Fall Break Ideas

Fall break this year is October 21 and 22. It’s a nice weekend break to get out and enjoy the weather. Here are some ideas of places around Muncie to check out!

One place to check out is the Muncie Haunted Forest. It’s a venue that spans two miles long. Along the way visitors can expect to encounter scary creatures and at the end of the trip you can pick up some food.   It’s open on weekends from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and its address is 6490 Cornbread Rd. Muncie, IN 47396. For more information check out there website at: http://www.hauntedforestmuncie.org/

Another idea to check out this break is Indy Scream Park. This venue contains six different scary houses for you to visit at one low price. It’s got a new house this year called “The Asylum.” It’s located at 5211 S New Columbus Rd, Anderson, IN 46013

. For more information check out their page at: http://www.indyscreampark.com/?gclid=CKWL_5TyiboCFYxcMgodIi0ABg#sthash.lGc5bMMI.dpbs

 

Muncie Greenway is another great idea, this trail spans over 62 miles! It’s a great path for biking, walking or running. It’s full of beautiful vegetation and old bridges. For more information check out their website at: http://cardinalgreenways.org/?doing_wp_cron=1381326568.7220969200134277343750

Learn more about Muncie culture this break by visiting Minnetrista. Minnetrista is a Muncie museum devoted to a variety of different exhibits on Indiana and Muncie. It’s a great start to getting more about the region where you live and to check out artwork by local artists. For more information check out their event page at: http://www.minnetrista.net/

Fun Snack ideas!

Sometimes we want to throw a party or just feel like cooking. Instead of spending more money, consider using your dining meal swipe. Among all the amazing food prepared for you in Dining they have cooking items you can purchase as well. Places like Noyer, Woodworth, and LaFollette have grocery items like cake and brownie mix, even pasta. So it doesn’t matter what you feel like - you have to option to mix things up and get cooking.

Try Deep Fried Oreos! Need to cut loose and answer a chocolate craving? This recipe combines the chocolate cookie with a pancake coating that is sure to thrill you taste buds.  You’ll need 1 package of Oreos, 1 box of fast shake, and vegetable oil.

Instructions:

1.       Heat your oil in a frying pan

2.       Dip the Oreos in your bisquick mixture

3.       Let Oreos fry 60- 90 seconds on each side

4.       Remove, let cool and enjoy

Chocolate Nutella Muddy Buddies put a new spin on the classic puppy chow. This snack combines Hershey chocolate with the nutty chocolate of Nutella and for the really adventurous you can add peanut butter to the mix.  Works great as procrastination cure; just bribe yourself to do a math problem ever now and then. You’ll need a Hershey bar, a jar of Nutella,a jar of peanut butter and box of Corn Chex.

1.       1 Hershey bar

2.       ½ cup of Nutella

3.       ½ cup peanut butter

4.       4 cups of Corn Chex

Oreo brownies/ peanut butter Oreo brownies are the chocolate galore for those of us in need of a real pick me up or a wonderful celebration treat. Oreo or peanut butter Oreo brownies look as good as they taste which is insanely wonderful. Chocolate covered in more chocolate followed by peanut butter and frosting, genius.  This treat requires package of Oreos, a jar of peanut butter and brownie mix.

Instructions:

1.       Stack two Oreos and place peanut butter on top and in the middle

2.       Place each stack in a cupcake paper in a cupcake pan

3.       Cover in brownie mix

4.       Bake till brownie is done

5.       Enjoy

Spaghetti Party! You can buy and cook up spaghetti to spice up your normal routine and put your cooking apron on. It’s the perfect way to make a dinner date with the girls legit while still utilizing your swipe. Or if you have a date night it makes showing off your cooking charm easy and cheap.  You’ll need angel hair noodles and Pergo’s meat sauce.

Feel like Devil’s Food cake? Or have a floor mate with a birthday coming up? Save money and spend some of your swipe on a Devil’s Food cake. It’s a mouthful of chocolate and you can choose vanilla or chocolate frosting to top it off.  You’ll need a box of Devil’s Food cake mix, 1/3 Cups Water, 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil, and three Large Eggs.

                               

What to do during Family Weekend

What to do during Family Weekend

With Family Weekend coming up on September 28^th you may be wondering what to do. Many parents choose to come down on Friday evening after you’re finished with classes. This is a great day to grab something to eat and catch up! Scotty’s Brewhouse and Amazing Joe’s are two great restaurants with great burgers. Scotty’s is located in the village just a short walk away from campus.  Amazing Joe’s is located on Riverside facing the White River.

Chase Charlie

On Saturday morning you can attend or participate in the Chase Charlie 5k Run/Walk. This is an annual event Ball State holds during Family Week so start a tradition with your family or, continue on an old one.

Ball State vs. Toledo

Most importantly don’t forget about the football game! Kick-off is at at 3 p.m. and tailgate starts three hours before then game.

Here Come the Mummies

On Saturday night Here Come the Mummies are coming to Emens Auditorium. Get tickets and enjoy a good family show! 

Golf Outing

Sunday morning Ball State will be hosting a Golf Outing at the Muncie Elks Club. The proceeds will help the Student Center development programs. So get your golf clubs ready!

Between all these events you and your family should have a great time! Don't forget to set aside time to do homework, all the events can be distracting so stay focused! Email familyweeknd@bsu.edu for more information on ticket purchasing and registering for events!

Organization and Time Management Redifined

Tips for your success!

With school just beginning everyone has a fresh start to the year. Everyone wants to improve their time management, organization, and grades. All that is easier said than done! If you want to succeed this semester and every one after you need to make a plan - AND STICK TO IT! Your plan is only as good as your ability to follow it. So be real with yourself and decide what you are actually capable of sticking to.

TIP 1: Manage Your Time

Get a planner or calendar! Write down what you need to do as soon as you get the task or assignment. Then skip to a few days before the assignment is due and rewrite it in different color ink to remind you of the due date. When working on large projects set goals that reach up until the due date and keep those in your planner too!

TIP 2: Stick With Your Routine

Getting into a new routine can be a difficult task, especially when you have an 8 a.m. class. You have to utilize your self-control. Sure it may be easy to skip your scheduled library time and promise yourself you'll go later, but lets be honest, that usually never happens. Plan to do your studying at an appropriate time, and stay on a regular studying schedule. After 3 weeks your routine will become a habit instead of a hassle!

TIP 3: Make Plans With Friends In Advance

If you are the kind of student that finds themselves leaving in the middle of studying to hang-out with friends, make arrangements in advance. Communicate with your friends earlier in the week or day to plan out times to hang-out, get lunch, or even study together. It's always good to have a study partner to keep you on track when you're feeling distracted!

Organize Your Residence Hall Room

                  With move in right around the corner it is time to start thinking about how to organize all of your belongings into your residence hall room. As college students, we must find ways to use space creatively in order to maximize our storage. Below are some suggestions to help keep your room orderly and organized.

                  I would highly suggest finding some way to organize your desk drawers. Find different dividers that allow you to separate desk supplies such as paper clips, staples, pins, etc. This will make things easier to find as well as providing more space to fit as much as possible into the drawers. Apply this concept to your dresser drawers and even for under your bed. Storage containers provide order to space that may otherwise be wasted. Consider putting shoes or clothes that you may not wear regularly under your bed, to make more space in your closet or wardrobe.

                 Another option is if your residence hall room comes with loftable furniture, consider lofting your bed to add more usable space below it for your desk or dresser. Although you may not store your things under it, this provides you with more room to add a storage unit somewhere else in your room. If you cannot loft your furniture consider renting a bed loft from bedloft.com.

                 Looking for a way to keep cords from TVs, DVD Players, chargers, and other electronics from getting tangled? Try using binder clips to give each cord its own holder and prevent them from getting mixed up.

            If you want to add seating to your room, but do not want to lose valuable storage space, then find ottomans that have a double purpose. Many cubes can be used as ottomans or seating, and still have a hollow space inside to hold blankets or video game controllers. Want to be a bit crafty? Transform an egg crate storage bin into a seat. Cover a wood frame with padding on it with fabric of your choice to create a half seat/half crate.

            Another great idea for storage is to utilize your wall space. Instead of putting picture frames and other décor on your desk or dresser, taking up work space, consider hanging them on your wall. You can also repurpose an old drawer that is not too deep. Add door knobs, or hooks along the outside so you can hang things from it. You can also put picture frames and other small items inside of the drawer. This way, you can still display your items, without taking away usable area from your desk.

             Along with these ideas, please view our past blog posts for more suggestions on how to organize and decorate your room. Good luck with move in and I hope we have been able to help you create your home away from home. 

Life is Like a Blank Canvas

Using blank canvas is a great way to show off your creativity and pizazz to your room. There are an infinite number of possibilities that can show off your interests and pull together a room. Below are some great and easy ideas on how to use canvas.

            One idea is to using painters tape to create an abstract design. One way is to tape the canvas and paint each shape created with different colors. Another idea is to paint to canvas in one color, apply the tape, and paint over the canvas again in a different color. Use multiple colors to add even more dimension and create a color explosion.

            Like superheroes? Use canvas to show off your favorites. If superheroes are not your thing, consider displaying your favorite CD artwork or characters.

            Ever wonder how to apply photos to canvas; it’s easier than you think. All you need to do is print your photo on to a piece of tissue paper. Cover the canvas with a solid layer of Mod Podge and adhere the photo to the canvas. If you’d like, paint the edges of the canvas prior to using the Mod Podge. Once dry, wet the tip of your finger with water and drag it along the edge of the photo and the excess tissue paper will come off more easily.

            If you want to make the canvas more functional, try painting it with chalkboard paint. This was you can write different notes, reminders, and quotes. You can also add string or ribbon in order to hang pictures from them or create a bulletin board design. Other options include displaying quotes, designs, and abstract designs.

            You can find canvas at a number of different stores including Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Jo-Anne’s, and Target. Hopefully these ideas can help you add color to your life and create your home away from home. 

Re-purpose T-shirts

We all have a multitude of t-shirts from various organizations, clubs, and events. Between high school and college we cannot possibly wear all of them, yet you may not want to get rid of them. So then what can you do? Here are a few suggestions.

To turn your t-shirts into wall decorations, you have a couple different possibilities. First you can frame a section of the shirt that either has a design or logo you would like to remember. However, this may require you to cut the shirt for it to fit inside the frame. If you wish to maintain the integrity of the shirt then consider covering canvas or foam board. This still allows you to show the logo or wording, but you do not actually have to cut the material; simply fold and pin it on the backside so it is not shown.

 

If you are looking for a more functional use, try either of these ideas. Cover a cork board with the t-shirt, to pin pictures, letters, or reminders. If you do not want to push pins into the shirt, then consider using an old cookie sheet. Cover this with the shirt and add ribbon, buttons, or any other décor to make a magnet board. This way you can just use magnets instead of pins. Both of these options are relatively light, which makes them easy to hang.

Want to get really crafty? Try turning your shirts into pillows. These would make excellent additions to you bed or futon in your residence hall room. You can also create a quilt or scarf to commemorate your memories. Keep in mind these ideas do require sewing and extra materials. You can also turn the t-shirts into tank tops for a new style or for working out. Depending on the style you wish to create you may need to sew or just use scissors.

Hopefully these ideas will allow you to re-purpose some of those t-shirts. We all look for ways to minimize the amount of stuff we bring to college. By utilizing some of these ideas, you can free up space in your closet and add décor to your room. This gets you one step closer to making your residence hall room your home away from home. 

Where Are You?

            Living in a residence hall lends itself to meeting lots of new people. These new friends may want to come to your room to study, go to dinner, or watch a movie. However, it can be frustrating to arrive at a door and not know if the person you are looking for is in their room, out, or somewhere around the building. Many residents make “Where am I Boards” so it makes it easier to find your new friends. They can be as simple as In or Out, or you can add more categories such as Around the Building, Eating, Class, Sleeping, or Extra Curricular. Design your board to look however you want it to. You can use magnets, buttons, clothespins, or Velcro to mark your location. Be as creative as you would like to be to create your home away from home. 

Happy Fourth of July

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, we thought we would share some interesting ideas to help make the holiday festive. The following recipes are easy to make and are great treats to take to a neighborhood or family party. Enjoy.

POP ROCK MARSHMALLOW

         

   What you will need: Marshmallows, straws/lollipop sticks, light corn syrup, paint brush, Pop Rocks, and a Styrofoam block.

What to do:  Use the straw or lollipop stick to hold the marshmallow so it looks like a sucker. Then paint a thin layer of the light corn syrup on the marshmallow. Use the Pop Rocks to coat the marshmallow and then place it in the Styrofoam box for it to dry.

FIRECRACKER POPCORN

            What you will need: 1 bag of popcorn, 1 bag of Red, White and Blue M&Ms, 4 packets Pop Rocks,  ½ cup butter, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 cup mini marshmallows.

What to do:  Pop the popcorn and set it aside in a large bowl. In a medium-sized sauce pan, melt butter, marshmallows and brown sugar over medium-high heat. Be sure to stir the entire time to prevent it from burning. Once melted, the concoction will turn into a thick sauce. Immediately pour over popcorn and gently stir until the popcorn is completely covered. Finally add the M&Ms and the packets of Pop Rocks and continue to stir them in until everything is evenly distributed. It is best served once it has sat a few hours.

PATRIOT BARK

            What you will need: Oreo cookies, pretzels, white chocolate, Red, White and Blue M&Ms and sprinkles, a cookie sheet, and parchment paper.

What to do:  Crush roughly 12 Oreo cookies and about 3-4 handfuls of pretzels and spread the crumbs across the cookies sheet with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate and pour over the cookies and pretzels. Before the chocolate sets, add red, white, and blue sprinkles and M&Ms. Let it harden for a few hours, break into pieces, and enjoy.

LAYERED DRINK

Looking for a festive way to wash down all these great snacks? You can layer drinks in red, white, and blue by utilizing different sugar contents to ensure that the liquids do not mix. For example, Ocean Spray Cran-Apple juice has 40g of sugar so make this the bottom layer. For the white layer, you can use SoBe Pina Colada which has 26g of sugar. Finally, top off your drink with the blue layer by using blue Gatorade with only 5g of sugar. Add ice and your beverage is ready to serve. 

After the Roll is Empty...

        PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ROLLS FROM THE RESIDENCE HALL BATHROOMS

          Looking for a convenient and inexpensive way to organize and decorate your room? Then look no further then your empty paper towel or toilet paper roll. These cardboard cylinders can be cut and designed to help you add some décor to your room or organize your desk drawers. Below are just a few ideas that will hopefully spark your creativity.

          Toilet paper rolls can be used to add a three dimensional look to your residence hall room walls. By cutting them down into various sizes of smaller cylinders, you can turn them into frames for pictures. Arranging them in different ways creates a focal point for the wall. These also  make it very easy to change

photos as your interests change and you take new ones here at Ball State. Adhere the photos to the front or back of the roll to add even more character to the design. Feel free to leave the rolls their natural color or show off more personality by painting them or adding stickers. Be sure to check your residence hall policy to see how you can affix them to your wall. You can always glue them onto a large piece of colored paper (like a poster board) and use the allowed wall hangers to hang the paper with your design attached.

          Another way to create art out of toilet paper holders is to cut them into equal sized circles then fold each circle in half to create a petal shape. With this shape you can create flowers that you can paint and add to picture frames or just hang up on your wall. You can also paint them black and create a faux wrought iron design. Once you have the general 'petal shape', you can add the pieces to create whatever design you want. Painting the ‘petals’ does add the finishing touch to your design so I would encourage you to do so.

          Besides using these cardboard rolls for décor, you can also use them to organize your room. If you have a large box, fill it with toilet paper rolls to add dividers which can then hold pens, pencils, highlighters, sharpies, ect. This makes it easier to find items, but still allows you to display them. You can also adjust the height to use inside your desk drawers to make compartments for various office supplies such as paperclips, pushpins, binder clips, or staples. Keeping your desk and supplies organized is important and will help you when working on homework and projects. You can also use the longer paper towel rolls to hold long cords and keep them from getting tangled. This keeps your floors uncluttered and allows you to control your technology better.

          Looking for a way to amplify your phone’s speakers? With three easy steps, you can have a DIY toilet paper speaker; all you need is an empty toilet paper roll, 4 push pins, and a pair of scissors. First cut a slit in the middle of the roll big enough for your phone to fit. You can either completely cut the piece of cardboard off or leave it connected on one side to create a cover when you’re not using it. Next, push the pins into the underside of the roll to create legs.  These should be placed at somewhat of an angle so your stand is sturdy. And you are done; it is that simple. 

          Paper towel and toilet paper rolls provide an easy way to customize how you organize your space and add various designs to your walls. They provide flexibility, because if you decide to change something simply find an empty roll and cut it to fit your needs.  Hopefully these ideas will help you create your home away from home. 

The Importance of Lighting

            At first, college rooms can seem a bit blank. It is up to you to add a personal touch and make it feel like home. Lighting can play a big role in creating the environment you want for your room. It is also nice to be able to control how much light is in your room. When studying or reading, it may be nice to have a softer light available instead of the overhead light. There are many different approaches you can take to add light, and can also add décor to your walls instead.

            Lamps, are a traditional way to add light. Many desk and floor lamps have different intensity settings so you can choose the most comfortable one for your lifestyle. They also come in a variety of colors and patterns which can enhance your room motif.

Other great ways to add light is to utilize hangable lights such as Christmas, rope, and string lights. Utilizing these options provides luminosity without taking up space on your desk or floor. These also allow you to show off your personality by choosing different lighting color and designs. For example, below, instead of using white lights to write ‘Dream’ on your wall, you could chose to use blue or green or red or whatever color rope lighting you can find. Instead of using pizza string lights, find some shaped like stars or hearts, or even R2D2. Fixing these lights around your wall is a great way to provide some soft light and also spruce your room.

It is also important to remember to use natural light as well. Each room will have a window, so be sure to open the window covering every once in a while to let the sun in. By adding some of your own light enhancements, you room can be one step closer to being your home away from home. 

         

  

Using Paint Chips

        As a college student, probably on a budget, it is helpful to find unique ways to decorate your room without breaking the bank. Utilizing free and cheaper materials to create personalized wall décor is a great way to spruce up your walls. Paint chips and samples provide an excellent medium to express your creativity and personality. You can find paint chips in either ombre tones (fading from dark to light) or full color samples. Hopefully the ideas below spark some great ideas for your room.

        A simple, yet really interesting idea is to create a clock using paint swatches. Pick a color that matches your rooms color scheme and find paint chips with the ombre tones on one swatch. You will need multiple samples that you can cut into equal rectangles. Once you have your strips of paint samples, arrange them in a clock like fashion on a solid surface. This surface can be square, rectangular, circular, or any other shape you would like. After that, you can choose to decorate the center with a design, quote, or picture. Once you are satisfied with the center, add the clock mechanism which can be found on line or in stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, or a craft store. If you didn’t want to make it from scratch, you can always find a plain clock and spice it up with the paint chips in the same fashion.

        Another way to use paint samples effectively is to create a dry erase calendar. Again, the ombre samples make this a bit easier, because it clearly shows the difference between the days and weeks. You can choose to make each day a different color or pick one color to use throughout. If you do want to use

 different colors, you will need 7 (one for each day of the week). Once you pick your colors, find a picture frame to use for your calendar. The glass allows you to use dry erase markers, so it can change from month to month and you can add notes and reminders.  Use the backing cardboard to secure your samples.When creating the calendar, you need a table of 7 columns by 6 rows. The top row will be for the day titles, so this row can be a bit narrower than the others. Leave space at the top for the month heading. Once everything is secure, fasten the cardboard backing to the frame and add the appropriate dates for the month.

        Paint chips make it very easy to create all sorts of designs and mosaics to display in your room. Here, the possibilities are endless. Use colors that compliment your color scheme or add pizzazz to walls. You can adhere them directly to the wall (be sure to check your hall’s policy regarding this), on canvas, or frame it. Just go to a local home improvement store, Lowes, Menards, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Sherwin Williams, etc. and find a bunch of paint chips and let your creativity flow.

        One last way to utilize paint chips is to make notebooks. Although this is not a décor idea, they can be helpful for various classes to take notes. Use the long strip-like sample. Fold so one side is longer than the other. Next, fold the extra length to cover the shorter side to create a matchbook style notebook. Then cut about 20 pieces of paper to fit inside the book. Staple the paper to bottom flap and fold the top into the flap. Finally, decorate the cover however you want!

        Paint chips are an excellent way to add color and personality to your room. Keep checking back each week for more tips and suggestions to help you create your home away from home. 

Some Dos and Don’ts for Residence Hall Rooms

Inspired by the article by Kaelin Tripp

Whether moving in for the first time or returning for another year in the res halls, there are some dos and don’ts to be aware of when preparing to pack. Below are a few suggestions to keep in mind that we hope will make your first few weeks less stressed.

            It can be easy to want to buy everything you can possibly think of for your room, as well as pack every article of clothing, jewelry, stuffed animal, CD, and poster you own. However, you do not want to over buy or over pack. Keep in mind that you will most likely be sharing a room and won’t have a ton of space to store all your belongings. You may want to consider waiting to buy small accessories and storage units until after you settle into your room. This way you can have a better idea of exactly what you want and 
need. Also, be sure to pack wisely. Think about the season and weather then decide what clothes seem the most practical. Narrow down to the essentials; you can always switch your clothes out at breaks such as fall break and Thanksgiving break. Keeping this in mind will also help ease the check in process when you try to move everything into your room.

          One thing you may want to keep in mind 
when deciding what to buy for your room is the importance of light. All rooms will come with an overhead florescent light; however, if you do not like the brightness of the fluorescent light, don’t just sit in the dark. Additional lighting can help bring atmosphere to the room and make it feel homier. The gleam provided from a floor lamp, desk lamp, or string lights can help you better control the brightness of your room and create the environment you want to live in.

            When planning the layout of your room, keep in mind that you do not want to live at your desk. Yes, this space is good for studying and completing tasks; however, consider creating specified sections in your room that are conducive to your lifestyle. These can help keep your room organized and also ensure that you do not spend all your time in one space. For example, designate your desk for studying and your bed for relaxing; if you enjoy reading, read for school at your desk and read for fun in your bed.

            Finally, be sure to bring some sort of décor for your walls; you do not want to stare at blank walls all day. Before moving in, print off some pictures of family and friends or find one or two posters to fill the space. Finding décor that is also functional helps save space. Cork boards and bulletin boards allow you to hang pictures, notes, cards, jewelry, and other accessories. Throughout the summer, we will have more tips and ideas to help you create some crafty and unique décor. Remember to find items that show off your personality and help you create your home away from home.