Spring break is fast approaching, and since most schools scatter their vacations, some students may find themselves stuck at home. But even if you’re not hitting the slopes or playing on the beach, follow these five sure-fire ways to beat boredom and have just as much fun (if not more!) at home.

1. Plan a Road Trip and Visit Other Friends

The great thing about spring vacations in college is that, unlike Thanksgiving break, they’re not at the same time. And while that may be a good thing if you don’t want to awkwardly run into people from high school at your hometown bar, beat boredom and plan a mini-vacation to go visit your friends who are still in school. You’ll still get the feeling of being back at school, just on a different campus. Have them give you a tour of their favorite places to eat, drink and be merry. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, drive all the way to your state’s border, and pull a Mandy Moore in A Walk To Remember by being in two places at the same time. How cool is that?

2. Plan a Stay-cation

While you may be jealous at the people that are heading to South Padre or Panama City Beach over break, you can bring the beach to you without spending the huge price-tag on airfare and hotels. Google local tanning facilities in your hometown and get a spray tan, if available. This is an easy and safe way to add some color without stepping on a plane. Make your own tropical drinks (try these recipes from Food Network), put together a rockin’ island-themed playlist (to make it seem like you’re actually at the beach), lay out the beach chairs in your living room, pick up a trashy beach novel, and just relax. Be sure to add these five tunes on your beach-ready soundtrack:

“Brown Eyed Girl” Van Morrison

“Smooth” Santana featuring Rob Thomas

“Island in the Sun” Weezer

“California Girls” Katy Perry

“Soak Up the Sun” Sheryl Crow

3. Hit up the city hotspots

If you’re already bored of the same hometown places and have exhausted out the mall, venture to a new place! Take a day trip out to a city or town you’ve never been to before. Check out local guides for places to eat and shop and sites to see. Or, if you’re close to your nearest metropolitan city, take the train downtown with your friends and hit up the landmarks that make your city what it is. Be sure to also check out non-touristy places and hidden gems of the town to make your trip actually worthwhile.

4. Take Up a New Skill
You have ten days at home, and that is plenty of time to start something new. If you’ve been meaning to read “The Hunger Games” series before the first movie comes out on Mar. 23, now is the time, free your mind and get into a book you actually want to read. If you’re into scrapbooking, dig out old photos and get your creative juices flowing (and brainstorm would make a great Mother’s Day gift).

5. Volunteer

Make some extra money and put your time away from school to a good cause. Visit an animal shelter, tutor local high school kids, babysit your neighbors – the possibilities are endless. You know you’re not going to get any homework done at home, so donate your time and improve our society. Besides, you can use that hard-earned cash for a new spring wardrobe: at least the groundhog-predicted sandal season is only a few weeks away!

So, while your friends might brag to you about their amazing spring getaway, you’ll not only have a “back-from-the-beach-without-going-to-the-beach” glow, but also some cool experiences, and some money for the rest of the semester. Now that’s what I call a vacation.

Have any more tips to create the ultimate spring break at home? Share below!

[Lead image Brocreative/Shutterstock]

Well, springtime in central Texas was short lived. We had a week of 70 degree weather, but now it’s back to being balls hot. For that one brief period of AMAZING weather, I reveled in being able to drive around town with my windows down and my music way, way up. And nothing says window-down music like a little old school. And nothing says old school like Weezer’s Blue Album. (You know, when they were still good.)

About the Band:
Weezer is an alternative rock back hailing from, of course, LA, California. Front man Rivers Cuomo is currently backed up by Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shiner. While famous in their own right, back in the day their first gig was opening for Keanu Reeve’s band, Dogstar

Top 3 Tracks:

My Name is Jonas

Undone (The Sweater Song)

Buddy Holly

Why You Should Listen to It:
Weezer’s debut album is just so…fun. There’s no other way to describe it. It doesn’t take itself t0o seriously and is all about enjoying life in California (or any sunshiney, happy place). This album’s great for when the weather is perfect and you need a soundtrack to reflect that. Listen to it by the pool, on the beach, for an outdoor run, or roll down those windows and rock out as you let the wind whip through your sun kissed locks.

Sick of listening to Gaga on repeat? Get more iPod worthy albums right here.

With all the free time and sunshine that summer brings, there’s no better time to pile in the car with your friends and take a road trip. And there’s no better destination than a 3-day music festival. Is there anything better than lounging on a blanket, soaking up the sun and listening to your favorite songs!? I think not.

If you’ve got a little extra time on your hands this summer (or if you are desperate to get away from the overbearing parental units), there are plenty of music festivals you can hit up. All are awesome, all are chock full of some pretty great music, and all are a great way to reconnect with your college friends you had to leave behind when finals ended.

Lollapalooza: August 6-8th, Grant Park, Chicago
I’m literally hyperventilating just reading the lineup: MGMT, Slightly Stoopid, GAGA!?!?!?!?!?!? Not to mention the world-famous DJs spinning at Perry’s (I’m lookin’ at you, Kid Cudi), the art exhibit, awesome food, and a beer garden! Oh, and Chicago is supposed to be pretty spectacular in the summer, which means there’s no reason to skip out on this one. Check out the festival’s main site for ticket prices, places to stay, travel packages, and the ridiculously full lineup!

Bonnaroo: June 10-13, Manchester, TN
Bonnaroo’s got the real heavyweights this year: Jay-Z, Dave Matthews, Weezer, Kings of Leon, Tenacious D, Regina Spektor…need I say more? There’s also a karaoke “barn,” a comedy theater, and the totally unique silent disco – a dance party with headphones! Get all the info at www.bonnaroo.com.

Harmony Festival: June 11-13, Santa Rosa, CA
If you’re lucky enough to live on the west coast (or are in the mood for a really long road trip), go see indie rockers Michael Franti & Spearhead, India.Arie, the Dead Kennedy’s, K’naan and more at the Sonoma County fairgrounds. All-weekend passes are only $119, and it has a reputation as the most relaxing and laid-back of the summer music fests. Santa Rosa also features a sweet winery and an African safari, if you’re into that sorta thing.

Camp Bisco: July 15-17, Mariaville, NY
Bisco features artists like Thievery Corporation, Method Man, Disco Biscuits, and Girl Talk, for an overall awesome mix of electro-indie, hip-hop, and reggae. Not to mention a Color Wars contest to bring you back to your high-school spirit week and a huge lake for your enjoyment (water sports, anyone!?). There may not be much to do in upstate NY (trust), but this laid-back weekend should be worth your hard-earned gas money.

Lilith Fair: June 27th-August 16th, a city near you!
Gather your girlfriends and your Birkenstocks, because everyone’s favorite indie chicks are back on tour (plus some brand spankin’ new acts that we loooooove). The best part? You won’t have to travel too far to see them! Some of my personal faves that will make appearances are Colbie Callait, La Roux, Norah Jones, Tegan & Sara (seriously, download them if you haven’t already), and Ke$ha. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how the show transitions from Sarah McLachlan to Tik Tok.

Do you ever listen to music that’s completely ridiculous? (Editor’s Note: Does Miley count?) To the point that you start feeling ridiculous and maybe even hide the fact that you listen to other people? (Editor’s Note: Miley definitely counts.) Or just sorta wonder what’s going on in the artist’s head?

OK, so clearly I can’t hide what I’ve been listening to this week – and I’ve already admitted previously to liking Demi Lovato – but that doesn’t mean this week’s new releases didn’t have me scratching my head a bit. And while that’s actually kind of what I’ve come to expect from Weezer and Say Anything, I was a little thrown by my homegirl, Carrie Underwood. Don’t get me wrong, she makes some amusing music, but have you ever stopped to listen to the lyrics?

Why does Carrie Underwood hang out with so many crappy men? Girlfriend needs some help!

Carrie Underwood- Play On

I am a shameless Carrie Underwood fan. Ever since the day she auditioned for American Idol (no lie), I knew she was going to make it big. And I was partially right; Carrie has made it huge. And she’s one of those girls you kind of just have to like. Seriously, do you really know anyone who has any hatred for Carrie Underwood? Her albums are non-stop good and full of hits. I first heard “Cowboy Casanova,” the first single from her new album, Play On, and I thought to myself, “Yes! Carrie Underwood is back again!” Carrie just has this sweet-girl-turned-angry kind of attitude and “Cowboy Casanova” displays that once again: “You better take it from me, that boy is like a disease/You’re running, you’re trying, you’re trying to hide/And you’re wondering why you can’t get free/He’s like a curse, he’s like a drug/You get addicted to his love.” Even though we may not know a whole lot of cowboys in our lives, we certainly know a lot of boys who can be described as “diseases.”

In a similar fashion is “Songs Like This,” with lyrics, “And if it wasn’t for guys like you/There wouldn’t be songs like this/And if you hadn’t gone and done me wrong/I wouldn’t go off like this.” And “Undo It” also reminds us a bit of “Before You Cheat” with another horrible guy: “You stole my happy/You made me cry/You took the lonely and took me for a ride/And I wanna undo it/You had my heart now I want it back/I started to see everything you lack/Boy you blew it/You put me through it/I wanna undo it.” Anyone else noticing a pattern here? Carrie’s got some seriously bad taste in guys. Who are all these jerks who have done Carrie Underwood so wrong?

We love you, Carrie; it’s time to find a man who will treat you right!
…But keep making amazing music while you’re at it.

Weezer- Raditude

From the very start of the album, you know Weezer is back in all their ridiculous glory. The first song, “Get Me Some,” starts off with “Right now everything sucks.” OK, so first of all, we highly doubt everything sucks for Weezer. And second of all, we’re pretty sure they’re getting plenty and don’t have much of a reason to be so unhappy. And after listening to this album, how could anybody be down?

I’m absolutely loving  “The Girl Got Hot,” which is a song about a girl who got hot after being nothing special in junior high. I also really like “The Prettiest Girl in the Whole Wide World” because it sounds a lot like the Weezer of the past… and because I want a guy to sing it to me: “And I got the prettiest girl in the whole wide world/And nobody can take her from me/And in the evening when she goes out walking alone/I wait at home patiently.” But honestly, the best song of the whole album is “Can’t Stop Partying” because, really? How amazing is that title? Oh, and did I mention Lil’ Wayne makes an appearance in the song. YES, LIL’ WAYNE. Holy awesome. And check out the lyrics: “Oh, I can’t stop partying, partying/I can’t stop, partying, partying/I gotta have the cars, I gotta have the jewels/And if you was me, honey, you would do it too/Screw rehab I love my addiction/No sleep no sleep I am always on a mission“

This might have to be our new club anthem. Bravo, Weezer, bravo.

Say Anything- Say Anything

I have never told anyone this, but I’ve been a fan of Say Anything in for awhile now. They definitely don’t sing the kind of music I typically listen to – it’s pretty angry, mean and snippy – but there’s just something about it that I totally dig. Just don’t tell my friends.  A few years ago, I listened to their song “Admit It!” non-stop for weeks and actually spent time analyzing the lyrics. (Don’t judge.) This album, Say Anything, is certainly no different. There may be no “Admit It!” on the album, but I’m certainly loving the lyrics just the same.

How about “Mara and Me,” which starts off with, “There are babies with guns beheading their friends/In shopping malls around the world/Yes somehow the Kings of Leon still find times to write about girls/I don’t suck much less/And if I claim revolutionary or I give to charity/They’ll all know it’s a plea for someone like me/Disgusted with lies and cut down by their own beatnik poetry.” See? Mean, snippy…. yet kinda awesome all at the same time. They’re angry (as proven by the song “Hate Everyone”) but everyone needs a little angry music now and then. If you’re jonesing for something a little rougher around the edges, I think this might be the perfect album for you.

This has led me to some contemplation on how hard it actually is to make a move on someone, and how annoying and awkward it can be while you’re waiting for them to make a move on you.

We’ve all been in way too many situations where we’ve been talking to a cute boy all night, but the party’s dying down and we can’t tell if he’s gonna pack up his things and head home (alone), or pucker up his lips and go in for the kiss (or, you know, put his hand on our butt…something!). And you know he’s feeling just as anxious, because he can’t tell if he should risk making the move too soon and scaring you off.

So you just sorta stand there…talking about cheese.

Of course, as Weezer exemplifies, this situation can easily be reversed. And I’m all for that. It’s time to stomp out the awkwardness of making/waiting for a move. It’s time to take matters into our own hands, and to take those matters with confidence and ease.

How can you let him/her know you’re ready?

Physical Contact. Touch his shoulder as you’re talking, or let yourself get pushed close to him in a crowded room. Taking advantage of any excuse to touch him will get those hormones pumping!

Privacy. Any thinly veiled excuse to leave the crowded party or bar (“I’d love a house tour! Which room is yours?”) should give off the hint that you’re ready to take it up a notch.

Where did my friends go? Losing your friends offers a great opportunity for him to offer to walk you home, and for you to invite him inside to “warm up.” Of course, make sure you have cab fare in case he doesn’t get the hint.

Tired of waiting? Tried all those things and homeboy still isn’t going in for the kill? Make the move yourself.

Just Kiss Him Already. If the tension is there, taking the plunge and just kissing him is the best way to get started. If he’s into it, you’ll be a hero. If you misread the situation and he has a girlfriend or something, well, at least you have a story to submit to CollegeCandy’s Morning After column.

Yeah, it will sting for a little while, but at least you tried. That’s more than you can say for most people!