September at CL – Upcoming Events and Giveaways!

Is it September already?!  Where did summer go?

September spells our favorite time here at College Lifestyles – Back to School!  We hope you were able to use the great suggestions from our Campus Countdown for a smooth transition back to school.

We have some fantastic happenings at College Lifestyles for September!

Bid Day Shirt Contest (Facebook Photo)

Do you love your bid day shirt? Send us a picture of your bid day shirt, preferably front and back, to info@collegelifestyles.org.  Please be sure to include in your message your chapter and university.  Voting will begin on 9/15 and end on 9/30.  The chapter with the winning bid day shirt will receive 20 copies of ‘Eat Well and Be Fabulous’ by Shelly Marie Redmond!  (this incredible book gives suggestions for how sorority women can stay healthy!)

Dorm Decoration Contest (Facebook Photo)

Do your friends comment on how well your dorm is decorated?  Want to show off your work? Send us your design work to info@collegelifestyles.org.  Include your name, university, and design style.  Voting will begin on 9/15 and end on 9/30.  The winning individual will receive a lap top stand from Lap Dawg.

The College Lifestyles Channel

College Lifestyles is excited to announce the launch ‘The College Lifestyles Channel’ on YouTube on 9/25.  Join us every Sunday while we bring you the best on everything College Lifestyles!

Happy September!

From One CL Girl to Another: 5 Storage Must-Haves for Your Dorm!

When moving into your dorm, you’ll be bringing everything you use every day in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.  The only difference between your home and your home away from home is that instead of having several separate rooms, you’ll have one 12×12’ room to store everything from your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.  Here are 5 must have storage units (hand-picked by yours truly!) to help keep you organized, fabulous, and prepared for anything!

Bath Caddy – Whether your bathroom is community style (sharing a bathroom with all girls on your floor) or suite style (one bathroom shared by two dorm rooms), it’s nice to have all of your cosmetics and toiletries in one place for those early mornings when you have to get ready in a flash!  I picked this Neatnix Square Stuff Bucket from DormSmart because it has a ton of storage, a durable handle, and it can also be used as a desk organizer!

9-Cube Organizer – Shelving units are always a good idea, but it’s difficult to know which ones to buy, especially if you don’t know how much space you’re going to have.  These 9-cube organizers from Target are fantastic because they offer optimal storage, come in different colors, and you can buy fabric drawers in different colors for even more storage.  I bought this organizer in black with pink drawers and put it in my closet.

Double-Hang Closet Organizer – In my personal dorm experience, my closet at home was easily twice the size of my dorm closet.  This Double-Hang Closet Organizer, also from Target, is AMAZING because it literally doubles your closet space by providing an extra clothing rack.  It’s also very easy to assemble and only weighs 2 pounds!

Over-the-Door Organizer – One place that most people overlook when thinking about storage space is behind their doors.  Over-the-door-organizers are HUGE space savers.  Most are advertised as shoe racks, but I use them for other things like lotions, perfumes, and even some school supplies.  Check out this one from The Container Store (currently on sale!)

Storage Trunk – Trunks are the ultimate dorm necessity.  They can be used for storage, take the place of a suitcase when moving in, and they can be used for a coffee table/footrest to pair with your futon!  It may seem a little pricey, but when you think about the many different uses for storage trunks, it’s obvious that you will be getting the most for your money.  Check out the different trunks that DormSmart has to offer and you’ll be sure to find one that fits your needs!

Taking the time to organize your dorm room before school starts will make your transition from your home to your home-away-from-home a smooth one.  As always, have fun, be smart, and stay fabulous!

Alli is a Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics junior at Michigan State University.  When she isn’t spending time with friends and family or on the sidelines of an MSU football game, she can always be found playing with her dogs!

Last minute cheap student getaways before fall term (or Labor Day weekend getaway) from HostelBookers.com.

The following is an article from our friends at HostelBookers.com!

The US is a wonderfully diverse country. Whether you want a beach holiday, a city break or even a gastronomic adventure you can find it all in America. So you’ve got plenty of choice when it comes to where to spend the last days of your summer (or Labor Day weekend getaway). We understand you are on a budget, so here are a few ideas for a few cheap days away. HostelBookers.com has accommodation in all these US destinations, including hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and apartments.

New York City for flashpackers.

New York is a city for all budgets. The parks, museums, window shopping and endless monuments can entertain you for free. Or, there’s the Green Flea Markets, the Central Park Zoo and the menagerie of restaurants if you fancy flashing the cash. Soak up the buzz of Times Square and get your photo taken next to the famous screens and adverts. Then pop into the biggest Toys r Us in the world and check out the pic n mix!

San Francisco for a girly holiday.

Head to the biggest and oldest Chinatown in America and you’ll be able to pick up some bargain silk scarves and uniquely designed clothes in the market. Order some Chinese to takeaway and eat up in the Yerba Buena Gardens surrounded by open space and waterfalls. Burn off that special fried rice with a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge before indulging in a yummy banana-cream tart or flaky croissant at the Tartine Bakery in the Mission District.

Miami for beach lovers.

Bikini bods love it at South Beach. Whether you’re lazing on the beach, hitting the shops or dancing in the clubs it’s the standard uniform. Anyone into surfing or rollerblading can join the super-tanned in the sea and skating down Ocean Drive. Miami officials have recently invested in a brilliant public cycle scheme, so make sure you rent one of the bikes for the best way to see the city. In Miami you’re also close to the Florida Keys – perfect for a scenic drive with the music turned up loud.

Chicago for foodies

Who needs the Michelin-star restaurants when there’s the Margherita at Bella Bacinos Pizzeria, the Peking duck at Sun-Wah in Uptown and California rolls at Toro Sushi? You can walk it off in one of Chicago’s famous free parks – Grant Park on the lakefront or around the public art exhibition at Millennium Park. Of course there are loads of museums in Chicago, including the Hancock Observatory and the Shedd Aquarium, but prices can be steep. It can be a lot cheaper to invest in a CityPass which will give you unlimited access for a set fee.

Washington for bargain hunters.

Washington is a great last-minute city to visit when you’re short on money – there’s so much to do for free! The 19 museums and attractions that make up the Smithsonian don’t charge an entry fee and together they feature more than 137 million objects, from stamps to spacecraft and dinosaur skeletons to tribal art. Or, even better, you can prebook a tour around President Obama’s home, the White House. When you’re finished make sure you take a trip around the Presidents Park to see the gray squirrels, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.

We’d like to thank our friends at HostelBookers.com for the above information.

CL Welcomes Greek Gear as an Affiliate!

College Lifestyles is proud to announce Greek Gear as their newest affiliate.  Greek Gear is a “superstore” for greek supplies!  They offer fraternity and sorority clothing, hats, footwear, jewelry, bags, signs and much more!  Greek Gear not only has some of the best prices around but the best quality as well!

Shirts/Sweatshirts

Can’t decide if you want screen printed letters or sewn on letters?  Mix it up and get a combination of both at Greek Gear.  The options seem endless at this greek superstore.  You can get polos, oxfords, tank tops, long sleeve shirts, unisex t-shirts, fitted t-shirts, and much more.  There is also an option between  hooded and original sweatshirts.  The color and letter combinations are to die for!

Bags

Looking for a bag to carry your books?  A nap sack for show?  Greek Gear has several bags to choose from.  Explore their supply of totes, shower caddy’s, field bags, , duffle bags, backpacks, briefcases, and much more!  There are bags for all activities.

Recruitment/Bid Day

Recruitment and Bid Day are some of the most important days to sorority and fraternities.  These are days to build on their organizations and add brothers and sisters.  At Greek Gear you can buy bid day packages and place group orders on your recruitment clothing.

Greek Gear has so much to offer for those involved in greek life.  If your not involved in greek life this is also a good opportunity to buy presents for family and friends.  Check out the website for College Lifestyles newest affiliate Greek Gear.

Stephanie Coppola is an intern at College Lifestyles ™.  She recently graduated from Quinnipiac University with a major in Print Journalism and a minor in Sports Studies.  She uses Greek Gear when purchasing her sorority clothing!

CL Welcomes a New Sponsor LapDawg

Classy CL ladies, please say your farewells to neck strains and laptop struggles and hello to LapDawg laptop stands for a productive semester. College Lifestyles had the pleasure of interviewing Tony, who works in research and development for LapDawg. LapDawg is a company that offers a laptop desk with proper computer desk ergonomics and comfort. In simple words, the company has designed a laptop desk with savvy features to ensure healthy posture and easy computer use for online work.

CL: What are your top LapDawg products for students?

Tony: We only have two models right now. Each model serving a different purpose. These models are the X4 and PUG. The X4 model is designed to accommodate for any comfortable body position you wish to use your laptop in. The PUG model is designed for more simplicity, cooling and a mouse pad area with three static height options.

CL: What are the health benefits of using the Laptop Desk?

Tony: There are many benefits of a laptop desk and there are several types of them in the market. Ours are specifically designed to help position your body more comfortably when using your laptop. This reduces neck pains and decreases back problems due to extended use. We try to keep the laptop at eye level with our models if possible. They also protect users from laptop heat. The laptop desks also keep the laptops cool and help reduce RSI on users’ wrists.

CL: How does the Laptop Desk benefit students?

 

Tony: Our models are all portable, light weight and easy to store. They are perfect for student dorms  because they don’t take up much space. They are also a big help when students need to study. You can use them to hold books as well. When you are on your bed, you can have your textbooks held at eye level. This will prevent slouching and hopefully it will help keep you awake and more productive when studying.

CL: Where can the Laptop Desk be used?

Tony: Beds (lying up or sitting down), couches, on top of desks, chairs, your lap or on the ground. This can be used anywhere you would normally use your laptop.

CL: How many different ways can the Laptop Desk be adjusted?

Tony: The X4 model has unlimited adjustability because it has three sets of legs. It is also individually able to rotate 360 degrees and can lock into place by pressing a button. In this way, you can set your laptop exactly the way you want it.

The PUG model has three static height settings. It has no legs and 10 and 20 inch height options. Within its legs it contains a second pair of legs which fold out to double the height. The table portion has enough surface area for a left and right mouse pad. The middle tray adjusts to three different settings which keep your laptop angled. It also has a built in USB powered silent fan.

Where can students order the LapDawg Laptop desk and other LapDawg products?

Tony: Online only at  lapdawg.com or by phone 1-888-300-3853 24 hrs / 7 days.

CL: In what ways is the Laptop Desk portable for an on-the-go student?

Tony: All our models fold flat so the maximum height of the units are about .5 inches to 1 inch. Each unit comes packaged in a cardboard box with a handle. This feature enables you to use it as a carry case which comes in handy when you want to travel with it.

CL: What are special features of the Laptop Desk?

Tony: Features include: portability, adjustability, light weight and cooling abilities. Most importantly, it is designed to help people achieve optimal comfort when interacting with the laptop or textbooks.

CL: How can students identify with the LapDawg products?

Tony: As a study aid to help students read their text books in proper positions in bed, at a desk or in a dorm room. They are productive tools to help students focus on what they need to get done. The desk is versatile enough to be a laptop stand to watch movies, study, hold a laptop and become portable table all in one. It also tucks away neatly under beds.

CL: Which LapDawg product would work best in the dorm room setting and why?

Tony: Both of the products would! Pug or X4. Both are about the same size, but with different functionality. With the X4 comes the adjustability and the perfect comfortable position, but takes some getting used to. The PUG is known for simplicity. It has less options but is great to pull out and start using right away. It is also vital for those who need a mouse pad area.

Maggie Young is a rising junior at the University of Kansas majoring in journalism. She logs many hours on the computer between school and her internships and thinks the laptop desk could help her in many ways. She thinks the LapDawg seems like a perfect cure for neck strains and laptop discomfort.

We invite you to a Twitter Party on 8/9 at 9pm EST!

WHAT:  College Lifestyles ‘Back 2 School’ twitter party

WHEN:  August 9th at 9pm EST

HASHTAG: #CLchat

SPONSORED BY: LapDawg and School House Inc

Our twitter party will cover all ‘Back to School.’ Our interns will answer some of the most popular questions we receive at the College Lifestyles office, as well as go over some of our Campus Countdown Tips.

Giveaways for the event are the following:

1 (ONE) Lapdawg laptop stand from Lap Dawg – Lapdawg.com is an online retailer of ergonomic laptop stands that help you hold your laptops exactly the way you want. Featuring the X4 laptop stand which enables you to use your laptop lying flat on your back in bed. Multi-functional uses include breakfast tray, tv tray and laptop desks. Other models include the Pug laptop stand with built in silent usb fan and adjustable table tray. Makes a perfect gift for the laptop users in your life.  Visit their site at www.lapdawg.com.

3 fashion pieces from School House Inc (A Duke T-Shirt dress, a Boston University Cardigan, and a Duquesne T-Shirt) - School House is an ethically sourced collegiate apparel brand that designs and delivers fashion-forward, school-specific clothing for men and women at over 100 colleges and universities nationwide and counting. Founded by Rachel Weeks, a Duke alum, while studying socially responsible manufacturing in Sri Lanka, School House promotes fair wages for its apparel workers and partners with local suppliers to deliver an ethical fashion product that is wholly sourced and manufactured in the company’s home state of North Carolina. School House’s fall collections of tees, hoodies, lounge pants and more are available at a college bookstores near you or online at www.shopschoolhouse.com.

We hope to ‘see’ you at our party!

Two Products to Help Coeds Stay Dorm Smart!

When you’re packing for college, of course you’re going to remember to take your favorite skirt and trusty hairspray, but in the hustle and bustle of packing its often the necessities that are forgotten. I’m here to review two awesome products from Dorm Smart that you should know about before you leave, because after all, CL girls are always prepared!

Trash Cans: Okay, okay, it is not glamorous or cute or going to get the cutie from across the hall to notice you. But hear me out ladies! Many dorm rooms don’t come equipped with trash cans, and unless you’re the proud owner of a furnished apartment neither does your new pad. So instead of filling your place with tons of boring plastic containers, check out Dorm Smart’s Collapsible Trash Cache Bin. Available in five different patterns, this ritzy receptacle can hold up to a 40 gallon trash bag. And like the name suggests, the bin is collapsible so traveling with it from home, to a dorm, and eventually an apartment will be a cinch!

Overnight Bag: I know what you’re thinking: why do I need another bag to get in the way of my precious dorm space? Well coeds you’d be surprised at how often an overnight bag can come in handy! The Hilary Duffle in seven different colors is the perfect bag to get your through the year. Visiting friends, going home, and spur of the moment road trips are just some of the times you’ll be reaching for this. Water resistant and with plenty of room for all your little knick-knacks, this overnight bag is an essential to have!

Jessica Salerno is a junior at Ohio University majoring in journalism. She loves playing soccer, going shopping, and pop culture!

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.

Mark Your Calendar – College Lifestyles August Events!

College Lifestyles has some wonderful events for the month of August, including some great giveaways and a NEW Facebook Photo Contest!

Monday, August 1st – College Lifestyles will start our ‘Campus Countdown.’

Check our site daily for your one ‘to-do’ tip to prepare you for your return to campus!

Monday, August 1st – Ask the Intern.

College Lifestyles interns are here to answer your questions about returning to campus.  Please send your questions to intern@collegelifestyles.org.

Tuesday, August 9th at 9pm EST/8pm CST – Twitter Party!

College Lifestyles will be hosting a Back to School Twitter Party.  Our topic will focus on general back to school questions including juggling an internship while in classes, time management, budget tips, resume tips, nutrition tips, and dorm/apartment etiquette.  We have great giveaways from LapDawg and School House Inc.  Hashtag – #CLchat.

Monday, August 15th – Cutest Pet Facebook Contest!

Send us pictures of your ‘cutest pet‘ to info@collegelifestyles.org.  We will post all pictures on our Facebook page for our fans to vote on ‘CL’s Cutest Pet.‘  The winner will receive a $25 gift card to PETCO.  All entries will receive a copy of Shelly Marie Redmond’s book, ‘Eat Well and Be Fabulous:   A Guide for the Modern Day Woman.‘ Voting will start August 15th and end on Friday, August 26th.

College Lifestyles is Proud to Announce our Sponsorship/Partnership Program!

College Lifestyles is proud to announce our sponsorship/partnership program!

College Lifestyles has a wonderful partnership program which specifically targets savvy college co-eds and sorority women.

Our incredible site has receive prestigious recognition in being awarded the 2010 Freshman Advisor Award from eCollegefinder, as well as being recognized in 2009 as #4 in Online College 100 inspirational twitter feeds for college students. College Lifestyles Executive Director/CEO, Shelly Marie Redmond, has been featured on CBS, NBC, and ABC; as well as quoted in Cosmopolitan magazine and Fox Business Online on topics related to co-eds and sorority life.  Our content has been recognized as a college resource by Huffington Post College and USA Today College.  Just recently, we partnered with Phi Mu Fraternity in National Ritual Celebration Week promotions and festivities.

We offer a comprehensive sponsorship/partnership program which includes the following:

• Website/E-Newsletter/Social Media Outreach.
• Product giveaway promoted via blog, Twitter, and Facebook and e-newsletter.
• Product reviews.
• General Website Partner (includes articles and logo placement on our site).
• Sponsored Blog Post
• Sponsored Giveaways.

We would love to have your company partner with College Lifestyles.  Do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions on our incredible outreach and website; as well as if you would like to receive our comprehensive partnership packet.

For more information, contact Shelly Marie Redmond at:

Shelly Marie Redmond, MS, RD, LDN

E:  info@collegelifestyles.org

P: (318) 426-0987

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