CL’s Classy and Inspirational Co-eds

Posted on September 19, 2011 by JessicaF

When looking for some beauty and brains inspiration, look no further than your television. Classic co-eds in the TV world can be inspirational to many aspiring students. Rory Gilmore inspired me to be a five cup coffee drinker and strive to the top of my newspaper team. While Serena van der Wooden’s style makes me roll out of bed earlier making an effort to copy her campus style. Although some of these classy ladies play fictional roles, they live the lives we may sometimes envy and are the classy ones many aspire to be. I can’t help but look to them for some college tips when I am feeling in a rut. After all, their iconic ways serve as both beauty and brains 101.

The Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port duo is at the top of my list for inspirational people. These classy gals worked their way up from being Teen Vogue interns ( an inspiration on its own) to designing their own fashion lines. Through burned dresses, crazy relationships and traveling across the world, these two had each other’s back. While both earning their degrees in fashion school in New York, they also worked as interns proving that a lot of hard work does go a long way.

One Tree Hill’s Brooke Davis, B. Davis, BFF, whatever you call her, is an example of a bad girl gone brilliant. A once promiscuous high school drama queen turned her life around after a bad break up with her on-off again relationship. Instead of going out finding a new guy to lean on, she threw her sorrows into designing her own clothing line “Clothes Over Bros.” Her line, which eventually turned into a million-dollar company, proves to girls everywhere to deal with the bad in a positive way.

The things I would do to raid Serena van der Woodsen’s Gossip Girl wadrobe closet! Although her impeccable style is attributed to the show’s costume designer, I think every girl can agree with me that she has style. Even at a school where everyone wears the same Constance uniform, she made it her own. In a city like New York, Serena went on to taking fashion to the next level at her college campus and made it look effortless. Take a cue from To steal Serena’s preppy look try incorporating pieces like a blazer with a plaid shirt, and throw in some tights when the fall weather strikes. Viola!

The verdict is in: Elle Woods is a solid example of brains and beauty. Well, maybe the brains part came later in the movie but her ambition is what makes her a classy co-ed to look up to. After studying non-stop to pass her LSAT’s and make it into Harvard Law school to win back her ex-boyfriend, she decided she didn’t need a boy to be happy. Her kindness to everyone who put her down on the way up and over-the-top positive attitude inspires us all to perfect our “bend and snap” a little more. If staying true to herself meant wearing an all-pink suit to a law office full of black, so be it. No matter who told her she was in the wrong place, her determination pushed her until she won the case, without the boy I may add.

Gilmore Girls’ Rory Gilmore and her mom, Lorelai, make mother-daughter friendships look amazing. Besides the fact that Rory has the coolest mom ever, her dedication to her schoolwork is what really makes her stand out on screen. From Chilton to Yale, Rory makes a statement in her academic life. Her hard working drive moves me to work a little harder after the classic re-run episodes are over. She never settles for anything and does it with extreme dedication and purpose.

Who inspires you to work a little harder or dress a little more stylish? Now it’s your turn to share who inspires you! More from CL: Top Ten Fall Shows to Watch!

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

This Classy Coed’s Favorite Chick Flicks

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Shelly Marie

So, this summer I’ve been watching a lot of movies since I don’t like really hot weather and yes, most of them are chick flicks. That’s just how I am, I like them a lot. I started thinking about the greatest chick flicks, in my opinion, and have decided to compile a Top 15 list for you, the fabulous coed to check out. It was going to be a Top 10, but…there were just too many good ones. We’ll start in descending order to add to the suspense of numero uno. I start this list with a kind of ridiculous choice:

NUMBER 15:

Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Josie and the Pussycats is GREAT for many reasons. Firstly, in terms of actual plot, it is an awesomely bad movie. Let’s be realistic: Josie, Val, and Melody have their band, The Pussycats and magically they are discovered and made popular, thanks to subliminal messaging. However, this movie is HILARIOUS, the soundtrack is really good, and it’s actually a pretty accurate satire on our obsession with material things. It’s like a walk down memory lane, with the product placement and the pop-culture references. Also, there are times where the movie makes fun of itself, which are just perfect. One of my favorite quotes from the film: Alexander: I still don’t understand why you’re here. Alexandra: I’m here because I was in the comic book.

NUMBER 14:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best movies of all time. Heath Ledger is absolutely charming in this movie and I don’t think I’ve ever been more in love with him. This movie as a whole is pretty funny and it’s quite clever. It’s a modern adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew (good play, check it out) and it stays true to the plot of the play (initially) and updates it without seeming too tired or hokey. Kat’s poem/sonnet at the end (where the title comes from) is wonderful and kudos to the writers for that one. One of my favorite quotes is: “I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?” as said by Chastity.

NUMBER 13:

He's Just Not That into You (2009)

He’s Just Not That into You was like the chick flick of my dorm this past year. It is a great movie and I especially like it because it’s not all about getting together, but about the reality of relationships. Some couples split up, some get (back) together. Hands down, my favorite scene is when Jennifer Aniston’s character goes into the kitchen of her parents’ house and sees Ben Affleck washing the dishes. Melts my heart every. single. time. It really is a great movie whether you just started dating someone or just broke up with someone. Plus, the cast is phenomenal. It’s fun to watch and pick out who you are with your friends. I’m Mary (Drew Barrymore). Favorite quote: “That’s a lot of prepositions,” as said by Javier. It was a totally understated remark, but it cracked me up. It was hard to pick just one quote.

NUMBER 12:

Sex and the City (2008)

Sex and the City: The Movie was impossibly satisfying. I did not like the second one as much as I liked the first, which made me cry really hard and laugh really hard and appreciate my girlfriends so much more. The end of a relationship can really bring you closer to your girls as both Miranda and Carrie (and in the end, Samantha) realize in this film. The soundtrack is phenomenal. The girls are back for the first time in four years. It was just everything I could’ve wanted. This film makes me even more excited to (hopefully) relocate to NYC in the next couple of years. Favorite quote: “Year after year, twenty-something women come to New York in search of the two L’s: labels and love,” said by Miss Carrie Bradshaw herself.

NUMBER 11:

One Fine Day (1996)

One Fine Day is a little slice of understated heaven. Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney (ah, Clooney) star in this movie about complete opposites that depend on each other to make an awful day a little more bearable. It’s a fluffy little romantic comedy and it’s one of those movies that you just need sometimes. George Clooney is dry and witty in this (typical Clooney, handsome as always), which is funny. The two kids are hilarious. Michelle Pfeiffer is great as the stressed out, Type A mom. My favorite quote from this flick actually comes from Natalie Merchant’s cover of the song One Fine Day from this film: “One fine day, we’ll meet once more and then you’ll want the love you threw away before.”

NUMBER 10:

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are one of my all-time favorite movie couples ever. I wanted them to be together in real life so bad after this movie was released. This is another movie where the writing is really smart and the actors are perfection. Kate Hudson really shines in this movie, and careful attention must be paid to her throughout the film, even when she’s not speaking because her facial expressions are priceless. Also hilarious? Ben’s friends! They’re so quick and sharp and add a lot to the movie. For example, one of my favorite quotes: Ben: How about ‘glitter?’ Tony: Thayer’s favorite movie. Thayer: It was underrated!

NUMBER 9:

Pretty in Pink (1986)

This is hands down my favorite Molly Ringwald movie. Duckie makes this movie for me. He’s in love with his best friend, Andie, who starts dating a “richie.” Her friends (mostly Duckie) don’t approve and neither do his. James Spader is an excellent villain in this movie, one of Blane’s friends who has a thing for Andie. It’s a great movie, lovely and sweet and simple, just as a good chick flick should be. It’s a tie in my favorite quotes, both said by Duckie, the first: “I’m off like a dirty shirt,” and “I’m not particularly concerned with whether or not you like me, because I live to like you and…and I can’t like you anymore. So…so when you’re feeling real low and…and dirty, and your heart is splattered all over hell, don’t look at me to pump you back up ’cause…’cause…’cause maybe for the first time in your life I WON’T BE THERE.”

NUMBER 8:

Clueless (1995)

Clueless is one of those great movies that I definitely watched way younger than I should of, with really smart subtle humor trickled in. Surprisingly, this is based on the Jane Austen book Emma, and it’s one of the movies that I think Brittany Murphy really, truly shines in. This movie introduced me to Paul Rudd, also, who would later be the love of my life This movie about seemingly vapid Beverly Hills rich kids, has really sophisticated humor. My favorite quote was really hard to pick. I know one of my favorite scenes is when Brittany Murphy is singing along to the Mentos ad, but I think Cher takes the cake in her description of the opposite sex, “So, okay, I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation and all, but I don’t get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed, and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair (ew) and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we’re expected to soon? I don’t think so.”

NUMBER 7:

Legally Blonde (2001)

This movie, besides inspiring a GREAT musical (seriously, it was fab and under appreciated), made me really consider going to law school for three years or so. This is one of the ultimate female empowerment movies. It makes me think that I can do anything, moreso than my mom telling me so, and it really makes me want to prove people wrong . My favorite quote is when Elle sasses back the salesgirl trying to rip her off, “It’s impossible to use a half-loop stitch on low-viscosity rayon; it would snag the fabric, and you didn’t just get it in – I saw it in the June Vogue a year ago. So if you’re trying to sell it to me for full price, you’ve picked the wrong girl.”

NUMBER 6:

Mean Girls (2004)

This list wouldn’t be complete WITHOUT Mean Girls. This movie is still quoted more than anything else amongst my friends and I. I miss this Lindsay Lohan so much! I thought she was beautiful and really talented in this movie and I thought her career was really going to take off. Damien completely steals this movie for me, as I’m pretty sure we are the same person and the quote I love the most comes from one of my favorite scenes involving him, Damien screeches, “And I want my pink shirt back! I WANT MY PINK SHIRT BACK!!!!!” It’s definitely hard to choose just one, though.

NUMBER 5:

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Like Legally Blonde, The Devil Wears Prada is one of those movies that motivates me to do what I want and get what I want out of life. Andy (third Andy of this list!) wants to be a journalist and ends up the assistant to a fashion magazine editor. This movie has FABULOUS clothes and great style. I love Anne Hathaway, especially in this movie, and I am shocked to see how she’s grown from The Princess Diaries, which I loved. Stanley Tucci also kind of steals this movie and this cemented him in my mind as one of my favorite actors. My favorite quote is a snippet of a longer speech said by Nigel (Tucci) to Andy, “You have no idea how many legends have walked these halls and what’s worse, you don’t care. Because this place, where so many people would die to work, you only deign to work. And you want to know why she doesn’t kiss you on the forehead and give you a gold star on your homework at the end of the day. Wake up, sweetheart.”

NUMBER 4:

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

HOW could this movie NOT be on the list? The tumultuous love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is one of the most romantic stories of all time and this adaptation from 2005 was excellent. It was no Colin Firth miniseries (so I hear), but this is perfect. Pride & Prejudice is beautiful in every single way; the story is lovely, the film is visually stunning, and the adaptation is well-written. Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden are excellent as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Macfayden is such a dreamboat. My favorite scene is when Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are dancing. It’s perfect. My favorite quote is said by Mr. Darcy and makes my heart melt, “If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me body and soul and I love…I love…I love you. And never wish to be parted from you from this day on,” helloooo, my standards have gone up 900%.

NUMBER 3:

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

This movie, honestly, was my favorite for a really long time. Only recently, has it been bumped to number three, only because I could never leave my number two. I like this because it is the story of my life. I can vividly see myself being Julianne minus the crazy. This movie is funny and sweet and heartbreaking. I like the way it ends. This is the first movie I really discovered Rupert Everett and I love him to this day My favorite scene is the boat scene, though I do love the singing when George comes into town and is describing how he met Julianne. My favorite quote is actually from the end when Julianne donates her song to the couple, “My best friend has won the best woman. I didn’t get you a gift, however…this is on loan until you two find your song.”

NUMBER 2:

Love Actually (2003)

How can you not LOVE this movie? It follows eight interrelated story lines, couples specifically at Christmastime. This movie is an excellent chick flick and an excellent Christmas film. It’s festive and HILARIOUS and the cast is phenomenal. Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson are some highlights. This movie just makes you feel good and anyone loves this movie: guy, girl, old, young. It’s a great movie – if you haven’t seen it, yet, STOP what you’re doing RIGHT now and go rent it/Netflix it ASAP. My favorite scene and my favorite lines have the smallest spoken dialogue, “With any luck by next year I’ll be dating one of these girls [pictures of supermodels], but for now let me say, without hope or agenda, just because it’s Christmas (and at Christmas you tell the truth): to me, you are perfect and my wasted heart will love you until you look like this [mummy picture]. Merry Christmas.”

NUMBER ONE!!!!!:

You've Got Mail (1998)

AND NOW! My favorite chick flick of all time: You’ve Got Mail! I absolutely love this movie. It satisfies the bookworm in me. It satisfies the sap in me. It’s great. At the end, when Tom Hanks comes round the bend and sees Meg Ryan and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is playing…it gets me every time. It’s such a good, simple, lovely film to the strongest degree. It’s funny. I laugh and I cry and I want a love like Joe and Kathleen’s. Since this is my ultimate favorite, it gets three quotes: 1) “When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does,” said by Kathleen Kelly 2) “The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings,” also said by Kathleen Kelly and lastly 3) Joe: Don’t cry, Shopgirl. Don’t cry. Kathleen: I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.

So there, I present to you the Top 15 Chick Flicks you should check out while beating the heat. Also, I have some honorable mentions: The Proposal, (500) Days of Summer, Ever After, The Notebook, She’s All That, Drop Dead Gorgeous, 27 Dresses, Made of Honor, The Wedding Date, Definitely Maybe and Never Been Kissed. Never Been Kissed was actually really close to making the list.

You can check out more info about all of these movies by searching them on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes.

Grab some girlfriends, grab some snacks and enjoy these chick flicks and stay cool. Are there any movies you wanted to see on this list that weren’t posted? What are your favorite chick flicks? Let us know!

Briana Simko is a senior English and Theater Arts major at Duquesne University and a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau. She’ll miss not living with her sisters to watch chick flicks with and is a little sad her summer movie entertainment has been interrupted by studying for the GREs. She’s a great big sap at heart, though, and loves Tom Hanks.

Valentine’s Day: Your Not-So-Typical Movies!

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Shelly Marie

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to pick out some movies that are perfect to watch on the big day. Whether you’re preparing for a night in with a special someone or hanging out with your girls who are always there for you, these movies are a sure way to put a different spin on Cupid’s Day. Be forewarned: these movies aren’t your typical soppy romantic flicks!

10 Things I Hate About You

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of seeing this movie, watch it! An adaption of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, the film’s romantic leads, Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, are outcasts at their high school. When a plot is hatched to set the pair up, the two struggle to stay true to themselves instead of conforming.

Credit to moviegoods.com

Not Another Teen Movie

A spoof of all of those stereotypical romantic comedies that we have all seen (and maybe loved, but that is beside the point). The main plot is based around 10 Things I Hate About You and She’s All That, with lots of other movie references thrown in. This movie will have you laughing and realising that maybe love isn’t always as corny as it is shown in the movies.

Legally Blonde

Besides having serious nail-envy for Reese Witherspoon’s character in the film, Legally Blonde is one of my all-time favorites, so I had to include it in the list. This movie follows Elle Woods as she embarks on a mission to win her love back, while learning along the way that maybe she is worth a lot more than she gave herself credit for.

Credit to justjaredjr.buzznet.com

(500) Days of Summer

As the tagline warns, this is not a love story. This is a story about love. Called the anti-romantic comedy, this movie follows a man’s search for the woman of his dreams. Could his co-worker Summer be “the one” he has been searching for? In addition, this movie boasts a fabulous soundtrack, funny quips and a seriously enviable wardrobe in the form of Zooey Deschanel (Summer Finn).

The Notebook

Okay, I realise that I said that these movies aren’t your typical romantic films, but this one is more than just a romantic film. Noah and Allie (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) are people from different walks of life who fall for each other. When life interferes with their plans, it seems impossible for them to be together. Plus, Ryan Gosling’s Noah is a dreamboat. Yep, I just said dreamboat!

Credit to zimbio.com

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

One of many hilarious films by Judd Apatow, Kristen Bell and Jason Segal star together as Sarah Marshall and the man who is trying desperately to get over her, despite their proximity on an island get-away. This movie will keep you laughing, with Jonah Hill, Russell Brand and Mila Kunis thrown into the mix!

Happy Valentine’s Day, College Lifestyles co-eds!

Deirdre Cunnane is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM) and a second year law student at University College Cork, Ireland. She can’t wait to spend Valentine’s Day with her besties and some not-so-typical romantic comedies!

Our Favorite Ways to Store Jewelry

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Kaitlyn

If you’re anything like me, you have a ton of jewelry. I have always had a hard time figuring out how to store it without it all getting tangled since necklaces are my favorite pieces. I am going to share with you the method I picked up from some lovely ladies in college (thanks Spring 07!)-it hasn’t failed me since! Believe it or not, I fully believe you should use a tackle box (like for fishing) or something similar. I have an art box that I use that I got from AC Moore. This is the one I use here, on sale for $22.79 at Jo Ann Fabrics.

I love the three seperate boxes! Photo by Kaitlyn Kline.

The top compartment is large enough to fit headbands in a way that they don’t bend and snap (sorry for the bad Legally Blonde pun). I also store some random things in there like hand lotions and really it is my equivalent of a junk drawer… as you can see below.

A great place to store headbands! Photo by Kaitlyn Kline.

Then, you can open up the front and there are three boxes that have movable dividers in them. These are the best for when you go on vacation because I end up putting the jewelry that goes with certain outfits all in one box and taking one of them with me.

The dividers keep everything neat! Photo by Kaitlyn Kline.

What did some of our readers have to say? I have to admit, we have some very creative followers!

Tiffany & Co. Jewelry Box

On Twitter, @healthybeachbum told us she is a fan of the jewelry box, while @Maddie_Elizabet separates hers into daily wear and everything else. She stores the jewelry she wears every day in a Tiffany & Co. jewelry box and everything else goes in a Vera Bradley jewelry case.

Vera Bradley Jewelry Case

On Facebook, Becky Alberico told us she stores everything in a cigar box. Lia Sorce bought a really big martini glass to hang all of her earrings on (and trust me, she has a lot!). Jess Tedder hung picture hooks on the wall because they are cheap and you can add as many as you want to sort out your necklaces! Jess Morelock took a similar route to me and bought plastic bead organizers from Michaels. She either puts a single necklace or two different sets of earrings (chandelier and stud for example) in each compartment. Kayla Martin got her idea from Digital Junk Drawer where they show you how to hang your jewelry inside a picture frame! She also suggests stapling metal netting to the frame and using the holes in the net to drape the earrings over.

Jewelry Picture Frame from Digital Junk Drawer

What is your favorite way to store your jewelry? Let us know in the comment section or e-mail us at intern@collegelifestyles.org!

Kaitlyn Kline is an intern with College Lifestyles^TM. She is an Edinboro University of PA and Alpha Sigma Tau alum. She is addicted to jewelry and just bought three anchor necklaces from Forever 21!

My Top 10 of the Decade: Movies!

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Kaitlyn

You’ve seen my top 10 picks for music of the decade, now it is time for the movies! Towards the bottom of this post I have included some reader’s picks for their favorites!

2000: Gone in 60 Seconds. I have no idea why, but I just love this movie. I can’t really explain the fascination with it, but I still watch it every time I see it on TV and I own the DVD. Nicolas Cage does a wonderful job as ex-car thief Memphis Raines. This is a remake of the original from 1974 and is filled with cars, chase scenes and family loyalty.

2001: Save the Last Dance. This is my favorite dance inspired movie. The way Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas blend their hip-hop and ballet styles is very entertaining to watch. This is a great chick flick for a girl’s night in!

Save the Last Dance

2002: Panic Room. Oh, young Kristen Stewart. She was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her work in this film. I love how the movie has very few characters and really only one important location. It is so simple, yet it really seems like a “thriller.” The suspense of what is going to happen really draws you in.

2003: Kill Bill Volume 1. Quentin Tarantino’s movie starts off with a bang…literally. Uma Thurman is wonderful as a professional assassin. This, along with Volume 2, is one of my favorite movies. It is nice to see a strong female kick some butt!

2004: Mean Girls. “I saw Cady Heron wearing army pants and flip flops… so I bought army pants and flip flops.” This movie is so funny because it is true. Sure, some things are exaggerated, but things like this do really happen. (Check out Stephanie’s New Year’s resolution to not be the “mean girl,” here.)

2005: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp can do no wrong in my book. He is amazing. I love how this one is a bit “darker” than the original and the set design is truly stunning. Freddie Highmore won a Critic’s Choice Award for Best Young Actor and Johnny Depp won an Empire Award for Best Actor (to name a few of the 9 awards won)!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2006: The Departed. With an all-star cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Whalberg and Alec Baldwin and Martin Scorsese behind the camera, how could this movie go wrong? Leo gave a stunning performance as Billy Costigan, the Undercover Officer for the Special Investigations Unit of Massachusetts’s State Police.

2007: Knocked Up. I just love Seth Rogen to bits. This movie definitely falls under the “I need a good laugh, so let’s watch this movie” movie. Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd’s “bromance” when they go to Vegas is one of my favorite parts to watch.

2008: The Dark Knight. This is my favorite Batman adaptation so far. If you haven’t ever seen The Hillywood Show’s spoof of this film, you must go watch it now. Seriously, watch it here. These girls are AMAZING.

2009. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. A Harry Potter movie had to make this list for me. This was my favorite book, so I figured it was the perfect one to grace my list. I thought the acting in this film was greatly improved from the previous ones. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint really stepped it up and Dan Radcliffe was so funny in the “Felix Felicis” scene!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Reader’s Suggestions:

Via @ShredderFeeder: “@collegelifestyl: The new Star Trek. Best. Movie. Ever. ”

Via @Patrice0x0x: “@collegelifestyl Almost Famous (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), Elf! (2003), Mean Girls (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005) The Dark Knight (2008)”

Via Briana Simko (on facebook): “500 days of summer!”

Via Stephanie Curran (on facebook): “Pirates of the Caribbean definitely! Capt Jack is so hot!”

Via Erika Breglia (on facebook): “Paranormal Activity!”

Via Tasha Olson (on facebook): “I second Pirates of the Caribbean!”

Via Genae Sarver (on facebook): “Amelie! Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind! The Fall!”

In response: Erika Breglia: “THE FALL!!!! I may start crying just thinking about that movie.”

Via @bethesong: “@collegelifestyl Walk the Line was one of my favorites, and Legally Blonde was fab too!”

What were some of your favorite movies of the decade? There have been so many good ones and I’m really excited for some that are coming up (*cough* Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows *cough*). Shoot us an e-mail at intern@collegelifestyles.org or leave us a comment with any of your suggestions!

Kaitlyn Kline is an intern with College Lifestyles^TM. She is also an Edinboro University of PA and Alpha Sigma Tau alum. She loves going to the movie theater and has been known to see some movies multiple times in theaters.

Go Green without Spending too much Green!

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Kaitlyn

“Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed.” *Elle Woods, “Legally Blonde”

I hate to break it to you Elle, but there is a new “pink” in town… it’s green!

legally-blonde

Now, now don’t get look so shocked, you can keep your pink outfits because I am talking about green as in “go green and save our planet” green. Contrary to popular belief, going green doesn’t have to be pricey. Here are a few simple ways to go green without spending too much of your coveted green paper.

1. Reusable bags. These usually only cost around $1 a piece and can be used for way more than groceries. I got this pretty green one from Old Navy (they aren’t boring solids anymore!).

oldnavyshoppingbag

My friends and I all brought these bags on a trip to New York City to put our China Town purchases in. Bring them to the mall when you go on a shopping spree instead of using all of the stores plastic bags! I also like to use them for packing–they are sturdy and hold a lot. Some of them are even cute enough to use as a purse.

2. Jewelry made from recycled material. I was at an art fair and found a really cute bracelet made from old Victorian Rose spoons!

victorianrosespoonbracelet

A lot of places are starting to use recycled material for their jewelry. For example, Target has a wide variety of earrings made from recycled metal and Etsy is full of all kinds of homemade items. Check it out; it is a really awesome website.

3. Reuse ribbons and tissue paper. You know how when you go shopping a lot of stores will put tissue paper in your bag and tie a ribbon on the handles? Don’t just throw these items away! The ribbons can be used for scrapbooking, memory boards and numerous other craft projects. The tissue paper can be used in gift bags as well as scrapbooking and even packing! The possibilities for these things are endless-let your creativity flow!

What are some of your favorite ways to “go green”? Either shoot us an e-mail at intern@collegelifestyles.org or let us know in the comments section (or both!)!

college-lifestyles-signature

Kaitlyn Kline is an intern at College Lifestyles^TM and a graduate from Edinboro University of PA. She is also an Alpha Sigma Tau alum. She loves her recycled jewelry and scrapbooking!