1.  Don’t wait til the last minute!  Waiting causes more stress and will cause you to spend more money on less sentimental gifts. 

2.  Order online!  Most places offer free-shipping and standard shipping is available for another week to ensure your gifts arriving by or on December 24.  No lines, no tax, no hassle!

3.  Make a list of the things you NEED to buy.  Buy the most important gifts first, then you have time to shop for the less important/less stressful.  Making a list will keep you organized and focused.  Also, try taking note as to where the gifts are from and how much they cost.

4.  Create a budget!  Overspending will definitely stress you out!  Set a limit for each person on your list and follow your budget according to plan.

5.  Go with a friend!  Walking, talking, and shopping is a lot to do by yourself.  Take a friend or sibling with you to pick out those perfect gifts.  You can never go wrong with a second opinion!

6.  Buy gift cards LAST.  Gift cards will always be in stock.  So save your money and get gift cards last for the people who want them.

7.  Read the paper!  The paper holds VALUABLE sale ads that also contain coupons at time.  Everyone could afford to save money in this economy!

Happy Shopping!

1.  DO NOT CRAM – Although some students work best under pressure, it is better to study right before bed and first thing in the morning so that the information is the last thing you see and the first thing you review.  This will help you remember the key points.

2.  DO NOT STUDY FOR HOURS – Take a break every half an hour, even if it’s a quick facebook break or walk to Jazzman’s to get a delicious beverage of your choice.  Studying for hours at a time will ultimately get you no where.

3.  DO NOT GO HUNGRY – Whether you are studying or going to complete your exam, EAT.  Food provides the fuel your body needs to stay focused and energized. 

4.  DO NOT GO TO BED LATE – Aka, get some sleep!  If you are falling asleep during your exam, I am pretty sure you might as well have stayed in bed.

5.  DO NOT FORGET YOUR WATER OR YOUR GUM! – Drinking water and chewing gum during an exam stimulates your brain… maybe you’ll remember those pesky details you can never seem to grasp!

6.  DO NOT BE GRUMPY – The better your mood the better your results. The facts are simple.  If you go into the test stressed and aggrevated, you are more likely to forget what you have learned.

Tonight in the Rockland Banquet Hall, students and creatures alike were invited to view one of the most beloved Tim Burton movies of all times:  The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Animated by Disney, this film is the perfect mixture between Halloween and Christmas!  Even though I have seen this movie in theatres, in 3D, it could NEVER get old!!!  Boo, is still my favorite character!  And Jack is still as well lit as ever.

For those of you who missed out, you should watch is very soon… because of course, it is almost Christmas!

Walking into the Ratcliffe Community Center is completely joyous for me.  I love seeing all of the wonderful holiday decorations!  The ResLife professional staff made posters and bought decorations to set up tables for each holiday celebrated during this special time of the year.  As you can see, each table is completely different because hey, not all holidays or traditions are the same.  Over the fireplace are happy stockings, written on them with names of the RD’s and other professional staff members from the ResLife team.  My first reaction was, where is my stocking?  But… realistically the fireplace is not that big :]

Whatever you are celebrating this year, Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Anxious to find out more about your peers and what they celebrate?  take a walk through the fully decorated Ratcliffe center!  It is to die for.

December 1, 2009

Today marks a very special day here at Stevenson University and around the world – World Aids Day.  Stevenson University is an ongoing supporter of this annual day full of hope.  This support could have been seen from the many events we held today.

On the Greenspring Campus, the Wellness Center set-up a table full of information in regards to AIDS.  Questions were asked and answered while students were given Twizzlers shaped into the AIDS ribbon.  T-Shirts reading “are you positive you are negative” were also given out.

These shirts could also be found on the Owings Mills campus later in the evening. In the Ratcliffe Center, the Wellness Center held an event entitled “Allie’s Story.”  Each year I come to this event because her story and her bravery is inspiring.  Allie is 26 years old and is HIV positive.  She encourages all students to get tested every 6 months or at least every year, something all audience members pledged to.  At the end of the event, we all wore our shirts and sat in the shape of the ribbon.  For Allie, we took a picture of this human ribbon, once again, a symbol of hope.  I actually got to sit next to her :]

So, are you positive you are negative?  If not, the Wellness Center will be holding an event in January, administering free HIV testing to all students.  I encourage all to go out, and get tested.  Protect yourself and others.

Although we are a long way away from WVU football here at Stevenson, hiring our first coach was a step in the right direction.  Congratulations Mr. Hottle for becoming the new head coach of the Stevenson University Football Team.

Apparently, the WVU game against Pitt was one of the biggest games of the year, in college football.  Having the pleasure to go and watch my best friend Ryan perform in the band, I was able to jot down some notes for our new team and stadium.  I found it really interesting that Sodexho provides the food for the games!!!  They also provide our food at Rockland!  Small World. :]

Watch out SU, I’ve got my paper and my pen.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving!  I know I did :]

Just as last year, I had to put up the picture of my Father smelling the turkey – it is a tradition.

However, this year Thanksgiving was a little different… Did anyone notice stores opening around 5 p.m.?  Isn’t that what Black Friday is for?  Hmm..

Anywho, hopefully you didn’t overstuff yourself!  Gobble Gobble!

Tonight in the Susquehanna Lobby, the ResLife staff held an event to get the residents here at SU in the spirit for Thanksgiving by feeding them with various types of pies.  Apple, Blueberry, Pumpkin, Pecan, and even cheesecake!!  The pies were served with delicious apple cider and digested while taking pictured with the staff and socializing with Susuquehanna residents!  It was such a great time!  (and very good desert!)  Overall, I give it an A+ :] 

Now all you have to do is walk to the Admissions Office!!  This week, I walked into work and saw this big cardboard cut-out of Wildstang!  Neat, huh? 

If a picture is not exactly what you are looking for – chat with Wildstang on Facebook, email him through the SU Website, or read his blog at wildstang.stevensonuniversity.org!

Can’t remember all of this?  Pick up one of his business cards :]

Tonight, I was surprised to walk into the Mustang Grill and find this sign… telling me that I could order breakfast, for dinner.  And not just any breakfast – the most delicious breakfast sandwich this University has to offer!  I loved this because two weeks prior I wrote a note saying “I want breakfast 24/7.”  And as they say – YOU HAVE SPOKEN. WE ARE LISTENING.

Way to go SU – hopefully this isn’t a one time thing!