Whistle While You Work

It's a rather popular children's song.  'Whistle While You Work,' from the movie 'Snow White.'  

The point of the song is to essentially tell children that a bit of a song whilst cleaning up can make the cleaning go a lot smoother, and with a lot less complaints.  Of course, the song also insinuates that you will have all your little forest friends to help you with the dishes, which, I can tell you from experience, is completely false.  You are all by yourself in the cleaning up.  But, I will admit that listening to music or putting on a movie as background noise while you work is actually very effective.  It still takes two hours to clean out the closet, but it is easier to clean when Andy Dufresne is toiling away in prison and making friends with Morgan Freeman right next to you.  

The concept is the same, even it is less 'cleaning up' and more of a 'packing up your entire life into boxes that definitely fit all this stuff in here on the way back down so where did all this extra crap come from anyway?' type of thing.  

Therefore, I would suggest putting off the packing up of the iPod speakers or the television away for as long as possible.  Keeping the iPod on relatively upbeat songs will help, though if your neighbors or roommates are also listening to music, various genres can sometimes clash a bit.  This is fine, and at least you aren't alone with your thoughts when you are trying to figure out just how things will fit together in their boxes, and then in your car.  

A movie or music is definitely a welcome distraction from the tedium of cleaning.  And more often than not, 'packing' turns into 'cleaning' very quickly.

Movies certainly believe this about themselves.  Especially Disney.  Enchanted, Mary Poppins, Snow White, Cinderella and quite a few others have either a 'moving' scene or at the very least a 'clean up' scene, and all of them utilize song and dance and sometimes animals to make it more appealing.  Because of this, I believe, I now find it impossible to even attempt to clean or move without some kind of aural or visual stimulation.  

It works especially well if in the movie the characters are cleaning up as well.  Or, even better, if their situation is about a million times worse than yours.  You can enjoy the movie, clean up, and be very glad that all you have to do is figure out how to make your boxes defy all the laws of physics in order to pack everything up--it's easier than trying to save the world or escape from prison or crazy government agents, or dealing with any action move plot ever.

Moving Out, sans Stress

Finals are over and you’re thinking there is nothing standing between you and a summer filled with cook outs, laying out by the pool, and trips to your friends’ beach houses. Sadly, though I wish it was, this is not true. Gone are the lazy summers, and here are the summers filled with work, internships, summer classes, and maybe the most stressful of them all: moving out.

Many people place moving into the category of the most stressful events, along with death, divorce, and illness (read more about it here). So here are a few tips to deal with that stress.

Organize your stuff ahead of time. This might be one of the easiest ways to reduce stress while moving. Go through all of your things few weeks before the big move, and decide what you want to take with you, what you can sell, and what you want to donate or just throw away. This way, when the time comes to actually pack and move, you simply have to pack up your things and move them instead of sorting through everything and packing all at the same time.

No one wants this to be their moving experience.

Organizing beforehand also minimizes the actual amount of moving you have to do. If you get rid of everything you don’t need, you won’t have to pack and move as many things.

If possible, move in little by little. This year, I am moving out from my apartment and into a huge house downtown, and my leases overlap by a month. Instead of moving all my stuff at once, and I do have a lot of stuff, I plan on moving in a little at a time so I won’t get overwhelmed.

My house for next year!

Unfortunately, I am moving from a fully furnished apartment into a completely unfurnished house. This is what I have been stressing out about the most, but I have calmed down after a bit of planning. Moving into an unfurnished place can be really stressful, especially for college students, because furniture is expensive. A great way to find furniture is to ask around. I am not a fan of getting used furniture from people I don’t know or thrift stores, but I will ask my parents or family friends if they have a couch that they no longer need. In my experience, many people are more than willing to help out us poor college students, especially when we will be taking things that they don’t want anymore but don’t know what to do with.

Get organized and plan ahead to make moving less stressful, and you will be able to host your own cook outs at your new place.

Lisa Garsson

Have a Potluck!

Moving out of the dorms or an apartment can be very stressful. There is so much to pack and so little time to do it. One thing you do not want to have to worry about is what to do with all that leftover or half-opened foods. A great way to get rid of those extras is to have a potluck with friends! A potluck is a gathering of friends, where each person brings a dish to be shared with everyone.

There are so many different ways you can incorporate leftover foods into new, delicious dishes. Look through your refrigerator, cabinets, and/or pantry and make a list of everything you have that you need to get rid of. Take note of the main meat ingredients you have, such as chicken, steak, or hamburger meat. These will be the main ingredients of the meal you choose to cook. Below are some ideas for what to do with leftover foods!
Chicken
1. Make chicken quesadillas.
Need:

~Chicken, soft tortillas, cheese, sour cream, lettuce

2. Throw it on top of a caesar salad.
Need:

~Lettuce or spinach, chicken, shredded parmesan cheese, croutons, caesar dressing

Hamburger (ground beef)
1. Mix taco salad.
Need:

~Ground beef (browned in a pan), shredded cheese, taco seasoning, Tostitos chips, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream

2. Stir into chili.
Need:

~Ground beef,can of kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped onions, chopped green pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, salt & pepper, shredded cheddar cheese

Steak
1. Saute it for an easy teriyaki stir-fry.
Need:

~Steak, teriyaki sauce, vegetables (broccoli, peppers, carrots), brown rice

2. Wrap up some fajitas.
Need:

~Steak, tortillas, red pepper, green pepper, onion, steak sauce (to marinade)

Vegetables
1. Cook into an omelette.
Need:

~Vegetables, eggs, shredded cheese

2. Make vegetable soup.
Need:

~Yellow zucchini, carrots, brown rice, tomatoes, cauliflower, diced onions, olive oil, minced garlic, chicken broth, oregano, italian seasoning

Fruit
1. Chop up for fruit salad.
Need:

~Fruit of your choice, chopped and mixed together

2. Blend a smoothie.
Need:

~Frozen fruit, orange juice, plain yogurt, ice

An app for the iPhone or iPad that I use when I am deciding what to make is called DinnerSpinner by allrecipes.com. You just choose a dish type, select an ingredient and then how long you have to make the recipe. After clicking "View Matches", the app gives you some tasty recipes to make with the information you've given it! For example, if you choose "Dessert", "Fruit", and "20 min or less", it gives you recipes for everything from chocolate covered strawberries to cream cheese blueberry pie! The app also lets you search for specific recipes, or search for special recipes, like ones that contain "No Dairy" or "No Wheat". It also has search options for recipes that are high in fiber and low in fat! This helpful search app will definitely come in handy when trying to use up all that leftover food!

Moving Out: Cleaning up your dorm room

Campus Collegiate: Home and Living

Finals are over, the stress has left your body and you are ready to go home and not move from the  couch for approximately 3 months. That is until you look around and realize that your room is still filled with all the miscellaneous junk you collected this year and you don't know where to begin packing. No worries because, as always, I'm here with some tips to help you get all moved out and on with your summer. I got inspiration from quite a few sites but the one that I liked the best was from Youngadults.about.com. My tips are below and they are very close to home because I am currently working on packing up myself since I move out next Thursday.

1. Actually throw things away.

This is the hardest tip for me personally because I save anything and everything I can. I have a whole desk drawer of cards, notes, tickets, programs, pamphlets and so much more. The hardest part of moving out for me is cleaning out this drawer. I know deep inside that it is necessary because f I did manage to bring it all home I would have nowhere to put it. Throwing away the things in your room that you know you'll never use again is the easiest way to rid yourself of clutter and make it so you have a lot less to pack up.

2. Sell your books.

I recommend keeping books from your major that you think you'll be able to use later. You should take all of your other books to the bookstore at your college and try to get at least a few dollars. The other tip for selling books that some people do not know about is shipping them to Amazon. All you have to do is acquire a box to put the books in (which is usually very easy to get from someone in your dorm at this time of year) and print a shipping code and tape it to the box. The code makes it is absolutely free to ship your books to them and a lot of time they give you more money than you could otherwise get. Selling your books is a win-win because you'll get some money and you don't have so many heavy items weighing down your boxes.

3. Pack in items you already own.

Most of us don't realize how many storage units we already own in our room. If you don't, however, it is definitely time to invest. 

These bins are from Wal-Mart. You get two of them for $10.94 and they are well worth the investment. 

If you already have storage bins like I do, simply clean them out and get rid of the unnecessary items in them and add clothes and other items that you need to pack to them. This is the easiest way to kill two birds with one stone.

4. Fold those clothes up.

For me packing up my clothes is the biggest headache. As a girl, I do not care that my dorm room closet is laughably tiny and I still bring my whole wardrobe with me. This is great for fashion purposes, but not so much for moving out. I found a really great YouTube clip that shows how to fold various types of clothing so they are small and space saving. I highly encourage you to fold like this when packing up at the end of the year. It does take a little bit longer while folding, but it makes it so much easier than carrying bags upon bags of clothes down the stairs for hours. 

That's all I have for you. I know that packing and moving out is extremely stressful and I hope these four little tips make your life even a tad bit easier during this time of year. Just remember, this is the last step you have to take before you take your first step onto that sandy beach you've been dreaming of.

If you are a polar bear (I'm looking at you boys) please help the ladies take down their heavier items.

Jenna Danzig

Campus Collegiate

Weekly Theme: Moving Out

As it is that time of year where school comes to an end, it can be overwhelming when it is time to pack up your room. Check out some tips on how you can make moving out, whether it be a dorm or an apartment, less stressful!

Entertainment: Finals Week

Finals Week.  If you are anything like me, those two words are two of the worst words ever used in conjunction with each other.  Just the sound of them makes me want to hide.   You know the feeling.  For a while, you become the screaming man.

                              

Believe me.  I know.  And, if you don’t have an actual final test I am sure you have final projects which, in my opinion are worse than the test anyway.  Whichever is your predicament, I am sure you agree on one thing: finals suck.  We all hate them, we all wish they didn’t exist.  Unless you are like Hermione Granger, but she was just a bit weird when it came to school.

               

Anyway, when finals are stressing you to the point where you are tearing your own hair out, it is time for a break.  Date Nights are a good way to de-stress, if only for a few hours.  Often times, there are also events on campus that can give you a few hours reprieve from studying.  If you have a dance club of some sort, it is possible that they are having a last dance of the year.  Dancing can be a really fun was to spend a few hours away from the books.

Having a movie night with some friends can help too.  Cramming doesn’t actually work, and often, when studying, you get to that point where nothing is sticking anyway.  It’s like the material is a rookie ice-skater and you are the ice.  They slide right off.  If you are at that point, you are not being productive anyway.  It is time for a break.  Chances are, you are not the only one simply pretending to study at that point.  Find someone else and watch a movie that you’ve seen a thousand times; Disney movies are usually good for this, but any movie will do.  Well, any movie that you can sort of be suitably brain dead for, long enough to recharge. 

Real life doesn’t work like movies.  In movies and TV shows, either finals are portrayed as no big deal, maybe there is about thirty seconds devoted to people actually testing, and then it goes back to having a good time, or they are shown as a huge deal, but the main character never studies and does wonderfully anyway (incidentally, I wouldn’t recommend watching movies like this.  Both will give false impressions).  The truth is, finals are important.  At least as far as passing the class is concerned.  In the real world, no one will ask you what did you get on your history final sophomore year of college.  But because moving on in college requires you to pass your finals, you can’t expect to just breeze through them.  Study, but be smart about it.  It really is OK to take breaks.  In fact, if you don’t, you aren’t helping yourself at all.  So study a bit, then take a break to have some fun.  You won’t pass anything if you turn into a zombie.

Staying Healthy During Finals

It's that time of the year again: finals week. This slowly approaching week means stress, overcaffination, and awkward eating times. Staying healthy, mentally and physically is an important part of exams week. There are a number of tips that can allow you to stay focused and perform your best on your exams.

Believe it or not, there are tons of foods that can help you through this stressful time. Blueberries are said to improve learning capacity. Eggs, which are high in choline, helps improve memory functions. Dark chocolate helps brains deal with free radicals, which can have damaging affects on the brain (just make sure to eat it in moderation).

When at the library, you don't want to be running to the vending machine constantly. Some great snacks to bring along with you are:

-Apples and peanut butter (or banana and peanut butter)

-Carrots and ranch dressing

-Cliff bars

-Yogurt

-Whole grain crackers and cheese

Many of these items, such as the yogurt, crackers, cheese, and peanut butter, help stabilize blood sugar and increase the clarity of your thinking. Some foods to avoid, though, are carbs high in starch. These include items such as bagels and bread. High amounts of carbs creates a relaxation effect, which makes you tired. That's is not something you want when trying to cram for that history exam!

The number one rule of staying healthy during finals week, though, is to stay hydrated. Dehydration is an easy way to lose concentration. In the HerCampus article "Survival of the Fittest: Eating Healthy During Finals", they give great tips on how liquids affect your body. Water or non-sugary options like crystal light packets are great choices to stay hydrated. When it comes to coffee and other types of caffeine, drink it in moderation. Large amounts of caffeine cause your blood sugar levels and mood fluctuate, causing you to become mentally and physically exhausted.

And remember, the best thing you can do at the start of your day is to eat breakfast, according to 10 Tips for Healthy Eating During Exams. By keeping your body and brain healthy, you will succeed during finals week! 

Madison

Campus Collegiate

Finals Week: Study Tips

College students are known for their ability to procrastinate. Pulling an all-nighter once in a while may not seem like a big deal, but there is no way you will be able to do that during finals week. Preparing for the dreaded week might take a little bit of time, but you will feel better, and chances are, you will do better on your exam. Following these simple tips will make finals week go by like a breeze.

An important question to ask yourself when getting ready to study is where to go? Do you study at home? In your bed or at your desk? Or maybe you want to get serious and join the majority of students who flock to the library. What if your school has more than one library though, how do you choose between the two?

First, think of what makes you feel more comfortable. One library might be older, smell like old books, and have more worn-in furniture. The other might be newer, have fewer books, and seem less like a library. Personally, the library I choose depends on what time of the day it is. I choose the older one during the day, but the newer one at night. Don’t ask why. But whatever library you feel comfortable with is the one you should go for.

After getting off your couch, getting dinner, filling up your gas tank, running an errand or two, you have finally made it to the library. The last thing you want to realize when you get there is that you have forgotten something. Making sure you have everything you need before hitting the library will save you from the pain of driving all the way home later.

I always bring whatever folders, notebooks, and books I need for the night, as well as a planner (I cannot live without one). I also usually need index cards, my computer, my iPod, Chap Stick, pens, and highlighters. In case I get hungry I normally bring a snack and water (in a reusable cup, of course).

Many students think that staying up all night is the best study method, and I have to admit that I am guilty of that as well. In reality though, I always feel terrible the next day and I don’t think those extra couple of hours studying really helps. Instead, plan ahead. Making a study guide a few days before your test, and going over it a few times before the test is a much more effective way of studying. Doing this will reiterate the material in your head, as well as letting you get the beauty rest you need.

Fuel is important too. I am often tempted to order a pizza late at night when I am studying because it’s delicious and easy. Afterwards, I never feel good and I always regret eating those greasy slices. Instead, opt for some fish, fresh fruit, or eggs to keep you full and focused (look here for more healthy options).

Lisa

Finals Week: Organization

Campus Collegiate: Home and Living

It stresses you out, makes absolutely sure you are nice and sleep deprived, turns you into a zombie wearing clothes that you would never be caught dead in on a normal basis and basically turns you into a walking disaster.

That’s right…. it’s finals week.

I’m here with only four tips that will help you keep calm and make sure everything in your life is in tip-top shape to improve your study habits and get you prepared for those inevitable all-nighters.

1. Organize your notes.

Over the weeks that shiny folder has become full of miscellaneous clutter that is not helping you figure out exactly what the author meant in fill in cliché English book here. Clean up. Throw away anything that you don’t need and focus only on what is going to be on your final. Highlight key points, make flashcards, do anything and everything that you know will help you. This site has good tips on how to actually take notes, as well as organize them: http://www.brighthub.com/education/college/articles/67987.aspx.

I am partial to flashcards because I don’t retain information by simply reading it. A newer tool I have been utilizing is the “Droid Flashcard” app on my phone (free from the Market). I know that Apple has flashcard apps for the iPhone, but I haven’t used any personally because I have a Droid. If anyone knows of a good iPhone app, I would really appreciate a comment with one. On my app, I can type things up directly on my phone, but better yet, I can type everything I need on my computer and sync or send it to my phone. It is so much easier than writing out and carrying around a tower of index cards

2. Let in the light!

We all know that library’s are disgustingly crowded during finals week and finding a table to sprawl out on is almost as impossible as denying how unbelievably gorgeous Ryan Gosling is. Don’t fight the crowds and add another stressor to your life, just turn your room into a place you can actually get work done! Make sure you have lots of light on your desk. I found a nice lamp at Wal-Mart for only $6. I posted the link to it below. Don’t forget that they have price matching, so print this out and head to your local Wal-Mart for a cheap light source.

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Architect-Lamp-Black/16533259

3. Smell the success.

The sense of smell is a very powerful thing. For finals week, it can even calm you down. Lavender has been proven to have an aromatherapy effect that calms your senses. Don’t burn incense and set off the fire alarm (making you a dorm of enemies) and instead buy a Glade Plugin. I went with the Lavender and Vanilla one for the week. You can, again, go to Wal-Mart and get the Plugin with two scented oil refills for only $4.88. I highly recommend this one.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Glade-Plugins-2-Lavender-Vanilla-Refills-Scented-Oil-1.42-fl-oz/11046027 

4. Hear the triumph.

Show those tests that you deserve a 3.5 GPA this semester and study while listening to classical music. We've all heard that classical music can help, but is this true? Here is one study from the University of Nebraska at Omaha that claims classical music can help while studying: http://music.arts.usf.edu/rpme/effects.htm. There are countless classical music stations on free music site Pandora. I always study while listening to Pandora’s  Classical Music Medley station. 

Use these four tips and just remember, it’s only a test! You’ll be home soon enough, eating homemade food and playing with your dog (or cat or fish). Take it one day at a time and you’ll make it through. I promise.

Jenna Danzig

Campus Collegiate

Weekly Theme: Finals

With finals coming up we're here to help alleviate some of life's stresses for you. Read on to get some tips on how to help with that dreaded week.

Date Night: Budget Friendly Meal

Whether it is a first date or you have been dating for some time, a great date option is cooking dinner together. As college students on a budget, this is a great dare idea when you are looking for something cheap, and fun, to do, and do not want to pay for overpriced restaurant food. Making dinner together also allows you to find out so much more about the person you are dating, such as their likes and dislikes. It also allows you to get your flirt on (cue the mini food fight!).

My favorite recipe to make is Chicken Teriyaki with rice and vegetables. It is a cheap, easy meal to make and packed with protein, and you only need a few ingredients! Here's what you need to make this delicious meal:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Teriyaki sauce (I like Soy Vay: Teriyaki Sauce Veri Veri Teriyaki)

2 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice- Teriyaki Style

2 Steamfresh Fresh Frozen Vegetables- Asian Medley

Put both chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag with enough Teriyaki sauce to cover both breasts. Let them marinate in the refrigerator for an hour (you might want to prepare these before getting ready so they are ready to go when your date arrives). When ready to cook, take the chicken breasts out and cut into cubes. Pour a little teriyaki sauce on a pan to lightly coat it, and place the cubes in the pan on medium heat. While they are cooking in the pan, have your date pop your rice in the microwave for the instructed time and pour into a serving bowl. Do the same for the vegetables. When the chicken is completely cooked (make sure to cut some open to check that all the pink is gone), you are ready to serve your meal! If you would like, pour some teriyaki sauce on your veggies and rice!

This is a simple and budget-friendly meal to make, and you will impress your date with your chef skills! It is a great option for college students and very tasty!

Madison,

Campus Collegiate

Date Night: Balancing School and a Social Life

 As full time students, we are often overwhelmed with schoolwork, but most of us place a lot of importance on friends and having fun. It can be hard for many students to find that right balance between school and our social lives, but putting a little bit of thought and preparation into your schedule can save you from scrambling around later.

Say you get asked out on a date, do you quickly panic, thinking you might have to decline because you have a test the next day? If so, take a second to gather yourself, and say yes to a night of being wined and dined.

If you have a dinner date planned for Wednesday, but find out you have a test on Thursday morning, there is no need to cancel and break your man’s heart. Start studying early in the week, little by little, so you won’t be overwhelmed the night before the test. By doing this, you can make sure you have a good time out while being confident you’re ready for the test.

Many of us have breaks in between classes that last about an hour or longer. If you normally go home to nap, or use that break to catch up on your Facebook stalking, change your habits to fit upcoming events. Even though those breaks might seem like too short of a period of time to get much done, the productivity will add up and help you get everything done on time.

Preparing for your date doesn’t mean just getting all your schoolwork out of the way, it’s important that you take care of yourself too. No one wants to go on a date feeling exhausted and tense from a long week of tests, papers, and projects. Before your date treat yourself to some pampering. Get a mani/pedi, enjoy a bubble bath with scented candles and your favorite magazine, or splurge on a massage. When you have taken the time out of your day to focus on yourself, you will feel and look your best.

Lisa Garsson

Date Night Fashion

The hard part’s over; you have a date for tomorrow night. Time to sit back, relax and fantasize about how wonderful your evening is going to be. You’re in bliss until the pit in your stomach presents itself, your palms get clammy, your heartbeat starts quickening and a sense of panic begins to set in. You have $20 in your wallet and nothing to wear tomorrow.

Well with twenty dollars you can get easily yourself a manicure, a new outfit and maybe some accessories.

1. The first thing you should try to complete that perfect ensemble is to simply dress up what you already own. We all have those pieces that end up hidden in the depths of the underworld that is our closet that we forgot about months ago. It's time to dig them out and shake off the dust. Now that it's spring it's the perfect opportunity, not to mention that it's prime sundress weather.

Take this belt for example: 

You can get it at Wet Seal  for only $6.99. I am partial to buying accessories for one-time events, rather than a whole new getup because you can wear them numerous times with different pieces and they'll always look fresh and different.

2. Even though you own plenty of outfits, none seem fitting enough for this night. If you simply insist that you can not find a single decent piece of fabric in your possession, there are plenty of cheap options for you. I took a trip to my local Goodwill in Harrisonburg, VA and, to be honest, I was deeply worried about what I would find. To my delight I came across found two dresses that I would actually wear.

This little black dress was made of a tight fitting fabric and came with a built-in bra and pockets.

                                 

The hot pink A-line dress is flattering on every body type and flowed perfectly on my short frame.

 

 
The best thing about these two cute little numbers is the fact that they were only $4 each. If that's not shopping on a college budget, I don't know what is.

3. So now that your clothing is all set I did mention something about a manicure. The newest fad in the nail world are the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips. I am personally obsessed with them. They are $8.50 at Wal-Mart, which may sound expensive, but I challenge you to find a nail studio that will give you a manicure for anything less than $10.
         
These strips come in over 30 colors and styles and I am willing to try them all. One of my favorites is the "Laced Up" pattern.

For this week I went with "Bling it On" which is one of the girliest patterns to choose from, being filled entirely with hot pink glitter.

They've been on for five days now and only one has chipped a little by my cuticle. The kits come with a file, buffer and all the tools to put the strips on, which is actually very simple with the help of the instructions. The only recommendation I would add is to add a top coat of clear polish to ensure that they last even a bit longer then the 10 days they claim to.

So like I promised a manicure and a new outfit or accessories for under $20 to get you ready for that certain someone (who, by the way, should like you no matter what you're wearing).

If anyone knows of any other cheap stores or websites to find some outfits, comment below because I would love to hear them.

Now get out there and have a fantastic night.

Jenna Danzig
Campus Collegiate

Date Night Entertainment

Campus Collegiate: Entertainment

It's Friday night.  Or possibly Saturday.  Time to curl up with a good movie, a bowel of popcorn, and a good book.  Or maybe that is just me.  Yes, hailing from the land of the perpetually single, 'date nights,' though exceedingly popular with the general college community are somewhat of a mystery to me.

Now, there is nothing at all wrong with being single, and not having a date on Friday or Saturday isn't the end of the world.  On occasion, it grants me some much needed 'me time' especially as the year winds down and there are a thousand projects due all at once.   If, like me, you are spending your weekends free of a significant other, fret not!  You can still enjoy your weekend, sans partner.

Granted, sometimes from the stand point of Friday afternoon, the weekend can look pretty desolate and endless.  You can almost see the tumbleweeds.

But, no matter!  Chances are, you are not the only person who doesn't have a date.  Now, if you are absolutely set on going out, this is when it is time to take matters into your own hands, and take the first step.  Don't expect people to call you.  You have hands, so use them to call up, or at the very least, text, a few friends.  Don't be discouraged if people don't answer right away, that is why you are doing it ahead of time.  People set up dates several days before hand, there is no reason not to plan your weekend on Thursday.

Group dates can be a lot of fun.  It is a cliche, but dinner and a movie can be one of the best things to do, especially if you are underage.  It is easier than you would think to find cheap, delicious places to eat--all you have to do is be a bit willing to experiment.  But that is part of the fun too.  Even a bad experience can be enjoyable if six other people are in the same situation.  At the very least you'll get some jokes out of it.

Some things you can do as a couple or as a group.  If you are over 21, going to a local bar can be fun, especially if they offer things such as dancing or pool.  Arcades can be enjoyable as well, because, let's face it, we all like regressing to childhood every now and then.  Sometimes that means spending too much money on rigged arcade games or playing wack-a-mole, sometimes it means going on a picnic and playing on a playground.  For more cheap date ideas, go to http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/relationship-issues/cheap-date-ideas#slide-1.  There are ideas there for both couples and groups.

So, if you are tired of spending your weekends alone, maybe it is time to take the initiative and call up some friends.  Who knows, next time, they might call you.  Either way, you won't have to spend the weekend alone on the couch if you don't want to.  You only have the memories you make happen, so why not start now?

by: Lauren Schneider

Weekly Theme: Date Night

It's time to take that lucky lady (or gentleman) out. Let us help you get everything you need ready for the big night.

Spring 10 Day Real Food Challenge

While April showers brings May flowers, warm weather certainly brings anxiety over the impending spring dresses, shorts, and bikini season. To get my eating habits back on track for the warm weather, I decided to take the 10 DayReal Food Challenge, created by Lisa Leake. She originally created a blog called 100 Days of Real Food to share how her and her family "pledged to go 100 solid days without eating a single ounce of highly processed or refined food."

I began my 10 Day Real Food Challenge on March 28, 2012. As I live on campus, I knew this would be very hard. Meals in campus dining halls are either already prepared or seem healthy, but have elements that aren’t. I was determined to stick to my plan and share with others how to find healthy options while in college, whether on campus or off!

The challenge has Real Food Rules to follow, which includes what you can and cannot eat. For example, it says to eat lots of veggies and fruit, but to stay away from foods that come out of a box, can, bag, bottle or package that has more than 5 ingredients listed on the label (yikes!).

I sort of had a hard time transitioning into this challenge. When going to eat a meal, it took me a lot longer to figure out what to eat, because I really had to think if it followed the guidelines. But, I actually really enjoyed this process. It helped me really think about the things I was putting into my body and made me more informative about foods that I thought were healthy. I really liked having a strict set of guidelines, but that also made it difficult when eating on campus. Since I couldn't go out and buy what was on the list, I had to make do with what was in dining halls.

While at times I cheated a little, such as when I would get hummus and veggies on a spinach wrap (any wheat products are supposed to be real whole wheat), I gained an overall healthier outlook on my eating habits. I feel so much healthier and as though I have more energy. I have found items that I enjoy eating and don't completely miss the things I had to turn down during my challenge.

I have continued to incorporate this challenge into my lifestyle, even after the 10 days were up. I know it will be easier to follow this challenge more strictly when I am living off campus next year, and am excited about that! I would recommend this challenge to everyone, and think it has been a great way to get back on track to a healthier body and outlook, especially for these upcoming warm weather seasons!

Madison Smith

Campus Collegiate