Wednesday, July 29, 2015

10 Things To Do Before Summer Ends


Image From Pixabay
We have about two months of summer left, and we want to make the most of it. Apartment Therapy has some great ideas for you to enjoy the last weeks of summer. Grilling outside, having a movie night or making lemonade should all be on your summer bucket list. Keep reading to snatch some ideas for the rest of your summer.


1. Make pizza on the grill.

Have a grill? Love pizza? Then you must marry the two. It's not hard to make killer grilled pizza as long as you know the technique and tips. Invite your friends over and — zam! — you've created a memory.

2. Make your own ice cream or sorbet.

Summer = ice cream, ice cream = summer. The two are basically interchangeable this time of year, so you might as well go all in and indulge yourself silly. You'll feel a little better if it's homemade, too, because we all know homemade treats have half as many calories as their store-bought counterparts. (All that effort you put into making it burns up a good chunk, am I right?)

But if it's too hot to really put effort into much of anything, no worries — just make this and call it a day.
3. Make lemonade.

Okay, so I lied — lemonade is actually summer's realest, truest thing. (Ice cream is a close second.) Lemonade in the summer is like a tall drink of water ... except it's not water, it's lemonade, which is so much better than water.
4. Grill every kind of burger you can think of.

A good burger is welcome any night of the year, but it's particularly satisfying between the months of June and August. This is a fact. So why stop at beef burgers? Think of all the burgers you can make and eat: salmon burgers, black bean burgers, turkey burgers, chicken burgers, eggplant burgers! Go to it.
5. Make a fruit cobbler or crumble.

As Emma so rightly said, "Cobbler [is] the best reason to turn on the stove in the summer" — if you're not already turning it on for a crumble or crisp, that is! This is the most glorious way to enjoy ripe, juicy summer fruit. Don't let the fruit flies win, people. Get that fruit off your countertop and into a pan, stat.
6. Eat a tomato sandwich.

A simple tomato sandwich is divine. Have you had one (or 20) yet this summer? The simpler, the better: tomatoes, crusty bread, mayonnaise or mozzarella, salt, and pepper. So, so good.
7. Host a preserving party.

Into canning and preserving? Host a party! As Kate Payne, author of The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking wrote here, "Making preserves or pickles together is a fun way to spend a summer day. Share your skills and introduce people to canning in a low-stress way ... at our party last summer we made four recipes together over the course of five hours; supply and fruit costs were only $10 per person and we each went home with five jars of yum."

I'm always up for a jar of yum. You?
8. Drink pitcher cocktails and farmers market sangrias.

Summer parties are the time to skip the drink orders and go right for pitcher cocktails and sangrias. They're easy, festive, and totally right for the season. And with ingredients you can pick up at the farmers market, how can you go wrong?
9. Throw an outdoor movie party.

Watching a movie under the stars definitely makes our list of great summer experiences, even more so when it's combined with great friends and great snacks. And thanks to Anjali's party a couple years ago, we now know exactly how to do it! Here's a look at the whole party series:
10. Eat outside as much as possible.

Have a picnic on the beach. Pack a few snacks for hiking. Go car camping. Makes'mores in the backyard. Eat every meal on your porch or patio while the weather is warm and lovely. And yes, we know you West Coasters can do this any day of the year (lucky ducks), but for many of us, summer is short and fleeting. Be swift, and you may still catch it.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Organize Your College Apartment



Keeping things organized is important when you live in an apartment! Small spaces call for getting creative with your storage. Sometimes giant plastic crates aren’t going to get the job done. That’s where tool totes come in. These multipurpose tool carriers don’t have to be used just for tools. They can be utilized by everyone: kids, crafters, car enthusiasts. Check out how the folks at Apartment Therapyuse theirs. Do you have anything that you use for things other than its intended purpose? Let us know on the Facebook page.


My dad recently gave me this tool tote and, organizing fanatic that I am, I immediately started looking beyond its intended use and wondering what unexpected uses I could come up with. This little thing is handier than you might think, so read on for four uses, as well as some suggestions for similar totes, in case the red and black look isn't your thing...


Kids' Tote: Keep the things that keep your child entertained handy. Because of it's portability, a tool tote is easy to take with you or to keep in the car, and the pockets are great for all the odds-and-ends that kids adore.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:
books
stickers
pencils and markers
coloring books
earphones
iPad or other electronic device
small toys
card games
snacks
construction paper
stuffed animals


Craft Tote: Stash everything related to your latest project in this tote so that it's easily to handle. When I lived in a studio apartment, I used a similar tote as my mobile "craft room." It kept me from acquiring too many crafty things, but it also kept all my items organized and accessible for whenever inspiration struck. Plus, everything is easily packed up again, so your coffee table isn't perpetually strewn with yarn and paper.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:
filing folders filled with decorative papers
yarn
knitting needles
embroidery hoops
sewing needles
scissors
glue gun
glues
craft paint
threads
hole punches
stamps
ribbon
markers
sketch pad


Car kit: In case of emergencies, having a designated tote means that necessary items are close at hand. Consider adding daily essentials like parking passes and a phone charger in addition to emergency items like jumper cables and a tire iron. The whole kit is easily moved from the backseat to the trunk and vice versa.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:
jumper cables
flashlight
maps
cleaning wipes
Tide stain pen (in case of an in-car eating mishap)
a bottle of water
granola bars, dried fruit, or nuts
parking passes
a pen and notebook
an umbrella
flat tire emergency spray
an ice scraper
bungee cords
a tire iron
first-aid kit
extra chargers for electronics


A Bill-Paying/ Office Caddy: Tool totes are handy for corralling the things that you need every month when you spread out to tackle the bills. Even if you pay your bills online, having important papers and mailing supplies at the ready can be handy. Plus, in a really small space, this could serve as "mobile office", filled with all the supplies you need and easily stowed in a closet or a cabinet.

Some sample items to keep in the tote:
File folders for receipts and bills (keep separate ones for bills that need to be paid, bills that have been paid, or bills that need to be filed elsewhere)
calculator
pens
envelopes
stamps
checkbook
letter opener
scissors
computer screen wipes
a notebook and pen

I used a small sewing caddy from the dollar store to corral things like push pens, rubber bands, Post-it flags, staples, and the like

Oh, and of course you could use it for tools. Any other alternate ideas?

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Try Something New This Summer

Image From Wikipedia
Are you tired of the same old summer activities that you do every year in Lubbock? Swimming and enjoying the outdoors can be fun, but what about trying something new and exciting. Escape Room has come to Lubbock, and it is time for you to use your skills to break out of this interactive theater experience. You can read more at Lubbock on the Loop.


Open for 8 months now, Trapped! Escape the Room is located at 3521 50th Street (50th St & Knoxville). The cost is $20.00 per person, and if you’re a student it’s only $18.00. There is a recommended minimum age of 14 with an adult. Without an adult, minimum age of 16.

You must reserve the time slot in which your group wants to go, and reserving is super easy! Click hereto look at the schedule and book your adventure.

Lubbock’s version of this worldwide entertainment phenomenon currently has two different rooms:


The Playroom

2-5 people
“Harder” of the two rooms. We put it in quotes because each group will have its own strengths and weaknesses
Creepy atmosphere
Overall success rate of 34%


The Laboratory


3-8 people
“Easier” of the two rooms. We put it in quotes because each group will have its own strengths and weaknesses.
Science atmosphere
Overall success rate of 46%


We had a late night reservation for The Playroom. Keep in mind that this room is in no way scary (at least not until October). There aren’t snakes in the room, nobody pops out at you, and you won’t feel any random gusts of air. You are monitored via cameras the entire time by the staff and the walkie talkie allows you to be in constant communication. (Also use this to ask for hints!)


Ben told us that he will be switching out The Playroom by the end of summer with a new theme… Interrogation. He is planning to turn The Playroom even scarier around Halloween- an actual haunted room!

This is a really great way to work on team building (companies like Alamo Drafthouse have already been through here) and relationship building (hello, double dates). Work out that noggin and figure your way out of the room! If you escape with plenty of time to spare or if you stay trapped like us, you still get your picture taken. Your sign will either say “Escape Artist” or “We Suck” – only you can decide your fate!

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Stay Safe In The Sun

Image From Wikipedia

Summer is here, and we are in for a hot one! 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 dermatologistDr. 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

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Fourth of July in Lubbock

Are you taking classes over the summer? Lubbock is a great place to celebrate the Fourth of July. Food, festivals and fireworks are all on the schedule for this Saturday in Lubbock. Our blog will let you know what events are happening so you can start planning your weekend. You can learn more at Visit Lubbock.
  • 4th on Broadway
  • This annual event is actually the state’s largest free festival, and it’s right here in Lubbock! If you haven’t participated in previous years, it’s a must-do. Here is the event listing for this July 4th festival (from the Lubbock Avalanche Journal): 
  • The festivities will kick-off with the smooth sounds of Grammy-Award winner, Little Joe Y La Familia for Amigo’s La Raza on the Plaza event. The gates will open at 7:30 p.m. 
  • The 4th on Broadway parade, taking place from 9-11 a.m., will feature floats and an array of entries moving west on Broadway, from Avenue Q to University Avenue. 
  • This year’s street fair will continue from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., with different genres of music featured on seven stages located along Broadway. More than 50 vendors will sell food items from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 
  • A children’s area, dubbed the Kids’ Corral, will offer multiple activities from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the east parking lot of First Baptist Church, 2201 Broadway. 
  • An annual Early Settlers’ Luncheon is slated for 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Broadway Church of Christ, 1924 Broadway. The event often sells out before July 4, with many present able to paint a picture of Lubbock in the city’s infancy. 
  • Mid-afternoon on into the evening hours will find many spreading out blankets for family picnics at Mackenzie Park. A food court will tempt hungry passersby from 4:30-10 p.m., and several at the afternoon Kids’ Corral will have moved their hoppers, face-painting and arts and crafts activities to the park. 
  • The Randy Rogers Band will headline the 4th on Broadway Street Dance with amazing LIVE music that will have you dancing in the streets. 
  • Youth Orchestras of Lubbock will play at 7:30 p.m., and the live, patriotic music will continue even as the large fireworks display lights up the sky. 
  • July 3rd Fireworks Extravaganza
  • Venture out to Buffalo Springs Lake for a fireworks extravaganza with the family. Beginning around 7:45 p.m., attendees will enjoy live music before the firework show, which starts around 9:45 p.m. Gate fees will apply. On July 4th, Buffalo Springs Lake will host a 4th of July parade that begins at noon. Gate fees will apply.
  • First Friday Art Trail
  • Enjoy the 4th with some art! The famous First Friday Art Trail happens to fall on the 4th of July this year, and what better way to spend the holiday with friends! Check out our previous blog about Lubbock’s most popular monthly event.
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