Fireworks Alternatives for the Fourth

Safety is one of the most important things to observe on the Fourth of July. Fireworks are fun, but they are not great for all occasions. Check out these great alternatives for fireworks. These are great alternatives for all ages.   You can find more information at The Examiner.




Purchase large bubble wand kits from any St. Louis Dollar Tree, Nagle’s in Florissant, or other retail outlets such as Target. These wands are typically a large circle, made up of smaller circles, and can be dipped in a bowl of bubbles and then twirled around to make tons of bubbles in various sizes. If you need extra bubble solution dishes, an upside down Frisbee works well. To add a little 4th of July spirit, put a few drops of red or blue food coloring into the bubble solution. You may also consider purchasing a bubble machine for large groups of kids.


Make your own streamers. Visit Michael’s Crafts or Hobby Lobby and pick up a few rolls of red, white and blue ribbon. Tie several ribbons to a dowel rod or empty paper towel tube and let the kids run through the yard or put on a parade for the adults. Turn on some patriotic music for more holiday spirit! You can also use patriotic colored pom poms.


Fill a small wading pool or swimming pool with red, white and blue confetti. Rather than buying small bags of confetti, cut costs by purchasing packages of tissue paper or metallic wrapping paper and run it through a shredder. Then, cut your shredded strands into smaller pieces. The children can throw the confetti up in the air and contain the mess inside the pool. Simply vacuum it out when they're done.


Instead of lighting fireworks, give children glo-sticks, fiber optic party wands, flashlights with red cellophane over the end or even a Star Wars light saber to play with in the dark.

How to Survive (and Enjoy) Summer Session

Are you currently enrolled in summer session? Taking classes during the summer can be hard because of distractions. Check out these great tips on how to ace your summer classes and enjoy your summer.

How to Survive (and Enjoy) Summer Session

1. Make sure the course is right for you. If you are enrolled in a course that you absolutely dread attending, your grades will reflect that. Since summer courses run at quicker paces, it is important that you are interested in the course.
   
2. Don’t be distracted by the season. Although you may be tempted to stay out late and party hard, know that summer courses are a commitment. It is crucial to recognize this so that you can buckle down and overcome the temptations of summer.
    
3. Keep track of your attendance. Attendance must be a top priority. Since courses are run at intensive paces, missing one class could be detrimental to your success.
    
4. Respect your professor’s time. Keep in mind that it is summer for your instructor as much as it is for you, so it is important to hand in your work on time and keep to a schedule.
    
5. Know your goals. Remember what it is you want to accomplish during the summer, and remind yourself of it as the days pass to keep yourself motivated.
    
6. Try to get your work done early. Finishing your reading and other assignments as early as possible allows you more time to enjoy your summer without the worries associated with summer school.
    
7. Buy the textbook. Even if you only need it for two weeks, buying all the necessary textbooks for a course is most obviously a crucial aspect to your success in a course.
    
8. Use your on-campus resources. Using resources like the library when you are on campus will allow you to relax when you leave, instead of bringing your work and worries home with you. This helps you keep a healthy balance of school and summertime leisure.
    
9. Get your paperwork in. When taking any courses at a college, it is important to submit all the necessary paperwork, like parking forms and/or registration papers, so you don’t have to worry about it when you should be focusing on your studies.
    
10. Don’t let your friends be a distraction. If you have friends who are not enrolled in summer courses, it is important to understand that their free time doesn’t influence what you should be focusing on. You are in summer courses for a reason, and you need to remember this if your friends tempt you to do otherwise.

Original Article Here: 

http://www.purchase.edu/departments/AcademicPrograms/ce/GeneralInformation/TopTenTips.aspx

DIY Spice Rack

Do you like to cook?  Storing all your ingredients can be a tough project in a small apartment. However, here is a great way to save space and to store all your spices.  Check out this DIY Spice Rack from the blog DIY College Apartment Ideas.

If you have a tiny kitchen and you're into spicy-food you'll find that you'll need a LOT of space for the ingredients.
 
Here's an idea that will help you cover the coffee stains on the wall and keep your spices organized.
You'll need:

• Sheet of stainless steel
• Hot Glue Gun
• Tiny Jars with metal Lid
• Magnets (The one in the geomag are perfect)
• Spicies (duh...)

With the Hot Glue attach the magnet on the Lid: if you do that on the outside the jar will be easier to detach from the rack but it's easy to cover the magnet with the Hog Glue, decreasing the adhesion.

I found that if you manage to cover the magnet on the inside of the Jar with the hot Glue you'll save the spicies flavour and it's still easy to use the jars!

Happy Memorial Day!

What did you do on your day off?  We hope everyone had a great day with friends and family!

Memorial Day Recipe

Are you having a Memorial Day party?  Check out this great recipe for your first summer picnic.  They are super easy to make and will be a hit at your party.  You can find out more information at Taste of Home.

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound ground beef
  
• 3 slices process American cheese
• 4 slices white bread (heels of loaf recommended)
• 2 tablespoons prepared Thousand Island salad dressing
• 2 pearl onions, thinly sliced
• 4 baby dill pickles, thinly sliced
• 3 cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced

Directions

• Shape beef into twelve 1-in. patties. Place on a microwave-safe plate lined with paper towels. Cover with another paper towel; microwave on high for 1 minute until meat is no longer pink. Cut each slice of cheese into fourths; set aside.
• Using a 1-in. round cookie cutter, cut out six circles from each slice of bread. Spread half of the bread circles with dressing. Layer with burgers, cheese, onions, pickles and tomatoes. Top with remaining bread circles; secure with toothpicks. Yield: 1 dozen.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

Homemade Bug Killer

Ants are everywhere and something we all have to deal with on a daily basis.  However, you do not need chemicals or fancy spray to kill an ant or two that appear in your apartment or outside.  There is a homemade ant killer that will get rid of the pest without hurting or damaging anything else.   You can learn more at apartment therapy.

What You Need

Materials

• Baking Soda
• Powdered Sugar
• Jar Lids (or something similar to hold the bait, although a container is not necessary)

Tools

• Measuring Spoon

Instructions

1. Combine 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. 

Note: I used a 3/4 tablespoon of each, and mixed it together directly in the jar lid. From what I have read, ants cannot differentiate between baking soda and powdered sugar because they are similar in size. The sugar attracts the ants, and the baking soda is what kills them: It reacts with the acid in their digestive system and they explode.

2. Place the mixture in strategic locations and wait for the baking soda to do its thing. You can use a jar lid or something similar to keep the bait contained, or you can place it directly on the surface where the ants are prevalent.

 

Note: I made 3 lids with the bait, and placed them in the corners of my kitchen counter. After several days, the number of ants in my kitchen reduced dramatically. I also found that it is essential to keep the problem areas clean and void of any food; I used vinegar to clean my kitchen surfaces and to scrub the ant trails. If you can find their point of entry, it is strongly recommended that you fill it with Borax or diatomaceous earth and seal it off with clear caulk.

Relieve Stress During Finals

Do you carry a lot of stress?  Most of us do in today's age.  Stress relief can be beneficial to your health and well-being.  Here are some great tips that are easy to help reduce stress.  You can do these tips everyday in a short amount of time.  You can find more great health tips here.

Stress Relief Now!

If you often feel stressed out (your health and your job are primary culprits!), you’re not the only one. A recent American Psychological Association showed that Millennials (those aged 18 to 33) experience the most stress overall.

What can you do to ease your mind and body? Deep breathing, meditation, and exercise are always helpful, but sometimes you just don't have the time or energy. That's why we've found these fun tricks, all backed by the latest research, to get you feeling calm and centered and stress-free.

1. Laugh

A big belly laugh can have all kinds of positive effects on your body. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure." In other words, it releases tension and ups blood flow to the heart and other vital organs. What else can it do? Lower blood pressure, and may even positively influence blood sugar levels. Need a place to get started?

2. Eat an Orange

Common wisdom has always said that vitamin C boosts the immune system and wards off cold viruses, but it turns out Vitamin C can reduce stress, too. Researchers have found that a boost of vitamin C taken when you're feeling stressed can lower blood pressure and calm the body. So the next time you feel anxiety come on, reach for that orange, or grab some C-rich blueberries or strawberries.

3. Go Outside

Turns out what you choose to surround yourself with makes a huge difference in your stress level. A recent study from the University of Edinburgh found that people who surround themselves with more green space—tree-lined streets, a walk in the park—are significantly less stressed than their urban counterparts. And it doesn’t mean you have to spend hours outdoors. A 2010 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that just five minutes outside in the fresh air doing a mild activity like walking can boost your mood. 

 

Need more reasons to get outside? Researchers at the University of Michigan found that your memory and attention span can improve by 20 percent after an hour in nature. So take a walk outside, sit in the park, and enjoy.

4. Rub On Rose Oil

A recent study from Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand found that people who absorbed rose oil through their skin (as an experiment control, they wore masks so they couldn't smell the scent), had lower breathing rates and blood pressure, and they felt more relaxed than those in a control group. Click here to learn how to make your own rose oil.

Rose oil not your favorite scent? Try another natural de-stressor, ylang-ylang oil.

5. Walk Into Another Room

It might sound a little nutty, but according to a study at the University of Notre Dame, just shifting your environment a little can change what you’re thinking about and help you forget stress. According to the study, when you walk into a new room, your brain views it as a new event, and essentially resets itself, forgetting what was happening before. This works great for getting rid of those tension-filled thoughts. It also explains why you can never remember where you left your keys!!