Nothing says “I love you” like homemade sweets… but you’re not exactly Martha Stewart. Don’t panic. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up five recipes that are easy to make in your campus apartment. Whether you’re making a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for you and your boyfriend or you’re just a single collegiette with a sweet tooth, you can dig into thesedelectable Valentine’s Day desserts on February 14.

Rice Krispies Treat Hearts

You know those heart-shaped candies with the sickly sweet endearments stamped on them? The ones your mom always sends you every year in your care package that you never eat? Well, now you finally have a use for them with this super easy V-Day-themed Rice Krispies treat recipe!

Ingredients

4 tablespoons of butter 

10 drops of red food coloring 

40 large marshmallows 

6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal 

2 cups of mini marshmallows 

1 cup of conversation heart candies 

1 heart-shaped cookie cutter

Directions 

1. Spray a large baking sheet (with a ledge) with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Melt the butter and stir into it the food coloring and large marshmallows until fully melted.
3. Remove this mixture from heat and add the Rice Krispies cereal and mini marshmallows.
4. Make sure you spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray and press the cereal mix onto the cookie sheet until it’s flat and even. Add the candies into the cereal sheet.
5. Let the treats cool, then cut into hearts with a cookie cutter.

Cocoa Espresso Truffles

These luxe little truffle treats are a bite of heaven! While they take a little more waiting (the chocolate needs to be refrigerated to form), whip up a batch of these truffle bites with your sorority sisters for a single girls’ V-Day bash! These espresso-coated candies are perfectly paired with coffee, so share a cup with your bestie and the two of you can gripe about that guy from last weekend’s party who never texted you back.

Ingredients 
 


1 cup of heavy cream 

1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder 

1/2 pound of semisweet chocolate drops 

1/2 pound of bittersweet chocolate drops 

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 

1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 tablespoon of coffee liqueur (optional) 
 


Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat the cream and instant espresso powder over medium heat, stirring until the mixture bubbles around the edges. Remove from heat, add the chocolate, and stir until fully melted. Add the liqueur and vanilla, and stir. Pour the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate it until firm (at least 4 hours).
2. Using a small scoop or a teaspoon, drop 1-inch balls of the chocolate mixture onto a wax-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate these until they are firm, about 15 minutes.
3. Place the cocoa powder in a shallow bowl. Roll the chocolate balls in the cocoa, then transfer to a wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate. Let them set in room temperature before serving!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Rich and velvety... what could be a more perfect dessert to share with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day? Red velvet cakes, pies, and cupcakes are classic, so we borrowed this easy recipe for red velvet whoopie pies.

Ingredients

Cookies

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist devil’s food cake mix
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tablespoons of red food color
1 box (4-serving size) of chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix

Filling

1 cup of softened butter
2 cups of marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup of fresh berries

Directions 

1. Beat the cookie ingredients in a large bowl, with electric mixer on low speed until moistened; beat 1 minute longer on high speed. Drop batter onto a cookie sheet (which should either be lined with parchment paper or sprayed) with each cookie being 2 inches apart.
2. Bake the cookies for 13 to 16 minutes at 350°F. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
3. Beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. For each sandwich cookie pie, spread about 1/4 cup filling on bottom of 1 cooled cookie. Top with blueberries and raspberries before sandwiching the filling with a second cookie.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cupcakes

The white chocolate flakes remind us of snowy winter days on campus (perfectly fitting for this time of year) and the cranberries give the otherwise fluffy, light cakes a tart bite of flavor. Delish! Don’t believe us? Check out this recipe from for white chocolate cranberry cupcakes and make them yourself!

Ingredients

Cake

1 box of white cake mix
2 egg whites
1 egg
1/3 cup of oil
1 cup of buttermilk
1 cup of sour cream
1 orange for zest
2 cups of chopped cranberries

White Chocolate Ganache

¾ cup of white chocolate chips
2 ½ tablespoons of heavy cream

White Chocolate Buttercream

8 ounce of softened cream cheese
½ cup of softened butter
2 tablespoons of white chocolate instant pudding powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3-4 cups of powdered sugar

Directions

1. Gently stir the egg whites, egg, oil buttermilk, sour cream, zest and cake mix, then add chopped cranberries. 
2. Fill the cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 14-18 minutes at 350°F.
3. When the cupcakes are almost cool, make the white chocolate ganache by melting white chocolate and cream together in the microwave.
4. Once your cupcakes have cooled, dip them in the ganache and let them set before piping buttercream.
5. To make buttercream, beat the cream cheese and butter for 4 minutes. Add pudding mix, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. 
6. Pipe onto your cupcakes and top them off with sprinkles!  
 


Sweetheart Chocolate Martini


For collegiettes over 21, this liquid dessert is just the thing for Valentine’s Day whether it’s a girls’ night or date night! Here’s a toast to getting your happily ever after this semester!

Ingredients 
 


3/4 cup of half-and-half  

8 ounces dark chocolate liqueur 

2 ounces of vodka  

ice cubes  
 


Directions 
 


1. In a pitcher, stir together the half-and-half, chocolate liqueur, and vodka.
2. Place ice cubes in a martini shaker.
3. Add liqueur mixture and shake.
4. The mixture makes 4 to 6 drinks.
5. Garnish with drizzled chocolate or candy hearts!

Wine leather coats. Asymmetrical hems. Black lace florals. Plaid plush t-shirts. These are a few of my favorite things! From Richard Chai's Fall/Winter 2014 LOVE collection, that is. The show, which also featured Chai's Fall/Winter 2014 Men's Collection, started with the sound of The Bangles' cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter" and a variety of textures followed, from silky asymmetrical dresses to faux fur turtlenecks to sequins. While the first sight of them may have been jarring, the sum of each look was greater than its parts. I never would have thought to put leather and sequins on the same model at the same time, but when Chai did it made sense, eye-opening, thought-provoking sense. It's nice when someone can open your mind to clothing possibilities with a single outfit. It's almost like he looked at his collection and said, hey, why can't these go together? And made us ask ourselves the same question upon viewing them. That's been an all-too-unusual experience for me, and I frankly wish it would happen more often. 

Chai's cold weather ensembles had a grunge flair, but not the same, deliciously messy one to which we've become accustomed. We definitely saw the influence of grunge, but weren't overpowered by costume-y remakes of times past. Instead, Chai used the era to accent his own point of view, adding the aforementioned black lace to oversized jackets and leather (in a collaboration with Andrew Marc) to a black needlepunch sweater. We also a bold use of shine and sequins on items that, even though they were both shiny and sequined, still spoke quietly of Chai's original influence. For the full collection, check out the great slideshow on Style.com.

Makeup, by Romy Soleimani for Beauty.com, featured Kevyn Aucoin products. Eyes were softly lidded with Aucoin's Loose Shimmer Shadow in Jade, for high shine and Precision Liquid Liner on the bottom for a subtle, soft smoky look. The rest of the face was clean, with only the brand's Sensual Lip Balm on the lips. Hair was swept to the side in a stylishly lackadasical swoop, purposely and properly mussed as only hairstylists can do. 

I had the opportunity to head backstage before the show, and took a few snaps for you to get in on the action. And of course there are shots from the show as well! Check them out here.

Blushing cheeks? Racing heart? Doodling hearts all over your notebook? If you’re showing these signs, you’ve definitely been shot by Cupid’s bow, which can only mean that Valentine’s Day is getting closer. You may not know what your significant other has in store for this special day, but no matter what, we’ll have you covered beauty-wise. Whether your plans include dinner, a movie or a night in, these easy beauty looks will you have casting a spell on his heart all night long.

1. Smoky Eyes

Make your peepers sparkle with this softer take on smoky eyes. Brown shadows are more natural than black but will still give you a sultry effect. Valentine’s Day makeup should be about enhancing your beauty, not masking it! This look is sure to win you compliments while your SO admires you across from the dinner table.

What You’ll Need

• Eyeshadow primer
• 3 brown eye shadows (neutral, dark and shimmery)
• Eyeshadow brushes
• Black eyeliner
• Mascara

Instructions

1. Prime your lids with an eye shadow primer (or a creamy concealer, if you don’t have primer). Using your finger is ideal because your body heat will warm up the product for easy blending.
2. With a flat eyeshadow brush, pat a neutral brown shadow all over your lid. We recommend “Tease” from the Urban Decay’s Naked2 Palette ($52).
3. On the outer corner of your lid, apply a dark brown shadow, like “Busted” from the same palette, using a small, fluffy brush. Work this into the crease of your eye, using a windshield-wiper motion. This will add depth to the look.
4. Apply a light, shimmery shade, such as the palette’s “Booty Call,” to the inner corners of your eyes to brighten the eyes with a pencil brush or a Q-tip. You can also use this shadow below the brow bone as a highlight.
5. Finish off with black eyeliner and two coats of your favorite mascara to really define your eyes.

2. Fresh, Glowing Skin

Spending the night stargazing? Make your skin glow in the moonlight with this look. The key is to put just a little bit of the highlighter in three main areas; product applied in too many places could make your face look oily. This technique brightens your face, leaving you with supple, kissable skin.

What You’ll Need

• Moisturizer
• Brightening concealer
• Highlighting powder
• Small blending brush

Instructions

1. Prep face with a hydrating moisturizer.
2. Apply a foundation of your choice and follow with a brightening concealer, such as Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($7.99), that’s two shades lighter than your skin tone under your eyes to brighten the area. Blend with your finger until it looks seamless.
3. Lightly apply your matte pressed powder. This creates an even canvas for the highlighter to pop.
4. With a small blending brush, dust a highlighting powder from the Kardashian Beauty Endless Summer Matte Bronzer kit ($14.99) lightly above your cheekbones, along the bridge of your nose and on your Cupid’s bow (right above your upper lip). The light will naturally brighten your eyes and the powder simply enhances the effect.

3. Red Lips

Science has proven that the men are instinctually drawn to the color red. Capture his attention with this bold, timeless look.  Finding the right shade of red is vital. For collegiettes with lighter skin tones, go for reds with orange undertones, while collegiettes with darker skin tones should look for blue undertones. No matter what shade you choose, these steps will help you achieve this sexy look.

What You’ll Need

• Lip balm
• Red lip liner
• Red lipstick or gloss
• Concealer
• Lip brush

Instructions

1. Prep lips with a lip balm of your choice to ensure they stay hydrated all night long.
2. Taking a red lip liner, like NYX Cosmetics Slim Lip Pencil in Hot Red ($3.49), outline your lips and then completely fill them in. Not only does this enhance the color of your lipstick, but it will also help it last longer.
3. Apply a red lipstick, like Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Certainly Red ($6.99), or a red gloss of your choice, using a lip brush if you have one. This helps you apply it more precisely than straight from the tube.
4. Take a brush with some concealer and clean up the edges. This helps to define your lips.

4. Natural Rosy Blush

Channel your soft, girly side with a natural flush. Reds, pinks and peaches are ideal blush colors. To find the right shade for you, try pinching your cheeks. Rosy cheeks and a genuine smile are a winning combo that will be sure to have him blushing all night long!

The only thing you’ll need for this look is cream blush.

Instructions

1. After applying your foundation, concealer and powder, find a red-pinkish cream blush like Ulta’s Extreme Wear Mousse Blush in Pink Glow ($8).  This blends easier into the skin than a powder blush.
2. Smile! Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks with your fingers.  Tap it gently and work it back to your ears and up into your temples.
3. If you apply too much, take your used powder brush and lightly go over the area to tone it down.

5. Romantic Curls

It’s easy to stick to a routine with your hair, but why not mix it up a little this Valentine’s Day? Try soft, romantic curls to frame your face and keep you looking luscious.

What You’ll Need

• Pomade
• Bobby pins
• Satin scarf
• Hair serum
• Hair spray

Instructions

1. Start with day-old hair (curls hold better on dirty hair) and apply a bit of pomade for some texture.
2. Take small sections of your hair and wrap them into spirals flat against your head. Secure them with two bobby pins each.
3. Wrap your head with a satin scarf for a few hours or overnight to set the curls.
4. Take down your hair when you’re ready. Tame flyaway strands with a serum and finish with hair spray for long-lasting curls.

6. Banded Chignon

This easy hair style is best suited for dinner dates and dances. A glam headband is the key to this look.

What You’ll Need

• Elastic jeweled headband
• Brush
• Hair spray

Instructions

1. Brush out your hair to ensure that it is smooth and free of knots and tangles.
2. Place your headband over your hair so that the elastic band falls right at the crown of your head, above your ears.
3. Starting near your ear, take a small section of hair and tuck it into the headband, forming a loose loop. We like this jeweled headband from Esty ($17.95).
4. Repeat this process until all of your hair is tucked into the strap of the headband.
5. Finish with hair spray, like Tresseme TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Spray ($4.99).

7.  Glam Pony

This upgraded ponytail is perfect for a night out on the town. Warning: with this look, you may be too hot to handle!

What You’ll Need

• Hair tie
• Curling iron
• Teasing comb
• Heat protectant
• Bobby pins
• Hair spray
• Hair clip

Instructions

1. After brushing out your hair, section off the front part of your hair, typically where your bangs are, and clip it out of the way.
2. Tease the crown of your head with a fine-tooth comb for added volume.
3. Smooth your hair down with your hands and secure the rest of it in a high ponytail with an elastic band.
4. Apply some heat protectant to your ponytail and curl the ends of your hair. We recommend the Conair Infiniti Curling Wand Styler ($29.99).
5. Unclip the front hair you pinned away and part your hair to your liking. Pin your hair back as close to the hair elastic as possible.
6. Finish with hair spray for extra hold.

Enhance your natural beauty with these simple steps for a night he’ll never forget. These easy looks can be re-created for dates, formals or even a night out with your sorority sisters for year-round glamour!

Nothing beats curling up with a cozy blanket and a hot drink and watching your favorite YouTube videos. With the rise of beauty gurus recording their knowledge of all things hair, makeup and nails on YouTube, the Internet has become an amazing place of sharing and excitement for beauty enthusiasts and experts.

I love watching the videos that these girls make, so here are my five favorite gurus for your enjoyment. These girls are the best sources for general beauty tips and tricks, and many of them post similar videos, such as monthly favorite videos, but each video contains different products and reviews. This list is not exhaustive; it's only the beginning of all of the amazing YouTube beauty gurus to learn from!

Ingrid Nilsen @missglamorazzi

Ingrid hails from California and is very open about her love of donuts, pandas, and her adorable cat Nugget. She lets her fun and adorable personality shine through in all of her videos, and she’s one of the sweetest girls on YouTube, in my opinion. Ingrid makes awesome tutorial and routine videos that are easy to learn from and follow along. She’s honest when she reviews products, and she always looks super chic in her videos. Don’t let that fool you, though; she’s gone barefaced before, in Instagram in particular, so she has no problem being herself.

Check out Ingrid’s most recent video of her January Favorites!

Rachel Whitehurst @87daysbefore

Originally from Pennsylvania, Rachel is full of sass and humor. She’s very open about the fact that she swears a lot, and her blunt personality and extremely honest opinions make her super entertaining to watch. She has a wide range of beauty videos that includes “Empties” videos where she talks about products that she has used up, makeup tutorials, and “Quickie” videos where she makes a short video about a certain topic, such as if the Beauty Blender is worth it. She also makes lots of funny and random videos with her boyfriend, as well as recipe videos that she calls “Chrachel Cooks,” which make her an all-around great YouTube star to watch. We like Rachel so much here at Her Campus that we interviewed her last February!

Rachel’s newest video is her seventh "Empties" video! 

Lauren Curtis@laurenbeautyy on Twitter or @lozcurtis on Instagram

All the way from Australia, Lauren is the number one YouTube beauty guru in her home country. She’s full of beauty knowledge with her various, easy-to-follow makeup tutorials for both classic looks and new, trendy looks. She also makes hairstyle videos so that you can create looks like voluminous beachy waves without a trip to the salon. She lets her friends star in her videos on occasion as well, such as when they want to review similar products or get ready together. Lauren is currently in NYC for her first trip to America, which she’s documenting on her Facebook fan page, Twitter and Instagram, so follow her on social media to see her journey.

Lauren’s latest beauty video explains how to fix your most common beauty blunders!

Samantha Chapman and Nicole Haste Chapman @pixiwoos

This sister duo from the United Kingdom offer their viewers a wide variety of tutorials for whatever level of beauty expertise you may be at. They offer lessons for creating looks based on popular singers and movie characters, as well as everyday looks. Their channel alternates between videos of Samantha’s tutorials and Nicole’s tutorials, but there are also videos where the sisters work together. Samantha has also launched her Real Techniques makeup brushes line, which you can buy at Ulta.

Their newest video shows you how to create a Emma Willis inspired smoky eye look!

Michelle Phan @michellephan on Twitter or @michellefawn on Instagram

Last but certainly not least is the infamous Michelle Phan. She currently lives in Los Angeles, but was born in Boston to Vietnamese parents. Her mother originally wanted her to become a doctor, yet Michelle wasn’t interested in that and had a fascination in cosmetics more than anything. When she got her first laptop for college, she filmed her first tutorial, which was in 2007, and from there she’s gained over 5 million YouTube subscribers. She also has partnered with L’Oreal to launch her own cosmetic line, called EM by Michelle Phan, which provides high quality makeup at low prices, which is great for collegiettes on a budget. Her videos include many dramatic makeup tutorials, such as Lady Gaga and Jasmine from Aladdin. A new video is posted on her channel every Friday, so check in weekly for new content from this famous beauty icon.

Michelle’s newest video teaches you how to make a DIY Rice Scrub and Face Mask!

Who are your favorite YouTube beauty gurus and beauty videos/tutorials? Sound off in the comments!

Name: Christopher Casoli

School: McGill

Major: Chemical Engineering

Nationality: 100% Italian and proud!

Born: Montreal

Hometown: Montreal (West Island)

Describe your program in one word: Complex

Best way to unwind: Going to my cottage after a long week always does the trick. Just chilling by the lake in the sun surrounded by the peace and quiet of nature really helps me unwind from the stresses of school, work, etc.

Study snack of choice: Definitely tarallis (Italian cookies) if I’m at home, but candy as well; I have a huge sweet tooth.

Liquid courage: Vodka always does the trick.

Most embarrassing moment: I was on a family vacation and I somehow managed to knock over a waiter carrying a tray full of drinks. It was a very crowded restaurant and it made quite the commotion... I’m a pretty clumsy person.

Favorite place in the world: Santorini, Greece - hands down. The food, the people, the scenery... everything is amazing; I can’t wait to go back. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited (swallowing my Italian pride a bit here).

Top three pet peeves:
1 - People who have full conversations on the bus or train. You’re not in your house; you should respect the people around you and shut up.
2 - Slow walkers! I don’t mind if you’re taking a leisurely stroll, just don’t walk in the middle of the sidewalk and block the path for the rest of us.
3 - Walking into a messy house, room, or whatever it may be. It doesn’t take long to clean up and make your space presentable.

Biggest turn-off: Really bad teeth; the second I notice that in a girl, it’s over.

Biggest turn-on: Long dark hair and nice legs - gets me every time.

If you could date anyone in the world who and why: Adrianna Lima... pretty self-explanatory I think.

Describe the girls at McGill: Smart, sophisticated, and quite a few cuties (for the most part…)

Secret love affair (doesn't have to be a person): I love pasta; it is impossible for me to go an entire week without having a nice bowl of pasta.

Go-to movie and why: Zoolander! Funniest movie ever made, always makes me cry of laughter every time I watch it.

Your mantra: “It is what it is.” You can’t change the past, just need to learn from your mistakes and look forward to the future.

Hey collegiettes, get to know David Stern. This campus cutie is a die-hard Packers fan with a big Italian family. He can be found practicing his clarinet for the Marquette Pep band, istening to all kinds of music, or keeping up on politics. Here's what he wants you ladies to know!

Name: David Stern

School: Marquette

Age: 20 years old

Year: Junior 

Hometown: Shorewood, Wisconsin

Major: Biomedical Sciences

Relationship Status: Single

Extracurriculars: Tae Kwon Do, Soccer, Band

Favorite Movie: Big Daddy

Favorite Song: Theres no such thing as a Favorite song

Favorite Food: Calamari

If he could marry one celebrity, he'd chose: Hope Solo

First Thing He Notices About A Girl: Her eyes

Favorite Spot in Milwaukee: Miller Park

Hidden Talent: 16 years of soccer skill

Favorite Place to Take a Girl on a Date: Honestly, the beach

Where He Sees Himself in 10 Years: Physical Therapist hopefully with my own business. Maybe professional soccer player 

Introducing this week's campus cutie, Josh Polombo! This senior club hockey stud has made quite the impression on campus with his good looks and Italian charm. Aside from his adorable smile,  he has brains too! (We all know majoring in Finance can't be easy). Unfortunately, this Nashua native is not single, but we can still take a peak can't we girls?

Name: Josh Polombo

School: New Hampshire

Favorite place on campus? The Dirty Den (my house)

Place on campus you love the food the most? Wild Kitty

Favorite UNH sport? Hockey

Favorite sport to watch? Hockey

Favorite type of music? Country

Favorite part of UNH? Homecoming/Holloween

Why did you choose UNH? Close enough to home, the business school, and somewhere to play hockey.

What are your plans after college? Get rich and have a family.

If you could give yourself a high school superlative, what would it be? Biggest Heart

Fun facts? I’m 100% Italian, have an abnormally large big toe, and I am petrified of scary movies.

Favorite movie? Man on Fire

Favorite TV show? Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Favorite color? Blue

Dream job? Playing in the NHL

Man Crush? Leo Dicaprio

View on Ugg Boots? Ugg, I don’t know

If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive who would it be? Denzel Washington

If you could have one super power what would it be? Teleportation, love to travel but I hate planes.

Biggest celebrity crush? Kate Beckinsale

Blondes, brunettes or red heads? Brunettes everytime

If you could choose next weeks campus cutie, who would it be and why? Matt Nocella or Mike Currie, hard 10’s 

(pictured below)

Ideal date? Dinner on a boat on a summer night

Most Embarrassing Moment? Sleeping through hockey practice multiple times my freshman year

As a senior, if you could give advice to freshman what would it be? I would do anything to be a freshman again, don’t waste it.

This or That:

Christensen or Williamson? I lived in both

Philbrook or HOCO? Philbrook

Aroma Joes or BNG? Aroma Joe’s

House party or Frat basement? House Party

Beach or lake? Lake

Summer or fall? Summer

Scorps or Libby’s? Scorps

Name: Mike Ascanio
School: U Maine          
Major:Undeclared “I’m a renaissance man”
Hometown:Falmouth, ME
Relationship status: Single and ready to mingle
Interests: eating, running, hanging out with girls, and the greater good
Favorite place to eat in Orono: The Roost

 
What do you look for in a girl: something unique
Your idea of a great date: anything fun and relaxed, not trying to get married
Deal breaker with girls: repeated stupidity offenses
 

What’s your favorite past time :frequently changes, getting there with my pals while living the dream
Boxers or briefs:boxers
Favorite food:Italian from the homeland (Ma’s cooking)
Do you enjoy cooking:for sure- homemade pasta sauce is the favorite
Favorite sports team: Celtics
 

Boobs or butt: whichever sides facing me
Blonde or Brunette: whatever is natural, don’t count yourself out
Sweet or Salty: Depends on what the food is
Celebrity Crush:Natalie Portman
 

Idol:Al Pacino (back in the day)
Favorite movie quote:“Heroes live forever, legends never die.  Follow your heart kid, you’ll never go wrong” – Babe Ruth, The Sandlot
What’s first on your Christmas list:Sugarloaf skiing

Name: Vincent De Cosmo

School: USFSP

Birthday: May 13^th

Age: 20

Year: Junior

Major: Psychology

Hey guys! Meet this week's Campus Cutie, Vincent!

Vincent is very much involved in our usfsp community, taking part in Student Government, and contributing to activities within the student life. Learn more about him!

What made you choose USFSP as your campus?

I chose USFSP becuase it was close to my family (Godson/niece/nephew).

What do you like to do in your free time?

On my free time I play the drums and sing.

How long have you been singing/playing?

I've been playing the drums for 7 years, and singing has always been apart of my family since I was growing up. 

What instruments do you play?

I play the drums, the djembe (African drum), congas, bongos, and i consider the voice an instrument.

Where do you want to go with your music?

I want to tour around the country (or internationally) and play music festivals with big name bands and eventually have a few albums with a band of my own.

Where would you want to be in 10 years?

In 10 years, I would want to be finishing grad-school and have a girlfriend who will be ready to settle down and prepare for marriage and kids. If music is the path that I ultimately go down, I would want to be signed by a major record label and be headlining an International Tour. 

What clubs/organizations are you part of on campus?

I am apart of SG, as the current Supervisor of Student Government Elections.

What do you hope to see different within this campus? What would you like to remain the same?

I hope to see more language classes (I'm Italian and want to take Italian classes for my language requirement) available for this campus, and/or a music program (maybe jazz or a modern rock degree). I'd also like to see more music on campus in general. (More live shows, more people just walking around with instruments).
I would like to keep the same friendly atmosphere that this campus portrays. I feel the small campus makes people feel comfortable (almost homey.)

Name: Tony Barbagallo

School: Towson

Year: 2014-sophomore

Major: Information Technology

Three words to describe him: Ladies, this cutie describes himself as being friendly, ambitious, and adventurous.  What a catch!

Favorite place to eat on campus: This cutie can be spotted at Chick-Fil-A on campus!

Favorite genre of music: Girls if you are into country music, this is the guy for you!

What this cutie looks for in a girl: A good sense of humor and someone who is fun to hang out!

Talents: He can cook!

Relationship Status: Sorry girls, but this one is TAKEN!

What Tony does for fun around Towson: This cutie can be spotted playing basketball at open gym!

Interesting fact: This Italian catch has quite an interesting last name.  Did you know Barbagallo means bearded rooster in Italian?  Who knew?!

Tony’s girlfriend says Tony is awesome and even has a soft spot for his cat Oscar! 

Name: Daniel Casas
School: Arizona

NickName: Danny
Year: Freshman
Home Town: Orange County, CA
Campus Involvement: “I am pledging SAE” (sigma alpha epsilon)
Major: Pre-Business
Minor: Sociology
Interests: “Sports, mostly basketball and football”
Daniel’s Motto: “Live life to the fullest.”
Embarrassing Confession: “I actually can mimic Elmo perfectly.”
Danny’s most successful pick up line: “I use my Italian background to woo the ladies, ‘Tue siea bella bambina’ which means, ‘you are a beautiful baby.’”
Daniel’s Secret Talent: “I can walk on my hands.”
Danny is most excited for: “My future with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.”
Status: Single, find Danny on FB!
Why Danny’s thinks he qualifies to be a Campus Cutie: “I’m a typical Italian gentleman.” 

This week's HC UPenn Campus Cutie is an Italian stallion who will win you over with his mad cooking skills and his charming accent. A true globetrotter, one of Umberto’s goals is to travel to all seven continents (before even graduating college!). Read on to find out more about this ambitious Kappa Alpha brother who hopes to someday become a doctor.

Name: Umberto Tosi
School: U Penn
Age: 19
Birthday: May 26, 1992
Year: 2015
Major: Biological Basis of Behavior
Hometown: Busto Arsizio, Italy
Languages: Italian, English
Favorite city: Milan

Check out the other HC UPenn cuties!

What do you miss most about Italy? I miss my friends and family, and the food and wine.

Biggest culture shock: People don’t kiss on the cheek when they see each other around here. Also, people don’t know how to master the art of drinking.

Favorite food: Risotto.

Favorite restaurant in Philly: Marrakesh.

Best Italian restaurant in Philly: My room…(yes ladies, Umberto can cook!)

Favorite thing about American girls: They appreciate the fact that I’m Italian…

First thing you notice about a girl: The color of her eyes.

Perfect first date: Dinner at a good restaurant.

What do you look for in a girl? Someone who is attractive, funny, and takes care of me.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Nope, but maybe infatuation at first sight.

Do you believe in soul mates? Yes I do.

Does true love last forever? Yes, definitely.

Favorite pick-up line: Looking into a girl’s eyes and telling her “you look sad tonight.”

Celebrity Crush: Uma Thurman

Dream job: Doctor, maybe in a city like Boston.

Most memorable part of freshman year: Meeting a girl for the first time at a sorority party downtown and being asked about marriage…

Something you have to do before graduating: Visit all seven continents.

If you didn’t see Dean DelVecchio around at Homecoming last weekend, make sure you check out this week’s Campus Cutie here! Dean helped lead his fraternity and the rest of his team to victory in the Homecoming events this year. While he enjoyed this big event on campus, Dean also enjoys a simple date night walking around the town or just watching a movie. Although this Cutie is taken (sorry collegiettes), meet Dean!

Name: Dean DelVecchio

School: TCNJ

Year: Junior

Age: 20

Hometown: Clark, New Jersey

Major: Finance

Campus Organization(s): Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity, Club Lacrosse

Relationship Status: In a Relationship

Favorite Movie: Gladiator

Favorite Cartoon Movie: Madagascar

 Favorite Food: Italian food (Literally anything Italian and I’ll love it)

Fun Fact: I'm 100% Italian but I have never been to Italy nor do I speak Italian

Ideal First Date: Here at the CONJ I would make it real simple to get a nice 1 on 1. I would start off at Princeton, get some frozen yogurt and walk around the town at night. If all goes well, I’d end the night with a movie.

Biggest Turn-On: A girl that can cook

Biggest Turn-Off: Girls with large egos/Girls that think their better than other people

Celebrity Crush: Cassadee Pope

Favorite memory from Homecoming this year: Winning homecoming and storming the field with my brothers and the sisters of Sigma Kappa

Favorite Homecoming activity: Being a part of the Homecoming dance. We practiced for 3+ weeks to perform in front of a huge crowd. I was so grateful to come off the stage and have so many people come up to me and tell us how awesome we did.

Thoughts on the changes to Homecoming this year: I was not a fan of the changes of homecoming but I was happy to see that everyone was still able to have fun. The changes this year were honestly not that bad but it scares me that the school was willing to make so many radical changes without the voice of the students or even alumni. When we did share our concerns, we were given automated responses and vague emails. Eventually we were able make changes but it still compared nothing to past tailgates.

Name: Ryan Aceto

School: University of Maryland

Major: Finance

Year: Senior

Hometown: Malvern, PA

Interests/Campus Activities: Really involved in my Fraternity (ATW), Intramural sports, Ten Man Plan, and now the Terrapin Club.

Relationship Status:  Single

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

I’m Italian.

What do you look for in a girl?

 She is funny, smart and fun to hang out with.

What turns you off most about a girl?

A girl who thinks that they are better than you and won’t give you the time of day.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Anna Kendrick

What are your post-grad plans?

Hopefully going to the World Cup in Brazil then work in either Philly or Baltimore and live with some friends.

What would you plan for a first date in College Park?

Probably cook up some of my Dad’s famous ‘gravy’ (pasta sauce) and drink some wine.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Easy-going, loyal, and lanky

Favorite pick up line to use on a girl?

Excuse me you owe me a drink. (Why?) When I saw you I dropped mine.

Photo Credit: Facebook

There’s nothing we’re looking forward to more than summer. Beach days, cut-off shorts and bonfires? Yes, please! The only thing that we aren’t looking forward to is the stress of finding a summer internship. Internships, as we all know, are really important; 82 percent of hiring managers want the recent graduates they hire to have completed a formal internship before leaving college.

Internships prepare collegiettes for their future careers, but sometimes they’re so hard to find! Luckily, we just found out that Chegg, a website where you can rent textbooks and get homework help, is partnering with Internships.com to help us out. Internships.com matches students with internship opportunities based on their school and major at places like Vera Wang, J.P. Morgan and Hermès of Paris (AKA super legit businesses that will look awesome on resumes)!

Chegg and Internships.com have thousands of listings for you to browse through—more than 70,000 internships in 4,000 cities! That means that no matter where you end up this summer, you’ll be able to find an awesome internship that fits with exactly what you want to do. Seventy-seven percent of recent grads who had an internship before entering the “real world” say they felt prepared for employment, while only 59 percent of those who lacked similar work experience felt prepared. Definitely don’t pass on this opportunity!

Once the whole internship thing is under control, it’ll be so much easier to daydream about ice cream cones and beach parties. Ugh, can’t it be summer yet? 

Do you ever find yourself shrugging your shoulders and settling on the "boys will be boys" conclusion? Real Live College Guy Andy is here to show you that mature men do (in fact) exist. He has an uncanny ability to sort out the good guys from the bad apples and is here to bring you the best in college love advice.

I started seeing this guy when we got back from winter break and we've been hooking up and going on casual dates, but we haven't had a DTR talk yet to discuss what we are. It seems like are official but we haven't officially had a talk, and I have no idea if he considers me his girlfriend or not. How should I approach V-Day? Should I get him something? If so, what's an appropriate gift to get him since he's not really my boyfriend yet? And should I bring up doing something on V-Day, or wait for him to, or what? - Ambiguous at St. Ambrose

Ambiguous,

We've all been in your situation where you have someone you feel exclusive with but have yet to officially DTR. In your specific case, the worst thing you can do is overreact and fret about it. So why fret? Either it goes poorly and you laugh about it down the line or it goes well and you end up with this guy long-term and look back at the awkward date fondly.

With that said, in your situation, the guy should have the cajones to bring up V-Day plans. Waiting for him to bring it up will allow you to tell where things stand.  If the holiday passes without him mentioning anything of it (and subsequently no date with you on that day), then he clearly doesn't have the same emotional attachment to the relationship that you have. And if that ends up the case, then you can either move on or express your anger and hope he comes up with a brilliant apology. So don't even mention in it, just wait for him to notice (or not notice).

Now, you might be thinking what would happen if you bring up Valentine's Day plans with the guy. Personally, you don't find out as much in that situation. If he agrees, he may do so just begrudgingly since you brought it up and he doesn't want to upset you. Or if he says he's busy, that will just leave you confused.

As for the gift-giving portion of your question, (if it wasn't obvious from what I've said above) do not buy him anything. Even if he brings up plans, don't get him anything. If he gets you something, act surprised and do something nice for him in return. I'm pretty confident that will be enough to reciprocate in his eyes. On the flip side, I imagine it would be pretty uncomfortable if you got something for him and he didn't get you anything in return. If you have to question whether or not to get something, the safe choice is to simply not.

Valentine's Day is the cause of more stress than it deserves. It can be an opportunity for a very romantic date but you shouldn't let it preoccupy your mind. Maybe he has a surprise planned for you on that day and doesn't want to talk about it just to tease you. Guys can get weird ideas like that sometimes. We're certainly not perfect. Most of us aren't as suave as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill. And even Lucas had some relationship brain farts from time to time.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, collegiettes! As much as you may have enjoyed your past V-days spent in your dorm room with a pair of sweatpants, your Netflix account and an entire pizza, this may just be the year that you spend your Valentine’s Day doing the unthinkable: going on an actual date. But how can you snag a last-minute Valentine before the big day?

We spoke to online dating expert Laurie Davis of eFlirt Expert to figure out how to go about meeting a date beyond your college campus (and how Shopcade can help you dress to impress once you’re on that date!).

Her Campus:Even though online dating is no longer all that novel, some collegiettes are still skeptical about the idea of meeting someone online. What do you think are some of the benefits of online dating for college women?

Laurie Davis: When you’re on a college campus, social circles are often preexisting, which doesn’t allow you [the opportunity] to be specific about who you want to meet. With online dating, you can be more specific about what you’re looking for and find someone you may have never met on your own campus, especially for schools in cities with lots of other college campuses around, like Boston.

HC: What do you think are some of the best dating sites for college-aged women?

LD: It really varies on location, but there are plenty of free dating sites that are popular with college students, like OkCupid or Plenty of Fish. There’s also dating apps like Tinder, Hinge and Swoon.

HC: Do you think dating apps are just for people looking for hook-ups, or can collegiettes who are looking for more serious relationships utilize these apps as well?

LD: All technology depends on how you use it. Remember that you’re the user. The approach you take is just as important as the approach others take. Online dating does differ from using apps, as online dating sites provide much more information, which caters to the more serious user. Dating apps are more about spontaneity; conversations are less scripted, which can lead to hook-ups just as well as it can lead to relationships. 

HC: What should a collegiette look for in a potential date’s dating profile?

LD: The best indicator [of whether someone will be a good date] is how they talk about their match. Guys looking for a fling may not mention what they’re looking for at all, or else they’ll be vague, using phrases like “looking for someone to hang out with.” If you’re looking for something more serious, make sure you’re looking for someone who’s more specific about what he wants.

HC: What do you think is the most important element of your online dating profile?

LD: Pictures, pictures, pictures! Guys especially will sometimes only look at your photos rather than reading through your bio or other information. I would suggest including three to seven photos in your profile, including a full-body shot. For your main photo, use a head-and-shoulder shot that gives a clear view of your face. Your face should take up most of the frame.

HC: What sort of outfit should a collegiette wear for her profile picture?

LD: Wear color if you can, like red or blue. Most people wear neutrals, so a pop of color can really make you stand out, especially on dating apps. You should also demonstrate a sense of personal style, especially as college women, so that guys know that you’re more than the sweatpants you usually wear to class. Think about the guy you’re trying to attract when you select your outfit.

HC: What sort of details should a collegiette include in her profile bio?

LD: Your bio should be action-oriented. Instead of listing personality trait buzzwords like “fun” or “funny” that are hard to translate, show your humor through your writing or describe the things you like to do for fun. There’s a big difference, after all, if you idea of fun is trying a new restaurant or cliff diving. Your bio can serve as a great conversation starter, so be as specific as possible!

HC: What do you think is a good first date idea with someone you’ve met online?

LD: I wouldn’t think of it as a “date” — it’s more a chance to see if you click with someone in real time. Keep it casual by suggesting you meet up for coffee or a cocktail (depending on your age!) and set it for about 30 minutes. You can always stay longer, of course, if you’re enjoying yourself, but you also don’t want to be stuck if you’re not feeling a connection.

HC: What do you think a collegiette should wear on a first date?

LD: You should want to look well put-together. Try mixing casuals with things that are more polished, like a sundress with flats instead of heels, or jeans with a pretty statement necklace... Most guys prefer a girl who looks natural and fresh, so don’t overdo it on the makeup either. Remain true to yourself!

To find a polished first-date look and to shop for your profile-picture outfit, be sure to check out Shopcade, your personal shopping app. With Shopcade, you can discover new products, create lists of the things you want and get exclusive deals—the app tells you when items you like go on sale!

Good luck finding that perfect outfit (and that Valentine’s Day date), collegiettes!