#mkt400uwl

[mycollegediet-blog1]

The Best Bar Food - La Crosse, Wisconsin

Bar food is a special type of food. It can taste good by itself, but when you add a few drinks and a special atmosphere, it becomes great. There’s just something about having a snack or meal while drinking at a bar that makes it so much better. Sometimes you go into the night expecting to buy food from a particular bar, but more often than not, food is put in front of you that simply cannot be passed up. For me, I classify bar food as something that you can order after 9 at night. That’s usually when a restaurant turns into a bar and their late-night menu is in effect. Drinks at a reduced price and cheap food is every college students dream!

La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a place that is known for their bars and drinking. They have been named the 10th Drunkest City in America, had the most bars per capita, and broke the Guiness Book of World Records for the most bars on one street. That being said, there are plenty of different places to visit in La Crosse if you’re looking for a drink. I have lived in La Crosse for over 4 years and have experience everything the city has to offer. I have also spent more time than I am probably willing to admit in different bars. That being said, I have come up with a list of the best bar food around the city for college students. This food is cheap and delicious, and I’m sure you have experienced them if you have ever visited La Crosse, Wisconsin.

 Chips and Salsa – Senior Villa

Senior Villa is a relatively new Mexican restaurant right next to the UWL campus but their chips and salsa are legendary. This is a classic at most Mexican restaurants but Senior Villa gets it right and understands us college students. Once you are seated, you’re greeted with warm chips and a large bowl of salsa FOR FREE! You can also get as many refills as you want for no extra charge. They even have another sauce for your chips that is hard to recognize but tastes fantastic. As a college student, there’s not much more you can ask for; free chips and salsa. Add a margarita, or 3, and you have a great night ahead of yourself!

Nachos – Howie’s

Picture this – You’re playing Bingo, 2 tall Bud Light’s deep, and you suddenly get a craving for food. No need to worry, Howie’s on La Crosse Street has you covered with their $5 nachos. These aren’t just any nachos, these are some of the best nachos I have ever had. They are covered in lettuce, onions, and cheese served with a side of jalapenos and banana peppers. It is served on the biggest plate in the restaurant and it towers almost 12 inches tall. This is more than a snack, it’s a meal, and I have fasted for up to 5 hours in excitement for this food. Nachos from Howie’s is a great late night meal from one of the best bars in La Crosse.

 Popcorn – Who’s on Third

Popcorn is an all-time classic bar food no matter where you live. It’s light, filling, and the perfect complement to a few drinks. I’m sure there are a few more bars that have popcorn but the one I am most familiar with is Who’s on Third. My first step when I walk into the bar is towards the popcorn machine, even before I get a drink. The smell is overpowering and I can’t help but grab a cup while I’m there. Popcorn is also great bar food because it’s free, and as I mentioned in my first blog, there’s nothing better than free food. You can never go wrong with popcorn, especially when you’re at a bar!

 Wings – Brothers

Across the country, there are Brothers Bars serving wings and providing good times for college students. The bar located in La Crosse is arguably the most popular bar for college students in the city. Many of these people don’t know about their 25 cent wings on Wednesday nights. This is the best deal for wings you will find in town and they are surprisingly good for being from a bar. Even though you can only get this deal on Wednesday’s, it is worth the wait from week to week. With a variety of flavors, you will never get bored of going to Wing Wednesday at Brothers. It is said that there is nothing better than beer and wings, and Brothers Bar doesn’t disappoint on either.

 Burger – Eagles Nest

The Eagles Nest recently re-opened after about a year of being closed and the new management has made this a popular spot for food and drinks. Not only do they have $1 drinks, but they also have buy one, get one free burgers. This is another favorite phrase for college students and we will go out of our way to find similar deals and save money whenever possible. It’s hard to mess up a burger and the Eagles Nest delivers with a quality burger at a great price. With their buy one, get one free deal, you and a friend can get 2 burgers for around $5 each. This is a great deal and you can wash down the burger with some $1 Miller High Life’s at a new bar.

 Cheese Curds – The Old Crow

Cheese curds are a popular appetizer for the people of Wisconsin because of our love of cheese. The Old Crow has been known to have the best cheese curds in all of La Crosse and I can agree with that. Their unique square shape and light coating make for the perfect snack, especially when you’re there late at night. On our senior bar crawl, I stopped at the Old Crow around 9 p.m. and it was the perfect snack to share with friends. They are constantly making their cheese curds so it’s not uncommon to get the curds before your drinks, which is never a bad thing. As a Wisconsin resident, it doesn’t get much better than beer and cheese for dinner.

 Ice Cream – Twisted Moose

Many of you that go to school in La Crosse my not be familiar with this treat at the Twisted Moose. I have only seen them serve ice cream one summer but it was definitely one of the best snacks I have ever had downtown after 10 p.m. This isn’t your typical bar food and it’s completely different from everything else on this list. Having said that, I have never been happier than I was when I saw the ice cream machine as I walked into the Twisted Moose. It’s the classic soft serve vanilla or chocolate swirl cone similar to what you would get from McDonald’s for only $1. There are few things better than an ice cream cone on a hot day in the middle of the summer!

 Conclusion

This is just a short list of my favorite bar food in La Crosse, Wisconsin. As you can see, there is a wide variety of bars that have great food for college students. I’m sure that there is more great food from different bars in the city, but as I mentioned before, there are a lot of bars in La Crosse and it’s tough to visit them all. I recommend trying to visit as many different bars and restaurants as you can wherever you are. That will allow you to experience something new and maybe discover a new favorite spot for burgers or wings. After living in La Crosse for 4 year, I can say that I have a great understanding of the city and I have a favorite place for every kind of food. I’m excited about my semester because I have another opportunity to eat all these different kinds of bar food one last time.

I believe my favorite bar food on this list are the chips and salsa from Senior Villa. The fact that they are free and you can get endless refills is tough to compete against. The addition of the mysterious sauce puts it over the top even though no one really knows what it is. It kind of tastes like ranch but all that matters is that it goes great with tortilla chips. There are plenty of times where my friends and I have gone to Senior Villa solely for their margaritas, chips, and salsa. We will spend hours eating all their chips and salsa and knocking back around 3-4 margaritas. Whenever someone mentions eating there I always get excited and it’s an offer I can’t pass up. Senior Villa has become one of the most popular spots for the college student of La Crosse to enjoy a meal and a few drinks.

Is there anything I missed? Would you take something off my list? Let me know what your favorite bar food is in La Crosse!

 The diet every college student can relate to!

#MKT400UWL #college #mycollegediet

[vitabenedetta-blog]

Recipe Eats

Lets be honest, as fun as it is to go out and enjoy a nice meal and some fancy drinks with friends, this can get expensive (especially as college students). Many times as students we resort to ordering Jimmy John’s and spending our spare cash when we are tight on time. College is hectic. Between classes, work, family obligations, sleep, exercise, and trying to have a life, grocery shopping and cooking homemade meals is usually put on the backburner. 

Thankfully, grocery shopping and meal prepping can be quick and easy with my guide to recipe eats. Being prepared before a trip to the grocery store will save you time and prevent you from mindlessly buying food that will just go bad later on in the week. Also, never go to the grocery store hungry. You will be tempted to put everything and anything under the sun in that cart of yours. I promise, it is a disaster waiting to happen for your credit card.

Every weekend I do a clean sweep of my refrigerator and freezer. I get rid of things that have accumulated throughout the week (leftover Topper’s) and certain ingredients that I am choosing not to consume (sugar). I take out a pencil and paper and write down my grocery list the old fashioned way, based on the meals I want to make for the week. Having roommates in college means sharing a tiny refrigerator. Cleaning and restocking every weekend ensures you are not wasting space with uneaten food and only buying ingredients that you plan on eating that week. I highly recommend buying meal containers on Amazon that take up the least amount of space to easily store cooked food in the refrigerator. 

Here Are Some Of My Grocery Staples

PRODUCE 

My favorite place to buy produce is Costco. The big packs of fruits and veggies will last you all week so that you will not have to make multiple trips to the store; however, I purchase my bananas and avocados at Kwik Trip since they tend to go bad fast. The awesome thing about this time of year is being able to take advantage of the farmer’s market. You can always find ingredients such as lettuce mix, strawberries and sweet potatoes at the market for cheap! 

Broccoli 

Romaine 

Lemons 

Strawberries 

Bananas 

Blueberries 

Raspberries 

Sweet Potatoes 

Avocados 

Brussel Sprouts

DAIRY 

In my house, dairy is kept to a minimum. If I do purchase dairy I am extremely cautious about sourcing. Dairy has been linked to inflammation and breakouts and overall always upsets my stomach. Instead of cow’s milk, I find dairy products that are made with almond milk; however, this is completely a personal preference. I enjoy going to Whole Foods to purchase my non-dairy products. 

Almond Milk (New Barn)

Cheese (Kite Hill) Yogurt (Kite Hill) 

Ice Cream Probiotics (Good Belly) 

Ghee Butter 

PROTEIN 

Unless going out for a burger and fries with friends, I choose not to consume red meat, so you will never find it in my refrigerator. I do not have anything against red meat, I am just one of those weird texture people. I gravitate toward turkey-based meats. 

Boca Burgers

Lean Ground Turkey 

Tuna 

Eggs 

Turkey Bacon 

GRAINS

If you know one thing about me, it’s probably that I cannot get enough of carbohydrates. I basically grew up on bread and pasta. Unfortunately as my metabolism has slowed down, this habit also did. I still love grains. Everything in moderation! 

Banza Pasta (made with chickpeas) 

Sourdough Bread 

Perfect Bars 

Granola 

Oats

Siete Tortilla Chips 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Hu Chocolate Bars 

Georgia Grinders Almond Butter 

Protein Powder Cacao Powder

After an inside look at my grocery list and refrigerator, we can begin the meal prep. Here are some of my favorite recipe eats for the school year! You can always double the recipes to share with roommates or family. 

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

These are a perfect dessert for chocoholics and pair well with dairy free ice cream. You can even make ice cream sandwiches! 

Ingredients:

-2/3 cup oats, blended to flour 

-2 tbsp. peanut butter 

-1tbsp. flax seed 

-1 tbsp. maple syrup 

-1 banana, mashed 

-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 

-Pinch of sea salt 

-1/4 cup dark chocolate chips 

Recipe: 

1) Blend oats, about 20 seconds 

2) Combine all ingredients 

3) Scoop onto cookie sheet, 1 tbsp. size, make round shape 

4) Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes 

5) Dip into melted chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt 

SMOKED SALMON TOAST 

Toast is my go-to lunch. It takes the least amount of time for when I am running between classes and homework. It is also the best for using up just about any ingredient in your refrigerator. 

Ingredients: 

-Slice of sourdough bread 

-Kite Hill cheese spread 

-Avocado

-Smoked Salmon (Aldi) 

-Egg 

-Everything But The Bagel seasoning (Trader Joes) 

Recipe: 

1) Toast sourdough bread 

2) Cook egg over easy on stovetop with butter 

3) Mash avocado 

4) Combine all ingredients on toast 

BANZA BOWL 

This bowl is a great pasta alternative, with a variety of flavors that cures my Noodles and Company cravings! 

Ingredients: 

-Banza pasta 

-Zucchini 

-Turkey meatballs 

-Kite Hill cheese spread 

-Mushrooms 

-Tahini 

-Tomato basil sauce (Trader Joes) 

Recipe: 

1) Cook pasta 

2) Spiral zucchini 

3) Cook spiraled zucchini in microwave with butter for about 2 minutes 

4) Cook mushrooms on stovetop

5) Microwave turkey meatballs for 2 minutes

6) Once pasta is cooked, combine with desired amount of tomato basil sauce 

7) Combine all ingredients in bowl 

8) Top with cheese spread 

9) Drizzle with tahini 

BUDDAH BOWL WITH JALAPEÑO TAHINI DRESSING 

It is like Chipotle but in your kitchen and much cheaper. 

Ingredients: 

-Avocado

-Olives 

-Turkey burger

-Limes

-Lettuce mix 

-Cilantro 

-Goat cheese 

-Zucchini 

Jalapeño Tahini Dressing:

-1/4 cup Tahini 

-1 seedless jalapeño 

-Lemon 

-Salt 

-Almond milk 

Recipe: 

1) Cook turkey burger on stove top 

2) Spiral zucchini 

3) Cook spiraled zucchini in microwave with butter for about 2 minutes 

4) Combine lettuce mix, cooked zucchini, cilantro 

5) Slice avocado 

6) Place cooked turkey burger, lime, avocado, olives, and goat cheese on top of greens 

7) Drizzle dressing 

SWEET STRAWBERRY TOAST 

This breakfast is perfect for that weekend morning sweet tooth without having to drive to Denny’s. 

Ingredients: 

-Sourdough bread 

-Strawberries 

-Honey 

-Cinnamon 

-Probiotic yogurt (coyo) 

-Almond butter 

Recipe: 

1) Toast bread 

2) Spread almond butter 

3) Add sliced strawberries 

4) Top with honey, cinnamon, and a spoonful of probiotic yogurt 

ACAI BOWL 

A refreshing combination for a hot summer day! 

Ingredients: 

-Frozen strawberries 

-Fresh strawberries

-Frozen bananas 

-Frozen pineapple 

-Sweetener 

-Almond milk 

-Vanilla protein powder 

-Almond butter 

-Honey

-Coconut shreds 

-Granola 

-Chia seeds 

Recipe: 

1) Blend frozen strawberries, bananas, and pineapple in a blender with sweetener, almond milk, vanilla protein powder, almond butter, and honey 

2) Pour into a bowl 

3) Top with fresh strawberries, honey, coconut shreds, granola, and chia seeds 

SWEET POTATO PANCAKES 

The perfect mixture of savory and sweet for the indecisive. This recipe is even Whole30 approved! 

Ingredients: 

-Sweet potato 

-Banana, mashed 

-2 eggs 

-Butter 

-Probiotic yogurt (coyo) 

-Almond butter 

-Honey 

-Cinnamon 

Recipe: 

1) Cook sweet potato in microwave for 4 minutes 

2) Mash sweet potato with fork 

3) Combine mashed sweet potato, mashed banana, and 2 eggs in a bowl 

4) Cook over a griddle with butter 

5) Top with almond butter, probiotic yogurt, honey, and cinnamon

MAC AND NO CHEESE 

The dairy free alternative for a mac n’ cheese lover. I mean we do live in Wisconsin people.

Ingredients: 

-Banza pasta 

-1 tbsp. nutritional yeast 

-1/3 cup cashews 

-1/3 cup roasted butternut squash 

-Lemon -1/4 cup water 

-Salt 

Recipe: 

1) Cook pasta 

2) Blend all sauce ingredients together slowly, adding in water until desired consistency reached 

3) Pour sauce over pasta and heat 

Finale 

I hope my grocery list and recipes help you break the staying-in stigma. Cooking is a great date idea, especially paired with a glass of wine and a movie! It is also a peaceful study break and a way to get your body up and moving from your couch on a Sunday. These recipes are easy! Trust me, I am not a whiz in the kitchen. I stick to simple recipes made with the least amount of ingredients that taste awesome and make me feel great. 

Next time you pick up processed foods at a gas station or on campus at school, turn it around and look at the list of ingredients. You will be surprised by how many ingredients you have never heard of and most likely cannot even pronounce. What we are choosing to put in our bodies matters and affects the way we feel, behave, and perform each and every day. Remember, you do not have to be perfect. No one is. Perfection is boring, but be different by caring about yourself. I cannot wait to see you recreate my recipes. 

Please make sure to send me pictures or tag me on social media. 

Instagram: @vitabenedetta 

Facebook: @ViBenedetta 

Twitter: @ViBenedetta Tell me. 

Do you prefer to stay in and cook meals or go out? Comment below.

#mkt400uwl

[bizmiss1-blog]

Why ‘BizMiss’?

Well, first, let me tell you a bit more about myself. I’m a junior in college double majoring in marketing and psychology. I started college with the desire to be a psychiatrist, but quickly changed my mind when I realized the enormity of strain that came with the job. As I was entering college, I felt lost. Psychology was so interesting, but I did not want to have a traditional psychology career. I had planned on psychiatry my whole life… so now what? Through taking a variety of classes my freshman year, I realized that not only were the business classes understandable for me, they were also interesting. For a freshman in college, classes that are interesting do not come around very often, so I decided to investigate further.

I came to realize that business was not just pushy salespeople manipulating you or an accountant sitting at a desk all day. There was this thing called marketing which I found intriguing. Marketing and psychology go hand in hand, probably why I was so interested in it. To target the right group of people that you wish to market to, you need to know your audience and what makes them the ‘right group’. But what I love most about marketing is the switch from knowing what your consumers want to buy to why they want to buy it. This psychological aspect is extremely interesting to me and is what pushes me as a marketer.

In the past few years, I have gotten involved professionally as much as possible. Through joining the American Marketing Association, Delta Sigma Pi, the Sales Team, and having an advertising/branding internship, I want to absorb as much as I can about the business world before I am projectile launched into it in T-11 months (wow, ain’t that a scary fact). I’ve loved every second of the clubs that I am a part of. They all give me a different perspective to the business world that I would not have gotten otherwise.

Lately, I have been getting more interested in advertising and branding, which is what my internship is in. I would love to learn how to use Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Canva, and other design platforms in classes, but there are only a few courses at the school I attend that discuss these platforms. Through my internship I have gotten more familiar with other platforms, which has been giving me real world experience of what my possible career after college would be. Although I’m graduating soon, I am allowing myself time to figure out what’s best for me and what I truly enjoy doing.

So now that you know a bit more about me, let me tell you why I chose to create BizMiss. First of all, it’s a play on words. Come on, everyone loves a good play on words. But in all seriousness, I created BizMiss because I truly enjoy dressing professionally and helping my friends pick out what they should wear. I have so many business clothes (seriously, it’s ridiculous) because I rationalize my clothing purchases as my investing in the future since I will be needing these clothes once I start my career.

The clubs that I am a part of often require business casual or business professional dress, so I have gotten used to slipping on heels and a blazer for a long school day. Although sometimes it can be annoying to have to look nice when my friends are sitting comfortably next to me in leggings and a baggy t-shirt, generally I like getting dressed up.

My internship also requires business casual dress in the office. I feel as though it promotes a sense of knowledge and professionalism that would not be achieved if any kind of dress was allowed in the office. When I wear business clothing, I am more confident in myself and what I’m saying because I look the part of a professional. Our boss, the CEO of the small company I intern at, always chooses to wear a suit. No matter the day, even if we’re just at the office, he wears a full suit. His decision to wear a suit reflects his power and confidence in the office. Although it’s just clothing, I feel as though I respect him more since he is dressed more professionally than I am.

Maybe there’s something to be said there. If you think about it, whether it’s business clothes or sweats, why do some clothing gain us more respect that other clothing? I wonder if it has to do with the material it is made out of. Sweats are comfortable, soft, and easy to move around in while business clothing like blazers and slacks are tightly wound with a higher thread count. Perhaps since business clothes are more uncomfortable, the people that would wear them are seen as more serious and are automatically given more authority?

Or maybe it is because of how expensive it is to create business clothes. Because they are typically made with higher quality fabric, it could be a status symbol to wear these clothes. For example, if you wear Lululemon apparel, which is extremely expensive athletic clothing, you automatically are viewed with more prestige than someone without name-brand athletic clothing. Perhaps people in business clothes are similarly viewed with prestige because of the clothes’ generally higher price tag. But, I digress.

My love for clothing stemmed when I was in high school. I always enjoyed fashion and keeping up with different clothing trends. Of course, like the typical high schooler, I was nervous to stand out too much, so I would never wear the fashionable clothes that were too ‘out there’. However, I did experiment with clothing and would often wear clothing that my friends would never wear.

Now that I am in college and could care less what others think of my clothing, I am free to experiment and wear whatever clothes that I enjoy. I used to do this mostly with everyday clothes, but as of the past year I have branched out and begun to wear business clothes that is fashionable, but not always normal. Personally, I like looking different than everyone else because it sets me apart and (hopefully!) is another way to make me memorable to others.

Last year I spent the first 3 weeks of summer in Italy for a psychology study abroad trip. It was my second time in Europe but was the trip that I cherished the most. My first trip to Europe, I was too young to appreciate everything around me, especially the fashion. Last year I was in complete awe at the sophistication and boundaries pushed with clothing in Italy. I found my new favorite store, Zara, there. This is one of the major stores that most Italian woman visit to find everyday clothes. However, since the fashion in the United States is much different, most of the clothing at Zara is perfect for business clothes. Italy taught me to appreciate ‘wacky’ patterns and flared sleeves in a way that I never thought that I would before.

Not only do I want to use this blog to promote different business clothes, but I also want to give insights and tips to my readers. I am lucky that the clubs that I am in do a fabulous job of preparing us for what to wear in the business world and what is and isn’t acceptable to wear. However, I know that many students that are going into the business world did not get the same opportunities and help that I did. My goal is to arm my readers with the insight to know what is acceptable to wear to each type of career they may encounter.

What took me the longest time to understand was the difference between business casual and business professional clothing since most business clothes can either be dressed up or down to reflect the specific look you are trying to achieve. I personally enjoy dressing business casual more so than business professional as there is more room to experiment and more options to try. However, business professional clothing is what makes me feel the most confident and professional. Overall, there are pros and cons to each type of dress.

You might be thinking, this girl is just a college kid, why should I listen to her? I’m sure that I could learn just as much from you as you might from me. From what I’ve learned in my experience, the business world is constantly growing and changing so why not use each other to gain a bit more knowledge into the field that we are all going into? I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts in the comments so let’s make this interactive and fun for the both of us!

If you decide to keep up with my blog, I would like to thank you in advance for taking the time out of your probably hectic life to read my tips and tricks on business dress and etiquette. I was extremely grateful for all of the knowledge that I gained from my clubs and internship and hope that you get a little something out of reading my blog as well. Ladies, let’s take this leap and dive into the BizMiss world together.

#mkt400uwl

[btravelledblog-blog]

8 Steps to Success: How to Plan Your Trip Abroad

8 Steps to Success: How to Plan Your Trip Abroad

So now that you have officially decided to travel abroad, for work, school, vacation, or otherwise, it is time to start planning your trip!  For most people, the planning process is the most difficult and time consuming part of travelling, since everything feels like a make-or-break decision.  Plus, looking at different prices, customer reviews, and pictures can all be very overwhelming.  With the right planning process, however, your trip and preparation should go fairly smoothly! However, it is important to keep in mind that even with all the planning and preparation in the world, some things are going to go wrong, and that is okay.  Just remember to stay positive, stay focused, remember the end-goal of enjoying the whole trip, and learn to have fun with the little set backs!   With all of that being said, here my 8 Steps to Success to plan your perfect trip abroad!

Step One: Pick a Destination Sometimes picking the one place (or the series of places) you definitively want to go to will be such a tough decision it will make your head spin.  Personally, making the decision of where exactly to go is always very difficult for me, because I want to everywhere and see everything, but here are some of my ideas on how to narrow down your choices.

1. Weather So right now you are stuck between a summer in Italy, Ireland, or Australia.  Maybe one of the first things you should look at is the weather for each destination, and see which one fits the idea you had in mind for the trip.  Obviously, Ireland is going to be a bit cooler and rainier than Italy and Australia, where you can expect dry heat, which may end up swaying your decision.  If you want that heat, and to go see beaches and lakes, then narrow down your choices between Italy and Australia.  However, if you think the cooler climate better suits your needs, go with Ireland!

2. Time of Year Similarly to weather, the time of year can play a key role in deciding where you want to go.  If you want to go to the Dominican Republic to try and learn more about the culture while also enjoying the beach, maybe stay away from April travels to avoid spring breakers.  Plus, different places have cheaper flights during different times of the year, which is super important if you are trying to save (some) money while planning your trip, which we will get more into in Step 2.

3. Recommendations So you looked into the weather, you checked to see when are the best times to visit your choices, you compared prices, and you still cannot seem to decide on one place.  My biggest recommendation, would be to ask for a recommendation!  Friends and family that have already travelled to a destination will probably have a lot of stories and insights on the different countries they have been to, and the experiences they had.  Maybe they found out the hard way that the locals in one part of town are always looking to scam tourists, or the discovered a hidden gem of a coffee shop on the outskirts of downtown.  No matter what they have to say, your friends and family are always a great resource while trying to figure out where to go.

Now, obviously these three tips are not anywhere near all-inclusive, and you are still going to struggle to pick your final destination, but maybe this gave you a better idea of how to start researching.  With that being said, research, ask for recommendations, and good luck!

Step 2: Book a Flight Booking a flight for your travel experience can be very scary, trust me, I’ve been there. You’re probably scared the booking will not actually go through, that you will end up paying more than you should, that there will be additional hidden fees once you get to the airport, among other things. These are all valid fears, and the best way to combat them is to plan and be diligent about doing your research. Here some general tips to help you out:

1. Research cheap airlines There are a lot of cheap airlines out there, like eDreams and Spirit, but you have to be very careful when using them. Most of these cheaper options include minimal amenities: you will probably have to pay extra for any undercarriage luggage, for any food and/or drink during the flight, for overweight luggage, etc. While the airline is not technically trying to trick you (emphasis on technically) you still need to be very careful about reading the fine print of what is all included in your plane ticket, and plan accordingly.

2. Compare cheap airlines to typical airlines Although the above cheaper flights may originally seem like the better deal, add up all of their fees and compare the total price to bigger airlines like United Airways or Iberia. Sometimes, after everything is added together, the prices are almost the same. The bigger airline will always be a little more expensive, but for free unlimited drinks on your 18-hour flight, it might be worth it!

3. Compare One-Way versus Round-Trip Flights Sometimes it can be cheaper to buy two one-way tickets. Other times it can be cheaper to buy one round-trip ticket. Just research and compare prices to make sure you are getting the best deal!

4. Use a Search Engine or Travel Agent For some people, booking the flight with you own research is too daunting a task. And that’s okay! Websites like kayak.com or travelocity are great tools to help you compare different flights. And if you’re willing to shell out a little extra cash for a travel agent to save time and additional stress, there’s no shame in that either!

Booking a flight is scary, but hopefully, with these tips, the process goes a little easier. Just remember: research and compare costs!

Step 3: Find Lodging Once you have you flight booked, it’s time to start looking for your home for the trip! Depending on what kind of trip you plan on going on, you’ll want to stay in different lodgings. If you plan to go all-out for a dream vacation full of food, drinks, and pool time, an all-inclusive resort is the way to go. With an all-inclusive hotel, all of your food, drinks, and typical amenities are included in the fees for your stay. On the other hand, if you literally only need a place to sleep, and are planning on being out and about, exploring wherever you are, a hostel or airbnb may be the right option for you. Hostels and airbnbs can be very similar in price, drastically cheaper than hotels, and offer only the basics so you can save money to spend elsewhere. When I took my weekend trip to Paris, my friend and I stayed in a hostel, and it was perfect for us since we wanted to see all of the city in one weekend, and didn’t care about a fancy hotel. Of course, if you are in between being completely spoiled at an all-inclusive resort and living off of the basics like in a hostel or airbnb, a regular hotel is always an option. Mid-priced hotels are everywhere, and you should have no problem finding something in your price range, with whatever necessities you see fit to have provided for you. My biggest tip while looking at places to stay is to make sure you find yourself a good location. Sure, things will be cheaper the farther away they are from the downtown areas, or the beaches, or the beautiful destinations, but then you will need to figure out how to get to these places. Often times, having to walk an hour every morning, or take a taxi every day, can add to monetary and time expenses, making these cheap and further out locations less of a good deal. Obviously, the best places to stay are going to be more expensive as you move towards the center of the tourist areas, so just try your best to find a happy medium. Be close enough that getting where you want to go isn’t its own mini-trip, but also don’t break the bank for a central location. Finally, make sure you look up lots of reviews for wherever you decide to stay. The pictures may look great, but pictures can always be deceiving. Plus, the hostel may say “great location”, but that’s a very open description and could simply be puffery. Additionally, you want to make sure that wherever you decide to stay is safe. If there are no reviews, do not stay there. If the review says it’s very cheap, but in a bad neighborhood, try looking for something else. Never let saving a few dollars out your safety at risk, it’s really not worth it. Other than that, once again, just research everything, find a place that fits your specific needs, be safe, and start getting excited!

Step 4: Plan Your Excursions So you finally decided on where you want to go, you booked your flight, and are ready to start planning everything you want to do during your trip! In my opinion, this is the best and most fun part of the planning process. Again, the biggest thing you need to do is research. Utilize google, social media, friends and family, and anything else you can think of to look up where you should go, try, and see. Once you have a few places and things to do in mind, look them up specifically to see if there are any guided tours or direct transportation programs to get you there. Or, if you have a little known coffee shop on your docket, just look it up on a map so you can find it yourself! This part of planning your trip should be fun and fairly stress free, so try not to take it too seriously (except for those trips you need to book a reservation for), and remember to leave yourself time to explore. A lot of times you will find the coolest places and have the best experiences from being spontaneous, and just seeing where the journey takes you! So, my advice in a nutshell: research, make a game plan, book everything that needs to be done in advance, and try not to over-plan!

Step 5: Figure out Transportation Planning your preferred method of transportation throughout your trip is super important. There are plenty of different options: rent a car, bus tickets, train tickets, public transit, taxi, Uber, etc. In my opinion, you should probably stay away from renting a car and driving yourself, just because you likely aren’t familiar with the different rules and regulations of driving in a different country; but if you are, go for it! During my trips, I tend to opt for the public transportation option. A lot of times you can buy a pass for a lot cheaper than any of the other options, and then you have free reign of the city you chose to visit. Another important thing to remember is how you plan to get from the airport, to your hotel/hostel/airbnb/etc. Airports are usually pretty far out of the city, and I think that taking a taxi straight out of the terminal to your host location is the easiest route to take. Sure, it can be a little expensive, but you know that you will make it from Place A to Place B, without the stress of figuring out a bus or train station. A good thing to keep in mind about taking a taxi from the airport: there is usually one flat rate to ride in a taxi to your lodgings, so be sure to know if the airport you are in follows this typical European rule so you know you are paying a fair price. For example, in Athens, Greece it was 50 € to go from the airport to anywhere in Athens, and I saw similar situations everywhere I went in Europe. So, take a taxi to your home for the trip (if you’re like me) and then get some kind of public transportation pass (again, if you want to just do what I did). Once you have the pass, make sure you keep a map of all the routes with you, since you probably won’t have Wi-Fi to look up which stop and at what time you need to be there. From there, you should be fine to get to wherever you need to go! My last piece of transportation advice is to plan out bigger weekend trips you want to take as far in advance as possible. Spontaneous trips are incredible, I planned a weekend in Paris on Tuesday and left on Friday, but the planning and execution of the plan will probably go a lot smoother if you are little more prepared than I was. Just follow all of these same steps, and maybe take a bus or train instead of a flight if it’s cheaper, and you’ll be good to go!

Step 6: Pack For an all-inclusive packing list of everything you need to study abroad, or to take with you on a long trip, take a look at my first first blog post!

https://btravelledblog.tumblr.com/post/174197818437/all-inclusive-study-abroad-packing-list-from-the

Step 7: Make a Checklist Make a checklist of all of these things, any other little things you can think of, even stuff you need to buy for your trip, and once something’s done, you get to check it off! You can even make a list of everything you have to do to execute your plan, like I did, but sometimes my list making can be a little excessive, so it’s all up to you.

Step 8: Travel Finally, go on your trip, take lots of pictures, make lots of memories, and have lots of fun!

#MKT400UWL

[merciattire-blog]

The Ideal Outfit Based on Your Zodiac Sign

So, who here is into reading their horoscope? Now, I’m sure we all know someone who is super into it and reads theirs on a daily basis— I am not that person. However, I do find myself getting sucked into articles such as “Find Your Ideal Honeymoon Destination Based on Your Horoscope” and “What Starbucks Drink You Should Order Based on Your Zodiac Sign”. I mean, they’re kind of fun and entertaining, right? Plus, I can almost guarantee that everyone at least knows what zodiac sign they are, so why not pair that with some cute outfit ideas to capture your zodiac’s essence?

After making the decision to write this blog, there was no turning back. Thus, began copious amounts of research on each sign. The sources of my information were www.horoscope.com and www.astology-zodiac-signs.com. If you’re into reading your horoscopes or learning more about your sign, these are great starting places. Now, let’s get into it, shall we?

Capricorn – The Goat

Dates: December 22-January 19

Colors: Dark green and brown.

Key Traits: Detail-oriented, responsible, and hardworking.

(Dress: Amazon, shoes: Zappos, jewelry: Etsy, bag: Michael Kors)

Due to the hardworking nature of Capricorns, it is important to have a bag that can take you straight from class to work. A backpack bag is perfect for on-the-go tasks and won’t slow you down during a busy day; you will sometimes forget you’re even wearing it! Furthermore, a spacious design allows for any essentials you’ll need throughout the day. A flowy tank top dress is the perfect base to layer on gladiator sandals (which, may I add, contribute to the “strength” element of this zodiac). Lastly, an intricate, layered necklace finalizes this look by sealing in the gold accented accessory theme. The end result? A perfect, detail-oriented ensemble that’s fit for a Capricorn!

Aquarius – The Water Bearer

Dates: January 20-February 18

Colors: Silver and light blue.

Key Traits: Independent, original, and humanitarian.

(Top: Polyvore, jacket: The Jacket Maker, jeans: Express, shoes: Adidas)

For this zodiac’s originality, an eccentric look is a must. So, I went for something that is original, yet wearable on a daily basis. This incomparable silver bomber jacket is clearly the most eye-catching part of this outfit, so you are sure to stand out from the crowd. Paired with silver accented tennis shoes to match, this trendsetter look is swoon-worthy. A mixture of textures is created with a baby blue ribbed tank tucked into some distressed black jeans, which helps balance out this look. Moreover, this outfit is super comfortable—always a plus in my book!

Pieces – The Fish

Dates: February 19-March 20

Colors: Purple and sea-green.

Key Traits: Compassionate, intuitive and artistic.

(Romper: Lulu’s, sandals: Kee Shoes, clutch: Contrado, rings: Etsy)

For the Pisces, The Little Mermaid immediately came to mind. With the key characteristics of being compassionate and artistic, Ariel’s musical abilities and considerate ways came to mind. In addition, who else would use a fork for a brush? That’s intuitive art right there. To channel your inner mermaid, this sea-green romper with a twisted belt detailing is flawless. Additionally, some light purple heels match Ariel’s color theme, as well as the Pisces’! Of course, I just had to add some fish scale inspiration with a perfectly matching clutch. The shiny texture also gives off a “wet” look—score! To further this theme, I added in some silver midi rings for even more sparkle.

Aires – The Ram

Dates: March 21-April 19

Color: Red.

Key Traits: Courageous, independent, and impatient.

(T-shirt: Nordstrom, shoes: Converse, leggings: JCPenny, jacket: H&M)

This is probably my favorite outfit of them all, and I’m not even an Aires (I just love me a good band tee)! Prior to writing this blog, even I knew that Aires are known for having a “fiery” personality. Low and behold, their color is red! With splashes of red in the t-shirt and shoes, this outfit is given a bold and daring personality (much like an Aires). Due to their slightly impatient nature, a comfortable outfit is key. Enter: leggings. Furthermore, an old band tee, jean jacket, and Converse give this look an old school, “cool girl” vibe—perfect for this zodiac.

Taurus – The Bull

Dates: April 20-May 20

Color: Pink.

Key Traits: Dependable, elegant, and devoted.

(Blouse: Lulus, shorts: Missguided, sandals: Lulus, necklace: Bija Bijoux)

Despite their symbol being a bull, this zodiac has rather elegant characteristics and mannerisms. Therefore, I put together a more girly, feminine look. Even for someone who isn’t the biggest fan of pink (me), this outfit is just too adorable to pass up. A cropped, ruffled crop top is a fabulous statement piece to have handy in the summertime. Paired with some white high-waisted buttoned shorts, the torso is balanced out. Keeping with this light, romantic theme, some blush pink lace-up wedges were added. As for the jewelry, I decided on a crescent necklace that reminds me of a bull’s nose ring so, naturally, I had to.

Gemini – The Twins

Dates: May 21-June 20

Colors: Yellow and light green.

Key Traits: Affectionate, curious, and kind.

(Dress: Forever 21, sandals: Lulus, bag: Hot Topic, glasses: Sunglass Casa)

What a ray of sunshine! After reading up on Geminis, it is clear that they are typically “old souls”. Therefore, this 70’s-inspired floral dress just screamed “Gemini” to me. It also serves as a romantic look, bridging back to this affectionate zodiac. For the first statement accessory, cat eye sunglasses further exemplify the vintage vibe. Another characteristic of this zodiac is curiosity, leading to their love for curling up with a good book. Needless to say, this rare “once upon a time” purse is an excellent find!

Cancer – The Crab

Dates: June 21-July 22

Colors: White and violet.

Key Traits: Emotional, loyal, and intelligent.

(Two-piece: Lily Boutique, pumps: Shiekh Shoes, clutch: Zatchels)

For the Cancer zodiac, I put together a vintage, 20’s era outfit based on their personality traits. To establish this feminine style, lace embroidery is an essential. Thus, a white lace monochromatic two-piece is absolute perfection for this sign. Furthermore, a touch of violet is added with a simple cross-body bag. Nude pumps pair flawlessly with this romantic look without being too overpowering and distracting from the intricate detailing. Plus, these pumps  also help to elongate your legs (a great bonus)! Finally, I couldn’t resist adding in a ribbon for your hair to finish off this vintage Cancer attire.

Leo – The Lion

Dates: July 23-August 22

Colors: Gold, yellow, and orange.

Key Traits: Bold, humorous, and creative.

(Dress: Rockray Clothing, sandals: Aetrex, earrings: AliExpress, purse: Ebay)

Hit the beach in this fun, lioness-inspired look! Leos are known for being humorous and creative, so a laid-back 70’s themed outfit was my goal here. This loose, brightly colored yellow sundress with bell sleeves effortlessly captures this essence. For a lion’s mane appearance, aim for some voluminous, beachy waves and statement feather earrings. This ensemble is finished off with a woven summer-ready handbag and some beaded sandals.

Virgo – The Virgin

Dates: August 23-September 22

Colors: White and beige.

Key Traits: Organized, kind, and practical.

(Top: Athleta, blazer: Lyst, pants: Neiman Marcus, shoes: Dillard’s)

Moving on to the Virgo! To emanate from their organizational qualities, a striped shirt is the building block of this outfit. Virgos are all about functionality. Now, what better way to go from work to play than having a trusty blazer handy? Leather pants also contribute to this dual purpose outfit with their ability to transition from the office to happy hour. Lastly, flats were chosen to complete this look due to their practicality. No one wants to be slowed down from task to task, especially a Virgo.

Libra – The Scales

Dates: September 23-October 22

Colors: Pink, blue, and green.

Key Traits: Cooperative, intelligent, and gracious.

(Shirt: Yours Clothing, necklace: Accessorize, capris: True Religion, shoes: Bohme)

Next, we have a style that is built with Libras in mind. With intelligent and gracious qualities, this zodiac is gifted at finding the ideal outfit for every situation. Due to the fact that their symbol is the scales, a balance between elegant statement and basic pieces is attained to encompass this attribute. A breathtaking statement necklace with blues and pinks does just the job for an otherwise casual outfit. These light, pastel tones mix and mingle with the feel-good vibes of summertime! Combined, these items make up a sophisticated, polished look for tactful Libras.

Scorpio – The Scorpion

Dates: October 23-November 21

Color: Scarlet.

Key Traits: Brave, stubborn, and independent.

(Top: Polyvore, skirt: Lipsy, purse: Venus, heels: Larizia)

For this zodiac, a dark, classy ensemble perfectly captures their essence. This flowy top adds just a pop of scarlet to pay homage to this sign’s symbol: the scorpion. With independence being a key trait, a straight-from-work look was achieved with a classic pencil skirt and gold accented pumps. Alas, we mustn’t forget about their bravery! To capture this characteristic, a striking leopard print purse was added to finalize this outfit.

Sagittarius – The Archer

Dates: November 22-December 21

Colors: Light blue and black.

Key Traits: Humorous, creative, and idealistic.

(Skirt: H&M, shirt: Asos, heels: Express, bag: Nicole Miller)

Calling all Sags! Last, but certainly not least on the list. After studying up on this sign (and being one, myself), I decided to go for an outfit made up of timeless pieces. Of course, these pieces consist of a plain white tee and some black strapped open-toe heels. Then again, a bold leather skirt packs a creative, unexpected punch to the look. To incorporate a light blue hue, this textured rectangular bag is an impeccable addition.

Here ends my list of outfits inspired by your zodiac. Do you agree with these picks? Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Paige

#MKT400UWL

[borrowabuddy-blog]

How to Have Fun with Your Dog

Dogs come in all shapes in sizes and they all have very different personalities. According to the ASPCA, 44% of all households in the United States owns a dog. This means that there are 78 million dogs owned in the United States alone! That sure is a lot of dogs! People get a dog for all sorts of reasons whether it be a farm or guard dog or just a cuddly lap dog. Every type of dog serves a purpose in someone’s life.

One huge way that dogs help us is that they help to relieve a lot of stress. Simply petting a dog can make someone feel a lot better. This is why they are used as therapy animals so often. Many dogs every day are brought to nursing homes and hospitals just to put a smile on the patients faces. Throughout this post I am going to give you a few simple tips on fun activities that you can do with your dog (or any dog) to put a smile on your face, relieve some stress, and to allow your dog to have a little fun!

1.      Walk Your Dog

The first activity is simple. This would just be taking your dog for a walk. I do not know a single dog that does not enjoy going for a walk, and it is great exercise for the owner too. It is an easy task to accommodate into most people’s lives because you do not need anything except a leash, good walking shoes, a poop bag (always pick up the poop), and your dog. You can walk for as long or short of a distance as you would like to and there are even apps that allow a person to track their route that they walk with their dog. These apps will allow you to track if you take one route a lot more than others. This could help an owner to find ways to mix up their path if they begin to get bored of where they are walking. Walking is also a great option for someone who may have an older dog that cannot go too far but likes to get out of the house. Additonally, walking is a good option for dogs who may not listen well off leash or may not like other dogs. Walking allows the handler to have control over the dog without putting other people or animals at risk.

Getting involved in local dog walks is also an enjoyable option. A lot of humane societies will have fundraiser walks that allow people to bring their animals. This is fun because it allows you to meet other dogs and dog enthusiasts and they can meet you and your dog. It is important to make sure your dog likes other dogs before attending an event with other dogs around.

Some ambitious people also choose to go running with their dog. This is a great way to tire a dog out, and many dogs really enjoy this. In most communities there are many different running and walking paths, so you can easily change up where you are going with your dog, so it does not get too boring.

2.      Dog Park

Taking a dog to the dog park is an enjoyable time for both the owner and the dog. It is good for the dogs because it is generally a fenced in area and the dog is free to run wherever they want. It also allows the owner to see and meet many new and very cute dogs. The dog park allows the dog to meet new dogs and play with them. This will tire out your dog quickly which is a goal that many busy people have. It also allows you to not have to do less work than you would if you were walking or running with your dog. Many dog parks offer benches which is especially great for people who may not be able to walk too far. Additionally, the dog parks offer paths throughout the fenced in area, and other unfenced in parts of the park that you can take your dog to explore.

So, you decided you want to go to a dog park? There are a few tips you should know. Most dog parks are split into a small and large dog section to prevent injuries to dogs. It is always a good idea to bring water for your dog. Make sure you bring a lot because as soon as you put it down every dog will drink it. It is also important to keep an eye on your dog at all times. This allows you to quickly pick up any poop, or step in if your dog looks like it might get in a fight. Make sure your dog is tolerant of lots of different dogs because as soon as you walk into a dog park, dogs will swarm your dog. Most importantly enjoy your time and pet lots dogs!

3.      Swimming

This might not be the best option for all dogs, but for a dog that loves to swim it is perfect! Swimming tires them out quickly and they love doing it. Many people opt to bring a ball or a toy that floats along so that they can play fetch with their dog. If your dog is anything like mine who hates water and sinks, then you might want to bring a life jacket or opt to not take your dog swimming. It is important to check that wherever you are taking your dog to swim is dog friendly, and that your dog listens well when called if it is off leash in an unsecured area. It is also important to make sure you are away from any boats because you do not want your dog to get hit.

There are also different dog schools that you can join that do a water dogs program. This allows the dog to practice swimming in a safe environment. The trainers helps to build the dogs confidence to help prevent accidents. Some dog owners even compete their dog in a competition called dock jumping. This is where a dog has to jump as far as it can off a dock to catch a toy. The dog that jumps the farthest wins. The dogs that compete in this really love fetch and water, so if your dog loves fetch and water they might make a good dock dog!

An activity related to swimming that does not involve a wet smelly dog, is taking your dog kayaking with you. Many people train their dogs to sit in a kayak and they take them all over with them. This does not get your dog as much exercise, but it does provide an owner with companionship. It is important to make sure your dog calmly stays in the kayak because otherwise they could flip the both of you into the water. Then you would both be wet and smelly.

4.      Watch a Movie

This forth option, my personal favorite, is what I call the lazy option. This is just sitting down on a couch and calling your dog over and petting them. Grab your favorite blanket, turn on your favorite TV show, grab a snack, and call your dog over. Dogs love being pet and will be happy with the attention you are giving them especially if you have been gone most of the day. Keep in mind most dogs really appreciate a belly rub! Watching a movie or TV is a great option if an owner is tired and has had a long day. Most people watch TV at some point during the night, so this is a good way to unwind while giving you pet attention. Many people make this into a routine. I know my dog always knows when it is the end of the night and she goes to her normal spot on the couch and waits for a belly rub. She is happy when anyone gives her one for any amount of time. Petting a dog also helps to relieve stress so having a routine like this will force you to sit down and take a break from the craziness of our lives.

There are tons of activities and ways to be involved with your dog and these are just a few. Dogs do not care what they are doing with their owners. They are just happy to receive attention. Most people work away from home during the day, so taking the time to spend an hour doing a physical activity is good to keep your pet from going stir crazy. It is also good for the owner to get outside and be active, especially if they have been sitting at a desk job all day. Furthermore, petting a dog relieves a lot of stress. We know today that people are more stressed than ever before, so anything we can do to help combat this is worth it.

Our dogs look forward to us coming home all day. They live to spend time with us. They are happy when we are, and they know when we are sad. Simple activities such as the ones I discussed do not take a lot of effort on our part but make our dogs days so much better. What is your favorite activity to do with your dog or pet?

#MKT400UWL

[lacrossecouponing-blog]

Organizing Your Stockpile

So, you’ve been couponing for a while and have managed to accumulate a ton of great products! That’s great news, but now you have to figure out what to do with all of it. You could go ahead and shove it all in a corner somewhere, but that’s not as fun as an aesthetically-pleasing stockpile. When I first started couponing, I watched tons of videos of well-organized stockpiles, filled with rows and rows of great products. It really inspired me to get after it and become a dedicated couponer. 

This week’s blog is all about organizing and maintaining your stockpile. I’m going to share some helpful tips and tricks. I’ll also show you how I organize my stockpile, and how master couponers organize theirs. Let’s begin: 

1. Set Goals and/or Expectations

Although it may be tempting, you should not accumulate stuff for the sake of accumulating stuff. Lots of products have expiration dates, meaning you can’t horde an unlimited amount. Even if it doesn’t have an expiration date – for example toilet paper – you only have so much room to store it.

Many couponers aim to maintain a stockpile that will last them a specific period of time. For example, I try to maintain a yearlong stockpile. That means if I stopped buying products today, we could live off the stockpile for a year. If I have more products than we’ll use in a year, I will I’ll donate my excess so I can continue to coupon for it. 

2. Determine “Stock-Up” Prices

Most seasoned couponers already have enough products to tide their families over for a few months (tide laundry detergent pun intended). Since they already have plenty of products, they’ll turn their nose up at anything that’s above their “stock-up price.” A stock-up price is essentially the maximum amount a couponer will pay for a certain item. For example, you might say “my stock-up price for fabric softener is $1.50 per bottle.” That way, when you come across a deal that’s less than that amount, you know it’s go time. I’ve heard some couponers go as far as saying “My stock-up price for toilet paper is $.02 per foot.” I’m not like that, but you get the point.

This especially works for couponers who need help exercising self-control. Sometimes it’s easy to be tempted by the deals, but they may not be the best deals.

3. Unload Extra Products by Selling or Donating

I have never sold a single item from my stockpile because I prefer to donate those items. However, I hold no judgement towards those who chose to resell some of their items. It’s just like any other garage sale but with consumer products! It’s a great way to pass on your savings to others while making some money for yourself. Here’s a great video by Running Kimono where she talks about her stockpile sales. 

Below is a picture of some of the items I am donating next week. By the way, stay tuned for next week’s blog where I will talk about giving back! Deals for shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste come around all the time, so I have no problem giving away tons of it! There are always great deals on those items, so I donate them regularly. On the other hand, paper towel, toilet paper and fabric softener deals don’t com around very often, so I tend to hold on to those items.

I have always viewed couponing as a hobby. I will go out and get the best deals regardless of how much I have or need. However, if I end up with more than I need for the year, I will donate it. Of course I’m going to encourage you to donate as much as you can, but you’re the one with the power to set your limits and expectations for your stockpile.  

Now – let’s look at some stockpiles!

My Stockpile

Because I live in a tiny house with extremely limited space, I have to get creative with my storage. Someday, I’ll have a beautiful stockpile with actual shelves, but for now, I have to use the random cupboards in my house. If – like me – you have limited space, keep in mind it may not be beautiful but it’s all about making it work for you! Here are some of the creative solutions I have come up with:

Condensing Items Into Storage Containers

I’ve managed to save a lot of space by getting rid of bulky packaging and putting my items into containers. For example, I take my laundry pods and razors out of their packages and put them into these fun containers that I got from Walmart. I also repurposed a giant pickle jar I got from Woodman’s! 

I also take toothpaste out of their original boxes and put them into this basket.

Utilizing Under-Sink Space

Here’s a couple of lovely pictures showing where I keep my shower products and laundry detergent:

I just went through my shampoo and conditioner and plan on donating a bunch to New Horizons, so I have some room for growth there! My laundry detergent, on the other hand, could use some thinning out (stay tuned for next week, hint hint).

Like I said, my stockpile isn’t gorgeous. It features dingy pipes and awkward spaces, but it’ll do for now. That said, let’s look at some of the best stockpiles I’ve ever seen! The following videos are by some of my favorite career-couponers:

Savvy Coupon Shopper: Click Here!

My favorite part about her stockpile video is when she talks about the progression of her stockpile. She mentioned that she used to have tons and tons of stuff, but eventually started donating a lot of her items. This is truly what it means to be a great couponer! Make sure you’re giving back when and where you can. One family can only use so much stuff.

Running Kimono: Click Here!

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog and social channels, you’ll know that I am obsessed with Running Kimono. Don’t judge me, but there’s just something relaxing about her voice (comment on this post if you watched her video and you agree with me). She also has an awesome stockpile and great weekly deal breakdowns. My favorite part about her stockpile is her plethora of paper products!

Clean Cut Couponing: Click Here!

If you like shopping at Target, CleanCutCouponing is your girl. Her videos are amazing and her stockpile is too! My favorite part about her stockpile is her laundry detergent “collection.” That girl has ALL the Tide. Also, her stockpile looks like it’s five products away from being an actual drug store.

Nicole Burgess: Click Here!

During this video, Nicole said “What most people look forward to in a stockpile tour is the laundry soap.” I couldn’t agree more. Maybe it’s just me, but I am obsessed with laundry detergent. My favorite thing about her stockpile is all of her Gain Flings. Fun fact, I’ve never purchased any Gain Flings; however, Gain is my favorite smelling laundry detergent. I’ve been patiently waiting for a good deal!

Other Random Tips for Maintaining a Great Stockpile

Rotate Items

When you buy new items – especially those with expiration dates – put those towards the back of your stockpile and move up your older items. By doing this, you ensure that your old stuff is getting used up first!

Keep Paper Products Off the Floor

In case of a flood or any other random situation, it’s best to keep paper products off the floor. This is a must do in the couponing community. Apparently, enough people have suffered major paper towel loss due to flooding that it has became the unwritten rule! I understand why people are so protective of their paper products since we don’t see too many great deals on them!

Don’t Overload Your Shelves

Some shelves – especially the cheaper or prefab ones – can only handle so much weight. Be mindful of how much weight you’re putting on your shelves. Over time, they can start to bend under the weight of heavy items. Make sure to keep heavier soaps on surfaces that can handle it.

Don’t be Afraid to Move Things Around

After I set up my stockpile, I was pretty committed to the layout I had established. However, I realized that I would outgrow my system very quickly! As your stockpile grows or your needs change, don’t worry if things come and go or if you have to re-organize, always do what’s best for you!

As always, thank you so much for taking time to read my blog post. The goal of my blog and social channels is to help you learn how to save money through couponing! If you ever have any questions, please leave a comment! And be sure to stay tuned for next week’s blog, we will be talking about giving back to the community! I will be making donation drop offs at the Coulee Region Humane Society and New Horizons. Also, I’ll be doing something super fun on my Instagram… so stay tuned! 

#MKT400UWL

[myheadquarters-blog1]

...to which house do you go?

This week’s blog post tackles the four major options of where to live after you graduate. Further analysis and personal experiences described throughout this entry may enhance your thoughts on what to do once you receive your diploma.

After my first blog post, “Over the river and through the…”(https://bit.ly/2ILbfYe), it daunted on me that some people may not realize the numerous options they have after college. I thought I would touch base on the most realistic options for after you graduate. After brainstorming and researching, I came up with these 4 viable options on where to live:

1. With your parents 2. To a new city 3. Stay remote near your college town 4. Abroad

Okay, so let’s start with the first option: living with your parents. As most of you already know, talk about a HUGE money saver. This by far is the biggest plus to this option. Definitely not the most appealing option on the list, but could very well be the smartest. Although no kid truly wants to live with their parents after they graduate, living with them to save up money to afford a place of your own may be your best option.

This is a good idea if you are still applying for jobs and are unsure of where your career will take you. You are able to look and interview without signing a permanent lease that may not be close to your job. Take this option as an idea for your final safety net—the last time your parents will truly hold your hand.

This being said, adjusting to a non-independent lifestyle is going to be the biggest challenge. We all know that our parents love us, but boy do they drive us crazy! Can you handle 6 months living with them before you figure things out? I do not recommend trying, as these other options can outweigh the cons of this one.

So maybe moving back home does not necessarily give you a sense a joy, so you want to try to move to a new city. Most college students already make the transition of moving away from where they grow up when they attend their first year of college. That makes this option less stressful and maybe makes you more willing to spread your wings even further.

You and your friends could gravitate towards the same place, or maybe a significant other has this influence on you as well. This option is extremely exciting, but also very expensive! Consider spending your last year of college saving up to move come graduation.

If you get a new job offer in a new city and that is the only thing holding you back from taking in, my advice is to just go for it. If you don’t try you will never know if you don’t like it. You can always move back! We are at the age in our lives where these opportunities to relocate do not always come up. Just think, when you start having kids, and get settled, it is harder to pick up everything and just move. Take the opportunity while you are young and independent to try something different.

Money can be an issue, as moving and relocating makes you more financially independent, and bills and other expenses will start adding up. Like I said, start saving up your money, maybe even investing a little bit (I love the app Acorns—it has been a really valuable tool to save up and invest!).

Ultimately this is a good option if the job market in the location you are moving to is HOT. With the recent economy boost, the job market is the hottest it has every been—having the most jobs available of all time. So if you graduate come December (like me!) or May, you are in a perfect position for relocation.

Make sure that this location is relevant to your interests, the weather is accustoming to your needs, and your parents are still willing to help you out just a little. Build up your savings and take a change with this option, you’d be surprised where it takes you.

Maybe the idea of leaving the place you now call home, your college town, would just be way too hard for you to do. Depending on where you went to college, this idea may seem to make total sense. You fell in love with this new area, all your friends are here and maybe settling in this city as well. You definitely won’t be the only one who sticks around after graduation.

While this option is good, don’t just choose it because it is the easy way out. Say you graduate in December, and have a lease for your apartment or house that goes until June. Do you just stay? The answer is no. Be sure to stay if you have a valid reason, or truly want to start your career life there. You may have gotten a job opportunity from an internship you have had there since your sophomore year. In that case, it would be a great opportunity to keep growing within a company and city you are familiar with.

If you aren’t sure where to go next, and maybe don’t have the motives to just pick up and move everything to start a new life, this may be the option for you. You can stick around for a year or two, but keep in mind that your body and mind will soon outgrow that college life party stage. Being surrounded by people who have your old habits may come annoying, or at least it would to me.

If you’re like me, the thing making you want to stay is not necessarily something, but someone. Recently finding my other half, the thought of having to move far away from my boyfriend after I graduate a semester earlier than him, puts a hole in my heart. Currently living apart from him during the summer as we both pursue internships on opposite sides of the state, is already hard enough. Do I stay for the semester and just work and apply to jobs? We will see, but no matter what, follow your heart!

Okay, so maybe all these options sound okay but nothing is jumping out at you, it sounds like you are ready for the next kind of adventure. Going abroad might then be the option for you. If your like me, your recent study abroad experience has made you crave more adventure.

Post-graduation is a great time to travel and see the world. This can also be a great thing to put on resumes, and to talk about in your interviews. Employers love to here about how you are more culturally diverse and just lessons that you learned in general from seeing another country or place.

Don’t just keep travelling on your mind, as now that you have your degree, it can be much easier to work in a foreign country. Maybe you want to put your second language skills to the test and work in a country that can you can benefit from in that way. However, there are many other options for work in English-speaking countries as well. Find a job that has some sort of relation to you or what you want to end up doing. What if you’re not sure of what you want to do? Going abroad and trying different jobs, or even just immersing yourself in different cultures can totally influence what you may want to do with your degree.

It wasn’t until I studied abroad in Spain during the summer going into my third year of college that I realized I wanted to work with housing design in some sort of way. The architecture and the delicate detail in every inch of that country inspired me to look for an internship that I can put my creative mind, along with my Marketing skills to the test. Landing an internship with Kohler Company as a trade and design service intern exceeded any expectation I had in getting into this field.

This option of going abroad, might be the one for you. If you are unsure of the job you want, and you have travel funds, then go. My advice is to just travel with a friend or someone who is in the similar position as you. This can make this less scary and more exciting.

You are given these ultimate four options (although there are probably many more that I am just forgetting), how are you going to choose? This goes back to my first blog post, the most important thing you can do is research. Look up your different options, read different blogs (and mine of course), to get inspiration for what to do next.

No matter what, do what your heart is telling you to do. Now is the time in your life where you are able to make mistakes, and maybe poor decisions. The thing is, sometimes you don’t know the outcome of a decision until you actually make it and go out and do it. Take this opportunity of being young and free to put yourself out there! I promise you won’t regret it.

What option will you choose?

#mkt400uwl

[takesontaps-blog]

Beer Blog One

        Beer! Beer! Just the word, is happiness to my ear. Greetings, friends! As a “beer connoisseur”, per say, I find joy in trying all different sorts of beers. From Stouts and India Pale Ales (IPA) to Pilsners and Porters, there isn’t a beer on the face of this Earth that I wouldn’t be willing to try. As I make my way through the bubbly world of beer, I’d like to share my take on taps, bottles, breweries and virtually everything beer with you. So, where can I start? Hmm, how about by sharing with you where my love for beer first began. I had my very first beer last September, when I turned 21 years old. Well, okay… maybe I had a beer or two before then. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, after all. Although Wisconsin is considered the Dairy State, any proud Wisconsinite would be able to tell you that beer could rival that nickname. It would be more than fair to say that my love for beer is due in part to my citizenship to Wisconsin. After all, I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, right next to the world-renowned Miller Brewing Company. Beer comes from all over the world and has been brewed using various techniques, tools and ingredients as far back as 3,500 BC! With over 5,000 years of history, I will have plenty of information to share on the wonderful world of beer. I’d like to start by paying homage to my birthplace and the place that makes me proud of where so many great beers come from today, Milwaukee.

        As I had mentioned, I was born in Milwaukee and would go on to spend the next 18 years of my life living there. The city is spackled with brewers, some of whom are smaller microbreweries specializing in craft beers and others who are making a name for themselves outside of Wisconsin. However, there is no bigger name in the modern beer business than the Miller Brewing Company.

        To provide some history on how Miller Brewing became the company it is today, I’ll start with the companies’ foundation that dates all the way back to 1855. Miller Brewing Company was founded by one Mr. Frederick Miller. Frederick Miller had emigrated from Germany in 1854, bringing with him a special brewer’s yeast that would set him apart from all the other breweries. Like most businesses, Frederick Miller started small by purchasing a local Milwaukee brewery named Plank Road Brewery. The brewery was located in an area called the Miller Valley. Due in part to Frederick’s last name, as well as the location in Miller Valley, the Plank Road Brewery was renamed and the Miller Brewing Company was born. The Miller Brewing Company would then go on to remain in the Frederick Miller family for over 100 years until the eventual sale to W. R. Grace and Company in 1966. The brewery swapped ownership yet again in 1969, 2002 and most recently in 2015 when Anheuser-Busch Inbev reached a full agreement to purchase the company for a whopping $107 billion dollars. The 2015 agreement was the most recent sale of the Miller Brewing Company, but it is important to note that the company merged with fellow beer behemoth MolsonCoors on October 10, 2016. When Frederick Miller founded the company in 1855, Miller Brewing Company had one facility with a staff of 25 employees who brewed 300 barrels of beer. Today, Miller Brewing Company operates: six breweries, five manufacturing plants, four distributorships, a glass bottle production facility, a label factory and several gas wells which employ roughly 9,500 people. Altogether, the company now brews more than 40 million barrels of beer per year. No, that’s not a typo, more than 40 million barrels of beer per year! This makes Miller Brewing Company the second largest brewery in the United States. I think it’s safe to say Frederick Miller would be proud of where his company is today (well, apart from his great granddaughter selling off the company in 1966).

                                              *Miller High Life Logo*

        Now the fun part, beer! MillerCoors (Joint name of Miller Brewing and Molson Coors) offers more than 50 beers. You might have heard of a few, such as: Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s, Redd’s, Coors, Miller 64, Red Dog, Smith and Forge, Sol Cerveza, Steel Reserve and Olde English 800. While I could go on and on about the many great beers MillerCoors has to offer, I’d like to stick to the original beers that the Miller Brewing Company offered prior to the merger in 2016.

        One of the more notable beers you might have heard of (especially the college kids) is Hamm’s and Hamm’s Special Light. While I do admit it’s not my favorite Miller product, it is one of the best beers in terms of bang-for-your-buck. A 30-can case of Hamm’s can run as little as $10-$12 dollars if you go to the right stores. With a light flavor that goes down easy, you could find yourself ten Hamm’s in by the end of the night. The best part? That could cost you as little as $3 or $4 dollars, talk about efficiency!

        Hamm’s might not be your first choice, and that’s okay! Miller Brewing Company also offers classics with much more flavor like Mickey’s. Mickey’s is a fine malt beverage with moderate bitterness and lots and lots of malts. One of the neatest things about Mickey’s is the innovative 12-ounce “grenade” bottle they can be found in. You may have seen a grenade-style bottle before, and that style all originated with Mickey’s! In a world of standard cans, you can keep it classy with a Mickey’s grenade bottle. However, if you’re looking for a little less class and a little more fun, virtually every gas station in the Milwaukee Area will offer a Mickey’s 40-ounce bottle. The 40-ounce bottles are a nice, cheap snag but I wouldn’t recommend making Mickey’s your first choice for drinking games like “Edward 40-Hands” (A game in which you tape a 40-ounce beer to each hand and begin drinking). This is because Mickey’s contains so many malts which will fill you up much faster than light beers like Hamm’s.

             *Mickey’s famous 12oz. grenade-style bottle and 40oz. bottle*

        Miller Brewing Company also has products you may not have heard of before, such as Miller Fortune. This product was brewed in lesser amounts than other Miller products which is why you may not have heard of it. Another reason why this beer is often unheard of is because production has come to a halt. There are still select stores, bars and restaurants that offer Miller Fortune so if you’re lucky enough to come across the jet-black Miller Fortune bottle, I’d give it a try! Part of what makes this beer so unique is that it was brewed with caramel malts and cascade hops. The malts and hops create the perfect balance for a smooth swallow, but this product is known to follow with a minor “bite” as it has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6.9%, a bit higher than standard light beers.

        I’ve always been a huge fan of the Miller Brewing Company and part of the reason I’m such a big fan is because they brew my all-time favorite beer. I decided to save the best (in my opinion) for last. Miller High Life. The “Champagne of Beers”. Miller High Life is a classic American-style lager that dates all the way back to 1903. High Life was launched to be Miller’s flagship beer and to this day serves as a staple to the Miller name. I’m not sure if it’s the classic glass bottles or the fact that they use the original 1903 recipe, but something about this beer makes you feel authentic. In my opinion and in many others, there is nothing classier than a Miller High Life in a bottle which is why so many people gave it the nickname it has today, the Champagne of Beers.

                             *Miller High Life’s Iconic “Lady In The Moon”*

        As a beer lover, I am very fortunate to have been born and raised in Milwaukee. Milwaukee is home to so many great beers and the Miller Brewing Company products I’ve mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg for Milwaukee brews. The Miller Brewing Company paved the way for dozens of other brewers hoping to make a living doing what they love in Milwaukee. Even if beer isn’t your style, you’ll find the Miller name everywhere around the Milwaukee community. One of the most iconic instances is on the home field of the Milwaukee Brewers’. This major league baseball team plays home games in Miller Park, a renowned stadium that is positioned just three miles away from the original Miller Brewery that Frederick Miller first opened in 1855.

        I’d like to thank each of you for taking the time to read my first blog and if you’re interested in some of the resources I used to create this blog or just want to know more about the Miller Brewing Company, please see the links I have posted below. Cheers!

https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/miller-brewing?hashedNID=#1G22840500106

https://www.millercoors.com/beers/great-beers

https://www.millercoors.com/breweries/miller-brewing-company/brands-we-brew

#mkt400uwl #beer #beerstagram #beergeek #beerlover #milwaukee #beerblog #everythingbeer #anythingbeer

[foodonabudget18-blog]

Cooking a meal for $25

Creating a meal, a true full course meal, is something that many of you may find daunting. You may also find it to be a terribly pricey thing to attempt. What if I could tell you that you can make a nice full course dinner without breaking the bank? You would have everything from a main course, deserts, salads, and even a nice small dish before the main course. This is sure to win over the hearts, and stomachs of whoever you want to impress.

           So, lets start off with a nice small dish before dinner. You want this dish to be light, but still flavorful. You don’t want to overpower or make your guests full and not be able to enjoy dinner. For this I suggest a simple chips and guacamole dip. This combination is good because you can make the dip to suit your needs, and it allows the guests to eat at much or as little as they want.

What you will need:

·         1 avocado                                            1 small onion

·         1 small tomato                                     1 habanero (optional)

·         Lime juice                                             2 tbs cilantro

·         Salt and pepper to taste                       1 clove of garlic, minced

Directions:

1)      Slice the avocado in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the avocado and place into a medium/large bowl.

2)      Using a fork mash, the avocado. You can make this as smooth or as chunky as you would prefer

3)      Add in the onion, tomatoes, juice, salt, pepper, garlic, cilantro, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

4)      Serve and enjoy with a side of your favorite tortilla chips! (I prefer a nice blue corn)

This appetizer and opening dish has an estimated cost of $5.00 and a small prep time of 10 minutes. It is more than doable on a college budget and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love some chips and dip?

The main dish that I want to share with you all actually comes from tasteofhome.com. This is a website that I love to visit and find new recipes, they always have new and exciting ones. I really suggest you take a look. This one is a taco meat loaf. I know it sounds odd, but its heavenly.

What you will need:

·         1 cup of crushed saltine crackers                1 envelop of taco seasoning

·         ½ c ketchup                                                 1 can mushroom pieces (4 oz)

·         1 small onion chopped                                 2 lightly beaten eggs

·         2 tbs Worcestershire sauce                          2 lbs. ground beef

·         1 can sliced olives (2 oz)

Directions:

1)      In a large bowl combine the crackers, taco seasoning, ketchup, mushrooms, onions, eggs, Worcestershire, and olives. Mix until well combined.

2)      Carefully crumble the beef over the mixture and mix until well combined.

3)      Press into a greased 9x5 in loaf pan. You can make this in other pans but keep in mind cooking times will vary

4)      Bake uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours at 350. Using a thermometer make sure no pink remains in the burger, and that it reads 160.

5)      Serve with your favorite toppings and sides. We use salsa, cheese, sour cream, and more olives if needed.

This dish comes at a whole price of .77 per serving! With a total of 8 servings that means it’s a whopping $6. See, cooking doesn’t have to break the bank! This dish is sure to be a hit because it takes on a unique flavor to a classic style meal. Not only that but you can spice it up however you like. If you’re a person who enjoys spicier foods, add in some peppers or if you don’t like olives, leave them out. Not only can you change the recipe to make it be what you want, but you can take this recipe and make it your own. Instead of having it as a taco style meal, add sausage or turkey and some garlic instead of taco seasoning. This turns it back into a normal meatloaf that you can enjoy.

           Salads are always nice to have around. They are something you can make in an infinitesimal number of ways. Each one can be different from the next, and not only that but you can make it how you personally want. Salads can be as leafy, or veggie filled as you want, or they can be as dressing covered and flavorful as you like. Salads are an easy way to crisp up and add some color to a meal. The salad that I am going to share with you all today is a nice Caesar salad. These are my favorite and are popular in many restaurants and other eateries.

What you will need:

·         Lemon juice (about 1 lemon)             1 garlic clove, minced

·         ½ c olive oil                                        salt and pepper to taste

·         Romaine lettuce                                ¾ c grated parmesan

·         Croutons

Directions:

1)      In a small bowl combine the lemon juice and garlic, making sure to blend well. Add in the olive oil and whisk to make the dressing well combined. Then salt and pepper to taste.

2)      Carefully wash the romaine lettuce. One washed tear the lettuce into nice bite sized pieces. Make sure to keep the lettuce chilled until ready to serve.

3)      In a salad bowl, or bowl of your choosing, place the lettuce and toss lightly with the dressing. Make it as dry or coated as you would want. Remember that you can personally add more dressing to your individual portion later, so don’t make it too wet.

4)      Sprinkle in a majority of the cheese and all the croutons. Toss lightly.

5)      Serve immediately. Top with a light garnish of the remaining parmesan cheese.

The best way to end any meal is with a nice desert. This is something that ties a meal all together and gives in a nice and final end. You want to make it nice and easy to enjoy, but you still don’t want it to be too filling. You don’t want to leave your guests with a stomach ache because they ate too rich of food. Today I am going to share with you all a nice and easy sponge cake. These are my favorite because you can dress them up in a number of different ways that suit your needs and ability. This sponge cake goes well with fresh fruit and some whip cream, or you can top it with ice-cream and some chocolate or caramel sauce. Either way you are sure to sit down and enjoy it with a nice beverage of your choosing!

What you will need:

·         6 eggs separated                                  1 ½ c all-purpose flour

·         ½ tsp salt                                             1 ½ c sugar

·         ½ c warm water                                  1 tsp vanilla extract

·         ½ tsp cream of tartar                           toppings of your choosing

Directions:

1)      Let the eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift the salt and flour and set aside.

2)      In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks until they start to thicken. Gradually add in 1 cup of sugar and beat until it turns thick and lemon colored. Carefully add in the warm water and vanilla and mix well. Add in the flour and salt and mix well.

3)      In another bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft speaks form. You can do this with a mixer on a medium speed. Gradually add in the remaking ½ cup of sugar in 1 tbs measurements while using a high speed. This doesn’t have to be exact, but make sure it is slow and well combined. Stiff glossy peaks will start to form once the sugar is dissolved.

4)      Fold in ¼ of the egg whites into the egg yolk batter. Once it is well combined, add in the remaining egg white mixture. Make sure not to over mix as you want to batter to stay light and fluffy.

5)      Gently spoon the mixture into an ungreased 10 in tube pan. Use a knife to cut the batter and remove any air pockets that you see. Bake at 325 for 55 to 60 minutes or until the cake is done.

6)      Once done, immediately flip the pan over and allow it to cool completely. Once cool, use a knife to slice the outside of the cake and remove it from the pan. Cut into servings and top as you wish.

This cake is fun and creative because it allows your guest to enjoy it how they want to. It is also a good way to end the night because it will be light and filling, without them feeling stuffed. This recipe has a price of $8, so while it is more expensive, it is well doable.

In total to create this full meal you will spend about $25 and feel anywhere from 4-6 people! That’s a total of $6.25 per person! You can’t even eat out for that price. These dishes are so easy to make, and they will be sure to impress your guests. It only takes a few hours of work to produce such a nice meal, and you get to really enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. You can even make cooking a group effort and enjoy everyone’s company while you do it!

In the end that’s what cooking is all about. I want you guys to be able to see that even though you may not have a lot of spare money lying around, you can cook a nice meal and have a good time. I love cooking and I want you guys to be able to love it too. So, take these recipes, make them yours, and enjoy your college life.

#MKT400UWL

[aroundtheworldinrealcheapwa-blog]

Europe? But I have no Euros!

It’s that time of the year where everyone on our social media accounts are traveling Europe and we’re all thinking: “how do they afford this?!” … What most of us don’t realize, however, is that seeing Europe is not as expensive as it used to be and if you do a lot of the little things mentioned below, you’ll be astonished at how much moola you can save! This week, I want to tell you the things I think are most important to help save you money while hopping the pond and exploring new cities and cultures.

1)      Travel out of season

This might seem like an obvious one and it is certainly one I have mentioned in the past. It is so important to study and note when peak seasons are in different destinations. For Europe, Summer is the peak season and it will leave you with jacked up rates on hotels, bus fares, train fares, and even food and drinks. This is logical as summer vacation is the time when families, single college kids and working couples alike have time to travel. Much of Europe also has a similar climate to the differing parts of the United States so logically, tourists want nice weather wherever they visit. That being said, if you can suck it up and add a couple of layers in the colder regions of Europe, you can save quite a bit of currency. To me (who is coming from the bitter cold in Wisconsin), that totally pays off!

2)      Flights

With flights, what I like to say is “splurge now and save later”. Flights may be unavoidably expensive when traveling overseas. They are longer, they require more gas, they require more service from the crew members. Blah, blah, blah. If you want to see Europe, you might just have to pay the extra money for a flight and know that it will be the most expensive line of your European travel budget. According to cheapair.com, the best average time to buy your plane ticket from your departure date is approximately 160 days. Searching within that range should guarantee you get a relatively good deal on flights. Don’t be turned off by the price of the airline ticket, though. Some things in life are priceless and an expensive airline ticket shouldn’t deter you from all of the phenomenal experiences you will have while you are abroad. In my previous blogs, I’ve mentioned flight trackers like kayak.com and skyscanner.com. Those are good options to use when booking flights to Europe as well. They will track your flight search and let you know when the prices have decreased and when they think they will increase based on previous market trends.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=637&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=bXogW96JBPKatgWz2Yz4Cw&q=flight&oq=flight&gs_l=img.3..0l10.46462.47540.0.47832.10.9.0.1.1.0.163.783.2j5.7.0....0...1c.1.64.img..3.7.677.0..0i67k1.0.p_odbSZi588#imgrc=1gVs11Cpy_cgjM:

3)      You bought your flight to Europe… now what?

Okay, so you paid for your flight and now you have landed at your destination. Europe has a lot to see so you’re probably not going to stay in one place for your whole trip. If you have a desire to do that, totally cool! I would encourage you to venture out and try some of the following things though.

-          Megabus

o   Megabus is a bus service that has cheap tickets. They have tickets starting at 1 GBP (Great British Pound) which equates to about $1.34USD. This is mostly based in the UK. However, they have recently started to bring travelers from London to Amsterdam, Brussels and even Paris. It is best to book a month in advance or you may not get these awesome fairs.

-          Busabout

o   This bus service is ideal for those who are backpacking across Europe. They offer a service in which you can “hop on and hop off” – they make stops at various locations and you can choose when to get on and when to get off. Busabout also offers a flex-pass, in which you can pay about $669USD or $72 a trip to see nine different places. When I first saw that price, I know I was instantly turned off. If you think about the idea that you’re essentially going to nine different destinations for that price, however, it really is a great deal.

-          Flixbus

o   This service is identical to Megabus but it takes you through all of Europe. They offer free WIFI and plug ins so you can still stay in touch with all of your lads back in the United States. They also allow up to three free bags so if you’re a heavy traveler like me, you’re covered! Their prices start incredibly low at only 5 Euros and like Busabout, they have a pass to five cities for only 99 Euros.

-          Budget Airlines

o   A couple of my favorite budget airlines ae Easyjet and Ryanair. If you don’t have the time to spend in a bus or on a train, flying on these airlines is a great alternative. Many of the fares range from $25 - $30 USD so you’ll be relieved to pay this amount after booking your flight from the United States to Europe. One thing to look out for is the added fees. Like any airlines, sometimes they have fine printed fees that can definitely add up so look out for those before booking!

-          Hitchhiking

o   If you’re adventurous, this is a very common trend in Europe. Obviously, use caution while hitch hiking and remember that not everyone has good intentions so go with your gut feeling if you plan to do this. I know it is taboo here in the United States, but in a different country this is accepted and if you feel safe doing it, go for it!

-          Wanderu

o   Wanderu is a site for bus and train travel and they have fares for as little as $10USD. When you are planning your travel, make sure to check out this site. It is an extremely helpful tool to save you money.

https://www.google.com/search?q=hitchhiking&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiukLvWxc_bAhVLPK0KHVw1B2YQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=588#imgrc=3_FOCxZ4mV0f3M: 

4)      Plan in advance

If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably noticed that I mention “book 30 days in advance” or “make sure to plan this out” a couple of times. This is an often times overlooked essential of traveling abroad. I am guilty of living life on a whim and not being very good at making plans. If you want to save money, though, you have to make sure you are planning things out and booking in advance in order to get the right fares. If money isn’t an issue, live your life on a whim and have a good time! If you’re like most college students though, being frugal is engrained in your everyday life and planning your trip down to hours (okay… maybe days is more realistic) is essential to saving money.

https://www.google.com/search?q=plan+in+advance&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4tK_pxc_bAhUGSK0KHSkCDPEQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=588#imgrc=V9jT5S0Jwupq3M:

5)      Hostels

I’ve said in previous posts, “hostels are your friends”. This still applies! They are the most inexpensive way to stay and will help you meet new people who can likely show you the area.

6)      Food

Try to limit your eating out to once a day. Food over in Europe is likely very expensive in the city centers, but if you venture out you may find cheap (and delicious!) eats that will impress both your taste buds and your budget. If you are staying at hostels, shop local and take advantage of the kitchens they supply. Cooking while enjoying a glass or two of local wine with people you have met at these hostels could turn into some of your absolute favorite memories and will help you save money. Plus, you will impress your pals when you come back home and have learned how to make homemade pasta in Italy while they are still cooking their Kraft Mac and Cheese!

https://www.google.com/search?q=homemade+pasta&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinyvWCxs_bAhULY6wKHSPbCAwQ_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=588#imgrc=dKldvBWDok2f2M:

7)      Tourist Information Booths

You’re a tourist. Most locals will know you’re a tourist. Swallow your pride and go visit these booths when you arrive in a new city. The people working the booth will be happy to help you and they likely also provide brochures and coupons for local museums, restaurants, bikes, buses, etc. This will help put you at ease and make sure that any questions you have get answered to ensure that you have the most amazing time.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tourist+info+booths&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSzK6Vxs_bAhVPSK0KHW_YDMQQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=588#imgrc=FwspBFV2OcVTvM:

8)      Do less

Sometimes people think that when they travel abroad they have to see every art museum and every historical landmark. I’m not saying disregard these completely, but sometimes it is okay to do less and just relax. Many European cities have beaches (if you don’t like naked bodies, beware of the plethora of nude beaches) and luxury hostels will likely have pools. Enjoy yourself and spend a day unwinding at these places for free.

https://www.google.com/search?q=european+beaches&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjM4Ly7xs_bAhUDQ60KHVT-DhcQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=588#imgrc=8EkgsCwbxY84bM:

Europe is a beautiful place to visit. There is so much to do. So many things to see. The people are overall amazing, and the views are just as breathtaking. Don’t let the idea of not having any money stop you from going to see what you have seen in thousands of pictures in real life. I believe that everyone should step out of their comfort zone and this may be the perfect opportunity for you to learn about yourself and other cultures at the same time. Enjoy and cheers to seeing the world!

#mkt400uwl #europe #traveleurope

[itscryptovision-blog]

Blockchain and Mining

Welcome to this week’s cryptocurrency blog. Last week we slightly touched on the blockchain and also a little on mining cryptocurrency. These two topics work hand in hand. Blockchain is the larger entity here, whereas mining works with the blockchain to accomplish its task. Without the blockchain, many cryptocurrencies would be inefficient, as they depend on it for their processing of transactions. It is easier to start things off with what the heck is the blockchain and what makes mining crypto so popular today.

Blockchain is a newly defined term that is not going away. Rather, it is growing in definition and use. The term “blockchain” is used to describe a coding technology used for managing, organizing, and securing financial record. Essentially, it is a ledger containing permanent record of irrefutable transactional data in chronological order, readily available for public examination. A blockchain is secured using advanced cryptography techniques, so what happens within a blockchain staying within the blockchain. Blockchain is desired because on it, no entity is able to manipulate the financial record. The way you make use of a blockchain is by using its associated cryptocurrency, and everyone using one’s associated cryptocurrency is held to the same standards as everyone else using it. Blockchain is the only technology in existence in which we have potential for a fair and honest peer-to-peer marketplace. This market is globally accessible and will connect the world.

As mentioned before, a blockchain uses advanced cryptography to keep the transactional record private and immutable. In today’s economy, it is a common event to see value printed out of thin air. This act jeopardizes the value of the currency we use to survive, given that raiding and looting other people’s goods is frowned upon. When asked for an audit to prove organizations actually have the funds claimed, it is often a “you scratch our back, we scratch yours situation”, and documents are completely falsified. This type of behavior is what enables organizations to manipulate economies around the globe; this same type of behavior is what blockchain technologies eradicates. Every single transaction that occurs on a blockchain is set in digital stone. Using a coding science known as “hashing”, the transaction is scattered across the chain so no entity can go in and manipulate the data. Current computing technologies calculate it would take billions of years to regather sufficient data to manipulate it. To use the blockchain, you must use its digital currency - think bitcoin. Bitcoin has value as long as there are people willing to use it, and that value is derived from scarcity. There are twenty one million bitcoin to be mined and no more will ever be created. If things continue down this ideology, the smallest fractions of a single bitcoin will have more purchasing power than any used currency today. This is great because no controlling organization has power to create more and transactional record is immutable within the blockchain. An audit is as simple as gathering the transactional data from the record, and if you claim that it is something it is not, anyone can check themselves to see what exactly the truth is. How the record is both publicly visible and immutable is courtesy of the coding sciences used. Upon realization of the potential here, more and more people will hop on board the blockchain train.

Blockchain has already been adapted by a couple of companies, which are driving their supply chain. UPS and FedEx, two major shipping giants, use a blockchain for many reasons. Being a shipping company, there are going to be multiple checkpoints for packages to be checked in, switch trucks, put on an overnight plane, etc. These companies would like to know where every single package is between which checkpoint and location as well. Using the blockchain helps these companies drastically being able to stay on top of their packages for their customers. Customers in the shipping industry are very heavily dependent on being able to track their packages at any time of the day. UPS and FedEx customer complaints and issues have gone down since the adaptation of the blockchain. Another company that uses blockchain is Walmart. Walmart employees have the technology at their fingertips to pick up an item and scan it with their phone or device and discover everything about the item. Employees can scan mangoes and figure out which farm the batch of mangoes came from specifically, as well as where they would be stored in the facility. This technology can definitely streamline the restocking process. Blockchain isn’t only being used here, but is being adapted in aviation, finance and banking, automobiles and more. The technology is revolutionary. The companies who have already implemented it into their system know how beneficial it is. Much of the computing and background filing jobs can be put to rest as the blockchain can completely take over. Seems like it only makes sense to make your systems more efficient, and also private. Possibly the best part that the blockchain has to help companies benefit is the way it can store information. It can hold all of a company’s files and keep them safe and secure. Everyone wants their files safe and secure.

The blockchain has different blocks that record each transaction that occur, which helps miners when it comes to figuring out which cryptocurrency they are looking to mine for. Yes, you can mine many different cryptocurrency, not just Bitcoin. Mining is not a simple task though. Miners are to verify the transactions on the blockchain, ensure they aren't false, and keep the infrastructure humming along. In order to successfully create a block, it must be accompanied by a cryptographic hash that fulfills certain requirements. The only feasible way to arrive at a hash matching the correct criteria is to simply calculate as many as possible hashes and wait until you get a matching hash. When the right hash is found, and a new block is formed, the reward for doing so, a miner's fee if you will, is payment in that block's coin. The payment is based on how much their hardware contributed to solving that puzzle. Once the block is solved, coins are distributed fairly to miners who worked on that block. Early on, miners were able to miner many bitcoins in a single day. Now, it is nearly impossible to mine a full Bitcoin in one day.

Although we are not able to mine crypto to the amount we use to due to mass adoption, we are still able to mine hundreds of different cryptocurrencies now. Each crypto is able to be mined differently due to supply of coins and the overall adaptation of consumers that want that specific coin. Generally, the less adapted, the more coins or amount of a crypto one will be able to mine and receive in profit. The more adapted coins, like bitcoin, are mined by millions of people daily. The crypto couldn’t just be handing out its currency left and right otherwise once all mined, it would become unable to mined again and the currency would then have a value based on the holders.

Mining cryptocurrency takes a lot of energy. So much in fact, that mining one full bitcoin takes 343 megawatt. That amount of energy can power up a quarter of a million houses. There was an article posted saying that Iceland has the most cryptocurrency mining in the world going on. The country as a whole runs collectively on about 700 gigawatts per year. This past year, the mining facilities and miners combined as a whole, consumed about 840 gigawatts of power in the country. That amount of energy is absurd! Renewable energy should be the main focus when it come to becoming efficient in the future.

A large majority of miners run their machines 24/7, taking up a large portion of energy. Many miners typically don’t just have one machine either, as they want to max their return on investment potential. These mining rigs are not cheap either, generally running around a couple thousand dollars a rig collectively. At first, most miners use their earnings from their mining rigs to pay for their electricity bill. The amount earned all depends on the token supply and the demand of the crypto itself. The more sought after coin will be worth more and harder to mine because so many people want to mine as well. The amount you earn also depends on the mining rig that you purchase. Like I said, they vary in the thousands of dollars. Doing my research, I’ve seen it is best to get one of the top two mining rigs if you want the best ROI down the road. The cheaper ones are not going to produce as much crypto as one would think they would. Those who buy the cheaper ones sometimes end up paying more for their electric bill that they are earning from their rig. Doing my research, the better ones are the way to go. It would be nice to have a large chunk of change lying around.

#mkt400uwl #cryptocurrency #bitcoin

[vitabenedetta-blog]

Travel Eats

Good news! Traveling has been scientifically proven to increase happiness, decrease depression, and chill you the F out. While it is important to be grounded, traveling is a big part of finding out who you are and what environment fuels your inner fire. Plus, experiencing different cultures is invigorating AF. So for all of you that want to get out and explore the borders of this world, I have put together a travel eats guide to all the fabulous food from your home base and beyond. Enjoy! 

The Guide 

$: least expensive 

$$$: most expensive 

Apothik Food Truck $ 

La Crosse, WI 

Calling all Lax residents! Apothik Food Truck is a must try during the summer and fall seasons. The lovely humans behind the truck value: supporting local businesses and farmers while serving up delicious food! The menu changes each week to reflect seasonality and availability of different ingredients, so if you see something you like on the menu, make sure to get it while you can. You can find them at the Cameron’s Park farmer’s market, affordable and in walking distance for all you fellow college students.☺ 

My go-to: CHEESY MAC! 

5 Cheese Sauce, Diced Tasso Ham, Fresh Herbs, Crispy Crumble, Diced Bacon

  CINCO DE TACO 

Chipotle Chicken, Chopped Kale, Roasted Hot Sauce, Lime Cilantro Crème, Pineapple Pico De Gallo, Melted Pepper Jack, Corn Tortilla 

The Mint $$ 

La Crosse, WI 

Oh you fancy huh? The aesthetics at The Mint are on point. Everything from the furniture, to the glassware, and to the food is practically flawless. Toto, I don’t think we are in La Crosse, WI anymore. This is truly an experience you do not want to miss out on. Teaming with The Root Note, The Mint is a farm to table restaurant serving up all the local goods right to your plate. If you are on a budget, I highly recommend taking advantage of Sunday Craft Cocktail night. The craft cocktails are only $5 and appetizers are on sale. 

My go-to: CHARCUTERIE/CHEESE 

Chef’s Daily Selections, Pickles, Mustard, Bread

A LITTLE ROSY

Letherbee Gin, Grapefruit Crema, Grapefruit, Rosemary Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters 

NAKED AND FAMOUS  

Vida Mezcal, Yellow Chartreuse, Aperitivo Select, Lime 

Howie’s On La Crosse $ 

La Crosse, WI 

A La Crosse classic (most likely right outside your door step). Howie’s has great grub, drinks, games, staff, and an awesome patio. If you have not been I am honestly concerned. Oh, and do I even need to mention the bloody mary bar. YUM! Happy Hour is the perfect time to put down your schoolwork and head over for some student deals. I mean we are only students for four years, so we might as well soak up the discounts while we can. You are bound to run into some of your classmates working at Howie’s and most likely some of your professors throwing one back at the bar. There are enough TV’s at Howie’s that you will never miss a second of your favorite games. 

My go-to: THE ALL AMERICAN 

Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Garlic Mayo, Sweet Potato Fries 

STRAWBERRY MARGARITA 

Ecker’s Apple Farm $ 

La Crosse, WI 

Because what is better than a caramel apple tossed in M&M’s? Ecker’s Apple Farm is stunning to say the least. Plan on spending the afternoon. With a beer garden, live music, apple picking, yard games, and plenty of grub you are not going to want to leave. Their mission is to bring you unique, quality craft beers from around the country and serve them up cold while you take in the view of the beautiful farm. I’M DOWN. It is a fall destination in La Crosse. 

My go-to: M&M CARAMEL APPLE 

APPLE PIE AND ICE CREAM 

Black Coffee and Waffle Bar $$ 

Minneapolis, MN

Did someone say waffles? These waffles are like no other. They are seriously FUNKY and out of this world. The interior of Black Coffee and Waffle Bar provides an awesome space for students to chillax and enjoy a drink and a waffle. I mean, what could be finer? Every month they introduce a new specialty waffle. I promise, the drive is worth the overpriced waffle and the Instagram picture that comes with it! 

My go-to: STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE 

Cheesecake, Strawberries, Graham Crackers, Whipped Cream 

Hola Arepa $$ 

Saint Paul, MN 

Started from a food truck now we here. The vibes up in this joint will take you away on a Latin destination vacation. The specialty here: Venezuelan stuffed arepas! Arepas are made from cornmeal dough, formed into patties and cooked on a griddle. Then, they are stuffed with meats, veggies, cheeses, and topped with homemade salsas! Their mission is to make food from scratch with a whole lot of love. I recommend sitting on the patio in the sunshine! 

My go-to: FRIED BRUSSEL SPROUTS 

Tamarind Vinaigrette, Housemade Chorizo Sausage, Pepitas, Caramelized Onion Jam, Manchego, Radish 

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN AREPA 

Tomato, Sweet Corn Salsa, Citrus Onion, Radish, Arugula, Chipotle Aioli, Yuca Fries 

Pig Ate My Pizza $$ 

Robbinsdale, MN 

Besides like the cutest name for a pizza place ever, Pig Ate My Pizza was named one of the best pizza places in the US by Time and Food & Wine magazines! They are serving up rotating craft pizzas and over 16 local tap brews! The atmosphere is unexplainably awesome, so you will have to go check this one out yourself. Checkout their website for a little sneak peak (the marketing is phenomenal). 

My go-to: PIGGY PIE 

Deep Dish Meat Lovers! Brioche Crust, Pork Lovers Sausage, Pepperoni, Bacon Emulsion, Toasted Black Pepper Fennel, Oregano

Velvet Taco $ 

Chicago, IL

Let’s taco bout it people! In the heart of the windy city, Velvet Taco is a counter service setting, whipping up some of the most BOMB margaritas and tacos on this planet. With over twenty varieties of tacos, they will assure that you have never had a taco like this. At Velvet Taco, food is art. Let’s go, the flavors await. 

My go-to: FISH N’ CHIPS 

Curry Mayo, Malted French Fires, House Shred, Beer Battered Atlantic Cod, Pea Tendrils, Flour Tortilla 

BUFFALO CHICKEN 

Crisp Tenders, House Buffalo Sauce, Danish Bleu Cheese, Ranch Crema, Carrots, Micro Celery, Flour Tortilla 

Real Good Juice Co. $$$ 

Chicago, IL 

Itching for something a little healthier to cure your Sunday scaries? You have found the place. Real Good Juice Co. serves up good juices and smoothies that are organic and locally sourced. The juices are cold pressed which means they retain 100% of the enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. The company is a huge supporter of Chicago’s Old Town community and contributes a percentage of juice sales to local charities! They don’t stop at serving juice. They also sell bowls, a variety of toasts, salads, and shots. It’s a Win Win. 

My go-to: YUM YUM IN MY TUM TUM 

Banana, Cacao, Almond Butter, Almond Milk, Honey 

Firecakes Donuts $$

Chicago, IL

Hellzzz to the yeah! These donuts are on fire! Firecakes believes that everyone can use a sweet treat to get them through the day. With the craziest flavors, your taste buds will be wanting more. These donuts are fried in a large cast iron pot of oil over an open fire and sprinkled with all the sugar and goods one could ask for. They even have gluten free and vegan donuts! 

My go-to: DONUT ICE CREAM SANDWICH 

Summer House Santa Monica $$$ 

Chicago, IL 

An escape to the warmth and laid-back vibes of the West Coast. The atmosphere is beachy AF. They promise that no matter the season, no matter the weather, you will be transported to the warmth of California at Summer House. I felt like I was Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl, no lie. If you have ever dreamed of your bridal shower, this is that dream. To be honest I barely paid attention to my meal, I was too caught up looking around at all the VIBES. 

My go-to: RICKY BOBBY 

Hank’s Vodka, Fresh Grapefruit Juice, Lime, Strawberry Air

San Giorgio Pizzeria $$ 

Milwaukee, WI 

Neapolitan pizza dough, made fresh in seconds, right before your eyes in a wood-fired oven! I have had a lot of pizza in my life, and this is by far my favorite. That is saying something people, you must go. The chef sits five feet in front of your table while throwing dough and firing up some incredible ZAA. Head Chef Gino Fazzari made this an unforgettable experience (he even bought my boyfriend and I special shots on the house). I would go back a million times. 

My go-to: MARIA CARMELLA 

San Marzano Tomato, Fresh Fior Di Latte Mozzarella, Prosciutto, Fresh Basil, Arugula, Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

Logan House Coffee Co. $ 

Denver, CO 

The vibes are too real people. This place is like an indoor farmer’s market. Make sure you give yourself enough time to really explore. The staff members are super DOPE and are jazzed about talking coffee with customers. 

My go-to: NUTELLA LATTE WITH ALMOND MILK 

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory $ 

Vail, CO 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! You will never want to get ice cream elsewhere after trying Rocky Mountain. This is mainly because of the cones. Have you ever seen something so beautiful? In the heart of Vail Village you will feel like the cutest snow bunny with one of these cones in hand and the mountains right above your head. If you are a chocoholic you NEED to check this out. 

Blue Moose Pizza $$ 

Vail, CO 

Want to eat pizza while looking out at the Vail Village Slopes? Yeah, me too. This was some of the most exotic pizza I have ever had. Flavor overload in the best way possible. If you go during off-season you won’t even have to wait for a table. 

My go-to: AUTUMN PIZZA 

Sautéed Mushrooms, Truffle Oil, Parsley, Parmesan, Garlic, Olive Oil, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese 

Finale

Now that your taste buds are basically exploding, it is time to get out and explore. Gas up your vehicle, book that plane ticket and Airbnb and be on your way. The flavors await! If you try any of my suggestions make sure to tag #vitabenedetta and let me know about the fabulous foods. 

Until next time. What are some of your favorite travel eats? Comment below.

#mkt400uwl

[simplesnacking-blog]

Eating Healthy on a Budget

Hello hello and welcome back! This week we ar egoing to be diving into one of the biggest concerns when eating healthy! MONEY! This blog is going to talk about more ways to saving money while eating healthy AND what options are actually beneficial to buy organically and which are not. The controversy of whether organic foods are a noticeable difference has been discussed for centuries. We will touch on some of these areas and what products are and aren’t beneficial in buying organically.

When it comes to saving money and eating healthy, these two almost two can very much go hand and hand believe it or not. What was that? How? Everything I buy is so much more expensive when I buy healthy food items at the grocery store! These might be the thoughts going through your head right now... however I am going to tell you a few ways you can save money while knowing exactly what goes into your good. Can you take one of the first guesses yet?!

MAKE YOUR OWN FOOD. Simple. Whether that is cooking your own meals or making your own sauces. There is no genuine way to know what ingredients are in your meals if you are not making it yourself. This does not mean slaving away in the kitchen every night to make fresh made bread and your own almond milk, this simply means high caloric and foods of concern can easily be made in your kitchen with simple ingredients that will ensure you that you’re getting the right ingredients. 

For starters, it is so simple to make your own dips, sauces, salad dressings, condiments, etc. When making these at home there is going to be a serious decrease in sodium and fat intake from these preprocessed alternatives that are sitting on shelves at stores. These items are inexpensive and allow you to be creative with your own style. Likewise, consider making your own soups and spreads for wraps for similar reasons. One of my favorite ways to get started with these easy steps is to make dressings in my “dressing jar” (similar to below) which gives you a few healthy vinaigrettes to steer you in the right direction of trying some new flavors!

 Along with... 

Look for creative ways to add veggies, fruits and alternative grains into your normal food.

Examples:

spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes in your omelet

lettuce wraps instead of tortillas

quinoa with peppers and onions instead of rice with soy sauce and olive oil

Simple things to incorporate more vegetables are so cost savvy! Most vegetables are inexpensive and are great at filling you up!

Try alternative grains

Mentioned above to try quinoa as an alternative, quinoa is one of the many “super grains” because it has such high protein yet low caloric intake! PLUS, if bought uncooked quinoa has a very long shelf life, is inexpensive, and you can use it in so many different dishes- a savory breakfast, as a pasta dish, or with a light vinagrette mixed with veggies of your choosing. This alternative from traditional white flous products is booming into a HUGE industry because of the immense amount of benefits. 

Grow your own food!

There are so many areas or produce that you can make yourself at home with simple steps! After purchasing foods at the grocery store next time and save your scraps to re grow yourself. 

Produce is often one of the most expensive products that you are purchasing at your grocery visits. Cutting down just a little bit every week can add up and create a nice hobby along the way.

The following foods can regrow after cutting the ends or bottom base off with just water and sunlight. After a few days and noticeable growth these foods can be transported into soil to grow the rest of their potential in just a few short weeks!

Lettuce- romaine, bock choy, cabbage

Celery

Lemongrass

Bean Sprouts

Other examples of easy kitchen scraps to grow are:

Avocado- use toothpicks to suspend over a glass or bowl in direct sunlight, after a root appears plant in soil with about half of the pit above ground

Potatoes- plant the “eyes” facing up in soil for a few weeks

likewise, sweet potatoes

Pineapple- cut tip off and insert in container of water. After a week or so roots will form and you can transplant to potting soil.

Onions- cut the root off and cover lightly in potting soil and keep in sunny area.

These are just a few of the simple and easy ways to make your food from scraps at home!

As heard very often, plan.

Planning is the number one way to be able to stick to a healthy routine and schedule. It is essential to plan ahead considering your schedule and time available to make sure you have healthy options to keep you satisfied throughout the day. Before doing so, scan the fridge before making your meal plan list. See what options were thrown in the back and forgotten about to potentially use from your upcoming meals this week. Using food before it goes bad will be less wasteful and give you a unique set of meals weekly. Bottom line is to plan out your meals and snacks for the week and make a grocery list. Only buy what you know you’re going to buy! If you know you hate kale and actually won’t eat it, don’t buy it! This plan and prep will help you stick to your schedule and feel good about yourself when you do. 

Going along with how to eat healthy while on a budget, I am going to move into what foods to actually spend the money on with organic produce. Knowing what organic fruits and vegetables you can buy while still on your budget can be good to know for your next grocery store visit. 

Overall, I am going to cover what to spend your money on and what to skip. First, I will define what organic is so we are all on the same page. Organic is defined as growing a product without the use of any chemicals, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, radiation, etc. Specifically, I will be talking about produce today because meat and other areas of organic is a whole other story!

Foods to buy organic

Leafy greens- romaine, spinach, collard greens

Have a lot of surface area for toxins to stick to

Heavily sprayed with toxins and pests

Berries- blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries

Eat the whole fruit- skin susceptible to a lot of pesticides

Apples- if peeled, okay to not buy organic

White potatoes- if peeled, okay to not buy organic 

Red, Yellow, and Green peppers

Celery

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Peaches

Pears

Cherries

Foods not needed to buy organic 

Asparagus, onions, and cabbage- don’t require much spraying of pesticides to grow 

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Melons- honey dew, cantaloupe, and watermolon- thick skin= harder to get affected 

Avocadoes, bannanas, pineapple, eggplant- thick skin which are most often removed before consuming

Kiwi, grapefruit, mangoes

Carrots

Mushrooms

Oranges

Papaya

Brussel sprouts

Sweet potatoes

Most often when you’re peeling something or it has a hard and thick surface there is a high chance that you will be fine with consuming it conventionally and not organically. The foods listed above are safe to go with conventionally purchased over organically.

How to eat ORGANIC on a budget

Now that we have covered a few ways of how to eat healthy on a budget and which organic foods are worth buying we can look at combining the two. Combining the two, we will look at how to eat organically on a budget!

There are a few staple rules to go by when wanting the organic lifestyle but not wanting to break the bank. Including:

Find organic coupons

Join social media pages

follow coupon sites-- Mambo Sprouts, All Natural Savings, and Organic Dates

Simply Organic, Kroger, Whole Foods, Earth Fare are stores that always have various products with coupons throughout the store

DIY and Plan

Stay organized- plan meals for the week

Budget- weekly/montly

Do it yourself- granola bars, juices, smoothies, etc.

potion and prioritize

Use your freezer

Most often your produce is going to go bad before you can eat it all, especially when you’re living on your own it is hard to shop for one.

Freeze leftovers 

Freeze homemade cookie dough or almond butter for a treat when having a sweet tooth

Buy local and freeze for when in season

Double recipes and make leftovers

Great with soups and stews

Freeze core kitchen staples- breads, cheese, butter, croutons, spinach, fruit

Buy in bulk

Take advantage of BOGO sales

Best foods to buy in bulk- oats, flour, grains, nuts, lentils

Bring measuring cups when buying in bulk to know how much you’re getting for a specific recipe or week and not over spend

Find out what foods in season and buy in bulk- so much cheaper

Buy local

Cheaper most often that food from miles away 

Utilize farmer’s markets

Be the last to leave- throughout the time of the market, farmers will continually reduce their price as it gets closer to closing time

Ask farmers about their practices- pesticides or not?

Listed above are a few of the ways we can combine the ways of eating on a budget while still being able to eat organically and healthy.

Thanks for reading (:

Facebook: @SatisfiedSnacking

Twitter: @simplesnacking

Instagram: @satisfyingsnacking

#MKT400UWL

[roeniusfitness-blog]

Workouts, Supplements, and Addressing Misconceptions about Working Out

Blog IV

My first blog post titled “From the darkest of times to the best of times — All it takes is determination, hard work, and a realization that you can do it” talked about my weight loss journey of going from 221 pounds to 172 pounds. This journey required a lot of hard work, dedication, and discipline. I had to revamp my diet, spend a lot of time researching diets and exercises, and most importantly had to start exercising. I experienced a lot of setbacks throughout this journey, which is to be expected when getting into fitness, but it is how I persevered and responded to those setbacks that allowed me to achieve my goal and encouraged me to continue on my journey because my journey is far from being done. I am constantly trying to improve my health and wellbeing while learning new and innovative exercises and information about fitness that I try to incorporate in my life. In my first blog, I did not get into the specifics of what I was doing on a daily basis to lose weight and achieve my goal; therefore, this blog post talks about what I did and still do to achieve the physique that I wanted so badly, along with addressing misconceptions that are commonly held about working out.

My workouts

               My workout regimen, or workout “split”, consists of working out 5-6 days per week. I typically work out every muscle group once per week and then will choose a muscle group to work out twice. I typically try to work out my chest twice during a week as my chest is my weakest muscle area. When I am trying to cut weight (i.e. trying to lose body fat and become leaner), I do cardio around three to four times per week for 30-45 minutes as well as abdominal exercises. The following is my workout split for each day followed by an example workout, even though every workout I do incorporates different exercises and is constantly changing.

*Please note — if you do not know what an exercise is, I encourage you to Google it and find a video on how to do the exercise with proper form. Proper form can save you from injury as well as help you get the most benefit from the exercise.

Monday: Back (lats) and Biceps

·         D Grip Lat Pull Down:

o   4 sets of 12 repetitions

·         Kneeling V Grip Lat Pull Down:

o   4 sets of 12 repetitions

·         Straight arm Lat Pull Down

o   4 sets of 8 repetitions

·         Bent Over Barbell Row

o   5 sets of 10 repetitions

·         Machine low row

o   5 sets of 8 repetitions with a 2 second hold

·         Barbell deadlifts

o   4 sets of 6 repetitions

·         Superset Cable Row with Back Hyperextensions

o   4 sets of 8 repetitions

·         Superset Standing Alternating Dumbbell Curls with Machine Preacher Curls

o   4 sets

o   First set = 10 repetitions on first exercise, 4 repetitions on second exercise

o   Sets = 10/4, 8/4, 6/4, 6/4

·         Bent Over Concentration Curls

o   4 sets of 8 repetitions

Tuesday: Chest and triceps

·         Flat Machine Press/Incline Bench Cable Fly

o   4 sets of 15/8 (15 reps on machine press, 8 reps on cable fly)

·         Flat Barbell Bench Press

o   8 sets of 6 with a 4 second negative

·         Body Weight Chest Dips

o   4 sets of failure with a two second hold on the stretch

·         High incline Reverse Grip DB Press

o   4 sets of 12

·         V Bar Tricep Press Down

o   10 sets of 6

·         Diamond Push Ups

o   3 sets of failure

·         Rope Press Down

o   4 sets of 20

Wednesday: Legs

·         Lying Leg Curl

o   15,15,12,12

·         Leg Curl

o   12,12,10,10

·         Stiff Leg Deadlift

o   12,10,8,6

·         Leg Press

o   15,15,12,12,10,10

·         Barbell Hip Thrust

o   10,10,8,8,6,6

·         Adductor Machine & Abductor Machine

o   15,15,15,8,8,8

Thursday: Shoulders and traps

·         Standing DB Side Lateral

o   4 sets of 8

·         Seated DB Arnold Press

o   6 sets of 10 with 4 second negative

·         Reverse Pec Deck Rear Deltoid Fly

o   4 sets of 12

·         Bent Over Rear Deltoid DB Fly

o   3 sets of 20

·         DB Shrug

o   6 sets of 8

·         D Grip Barbell Shrug

o   6 sets of 15

Friday: Arms

·         Barbell Preacher Curl/Incline Bench Barbell Skull Crusher

o   6 sets of 15/15

·         Cable Tricep Press Down/W-bar Cable Curl

o   6 sets of 15/15

·         Machine Tricep press down/Machine Preacher Curls

o   3 sets of 15/15, 3 sets of 12/12

·         DB Hammer Curl/V-bar Tricep Press Down

o   4 sets of 15

Saturday: Off day

Sunday: Off day or Cardio and abdominals

Cardio Exercises:

Goal: Burn 300 calories each cardio session

·         Incline walk on treadmill: 30-45 minutes

o   Settings: 10 incline, 3.5-3.9 speed

·         Stairmaster: 30 minutes

Main Abdominal Exercises:

·         Hanging leg raises: 4 sets of 15

·         Kneeling cable abdominal crunch: 4 sets of 15-20

·         Plank into side planks: 4 sets of 30-45 seconds

 Supplements I take:

The following is a list of supplements I take and the benefits associated with taking them:

·         Whey Protein Isolate

·         Creatine

·         L-Arginine

·         L-Carnitine

·         BCAA’s

·         Vitamin C

·         Multivitamin

·         Fish Oil

·         Glucosamine Chondroitin

·         L-glutamine

·         Beta-alanine      

Seven common misconceptions about working out

1.    Do you have to “break” a sweat for a workout to be beneficial?

You do not have to necessarily “break” a sweat for your workout to count. The most important aspects of working out are to get your body in motion while simultaneously raising your heart rate. The main purpose of sweating is to cool your body down. You will most likely find yourself sweating when you are working out, especially when you are just starting a training program or getting into fitness. Also note that if you’re older, particularly older women, you will probably not sweat as much. According to UC San Diego Health, “as you age you sweat less. Well, to be precise, you sweat differently, particularly if you’re a woman. Part of the change is related to menopause, i.e. hot flashes, but researchers have found that sweat glands (especially under the arms) shrink and become less sensitive as we age, which translates into reduced perspiration production.” If you can manage to raise your heart rate and move your body in some type of exercise, you will be working toward becoming more fit, which will most likely cause you to sweat.

2.    Exercise turns fat into muscle. While many people think this is true, it is actually false. The truth is that working out does not turn fat into muscle because you can’t turn one tissue into another. On the contrary, working out, especially strength training, helps build muscle and helps you burn more calories and lose fat.

3.   Lifting weights will make women bulk up. 

According to WebMD, because women have lower levels of testosterone (which helps build muscle mass) than men, it's harder for ladies to build muscle tissue in the first place, thus not allowing them to “bulk up”. Lifting weights allows for more calories to be burned while gaining muscle. A study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that women who weight-trained burned an average of 100 more calories 24 hours after their training sessions ended, even if they were seated on the sofa. Another reason why women should start weight training is because just doing cardio is going to help you from gaining weight, but won’t necessarily help you with losing weight due to losing lean tissue when solely doing cardio.

4.    Restricting calories is the best way to lose weight.

False. According to SecondsCount.org, research has shown that changing your eating behaviors to lose weight works better if you also exercise. Therefore, the best way to lose weight is to be at a caloric deficit while also exercising. When I lost 50 pounds, I was on a strict diet where I tracked all my food down to the gram or ounce while also weightlifting and doing cardio. Losing weight is a combination of both exercise and diet that will get you the best results.

5.    Abdominal exercises will make you lose stomach fat.

Don’t believe this myth at all. Abdominals are made in the kitchen. You can’t control which part of your body will lose fat when you become physically active. Typically, when you start getting leaner, you will start to notice results in your face, then shoulders, then arms, and lastly your abdominals which are under a layer of fat tissue. Getting lean is the product of eating healthy and being in a caloric deficit. Exercising your abs will simply strengthen your abdominal muscles like any other lift would strengthen any other muscle.

6.    Stretching before exercise is critical.

This is true but it depends on what type of stretching you are doing. Dynamic stretching is the type of stretching desired before working out. The difference between dynamic and static stretching is that dynamic stretching is “a movement designed to take a joint or a muscle through a challenging and repetitive motion, moving a body part further with each repetition.” Dynamic stretching warms up your joints and muscles and prepares them for activation. I usually walk for 5 minutes on an inclined treadmill and also do other dynamic stretches before I work out. Static stretching is best for post-workout because static stretching uses “sustained stretches designed to hold a position for a joint or a muscle that is minimally challenging. The focus is on relaxing the body part being stretched and letting it go further on its own.”

7.    Reducing sedentary behaviors is not enough to improve physical fitness.

This is not true. Research shows that cutting back on sedentary activities, such as watching television, playing video games, or lying in bed watching Netflix [something I am very good at] will make you more mobile and lose more weight. According to express.co.uk, “standing instead of sitting for six hours a day could help people lose weight. Researchers found that by substituting standing for sitting for six hours a day, a 143.3-pound adult (65 kilos) would expend an extra 54 calories (kcals) in six hours - equating to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilos) in one year and 22 pounds (10 kilos) over four years. So the next time you find yourself sitting watching television, try standing up and walking around or doing some type of exercise during the commercials.

#mkt400uwl

[readysetwellness-blog]

My Wellness Journey: From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows (repeat x10)

In the wake of last week’s post: 5 steps to creating healthier habits, you may be wondering: Who is this girl, what does she know about wellness, and why should I be listening to her? Well do not fear, I am here to introduce myself and answer all of the questions that may be floating around in your mind. My name is Nicky Dudley, and I am a 22 year old senior at the UW-La Crosse studying marketing. I have an associates degree in exercise and sports science, am an ACE certified personal trainer and a NETA certified group fitness instructor.  I am also a strong believer that certifications have very little to do with knowledge (even though I just listed off my own). I believe that knowledge, especially when it comes to fitness and wellness knowledge, can only be gained through experience and teaching. This is why when I got into fitness, I decided I needed to experience a lot of different things for myself. This brings us to my “fitness timeline”.

        Towards the end of my senior year of high school, I was in a car accident in which I was severely injured. I decided to take a year off after high school and wait to begin college until the fall of 2014. In the following months, I began physical therapy to assist my healing. In doing this, I started to really enjoy working out, especially lifting weights. After I was discharged from physical therapy, I wanted to continue working out, so I obtained a membership at my local CrossFit gym. From there, things took off. I started competing in mini CrossFit games and researching nutrition, becoming more and more curious about exercise and sports science. After 8 months of CrossFit, I decided that I wanted to begin lifting on my own and making my own workouts and nutrition plan. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but after lots of trial and error, I was able to figure out a program that worked for me. It was then that I saw that a friend of mine had competed in an NPC (National Physique Committee) bikini competition, and I made the decision that I wanted to do the same. So in the fall of 2014, I started college full time at a two-year technical school, and found a coach. I ended up working with a man (who shall remain anonymous) and we decided on a show date in June of 2015. Then the real work began.

        Show prep is unlike anything, in that your body and mind are pushed to the absolute limit, and then pushed another hundred yards. Although different coaches do prep differently, it almost always includes an EXTREMELY strict meal plan, based either on macronutrients or whole food meals, and a rigorous exercise routine. Not knowing any better and thinking this was normal and what it took to be HEALTHY, I followed along. It became clear about halfway through that the coach (whom I paid $1200 for 6 months of coaching, mind you) was not prioritizing me as an athlete. Nothing against the man himself, but my texts and emails would go unanswered and I was told that I was allowed a cheat meal “When I say you can have a cheat meal”. Eating the same foods over and over again for 6 months without cheating ONCE is extremely unrealistic, and as you can imagine, I enjoyed several cheat meals on my own time. Enjoying these “unauthorized cheat meals” led to me feeling guilty, and eventually I started binging and purging, that is, throwing up my cheat meals after I ate them. I kept this a secret from everyone else, including my coach, thinking I could get away with it without experiencing any lasting effects. Was I wrong…

        I managed to get through the rest of my prep, all the while relying on sugar free drinks like diet coke, zero calorie energy drinks and zero calorie foods (yes they exist). It got to a point where I wasn’t even eating food. I would make protein pancakes and smother them with zero calorie pancake syrup and marshmallow topping. MY PHYSIQUE CONTINUED TO IMPROVE, BECAUSE I WAS LOSING FAT BY PUTTING MY BODY INTO A CALORIC DEFICIT, BUT LITTLE DID I KNOW I WAS DECAYING ON THE INSIDE. This was something I failed to understand for the longest time. I thought because I continued to lose weight and gain muscle that I was healthy. But what I didn’t understand was that the food I was eating, although it improved what I saw in the mirror, was destroying me on the inside. I began to understand this after my show, when my coach stopped talking to me the day after and did not give me a reverse diet. A reverse diet is a meal plan in which foods are slowly introduced to minimize the negative effects that came along with eating normal food (basically anything other than chicken and rice) again. I wasn’t aware that a reverse diet even existed, so as you can imagine, the minute I got off stage I ate an entire pizza and pint of ice cream, and was so full that I got sick. For the next month, I ate everything I had been missing out on the past 6 months, and as you can probably guess, I gained about 35 pounds in a month.  

        After all of this, both my body and my mind were in an extremely messed up state. From there, I was diagnosed with multiple eating disorders and OCD… quite the mess, I know. This is when I started concerning myself with PROPER nutrition and mental health. I finished my associates degree, and then went on to earn my certifications. I decided that I wanted to share my story with other women who were just entering the fitness world, to save them from making the same mistakes I did.

DISCLAIMER:

I do not want any of you to think that all women who compete in bikini shows experience what I went through. There are many NPC coaches who are very good at what they do and understand the importance of balance and mental health throughout the prep process. If anyone reading this is considering competing in any NPC or natural bodybuilding competition, I encourage you to do it, as it is a great way to challenge yourself and learn a lot about health and fitness. But I also urge you to be cautious in selecting your coach, and talk to athletes who have worked with them in the past about their experience.

        In the end, 2015 was a landmark year. I am proud of myself for partaking in such a challenge, and although I will not be competing again, I learned more from my show prep experience than I ever did from any certification course. The two most important things I learned were this:

1. Just because a body looks good on the outside, doesn’t make it a “healthy” body. Losing weight is all a numbers game. If you put in less calories than you expend in a single day, your body will be in a caloric deficit, meaning the number on the scale will go down. What that lost number represents (fat, muscle, water) depends on your body composition, activity, and the TYPES of macronutrients you are putting into your body. So someone who eats 3 meals a day of whole foods may be much heavier than someone who eats one meal of junk each day. (I don’t think I have to tell you which of these two people is healthier on the inside).

2. Mental health is THE NUMBER ONE THING. Your mental health should take priority over any fitness or nutrition plan, but most of the time, these three things go hand in hand. Many people use exercise to combat stress and anxiety, and there is insurmountable scientific evidence that suggests that mental health and nutrition are connected at a far deeper level than anyone ever imagined. Having done Whole30 (check it out if you’ve never heard of it), I believe that nutrition and mental health are connected now more than ever!

So now that you know almost everything about me, I just want to state the obvious: When it comes to fitness and wellness, I don’t know everything. Far from it. I do know what I experienced, and what I have learned through research and anecdotal evidence, and all I want to do is share my experience with others. I wouldn’t be where I am today physically and most certainly mentally without going through what I did in 2015. Although I still struggle with keeping my eating balanced, I learned so many self-care techniques throughout the year, and I have been able to share them with many of my friends in college. Knowing that I was able to give them a tool to help them deal with their stress and anxiety is one of the most rewarding things, because although it may not always show on the outside, everyone is fighting a battle. And to be able to help alleviate their suffering, even a little bit, is the greatest feeling in the world.

Although I am always happy to talk to anyone about any feelings they may be having, it is always better to talk to a professional. IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM AN EATING DISORDER, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS OR ANY OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT 1-800-273-8255

Thanks for reading, and as always, happy living!

#mkt400uwl