The Lounge at Chandler Crossings » Student Tips

Summer Fun in Michigan

pierceadmin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:00:35 +0000

Being from Michigan, you see a lot of highs and a lot more lows. And since, we don’t get too much warm weather, why not make the most of it. I’m thinking about taking a dip in the pool at my Chandler Crossing apartment. Better yet, there’s this cute girl that I’m interested in, maybe I’ll ask her on a picnic. There’s the Patriarche park, which is located by student housing near MSU. Maybe we can have a nice little lunch, talk a bit and just enjoy the nice weather. Now there’s a place where most Spartans are able to get to, by it being so close to campus. If I didn’t want to deal with the possibility of rejection, they also have a baseball diamond.

Since it is getting warmer, maybe I’ll ditch the treamill and go outside for a run. There is this trail that’s near my Chandler Crossings apartment that I love to run, gives me a few miles to work with. Most of the time you can probably find me walking, exasperated down the trail. Nothing like personal fitness!

To make a long story short, people please get off the couch and get outside and enjoy life. Here in Michigan, we are not as blessed as other states to enjoy warmer weather the majority of the year. We have to take advantage now! With only a few months of outdoor weather, we must get outdoors! If you have any cool ideas, feel free to let me know of anything you have planned while it’s hot out!

Until next time,

Ernest M.

Do you Skype from your MSU apartment?

pierceadmin — Thu, 20 May 2010 20:39:51 +0000

Hi Ya’ll, so, I am going to throw this out there… Have any of you actually Skyped from your MSU student apartment? For me, yes, I do it all the time. I usually will Skype with my friends before we go out at night to see if they like my outfit! Seriously, I am not kidding. I just quickly hit the call button and I am connected to my best friend who can either approve the outfit or make me change. I love it.

Not only am I using Skype for fun things like that but I am also finding that I am using Skype more than I use my cell phone. My mom and I hardly talk on the phone anymore. We Skype. And, the best part is Skype is FREE!

Thanks to its service I was able to stay connected to my best friend who studied abroad in Italy this past winter. We would literally set up Skype meeting so when I returned home to my Michigan State Student Apartment from campus we could easily connect.

How do you use Skype?

- Joanna G

How to Walk in High Heels

pierceadmin — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:46:20 +0000

This one is for all the ladies getting ready in their east lansing student apartment! If you are gearing up for a fun night out on the town, but have trouble walking in heels, watch this great video!

–Alanna, Mandy, and Kylie

To See Or Not To See

pierceadmin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:12:13 +0000

Been to the movies lately? Seen any great movies? Well NCG Cinemas is your local theather that caters to families and students. It seems like every week, I leave my Chandler Crossings apartment and head over to NCG to catch quick flick. I’ve seen some good ones and some bad ones as well. On Tuesdays they have a special for students, where all day you can see a movie for only $5 bucks, saving you $2.50 from the normal price. I normally go on a Tuesday Here’s what NCG is offering right now:

Clash of The Titans
How to Train Your Dragon
Alice In Wonderland
Bounty Hunter
Crazies
Crazy Heart
Diary of A Wimpy Kid
Ghost Writer
Green Zone
Greenberg
Hot Tub Time Machine
Last Song
Our Family Wedding
Remember Me
Repo men
She’s Out of My League
Shutter Island
Stolen
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?

If you get the chance, students I urge you to leave your Chandlers Crossings apartments and head over to NCG for a couple hours of entertainment. Let me know what movie you went to see…

Ernest M.

B Dubs VS Wild Wings

pierceadmin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:01:46 +0000

Where are all my Buffalo Wild Wings lovers at? Do you enjoy the savory taste of those honey barbeque wings or my favorite, Mango Habenero? Ummm, sounds good doesn’t it? Does every Tuesday night end the same way, your friends leaving their MSU student apartments to meet up with you at the B Dubs for some wing fever. If you live in student housing near MSU then I’m almost certain that you have had your fair share of B Dubs. I have a confession. As much as I love Buffalo Wild Wings, I haven’t been in months. That’s for one reason….. Wild Wings Cafe! It’s like B Dubs on steroids! They have about 30 flavors to choose from, the same Tuesday night special AND drum roll please…… Their wings are BIGGER! Shocked aren’t you? Wild Wing Cafe is located on Grand River and Okemos Rd. Itmay be a little ways from B Dubs but it’s definitely worth the trip. Equipped with Flat screen tv’s in HD, and different events that they have every night, it’s a one stop shop for fun. I even won a $25 gift certificate for winning Tuesday night trivia with my buddies. So, instead of making that trip to B Dubs every Tuesday, I find myself getting in the car with my friends, leave my Chandler Crossings Apartment and make that trip to Wild Wings. I’m not a spokesman for Wild Wings, I just like them a lot! I urge you to try them out and you determine who is the King of the Wings in East Lansing!

Let me know what you think……

Ernest M

Healthy Energy Shakes

pierceadmin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:00:44 +0000

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

Spring Break Reminders

pierceadmin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:53:37 +0000

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 : )

Easy Pizza Recipe

pierceadmin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:45:06 +0000

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-

What to do over MSU Winter Break

pierceadmin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:23:18 +0000

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

Study Tips for MSU Students

pierceadmin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:20:38 +0000

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