Looking for something to spice up your Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re single or taken, a romantic and feminine scent is the perfect thing to set the mood for love. Look no further than the brand new LOVE2LOVE fragrance line, which boasts “a spectrum of colors that expresses a woman’s joy and sheer happiness.”

The collection includes four distinct scents, each meant to combine two dominant notes into a single harmonious fragrance: Fresh Rose + Peach, Jasmine + Sparkling Mimosa, Freesia + Violet Petals, and Orange Blossom + White Musk. Each scent comes in either an eau de toilette (3.4 fl. oz. or 100ml) or a body mist (8 fl. oz. or 240ml). The perfumes come in a glass bottle while the mists come in a plastic bottle, and the contents are either light pink, green, purple or orange, depending on the scent.

We were able to sample the Orange Blossom + White Musk perfume and body mist and we loved the way the fresh citrus and subtle musk scents helped to balance out the sweetness of the orange. There was definitely a floral note to this fragrance, but citrus was the more dominant scent. According to fragrance database, Fragantica, this particular perfume has notes of bergamot, orange, peony, sandalwood and white musk. The scent lasted about 4-5 hours and mellowed out to a more subtly sweet scent during the day. If you’re on the hunt for an affordable citrus-based fragrance that isn’t too sweet, this one might be for you!

The Love2Love fragrance collection is exclusive to Walmart stores and walmart.com. The eau de toilette retails for $9.98 and the body mist retails for $6.98.

In college, it’s easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond. Even when you’re surrounded by so many people all the time, you may find yourself feeling lonely, especially when your semester is busy and stressful, a few of your friends are pairing off with boyfriends and your family is miles away.

At some point, we all experience moments of loneliness, but if you’re feeling lonely more often than not, or so alone that it’s getting in the way of your happiness and daily life, then you may need more than just a quick cuddle session with your BFF to turn those feelings around. We spoke with Dr. Kachorek, a clinical psychologist from Ann Arbor, to learn how collegiettes can overcome loneliness.

Understand that it happens to everyone

Although your emotions are unique to your own experiences, loneliness is a feeling everyone goes through at some point. Kachorek says college students are prone to feeling this way because they’re removed from their homes and previous comfort zones.

“[Loneliness is common], particularly for people who are either transitioning from a different college or a first-time student moving to campus away from home,” she says. “Typically, peoples’ support networks that they’ve established at their primary residence are no longer accessible, and as a result, that can add in feeling lonely.”

Kachorek says that the diverse and competitive nature of college can leave students feeling out of place.

“In addition, I think that comparing yourself to a diverse range of people around you, particularly if you attend larger colleges, can result in those students feeling more out of place, wondering if they belong there, if they deserve to be there or if anyone is like them,” she says.

Acknowledge what you’re feeling

Loneliness may be prevalent on college campuses, but it doesn’t have to define your experience!

“The first step is to recognize that you’re feeling that way and validate that it’s something that most people feel at some point during their college careers,” Kachorek says. “After identifying it, you want to think about in what ways you’re feeling lonely or out of place.” When you identify what’s making you feel lonely, it will become easier to address those feelings and focus your efforts.

Kachorek says “the person has to come to understand more about what [the loneliness] means to them and why and how they feel that way. Exploring more about it is actually the best way to make the feeling go away.”

Don’t try to minimize what you’re going through or tell yourself that “it’s not that bad.” According to Kachorek, that “can actually have the opposite effect because then the person feels more alienated.”

So instead of brushing your feelings of loneliness aside or trying to convince yourself it’s not a problem, acknowledge the fact that you’re feeling alone and try to reflect on what is making you feel that way. You could do this by talking about it with a friend or a family member, or just by writing it down if you don’t feel comfortable sharing these feelings with others.

Be proactive

You may be feeling lonely now, but you will get through it, especially if you take a proactive approach! The more you put yourself out there and open yourself up to new experiences, the less lonely you’ll feel in the long run.

Change your mentality

It’s easy to let your emotions overwhelm you and distort your perspective. When this happens, loneliness takes a hold on your life and prevents you from being yourself. But what happens when you change your way of thinking?

Instead of believing that you’re truly alone, try looking at it from a different angle. Maybe your distant friends are stressed with school and that’s why you haven’t heard from them. Maybe there are a ton of new people out there who would love to hang out with you, but you haven’t reached out to them yet. Maybe everyone else just looks like they’re having more fun in their Facebook and Instagram pictures, but in reality they sometimes feel lonely, too.

When you start to feel that you’re the only person who feels the way that you do, take a step back and consider an alternative point of view. To help you change your perspective,   

make an effort to reach out to friends, both old and new, and take a break from comparing yourself to others on social media. You can also try finding a way to relax, such as yoga, to get some peace of mind.

Meet new people

You’re used to going through the motions—go to class, study, come home, sleep. What if you mixed up your routine? Next time you sit down for lecture, strike up a conversation with whomever’s sitting near you. Ask her about an upcoming assignment, how she thought the homework went or anything else that comes to mind. You may find that you have something in common with someone who was previously a stranger!

Opening up to new people helps lessen the sting of loneliness. Grabbing coffee with a new friend from class is a perfect, low-pressure way of getting to know someone further.

Morgan, a Boston College graduate, says conversation is the perfect outlet for connecting with another person, which will ultimately make you happy.

“Don't turn inside yourself, though it is tempting and easy,” she says. “Stop that in its tracks. It can be anything as simple as saying hello to the mail carrier or the person serving your lunch.”

Get involved

If you’re unhappy with your current extracurricular activities (or lack thereof), it’s time to get out and get involved in something new! This is the best way to stay busy, keep your mind off of feeling unhappy and meet new friends, all at the same time.

“My recommendation to students is to really try and find a group of people that they can obtain support from, whether it’s through a church group or a sport activity or just an interest group, so that they can try to connect with other like-minded individuals,” Kachorek says.

Once you find an activity that you truly enjoy and you’re surrounded by people whom you get along with, you’ll be more satisfied, and the loneliness should pass.

Brooke*, a junior from Middlebury College, says she overcame loneliness by finding activities that made her refocus negative thoughts.

“I've struggled with loneliness since I got to college and it comes and goes in waves, but the best way I've found to keep it at bay is to get involved,” she says. “I find the more idle time I have to think about negative things, the worse I feel. Go for a run, take up an instrument, grab a sketchpad, go for a drive or even crack open the books—anything that occupies my mind makes me feel instantly better.”

Seek help if your feelings aren’t improving

There’s a thin line between prolonged loneliness and depression. You might think you can overcome feeling alone without help, but confiding in a therapist can make all the difference.

“At any point if you feel like you’re at risk of harming yourself… and if you feel like your life is not regulated and you’re unable to do things that you’d like to do, it’s often a good time to consult for help,” Kachorek says. “A consultation doesn’t mean that you enter therapy, necessarily; it just means that you ask for objective, professional feedback as to whether or not the intensity of your symptoms is beyond what should be expected for the circumstances you’re in.”

If you’re concerned about your feelings, there are various questionnaires online, such as Beck’s Depression Inventory, to assess if what you’re experiencing could be depression.

“It can tell you whether or not your levels of loneliness and sadness are reaching a critical point,” Kachorek says. “If so, those people should try and look into therapy through their local college [or] university or the larger community.”

She adds that you should explore different therapy options, because what works for one person might not help another.

“Certain types of therapy can be obtained: some, such as cognitive behavioral, are quicker, but others, such as psychodynamic therapy or psychoanalysis, can help a person get an understanding of what is troubling them so that it is addressed at its core,” Kachorek says. “This will prevent a deeper issue from resurfacing via a different symptom or problem later in life.”

Briana, a senior at Georgia College & State University, says seeking professional help is important for addressing the gray area between loneliness and depression.

“Having suffered from depression, I know that sometimes it's hard to distinguish between it and loneliness,” she says. “It's normal to feel lonely once in a while, but when that becomes the norm, you're probably in trouble. I got to a point where I would feel lonely in a room full of people, and I often isolated myself on purpose. If you're doing anything like that, you should seek professional help and treatment.”

Brooke also found that her loneliness stems from depression and separation anxiety.

“For me, loneliness was definitely depression,” she says. “I've been diagnosed with depression and anxiety… so being alone not only makes me sad, but extremely anxious… it affected me in a lot of ways, particularly in that I struggle with getting out of bed if I feel really alone or depressed.”

A combination of clinical therapy and medication helps Brooke cope with feeling lonely.

“I am on a low dose of anti-anxiety/depression medication and I also go to a counselor at school when I feel like I need to,” she says. “I have a counselor at home that I touch base with probably twice a year. Both have been incredibly helpful and I've noticed a big difference in my ability to cope with loneliness.”

If you’re interested in speaking with a professional, try looking into the local counseling options at your university. Most clinics are free for students and have staff members who are more than qualified and ready to help.

It’s time to stop your loneliness in its tracks and realize that you are not alone. Everyone feels lonely at some point or another, even if their smiling faces on your Instgram feed suggest otherwise. With our suggestions, we hope that you’ll be able to conquer those feelings of loneliness, because you deserve to be your happiest self!

Do you have advice for how to cope with loneliness? Leave a comment below.

*Name has been changed.

Sick of eating cereal and ramen for lunch and dinner? Want to spend less money eating out and finally start cooking for yourself? Put down that frozen pizza, because HC’s Health Editor, Sammie Levin, is here to share her daily eats so you can get ideas for healthy, satisfying meals that are easy enough for any time-strapped collegiette to make. After you read Collegiette Eats, your taste buds, wallet and waistline will thank you.

This past weekend, my healthy eating habits went out the window. Going out three nights in a row—and the aftermath that ensued from each of those nights—resulted in me feasting on more carbs and grease than I’d like to admit. So yesterday I wanted to make sure that I got back on track and didn’t launch into a week of more bagels and bacon.

My efforts led me to put together some tips for bouncing back after an unhealthy weekend, because I think (or, at least, I hope) other collegiettes out there can relate.

1. Start the day on the right note

When you wake up on Monday, remind yourself that it’s a new day and a new week for you to get it right. So don’t beat yourself up over any weekend slipups and don’t go crazy overcompensating for your mistakes or you may end up feeling deprived, which can ultimately lead to more bingeing.

Start the new day off with an especially healthy breakfast filled with fruits and vegetables, like a smoothie or a veggie omelet. Setting a healthy tone from the get-go can help you get back on track.

2. OD on vegetables

Filling up on vegetables after an unhealthy weekend can help get you back in the healthy-eating mindset. Try eating them in different ways, such as raw, or steamed, sautéed or blended into a juice, to switch it up so you don’t get bored.

3. Cut back on white carbs and sweets

In the next few days, try to cut back on foods that’ll spike your cravings for less healthy fare and make you feel heavy rather than light. Specifically, try to eat less white carbs (white bread, white rice, pasta, potatoes), super creamy dishes and sugary desserts. You don’t have to totally eliminate these foods, but eating less than you usually do in the days following a weekend full of late-night nachos can help you de-bloat and return to a happy medium.

4. Lay off the booze

If you went on a bit of a drinker bender over the weekend, nixing alcohol for a few days, or at least going easy on it, will give your body a much-needed break. We are all well aware that drinking is not a low-calorie endeavor. The drinks themselves, the food eaten after and the inability to hit the gym the next day (unless you’re superhuman) - nothing kills a healthy diet and lifestyle quite like too many nights out in a row. Do yourself a favor and trade your Long Island Iced Tea in for a nice, tall glass of water.

5. Get a workout in

You may not feel up to working out first thing on Monday, but finding the time and energy to squeeze a workout in later in the day or the week can make you feel better. Endorphins are a girl’s best friend.

I hope that with these tips you'll be better equipped to get back on track after overeating, because it happens to the best of us and one day (or weekend, or week, or month) of less-than-ideal eating habits doesn't mean you can’t turn things around. Every day is a new day to do better! 

Now, on to my Monday eats. 

Breakfast

Following my own advice, I started the day off on the right note with a green smoothie. I blended together one cup of frozen pineapple with a handful of kale, a handful of spinach, a half-cup of coconut milk and a third-cup of plain Greek yogurt.

Lunch

For lunch, I OD’d on vegetables with a big salad from a café on campus. It had spinach, arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, garbanzo beans, edamame and sliced apples. So satisfying! I topped it with a little bit of herb vinaigrette and sriracha. 

Dinner

For dinner, I made something high in protein but low in carbs: open-faced fajitas, based on a recipe my mom sent me.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 

For marinade:

• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano

For topping: 

• Sliced avocado
• Sautéed onions and mushrooms
• Dollop sour cream
• Fresh cilantro
• And any other toppings of your choice! (other options include grilled peppers, salsa, lettuce, etc.)

Directions 

1. Combine marinade ingredients in plastic bag and put chicken in it; leave in fridge for about 30 minutes.
2. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
3. Add marinated chicken and cook on medium-high until tender but cooked through (you can cut into it to check).
4. Mix with toppings of your choice.

In retrospect, I would’ve liked to make homemade guacamole with the avocado instead of just slicing it into pieces, and I think next time I make this I am going to add peppers, salsa and corn. But it was still really good the way it was!

Michael Sam, a University of Missouri football player and top NFL prospect, announced that he is gay in an interview with ESPN on Sunday. Sam would be the first openly gay player in professional football, if his NFL dreams come true.

"I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it,” he told The New York Times. “I just want to own my truth.” Sam came out to his teammates last August, but chose to keep his sexuality hidden from the public until now. "I was kind of scared, even though they already knew. Just to see their reaction was awesome. They supported me from Day One. I couldn't have better teammates. ... I'm telling you what: I wouldn't have the strength to do this today if I didn't know how much support they'd given me this past semester," he told ESPN.

Sam made the announcement two weeks before the annual NFL scouting combine, and is expected to be drafted to the NFL in May, regardless of his coming out. ""I think, if anything, teams will look at it and see a guy who was honest and upfront instead of waiting until after the draft to potentially make his announcement,"said his agent Joe Barkett.

So far, he has received positive responses from both his coach and the NFL. "We're really happy for Michael that he's made the decision to announce this, and we're proud of him and how he represents Mizzou," said University of Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. "Michael is a great example of just how important it is to be respectful of others, he's taught a lot of people here first-hand that it doesn't matter what your background is, or your personal orientation, we're all on the same team and we all support each other."

The NFL said in a statement on Twitter, "“We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the N.F.L. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.”

Tuesday brought great wins and terrible losses, not to mention some questionable uniform choices. The US women’s hockey team had a record-shattering win, Canada’s moguls champion Alex Bilodeau took gold (again!) and the Netherlands swept men’s speed skating. Between all of this and more, it was definitely a busy and exciting day in Sochi! Keep reading for a complete recap of Tuesday’s Winter Olympic headlines. 

USA women’s hockey sets record, beats Switzerland

Breaking an Olympic record, the USA women’s hockey team scored three goals in just 55 seconds during their match against Switzerland on Monday! The final score of the preliminary round match was 9-0. The team will face archrival Canada on Wednesday in a game that’s sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. We’ll have to wait until later in the Games to see if the team wins a medal.The USA women’s hockey team has medaled in every Olympics since 1998.

Olga Graf forgot that she wasn't wearing anything under her uniform

Talk about a plunging neckline! Team Russia’s Olga Graf had a major uniform malfunction after completing her run in the women’s 3,000-meter speed skating event. Graf told The Associated Press that after the race she wanted to cool down but she forgot that she wasn’t wearing anything underneath her uniform. Overheated, she unzipped her suit, though she quickly zipped it back up after realizing her mistake. Graf won bronze for her performance on the ice.

Men’s speed skating’s timing error, Holland sweeps

The Dutch took gold, silver and bronze at the 500-meter men’s speed skating event. Twin brothers Michel Mulder and Ronald Mulder won gold and bronze, respectively. The Mudler brothers are the first set of twins to medal in the same event since the 1984 Summer Olympics. Jan Smeekens, who took silver, thought he won the gold when the scoreboard flashed a “1” next to his name. Smeekens saw this and celebrated. However, Smeekens hadn’t won gold; the scoreboard was showing a timing error. When officials quickly changed the board to reflect his second-place standing, Smeekens saw this and cried in dismay.

Charles Hamelin wins men's 1,500-meter short track speed skating 

Sports and romance: a combo everyone can be happy with! After winning the gold at the men's 1,500-meter short track race, Team Canada's Charles Hamelin kissed his girlfriend, Marianne St. Gelais. In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Hamelin and St. Gelais smooched after Hamelin won the 500-meter race. A photograph of the kiss instantly became an iconic image of the Games. The couple claims that this year's kiss was spontaneous. St. Gelais, a speed skater herself, won two silver medals in Vancouver and is also competing in Sochi.

Alex Bilodeau wins another gold medal in men’s moguls

Team Canada’s Alex Bilodeau won gold (again!) at the men’s moguls final. Bilodeau completed his run with a score of 26.31. Bilodeau won gold for the same event during the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. Bilodeau’s Sochi win makes him the first freestyle skiier to win back-to-back gold medals. Canada has been dominating this event. On Saturday, Canadian sisters Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe received gold and silver during the women’s moguls.

Julia Mancuso wins bronze medal in skiing super-combined

Team USA's Julia Mancusco took the bronze medal during the women’s super-combined slalom event. The win makes Mancusco an Olympic champion; her Olympic medal count has now grown from three to four. She is the first American female alpine skier to win more than two medals. Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany took gold. Hoefl-Riesch is a hopeful for the upcoming downhill event. If she wins, she could have four Olympic gold medals to her name, an alpine Olympic record.

Snowboarders think the Olympic halfpipe is dangerous

Olympic snowboarders complained that the Sochi halfpipe was dangerous; snowboarders who have been training on the pipe noticed problems with it right away. Athletes said that it was too bumpy and too steep in places that it shouldn’t be. Officials tried to fix the halfpipe on Monday afternoon, but Danny Davis, an American snowboarder, told the The Associated Press that conditions were still not ideal. Olympic champion Shaun White will be competing in the halfpipe event on Tuesday for his third gold medal.

Norway versus Russia for most stylish pants

In an unexpected Olympic showdown, we have Russia versus Norway in the competition of who has the most outrageous pants! Norway's men's curling team debuted another wacky pair of pants on Monday at the Ice Cube Curling Center. There, they faced Team USA, ultimately winning. The final score was 7-4, and if this was a best pants competition, they’d probably win that, too. However, Russia might prove to be a serious competitor. The Russian team showed off a crazy red print on their pants on Monday against Great Britain. What's with curling and silly pants?

France wins first gold in men’s biathlon

Martin Fourcade won the men’s 12.5-kilometer biathlon event, which combines both cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. He finished with a time of 33:48.6. Fourcade took the gold, while fellow Frenchman Jean-Guillaume Beatrix took bronze. The double win officially put France in the medals race. Ondrej Moravec from the Czech Republic was awarded the silver medal.

Johnny Quinn got stuck again.

No one is going to believe this but we just got stuck in an elevator. Ask @BOBSLEDR and @Crippsee who were there... pic.twitter.com/Rwg57CBbUU

— Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 10, 2014

 This time,  the bobsledder got stuck in an elevator. That's all.

Medal count as of Monday night: top five countries

1. Canada: three gold, three silver, one bronze = seven total
2. Netherlands: three gold, two silver, two bronze = seven total
3. Norway: two gold, one silver, four bronze = seven total
4. United States: two gold, zero silver, three bronze = five total
5. Germany: two gold, zero silver, zero bronze = two total

To see a full list of the current medal count, click here.

Which event did you find most exciting? Tell us in the comments below then come back tomorrow for another Sochi Scoop Olympic recap!

Inspired by contemporary American artists, Dennis Basso created a collection of sumptuous furs and evening wear in a rainbow of jewel tones for Fall/Winter 2014. Many of the pieces seemed to me like a modern take on Russian empresses, jeweled details adorning sleeves and luscious fur coats, silk gowns handpainted in black and metallics. Favorite pieces included a black and white chinchilla coat (I had the opportunity to touch it backstage, and I just wanted to melt into it); a black and white stripe, multi-tiered ribbon applique gown with an empire waist and a plunging v-neckline; and a lynx coat that floated down the runway. Basso has a specific audience--which I'm not sure includes freelance writer/photographers in their 20s--but watching his vibrant clothes move and quite literally sparkle in a show is in itself invigorating. View more photos from the collection on Style.com here. 

Makeup, by Kabuki for Sephora Pro, was soft and elegant. Like he did for Basso last season, Kabuki used a black winged eyeliner. He also used a soft highlighter on the cheeks and a pale pink lipstick. Hair was pulled back in a chic donut of sorts, twirled and secured under the nape of the neck. Nails, in that wine tone I've been seeing a lot of this season, featured a peel-off nail polish that combined a base coat, color, and top coat. 

In the audience, were none other than the fabulous Ms. Mary J. Blige and June Ambrose. I was lucky enough to take their pictures! Check them out here with more sights from backstage and during the show (all photos by moi). 

Long before it was immortalized as a sub-par romantic comedy, Valentine’s Day has been infamous for anxiety. There’s nothing like an evening of high expectations and commercialized intimacy to make us wish February 14th was just the day in 1912 when Arizona was admitted as the 48th state (look it up). But there’s no escaping the rose petals, romantic greeting cards, and spike in chocolate sales—so here’s how to make it through. For your own sake, please don’t…

1. Bring a Friend

No matter how much you want him to meet Amanda or hit it off with Lauren, leave the crew at home. “But they’re so fun!” Nope. They’re probably not. Even a double date is two too many. Sorry, but regardless of whether the thought of spending an extended amount of time alone with your date is a huge relief or provokes a nervous rash, this one is all you.
 
2. Reference Next Year’s Valentine’s Day

Nothing says, “I just went from having a good time to having premature anticipatory anxiety about the longevity of our relationship” like referencing a date that’s a year away. If an event is too far in advance to ask a friend what you should wear to it, you shouldn’t bring it up on V-Day.
 
3. Buy Him a Car

When a present escalates from a kind gesture to an uncomfortably outlandish statement of extravagance, everyone feels ill at ease.  Especially the salesperson he’s about to hunt down for convincing him that a teddy bear makes a perfectly fine gift.
 
4. Forget to Shave Your Legs
This is a common courtesy.  I hope no explanation is necessary.
 
5. Make Elaborate, Inflexible Plans
Valentine’s Day is the New Year’s Eve of romance: it’s a night you wait all year for which, inevitably, leads to disappointment when things don’t go exactly as you dreamed (or scheduled meticulously in the shower). Don’t plan a night that will crash and burn if you’re fifteen minutes late to dinner or get a little bit lost on the way to the romantic view you’ve been scouting for sunset. Because if my own life is any indication, things will not go exactly as planned.

6. Pre-Game Dinner
No matter how nervous you are, don’t take a shot to loosen up. No matter how convincingly a friend urges you to grab a cocktail before the date, just say no. No matter how exciting the party down the hall sounds, don’t indulge in a pre-dinner drink (or three).  Oh, and don’t over-do it on the wine at the restaurant, either. 
 
7. Ask for Extra Garlic on Your Mashed Potatoes
Garlic is a flavor much better enjoyed the first time around.  No need to order plain toast or pasta with olive oil, hold the Parmesan, but take it easy on the garlic butter prawns.
 
8. Cry
Of laughter, of sadness, of frustration, of anger, of happiness, of surprise, or of joy.  Please… just don’t cry.
 

9. Suggest a Bad Movie
What’s that you say, you’re no longer attracted to me after seeing the 7:30 showing of Cowboys and Aliens or New Year’s Eve? Don’t out yourself as a bad date by turning a romantic evening into an evening of Big Momma’s House 4.
 
10. Talk About The Past
You can reference the distant past (“Hey, speaking of Abraham Lincoln…” or “Remember when Pokemon cards were cool?”) but steer clear of all not-so-distant history, like exes and, specifically, last year’s Valentine’s Day. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to be sitting with the same guy.

With all the stress of planning the perfect Valentine’s Day date with your guy or night out with your girls, don’t forget one super important part of the day—your outfit! Lucky for you, we have you covered. Her Campus and Shopcade, your one-stop shopping app for all things stylish, are giving away a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos worth $575 that will go with any Valentine’s Day outfit you choose!  These sleek, black pumps are totally timeless and a must-have for any collegiette’s closet.

Interested? To enter this giveaway, you'll need to sign up for Shopcade and download the app here by February 28. With Shopcade, you can discover the latest trends and make an infinite number of wish lists, from “Valentine’s Day Outfits” to “Gifts Ideas for my Sorority Little,” and fill them with millions of products from thousands of your favorite stores.  The best part? Shopcade alerts you whenever an item you’ve “wanted” goes on sale or if there’s a special offer you should know about!

Not sure what to pair your new Jimmy Choos (knock on wood!) with? With the help of Shopcade, we came up with a few ideas for how to style these beauties with options for a date night and a single girls’ night out!

Happy shopping, collegiettes!

Do you love the Beyoncé-themed Valentine’s Day menu as much as we do? If only all of our favorite celebrities had their own themed restaurant menus—we'd never cook again! Here are some celebrity-themed menus we'd love to see.  

1. Miley Cyrus - Dining With Miley

Twerk Chicken – half chicken marinated in Jamaican jerk spice and roasted

Spaghetti and Wrecking Meatballs – spaghetti topped with hand-rolled beef-and-pork meatballs

We Can’t Pork Chop – wood-fire-grilled pork chop

2. Justin Bieber - One Less Hungry Girl 

Beauty and a Beet Salad – red and golden beets, feta cheese and baby greens tossed in olive oil and lemon juice

And I Was Like Baby Back Ribs – slow-cooked with sweet hickory smoke

Never Say Gnocchi – baked gnocchi with tomato sauce

3. Lady Gaga - Eat What U Want 

Corn Chowder This Way – creamy chowder blend of corn, carrots, celery, potatoes, bacon and red bell peppers

Papas, Papas Fritas – hand-cut fries

Applausta – pasta tossed with roasted garlic and oven-dried tomatoes

4. Kanye West - Imma Let You Finish Your Meal

Gold Fried Rice Digger – topped with crispy ginger and garlic

North West-ern Omelet – diced ham, green bell pepper and onion

How Could You Be So Boneless – boneless wings lightly breaded and fried

5. Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Hungry When You Walked In

I’m Feeling Cordon Bleu – boneless chicken breast stuffed with Swiss cheese and diced ham blended with a hint of Dijon mustard

Steak Steak Steak – boneless Rib Eye Steak, broiled

Loving Him Was Red Velvet Cake – red velvet cake topped with buttercream cream cheese frosting

6. Katy Perry - You're Hot and You're Cooked

California Rolls – cucumber, crabmeat and avocado

Unconditionalfredo Pasta – pasta in Parmesan cheese sauce

Baby You’re a Fire Grilled Pizza – cooked in a wood-burning brick oven on traditional crust

7. Bruno Mars - I Think I Will Devour You 

When I Was Your Manicotti – ricotta, mozzarella, eggs and parmesan

I’d Catch a Sautéed Shrimp for You – flavored with cilantro, garlic, lime juice and salsa

Locked Out of Heavenly Cream Pie – vanilla layers with vanilla custard between, topped with chocolate fudge and whipped cream

There's a great danger that comes with defining something as "modern." It makes me think primarily of the perils of modern dance, which can be extraordinary and mind-altering, or completely painful and an utter waste of time. Zero+ Maria Cornejo's Fall/Winter 2014 collection, however, is thankfully the former. Like the finest modern dance, Cornejo's pieces play with our sensibilities and make us question why we wear what we wear. Why can't a cocktail dress be a flowing slice of color? Why can't a gown be adorned with giant, clear paillettes? As I've written before, I love it when a collection makes me think. Inspired by a road trip through her native Chile with her siblings, Cornejo wanted to bring forth "the feeling of youthful, carefree travel," according to the collection's notes. It's easy to see that throughout the line, with pieces both sturdy and light floating down the runway. Some of my favorite pieces were the long organza Elie dress, the Lea jumpsuit in a glittery, black feather stripe, and the black Madi dress with a full-skirt and v-neckline. 

The look for makeup, by Dick Page for Shiseido, was metallic but ethereal, with a shimmery eye lid, a white stripe of eyeliner, and softly darkened under-eye. Hair, by Bumble and Bumble, was an edgy jumble of braids and texture pulled back into a half-up/half-down arrangement. Nails, by Zoya, were pure white on the hands and black on the toes. 

For more shots from backstage and of the collection, check out my photos here!

Flying solo this Valentine’s Day?  Don’t worry, because Her Campus has you covered with a full day of guy-proof Galentine’s Day activities! February 13 is a day to celebrate your girls, because, as Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec says, “ovaries before brovaries.” Get all your girls together and celebrate!

All you need are your favorite girlfriends and just a bit of sarcasm to survive the day before the day many collegiettes just want to skip. We rounded up a few ideas for what to do to have the best Galentine’s Day ever!

Have a Spa Night

Treat yo’ self! February 13 is the night to go all out – that means mani/pedis, facials, foot baths, lip scrubs, hair masques or maybe some crazy neon highlights. Just have some fun with your girlfriends, followed almost immediately by chocolate. For the 21-and-older ladies, why not share a bottle of wine over some juicy gossip? Place some bets on which couples will break up before the clock strikes 12 on V-day in between sips. Be sure to pour a glass for the friend whose hands are too busy applying this coconut oil masque!

Coconut Oil Hair Strengthening Masque

There are endless benefits to coconut oil, from clean cooking to deep conditioning to soothing dry skin. Here’s a recipe for our favorite restoring hair masque with all-natural ingredients!

1. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so microwave a tablespoon or two in a bowl to bring it to a liquid form.
2. Add one raw egg to the bowl. Eggs are packed with protein that your hair will drink up instantly.
3. Add a tablespoon of honey, which will help tame any frizz while drying. Mix it all up until smooth.
4. Apply the mixture all over the length of your hair and massage it gently into the roots, which will help promote growth.
5. Leave it on for 30 minutes, an hour, overnight—however long you please! Rinse it out with a shampoo with sulfates or lighter chemicals to get the egg and oil completely out.
6. Your hair will feel smooth, silky and strong after this masque, so do it once a week for the best results.

If you have a friend who doesn’t care much for a little (okay, a lot) of pampering, have her try out some tips to make it look like you’re not wearing makeup.

Take Each Other Out on a Girl Date

Catch a Matinée

Grab your BFF, go see the worst movie you can think of and spend the whole two hours laughing at how terrible it is. Split a soda (the small is about the size of your head anyway) and some junk food—calories don’t count if you share!

Go Power Shopping

You’ve been shopping for your own clothes for quite a while now, so we’re sure you can handle it, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask your girlfriends what they think of a potential new outfit. Never skip a chance to practice your supermodel walk! Take turns picking things out for each other and trying out some new styles from the girls you trust; you never know what you might like. Not in the mood to go home after you’re done shopping? Try out that new bubble tea bar that just opened at the mall!

Have a Picnic

Okay, we know “go outside” sounds like something your mom would say, but it’s true. Don’t stay inside and sit on Facebook looking at all the Instagrams of flowers your friends got from their boyfriends; it’s only going to bring you down.

Skip the flowers-chocolate-dinner option with a man, and have a picnic with your girls in the quad instead! Pack a few PB&Js, some fresh fruit salad, iPod speakers (because you know you’ll be blasting Beyoncé) and a blanket and you’re golden. Take a Polaroid camera with you and take as many candid pictures as you can. When the day is over, make copies of the photos and put them all on a memory board for each of your friends.

Not feeling up for a picnic? We’re sure there are restaurants you’ve been hearing about since freshman year but have never been to, like a family-owned place that’s been there longer than the university.

Have a DIY Galentine’s Day Gift Exchange

Make girly, homemade gifts for your best gal pals to show them how much you care and have a gift exchange party. We’re sure you’ll love making your friends’ presents as much as they’ll like receiving them! If you need a gift idea, try this DIY hot chocolate gift. There’s nothing wrong with packaged hot chocolate, but you need to try this homemade recipe out. Get some mason jars, cute ribbon, measuring cups and embellishments (rhinestones, pearls, beads, etc.) to personalize the gifts.

1. Personalize the jars with the embellishments before you begin the next step.
2. Layer the ingredients in the mason jar, beginning with ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ cup of white sugar and ½ cup of chocolate chips.
3. Tie a tag with your friend’s name on it around the mouth of the jar and cover with the lid.
4. Dress it up for the party or leave it as is, because we’re sure these won’t last ‘til morning!

Host a Movie Marathon

You may not have found the right guy in time this year, but there’s always one man who would never leave you hanging: Ryan Gosling. Particularly when he’s shirtless and telling us how beautiful you are. The Notebook is a classic but heavy on the drama, so maybe try out Crazy, Stupid, Love. for a bit of a laugh. We should all just make Ryan Gosling our boyfriend for the night. If he’s not your cup of tea (if that could ever happen), there’s plenty more to choose from:

• Water for Elephants: Robert Pattinson
• Magic Mike: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer and Joe Manganiello, to name a few
• (500) Days of Summer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• The Great Gatsby: Leonardo DiCaprio
• Dirty Dancing: Patrick Swayze
• Love & Other Drugs: Jake Gyllenhaal
• 10 Things I Hate About You: Heath Ledger
• Adventureland: Ryan Reynolds
• Garden State: Zach Braff
• One Fine Day: George Clooney

For every guy who makes you swoon, it’s round of chocolate shots (shot glasses full of chocolate chips)! You’ll all have a sugar high in no time.

What are some of your favorite things to do on Galentine’s Day, collegiettes? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you're single, in a relationship or somewhere in between, we all have an idea of what we expect on Valentine's Day. We hate to admit it, but our expectations are usually 5,000 miles from the reality of how V-Day really goes down.  Just because we drop hints doesn't mean our guys pick them up...

Girls' Expectation:

He's going to jump out of bed and get started on his huge plans for the day. He can hardly wait for you to get out of class because he has been planning this for months.

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

You'll ask him what he's planned for the day and he'll act all coy, pretending it's nothing big. But you know he has something up his sleeve...

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Before you head out to class for the day, he'll whisper something super romantic and beautiful into your ear.

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

You can't wait to get home later, because he totally got you that Tiffany necklace you've been eyeing for months. He probably even got it back in October because he wanted to make sure he had the perfect gift in advance. He's so sweet. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Your phone will be blowing up all day from the cute selfies of himself preparing for the big romantic night. One of him cleaning the apartment, another one of him setting the table...maybe even one of him taking a pre-date bubble bath! He knows how to make you laugh while being so adorable. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

He'll be waiting for you when you get home from class with his apartment completely covered in balloons and rose petals. Oh, he is so damn cute!

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

You told him not to get you flowers, but he's not stupid. He'll totally get creative and get you some that are unique and out of the ordinary, but so thoughtful. Maybe daisies that are identical to the ones he picked for you on your first date...

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Oh, and just think of the dinner he's going to make you! Who needs to go out for some overpriced lobster meal when your man is so great (and not to mention sexy) in the kitchen?

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Then he says he has something totally crazy planned. He's probably going to take you to that hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar you begged him to take you to last summer. He's so cute, remembering stuff like that. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Even if his voice sucks, he will give you his best version of classic love songs all the way to this "crazy" date. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

After the crazy (not to mention super thoughtful) date, you suggest a walk before you head home. Of course, he says he couldn't think of anything he'd rather do.

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

At the end of the walk, he'll grab you by the waist and pull you in for a slow dance. Just the two of you, dancing away. You always knew he secretly loved dancing. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

When you get home, he'll give you some sexy little show to make you giggle and get you excited...

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

Then he'll pin you up against the wall and you'll have the steamiest hook-up ever. He's so hot and romantic. He always knows how to keep you on your toes. 

Guys' Reality:

Girls' Expectation:

And then he insists you stay up all night, talking and laughing about the most random things: "Do you remember how we first met? Or the first thing I said to you? I remember it like it was yesterday." What a perfect end to a perfect Valentine's Day.

Guys' Reality:

Looking for a decadent dessert for your Valentine? Check out these ten delicious Valentine’s Day-themed cookie recipes that are sure to be sinful, rich and mouthwatering! Read on for our top V-Day cookie picks—from gluten-free and vegan options to adorable heart-shaped cookies and cookie dough truffles, even the pickiest eater is sure to find a delicious option.

Chocolate hazelnut smooches

What you need

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread like Nutella
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup orange sprinkles, or orange sugar
• 1 (9-ounce) package of chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
• Medium bowls
• Hand mixer
• Heavy cookie sheet

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. In another medium bowl, place the chocolate hazelnut spread, butter and both sugars. Using a hand mixer, cream the ingredients together for about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and blend together. Stir in the dry ingredients. Shape the cookie dough into walnut-sized balls. Roll the balls in the orange sprinkles or orange sugar, pressing so the sugar sticks. Place the cookies on a heavy cookie sheet about 4 inches apart. Bake for 8 minutes, then take out of oven and put a chocolate kiss in the middle of each cookie. Then, put the cookies back in the over for another 3 minutes. Take them out, and let cool.

Shortbread hearts

What you need

• 3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter
• Electric mixer
• Medium bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Baking sheet

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt; then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Put the dough on surface with a little flour and roll the dough into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with heart-shaped cutter. Place the hearts on an ungreased sheet pan and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown. Let them cool, then enjoy!

Red velvet whoopee pies

What you need

For the Cookies:

• 1 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 ounce milk chocolate, chopped
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Whisk

For the Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and seeds scraped
• Electric mixer

Try a fun V-Day twist on the classic whoopee pie! First, make the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the semisweet and milk chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Whisk to get rid of clumps.

Whisk the melted butter, sour cream, eggs, vinegar, vanilla and food coloring in a bowl until combined. In another bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in four equal batches, whisking each batch completely before adding the next. Stir in the melted chocolate.

Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of batter onto the prepared baking sheets and smooth the tops with a damp finger. Bake until the cookies spring back when lightly pressed, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

While you’re waiting, make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer until smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla seeds. Sandwich a heaping tablespoonful of filling between 2 cookies; repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

Hidden kisses

What you need

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 (9-ounce) package chocolate candy kisses
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• Large bowl
• Cookie sheets

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in the flour and blend well. Add the pecans and blend well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. After an hour, put about a tablespoon’s worth of the chilled dough around each candy kiss, covering it completely. Shape the cookies into balls. Place the cookies on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool. Roll the cookies in confectioners' sugar.

Vegan chocolate-dipped whole wheat sugar cookies

What you need

• 1/2 cup vegan margarine
• 3/4 heaping cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vegan margarine for chocolate dip
• 1 tbsp soy milk
• Shredded unsweetened coconut to decorate
• Large bowl
• Small bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Sharp knife
• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper

In the large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar. Mix in the vanilla and cornstarch mixture and stir until smooth. Add the salt and flour and use your hands to combine. If the dough is too crumbly, add a tablespoon or two of water. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350º and line the cookie sheet with parchment paper. Once your dough has chilled, take it out for a bit to soften slightly. Roll it out on a floured surface until it is about 1/4" thick. Using a sharp knife, cut out rectangles until all of the dough is used up. Place the cookies on your prepared sheet and bake for about 15-18 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.

While the cookies bake, combine the chocolate chips, margarine and soy milk in a small bowl and microwave for a minute, or until the chocolate melts. When the cookies are cooled, dip just the top half of each cookie into the chocolate. Sprinkle with coconut if desired, let the chocolate-dipped cookies harden a bit in the fridge, and then enjoy!

Gluten-free flourless chocolate cookies

What you need

• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 3 tbsp cold water
• 1/2 cup dried shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Whisk
• Small bowl
• Large bowl
• Medium bowl

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the ground flax and water and set aside—this becomes the “flax egg.” In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (coconut, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt). In a medium sized bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (flax egg, almond butter, almond milk, vanilla). Add wet to dry and mix well until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spoon the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches apart as they spread out a lot. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes.

Rosemary walnut shortbread cookies

What you need

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely ground walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Raw sugar, for decorating
• Whisk
• Electric mixer
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Whisk flour, nuts, rosemary and salt in a large bowl. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until lightened, about 3 minutes. Mix in vanilla, and then reduce the speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until dough comes together and is smooth. Turn out dough onto parchment paper, and pat into a round. Place parchment paper on top; roll into a 12-inch round, 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

Cut out cookies using various sizes of heart-shape cutters (1/2 inch to 3 inches); transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. (Keep same-size cookies on same sheet.) Roll scraps; cut out. Gently press raw sugar onto edges of cookies. Bake until just golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool.

Chocolate-dipped espresso meringues

What you need

• 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pinch cream of tartar
• 1/2  cup sugar
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature
• Electric mixer
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheets

Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Using the mixer, beat the egg whites with the vanilla, espresso powder, salt and cream of tartar on medium-high speed until peaks form. A little bit at a time, beat in the sugar; increase mixer speed to high and beat until the mixture holds glossy peaks. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake until dry, crisp and firm which will take about 2 hours. When the meringues come off the parchment paper easily, they’re done.

Turn off the oven, prop open the door about ½ inch (use the handle of a wooden spoon), and let the meringues sit inside for 1 hour. Slide the parchment (with the meringues on top) onto racks and let cool completely.

Peel the meringues off the parchment, and then dip the bottom of each into the chocolate. Place on baking sheets and refrigerate just until the chocolate is set, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cookie dough truffles

What you need

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted
• Large bowl
• Electric mixer
• Waxed paper

In the large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and add milk. Add chocolate morsels and pecans, mixing well. Shape into 1-inch balls. You can use a little flour to make the balls less sticky. Place on waxed paper and chill 2 hours. Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a microwave or stovetop. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Chocolate cookies

What you need

• 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
• 1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Large bowl
• Electric mixer
• Cookie cutters if desired
• Plastic wrap
• Baking sheets

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, salt and cinnamon and set aside. Next, use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Divide dough in half; wrap both in plastic. Chill for at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes or use cookie cutters. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets; refrigerate until firm, about15 minutes. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until crisp but not darkened. Cool and then decorate as desired.

Enjoy the recipes, collegiettes! Whether you and a friend want to bake delicious cookies or you’re making some for a crush or boyfriend, these recipes are sure to please!

New York Fashion Weeks are two of the highlights of my year, almost like a second (and third) Christmas if you will. The week keeps me energized despite the cold weather. There’s nothing quite like adoring all of the new fashions and seeing all of the work that so many creative designers have innovated.

Even though fashion is clearly the main focus of fashion week, it’s hard to forget about the amazing beauty looks that are showcased too. Think about it – an amazing hairstyle can bring a whole new perspective to a chic outfit. Let’s look at some our favorite runway hairstyles from this year’s fashion week.

Fresh and Funky French Braids for Rachel Zoe

Styled by Antonio Corral, the Rachel Zoe models rocked this super cute braided look. The braids were not perfect by any means, but their distressed texture is what made them so envious. The few pieces of hair that flew out of the braids made the look complete by framing the faces of the models and making the look that much more edgy.

Brave and Bold Braided Headbands for Rebecca Minkoff

Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s looks, TRESemme stylist Jeanie Syfu strived to help her models pull off this effortlessly beautiful look. She began the process by roughing up their hair with her fingertips, and then created four strand braids from three different ponytails. To finish, she wrapped the braids around the models’ heads before pinning them into place, and then pulled out a few stray strands to give the braids a live-in vibe.

Simple and Sophisticated Low Ponytails for Reed Krakoff

Not every hairstyle at fashion week has been over the top; sometimes, simple is best, and keeps all attention on the fashion. Stylist Orlando Pita worked with Redken to create this easy low ponytail hairstyle that is chic and elegant. Models had their hair parted while damp, and then their strands were gathered in a low ponytail to air dry.

Vintage and Volumized Ponytails for Pamella Roland

For a different ponytail vibe, the models at the Pamella Roland show wore their hair in bumped up ponytails inspired by ‘60s French film stars. Hairstylist Ted Gibson achieved this look by teasing the hair thoroughly, and then gathering the hair into a side pony. The volumized strands were supposed to look rough and textured to complement the equally smudgy, smoldering makeup that the models wore to get the rolled-out-of-bed but still sexy look.

Feminine and Floral Updos for Zac Posen

This season’s delicate and dainty collection from Zac Posen called for equally feminine hairstyles on the runway. To achieve this, models had their hair gathered off their shoulders into a casual updo that was finished with small silk flowers. In order to reflect the unique style of each model, hairstylist Odile Gilbert made sure that each model had a completely different twist on this classy look.

What have been some of your favorite NYFW hairstyles? Share your thoughts in the comments!