Yum! Check out the farmer’s market

Every Wednesday, the Portland farmer’s market takes over Monument Square. New England-grown sweet corn, fresh Maine blueberries, just-picked salad greens – it’s all there. The woman selling her handmade jewelry, a few locals playing a horn and a banjo, a beekeeper with her jars of organic honey – yes, yes, yes.

If you haven’t checked out a farmer’s market near you, YOU’RE MISSING OUT!

In an age where blueberries are shipped from Argentina and mangoes come over the border from Mexico, more and more shoppers are choosing the local route to keep money within the local community and bring fresher fruit to the dinner table.

Nearly $1 billion was spent on imported fruits and vegetables in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average food item travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles to get to consumers and can take days or even weeks to get from farm to mouth. Travel also uses fossil fuels that pollute the environment and deplete natural resources.

Harmful pesticides and farming procedures remain concerns for some consumers who worry that this imported food isn’t up to Americans’ standards.

Tim Belcher sells his produce at the Roanoke, Va. farmer’s market every day. His father was a farmer too.

“I’d like to see a ban on imported produce,” he said, because of what he calls a lack of government oversight of farming processes abroad. He pointed to poor working conditions in other countries that cause workers to defecate in fields for lack of restroom facilities as the cause of recent produce contamination scares

In 1989, traces of cyanide were found in Chilean grapes that caused the USDA to put a ban on food from the country. E. coli and salmonella outbreaks in spinach and tomatoes, respectively, that led to sickness in hundreds of Americans, have caused many consumers to question food safety standards.

DDT was banned worldwide, yet some countries, like India, still continue to spray the chemical on crops to ward off pests. India produces 41 percent of the world’s mangoes and 23 percent of bananas, according to the country’s agricultural department.

“With the local grown stuff around here, [the farmers] all eat what we grow. We’re not putting sprays and tons of stuff on the products we wouldn’t eat ourselves,” he said.

Websites like LocalHarvest.org and FarmersMarkets.com are making it easier for consumers to find the farmers and get the fresh food they want. In addition to farmers’ markets, LocalHarvest has search criteria for restaurants and grocery stores that carry local foods.

The newfound curiosity of where food comes from is due, in part, to the popularity of documentaries like Academy Award-nominated “Food, Inc.” and books like New York Times Bestseller “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan that shine light on the process of industrial food production that consumers rarely see.

Buying locally puts more cash in the farmer’s pocket for him to buy supplies from the local hardware store or dinner at the family-owned restaurant, keeping more money inside the local economy than buying from retailers.

A 2004 study by economic development consulting firm Civic Economics calculated that a dollar spent at a locally owned business in a Chicago neighborhood generated 70 percent more economic impact per square foot of sales space than a chain store. At local businesses, $68 out of every hundred stayed in the community compared to only $43 at a chain.

“I think people are tired of Wal-Mart. People are tired of corporate America. They want to support their local people so that people can make it [financially],” said Annette Fleisher, who works at Sumdat Farm Market, a shop at the Roanoke market that sells farmers’ goods for them.

“People are really trying to stay away from junk—junk foods, junk products,” Fleisher said. “They trust local people who sell local.”

Stephanie Hardiman is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM). She is a proud alumna of Washington and Lee University and Pi Beta Phi. Follow her on Twitter @Steph_Hardiman.

The Classy Co-Ed Goes For an Eco-Friendly Workout

Savvy co-eds know that it’s the best thing for the earth to start using eco-friendly products and wear eco-friendly clothes, but companies that provide them are hard to find.
Workout clothes are harder still, as there aren’t many green companies producing athletic clothes or products.
However, as summer draws to a close and you’re getting in shape for your first appearance on campus or stocking up your workout selection for the rec center at school, I found some easily-accessible companies and products that pride themselves on creating green products for the athletically-savvy co-ed.

1. alo Sportwear

I’ve used alo clothing in a few of my other posts, and I think that I’m justified in using it again because of the cute clothes they create with a completely green message in mind. All of their clothes are made with recycled fabrics and other materials that have a low impact on Mother Earth. Their signature Bamboo Jersey fabric does the same thing that high-tech Nike or Adidas sportswear does (wicks away sweat, provides maximum maneuverability, etc…), but is entirely eco-friendly. The alo mission is based on creating an eco-friendly line without sacrificing our right as classy co-eds to look cute in what we’re wearing, and I love it!
Here are a couple examples of the clothing that the alo website carries…I haven’t had a chance to try the Bamboo Palazzo Loose Fit Pant ($69) yet, but they look like the most comfortable things that anyone could ever wear.

2. Gaiam

If you’re a yoga-goer like I am, then you will love Gaiam yoga mats and gym bags. This company has an entire line of eco-chic mats and bags. The bags are made of recycled materials and the mats are PVC free. I just got the Peace on Earth eco yoga mat, and I absolutely love it.

3. greatgreenshoes.com

If you’re looking to go a step further in your workout routine, you should check out this website. It gives different options for cute eco-friendly shoes, including these Saucony running shoes for $54.95.

4. naturesorganicmarket.com

Now for the best part of the workout…the shower when you’re done. I love Alba’s Coconut Milk Cream Body Wash. It re-hydrates my skin after I swim and smells like the beach. You can get it for $8.55 at naturesorganicmarket.com, and I would definitely take a peek around this website because it offers a ton of eco-friendly body products with even more discounts.

Now that you’re eco-armed for your gym sessions at school, break a sweat you classy co-ed gym rats!

Megan is a sophomore at Miami University and can’t wait to get her hands on the alo Bamboo Loose Fit Pant!

The CL Guide to Making Your Summer Worthwhile

Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Put in some time at your local animal shelter or at a wildlife refuge.  Call the center or drop by to ask about their volunteer procedures and how you can fit in to their practice.  Depending on their particular operation, you could be dealing with animals directly after some training or they may prefer you to work on a fundraising or marketing project.  Whatever your role, it all goes towards a good cause.

Go Green

Learn more about what you can do to protect the environment.  Check a Go Green book out of your local library and spend the afternoon bookmarking pages that especially pertain to you.  For example, we co-eds might not be in the market for a brand new Hybrid car, but we can purchase lower wattage light bulbs for our homes and our dorm rooms.  Check out Hillary’s post on a greener bag of groceries, too!

Learn a Language

Spend part of your summer learning a new language, or get reacquainted with a language that you learned in high school.  Drop by a language school in your area and ask about any adult learning classes that they might offer, or buy a novel in a language that you would like to reintroduce yourself to.  In addition, Rosetta Stone software caters to 31 languages- it could be a birthday or holiday present!

Expand your Reading

When you’ve finished up one of your favorite books, or you’re waiting impatiently for the release of a summer must-read, why not enjoy a classic book that you have yet to read?  You can pick a few books off of the Summer Reading List section of your nearest bookshop, or you could even sign up at dailylit.com to get classic novels emailed to you by chapter daily- for free!

Catch up on Current Events

In college it is very easy to live in a bubble of social events, studying and sleeping, so turning on the news might seem like a foreign concept to you.  However it is so important to understand what is going on in the world around us, and now that we’re on summer vacation there is no excuse not to brush up on current events.  Start a subscription to Time magazine (or something similar) or make it a point to catch the news each day.

Revisit a Favorite Hobby

Spend some time practicing an old hobby that you have abandoned in recent years.  Was art class your favorite in high school, or did you always love writing short stories?  Spend a few hours every week or more doing something that you really used to enjoy.  You will be feeling so much more accomplished by the end of the summer!

So, savvy CL co-eds, is there anything that you would like to add to the list?  Please let us know in the comments!

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student at University College Cork, Ireland.  She is volunteering at a charity shop and is reading regularly again (currently The Help by Kathryn Stockett), and she loves looking for more ways to make the most of her summer break!

A Greener Bag of Groceries

It’s not a surprise to anyone that we are trying to make an effort to “go green”. It may seem like an impossible task to erase our footprint here on Earth, but if we each do our part, a healthier and cleaner future will be easier to come by. It isn’t difficult to see how the food industry has created a Big Foot-sized footprint in our environment. As classy college students, always on the go and looking for convenience, we certainly do our part in adding to the waste. There are countless ways that we, as savvy young women, can help reduce our impact on Mother Nature… and groceries are a simple place to start!

4 Easy Ways to a Greener Bag of Groceries:

1. Buy Local.

There are several reasons why one should strive to buy local food. One huge reason: Locally-produced food requires 17x less petroleum than does a diet based on food shipped across the country. Additionally, industrial food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to fork! Support your local farmers who don’t have to truck their food across the states (or across seas from a foreign county), all the while emitting CO2.

Check to see if there is a farmers’ market in town – or perhaps even on your college campus. It’s always an enjoyable weekend activity to stroll the market with your roommates and then make a nutritious and delicious meal with all your local finds.

2. Buy in Bulk.

It’s rather ridiculous how much packaging is used to transport and store food, from perishable to non-perishable items. One way to reduce the amount of bags and boxes brought into your home is by buying in bulk. Check out the bulk isle for an assortment of items from flour to nuts (and chocolate chips!), and even your favorite cereals. Not surprisingly, it is almost always cheaper to pack your products yourself, too!

3. Buy Organic.

Buying organic may not be the most budget-friendly for your typical college student, but the few extra pennies spent will save the health of our environment. Organic foods are those grown without the use of pesticides; whether fruit, vegetables, meat, or dairy, they are safer to eat, have more flavor, and their crops are less harmful to the environment. Think of all the imperative bug lives you’ll save : )

4. Bring Your Bags.

Paper? No thanks. Plastic? I’ll pass. Canvas? Yes please! This may be one of the simplest ways to a more eco-friendly trip to the store. By bringing your own bags, you are reducing the PVC emitted into the environment from minimizing plastic production, and are keeping our planet green – literally! – by saving a tree’s life. Not to mention, with all the cute canvas totes these days, you can walk home from the store in style.

Heaven forbid you forget your reusable bags, save the plastic bags and return them to the store on your next visit. Most grocers have a designated bag drop right outside the entrance.

Another Reminder: Walk, ride a bike, or at least carpool (1 car is better than 2!) with your roommates to the market. Burning a few extra calories never hurt anyone.

Also, check out Liz’s article for additional grocery shopping advice…

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE.

Hillary is an intern at College Lifestyles and student of Food & Nutrition Communication at California State University, Chico. She enjoys strolling the local farmers’ market during the summer with her mom, and making huge salads with homegrown greens.

Become a Bronzed Beauty this Summer!

Once upon a time, Karrie Pettit and Chris Mueller were in Maui, Hawaii and then *bing!*. The most sensational tanning lotion, Booty Butter, was invented! In 2008, they created a company based in Florida called Bikini Kitchen.

Booty Butter Tanning Lotion speeds up a Co-Ed’s tanning process without looking orange or streaky since it is not a self-tanning lotion. Some major advantages to Booty Butter Tanning Lotion are that it is all-natural, water-resistant, bug repellent, works with all skin types and shades, and Bikini Kitchen does not test on animals.

Here are the ingredients and how they create a “bronzed beauty” out of you:

Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil – bronzes all skin tones quickly and moisturizes

Kona Coffee Extract – this my favorite ingredient because it smells SO deliciously of mocha!

Soothing, Moisture-Rich Mix – Aloe, Macadamia Nut Oil and Light Mineral Oil for a sparkly moisture

Vitamin A – gives the skin an attractive, rosy glow

Vitamin C – fends against damage caused by the sun

Vitamin E – reduces severity of sunburn and early stages of UV damage

With those tidbits, keep in mind that Booty Butter does not contain any SPF, but there is an advantage to offer. You can pair any number of SPF as the under layer and Booty Butter will still give you the same amazing results! Remember from my previous post that SPF is a must-have; you never want to go without it!

Just yesterday I tried some of the Booty Butter myself, complimentary of Bikini Kitchen. I applied Hawaiian Tropic’s Tanning Lotion with SPF 30 and let it dry for a few minutes before I put an even layer of the scrumptious smelling, brown Booty Butter lotion. Don’t let the word “brown” fool you. At first I was skeptical of how it would appear on my skin, but all it did was have an attractive shimmer and looked like a light tanning oil without the feeling of that nasty slither of grease.

I was hardly outside for an hour, laying thirty minutes each on my front and back, and the picture below will show the progress I have already made.

Can you guess what is number one on my “Summer Wish List”? Bikini Kitchen’s “Booty Butter”! It is the perfect product to use when lying out by the pool or walking on the beach to get a healthy, naturally bronzed tan.

You can check out this top notch tanning lotion and also order on Bikini Kitchen’s website.

Follow Bikini Kitchen @Twitter or on Facebook.

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles(TM). She is excited to finally have some time to relax from school this summer in the sun with a bottle of Booty Butter from Bikini Kitchen.

Smooth Those Scales Away – Let Your FACE Shine!

Warmer weather means higher UV rays, which really means keeping your face and body safe from too much sunlight!  No one wants damaged skin!

Tell me, who wants to look like Kim Kardashian?  In the picture below (all rights to Kim Kardashian), she is extremely sunburnt and her face probably dried out once it started to fade, too.

So, here are some facial tips for a dry face as well as preventing your cheeks from turning into a lobster red.

STEP ONE:

Always, always, always use some kind of moisturizer before you put any kind of foundation down (even if it already has SPF in it)!  This way you’ll know it will even out the amounts of SPF and make sure it won’t rub off if you use powder after your base foundation.

My Pick: I use Clean & Clear oil-free Morning Glow moisturizer with SPF 15.  It soothes your skin while it brightens.

STEP TWO:

Apply your liquid foundation.

My Pick: I personally don’t use any kind of liquid foundation, but I have found that Clinique Stay True Makeup Oil-Free Formula – $21.00.  For a less expensive route, try CoverGirl Outlast Liquid Makeup with SPF 14 – $9.00 at local drug stores.  This foundation is ideal for a summer sparkle you might acquire in the hot weather or while working out, while it evens out discoloration.

STEP THREE:

Apply your powder foundation.

My Pick: Now, I DO wear powder foundation after apply my moisturizer.  I use Maybelline New York Pure Stay Powder Foundation with SPF 15 – around $7.00 at your local drug store.  If you choose to use the powder form after moisturizer, make sure you wait until it is dry to apply so it does not leave yucky streaks!

TIME TO WASH IT ALL OFF:

I use Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser Face Wash every time I shower and Aveeno Skin Brightening Scrub Face Wash when I want to exfoliate and improve my skin tone (Smooth Those Scales Away – sound familiar?); this is also the perfect product for more radiant skin and leaves your face feeling so soft and delicate- and trust me, it does its job!  These products range around $7.00 at your local Target or drug store.

HAVING FUN IN THE SUN:

I use Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion with SPF 30 for face.  In the beginning of my “base” tanning, I generally find the highest (usually 10-15) SPF in a lotion form for my body – Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, etc.  Once I have gotten enough sun for a base coating tan, I use the oil form with the highest SPF, but not all day!!  And for the lips, I use C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick, No-Shine with SPF 15, which you can find at Bath & Body Works for $7.50.

Now you know everything you need to Smooth Those Scales Away and keep your face sunburn-free, soft and looking radiant.  Remember, too much sun can make you look like you’ve been burning in a leather factory!!  No classy co-ed wishes to look like this, so make sure you have fun in the sun in moderation!

Check out the rest of my “Smooth Those Scales Away” Series:

HAND Edition

FOOT Edition

KNEE & ELBOW Edition

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles (TM).  She is so ecstatic the weather is warming up and cannot wait to stroll around the outdoors of Georgia and lay out by the pool!

Philanthropy is Always In…Refresh Everything!

As I was watching television the other day, I saw a commercial for one of the coolest philanthropy projects I have seen in awhile.  Pepsi is hosting a project called the Pepsi Refresh Project.  Pepsi is giving away over $1 million in grant money to people with good ideas every month.

What is it?: Pepsi is looking for ideas that have a positive impact on the community.  This project is only open to ideas that will be implemented in one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

How it works: They are accepting 1,000 ideas each month and the public is voting on them!  They will potentially award up to 32 grants out of those 1,000.  The top 100 runners up will automatically be carried over to the next month so there is no need to submit again if you are one of those 100.

What you win: Two grants are going to receive $250,000, ten will receive $50,000, ten will receive $25,000 and a final ten will receive $5,000.  Once again, this is each month!   You have twelve months after you receive the first of the funds to complete your project.

I think this is such a good idea and even if you don’t have an idea of your own, I would suggest voting for those ideas you find inspiring.  For example, last month $50,000 was awarded to build a baseball and softball diamond to promote youth athletics.  They also awarded $250,000 to provide comfort items for US military troops recovering from wounds.  Click here to check out the rest of the grants awarded last month–there are some really amazing ones! To get even more inspired, check out Emily H’s post on sorority philanthropies!

If you had one of these grants, what would you do with it?  Let us know in the comments section or e-mail us at intern@collegelifestyles.org!  Also, let us know if you plan on submitting an idea.

Kaitlyn Kline is an intern with College Lifestyles.  She is an Edinboro University of PA and Alpha Sigma Tau alum.  She thinks the Pepsi Refresh Project is, well, refreshing!

COLLEGE GROCERY SHOPPING

We all have gone through this, the dreaded grocery-shopping trip. Now unless you have amazing parents, a car on campus or a bottomless credit card then you know this day sucks like no other. The most important question is, how do you save?

I have an amazing father who tries to visit me once a month and take me shopping at Save-A-Lot, but its still difficult. Other months I have to go alone or with a friend on the bus (eww, I know, bus) and with only a normally allotted $50 a month what can I buy?

Women’s Health Magazine (WHM) has given us some great starting points and I’ll show you how to put them into college use.

Their Tips:

Eat Before you Shop – I like this one! I always seem to go when I’m starved so I grab anything and everything, mostly the snack foods too. (Thankfully this past week when I went, even though starved, I had a list that I stuck too so I wasn’t doing this – also my dad promised Primanti Bros. afterwards!)

Check Yourself Out – The Giant Eagle I go to has this and it makes my trip soooo much faster but you have to be where, you can only do 10 items in that line and the girls that are on call to help are grouchy idiots.

Learn the Lingo – “Whole grain” is healthy; “multi grain” is not… there goes my Cheerios.

Brew Your Own Coffee – It can save you around $800 a year WHM says! Any dorm can have a coffee pot so take this advantage, instead of wasting money at the local Starbucks (you know who you are)

Avoid Quickies – Try to shop once a week not several times or you’ll waste more money. Keep a list in your room so you know what you need.

Bulk Up – Go to Costco or Sam’s Club if you can (memberships are cheep) and you get to bulk up on really good foods. Tip: Paper products and frozen foods are the best to bulk up on!

My tips:

Frozen foods are your friends! Though in my apartment this works against me since there are SIX of us and ALL of us follow this rule… consider bringing a floor freezer.

Canned foods are your second best friends. Though not always the healthiest they have long shelf lives and can be stocked everywhere in your room (even as a door stopper).

Take a friend! Don’t shop alone or you won’t get everything you want because you’ll feel awkward and want to hurry.

Liz is an intern for College Lifestyles ™. She is a junior Print Journalism major at Point Park University and a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. Grocery shopping is a chore but how else we gonna eat?

Z’ETIQUETTE – Folk Remedies

Did anyone think there would be home remedies for acne?? I was really surprised when I stumbled upon HowStuffWorks’ article on folk remedies. Talk about “going green” now!

Folk Remedies

Toothpaste – I’ve used this for my teeth and even for bug bites, but for zits? Apparently a dab on a blemish and letting it dry over night is supposed to work wonders (and keep your face minty fresh!).

Egg Whites – Save the yolks for baking and use the whites for an old school facial mask to dry your oily skin. Maybe this goes with the “its so hot you can fry an egg on my head!”

Garlic Paste – Facemask to prevent acne AND vampires! Apparently Bella didn’t use this…

Honey – It’s a delicious treat for Pooh and an overnight acne remedy! It supposedly has strong antibacterial qualities, so girls try this at your next sleep over.

Lemon Juice – A natural astringent for your face. Use a slice to cleanse the face or put a diluted mask of it on your face for 15 minutes.

Cooked Oatmeal – Not only a healthy breakfast but also a healthy facial scrub.

Cooked Green Bean Water - superstition or solution?

Basil – No catchy saying for this one, ladies.

So ditch the drugstore and head to the food isle for all your acne needs!

Liz is an intern for College Lifestyles ™. She is a junior Print Journalism major at Point Park University and a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She’s always been curious about folk remedies, maybe she’ll try this next ti

LEAPING LEPRECHAUNS

You all know what celebration is coming up this month (if not, I’ll pinch you!). As an Irish myself St. Patrick’s Day is MY DAY and I “go green” to the full extent. I’ll give you the low down on what to wear (and not!).

Words to the wise: On St. Paddy’s Day (and parade day) do NOT wear Orange (that’s Northern Ireland) and if you don’t wear green – be prepared to come home with bruises lol.

Undergarments

I wear green EVERYTHING – that means bra and panties too. I want to include these this year; I’ve got green panties but the bra, that’ll just put me over the top! These two Aerie ones will certainly make the leprechauns lead you to their pots of gold.

Outer Garments

This awesome shirt rocks the green AND a shamrock, but there are many other awesome t-shirts out there to find. Pair with some jeans and you have yourself a casual St. Paddy’s Day look!

I love this dress (though it might be a little cold to wear up here in Pittsburgh). Top it of with a green hoodie or shrug and green heels and your working the Irish chic.

Shoes

Talking about shoes, these green ones are classy yet killer! You could totally re-wear them after the festivities are over. Or go with green sneakers or flip-flops!

Accessorize!

Go crazy in this section! Green hair clips are a fun and easy way to get into the Irish spirit (I actually sprayed my hair green one year).

Last year I had green hair ties, green makeup, green nails, green beads (You NEED green beads) and a big green hat my Big gave me (she even gave me a shamrock shot glass when I pledged, hehe, it lights up!). The point is that – there is NO such thing as TOO much green.

Liz is an intern for College Lifestyles ™. She is a junior Print Journalism major at Point Park University and a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She’s making you all honorary Irish (if your not already) and will be going crazy with the green this year – also its my dad’s birthday (and oddly enough he’s NOT the Irish parent!).

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