Finally — summer’s over! It’s time for sweaters, boots, Starbucks’ signature fall drinks, and for those leaves to start falling. You could spend all fall hunched over your computer worrying about mid-terms, or you can get in touch with your seven-year-old self that took time to relish the changing leaf colors, the local pumpkin patches, and of course, the cooler weather.

Here are five things that you probably enjoyed during your childhood that you can still enjoy this fall. (Editor’s Note: especially if you add a little spiked apple cider.):

1. Go Apple Picking: Throw on some jeans, find a cardigan, and head to the nearest apple orchard. Now that fall is here, apple orchards should be open to the public. Not sure where the closest apple orchard is? Check out Pick Your Own for all the details of the farms and orchards near you. Not only will this get you outside to enjoy the nice fall weather, it will give you a reason to bake. Once you pick out those perfect apples, call your mom and ask for her apple pie recipe, make some caramel apples, or brew cider (feel free to add alcohol, of course). Baking isn’t your thing? Well, you know what they say: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and that can’t hurt either.

2. Jump in the Leaves: Once the leaves start falling, don’t let them go to waste. Get your friends together, rake as many as them up as you possibly can, and get to jumping! You loved this a kid, and if you get past it being a kids’ pastime, you will still love it. So many schools have an abundance of quads filled trees and leaves all around them. The crunch of the leaves will be worth it, especially since this amusing activity won’t crunch any money out of your wallet.  Oh, and it turns out jumping in leaf piles is actually good for you:  According to the Children and Nature Network, “Children are smarter, cooperative, happier, and healthier when they have frequent and varied opportunities for free and unstructured play outdoors.” So, since it won’t cost you anything and will make you a happier, healthier, and smarter you — why not?

3. Get Lost in a Corn Maze: Nothing is better than getting together with your friends and heading off campus on a Saturday. And now that fall is here, it’s the season to seek out the closest corn maze near you. Not sure where to look? Check out this list of corn mazes across the nation. Corn mazes these days aren’t just for kids;  many farms get super fancy with their designs turning their cornfields into aerial pictures of Abraham Lincoln on a penny and the elaborate design of a baseball. Since corn mazes usually are on larger local farms, expect a whole day of fun that will bring you back to your childhood — many have petting zoos, pumpkin patches, corn canons (yes — you can shoot corn out of a canon!), and loads of tasty treats.

4. Pick a Pumpkin and Carve It: Now that fall is here, Halloween isn’t far off (!!). While you’re at the local corn maze, you and your friends can probably pick up some pumpkins. If not, don’t worry — pumpkin patches will be in abundance as soon as October rolls around. Remember the first time you helped carve a pumpkin and your parents let you pull out all the seeds? Find a pumpkin that suits you, get a carving kit (they usually cost between $3 to $10) from your local grocery store or Wal-Mart/Target, and get creative. You can do something simple or opt for a more elaborate design. If you really want to get back to your childhood, put the movie Hocus Pocus on while you carve away. Who says you can’t enjoy seasonal activities while in college?

5. Anticipate Halloween: Remember when you were seven and all you could think about was your Halloween costume for that year? Well — get excited and start planning. Although Halloween costumes were a lot less slutty and a lot more cutesy than what you’re probably thinking about now, you should still be excited about finding the perfect costume. Get your friends together and hit up the local costume stores that are probably already popping up. Figure out what costume will best fit you this year. Will it stand alone or work in as a group? Are you buying or making? And, most importantly, what sort of fun-size candies will you be eating when you finally get to wear it?

On Spring Break, however, once you get off the plane at your final destination, you’re in it for the long haul. Though you anticipate your vacay being the highlight of the semester, it can be grueling to go all day, every day, and, being far from home, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Nothing is suckier than getting sick in a foreign place, fighting with your tripmates, or getting into a sticky situation in an unfamiliar place. Make sure you make it back to school in one piece this spring, by taking a few simple precautions.

1. Do your research.

Get some maps, or travel guides with tips, before you leave. Ask people you trust if they can recommend a good hotel. Try to brush up on the local rules or laws of the place you’re headed. The last thing you want to do is get lost, check into a lodging that is reminiscent of hostel, or get in trouble for something you didn’t even think was wrong.

2. Pack wisely.

Flip flops might be a necessity, but what about when you take a day trip that requires walking around all day to take in the sights? Pack a comfortable pair of shoes just in case that long night of clubbing wore out your feet. And even if you think you’re going somewhere tropical and plan to be in a bathing suit all day, it can’t hurt to throw a sweater in your suitcase for when the temperature drops after dark.

3. Give yourself a budget.

Say, “I’m going to spend X dollars a day,” or, “I have this much to spend all week. I should plan to spend 20% on food, 10% on travel, 30% on shopping and excursions, and 20% on nightlife.” Note that these percentages don’t make up 100%. You’ll want some emergency cash in case of a day of indulgence, or to make sure you have enough left to get home at the end of the week. Even if you don’t stick to your budget, you’ll be a lot closer than if you just went on a free-spirited spending spree.

4. Don’t rely on cell phones.

You don’t know where you’ll hit a dead zone, or a high-frequency area that won’t let your calls through. Plus, chances are, once you leave for the day, you’re gone. So what happens if your phone dies? Or if you thought your phone would work overseas, and it suddenly doesn’t. If you and your friends are splitting up into groups, establish a set time and meeting spot, just to make sure you don’t miss each other. Meet up a couple times a day to reevaluate the plan, or say you’ll all get dinner at six and then decide the night’s course of action.

5. Lather up!

Okay, I’m going to backtrack all the way to high school, even though we’re all in college now. It was my senior class trip to Florida, a week before prom. I’m so white I could be considered “Clear” before “Caucasian,” so I reapplied the sunblock like my life depended on it. When we got back to school, I remember one girl’s legs were so burned that they were fire engine red and swollen like tree trunks. And I was the only girl without ridiculous tan lines at the prom.  Shiseido makes a great sunscreen that leaves your skin feeling smooth, not leathery.

6. Stay. In. Groups.

Seriously, not to be your mom or anything, and we’re all grown up enough to know the buddy system is safer than the… stumbling through the streets alone system. Besides, isn’t the point on a high-priced vacation to spend some QT with your faves?

7. Have fun!

Don’t stress about your daily itinerary down to the minute. Don’t freak out if a stranger says “Hello.” Don’t argue with your friends about whether to hit the beach or lounge by the hotel pool. Come one, it’s only seven short days. Enjoy it. You deserve it!

Any other tips? Share them below!

The Treadmill.
Running on a treadmill is good for you, my ass. Running in place for 45 minutes is basically running yourself into the ground. 6 feet into the ground, to be exact.

Professors who lecture for the entire class without. stopping. once.
These scary germs of people only have one tone of voice, and it’s a horrible monotone that appears to only exist for the purpose of putting those who hear it into a boring coma.  These teachers just drone on and on about the importance of supply and demand or whatever, not even stopping for breath, and not realizing that half of their audience is either on Facebook or dead asleep. Or, apparently, dead.

Family functions where no one is your age.
There are only so many old people stories about your parents/grandparents/aunts/uncle/weird cousins you can take before you keel over and die.

PBS
We know that watching PBS is supposedly a very good idea, being that it is a channel for “smart people” and watching it makes you seem slightly more sophisticated.  People definitely look at you differently if you start a conversation with “Last night I saw the oddest thing on PBS” than if you start out with “Last night on Jersey Shore…”  But the sad thing about things that are supposedly that good for you?  THEY ARE EPICALLY BORING.  I can’t even imagine how many people have been killed by this one channel alone.

Talking about the weather
When people start talking about the weather, it’s official that all other subjects of conversation have run out.  “Looks like rain today” is literally one of the most boring things that anyone can add to a conversation, and that person should be arrested.

[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, Zappos, WhenIHadBraces…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there. And more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

Getting dressed in the morning is always such a hassle: finding an outfit among the array of shirts, pants, skirts, sweaters, shoes, and belts in your closet that’s both stylish and weather-appropriate is both stressful and time-consuming.  Usually, I spend about 10 minutes watching the weather channel with my closet doors open, hoping for inspiration, only to just throw on another tee-cardigan-jeans combination. Which is often not appropriate for the weather.

I’ve always complained that knowing what temperature it is outside doesn’t really help me. “But what does 60 with a 20% chance of showers mean? What should I wear for that???”

Well, someone finally heard my bitching prayers.

The Weather Stylist.

All you do is type in your zip code and The Weather Stylist gives you an outfit suggestion based on the weather forecast for that day (including accessories!).  For example, if it’s raining one day, The Weather Stylist might suggest a hooded cardigan or coat with a tunic, leggings, knee-high boots, and an umbrella.  If you don’t like the outfit it suggests, you can refresh the page to see another option.  Also, if you really love a particular clothing item that the site suggests, they’ve included links to where you can buy the items online.

Genius.

And like tons of other great sites out there, The Weather Stylist has a mobile site and an iPhone App so you can plan your outfits on the go (no more trying to figure out if it’s too cold for you to wear that new mini-dress tonight).

Another great feature of the site is that you have the option of looking up future weather forecasts, which makes planning outfits for a trip a whole lot easier.  Just type in the dates of your trip and the zip code of where you’re traveling, and you’ll know just what to pack. And that means less space wasted on the multiple types of shirts, sweaters, and pants “in case it’s cold,” and more space for extra shoes.

This site is seriously life-changing!

Every week, CC and John bring you some of the weirdest, funniest, saddest things he hears on his college campus. Join the Overheard revolution!Leave your own overheard convos in the comments or send ‘em over!

(Girl, gesturing wildly to her friends.)

Girl: It’s Reverse Nursing! You suck babies in through your nipples!

(Guy, talking to his angry girlfriend on a park bench.)

Guy: What’s wrong with “Royal Buffet?” That’s where I went on my 21st birthday.

(Guy and a girl, talking in a bookstore.)

Guy: I checked it out, and it’s bigger than the girls’.

Girl: “Bigger than the girls” sounds like some terrible euphemism for something.

(Two guys at the Salvation Army.)

Guy 1: That old woman took the ugliest chair in the universe.

Guy 2: Maybe she needed it for fuel.

(Two guys, looking at a very tall rock.)

Guy 1: I don’t know, I think I’m counting on adrenaline to get me over.

Guy 2: Like, you’ll shoot adrenal fluid out your butt so fast that it causes you to fly?

(Two girls, at a sobriety checkpoint.)

Officer: Where are you girls off to?

Girl 1: Nowhere. Just carrying tons of booze around in our car for no reason.

Officer: That’s not funny, you know.

Girl 1: Sorry, Officer.

(Man waiting in an office.)

Man: *points at desk picture* Is that your son? I think I’ve seen him somewhere.

Woman at desk: I’m sorry? Yes. It is.

Man: I’m not sure, I only got a glimpse before he turned around and started making out with some girl. He’s very attractive.

Woman: … Thank you?

(Girl, making plans on the phone.)

Girl: We’re trying to do a beach trip on Saturday.

(beat)

Girl: No, I don’t know what the weather’s gonna be like. Can’t we check it when we get there?

(Big, bearded guy walking by another guy in a hardware store.)

Beard guy: *leaning over, muttering* Hey… hey. It’s insanity.

Other guy: What?

Beard guy: *keeps walking*

(Girls hiking on a forest trail.)

Girl: Doesn’t it seem like everything fun is illegal?

Girl 2: Yeah, or else it’s already on fire.

(Guy on the phone.)

Guy: My roommates are just such… big, mean, round gay monkeys!

Today is the first official day of Spring, ladies! Sure, you might not feel it yet (I know I wore a winter coat to the bar last night), but that is what the calendar says, so bust out the Havianas and madras and embrace the new season!

It’s amazing what the weather can do for your mood. Just the thought of rocking my new Ray Ban’s with a pair of flip flops has me jumping for joy. Seriously, the guy who lives below me just jabbed his broom at the ceiling. Maybe once he sees the sun shining he’ll stop being so grumpy.

Anyways, I. LOVE. Spring. It’s my favorite season of the year by far. Jean jackets, spring dresses, sangria on the porch – there is nothing better. And the rest of the CollegeCandy writers agree. See what they love most about spring.

Coco: I love seeing the flowers bloom, minus allergic reactions of course.  And good fruit! Mmm.

Alex – Lakehead: The warm weather! After months of snow, I’ll take any rise in temperature!

Mazuba – Westchester Community College: Going back to drinking iced coffees and bikini shopping. It’s never to early to find the perfect bikini!

Lauren – University of Michigan: Two words – outdoor drinking.

Brithny – Duke: Being tan again! Asians just should not be white… winter was not a  good look for me.

Charlsie – Hollins: Getting ice-cream, wearing sundresses, and feeling refreshed for the first time in months.

Sara C- Fordham: The weather is more comfortable for walking! No more shivering at the bus stop, no more frigid dashes to class, and I can get some exercise!

Elizabeth – Berkeley: An opportunity to wear all my cute summer clothes that have been in hiding for the past year.

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Wearing shorts.

Johnie – PSU: Tanning on my balcony….finally!

Carrie- Duke: My favorite thing about Spring is that Winter is officially over.

Carly – Grinnell: I love to see people out and walking around in the springtime. I suddenly realize how many people actually live in my town.

Kelly – UMass: Flip Flops

Gemma – NYU: OH MY GOD I am SO excited to be able to leave the house in a t-shirt or sweater, without having to spend 10 minutes figuring out just how cold it is and then bundling up accordingly with a coat, hat, gloves, boots, scarf, etc!!

Liza M – Minnesota: It’s almost summer! Minnesota spring can be unpredictable (case in point: it snowed on the day of my senior prom…April 26th!) but summer is always amazing!

Jill – University of Wisconsin: People aren’t walking as if they are trying to make it to the nearest bathroom to drop a load. I can see people’s faces! And by ‘people’ I mean cute men in cute spring clothes.

Donnette – Manhattaville College: OMG!! Everything! I get to create my Spring Lookbook and ditch my chocolate Uggs and Etienne Aigner boots for cute strappy sandals.

Kari – FSU: Being able to wear floral sundresses everywhere and anywhere.

Leah – Ryerson University: Wearing sandals and sitting on patios.  Often done at the same time.

What are you looking forward to?

[Photo courtesy of Guardian.co.uk]

Unless you’re going to college in the South where the lowest temperature hovers somewhere around 50, you’ve been walking around your campus bundled up to your ears in the cold all day, every day. And it sucks.

So as the weeks come closer and closer to spring break, the last thing you want to do is celebrate your spring break in the cold at home. Well, for some of us in today’s economy, there isn’t much of a choice. And maybe it’s not such a bad thing, anyway!

Here are some of my reasons for not doin’ the Spring Break thing this year.

Money - The main reason for most of today’s sacrifices. I don’t have a job to earn any money to but a new swimsuit, let alone travel anywhere remotely warm! Even if I wanted to have a job, I probably wouldn’t make enough in the past 7 weeks of this semester to fund where I’d genuinely like to go. So I might as well wait and save up for the trip of a lifetime, eh?

Friends - Let’s not get confused; YES, I have friends. The friends that I do have, for the most part, do not attend the same college as me, therefore we have different spring breaks. If I’m gonna fork over the cash for a mega trip, I’d like it to be with my besties and that is not an option. Maybe it’s a sign for “time to make new friends”?

Being a Gemini (a.k.a Indeceisive-ness) – Where the hell would I go?! If I went anywhere for spring break I’d want it to be warm, like Florida, but there are so many options and so many places!! I mean, I’ve never seen New York City (which lame considering it’s my dream city and I’m 18!). And Chicago is so close to my home! And Boston is so much fun, too! Do I want to be in a amazing city that is close to home, but freezing? Or do I want to shell about a bajillion dollars to go to a warm city that is far away from home, yet come back with a kick-ass tan? Gahhh.

And here is why staying home with the parentals might not be such a bad thing:

Money – By not going anywhere and chillin’ at home with the family that I haven’t seen in weeks, I would obviously be saving a good amount of money. I could even put any money I did save towards going on vacation during the summer, which would have the added perk of not having to worry about any homework, exams, or projects while relaxing on a beach (or walking around a big city!). Speaking of homework, exams, and projects…

School Work – As nerdy as it may sound, spring break would be a good time to catch up on any school work I may have missed or slacked off on during “partying-my-face-off-and-sleeping-past-noon” weekends. Not only school work, but any other tasks I wanted to accomplish but never did because of prior obligations (like procrastinating until the last minute to finish a paper and exam that were on the same day).

The “Spring Break Bod”- I’m not exactly a huge fan of working out and am one those girls who consider walking around campus a sufficient form of exercise, which works to a certain point. Now that I don’t have to think about wearing a swimsuit for a week straight, I don’t have to worry about busting my ass to achieve my goal “body” and eat as many brownies as I want. Mom’s homemade brownies. Mmmm.

There seems to be an even number of pros and cons, and although I don’t get that bronze glow or camera full of crazy spring break memories, there’s always summer, my very own 3 month spring break.

Can I get an AMEN?

1. Drink enough water.

You’re giving the weather a head start if you don’t properly hydrate yourself. Just because you’re not sweating from the summer heat doesn’t mean you can cut down on your h20 intake. Continue to drink plenty of water, and limit your fizzy soft drinks and alcohol, which will dehydrate you faster than you can say “blizzard.”

2. Invite skin care into the shower.

One thing’s inevitable: you have to shower, right? So purchase soaps and body wash that won’t dry you out. According to About.com, bar soaps are more likely to dry out your skin, whereas emollient-rich cleansers will actually battle the effects of dry skin. Try Dove Delicate Cream Body Wash, or look for the word “butter,” as in “Shea Butter,” “Cocoa Butter,” or just plain “Body Butter” when you’re selecting your next lather. Your hands feel the cleansers you use the most, since they are slathering the stuff all over your bod.

3. Dream away dryness.

If your hands are so dry it’s painful, you may want to pull out the big guns. Put an extra-strength lotion or vaseline on your hands, and then sleep with knit gloves or socks over your hands. This way, you can’t smear the moisturizers all over the place or inadvertently wipe your hands on your sheets while you sleep. The gloves will trap the lotion overnight, meaning your skin cells get the most help.

4. Wear your effing gloves.

Seriously. Invest in a few pairs so that even if you’re running late and forget to grab one pair, you have a backup in your messenger bag, or keep a pair in every room of the house so that they’re always accessible. Get the thickest, warmest gloves you can find – a cheap knit pair won’t do much to keep your hands warm (and moist) this season.

5. Protect your nails.

For nail care, make it a point to keep your routine manicure appointments. If you can’t afford a professional manicure, at least take care of your nails every week by clipping and filing them to keep them in check. When you wash your hands, make sure you clean underneath the nail to prevent germy build-up, and use a nail brush if possible. Don’t be afraid to soak your hands for a bit – a warm handbath can make you feel better after you’ve come in from the biting cold! And, of course, use that lotion you’ve been saving for the back of your hand on the area around your cuticles to prevent irritation and hang nails.

Sure, we can layer five sweaters, two hoodies, a parka, and a scarf, but once we’ve stepped outside, bookbag in hand, we realize we would much rather snuggle up under our down comforters and hibernate until spring. Yet, when Friday rolls around, we’re willing to trudge across campus in a blizzard, wearing mini skirts and halter tops, just to look cute for Martini Night.

Of course, these practices only snowball (har har har) into bigger problems when we get strep throat, bronchitis, the flu, or other wintery illness since our immune systems have been frozen solid. Rather than braving the cold, risking hypothermia, or sitting in an ice-cube of a car, begging the heat to kick in for twenty minutes just so you can feel the steering wheel to drive to a party, here are some ways to make the weekends work…warmly.

1. Host a floor party.

Especially in suite-style dorms or university apartment complexes, this is a no-brainer. Everyone can pop in and out as they please, nobody even needs a jacket, and you’ll never be stuck being the DD. If your RA is a stickler for the rules, this can be tricky, but if you can get away with it, have an open house on your floor/in your hall/ around the building.

2. Order delivery.

You’re going to do it anyway if you’re stumbling home from the bar. So skip the “going outside” part- don’t even venture to the dining hall- and order a couple of piping hot pizzas, right to your door. Make some hot cocoa in your microwave (spike it with Bailey’s if you like), and have a roasted, toasted food fest. When you’re finished indulging, you wouldn’t want to wear a skimpy outfit anyway.

3. Make your dorm room a personal spa.

Pretend spring break has come early. Soak your feet in hot water, relax with a heating pad, or model the bikini you bought for the upcoming season. Getting in the mood for summer will help you beat the winter blues. Since you’re staying in anyway, blend up some margaritas. You are always just one step away from snuggling under the cozy, warm covers.

4. Blackout.

I’m not talking about irresponsible drinking. But, since the winter months are the darkest, take advantage of the 4 p.m. nightfall and save some energy. Once, during a winter-storm-induced blackout, my roommate and I lit all of our (illegal by university housing codes) candles, lined up shots of all of the different types of liquor in our kitchen and had a dimmed dance party. To avoid getting written up, use flashlights or a few small lamps. Break out some old board games, or simply have a girly bonding night…in the dark.

5. Snuggle up with that special someone.

Nothing keeps you warm like someone else’s body heat! You can do any of the above with your honey, or release all of your school-induced tension by staying in bed all weekend long. You’ll save money on the bar, burn some calories, and the only gloves you’ll need will be ribbed for your pleasure.

No need to risk driving on icy roads, falling into snowbanks, or getting windburn on your face this winter. There’s plenty of ways to entertain yourself within the confines of your nice, warm walls – whether you’re cheating on your spring break diet (which you deserve), partying it up with your neighbors, being silly (cabin fever can have that affect- and I like it!), or finding an excuse to try Cosmo’s latest “Best Ever” position! What do you do to beat the winter blues?

Every Monday I will be back to teach you how to do something useful, even if it also happens to be completely random. Because, hey, you never know when you just might need to know how to change a tire…or mix a perfect martini.]

Even though winter will not even START for another two weeks (I know… I’m crying on the inside), those of us who don’t live in Hawaii are already freezing each time we step outside. As the proud owner of a circulation disorder that sucks all the blood out of my digits and basically never lets me be warm, I’ve collected some good tips over the years for staying toasty (like eating soup). And as it’s not always possible to have Mom looking over your shoulder telling you to put on a jacket, I’m happy to step into that role for now.

Tip 1: Hats and Mittens

You probably already know this from elementary school, but the vast majority of body heat is lost through the head. If it’s cold where you live, get yourself a cute hat and wear it often. It can be difficult to avoid the pitfalls of hat hair, but fudges such as earmuffs or thick headbands that cover the ears can help with that. One good thing about hats is that they’re generally small—you can stick it into your purse or bag and just take it out when you start to get chilly.

Also, wear mittens rather than gloves. Gloves are fine for weather that’s only brisk, but they won’t cut it in the deep freezes. Mittens keep your hands warmer because they group your fingers together, which allows them to retain more heat.

Tip 2: Layering

There’s an art to layering in a non-fashion way. You want to strike a balance between wearing clothes that are a) comfortable, so you won’t end up trying to fix a wedgie that is three layers down, and b) practical, so your clothes will actually keep you warm. How do you do that?

Make sure your innermost layers are breathable, otherwise you’ll end up swimming in sweat and getting all sticky. Middle layers should be insular to keep your heat near your body, and they should be thin and lightweight if possible. Bring on the bulkiness for your outer layers, but make sure they’re relatively easy to take off if necessary. And remember—layering can be good for extremities, too. Wearing two or three pairs of socks in really cold weather is a great way to keep your feet both dry and warm.

Tip 3: Be Prepared

The Scout motto can help you out in winter. If you think there’s a chance you might get wet while out and about, bring a change of clothes or a spare pair of socks. Grab some hand warmers the next time you’re at a place that sells them, and keep them with you just in case. And don’t forget that jacket!

[Image courtesy of bearsinboston.wordpress.com.]