desires. Take the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins. Depending on your beliefs or interpretations, you may agree that we have a natural inclination towards these temptations. For example, I totally lust after my boyfriend’s six pack, I greedily horde my money, I’m a glutton for any sort of frozen yogurt, and I envy Megan Fox’s…everything.

Being the crafty marketing team they are, America’s consumer industries are exploiting our desires to indulge in these Seven Deadly Sins (and are getting filthy rich because of it!). Hey, maybe if we all sinned a bit more, we could nix this recession like Cain did Abel! Ready to be a bad girl? Hit up these industries to silence your inner, money spending demon:

Lust – While the recession has taken away many things, at least it’s bringing sexy back! Erotic industries, such as sex toy company Babeland, have seen a 25% increase in sales. Makes sense: The less hours you’re given at your job, the more quality time you have to spend with your brand new Mini Pink Leopard Vibe! The best part? Babeland is always having sales to keep you “cumming” back for more. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Gluttony- Did your latest paycheck leave your pockets feeling empty? At least you can still fill your tummy with greasy, affordable goodness! Americans appreciate the cheap convenience of fast food, so we keep hitting those drive-thrus and saving our money. It’s a trade-off, because we sacrifice good health for a good deal, but no one wants to shell out big money for the organic aisle at Walmart. And thanks to that logic, Ronald McDonald’s painted-on, red smirk is widening by the fiscal year.

Greed- Hit up Vegas recently? Despite declining tourism in Vegas, I’ve noticed that the casinos in my area of Northern California (including Reno and Lake Tahoe) are still emptying pockets like nobody’s business. Our insatiable, greed-driven thirst for money and power is continually fed by these casino industries. They are doing so well, in fact, that my town’s closest casino has drummed up enough income to begin construction on a swanky resort hotel. Because nothing says a good time like driving ten minutes from your home to check into a hotel and throw your money away at the craps table.

Sloth- Psh, if I were the embodiment of a sin, Sloth would be my name and Lazy would be my game. After finally deciding to get some Dish Network up in the apartment I share with the boyfriend, I chose to shell out the extra deuce for DVR. You don’t get any lazier than “I’m too tired to even flip through channels. Where’s that Little Couple episode I recorded last night?” You girls all gotta admit you would/do pay extra for the convenience of being lazy via your boob tube.

Wrath- Personally, I don’t get down with the emotion of anger. You can say I’m a lover, not a fighter. But tell that to the Hooters that has men spilling out of their doors and windows just to watch the UFC fight and chow down on some chicken waaangs. Granted, it doesn’t hurt that there are some hot mamas providing this service. But by these guys living vicariously through cauliflower-eared, sweaty men beating the hell out of each other, they are perpetuating the sin of Wrath. And Dana White is sinfully wealthy because of it!

Envy- The Green-Eyed monster can be found in almost any industry. Particularly those in which sales rely on the fact that girls are constantly in competition with each other. We buy magazines just to drool over the bodies we are jealous of, the ads for shoes we could never afford, the articles about overachievers that make us feel unsuccessful in comparison…and we just end up more envious than we did to begin with.

Pride- Taking pride in your appearance is vital to social acceptance and self-confidence. But you gotta admit that with plastic surgery, celebrity emulation, buckets of makeup and clocking hours in the mirror, we take vain to the next level. With our persistant focus on our outer appearance, industry big-wigs like Dr. Rey and M.A.C. Cosmetics are riding high on our hard earned dollars.

So, yeah, you may be feeling guilty for giving into your sinful consumer ways. But consider your participation in our economy a good deed. Don’t let your buyer’s remorse or shopping guilt get you down, my Angelic American. Because sometimes, it just feels good to be bad.

Although I regularly watch The Hills, the show honestly irritates the crud out of me, and I think I’m an odd man out when I say I am not a big fan of LC. But even I can’t deny that the girl’s got a great style. She mixes California cool with high fashion for a nice combination that brings out her fresh-faced good looks.

Whether jaunting around LA with her BFFs and her puppy, partying it up in Vegas, or walking the red carpet at Hollywood events, she looks put together and sexy without being too overt. She does a great job of keeping it simple with basic pieces – jeans and plain tops or simple dresses – in colors and cuts that are perfect for her, and pairs it all with light accessories for the total cute package.

Of course, I’d probably dress really well too if I got paid $75K per episode to be filmed partying, “working” (‘cause we all know those jobs aren’t real) and acting like a total bitch. But maybe I’m just bitter.