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 :)

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!*

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!!!

Top 3 Brain Foods for Students (And you can find them in the dining hall, dorm, or apartment!)!

Spring break is long gone, Greek week is over, and now we are faced with the reality of  3 papers, 2 projects, and FINALS!   In the midst of color coding our calender to study and complete projects; we can reach for these 3 foods for a little of a brain boost!

1.  Caffeine.

While we don't encourage you to 'over do it,' caffeine can assist in helping us concentrate by giving us a little boost of energy.  The effects of caffeine are short term, so perhaps having a cup of joe before an exam or before study hall will give you an extra boost of concentration!

OUR FAVORITE:  Peppermint Cocoa.  (Great for the dorm and apartment)

2.  Fish.

Nemo is wonderful!!!  Rich in omega-3; fish is our popular brain food!

OUR FAVORITE:  Starkist vacuum sealed packets.  (Doesn't leave a yucky smell in your room!)

3.  Seeds and nuts!

Instead of chips, reach for a handful of nuts while studying.  Rich in vitamin E, it is associated with cognitive function.  A special treat - add dark chocolate to this!

OUR FAVORITE:  Dark chocolate almond M and Ms.  (okay, okay - don't hate us.  But let's be honest, study hall and a vending machine.  The tuna packets will not be selection B6; but dark chocolate almond M and Ms will be!  

CLOSE RUNNER UP:  Blue diamond almonds!

Find more tips in our directors book 'Eat Well and Be Fabulous:  A Guide for the Modern Day Woman!'

Finding the Right Sunglasses for Your Face Shape!

For some of us, Spring Break is long gone (aww!)!  But that gives us the encouragement that summer is approaching!!!! 

What is summer with a great pair of sunglasses (can we say people watching 'unnoticed' while catching the some great rays!)

What is the best sunglass frame for your face shape???

Round-shape face (with greatest width at cheekbone) - look for rectangular frames that are straight across the top.

Oval-shape face (forehead slightly wider than chin) - Lucky!  Most frames look great on you, but go for a wider bridge and avoid very small frames.

Square face (strong jaw line) - round, oval or cat-eye shape.  

Heart face (forehead much wider than chin) - look for ovals or rectangular frames with curved bottom rims.

These great round frames ($16.00) are from Shop Suey Boutique!!!

What Drives Us Crazy??? No, It Should be the Other Way Around! (Body Image Activity!)

In our days of research at College Lifestyles, we run across the articles 'What Drives Me Crazy?' and 'What I Hate About This!'  In other words, we run into a lot of grumpy folks!  Our worst, 'Here is what I don't like about myself!'

No, no, no!  Look the other way around!

So far, we have read:

• 'What I Hate About College!'  and we see someone bash a professor (or 2 or 3), dorms, food, etc.  Instead write quickly 'What Do You Love About College!'  Here are some of our few - we love the laughing at 1am with our friends, walking to class, events!
  
• 
  
• 'What I Hate About Spring!'  Are you kidding us?  Spring is that time of year where the air is that cross between crisp and warm, the grass is greener, and those great Easter colors of robin egg blue, sea green, lilac, and yellow are out and about!  
  
• 
  
• 'What I Hate About My Body!'  As hard as it is, write what you love about your body!  What does your body do for you?  Our bodies are these beautiful creations that take us to class, allow us to chat with our friends and loved ones!  What do you love?
  

Dining Etiquette - Salt and Pepper Are Married!

When passing the salt and pepper to individuals, remember this tip:

'Salt and pepper are married, not divorced; they are to be passed together!  When passing, place the salt in pepper in front of the individual INSTEAD of passing to their hands!'

Look What We Found at World Market! (What's on Tap!)

YUMMY!

This pomegranate soda from World Market is delicious!!!  Mix with club soda for an early spring spritzer!  

Dark Chocolate - We LOVE it!!!

Our candy jar at College Lifestyles is filled with dark chocolate!  Why?  It's great for our skin and for our hearts!

Have a piece daily!  Savor it!  

What is in our jar?  Dove Chocolate!  Why?  Check out the picture!

It's Scarf Time - How to Tie a Scarf (And a Great Find from the Limited!)

We LOVE scarfs!!!  We found this great zebra print scarf at the Limited ($26.50!).  Scarfs are a great investment, can be worn casually, to work (or intern), and out on the town!

Not sure how to tie or wear a scarf?  The Limited has a simple 'tutorial' on the subject!  Visit this link.

Wear scarfs with:

• Jackets (Spring/Winter)
  
• Coats (winter)
  
• Alone with tank tops (Summer)
  
• Dresses (dressy/classic)
  

A Big Kudos to College Candy!

At College Lifestyles, we promote healthy eating, not dieting or the word 'no.'  

Our director, Shelly Marie says:

'When folks are on a diet, they turn into a fun vacuum.  (Fun vacuum (n.) - 'suck the fun out of everything.')  I see (and talk to) so many become more obsessive about what they eat and instead of having fun with friends, they turn to measuring, counting calories, categorizing good and bad foods, and dissecting labels.  In turn, they fun vacuum their own personal life.  They no longer have fun with friends, family, and school.  And that just breaks my heart.'

And then she gets the question:

'What's the best diet?  No this, no that.'

And she says:

'Fads don't work in fashion and in eating.'

And she is right - a study from the New England Journal of Medicine states the same.

How does College Candy come in?  They wrote a great article on the same!  Check it out at College Candy!

College Lifestyles Loves World Market! See how we stocked our pantry!

We had to refill our pantry at College Lifestyles, so we took a field trip to World Market!!!  Here are some goodies (and a treat!) that we picked up!

We love peppermint tea! 

Cafe Du Monde coffee!  (with Chicory!).  It reminds our director, Shelly Marie, of home!  (She is from Louisiana!).

So, we couldn't resist the frog!!  Even though we know that our director wanted a turtle (her sorority mascot), the frog was just as cute!

Dark Chocolate!!!

A Great Laugh - Common Etiquette Mistakes!

We ran across this article on yahoo.com!  While it may not be the most 'professional' etiquette tips, it does go over some 'common sense' etiquette tips that, well, most of us should know.  But, we do know offenders!  (What is really funny is that we would say something to the effect of 'Yes, (insert name) is just like that!')

(If you are an offender, please apologize in the space below!)

Some of the worst....

1.  Party poopers.  This refers to the individuals who do not respond to RSVPs.

2.  Line-up.  This refers to the folks who get a little 'huffy' when in any type of line.  This includes at the bank, grocery store, and post office.

3.  ME show.  This refers to the 'nermals' in the group, or as we like to coin, talk about only themselves!

4.  Stealer.  Think about this.  You finally found a place to park, and someone cuts you off and steals it (and you are late for class!)

For a great laugh, continue to read the article at 

http://food.yahoo.com/blog/foxyfestivities/15390/the-worst-and-most-common-etiquette-mistakes

NEDA Week Continues - An Eating Disorder Screening Programming Specifically for College Students

The Screening for Mental Health, Inc is a non-profit organization that runs the National Eating Disorders Screening Program.  

According to Katherine Cruise, the director of communications and marketing sent College Lifestyles (TM) this message,

'Over 400 colleges are participating in this year's program by offering their students the opportunity to take an anonymous online questionnaire to assess their risk for an eating disorder. The program is designed to help students identify their own symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. 

I was hoping that you might help me spread the word about this free program by letting the members of College Lifestyles know about this initiative. Individuals can visit http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/college/nedsponline.aspx to find the link to their college's program or take the general questionnaire if their college is not listed.'

Thank you Katherine for the information and link!

I Don't Understand Why My Friend or Sorority Sister Has An Eating Disorder.....

It's heartbreaking to watch someone whom we care about struggle with a disorder that is hard for us to understand.  'I just don't understand why she (or he) doesn't eat?'  is a common quote that our director hears while she is on the road.

A resource that we recommend for individuals to read while a loved one is in treatment (currently or in the past) is the book 'Life Without Ed.' by Jenni Schaefer.  Live without Ed will give you insight on experiences and feelings of individuals with an eating disorder (past or current).  

(Taken from No Numbers - Greeks Unite Against Eating Disorders).

Please let us know if you have any other suggestions on books.....

Sweater Dress from French Connection!

Stay warm in the remaining days of winter with this great sweater dress from French Connection ($49.99). Stay cozy with tights, boots, and layered over a long-sleeve shirt on a chilly day; and wear alone with flats or riding boots on a warmer winter day! Add hoops and bangles to complete the look!

Menu Etiquette?????

Another tip...

Sorbet (N) - frozen, icy dish; similar to sherbet; however; it does not contain milk. Sorbet is used as a palate cleanser between courses.

Pronounced - sor bay (the t is silent)

Yes, You Can Help in the Prevention of Eating Disorders....

'Your going to eat that?' 'Isn't that fattening?' 'I heard that food was bad for you.'

Quotes that we at College Lifestyles (TM) hear over and over again.

States our director, Shelly Marie, 'We are all guilty of looking at someone's plate; but be mindful of what individuals are eating. It absolutely drives me insane when I am eating dark chocolate or peanut butter or drinking milk and someone states 'Oh, that's fattening' or worse, 'that's bad for you.' This can cause an intense amount of confusion, as well as start the 'dirty food rumor mill.'

What's better? States our director:

'Intuitive Eating is a way to understand the body's hunger signals. We really want to listen to our body on when to feed it and how much to feed it.'

To put it frankly, 'Commit to never commenting on what someone is eating.'

(Taken from No Numbers (TM) - Greeks Fight Against Eating Disorders, which will be featured as an educational session program at NGLA).

Dumped Via Facebook? Facebook Etiquette!!!

College Lifestyles (TM) ran across this brilliant article on MSNBC.com titled 'Dumped By Facebook? 10 Etiquette Rules.'

We particularly enjoy the following rules:

#10 - Relationship status us a mutual decision. Translation - One date does not mean a relationship.
#6 - Posting a comment on a bad relationship is a bad idea.
#5 - There is such think as TMI (too much information). Dirty laundry?
#3 - Wall and message are 2 different things. Avoid 'I missssssssssssss yyyyyooooouuuu! Please take me baaaaaaccccckkkk.'

Read the article in it's entirety by clicking here.......