Posts filed under 'social life'
Packing up to head home for winter break? This trip might be a little different than spending a weekend there–so here’s your guide to making it through the holidays!
Prepare Your Parents
Your parents are probably still used to you as their high school student, so the transition to the more independent you that you’ve made over the past couple months may be a little shock to their systems. (I remember my dad asking if he needed to wake me up in the morning–I asked him how he thought I’d made it to class everyday if I needed a wakeup call!)
Make a point of discussing with your parents what they expect. Will your curfew be reinstated (and can you get it moved later)? Do they have family time scheduled that you should pencil into your plans? Is Mom going to be okay with you bringing home all your laundry?
Call, chat, text, or email, but just make sure you all know what to expect to make this visit fun & comfortable for everyone.
Schedule Your Fun
These precious weeks off will pass quickly, so be sure you plan out a few days to fit in those things you really want to do at home (don’t get sucked into using up your whole break on extra sleep and back-to-back sessions of Guitar Hero!)
So schedule a lunch meeting with your friends from high school, make time to play soccer with your little brother, and choose a day to get those last minute gifts bought and wrapped!
Make Some Cash
A few years away from home have probably opened your eyes to the expenses of independence, so take advantage of this homework-free time and earn some money! Check out this article I wrote about how to make money over winter break and my boss’s 5 ways to earn cash for college over at our sister site, the Pay for College Blog.
Re-stock for Next Semester
You know how you forgot your Foo Fighters CD, ate all of your Easy Mac, and just realized how badly you need that coat in the back of your closet at home? Well now is the time to re-stock for your next stint of school! Gather everything you need (and ask mom for help with that Easy Mac dilemma–they have a huge case at Costco!) and get packed up to go back well-prepared.
Happy Holidays–enjoy the time off!
photo: Suitcases by bb_matt
December 16th, 2008
With projects, midterms (or ugh! finals!!!), and plenty of studying, November can be a little exhausting–so why not loosen up with a little shindig with your nearest and dearest? Snatch up these ideas for an evening with your closest gal pals or a smashing boys night.
For the Guys
- LAN Party. If you and your boys are true gamers, you already know what this is, but even casual gamers can simplify a LAN party. The basic idea? Get a bunch of your friends together for a BYOC (bring your own computer) evening (or all-nighter) featuring your fav multi-player game. Think the Call of Duty “team building” enjoyed by the Stamford branch in “The Office.”
- Pizza Hopping. Pizza is definitely a staple part of college life, so why not search out the best one–all in one evening? Whether you hop restaurants or go for delivery, make sure you branch out from the regular old Huts and Tables. Find the local dives, the quirky New York style pizza parlor in Portland, and the hole-in-the-wall deep dish place. (San Diegans, I have to recommend New York style at Bronx Pizza in Hillcrest–yum!)
For the Gals
- “Femme Nue” Party. The concept of a Femme Nue party (scandalously translated to “Naked Lady” party ) is simple and fun: you get a bunch of friends, grab all the clothes you never wear anymore and basically have a free-for-all clothing swap. Can’t slip into your former-favorite anymore? Trade them in for your BFF’s vintage cardigan. Add m&m’s and cupcakes and you’ve got yourself a party.
- Worst Date Party. Everybody has a bad date story: whether he brought his brother or forgot you at a hockey match, you’ve been there. The worst date party is a girly recompense for that worst-of-the-worst evening long (or not so long) ago. Gather your best friends and treat each other to a good date (read: swap corsages, get dressed up, and grab dinner somewhere you’re guaranteed a cute waiter) and swap your stories. Make sure you have a prize ready for the worst story! Go one better and write your stories down for posterity.
Oh good times. Don’t forget you can share your own party times in the comments!
photo: Disco LightBall by dsiis
November 20th, 2008
Want to spice up your Halloween with a little do-it-yourself costuming this year? Here are a few of my favorite fun (or ridiculous) costume tutorials from around the web… (I think the Inanimate Objects may be my favs!)
Wings, Capes, and Tails
Traditional Costumes
Movie/TV/Book Inspired
Inanimate Objects
photo: Pumpkin Candle by somadjinn
October 19th, 2008
I like to throw a party as much as the next girl, but living on a teeny tiny budget doesn’t exactly make that easy. With my student loans in repayment and my husband applying for med school, we’ve got to be pretty creative to have anyone over (much less feed them). That’s why Waffle Night, our semi-weekly Sunday night soiree, is so perfect.
The 10 Dollar Party
Waffles may be the perfect party food-everyone seems to like them, and they feed a lot of people for not a lot of money. Basically you buy a ½ gallon carton of buttermilk, a bag of flour, and some vegetable oil, and you’re good to go. The other ingredients you’ll probably have on hand if you cook at all. Best of all, we’ve fed up to 20 people with just waffles-that’s 50 cents per person!
Making it Affordable
The waffles themselves may be reasonable, but the accessories and toppings can rack up your bill-so do what we do, and get your guests to bring stuff. Here are a few things you may need to assign/borrow:
- Waffle iron
- Syrups (our favorites are maple, chocolate, and strawberry)
- Toppings (jam, candy, honey, peanut butter, sprinkles, chocolate chips, etc.)
- Paper cups, plates, and napkins + plastic utensils (if you don’t want to do dishes)
- Drinks (milk, orange/apple/grape juice, water, etc.)
The Waffle Recipe
So, our actual buttermilk waffle recipe is one of those top-secret family deals, but this waffle recipe looks pretty darn good. You can also mix it up and try having:
If you want to spend a little more, you could have everyone over for custom omelets or personal pizzas.
Do you have any cheap party ideas to share with the class? 
photo: Waffles 4 by woodsy
October 13th, 2008
Volunteering isn’t all soup kitchens and senior living centers-in fact I’m almost daring enough to propose that there is probably a nearly-perfect volunteer opportunity for everyone-but clearly there are probably a few exceptions. : )
Obviously you’ve already been accepted to college, so why should you keep volunteering after high school? Well, if you think about it, it’s kind of a “Win-Win-Win” (to quote Michael Scott).
- Will it help me find my “niche” around here, and help me meet new people? Check.
- Will getting outside of myself and helping other people help me beat homesickness? Check.
- Will it look darn good on my résumé? Check.
See? Win-Win-Win. I’d actually like to throw some more “Win”s in there because there are many, many other benefits of volunteering. Want to give it a shot?
If You Like to Read…
- Reading is Fundamental: Help select books for local programs, organize book events, read books aloud and/or tell stories, fundraise, and raise awareness about children’s literacy.
- LibriVox: Volunteer to read for LibriVox, which provides free downloadable audiobooks of books in the public domain. You can even get a group of people together to read play-style with different voices for each character.
- Read This to Me: Spend an hour or so a week reading things sent in by blind or low-vision people to them over the phone (hey, you’re on your phone all the time anyway, right?). This can be anything from a magazine article to a phone bill.
- Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic®: Record books and/or text books for the blind and dyslexic at one of the many RFBD centers nationwide.
- Local Library: Local libraries are always on the lookout for volunteers to help stock shelves, read at story time, or man summer reading program tables. Contact yours and see if they need any help.
If You Like Working (or Making Art) With Your Hands…
- Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer to help build homes for the needy, either in your own community or in more exotic locales!
- Play Music at a Hospital or Hospice: Many hospitals or hospices offer volunteers the opportunity to play either in their lobby or for their patients. It’s an easy way to share your talent and brighten a few people’s days.
- Be an Arts & Crafts Volunteer: Community, children’s, and elderly programs are a great place to share your love of an art or craft. Search your local area for volunteer opportunities to teach art, sewing, knitting, crochet, or any other art to those around you-and if you can’t find an opportunity, make one!
- Make Baby Blankets: If you like to knit, quilt, sew, or crochet, check with local hospitals and children’s hospitals to see if they accept donations of baby blankets. Many provide blankets to low-income families who may not have much for their babies.
If You’re a People Person (or an Animal Lover):
- Ronald McDonald House: Ronald McDonald houses are a haven for families whose children are in the hospital. You can help out by volunteering in a number of ways: planning events, fundraising, cleaning, hosting game or movie night for the families, or even bringing by treats, snacks, or dinner.
- Holding Babies: Did you know that many hospitals actually have a spot for volunteers who want to hold babies? Many babies born prematurely or abandoned need physical contact during their developmental stages. Contact your local hospital (or children’s hospital) to see if they have a spot for you. (This does tend to have a waiting list… The hospital near my apartment has a wait of 2 years!)
- Big Brothers & Big Sisters: Make a big impact by doing little things-hiking, cooking, playing basketball, or even just hanging out-with a kid who needs a friend. It can be as little as 4 hours a month.
- Animal Shelter/Veterinarian Office: Animal shelters and veterinarian offices are often glad of a helping hand washing and walking animals, cleaning, feeding, etc. Call around your area and see who needs you!
If You Want to Search for Yourself…
- Volunteer Match: Search out volunteer opportunities in your area from a huuuge list!
photo: Together 1 by flaivoloka
September 29th, 2008
Once you move out of the house, your relationship with Mom & Dad takes on a whole new light. Suddenly they’re not there 24/7, either to help or hover. Here’s what you need to know about how (and why!) your parents are behaving differently now that you’re in charge of doing your own laundry:
Your Mom Reads Your Blog.
It’s true, your mom might read your blog. She may have seen your MySpace page, too, and if you’ve chatted, she’s probably clicked any link in your AIM profile. Don’t believe me? Take a peak at this forum thread, where parents discuss how they google their teens. I can also tell you from personal experience that my mom read my blog, and my best friends’ mom read hers, too.
Keep that in mind when you’re posting pics & details about your life (and also remember that your boss could be googling you, too!)
Why: I know it seems nosey, but your mom or dad is used to having you around a lot more. It used to be that your parents could ask about your day after school, at dinner, or really whenever they felt like it. Now that you’re out of the house, they’re probably missing that day-to-day interaction. Try shooting off a couple more emails, and calling home once in a while. And yes, you can ask them not to read your blog if it makes you uncomfortable.
Your Room is Rearranged (or Never Touched).
There are two unsettling extremes you could experience when you go home:
- Your room is left untouched, like some kind of shrine to your high school days.
- Your room is rearranged, your younger sibling has taken it over, and/or your room has become the guest room/dad’s study/the family gym.
Either of these scenarios can be a little uncomfortable. After all, you lived here for years of your life, you probably don’t expect Mom & Dad to start repainting the day you start school, or to leave the door shut all the time like your room is a shrine.
Why: In a sense, your parents are mourning your childhood-you’re off at college learning to be an adult, and that means their lives are going to change big time. Just like with any big change, everybody deals with it differently. If your parents are in denial, your room is probably more like a “you-museum” than a bedroom. If they are trying to move on and let you grow up, you might come home to find a Bowflex Home Gym where your desk used to be. Again, you can always talk it out-parents like that, and it will help you feel more comfortable with the new situation.
Your Parents Have Taken Up Random (for them) New Hobbies.
Maybe your Dad starts taking yoga when he’s more of a hunting-with-the-boys kind of guy. Maybe Mom starts fencing when she was more into crocheting and scrapbooking before. Whatever changes you see in your parents, they’re probably a little unexpected.
Why: Whether or not you remember it, your life took up a lot of your parent’s time. Mom and Dad spent a good portion of their day chauffeuring, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, going to your soccer games, working to put food on the table, and generally being your personal cheerleading squad.
These new hobbies are their reaction to having a whole lot of unexpected free time. They’re probably both missing the time with you, and trying to adjust to-and enjoy-the freedom to try new things again.
So, What’s Going On?
Okay, so your house is different, Mom’s gotten a Facebook account, and your Dad has taken up horseback riding to fill in the time you used to spend golfing together-what’s really going on?
I mean, aren’t you the one who’s going through a huge life change right now?
Well, kind of. What’s going on is that your parents are starting to come to terms with being “empty nesters.” You have basically been the focus of their lives for the past 18-or-so years, so this sudden disconnect can be really hard on them. Even if you have other siblings still at home, watching one of their babies step into adulthood can really shake a parent up!
I hope this unraveled a little bit of the mystery of parental behavior in college. (Hey, you can always get a new blog account if you have to!)
photo: Layoff by xlucas
September 4th, 2008
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