During the school year, eating well and exercising can feel like a real challenge. Going out with friends or sleeping in late is often so much more appealing than dragging yourself to the gym, and at 2:00 a.m. after hours of reading, that bag of chocolate chip cookies is just…so…tempting!

We’ve all heard that we should try to avoid the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen” (which is actually more like the “Freshman Seven”), but there are other important benefits to maintaining a good nutrition and exercise routine. The better you treat your body, the better you will feel. The better you feel, the more successful you’ll be in school and the more energy you’ll have for the really fun stuff. Read on to learn how you can use the latest discoveries in health and fitness to stay healthy, happy, and motivated this school year.

1.     Cut down on time at the gym with interval workouts.

Intervals have long been an important part of many exercise routines. But a new study has shown that intense interval workouts may be just as effective as time-consuming endurance training. The study divided its subjects, healthy college students, into two groups. One group rode a stationary bike at a sustained pace for 90 to 120 minutes three times per week. The other group pedaled as hard as they could for 20 to 30 seconds, with short breaks in between, for a total of about six minutes of intense riding per day. The result? The students who rode intervals showed just a much of an increase in their endurance as the students who did sustained training, and showed the same molecular indicators of increased fitness in their muscles. Read More »

College students are creatures of habit. We hang out with the same people. Got to the same bars. Buy the same types of clothes. Take the same classes. And you can’t blame us really. We know what we like. We know what works. So why change a good thing, right? Right. But not only does that apply to clothes and classes, it also applies to the kitchen. Because if there is one thing that has been made a college cliche, it’s college food. We’re known for our Red bull and Ramen noodles. But hey we’re creatures of habit, and we like what we like…

Halloween is just around the corner (!!), and while you’re probably still putting the final touches on your Gaga-getup have you thought about how you’re going to be celebrating? Yes, Halloween may just be another excuse to get drunk (or dress as a drink!) and gorge on candy but there are ways to get a little more into the spirit of Halloween then slapping animal ears over your favorite lingerie and calling yourself a cat.

Remember the fun days when your mom prepared disgusting looking food for your favorite friends? When you had to stick your hand into a box and feel something gross like slimy spaghetti? Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean the childish fun has to stop.

This year add some creativity to your Halloween celebration with a creepy cocktail or a spooky snack. Get your girlfriends together and make Skeleton Sangria – just each chip in an ingredient! Though it might seem kind of lame to bring a homemade snack to a party, maybe just make something to snack upon while you pre-game with your girls as you shimmy into your pantless outfits. Or, if you’re like me and have a midterm November 1 (some cruel joke, I KNOW!), take it easy with a creepy looking meal with some friends to avoid the Halloween hangover.

[Click on each image for the recipe!] Read More »

10 mouth-watering study break snacks

yeah right LiLo

So it’s bad that I’m attracted to my guy friend, right?

Rest easy knowing that J. Bieber is pimple free

D.I.Y jeans

Emma Watson in a cute dress…with long hair again?

Chocolate. That is one word and gift from heaven I will never get sick of. It tastes good with – um – everything. I never don’t want it. And even when I try to cut it out (like today) I find myself crawling back to it (as in eating it as I write this).

Another thing I never get sick of?

Creating my own things. Whether it’s a photo book, a necklace, a personalized hoodie or my own snack bar, building something from scratch that I know I will love always makes the final product that much more fun and enjoyable.

So when I heard about Createmychocolate.com I needed no convincing. It’s just like the URL says: you can create your very own chocolate bars. Can I get a HELL YES!? I spent hours trying to craft 3 perfect bars and, let me tell you, with so many options it was HARD. From pretzels, to cereal, nuts, fruits, sugary bits of heaven and various spices, you can craft the most amazing, delectable chocolate bar of your very own. Read More »

Mother Earth Says: No balloons!

As 2009 winds down and 2010 looms ahead, we all begin thinking about the important things in life.  I think most of us can agree that at the top of our list would be one of the most important things of all – throwing an epic NYE bash!

As always, I will be the one to 1) ruin your fun by saying that your party is killing the earth and 2) make it even better by replacing your old faves with your soon-to-be new ones.  Here are some of the most crucial aspects to throwing an eco-friendly, yet equally bitchin’ New Year’s shindig.

1) Choose eco-friendly champagnes.  This article on TreeHugger.com has a great list of organic sparkling wines at all price ranges.   If you’re like me and still too poor to afford a bottle of anything over $7.99 then you can still opt for the favorites as long as they’re grown and bottled as close to you as possible.  For example, if you’re a California girl, such as myself, you have the pleasure of sippin’ on BevMo’s finest.  That’s right, I’m talking about Cook’s and Andre.  You’re welcome.

2)  Use real champagne glasses. I know you are all classy ladies out there, so kick the red cup habit and get something real stylish.  If you can’t afford the cost and the injuries that result from broken glass, opt for acrylic or plastic champagne flutes.  Just be sure to recollect them at the end of the night so you can use them for your party next year (or next week). Read More »

pass it.

Well my favorite holiday is here. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas cookies; I love pumpkin pie; and I also love dressing up like a slutty Dorothy, cat, nurse, (insert random noun here); but there is nothing I love more than the 20th of April.

You may not usually celebrate this joyous occasion – I have actually only had the pleasure of celebrating it once – but one time was all it took to become an ardent supporter. In light of this, I thought I’d bestow some of my favorite stoned activities with you all so you have some options to spend  the best Monday of the year! So pull a Michael Phelps (read: hit the bong) and enjoy any of the following: Read More »

If you’re a bit calorie-conscious like me and won’t go near any form of full-fat, greasy potato chips, here’s a great alternative to satisfy those pesky salty/crunchy/carb-loaded cravings.

I can’t believe we’ve never talked about them before on CC. Because Popchips are off. the. chain!

I had heard a lot about Popchips, but was a bit skeptical the first time I brought them home. That lasted about 2 seconds.

When I opened the bag, I could smell the deliciousness of the BBQ-flavored chips just waiting for me to devour them. And so I did. And they were awesome, down to the last finger-licking crumb. I found them to be light and airy, kind of like popcorn, but a lot more flavorful and crispy.

The best part is that they’re completely guilt-free! Since they’re not fried in oil, but rather “popped”  using heat and pressure (don’t worry, I don’t get it either) the chips have half the fat of a typical potato chip with no trans fat, no saturated fats, no cholesterol and no preservatives. Read More »

Welcome to my Weekly Love List. A list on all things I love, because if I love them – well then obviously you may (and should) love them too.

As the Backstreet Boys song says (and yes I am actually quoting them) “My Love is All I Have To Give.” So with that throwback, here are this week’s list-worthy things…]

1. Michael Kors Gold Watch- While it’s not the cheapest thing on the block, its definitely a cheaper option as far as gold watches go. It’s Chunky, it’s cute and it’s made by my favorite Project Runway personality. Now if only I could get him to design me a one-of-a kind gown…

2. Did you ever wonder what you would look like with blonde hair? I did. When I was studying abroad in Florence and thought it would be a GREAT idea to surprise everyone by dying my hair blonde. Had I known about Taaz, I would have saved myself some money, and more importantly, a whole lot of embarrassment. Because as it turns out blonde hair – especially when done by dark-haired Italians? – so not my look. Taaz is a virtual makeover site. Upload your photo and see for yourself if you can pull of the Katie Holmes Bob or the Jenny Humphrey shag. Read More »

So the time had come again at Syracuse for Alcohol Awareness Week. Basically this is a week where students, okay mainly Greeks, are supposed to be more “aware” of alcohol. This “awareness” is culminated in an event called “mocktails” on Friday night. Each sorority is paired up with a frat and then they have a sober party. Not like “let’s just take a little shot beforehand” kind of sober, not “just one joint” kind of sober, not “a bottle of wine with dinner” kind of sober, but actually sober (yeah, the frats were confused about it too and asked if the mocktail money could possibly go towards the purchase of a keg).

While I’m usually the first to hop on (and steer!) the Friday night drinking train, I coudn’t help but be a wee bit reluctant to get my ticket for the Friday night sober train. I mean, really, what could that possibly be like? Unfortunately (or fortunately if you like to look at your mocktail glass as being half full) the thing about the Friday night sober train was that it was mandatory and my ticket had been purchased for me.

So, you ask, what goes on at a completely sober party? And how do people party withut the aid of mind numbing alcohol? Below is a pro/con list of my sober Friday night experience. And let me tell you; getting ready for the party without playing 3 games of Kings was a very strange feeling… Read More »