Ladies, when we show up to a party or a bar, we want to bring our A game, right?

There’s nothing like strutting in looking and feeling great, and I think the best way to get in the zone is to have a few pre-game rituals to get you going. You know what I’m talkin about. Start the party at home.

#1 Play dress up: You and your roommates will go through 25 different outfits while you’re getting ready anyway. Why not have a fashion show in the process? Dress each other, shop in each other’s closets, just have fun!

#2 Make a Pump-You-Up playlist: Put together all of your favorite girl jams—anything that will get everyone dancing. I always love to throw in some hip-hop, hard rock, and 80’s. Do I smell hairbrush karaoke? Might want to take it for the ride to the party too.

#3 Collaborate: Switch off doing each other’s hair and make-up. You’ll always have fresh looks and new ideas for next weekend. And who doesn’t like getting their hair and make-up done for them??

#4 Crack the bottle: Let’s not get trashed before leaving the house, but it’s always great to meet and greet with the glow of a mini-buzz upon arrival. I like to pick out new drinks every weekend, but if that’s not your thing, a good cosmo never fails.

That’s how I pre-game, but I want some new ideas. How do you pop, lock, and drink it?

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 »

Hey girls, how do YOU avoid an unwanted smooch? Is there ever a way to let them down easy? Let us know in the comments!

There are a million things we wish we could ask our boyfriends and for one reason or another, we feel like it’s not appropriate to do so.

Is this normal and healthy or is it adding unnecessary strain to a relationship?

Is there such thing as knowing (or asking) too much?

We here at College Candy think that making what you feel or want known is one of the most important things in a relationship but we want to know what you think!

Should you ever ask the following questions to your significant other?

Is it OK to ask your guy…

• …to buy tampons for you?

Read More »

Frat parties: after eight months of their splendor we swear them off for eternity. As soon as freshman year ends and we move out of the dorms we promise never to return to their sweaty sleazy goodness.

Who wants to wait in those long lines freezing to death in a mini skirt and tube top in the middle of winter? Who wants to be packed into a small room with sweaty men groping your ass at every turn?

Who wants to listen to that awful rap music boasting illegitimate children and millions of dollars worth of bling blaring from oversized speakers?

Not me…or so I thought.

Look at me now: freezing to death in a pair of jeans and a button down, waiting in line to get into a crowded room where older and sleazier men are trying to pinch my butt while grinding to awful rap music blaring from oversized speakers.

What’s the difference?

I am now paying for all of these lovely amenities.

Why is it ok to take part in these activities at a bar and not at a frat party? What is the difference, really? And, think about it, which one really is better? Let the battle begin:

Frat
No Toilet Paper- some women have been forced to drip dry or–gasp!–use items such as leaves and notebook paper while taking care of business.
Bar
Usually have toilet paper, but not always a working toilet. Some squatters have even been known to brush up against pre-used TP piled high in clogged bowls. Read More »

I’m a sucker for acts of chivalry, however contrived they may be. Opening doors, pulling out chairs, offering his jacket on a cold evening, and yes, paying for dinner—it all makes me swoon.

Though I never agree on first date to a place where I can’t afford to pay my own way, I do firmly believe that whoever does the asking out should pay. Being the introvert that I am, this translates into my date always paying. But of course, not wanting to seem unappreciative, I always end up doing what my friends and I now refer to as “the fake purse-reach.”

As soon as the bill lands on the table, I reach into my purse and dig for my wallet, which is usually lying in a prominent location that requires no digging to reach. At this point, my date will usually offer an ardent “No, no, I’ve got it.” You know how it goes, ladies. I offer a “oh, no, please, let me at least pay my share,” while opening my wallet and casually taking out bills. My date protests once again, and I wrinkle my brow and say “Are you sure? Thank you so much!” Read More »

Face it, there’s nothing worse than going out with a large group of girls. It’s social death — you inevitably get swallowed by or end up chained to your posse, most of whom probably look and dress similar to you. This summer, I suggest slimming down. Cut the fat and drop the entourage. They’re only stifling your potential.

I know it’s scary to tread social waters sans the company of twenty of your best best friends, but take a second to consider some people of the moment and their preferred going-out decorum. Lindsay: always with an entourage. Result? Rehab. Britney: entourage. Result: rehab. Paris: entourage. Result: jail. Read More »

Every once in awhile I like going out to bars, clubs, you name it. Buuuuut, I am not yet 21 and I nowhere near look like I am. Because of my short stature, people frequently ask me if I am in high school (and one time even junior high). I know, I know: in 20 years, I’ll be begging for people to think I’m in high school. But for right now, I just wanna pass as 21 so I can go out with my friends. Which is nearly impossible. I still get funny looks from waiters when I order off the adult menu.

So, I got a fake ID. I was lucky enough to inherit an actual old ID of a friend’s after she turned 21. While my friend and I look alike, she is 25 and 5′9. And yet, her ID has worked flawlessly time and time again, even when I don’t wear my seven - inch heels. How does it work, you ask? I follow a few basic steps: Read More »