Thanksgiving is a time to take a beat from the rampant sex, booze and bad decisions of college life and embrace a more wholesome holiday spirit. Giving thanks. The concept alone should make you feel all warm and fuzzy and Angelina Jolie-esqe inside. As you sit down to a delicious home-cooked meal with your loved ones, I genuinely do hope you reflect for a moment on the cornucopia of blessings you’ve received over the year. The toilet paper dress you wore to that Anything But Clothes party didn’t unravel. The freshman you hooked up with took you seriously when you held a plastic knife to his throat threatening death if he told anyone what happened. Your RA still hasn’t found your vodka stash (zipped in the rolly suitcase under your bed). You, missy, have quite a few things for which to be thankful!

Personally, I tend to go a little more big-picture with my thank-you-fors. Eyesight…I’m a big fan of seeing. Also, my DVR, which has saved me the inner turmoil of choosing between Happy Hour and the newest episode of Parks and Rec. Most of all, however, I’m thankful for men. Yup. In all their burping, scratching, bearded glory. Think I’m crazy? Take a look at my favorite dude things and then tell me I’m wrong. Dear Dudes, I’m thankful for you because…

initiating the gallery...

(When you’re done here, don’t forget to check why He Said he’s thankful for women over at COEDMagazine.com)

Why shower sex rocks my socks

Stars who surprisingly turned down major roles

Told you not to increase your prices, Netflix

The moment Brad and Angie became Brangelina

Petals make the best shoe inserts

Rachel Weisz looks ferosh

Do you want a Tommy Hilfiger runway look?

How to enjoy wine like a total pro

Obviously, a lot of these involve sex. (What can I say? It’s always on my mind.)

So this week, I’ve decided to put together a comprehensive list of every last place we all should have sex (not together, of course) before walking the plank into real life. Unfortunately, I go to an all-women’s college so most of these are just wishful thinking for me, but they are more than feasible and exciting for the rest of you.

An empty classroom. Make sure you can’t be seen from the window on the door.

On the top bunk. You haven’t experienced college if you’ve never banged your head in cowgirl position.

A frat house. Use protection.

The shower. Don’t forget your flip-flops

You’re roommate’s bed. Just make sure she won’t be coming home in the middle of it… and clean the sheets after.

The movie theater. In case you didn’t get to in high school. Might be better to stick to heavy petting on this one.

A stranger’s house at a party. Find an empty room, unless you’re really adventurous.

Outside. I once had sex up against a tree in the Rocky Mountains. Highly recommended.

An on-campus bathroom. For the between-class quickie.

You’re bedroom at home. Because you’re finally allowed to have the door closed when boys are over.

A cheap hotel room. Because who can afford a 5-star hotel for a romantic weekend away?

On the beach. Spring Break is just around the corner….

On an airplane. Might be better to just throw a blanket over your laps and do some handiwork; there’s no need to get Homeland Security involved in your sex life.

In a foreign country. If you’re not studying abroad, at least do it in another state.

In the library. I can’t think of a better use for group-study rooms. And that whole “sex in the stacks” really is a rite of passage.

Any other places you should get frisky in before graduation?

Sophomore year I had gone through a bad breakup, things weren’t going so well with my roommate and my grades were plummeting. Long days running my frustration out at the gym and longer nights of drowning my sorrows in alcohol were really wearing down my system. I knew a breakdown was looming, but there was no predicting when or where it was going to happen.

Which was quite unfortunate for me.

I began to hang out with a freshman that I had known from my hometown. He was a good friend and I felt really comfortable with him. One weekend night, we had gone out to a party together and gone back to my dorm room after. My roommate was asleep in her bed and things between us were less than stellar, so me and the boy had to find another place suitable for… Well, you know.

My room was conveniently located right across the hall from the bathroom and we found sanctuary in the shower stall. With the water running and privacy in the form of a plastic curtain, we were good to go. Things went smoothly for awhile, and then I felt a rising bubble of panic in my chest. Maybe it was the thought of rubbing up against the dirty shower walls, or maybe it was just finally my time to let it all out, but something was happening.

Yes, I was about to have a mental breakdown right in the middle of shower sex. Talk about inopportune.

I buckled right then and there, sank to the bottom of the shower, and poured my heart out to this man. Actually, I poured it out to his junk, which was then at eye level. To say I was sobbing is an understatement. The combination of alcohol and panic created a toxic truth serum, and I told him everything that was plaguing me. As a nice snot/water mixture dripped down my face. I then made him run across the hall to my sleeping roommate, naked mind you, and fetch me a towel.

The next morning we began to discuss what had happened the night before. Color me mortified. In the light of day, my shower stall confessions were humiliating and I had no way of erasing them. Or did I.

In my best attempt at seriousness, I looked him straight in the eye and said: “I wasn’t crying last night because of everything I told you. I was crying because I wasn’t wearing shower shoes.”

He nodded his head and said he understood. Those bathrooms can be quite unsanitary.

It was then that I learned the greatest life lesson: Never underestimate the power of shower shoes.

Last week, my boyfriend and I met for dinner in Manhattan and ended up going to his friend’s apartment afterwards to hang out. It got pretty late, and one of the roommates said that we could crash in an empty room (the guy who lived there was vacationing in Brazil) if we didn’t want to go all the way uptown in the rain.

Although I had my doubts about sleeping in someone else’s bed (What if he has some bodily lice? Is it so wrong if we have sex here? Where am I?), we decided to accept the offer. After all, we were in a fabulous building in the financial district overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, and I was starting to get a headache from a little too much red wine at dinner. Navigating the subway wasn’t looking too hot.

In the morning, when we thought that everyone had left the apartment, my guy and I took a shower together. Why we felt the need to shower in someone else’s apartment (with someone else’s loofah), I do not know, but we did. And, since everyone knows that joint showering is no fun without at least a little touching, we decided to have sex. Hey – it seemed like the cleanest place to do the deed in someone else’s house, there would be no need for cleanup, and, well, it’s just inevitable when you’re in a steamy bathroom with your devilishly good looking boyfriend!

Needless to say, it got pretty hot and heavy….

Whoa, sorry. Got lost in my thoughts there for a second. Anyways, we didn’t even think twice about letting loose in the shower because no one was there. Or so we thought. Turns out, someone was.

We stepped out of the shower and as my BF was wrapping me in a towel, I heard someone walking around the kitchen. Neither one of us knew of him because he was subletting a room in the apartment and was not one of the roommates that my boyfriend knew. I was horrified. This stranger had just woken up and was attempting to go about his business only to be disturbed by two strangers having (loud) sex in HIS apartment. In HIS shower.

And now he was going to see us do the walk of shame back into a bedroom that wasn’t ours.

To make matters worse, I had used a towel that was already in the bathroom (I know, I’m ashamed, and I promise I’m not usually this gross), and I couldn’t very well walk into a hallway in a towel that potentially belonged to this guy. I thought that my only option was to stay locked in that bathroom forever, and I prepared to do so.

Finally, my boyfriend opened the door a crack and told me that the coast was clear. We only had to run across the living room back into the bedroom. I took a deep breath and ran across the hall at what must have been the speed of light. We got dressed and cleaned up the guy’s room as fast as we could, and when we left the apartment the roommate was nowhere in sight. Thank god.

I sincerely hope that I never have to look that guy in the face ever again in my life, because my behavior was just downright ridiculous. Let’s just hope he doesn’t tell my boyfriend’s friend about out little shower escapades, or else we might never hear the end of it. Or be invited back again.

You got a story to share? Email it to Lauren@collegecandy.com and we’ll share it (anonymously, of course!) on the site!

Shower with a friend (or lover) – I’ve recently discovered the joys of showering with a significant other. Not only do you lower your water bill by cutting shower time in half, you can also save money by going halvesies on soap and shampoo. Nothing better than smelling like Old Spice body wash while you’re boyfriend’s hair smells like your coconut conditioner. Plus, you get to save money just by being naked. A win-win, if you ask me.

Turn out the lights – Spend more time with the lights off. You can slash your electricity bill while boosting your sex life. Light some cheap-o Dollar Tree candles for mood lighting and you’re in business.

Wear your boyfriend’s clothes – Or just spend most of the weekend naked in bed. If you spend one day a week not wearing your clothes, you can save a lot of money. Think about it – one outfit can cost anywhere from $50 (if you’re SUPER cheap like me) to $300+ dollars. That could add up to savings to over $1,000 per month!

**Disclaimer: Above statistics are most likely complete bulls**t

Stay in for dinner – Instead of going for a romantic night on the town, get a little wild in bed. Sure, you could stay in and make an intricate meal, but I say just whip out the whipped cream and get right down to it. It’s not the most nutritious meal, but 3 dollars a can really can’t be beat. For more…exotic ideas, you may want to check out my previous article on Food Sex. (Shameless plug, I know.)

Get hot and heavy – According to calorie-count.com, a 150 pound person burns 102 calories per hour of active sexual activity. Do it enough, and you may be able to substitute the expensive gym membership for a midday romp instead. Sounds like my kinda workout plan.

**FYI: Sexual activity requires “vigorous effort” in order to be considered active, so get into it!

But this year I think I’m going to be optimistic; since V-day is all about love, and I love myself, I’m going to celebrate. And stuff my face with chocolate! Yum! I’ll curl up with my favorite snuggle buddy and listen to love songs, maybe do some therapeutic shopping, and re-evaluate my unfortunate attraction to bad boys and how that ties into spending V-day alone. Maybe I’ll borrow or rent one of these guys to keep me company. (Can you do that? God they are cute!)

But for those of you celebrating V-day with your special honey, make it count! Times are rough but romance doesn’t have to cost a lot. Like J-Lo said, “My love don’t cost a thing, thing, thing…” Spice up your sexy time with a little shower action, we know it can be hard in college, but it can be done. And if you are interested in cutting back on the spending and being a little eco-friendly, try these ideas. Save the world and have an amazing day with your special someone.

Single or not…Valentine’s Day is a day of love! So share it and enjoy it! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Q: I was wondering if you could go into the mechanics of shower sex in a college dorm… I’m sure it happens, but I was wondering, are there any disciplinary or even legal risks involved of bringing the opposite sex into your bathroom? Tips are also nice too!

A: I have to say, I don’t think shower sex is really all that great–dorm shower sex, even less so. But to each her own–here are the ten things you should know before sudsing up and getting down in the dorm showers:

1. It may be against the rules. Some schools keep women’s and men’s bathrooms separate, in which case, I assume sex in the showers wouldn’t be encouraged either. But hey, might be a great time to work out those bi-curious tendencies. Check your school’s rules–as far as I can tell, dorm shower sex isn’t illegal as a rule, so it’ll depend on your school’s policies–and then figure out how to break them!

2. Remember protection–condoms and flip-flops. You don’t want to catch an STD or a nasty fungus, so keep extremities covered.

3. Remove your eye makeup. I’m not kidding. If you take nothing else away from this, please remember to wipe off you eyeliner before you hook up in the shower. Yes, even the waterproof kind. Not. Pretty.

4. Do it on off-peak hours. Figure out when your dorm shower sees the least traffic and sneak in then. You’re less likely to get caught, and you’re less likely to gross everyone else out with your cries of passion.

5. Don’t do it on the weekend. This might sound counter-intuitive, but unless you want company in the form of other fun-loving couples or that guy on your floor who gets drunk and pukes all over the bathroom every single Saturday, pick a quiet Monday night over a Saturday.

6. Keep it simple. Now is not the time to try out that sex position you read about in Cosmo. Stick to whatever works based on how much space you have and water flow.

7. Lube up. Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to…lube up with? Yep–the water will actually dry you out, so this is the time to break out the K-Y.

8. For the love of god, keep the soap out of it. If you’re going to be having sex in the shower, don’t lather up your naughty bits first unless you like a little pain–there are some crevices where your fancy body wash doesn’t need to go.

9. Keep towels within arm’s reach. If someone does walk in on you, make sure you have two towels at grabbable distance to cover up with. Your RA does not want to see your bare ass. Unless you’re sexing your RA.

10. Do it for the thrill of it. Don’t expect multiple orgasms when trying out shower sex–you should consider the experiment a success if you make it out of there without foot fungus, a concussion, or having 30 of your floormates see your girls. Shower sex is a novelty, so enjoy it for what it is and don’t put pressure on yourself to have the best sex of your life in there.

Got a question for Pillow Talk? Email it to pillow.talk.cc@gmail.com and we’ll tackle it next time!

When you’re in a relationship, however, a whole new set of problems can arise. For instance, is there really a romantic gift out there that you can give to your guy without freaking him out or insulting is masculinity? Just like in any other case, the best gifts in life are free and usually involve sex. For those of us who like to go the extra mile, I’ve compiled a list of spicy activities that you and your guy can enjoy together. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Bust out the edible massage oil – What guy doesn’t like a massage? And what girl doesn’t love sweets (especially when licking it off their boyfriend’s hot bod)? I like to think that this activity combines the two best activities out there. You can even make your own massage oil from random things laying around the house. Plus, there is a high chance that your boyfriend will reciprocate your affection (in more than one way) by the time the night’s through.

Cook a romantic dinner in aprons. Nope, no clothes. Just aprons. – The more romantic, delicious, and lickable the food you make together, the better. I like the idea of dipping fresh strawberries in a home-made chocolate fondue. Add some champagne, mood lighting, and chocolate body painting and you’re in business.

Move it to the Bathroom – This is for all you romantics out there. It’s time to say goodbye to your routine shower-quickie. This Valentine’s Day, it’s all about going big. I’m talkin’ intense bubbles, vanilla scented candles, and a Barry White on the record player. (Okay maybe not the last one, you’re not your Aunt Sally, after all). Kill two birds with one stone and get clean while gettin dirrrrrty.

Jump his bones – Invite him to a feux-romantic date. When he shows up on your porch (hopefully with flowers) stun him by opening the door in your scantily-clad bod and pulling him inside. The bigger the surprise, the better, so be sure to make your fake plans extra mushy so he doesn’t expect anything resembling sex. “Hey honey, how about this Valentine’s Day we go to the ballet then watch The Notebook?” Perfect.

Get Ballsy – Instead of your normal hum-drum I Love You Handsome Valentine’s Day card, give him something that will really spark his interest. Step 1: Pick out a frilly pink romantic V-day card at Hallmark. Step 2: Write a lonnggg list of all the things you want to do to him that night. Step 3: Give it to him when he least expects it; leave it on his car before his class, give it to him when you exchange gifts at a romantic dinner, or have a stranger deliver it to him in the middle of campus. Step 4: Deliver on your promises. I swear he won’t be able to get you off his mind for the entire day.

Go Off-Site – If you’re feeling a little well-off (aka, not broke), take your romantic evening to a cheap-ish hotel. It will feel much more exciting hooking up in an unfamiliar place rather than the bed you’ve slept in every night since freshman year. Plus, there’s no chance of his awkward 30 year old roommate walking in on you or hearing you through the walls while he’s watching the Price is Right.

I really don’t know who this “Shower Power” suction sex handle is for; grade A Dbags, totally uncoordinated idiots, or lazy, lazy morons.

Whoever it’s for — I never want to meet them.  Ever.  Even in hell.