Before the days of Four Loko prohibition, staying up all night to write a 19-page term paper on Harry Potter symbolism, and Sunday morning hangovers, there were days of innocence and Gap outfits and toy commercials that made you drool all over your yourself. You eagerly memorized all the toys you HAD TO HAVE to make it on the playground and you created long, illegible lists that you handed off to your parents/Santa to buy you.

So in honor of the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of gifts lights, we present to you the top 9 toys that you wanted and needed and craved as an elementary school kid.

[Click on any image to see the gallery.]

[I want it, I need it, I can't live without it. Or that. Or that over there. Or that cute top that girl's wearing.... There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. But there's so much to sift through, how can you find the best of the best? No worries; we've scoured stores, online stores, and stores again (it's a tough job but someone's got to do it) and we'll share our finds with you here.  As far as actually getting them goes....well, you're on your own with that one.]

September marks that fine time of year when I finally feel it’s socially acceptable to implement all the fashion trends I learned during fall Fashion Week without soaking them in August sweat stains. I watched the shows, I made mental notes, and I’m ready to sacrifice a heat stroke and a paycheck if the cool of Autumn decides to be fashionably late this year.

While it may still be too hot to handle my fall wish list, it’s not too soon to track down my most desired fall must have: the camel coat.

Classic, chic, warm enough to carry you through winter when you’ve blown your budget on your fall coat – you just can’t go wrong with this pick. The delicious caramel and honey tones work with every skin tone and hair color, and call it a trend if you must, but a neutral color like camel never goes out of style.

The cut and details of this particular jacket will flatter any body shape and the loose fit gives you just the right amount of room to layer on those heavy sweaters when the temperature drops. Pair it with a chunky knit scarf for the colder months and flip up the big-but-not-too-big (read: perfect) hood to protect your hair when it unexpectedly starts to mist on your way to dinner with the girls.

Just don’t be fooled, the camel coat isn’t a camel’s version of a fur coat. No camel hair required. This is all wool, baby. No one wants to look like they draped a camel over their shoulders – humps still intact in the front.

But I digress. This jacket is stunning and classy (a step up from the North Face, no?) and perfect for fall. While I spent the last few months drooling over a Derek Lam version from the runway that would cost me three months of rent, I saw this one for $177 by Mr. Michael Kors and forgot all about that other one. (OK, so I didn’t forget it, but I realized that I didn’t have to give up shelter and food for a great jacket….) It is still a pretty penny, but it’s definitely a jacket you’ll keep around for years to come. And if you can find cheaper one anywhere, let me know before I cave!

You gotta act quick, though; it won’t be long before I’m roasting under this gorgeous wool while somewhere a closely shaved sheep calls me an impatient sucker.

Anyway, as much as we all know we should be giving back this season, with all the goodness that’s out there it’s impossible not to want. The problem is, what do I want most? I know I can’t get it all (no matter how much they love me, I know my parents won’t be getting me a BMW this year) so I gotta choose the top dogs for my holiday list.

But which do I choose? What are you jonesing for most this season?

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, CupcakesTakeTheCake…), 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.

If you’re an online shopping junkie like me, you probably have tons of links stored in your favorites, saved to your desktop, or emailed to yourself of things you want to buy. Not the most organized shopping method; it gets so cluttered you’re left without that great sequins blazer you wanted because you couldn’t remember where you stored the link. And you do so much online perusing (it’s OK, we get bored during class, too) you can’t even track it down in your browsing history. R.I.P., sequins blazer.

Need a better plan of shopping attack?

Let me introduce you to the best thing that has ever happened to online shopping: Kaboodle. It is like your personal shopping assistant, keeping you organized and making sure you get the best deal on everything you’re searching for.

Kaboodle is an online shopping community that lets you create shopping or wish lists with pictures, links, and descriptions of items from virtually any online shopping site.  It has options that help you organize your lists as well, such as creating categories for each online store, or by type of item.  You can also add other “kaboodlers” as friends in order to share your great finds and check out their online discoveries.

While I use Kaboodle year-round, it comes in extra handy during this time of year because you can use it to create wish lists that you can e-mail to friends and family for ideas on gifts for you (OK, so it’s definitely not subtle, but it possibly avoids having to awkwardly act like you love that Snuggie and go return it later).  Plus, there’s the option of making certain lists private, so even if your friends are on Kaboodle, you can use it to create lists of gift ideas that only you can see.

Or lists of other “private” wants.

If that’s not cool enough, the site offers deals and discounts from different online stores all the time and also has occasional contests to win cool stuff (like gift cards to your favorite stores!).

So Kaboodle will organize you, introduce you to new cool things, save you the horror of getting another Snuggie and save you money. Seriously, what’s not to love about this site?

This season is painful. It is all about wishing, and drooling, and then crying, over all the to-die-for goodies that are dangled in front of us, so close yet locked behind glass windows and glossy magazine pages.

And while every season I find handfuls of new accessories or fashion trends to add to my most coveted list, all of the browsing, surfing, and window shopping has me returning to my long-term must haves, the things that have been on my list forever, but have never had funds appropriated to their cause.

What’s at the top of this list, you ask?

The two-finger ring, personalized of course.

Ever since Lauren Conrad rocked it all over L.A. last season, I knew it had to be mine.

It’s incredibly sweet, while at the same time bringing a dose of edge to any outfit. I love the idea of pairing this ring with a feminine dress and messy curls for a holiday party and then slipping it on with my leather bomber jacket and channeling it’s rocker-chick sensibility to go out at night.

I’m opting to go Ebay for mine, not only do they offer free shipping and include a jewelry cleaner with your purchase, but the font has a whimsically girly feel that perfectly complements the freshness of it’s double finger style.

Personalized earrings and necklaces feel outdated and I can’t help but feel like an overeager 8^th grader when I contemplate them. But in ring form, sporting your name delicately across your knuckles becomes unexpectedly chic.

I may just have to break down and remove this from my must-have list and place it right into my jewelry box. And if I end up not being able to justify the purchase for myself during the “season of giving,” I am most definitely ordering one for my BFF. It’s so much more thoughtful than a generic piece of jewelry and she will never be able to thank me enough for the ability to spice up any outfit with the slip-on of a ring.

Yes, it’s holiday season, which means it’s time to print out that list of wants you’ve been keeping all year and hand it over to mama so she can make all your dreams come true. We all know this time of year should be all about the giving, but we can admit that getting feels really freaking awesome, too. And with all the giving you’ll be doing, you deserve to get some great stuff in return!

Since I’ve been working my ass off and totally neglecting my every shopping desire to save some serious cash this year, there are about a billion things I want for the holidays. Like this dress from Alloy (wouldn’t it be adorbs for NYE??), or any of Ashley Watson’s brilliant recycled leather handbags, or even a lame gift card to iTunes! (I’m so cheap I’ve been listening to Miley on YouTube all year…) Yeah, I want it all. And I know I’m not the only one…

This week I asked the CollegeCandy writers to share their #1 wish this year. Perhaps this will inspire any friends/boyfriends out there still looking for gifts for the special people in your life. Or maybe the writers can just send this along to their parents as a little nudge in the right direction.

Now you tell us – what’s #1 on your list?

Norah – Drake University: Season 2 of The Tudors on DVD. I watched the entire first season on Netflix over Thanksgiving break, and now I’m obsessed. It’s one of those guilty pleasure shows that I could watch again and again – but hey, it’s history, so it’s not a complete waste of time…right?

Erica – Kent State University:  I am obsessing over sequins.  I just hope this skirt looks as good in person as it does online.  Looking like I just stepped off a Cirque du Soleil stage is not the idea.

Leah – Ryerson University: I’ve already received all my presents, but I just gifted myself a pair of Cole Haan boots.  Merry Christmas to me.

Brithny – Duke: A glow-in-the-dark toilet seat cover. Because you know it’s hard to find at night. Don’t lie.

Ricki – University of Michigan: For the holidays, I want the Nine West Tina Crossbody Bag in PURPLE!

Katie – Michigan State University:  A new computer! After almost five years, my poor laptop is five mp3′s away from committing suicide.

Samantha -  UCSB: Lululemon’s “Wear With All” jacket. I think I’ll do just that!

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley:  I’m not much of  Juicy girl, but this year I am fiendin’ for the Juicy Couture Perfume. It smells toooo good!

Lauren – University of Michigan: The Perfect Brownie Pan. Who doesn’t want those hard, chewy edges every time? I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Noa – CU Boulder: I want a boyfriend. But if I can’t get that then I guess I’ll settle for this gorg Botkier bag in burgundy.

Elise – Stanford: I want this huge block of Himalayan Salt to cook on.  Sounds weird, but it may be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

Charlsie – Hollins Univesity: Making a donation to the South African organization These Numbers Have Faces is the number one gift on my list this year — I’m doing it for my sister, and I think the cause is great. It sends poor South African students to college!

Emmy – Loyola University Chicago: Currently my number one on my wish list is sleep. It is priceless and sadly not sold online. But I mean, I wouldn’t say no to a manicure, pedicure, and massage. Almost as good as some sleep during finals week.

Nina – Michigan State University: It’d be fun to get the Victoria’s Secret Miraculous Pushup Bra. TWO cup sizes? That’s just ridiculous.

Hillary – Columbia: I’m crossing my fingers for an iPhone 3GS. Whenever I try to list all of the awesome features it has, I lose count almost right away: voice control commands, a built-in compass, a video camera… if you’re going to dream about presents, dream big, right?

Sara C-Fordham: The holidays are always a feast for the senses, with the scent of pine needles and gingerbread and peppermint lingering just about everywhere. But for the eleven other months out of the year, I’d like to smell just as pretty, which is why I hope to find a little bottle of Marc Jacobs’ Rain with my name on it!

Zahra – Northwestern University: Nothing’s sexier in the winter than a trench coat.

Carrie – Duke: Furniture for my new off-campus apartment! Hellooo, IKEA.

Mechelle – Florida State: A boy to impress my mother. Must be Jewish, a med student, and obscenely wealthy. Any takers?

Alex K – Lakehead University: Number 1 on my wish list is the Dawson’s Creek complete series! My guilty pleasure, all in one convenient package!

Note: if you feel like fulfilling any of my gift desires, hit me up for my address! I write really nice thank-you notes!

[I want it, I need it, I can’t live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We’ll share ‘em with you here (because we’re that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes….well, you’re on your own with that one.]

Sometimes, a belt is all you need to transform a blah outfit into an effortlessly cool one. They can help to define your waist, give shape to a baggy dress, make the layered look appear more chic, and make an outfit look completely different.

This particular belt from Urban Outfitters is a steal at $24 and looks cute over dresses, tunics, or the big flannel shirts that are in right now.

The wide, stretchy-style is especially waist and figure flattering, and as an added bonus, the gold-tone latch buckle is surprisingly reminisce of the Gucci horse bit for a fraction of the price! I can’t wait to get to Urban to pick one up; my wardrobe needs this.

There’s something oddly bad-ass about wearing a headband that you actually wear on your head. It’s an oddly sexy combination of rock star style and hippy chic. Often seen on the likes of Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton, I LOVE how they look, but have yet to actually wear or buy one.

However, my most sincere desire to try the look started when I saw the Coach Penelope Flower Lariat on Selena Gomez in the December issue of Seventeen.

The lariat features seven different types of cut-out-leather flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple with metallic stitching and retails for $198. It’s also almost impossible to find online and sold out at many Coach retail stores. Sigh. Ban.Do and Stacey Lapidus have some VERY cute (and very pricy!) alternatives, featuring crystal, feathers, and braided details.

Not going to spend $200 on head gear? Me neither. (Hello, wardrobe WISH list!) Luckily for all of us, Forever 21 features some super cute on-the-head headbands at a fraction of the price. Perfect for non-commital college girls who still want to try out this look!

[I want it, I need it, I can't live without it. There are so many things on store shelves and racks right now that we want to take home and hang in our closets. Things that are so cute, everyone should know about them. We'll share 'em with you here (because we're that nice), but as far as actually getting them goes....well, you're on your own with that one.]

With Spring around the corner, it’s almost time to shove those bulky jackets and sweaters back into that Tupperware box under your bed where they belong. All that new extra room in your closet also means it’s time to stock up on some new essentials. When the time is right, opt for my current go-to source of warmth: the cardigan. It is comfortable, versatile and cozy for those cooler nights, yet does not make you look like a bum, which your old high school and college sweatshirts tend to do.

Marc Jacobs continues to show his genius with the “Caitlin” cardigan. It has two knit layers, a sheer one lying on top of another with dark stripes, toning down the intensity of the bands. The use of layers makes this cardigan a unique design that sets it apart from the 12 black cardigans you currently own, adding a bit of interest to a pretty tame closet. It is the perfect layering piece for a casual look on that chilly day when you’re making your way to class or meeting up with friends for brunch. And it’s just so cute.

I l-o-v-e this piece. Here’s hoping it goes on sale clearance.

We’ve been good this year. No, really. Stop laughing! The sporadic nights of binge drinking/copying those Stats problems/”borrowing” a few rolls of toilet paper from the university bathrooms are nothing worthy of lumps of coal, right? I mean, we went to class, we worked really hard and we got ourselves one step closer to being real adults! That must mean something.

Like, I don’t know, that our holiday wish lists might be fulfilled this year? That we won’t have to suffer through more socks from Grandma, and more educational DVDs from the aunts and uncles? That we won’t have to fight the tears as everyone else gets Mario Kart for the Wii and we are stuck with a pair of ugly light wash jeans?

We don’t want much and we laid it all out below. You know, so there are no mistakes. (Oh, and some of us are celebrating Hanukkah, which starts Sunday night, so you may want to get on the shopping ASAP. Don’t worry, though; you have 8 days to get it right.) Thanksmuchbye!

Love,

The CollegeCandy Writers

P.S. We left you some cookies and milk. Hope you like Cakesters!

Sara C – Fordham: A quality tinted moisturizer, and a nice, long vacation. I know I’ll definitely be getting the latter!

Sarah – East Carolina University: Mac OSX Leopard, so that my Macbook stops shrieking in fear of PC programs.

CJ – UConn: -To make room for gym time, or, better yet, lose 15 pounds without really trying. Oh, and world peace?

Lauren – University of Michigan: A second guitar for my Guitar Hero and Chinese Food (because that’s what Christmas always makes me crave).

S.E. – Fordham: Tickets to see Wicked. They’re expensive so I want someone else to buy them for me!

Olua: Color me idealistic, but I just want a white Christmas.

Sara Beth – University of Texas: A pair of Roo’s

Suzanne – Tulane: To pass all of my classes. Santa, can you hear me?!

Leah – Ryerson University: I’ve already gotten most of my Christmas presents (a.k.a stuff I needed for school) but the one luxury item I asked for was Marc Jacobs’ Daisy. So good!

Erica – Kent State : A KorgX50 Synthesizer. I want to make me some music!

Elizabeth – UC Berkeley: A big Northface backpack that can fit all of my books. That’s actually pretty sad once I think about it.

John – UConn: A big, green terry bathrobe. The idea is to wear as much clothing as possible while still feeling, underneath, as naked as possible.

Noa – CU Boulder: New Uggs. Lame, I know, but a girl can never have too many semi-ugly but totally heavenly boots.

Carly – Grinnell: An apron or a sewing machine (apparently I am a ’50s housewife).

Kelly – UMass: A pole to practice my new pole dancing class routines. Somehow, I don’t think my mom is too keen on having a stripper pole in our house though.

Alex – Lakehead University: Taylor Swift tickets….whatever. AND GUESS WHAT, I ALREADY GOT THEM!

What’s on your wish list this year?