Winter gets a bad rap. Granted it does have its flaws: blizzards, Uggs, perpetual runny noses, and pale skin complexions. These negatives aside, there are so many wonderful wonders to winter: pets in sweaters, hot chocolate, Christmas trees, Hanukah bushes, and many, many other holiday treats! Below are 25 of the best things about winter, from December to February!

It’s always a treat to find some hidden treasure in the back of your mom’s closet. What’s (arguably) better is finding old photos that make you stop and ask, “you seriously wore that?!” Believe it or not, your daughter will one day be asking you the same thing. Here’s what I think she’ll be pointing to…

initiating the gallery...

Big mistake. Huge.

So I was flipping through some old Facebook albums the other day (you know the ones people label THROWBACKS! OLDSCHOOL! And OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!! ) when in between fits of hysterical laughter, I started to catch sight of what I actually looked like. And all I can say is, seriously? I mean, seriously? I know I was young and naïve, but I don’t remember being that naïve.

Unstyled hair.
Poorly applied makeup.
And terrible, terrible fashion choices.

But the thing is, I wasn’t alone in these choices. No, they were all the rage once upon a time. Don’t pretend you didn’t think you were so cool with your Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatpants and ponchos (hopefully not worn together). I know you were right there with me, doing the sideways look in the mirror, thinking you looked so good. But really, none of us had any no clue what we were doing. And now years later, as seasoned fashionistas, we can look back on these fashion disasters and laugh.

Or cry. Whichever you prefer, really.

10. The original Ugg Boot. I already know people are going to rage against this one, but Uggs are not attractive. They’re just not. Comfortable? Yes. Warm? Yes. But not attractive. And although they’re still around today, worn on those rainy/snowy/slushy/extra cold days when nothing else seems quite as appropriate, I will forever think of my high school years as the Uggs-with-skirts years. And those are some very bad years.

9. The Messy Bun. Flip your head over. Compile all of your hair into a ball atop your head. Wrap a hair tie around it. Styling complete. It’s still worn today, but at least in college we can admit that it’s not so much attractive as it is convenient…

8. Platform flip flops. They seemed so cool at the time, and added that extra bit of height that we pre-pubescent teens still needed, but really, really, what were we thinking? “God, I really want my leg to look thick and stumpy”? Thank goodness we’ve traded up to four inch stiletto heels that kill our feet, instead.

7. The poofy prom dress. Or the poofy Sweet 16 dress? The poofy bat mitzvah dress? At some point you wore a dress completely covered in tulle. A dress with sparkles and bows. A dress that you loved at the time. It was THE.PERFECT.DRESS. Now? Well, now you look back and try to even find yourself in all that tulle.

6. Velour Sweatsuits. Granted, these things are also still around, but now they’re associated more with The Real Housewives of New Jersey than they are with impressionable, young high school girls. These probably wouldn’t have looked quite so bad if they didn’t come in the most ridiculous colors ever. Or you know, if they didn’t have the word “juicy” stamped across the butt. Oh yes, which reminds me…

5. Label Whoring. Ed Hardy. Victoria’s Secret. VonDutch. Kangol. Coach. Juicy. Anything with any name that could possibly be placed anywhere. Bedazzled. Bejeweled. Painted on. It didn’t matter where it was, or who it was, as long as people recognized it.

4. Side Swept Bangs. I think I was a junior in high school when the side swept bang craze first hit. Suddenly everywhere I looked, half of a girl’s face was covered by her SUPER CHIC looking bangs. That she cut by herself. Right there in homeroom. With a pair of safety scissors. (True story!) It’s really no surprise that senior year saw the rise of the…

3. Headbands. This was pre-Blair Waldorf. At least, it was for me. Inspired more by the boho chic Mischa Barton, and Nicole Richie, these headbands were super thin little straps of fabric that were really very far from flattering. But that didn’t stop anyone from wearing them.

2. Ponchos. Come on ladies, admit it. Once upon a time you threw on a pair of jeans, your favorite tank top and a brightly colored poncho. Probably something crocheted with lots and lots of fake flowers on it. Think Haley James circa season one of One Tree Hill, which also coincided with my freshman year. Because there’s nothing quite as flattering as a maternity top. Except….

1. Midriff-bearing Tops. No, not the currently popular crop top that flows away from the body (That I really like right now but that will no doubt make it on my list of worst college fashion decisions ever…) but the skin tight baby tee, that was paired with super low rise jeans and sported by Britney and the like.

Ah, memories

Fess up. What were your worst high school fashion mistakes?

Your favorite pair of shoes might be wreaking havoc on your body, and you don’t even know it. If you’re anything like me, you live in your UGGs once fall rolls around and don’t stop wearing them until skirt season shows up on the calendar.

It might be time to kick them to the curb, as studies have shown the harmful effects of repeated wear of UGG and sheepskin boots. Among the health risks are foot fungus, flat feet, ankle deformities and the development of back problems (Not to mention feeling horrible about yourself every time a guy makes fun of Uggs). If these risks sound like the overinflated precautions repeated after prescription drug commercials that should be shrugged off – -think again.

Foot fungus, more commonly known as athlete’s foot, disgusting whatever you call it, is caused from fungi which grown in warm and moist environments. Enter your beloved UGG boots. Whether your wear them with socks or barefoot, by the end of a busy day running around, those things can be pretty gross.

According to their website, UGG Australia prides their shoes on their construction. “Grade-A sheepskin is extremely dense and soft, which provides for a more comfortable and durable material.” However, the soft interior of your UGGs allow your feet to slip and slide around the cushioning without support. Dr Ian Drysdale, head of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine says, “With each step, the force falls towards the inside of the foot and the feet splay. This flattens the arch and makes it drop.” As your foot flattens it cannot support your body weight, resulting in pain in your joints: ankles, knees and hips.

So the question is becoming, is the price of comfort becoming too high? What good is walking on clouds if your feet end up feeling like they’re walking on nails?

After the development of this news, manufacturers have created fuzzy insoles that are supposed to provide arch support and replicate the texture of your boots. But maybe, instead of running out and buying these insoles in mass, we should take a moment, cruise the internet, and find out what else is out there.

I mean, as someone currently wearing my fourth pair of very expensive salt-crusted Uggs, I’m starting to think that maybe these studies are a sign that I’m ready for a change.

[The following is a guest post from our gal pals at CollegeFashion.net. They're like the college Rachel Zoe (sans baby bump). Have you checked them out yet?!]

For girls who live or go to school in snowy states, winter provides some unique fashion challenges. One of the biggest dilemmas we face has got to be finding fashionable footwear that keeps us toasty, dry, and slip-free.

Leather and suede styles require some extra TLC for winter conditions and aren’t as durable or practical as other styles. Rain boots and wellingtons are adorable and help to keep you from falling, but generally aren’t particularly warm, even with a thick sock. And, while the fashion-vs-function debate on Ugg boots rages on, even Ugg lovers have to admit that few things are worse than dealing with soggy sheepskin lining on an especially snowy or slushy day.

So what’s a college girl to do?!

Thank god we’ve got our friends at CollegeFashion. Click here to see their top picks for the best, cutest, warmest, toastiest, chicest winter boots around!

This must be the first winter boot I’ve seen that doesn’t look like the offspring of the Ugg, not even it’s second cousin twice removed. The Women’s Bayshore Tall Boot from Sperry Top-Sider is from another family entirely.  (Yup! Sperry’s aren’t just for East Coast LAX boys anymore!) If you don’t want to keep confusing your boots with your roommate’s on the way out the door, you definitely need these.

The genius behind these boots is that THEY LACE UP. Who would have thought that not every person’s calf is one-size fits all when it comes to boots? Well Sperry Top-Sider thought of it. Nothing is worse then buying a pair of boots just to realize you have to buy a bunch of new skinny-leg jeans just to fit them in your boots, and the only thing worse than that is soaking-wet jeans because your campus refuses to shovel properly. And when you see that set of stairs that’s still caked with snow 3 days after a snowstorm, you can skip down them confidently with the awesome tracking on these bad boys. These will save you a lot of butt-bruises, broken laptops and humiliation- trust me.

The black is definitely my favorite, and the trimming of fur on the top is a nice touch instead of knowing you have a bunch hidden inside your boot that no one can actually see. And no worries, animal lovers – the genuine shearling is made from pelt, which means the fur is simply shaved from the sheep. No harm done!

All around, we have the ideal winter boot here. It’s different, fashionable, warm and animal friendly. Grab a pair and save your toes and jeans from the inadequacies of winter campus clean up. Prove to those science kids that just because you can clone the sheep to make the boots doesn’t mean they all have to look the same!

Likey? Want a pair? You’re in luck because we’re giving away one pair of Bayshore boots to one frozen-toed CollegeCandy reader! Tell us in the comments section below why you need, need, need some new boots and they could be yours. The catch: entries must be in Haiku format. Why? Because they’re fun. And we value creativity. And we want to see if you remember anything from Language Arts in elementary school.

We’ll randomly draw a winner on Monday, December 13th, 2010, and announce it on Facebook at 4pm EST. Good luck and may be the warm feet be with you!

Open to U.S. residents only.

College introduced me to my best friends (who ended up not being my best friends senior year, but oh well), girls that compulsively wore Uggs and North Face jackets to class, stereotypes unknown in high school (hello frat boys), frenemes, coffee buddies, and classroom peers, and a few boys I wish I never met. Being in a university setting provides students with an ongoing fodder of new people – all from different walks of life. And through these chance meetings, you will meet someone (or many ones) that will truly impact your life.

I certainly did. Looking back on the last four years of my life, a lot of specific friends stick with me, along with a few classes and certain professors. However, one person truly means the most to me and that is my boyfriend of over two years. We met our first year of college (and couldn’t stand each other…), but near the end of our sophomore year, we both realized something was there. From that point on, we were inseparable.

Until now. Now, we’re in a long distance relationship (me in California, him in St. Louis, MO). I never thought I would be one of those long distance kinda girls, but with him, I’d rather be in a long distance relationship than to not have him in my life. Not only is he my best friend, but he truly is the best boyfriend I could ever ask for. But I’m not going to lie – it’s hard going from being so close to each other to being so far apart (we’re nearly two thousand miles away from each other).

While I’m happy to be able to talk to him on the phone and on Skype (and to visit him as much as I can), I realize how special that time in college was. It was so much easier back then. And that goes across the board with all kinds of relationships whether they are romantic or not. I know I’m not the only one struggling with this. College couples are dispersed across the United States, along with college best friends, roommates, and party buddies. I read the status updates all the time ,“Wishing I was in Denver with my boyfriend,” and Twitter updates, “Drinking …wish my college girls were with me.” All of those college relationships that become so much a piece of us are for the most part changed upon graduation. We all throw our cap and gowns, and then it’s like “bye” – sometimes forever.

And I think this is just one of those things that makes being a new post-grad all the more difficult. We’re moving on from college, and in this most difficult transition the people who mean the most to us aren’t here with us. And we need them. So, not only are we adjusting to not having those special people around us, but we are adjusting to everything else – on our own. Sometimes it feels lonely and scary, and sometimes it feels bittersweet. Regardless though, it never makes you stop missing the people you spent the last four years or so with.

I know I’m not the only one feeling this loss so, I’m wondering … how are you keeping in touch with your boyfriends (or maybe even your ex-boyfriends), your best friends, your sorority sisters, your lab partner from sophomore year, and anyone else that means the world to you? What are you doing to make it work? To feel a little more connected?

Every (dreadful) Monday, I write a list. Definitely not a to-do list (because it’s not satisfying checking “browse J.Crew’s website” and “Re-watch every episode of Rachel Zoe” off a list) and not “that list” (because I haven’t added to that list… in forever). No, my lists are more about whatever is relevant and weighing heavy on the CollegeCandy readers’ minds (or just mine) right now. Like scarves and jeans and jackets….

The first day of fall came only a week ago and I’ve already stuffed all my shorts into a duffel and shoved them under my bed. Nothing, I tell you, nothing (okay, other than Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes), is more enticing about fall than the clothing choices. I mean, where to start? Sweater dresses, boots, comfy jeans? I couldn’t be storing my sundresses and gladiator sandals faster if I tried.

And try I did.

However, as I page through magazines and scroll through my Google reader, I can’t help but notice some of the heinous fall trends popping up that can’t end sooner. Here’s the rundown of what needs to go.

10. Open toed booties
Seriously, what is up with that? Isn’t the point of a boot to keep your foot warm? Why would you make a boot peeptoe? Unattractive and unnecessary.

9. Button Down Plaid Shirts
I thought these died with Kurt Cobain. Why are they still being worn? Enough.

8. Fur Vests
I’m no PETA advocate, but come on. I’m all about a little faux fur trim but what the hell is the point of an entire fur vest? Newsflash: you look like roadkill, not Kelly Bensimon. (Editor’s Note: Wait, is that a bad thing?)

7. Purple Lipstick
I’ve done purple lips before….after chugging an entire bottle of $2 Cabernet by myself after my boyfriend dumped me. Seriously, just gross.

6. Tory Burch Flats
Please invest your $200 in some shoes that not everyone else has. This fad has died faster than Beanie Babies.

5. The smokey eye
I love a good smokey eye but do I have to read about it in every and all magazines I purchase? Over and over? Page after page?! No care. Taylor Momsen, take note.

4. Jeggings
Skinny jeans: fine. Super duper skinny jeans: that’s OK too. Glorified jean sweatpants? Only in America.

3. Long skirts
You look like a teacher. And not the fun, cool one who gave out gold stars. The one with bunched up pantyhose and who always had squeaky chalk.

2. Fedoras
Repeat after me, girlfriend: I’m not Frank Sinatra.

1. Ugg Boots
Preach to me all you want about how you just love how warm they are and they don’t look “that bad.” I’m still not buying it. Or them.

Woo! $1.00 off when you buy 12 cans of expired tuna!

Being an adult means making a lot of sacrifices. It’s about saying no to a dinner party because you can’t afford to bring more than stale bread ends. It’s about turning down movie offers because it costs 5 billion dollars to buy a ticket in NYC (and god forbid you want to see IMAX…bye bye, life savings!). And most unfortunately, it’s about buying store brands because you can’t justify shelling out for brand name mustard.

When I was younger (I’m referring to just a year ago) I would throw an absolute hissy fit in the grocery store if my mother even thought about buying non-organic eggs or frozen vegetables. The horror! I logically compared her buying non-free-range chicken to her murdering me in my sleep. But now I’m the one cruising the supermarket with a fistful of coupons and determination not to spend more than necessary. And if that means buying pre-opened food, cans with puncture holes, and expired meats on a discount, so be it. Like I said, it’s all about sacrifices. Like staying in on Saturday night because you have food poisoning from eating year-old salmon.

Penny pinching is one of my least favorite activities. It falls right between having to Google pregnancy symptoms and watching previews for Cougar Town. Yet the longer I’m out of school and the longer I go without finding out I inherited a fortune from a distant relative, the stingier I get. I practically fight over pennies on the street with homeless people. And that’s a new low.

Even for me.

I’m trying really hard to work on striking up a balance for myself. Like if I eat peanut butter crackers for a week for dinner, then I can treat myself by actually going out to dinner one night. But at the same time, I’m not getting out of control. By dinner I mean a side salad, an ice water, and a complimentary mint.

If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing when I was a college senior, it would be “You’re going to be poor so spend your drink money on lottery tickets and improve your pickpocketing skills.” But I can’t go back in time, because I depleted my Time Machine Fund on a ticket to see Avatar in IMAX. So now I’m stuck here in the present time, clipping coupons and eating old meat and wearing “irregular” socks under my faux Uggs.

When I underestimated the size of a puddle and then spent the rest of the afternoon squishing through my errands last week, I reached my breaking point.

As much as I love my cozy Uggs during the cold winter months, the truth is, they just aren’t doing the trick during this extremely harsh visit from Mother Nature. That being said, I have added a new item to my wish list (and I am kicking myself over the fact that I couldn’t have come to this realization a month ago when I could have added it to my Christmas list instead).

I’ve seen a ton of people wearing them around campus and I too need to get myself a pair of Sorel Caribous boots.

They are warm, they are comfortable, and best of all they are waterproof, AKA no more freakin’ puddles and mounds of slush leaving me soaked down to my socks.

The more I look into them, the more practical they seem, which almost makes them a justifiable purchase. The inner lining is removable so it can be washed (unlike your Uggs that you have to keep Febreezing when they get that you’ve-worn-me-without-socks-one-too-many-times odor).

This inner lining also traps heat to your foot, and I can use any extra warmth I can get at this point. Plus, they aren’t that bad looking for snow boots, and we all know finding a winter boot that is durable and not hideous is like finding a college student who hasn’t heard of pong.

The black on black tone is streamlined enough that they don’t immediately draw everyone’s attention to your feet. And the tan with the black rubber sole has a sort of ski-lodge-meets-urban-dweller feel that actually may even venture into the realm of cute over a pair of black leggings and a plaid button down.

My Uggs are just going to have to hibernate until March, because I am in need of some heavy duty protection, and now that I’ve found a pair of boots that are cute and comfortable and actually keep my feet dry (gasp! Can you believe it?), I simply cannot suffer through another day of walking on my toes to prevent any drop of wetness from staining my shoes.

Puddles beware: armed with my new Sorel boots, I’ll be plowing right through.