Sam Saltess

More by Sam Saltess

HC Awareness: The Facts, the Risks and the Lessons Learned from the Dangers of Fake Tanning

5/9/2012

Despite an increased tax on indoor tanning and the efforts of organizations such as the Skin Cancer Foundation and Cosmo Magazine, indoor tanning remains prevalent on college campuses. This story focuses on the dangers of too much tanning, stories of those who have been affected by skin cancer, and what you can do to protect yourself.

The warm weather has hit the state of Iowa, which means outdoor parties, days spent by the pool, and trips with other college students to the near-by Coralville Reservoir.

But what most students don’t realize is that with the summer approaching, we spend more and more hours exposed to the harmful UV rays of the sun. Just two blistering sunburns is all it takes to drastically increase your chance of developing the most common, and largely preventable form of cancer: skin cancer.

The Facts

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Two million people are diagnosed annually, which means about 1 in 5 people will experience a type of skin cancer over their lifetime, and one in 55 of them will die from the disease.

For most students however, skin cancer is nothing but a distant danger that “won’t happen to them.” Being tan is seen as being pretty, and many students don’t want to give that up.

“In a society where media depictions of feminine beauty are practically unattainable, being tan is one of the attributes of the ideal woman that’s easily accomplished,” says Missy Koelling, a gender, women’s, and sexuality studies major at the UI.

HC Guide to Spring Cleaning Your Diet

4/16/2012

The warm weather has hit and is (hopefully) here to stay. With spring comes spring cleaning, but that doesn’t just mean your apartment or dorm. Give away your extra Easter candy (okay, save yourself a few Cadbury eggs, I’m not that mean) and revitalize your diet to create a healthier you this spring.

Louis Vuitton Who? Tales of the Fashion Challenged

4/2/2012

I am self-admittedly NOT good with fashion. I just recently learned who the heck Tory Burch was, I don’t own any colored jeans, flowy blouses, or fancy watches, and my jewelry collection is less than fabulous. Yoga pants consume my budget, t-shirts rule in my book, and a good pair of UGG boots for winter and flip-flops and gym shoes for summer seems to suffice.

With shows like TLC’s What Not to Wear, websites like Pinterest, and blog posts everywhere, sometimes I feel behind in the world with my sad fashion sense and lack of those “in” designer clothes and shoes. I have no doubt that there are others out there like me, and to them I say EMBRACE your lack of fashion sense, and I am right there with you. The fashionistas of the world are cringing as they read, but here are the reasons why I say accepting your “lack of a fashion-sense” is a-okay:

HC Guide to Backpack Beauty

3/21/2012

Most of the time, college is anything but a daily routine. Sometimes, we only have one class a day, while other days, we’re gone at 8 a.m. and not back to our dorms or apartments until 8 p.m. Then there are the days when we have class and work, and just cannot resist grabbing a beer with friends after dinner. Our makeup and hair looks less than ideal after 8 hours of stuffy classrooms, walking in the wind, and picking our split ends out of pure boredom, so what can we pack that is little, yet helpful in keeping us looking fresh? Here is your guide to backpack beauty.
 
Tresemme Fresh Start Travel Size Dry Shampoo ($2.50 at Target): We all touch our hair throughout the day, whether it’s split-end picking, pulling it behind our ears, or trying to brush out the knots. It eventually gets greasy, but that is where dry shampoo comes in. You can buy this travel-sized bottle at Target, and while it is a little pricey for the size, it really works in soaking up the excess grease in your roots. Spray on between classes, wait a minute or two, and brush through, and your hair will look good as new.

The Not-So Fabulous Guide to Spring Break at Home

3/5/2012

As everyone around me packs up for a road trip to South Padre, or a flight to Panama City Beach, I start making my spring break packing list as well. For a trip home, that is.

Alright, so I don’t get to drink for 72 hours straight (thank God, actually), lay in the sun, or party for a week with all my best friends, but there are some positives for spending a week at home or staying at school. Those of you going somewhere warm probably would disagree, but at least let me attempt to help those who aren’t as lucky, okay?

1. You get to relax. One full week of you, your couch, and the compete series of Friends. Or maybe its time you read The Hunger Games. Whatever you decide, it is sure to be relaxing. Unless of course you decide to be productive over break, in which case I cannot help you.

2. Family time. Admit it, you kind of miss your family while you are at school. If you went on a spring break, you would miss out on some family bonding (in my house, that includes grabbing a drink at the local bar and watching my dad embarrass himself via karaoke) and family time is always necessary. So grab lunch with your parents, take your mom shopping, or have a movie night. Your parents will appreciate it!

3. Saving a ton of money. A spring break trip is expensive. There’s gas/flight, food for a week, alcohol money, hotel money, and possibly bailing a friend out of jail money. By staying home, you’re saving yourself a lot of time and money that you can use on other things. Treat yourself to a spray tan or a pedicure while at home, and you’ll feel like you went to a tropical destination.

HC Collegiette's Guide to the Best Pinterest Recipes

2/26/2012

Heard of Pinterest? Of course you have.

If you haven’t, you are about to become addicted to one of the fastest growing social media sites ever. Users “pin” recipes, outfits, hair ideas, quotes, and photographs that they love or want to learn more about. Once on their pin boards, users can visit the websites these “pins” came from to get the recipe, buy the outfit, or learn the craft.

If it sounds like a woman’s dream come true, you’re right. Millions of new hairstyles, desserts, shoes, blazers, dresses, and did I mention desserts at one’s fingertips.

I’m not saying they’re healthy, but here are some of the best, most delicious and college friendly recipes you’ll find on Pinterest

1. Pizza dip: Perfect for a girls night in, or a weekday snack. Serve with baguettes or bread and chow down

2. Rainbow cake: At first glance, this one looks tough. Making a cake rainbow colored? Save that for Martha Stewart. But wait, it’s easier than you think! Just divide the cake batter into different bowls, get some food coloring from Hy-Vee or Walmart, and you’ve got yourself a rainbow cake. This one will impress the friends and relatives; I suggest you try it.

3. Red Velvet Cookies: Who doesn’t like red velvet cake?  It might be even better in a cookie. Add in some chocolate chips, and you have yourself an easy, fun and festive dessert.

Have Contiki, Will Travel! Contiki Travel Sweepstakes: Enter Now!

2/7/2012

Are you ever so swamped with homework, tests, readings, and quizzes that you wish you were anywhere but here?

Now is your chance to win a chance to get away, and we’re not talking just Florida or California. We’re talking Paris, Amsterdam, the Mediterranean, Greece and much more!

HerCampus has recently partnered with Contiki, a travel site geared towards trips and vacations for people ages 18-35. Contiki was founded in 1962 and is the leading travel site for young people, making your life easier by organizing your entire trip from airfare to public transportation. Contiki offers trips in 46 countries and eight main regions (How do we even choose?!)

We all know planning a vacation is stressful (but SO worth it) so let Contiki take care of all the details. They organize your airfare, where you will be staying, transportation while your there, some of your meals, and group outings to make your vacation a memorable one. You’ll even get an itinerary beforehand spelling out everything you’ll be doing so your family doesn’t have to worry about you in a foreign country. 

The Truth About Anxiety

1/23/2012

After watching Vinny walk out on the Jersey Shore house last week on MTV’s Jersey Shore, I realized how common anxiety really is. We all get some anxiety about things in our life, whether it’s homework, finals week, or stress at work. But how do you know if it’s an unhealthy amount? How do you know if generalized anxiety is something you really suffer from?
According to Medical News Today, Anxiety is a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying. It affects your emotional well being, and how you go about your day-to-day activities. Everyone in college experiences this at some point. Maybe you feel overwhelmed one week where you have a midterm, two papers, and quiz, and you feel like you just can’t get everything done. You might have a hard time falling asleep that week because you can’t stop thinking about all that you have to get done.
When your anxiety becomes a day-to-day thing, something you feel you can’t control, it could be generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with GAD worry about life in general, and have trouble lowering their anxiety level to a healthy point. Their anxiety isn’t always provoked by something, yet they consistently feel worrisome, like they can’t relax. According to Psych Central, you could have GAD if you identify with three of the following six symptoms:

The Six Hawkeyes You'll Find on Facebook

1/5/2012

Facebook. We all use it, and we all creep it, no matter how hard you deny it. Everyone uses Facebook differently, but after a few days of careful observations (and some minor Facebook creeping), here is the list of the six Hawkeyes you’ll find on Facebook.

1. The Mirror-Picture-Taker
This is the girl who, when out with friends, snaps photos in the mirror of the Summit bathroom, making silly faces and poses. On days when her friends are busy, she may feel the need to take photos of herself in her own bathroom mirror due to her perceived “high attractiveness level” of that day. She may caption the photo, “PJ’s and no makeup, ew!” or “livin’ young, wild and free <3” depending on the exact location of the mirror photo.  To the Mirror-Picture-Taker, this kind of photography did not end in the 8th grade like it did for many others.

2. The TMI Sharer
The TMI Sharer makes statuses daily that describe his or her life troubles, relationships woes, divorce issues, baby-daddy issues, family fights, what he/she is eating for lunch, and/or the exact plans by hour for their night that night. You consistently scroll through your newsfeed to find an update on nearly every aspect of their life, no matter how many people care or not. An example may be “So glad it is a new year. After my nasty breakup with Shawn who cheated on me with two nasty girls, and a falling-out with my unsupportive mother, I finally have moved on to a wonderful new man! We’re starting out the New Year by going to dinner at the Brown Bottle, seeing a movie in Coralville, and celebrating at Summit tonight!” The TMI Sharer is not to be confused with the “Mupload Obsesser,” who obsessively takes photos with her iPhone or Droid and uploads photos everywhere she goes and one with everyone she is with.

Surviving Winter Break

12/19/2011

After staying up for three days straight, eating your weight in pizza and snacks at weird hours, getting way too accustomed to the library, and consuming more caffeine than you have the entire semester, finals are officially over. You can finally enjoy the holidays at home with good food, family, and friends.
But the same thing happens to all of us: we come home, get fed, do some shopping, hang out with our friends and family, and then we’re so ready to be back at school. So now that most of us are going to be home for three or four weeks…how on earth do we survive? Here are some tips and tricks to survive winter break at home.