All this controversy makes me look back on a much simpler time. Ah yes, the iconic white mustache years. Even though it’s hard to believe that celebrities break free from their strict diet plans to enjoy a tall glass of milk every day, I definitely fell for that “drink milk and you’ll be pretty” message back in the day. I mean… if Angelina Jolie was drinking milk, wouldn’t you drink milk? Check out some of our favorite ads from back in the day as well as some of the more recent ones.

initiating the gallery...

What do you think about the controversial “Got Milk” ads? How often do you drink milk, if at all? Did you fall for these ads back in the 90′s?

Wrong.

I have never fit that description but for 6 months I somehow adhered to veganism, an experience that proved to be much different than I ever thought it would be. So how did I transition from a lifestyle wrought with skim milk and Hamburger Helper to one without any foods from animal sources? Well, by now we all know that college has some very strange effects on the mind . . .

Just before I started college, I cleaned up my eating habits quite a bit. Once there, I stood in line with my plastic tray in hand, standing on tiptoes to see what was waiting behind the sneeze protectors. It dawned on me that I didn’t want to touch any of the meat in the dining hall. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing tastier than a well-stuffed pork chop, but where in the world was this meat coming from? Were the animals coming from a place that would gross me out if I had seen it in person? I couldn’t be sure, and so I decided to bypass traveling tacos and mystery meat until further notice.

Around the same time, I was (unfairly) blaming the dining hall food for the terrible cramps and bloating I had begun experiencing. I talked to a good friend and health food guru about it. “I don’t think it’s the food that’s bothering you,” she insisted. “It’s dairy. You know that stuff’s no good for you. Don’t have any for 2 weeks and see how you feel.”

What? My parents practically poured milk down my throat as a child because of how essential it is to “strong bones and teeth.” Surely, you’ve heard the same as me. Not to mention that everyone insists drinking skim milk promotes weight loss.  How could this wonder drink be bad? I was startled to realize that a huge debate is brewing that says milk might not be healthy at all.  After hearing so many horror stories about dairy, I decided that it might be the cause of my indigestion after all. So I ditched it for the recommended 2 weeks. No soft serve (!!), no yogurt parfaits, no milk and cereal. More than that, any baked goods, soups, breads, or anything else that contained milk or eggs was out of the picture. I just about went into withdrawals, literally.

You see, I’m certainly not a chemistry major, so I had to learn from experience that milk contains some proteins that give it an addictive quality (Which must be why I guiltlessly annihilate half-gallons of ice cream with a spoon). For those 2 weeks, I felt anything but better. All I did was crave everything I couldn’t eat. But after those 14 days, I had defeated my demon and my tummy was considerably happier without milk.

It was time to make a decision about whether or not to actually live life as a vegan.

Disgusting factory farms produce meat.
Dairy is pretty much riddled with opioids and can actually cause calcium deprivation.

My head was spinning. If animal-based foods are this gross, should I be vegan?
After much deliberation, I realized the answer for me was no.

Even though I have met many happy vegans, I suspended my foray into veganism after half a  year. Though lightening up on dairy products made my stomach troubles cease, my energy was completely zapped; I didn’t feel as robust and alert as before. My verve was missing, and for me it was no coincidence that my yogurt cups were, too. I let a moderate amount of dairy back into my life, and I felt whole again.

So what now? I eat meat, but I try to do so consciously. I aim for certified organic meat, and I love when I am able to find good meat close to home. Basically, I want to know the animals I am eating lived a good life and were handled by knowledgeable people. I still pass by meat entrees in the dining hall, and when I pay $8 a pack for respectable hot dogs you know I’m not grilling too many this summer. But it works for me. I still drink milk in moderation, and that too is organic.

The war is still waging about whether or not there is any benefit to dairy. While I can’t offer any concrete scientific evidence that milk is healthy, I know it’s healthy for me because of what it gives to me. I can’t say that it works for everyone. The most important message I got out of my eating experiments is that everyone has to find their own food philosophy. We all can’t be omnivores. We all can’t be vegetarians. We can only do what works for our bodies and minds. At this stage of my life, I am turning veganism down. I’m still deciding, though, if I would turn down a Prius or not . . .

We all love yogurt—it packs the power of protein, it tastes great, and it goes with pretty much anything. Slop it on top of some cereal, and there’s breakfast. Yogurt with fresh berries and honey makes a good snack or a small lunch. And fresh yogurt can be used to make curries, raita, or other delicious dinner sauces.

Drooling yet?

Here’s the thing – all that yogurting can get really expensive. But you don’t have to buy it!  Seriously. You can make your own, and it’s so simple! And natural! And cheap! (What? You don’t get this excited about yogurt?)

Step 1: Head to the grocery store and buy a half-gallon of 1%, 2%, or whole milk (skim doesn’t work very well for yogurt-making). While you’re there, pick up a small (4-6 ounces) container of starter yogurt. It should be plain or vanilla. This is the last container of yogurt you will ever have to buy.

Step 2: Put the whole half gallon of milk in a big pot, and place that pot in an even bigger pot that’s filled with a couple inches of boiling water. Cook until you can see bubbles in the milk.

Step 3: Take your small yogurt container out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature.

Step 4: Stick your bubbly milk in the freezer for about 15 minutes, until it’s still warm but won’t hurt your finger if you pop it in.

Step 5: Get a small bowl, and empty the yogurt container into the bowl. Take a few spoonfuls of the boiled milk, and whisk it together with the yogurt until it’s smooth and liquidy.

Step 6: Add the milk/yogurt mixture from the bowl to the rest of the boiled milk. Mix.

Step 7: In a glass or plastic container (or several), leave the boiled milk (now including the yogurt) in a very warm place, such as your oven with the pilot light on, for 5-10 hours. Overnight is fine.

Step 8: Wake up, wash those crusties out of your eyes and go to your kitchen. Voila – yogurt! Remove it from the warm place and enjoy! If you like it thick, feel free to drain off the whey by soaking the yogurt in a sieve with paper towel or cheesecloth. Or just mix it and eat it as is.

Yummmm!

Ever since I started watching “Friends,” I always wanted a cute little coffee shop I could go to with my girlfriends, have a great cup of coffee and just chat. But Maine’s latest coffee shop gives a whole new meaning to “Central Perk.”

The planning board in Vassalboro, ME recently approved a topless coffee shop. And by topless, I don’t mean you will be sipping your mocha in a roofless establishment. By topless, I mean your helpful baristas and waitresses will indeed be topless. As in, without tops.

Yes, boobs out.

I’m all for doing what you gotta do to make money, but not when it involves nipples near my non-fat, no whip cappuccino. And isn’t there a health code against that? If you have to have your hands washed and hair covered while handling food, I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t have your hoo-ha’s flopping around… and getting dangerously close to extremely hot liquids!

The shop does not allow anyone under 18 inside, and there is no touching or cameras. Also, they only accept cash (although you don’t have to stuff it in their aprons).

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely questioning what kind of milk they are putting in the lattes.

1. The Dark Knight.

It’s a sad irony that Heath Ledger steals the show, after the film got so much publicity following the young actor’s death. Heath Ledger’s death made millions of people flock to the movie, but the truth is, it’s actually effing good. Ledger looks like a lock for a posthumous Oscar as well. Only time will tell.

2. Wall-E

Tell me you weren’t rooting for Wall-E and Eve, and I’ll tell you you have no soul. This cute, witty, futuristic animated tale was a favorite among audiences of all ages.

3. Cloverfield

With an innovative marketing strategy – remember those bizarre commercials guised as pleading cable interruptions? Cloverfield kept us on the edge of our seats and brought the “monster movie” genre to another level with its documentary-style cinematic techniques. Think Godzilla meets Blair Witch.

4. Gone Baby Gone

Ben Affleck’s latest screenplay, starring brother Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris has all the makings of a blockbuster: A-list author, lustworthy lead, and two powerhouse Hollywood phenoms. Did I mention the suspense and the action?

5. Milk

2008 was truly a time for change. Though we elected our first black president, we also lost a few steps of progress when California retracted the rights of gays to marry. What better time to release a film about Cali’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk? This powerful piece, starring Sean Penn, depicts the tragic assassination of San Fran’s first gay mayor by none other than a former city supervisor.

6. Sweeney Todd

Maybe I’m biased, because Johnny Depp could do a film version of Blake Fielder-Civil’s time in jail, and I’d still pay to see it. But the musical Sweeney was a ground-breaking effort by Stephen Sondheim, and a great excuse to put the equally eccentric Depp and Helena Bonham Carter together to recreate the story of “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

7. High School Musical 3

All good things come in threes. And you know you wanted another chance to see Zach Effron, Vanessa Hudgens, and “The Tiz” on the silver screen one last time. Who cares if we’re in college? High school musical is the stuff that girl’s nights out are made of. Extra butter on the popcorn, please.

8. Quantum of Solace

The highly anticipated, newest installment of the James Bond chronicles features hottie Daniel Craig and takes off only days after the shocking ending of Casino Royale, in which notorious ladies’ man Bond lost his lover. No time for tears, though, as this film immediately thrusts our hero into another jampacked ride to fight consipiracy.

9. Sex and the City

Well it took ten years, but Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha finally made it to the big screen. And it only took 300 pieces of H Stern jewelry for us to find out Big’s full name, and to see Carrie finally get her glass slipper (or, rather, blue Manolo) and live happily ever after.

10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A freaky-deaky plot involving a baby who was born as an old man, ages in reverse, and finds love somewhere in the middle is at least a creative diversion from the cliche’d spectacle we usually see in the cinemas. Plus, it’s Brad Pitt. Think of this film as a fantasy version of The Notebook, and go see it. NOW.

I have to admit, I’m a huge Starbucks fan, and am usually fine with shelling out a few extra dollars to indulge in something tastier than Folgers. Still, I need a new winter wardrobe… so I’m weaning myself off of overpriced coffee drinks (that taste like dessert) and makin’ my coffee at home.

I know it’s a bold move, but after playing around a bit I have learned a few things: 1) Making your own coffee can save you billions, and 2) It is really, really easy. Here are a few tips:

1. Flavor it Up.

Whenever I make my own coffee, no matter how good the brand, or how carefully I measure the coffee-to-water ratio, it always seems to taste like dirt. My solution? Flavor, flavor, flavor. Syrup, syrup, Equal, syrup. Seriously, who just gets a latte from Starbucks? Everyone has their signature: the Pumpkin Latte, Caramel Macchiato, White Chocolate Mocha…what do they have in common? Manufactured taste. Instead of shelling out $4-$5 a day for Starbucks, buy a bottle of Torani Syrups. This brand is used in tons of coffee shops across the country, so you might not even taste the difference.

2. Be Exotic.

Trading a Mocha Java Frappucino for a cup of Dark Roast isn’t going to fly. If you have money to burn on blended concoctions, you can afford gourmet coffees and still save a fortune by brewing them yourself. If you can’t find any good varieties at the store, surf the net to find your new flave: Coffee Been Direct offers Cookiedoodle, Creme Brulee, and Chocolate Raspberry coffees, to name a few; Papa Nicholas features Chocolate Hazelnut and Toasted Southern Pecan, among others; and FlavoredCoffees.Net has an overwhelming selection, from Cherry Cream to Egg Nog to Chocolate Orange. Bonus: FlavoredCoffees.Net also sells Torani syrups! Just add a splash of 2% milk to your tasty brew and you’ll douse your (high priced) cappuccino cravings.

3. Be Your Own Barista.

The internet is smattered with recipe websites, many of which include jazzy coffee beverages. All you need is Google and a ready mug. AllRecipes.com, for example lists a Cappuccino Mix that you can make for yourself, or give as a low-cost gift. The Culinary Review, meanwhile, has a great recipe for a Homemade Chocolate Mocha that you won’t even have to wait in line for!

Once you get the hang of homemade capps and frapps, you can experiment yourself! Double-brew some coffee grounds and pour the extra-strong coffee over ice for an easy iced coffee (the ice will water it down, so you should start off with stronger brew); or cool a pot to room temp and blend it up for a cheap Frappucino. Pulling an all-nighter? Pour hot coffee over a scoop of your favorite ice cream; you can indulge while you give yourself that extra boost!

4. Go For the Splurge.

If you REALLY don’t think you can substitute your fave Starbucks drink for a plain-jane coffee, invest in your own espresso machine. Yes, it will be pricey, but that one time purchase will still be cheaper than a daily Dunkin Donuts run. You’ll also save time on going out of your way to stop at the shop, and you won’t have to worry about the Barista giving you too much foam.

Nespresso has machines starting at $200, about the cost of a month’s worth of Tall Skinny Lattes, while Whole Latte Love has a decent model for $100. Search espresso machines by price at BizRate.com and find a simple yet classic Italian taste…for ONLY $23!. I’ve spent way over that in ONE DAY on coffee before.

So there you have it – four perfectly good options to start your own coffee service in the privacy of your own apartment or dorm. You’ll acquire a taste for non-Starbucks caffeinated beverages while saving tons of money for some more worthy splurges.

Or, if all else fails, you can save a couple dollars a day by switching to energy drinks, which are usually only about $2 for a giant can. That means you can drink THREE for the price of a venti Chai Tea Latte! Not that I have been known to drink three energy drinks in one day. I mean, that would mean I have a problem. <Cough.>

[For more money-saving tips for the college budget, join CollegeCandy's Facebook group!]

These cocktails are guaranteed to make all your friends love you, and, of course, get everyone very, very drunk.

So welcome to the world of sophisticated drunkery.

What better way than to start of the list that with a drink that compliments fall season upon us?

Warm Fall Evening

1 part Absolut Peach

1 part apple flavored vodka

1 part Absolut Mandarin

1 part cinnamon syrup

1 part hot apple juice / cider

Cinnamon

Combine and serve in a glass.

Fall flavors not really your thing? How about a drink that is guaranteed to warm you up in the cold days and put your drinking skills to the test? Can you handle hot sauce?

Cold Day

3 parts Vodka

1 part hot sauce

1 part milk

2 parts cinnamon syrup

Pepper

Cinnamon stick

Combine, stir and strain into a chilled rocks glass. The combo of flavors may not sound too appealing, but just give it a shot (pun intended).

Ok, so the hot sauce may be a bit much. If you like to heat things up without the aid of Tobasco, this may be the drink for you:

Sex in the Shower

1 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur

1 oz Triple Sec

1 oz Butterscotch Schnapps

2 oz Orange Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a champagne flute (that really makes it ultra sophisticated!).

Enjoy!

But this doesn’t need to be the case! One of the creamiest, tastiest variations of the frozen mudslide is perfect for holiday parties…or simply to satisfy a simultaneous craving for booze and pumpkin pie.

You need:

*1 can of pumpkin pie filling

*vodka

*Bailey’s Irish Cream

*milk

*ice

*whipped cream

*cinnamon

*a blender

It’s so easy, yet you’re sure to impress all of your friends by introducing them to this festive autumn libation. Simply fill the blender with ice and pour in 2 oz each of vodka and Bailey’s. Add a heaping scoop of pumpkin pie filling, and fill the rest of the blender with milk. Blend it up and serve in a hurricane glass, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon. It’s smooth, creamy, and tastes just like Thanksgiving dessert.

Delicious!

Whatever you choose to do today, here are a few sweets to celebrate with. Starting with the sweetest kiss.

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A little milder form of the gross-turned-delish is the ever classic Dirt dessert.

There are different recipes circulating, but the differences lie mostly in the assembly. Yeah, you can serve up this dessert for a Halloween party or that ultra chic Garden Party on your patio in the Springtime! All it takes is a little tweaking.

First, the mechanics. This recipe comes from Taste of Home. To make this ultra mega tasty dessert you need:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

3 1/2 cups cold milk

2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix

1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 package (18 ounces) cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed (yeah those would be Oreos)

1. First things first: Beat the cream cheese, margarine, and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Then resist the urge to lick the bowl and let it stand for about two minutes, until it’s set.

3. Gradually add your cream cheese mixture to the pudding. Don’t lick the bowl yet! You have to finish the dessert first.

4. Fold in the whipped cream. (Are you snacking on the cookies? Good–don’t. You need them.)

5. Take a 13 x 9 inch pan and spread about 1 1/3 cups of the crushed cookies evenly in the bottom. Layer half of the pudding on.

6. Leftovers? Nope. Layer on half of the remaining cookies. Then top that with the rest of the pudding. And then on top of that the rest of the cookies. Now the hard part: you have to refrigerate that pan of cookie deliciousness for at least an hour.

7. Before you refrigerate, decorate! For Halloween, you can write messages on Milano cookies and then stick them upright in the “dirt” for tombstones. Add some of those little candy pumpkins and some gummi worms. Creepy huh? Tasty too!

8. All right, now refrigerate! And since you can’t touch it for at least an hour, now is the best time to lick those bowls and spoons.

When it’s ready, have some on the couch. In a bowl. Or on a plate. Or straight from the dish with a really big spoon.

(Photo courtesy of yogamum on http://yogamum.wordpress.com/2006/10/)