One of my earliest memories is my first day of first grade.
I don’t remember what I wore.
I don’t remember what my mom packed me for lunch (though I’m sure there was a Swiss Cake Roll in there).
But I remember exactly what my backpack looked like.

Magenta with bright blue and yellow pockets. I was one rockin’ 6-year-old. And just thinking about that bag makes me as happy as that day when I filled it with markers, construction paper and my Barbie lunch box.

There is something about back to school time, whether you’re entering first grade or freshman year, that is so exciting. You don’t want to do the work, you don’t want to sit in the classes, but still – you can’t wait for the first day of school. And don’t even get me started on school supply shopping. Heaven. On. Earth. Read More »

I first learned about Freitag, a Swiss company, and its products while flipping through a magazine during a flight. What kept me reading the whole article instead of turning up the volume on my headphones to whatever random movie was playing on that mini screen 10 rows up was how they made their products. This wasn’t just another ho-hum ad for a travel bag; Freitag was born from something bigger.

The idea came about when graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag wanted a durable and waterproof messenger bag to carry their belongings in. They traveled by bike and when it rained, their designs would get ruined. They were inspired by the colorful trucks that would drive past their apartment, so they made the very first Freitag bag out of a truck tarpaulin with a used car seatbelt as the strap and an old bicycle inner tube as the edging.

And there it was: an awesome looking bag that was practical and eco-friendly. Read More »

If you haven’t yet discovered Etsy, the Internet’s largest and coolest craft marketplace, beware. It will eat your soul. Ok, maybe not your soul, but it will take a serious bite out of your day and, if you’re not careful, your savings account.

You can easily fritter away three or four hours just browsing through dresses or scarves or jewelry, not to mention shoes, crafts and other delicious goodies.

. . . Ok,  I’m back now. Got a little side-tracked.

Anyway, Etsy can be a little overwhelming if you’re just starting to look. It’s like walking into Ikea for the first time, or popping into Costco without a list. Basically, you need some guidance (that is easier to follow than those Spanish maps at Ikea…).

That’s why I’m here! Try dipping your toe in the Etsy pool by browsing products from these 10 fab sellers. And then spend another 6 hours getting to know the rest.

Read More »

You have stuffed so much clothing into your closet that the door won’t shut. The bottom of your Ikea drawers are drooping from the weight of all your long sleeve tees shoved in there.

And you didn’t even bring everything you own to school!

Yet, no matter how much sh*t you have, you keep wearing the same three things over and over. We know how that goes; we too have that one favorite thing in our wardrobe that we just can’t stop wearing. With everything. For every occasion.

So what if it has holes in the armpits? And who cares if it is 4 years old? That is fashion perfection.

Below is a list of our writers’ favorite wardrobe items. You may want to consider adding these items to your over-stuffed closet; obviously, they are totally worth it. Read More »

We all get tired of walking to class, especially if you’re running late, sleep-deprived, hung-over, a lazy jerk, or all of the above. That’s when you hop on your trusty 10-speed, or if you’re a huge tool, razor-scooter. Keep in mind that if you find yourself riding such a scooter you have way bigger problems than just being a little late. Tardiness is excusable, looking like a douche isn’t. Donate that piece of shit to someone who needs it, like a pre-teen or “tween” if you will. Actually, drop it off at Salvation Army, those brats don’t need anything else. What kind of 11-year old wins a texting competition? I can barely type my own name half the time, which may be more attributable to the fact that I’m a lush.

Moving on, that 10-speed of yours is slowly becoming, gasp, uncool. Oh no? Oh yes. Anyone who’s anyone, including any hipster worth their converse will tell you that track bikes are the new must have in transportation fashion. So what if these über-sweet bikes (yes I just said über, don’t judge) don’t have any “brakes”. Since when did brakes become a prequistatie for bike functionality? That’s right, if you want to be cool, you got to be willing to get hit by a car or better yet, mow down some unsuspecting students on route to Chemistry. Chem sucks, you’d be doing them a favor. Is it wrong that I heard about this trend in Wired? I mean…it’s so Computer Science major of me. Read More »