Worn correctly, accessories can take an ordinary, plain outfit and transform it into an extraordinary one. Personally, I’m in amore with accessories, especially jewelry.

This season, the fashion world is all about neon and bright colors. Yes, even during the winter. Bright tights under dark skirts, bright purses to add a splash of color to any outfit… I like to think designers like Michael Kors, Diane Von Furstenberg and Christian Siriano are doing their part to put an end to seasonal depression. And I applaud that.

Especially when it’s happening with fun and cheery bracelets that will brighten any dark and dreary winter day.  Like Ettika’s braided neon bracelets that celebrities love. They are so simple, adorable and fun. And I want a million of them.

Problem is, they’re expensive for being a simple (yet fabulous!) piece of jewelry. $24 for one bracelet? I don’t think so!

Good thing they’re incredibly easy to DIY on the C-H-E-A-P. Add a little neon-cheer to your winter and make these bracelet on your own.

What You’ll Need:

1. Neon Satin Cord: You can pick this up at most fabric/trimming/art stores. You can even get it at the Container Store. You’ll need about 1.5-2 feet each of 3 different neon colors of satin/silk thread. This will be enough for one bracelet (with a little extra depending on wrist size). If you want to save some money and get the most for your buck, buy a yard of each color so you can make way more bracelets!

P.S. If you live in NYC, you’re in luck because the Fashion District has about a million fabric/trimming stores. Try M&J Trimming (they are the bestest).

2. Superglue: Since the satin or silk thread is very slick, the superglue will help keep the ends of the thread in the clasps. Use the type with a brush – it makes the application easier (and prevents it from getting on your hands/getting your fingers stuck together). Also, whenever using superglue on your bracelet, only use a little! Read More »

We’ve all heard of Vision Boards. Whether it be from The Secret, The Oprah Show, or that crazy chick on The Bachelor who went on and on (and on) about hers the first night she met Jason. And then got kicked off. (But don’t let her bad luck turn you off; it wasn’t the vision board that sent her packing. That bitch was crazy.)

So, what are vision boards?
Vision Boards put your thoughts on paper, and force you to sit down and really evaluate what you want for yourself in the future – be it tomorrow or 2 years from now. And they stop you from going down a path you don’t really want. Not to mention looking at those images every day is a constant reminder of your dreams and goals and makes you that much more motivated to work towards making them a reality.

You can make them big or small. Mini vision boards are great for smaller goals. I have a mini vision board in my kitchen, which reminds me of my goal to stay healthy whenever I’m reaching for the pizza takeout menus. And I have one over my desk, filled with images and words that remind me of my long term academic goals so I don’t stray when I should be studying.

And then there are the biggies – a vision board for your life, filled with what you want to achieve in many aspects of your future: school, career, love, dreams….anything.

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. This week we're doin' things a little differently. And by different, we mean delicious. Get ready to make one delectable dessert.]

Seriously, who doesn’t love some combination of cinnamon and apple? No matter how you make it, you literally can’t go wrong with this stuff.

Apple pie has always been an American fave, sure, but that term “easy as pie” doesn’t really apply to me. What is easy about cutting up a billion apples, making a crust and then waiting to eat it? So when I decided I wanted something similar, I made myself something akin to a mini apple pie, sans the irritating process of cutting up apples. Preparation can be a bit bothersome, but trust me, it is WORTH it. 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 »

If you’re a fan of scary movies, you may be hard pressed to choose your favorite. But oh. my. lord; the worst scary movies of all time have turned into jokey, pop culture icons.

The trailers of these films look promising, and then the movies crash and burn. Big time. And they become the laughingstock of twelve year old kids everywhere who thought they were being daring by watching that movie that mommy and daddy told them not to.

But, wait. That movie was a joke.

In the spirit of Halloween, my friends and I were recently trying to list the best scary movies of all time, but in doing so, we ended up creating a list of the 5 worst. It seems like those were easier to come up with because usually there’s no argument; they are unanimously bad. These movies don’t send chills down your spine or make you jump when someone comes up behind you. These not-so-scary movies make you laugh. Hard.

In no particular order: Read More »