There are only a few weeks left of the Spring 2009 semester, so how are you going to spend your summer? If you’re like many poor students across the country, you’re going to waste at least the first month of summer vacay working (and sweating) your ass off in the grueling heat in order to pay off the debt you racked up this term.

This past weekend was the first summery weekend in New York (and the Tri-State area), and as I walked through Manhattan, giving my pasty arms their first taste of real sunshine in months, I was infinitely jealous of all of the people in shorts and flip flops sitting outside the restaurants and cafes, casually throwing back margaritas and nibbling on tapas. I immediately regretted all of the cabs I took this winter when it was too cold to walk a few blocks to the subway, splurging on expensive bar nights (and overpriced coat checks), and every other frivolous nickel I threw away, because this weekend, I could not afford a leisurely afternoon of day-drinking. I realized that if I could not afford this luxury, how would I afford a fantastic vacation this summer?

Well, it’s not too late to cut costs where it matters and save up the money to enjoy the weather this summer and make the most of your three months away from school. By cutting down on what you think are daily necessities, you’ll be surprised by how much you can save in a short period of time. Read More »

Ever since our family dentist looked at my brother’s teeth and asked him if he routinely fell asleep with candy in his mouth and my mother saw the amount of money it would take to clear his teeth of cavities, I haven’t had anything but diet soda.

Sugary sodas and juices went out the window as soon as my parents realized the havoc they were playing with our health (not like the aspartame in diet soda is any better…but…I mean…let’s not think about that), and since that fateful dentist appointment 13 years ago, I have been very conscious of the hidden bad stuff inside innocent-seeming liquids.

Sometimes, even the good, “healthy” stuff can stab you in the back. Need some examples?

Glaceau VitaminWater (20 oz)

This shiz has 130 calories and 33 grams of sugar. I love VitaminWater because it makes me feel like I’m ingesting actual vitamins, but when I force myself to think about it…how healthy can something that tastes THAT sweet really be?

Pina Colada

This summer drink has 625 freaking calories and 75 grams of sugar. Do you KNOW how many miles on the treadmill that is? Give me some rum and a splash of lime — still tropical, but waaayyy less mean to the waist line. Read More »

I love Chicken Pot Pie. If it’s at all possible for words to have a taste, home tastes like creamy chicken and pie crust.

Chicken Pot Pie gets a bad rap for being kind of time consuming but there are some very easy short cuts to take to go from unpacking groceries to hot and ready pot pie in less than 50 minutes (45 if you’re a good chopper).

Ingredients:

1 Medium Yellow Onion

3 Carrots

3 Celery Stalks

1 Cup of Frozen Peas

1 TB Butter

1 Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken

2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup (10 3/4 oz. Use A Name Brand)

1 Cup of Milk

1 Box of Roll-Out Pie Crusts

1 Egg

Directions Read More »

It wasn’t until around a year ago that I really started to pay attention to the things I ate. And I took on my new knowledge of what’s nutritious, how to lose weight, and how to really exercise…well…kicking and screaming.

I was always that bitch with the really fast metabolism who didn’t gain weight. I’d come home and go from eating a can of Pringles to an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s–easily. I never was bigger than a size 7, however, I did slowly become more concerned with being healthy. So what if I could eat a bucket of lard for dinner? That didn’t mean it was doing my health any wonders or that I felt GOOD after one of my binges.

Plus, I didn’t think it’d kill me to be a little smaller if losing weight did end up being the outcome of the diet change. Now that I’ve been a size 3 for about nine months, I’ve learned that a lot of girls who ask me how I stay small believe a lot of bullsh%t diet myths. Read More »

Days as a Freshman: 152

Mood: trying to remember

“Grace, you came.”

Justin managed to push himself into our little encased corner, his eyes falling to the plastic cups in our hands.

“I was invited, wasn’t I?” I smiled up at him, trying to loosen the stern expression that had taken over his features. “Want a sip?”

“What’s in that?” Justin’s eyes flickered from my glass to Rebecca’s. “Did you make that yourself?”

“Sasha made it for us.” Rachel took another sip of the dark liquid, her glass already halfway drained. Obviously, she had some practice in the fine art of drinking liquor with ease. “Jack and coke. Want a sip?”

The bass on the stereo began to thump louder, the packed bodies in the room moving and swaying to the new beat. I took a small sip from my glass, doing my best to keep my mouth from curling in beginner’s disgust. The liquor was strong, cutting through the soda with a smoky, hard taste.

“Sasha made those?!” Justin had to yell. “Where is he now?” Read More »

Try as I might, I just can’t keep my fridge looking nice.

For one thing, it’s small and has to house two sets of foodstuffs (me and my roommate’s), and for another, it was already gross when we moved in.

Every once in a while the roommate or I will feebly attempt to sponge off decades worth of black stuff that better not be anything other than mold, or Lysol the whole thing in hopes of dispelling that slightly musky odor that just won’t go away, but no matter what we try, our fridge seems destined to be nothing but a crappy machine that keeps our milk cold.

Some people, however, love their fridges. Something about their fridges makes them proud.

So proud, in fact, that they want the world to know how deep their mechanical love goes.

That’s where Fridgewatcher comes in. Read More »

• As if popping and squatting isn’t awkward enough, now we have — the Shenis! Impressive, no? (Jezebel)

• For 3 hours this Saturday there are going to be a lot of angry fat kids. We should probably be a little nervous. (MSNBC)

• Who needs a masculine jock-y boyfriend when you can just drink man-flavored sweat soda? Mmmm. (Business Week)

• Penn State is bullying little kids out of using their logo. Cause you know, using a dangerous looking animal as a mascot is an original PSU idea. (Fredericksburg.com)

• Going to attempt to cram 50 dressed-up classmates into your dorm this Halloween? Of course you are! Here, we did a little shopping for you! (NerdApproved.com)

As if this news wasn’t bad enough (because I truly thought that “hard work and sensible meals” would work for me!), my day has just gotten worse.

Not sort of bad like, when you dry your undies on high heat and your life turns into a constant wedgie. Bad in a Diet-Coke-is-Bad-For-You way.

I understand that this news may be shocking to no one else but me, but I am just devastated. Sure, I knew all along that the artificial sweeteners that make up my favorite bev-y were bad for me.

Something about causing cancer or something, right? Well, excuse me for ignoring the warning signs and resigning to the fact that everything I do (like standing in front of my micro and watching my 94% fat-free popcorn pop) causes cancer. At least I wasn’t drinking regular Coke!

That stuff rots your teeth. And makes you fat. Duh. Read More »

I don’t know about you, but my days aren’t complete without at least 60 ounces of Diet Coke. On the way to class, at dinner, after a long night at the bar – Diet Coke is my drug. Well, that and the occasional bong hit.

Recently, though, I had to cut back on my DC intake due to some gossip I heard around town (read: on Oprah). Apparently, drinking Diet Coke can make people fat! Yes, you heard me. The high sodium content in my favorite beverage (well, besides rum and Diet Coke, of course) causes its biggest fans to pack on the poundage.

Whaaaaa?!

Oh yeah, and all that sugar substitute crap could lead to some serious health problems.

I was outraged. And apparently I wasn’t the only one.

It seems that Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have been getting a bad rep lately. In an effort to combat all the negative press, scientists/mixologists over at the headquarters have been working hard to produce a soda product that shatters all expectations. And they have finally done it. YIPPEE!

Introducing Diet Coke Plus, a zero (yes, zero!) calorie soda with some extra nutrients sprinkled in. According to Coke, “one 8-ounce serving of the soda will provide 15 percent of the daily value (DV) of niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, and 10 percent of the DV for zinc and magnesium.” That means that instead of taking your daily vitamin with a can of DC, the can of DC can actually be your vitamin! Read More »