Student Tips
Friday, March 5th, 2010
Every morning I wake up in my MSU Apartment; tired from a long night of studying with a full daily agenda ahead. Regardless of the amount of sleep I get the night before, I am always tired in the morning! For years I have drank countless cups of coffee and cans of energy drinks only to hit a mid-day crash resulting in further consumption.
There had to be a better, healthier way!
I was given an article by a friend with five morning shake recipes she swears start her day off right. I was skeptical at first, but after a week of these I am pleased to say they’ve been working great. Check um’ out! They may work wonders for you, too!
Pumpkin-Banana Smoothie
1 serving vanilla flavored rice protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 medium banana
Dash of pumpkin pie spice
4 ice cubes
Chocolate Raspberry Shake
1 serving chocolate flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/8 teaspoon orange extract
4 ice cubes
Very Berry Shake
1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen mixed berries
A few drops pure vanilla extract
4 ice cubes
Orange Julius Shake
1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 ice cubes
Apple Pie Shake
1 serving vanilla flavored soy protein
1 cup vanilla soy milk, light
1 cup frozen apple slices
A few dashes each ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 ice cubes
(Recipes from www.sheknows.com)
-Ryan Shaul
Tags: easy shakes, energy, energy drinks, energy shakes, milkshakes
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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Exams…DONE.
Group Projects…DONE.
Ten Page Paper…DONE.
Spring Break…IN PROGRESS!
For those of you who will be leaving your MSU apartment for Spring Break we have some friendly reminders for you:
1.Lock your windows and doors before leaving
2. DO NOT SHUT OFF YOUR UTILITIES. Leave the heat on at about 60 degrees. If you shut your heat off completely your pipes may freeze and burst. Just because you are going somewhere warm doesn’t make it warmer here!
3. Close your blinds before leaving
4. Don’t let trash sit in your apartment for a few weeks
5. If you leave your car unattended for a few weeks make sure you have a full tank of gas so the lines don’t freeze.
6. Don’t forget to have someone pet sit for you! Just kidding. (No, but seriously, don’t leave you puppy unattended at The Village : )
Tags: michigan state spring break, msu spring break, Spring Break, spring break deals, spring break tips
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Monday, February 8th, 2010
Last week at my MSU student apartment I made pizza from scratch, including the dough. It was so good and way cheaper than ordering pizza that I decided to share this great recipe with all of you!
What you will need to get started:
- 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of cheese (whatever kind you like, I have used multiple different ones including gouda)
- 1 jar of tomato sauce (an easy cheat is spaghetti sauce)
- Whatever toppings you want (the picture shows half cheese, half pepperoni basil! Yum!)
Directions
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, olive oil, salt, white sugar and the yeast mixture; stir well to combine. Beat well until stiff dough has formed. Cover and rise until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes. meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Turn dough out onto a well floured surface ( I use olive oil instead, but it’s your preference). Form dough into a circle and roll out into a pizza crust shape (I usually add garlic powder and/or Mrs. Dash Italian seasoning). Cover with your favorite sauce and toppings and bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Hope you all enjoy this as much as I did, and make a lot less mess! Although, making the mess was most of the fun! Enjoy!
-Asia Melchor-
Tags: easy pizza recipe, easy recipe, homemade pizza, pizza, pizza recipe
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
Yay! Congratulations! You’ve made it through another wonderful semester. Now is the time to relax, unwind and enjoy your accomplishments. But don’t get too comfy cozy just yet, there are plenty of things you should add to your “To-Do List” for winter break. You don’t get 4 weeks off of school very often so it is important to relax, but to also use the time wisely. Here is a list that I came up with of stuff that I want to do or should do over winter break. So, if you are a MSU or other college student, you should take a peek and let me know what is on your list too!
1. RELAX! Wow do I need some R&R! Now is the best time to catch up on those movies that I have yet to see. One of my favorite things to do is rent a TV series and curl up with a blanket in my Michigan State student apartment and have a TV series marathon.
2. Read a good book. Without the pressure of my Macroeconomics book tempting me to read several unruly chapters, I can actually take some time out and read something for enjoyment. Haven’t read the Twilight series? Now is a perfect time. Grab your pajamas and curl up and enjoy the peace of your East Lansing student apartment during this quiet time of year.
3. Clean up your act. I am a neat freak anyways, but there are a few hidden places in my student apartment near MSU that could use some TLC. Like my closet! I am going to take a few hours to re-organize what this frenzied semester did to my previous organization. It is never a bad idea to clean, and now is a good time because there is an abundance!
4. Visit. No matter how stressful the holidays are and how sick of our relatives we can become within just a few minutes, (sorry family) now is the time to visit. I don’t mean to get all mushy, gushy on you but you have to make the most of the time that you have. That is all I will say.
5. Exercise! If you haven’t already read my blog on Beating Winter Blues, then you may not know how important exercise can be for your body during winter time. A few hours at the gym or in your parent’s basement with the ‘ol dumbbells will do you some good! After all, those holiday treats will follow you around until you burn them off!
6. Get your car tuned-up. While you are home or have a few extra minutes, it is important to make sure your ride is up to date on inspections, oil changes and what have you. Take a minute to make sure your wiper blades and fluid are good to go. After all, you are going to be busy over break visiting and that might require driving! Winter is no fun to drive in, let alone get stuck in because your car wasn’t ready for the new season.
7. Prep for the next semester. I know you just finished the last one and need a break from school for a while, but you also don’t want to miss out on getting the best deals on your textbooks for Spring Semester. Don’t put this off for too long!
That’s all that I have for now! I hope everyone has a safe, happy and relaxing winter break! You’ve earned it!
Happy Holidays,
Katelyn Moore
Tags: East Lansing Events, MSU fall semester end, MSU to do over break, msu winter break, Things to do over college break
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Well everyone, it’s that time again. The holidays are approaching and so are finals! In the spirit of the season I thought I’d share some study tips with you.
- Make Study Guides
Even if your professor doesn’t give you one, these are a great way to organize the information you need to study. They are an awesome way to stay focused and on task.
- Make Flash Cards
I know making them can be a pain, but they are very effective study tools for learning vocabulary, formulas, and key concepts.
- Quiz Yourself
Make practice quizzes and tests. Take them frequently to gauge your progress. These are also good ways to set goals for yourself. For example, if you get 100% on the practice quiz, take a 15 minute study break.
- Set Time Goals
Setting time goals will help keep you focused and on track. It is proven that you accomplish more when you have clear goals in mind.
- Take Breaks!
Studying can be tough. Taking short breaks allows your brain to process and retain information. Go ahead and grab coffee or a snack. Make sure to only allow about 15 minutes however, as anything longer can make it hard to start studying again.
- Don’t Study Alone
It’s always more fun to study with a friend. This way you have company, and can hold each other accountable. You can find great places to study in the MSU library.
I hope you find these tips helpful! Happy Studying!
Mucki
Tags: MSU library, MSU study tips, studying
Posted in Chandler Crossings Studying, Student Tips | Leave a comments »
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
It’s that time again: the time to buckle down and prepare ourselves for another challenging school year here at Michigan State. For those new students, transfer students, or students who never really attempted to buy their text books in East Lansing, here are the places to do it:
If you are on campus, The Official MSU Bookstore is the place to go. It’s located at the International Center in the heart of MSU’s campus. They are open Mon-Fri 8:30-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday noon-4pm. They also have great Michigan State apparel and school supplies.
On the oh so popular Grand River Avenue, we have three textbook locations. First, there is the Student Book Store (SBS) located on 421 East Grand River Ave. If you have any questions for them their phone number is 517-351-4210. Next, nearby is another store called Ned’s Bookstore at 135 East Grand River Ave. Their phone number is 517-332-4200. And lastly, the Collegeville Textbook Company is located at 321 East Grand River Ave.
Chandler Crossings students: if you can’t make it down to campus or Grand River, just call ahead and reserve your books to get them at your convenience!
-Liza Shaul
Tags: Collegeville textbook company, east lansing, East Lansing textbooks, LCC textbooks, MSU, MSU Students, MSU textbooks, Ned's Bookstore, Student Book Store
Posted in Student Tips | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
MSU's Grand River Shops and Restaurants
As an MSU student, East Lansing has made quite a home for you during your education. So what’s there to do? We hear that all the time. That’s why we’ve created a pretty sweet East Lansing lifestyle list of what to do, where to shop, dine and what to see. We want to give you the ins and outs to make your college experience complete. See something that we’ve missed? Please share it with us so we can add it to our ongoing list. We love to hear about the small “hole in the wall” restaurant that serves the best food you’ve ever tasted.
Thank you East Lansing for helping us make our MSU student apartments more than a home.
- Joanna
Tags: Chandler Crossings Websites, east lansing, east lansing shopping, MSU Lifestyles, MSU restaurants, MSU Shopping, MSU Students, What's to do around MSU
Posted in Insider Tips, Student Tips | Leave a comments »
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
MSU Students Need to take a Break
Does anyone already need a break from MSU summer classes that just started?! Well, join the club. This post is for those who have yet to have a official break since the beginning of their school term. What to do? Why is the extent of my “good time” found in going to the local coffee shop with friends, just TO STUDY!! I am defintely in the number of these select few.
Well, guys, help is here. I have found a few alternatives that will re-energize, re-vitalize, and re-connect you with reality so you don’t have your 8th official meltdown this year.
1. Try going home for the weekend. If you can’t go home due to distance, try going home with a friend. You will get a change of scenery, be able to actually kick back and get great sleep in a bed that feels like heaven, and eat home cooked food that no 5 star restaurant can compare to.
2. Can we say road trip? Yes, road trip. Even with gas prices slowly rising, they are still low enough for you and buddies to pitch in $10.00 a piece to see where the wind and that tank of gas takes you. Get lost (with your GPS of course), and build new experiences! You will see that it’s more relaxing and memorable than you might think.
3. Lastly, take advantage of your Chandler Crossings apartment. Have a picnic. Fire up the barbeque right outside your apartment and soak up the sun. If your worried about getting to far away from your studies; take a blanket and a book out to the lawn and get after it. Grab life by the horns and make the limited free time you have count.
That’s my advice guys. Tell me what you you do to blow off your stress.
-Jay
Tags: coping college stress, fun things to do in East Lansing, MSU summer fun, MSU Summer School
Posted in Life Tips, School Tips, Student Tips | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
So today while I was at work one of our resident events was going on. It was a self-defense course for women taught by Robert Verdell, who also has a class at Lansing Community College. Ladies, I don’t know about any of you, but since the time I was small my mom has been striking fear into my heart in regards to attackers and strangers. There was literally a point where I was so scared of people I didn’t know I wouldn’t even ride my bike outside haha! When my mom found out I was going to Michigan State University and would be living in an apartment, she took the time to go over all the ways she could think of to stay safe. Even though this has never been a problem for me personally, I feel safer just practicing the things she suggested.
I was able to participate in the class, and it was really eye-opening. There are so many common sense things that I would never have thought to do. Common sense things that can literally save your life. I thought since summer is coming and most of us will be going out on the town, or working at jobs that require us to walk to cars after dark I would post some things that I learned in the class to help keep you safe.
Did you know that in the United States, 1.3 women are raped every minute? That results in 78 rapes each hour, 1872 rapes each day, 56160 rapes each month and 683,280 rapes each year. That’s pretty scary stuff. Here’s some ways to protect yourself:
- Walk in well lighted areas.
- Check under your car and in your back seat with your keys in hand before you enter your vehicle.
- Remain alert in public.
- Never get in a car with a stranger, fight back as much as you can. Statistically once you are put in someone’s car you have an 80% chance of being injured or killed.
- When working late or going out on a date, inform someone where you are going and when you will be home.
In addition, be assertive. If you can, run away. If someone grabs you fight back. And invest in a self defense course, they are a great work out and can save your life!
Sexual Assault Hotlines 1-800-656-HOPE
*Facts provided by Robert Verdell, LCC www.lcc.edu
Tags: east lansing safety, msu safety, safety, safety pictures, Self Defense, Self defense for women, self defense statistics
Posted in Apartment Tips, Chandler Crossings Events, FYI, Hot Topics, Life Tips, Student Tips, The Landings | 2 Comments »
Friday, May 8th, 2009
Great coffee at MSU: photo by Ahmed Rabea
For some of us, the day doesn’t start until we’ve had our coffee. For others, coffee us what gets us through those all-nighters when its test time or a paper is due. Either way, its safe to say that coffee and college go hand in hand. And when you’re ready for a cup, I’m guessing most of you head down to East Lansing hot-spots like Starbucks and Biggbys (you know, post-PC Beaners), right?
But adding up all those coffeehouse coffees can get a bit pricey. Check this out; if you make it at home, you’re gonna save a lot of cash. (Lots.) OK, follow me on this one: a small cup of coffee at Starbucks is like $1.70. A pound of ground coffee costs around $10 and makes 32 “smallish” cups. Now if you bought those 32 cups of coffee at Starbucks, that would cost you around 54 bucks! (10 dollars vs. 54. Tough choice, I know.)
So now you know making coffee at home rocks. But can you make it taste as good as the local cafe? Yup. Here’s how:
1. Get a coffee pot. Obvious, yeah. You don’t have to pick out an expensive one. I have a 4 cup pot that cost me 20 bucks, complete with timer so I can make coffee before I go to bed. (Sweet feature.) Expensive pots are not necessarily better.
2. Again, obvious: Get good coffee. Go to your favorite coffee shop and get a decent bag. A pound of joe should cost you around ten bucks. If you go to the grocery store, check out their coffee. You can get Starbucks grinds at stores for $7 a pound if you catch a sale.
*As a side note, some people say you should grind your coffee right before you make it. That’s fine, but honestly, it’s not a big deal. If you think this is really important, buy yourself a coffee grinder and make sure all java you buy is in bean form. Coffee should always be stored in a ceramic container in a cool, dry place. (Not the freezer like I always thought.)
3. Beware of the grind. If you have a pot with a flat coffee filter, go ahead and get any coffee “ground for drip.” (The bag will tell you.) If you have a cone shaped filter, you might want to have your local coffee shop grind your coffee “for a cone.”
4. Measure properly. You should use 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water. If this sounds hard, check the ounce markings on the side of your pot and do some math.
5. Use good water. What water do you drink? Tap water? Bottled water? Use the one you drink.
6. Remember to press the “on” button. I’ve forgotten. That’s not cool.
7. Pour your coffee and enjoy. A few things I’ve discovered: half and half (even fat free) and cinnamon are delicious. If you want an extra kick, buy some flavored syrup from the coffee shop and add some into your java. It’ll run you under 10 bucks. (I like almond flavor.
8. Clean your coffee maker. Put in 1/2 portion of water and 1/2 portion white vinegar and brew it up. (Nothing in the filter.) Then brew some hot water. Tada, clean coffee pot.
If you want to know even more about brewing your own coffee… say you have a French Press, or want to pick out the perfect beans, check out this article.
Tags: coffee in east lansing, coffeee at msu, east lansing, how to, MSU
Posted in Life Tips, Student Tips | Leave a comments »
Every morning I wake up in my MSU Apartment; tired from a long night of studying with a full daily agenda ahead. Regardless of the amount of sleep I get the night before, I am always tired in the morning! For years I have drank countless cups of coffee and cans of energy drinks only to hit a mid-day crash resulting in further consumption.
