So normally, I try to keep the Weekly Ten a positive place. Best kisses. Best boys. Best ways to spend your winter break. But this week, well, that’s just not happening.

I’m not sure if it’s the bad weather or the senioritis or my inability to focus on any one task for more than five minutes at a time, but I’ve been in quite the mood these past few days. And I’m taking my anger out on February, this too short, unproductive, cold, depressing, and generally annoying month.

So here’s why I am officially hating on February.

10. Groundhog Day is a bogus holiday. Yes, okay. So it’s cute to watch a little groundhog crawl out of a whole and get scared by its own shadow. But is this holiday ever actually accurate? I mean, I’m crossing my frozen fingers that this year it will be; there’s nothing I’d love more this year than an early spring….especially after Snowmaggedon 2011.

9. One month closer to midterms. What comes after February? March.  The month of midterms. The month of study sessions and papers and cramming and procrastinating.  The two week long process of trying to relearn everything you’ve already forgotten. February is cruel even as it leaves us. Read More »

After a long, cold, gray winter, I think it’s safe to say that everyone is looking forward to spring. And by spring, I mean SPRING BREAK, baby. And while we all need a little warm breeze in our lives, what I’m looking forward to most is ditching the chunky sweaters and embracing spring clothes!

It’s time to bare those forearms and ankles, show a little skin, and soak up the sun! And what goes best with that bright, glowing orb in the sky? Bright colors, of course. Lucky for all of us, stores are overflowing with the brightest of brights that will be perfect for that beachside cocktail in Mexico or that late-spring study sesh when you (unfortunately) have to return to campus. From dresses to shoes, solids to patterns, bags to bangles, the brights are here and it’s time we turn up the volume in our closets.

So run, don’t walk, to the nearest store and stock up some color to kick those winter blues (and greys).  Not only will you feel more energized, but a bright color might make it easier for your friends (or cute males!) to spot you on that crowded Spring Break beach. Read More »

Pat yourselves on the back, everyone – we have officially surpassed another stressful week!  And if you are a hopeless romantic like me, Channing Tatum is closing out the week with a bang (or a box full of tissues) in Dear John. And I. Am. Looking forward to it.  Besides drooling excessively over Mr. Tatum’s abs, we have a lot more to look forward to this weekend: dance parties, our last football Sunday for the season, and busting our minds for that perfect (reasonably cheap) gift for a special someone.

And, yes, it still counts if the gift is for you.

So, my lovely College Candies, let us reflect on the busy week that was:

As I found myself tearing up over the finale of Teen Mom, we closed the (drama-filled) season with one final question.

For some, something about blowing out candles post-graduation feels…a little disappointing.

Taylor Swift is getting really good at those acceptance speeches.  Don’t you think she could stop acting so surprised? It is getting a little old.

As Valentine’s Day gets closer and closer, we are left wondering why Average Joe didn’t let me breeze into the classroom first as he held the door open. Um, hello Romeo? Where art thou?

The Grammys did not seize to completely blow us away with some serious red carpet “uh whats?” and “oh wows.” Read More »

I'm on a bleepin' bleepin' boat

According to reliable sources – namely, Punxsatawney Phil – there are still six weeks left of winter. That’s six more weeks of singing the winter blues as we trek to class in our layers upon layers trying to avoid frostbite while still looking cute. Worst of all, that’s six weeks of craving cute spring clothes that retailers are dangling in front of us while we lug our winter coats around the mall.

The tail end of winter sure does suck.

But, it doesn’t have to! Looking to the Resort 2010 collections (also known as Pre-Spring), there are many trends that can be incorporated into our winter looks while still channeling the feeling of warm months to come. What better way to kick those winter blues (covered in icicles) than with nautical clothes? Who wouldn’t rather be on a boat (bustin’ 5 knots, wind whippin’ out my coat) than braving the winter weather?

OK, so putting on some madras and a pair of Rainbows isn’t exactly possible right now, but it’s really easy to incorporate some nautical looks into your winter wardrobe with a little creative layering. Tights, long sleeve shirts and cardigans makes it possible to enjoy nautical clothes now, and then you can strip that stuff off when the snow (finally) melts in the spring. Need a little fashion warm-up? Let’s hit the high seas! Read More »

“Winter Wonderland,” “White Christmas”…sugarcoat it all you want but winter sucks.  Unless you are a skiing or snowboarding fanatic, you feel my pain. I didn’t even like sledding as a child; you got to the bottom of the hill, OK, then what? You run back up to the top, your hands numb, then do it again? Awesome.

Seeing my own breath has never fascinated me and a constantly running nose has never been a favorite of mine. There’s just no happy medium with winter.  I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. And now I’m going to complain in a more organized manner: Read More »

While switching my wardrobe from my summer sundresses to my winter wools, I realized one very depressing thing: my winter wardrobe is more drab and depressing than those dreary January days. If I don’t want to slip into a winter funk (fixed only by large bowls of mac-and-cheese), I need to do something fast.

And that something comes in the form of color. The color purple to be exact.

Every girl needs a little color in her wardrobe and what better way to liven things up than with something beautiful, luxurious and violet?  Historically, purple is associated with nobility, but we don’t need to be canoodling with Prince Harry to enjoy the benefits of this year’s hottest color. (Although, that would definitely help with the winter blues…) We can all look regal and faboosh, even on our student budgets.

You can work purple into your look in a big way – like a silky sheath dress – or just add little splashes here and there. Either way, you won’t have to look far to find the perfect purple pieces to lift your winter spirits. In fact, I found 16 hot ones right here. Read More »

[It doesn’t matter what school you go to, what state it is in, how big it is, whether it is public or private, all girls or coed…there are experiences that all college students share.

No matter how crazy you think your personal situation is, it is not just you. So, let’s bring it all out in the open. Right here. Because you are not alone - we’ve all been there before.]

You spent all day curled up in bed with a hot beverage in your hand and thick socks on your feet. You debated even getting up to pee. Your bed is so warm and the world is just so cold. Your roommates join you in the middle of the day to watch old episodes of Sex and the City. Normally you’d be at the gym, or the library, or walking around campus, but not today – not in the dead of winter.

There is no way in hell you are getting out of bed.

When your phone rings at 9 you assume it’s the pizza guy delivering the large white pie you ordered with the roomies. You purposely left the front door unlocked last time you ran to the bathroom (with the blanket over your shoulders) so he could let himself in and bring the pizza to your bedside.

Only it’s not the pizza guy; it’s your guy friend. You pick up and it takes two words (beach party) for you to kick off those wool socks and get you out of your warm and toasty bed.

“The boys are having a beach party tonight. We have to go! We can pretend it’s warm out! We can’t lock ourselves in side all winter, girls!” Read More »

[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

So the holiday buzz has warn off, it’s time to get back to the real world, and on top of all that, it’s frickin’ freezin’ out there! Things may seem bleak right now (the economy sucks, the weather sucks, school sucks; I know how it goes) and there may be nothing you want to do more than climb into bed, pull the covers over your head and attempt to fight off those winter blues by daydreaming of sun-drenched days on the beach, but your chin up, girlfriend!

Get out of bed, pull on a cute outfit and get out there. Just because we’re officially in the dead of winter doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had… Read More »

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got the winter blues. Between my frozen fingers, my wet toes and the gray skies, I am not sure how much longer I am going to last. I want some sun, dammit! Not that it is coming any time soon; winter has only just begun. We have at least 3 more months of Uggs, gloves and snotcicles dripping down our faces.

How are we supposed to make it through? The CollegeCandy writers give us their best beat-the-winter-blues advice:

Sarah – East Carolina University: I bake cookies. And everything else that is loaded with sugar, or chocolate, or other deliciousness.

Kathryn S.: Booze, booze, booze, and watching holiday movies. While drunk. Read More »

I love the Fall in Michigan.

I love the way the leaves go from boring green to bright and beautiful reds, oranges and yellows. I love it when I can start to see my breath outside and I have to wrap one of my grandma’s homemade scarves around my neck. And I am absolutely obsessed with apple cider and donuts at the Cider Mill.

But as I sit here at 5:00 PM on a Monday and look out on a street that is pitch black, cold and dreary, I can’t help but feel the pangs of seasonal depression start to sink in. I don’t want to leave my house. I don’t want to leave my bed. I just want to sit, eat and watch TV.

It’s awful. And it explains why I always gain five pounds every winter. It also explains why there is a large and permanent butt print in my couch cushion. And why the guys at the Thai delivery place up the street know my name already.

So, this year I am trying everything I can to avoid my winter blues. In my quest not to retire to the couch (with a giant bag of Dark M&Ms) this winter I have been doing some research and have found some surefire ways to stay happy this winter:

Bring on the Light: One reason people get a little down in the dumps in the winter is because there is less sunlight during the day. Doctors agree that the best way to lift your sagging spirits is to simply get some more light: open the curtains as soon as you wake up, go for a walk, etc. Even a short amount of natural light (even on a cloudy day!) will put some pep in your step naturally.

Hit the Gym: One of the hardest things for me to do in the winter is get to the gym. Why go out in the cold to work out when I can cover my fat with oversized sweaters and sweatpants? Well, it turns out that getting exercise is one of the best ways to feel better on a dreary winter day. Those endorphins will get your body pumping and feeling great for hours to come. Bonus: a good workout will also warm you up! Read More »