CL’s Classy Guide to a Fun Filled Summer!

  

The summer of 2011 is half way over and you may be asking yourself what’s left to do—well CL has the answer! Below is a summer “bucket list” of activities that are fun, easy and sometimes free. But remember this is just a start! Expand from this list and make your own! Don’t forget to have a blast while doing it!  

Go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2

                This is the end of the Harry Potter series that we grew up with, so take this last chance to go to a midnight release!

Change your hairstyle

                A new school year is right around the corner and what better way to start fresh then with a new hairstyle. Plus if you do it now and decide you don’t like it there is time to change it up again before classes start in fall!

Try all 31 flavors of Baskin’ Robin’s ice cream

                Come on every girl has a sweet tooth! This is a fabulous way to get the sugar your craving and do something fun. Get your family or girlfriends in on it too!

Try a new type of food

                Instead of going to your regular restaurant go to an ethic restaurant and give something new a try! There are endless options like Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and many more.  Grab your summer crush or boyfriend and try a new experience together!

Go camping in your (or a friend’s) backyard

                Set up some tents, have a bon fire and make s’mores! This is a great way to bond with friends, and enjoy nature. If you want to make it spooky try telling ghost stories around the bon fire. The best part—it’s free!

Volunteer in your community

                Giving back is a great way to get involved! There are many different ways to get involved like animal shelters, soup kitchens, and clothing drives. Not only will it help others, but it will help you become a well-rounded person!

Have a movie marathon

                Grab a few pizzas and microwave that popcorn for a night of movies! You can rent or invite over some friends and have them bring their two favorites. Try making a theme night like horror movies one night and chick flicks another!

   Brooke Mendoff is a sophomore at Duquesne University studying Integrated Marketing Communication and is a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She is OBSESSED with: orange soda, the Washington Capitals, Victoria’s Secret, Mexican food, her friends and family and the color purple.

CL Challenge: Try these 10 pastimes in the summer sunshine!

cl summer sunshine challenge

Running out of excuses to slather on the SPF and run around in the warm summer air (as if we need an excuse)? Try these 10 fresh ideas with your friends:
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1 picnic ($0)
Take your next meal outside! No need to fuss with the wicker basket and checkered blanket (though it would make an adorable photo opportunity*)!

2 hiking ($0)
Grab your old tennis shoes and a can of insect repellent. For a fun twist, you might bring along a tree or plant guide to get to know the lovely flora of your favorite trails.

3 pick-up sports game ($0)
Great way to get a big group together (maybe text that cute co-ed you met at a barbecue last weekend?) because a little friendly competition never hurt anyone!

4 beach ($0)
Slip into your most stylish swimsuit and ride on down to your favorite beach. Bring along some shovels and pails—you’ re never too old to play in the sand!

5 camping (varies)
Who says camping needs to deprive you of a hot shower? If you don’ t feel up to roughing it in the wilderness, set up camp in your own backyard!

6 barbecue (about $5)
Finally an excuse to pull on your cutest wedges and an airy sundress. (Tip: we co-eds know barbecues may get expensive, so we ask a few friends to co-host and split the cost!)

7 baseball game (about $10)
Thanks to StubHub (stubhub.com), we can support our favorite team as often as we like. Tickets are often available for super cheap and for games as soon as tomorrow!

8 zoo (about $10)
Embrace your inner animal! Stroll around in the sunshine enjoying the fabulous creatures.

9 kayaking ($15)
Grab a friend (or two, or three…) and find the nearest boathouse. Spend a relaxing day on the water and give your arms a great workout. Just be sure to pack some waterproof sunscreen.

10 amusement park ($25)
Bring a bunch of friends, especially any you may have your eye on (think of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling first meeting in The Notebook). Take your cute co-ed on a roller coaster—sharing the adrenaline-pumping experience will bring you closer, fast!

*Send us a photo of you and your friends on a picnic–or any of the other 9 activities)–and we’ ll send you a CL-mixed playlist that satisfies even the most music-savvy co-ed! (info@collegelifestyles.org)

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Liat Zabludovsky is a junior Psychology student at Brandeis University. Usually accompanied by any number of her most favorite people in the world, she loves driving her Jeep Liberty (named Wolf Blitzer), running around outside, sweating like mad in a Bikram yoga class, perusing the aisles at the health food store or enjoying her new favorite activity—rock climbing!

A Few of My Favorite Things

As a new intern here at College Lifestyles, I thought it might be nice to kind of introduce myself to everyone with the short list of the things that I love the most (because the long list would never be finished).

1. My mom- I have the most wonderful relationship with my mom, and I’m so glad to have such a strong, positive, graceful, and classy woman to look up to. If you’ve ever seen the show Gilmore Girls (another one of my favorite things), we’re actually not unlike Lorelai and Rory.2. Music- I love all kinds of music. On a bad day, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, or the music from Glee can almost always cheer me up. On the flip side, when I’m in a good mood, there’s nothing better than an upbeat tune to keep me pumped up. I love to dance and to sing along to all my favorite songs (especially during impromtu dance parties with my sisters and on the car ride home from school to do laundry).
3. TV on DVD and on the internet- I love tons of TV shows, but because I’m extremely busy (double major, Greek life, early graduation, June LSAT, other campus activities, social life, etc.), I almost never get the chance to watch them on TV. Therefore, I have become a Hulu.com addict. I can watch current shows on my own time, anywhere I can get an internet connection. Also, I can watch shows that are off the air now (Will and Grace, Gilmore Girls, Friends, and Sex and the City mostly) and shows that come on cable channels that I don’t get at school (True Blood and Dexter) whenever I want to and over and over again.

4. My best friends- In addition to some of the best sisters in the world, I have the most incredible group of best friends back home and from living in the dorms last year. While sisterhood is a friendship unlike any other, having best friends outside of my letters isn’t something I would ever give up.

5. Wild Cherry Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Soy White Chocolate Mochas, and Pumpkin spice lattes- As much as I love to sleep, I find it happens a lot less often than I’d like, so I am also pretty heavily caffiennated most of the time. I love Starbucks coffee (and my new RED tumbler that donates a percentage of my coffee purchase to charity) and around lunch, I usually choose one of my guilty pleasure sodas.
6. My planner, dry erase calendars, and other organizational type stuff- I love, love, love the feeling I get when all of my stuff is in the right place and easy to find when I need it to study, write papers, take notes, or whatever. My planner and dry erase calendars (one weekly and one monthly) help me keep track of due dates, fun sorority events, meetings, and plans with friends. With a schedule as busy as mine, writing every little thing down is one of the only ways to stay sane.

7. My wonderful sorority sisters- Here at Mizzou, home of the Tigers, we just finished formal recruitment, and I’m so excited to welcome our new members into our fantastic sisterhood. My sisters are always there for me when I need a laugh or a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Going through sisterhood week and recruitment week with them since I moved in to our lovely house in early August has been an absolute blast.

8. Jewelry- I love to dress up my preppy (think Sperry boat shoes, Miss Me jeans, and Hollister graphic tees and polos) style with fun, romantic, and vintage-y jewelry whenever possible.

9. Magazines- I love to just curl up listening to Lady Antebellum or Justin Beiber (yes, I have the fever) reading Cosmopolitan or Glamour from cover to cover. It’s a nice way to relax and unwind from a stressful day or recover from a big test. I love reading the style, hair, and make-up tips (although I’m usually too timid to try most of them).

10. Flowers and butterflies- I am allergic to pollen, but I absolutely adore receiving flowers. I love red carnations (my sorority’s flower), peonies, roses, lilies, orchids, and Gerber daisies especially. Butterflies remind me that things really do change, since all butterflies start out as caterpillars and then transform into something beautiful with just a little bit of hard work. Flowers and butterflies remind me that there really is so much beauty in the world even on my worst days.

I hope that was a fun little insight into my personality and I’m so excited to be writing for College Lifestyles. Hopefully you’re excited to read more too.

XOXO,

Kat =)

Kat McClain is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is also a junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying psychology and communications. She is currently obsessed with the song “Teenage Dream” and the new student center on Mizzou’s campus.

Your Classy, Fun CL Summer…FOR LESS!

So it’s summer. It’s time for fun, popsicles and carefree sunny days, right? Well…there always tends to be the problem of money. Especially when you don’t have academics to take up your time and you’re home from school wanting to spend time with all your High School friends. “Let’s go to dinner! Let’s grab Starbucks! Let’s see a movie! Let’s go to Six Flags/Wisconsin Dells/Waterpark/Theme Park” The only way to hang out seems to be to spend money. I’ve come up with some cheap and free ideas for soaking up the summer sun—just make sure to bring the Sunblock!

Does your city have a museum or art gallery? Make a day of exploring those places! Lots of museums have free days or significant student discounts. Plus, you’ll look so sophisticated wandering around an art gallery in a new summer dress (see fashion section of College Lifestyles for ideas!). You’ll definitely feel like Charlotte York and you can learn interesting facts through walking around with friends rather than sitting in class.

Get a library card. What are gorgeous sunny days and large green parks for anyway? Hit the Air Conditioned library and pick out a piece of literary history (Jane Austen, Dumas, James Joyce, George Eliot, The Brontes…ok I’ll stop, Book Worm escaped for a bit) or just a fun summer read. Go out to the park with a blanket and read! Take time to enjoy the book and if your eyes get tired, go play on the swings.

Remember when you were a kid and you couldn’t go to the pool? What’d you do? Water fights, sprinklers, super soakers, etc. Cool down with friends by embracing your inner child. I don’t think much more explanation is needed here. Let your imagination run wild! And make sure popsicles are in the freezer for after.

–Use Twitter, Facebook and websites to look for great summer deals! Lots of cities and towns have “sample the city” or “downtown dining” weeks. So keep your eyes peeled for great meals for way cheaper than normal. Plus there are always deals and discounts to be found, you just have to look hard enough.

–When it rains, movies seem like the best idea, right? Now I love movies so this is where most of my money goes. So if you’re like me and can’t function without popcorn and the glory of the cinema, make sure you add the word “matinee” to your vocabulary. With movies at $10 these days, the 6-dollar matinees are your best friend. Also, think about going in on a cheap Netflix subscription with your friends. Then you can have a movie night in the comfort of your own home, with your friends and only have to buy popcorn!–Look for free concerts. Lots of towns have “Jazz in the Park” or other musicians for free in parks and other venues. Bring a blanket, sit with friends and cheap snack food and enjoy the sounds of summer.

–JUST GET OUTSIDE. This should be a no-brainer. Grab a Frisbee, football, baseball and glove, soccer ball, kite…ANYTHING and go enjoy the freedom that you have. Co-eds are more fun when they participate rather than just sit and watch. It doesn’t cost anything to go play a game in the park with friends. You’ll make memories you’ll never forget (bring the camera, you’ll want proof of this much fun when you get back to schoolwork!). Get creative! The sky is the limit. Games in the park also transitions great into a fun picnic!

I plan on enjoying the sun with lots of Popsicles and SPF 50 (being a redhead, I know the pain of sunburn…not something to repeat).

You stay classy out there this summer, CL Readers! (Sorry, couldn’t help an “Anchorman” reference)

–Audrey

 

Off to College Check-List Part 3 – School Supplies

Welcome to Part 3 of the ” Off To College Check List “.

School Supplies

Besides shopping for new things to decorate my room with, this was my favorite part of getting ready to go back… shopping for school supplies.  Who knows, maybe that makes me crazy – but to me it signified a new start, a way to organize myself and get ready for another successful year!

Speaking from personal experience, I love being organized.  Every year for Christmas my parents give me a gift card so I can buy a brand new planner (again, call me crazy, but it definitely helps me out throughout the year) !  This will be your ultimate shopping list for school supplies, without the hassle of spending hundreds of dollars!

This is what I would like to call,  “Rumor has it”.  When you get to school, the students around campus will tell you some things about the beginning of school… but remember, what they think and what the professors think are two totally different ideas.

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1)

Rumor has it: “You don’t need anything for the first few weeks of school, nothing really happens and you can just write on the sheets they give you.”

The truth: First impressions are everything!  If you walk into a class, the first day, with nothing in hand, how will that look the the professor?  You want to come across as cool, composed, and ready to learn!  The better the first impression, the better chance you have of doing well in the class!  Make sure you have:

2)

Rumor has it: “Don’t carry a backpack around campus, you’ll look like a stupid freshman.”

The truth: If you don’t carry a back pack around, you’ll be lugging books all over the place!  Normally, the people who don’t have the backpack are the ones who don’t bring anything to class… and the ones who aren’t so successful!  Get something comfortable, and cute (no one said it had to be bulky and bland) !

________________________________

With those things being said, here are a list of good finds that you can purchase

to make the beginning of college life successful!

• A 3-ring binder
• Filler Paper
  
• A 2-pocket folder for each class
  • Each folder can contain the syllabus for the class, and any papers that are handed out.
• Dividers
  • If you’re taking more than 12 credits, sperate your binders so you’re not carrying around a huge binder… Make a M/W/F and  T/TH… it will be much easier on you!
• At least 2 pens, and 2 pencils
  • You know someone will forget one, and it’s a good way to strike up an conversation with a new person!

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These Wilson Jones Basic Round Ring 2″ Binders can be found at Office Depot for $4.89 a piece!

These Mead 5-Star folders are 3-hole-punched and contain 4 pockets, around $1.89 a folder.

You can match your folders for class with these colored dividers, found at Office Depot, to make your organization even better (and more fun!)

$.99 for 5 Divider

Depending on the type of pen you like to use, you could either purchase :

Pilot Precise Pens # 3 for $3.27 @ Target

Or

Ballpoint Stick Pen from Target @ $.99 for 20

In addition to being prepared for class, having some extra supplies in your dorm room doesn’t hurt.  Here are a few things that I felt helped me out:

Post It Notes

These were my favorite… you could find them all over the place in my dorm.  Anytime I received a reminder I would write it down on a post it note and stick it on my computer screen or keyboard so I wouldn’t forget.

A Wall Calendar

In addition to a planner, a wall calendar is good because you can write down all of the dates again and have it fresh in your mind AND in your face.  Place it somewhere in your room where you will never be able to miss it.

Highlighters

As much as people try to avoid highlighting in books, I recommend it.  Highlight the main points throughout the chapters that way, when it comes to test time, you don’t have to reread the ENTIRE chapter – just the things you thought were important the first time through!

There is less than a month left for some of you heading off to school, so good luck with the rest of your shopping … and remember, have fun with it!!

Kristin Marie is a College Lifestyles (TM) Intern, who just graduated from William Paterson University with a B.A in Journalism and Public Relations.  She is a sister of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and a huge fan of random road trips and Dave Matthews Band.

“Espress” Yourself … Helpful Tips For My Coffee Lovers!

Coffee is by far one of my favorite things in the world, and being that the warm weather has now been graced upon us – that can only mean one thing in the Java World …. ICED COFFEE!

We all love Dunkin Donuts, and Starbucks is pretty amazing too… and until I figured out these helpful hints on how to make good iced coffee, I was going broke to get my caffeine fix…

So, for those of you who LOVE your coffee but think you don’t have the funds to pay for it… I’m here to make your summer a little bit better and share my secrets.

Helpful Hint # 1

Strength Is Everything!

The key to a good iced coffee is brewing it a little stronger then you usually would. (EX. – If you were making 6 cups of coffee, usually you would use 3 tablespoons of coffee grinds – for iced coffee, use 4!)

Helpful Hint # 2 (Thanks Mom!!)

Coffee Ice Cubes

Don’t Waste A Drop!! Take That leftover coffee from this morning and pour it in an ice cube tray, stick it in the freezer and WAALAHHH - No More Watered Down Iced Coffeee!

Helpful Hint # 3

Spice It Up!

Before you brew your coffee, add a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the grinds (or whatever spice you like), then brew away! Before you know it, you’ve got cinnamon coffee (and the coffee ice cubes to ice it down with!)

LASTLY…..

Helpful Hint # 4

Add A Little Flavor

Flavored Coffee Syrups can help add to the delightfulness of a summer iced coffee. But, be careful with this one, because if it isn’t done right you can end up spending too much! My personal favorite (found in A&P and Acme Markets all over the U.S) is Torani . Torani Syrups are about $4.99 a bottle (cheaper if you order online!) and last forever! My personal favorite is the Sugar Free French Vanilla!

And just to throw it out here, my favorite brand of coffee is Folger’s, I totally agree with them, it is “the best part of waking up!”

Hope this helps you all find your favorite tasty, cheap, caffeinated beverage!

xOx

Kristin Marie

Meet Kristin Marie

Hey Everyone!

I’m so excited to be interning with College Lifestyles (and all the amazing women!) .  A little about me…  My name is Kristin Weinstein, and I will be receiving my B.A in Communications (PR/ Journalism) from William Paterson University in August!  I am a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau (Gamma Chi Chapter!) , I have held many positions (President, New Member Director and Assistant, and so many more!)  and it was the best decision I have ever made!  I have a little sister named Sara who is by far my BEST friend, and I love reading and writing!  I am an outdoorsy kind of girl with a big Jersey heart .  Want to know more, just ask!

Now, for the fun stuff!  I’m here to write what you want to read!  Don’t hesitate to give me ideas!  You are the audience and we do this for you! 

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!

xOx

Kristin Marie

A few things about me…

Hi, I’m Erica, a Michigan native, and senior at Albion College as well as a CollegeLifestyles Intern. I am double majoring in Psychology and Women’s Studies. After graduation, I hope to attend graduate school for a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. My life is based around academics, Greek life and sports. I am a member of Psi Chi, which is the national honorary for psychology. I am a member of Phi Mu Rho Epsilon chapter, where I have served as the PR chair and I am currently the Social co-chair. I am also a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Iota Pi chapter, where I was the Social chair. I am a member of the Albion College Women’s Cross Country and the Track& Field team. And my love of sports also continues off the track; I love watching hockey, softball and basketball. In my spare time, I love spending time with my sorority sisters including late night trips for food, reading books for fun whenever possible, listening to music and having as much fun as possible.

I want to bring a new perspective to CollegeLifestyles, a perspective of a sorority woman who does not live with her sisters, but loves spending time with them. A perspective of a sorority woman who attends a small, private liberal arts college and who has figured out how to balance Greek life, athletics and academics. A perspective of a sorority woman who has lived in the Detroit suburbs all her life and still thinks looking out across Lake St. Clair is worthwhile. A few of my blog ideas are incorporating exercise into your week especially during finals time, covering major sporting events such as the Stanley Cup finals or the Women’s Collegiate World Series and the Women’s Final Four in the spring as well as how to balance a social life and school work.

What a Way to Start the Morning!!!

Call us a bit sassy, but flattery makes one feel ‘oh so good!’