valley magazine

Weighing In: Making Christmas Cookies Healthy

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December means Christmas, and Christmas means cookies. While we could never say a bad word about cookies, it’s easier than you may think to mindlessly eat an entire day’s work of calories just in Christmas cookies. This doesn’t mean you need to give up sprinkled snowman cutouts altogether, though. There are simple substitutions you can make while baking to eliminate some of the fat and calories in your cookies.

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Meet Your 2015 Homecoming Executive Director, Brandon Rittenhouse.

Meet Your 2015 Homecoming Executive Director, Brandon Rittenhouse.

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The 2014 Homecoming celebrations took place in State College not long ago, but planning has already begun for next year. Penn State junior Brandon Rittenhouse was elected as the 2015 Homecoming Executive Director on Oct 27. He sat down with Valley to share his excitement for the future, and offer a word of advice to students seeking involvement. Read on to get to know your new Homecoming director!

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Haunted Houses: Behind the Screams

Haunted Houses: Behind the Screams

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One of the greatest traditions of the Halloween season is visiting haunted houses, tapping into your fear, and having a great night with some friends. When I was in high school I was lucky enough to have an awesome seasonal job. I got to be an actor in a haunted house. While I worked there I had some of the best times of my life because I got to see people from all walks of life react differently to the fear they experienced in the haunted house.

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Trick or Treat for UNICEF

Trick or Treat for UNICEF

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Before college, even before high school, our Halloweens were filled with Disney Channel movies, candy and ultimately trick or treating. Fast forward about 10 years later, and things have changed. While the costume parades and class parties are long gone, there is one thing Penn State students can do to relive their childhood: Trick or Treating for UNICEF.

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How to Tailgate (The Right Way)

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As if you didn’t already know, tailgates are one of the highlights of every football season—scratch that, every fall semester. What’s better than hauling your favorite party dips and bevvies up to the stadium to consume with your friends and family and pump yourself up for yet another great game? Let us answer that for you—nothing, friends, nothing.

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Covert Advice: On Approachability

Covert Advice: On Approachability

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Dear Thoughtful Penn Stater,

A few days ago, you asked me a question that really hit home: Why do you think cute (and normal) girls don’t get approached by guys? If we’re being honest, I think I’m a pretty girl and I don’t think I’m one of those “psycho chicks,” but I never really get much attention from guys, as in guys don’t ask for my number, things like that. Why do you think this happens? What should I do to be more approachable?

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You Are What You Wear: Valley Chats with Penn State Fashion Blogger Simi OA

You Are What You Wear: Valley Chats with Penn State Fashion Blogger Simi OA

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Simi OA is a fifth-year senior from Lagos, Nigeria gracing Penn State with an unbeatable sense of style. Busy with her double major in psychology and business, Simi found spare time to create a blog sharing her passion for fashion with other college students. Although the site was started for fun, “House of Àrà” has gained feature on popular fashion websites like CollegeFashionista, Fashion Bomb Daily and The Style Hub.

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What Gone Girl Means for Women

What Gone Girl Means for Women

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Last Monday night I got a call from a guy I’ve been seeing. I picked up the phone to the question: “So, you know how all women are conniving?” and subsequently participated in a conversation in which I was informed that I, as a woman, was deep down exactly like Amy Dunne, and because of that fact he would never trust me. I wasn’t, and am still not, entirely sure how to respond to that conversation. Sure, he was joking, but the conversation made me question if the movie was really that intensely disturbing.

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Career Prep with Royalty: Intern Queen Lauren Berger to Speak with Penn State Students

Career Prep with Royalty: Intern Queen Lauren Berger to Speak with Penn State Students

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Navigating the intimidating waters of internship searches and career building can be a daunting task for everyone. Between cover letters, resumes and interviewing, it can be hard to get a head start and have a competitive edge. But have no fear, InternQueen.com’s CEO and Founder Lauren Berger has got you covered. Berger has teamed up with Ford for the Ford College Ambassador Challenge to provide college students with the tools necessary to become driving forces in the job market.

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Kung Fu Tea

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Any time something new pops up in our rather small Happy Valley, we can’t help but be some of the first to check it out. This past week, we ventured near the Palmerton—under it, actually—to enjoy some bubble tea.
If you haven’t heard about bubble tea, get your head in the game. State College is not new to this drink trend—Tea-Time on McAllister Alley is a popular spot for many students—so naturally another spot is always welcome.

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Bad Neighbors: It Could Be Worse

Bad Neighbors: It Could Be Worse

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Neighbors can be good, or they can be really, really bad. We complain about our neighbors to everyone any chance we get because bad living situations are always the topic of a good conversation. But if you think you have bad neighbors because they blast too much Taylor Swift really late on weekends, here are five students’ stories that prove it could definitely be worse.

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Shopping Made Easy for Tall Girls

Shopping Made Easy for Tall Girls

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Whether it was going through the awkward middle school phase of deciding what homecoming dress would be an “appropriate” length since your knees were two to three inches higher than your friends, or even battling the stress of not wanting to wear heels to prom just so you wouldn’t tower over your date. There is nothing wrong with being a tall girl, but dealing with the constant scrutiny of making sure the little things that other girls don’t have to worry about are in-check becomes a task in itself.

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