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 DIY Food Gifts

Have a friend or family member who’s a foodie? Still need a gift for them? Then make your own food gift for them by choosing one of these simple DIY food gift ideas.

Ingredient gifts are the easiest to make – just grab a jar!

Try this cookie in a jar recipe from allrecipes.com.

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup crispy rice cereal

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup white sugar

 “In a 1 quart jar, layer the ingredients in the order listed. Pack down firmly after each addition.

“Attach a tag with the following instructions: Cookie in a Jar 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 2. In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup margarine until light and fluffy. Mix in 1 egg and 2 tablespoons water. Add the entire contents of the jar, and stir until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. 3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.”

Does your foodie love hot cocoa? Then try cocoa in a jar from Nestle® Meals!

6 cups NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Instant Nonfat Dry Milk

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows, (optional)

“COMBINE dry milk, sugar, cocoa and marshmallows in large bowl. Pour into 2-quart jar or tall container. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.

“RECIPE TO ATTACH:
Measure 1/2 cup cocoa mix into mug. Stir in 1 cup hot water or milk. Makes 12 servings.

“VARIATION USING PINT JAR:
1 1/2 cups NESTLÉ CARNATION Nonfat Dry Milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Baking Cocoa
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows (optional)

“RECIPE TO ATTACH:
Measure 1/2 cup cocoa mix into mug. Stir in 1 cup hot water or milk. Makes 4 servings.”

Cookbook gifts add some knowledge to your food gift.

Buy your foodie a cookbook, preferably a baking one, and wrap it. Then, buy the ingredients for one of the recipes and turn them into an ingredient gift, or just buy  the most prevelent ingredient in the recipe, for example, flour, and put it into a festive bag. Or, make one of the recipes, put it in some tupperware and tie a bow on top!

Food baskets also make amazing gifts.

Instead of ordering a food basket online, create one of your own, specifically for the person you’re gifting. Try making a theme basket, full of the food they love. Do they love coffee? Try assorted coffee, hot cocoa and tea packets. Chocolate? Throw together a basket full of different flavors, percentages of cocoa and brands. Do they need food for their dorm room? Make a care package they can take back with them. Do they like watching movies? Make a movie-themed basket full of popcorn and assorted movie candies.

 

Want to really dress up your food gift? Then check out Tiana’s DIY Christmas gift wrapping tips.

 

Debra Schreiber is a returning CL intern from summer 2011. She is a senior at Duquesne University, studying Journalism and Spanish. When she’s not studying, you can usually find her at the gym, reading or catching up on her favorite shows.

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.

CL Talks to Owners of Online Chocolate Store, Savorique!

 

Chocolate seems to be one of those items that many people want to indulge in, but don’t think they can. After chatting about all things chocolate with Stephan and Fred from online chocolate store Savorique,  CL knows that there’s no reason to deny yourself of such a delectable treat! (Just make sure to indulge in dark, fine chocolate, as milk chocolate contains all of the sugar and artificial ingredients that you don’t want to consume.)

If you’re hungry for some gourmet, chocolatey sweets, look no further than to Savorique.com!

College Lifestyles: Tell College Lifestyles a little bit about Savorique. How did you and Fred come up with the name Savorique and how long has it been in business? 

Stephan and Fred: Savorique.com is an online store that evolved from a blog in 2008. We wanted an original name that sounded elegant, different, unique, gourmet and fun: Savorique = Savor+Magnifique!

What sets it apart is that all the items you can purchase have been tried, curated, and vetted by us. They have organic or natural ingredients, are made by artisans or in small batches, or are otherwise good for you. And they always have beautiful packaging that are great for gifts.

CL: Do you and Fred have plans for expanding Savorique? 

S&F: Savorique started with chocolate, and we have already expanded to cakes and cookies, coffee and tea, condiments… We definitely plan on continuing to expand by adding cookware and dinnerware so that our customers can prepare meals from the products we offer.

CL: Have you [Stephan] always been a lover of chocolate?

S: I grew up in France, so I do have a certain appreciation for gourmet foods including chocolate. Chocolate is actually good for you–it has a healthy amount of antioxidants, flavonols, and other micro-elements.

CL: What’s so special about the taste of fine chocolate?

F: Fine chocolate is like wine. It’s an interesting, complex food with as many flavor profiles as there are areas where the cocoa is grown. You may very well smell or taste a subtle berry aftertaste when eating a chocolate bar. Sometimes, you’ll taste caramel or light smoked wood, even though their is none added into the chocolate! And chocolate is so versatile–you can pair it with the most amazing (and unexpected) foods to make it taste unbelievable: peanut butter, bacon, chai tea, spices, olive oil, or wine.

CL: What are Savorique’s best sellers?

S&F: People love the Squirrel Brand Nuts because of its taste and presentation. They can be found in a gift box and as a refill. And a new addition is getting a lot of attention: Ginger Syrup from Brooklyn and Dark Maple Syrup. To keep in touch with our additions, I recommend our mailing-list, Facebook and Twitter page.

CL: Do you [Stephan] have a favorite brand of chocolate that’s sold in Savorique?

S: We offer more than a thousand products, so it is difficult to have favorites! I personally recommend Knipschildt which is a great value with wonderful confections and bars at an affordable price. You can also find fun bars from Bloomsberry and single origin bars from Cacao Atlanta.

CL: Which items would be the best to give to someone as a gift?

S: For a gift that stays around for some time, I’d go for hot chocolate, especially Gnosis Passion Elixir. And for something fun that disappears instantly, the marshmallows don’t stand a chance.

CL: What would you two say to college students who would never consider trying caviar–don’t knock it ’till you try it?

S&F: The best strategy in order to not feel guilty about spending on caviar is to offer it to parents for the holidays or for a homecoming weekend and enjoy it together. You can make or buy blinis, spread an optional dab of whipped cream, and add the caviar on top–delicious.

CL: What is a recipe that college students can whip up in their apartment (or with a microwave in a dorm, if possible). Drinks? Brownies? You decide!

F: Here’s an amazingly simple, quick, and affordable recipe for a Peanut Butter Cup that involves only two ingredients: chocolate and peanut butter.

1. Get a quality chocolate bar because they have the right amount of cocoa butter that makes it creamy and smooth when it melts.
2. Melt the chocolate in the microwave.
3. Pour a layer of melted chocolate in a paper cup, let it cool and harden, then spread a generous amount of peanut butter.
4. Cover it with more melted chocolate to make a chocolate and peanut butter sandwich in the cup.
5. Let the cup cool again, or stick in the fridge if you can’t wait!

As always, stay happy and healthy, CL readers!

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.

Cool Gifts for Your New Little Part 4 – Initiation Basket

Check out the final part for crafting for your little, the Initiation Basket! (part 1, part 2, part 3) The time is finally here, your new little is getting initiated!  Here are some great things you can put in her initiation basket.  There are some simple ways you can personalize items to your little, your family or your organization!  Your little is going to be most excited about things you put in your love making special for her, and you will feel great when the everyone is telling her how cute everything looks!  I would like to make a special shot out to my family for being amazing and sending me all of the pictures I needed for this series (especially Cayte and Colleen, sorry for the late notice!), you are all the best!

Contents:

1. Flowers – get your little a bouquet of flowers or a bouquet of your sorority flowers, they will brighten up her day and her room!

2. Wall Letters – Use wool letters from the craft store and craft your littles initial or your

organizations letters! (check out the wood letters in this dorm decorating post for a how to!)

3. A Family Tree – a great item for your little to keep for years to come. You can make very cute family trees out of wood cutouts and ribbon.  Use a sorority symbol, paint them, and write the names of all of your family members.

4. Pin box – pick up a small box from the craft store, paint it and use a cute quote on the box with a paint pen.  You can make a small pillow for the inside.  This box can be used to store your pin, lavalieres and even mascot charms.  Use a straight pin through the loop of the charms to hold it in place on the pillow.

5. Letters / Shirts – though your little probably has made her own letters, this is a great time to give them special letters you have had passed down or special family letters.  You can even make  big / little letters!

6. Stuffed Animal – get a stuffed animal of your sorority mascot.

7. Quote Plaque – Use a small wood plaque from the craft store to write a quote that is special to you and your little!

8. Stool – this is a traditional gift for many

organizations, you can purchase a unfinished stool from the craft store and make it super cute with paint and mod podge (mod podge can come in a glitter finish or simply glossy to finish all of your painted crafts)!

9. Paddle – for me personally this was one of the things that I was the most excited about, however, these can also be the most expensive.  This about developing a theme for your family and varying the colors year to year to fit the colors in your littles room or her favorite colors!  Get a bunch of your sisters together and order your paddles online to save money on shipping costs!

Here are some tips on crafting and buying for your little:

• Spend your money on items that your little is actually going to keep and use, not fillers that just make your basket look bigger!
• Make everything you can! It means more when it come from the heart!
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  If you are not good at writing with puffy paint and your friend is, offer to paint something for her solid colors while she helps you with your projects!
• Pass down everything you can.  Don’t be afraid to re-gift items, it is the sincerest compliment to the person that gave or made it for you!
• Get together with a bunch of sisters and share crafting supplies like paints and brushes, that way you all don’t have to spend your money on the same items!
• Split pack of items –  candles, markers, etc.
• Try to chose an overall theme for everything you make, this will keep you focused and not questioning what to do on everything.  Use the colors of your littles room so she can display them proudly on their walls! (as you can see for my little the theme was pink black and white / zebra print.  I carried this through most of the crafts that I made for her!)
  

  Traditional Blue Eyed Family stack after initiation! (Bayley, me, Cayle, Kelly & Colleen!)

Remember its not how expensive the baskets are, it is the heart you put into it that counts!  Even if you do not have a lot of money to spend, and who really does these days, you can make great gifts for your little on a tight budget by planning smart and starting now! Look for things on sale, the dollar spot at Target is a grate place to find little gifts  you can personalize later!

Kendall Meyer is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM).  She is an Interior Design major at James Madison University and a member of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority.  Ask any of her little and grand littles, her favorite past time is crafting for all of them!

Check out this great post, Newbie Scrapbooker Must Haves, for some sweet tips on scrapbooking, a great way to keep all you great sorority memories!