Ok, so it hasn’t been that rough of a winter in NYC. In fact, there’s not even any snow on the ground currently. But don’t let any of the aforementioned fool you. That hasn’t stopped me from dreaming of a tropical vacation.Warm sun, sandy beach, comfy lounge chair and a cold drink? Um…yes, please, sign me up!

Check out some of the warmer places I’d love to jet away to right now.

"No puedo sentir mis pies" -- I can't feel my feet.

Ah, Cinco De Mayo.  A grand holiday that brings to mind sombreros, margaritas, awkward family encounters with my cousin’s salsa band… no one?  Just me?  Okay then…

This prestigious holiday marks the warding off of the French from Mexico, and is usually celebrated with parades, etc.  Unless you are a college student; then it’s celebrated by waking up May 6th covered in confetti, wearing a sombrero, and clutching a kazoo.

You may think you’re honoring Mexico’s history with a few too many shots of tequila, but if you wanna celebrate this holiday right, it’s time to embrace Cinco De Mayo full force. And that means speaking its native tongue. So here’s a little Spanish guide with all with the essential phrases you’ll need for this joyous holiday.

Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

Margarita on the rocks please! = Margarita con hielo, por favor!

You come here often? = ¿Vienes aqui frequentamente?

Has anyone seen my wallet? = ¿Alguien ha vista mi billete?

My pants appear to have gone missing. =  Mis pantalones parecen a ser desparecio…

How did I get this sombrero? = ¿Como consigui esto sombrero?

WAIT THAT’S MY SOMBRERO!! = ¡¡ESPERA!  ESTO ES MI SOMBRERO!!!

That guy over there is cute. = El chico alla es guapo.

…Just kidding, did not see his face. = Solo en broma, no vi su cara.

Maybe four tequila shots is too many. = Quizas cuatro chupitos de tequila son demasiados.

Is the room spinning? = ¿Es la sala girado?

Wait, is there tequila in these margaritas? = Espera, hay tequila en estas margaritas?

How did I end up here? = ¿Como he llegado hasta aqui?

I know, I sound like a helicopter parent and you’re probably all, “Oh, that would never happen to me!” But girl, you aren’t invincible!

I can’t help but think about Natalee Holloway. She was a regular girl on a senior trip and just like us, heading off to Aruba for a vacation with her friends. And then tragedy struck. Contrary to what you’re convincing yourself, it could happen to any one of us, so now we must learn from her tragic incident and take some safety precautions to stay safe abroad.

There are many safety tips we learned in elementary school—don’t trust strangers, always travel in groups—that still hold true today. So let’s brush up on those rules to ensure a safe and memorable Spring Break trip.

“I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore!” You got it, Dorothy, you’re no longer in the good ole’ U.S. of A.  You don’t know a soul, besides your friends or your Spring Break group, and everyone (the cab driver, the guy selling knock-off purses on the corner, the bartender) seems like someone you can trust.  While there are many trustworthy people abroad, there are also many who prey on college Spring Breakers. And why not? Drunk, stumbling and toting expensive purses full of cash, we’re easy targets. Stay on your game, be aware of your surroundings and take precaution. This includes everything from zipping your bag when you carry it to not walking home alone.

Speaking of which….

Go out together, come home together. Yes, it’s understandable that you may want to deviate from the group because you met a cute guy, or you want to check out a cool club you discovered, but you should NEVER go places alone.  Yes, you do it all the time on campus, but this is not your campus. You do not know these people and you do not know this place. If you want to go somewhere, suggest checking the place out with your group of friends; I’m sure they would think it’s just as cool. And if you’re tempted to cab it back to some rando’s hotel for a night of fun, well, don’t.

Control your drinking. You’re in the Mexico and you’re 18.  Score! But just because the drinking age is lower, doesn’t mean it’s time to get crazy.  It’s fine to have a couple of drinks and enjoy being able to drink legally, but try not to take the celebration too far. Intoxicated girls are easy targets, so limit your alcohol intake and be aware of who’s around you.

Mexican Drug Wars. Although this does not really pose a threat to spring breakers who stay in the resort areas, it still an issue that needs to be brought up.  The bottom line: the Mexican Drug War is a huge problem in Mexico; so don’t travel too far from the touristy hot spots in resort towns.  The further you travel inland, the more risk you bring onto yourself.

Know the Laws and Customs Abroad. Every country has it’s own laws, oftentimes ones you wouldn’t even think of. An example: in Mexico, you cannot shout offensive words in public.  If you’re traveling to Mexico, watch your language—it could put you in jail. (Which, by all accounts I’ve heard, is not a pleasant place to be, nor is it easy to get out of.) To check out if there are any strange laws in your spring break destination, go to the country’s government website and look under “Laws and Customs.”

Spring Break is a time to let loose, have fun and get a little crazy – I get that. I’m not trying to rain on your beach party, but there’s a way to do all that and still stay safe. Remember, you’re not in your campus bubble so stay aware and stay in groups and you’ll have one kick ass Spring Break.

It’s a good thing I own a huge collection of sweatpants, because I don’t plan on ever leaving my house. I mean, have you seen it out there? It’s disgusting over on the East coast, and the only thing getting me through this season is the knowledge that I won’t need to wear a bikini in public anytime soon and therefore feel no guilt when I binge on deep-fried Oreos.

Okay, fine I lied. I’d much rather be frolicking around in the ocean, lounging on the beach with a good book, and getting a wicked case of sunburn. So now that I’ve gone through the entire box of Oreos, I’m going to get myself through this weather-induced depression by dreaming about all the places I’d rather be than right here. Under a blanket. Covered in cookie crumbs. As my mother yells at me about “leaving my stuff all over the house.”

Deep sigh.

[Click on any beautiful, hot beach to get this party started.]

But first, let’s soak up all the craziness that was this week:

- Tired of Lady Gaga and Kristen Stewart? Don’t worry, so are we. Yeah, they’re making way more $$$ than us, but their acts are getting boring and overused.

- They’re curvy, so what? CollegeCandy asks readers what’s the backlash with curvy, plus size girls. Ladies, beauty comes at every size, no?

- In college…and married?! Say what? Check out one girl’s experience as a married woman in college.

- American Apparel may soon be a thing of the past. Surprised? Not us. And we’ve got 9 (shiny/tight/nipple-baring) reasons why.

- Is it fair to hate on those lucky enough to have unpaid internships? We don’t think so. Put down the Haterade, kids.

- Our resident dude explained why your sexual history is no one’s business but your own.

- Twilight, Harry Potter, Justin Bieber…superfans are taking over the nation (and our nightmares) one creepy YouTube rant at a time.

- Wanna set yourself apart in your freshman dorm room? Start with NOT buying one of these cliche college posters.

- Summer finally (officially) arrived this past week, which means bikinis!! Grab a gym buddy and work out with vigor. And instead of going to a spa or dining out, learn how to make your own facial masks and some delicious (and healthy!) recipes with hard-boiled eggs.

Who doesn’t love having a few shots of tequila? This writer doesn’t.  I can usually manage with the lime and salt included, but still; there are tons of things I’d rather experience than the burn of tequila as it runs down my throat followed immediately by my stomach trying to send it back.

BUT, it is National Tequila Day, so the Goose (or the cheap Burnetts vodka that I normally drink) is gonna have to wait until tomorrow night. I can’t let a momentous day like this pass me by without partaking in some “festivities.” And by festivities, I clearly mean a little one tequila, two tequila, three tequila…. well, you know the ending.

And I don’t even have to do it in shot form, because there are some mighty fine lookin’ tequila cocktails out there. These badboys give you all the tequila goodness without the pain/regurgitation.

I’ll drink (tequila) to that!

After all, this isn’t just any Tuesday – it’s a holiday! You gotta make things special on a holiday. And the way to make this particular holiday special is by pulling out all the stops when it comes to your cocktails of choice. You could just grab some margartia mix and blend it up for you and the girls, or you could do something totally different and totally tasty that will knock everyone’s socks off. And probably pants.

We scoured the internet to find some pretty cheap and unique Cinco-De-Mayo-worthy margaritas. From chocolate to Jell-O shots, these are cocktails no one will forget. Even on a day devoted to forgetting everything. Click on the image to get the recipe, then do it up. (We highly recommend the Skinny Girl Margarita. It’s low cal and incredibly tasty. We already had one this morning. And, yes, it’s only 10 am.)

Enjoy!

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/05/fun-margaritas-for-cinco-de-mayo/feed/ 4 ccandystaff jose_cuervo1 margarita-jello avocado-margarita skinny-girl raspberry-margarita chocolate-margarita beer-margarita http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/01/gwwe-gael-grope-me-garcia-bernal/ http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/01/gwwe-gael-grope-me-garcia-bernal/#comments Fri, 01 May 2009 20:00:51 +0000 Sara C - Fordham http://collegecandy.com/?p=28678 ]]> We’re back with another edition of G.W.W.E. (Guys We Wanna Eff)!

Swine flu, the rapidly-spreading illness making headlines across the globe, is probably Mexico’s least popular export at the moment. But let’s talk about my faaaavorite producto de Mexico, Gael Garciá Bernal, whose new film The Limits of Control opens today. Yeow!

The guapo Guadalajaran first caught my attention in Y Tu Mamá También, which is seriously the steamiest movie I’ve ever seen. Gael plays one of two teen boys who have sex with every woman under the sun and eventually take part in a thrilling three-way with a sensual, twenty-something woman (why wasn’t that me!?). While his character was supposed to be young, Gael’s physique alluded to the chiseled heartthrob he would soon become.

Bernal has also starred in the mega-hit biopic The Motorcycle Diaries, about the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, whose iconic face adorns many a hipster t-shirt. (Honestly, I’m as enthusiastic for socio-economic reforms as the next gal, but I’d much rather see Gael’s stunning visage on my cotton tee.) But if foreign films aren’t your forte, definitely catch Gael in The Science of Sleep, an indie cult favorite which…okay, it has a bit of French and Spanish in it, too, but accents and foreign tongues are just oh so effable, no?

Despite his premier acting chops, Gael has inspired legions of fangirls to set up websites in honor of his breathtaking hotness. And while no one has put a ring on it as of yet, Gael did welcome his first child, a son, with girlfriend Dolores Fonzi earlier this year.  But  having a little Gael around doesn’t bother me. There’s plenty of guys I wanna eff, I’d tell him, y tu papá también.

Buildings are falling in NYC.

The 10 things you learn when you are heartbroken.

Does coffee cause cellulite?!

Chuck Bass hearts Elvis.

Make those lips look luscious.

1. Sexy swim suits, duh

Bring bathing suits that you know will flatter your figure and make you look smokin’! It’s best to bring around two or three so you can alternate and let one dry before wearing it again. I don’t know about you but I hate putting a wet bathing suit back on, so remember to leave some drying time between each use. You may also want to bring something a little more….athletic? You know, for those banana boat/jet ski rides. You know that bikini isn’t going to hold everything in place…

2. Cute sweatshirt or sweater

While the temperature may be steaming during the day, you should pack a light sweater or hoodie in case it gets chilly at night. Vacation ain’t so fun when you’re freezing your butt off.

3. Sunscreen and aloe!

Since I’m naturally extremely pale, I basically turn into a red-faced lobster when I sunburn. And I tend to burn very quickly when I don’t put any sunscreen on. For those of you who burn quickly like me, bring sunscreen to protect yourself and aloe to ease the pain when you pass out in the sun from too many margaritas. For those of you who are lucky enough to tan easily, don’t forget your tanning oil. But remember to lay out in the sun safely and during non-peak hours so your skin won’t get sun damaged. Wrinkles are not cute.

4. Outfits that you can mix-and-match

Less is more when it comes to spring break. You don’t want to be hauling around huge suitcases through airports or lugging them around your hotel, so bring a few dresses, shorts, and shirts that you can wear together. Also, bring along some friends with cute clothes. Just a thought…

5. Figure perfect dress

Whether you and your friends are going to a club or dressing up to go to dinner, bring at least one dress that’s fun and dressy. Even in Mexico some clubs don’t want you coming in looking haggard so it’s best to bring at least one nice outfit. Dressing up is fun, not to mention an easy way to get attention for all the right reasons.

When leaving the country, remember to keep your IDs and passport on you at all times. Put them in a safe when you arrive at a hotel and also make sure to stow away your cash and valuables in there as well. If you absolutely do not want something, such as expensive jewelry, to get stolen, it might be best to leave it at home.

Now that you have a list of all the Spring Break essentials, stop stressing and start packing. Before you know it you’ll be laying on a beach, sipping margaritas and enjoying your fun in the sun!