College-Style |
| Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:28 AM PST By: Emily of The University of Georgia. Follow me @emilyhovis. Walk through any mall this week and you'll be greeted by a joyous chorus of "It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year." Walk through any library or student learning center on your campus this week and you'll be greeted by a delirious chorus of "I just can't wait for this to be over." It's finals time, and if you're like most college students, you're reading this article right now because you would rather do anything other than read another page of your "Geosystems: Forces Changing our World" textbook. During finals time (let's be honest, all semester long), I become a procrastinating goddess. Over the past few days, I have vigorously cleaned my room, discovered a newfound love for baking, watched ten episodes of Man Men and made more trips to the gym than I have all semester, all in the name of putting off the inevitable studying. As someone who has found themselves relying on a final exam to raise my grade multiple times, I’m here to share with you my tried and true tips for getting through these next few weeks with both your sanity and your GPA intact.
We’ve all been here. Photo credit. At my school, starting December 5th, our student learning center is open 24/7 until finals are done. While an all-night cram session may seem like the solution to your study woes, let me speak from experience, it isn't. You can read the entire textbook from cover to cover the night before the test, but if you haven't gotten at least four solid hours of sleep in, the chances of you retaining your newfound knowledge are slim to none. During these stressful times, it's easy to run our bodies ragged. Many of us eat exclusively from the top triangle of the food pyramid, and we drink coffee like it's our job. I can't tell you how many times I've over-caffeinated myself and instead of spending a productive night studying, I've chosen to exert my extra energy on planning vacations to Canada. True story. Another painful situation to find yourself in is being wide awake at four in the morning, unable to fall asleep, watching the clock tick closer to sunrise because you have consumed so much caffeine. Lastly, don't let the stress of it all get to you. Take a nap. Go for a jog. Sing Glee songs at the top of your lungs. Do whatever it takes to get your mind far away from the enormity of finals. So, for your body's sake, take it easy on the caffeine and the junk food, and try to maintain your normal schedule as much as possible.
Rewarding yourself with exercises kills two birds with one stone. Photo Credit. When it's crunch time, my biggest problem is procrastination. I will do anything to avoid having to study or write an essay. I always know that I have reached the point of no return when I find myself cleaning my kitchen floors. Once my apartment is spotless, however, and I finally sit down in front of my computer, my problems with procrastination are far from over. I have developed a really great routine where I check Facebook and then Twitter. After heading on over to Pinterest, I check my email, and then, the routine begins again. I suddenly become interested in reading scandalous articles about celebrities I've never heard of, and I discover new internet memes so that I can stay relevant. I am my own worst enemy. Fortunately, I've found a solution: I enlist one of my roommates to change all of my passwords (before surrendering your life to someone, make sure that they aren't cruel and vindictive or you'll end up telling your Facebook friends about your recent bowel issues…). Another tip I've found that works for me is rewarding myself. Now, when I finish reading a chapter, I crank out some sit-ups. It is the only time in my life that I actually look forward to doing sit-ups, and the rewards are two-fold (unlike your stomach). Lastly, the best way to survive finals is by being prepared. Map out your schedule and determine when you're going to study for what. If you have a set schedule that you have to stick to, it's much easier to force yourself to sit down and hit the books. Stay organized and make sure you plan plenty of breaks to keep you sane. Happy studies! Thoughts?What are your tips for studying? How do you beat the studying blues? Comment below, email us at info@college-style.com, or tweet us @CollegeStyle12 or me @emilyhovis. We love to hear what you guys think! |
| Fur Fetish, a Hot Winter Trend Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:53 AM PST What’s warm and chic and fuzzy all over? This winter's runway! One of the biggest and most unusual statement styles for this season is the fur trend. The runway was taken by storm and we saw designers from Marc Jacobs to Louis Vuitton reinventing this wild trend, from boots to coats, and even dresses. As with many of the trends we fall in love with on the runway, celebs immediately adopted it. I think it’s safe to say fur will be with us for at least the season and with it’s warmth and timeless qualities, it’s definitely worthy of consideration as the latest addition to your winter wardrobe.
History of the TrendFur is the oldest form of clothing, as our ancestors found it was the material nature had adapted to be an excellent defense against the oftentimes cruel winter elements, including cold, snow, wind and ice. While it is still widely used in colder climates, most of the world has discovered cheaper materials with which to make clothing more suited to our lifestyles. As far as its history in the fashion world, faux furs were originally manufactured in the 1920s and came to be considered something of a luxury item. This trend makes me think of Disney’s Cruella De Vil who is constantly seen in her massive white and red fur coat and brandishing a cigar. While fur today goes in and out of fashion, it’s a reoccurring trend and a tasteful piece that should never go out of style.
Ways to Wear FurFur can easily be incorporated into an outfit with just one piece. Maybe that’s just a touch, like a furry beret or even a keychain, but fur lovers can easy graduate their style to boots, a vest or a fur-lined coat. My personal favorites are the earmuffs, trapper hats and the fur-lined gloves, as they’re casual enough to wear everyday around my campus. You can find each of these pieces at various online retailers for under fifty dollars and they would make fun and fashion-forward additions to your winter wear! 
Ethical ConsiderationsVegans and animal rights activists make their case against fur clothing, as its manufacturing can be considered inhumane. A counter argument to this is that it is far more environmentally responsible, as fake fur is made of artificial chemical substances. I am an advocate in wearing what you like and whatever makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. Personally, I think that since fake fur is generally cheaper and oftentimes just as cute, it’s a better option for most of us. If wearing fur isn’t your thing,however, that’s fine.
Thoughts?Where do you fall on the fur issue? Ugly and inhumane or fashion-forward and fabulous? Will this trend be making it into your winter wardrobe? Let us know what you think by commenting below or sending an e-mail to info@college-style.com. We look forward to hearing your thoughts! |
| Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:56 AM PST By: Emily of The University of Georgia. Follow me @emilyhovis. It's the holidays and you want to show all of your friends just how much they mean to you. There's a slight kink in the plan, however — your bank account is a smaller number than the number on the scale. Don't worry, we've all been there (I've set up a permanent residence there). Fortunately, I've got a few ideas to share with you that will allow you to still participate in all of the gift giving, while still having enough money to eat and to drink copious amounts of Starbuck's Holiday coffees. This year, my group of friends and I decided to do a Secret Santa gift exchange. One night, we all got together and decorated ornaments, ate cookies and watched The Holiday. Then, at the end of the night, we each drew a name from a stocking. We set a $25 limit, and a few weeks later, we all got back together to exchange our gifts. It was a great way to get into the gift giving spirit, and everyone ended up getting something they really wanted instead of a bunch of little things. It also gave us an opportunity to all spend some together during this hectic finals' time. So, if you're having a party, dinner or any other type of holiday celebration, consider getting all of your friends together to do a Secret Santa or a White Elephant type of gift exchange.
A very Spiderman Christmas? At our Christmas gathering. If you're looking for a cute and inexpensive gift to give to people, try baking them some holiday treats. I went to Target and bought some cute little Christmas and Hanukah tins from the dollar section. Then, I bought a pack of twenty treat bags for $2.00. I spent a few hours baking up these treats, and since giving them to my friends, I've received nothing but complaints: "I hate you. I can't stop eating this chocolatey goodness," "Why would you do this to me?" and "Best/worst present of all time!" Clearly, my friends have trouble expressing their gratitude.
One of the easiest and most frugal gifts to give your friends. Cake Batter Chocolate Bark (From How Sweet Eats) 6 ounces high quality dark chocolate 12 ounces high quality white chocolate 3 teaspoons yellow cake mix sprinkles of your choice (at least 3 tablespoons worth or more) Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave or a double boiler. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour chocolate on. You can smooth it with a spatula to the thickness you desire. Stick in the freezer for 20 minutes. Melt while chocolate. Whisk in cake mix slowly, stirring well until no lumps remain. Let it set for 3 full minutes (or at least until it slightly thickens). Remove baking sheet with chocolate from the freezer and immediately pour white chocolate on top. Sprinkle on sprinkles. Freeze for 20 minutes. Once set, break into chunks. Keep refrigerated.
Image and Recipe from How Sweet Eats. Oreo Balls (From How Sweet Eats) 1 package regular Oreos 1: 8oz block of cream cheese, softened In a food processor, mix Oreos until they become crumbs. Add cream cheese in chunks and process until you have a dough. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet. Set in the freezer or refrigerator to harden for 1-2 hours. Once Oreo balls are set, dip in melted chocolate – chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate, etc. Add any decoration on top. Store in the freezer and serve cold.
Image and Recipe from How Sweet Eats. Saltine Toffee (From a family friend) 4 ounces saltine crackers 1 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 3/4 cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in a single layer. In a saucepan combine the sugar and butter. Bring to a boil and boil 3 minutes. Immediately pour over crackers. Bake for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread the chocolate and then top with nuts. Keep in the fridge.
Thoughts?What are you giving your friends this season? What are your favorite holiday treat recipes? Comment below, email us at info@college-style.com or tweet us @CollegeStyle12 or me @emilyhovis. We love to hear what you guys think! |
| You are subscribed to email updates from College Style | Fashion Tips & Trends for College Students | Apartment & Dorm Decorating To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment