It is one of the biggest frustrations in the world to me is when I am watching a show or movie and the characters just always end up with someone. I mean, I get that it’s the television and it’s the job of the media to always assume a happy ending is in sight but come on, why can’t guys get the guts to ask a girl out?

I see it all the time, guys and girls give each other sweet looks and flirtatious vibes but nothing EVER comes of it. Why is that? For me, I am definitely old-fashioned when it comes to dating, which is a kind of death sentence nowadays seeing as how much society is changing from previous years. As much as I am willing to bend the rules for things, I firmly believe that the guy should be the one to ask the girl out. The problem with this, is that I feel like guys are becoming more and more lazy and the girls are tired of waiting so they end up making the first move and taking the plunge. Which to be perfectly honest, there’s nothing wrong with it, I am just really old-fashioned, as I have said before and I feel like if the girl has enough guts to take that risk, what’s that say about the guy that they’re interested in?

 That is another reason I feel like the guy needs to have enough of a back bone to not be so scared. I understand the fear of being rejected, but think about the fear of actually saying no, because to be honest, that’s a scary and nerve-wrecking part of that could come up as well. However, you also have to think about the excitement if the girl says yes. Bear with me here, I am not the only one that feels this way. Several of my single friends out there have had some of these same concerns. Any thoughts behind these reasons or anything?

I read an interesting article today on the New York Times talking about how half of the population is single out there and most of them did not choose that lifestyle by choice. It discusses several reasons why there are so many singles out there and the differences an education makes them. It really makes you think about your life and what you want it to be like.

Let me know what you think about any of this. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated

Finals are one of the hardest times of year. I hate this time of the semester because it is sort of like a last chance to get your act together and its the last chance to up your grade. A lot of teachers also hate finals as well. Which, to tell you the truth, I find to be really ironic because if the students hate taking them, and the professors hate giving them, why must we have them at all? It’s a good question to ask and it makes you question the University’s reasonings behind giving them.

Anyways, I always do pretty well on my finals, (probably because it’s the time where I know that it will be the last time I will ever have to take the class.) However, I always have my select few classes that I really cram for, so much, so that my brain is completely fried afterwards. Typically I will stay up late cramming or just pull an all-nighter, just to accomplish a two-hour test for a class that I’ve had for 16 weeks. If you do the math, that’s a lot of hours to memorize and know.

One of my traditions is about not letting the tests get to me too much. I always look for ways to take a stress breather, where you have time to yourself and give yourself a little love. This week I’m getting a manicure, which might not sound too impressive to you, but to a girl who never has time to do her nails, this is a God-send. I definitely recommend that you all take a stress reliever. Go to the gym, get a haircut, watch a movie; do something to get your mind off the tests. Even if it is just for 10 minutes, its 10 minutes for you to get re-energized and have a clear head to focus on the next chapter of your 500 page textbook.

For those of you looking for tips or tricks to help you get into finals mode, here is a great link from the ehow website.

Surviving Final Week

P.S. Don’t be a stranger! Go ahead and leave me some love…or hate, lol.

Gift giving around the holidays is one of the most expensive times of year

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are one of the busiest and most expensive times of the year for consumers and shops. The crowds are stressing over what expensive gift they’re going to splurge on for their loved ones. The stores are trying to keep things organized and please every customer. For college students, this can be the one time of year where they will literally go broke looking for gifts for their loved ones.

Brittany McClenahan, junior at Southeastern University, searches for an affordable gift for her mother.

“It’s really hard for me to save up for the holidays, along with everything that I need for school” said Brittany McClenahan, junior at Southeastern. “I have to start saving for it over the summer.”

Most students have started saving already as well as it is easier to save over time, rather than splurge at one time. Some have taken up extra jobs to afford the gift giving season.

“I have a temporary weekend job being a valet in Orlando. It helps me pay for the gifts that I have to get my family” said Genesis Morales, sophomore at Southeastern. Morales has been working there since November.

With small expenses and the job market being limited, students have had to resort to the sales racks and out-of-the-box gift ideas. There are websites and books on how to design your own gifts. It’s a great idea, especially if you’re low on cash and in need of several gifts. Students are able to make different gifts such as blankets and scarves with supplies they can easily afford from stores like Wal-Mart and Michael’s.

Walmart is typically a student favorite with their low prices and availability of products.

Practical gifts are typically best. It is also good to save on Wrapping, by reusing bags that you have from previous years.

“I’ve always made some of my own gifts to help me save money. I’m really good when it comes to painting and crafting. Plus it implies that I took a  little more care into giving the best gift!” said Lindsay Arentz. “I just gave a T-shirt and Christmas ornaments as a gift after I painted Charlie Brown characters on them. My friend loved it.”

Ingredients for "Dirt Pudding". An easy gift idea for someone for a holiday party or gathering.

Other students have given out food or baked goods to supply a lot of gifts to their friends under a limited budget. There are several recipes that can be found online for snacks that don’t require an oven or stove to make. Students tend to make sweet treats to hand out to their friends because it is cheap and you can give portions out to groups of people.

Cookies are easy to make and you can give them out in little Christmas bags, or on a plate for a party.

Candy canes are a popular small gift for the holidays.

“I like to give out candy canes and muddie-buddies, which are kind of like these chocolate and peanut butter chips with powdered sugar on top,” said Maryssa Chaplin. “I have a lot of people who I want to give things to, and snacks are the easiest thing to hand out to a lot of people.”

Christmas themed gifts are a big trend during this time of year.

Another popular and cheap gift among college students are items that will go on sale during the holidays. Christmas items that start to show up after Thanksgiving are very affordable with students and are great gifts to buy for your professors.

“I like to get my favorite professors a mug for the holidays. It’s simple but also thoughtful and it tells them that I’ll be thinking of them over the holidays,” said Eric Stump, sophomore at Southeastern.

Whether students have saved up for months, or even just days, the holidays have become a time where giving is much greater than receiving. Most people can’t wait to give back to their friends and family, for all that has happened over the year. It is the most important time of year, where college students must be smart and careful when it comes to spending their money. As much as students would like to give, they must also watch out for the significant investment they have to make in order to give gifts to their loved ones.