The CL Guide to the Drive Thru Done Right!

It is no secret that fast food restaurants are filled with unhealthy and fattening things to eat!  But with the stress of going back to school, sometimes our crazy lifestyles leave us no other choice but to pull through the drive thru.

Don’t get tricked into ordering a greasy burger just because time is an issue!  Below are popular eateries, and a healthy, reasonable menu item from each!

Starbucks

www.starbucks.com

Honestly, who can resist Starbucks on a stressful day?  But many of their items are filled with too much fat, and too much sugar!  Luckily, they serve Tazo Passion Tea, which is delicious and so flavorful that it doesn’t need any sugar (and this is coming from a person with a sweet tooth!).  It is slightly sweet, and slightly tart, as it is made with herbs, hibiscus flowers, mango, lemongrass, and passion fruit.  This very refreshing drink does not have any calories, and is a great way to refresh after a rough day!  Plus, it is a pretty ruby red in color!

McDonalds

When most people think of McDonalds, their French fries come to mind, which are extremely high in fat and sodium!  For a healthy, yet fun twist, trade for another side dish:  Apple Dippers with Low Fat Caramel Dip!  With the sweet apples, and creamy caramel, you won’t even miss the fries.  And with only 105 calories per serving, they are a delicious way to get more fiber into your body!  Can’t resist the fries?  An occasional indulgence is okay, and a small size would be enough to satisfy your craving, and is only 230 calories.

Dunkin Donuts

After a long night of studying, you may stop at DD with the intention of just getting some delicious coffee to wake up, but then you may feel compelled to buy a blueberry muffin or chocolate crème filled donut too!  Resist the urge, and try their yummy Egg White and Cheese on Wheat English Muffin instead!  While the muffin and donut will just leave you feeling sluggish a little bit later, the breakfast sandwich has fiber, protein, calcium, and iron to help you get through your morning!

Jamba Juice

Yum!  Everybody loves a refreshing and sweet Jamba Juice smoothie!  But some of them are packed with more calories and sugar than most meals!  To fulfill your craving for the good stuff, try their Strawberry Nirvana ®!  Made with strawberries, bananas, apple juice, and milk, it is high in fiber, calcium, and vitamin D.  And, with only 150 calories per 16 oz serving, it is a very reasonable treat!

Wendy’s

You won’t need a bacon cheeseburger after you try the delicious Apple Pecan Chicken Salad!  It is made up with many different varieties of healthy dark, leafy greens, apples, bleu cheese, dried cranberries, grilled chicken breast, and pecans.  Yum!!!  When ordered with the grilled chicken, rather than fried, it has 460 calories, and a ton of healthy fiber, protein, vitamins A and C, and calcium.

These are also great ideas for when you go out with your friends, because no one likes that girl who doesn’t eat anything when the group goes to McDonalds, but rather just complains about how unhealthy everything is

How do you stay healthy at the drive thru?

Christine Palaski is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is a junior at Adelphi University, where she is a nursing major.  She enjoys hanging out with her Delta Delta Delta sisters, and of course, eating!

Back to School! Dorm Room Packing the College Lifestyles Way!!!

It’s time to go back to school!  If you read my CL post about packing for vacations and trips, you know that I HATE packing.  But, packing for your dorm room is the worst kind of packing to do EVER!  Soooo many things to bring!  And what should I pack?  What will I need?  How do I get it so I don’t have a million bags of junk?  Is it possible to unpack into my room without taking forever?

Check out my “Top 3 Dorm Room Packing Tips” and “My ‘Must Bring’ Packing and Shopping List” below to help you out before you go back to school!

Top 3 Dorm Room Packing Tips:

1. Put similar things together while packing.

This sounds simple, but it makes a lot of sense!  When packing clothes, separate clothing that needs to be hung up in the closet from clothing that needs to be put into draws, so you are not making yourself crazy on move in day.  Organize your boxes and bags based on their continents (i.e. keep cleaning supplies separate from school supplies).  Using labels makes this even easier!

2. Only bring it if you need it!

The semester is only 16 weeks long, so you won’t need to bring EVERYTHING you own, especially if you will be occasionally going home for a visit.  Depending on the climate of the city where you go to school, you may be able to exchange your fall and summer clothes for your winter clothes when you go home for Thanksgiving, which will really open up a lot of space!  Also, there is no need to bring every handbag you own, but instead, just bring the few that you know you will use.

3. Keep this in mind:  you will have to unpack at the end of the year!

So don’t make a crazy collage on the wall that you will just have to take down in 9 months!  Also, make sure everything has a place, so you won’t end up with odds and ends as you move in and out.  Store items in boxes so you can take them in and out easily!

My “Must Bring’ Packing and Shopping List:

1. Clothing and Hangers

2. Shoes and a Shoe Rack

You don’t want your Ugg boots to get dented and your stilettos to get scuffed!  Check out this reasonably priced one from Target that you can leave at the bottom of your closet.  It is steel, so it will last well after your college years.

You can purchase it online:  http://www.target.com/Household-Essentials-2-Tier-Stackable-Shoe/dp/B000P6CDEK/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

3. Linens:

Bed sheets, a bed spread, and bath towels.

4. Pillows

5. Toiletries, Beauty supplies, and a shower caddy!

Keep your shampoo, conditioner, soap, and razor together so everything can be organized for shower time.  You don’t want to be ‘that girl’ who drops a bottle of shampoo when you are only wearing a towel.  It is neither fun nor classy.  Check out these cute ones for only $4.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond!

You can purchase it online:  http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=118937

6. Cell phone, stamps, and stationary

Keep mom and dad posted with everything going on!  They enjoy receiving mail just as much as you!

7. Small Refrigerator

For your healthy dorm room snacks!  This one from Target is only $89 and is also a whiteboard, so you can keep reminder notes for yourself!  (i.e. Study for bio exam, DO LAUNDRY!)

You can also purchase this online:  http://www.target.com/Emerson-Compact-Fridge-Erase-Door/dp/B003JU6PCU/ref=sc_ri_1?ie=UTF8&node=13158601

8. Television

Talk to your roomie, because you won’t need two!  Bring some fun movies along for a fun night in!  Check out Megan’s CL post to find the movies that your dorm shouldn’t be without!

9. Laptop

Also buy a lock!  They are so cheap and laptops are so expensive!  You can attach it to your desk so if you step out of your room, you won’t need to worry about your roommate’s sketchy friends.  Check out this one from Staples.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see people carrying their expensive laptops around in a backpack.  A cute laptop bag is helpful when you bring your laptop to class, the library, or a friend’s room!  Here is a cute one from Kolobags! It can be purchased online at:  http://www.kolobags.com/like-dots-mine-messenger-bag-p-2019

Before you buy a printer, check out your school’s library policies.  At my school, students receive 500 printed pages for free, so a printer for your room may not be worth the money.  Especially since they take up a lot of limited space!

10. Cleaning supplies

Nothing too crazy:  a broom with a dust pan, Lysol wipes, paper towels, a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, sponges, dish soap, and a waste basket should be enough!

11. Laundry Supplies:

Detergent, dryer sheets, and hampers (one for dirty laundry, one for clean)!

12. School Supplies

The standard notebooks, pens, pencils, and folders are always needed, but make sure to also pack crayons, scissors, and glue sticks.  You will never know when you’ll need it!

13. Fun Chairs

Make your room the cool place to hang out!  You don’t want to make your friends sit on the floor!  Check out these different styles below.  Some of them can be folded up to pack and unpack, and all of them are easy to move and small enough to fit into your tiny room!

14. Accessories

This can be your packing downfall!  Be sure to keep all of your accessories together, so you are not separating necklaces while trying to hang up clothes.  In boxes or bins, keep your jewelry, scarves, purses, and hats separate from each other.  Keep the accessories you pack to a minimum, as space is limited, and again, you will not need every handbag you own.  Also, keep the nice jewelry that you inherited from Grandma at home.  You never know who will get sticky fingers!

15.  Plastic Storage Containers

Get a variety of these:  some with handles, some without, some big, some small, some with draws, some without!.  They are a great place to store food, school supplies, cleaning supplies, extra clothing, and pretty much anything!!!

16. Dorm room food

Check out Emily’s CL post about dorm room eating for some healthy ideas!

17. Utensils, a plate, a bowl, and a cup

Because eating off of the floor is not cool.  Just make sure they are plastic to avoid breakage!  You should be able to find cute and cheap ones at a dollar store.

18.  Fun games!

Scrabble and Apples to Apples are both so much fun for a quiet night in with the girls!

19. Decorations

Check out Kendall’s CL post for some awesome ideas!!!  I like using these wall stickers, as they come off easily, look great, and can be reused for when you move back in next year!  They really dress up a boring dorm room! Purchase them online at: http://www.target.com/Wall-Decal-York-City-Skyline/dp/B0038Z4HIU/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1

20.  Over the counter medication

When you move on campus, you can’t use your bathroom’s medicine cabinet anymore.  Keep the essentials on hand just incase you feel under the weather, like Tylenol and Pepto-Bismol.

Got everything on the list?  Check out Kendall’s post so you can see her shopping list for the little things that most people forget!

How do you pack for back to school?

Christine Palaski is a junior at Adelphi University where she is a nursing major and a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta.  She loves an organized dorm room!

Improve Your Sisterhood with a CL’s Girls’ Night In!

Can you believe that it is already August???  School is almost here!  As we all know, the stress that comes along with new classes, work, and sorority life in general, can really frustrate people.  Your chapter may have been so busying focusing on how to raise more money, how to recruit more girls, or how to look better on campus, all which are extremely important, that they may overlook sisterhood!  All of this stress can really take the fun out of sorority life, which is supposed to be fun!    Host an entire night dedicated to what you do best:  having fun with your sisters, which can help to rebuild any broken sisterhood!  Check out the tips below or CL intern Biana’s post ( http://collegelifestyles.org/2010/08/cls-tips-to-a-fabulous-girls-night-in/ ) and the tips below!

*Serve Fun Food!

Everyone knows that the best parts of a meal are the appetizers and desserts!  So, at your sisterhood girls’ night in, serve tasty finger foods that remind you of your restaurants favorite dishes!  Some popular, quick, and healthy ideas include:

-Nachos

Here is a healthy twist on a classic!  On a oven-safe platter, layer baked tortilla chips, which taste just as good as the original!  Then, drain and rinse canned black beans, and mash them well with a fork, or a potato masher.  Place the mashed beans over the chips, and then layer fresh diced tomatoes, sliced scallions, and shredded fat free cheddar cheese.  Place the platter in the oven at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted, which should be about five to ten minutes.  Cover the nachos with fat free sour cream or fat free plain Greek yogurt (which is amazing as a sour cream substitute!!!) and enjoy!!!

-Vegetable Platters

Cut up raw carrots, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, or any other vegetable that you have on hand, or that your sisters like, and attractively arrange it on a plate.  Pair the veggies with store bought hummus (hummus is yummus!), so people can dip and enjoy!

-Sweet Potato Skins

Sweet potatoes have a lot more nutrients than white potatoes do!  For a healthy spin on this tried and true classic, wash the potatoes, and prick them with a fork.  Cook them in the microwave for 4 to 5 minutes, or until a fork can be easily inserted.  Cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, and layer them with the toppings of your choice!  Some ideas include fat free sour cream, crumbled low fat turkey bacon, scallions, and fat free cheddar cheese! Yum!

*DIY Desserts!

Serve “do it yourself” desserts!  People love to assemble food themselves, and cupcake decorating would be a fun activity for your sisters to do together!  Purchase or bake enough plain, unfrosted cupcakes for each of your sisters.  On your table or counter top, arrange cans of frosting, along with spreading knives, and a variety of decorations, such as m&m’s, sprinkles, dried coconut, gum drops, or any other type of candy, so that everyone can decorate their cupcake however they would like!

Another fun DIY dessert is cold s’mores!  Instead of having to go out to roast the marshmallows, have everyone spread a thin layer of marshmallow fluff onto one graham cracker half, and a thin layer of chocolate frosting onto another graham cracker half.  Press the two halves together, and you have a perfect s’more, with a perfect gooey consistency!

*Watch Funny Films!

Everyone is exhausted from reading literature that gives them a headache!  Give them a break, and provide them with a lighthearted film, where they can relax their minds!  Need a suggestion?  Check out CL intern Briana’s post about chick flicks ( http://collegelifestyles.org/2010/07/this-classy-coeds-favorite-chick-flicks/ )!  My chapter personally loves The House Bunny!

*Get to Really Know Your Sisters!

So you may spend hours with your sisters each week, and you may know all about their favorite things to do, but do you know all of their random facts?  Do you know the name of the first boy they kissed?  Or do you know all of the details about how their grandparents came to this country?

Before the guests arrive, type up random questions on paper.  These questions can be about anything!!!  Great ideas include:  favorite childhood vacation, possible names for future children, animal that they would like to be, etc.  Print out these questions, cut them into strips, and put them into a bowl!  Have all of your sisters sit in a circle, and the girls can then pass the bowl around, answering their questions out loud.  Just make sure this is done one at a time so that everyone can hear what they have to say!  Everyone will learn more about one another, and probably have a good laugh at some of the responses!

How do you have fun on a night in?

Christine Palaski is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is a nursing major and a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University.  As much as she enjoys going out, she finds it fun to stay in too!

Recruit Year Round! The CL Way of Course!

Many of us see recruitment as a once a year event, but it is absolutely not!  Girls are watching all year long, thinking, “Should I join that group?”  The way your chapter acts throughout the year could make or break you!  Make your back to school resolution to recruit all the time!  Follow these tips to have a great recruitment!!!

*Wear your letters as much as possible!

Think about yourself as a new freshman.  You probably couldn’t remember the difference between a sigma and a delta.  Most likely, new girls on campus meet your organization, and like you, but with the confusion of Greek letters, they cannot remember which organization you are in!

Great places to wear letters are the library, the gym, class, the cafeteria, and pretty much, anywhere!!!  Wear them in places were people will see you having fun and showing off your sisterhood!

*Decorate everything with your letters!

Would you want to join a sorority that you have never heard of?  Or would you be more interested in an organization you see EVERYWHERE?  For the girls that may not see you around in letters, decorate with your letters!

Using window paint, decorate your car windows with friendly, go Greek statements.  Decorating everyone’s cars will be a fun sisterhood activity, and suddenly people will know about your organization wherever you drive!  Don’t have a car?  You can also paint the windows of your dorm room!  People will be reminded of how awesome you are every time they pass by!

*Pretend it is always recruitment!!!

People join people, not organizations!  Put yourself in the shoes of the girl going through recruitment for the first time; you wanted to be with the girls who you felt comfortable with, and that you saw yourself being friends with.  With this being said, be friendly and welcoming to everyone on campus!  Great times to show this welcoming spirit is at philanthropy events, homecoming events, or anyplace where a lot of your sisters are together!

*Keep up with the PR!

No one wants to join the group with the “bad girls.”  This means:  no cat fights in the cafeteria and no screaming about private chapter issues in the library.

Act lady like, and you will attract girls who are lady like!

How do you recruit “off-season?”

Christine Palaski is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She loves her Delta Delta Delta sisters, the beach, and recruitment!

How to Add Pizazz To Your Philanthropy Bake Sale, The CL Way of Course!

It is no secret that all sorority girls LOVE their philanthropies, and bake sales make EXCELLENT fundraisers for these great causes!  But, some sisters (and customers) don’t get as excited as they once did for these bake sales as the semester continues.  Last week, you made your back to school resolution to cheer up your upset sisters (http://collegelifestyles.org/2010/07/cheer-up-the-cl-way-of-course/), but add ending the boring bake sales and raising more money for your awesome philanthropies to your list of things to accomplish!!!  Here are some ideas and recipes to make them more fun and successful!

*Buy Sorority Mascot Cookie Cutters!

You would be amazed by the array of different cookie cutters that you can find online!  I was able to find a lot of cutters that are also sorority mascots!

Imagine how much fun your sisters would have making cookies that look like some of your favorite symbols!  This will also be great for public relations on campus, as it can help make customers remember your organization!  These customers may just be girls who are thinking of going through recruitment!  (Oh! I remember you girls! You are the ones with those cute dolphin cookies!)

Find your organization’s mascot or symbol here!  Click on it to find out where to purchase it!  All are very inexpensive!

After you have your cutters, decorate them with sprinkles, frosting, or colored sugar!

*Put a Twist on an Old Recipe!  S’mores Brownies!

Having something different will really turn heads and keep people coming back for more!  S’mores brownies are fun and delicious!  Follow the pictures to see how to make them for your own bake sale!

Gather your regular brownie ingredients:  brownie mix, oil, water, and eggs.

Mix them up, but just don’t over beat!

Grease your pan!

Pour in the batter and bake according to package directions, but subtract 10 minutes from the normal baking time.  For example, my package of brownies stated to bake them for 28 minutes, so I put mine in for 18 minutes.

While the brownies are baking, coarsely chop up 6 graham crackers.

Gather 1 cup of mini marshmallows.  Marshmallows + Graham Crackers = BFF

Pull the brownies out of the oven!

Pour on the marshmallows!

Add on the graham crackers, and put them back into the oven for the remaining 10 minutes!

Take it out of the oven!  Look how yummy they look!  Let them cool completely before you decide to cut into them!

The chewy brownie, sticky marshmallow, and crunchy graham cracker make the best combination!

Yummy!

*Make Dorm Friendly Recipes!

Our kitchens at home during the summer are great!  The fridge is always stocked and there is every piece of equipment that is needed.  But when we are away at school, this isn’t at all the case!  The kitchen in my residence hall at school doesn’t really have that much equipment, and sometimes during the school year, I really don’t have much time to bake!

Here are some ideas for when all you have is a little bit of time, and a microwave!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries!!!

-In a microwave safe bowl, melt a cup of chocolate chips (any kind:  white, dark, milk, semisweet, etc.).  Be sure to do it in small intervals (10 to 15 seconds at a time) to make sure that the chocolate doesn’t burn, and stir up the chips between each interval.

-Once your chocolate is melted, dip and roll your strawberries in the chocolate!  Once they are fully covered, place them on a plate, and put them in your fridge to set!  So easy!!!

-To make it more fun, after you roll the berries in the chocolate, roll them in toasted coconut, crushed nuts, colored sugar, or anything else you can think of!

Rice Krispie Treats!

Not everyone knows this, but you can make rice krispie treats without the use of an oven!

In a microwave safe bowl, microwave ¼ a cup of butter with 3 cups of miniature marshmallows for 2 minutes.  Stir, and then return to the microwave for another minute.  Then, stir in 6 cups of rice krispie cereal until it is all combined.  (It may be easier to use clean hands rather than a spoon!)

Then, grease 13 x 9 inch pan, or if you do not have one, you can buy a cheap, disposable aluminum one.  Press your cereal mixture into the pan and allow it to cool.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

*Pack Your Items Prettily!

It is all about presentation!  No one wants to buy an ugly brownie, no matter how delicious it may be!

Ribbon and cute labels can really dress things up!  For this picture, I simply tied a ribbon around a plastic bag, the type without a zipper.  They sell cellophane bags in craft stores, but they can get expensive, and the other bags can be purchased in the dollar store, yet they get the same look!  Make a label out of construction paper and tie it on!

Cupcake liners are not just for cupcakes!  They make great holders for almost anything:  chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, and small brownies.  They are inexpensive and make it easy for customers eating on the go!

Need a place to hold all of your already packaged products?  Line the inside and the outside of an old shoebox with wrapping paper.  Everything will be instantly cute!

*Make Committees and Competitions!

Baking is more fun when you are doing it with someone else!  For your chapter’s next bake sale, randomly split up sisters into different committees, for example, the cupcake making committee, the brownie making committee, etc.  Working together will make it easier for those “baking-challenged” sisters, and for those sisters who do not have any baking supplies.  This is a great way to build sisterhood too!

Make some competitions that will make people want to go above and beyond and to bake even more!  (Which then means more profit!)  Which committee can make the most?  Choose a fun and inexpensive prize to reward these hard working sisters!

*Advertise!!!

No matter how awesome everything is, no one will come if they don’t know your event is happening!

Make a facebook event, describing where and when your bake sale will be, and describing some of the delicious food that will be there!  Have your sisters invite EVERYONE they know!  The day of the event, ask each sister to make their status about the sale.

Make a banner where a lot of people will see it, for example the cafeteria!

How do you make your philanthropy fundraisers more exciting?

Christine Palaski is a College Lifestyle Intern.  In the fall, she will be a junior at Adelphi University where she is a nursing major and a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta.  She can be found baking something fun and delicious.

Cheer Up! The CL Way of Course!

It hurts to see your friends and sisters upset!  Whether they are going through a serious tragedy, such as a death in their family, or just a day where they don’t feel good about themselves, as a friend and/or sister, it is your responsibility to help them.  Make your back to school resolution to be a better friend and follow these tips to help your friends in need!

Just Listen!

I must admit, I am guilty of breaking this rule.  When a friend is hurt, take the time to sit with them in a quiet place, and just ask them to tell you why they are upset.  As we all know, just venting is very helpful.  Do not interrupt them, and just let them express everything they are feeling.  Look them right in the eyes, to let them know that you are listening, and that you care.  Put yourself in their shoes.  Think about how you would feel, and what you would want people to say to you if you were them.  Then, only offer them helpful advice when they are completely finished speaking!

Send a “Thinking of You” Card

It really cheers someone up to receive something that lets them know that they are loved and that people care about them.  Simple notes, letting them know that they are being thought about, can really help them feel better.  This is a great idea, especially if you are not very close with the person who is hurting, as it may be awkward for you to have a full discussion with someone you may not know well enough, but even if you are very close with someone, a card can still help!

It is great to get into the habit of sending cards, even in happy situations.  It is proper etiquette to send a card after receiving a gift or after someone helps you out, so it is a good idea to purchase a bunch of blank cards that you can fill with the appropriate statement as the occasions arise.

Is money tight?  Be crafty and make your own cards!  Do you still have those old stamps and ink pads from when you were a kid?  Get those together with some card stock, scissors, and your creativity!  Here are some statements to make some sweet thinking of you cards: “Thoughts of You Are in My Heart,” “Sending You Thoughts of My Love,” or simply, “Thinking of You!”

Surprise Them!

When someone is feeling down, they need something to just make them happy so they can continue with their life!  Sending a care package is a great idea.  Just like the “Thinking of You” cards, receiving a package or a present lets people know that they are loved and that people care about them through their tough time.  Don’t know what to put into your care package?  Great ideas include candy, coloring books, magazines, notes of inspiration, or anything special that will make them happy!

Pass the Compliments

I feel like all girls, no matter how confident they are, experience moments where they just don’t feel beautiful at all.  A fun exercise to do at chapter meetings with your sisters is to have everyone gather in a circle, and have one person hold a special object.  The object can be anything, perhaps your sorority’s mascot?  Whoever is holding the object is the only person who is allowed to talk, and they have to say something nice about each person in the circle individually.  Everyone gets a turn.  If you have a very large chapter, split everyone up into smaller groups to make it go quicker.  This activity really makes everyone feel better!

What do you do to cheer up a hurt friend?

Christine Palaski is a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University where she is a nursing major.  She is excited for September so she can begin her junior year!

How to Motivate Your Chapters the fun CL way!!!

Even the best sorority chapters in the world have issues motivating those certain apathetic members.  Whether you have an officer position or not, follow these fun tips to have a chapter full of energetic, volunteering, happy sisters!

Distribute Weekly Awards

People feel more motivated when they are being recognized for what they are doing!  A great idea is to have an officer of the week and a sister of the week, to recognize those who go above and beyond.  An inexpensive idea for a prize is to have a princess crown for the winner to wear during the chapter meeting in which they are being recognized.  The crown can then be recycled for the rest of the semester!  It is also great to recognize those sisters with awesome GPAs!  At the beginning of the semester, in a chapter meeting, announce those sisters who made the Dean’s list the past semester, and award them with a pack of Nerds candy, and a certificate that says, “Sister Sally is a super Nerd! Congrats on your awesome GPA!”

Tape Candy Underneath the Seats Before a Chapter Meeting

As silly as it sounds, a sweet surprise like this will make chapter meetings more fun!  Just image the surprised and slightly confused look on everyone’s face!  It will remind everyone of all of the fun they have in chapter, and make them want to do more with it.

Post your Organization’s Songs in Showers!

This is a great idea if you are not an officer, but if you just want to get everyone in that happy, motivated spirit.  If your school has houses, (and if they do, I am extremely jealous), laminate printed copies of your sorority’s songs, and tape them to the walls of the showers.   As the girls shower, they will see these songs, and they will smile, no matter how unhappy they were.

Create Committees

This is a great way to make everyone feel important and needed.  Often, a lot of people become apathetic because they have the mentality that “someone else can do it” or they simply feel unneeded and give up.  Committees can be made for literally everything your chapter needs!  Examples include making committees for recruitment and philanthropy events, so the work can be split up evenly.

Thank Those Who Helped You

As stated earlier, people feel better when they are recognized for what they have done.  If you lead a committee, thank all of those who helped you in your chapter meetings, so everyone else can see how awesome they are.  Also, a personal, hand written thank you letter is so easy to write, yet it really makes people better to receive one.

Texts

If you are an officer planning an event, text the entire chapter that morning with a cute message, encouraging them to go, and reminding those who forget!

Plans Events Afterward

Again, another great idea if you are not an officer.  (And a great way to get noticed if you are interested in becoming one, cough, cough.)  Plan a fun event after a meeting or after another chapter event, such as going to see a movie or meeting up to get sushi, and then let everyone know about it, either through word of mouth, text, or email.  Even the most apathetic members will feel more excited about attending a recruitment workshop if they know there will be something fun afterwards.  Events like this are also great ways to build sisterhood!

Christine Palaski is a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University.

Packing my Suitcase the College Lifestyle’s way for ΔΔΔ’s Biennial Convention!!!

I LOVE traveling and going on trips and vacation, but I HATE packing.  The process itself is always frustrating, and I always do it incorrectly, and end up with multiple bags for just a one night trip, or I end up with a suitcase full of wrinkled clothing.  Now that I think of it, everyone I know hates packing.

This is what I normally look like as I pack for a trip.

Stressed. Confused.  A general mess.

But next Wednesday, I am leaving for ΔΔΔ’s Biennial Convention in Florida, and I am NOT going to let myself get to the point where I feel stressed out or crazy, and I am not going to pack too much, or not pack enough.  I am going to follow my list of packing tips that I have (unfortunately) learned the hard way.  You should too!

Christine’s Packing Tips:  Learned by Trial and Error

1. Make a list of exactly what you need
This avoids just throwing random clothes into your suitcase the night before, or forgetting to pack anything.  Plan each day of your trip, complete with shoes, accessories, and cosmetics.

2.  Choose “basic” items so that you can pack less
Basic items can be reused throughout your trip, so you can pack less!  Instead of bringing multiple pairs of shoes, bring just one pair of black heels that will match all of your outfits!

3. Pack dresses
This works if you are going to a business casual convention, like I am, or if you are going on a relaxing vacation!  Essentially, bringing dresses takes up less space, and they are easier to fold!

4.  Bring a purse with a long strap

While running around in the airport, it is hard juggling pulling a suitcase, holding a boarding pass, all while holding onto your purse, making sure that no one steals it.  For my trip, I am going to be using a purse that I can wrap across my body, so I won’t need to worry about it!

5.  Pack light…literally
Do not pack heavy items, such as boots, that will weigh down your luggage, and take up unnecessary room.  If you do need to pack something heavy, wear it on the trip!

6. Section items properly in your bag
I have experienced this in many trips:  on the first night of the trip, it comes time to go to bed, and I am too tired to unpack, let alone search through my luggage.  I just want put pajamas on, brush my teeth, and go to bed!!!  So, pack your bags so you can find what you need!  Put your panties in the compartments on the side of your bag, keep all outfits together, and for that first night, put your pajamas on top!

7.  Pack a cosmetic bag
It is always difficult finding all of your toiletries when they are thrown around in the black hole that is your luggage.  Putting your make up, tooth brush, and lotions in a separate bag makes it much easier to find everything!

8. Pack a bathing suit!

They do not take up that much room, and you never know when you will need it!  Chances are, even if you are going on vacation in the middle of December, the hotel you are staying in may have a pool or hot tub!

9. Keep accessories minimal
Think of bringing a few simple pieces that can be worn with many different outfits!  For example, pack pearls and plain gold earrings.  Leave those crazy magenta earrings that only work with one outfit at home!

10. Pack Febreeze and Anti-Wrinkle Spray

This is not an alternative to washing your clothing!  But no matter how carefully you fold your clothing, wrinkles while packing may be inevitable.  Also, while sitting in a suitcase for hours, your clothes may smell musty, and a little Febreeze can help!

Check out these cute, affordable BUSINESS CASUAL CLOTHES!!!
(And click on the picture to find where to buy them!!!)

The “Don’t Forget This” List:

You can always pick up a toothbrush at a drug store, but these are items to NEVER forget!

1. Cell phone (and charger!)

2. Medication

3. Identification (driver’s lisence, passport)

4.  Insurance card (Thank God I had mine when I got an ear infection while visiting Ocean City, MD  L)

Have a great trip!  Happy packing!!!

Christine Palaski is a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University, where she is a nursing major.

Being Patriotic on the Fourth the College Lifestyles Way!

The most American holiday of the year is only two weeks away!  Whether you plan on spending your day on the beach, at a barbecue, or watching fire works, follow these tips to make your holiday awesome!

Wear an Outfit that is RED WHITE and BLUE…but still Cute!

Although a Benjamin Franklin costume and a George Washington-styled wig would be very patriotic and festive, it doesn’t necessarily scream, “I look hot!”  And wrapping an American flag around your body, as if it were a bath towel, and securing it together with safety pins would not be classy, and it would in fact, be desecrating the flag.  So…take a look at these affordable, cute, and red, white, and blue clothes instead!

RED:

WHITE:

Take a Trip to the College Lifestyles Spa!

Have fun relaxing and pampering yourself with an “at home spa!”  Dedicate an entire day to your College Lifestyles Spa so you can veg out after a rough week, or so you can get ready for that big date, simply just follow a few tips here and there so you can always be beautiful and relaxed.  I was inspired to write this blog after reading CL Intern Audrey’s article “Your Classy, Fun CL Summer…FOR LESS!”  (http://collegelifestyles.org/2010/06/cl-summer-sips-refreshing-drinks-to-keep-cool/) Following these steps at home, instead of going to a real spa, will save you LOTS of money!  Enjoy some time by yourself, or invite your sisters and friends to join you in your “spa!”

Step 1:  Meditate

This is a great way to relieve any stress from your life.  I try to do this whenever I am stressed, even if I am not having a spa day!  Find a quiet, exclusive area, and find a comfortable area on the floor to sit.  Add some scented candles to make the room have a more relaxing vibe.  Close your eyes, and deeply breathe.  Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.  Try to make your chest go out as much as possible as you breathe in, and feel your belly expand as you breathe out.  Think of images and sounds that relax you.  I always envision crashing waves at the beach, and think of the sound that they make.  It is amazing how this simple technique can make you feel so much better!

Step 2:  Cleanse your Body with Spa Food!

As you enjoy your day of relaxation, you do not want to be bloated, irritated, or uncomfortable.  So, avoid eating any carbonated beverages (even if they are diet!), fried foods, or foods high in refined sugars, which all will leave you feeling sluggish and puffy.  Drinking plenty of water will keep you feeling hydrated, and will contribute to your relaxed feelings.  But, since you are having a “spa” day, keep it exciting, and ditch the plain bottles of Poland Spring, and enjoy a glass of pretty spa water!

To make spa water, fill a pretty quart-sized pitcher with ice and water.  Thinly slice one cucumber and one lemon into circle shaped pieces, and add them to the water.  Next, finely chop ten fresh mint leaves and add them as well.  Give it a good stir, and enjoy!  This will keep you hydrated, relaxed, and it will help to keep your skin clear!  Also, it is just more fun to drink!!!

To continue with the theme of pretty, energizing, hydrating foods, enjoy 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt, topped with slices of orange, mint leaves, and a small drizzle of honey!  (I always try to cut the oranges into circles rather than wedges because it just looks prettier!)

For more spa food ideas, check out CL Intern Samantha’s article “CL Summer Sips: Refreshing Drinks to Keep Cool” (http://collegelifestyles.org/2010/06/cl-summer-sips-refreshing-drinks-to-keep-cool/) for healthy frozen drink ideas!  Her recipes look delicious and fun!

Step 3:  Take a Dip in a Colorful, Fragrant Bath!

Filling your tub with bath salts is a great way to relax and to just have more fun!  Buying them in the store can get expensive, but making them at home is sooo easy!  To make the salts, you will need 1 cup of Epsom salts, and ½ cup of Kosher salts.  You can leave them white and unscented, if you wish, and it will help to make your skin smooth, and will keep the bath water warm, or you can add coloring and fragrance.  Simply add a few drops of food coloring to make it colorful.  Be careful not to make the color too strong, as you can stain the tub, but if you accidentally add too much coloring, simply add more salt!  To make the salt scented, you can buy extracts at the grocery store, and add half of a capful to your salts.  Some great scent ideas are to add peppermint extract, which will make you feel energized, vanilla extract, which will make you smell delicious, or coconut extract, which will give your spa a tropical twist.  Add half of your salts to your warm bath water and enjoy!  Soak up in the tub and your skin will become soft and fragrant.  These homemade bath salts also make a great, inexpensive present for a friend or family member!

Step 4:  Exfoliate Your Skin

As you wash yourself in the salt-filled tub, use this homemade exfoliator to make your skin smooth!  The exfoiliator will take off any dry, bumpy parts of your skin and will moisturize your entire body, no matter what your skin type is.  To make it, pour a quarter cup of sugar into a plastic container, and pour canola oil over it until the sugar is wet.  Mix it to form a thick paste, and gently rub it over your skin.  Then, rinse and wash it off with your favorite soap.

*This may be too harsh for your face, so just use it on your body.  It is great for elbows and legs!

Step 5:  Make a Face Mask

This homemade face mask will help to keep your skin smooth, and will help to get rid of any acne and oiliness that you may have!  Mix ¼ cup of un-cooked old-fashioned oatmeal with ½ cup of cold green tea.  Add two teaspoons of honey and mix well.  Before applying it to your face, wet your face with a wash cloth, and then massage the mixture onto your face, avoiding your eyes.  The best part about this face mask?  You have to keep it on for 15 minutes, so in the meantime, you can sit and relax, or do whatever you want!!!  Wash the mask off with your favorite facial cleanser and enjoy your beautiful skin!  The oatmeal will make your skin smooth, while the green tea acts as an astringent.  The honey will help to pull out any dirt or bacteria from your skin.

Follow these steps so you can stay relaxed, beautiful, and classy!  How do you pamper yourself at home for cheap?

Christine Palaski is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is a proud sister of Delta Delta Delta at Adelphi University.

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