In the last few years, collective buying sites like Groupon and Living Social have become increasingly popular. The concept is fairly simple: a daily deal is offered with a set minimum number that must be sold in order for the deal to become available. Examples of the types of deals offered through these sites include 50% (or more) off food at a restaurant, 2-For-1 tickets, and one-month unlimited gym passes.

SpaRahRah! provides a twist on the collective buying model: it offers exclusive deals on spa, beauty and wellness at up to 75% off their original prices. It’s run through SpaFinder, the “Global Spa and Wellness Resource.” Each deal is available for purchase for one week, unlike most other sites of this type, which only give you 24 hours to purchase a deal (great news for those like me who have a hard time making decisions).

I had a chance to try out a SpaRahRah! deal for myself: a one-hour yoga class, followed by a foot soak and reflexology treatment, at Creative Chakra Spa in Marina Del Rey, California (FYI: for anyone living in or visiting the Los Angeles area: you have to try this place! It’s not like your usual quick-appointment salon/spa — it focuses completely on healing). Since no one else had signed up for yoga that evening (the owner noted that the classes are usually small anyway — that way every student gets attention), I ended up having a private lesson, which was wonderful since I’m still a Yoga beginner. The class was the perfect way to relax at the end of a stressful day and stretch my body, which spends so many hours hunched at a desk behind a computer. After I was fully relaxed from my class, I was wrapped in a plush robe and proceeded to have a warm foot soak with aromatherapy salts and a reflexology treatment with Sandie, the friendly owner. My experience was nothing short of amazing, and I’m sure I’ll be back there soon.

After such a good experience, I’m definitely excited to see what other types of deals SpaRahRah! has to offer in the future. It’s a great way to be pampered — on a college girl’s budget!

[SpaRahRah was kind enough to provide Laura with these services for free. So thanks SpaRahRah!]

Today marks the 140th birthday of our good and loyal friend, Vaseline.  Here is to all of those good times we’ve had when we’ve needed you most. I keep you by my bed, in my bag, and in the car. I pick you up, dip my finger in your gooey residue and primp and prime to my utmost pleasure. You’re cheap, you’re handy, and you’re my BFF.

Cheers.

Seriously, after finding out it was Vaseline’s 140th birthday today, I went to find my own container and rubbed that shiz all over my elbows in celebration. This stuff is the best and, like any cheap vodka, it’s a college girl’s BFF.

Why, you ask?  Let us list the ways.

1. It makes your eyelashes grow: As long as you aren’t shacking up with the cutie you’ve been studying with, lather Vaseline all over your purty eyelashes overnight and watch them thicken and grow like a Chia pet come morning!

2. To Soften your weines [pronounced: wee*niss]: Vaseline is a great pick-me-up for dry elbows.

3. To Pimp out your cuticles: Store a mini-Vaseline container in your purse and utilize for emergency dry cuticle moments. And if you just really want an excuse to not take notes in lecture.

4. For kissable, luscious lips: Fall is a beast for drying out summary, dewy lips. Vaseline is there for you and your irresistible pout. Muah! P.S. You can mix Vaseline with Kool-Aid powder and make a colored (and flavored) lip gloss.

5. To Help your scent stick: Softly rub Vaseline all over your perfume points (i.e. the cleav, behind the ear, neck, wrist) and your scent will last longer!

6. Take it from JWWOW: It is a misconception that Vaseline clogs pores, so smear it all over your face, neck and arms whenever some bitch gets up in your shiz. Let’s see her try to grab hold of you now!

7. Say See Ya Never, Lipstick Smudges: Spread a little Vaseline over your teeth and lipstick smudges be gone!

8. For a moonlight massage with your man: Umm, hellooo. Vaseline is slippery. It ain’t no mint scent Aveda lotion, but it’s cheap and gets the job done after a long day trucking that North Face backpack from the library and back. Warm it up for an extra soothing effect. Saucy.

9.To remove last nights battlefield makeup: Apply some to a Q-tip and have a hay day.

10. Perfect for an eyeshadow/blush boost: Apply some under your eye shadow for a glossy affect. Apply on the apples of your cheeks for a dewy glow. Mix with lipstick for a cream blusher!

11. Lube: Whether you need it to get your friend’s engagement ring off your finger, or you want to ‘get it on’, Vaseline has you covered. And slippery.

12. It eases eyebrow plucking: Tame your eyebrows and lube up the under-skin so you can pluck with ease.

13. Prevent hair dye from seeping onto your forehead: Softly dab all over your hairline and keep that box hair dye from dying your forehead orange/brown/black/purple (we don’t judge).

14. To make your accessories look brand spankin’ new: New job interview? Scuff the crap-ol-la out of your patent leather heals thanks to pitcher night? Put a small dab on your shoes and shine away!

15. Hide Split Ends: Haven’t had a haircut since your mother made you go to Great Clips for a quickie? Hide damaged ends with the ‘V’ (what I’m now calling it).

16. Remove those stains on your clothes: And by stains, I mean makeup stains, sillies!

17. To Prevent spray-tan streaks: Rub all over the backs of your knees, ankles and hands to prevent seriously frightening spray tan lines. (You listening, Snooks?!)

18. To heal a new tat: No, Vaseline won’t undo that lame ass “I-have-star-tattoos-on-my-feet” situation a la Kristin Cavallari, but it can help the wound heal a little bit faster.

19. To get those O.P.I. nail polish bottles open: Is it just me or do I always try to get those babies open after I shower. Make it easier for next time and rub Vaseline under the cap. Then go ahead and do a D.I.Y manicure.

20. It’s your new exfoliating body wash: Mix with sea salt and come out of the shower feeling like Zac Efron’s face. Soft. And sexy.

Is it just me, or after reading this article, do your lips feel dry? Now go give your Vaseline some well deserved attention.

I love. LOVE spa treatments. I may even love the spa more than I love chocolate. And boys. And the backstreet boys. And that, my friends, says a lot. The ONLY thing I don’t Ashlee-Simpon-style “Lo-lo-lo-love” about spas is the hefty price tag that tends to come with them. It’s a bit hard to relax with cute masseuse man getting out my stress knots when I keep stressing about I’m going to afford to eat following my de-stressing sesh.

But fret no more, my friends. If there is one thing to be in The Know about this month, it’s Prettycity’s discounted $59 spa treatments. Prettycity teams up with The Heart Truth organization every February to bring us our favorite deals and remind us the importance of taking care of our own heart health. Simply go to their website to sign up (it’s free!), type in your zip and – BOOM – discounted spa treatments by your favorite (and soon to be favorite) spas in your area of this fine nation. 

From massages to facials to teeth whitening and cellulite treatments, it’s all yours for less than $60. And while I’m not saying $60 is cheap, if you are looking to indulge, now is the time to do it!

Not to mention, this is a damn good way to say Happy Valentines Day to M-E!

Me. Crying. For the entire scene.

Call me a sap all you want, but there were tears this week. Real ones.

First they were tears of frustration and anger – crying because the scene that I have been anticipating for weeks, when Rufus and Lily finally discover that Scott is their son, was squished into some 15 second clip where Georgina walks by and breezily mentions it. But then it became tears of happiness as Rufus professed his undying love to Lily and told her to stop getting cold feet and just move them down the aisle already. And then the tears turned to even more happiness and love when Scott and his parents hugged and cried and proved that children given up by their parents at birth really can re-integrate into their previous families twenty years later.

Sounds kind of like a Lifetime movie, but I’ll work with it. Box of tissues in hand.

Sidetrack to Georgina for a second: The only word for her this episode is CREEPY. And I’m not just talking about her whole I-love-Dan-and-I’ll-do-whatever-it-takes-to-get-him-back thing. Is she getting paler and more wide-eyed every episode? I know it suits her overly-involved obsessive personality, but come on, makeup artists – ever hear of bronzer? Maybe if she started reading CollegeCandy she’d learn some much needed makeup tips and how to spot a guy who isn’t into her so she can move on instead of trying to ruin things for him and his superstar, hot, Hilary Duff actress girlfriend. But more importantly, she’d learn a few things about bronzer.

Now back to Rufus and Lily: After tip-toeing around each other, they finally tie the knot at the Brooklyn loft (insert more tears that their perfect garden with perfect flowers in perfect weather didn’t get to happen). Jenny made the gorgeous wedding gown, Serena wore some fabulous frock that made her boobs look ridic and Jenny wore….my grandma’s moo moo. I wept for her stylists.

We all know that no big event on the Upper East Side could ever run smoothly and a Lily Bass wedding is no exception. Even before the big “this is your son” debacle, we finally learned that Carter Basin scammed the Buckleys into paying off his debts. But last we saw, his gorgeous body and that face-so-hot-it-makes-me-tear-up were sandwiched between two very large Texans and about to be used to pay back his bookie fees. Apparently Southern families never forget. And apparently those Southern girls will do anything to help their families, and that includes using one poor Nate Archibald. Poor kid, he really thought that Brie was falling for him. He should have listened to the astonishing, gorgeous, please-let-me-be her Blair Waldorf.

“No girl is that nice.”

And no other girl would get an amazing Chuck Bass massage, a moment I watched with tears in my eyes since my boyfriend doesn’t take cross-continental massage technique lessons.

Well, at least I’m not Carter Basin. Homeboy’s in for some serious pain. We’ll just have to see how it all goes down next week. Until then….

You know you love them.
XOXO.
GGR.
(Gossip Girl Recapper)

As I’ve said in the past, I love feeling sore the day after a workout. It’s a great indication that my body was challenged and fat was burned. Both very good things.

However, there are times when I can’t quite cope with how much pain I’m in. When it literally hurts to do anything, i.e. walk, sit, stand… laugh. Yeah, not so much fun, especially when I have to stop reading this very site out of fear of laughing so hard I cry. Literally.

So in an effort to ensure future workouts don’t completely debilitate me (or my dear friend Lauren), I’ve looked into soreness prevention and remedy.

Warm It Up:
Apparently warming up before beginning any cardio or strength training is really important. Doing so warms the muscles, increases blood flow to the muscles, and helps prepare the body and mind for strenuous activity. Most importantly, it can help reduce the chance of injury. I’ve always been one to jump right into my run and not do the whole “brisk walk” thing beforehand. I usually don’t have the patience for it. But I’m willing to try it out if it means I’ll experience less pain.

Streth It Out:
I know, that’s really asking a lot, but after the warm-up you gotta stretch it out. Stretching each muscle for 15-20 seconds before running, biking, or ellipticalling will definitely make a difference. Stretching at this time further prepares the body for what’s coming. And once you’re done, be sure to stretch afterwards too. After you’ve worked your body you muscles are at their most pliable state, so you’ll protect yourself from injury and also increase flexibility.

And if the damage is already done, i.e. you’re now walking like you have a stick up your ass, there are a variety of ways to soothe the soreness.

1. Take a bath with epsom salt. Soaking it hot water alone will increase circulation, creating a soothing-effect. Adding epsom salt will help draw any toxins out of the muscles. I’ve actually done this many times and SWEAR by it.

2. Get a massage. A massage also helps remove toxins from the body and gently stretches the muscles. I am all about this too. I think I can fall in love with anyone who gives me a massage. Anyone who hasn’t gotten one is SERIOUSLY missing out.

3. Drink cherry juice. A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine discovered that drinking unsweetened cherry juice relieved exercise-induced muscle soreness. This option may be a bit too tart for me, but hey, I’ll give it a whirl.

4. Take Vitamin E. This wonder supplement acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radicals built up during a workout. In a a study it was shown to help reduce symptoms of muscle soreness, inflammation, and muscle weakness.

5. Drink your coffee. Popping a caffeine pill equivalent to two cups of joe has been proven to reduce muscles soreness up to 50%. A study says that caffeine works by blocking the body’s receptors for adenosine, a chemical released in response to inflammation (I hit up sciencedaily.com for that one).

There we have it. All interesting and all natural approaches to reducing that oh-so-good, yet oh-so-unforgiving post-workout muscle soreness. Wow that was a mouthful.

Definitely try these little tid bits out and share your thoughts!!

Talking sex with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she or he will judge you,  you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

After so many of you wrote in to ask Dr. Lissa Rankin questions during CollegeCandy’s STD Awareness Day, we thought we’d bring her back more regularly. So, every Thursday she will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person and didn’t really trust the Yahoo community to answer for you. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: I feel very uncomfortable with all things sex. I am not very experienced and get really nervous when the opportunity arises. How can I fix that?

A: To answer your question completely, I would want to know more about you. Why are you uncomfortable with all things sex?  Is it because you’re young and inexperienced, or have you had past experiences, such as rape or sexual molestation, that rock your foundations and understandably lead to uncomfortable feelings regarding sex?  And how is your relationship with your sexual partner?  Many people are uncomfortable with sexual activity when they don’t know or trust their partner well.  Are you uncomfortable because you don’t really understand your body? Or are you having pain?  There are many reasons why someone might feel uncomfortable with sex.  Sometimes, those feelings arise to protect you and are worth honoring. But sometimes, they get in the way of sexual bliss and can cause problems.

To help you more, I would need to know the answers to some of those questions.  If you’ve had sexual experiences in the past that are sabotaging your sex life, please see a therapist.  You deserve to process those experiences now, or they will continue to plague you.  If you’re in an unsafe relationship currently, get out.  Your body might be trying to tell you something.  But if you’re in a safe, loving relationship and your past isn’t a problem, here are 10 Tips To Help You Relax Into Your Sexuality.

1.    Take the Pretty Pink Pussy Tour. The first step to getting rid of nervousness during sex is to know and love your body.  If you’re subconsciously shamed by your body, your body and mind will rebel and put up red flags during sexual activity.  Educate yourself, and love yourself.

2.    Do a body blessing every night before you go to sleep. Close your eyes and scan through your body parts, starting at the top of your head and working downwards.  As you approach each body part, pay attention to any negative thoughts that come into your mind, such as “I hate my fat ass.”  Turn it around into an affirmation, such as “Thank you, Bottom, for cushioning me when I sit.”  Do this all the way down to your toes.

3.    Try relaxation exercises before you engage in sexual activity.  Take a warm bath or have your partner massage you.  Close your eyes and take a few very deep, cleansing breaths together. Light candles and incense- whatever it takes to help you relax.

4.    Go slow. If you’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous during sex, perhaps you’re not ready.  If your partner is truly caring, he or she will not pressure you into anything you’re not ready to do.  Give yourself permission to set the pace.

5.    Masturbate.  If other sexual activities make you nervous, try pleasuring yourself instead.  The more you can relax into your own sexuality, the more you can comfortably share it with someone else. If you’re able to masturbate by yourself without feeling uncomfortable, try masturbating together.  That way, you have control of the whole experience, but doing it together can be highly stimulating for both of you.  Once you graduate from that step, you may find yourself less uncomfortable with other sexual activities.

6.    Breath deeply during sexual activity. Deep breathing relaxes your muscles and alters your mind.  Pay attention to your breathing throughout the whole experience. Sounds silly, but it really might help.

7.    Be silly.  Sometimes sex can be so serious, and what better way to release the nervousness than to laugh.  Laughing releases endorphins and stimulates the body in a whole host of ways.  Try some laughter yoga exercises, such as this one: stick your thumbs in your ears and stick your tongue out at each other. Now laugh out loud as hard as you can.  Sounds goofy, I know, but try it! I swear it works.

8.    Talk about how you feel.  Don’t be nervous in silence. If that’s how you’re feeling, share your thoughts with your partner.  And if you don’t feel comfortable sharing with your partner, talk to a girlfriend. It’s honest, and it’s okay. Don’t judge yourself for your nervousness.  In time, this too shall pass.

9.    Acknowledge your fears. What is making you nervous? Write your answers in your journal.

10.    Pat yourself on the back for being brave enough to ask this question. It’s very empowering to gather information, and feeling empowered can make you feel more secure in vulnerable situations, such as during sex.  Other empowering activities include engaging in challenging exercise, donating your time to a charity or campaign you believe in, and making smart health choices.  Anything you can do to increase your sense of empowerment will follow you into the bedroom.

Hope that helps!

[Photo courtesy of Aprille on Flickr.]

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. So get to your nearest craft store for the essentials and let’s make some fun sh*t.]

In these tough economic times, everyone is penny-pinching. Everyone is also totally stressing, including college-age women, about money, about finding a job, about passing that last exam so you can pass the class and head home for a summer of beaching and BBQ.

And while you wouldn’t waste any money on an expensive massage or other relaxing spa treatment, you really need it, dammit! You’ve been studying for weeks now and all that stress is taking a toll on your body.

If you need a little luxury in your life that doesn’t put a strain on your already-thinning wallet, keep reading. I’ve got a homemade chocolate face mask that is cheap, simple, relaxing, and will get your pores looking as fresh and clean as the $100 spa alternative.

It’s also kind of delicious. Not that I ever tried it…

Ingredients:
Cocoa Powder
Milk
Small Bowl
Spoon

THAT’S IT! BELIEVE IT!

Instructions:
1. In the small bowl, pour about 1 tbsp of milk
2. Add about equal amounts of cocoa powder and mix
3. Continue to add milk or cocoa powder until you have a pasty consistency
4. Apply to your freshly-washed face, kick back on the couch with the latest issue of Glamour and leave on until dry (about 20-30 minutes)
5. Wash your face with warm water
6. Enjoy your glowing complexion!

Cheap and easy. Just how I like it.

[Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, saddest things he hears on his college campus. Join the Overheard revolution!Leave your own overheard convos in the comments or send ‘em over!]

(Heard from physics students walking behind me.)
Guy 1: So the senior design engineer says, hey, that’s a mismatched transistor! The deficient fusion constants differed from the manufacturing!
(General laughter.)
Guy 2: Oh, naw, man, you told it wrong. You messed it up.

(From a reader: Two girls, talking earnestly in a shopping center.)
Girl 1: Yeah, I know, that’s like… the worst fish to be, if you were a fish.
Girl 2: Yeah, like I would never want to be that fish. Literally.

(Two guys on a bench.)
Guy 1: You can’t just push people over because they’re poor!
Guy 2: Why not? I think that’s a great reason!

(Guy, enthusiastically dancing.)
Guy: Wow! We save so much time by droppin’ G’s!

(Students arguing before a class.)
Girl: I mean… you can’t ignore it, Mark Hamill was the most important culture figure of the 1970s. He was like the president of culture.
Guy: He was more important than Mozart.

(Girl, lecturing guy.)
Girl: No, your parents can’t move to Japan. Your parents are both over six feet tall.

(Sociology class.)
Professor: Where does object value come from? Nowhere. We fetishize commodities. We lick telephones.
(The telephone rings.)
Professor: Hello? Hello. No, this is a class at UConn. Okay. Okay, Bye.
(Hangs up.)
Professor: Someone was looking for their dog named Mike.

(Two guys in the hallway.)
Guy: I’ve got my really boring friend coming over in ten minutes. Can I drink a bunch of your beer?

(Guy and girl talking.)
Girl: I feel fat.
Guy: Yeah, you’re fat. You’re so fat. You sleep with giants.

(Folks in the dining hall.)
Girl: Why do you keep socks in your pocket?
Guy: My mom always yelled at me whenever my socks fell out of my pocket.

(Girl and a guy arguing.)
Guy: C’mon. Been carrying the tension in my shoulders for weeks now.
Girl: No! I’m not giving you a back rub! Your shoulders aren’t hairy enough!

(Girl, holding out a fistful of dollars.)
Girl: I want some kind of spiced, roasted nut. I want some nuts. I want some hot, hot nuts.

When you tell your sorority sisters/coworkers/Advanced Spanish class, the dozen roses they received will suddenly seem wilted.

1. Take a hot air balloon ride.

For listings in your area, see HotAirBallooning.com, which also has plenty of reading material for you to brush up on before you hit the sky. Depending on where you live, it might be too cold in February, but warmer states have plenty of opportunities (Florida has ten listings of hot air balloon companies on this site!). As long as you can do heights, this is the perfect opportunity to let your honey hug you close as you look over an endless array of trees and mountains while the sun sets on a perfect afternoon.

2. Take a massage workshop…and then perfect your technique.

If you are both totally stressed with school, this is a sensual way to be close, while letting yourselves relax. See what types of introductory classes are available in your area, from Hot Stone Massage to workshops designed just for couples. Once you’ve mastered your craft, this is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

3. Get erotic.

Hot air balloons and massage workshops too tame for your wild libido? Get sexy this Valentine’s Day. Sign up for a pole dancing class and tone up, gain confidence, and embrace your inner sex-kitten. Cook up a meal made entirely of aphrodisiac fare, or, swing by Victoria’s Secret and treat yourself to a new outfit that’s guaranteed to make him cancel those cliche dinner reservations. Just remember to deadbolt the doors!

4. Be artsy.

Hey, it worked for Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Titanic, didn’t it? Even if you and your man have zero artistic ability, you can still appreciate each other’s bodies. Make rough gesture drawings of each other, or have some fun and sketch playful caricatures. If you trust each other enough to take photos, use black and white film and experiment with a variety of angles – just make sure these never fall into the wrong hands. Not only will it allow you to express the way you see each other, but having to keep your distance long enough to create a drawing will get you both riled up.

5. See your city…on a horse.

Well not on a horse, but if you live in a frigid temperature zone and the hot air balloon is out of the question, look into renting a horse-drawn carriage and bring a few snuggly blankets. Everything is more romantic at night when you can see the lights of the city, so why waste the evening under the florescent lamps at the Olive Garden?

Anybody think they’ve got the perfect Valentine’s Day planned? Do tell!

In this weekly series, actress / model and fabulous CC blogger, Jen, will be using her make-up know how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]

This week Jen gives us the lowdown on skincare: keeping it clean, beautiful and not-so-obvious that you were up until 4am playing Quarters with the roommates writing a paper. Grab a pen and paper – you will want to take notes.

If you have a specific make-up question, leave a message in the CC Facebook group, or email Lauren@collegecandy.com with the title “CC Make-Up Question,” and she’ll make sure Jen hears your woes and addresses them.