It can be hard to know where to look to find an internship. Rather than waiting until the last minute (also known as April) and scrambling to find an internship, why not start exploring opportunities now? There are tons of resources available to help you secure a job or internship and make the whole process a lot less painful. Scope out some of these resources over the next few months and you’ll have a summer internship locked down in no time!

1. LinkedIn

Remember that LinkedIn account you spent weeks perfecting and revising? Well, this is when it comes in handy!

If there is a specific company you want to work for, you can filter through your connections to find a contact by searching for, “People who worked at Her Campus Media,” for example. Even if you aren’t personally connected with someone at the company, you might have a shared connection.

Mary Lothrop, assistant director of health professions and STEM advising at Middlebury College, says that once you’ve made contact with someone, you should send a professional but friendly email or message inquiring about any internship opportunities at your connection’s company. If you’re close with the shared connection, you may even ask him or her to put in a good word for you! As an added bonus, potential employers will often check out your LinkedIn profile, and if they see that you’re connected with one of their current employees, they’ll be more likely to trust you and think you fit the company.

Another reason to take advantage of LinkedIn is that many companies post internship opportunities under the “Recent Updates” section of their profile, which makes it easy to search for internships at your favorite companies. LinkedIn also lets you search for internships in a certain field and geographic location, which makes it easy to pull up a list of finance internships in New York City, for example.

2. Industry-specific websites

If you know the industry in which you’re hoping to intern, there’s probably a specific website or database dedicated solely to internships in that field. We’ve compiled a list of websites and the industry or field they’re tailored towards, so you can focus on opportunities that make sense for you.

• Ed2010 lists magazine internships and is a great resource if you’re interested in media.
• Pathways to Science is ideal for collegiettes interested in health professions or STEM fields, as it offers scholarship opportunities, webinars, summer research opportunities and information about paid internships.
• Mediabistro is full of opportunities in the media and communications industry.
• The Career section of Fashionista is perfect if you dream of interning in the PR department of a fashion house.
• The Association of American Medical Colleges features a list of summer research opportunities available to undergrads interested in the health professions.
• Idealist is a great option for nonprofit internships, as it “has over 100,000 organizations listed, and you can search it using location or a specific social issue, which helps you narrow opportunities down,” says to Tracy Himmel Isham, associate director of professional and career development at Middlebury College.

The huge multi-industry databases like Internships.com and SimplyHired are great, but it can be annoying to have to wade through tons of irrelevant postings to find ones you’re interested in. Scoping out websites and databases specifically tailored to your industry of interest is an easy way to streamline the internship search process and find more specialized opportunities.

3. Your school’s career center

Ah, the career center: That building you always walk past but never actually enter. Well, consider this your motivation to set up an appointment, because your college’s career center is an absolutely amazing resource for finding an internship. Yes, the advisers can help you polish your resume and practice your interview skills, but they also can help put you in touch with the right people to find opportunities.

For example, if you’re interested in health professions or STEM internships, Lothrop says, “we already have many affiliations in place with labs and hospitals, and even if we don’t already have something established that meets the needs of the student, we’re happy to help connect them with opportunities in their area or help them figure out how to best leverage their own networks to develop new opportunities.”

Counselors at your career center can tell you what past students with your major and interests did for internships and even provide you with alumni contact information so you can do some networking and ask them questions. Lothrop encourages students to talk with career advisers to “develop a strategy for identifying and securing opportunities that would be a good fit for them.” Career centers also have tons of information on nonprofit and abroad opportunities as well as internships covered by grants and other types of funding, so you don’t have to necessarily rule out that amazing internship just because it’s unpaid!

4. Your school’s alumni network

When you think about all of the people who have graduated from your college in the last few decades, you’ll realize that your alumni network is basically a gold mine of potential internships. You can try to connect with alumni through LinkedIn or the career center, but most colleges have an online database designed just for alumni to post jobs and internship offers to current students.

Since these people are looking to hire someone from their alma mater, the pool of applicants is much smaller. Be sure to check out the resume or biography of the alumna who posted the job to see if she participated in any of the same clubs or sororities as you. Since all the applicants will be from the same school, it’s important to emphasize other personal connections to make yourself stand out.

Don’t forget about recent graduates, too! “I found my current internship at a YouTube production company through one of my sorority sisters who graduated in June,” says Iris, a junior at the University of California, Los Angeles. “She emailed our sorority listserv about the opportunity and made sure our applications were considered.”

If you have friends or sorority sisters who graduated in the last few years, don’t be afraid to reach out to them and ask about internship openings at their companies!

5. Academic advisers and professors

Sometimes the most valuable resources are the people you see every day! Most college professors and academic advisers are very in the know when it comes to their field and the opportunities it holds. Your favorite prof might know of a colleague looking for a research assistant for the summer, or she may be in touch with an old graduate school friend who’s an administrator at the nonprofit you hope to work for – you never know!

“My boyfriend is a classics major, and after asking his professor about summer internships, he ended up working with him on an archaeological dig in Greece,” says Vivian, a senior at Middlebury College.

Lothrop recommends asking your favorite professor if he or she needs any help doing research or working on a book this summer. It would most likely be unpaid, but it’s great work experience—and you won’t have to worry about having a nasty boss!

Finding an internship doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you get a head start (no waiting until spring break!) and know where to look. Take advantage of the many resources at your disposal, and you’ll have your dream internship locked down before you know it!

What guys think are the worst holiday gifts their girlfriend can give them. [YourTango]

Marcel the Shell does ‘Landslide.’ [Jezebel]

The loose threads the ‘Serial’ finale must tie up. [New York Magazine]

7 things for freshmen to do so that they’re not broke later. [The Huffington Post]

If guys made tampon commercials. [Bustle]

10 companies that let you be merry all year long. [The Muse]

Amy Purdy on almost dying and always living. [ESPN]

Even Disney princesses take selfies. [PopSugar]

Hanukkah is becoming more like Christmas. [Bloomberg]

Dogs who are stressed about hosting Christmas dinner. [BuzzFeed]

"Where were you when Instagram took over 3 million followers from Justin Bieber?"

That's likely to be a frequently asked question in coming years as this past Thursday goes down in history as the day of the "Instagram Rapture." If you're not one of the 300 million users who are obsessed with Instagram, you didn't fall victim to the recent purge in which Instagram deleted the profiles and accounts of millions of spam bots in order to create a better and more interactive experience for every Instagrammer. As a result, almost every user's follower count decreased and chaos ensued. 

The social media site warned us all last week that our follower numbers were likely to change, as it was in the process of cleaning up profiles that either violated the site's community guidelines or aggressively advertised goods and services in user comment sections. According to Instagram, the purged accounts were ones that had already been deactivated due to their violations. 

After everyone saw their follower counts plummet, many users then stormed the comment section of Instagram's own profile in fits of rage. 

"I LOST 500 FOLLOWERS. WTF INSTAGRAM," wrote one user. "I had five thousand followers and now they're gone and I will never get them back," said another. Some users even tried to put together a campaign to unfollow Instagram, which has since caused Instagram to lose 30 percent of its following. 

An infographic made by software developer Zach Allia notes which of the most followed users on Instagram were hit the hardest. Justin Bieber lost around 3 million followers which resulted in him losing his status as the most followed person to Kim Kardashian, who now ranks at the top. But the account that took the biggest hit was the profile of user chiragchirag78, who lost 99.9% of his followers. The user's follower count went from 3.6 million to 8. The account has since been deleted. 

Ahh, the priorities of our generation. How do you feel about the purge, collegiettes? Do you think Instagram should've just let the spam accounts be? 

The Korean beauty industry is known to be particularly forward-thinking. It's the industry that graced us with the wonderful BB and CC (and even DD!) creams. Not only that, but they gave us oil cleansers and facial masks too! We are bringing you right into the heart of the latest trend-setting Korean beauty products. If you're in search for a truly out-of-the-box cosmetics gift, or wanting to treat yourself this holiday season, check out our favorites in the Korean beauty market!

My Lip Tint Pack ($15.99)

Peel-off lipstain! You apply, wait a couple of minutes, and then peel if off, like a mask, to have 12 hours of lip color. It also helps exfoliate and remove dead skin from your lips. Unfortunately, it's not a "put on and go" product because the mask needs to set, but seriously... How cool is this product? Apply, peel, BOOM—color!

Mizon Returning Starfish Cream ($32.00)

If you must know, yes, this product actually does contain starfish extract. In the same way that starfish are able to recreate limbs that have been cut off, this cream wil also rejuvenate your skin. Perfect for those cold winter months or sleepless nights!

Elensilia Escargot Original Repair Bee Venom Mist ($15.64)

Those with bee allergies, bee-ware, this is not a product for you! For everybody else though, this facial mist contains royal jelly, bee venom extract, honey, fruit extracts, and oils to refresh your makeup and keep your face feeling fresh throughout the day.

Manefit Bling Bling Hydro Gel Masks ($6.00)

The only problem we've come across with sheet masks is the fact that they tend to slide off our faces if we aren't laying flat down. This mask is made out of a hydrogel, which is specially formulated to stay on your face. Plus, it contains gold... meaning you'll feel like a million bucks after using this mask!

Missha Complexion Coordinating BB Cream ($21.00)

Like magic, this cream goes on white, and as you blend, matches your skin tone thanks to color capsules in the formula. It is, however, catered to lighter skin tones.

May Coop Cleansing Mousse ($32.00)

Move over coconut water—maple water is a coming! This cleanser, which is made up of 70 percent maple water and green tea extract, will have your face feeling clean and refreshed.

Too Cool for School Art Class Pencil Eraser Eye Makeup Remover ($11.90)

Now say that product name 10 times, and quickly. Ever had an eyeliner mishap? You'll never have to scramble for a Q-Tip dipped in makeup remover again—with this product, you get an easier and more precise way to fix your eyeliner mishaps—or even create cool designs with your eyeliner.

Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask ($23.00)

Another thing the Korean beauty industry is known for: Interesting ingredients. Created with snail slime, this cream is sure to help your skin recover from skin damage, keep it protected, and rejuvenate it! You will wake up with bright and healthy skin—just make sure to wash it off in the morning.

Iope Air Cushion Sunblock XP [SPF 50+/PA+++] ($45.00)

Apparently this product is the pinnacle Korean beauty innovation. It provides sun protection, evens out your skin tone, covers your blemishes, moisturizes, and gives you a flawless face... all at the same time! But that's not even the revolutionary part. The compact has an air cushion, a sponge filled with foundation, within it. You use the provided applicator to put it on. Unfortunately this product doesn't work for all skin tones: There are only three shades and they all cater to the lighter side of the skin spectrum.

Have any of you collegiettes hopped aboard the Korean beauty train? Let us know what producst should have been included!

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 2014 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 2015 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. 2015 Resolutions Chalkboard

Have a 2015 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 2014

New Year’s Eve is a perfect excuse to dress up, so why not do it as your favorite thing from 2014? 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 2015 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 2014 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!

Celeb nuptials were aplenty in 2014—among them there were those involving Kimye, Lauren Conrad, Neil Patrick Harris, George Clooney and Ashley Tisdale. But Tinseltown also experienced its fair share of not-so-happy endings—breakups that, even with the help of a crystal ball, we could’ve never predicted. Here, seven celebrity couples whose relationships unexpectedly fizzled this year.

Khloé Kardashian and French Montana

Since jumping back into the dating scene after her marriage to Lamar Odom shattered, Khloé Kardashian has been in an on-again off-again fling with rapper beau French Montana. For now, the duo has called it quits, but we’re not convinced French is out of the picture for good. Still, if we had to choose between single Khloé vs. taken Khloé, we’d definitely choose the former.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

Do the words “conscious uncoupling” ring a bell? After Gwyneth Paltrow and her Coldplay lead singer hubby went their separate ways, Martin made headlines for his short-lived love affair with J-Law. Thankfully, Paltrow and Martin have remained close for the sake of their kids and it’s even rumored they’ll be sharing Christmas together. Could a  reunion be in this couple’s future? We think so! 

Big Sean and Naya Rivera

Just three months after Big Sean and Naya Rivera called off their engagement, the “Glee” starlet made our jaws drop when she wed Ryan Dorsey. In his latest single “IDFWU,” Ariana Grande’s new man makes it crystal clear he’s over his ex-fiancée. He and Grande weren’t ashamed to make it Instagram official either, as seen by the adorbs snapshots of them canoodling.

Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo

When your SO devotes a song called “Marry Me” to you, it screams commitment, right? Well, that wasn’t the case for Jason Derulo and his girlfriend of three years, Jordin Sparks. Derulo made the ultimate jerk move when he spilled on a radio show that he dumped Sparks over the phone because he was out of town! Sparks—may we suggest simply brushing your shoulders off and moving on, because absolutely no one deserves to be broken up with that way.

Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose

We thought Wiz and Amber were a super-compatible couple who’d last forever—until, that is, rumors emerged that he cheated on his wife and mother to their son, Sebastian—with twins! A month after Rose filed for divorce, Wiz tweeted his ex a happy birthday message, to which she warmly responded, “I Still Love You No Matter What.” Despite Rose’s seemingly perpetual love for her man, she’s getting along just fine without him. In fact, last week she was spotted twerking up a storm on Chris Brown.

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton

Real talk: When these high school sweethearts split, we shed a tear. A whirlwind of drama unfolded after a photo of the “Blurred Lines” crooner butt-grabbing a fan was released last year and his visit to a Parisian strip club surfaced earlier this year. The couple, who’d been together for a total of 22 years, split in February. Thicke later released a song named “Get Her Back” and tried winning back his wife’s heart, to no avail. After nine years of marriage, Patton filed for divorce in October. There’s no news on whether either has moved on, but the split seems to have been an amicable one. 

Kris and Bruce Jenner

We first learned the heartbreaking news that Kris and Bruce Jenner were throwing in the cashmere towel of their 22-year marriage on an episode of KUWTK. Nori’s grandma has since been packing on the PDA with Corey Gamble, who’s part of Justin Bieber’s entourage. The divorce of Kendall and Kylie’s parents was finalized a few days ago but that doesn’t mean they’re cutting ties—while guest-hosting E! News last week, Kris mentioned that Bruce would be present for their Christmas day festivities. Now that’s what we call friendly exes!

Disclaimer: This is about sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. This is my personal experience; all events are true and expressed to the best of my knowledge and personal opinion.

April 8 began like any other Monday morning. I woke up and ate breakfast while watching a few YouTube videos before class. I usually went home between classes, but today I decided to stay on campus, so I packed a lunch. After my first class got out, I had an hour gap before I had to be in my literature class at 2 p.m. There was a nice place to sit in the hallway outside of that class, so I decided to eat lunch there while I waited.

As I ate my sandwich, I scrolled through Twitter, started my homework—the things I typically did with my time in between classes. The hallways in this building were unusually quiet compared to others on campus, but I didn’t think anything of it. It was the honors college, so I figured it was just less populated than other areas of the school.

At 1:20 p.m., students spilled out of the lecture hall as class ended, but the building emptied just as soon as they appeared. Then I was alone again.

A few minutes later, the doors at the end of the hall opened and out of the corner of my eye I saw someone walking toward me—I assumed it was a professor heading back to his office or a student who forgot something in the lecture hall. The person stopped a few feet away from me and sat on the table adjacent to the chair I was sitting in.

I looked up and he was staring at me. I figured it was just odd timing, so I smiled and said hello. That’s when things took a turn.

“Are you in my English class?” he asked. “I saw something I liked the other day. Could you stand up for a second?”

Immediately I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t know what he saw or what was going through his mind. I completely blanked and I didn’t know what to say so I stayed silent. I turned back to my cell phone and pretended to text a friend, hoping that he would leave me alone.

He didn’t.

I could feel him staring at me, but there was nothing I could do. I was frozen. Looking back, I knew I should have left, but in that moment I couldn’t think clearly. I kept thinking he would walk away. I kept hoping he would get a hint and leave me alone.

When he finally got up from the table and started to walk toward the doorway, a weight lifted and I started to breathe again. But it turned out he wasn’t ready to leave. He had gone to look out the window, and then turned around and approached me again. I tried to remain calm because I didn’t know what he was doing. I remember trying to convince myself to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he’s just friendly? Maybe he really liked my shoes? My jeans? Maybe he’s from another country and doesn’t understand our culture? I was proven wrong.

“Get up. Just stand up,” he said as he reached for my arms.

When I refused, he grabbed me forcefully, pulled me up and dragged me to a corner of the hall. Once he got me where he wanted me, he proceeded to look around the hall to make sure no one was nearby.

All I remember is repeating “no” as many times as I could. But no matter how much I tried, my voice wouldn’t get any louder, so I tried to push him away.

The more I forced him away, the stronger he came back.

“Let me do this. What’s the problem with it?” he kept saying as he touched me. I felt so dirty. I felt so disgusting. I felt like an entirely different person and I began to blame myself. What possessed him to want to violate someone this way? I didn’t understand and I didn’t know how to get him to realize this wasn’t okay; that what he was doing was wrong.

I didn’t think it would stop. I didn’t think I would be able to escape.

Then a door opened in the hallway and the sound of innocent conversation filled the halls.

He stopped. A look of terror washed over his face and then he looked at me and said, “I have to go meet my friends now, see you in class.”

I stayed frozen in that spot for minutes after he left. It was almost like I forgot how to use my legs. I couldn’t breathe, my chest was tight and there was a lump in my throat that no amount of tears could get rid of.

I was so confused. Did that really just happen? It was all a blur.

At first, I didn’t know if I should say anything. I thought to myself, “He wouldn’t try to do that again. Would he?”

I grabbed my cell phone and texted my roommates. “I think I was just sexually assaulted.”

They all told me to go to the police. So I did.

I had never been in the police station before, and once I was there, I felt extremely out of place. I approached the woman behind the counter and blurted out, “I’d like to report a sexual assault.”

“Okay, who’s the victim? Is the victim with you?” she asked.

“I am. It just happened to me,” I told her. I said it without emotion, as though it hadn’t just happened to me, as though I weren’t still shaking. I wanted to cry. I didn’t even feel like myself.

She told me to take a seat and as I sat there, I thought that maybe it was a bad idea to report what had just happened to me. I remember thinking of similar assault cases I had read about, and hearing about a crazy percentage of cases that never got resolved, and were forgotten or swept under the rug because it was easier for universities to preserve their images rather than ensure the safety and comfort of its students. I was certain my story would end the same way. I was wasting my time. What was I still doing there in the waiting room?

Just as I was about to walk out and try to forget about what had just happened, a police officer came into the waiting room. “Jasmine? Come on back. How are you doing?”

I’m not sure what it was; maybe it was the sound of his voice, his sincere smile or the compassion that seemed to emanate from that simple gesture, that made my heart rate slow and made me feel a little more comfortable.

I was taken to a conference room where I talked with this officer about what had just happened. I thought I was dreaming. Nothing seemed real. I’m a college student; I’m not supposed to be reporting a sexual assault case, right?

After my conversation with the officer, the dean of students met me in the hallway and offered to take me to the university counseling center.

“I know a really good therapist who specializes in these types of cases. She will be able to help you. You’ll be in good hands,” she told me with the warmest smile.

I never thought I would ever meet the dean of students. I always thought that students who caused trouble or students who were failing were the only ones who ever had to meet with the dean. I had also never been to the counseling center on campus.

As the dean took me there, all that was going through my mind was, “What am I getting myself into?”

I was scared and I felt guilty. I felt like I was going to get into trouble, that he would get mad at me and if I continued to seek help and talk to people on campus, that I would somehow end up even worse off.

I met with a therapist and she scheduled me for 10 sessions, so she could follow up with me to ensure that I was going to be okay. It seemed like a lot to me at the time—still reeling from the initial shock of the experience, I wondered if this was even necessary.

After that appointment, the police officer met me outside and drove me home. He gave me the phone numbers of all the police on duty, a hotline to call if I felt unsafe and he even gave me his personal cell phone number just in case I needed a ride anywhere. For the first time that day, I felt like I mattered and I felt like I had done the right thing. Getting the support of the university was the biggest step I had to make, I thought.

A restraining order was issued against him and he was kicked out of my literature class. I thought it was over. I figured he would never bother me again and now I could move on.

Later that night, I sat on my bed and contemplated calling my parents. I was so scared that they would think I was too immature to be living on my own, that I wasn’t “adult enough” to be in college. I didn’t want them to worry about me, and telling them that their daughter had been sexually assaulted was definitely one way to get them to worry.

When I finally decided to call and tell my parents what happened, all I could do was cry. As soon as my mom answered the phone, my voice cracked and I tried to fight through tears as I told her what happened to me that day.

“You have to press charges. Go back to the police and tell them you want to take this to court,” my mom told me. I hadn’t even thought about pressing charges until now.

From 3,000 miles away, my mom tried her best to console me. I couldn’t control my crying, yet she remained so strong, and I’m still not sure how she’s able to keep her composure all the time, but I admire it. I admire it because she’s always there when I need her. And I definitely needed her that day.

After I got off the phone with her, I called the officer who had just driven me home.

“I want to press charges,” I told him.

During the next few months, I continued therapy. I met with the dean regularly to check and see how my case was being processed and my schoolwork started to slip. I had terrible night terrors where I could feel his hands on me, I saw his eyes in the darkness of my bedroom and I could hear his voice as if he were standing right in front of me. I thought I was losing my mind. I had the support of my family, friends and therapist, but nothing helped once I was alone. Ultimately, what helped me, simply, was time. It took time to get through the night terrors and the flashbacks that continued after April 8.

My case didn’t go to court until the end of September when the attorney decided she wanted to charge him with two counts of sexual assault in the third degree and one count of harassment. When she called and told me, it went in one ear and out the other. I had no idea what any of that meant, but all I knew was that the case was moving forward, so it was good news to me.

In the beginning of this year, I received a subpoena in the mail stating that I was ordered to testify in front of the grand jury before my case could be settled. I held that letter in my hand and I started to cry. I was shaking. I didn’t know what this meant. I felt so confused and lost. I thought this was all behind me. I had never before stepped foot into a courthouse and now I had to do this all alone. The only thing I wanted was to be with my family, and here I was stuck in Oregon in the midst of a legal case.

All that went through my mind was, “I’m 21 years old, I’m here for college, this shouldn’t be happening to me. Why me?”

On February 11, I sat in the car outside the courthouse and I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to go relive my assault again as I told a room full of strangers what had happened to me. But I knew this was the only way he would get what he deserved. So I shook off my fears and walked into the courthouse.

I remember sitting in front of the grand jury, the judge and the attorney. I felt so incredibly small. I felt like I was being judged, and I wondered if they thought I asked to be assaulted. Why couldn’t I stop sweating? A million things went through my head; I don’t even remember what questions they asked me and I don’t remember how I answered those questions. All I know is that I went and did what I was supposed to do.

A month later, I got a call from the attorney telling me that the student had been charged to the fullest extent of the law. Two counts of third-degree sexual assault and one degree of harassment.

“It’s over, Jasmine. You did it,” she told me.

I did it—even though I had doubted myself throughout the entire process. For so long, I never thought it would have been worth it to go through that year full of anxiety, stress and unbearable pain. I was faced with obstacles I never thought I would ever be faced with, especially in college. Being sexually assaulted is not something people think of when they think of college, yet one in four college women will be sexually assaulted on or near their campus. I was one of them. And although I wish it had not happened to me, I’ve taken this experience and used it as a learning tool. It has helped me grow as a person, it’s made me stronger and I’ve also been able to help others who are going through similar situations.

I often wonder how the tail end of my college career would have turned out differently had I not been in that building on April 8, but I wouldn’t be the same person I am today: strong, independent and willing to put up a fight for the things that matter to me. And come to think of it, I’ve really come to love the person I’ve become over the past year. This experience, though frightening, has forced me to stand up for myself—and for all the women around the globe who have also been victims of assault.

Do you have a story to share? Submit your story to Her Story!

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

How do you get creative with food from the dining halls when you get sick of it? - Rachel

Rachel,

The joys of the dining hall can fade away as quickly as #AlexFromTarget, but there are lots of ways you can mix things up to keep it interesting!

The first thing I’d suggest is switching up what you eat as often as possible. Maybe one day you go to the salad bar for lunch, then another day you try the pasta or pizza, and a different day you go for baked chicken with brown rice and broccoli. Even if your dining hall serves up the same food on a regular basis, mixing up your choices each time can help give you a little variety, and this will prevent you from getting sick of the dining hall.

When you’re getting tired of the specific contents of certain staple meals, such as a salad, you could try modifying what you add to it. If you like getting salads for lunch, change up your base (such as alternating between romaine lettuce and spinach), dressings and toppings often. By doing this, you’ll have a completely different salad each time you go, which can help when you’re stuck in a rut (or can help prevent a rut in the first place!).

Some dining halls offer interactive food stations, such as stir-fry stations and omelet stations. If your school has either of these, take advantage of them, since they are another easy way to switch things up when it comes to your diet in college. Each day you can change what you put in your stir-fry masterpiece depending on what protein options and vegetables are offered to you, so get creative!

Another way to switch things up would be to visit a variety of different on-campus dining options. Many schools have more choices than just a main dining hall, like a student union café or other choices that will accept your meal plan. Doing so is an easy way to expand your choices, since you could get lunch at the student union café and dinner at the dining hall. This way it doesn’t feel like you’re eating the same meal twice, as the location and the meals themselves will be different. Just a heads up before you diss the dining hall forever – these choices are often more expensive than eating at the dining hall. Don’t be the girl who spends all of her meal swipes on an overpriced morning coffee! This is a good reason to check your balance often to keep everything in check.

Some schools also offer off-campus dining options that accept your meal plan. Local chain restaurants or pizza shops might accept your dining dollars or a meal swipe, especially at city colleges, so be sure to check out which restaurants might accept your meal credit. To see which restaurants accept the meal plan, look at your school’s website or ask your RA for suggestions.

Finally, you can try making your own meals in your dorm or bringing back food from the dining hall to make your own meal if you’re looking for easy ways to eat more healthily in college. Keep in mind that some dining halls do not condone taking food back to your room from the dining hall, so make sure you’re following your school’s rules.

Between all of options for venues and specific meals, there are definitely ways to mix it up and keep it interesting so you don’t grow tired of the same meals! Keep these tricks in mind when you find yourself in a dining-hall rut. Good luck!

Ready for some deliciously baked holiday treats, but tired of using the same old pre-packaged M&M cookie dough? Look no further! Her Campus has compiled a list of 10 new easy-to-bake holiday cookies! Get out your oven mitts and read on; you’ll almost be able to smell that warm, sugary goodness!

Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

What you need:

• 1 (16.5 ounce) tube of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, separated into 1-cup portions
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• crushed candy canes or peppermint candies for decoration
• 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, and a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop
• 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper
• mixing bowl
• tablespoon

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven, and preheat it to 350 degrees. In your mixing bowl, knead the cookie dough and 1/4 cup of flour together until smooth. Lightly flour a flat surface and roll out the dough until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Use the cookie cutter to cut circles out of the dough. Keep kneading out the scraps of dough and rolling it out until you’ve used all of it (you should be able to cut about 24!). Place your dough circles on one of the baking sheets and bake the cookies in the oven until they’re slightly golden around the edges (approx. 10 minutes). Let the cookies cool completely.

Set up a double boiler by placing a bowl with the cup of chocolate chips and the cream over a pan of simmering water. After the chocolate has melted, whisk in the peppermint extract and refrigerate the mixture for an hour.

Take the chocolate mixture out of the refrigerator and place about a tablespoon of the chocolate on half of the cookies. Use the remaining cookies to make sandwiches with the chocolate-topped cookies. Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and freeze them until the chocolate filling has set (about 25 minutes).

Combine the remaining cup of chocolate chips and the vegetable oil in another bowl, set up another double boiler, and stir the mixture until smooth. Dip the top of each cookie sandwich in the melted chocolate and place on the baking sheet to set. Sprinkle the tops with your crushed candy canes and refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour).

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

What you need:

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal
• wax paper
• small pot
• teaspoon

In your small pot, combine the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil for 1 minute, and then add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Use the teaspoon to dollop the mixture onto your wax paper. Wait until your cookies have cooled and hardened, and enjoy!

Cookie Dough Truffles with Sea Salt

What you need:

• ready-made chocolate chip cookie dough
• 2 (12-ounce) bags semisweet chocolate morsels
• coarse sea salt
• your preferred type of chocolate morsels (white, milk, etc.), melted
• sprinkles
• chopped nuts
• cocoa powder
• powdered sugar
• toothpicks or wooden skewers
• baking sheets lined with parchment paper
• plastic wrap
• teaspoon

Use your teaspoon to dish out large spoonfuls of the cookie dough and roll them into little balls. Arrange them up on your lined baking sheets. Cover the sheets with plastic wrap and let them set in the freezer for at least 2 hours (they can stay in there for up to 1 week). Set up a double boiler by placing a bowl of the semisweet chocolate morsels over a pan of simmering water and melt until smooth. Remove the baking sheet of truffles from the freezer and use the toothpicks/skewers to dip the dough into the chocolate. Place the coated balls on the parchment to set, removing the toothpick. Sprinkle the truffles with a little bit of sea salt and decorate them with your other chocolate morsels, chopped nuts, sprinkles, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Place the baking sheets in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so the chocolate can set. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week!

“Forgotten Kiss” Meringues

What you need:

• 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2/3 cup superfine granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper
• electric mixer
• 2 teaspoons

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use the electric mixer to beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar and continue to beat until fluffy (be careful not to over beat; make sure you stop mixing when the whites make fluffy peaks, otherwise the whites will fall). Add the sugar to the mixture slowly until half of it has been incorporated, then add the vanilla extract. Continue to beat the egg whites and add the rest of the sugar gradually. When all of the sugar has dissolved, gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Use the two teaspoons to push spoonfuls of the meringue back and forth from spoon to spoon in order to dollop the mixture onto your baking sheets. Place the baking sheets in the oven and turn the oven off. Leave the cookies in the oven for at least 2 hours, or until they’re crisp and dry.

Dark Chocolate Chipotle Cookie

What you need:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into softened 1-inch cubes
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, plus 1/2 cup for topping
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons crushed, dried chipotle peppers
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 pound high-quality bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 1/2 cups high-quality bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks, plus 1/2 cup for topping
• electric mixer
• large bowl
• ice cream scoop
• baking sheets lined with parchment paper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Use the electric mixer to beat the butter until smooth, then add the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of light brown sugar, 1/2 cocoa powder and chipotle peppers and mix at medium speed until fluffy (about 1 minute). Next, add the eggs, vanilla extract, and water to the bowl and beat until combined (about 30 seconds). Add the cooled melted chocolate and mix until even. Add the large bowl with the flour mixture; don’t forget to scrape the sides when necessary! Add the chocolate chips and mix briefly (about 5 seconds).

Refrigerate the dough until cool and fudge-like (not solid) for about 1 hour. Use your ice cream scoop to create even-sized cookies. Press the tops of the cookie dough balls into the 1/2 cup of topping sugar, and then top each one with 2 or 3 dark chocolate chips. Place each one on the baking sheets and bake in the oven for about 12 to 14 minutes. When you remove them from the oven, the cookies should be a little bit underdone. Let them cool, and enjoy!

Pillsbury’s® Chocolate Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

What you need:

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® Refrigerated Gingerbread Cookies
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 teaspoons milk
• small bowl
• large bowl
• electric mixer
• baking sheets
• cooling racks
• tablespoon 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the 3 tablespoons of sugar in the small bowl and set aside. In your large bowl, break up the gingerbread cookie dough. Use your hands to knead in the cocoa until blended. Next, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Wet the bottom of your glass cup slightly and dip into the 3 tablespoons of sugar. Using the bottom of the glass, press one of the cookies until flat on the baking sheet. Repeat this process on each cookie dough ball.

Bake the cookies for 6-9 minutes. Let them cool for 1 minute, and then remove the cookies and let them cool completely on the cooling racks for about 20 minutes.

In your electric mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and milk. Beat the ingredients on medium speed until fluffy. Use your tablespoon to spread 2 scoops of filling onto half of the cookies. Layer the remaining cookies on top of the ones with filling to make mini gingerbread sandwiches and enjoy!

Soft Pumpkin Cookie

What you need:

• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. of vanilla
• 1 (15 ounce) canned pumpkin, or pumpkin puree
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 tsp. of baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• 10 ounces of butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1 1/4 cups of sugar
• electric mixer
• separate mixing bowl
• tablespoon
• baking sheet (un-greased)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Use the electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar. Next, add the egg, vanilla, canned pumpkin/pumpkin puree. In the separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add the butterscotch chips and mix until incorporated. Use your tablespoon to portion the dough onto the cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

Anise Seed Cinnamon Cookies

What you need:

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 orange, zested
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon anise seed, toasted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup lard or shortening
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• electric mixer
• baking sheets (lightly greased)
• large mixing bowl
• small mixing bowl
• knife

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In the small mixing bowl, combine the 2/3 cup of sugar, orange zest and sherry. Set aside so that the flavors are infused in the sugar. In the large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, anise seed and salt. Use the electric mixer to beat the lard/shortening until fluffy. Add the lard and infused sugar to the flour mixture and knead. Flour a flat surface and roll the dough until it’s about a 1/4 inch thick. Using your knife, cut the dough into rectangles and pinch one of the short sides to form little “toes” (these will spread apart while baking).

To make the topping, combine the cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Brush the rectangle cookies with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar topping. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are crispy and slightly golden.

Homemade Thin Mints

What you need:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup milk (any kind)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp peppermint extract
• small mixing bowl
• electric mixer
• plastic wrap
• baking sheet lined with parchment paper

It’s a homemade version of the Girl Scout classic! First, whisk flour, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt together in the small mixing bowl. In the bowl of the electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Set the mixer at a low speed and add the milk and vanilla and peppermint extracts (the mixture should look curdled). Slowly add the flour mixture until fully incorporated.

Shape the dough into two logs (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter) and wrap them in plastic wrap to freeze for at least 1 to 2 hours until firm. While you’re waiting for the dough to set, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

After 1 to 2 hours, slice the dough into 1/4 inch-thick rounds and place them on the baking sheet. The cookies won’t spread too much, so you can put them close together! Bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes until they’re firm at the edges. While you let the cookies cool, you can make the chocolate coating!

What you need:

• 10-oz dark or semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• microwave safe bowl
• fork
• wax paper

In your microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. Melt on high power, stirring every 45 to 60 seconds until smooth.

Place each cookie on your fork and dip them into the melted chocolate. Make sure you coat both sides! Transfer each to the wax paper and let set for 30 minutes.

Cinnamon-spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies

What you need:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Mexican cocoa powder (or substitute by adding 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon to unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons sweet butter, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Generous pinch ground black pepper
• Generous pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup dulce de leche optional
• 1/4 cup almonds, finely chopped, optional
• medium-size bowl
• small bowl
• whisk
• electric mixer
• plastic wrap
• baking sheets line with parchment paper
• sharp knife
• metal spatula

Using your whisk, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium-size bowl. In a small bowl, combine the light brown sugar and granulated sugar using your fingers to press out any lumps. Set aside.

Place the butter and margarine in the electric mixing bowl and beat until creamy. Add the sugar mixture, cinnamon, peppers, and vanilla and beat on high speed for 1 minute. Next, beat in the egg white until the mixture is completely smooth. Switch the mixer to the lowest speed and slowly add the flour mixture until incorporated. Take the dough out of the mixer and use your hands to form a neat log (about 9-10 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter), and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the log for at least 45 minutes.

While the dough is being chilled, position the over racks in the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

When the dough is chilled, use your sharp knife to slice rounds that are about 1/4 inch thick. Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets and bake them for 12 to 14 minutes. Halfway through the baking time, rotate the sheets from top to bottom and front to back.

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and use a metal spatula to loosen the cookies from the sheet. Let the cookies cool completely. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or be frozen for up to 2 months.

After they’ve cooled, drizzle the cookies with dulce de leche, sprinkle the chopped almonds on top, and enjoy!

Try out these recipes, collegiettes! You can bake these cookies for your friends’ parties, or decorate cute boxes and give them away as gifts! Either way, these small treats are sure to make a big impact this holiday season.

New Year's Eve is full of sparkly dresses and glam shoes—so your nails need so shine just as much! Keep reading to find out how to give yourself a glittery yet classy manicure, perfect for ringing in the New Year with your friends!

For this manicure I used black and silver to keep it fun, but still sophisticated. This included Kiss Nail Art Paint in Silver $7.77), Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Black Out ($5.73), and Sinful Colors Queen of Beauty ($6.39).

Use the black polish as a base coat, making sure it's completely opaque.

Next we will create a glitter gradient using the silver glitter. Begin with a small amount of glitter on the brush; starting in the middle of your thumb nail, paint a thin layer all the way to the tip of your nail.

Use layers to create an ombré effect by painting another layer of glitter on top of the previous one, but starting closer to the tip instead of in the middle. Keep doing this until the glitter is concentrated at the tip of your nail. Repeat the process on your pointer and pinky nails.

To represent the New Year, we will draw the roman numearls for 15 on the remaining nails. Using the silver nail paint, draw an X and V on your middle and ring fingers, respectively.

And your gorgeous New Years Eve mani is complete!

What are your favorite colors to wear on your New Years nails, collegiettes?

When the holiday season rolls around, it’s easy to turn into a scrooge at the thought of overspending on presents. Even if you’re a girl on a collegiette budget, gift-giving doesn’t always have to be expensive! A white elephant exchange is like a regular holiday swap, but with a fun game and quirky, inexpensive gifts. People give gifts nobody really wants or needs—but that’s the fun of it! Check out some of the most hilarious and bizarre gift ideas for your friends’ white elephant exchange.

1. iPhone Sticky Notes

$7.95 at iLoveHandles

Even though a note-taking app will do the same thing with less effort, we actually want this.

2.Magic Emotiball

$16 at Urban Outfitters

Remember your old Magic 8 Ball? Ask this emotiball a question and you can get any emotion from, “Bleh probs not” to, “Yes, obvi.”

3.InflatableUnicorn Horn

$8 at Archie McPhee

We can’t think of anyone who would be happy to receive this. It’s perfect.

4.DIY Snowman Poop

Tutorial at Enchanted Ladybug Creations

It’s really just Tic Tacs, but nobody has to know that.

5.Head Massager

$6 at Urban Outfitters

Because even though you can rub your own head, this gadget can do it, too.

6.Safari Cookie Cutters

$12 at iLoveHandles

Everyone loves cookies and animals. Not to mention these cookie cutters make 3D treats!

7.Sriracha Candy Canes

$4.50 at The Oatmeal Shop

Because some like it hot, right? These candy canes replace their typical refreshing peppermint taste with unbearably spicy Sriracha. Yum.

8.99 Hairbands Ball

$5.99 at Perpetual Kid

Perfect for that friend who is always asking if anyone has a hairband.

9.Lil Bub 2015 Calendar

$13.99 at Urban Outfitters

Forget hot guys or cute puppies—this calendar of Lil Bub is way more uplifting.

What are you waiting for? Invite your friends, make a few healthy Christmas snacks and exchange some hilarious gifts! For the rest of your gifting needs, don’t forget to check out Her Campus’s holiday gift guide.

You survived finals, and you’re finally back home for the holidays, with nothing getting in the way of quality time between you, the bed you’ve missed all semester and delicious, home-cooked meals (thanks, mom). Though a few days of doing nothing is a welcome change from the busy semester you’ve just had, there are only so many hours you can spend catching up on your favorite reality show re-runs before boredom sets in.

Luckily for you, we’re here to make your winter break a lot more eventful! We’re giving away the entire Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes, a New York Times bestselling author. You’ll get three books: Falling Kingdoms, Rebel Spring and the newest addition, Gathering Darkness. The story takes you through the journey of three kingdoms, where you’ll find magic, manipulation, betrayals, secrets and love as the formerly peaceful reign topples into unrest and war.

You’ll also score a $100 Visa gift card (since your bank account took a hit after your holiday shopping this year!), a Falling Kingdoms postcard set and t-shirt.

Enter below now for your chance to win!

Remember college, when you could go out Friday night, stay out as late as you wanted and still be able to wake up Saturday morning? Not only that, you’d go for a run, hit the library… and then do it all over again. Now when you go out, you hardly have the energy to reach over and hit snooze on your alarm the next morning, much less actually get out of bed. Yep, you’ve officially hit your mid-20s, when your hangovers hurt that much more. We took a look at why this happens.

Why do hangovers get worse as you get older?

Your tolerance is lower

Once you enter the real world, you aren’t surrounded by alcohol like you were in college. Those frat parties, formals and tailgates are suddenly replaced with the occasional glass of wine with dinner or casual drinks with friends. Yet, for some reason, you feel the effects of alcohol no matter how much you drink. This is because the less alcohol you consume, the less accustomed your body is to it, so when you do go out drinking, the resulting headaches and nausea are that much worse.

“Older people can be snowed by alcohol amounts that hardly touched them when they were younger,” says Dr. Peter Martin, director of the Vanderbilt Addiction Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Ashley*, a graduette living in Boston, explains the differences she noticed after drinking in college compared to the effects she feels now. “In college, I could have three mixed drinks and barely feel tipsy, just because we would go out Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,” she says. “Now that I only go out about once a week, when I have a glass of wine, I feel like I’m drunk, and [I’ll] even wake up with a headache. Just after one drink! Coming from college, you might expect that you can drink just like you used to, but you really can’t.”

Your body changes

Hangovers happen because alcohol dehydrates you—which in turn causes the headaches and general misery you feel the morning after. As you age, your body retains less water, so the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking gets that much worse.

According to Dr. Reid Blackwelder, board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians, “A lot of older people are borderline dehydrated. They have less body water just from the natural effects of aging.” And, unfortunately, your metabolism begins to slow down in your 20s, which causes your liver and kidney function to decrease. This, of course, does not help when you’re drinking lots of alcohol.

Sarah*, a college grad now living in New York City, noticed her metabolism gradually slowing over the last couple years. “In high school, I could eat whatever I wanted: Candy, burgers, pizza … and not feel any effects,” she says. “Now, after a week of poor eating habits, I feel bloated and lethargic. Likewise, in college, I could drink whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted and be able to go out again the next night; maybe just with a slight headache. Now, not only do I get splitting headaches and feel nauseated, [but] since my body seems to take a longer time to process the alcohol, my hangover lasts twice as long.”

Luckily, there are a few ways to help those hangovers hurt less. Here’s how!

Before you start drinking, you need to…

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

If you want to prevent a headache in the morning, you need to hydrate before and while you drink alcohol. Since alcohol dehydrates you, you should alternate every other drink with a glass of water—you’ll thank yourself in the a.m.

Or, make yourself a drink that’ll do double duty. Try a wine spritzer—a mix of club soda and wine (it’s best with a citrusy wine such as sauvignon blanc) and a twist of lime tastes good and will help prevent that hangover.

Take your vitamins

Alcohol is a diuretic, so when you drink, you’re prone to losing nutrients and vitamins. The most important vitamin you need to replenish is Vitamin B12, as it is necessary for metabolizing alcohol. By taking Vitamin B12 supplements before going out, you’re preparing your body to break down the products of alcohol and help get rid of those terrible toxins in your system. Or, you can eat foods that are high in Vitamin B12, such as eggs, cheese and red meat.

If you already have a hangover, nurse it by…

Taking ibuprofen

Whether that pounding headache wakes you up at 5 a.m. or 10 a.m., take ibuprofen immediately (or at least one hour before you have to be productive). Be sure to avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol)—combined with alcohol, it can be damaging to your liver. Although you shouldn’t rely on ibuprofen every time you drink, if you have a splitting headache when you wake up, it should do the trick.

Hydrating again

After a night of drinking, you need to keep hydrating your body, even if you had plenty of water while out. Have something with electrolytes: Sports drinks, fruit juice or coconut water will jump-start the recovery process and keep you hydrated.

Amy*, a graduette living in Houston, swears by her hangover remedy. “No matter what time I get home, I set my alarm for 6 a.m. to wake up and take Advil, drink a bottle of water and then go back to sleep for another few hours,” she says. “When I wake up, I reach for a Gatorade and surprisingly feel ready to be productive. If I don’t rehydrate, I feel terrible and will stay in bed all day.”

Eating

In college, you likely ended your night with some kind of post-drinking binge eating. Whether it was pizza, ramen or fries, eating late-night food was a regular habit. Now, you’re probably not heading to the nearest 24-hour fast food restaurant to fill up on chili cheese fries after a night out.

Although you’re right in avoiding greasy foods (they may be too heavy and make nausea and vomiting that much worse), eating after you drink can help prevent hangovers. Stick with salty foods; they help you retain moisture by restoring the levels of sodium and water in your body, which will help metabolize and flush out toxins, which in turn helps you feel better in the morning. Try a bowl of soup; it’s easy to make no matter how tired you are and isn’t heavy enough to make you feel even more sick.

Sleeping

Nothing cures a hangover better than sleeping does. However, while it may seem like alcohol puts you right to bed, it can actually be disruptive to your sleep cycle. Even if you feel exhausted, you’re not getting quality sleep, and for some, it can be hard to sleep in late after a night out drinking. If this is the case for you, try taking melatonin, a natural sleep aid.

Until there’s a magic pill that can cure hangovers, the only true cure is time, since your body needs it to make a full recovery. These tips, however, are the best ways to help speed up the recovery process and fight that hangover if (or when) it does come. You may not be able to drink like you did during your college days (and you probably don’t want to, either!), but getting older doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have a few drinks and enjoy yourself. Just learn how to take care of yourself before and after the fact, and you’ll still be able to get up the next morning and have a productive day.

*Names have been changed.

Name: Yarden Katz
Age: 27
Job Title and Description: Founder and Designer of Carbon & Hyde
College Name/Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison/Communications
Website: www.carbonandhyde.com
Twitter Handle: @carbonandhyde

Name: Oren Katz
Age: 25
Job Title and Description: Founder and Designer of Carbon & Hyde
College Name/Major: University of Wisconsin-Madison/Journalism & Strategic Communications
Website: www.carbonandhyde.com
Twitter Handle: @carbonandhyde

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

Yarden Katz: Everything! Our company has only been around for a year, and building a brand requires wearing many different hats. Each day brings something new and interesting to the table.

Oren Katz: There is never a typical day in our business. We love being hands on with our jewelry, so we’re in the shop most of the week designing and overseeing customer and store orders. We also love our local stores, so we try to visit them at least once a week.

On a typical day, I manage our website, weekly e-mails, new business reach outs, press inquiries and requests and Instagram, and I design most of our marketing materials (packaging, thank you cards, lookbooks, etc.). Most of what Yarden does gives me the ability to do this. She merchandises all of our stores, manages production and stays on top of all of our finances. We both use our creative and business minds everyday—only each of us put it to whatever we are best at.

What is the best part of your job?

YK: Working with my sister. She’s my best friend and my rock and having her right by my side through this journey and growth is the best thing I could ever ask for.

OK: When my sister and I get stopped on the street by people asking where our jewelry is from! It’s the best feeling to see that people love the pieces we work so hard to create and that they are truly pieces that stand out!

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

YK: That you have to plan for Christmas and the holidays in the summer! Our first holiday season (which was only a few months into the birth of the brand), we could barely preform because we weren’t prepared for how many orders and requests you get around that time.

OK: That you don’t have to do everything yourself! We struggled a lot with building our first lookbook because we thought we had to produce it all ourselves. There are so many aspects that go into it and after many mistakes we learned that it’s okay to bring someone on board for the extra help and expertise! 

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

YK: “You don’t know what the water feels like if you don’t jump in.”

OK: A good friend and mentor of mine who started her own company a few years ago gave me the best advice: “Being an entrepreneur is a mental rollercoaster!”

It’s true—every day is a different day, and you have to learn to survive through all the ups and downs. One day you think you are going to be a millionaire, the next day you think you’re worthless. One day you design something amazing, the next day your design turns out to be hideous. You kind of have to have this “do whatever it takes mentality,” and even on days where you feel like crying, you have to keep moving because you never know what will happen tomorrow.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

YK: Thinking that we can coordinate our first lookbook shoot on our own. Sometimes you can’t do everything, you have to be able to trust other people to execute for you, and especially because Carbon & Hyde is our baby, it’s hard to let go sometimes. We’ve learned to calm down on the micro-managing. 

OK: The same mistake I always make: Being a perfectionist! It helps a lot in many ways, but other times it keep me up until 4 a.m. analyzing our website and our line sheets for hours and then it’s impossible for me to be productive the next day. When you’re growing a business, you have to accept that nothing is perfect and everything is just a stepping stone towards improvement and learning. I have definitely learned that building a company is a journey—you have to embrace all the ups and downs.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

YK: Having our first trunk show in NYC. We thought like 20 people were going to show up and we would make a sale or two. So many people showed up and we made a ton of sales. We could barely keep up; it was all happening so fast. I remember packing up the collection at the end and just looking at my sister and realizing that this is real, we’re about to do this and this might actually be something.

OK: A few months ago, we got approached by Discovery Channel to film a documentary about growing our fine jewelry company. It was an awesome experience to take the entire crew with us and show them a day in our lives. At the end of the day, they all came up to us and told us we were so inspiring to watch and that they all had the biggest hopes for us to continue being successful. That’s what this is all about! If you can’t inspire others and make people smile every day just by doing what you love, what’s the point?
 
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

YK: It’s really important to me to find someone who’s proactive, adaptable, creative and invested. When you’re working at a start up there isn’t really a formula or schedule to all the madness. I want someone who can really vibe with us in the office—[he or she] needs to be able to feed off of us, bring a lot to the table and not be shy. I don’t need a coffee runner, I want someone that wants to be a part of a team and is dedicated to the team.

OK: Anyone who is passionate about what we do! You don’t have to be the brightest or the prettiest or the fastest; you just have to love it. That’s what gives a good team member the longevity to keep pushing until the work is done. You also have to have a good mentality and positive attitude. Growing a business isn’t easy!

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

YK: You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you demand. It’s one of the best things that someone has ever said to me, and it has stuck with me through life and business.

OK: Go for what you love and never be afraid. Don’t ever let money, fear or judgment hold you back. If you have a passion and you are hungry to achieve it, the rest will come. 

Every fashionista loves her Laurent and her Lanvin, but what about some of the young and up-and-coming designers beginning to make their marks on the fashion world? With 2015 coming up soon and fashion month only a month after that, the new year is a great time to find some new favorites! Below, we rounded up six designers to watch, all of whom we’re expecting big things from in 2015. Take note, collegiettes—these are names you’ll be hearing in the new year!

1. Public School

Public School has been a buzzed-about name in menswear for some time already, but their new addition of a womenswear line, which showed for the first time at New York Fashion Week back in February, is definitely one you should keep your eyes on. Their spring 2015 collection, which had a cool, tailored-but-effortless vibe with touches of sporty accents is only proof that they’re going to be just as successful with the girls as they have been with the guys.

2. Ryan Roche

Ryan Roche’s eponymous line is every pink-loving girly-girl’s dream. The designer, who was a 2014 runner up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, is known for her luxe knits and signature color palette of pinks and pastels. We’re loving this gorgeous, ethereal oversized sweater and lace look from her Fall 2014 lookbook—comfy, chunky knits as big on style as they are in size? We’re loving it.

3. Adam Selman

If the name Adam Selman sounds familiar at all, that’s because it is—Selman is the designer behind one of the most talked-about red carpet looks of the year: The glittering, transparent gown Rihanna wore at the CFDA Awards in June. The designer, who staged his first full-fledged runway presentation at NYFW in September, is known for his cheeky, fun looks that don’t take themselves too seriously. Case in point—the playful vibes and fun cutouts on this matching set from his S/S 2015 collection.

4. Paul Andrew

If the fact that shoe designer Paul Andrew was this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner (aka the mother of all awards for up-and-coming American designers), doesn’t say enough about Andrew’s design talent, his amazing shoes will. We’re obsessed with the elegant, sexy silhouette all of his shoes seem to have—not to mention super cool accents like fur and yes, feathers!

5. Daniella Kallmeyer

With gigs at Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler and Alice + Olivia on her resume, it’s no wonder that we’re totally smitten over Daniella Kallmeyer’s cool, polished androgynous aesthetic. We especially love the simple, tailored lines of these looks from her Fall 2014 collection, which was a minimalist’s best friend.

6. Kirsty Ward

Jewelry that’s attached to clothes? What’s not to love? Statement-making embellishment is the signature look of British designer Kirsty Ward, whose colorful and eclectic pieces look totally fresh and one-of-a-kind amid the sea of minimalist trend that’s happening right now. We’re especially loving the vibrant colors and prints on this look from her recent S/S 2015 collection.

We're really excited to see what these up-and-coming designers have in store for the new year. What are you most excited to see in the fashion world for 2015, collegiettes?

The shopping season is always shorter than we think. If you're scrambling for a last-minute gift that's more personal than a gift card, check out the creative ideas below. We have a mix of store-bought and DIY options to meet all your gifting dilemmas and deadlines!

1. DIY Hot Drink Sleeve

Warm up to winter with these DIY sleeves made from sweater sleeves. They're the perfect gift for your coffee addict friend and an easy way to recycle last year's ugly Christmas sweater.

2. A One-Year Magazine Subscription

Has your friend taken a new interest in cooking or working out? Treat her to a year of the best advice, delivered right to her doorstep. Magazine subscriptions are a savior when it comes to last-minute gifts - the large selection guarantees that there's something for everyone, yet your choice in subscription makes it a personal and thoughtful gift.

3. A Decorated Alcohol Bottle

If your friend is 21+, pick up a bottle of her favorite drink and deck it out with jewels, ribbons or paint. Attach a personalized note to your masterpiece and she will appreciate your creativity long past the last drop.

4. DIY Hand Warmers

Sew together two pieces of fleece and fill it with rice. Your friend can microwave it for 30 seconds and stuff it in her coat pocket to keep her hands warm as she walks outside!

5. A Cake Pop Bouquet

Why settle for chocolate-covered strawberries or flowers when you can have the best of both worlds? Create this edible bouquet by using any cake pop recipe and sticking the lollipop sticks into a styrofoam base. Then, cover the styrofoam with shredded paper or tinsel for some festive flair. If you don't trust your skills in the kitchen, many bakeries offer similar pre-made creations.

6. Texting Gloves

You can opt for gloves that work with a touchscreen or fingerless ones. Either way, you can find plenty of cute options online that will meet any budget.

7. A Perfume Set

If you have a friend that is picky, get her a gift that gives her options. This sample perfume set from Sephora comes with a voucher that can be exchanged for a full-sized bottle. Sephora also offers a cologne set for the guys on your shopping list.

8. Books

If your friend has a Goodreads account, check out which books are on her "want to read" shelf.  If she doesn't use Goodreads, buy her a how-to book about a hobby or skill she's always wanted to learn. It will give her a head start on her New Year's resolution of trying new things!

9. A DIY Hot Cocoa Kit

Every chocoholic needs one of these emergency pick-me-ups. Fill a festive mug with candy canes, marshmallows, a mini spoon and homemade hot cocoa mix.

Quick! These are your last few moments to figure out what you’re getting everyone on your list this year (you didn’t leave it to the last minute or anything…). Luckily, as always HC has your back for the perfect last minute gifts for the ladies in your life: jewelry from the Dominique Cohen for Miss Me Capsule Collection!

Don’t worry – we didn’t forget you! Enter below to win your own gorgeous piece of jewelry from the collection!

Your Mom

These Fleur de Lis Drop Earrings from the collection come in yellow gold and rose gold too, but I think black is best for my mom (and maybe yours too). The gunmetal is chic and the suspended teardrop is classic. $85

Your BFF

As mentioned before, the Bangle Bracelet set is one of our favorites from the Dominique Cohen capsule collection. The rose gold one is my personal favorite – with a solid bracelet, a faux pearl bangle and a white crystal one. $95

Your Sister

All of your sister’s LBDs will be glammed up with the Iridescent Wing Ring. This dramatic cocktail ring will add an extra special touch to her New Year’s Eve party look and will pair great with a ‘look at me’ manicure! $90

Any lovely lady!

Drawing a blank on what to get that last girl on your Christmas list? The Layering Necklace is a gorgeous gift. It’s hard to choose which is prettier, the jet black (seen above) or the pearl. It’s perfect for anyone from the most accessory resistant to someone who would never be seen perfectly accessorized. $125

For more on Miss Me follow them on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miss Me for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

After what seemed like a never-ending finals season, winter break is finally here, and with it comes time. And now, with the holidays in full swing, we're looking for some great beauty tips and tricks to test out now (and in the new year!). So make the most of it and check out these five must-read beauty blogs—you've got the extra hours to lust over luxe products and even try out some new looks.

1. Lisa Eldridge

Lisa Eldridge is a makeup artist based in London who divulges her insider info on skincare and makeup on her blog—it's perfect for anybody looking for product reviews, especially if you want to be sure that eye cream you're getting your mom actually works!

2. Vivianna Does Makeup

Vivianna Does Makeup is a blog written by Anna, a makeup guru who not only keeps a written blog, but also creates YouTube videos. She writes and talks about her favorite products, new beauty releases as well as beauty on a budget! 

3. Tanya Burr

Tanya Burr is a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger who also creates videos on YouTube. Her blog is perfect for those looking for new beauty products and want an honest, helpful review. Her popular YouTube videos show her bubbly and happy personality and her tips and tricks are helpful whether you're a makeup pro or still learning the ropes!

4. Lily Pebbles

Lily Pebbles is a beauty blog created by, well, Lily Pebbles! The blog offers different beauty reviews, videos, style tips and more. We love that Lily’s blog also offers recipes, fun stories and some everyday life tips.

5. Beauty Banter

Beauty Banter is a blog created by Sarah Howard, a writer and beauty consultant. The blog consists of everything from beauty trends, tips & tricks and weekly products that you must try out. If you’re looking for some new products to try or new ways to style your hair this holiday season, check out this blog for some amazing ideas.

What beauty bloggers do you follow?

Lately, you’ve been turning dramatically to your girlfriends and lamenting, “I just want to be loved—is that too much to ask?” Well, guess what, collegiettes: You are loved. You have wonderful friends, family and coworkers who think you are the bee’s knees, and, no, you don’t need a relationship right now.

The problem with feeling like you need a significant other is that it might cause you to settle. We pinpointed the signs that settling down isn’t actually what’s best for you right now.

1. You feel pressured to date

Maybe your friends’ relationships and your family’s pressing questions about your love life have gotten to your head. Maybe you feel expected to have a significant other, but it’s ultimately your decision, and nobody should have a say in it but you.

“As women, we should be aware of the choices we have and not shamed for making [these] choices,” says Neely Steinberg, a professional dating coach and author of Skin In the Game: Unleashing Your Inner Entrepreneur to Find Love. “There's so much to do if you don't want an SO, and college is a great time to branch out on your own, have fun times with friends [and] experience dating or even just hooking up.”

Alexa, a junior from Hunter College, says she feels lonely sometimes, but it usually doesn’t last. “I don't feel like I'm ready for a relationship, to be honest,” Alexa says. “I'm young, in college and kick-starting my career. I think this is a critical time to be highly invested in yourself before getting involved with other people. I always like to think the right one will hopefully come along when the timing is right.”

Besides, if you feel pressured to be in a relationship, you might find yourself settling for the wrong person, which is unfair on both of you. You should date when you’re ready, not when other people tell you to!

2. You feel lonely

College can get really lonely. When you’re having a bad day, it’s easy to imagine that having a caring significant other would help you get through difficult times.

“I’ve been single for four years now after a three-year relationship, and there are few times that I feel like I really want a boyfriend,” says Miranda, a senior at Winona State University. “It’s on a Sunday afternoon when I’m lounging and doing homework and wish I had someone just to lay around with. Or when I’m sitting by a fireplace and it’s snowing and I think it would just be so much more enjoyable with someone by my side.”

Like Miranda, many of us collegiettes sometimes wish we had a partner in order to feel less lonely – and that’s completely normal! “College women might [...] feel lonely and think the only way to alleviate that loneliness is by having a [partner],” Steinberg says. “Sure, you may feel less lonely if you are in a healthy, happy relationship, but I think it can be good to learn how to be alone and how to work through feelings of loneliness, how to sit in those feelings and know you can get through it.”

Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to feel better that don’t involve being in a relationship. “It's okay to feel lonely,” Steinberg says. “Make your life full with things you enjoy doing, lean on family and friends, sit alone in your loneliness. That can make you stronger.”

Miranda knows that she can always count on her besties to make her feel better. “My girlfriends usually snap me right out of the ‘I need a man’ mood,” she says. “You can laugh, watch movies and cuddle with your girls, so why even bother with the drama of dating when your best friends are more fun anyway?”

So if it’s one of those days, gather up a few of your closest friends, some of your favorite comedies and some movie snacks, and we guarantee you’ll feel better every single time.

3. You’re jealous of other people’s relationships

“I have made statements to my friends about cute couples showing a lot of PDA and how gross they are,” says Kasia, a senior at Villanova University. “Maybe it's a little bit of bitter singleness coming out.”

If a lot of people around you are coupled up, you might begin to feel left out. “Some women might see others with boyfriends and think that's what they should have,” Steinberg says. “A lot of times in college we look at our peers and see what they're doing and what they have and feel we need to have or be doing the same thing to fit in.” However, just because many of your friends have significant others doesn’t mean you need to join them right this instant!

“If it seems as if all of your friends are paired up two by two, it is time to expand your circle,” says Jodi RR Smith, president and owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “Follow your interests and passions. This has the dual benefit of satisfying yourself and if there is a potential love interest, you will already know you have similar likes.”

Get out of your friendship comfort zone and hang out with other happy singles! This could mean reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while or joining a club on campus that caters to your interests, for example.

4. You need validation

As collegiettes, we’re constantly trying to find and build who we are. Sometimes we feel like we’re doing it all wrong, which can lead us to seek others’ approval.

“Another reason [to want a relationship] is for validation,” Steinberg says. “Women may think they need a guy, a boyfriend to validate who they are. That sort of external validation is fleeting; at the end of the day, you need to find validation from within yourself.”

If you think you want a relationship to boost your self-esteem, it could be time to reevaluate your motivations. Work for the things you want, be proud of your accomplishments and remember that it’s okay to feel a little lost from time to time!

5. Your hormones are going crazy

According to Marla Martenson, a professional matchmaker, author and speaker, “college women might feel that they need a significant other because their hormones are turned on high! Women are extremely fertile at this age, and nature is simply nudging them along…”

Your hormones can influence you and make you place more importance on being in a relationship than you normally would.

If you haven’t found the right person, you shouldn’t feel pressured to be in a relationship. “Just realize that you have your whole life ahead of you and there are so many amazing people out there,” Martenson says. “There really is no rush, so don’t settle. Make sure that your self-esteem is high by continuing to learn new things and taking care of your body, mind and spirit. When you know your own value, you won’t settle!”

A big part of not settling is to know your self-worth as well as what you are looking for in a partner. “If you're spending time reflecting on your social experiences and the social experiences of those around you, you'll start to get an idea of what's important to you in a romantic partner,” Steinberg says. “Self-awareness is the key in life, because it empowers you to make conscious choices. So when you're self-aware about who you are, your thoughts/beliefs and what really matters to you, you'll feel less of a need to ‘settle.’”

If you often find yourself thinking you need an SO, remind yourself of all the great things in your life. You’ll soon realize that you are great by yourself and you don’t need someone else in your life to prove it. When the time is right and it’s what you want, you will find the perfect relationship for you!

We’ve been singing along to Christmas carols for as long as we can remember, but how well do we really know the lyrics? If we take the time to listen a little closer, some holiday tunes are actually a little concerning. Here’s a complete list of the creepiest, weirdest and most cringe-worthy Christmas lyrics you’ll immediately want to forget.

1.“Grandma got run over by a reindeer/Walking home from our house Christmas Eve”("Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer")

Wait… does that mean grandma’s… WHAT?!

2.“He sees you when you're sleeping/He knows when you're awake”("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town")

Is it just us, or does Santa sound like a stalker?

3.“Say, what’s in this drink?”("Baby It’s Cold Outside")

Let’s be real, this whole song is downright creepy. Get out of there, girl. ASAP.

4.“Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing/A ring/I don't mean on the phone/Santa baby/So hurry down the chimney tonight”("Santa Baby")

…but she kinda is. You’re better than that, Santa.

5. “Oh, what a laugh it would have been/If Daddy had only seen/Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night!”("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus")

Soooo... Mom’s cheating on Dad… Merry Christmas?

6.“There's a world outside your window/And it's a world of dread and fear/Where the only water flowing/Is the bitter sting of tears/And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom/Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you”("Do They Know It’s Christmas?")

Yeah, we know this song was about raising awareness, but it’s also probably the darkest, most condescending Christmas song of all time.

7.“Your soul is an appalling dump heap/Overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable/Mangled up in tangled-up knots”("You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch")

Cut the guy a break. His heart is two sizes too small. Doesn’t give you permission to talk behind his back like that.

8.“The horse was lean and lank/Misfortune seemed his lot/We got into a drifted bank/And then we got upsot.”("Jingle Bells")

Yes, the second/less-well-known verse of this classic tune tells a tale of reckless driving.

9.“In the meadow we can build a snowman/And pretend that he is Parson Brown/He’ll say, ‘Are you married?’/We’ll say, ‘No, man!’/But you can do the job/When you’re in town.”  ("Winter Wonderland")

Gotta love when creepy snowmen start asking you about your love life.

Happy caroling, collegiettes!