About Jenna Ballard

is a junior at Hofstra University. Follow her on twitter @jroseballard. To stay tuned to more articles for classy co-eds be sure to follow College Lifestyles on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

CL Recommends Great Fall Reads

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

The new school year is finally underway, and everyone knows what that means: time for reading, essays, presentations, and exams. Many of us just spent our leisurely summer time getting lost in great books, but often once the stress of class work begins to pile up, reading for enjoyment takes a backseat to other responsibilities. Don’t forget that cracking open a book you actually want to read can be a great way to take a break from your many class assignments. I asked a small group of College Lifestyles interns and other classy co-eds some questions about what they read over the summer, and their answers could serve as a guide of what books to read for fun this semester (or even what books to avoid).

1. What is your favorite book that you’ve read this summer?

“One of my favorite books that I read this summer was “The Hunger Games” (for the second time). The reason I love this book so much is because it is the only book that I wanted to read twice, and would read again. Even though I have read all the books and have watched the movie version of the story, the book captures my attention so much I think about the characters even after I stop reading!” -Rachel Kolod, 20, SUNY Cortland

“I read “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett and loved it! I love the history lessons it serves; it’s got the perfect bit of humor and sadness. I think it should be required reading. I also read the 50 Shades series (by E. L. James) and I loved it too, because it gave me a huge escape from every day life and summer classes.” –Serena O’Neill, 22, University of Oregon

“I read “Perks of Being a Wallflower” this summer and it has quickly become my favorite book of all time. The main character has an extremely intricate personality and really showcases someone who is unique. Even though it is a simple read, I absolutely loved it!” –Rachel Crocetti, 19, Hofstra University

“I read the infamous “50 Shades of Grey” series this summer and was unfortunately unimpressed. Not by the writing, because that spoke for itself, but because of the hype and how much people said it did things it really didn’t do.” –Natalie Weiner, Loyola University Maryland

“My favorite book that I read this summer was “The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection”. I really enjoyed the BBC show so I decided to read the stories, and seeing how creatively the show adapted the stories was incredible.” – Jessica Randall, 21, Northern Virginia Community College

“My favorite book that I read this summer was “The Girl Who Played With Fire” by Stieg Larsson because I couldn’t put it down! I read “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and enjoyed it, but the second book in the trilogy was even better. I liked reading about main character and ass-kicker Lisbeth Salandar’s background, and the mystery element hooked me from the start. This trilogy was also very different from what I normally read.” –Katrina Ballard, 23, graduated from Boston University 2011

2. Did you read a book this summer that you didn’t like?

“I read the first book of “The Hunger Games” series in the spring and I just wasn’t a huge fan (yes, I know, I’m the only person on the planet who doesn’t like “The Hunger Games”). I just thought that it was a really awkward story, trying to find it’s place, but not succeeding. I did like the movie though. I thought that Katniss was a bit more tolerable on film.” –Debra Schreiber, 22, Duquesne University graduated 2012

“I didn’t like “1984″ by George Orwell as much as I had hoped I would. The story seemed to drag and instead of having a great story be a vehicle for his political opinions, Orwell tells an okay story with paragraphs of prose about his beliefs.” – Jessica Randall

“I attempted to read “Lord of the Flies” for the sake of being cultured and just got way too bored.” – Katrina Ballard

3. What is the most challenging book that you’ve ever read that was NOT for school? Was it worth the challenge?

“I read “The Silmarillion” because I am a huge fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings. It was a really tough read, though. I read it for fun. It was worth it.” –Debra Schreiber

“I read ”Xenocide” by Orson Scott Card in 8th grade and after reading it again when I was older, I realized I had missed a lot of the more mature themes and overarching concepts portrayed in the story.” – Jessica Randall

4. If you had to pick ONE favorite book of all time, what would it be and why?

“My favorite book of all time is probably “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It combines self-discovery and travel, two things that are important especially during your college years.” – Serena O’Neill

“A Child Called ‘It’”, because it was written so well and so emotion-provoking. I read it in a couple of hours, and I am NOT a fast reader.” –Tatiana Flowers-Robinson, 20, Penn State

“My all time favorite book is “Perks of Being a Wallflower”. It’s a perfect book to read at any age. I first read it my sophomore year of high school and I can’t stop re-reading it. It is one of those books that relates to you at any age at any point in your life. I highly recommend it.” –Teresa Conde, 20, Duquesne University

There you have it, classy co-eds: whether you want to return to a book that’s already an old favorite, or finally dive into that series that everyone else has been talking about, don’t forget to take a break from all the textbooks to do some enjoyable and relaxing reading.

What was your favorite piece of summer reading? Tweet it @collegelifestyl

CL Interviews Meg Cabot!

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

megcabot.com

Meg Cabot is the New York Times bestselling author of beloved series such as The Princess Diaries, The Mediator, and the Heather Wells mysteries. She’s known for the strong, yet quirky female characters of her books that have foiled assassination attempts on the President of the United States (All-American Girl), gained the ability to locate missing children with psychic powers (1-800-Where-R-You? series), and solved a series of gruesome murders occurring in a New York City college dorm (Heather Wells series). The next Heather Wells installment, Size 12 and Ready to Rock, will be released July 10. CL talks with Meg about college life, her writing, and what we can expect from Heather in her latest adventure.

College Lifestyles: College Lifestyles is all about tips and advice for young women in college. What was your college experience like? Did you enjoy it?

Meg Cabot: I had the best time in college! I ended up going to Indiana University, which is where my dad taught. So it was free! I had a great time because I didn’t declare a major for as long as I could, so I took as many different classes as I could. I kind of planned my courses around the classes that people rated the best professors. I figured I would be getting the best education that way. I actually ended up being an art major, because I really liked the professors in the art department. But I ended up not being an artist, as you can see! I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. Then I moved to New York, and I kind of gravitated more towards the writing. I don’t think I was as good of an artist as I was a writer.

CL: So you didn’t plan on writing at all in college?

MC: No! I was scared of the writing department! I heard it was really hard. I paid attention to the reviews of the other students, and they said the writing professors were really difficult….But I ended up having a great time in college! I made all my best friends there, and met my husband! They were some of the best years of my life.

Photo Credit: goodreads.com

CL: Which of your characters are you most like, personality-wise?

MC: Wow…It’s really hard to say because I put a little bit of myself into all of my characters! I think you have to…Even the bad guys! I have to say, I’m very interested in fashion and food, so Heather Wells I think…There’s definitely some of me in her; she does not like exercising! She’s not as interested in fashion as I am though…so maybe Suze, from The Mediator, too…a combination of Heather and Suze…and Mia from The Princess Diaries, because I worry!

CL: You write for young adults, adults, and even kids/tweens with your Allie Finkle series. Is there one age group you enjoy writing for the most?

MC: I’m so fortunate that I can go between all three! I love writing for all age groups, so I’m really lucky. It’s great to go back and visit your inner 9 year old…And then from there go to high school and talk about prom! And it’s fun when I write my adult books and I can include some swearing and drinking martinis!

CL: Recently Young Adult literature has been getting more attention than ever, including from some critics who say that adults shouldn’t read YA books or that YA isn’t “real literature”. What would you say to those critics?

MC: I think it’s wrong for anyone to tell someone what they “should” read or not read. In college, I would read romances. That was my comfort reading, and people would look down on me…I won’t say who…and they would say,”You should be reading Proust!” Why are you judging me? I think people should read what they want to read in their free time. Who are you to judge? It’s just ridiculous to me! It’s really unfair…

CL: Your Heather Wells series is definitely a favorite of mine. The books are based on your own experience as a dorm director. What I love about them is that the books are about Heather investigating these horrifying murders in her dorm, but the books are hilarious! Is it hard to balance light humor with a plot that can sometimes be shocking and gruesome?

MC: Yes, it is! You know, it’s difficult. When I was working in the dorm, there were no murders! There were deaths though, and it was very sad. But you had to balance it with a sense of humor. The thing is, Heather wants justice, she wants to find out who is doing these things. So I think that balances it out too, because there’s murder but there’s also justice. And there’s romance, too!

CL: The newest book in this series, Size 12 and Ready to Rock, is out on July 10. Can you tell me what we can expect from Heather this time? What new characters does she encounter?

MC: This book is about summer break at New York College…They rent out the dorms to anyone who wants to live there. Fisher Hall, where she works, has been shut down. Unfortunately she finds out they decided at the last minute to rent it out to Tania Trace, her nemesis! It’s for the Tania Trace Rock Camp, where teenage girls will learn how to beome little divas…but Tania has a stalker, and thinks Heather may be able to help her. Heather isn’t too excited about it because she is not very fond of Tania…And of course, people start to die…Heather wonders, “What happened to my summer vacation?!” And Heather and Cooper haven’t told Jordan and Tania about their romance yet. There’s a lot of tension in the air!

CL. What do you feel is the most important advice for young women who want to becomes writers?

MC: Obviously they should read a lot. And read what you like! The best tip I ever got was from a writing instructor: she said to listen in on people talking. Eavesdrop on conversations to make your dialogue believable. I used to write bad male dialogue, because they would sound like women! …Listen to men, women, kids even, to have better dialogue!

CL: Can you tell me about any future projects you have planned?

MC: Well theres going to be another Heather book after this one, coming out next summer! Then I have a teen series, the Abandon series, with the last book coming next summer too…Then maybe a little break!

CL: A vacation maybe?

MC: It’s hard to justify going on vacation when you live in Key West! It’s like I’m always on vacation!

Jenna Ballard is a rising junior at Hofstra University, double majoring in English and Global Studies. She loves movie marathons, trying new foods, and New York City, and hopes one day to become an editor so she can read books for a living.

Dorm Accessories under $30

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

Now is prime dorm-shopping time! First you’ll probably buy the essentials, like a comforter, sheets, and storage bins. But don’t forget the smaller things that will help keep you organized and make your room feel homey and all your own. Below are some decorative accessories helpful in making your dorm room as cute and comfortable as possible, all for under $30!

Pom-pom Accent Pillow, $14.99

Record Wall Clock, $9.99

Dry-Erase Message Board, $14.99

Floral Accent Pillow, $26.99

Bedside Caddy, $9

Shower Curtain, $16.96

Desk Lamp, $9.99

Weekly “To-do” Dry-Erase Board, $24.99

You can design your own room virtually with Target’s College uStyler page, as we did at CL, to get inspiration for what you want your dorm to look like. Do you also need shopping ideas for bigger furniture or kitchen supplies? Take a look at Shaundra’s Great Apartment Finds For Every Room Under $50. With some of the suggestions from these two articles, you’ll have a stylish and functional dorm or apartment without spending all of your hard-earned summer money!

Introduce Yourself: Conquer Freshman Roommate Jitters

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

The idea of having a college roommate can be one of the main sources of anxiety when getting ready to begin freshman year. I have to share this tiny rectangular living space with a complete stranger? What if she tries to steal my stuff? What if we have completely different sleep schedules? What if I just don’t like her? These are all completely natural concerns, especially if you aren’t used to sharing your room with another person. There is one step you need to take to help put your mind at ease: introduce yourself. Often when you take some of the mystery and “what-ifs” out of the equation, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable about living with someone new.

These days it couldn’t be easier to connect with your new roommate. After you get her name in the mail from your school, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the list goes one. Tip #1: Do not automatically form a judgement about your roommate based on her social media pages. Taking a look at at her pictures or the music she lists as her favorite can definitely serve as an additional way to get to know her, but don’t form an opinion on her before you even have a conversation with her. I don’t know about you, but when I consider the big picture, my Facebook represents just a tiny portion of my life and who I am.

So, once you do see her Facebook or Twitter, Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to reach out first! Sure, you’ve never spoken before, but you’re about to spend an entire school year living about four feet away from each other; shyness should stop now. Send her a friend request, along with a quick message introducing yourself and asking her if she wants to set up a time to Skype or talk on the phone before school starts.

You may be unsure of what to talk about when you are first getting to know each other, but lucky for you, you two already have something pretty big in common: your school! You can discuss what classes you will both be taking, trade tips on packing your belongings from home, and discuss certain dorm room logistics, such as who is bringing the mini-fridge or the area rug. These are easy topics to break the ice and start to learn each other’s personalities. Once again, try to reserve any judgements you may have and (Tip #3) give her a chance. Maybe she doesn’t seem as excited about getting to know each other as you are, but that could be because she’s timid or nervous. Maybe she seems like an extreme party animal, but that could be because she’s saying what she thinks is expected of all college students.

No matter what, do your best to stay open-minded. After all, college is about broadening your horizons and crossing paths with all different kinds of people. Even if you end up not getting along, at the very least, living with her will have given you an important life lesson about dealing with a difficult person. Check out CL’s Roommate Etiquette 101 for tips on how to handle tough roommate conflicts. The important thing is to stay positive: you’ll start off as strangers, but by the end of freshman year she could become one of your best friends.

Photos from mycollegeguide.org and viraltoob.com.

CL Interviews Brooke Sassman of She’s the First

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

She’s the First is the fabulous non-profit organization dedicated to providing education for young girls in developing countries. The organization was founded by Tammy Tibbetts, with the help of Christen Brandt and a few other friends, all fresh out of college. According to the official She’s the First website, out of 130 million young people around the globe who are not in school, 70% are girls. The leading cause of death in girls ages 15-19 worldwide is complications from pregnancy. She’s the First recognizes the connections between educating girls and lowering maternal mortality rates, delaying pregnancy, and lowering poverty. The organization raises money in a variety of ways to sponsor education for girls all over the world: Kenya, Uganda, Guatemala, India, and Nepal.

students from Shanti Bhavan in India

CL had the opportunity to talk with Brooke Sassman, a student at Rutgers University who is working this summer as the executive assistant for She’s the First. Brooke told us about how she became involved with She’s the First, what the organization really does, and how you too can get involved and help this amazing cause.

College Lifestyles: What inspired you to get involved with She’s the First? Did you plan on working with a non-profit?

Brooke Sassman: Working with She’s the First just kind of happened. I didn’t really have the intention of working with a non-profit….I’ve been so media and journalism driven that I never considered non-profit as an option until meeting Tammy and learning about She’s the First. Tammy was working for Seventeen magazine and I entered a back to school contest: “Show Us Your Best Back to School Outfit”. I took a picture of my outfit, and she saw where I took that picture and that it was at a train stop she recognized. It turns out we’re from the same town! So I started following her on Twitter and saw all of the stuff she posted about She’s the First. I saw that it was such a great organization for girls in the U.S. and around the world, and I was really inspired to get involved.

CL: What does a typical day working for She’s the First look like for you? What are your main responsibilities?

BS: For me, my days can start out doing one thing and end doing something completely different. We’re staffed on a volunteer basis, so it’s usually me and Tammy in the office, and I can get involved with any kind of project! I first started with the concert benefit Girls Who Rock. I was working with the press committee, blogging, working on social media, and developing projects for press. I dabble in different projects, which is really great because it’s giving me hands-on experience in a lot of different areas.

CL: So you mentioned Girls Who Rock, and I know STF also does Tie-Dye Cupcake fundraisers. What is She’s the First’s most successful fundraiser?

BS: I would say Girls Who Rock. It keeps increasing every year. All the money goes straight to the girls. This year we had Haley Reinhart as the headliner. We rise in profits every year. We had raffles, we had those neon bracelets for people to buy…Twitter donated a screen that hung behind the performers and you could see live tweets of everyone who was tweeting about the show.

CL: What is the best way for someone to help out She’s the First?

BS: I can tell even from when I just started that She’s the First is expanding a lot. We recently started opening it up to more volunteers. I started tweeting to people, inviting them to volunteer information sessions. I contacted Tammy by e-mail through the website, that’s how I got started, so we get contacted from there too.

girls from the Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda

CL: If people choose to donate to STF, is there a way to tell exactly where their money is going?

BS: When we did Girls Who Rock, we did tell exactly where the money was going; it all went right to the girls. On our website page you can donate to us. There is absolutely a way to find out if you contact us. Another thing is, if you work for some Fortune 500 company, they often have a program where if you volunteer for a non-profit, they’ll donate to it. So we’re working on that right now, how to find out if you work for a company that does that.

CL: What is the process like to start your own campus chapter of She’s the First, or to find out if your campus already has a chapter?

BS: On the website, we have a list of our campus chapters. By this year, we should be hitting 40 campus chapters. We’re trying to send out Campus Chapter First Aid kits, which are donated materials, like a binder for important documents, that make them feel like a legit campus chapter. We’re sending those out for the first week of school. And if you want to start your own, everything you need to know is on our website.

members of the STF Campus Chapter at Hofstra University

CL: Can you tell me about She’s the First’s involvement in The Young Women’s Leadership Network School Summer Camp?

BS: Our first day of camp was on Monday. It’s a camp that combines Astoria, Jamaica (Queens), Brooklyn, and Harlem. Those campers all come together, about 140 girls (of middle school and high school age). They have different workshops throughout the day. This is the first time the camp has incorporated social media, and that’s provided by us. We’re teaching them how it works, how it can be used for good, and how one tweet can make a difference.

We’re presenting them with three challenges. One is a Tumblr blog: all of the campers have to submit two pieces of writing per week, like a school newspaper, and they are responsible for updating that. Then, the ones that allowed to have a Twitter, they get Twitter handles, and they learn how to tweet and use a hashtag. The hashtag is #myimpact…..The idea is #myimpact: “I’m not too young to make one”. And then their Instagram challenge is being ironed out this week. They’ll take pictures and tweet about it.

Brooke teaches the YWLN campers about social media

CL: What are you the first to do in your family?

BS: I had a feeling you would ask that! I wish I had a really good answer! I’m the first to have an internship and work in the city.

All photos provided by She’s the First.

Eco-friendly D-I-Y Projects

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

If you’re looking for a new creative project to dive into, what’s better than one that benefits the environment? Try any or all of these D-I-Y crafts that recycle old materials and/or help reduce waste.

Stylish Re-usable Shopping Bags:

Follow the earth-friendly trend of bringing your own re-usable bags to the store instead of putting your purchases in wasteful plastic or paper. You can make shopping bags by

1) Decorating a plain canvas bag with paint, beads, sequins, ribbon, or anything else you think of.

You can use a doily as a stencil, as seen on designsponge.com

2) If you’re sewing-savvy, take an old T-shirt and try this Martha Stewart craft.

T-shirt bag from Martha Stewart

Collage Crazy

If you’re a magazine junkie, or just someone who hates to throw anything away, you likely have stacks of old magazines tucked away under your bed or in your closet. The articles and fashion are outdated, but you don’t want to get rid of a few years worth of subscriptions. The easy solution? Collage something! Take scissors to your old issues of Glamour and Seventeen, and you can personalize anything:

1) put together a colorful and original poster for your dorm room

Collage from Pinterest.com

2) make your school notebooks pop with funky magazine clippings

notebooks from reinventplay.com

3) create a unique birthday card

My friend Rachel made me this awesome birthday card from cut up magazine pages

Reconstructed Jewelry:

Do you have a lot of old, inexpensive jewelry you no longer wear? Don’t throw it out! Grab some pliers or scissors (choose the tool depending on if the jewelry is on a chain or an elastic string) to take apart necklaces and bracelets. Now you have a collection of beads and pendants that you can mix and match to create your own one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. Not only does this project recycle old materials, but it also saves money you might have otherwise spent on new store bought jewelry.

original necklaces made from adding extra pendants to a chain (left) and stringing together beads taken from 4 different bracelets (right)

If you enjoy these projects, continue to think outside the box: what do you have laying around that could be turned into something completely new? Let us know what you come up with in the comments below or tweet us at @collegelifestyl! Want more ways to go green? Take a look at these 5 recycled products for your dorm or apartment.

Simple Steps to De-clutter Your Closet

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

Photo: frombeyondthepale.typepad.com

For even the neatest and most organized of classy co-eds, our closets can sometimes be the secret disaster area of our rooms. They have long been the site of all the “miscellaneous” items we accumulate over the years: shirts from ninth grade, old dance costumes, dresses from junior and senior prom, and rarely-worn clothes that you swore you would get tons of use out of, but still continue to pass by when deciding on your outfit for the day. You may often look at the mess hidden in your closet and be a little intimidated by the thought of trying to clean it out, but CL has some tips for you. Summer is the perfect time to tackle this project, so on the next rainy day, vow to do something about the old bridesmaid dresses and too-small sandals taking up space.

First: Go through every piece of clothing and pair of shoes.

Ask yourself: Does this still fit me? Do I wear it on a regular basis (unless it’s something specifically for certain occasions, of course)? Is it still in good condition?

Separate the clothes into 3 piles: “to-keep”, “hand-me-downs” for younger siblings, cousins, or neighbors, and “sell or donate”. You can take your clothes to a local consignment shop and try to make some extra cash off of them (but don’t expect to get a lot from most), or simply donate them. Even if you think a skirt is completely out-of-style, it will be much appreciated by someone in need.

This process can definitely be a bit tedious, but you can try and make it more entertaining by inviting friends over to help you decide. Plus, just think of all the space for brand new clothes you’ll have once you’re done!

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CL Interviews Meg Cabot!

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

megcabot.com

Meg Cabot is the New York Times bestselling author of beloved series such as The Princess Diaries, The Mediator, and the Heather Wells mysteries. She’s known for the strong, yet quirky female characters of her books that have gotten themselves into a number of crazy situations: foiling assassination attempts on the President of the United States (All-American Girl), gaining the ability to locate missing children with psychic powers (1-800-Where-R-You? series), and solving many gruesome murders occurring in a New York City college dorm (Heather Wells series). The long-awaited newest Heather Wells installment, Size 12 and Ready to Rock, will be released Tuesday, July 10. CL spoke with Meg about college life, her writing, and what we can expect from Heather in her latest adventure.

College Lifestyles: College Lifestyles is all about tips and advice for young women in college. What was your college experience like? Did you enjoy it?

CL: So you didn’t plan on writing at all in college?

Photo Credit: goodreads.com

CL: Which of your characters are you most like, personality-wise?

CL: You write for young adults, adults, and even kids/tweens with your Allie Finkle series. Is there one age group you enjoy writing for the most?

CL: The newest book in this series, Size 12 and Ready to Rock, is out on July 10. Can you tell me what we can expect from Heather this time? What new characters does she encounter?

CL. What do you feel is the most important advice for young women who want to becomes writers?

CL: Can you tell me about any future projects you have planned?

CL: A vacation maybe?

MC: It’s hard to justify going on vacation when you live in Key West! It’s like I’m always on vacation!

Want more on Heather Wells, the pop-star turned assistant dorm director and savvy detective? Check out this hilarious music video from Heather’s days as a teen singing sensation, and be sure to pick up Size 12 and Ready to Rock on July 10!

So You Think YOU Can Dance: 6 Summer Dance Classes

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

Dancing is an amazing form of exercise: it gives you a cardio workout, burning calories, and works to strengthen all major muscle groups, not to mention that it’s much more enjoyable than being a slave to the treadmill. You’ll never get bored with dance as a part of your fitness routine, because there are so many styles to choose from. If you’re thinking of signing up for a dance class this summer, here are some of your options (along with some inspiration to get you moving, and input from CL interns experienced in dance):

Photo: charlenebe.blogspot.com

BALLET – It’s one of the more difficult styles of dance to master, but the benefits are endless: ballet will help strengthen your muscles, build longer endurance, and improve flexibility and posture. Practicing ballet will give you lean muscle and a great cardio workout. Don’t let the intensity of this style intimidate you; many studios or fitness centers offer beginner classes for adults.

CL Says: “I’d suggest a beginning ballet class even for someone who doesn’t dance; it changes your spatial awareness, posture, and general awareness like no other type of class.” – Courtney Anders, Fashion and Lifestyle Writer

Get Inspired: watch Center Stage or ABC Family’s Bunheads

Photo: learnpure.com

HIP-HOP – The following may be a bit biased, as hip-hop is this writer’s favorite kind of dance, but hip-hop is the best style to just jump right into and have fun. There are certainly extremely challenging branches of hip-hop, such a breakdancing, that take years to learn. Yet in a beginning class you can learn basic popping, locking, and other isolation movements that will give you an abdominal workout that’s much more exciting than crunches. The best part about hip-hop is that the secret to being good at it is letting go and adding your own style.

CL Says: “I was a competitive hip hop dancer and taught for several years, and let me tell you – nothing makes you feel more aggressive and in control….Even when you feel like you have nothing left to give, the music makes you want to bring your A-game every time.” – Marissa Miller, Health and Fashion Writer

Get Inspired: watch Honey or any of the Step Up movies, listen to “We Run This” by Missy Elliott

Photo: starrstudiosalem.com

TAP – Tap dancing is all about beating out rhythms with fancy footwork, and all that quick movement is an excellent cardio workout. Tap especially tones the muscles of your lower body, such as thighs and quads, and you’ll feel like a classy old-fashioned movie star while you do it!

CL Says: “I was a dancer for years in ballet, tap and jazz and they are such an excellent way to work out and have fun! Tap uses all sorts of different leg muscles.” – Rachel Crocetti, Health and Fashion Writer

Get Inspired: watch Singin’ in the Rain

Photo: editingproductions.com

JAZZ/JAZZERCISE - Jazz contains movements also seen in ballet, such as turns and leaps, but it has a much sassier style than ballet. Jazz is especially great for your leg muscles and flexibility. You can also choose to take Jazzercise, which is a cardio workout choreographed to popular, upbeat music. It combines elements of jazz, resistance training, yoga, and Pilates.

Get Inspired: watch Chicago, listen to Burlesque soundtrack

Photo: blog.fitnessvideostore.com

BELLYDANCE – All about learning to isolate parts of your body in various movements, bellydancing is a great toning workout. It’s the perfect choice if you want to dance but have any muscle/sports-related injuries, because though it works all parts of your body, it’s low-impact. It can also help ease lower-back pain.

CL Says: “Bellydancing is definitely very different. It works your abdominal muscles a lot by challenging you to move them in ways you normally wouldn’t.” – Debra Schreiber, CL Editor/Features Writer

Get Inspired: listen to “Beautiful Liar” by Beyonce and Shakira

Photo: zumbahouston.com

ZUMBA – Zumba is the fitness craze that has been steadily gaining popularity over the years, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a high energy cardio workout combining various styles of Latin Dance and music: salsa, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton. Zumba emphasizes visual cues, so in a class you will be watching the instructor for the movements and directions rather than listening to her shout them over the music.

CL Says: “I tried out zumba and loved it! It is a perfect mix of dance and working out. Got me excercising and dancing again!” -Christina Hedges, CL Senior Social Media Intern

Get Inspired: watch Take the Lead, listen to “Alright” by Pitbull feat. Machel Montano

Once you’ve decided what kind of class you’d like to take, finding one in your area is easy: just visit Dance Finder, type in the style of dance and your zip code, and you’ll get a list of studios in your area. For Zumba, you can also search for classes directly from the official Zumba website. Are you interested in checking out other kinds of group fitness classes as well? Take a look at Kate’s Top 10 Fitness Classes to Try.

CL Reviews: Brave

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

Photo from awn.com

If you’re looking for a movie to see this weekend that is entertaining and truly original, this is it. Brave tells the story of sassy Scottish archer Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald, previously seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 and Boardwalk Empire). The story begins when Merida’s overbearing mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson of Love Actually and Nanny McPhee) insists that Merida choose among three suitors for an arranged marriage. Merida has no interest in the traditional princess duties her mother forces on her, especially an arranged marriage, so she seeks the help of a mysterious witch (Julie Walters, Harry Potter films) to change her mother’s mind. She ends up getting much more than she bargained for…

Photo from screenrant.com

Brave is engaging and full of action. The characters are fun with their strong Scottish accents and kooky personalities, especially Merida’s father King Fergus (Billy Conolly, The Boondock Saints) and her three mischievous younger brothers, who had me laughing the whole time. With Hollywood recycling so many ideas lately, sometimes it seems that even good movies have pretty predictable storylines, but this film went in a direction I was not expecting. Many times I genuinely had no idea what would happen next, which is how an adventure movie should feel. It’s suspenseful, funny, and obviously kid-friendly, but definitely enjoyable for adults as well. It’s a perfect movie to see with your younger siblings, cousins, or the kids you babysit, because you’ll love it as much as they do (not to mention the amazing Pixar short that precedes the film, “La Luna”, that’s worth the price of admission alone).

Brave came out in theaters on June 22, and has already become a hit both in numbers and reviews. It opened at number one at the box office, making $66.7 million over the weekend, and has received a solid 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has been gaining a lot of media attention for being the first Pixar film featuring a female protagonist. If the confident, independent, and hilarious Merida represents the kind of female characters we can expect to be starring in future Disney/Pixar films, I’ll definitely be in line for the next one.

Photo from cnn.com

Want ideas for more new releases to check out this summer? Take a look at Ariana’s What to Catch This Weekend.

CL Reviews: Series Premiere of Bunheads

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

When I heard that Amy Sherman-Palladino was creating a new TV series, I couldn’t wait to see it. She’s the woman behind one of my all-time favorite shows, Gilmore Girls, about a fabulous fast-talking mother-daughter team living in a small Connecticut town. Gilmore Girls was full of wit and amazingly crazy yet lovable characters, so I was excited to tune in to Sherman Palladino’s newest series, Bunheads, to see what I was in for next.

cast of Bunheads (Photo Credit: guardian.co.uk)

Bunheads follows the story of Michelle, a young women working as a Las Vegas showgirl when, after a series of disappointments culminating in a horrible audition, she agrees to marry Hubbell, a man who had long been an admirer of her performances. She leaves her unsatisfying life in Vegas to live with Hubbell (and unknowingly, with his dramatic dance teacher mother) in a small coastal town. Michelle is played by Sutton Foster, who is well known to Broadway audiences as the Tony Award-winner for Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes. Hubbell’s mother, Fanny, is played by Kelly Bishop, loved by Gilmore Girls fans as Emily Gilmore. With credits like these, of course the acting is great: Foster is very likeable as the offbeat but kind Michelle–though sometimes she’s little too reminiscent of the character of Lorelai Gilmore with her speedy chatter and pop-culture references. Foster shines the most in the scene in which she shows Fanny’s ballet students what a dance audition is really like. Foster and Bishop have good chemistry in the scenes they share, and they’re definitely fun to watch.

Kelly Bishop & Sutton Foster (Photo Credit: thetvaddict.com)

Though the acting was entertaining, I did feel the storyline was just a bit too out-there: within the first ten minutes of the show, Michelle has agreed to marry a man who is virtually a complete stranger so that he can take her to his home and “take care” of her. No, not quite as creepy as it sounds, but it still felt pretty unrealistic (even for a TV show). We only get a quick glimpse into the characters of the ballet students (played by Kaitlyn Jenkins, Emma Dumont, Bailey Buntain, and Julia Goldani Telles, all in their first major roles), but I expect we’ll learn more about them in the episodes to come. The premiere ends in a way that I was not expecting. All in all, though some of the story seemed like an imitation of Sherman-Palladino’s last success, and some of it just felt implausible, Foster and Bishop and the cliffhanger at the end of this episode definitely intrigued me enough to tune in again next week. If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls and/or dancing, I would recommend giving Bunheads a chance.

Photo Credit: tvrage.com

Bunheads airs on ABC Family Mondays at 9pm Eastern Time.

Jenna Ballard is a rising junior at Hofstra University, double majoring in English and Global Studies. She loves movie marathons, trying new foods, and New York City, and hopes one day to become an editor so she can read books for a living.

Meet a CL Intern: Jenna!

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Jenna Ballard

Name: Jenna Ballard

Position: Lifestyle Writer

University: Hofstra University

Major: English, concentration in Literature and Publishing

Organizational Involvement: Her Campus Hofstra, Welcome Week Leader

Pets: sadly, none

Nickname: usually none, but my friend Allie refers to me as “Jah-naynay”!

Dream Job: book editor

My friends and me in Greece!

Favorite color: turquoise

Favorite candy: Twix

Favorite movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Favorite cuisine: Italian, Greek

Favorite season: summer

Coffee vs Tea: Coffee, especially iced coffee in the summer!

PC vs Mac: Mac

Coke vs Pepsi: I don’t drink soda much, but I’ll go with Coke!

Stripes vs Polka Dots: Stripes

3 words to describe me: friendly, hardworking, laid-back

3 words to describe my style: bright, simple, comfortable

You will find on my desk: pictures of friends and family and piles of old school papers

You will find on my DVR/Tivo: Parks and Recreation (LOVE Amy Poehler), Modern Family, Pretty Little Liars

You will find on my Ipod: Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Kanye West, musical soundtracks (RENT, Mamma Mia!)

You will find in my refrigerator: lots of fruit, yogurt, and cheese

I have a slight obsession with: all things British, caramel iced coffee, and modcloth.com

out to dinner with my family!

I dislike: spiders, cats, and really spicy foods

My friends would say I am: goofy, thoughtful, driven

I am most happy when: I’m just relaxing with family and friends (usually also while eating!)

Most people are surprised to know I: can rap every lyric to Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass”!

A classy co-ed is: A girl who can keep a good balance between having fun and working hard to meet her goals.

Getting to Know Shelly…

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Jenna Ballard

Getting to Know Shelly…

May is one of our favorite months here at College Lifestyles. It is the month where we get to specially honor our fabulous CEO, Shelly Marie Redmond, as May was dubbed “her month” by interns in 2010. Being a Registered Dietitian/Author/Speaker, the Executive Director of College Lifestyles, a member of the American Dietetic Association, and a wife/Mommie, this classy lady is always on the go. A native of Houma, Louisiana, she currently resides in Shreveport, Louisiana with her husband Greg and eight week old daughter, Mireille. Shelly attended both Nicholls State University and Louisiana Tech University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, her Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and completed her Dietetic Internship. There she was also involved with Student Programming and Residence Hall Association. She was a member of the sorority Alpha Sigma Tau, where she now currently serves as the organization’s National Vice President. Shelly has also written a book, Eat Well and Be Fabulous, that is a must read for any classy woman.

Her inspiration to form College Lifestyles developed in 2003 when she began working with interns from Louisiana Tech University. She highly enjoyed working with students, so began to travel to educate students on etiquette, nutrition and sorority life, in addition to working with her interns. While she enjoyed this to a high degree, she did not like leaving the students to fend for themselves once she had completed her visit. She had a desire to “develop resources for students to visit” once she left their schools. Shelly says, “In researching college ‘sites’ and ‘resources,’ I realized none had the ‘classy’ theme I discussed when working with students.” Shelly decided to create the website she envisioned herself, and College Lifestyles was formed in 2008.

Ten years down the road, where does Shelly envision College Lifestyles? In her words, “a full fledge on-line magazine and resource for college students from freshman year to graduate school.” Shelly believes goals make the difference, and therefore is willing to adapt and change the College Lifestyles website to accommodate students for the years to come.

Fun Facts about Shelly:

Nick name(s): Shell, whatever my daughter coos at me(!)

One word to describe me: Classy

My favorite color is: Yellow

My friends say I am: Stylish, Patient, Driven and, well, Classy (!)

My dream job is: College Lifestyles Editor in Chief (expand the site even further!)

My dream car is: I am more of an SUV person – Escalade

My favorite television shows are: This is the FIRST year I am addicted to American Idol. What Not to Wear. Oprah.

My favorite movie is: I recently saw The King’s Speech and I LOVED it. Legally Blonde and Wedding Singer.

I enjoy: Writing, reading, and pilates. Lately, I enjoy playing with the newest addition in my life – my daughter!

Early bird or night owl?: Well, now I am an early bird with Mireille

On my I-Pod is: Depeche Mode, Glee songs, Ferry Corsten (techno)

Pets: 2 pets, cats – Gizmo and Theodore Roosevelt

My fashion style is: Ladylike. I own 1 pair of jeans, the rest is skirts and dresses.

My favorite quote is: ‘Great things come in Small Packages’

My favorite class in college is/was: Speech

My favorite candy is: Twizzlers and Junior Mints

My favorite book(s) is/are: I am a marketing book junkie. I love the book Made to Stick. Freakin Fabulous by Clinton Kelly, the Sweet Potato Queen Collection

Magazines I enjoy reading are: Lucky, InStyle, Marie Claire, Martha Stewart On my desk, you will find: computer, marketing books, pens/pencils, pictures of hubby/Mireille, supplies (tape, stapler) – a typical desk

In my refrigerator, you will find: Greek yogurt, milk, formula, soy milk, juice, apples, oranges, jelly, cream cheese (do we see how I love dairy!), olives, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, leftovers

I can’t live without: iPhone, laptop, College Lifestyles, College Lifestyles Interns

My dream vacation is: Moscow, Russia

Places I’ve traveled/ countries I’ve visited: I been pretty much all over the US, except Alaska. My husband is from Ohio – and went to school in FL – so we have the pleasure of traveling to visit family/friends. My honeymoon was in Argentina – I highly recommend! I love it when: Someone opens the door for me and when Mireille smiles and coos

I dislike OR I dislike it when: People rain on my parade

I am slightly obsessed with: Social Media, American Idol, Stephen Moyer from True Blood

I work the best at (location): My desk and Barnes and Noble

On rainy days, you can find me: Inside – reading a magazine or book.

On sunny days, you can find me: Taking Mireille on a stroller walk

A great date is: with my husband having a great meal! Our lives are very fast pace so a nice meal is a great date

Coffee vs Tea: Coffee

Coke vs Pepsi: Diet Coke

Flip flops vs Stilettos: Stilettos

MAC vs PC: MAC

Must have iPhone apps are: White Noise (for Mireille and for when I travel so I can sleep), Facebook, Tweetdeck, Texting, Tetrus, Words with Friends, Foursquare

Something interesting many folks don’t know about me: Hum, besides being a Pilates junkie; I am quite short – only 5’1″

Favorite childhood memory: My family didn’t have much money, so my aunt took my brother and I to Disney World. I was on cloud nine!

Favorite college memory: Too many! Probably the fact my BFF Susan was my BFF the ENTIRE 4 years of our bachelor’s degree! The simple things – midnight trips to Wal Mart, window shopping, ‘stalking!’ The best part – Susan and I are still BFFs!

Favorite adulthood memory: Mireille

Favorite sorority/sisterhood memory: It happened after graduation! Being elected to serve as National Vice President!

I love being the CEO of College Lifestyles because: I LOVE working with students and interns! The best part is seeing how they use the experience of writing and PR and taking the experience to the next level! I feel so good when I see others succeed!

What I love MOST about College Lifestyles: The fact CL has stayed true to our ‘classy’ brand. College Lifestyles has never left our humble beginnings nor deviated from our mission. Plus, I love working with such fabulous young women! Mireille has such wonderful women to look up to!

Speaking of Miss Mireille…

Shelly’s daughter, Mirelle Claire Redmond, was born on March 16^th (She is 8 weeks old, today!). Mireille enjoys taking pictures, cooing, smiling, and bathtime, and is better known by some as “Meems” and/or “Blueberry.” She likes the color pink and her fashion style is ladylike, as she enjoys wearing headbands with flowers. She enjoys when her Mommie dresses her up, sings to her, and soothes her to sleep. She also enjoys physical activities, such as tummy time, with her Daddy. Mireille looks forward to being a future College Lifestyles lady because she wants to a classy lady, just like her sweet Mommie. We love you, Mireille!

Shelly’s Interns Think the World of Her!

As interns at College Lifestyles, we are blessed to call Shelly our CEO. Shelly desires to see us succeed, both as interns for College Lifestyles and in our personal lives as well. What some of Shelly’s interns have to say about her:

“Shelly has such a beautiful heart. She has taught me so much, taking me under her wing as one of her interns. The amount of patience Shelly shows with each of us is phenomenal, as well as the amount of understanding she demonstrates. I am blessed by the wisdom she has shared with me, and am grateful to have been a part of the College Lifestyles family for the last year.” -Abby Bryant

“Shelly is not only a wonderful person, but she is also a great director for College Lifestyles! Her passion shows in every aspect of her work and life. Even though she just had a baby, she is still keeping up with all of her wonderful interns to make sure we stay on the same page. Her upbeat, positive attitude always puts a smile on my face and makes me want to go above and beyond. Shelly is an amazing person who truly deserves all the great things in life! Thank you, Shelly, for making this internship experience one that I will never forget. ” -Becky Alberico

“She is super dedicated to what she does and also such a genuine person and CEO. From the moment I spoke to her on the phone for my interview, I knew she was truly invested in CL and really cared about her interns. I love working for CL and am so grateful to be a part of something so classy, so great–so Shelly!” -Erica Avesian

“Shelly is super sweet and such a great role model. She emits positive energy, she’s understanding and is genuinely caring!” -Grace Gavilanes

“I love Shelly because she’s like the house mom for our second sorority as CL interns. She is such an inspiration and such a wonderful person. She’s so good at being able to bounce ideas off of, and she has such faith in each and every one of us to run with our ideas. I couldn’t ask for a better person to learn from because she’s so incredibly passionate about what she does, and whether she realizes it or not, she instills that same passion in her interns. We love you “Mama” Shelly!” -Jacqui Brown

“I love Shelly for how sweet, caring and hardworking she is. Nothing slows her down, and it is truly amazing to see someone accomplish so much and do it with such genuine character and devotion, all while maintaining a family. I love working at College Lifestyles for how much creativity and room to grow it has given me, as well as having a wonderfully supportive network of interns and an awesome CEO. I know this is corny because it gets said all the time, but Shelly is an inspiration to all of us.” -Jessica Salerno

“I love Shelly because she really makes us girls feel comfortable working for her. Though it is a job (and an awesome one at that!) I feel like I can talk to Shelly about anything and that she is our biggest cheerleader! Being an intern at College Lifestyles was an amazing experience and I am more excited than I can put into words for the ladies who will follow in our footsteps and have the chance to work for and with Shelly, because she truly is an amazing woman!” -Jordan Ellis

“I love that Shelly is always very supportive, helpful, and positive. She’s been a positive presence in my life since my phone interview before I even became an intern, and I’m a better person for knowing her! I’m going to miss being CL intern so much because I love the other interns and Shelly and the little family she’s created.” -Kat McClain

“Shelly is not only an amazing boss who pushes me to be a more creative and engaging writer, she’s a wonderful woman who genuinely cares about all of us at CL. I’m so thankful to have been given this opportunity to work with a team of truly amazing young women!” -Lauren Zeinstra

“I love working with Shelly because she is such a positive leader! Even though we have never met face to face, I feel like she is a mentor I can count on for life. She’s the best!” -Leslie Campbell

“Shelly is a very special person and a positive inspiration in my life. I look up to her professionally, but most importantly I admire her strong character. She is loved by many and for very good reasons. I feel incredibly lucky that I came across College Lifestyles because it provided me with opportunities to grow as a writer and a person. Shelly has created a tremendous website and organization and I am proud to be a part of it. She is a wonderful person with a lot of talent and joy to share with the world!” -Maggie Young

“I love working for CL with Shelly because as interns we don’t just work FOR her, we work with her! She always asks for input on ideas she has or asks us for new ideas. It’s nice to have that kind of interaction as an intern! She truly values our opinions, and makes us feel special!” -Patrice Basso

Happy “Miss Shelly Marie” Month!!!

WE LOVE YOU, SHELLY!

Abby Bryant is an intern with College Lifestyles™. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Georgia College & State University®, where she was also the president of her sorority, Sigma Alpha Omega®. She considers herself blessed to have been an intern with College Lifestyles for the last year, and will miss her “College Lifestyles family” so much. She would especially like to thank Shelly for being the amazing person that she is. Abby wishes all the best to College Lifestyles and its fabulous readers and would like to remind everyone that there are three things a girl should be: classy, fabulous, and a CL lady! Much love to you all! And Happy Miss Shelly Marie Month!