Summer — a time for barbeques, trips to the beach, and some serious drinking. So where the hell does waking up at the crack of dawn fit in?

Not long ago, 1 p.m. was an acceptable hour for me to drag myself out of bed. My roommate would often upstage my extreme sleeping habits by dozing into the late afternoon. We would shudder collectively at the thought of waking up at the extreme early morning hour of 10 a.m.

However, as soon as the summer began and I moved back to a land free of all nighters in the study lounge, loud parties across the hall, and most importantly, the incessant overbearing stress of school, I began to wake up at 7 a.m. on a daily basis for my internship and job.

I’m not going to pretend it was easy. The first few days the morning sun burned my eyes and I had to physically throw myself out of bed. I cursed myself for having responsibilities and stumbled around my house like a wounded animal. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Despite this rocky start, it wasn’t long before I began to recognize the many benefits of rising at a decent hour:

Breakfast: Let’s get real. Breakfast food is some of the best stuff out there. Bagels, pancakes, cereal, fruit- it doesn’t get much better than that. Having time to actually eat it is a precious opportunity. Not only is breakfast food delicious, it’s part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Read More »

Why is it that during the school year when I have no time there is so much good TV? So much so, that I find myself having to pick between shows that are on at the same time (obviously I DVR the other to watch after- it’s not like I actually have work to do or anything…). Yet in the summer when I have more time than I know what to do with, I am stuck with reruns and bad reality shows?

I have spent the past two weeks pondering the meaning of life (still no answer, but I’ll keep you posted) and trying to find something productive to do (yet somehow, I always end up on Facebook). But ultimately, I seem to always find myself parked on the couch night after night wasting away while watching these awful, absolutely abominable reality shows (I mean really, The Next Best Thing? America’s Got Talent? C’mon now. Sharon Osborne, I liked you when The Osborne’s first aired on MTV. But since then, well, you’ve been trying too hard to stretch your fifteen minutes of fame).

Sadly I continue to watch, all the while, wondering why I’m watching – because they are just sooo awful.

Well thank goodness for ABC! Wednesday just made my weeks a whole lot better. I finally have something to look forward to (wow, do I sound pathetic or what).

If you aren’t watching Traveler yet, start now. First, it’s an hour of great eye candy. Remember Ryan Atwood’s creepy, yet super sexy brother Trey from The OC? Well Logan Marshall Green is back. And this time around he is still sexy but a lot more likeable. Read More »

It must be summer — I can’t get through a single day without going to a picnic or a barbeque. Literally. I even eat hot dogs and corn – on – the cob for breakfast.

Not that I’m complaining, but one can only consume so much brie, bread and wine on a checkered blanket in a beautiful park before the routine turns stale.

Fortunately, Jane Magazine offers some alternative ideas for a sweet summer pool party (which can easily be converted into a park/patio/apartment/street party), complete with snow cones and lemongrass cocktails.

Check it out here.

- Life is short, and then you die or so the story goes. But it’s not that short and before you’re ready to kick-off, here’s a list of 10 Things Every Woman Should Try. Topping the list is the Rabbit. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve gone a round with the Rabbit.

- Hangover, Schmangover. The cure to the common hangover is finally here.

- TATS Incredible. Two weeks ago, we gave you the 20 Hottest Hollywood Gals with Tats. This week it’s all about the Men. Vanishingtattoo.com has just released their list of The 101 Hottest Tattooed Men in the World – 2007. Did your favs make the list?

- Kanye West 3.0. On the heals of the release of album #3, The Louis Vitton Don is giving away the album’s first video “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” on iTunes for FREE. That’s right kids $0.00. How can you pass on this one?

- Bikini-clad Celebs of Summer. Yes, Bikini Season is in session. Take our poll. If this doesn’t inspire you, I am not sure what will. Get your body looking like Jessica Biel by Summer’s End.

- Bikini not your thing??? Introducing the MonoKini. For some reason, Borat comes to mind.

- VIDEO. Everyone’s least favorite cable news anchor Nancy Grace falls victim to an on air prank by her staff. It’s pretty gorgeous.

- Horn Dawg. What do you do when you can’t control your dog’s sex drive? Well, buy it a sex doll ofcourse. Duh???

- To give or not to give… a blowjob. That is the question.

- “Our music will get you high, literally.” A new CD claims to possess the power to get you stoned… Whoa dude!

- I know what your saying, “I still haven’t finished all my SPRING sex positions ???”. I’m with ya, but put those spring things aside till next year and give these Summer Sex Positions a try. – (sexuall.org)

- Awaiting the July 10th release of Spoon’s highly anticipated forthcoming album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, The Hood Internet has put together a mad-cool mash-up of the album’s first single “The Ghost of You” with none other than GhostFace Killah. – (stereogum.com)

- Win a KOOBA “Natasha” Handbag just by leaving a comment. Could it be any easier?

- VIDEO – Bird drops a bomb on Bush. (liveleak.com)

- Abs-olute Hotties. The results are in- CollegeCandy’s Top 10 Hottest Abs in Hollywood. (collegecandy.com)

- Facebook goes to market. Facebook has added a new Craigslist-esque feature allowing you to find and buy college related items in your area – (facebook.com)

-Celebrity Couple Casualties. Something must be in the air. Last week we saw the demise of John Mayer & Jessica Simpson, Joel Madden & Nicole Richie and Lilo & Calum Best. The Soho Grand will never be the same after Blohan tore the posh hotel to shreds in her underwear. – (gawker.com)

- Summer Cocktails: Is Bartles and James your idea of a refreshing summer drink??? You better read this. (drinkoftheweek.com)

- Sex Secrets Revealed: Why do women fake it? The answer might just suprise you. (collegecandy.com)

- Yee Haw!!! A former stripper in Texas is sentenced to 3 1/2 years for conspiring to embezzle more than 1 million dollars from an Austin bank to start her own Nascar team. (chron.com)

- Back and Better Than Ever. The White Stripes release the first video from their upcoming release “Icky Thump”. (collegecandy.com)

I admit, I’m a product of the suburbs. My hometown is full of big, leafy trees, smiling children and drive – thru Starbucks that close at ten. It’s a great place to raise a family — but not such a hot place to be 21 in.

Going home from college is often more of a culture shock than a relief, and summer offers the most excruciating spell of the suburban blahs for us hip young folk. And it gets worse as we get older: old high school friends start disappearing and the townsfolk start expecting something from your burgeoning age and wisdom. Thus, I’ve crafted a survival guide for those contained to station – wagon – filled confines for the summer months:

1. Milk it. This is obvious and essential. If you’re back living with your parents, fill up. Eat. Sleep. Play the “I’m a poor college student, I don’t eat!” card. Play the “I’m stressed, I just finished finals!” card. Play them hard. And for at least two weeks. You need only to get out of bed for meals.

2. Grandma. At the end of your two weeks of eating and sleeping, you might be feeling a little lonely. A faithful friend who always wants to hang out with you is Grandma. (If Grandma is not available, try Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, Friendly Old Shop Clerk, Town Pastor, Neighbor, etc.). Basically, old people are cool and can tell you a lot about life if you ask the right questions, and you’re guaranteed to get a meal out of it. Read More »

You know you’ve already thought about him, though you might not have met him yet. He’s that dreamy guy in the office, the hottie who looks so incredibly good in his suit that you can’t help but fantasize about what he looks like underneath it.

Girls, take my advice. Keep the guy in his suit, and keep your professional relationship professional.

Summer internships have become a right of passage of sorts, offering invaluable experience (not to mention recommendations) that can shape your future. The easiest way to mess it up, and quite possibly ruin your summer? Hooking up with a full-time employee in your office.

Piece of cake, you say. You wouldn’t want to jeopardize your future, or a potential job offer, so you’ll find some other way to release your sexual energy. Except it’s not always so easy. For one, depending on where you decide to spend your summer, you could be more or less on your own, with not a lot of friends to fall back on. Read More »

Ah, summer. Hot days, warm nights, small amounts of clothing…and ample time for hook-ups. The summer fling is one of the most romanticized aspects of girl/guy relating, its short time span giving it all the more potential for passion and excitement.

But is it really all “Summer Lovin’”? Really as simple and sweet as we’ve been led to believe? The fact that I’m even asking these questions probably means summer flings are more complicated than 3 months of running hand-in-hand down the beach, but keeping a few things in mind can help make your next summer adventure as drama free as possible.

This edition of Summer Do’s and Don’ts brings you: Summer Flings.

Do use the summer to chat up different kinds of people. Your summer job or internship may lead down interesting paths and into interesting groups. Keep an open mind and use these months to reinvent yourself—in a good way, of course. Who knows? You might just meet a future hottie marching in a protest for Greenpeace or during your lunch break in the staff room.

Don’t fast forward the relationship just because the summer is short. Subtracting the amount of time you’d normally sleep with or get serious with someone because you’re moving or leaving in a few months is not a good idea. You could overlook key aspects of their personality (like a dominant asshole gene), or “forget” to do the STD talk. If this summer fling is meant to last, it will, regardless of how fast you jump in the sack. Read More »

Clear bags are the hot new “it item” for summer and Dolce & Gabbana and CHANEL have managed to come out with two hot versions. CHANEL’s “the Naked Bag” is gorgeous…but who would spend $950 for a bag that you can clearly (no pun intended) see is plastic?I’ve found two super-cute and cheap alternatives that also serve as perfect beach bags and come in a few different fun patterns and colors that are much more exciting than clear with black trim! Read More »

If you’re lucky, you’ll be studying abroad this summer instead of taking a load off and “relaxing” (aka being unemployed) or working at Barnes and Noble (which is how my summers typically go). To avoid such occupational plagues, I decided to go to France last summer even though I didn’t really know French and I hate cheese. Nevertheless, I learned a thing or two about our neighbors overseas and being an American on old, foreign soil.

1. Blend in. The problem with studying abroad is that the experience tends to lack authenticity — You go abroad only to find yourself surrounded by more Americans than in America. And these Americans can be fairly “exotic” themselves (in my program there was a tribe of Mormons).

In many cases American students abroad make no bones about their nationality and flaunt it by traveling in large, loud groups, bumping and grinding in discotheques, speaking odd Franglish and buying bottles of champagne by the crate to drink in the streets. My best advice is to stray from the American wolf pack and try to pass as a native. It’s a fun challenge that prompted a man to feel me up on a bus in Paris because he thought I was German. Close enough. Read More »