From premieres to red carpets to runways, here are some of the most head-turning looks we spotted on our favorite celebrities this year.  

1. Kerry Washington at the Emmys

Kerry always seems to rock the red carpet, but our favorite look this year was the gorgeous Marchesa dress she wore to the Emmys.

2. Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes

Amy made menswear look totally chic in this tailored Stella McCartney pantsuit.

3. Taylor Swift at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show

It’s hard to stand out when you’re surrounded by Angels, but Taylor managed to steal the opening number in this Union flag-print mini-dress. 

4. Lady Gaga at the MTV VMAs

Lady Gaga loves to push the envelope when it comes to fashion, but her shockingly low-key black Prabal Gurung gown proved that she could look just eye-catching while keeping it simple.  

5. Miley Cyrus at the Met Gala

Only Miley could pull off the crazy spiky hair and the black fishnet-like Marc Jacobs number that she wore to the 2013 Met Gala.

6. Rihanna at the Grammys

Rihanna looked simply stunning in this red Azzedine Alaia gown, which was a welcome departure from her usual gritty street style.

7. Cara Delevingne at The Great Gatsby premiere

Cara wowed in this tasteful black Burberry dress at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

8. Blake Lively the Met Gala

We drooled over the tiered Gucci ball gown that Blake wore to this year’s Met Gala.

9. Kate Middleton at St. Mary’s Hospital

Nobody made childbirth look more glamorous than Kate when she emerged from London’s St. Mary’s Hospital in this custom-made polka-dot dress by British designer Jenny Packham.

10. Lea Michele at the People’s Choice Awards

Lea looked adorable in this envy-worthy pink Elie Saab mini-dress.

11. Heidi Klum at the Golden Globes

We thought Heidi’s white one-shoulder Alexandre Vauthier gown was the perfect mix of sophisticated and sexy.

12. Sienna Miller at the Met Gala

Nothing was bolder than Sienna’s pairing of a white gown with a studded Burberry motorcycle jacket.

13. Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars

Though she may have tripped over it while going up to accept her award, J-Law still stunned in this white Christian Dior gown.

As New Year’s Eve approaches, it’s the first thought that pops into every girl’s head: “Who will I kiss when the clock strikes midnight?” The age-old tradition of a New Year’s kiss brings couples closer together or allows single people everywhere to escape loneliness for the New Year. Whether you’re ringing in 2014 with a longtime boyfriend or hitting up a party with your single friends, New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity for spontaneous romance! Here are a few reasons why it’s fun to have a New Year’s kiss.

1. You can set a positive (and romantic!) tone for 2014.

2. You can score a cute picture for Instagram.

3. You can finally make a move on the guy you like.

4. You can feel like the star of your own personal rom-com.

5. You can forget about the hard year you’ve had.

6. You can have a great story to tell later.

7. You can strengthen the bond between you and your significant other.

8. You can escape the superstition of loneliness for the New Year.

9. You can put your new lipstick to use.

10. You can feel like your cute outfit is being appreciated.

11. You can stop complaining about being forever alone.

12. You can get away from the snack table.

13. You can have someone to warm you up in the cold.

14. You can tune out the blaring television and music playing.

15. You can forget that you weren’t kissed under the mistletoe this Christmas.

16. You can feel spontaneous.

17. You can pretend to be Gabriella and Troy from High School Musical.

18. You can pretend to be Marissa and Ryan from The O.C.

19. You can burn calories.

20. You can try to break the world’s longest kiss record of 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds (but don’t blame us if your host gets annoyed).

21. You can boost your self-esteem.

22. You can end a boring conversation.

23. You can reassure yourself that you are a good kisser.

24. You can make your friends jealous.

25. You can make your ex-boyfriend jealous.

26. You can say goodbye to 2013.

Why are you excited to get a New Year’s kiss this year, collegiettes? Let us know in the comments below!

Your hair is done, your dress is on and your best friends are waiting to start the night. It’s finally New Year’s Eve, and as you prepare to go celebrate, you snap a selfie with a caption that reads, “New Year, New Me” and post it to Instagram.

Sound familiar? If you’ve never taken a photo like this, you’ve definitely at least seen one (or 10). What you probably don’t consider as you choose your favorite filter is that uploading Instagram clichés like this will likely just make your followers scroll past your pic without paying it a second glance.

Want to showcase your spin on one of the most fun nights of the year without falling into the typical habits of your Instagram news feed? Her Campus is here to help. Here’s a guide on how to put a unique twist on the New Year’s Eve Instagram clichés that even the most social media-savvy users succumb to.

1.The Midnight Makeout

If there’s anything a college girl loves to hate, it’s seeing happy couples expressing their admiration for each other via social media. On New Year’s Eve in particular, it seems like your Instagram feed is overwhelmed with selfies of couples kissing at midnight. While it’s great that you’re engaging in this age-old NYE tradition, posting a picture of it can be irritating and invasive to your followers.

“Last New Year’s Eve I remember scrolling through my Instagram feed and seeing everyone’s midnight kiss,” says Amanda Lieberman, a junior at the University of Delaware. “I feel like that’s something that should be enjoyed between the two people and not really something all of their followers need to experience with them. It’s just too personal.”

The Fix:

You know that campus couple who always seems to be upbeat and laughing? Ever wonder why they’re so well known? Because instead of trying to show off their relationship, they just have fun together! If you and your beau are into each other, chances are there’s a more interesting way to show off your relationship than by putting your lip-lock on display.

“Last New Year’s Eve, I posted a picture on Instagram of me and my boyfriend wearing ridiculous hats and themed glasses while wrapped in obnoxiously sparkly decorations from around the house,” says Kim Davidson, a senior at Lehigh University. “At first I was afraid that people would think it was boring and typical, but I guess that my followers were happy to see a couple actually having fun on NYE instead of just another too-close-for-comfort type of picture. That was my most popular Instagram picture to date; it got over 100 likes!”

Like this couple, approach your picture with fun rather than flirtation by posing with props or decorations (and on New Year’s Eve, there’s sure to be plenty to choose from!) to not only give your followers a more comfortable viewing experience, but also one that they’ll genuinely like.

2.Bottles in the Air

While we know popping bottles can be a great part of a collegiette’s New Year’s Eve, posting blurry pictures with beer cans scattered in the background as you chug a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly is not only unoriginal, but it can also make you look sloppy. Remember, not only are your friends checking out your pics, but employers can see them too, so keep your social media clean!

The Fix:

If you want to make your alcohol the focus of your picture, make sure you’re doing so in a way that keeps your photos as classy as you are. Before uploading your pic to Instagram, try giving it an artistic edge by using a free editing app, like Photo Splash Pro, to draw attention to your celebratory drink in a way that’s classy and interesting.

3. Outfit Overdose

We know you look great on NYE, but there’s a way to show that off without telling your followers that you know it, too. On this night in particular, it seems that Instagram is overflowing with pictures of collegiette solo shots against a white wall in an attempt to show off their fabulous evening attire. While we’re sure all of your pictures are gorgeous, it’s important to show this in a way that doesn’t come across like you’re conceited.

The Fix:

Instagram is a great way to show off your artistic ability! In a room with a wall that has a unique design? Don’t think that posing with it takes away from the outfit in your photo – it actually enhances it!

Focusing on color is a great way to make a picture artistic, and by drawing a bit of attention toward something other than just yourself looking fab, your picture will be interesting to look at while still showing off your look for the night. Use the different editing tools the app has to offer and take a picture that relates your outfit to another part of your night, such as a color, design or structure. Remember to play with angles, filters and cropping to make your pic more interesting!

4.A Pic Stitch Recap of 2013

While New Year’s Eve is a great time to reflect on times both good and bad from the past year, posting all of that to Instagram takes away from what you’re enjoying about the night itself and is an unnecessary post for your followers who have likely already seen those pictures anyways!

“I don’t even bother looking at Instagram on New Year’s Eve because I know it’s just going to be filled with girls’ collages of the past year,” says Philip Neslund, a senior at the University of Delaware. “To be honest, if I want to see everything that every girl ever did in 2013, I’ll just go look for myself.”

The Fix:

With Transformation Tuesdays, Throwback Thursdays and Flashback Fridays already dominating Instagram, there’s no need to include a collage of your best memories of 2013 on NYE. If you really want to draw attention to a life-changing moment from the past year, select only one favorite photo memory. Instead of posting a picture of you and your friends laughing, go for one that’s unlike any other shot you have! Post it early on in the night so that when the celebrations start, your followers can see what you’re loving right now instead of what you were loving months ago.

5. The Clock Shot

Many collegiettes like to wish their followers a happy New Year by posting a picture of the clock just as it hits 12. Because your friends already know what time the New Year starts (duh), avoid this type of post and give them something entertaining to look at rather than an obvious update.  

The Fix:

If you want to be behind the lens when the clock strikes 12, take pictures of the events around you in a way that incorporates all angles of the room you’re in as opposed to a solo shot or a picture of your clock. For a unique view of the first moments of your new year, try the panoramic feature on the iPhone 4S, 5 and 5S, or use the Pano app that automatically creates a panorama of up to 16 photos that you’ve taken. If you want to show your photos of the magical moment in a more artistic way, try Image Blender, an app that allows you to blend or layer multiple images into one.

6. Handwritten Resolutions

Want to post your NYE resolutions on social media? Stick to Twitter. Taking a picture of a written-out list of resolutions has become an all-too-common trend on Instagram during the New Year. Remember, Instagram is an app for your best photos, not your innermost thoughts.

The Fix

Rather than simply telling your followers your goals via a written list, show them through pictures as the year progresses! For example, If you’re starting a new goal of running, take a picture of the action or capture the view as you do it and post it to Instagram for a view your followers will enjoy seeing as opposed to reading.

New Year’s Eve is one of the most picture-worthy nights of the year, so why waste your picture-perfect moments on boring Instagram clichés? If you really want to embody the “New Year, New Me” mentality, mix things up a little bit with these creative and exciting Instagram ideas. And while you’re at it, make sure to tag @hercampus in your posts to share your night with HC! 

Name: Ryan Sehrer
School: JMU
Year: 2014 (freshman)
Hometown: Annandale, VA
Major: Justice Studies

Involvement on Campus: ACJA (American Criminal Justice Association), Intramural sports official

Interests: Redskins, Caps, the beach

Fun fact: Played trumpet in jazz band

Name: Tyler Snyder
Age: 20
School: WMU
Major: Criminal Justice

If you could be any cartoon character, which would it be?
Luigi
What is in your CD player right now?
Kid Cudi
What actor would you want to play you in a biography about your life?
Brad Pitt
What was your favorite class in high school and why?
Team sports, it was an easy blow off class

Name: Andrew Spark
School: Leeds
Age: 19
Degree: Criminology and Criminal Justice
Hometown: Skipton
Relationship Status: Single

You can usually find me... In the Union common room chomping on a £2 meal deal

Name: Ryan Gallup
Hometown: Bronson
Age: 20
School: C Mich
Major: Criminal Justice        
Relationship Status: Single

If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you bring?
My laptop, a toothbrush, and a picture of my family.

Boxers or Briefs: Briefs.

Where is your favorite place to hang out on campus?
The RFOC.

Blondes or Brunettes: Brunettes

What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
Bridge jumping? That’s pretty crazy, right?

What qualities do you admire in the opposite sex?
Good sense of humor, independence, intelligence, and class!

What’s your favorite movie?
The Shawshank Redemption

Any awesome or hidden talents?
I can solve a Rubik’s cube! I can do a standing backflip and I can do double backflips on a trampoline/diving board!

What is your ideal or dream date?
Going to a nice restaurant for dinner then a concert, of her choice, at night.

Who is your Hollywood crush?
Katy Perry, hands down.

Name: Stephen Moran
Age: 20
School: Montclair
Year: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice
Sign: Gemini

Name: Luke Somogye ‘14
Age: 19
School: Illinois State
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Orland Park
Affiliations: Criminal Justice Society
Relationship Status: Single

Ideal Date: Breaking into an abandoned house and setting up a nice candlelit dinner.

Favorite Foods: bratwurst, Potbellys, Chipotle

First thing you notice about a girl: Her feet.

Last song played on iPod: "Hit em’ Up"– Tupac

Celebrity Crush: Jennifer Aniston

Where you see yourself in ten years: Working on S.W.A.T

Random fact about yourself: I work at Jamba Juice in the Rec center… come say hi!

Name: Roosevelt White but I go by my middle name Tre
School: Arizona State
Year: Junior/Senior (credit wise)
Major: Criminal Justice
Relationship Status: Super Single
Hometown: Lawton, Oklahoma

In three words, how would your friends describe you? Goofy, energetic and dog lover.

Are you in Greek Life? If so, which fraternity and why? Yes. Theta Chi (ΘΧ) and because I love everyone in my chapter. We all have different ideas and goals but we work together to make a difference. We are a brotherhood.

What is the most attractive thing about a female? I like to smile, so I love teeth however I love pretty, polished nails and toes.

What would be your ideal date? 
If I get to learn some things about my date, she makes me laugh (or vice versa), she is completely herself, maybe go listen to poetry or have dinner, but at the end of the date I would like to walk Tempe Town Lake.

What do you like to do in your free time? 
Workout, sports, chill with some fraternity brothers, eat (I love food), watch Luther, or just hang out with my puppy, Kobe.

What is your favorite ASU memory so far? Pledging my fraternity and meeting all of my awesome friends.

What is your favorite thing about ASU girls? 
The majority of them are beautiful, very diverse and they are all here for one reason - to graduate.

Who is your celebrity crush? 
Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry and Candice Swanepoel.

What is your favorite song right now? 
It’s not really a song but Lil Wayne’s mixtape, Dedication 5, has been on repeat since it came out.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 
The Duck Face, tangled headphones or people who blame everyone else for their own failures. 

Name: Aaron Nichols
School: Arizona State
Year: 2015
Major: Criminal Justice and minor in Russian
Hometown: Long Beach, California
Activities: Golf
Relationship Status: Single

What do you like to do for fun? Any Hobbies?
Bowling, golf, hanging out, eating at In-and-Out, and tickling random strangers.

How would you describe yourself in 5 words?
Sexy, weird, random, awkward, and sexy.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I’m right-handed, but can play guitar left-handed.

What do you love the most about ASU?
The women.

What is your all-time favorite movie?
Oh, um, let’s see… You didn’t prep me for this so now I gotta think. I’ll go with Salt Lake City (SLC) Punk. That’s a classic.

Favorite T.V. show?
Walking Dead.

Favorite Artist/Band?
Devotchka.

Who is your celebrity male and female crush?
Ryan Gosling (smiles) and Sasha Grey.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation, so that way I can be anywhere I want.

What is your biggest turn on/ turn off?
Biggest turn-off is superficiality. Biggest turn-on would be the quiet, nerdy-girl look. Or actually, it would be someone that can be true to themselves and not worry about what’s the status quo.

Describe your ideal date.
Chucky Cheese! Just kidding, that’s probably not fun. Um, an ideal date would be paintballing. I love paintballing ladies. (winks)

What is the first thing you notice about a girl?
Keeping it PG, I would probably say her smile.

Can you tell us your favorite pick-up line, and if it has worked on someone.
I don’t think I’ve ever used a pick-up line. I just do random weird lines, but I like, “What’s cookin' good lookin'?" which I actually do say a lot.

And lastly, how do you feel about being our first Campus Cutie?
Very honored.

Name: Drew Woodford
School: WVWC
Year: Sophomore
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Clarksburg, W.Va.
Relationship Status: Single

Activities: Running and Shooting Sports

Favorite Movie: ACT OF VALOR (BEST MOVIE EVER)

Favorite Food: Lasagna

Dream Date: Late night surf at Queensland, Australia.

Celeb Crush: Alana Blanchard (a surfer, lol)

Turn-ons: Runners
Turn-offs: Egos

Country or City Girl: Country

Blonde or Brunette: Blonde for sure

Best feature on a girl: Personality

Hidden Talent: Shooting Sports. I was trained by an ex-Marine and ex-Paratrooper with the use of shotguns and high-power rifles.

Name: Colin Sullivan
Hometown: Shalimar, FL
Relationship Status: Single
School: Ole Miss
Major: Criminal Justice
Class Year: Junior

Greek Affiliation: Sigma Chi Fraternity

Favorite Hobbies: ROTC, loving America, playing sports, and reading William Faulkner.

Colin has a great heart and he's one of the best friends you could ever have. His determination to be an officer in the army is admirable, yet he can break from the seriousness and be silly and always make you laugh. Most importantly, Colin loves Ole Miss so much and is a sweet Southern gentleman. 

Name:Jonathan Hockey
Age: 24
School: App State
Class: Exchange Student
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Major: Criminal Justice

What's your number one song played on iTunes?
Misery Business by Paramore...embarrassing!

If you could date any celebrity, who would it be?
If I could date any celebrity, it would have to be Selena Gomez.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Athletic, confident, and nerdy!

What's your favorite thing about Appalachian?
This is cliche but it would have to be the people.  I love meeting everyone and making new friends everyday!

Name:Patrik Loftus
School: UCF
Major: Interdisciplinary studies, studying psychology and criminal justice

Age: 21
Hometown: Born in Boston, but raised in the Tampa area. 813 represent!


What's your favorite part about UCF?
I like that it's a circle and really easy to get around because I get lost very easily.


What are your hobbies?
I like to do pretty much anything, hang out with friends, go to the beach, anything outdoors, really.

What are you passionate about?
I have always loved helping people, which gave me an interest in criminal justice, where serving and bringing justice in those in need is the main priority.

What do you find most attractive in a girl?
A girl that is confident with who they are, not afraid to be a little different, and, most importantly, has a sense of humor
.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Aubrey Plaza from "Parks and Recreation," I love her dry/sarcastic sense of humor, and she is also cute as can be!


What would be your ideal date?
My ideal date would be doing something outdoors together that we can both have a good time doing, eating dinner at a restaurant on the beach, and then taking a bike ride on the beach enjoying the sunset and each other’s company.


What's the nicest thing you've ever done for a girl?
I have done a lot of really nice things for girls in the past, but the one that really stands out to me is the one time I opened the door for this girl. She was really impressed, and it felt great to be a gentleman.

Name: Jimmy Timmons
School: Mercer
Major: Criminal Justice and Sociology

3 words that describe you: Loyal, affectionate, giving

Personality or Looks: Both but more so personality than anything

Where would you take a girl on your first date? 
Depends on the girl and what she’s interested in. Something that is engaging, interesting, and that we both can enjoy. Ultimately, I would take her to a setting that will allow us to get to know each other better.

What’s a deal breaker? Being conceited, lack of personal hygiene, cigarette smoker, and someone who can’t get along with my friends

Celebrity Crush: Melanie Iglesias

Name: Nick Henderson
School: Rowan
Year: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice
Sign: Leo

Where you can find Nick: On the baseball field

Fun Fact: Yes ladies, Nick’s a model. Enough said.

If you were given a superlative what would it be?
Best smile.

Whats your weirdest habbit?
I’m kind of, I don’t know, not OCD about it but I like to be neat. But that’s not really weird.

What’s your best pickup line?
You’re so beautiful you made me forget my pickup line.

Describe your perfect Rowan girl?
A girl that’s chill but knows how to party still, outgoing, nice smile and humble.

Whats the mosting confusing thing that girls do?
I just never understood when a girl and a guy, at 4 in the morning, are walking back to your place and then she’s like ‘No, (gives the not interested gesture).’ You know what I’m talking about.
I think we all know what he’s talking about here girls. We’ve all done it.

Do you have any relationship advice?
Be yourself.

Name: Devonte Davis
Age: 19
School: App State
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: High Point, NC
Major: Criminal Justice
Relationship Status: Single

When you’re not in the classroom, where can we find you in Boone?
Hanging out with my friends, playing video games, or lounging.

Favorite thing about Appalachian State University:
Being in a fraternity.

Biggest turn-on: A girl that loves sports and is not shy to approach me to talk.
Biggest turn-off: A girl that is stuck up and always has a negative attitude.

Celebrity crushe(s): Jessica Alba and Kim Kardashian.

Favorite Ice-Cream Flavor: Cookies and cream.

Biggest pet peeve: Girls that lie.

What is your perfect date?
A nice movie, dinner, and good conversation.

What do you look for in a girl?
Someone that is cute, funny, able to hold a conversation, nice body, somewhat athletic, intelligent, loves to have fun but also has self control and someone I could be able to be with in front of my family.

Name: Chris Ewing
School: Suffolk
Year: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice
Relationship status: Single
Zodiac Sign: Leo

What are you looking for in a girl: A girl that can make me laugh and like me for who I am.

Biggest pet peeve: Dirty people. Also when people don’t tell me how they really feel.

Favorite activity in Boston: Bruins games

Ideal first date: Taking a girl to the beach

Where do you see yourself in 10 years: Just happy

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be and why: 
Azores which is in Portugual, mainly because its where my family is from.

Favorite Music: I like a little bit of everything- classical, rap, and country.

Something most people don’t know about you: I was born in Harlem.... My family owns guns.

Man Crush: Christiano Ranaldo

If you were locked in a classroom with one person from Suffolk, who would it be: Sam Nasseta

Most embarrassing moment: When I had to tell my mom I got caught smoking pot for the first time.

Favorite Store: Cabellas

Hobbies: Fishing, Drinking on the water with my friends, going to the beach, playing golf.

Name: Chris Toompas
School: WVWC
Year: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Philippi, WV
Relationship status: Single

What are your favorite hobbies? Going to WVU football and basketball games, shooting guns, fishing, and riding.

If you could spend the day with anyone, who would it be? My deceased Grandfather

Celebrity crush: Amy Adams

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Chocolate Chip

Camaro, Camaro? I do love muscle cars and trucks, and of course motorcycles.

What kind of Harley do you drive? It's a black Harley Sportster 1200.

If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be? Respectful

Hidden talent: I can kinda get by playing the guitar and singing some country music, and I play the Sax in my church's worship band.

Who else do you know that has their own Harley? Chris is truly one-of-a-kind! You can catch him checking out Aladdin's ice cream selection after dinner every night. Keep your eyes peeled for him, ladies!

Now that you’ve received a ton of holiday cards and (hopefully) gotten everything on your wish list, it’s time to focus on the next big holiday: New Year’s Eve. And, unfortunately, NYE parties are pretty hit or miss—people are either dancing it up until 3 a.m. or quietly sneaking out the door once the ball has dropped. If you’ve decided to throw a party this year and are looking to say goodbye to 2013 in style, Her Campus has got you covered with nine fun ideas to amp up your get-together.

1. Dinner Plates with Clocks Underneath

What better place setting to have for a party counting down ‘til 2014 than a clock? You can pick up cheap clocks and glass plates at the dollar store and set the clocks underneath the plates before your guests arrive. Be sure to mix and match colors or clocks to add variety!

2. 2014 Resolutions Chalkboard

Have a 2014 Resolutions chalkboard hanging up when people walk in the door where they can write their resolution at the beginning of the night. Later on it will be fun to see what everyone is looking to accomplish in the coming year!

3. Dress Up as Your Favorite Thing From 2013

New Year’s Eve is a perfect excuse to dress up, so why not do it as your favorite thing from 2013? Have your guests come dressed as their favorite person, event, thing, etc. from the past year. If you’re having a big party, it will give guests who don’t know each other an instant conversation starter!

4. 2013 Singles CD

Ask your guests to submit their three favorite songs that were released this past year and put together an awesome playlist for your party. It’ll have everyone dancing late into the night!

5. New Year’s Bingo

Make Bingo cards with funny or cute things that happened to you and your friends this year for a quick and funny game to play with everyone. Write down all the experiences and put them in a bowl, and when you pull one out and read the experience out loud, have people mark it on their bingo card with a piece of candy! This is great for a small party or a bigger get-together.

6. Party Favors as Decorations

For a quick and easy way to spice up your place, use 2014 party favors as decorations. Head over to the dollar store to pick up all the hats, sparklers, crazy glasses, banners, and noisemakers to instantly put people in the party mood.

7. Midnight Snack

Depending on how long your guests stay to hang out and sip on drinks after the ball drops, you can send them off with a yummy midnight snack to enjoy on their way home. It can be anything from candy to cookies. Mini cinnamon rolls wrapped in plastic with a bow tied at the top are a fun and different snack to give out!

8. Photo Balloons

Another great way to reminisce over 2013 is to have guests send you their favorite picture from the past year. You can tie each picture to the end of a long balloon string and set them throughout the party or over your dinner table.

9. Confetti Filled Poppers

If you’re a fan of confetti at midnight (and really, who isn’t?) try out this DIY décor idea. Use a roll of toilet paper and wrap it in tissue paper. Then, with a sewing needle, pull thread through the end of your popper, which will be the bottom. Add confetti, and tie the other end of your popper with fishing line to hang from the ceiling.

Happy New Year!

We count down the days until break begins, and by the end we are counting down the days until we go back to school. I think it’s easy to say that winter break is the biggest love-hate relationship of every college kid’s life. Christmas cookies, holiday shopping, seeing your family and ugly sweater parties. The list of things we love about winter break could go on forever. But, what about the stuff we hate? The much anticipated question, “how’s school? Have you picked your major yet?” and even worse, the terrible gifts that you absolutely hate but pretend to absolutely love. Winter break is great, but it also comes at a cost. Let’s take a look at the 20 parts about winter break that we absolutely loathe.  

1. You have to make-up for all of the doctor appointments you have been rescheduling for the past four months. It’s finally time to get updated on your Hepatitis A-Z shots and finish up all of those ones that have like, 50 parts to them. 21 years old and you still want to punch the nurse when she comes at you with those needles…

http://some-antics.com/gif/images/fuckyouann.gif?w=840

2. Procrastination means you are stuck Christmas shopping with all of the crazy mall moms.  As it turns out, your genius idea to do last minute gift searching wasn’t so genius after all….

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3. Your whole family wants to know how school and work is going, and the story of your over achieving cousin’s life ensues. Apparently she developed some cancer-curing medical laser. Big whoop.   

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4. You are so poor that you actually have no choice but to go back to work

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5. You miss your roommates so much it actually hurts. You usually know what they had for breakfast and the last time they went to the bathroom, but now you are all out of the loop on their life in the past three weeks.

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6. You forgot how flippin’ boring being home is; no house parties or college bars. You are so bored that you and your friends decide to do the only thing there is to do in your hometown…. go bowling.

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7. You keep your head down and sunglasses on when you go to the grocery store for your mom, until you hear the dreaded, “OMG Katie! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Crap…

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8. Your aunt tries so hard every year to get you a great gift, but she seems to forget that sweaters with fringed sleeves and musical snow globes aren’t really your thing. You attempt to look and act as enthused as possible …..

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… and cue your mom.

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9. Your parents drag you to their work holiday parties, because “all of my the other co-workers kids will be there, and they’re your age!”

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10. It’s been a while since your mom has been there to check-up on your every single move- “what are you doing?”, “what time will you be back?”, “who all was there?” Now you even find yourself annoyed when she asked what you had for dinner.

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11. There are always at least a few days of your break that you spend in a flu-like misery. Being home is like some trigger to your immune system. Just because you are in your own bed with your mom around to take care of you, your body automatically thinks it’s okay to get sick.

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12. Your relatives seem to forget that you turned 21 a year ago, and they have these huge concerns about your drinking habits…

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So, to protect your dignity and save yourself from getting the “responsible drinking” talk one more time, you find it easier to just sneak a few drinks when Grandma isn’t looking.

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13. On that note, you have some of your worst hangovers over winter break. Between reunions with old high school friends, holiday parties, lonely wine nights and New Years Eve, your head has never hurt so badly.

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14. All of your coupled friends can never hang out because they have to go to their boyfriend’s family Christmas. Plus, you and your few single friends are left to grieve together over the millions of Instagram pictures of promise rings and secret weekend getaways to some romantic ski lodge.

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15. Your mom has an increased concern about your strict Lean Cuisine and Spaghettio diet. She gingerly leaves you “Green Monster” health smoothies on the counter in the morning and cuts up fresh fruit for you to eat before she leaves for work.

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16. Your hair is practically fried from having to wash, dry and style it every night for some sort of Christmas festivity. Showering starts to feel like even more of a chore than it did before.

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And you are running out of outfits and ugly Christmas sweaters to wear.

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17. Due to the fact that your parent’s Christmas break is only about four days, they are secretly hoping they can trick you into doing some weird last minute and forgotten chores around the house, like separating the Christmas bows by color and dusting the knobs on the china cabinet

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18. All five of your cousins conveniently got the lead role as Jesus in their Christmas play, which means you have to stare at hand-painted, cardboard nativity scenes every Sunday night of Christmas break.

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19. No matter how big or small your family is, there is always that lingering uncle or second cousin twice removed that you have never met. And to top it off, you can never remember their name. “Is it John? Or is it Jack? Screw it, I can’t remember.”

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20. Perhaps the worst part of winter break? Your parents continuously nag you to get off the couch and be productive. You know what mom and dad? I slaved over a $600 textbook all semester, living off of five hours of sleep. I am going to be as lazy as I want and I don’t care what you think.

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So, there you have it; the 20 most awful, terrible, despised parts of our winter break. But hey, we better learn to love even those parts…. because one day, a month long winter break will be a thing of our past. 

While not everyone can rent out AT&T Park and a 50-piece orchestra for a Kimye-worthy proposal, these seven men have come up with creative proposals that every girl dreams of. Forsake a night of romantic comedies to watch real-life dreams come true in these heartwarming proposal videos!

1. A Blockbuster Proposal

Taking his girlfriend back to the restaurant where they had their first date, Justin turns his proposal into an impressive movie. Just imagine how much time went into planning this amazing proposal! 

2. A LipDub Proposal

LipDub proposals seem to be all the rage these days, but watch Brad really nail it when he brings in his and Emily’s friends and family to give him a hand. Her reaction is priceless!

3. Luvabull Proposal

Chicago Bulls dancer Ariana gets the surprise of a lifetime during a performance. Watch her shock when her fellow Luvabulls switch up the choreography on her!

4. Home Depot Marriage Proposal

Dustin’s uneventful trip to Home Depot takes a dramatic turn when he is surprised by a flash mob of friends and family. It’s no surprise that this romantic proposal has had more than 11 million hits on YouTube and has appeared on Ellen!

5. Making the Movies Jealous

People are always complaining about trailers at the movies, but thank goodness Ginny didn’t skip these ones! This impressive proposal “makes the movies jealous!”

6. In Descent Proposal

What Carlie thought was going to be the last ride of her life soon turned out to be the best! See how Ryan tricked his girlfriend into thinking they were about to crash!

7. A Six-Year Plan

This one definitely takes the cake for the most planning! This lucky girl didn’t even know she was being proposed to until she saw it on camera!    

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle, so why wait until the New Year when you can start that healthy lifestyle now? Instead of serving junk food at your New Year’s Eve party, swap some of the dishes for healthier options instead. We put together some healthy snacks and drinks to serve at your party this year! They’re still delicious, but you won’t have to feel bad about pigging out on these foods.

Snacks

1. Hummus and Carrots
Recipe from CHOW

Rather than munching on chips and dip, as delicious as that may be, try switching it out for hummus and carrots instead. Hummus is rich in fiber and protein and contains several vitamins and minerals. Homemade hummus is also much better than store-bought hummus because it’s fresh and it’s super easy to make. In Provence, France, chickpeas represent money and good fortune because they resemble coins and expand when cooked. So maybe your hummus will bring you a fortune in 2014! Try this recipe and hope for the best.

Ingredients:

• 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium garlic clove, peeled and smashed
• Juice of 1 medium lemon
• 1/4 cup roasted tahini
• 1/4 cup water, plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
• Salt
• Baby carrots

Directions:

1. Place beans, garlic, half of the lemon juice, tahini, water, olive oil and a big pinch of salt in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process until smooth.
2. If the hummus is too thick, pulse in more water, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
3. Taste, adding more salt and lemon juice as needed.
4. To serve, place in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with carrots.

2. Green Salad with Pomegranate and Mandarin
Recipe from Food.com

We all know that greens of any kind are a healthy option, so if your New Year’s resolution is to be healthier, why not start right at the stroke of midnight? This citrusy salad is light and full of antioxidants. You could serve individual portions in martini glasses with mini cocktail forks for a fun and classy party vibe. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups iceberg lettuce, torn in bite sized pieces
• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup chopped mandarin oranges
• ½ cup light oil and vinegar dressing
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Mix all greens together in large salad bowl, adding more lettuce as needed.
2. Add pomegranate seeds and mandarin oranges.
3. Mix in enough oil and vinegar dressing to taste, drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
4. Toss lightly and enjoy!

3. Glitter Grapes
Recipe from Food.com

Not only is fruit healthy, it’s also said to be a lucky food for the New Year! Grapes, specifically, are said to bring happiness. In Spain, partiers pop 12 grapes—one at each stroke of midnight—that represent the 12 months of the year. It is said that sweet ones will lead to 12 months of prosperity! For a sweet treat and a year of happiness, try out this simple recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of green or red seedless grapes pulled from the stems and rinsed
• 1 package of sugar free gelatin mix (any flavor)

Directions:

1. Spread about ¼ of the gelatin mix on a plate. Rinse grapes and place a handful on the plate.
2. Shake the plate gently to coat the grapes in the gelatin and place the coated grapes into a bowl.
3. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients until all grapes are covered.
4. Place the bowl of grapes in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until the gelatin is set. The colder, the better!

4. Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Recipe from Skinnytaste

You have to have a sweet snack to bring in the New Year, so instead of cookies and cupcakes, serve chocolate-covered strawberries. Not only are these dipped strawberries tasty, but they’re also are easy and fun to make!

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. dark semi-sweet chocolate
• 12 strawberries

Directions:

1. Rinse and completely dry the strawberries.
2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave chocolate on high for 30 seconds.
3. Stir and repeat until all the chocolate is melted. Do not overheat or the chocolate will become chunky and separated.
4. Dip strawberries and place on waxed paper to cool.
5. You can eat the strawberries right away or refrigerate them to give them a hard chocolate coating.

5. Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Recipe from Baltic Maid

Healthy cake?! Yes, cake can be healthy! This cake uses whole-wheat flour and zucchini. It also substitutes applesauce for oil. It sounds strange to put zucchini in cake, but it’s actually really delicious. In the Philippines, there’s a special emphasis on round items, like this cake, for the New Year because they are said to bring good luck. A cake that’s healthy, delicious and lucky? Sounds like a great dessert to us!

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup applesauce
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cardamom
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, sugar, salt and applesauce.
3. Sieve the flour and the cocoa powder into another bowl. Add baking soda, cinnamon and cardamom. Mix well.
4. Add the liquid mixture to the dry flour mixture and combine until the dry ingredients are mixed in.
5. Add grated zucchini and chocolate chips. Mix once more.
6. Pour the batter into a 9-inch round pan.
7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Drinks

6. Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Cocktail 
Recipe from Food.com

Pomegranates are packed with powerful vitamins and antioxidants. This cocktail is not only healthy, but lucky as well! In Turkey, the seeds of a pomegranate are said to represent prosperity and health in the New Year, so you can enjoy this cocktail knowing you will prosper in 2014! It’ll also taste great paired with the pomegranate-mandarin salad.

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles champagne, chilled
• 1 cup pomegranate cranberry juice, chilled
• ¼ cup triple sec
• 1 ½ cups pomegranate seeds

Directions

1. Pour all ingredients except the seeds into a pitcher.
2. Serve in champagne flutes.
3. Top with pomegranate seeds.

7. Fresh Fruit and Champagne

New Year’s Eve is nothing without champagne, right? Instead of mixing your drink with sugary juices, just add fruit! Fresh fruit like strawberries, raspberries or pomegranates can liven up your drink and are healthy as well. You can add one or many different fruits to your drink and it’s bound to be amazing. Freeze your fruit the night before so that it can keep your drink cold as well!

8. Pear Essence Cosmopolitan
Recipe from YumSugar

This twist on a cosmo will make you feel like Carrie Bradshaw, so you can ring in the New Year feeling fabulous. Cocktails tend to be very sugary, but this one is low-cal, as the main ingredients are healthy fruits.

Ingredients:

• 2 Anjou pear slices
• Juice of 1/2 a pressed lime
• 1 oz. cranberry juice
• 1 1/2 oz. citrus vodka
• 1/2 oz. triple sec
• 3 cranberries, for garnish

Directions:

1. In a mixing glass, muddle pear slices, lime juice and cranberry juice.
2. Add vodka and triple sec.
3. Add ice to tin. Shake well.
4. Double-strain into glass, using the strainer over the shaker while pouring contents through a sieve placed over the glass.
5. Garnish with 3 cranberries on a cocktail pick.

You can still enjoy some tasty snacks this New Year’s Eve and not pig out on junk food. Try some of these out and have a Happy New Year!

From Miley to Robin Thicke, from Lady Gaga to Beyonce, 2013 offered us a plethora of shocking, sad, inspiring and more than entertaining pop culture happenings! But what were the year's top stories that defined pop culture? Welcome to the Pop Campus Blog's Top Pop Culture Stories of 2013, reminding you of the best - and absolute worst - of music, movies, and more!

Harlem Shake Takes World By Storm

2013 began with a new sensation that had crowds of up to thousands of people gathering to dance their hearts out. The original Harlem Shake video, set to Baauer’s “Harlem Shake,” grew into a movement almost overnight that had families, athletic teams, soldiers and just about everyone going berserk for a good 30 seconds. By late February, it had also become cool for colleges to film their own Harlem Shake videos, the best of which can be found here and around YouTube.

Angelina Jolie Reveals Her Double Mastectomy

In May, Angelina Jolie revealed that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy to significantly reduce her chances of breast cancer due to a defective BRCA1 gene. Though Jolie’s op-ed did relate her personal story, the actress’ main goal was to encourage women to seek out all possible options for serious health risks. Surgeons reported a noticeable increase in inquiries about BRCA screenings, but critics pointed out that Jolie could mislead patients as her situation is rare and not all women with the gene need or can have the operation.

Kim Kardashian Gives Birth to Baby Girl

Kimye’s made pop culture headlines multiple times this year whether separately or as a couple, but baby North West definitely took the cake. Kim Kardashian gave birth to the healthy baby girl in June, beating everyone but Kate Middleton in the media’s baby hype (because who can beat the Royal Baby?).

Food Network Star Paula Deen Faces Lawsuit Over Racial Discrimination

Celebrity chef Paula Deen made her way from the Food Network to primetime cable news when a former restaurant employee filed racial discrimination and sexual harassment charges against Deen and her brother. The case was eventually dropped, but not before the Food Network put an end to Deen’s contract and her shows. To make matters worse, Smithfield Foods (among other companies) ceased contact with their celebrity endorser while Wal-Mart and Target refused to sell her products.

Boston Marathon Bomber’s Rolling Stone Cover Incites Outrage

April 15’s Boston Marathon bombing was the biggest attack on U.S. civilians since 9/11, which only made Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s appearance on the Rolling Stone’s cover even more appalling in many people’s eyes. The then 19-year-old Tsarnaev was featured on one of the Rolling Stone’s July editions with a cover that seemingly glamorized him and paid tribute to the rock stars of old. The magazine editors defended their decision, stating that the cover followed the Rolling Stone’s “long standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day.”

Robin Thicke and the “Blurred Lines” of Rape

Robin Thicke’s summer smash hit “Blurred Lines” dominated the music charts, but it also conquered the Internet for reasons that diverged from Thicke’s true intentions. The song set off a wildfire of accusations that “Blurred Lines” over-sexualized women and portrayed rape culture in a positive light. Feminist parodies combined with furious op-eds, blog posts and accounts from victims to question society and pop culture’s approach in addressing all forms of sexual assault.

The debates both for and against Thicke raged on for months even after “Blurred Lines” faded from the Top 10. But unfortunately for Thicke, the song turned out to be only one of TWO controversies involving him that summer.

Miley Cyrus’ VMA Performance

The second Thicke controversy came at the VMAs when he took the stage with Miley Cyrus for a performance that made “twerking” part of mainstream vocabulary. Tongue out in a nude leotard, Cyrus strutted all over the VMA stage in her own interpretation of “ratchet” culture that did not go over with, well, pretty much everyone. Enraged columnists and bloggers attacked Cyrus’ notion of “black” pop culture while viewers cringed at the sight of her dancing bears and bent over “twerking” on none other than singer Robin Thicke’s groin.

And then came “Twerk,” a collaboration between Cyrus and Justin Bieber. “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” indeed.

'NSYNC Reunites at VMAs

But for all the awkward moments at this year’s VMAs, ‘NSYNC more than made up for every single one of them. Joining Justin Timberlake onstage were our old crushes Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez and Lance Bass as they hit the stage to perform “Bye, Bye, Bye” for the first time in years. While ‘NSYNC hasn’t brought up the possibility of a reunion tour, one can only hope that maybe the boys will at least be singing together more often.

Daft Punk Stages Comeback with “Random Access Memories”

Years after their last album, years after their Coachella set that made us bow down and years after crushing rumors of possible performances, legendary French electronic music duo Daft Punk returned to show us how the genre is REALLY done. “Random Access Memories” caused a huge stir among electronic music fans and non-fans alike with “Get Lucky” as one of this fall’s biggest hits. Tracks like “Giorgio by Moroder” and “Lose Yourself to Dance” also reminded us that no, that “Tron” soundtrack really did not show the full extent of Daft Punk’s musical skill.

Pop Queens Return: Album Releases by Lady Gaga and Katy Perry

After much anticipation, Katy Perry decided to "Roar" back this year while Lady Gaga sought some "Applause” from her little monsters with two pop albums. But while their own fans devoured each and every tune, critics were mixed about the results. Nevertheless, Perry and Gaga are still embarking on their own respective tours, which both promise to be a blast!

Passing: Roger Ebert, Cory Monteith, Paul Walker, Peter O’Toole

Every year, a few iconic stars pass away and leave us with nostalgic memories of times gone by when we would sit in awe of their talents. Among the deaths this year, none were as discussed as those of film critic Roger Ebert, “Glee” actor Cory Monteith, “Fast and Furious” actor Paul Walker and the one and only Lawrence of Arabia, Peter O’Toole. While Ebert passed away from cancer and O’Toole from an illness, Monteith’s death followed a deadly combination of heroin and alcohol as Walker horrified news audiences with the fiery crash that took his life.

Beyoncé Surprise Album

What better way to top the year off than to have Queen Bey (or, dare we say, Beysus?) drop a surprise visual album that basically interrupted workplace and school productivity. “Beyoncé” sold over 617,000 on iTunes in three days alone, setting album sales records while fans of the Beyhive enjoyed 17 videos and 14 new songs. How Beyoncé managed to keep 17 videos and 14 songs secret, we don’t know, but all that matters is that Queen Bey has swept everyone else off the table and onto the floor.

The clock reads 11:59 p.m. and the 10-second countdown begins.

“Ten!” You look over to the cute guy you’ve been talking and sitting with all night.

“Nine!” He looks at you.

“Eight!” Your heart flutters as he turns to you.

“Seven… six… five!” “So…” he says quietly.

“Four… three… two… one!” You both lean in very slowly until your lips touch.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

And just like that… the kiss is over. He turns away from you to give his boys a bro fist bump to ring in the New Year. It was so short and not all that memorable, and now you’re wishing it never happened in the first place. Was that guy for real?

We’ve all heard that kissing someone on midnight on New Year’s Day will bring you good luck in the relationship department for the upcoming year. However, is the peck to bring dating prosperity worth it at all? Here are a few reasons why it’s probably best to opt out of a midnight make-out during the upcoming New Year’s festivities!

1. A Kiss is Just a Kiss

A lot of people, including our very own Real Live College Guy Dale Lavine, think that there’s no point in a NYE kiss because it’s only a kiss!

“For me, a kiss is a kiss,” says Dale. “Whether it's when I get off work or on Christmas morning or when the clock strikes 12, people should find that kiss as magical as any other kiss, especially if it's with someone they love.”

Jasmine Leach, a collegiette at Kean University, agrees with Dale.

“If you have been in a relationship for a long time, there is no difference between having a regular kiss with your significant other compared to a New Year's one,” she says.

Dale also says that a kiss on New Year’s is just as silly as Valentine’s Day, saying that you should show your love every day, not just on one day in particular.

“Why does this particular kiss represent anything more than your average, everyday kiss should represent?” he said.

He certainly has a point! If you’re fortunate enough to have someone to kiss, kissing that person on New Year’s Day shouldn’t be any different than kissing them on St. Patrick’s Day or on a Tuesday in July.

2. It’s Forgettable

You’re out with your friends and enjoying the final hours of the old year to ring in the new one. A few drinks would definitely liven up the party! If you’re all poppin’ bottles to ring in the New Year, tipsiness is inevitable. If you find that special someone to plant a smooch on, do you really think you’ll remember all the details?

New Year’s kisses are forgettable, especially if you plan on celebrating with drinks!

All that alcohol in your system during a normal party can make you forget what you’ve done throughout the night, so the same amount will surely make you forget a midnight kiss that lasts only a few seconds at best. What’s the point of getting so excited about something that is sure to be another flash in the pan within a few weeks? Regardless, make sure you don’t overdo it with the drinks, though—better safe than sorry!

3. A Kiss Doesn’t Lead to Anything

You read it here first—New Year’s kisses don’t really lead to anything. They’re just a traditional tease to get all of our hormones in a tizzy!

In some respects, females are like males—we crave much more that kissing. However, when you’re at a populated party and making out with a random guy, that’s really all you’re going to be able to do.

Face it: there are way too many people around for you to get all hot and heavy with your lucky guy, so “getting a room” is off the list. To make matters worse, all that jungle juice in your system will probably bring your friskiness levels to maximum capacity. Ultimate frustration.

Jasmine suggests that kissing someone on NYE can toy with your make-out partner’s emotions.

“Kissing stirs up feelings of affection and [a] deep connection. Why would you want to just play with someone's feelings for one night?” she says. “What if the person you decide to kiss really likes you? He would probably have his or her heart broken if they find out you just used them."

However, it may be the best thing that New Year’s kissing doesn’t lead to anything else! There are other opportunities for holiday hook-up sessions, but a populated party is definitely not the place. Taking a step back on New Year’s Eve and just enjoying yourself with good company is the way to go.

4. They’re Awkward

From kissing a random guy you’ve never met to watching other people kiss, New Year’s kisses are awkward for everyone involved. Do you really want that drunk guy from your high school to smooch you at your best friend’s party? He’s been throwing out some terribly cheesy pick-up lines all night! Do you want to see your ex making out with a random girl at your party? You want to start the New Year off fresh, not being stuck in a totally awkward situation!

“I would think that the moment would be cute if they’re together as a couple,” says Danielle Gittleman, a junior at Rider University. “But if they are getting really into it, then yeah, I’d feel kind of weird being there!”

It would be best to deflect the awkward this year by just opting out of a kiss on the mouth and trying something new. Maybe give all of your single friends a kiss on the cheek. It’s awkwardness-free and super adorable! You’re never alone when you’re with friends.

New Year’s kisses may be traditional and the idea is pretty adorable, but when you put it all in perspective, they’re so overrated. Maybe when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2014, you and your friends can come up with a tradition of your own to do instead. Whether you’re spending a night with your beau or you’re out with your gal pals living up your single girl swag, don’t waste your time worrying about a silly kiss!

We count down the days until winter break begins, but by the end, we're counting down the days until we go back to school. We think it’s easy to say that winter break is the biggest love-hate relationship of every college kid’s life. Christmas cookies, holiday shopping, seeing your family and ugly sweater parties... the list of things we love about winter break could go on forever. But, what about the stuff we hate? Winter break is great, but it also comes at a cost. Let’s take a look at the 21 parts about winter break that we absolutely loathe.  

1. You have to make up for all of the doctor appointments you've been rescheduling for the past four months. It’s finally time to get updated on your vaccines and finish up all of those ones that have like, 50 parts to them. You're 21 years old and you still want to punch the nurse when she comes at you with a needle…

2. Procrastination means you're stuck Christmas shopping with all of the crazy mall moms.  As it turns out, your genius idea to do last-minute gift searching wasn’t so genius after all…

3. Your whole family wants to know how school and work and your love life is going, and the story of your overachieving cousin’s life ensues. Apparently she developed some cancer-curing medical laser. Big whoop.   

4. You are so poor that you actually have no choice but to work seasonal hours at your part-time summer job.

5. You miss your roommates so much it actually hurts. You usually know what they had for breakfast and the last time they went to the bathroom, but now you're all out of the loop on their life in the past three weeks.

6. You forgot how flippin’ boring being home is; there aren't any house parties or college bars. You're so bored that you and your friends decide to do the only thing there is to do in your hometown… go bowling.

7. You keep your head down and sunglasses on when you go to the grocery store for your mom, but then you hear the dreaded, “OMG, Katie! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Crap…

8. Your aunt tries so hard every year to get you a great gift, but she seems to forget that sweaters with fringed sleeves and musical snow globes aren’t really your thing. You attempt to look and act as enthused as possible...

…and cue your mom.

9. Your parents drag you to their work holiday parties, because “all of my the other co-workers' kids will be there, and they’re your age!”

10. It’s been a while since your mom has been there to check up on your every single move. “What are you doing?” “What time will you be back?” “Who all was there?” Now you even find yourself annoyed when she asks what you had for lunch.

11. There are always at least a few days of your break that you spend in a flu-like misery. Being home is like some trigger to your immune system; just because you're in your own bed with your mom around to take care of you, your body automatically thinks it’s okay to get sick.

12. Your relatives seem to forget that you turned 21 months ago, and they have these huge concerns about your drinking habits.

So, to protect your dignity and save yourself from getting the “responsible drinking” talk one more time, you find it easier to just sneak a few drinks when Grandma isn’t looking.

13. On that note, you have some of your worst hangovers over winter break. Between reunions with old high school friends, holiday parties, lonely wine nights and New Year's Eve, your head has never hurt so badly.

14. All of your coupled friends can never hang out because they have to go to their boyfriend’s family Christmas. You and your few single friends are left to grieve together over the millions of Instagram pictures of promise rings and secret weekend getaways to some romantic ski lodge.

15. Your mom has an increased concern about your strict Lean-Cuisine-and-SpaghettiOs diet. She gingerly leaves you “Green Monster” health smoothies on the counter in the morning and cuts up fresh fruit for you to eat before she leaves for work.

16. Your hair is practically fried from having to wash, dry and style it every night for some sort of Christmas festivity. Showering starts to feel like even more of a chore than it did before.

17. You are also running out of outfits and ugly Christmas sweaters to wear to said festivities.

18. Due to the fact that your parents'"Christmas break" is only about four days long, they're secretly hoping they can trick you into doing some weird, forgotten chores around the house, like separating the Christmas bows by color and dusting the knobs on the china cabinet.

19. All five of your cousins conveniently got the lead role of Jesus in their Christmas play, which means you have to stare at hand-painted, cardboard Nativity scenes every Sunday night of Christmas break.

20. No matter how big or small your family is, there's always that lingering uncle or second cousin twice removed you've never met. And to top it off, you can never remember his name. “Is it John? Or is it Jack? Screw it, I have no idea.”

21. Perhaps the worst part of winter break? Your parents continuously nag you to get off the couch and be productive. "You know what, Mom and Dad? I slaved over a $600 textbook all semester, living off of five hours of sleep a night. I am going to be as lazy as I want and I don’t care what you think."

Some parts of winter break are just awful, but hey, we better learn to love even those parts... because one day, a month-long winter break will be a thing of our past. 

When the radio goes off, they respond at a run. It can go off anytime: in class, at dinner, while they're sleeping. And they run wherever the dispatch tells them. They run to the ambulance, or directly to the scene, if it's closer, carrying a jump bag full of supplies on their backs. They run toward destruction: chem lab explosions, car accidents, broken bones, and blood. And when they arrive, there's no time to hesitate. They simply do their job, treating injuries as they find them. And when it's all over, they return to their daily lives as college students.

Many collegiettes dread getting sick on the same day as a major exam, but for students who serve as volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs), they're also hoping someone else doesn't get sick. The life of a collegiate EMT is a stressful one, and walking around in an unflattering uniform is only the least of their worries. Throughout the course of a regular school day, collegiette EMTs have to be ready to respond at a moment's notice to an injured or sick patient on campus and balance their schoolwork and social lives at the same time.

So what does it take to be a member of an emergency medical service (EMS) team in college? Her Campus spoke to three student EMTs to get the full scoop on everything from an average day to the most serious medical scenarios they've faced.

‘Round-the-Clock Responsibility

Claire McDaniel, a junior at Georgetown University, is an acting crew chief in GERMS, which stands for Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service and is pronounced exactly the way you'd think. Despite its tongue-in-cheek acronym, GERMS is a prestigious emergency response unit with a more than 30-year history. "Sometimes you’re exhausted, and sometimes the calls are difficult," Claire says about her work as an EMT. "There’s a lot less sleep than you think, a lot more late night chart writing, and the calls are so much more vivid and grittier than I imagined." But despite all that, being an EMT doesn't seem to faze her. "I love it, though," she tells us.

GERMS is a completely student-run organization, and just like with most college EMS organizations, the members don't get paid, although they staff their units 24/7 while classes are in session. "The hardest thing is definitely balancing the time commitment and schoolwork, and occasionally trying to sleep," Claire says. Most members on Claire's unit commit to anywhere from 6 to 12 hours a week to the unit, but Claire puts in a little more time. As an officer in her organization, she spends an average of 15 hours on duty a week, and administrative duties add up to 8 hours a week on top of that. In total, it is equivalent to a part-time job.

Kelsey Hirotsu, a senior at Johns Hopkins University, is a crew chief and treasurer of HERO, the Hopkins Emergency Response Organization. Kelsey also finds the time commitment one of the most difficult aspects of the job.  Her rank as crew chief means that she is in charge of the other members of the four-person team responding to an emergency, and that any decisions ultimately fall on her shoulders. It also means a larger time commitment; while crew members are expected to volunteer for a minimum of one 8-hour shift per week, Kelsey must volunteer for a minimum of 24 hours of service each week, completing three 8-hour shifts. However, many members of her rank spend more than 40 hours a week with a radio clipped to their belts. Although EMTs can attend class and sleep while on duty, they can't leave campus and they have to be ready to respond when their pagers go off. "It was hard to dedicate so much time and to not burn out over the years," she tells us of her four years on the unit. "It was hard to stay focused on why I joined in the first place and to stay above all of the drama and wearisomeness of it all."

Patients... Or Classmates?

Kelsey brings up an important point: there is drama involved when your patients are also your classmates. Kelsey describes being an EMT as a "reality check," especially when you're treating the same people in your classes. "You see someone that you know that was walking and talking and laughing just hours ago, in a condition where her or his health may be in jeopardy," she says. "It’s scary and it makes you realize how valuable life and health is."

Lindsey Mahoney, a senior at Georgetown and another member of GERMS, expands on how difficult it is to treat other members of the student body. "It's more difficult to objectify the situation, and it’s also difficult to see someone that you know suffering," she says. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Many college EMS units have mandatory transport protocols in place, which means that certain patients have to go to the hospital no matter what. These patients might be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, have suffered a head injury, or simply be under the age of 18. For universities, it's a way to ensure that all their students stay safe, but it can mean tricky situations for the student responders. "When it’s someone that you know personally refusing to go to the hospital, it’s a little more difficult to be the bad guy and tell the person that they don’t have a choice," Lindsey says.

Another issue that comes up frequently is patient privacy. "It's difficult to not acknowledge the incident next time you see one another," Lindsey says of tough calls that involve classmates. But it's not just awkwardness; she is referring to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, a federal law that governs all healthcare providers, including college EMTs, regarding patient privacy. Responders aren't allowed to disclose any information that could identify a patient, except to the hospital, law enforcement, or a few other special exceptions, and only under certain conditions. And college EMTs don't take HIPAA lightly: violating the law can result in fines or imprisonment. "Often patients don’t realize the strict confidentiality requirements that go into EMS," Lindsey says.

On the Job

Privacy is extremely important because student EMTs witness some of the most stressful moments in their classmates' lives. Kelsey recounts one of her first calls, a seizure patient who was unresponsive when she arrived, and although she can't reveal many details, she notes it as one of the times she was the most scared on the job. "We couldn’t get a blood pressure reading because his vital signs were so wacky," she says. "It’s frightening when nothing on scene is going the way that (you planned) in your head or during practice. It’s even scarier because someone’s immediate health depends on your actions. You can very easily help or hurt someone and not even know it."

Kelsey is an EMT-Basic, which means that she is trained in basic life support. In the field, she can help administer medication, treat life-threatening injuries, take vitals, perform CPR, and conduct many other life saving interventions. EMTs go through rigorous hands-on training classes to get their certifications. At Johns Hopkins, where Kelsey goes to school, most students take about four months of night classes to gain their certifications. Training involves more than 100 hours of class time, as well as shadowing at local emergency rooms and in the field on ambulances. Students learn everything in the scope of practice for an EMT: everything from trauma care such as back boarding and splinting to dealing with behavioral emergencies like panic attacks. But EMT training classes aren't for credit at Johns Hopkins, and there are no pre-requisites: any interested student can sign up to be a part of the team, provided they put in the time and hard work to get onto the unit.

Despite all the hours of training in class, the actual fieldwork can be daunting. "Just my sheer size makes things hard sometimes," Lindsey admits. "Maneuvering the cot and lifting or carrying patients can be logistically difficult when you are 4’11” and barely 110 pounds, but these are limitations that I’ve gotten used to and try to work around as best as possible." But it's not just Lindsey’s size that can make things difficult. "I have had guys who are 6’5” yelling at me, guys who have tried to hit me, and bystanders yell at me for taking their girlfriend or boyfriend to the hospital," she says. "When people lash out it can be frightening. You never know what people will do, especially under the influence of alcohol or drugs."

But not every situation is a horror story. "One call that really sticks out in my mind is one weekend night (when) we had an intoxicated patient," Lindsey tells us. "She turned out to be fine, but her friend came up to me before we left and said, 'Thank you so much for coming to check on my friend. You have no idea how much respect I have for you guys and what you do.’ I think that is the first time it really occurred to me how much I enjoy what I do as a college EMT. Even though we didn’t even bring her friend to the hospital, the fact that I could ease (a) bystander’s worries meant so much to me."

Looking Forward

Kelsey, Claire, and Lindsey all have one thing in common: they all want to be doctors. Each of them cites their pre-med backgrounds as part of the reason they joined their respective units, mainly to gain hands-on experience. "I’d never had any medical experience beforehand, so it was eye-opening to see what pre-hospital medicine is truly like," Claire says. "There’s real people, illnesses, and blood." Although she is pre-med, she says that being an EMT made her question her career choice at times, and it was a good way to make sure she knew what she wanted. "I really had to ask myself if medicine was something I want to keep doing with my life. It is, and I’m really glad that I got that experience before hopefully I get into medical school."

Kelsey has a similar story of how her volunteer work as an EMT helped narrow down her career choices. "It has taught me is that I don’t want to be a trauma doctor," she says. "Trauma is gross!" Lindsey also came into college pre-med, but she was considering a lot of different options. She had public health internships, did some lab work, and worked on behavioral research. However, the joy of working with people through her EMS volunteer work helped her realize what she wanted to do. "I realized that what I liked best out of all of these things was working with patients as an EMT," she tells us. "That was one of the deciding factors in continuing on my pre-med path."

Is it Worth it?

The job comes along with dangerous patients and long hours, but for many of the volunteers, college wouldn't be the same without it. "There’s something about EMS where you know you’re helping your community, regardless of the feedback you get," Kelsey says. Even when the patients aren't thankful, she can still walk away feeling good about herself. But why she loves the work goes deeper than that. "You really have to think on your feet, innovate, and troubleshoot the problems as each one comes your way," she says.

Lindsey, too, feels like being an EMT has allowed her to grow in ways that other activities just don't. "I feel like I’ve learned so much more than I ever would in a classroom," she says. "You cannot learn how to calm a person that’s having a terrible anxiety attack or how to convince an agitated overdose patient to go to the hospital with a textbook." It's precisely this hands-on skill set that she has come to value through her work as an EMT. "I feel so much more confident as a person, and it’s nice to know that if I am ever in an emergency situation, either on duty or off, I have the knowledge and the skills to possibly save someone’s life," Lindsey says. "It’s an incredible feeling."

And, perhaps best of all, life as a college EMT is never lonely. "I automatically found myself with about 90 new friends when I joined," Lindsey says. Claire also loves this about GERMS; she says her favorite part about being an EMT in college is the friendships you make. "You go through some of the most stressful situations together, from the training class through to going on calls together, so you all become incredibly close because of it," she says.

At the end of the day, these three collegiettes all agree that the benefits outweigh the sleepless nights they've given up tending to their injured classmates. So, for now, each of them will keep their radio switched on while they sleep, ready to respond when they're needed.

After eating dinner and finally mustering up the energy to get to the library, you’re about ready to start studying. And that’s when it happens.

You feel the stomach pains coming on, along with the uncomfortable queasiness that has you running for the nearest ladies’ room. How can you tell if you’re experiencing a common stomachache or if it’s a sign of something more? We spoke with Shanti Eswaran, a clinical lecturer from the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Michigan, to uncover what’s really behind your symptoms.

Tummy troubles may spring up for a variety of reasons, and so it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what’s behind it all. Did I eat something bad? Am I too stressed? What about food allergies?

First, Eswaran advises collegiettes to pay attention to when and how frequently the stomach problems happen. Your typical stomachache will be short-lived and usually involves cramps and a dull aching in the abdomen. Taking an antacid, such as TUMS ($3.97 at Walmart) will help to quickly ease the uncomfortable symptoms.

It’s one thing to experience an upset stomach every once in awhile. However, if it becomes reoccurring, your symptoms worsen or it begins to disrupt your daily activity, that should signal a trip to the doctor’s office, because you may have one of the below conditions.

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It might seem awkward to talk about, but irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is more common than you’d think, and many people deal with it on a daily basis. You’re not alone and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to get the help you need! According to Eswaran, IBS is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) problem, affecting more women than men. IBS usually develops in early adulthood, but it will come and go throughout a person’s lifetime.

Although symptoms vary from person to person, they can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation for prolonged periods of time. It is diagnosed when a person has had stomach pain or discomfort at least three times a month for the past three months.

The exact cause of IBS is still unknown, but Eswaran says there is a primary link between the condition and stress. “We know that stress does play a big role,” she says. “There is a huge mind and gut interaction… some people may manifest their stress in a headache, and others may manifest it in bellyaches.”

While stress management is a huge component of treating IBS, Eswaran says that medication can be a viable complementary option. “We use anti-depressants to treat both stress levels and IBS itself. If you treat the nerves in the brain, you’re also treating the nerves in the gut with the same medication,” she says. “The medicine helps to decrease nerve sensitivity in the belly, and people can start to feel better that way.”

Katie, a junior from Johns Hopkins University, says she decided to visit her school’s student health center to address recurrent symptoms, which resulted in her IBS diagnosis. “I knew it was something more than regular stomachaches when I started having symptoms every day and no over-the-counter medicine helped, like pain relievers [or] antacids,” she says.

IBS flares up differently for everyone. As part of the treatment process, Katie sticks to a vegan diet because she found that fatty, greasy foods worsened her symptoms. Along with adjusting her diet, she uses antidepressants to keep her anxiety at bay, which seems to be helping with her IBS symptoms.

2. Celiac disease

Have you ever noticed the signs in the cafeteria pointing out gluten-free options? Although some collegiettes decide to go gluten-free by choice, others are gluten intolerant as a result of Celiac disease.

“[Celiac disease] is an inflammatory condition of the small intestines that is trigged by gluten exposure, which is a protein that is found in wheat products,” Eswaran says.

Eswaran explains that collegiettes with Celiac disease will experience digestive difficulties when consuming gluten, which can result in abdominal bloating, pain and diarrhea. They may also notice weight loss and iron deficiency anemia.

Much like IBS, if the symptoms happen often and begin to interfere with your schoolwork or normal day-to-day activities, you should visit a health care professional. It’s never a good idea to ignore what’s happening or assume that it’s just another stomachache! “If a student is having persistent problems, they should see somebody and not try to think of it as just being from stress, from something you ate, or from going to the bar that weekend,” Eswaran says.

Simple enough, treatment involves eliminating gluten from your diet. “If [students] have to be gluten-free and they have been educated on what that means, as well as meeting with a registered dietician and not trying to do it on their own, it’s usually fine,” Eswaran says.

However, it might seem like a daunting task to avoid gluten because it is found in wheat, rye, and barley products, which include flour, pasta, bread, cookies, cereal, beer, rice, etc. But don’t let that scare you! There are still plenty of delicious options for gluten-free collegiettes. Whole Foods offers a gluten-free products list, which is helpful and convenient.

Maggie, a junior at the College of the Holy Cross, originally thought she had acid reflux and common stomachaches, but it turned out to be gluten intolerance.  “After reading Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, I decided to try giving up wheat for a little while,” she says. “The results weren't immediate, but within the first month, I had more energy than ever and my headaches and stomachaches had completely subsided…[and] when I explained my change in diet to my doctor, she diagnosed me as gluten intolerant. Giving up gluten completely changed my life and I am so happy that I decided to take matters into my own hands and do some research… [it] led me to a complete lifestyle change and I have never felt better.”

3. Crohn’s disease

According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, as many as 700,000 Americans are living with Crohn’s disease, and although the disease can occur at any age, people between the ages of 15 and 35 are more likely to become diagnosed.

According to Eswaran, Crohn’s is under the umbrella of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is considered a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. When you have Crohn’s, your body’s immune system attacks healthy bacteria in the GI tract, which causes inflammation and discomfort.

The causes of the condition are still unclear, but diet, stress, genetics and environmental factors can all contribute to developing Crohn’s disease. Symptoms are very similar to IBS and Celiac disease, which includes nausea, pain, bloating and diarrhea. After six to eight weeks of reoccurring symptoms, Eswaran recommends seeking help from a gastroenterology specialist.

Unlike the dietary changes necessary for managing Celiac disease, controlling Crohn’s involves medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help lessen the symptoms and are generally used for IBD. Immune system suppressors also help lessen inflammation.

After receiving a diagnosis, it’s important to stay on top of your treatment to make sure that the disease doesn’t flare up down the road. “The importance of consistent follow-up with a healthcare provider and medication compliance is really crucial and can’t be understated,” Eswaran says.

4. Lactose intolerance

“Lactose intolerance is not an allergy, but it’s your body’s inability to digest the sugar lactose in dairy products,” Eswaran says. “It’s a dependent thing, so if you have a lot of lactose, you’ll (experience) a lot of symptoms. If you don’t eat dairy, you probably won’t have any symptoms.”

It’s possible to be born with lactose intolerance, but you can also develop intolerance to lactose when your body decreases lactase production and is unable to break down the sugar in lactose.

If you’re lactose intolerant, you may experience bloating, abdominal pain and nausea after dairy consumption. If you are unaware of your lactose intolerance, you may confuse it for a common stomachache. However, the symptoms depend on your dairy intake.

Madeline Lacey, a junior at the University of Michigan, realized that she was lactose intolerant during her freshman year of college. She tries to adjust her diet, but claims that it can be hard to completely eliminate dairy.

“Honestly, I'm the worst lactose intolerant [person] ever,” Madeline says. “I love cheese, but then I'll complain about a stomachache 30 minutes later. I have tried going dairy-free and vegan just for kicks. On a normal day, I try to limit [myself to] only one meal with cheese or milk in it. I also take digestive pills that contain the lactose enzyme in it. Those help for everything but ice cream.”

Avoiding dairy will help keep the symptoms at bay, but you can also try Lactaid pills to help break down the sugar in dairy. You should take it with the first bite of dairy for it to be the most effective. This way, you can enjoy your favorite yogurt or milkshake without feeling an upset stomach afterwards!

If you’re a dairy junkie, you don’t have to say goodbye forever! There are many natural dairy alternatives made from rice, soy or almonds. Silk offers everything from soy and coconut milk to the classic almond milk. And chances are you won’t even notice the difference!

Whole Foodswill become your best friend for dairy-free options and healthy recipes. You can also try Rachael Ray’s lactose-free guides for recipes.

For all of these conditions, it’s important to stay consistent with treatment and look out for flare-ups. “All of these are chronic [conditions], meaning that it is something that you aren’t going to grow out of... you’ll treat them and you might feel better, but without consistent treatment it might kick back worse than it did before,” Eswaran says.

It’s normal to feel sick to your stomach before a final exam or get butterflies when you see your favorite campus cutie. But when the symptoms interfere with your everyday life, it becomes a different story! If you’re not sure why you’re experiencing stomach problems, it’s best to speak with a doctor to make sure that something bigger isn’t happening under the surface.

Bzz, Bzz. That’s the sound of your phone buzzing at 2 a.m. with a text “Hey, want to come over and watch a movie?” A movie? At 2 a.m.? No, no, no - that’s code for “Do you want to hook up?” and by now you know the drill. It’s sad but true: you’re a booty call. Maybe you’re tired of the endless hooking up, the unrelenting horny guy or even just the lack of sleep; whatever your reason, you’re done being a booty call. It’s time to get “your” man on the same page. Follow these tips and trust us, he definitely won’t want to see you again.
 
1. Tell Him You Want a Relationship

Since your relationship until now has been limited to late-night hook-ups and maybe even a little sexting, there is no better way to stop being a booty call than by pushing for a relationship. The next time you see him, start dropping hints about how happy you are that the two of you are going to be official soon. Make sure to mention that you have already told your mom about him (“she thinks you’re so sweet!”), that you recently started planning a "couple’s retreat" spring break trip, and oh yeah!—you just can’t believe how quickly you fell in love. Swoon. Visions of a psychotic girlfriend will flood his mind (almost instantly – lucky you), and soon he won’t ever want to see you again. Bear in mind, however, that you have to be prepared to be completely done with your booty call – he will definitely be scared away!
 
2. Experience Hygiene Failure

Okay, so I’m assuming that part of what started this friends-with-benefits relationship was some level of attraction. You think he has a hot body, and he thinks you’re sexy. It’s the perfect combo. It’s almost too easy to ruin any sexual chemistry that exists between the two of you. All you have to do is completely disregard your hygiene, whether it is not brushing your teeth for a few days, letting your hair grow like crazy (not just the hair on your head – we’re talking about your legs, armpits, etc.), and definitely not taking a shower… for at least a week. When you see him, act like nothing has changed. Or better yet, tell him you’re trying a new look, and you love it! He will be undeniably horrified, and I am willing to bet he will stop calling you… forever. Disclaimer: this won’t work for guys who are into the grungy, hippie-chic image; for this type, take a shower instead.

3. Embrace Familiarity

One of the perks of a booty call relationship is that it’s exciting. The two of you try things you would be too scared to bring up with anyone else, and there’s no judgment. Even more than that, you actually enjoy it. Or at least you used to. Since your booty call probably expects fireworks every single time the two of you hook up, the easiest way to kill his temptation to text you late at night is to make it insanely boring when you are together. To do this, act like an old married couple. You know, head over to his place in sweats, no makeup, wanting to watch a movie on opposite sides of the couch…. while eating takeout. And when you do hook up, make it as lame as you can – kiss softly without any semblance of passion, "just lay there," and have zero regard for his pleasure. Soon he will be wondering why he ever wanted to hook up with you in the first place.

4. Make a Move on His Friends

Yes, for some guys, jealousy is a huge turn-on. These guys are also slightly masochistic, so I guess it just depends on what you like in a man. While monogamy in college certainly may be outdated, the majority of people still expect some degree of loyalty in any kind of relationship. If it’s too easy, he will lose interest. If it’s too easy for nearly everyone, then he will be turned off. Let me explain: if him, his friends, his friends’ friends, and every guy on your campus has a chance of hooking up with you, he will not want to hook up with you anymore. The solution then, of course, is to make it seem as though everyone has a chance with you (regardless of if they really do or not – that’s your choice). Start flirting with his friends, texting other guys in front of him and canceling plans last minute because “Jack really needs me right now.” Bonus points if he sees you out and about with another guy, touching his arm and laughing at his jokes. The idea that you’ve been around the block a few times, so to say, might be just the push your booty call needs to move on from you. Fair warning, however, play this the wrong way, and you could end up with a not-so-nice reputation. Be careful!
 
5. Tell Him About Your Boyfriend

So your situation isn’t exactly monogamous, and you aren’t sure whether or not you’re the only girl in his life. Regardless, it’s basically assumed that neither of you is in a committed relationship. Wrong! You have had a long-term boyfriend for a few years – it’s pretty serious, you’ve even talked about getting married. He is also 6’4” and 275 pounds of pure muscle. Nonetheless, you don’t want anything to change between you and your booty call – you just thought it was finally time that he knew about your boyfriend. Maybe the three of you can even hang out – you really want his opinion of your boyfriend. But your booty call has to pretend he’s just a friend from class – how fun! Forward him romantic texts from your guy (“aw, isn’t he just the cutest thing?”) and bring over a few photos of the two of you – “so you can picture us together” - and clips from his athletic accomplishments (“he’s so strong!”). It’s entirely possible that your booty call will move, preferably across the country… especially if you throw in: “He’s perfect for me, but he just gets so jealous!” Oops.

 
Whatever you do, let him see that side of you that no one else gets to see – after all, he is your special friend – shouldn’t there be perks to that?

1. Reminding all of your sisters how hot they are on a daily basis (both on Facebook and in person).

2. Treating every photo op like a professional photoshoot for Vogue and striking your signature pose (which may or may not include the skinny arm and sorority squat).

3. Smothering someone (your little) with treats, presents and unconditional love after knowing her for only a week.

4. Being super cheesy when expressing love for a sister on her birthday.

5. Hardcore “girl flirting” and having your boyfriend understand that it’s not cheating (but he’s glad rush only happens twice a year!).

6. Acting like a crazy person when someone reciprocates a friendship (accepts a bid).

7. Calling someone close to your age your “mom” or your “baby.”

8. Thinking your sorority is the best just because you and your sisters say it so often.

9. Flashing your sorority symbol like a gang sign.

Tired of having to sort out the “nice guys” from the “bad boys”? Want to move up from one-night stand to full-time girlfriend, but unsure of how to do so? Stop worrying, because Real Live College Guy Dale is finally here to help with all of your collegiette love kerfuffles and help steer you clear of any unnecessary drama during your brief but ever-important time in college.

So I totally fell for my closest guy friend. I'm practically in love with him, and no matter how hard I try to avoid him, it's impossible simply because we have all the same classes, we're on the same sports team and we see each other 24/7. Not to mention we have the same circle of friends, so we're constantly hanging out with each other. We've gone through the hook-ups and the pals with perks stage, and now all I really want is just to call him mine. Sometimes I think he wants the same thing, then other times it's just like, "Whaaat?!"

Since we're super close, we find it really easy to talk to each other. Also, whenever we leave each other for the night or separate or walk away from each other, we can't do so without saying "I love you" to each other, and this is what is really confusing to me. Why does he act like such a sweet guy to me and acts like he wants to be with me 100 percent on some days, but then other days he just treats me like a booty call? ––Friend-zoned in Florida

Friend-zoned,

Radical idea here, but have you tried actually telling him how you feel?

Easier said than done, sure, but I find that honesty is the best route for these kinds of things.

Let’s go ahead and look at the different parts that make up this somewhat confusing machine…

First, you two have gone through hooking up and being friends with benefits. Needless to say, you’ve got the physical down pat. Second, you’re constantly hanging out with each other. Third, you can’t leave each other without saying “I love you.” Finally, you even admitted that you just want to call him yours. You two are practically a couple already; you’re just missing a few dates and awkward first kisses! But that’s a good thing. I think that’ll save you some time if you really want to be with him.

So now we have to figure out why he’s such a sweet guy sometimes and not so sweet other times. Personally, I think he might be a little scared. It seems entirely possible––probable, even––that he would want to finally put a label on your relationship, but he might be having trouble figuring out how to do so. It’s more common of a problem than you might think.

I don’t think you’re friend-zoned. I think you’re basically in a relationship with this guy already, it’s just that neither one of you has really confronted that fact. In a relationship that is as developed as yours (even though yours might be somewhat stunted by friendship), sex and sharing friends and seeing each other frequently is common! This all adds to the theory that you two are already in a monogamous relationship, you simply haven’t labeled it yet.

So if you want to define your relationship, do so. Tell him what you’re thinking and find out if he’s thinking the same thing.

Everyone wants to make changes when the new year rolls around. Whether these changes are small or large, often times we find ourselves losing track of our newfound goals. In this video are some ways to make following through with your resolutions and goals easier!

It’s spreading faster than the flu in the fall: senior FOMO. And if you’re recently single, you probably feel like you’re missing out on the one person you always imagined would share all those final college memories with you.  But don’t fret, collegiettes, because by the end of this article, you’ll realize that breaking up may not have been all that great at the time, but it was perfect timing. Here are HC’s top reasons for why second semester of your senior year is the best time to be single and ready to mingle.

1. One less emotional goodbye

Let’s be honest here: goodbyes suck and they’re pretty much inevitable. I’m already coming up with avoidance maneuvers and I’m realizing that I’ll regret every one of them about a month after graduation. Without a significant other, that’s one less tear to shed, one less person to miss, and one less Facebook profile to stalk about a month later when you’re feeling nostalgic. Not to mention one significantly happier collegiette!

2. Total dating freedom

That cute guy you’ve been eyeing since freshman year? Go for it. How about the guy in your History of Science class who always sits next to you? All yours.  And you absolutely, definitely should go out the night that seven of your favorite frats are throwing down. Because guess what? You can do whatever you want, whenever you want. You don’t have to answer to anyone. You never have to worry about getting a little too drunk or a little too flirty on a Saturday night—you won’t be getting a disapproving look or a cold shoulder from your boyfriend the next day.  You make all the rules. Yup, that’s right: senior spring just got awesome.

3. No “So, where do we go from here?” talk

Count yourselves lucky, single collegiettes. Best-case scenario for couples is that they both decide to make the post-college commitment (which could involve long-distance, so I’d use the word “best” lightly). Worst-case scenario is that you find out who has invested more in the relationship. There’s no other way to spin it: it’s awkward if only one person wants to keep it going. Lucky for you, you don’t have to have this talk now—nor do you have to start collecting tissues (or phone minutes) for later.

4. You don’t have to plan your life around anyone else

What with the job search and grad school applications, planning out your own post-grad life is stressful enough. Now imagine making tweaks to your career, city, and living space plans to accommodate your boyfriend. Um, no thank you. We’re second semester seniors: we’re young, and at the risk of sounding like those angsty teenagers on Disney channel, we need to figure things out on our own.  This is not the time to limit ourselves. We’ll have our late 20s, early 30s, the rest of our lives to plan around our marriages and our children, and who knows what else, so why start now?  You don’t have to contribute to the age-old war between love and career. Instead, you’ll be choosing between a fabulous job in NYC or a fellowship to write in Italy. Decision, decisions…  

5. You don’t have to deal with his parents at graduation

Graduation is stressful enough with your parents: they follow you everywhere, they have no idea how to get anywhere on campus, they ask a million questions and want to take even more pictures. It’s like you’re assigned two freshmen for the weekend (no offense, Mom and Dad).  Imagine having to deal with his parents too—especially if you’ll be meeting them for the first time.

6. Did someone say, “Girls’ Night?”  

It’s official: you can now look forward to your senior spring as a Sex and the City montage.  It’s rough being single at times, but it’s also hard to sit around and mope when you and your five closest friends get together. Laughter, squeals, mischief, dares, a little wingwomaning here and there—you name it, you’re in it together. You don’t have to tone it down so your boyfriend can stand being in the same room with all of you for more than five seconds; you and your friends have the green light to be as loud and crazy as you want.

7. More money in your pocket

Let’s do a tally, shall we? Valentine’s gift, graduation gift, dates you split and dates on you… and if his birthday is in the spring, tack that onto your bill, too. Scratch that. Now what does being single add up to? Saving you money. And that’s a skill you’ll definitely need post-graduation.  

Don’t even think about lamenting your single status, this is your last chance to make some amazing, incredible memories. You only senior once (#yoso). So all my single collegiettes, put your hands up, because it’s time to live it up!