Justine Tellez

More by Justine Tellez

Fun Christmas Gift Ideas For Him And Her

12/11/2011

If you think about it too hard, picking out a Christmas present for someone is the hardest thing to do. You can over think things, then decide on something, then, oh wait, over think again. We want to think outside the box, but we still want the person to enjoy their present for more than a day; yet, being too practical can sometimes blow up in your face. So, what to do?

I found a few websites that can help you look beyond the Macy’s gift cards and the corny shirts they might not like as much as you thought. Some of these websites have stores out there that you can visit in person, but the location might prove a bit difficult to reach, and who knows if they’ll even have what you want once you arrive.

For the girls-to-guys gift:

Pillow Remote Control.
Even girls would love it; it’s a present for you and him.
Found on www.brookstone.com.
 
If your boy lives in a small apartment and a huge foosball table just won’t fit, get him a mini one!
Found on www.fredflare.com.

For those boys who play guitar and love their music, which chances are is one of the reasons you fell for him in the first place, try an ion audio USB discover guitar learning pack. There's a great one on www.fredflare.com.

From guys-to-girls:

VS Fashion Show: Men, We Still Eat!

12/4/2011

My opinion might not be shared by all, but it needs to be said. Since the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was
broadcast this past Tuesday, I have seen multiple articles discuss the detrimental effects the fashion show is having on teenage girls, in particular this Onward State article entitled Victoria, We've Got Our Own Secret.

In the article, written by a man, we see examples of the types of things girls were tweeting during the show. The tweets included, “NEVER. EATING. AGAIN.” or, “BRB, starving myself. Thank you, VS fashion show.” In response to these tweets, the writer says, “I quickly realized that this is a BIG American issue.”

You could probably guess what I'm going to say. We eat! Just because girls ended up tweeting over and over again about the fashion show, and how they now refuse to eat, does not mean that this will necessarily become a reality. I am %99.9 sure that most every girl who tweeted something to that effect woke up the next day and had cereal, or eggs, or waffles for breakfast. They didn’t have some revelation that caused them to change their whole life style to become this "ideal thin."

I even asked one of my close guy friends to get a male opinion, just in case I was clinging to a skewed view of this issue. After I asked him what he thought, he responded by saying,

From The Closet: Turning Summer Clothes Into Fall Gear

11/9/2011

The cold weather is hitting us sooner than we thought. Try to think on the bright side though: at least all the cute boots and scarves can emerge from our closets and be incorporated back into our wardrobe. The easiest and most versatile pieces and accessories seem to be scarves, boots, leggings and the layered look.

Since we've been transitioning into the fall season, most of us still have some spring and summer clothes lying around. Worry not; there is a way to take your summer clothes and fall them up for the season.

Tip 1: Take a pair of summer shorts and pair them with dark tights or leggings. Next, add some boots or flats to finish the look.

Tip 2: With all those tank-tops you haven't worn since summer, it’s as easy as one, two, three to make them useful and appropriate once again by throwing on a sweater or a flannel button up (a cute cardigan that would work perfectly for this can be found at American Eagle in the Deptford Mall. A bright blue one with long sleeves to keep you warm goes for $39.50).

Tip 3: Add a scarf to any t-shirt to give it an autumn look (with little to no effort). What I love most about scarves is their ability to be paired with so many shirts. The trick is to start your scarf collection with neutral colors like brown, tan, gray, black, and cream. Charlotte Russe offers an abstract line infinity scarf for only $9.50. What a steal!

Tip 4: Keep the shades on. Just because it’s not summer and you’re not going to the beach doesn’t mean sunglasses are out. Aviators have been all the rage around campus and they don’t need to cost $200 to be stylish (I found a flattering pair of silver aviators at Aeropostale for $9.75).

Making The Healthier Snack Choice When You're On The Go

11/2/2011

Saying, “Hey, it’s because I’m a college student,” is an acceptable explanation in more than a few scenarios, but we too often use it as an excuse to eat junk food during our busy days (insert: every day).

Collegiettes™ are on-the-go 24/7 and can often find little to no time to do anything beyond schoolwork, endless clubs and commitments, and making it to class on time.

So when it comes to finding time to eat, trust me when I say it’s a huge weight off of your shoulders to know you have healthy and satisfying snack options in your apartment or dorm that you can grab on your way out the door. Here are some tasty and healthy snacks that you should keep on hand as the healthier choice, and nix the candy bar or bag of chips.

1. Oats & Peanut Butter Fiber One Chewy Bars

Just as it says in the commercials we’ve all seen a thousand times, it really does have about one third of your recommended daily fiber, and it’s whole grain. This option will keep you going longer than any candy bar, and without the inevitable sugar crash that accompanies the latter.

2. Kashi TLC Soft-Baked Snack Bars 

Despite many of our aversions to food we know is good for us, Kashi really comes through in a pinch. Not only is the snack bar incredibly tasty, it only contains 110 calories per bar! That should make any snack-loving girl smile.

3. V8 100% Vegetable Juice

Quick and Inexpensive Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

10/24/2011

I’ve been dressing up from Halloween for as long as I can remember. It never gets old and no one
ever out-grows it; what do grow, however, are the prices of Halloween costumes. There is no
need to spend forty-plus dollars on something you’ll only wear for one weekend.

Luckily I have some ideas that you can pull right out of your closet, and with just a few accessories you
can create a unique costume.

This one is for the guys: let’s say you have a suit, or a nice pair of pants
and a button up shirt. Go out and get yourself a Superman t-shirt and fake glasses for an instant Clark Kent.
Hot Topic sells Superman T-shirts for $19.00 and glasses for $9.00, but a quick trick is to pop out the lenses of any cheap pair of sunglasses you own, and save yourself those nine dollars for something else.

An idea that’s cute for girls requires a $15.00 purchase from Spirit Halloween: a pink wig. With
just a pink wig you could change your costume to something different for each night of Halloween weekend. The more popular ideas are Nicki Minaj or Katy Perry, but you could also be Erin Esurance by wearing all black, or Wanda from The Fairly OddParents if you feel like splurging on some fairy wings. Plus, if you have a boyfriend with a good sense of humor he could go as Timmy or Cosmo.

For the couples, a cute and easy idea is Adam and Eve. Go to any dollar store and
purchase fake flowers and leaves and attach them to a pair of khaki shorts, or a Speedo for the more daring men. The girls can either wear a brown or neutral colored tank top and shorts, or a bikini.

Pumpkin Carving, With A Snack For Later

10/16/2011

It might be a little messy, and it might take a little time, but this is something fun to do with your roommates or anyone else who wants to get into the Halloween spirit with you. Carving pumpkins isn’t very complicated or financially damaging, so it’s a perfect activity to do over the weekend when you find yourself bored and looking for something fun and easy.
 
First things first, you need to get a pumpkin-preferably something small because the smaller the pumpkin, the smaller the mess. For the quick route you can go to the nearest Shop Rite, pick out a pumpkin and be on your way. Or, you could head over to Heritage Vineyards of Richwood, which is located at 480 Mullica Hill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. This cute place is about five minutes away from campus and has a great farm market. You can even walk around the farm and pick out your own pumpkin from their pumpkin patch, and I only paid about two dollars for mine. Once your pumpkin is picked you can move on to the next step-carving your pumpkin.
 
Step 1: Cut around the stem of the pumpkin to create an opening to get to the insides of the pumpkin. Make sure the opening is big enough for your hands to fit in. Don’t get rid of the top, you’ll need that later to put back on the pumpkin once you’re finished.
 
Step 2: Scoop out all the pulp and seeds from inside the pumpkin-you can use either your hands or a large spoon to clean it out. (Note: Don’t throw away the pumpkin seeds just yet! I’m going to tell you how to cook the seeds to have as a snack for later).
 
Step 3: Using a pencil, draw the face you want to make. This is where you can stay traditional with the triangle eyes and goofy smiles or do something more creative. Here are three different ideas:
 

Getting Better On A Budget: Easy Tips For College Students To Keep The Flu At Bay

10/12/2011

It’s getting to be about that time, the change of seasons along with temperatures jumping from hot to cold. Don’t lie to yourself and act like you don’t feel that tickle in your throat or soreness in your body starting to take over. Ignoring the signs of a flu or cold is the worst thing you can do to yourself; this sets your body up for failure. But don’t despair, there are easy, sensible, and best of all, cheap ways to battle this bug before it becomes a real problem.

Get a good night’s sleep

       Yes, as simple as this tip may seem, it is the most essential. Throw in a few naps in between too while you’re at it. Listen to your body, and allow yourself to get that extra bit of rest your body needs. Sleep is the time where your body recovers from the stresses of the day. Without a good night’s rest your body becomes more vulnerable to catching the flu.  

Drink plenty of hot liquids

      Keeping yourself hydrated is already important for one’s own general health, but hot liquids such as tea can sooth your throat. Teas such as chamomile and green tea are high in antioxidants, which we all know have amazing immune boosting properties. But I don’t want to spoil the next tip too much and will explain that concept in just a little; now back to tea. Teas such as chamomile that contain no caffeine are beneficial for the nights to help you relax, unwind, and help you fall asleep. Adding honey to sweeten the tea also helps relieve that scratchy feeling in your throat from all that coughing.

Meet Rowan's Newest Hip Hop Group

10/3/2011

       “You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it.” Is it not easier said than done? Well, in this case persistence prevails. DJIG is a rap group consisting of three members, John Harris, Garrick Adamson, and Isaiah DuPree. Two of them are current students at our own Rowan University, John Harris and Garrick Adamson. John is a communications major, while Garrick is a physical health and education major who plays soccer for Rowan. What started out as a few rough tracks of verses and bars in their early high school years at Glassboro High School, has developed into something much more.

       With a mix tape called "Pre-Game" circulating Rowan University, a second one is soon to follow. This group has an undeniable amount of talent and is finally starting to be recognized.  NBA 2K 12, a popular video game, is featuring our very own DJIG in it, with an original song called “Now's My Time.” A soundtrack that features other artists such as Eminem and Cee-Lo has left a spot open for DJIG.