Happy First Day of Fall

We wanted to wish a happy first day of fall to all of our wonderful residents! Enjoy your day!

15 Cleaning Hacks for the Lazy College Student

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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.


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 Apps Every College Student Should Have on Their Phones

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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.

Labor Day Relaxation

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This coming Monday we'll be celebrating Labor Day! This is the day we recognize all of us hard-workers out there and we commemorate the day by not doing any hard work whatsoever. How do you plan on relaxing? Beach day? Family picnic? Exhilarating hike through the wilderness? Whatever it may be we hope it's relaxing. If you're unfamiliar with the practice you can head to Lifehacker to check out these and more tips on how to unwind.

How are you spending your Labor Day? Let us know!

We're celebrating Labor Day here in the states (or "Labour Day" in Canada), which means the government's celebrating your hard work by giving you the day off. While long weekends are great, if you don't take a moment to unwind they don't do you much good. Make your day off count and check out some of our favorite ways to relax and recharge.

Recognize and Repair Burnout

You want to avoid burnout, but sometimes you don't recognize the signs or the severity of the problem. Here are a few articles that explain how and why you get stressed out plus what you can do about it.

Exercise Your Mind and Body

Not all exercise has to be work. Meditation and yoga are two great ways to keep your mind and body active without the process feeling like work. We've got guides to help you get started with both.

Learn How to Improve Your Sleep

Sleep is about as relaxed as you get, and if you want to recharge you're going to need to sneak a few hours here and there. These posts can help you find time for naps and improve your overall quality of sleep.

Make Changes to Improve Your Work Life

It may be your day off, but taking a little time to make tomorrow better may be worth it. Here are a few ways you can find balance in your work and improve your office life in several ways.

Just Have Some Fun

Of course, one of the easiest ways to relax is make sure you have some fun. Here are some projects to help bring a little more into your day.

15 Easy & Cheap Meals That Aren't Ramen

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Just because you're in college doesn't mean you need to eat like you are. Small budgets and a lack of resources can result in students thinking that they need to subsist on Cup o' Noodles and Easy Mac. That's not the case! There are plenty of ways to make delicious and cheap meals using what you have in your apartment already! For more recipes like these head to 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. (via Brit + 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)

National Chuck Wagon Championship Cook Off

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Starting September 11th through the 13th you can experience the National Chuck Wagon Championship Cook-Off right here in Lubbock! Winners of the competition can win prizes upwards of $10,000! Only a limited number of tickets are available to the public so make sure you get yours early and fast before they run out. For more information head to Everything Lubbock.

The National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration hosts the National Chuck Wagon Championship Cook-Off in Lubbock, Texas, September 12th, 2015. The full Symposium is held September 11-12-13th at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center and Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts.

The annual Cook-Off boasts one of the largest chuck wagon gatherings in the nation, with wagon crews competing trophy buckles, cash awards, and prizes of over $10,000. Each wagon is required to prepare a complete meal of chicken fried steak, pinto beans, potatoes, fruit cobbler and bread. The cooking competition team consists of one head cook, one assistant cook, and two helpers. The head cook is responsible for appropriate equipment and wagon authenticity, meal preparation, and cleanliness of the wagon camp area. Judges’ scores are compiled to award winners in each of five divisions: Bread, Meat, Potatoes, Beans, Dessert and Overall High Food Point. Wagons are also judged on the camp and wagon authenticity and prizes are awarded in the Ranch Wagon and Trail Wagon divisions.

A limited number of meal tickets are available for the public to enjoy the same competition prepared meals on Saturday, September 12th. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Tickets may be purchased online in the NCSC Store and mail-in order forms may also be found on the web site atwww.cowboy.org .

The purpose of the Symposium is to celebrate, preserve and pass along our western heritage and cowboy culture for those who know and love it, and for those who have never known it before to learn from and enjoy it as well. To carry out these goals, the event schedule includes musical entertainers, poetry and storytelling, western writer’s panel, horse handling demonstrations, Farrier Demonstrations, a horse parade, chuck wagon cook-off, and exhibits of western artworks and merchandise. The event features award winning entertainers like Cowboy Celtic, Pipp Gillette, and Craig Carter along with many other talented performers.

The 27th Annual event includes exhibit spaces filled with western art and goods, chuck wagons and special presenters on “The Influence of Celtic Cultures on the American West.”

One of the largest events annually held in Lubbock, the Symposium draws visitors from 20-30 states and multiple nations, and people from more than 30 nations have attended in the previous twenty-one years.

The event has activities for the entire family! Show goers will be able pick and choose from a full schedule of entertainers, western programs, and activities each day of the event. A schedule of events and ticket information may be found on the official web site at www.cowboy.org. All-inclusive, one-price, “Wrangler Pass” and “Rustler Pass” admission tickets are available prior to the event. The Wrangler passes allow admission and meals for all three days and the Rustler pass is an all-inclusive one day pass for Friday or Saturday. Individual tickets may be purchased in advance through the office, on the web site, or in person upon arrival at the event.

The show is open to the public Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 11-12-13th at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Lane (6th Street), and Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, 511 avenue K in Lubbock, Texas.

(News release from The National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration)

College Apartment Essentials

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Living on your own in a college apartment is exciting! It’s your first real taste of freedom without an RA to supervise you day and night like in your dorm room. Decorating your first apartment however, can be difficult. You’re still unsure of what exactly you need and you don’t have much money to spend. According to Gina-Alyse, these are the essential things that everyone needs in their college apartment.

Freshman year of college, I couldn’t wait to have my own kitchen and my own apartment. Having an apartment, even an on-campus apartment, opens you up to what life is like living away from home. You have the option to cook for yourself, decorate a larger space, host more guests and take on more responsibility. I love how my apartment felt more like home, and I love living with my closest friends! After living in the apartment for a semester, I am now so excited to decorate my space and make the most out of living in an apartment so close to my classes and activities! If you are moving into an apartment, I hope to help you all too with making decisions about your space too!

For the Kitchen:

1. Pampered Chef Micro-Cooker: This Micro-Cooker does WONDERS for dorm room food creations. Microwave soups, vegetables, pasta, mac & cheese, chicken, rice, leftovers or anything you can imagine! In your apartment, it is so easy to microwave anything in here for quick, on-the-go meals.

2. Extra cups and dishes for guests: Now that you have an apartment, take advantage of having guests over and entertaining by making dinner together or doing theme nights. Always make sure you have extra dishes around.

3. Take-out menus: For those nights you don’t feel like cooking and would like to eat in!

4. Brita Water Filter: While this is personal preference, I’ve been loving my water pitcher for filling up my water bottle/tumblr everyday and making sure I’m drinking enough water.

5. Bags to carry groceries: Use some recyclable bags to carry groceries up the stairs of your apartment or across the parking lot. They are so much easier to use than the plastic kind and they are a greener option!

6. Blender: For making smoothies, milkshakes and other different sauces, salsa or food items! I have heard great things about the Nutribullet Blender, especially since it is a great size for living in a college apartment. For smoothies, I recommend the Smoothie Smart Blender. I’ve been using it for the past year and a half, and it’s been great for smoothies and soups. Plus, it is really budget-friendly!

7. Olive oil or coconut oil: use a healthier oil option for your cooking in your apartment. Coconut and olive oil are two good options!

8. Handy baking supplies: We keep a community baking cabinet in our apartment, which means that any one of my roommates can use the flour, sugar, vanilla, sprinkles, salt, etc. to bake cookies, cupcakes, etc. for events around campus.

9. Tumbler cup or reusable water bottle: These are perfect for on-the-go around campus and my go-to to saving plastic from using water bottles.

For your room:

10. Floor lamps + extra lighting: check to make sure there is enough light in your room! I had to buy a floor lamp to bring in some extra light for my room this year, and it was the best decision I made!

11. Command Hooks: These are so necessary in college, especially if you are living on campus and want to decorate your room to match your style!

12. Pictures of you and your college friends: Update your picture frames or your wall with more current pictures of you and your friends to remember your first years of college together.

13. Extra blankets + chairs: These come in handy in case you have out-of-town friends come to visit and stay in your apartment living room or if you have extra room to have guests over and hang out!

For apartment decoration:

14. More wall art! You will have extra wall space in your apartment with your living room, so make sure you collaborate with your roommates to spice up the walls. Because our walls were a little too white, we ended up making a 6′ x 3′ fabric wall art with supplies from Home Depot and the local craft store. It was very similar to this tutorial. As the year went on, we continued to add decorations to make the apartment feel more like home.

15. Fake flowers or fresh plants: This is a personal preference, but plants bring such life to a space!

16. Dry erase board for roommate messages: This has been such a good idea so far with communicating roommate messages and notes of inspiration! We keep ours right by the door so we see any notes we leave before or after class.

For excursions:

17. Sleeping bag: A sleeping bag comes in handy for sleepovers, camping trips, retreats and so many more things in college. If you have friends spend the night in your apartment, or if you just want to stay warm at night, a sleeping bag should be on your packing list!

For a healthy, clean apartment life:

18. Apartment cleaning schedule: Our apartment created a cleaning schedule, which listed who had each chore for the week. We included chores like emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash, vacuuming, dusting and cleaning the kitchen floors and counters. This way, we all know who is responsible for each item every week and it keeps it more orderly and clean.

19. Extra Clorox wipes: We go through these so quickly and easily! I like to use them for cleaning nearly everything–you never know when you will need some.