One of my (and my thighs’) favorite holidays is nearly here: Thanksgiving. Mmmm, it all just makes me feel warm and fuzzy (and full) inside. I can already see images of fluffy mashed potatoes drowning in a thick, sweet gravy…and that same gravy splattered all over the front of my empire-waisted dress. But whatev – totes worth it, especially since my mom loves doing my laundry during Thanksgiving break.

I haven’t met a single soul who doesn’t like to celebrate this gluttonous and family-focused holiday, and take to the couch for a long nap after a strenuous meal to the sounds of afternoon football. But beyond the cans of cranberries, Stove Top, and second helpings, does anyone really know the origins of Thanksgiving? Honestly, the last time I talked about the history of the holiday was while I was making hand turkeys in third grade.

So let’s do just that!
We want you to show us how much you know about Thanksgiving (beyond how to steal tastes of your mom’s homemade pumpkin pie without her noticing).

Since the only exciting thing to do today is count down the minutes until class is over and you can get the hell out of dodge, why not take the CollegeCandy Thanksgiving quiz? We won’t grade you or mock you (mostly because we knew none of this before we started Googling); this is purely for fun/packing procrastination/a party trick for entertaining your Thanksgiving dinner guests and showing them how smart you are.

Grab your #2 pencils and your graphing calculators, ladies! It’s time to get tested.

Read More »

Welcome home for Thanksgiving! Where the lines at the bar are ridiculous, the drinks can’t come fast enough, and while you think it’s deja vu you’ve got going on – you actually ARE having the same 3-minute conversation with blasts from your not-so-distant past over and over and over.

And over.

It’s a funny concept this “home for Thanksgiving bar night” we’ve got going. It’s the biggest bar night of the year, but every year brings about the same conversation that leaves me wanting to bang my head into a wall. But even though I don’t, I somehow wake up feeling like I did.

It goes a little something like this:

Your 7th grade frenemy: “Hi! (looks you up and down here) Oh-my-god you look great! What are you doing now? Where do you live? Are you single? Omg so great to see you… Ah! Look who just walked in! Pom-pon Captain Susie! She got fat! Better go say hi!!! We should totally get together for drinks or something! Facebook me! So great to see you! Read More »

That's going straight to your thighs, ladies.

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to seriously over-indulge in some delish foods without feeling like a total piggy. A time to eat until you can’t button your pants anymore. A time when the leftovers are better than the original.

But hold on a second – have you ever stopped to think about how many calories you’re ACTUALLY consuming? Between the piles of mashed potatoes and second helpings of pumpkin pie, you are most likely taking in enough calories to last you a week.

Yes, it’s true, Thanksgiving can definitely be a time when you can cut loose and not worry about your diet and exercise regiment, but do you really want to totally sabotage that healthy diet?

If you answered yes to that question, stop reading now and go indulge in a few plates of stuffing for me. Everyone says ignorance is bliss and that couldn’t be truer than at Thanksgiving dinner.

If you answered no, here’s a list of the average amount of calories in some of our favorite holiday dishes. Read it, learn it, know it, then choose wisely

Turkey: Thankfully, the centerpiece to any Thanksgiving dinner is also one of the healthiest parts – before you add that delicious gravy, that is. Four ounces of white meat is only about 180 calories, but if you go for dark meat, 4 ounces goes up at 323 calories. And with gravy, it can be as much as 350 calories. (And remember, most of us eat a lot more than 4 ounces, so these numbers obviously vary.)

Stuffing: My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner, I usually take 2 or 3 giant scoops of this stuff. Or at least I did, before I realized that the average stuffing recipe has 165-190 calories per half cup. That means I’m probably taking in 600 calories in stuffing ALONE. Read More »

It’s officially fall. It’s officially cold (boo) and it’s officially pumpkin season (yay!). Sure Halloween has come and gone but now that there is no longer a need to save pumpkins for carving… we can EAT them!

Sure we all know about the typical pumpkin staples – pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes and the like – but there’s a whole lot more you can do with those giant, orange orbs. So here is a list of our top 15 favorite ways to eat a pumpkin. Read More »

Labor Day weekend has come and gone, and what’s left of your tan is probably beginning to fade. Add that to the fact that the first week of classes (When you don’t actually have to do anything but collect syllabuses and catch up with friends.)  has been replaced by actual classes, and you’re probably pulling a Danny Zuko and wishing longingly for summer nights.

But autumn isn’t all bad, and here’s why.

1. The Weather. Here on the east coast, we broke records with the sweltering summer heat. And I’m not going to lie; I took full advantage of that warm weather. But sitting in class in weather that’s meant for the beach? Like I’d ever be able to pay attention. I’m eternally grateful that the temperatures dropped just as I’m forced to hit the books. Plus, it gives you an excuse to buy that cute fall jacket you’ve been eying since July.

2. The Pumpkin Spice Lattes. They’re back. Yesterday’s trip to my friendly neighborhood Starbucks confirmed as much. Starbucks has also introduced the Toffee Mocha, along with the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and the Pumpkin Scone. Its fall food at its best. But if you’re not quite as caffeine crazed  as I am, you could always try an old standby. Caramel Corn. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. Caramel Apples. Apple Cider. Take your pick.

3. The New TV. I love a good reality TV meltdown as much as the next girl, but by the time August rolls around I’m ready for some good old fashion scripted drama. From Glee to Gossip Girl, your old favorites are returning. Don’t you want to watch the new cast of Dancing with the Stars make complete and total fools of themselves? Or find out if Derek actually recovers from the Seattle Grace shooting? Your wait is almost over. Read More »

Don't let your skinny jeans stop you from eating it all (twice) on Thanksgiving!

The two things I love most about fall are the food and the fashion, which means Thanksgiving is a major jackpot. I get to dress up all cute and stuff my face with turkey. It’s wonderful…for the first ten minutes. Then my stomach begins to protrude over my skintight mini and I start having a hard time breathing. Undoubtedly I end up taking an intermission, putting on my stretchy sweatpants, then heading back for seconds.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible to look cute and eat until you’re curled up on the couch in a food coma. You just have to choose your outfit wisely. I’ve combed through this season’s hottest trends and built outfits that are holiday appropriate, both in how they look and how they stretch to fit the 5 lbs of stuffing you will inevitably inhale. And I’m sure enjoying Thanksgiving dinner without the need to unbutton your pants at the table is something we can all be thankful for this year. Read More »

I’m not a vegetarian, but I have a vegetarian boyfriend (and an aversion to all things Thanksgiving). I’m going to his parents’ house for the holidays this year and, luckily, they’re tolerant of nontraditional main dishes, so we’re going to experiment a little.

The stereotypical veg main dish for Thanksgiving is, of course, Tofurky, but this has always seemed like one of the most disgusting foods on the planet to me. If you’re a vegetarian, the object is to refrain from eating meat, correct? So why exactly would you want to scarf down something that’s supposed to imitate the texture and taste of a plump, perfectly roasted turkey? I get that some vegetarians don’t mind the taste of meat and went veg for other reasons, but still. Tofurky will remain a bizarre mystery to me, and I’m fine enjoying a meal without it, thankyouverymuch.

So if you’re not going to bake up a delicious vat of Tofurky, then what?

Well, you have zillions of options. You could make a fancier-than-usual veg stir-fry featuring a killer marinade and sautéed pieces of tofu, textured soy protein, or nuts and legumes. Personally, though, I prefer the casserole route—this might be because I’m from the Midwest, but I just find casseroles so comforting and perfect for chilly weather. Ratatouille, vegetable lasagna, baked pasta with butternut squash, spanakopita, veggie gratin, and veggie chili are all excellent choices that I guarantee will make the meat-eaters at your table drool. Read More »

It’s officially fall, and I’m going bananas over pumpkins right now. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie blizzards, pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks; you name it I’m obsessing over it.  Simply the aroma of pumpkin pie baking in the kitchen is enough to send me over the edge. There is a valid reason for that, however. Well, at least for men.

According to Dr. Alan Hirsh, there is a significant connection between Thanksgiving and sex. The mere scent of pumpkin pie alone increases blood flow to a man’s penis by 40%, therefore increasing his sexual appetite. Just another reason for us women to learn how to bake, am I right, ladies?

But sexual stimulation is not the only benefit of this staple fall fruit (yes, it is a fruit). Pumpkins are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. And one cup of pumpkin will only dock you 50 points from your daily calorie intake. Also, pumpkin seeds are chock-full of protein, not to mention magically delicious. Read More »

Happy Thanksgiving, ladies!

Right now you are either working out in anticipation of tonight’s food fest, or diving face first into a plate of sweet potatoes and marshmallows. Yum.

Instead of running our regularly scheduled “Love Em or Hate Em” column this week, I decided to honor my favorite holiday with a special fashion poll. Because who really cares what everyone thinks of Leather Leggings when there is a giant Pumkin Pie in front of you!? And more importantly, who the hell can fit into them after a full day of stuffing yourself with stuffing?

So, let’s get to the real important questions on this gluttenous holiday: When you head out to Thanksgiving dinner today, will you be wearing unforgiving pants, or a nice roomy dress?

Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday here at CollegeCandy; we even made little hand turkey pictures and hung ‘em up in the office! Yeah, we’re festive! Even thinking about tomorrow makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside (although that could just be the spiced apple cider we just drank).

Here are our Top 5 Favorite Things About Thanksgiving:

1. The Food: Um. Duh? All of our favorite things on one table, in one night? Heaven! From the stuffing to the sweet potatoes to the millions of desserts, there is nothing better than that feeling of so-full-you-wanna-die that comes after a good Thanksgiving meal.

2. The Conversation: Who knew grandpa had such a dirty mind? The man can tell a sex joke like no other. We don’t know why it all comes out at Thanksgiving, but one minute you are complimenting Aunt Susie on her awesome pumpkin bread and the next minute your Great Uncle Frank is doing inappropriate things with the cornucopia in the middle of the table.

3. Friends: Or, even better, enemies. Thanksgiving is a family holiday, which means everyone is comin’ back home. That also means that you will most likely be running into those a**holes from high school who thought they were too cool for school. Well look who’s on top now, bitches.

4. The Booze: My mom is always giving me a hard time about my drinking: “Honey, you drink too much,” or, “It is not lady-like to chug a beer like that!” But not on Thanksgiving. I don’t know if she’s too drunk to notice, or if she just doesn’t care because it’s a holiday, but the booze is flowing…and I enjoy every last drop.

5. The Parade: Yeah it’s cheesy and really not as cool once you are over the age of 6, but it’s tradition. And it’s a cute tradition. And your mom won’t yell at you if you turn it into a drinking game!