Meet CL Intern Carolyn McMahon!

Name: Carolyn McMahon (Carrie)

Position: Health and Fitness Writer

University: University of Southern California

Major: Kinesiology

Organizational Involvement: Will be a freshman in the fall, but plan on working as a personal trainer at the Lyon Center, joining greek life and clubs on campus

Pets: A Shetland Sheepdog named Sutter

Nickname: Carebear

Dream Job: To become a fitness icon and shape the fitness industry

 

Favorite color: Pink

Favorite candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!

Favorite movie: A very close tie between Step Up and Dear John… sense the theme here? #Channing Tatum

Favorite cuisine: I’m a pretty basic gal… I love fresh salads, grilled chicken, Omlettes and oatmeal.

Favorite season: Spring and Summer!

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee vs Tea

PC vs Mac

Coke vs Pepsi- Neither!

Stripes vs Polka Dots

 

3 words to describe me: Ambitious, outgoing and honest

3 words to describe my style: Comfy, casual and plain. I am almost always in workout clothes, but on the rare occasion that I am not, I’m in a USC sweatshirt and yoga pants

 

You will find on my desk: Textbooks, fitness books and many different scented lotions

You will find on my DVR/Tivo: Documentaries and reality shows

You will find on my Ipod: Avicii, Sak Noel, Chris Brown, David Guetta, Far East Movement, Rihanna… anything I can dance too!

You will find in my refrigerator: Tubberwares with all my meals for the week

 

 

 

 

I am have a slight obsession with: Coffee

 

I dislike: Ketchup!

 

My friends would say I am: Unpredictably fun

 

I am most happy when: I’m having a laugh with my friends or I’m lifting weights at the gym

 

Most people are surprised to know I: Have been to over 30 countries!

A classy co-ed is: Someone who knows their priorities and goals, takes the steps to achieve them and lives out their dreams.

 

Carolyn McMahon is Health and Fitness Writer for College Lifestyles and a Kinesiology student at the University of Southern California. She is an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer and writer for her blog, This Fit Chick.

CL interviews Rachel Weeks, CEO of School House collegiate apparel

Rachel Weeks is an ethical fashion entrepreneur. In 2008, she created a collegiate apparel line called School House, which started at her alma mater, Duke, and  will be in 99 bookstores across the country by the end of the year. We spoke with Rachel about her college experience, her passion for fair labor practices and her advice for young entrepreneurs.

College Lifestyles: How did you become interested in fashion?

Rachel Weeks: I was always interested in fashion ever since I was a little girl. I loved to play dress up. I had a crazy wardrobe that my parents let me keep. As I became older I also became interested in women’s studies and that was my passion at Duke. I learned about the fashion industry from critical angle: how the fashion industry can exploit female factory workers and be environmentally damaging. I actually did an internship the summer after my junior year working on issues of corporate responsibility in fashion industry. It was so exciting to combine my love of fashion with my interest and passion for social activism, and that was how I became interested in all of this.

CL: What was your college experience like?

RW: My college experience at duke was wonderful. It was challenging from an academic prospective—I worked really hard all 4 years. It was also interesting in that my junior year I did a semester in New York and semester in Mexico. I didn’t know until my senior year that I really wanted to be in this industry. The three years before that were about exploring all different areas of academia and being able to travel and do internships and search for what would make me tick, and that’s what I think is so amazing about college. You have four years to find your passion and find your purpose and you don’t have many obligations besides turning in papers.

CL: What inspired you to make school apparel?

RW: When I was a senior at Duke I was walking around the Duke bookstore and felt there wasn’t a great deal of interesting, fashion-driven things in this market. There were the same things hanging in the bookstore my senior year and as there were my freshman year. It wasn’t a modern retail market. When I thought about idea to have a socially responsible supply chain, college seemed perfect for that because college students are asking questions and becoming socially conscious. It seemed like a perfect market to combine well-designed, trend-right products and a socially responsible story.

CL:  Tell me a little bit about the fair practices School House does.

RW: When we started in Sri Lanka, we helped start the first living-wage garmet factory. When I was assessing the market over there, and the challenges that people were facing, it all boiled down to poverty. The best way to alleviate that was by supporting living wage. The average industry wage in Sri Lanka is $60 USD per month, and our factory promoted a living wage of $170 USD per month. We worked with them for two years, and decided as a company that they weren’t the best business for us. We’re a really small company and managing the business from ten thousand miles away was difficult and expensive. We brought our manufacturing to North Carolina, and really helped our story grow by promoting a made in America, worker-driven production chain and that’s been great because we’ve been able to grow and impact. The factory in Sri Lanka has other business and has been continuing living wages. Now we’ve left that legacy and are able to bring business to someone new.

CL: What advice do you have to co-eds who want to start their own companies?

RW: Be prepared to work extremely hard. Be prepared for it to take many years for your dream to come true. Be prepared to be confronted by a lot of challenges along the way, and that’s something that’s really important. When you start as young entrepreneur you want something to happen overnight, but you have to enjoy the process—stress and anxiety included! It could take two years or ten, but if you’re passionate about it and it’s your dream, don’t let any small thing take you off course. You have to stay centered.

CL: Any future plans or exciting new things in store for School House?

RW: We will be launching a new website in thee weeks that will have ecommerce and lots of exciting content for viewers, so we’re excited about that. Our plan is to just grow, grow, grow! We’ll soon be in 99 bookstores, so we’ll be launching a lot of new accounts in the next six months. It’s an exciting time and we appreciate the support!

School House is an ethical, fashionable collegiate apparel line, with products range from $24-90. Visit the SchoolHouse website, “like” the School House Facebook page and follow School House on Twitter!

Libby is a junior studying Global Health at the University of Southern California. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and loves baking, yoga and spinach salads.

CL’s Interview with SELF’s Eat Like Me blogger, Sarah-Jane Bedwell

Sarah-Jane Bedwell, a registered dietician from Nashville, Tennessee, is Self Magazine’s new Eat Like Me blogger. She posts what she eats every day, as well as easy recipes and nutrition news. College Lifestyles spoke with her to find out about her college experience, her plans for Eat Like Me and her easy recipes perfect for classy co-eds!

College Lifestyles: Have you always been interested in health? How did you choose nutrition as a career path?

Sarah-Jane Bedwell: I’ve always been interested in health and the human body. When I  was in high school and in college, I ran cross country competitively. I started out as an exercise science major, and I was doing well with my running but when I was a sophomore I really started to have problems running that I’d never had before. I just couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t run very far anymore and I was often short of breath. I went to doctors and physical therapists, and I really thought there was something wrong with my muscles but it turned out that I was actually anemic because I had been restrictive in terms of eating. I didn’t eat red meat and other foods because I thought it would make me a better runner, but it turned out I wasn’t getting enough iron. The doctor referred me to dietician, and I realized I knew a lot about exercise but not much about nutrition. She was very inspiring to me and I decided I wanted to change my major to nutrition.

CL: What was your college experience like? Is there any advice you’d give to co-eds?

SJB: Overall it was a great experience. I wasn’t too far from home, only about 3.5 hours away, so I could go home occasionally on weekends. One thing that got me into trouble is that I would go too far to extremes and try to take on too much with running, classes and extracurriculars. Really, I’ve learned that having balance is important even if that means saying no to a few things. You’ll end up doing things better than if you try to take on too much at once. And you also need to have time for yourself!  In order to feel the best and the healthiest, it really is important to take the time to maintain balance.

CL: How long have you been blogging about nutrition?

SJB: I’ve been blogging for three or four years now. I had a personal blog through my website where I did the same type of thing [as Eat Like Me]. I gave nutrition advice and shared my travels and eating experiences and recipes. It’s funny because blogs were’t even around when I was in high school, and now they’re a big part of my career!

CL: How did you feel when you were chosen to be Self’s ELM blogger, and what has your experience been like so far?

SJB: I was so excited and honored. The other dieticians I was up against were all incredible in terms of their knowledge and they were all great candidates. I’ve had a great experience so far and it’s really fun to get feedback from readers and write about something I love. One thing I want to do more of is video posts. They’re a lot easier to do now and they’re a fun way to connect to readers more personally. I’m definitely planning on keeping the things like the recipes and the latest findings in nutrition news.

CL: What health goals do you set for yourself?

SJB: My motto is all things in moderation. Rather than having specific guidelines, I try to focus on listening to my body and usually if I do that I’ll eat things to make me feel good and exercise to make myself feel good, so I end up making good choices and getting exercise in. When I don’t pay attention to my body, that’s when it’s the hardest. But I definitely include dessert now and then, and there really are no foods I never eat.

SJB: I made up my apple crisp breakfast when I was in college. You take a quarter cup of  granola with raisins, half a cup bran flakes, and mix that with natural unsweetened apple sauce and cinnamon. It’s a really nutritious breakfast because it’s packed with vitamins and minerals, and I usually have glass skim milk with it for protein. Once in college, I was out of milk and I made this concoction up using the applesauce rather than milk, and now I eat it a lot. Never be afraid to try things!

Visit Self’s Eat Like Me blog to find more of Sarah-Jane’s simple, healthy recipes, and follow her on twitter at @SarahJaneRD

Libby is a junior studying Global Health at the University of Southern California. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and loves spinning classes, pesto and the San Francisco Giants.

Room It Up has classy lap desks, spa wraps and more!

Whether you’re a freshman looking to purchase dorm room must-haves, or an upperclassman who needs to replace some apartment essentials, Room It Up is a wonderful website for classy co-eds to shop for college necessities. From shower caddies to flat iron cases to umbrellas, Room It Up has it all. I’ve chosen to review three products that are sure to come in handy.

1) Lap Desks

Surprisingly, I do work anywhere but my desk. In fact, some of my best work in college has been done on my laptop or in my notebook while I’m right in my bed. My roommate (and best friend!) had a lap desk freshman year, and I was constantly asking to borrow it. Lap desks have a cushioned bottom, so they’re comfortable to rest on your legs, and a flat, hard surface on top for your laptop, text book or notebook. This gives you a great surface to write on and will prevent the heat from your laptop to hurt your thighs. The Room It Up lap desks conveniently have a cup holder on the top right corner, perfect for holding water bottle, your iPod or some small study snacks. These lap desks come in 17 different prints, ranging from classic black to zebra print to polka dots. My two favorites are the Paisley Punch Lap Desk and the City Blossom Lap Desk. I love the colorful, retro look of the Paisley Punch print. It’s multi-color flowered surface is matched with a bright blue cushion. This print is sure to bring some color and happiness into your less-than-exciting homework assignment. I also love the classy look of the City Blossom print. It’s all black with pale blue flowers, and its simplicity is sure to keep your mind calm and focused on your work.

Paisley Punch Lap Desk – $24.00

City Blossom Lap Desk – $24.00
from: Room It Up

2) Spa Wraps

Living in dorms where you must walk down the hallways and even past boys rooms to the nearest shower can be a bit scary, especially when you’re walking in a towel that could drop at any moment. Spa wraps, or towel wraps, are a must–almost every girl on my floor had one! These wraps have an elastic top and a velcro closure down the side that is sure to prevent any embarassing events. The Room It Up spa wraps come in either XS/S or M/L, and come in six fashionable prints. I love the colorful Fresh Bouquet Spa Wrap Size XS/S and M/L.  Fresh Bouquet print that has a ruffled bottom. It’s so stylish I would be tempted to wear it outside my room!

3) Laptop Computer Sleeves

Every girl needs a laptop case, by why go with the typical Apple versions that every person in your class is sure to have? Room It Up makes extremely functional and stylish that comes in seven prints and multiple sizes. And if you’re like me, you may be thinking, “I don’t need a laptop case, my computer will be just fine in my tote.” Let me tell you, after an incident involving spilled salad dressing in my bag that broke my laptop and destroyed my final paper that I had been slaving away over, I will never be without a laptop sleeve again! The Room It Up laptop sleeves have a padded interior to keep your computer safe, an exterior zip pocket for your computer charger and an adjustable strap that also detaches if you like putting the computer and sleeve in your bag. My favorite is the Houndstooth Medium Laptop Sleeve–a classic black and white pattern that will go well with any outfit!

Houndstooth Medium Laptop Sleeve

So, as you get a jump start on your back to school shopping list this summer, be sure to visit RoomItUp.com to find everything you need!

Libby is a junior studying Global Health at the University of Southern California. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and loves hiking, Friday Night Lights and quinoa.

Workouts for your big day: Classy Co-eds respond!

It’s the day of your highly anticipated sorority formal or a welcome back pool party with your high school friends, and you want to get a last minute workout in that will be quick, effective and give you that extra confidence boost. But what exercises really work?  Here, eight classy co-ed’s share what they do to look and feel their best when important social occasions roll around.

QUESTION: What is your go-to exercise routine on the day of a big event?

“I’d preferably run outdoors with varying surfaces and inclines, but if weather doesn’t permit I’ll run on the treadmill. A run gives me the perfect boost of energy and allows me to clear my mind. It leaves me feeling GREAT and ready for a fun event! After my run I do some basic stretches and some ab and arm work.” Clemens C., University of Southern California

“Honestly I would just do my regular routine, not anything special just because of an event. I do 10-30 minutes of treadmill depending on how I feel, at least 10 minutes of the stairmaster and sometimes the elliptical if I have the energy. After, I’ll do abs and use dumb bells for my arms.” Erica L., UC Davis

“I’ll do a workout video from home because I’m usually really busy the day of a big event. I love the Tracy Anderson workout videos and Stephanie Vitorino’s Bootylicious Buns.” Hilary Y., University of Southern California

“I like to keep it simple: a 20 minute jog in the morning followed with some planks and wall-sits.” Sasha G., Johns Hopkins University

“I’d run four miles and do crunches until I can barely move, then sit in the steam room for 15 minutes.” Liz J., University of Southern California

“I usually ride my horse, Lucas, for an hour or so and then try to fit in a short run at the gym and some ab work.” Ari P., Cal Poly SLO

“My go-to is sprinting outdoors and a quick 8-minute abs video for some last minute tummy toning.” Jordan H., University of Southern California

“I’d run on the treadmill and do light weights.” Molly W., UC Davis

Libby is a junior studying Global Health at the University of Southern California. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and loves hiking, Friday Night Lights and veggie burgers. On the day of a big event, she loves to run outdoors and go to a vinyasa yoga class.

Healthy Dips for a CL Girl’s BBQ

As we reach the heart of summer, there’s only one thing of a CL girl’s mind: Fourth of July. It’s a holiday that is filled with fun, friends and, most often, food. Though it is a special occasion, it’s not an excuse to throw your healthy eating habits out the window. Almost all Fourth of July barbecues feature chips and dip, which are fine in moderation but are often full of fat and sodium. Plus, if you are anything like me, you often don’t realize you should cut yourself off until the chip bowl is empty.  So why not be prepared and bring your own healthy options? This Fourth of July, CL has compiled a list of five delicious, low calorie dips perfect for any barbecue.

Fresh Tomato Salsa

At a summer gathering like a fourth of July barbecue, you can never go wrong with a chunky, classic red salsa. Guests will notice and appriciate the difference between store-bought and homemade salsa, so it’s worth it to put in the extra effort to whip up your own dip. All you need are tomatoes, red onion, red wine vinegar, cilantro and a bit of salt and pepper, and add some jalepeno peppers if you can take the heat. This dip is extremely low calorie, and will surely be a hit at any barbecue.

1 serving (1/2 cup): 21 calories

Lima Bean Spread

This tasty spread will not only leave your mouth watering, but your body will thank you as well. Lima beans are a great source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, and provide a fat-free source of protein, which will help you feel satisfied and prevent you from overeating during the main course. This dip blends a zesty combination of lima beans, cumin, mint and cilantro.

1 serving (two tablespoons): 50 calories

Mango Salsa

Spice up the traditional red salsa by making mango salsa, which blends sweet and salty flavors together and nourishes your body with both fruit and vegetables. Mangos pack a large amount of vitamin C, which will help your body fight off any post-fourth of July bugs, and they also aid in digestion.

1 serving (about 1/3 cup): 46 calories

Edamame Dip

Light and simple, this edamame dip is a great alternative to the usual hummus. Edamame, also known as Japanese soybeans, are an excellent low-calorie source of protein, and are also packed with fiber and isoflavens, which help strengthen your teeth and bones. This recipe calls for frozen edamame, which are easily found in grocery stores, blended with a can of white beans and some simple spices.

1 serving (three tablespoons): 61 calories

Curried Lentil Dip

This dip will appeal to guests because of its unique flavor and delicious aroma. At the base of this dish are red lentils, a very healthy legume that’s rich in protein, fiber and iron while being very low in fat. For this dip, the red lentils are combined with apples, raisins, curry powder and a bit of coconut milk to create a rich and exotic taste.

1 serving (two tablespoons): 34 calories

Now that you’ve saved plenty of calories with the dips, do not throw it away on unhealthy chips! All of these dips are great served with cut up veggies, like carrots, celery sticks and bell pepper. If you’re craving crackers, look for a low-sodium and low-fat option. We hope this list helps you make the healthiest choices on the Fourth of July or at any summer barbecue!

Libby is a junior studying Global Health at the University of Southern California. She is also a memberof Kappa Kappa Gamma, and loves hiking, yoga and frozen pineapple. She plans on making fresh salsa on the Fourth of July, but won’t deprive herself of one of her favorite dips, guacamole!

Meet Libby Craig, a genuine CL intern from USC

Name: Libby Craig

School: University of Southern California

Studies: Global Health

Year: 2013

Organization Involvement: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Daily Trojan newspaper, Global Medical Brigades, pediatric obesity research

Position at CL: Writing Intern

What I plan to bring to CL this summer: A fresh take on useful tips for exercising, dieting, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while in college.

Why am I excited to be a CL intern: I hope to provide an outlet for students to find easy ways to stay in shape and be healthy while still experiencing all college has to offer, from academics, to extracurriculars to social aspects.

Career goals: to work at a fitness magazine, a non-profit or create a business promoting healthy lifestyles.

A classy co-ed is…….a person who shows strength, generosity and charisma in the face of any adversity. It is someone who uses poise and integrity to promote a healthy, happy college experience.

A FUN fact about me: I love practicing all different tyles of yoga whenever I get the chance, including vinyasa, bikram, and ashtanga.

Libby is an intern for College Lifestyles TM. She is a junior at the University of Southern California majoring in Global Health, and is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She loves running, grapes, Friday Night Lights and her amazing family and friends!