Yes, it’s officially summer, ladies!

While some people are crazy aren’t major fans of the summer season, most of us at CollegeCandy couldn’t be more excited. What’s not to love about flip flop weather, 7-11 Slurpee runs and going out without having to worry about whether the bar has coat check or not? And the way your sun-kissed skin looks in a coral sundress? Sigh. Is there anything like it?!

With the temps rising the our favorite TV shows coming to an end for the season, it’s time to bust out those summer whites, scrunch some gel into your hair and enjoy the best the summer has to offer. Here are a few of our favorite things. What do you love most out summertime?

Emmy – Loyola University Chicago: My favorite thing about summer is being able to sleep in ridiculously late and laying on the beach.

Sara C – Fordham: Favorite thing about summer? Definitey the overabundance of Mr. Softee roaming around the city. Nothing beats a twist at sunset with friends!

Cristina – Michigan State University: Sitting in the sun with a popsicle and a beer.

Rachael – University of Miami: I’m not a huge fan of summer (I’m almost albino pale, so no beach time for me, and I go to school in Florida anyway), but I guess what I most like about it is the overall sense of freedom: time to be a little lazy, catch up on pleasure reading, wear loose and flowy clothing, etc. Oh! and street fairs in Manhattan – I love shopping there, or even just walking around.

Carly – Grinnell: Favorite thing about summer: the warm weather. I FREEZE nine months out of the year in the Midwest, but summer is the one season during which I can feel as if I live in a tropical climate.

Norah – Drake University: I’m Minnesota-born, so for me, summer means weekends at my family’s cabin. Boating, tubing, waterskiing, hanging out at the beach, fireworks on the lake for the Fourth of July…I couldn’t be more excited. I’m also psyched to catch up on my reading–I just found a book club that’s reading Jane Austen and Willa Cather this summer.

Jessica – Delaware: Backyard barbecues! Who doesn’t love laying by the pool, sipping Coronas and eating cheeseburgers!?

Jessica – Hofstra: My favorite thing about summer is laying on the beach with my friends after a long night out – and talking about every ridiculous thing we did (and probably don’t remember).

Brithny – Duke: The excuse to get fro-yo every. single. day.

Alex – University of South Carolina: Walking the boardwalk at night and Dunkin’ Donuts Lemonade Coolatas (RIP).

Samantha – UCSB: Camp, my birthday and SUMMER FLINGS! Hot hot hot!

Christie – NC State University: I know it’s weird, but I love the smell of sunscreen. Second to that is the feeling of the summer breeze whipping my hair around with the windows down on a road trip.

Brittany – University of Saint Thomas: The simple pleasure of sitting on the front step with my Mom eating a chocolate dipped cone. And night boating to Jimmy Buffett and Sublime.

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Best part about summer is pool/hot tub parties. fo. sho.

Meg – University of Delaware: My favorite thing about summer is spending time in my backyard in the hammock with my dogs (me and two giant Bernese Mountain Dogs is a liiiiittle toasty…) and drinking every night with my friends on the deck. Oh, and playing manhunt around the neighborhood- yeah, I’m cool like that.

Alex – Lakehead: CAMP! Here in Northern Ontario, we refer to cottages as camps, and there is truly nothing better than a day of waterskiing, saunas and a bonfire with beers.

Charlsie – Hollins University: My favorite thing about summer is that every day is a good day to wear a sundress and sandals!

Ricki – University of Michigan: Being able to workout without having to enter a sweaty, smelly, gym.

Kari – Florida State: The best part about summer is opening all the doors and windows, grilling and relaxing in the pool with Coronas!

But more than summer dresses, sandals and sun tans, with summer comes great opportunities for more bonding time, and more creative bonding time, with the BF.

Looking for something new to do with the boyf?  Here you are my favorite summer time date ideas!

1. Kayaking – I love, love, LOVE kayaking. I love being in the water, but have never been a really strong swimmer so this works out really well for me. You can even take the cuteness up a level and go canoeing. He can row while you read poetry from under your parasol. (Sorry, this is what I think of when I hear of a couple in a canoe). But kayaking really is a cheap activity that’s way more fun to do with a partner than alone.

2. Bike rides – I’m particularly excited about this one because Matt and I just bought bikes and went for our first bike ride last night! You can ride to yogurt shops or snow cone stands or whatever you want for a treat, then pedal your way back home. Or go on a fun adventure off the beaten path (literally).

3. Movies – For those who can’t stand the summer heat, you can always retreat to the dark (aka, good make out lighting) and air conditioned movie theaters. Or even better, hop in the car and head to a drive-in. While “dinner and a movie” may not be so original, it sure as heck will be entertaining with all of the summer movies that come out every year. I know I can’t wait to go see Iron Man 2.

4. Frisbee Golf – This may just be a whole Austin liberal thing, but this place is littered with frisbee-golfers. There is good reason for this, however, because frisbee golf is so much fun! It’s as laid back as regular golf, but it isn’t as mind numbingly boring. If your boyfriend is a regular golf fan, talk him into going to a frisbee golf course, that way you both can have fun.

5. Firefly catching - When I was little, I used to live in Illinois where fireflies were everywhere at dusk during the summer. But then I moved to west Texas where fireflies don’t exist. You have no idea how excited I was when I learned that there are lightening bugs in Austin. Seriously people, get your boyfriend, get a jar, and get to catching! It’s such a fun activity and it will totally make you feel like a kid.

6. Wave Pool - Once you get over the long lines (littered with small children), wave pools/water parks are the perfect summer date. You can grab a tube and lounge in the lazy river, dunk each other in the wave pool, or race each other to the bottom of the water slides. Plus, there’s the whole “rubbing sunscreen on one another” factor, which is always fun.

Well ladies, that’s what I’m looking forward to this summer. What about you?

Summertime.

Time to work on our tans, hang at the beach (or on some sick yacht if you happen to know the right people), and wear all those totally cute clothes that only work for three months out of the year.  Summer is a great time to bust out pastels, white linen and, one of my personal faves, seersucker.

I know you may be thinking that seersucker is old-fashioned and outdated, but there are tons of options out there that are stylish, modern and work well for all different types of gals.  The best part about these pieces? You can totally find them for $50 and under (and I did!). So go ahead, let yourself get sucked in by this whimsical print.

My love of seersucker was renewed when I found this darling romper on lulus.com.  It’s got such a childlike innocence about it and brings me back to those dog days of summer, running around the yard barefoot and slurping on bomb pops, but with the right accessories and shoes, you can make it totally grown up and sassy.

There are tons of adorable skirt & dress options out there as well. Here are a few of my personal favorites (and none of them will empty your wallet).

For those end-of-summer chillier nights, or for a seersucker look you can wear to work, go for some slacks, a blazer or a vest. The blazer would look perfect with a pair of jeans, and pairing the vest with a simple white t-shirt and shorts would be the ultimate summer BBQ look.

Nothing says “lazy summer day” like an adorable pair of seersucker shorts or capris.

And we’re all planning on hittin’ up the beach this summer, so why not rock out a seersucker swimsuit?

Throw on one of these darling looks and you’re sure to be an instant classic.

So far this summer, I’ve been having the constant desire to re-live childhood summer times, a.k.a hopping in my DeLorean and gunning it to 1999.  The days when I was 9 years old and the world was mine.  The days when the only thing I had to worry about trying not to hurt myself when I was Skippin’ It outside all day.  The days when I was bumpin’ “If You Steal My Sunshine” and getting a perfect tan from swimming all day at camp. Those last moments of childhood where you could run around naked without feeling an ounce of self-consciousnes (knowing next summer you might be gettin’ some new curves).

10 years later, there are so many questions.  What will my major be?  Do I have enough hours at work?  Do I need to take summer classes? Where da party at? When’s the next sunny day for tanning? Does he want a relationship or a hook-up? Did I text too much this month? Should I get that new iPod?  It obviously doesn’t get easier.

Preeeeeetttyyy sure I wasn’t asking myself those questions when I was a kid.  So I say, what the hell? Let’s worry less and bring more pre-pubescent nostalgia back into our summer lives with some fun old-school pastimes:

If you’re the modern day hustler always on that cash flow – Try a lemonade stand.  Except now that you don’t have the intelligence of a pre-tweener who simply adds sugar, lemons and water, add some of you’re own twist and make it worth buying for a little more money. Hell, even get you’re friends to join you, hang some decorations and post up where your desired demographics like to chill. (Skatepark? Soccer Field? Those are some thirsty boys…) Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get that paper, capish?

If you need to cool off after a strenuous day of sunbathing with friends – Might I suggest saying “Screw the pool, whip out the slip ‘n slide”?>  Just be clear for any rocks or sharp objects in the grass so, as Dane Cook says, it doesn’t become a game of “Slip and Bleed from the anus.”  If you don’t have a slip ‘n slide, please tell me you at least have some sort of sprinklers?  A hose and a thumb, perhaps?

If your wildest fantasies involve being creative and drawing – Listen up!
Step 1 – Get yourself to a dollar store and buy some chalk.  The more colors, the better.
Step 2 – Get yourself to a parking lot.
Step 3 – Fill it up with the inner-workings of your mind.
The world is your canvas, my friend.

If being an adventurer makes you happy in the pants – Why don’t you try building a treehouse?  A mini escape for when you just don’t want to be found for a little while (yet don’t feel like wasting precious gas going for a joyride).  A personal paradise where you can spend days listening to your favorite childhood music outside, and nights inviting a “certain someone” over and “hanging out under the stars.” Preferably naked. (Ok, so that last part isn’t very kid-like, but it’s still very, very fun.)

Even if you’re not totally free this summer, it doesn’t take much to kick it old school style. Just let loose and enjoy!

Even if you’re still finishing up finals, there’s no harm in daydreaming about the 4 fabulous months to come. So put down that Econ 101 textbook, grab a towel, and layer on the sunscreen.

Summer’s almost here, and it’s time to celebrate!

To help pump you up, we’ve put together a list of the 35 greatest things about summer. Here are our top picks:

1. Riding with the top down

2. Shirtless Dudes

3. The mani/pedi special

4. Summer love

5. Trips to the Beach

6. Iced beverages

7. Havaianas, Rainbows, and other fabulous flip-flops

8. So You Think You Can Dance and other quality summer programming

9. Ice cream sandwiches (especially when they start dripping down your arm)

10. Deliciously hot, sweaty, tan and toned lifeguards

11. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

12. Riding Bikes

13. Reading for pleasure…without a highlighter

14. 7-11 Slurpees

15. Sitting on the sidewalk and enjoying a Dairy Queen Blizzard

16. Longer days

17. Sun-induced all-natural highlights

18. Devouring juicy peaches

19. Jumping waves at the beach

20. Pretty flowers

21. Long walks outside

22.  Sundresses

23. Picnics in the Park

24. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!!!

25. Running through sprinklers

26. Tie-dying t-shirts

27. Sipping mimosas at outdoor cafes

28. Water-skiing

29. Stargazing

30. Sunglasses all. the. time

31. Gladiator flats

32. Amusement parks

33. Funnel cake

34. Laying on a raft in the middle of a pool

35. No more exams!

Finals are killer and, really, the only thing keeping me going right now, besides multiple grande caramel frappucinnos, is imagining that in a few weeks I will be dreamily grillin’ poolside while sipping strawberry margaritas and donning sparkly flip flops.

So, even if summer is a miniature blip on your radar right now, I hope this playlist of chill tunes will keep you sane. Seriously ladies, summer is so close I can almost feel the peeling, dry skin on my uber pasty shoulders. Oh summer, you can’t come soon enough.

Summertime..and the livin’s easy at CC. Listen here.

Summertime gives me a reason to be a total beach bum. I live for the days spent at the beach just lounging around, sporting my newly purchased bikini (I’m lusting over this one from OldNavy.com $15.00 separates), and all too obviously, scouting out the many shirtless male bodies… Ah, life is good.

Yet too many times my chill shore sessions turn sour when I find myself unprepared for an impromptu post-beach party or happy hour. I refuse to look like a mess in front of potential summer hook ups!

So, ladies, summer ’08 is dedicated to being ready for anything and it all starts with the perfect beach bag.

This nautical inspired number from Forever21.com $14.90, is not only fashionable, but also the ideal size to carry your evening outfit.

And when it comes to this outfit, keep it simple. I definitely recommend a bold mini-dress since bright shades are an absolute essential when it comes to accenting that summer glow you’ve been working on. Forever21.com really has the most adorable options at very affordable prices, like this Eyelet Trapeze dress $24.80.

On to my favorite part: SHOES. We all know the gladiator sandal and wedge are super popular right now. Thank you, Ashley Olsen. But let’s take it a step further and try this gladiator-inspired heel from BakersShoes.com $69.95. This pair comes in both black and brown, so take your pick.

Now onto accessories. Every outfit needs a piece of jewelry that makes a statement. A chunky necklace or bracelet is a must-have right now. But if you’re more of a cocktail ring person, this one from UrbanOutfitters.com $14.99 is a great choice.

I’m a huge fan of straw clutches for summer weather. And after scouring sites for a cute and cheap option, I came across this extremely inexpensive one from OldNavy.com $10.

Your evening ensemble is almost complete. All you need is a little brush of bronzer and swipe of lip gloss and you’re good to go! Try Benefit’s Boxed Powder’s Collection in 10 $28 and Her Glossiness V.I.P. lip gloss $16.

Now you can always go from beach bum to beach betty!

Bye, Bye, Bye Lou Pearlman!

Oh, to be John Mayer’s camera.

I really think teenagers are getting dumber by the minute–er, MySpace

Ali Lohan: 14 going on 40

It’s summertime: learn how to apply bronzer

I take back all earlier judgement: I kind of dig Natalie Portman and her boo

Libertarian Ocean Colonies are totally the new Facebook

Heidi and Spencer’s PDA and gender-stereotyping outfits

Don’t forget to call Grandma–it’s Sinatra Day!

Beyonce is too famous for church or modesty

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s finally warm enough in the summertime to step outside and feel the breeze without wincing, or maybe the wind really does smell sweeter, but either way, there is definitely something fun and breezy about summer. There is something light and bubbly about this season and there are a wide array of drinks out there to accompany such a bohemian sensation.

Why do I feel more comfortable drinking in the afternoon in the summertime than I do in the winter? Is it the dazzling sunlight that beckons me to the outdoor seating of bars, whispering, “It’s vacation weather. Drink up…”? Is that what does it? Who knows. Regardless, here is my personal list of summertime beverages that I know I won’t be going without this year.

WINE SPRITZERS

I may easily be an old cougar at a country club despite the fact that I’m a 24 year old girl in the big city…I don’t care. I like wine spritzers. They’re so bubbly and delicious and easy to make on your own. Wine+Sprite+Ice+decorative lemon= BOOYAH, a tasty wine spritzer. I used to always drink these with red wines, but I’ve moved on to the lighter white wines these days and I love it.

CORONA

It’s the commercials, I think. Advertising is a bitch and it f*cking works. I can’t help it. If someone hands me a corona in the summertime, I might as well be laying on a Mexican beach silently with a hot guy. Because that’s how I feel. Stupid? Yes. Irrelevant? Yes. Bad beer? Nope. It’s good. Very good.

NEW ZEALAND WHAT?

Who knows what this drink is called, but my roomie who spent some time in New Zealand learned this trashy trick of the cheap alcohol trade there and I really do sorta LOVE it. It’s Coors Light mixed with Smirnoff. Sound disgusting? Yeah, you’re right, it does.

I actually only tried it to begin with because it sounded like puke and I was SURE that she was going to be dead wrong about it being tasty. Low and behold, I was the wrong one. This drink is better than you’d expect and if you’re at all repulsed by the idea of it, then I encourage you to try it even more so. It’s surprisingly good. And refreshing.

There are plenty of other summery drinks where these came from. Who’s got recommendations?

This is why I have decided to compile a list that will prevent beach goers everywhere from ruining their day in the sun by making the silly mistakes that can often snowball and cause a tripto the shore to be (gasp!) unenjoyable.

1. Check the Weather- This is the single most important move to make when planning a trip to the beach. The weather will make or break your entire experience. No one likes sitting in a bikini on a cold, cloudy beach and why experience this misfortune when Weather.com is just a click away?

2. Look Hot- Remember that a trip to the beach means massive exposure. Remember to shower and shave all the right spots before you go.

There is nothing more horrifying than laying your towel down on the sand and realizing you have a bird’s nest worth of hair protruding from your armpits. (Gross).

Tousle hair with some Garnier Surf Hair texture paste for natural beach hair before you hit the waves. Pick out some cute sandals, throw on some shades and you’re good to go!

3. Bring Toys - Swimming and sunning can only keep you occupied for so long. If you want to go all the way with your beach excursion, you at least need to bring a bucket and a shovel. Get a giant sand castle going. Dig a hole to China. If you’re part of a large group, grab a volleyball or a football to get a beach side game going. If related to someone who likes treasure hunting at the beach, nerd out and borrow their metal detector.

4. Don’t Forget the Warm Clothes - No one thinks of sweatshirts when they think of the beach, but when you emerge from the icy ocean and the wind starts to blow, there is nothing in the world you’d trade at that moment to warm up. If you don’t go swimming, you’ll be covered when the sun goes down and your bikini just isn’t enough coverage.

5. Bring Coins and Elect a Qualified Driver - There may be tolls, parking meters, or extreme cravings for cheap snacks on your journey to the beach. Coins always come in handy. As for your elected driver, this individual must be skilled in their sense of direction and have the ability to know when is the right time to make pit stops along the way. Taking on the role of driver requires skill and dedication. Be wise when making your choice.

6. Leave Early- Pull your friends out of bed and drag them to the car if you need to. If you start your day early, you can beat traffic and take advantage of all of the prime time hours of sun.

7. Locate the Bathrooms - Immediately upon arrival. I’m not kidding with this one. Don’t wait until your stranded on a remote section of the beach with your bladder about to explode. Sidenote: Contrary to popular belief, the ocean is not a gigantic toilet. This whole phenomenon weirds me out, big time. Who wants to go swimming in the same place they go to the bathroom?

8. Pick the Perfect Spot - You don’t want to be squinting to see your friends from the sand dunes a mile away from the shore. You also don’t want to be sitting in the line of fire of the waves. Last week I witnessed a man’s iPod and PDA simultaneously wash out to sea before he had a chance to retrieve them. Ouch.

9. Wear Sun Tan Lotion - Yeah yeah, lather on the sunblock. That weird guy

Baz Luhrmann even wrote a song centered on the concept. We’ve all heard it a thousand times, but it needs to be said. Many girls still hit the beach completely unprotected, exposing their hair, skin, and eyes to the powerful rays of the sun for hours on end. Just look for those sixty year old ladies with leathery skin on the beach. They’re probably forty. You may be bronze now, but snake skin (and skin cancer!) could belong to you sooner than you may think.

10. Bust Out the Camera - Who doesn’t love dreaming of summer instead of finishing their ten page paper for Media and Law? Capture some memories and remind yourself not to despair during the cold months. Those pictures of you and your friends frolicking on the shoreline will help you remember that summer will be back in no time.