It’s no secret that we live in a technology-obsessed age. Smart phones dominate our lives, laptops are constantly…on our laps, and a few hours sans wireless scares us more than the recession. Although they’ve all made life undeniably cushy, they’ve also impinged upon a practice that is absolutely essential for our mental and physical health – a practice that allows us to block out the world and enjoy the peace that comes with utter silence and relaxation: Sleep!

A recent article suggests that our insane addiction to technology is causing the students of the world to experience major sleep deprivation. Now, I’m a fan of YouTube marathons and late night text sessions just as much as the next girl, but as the school year begins, it’s important to remember to silence that cell phone, hit the pillow, and recharge.

Here are five wonderful reasons to ditch the technology for a bit of tranquility.

Beauty sleep is real. Instead of spending your after-midnight hours scouring Youtube in search of face-altering tips, simply close your laptop and close your eyes. The glow of healthy and well-rested body is a better look than any expensive bronzer or lotion can provide. Your skin (and your wallet) will thank you for it.

Sleep keeps you slim. It’s true, making sleep way more beneficial in the long run than forwarding that hilarious drunk text from your BFF to TFLN at 3 in the morning. Read More »

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 »

Ben Bator learned how to college at Michigan State University and even went to class enough to earn a degree in Advertising. Since then, he has read millions of examples of what to do (and not to do) in college through his website, Texts From Last Night, which he started in 2009 with his friend Lauren Leto. If ever there was an expert in all things college, it’s Mr. Ben Bator. (Or, as I like to call him, Master Bator. Ha!)

Want to know what to do and what absolutely-under-no-circumstances-no-not-even-when-you’re-drunk not to do? Let’s turn to the Dalai Lama of college debauchery to find out.

Do: Hook up with someone in your dorm

This is the one thing that everyone tells you not to do, but chances are that you will anyway. Let’s face it – it’s convenient. The 2:30am “Whats up” text is more innocent and the victory lap is far less stressful than a cross-campus speedwalk in the morning. Most advise against this for reasons that relate to the awkward proximity in the aftermath of the hookup. Having been through this, it’s really not true. Here’s what really happens: it’s awkward the first two times you see the other person. Then you see them 38 more times that week and it’s either on again or it’s no big deal. But, if you choose to take it to any other kind of level than a simple nod or wave, see #2.

Don’t: Date someone in your dorm.

While hooking up may create a few awkward situations, dating someone in your dorm is likely to make ALL of your relationships suck. Roommates will slowly come to resent you (and that “whore”/”man-whore” you’re dating), new friends will turn into former acquaintances and your relationship with the new boyfriend/girlfriend will turn your Friday nights into a dinner “date” off-campus and deciding between Grey’s Anatomy Season One or Two. Raaaage! But if you’re still sure that this won’t be you & he/she is “totally different” than anyone you’ve been with before, I’d advise that you look into transferring dorms as to avoid the inevitable awkward “we live in the same building” break-up. No one wants that. Read More »

Red cups?
Grilling out?
Outdoor tippy cup?

I’ll take it. And it’s about time. With graduation looming, college students are taking in the beautiful weather (around a beer pong table) and ending the final semester with an outdoor celebration.  I love this time of year – half of the student body is playing ultimate frisbee in the quad (please note: guys. shirtless), while the other half is tossing bags in their front yards.  And let me tell you: it’s a rough life but someone’s gotta live it.

So before we all escape the library to bask in the sun (and catch up on this week’s Glee), let’s look at a week that was:

- If there was a reward for ‘Biggest Douche Bag,’ this frat boy and his crazy rating system would win. We don’t even think Kanye would stand up to argue.

- Speaking of douchiness, we looked at the douchiest ways to dump someone.

- We worried about all the change, change, change coming for college seniors. Read More »

Ben and Lauren, the brains behind TFLN

It used to be that I spent a good chunk of my day stalking my friends (OK, my exes) on Facebook, but all that changed the minute TextsFromLastNight came into my life. Now most of my time is spent LOLing at my computer and emailing my latest faves to my friends. And I know I’m not the only one. TFLN, a website born out of a drunken weekend in Detroit, gets over 15,000 submissions a day and 5 million readers LOLers a month. It’s even been nominated for a Webby award, a huge honor in the Internet world, especially for a site that documents drunken debauchery. (Go vote for it!)

Since my very first TFLN encounter (“I used a bag of wine as a pillow last night”) I’ve been determined to meet the geniuses behind it and kiss them on the mouth shake their hands. And I finally got my chance… to talk to them, at least. Last week I got to sit down with Ben Bator and get a behind-the-scenes look at TextsFromLastNight: how it started, where it’s headed, and how they choose which texts will earn a coveted spot on the site.

I also got his direct number so I could send all my drunk texts directly to him, but I’m gonna keep that one to myself.

Read More »

By now, everyone knows and loves (and quotes) the website Texts from Last Night. (Even my parents.) Most college students can relate to the drunken and crazy antics described in the texts show up on there. I know my friends and I can spend entire afternoons poring over that site, laughing until we pee a little.

And now there’s a new site out there inspired by TFLN that promises the same kind of fun and amusement: Party School Texts.

Like TFLN, Party School Texts works by having people submit the hilarious texts that they’ve either received or sent themselves.  What’s different, however, is that it’s geared exclusively at college students.  Founded by four college students in Florida, Party School Texts seeks to determine which school in the country is truly the #1 party school by ranking the drunk texts sent by its students.

Do I smell a Nobel Prize? Read More »

It is a regular occurrence when I find myself clicking through text after text on Texts From Last Night, with my eyes glazed over and my homework untouched.  But I will argue that I find the activity therapeutic and entertaining and I’m sure all of you will rightfully agree. The perfect procrastination tool and conversation starter, TFLN is not a shot less than brilliant.  I like to think of it as the ‘American Pie’ of of websites – one of those gems that was created for our generation to bask in our outrageous glory.

Who knew stories created in T9 could ever be so priceless?
Or turned into a book?

Yes, this is great news for those of you unable to drag your computer everywhere to keep up with all the TFLN you can handle. Or for the rest of you who love quoting TFLN at parties, but can’t risk bringing your computer that close to the keg…again….

The geniuses behind everyone’s favorite website, Detroit natives Lauren Leto and Ben Bater, have turned this gem into a so-funny-you-actually-ROTFL book.

And more good news: College Candy is giving three of them away. FOR FREE. Could you imagine anything better? I mean, if the site makes you LOL on a daily (or, more realistically, hourly) basis, just imagine how fabulous the book will be (besides the fact that there is no discreet way to read it in class….)!

So how do you win it? Read More »

Breathtaking.

Like most people, the years I spent with little metal boxes cemented to my teeth weren’t exactly my best. Not only did those years coincide with my awkward phase (no coincidence there), but my braces also hurt like crazy. And I’m pretty sure I spent 50% of my time in the bathroom picking food shrapnel out of my teeth.

The other 50% of my time was spent smiling for pictures with my lips closed and being thrown into the back of my mom’s minivan for those monthly adjustment appointments (ouch).

And I wasn’t allowed to chew gum or eat popcorn.
Yeah, it’s really not a time I want to relive.

Unless it has to do with other people.

Behold, one of my greatest Internet finds since TFLN:

When I had braces…

This website won’t help you become a better cook or organize your fashion wish lists, but it will make you laugh and that’s all you really need on a Wednesday morning, right? The premise is simple: readers submit their favorite (OK, most awkward) picture of themselves in braces along with a small anecdote about their experience with the little devils. For example, the photo above, which is pretty awesome in its own right but truly magnificent with this little ditty:  “When I had braces straightening irons weren’t yet perfected.” Read More »

Can you believe that Christmas is only 24 days away? And Hanukkah’s comin’ at ya in only 10? I know what you’re thinking: Yes! PRESENTS!!

Oh wait. That’s not it. I mean, it is, but the big holidays also mean a whole lot of gift giving (it is better to give than to receive, after all…) and that can get quite stressful. Not only do you have to find the cash to fund all this giving, but you gotta figure out what to get everyone on your list.

Well, let CollegeCandy help you out. We can’t supply you with the moolah (we’ve got some ideas where you can get it, though!), but we can supply you with unique, adorable and perfect gifts so you don’t end up getting everyone on your list iTunes gift cards. Again.

From the tree hugger to the fashionista, we’ve got you covered.  For the next two weeks we’ll be hooking you up with some solid gift ideas that will make everyone on your gift list jumping for joy.

Consider it our gift to you.
Yeah, we’re all about the giving.
If you wanna get us back, though, we’re really lovin’ these TFLN t-shirts.

Every week I count backwards from ten. I know, I’m kind of a big deal. Usually these countdowns have a theme like which phrases really grind my gears (“grind my gears” should be mentioned) or how I’m I heart not drinking (which is a hard list to replicate cuz I’m really loving beer right now), but this week I’m leaning to my geekier side.

This week, I’m counting down the ten craziest technologies. Whether they’re crazy in the “what the f&!# way” or crazy in the “I need that NOW” way, I’m listing them all, from social media to iPhone apps. Gen-Y has access to the wackiest and most innovative technology right now and here’s my “Weekly Ten” take on all of it:

10. Twitter Peek
How have we reached this point? A device solely for Tweeting? The end is near.

9. Last.Fm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you’re a music junkie like me you MUST get last.fm. You can download an app for your computer that scrobbles (crazy jargon!) whatever you’re playing and can show the world what you’re listening to. I love seeing what my friends are jamming out to. Last.Fm also creates a personal radio station for you that kicks Pandora’s butt by a mile. Love it.

8. Skype
Phone calls, video chat and texting. All in one and it’s international. You can even place calls thru Skype via the wifi on your iPhone. It’s a little buggy, but still pretty cool to call your friends abroad. FOR FREE. Read More »