With this being the last week of classes (THANK GOD), I can now spend the time I was spending in the library for more useful things. Like daydreaming about summer time. When it’s 80 degrees and sunny outside my classroom, can you blame me?

But more than summer dresses, sandals and sun tans, with summer comes great opportunities for more bonding time, and more creative bonding time, with the BF.

Looking for something new to do with the boyf?  Here you are my favorite summer time date ideas!

1. Kayaking – I love, love, LOVE kayaking. I love being in the water, but have never been a really strong swimmer so this works out really well for me. You can even take the cuteness up a level and go canoeing. He can row while you read poetry from under your parasol. (Sorry, this is what I think of when I hear of a couple in a canoe). But kayaking really is a cheap activity that’s way more fun to do with a partner than alone.

2. Bike rides – I’m particularly excited about this one because Matt and I just bought bikes and went for our first bike ride last night! You can ride to yogurt shops or snow cone stands or whatever you want for a treat, then pedal your way back home. Or go on a fun adventure off the beaten path (literally). Read More »

When I moved to college, the first thing I did after unpacking my shower caddy and twin extra long sheets was buy a parking spot. I had to have my car. Had to. It gets cold in Colorado, obviously, so walking all over campus in the winter was not an option. Plus, I got so used to having a car for errands, Costco runs, etc., that I just couldn’t bear to be without one.

I am sure most students feel the same way, especially since I can never find anywhere to park on campus these days. Ugh. Why do I even have a car if I can’t use it to drive to class?!

But I digress.

All of this campus street congestion that is no doubt a problem on college campuses nationwide has led many schools to start a revolution…with bikes.

The University of New England is one of a few schools (that will soon be many) that is offering free bikes to any student who leaves their car at home. Other schools are setting up bike share programs, which entice students to pedal around campus instead of hopping in the car. These schools are hoping that by giving students a real alternative, they will not feel the need to bring their car to campus.

And it looks like it’s all working – for more than just the parking sitch:

“We did it as a means of reducing the need for parking, but as we looked at it from the standpoint of fitness, health and sustainability, we realized we have the opportunity to create a change.”

The whole idea is really quite smart. By opting for a bike instead of a car you could help the environment, save money on parking (and parking tickets…), get healthy, and free up some of those parking spots for the rest of us reduce the number of cars clogging your campus streets. And all for free!

This looks like a total win/win.

Consider this… would you rather express your style with a pair of earrings that no one can see or a gorgeous umbrella that all the damp people around you admire?

Let’s be honest: anyone can pop on a necklace, carry around a $500 hobo bag, and call it a day. To be a true pioneer of style, you should learn to strut your stuff in truly unique ways that no one will copy.

Regarding bags, why not go for one that is actually supposed to carry stuff rather than just look good? True, you can stuff an awful lot of crap into a hobo bag, but laptop bags are a great way to rock some style while keeping your computer safe. And if you’re going to walk all over town or lug your textbooks to class, you can customize a backpack for a really cool and personal look. Read More »

Fact: exercise is boring. I know, I know: it clears your mind, gives you an endorphin high, keeps you from dying young, and so on. Still, at the end of the day, you’ve wasted valuable whiskey money on a gym membership so that you can run for hours on a treadmill that takes you, by my latest calculations, nowhere.

This is why I like bicycles. They actually take you places – useful! – while providing you with the toned leg muscles and mighty forearms of a god. Also, if you ride in the city, biking can totally kill you. That’s always exciting.

I’ve just started biking in New York. This weekend, I rode from 125th Street to the South Ferry. That’s right: I traversed pretty much the entire island of Manhattan. You may all bask in my accomplishment now. (Note: I am aware that some people ride much harder, and for much longer distances, than I have. I don’t want to hear from them! Get your own blogs, hippies.)

By the end of the trip, I was sweaty and exhausted, I looked like hell, and I was riding a wave of pure giddy euphoria. This, for those keeping score, makes biking exactly like sex, except for the fact that your bike can’t give you chlamydia. I highly recommend it.

Here are some tips. Read More »