Score Your Own Touchdown This Superbowl…With Style

Every girl has the dream at least once in her life to date the super-cute football player (if you were in high school or a fan of the NFL). With Superbowl around the corner, I found stylish outfits for you to look like the ultimate fan and feel unstoppable enough to score a touchdown yourself!

We all know this game will end one of two ways, the Giants will win, or the Patriots will win, but as far as style goes I’ll call it a tiebreaker. Both outfits are equally cute and sporty, so just sit back, grab some snacks, and get ready to cheer!

The first look I created was for the New York Giants. I was inspired for this by the classic, football-loving fashionista who loves to be comfortable and cozy when watching a game. I love 80’s style and was instantly inspired when I found this Giants off-the-shoulder burnout sweatshirt. Junkfood Clothing makes the stylish vintage sweatshirt (famous for the “Little Miss…” shirts) and it sells on Amazon for $39.00. Pair with a burnt orange tank from generalpants.com to complete the look.  The steal of the outfit is the ‘I’m a great catch’ underwear from Victoria’s Secret for $3.99! It is a cute touch showing spirit from head-to-toe. I am also I huge fan of ripped jeans; it goes along the relaxed look. My favorite brand has to be Joe’s Jeans. The denim is super-soft; it’s almost like wearing your favorite sweats. I purchased mine from Sack’s Fifth Avenue for just under $100. Lastly, what outfit would be complete without accessories? I found these adorable slippers with the NY Giants logo and colors for $30 from nflshop.com.  The baseball hat, $22 from Amazon, adds a flare to the outfit. Last but not least the tote! Wouldn’t you be the coolest girl at the Superbowl party carrying all the snacks and goodies for on Sunday? You can purchase the bag for $25 from the nflshop.com.

Now to be 100% fair, there is another team fighting for the title, the New England Patriots! My favorite football item of all time would be the sequin football shirt. I personally own a Pittsburgh Steelers sequin shirt, and you can purchase it for any team from Victoria’s secret for about $50. Match it with a white long sleeve thermal, I found this one for $14, and this puffed Patriots’ vest both from Victoria’s Secret. One of my favorite trends this year is the trend of colored denim, particularly red. Show off you’re Patriots’ spirit with red jeans like these J Brand ones I found for $69 from barneys.com! To finish off the look, how perfect are these New Balance shoes in the New England’s navy and scarlet red? Go ahead and tell your friends the “N” stands for New England!

I can assure you whatever look you decide to sport, you won’t be disappointed, and who knows, you might score the football cutie you always wanted. That’s a touchdown if you ask me!

Alex Lomicka is a freshman at Kent State University. She loves fashion and football. She has and always will be a Pittsburgh Steelers girl, but this  Superbowl she will be cheering for the NY Giants.This is her first semester interning for College Lifestyles TM!

HOW TO: Host a Super Bowl Party

Are you ready for some football?  Whether you’re watching this year’s Super Bowl because you love football or you love staring at Tom Brady, a good party requires three things: food, drinks and friends.

If you’re anything like me, everything is last minute. With only one day until the Superbowl, this guide will prepare anyone like myself looking to celebrate this Sunday. From what to wear to what to serve, I’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to throwing your college friends a last minute Super Bowl party.

 

Football fashion:

Keep it casual and comfy. No one needs to look fabulous while screaming at a TV and hanging out in your living room. Thanks to Polyvore, here are two classy outfit ideas for game day:

Team theme:

If  you plan to decorate for your party, keep to the theme of the two teams playing. This year the  match-up is between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Since their colors are similar (this should be fun while watching) decorating is easy. Anything red, white or blue will suffice and satisfy all fans at your gathering. Who knew Fourth of July decorations would come in handy five months early?

Finger food:

Don’t get caught whipping up something in the kitchen and miss out on what could be another scandalous half-time show. Small finger foods are perfect for an evening of football. Start out with a  homemade hummus dip served with crackers or pita chips. More filling meals are double cheese chili  or these simple sliders. Football jersey cut out cookies  are a trademark at my family Superbowl parties. They’re easy to do and go with the football theme.

Themed spirits:

Although standard beer may be the trademark drink for the Super Bowl, other options include The Big Blue in honor of the Giants or Patriots Punch for New England fans. Be sure to also have a selection of drinks for those under 21.

When it comes time for kick-off, be sure to provide plenty of places to sit for your guests. This is the one day where being in the way of the TV is highly unacceptable. Choosing to set up a couple TVs may also be a key play at your party.

The Super Bowl only happens one day a year. With that said- kick back, relax and enjoy the game.

 

Jessica Fecteau is a  senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

4 Different and Delicious Ways to Use Oatmeal

College Lifestyles really, really, really loves oatmeal– but sometimes oatmeal can be a little bland. Sure, it is inexpensive, easy to make, and healthy (full of fiber and whole grains) but its plain flavor can grow old fast. Traditionally, it is eaten topped with berries, bananas, or brown sugar, but there are even more ways to use standard rolled oats. Savory Oats Source Liv(e) Love Laugh Sounds a little scary, right? Just think of oats like you would another grain! They don’t need to be reserved just for a bowl with brown sugar in the morning. Cook oats in water, milk or broth and add in any combination of cheese, vegetables, spices, and protein (meat, beans, tofu). CL recommends Liv(e) Love Laugh’s recipe. Transition oatmeal from your traditional breakfast food to meals after 11 AM. Smoothies and Shakes Source My Body Zone Soak a half-cup of raw oats in milk overnight and add into your favorite smoothie. A combination of Greek yogurt, fruit, ice, oats and your choice of liquid create a satisfying meal. Muesli Mix Want to feel like you are eating breakfast in Europe? Forget tiny cups of coffee and pastries; try this delicious staple! Muesli is simply a combination of raw oats, nuts, and dried fruit, typically mixed with yogurt or milk. You can purchase muesli in most supermarkets or easily make your own. Mixing the muesli with yogurt the night before and letting it sit overnight will create a smooth, chewy consistency and a perfect breakfast to grab on your way out the door. Oat Flour Source Happy Herbivore Oat flour is a gluten free option adding a rich, nutty flavor to baked goods. You can make your own by placing  raw oats into a food processor or purchase a bag right next to your traditional wheat flour. It may take a little trial and error to achieve baking success, since it acts slightly different than white flour. Check out Happy Herbivore for successful recipes!                                             Claire Brooks-Schulke is a Health & Sorority Writer for College Lifestyles. She ate a bowl of oatmeal while writing this as inspiration and loves making muffins with oat flour.

Cute Items Under $20 To Brighten Up A Winter Day

The Christmas lights have been taken down. The New Year has been here for a month already, and soon, the Valentine’s Day decorations will disappear from stores. We are coming upon that dreaded time in every college student’s life – when we are sick of winter, but spring remains far away. Still, while the skies may be gray, your mood doesn’t have to be. Brighten up your day with these cute, cheap items under $20.

1) Bright nail polish. Nail polish is a great way to pick up your mood, since it’s cheap, lasts forever, and is available at any drugstore. Think outside the box – try a bright yellow or a metallic polish. Or combine them both with Tangerine Glitz from Pop Beauty, $10 on their website and at drugstores.

2) Cute socks. You may be wearing the same boots in the snow everday, but you can still have some fun underneath. We’re great fans of Sock It To Me, a small business that sells creative socks. Try their Ninja knee socks, $9 on their website.

3) Wild underwear. Even if nobody sees your underwear, knowing you look super-hot underneath your outfit will keep you feeling sexy and confident all day. Try this leopard-print bra from Forever 21, $7.80.

4) Dramatic makeup. Dramatic makeup at a party is expected, but in class, it’s refreshing. Keep the look classy and not tacky by only playing up one feature and doing your makeup in the right lighting. Try red lipstick or a swipe of electric blue eyeliner.

5) Anything from Fred Flare. I discovered Fred Flare when I was 14, and have been drooling ever since. The online store sells clothes, accessories, and apartment decor that is adorable AND useful. Even if you don’t buy anything, just browsing through all the cuteness is sure to lift your mood. We’re big fans of this iPod Hoodie, on sale for just $4.99.

Have you bought anything lately to escape the winter blues? Let us know in the comments!

Sasha Graffagna is a NYU junior studying Journalism and Comparative Literature. Currently, she is an exchange student at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico. You can read about her experience at http://thegoddesscomplex.wordpress.com/

“G.G.”: A Toast to 100 Episodes with a Royal Roast

*SPOILER ALERT*

We have watched our precious preppy Upper East-siders transform into budding brides and lavished lads, so it would only make sense for the 100th episode to highlight their growth.

Growth for the characters, however, hasn’t revealed growth for the show, and Gossip Girl gurus have been patiently awaiting a record-making comeback. With Blair’s wedding on deck, “G.G.” had a royal opportunity to redeem itself for its second-rate scheming. Lucky for die-hard fans like myself, this week’s episode played out as if it were 2007, complete with shocking twists and revolting revelations.

For this week’s recap, I thoroughly thought out techniques to summarize all of the emotions that swept over me during an hour of nail biting and edging to the end of your seat. How could I describe the sense of relief as Serena rushed to Chuck to reveal the highly dramatic reason for Blair’s change of heart (the pathetic pact Blair had made with her acquaintance upstairs)? How could I describe the excitement of the royal roast as Gossip Girl’s Blair Blast interrupted the ceremonial bliss? How could I describe the sense of utter contempt as Louis and Blair said “I do” and cut their hideous wedding cake together? How could I describe the shocking pangs of excitement as Louis finally added something meaningful to the plot? How could I explain the sadness I felt as Dan pulled up the getaway car for the royal runaway? And lastly, how could I explain the confusion as Gossip Girl’s identity was revealed so suddenly, without warning?

I realized why not let our favorite socialites do the talking. Here are some of this week’s most memorable quotes!

Gossip Girl: ”Once upon a time, Princess B was a virgin queen and her king was named Archibald. Who would have thought that in just five short years she would turn that headband into a tiara for real?”

Celebrating the present goes hand-in-hand with taking a look back at the past. You can’t be thankful for today if you don’t look at the journey you took to get here, which is why this line was fabulously fresh yet totally in line with Gossip Girl tradition. Witty and memorable, Gossip Girl reminds viewers that Queen B of Constance Billard School is now the soon to be Princess B of Monaco. Her king Archibald is a nice lead into Nate’s storyline for the episode, which was reflecting on his pathetic love life over the past few years. Too bad his new love interest is still in the inner circle of Upper East side drama (the real Charlie Rhodes)—they just can’t seem to get away can they?

 

Chuck Bass: ”I can’t allow you to destroy Blair’s wedding. You think because I love her, I want her all to myself, but I’m not that man anymore. I just want her to be happy, and if marrying Louis will do that for her, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Here’s a toast to “I’m Chuck Bass.” He had a few good years as the guy you love to hate, but I think I love him more as the guy you love to love. After pouring his heart out to B, professing that the one person who loves him is standing right next to him (for the millionth time), we finally get to see the changed Chuck Bass. Yes. I miss the devious, scheming Chuck, but there is something maturely manly about Manhattan’s most not-so-eligible bachelor. His selflessness reveals a true love that makes him that more attractive. Though if there were any time for Chuck to be selfish, this would be the time. GG fans can’t just chuck Chuck, and Blair can’t either.

 

Georgina Sparks: “Bless us, Father. I have a feeling we’re about to sin.”

Making the top of any list in the Upper East Side is a big deal, and for Georgina Sparks, taking the number one slot on Manhattan’s Elite Enemy list is exactly where she wants to be. Little did we know, Georgina’s competition for the number one enemy is none other than herself—Gossip Girl! The episode had to end with a bang, and with a bang it did. The revelation that Georgina is Gossip Girl is a little hard to believe. But that’s another conversation. Georgina utters these sweetly devilish words as she’s dressed in Father Carvallia’s cassock, or better yet the “divine intervention costume.” The elevator doors close, and the suspense lingers. Although Georgina isn’t my favorite character, her return definitely stirs the plot pot up. And with Jesus on her side (apparently, he owes her one) I really had no good guesses for what would happen next. The last thing I expected was Georgina to be typing the latest GG post. My guess? The writers are trying to throw us off, and Georgina is just really good at being really bad (a hacker perhaps). Guess we won’t be saying au revoir to Georgina for a while.

 

Serena: “I know that it scares you, and I know that it’s a risk. But don’t enter into a false life just because you’re afraid to face your real one.”

After the odd opening musical number with Serena starring as Marilyn Monroe and Blair filling in the shoes of Audrey Hepburn, I didn’t know what to think. I’ve analyzed television shows enough to know there was a little bit of foreshadowing, but in what way? Was Serena truly looking out for BFF Blair? After years of stupid decisions and failed relationships, Serena finally learns that you can’t lie to anyone about the way you truly feel. Whether it scares you or not, you have to be true to yourself. The heart-felt scene between the long-time lovebirds reveals a sense of maturity S rarely is known for. She is the friend that every girl needs, the friend that tells it like it is. “But maybe the pact is just an excuse to protect yourself from the messiness and uncertainty of a life with the man you really love.” Of course, Blair’s precious pact is more important than any advice from the people who care about her. She follows through with the over-the-top wedding, which includes hats on the guest list, and in turn, has to learn the hard way. As for the aforementioned foreshadowing, Serena’s musical dream includes a scene where she grabs Dan the one person she “keeps coming back to” but Dan rejects her for Blair. Nice touch GG writers. Once again, Serena puts herself out there and loses in the battlefield of love to none other than her best friend Queen B, er shall I say, Princess B. Oh, the irony.

Louis: “From now on, there is nothing between us but a contract. Our marriage is all for show. And you’re going to put on the best damn show anyone ever has. You’ll smile for cameras; stand by my side and wave like, like you don’t have a care in the world. And when we are alone, we’ll be like strangers to one another. And that will stay this way until I say its over.”

Eek. Seriously, this scene makes me shiver. Every bone in my body tensed up as Louis danced with his pretty princess, but whispered words of a mad man. A powerful mad man. Although I hate everything about Louis, including his terrible acting skills, I must say if this was the episode for him to actually evoke emotions from GG watchers, he succeeded. By far the best twist of the night for me. It was totally out of character for Louis, but very well scripted and perfectly executed. At least Blair had it in her to call her savior for help–too bad it still isn’t Chuck. You lucky, lucky Dair fans.

There is so much to look forward to for next week’s episode. Has Georgina been Gossip Girl all along? If you ask actress Michelle Trachtenberg, she’ll tell you she has no idea.

“I knew the 100th episode would end with a bang, but definitely didn’t expect that!” Michelle told US Weekly. She also said that it was probably a really big surprise for her cast mates since “big secret” scripts are only given out to the people involved in the scenes.

Are Dair fans in for a treat, while Chair fans have to angrily throw their towels in? How is Serena going to react to Blair’s Back-Up Plan having to do with Dan?  Here’s a sneak peak into the drama. See you next week!

Xoxo Sunny

Sana Ashraf is a fashion writer and fashion show intern and is a junior at the University of Michigan. Sana loves reading fashion magazines, shopping sprees, city lights, color coordinated closets, and all four seasons.

3 Things You Should Quit (And Start) Doing This Year!

One full month of 2012 has come and gone. Now that you’re well adjusted to the change of the year (it’s not so “new” anymore!), it’s time you let go of those habits that are holding you back and pick up some new, positive ones! Think you’re up for this CL challenge? Let’s find out!

3 Things To Quit

1. Comparing — Comparing yourself to others breeds jealousy, and jealousy is one unattractive trait! Learning to love yourself could be as simple as smiling to yourself everyday in the mirror, appreciating your curves, your “four-eyes,” or your frizzy hair, or it could turn into a journey that takes a little more soul-searching to fulfill. Either way, wishing you had what the girl sitting next to you has is a waste of your valuable time. Sending positive words instead of ones of envy will help you feel better about yourself, so tell her how stylish her outfit is and take with you inspiration for you own wardrobe.

2. Nail Biting — Nail biting is a nervous habit that millions of people have, making it even more difficult to break–you’ll probably walk by at least one nail-biter a day. Some women find it helpful to get their nails done which in turn makes them resist ruining their stylish manicure by biting at it.

3. Excessive Cursing – It’s natural to belt out a profane word or two when you’re upset, but cursing excessively may give off a less personable impression of you. Here at College Lifestyles, we live by a standard of staying classy, so refrain from muttering (or screaming) those four letter words that only offer temporary satisfaction. When you feel ready to curse, remind yourself to hold back. After a while, your brain will get the hang of it.

  3 Things To Try

1. Moving On – If you find yourself making unnecessary assumptions about people and situations, it’s the leftover anger, hatred, or mistrust from past grievances that’s getting in the way. Once you start trusting that negativity tests your mental and even physical strength, you’ll realize how tough of a woman you are. If you need help healing old wounds, seek a therapist or a trusted friend or family member to begin the coping process.

2. Read A Book Every Month — This year, tons of people have started challenging themselves with once-a-day tasks (blogging every day, eating a fruit a day). Reading one book is an accomplishment in itself so set your standards high and strive for finishing one book for every month, even if it’s a short book. To make this easier, you may want to stick to an area that excites you: history, women’s rights, love stories, or book series such as Gossip Girls or Stieg Larsson novels, for example.

3. Complimenting Yourself — CL wants you to be as confident as can be! The more you tell yourself that your “flaws” are in fact attributes, the more you’ll begin to believe in it. What you feed the mind, whether that be good or bad thoughts, manifests itself until you agree. So rather than hating your freckles, start telling yourself how much they compliment your skin and eyes and soon you’ll start to love what you’d grown to despise! 

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

 

CL Presents: Biggest Loser Week 5 Recap

Biggest Loser has proved to be full of drama.  Adrian and Daphne (the old aqua team) have made it onto the ranch and the Red Team isn’t adjusting well to Adrian being there.  He set a tone appearing on the ranch  saying he works out 14 hours a day implying that the Red Team wasn’t working hard enough.  The argument turned into a he-said-she-said and tension was building between team members.  Dolvett stepped in to try and settle the arguments but as the episode continued the team was still failing to mesh.

The challenge once again proved to be exciting.  Running in the sand is not as easy as the contestants expected.  Catching medicine balls in a net seems to be difficult, especially when there being bounced off a trampoline and over a wall.  The Black Team takes an early lead but quickly loses concentration.  As the Black Team is struggling the Red Team takes advantage and wins the challenge.  The Red Team wins the chance to pick one player from each team whose weight will not count at the weigh-in.

The black team is having problems of their own.  Chris is trying to prove to her team that she does want to be at the ranch after last week’s second guessing.  She is trying to get to know Chism and and Jeremy but they feel Chris is only doing this so she doesn’t get voted off the ranch.  Chris knows she is in jeopardy and has to be the biggest loser this week to claim immunity.

Both trainers, Bob and Dolvett have decided to use the treadmills at the last chance workout.  Dolvett gets frustrated with his team and pushes them to the max as Adrian back talks him the entire time.  On the other hand, Bob’s players never turn their treadmills on and are forced to get the tracks moving without pushing start.

The Red Team loses the weigh-in and is sent to the elimination room.  With 5 votes Nancy is sent home.  The team reminds her that she is an inspiration and truly will be missed.  Unfortunately it can’t be left at that.  Adrian speaks up saying by voting her off the ranch shows the contestants are just playing “the game.”  The team gets frustrated and tells Adrian to listen and not talk for the second time this week.  Adrian is also being accused of playing the game but insists he isn’t even sure what the game is yet.

Stephanie Coppola is an intern at College Lifestyles ™.  She is a graduate student at Quinnipiac University studying Interactive Communications.  Tune in next week for another recap of Biggest Loser!

Pretty Little Liars Recap: Double Identity

This week on Pretty Little Liars saw secrets being kept, secrets being revealed, and A’s game heats up and takes a scandalous turn.

Caleb is still hard at work at cracking all the files on the phone the girls retrieved, and they’re doing this all under Hanna’s nose.  Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Caleb are watching the video of Ian, Garret, and Jenna in Allison’s room to see if they can find any clues when the girls notice a fake id on Allison’s bed.  It ends up being a picture of Allison sporting dark locks, which was a very different fake id from the one Allison usually carried around.

Of course, just because Hanna is unaware of what’s happening behind her back doesn’t mean A is.  Hanna gets a message from A telling her to stop Caleb from continuing on the files or else A will tell everyone about the money Hanna’s mom stole from the bank when they were having financial troubles.  Hanna puts two and two together when she sees the picture of Allison’s fake id on Spencer’s phone, and she has it out with both Spencer and Caleb.  During her confrontation with Caleb, Hanna tells him about the stolen money, and tells him the phone he’s working on belongs to the only other person who knows about her mom’s crime.  Caleb suspects it’s Jenna who is threatening Hanna, so he pays a visit to the Cavanaugh/Marshall residence to warn the girl to back off.  He doesn’t get an answer, but he does get an unsettling visit from Garret who happens to be around during his patrol duty.  It’s obvious Garret is trying to scare Caleb away from delving further into the files.

On top of all this, Hanna also has to deal with her nasty step-sister Kate’s arrival at Rosewood High.  Spencer is convinced she has met Kate somewhere before Hanna’s dad’s wedding, but she has trouble placing her.  Kate ignores all of Spencer’s suspicions, and insists the two have never met before.  However, Spencer figures out Kate went to the camp where Melissa was a counselor, and apparently the girl had an unattractive skin condition which Spencer has photographic evidence of.  Kate asks Spencer what she wants in exchange for her discretion, and Spencer tells her to just be nice to Hanna or she will release the pictures.  Spencer doesn’t release those pictures of Kate, but another picture of her circulates around school.  A sent a nude picture of Kate to the whole school under Hanna’s name causing a whole other set of complications.

After Aria and Ezra’s reunion last week, Aria decides to keep their reconciliation from her friends at the risk of A finding out.  However, it does seem a bit unnecessary considering A knows everything anyway, and A isn’t the only one trying to keep the two apart.  At a get together of the Hollis faculty, Ezra is told he was nominated for an associate dean’s position at Hollis’ extension school in New Orleans.  If he accepts he has to move to Louisiana in a month.  Ezra is also told Byron is the one who nominated him for the position, which leads to a staring battle between the two because Byron’s intentions are clear.

The night of the faculty get together, Aria and Holden set up one of their dates where the two usually sneak off to do whatever it is they do, but when both their plans fall through they end up hanging out together and having a good time.  When the two are waiting for Byron to pick them up, Holden gets bumped into an air hockey table and hisses out in pain.  He lifts up his shirt to massage his side, and Aria catches site of a nasty bruise.  Holden tries to play it off saying it was a flag football injury, but Aria doesn’t buy it.  Holden tells her to just leave it alone, but now we finally have a hint about Holden’s story.

Emily has her own relationship troubles and high moments this episode.  Emily’s mom comes into town for a visit, and she invites both Emily and Maya to dinner.  When Emily and Pam enter the restaurant, Emily sees Maya talking to Noel about a phone app, which leads Emily to warn Maya Noel is not a nice guy.  During dinner Maya acts sarcastic and distracted, and she ends up spilling the beans about her fling with a boy when she was up at her rehabilitation camp.  Emily lashes out at Maya, and tells the girl she knows she was just trying to get a rise out of her mom.  However, the two make up when Maya admits she’s not completely over Emily’s mom getting her sent away, but she is sorry for her behavior.  Emily tells Maya she has a problem with her ex-fling, but not because it was a boy, but rather because now she has double the competition for Maya’s affections.  Maya tells her not to worry about it, and I love you’s are exchanged between the couple.

Spencer and Hanna end up making up after their fight as well, and Hanna tells Spencer about an encounter with Allison two years ago at a hair salon.  Allison was at the hair salon going by the name Vivian Darkbloom, and she was wearing a brunette wig.  In the flashback, Allison tells Hanna, “I’m being someone else so play along.”  She says she gets bored sometimes, so she likes to switch up her appearance.  Spencer looks up the name Vivian Darkbloom on the internet, and the girls discover it’s an anagram for the author Vladimir Nabokov who wrote the book Lolita. Lolita is about a middle-aged literature professor who gets sexually involved with his 12-year-old step-daughter.  Hanna tells Spencer she has Allison’s copy of Lolita, and when the two are rifling through it they find a claim ticket from a place called J&L.  Spencer calls the place, and it turns out they still have whatever Allison had on hold.

The episode ends with A going through Spencer’s dad’s office, and they pull out a gun from his desk.  This mystery is about to take an interesting, and perhaps twisted turn.

What do you think Allison has on hold at J&L? What could Holden be hiding?  Where has Jenna been hiding, since Garret still seems very in tune with everything the liars are doing?

Sound off in the comment section, and tune in next Monday to ABC Family for a new episode of Pretty Little Liars.

 

 

Monica Maldonado is a journalism and fashion merchandising student at the University of North Texas, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi.  When she’s not running around campus trying to find her next story, you can find her attached to her laptop, feeding her addiction to pop culture and fashion.

How to Celebrate Long-Distance Love

It’s Valentine’s Day, and since it falls on a Tuesday this year, if you don’t go to the same college as your significant other, chances are you won’t be able to be together on the big day. I’m in the same boat, and being five hours away from my man definitely is not going to stop me from celebrating. Here are five ideas to keeping Valentine’s Day extra special for you and your significant other, even when you are miles apart.

1. Set a video chat date for Tuesday night. If you have class, work, or another engagement, it doesn’t have to be right on V-Day. Don’t be afraid to be cheesy. Dress up, settle in front of your computer screen and tell your man how much you miss and love him over video chat. It’s of course not the same, but it is a way to connect with your other half when you’re not there. Especially if you don’t get to video chat much, this will be extra special. (Suggestion: download Skype, it’s easy!)
2. Use snail-mail. Everyone likes getting mail, especially when it’s love letters. Spend some time and write a letter telling him why you love him, how special he is to you, or the little things you miss the most about him. Make sure you send it early enough for him to get it by Valentine’s Day. You can either keep it a secret and surprise him with the card, or tell him to write one too, and that you both have to read it ON the big day.
3. Surprise him. Now, I know this isn’t possible for most. My other half is in New York City, while I’m in Upstate NY, and I have classes during the week. However, I am planning a trip for the weekend after, that way we will celebrate later. If you can afford it, make that your gift. Road trip to see your man, show up with a bow on your head, and bam: Happy Valentine’s Day to him!
4. Simple is okay. Don’t be stressed with expensive gifts. He knows you’re a college student, and can’t afford to buy him an iPhone. The simple things mean more to most men, just like women. Like stated above, sending a card or video chatting is cute, and not too overwhelming for the man either.
5. Have fun with it. Let your man know you don’t need the cliché flowers and chocolates. Have fun with your gifts. This way, you can get each other silly gifts and save money. If you do decide to go visit, make dinner together. It saves money and keeps you cozy!

Got tips? Leave them below! If you need more advice, send us an email at intern@collegelifestyles.org!

 

Emily Longeretta is an editorial and social media intern for College Lifestyles (TM). When she’s not video chatting with her NYC boyfriend, she is working four internships and going to school full time, graduating in May.

Five Reasons Being Single is Fabulous

With Valentine’s Day quickly creeping up on us, it’s hard to walk through a store without feeling a little bit of loneliness if your status is single. Suddenly boxed chocolates, flowers and everything red becomes unattractive for a month. But being happy doesn’t mean having a significant other to give you those things. After meeting loser after loser (losers with secret girlfriends, losers with commitment issues, losers who are immature), I decided to stop looking for happiness in someone else and start finding it within myself.  Being single in college can undoubtedly be one of the best statuses because you can figure out what you want without the baggage of someone else’s influence.

If you’re feeling a bit grim knowing this year Feb. 14 will be spent alone, here’s why being “lonely” isn’t all that bad:

1. Friends come first 

The friends I have made in the past six months while being single are ones I can always count on. I guarantee if I was in a relationship, these friends wouldn’t be ones I now consider family. Being single gives me the time to make them a first priority.

2. Endless possibilities

Internship in New York? Last minute vacation with a friend? No problem when you’re the only person you have to worry about.

3. Independence is attractive

Who run the world? Girls! Beyonce says it all when it comes to independent women being confident and appealing. I’m not talking about being appealing to guys but exhibiting an independent confidence is attractive in all walks of life especially when applying for jobs.

4. You learn about yourself 

You have to love yourself first before you can love someone else. Being single forces you to be comfortable being alone.  Through spending time with just yourself, you learn your real needs, wants, and desires without someone else influencing your decisions.

5. Expressing yourself in your own way

When I had a boyfriend, there were numerous times he would go, ‘You’re wearing that?’ Some guys just don’t understand women’s fashion! From wedges to leggings, go ahead and wear what you want to make yourself happy without worrying about someone else’s opinion.

 

Next time your friend is being all cute with her boyfriend, don’t get jealous. Be happy with the relationship you have with the most important person in your life: you!

If you’re feeling confident enough to move on from being single and are looking for a significant other, read Meaghan’s guide on When to Make the First Move. 

 

Jessica Fecteau is a  senior fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, listening to indie/folk music and traveling to big cities.

 

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