Self-Improvement

It happens to all of us. We’re curled up under our covers – warm, cozy and dreaming sweetly. And then you hear it. At first it’s distant and then it becomes clearer – the blaring beep of your dreaded alarm clock. You hit the snooze button for an extra 10 minutes, and then 30 minutes later, you’re hurrying to make it to class on time.

Already overwhelmed with second semester stress? Time to trade-in that textbook for a facemask, and follow these simple steps to transform your bedroom into the day spa of your dreams.

Netiquette: a simple way to make sure you sound as sophisticated online as you do in person.

A new semester has arrived at Penn State, allowing us all the benefits of a clean slate and a fresh start.

Movie culture preaches that high school is about falling in love with a next door neighbor, eating outside on the quad and answering your phone in the middle of a class because your BFF has gossip to spill about your arch enemy. Most likely, high school was never like that for any of us.

Well, the weather outside may be frightful, but you can make your room look oh so delightful! With a few additions, any dorm room can be a cozy sanctuary to cuddle in during these chilly winter days.

The holiday season is upon us, which means extensive amounts of food, visits with relatives and the anticipation of receiving (and giving) the perfect gift. But after all the holiday hype comes the best night of all: New Years.

The holiday season is now in full swing, which means tons of shopping and even more wrapping of gifts.

’Tis the season of cheer and happiness. Christmas carols are playing from every car radio  emphasizing the holiday spirit. The only roadblock between that last final and Christmas morning is the copious amounts of gifting that has been put off to the last minute.

Black Friday sales have come and gone, but Christmas is quickly approaching and there are still many presents to be bought. As busy college students, we don’t have the time or money to spend on over priced Christmas gifts. Buying gifts can be tedious and very time consuming, and with finals season right around the corner, buying presents needs to be as quick and time efficient as possible.

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to think of giving. Surrounded by so many options, it’s hard to pick out an individual, personalized gift that you know your loved one will appreciate. Instead of going with a mainstream gift this year, why not give a gift that gives back?

As you’re curled up in (your childhood) bed, watching the Macy’s Day Parade on TV or helping out in the kitchen, you may start to wonder what your Penn State friends are up to.

Is it just me, or is the weather in State College getting colder and colder as the days go by?

For those of you who are dreading the chill and grayness of winter, there is hope. Winter doesn’t have to be the most depressing season. Here are some warm, fun and easy ways to defeat those blues.

This past summer I bartended to support myself through an unpaid internship, I came to rely heavily on tips, as my hourly base pay was only $2.83. After this experience, I never tip less than 15 percent at dinner, always tip 20 percent or more if the waitress goes above and beyond, and base my bar tips on how expensive my order is (i.e. $4 bill gets a $2 tip, $8 bill gets a $4 tip, etc.).

Now that we’re well past the halfway point of the semester, do you find your life is not as organized as it was back in August?…

All dressed up and out in the streets for Halloween, sometimes things get weird. We asked around for embarrassing Halloween stories, but we’ll keep our contributors’ identities incognito.

Fall has arrived… and with it the season for flu shots. Per usual, the Student Health Center will offer fall flu clinics every Tuesday and Thursday of this month (check the UHS website for posted dates, hours and locations) – and, even though students are aware of the benefits that come with vaccination, there will always be those who hesitate. To many, needles rank among the scariest of Halloween’s ghouls and goblins. With that we couldn’t agree more, which is why we looked for (and found) a much less frightening option.

Do you have the mid-semester blues? Have tests, quizzes and essays got you down? Are you too stressed out eat, breathe or shower? If any of these questions apply to you, listen up! Meditation may be just what you need.

Parent’s Weekend has come and gone, and your homesickness may be even harder to suppress than before. Missing home is common among all college students (upperclassmen included!). It’s okay to long for the comforts of home, but if you’re fighting back tears, let us at least help you get through until winter break.

It’s 7 a.m. Your dreaded alarm goes off and you roll out of bed, brush your teeth, grab a low-calorie breakfast bar and head to…