Monthly Archives: March 2012

March 31, 2012

Stress Can Be A Bitch

Let’s admit it, stress can be a bitch. Whether you’re graduating high school or graduating college, or finishing up grad school this year, with change comes a lot of transition and planning for the next step in your journey.

In these times, it’s even often harder to find those moments where you can be at one with yourself when it feels like there are 1,000 things on your to do list to tackle before graduation.

Today’s post features an article on the PickThebrain.com blog. The best tip we came across was:

“When stress emerges it is often from time-pressure and being overworked. We all forget, or want to ignore the fact that we can’t do it all! We want to take on more without giving something up. Doing so will ultimately come back to burry us.
If we’re constantly on the go we need to eventually take a break for some R&R.”

We couldn’t have said this better. In the final year of your graduation, be sure not to bite off more than you can chew and over commit yourself. Go for quality and not quantity in the things and activities you pursue.

For more fantastic tips, you can check out the full post here. See you at graduation!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33909700@N02/3159761620/

March 30, 2012

Tips To Get Back To Exercising

Finding time to exercise can be tough. Let’s admit it, often times trips to the gym get pushed to the bottom of the priority list when homework, fraternity events or sorority events come up.

So how do you find time to exercise?

I remember in our fraternity, we had biggest loser challenges to see who would get the most fit and healthy in a month’s time. Often this motivated everyone in the house and instead of all lounging around playing video games, people went to the gym, played competitive sports together, and most importantly bonded more (and got healthier).

One of the tips featured on a recent article on Lifehacker.com recommends to
“Find a work out partner – a friend can remind (or guilt) you into getting fit. Also, there’s nothing like a little friendly competition to push yourself past your comfort (boredom) zone.”

We couldn’t agree with this more.

Another great way to get fit and bond with your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters is to pick up a competitive sport such as racketball, basketball or volleyball. Personally I found racketball one of the most fun to go at.

Check out the full post here for more tips and a few apps to help you get moving:

http://lifehacker.com/5893953/how-can-i-make-exercising-more-interesting

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flem007_uk/3180760192/

March 30, 2012

College Graduates and Interviewing for Jobs

Senior year is a stressful one. Besides the stress of planning for graduation, ordering your cap, gown, and graduation sashes, there also comes the stress of job searching. Will you land that dream job you’ve been wanting? Will you work at a big company, a start-up, go out on your own… or will you be jobless?

Time and time again, some of the best tips we’ve heard from career centers is to plan early, plan early, and plan early. Waiting until April or May puts you at a disadvantage compared to you peers.

Today’s post highlights some tips featured on Fortune (part of CNN).

Most importantly, once you’ve secured that job interview, now it’s time to wow the hiring manager. One of the recommended questions was:
“With all the growth here, how do you feel the company has changed since you came on board?”

For the full post and amazing tips, visit Fortune to read more.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfbps/4597078960/

March 29, 2012

Study Tips for The College Senior

So you’re 4 (or for some 5 years in), and finally on that last stretch of college known as senior year.

We remember this feeling. It’s about this time of year when senioritis kicks in and the emotions run high that in a few months time you and many of your friends will be heading in different directions with your lives. Whether that comes right after graduation, after the summer, or a quarter later, the change comes quick. But there’s one caviet… you need to pass your classes!

Today’s tip comes from lifehacker.com and we wanted to feature it because looking back, senior year was probably one of the most busy years in college. If we can help you save some time on studying so that you can enjoy it more with your friends, we’ll try!

The lifehacker article goes into the benefits of sleep. While for many seniors, it feels like midterms, papers and finals stole their sleep hours, there’s ways to make sleep help you when studying. Strategicaly used, sleep can help boost memory.

So what’s the article say? “A good night’s sleep shortly following your studies has a significant impact on your ability to retain information.”

Check out the full post today at LifeHacker.com

And a shameless plug: Let us help you sleep better knowing that your graduation stoles and sashes are in good hands for your fraternity or sorority.  If you’re graduating in April or May, we’d highly recommend placing your orders soon to avoid rush shipping charges!

 

March 28, 2012

College Tips: Stocking Your Kitchen

There’s something about always having a fully stocked kitchen in college that makes your life easier. I remember during undergrad, every trip home I would always try to stock up on food from my parents. From the staples like beans, rice, ramen and bread, to frozen meats, veggies, and more. Stocking up helped me eat healthier and avoid the late night splurges to spend money at the local 24 hour eatery.

From saving money on spur of the moment spending to cooking up some late night munchies for friends, stocking up is a good idea both health wise and financially. Now if you’re short on space, you’ll want to check out this post on FamilyHandyMan.com on how to pimp your kitchen cabinet. A few super easy tips that if you’re living with roommates can help keep everything super organized until you move out or graduation.

For a more fun post, check out this video on how to stock your refridgerator.

Note: Content may offend some people, NSFW video depending on where you work ;)
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62904109@N00/388659531/

March 26, 2012

Budgeting for Graduation

Budgeting for the graduating senior can be a tricky thing. With senior year comes a bunch of extra expenses. From end of the year banquets, to graduation parties, graduation stoles, moving expenses and more… it all adds up.

Another cost of senior year that often isn’t always factored in is food and entertainment. If you’re one who goes out with friends often, it’s very possible that you end up spending more than you want to when at bars.

Today’s post highlights a better post from wisebread.com on budgeting tips.

“Every good budget should have a section for entertainment and fun purchases (or else, what are you earning all of that money for?) but building a little splurge fund that rolls over from month to month gives you a way to treat yourself occasionally without wrecking the rest of your financial health.”

Read the full post here. (Wisebread)

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5474168441/

March 23, 2012

A cool new site, HackCollege.com

So we just stumbled upon HackCollege.com and we wish we had seen it earlier! The cool thing about HackCollege is it’s sort of like LifeHacker.com, but more geared towards students. Have lots of things you want to accomplish before graduation? Short on cash, time or ideas? HackCollege has a bunch of different posts, everything from “3 Reasons Why I Love My Slow Cooker” to Viewing Craigslist with Pictures (super helpful if you’re on the market for a car).

Go check them out, and of course this post too for the 2013 graduates!

http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2012/3/20/eight-things-to-stop-doing-by-junior-year.html

Note: We’re currently running our sale on graduation stoles. If you order 6 or more, it’s 10% off your entire order!

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16801915@N06/6485695085/

March 22, 2012

Splitting Utility Bills & Roommates



If you’re like most college students you probably live with a roommate and possibly a few housemates. Living with others definitely has its advantages. Outside of the non-economical ones such as a sounding board for ideas, someone to hang out with, and a buddy to watch TV with, there’s financial ones. You share utility bills, generally have a lower cost of rent than if you rented a single or studio, and you can split grocery bills.

So how else can one living with roommates save money before graduation? You’ll want to check out this new post from ApartmentTherapy.com that talks about how to be more energy efficient and save on utility bills.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/breezyjay/131127686/

March 21, 2012

The Joys of Reading & Graduation


“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss

So true are the words of Dr. Seuss, especially during this time of year when 4th or 5th year seniors are getting ready for finals, their last semester at school and most importantly graduation!

For me, one of the things that helped me transition from undergrad life to moving home, and then the working world was reading. As strange as it might sound, I remember growing up and actively reading Goosebumps and Choose Your Own Adventure paperbacks, but then somewhere along that path to college, reading became uncool for me. I’m not sure if it was peer pressure to watch TV and sports, but I just didn’t pick up a book, unless it was assigned to me by a teacher.

In college, my thirst for knowledge returned, but in blog format. Often scouring the internet and Google to find tips on how to use a dslr camera, or recipes to cook to impress that one girl. But at the end, it was when I finished undergrad, and the thirst for knowledge, that brought me to Amazon and Starbucks to spend Saturday afternoons.

A few books I’d recommend?

Leaving Microsoft to Change The World
Delivering Happiness

And these ones recommended by the LiveYourLegend.com web site. I have yet to read The Alchemist, but it’s on my list!

http://liveyourlegend.net/the-5-books-i-reread-every-year/

So what are you waiting for to pick up a book?

Plug:
Lastly if you have not already, make sure to order your graduation sashes before it’s too late!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/449353221/

March 20, 2012

Inspiring Yourself with Your Dreams

It’s finals week at many universities around the nation. Seniors are stressing more than other students, and that means is students probably are pulling all nighters, and getting sleep and powernaps where they can.

Our question to you is, when you sleep and dream, do you remember your dreams?

Check out this recent post from the PickTheBrain Blog that talks about unleashing the power of your dreams.

Our favorite tip is:
7. Ask questions about your dream. e .g. why is there a black horse in my dream? What is the significance of the colour black? Let your creative and intuitive self answer these questions.

Interested in the full post?

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/12-steps-to-unleashing-the-power-of-your-dreams-into-your-waking-life/

Good luck on finals, and see you at graduation!