Spring break is almost here! Whether you’re planning on traveling to a fantastic tropical destination or hitting the slopes with your friends, some much-needed R&R and a break from studying can’t come soon enough! Before you jump on a plane, however, there are some basic steps you need to take to make sure you’ve properly planned for your vacay. Check out our tips!

1. Make sure you have all the documents you need.

In your excitement, it can be easy to forget that there are logistical steps you need to take before spring break can commence. If you’re traveling outside of the United States, for instance, it’s necessary to have your passport up to date and valid for six months after your return to the USA.

In addition, some resorts require a fair amount of paperwork to be completed before check-in. Make sure that you’ve thoroughly read every e-mail from your resort or travel company to ensure you’re fully prepared for your trip!

2. Make a packing list.

If you’re anything like us, the chances of you forgetting something crucial for your trip are pretty high if you don’t take stock of what you have and what you need. Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking tool that can help. You can download the special-edition travel notebook for OneNote here and use it to make lists and check things off as you pack them. OneNote will also let you scan your ID or passport in case you lose it, and it can be used to keep track of your hotel information and happy hours as well. You can use it on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, so all of your lists are accessible virtually anywhere!

3. Research the local area before you go.

Do your research and look up great restaurants, bars and other attractions in the area you’re traveling to. Instead of relying on the concierge at your hotel, or even worse, wandering around aimlessly, having a plan for your nights out is the best (and safest!) way to go. Since you’ve already put your packing list in OneNote, you can also put your restaurant picks in there, too! The “Send to OneNote” tool lets you clip and save information from the web, so as you make reservations, you can clip screenshots and send web pages or entire documents directly to sections of your notebook, no printer needed!

4. Double-check the weather at your destination.

This may seem kind of obvious, but make sure you know what the weather is going to be like the week that you go on spring break. Just because Vail has snow doesn’t mean it’s not going to rain! Even if you go to a warmer location, like Florida or California, the temperatures will still drop at night, so packing a light jacket or a pair of jeans will go a long way when you’re walking around after the sun goes down.

5. Plan a buddy system.

We get it; you’re not in middle school anymore. You may think that you don’t need to be attached at the hip to one of your friends while you’re on vacation, but keeping tabs on your friends is always the safest way to travel. Handcuffs aren’t necessary, but pairing up with one other person when you’re out at night can keep both of you safer and provide the other with a built-in wing-woman!

Have an amazing spring break, collegiettes!

There’s a fine line in the space between “boy” and “friend.” And in that little space, there can be a whole lot of drama, mixed signals, and hurt feelings. You love your best boy friend, but you’ve never quite thought of him in that way. You stop and think: wait a minute, could he ever be my boyfriend?

Think about it: he’s there to pick you up and drive you home when you’ve had one too many drinks at the bar and he always just happens to be that big, strong shoulder to cry on when your date stands you up. He’s the Anthony Michael Hall to your Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, the Harry to your Sally, and the Chandler to your Monica.

No, he’s not your boyfriend. He’s your best friend who just happens to be a boy, but you’re starting to have second thoughts. So before you have that semi-awkward DTR talk or confusing DFMO, check our all-inclusive guide to see whether your “guy friend” is boyfriend material, whether you should DTR or stay as friends, what you risk, and why a friends-turned-lovers relationship can sometimes be stronger than the typical campus romance.

We’ve consulted the experts: Michael Lindstrom from the dating expert duo Ask Dan and Mike from askdanandmike.com and our own Real Live College Guy Sean McFarland, and we’ve asked collegiettes across the country about their experiences to know the signs that say he might just be that into you – and whether you should close the gap from “boy friend” to “boyfriend.”

What are the signs that he’s into you?

Here are five clues that he’s hinting for a more serious relationship with you.

Your friends ask if you two are a couple

If there’s chemistry a-brewing between you two (and we’re not just talking about as study buddies in your chem 101 class), your circle of friends will be the first to see it.

When you meet up at parties, your best friend is harping about how cute the two of you would look as a couple, and his friends are teasing him about how into each other you both seem to be.

Jennifer*, a senior from Boston University, says that she started seeing her platonic guy friend Branden* as less of a best friend and more of a boyfriend when her friends asked her about their relationship. “I didn’t see anything to it,” she said. “But they all kept pressing me, ‘Why are you hiding it from us? It’s obvious you’re hooking up.’ And it’s the truth – we weren’t! But when they mentioned it, I started looking at [him] differently.”

Your friends – both his and yours – can oftentimes see the spark before you do!

His body language changes

Another sign? He starts getting handsy with you… in a sense. What used to be high fives and quick “bro-esque” hugs turn gradually into intimate touches and tighter embraces.

“His body language will speak for itself,” Lindstrom says. “Guys are more purposeful. More gentlemanly.” Does he hold doors open for you? Does he touch the small of your back or brush fingers on your forearm? Do you catch him unexpectedly looking at you at odd moments? Does he linger a little bit longer in his hugs with you than he might have used to? If so, he may be into you.

He tries sneaky tactics to gauge your interest

One thing you won’t get is a dramatic proposal of his undying love for you. (As much as we would love a cute guy holding a boombox up to our window a la John Cusack, am I right, ladies?) Instead, he’ll try his biggest trick on you: sneaky tactics to gauge your availability, and your potential interest in him.

“When a guy is asking you a lot of personal questions like, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ and ‘Who were you with?’ he’s trying to get a feel for you,” Lindstrom says. He’s probing about what the girl is doing and who might they be doing it with.”

If you reveal that you don’t have a date for formal, he’ll be the first to volunteer his Friday night to escort you. Lindstrom says planning in advance with you for occasions like Valentine’s Day, spring break, or wedding dates in his family are not always, but can be seen as him trying to sneakily get a commitment out of you.

“He wants to protect his ego,” Lindstrom says. “So instead of making it obvious, he’ll try to inch his way into a relationship with you. If you start to see an escalation, that’s a sign that he’s looking for something more with you.”

He starts acting like your boyfriend

What our experts say to look for are small gestures that have big implications.

Former HC Real Live College Guy Sean McFarland says that he will try “to hang out [with you] in a one-on-one setting.”

“Since you’ve been friends for a while, a lot of flirting can be mistaken for just normal day-to-day behavior,” Sean says. “The most obvious thing a guy would do is to make a romantic gesture. Up until that point, the lady in question may have no idea how the guy feels. So the guy has to go above and beyond what is normal. This could be through flowers on Valentine’s Day, offering to pay for dinner or something. Basically, anything above what friends would normally do.”

Making the decision: Start a relationship? Or stay as friends?

So you’ve determined that he’s secretly into you. The only question left to answer is – how do you feel about him? Should you try to make a relationship work? Or stick to being “just friends?”

He may be totally gaga over you… but the only problem is you’re not so into him. What do you do in this situation?

Real Live College Guy Sean likens being friend-zoned as “a treatment worse than torture.” He says that oftentimes, “guys just ‘sit and wait’ and naively think ‘she’ll come around.’”

Is it possible to stay friends – even after shooting him down? Our experts say yes, but not without an initial drawback. Lindstrom says that it’s best to give him the space he needs (for a short period of time).

“The feeling of unreturned affection is such a hopeless feeling,” Sean says. “If the guy wants the friendship to continue, he needs to take some time to be away from the female friend until he’s over his feelings.”

“It theoretically can ruin your friendship, but only if you let it,” Sean agrees. “If she doesn’t feel the same way, she needs to sit him down, acknowledge how he feels, and simply say that she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Telling him to take as much time as he needs is really the only way of saving the friendship,” he says.

After “the talk,” expect him to pull back from hanging out with you for a while. He might not return your calls so quickly and he might respond in cold, one-word answers to your texts. That’s perfectly natural. (After all, if the roles were reversed, wouldn’t you be hurt too?) Let him get over that sting and with time, you can start to hang out again and come to a place where you both can be best friends again.

On the other hand, friends can make the best boyfriends. Our own Real Live College Guy Sean, who had a relationship with a former friend, is a big believer in the “friends-first” mentality.

“Personally, I think relationships can be much stronger in the long run if you’re friends first,” he says. “Finally seeing that your friend feels the same way you do is such an amazing high.”

If your heartstrings are being tugged by him, how do you make the smooth transition from being just friends to being Facebook official?

When he asks you about your plans (which, as we’ve mentioned, is one of his not-so-subtle moves to feel out your feelings), take it as your cue to make the steps that will take your relationship to the next level. Whether he asks you to be the date to his cousin’s wedding over break or even just his Friday night plans – go along with it!

“What’s great about dating a friend is that you already know each other!” Jennifer points out. “So there’s none of that awkward ‘getting to know you’ stage.” Since you know you have some similar interests, why not build off of your shared interests for date ideas? That could be anything from hiking in the mountains together (if you’re the outdoorsy types) to cuddling up to a show you both love to chat about. Similarly, you know each other’s dating history. Jennifer, who started dating Branden a few months after he went through an agonizing break-up, says that she helped him get over his ex by particularly not having their dates at the ex-couple’s campus hangout spots and avoiding things Branden would have done with his ex.

In the end, both guys and girls agree: the most important thing is to be upfront and honest. Talking it out, according to Lindstrom, is “awkward but necessary.”

“Girls, seriously, your friend could be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had,” Jennifer says, who met her friend-turned-boyfriend in their sophomore year. “But you’ll never know until you look at him in a different way.”

Don’t believe her? After dating for almost two years, Jennifer and her friend-turned-boyfriend have set a wedding date.

*Names have been changed.

After the recent suicides of two University of Pennsylvania students, Penn junior Jack Park is making headlines for sharing his struggles with suicide and depression.

Park wrote a post on Pennsive, a blog that gives Penn students a safe space to discuss mental health, in which he says he attempted suicide twice during his freshman year. Following the post, Park was interviewed by Penn UTV, the campus's television network, in a video that quickly went viral among students. In its first day, the video received over 1,500 views.

"The only way to prevent depression from happening in the first place and ultimately prevent suicides is to be able to trust people that they will listen to your problems," Park says. "You have to open up to your friends about your problems. At Penn – not everyone – but a lot of people don’t talk about their weakness because everyone seems so smart and they all seem to be in such a good place all time."

According to USA Today, Park is the first attempted suicide survivor at Penn to share his or her story. However, after the post, Pennsive has seen more students open up about their suicide attempts. 

In light of the recent traumatic deaths, Park's story is especially poignant. One student spoke about Park on the Penn Compliments Facebook page, commending him for "having the courage to be so open about surviving the fear and pain of mental illness," and saying that his "work will not go unnoticed."

Admittedly, the idea of running used to hold no appeal for you.

You really didn’t even think exercise was your thing.

But this year, you decided to try training for a marathon.

Yes, it may be a totally new experience for you…

…but you feel confident you can do it, and you won’t be told otherwise.

First, you try making your usual cardio routine a little more intense.

You change your eating habits as well. You’ve got to eat big to get big, right?

The training isn’t so bad at first…

…but as you gradually increase the distance, your daily runs prove to be more of a challenge.

But you’re in too deep to back out now…

…because you’ve told too many people about your big plans.

You begin to question if you even have the strength to continue on.

You ache in places you didn’t even know existed.

Your healthy-eating plan has dissolved into you feeling validated to eat whatever you’d like…

…and you find yourself catching a few minutes of sleep wherever you can.

Just when you think running a marathon maybe just isn’t for you…

…you finally begin to find your stride!

You remember why you began training in the first place, and you get back that motivation you started with.

And when you finally cross that finish line on race day, the feeling is greater than anything you’ve ever experienced.

You deserve nothing less than the best, right? Cue every person in your life who knows of your utter fabulousness: Right. No ifs, ands or buts. Which is why you should ditch your dude if he’s been acting kinda shady (“…ain’t callin’ me baby…”— Beyoncé makes every situation better). Here are 11 different kinds of behaviors you should avoid at all costs in a guy, due to the fact that you just shouldn’t have to deal with them. Period.

1. You’re his go-to booty call

It’s a nationwide epidemic among American men of all ages: Booty Call Syndrome. Those inflicted are addicted to the notion of late-night shags sans emotional attachment. Usually, these guys are smooth talkers with perfectly white smiles and endless witty jokes to dish out (puke).

“Booty calls are too good for you,” says Marla Martenson, a matchmaker, author and motivational speaker. “Save your respect for a guy who deserves it.”

So if that man texts you past 11 p.m. and asks you to come “cuddle” one more time, drop him faster than he can even try to deny his womanizing habits.

2. He’s constantly bad-mouthing his ex

You met him at a party, and he seemed decent enough. But after a few text exchanges, he suddenly can’t stop talking about how awful his ex-girlfriend is (“She’s crazy and totally evil! Seriously!! Worse than Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove!!!”).

“If he can't stop talking trash about his ex, he would do the same to you,” Martenson says.

If he’s hung up on a previous chick’s “evil” deeds, perhaps it’s time to break it to him that now’s just not the right time for you two to start something (and it never will be, but keep that part to yourself). And be sure to break the news very, very gently.

3. He’s secretive (and weird about it)

Every time you go out with this guy, you have a great time—until he pulls out his phone and tries to cover up the name of the person he’s texting. Um, what’s up with that?

“[You’re] obviously not the only woman in his life,” says matchmaker and dating coach Suzanne K. Oshima.

Fact: If you think he’s concealing something, he probably is. Sketchy behavior usually happens because of something… well, sketchy in his life. Rather than try to pry the info out of him, move on. No girl should have to deal with the painful anxiety about what he may be hiding.

4. He never sends the first text

It’s so freakin’ frustrating—you’re always the one to text him first. Always!

“A man who is interested in you will always want to contact you,” Oshima says. “A woman shouldn't have to try so hard.”

We second that—if he wanted you, he’d let you know. So give up the hunt, because this guy ain’t gonna be captured. And that’s okay. Camo’s not that flattering, anyway.

5. He thinks the world revolves around him

You’re in the middle of describing how much you adore hot yoga when he (rudely) interrupts and shifts the subject focus onto him.

“A guy that has no interest in what you have to say is a guy to cut loose,” Martenson says.

If he’s spacing out whenever the topic of conversation relates to you or your passions, it’s time to say goodbye to the dude who only cares about himself (ew).

6. He can’t control his anger

It’s been a lovely dinner date so far. Your chicken Caesar salad was to die for, and your date is charming, funny and totally sweet. That is, until he starts yelling at the waiter when your strawberry shortcake arrives after 10 minutes (yeah—only 10. WTF?).

“A guy that doesn't respect others won't respect you,” Martenson says.

If he’s a total d-bag to everyone around you, it’s time to say buh-bye to that guy. Besides, that waiter was actually kind of cute…

7. He disappears during school breaks

You guys are totally tight when you’re up at school together (he lives across the hall from you—so perf!), but when summer break hits, he suddenly goes MIA. You’re completely baffled—was he kidnapped?

“He probably has someone else on the side,” Oshima says.

If he hasn’t responded to your texts or calls after a week, it’s safe to assume this dude is done. Time to check out the cuties in your hometown (summer flings are so fun!).

8. He doesn’t get along with your friends

You just have this inkling that he’s got a problem with your roommate. He looks annoyed and becomes weirdly quiet whenever she’s around. You confront him about it, and yeah, you were right—he hates your best friend (who happens to be an all-around awesome person).

“If he has negative things to say about your friends, there will always be a conflict,” Martenson says.

Let’s face it: if he can’t get along with your soul sister(s), he’ll never really get along with you—you’ll always be bothered by the fact that he has an issue with your posse. It’s best to not engage in anything romantic with this one.

9. He’s a total flake

He said he’d pick you up for the movie date you had planned together at precisely 8 p.m. It’s now 8:45 p.m., and he hasn’t answered any of your texts or calls. The movie started 15 minutes ago and you’re totally pissed (which you should be).

“A man can say anything he wants, but it's important to watch his actions over his words,” Oshima says. “The right man for you will follow through and do what he says.”

So if he has a history of breaking his promises, no matter what they are—bid your farewell to the fellow who can’t keep his word.

10. He never wants to go on actual dates with you

He’s always down to watch a movie at his place… with the lights off. In his bed. How convenient (cue the emoji with the disapproving, you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me face).

If you’re in this situation, Oshima says, “He's just using [you] and doesn't really want a relationship.”

The Stay Insider is a distant cousin of the Booty Caller (SI’s are much more subtle than BC’s—they’ll try really hard to make you think they have good intentions, but don’t be fooled!). Kick that guy to the curb, which is where he belongs. Sneaky snake.

11. He always contacts you at the last minute

He calls you to see if you want to catch your school’s rendition of West Side Story with him—five minutes before the show starts.

“No girl wants to be a man's second choice,” Oshima says. “Know your self-worth.”

If he always hits you up at the last minute, chances are, you’re not his number-one interest. So screw him, because you deserve to be number one.

There are so many great guys out there (cliché, we know—but it’s true). It takes a little digging, but they do exist. In the meantime, recognize when you’re just too awesome for that dude, and move on! You have better things to focus on. 

All of your friends keep posting countdowns for their trips to Mexico and the Bahamas. Now you really can’t wait for your super exciting trip… home.

They halfheartedly try to comfort you about having to stay home, lying just to make you feel better. “You’ll have so much fun! Think of all of the movies you can watch!”

As all of your friends board their planes, you drive home, listening to depressing songs about being left behind.

Once you get home, you head straight to the couch and set up camp. If you have to rot in your house while everyone else basks in the tropical sun, then you're going to make the most of it.

Your mom tries to bond with you because she feels bad that you have to stay home all week.

She suggests pedicures, lunch dates, shopping and all sorts of expensive stuff that she is paying for. For once in your life, that actually sounds awful. You just want to sulk in your anti-spring-break depression.

But on that note, you are totally going to milk to this whole “mom feeling bad for you” thing as much as possible. Hello, home-cooked meals delivered to your bed (or couch) at your beck and call!

After a few days, you realize staying home isn't so bad. You get to do nothing all day, which is what you had been dreaming of the entire exam week before break.

And then… the first round of pictures go up. You scroll through Instagram and watch your dream vacation unfold before your eyes.  

You slip back into your anti-spring-break depression. Guess it’s time to watch all those movies.

You can't handle being separated from your roommates for a week. There are only so many movies to watch and chocolates to eat by yourself. 

You emerge from your couch, and something about the living-room lighting makes you look twice when you pass the mirror. There is no way in hell you are going back to school to pose in pictures next to your newly tanned friends…

…so, obviously, you do the logical thing.

As you pack up your car to head back to school, you realize that break at home wasn’t so bad. Sure, you weren’t sipping cocktails on some exotic beach, but you did get to relax... and hang out with your pets.

Plus, you saved so much money, you got much needed sleep, you got some new clothes AND you got caught up on schoolwork. Holla at your girl!

Even though you still secretly hate your friends for leaving you to die alone in your hometown for break, you are so excited to be reunited with them…

…but then begins the replay of every waking second of the entire week. “I have SO many stories for you!”

And you have to look through all 1,800 pictures. Every. Single. One. 

Of course, as your best friends, they're morally obligated to ask, “Anyways, did you have an amazing break at home or what?!”

It doesn’t take long for them to come back down from their paradise high. Reality sets in: they have no money, three projects due that they put off until the last minute and three suitcases each to unpack. You can’t help but get a sick satisfaction out of it. That’s what they get for leaving you all alone for spring break.

That's your cue - you grab a bottle of wine, because they clearly need it to get through the next week. Maybe staying at home for spring break really did pay off.

Looking for a festive and delicious way to start celebrating St. Paddy’s Day? Look no further! Check out Her Campus’s list of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day recipes to get you in the holiday spirit. But beware, after you make people these sweets, they’ll want to kiss you whether you’re Irish or not!

1. Green Velvet Cupcakes (makes 24 cupcakes)
Recipe from Love From The Oven

For a St. Patrick’s Day twist on a classic red velvet recipe, add green food coloring instead of red!

What You’ll Need

For the Cupcakes:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ounce green food coloring

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 package softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 package powdered sugar (2 pounds)
• Milk as needed

How to Make It

To Make the Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease the cupcake pan or line it with cupcake liners.
3. Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with whisk.
4. Add in liquid ingredients, whisk until blended and sit aside.
5. Place all dry ingredients in the mixing bowl and stir together well.
6. Pour the entire bottle of green food coloring into the wet ingredients.
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or two until well combined.
8. Pour the batter into the cupcake pans.
9. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (about 16 minutes).
10. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes and then remove from pan.

To Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. Cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth.
2. Gradually add in powdered sugar and continue mixing.
3. Add in milk as needed to get to the desired consistency.
4. Frost straight from the bowl or use a Ziploc bag to pipe it on.
5. Decorate!

2. Fizzy Mint Chocolate Soda (makes 4 servings)
Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens 

If you’re a sucker for a chilly root beer float, you’re sure to love this mint-chocolate substitute.

What You’ll Need

• 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
• 4 teaspoons crème de menthe or chocolate-mint flavor  
• 1 carton mint chocolate chip ice cream
• 2 cups carbonated water or cream soda, chilled

How to Make It

1. Pour 1 teaspoon of the chocolate syrup, then 1 teaspoon of the liqueur into each glass.
2. Add 2 scoops (1/2 cup) of mint chocolate chip ice cream to each glass.
3. Add 2 more teaspoons of chocolate syrup to each glass.
4. Slowly pour 1/2 cup carbonated water or cream soda into each glass for fizz. Serves four.

3. Rainbow Cake in a Jar (makes three jars)
Recipe from babble

Capture that end of the rainbow pot of gold in a jar and serve it at this year’s Paddy’s Day party!

What You’ll Need

• 1 box white cake mix prepared (but not baked) according to package instructions
• Neon food coloring in pink, yellow, green, turquoise, and purple
• 3 one-pint canning jars
• 1 can vanilla frosting
• Rainbow sprinkles

How to Make It

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly wash and dry the inside of each canning jar. Spray the inside of each jar thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Scoop about 1/2 cups of cake batter into five small bowls. Tint each bowl of cake batter with the food coloring until very vibrant.
3. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the purple batter into the bottom of each jar. Spoon equal amounts of turquoise batter, then green, yellow, and pink.
4. Place the jars in a shallow baking dish and add about 1/4 inch of water in the baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
5. Remove jars and allow to cool completely before scooping a small portion from the top of your cake and adding a hefty dollop of vanilla frosting to the top. Sprinkle and serve, or cover with a lid and store in the fridge.

4. Key Lime Cheesecake Bars (makes 9 servings)
Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens

Spread the luck of the Irish with this combination of key lime and cheesecake that’s sure to wow whoever tastes it.

What You’ll Need

• 6 squares low-fat honey graham crackers, finely crushed (1/2 cup)
• 2 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 4-ounce container sugar-free low-calorie lime-flavored gelatin
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1 16-ounce container fat-free cottage cheese (1 3/4 cups)
• 8 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 1 8-ounce container frozen fat-free whipped dessert topping, thawed
• Key limes or regular limes, cut in wedges (optional)

How to Make It

1. In small bowl, combine graham crackers, margarine, and sugar. Press crumb mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart square baking dish. Refrigerate while preparing filling.
2. In large bowl, combine gelatin and water. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Set aside.
3. In blender or food processor, combine cottage cheese and cream cheese. Cover and blend or process until smooth, stopping several times to scrape down sides.
4. Whisk 1/2 cup of the cottage cheese mixture into the gelatin mixture. Whisk in remaining cottage cheese mixture until smooth. Fold in whipped dessert topping. Spoon filling over chilled crumb mixture.
5. Cover and refrigerate 8 to 24 hours or until filling is firm. To serve, cut in squares. Top with lime wedges.

5. Guinness Stout Brownies (makes 36 to 48 brownies, depending on cut size)
Recipe from About.com

The malt in the Guinness will intensify the chocolate flavor in these already delicious brownies! Enough said.

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted room temperature butter, cut into cubes
• 8 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup superfine or granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) Guinness Extra Stout beer, at room temperature (do not include foam in measurement)
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/8 cup (approximate) confectioners' sugar for dusting

How to Make It

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick foil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
3. Melt butter, bittersweet chocolate, and white chocolate chips in a double boiler over very low heat, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, place the ingredients in a metal bowl over a smaller saucepan of simmering water (although the bowl should not come in direct contact with the water).
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (about three minutes). Add melted chocolate mixture, beating until combined.
5. Beat reserved flour mixture into melted chocolate mixture. Whisk in Guinness stout beer. The batter will seem a bit thin. Drop semisweet chocolate chips evenly on top of batter (some will sink in).
6. Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes on center rack in the oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean.
7. Let brownies cool, uncovered, to room temperature. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

6. Dublin Eggnog (makes 6 servings)
Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

For the 21+ crowd, what better way to channel your inner Irish than with this seasonal cocktail?

What You’ll Need

• 3 cups dairy eggnog
• 2 cups double-strength coffee
• 4-6 ounces Irish whiskey
• Sugar (optional)
• Whipped cream
• Ground nutmeg

How to Make It

1. Heat eggnog and coffee in a small saucepan. Do not boil.
2. Remove from heat and stir in whiskey.
3. Pour into six Irish coffee cups or mugs. Top each with whipped cream and nutmeg.

7. Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes (makes 24 cupcakes)
Recipe from Brown Eyed Baker

These cupcakes are based on the popular cocktail that consists of a shot of Baileys Irish Cream and Irish whiskey dropped into a pint of Guinness. If you’re not in the mood for the actual drink, these will give you your flavor fix.

What You’ll Need

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 cup Guinness stout
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup sour cream

For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:

• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons Irish whiskey

For the Baileys Frosting:

• 2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream

How to Make It

To Make the Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners.
2. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
3. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly.
4. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean (about 17 minutes). Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling:

1. Finely chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl.
2. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth.
3. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

To Fill the Cupcakes:

1. Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down.
2. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

To Make the Baileys Frosting:

1. Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for five minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated.
2. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.
3. Using your favorite decorating tip or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.

Let HC know how your St. Patrick’s Day treats turn out with a comment below!

Aunt Flo, the crimson wave, riding the cotton pony… your period. That time of the month may come with different (sometimes ridiculous) nicknames, but it usually means the same thing for collegiettes: a weeklong roller coaster ride of emotions, discomfort and Nutella.

Although no two periods are alike, every girl goes through various stages during the week. We spoke with Christine Ryan, DO, and Tanya Vaughn, a certified nurse-midwife, to learn more about how you can deal with each phase while keeping your emotions, friendships and sanity intact.

Stage 1: Being annoyed at everyone (“don’t even dare ask if I’m PMSing”)

You know it’s coming when your irritability is through the roof and any tolerance you previously had for other people has suddenly disappeared.  No matter what you try, every little thing drives you absolutely crazy, and you’re close to packing up and moving to a private island sans civilization.

The solution:

Although you may feel frustrated and think that no one understands what you’re going through, most collegiettes can relate to experiencing some level of irritation in the days before their periods.

“The week leading up to your period is related to hormones, which, fun for us, we [have to] deal with,” Vaughn says. “The PMS [phase] can occur about one to two weeks before your period, and the symptoms of PMS typically go away after the first day of bleeding.”

She says that “a lot of women experience at least some level of [moodiness],” but dealing with those feelings comes down to the individual. Every girl is different, and what might calm one person down could trigger greater feelings of annoyance for another!

Find an activity that comforts you, whether that’s going to the gym, watching your favorite Netflix miniseries (and getting away from everyone) or cooking dinner for your roomies.

Stage 2: The cramps kick in

Even though you’re basically a period pro by now, nothing can really prepare you for cramps. Any collegiette will attest that those suckers hurt, although it hurts some collegiettes more than others.

It’s no fun heading off to lecture when it feels like someone is repeatedly stabbing you in the stomach. Ibuprofen only helps so much, so how’s a girl to deal?

The solution:

We experience cramps because “the endometrial lining, or uterine lining, sheds if an egg is not fertilized… and this results in uterine contractions, or what we call cramps,” Ryan says. “So the uterus ultimately cleans itself monthly.”

To combat against the pain, Ryan says exercise should be your number one priority. When you stay active, it significantly alleviates discomfort and cramping. Try taking at least 30 minutes each morning to get moving and keep the cramps at bay!

Along with exercise, Vaughn recommends taking medications before you actually start bleeding instead of waiting until the cramps are at their worst.

“The best way to ward off cramping is to start taking… ibuprofen, which works better than Tylenol, and start that a day before your bleeding,” Vaughn says. “It will actually help your cramping better than when taking it when the cramps are bad.”

If the cramps still stick around, Vaughn says heat is a great way for girls to deal with them. While some heating pads are on the pricier side, you can find cheap alternatives that work just the same. Give a ThermaCare HeatWrap ($6.99 at Walgreens) a try!

Stage 3: The heavy flow

Once you make it past the god-awful cramps, it’s smooth sailing, right? Unfortunately, for some collegiettes, it’s just the beginning. And if you’re prone to irregular periods, you never really know what you’re going to get.  While some days stay light and manageable, other times you find yourself running off to the bathroom… every. Single. Hour.

The solution:

First, you need to differentiate between occasional heavy bleeding (which is normal) and heavy bleeding every time you have your period.

“What we consider too heavy would be [using] more than one tampon or pad (or both) in one hour,” Vaughn says. “If the person is continuing to have [that] happen to them… they might want to come in [to see a doctor], because something else might be going on.”

Ryan says that addressing heavy bleeding with your doctor is important because if it’s ignored, it could lead to further issues, such as anemia.

“The best way to deal with this issue is discuss your concerns with your family, listen to family history and then see your doctor for suggestions on what you can do to help prevent a heavy flow to prevent further issues, such as anemia,” she says.

One way to lessen heavy bleeding would be going on birth control, which would help stabilize your hormones. “You need to control the hormones in order to control the bleeding,” Vaughn says.

With birth control pills, each prescription comes with a row or specific number of placebo pills (sugar pills) to induce a period. Vaughn says that in certain cases, girls can skip taking these altogether and continue with regular hormone pills.

“…Sometimes we can even skip that last week of [sugar] pills and keep them on continuous pills to help decrease bleeding or eliminate it,” Vaughn says. “It’s not medically necessary to have a period every single month, but some people just like it because it’s a reassurance.”

Stage 4: The emotional roller coaster

It’s not really that time of the month without at least one mental breakdown, and the only thing that seems to help is a rom-com movie marathon with your favorite snacks (where’s the chocolate?). When they say, “Don’t mess with a girl on her period,” they really mean it. After a while, the emotional highs and lows can get tiring and really distract you from your schoolwork and enjoying time with friends.

The solution:

While emotions run high during the PMS phase, you can still find yourself dealing with them throughout the entire week. Everyone will experience varying degrees of emotions, but some collegiettes may feel increasingly anxious or even depressed.

“For some people it’s worse than others, and I would say that if it’s altering people’s daily lives, they need to seek help because there are things that we can do to help level out those hormones,” Vaughn says.

Ryan recommends looking into activities that regulate your stress level. “[Try] looking into yoga, which is not only relaxing, but can also help treat the cramps,” she says. “Some women may need to talk to their doctors about anti-depressants if the symptoms are debilitating.”

It’s about finding what’s relaxing and meaningful for you! If you can’t seem to keep your emotions under control, reach out to friends, loved ones or even a doctor for support.

Stage 5: Craving loads of sugar and comfort food

At this point, you’ll do anything for your favorite comfort foods. Your guy friends don’t (and will never) understand it, but for some reason, chocolate is the answer for everything. You’re normally a healthy eater, but you have the unhealthiest cravings throughout this week—what gives?

The solution:

There’s science behind why these foods are comforting in stressful times. “Those comfort foods, the way that the carbohydrates are digested, help send out dopamine from the brain, which is actually your pleasure center,” Vaughn says. “This is why we associate those things with comfort food.”

According to Vaughn, there’s nothing wrong with spoiling yourself just a little with mac and cheese or some chocolate during your period!

“To a certain extent, giving in to some of those cravings is a good thing,” she says. “It’s about moderation, because if you just keep avoiding those things, that really aids to the person’s anxiety and stress and it makes them more irritable.”

Don’t feel guilty, collegiettes! You deserve that extra scoop of ice cream.

Stage 6: Too tired to function

Between classes, extracurricular activities and homework, you’re bound to feel exhausted at the end of the day. Throw in that time of the month, and it’s no wonder you never want to get out of bed! With cramps, bloating and now fatigue, how’s a girl supposed to make it to class AND stay awake?

The solution:

The key to fully restoring your energy is to stay active and (unsurprisingly) get a good night’s sleep!

“To combat fatigue [you should] make sure you’re exercising regularly and watching your caffeine intake, because people try to use caffeine during that time, when really if they took care of themselves by using proper medication for cramping, they would be able to get a decent night’s sleep and not need [caffeine],” Vaughn says.

Along with getting enough sleep, your diet plays a huge role in how energized you feel. It’s okay to indulge in chocolate and other munchies, but as Vaughn emphasized, it’s all about moderation. Eating a well-balanced meal of veggies and protein will give you an energy boost.

Congrats, collegiettes! You made it. Have your own tips for how to deal with Aunt Flo? Leave a comment below. 

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.

Be honest: how would you react if a 20-year-old girl told you she was a virgin? You'd been hooking up and doing other 'things' with her already so you didn't suspect it. Clearly there's nothing wrong with her, it's a personal choice, but would it be too much responsibility for you to handle? Would you continue to hook up with a virgin and even take her virginity? Or would it kind of freak you out? – Virgin at Virginia Tech

Virgin,

No, it would not be too much responsibility. Yes I would continue to hook up with a virgin and even take her virginity because I wouldn't be freaked out at all.

Virgin or not, if a girl really strikes my fancy, that's all that matters. I would gladly take things slow and wait for her to be ready as long as if she were ready within three-to-six months of continuous dating (seeing her at least once or twice a week). That's just my opinion but not sure how much longer even the best of guys would be willing to wait.

I may be a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, but I'm a guy and I like sex. If I were dating a virgin who wanted to wait a whole year, that would be a problem for me.

But this whole basic virginity concept is so overblown. Don't worry about it. There have been tons of virgin questions that have come into my inbox and I just don't get it. As the Ultimate College Girl Survey Part I says, 41 percent of collegiettes are still virgins. That's almost half of you, so why do you think it's weird to tell guys you are a virgin? Plus it's not like girls who have already lost it make a point to tell their hook-ups that they aren't a virgin.

Personally, I did tell the girl I was hooking up with at the time that I was a virgin because I didn't want her to have certain expectations and I'm an honest guy. I figured it would make me feel less nervous if she knew. But you shouldn't feel societal pressure to tell your hook-up that you're a virgin. It seems like all girls think they have to tell the guy, but that's just not true! You aren't obligated to tell him. If you want to lose it with him without telling him, that is your right.

Now if you do choose to tell a guy and he is flabbergasted when you tell him, then just throw that 41 percentage in his face.

A recent study at Leeds Metropolitan University has found that female students with high resilience levels perform academically better than male students.

The university tested around 1,500 students to see if psychological resilience, or the ability to adapt to new challenges, affects academic performance. According to a press release from the university, the more resilience a student has, the better prepared he or she is to cope with stress at the start of college. Although the link between resilience and academic performance seemed initially similar for men and women, further results showed that resilience has a more positive effect on females.

"Although at the end of the inductees' first academic year the outcomes suggested similar academic performance by gender, higher resilience was progressively and incrementally associated with higher grade profiles for females," says Jim McKenna, Leeds professor of physical activity and health and co-leader of the study. "In some males, and contrary to the conventional understanding of resilience, higher resilience was linked with poorer prospective academic performance. This may be explained by gender-specific differences in how resilience is built. Our analysis revealed that twice as many high-resilience females, over high-resilience males, achieved the two highest grade classification outcomes."

As a result of the study, Leeds Met has implemented "targeted interventions" for male students to access counseling services at the school. 

Still searching for that perfect internship for this summer, collegiettes? Why don’t you give one of the highest-paying internships a try?

Glassdoor recently released a list of the 25 Highest Paying Companies for Interns to show just how much some companies are willing to pay for the best new talent. With some interns earning more than $7,000 a month, an intern at the number one company could earn more than $84,000 in a year (which beats out the median household income in the U.S.!).

Employers in the San Francisco Bay Area dominate the list, representing 18 of the top 25 companies, as well as companies within the technology sector, representing 19 of the 25  companies. In fact, the top three employers—Palantir Technologies, VMWare and Twitter—are tech companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Check out the full list here! 

When Sarah LaFave founded Lori’s Hands in 2009 at the University of Delaware, it was in memory of her mom, Lori, who passed away in 2003 after a long battle with breast cancer. Sarah wanted to find a way to help chronically ill members of her community by completing basic tasks for them, such as doing light cleaning or running errands. Since 2009, Lori’s Hands has grown into a national nonprofit organization with chapters at schools across the United States. Sarah’s work has helped hundreds of clients in Delaware and elsewhere, and her awesome organization has blossomed over the past five years.

Clients of Lori’s Hands can be any age, from children to senior citizens. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn about community heath service though developing relationships with clients as well as classroom instruction.

If you are interested in starting a chapter of Lori’s Hands at your university, it’s easy to do so! The volunteers at Lori’s Hands are always looking for caring and passionate members to join and make life a little bit easier for chronically ill patients across America. Check out their website for more information!

To learn a little bit more about this cool organization, watch their short documentary, which details the nonprofit’s history and mission. 

1. I’m on a diet/trying to eat healthier, so I'll pass on the triple-cheese pizza. 

2. Fine, I’ll stay for like 15 minutes and have one drink, but I'm leaving right after.

3. I’m going to start this assignment early so I don’t freak out the night before it’s due.

4. It’s going to be sunny tomorrow, which means I’m definitely waking up early to work out.

5. I’m just going to have fun with my girlfriends tonight and not drunk text my ex when I’m lonely.

6. I’ll start my work after this one episode of White Collar (because I totally have the self-control to say no to Matt Bomer).

7. I realize hooking up with him is a bad idea, so I’m going to end things immediately in a civil and uncomplicated way.

8. After last night’s tequila fiasco, I’m never drinking ever again.

9. No way am I snoozing my alarm clock tomorrow (which is why I set four backup alarms).

10. Let’s meet up at the library later—I promise I won’t distract you.

11. Sure, he’s hot, but he’s kind of a jerk, so that’s definitely not going to happen.

12. I’m only browsing the online sale, not actually shopping, because I don’t need those strappy black heels or that gorgeous bodycon dress.

13. I'm not even considering skipping my 9 a.m. class.

14. I don't have time to hang out this weekend because I have "a lot of work to do."

15. I hate boys.

No matter how many Her Campus articles we read on the topic of L-O-V-E, we still find ourselves giving our friends the most terrible, clichéd love advice when it comes to dating, relationships and flirting.

As much as we’d like to think that we’re romance experts who have all the answers to the universe’s most puzzling love problems, it’s time to realize we need to cut some of our favorite, go-to love “knowledge” from our dating-advice repertoire.

Next time your friend comes to you with a love-related conundrum, don’t give this terrible love advice! 

When your friend goes on a first date…

Bad advice:“Don’t seem too eager! Play hard to get.”

Yes, it’s true—you shouldn’t tell your friend to start off the first-date dinner conversation by asking him how many children he wants to have, asking what his ideal color palette would be for their wedding or dropping the L-bomb, but that doesn’t mean she needs to act colder than the polar vortex.

As fun as playing the “maybe-I-like-you-maybe-I-don’t” game is, guys aren’t always the most receptive to mind tricks, and they may take her faux indifference as a simple sign that she’s just not that into him. Of course, she shouldn’t throw herself at him like an obsessed Harry Styles fangirl at a One Direction concert, so the “don’t be too eager” part holds some merit, but “playing hard to get” might just be insanely counterproductive.

Better advice:“Don’t play hard to get, play hard to forget.”

When you encourage your friend to leave behind her coy, mysterious first-date flirting techniques and showcase her wonderful personality instead, she’s bound to make a longer-lasting impression.

When her crush isn’t texting her back…

Bad advice:“If he doesn’t text you back for 20 minutes, then you have to wait 40 minutes to respond.”

It’s doesn’t matter if he fell asleep or he fell off a cliff; if it takes a guy more than 20 minutes to text your friend back, you’ll probably find yourself saying something along the lines of, “how rude of him; you better not text him back right away.” Just admit it: you’re totally guilty of this.

While we have no way to tell what a guy’s doing at every given moment in the day, we seem to always assume he has a plethora of free time to sit around and text us endless amounts of cat emojis (a girl can dream, right?), which is why we get so angry when we don’t get an instantaneous response to our ever-so-carefully crafted “What’s up?” text. There could be a million different reasons why your friend isn’t getting a text back, so there’s no need to make her overthink her empty inbox.

Plus, if she’s countering his hour-long response time with a two-hour-long response time of her own, their conversation is going to be far from productive or worthwhile.

Better advice:“Don’t stress about it. If he really likes you, he’ll text you back eventually!”

If the guy is actually into your friend, he will text her back sooner or later. Before you jump the gun and assume that he’s totally blowing her off or take his longer-than-normal texting-response time as a sign of indifference, give him the benefit of the doubt and make sure your friend does, too. You may also want to check and make sure she didn’t commit one of these serious texting faux pas…

If she’s not sure he likes her…

Bad advice:“Of course he likes you, who wouldn’t? Just go for it!”

We think our friends are the greatest things since the invention of at-home Panini makers, so we automatically assume that everyone we know finds them just as fabulous as we do. That’s why when they ask if we think a dude is into them, our automatic response is, “Duh, who wouldn’t be?”

The problem with this is that we may be giving them false hope for a guy who’s just never going to come to the realization that your BFF is the greatest person on the planet (aside from Beyoncé). Before jumping to conclusions and assuming that your friend’s crush is just as head-over-heels-obsessed with her as she is with him, it may be in her best interests for you to get the facts straight before you send her out into the world to capture the heart of her possible admirer with that giant ego boost.

Better advice:“Get the scoop from his friends. If he likes you, I’m sure he’s told them by now!”

No one knows a guy’s secret crushes better than his best friends, so they’re definitely the people you should go to when you want the inside scoop. Plus, his guy friends will want to help their buddy get the girl if he likes her, so if you approach them, they’ll definitely be willing to assist you in a little game of matchmaker if he’s really interested! 

When her boyfriend makes her mad…

Bad advice:“Post that picture; it will totally make him jealous!”

When your friend’s boyfriend does something to upset her, it’s hard not to give her that extra nudge she needs to do something that will provoke a little jealousy out of her Prince Less Than Charming. That’s why when she’s elbow-deep in a pint of ice cream and debating posting an obvious subtweet about her anger-provoking boyfriend or a picture of her and a guy friend that will definitely make him jealous, you may be inclined to egg her on and give her the go-ahead.

While it may seem like a good idea at the time, creating social media drama is only going to cause more problems for your friend in the long run. It’s probably best for her to ride out the storm and take a little time to breathe without starting a heated game of “he-tweeted, she-tweeted” that will only end in a series of passive-aggressive hashtags.

Better advice: “Don’t do anything you’ll regret! Wait until you’ve cooled off a bit before you and your boyfriend talk it out.”

Be the bigger person and encourage your friend to lay low for the time being. Posting a totally jealousy-inducing Instagram may be satisfying to her in the moment, but you’ll be the one dealing with your emotional friend when her boyfriend sees it and it turns into an even messier blowout. It’s best for everyone involved to calm down and have a mature, civil conversation.

When she asks for flirting tips…

Bad Advice:“Boys like it when you’re ___.”

Fill in the blank with whatever adjective you use most often to help your friend attract that dreamy guy at the party: confident, forward, reserved, funny, coy, shy, outgoing—the list is endless!

The worst part about this advice is that not all guys are looking for the exact same girl, and no girl should ever change herself to attract a specific guy. As cheesy and clichéd as it may sound, the best way to attract the right guy is to just be yourself, so telling your friend to act like something she’s not isn’t going to do her any favors!

If your friend wants a guy to like her for who she really is, then you’ve got to let her flaunt what she’s got.

Better advice: “Just be yourself and the right guy will come along eventually.”

Being herself will definitely help your friend attract the right guy. You may have to help her through a few tearful rejections, but it will be worth it in the end when she finally finds the Ashton Kutcher to her Mila Kunis!

As much as we love being the supportive friend whom everyone goes to for love advice, we seriously need to update our list of helpful how-tos. We’ve all been caught doling out some terrible love advice at one point or another, but it’s time to put those love clichés to rest!

Regardless of what the cold temperatures and winter weather may have you believing, the spring season is slowly but surely on its way. With warmer weather just around the corner, now is a great time to step up (or restart) that fitness regimen and get your bikini body ready for action. Whether you’ve been working out every day or haven’t stepped foot in a gym since Labor Day, there is no better time than now to take your gym grind to the next level. We spoke with Dr. Lisa Mealey, CSCS and Assistant Professor of Exercise Science in the Department of Health & Sport Sciences at Salisbury University to get the inside scoop on how to make the most out of your cardio, weight lifting and group fitness workouts based on your personal body type.

Some Ground Rules for Everyone

As a rule of thumb, Dr. Mealey suggests following the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) cardiovascular guidelines, which recommend 150-250 minutes of cardio per week for maintaining current body weight and for achieving a modest weight loss, and more than 250 minutes for those looking to achieve a significant weight loss. For most, performing 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity cardio 5 days per week will keep you looking and feeling great. Trying to tone up before a spring break trip? Check out HC’s 3 Week Exercise Plan for even more ideas.

For weight lifting newbies, Dr. Mealey recommends scheduling strength training sessions into your normal gym routine two to three days a week. Start with weights that are challenging but not uncomfortable, and progress from there.

If you’re in the market for a “two for one” workout that combines forms of strength training at a fast, sweat-inducing pace, find out if your campus recreation department or nearby gym offers group fitness classes. Emory University alum Lauren Kaplan shares why she sometimes chooses to do fitness classes rather than her normal workout, “[Exercising] makes me feel energized and healthy, yet even running on the treadmill ends up getting monotonous. To keep things interesting, I go to barre/cycling classes a couple of times a week when I have some time to spare.”

While it may be impossible to “spot train” or lose weight in only specific areas of your body, understanding the exercises that deliver the best results for your body type could play a significant role in making the most of your workouts. Find your body type and corresponding exercise plan in our guide below and consider yourself one step closer to reaching those fitness goals!

Pear-Shaped

These exercises are best for women who tend to hold weight in their lower bodies, more specifically in the calf, thigh, and buttocks regions. And whether it’s thighs that need toning, a butt that needs lifting, or cellulite that just has to go, this fitness plan will help you tackle those problem areas head on.

Cardio: 5-7 days/week
Spend 30-60 minutes on the stationary bike or rower, as the added resistance will not only burn calories but also increase overall muscle tone in the legs and backside, according to the ACSM.

Weight Room Exercises: 2-3 days/week
Dr. Mealey suggests the following exercises for targeting the gluteus, hamstring, and calf muscle groups. She advises that beginners start with 2-3 sets of 5-12 repetitions for each exercise, and that they take a one to two minute rest period between sets.

• Squats: Start with feet a bit wider than shoulder width apart. Bend at the knees slowly and move your buttocks back and down, going as deep as you are able but stopping when your thighs are parallel to the ground. Also ensure that you’re keeping your weight in your heels, chest up, and that your knees do not go over your toes. Hold free weights during this exercise for an added challenge.
• Walking lunges: Keeping hips centered, step forward with one foot and bend at the knees, making sure to keep your back and upper body straight, your feet aligned, and not allowing your knees to go over your toes. Free weights are a great addition to work the upper body on this as well!
• Machine-free leg curl: While lying on your back, place your feet together on top of a large exercise ball. Bracing your core and glutes, bring feet in towards your body, bending at the knees and maintaining a straight back. This one is great for targeting the back of the thighs and your butt muscles! 
• Calf raises: Keeping feet forward and shoulder width apart, core tight, and back straight, slowly raise to the balls of your feet, then slowly back down to your heels. Continue this motion for the remainder of your reps.

Looking for a Fitness Class?

Try cardio kickboxing or spin class, which will provide a chance to work all of your lower body muscle groups while incorporating cardio, without the use of bulky weights or thousands of boring repetitions.

Apple-Shaped

Apple girls have a tendency to hold weight in their upper body and midsection, with a frame that resembles a “V” or square shape. Put this exercise plan into action to get that top half looking lean.

Cardio: 5-7 days/week
Try the elliptical machine for 30-60 minutes, which provides a cardio workout that also adds arm resistance and overall body toning according to the ACSM. Many newer machines have a “arm blaster” option, which ups the resistance significantly in short bursts.

Weight Room Exercises: 2-3 days/week
Dr. Mealey recommends the following exercises for targeting the abdominals, oblique, and arm muscle groups. She advises that beginners start with 2-3 sets of 5-12 repetitions for each exercise, and that they take a one to two minute rest period between sets.

• Crunches: While this classic ab work out can get a bit boring, advanced lifters can try performing crunches while sitting on a large exercise ball or while holding a weighted medicine ball. Just remember to keep that core tight!
• Triangle push up: Similar to a normal push-up, the only difference being that your hands are placed directly below the center of the chest in a triangle formation, targeting both arm and core muscle groups! Just remember to keep your core tight and avoid arching your back.
• Hammer curls: Holding a free weight in each hand, stand with feet shoulder width apart and keep palms facing inward. Keeping your elbows at your sides, raise one weight until forearm is vertical and the side of the dumbbell is facing you. Continue alternating for the remainder of the repetitions.
• Tricep extensions: Keeping feet shoulder width apart, hold one dumbbell with both hands over your head. Lower the dumbbell slowly behind your head, and slowly back up to complete on repetition. Keep your core tight and avoid arching your back.

Looking for a Fitness Class?

Look into yoga and/or Pilates, or a class like Les Mill’s Body Flow that provides a combination of both. While it may seem like this type of exercise may not have a direct benefit when it comes to sculpting those abs, keep in mind that both methods center on breathing technique and strengthening the core muscles. And don’t forget about the extra, de-stressing benefits.

Curvy/Hourglass Shaped

With shoulder and hip measurements typically significantly larger than their waist measurements, this body type very literally resembles that of an hourglass. While the hourglass’s weight tends to be more evenly distributed around her body, that doesn’t mean that this body type isn’t prone to excess flab in unwanted areas. Follow this plan to help tighten and tone before summer.

Cardio: 5-7 days/week
Try combining the all over benefits of running with the calorie-torching effects of interval training, which involves alternating your pace frequently between a high-intensity speed and lower intensity recovery bouts, according to Mealey. Check out this HIIT Cardio workout example:

1. Warm-up by walking 5 minutes
2.  Run 2 minutes at 80% of your max pace
3.  Jog or Walk 2-3 minutes at an easy pace for recovery
4.  Repeat 5 times for a total interval time of 20-25 minutes
5.  Cool-down by walking 5 minutes

In the Weight Room: 2-3 days/week
Dr. Mealey suggests these exercises that target back muscles, along with combination exercises that will tone multiple muscle groups at once. She advises that beginners start with 2-3 sets of 5-12 repetitions for each exercise, and that they take a one to two minute rest period between sets.

• Plank hold: Lying on your stomach, lift up onto your elbows and the balls of your feet and keeping body straight in a plank position, and hold for 10-20 seconds. Looking to add an edge? Perform the same motion but while balancing on one foot or by placing your feet on a large exercise ball, while keeping elbows on the floor.
• Tricep extension squat: While performing a traditional squat, hold one dumbbell with both hands over your head. When you bend your knees, simultaneously lower the dumbbell slowly behind you and then back up again, making sure to keep your weight in your heels.
• Lateral Pull Down: Find a weight machine that includes a cable and hanging bar, then adjust the weight accordingly. Place your hands wider than shoulder width apart with an overhand grip on the bar, and pull the bar down slowly in front of the body with the elbows pushing straight down. Once the bar is parallel with your chest, straighten your arms back up to an almost locked out position to complete one rep. 
• 1 Arm Bent Dumbbell Row: To start, kneel over an exercise bench, and place your inside hand on the bench so your shoulder is directly over your elbow and wrist, and keep your outside foot planted on the ground. Hold a dumbbell in your outside hand with an overhand grip. Lift the dumbbell up until your arm comes to a ninety-degree angle, and lower back down, ensuring to keep your back straight and core tight. This one benefits both back and arm muscles!

When Selecting a Fitness Class

Look into a cardio dance class like Zumba, which provides a total body workout. Not only do these types of fitness classes provide an energetic atmosphere, but you won’t even realize that you’re breaking a sweat.

Banana/Straight Shaped

Straight shaped women usually have a “boyish” build, in that their waist measurements do not vary much from their shoulder and hip measurements. Try the techniques included in this exercise plan to create a more toned, proportionate body.

Cardio: 5-7 days/week
Girls built on the straight side should use the stair stepper machine for 30-60 minutes, or walk/run using the incline feature on the treadmill in order to build muscle mass as well burn calories, according to the ACSM. Running outside is always a solid option as well, as it provides natural inclines, all of which helps to develop muscular and cardiovascular endurance.

In the Weight Room
Dr. Mealey recommends these exercises to target the shoulder, chest, and gluteus muscle groups. She advises that beginners start with 2-3 sets of 5-12 repetitions for each exercise, and that they take a one to two minute rest period between sets.

• Leg Press: Upon sitting at the leg press machine, place feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart against the metal surface that faces the chair, so that knees are bent but you are still comfortable. Press back with both feet, extending legs until they are almost completely straight, and then return to the bent starting position. This one’s great because it works the glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps and calf muscles at the same time, creating muscle tone all over.
• Shoulder press: Start by sitting in an exercise chair holding dumbbells on either side of your shoulders, with arms bent at the elbow. Slowly lift both weights up and towards each other, so that they are almost touching above your head, then return to the original position.
• Bench press: Lie flat on an exercise bench with each foot flat on the floor and your entire back in contact with the bench. Holding the bar above the center of your chest with arms bent and hands slightly wider than shoulder width, slowly lift the bar directly up until arms are almost straight, and slowly return to the original starting position. Add extra weight accordingly, and make sure to always have a spotter!
• Dumbbell Fly: Lie down on an exercise bench with each foot flat on the floor and your entire back in contact with the bench. With dumbbells in each hand, lift the weights directly above you with your palms facing each other. Keeping a slight bend in the elbows, slowly lower the weights outward and downward in an arching motion. Go as low as you feel comfortable and then simultaneously bring the weights back up to the starting position.

Looking for a Fitness Class?

Try a class that incorporates a full body strength training as well as cardio, such as Les Mills Body Pump, which is offered at a number of campuses and gyms across the country.

Above all else, keep in mind that no two bodies are exactly alike, and there are certainly no “right” or “wrong” body types. The most important thing to factor into your health is how your body feels, which is far more important than how it looks. The good news is that sticking to a fitness plan will help benefit both! Need some extra motivation? “Plan ahead by setting time aside each day to be active and stick to it.” says Mealey, “You wouldn’t miss a doctor’s appointment, so why would you miss a scheduled exercise session? Holding yourself accountable is the first step to a healthy and in-shape you!”

Use this guide to ensure you’re getting the most out of your fitness regimen, but also make sure it includes things that are fun and enjoyable, as these are just as important for maintaining a happy and healthy collegiette lifestyle.

Your class schedule affects so many aspects of your life: how much you enjoy school, how late into the night you're up doing homework, how often you see your friends, and how college admission boards think of you. That said, choosing classes is no easy feat. There's no formula for a perfect schedule, but you can do your best with these eight tips.

1. Check out requirements

Before you get caught up in fantasies of dropping gym class forever and loading up on four different art classes, check your school's requirements. Most schools require a certain number of core classes – math, science, English, and history – per year. You might also have to work with other requirements, such as world language, gym and health, or if you go to a parochial school, theological classes. Drop by your guidance counselor's office to see which classes you're expected to enroll in and how many credits you're required to take. These requirements might also be outlined on your school's website or in your student handbook.

Once you've determined what you absolutely must take next year, you can figure out how much free space you have to take the classes you're interested in. At this point, it's also a good idea to map out a general picture of your time left in high school to ensure you can fit in all your required classes. You don't want to wait until senior spring to realize you haven't finished your art requirement.

2. Ask your teacher for class recommendations

If your school has multiple levels of classes – for example, standard, honors, and Advanced Placement  – your best bet is to talk to your teacher for each subject about which level you'll thrive in. Take advantage of their knowledge of your academic performance and next year's courses, and let them guide you towards the right level.

“My teachers usually give course recommendations at the end of the year, and then I decide what classes I want to take and bounce those plans off my parents,” explains Allison Piazzoni, a student at Folsom High School.

While it might be tempting to slide by with easy classes, consider challenging yourself. If you're on the cusp between standard and honors English, give honors a chance (with your teacher's approval, of course). You might surprise yourself with your ability to keep up!

“I like to take more advanced classes, because I feel the teachers respect you more and give you less busy work,” says Taylor Wyllie from Seaholm High School.

Colleges love to see students challenge themselves, and it's usually easier to drop down a level a few weeks into the school year than it is to move up when the work is too easy.

3. Don't overwork yourself

Let's take a minute to clarify something highly important: yes, colleges love to see you challenging yourself, but unless you have Einstein's IQ and Hermione Granger's Time Turner, it's not realistic to balance six AP classes with two sports, the musical, and an after-school job. Do yourself a favor and push yourself to a comfortable limit... and no further.

“I will only be taking one AP class next year because I don't want to suffer through piles of homework in a class I hate,” says Zoe Nixon, a student at Robert A. Millikan High School.

No one – college admission boards included – will blame you for taking an easy class or reserving one period for study hall. A pre-collegiette has to breathe!

4. Start thinking about college

If you're heading into your senior year, college should play at least a minor role in your schedule choices. Even though you don't know exactly where you'll end up yet, you might know which field or major you're interested in. If you have a general idea, try to pick classes accordingly. If you're considering a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, or math), opt for challenging math and science courses. More of a humanities girl? Add that creative writing workshop you've been dying to take to your schedule.

Many colleges offer credit for high AP test scores, so keep that in mind when selecting your AP classes. Policies vary from college to college, and even from department to department, so there are no guarantees. But, for example, if you score well on your AP Spanish exam, you may be able to skip your college's language requirement.

5. Ask around

Is the sophomore Geometry teacher known for her GPA-killing tests? Is the Marine Bio elective known for its awesome field trips to the aquarium? Ask friends, upperclassmen, and older teammates what the scoop is on next year's classes and teachers. The more you know, the better informed you'll be to make a decision!

6. Pick electives

Most of your classes will probably be pretty standard from year to year: core classes, a language, and gym. But you might have one or two spots for electives, which is where you can get creative. Your guidance counselor, school website, or student handbook will be able to provide you with a list of electives. Keep in mind that some require pre-requisite courses in order to enroll, like taking Graphic Design I before Graphic Design II.

Chances are good you've probably heard of a few popular electives you're dying to take. If not, ask your friends or older students about which electives they've enjoyed. Keep in mind that electives often change from year to year due to budget cuts or teacher availability, so avoid postponing your dream class if possible.

Lastly, remember to have fun! Electives can brighten up a string of otherwise dull classes, so opt for something you can truly enjoy.

7. Talk to your parents

Sure, it's your class schedule, but your parents might have a few opinions on it, too. Before you submit your final schedule, talk over your choices with your parents. Working through your decisions aloud might help you make a choice between Stats and Calc. Your parents might also have their own ideas about your course load... like pushing you towards AP English when you're not quite up for the challenge.

If neither you nor your parents are willing to back down on a scheduling decision, consider talking the issue over with your guidance counselor. Your parents will respect his or her authority as a professional, and you'll get the benefit of an insider's perspective to guide you towards the right decision.

8. Talk to your friends... but don't rely on their decisions

Having a friend or two in class can be awesome. You'll have a friend by your side all year, and come exam time, an instant study buddy. But unless you and your best friend have the exact same interests and abilities, beware of signing up for identical classes. It's tempting to let your friends influence your class choices, but you'll get the most out of your academics if you do your own thing. Besides, you can always see them in the hallways, at lunch, and after school.

What factors are important to you when you put together your schedule? What classes are you looking forward to next year?

With more than 277 million users worldwide and 94 percent of job recruiters looking for potential hires on the site, it’s no surprise that collegiettes are hopping onto LinkedIn every day. However, anyone who’s ever tried to create a profile on this site knows how confusing and stressful it can be. It seems too time-consuming to properly communicate your accomplishments, work experience and personality all on a single page. Is there something crucial your profile might be missing? Or are you just doing it all wrong?

Don’t fear! Her Campus talked to several career experts about the biggest mistakes they see first-time LinkedIn users (especially college students) make, so you’ll be a recruiter’s dream—and the LinkedIn envy of your friends—in no time!

Mistake #1: Not having a profile picture (or using the wrong one)

Not having a profile picture is a huge mistake when it comes to LinkedIn; including one will make it seven times more likely that someone will view your profile (and that someone could be a job recruiter or hiring manager!).

However, one issue that our career experts talked about across the board was how many college students had the wrong type of profile photo. Donna Schilder, a leadership, career and business coach, points out that LinkedIn isn’t Instagram. “I've seen people put vacation pictures, funny pictures and even pictures of themselves in a bikini on LinkedIn,” she says. “You will not get hired if you do this!”

Mary Jeanne Vincent, a career expert and strategist, also points out another gigantic profile picture no-no: selfies! Throwing up a peace sign and duck face won’t get you any closer to landing that dream job or making awesome connections.

How to fix it

Schilder has several pieces of advice for having a classy and appropriate photo. “Your picture should be a professional portrait, taken by a professional photographer,” she says. “The picture should focus on your face and it should not have a distracting background. No furniture, curtains or trees coming out of your head!” Schilder also recommends having a neutral background or one that contrasts with your hair color (for example, a blue background for blondes).

Additionally, Schilder recommends styling your hair in a professional way (a clean ponytail or a half-up, half-down updo usually looks good!) and also wearing something business-oriented, like a suit.

Mistake #2: Leaving your headline as “Student at X University”

As a college student, you probably don’t have an impressive title for your headline, such as, “Editor-in-Chief of Important Publication,” but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for just saying that you’re a student!

“Your LinkedIn headline is a great opportunity to get creative,” says Rita Friedman, a certified career coach. “It is how you're choosing to represent yourself in the online professional networking arena, and it is going to be your first impression on a prospective employer.” Despite how short it is, your headline is a huge part of your profile, so it shouldn’t be neglected!

How to fix it

There are a couple of different ways to make your headline stand out among the rest. First, do some research on the language your specific industry uses so your headline targets key words and phrases. You can do this research by looking through dozens of LinkedIn profiles. What have successful people in your future career field tried? What are your peers doing?

Next, it’s time to think of an eye-catching headline. “Using a general phrase, such as, ‘Seeking new opportunity,’ does absolutely nothing to help the optimization of a LinkedIn profile,” says Lisa Rangel, a job search consultant and author of 99 Free Job Search Tips from an Executive Recruiter. “Use a specific phrase to come up in the search results of recruiters, such as ‘Digital Marketing Intern (Rutgers Grad) Seeking Entry-Level Digital Agency Account Manager Position.’” This phrase stays within LinkedIn’s 120-character headline limit but also says a lot about you.

Friedman also cautions collegiettes not to put too many different professions into their headlines either. “Too often, I see college students trying to cram too many ideas into this one line,” she says. “I've seen countless headlines like ‘Expert in Theater, Market Research, Animal Welfare, Social Justice, Economics, Physics and Architecture.’” Writing too many things can be as detrimental as writing too few, so focus on a particular industry or two related fields and stick with those!

Mistake #3: Listing the tasks you completed instead of the contributions you made

If you already have a LinkedIn profile, take a look at how you describe your work at particular jobs and companies. If all you originally wrote down were tasks that you completed (e.g. “Wrote out company spreadsheets” or “Worked on social media”), you may not be effectively showing people who view your profile what you have to offer. As a college student, you may not be sure just how much you affected a company (especially if you were there for a short period of time), which can make it hard to create a profile that showcases your talents.

How to fix it

Kathy Caprino, founder of Ellia Communications and author of Breakdown, Breakthrough, recommends being more thoughtful about your time at an organization. “LinkedIn is where you can shine, so don't just list tasks and functions you've performed,” she says. “List accomplishments, achievements, problems you've solved, new solutions you've created. In short, write about how you've impacted the organizations you've been a part of.”

Instead of just mentioning that you worked on a company’s social media accounts, get more concrete and specific with your accomplishments! Did you help the organization gain 2,000 new Twitter followers and 1,500 Facebook likes? These are important things to include in your description of your time at a company that could help you in the long run! Don’t be afraid to stand out and show what you’re capable of on your LinkedIn profile; you never know who could be looking at it.

Mistake #4: Only connecting with your classmates.

Trying to branch out professionally can be an intimidating task, and it’s tempting to take the easy road and only connect with your college classmates on LinkedIn. But don’t fear the large number of professionals on LinkedIn; you need to expand your network!

How to fix it

Lucky for you, LinkedIn provides users with plenty of opportunities to get more involved with the rest of the community. “LinkedIn is an amazing, powerful tool to connect, so there's no excuse for you to have only 20 connections,” Caprino says. “Build an amazing, mutually beneficial support network of people you like, respect, admire and enjoy by endorsing, connecting, sharing your insights through the groups you join and answering questions. Get out there!”

Are you interested in a particular industry? Odds are, there’s a LinkedIn group of like-minded individuals who enjoy sharing the latest industry news and discussing the field. You can do a search on LinkedIn to find these groups. Some require you to ask for permission to join, and others are open for anyone to participate in. Once you join a group, take note of the dynamic. Are people posting and sharing articles? Is the group more about its members giving opinions and thoughts? Feel free to get involved in these conversations!

If there’s a professional in particular whom you’ve really hit it off with, feel free to send her a message asking her about her career or the similar interests you two have. It could lead to a long-term correspondence, phone call or meetup for coffee. It might feel creepy to send a connection request to someone you don’t know, so sending a message lessens that tension and gives you a way to connect with someone in a more meaningful way than just having them be an “official” LinkedIn connection.

Mistake #5: Not taking the time to complete your profile.

How many LinkedIn profiles have you clicked on just to find that the user only entered where they went to school and the titles of the last two companies they worked at?

Dan Schawbel, a career expert and author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success, sees this issue all the time. “When I speak to colleges, only about 25 percent of students are even on LinkedIn,” he says. “The ones that are using it aren't completing their profiles, so they aren't equipped to get jobs.”

Schawbel explains that recruiters and other professionals pass over these incomplete profiles to look at ones that are more filled out and promising, so if all that’s on your profile is where you go to college and the name of one summer job you had, you could be missing out on great opportunities!

How to fix it

Schawbel has a few suggestions for what your profile should include at the very least. “I recommend that students use a photo, a headline that positions them relative to their specialty skills and a summary that captures what they have studied and their major accomplishments,” he says. “Then, they should join professional groups.” These groups are a great place for networking and learning about industry news.

Be warned: Completing a LinkedIn profile and making sure it has all the bells and whistles (and no typos!) takes a lot of time, so you won’t be able to finish everything in 20 minutes. Set aside time to really think about what you’re putting into your profile and how you’re describing yourself and your accomplishments. Doing so will pay off in the long run!

Want to avoid rookie LinkedIn mistakes? Take HC’s awesome advice and you’ll be a total LinkedIn master in no time. Make your profile as professional, thorough and personable as possible, and soon you’ll be on the path to making fabulous connections and getting great offers.

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.

Breakfast

The other day, I made strawberry chia seed jam, which is actually so addicting that it's hard to believe it's good for you. Like a true addict, I woke up craving the jam. I added a big scoop to my oatmeal, which was my regular banana almond butter oatmeal with some raspberries mixed in. It was an amazing combination - the warm, hearty oats with the cool, fresh jam and the melty, creamy nut butter was divine (with that fancy of an adjective, you know it must be good). Nice way to start a Monday morning, which was much needed on the first Monday back from break. 

Lunch 

For lunch, I made an egg, veggie and smoked salmon scramble. Smoked salmon, or lox, as my people call it, tastes great mixed in with eggs, on top of toast with smashed avocado or - obviously - on top of a bagel with cream cheese. One serving (which is about half of a package that you get at the supermarket) is only about 90 to 110 calories, and you get a kick of protein with it. It is salty, though, so if you're watching your sodium intake, then eat smoked salmon in moderation. The good thing is that since it's so flavorful, you don't need to add too much salt to your dish anyways. 

I scrambled a half cup of egg whites plus one whole egg in one pan and sautéed cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach in other pan at the same time. I then mixed all of it together in a bowl with one serving of smoked salmon. I sprinkled with some salt and pepper, and after a few bites, I ended up drizzling some hot sauce on top for a little bit of heat and extra flavor. This meal took about five to 10 minutes total to prepare and it was filling, thanks to the protein from the eggs and salmon. If I didn't always wake up wanting almond butter, I would make this meal for breakfast, but I liked it for lunch. I read the book The Fault in Our Stars over break, and in the book, the main character argues that eggs should not just be a breakfast food. Amen. 

Dinner 

I needed to stock up on groceries yesterday after returning to an empty fridge from spring break, so my friend and I went to Whole Foods. I am slightly concerned by how excited I get walking into Whole Foods. Sometimes I think I haven't ever experienced true love, and then I walk into Whole Foods and realize I have. Sometimes I think I don't believe in heaven, then I walk into Whole Foods and realize I do. It's just so neat and bright and clean, full of products that make you feel healthy just looking at them. It's hard to not buy everything I lay my eyes on in there, but that would cost 13 trillion dollars, so it's sadly out of the question.

My friend and I got dinner at the salad bar before shopping. I really outdid myself at the salad bar; I couldn't even get the lid to close. But at least going too hard at the salad bar is better for you than going too hard at a real bar? I filled my container with kale; roasted beets, garlic and asparagus; cherry tomatoes; cucumbers; garbanzo beans; green onions and baked tofu. Treat. Yo. Self. Isn't it pretty?! The roasted beets and asparagus look especially beauteous. Vegetables may not compare to dessert when it comes to food porn, but I think they are still pretty photogenic with all of their different colors and textures. 

It's about that time when I have to stop daydreaming about Whole Foods and get to class. Happy pre-Friday, and enjoy your weekend! I know I will - Michigan is celebrating St. Patty's Day on Saturday, which is the only thing alleviating my PSBD (post spring break depression).