Now that all the presents have been opened, the cookies have gone stale and all the decorations have been disassembled, it’s time to start that awful period of reflection…similar to when you try to relive your Saturday nights in order to find your cell phone (or your underwear).

So, while we’re looking back at all the wonderful moments (and the not so wonderful ones, i.e. that time you threw up in your new boyfriend’s bed) here are a few articles that made my year just a smidgen better. I know for a fact after reading them you’ll feel ten thousand times better about all of your not-so-great moments of 2011. Read More »

Several years ago, most elementary school class rooms looked like an acid trip, and we can all thank Lisa Frank for that. Her dogs, unicorns and weird aliens were on all of our school supplies. If you didn’t have something Lisa Frank, then you probably had no friends. But if you happened to have a Lisa Frank trapper keeper, you were probably the most popular girl in school.

Here’s some of the wackiest Lisa Frank school supplies. Read More »

Like with most things in my life (namely, the boy I’m kinda, sorta talking to right now), I have a very complicated relationship with college. Over the past four years, we’ve had our ups and downs. There have been moments when my only thoughts were, I love college (when I was living one of these moments), and there were others (like when I was writing my thesis) when I’ve thought, I hate college with a fiery passion…

Ahem.

But that’s probably because college is a complicated institution, full of things we want to do, things we should do, and things we have to do. Some of the stuff is fun (Saturday tailgates), and some of the stuff is not so fun (Sunday all-nighters). So often, we love college just as much as we hate it. It’s a different experience for everyone, but I’ve pulled some of the more universal love/hate conundrums that go hand in hand with the college experience. Read More »

Marc Jacobs does back-to-school.

Who are the worst celebrity role models?

Uh oh. Is Danielle Staub getting her own show?

When to intercept a friend’s drunken hook-up.

Dog’s doing funny things. Because it’s Wednesday.

Facing social pressures in college.

It’s the start of a new school year and to honor that, we at CollegeCandy are bringing back our favorite series, “We’ve All Been There.” Every week, Lauren – University of Michigan will comment on the common experiences all college women share, like the dreaded move-in day, including some new ones thrown into the mix.

You’ve spent the last 3 nights enjoying the free booze freedom that Welcome Week allows, but as you wake up with the garbage can next to your bed – again – you realize it might be time to buckle down. Classes are looming ever closer and not only can your body not handle another 12-hour hangover, you’ve got a lot of stuff to prepare before those 18 credits take over your life.

So while your friends watch another SATC marathon/discuss what they’re going to wear to the night’s festivities, you grab your schedule and head out for something a little more….fun: school supplies shopping (!!).

Most people wouldn’t find this particular type of shopping exciting, but back-to-school shopping has been the highlight of your Augusts since you were 6 years old. The smell of fresh books, the feel of a new (medium point) pen as it runs across the pages of a fresh, crisp college-ruled notebook. The richness of a new, juicy highlighter. You can’t wait to get it all home and organized for the first day of classes. Read More »

I remember the days of running around Bed Bath and Beyond with my parents, frantically scrounging the aisle for that perfect plastic bin to stash all of my Ramen. Talk about a brutally long scene of events.  I stood in the florescent-lit aisles of so many department stores I started dreaming about shower caddies, futon throw blankets and Audrey Hepburn posters.

However, my parents were more than generous when they stashed the cart with college-goodies.  Especially food.  I think my mother thought I was going to eat all my food the first day, never have the desire/money to buy anymore and end up looking like a famished kid come Christmas.  Bless their hearts, ma and pa provided me with everything I would ever need in a my 8X8 dorm room.

And they didn’t even realize the half of it.

Although my parents made sure I had just about everything to satisfy my college-soul when I hightailed it to party-town, there are some sneaky things they didn’t even realize they’d purchased.  I’m not saying I smuggled a box of Trojans in between my binders; I’m simply stating there are some things out there your mama and papa can buy you that serve a college purpose they’ll never know or understand.

Allow me to explain.
Note: I really hope my mother never reads this. I love you, Ma! Read More »

I. Heart. School supplies.

Yes, we know summertime can be oh-so-sweet, but now it’s August and summer’s winding down with school just around the corner. As much as summer rules, from the beach to margaritas, there are so many perks to heading back to campus and gearing up for classes.

Here are the top 10 reasons that you can feel good about ditching the bikini for some books!

10. School Supplies
Is there anything sweeter than shopping for new pencils and binders? And highlighters? And an adorable bag to carry it all in? I love back to school shopping for supplies solely because I love thinking of new ways to organize.. and then obviously not following through with any of it come the first day of school. But still – gotta love the crisp pages of a new notebook. Sigh.

9. Dorm/Apartment Shopping
After stocking up on post-its of all colors, there’s no better excuse than back to school to get some brand new decorative pieces for your dorm and apartment. Low on space? Check out the container store, definitely a top fave. Want fun, quirky decorations? Check out Anthropologie’s sales!

8.  School sports
Get pumped for football, hockey and basketball. Even if your school isn’t a Div I college, it’s still amazing to pre-party bond over some sport, even if it’s just squash.

7. Fall clothes
So over shorts and tanks? Slip into some cute new jeans, sweaters, dresses and jackets. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had it with my gladiator sandals. I can’t wait to bust out my boots and scarves again! Read More »

Popular people live longer.

Save your moolah on back to school shopping.

When Photoshop goes very, very wrong.

Doesn’t Obama have more important things to do?

More new American Idol judges??

There’s not much difference between getting a job and getting a man.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Duo Binder. All opinions are 100% mine.

File this one away in the “why the hell didn’t I think of that” category.

I recently received an email from someone asking if I wanted to try a “revolutionary binder.” I wasn’t really sure what could possibly revolutionize a binder (flashing lights? A smoke machine? It did your reading for you?), but being the school supplies whore that I am, I accepted. A few days later, the Duo Binder arrived on my doorstep.

And I have to say, it is revolutionary!

The Duo Binder combines a 3-ring binder with an accordion file, allowing you to keep everything for every class in one place. Plus, it’s got this bungee closure thingy that makes sure everything (no matter how messy it is inside!) stays safely and securely in there. You can keep handouts, notes, completed work, magazines (in case class is boring) and more in this bad boy. It might just be the most organized you’ve ever been for school…. ever. Read More »

"OH MY GOD!! THEY'RE BACK!!!"

Don’t get me wrong – I love me a summer day at the beach. The smell of sunscreen, flip flops, and feeling the hot sand beneath my feet makes me very, very happy. But there is nothing quite like a crisp Fall day. I love jean-jacket weather. I love busting out all my fall clothes from that duffel under my bed. I love getting my back-to-school dramatic haircut. I love anything and everything that has to do with pumpkins (especially the candy corn ones).

Fall, I heart you.

With Labor Day just around the corner, it’s time to say goodbye to our white sundresses and helloooooo (nurse) to leather boots, college football and Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks. (Note: I said hello to those twice…on Monday.) Oh yeah, and also to long nights in the library, 40 pounds of textbooks and early morning classes. But let’s ignore that stuff for a moment and celebrate the best season ever.

Here is what the CollegeCandy writers love most about Fall. What’s your favorite part? Read More »