“CL-tini”: St. Patty’s Day Special!

The big green and white holiday is only two days away. What better way to start off the day than with a festive CL-tini? Have a sip and get in the green mindset!

1. 1/3 soda water

2. 1/3 limeade

3. 1/3 strawberry sherbert

4. Add green food coloring

5. Use a shamrock straw

6. Make a DIY St. Patrick’s Day cup

If you’re planning on attending a St. Patrick’s Day party, be sure to follow our classy party tips and dress in green and white from head to toe. Here are some accessories to “green-up” your outfit:

1. Green  beads

2. Green sequin bow

3. “Kiss Me I’m Irish” tee

4. Green knee socks

5. Shamrock temporary tattoos

Erica Avesian is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a communications major at the University of Michigan. Erica wishes you all a safe and fun St. Patty’s Day!

Rocking Reds and Greens this Holiday Season

The holidays are here and it’s time for fashion cheer!  As red and green are commonly considered two theme colors for the month be sure to incorporate them into your winter wardrobe.

Women’s Short Wool-Blend Coat – A must-have for every classy co-ed, this coat can be purchased at Old Navy for $69.50.  I own one quite similar to this and have already gotten much use out of it now that cold weather has arrived.  Red will give you both a cute and sophisticated look and will be a perfect way to show your love for the holiday season.

Satin Bubble Dress – I was pleasantly surprised by all of the dresses I fell in love with from Charlotte Russe.  This bubble dress is a staple item for holiday parties.  While many tend to model black or metallic dresses during the holiday season, make an expression of your individuality in this gorgeous green for only $39.50.

Popcorn Knit Scarf – An ideal way to stay warm and fashionable simultaneously, this scarf can be purchased at Gap for $24.50.  Match it with a cream or black knit sweater and your outfit is ready to be shown off.

Women’s Beaded Button-Front Cardigan – Jewels and a sweater all in one?  It does exist in Old Navy‘s $32.50 seasonal cardigan.  Being such a versatile piece it is highly likely that this will be hanging in my own closet before the season ends.

Womens Thermal Pajama Pant – You may have heard it said before, “always wear cute pajamas to bed… you never know who you’ll meet in your dreams!”  Hold on to this saying and purchase this cozy pair of holiday pajama pants found at Target for only $12.99.

Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Need an excuse to wear your new buys?  Read Alyssa’s “Ideas for Planning a Classy Holiday Party.”

Abby Bryant is an intern with College Lifestyles™.  She is a senior marketing major at Georgia College & State University® and is the president of her sorority, Sigma Alpha Omega®.  Fun holiday fashion is one of her favorite ways to bring in holiday cheer.

Yum! Check out the farmer’s market

Every Wednesday, the Portland farmer’s market takes over Monument Square. New England-grown sweet corn, fresh Maine blueberries, just-picked salad greens – it’s all there. The woman selling her handmade jewelry, a few locals playing a horn and a banjo, a beekeeper with her jars of organic honey – yes, yes, yes.

If you haven’t checked out a farmer’s market near you, YOU’RE MISSING OUT!

In an age where blueberries are shipped from Argentina and mangoes come over the border from Mexico, more and more shoppers are choosing the local route to keep money within the local community and bring fresher fruit to the dinner table.

Nearly $1 billion was spent on imported fruits and vegetables in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average food item travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles to get to consumers and can take days or even weeks to get from farm to mouth. Travel also uses fossil fuels that pollute the environment and deplete natural resources.

Harmful pesticides and farming procedures remain concerns for some consumers who worry that this imported food isn’t up to Americans’ standards.

Tim Belcher sells his produce at the Roanoke, Va. farmer’s market every day. His father was a farmer too.

“I’d like to see a ban on imported produce,” he said, because of what he calls a lack of government oversight of farming processes abroad. He pointed to poor working conditions in other countries that cause workers to defecate in fields for lack of restroom facilities as the cause of recent produce contamination scares

In 1989, traces of cyanide were found in Chilean grapes that caused the USDA to put a ban on food from the country. E. coli and salmonella outbreaks in spinach and tomatoes, respectively, that led to sickness in hundreds of Americans, have caused many consumers to question food safety standards.

DDT was banned worldwide, yet some countries, like India, still continue to spray the chemical on crops to ward off pests. India produces 41 percent of the world’s mangoes and 23 percent of bananas, according to the country’s agricultural department.

“With the local grown stuff around here, [the farmers] all eat what we grow. We’re not putting sprays and tons of stuff on the products we wouldn’t eat ourselves,” he said.

Websites like LocalHarvest.org and FarmersMarkets.com are making it easier for consumers to find the farmers and get the fresh food they want. In addition to farmers’ markets, LocalHarvest has search criteria for restaurants and grocery stores that carry local foods.

The newfound curiosity of where food comes from is due, in part, to the popularity of documentaries like Academy Award-nominated “Food, Inc.” and books like New York Times Bestseller “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan that shine light on the process of industrial food production that consumers rarely see.

Buying locally puts more cash in the farmer’s pocket for him to buy supplies from the local hardware store or dinner at the family-owned restaurant, keeping more money inside the local economy than buying from retailers.

A 2004 study by economic development consulting firm Civic Economics calculated that a dollar spent at a locally owned business in a Chicago neighborhood generated 70 percent more economic impact per square foot of sales space than a chain store. At local businesses, $68 out of every hundred stayed in the community compared to only $43 at a chain.

“I think people are tired of Wal-Mart. People are tired of corporate America. They want to support their local people so that people can make it [financially],” said Annette Fleisher, who works at Sumdat Farm Market, a shop at the Roanoke market that sells farmers’ goods for them.

“People are really trying to stay away from junk—junk foods, junk products,” Fleisher said. “They trust local people who sell local.”

Stephanie Hardiman is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM). She is a proud alumna of Washington and Lee University and Pi Beta Phi. Follow her on Twitter @Steph_Hardiman.

LEAPING LEPRECHAUNS

You all know what celebration is coming up this month (if not, I’ll pinch you!). As an Irish myself St. Patrick’s Day is MY DAY and I “go green” to the full extent. I’ll give you the low down on what to wear (and not!).

Words to the wise: On St. Paddy’s Day (and parade day) do NOT wear Orange (that’s Northern Ireland) and if you don’t wear green – be prepared to come home with bruises lol.

Undergarments

I wear green EVERYTHING – that means bra and panties too. I want to include these this year; I’ve got green panties but the bra, that’ll just put me over the top! These two Aerie ones will certainly make the leprechauns lead you to their pots of gold.

Outer Garments

This awesome shirt rocks the green AND a shamrock, but there are many other awesome t-shirts out there to find. Pair with some jeans and you have yourself a casual St. Paddy’s Day look!

I love this dress (though it might be a little cold to wear up here in Pittsburgh). Top it of with a green hoodie or shrug and green heels and your working the Irish chic.

Shoes

Talking about shoes, these green ones are classy yet killer! You could totally re-wear them after the festivities are over. Or go with green sneakers or flip-flops!

Accessorize!

Go crazy in this section! Green hair clips are a fun and easy way to get into the Irish spirit (I actually sprayed my hair green one year).

Last year I had green hair ties, green makeup, green nails, green beads (You NEED green beads) and a big green hat my Big gave me (she even gave me a shamrock shot glass when I pledged, hehe, it lights up!). The point is that – there is NO such thing as TOO much green.

Liz is an intern for College Lifestyles ™. She is a junior Print Journalism major at Point Park University and a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She’s making you all honorary Irish (if your not already) and will be going crazy with the green this year – also its my dad’s birthday (and oddly enough he’s NOT the Irish parent!).

Plastics: a Numbers Game

So we know that humans waste a lot of stuff,

but what exactly is “a lot of stuff?”

- 20 million tons of electronic waste is thrown away each year (Discovery channel)

- We fill landfills with 100 million tons of trash each year (HowStuffWorks.com)

What’s an easy way to prevent the “wastage” of stuff? RECYCLING! Lately, I’ve gotten into a recycling binge, but I was not sure what plastics could/could not be recycled. Here’s a list explaining what the plastic numbers indicate (at the bottom of the container).

Easy to recycle numbers: 1,2, 6.

Your local recycling plant can handle this, no problem

#1 soda and water bottles, common products

#2 laundry detergents, bleaches, milk, shampoo, motor oil, toys

#6 coffee cups, cutlery, meat trays, packing peanuts

Not as easy: 3, 4, 5.

Takes more labor for the recycling plant, means YOU have to do more to get it recycled

#3 plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, baby bottle nipples

#4 grocery/sandwich bags, wrapping films

#5 Tupperware, medicine containers

Hardest: 7.

Recycling plants are not equipped to recycle these. See the websites below to find a location to recycle it

#7 These products may not even have a number. Return to the product manufacture or look at websites below.

These websites can help YOU recycle:

- Earth 911 Give your zip code, find out where to recycle almost anything. They have an iPhone app: iRecycle

- My Green Electronics: punch in your zip code, find a local business that can recycle your electronics

- 8 Ways to Not Get Tricked While Going Green

- 10 Things You Can Do To Help Save the Earth

Resources

How to Recycle Different Types of Plastic

How stuff (recycling) works

How Recycling Works: part 2

Christine is a Nutrition Science student at Baylor University. She loves black beans, the elliptical machine, and a little kick of caffeine.

How to reduce your bill: part 4

Go Green, Save Green

For the last few weeks, I wrote about how to reduce your food bill by purchasing local/in season produce, using coupons, and being aware of the grocery stores tricks. This week I will discuss how to reduce your overall bill by using less stuff and re-using more resources. Again, these ideas circulate around one concept: convenience vs. cash.

Food

1. Stick to the serving size of the food. For example: ice cream. Serving size is ½ cup, but do you actually eat ½ cup? (That’s one ice cream “scoop.”) Eating the serving size will be a guide for portion control AND the product will last longer, saving you money.
2. Take home leftovers and actually eat them. I have friends who eat half the plate and do not get a “doggie bag,” thus throwing away all that food. Waste-full.
3. Wait for the sale for special items. Again, convenience vs. cash.
4. Alternative meat sources. I will not preach from my vegetarian soapbox (for very long), but beans are a cheap way to get protein. Meat is highest costing item on the meal ticket, so reconsider your choices if you are on a budget. When you are in a restaurant, the non-meat items typically cost less (not counting fish). Not eating meat also decreases your carbon footprint. Ok, stepping off the box now…
5. Limit alcohol purchases. Just another expense! Not to mention your body processes it like a fat…stepping off the second, much smaller soap box now…

Bags

1. Take reusable canvas bags to all stores (not just the grocery store). Take them to non-food related stores (think clothes, Michael’s, etc) to decrease your plastic bag usage. If you do decide to use plastic bags, try to reuse them for something else. Example: my mom uses plastic grocery bags for dog walks.
2. Tell the cashier you can carry it. Personally, I do not need a plastic bag for my newly purchased mascara. It fits just fine in my purse, thanks.

Reusable containers

1. Get a Nalgene. You can refill it with virtually anything, except hot drinks. See below.
2. Get a reusable container for hot beverages. This includes coffee! Starbucks has really fun containers. Plus you get a 10% discount (that’s sales tax!) when you bring your own container. Look at Amazon for great discounts on  mugs.
3. Don’t purchase plastic water bottles. The quality of water is not that different from the tap. Use yourNalgene to transport it! If you want filtered water, purchase a filter, but still use that Nalgene. You can also get stainless steel reusable containers.
4. Have a glass bottle or beverage container? Why not save it and re-use as a glass or a vase? Pom glasses are good for this.

Paper

1. Email companies to get your name off junk email lists. You just throw away junk mail anyways, right? So why not prevent it in the first place?
2. Keep a tray of slightly used paper for scratch work. Say you accidentally print a web page. Save that paper and use the back when you need a scratch piece.
3. Keep printing to a minimum. Think of it as an exercise for your photographic memory.
4. Borrow books from your friends. Books are expensive, especially hardbacks.

Energy

1. Unplug electronics when not in use. Especially if you are going on vacation.
   

   Turn off da light, turn off da light

2. Turn off lights switches when you leave the room. Your light bulbs will last longer, you will save money on your energy bill and help the environment…what could be better?
3. Reconsider when/where you drive. Can you walk or ride your bike instead? Yes, it may take longer, but what is ten minutes in your day? We could all use some more physical activity! Take this time to listen to your iPod or call your mom to tell her how much money you save by reading blog posts. Also, going over 60mph decreases your gas mileage. Not speeding = not getting speeding tickets, surprisingly.
4. And, most obviously of all…RECYCLE! Next week I will post on how to recycle just about anything.

Don’t be a mooch, but be smart. Not to say that I haven’t read for a few hours at an unnamed book store without actually purchasing the book…but I try not to make that a habit. Know about your surroundings and how to get the best value out of what’s been given to you. Surf the web for green websites that show you have to get more from your dollar.

The above list is by no means exclusive, there are many more ways to save money by using less and reusing more. If the list seems too large, start small by making one change a week. Keep a list of what you HAVEN’T purchased and you will notice what a big difference it has made.

By using less stuff and reusing your resources, you can save money AND eliminate your impact on the environment. What a good deal!

Cool green links:

Discovery Channels complete guide to easy green

Go Green Without Spending Too Much Green By Kaitlyn, a CL intern

Christine is a Nutrition Science student at Baylor University. She loves black beans, the elliptical machine, and a little kick of caffeine.

How to Reduce Your Food Bill: part one

Part one: Eat what is in season

Have you ever walked out of grocery store, stared at the receipt, and thought “how did I spent THAT MUCH money?” It is so easy for this to happen! This is part one about to cut your food bill.

Now, I know not everyone is a math major, but bear with me:

Local food = less transport cost = less CO2 released = decreasing your carbon footprint

Why do produce prices fluctuate? It depends on whether or not the produce is in season. Therefore, if you purchase items that are in season, they will be cheaper.

Not only will you save money by buying in season, but if you purchase food from a local farmers market or CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), then you are doing your part to making the world more sustainable! For example, say you live in Texas and want to purchase strawberries. Usually those strawberries come from California, which is 1,318 miles away! If you purchased local food, you could prevent those carbon emissions, thereby doing your part to protect the environment. Remember, we want to decrease our carbon footprint and increase our carbon handprint!

Part of eating locally is that you will not have access to ALL fruits/vegetables because they are not in season year round. For example, if you eat locally, then you would not eat blueberries in the October because blueberries are not in season in the fall. In fact, did you know that the out of season produce in the grocery stores is stored from the previous season? So those apples that you eat in April are from the previous fall. (Maybe that does not bother you, but it’s not desirable to me!)

Local food = less pesticide use because of less transport costs

The further the produce has to travel, the higher likelihood that it will have more pesticides. Think: can a bundle of grapes from California be fresh when it is goes all the way to Oklahoma? It needs a little “boost” to make the distance. That’s why we have refrigerated trucks and pesticides. These two factors keep the produce looking and tasting good so you,

the consumer, will buy it!

Why are pesticides important? Well, we don’t exactly know everything about them, that’s why! Children and pregnant women are thought to be most vulnerable. They are linked to birth defects, headaches, and added strain on your body. Are they carcinogens? That’s hard to do research on. This is why you should ALWAYS THOROUGHLY WASH your produce.

More resources:

What is organic? What is local? What products have the most pesticides on them?

Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. Learn more about the local food movement, what “organic” means, Whole Foods, CSA’s, the Slow Food Movement, why you should know about where you meat comes from.

Find farms, markets, restaurants that use local food

Find local farmers in your community, how to get plugged into the Slow Food movement

Christine is a Nutrition Science student at Baylor University. She loves black beans, the elliptical machine, and a little kick of caffeine.

The Three R’s of Plastic-Creativity Required!

 

A Great Day for Plastic?

Plastic adds up faster than most people can keep up with, but there are a couple options outside just the recycling center.  At College Lifestyles, it is all about being fresh, innovative, and classy! What a great way to combine all three!

Reduce

When I go shopping or run errands, I make a point to say “I don’t need a bag—that is why I have a big purse!” This usually makes the salesperson chuckle, as it is very close to the truth.  Simply asking to carry your purchase or stick it in your bag after you have paid is one of the easiest ways to cut bag on plastic shopping bags. When that isn’t possible, use cloth or plastic reusable bags. I find it is easiest to keep some in the trunk of my car for unexpected trips out. Stores are usually very good about letting customers use their own—it cuts down on their costs, and saves you space in your trash can!

Reuse

Speaking of trash—why not use the bags as trash liners? It gives the bag more purpose than just being stuffed into a trash can to be sent to the county dump.  Keep an extra bag in your glovebox or under the seat in your car for unexpected emergencies, or for quick clean up! Having the option adds motivation to keeping your car clean, and your passengers will thank you for that!

Still not convinced that reusing is for you? What about using them at the beach? Plastic bags can be reused for storing and transporting trash (which cuts down on the litter at the beach). Put your wet beachwear in the bag and tie it before sticking it in your beach bag and you won’t have to worry about anything getting wet! Now to figure out how to keep the sand out…

Recycle

This may be my favorite! Sure, you can dump plastic bags into any recycle bin, but what about truly recycling them?  Turn waif-thin bags into your next art or craft project! The opportunities are nearly endless! Check out this video from Etsy Labs, and get your creative juices working! You can make a couple reuseable bags for yourself, or go wild and make a beachbag or wallet or…well, it is up to you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNziDXtm1SA

For the beach bag pattern:

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/beachbag.html

A great option for the craft-challenged!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25988711&ref=sr_gallery_4&&ga_search_query=plastic+bag&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=5&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

 Go out, get creative, and get green!

Five fast fixes for being a green intern!

Five Fast Fixes for Being a Green Intern

 

Let’s face it; there is nothing more satisfying than being the intern that is the pride of the office. Be the shining intern that can chicly showcase that you have both the brains for the job and the heart to promote earth-friendly practices that may save the company money!

 

1.) Use a power strip-and turn it off.

A power strip adds simplicity with a simple switch instead of crawling under the desk to unplug all the electronics at your desk at the end of the day. This is especially important when it comes to saving energy with computers and chargers! Saving energy saves employers money, and saving energy saves the earth’s resources!

 

2.) Invest in the idea of a camel

Well, not literally. How much water do you drink in a week? Month? How many plastic bottles do you throw out, or plastic or Styrofoam cups? Save the paper cups at the watering hole by bringing your own bottle or mug, and filling up. Plus, this may reduce the trips to refill, making more time for greater productivity, cashing in on the boss’s brownie points! You don’t have to sacrifice beauty for an old, plain water bottle. There are many stylish options to choose from. Here are a few we like!

 

 

$7.99 Eco-Friendly pink water bottle, available at www.target.com

 

 

 MEDport Fit & Fresh LivPure^TM Filtered Water Bottle, $9.98, filters tap water so you can have the luxury of bottled water, without the cost or waste! Available at www.vitacost.com

 

 

 

 

 

Gaiam Flower Power aluminum water bottle, $12.99, takes the cake on a stylish summery color. Available at www.dickssportinggoods.com

 

 

 

 

 

This may just be my favorite! Available in four fun color patterns, this Camelback water bottle is $24.00. Check it out at www.rei.com

 

 

 

 

3.) Print Preview

 

Save the trashcan basketball game for anything but paper! Reviewing before hitting the print button helps you look for mistakes before your boss reads them and minimizes the waste to the environment and the cost from your manager’s pocket. Here are some tips to reduce the paper waste in the office:

• Print on both sides
• Use blank sides of old paper into quarters and use for notes, reminders, and messages
• Recycle at a local center
• Coordinate with your supervisor to have paper shredded and donated to an animal shelter, which will also promote a healthy relations for the company within the community!

 

4.) Reusable lunch bag

Remember when all you wanted was the first day of school to come so you could carry your Beauty and the Beast lunch box with that oh-so-cool thermos? Packing it has never been cooler, and the lunch boxes have never been cuter! Find one that fits your needs and budget while making a fashion statement!

 The animal lover will surely love the Lefty Munchler Lunch Pack, an environmentally friendly option to the traditional brown bag! Say goodbye to boring lunch sacks! Even more, who can pass it up at a sale price of $6.99? To find out more, visit www.drugstore.com .

 

This vintage-looking lunch box with bring out the charm in you, allowing for fun at lunch time. The bonus is that it comes full of Blow Pops, great for that office candy dish, or to stick in your drawer when your sweet tooth comes knocking! You can find it at www.target.com for $24.99.

  

  For the chic business woman that I know you are, try Koko Holly’s Lunch Bags, in hounds tooth or green geometric pattern. Available for $30 at www.thekitchenstore.com or www.ebags.com .

 

5.) Commuter transportation-

 

Find new ways to get to work. Exercise meets doing good when you are helping your heart and helping reduce emissions. Carpooling, walking, taking the bus, or even biking are great options. Walking and biking both have added benefits-your health!