Go ‘green’ in style: 5 products for your dorm/apartment

According to dosomething.org, “about 80% of what American’s throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is only 28%”. CL encourages all classy ladies to join in on the going green with style. To make the transition into a ‘greener’ life, CL scoured the web for  cool, hip, and stylish products you can use around your dorm or apartment. All of these products are 100% handcrafted and made from recycled materials.

 

 

 

Recycled record bookends- The one thing you will find in every college dorm/apartment is textbooks (and lots of them). Instead of leaving those lying around and cluttering up your desk you can organize them with these vintage bookends.

Uncommongoods.com- set of 2 for $40

 

 

Recycled glass reed diffuser- These cool air fresheners are not just pretty to look at but come in delicious fragrances. Choose from cinnamon-vanilla, chai, cranberry-pear, cucumber-melon, ocean, plumeria, rose and lavender. They’re a little on the pricey side but each scent lasts approximately four to six months.

Uncommongoods.com- oils and reeds- $15 diffuser-$50

 

Record coasters- These unique drink coasters would be a great conversation starter for any music lover and would look pretty cool decorating your table. The disks are sealed to keep moisture out and come in a variety of vintage records.

Uncommongoods.com- set of 6 for $18

 

 

Recycled chopsticks lamp- This lamp is elegant, chic and just plain cute. While living in China, artist Bryan Parks decided he could do something different instead of wasting chopsticks. This accent piece can easily add gracefulness to any room whether it’s your dorm or apartment.

Greatrecycledgifts.com- $38

 

 

Recycled bike chain coat hooks- Remember when you were younger and every time you peddled too hard your bike chain would pop off? Someone taught that chain a lesson. These unique hangers offer you a great place to show off your trendy coat or cute new purse. You can choose from three words’ imagine’, ‘welcome’ or ‘peace’.

Planetonegifts.com- $39.95

 

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Minyvonne Burke is a fashion and lifestyle writer for College Lifestyles ™. She graduated from Point Park University and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Hofstra University. She loves online shopping, cute bags and NYC.

 

 

V-Day DIY Apartment Decor: Book Page Heart Wreath

With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, it’s time for crafty co-eds to spice up their apartment walls with some fun holiday decorations. For an easy and classy DIY project with great results, try this wreath made out of book pages, inspired by Flower Patch Farmgirl. Use this wreath to brighten up your front door, make a romantic centerpiece on a table, or give to your favorite bookworm!

 Materials:

An old book with thick pages (I got mine at Goodwill for $1.50)

Scissors

A Styrofoam wreath

Loaded hot glue gun

A heart-shaped paper punch (you can also cut out the hearts by hand, but this will take a lot more time)

Red or pink ribbon

 

Steps 

1. Cut enough strips of the book pages to wrap around the wreath completely.

2. Wrap the strips around the wreath, slightly overlapping. Fasten with hot glue in the back of the wreath.

3. Use the paper punch to punch hearts out of the book pages. The book I used had some black-and-white illustrations in it, which made really pretty hearts and added dimension to the wreath.

4. Lightly fold hearts in half to create a 3-D effect.

5. Glue the hearts to the wreath in different directions to get that shabby-chic look.

6. Cut a foot of ribbon and tie in a tight bow.

7. Glue the ends of the ribbon to the back of the wreath. Allow glue to dry and hang.

You can also make this wreath with hearts cut out of red or pink paper, magazine pages or newspaper. For more V-Day DIY ideas, try Debra’s dorm décor projects and be sure to check out CL’s V-Day Challenge!

Alexandra Esposito is an intern at College Lifestyles ™ and is excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day eating sushi with her boyfriend, Drew! She is senior studying journalism and film at the University of Kansas, a Copy Chief for the University Daily Kansan and the Secretary of Omega Phi Alpha at KU. In summer 2011, she interned with the editorial staff at Martha Stewart Weddings in New York City. 

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CL’s V-Day Dorm Decor

Halloween, Christmas…those holidays are both easy to decorate. How can a co-ed dress up her dorm for Valentine’s Day? Let CL gives you a few ideas!

Classy

For a classy theme, use the classic colors: pink, purple, black, white, and anything sparkly!

Hearts – Cut hearts out of construction paper. You can hang these hearts up, but what you really want is the paper you cut out. Layer it over another piece, and soon you’ll have a classy cut-out to hang or tape to your dorm wall, cover your dorm door, similar to how you wrap your door with wrapping paper at Christmas, or  wrap a present for your special someone!

Cupids – Cut two little cupids out of construction paper. When you glue the paper cut-outs onto another piece of construction paper, place the cupids’ arrows so they face inward, and write a message in between them.

CL Quick Tip – red roses add always add touch of class – buy fake ones from your local dollar store!

Cute

For this theme, use bright, popping colors!

Hearts – Cut out hearts from bright colored paper. On each one, write a saying, just like one you would read on an actual candy heart! Use the cut-out paper to decorate your desk.

CL Quick Tip – for colors that really pop, use neon flash cards!

Cupids – Cut out two cupids and glue them, but have them point their arrows in the same direction. On the paper, write “Cupid Crossing!”

Hot

For a spicier theme, use dramatic colors, like red and black, and dramatic shapes!

Hearts – Attach hearts to long strips of paper, so they look similar to music notes. Tape them your door along with a sign that reads “Heartbreak Hotel” – like the Elvis song!

V-Day Tic-Tac-Toe – Use classic V-Day shapes (hearts, lips, Xs, and Os) and turn them into a fun tic-tac-toe board! Use the cut-out paper to decorate your desk.

CL Quick Tip – challenge your friends to V-Day Tic-Tac-Toe. Winner gets all of the candy!

Debra Schreiber is a Senior CL Writer, and a senior at Duquesne University where she studies journalism and Spanish. She loves the cute theme – especially the candy hearts!

Here’s How to Throw Your First 2012 DIY Glitz Party!

Saying farewell to 2011 may have been difficult for some, but for you classy and optimistic CL readers, one digit change calls for a celebration! If sequins and glitter are some of your favorite things, get ready for a glimmer overload. When you arrive back to campus, round up your friends for a second new year celebration! 2012 is upon us–start the year off right with a few glamorous CL tips.

Decor

1. Balloons – Take a trip to your local Walmart or dollar store and you’re bound to find a pack of gold, silver, or black balloons. If not–and you’re really eager to have these matte-colored party accessories–anything, including balloons, can be ordered from online. Let’s hear it for Amazon.com!

2. Time For Shine - Since glitzy means turning up the notches on vibrancy, why not create a sequined tablecloth? Get a few yards of sequined fabric (or any kind of shimmery fabric for that matter) at a fabric store. It can be any color you’d like, but if you’re sticking with a gold, silver, and black theme, choose your color(s) wisely.  And try your best to not make a mess–this cloth should be saved for future reference!

3. Shimmery Leftovers – Don’t worry about getting a little carried away at the fabric store. The remaining sparkly material from step two can be used all over the rest of your apartment. Tack it up on your walls, cut out some holes and turn it into a shower curtain, or even fold it up horizontally and lay it along the top of your couch.

4. Come Prepared – Let your friends know that they’ll need to bring a champagne glass along with them. A tasty CL-tini can be poured into it later, but first, they’ll use a permanent marker to write any goals that they wish to accomplish this year. Inexpensive champagne glasses are sold at any dollar store, and permanent markers can be found at any store where art supplies are sold. To add some character to the glasses, stock up on some glitter glue and assorted craft materials such as feathers.

Dress Up

Put your most glittery heel forward at this glitzy party! Take a few style cues from the following classy ladies:

Need more DIY help? Read Debra’s article for more glitz party tips!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

3 DIY Ways To Wrap Your Christmas Gifts

Don’t let the commercials fool you–the holidays aren’t only about spending your hard-earned cash, it’s about being thoughtful. This Christmas, don’t just hand over presents with your average wrapping paper. Make the recipient feel special by using these next few crafty tips to wrap your gifts.

1.  With An Unexpected Fabric — Whether it’s a silk square for a box of jewelry that holds your mother’s gift, or leopard print fabric for your sassy sister’s gift, fabric heightens your senses (sight and touch) since it’s not a typical way to disguise a gift. It’s important that the fabric’s long enough so that one end can lie under the other. This way, you can tie a ribbon around the box to hide the remaining visible frayed edge!

2. With Sorority Letters — Iron on your Greek sister’s letters to a fabric of your choice. Choosing iron-on’s is a savvy, simple, and classy way to spice up a gift for your sorority sister. Check out Elitegreeks.com for iron-on letters galore and price listings.

3. With A Poster —  Is one of your girl friends obsessed with Drake or Tim Tebow? If the gift is large enough, wrap it in a giant picture of someone’s celebrity crush and you’re sure to get a thankful reaction–now they have a gift and a new poster! Whomever the celebrity shall be, there’s bound to be a poster available for them. Or, especially if the item is on the smaller side, make a collage of a selection of photos to wrap the item in.

CL tip: If you’re using tape to bind your DIY gift wraps, consider buying this convenient Scotch tape dispenser that can be slipped onto one of your hands to keep them both free!

Tiana Blue is an intern for College Lifestyles™ and is a print journalism major at Penn State. This sophomore is an avid blogger that loves to write, draw, roam the streets of Manhattan, and channel her inner chef by watching Food Network re-runs.

On The Fifth Day Of Christmas CL’s Giving You… 5 DIY Decor Tips!

DIY is appropriate for any time of the year, especially if you’re looking to save some cash around the holidays. Need a few decor tips? No problem! For all of you last minute decorators, CL’s created a list of affordable and savvy DIY projects to jazz up your humble abode this Christmas.

Fuzzy Snowflakes —  This is a fresh spin on classic paper snowflakes. Let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

• Felt fabric
• Scissors

What You’ll Need:

• Gingerbread Man cutouts
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Assorted art supplies (glitter glue, ribbon, craft puff balls…)

Gift-wrap Your Home – Everything’s a present waiting to be opened with this tip.

What You’ll Need:

• Ribbon (different lengths and thickness)
• Scissors

How self-explanatory is this DIY? All you have to do is take your ribbon and have fun wrapping it around different items in your house! From lamp shades to door knobs, legs on a chair to the handles on your fridge, wrap and snip your ribbon around whatever you’d like. Add some charm to your ribbon decorations by tying a bow.

“Kissball” Ornament — Push your mistletoe to the side for this clever ornament drawn up by Goodhousekeeping.com.

What You’ll Need:

• Styrofoam balls (suggested: 4-inches)
• Fabric
• Rubber bands
• Ribbon
• Scissors

Can’t get enough of my DIY tips? Wait until you check out Debra’s article–she shows you how to create a themed party filled with hot chocolate drinks and candy cane party favors. Happy holidays, CL readers!

Dorm Decor for the Holidays

Tis’ the season to deck the halls, and for most of us that means the residence halls.  Decorations help remind us of the upcoming holidays during the stressful final weeks of the semester.  CL wants to help you make your dorm rooms full of holiday cheer in a cheap and chic way.

Paper snowflakes- The last time you made a paper snowflake may have been in kindergarten, but like naptime, they are making a reappearance in college.  Just grab some computer paper, fold, and cut away.  You can hang it on the walls, from the ceiling and on your door.  If you’re daring, you can even opt for the three dimensional ones.

String of lights- Check with housing before hanging to make sure it is not a fire risk.  Lights make any room more cheery and festive.  It adds a certain holiday glow to the room.  We recommend keeping them up all year round actually, that’s how much we love them.

Small, fake Christmas tree- No matter what holiday you or your roommates celebrate, decorating a Christmas tree is always fun.  Add decorations and homemade ornaments that fit your personalities.  Last year, in honor of our Hawaiian roommate living with us in New York, we draped leis on the tree.

Garland- Garland is an inexpensive and easy way to brighten up a room with holiday spirit.  Wrap it around bed frames, banisters and doors for a quick, festive look.

Paper Chains- Another childhood craft that can be used as a decoration.  Cut out strips of green and red (or blue and silver) construction paper.  Wrap them around each other to create a colorful chain to hang from your ceiling.

Personalize Santa Hats or Stockings- Go to a local dollar store and buy Santa hats and glitter glue.  You and your roommates can decorate and personalize your hats and stockings and place them around your rooms and as decorations.

Get creative- Use paper and just get creative! Host a snowman making contest out of computer paper, or each design your own paper Santa hat.  No matter how ridiculous it sounds, just have fun making holiday themed crafts together.

Most importantly, have fun!  The holiday season is about spending time with those important to you.  Have fun decorating with each other while wishing each other happy holidays.  What’s your favorite holiday decoration?

 

Nicole is a CL intern who goes to Marist College.  She is a Communications major with a concentration in Journalism and PR.  Nicole is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Marist Ambassadors, and Communication Arts Society.  She enjoys running and hanging out with her sorority sisters and friends

Top 10 Space Savers for Your Hottest Black Friday Finds

Besides reuniting with family and friends and eating well, Black Friday is one of the best aspects of Thanksgiving break. You can negotiate deals at your favorite stores and those boots you’ve been eyeing are now within your budget! However, your latest purchases can become your latest problem — how frustrating is it to come home happily, new goods in tow, with no places to store them? CL doesn’t want your blouses and bathing suits to keep your floor company (hey, it’s never too early to dream about the summer). We’ve got the ten savviest and most affordable room organizers to help you save and create space!

Eco Storage Cube, Target — $19.99

Any room could use this splash of green to liven it up! Save space and do the planet a favor by purchasing this ecofriendly storage cube.  It’s the perfect size for setting in a corner of a room or right by an armoire or dresser.

Shelving Unit, IKEA — $39.99

IKEA is the home of inexpensive dorm and apartment essentials. If you live in an apartment, this storage cube is lightweight enough to hang up on your wall. Put your brightest or darkest clothing or shoes in this unit to offset the white–the contrast will make the white even more vibrant!

Five Ways to Say “Thank You” to Your Bedroom Before Thanksgiving

There’s just a few weeks left to endure before Thanksgiving break rolls around – it’s about time, right? Although nothing says relief like getting exams, papers, and projects out of the way, there’s one last thing you can do before this upcoming week of relaxation: say thank you to your room! Your bedroom is where you spend so much of your time, so take some time to give your space some TLC, CL readers.

1. Clean It Up

Your focus and level of productivity may drift when loose sheets of paper, stacks of books, or piles of shoes make it impossible to see your bed, desk, or floor. Instead of letting your responsibilities crowd your humble abode, reorganize what needs fixing! Working within a clean space is comfy, and who doesn’t become instantly happy to see that a made bed is awaiting your arrival? If you’re in need of room organizers, check out CL sponsor Room It Up for accessories and this article for RIU purchase suggestions.

2. Fancy Fragrance

First things first: no classy lady should harbor old garbage in their bedrooms; it looks (as well as smells) unappealing! To keep your room smelling fresh, scented pine cones are a smart buy or DIY. Fragrant pine cones smell great and are wonderful decorations for this time of year.

Plugin fragrances like this Apple Cinnamon one by Glade are handy because they keep an aroma constantly flowing throughout any room. If you’ve got a few extra bucks, consider buying plugins that release a scent on schedule, such as the Glade Sense and Spray in Lavender and Vanilla. These options are ideal if you live in a dorm where candles aren’t typically allowed. (The words fire and dorm never seem to go together…)

If you live in an apartment, scented candles will always do the trick. Halloween has just come and gone, but pumpkin-scented candles get most peoples’ noses flaring.

3. Keep It Up To Date

As the weeks and seasons go by, update your bedroom accordingly! It’ll give your eyes a break from monotony and what they’re so used to seeing. Add pictures to your walls, or even change your posters and furniture around. You’ll feel as if you’re living in a whole new room, and visitors will be excited to see the adjustments!

4. Invite People Over

A room isn’t complete without people to fill it up with. As homework and stress starts to creep up on you, get in the holiday spirit a little early on and invite people over to keep up the morale. Positive people release positive energy, so harbor as many optimists in your space as possible!

5. Decorate For Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is characterized by warm, earthy tones. Trade in your summer-y, bright pink comforter for a fall-season-appropriate hunter green one. Swap your beach ball patterned shower curtains for one with a pattern of leaves. The options are endless!

If you’re looking to spend a little less cash, make finding decorations into a fun Walmart run with your girl friends! If available, buy a turkey piñata. Before leaving for Thanksgiving break, have a blast breaking open the turkey. Cleaning up candy and chocolate can’t be too difficult.

 

Tiana Blue is an intern for College Lifestyles™ and is a print journalism major at Penn State. This sophomore is an avid blogger that loves to write, draw, roam the streets of Manhattan, and channel her inner chef by watching Food Network re-runs.

Revamp Your Room with Prints from CL Sponsor Room It Up

It may still be the first full month of school, but it’s never too late to add some color and class to an already decorated dorm or apartment. Room It Up has anything you want and everything you’re looking for to make good use of any extra floor space, closet space, and much more! You’re bound to see something you want from RIU after checking out this top five list.

For Your Bed

1. Confetti Dot Cozy Pillow

A comfy pillow is key to a great night’s sleep. This Room It Up pillow will wake up any bedding that’s missing a little something extra. Sink your head into this perfectly colorful piece, great for decorum, snuggling with and sweet dreaming!

2. Houndstooth Cozy Fleece Throw Blanket

Every CL reader should have at least one throw blanket before winter comes around. If you’re into classically chic black and white, go ahead and give it a fun print. Stay warm and make a stylish statement in this houndstooth fleece blanket!

3. Paisley Punch Lap Desk

It’s easy to fall asleep while doing homework on a bed, but not with this vibrant lap desk! The bold pattern will keep your tablet or laptop steady and your eyes from getting heavier during late night homework sessions. A bottle of water or a cup of coffee will also fit right into the built in cupholder.

For Your Desk

4. Fresh Bouquet Photo Album

Most students love to cover any wall space with posters and especially with pictures. At some point throughout the year (if not already), you’ll be let down at the lack of room left for tacking up photos. If your wall is filled to capacity with photos, you’ll need an album like this one for holding onto the rest of your memories.

For Your Closet

5. Studio Dot Slippers

Who needs those plain, old fuzzy slippers? Stand out in your hall or walk around your apartment in these multi-colored slip-ons. The shiny pink bow makes these slippers look like the total opposite of your average house slippers!

How have you CLassy College Lifestyles readers continued to spruce up your dorm or apartment? We’d love to hear from you! Also, if you’re having a tough time decorating, read CL interview with Season 6 HGTV Design Star contestant Kellie Clements for dorm and apartment decor tips.

Tiana Blue is an intern for College Lifestyles™ and is a print journalism major at Penn State. This sophomore is an avid blogger that loves to write, draw, roam the streets of Manhattan, and channel her inner chef by watching Food Network re-runs.

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