Every Thanksgiving break my suitcase is overflowing with too many shoes and too many outfit options. “Why do I think I need ten sweaters for a five-day break?” I ask myself as I break a sweat lugging my suitcase to the car (then again as I throw the contents of my bag around my childhood room wishing I had actually planned out an outfit rather than just throwing in shirts and dresses I liked and thought I might wear. UGH.).

No longer, girlies.

This year I am packing smart and I’m here to help you do the same. Below, four outfit ideas (Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Dinner, Black Wednesday and Black Friday) that allow you to mix and match as little clothing as possible to get you through the glorious holiday weekend. Not only will this revolutionize the packing process, but will keep you from being “that girl who filled up the trunk so no one else’s stuff would fit” for the drive home and leave you plenty extra space for all the loot you’ll bring back with you on Sunday.

[Click on any image to start the gallery!]

So instead of throwing your entire closet full of clothes into your trunk this Thanksgiving break, try to come up with outfits like these that incorporate basics. Then throw in the other essentials (we’ve got them broken down for you right here). Pack right and you’ll have plenty-o-space for mom’s famous cookies and any other loot you pick up during your weekend at home.

Why should you plan out your packing now?

Because unless you are driving home alone, chances are you have limited packing room. (Do you really want to spend even more money for your overweight suitcase at the airport?) Packing smart helps you to maximize bag room, in order to a) bring home more laundry, b) return to campus with more leftovers and c) return to campus with an entirely new wardrobe.

Are we on the same page now? Here is a guide to items you should pack:

Clothing : Assemble clean outfit options for the first few days before you go home so you’re not scrambling to wash something (or forced to steal something from mom’s closet) before you head out with your high school buds on Thanksgiving eve. I’d take options for Thanksgiving eve, the Thanksgiving eat-a-thon, and Black Friday. By the weekend, you’ll either have a whole new batch of clothing (thanks to mom) or you can re-work what you’ve already got for what will most likely be major couch time.

In order to truly save space, pack smart. I recommend versatile items like leggings and long cardigans to:

1) Maximize eating capacity – the stretchier the clothes, the better.
2) Maximize space - not only are leggings small in a suitcase, but they can be worn dressy or casual, so you can pack fewer items, mix and match the pieces, and get more wear out of all of them.
3) Maximize your Black Friday shopping time – Layering leggings, a tank and a sweater means you can avoid those brutal lines for the dressing room and try everything on right there in the middle of the store!

Down time: This weekend is a break from school, so if you’re lucky enough not to have too much work, take advantage of your down time. Bring your laptop, load up your iPod, grab the stack of magazines you haven’t had time to read,  or (gasp!) a book to read for pleasure. A book is a great distraction from your annoying siblings/cousins/great aunt and it’s an awesome opportunity to start checking off  books on our  list of novels you should read.

School work: I know, the last thing you want to be thinking about during the holidays is school. Unfortunately Thanksgiving is followed by crunch time, and you don’t want to have five assignments to do right when you get back. Bring a couple of your lighter assignments (literally, lighter – you don’t need some 10-pound textbook breaking your back as you run through the airport) home and try to get a little ahead bit ahead before your exams. It’s not only smart planning, but it’s also a great excuse to get away from your parents’ nagging questions.

What not to pack:  Leave behind shampoo, conditioner, your hair dryer, and any other bulky items someone will have at home. They are a waste of space — especially if you want your parents to stock you up on toiletries before you head back.  Remember, you’re going home, not to the moon. If you forget anything big, your parents will be so happy to have you home, they’ll be more than happy to buy it.

Oh, and don’t waste any precious room with those running shoes/workout clothes. It’s an admirable goal, but be honest with yourself – you will not be hitting the gym this weekend.

[Come back later this week for Thanksgiving weekend outfit ideas!]

Yes, it’s time to be ready for the school year. It’s time to start packing and gaining ultimate pre-college essentials to give you a chance for an easy ride through the first semester.  Alright CollegeCandy chickas, nurse those excited pangs of pain desire in your liver – we (with a little help from our college blogging friends) are going to get you ready for school!

* Before you even pack up the car, make sure that you don’t forget those necessary items that everyone always forgets to pack.

* Ok, I’m going to be the one to put it out there – I wasn’t much of a ‘laundry-pro’ going into college. I’m not kidding, can I say on here that I Googled ‘how to separate colors’ before doing my very first load? Yeah, embarrassing. Allow me to protect your Google history: here are some things you can think about in regards to doin’ the dirty laundry pile.

* Before I went off to college, shoved in between a thick pile of clothes and a dresser in my dad’s truck, I would have paid a fortune to have a 100+ list full of things to know in regards to college. Here’s the dream realized, free of charge.

* Come finals week, this list will be pasted to your forehead.

* Ok enough of this ‘super prepared for college talk.’ It’s time to talk ‘college drinking.’ Looking for some fabulous future drink mixers? Chasers? Or simply a healthy drink to accompany your future study sesh? Turn to these tasties.

* And to be able to afford all these tasties, check out the 45 weirdest scholarships that you can get.

* Since it’s almost time to start getting ready for classes, why not get in gear early?

* Craving a stress-free moving day more than a Lindsay Lohan US Weekly cover story? I thought so. Say it out loud, “stress free move in day, here I come!”

* I bet while college creeps closer and closer to your North Face backpack, your stress level begins to increase.  Margarita nights with your girlfriends will soon be replaced with lots of stressed out evenings thinking about what classes you need to start taking. Well, stress be gone.

* While you will be saying farewell to your very own bathroom at home, a cupboard dedicated to your favorite types of cereals (guilty), and lots of baggage, you will be saying ‘Hello’ to lots of ramen and never a moment to yourself. Take some of these college dorm tips with a grain of salt entire margarita on the rocks.

* Set up your very own Fashion First Aid kit for your dorm room.

* Oh and while you’re at it – set up a Walk of Shame Kit before you go, too.

Are you a college blog who wants to be included on this list? E-Mail us at editor@collegecandy.com with your back to school link.

First, there was the great dorm room move-out adventure. After four years, I certainly compiled quite a handful of college collectibles such as princess tiaras, hot pink feather boas, and an unlimited number of Post-its in all shapes, sizes, and colors. This move-out consisted of me scrutinizing every little thing: “Am I really going to crack open this Literature Criticism and Theory book again?” and “Will this orange American Apparel dress look good outside of a strobe lighted dance floor?” Even though it was incredibly annoying and time-consuming to go through everything, I managed to clean up my entourage of trinkets and memorabilia (and I even managed to donate a lot to Goodwill!).

You know what happens after moving out though…You have to move in somewhere. So, I made the seven hour drive from Virginia to Georgia and moved into my mother’s new house. Did I mention she moved to a mountain in the middle of nowhere and lives off a dirt road now, instead of living just a short car ride away from metropolitan Atlanta? Oh yeah, but that’s a story for another day. Since my arrival, I have done nothing more than move my stuff in and, well, unpack those boxes I just spent hours taping up and carrying out.

This is all temporary though. The move-in here is just for one week before the grand adventure of driving across the United States commences (Google Trip Calculator is estimating 50 hours of driving time … OMG help?). Since I’m home, I have even more boxes of memories and junk from storage to go through. This packing-go-round is all about what to bring with me – at least for the next year – to California (or as I like to call it, Post-Grad Land). Turns out, I won’t be needing as much as I thought. Luckily, peacoats aren’t a main staple in the Southern California wardrobe, and I’m not going to be cracking open that literature criticism anthology after all.

And to think – I get to load up my car, move in, and then unpack again in the next few weeks! In all honesty, when I saw myself graduating, the scent of cardboard boxes and packaging tape did not come to mind, but I’m starting to feel like a professional at all this moving business. If all else fails, I can always start a moving business, right?

Although I am excited to have a more permanent existence in my life outside of college, all this ‘life in limbo’ is making me anxious, a little bit nervous, and well – tired. I’m ready to begin on my new adventure, and even though these boxes are going to be a part of the future, I still feel like the beginning of the journey has yet to truly start. But that’s going to change this weekend, when I actually get in the car and head out West.

Spring semester is winding down, and when we’re stuck in the library for 24 hours at a time with our eyes glued to a textbook and an energy drink surgically attached to our hands, it’s easy to count down to seconds until summer vacation. But as we all know, life back at home can be a drag an adjustment.

We’ve got it pretty easy on campus – sleeping till noon, going to class if and when we feel like it, and bar-hopping every night… while occasionally squeezing in some work. Pretending to be a real, responsible person when you get home to mom and pops can be a tough change. So while it’ll be all good in the hood to ditch those books in favor of mom and dad’s luxurious leather couch, there are a few things you might want to prepare yourself for before you head home for the summer.

The good: Swapping the sh*tty dorm food for mom’s home cookin’, a fully stocked fridge and barbecues full of hot dogs and burgers! Yumm!
The bad: Making our bikini debut after the freshman/sophomore/junior 15 has wreaked havoc. I’m sure everyone will appreciate the new beer gut, no?

The good: Reuniting/swapping stories with those home BFFs you haven’t seen all semester.
The bad: Reuniting awkwardly with your not-so-BFFs whom you haven’t seen since graduation. When you haven’t washed your hair. And she’s got your ex-bf on her arm.

The good: Spending days at the beach and nights drinking ’till sunrise with your old friends.
The bad: Uh, yeah right. Responsibility-free summer days are few and far between for most of us in this economy, whether we’ve scored a killer internship or are logging long hours at our old jobs. I know my 9-5 doesn’t leave much time for sunbathing (and has me asleep by 11 pm).

The good: Quality fam time. You hate to admit it, but you missed them (and someone else to do your laundry).
The bad: You mean it’s not appropriate to stumble home blackout drunk at 4 am while living under your parents’ roof?

The good: Finally ditching the twin XL for your big, comfy bed at home.
The bad: Missing that boy you used to share it with, even if he did always shove you into the wall…

Hm, now that I think about all that (and the whole packing thing), maybe those 4 exams and 2 papers aren’t lookin’ so bad….

It’s that time of year again: back to (freaking) school!

Ok, so not quite yet; technically, you can’t move into your place for another week or two, but you’re so excited to get back to campus that you’ve started to prepare a bit early.

With only a few more days (and by “days” I mean “meal opportunities on the parentals”), you start mapping out your schedule until you head back. You know you have to eat mom’s famous meatloaf at least 3 times, not to mention her Challah French toast (which, now that you think about it, would make terrific drunk food. Perhaps she can freeze one and send it with you….). You also need to fit in your favorite sushi spot, Chinese restaurant, and hit up the local diner/greasy spoon as much as possible.

Also on the schedule? A major trip the mall with mom, duh. You know good and well that this week in August is the last time you’ll have one-on-one time with her (read: her credit limit) until Thanksgiving and you plan on taking full advantage. Plus, it’s major bonding time for you and mama and she’s going to need that seeing as you’re outta there in 6 days, 23 hours and 42 minutes.

But who’s counting?

You also have to squeeze in a haircut (there is no way in hell you’re trusting one of those people on campus), a visit to grandma and a few vital doctors’ appointments (to renew the B.C.). Oh yeah, and one last night out with your home-friends.

Whew. You’re gonna be busy.

And then there’s the packing. Well, assuming you ever unpacked in the first place and haven’t been grabbing clothes out of a duffel bag for three months.  Normally you hate packing – haaaate it – but knowing you’ll be unpacking that shiz in your brand new apartment back on campus in a few short days gets you excited. You load up your “I Love College” mix on iTunes and start rummaging through your room to the tunes of Asher Roth and O.A.R., gathering all the essentials. Well, at least the ones you won’t need between now and the big move:

Jeans: Check
College T-shirts: Check
Boots/shoes that aren’t flip flops: Check
Towels and sheets: Check
Workout clothes (there’s no time for that with all the eating you’ve got to do): Check
Boa, pleather jumpsuit, cone bra, pink/blue/mullet wig: Check, Check, Check and, obvi, Check

You’re on a roll until you spot your freshman year photo album peaking out from under your tailgate t-shirts.  You pick it up, flip it open and spend the next hour perched on a pile of your clothes calling your BFFs to reminisce as you laugh so hard you cry.

Downstairs your mom is tearing up, knowing she’s making you meatloaf for the last time. Upstairs, you’re dancing around your room in your underwear (had to pack those sweats you were wearing) and a wig, counting down the minutes until you’re back on campus.

Yeah, we’ve all been there.
And we can’t wait to be back there again soon!

I grew up in the kind of town where you can’t walk down the street without seeing someone you know, and, of course, everyone knows your business. But as great as that all sounds, the time had come for me to spread my hard-partying, college-going, moving-to-the-city wings.

After being accepted to college just outside of Toronto, I thought “why should I wait until September to move?” So I packed up my things and began my life as an adult. I found a gorgeous 2 bedroom apartment right beside my future school to share with a couple friends – the only catch was that the lease started in July, my friends weren’t moving until September, and I would be on my own for two months. I moved in last week, and not only have I learned the joys of being able to walk around naked, I’ve also learned a thing or two about living on your own for the first time.

1. Save yourself the hassle – pack smartly. I got to my new place and decided to unpack dishes and the things I would need for my kitchen first. While this is a great idea, having zero labels on any boxes has left me completely forkless. Spoons? Knives? The cool egg timer I bought for the “once-in-a-blue-moon” occasions I want hard boiled eggs? Yes. But forks? No clue where they went! And it will take me days to dig through every last box in this mess of an apartment to find them. It may be annoying to organize and label your stuff when you pack, but it is not nearly as annoying as attempting to eat spaghetti with a spoon.

2. It won’t kill you to wear the same pair of jeans 2 or 3 times before washing them. Living at home, most of us don’t have to pay $1.90 for wash and $1.60 for dry, but being on your own means shoveling out the cash for clean clothes. Wearing the same outfit twice before washing it is not going to kill us (gasp, I know), and I hate to admit it, but no one else will probably notice. Plus, jeans are always more comfy after they’ve been worn-in for a day…or month (you know it’s true).

3. The novelty of unpacking wears off fast. Sure, I’ll admit, unpacking the first few boxes was reminiscent of Christmas morning. Forgetting the little trinkets from my room that I had packed away months ago gave me a bit of a thrill, but after doing this for 3 hours – it’s just not so much fun anymore. My solution is to tackle each room one at a time, starting with the most important. First the kitchen, then the bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc. This way, things get done efficiently, and by the time you’re sick of unpacking your 2,384th novelty mug, it’s time to put together your bed and re-fold your high school clothes.

4. Black bed sheets are a bad idea. All excited about getting to decorate a new room, I came up with a classy palate of purple and black. To go along with it, I bought a super cute purple duvet and some elegant black sheets. All was well (and looked awesome), until I reconnected with my ex (long story) and… well, let’s just say that having sex on black sheets means I have to spend the money I’ve been saving on washing my jeans to wash my sheets. Sure, they look great, but they aren’t very practical if you plan on getting freaky.

5. I really can do it on my own. Living with the parentals for the last 18 years of my life and having most things done for me had me seriously doubting my cleaning, cooking, and all-around independent living skills. But other than one almost-leaving-the-stove-on-all-night fiasco, things have been going smoothly. Sure, the water in my building was shut off for 8 hours the day after I moved in, but it was dealt with and all was well.

I was terrified leading up to the big move, but things worked out, as they almost always do. I feel like a grown up now and I’m excited to see what other challenges come my way once school starts next month.

Packing at the end of the semester is a bitch. But, on the bright side, it’s still better than the cleaning that comes after packing. Make your life easier by getting a head start on moving out for the summer, by following these simple suggestions!

1. Clean up after yourself.

I am guilty of letting things slide when I’m stressed. I procrastinate on everything from vacuuming to bringing the 57 empties from last night’s dorm party to the recycling bin. However, if you take five seconds (okay, five minutes, tops) out of your day to clean up the little things, you won’t have so much clutter-slash-junk-slash-trash to wade through when you’re trying to round up the stuff you actually want to keep.

2. Start with the shizz you don’t need.

Um, winter’s just about over. Pack up your thick sweaters, and save just one for a fluke springtime cold. Throw in half of your towels and pajamas, and vow to do laundry more often. All of those notebooks you bought when you thought your lab would be difficult, but haven’t been opened since they left the bookstore? Pack them. The posters on your walls? They can go, too. Nobody’s really judging your dorm that much.

The more you can pack up here and there, the less you’ll be scrambling to cram into a couple of suitcases and three Yaffa Blocks 20 minutes before your ETD.

3. Stop. Buying. New. Stuff.

Seriously, if you’ve made this far through the year, you can live without whatever impulse-buy doodad caught your eye in the checkout counter. It’s just going to be more to lug later.

4. Make a few trips.

If you are fortunate enough to have a car on campus and be driving distance from the folks, start now. Load up your car, go home for some of Mom’s famous homestyle mashed potatoes, and drop a sh*tload of boxes in her living room, where they will sit…until May (or maybe even September when it’s time to go BTS).

5. Don’t get trashed the night before move-out…unless you’re totally ready to go.

If you’ve been neglecting these tips and plan to throw everything together an hour before your RA comes to check you out, you could be in trouble. Finishing that last exam might feel like a load off, but there’s nothing worse than being hungover-or still drunk- and trying to throw your life into a few boxes while on a time limit. You’ll break things, you won’t pack up with any given order (hence your beer mugs will be packed away with your underwear, and your PJ’s will be underneath your text books), and your clothes will be so wrinkled when you finally unpack at home that you’ll be late to your hometown reunion because you had to spend 20 minutes ironing. Besides, anything you accidentally leave behind becomes your roommate’s territory.

Ready for Spring Break? Yes, I am even talking to the 50% of you college students who are staying home this year. And why not? You don’t have to be off in Mexico doing really stupid things to have a good time. You’ve all been working hard and everyone deserves a little down time to let loose with a good book or an even better playlist.

Just because there is a little recession doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too. Or get a tan (and some D). Or, if nothing else, see a really bad movie.

If you are leaving town, don’t forget the essentials to take, the things you absolutely should not take, and the souvenirs you must bring home. And make sure to bring along the beach bag. God forbid you should be stuck on a tropical beach without your Blackberry, Us Weekly, and extra swimsuit.

Oh, and be sure to brush up on everything you need to know about Spring Break survival. Like the fact that everything that happens on Spring Break makes it way back to campus…with tons of exaggeration. Including STIs.

Don’t make the same mistakes we did in the past and be prepared. With a hot body and a cute dress.

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!