Julia Thorncroft

More by Julia Thorncroft

How To Overcome Your Fear Of Dating 4/30/2012	Dating is generally one of two things: dreadful or exciting. Whether it’s the fear of talking with food stuck between your teeth or an awkward conversation of how the weather is, dating is not always the thrill one hopes for. Having that said, there’s no need for pessimism here. A fear of dating is very understandable. Dating someone new can be nerve-wracking. From choosing what you wear to the embarrassing stories you volunteer, there is no wonder why people stress out about dating. Here are some tips on overcoming the toxic fear of the dating world. 1) Be Talkative No one likes when a date goes wrong. Weak conversations often cause a date to spiral downward. Even though bringing up topics can be difficult, it makes the date more relaxing and interesting. Talk about work, your major, family, or hobbies. Consider how long you’ve been alive and all the experiences you’ve had. There’s got to be plenty of fabulous or entertaining anecdotes for a date. 2) Take Interest In Your Date Just because you should be talkative, doesn’t mean you should dominate the conversation. The last thing someone wants is to hear his or her date brag about every accomplishment. Just like you should talk about your life, you should ask your date about theirs. Ask about their family or school. Maybe even ask what sports they’re into. You’re interested in this person for a reason. Figure out more about them.
Friends With Benefits: Harmless Fun Or Troublesome? 4/26/2012	At first glance, it may seem like a stress-free alternative to other dating options. There are fewer expectations than a committed relationship. Plus, you get more action than from a one-night stand. Friends with benefits are often considered the happy medium of a serious relationship and a foolish sexual escapade. How do these “friendly” relationships play into the college scene? Clearly, they’ve become increasingly popular. There is a reason why this sort of relationship has become so popular for college students: It’s easy. Most college students want some part of their life to be simple. If their sex life can be simple, then most go for it. FWB relationships can give those a chance to take a break from the hectic pile of work they face. Usually though, feelings come into play. Which is when the “fun-loving” turns into a downward spiral of stress and frustration.
Tips And Styles For Braiding Hair 4/19/2012	Looking for ways to change up your hairdo? Braiding is a great way to vary your style from day-to-day. To some, braiding hair might be easier said than done. While braiding for first timers can be difficult, try not to get too frustrated! Patience will help you learn and get better at braiding. Here are two current braiding styles and some braiding tips that are simple to practice and learn! Fishtail Braid Create a ponytail using a clear elastic band to help hold your hair in place. Split the ponytail into two separate pieces. Take a piece from the first side and pass it to the second side. Next take a piece from the opposite (second) side and pass it to the first side. Repeat these steps until you finish the braid. Once the braid is completed, carefully cut the elastic band at the top. Waterfall Braid
Vinyl Records Making A Comeback 4/9/2012	In a world of pirating music and downloading MP3s, it’s hard to imagine going from digital to analog. Recently though, people have turned off their iPods and dusted off their records. With 3.9 million records sold in 2011, vinyl is more than an outdated fad from the past. What used to be the main format for commercial music distribution in the 20th century has become obsolete for the past 10-15 years. The music industry reports prove that vinyl is coming back. Vinyl records remind some of growing up in a time of nitty-gritty rock ‘n’ roll. For others, records are the things that collect dust in their parents’ garages as memories of yesteryear. Those who don’t like older music may initially oppose to vinyl. But records have branched off from old school sounds. From Elvis to Lady Gaga, nearly everything is put on vinyl now. Some of the top vinyl artists include The Black Keys, Wilco, and Bon Iver. Older artists making the top sales include the Beatles, Nirvana, and Bob Dylan. Whether you want to begin a vinyl collection or listen to your parents’ old records, going vinyl seems to be increasingly popular. The main difference from vinyl to CDs or MP3s is simple: analog versus digital. CDs and MP3s are digital and have the clear quality from computers. Whereas vinyl records played on a turntable are analog, you can hear clicks and skips from the needle hitting the record.
How to Get Over Your Ex Without Making a Fool of Yourself 4/6/2012	Long-term relationship or a short fling, relationships are not easy. Breakups are even more difficult. As for the people surrounding me, including myself, spring is clearly not the season for love. Me being recently single (and ready to mingle!), I have my breakup story to offer some insight and give advice on dealing with heartbreak. It might be egotistical for me to talk about myself, but the goal here is to show those broken hearted that even through the worst situations you can achieve true happiness and freedom. About two weeks ago, my boyfriend of almost a year broke up with me at the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games. I know I look like the biggest nerd for dragging him to it, but he volunteered to go to the movie. He’s the one that plays World of Warcraft and League of Legends. I’m not the nerd here. It’s fair to say that I did not see the breakup coming. In the weeks leading up to the breakup we got along perfectly. He continued to text me saying, “Miss you babe,” and “Can’t wait to see you babe,” and finally, “You’re the best!” Clearly, I’m not the best for him. Either that, or he just can’t handle my awesomeness. We’ll go with the latter. So we arrive at the movie a couple hours in advance (because I’m a nerd and my friends are nerds who want good seats). After sitting in the theater for a while, he took me to his car. At the time, I, admittedly, thought was for some car sex. So I took that time to wink at the people passing me, acting like a complete fool, while in my head I was thinking of how to tell him I was too tired to do what he wanted. Maybe say, “Babe, I’m off the pill,” or pull an “I’m on my period” maneuver. Once we got in the car he started crying.
Secrets Under the Sheets: Awkward First Times 3/27/2012	Some say sex is like pizza: Even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. And most of us have had our fair share of “bad pizza.” Of all the bad pizza, that “first slice,” also known as losing your virginity, can be the most awkward or horrible experience. Sometimes awful sex stories can become a funny story to share with your friends. If you’re feeling unsure or guilty about some bad sex, feel relieved after reading some of the most bizarre or horrendous cherry-popping stories from around campus. All stories are from UCF students, but have asked to remain anonymous to save themselves from embarrassment.
A Day in Winter Park: Top 5 Spots to Hit 3/20/2012	Interested in exploring the towns surrounding UCF? Aside from Disney and Universal Studios, Winter Park is one of the most interesting tourists cites around Central Florida, and it’s way cheaper, too! Whether looking for a couple of hours to kill or a daily adventure, this town has it all. Here’s an example of how to spend a day visiting some of the rare hotspots in Winter Park, Florida: 10:30 a.m.: Grab a “Cup o’ Joe” at Stardust Video & Coffee A day’s adventure should begin with the first cup of coffee. Stardust is a relaxing place to drink coffee with friends and begin exploring. There are two separate areas: the small coffee shop portion and the bar/lounge. Filled with books, DVDs, board games and a vintage photo booth; Stardust provides endless opportunities. If you’re a coffee addict, be sure to order “the stoner” beverage. You can thank me later. Be sure to bring dollar bills for the photo booth! 11:30 a.m.: Check out vinyl records and more at Park Ave. CDs For audiophiles, this place is easily comparable to heaven. Right across the street from Stardust, Park Ave. CDs offers a variety of music from ABBA to Zappa. Park Ave. offers a range of products including vinyl, compact discs, cassette tapes, DVDs, books and more. Plus, you can save money buying used CDs or vinyl in perfectly good condition. They have sections that sell vinyl as low as three dollars. 12:30 p.m.: Take a stroll along the stores at Park Ave.
Internet Celeb Status: How to Make it in the Cyber World 3/15/2012	Whether a childhood dream or a recent young adult-hipster fantasy, most tend to wish for a life of fame and fortune. For some, it’s the money. For others, it’s the comfort of knowing you’re beloved (or hated) by millions. Here’s the catch: not everyone can become famous. It doesn’t happen overnight either. And unless daddy plans to pay your bills in NYC and you have the body of a Sports Illustrated model, fame may never come your way. Even those factors are no guarantee. Thankfully, the Internet has saved all of us cheapskates and created a new form of celebrity: the cyber celeb. If it weren’t for YouTube, Justin Bieber would’ve never been discovered. Where would Jenna Marbles be without her videos and blogs? What about Justin Halpern, the guy who tweeted under the feed Sh*t My Dad Says? He turned his twitter feed into a book and after that a CBS sitcom. Even if you don’t want to be “Internet famous,” utilizing the Internet and social media can definitely help land internships or potential jobs. Simply tag the company in a tweet or post on their Facebook wall saying how you hope to have an opportunity working with them. Keep your tweets and Facebook page appropriate, too. But for those who do want the fame and status, here are three tips to help reach that goal:
Put This in Your Beach Cooler: Healthier Options for Spring Break 2/28/2012	With spring break on its way, don’t you want to enjoy some icy desserts by the pool? Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t have to worry about the sugars or calories? Look no further! Thanks to the help from Cooking Light, I’ve made an adaption to some wonderfully delicious and low-calorie popsicles. The two flavors are limoncello and watermelon-jalepeño, making them the perfect treat on a hot day at the beach! Along with the nutritional facts, you will find other tips on how to make the popsicles even healthier. Limoncello Pops Makes: about 6 popsicles Time: 4 hours, 15 minutes Ingredients 1 cup water 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup limoncello liquor Preparation 1. Combine water and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH for 3 minutes or until boiling. Stir until sugar dissolves. Cool completely. 2. Pour mixture into ice-pop molds. Top with lid and insert craft sticks. 3. Freeze for 4 hours or until thoroughly frozen. Healthy Tips Sugar is used mainly for flavor in these popsicles, therefore it is not a required ingredient. To lower calories and keep sweetness, you can reduce the sugar to 1/3 cup. It is best to use fresh lemon juice rather than pre-made juice from the store. Nutritional Info (Amount per serving) Calories: 133 Fat: 0.0g Saturated fat: 0.0g Monounsaturated fat: 0.0g Polyunsaturated fat: 0.0g Protein: 0.2g Carbs: 29.2g Fiber: 0.3g Cholesterol: 0.0mg Iron: 0.0mg Sodium: 1mg Calcium: 5mg
Multitasking: Making America Fatter and Stupider 2/24/2012	We all attempt to multitask. Whether texting while driving or studying bio during Gilmore Girls reruns, multitasking is a friend to those with too much on their plate. It isn’t always as simple as having the TV or music playing in the background. We’ve all experienced the late night cramming for three or more assignments due simultaneously. We’ve all had that feeling of being stretched too thin. So yes, multitasking helps us get by. But is it really that helpful for the long haul? According to a study in UCLA, multitasking or being distracted greatly effects one’s learning. The study was conducted on subjects in their 20s who learned a simple classification task. They were to make predictions after receiving a set of cues concerning cards that displayed various shapes. With one set of cards, they learned without any distractions. With a second set of cards they had to listen to high and low beeps through headphones while keeping a mental count of the high-pitch beeps. The distractions didn’t affect their predictions but made their memory significantly worse. The study concluded that multitasking is a bad habit in the learning process and suggests one focuses on one topic at a time. And memorizing shapes while listening to high pitch beeps can easily symbolize balancing work and school. Which validates this study. Not only does multitasking affect the way we learn, it also affects our health and appearance.

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