Pretty much everyone loves the holiday season. Can there ever be too much love or too many twinkling lights? We haven’t even passed Thanksgiving, but still many reminders of Christmas are springing up well before December.

1. Starbucks red cups & holiday beverages

Halloween was barely over before Starbucks’ red holiday cups returned and our friends posted photos of them all over our social media feeds. But what’s even better than Christmas coffee cups when studying in Westwood? The peppermint, gingerbread and eggnogg lattes that go in them. Mmmmm.

2. Decorations

Nobody can help feeling a little warm and fuzzy when the Christmas lights come out, especially the red and white ones wrapped around the trees that line the center of Westwood Boulevard. But the winner of the Christmas spirit contest? The Grove, of course. What better place to get into the holiday … groove?

3. Candy

Christmas candy is almost the same as regular candy. Except it has awesome packaging, colors and is typically shaped like Santa. And that takes it up a couple notches.

4. The merch and excuses to shop

Upon first sighting of the reindeer plush toys in Ackerman, one might hear cries of  “Oooh, my grandmother would simply ADORE this!” Whether this is a legitimate claim or just another excuse to shop is almost irrelevant. We’re too merry to care.

5. Christmas music

None of the above would feel quite the same without the right soundtrack. Mojo sampled some of the best end-of-year music for your enjoyment.

What do you do to get into the holiday spirit? Tweet us @dbmojo or comment below.

—Iris Goldsztajn

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Remember when you were in high school not so long ago? Probably not, right? In a short amount of time, college has taken over your life and completely made you forget just what high school was like. This November, seniors in high school are applying to the UC system and will soon experience the transformation that takes place upon entering college. Here’s a list of things you do in college that you never did in high school. Incoming freshmen better start preparing. (more…)

—Sarah Greenwald

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Hold off on that pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce for just a few more days – “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” comes out in theaters Friday! I don’t know what I’m most excited about: my favorite of the Hunger Games trilogy on the big screen? Casually waiting in an eight-hour line during eighth week for a midnight premiere in Westwood?  Enjoying Liam Hemsworth’s sexy bod … Anyway, if you’re too busy too re-read “The Hunger Games,” the odds are in your favor: I give you “The Hunger Games” summarized in Emoji. (more…)

—Stephanie Orpilla

Tags: emoji, noexcusefornotunderstandinghungergames2, thehungergames

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Sawtelle is the name of both a street in West LA and the neighborhood that encompasses it. If you haven’t been yet, it’s time to pay this gem of the Westside a visit. It’s close enough to campus to take the bus. And what better time than now? It’s eighth week after all – far enough from finals week to put off studying, and close enough to get stressed and look for suitable distractions. Sawtelle, dubbed “Little Osaka,” offers some of the best Asian food in town, along with karaoke places and unique shops with prices that let you make the most of your college student budget. Bring only $10 (cash, as most of these places are cash only) and follow Mojo around Sawtelle. (more…)

—Katerina Karaoglanova

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A little over a year ago, the sweetest, most addictive game known to man was created. If you’ve heard the phrases “Did you pass me to the next section yet?” or “Wait, let me just pass this level,” or “IF I HAD ONE MORE MOVE I COULD HAVE BEAT IT!” then you probably know what I’m talking about: Candy Crush Saga. (more…)

—Jessica Korn

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