Following in the footsteps of VH1’s The Pick Up Artist, comes a similar You-Suck-At-Dating-So-Let’s-Fix-Your-Flaws-Before-You-Start-Throwing-Birthday-Parties-For-Your-Cats show. This time, we watch as GIRLS get some harsh reality about what we do that turn off the MEN. Hosted by the ever beautiful and brutally honest Steve Ward, a master matchmaker and easy-on-the-eyes male, this show follows eight single ladies looking for love as they journey through a “Tough Love Boot Camp.”

Each episode will revolve around one theme and include a Dating 101 class, a field exercise (a date!), and end with a group therapy session where one girl is chosen for doing the worst. Unlike The Pick Up Artist, nobody gets booted off, but the worst contestant will get an embarrassing critique during therapy. This is good news for us viewers because we get to learn some lessons along with the girls (finally, a reality show that’s actually useful!), but thankfully don’t have to do it on national TV!

With issues ranging from trust, intimacy, communication, ex-boyfriends, and the infamous text-aholism, Steve works with these ladies to break their bad habits in hopes of finding The One. Each girl has a classic case of Chase-A-Guy-Away-itis and is nicknamed for their main issue. I’m sure we can all find one girl we relate to the most, so I challenge you to follow your sistah’s progress. Learn some lessons along with your favorite gal and root for her to find love. So, which girl are you? Read More »

2009 is just around the corner, so we decided to take a little look back at 2008. A lot has happened in the world, in the country and in our drama-filled, busy lives. We got so caught up in the working, the studying, the boys, the friends, the football games, the car sing alongs, the movies, the celebrity gossip, etc., that we forgot to stop and see just how far we’ve come in the past 12 months.

And, baby, we’ve come a long way.

We’ve all learned a thing or two in 2008, and we figured we’d share our biggest lessons with you. Who knows? Maybe these life lessons will help you get a jumpstart on a fabulous and splendid 2009.

Erica – Kent State: You know that book “He’s Just Not That Into You”? Well, it’s TRUTH. Oh, and a big bowl full of cottage cheese after a night of drinking is amazing and doesn’t make me feel guilty the next morning. Seriously.

S.E. – Fordham: The biggest lesson I learned in 2008 is that freshman boys are the easiest targets

for free drinks. I plan to abuse this knowledge until I’m a senior.

Lauren – University of Michigan: I learned that I’m more beautiful and desirable than I ever thought.

Sara C- Fordham: Not to spread myself too thin! I used to have so much on my plate, and I was always stressed. So I recommitted myself to the three things I love the most: running, writing, and reading. It’s made such a difference!

Kari – FSU: Don’t apply self-tanner while you’re drunk. Read More »

And this is why I don’t buy my drugs online. Or use any form of drug that sounds a lot like those little blue creatures that lived in ’shrooms.

4 dumb high school students were rushed to the hospital (from school!) after using an herbal supplement called Snurf. What is Snurf (besides the name you give someone who farts in the bathtub) and why didn’t I know about this organic wonder-drug?

Snurf is labeled as an herbal supplement, but it is said to have similar effects to Ecstacy.

Sounds awesome, except instead of giving the kids an awesome trip, it made them all violently ill. Oh, these high school kids these days and their dabbling in drug use. Don’t they know that buying drugs online is a terrible idea? I tried to buy a Gucci bag online once and got some cheesey knock-off instead.

Looks like we are all learning some very important lessons: you can’t trust the internet for drugs or handbags. Don’t forget it!

It’s September 2nd, which means we must tuck our bikinis back in their drawers, slather ourselves in aloe vera, and hang our heads low as we mourn the coming end of summer. This also means that school is starting again, and for incoming college freshmen this brings a whole new kind of dread.

Sure, you’re excited to meet new people, take classes you chose out of your course catalog, and maybe even explore a new city. But there are things to worry about. A lot of them. Maybe it’s that you’re living away from home for the first time, or living across the country. There are more things you need to be prepared for than just athlete’s foot in the communal showers (plastic sandals will take care of that).

As someone who survived four years and two colleges and managed to graduate with all four of my limbs and at least a bit of dignity, I feel I should imbue on you, humble reader, ten important lessons and tips to help you enjoy college safely and happily, from picking classes to surviving alcohol poisoning.

1. Make orientation week count. I skipped a lot of the activities scheduled for orientation week and later came to regret it. I didn’t want to wake up at 9 AM to go on a tour of Boston, but what I didn’t realize is that a lot of people did wake up at 9 AM to go on a tour of Boston and, in doing so, met all those other people who got up at 9 AM to go on a tour of Boston. You’re not going to meet people if you hole up in your room, so go out as often as you can.

2. Taste-test classes. So you didn’t get into that History of Watching TV class you really wanted to take, go to the first class or two anyway. You’ll be amazed at how many people drop out of the class and a space for you may become available. The same goes for a class with a bad teacher. If sucky prof is teaching a general ed class you have to take, visit the same class taught by a different teacher. In my experience, a great teacher can make any class interesting and enjoyable. Read More »

It’s a universal truth: Valentine’s Day can suck, even if you’re not alone. Make sure it doesn’t by using one of these five sweet date ideas. Whether you hang out with your GF, BF, or BFF on V-Day, it’s still possible to have a ton of fun with a creative date.

1. A picnic. If you live in the Southwest, a traditional outdoor meal might actually be possible. Those of us who shack up in chillier climates don’t have to abandon the idea of a fun picnic, though. Take your date, make a few sandwiches, then grab a blanket and head to the nearest academic building. Set up shop in one of its more isolated areas, unwrap your food, and—presto!—picnic. Read More »