Back when Matt and I were first dating, I had only known him for about three weeks when he got food poisoning. His roommate took him to the ER for treatment, but he had to go back the next day for dehydration. He asked me to see if his friend who lived across the hall from me would take him, but I told him to stop being so proud and that I would take him. He later told me that that was one of the nicest things I’d ever done, especially for not knowing him for very long.

Flash forward to now, and I still want to take care of him. Everything from helping him with his laundry to more serious stuff like going to therapy. Matt and I have been through a lot of tough times, and I’m glad to say that we’re still together and still going strong. We have our weak moments just like everyone else, but one of the true signs of a real relationship is staying with each other through the bad times, not just the good. Anybody can go with you to the party, but a man who really loves you will hold your hair while you’re puking.

Relationships have to be built on trust and love, and if that’s not there, then someone in the relationship is bound to be unhappy. You should want to be each other’s strengths when the other seems to be running out. You should want to lean on the other person when you can’t go it alone. And there’s nothing better than knowing you’ve got all of that if you ever need it. Read More »

Ok, so I’ll be honest: I’m completely broke and can’t really afford an amazing gift for my dad for Father’s Day. To make matters worse, last year I had to go out of town on Father’s Day weekend making it the first year I didn’t see my dad on his day. I have a lot of ground to make up as far as good daughters go.

For anyone else in my position, never fear; you can still have a good day without shelling out wads of cash. Here are a few ideas for spending time with your dad instead of money.

Day at the Park – Some of my best memories with my dad are from when we’d go to the park to fly kites during the summer. Why not relive some childhood memories that were equally as good for dear ol’ dad? Even if you didn’t do stuff like this when you were a kid, there are plenty of ways to hang out with dad outside: toss around the football, go for a hike, have a picnic. Options abound in the great outdoors.

Day in the Kitchen – This is for the dad’s who cook/grill. Why not plan a big Father’s Day meal and cook/grill it together? Dad will love showing off his skills (I know mine does), not to mention get some quality time with you. You could also bake him some special “I Heart Dad” cookies or cupcakes… and let him lick the bowl. How could he not love that?

Day at the Game - Fitting with our low cost theme, look into local sporting events for cheap tickets. In my hometown we have an indoor football league with $10 tickets and colleges who have free admission to their baseball games. Dig enough and I’m sure you’ll find something you and your dad can enjoy together. Read More »

The sun is shining, the breeze is warm and Spring is in full swing. Who wants to waste such a beautiful day slaving away on a treadmill indoors? Research shows that sharing your sweat session with Mother Nature decreases your stress levels and ups your calorie burn due to the varied terrain and fluctuating temperatures. It’s time to lace up your Nikes and head to the nearest park.

-Your cardio doesn’t have to be boring when you’re hoofing it under the sun. After a quick warm-up, try jogging backwards. Experts say it burns a fifth more calories and improves your balance by engaging your core. Afraid of looking silly? Don’t be.  All anyone will think would be, “Hey! She knows something I don’t!”

-Now, let’s build our endurance. Find some stairs and sprint from the bottom to the top without stopping or skipping steps. Walk back down and finish up with 4 more sets. Just like having a Stairmaster outdoors, this exercise will increase your heart and lung capacity while building killer legs for those adorable minis.

-How about you pull your forgotten roller blades out of the back of your closet and lace them up? While also a great cardio workout, rollerblading tones your inner and outer thighs along with your beautiful booty. To torch about 450 calories in 30 minutes, alternate one minute of tucked, speed skating with one minute of upright, relaxed skating. Be sure to wear your knee and elbow pads! I hear scrapes and bruises are out this season. Read More »

I go to a school of about 50,000 students, in a metropolitan area of approx. 1.6 million. It’d be a bit redundant to tell you that driving is an issue. A parking permit at my school alone will set you back $700. Plus, you have to move your car for all home sporting events and any other time the school says, “Hey, the space is ours, we’re taking it back.”

For everyone else out there who will be walking (literally) in my shoes this fall, here are some ideas to get you by…

Getting back home: Just because you’re without a car, doesn’t mean everyone else is. This is the one instance where I think bribing is ok. Be nice and offer to help pay for the gas. It goes a long way.

Getting around town: It’s called walking. It’s what people did before cars. It’s good for the environment, and good for you. So strech out those legs every now and then. Heck, even a bike will suffice. But if you need to go somewhere a bit out of walking/biking distance, looking into public transit is a good idea. Most college towns have a bus system, and you can look up the routes online. In my case, it’s free for students, but just in case, I’d start saving coins if I were you. And if you really are just the laziest person in the world, buy a Vespa.

Getting to class: My campus is huge, and parking on campus is pretty much non existant. If you live on campus, be sure to leave with enough time to actually get there. There’s no longer a “drive 80 on back roads to get to school” option. You have to hoof it. Read More »