I was posted up in my cozy bed, leisurely reading a politically focused novel, my pillows stacked high behind my neck, while drinking chamomile tea with extra honey and a mini-spoon. And, as you can imagine, it was effing amazing. The next morning, I woke up naturally before my alarm (my favorite and most annoying thing ever). Then, I sipped coffee and read the headlines in the first page of the newspaper.

Amidst all of this old lady talk, I got to thinking…and not just about how simple my life has become. Actually, I’ve been so busy talking about how stressful and crazy my life has become since graduating from college all of this time, I haven’t even stopped to think about the serene course my life has taken as well.

I will compare my life from then until now with one word: extreme. EVERYTHING was extreme while I was in college.

Waking up was extreme: What, it’s 9:00 A.M. on a Tuesday and I have to OPEN MY EYES?

Eating was extreme: Hello, five meals a day, cafeteria binges and Sunday night hangover Dominos pizza orders.

Sleeping was extreme: Kosher nap at least twice a day?

Dating was extreme: AKA, pretty much non-exsistant

Drinking was extreme: Shots, mixing awkward and non-tolerable alcohols, boozing until 6 a.m…techno dance parties. The list goes on.

Social events/social scene…def extreme: If my eyes are open and I’m not doing something with my friends, does that mean I’m even alive??

That was college for me. Maybe it wasn’t for y’all, but I was in rare form 24/7. Everything was a big deal. When I was sleeping, I was SLEEPING. When I was drinking, I was DRINKING. I’m not saying I was passionate about all of these things, I’m just saying . . .I had a one track mind focus mechanism taking on my brain. But as you know, and as I expected, things have taken a dramatic turn to the not-so-dramatic. The extremities of college life have been turned waaaay down. The sea is a little calmer on the other side and life suddenly doesn’t feel so. . .personally dramatic anymore. Let me compare.

Waking up, eating, sleeping, dating, drinking, social events…they are all calm and normal. No longer do I feel the need to open my eyes and balk at the day in a selfish, dramatic college tantrum. No longer do I feel the need to dramatically pass out in the library because I got eight hours of sleep the night before instead of 10. No longer do I feel the need to go on one date per year and talk about it until it happens again. No longer do I feel the need to drink until I see only colors.

I’m not saying life gets insanely boring out of college, I’m just saying it gets practical. I think this new-found calmness is because the real world is less of a stage show. All throughout high school and college we’ve been dealing with proving ourselves education- and reputation-wise. Although we are still post-graduation, I think satisfaction becomes more personal. Less people are looking and more are cheering you on. Isn’t that a wonderful thing!? I think it is.

But sh*t, so are naps. I won’t rule that dramatic sleep tactic out anytime soon.

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!]

Since most of us won't get near those nasty tubs in the communal bathroom, I've got a few better ideas for relaxation...

October is a busy month. Between midterms and registration, and finding the perfect Halloween costume, things can get pretty crazy there for a while. But it’s important to remember to take a step back from it all for a while. Relax. Enjoy the little things. Relieve some stress.

Here’s how…

10. Indulge in some junk food. This probably isn’t the best advice, since eating your feelings isn’t exactly healthy, but chocolate cures all. At least for a little while. So just indulge for a little bit. Something sweet, or something salty, or something sweet and salty (chocolate covered pretzels…mmm…). Just a little pick me up. Besides, isn’t dark chocolate good for you anyway?

9. Dance it out. Yes, I am totally ripping off Grey’s Anatomy here, but the “twisted sisters” know what they’re talking about.  Dancing is an excellent stress reliever and you don’t even have to have any rhythm whatsoever. (Trust me. I would know.) Just enjoy yourself. And relax.

8. Shop. “You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that’s what it’s like when I see a store. Only it’s better.”  Oh Becky Bloomwood, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

7. Get that heart rate up. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.” –Elle Woods. (I apologize for that one but Legally Blonde was on WeTV this week.)

6. Organize and categorize. Maybe it’s just me but I’ve always found the process of putting things in order to be extremely calming. Freaking out about a big test? Make a study schedule. Nervous about a date? Plan the perfect outfit. Once you know exactly what you’re doing it will be a lot easier to get it done.

5. Get in some quality BFF time. Whether you and your friends are staying in with pizza, beer, and bad TV, or heading out in heels, a good old fashioned girls night cures all. Who cares about what’s happening next week when you’re having the time of your life right now? Let loose. Have some fun. Let your friends distract you. Nothing will seem as bad the next day (except maybe that hangover…).

4. Curl up in bed and watch a movie. Or you know, have a Gossip Girl marathon. The point is that losing yourself in someone else’s drama will distract you from your own. Whatever you have going on won’t seem nearly as terrible after you’ve seen Jenny Humphrey’s eye makeup.

3. Laugh. Search some YouTube videos. Visits Texts from Last Night. Call up your funniest friend. Look at last weekend’s Facebook pictures. Just let off some steam and enjoy some absurdity.

2. Catch up with CollegeCandy. You need some downtime to just breathe and be? Put on your favorite pair of sweats, get comfy, grab your laptop and start reading. Want to feel inspired? Check out this article. Or maybe you need a good laugh? Morning after stories will do that for you.  Or just scroll through the feed and see what you missed.

1. Make a list. Like I said when I took on this column, list making is my life. It keeps your organized. It makes you feel like you have some semblance of control of everything going on around you. It gives you a focus for just a little while. It makes you feel good when you get to cross something off.  And the results are always entertaining.

How about it, ladies? Has this week been as stressful for you as it has for me? What do you do to let off some steam? Let me know in the comments below!

Today is Good Friday and it is a Good Friday indeed. The sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and I’ve got a whole lot of Real Housewives and The Soup on my DVR just begging to be watched. In honor of the holiday (and the fact that the sun is putting me in a fantabulous mood!), I thought I’d have the CollegeCandy writers share what makes a Good Friday for them.

Personally, I haven’t really had a Good Friday since I was on the 4-day class schedule in college, but I guess knowing I won’t have to wake up at 6am tomorrow is as good as it’s gonna get out here in the real world. And that’s good enough for me.

What makes a Good Friday for you?

Rachael – University of Miami: My good Friday would probably be one in which I spend most of the day just relaxing and catching up with my student-professor discussion group and some friends I don’t see during the school week, followed by my dance class and either going out dancing from there or heading in for a low-key game night with my closest friends.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: First things first, my ideal good Friday begins waking up next to the Thursday night cutie and progresses into discussing recent evening shenanigans with the roomies.  Then accompanied by a venti Starbucks bev I will dissect the entire contents of Target. Good day.

Cristina – Michigan State: A good Friday to me is definitely knowing I did well on my math quiz and history quiz, looking and feeling great and going out to an amazing party that night (and flirting my face off).

Zahra – Northwestern University: A good Friday for me is a gorgeous sunny day, one class around noon so I’m forced to get up and actually enjoy the day, then going to the beach after class with my friends and planning our weekend.

Kelly – University of Iowa: A great Friday entails me being done with class at 1:30, going to the gym, FAC (Friday After Class bar specials) around 5, then heading to my place of employment where they let me drink for next to nothing. And ending the night sharing Marco’s Grilled Cheese with my boyfriend.

Emmy – Loyola University Chicago: My good Friday is when I can sleep in, go for a run in beautiful weather along the lake, eat chocolate chip waffles for breakfast, go with my best friends shopping and to lunch downtown, and have a picnic and bonfire party on the beach afterwards!

Lauren – University of Michigan: A good Friday includes at least 4 hours of TV/magazines/online shopping, followed by dinner with the roomies and Long Island Ice Teas on the patio at Good Time Charley’s. (Because they’re good and it’s the closest bar to my house.)

Carly – Grinnell: A really good Friday would involve chocolate cake and/or chocolate-chip cookies and a beautiful, sunny day. I’m pretty easy to please.

Katie – Michigan State University: If I don’t have anything to do on Saturday, then any Friday is a good Friday.

Elise – Stanford: My good friday includes lots of sunshine, no homework or looming deadlines, and all my friends having a night out.

Hannah- Assumption College: My really good Friday is canceled classes, the sun shining, plans to go shopping and a coffee in my hand.

Charlsie – Hollins University: I always have a good Friday because I never have Friday classes!

Julia – UC Berkeley: Hungover brunch, tanning on the sundeck, squeezing in a workout, and then going out and doing it all over again.

Alex – Lakehead University: A really good Friday = NO HOMEWORK. Sleeping in, maybe a good movie and some snuggling? I’m not too picky!

Jessica – Hofstra: My perfect Friday night is getting home early, putting on sweatpants, opening a bottle of wine with my friends, and watching Modern Family reruns.

Norah – Drake University: My good Friday is when I can spend the evening eating junk food and watching hours of “Say Yes to the Dress” with my friends.

Sara C – Fordham: A good Friday for me includes a nice, sweaty run to shake out the stress from the work week, followed by anything involving dinner and mojitos. And a hot shower, obviously.

Christie – NC State University: A good Friday for me would be if all my classes were canceled, I get to lay out, go out to eat, and just cuddle with my boyfriend for the rest of the night.

Kendra – University of Pittsburg: A good Friday for me is coming home after class and doing a 30 minute cleaning frenzy – wash dishes, make the bed, fold laundry, vacuum – before watching Oprah and taking a nap. It’s SO relieving for me to be able to clean up the mess I didn’t have time to take care of during the week!

Leah – Ryerson University: A relaxing day followed by a night at Dance Cave in Toronto.

It’s comfortable, relaxing, heated – it’s the aquatic equivalent of sex itself! So why should you not have sex in one?

According to studies by a (virgin) urologist, hot tub humping may not be very safe.

The old rumor of man becoming infertile after too many trips to the tub has been proven correct – but how long must you stay in the water? A week?

If your guy’s testicles have been heated up to a rolling boil, yes – you should probably get out of the hot tub.

It’s also common knowledge that yes, you can get pregnant in a hot tub. make sure Aquaman wears a condom, and all of your troubles will be gone.

In other words, don’t let anybody – scientists, urologists, virgins, moms – deprive you of experiencing the ultimate. It’s all of our God-given right to experience hot tub sex.

Who buys a hot tub for relaxing anyways?

Just be careful that your parents don’t get to it first – that’s a Greek tragedy in itself.

Have you had hot tub sex?