Summer Vacation!

Finally, after a long and stressful year, it's SUMMERTIME!!!!
A few times throughout the year, I didn't think I was going to make it to the end of the second semester. Two days left of this semester and I have four finals left, including a speech due Tuesday that I have yet to pick a topic for. I am the queen of cramming. All year long I waited until the last possible moment to do all my work, and I always end up fine. I'm not sure why I do this to myself, but I can't help but procrastinate. Even if my homework is sitting right next to me, I'll do something like lay in bed staring at my phone for hours instead. Next year I finally get to go to school for only graphic design classes, since I've basically finished up my pre recs! Now I just need to figure out where I want to apply for my bachelors.

What are you doing this summer? How was this past year for you? Stressful or easy?

Some of My Work

Struggling on coming up with a blog topic, so today I am sharing some of the art I've done.

This is probably my favorite piece I've done mostly because it freaks everyone out. In my graphic design class I had to use photoshop on my own photos, so I kind of went my own way with it. It's me as a caterpillar eventually blossoming into a beautiful butterfly! Featuring my dog Gina with flowers in her eyes.

This is one of my most recent pieces. I used some images from the Internet since it was allowed. We had to do three images branding a state. This is my bus shelter ad. The common theme I had in my three images was the fonts I used for the city and state. Blacklisted and Long Distance Call.

This is an image that I later fixed by deleting the drop shadow. I was bored and asked my boyfriend to give me a topic to make a design with. He chose Illuminati.

This is a CD cover that I entered a contest with. The image is one of my own taken at Graffiti Pier in Philadelphia. The bands music was very calming and slow, so I thought the coloring and theme of this fit well.

How to Drive Stick Shift

Driving stick gives you power and options. Once you learn, you'll be prepared to drive in any car in any emergency situation, have better traction going up hills and around curves, and save thousand of dollars (stick shift's guzzle less gas and cost less).

Getting Started


The Five Gears

In an automatic car, when you into "D" (drive) the gears shift automatically. With a manual transmission, you have to shift the gears yourself. You can find them labeled 1 through 5 on the gearbox of your car, located between the driver's and passenger's seats. Each gear has a different function.

First Gear (up to 15mph)

This gear gets the car moving, but when you want to go faster, you have to shift to second... otherwise the engine will screech.

Second Gear (15 mph to 30 mph)

This gear helps you round sharp curves and climb hills with rough terrain, but if you want to go more than 30 mph, shift to third.

Third Gear (30 mph to 45 mph)

You can travel at a good pace with this gear and still stay in control when you round curves and go up gradual hills.

Fourth Gear (45 mph to 60 mph)

You don't tale a big curve in fourth, and you wouldn't go full speed in it either. You use it for quick transitions. Sometimes you won't even use fourth at all. Say you're going fast in fifth gear and see a sharp curve. You'll instantly slow down and drop into third to take the curve with more control.

Fifth Gear (60 mph and above)

Perfect for going straight ahead on the highway. Downshift to third gear before taking turns.



The Clutch

The clutch is located on the left of your brake. Remember "CBA" Clutch, Brake, Accelerator. Think of it as your key to switching gears. You can't switch gears unless your left foot is down on the clutch. Note: the clutch an gas work oppositely from one another. When your left foot is completely down on the clutch, your right foot is completely off the accelerator.''

Neutral: Your Best Friend at Stoplights and in Traffic

Neutral isn't a gear, but the absence of a gear. It is what you use when you don't want the car to move, but you still want to keep the engine running. Ever notice how people wiggle the shifter back and forth when they're waiting for a light to change? It's to make sure they're in neutral, because you can't jiggle when you're in gear.

Getting behind the Wheel

Now that you know stick-shift vocab, it's time to put it to use. Find a laid-back instructor because there's nothing worse than learning stick from someone with a stick up their butt. Learn to shift gears without the car running, practicing pushing the clutch in each time. Then, from the passenger seat, try it with someone else driving and the car using the clutch. Once you're comfortable, it's time to go.

Step 1

Put your right foot on the brake, and put your left foot all the way down on the clutch. Turn the key in the ignition, and shift into neutral to let the car warm up.

Step 2

Shift into first gear to start going forward, or reverse if you need to back out of a parking spot. Quickly move your right foot off the brake and onto the accelerator while slowly lifting your left foot off the clutch at the same time. Picture your legs as a see-saw; when one goes down on the gas, the other comes up off the clutch. You'll feel the car begin to move forward.

Step 3

When you want to go beyond 15 mph, shift into second by putting down the clutch and then shifting the gear. You'll feel the stick click into a groove. As you continue driving, you'll frequently need to switch gears depending on your speed. If you hear the engine straining and making a high-revving sound, shift up- you're in too low of a gear. If it's making a cough sound, you're in too high a gear, so downshift. After you've driven a few times, you'll naturally know when to shift.

Step 4

Learn to slow down smoothly. When you're coming to a complete stop (such as when you're pulling into a parking spot), apply pressure to the clutch while you brake and shift into neutral. If you don't press down on the clutch when you're stopping, your car will stall and give you and your passengers a jolt.

Step 5

Use the emergency brake when parking. Manual transmissions don't have "P" or "Park", so unless you pull up the emergency brake and keep your car in gear, you may find you're car isn't where you parked it.

Troubleshooting...

When You Stall the Car

When you lift up too fast on the clutch before giving the car any gas, the auto will just stop. Put your right foot on the brake and your left foot all the way down on the clutch to start the car again.

When You're Rolling Backward Down a Hill

Shift into first, accelerate slowly as you release the clutch pedal, then release the emergency brake to keep you from rolling back.

How to Play Poker

How the Game Works

The most basic version of poker is called "Five-Card Draw." Each player puts an "ante" (a token bet) into the middle of the table before the cards are dealt. The dealer then deals out five cards to each person and puts the rest of the stack in the middle of the table. (The dealer always deals himself last.)

    Now here comes the best part: betting. Everyone looks at his or her cards and the person to the left of the dealer places a bet. So let's say the bet was $5.00, you can "call" the bet, meaning add $5.00 to the pile so you can stay in the game. Or, if you have a good hand you can "call" the bet and "raise" it by putting in more money (let's say $2.00). Now everyone at the table has to throw in $7.00 to stay in the game. If your hand is really lousy and you think its best to get out, you "fold".

    Your aim is to get the hand with the highest value. Depending on how good a hand you're dealt, you may want to get rid of up to three cards you don't want and take up to three new ones from the deck. After every player gets a chance to get new cards, the betting starts again. Here is the breakdown of winning hands, from lowest to highest value:

• High card: If none of the players has a good hand, the player holding the highest-value card wins (aces always the highest)
• One pair: Two cards of the same numerical value
• Two pair: Two sets of pairs, plus a random card
• Three of a kind: Three cards of the same numerical value
• Straight:  Five cards in a row not of the same suit
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit
• Full house: Three of one kind of numbers, plus a pair
• Four of a kind: Four cards of the same numerical rank, plus a random card
• Straight flush: Five cards in a row of the same suit
• Royal flush: Ace, king, queen, jack, and ten, all of the same suit

Bluffing

Bluffing is a tricky but highly successful strategy in poker. Basically, you're giving the impression that you have a better hand than you do. The point is to freak everyone out into thinking that their hand is worse than yours, causing them to "fold".

"Tell" Signs

"Tell" signs are those facial indicators that hint to everyone what your hand really is- your aim is not to let any "tell" signs slip out. Keep your face as neutral as possible. Sort of like how you would act if you bumped into your ex and wanted to seem indifferent to the fact that they've moved on.

Terms that Make you Seem Like a Pro

• Bet means to begin the betting process.
• Call means to match your opponent's bet.
• Checks are poker chips
• Fold means putting your cards face down on the table because you have a bad hand or the betting pool is getting to high and you want out of the game
• The muck is the discard pile in the middle of the table, where everyone throws their cast-offs. When you fold your hand, you can say you muck your cards.
• The nuts is the highest possible hand; as in, "Nobody can beat me, I've got the nuts."
• Raise means to add more money to the pot.

Tipping Etiquette

Tipping at...

Restaurants

15 to 20 percent of the bill. If you've had expensive wine, keep it at 15 percent, but mention the bad service to the manger so you don't look like a cheapskate and the waiters performance won't go unnoticed.

The Hair Salon

Hair washer / blow-dryer: $5
Stylist / Colorist: 20 percent of the bill
Manicurist or Pedicurist: 15 percent of the bill

Bars

15 to 20 percent of the bar bill (but never less than a dollar)

Valet Parker

$2.00

Coat-Check Person

$1.00 or $2.00

Mailman

You actually aren't supposed to tip a federal employee, as it's not allowed. A small gift is acceptable.

Paper Boy

If you actually ever see him, $10.00

Hotel Bellman

$1.00 per bag, but never less than $5.00 if they've come all the way up to your room, shown you around, and told you where things are.

Hotel Maid

$2.00 per night stayed

Taxi Driver

Always round the bill up by a dollar and the change. In other words, if the cab is $5.50, leave $7.00. Once you get above about $15.00, tip 15 percent.

How to Prevent and Cure a Hangover

Having fun always comes with a price-tag. When it comes to alcohol, the price-tag is a hangover. We've all been there. Pounding headache with light sensitivity and nausea accompanied by puking. Anytime I've had a hangover, I couldn't eat a thing all day without puking. While many think a hangover is a price-tag when it comes to alcohol, it doesn't have to be. 

    Hangovers are caused by a combination of dehydration, a depletion of vitamins (A,B, and C) and a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Even though they are hard to escape, some drinks do you worse than others. How brutal the hangover will be depends on the impurities on congeners (amyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol).

    Clear liquors such as vodka and gin are generally lower in congeners than whiskey, rum, and bourbon. Liquor that has been around for awhile (like wine) will have produced more hangover causing acetaldehyde.

How to Prevent a Hangover

• Have a meal before you drink. Load up on a low-sodium combo of carbs, protein, and fat, which will be digested slowly. Try a whole-grain pita stuffed with grilled chicken, veggies, and cheese.
• Take a Berocca vitamin supplement before your start drinking. You can purchase a bottle at the pharmacy. This gives you additional vitamin B that can help you combat a hangover.
• Skip carbonated alcoholic beverages like beer, champagne, and wine coolers. The alcohol in these are absorbed faster than in non-carbonated drinks.
• Alternate fruit juice or water in between your drinks.
• Beware of sugary alcohol. The sweet flavor will mask the alcohol, causing you to consume more alcohol than you think.
• Drink a lot of water before bed to prevent dehydration. 

Hangover Remedies

These don't promise a full recovery, but sure to make you feel better.

• Mix a drop of lemon juice, heavy cream, and powdered sugar with equal parts orange flower water, egg whites, gin, and soda.
• Energy powder found at moth health food stores also help. It's usually used to ward off a cold, but works wonders on a hangover.
• Eat a lot of greasy foods such as pizza, fries, or other fast-food. The grease helps take away your hangover.
• THC.
• Drinking a glass of alcohol.

Bathroom Maintenance

What is it about frat boys that they've never heard of bleach? Ever walk into a frat boys bathroom and want to puke? Keeping the bathroom clean is a must! Also.... keeping it stocked with toilet paper, boys. This post is mostly to help you gross men to keep up with your bathroom. After all, if you can't keep the place clean where you're supposed to clean yourself, how can we trust that you are clean?!

Mold, Mildew, and Soap Scum

The simplest way to make your bathroom appear clean is to get rid of these three things first. To prevent this from happening:

Buy These Products

• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Windex
• A mildew-removing spray cleaner
• Comet (for bathtub stains)
• A toilet brush
• A tub brush
• All-purpose spray with antibacterial ingredients
• Clorox pre-moistened wipes.

Daily Wipe-Down

Spritz an antibacterial cleanser on top of the walls and corners of your bathtub, shower curtain, sink tops, toilet, and faucets with a paper towel. (Sponges hold too much bacteria) Do this for two minutes a day and you're golden. Come on guys, TWO minutes a day.

So You Forgot to Do the Wipe-Down...

If soap scum seriously builds up, coat the surface with undiluted detergent and allow it to dry for several hours. Wet the same surface with a solution of liquid detergent and water. While the surface is still wt, sprinkle it with scouring powder: then scrub it with a stiff brush.

Bleach it

For nail polish, blood, coffee, tea, food, fruit juice, or lipstick stains in your bathroom, apply household bleach using plastic gloves. Never mix bleach with other cleaning products- especially ones with ammonia in them; it creates poisonous fumes.

Grime Between Your Tiles?

Color the grout. Go to the local hardware store and ask for grout colorant. It spreads on with a toothbrush or Q-tip, dries quickly, and does for your bathroom what whitestrips do for your teeth!

Keeping the Rest of Your Bathroom Clean

• Spray the mirrors with air freshener (to clean and leave a nice scent). Wipe with paper towels, or newspaper for fewer streaks.
• Use a toilet bowl cleaner or drop-in tablet and give your toilet a good scrubbing once a week. Store it in a big plastic cup to avoid toilet water drips all over the floor.
• Remove your shower curtain every month and give it a good scrub with a bristle brush and Comet. If it's still grimy your best bet is to trash it and get a new one. Skip fabric curtains since they lead to mildew. 
• Make sure there is a plunger in the bathroom. Go for a stylish chrome one that sits in it's own case.
• If you have a hair ball the size of Chewbacca in the tub drain, stick your hand inside a damp coffee filter to pull it out. Or like a savage, just pull it out with your hand.

Please, don't forget to keep stocked on toilet paper! Especially if you have company over a lot. I think it is just embarrassing to have people over while your bathroom looks like crap!

What To Keep in Your Medicine Cabinet

• Ace bandage and tape
• Antacid
• Antibiotic ointment
• Band-Aids
• Clear nail polish
• Dental floss
• Eye drops
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Ibuprofen
• Mini-scissors
• New toothbrush
• Cold meds
• Cough syrup
• Pepto-Bismol
• Vaseline 
• Rubbing alcohol
• Sunscreen
• Tweezers

         

Keep Your Bedroom Cozy

When it comes to your bedroom, there is no room more sacred. Since we spend a third of our lives in bed (and countless more doing other things), it only makes sense that you have the best items possible for the most blissful sleep possible.

Choosing and Caring for Your Mattress

When searching for the right mattress, find a combo of support and comfort. Thicker, heavier mattresses with a higher number of coils tends to be higher quality, offering more support, comfort, and longevity.
Pillow tops are a good choice for extra comfort. If you choose a pillow top, be sure to buy sheets large enough and deep enough for the mattress.
A good mattress will form to your body's natural contours, but it cant do that if you sleep on one side of the mattress for too long. Turn your mattress every two to three weeks for the first three months of use and after that once every three to four months.

Picking the Perfect Pillow

• If you sleep on your side, choose a firm pillow. You want your head to stay in alignment with your spine. If you sleep on your stomach, choose a softer pillow. A firm one would hold your head and neck up too high, causing you to arch your back out of whack.
• If you have allergies, buy a hypoallergenic pillow cover with a zipper and slip your regular pillow case over it. Also vacuum under the bed once a week to help allergies.
• Change your pillowcases once or twice a week. They collect a lot of dirt an grease In fact, cleaner cases may help lead to clearer skin.
• Goose-down pillows should be replaced every 5 to 10 years. Synthetic pillows every two years.'

Best Sheets to Buy

The three things to keep in mind when buying sheets : thread count, fiber, and finish.

• Choose a 200 - 300+ thread count. The higher the thread count, the bigger the price tag. You also want to look at the ply. Single ply is usually softer, as two ply is made from yarns that are twisted together. A single ply 200 count sheet will be about the same softness as a two ply 400 count sheet. 
• Make sure the fiver is silk or cotton (preferably Egyptian cotton). Egyptian cotton is the softest and most durable. Skip polyester blends and satin sheets - they don't breathe well which means you'll get sweaty under those sheets. 
• Change your sheets every week and duvet covers every two weeks.

TIP: If there is cat or dog fur on your sheets, throw them in the dryer and it will come right off!

Make a Heavenly Hotel Bed

Now that you have your sleeping essentials, time to make them look luxurious! I love when I stay at a hotel and get to sink into their freshly made bed. It's so neat I almost don't want to touch it. Here are a few secrets from the pros:

• Create room for your feet: Lay your top sheet flat over your bottom sheet. At the foot of the bed, pull it back over itself eight inches so it creates a pocketlike fold. Then tuck the sheet in at the edges. 
• For optimum coolness, let the side of the sheets hang down on their own on the sides.
• Give your bed a turned-down look by folding your duvet or comforter over 12 inches.
• For a supersoft feel, dust talcum powder over white cotton sheets.
• Notice how in posh hotels, beds look plush but never fussy? The clean-lined, oversize rectangular shams in neutral or all white look fresh.

I have this fabric spray sented Egyptian Cotton that I spray on my sheets every day to get that heavenly clean smell.

Washing and Drying Clothes for Dummies

Some of the biggest mistakes with clothes occurs in the wash. My sister ruined my white leather jacket by throwing it in the washer with a pair of dark blue jeans. It was awful! To prevent something like this then rule number 1 is the most important:

Separate

You have to keep the darks away from the lights. There is no way around this! The best way to separate your clothes is by whites, lights, and darks.

Lingerie Bag

Technically, if you're a girl, you're supposed to hand wash your underwear- bras, hose, camisoles. To avoid hand washing and also avoid damaged garments, use a lingerie bag! It is a mesh bag that safely holds your personal items while they wash with the rest of your load. It's a buffer between your undies and the washing machine.

Use the Right Temperatures

The hotter the wash, the better the soap will clean the fabric. But it will also cause more fading, bleeding, and shrinking. Whites and pastels should be washed in hot (unless delicate, in this case warm). Colors and sturdy darks should be washed in warm. Delicates and darks that bleed should be washed in cool. (Don't wash delicates and darks together)

Picking the Perfect Cycle

If you know which way to turn the dial, your clothes will come out a lot better and fresher. Here's a basic guide:

• Regular: This cycle has a hot wash and a cold rinse. It's for heavily soiled items and sturdy cottons and linens - towels, T-shirts, jeans. Its vigorous wash can wear down more delicate washed over time.
• Permanent Press: This cycle has a shorter spin cycle than the regular. It's great for synthetic fibers. It has a warm cycle and a cool rinse plus a final cool rinse to protect color.
• Delicate: This cycle has the shortest time, slowest spin cycle, and coolest temperatures to keep fabrics from falling apart. (Ladies, how many times has your underwear gotten wrapped up in other clothes and torn apart?!) Use this for machine-washable silk and wool, viscose rayon, acrylic, acetate, lace, sheer and loosely knitted fabrics. 

Pretreat

Before you even think about adding your clothes into the washing machine, use a stain remover like Shout to spray on your soiled clothes. It helps release stains in the wash. Never stain treat anything overnight, because it could bleach the fabric. 

Cooking 101

What's the point in having a stocked kitchen if you don't know how to make delicious meals out of them!?

• Bake: Cooking in the oven by dry heat. For meats, its called roasting.

• Baste: To moisten food during cooking with pan drippings, water or sauces in the oven.

• Blanch: To cook food quickly in boiling water on the stove, then take it off the stove and cool with an ice bath.

• Braise: To brown in a small amount of hot fat on the stove, then add a small amount of liquid and cook slowly, covered tightly, on the stove or in the oven.

• Broil: To cook by direct heat from above, usually in the broiler.

• Brown: To cook meat on the stove at a high temperature to brown the outside before baking or sautéing.

• Caramelize: To melt sugar slowly over low hear on the stove until the sugar browns.

• Marinate: To allow food to stand in a liquid to soften or add flavor.

• Pan-broil: To cook, uncovered, in a hot frying pan on the stove top, pouring off fat as it accumulates.

• Poach: To cook in hot liquid on the stove top so that food holds its shape (often done to fruit, eggs, or salmon)

• Reduce: To cook a sauce until much of the liquid is evaporated.

• Roast: See baking above

• Sauté: To cook in a small amount of hot fat - such as butter or oil - on the stove top.

• Scallop: To bake a food, usually in a casserole with a sauce or other liquid.

• Sear: To brown quickly over intense heat on the stove. The food will shrink but get a delicious flavor.

• Simmer: To cook slowly in a liquid over low hear on the stove. The surface of the liquid will show tiny bubbles.

• Stew: To simmer slowly in a small amount of liquid for a long time usually in the oven.

MEASUREMENTS

• 1 pinch = just under 1/8 teaspoon (dry)
• 1 dash = 3 drops and just under 1/8 teaspoon (liquid)
• 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon = 1/2 fluid ounce
• 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce = 1/8 cup
• 16 tablespoons = 1 cup = 1/2 pint = 8 fluid ounces
• 2 cups = 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces
• 4 cups = 2 pints = 1 quart = 32 fluid ounces
• 8 cups = 4 pints = 1/2 gallon = 64 fluid ounces
• 4 quarts = 1 gallon = 128 fluid ounces

TIPS FOR COOKING....

• Scrambled eggs: Crack two eggs per person in a bowl. Add about a tablespoon of milk per person (optional). Tilt the bowl at a forty-five degree angle and whisk it with a fork or whisk making little upward circles. (This helps for fluffier eggs) Add a bit of butter or nonstick cooking spray to a pan  (I use coconut oil) and bring to medium heat. Pour in the eggs, sprinkle in salt and pepper (I use an all purpose meat seasoning for mine) and let set for one minute. When large pieces start to form, flip as much egg as you can with as few strokes as possible. Break up the eggs into smaller piece with the flat tip of your spatula. You should be able to tell when they are done.
• Broccoli: Cut off the florets and peel the stems to that the "trunks" look pale green. Boil, uncovered, two to four minutes, until tender, but with a slight crunch. Remove immediately and sprinkle on fresh bread crumbs and a tablespoon of butter for a finisher! Or toss in a hot sauté pan with one tablespoon olive oil and one large clove minced garlic.
• Red meat:  Make sure to have a meat thermometer to steer clear of E. coli. Burgers should read 160° F in the thickest part of the patty. For medium rare steaks, 145°F to 150°F. Medium steaks should be between 155°F and 160°F. For medium-well, it should read 165°F. For well done 170-180°F.
• Fresh beef is cherry-red in color. The darker the beef, the longer the meat has been sitting around.
• Meats should be stored in the fridge no more than three days in their original wrapper.
• Never refreeze meats, especially luncheon meats and hot dogs. They spoil more easily.
• Never press down on meat with a spatula, it pushes all the juices out and drys out the meat.
• Store meat in its own cooking juices

How to Stock a Pantry

So, now that you know the Things you Need in Your Kitchen, I'm going to share with you how to stock your pantry! First, make sure you keep your pantry cool because foods will stay fresher and last longer. Store everything in airtight containers to prevent spillage and keep out bugs. Here are the basics:

• Baking powder
• Baking soda (not the same thing)
• Canned veggies
• Canned soups/beans/chili
• Canned whole tomatoes
• Chicken stock or bouillon cubes
• Chips, crackers, cookies, popcorn
• Chocolate chips
• Cornmeal
• Dried beans, peas, lentils
• Dried fruits
• Dry soup mixes
• Extracts : vanilla, lemon, almond
• Flour
• Herbs and spices : basil, chili powder, chives, cinnamon, cumin, mint, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, red pepper flakes, rosemary, thyme (you can usually find a pack that contains all these spices, instead of purchasing individually)
• Hot chocolate mix
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Nuts
• Olive oil
• Pancake mix
• Pasta
• Pepper/peppercorns
• Rice
• Salt
• Sugar : white granulated, brown, and powdered
• Syrups : maple, honey, chocolate
• Tea
• Tomato paste and sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

TIPS : 

• Wondra flour (comes in a 13.5 ounce shaker made by Gold Medal) is great for thickening up your sauce
• Canned foods, salsa, maple and chocolate syrups, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste and sauce, pickles, olives, red pepper flakes, and chili powder should be refrigerated after opened.
• Pure honey and pure maple syrups should not be refrigerated.

Things You Need in Your Kitchen

When us college students actually go to the kitchen to make a meal, our grub tends to fall within the four basic college scrub food groups: leftovers, coffee, ramen, and booze. Now we may be considered lazy or too busy, but if you know how to stock your kitchen right, you might just let your inner chef come out!



Now come on, lets be real, the average college student most likely can't afford all of these things, but I'm just here to tell you the things that help your kitchen feel like you're at home. This list is ideal for people getting their first apartment and have no idea how to stock the kitchen.


You Should Have

• Coffeemaker
• Dish rack
• Manual can opener
• Microwave
• Toaster oven
• Timer (many ovens and microwaves have them built in)
• Blender

Preparing/Cooking

• Cutting Board *
• Cheese grater
• Cookie Sheet**
• Colander (skip the strainer - the big one is more important)
• Garlic press
• Kitchen shears
• Knives***
• 6-inch chef's knife
• Serrated bread knife
• Measuring spoons
• Meat tenderizer
• Glass measuring cup for liquids
• Measuring cups for dry ingredients (you can go without them)
• Microwave safe dish
• Mixing bowls+
• Muffin pan
• Pastry brush
• Pots and Pans
• Small saucepan
• Large saucepan
• Large stockpot
• Large roasting pan
• 9x9 inch baking pan
• Cast iron skillet (cooking juices and greese sink in, adding flavor)
• Rubber spatula
• Stirring spoons
• Slotted spoon
• Tongs
• Vegetable peeler
• Wire whisk

Serving

• Bottle opener
• Corkscrew
• Salad tongs
• Serving fork and spoon
• 2 large bowls (for pasta, soup, or salad) - ideally with lids
• 2 small bowls (for side dishes and condiments)
• Large tray (for serving meats)
• Soup ladle
• Salt and pepper mill

To avoid needing many serving pieces, just put everything on your plates before sitting to eat. This is also a great way to control proportions. 

Storing

• Wine stoppers
• Plastic wrap, wax paper, aluminum foil, and plastic storage bags
• Assorted plastic storage containers (go with one brand so you don't have trouble matching fitting lids)

Extra to Have Around

• Kitchen scale
• Vegetable brush
• Lemon zester
• Citrus reamer or hand juice
• Meat thermometer 

TIPS: 

• * It is suggested that wood is better than plastic. Wood contains properties that help kill bacteria. The one downside to wood is that you can't just toss it in the dishwasher, make sure to hand wash it.
• ** A silpat goes over your cookie sheet and really truly helps from sticking. Find on on amazon.com
• *** Don't put your knives in the dishwasher - it dulls them.
• +Plastic bowls are easier to lift, but if you can't afford them, buy ceramic bowls that can double as serving dishes.

Happiness

Okay so I haven't been posting like I should, and that's because I'm finding it hard to blog about things specifically for clueless college students. From now on I'm just going to post some insight from yours truly.


Happiness. It's something that everybody pursues in life. What most people don't realize is that happiness doesn't come from how many things you have, or even how many loved ones you have. People who are depressed could have many loved ones, but still be unhappy. Happiness lies from within. It's not something you can search for, but something that you can achieve. Life is not easy by any means, but when we are happy and stress free it makes the hard things in life a little bit more bearable.

I used to make the mistake of relying on other people for my happiness. My unmet expectations from other people made me bitter and rude.  If my sister ruined a shirt with makeup, I'd use it as an excuse to be miserable. If my boyfriend canceled plans to hangout, I'd become a raging bitch to everyone who tried talking to me. It wasn't until I was single, friendless, and in complete isolation from a normal social life did I realize that it wasn't everyone else's fault that I was unhappy, it was my own.

Once I realized this, I started to rely on myself for my happiness. When other people did things that upset me, I fought the urge to lash out at them and would think to myself, "okay, what they did pisses me off, but they didn't intentionally do this to anger me. I'm responsible for my own happiness." Just being conscious of my own thoughts allowed me to forgive and forget the little things and let them go.

I started meditation and yoga to further help me control my thoughts. After only weeks of this, I was able to clear my mind and think about all the good things in my life. When something bad happened or something didn't go as planned, I wouldn't dwell on it. I caught up with old friends and made new ones. I was happy. A couple years down the road, at my most content, is where I met the guy I'm dating now, Josh. Relying on myself for happiness made my relationship with Josh a million times easier than it was with my last relationship. Sure he does stupid things to piss me off sometimes (what man wouldn't?!), but his intentions are pure and his loyalty is high. I don't think anymore what he could do to make me happier, but what I can do to make him happy. His happiness alone makes me even happier than ever.

So, yea I used to be a miserable teenage bitch who blamed the world for my unhappiness. Once I grew up and realized that if I don't expect from others and am conscious about my thoughts, I can be happy.

Where is all of Your Money Going?

Being a college student - it is crucial to save. I'm notorious for spending my money on things I don't need. In order to save, it's important to know where your money is going.

Here is a list of 5 things people waste money on the most.

   

   1. Credit Card Interest

This is the number one thing that I'm having problems with right now. In high school, I got approved for a credit card and I went a little crazy. Credit cards are used when you can't pay for necessities such as a car payment, or doctors bill. I on the other hand used it for things I wanted when I didn't have the money - things I didn't need. If you have no self control like me, STAY AWAY from credit cards unless absolutely necessary.

   2. ATM & Overdraft fees

If you prefer to pay with cash over debit/credit, I suggest keeping cash in your wallet at all times. ATM fees can range from $2-$4 to transaction. Those fees add up! Also, another thing I am notorious for, is overdraft fees. Silly me thinks that I can just use my bank app and add things in my head when transferring funds to my checking. Just recently I got smacked with a $105 overdraft fee in only 1 day over charges as small as $4 for food and 15$ for gas! Banks offer protection from things like this that will just take it out of your savings if your checking doesn't have it. Unfortunately I just found this out. 

   3. Unused gym memberships

Sure, your new years resolution is to stay active and hit the gym 3-4 times a week. In reality you've gone 3-4 times in the past 6 months, only going in January. That extra $10,$20,$30, or even $40 a month seriously adds up. If you only go to the gym every once in a blue moon, it might end up being cheaper by purchasing a dumbbell set with adjustable weight and doing the rest with no equipment - such as running and mountain climbers.

     Walmart sells these adjustable dumbbells up to 40 lbs for only $16.88

Purchase them here and ditch that gym membership that's burning a hole in your pocket!

 

   4. Daily coffee trips

Since I am a tea drinker, I do not have this issue, but I highly recommend a Kuerig, or knock off brand to make coffee. I have one that I use for tea, you do not have to purchase the high priced k-cups either. I use it to brew hot water and stick my tea bag right in my cup! Most of these coffee makers come with a cup to brew your coffee too! You can purchase a Mr. Coffee K-cup maker used for $45 on ebay - here   or new on walmart.com- here for $65. It may seem a little pricey to you, but trust me you will save in the long run!

   5. Food

I am guilty of wasting money on food while I'm out instead of waiting until I get home to whip something up. Spending money on appetizers when going out to eat is usually a waste since most restaurants give such large portion meals. Instead of getting an appetizer, just get a meal. Or instead of getting a meal, get a few appetizers which usually cost around the same price. Try to avoid the temptation of Taco Bell's latest taco creation - which usually is the same as everything else on the menu with a slight change. I never actually got around to it, but meal prepping sounds like the best way to go when saving money on food.

What do you waste money on, and how can you change that?

How to Professionally Format an Email

Learning to properly and professionally format an e-mail is something we are never taught in high school, but expected of us as adults. I know many of you like myself may have to fight the urge to use internet slang when typing an e-mail. For example, I usually don't spell out the word 'you' and use 'u' for short, I somehow have 'lol' engraved in my head because I'm always tempted to add it to my text when wanting to seem less serious. In fact, before deciding to write about this topic, I myself had no idea how to professionally format an e-mail to someone such as a possible future employer or even my professor.

• I'm not sure about you, but I usually never add anything to the subject line (probably because it's optional). When sending a professional email, make sure to include a relevant subject in the subject line. It could be something as simple as Employment Resume or Thank You.
• If you know who you are writing to, don't forget to add a salutation such as Dear Mr./Mrs. If you don't, write Dear Hiring Manager when applying for a job.
• Try to make your message as concise and to the point as possible. Only include essential information because when reading a long messages, people tend to skim.
• Make sure to have a simple font, no emoticons or slang words, and also make sure that your spelling and punctuation is correct. An error free, and correctly written message shows you are professional and serious.
• Sign off your message with "Thank you," , "Sincerely," or any other simple send-off, followed by your name.

To make it look extra professional, add an email signature. This should be about three to four lines.

Do NOT include your email address in the signature.

                       Your name

                       Title (optional), Company (linked to website)

                       Phone Number

If you'd like, you could also include your social networking information as a 4th line.

Try out newoldstamp for a unique e-mail signature generator

Tips and Tricks For Easier Internet Use

Today in my internet tools class I learned a lot of tips and tricks for simpler internet use!
For the most efficient web use, Firefox Mozilla is recommended. I've always preferred to use google chrome, but after being in this class I can see that Firefox offers a lot better add-ons for efficient web browsing.

• Delicious.com - A method to store and organize your bookmarks to be able to access them from any computer. This is great because I'm always on different computers wishing I could view a site I bookmarked on another computer. Now view your bookmarks anywhere and share them with other people!
• Make a web page text larger by using ' command + ' for a mac and 'control + ' for a pc
• Use (-) minus to make text smaller
• When you're searching for a specific word on a web page that you searched for and you can't find it use ' command F ' mac or 'control F' pc and at the top right of your browser a search bar will pop up. Enter in that word and it will show you all the occurrences of that word on that page!
• Command G/Control G will go to next occurrance of that word

GOOGLE TIPS

• Using quotes "" gives you a more accurate google search
• Using (*) gives you more options on a google search
• To search a page that doesn't contain a specific word  put a minus (-) in front of it
• Use (~) to find synonyms of a word
• You can search within a site on google! For example enter : (site:youtube.com top music)
• You can find a specific url. For example enter : (inurl: pool "eight ball") this finds a url with pool in it that looks for eight ball on the page so it knows you dont mean swimming pool
• Type " define: WordYouWantDefined " to define a word without going to dictionary.com

FIREFOX ADD-ONS 

• Cooliris Previews (addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2207) - allows you to preview a page on a search engine without opening a new page
• Google preview (addons.mozilla.org/firefox/189) - places thumbnail size images of website in search results
• Cache view (addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2323) - allows you to right click to see cached versions not loading
• GDirections (addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1104) - highlight any street address on webpage and right click for google maps to load directions immediately
• Interrupted download - resume a failed download and speed it up with Download Them All (downloadthemall.net)
• Video files - now that you can download faster, you can save videos for offline use with a Video Downloader (addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2390)

I hope my learned tips and tricks of the internet will help you in one way or another! As I learn more, I will be adding them to this post

How to Successfully Eat Healthy With A Busy Schedule

Even though you'd like to eat healthy, sometimes a frozen pizza or pack of cheez-its it the easiest go to food compared to cooking up a vegetable omelette. When you have a busy schedule and want to stay healthy like me, you need to start small.
Switching over from an unhealthy diet to a balanced nutritious one is hard. It's especially hard if you try to cut out all the high sugar and carb foods cold turkey. It is known that you are less likely to succeed in a diet if you try it this way. Instead, start one by one, substituting that granola bar on the go for a banana or apple. Choose a glass of water over any other commercial drink. Beverage calories like soda don't add up like food calories. A can of soda every here and there can not only cause you to gain wait, but cause you to feel sluggish during the day.
Every single healthy choice substitute is a victory gained!
It's okay to reward yourself with some junk food every now and then too! When I'm craving something sugary or salty, I eat only a few bites of it, then I drink a glass of water. I do this once, but sometimes twice. It helps with the craving and still gives you some satisfaction.
If you want full balanced meals and no time at all to cook throughout the day- or the money to pay for a seven dollar salad, two words: MEAL PREP. Yes, it is that simple. Every Sunday(or whichever day works best for you) plan out your meals! If you don't already know, google all the healthy meals and snacks that you can make because there are a crap ton on pinterest. Go shopping weekly according to these meals and cook all the food that needs to be pre-cooked (like chicken). Put each prepped meal in a tupperware container and just like that you can grab a meal, heat it up real quick(if necessary) and go.
Yes it is easier to stop at that taco bell on the way home from work or heat up a frozen pizza instead of whipping up a whole meal, but chances are you stumbled upon this blog post because you want to make an effort to eat better.
Eating healthy is no piece of cake (no pun intended), but with these tips I've shared with you, it doesn't have to seem like such a chore.

Does Going to a Community College Make your Degree Less Credible?

The answer is no. Community College is deemed to be an inferior last resort school that people only go to when they have no other options. Yes, it is a cheaper alternative and may not offer as many course options, but community college is just as credible as any other university that you would pay an arm and a leg for. I go to a community college. That doesn't mean I am dumb and couldn't get a scholarship; I was a full AP student with a 4.0 GPA in high school.  It gives me room to work while going to school because I have more time during the day since I live at home and go to school locally.
The material learned is the same, and the credits are just as valuable. In fact, a teacher that is teaching at a university could also be teaching at a local community college as well. The important part is that you learn what you're supposed to learn. A professor at a university could be a horrible teacher causing you to not understand the course material and a professor at a community college could be one of the best teachers you've ever had!
I believe community college is better because I am an indecisive person and I switched majors after a year of school. If I went to a university I would've wasted a lot of money on classes I don't need. Yes I wasted some money, but no where near as much as I would've if I went to a university. If I wanted, I could go to a two-year school too since I am currently finishing up my second year at a community college. I'm choosing not to for financial purposes, but the option is always open for you to transfer if you make sure that your taking courses that have transferrable credits.
Of course if I could afford it I would've went to a university for the experience - that's what I believe you pay for; the experience. Society looks at community college so negatively because that's how it's been made to seem, so that you will pay more money for your education.
The best part of it all is that I will be DEBT FREE after I start my career, unlike many university goers. Don't believe the myth that a community college earned degree isn't as credible as a university degree, because it IS.

Welcome to My Blog! (That I Have No Clue How to Run)

Do you feel like high school didn't prepare you for the real world? One minute you have to raise your hand to go to the bathroom, and the next you are expected to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. One minute you're worrying about who subtweeted you in fifth period, and the next you're worrying about a career choice, college plan,  balancing a job, social life, and school, and much more. Fear not! You are not alone in this. We are all clueless inside, even if we don't show it. Follow me on my journey to becoming a seemingly credible adult while I find all the tips and tricks to surviving in the real world... things that high school didn't teach you.