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)

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.