Valentine's Day for College Students

This time of year is a popular time to throw your loved one a little extra appreciation. It’s Valentine’s Day! You’re bound to see hearts everywhere and pink and red galore. You might feel pressured to spend tons of money showing your boyfriend or girlfriend a great time. Living on a college student’s budget doesn’t really allow for that so you have to find more creative, and oftentimes more interesting, date night ideas. Don’t worry! We’ve rounded up a few of the best Valentine’s Day ideas for couples on a budget.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Take your date on a scientific exploration at the Science Spectrum Museum. They’ll certainly be surprised and impressed by your originality. Everything in the museum is meant to be explored and experimented with so this is definitely a hands on kind of date! Not only will you come out thoroughly entertained, you’ll probably learn a thing or two! In addition to the museum, you can also attend an Omnimax movie. With the enormous screen, it can feel like you’re soaring above the scene or right in the middle of the action. There are a couple of fabulous shows that you can attend this Valentine’s Day like Robots, Mysteries of the Unseen World and Wonders of the Arctic. You and your date will want to come back every week to see every single Omnimax movie! See a schedule of the movies and times here. The Science Spectrum Museum is only 10 minutes away from ULofts Apartments.

If you’d prefer something extra low-key, we recommend staying in! Ordering in some delicious food and watching some romantic or not-so-romantic movies is a fun way to spend your Valentine’s Day. Netflix has a fantastic selection of both kinds of movies depending on your feelings towards the holiday. (Pro V-Day and Anti V-Day) Order in some tasty Chipotle for dinner and enjoy each other’s company without being bothered by the company of strangers. It might not be an exciting outing but it’s still romantic and much less stressful!

For those flying solo this weekend, you might think there aren’t any fun options for you. Not only are the above options perfect for single folks too, we have one more option that we think you’ll love. Painting With A Twist is a fabulous option for couples or single people. On Saturday the 13th they’re hosting several painting options that can be done as couples and one that can be done by yourself. If you choose to do the couple’s painting, it’s a great way to bond with your loved one. If you choose the single painting, it’s a great way to meet new people while painting and drinking! You really can’t go wrong. See their schedule here and book your spot early.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a stressful holiday. You don’t have to worry about not having enough money to wow your date or about not even having a date. There are plenty of fun things to do! How do you spend Valentine’s Day?

Texas Winters: The Pros and Cons

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While most of the rest of the country suffers through single digit weather and feet of snow, Texas is sitting pretty with 60 degree averages. We’re pretty lucky to have such fabulous weather here. It allows us to do things that others might not get to do during the winter months.

Pro: Our amusement parks open WAY earlier than anywhere else.

Most parks in the country shut down come October and don’t open back up until late springtime. Joyland might be closed right now but it’ll open back up in about a month at the beginning of March. You can get your fill of the Daredevil Drop, the Galaxi Coaster and the Spider for most of the year. You can find out more about ticketing information and the rides here on their website.

Con: We don’t get to have snowball fights.

We’re not that sad about this one. Who wants a face full of snow when you can have sunshine? We’ll settle for a snow cone at one of the concession stands instead.

Pro: You can eat outside basically anytime you want.

With such fabulous weather comes the opportunity to eat outdoors practically all year round. An outdoor patio at a restaurant is a gift and we don’t intend to squander it. The Lantern Tavern (5 minutes from ULofts) has a wonderful outdoor patio where you can munch on Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos, a meatball parmesan sandwich, a cheese burger pizza and more. The Roof is so close you could walk to it from ULofts Apartments. They have arguably the best view in Lubbock. Located at the top of Raider Park, you can catch a view of not only the beautiful Texas sunsets but you’ll also be able to catch Texas Tech games from the Roof!

Con: Your air conditioner works overtime.

It might be comfortable during the winter time to live in Texas but during the summer months, the weather can be absolutely unbearable. You’re sticky and sweaty by the time you get to work every morning. So you have to work your air conditioner to get back to a comfortable body temperature to even think about getting any work done. It can be a little bit of a drag.

There are ups and downs to having such mild, warm winters every year. But we like to think that the pros outweigh the cons!

What’s your favorite part about Texas winters? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter.

Dealing With Post-Finals Stress

Image courtesy of Geoffrey Fairchild on Flickr

Finals are over! That means it’s time to relax and kick back and enjoy winter break. We know that finals can be a stressful time for people and the stress sometimes carries over into your winter break. That’s no way to live your winter break life! Utilize the time to unwind and really enjoy the time off. Here’s how you can make the most of your winter break.

Clean your desk. You just suffered through the hard work that is finals week. Your desk is probably a mess from all of the study guides and syllabi. Take some time before you head home for break, and clean off that desk! By clearing off your desk you’ll provide yourself a fresh start for next semester. Coming back to your apartment and seeing a clean and clear desk won’t give you panic attacks and flashbacks from finals week. Do yourself a favor and clear it off before you head home.

Go out. Take a night out with your friends. Whether that involves hitting the bars or just hitting the movie theater to see the new Star Wars, it’s going to help you unwind. Spending time with your friends in a calm scenario is just what you need after a long semester of stress. Dedicate a night to just you and your pals.

Dig into your Netflix queue. You’ve probably spent all semester avoiding Netflix and Hulu (hopefully), for the sake of your grades. Now that classes are through and you don’t have many responsibilities, you’re free to tear into all of those shows. Spend a weekend just binge watching that one show that you’ve had your eye on. There’s nothing more relaxing than a weekend in your sweatpants with junk food and a great show on play. Yes, we’re still watching, Netflix.

Catch up on Christmas traditions. Do you have a Christmas tradition that you have to do every single December? You might not have had time to do it yet with all of your studying for finals. But now that that’s all out of the way, you have all the time in the world. Put on Christmas Vacation, go sledding, go ice skating, and drink as much hot chocolate as your stomach can hold. Just try and get it all in before Christmas.

Do you have a post-finals ritual that helps you to relax and unwind? Tell us about it on Facebook and Twitter.

Friendsgiving

Not every college student has the opportunity to go home to their families for the Thanksgiving holiday. Some live too far away and don’t have enough time and money to make it back home. Others just choose to stay in their college town. Maybe they have a job and want to make the big bucks working Black Friday. We can’t blame you! Instead of struggling to get home with your family, why not gather a group of friends together for a Friendsgiving dinner? Much more laid back than a family Thanksgiving and with fewer people asking what you want to do with your life and when you’re going to get married. Enjoy a much less stressful evening with your friends!

Image courtesy of Pixabay

If you’re going to have it at your apartment, plan ahead. Nothing is worse than scrambling last minute to the grocery store to find something that you need for the dinner. Make a list the week before and go to the grocery store to get everything you need early. If you get everything down on paper, it not only makes it easier to make sure you get everything but it makes your trip less frantic.

To alleviate a little of the pressure off of the host, have a potluck. Everyone cooks their own dish and brings it together for a big feast. Make it even more interesting by having everyone creating their favorite dish rather than a traditional Thanksgiving dish. You get to enjoy favorites from all of your closest friends while spending time together.

You don’t have to cram 20 friends in your apartment. It can be much easier to get a group together and go out to dinner instead. It takes the pressure off of the host and those cooking the meal. Put the burden on someone else! La Diosa Cellars has some amazing dishes that will warm your soul and fill your belly. Pizza is a little untraditional for Thanksgiving but this is Friendsgiving and La Diosa has amazing pizza! Dos Tacos Papasito will have you coming back for more. Seared pork belly glazed in mango, tequila and jalapeno: to die for.

Since Friendsgiving isn’t a traditional kind of celebration, it calls for unique and interesting food. Take it to another level with Thanksgiving breakfast instead of dinner. The Cast Iron Grill (5 minutes away from U Lofts) serves up a hearty breakfast that will leave you and your friends sleepy and full. You can’t go wrong with an omelet so take your pick from veggie, pork, Western or Cast Iron. Go all in with a country style breakfast of biscuits and gravy or a big stack of French Toast (just in time for French Toast Day on November 27th). Get Friendsgiving breakfast out of the way and have the rest of the day to recover and hang out with your pals.

After you indulge in your dinner feast, bring your group back to U Lofts for a movie in our amazing stadium seating movie theater. Pop up some popcorn and kick back with your friends for a relaxing evening in.

Going home to spend Thanksgiving with your family is great but it’s more fun to enjoy a dinner with all of your friends that you made with your own hands (or ordered from a restaurant). Do you and your friends have a Friendsgiving tradition?

15 College Tips to Prepare for Adulthood

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After getting through your freshman year, college is a great time to learn how to grow up and be more self-sufficient. These tips from College Info Geek share some insight into how to prepare yourself for adulthood while in college. Check them out and then head to College Info Geek for more!


1. Always go to class. A lot of bloggers will debate this one, but I think it’s essential. You never know when the professor will drop a crucial test hint, or give out extra credit for attendance.


2. If you have to choose between a double major and getting involved on campus, get involved. All the knowledge in the world won’t help you if you come out of college with no experience or professional relationships.


3. ALWAYS back up your files. Dropbox makes this easy as can be.


4. Make sure your computer is protected against malware. Install Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast Anti-virus, and use a web browser other than Internet Explorer. Installing the Adblock extension doesn’t hurt, either.


5. Learn to do your taxes and your FAFSA yourself, instead of letting your parents do it. Knowing how to handle these things will prepare you for life after college.


6. Get a bank account with a bank in town. It can be really inconvenient having to wait for Mom to send cash, and it teaches you to manage your own finances.


7. Get a credit card, and make all your month’s purchases on it up to 20% of the card’s balance. This will help to start building your credit. If you start spending more, or can’t pay the balance in full for even one month, tear the card up.


8. Bring enough clothing to school with you that you can go two weeks between washings. This will save you money in the long run.


9. Never leave your clothes in a washer after the cycle is over. Be there to take them out a minute before the cycle ends. Not doing this is rude, and people WILL pull your clothes out and set them somewhere.


10. If you have new colored clothes, wash colors separately from whites the first few times you wear them. Otherwise, toss ’em all in the same load if they’ll fit.


11. Try not to drink too much caffeine. It’s really not good for you (it caused pretty bad acne for me), and you can get energy by staying well-hydrated, eating healthy foods, and sleeping enough.


12. If you’re having issues with your roommate, talk about them. Don’t let them build up to the point where you can’t stand each other.


13. Get a part-time job, preferably doing something that relates to your major. If you can, work in the early morning – you’d just be sleeping otherwise. I’ve found that having a job actually helped with my time management when I first started school.


14. If you can’t find a part-time job that relates to your major, look for a “warm-body” job – one that allows you to do homework while working. Some examples would be working at the desk of the library or the athletic center.


15. If your school offers a position that helps with summer orientation for incoming students, apply for it. This kind of job will build your confidence and communication skills like none other.

Family-Friendly Halloween Event at Texas Tech

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Halloween is a great opportunity to have your family come up for a visit! There are plenty of events at Texas Tech for you to celebrate this upcoming holiday. Choose out of these events or head to Texas Tech University to see more!

• The National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) hosts Heritage Halloween, 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 at 3121 Fourth St. The event is free to the public and children can trick-or-treat at the historical structures at the NRHC. Treats will be period-specific for each house. CONTACT: Emily Wilkinson Arellano, (806) 742-0498 or emily.arellano@ttu.edu.

• Phi Alpha Delta hosts the annual Halloween Carnival, 3:30 – 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, 1802 Hartford Ave. Various student organizations will host booths with activities and treats for children in attendance. The carnival is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Krizia Martinez,krizia.martinez@ttu.edu.

• The Texas Tech Volleyball Program hosts Halloween Fright Night when the Red Raiders take on West Virginia, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the United Spirit Arena. Doors will open at 5 p.m. All fans, eighth grade and below who wear a costume will receive complimentary admission. A costume contest will take place during the match with winners being selected for best overall, spookiest and most creative costumes. Parking around the arena is free. CONTACT: Elvis Moya, (806) 742-3355 or elvis.moya@ttu.edu.

• The Texas Tech Vernacular Music Center will host the Pirates & Cowboys Halloween Costume Ball along with the Tech Set Dancers, the Caprock Celtic Association and the Roots Music Institute, 7 – 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Yoga Bean studio (3135 34th St.). Admission is $6 or $5 with a canned food donation. There will be music, hourly prizes for the best costumes, dancing and more. The Cowboys & Pirates Halloween Carnival Ball is intended to provide a safe, creative, drug-, tobacco- and hassle-free environment to enjoy the Halloween holiday. CONTACT: Christopher J. Smith, (806) 742-2270 or christopher.smith@ttu.edu.

• Residence Life hosts Safetreat at the Texas Tech residence halls from 6 – 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29. Candy and activities will be provided in each of the residence hall complexes and “Boo Buses” are available to transport faculty, staff, community members and their families from hall to hall. CONTACT: Dustin Killpack, (806) 834-0068 or dustin.killpack@ttu.edu.

• Tech Activities Board presents zombie specialist Matt Mogk 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 at the Student Union Building’s Allen Theater. The “Zombie Specialist” is founder and head of the Zombie Research Society, a global community dedicated to the serious study of zombie science, survival and pop culture and authored “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies,” a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award in nonfiction. Admission is free for Texas Tech students with a valid I.D. and $12 per ticket for the general public. Tickets can be purchased in the Student Union Building at the Allen Theater’s east information desk. CONTACT: Austin Reiter, (806) 742-4708 or austin.reiter@ttu.edu.

Autumn Fest at Texas Tech

Luckily for us, Autumn Fest is back for this year! Next weekend, October 11th on Texas Tech's campus from 11 AM until 3 PM, you can enjoy local music acts, delicious food and local vendors selling their work. This year is going to be even better so don't miss out! For more information head to Everything Lubbock. Luckily for us, Memorial Circle is just across the street from us at ULofts!

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

After a successful event last year, Texas Tech University’s Office of the President is bringing back Autumn Fest this year, open to the public and appropriate for all ages.

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 on campus at Memorial Circle and will include live, local music, food, entertainment, art and local vendors selling their works.

“After a success last year, we are excited to host an event for the South Plains community that is perfect for a family outing and for all ages to enjoy,” Texas Tech President M. Duane Nellis said. “Whenever we were in the beginning stages of Autumn Fest, our goal was to strengthen the ties between the Texas Tech and local community and also familiarize our students with the local businesses and arts scene. This has been a great opportunity for both community members and students, and I am looking forward to how well this year’s event will be.”

Some products featured will be art of all different styles – glass, paintings, print, pottery, metal yard art, carvings and photography – handmade crafts, clothing, accessories, jewelry, home décor, household products such as salves, creams, soap, sprays, lotions and bath blends, local food of all sorts, including organic items, and much more.

Food also will be served at Autumn Fest including:
Sandwiches
Snow cones
Street tacos, burritos, tortas
Loaded potatoes
Nachos
Frito pie
French fries
Kettle corn
Homemade lemonade

Activities will be available for kids such as nature-based crafts, science demonstrations, face painting, chess demonstration, inflatable activities and more.

Open parking will be available to the community, except for the R-08 lot (reserved for vendors) located west of Memorial Circle by the Science, Chemistry and Mathematical Sciences buildings.

For more information about Autumn Fest, visit its website or contact autumnfest@ttu.edu.

(Press release from Texas Tech University)