Holidays in the City

Image courtesy of Jiuguang Wang - Wikimedia

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. We have a gorgeous skyline and a bustling restaurant scene. There are always a ton of events going on in the city and the surrounding areas. This month is no different. With the holidays coming up on us, there are sure to be tons of things going on. Pittsburgh has what you need:

The day before Thanksgiving you can brush up on your hot holiday drink repertoire with Wigle Whiskey. Join them as they teach you some delicious holiday cocktails that will shake the winter chill out of anyone. Swing by for a free hot toddy, mulled cider or spiked cocoa. The event is free so stop by if you’re of drinking age.

Saturday the 28th you can enjoy a little storytelling. Wordplay marries storytelling with music for an interesting combination. Listen to tales from everyday people set to a DJ spinning tunes by Bach and Bruno Mars. The collaboration seems strange but makes the finished product much more entertaining. Buy your tickets online here.

If you’d like to feel a little fancy you can head to the Byham on Sunday, November 29th for a holiday show to really get you into the spirit. At 7 PM international singer and showman, Mark Milovats will take the stage for his Holiday Spectacular, “Christmas in the City.” This 18th annual performance benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. So you’re having a great time for a really good cause. For information on purchasing tickets head to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s website.

Everyone is getting all geared up for the brand new Star Wars movie, coming out December 18th. But if you didn’t manage to snag yourself tickets to opening night (it’s okay, we didn’t either) you won’t want to miss the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of some of the most popular tunes from the franchise. Show up when doors open at 5:30 for Star Wars music played by a 14 piece trombone choir. The real show isn’t until 7 so you have plenty of time to get a drink and enjoy the opening act. Get your tickets here.

The Best Halloween Events in Pittsburgh for Adults

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Halloween isn’t just for kids. Pittsburgh has plenty of Halloween events this year for adults to have some fun too. These events from CBS Pittsburgh are sure to please anyone looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween this year. Check out these three events and then head to CBS Pittsburgh for even more great events in the area!

Gateway Clipper – A Halloween Whodunnit Out On The Water

350 W. Station Square Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

(412) 355-7980

www.gatewayclipper.com

Date: Oct. 22, 2014

Experience a dinner cruise aboard the Gateway Clipper unlike any other during its murder mystery cruise featuring a magnificent mystery show. Sail Pittsburgh’s three rivers while you dine on a buffet menu of sliced baked Virginia ham, chicken breast, pasta, vegetables, salad, coffee, tea and desserts in anticipation of “The Haunting” murder mystery presentation. Add-ons like appetizers, balloons, chocolates and wine are also offered for the evening. This three-hour cruise boards at 5:30 p.m. and will return to dock at 9:30 p.m. The Gateway Clipper Halloween Whodunnit On The Water is for guests 21 and over.

A Night of Fright

Chartiers Social Hall

2504 W. Pike St.

Houston, PA 15342

(724) 263-9603

www.huntparanormal.com

Date: Oct. 18, 2014

Join special guests Bruce Tango of “Ghost Hunters” and fellow paranormal investigator Brett McGinnis from “Ghost Hunters Academy” for an evening of ghostly fun at the Chartiers Social Hall’s A Night Of Fright. Come dressed in your Halloween best for the costume contest and for photos with “The Munsters” Drag-U-A Coffin Car. Food and drinks, beer (with valid I.D.), music from DJ Drama J and a Chinese auction with 50/50 raffle will be available. The Chartiers Social Hall is located approximately 20 minutes south of the city in Houston.

The Chalk Outlines Halloween Show
The Pittsburgh Winery

2815 Penn Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

(412) 566-1000

www.showclix.com

Date: Oct. 18, 2014

If the last song you want to hear this Halloween is another bad rendition of “Monster Mash,” hit up The Pittsburgh Winery for a 21-and-over show with The Chalk Outlines. At just $10 per ticket, this is a fun and affordable way to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve and even show off this year’s costume. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the band rocking the winery’s cellar stage at 9 p.m. Count on hearing plenty of spooky songs in The Chalk Outlines signature blend of rock & roll, R&B and country at its second winery show that’s guaranteed to sell out.

Get an Organized Bedroom Closet

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Nothing is more frustrating than an untidy bedroom closet. When you’re running late one morning and you can’t find the shirt you intended to wear that day or you can only find one shoe, your day just got off to a bad start. When you’re ready to get things in order, follow these tips from Apartment Therapy and enjoy your new organized space! For more, head to Apartment Therapy.




1. Put things back exactly where they belong.
This tip may be obvious, but I can get lazy about particulars when putting things away. For example, I'll cram my purses haphazardly on their shelf, or throw my shoes on the floor beneath their organizer. If I took an extra two seconds to store things properly, the whole closet would look neater.

2. Take wire hangers back to the dry cleaners.

I have Huggable Hangers, but once I transfer my clothes to them, the wire hangers from the cleaners often grow into an unwieldy pile. I'm going to put them in a designated bag and return them whenever I go to the cleaners.

3. Clean the floor monthly.

You may need only a broom or handvac, but cleaning the floor means finding the floor. It will keep you honest.

4. If it isn't working, fix it.

If you hung scarves on hooks and they keep falling off, or you can't reach the shelf with your jeans, fix it now. Otherwise, it will just keep irritating you. You'll also be less likely to store things there (instead of in a heap elsewhere).

5. A brief seasonal assessment.

Don't wait to do a major clean-out once a year — instead, assess your closet at the end of every season. There's likely a few things that can go in the giveaway pile.

October is National Cookie Month

Image From Pixabay

We love cookies almost as much as cookie monster. This is why October is one of our favorite times of year. This month you can enjoy Halloween, fall and National Cookie Month. We have found a great cookie recipe from The Kitchn to help celebrate one of our favorite times of the year. Comment on our Facebook page with your favorite cookie recipe!

Chunky Monkey Cookies

Makes about 36 cookies

3/4 cup walnuts

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon banana extract, optional for stronger banana flavor

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks (or 1 6.5-ounce chocolate bar, roughly chopped)

3/4 cup banana chips, roughly chopped (see Recipe Note)

Heat the oven to 375°F. Scatter the walnuts over a baking sheet and toast in the warming oven until fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Roughly chop the walnuts while they're still warm and set aside.

Combine the granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a spoon or spatula until thoroughly combined and no lumps of brown sugar remain. Add the softened butter to the bowl and work it into the sugar until you form a gritty, sugary paste. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, until no more egg whites remain. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Whisk together the salt, baking soda, and flour in a small bowl. Add this to the wet ingredients in the mixing bowl, and stir gently until you've formed a thick dough and you see no more dry flour. Add the chocolate chunks, banana chips, and chopped walnuts, and use a folding motion to incorporate them into the dough. It's OK if some of the chunky pieces fall out.

Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon measure to portion ping pong ball-sized gobs of dough (roughly 2 tablespoons) onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced an inch or so apart. If any chunky pieces fell out while you were making the dough, press them gently into the tops of the cookies (or just use some extra leftover pieces if you'd like a chunkier appearance!). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies look puffed and the edges are turning a darker shade of toasty brown.

Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. As they cool, the cookies will collapse into craggy, cracked, chunky cookies. Continue baking the cookies in batches until all the dough has been used.

These cookies are best the day they are made, but will keep in an airtight container for about a week.

Recipe Notes

Finding banana chips: Look for banana chips in the bulk bin section of grocery stores, or along with the dried fruits. (I found the banana chips for this recipe at Trader Joe's.)

Freezing cookie dough: To freeze unbaked cookie dough, portion the cookies out onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer container. Freeze for up to 3 months. See here for more details: How To Freeze Cookie Dough.

Care Package

Image From Pixabay

Whether you are sending a care package to a family friend or a college student, they are always appreciated. Food was always a good choice when choosing what to put in a care package. Apartment Therapy has some great recipes for you to remember when planning you next shipment.



It's been a while since I was in college, but when it comes to care packages, I'm quite sure things haven't changed very much.

A few favorite store-bought things are always nice, but the very best things will always be freshly made snacks and treats. They're a nice reminder of home and help fuel late-night study sessions and tough exams.

1. Smoked Almond Snack Bars

This recipe for nutty, KIND-inspired snack bars is for those of you who prefer savory over sweet when the afternoon doldrums have you yawning.

2. Muesli Snacking Cookies

These baked gems are a play on classic oatmeal cookies. A few fun ingredient swaps make them healthier and even more delicious.

3. Birthday Cake Popcorn

You don't need a birthday to celebrate with this festive treat! It's sweet, salty, and covered with sprinkles — you can't go wrong!

4. Sweet and Savory Roasted Cashews

Take your pick: sweet or salty. Neither recipe takes more than a few minutes to bring together, and they're both perfect study snacks.

5. Peanut Butter & Chocolate Energy Bars

These bars slip into that magical niche of snacks that seem — and taste — like candy but are still, at least ostensibly, healthy. They are made without refined sugar, require zero cooking, and can last in a backpack all day.

6. Banana Bread

Whether your favorite college student eats this as breakfast or an afternoon snack, one thing is certain: it's gonna go fast.

7. Cherry Pistachio Granola Clusters

This right here is "snacking granola." We're talking about big, chunky clusters of lightly sweet granola studded with pistachios and dried cherries.

8. Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch

Classic chocolate chip cookies are timeless — and they just might be the very best thing you could find when you open a care package.

9. Hazelnut & Cherry Whole-Grain Crackers

These homemade hazelnut and cherry crackers are such a great on-the-go snack. Plus, they're easy to make and stay fresh for weeks.

10. Pumpkin-Spiced Caramel Corn

If you just can't resist the pumpkin spice craze, this lightly spiced caramel corn will be right up your alley.

15 Cleaning Tips for Lazy College Students

Living at school and going to classes is time consuming, especially if you have a job on top of all of that. It can be hard to muster the motivation to clean your apartment. So when you're feeling lazy and you need to get some cleaning done, try these life hacks from Buzzfeed to make it easy on yourself. Head to Buzzfeed to check out more tips.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

1. Spray a no-wipe cleaner on your shower walls every time you bathe.

You don’t even have to touch those grimy tiles!!! This blogger swears by this stuff.

2. Or, keep a handled sponge filled with half Dawn dishwashing liquid and half white vinegar and do a little scrubbing while you’re waiting for the conditioner to set in your hair.

3. Use body wash or liquid shower gel, not soap. You’ll get much less soap scum buildup in your tub.

4. Pee sitting down.

While you may consider this emasculating, your toilet will be MUCH cleaner.

5. Make a conscious effort to put something away every time you get up to go to a different part of your home.

On your way to the kitchen to reheat some leftover pizza? Grab that pair of scissors that actually belongs in the junk drawer that you never bothered to put back.

6. Buy anti-microbial doormats.

Or better yet, enforce a no-shoes policy. Tell your guests you have an Asian grandmother.

7. If you have carpet, keep Stomp ‘N Go pads for emergency stain removal.

They supposedly get out wine spills, coffee, pet messes, food, blood, and more. No scrubbing required.

8. Multitask during idle time.

While you’re cooking, do some dishes. Wipe down the sink every time you wash your hands. While you’re waiting for the hot water before a shower, tidy up the bathroom.

9. Avoid dusting by walking around your house in “Swiffer Socks.”

AKA those weird chenille socks that you always seem to get like three pairs of every Christmas. You just dusted a narrow pathway in your apartment just by schlepping to the kitchen to make nachos.

10. Use Press ‘N Seal wrap to line the surfaces in your fridge.

Cleaning the fridge is one of those things you just never get around to doing. Just replace the liners and your fridge will feel good as new again.

11. Cleaning your microwave is (almost) as simple as turning it on.

Pour 2 cups of water and 1/2 a cup of white vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Pop it in for about 3 minutes on full power. Let it sit for a few minutes. Remove the bowl carefully and wipe clean.

12. While you’re cooking, keep a plastic grocery bag on the counter.

You can quickly throw away any peels or packaging, saving you a few trips to the trash can.

13. Line your George Foreman grill with foil before cooking anything in it.

Those things are the hugest pains to clean.

14. Eat food out of a tortilla to avoid having to wash your bowls.

Works fairly well as long as you’re not an aggressive fork-stabber.

15. Eat Chinese take-out without dirtying up a dish.

Remove the metal handle and unfold the box into a plate you can eat out of.

9 Phone Apps Every College Student Should Have

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Those of us going through college in this day and age have a very serious advantage over those who have gone in the past. We have so many tools and resources at our fingertips. One of the greatest tools of this generation are our phones: always right at our sides and connected to a vast world of information. Being in college is difficult but it can get a little easier with some of these apps to keep track of things so you don't have to! For the full list of useful apps head to The Kardia Blog.

If I was to list a single skill I wish I already had mastered, it’d be productivity. Being a full-time student has taught me so much about prioritizing and not procrastinating. But of course, it’s not always easy. I’m always looking for more ways to productive. And living in the smartphone generation, apps are one of those ways.

Social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest definitely get the most use on my phone, but those don’t allow me to be very productive. That got me thinking about the apps that come in handy the most when I am in school. Which ones help me stay on top of everything? So the following apps and resources are ones that I personally use and recommend to any busy person looking to maximize the time they have and stay organized.

RefME (Free / Website)

I’ve been using RefME for all my papers this semester, and I don’t know why I didn’t use it before! It’s such an amazing resource! Nobody likes figuring out how to cite a source. RefME does all the hard stuff and lets you collect sources fast and keep them organized in groups. You can either search for the reference title, author, url, etc., or simply fill in the boxes with the appropriate information, select what citation style you need, and voilá! A perfect bibliography/works cited is born! Some other great features are that it allows you to export your bibliography directly into a Word document and shows you the correct inline citation to use. With their app, you can even scan book/journal barcodes to get citations. How easy it that?

Sunrise (Free / iPhone, Android, Mac)

While the default calendar app is fine for appointments and schedules, I find the Sunrise app even better. Upon opening the app, you can see your schedule for the next few days with little icons beside each event letting you know if it’s a class, meeting, work, etc. I love how simple and straightforward it is!

MyWater (Free / iPhone)

I’m super bad at drinking enough water :( I use this app to keep track of how many water bottles I drink in a day. You can set your daily goal, what size bottle you’re using, and have reminders go off at different times during the day. It’s easy to use too, just swipe up when you drink a glass of water!

Sleep Cycle ($0.99 / iPhone, Android)

I hate that feeling of waking up all groggy and tired for an early morning class. Sleep Cycle analyzes your sleep and wakes you up when you’re in the lightest sleep phase. Graphs provide you with information about your sleep quality, what times you went to sleep in the past 3 months, the average time you spend in bed, and your sleep quality on certain days of the week. Definitely worth the $0.99!

Shopkick (Free / iPhone, Android)

Free gift cards? Yes, please! Use shopkick to get points for walking into stores like Target, American Eagle, and Best Buy. Then, redeem your points for gift cards. Shopkick also has coupons and deals for tons of stores that you already go to on a regular basis.

Pocket (Free / iPhone, Android, Mac)

Don’t lose track of the all the interesting things you find by letting tabs pile up in your browser. Pocket allows you to easily save articles, videos, and more for later. Everything goes to one place, so you can view it anytime, on any device, even without internet. Perfect for when you want to read an article or watch a video but don’t have time at the moment.

Mint (Free / iPhone, Android)

This is the perfect app for creating a budget and keeping track of where you spend your money. Set up financial goals such as saving up for spring break, paying off your school loans, or buying a car and get advice on how you should budget and distribute your paychecks in your checking and savings accounts.

She Reads Truth (Free / iPhone, Website)

She Reads Truth is an online community of women who read the Bible and encourage one another. Devotional reading plans can be read on their website for free, emailed to you, or read through the iPhone app (for a small fee depending on how recent the plan is). The app also includes beautiful lock screens with scripture on them!

Duolingo (Free / iPhone, Android, Website)

I have to take a language class for my Bachelor of Arts degree, so I’m getting ahead of the game by learning spanish for free on Duolingo. This app can help you learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, or Italian using easy exercises to help you spell and pronounce the new words! You can set how long you want to learn each day (5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) making it easy to do in between other tasks.

Chipotle Answers Every College Student's Prayers

Chipotle has taken over the world recently with their delicious Mexican cuisine. You can't go anywhere without hearing about how much someone loves the restaurant. Well, great news for college students: they now deliver to a small number of universities and will be expanding to more later this fall! Through a partnership with Tapingo, students can place their order through the app or website and their food gets to them within 25-30 minutes. You can see Chipotle's full menu here and check out more information on Tapingo here.

As college students make their way back to school for another year, Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is making it easier for students to find the food they love, allowing more time for study and less to search for burritos. Through a new partnership with Tapingo, a leading mobile commerce app that saves college students time by providing food pickup and delivery, Chipotle will be available for delivery through Tapingo at 40 college campuses nationwide this fall, and at more than 100 campuses by spring 2016.

“Chipotle has been popular with students going back to our very first restaurant near the University of Denver, and we are always looking for ways to better engage with them,” said Mark Crumpacker, chief creative and development officer at Chipotle. “Tapingo, which has been well received by students where its services are available, knows how to connect with these younger customers. That shared acceptance among younger customers made them a great choice for us to expand delivery aimed specifically at students.”The partnership with Tapingo expands Chipotle’s existing delivery program. The company also has nationwide delivery partnerships with Postmates, a delivery service that operates in several key Chipotle markets, and with OrderUp, which provides delivery service in several smaller Chipotle markets.

Tapingo has a rapidly growing user base, the large majority of whom are Millennials and Gen Zs. Chipotle resonates well with a similar audience. A recent survey by investment firm William Blair called Chipotle the “most favored restaurant” by younger consumers. Morgan Stanley notes that Millennials are more likely to dine out on a weekly basis than older consumers and states that “taste, value, and quality” drive their restaurant decision-making. “On those metrics, Chipotle wins,” the firm says.

“Tapingo has become the buy button for students and we are excited to expand into surrounding areas,” said Daniel Almog, chief executive officer at Tapingo. “Our network of students is hungry for Chipotle, and we’re excited to deliver it quickly and at a very reasonable delivery cost.”

Since its founding in 2012, Tapingo has leveraged mobile technology to create a more convenient and enjoyable experience for students to purchase a variety of products or services. With the average student transacting daily, using Tapingo has become habitual for college students. Users can order with a tap and then have their order delivered in a timely and efficient manner. Using the Club Tapingo feature, the average user pays $2.99, with no additional service fee. Tapingo also provides timely delivery, with an average of only 25 minutes between order placement and receipt.

Chipotle delivery is currently available through Tapingo at the following campuses:

• Arizona State University
• California State University Chico
• Louisiana State University
• University of Arizona
• University of Southern California
• Northern Arizona University

Delivery will expand to include the following campuses later this fall.

• California State University - Fullerton
• California State University Northridge
• Carnegie Melon University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Cleveland State University
• College of the Holy Cross
• Columbia University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Emory University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Georgia State University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Loyola University Maryland
• Michigan State University
• New York University
• North Carolina State University
• Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Rutgers University
• San Jose State University
• Santa Clara University
• Towson University
• Trinity College
• University of Arkansas
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of Georgia
• University of Louisville
• University of Maryland
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon Eugene
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of the Pacific
• University of Utah

Plans for additional rollouts or availability can be found on Tapingo.com/Chipotle.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast-food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that — where possible — are sustainably grown and raised responsibly with respect for the animals, the land and the farmers who produce the food. In order to achieve this vision, we focus on building a special people culture that is centered on creating teams of top performers empowered to achieve high standards. This people culture not only leads to a better dining experience for our customers, it also allows us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and operates more than 1,850 restaurants, including 17 Chipotle restaurants outside the U.S. and 11 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants, and is an investor in an entity that owns and operates three Pizzeria Locale restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.

ABOUT TAPINGO

Since its founding in 2012, Tapingo has leveraged mobile technology to solve a key problem for students: lack of time. Whether confronted with long lines while racing between classes, needing a midnight boost during late-night study sessions, or faced with a lack of options when living off campus, students are increasingly in need of a new solution to meet their needs. With just a few taps, users can browse menus, order and pay, then schedule pickup or have their order delivered. Tapingo provides a streamlined buying process that benefits both the students and the campuses, while driving habitual purchase and eliminating operational inefficiencies. Today, Tapingo processes tens of thousands of transactions per day, and the average user utilizes the service more than five times per week. Serving 46 markets from Alaska to Miami, Tapingo is the ideal commerce solution for the on-the-go on-demand generation. Stop waiting at www.Tapingo.com.

15 Quick & Delicious Meals On A Tight Budget

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Just because you're in college doesn't mean you have to eat like a college student. Even with limited resources and a low it's still possible to make great meals! Some of these might seem strange but they're definitely delicious. Check out the rest of the list on Brit + Co.


You may think living in a college dorm means the end of good cooking and a constant diet of bad cafeteria food and Pop Tarts, but if you’ve got a waffle maker, a microwave and a mug, you can turn into a pretty incredible home cook with the right recipes — and we have 25 of ‘em for you! Most of these dishes are ready within 10 minutes, making them perfect for whipping up in between classes or for late-night study breaks. From ramen hacks to meals in a mug, you’ll be blown away by the gourmet meals you can make right from your dorm room.

1. Ramen Stir Fry: Skip the flavor packet this time around and turn your attention to that super cheap, pre-measured serving of quick-cooking noodles that you can do anything with! The twirly ramen noodles are fun to eat, and you can throw all kinds of veggies and spices into them. (viaSoup Addict)

2. Mac in a Mug: It doesn’t come out of a box or use mysterious cheese powder, but it does taste amazing! Bonus: It makes only one serving, so the eating-all-five-servings temptation is eliminated. (via The Better Martha)

3. Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Granola bars are an absolute lifesaver when you’re in a rush, but why are those little bars so expensive? For the college student on a budget, try these super delicious bars that are healthy for you and made in the microwave! (via Bakerita)

4. Cocoa Mocha: If you don’t have a coffee maker, but you do have a microwave, then you can make this frothy, delicious coffee with instant coffee and hot chocolate. Naturally we topped our beverage with marshmallows. (viaBrit + Co)

5. Waffle Maker Hash Browns: We had no idea there were so many uses for the waffle iron! Making hash browns in a waffle maker gives them the perfect amount of brown crispy goodness. (via Macheesmo)

6. Chocolate Muffin: If it’s called a muffin, we can eat it for breakfast, right? Right? (via Dessert With Benefits)

7. Eggs in a Nest: This healthy breakfast can literally be made in 30 seconds! You’ll be getting protein and some fiber if you use whole wheat bread, making this breakfast better than most of the greasy things available in the cafeteria. (via Brit + Co)

8. Mexican Corn in a Cup: Mexican corn is a fabulous combo of corn, a dash of cream, some cayenne pepper and lots of salty queso fresca. You could eat this on its own or nuke some quesadillas for a mini Mexicanfiesta! (via Little Inspiration)

9. Microwave Salmon: Don’t hate it until you’ve tried it! We think you’ll be amazed by how good this salmon dinner turns out even in a microwave. (via Savory Sweet Life)

10. Waffle Pizza: Don’t order in again. Pull out that waffle iron and try making a pizza crust! You could even have a mini pizza party with the roommates where everyone gets to pick a topping. (via Waffleizer)

11. Cinnamon Apple and Banana Oatmeal: Add fresh (easy) or frozen fruit (EASIER!) to your oatmeal to give it an extra boost. Plus, nothing is more warming than cinnamon oatmeal when that walk across the quad start to get chillier. (via Brit + Co)

12. Taco in a Bag: You can only eat at Taco Bell so many times before you start craving some homemade Mexican food. Try this easy “taco” that won’t even get any dishes dirty, making clean up a breeze. (via Betty Crocker)

13. Ramen Pad Thai: Get crazy with some Asian fusion and make pad Thai out of those old ramen noodles. Just add fish sauce, fresh lime and a handful of peanuts to the spice packet, and you’ve done some impressive ramen hacking. (via Serious Eats)

14. Falafel Waffles: These falafel-filled pita wedges are made in the waffle iron and make a great grab-and-go lunch for long days of classes. You can fill them with falafel and Greek yogurt and not worry about them dripping on your cute outfit like a traditional falafel wrap. (via Serious Eats)

15. 10 Minute Risotto Cups: Forget standing over a stove for an hour, these delicious dinners are made in the microwave in less time than it takes to agree on what to watch on Netflix tonight. We tried a couple different flavor combos like butternut squash + sage and bacon + kale. (via Brit + Co)

What to Pack for School

Image courtesy of HighwaysEngland - Flickr

Students are moving in! When it comes to moving from one home to another it can be difficult to decide what to bring with you. It may seem tempting to just bring all of your clothes; You never know what you'll need! For some it's easy to drive home and just pick something up if you leave it at home but for others that's not a possibility. Be smart with your packing and follow these tips from Apartment Therapy to help you back efficiently and make the most of your space.


That time is upon us! Back-to-school, off-to-college time. Which means that all across the country, a whole bunch of soon-to-be-freshman are staring at their wardrobe and wondering what on earth should I pack? Here are a few helpful tips for navigating the college closet quandary!

Make a list of what you'll need. Make a list of the clothes you'll need for going to class, going out, lounging around, sleeping, and going to the gym. Going to class clothes should be easily put together mix-and-match outfits with easy-to-walk-in shoes (you'll be walking a lot). Think: versatile skirt/pants plus a bunch of tops you love, plus a decent-sized bag you can carry books in. Lounging around clothes should be comfy but not old and gross. Going out clothes can be whatever you like!

Enlist the help of a trustworthy friend. Sometimes decisions about clothes are a whole lot easier when you have a second opinion. Call over your most stylish friend whom you can trust to be completely honest.

Go through every item in your wardrobe, assessing them careful. Marie Kondo thinks the best question to ask is "does this bring me joy?" and I'm inclined to agree. Try each piece of clothing on if you can't decide. Do you feel happy, comfortable, gorgeous wearing this? Are you excited to wear this? Don't pack anything that is ill-fitting, drab, worn, or too old. Especially don't pack clothes you "hope" will fit. Do pack pieces that look great on you but that you were too shy to wear before. This is college- your chance to reinvent yourself if you want!

Expect to go on a shopping trip when you arrive in your new town. The biggest mistake I made in packing to go to school in New England was buying a "winter" coat in... Australia. The coat was nowhere near warm enough. Stores in warm climates don't stock the kinds of clothes needed for cool climates, and the same is true the other way. If you need seasonal clothes, plan to go shopping when you arrive in your collage town. There you'll pick up gloves that are thick enough, tights that are warm enough, or tank tops and skirts that are cool enough.

Remember, it's okay to not bring everything. This is your moment to cut your closet free of all the junk you've been storing for the last 3 years and pare it down to its stylish, fab core. Just because Mom or Grandma bought it for you, don't feel pressured to bring it. Just because they're the only pair of jeans you have, don't feel pressured to pack them. Don't pack tops just so you'll have enough. Keep your selection pared down to what you absolutely love. This way you'll carry into college your most fashionable you.

Ease Into Move In Day

Image courtesy of Nazareth College - Flickr

Whether you’re moving back into the Clairmont Reserve apartments, moving in for the first time or you’re a freshman moving into your new dorm room, moving is hard! There are a lot of things that you’ll need that you might not think of if you’re used to living at home with your parents. We want to help make your move in as smooth as possible! So we found some tips to help ease your move in blues! For more information, head to Mostly Morgan.

Do you have any secret moving tricks that have helped you in the past? Let us know on the Facebook page!

Summer is here, and while I am looking forward to three months of relaxation (and blogging, and nannying) I know that that there is an entire new class of college freshman to be looking into move in day. I still remember the excitement and anticipation. I was worried about over-packing, and heartbroken about leaving my family, friends, and boyfriend, but I don’t think that I could possibly have been more excited to start my life at the University of Illinois.

I just finished my sophomore year, and it was my second (and last!) year living in the dorms – and I have learned a thing or two about move in day. This past year I was also an I-Guide which meant I spent countless grueling hours going back and forth moving freshman after freshman into their new home. I saw the over-packers, the kids who brought nearly nothing, and everyone in between. What I’m trying to say is that I’m an authority on college move in if there ever was one.

Pack Smart.

A successful college move in day all begins with packing wisely. I have an entire post that you can check out here, but I’ll give you some extra pointers, too.

Don’t pack more than you need – if you’re going home for Thanksgiving (or before!) it won’t be necessary to bring all of your winter gear. You will want a few pieces in case of an emergency, but chances are you won’t have room to store your entire wardrobe in your tiny dorm room.

Don’t over do it – this year (I kid you not) a kid brought a love seat to her dorm room. Not a futon or a small bench, but a love seat bigger than the one in my living room. It easily took up a quarter of her room and probably put her at odds with her roommate from day one. Unless you’re living in a luxury dorm, you aren’t going to want to bring any extra furniture.

Be clever – packing the car is truly an art. To up the odds of you fitting everything, stuff any hollow object you are packing with other things. Fill your fridge with shoes, stuff your undergarments in your shower caddy, just make use of every empty space you can!
Do your research.

At the University of Illinois move in day procedure involves a complicated maze of rerouted roads and restricted access to certain areas, and in a perfect world this would make everything go smoothly. Unfortunately, every year people ignore the hundreds of emails, letters, and alerts making us aware of how to work this system to get straight to your dorm and avoid any traffic.

Move in day comes with a ton of stress – don’t create extra stress by coming unprepared. If you go to a small school you might have nothing to worry about, but most larger schools will have a system like this.

So students and parents alike – look up your respective school to see if there is a move in day protocol that you should be aware of. You don’t want to be the ones screwing everything up!
Ship things to school.

Are you in charge of bringing the fridge? Consider shipping it to school rather than buying one and moving it in with you. You can also take a trip to your local Walmart on move in day, too. If you wait to buy larger items like fridges, microwaves, and carpets the car will be less packed.

If you do decide to ship the microwave to school – just make sure that it doesn’t beat you there or it might be sent back depending on your school’s policy!
Communicate with your roommate moving in.

Not just to establish who is bringing what, but to also coordinate when you will be arriving. It is going to be a lot to easier to move in if you aren’t trying to do so at the same time. If your roommate says she is arriving at 2:00 consider getting there at noon.
Be ready to clean.

Be prepared to inherit a layer of dust and grime – even if they are supposed to be clean when you move in, they often are going to be a bit gross. There are a few things you are going to want to bring:

Lysol Wipes – these are a college kids best friend! These are a quick fix for spills and dust, and they are great for sanitizing if your roommate is sick!

Tide to Go – if you have carpet, chances are you are going to spill take out on it at least once. In my experience a tide to go stick cleans that right up, and no one will ever be the wiser. Plus you want one for your purse or backpack in case you ever spill.

Hand Sanitizer – In the dorms, illness spreads like wildfire so you want to be equipped! During flu season hand sanitizer will be your best friend!
Be ready to forget things.

Chances are there will be something you forget. But you can have your parents mail it to you, shop online (considering checking out Student Rate for some great discounts!), or bus to the nearest Walmart. Everyone forgets something important on move in day and it’s not the end of the world – you can borrow until you get your item!
Meet the people on your floor!

Once mom and dad head out take a break from unpacking and organizing and go out and socialize! The first week or two are crucial in making connections – knock on doors and introduce yourself! Try to gather a group to go to dinner together – you want to start off on the right foot!
Breathe.

Moving in can be stressful and emotions will be running high. Whether you are thrilled or terrified or somewhere in between it’s all going to be alright. College is largely what you make it so go in with a good attitude and try to make move in a positive experience.

Did I forget anything? Let me know your best college move in trick in the comments below!

20 Things I Wish I Had Known Freshman Year

Image courtesy of Siena College - Flickr

New students will be moving in soon! Being away from home on your own for the first time can be scary and overwhelming. There is a lot of advice that we wish some people had told us before our first year of school! We found some advice from SR Trends. They’ll tell you what they wish they had been told freshman year so you don’t make the same mistakes.

Here is a list of 20 things I wish I knew freshman year:

1. Try a few different study spots and figure out what works best for you. It could be in your dorm, in the library, outside or in a coffee shop, as long as you get your work done, campus is your oyster!

2. Keep a healthy lifestyle. There’s nothing wrong with partying and bonding with new people but know your limits, exercise every other day and make sure you’re not tired or sick for classes and exams.

3. Build a relationship with a professor or an adviser. Think of any faculty member as a resource and don’t be afraid to ask for help, it can make a big difference in grades and it will make it a lot simpler to ask for letters of recommendation when you’re applying for jobs and internships.

4. Carry a phone charger with you. We all know the plight of smartphone batteries and you don’t want to turn your phone back on and see 23 missed calls from your mom, that can’t end well.

5. Take a random class. You have plenty of time to complete majors and minors, make sure you take advantage of the unique classes that every university offers and learn about something completely different. Tell me “The Game of Thrones” at Virginia or “Japanese Swordsmanship” at George Washington don’t sound fun, I dare you.

6. Don’t buy textbooks before the first week of class. You might not need it or there could be a free version online. Save your money for snacks, you might be able to study without a text book, but you’ll never be able to study without snacks. If it turns out that the textbook is required, consider renting it (Barnes & Noble has a great deal through Studentrate where you can get 6% cash back on rentals)

7. Get along with your roommate. No need to be best friends and get matching tattoos, but a year can seem like ages if you’re constantly arguing. Keep your stuff clean and say what’s on your mind, a five-minute argument is better than a dramatic fight later on.

8. Try to go to as many sporting events as possible. Grab a couple of friends and share in
the awesomeness and excitement that is college sports.

9. Keep a box of Emergen-C in your dorm. There is such thing as the freshmen plague and
it will take you out if you are not eating your fruits, vegetables and grains!

10. Listen to upperclassmen. If you’re reading this, then you’re taking this advice, good job! Students who have taken classes you’re interested in can be helpful for study tips, how to complete any given major or minor, or how to deal with problems that every college student faces at one point.

11. Always use student discounts when shopping online. Studentrate has hundreds of discounts at Forever21, Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Lenovo, and many more so it would be silly to pay full price for anything.

12. If you’re going to skip your 8AM class because it is too early, pick a later class. Start off the year doing stuff right! I know what you’re thinking, “I took morning classes in high school and I was fine”. It’s not the same, try to avoid these classes.

13. Go home once in a while: sometimes, we need a change of scenery to regain our grounding and have some mental detox, and where else to do it, but in your house?

14. Keep in touch with your family. A simple text to your parents can make their day which makes life easier for you. And don’t let your annoying younger brother forget who’s boss. Also, love is the key to care packages.

15. Free food is everywhere if you look hard enough – enough said.

16. Make your dorm room yours. You have to share a small room all year, but there are ways to make it a nice and cozy spot. Decorate your side of the wall, invest in comfortable bedding, it’s a game-changer in the long run. And how are people going to know that you “Keep calm and carry on” unless you have a poster that says so?

17. Get an on-campus job. Working a few hours week during the academic year is a nice financial help and looks great on your resume. For a lot of positions like the library or the welcome desk at the gym, you’ll have a chance to do some homework or talk with your friends. Sounds like something you’d do for free, might as well get paid to refresh twitter faster than it has time to update.

18. Use the writing center!! Most colleges and universities these days have a writing center which is made up of either individuals solely working at the center or upperclassmen who have been trained to help you with your writing. Having trouble coming up with a thesis for your Religion & Science class? Drop by the Writing Center to throw ideas around with an expert!

19. Don’t underestimate your workload. There are so much opportunities for fun at college, procrastination becomes a sport. If you break your workload down in pieces, do a couple of hours a day, it will be more than manageable and you’ll have free time to go see your friends’ ridiculous acapella show or watch people play ultimate Frisbee like they’re in the SuperBowl.

20. Lastly, remember, college is only four years long: take risks, try new things, explore your passions, meet new people and smile! Remember, if it’s not going so well at first, you have three years to find something on campus you like and if you are enjoying yourself, be sure to spend your time wisely as four years go by quicker than you could ever expect!!

Pittsburgh's Budding Food Scene

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Pittsburgh has turned into a bustling hub for everything from the movie industry to sports teams. But the most exciting development has been the food scene. There are so many interesting restaurants, food trucks and bars that have popped up in the Pittsburgh area. To read more head to Eater.com.

On 1989 I came to Pittsburgh to attend a pre-college summer music program at Carnegie Mellon University. I was earnest about the voice lessons but, foreshadowing my adulthood, I spent any free time combing the city for new things to eat. In groups we’d head off-campus to Primanti Bros. for roast beef or kielbasa sandwiches famously piled with fries and slaw, or to the "O" for super dogs and onion rings. A summer romance stirred over slices of coconut cream pie at Gullifty’s, a gussied-up diner in nearby Squirrel Hill. (It closed in 2013 after 31 years in business.) With money I’d saved from my video-store job back home, we splurged on duck a l’orange and other Continental thrillers at fancy Le Mont, with its city views atop Mount Washington. I had never returned to Pittsburgh. Over the years I’d wondered, as dining became my work, how the city’s restaurant scene had changed since my time there.

These days every small- to mid-size American city can take pride in at least two or three local chefs who keep apace with coast-to-coast trends. But in the last few years, the national arbiters have labeled Pittsburgh "the next big food town." They’ve cited cocktail upstarts like Bar Marco, where the skilled bartenders converse with customers rather than handing out menus, and innovative restaurants like Root 174, where Keith Fuller playfully surrounds pork belly with strawberry-apple slaw, barbecue-flavored pop rocks, and a savory Rice Krispies treat.

Was there a defining shift that had made this Rust Belt survivor the next must-fly-to-eat destination? Were key restaurants evoking a singular sense of place, like in Charleston or Nashville? Had the eating public developed remarkably adventurous palates à la Portland, Oregon? Or was it simply that a critical mass of stellar restaurants had opened? And did it really deserve the accolades?

I thought about all this last month as I began my first meal in Pittsburgh in 26 years, with a starter I couldn’t even have imagined or understood in my teens: trout cured in Cynar amaro. The dish had swum off the page at Cure, the restaurant currently drawing the most national attention to Pittsburgh’s dining scene. Chef and co-owner Justin Severino previously ran a butcher shop in California, and his diverse charcuterie program (coppas, pâtés, rillettes, duck speck, delicate ham made from leg of lamb) at four-year-old Cure has earned him the reputation as the town’s meat virtuoso. Wary of pigeonholing, and cognizant of the challenges around having pristine seafood flown in daily to Pittsburgh, Severino began experimenting with curing fish. He’d had luck infusing salami with the bittersweet notes of a Negroni, one of his go-to cocktails, and thought a similar treatment might fly with local trout.

Popping Tags at Thriftsburgh

Image courtesy of Laura D'Alessandro on Flickr

This spring, the University of Pitt opened their very own thrift store. Student-run and University-owned, University of Thriftsburgh offers everything from ugly Christmas sweaters to Coach purses, if they’ve been donated of course. Have you been by yet? Stop and donate some old clothes and pick up some new/old clothes. To read the rest of the story head to Pitt News.


Pitt went hip — and opened its own thrift store on campus.

The thrift store, University of Thriftsburgh, is a University-owned, student-run thrift shop focused on sustainability that opened for business yesterday. Located on the first floor of the O’Hara Student Center, the store, is small but brags a wide variety of colorful purses and backpacks as well as racks of shirts, jackets and dresses. Items in the store range in price from $1 to $12, with specialty items being more expensive, according to Maura Kay, one of the store coordinators.

Handmade ugly Christmas sweaters and vintage sports pullovers, for example, will fall within the $3 to $12 range, but the Coach purses ($20) and pair of Jimmy Choo shoes ($90) demand higher prices. Students who donate clothes to the store will get store credit, Kay said. The store only takes Panther Funds and operates Wednesdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 5 p.m.

By business close on day one, the store had made $538 from 60 purchases. In the biggest sale, a student purchased $64 worth of various clothing items.

All of Thriftsburgh’s initial inventory came from the Give a Thread campaign, a clothing drive meant to recycle unwanted clothes and break the world record for amount of clothes donated. Around five percent of the campaign donations went to the store, according to Thriftsburgh co-founder Anna Greenberg. The campaign collected 111,913 items from December 5 to March 5, falling short of the world record but surpassing its 100,000 articles goal.

Student-run thrift stores are not unique to Pitt. Other colleges across the country feature similar concepts, including the Trunk at Middlebury College in Vermont and the Ole Thrift Shop at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Otterbein University in Ohio also features the Otterbein Thrift Shop, while Clark University in Massachusetts has the Clark Community Thrift Store.

Greenberg said that, although the thrift store is a trendy place to buy cheap clothes, it also serves as a teaching tool about sustainability.

It's Kind of a Big Dill: Picklesburgh Comes to Pittsburgh

Image courtesy of Liz West - Flickr

What’s the big dill about Picklesburgh? This weekend, July 17 and 18, Pittsburgh will be transformed into Picklesburgh! The pickle celebration will take place on the Rachel Carson Bridge and will feature vendors to offer food and pickle themed things for purchase. The Rachel Carson Bridge is only a 10 minute drive away from the Camelot Apartments and it’s well worth the trip! For more information, check out CBS Pittsburgh.


Next week, there will be a gigantic pickle floating in the skies over Pittsburgh. It will point the way to the new food festival the city is hosting when Pittsburgh becomes Picklesburgh.

Picklesburgh will be a two-day celebration on July 17 and 18 on the Rachel Carson Bridge.

Organizers say the huge inflatable Heinz pickle balloon will hover over the festival, overseeing the tastiness!

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership says the balloon was created by Big Ideas Parade Giants, which is the company that makes many of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. It was built and airbrushed in Arizona.

It’s larger than 35 feet wide and was modeled after a Pittsburgh icon, the Heinz pickle pin.

And, let’s face it, this is gonna be a really big dill!

The festival will feature more than 40 vendors that will offer food and pickle-themed merchandise.

There will also be entertainment and how-to cooking demonstrations.

For more information on the Picklesburgh festival, check out their website here:http://www.picklesburgh.com/

Upcoming Food Events in the Burgh

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Pittsburgh is an amazing city for food and this upcoming month is no exception. There are so many food related events from festivals to charities to tours, your belly will be full but you will certainly not be disappointed. For more information on all the upcoming food related events in the Burge head to the Post Gazette.


Festivals

Whiskey Rebellion Festival: Historical re-enactments, period exhibitions, demos, frontier art, music and food will all pay tribute to the local significance of the Whiskey Rebellion. A farmers market will be open 3:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 9, and Washington Symphony Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m.; live music and food booths, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 10; festival activities 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11, with parade at 10 a.m.; car show and re-enactments 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Downtown Washington, Pa. whiskeyrebellionfestival.com.

Night Market: Food, cocktails, beer, music, jewelry, apparel, photography, art and more from local vendors. 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Penn Avenue and 8th Street, Downtown. downtownpittsburgh.com.

South Side Food, Art and Sidewalk Festival: Sidewalk sales, specials at restaurants and bars, sidewalk foods and treats, children’s corner, live music. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, along E. Carson Street. southsidechamber.org.

Picklesburgh: Pickle-themed foods like dill ice cream and dill popcorn, artisan cocktails, demos, live music, pickle marketplace and pickle-themed competitions. 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 17, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18, on the Ninth Street (Rachel Carson) Bridge. downtownpittsburgh.com.

Pittsburgh Summer Beerfest: Craft beer samples, food trucks and vendors, live music. Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, at Stage AE, North Shore. Proceeds benefit animal rescue agencies. pittsburghbeerfest.com.


Charitable events

Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh: Desserts, cocktails, games, sideshow acts and music. 9 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 10, at the African American Cultural Center, Downtown. $95 in advance; $125 at the door. Extra $50 advance VIP admission ($75 at door; $25 for ages 21-29) includes party from 7 to 9 p.m. with munchies catered by top Pittsburgh chefs, cocktails, live music and other entertainment. trustarts.org/cosmo.

HNK Croatia Pittsburgh picnic: Authentic Croatian food including spit-fired rotisserie lamb, live folk entertainment and music. Mass in Croatian at noon; picnic and festivities from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Croatian Center Picnic Grounds, Millvale. Information: Search “HNK Croatia Pittsburgh” on Facebook.

Sunday Dinner Pledge: Home Instead Senior Care Foundation will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels for every person who pledges to schedule regular dinners with senior family members. Sign up at SundayDinnerPledge.com through July 31. The site also offers meal-planning tips and recipes developed by TV chef Melissa d’Arabian.


Walks and tours


Mushroom walks: Join the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club for Saturday fun with mushroom foraging at Salamander Park in Fox Chapel (10 a.m. July 11), North Park (10 a.m. July 18, chanterelles), Riverside Park in Greenville (2:30 p.m. July 18) and Northmoreland Park in Westmoreland County (10 a.m. July 25). wpamushroomclub.org.

‘In Good Spirits’ Tour and Hotel Package: The Fairmont Pittsburgh is offering a two-night package that includes a private, three-hour guided tour with stops, samples and historical details at Wigle Whiskey, Arsenal Cider House and Franktuary. fairmont.com/pittsburgh/special-offers/hotel-offers (click on “F-Scape to Pittsburgh Package).

Food awards


Northside Sandwich Week: The king of the 2015 Northside Sandwich Week last month was Chris Biondo, owner of Scratch Food & Beverage, a soon-to-open Troy Hill shop for his Scratch Reuben, which involved smoked tongue and marrow butter. First runner-up was Legends of the North Shore owner Dan Bartow. His Deutschtown Double Down paired smoked turkey with pickled vegetables between rosemary focaccia.


2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo: At a recent conference in Chicago, the National Confectioners Association gave Edward Marc Chocolatier one of 45 awards for “most innovative new products.” The Pittsburgh company’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Snappers took top honors in the savory snacks category.

A 4th of July Healthy Snack

Independence Day is a big holiday for food. From burgers, hot dogs, to an assortment of others, there’s always a smorgasbord of options to choose from. But if you want to be healthier and still enjoy the snacks, you can try this healthier meal choice of holiday themed popcorn from Eating Richly. Delicious and still healthy for you!


Sweet Holiday Popcorn Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesYield: 8 cups

Calories per serving: 138Fat per serving: 7.48g

Ingredients:

8 cups
fresh popped popcorn
2 cubes
vanilla almond bark
3 TBS
nonpareil sprinkles

Cooking Directions:

1. Place popcorn in a large bowl.
2. Melt almond bark according to package directions. Stir melted almond bark into popcorn, coating evenly, then quickly spread popcorn on wax paper lined baking sheets.
3. Evenly distribute sprinkles over popcorn.
4. Let dry completely before serving.

Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 97.2mg, Total Carbohydrate 17.43g, Dietary Fiber 1.1g, Sugars 11.13g, Protein 1g, WW Points Plus 4, WW old points 3

Approximate cost/serving: This cost me just $1.50 to make the whole batch. At 1 cup per serving that’s just 19 cents a serving. Cheap snack!


Vegetarian/Gluten free: Almond bark does contain milk whey, but you can get vegan white chocolate. Although the ingredients in the almond bark appear to be gluten free, I can’t guarantee against cross contamination as the packaging doesn’t state gluten free. I have heard that Plymouth Pantry brand is gluten free, but I recommend contacting the company to be sure. I know you can get gluten free popcorn and sprinkles.

7 Tips for Sun Safety This Summer

The first day of summer was Sunday and with this weather heating up, we’re in for a sunny summer! Keeping your skin protected from the sun’s rays is smarter than lying out and soaking them up all day. You can enjoy the sunshine while still staying safe. These tips and facts from Real Self will help keep you safe from the dangerous UV rays.


Summer's almost here, and you know what that means: outdoor festivals, backyard barbecues, and days at the beach! Unfortunately, there's nothing like a sunburn to put a damper on the fun, not to mention leave behind some pretty unsightly tan lines.


However, there's more to using sunscreen than preventing crazy patterns and itchy skin. Any time a RealSelf user asks our doctor community how to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, their #1 tip is to wear sunscreen daily. Not only is UV radiation the most common cause of facial aging, but 90% of skin cancer is caused by exposure to the sun. (An even scarier statistic is the fact that one in five Americans are expected to develop the disease in their lifetime.)


You may think your avoiding UV damage isn't always as simple as "my moisturizer has SPF 15." To help you avoid the risks of too much exposure, we turned to dermatologist Dr. Susan Van Dyke and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to bring you these seven facts about proper sun protection:

1. Anything greater than SPF 50 provides the same protection
"A 50 SPF blocks 98.00% of UVB light (the burning rays) while a 100 SPF will block 99.00%,” says Dr. Van Dyke. “This level of benefit [to either] is of course contingent on applying enough and reapplying frequently."

2. Makeup and moisturizers with sunscreen aren’t always enough
Unless your makeup/moisturizer provides broad spectrum sunscreen and is reapplied throughout the day, it isn’t enough protection for all day sun exposure. According to ASDS, it’s fine if “you are only walking to your car from work or going into the store. But if you are going to spend a few hours outdoors, then you need to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen."

3. You need to reapply every 2 hours
"The active ingredients in sunscreen break down when exposed to UV light," says Dr. Van Dyke. "To maintain the SPF on the label, you need to keep reapplying as the ingredients lose effectiveness: every 2 hours, more often if you sweat or swim."

4. You should use one ounce to cover your whole body
According to ASDS, “Research shows that many people put on about half of the amount of sunscreen they need, so be sure to lather it on." And don’t forget the sensitive skin on your lips: Use lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher.

5. It’s not a free pass to suntan all day
"Sunscreen is not 100% even in the best of cases," warns Dr. Van Dyke. "Realistically speaking, few of us follow guidelines perfectly. If you really want to save your skin, the best approach is to use sunscreen, cover up (hats, sunglasses, SPF clothing), and seek shade."

6. Tanning oil with SPF 10 doesn’t count
“Less than an SPF of 15 doesn't protect you from the cancer-causing side effects of sun exposure,” says Dr. Van Dyke.

7. Don’t wait til you’re in the sun to apply
“Sunscreen should be applied one-half hour before going outside, giving the skin time to absorb it,” says ASDS.


The next time you're picking out sunscreen, here's what you should look for:

• Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
• Minimum SPF 15, ideally 30-50
• Broad spectrum UVA/UVB (UVB causes burns, but UVA is also damaging to the structure and health of skin)
• Water resistance if you'll be swimming or sweating