February 3, 2012

smu 

After having (too much) fun Saturday night, you’re probably craving a pick-me-up come Sunday morning.  While you might feel like sleeping for 14 hours straight, trust us when we tell you a good meal and 8 hours will more than suffice.  We recommend brunch at Swig over on North Henderson.  From 11am to 3pm, Swig serves up tantalizing dishes like Chai Spiced Porridge, Chocolate Dipped Pecan Bacon and you can even build your own frittata—don’t worry, pick-me-up cocktails, coffee and tea populate the menu as well.  After this breakfast of champions, you should be more than ready to face the day, but we’d understand if you hit the sack due to a food coma.

January 24, 2012

tcu 

We all know Camp Bowie is a go-to spot for shopping in Fort Worth, but don’t overlook Blue Bonnet Bakery.  Open since 1934, the bakery occupies a former 1920s church that only adds to the charm of their perfectly moist cakes and fresh eats. Currently you’ll find scrumptious petit fours, Texas fudge cake (truly the best), doughnuts, monkey bread and sugar cookies shaped like cowboy boots—it is rodeo season after all!  Even if you’re not craving something sweet—hey, it happens—they have great breakfast and lunch selections.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you have the perfect excuse for repeat visits to Blue Bonnet Bakery.  We won’t tell anybody those custom cookies you ordered are actually for yourself…

January 23, 2012

baylor 

Seventy degree weather in the middle of winter? We don’t understand Texas weather patterns either, but we do know that having the right shoes makes putting a wardrobe together that much easier. Thankfully, all of our favorite designers have graciously provided us with enough shoe options to ensure we’ve got a style for every season—even if it changes on the daily.  Here are some must-haves that are not only essential to your wardrobe this season, but are popping up all over campus:

Steve Madden “Intyce” Boot: $149.95

Spotted all over campus and throughout Waco, these boots are a fashion fail safe.  Slip them on over a pair of leggings with a baggy shirt for a casual lecture hall look, or pair them with skinnies and a blazer for a more polished vibe.

Tory Burch Flats: prices start at $195

Every girl needs a pair of flats, period. She especially needs a pair that is known to last and won’t kill your feet every time you have to cross campus for a class. We find Tory Burch goes above and beyond the call for the perfect flat.

Vince Camuto “Jordy” Boot: prices vary

Even though this trend has been gracing magazine pages for months now, girls around campus are beginning to realize that the perfect booty is just as essential as a good pair of boots.  We’ve been seeing a lot of these shoes at parties, paired with jeans and a fun top, but the style options with this shoe are truly endless.

January 22, 2012

ut 

All of the incessant typing and note-taking you’ve had to (probably reluctantly) resume this past month is undoubtedly wreaking havoc on your nails.  We won’t even talk about the fact that your feet haven’t seen the light of day in weeks.  Stop by the By Cindy Day Spa on West 5^th for a much-needed beauty reboot.  Polish shades cover every color in the rainbow and come in brands like OPI and Chanel.  Each pedicure chair has a built in massager and an iPad to keep you entertained—no, that was not a typo. Grab the girls for a girly afternoon or pamper your paws solo, either way you’ll leave feeling relaxed and perfectly polished.

January 21, 2012

am 

Don’t hate on the bingo until you’ve tried the bingo.  Contrary to popular belief, Brazos Bingo is not just a room full of your grandmother’s friends trying to win big.  Your grandma, your roommate and the guy you met at the bar last week are all here trying to win big.  It’s a college-budget friendly night out—only five dollars a session—and you can BYOB.  If you hit a hot streak and feel like sticking around for another session, Brazos City Grill is located inside Brazos Bingo and has a full menu stocked with Texas treats. Think Texas Toothpicks, Chicken Fried Steak and Fried Mushrooms.

Even if you’re not in it to win it—college kids always need more cash—it’s a great alternative to the bar if you’re low on extracurricular funds. Sessions are held at 6:30pm and 8pm Monday through Saturday.

January 20, 2012

smu 

In our opinion, it’s never too early to start a Greek t-shirt collection.  So Bid Day was only a few days ago, and you’re still dying to load up on your new sorority letters? Congratulations, you’re normal. And can we just say we love the enthusiasm?  Two stores that guarantee a great selection of shirts are McCartney’s University Spirit and Brown Bag.

McCartney’s is conveniently situated next to SMU’s campus on Hillcrest, making a shopping trip between classes a possibility.  We love that you can customize any fleece, rugby shirt or trinket your heart desires at this store.

Even though you may live in Dallas, hopping on the TRE (read: Trinity River Express) to Fort Worth is nothing compared to the wonders you’ll find at Brown Bag.  A Fort Worth institution for the last thirty years, this store specializes in hand-painted items, stitched shirts and sweatshirts and hundreds of other cute must-haves.

January 19, 2012

baylor 

Ringing in the New Year means making those dreadful resolutions, which usually involve cutting out the carbs and hitting the gym.  Baylor’s Beararobics is an extensive fitness program available to Baylor students, offering over 40 different classes ranging from Zumba, Hip Hop and Kickboxing to Conditioning, Yoga and Pilates—a favorite among the girls on campus.

Memberships here are totally college-budget friendly. $30 gets you covered for an entire semester, allowing you to try out however many classes you want, as many times as you want!  So if you’re lacking the particular Zen required for your usual Yoga class, try Kickboxing for a little stress relief—the fitness combos are incredibly accommodating.

January 10, 2012

ut 

We applaud you for your lofty New Year’s resolutions: getting in shape, eating healthier, general all-around well-being. But…wait…what’s that you say? Ten days into the new year and you’ve yet to renew your gym membership? You’re trying to pass off the cheese on a slice of pizza as a great source of calcium and vitamin D? No! Snap out of it!

We’ve rounded up several fitness options in Austin that you’re bound to enjoy (or at least tolerate):

1. Camp Gladiator

In our experience, we’ve found that it’s easier to stick to a workout if A) there’s a trainer to talk you through everything and B) you’re surrounded by people with similar goals.  Camp Gladiator is a great workout for people of all fitness levels (newbies all the way to real-life American Gladiators), and it’s rated as the #1 boot camp in Texas.  With that kind of street cred, it’s no wonder there are forty-plus locations across Austin.  Classes run all day from 5:30am to 7:30pm, and with a flat price of $69 a month, you aren’t limited to any single location or time.  This deal is only available to new campers—that’s you!—so check out Camp Gladiator for more details.

2. Castle Hill Fitness

If you’re a little weary of all of that outdoor activity—grass stains aren’t one of springs hottest trends—you’ll want to check out Castle Hill Fitness.  Conveniently located near campus (read: time-saver), there are a multitude of affordable deals on classes and memberships.  Plus, Castle Hill is home to David Garza, named the Best Indoor Cycling Instructor of 2011 by the Austin Fit Magazine Health & Fitness Poll. One month with David will erase any memory of overindulgence before the New Year.

3. Butler Park (formerly Town Lake Park)

Yes, we’re aware this is neither a workout plan nor a gym, but it’s the perfect motivator for the fitness-weary.  A trip to Butler Park will serve as your real-life inspiration board (hello, Pinterest fitness tab). Seeing all of those toned bodies running and cycling around you is bound to get your butt in gear.  After all, the sheer fact that you’re walking around a park puts you miles ahead of everyone on the couch.  Baby steps, ladies!

4. Work Out Videos

If for some reason you’re confined to your living space, be it a lack of transportation—our Dad didn’t go for the “car as Christmas gift” idea either—or that heinous zit you’re too embarrassed to let see the light of day, keep a fitness video on hand.  We’re not talking your mother’s 1985 Jane Fonda VHS—although girlfriend does have some serious stems—we’re talking fitness for the new millennium.  You can always jump rope or, if your downstairs neighbors aren’t particularly keen on that idea, grab some free weights and pop in Get Ripped: Slim & Lean with Jari Love.  Some other personal favorites are the Brazilian Butt Lift, Fat-Burning Kickboxing Workout for Dummies and Step Up with Patrick Goudeau.  You may feel a little goofy at first, but remember you’re in the privacy of your own home and workouts like these burn up to 700 calories at a time!

These options will keep you on track with your fitness goals this year, but don’t kick yourself if you slack a bit—college is a full-time job.  We’ve also found that bringing a friend and new workout clothes are two excellent motivators.

January 9, 2012

smu 

Got a case of the post-holiday blues? Want to get a few more items for your new SMU apartment at a great price? Head to Wisteria Outlet, a unique home decorating store on Cedar Springs Road and check out their Annual Winter Sale! They are having 50% off over 150 items. Hurry though, because the sale ends January 21—the early bird gets the worm here, ladies.

January 8, 2012

It takes an exceptionally special yogurt place to be frequented just as much in the dead of winter as it is in the peak of a Texas heat wave.  Located downtown next to 201 Collective, Oso’s is Waco’s newest locally-owned, family-operated froyo joint that’s a favorite to many Baylor students.  The soft-serve, self-serve yogurt is available in flavors like Peppermint Stick, Snickerdoodle and Mountain Blackberry with plenty of fresh fruit, dry goods, candy and nut toppings to choose from. Frozen yogurt is the perfect midday shopping pick-me-up—guilt free and always delicious!

January 7, 2012

am baylor smu tcu tech ut 

A new year means new beginnings! Resolutions are being made and goals are being set and—hopefully—closets are being purged of last year’s not-so-hot fashions. We salute you if your resolution is to amp up your wardrobe.  Here are some must-have staple items for your new 2012 closet that will leave you looking fabulous, fashionable and flawless.

Stripes

Left: Ralph Lauren Tori Striped Jersey Tee $125

Right: Lacoste Elbow Sleeve Jersey Placed Nautical Stripe T-shirt $36.99

Print and Pop Colored Loafers

Left: J. Crew Biella Patent Loafers $228, J. Crew Darby Calf Hair Loafers $275

Right: ASOS Macabee Patent Leather Loafer $69.08, Steve Madden MADEE Leopard Loafer $119.95

Sheer Tops

Left: Anthropologie Ruffled Tulle Boatneck $68

Right: Forever 21 Romantic Sheer Top $17.80

Blouses

Left: rag & bone Cavendish Shirt  $195

Right: Forever 21 Button Sleeve Shirt $17.80

Textured and Bold Colored Bags

Left: Chloe Marcie Easy Tote  $1,895

Right: Diane von Furstenberg Drew Leather Tote $545

Left: Milly Mina Ostrich Satchel  $495

Right: Ivanka Trump Victoria Top Handle Satchel $150

Colored Toothpick Jeans

Left: 7 For All Mankind Skinny Leg Jeans $169

Right: GAP 1969 mid-weight legging jeans $69.95

Pleated Skirts

Left: Halston Heritage Skirt  $282.15

Right: BCBGeneration Pleated Skirt $32.40