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It’s time for another awesome installment of (cue audience shouting) STUFF-WE-LIKE!

1.  Not using paper cups and plastic bottles

Throwing away paper cups and plastic bottles not only puts a huge strain on your budget, but on the planet—a plastic bottle takes a thousand years to degrade in a landfill. Kick the throwaway habit with these sweet things from Organize.com. Take your own “Not a Paper Cup”(it’s ceramic)

Fool everyone with how awesome you are. Looks like a paper cup, but ISN'T.

to Starbucks, and switch out bottled water to a super cool Nalgene. Even better?

Refill, not Landfill. Take that, water bottles.

Win it for free! Organize.com and DYD are giving them away! Check out below.

2.  Natural Bug Killer

You’re already having to share a dorm with a roommate. Last thing you want is to share it with some six-to-eight-legged freeloaders. But in the tiny living space of a dorm, where your bed counts as a work space, sleep spot, and kitchen table, wafting around toxic chemicals is not a good idea either. Enter EcoSmart: pest control for the home/dorm that is super-safe and effective. They use natural oils instead of chemicals, to “ attack octopamine neuro-receptors” of bugs. That’s big talk for keeping bugs away without turning your ramen into a toxic soup. And we’re keeping your ramen safe for free! EcoSmart is giving away a Safe Home Value bundle (worth 25 bucks) complete with everything you need to keep creepy-crawlies off you and your crew, including their natural bug killer. Check it out below!

3. Fancy Fast Food

Sonic Cherry Limeade reincarnated as Soniccian Borscht, which is some unpronounceable sweet soup.    This blog is genius. Here’s the gist: he takes fast food, whips it around, and using it and only it, turns it into some unrecognizable super classy cuisine. You gotta see it to believe it. Give the recipes a try, and hey, you might just be able to pass off Mickey D’s as a classy dinner.

4. The Real College Guide

Something’s named the Real College Guide, you know they’ve got some good stuff.  They’ve got advice on everything from throwing the best graduation party to how national healthcare reform is affecting us students. Best part? A huge amount of their content is written by students themselves. So, you’ve got questions? Head over to The Real College Guide, fan them on Facebook, or ask questions on twitter, and get some Real Answers.

5. Winning free stuff!

So this week to spice things up, we’re giving away stuff we like! We’re giving away the super cool ceramic travel mug and Nalgene bottle from Organize.com, and the Safe Home value bundle from EcoSmart pesticides.  All this stuff is eco-friendly, green, and safe, just to prove how easy it is to be a little bit greener.  Wanna enter? Make sure you’re registered for a DYD account, then head over to our Facebook page and let us know what little thing(s) you’re doing to be a bit greener. Wanna win the EcoSafe bug killer? Let us know your fears of bugs, and why you need it. Or, comment right here on our blogs! Winners will be picked next Friday!

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A good night’s sleep is essential for a whole slew of reasons. There’s strong evidence that regular sleep keeps down weight, keeps up brain power, and generally, ensures you won’t doze off during O-Chem and miss the pop quiz.

But suddenly being with a roommate, in a noisy dorm, with way too much going on, sleep is often one of those first things to go.

Don’t let it! If you’re one of those people blessed with being able to sleep through a freight train (or the school marching band playing outside your window—been there, done that) then may the force be with you, but for the rest of us, here are some tips to be like this kitteh and fall asleep anywhere.

1. Set a bedtime

It may sound crazy, but mentally deciding when you want to hit the pillow will give you more motivation to get off Facebook and actually get into bed.  Crucial when you have a big day tomorrow. And just a note: it may make sense to work out right before bed, to exhaust yourself, but it’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Working out runs endorphins through your body, and actually, gives you a boost of energy, making you fidgety before bed.

2. Take some tech-free time

Before bed, take some you time to unwind. Do your bed-time ritual and then  read (not for school). Use a mini light if you have to, but turning off the laptop’s blue light and hunkering down with a book  or magazine you actually want to read will ease you into sleep. Especially if you’re reading one of these toughest books.

3. Or make tech your friend

Listening to music on full-blast is not gonna go well with your roommate, but grab an iPod and make a playlist. Make sure it ends after a few songs (so a sweet and unexpected  drum solo doesn’t wake you up at 4am) and lull yourself to bed.  It sounds cheesy, but try layering the sound of rain over a soft song. Just try it, and see how quick you’re zonked out. Got an iPhone? Check out this sweet app that analyzes your sleep cycle, and wakes you up gently.

4. Arm yourself

Having a roommate means you’re gonna get interrupted. Whether someone needs a light on when you’re trying to sleep, or you’re experiencing the lovely intocxicated-roommate-back-at-4am-and-wants-to-enter-a-discourse-about-Cheetos syndrome, you’re gonna be woken up. UNLESS You’re armed. Try a sleep mask and some earplugs. Hearing your own breathing and sleeping with something on your face can be tough, but give them a try for a week or so and see if it works for you.

5. Nap!

Studies have shown that taking a short (read: not three-hour in front of the couch watching Real Housewives) nap actually resets your brain, refreshes you, and prepares you for cramming a lot more in there.  Got early classes?  Slap on the eye mask and sleep for an hour in the afternoon. Just make sure you get up and get going again after.

Got any sleeping tips of your own? Let us know! And get some inspiration from CuteThingsFallingAsleep.com.

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Remember… Contest ends this Friday!!!

1) Skip the Soda

College freshmen are delighted to find soda machines with “free refills” at their dining halls and food courts.  After all, who doesn’t like the taste of a sweet, sparkling beverage with their breakfast, lunch, and dinner? But beware, that soda is far from thirst quenching.  Large amounts of added sodium only make you want to drink more and more… Why don’t we taste all that salt?  Because of an enormous amount of high fructose corn syrup that masks it.  And I haven’t even mentioned the caffeine yet.

Eliminating the liquid calories of soda from your diet is the easiest way to keep off that unwanted layer of fat.  And after a couple weeks, you won’t even miss it.

2) Take a PE Class

If you find yourself with unused class credits, don’t let them go to waste (they were probably pretty expensive).  Instead, use them to take one of your school’s PE courses.  Not only the best way to make you stick to your workout plan, you also stand to learn a lot of fitness/athletic tips from an educated expert.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, or worry that you’ll be the only girl in “Weight Training” or the one guy taking “Yoga”.  Think of it as a great way to meet a hot date.

Bonus tip- Consider taking the class pass fail if you don’t want any extra academic pressure.  For a simple GPA boost, opt for the letter grade.

3) Find a Workout Buddy

Whether your fitness plan involves weights or swimming, basketball or running, try to team up with a friend.  Sometimes it’s hard to stay dedicated with all the new freedoms and distractions of college, so being able to push each other will have huge benefits.  Not only will your unwanted love handles stay away, but you’ll probably also find your bond as friends gets stronger too.

Tip- don’t choose a workout partner who you know will be more harm than good.  If your buddy becomes a bad influence, then you might need a replacement.

4) Take it Easy on the Alcohol

Like soda, Alcohol is another prime suspect for causing the freshman 15.  Not only does drinking provide a large spike in empty calories, but alcohol has even been called an anti-nutrient because it impedes our bodies absorption of other nutrients.  Alcohol is in fact a poisonous “toxin”, so it has a lengthy list of negative effects on your body.  Check out this quick article to learn more:

http://www.healtalk.com/public/64.shtml

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa65.htm

Maybe next time, you’ll skip that extra game of beer pong?

5) Eat Regularly

Yah, that’s right… eating regularly will actually help you to maintain a healthy body and weight.  That doesn’t mean eating a Big Mac every hour, but periodically consuming healthy snacks will help you to keep your metabolism awake.  One of the worst habits of a college student trying to lose weight is skipping meals:  By prompting your metabolism to slow down, your body goes into conservation mode, so it works to RETAIN the calories you consume at your big dinner at the end of the day.  Healthy snacks to consider:  Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, almonds…

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The days of home cooked meals are over. Mom is no longer there to nourish you with the 5 daily food groups at every meal. The decision of what to eat is now in your hands and vegetables are no longer mandatory.  Are you going to choose to eat healthy, somewhat healthy, or abandon dietary restraints all together?

For many schools, the choices for what to eat are endless. You got your fast food like McDonalds, Burger King, Panda Express, Taco Bell and Subways, but then you are also provided with various Cafeteria options (and salad bars) where you can customize exactly what you want to eat.  While the choice seems to be easy if you are trying to eat healthy, you will be surprised how many times you are in a rush to class and choose the easy option like McDonald’s. It is also difficult to stick to “healthier” foods when all of your friends are eating whatever they please. The keys to eating well are also quite similar to doing well in school: time management and planning ahead.

Holiday Season: Buy a Healthy Care Package!

Every day for the most part you will have a pretty set schedule of classes. Try to structure your meals around your class and homework schedule. For example: If you know you have to wake up early and won’t have time to go and get food, plan a quick healthy breakfast¹². Realistically, you will spend a good amount of time on campus and be subjected to the dining facilities that the University provides. If you decide to have a sandwich for lunch, choose wheat bread instead of white and only add a very small amount of condiments if possible. These are just two small examples of the many things you can do on a daily basis.

Most kids these days have a decent understanding between what is healthy and what is not. Student’s go off to school and hear of the dreaded “Freshmen 15”, but don’t think it could ever happen to them. The truth is, it can happen to anyone! It’s completely normal to splurge once in a while, but as long as you follow some of these basic health tips you should be fine. Below are some helpful links that can guide you to a healthier lifestyle.

Helpful Links:

1)   A Health Nuts Guide to a Quick and Healthy Breakfast – http://gomestic.com/cooking/a-health-nuts-guide-to-a-quick-and-healthy-breakfast/

2)   We Test it: Healthy Cereal – http://www.prevention.com/health/nutrition/smart-shopping/healthy-cereals-9-best-tasting-and-healthy-cereals/article/74f950d1fa803110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/

3)   College Eating and Fitness 101: A Guide for College Students – http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/college101.html

4)   Healthy Dining in the Dorms – http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1200&page=2

5)   5 Quick and Healthy Foods to Keep in your Dorm: http://www.healthcastle.com/newsrelease_2007-06-19-5-quick-and-healthy-foods-to-keep-in-your-dorm.shtml