Every week I make a list. Not a grocery list or a to-do list…or that list, because I don’t really do groceries (there is a reason why they deliver pizza) and to-do lists are totally not my scene (if such a scene even exists) and, unfortunately, I haven’t added to that list in quite awhile.

No, this list is a top ten-style countdown about the hard-hitting issues, like which mash-ups are the best ever or which apps rock my world.

This week I’m focusing on the “click click flash” that consumes your weekend. You go out, someone inevitably breaks out the camera (every 4 minutes) and you start posing like you’re ready for the cover of Nylon. Great idea, but these pictures are going to end up on Facebook for the world to see the next day when you’re sober. Oof. And with today’s technology, you might be even caught in real time.

Who’s guilty?
Actually, who isn’t?

10. Self indulgent “Take one of just meeeee!”

You always think this one is a great idea. I’ll tell you something your friends (especially the one taking this photo) never will: it’s not a good idea. I promise you, it never is.

9. Drinking game picture

Congrats bro, you won a binge drinking game. Super rad!

8. Drunken girl-on-girl makeout

Your boyfriend? Not gonna be thrilled. Ok, so maybe he will, but did you forget that your great Aunt Frances is your FB friend?

7. Mirror Myspace look

Looking good with a giant flash obscuring you. Classic.

6. Obscene gesture… or action.

That’ll help you land your dream job.
Oh, and not looking at the camera does not make this photo look more natural or classy.

5. Passed out with Sharpie in your face

If you have one of these, your friends are jerks. If you have more than one of these, you seriously need help.

4. Drunken Photobooth?

Just, why? Was there really nothing better to do while you were buzzin’?

3. Nonfunctional drunkenness

Another big, fat “why?” How is this attractive? And who was the jerk who took this picture? And freaking sent it to all your friends? But, seriously, why did you decide to lay right there?

2. Pregaming

Since when is drinking in a tiny dorm room scrapbook material?

1. Pouty face, Peace sign

Overplayed.
ENOUGH SAID.

When you’re on a budget you can’t spend your money on just anything. You need items that are versatile, timeless and just plain pretty. And this beautiful dress from ASOS is all that and more.  It is short enough and reveals just enough skin with its strapless design for hitting those clubs on Saturday night. Put on some sexy, strappy heels and you are ready to conquer the dance floor.

When the party’s over, work this dress in a different way. You got a holiday party coming up? Slip it on with a pair of pumps and clutch. A nice family dinner to attend? Put a blazer over the top and you’re good to go. Wanna rock it out? Add a leather jacket, tights and a pair of ankle boots.

Unlike most mini dresses, this ASOS design is anything but typical. I really love the contrast created by the light drape, especially how it crosses the bust to the waistline and then back over again on the bottom. It’s not only flattering and elegant, but gives the dress a bit of intrigue as well. If you’re into the classics, go with the black and white version.  For a chic yet edgier look, choose the black on black. And if you’re all about the show stoppers, the red dress is for you.

With this dress in your closet you’ll have the solution to every wardrobe dilemma. Whether it’s a birthday party or a wedding, this dress is the answer.

College. Sigh. It’s unlike any other time in your life. It has its own set of rules, its own unique circumstances. And it’s not always easy to navigate. Enter…me!

Every week I’ll be tackling your questions about college. From classes to keggers, I’ll do my best to respond and be your Pez dispenser of collegiate wisdom. Got questions? Hit me up in the comments or shoot me an email at melanie@collegecandy.com

I’m broke. Wah! What can I do?
Get. A. Job. Seriously, there’s no excuse for not working while you’re in classes. In fact, it looks great on a resume and will give you some extra cash in your pocket on the weekends. You don’t need a high power internship (although those are pretty nice), but do something to earn money. Babysitting is a great option if you want cold hard cash with none of those silly taxes. If you’re a shopaholic, work at your favorite clothing store to snag the discount. I did the J.Crew thing for a semester and got a fantastic discount and although most of my paycheck went to clothes it still alleviated some of my financial woes. Even if you just pick up five hours a week at a coffee house, it’s better than nothing. Make it rain!

My roomie snores. What should I do?
Buy earplugs. Or leave her a hint by picking some of those breathe-easy nose strips and putting them on her pillow.

I want to throw a rager, any tips for success?
If you’re going the theme party route, do something original. One of my favorite parties that me and my bestie/roomie of the moment threw was a Hollywood themed party. People came dressed as their favorite celebs and had a blast. Believe me, there’s nothing funnier than watching Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Mary Kate Olsen, Kurt Cobain and Heath Ledger all duking it out at the flip cup table. Hide your valuables, buy lots of Solo cups and cheap beer. The rest will be history, captured on Facebook.

Where are the drunk people?
Is this a serious question? If you’re on a campus and it’s past 9 PM on a Friday? Everywhere. Including right here. Right now. Yeah, I like to start early.

Who are the “campus characters” to avoid?
The Over Enthused College Sports Fanatic. The self-absorbed prof who signs their emails “Doctor So-and-So” (even though their doctorate is in something that has nothing to do with the medical profession) and requires that you buy the book they’ve authored as a text book. Johnny Fratboy who’s just soooo cute and just totally won’t return your phone calls after you drunkenly hook up. Just don’t bother. There are lots of campus characters to avoid, from the druggies to the fake bitches; just be smart and stick with the people you trust.

I like to think that alcohol in and of itself is good for all mankind.  It makes people happier, friendlier, and much more likely to dance like a fool if given the opportunity.  Unfortunately, your favorite spirits are probably not the most eco-friendly drinks on the block (or bar).  Instead of forgoing your Saturday nights, just swap your faves for these green alternatives and feel free to party on!

Veev:  An excellent substitute for vodka, Veev is actually manufactured from acai berries which are packed with antioxidants and anthocyanins.  What makes this drink even better, however, is the company’s commitment to the environment.  Veev donates $1 towards the Brazilian rainforest for every bottle sold, preserving their sustainable acai supply.  Veev is also the first carbon-neutral liquor company, powering all of their distillers through renewable energy.  Pass up the Smirnoff  and throw one of these back with friends (but don’t forget to toast to the Brazilian rainforest first!).

OneHope Sauvignon Blanc: I bought this baby on a whim at BevMo (5 cent sale, anyone?) and felt an instant karma boost.  With every bottle sold, OneHope donates 50% of the profits to the American Forest, a charity aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing our native trees and forests.  If you’re not a sauvignon blanc fan, there are several other wines to choose from, each with their own cause.  Drink chardonnay for breast cancer, merlot for AIDS, or zinfandel for our troops overseas.  Whichever you choose, you can bet you’ll feel a little buzz of goodness with every glass.

New Belgium beer:  This brewery from Fort Collins, Colorado has a long list of environmental actions and achievements.  I am not going to go through the whole list here because, well, I’m lazy.  Here are the most notable ones of the bunch:
* Decreased energy usage in their brewing and in the facility itself due to efficient lighting, sustainable building materials, and efficient brew kettles.
* Wind power and waste water are used to produce renewable energy for the factory.
* Encouragement of bike transportation by hosting an annual bike festival and giving every employee a free bike after 1 year of employment.
* Member of 1% For the Planet, meaning that they give 1% of their revenue to environmental non-profits.

ModMix organic mixers:  The name says it all – ModMix creates a line of fully organic mixers for your favorite cocktails.  This means no chemicals, no synthetic pesticides, and no harmful substances.  You can use ModMix for pretty much any drink you could imagine.  Their products include mixes for citrus margaritas, French martinis, lavender lemon drops, mojitos, pomegranate cosmos, and wasabi bloody marys.  Just be sure to mix these babies with a sustainable alcohol such as Papagayo organic rums, 4Copas tequila, or TruVodka.

My roommate has recently become obsessed with the new Weezer song and she’s constantly shouting, “Girl, If you’re wondering if I want you to, I want you to,
 so make a move, (Make a move) ‘cos I ain’t got all night.”

This has led me to some contemplation on how hard it actually is to make a move on someone, and how annoying and awkward it can be while you’re waiting for them to make a move on you.

We’ve all been in way too many situations where we’ve been talking to a cute boy all night, but the party’s dying down and we can’t tell if he’s gonna pack up his things and head home (alone), or pucker up his lips and go in for the kiss (or, you know, put his hand on our butt…something!). And you know he’s feeling just as anxious, because he can’t tell if he should risk making the move too soon and scaring you off.

So you just sorta stand there…talking about cheese.

Of course, as Weezer exemplifies, this situation can easily be reversed. And I’m all for that. It’s time to stomp out the awkwardness of making/waiting for a move. It’s time to take matters into our own hands, and to take those matters with confidence and ease.

How can you let him/her know you’re ready?

Physical Contact. Touch his shoulder as you’re talking, or let yourself get pushed close to him in a crowded room. Taking advantage of any excuse to touch him will get those hormones pumping!

Privacy. Any thinly veiled excuse to leave the crowded party or bar (“I’d love a house tour! Which room is yours?”) should give off the hint that you’re ready to take it up a notch.

Where did my friends go? Losing your friends offers a great opportunity for him to offer to walk you home, and for you to invite him inside to “warm up.” Of course, make sure you have cab fare in case he doesn’t get the hint.

Tired of waiting? Tried all those things and homeboy still isn’t going in for the kill? Make the move yourself.

Just Kiss Him Already. If the tension is there, taking the plunge and just kissing him is the best way to get started. If he’s into it, you’ll be a hero. If you misread the situation and he has a girlfriend or something, well, at least you have a story to submit to CollegeCandy’s Morning After column.

Yeah, it will sting for a little while, but at least you tried. That’s more than you can say for most people!

"And that, my little freshmen, is why that boy didn't call you back."

College. Sigh. It’s unlike any other time in your life. It has its own set of rules, it’s own unique circumstances. And it’s not always easy to navigate. Enter…me! Every week I’ll be tackling your questions about college. From classes to keggers, I’ll do my best to respond and be your Pez dispenser of collegiate wisdom.

1. How do I avoid that sneaky Freshman 15?
The most obvious answer is don’t drink. Drinking adds those extra calories that you didn’t have in high school, not to mention the drunk munchies. Who hasn’t gone to bed at 4 AM on a Thursday spooning a box of Lucky Charms? Leaving behind sports teams in high school and replacing field hockey practice with marathon drinking is a surefire way to pack on the pounds. Weekday drinking is probably the number one contributor to the Freshie 15, in addition the dining hall, the University equivalent of an all you can eat buffet in Vegas. Think about it. Not ready to give up drinking on Tuesdays or the tater tots at the dining hall? Utilize that gym on campus, join an intramural team and try to stay on a good sleeping schedule.

2. That guy that I hooked up with drunkenly at a party isn’t calling me?! What gives?
Pick and choose your reason(s):
- You were so blacked out you had a penis drawn on your face while you were making out with him. In front of all his friends. First impressions last.
- He has a girlfriend
- It’s a little awksauce calling someone after a sloppy hook up
- He doesn’t remember hooking up with you

Drunken hookups happen. Just because you kissed some guy in a bar doesn’t mean you’re dating. Just because he calls you to “hang out” only when he’s drunk doesn’t mean he’s your boyfriend. Welcome to the wonderful world of college guys.

3. How much studying is enough?
The rule of thumb is you study nightly three times the length of your class. So, if your class is 45 minutes, you study a little over two hours. Well, in a perfect world, at least. But this is college; life, drinking and Top Model sometimes get in the way of academics. I’m not suggesting that you skirt around your academic responsibilities, your primary focus in college should be studying. However, if you don’t do all the reading for class the next day, it’s not the end of the world. Just put in those extra hours you skipped when midterms and finals roll around.

4. I’m totally crushing on my professor, what do I do?
Ogle him in class. That’s it. I promise you, nothing good comes of a student/professor hook up. Except an “A.” Kidding. Kinda.

5. I’m failing a class… help!
Talk to your professor, they’re there to help you. The worst thing you can do is put off getting help in a class until the last minute. When you’re struggling with a subject and constantly putting in the effort, showing up to office hours and doing everything you can to pull your grade up, professors are more than likely to help you out. They want to see you succeed! They don’t want you to write a page-long explanation on the back of your final exam detailing why you did so poorly. They will not take pity on you at that point. Trust me. I’ve been there. And I got a D.

[Got a question you want answered? Leave it here in the comments or shoot me an email at Melanie@CollegeCandy.com!]

Halloween is quickly approaching, which means you need to figure out a costume. Now.

A costume with sex appeal.

While you could go for the classic French Maid or sexy cop (nurse, teacher, tennis pro, grandma…), why not try to wow people with your witty sense of humor instead of your mammary glands? Think about it, if you’re dressed up as a slutty nurse and trying to get your crush drunk, you could easily be mistaken for one of the many slutty nurses at the same party.  And watching Superman drunkenly make out with some other girl while you stand there grasping onto your stethoscope would be tragic!

Don’t get me wrong – we all wanna turn up the sex appeal on Halloween – but there’s nothing sexier than a girl with a sense of humor. Here are a few hilarious Halloween options that will have you standing out at the party for reasons other than your sporadic nipple slips. [Click on the photos for ordering info!]

[Any of these costumes make you laugh? Ready to buy one? Well, good news - BeerTees.com (also home to some really hilarious t-shirts) is giving CollegeCandy readers 15% off their purchase through October! Just type in CollegeCandyRocks at checkout!]

Week after week (after week after week…), CollegeCandy and our pal John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, and saddest things he hears on his college campus. And we know he’s not the only one who hears this stuff. Join the Overheard revolution! Listen in on some weirdos’ conversations and share them in the comments or send ‘em over to us to put in next week’s post.

(Two guys, in an English class.)

Guy 1: Dude, why are you dressed up?

Guy 2: We’re reading “The Crucible.” It’s about a town that gets rid of all its witches. That’s why I have the hat.

(Guy, singing at a party.)

Guy: Ooh, I get Boggle with help from my friends. Mm, gonna Boggle with help from my friends. Do you neee-eeed any Boggle? I want some Boggle to love.

(English professor, thinking out loud.)

Prof: See, I wouldn’t count myself as a human being until, oh, about 15 or 16. And even that was problematic.

(Girl, watching a boffer club practice.)

Girl: I’m afraid that if I went over and talked to them, I’d just fall in love with how stupid and terrible and depressing they all are.

(Girl and guy talking on the street.)

Guy: Ugh, my phone’s dead.

Girl: Did you hook up with someone last night?

(Girl, smoking outside a dorm.)

Girl: Bo ho ho! Bwo ho ho ho! I’m Princess Leia, and I loooove sour cream!

(Two guys, in a newspaper office.)

Guy 1: Hey, did you make some coffee?

Guy 2: Yes. Don’t take any, or you’re fired.

Guy 1: I already had some, actually.

Guy 2: You’re fired. Wait, when did it start raining? That was you. You’re fired again.

(People in a Shakespeare class.)

Prof: What is everyone’s favorite Shakespeare play, anyway?

Student 1:  Romeo and Juliet.

Student 2: I guess… Romeo and Juliet.

Student 3: Romeo and Juliet.

Student 4: I like a lot of them, but I’d have to say Romeo and Juliet is my favorite.

Student 5: Romeo and Juliet – it’s just so unique!

(Linguistics professor, introducing a grammar topic.)

Prof: This is grammar. Grammar is not love. It’s sphincter-like.

(Kid in a class.)

Guy: Professor, I’m sorry I wasn’t in class last week. I was sick with Hulu.

(Two guys, talking outside the Student Union.)

Guy 1: I’m going to D.C. this weekend.

Guy 2: Oh man! Visiting your girlfriend? Dude, invite me. I love your girlfriend.

Guy 1: Uh, okay -

Guy 2: She’s so awesome! Man, why doesn’t she spend more time up here?

Guy 1: Um. Okay.

Last Friday night, I decided to have a girl’s night because, let’s face it, living in a one bedroom apartment with a guy can take a toll on one’s femininity. It was so much fun, and it was a great ending to a really crappy week. But after living with my boyfriend I noticed that even girls night has changed.

First of all, sometimes I feel boring and old. All of my friends are sitting there, sipping on beers sharing stories about their latest crushes, their crazy hook ups from last weekend, or the hot guy who bought them a drink at the bar. And me? I’m sitting there thinking, “The most exciting thing to happen to me this week was that Matt found five dollars and bought me a Dr. Pepper with it.” I feel like the mom of the group! It’s lame being the one who talks about the same guy all the time when all your friends are talking about the flavor of the month (or week, in some girls’ cases). Sometimes I feel like my friends think I’m no fun anymore, and while I know I shouldn’t care about what other people think of me as long as I’m happy, deep down it bothers me.

I want to be fun and spontaneous again! I want to have fun stories to share! I want to flirt with the bartender for a few extra shots!

Then there’s the issue of actually having fun. I’m not ashamed to admit that I like to partake in the imbibing of alcohol when I’ve had a rough school week. There, I said it. It isn’t a crime, but my boyfriend is a bit paranoid when it comes to college parties. He HATES them. He’s the type to stay home on a Friday night because he’s afraid of getting an MIP or a DUI or some other 3-letter acronym of the sort, and it’s just not worth it to him. So of course if I want to go out with my girls the first thing on his mind is, “What if she gets arrested and then I have to bail her out? We can’t afford that!” So I save everyone the heartache and I stay in with him. And I love spending time with him, don’t get me wrong, but I know I’m missing out on really big nights (full of really great memories) with my girls.

Nights that they constantly discuss when I am out with them…and have nothing to share.

I don’t resent Matt for these changes – not at all. In fact, I believe his opinion is important and I respect it. I guess this is just one of those tough decisions you have to make when you’re in a relationship in college. No matter what you decide – heading out with the girls or staying in with the guy – you will be missing out on something. It’s all about finding the balance, I guess.

Any other coupled ladies feel the same, or am I doing something wrong?

Happy fall, everybody!

After months of sun and sweat, it’s finally time to enjoy good TV and cozy autumnal fashion—or not. The weather is perfect: it’s warm enough to work out outdoors, if you’re into that kind of thing, but cool enough to make getting close to a special someone—meaning someone who can take direction—even more appealing… especially if you’ve already had a few.

Fall also carries a few dangers with it. We’re going to have to start resisting the temptation to take any shortcuts with our schoolwork, being vigilant about that porky flu, and keeping track of how many baked goods we eat (especially if we choose to pull a Michael Phelps. Munchies can be murder). But as long as we still get to party—responsively, of course!—it’s all good.

Also, this happened this week. It doesn’t really have anything to do with anything; we just like linking to a picture of a giant baby every now and then.