4 Books You Need to Read Before Summer Ends

Are you stuck in a reading rut? Are you trying to find a book that keeps you entertained, yet is also very thought provoking? As someone who loves to read and gets easily bored during the summer, I know the challenges of finding a good book to read during the sunny summer days. This is why I have dedicated this post to 4 books that will keep you reading well after the summer sun sets.

 

       

How to Be a Heroine: Or, What I've Learned from Reading too Much by: Samantha Ellis: If you explored the lands of Terra Haute with Scarlett or pushed through life’s hardships with Anne, then you will love this piece by Samantha Ellis. In each chapter she reexamines the classic heroines in her life that helped shape her adolescence and view of feminism. She gives a refreshing perspective on each character and even admits that some of the characters she idolized as a teenager were not the pictures of perfection she once thought. This book is great for anyone who wants an entertaining perspective on the classics and how they relate to the modern day!

Pride and Prejudice: By Jane Austen: I know! I know! Any Janeites reading this may be thinking, I’ve already read this, why on earth are you suggesting something I’ve read a million times? I completely get it, but this book is on the list for anyone who felt that it was over-hyped when they were younger (*cough*me*cough*) and tried reading it. For those of you who fall in that category, trust me, I get that feeling, but the book I mentioned above convinced me to give this novel a second chance. If you read it after reading the first book on the list, in which a Janeite openly criticizes certain parts of the story, then you will probably actually enjoy reading Jane Austen, I promise.

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps: By: Kelly Williams Brown: If you’re the kind of reader that wants to learn how to do something while you read, then this book is for you. This book is a life saver! The author openly admits that being an adult is hard, but that you will survive it. Each section is dedicated to teaching a practical skill that you wished you were taught in school without sounding condescending. The author even includes some funny horror stories of how she picked up these skills, because as she mentions several times throughout the book that nobody is perfect.

A Man Called Intrepid: The Incredible True Story of the Master Spy Who Helped Win World War II: By: William Stevenson: If you’re a big fan of James Bond, thrillers, and spy novels, then you’ll love this book. It focuses on the formation of the different intelligence agencies formed by the Allies during World War II and everything that went into winning the war. It covers everything from the events leading up to World War II, to the cracking of Enigma, and much, much more. This book gives you a unique view of World War II that you never got in the classroom!

Are there any books you think are must reads? Feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments and I may put add them in!

4 Things to do to End Your Summer Boredom

For those of us who are in college or have their peak seasons during the rest of the year summer boredom can drive us mad. Our brains and bodies have grown so used to the stress and creativity required for our busy times that during the summer we feel weird not doing something that feels productive. That is why I am dedicating this post to my top four things to prevent summer boredom.

1.  Learn Another Skill: Whether it be learning to cook Spanish cuisine through the Food Network or tackling a free online coding class, learning a new skill can be very rewarding. You’ll become even more talented than you already are and end up creating possible gifts or meals along the way.
   
2. Learn Another Language: I know, I know, learning another language  is technically learning another skill, but this is more than just learning a new skill, it’s giving you an excuse to finally learn Italian, so when you ask for directions in the Tuscany countryside you don’t end up in Rome. 
   
3. Get Crafty: Maybe you've always wanted to learn to knit or how to make your own jewelry, and the free time that you have during the summer is a great excuse to start these projects. You can go to classes around the city or use craft videos to help you learn where to start.
   
4. Read Your Heart Out: So maybe you were too busy during the rest of the year to read that best seller that grabbed your eye, the extra daylight hours give you the chance to get a jump start on your reading list. Summer also gives you the chance to read all of those classics you said you read in high school, so you will no longer have to fake your way through discussions about Jane Austen.

Which of these things will you do this summer? Is there something that you think should be added to this list? Post any comments or questions you'd like to share in the comments section or on Facebook.

3 Ways To Decorate You're Apartment Without Getting Evicted

Whether you’re getting ready to move into a new place or just want to change things, choosing how to decorate your apartment can be a daunting task. You don’t want to violate your lease agreement, but you also don’t want to sacrifice your sense of style. Never fear, here are 3 tips to help you decorate your apartment without getting evicted.

Take Advantage of Wall Decals: If you live in an apartment complex that doesn’t allow you to drill holes to hang up artwork but are tired of the same dingy, white walls, then invest in artwork that is easy to remove. They will transform you wall from drab to fab and are easy to assemble!

Throw Around Some Throw Pillows: If you want to add color to a room, but aren’t allowed to paint the walls anything other than white, then I recommend investing in throw pillows. They come thousands of different colors and designs and are easy to mix and match with each other if you want to change the theme of your room.

Show Off Your Statement Pieces: If you’ve been treasuring an adorably random paperweight in your bedroom because it doesn’t match your current décor, then just stop. Bring out that little statement piece and show it off in your living room, it’s a piece that means something to you. It shows off your personality and that alone will make your piece fit in with the room.

Are there any tips you would like everyone to know about decorating their apartment? Let us know in the comments and I might include it in one of my posts! I hope you’ve found these tips helpful, now go forth and decorate!

5 Tips for How to Save Money While Shopping

         

Being a broke college student can be hard sometimes, especially when you like to shop. But if you shop smart, then you can still enjoy buying the things you love without breaking the bank. Here are 7 tips about how to shop smart:

1. Use Your Student Discounts: If you like to shop at places like TopShop or on Amazon, then as a student you get a discount. TopShop gives you a 10% discount off and Amazon gives you a 6-month free trial to Amazon Prime, which will be half off after your trial expires. To see a list of other student discounts, click this link: http://www.giftcardgranny.com/blog/student-discounts/ . If you attend the University of Louisville check out this link for more discounts in the Louisville area: http://louisville.edu/hr/gptw/discounts/entertainmentdiscounts
   
2.   Use Membership Cards: Whether it be your Kroger card for groceries or your Ulta card for makeup, most stores offer membership cards that give you rewards for shopping there. These rewards can include anything from money off your next fill up or even little gifts for your birthday. If you shop at a store regularly and don’t know if that store offers a rewards card just ask an associate, they can help you set up an account.
   
3. Explore Thrift Shops In Your Area: If you’re obsessed with shopping for clothes like me, then you know that buying new clothes all the time can get expensive. But, there is an alternative that isn’t as bad as Macklemore made it out to be, your local thrift shops. Consignment shops hold unique and interesting pieces for a much cheaper price than in department stores.
   
4. Go “Shopping” In Your Relatives’ Closets: If you have any older siblings, parents, or grandparents that have clothes your size or a similar fashion taste, then see if you can raid their closet. You can find great things that are actually vintage and that have some sentimental value.
   
5. Cut Back: If you use all of these suggestions and you are still spending too much money, then you may need to cut back on your spending. It may be no fun, but when you cut back to mostly necessities, you will save so much money.

I hope these tips help you save money and still enjoy your shopping experiences. If you have any other tips or you would like to comment on, then please post them below. Check back next week for tips on how to deal with stress while in school.

A Healthy Meal For When You Have No Time

It can be hard to eat healthy in college for many different reasons. But whether you think you can’t eat healthy because you think you can’t afford healthy foods you like to eat or you think that you have no time to make healthy foods, healthy eating is still necessary if you want to feel healthy in college. That is why this week I am centering this post on a healthy recipe that tastes good and is affordable: Zucchini Noodle Fettuccini. Zucchini Noodle Fettuccini is a meal that takes under thirty minutes to prepare, gives you some much needed servings of vegetables, and won’t break the bank.

Here’s is what you will need to prepare your Fettuccini:

•  Spiralizer (You can find one like this for $8 on Amazon)
  
•  2 Zucchinis
• 1 medium Swiss Cheese Wedge (Sliced)
•  2 Tea Spoons of Parmesan (Shredded)
• 1.5 Cups of Low Fat Sour Cream
• Skillet to Cook the Pasta in

Now that you know what supplies you need, it’s time for the easy cooking process.

1.  Twist the zucchini through the spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles.
2. Put the zucchini in the skillet and cook at a medium heat for 4 minutes.
3. Mix in the parmesan, Swiss cheese, and sour cream into the skillet with the zucchini noodles.
4. Cook at medium heat while stirring occasionally until all the cheese is melted and becomes a sauce-like consistency.

That’s literally all there is to it and you are ready to eat in less than 30 minutes. If you have any tips or other recipes you would like to share please leave some comments, I would love to know about what you do for quick healthy meals. Check back next week for 6 tips on how to save money when shopping and another featured recipe next month. 

4 Things to Remember When Apartment Hunting

If you go to one of the larger universities across the world, chances are after your freshmen year, you will have to find off campus housing. Finding off campus housing that isn’t in a dangerous neighborhood or obscenely expensive can seem like a daunting task, but if you follow my tips and advice, this task will be much more pleasant.

1.     Ask Upperclassmen for Advice: If you find yourself having trouble figuring out where to start on your search, then ask upperclassmen where they recommend living. Chances are they know the best places to live.

2.   Research the Neighborhoods: Learn about the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Find out how safe the neighborhoods are, the average pricing of apartments for rent, the average price for utilities, and how far away these apartments are from the places you would like to go. You’ll need to know if living in that area will make you happy.

3.   Search the Student Housing Website: If your school has a student housing website, then they probably include available apartments in your area. The listings on school websites tend to include housing off campus that is created exclusively for college students, so you can feel like you live on campus and have the benefits of your own room.

4.   Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions: When you first start searching for apartments, it may be overwhelming to try to check for everything included on a tour. This is why it is good to ask questions about if utilities or internet is included in your monthly rent, because it may be cheaper in the long run to choose the more expensive rent if it includes these amenities. You should also find out where the washers and dryers are and if there is any form of security because your health and safety is very important.

I wish you guys luck on searching for your apartments and hope you found these tips helpful. Check out my blog post next week for four healthy meals to make on a college budget.