Posts Tagged ‘summer’
Must See Films for Summer Break
Summertime is almost here, folks. You might be wondering what to do with yourself for the next few months. If you have the time, why not go see a pulse-pounding summer blockbuster? Here are three films I am really looking forward to:
First, try Man of Steel, coming to theaters on June 14th. The latest of the Superman film adaptations, this version boasts an impressive cast, including Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Russell Crowe. In addition, the film is produced by Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan, who turned an ailing Batman franchise into a multi-million dollar juggernaut. Judging from the preview, I’d say that Nolan has brought the gritty, realistic style of his Dark Knight trilogy to a franchise that is often criticized for endless campiness. I wonder if they’ll still have Superman change in a phone booth…
The next blockbuster I’m looking forward to is Disney’s The Lone Ranger, starring The Social Network’s Armie Hammer as the titular character. Johnny Depp plays Native American warrior Tonto, and together they set out to fight corruption. The main reason to see this one is the crew. The Lone Ranger reunites writing duo Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot with director Gore Verbinski and actor Johnny Depp, all of whom worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Yes, the last three installments were stinkers, but the The Curse of the Black Pearl was excellent. If Elliot, Rossio, Verbinski and Depp can recapture the sense of adventure that was at the heart of the first Pirates, I think The Lone Ranger could be a hit. Look for it on July 3rd.
Last but not least is R.I.P.D.: Rest In Peace Department, an action film about two dead cops (played by Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds) who work from beyond the grave to fight crime. R.I.P.D. is based on a comic book, and you can tell from the trailer. The film looks to be chock full of zany action, impressive special effects, and snappy one-liners. And of course, Jeff Bridges is in it. What more could you ask for?
Enjoy your summer, and don’t miss these great films!
Why You Should Spend a Beautiful Day Inside
Spring is finally in the air. The days are longer, the temperature is warmer, and the sun is here to stay. Now that summer is right around the corner, it’s hard to resist spending the day outside. However, before you head out into the sunshine for the next few months, taking a day to do some cleaning and organizing from the months you’ve spent inside the house will be well worth it.
The transition from winter to summer is a great opportunity to de-clutter your life. We spend so much time inside during the winter months, and thanks to the holiday season we have a tendency to accumulate more than we need. The summer redirects our attention from our material items indoors, to the simple beauty of the outdoors.
Trading out your thick winter sweater for a t-shirt and pair of shorts can be the greatest feeling in the world. While switching out your wardrobe this spring, take the time to go through and get rid of those winter clothes you haven’t worn in years. Also consider getting rid of those gifts you received that you know you have no use for. Then, take advantage of the nice weather and have a garage sale. You’ll be able to enjoy the weather outside while getting rid of your old things and making a little extra money. Have old books lying around? You can sell those too!
Summertime also rejuvenates our spirit to tackle new projects. If you’re looking for something to do, check out websites like Pinterest or OrgJunkie for fun ideas that will help you organize the items you do have, in fun and unique ways. If you don’t have any need to de-clutter, take time just freshening up your house. Pull back your curtains to let the sun in, and spend your day vacuuming, dusting, and trading out your warm winter sheets for a lighter, more colorful set. Having a clean and organized home will allow you to enjoy the summer even more.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be dreaded. If you use our tips above you can face summer head on with an organized home, a little extra cash in your pocket, and a few new projects to get working on!
What do you do to get organized for the Summer? Let us know in the comments.
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5 Summer Music Festivals Your Friends Haven’t Heard Of
Everyone knows the big names in music festivals (think Bonnaroo, Coachella, Ultra, Sasquach etc.) but there are some great smaller music festivals that are sure to cure the festival fever without causing major wallet damage. Here are my picks for the top 5 little known music festivals.
5. Bunbury Festival – Cincinnati, OH July 12-14
This downtown festival has six stages and three days of performances. The headliners include Fun. MGMT, Sky Ferreira, Tegan and Sara,Yo La Tengo, The National, and Daniel Martin Moore. Although you may have to spring for a hotel for the weekend instead of camping, you will still come in under budget because this festival is only $120 for all three days.
4. Wakarusa – Ozark, AR May 30-June 2
If you are looking for an intense camping experience in one of the most beautiful locations look no further than Wakarusa. I would say that this particular festival isn’t for everyone. It has an attractive line up but be prepared to have a primitive camping experience and be surrounded by some modern day hippies where music and shows are a way of life not just a summer distraction. Notable acts include Grouplove, Snoop Lion, Zeds Dead, Baauer, Icona Pop, Araabmuzik, RJD2, Widespread Panic, and my personal favorite, Amon Tobin. Be warned you will be dirty, smelly, and sweaty at the end of this one. Watch the promo video and you’ll know what I mean.
3. Hard Summer 2013 – Los Angeles, CA August 3-4
If you live anywhere near LA you’ll want to attend this show. In the past this series has some of the most elite electronic acts including Deadmau5, A-Trak, Borgore, Crystal Castles, and Flying Lotus. The festival lineup isn’t out yet for this year but tickets for a 3 day pass are about $120. It is definetly a bang for your buck.
2. Summer Camp – Chillicothe, IL May 24-26
This is another small camping festival that landed some big names this year. The lineup includes Big Boi, Diplo, Zeds Dead, STS9, Theievery Corporation, 3 days of Moe, and 3 days of Umphreys’s McGee. It has 7 stages and over 75 artists and at $115 it is a no-brainier. Like other mid-west camping festivals you’ll wanna be prepared for limited showers, bugs, and heat. If you can stand the stress it’ll be worth it and at ¼ the cost of Bonnaroo.
1. Forecastle – Louisville, KY July 12-14
This will be the 11th forecastle festival, and in the past few years this festival has gained some major publicity mostly due to the unique structure and setting of the weekend festival. It is a true music and arts festival that includes speakers and art tutorials as well as music. The setting is also unique. There are 5 stages in downtown Louisville on the water front (one stage is even under an interstate overpass). The after parties are on the historic bell of Louisville and range from 15-35 dollars for late night shows. This festival has become a popular one so it may be your last year to enjoy it at the low $145 price point.
When so many good lineups are released in one year it can be tempting to clean out your savings account on tickets, but it is important to look around at your options before committing to the priciest summer fest. Are there any we missed?
If You Haven’t Been Watching These Summer Shows…What’ve You Been Doing?
Summer is notoriously bad for reruns, movies with too many commercials, or simply nothing to watch. You just want to plop in front of the TV for once, but only last 5 minutes flipping through the channels before declaring there’s nothing good on. Well, some shows are around just for the summer season, and while they may not be everybody’s cup of tea, they’re certainly entertaining.
1. MTV’s Awkward.
If you went to high school—which, hello, you all did—you’ll enjoy this show. It follows Jenna Hamilton living one awkward moment after the next. And ok, we don’t all have such weird moments as she does, nor do we have to deal with deliciously rude Sadie Saxton, but hey, this is TV! Life can be exaggerated! Jenna and Tamara deal with hook ups, break ups, weird parents and an anonymous letter that leads Jenna outside her comfort zone and into some more—you guessed it—awkward situations. If you’re looking for a laugh, or just want to kill half an hour, catch this gem on Thursdays at 10:30 pm (it’s on its second season right now, and we see it lasting for plenty of summers to come!).
2. MTV’s Teen Wolf
Auuuu! Forget about Twilight, which never seems to be on TV anyway. Tune into this addicting show that one of its stars, Colton Haynes, deemed “the little MTV show that could.” Though its second season just reached its finale last Monday, all the episodes can be found on MTV.com—so there’s no time like the present to catch up before next year’s extended third season! The show focuses on newly made werewolf Scott, going through all kinds of crazy supernatural activities with his best friend, and the true heart of the show, Stiles. If that doesn’t convince you, all of the male actors and super attractive…and often shirtless. You’re welcome.
3. Pretty Little Liars
This show is all about the confusing drama! You’ve got boyfriend problems, a dead best friend, more people dying, and some freaky A Team that only seems to get worse and never leaves the best friends alone! The mystery alone will suck you in and keep you guessing season, after season, after season. On a further plus note, this show also has a winter season so you’re not stuck without anything to do during winter break either—or having to wait a whole year to find out what happen’s next.
4. The Newsroom
Another HBO masterpiece, written by Aaron Sorkin—so you know it has to be good. The show focuses on a 24-hour news network starring Jeff Daniels, Olivia Munn and other well known celebs. After anchor Will McAvoy faces his executive producer leaving for a new program along with most of the staff, him and the rest of his new and remaining team face a variety of obstacles to keep their news show going. It’s already been renewed for a second season, so get watching!
5. Breaking Bad
If you haven’t watched any of the previous four seasons…well, there’s no time like the present to catch up and tune in for its fifth and final go! Follow Walter White, the typical chemistry teacher…who has now become a meth cook. The AMC drama isn’t as simple as a drug-focused show, though! This new-found life of crime is meant to secure good, financial well being for the ailing teacher’s family. But of course, no good deed goes unpunished and Mr. White with his accomplice, Jesse Pinkman, face a lot of problems along the way.
So, what are you waiting for? Stop being bored and entertain yourself with one of these series!
Quick Pick Me Ups for When You’re Stuck Home Sick
Last week I was sick for two days straight. It was terrible. While the sun was shining outside on a beautiful summer day and while my friends spent the day tubing down the river, I was left to fend for myself in a sad and sick world of reruns and chicken noodle soup. While I spent the first day of my sickness in a mopey and depressing mood, I spent my second day trying to find new ways to have a good day and pick myself up out of this misery of an illness.
I realized I needed fresh air. My dog and I drove down to a local park and took a walk along a trail. I was instantly cheered. I didn’t run or do anything to make myself sicker, I just took some time, breathed some fresh air, and enjoyed the sunshine. I believe getting out of the house can definitely pick you up.
When it came time for dinner I decided soup was no longer my friend. The meal that could cheer me up would include pancakes and some freshly scrambled eggs. Eating breakfast for dinner is something that can always put a smile on my face, and after all of the soup I’d eaten in the last couple days, it really hit the spot. Switching up your “sick diet” for something you really enjoy is always a pick me up.
When the night came to a close I decided reruns weren’t my thing. What could make me happier than an old childhood favorite? That’s when I decided it was a Space Jam kind of night. I watched the entire movie and I loved every minute of it. Not only did I really want to go play a game of basketball, but I started to really feel better.
Sometimes the mental part of being sick can leave you feeling worse than ever. If you can find a few little things to do that you know will cheer you up, I believe you’ll be feeling better faster. Next time you’re sick, give it a try!
The Roses and Thorns of Summer 2012
I have to credit the idea of this blog to my high school newspaper. Every month, they would release the paper which included the roses and thorns from that month. I always enjoyed reading this section of the paper and I thought it’d be fun to make my own edition for the summer.
I will begin with the thorns from this summer in order to leave the best thoughts for last. The first thorn I have for the summer of 2012 is the excessive heat. As most of you have probably gotten to experience, the sun has been more than friendly lately. This is a picture from just today around the nation. It’s just plain hot.
The second thorn I have for the summer 2012 are the wildfires. Due to the current drought, there have been a number of fires this summer including a mass of wildfires in Colorado making it the worst fire season there in a decade! Many homes have been lost due to these fires and it has been a huge thorn. The third thorn I have is the political advertising. You can’t currently watch tv without viewing an add of one politician bashing another, definitely a thorn. Now that we’ve talked about three thorns, lets move onto the roses!
The first rose is the olympics! Not only have I enjoyed watching the trials, but I am counting down until the 27th of July for the opening day. There is nothing better than watching your countries greatest athletes compete against other countries for a chance at the gold. The second rose I have is releated to roses, ABC’s The Bachelorette has been going on and for any of you who have been following, it’s been a great season. Emily Maynard had a selection of 25 gorgious men and has narrowed it all the way down to two.The final episode is set to air in the 3 hour special this Sunday the 22nd. The final rose I have for this summer is all the free time I’ve gained to spend with family and friends. Being home for the summer has been wonderful. Spending time with family and old friends is just what the doctor ordered to refresh and recharge before heading back to school, I hope many of you have had that same opportunity.
I hope my edition of roses and thorns helped you to think about what has been the good and the bad of your summer. Make the most of what’s left of summer before school starts, and try to make more roses!
Beautiful Nails You Can Do On Your Own!
It’s summertime and that means it’s time for beautiful nails. Flip flops only look cute when your nails are painted! But what college student has the money to pay for constant Mani’s and Pedi’s? There are so many ways that you can make pretty nails on your own and with a budget. Here’s how.
The first thing you could do is invest in some Sally Hansen “hard as nails” nail polish. Not only is this nail polish affordable but it goes on smooth and with great quality. These polishes come in all the trendy colors and are under $3 a piece.
I recently discovered a new technique to beautiful nails at home. One of my friends always had her nails done with these crazy designs but she never went to a salon. I couldn’t figure out how she did it until one day I decided to ask. She told me they were stickers but I couldn’t bring myself to believe her until I saw it for myself, this was too good to be true! They are called Sally Hansen “salon effects.” This is the biggest breakthrough in home style nails I’ve ever seen. You literally stick them on and then trim the excess. They come in a variety of different patterns and styles; you’ll have all your friends believing that the nail salon is your second home. You much try these out!
We’ve all probably heard of the crackle nail polish, but isn’t it amazing? You paint your nails a solid color and then place the crackle polish over the top of it. Watch as the crackle polish breaks and creates cool designs on your nails. This is an easy solution to quick and beautiful nails.
Lately I have taken it upon myself to create the glitter effect. Often glitter nail polishes don’t hold a color. They go on clear and have glitter mixed in. I have discovered that if you paint your nails a solid color and then sprinkle basic glitter over them just as you would in art class with glue, the glitter will dry into the wet polish and look fabulous. Apply top coat for longer lasting nails. Also, adding the glitter instantly makes your nails dry faster!
The final nail effect I learned comes from one of my roommates. You choose any color and literally just paint the top tip of your nail (the white part) and then you let it dry. Once dry you place a little bit of nail polish remover on the end of a Q-tip. Run the edge of the Q-tip under the bottom of the tip of your nail to create a straight and pretty line, like a French manicure. Apply the top coat and allow your nails to dry.
These are the nail tips I’ve been using all summer. I hope you have found one you’d like to try! Enjoy your beautiful salon nails at home while saving your money for other things, like school! Have a good one!
GPS
I’ve never used a GPS, or even owned one for that matter. In Kansas everything is built around a grid. In Philadelphia I don’t drive, I use the subway or have a friend drive me. I don’t get lost, and I rarely read street signs. There’s nothing like relying on handy dandy landmarks and familiar surroundings.
This summer I moved to Salt Lake City, and somehow my directional skills seemed to vanish.
Street names were different, intersections seeme wice as long, and to top it all off—there are mountains in every direction.
In short, my GPS has saved me. I’m still learning, but without it, the last month would have been torture.
But why does having a talking friend attached to my windshield make my commute more comforting? Why do I feel better knowing that Gabby, my Garmin, is leading the way?
In my mind it all comes down to surprise. Using a GPS takes the guesswork out of driving. When I need to go left, she lets me know. When I go the wrong way, she helps me turn around.
That doesn’t mean you should become complacent or let your GPS do all the work, but it does mean you can relax a little and not stress about where you’re going.
Any GPS, or any set of directions makes traveling easier and more direct. I for one hate highways. They scare me. Gabby knows me well. She gives me an alternate route. She also knows my favorite spots and memorizes where I like to go. Now that’s true love.
I’ll admit that it’s almost sad that I don’t know what people did before GPS technology. I know there was mapquest once upon a time. What was there before that? A compass? Did people really rely on good faith and sense of direction to get around? I wish those people could teach me a thing or two.
I’m not saying we should depend on a GPS- they aren’t fool proof, and of course it would be better to know naturally how to get around. But it’s not always that easy.
When I get lost, Gabby helps me get back on track. I just have to remember that she can’t do it all—I still need to be alert and focused. She is just my helper along the way!
The Best Options for Summer Storage
When you’re far away from home, the last thing you want to think about at the close of the school year is this: where am I supposed to put all my stuff?
Our closets grow, our desks overflow, and to put it simply, our belongings expand from the time we move in to the time we move out. Summer storage is something to think about early on. You’ll want to be aware of locations of storage units by your campus, the rates, the quality, and experiences of prior customers. Below are a few possibilities you can consider, both for higher price options and plans that don’t break the bank.
For the Frugal Student
You’ve got friends who probably have a similar problem. Go into a storage unit together. My freshmen year I rented a 5×10 ft. storage unit and split it three ways. The price was great, and our belongings stayed safe throughout the entire summer. You’ll also need a lock that has been approved by the storage facility, which ranges from around $7 to $10. In addition, be sure to coordinate getting your things out the following fall term, if you’re not planning to come together. Perhaps the person who returns to campus first should put their things at the very front of the storage unit, so that they don’t have to climb over everyone else’s and risk damaging anything.
For Those Who Wish to Get Their Money’s Worth
There are two options: the first is to rent out a storage unit yourself (usually a 5×5 ft. locker will work well; I have also done this option and was able to fit most of my things inside). This means all of the payment is on you, but at the same time all you need to worry about is you.
The second option is to use a service, such as UPS or an on-campus company. Usually they will supply you with boxes, or sell them for a small fee, and you can pack them up yourself. Then the carrier will pick up the boxes from your dorm/apartment and store them all summer for you. In the fall, they bring your boxes to your new location. While extremely convenient, the prices can climb fairly high.
Other Things to Consider
I recommend renting a climate-controlled unit, so that your belongings don’t get overheated during the summer. Most rental places also require renters to have insurance—either bought through the company and paid per month (in addition to your rent), or through your homeowner’s insurance. Be sure to investigate that before you book.
Location is also very important, especially if you don’t have guaranteed transportation when moving your things. Sometimes the best option is to share a unit with a friend who does have transportation, or to simply use the pickup option.
Planning early and asking around your friend circles is the most efficient way to guarantee that you find the best choice for summer storage, and the best value!
Antsy Intern
You hate your summer job.
Now what?
Here I am in Salt Lake City—beautiful place. But, I’m lonely, I’m bored, and I live in an apartment with no furniture and work is slow.
Not exactly the glamorous resume bullet and experience builder that I was hoping for.
I’m under utilized, under challenged and searching high and low for ways to spice things up.
Are you feeling the same? I feel like it’s more common than us interns think but there is a way to fix it, so listen up!
You can’t suffer in silence. You need to communicate how you’re feeling and let your boss know. July is the perfect time—a halfway mark for some. Think of it as a mid progress report.
You owe it to your place of work to tell them what works and what doesn’t work in terms of intern responsibilities.
If you voice your concerns, or even suggest new ideas or projects you may be in an entirely different boat—one that you could end up loving to sail on. And plus, you have a whole month to experience new jobs and tasks—but only if you say something now.
If that doesn’t work and you’re still bored, or worse, sitting at your desk twiddling your thumbs, you can still take action.
Stretch your own limits and reach for what you know you’re capable of. If you have any creative leeway at all—try something new, or take a task and put your spin on it to show that you can be innovative and improve existing methods. However, if you feel under utilized you need to make sure you show your strengths, don’t tell them. No office, or job wants to hear you talk about how great you are—just put it into action.
And if all else fails, and you’re job isn’t likely to turn around anytime soon, look for the silver lining. For one, it’s only for the summer. You’ll head back to school soon and your job just will be one of your many experiences that helps build character—or at the very least can be used as a good story. Or maybe you love your co-workers and your summer intern disaster helped you land a new friend, or fling. Maybe your lunch break made everything worth it—I have a friend whose works caters lunch every day—yum!
There will always be things we love about our jobs, and then the things we could definitely live without. Make sure to voice your concerns early and never suffer in silence—and if you decide to, at least look for the good stuff intertwined throughout it all, it can’t be all bad.
