Tag Archives: Etiquette

Our Best Etiquette Articles 2012

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Here at College Lifestyles™, we are all about the classy co-ed, and this includes 21st century etiquette. Here are our top 10 etiquette articles from 2012 to help you kick off the New Year with class:

10. This table-setting article by CL intern Rachel Crocetti is perfect for any classy dinner.

9. Holiday parties are fun, but can get noisy fast. Here’s how to tell your neighbors to tone it down a notch, courtesy of CL grad Serena Piper.

8. Now that you finally have a break from textbooks, kick back and relax with a classy book from CL grad Chelse Hensley’s list.

7. Going to be a bridesmaid in 2013? Learn more about your role now.

6. You’re going to meet new classmates next semester – handle them with class, thanks to CL grad Brittany Lavenski.

5. Bringing the boyfriend home for the holidays? Learn the dos and don’ts from CL intern Emily Lamielle here.

4. You should always display class at family meals. Learn table etiquette with CL grad Tiana Blue.

3.  Out and about this busy time of year? Travel with class and CL intern Maya Devereaux.

2. Begin the New Year right with your roommate. Check out these tips, again from Ms. Devereaux.

1. And our etiquette guide wouldn’t be complete without an introduction to our Professional Development/Etiquette Editor/Features Writer Martha-Raye Adjei – say hello here.

Read away, ladies and gentlemen, and share how you plan to keep it classy this New Year’s Eve in the comments below…


Etiquette: Do I Buy My Boyfriend’s Parents a Gift?

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It can be hard enough to buy gifts for your own parents, but what about your boyfriend’s parents? You want to appear genuine and sophisticated, but don’t want to go overboard and seem like you’re trying too hard. Of course, what you choose to get them, or whether you buy them a gift at all, depends on how long you have known them and the nature of your relationship. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all rule of thumb for when buying the parents a gift is appropriate; it’s just one of those situations where you have to go with your gut.  Here’s how some fellow co-eds handle the yearly dilemma.

“We do Secret Santa since my boyfriend has a pretty big family. This year the parents have joined in the fun, but I think I will still get them both a little something in addition.” –Debra S.

“I usually get them a little something and they get me something as well. We don’t see each other on Christmas but have spent the last five New Years together so we exchange then.”- Stephanie C.

“I love making crafty gifts for my boyfriend’s family. DIY crafts are generally more affordable for a college student, and are still very thoughtful.” – Emily L

“I usually try to buy something the whole family can enjoy. Edible arrangements, specialty cookies and other treats make great gifts!” -Kimberly A.

My take? If they are inviting you over for a meal or holiday event, you can’t go wrong with bringing a classy hostess gift like a bouquet of flowers or nice seasonal scented candles. In other situations, consider simply asking your boyfriend what he thinks; after all, he knows them best!

Do you buy your boyfriend’s parents a gift? Who else will you be buying for this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below!


Etiquette: Holiday Table Manners

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Whether it’s Thanksgiving turkey-sharing or Christmastime eggnog drinking, table manners are a must. Without them, a friendly gathering of family and friends can quickly turn into screaming matches and flying utensils. Feast your eyes on a step-by-step guide to keeping the holiday spirit alive and well.

Care To Share?

Dinnertime is best when everyone’s engaged in active conversation. Use the holidays to update loved ones on how interesting (or not) your chemistry class is or how cute (or not) this boy is in said chemistry class. People bond over a good meal and good ol’ fashioned story telling.

                       What not to do…

Save The Sass

It’s something about the holidays which makes unnecessary comments so much more harmful. And there’s nothing like rudeness to squeeze out the holiday cheer. Be thankful for the food you’ll be blessed with, the family—big or small—who loves you, and it should keep the arguments at bay.

 Say Cheese!

Thank you, Facebook, for putting too much value on photos. The thought of uploading your favorite picture of you and grandma will encourage more picture snapping! Photographs are fantastic keepsakes when you’re missing a loved one, and it gives someone (likely Mom) something to scrapbook or frame.

Dress Classily

A well-dressed woman turns heads and—in the holiday spirit, of course!—makes gatherings less dramatic. Keep your sense of style, but if it must be refined, at least do it around this time of year. This way, gossipy relatives won’t have anything to talk about.

Test Those Taste Buds

As you may have learned from living with roommates, being open to new experiences is essential. When it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, try flavors and a little bit of anything you haven’t dabbled in before. If your Aunt cooked up a peculiar looking crumb cake, initially try only a small portion. If it’s less than tasty, there will be nothing left to throw away, which would leave your aunt embarrassed. Unless it’s slimy looking…then you have our permission to step away.


What Students Should NEVER Post on Facebook

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We’ve heard it all before – for some of us, it is engraved in our minds. Many of our professors, our advisors, our mentors, and even our sororities are constantly reminding us to keep our Facebooks in check. If you wouldn’t want your mother to see it, then take it down! What you put on your Facebook may not only come back to haunt you later, but it may also prevent you from getting hired.

In our day and age, employers across the globe are using Facebook, Twitter, and even Instagram to investigate new job candidates. What are their likes and dislikes? What do they look like? But mostly, is what they’re posting inappropriate. Some students are even being asked to log onto their Facebooks in front of the employer during their interview! Seems like a breach of privacy, no? I’d agree with you, but it does not stop them. With that in mind, consider the following when monitoring your Facebook. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

Avoid hatred, negativity, and even threats. Words are words, but words can get you into a lot of trouble – especially the hatred or threatening kind. Employers don’t want to see that you vented about your previous job on Facebook or Twitter – is it possible that you will feel that negatively about them? They also will not take threatening words – even if it was meant in good humor – lightly. Take those statuses, comments, or picture captions down – they’re unnecessary.

Avoid oversharing. While Facebook and Twitter are places to express yourself, there is a fine line between expressing yourself and revealing too much. If you wouldn’t tell every single person you met something you’ve posted, then it probably isn’t meant to be on there. Avoid drama and fights with your boyfriend or mother on Facebook. Private things are meant to be private.

Avoid your approximate location. Even in the Facebook/Twitter era, stalking still exists. It is so important to make sure that you aren’t revealing your exact coordinates on a map! A status like, “At the mall!” is perfect. But a status like, “Home sweet 110 ABC Street!” is not okay.

Avoid curse words and derogatory terms. Regardless of how old you get, cursing is still considered inappropriate. I understand that as we get older, it becomes more accepted, however these are not words that anyone would ever use in a professional setting and if employers were to see terms like these used frequently on your social media page, they might be a little turned off.

Avoid excessive and extreme use of alcohol. We all go to parties. It is understood that if we are 21, we might have a glass of wine or two when we are out to dinner. However, it is not acceptable to be putting pictures up of you and your friends doing keg stands, taking shots, playing pong, or double fisting. Keep it CLassy and avoid those types of photos at all costs.

Avoid promiscuity and anything promoting sex. Racy photos are not in any means CLassy – just trashy. Once they’re up, you will never be able to get rid of them. People save photos, send photos, and share photos! Be careful!

DO NOT PUT ILLEGAL THINGS ON FACEBOOK. For reasons I still do not understand, some girls seem to think that it is all right to post illegal activities on Facebook. Just don’t do it. As I said before, once these things are up, you can never get rid of them.

Above all, be safe. Facebook and Twitter are fun! Nobody will ever deny that. But it is so important to make sure to stay safe. Make your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram private. There is a value in having a little bit of mystery to you; if not, then everyone can know who you are without ever meeting you – and that’s no fun!


CL’s Guide To: Practicing Good Etiquette On Public Transportation

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Keep these things in mind the next time you catch the bus or train so you and everyone else around can have a happy trip.

  1. Don’t put your feet on the seat. Kicking your heels up on the seat across from you not only takes up space that can allow a standing person to sit, but it is also just icky. Your shoes are now making a clean seat dirty, where someone might want to sit.
  2. Give your seat up for an elderly person or pregnant woman. We classy co-eds are still young and fit, so let those who really need seats sit down.
  3. Let people off before you board. It makes no sense for you to try to squeeze your way through a handful of people that is getting off so you can get on the train first. Allow all those who are leaving the train car or bus to exit before you enter (Also, don’t hover right in front of the door leaving them nowhere to go!)
  4. Lend a hand to someone who may need help. If you see someone who has to drag three suitcases onto the train platform, help him or her. The same idea applies if you see someone who has to board the bus with a baby stroller and a load of groceries. 
  5. Don’t take up more space than you need. If the area is crowded, don’t hog two seats so your backpack can sit comfortably in its own seat.  Also, don’t make fellow commuters step over your legs just because you feel like stretching your them out, thereby taking up the aisle space. Be considerate, and give yourself and those around you enough personal space!

 

 

Get another take on public transportation with Diane’s commuter interview!


Sorority Chat: Avoiding Drama in the House

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During the process of Panhellenic Recruitment, one of the most exciting times is getting to see all of the houses. You get a taste of their personalities; see how they express themselves and you get to connect to something intimate in their life. One of the questions I both got asked the most and got asked when going through recruitment on the other side was, “When can you live in the house? I really want to live in a sorority house!” The answer varies for all sororities, but it is a possibility for all.

Houses all over the country are different. Some of them are practically mansions and others are essentially dorm buildings, only occupied by members of the sisterhood. Whether the house is located on a “frat row” or somewhere randomly on campus, there are both positive and negative aspects of living in the house. While this sounds scary, this is true for all situations in life.

Yes, the perks are great – different closets to choose from, friends to talk to all the time – but don’t be fooled,it has the ability to get messy. Women are known to be dramatic by nature. So, what steps can we take to avoid drama in the houses we are living in?

 

Save the drama for your mama: Literally. Keep your concerns to yourself until you can call your mom or someone that you can trust. Remember, people never forget the words you say, so use them wisely.

Don’t sling the mud: For most women, words are the male equivalent of throwing punches. But unlike men, women don’t get over things so easily. Men can throw a right hook one minute, and then be shaking hands the next. Keep in mind, words hurt. They easily cut to the core of young women whose self-esteem is still developing. Keep it to yourself and like I said, call your confidant.

Keep it classy: like Coco Chanel said, “A woman should be two things: classy and fabulous.” If you consider yourself a classy woman, you should not let your anger get the best of you. Take a deep breath, count to 10 and handle whatever drama comes your way with class.

 

Whenever you’re feeling like you just need to let go, go for a run, read a book or go turn on music. Getting caught up with drama in the house will not end well for either party. If you choose to stay out of it, no one can say anything mad about you. Stay neutral, stay positive and focus on the perks and be happy with your sisters!

For more articles on how to keep it classy within your sorority and in general, check out these incredible College Lifestyles articles: How To: Live Your Ritual Everyday and How To: Call Your Landlord with Problems. If the pressure is getting to be too much, make sure you check out this CL article on keeping your mental health positive. Drama can get to the best of us. Make sure you’re keeping yourself healthy!


My First Semester: Parental Contact

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     You’d think being off at college meant you wouldn’t talk to mom and pops until you needed money for food or gas. Heck, you’ll see them over Thanksgiving break–you can chat then. Well, that’s definitely not going to work. You’ll have worried parents at your dorm door in no time. Keeping in touch with your parents will keep everyone at ease.

Set a time to talk to your parents. Doing this each day will help you to remember to call and will leave your parents more at ease. The walk between classes is a great time to chat. It won’t be too long of a conversation but just enough to fill your parents in on your interesting professors.

If you’re doing something fun or interesting, send a picture! They’ll be glad to know you’re happy and enjoying new-found freedom. They’ll be excited you can cook a meal without burning the dorm down and doing laundry without having your clothes shrink. Your parents will be so excited they’ll probably email the photo you send to them to the entire family.

Saying goodbye to your parents for the first time can take a lot of adjusting. Open communication with your parents will make the transition so much easier. You can be  independent without completely shutting them out. After all, they are the reason you’re off at college in the first place.



How to: Keep it CLassy and Fabulous on Facebook

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Even Ron Burgandy wants you to be classy. Photo credit: google images.

These days Facebook has become more than a pseudo MySpace. It’s a place where you can promote your work, reconnect with people after high school and college and most importantly, it is an open portal for outsiders to see right into your life. Along with Twitter, you can essentially know what anyone is doing at any given time. In order to use your Facebook to positively benefit your life and career, keep it clean and professional. Before you post that risqué comment or picture on your page, be sure to ask yourself these questions.

Photo credit allposters.com.

Would you want your grandparents to see the content on your page?

So your best friend snuck that picture of you dancing on top of a table with a red solo cup onto Facebook. If your cute little grandparents saw that, even if you have a fabulously open relationship with them, would you be slightly embarrassed? If your answer is yes, where do you go from there? Recently, Facebook has been upgrading their privacy policies. If a friend posts a photo of you that you aren’t happy with, you cannot only remove the tag, but you can also ask them to remove the picture. Remember: just because the picture isn’t shown on your page doesn’t mean that it’s removed from Facebook.

My friends and I being classy in Portugal!

Would you want a future employer or a university admissions office to see the things on your page?

Let’s get real. No one wants to change their last name on their profile while they are applying for a job or to college. There are many options to hiding the “incriminating” things in your picture. I love using the retouch feature on my photo uploader. It is easy to blur things out that I wouldn’t want an employer seeing. While a red solo cup doesn’t necessarily have alcohol in it, one usually assumes that that’s the case. So just to be safe, I blur those out. Another option is to just not upload the picture! If that one picture is more important than a college acceptance or a potential job offer, put it up. If it’s something that you can keep for yourself and take it out later in life and laugh, then that works too.

Photo courtesy of google images.

If your current employer saw your Facebook page, would you be embarrassed to face them in the office on Monday?
Look, at some point in our lives we all play hooky, fake sick and head to the beach for the day. If you’re calling in sick, make a point to not upload pictures of you feeling phenomenal on social media websites. Some employers have been known to check on their employees, just to make sure they aren’t wasting the company’s time and/or money (if you get paid vacation). Just keep your secret to yourself! Don’t forget: being sneaky is only fun if you don’t get caught. Check out this article on how to keep in professional and classy on a job interview!

 

So make sure that when you’re on Facebook, you’re keeping it classy, fabulousand professional. Facebook is just another fad like the rest of these social media sites. Would it be worth it to alter someone’s perception of you or lose a potential employment option? The decision is yours. Use the web wisely!

 

You can find more ways to stay classy and fabulous without breaking a sweat here and here!

Allison Cohen is a Sorority and Lifestyle Writer. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, a lover of hiking, running, and traveling, and is obsessed with her weenie dog, Maverick.


Welcome Back! Returner Social Media Intern Courtney Smith

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Welcome Back, Returner Social Media Intern Courtney Smith

Name: Courtney Smith

Position: Social Media

College/University: The University of Memphis, Go Tigers GO!

Year in studies: Senior

Major/minor:  Fashion Merchandise/Marketing (http://www.memphis.edu/univcoll/courseinfo/family_consumer_descriptions.php )

Organizational involvement: L.A.C.E.  (www.Uofmlace.com )

I show my school spirit by: wearing paw prints on my face, and wearing tiger ears with a tail.

 

My favorite thing about Fall is: fashion

For Halloween I will be: a tiger

Neon pants – yay or nay? Yay, I want to step outside the box and wear some.

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook- Courtney Melissa Smith

I love Pinterest because: of the different ideas I get from other people such putting designs on your nails or crafty jewelry.  (http://pinterest.com/cmjnes12/ )

My favorite color is: Red

Super tiger fan at the football game.

My go-to accessory is: small earrings if I am not going any wear and big earrings if I am trying to dress up.

My favorite store is: Dollar Tree

My favorite food is: sweet potatoes.

My favorite movies/TV shows are: Selena, Titanic, Transformers, Courageous, Fireproof, and Taken are my favorite movies/ Pretty Little Liars, Awkward, Teen Wolf, Grimm, Smash, Glee, and The Lying Game (once it comes back on tv).

My favorite book is: The Bible

My favorite magazine is: Seventeen

Flaa

My pet is: Beta fish

 

My favorite quote is, because: “Things happen for a reason”, because when problems or joy happen in your life and you don’t know why.

My role model is, because: God because I want to live my life according to His will.

I spend my weekends…: going out with friends or staying at home playing with my siblings.

I take a break from studying by…: watching TV or just breathing for a moment.

I de-stress by…: praying or letting some of the unnecessary things go.

My secret talent is: I love sewing, and I can make anything if I put my mind to it and I love singing.

My friends describe me as: Trustworthy, goofy, and talkative.

My favorite College Lifestyles article is: “CL Olympic Games 1,000 AB Challenge”

 http://collegelifestyles.org/2012/08/cl-1000-ab-challenge/

Why I am excited to be an intern for College Lifestyles: I love that I get to interact with so many people across the world,and being involve with a magazine is so much fun. 

At my house, ready for church.

My definition of a classy co-ed: is someone who does not look for attention from all the wrong places, keep her head up high no matter what, dress like a lady, giving back, and your words are not hurtful.

 

  Courtney Smith is a senior at The University of Memphis. Follow her at @prettygirlupfro. To stay tuned to more articles for classy co-eds be sure to follow College Lifestyles on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

 


Etiquette 101: Public Transportation!

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College Lifestyles has decided to touch upon a topic close to all of your hearts – the unwritten rules of public transportation. At one point or another, it is inevitable many CLassy co-eds will be using public transportation for your awesome new internship, your first day of class, or even for your newest big girl job! We were able to talk to 5 CLassy co-eds and create this guide for some pointers, but most of all, to stay safe!

All in all, one thing’s for sure – don’t forget a pair of headphones and your phone to keep yourself busy during the long, boring commute!

Louis Venturelli: NYC Subway; Columbia University; Grad School

Mark Gilmartin: NJ Transit Bus, NYC Subway; Citifield; Summer Internship

Nicole Moffa: NJ Transit Bus; NYC; Work

Taylor Monico: Metro North Train; Grand Central Station; Internship

Lauren Yaconis: NJ Transit Bus; Times Square; MTV Internship

CL: What is your take on talking on the cell phone on a train/bus ride — especially in the morning? (Or… the group of loud women chatting loudly?)

MG: I think early in the morning you should be mindful of other people on the train and should not be talking on the phone and if you are talking on the phone keep it short and quiet.

TM: Hearing loud conversations or noises in general first thing in the morning is always less than desirable, howeverI try to keep in mind that Metro north does provide a “quiet train” option that I could take advantage of if I really wanted to. It’s also important to remember that the train is a form of public transportation and having complete silence for one’s daily commute is somewhat of an unrealistic expectation.

LY: I think people who talk loudly on the bus to another person or on their cell phones are very rude. After a long day I would like to just relax on the commute home rather than listen to someone else talk loudly.

CL: What do you do to keep yourself busy on a long commute?

LV: Instagram! I make sure I load up on pictures before losing service on the subway. If not Instagram, then probably reading a magazine or book.

MG: I normally keep to myself on public transportation. I listen to my iPod and go on Twitter and Facebook on my phone.

NM: Listening to music and checking social networks keeps me occupied on the bus.

TM: If I don’t have a book or magazine to read, I usually plug my headphones in and listen to music or use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) on my iPhone.

LY: I read on the bus (so far have read 7 books this summer).

CL: What was your worst experience on public transportation — STORY TIME!

LV: Falling asleep on the train late at night… waking up in Coney Island.

TM: My worst experience on the train was getting stuck in Bridgeport, CT on my way back from New York. There was a brush fire near an upcoming stop so the train had to stop, forcing all passengers to get off of the train and find their own way of getting back to New Haven.

LY: I have had to wait on line for an hour or more on some days where there is a long line for my bus in the evening. It is absolutely miserable standing in line with cranky people for an hour! I have witnessed yelling arguments of people accusing others of cutting or letting someone else cut! I have even had elderly men fall asleep on my shoulder before!

CL: Has public transportation ever made you late to work/class? How did you handle this situation?

LV: Yes, I have had my share of detours, service interruptions, etc. Fortunately most people in NYC ride the subway so they understand that these things happen. To avoid being late for class, I started leaving home at least thirty minutes earlier than necessary.

TM: No, public transportation has never made me late to work, but that’s because I always give myself more than enough time to get to where I am expected to be.

CL: More for the women: being on public transportation often requires being comfortable. What do you do to make sure you’re comfortable, but still professional for work?

NM: Usually the air conditioner is blasting on the bus so I either bring a jacket or a sweatshirt with me to keep me warm.

TM: I always make sure that if I choose to wear heels, I pack a pair of dressy flats in my bag in case my feet start to bother me at some point during the commute. It’s always smart to pack a cardigan as well in case the AC is on too high!

CL: Has anyone ever been robbed?

LV: No! But my mother constantly reminds me not to take out my “cellular” on the train late at night.

TM: Fortunately, I have never been robbed. However, a woman on the train rushed by me in a panic one night and asked if I had seen anyone go by with her purse. Apparently, when she fell asleep, someone grabbed her purse off of the seat.

CL: Has anyone ever encountered a “smelly” situation?

LV: Yes, switch carts, IMMEDIATELY.

TM: YES, but I always try to avoid the bathroom cars and being near people with smelly food!

CL: If you could give one piece of advice to a new commuter, what would it be?

LV: Have your Metro Card ready before getting to the subway station… Otherwise, risk missing the train while rushing to find your card.

NM: Do a test run before your first day of work or your internship.

TM: Give yourself MORE than enough time to get to where you are expected to be. Pack lightly. Be alert. Expect noise. Expect to stand if you’re commuting during peak hours!

LY: Try to come into work earlier and leave earlier because after 5:30 Port Authority becomes a mad house. Also drink lots of water and carry Advil! I get headaches frequently from commuting.

Diane Ferrer, Sorority Life and Relationship Writer at College Lifestyles, is a Senior Advertising Major at Quinnipiac University that wants to see the world. She enjoys dancing, sunshine, laughing, the beach, new adventures, and Kappa Alpha Theta.


The Sorority Recruitment Series: Values

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With back-to-school shopping in full gear and move-in right around the corner, it’s time to start prepping for our favorite time of the year – RECRUITMENT!

Unfortunately, at Quinnipiac, sororities only hold formal recruitment in the Spring. In order to be eligible for Greek Life, students must have a specific GPA. Considering a majority of our potential new members are freshmen, this process seems to make the most sense. However, as I’m entering my senior year, I’ve been through my fair share of recruitment periods, and I’m here to help!

My beautiful littles and I on the last day of recruitment!

This week, I want to focus on values! Look back at my article from a few weeks ago and use it as a guideline. Reflect on your values and recall why it is you picked your chapter to begin with! In addition to it being summer, between the formals, the philanthropy events, and other fun activities, we often lose sight of what’s important.

After a long summer away from your sisters, your chapter, and your ritual, values are probably the last thing you’re thinking about. But with recruitment coming up, it should be fresh in your mind. The ladies you speak to throughout recruitment could potentially be your newest sisters! These ladies could one day be wearing your letters and sharing your secrets, so it is important to choose wisely. Always keep in mind the goals, the values, the esteem, and the standards your chapter holds because these ladies will soon become its future.

In order to get the best of each woman, here are some pointers to maximize your conversation with PNM’s!

Eta Xi’s mom excited for our 2012 new members on Bid Day!

1. Why is she there? What do they hope to gain from this experience? This is an obvious, but necessary question that will get her talking with ease.

2. Ask about high school! Some of your natural born leaders and brightest bulbs will come out and shine in this easy conversation starter.

3. Ask them about NOW! What’s their major? What are they already involved in? What are they passionate about?

4. Tell her a little about yourself and your chapter! And make sure to answer every question she might have.

5. Ask them who or what inspires them. Girls can really get to talking when this is brought up! You are able to truly see a person’s passion through this question.

Hope these tips are able to help you out, especially for the newest recruiters! It may seem nerve wrecking and intimidating, but it’s important to remember that most of these girls are actually intimidated by you!

 

 

 

 

Diane Ferrer, Sorority Life and Relationship Writer at College Lifestyles, is a Senior Advertising Major at Quinnipiac University that wants to see the world. She enjoys dancing, sunshine, laughing, the beach, new adventures, and Kappa Alpha Theta.


College Class Etiquette: 3 People You’ll Encounter in the Classroom

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It’s two days before the final and your professor is going over the material you need to know to pass the exam. You’re trying your best to take eligible notes and stay focused on the lecture, but all you seem to hear is chatter, snoring and an intense game of Angry Birds™ going on behind you. Frustrated and annoyed, you can’t help but to think to yourself, “…these kids are in college?”

It’s sad but true, CL fam. As unbelievable as it sounds, you’re going to encounter more than one college student who makes it difficult to focus during class and causes you wonder why he or she even came. As tough as it is to deal with, CL wants you to be prepared when you find yourself in a similar predicament. Here are just a few of the personalities you’ll sometimes encounter during class and how to calmly diffuse the situation as soon as possible.

The Talker

Unless it’s about relevant class material, keep all chatter to a minimum. The students who come to class to take notes and learn don’t care about last night’s wild party or this weekend’s agenda. When politely dropping hints to the person doesn’t work, it’s okay to move or ask the professor to keep an eye on that person the next time class is in session. No one likes to tell on someone, but your education and grades should never take backseat to an inconvenient class conversation.

The Gamer

Photo Credit: Angrybirdsrio.com

It’s hard to do anything when you see the bright screen of the week’s most popular iPod app flashing furiously out of the corner or your eye. Whether it’s Angry Birds™ or Draw Something™, it’s easy to get wrapped up in someone else’s gamer status instead of being absorbed into the lecture. If you know a student has a track record of fooling around with noisy, bright games and apps, avoid sitting next to him at all costs.

The Jammer

Your professor is about to go over information vital to the final exam, and all of a sudden Lil Wayne is blaring in your ear. Who let him in? No one. Although the student beside you sits quietly in class, you feel like you’re at the club and can’t concentrate on anything but a familiar beat coming from a pair of adjacent over-sized headphones.  If the professor hasn’t already called the student out for his or her rude behavior, feel free to move or politely ask the person to turn down the volume. Being confrontational is never fun, but your education should always be the first priority in any classroom.

If you’ve encountered any of these people in the classroom, CL wants to know who and how you dealt with the situation. Comment below and share some of your classroom horror stories!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 Brittany Lavenski is a Fashion & Living writer at College Lifestyles ™. She enjoys studying PR and Political Science and is President of her university’s Chapter of PRSSA. When she’s not working, you can find her walking her dog or eating sushi and chocolate with her friends.

 


Who is an Appropriate Wedding Date?

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Courtesy of The CW Network

It’s wedding season and CL has covered the basics by now – DIY wedding gifts, bridesmaid etiquette, and wedding shower etiquette… But how about your +1? If you are like me and do not have a significant other, who is it you should bring? Should you fly solo? Maybe bring a friend? Here are some tips to pick a fabulous and fun wedding date!

Someone pleasant – sounds easy right? Right. Really though! You want someone who will be able to adapt to every situation without a problem. Someone who won’t mind if you leave his side for a few minutes! 

Someone easygoing – if he can hold a conversation, then you’ve got a winner! Since you’ll be spending the entire night with him, conversation is crucial. Awkward silence is the worst, don’t you agree? It’s definitely a plus if he can keep your table occupied as well!

A good dancer – a huge portion of wedding time is also spent on the dance floor. Now he doesn’t have to be Antonio Banderas, however it would be nice not to get your toes stomped on all night! Someone with rhythm will be able to keep you busy and will also impress the entire party!

A friend, over a “crush” – From my personal experience, going to a wedding, or any sort of event, with a friend is always a lot more fun! You are ensured a good time! There is no tension or stiffness involved. No pressure to flirt or getting to know your date better; rather a carefree night with a good friend. Events like this often even bring you closer!

Diane Ferrer, Sorority Life and Relationship Writer at College Lifestyles, is a Senior Advertising Major at Quinnipiac University that wants to see the world. She enjoys dancing, sunshine, laughing, the beach, new adventures, and Kappa Alpha Theta.


Interview With The College Prepster

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Hey there classy co-eds!

courtesy thecollegeprepster.com

 

CL has the scoop on all things prep and collegiate from The College Prepster herself, Ms. Carly Heitlinger!

Carly just graduated with a Bachelors in Marketing from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In addition to her main blog and Closet blog which feature personal posts (my favorite is  her Outfit of the Day feature!) Carly has  give aways from stores like Jack Rogers and Peapod. Carly also sends out a weekly motivational email called Prep Talk, acts as Editor in Chief for Sweet Lemon Magazine, keeps up with Twitter, Tumblr,  Pintrest, and she’s an author!  Carly is so put together and organized I knew she’d be the perfect role model of a classy co-ed. I was so happy to ask her about advice she might have for our readers.

 

 

 

College Lifestyles: How would you define a “classy co-ed”?

Carly Heitlinger: To me, a classy co-ed is someone who stands by her morals no matter what. She can go out and have fun with her friends, but she also values her education. She’s confident with who she is!

CL: As a recent graduate, what do you think are the most important skills for a college girl?

CH: I think it’s extremely important for girls to be able to balance. This is something that I frequently comment on in my blog posts and Prep Talk newsletters. Balance is important in every aspect of a college girl’s life. Balancing staying connected with family back home and breaking away and building independence. Balancing studying hard and having a good time with friends. Balancing a healthy diet and indulgences (like my obsession with Swedish Fish).

courtesy thecollegeprepster.com

Carly also had some fabulous advice on etiquette.

CL: What is one rule of etiquette you’ve found most important to live by?

CH: I love this Plato quotation: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” I have learned that being patient and friendly and just plain ol’ nice to people makes everything move faster and it’s a much more pleasant experience. Being kind is super easy; a smile, some please & thank yous, and a friendly demeanor is really all you need.

I often ask myself, if each person I meet had to write one page of my biography what would my biography be like? This prevents me from “snapping” at the slow cashier or getting angry with the bank teller.

courtesy goodreads.com

As I mentioned, Carly is also an author! She wrote The Freshman 50(on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for just $9.99) which is described as “1 part memoir, 1 part survival guide” and “A must read guide for every high school graduate before they begin their freshman year of college.” In her book, Carly details everything she wished she knew as a new freshman in college.

In addition to being an incredible inspiration, Carly is human too!  I asked how she manages to stay sane amidst all of her activities, classes, and projects.

CL: How do you deal with stress/ how do you de-stress?

CH: I get stressed out really quickly and easily. I generally take on a lot more than I can handle so I’m constantly stretched for time. During midterm and final seasons, I would try to schedule fun things so I had something good to look forward to. It would also serve as a little break to get my mind off studying! (I will say, however, that I work really well… arguably better… when I’m under a great deal of stress.)

Carly shared some of her favorite summer activities and recipes, add these to your to-do list if it’s a bit empty on fun.

CL: What is/are your favourite (healthy) summer recipes to make or eat?

CH: I’m a vegetarian and I love how fresh vegetables are during the summer! My mom makes an amazing corn salsa!

CL: What is your favourite outdoor summer activity?

CH: Swimming! (I go through bottles of sunscreen!)

courtesy thecollegeprepster.com

As a fashion blogger I asked Carly her thoughts on Summer 2012 trends and her tips on prep style.

CL: As a fashion blogger, what is the most asked question you field from readers?

CH: I am always asked where my monogrammed bracelet is from. I get the question between four and six times a day! (For the record, it’s from DKM Accessories!)

 

 

OOTD | critter shorts (Taken with Instagram)

courtesy thecollegeprepster.tumblr.com

 

CL: What are your favourite trends for summer 2012?

CH: Chino shorts! I wear a pair practically every day.

CL: Prep style is generally on the more traditional and conservative side, how do you keep your look fresh and fun?

CH: I tend to wear lots of basic clothing. Solid polo shirts or button downs are my favorite. But I like to accessorize with bright bangles!

CL: Prep style can get quite expensive for some, where would penny pinching preps shop?

CH: One of the misconceptions is that you have to wear “name brand” clothing. You definitely DO NOT. You can, of course, but you can get the preppy clothes just about anywhere. Target and Old Navy are great places to start. (If you’re a seasoned Ebay shopper, you can score great deals on clothes and shoes!)

I feel so lucky to have advice directly from Carly and to be able to share it with all of you. I admire her for being so approachable, her fantastic drive and resume, and her  keen fashion sense . Follow Carly on her blogs, read her magazine, and buy her book!

 

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photo courtesy Louis Jezsik

 

Jessica Randall is a Health & Fashion Writer. She is currently pursuing studies and a career in health policy.
She likes critter shorts, bright oxfords, and her well loved Sperrys.

 


Bridesmaid Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts

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Courtesy of bigsharker.blogspot.com

 

You are one of the few, the proud: the friend chosen to stand by your bride’s side on the most important day of her life. You are a bridesmaid. But this position comes with responsibilities. Listen up as these College Lifestyles’ classy interns dish on their bridesmaid do’s and don’ts.

The Bridesmaids’ Thoughts:

“Do encourage the bride to not stress/sweat the small stuff that could be a bridesmaid’s job. Don’t cause stress to the bride by showing up to rehearsals late, ordering the necessaries late (dress, shoes, etc.) and not making appointments (nail, hair etc.)… I think the main thing is don’t let your feelings/ideas overshadow that the day is really about her!!” – Brittany B., 21, Central State

“I have been a bridesmaid before and my advice is: DO keep a positive attitude, provide encouraging words, come prepared to assist, and support the bride by any means. DON’T, let your ideas, feelings, and etc. overshadow the bride. For that time period, it’s her world you just live in it. Sorry love, it’s the price you pay to bare the ‘bridesmaid’ name.” – Shaniece Sanford, 20, Old Dominion University

If you’ve seen “Bridesmaids” – you know the don’ts/Courtesy of asadhandwrittenbook.tumblr.com

The Bride Side:

“…Our main thing is to try not to be stressed. Like I’m planning my wedding myself. And a lot of what I decide, my bridesmaids may not like or think looks good. (I still ask their opinion; I mean, they are my friends). However, don’t control the bride, suggestions are nice, but don’t tell her what you are or are not going to wear/what looks good on you/or etc…Whether you like it or not, it’s the BRIDE’S day. And if you’re a good friend, you will know where to draw the line.

As a bridesmaid you should be there for the bride – but don’t bog her down with what YOU think HER special day should be like/courtesy of luxereduxbridalboutique.com

“Another problem I’m having so far is getting my bridesmaids together to pick out a dress (for them). What I’ve had to do is hear one million stories about how this day doesn’t work or I can’t get there or why do I have to meet with all the other girls. (Well that’s how that works, unless they want ME to pick a dress for them….keep in mind with them paying for their own dresses, they need to try to be available, not to say the bride says jump and they say how high, but don’t keep things waiting too long).

“…Pretty much the last thing I’m dealing with right now is accessories….I’m having each of my girls wear a camo bow/sash that hangs off their hip, well for them to keep it, they have to pay for it…and most of them don’t want to pay before we order them, they want me to pay (probably because then they are paid for whether they pay or not)….Like Shaniece says, ‘it’s the price you pay to bear the name’…Sure if you don’t like something, then tell us, but don’t be demanding….and understand we, the brides, asked you to take part in OUR special day, don’t be over-demanding and unbearable to work with” -  Kaci Hall, 21, Southern Arkansas University

Sticking to these guidelines may be difficult, but you must remember that this is your friend’s big day – not yours – so please don’t be a bridesmaidzilla and keep it classy.

Hosting a bridal shower? Read College Lifestyles’ shower etiquette tips!

Not a bridesmaid but attending a wedding this summer? Find your perfect dress here.

Engaged?  Check out these beautiful wedding dresses.

 

Debra Schreiber is a recent graduate from Duquesne University with B.A.’s in Journalism and Spanish. She is just about to take the plunge – the bridesmaid one – and hopes these tips will help her and all the other classy bridesmaids this summer! She is an Editor/Features Writer for College Lifestyles.


College with Confidence: Dos and Don’ts of Party Etiquette

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College parties can be a blast, but making the wrong moves can score you a night in the hospital or a disgraceful video  appearance on Youtube.  Check out these party etiquette do’s and don’ts so you don’t end up being THAT girl!

Do go with someone you trust:

As safe as your campus may seem, there could be dangerous people out there. Go out with someone you trust. Don’t let each other leave with strangers no matter how “nice” they may seem. Go together, leave together!

Courtesy of NYDailyNews.com

Do be outgoing:

You won’t always know everyone at a college party, but don’t let that intimidate you. You won’t have a good time if you sit in the corner staring into space. Smile, dance, make a joke or even offer to be the beer pong referee.

Do BYOB:

Many college students don’t have money to supply all their party guests with drinks. Even the classiest co-eds have the right to enjoy a margarita or a Bud Light, but make sure to throw down some money or bring your own drinks if you plan on enjoying some (responsibly)!

Tip: If you don’t drink, don’t feel like you have too. It’s healthier to be 100% sober and you can still have a blast.

Do keep an eye on your things:

When you’re chatting it up with the cute guy from calculus, it wouldn’t hurt to slid e your hand into your purse and feel around for your belongings. Check on your things every hour or so to make sure your possessions don’t get lifted while you are off-guard.

Don’t start a fight:

Courtesy of heatherlcorner.blogspot.com

Fighting is one of the quickest ways to dawn a not-so-cute Jersey Shore nickname and a night being questioned by the police.  Be classy and walk away.

Don’t show too much:

There’s a huge difference between wearing a fitted skirt that covers you well and one that doesn’t. There’s no shame in accenting your curves, but leave some visualization for the imagination. No one likes someone who lets it all hang out. 

Don’t get trashed:

If you decide to drink, make sure you know your limit. The closer you get to being trashed, the more vulnerable you are to dangerous situations.

Tip: Don’t be the girl who can only have a good time if you’re drunk. Sometimes parties can be awkward, but don’t let that be an excuse for you to go overboard on the alcohol.

Courtesy of thebridescoop.com

Don’t drink and drive:

Call a friend or catch the night bus, but do not get in the car with someone who isn’t 100% sober.

Don’t do anything you’ll regret tomorrow:

If you’re anti-alcohol, don’t let someone pressure you into drinking. If you’re anti-kissing strangers, don’t let someone pressure you into kissing a stranger.  Find your inner confidence and remember who you are and what you stand for.

Attending a college party is every student’s rite of passage. Follow the basic do’s and don’ts of party etiquette and you’ll be one step further to obtaining your college confidence!


Maid of Honor Do’s and Dont’s

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Maid of honor.  As the “leader” of the bridesmaids, you are considered the bride’s right-hand woman, the one she feels she can lean on during the stressful wedding-planning period and count on for tips and advice when an inevitable crisis comes up.  Taking on the role of maid of honor comes with its share of do’s and don’ts.   Will you be a maid of honor this summer? Take a look at some of the things you need to know before the big day.

DO get organized

As maid of honor, you will be responsible for planning and putting together events such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party.  Get a special “maid of honor notebook” (this one from Barnes & Noble is chic, inspirational and fabulous) and keep a running list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of the women in the bridal party.  Tally up who has chipped in for events and who still owes money.  This way, you won’t get stuck paying more than you have to for events, food or decorations.

DON’T think this job is an easy one

Each bride is different, and yours may want your input regarding every aspect of the wedding.  She may ask for you to sleep over at the hotel with her the night before the wedding, take her phone calls on the big day and run out to pick up last-minute items. The day of the wedding, plan on being by her side from the moment she wakes up until the moment she walks down the aisle.  This way, you’re prepared for anything the day might throw at you!

Helping to fix shoe

The maid of honor is there to help out every step of the way, from planning the event to the big day itself. Photo Credit: Google Images

 

DO stick to a budget

Communicate with the bridal party and set a budget for events such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party.  Find a number you all can agree on, and stick to it.  This will prevent people from backing out of paying or arguing about having to chip in for a gift or event.

 

T-Shirt

Don’t forget to get a customized t-shirt to show off your maid of honor pride! Photo Credit: Google Images

 

DON’T be afraid to speak up!

Disagreements and misunderstandings happen.  If you are being alienated or disrespected by the rest of the bridesmaids, feel overwhelmed or are encountering a lot of issues and conflicts that you don’t think you can handle alone, don’t be afraid to talk to the bride.  Being a maid of honor does not mean you have to internalize your feelings; keeping things locked up will only create more stress for both you and the soon-to-be-newlywed.  By expressing your concerns, you will help create a stress-free environment for everyone in the bridal party.

DO plan a speech

The best man gets his time to shine with a speech – you deserve your 15 minutes of fame, too! Think about your relationship with the bride as well as some highlights from your friendship and the first time you met her fiancé. If you need some inspiration, incorporate a romantic quote from a novel, movie or song into your speech.

Most importantly…

DO have fun.

This is a special day for both you and the bride.  Try as hard as you can to not let it pass you by.  Everything may not go according to plan on the big day, but embrace the flaws and roll with the punches.  Laugh. Take pictures.  Meet new people.  Dance until you get blisters on your feet.  Enjoy every moment as maid of honor!

Kate and Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton, the ultimate maid of honor! Photo Credit: Google Image

 

CL Intern Casey’s “maid of honor” movies!

Need a little wedding inspiration? These flicks will have you laughing all the way down the aisle!

Movie, “Made of Honor”

Movie, “Princess Diaries 2, Royal Engagement

Movie, “27 Dresses”

Movie:“The Wedding Date”

Movie: “Bridesmaids”

Movie: “Bride Wars”

Casey Galasso is a Health & Lifestyles Writer for College Lifestyles. She will be a junior at Marist College in Poughkeepise, NY this fall.  Her hobbies include running, increasing the size of her DVD collection and baking. She is looking forward to a relaxing summer filled with friends, family, warm weather and good books.


10 Tips To Keep Your Twitter Tidy

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To many, Twitter has become a forum for expressing random thoughts, opinions and for logging minute-by-minute activity (or even second-by-second, for some). Whether from your computer, under contract, or with T-Mobile prepaid phone plans, Twitter is so interactive that even celebrities can keep tabs on us seemingly insignificant users. If celebrities can Retweet and reply to you, think about how many future employers can do the same–don’t give them something to fire you about! Maintain a professional profile with CL’s Twitter tips.

gigaom.com

1. Your display photo — It’s the first indication of the kind of person you are–after all, it’s displaying you! No matter how shiny your hair looks, avoid setting a photo of you at last night’s party, surrounded by red cups, dominating the Beer Pong table. Instead, crop out the cups, brighten it if it’s a bit dark, and choose one that puts your personal qualities forward, not what you like to do on weekends. Utilize sites such as picnik.com to edit your photos (but do it soon–Picnik is shutting down on April 19!).

2. Classy-up that background — Personalize your background with something to give visitors an idea of your interests. Avoid making your background a picture of a mostly nude celebrity, a photo of you and your significant other swapping spit, or a profane quote in crafty font.

3. Think of your bio as a resume preview — You only have 160 characters to do so, but show your prospective followers how well-rounded you are with a catchy, professional bio. Often times, users with jobs that have Twitter accounts will link to those pages in their bio, including a tidbit of their job description. Then there are others, who use their bio to downplay themselves with negative, unappealing statements. Don’t choose the latter.

4. Less is more — It’s easy to get carried away with this (especially if you’re new to the Twitter realm), but go easy on the follows. Following less pages than there are pages following you shows that you are a person with an opinion worth caring about. It also shows your interests are circulated around those specific people, organizations, or magazines you’re following.

5. What are you tweeting? – If you are looking to work in a specific field, get the attention of people already in that field with your tweets. Mention them and you may just get a reply back!

quotemanhattaninsurance.com

6. Who’s following you? – Users choose to follow other users based on what they’re discussing. If big-names start to take notice in your profile (corporations, verified accounts of fashion designers, magazine editors, CEOs…), you must be saying the right things.

7. Save those retweets — Don’t swallow your profile with endless amounts of retweets. See retweeting as what you do with statements that you can’t put into your own words. Meaning, don’t retweet something such as: “This donut is delicious.” What a waste of space!

8. Those #hashtags — CL sends a big thank-you to the genius who invented a new way to converse–the “hashtag.” Hashtags magically help you see who else in Twitter land is talking about the same topic. Use them with care and purpose, rather than to summarize your thought(s) with swear words or something similar.

9. Share professional links — Articles have Twitter applications for sharing them via other sites on purpose. Use them! Your followers are always curious to know what new discoveries you’re making and reading about.

10. Watch what photos you upload — Keep your stream of “Recent Images” classy by uploading pictures of you dressed nicely, looking happy (without unsightly red cups), and of things that make you happy, from friends to your pets!

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.


Jersey Shore 2/9/12: Does Pauly Have Another Stalker?

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The phone is ringing.  Mike scans the room to make sure no one is within earshot.  He is waiting for someone to answer on the other end.  Finally, The Unit says hello.  Mike asks Unit to do him a favor.  He wants Unit to come to the house and tell Jionni the truth about Snooki’s alleged cheating.  Unfortunately for Mike, Unit is in Miami, so the two continue to do some gossiping, when Unit reveals that Mike’s older brother, Frank, has gone on a date with Deena’s sister, Joanie and they smushed.

Then Snooki says goodbye to her Dad, outside, completely unaware of the conversation that just happened inside.

On the party deck, Jenni is upset about Roger and Deena tries to comfort her by telling her she has pretty hair.

The group gets to Aztec, but Mike chose to stay at the house.  At Aztec, the party is hopping.  There are tons of dancing people and the music is blasting.  Jenni is in a funk because of her suspected relationship problems, so decides to leave shortly after arriving.  At the club, Vinny meets a girl, Deanna, who he rates as a 5 or 6.  He decides to keep her as a backup, just in case he doesn’t spot someone higher on the scale.  Luckily for Vinny, he meets Nikki, a 7 or 8.  He ditches Deanna, but she shortly returns, seeing Vinny with another girl.  Deena takes Deanna to the dance floor so Vinny can be with Nikki.  Snooki is bored and confused with Jenni, so she walks home.

When everyone else leaves, Nikki and Deanna are with the group, along with a random blonde girl Pauly picked up.  At the front door of the house, Nikki says she is a lesbian and will not be going inside.  Deanna, though, is inside with Deena.  Vinny and Deanna spend some alone time together, as do Pauly and the blonde girl.  They share the room as they smush their girls.

Jenni finally gets ahold of Roger, who claims his friend broke his phone at the beach and he called off work the past few days because he didn’t have a phone.  Jenni does not believe this story at all and is furious with him.

In the morning, Snooki wakes up, still drunk, and tries to get on the hammock on the party deck.  In a confessional, she says she needs AA and that the sun is too bright outside, so she should go to Arkansas because it is always dark in Arkansas.  She goes inside and falls asleep in the smush room.

In the afternoon, Jenni gets a call from Roger who is supposed to be there at 4:00 for an afternoon at the beach.  He calls and says he won’t be there until close to 5:30.  He asks to reschedule, but that isn’t sitting well with his girlfriend.  She freaks out on him and says she does not feel like a priority in his life.

Pauly and Team Meatball head to the Shore Store for work.  Pauly is the only one actually doing his job.  Team Meatball is literally chasing each other and running around the store, like children.  They then decide to just leave work altogether, upsetting Danny.  In the store, Pauly notices a girl who he has been seeing lately.  She is sitting on a bench, just staring at him.  He said he first saw her a few days ago because she bought something from the store, but she did not speak to him at all.

When Team Meatball gets back to work, a woman approaches Snooki about bars on the boardwalk because she is celebrating her bachelorette party.  The meatballs sneak off with this woman to drink. For the second time in one shift, they have angered their boss.

At the house, Mike wakes up from a nap and is angry because everyone left without him.  He is feeling left out, so he crawls back in bed and falls asleep.  Snooki eventually wakes him up and asks him to go out with her and Deena, and he agrees.

Meanwhile, Pauly and Vinny are at a pool hall playing pool and chatting up a nice girl.  Out of nowhere, Pauly’s stalker comes up to him and introduces herself, her name is Vanessa.  Vinny takes the nice girl and they leave Pauly alone with Vanessa.  When Pauly makes an excuse to get away, he does, and goes to find Vinny.

http://www.realityaired.com/2012/shows/the-jersey-shore/jersey-shore-recap-the-follow-game/

At the bar, Mike says he is keeping his friends close and his enemies closer.  Team Meatball does not realize what Mike is doing.

In the morning, Pauly tells Deena that Danny is really mad at them for running off a few times.  Ronnie suggests that she goes to the store and apologize, but Deena decides to cowardly call him instead.  She apologizes and asks if he is going to fire her (meaning she would have to leave the house).  Danny says, “We’ll see what happens.”

At dinner (they are having Chinese food), it is brought up that Frank and Joanie have gone on a second date.  No one really knows the scoop, but they joke about Mike and Deena being sister and brother in law.

Mike sneaks off to call Unit again.  This time, he wants info about Frank and Joanie.  According to the Unit, Frank is planning to hit and quit Joanie.

Almost immediately after, Joanie calls the house.  She asks Mike about Frank, where he says he may have his guard up because he recently got out of a nine year relationship.  Mike also asks Joanie to deliver a message to Deena the next time she talks to her: He is a nice guy because Deena think he is the devil.

While working out, the guys run in to Roger, who is discussing his recent phone call with Jenni.  Vinny agrees that Jenni is being immature about it and that she needs to man up and call her boyfriend to apologize.  At home, Vinny casually slips in that she should be the bigger person with Roger, so she called him.  He tells her that he didn’t do anything and isn’t going to apologize for it and that she needs to learn to trust him because he hasn’t done anything to disobey her.

http://www.realityaired.com/2012/shows/the-jersey-shore/jersey-shore-recap-the-follow-game/


Jersey Shore Recap: 2/2/12

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To kick off this episode, the roommates got back to the shore, Vinny included.  At the house, Pauly fills in Vinny, making a point to comment on the strange niceness coming from Mike.  Deena suggests that they all go out to Karma that night to celebrate the eight of them being together again.  Before going out, Jenni thinks there is something wrong with her and Rodger.  She gives him a quick phone call, but he does not answer.

On the party deck, Mike says he wants to get a tattoo that says, “Loyalty & Betrayal.”  Ronnie jokes about how Mike knows everything about Betrayal and nothing about Loyalty.

As soon as the group arrives at Karma, Mike goes off and does his own thing while Pauly and Vinny play wingmen for each other.  Later at Karma, Snooki pees her pants.  She goes to the bathroom to, “freshen up,” which actually means spraying incredible amounts of perfume on her, to mask the smell.  This is, apparently, called a “shore shower.”  When they get home, Deena says goodnight to all the boys.  She then says, “I love you,” to Pauly and Vinny and asks that they return the favor.  The guys laugh and don’t reciprocate.  This upsets Deena.

In the morning, Snooki wakes up before everyone else, still in her red dress and black heels from the night before, walks to the kitchen, and takes off the dirty underwear and throws it away.  When Deena wakes up, she realizes her fused extensions and her clip-in extensions have gotten tangled overnight.  She goes to the bathroom to try to solve her problem and ends up wetting the extensions and blow drying them to help untangle them.  Using the blow dryer, Deena accidentally electrocutes herself.  She was fine.  She told Sammi she just felt the current running through her arm.  The two girls discuss their theories on electricity, which of course, are brilliant.

During the day, everyone wants to go to Jenks, an outdoor restaurant and bar.  Before going, Jenni tries to call Rodger again, but he ignores the call.  While getting ready, Snooki decides to wear two pairs of underwear, “just in case.”  When the groups gets to Jenks, Mike runs into two random friends, which makes the other guys wonder if they are actually friends or just people Mike met at a club before.  At the bar, Snooki says she needs to go to the bathroom again and it really hurts, so she says she has another UTI.  In order to stop the pain, her solution is to take shots of tequila.  She gets a number of shots for herself and Deena.  After spending a few hours at Jenks, the group decides to go to batting cages, but Mike says he is having a good time and chooses to stay.

After the batting cages, the group meets up with him again and Snooki, Deena, and Mike ride in the cab together.  In the cab, Mike alludes to how nice he has been lately but he still feels like he is the odd man out.  The girls say that may be because he rarely hangs out with them; He prefers to do his own thing.

When they get back, all of the bathrooms in the house are occupied, so Snooki urinates on the back porch.  She covers it with shorts.  On the party deck, Snooki, Deena, and Mike are together, where Mike tells them he does not have a hidden agenda for his sudden niceness, pursuing the topic yet again.  Snooki tells him that the roommates don’t really trust him.  This upsets Mike, leading him to want to confront the rest of the roommates.  Asking the guys to be honest with him, Mike asks if he has done anything to make them angry.  They say no.  Pauly speculates that Mike was just intoxicated.

That night, the group decides to hang out at their house.  They are hanging out on the party deck when Team Meatball decides to play a prank.  They go inside, while everyone slowly migrates back inside as well.  Snooki dresses in the bunny costume and one at a time, she ransacks her roommates.  With Pauly, she pins him down and makes suggestive gestures.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2095811/Jersey-Shore-Mike-The-Situation-Sorrentino-faces-roommates.html

Back outside, they play a game called, “Warm Beer,” which is actually not a game, but a joke to be played on Snooki.  In the “game,” they tell Snooki that it is a memory game and involves drawing pictures on the face of the person to your left.  What is really happening is that Ronnie is putting soot on Snooki’s face.  She has no idea until she goes inside to go to the bathroom.  Though she finds the prank funny, she wants revenge.

Mike goes to bed early because he has a headache.  Snooki puts on the bunny mask, climbs on Mike (in his bed), and wakes him up, scaring him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2095811/Jersey-Shore-Mike-The-Situation-Sorrentino-faces-roommates.html

At work in the morning, Deena makes a pair of underwear that say, “I Jersey Turnpike,” so that when she Jersey turnpikes, they are visible.

At the house, Jenni and Snooki are getting their hair done when Snooki’s dad shows up.  She forgot he was coming today, but doesn’t mind sending him to the store for cranberry juice.

Mike is on the boardwalk after work one day when he runs into Rodger.  When he gets home, Jenni is talking to Snooki’s dad about her suspected relationship problems, and Mike informs her that he just ran into Rodger and that he was going to the beach with some buddies.

While Snooki and her dad are spending time together, Mike says he thinks Snooki is the real trouble maker of the house, not him.  He also admits that he is going to call the Unit to finish the “unfinished business.”

What do you think is going to happen with the Snooki-Mike-Jionni-Unit frenzy?


3 Things You Should Quit (And Start) Doing This Year!

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One full month of 2012 has come and gone. Now that you’re well adjusted to the change of the year (it’s not so “new” anymore!), it’s time you let go of those habits that are holding you back and pick up some new, positive ones! Think you’re up for this CL challenge? Let’s find out!

3 Things To Quit

realbeauty.com

1. Comparing — Comparing yourself to others breeds jealousy, and jealousy is one unattractive trait! Learning to love yourself could be as simple as smiling to yourself everyday in the mirror, appreciating your curves, your “four-eyes,” or your frizzy hair, or it could turn into a journey that takes a little more soul-searching to fulfill. Either way, wishing you had what the girl sitting next to you has is a waste of your valuable time. Sending positive words instead of ones of envy will help you feel better about yourself, so tell her how stylish her outfit is and take with you inspiration for you own wardrobe.

2. Nail Biting — Nail biting is a nervous habit that millions of people have, making it even more difficult to break–you’ll probably walk by at least one nail-biter a day. Some women find it helpful to get their nails done which in turn makes them resist ruining their stylish manicure by biting at it.

communiquepr.com

3. Excessive Cursing – It’s natural to belt out a profane word or two when you’re upset, but cursing excessively may give off a less personable impression of you. Here at College Lifestyles, we live by a standard of staying classy, so refrain from muttering (or screaming) those four letter words that only offer temporary satisfaction. When you feel ready to curse, remind yourself to hold back. After a while, your brain will get the hang of it.

  3 Things To Try

1. Moving On – If you find yourself making unnecessary assumptions about people and situations, it’s the leftover anger, hatred, or mistrust from past grievances that’s getting in the way. Once you start trusting that negativity tests your mental and even physical strength, you’ll realize how tough of a woman you are. If you need help healing old wounds, seek a therapist or a trusted friend or family member to begin the coping process.

You are!

2. Read A Book Every Month — This year, tons of people have started challenging themselves with once-a-day tasks (blogging every day, eating a fruit a day). Reading one book is an accomplishment in itself so set your standards high and strive for finishing one book for every month, even if it’s a short book. To make this easier, you may want to stick to an area that excites you: history, women’s rights, love stories, or book series such as Gossip Girls or Stieg Larsson novels, for example.

3. Complimenting Yourself — CL wants you to be as confident as can be! The more you tell yourself that your “flaws” are in fact attributes, the more you’ll begin to believe in it. What you feed the mind, whether that be good or bad thoughts, manifests itself until you agree. So rather than hating your freckles, start telling yourself how much they compliment your skin and eyes and soon you’ll start to love what you’d grown to despise! 

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.

 


Your CL Guide to Social Networking Etiquette

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In order for a classy co-ed to reach her fullest potential, she must know that communicating efficiently with others is essential. Looking the part, moving through any crowd in a poised manner and having strong networking skills completes the social climber persona. Are social situations not your thing? Not to worry–as always, CL’s got your back! Here are a few tips that’ll give you networking confidence and help you score a new set of contacts.

Look Approachable

It’s important to keep mental notes of how you appear to others in the room. You know those people that you just want to talk to? Examine why–don’t they look happy, aren’t they standing up straight and confidently with their faces bright and inviting? Yes, yes, and yes! No one wants to start a conversation with someone who looks sullen, hunched over, and unenthusiastic. So flash a smile, open yourself up to meeting diverse people, and appear happy! (Even if that means putting on a front–nobody has to know you’ve had a bad day!)

Ready, Set, Talk!

You have to refine your ability in thinking on your feet at social events. Being able to converse about mostly anything—pop culture, music, basic politics—allows a conversation to flow without concern. It’s easier to talk about what interests you the most, so it can be difficult to discuss what you are unfamiliar with. If this happens, connect an idea that you are knowledgeable about to the overall subject. You’ll hardly get tongue-tied if you tackle conversations this way!

Stay Connected

If you’ve met someone who has the potential to help you meet any upstanding goals, don’t part ways before taking note of their contact information. At social networking events, most of whom you will meet will likely have a business card. Politely state that you would like to speak with them further about different details in the conversation and ask for a card with which you can contact them. Who could say no to that? There’s no reason to walk away empty-handed!

CLassy readers, you can’t spend your time being shy — the opportunity of your life is out there waiting!

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.


Three Steps to a CLassy Bathroom

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If you’re like me, waking up ten minutes before an 8am class means the room is a hurricane before you’re out the door. The truth is, disorganization will add stress to your day, and that’s the last thing a CLassy coed needs, especially in her bathroom! Here’s three simple ways to keep your b-room tidy and under control.

1.Keep it Clean. You can never have too many disinfectants, cleaners, or sponges. Make sure you always have these things on hand- keeping your bathroom clean is extremely important for your health and hygiene. If you have a roommate, make sure you both are on the same page when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your bathroom.

2.Keep Toiletries Out of the Way. It’s okay to have your toothpaste and maybe a face cleaner sitting on the sink, but don’t clutter the sink with too many products! It’ll be hard to clean around the sink effectively if you have to keep removing all your toiletries just to put them back. Bins, boxes or baskets are perfect for storing all your shampoo, makeup, or feminine products. Keeping your products stored away leaves more space to put on makeup or do hair. Speaking of hair, keep your hairdryers and straighter as far away from the sink as possible! If cords get wet, they may become a hazard.

3. Monitor Waste and Empty Trash Frequently. Classy Ladies know this one! Never let your trash get too full. If you dispose of food or other perishables in your trash, you never want to leave them sitting there for too long. If your school has recycling facilities, take your empty shampoo bottles, bags, and empty containers to your nearest recycling bin! Keep your consumption levels earth-conscious and sustainable by using every last drop of every product you buy! The earth’s resources are a terrible thing to waste.

 

 

As long as you keep your bathroom clean, clutter-free, trash-free, you’ll have the CLassiest bathroom on campus! A clean bathroom will make a happy dorm room for you and your roommate!

 

Martha-Raye Adjei is an environmental studies major with a concentration in Sustainable Apparel at the University of Delaware. She hopes to become a journalist and sustainable apparel designer. In her spare time she likes to read, swim and watch TV


CL’s Guide to Staying Classy for Weddings of Every Season!

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When it comes to dressing for a special occasion the pressure is on, and weddings are no exception. As a guest, there are things we cannot control such as the time, place, dress code, and the weather. However, we can be sure that every classy co-ed arrives in style!

Spring or Summer Wedding

For a daytime wedding, colorful and tasteful sundresses would be appropriate. Colors such as strawberry red, pale blue, or teal green would be best- stay away from bright colors such as neon pink or bright orange that scream look at me! If the wedding is outside, a pair of flats would suit you better than heels sinking into the grass! Light and natural make-up as well as sunscreen will do for an outdoor wedding.

Truly Yours Strawberry Dress by ModCloth

Spring Flower by Small Pretty Shoes

When dressing for an indoor spring or summer wedding, there are a few alterations. Wearing darker colors, or even black and white like Kim Kardashian’s wedding theme would suit this type of wedding perfectly! This dress should be a bit more upscale, such as a satin cocktail dress. Complete your look with a pair of chic heels!

Winter Wedding

As rare as they are, it never hurts to have your wardrobe prepared! A dress that comes above the knee may seem too informal, and while choosing colors think rich colors- plum, deep blue, or forest green would all be savvy choices. It wouldn’t hurt to bring along a jacket or blazer to match your attire, or even a scarf that will keep you warm. Shoes can make or break an outfit, and for a winter wedding I suggest classic heels- avoid strappy pumps or peep-toed stilettos, you don’t want to freeze!

The Avian Dress by Trashy Diva

Nude Pumps by Steve Madden

Fall Wedding

The dress or outfit you choose for this wedding should lie somewhere between spring attire and winter attire. While picking a color for your ensemble consider autumn shades or jewel tones. It may be chilly at night, so it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a cardigan or blazer. Pumps or flats would suit the occasion properly. The fall seasons tends to be bolder when it comes to fashion, so pick up a bracelet or stylish necklace to complete the look!

Dream Interpretation Dress by ModCloth

Little Black Blazer by ModCloth

Flats by Forever 21

For every wedding and every season there are some general guidelines. When it comes to the color of your ensemble, do not wear white! It is the bride’s day, do not wear any thing too flashy that may stray the attention away from her. When choosing an outfit, basic patterns are acceptable for all types of weddings, but use your best judgment and do not wear a dress that draws more attention than your personality. A simple clutch or bag will work to carry all of the essentials, forget your satchel at home!

Most importantly, no matter what you wear be sure you feel comfortable and confident. To make you feel at ease, wedding etiquette expert Emily Post says, “Remember that most people will be looking at the bride and groom anyways!”

Chelsea Hay is a junior at the University of North Dakota majoring in Communications. She is a proud sister of Alpha Chi Omega, and loves hanging out with friends, reading, laughing, and going to hockey games!


Meet the newest CL intern! – Jessica Fecteau

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Name: Jessica Fecteau

School: Central Michigan University

Major: Journalism, Apparel Merchandise and Design

Year in studies: Sophomore

I have been a College Lifestyles Intern since: August 2011

Organizational Involvement: Central Michigan Life Senior Reporter (independently student-run newspaper), Grand Central Magazine freelancer, Intramural Volleyball team captain, CLASS IRA member (Celebrate Literacy: A Student Society/International Reading Society, MPI member (Meeting Professionals International), Local elementary school tutor

Pets: A border collie named Jake, the only boy I need!

My friends would say I am: happy, talkative, caring and smart

My style is: girly and chic. I like pairing things together that most people wouldn’t think of. I like to be unique, yet modern at the same time by putting a personal touch to what I wear.

My go-to accessory: a big purse to throw all of my life necessities in.

My favorite snacks: fuji apples and crunchy peanut butter, or carrots with hummus

My hobbies include: baking, working out, reading fashion magazines, shopping and writing

Favorite movies: Too many to name! I love romantic comedies. All-time fav is The Devil Wears Prada, and I love the Sex and the City movies, Going the Distance, When Harry Met Sally, It’s Complicated, and Remember Me.

I have a slight obsession with: shoes! No matter how full my closet gets, I will never have enough pairs.

I dislike: when people chew with their mouth open, heights, and bugs

On my desk you will find: endless issues of Glamour magazine, photos of my friends and family, my laptop and usually a big cup of coffee!

My favorite form of social media: I like the simplicity of Twitter, yet how it can connect you to so many different other sites and sources.

MAC vs PC: PC

Coffee vs Tea: Coffee

Coke vs Pepsi: Diet Coke!

My definition of a classy co-ed: A classy co-ed is confident in her own “heels”, loves communicating with people, learning new things and has big goals in life.

Why I am excited about being an intern with College Lifestyles: I love the way all of the CL interns connect on different topics and share their ideas with each other. I am looking forward to contributing to a site that offers so many fresh and exciting ideas for college co-eds because even though I am writing for the site, I also am learning a lot by reading what the other interns post.

Jessica Fecteau is a fashion, etiquette and apartment/dorm life writer and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Jessica loves fashion magazines, traveling to big cities and watching chick flicks with her roommates.