Self-Improvement

The holiday season is now in full swing, which means tons of shopping and even more wrapping of gifts.

’Tis the season of cheer and happiness. Christmas carols are playing from every car radio  emphasizing the holiday spirit. The only roadblock between that last final and Christmas morning is the copious amounts of gifting that has been put off to the last minute.

Black Friday sales have come and gone, but Christmas is quickly approaching and there are still many presents to be bought. As busy college students, we don’t have the time or money to spend on over priced Christmas gifts. Buying gifts can be tedious and very time consuming, and with finals season right around the corner, buying presents needs to be as quick and time efficient as possible.

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to think of giving. Surrounded by so many options, it’s hard to pick out an individual, personalized gift that you know your loved one will appreciate. Instead of going with a mainstream gift this year, why not give a gift that gives back?

As you’re curled up in (your childhood) bed, watching the Macy’s Day Parade on TV or helping out in the kitchen, you may start to wonder what your Penn State friends are up to.

Is it just me, or is the weather in State College getting colder and colder as the days go by?

For those of you who are dreading the chill and grayness of winter, there is hope. Winter doesn’t have to be the most depressing season. Here are some warm, fun and easy ways to defeat those blues.

This past summer I bartended to support myself through an unpaid internship, I came to rely heavily on tips, as my hourly base pay was only $2.83. After this experience, I never tip less than 15 percent at dinner, always tip 20 percent or more if the waitress goes above and beyond, and base my bar tips on how expensive my order is (i.e. $4 bill gets a $2 tip, $8 bill gets a $4 tip, etc.).

Now that we’re well past the halfway point of the semester, do you find your life is not as organized as it was back in August?…

All dressed up and out in the streets for Halloween, sometimes things get weird. We asked around for embarrassing Halloween stories, but we’ll keep our contributors’ identities incognito.

Fall has arrived… and with it the season for flu shots. Per usual, the Student Health Center will offer fall flu clinics every Tuesday and Thursday of this month (check the UHS website for posted dates, hours and locations) – and, even though students are aware of the benefits that come with vaccination, there will always be those who hesitate. To many, needles rank among the scariest of Halloween’s ghouls and goblins. With that we couldn’t agree more, which is why we looked for (and found) a much less frightening option.

Do you have the mid-semester blues? Have tests, quizzes and essays got you down? Are you too stressed out eat, breathe or shower? If any of these questions apply to you, listen up! Meditation may be just what you need.

Parent’s Weekend has come and gone, and your homesickness may be even harder to suppress than before. Missing home is common among all college students (upperclassmen included!). It’s okay to long for the comforts of home, but if you’re fighting back tears, let us at least help you get through until winter break.

It’s 7 a.m. Your dreaded alarm goes off and you roll out of bed, brush your teeth, grab a low-calorie breakfast bar and head to…

Growing up, my Italian grandma was a constant source of scrumptious Italian food, but her stuffed peppers weren’t necessarily…healthy. Instead of stuffing peppers with high-carb, low-nutrient ingredients, I’ve put a bit of a vegetarian twist on this Italian favorite.

Co-living is a challenge. Whether it’s your first or last year, whether living on campus or off, the main challenge is to be a good…

Is it a coincidence that Carly Rae Jepsen’s infectious pop song can be heard all over campus just as summer break approaches? Maybe, baby, maybe…

It’s nice to feel appreciated, which is why some of State College’s finest stores offer customer appreciation rewards. The first Thursday of every month is…

As the semester winds down, graduating seniors can now pass their elderly knowledge and advice on to the younger PSU student body. While we only…

Looking for a study break, or an exciting way to exercise? Instead of paying for a gym membership you hardly use, get fit with one…

We’re all aware of the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. So in honor of Earth Day coming up on April 22, start thinking about saving…