If you didn’t watch The OC in high school (or middle school…God I’m old), chances are you probably didn’t have any semblance of a social life. Ok, that was harsh. You had one friend- your mom loved you dearly and thought you were terribly special. But within the confines of 9th grade classrooms, you were definitely left out if you didn’t have an opinion on the latest OC plot twist. And boy, were there twists and turns and shocks galore!

Perhaps the most shocking of all, however, is that we’re not really talking about these kids from Orange County anymore. Sure, they were hot back in the day. Yeah, we all thought they were going to grow up to be Hollywood superstars…but really, where are they now? Read More »

The leaves and your wardrobe are beginning to change, and that means your makeup should, too!  While there are a lot of ways you can amp up your makeup style for each season, I’ve got a few crucial changes you should make when going from summer to fall.

These aren’t big changes, but they’re important! Just like fashion, makeup has seasonal rules and in this week’s video, I’m gonna clue you in on all of them.

Want more? Get all of Caitlin’s beauty advice every week in CC Beauty Live!

Labor Day weekend has come and gone, and what’s left of your tan is probably beginning to fade. Add that to the fact that the first week of classes (When you don’t actually have to do anything but collect syllabuses and catch up with friends.)  has been replaced by actual classes, and you’re probably pulling a Danny Zuko and wishing longingly for summer nights.

But autumn isn’t all bad, and here’s why.

1. The Weather. Here on the east coast, we broke records with the sweltering summer heat. And I’m not going to lie; I took full advantage of that warm weather. But sitting in class in weather that’s meant for the beach? Like I’d ever be able to pay attention. I’m eternally grateful that the temperatures dropped just as I’m forced to hit the books. Plus, it gives you an excuse to buy that cute fall jacket you’ve been eying since July.

2. The Pumpkin Spice Lattes. They’re back. Yesterday’s trip to my friendly neighborhood Starbucks confirmed as much. Starbucks has also introduced the Toffee Mocha, along with the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and the Pumpkin Scone. Its fall food at its best. But if you’re not quite as caffeine crazed  as I am, you could always try an old standby. Caramel Corn. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. Caramel Apples. Apple Cider. Take your pick.

3. The New TV. I love a good reality TV meltdown as much as the next girl, but by the time August rolls around I’m ready for some good old fashion scripted drama. From Glee to Gossip Girl, your old favorites are returning. Don’t you want to watch the new cast of Dancing with the Stars make complete and total fools of themselves? Or find out if Derek actually recovers from the Seattle Grace shooting? Your wait is almost over. Read More »

There are some fashion rules you should follow.

Never show your legs and your cleavage at the same time? That’s a good one.
No denim on denim? Also a keeper.

Then, there are those rules that should just be ignored. Your purse doesn’t always have to match your shoes. You can mix prints. And most importantly you can wear white after Labor Day.

Of all the rules put forth by the fashion police, this one has always baffled me the most. Why is white only acceptable between Memorial Day and Labor Day? Why is it that this one color has such a limited lifespan, only to be paired with bikinis and boy shorts? From the plain white t-shirt, to the classic white button down, to winter white pieces, the color white is essential to every wardrobe, all year long. Below are some pieces that will make you want to wear white every day. Read More »

It’s Labor Day which means two things:

1. The perfect excuse to wash down a burger with an ice cold beer.
2. Summer is officially over.

I could use this space to share BBQ survival tips with you, but somehow that just doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a holiday; whether we’re enjoying the day with family or a bunch of frat guys with a grill, we should enjoy ourselves.

I’ve dished on all sorts of stuff this summer: my radical lifestyle change, what it’s like to be unhealthy, and even a few tips on how to stay healthy. But there’s one big topic I missed: how to stay happy. And with summer just about to fade away, I am sure us ladies can use all the happy we can get.

Let me briefly compare how I spent last summer to how I spent this summer: Read More »

After countless barbecues and Bud Light Limes (or being stuck inside at your unpaid internship all day), summer is sadly coming to an end. Waaaaah (Snooki voice). But seeing your tan fade doesn’t mean there’s no more time for fun in the sun.

I’ve got three words: Labor Day weekend.

The last hurrah of summertime, so to speak. And to honor the goodness that was the past three months, we’ve created the perfect end-of-summer playlist to give this season the proper send-off.

Get your freak on right here.

Wow, August has been a steamer.  And it makes me so lazy. I can’t do anything. And I’m not kidding. I could barely make the trek to my freezer this morning to have a struggle-fest opening the wrapper off of my fruit popsicle before I proceeded to the center of my family room, turned on the fan and spread out like a star fish on the ground.

You can only imagine, then, my internal fight to read the September Issue of Glamour. It’s over 400 pages, people. You try lifting that to your face.

Whew. I needed a moment to catch my breath just from typing that. Before I pass out in a pool of sweat and melted ice cream, let’s take a moment to turn on the A/C and reflect on the hot-ass week that was.

* As quickly as Mother Nature dragged in weather that makes me feel like I’m suffocating inside of a leopard print Snuggie, she’s going to drag the blanket from under us and bring on the lovely season of fall. That also means college (!) is beginning! Lucky for us, Ben Bator (creator of my number one guilty pleasure – TFLN) fills us in on the dos and donts of college.

* And if that’s not enough to get you through them college days, we’re here to help you with your new wardrobe options and all your roommate woes.

* Speaking of college, are you ready for the shopping spree(s….you know you always forget something) with your parental units at Bed Bath & Beyond? We are. And your parents may not know what they’re getting into… Read More »

So although I know some of you have already gone off to college and pimped out your brand new dorm room, lots of us are still languishing around the pool, savoring the last few weeks of this glorious summer.

Speaking for myself, the past 2 months of blissful relaxation have been more or less bitchin, and the thought of buying textbooks and attending freshman seminars feels like a dagger to the heart. I’d rather not waste my last few weeks with my darling high school summer friends just bumming around and drowning my sorrows in queso dip, so in between buying dorm room supplies and re-reading all the Harry Potter books, I’ve been looking for ways to truly relish these memorable last days:

I’ve had a Toast Night: I decorated my backyard with paper lanterns, candles and tons of Christmas lights and invited about 12 friends over to be merry and toast the past years of our lives, the wonderful summer and our hazy futures. It was the perfect balance of totally precious and disgustingly cheesy, something we all needed to commemorate 12 years of schooling… and an occasion to drink outside.

I’ve been soaking in the sun: I don’t know if it’s just me, or if it’s everyone, but I aspire to arrive at college the shade of a well-toasted marshmallow. This is the last span of time to get natural sun and Vitamin D (which we all lack come wintertime) and a perfect excuse to lounge around the pool and gossip and hang with your pals. Just make sure you slather on some SPF. Read More »

It’s summer, and it is HOT. And humid. And sticky.

For us ladies, having generally long hair is a pain in the summer months, especially those of us (not so) blessed with the curls. Step outside for just a moment and that coif goes from fresh to ginormously frizzy. You could pull it into a pony tail and hold down the front with an over-sized headband, but you don’t want to spend the summer looking like you just left the gym. If only there were a cuter alternative…

There is, and in this video I’ll show you exactly how to do it so you can be frizz free, cool and still look hot. Best part? No washing required! I swear, it’s a gift from God.

Questions for Tuffinski can be emailinskied to TuffyLuv@collegecandy.com and shoop.

Dear Tuffy Luv,

My boyfriend has recently gone on a study abroad trip for the rest of the summer.  He’s only been gone a week, and already I’ve noticed how drastically our relationship has changed.  For the first half of the summer, he always called many times a day and we visited each other every few weeks because we live in different states.  But now that he’s overseas, between the time difference and his busy schedule, there is no time for me! The trip he is on is with a huge group of his friends and is very party-oriented and it’s hard for me not to get jealous.

A big problem is that his phone does not work overseas so the only way for us to talk is for him to send me an email saying that he’s available to Skype, which goes to my Blackberry, and then I rush to a computer.  So I’m totally powerless to get in touch with him.  I end up getting really upset all the time just waiting to hear from him… which has only even happened once!! I really love him and when we’re together we never have problems and are very happy. But I don’t know what to do! Please help! Should I just wait it out and be miserable for the next month? I don’t want to send him anymore nagging emails about it because he says it makes him feel guilty and I can tell it’s not helping.

What should I do?

— Abandoned in the Eastern Time Zone Read More »