We Have A New Place to Call Home!

Click here for our new site!

College Lifestyles (TM) has a new, fantastic home; and a new fantastic look!

Click here for our new site!

Visit our new site at http://collegelifestyles.org!

WE MOVED!!!!!!!

Leaving is always so hard, but we are so excited to announce that we have moved!!!

Check us out at http://www.collegelifestyles.org!!!

Party Etiquette? Send a Fabulous Note Card from Dragonfly Dreams!!! (Also, great note cards for sororities!)

It's that time of the year! Graduation and wedding shower time!

Whether you are the guest of honor or an attendee, it is always important to send a note card thanking the guest or the host!

Looking for a more personalized note card?? These great cards from Dragonfly Dreams will do the trick! Pick your theme, graphics, font! What fun! And what is great - Dragonfly Dreams is offering a buy 1 Note Card, get one free till 5/31/09!

Do we have note cards!? Of course! What is our theme - zebra with pink!!!

Our Favorite Summer Dress (Great for an Engagement Party or Outside Wedding!)

This lovely red one-shoulder dress from Francesca's Collections ($34.00) is great for an outside afternoon wedding OR an outside engagement party!

Why? The jersey material will allow us to breathe, instead of sweat like crazy (outside events are great, but the heat, not so much!)

This dress fits our criteria of a great piece:

1. Affordable!

2. Figure flattering - the wide waistband is flattering for all shapes by creating a defined waist or hour-glass shape, and the one-shoulder is extremely flattering (we don't hear individuals saying 'I hate my shoulders.')

3. Green. How? We can mix and match this dress into our wardrobe!

How to go green with this dress (in other words, wear it again)?

1. Outside wedding - wear with hair pulled back, simple hoops, clutch (plum) and metallic strappy heels or sandals (depending if on sand or ground surface).

2. Going out - wear with hair pulled back, hoops, leopard clutch or shoes.

3. Going out #2 - add a skinny belt, drop earrings, metallic heels.

Who Doesn't Love a Great Movie!? Our top 5 movies!

It's almost summer! The sun, the fun, and sometimes 'What am I going to do tonight?' Tired of flipping through the channels (let's be honest, some of us will be away from our sorority sisters and best friends) with nothing to watch? Give yourself a facial, mani, and pedi while watching our top 5 movies!

Rent (or download to itunes) our favorites:

1. Grease. Who doesn't love Sandy and Danny? Singing, dancing, and Pink Ladies! What more could we ask for?

2. Say Anything. 80s, 80s, 80s. Who could forget the famous scene where Lloyd holds up the boom box and In Your Eyes in playing.

3. Shag. If you love Grease, you will love Shag. Follow the travels of 4 southern ladies as they take a detour from Fort Sumpter to Myrtle Beach.

4. Casablanca. (For the romantics - and it is our directors FAVORITE movie. She quotes it constantly!) Follow the love story of Isla and Rick. According to our director, the most romantic line in the world is said when Rick tells Isla, 'We'll always have Paris.'

5. Sixteen Candles. Another 80s classic! We all have felt how Samantha has felt at one time in our lives!

Honorable mention:

6. Sex in the City

7. The Breakfast Club

8. Steel Magnolias

9. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

10. My Best Friends Wedding

11. Pretty Woman

12. Legally Blonde

What a Way to Start the Morning!!!

Call us a bit sassy, but flattery makes one feel 'oh so good!'

Start off in the morning with this sassy cup! A fun graduation present for all!

Coffee cup checklist:

Holds coffee - yes

Keeps coffee warm - yes

Sassy - yes :)

Chopstick Etiquette????

Having dinner with friends, family, and even co-workers? Gone are the time of the boring sit-down restaurants (translation - chicken and green beans - blah!), and enter into the world of sushi fusion! Who would have thought?!

Now, we love etiquette, and we love sushi! Let's combine the 2! Sushi etiquette? Chopstick etiquette? We have all heard 'Fork to the left of the plate, knife to the right of the plate,' but what about chopsticks?

Holding chopsticks:

1. Rest the lower chopstick on your ring finger, supporting it in the V of the thumb and forefinger.

2. Hold the upper chopstick like a pencil, between the middle and index finger and anchored with the thumb.

3. Make sure chopsticks are even.

4. When you are picking up food, the lower chopstick remains still as the upper chopstick pivots, with your thumb as the axis.

Need a little practice? Our director, Shelly Marie, gives this tip during her etiquette talks to sororities...

'Order 1-2 fruit trays with melons, cantaloupe, pineapple, and strawberries. Gather your sisters and practice with the fruit!'

Chopstick Etiquette:

1. Once your chopsticks have touched a piece of food, take it (no double dipping with your chopsticks).

2. Bite in half any dumplings; hold the piece firmly in your chopsticks as you bite.

3. Do raise your rice bowl to a point under your chin when eating rice (unless in Korea - typically where all dishes are on the table).

4. Do rest your used chopsticks on your plate or chopstick rest, not on the table.

5. Don't pour sauce over food, use your chopsticks to dip a piece of food in the sauce and bring to your mouth.

**Taken from Real World Etiquette and How to be a Classy Sorority Lady in the 21st Century.

P.B. Loco New Flavor! (We Can't Wait to Try It!)

If you keep up with our blog, you know by now that we love peanut butter. In particular, P. B. Loco Brand. (We buy ours at Target!)

We were so excited when we received an email stating the 'A-Ha' Moment of P.B. Loco!

A NEW FLAVOR!!!

CARAMEL APPLE PEANUT BUTTER!!!

So excited!!!

Currently you can go the website to order the Carmel Apple Peanut Butter flavor (we will!)! We will let you all know when it comes to Target!

Your Perfect Fit for an LBD! Plus - A Summer LBD (Little Black Dress) from Fashion Junkee!

Looking for the perfect LBD to flatter your shape???

Here is your fit guide:

1. Are you more of a rectangle (longer torso)?

Look for a dress with a defined waist - add a skinny style belt to any dress to create a waist.

2. Are you more of an hourglass?

Look for an A-Line style that fits at the waist and flows over the hips. A slightly fitted top with a V-Neck is very flattering.

3. Are you more top heavy/wider shoulders?

Look for a dressed that is 'draped' on top or offers a 'flow-y' shoulder. Go for a more fitted bottom.

4. Are you more bottom heavy?

Look for a fitted top and straight skirt that falls straight (not tapered) to the knee!

We love a LBD (little black dress!) - but sometimes the summer heat can 'shy' us away from the LBD! We found this great jersey style LBD from Fashion Junkee for $36.00. This dress flatters all shapes - fitted at the top, flows through the hips, wider shoulder straps for anyone who is top heavy.

How to wear this dress?

1. Night on the town - look for metallic strapy stilettos, tons of bangle bracelets, and a animal print clutch.

2. Cocktail party - colorful pumps, drop earrings, and hair pulled back.

3. Daytime - top with a cropped jean jacket, wide wooden bracelet, strapy sandals, hoops, hair in low ponytail.

College Lifestyles (TM) Director Has Successful Book Signing at Enchanted Gardens!

Our Executive Director, Shelly Marie, was invited to the delightful Shreveport gift shop, Enchanted Gardens, for a 'Mother's Day/Graduation' book signing! Joining Shelly was Leslie from Lindsay Phillips great product, Switch Flops!

The book signing was extra special for our director, for every book sold, 10% will be donated to the National Eating Disorder Association! (It's so easy to donate, just visit the website and go to the get involved link.)

Shelly states,

'The event was a blast. Not only was I able to sell my book as graduating presents, but to give back to the National Eating Disorders Association! That's wonderful!' Did I also mention that I purchased a pair of Switch Flops! Love them!'

And what color did our director pick as her Switch Flop?

*Eat Well and Be Fabulous: A Guide for the Modern Day Woman makes great graduation presents. Visit www.shellymariespeaking.com to purchase!*

Another Trip To Our Favorite Place! Target!!! (Road Trip Food!)

Summer = Road Trip! And where else to go food finds but Target!!!! Here is what will be in our car!

Dark Chocolate Raisins! (Antioxidants and Tasty!)

Yoplait Light!! It goes in our cooler and cherry cobbler - so YUMMY!)

Funky Monkey!!!

These great freeze dried bananas are delicious and healthy!

All these great finds at your local Target!

Great Food Finds at Target!

It's no secret!  We love Target!  

Here are some great Archer Farm Food Brands we love!

Salsa!!!  

(Our favorite - Roasted Vegetable!)

Baked Chips!

(It's what we dip our salsa in!)

Honey Cinnamon Almonds!

Now you know exactly what to put on your shopping list!!!!

Still Looking for an Internship??? Your wish is granted!!

We have received some FABULOUS intern applications here at College Lifestyles; and guess what; we are ready to receive some more!!!  We know that finals are going on right now; but take a few seconds of your time to let us know you are interested in interning for us!  

Instead of a boring, 'shadow' style internship; our internship is FUN and EXCITING!  (Think the excitement of Running in Heels + laughter of your favorite comedy + your favorite dessert = College Lifestyles Internship)  Here is a recap of what we are looking for:

College Lifestyles is accepting applications for its virtual internship for the summer and 2009-2010 year.

College Lifestyles is a nutrition, etiquette, and lifestyle firm for co-eds.  College Lifestyles prides itself in bringing the most current information on nutrition, eating disorders, body image, the sorority experience, travel, etiquette, dress, fashion, and lifestyle to it’s readers in its blog, packets, and presentations.

Currently, College Lifestyles is expanding it’s blog to include stories and packets from aspiring writers form our own co-eds!

In addition to blog work, we are looking for interns who are ‘go-getters’ and who are not afraid to set up interviews/pod-cast; perform interviews for posting on our blog and website; who can develop media packets; blog on their own personal life; and website development.

Interns can range from freshman to graduate students and can be any major; but we would prefer the following majors:

•  PR/Marketing.
  
• Business.
  
• Nutrition/Dietetics.
  
• Fashion Merchandising.
  
• Social Work.
  
• Psychology.
  
• Computer design.
  
• English.
  
• Journalism.
  

 Requirements for internship include:

•  Internet/Computer Access.
  
•  Camera (for snap shots/pics).
  
• 15 minute biweekly con call with our director. (Every other week)
  

If your are interested, send an email to our director Shelly at shelly@shellymariespeaking.com or smarie93@hotmail.com for an official packet and application!!!

Keeping Disordered Eating at Bay over Summer Break - Guest Blog Post/Interview from Melissa Henriquez

College Lifestyles contacted Melissa Henriquez, author/blogger of Tales of a Disordered Eater, for tips/suggestions on disordered eating over summer break.  Melissa gracious replied to our request and we thank her for her time.  Enjoy her post, as well as follow her blog!  Thanks Melissa!

You’ve taken your last exam, hugged your friends goodbye, and now you’re headed back home … the place that, for whatever reason, often triggers your disordered eating behavior.

Perhaps your disordered eating habits began there. Or maybe your parents harp on you about your weight (as in, “you’re too thin” or “you’re overweight”).

Whatever the reason, going home for summer break – time away from the rigidity of a structured class schedule and the flexibility of college night life – can be a very scary notion for many young women who deal with disordered eating behavior.

But it doesn‘t have to be.

As with anything else in life, you are in control. You make choices. Every day, you choose to live a healthy life … or not to. Naturally, there are consequences when we choose not to, and we feel better about ourselves when we choose to.

Maybe at school, your disordered eating was finally getting under control. That’s awesome! In that case, take those positive steps home with you.

Do your parents know about your disordered eating issues? If so, you might feel they have you on a much closer watch than you’re accustomed to at school – which can no doubt be frustrating.

Try not to let that trigger your behaviors you’ve worked so hard to undo. Remember that that they care, and want what’s best for you.

Though my personal experience with disordered eating didn’t begin until several years after college, I still sometimes find visits home to see my family a challenge, because most of our time together centers around our two favorite things: talking and food.

My parents have been extremely supportive in my recovery process, and I appreciate that they acknowledge that holidays are often a challenge … or when they compliment me on just going with the flow (not easy for me!). That means a lot, and just knowing that they realize it has helped me enormously.

Here are some tips I use to keep my disordered eating issues at bay when I go home. Whether it’s for a holiday weekend, a week, a month or a whole summer break, I hope that these tips to manage your disordered eating behaviors will come in handy for you, as well.

1. Capitalize on positive coping mechanisms. Think back to which coping mechanisms worked for you at school. Was it hanging with friends who liked to go out and have fun, enjoying a night of pizza and wine? Was it working out for a little bit before class to help get your day off to a healthy, good start? Journaling your thoughts/feelings? Cooking some meals, or preparing snacks for days on the road? Seeing a therapist? Instead of being worried about looking for new coping mechanisms when home, keep in mind the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and continue doing whatever worked for you at school when you’re home.

2. Enlist support of your family or loved ones when things get stressful. Remember that restricting or over-exercising or binging, or binging and purging won’t solve whatever is really eating at you; seeking help from family or trusted loved ones or a counselor during tough times can work wonders. This might have worked for you at school, and it can work at home, too. Remember, you don’t need to go it alone, and they will probably be so encouraged to see you reaching out. As we all know, admitting we have a problem is the first step; doing something about it is the next one.

3. Keep wholesome comfort foods around. Knowing that you have a fridge and pantry stocked with good, nutritious choices is always a good thing. When you’re not stuck with a dorm room’s mini-fridge and university cafeteria options, you can pick and choose what you eat. And if having, say, Fuji apples or White Chocolate Macadamia nut Luna bars or Barney Butter almond butter in the dorm helped you feel “grounded,” why not pick these items up at the store to have on hand at home, too?

4. Test yourself a bit every day. If you’ve been struggling and the notion of going out to eat, for example, causes stress, start small by going out to a casual lunch with friends to build confidence. If no one has a suggestion, pick a place that you know you can feel comfortable and relaxed. Try dining outside; sunshine and a nice breeze calms nerves. The more you put yourself in uncomfortable situations, the easier they become; in cognitive behavioral therapy (a method my therapist used with me), this is called “systematic desensitization.” Eventually, dining out won’t spur the same magnitude of fear it used to, if at all.

5. Live a little! Because disordered eating behavior usually exists (and thrives) in solitude, you might need to be reminded every so often to keep busy with friends and loved ones during your time home. Remember, this is your summer break – you don’t want to go back to school in September with the only memory of your vacation being spent within the confines of your house or gym. Take up a new outdoor activity or go with an old standby, like biking. Go to a concert, hit the beach, check out a new city; anything to keep you busy and feeling fulfilled.

6. Ditch “Perfect Girl” syndrome. You’re human, not a super-woman. If you do have a slip-up at some point – and you very well might – remember that “pebbles” like these are normal along the path to recovery. It doesn’t have to be a set-back unless you see it as one. To avoid this all-or-nothing approach, try to reframe it as a “blip on the radar,” and remember, tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity.

I’m not going to lie; recovery isn’t easy, and being out of a comfort zone can cause stress and anxiety on anyone — especially someone with disordered eating issues. I still struggle myself.

Yet I’ve learned, how you manage it is up to you. It’s your choice: to flex your “resistance muscle” and keep your disordered eating issues at bay, or to give into it and struggle.

No matter how you choose to handle it, summer vacation will inevitably come to an end, and before you know it, you’ll be back at school facing a whole new set of challenges.

I hope you’ll keep these tips in mind, remembering that they can travel with you throughout your life as you encounter potentially triggering situations.

In the words of L’Oreal, “You’re worth it.”

Melissa Henriquez (http://TalesofaDisorderedEater.org) is a married 29-year old PR professional who started her blog in an effort to overcome her own struggles with disordered eating. Between traditional therapy and blogotherapy, she's been an advocate for women struggling with similar demons. She's been featured as a guest blogger at Elastic Waist, Run4Change, Back in Skinny Jeans,
DietsInReview.com, as well as two Glamour.com mentions. 

Need an Internship? Apply for a Position with College Lifestyles!!!!

Love nutrition, fashion, sorority life, and/or etiquette?  Join our TEAM!!!

College Lifestyles is accepting applications for its virtual internship for the summer and 2009-2010 year.

College Lifestyles is a nutrition, etiquette, and lifestyle firm for co-eds.  College Lifestyles prides itself in bringing the most current information on nutrition, eating disorders, body image, the sorority experience, travel, etiquette, dress, fashion, and lifestyle to it’s readers in its blog, packets, and presentations.

Currently, College Lifestyles is expanding it’s blog to include stories and packets from aspiring writers form our own co-eds!

In addition to blog work, we are looking for interns who are ‘go-getters’ and who are not afraid to set up interviews/pod-cast; perform interviews for posting on our blog and website; who can develop media packets; blog on their own personal life; and website development.

Interns can range from freshman to graduate students and can be any major; but we would prefer the following majors:

•  PR/Marketing.
  
• Business.
  
• Nutrition/Dietetics.
  
• Fashion Merchandising.
  
• Social Work.
  
• Psychology.
  
• Computer design.
  
• English.
  
• Journalism.
  

 Requirements for internship include:

•  Internet/Computer Access.
  
•  Camera (for snap shots/pics).
  
• 15 minute biweekly con call with our director. (Every other week)
  

If your are interested, send an email to our director Shelly at shelly@shellymariespeaking.com or smarie93@hotmail.com for an official packet and application!!!