Everybody has gray days, especially with winter now in full force. I frequently find myself stuck inside with cabin fever when I’m snowed in/rained in/my car won’t start/puddles are too big/it’s just too cold to go outside. And I know I’m not the only one who spends those days watching reruns of Jersey Shore… again… because there’s nothing else to do.

But there is!

Just because we can’t hit the mall or grab brunch with the girls doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do at home. Think about it – we’re always running, doing, keeping busy, so maybe these gray days are actually a blessing in disguise. A chance to catch up on all those things we neglect when it’s not really effing icky outside. A chance to focus on ourselves instead of on classes, activities, drama, or parties.

If you’ve got some serious gray days comin’ your way (I’m talking to you, Midwest!), here are 8 ideas to pass the time and make your life a whole lot better.

1. Clean.
Yes, I’m serious. I know it doesn’t sound like fun, but I’m not talking about a full out the-president’s-coming-for-a-visit scrub; more of a quick organizational breeze. You’ll feel a whole lot better, at ease and productive if your personal space is clean and organized. Put all of your shoes away, gather all of those used cups and mugs and clean them, stack the magazines and books that have been lying all over your floor. Each tiny task adds up, you’ll see. Read More »

"I will take the stairs" is more realistic than "I will workout 6 days a week."

With every new year comes a handful of far-fetched resolutions and often unrealistic goals we set for ourselves. We vow to be better in the new year: to be thinner, study more, drink less, exercise more, etc, etc. And then we throw them all away during our post-NYE hangover the next morning. What? It’s hard to eat healthy when the only thing that will make you feel better is a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and 5 strips of bacon.

If you’re tired of setting resolutions that never pan out, maybe it’s time to make a new resolution: to make more realistic resolutions.

Now, I’m not saying you should change your resolution from “I want to get better grades” to “I will sleep with my professor to get better grades,” just because it may seem easier. What I am saying is there are simple ways to improve your life without grand resolutions that you know you’ll never keep. Life is in the details and sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.

If you wanna see some real changes in 2010, start small.

Change Your Routine:
We are creatures of habit; it’s in our DNA. Although having a structured schedule is a great way to establish a healthy lifestyle, it also can lead to a mundane life. And one where everything remains the same. Try a new exercise (hula hooping is all the rage right now). Swap your lattes for a simple coffee (which will cut out some serious calories). Take the stairs to your dorm room instead of the elevator. Find a new study space. Just do something that will give your brain and body some new stimulation. The change will be small, but the results will be noticeable. Read More »

[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.]

I don’t know how it happened really, but over the years I’ve accumulated quite a large jewelery collection. I think a lot of it came from my Bat Mitzvah, when I got more bracelets than I knew what to do with (oh what I would give to trade all that in for cold, hard cash). Still, today I’m lucky to have a very impressive jewelery collection.

It’s so “impressive” that I often get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff. It’s everywhere – in bowls, in bags, in my mini-fridge (though I can blame Keystone Light and a power hour for that one). It’s a mess.  My necklaces get tangled, rings get broken and earrings are separated from their mates. I got so overwhelmed that I had to find a solution and – yay for me – I came up with the perfect answer to my jewelry problems. Bonus: it also happens to be a great and unique way to spruce up a boring wall:

The Corkboard Jewelry Holder Read More »

Are you Wonder Woman? Do you balance more activities, projects, and tasks than there are hours in a day? Do you think sleep is a myth? If you constantly find yourself having to schedule in five minute appointments with yourself just to down a bagel and keep going, you may have what some people refer to as “a hectic schedule.”

Sure, it seems overwhelming; sure, sometimes you want to break down and cry; but at the end of the day, you love what you do, and you’re proud of the fact that you can accomplish an exponential amount more than most mortals. And you know that everything you do will benefit you in the long run.

I love to feel useful, so it’s always been hard for me to say “no” to picking up an extra shift, or doing an extra project. When I was in high school, I worked part time, was active in drama club, cheerleading, amnesty international, gay/straight alliance, dance classes, and, senior year, I edited the yearbook. And I did it all while making honor roll each semester. In college, I wasn’t so active in extra-curriculars, but I held down two restaurant jobs, took a full course load, and partied my face off, while making Dean’s List. You can call me a nerd; I just think I have a severe case of ADHD that’s never been officially diagnosed.

That said, Wonder Woman, I know the meaning of stress, and I know the importance of staying organized. Here are some of my own personal life-saving tips. Read More »

You do it every year without fail. There’s a string of weeks where you’re nice and organized with all your notes in the right folders, laundry done as soon as you’re running low on undies and putting everything where it belongs. And then, you forget your planner and decide you don’t feel like really carrying it, or you’re too tired to do that load of laundry…

Okay, it might not happen to you, but it happens to me.

Barely two weeks into the semester, and my room is still pretty navigatable, but far from clean. I can’t see the desk calendar where I put all of my due dates and meetings down anymore. I just don’t have the patience to be neat. I’m sure it’s a problem – I’ve been messy all my life – but I don’t really feel like fixing it. Read More »