The countdown to spring has began. Soon enough we will be breaking out the sun-dresses and flip flops, pouring lemonade and flipping burgers. But as I cross out the days on my calendar (15 more to go) I can’t help but wonder if I’ve made the most of my winter.

Of course I’ve trekked through the snow on my way to class, stayed in bed for days on end and silently cursed the snow plows that prevented a well deserved snow day, but did I really enjoy winter? With February already behind us I’m left with a laundry list of to-dos before winter is gone for another whole year.

In case anyone else is in the same predicament, I have the top ten things everyone should do before winter comes to a screeching halt.

1. Cafeteria tray sledding. “Borrow” some trays, grab five of your friends and head over to the hill behind the dorms before all that snow turns to a slushy mess.

2. Mix peppermint schnapps and Cocoa. It’s the perfect complement to sledding. Just remember, kids: wrap up the celebration with this warm concoction. I learned the hard way that the liquor and sledding combo don’t end well.

3. Bake cookies (or just eat all the dough). Read More »

So winter is almost done and over with. Yay!

But we’ve still got a few more weeks of nasty weather ahead. Boo.

Even though we’ll start breaking out the pastels and cute shoes soon (soon being a relative term, as I personally refuse to wear pastels until it’s above 75 degrees), there will still be a host of rainy days and foul weather between now and “running through a field of flowers” weather. And, let’s be honest for a second; warm weather often means a boring desk job, during which time you will need plenty of things to do to pass the time.

So what does one do when they can‘t get out and play? Turn to the internet, of course! Here’s a quick list of ten sites to get you through the end of winter and beyond! Read More »

[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe. Only I weigh more than 88 pounds.]

In fashion, we often find that a few trends last for more than a season (thank goodness!) and this year two of those leftovers are studs/embellishments and gladiator-inspired shoes.

Both of these trends were super hot last spring and promise to spice up your wardrobe again this season, so why not combine ‘em both for a hot and sexy ensemble that’s sure to turn heads? Just be careful – these looks are… a lot. Go easy on the accessories, as the embellishments are accessories on their own. You are going for sex appeal, not biker mama at Mardi Gras.

You probably already have bits and pieces of these styles resting in your wardrobe, but if not, here are some fun new ideas. Read More »

Exposed zippers are hot. As in, “if you unzipped this my outfit would fall off” hot (in theory – most items are actually double-layered so no need to worry about someone unzipping you!). They also make a piece more interesting.

This trend, already embraced by celebrities like Kate Bosworth, is a must-have for your wardrobe as it will be going strong well into spring and summer, according to Joyce Chang, features editor of People StyleWatch.

“Whether you’re going more refined or tougher, there’s a zippered look for every one and every budget,” Chang said. Here are a few ideas: Read More »

We’ve teamed up with our friends at FashionPulseDaily to bring you the best of Forever 21. Every Wednesday, we’ll highlight a fabulous Forever 21 item that stands out above the rest in that over-crowded (but totally fabulous), color coordinated store. For more fashion fun, check out FashionPulseDaily.

So, I know this seems a bit ridiculous to be wanting a lightweight cotton jacket right now, but hear me out: the fall/spring light jacket-wearing seasons are so short that it just doesn’t make sense to wear a cotton jacket solely for those seasons. What I propose is to get the Fab Casual Jacket , $17.50, and start wearing it now. You can definitely fit a thin cashmere sweater underneath, and it adds an extra chic layer in these terribly frigid temperatures. Choose from six fabulous colors (my three favorites are above!). Add $5.95 for s&h.

[Every week our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble, you don’t have to.

All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire ensemble. Yes, we know; there is a spot for her in heaven.]

So it’s like negative 500 outside, which is making me so jealous of:

A. all the spring clothes that are starting to make their way into the stores – even in places like the North Pole, and

B. all the celebs who are in L.A. wearing cute, warm, summery tops.

Like this one by our gal pal Amy Adams. Even though it is not the most original, or trendy, or hard to put together, it’s cute, it’s breezy…and it’s NOT made of wool.

So instead of brushing it off, I am featuring it to make our winter days feel a littttle warmer. Either save it for spring, wear it under an oversized sweater, or move to California.

Here is this week’s Celebrity Chic on the Cheap: All About Amy Adams’ Floral Frock. Read More »

Jackets already? No thanks.

(Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters)

It’s hot today in New York. Really. Hot. Even in the air conditioning, I am sweating (ew). Last week, in preparation for some 4th of July swimming, I set off on a mission to find myself a swimsuit. I was looking for a kind of cute, retro one-piece, so I headed to my old standby: Urban Outfitters. When I entered the store, however, I was in shock. Everywhere I looked there were sweaters, long-sleeve plaid shirts and…is that a coat with a wool collar?!

WTF Urban Outfitters?! It’s JULY. I decided to try another store down the street, but was struck with the same thing. Again and again as I made my way down Broadway, I saw Fall clothing up in every window. Yesterday the latest issue of Lucky magazine arrived in my mailbox, chock full of…you guessed it…Fall fashions. I leafed through it while sitting on my bed half-naked trying to cool down in front of my fan. The pages and pages of models in tights and sweaters were not helping. Read More »

Cute, yellow, cheap. In other words, perfect.

I like this dress because it looks so easy. It’s so put-together without any mess.

And, again. Mustard yellow. Need I say more? Read More »

Everyone needs a meal that they can whip out when they need to impress someone. Whether it’s that hot barista you got the balls to finally ask out, that hot barista’s parents two years down the line, or that group of friends who only get together every so often, a meal you can make quickly and expertly is always a ticket to success.

My staple Impress ‘Em Meal has always been pasta primavera. It’s simple, fresh, and healthy – but best of all? It easy to do.

Here’s my favorite primavera recipe, from the Food Network. I recently used this to impress partygoers at a giant potluck. Now, they all think I can actually cook (too bad my microwave knows better…)! Read More »

It hit me today that Spring is actually here. As I trucked down the street donning my winter jacket, snowboots (not the cute Uggs, but actually Arctic chill winter boots) and a fuzzy sweater, I realized I was sweating profusely and thought, “Hm, it’s time to wear less clothing.”

The problem is, I have no MONEY for clothing. Something about being a TwentySomething in New York City. Good thing there are a ton of stores these days catering to ladies just like me who are short on cash and ready to shimmy off their parkas and slip into something a bit cooler.

Check it: Forever 21 Goodness.

Yellow Sundress at Forever21.com for $22.80

And no, yellow is not obnoxious — it’s awesome. Read More »