You wake up. You reach over to your bedside table, grab your ringing phone and click the dismiss button to stop the alarm. Phone still in hand, you rub your left eye, but leave the right one open and peek at the device in your palm. Eleven new emails and four texts. You check them sleepily–texts from your mom, your sister and two from your best friend. Then move on to the emails–one from work, a few from school, some announcing sales at your favorite stores and lastly, a notification that John Smith wants to be your friend on Facebook. John Smith? Who is that?

Getting out of bed, you plop down in front of your computer and pull up the social networking site. You check out John Smith, but still don’t know who he is. Then you realize he has sent you a message. “Hey, we met at a bar the other night. It wasn’t anything big, we just introduced ourselves. How are you?” You still don’t really remember him, but you accept the friend request anyway. Then you go back to your news feed, where you see that your friend in Texas has put up new pictures. Clicking through them, you realize you haven’t talked to her in almost two years, but still know most of what’s going on in her life.

So much of our lives has been infiltrated by virtuality and technology that it’s rare that we have more actual face time in a day than virtual. We text, BBM, Facebook chat, Gchat, Skype, iChat and tweet far more often than we take the time to meet up face to face, and we don’t have a problem with that. (In fact, I just stopped and typed out a text in the middle of writing that sentence.) Often we have online friends that we have never met outside of the digital world–something that not long ago may have been considered a little strange, but has recently become a social norm. The number of online dating sites grows almost daily, and people find shared interests on all different kinds of blogs–from fashion to comics to music. But just because we like to look at the same website as someone, does that mean we should be friends?

Many people believe that virtual relationships are fake and watered down, and in a lot of instances that is true. Think about it–how much do you really know about all of your Facebook friends? Are the majority of them even your friends at all? Are they even real people? Or just fakes created by a lonely woman in the middle of nowhere like in that Catfish movie?

We may feel like we know people that we meet online because we spend such a huge portion of our lives in front of our computer screens, but who we are online can be totally different from who we are in real life. The internet provides a safety filter through which we feel we can be more outgoing, wittier and all around more impressive than we may be when approached on the street. Imagine that you start following someone on Twitter because every single one of their tweets makes you almost pee your pants, but you decide to meet them in person and discover they look a little bit like Chewbacca with even less social skills. Or, there’s always the chance he looks like Bradley Cooper and is just as funny as his 140-character one-liners. Either way, meeting people on the internet is a gamble, no matter how well you think you know them. And we’re always crossing our fingers for a jackpot.

So is it bad that so much of our personal lives and relationships are online? Maybe. But it doesn’t seem to be a trend that will go away soon.

Since I go to school in New York City, I walk about five blocks on the city streets to get to class every morning. And let me tell you, it’s dangerous out there. No, not because of muggings. Because of all the people who text and walk! Recently, the New York Times ran an article along with a funny short film about the dangers of texting and walking. Oops, guilty as charged. Their solution? Stand out of the way with your back to the wall if you need to send a text. This is a great start, but there are a few more things you should remember when texting…

Don’t text and drive! This is a million times more dangerous than texting while walking.

Don’t text while someone is talking to you. Even if you can listen and text at the same time, they probably feel like you’re not paying much attention.

Always double check that you’re sending a text to the right person. This could save you some serious embarrassment and a few friendships.

Avoid drunk texting at all costs. Seriously. Just put down the phone.

Don’t be that person who’s texting during a movie or performance. The bright light illuminating your face is a dead giveaway!

Don’t text in your lap under the table, whether you’re in class or at a family dinner. People do notice your thumbs moving, and that’s just awkward.

As a certified 21st century girl, I love all forms of “e” (or “i” for all you Mac geeks) communication. Email, IM, tweeting, texting — they’re all great ways to stay connected. So why are movie theaters, schools and other public places getting so strict about them?

Well I guess maybe because there’s a time and place for everything, including texting.

Hate to sound like you grandma by saying things like “there’s a time and place for everything” but…here goes:

It’s NOT okay to text when…

• Driving: Sure, some of us have this technique down perfectly and have managed to do it for years without getting in some kind of major accident, but then again, there are plenty of carefree teenagers, irritable businesswomen and overwhelmed mothers in minivans who have yet to perfect the “look down at the phone for 2 seconds, then back up at the road for 2 seconds” technique we all know and love. If you need to text, pull into a parking lot or something. I know you want to make the most of your unlimited texting plan, but believe me: the insurance bill on a wrecked car will be 20 times your monthly  cell statement.
• Hooking up: If you’re texting while hooking up with someone, it’s probably for one of two reasons: 1) you’re trying to make it look like you’re in high-demand from other people so that he doesn’t take this one hook up for granted or 2) for some reason, you just can’t stop texting old inside jokes to your best friend. Regardless of the reason, it’s rude and you would probably feel like crap if the tables were turned and he was the one texting his friends the whole time. If you’re about to have some sexy time, either turn it off or put the phone in your bag… on silent… in another room.
• Having a Serious Conversation: Come on, if you’re at the Olive Garden with your best friend who just got dumped by her boyfriend of almost a year, your phone should be out of sight at this meal. She is going to want to vent and, by opting for some Americanized Italian carbs, you’ve volunteered to be the vent-ee. If you text while she’s talking about how “no one will ever love her the way he did,” she’s going to feel even more depressed and insecure. Listen like a good friend and she’ll probably return the favor when you need it.

We all remember seeing pictures of Paris Hilton at a club texting on her pink, bedazzled T-Mobile Sidekick phone. Well just as Paris Hilton has changed (her hair is longer), so has the T-Mobile Sidekick.

I got my hands on a T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, and I must say, it’s a pretty cool phone. It’s a texter’s dream. The sliding screen slides up to reveal a full keyboard, which is so much easier than texting on a touch screen (although you have that option as well). It also has Google Speak, so if you hate texting, you can just say what you want to text, and the phone will do the rest for you. It probably won’t pick up on your group of friends’ slang (“omg he’s sooooo adorbs”), but it will pick up on normal words (“I’m so drunk”).

The phone is an Android phone, so you have access to all Android apps. I’ve been playing Fruit Ninja Free in all of my classes to pass time. There’s basically an app for anything you want. You can get radio, Google Maps, Skype and a lot more.

I’ve owned a Blackberry before, and I loved that it had a notification light when I got a text, missed call, Facebook update or email (I know, I’m simple). So I was overjoyed when I learned that this phone has a notification light too. You can set your notifications to have different color lights (my texts are purple, and emails are blue).

My favorite thing about this phone is that it syncs all of your Facebook friends, G-mail contacts, and people you follow on Twitter to your contacts list. I’m a social media junkie, so this feature is AMAZING.

But the phone isn’t all sunshine and amazingness…

One thing I didn’t like was the screen. The screen is great indoors or when it’s dark out, but when I’m outside I can barely see the screen. If I want to see what someone texted me, I have to walk indoors or into a shaded area to see the screen.Also, in the area of themes, this phone disappointed me. I’m the kind of person who likes to use the backgrounds/themes my phone gives me, I just don’t see the point in having a background that is a picture of me at my drunkest. There are only a few themes on this phone, and none of them appealed to me.

Complaints aside, this is a great phone if you are looking for a phone that does it all. You’ll be able to get tons of apps, keep up with your Twitter followers, and text more than talk (which most of us do anyway).

Check out the camera’s mad skills. I took all these awesome UF photos on my Sidekick.

initiating the gallery...

Editor note: Samsung was kind enough to provide Jessica with a Sidekick to review. Thanks Samsung. And thanks Jessica for keeping the review honest and real.

Ladies, we have all been there. It’s summer. There’s a bonfire. You look fabulous in your bikini. You’ve had a drink (or two… or three…). And that guy is hot. And you just want him to notice you and become your cabana boy for the next three months. It happens. But there is a very thin line between flirty and creepy.

Fortunately for you fabulous CollegeCandy readers, I’ve devised a simple yet effective checklist to ensure that your fine-tuned flirting skills do not wander into stalker territory. 

• Making eye contact across the party floor while dancing? Flirty. Climbing on top of a table, shouting his name, and then ripping your shirt off and throwing it in his direction? Stalker.
• Biting your lip, just a little bit? Flirty. Gnawing on your lip in a way that appears as if you’re attempting to stop yourself from stealing his liver? Stalker.
• Sending him cute text messages to hang out? Flirty. Repeatedly texting him to figure out his exact location, company, and activity? Stalker.
• Planning to look hot at a party amongst friends that you know he’s attending? Flirty. Crashing a party you know he’s attending, even though you don’t know anyone there except him and you haven’t been invited? Stalker.
• Inviting him to coffee? Flirty. Watching what he orders at a coffee shop and then tracking him down at his summer job a few days later to ask him how his grande white chocolate mocha was on Thursday? Stalker.
• Making him laugh with your go-to funny story? Flirty. Laughing way-too-hysterically at everything he says? Stalker.
• Surprising him on his birthday with a homemade cake? Flirty. Surprising him everyday by waiting outside his door or watching him through his windows? Stalker.
• Cute comments on his Facebook status or photos? Flirty.  Repeatedly Facebook chatting him to get his attention, “liking” everything he posts, and attacking other girls who post on his wall? Stalker.

The line between flirting and stalking is thin. There can be too much of a good thing – lip biting, hotness, attention-seeking. If you start to feel a little crazy, you probably are a little crazy. So chill out by the pool or eat an extra slice of pineapple. No need to wander into “Stalker Land” because that is a label that is hard to shake. Stay cute and classy, ladies. And remember: if you feel suddenly desperate to get his attention, take a few deep breaths and think before you flirt… or else, you might get called, “stalker.”

Renewing my phone plan last month lead my mom to take advantage of a BOGO deal on touch screen phones and she’s been sending text abbrevs and emoticons ever since. It’s exhausting. But apparently she and the Oxford English Dictionary have one thing in common: they’re finally catching on to the abbreviations and slang that us cool kids have been typing out for years.

Yes, it’s official, peeps. 2011 is leaving its mark (or blemish) on history with the addition of a few choice words to the good ole’ dictionary. Among the words to made the cut: “OMG,” “muffin top” and “LOL.” What a legacy we’re leaving behind for our children.

I can only imagine what those definitions are going to look like:

LOL: [el-oh-el] verb. Abbrevation for “laughing out loud.” Once only used in email and text messages, now seen in the daily vernacular of many. Often used accompanied by an appropriate emoticon. [See emoticon in the 2012 edition.] Sometimes used in text messages in case your type of funny isn’t their type of funny. In context, “I just ran over my cat. He’s okay, but we’re taking him to the vet just in case. LOL.”

OMG: [o-em-gee] interjection. Abbreviation for “oh my god.” Originally a shorthand version of “Oh My God” many now use it in speech (even though it is not shorter to say that than the full phrase). Excited response to something major, though often not major at all. In context, “OMG. I just realized I was wearing my shirt inside out 20 minutes into lecture.”

Muffin Top: [muhf-in top]. noun. The effect of too-tight or too-low pants when one’s extra stomach fat hangs over the top of his or her waistband. See also: Freshman 15.  In context, “OMG. Did you see that girl’s muffin top? Someone should lay off the Sun Chips, LOL.”

God, help us all.

[He Said/She Said is a new series designed to help all our wonderfully confused readers figure out what he’s really thinking. So every week we’ll be throwing out a topic for debate…and unlike our fave dude, these guys won’t be sugar coating anything for you. But before you jump into their heads (which seriously will make you feel like you need to shower), check out what we think!]

Whenever I ask a guy for guy advice, he always says one of two things:

1. “Stop worrying about guys and just hook up with a girl….so I can watch.”
2. “Guys are not that complex. They say what they mean.”

I want to believe that (the second one; I usually just completely disregard the first one…after I smack him). I mean, he’s a guy so he should know, right? But hard as I try to take a guy’s word at face value, it’s impossible. They’re just so vague. And confusing. And what the f**k does, “whatever” mean?!?!

And that’s especially true when it comes to text messages.

Sigh. The text message. So few letters, so many hours spent analyzing it. And throw in some punctuation? My god, you might as well have me solve a trig equation. Ambiguous text messages leave so many of us ladies staring blankly at our cell phone screens, a look of completely confusion on our faces (and not always due to the iPhone auto correcting “we’re getting bombed” to “we’re getting boobed”). To say it’s frustrating is an understatement so I thought it was time to break it all down. Put an end to the textual over-analyzing once and for all. Give us back those hours to be used for more pressing tasks…like catching up on Million Dollar Listing.

Below, a list of common text messages and what I, a typical female, think when I receive them (as crazy as those thoughts might be). Read, relate, then click on over to see a guy’s perspective.

1. Sure - Sure? SURE? Way to be excited about whatever it is I just proposed.

2. What’s up – Either he’s trying to get a little witty text banter rolling…or he’s trying to get a little witty “will you come over for a booty call” banter rolling.

3. What are you doing later – OMG HE TOTALLY WANTS TO SEE ME LATER! Do I tell him I have no plans so then he asks me for plans? No, that might make me look like a loser. Who doesn’t have plans on a Friday night? But if I tell him that I’m going out with the roommates, he might not want to come and hang out with a bunch of girls.

4. I wish you were here – He misses me and is thinking about me enough to send a text message. He wants to experience things with me. He wants to experience LIFE with me. He wants to marry me! I wonder if he dreams about our wedding, and if he’s okay with the fact that I want to adopt. I hope he is because I really don’t want stretch marks. But I’m open for discussion if he has a really good reason for it

5. I’m not feeling well – OMG he’s totally blowing me off to hang out with someone else. But what if he’s not? Should I bring him soup? How cute would it be if I brought him soup and then we snuggled in his bed eating oyster crackers and watching Modern Family? But what if I go out and buy the soup, bring it over and he’s out with his guys? He’s totally blowing me off. But why? Did I text him too much? I was totally way too clingy.

6. It was nice seeing you last night - YAYYYY! He’s so into me! I can’t believe I tossed and turned all night wondering. Yayyy. But wait, why didn’t he ask to see me again? Should I respond to this and say it was nice seeing him, too? Or should I play hard to get and make him miss me so he asks me out again? I should totally ask Amy. She’s good at this stuff.

7. Whatever you want to do – Great, he’s so not into this. If he was, he’d be planning something, like a romantic walk through campus or offering to cook me dinner at his apartment. But no. He’s leaving it up to me, which means he doesn’t even want to see me.

8. I’ll text you later – When is later? Like, after class? Or after dinner? Or does he mean like “later” later, as in booty call time? Great, now I have to keep my phone on me at the gym just in case he texts. Or maybe I should leave it at home so I won’t be tempted to respond right away and then I’m all mysterious. But then I’ll just be thinking about it the whole time. I’ll just keep the phone by me. Yeah, that’s safe.

9. OK. He used a period. What did I do!?

10. haha – Convo ender. How do I respond to “haha”? I guess a smiley would work, but then there’s nothing for him to respond to. I guess that’s over. But he does think I’m funny. Smiley face.

Sound familiar? Yeah, don’t pretend you don’t do this. But guys do it, too. So let’s find out what they think when they get the same exact texts. Click here to see what he says on CoedMagazine.

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Dear Tuffy Luv,
I am a freshman in college. I have been dating my high school boyfriend for more than a year now. He is everything I ever wanted in a guy and so ideal. He is so nice, patient, and kind. I had even been thinking about marrying him down the road. I could picture us together and I really thought that I loved him.

Recently however, I have been talking with an old fling. He randomly sent me a text awhile back and now it’s getting pretty flirtatious and I am left confused. He knows that I have a boyfriend and I’m not sure that he is even looking for anything serious. I really do like this other guy, but he is in school 10 hours away and wouldn’t be up for a relationship anyway. Is it bad that I am starting to have feelings for fling-boy all over again? Now I’m beginning to think that my boyfriend has stronger feelings for me than I do for him. That isn’t fair, right?

Even worse, when I was out with my boyfriend the other night he told me that I had been acting strange lately and confronted me. I didn’t tell him about this other boy, but basically I explained to him that I was having doubts. He was so kind about it. It made me feel even more horrible. So now I am left with the decision of whether or not to end things with my boyfriend. What do you think I should do? Do doubts mean he isn’t “the one?”

– To stay or not to stay

Dear To stay or not to stay,

BLARGHDLPCZCXL<NFLEWIRQ!#J$EIWRJ

I just–I mean–what I’m trying to say is

BLARGHDLPCZCXL<NFLEWIRQ!#J$EIWRJ

If you could read my mailbox (which you may NOT, by the way), you would find oh so very many of these letters. They read like this:

I have a great guy and I’m crazy about him. But there’s another guy who is seriously not good for me for the following reasons, and now I’m thinking about leaving my current good relationship even though my boyfriend is just so seriously sweet…what should I do?

I repeat: BLARGHDLPCZCXL<NFLEWIRQ!#J$EIWRJ

This is so frustrating to Aunt Tuffy, kids. Can’t you see you’re fools?! CAN’T YOU SEE YOU’RE FOOLS?!?!!?

Look, there are two categories of girls who write this, and I can’t always tell which one is which, so let me explain them hitherto and crap:

(1) The fool who should not date the random guy and who really SHOULD be with this good guy and is maybe just getting cold feet

or

(2) The fool who should not date the random guy but who has lost interest in the good guy and should break off the relationship.

You see, either way, the random guy, in this case the fling from days of old, is not relevant in the equation. He is a symbol, yes? He represents Freedom and The Other and all that kind of fun stuff.

Either way, this guy is almost never of actual interest.

In this case, Hamlet lover, the guy is (1) 10 hours away, (2) someone you barely know, and (3) “WOULDN’T BE UP FOR A RELATIONSHIP ANYWAY.” Do you hear yourself?! This is not a realistic thing. THIS RANDOM DUDE IS NOT A REALISTIC THING.

Now, my guess is that you’ve grown a little bored of your current relationship. You ask if doubts mean he’s not the one. The answer is NO. Everyone has doubts, and everyone has them until the day they die. Nothing is ever for sure, least of all relationships. And every relationship has its ups and downs.

But you’re young, yes? You know, it’s like, you may not WANT to be tied down to one guy for the rest of your life. And I think that’s what’s going on here. So why don’t you fly free, little bird?! Roll around in someone else’s nest. Throw up in someone else’s mouth. I mean, for all I care, you can go sit on someone else’s eggs.

But this guy does sound pretty sweet. So here’s where I need you to think real hard. When your crush on this other guy passes, will you be more than happy to find someone new — or will you want to go back to your boyfriend?

I mean, don’t be a turd, okay? If you leave him only to try and come back, it’s going to make things a whoooooole lot less nice.

I would advise you, bird, to do the following:

STOP talking to the other guy. START talking to your boyfriend. Give it a month. And if after a month of really paying attention to your relationship and having a nice relaxed time with your boyfriend, without talking to or thinking about other guys, if after that you’re still feeling restless, end the relationship.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Hearts & Skulls,
Tuffy Luv

[Now that's some tough love. Want some more? Get it, get it.]

Ahhhhh

Instead of sitting there overanalyzing every single detail of the date and what could have gone wrong (like we all do), I’ll make it simple for you. Here are the mistakes everyone makes on their first date and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Not dressing for the occasion. If you’re going to a baseball game, don’t wear stiletto heels. If you’re going out to eat somewhere nicer than McDonald’s, change out of your sweats. It’s as simple as that. And if you’re Lady Gaga, obviously no rules apply to you.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Make sure you know where you’re going on the date. If it’s a surprise, it’s always better to play it safe and wear something casual. Not too sloppy, not too dressy.

2. Talking about exes. Talking about ex-boyfriends isn’t just annoying on dates— it’s annoying all the time. 3 words: Get. Over. It. And if you can’t, maybe you shouldn’t be dating quite yet. If you do decide it’s time to enter the wonderful world of dating, make sure you keep the conversation far away from ex-land. No guy wants to sit and listen to you whine about how his eyebrows aren’t groomed as well as your ex-boyfriend’s.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Think of good conversation-starters before the date. This way, if there’s an awkward silence, you won’t just bring up whatever pops into your head at the moment, which could very easily be the loser ex-boyfriend who had taken you to the same place in the past.

3. Getting drunk. If you know one glass of wine really gets you feeling loopy, don’t drink three. The last thing a guy wants is you climbing up on the table and giving the whole restaurant a show. Save that for the second date.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Know your limits. Maybe avoid alcohol all together on the first date to make sure you don’t say or do anything you regret. Plus, getting drunk around someone you just met probably isn’t a good idea anyways. You never know about people these days! Craigslist killer, anyone? Thank you Lifetime for officially creeping me out.

4. Being easy. Referring back to the last mistake, don’t give it all up in one night.  Drinking alcohol is no excuse. If you really want things to go somewhere with this guy and want him to get to get to know you as a person and have some respect for you, don’t flaunt your goodies at him just yet. Sure, give him a peek— but just from across the table.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Give him a steamy goodnight kiss but leave it at that. If he really likes you, he’ll be back for more!

5. Not shutting up. Conversations on dates are always great. Conversations where the only person that’s talking is you— not so great. Make sure you’re letting the poor guy get a word in every once in awhile. Ask him some questions and find out his interests. How do you know if you have anything in common if you don’t give him the chance to tell you about himself? For all you know, you’re on a date with a total creep. Once he starts talking and tells you about his fifty pet rats and how he still lives with him Mom, you’ll be glad you shut up a little.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Compliment him on something. If you like his shirt, tell him. It’ll start up a conversation, and hmm, maybe even a shopping date!

6. Being overly flirtatious. Give him a challenge!  Don’t wink every five seconds, grab his butt, or try pulling any of the Lady and the Tramp noodle-slurping mumbo jumbo.  It might freak him out. Okay, it will freak him out.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Give him a sexy smile every once in a while instead. No guy can resist that.

7. Laughing at absolutely everything. C’mon, no one is THAT funny. He may tell a good joke every now and then, but if you’re laughing at every single thing he says he’s probably going to get a little annoyed. If you’re on a date with Andy Samberg, then that’s a different story.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Make HIM laugh! You’ve got jokes, too.

8. Having bad manners. When you’re out to eat there are some crucial things you should keep in mind. Don’t eat food with your hands unless it’s meant to be eaten with your hands. Use a napkin. Don’t spit food into the napkin. Don’t start a burping contest. And definitely keep your mouth closed when you’re chewing. It’s also a good idea to avoid extreme profanity on your first date. If you’re one of those girls that swears at least three times per sentence, try to cool it a bit. Oh, and remember to say “thank you.”

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Go have a talk with Mom before the date. Remember all those times she told you to get your elbows off the table? She knew what she was talkin’ about!

9. Texting. This is also part of having bad manners, but it needs a section just for itself.  Texting on a date = major no-no. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy a great night out when the person you’re with can’t manage to set their phone down for five seconds. It’s awkward and makes the person feel like their date doesn’t even want to be there. Your girlfriends can wait until after the date to find out how big of a hottie he was.

How to Avoid Making the Mistake: Leave your phone in your purse on silent or vibrate.  If your Justin Bieber ring tone is going off every couple of minutes, there’s really no point in having it put away in the first place.

Keep these nine things in mind and your next first date will surely turn into a second. What dating mistakes have you made? And what have your dates done to drive you absolutely bonkers? Let us know!