On Volunteering at the Color Run

Do you like getting covered in color, meeting new friends, and getting a free t-shirt, but you aren't so keen on running? Then I highly recommend volunteering at the Color Run when it comes to your city! On Saturday my roommate Valeri and I went down to St. Louis to volunteer at the Color Run. We had no idea what we would be doing, but we got lucky and were assigned to be "color throwers," the people who pelt the runners with colored corn starch along the race course. Despite the fact that mother nature rained on us for most of the time, we had an awesome experience and can't wait to go back next year!

Now, anyone who knows me can tell you, when I get excited about doing something, I research the crap out of it. I make lists, read review blogs, watch YouTube videos, and basically gather as much information as I possibly can. However, when it comes to the Color Run, there seemed to be tons of advice for runners, but not a whole lot for volunteers. So, here I present to you a list of tips for Color Run Volunteers:

• Show up to check in a little early. We showed up about 15 minutes early and we were asked where we wanted to volunteer.
• If you have some sort of delusions that you will be less messy than the runners, you couldn't be more wrong. As such, bring a full change of clothes. Like, down to your underwear. Everything you wear while volunteering will end up in a trash bag in your trunk.
• On that note, bring a trash bag to put your dirty clothes in. Your car will thank you.
• Bring wipes and/or washcloths and gallon jugs of water to clean yourself off with after the race.
• Bring cash for parking. Most Color Runs are held in large cities where you will have to pay to park, and most lots/garages won't take cards.
• On that note, bring your ID and bank card.
• Make sure to eat before you arrive and make plans to eat right after you leave. You'll be wiped out and super hungry.
• Dress to work, you'll probably be doing more manual labor than you think. Along with throwing color, we helped to do all of the set-up and break-down for the orange color zone which included unloading and assembling flags and inflatables as well as unrolling tarps on each side of the track and hauling around barrels of color. What I'm saying is, a sundress and flip flops aren't going to cut it.
• Bring sheets or drop cloths to cover your car's seats. Unless you're after a custom rainbow-colored interior. 
• Make friends with your fellow volunteers, be enthusiastic, and have fun!

Volunteering was a really great time and I highly recommend it for almost anyone (little kids are probably a no-go, but the 12+ set will have a blast!)! So sign up to volunteer, get a free shirt, and have an awesome day!

DIY Lens Burritos

Behold! The long-awaited (Sorry, Sarah!), much anticipated How to make a DIY lens burrito blog tutorial! Wheee! Here goes....

 

Why It's Convenient to Be Crafty

    So... I'm shamefully aware that I haven't posted a blog in a while. I'm really trying to get better about that. Presently I'm working on my Junior Seminar, so hopefully I'll get around to posting some of my more lovely shots. Anyway, I wanted to post something quick before I scurry off to choir rehearsal, so I give you:

Why It's Convenient to Be Crafty

1. Whenever you need a gift for someone (birthday, baby shower, thanks-for-helping-me-move, etc) people always love hand made gifts. A friend helped me move (twice!) last summer, and as a thank-you I gave him a mug that I made. He was so excited about it!
2. You see a dress/skirt/bag you love, (on Modcloth, at Target, whatever) but it's out of your price range. Never fear! You can make that yourself! (This is especially handy when you're in college and more than six dollars is "out of your price range.")
3. You have a convenient source of income that doesn't require that you even leave your house. You're already making beanies/necklaces/backpacks/dresses/lens cozies/headbands, so why not make money while you're doing it?
4. You make all kinds of friends in your college dorm because you have all sorts of oddball tools/supplies that people never knew they needed. Pliers? Check! Iron? Check! Stamping ink? Check! 23 colors of glitter? Check! 3 different finishes of Mod Podge? Check! Spring-loaded scissors? Check!
5. You can do all of your own mending! You are not among those silly folk who have to throw away their favorite pair of jeans just because they have a mere tear in the thigh or a hole in the pocket!
6. You will also make tons of friends because people know that you know how to do really oddball things like stencil t-shirts with no screen printing supplies, fix broken suspenders, develop film photographs, and a whole other list of unusual activities.

There are obviously many other reasons, but that's what you get for now. Have an excellent Tuesday night!

So, It's December...

Hello, my fine readers (all 8 of you.), so it's December and I haven't published any posts since October 5th...

Oops....

Anyway, I've had a crazy busy semester. Just one thing after another on the personal chaos front and (to put it in perspective for you) taking on Junior Seminar actually seems less stressful than having to live the past semester over again. The good news is, it will be over in 4 days and I can spend a month basking in the fabulousness of my friends and family.

Does anyone out there have any amazing plans for Christmas (or your chosen winter holiday) break? I'm going to take part in the aforementioned basking as well as having myself a belated 21st birthday party! I'm also going to try to land a few small photography jobs, so hit me up on Facebook if you need pictures of any sort! I can even shoot black and white film for you few purists out there.

Also, I just sneezed with soda in my mouth and ended up spitting it all over my tank top, so that's a thing that happened.

On that note, I'll be changing my shirt now. Have a lovely evening and look forward to some fun DIYs as Christmas grows closer (and the broke among us grow more desperate for gift ideas)!

The Hipster Conundrum

    A "thing" recently is Hipsters. Hipsters I guess are supposed to have a love of all things off-beat, indie, or vintage, and eschew anything that could be considered popular or mainstream, unless they like it ironically. Hipsters are huge into dry wit and irony.

   The term "hipster" means so many things these days that I'm pretty sure I could relevantly attach it to almost anyone. Except Snookie. Snookie is not a Hipster.

    Anyway, a lot of my friends call me a hipster. I used to argue with them about it, but I've just kind of accepted it at this point. I mean, if someone calls you a hipster and you come back with, "No, I'm not!" all they're going to say is, "That's what all hipsters say." and if you just agree with them, well then you've agreed with them. I mean, I love a good thrift shop as much as the next girl, I could spend hours drooling over so-ugly-they're-cute clothes on American Apparel, and I'm sarcastic as the day is long, also, I've started ironically calling myself a hipster, just to confuse people.

Saving Summer Memories: The Harvest Moon Drive-In

    Okay, folks, you're going to have to excuse this shamelessly promotional post, because it's really important to me.

    How many of you have ever gone to a drive-in movie? Those of you who have know that it's an experience like none other, and those that haven't are missing out. When you go to a drive-in movie you're not just going into a theater, sitting down, and watching a film, you're having an experience. You get there early to ensure a good parking spot. You enjoy the cheesy old music playing on the radio while you grill out, spend time with friends and family, and wait for the movie to start. Maybe you plan to watch the movie from the comfort of your lawn chairs, or maybe you're relaxing with blankets and snacks in the back of your date's el camino, or maybe you have 4 teenagers crammed in the front of your boyfriend's tiny car so everyone can see. No matter what you're doing, you're sure to have an experience that's uniquely yours. 

    Drive-ins are literally the perfect Friday night for anyone: families with little kids, nursing moms, families with teenagers, dates, groups of friends, mom and dad's date night. You can enjoy the drive in any way you need to, so you can do whatever is easiest and most comfortable for you and your group. 

    Here's where it gets sticky: The Harvest Moon Drive-In is scheduled to close next year if they can't raise $120,000 to convert their facilities to play digital films, which really really sucks. So many people, myself included, have a lifetime of memories at the Harvest Moon from family trips, dates with boys, to taking my best friend on a "date" and tumbling out of the back of my van :P the Harvest Moon has been a part of some of my favorite memories, and I can't imagine my kids not being able to make their own memories there in the future. So if you have even a dollar to spare, would you do me a favor? Head over to The Harvest Moon's Kickstarter campaign and show your support for one of our nation's fastest dwindling icons. Also, check out their website and see why it's an amazing place worth saving.

Countdown to College: Good Gifts and Target's "College Stuff" List

    Hear that whizzing sound? That's the rest of Summer 2012 flying by, and guess what? That means most of us have about 2 weeks to finish up our back-to-school shopping. Now, if you're new at this college thing, chances are you're freaking out at least a little bit about what you need to bring. The list your school gave you at orientation seems a little light, and you don't want to show up with wayyy more stuff than can fit in your dorm room, so here are a few tips to get started:

1. Check your school's website for things you absolutely cannot have in your dorm room, especially when it comes to small cooking appliances and pet policies. 
2. If possible, schedule a time to visit your dorm room to get a feel for how much space you'll have and to measure for things like rugs and curtains if they're not provided by your school.

    Okay, about Target's list. The first thing to remember is, as much as I love Target (ask anyone who knows me, I reeeally love Target), they are a store and the first purpose of this list is to get you to buy things. On the flip side, it actually does suggest several items that will be very helpful and you may not have thought about bringing. So, below you will find three lists: Things from the list that you DON'T need, things from the list that you DO need, and things you DO need that aren't on the list.

Things From the List You Don't Need:

• A "lounge chair." Unless you have a huge bedroom, you probably won't have space for one. Now you could go all fraternity chic and buy an inflatable chair so you could store it when it's not in use.
• A wall clock. Chances are you're bringing at least two of the following: a cell phone, a watch, an iPod, or an alarm clock. All of these will tell you the time.
• Decorative pillows. This goes right back to the space issue. That being, you don't have any.
• Poster frames. Unless you're super anal about keeping your posters pristine, you can just roll them all up in a large mailing tube and transport them that way, then tape/command strip/sticky tack them to your wall. Frames for all of them are just more things to have to carry in and out of your dorm.
• Door mirror. Disclaimer: This is one of those things to look for on your dorm visit. Most of the dorms I've seen provide one for you, but I can imagine there are some that don't.
• Microwave. Again, check your school's policy. Most schools I've seen don't allow them in your dorm room, but provide one for the floor/dorm to use.
• Toaster oven. See the note for the microwave.
• Dish caddy. I don't even know what a dish caddy is. I just carry my dishes to the sink, and if I have too many I rinse out my plastic laundry basket and use that.
• Webcam. Disclaimer: If you have a desktop computer, you may need one. Most laptops, however, come with one built in.
• Calculator. Unless you're a math major or another major which requires high math, the one in your phone will probably do just fine.
• Tablet. If you have a computer you don't really need a tablet. I'm sure they're nice to have, but not something I would consider a "need."
• Gaming system. I know many of my friends would contest this, but this is just something I don't see as a "need" based item.

Things From the List You Do Need:

• "Bed bug protection kit" or just a regular mattress cover. Just because you never know what happened on that mattress last year. Just sayin'.
• Disinfecting wipes. Three simple reasons: vomit, flu season, and disease spreads faster in dorms than head lice in preschool.
• Alarm clock, because nobody likes getting up for 8am classes.
• Underbed storage. Remember that your dorm room is probably tiny and underbed storage is a great way to get a lot of use out of a largely underused storage area.
• 3M Command Hooks. These are awesome, especially when you're not allowed to put holes in the walls with nails or tacks. They will hold up significant weight (Just not an entire fan. Story available upon request.) and don't damage paint.
• Bed risers. To reeeeally get the most out of your underbed storage, bed risers can add up to 8 inches of space.
• Shower caddy. Slippery bottles, loofahs, razors, and my toothbrush all have one thing in common: you can't carry them all to the shower in your hands and still hold your towel up, and for the love of God, please hold your towel up.
• Iron. Good for so many things: pressing dress clothes, doing arts and crafts, making grilled cheese Benny and Joon style.
• Coffee maker. Among the things you can make in a coffee maker: tea, ramen noodles, rice krispie treats, and also coffee.
• Power strips and extension cords. Among the things to look for if you see your room before you move in is how many outlets there are and where they are located.

Things From the "Stuff for Apartments" List You Do Need:

• Broom & Dustpan or Vacuum
• Toilet paper. If you live in a dorm, chances are that the janitorial service doesn't work weekends, and that means your bathroom may run out of toilet paper. Which is crappy. See what I did there?
• Duct tape. Duh.
• A box fan, especially if your dorm room isn't air conditioned.
• Small tool kit with things like a screwdriver, a box knife (if allowed in dorms), duct tape, a flashlight, etc.

Things Not On the List That You Do Need:

• Baby wipes. Trust me, they're good for everything from cleaning up sticky spills to taking off make  up.
• A well-stocked first aid kit. You can use this link to get to a blog post where I discuss how to make one.

    I hope that helped! The final part of this post is a list of the most useful gifts I was given when I was going away to college for the first time.

• A hand-made fleece throw blanket from my Aunt Kari. I seriously use it all the time, be it sitting on my floor while I'm crafting, curled up watching movies, or needing a small blanket to carry on the train. It's so handy.
• A shower caddy. See above description of why you need one.
• An electric skillet from some friends of my parents'. It's super handy for grilling chicken, making grilled cheese (not Benny and Joon style) and other cooking ventures where I don't have access to a stove.
• Clothespin fridge magnets which double as chip-clips.

    I'll post some other things if I think of them. Other than that, if you have been or are currently in college, what items did you find helpful and/or necessary? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!