How to Have Fun at Home
July 8, 2009 by Alexandra Paul
Although going out is usually a good time, it is a sure fire wire way to break the bank. With drinks costing up to $10, going out can be an expensive past time. However, there are alternatives to spending a ton of money on drinks and cover charges; entertain at home. Okay, maybe that doesn’t sounds like as much fun as a wild night out, but if you are trying to save money this summer, entertaining at home might just be your new best friend. Here are just a few ideas for a fun summer without spending your savings.
1) Drinks from Around the World
Make a Facebook event and invite some of your close friends for a trip around the globe. Ask everyone to come up with one drink (alcoholic or non) from a different country and bring the ingredients to make it. If everyone brings one, you are sure to have a ton of interesting flavors, lots of conversations and some amazing drinks. Change it up and tell people to only bring drinks from places they have personally visited. You not only will have a good time, you might learn something new about your friends.
Photo Credit: Google Images
2) A New Twist on Game Night
Tuesday nights can be a drab at the bars, so change things up and have everyone over to your house for game night. Classic games like charades can actually be a lot of fun if you can get creative with your categories and poker is always a favorite. Keep the wine and food coming and you are sure to have a good time.
Photo Credit: Google Images
3) Get Outside and Play
You don’t have to be a kid to head to the park with some friends to play a game of two hand touch football. Get a bunch of people and meet up at a local park to play a massive game of hide and seek or volleyball. The night will be fun, free and healthy. Let yourself be a kid again and go play!
Photo Credit: Google Images
To have fun this summer, you don’t have to head to the bars, just think outside the box. Get creative with your friends and you will make some memories that will last. Nights at the bar can blur together, but you won’t forget the meals you make together or the late night games at the park. Have fun this summer and save some money!
Keeping in Touch After Graduation
July 3, 2009 by Alexandra Paul
Whether you are graduating from high school or from college, keeping in touch with classmates and friends can be hard work. Although it might be easier to let those very special people slip out of your life, it is important to keep these friends around. Classmates can be connections for future jobs and friends from school are the people you will need to turn to for support and companionship. Here are a few, simple ways to keep in touch with all of those important people you’ve met along the way.
1) Keep a Birthday Calendar
Writing on a Facebook wall is no longer sufficient to send birthday wishes to those people you’ve met in your educational career. Keep a birthday calendar with every important person’s birthday in it and buy a big pack of birthday cards. Everyone loves getting (snail) mail, so make their day and send a birthday card. Showing people that you care and remember about their special days speaks about the type of person you are. It is also a great way to keep in touch without a weekly phone call.
Photo Credit: Google Images
2) Send a Simple Text
It might seem obvious, but how often do you text the friends you met from studying abroad or from class when you are thinking about them? Simple, short and sweet texts are the perfect way to let someone know that you care about them in your daily life. It can be as short as ” I was just thinking about the time we drove to California at 2 am for no reason.” The text doesn’t have to be a start to a major texting session, just an easy way to say hello!
Photo Credit: Google Images
3) Plan a Trip
The best way to maintain important friendships is to do the work and make the trek out to see them. There is no better time than now to book flights to visit friends across the country. Flights are inexpensive and getting around has never been easier. If you have the time, and gas money, plan a road trip with a friend and make the rounds to all of the places where your friends and classmates live.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Keeping in touch with people can only be beneficial to you in the long run. You never know which friend will help you land your dream job, give you a place to crash in New York City, or will introduce you to your future boyfriend or girlfriend. Try hard not to go too long without chatting with or visiting those people who have created so many memories with you.
A New Outlook On Mill Avenue
June 15, 2009 by Alexandra Paul
After turning 21, I was in no rush to hit up the bars on Mill and when I finally did, I was far from impressed. Between the long lines and the too friendly guys, I found Mill to be over-hyped. However, this past weekend I had a few friends come in to town (hence the last blog), and I knew I had to give the infamous strip of bars another go. After a trip to Oregano’s for a glass of wine and a pazookie, the girls from Philly and I met up with some other friends at Chronic Taco. From there the night was full of friends, drinks and a lot of fun! It also gave me a new found faith in Mill!
Photo Credit: Google Images
We hit up Fat Tuesdays for 99 cent drinks and the Big Bang for some great music. After an hour spent dancing like fools, we headed to our final destination at The Tavern. The dancing ensued and some major laughs as well. We woke up the next day with lost voices but remembered how much fun we all had. I know see why Mill Avenue has been the place for college students to party and I don’t think that my friends will have a hard time convincing me to go now that I see just how much fun Mill has to offer!
What to do Before Friends Come in to Town!
June 10, 2009 by Alexandra Paul
Summer is the perfect time to kick back and relax, however if you have a friend coming in to town, relaxing is the last thing you should be doing! Of course it is wonderful to host company but it is also important to make sure that your company is comfortable and enjoying their trip. Just follow these helpful tips to make sure that your friends love their vacation as much as you love hosting them.
1) Clean your house!
So your friend might not be a total clean freak, but either way, he or she won’t want to spend their vacation in your grimy apartment. Show some class and do your laundry, vacuum, and dust! We know that your mom taught you something about cleaning… just try and remember it! A clean house is a great way to show your friends that you really prepared and looked forward to their visit.
Photo Credit: Google Images
2) Offer them your bed!
If you aren’t comfortable sleeping in the same bed as your friend, then it would be best to offer your friend the bed while you sleep on the couch. Allowing them to sleep in your bed can make your guest feel more comfortable and more at home. Don’t forget to put on some fresh sheets before they get there too.
3) Stock your fridge!
It is important to make sure that your place has the basics like breakfast food, coffee, and snacks when preparing for a visit from a friend. If your cupboards are as barren and desolate as they usually are, it will show your guests that you didn’t prepare for them at all. It will also show them just how often you go out to eat. Spare yourself the embaressment and go grocery shopping for the third time in your college career.
Photo Credit: Google Images
4) Plan something!
You don’t have to have the entire weekend mapped out, but it is important to plan at least a few things like a dinner out or a hike just to keep your friends busy. By doing a little planning, your friends will have an even better vacation and you won’t have to be sitting on the couch the whole time. Show them how excited you were for their visit by making reservations at your favorite restaurant; they won’t forget what a great time they had visiting you!
By putting in a little extra time before your friends come in to town, you can ensure that they will have an amazing time; relax and have fun once they get here!
How to go on vacation for less
May 19, 2009 by Kristyna Murphy
Photo Credit: Google Images
Go here for more information: Four Seasons
Smoca.org
Wanting to fly somewhere but think it’s too expensive? Think again. Southwest Airlines has ‘Ding’ that you can download on your computer. Every time there are cheap rates, your computer will ‘ding’. Roundtrips can cost as low as $200 to $250. One way ticket can be purchased for less than $100.
Go here for more information: Southwest Ding
The recession has lead to several cruise lines offering discounts of over 50% on trips to Alaska. Celebrity Cruises, for instance, has trips from Seattle for as low as $57 a night throughout July and August.
Go here for more information: Alaska Cruises
More Tips:
1. Travel with friends, that way you can divide expenses, such as gas and hotel, amongst yourselves.
2. When traveling, a large chunk of your wallet goes toward drive-ins and dining out. Save money by bringing your own cooler with drinks and snacks.
3. Look for fun that is free. Travel somewhere that offers ‘free’ fun, like the beach or the mountains. You can enjoy the view or go hiking.
4. Keep checking Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak, and Farewatcher. The fares change every day and sometimes by the hour.
5. Do your research and plan ahead.
Zipp on over to Zipps
April 11, 2009 by Janell Pratt
Photo Credit: Google Images
Though happy hour is my true calling when it comes to winding down after long, rigorous days…sometimes time is not on my side and I miss that glorious happy hour time frame. Fortunately there is a place my friends and I enjoy going to when we just want to relax and kick back in an inviting atmosphere. We do all of this at Zipps Sports Bar & Grill off of Camelback Road in Scottsdale. The bar is perfect for grabbing a bite to eat and having a drink while socializing with some pals. The outside patio is equipped with flat screens lining the sitting area, and on those breezy nights they have a giant fire pit to sit around. The staff is super personal and friendly, and the food as awesome. I highly recommend the chicken fingers or cheese sticks. Yes, it is a sports bar with sports bar food, but there is just something about those cheese sticks that bring you back for more. There is always good music playing on the juke box ranging anywhere from classic rock, to 90s and today. Though what is usually playing works just fine, you always have the choice of picking out your own tune line-up for only a few bucks. The daily drink specials will also keep your wallet full with outstanding prices including: $4.00 32oz domestic draughts, $3.00 Zipparitas and $2.00 domestic longnecks. Depending on the days you go, there are always great specials on food and drinks. Also, on big game days, this bar is packed with excited fans which make watching important games all the more fun. Other Zipps Sports Bars are located around the valley, but I have found that the one off of Camelback is the best. It is a little smaller and a bit more personable. Check it out!
Frozen Yogurt is the New Black
April 4, 2009 by Janell Pratt
Frozen yogurt shops appear to be popping up at every corner around the Tempe area. From what I have heard, there are two off of Mill Avenue (Bliss and Mojo). Bliss is located at the Brickyard, and Mojo can be found off of Rio Salado Parkway. Though I hear great things about both of these frozen yogurt shops, I have yet to venture to either of them. However, I have recently come across a little piece of heaven titled, Yogurtini, located off of Rural Road in the same complex as the Tempe Improv and Tempe Bicycle. This little hole in the wall does not only offer a nice relaxing place to put your feet up, but it also is open everyday from 11am-11pm. Just in case you are in need of a yogurt fix after spending those long rigorous hours in the library.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Yogurtini offers 10 different flavors and 50 unique toppings to dress and dazzle the yogurt to your specific liking. All the flavors and toppings can be found on their website: http://yogurtini.com. You can even decide how much or how little you want at just .39 cents an ounce. That’s not even the best part, not only is the treat affordable, but it is also good for your body. Complete with live cultures, the yogurt helps to maintain a proper digestive track as well as provide your body with calcium, protein, potassium and a few essential vitamins. What could be better than a delicious treat that’s also good for your body…and just in time for summer!
Even though you are given a variety of frozen yogurt shops to choose from around campus these days, I suggest you stop by Yogurtini. Its modern European style furniture and pastel green color scheme bring a unique touch to the average ice cream parlors we have all become so accustomed to in the valley of the sun. It is a great place to spend with friends or even alone, after all every once in a while we all need a break from the social scene. Eat up!
Kona Grill: The Happiest Happy Hour
March 6, 2009 by Janell Pratt
Photo Credit: Google Images
One of my absolute favorite things to do in Scottsdale is head to Kona Grill (at Fashion Square mall) for their happy hour on the outside patio. If you have not yet experienced some relaxing down time at this location then I highly encourage you to do so! The atmosphere on the patio is perfect. Despite the teeth grinding sound of the chairs being dragged across the cement, it is the prime spot for lying back with friends after a long exhausting day. If you are like me, then much of your day consists of people pleasing and keeping others happy, satisfied and comfortable. Therefore, at the end of my day I feel there is nothing better than having some half price sushi and hot sake.
Happy hour prices are only available on the outside patio, and it fills up fast so if you ever decide to go I would recommend getting there around three or four o’clock. Recently I have found that people take the Kona happy hour pretty seriously. By five o’clock crowds begin to form and cluster along the edge of the patio as people wait for tables to open up. I even had two guys come up to my table and ask if we would share the table with them. The experience was a bit odd at first, but then after some generic conversation, we were laughing and having a good time at our “turned” community table.
Photo Credit: Google Images
The happy hours are Monday-Friday from 3pm-7pm. So far I have gone twice in the past week, and each time I go I always leave relaxed, full, and buzzed! The menu is awesome with ½ price sushi, pizza and appetizers. My favorite dishes are the California rolls, avocado egg rolls, and sweet and sour shrimp. However, the shrimp does come with a bit too much sauce…but it’s nothing a little scraping with a chopstick can’t fix. It is a perfect meal to get full without feeling bloated from over eating (sharing with a friend of course). The servers are also completely chill and make you feel like you are hanging out with friends who just happen to want to serve you. They don’t give you that scripted feel, instead they talk as though they have known you for years, you almost want to pull up a chair and tell them to take a load off. Everything about the atmosphere speaks fun and relaxation. After those grueling work days or stressful term papers Kona Grill is sure to cure that angst with a simple yet comfortable patio chair, some good friends, good food and welcoming staff.
One more thing I must caution before you begin your dining experience; the sake bombs are great yet powerful. I suggest you start with a $3 “ladies margarita” or bud light draft, and then ease your way into the magic of a sake bomb. They only limit you two per person, because this is a buzz that is sure to catch up with you upon standing up to use the restroom (which is unfortunately located in the farthest corner of the restaurant). Enjoy!
Where to watch that “pig skin” game
January 30, 2009 by Janell Pratt
SIX Lounge will be showing the game live on their 20 foot video wall beginning at 2pm. There will be celebrity guests including former Cardinals players, members of the Cardinals dance team and NFL players. After the game the after party begins until 2am. Cover- $10.
- Mickey’s Hangover is having a tailgate and viewing party. There will be food, raffles, giveaways and chances to win some pretty sweet stuff. Also look for guest appearances by former Cardinal players and members of their dance team. Cover- $10.
- Salty Senorita is hosting an all day Super Bowl Happy Hour. You can enjoy watching the game on one of their many TV’s while taking advantage of a happy hour that just wont quit with drink specials including $2.50 Bud Lights.
- The Upper Deck in Scottsdale is having a Super Bowl viewing party. They will provide an outdoor tent that will seat you and over 150 of your fellow Cardinal fans to sit back and enjoy the game on their 20 foot wide HD projection screen! There will also be an outdoor bar and all you can eat buffet. Tickets are $24 + tax and will cover the buffet and reserve your seat.
- Tempe Marketplace will be hosting a superbowl party complete with live music and entertainment, followed by the game that will be shown on their giant projection screen located in the heart of the marketplace.
- Of course you can always count on your local sports bars to provide some darn good greasy food and happy hour drink specials as you watch the Cardinals lead to victory! One sports bar I highly recommend is Zipps. They have excellent cheese sticks and chicken strips that are to die for! Also you can choose from one of seven plasma screens to watch the game.
- And as always if you are trying to save that extra buck, you can hold your own superbowl party. Gather up a bunch of your favorite friends (and maybe some of theirs) along with some chips and dip and throw your own bash. Grocery stores everywhere (though I like Fry’s the best) are having great deals on “must haves” for superbowl viewing. This way you are guaranteed a good seat and don’t have to worry about waking up to nothing left in your wallet but a paper clip and some pocket lint!
In any case, what ever you decide to do this Sunday make sure you are in front of a TV by 4pm for kick off! I hope you all have a great superbowl Sunday, and I hope the commercials are a bit better then last years!
Later,
Janell
Celebrating the Holidays
November 20, 2008 by Josh Spivack
The holiday season is one of the most important parts of the year.
Okay I know, it’s a cliché. But it’s true.
This is the time to socialize with your friends, your family, and even make some new friends.
Okay, that’s also a cliché but maybe you can get the pattern here?
This holiday season, whether you gather an impromptu Thanksgiving at your house or have everyone over for a holiday party, it’s important that you gather friends from every part of your phone book and celebrate.
Yes, alcohol might be involved. Go classy with wine just do what feels right. But you’re never too young to start having large dinners with close friends.
Potlucks are always fun, but when its done with Thanksgiving or Christmas themed food, it’s just that much better.
And the more the better. Take a day out of the bars and even the standard belligerence to stop for a second, with friends, family, and friends who are family, and take in their importance this holiday season.
It’s too bad we need these holidays as an excuse.
