Four Ways to Spend Your Sunny Weekend

With the weather getting nicer, I am more and more anxious to get outside and be in the sun. I have always been an "outdoorsy" person, so whenever I get the chance to soak up some sun, I'm all in, or should I say out. Since I am still at school, it is always fun to try out new activities over the weekend with my friends. Being at a university in Erie, PA, we have discovered a few ways to get outside and have some fun without spending a ton of money!

1. Athletic Games: As an avid sports lover, I love attending games at my school. Obviously there are games all year round for different sports, but I have always loved games in the spring. It's so nice sitting outside and cheering on your school on a warm sunny day in spring. Another plus is that these games are always free to get into if you're student! 
2. Hiking: This is a perfect activity that will get you moving and sight seeing. You could either pay to go into a park with hiking trails or find your own spot to venture off too. Here in Erie, we have a popular wooded area called the gorge, full of small waterfalls and hiking trails. Either way, hiking is super fun especially with a few of your good friends and a nice, sunny day.  
3. Going for a Drive: Sometimes just going for a drive either by yourself or with friends is a relaxing and cheap way to get outside and enjoy the weather. I always roll down the windows and blare my country music, enjoying both the sun and tunes. The best part about it is that there doesn't have to be a specific destination. Once and a while it's exciting to just drive and see where you end up. Here at school we like to drive along Presque Isle by the water and at home I do the same, driving along the lakes.
4. Just Relax: I don't think I have to tell you twice that just relaxing in the sun is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Once it gets warm enough to sit outside, we always find a sunny spot to hang out whether it's to get some homework done or take a little nap. It is 100% free and even better, relaxing.

These are just a few ideas of how to spend your sunny weekend on a tight budget. There are so many more options out there though, so don't be afraid to experiment and find something new!

Summer Smoothies

Summer is right around the corner, leaving me desperate to try and finally get that summer body. As I have discussed in past posts, there are a number of workouts I do along with trying to buy healthier groceries. Yet, after a while this routine can get a little repetitive. That's why I decided to look into a more exciting and cooler way to stay fit for the summer. There are a number of different smoothie recipes that not only seem delicious, but also have incredible benefits.

I came across a perfect image on Pinterest that includes eighteen smoothie recipes with all different benefits. Depending on what you want to focus on the most, you could choose any or all to try. From belly buster to detox, these smoothie recipes seem both beneficial and tasty!

Recipe & image from
Deliciously Sprinkled

Another recipe I came across is an energy smoothie which only requires four ingredients! Not only is this a great energizer to start your day, but it is super easy and cheap to make.

What you'll need:

• 2 cups frozen mixed berries
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt

This recipe serves about 2-4 people and only takes 5 minutes!

One recipe I have tried multiple times and absolutely love is a banana and peanut butter smoothie. Since I kind of threw this together one day, I don't have any real measurements, but it's pretty easy to judge. All you'll need is peanut butter, a banana, ice, vanilla yogurt and milk. Throw it all together, blend and you'll have a delicious smoothie full of protein. It is perfect for breakfast or even just a snack!

If you're working towards that summer body like me or just want a yummy treat, these smoothie recipes are the perfect fix. They're super easy, taste delicious and benefit your body all at the same time!

Coconut Hair Mask

Attention those who want soft, thick and healthy hair...listen up! I have come across an amazing, easy and cheap hair mask that will leave your tame flawless, all in 15 minutes! Plus, it only requires one ingredient that every girl should have...coconut oil. I know I have talked about this in a past post in which I used coconut oil for a facial scrub(DIY Facial Scrub), but it has so many more uses as well, including hair.

The steps are super simple!

1. Scoop out a liberal amount of coconut oil into your hands, enough to fully coat your hair. (No need to warm it up, it will automatically soften in your hands)
2. Begin running the oil through your hair making sure it is all coated.
3. Wrap up your hair, clip it and put in a shower mask. (The shower mask isn't absolutely necessary but it helps lock in more moisture).
4. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
5. Rinse and shampoo hair (Might have to do twice depending on how much hair you have and to make sure all of the access oil is washed out). 

I was inspired to try this out myself when I saw it on Pinterest. I have a whole board devoted to beauty where I pin anything from hair to skin care to make-up. 

Follow Here! :)  Beauty Board

Benefits of coconut oil for hair include:

• Prevents Breakage
• Moisturizes
• Rich in Nutrients 
• Anti-Bacterial
• Improve Hair Growth

Enjoy and welcome to fabulous hair!

DIY Mason Jars

Happy Friday! There's nothing better than that feeling on a Friday afternoon full of freedom and excitement for the weekend. This Friday afternoon I decided to have a relaxing craft session with my roommate. With just two mason jars, paint and brushes, we created two cute and new decorations to brighten up our apartment. This small DIY project is super easy and of course, super cheap!

1. Gather your supplies and make sure you have the basics like the brushes and of course the mason jar. Also, you want to have all the colors you'll be using and any accessories you want to add on.
2. Start painting! Whatever your heart desires, go for it. We went with brighter/lighter colors since summer is on its way.
3. Be patient. One of my biggest fall backs when doing crafts is not being patient. Make sure the paint is completely dry before adding on more. The last thing you want is to mess up the paint and have to cover up the mistake (I am guilty of a mistake with the white dot, but that's what the string is for!)
4. Once your paint has dried, you can scratch out the raised details on the jar to give it more of a rustic look. This is entirely up to you, but I tried it out and love the look it created.
5. Add your final touches! If you want to spruce up your jar even more, add some glitter or ribbon like I did. You could either go with a cool painted design like my roommate did or keep it simple.
6. Decorate and admire your new masterpieces. They're great for just decoration or to hold items like pens and pencils. We put ours on the main windowsill to add some color to our living room. 

Next time you want to have a relaxing afternoon, remember this super cute DIY mason jar. It doesn't take much time or supplies and is a perfect decoration!

Sore Today, Strong Tomorrow

Today is all about beating that freshman 15, or should I say, college 15? Whether it's your first year or third, it can be very easy eat whatever you want and forget about the consequences. I am very guilty of snacking and stress eating, so it is very important for me to stay active. Luckily, keeping active on a college campus is very doable and super cheap! With a fitness center on campus as well as at home workouts, staying fit on a tight schedule and budget is more than possible.

• Keep on a schedule: One of the best methods to keep on your routine and assure you are keeping active is including this routine in your schedule. Every week, have a set day or few days that you do your workout at the same time. This way, you get used to it just being apart of your day. For example, every Tuesday and Thursday I go to the gym after work for about an hour and a half. After doing this for a few weeks, it's no longer a choice for me, rather just part of my day. 
• Be Positive: Instead of looking at this as a dreaded task, make it something you look forward too. Think of all the great results you will see and how energized you will feel after. Not only does it help me physically, but it clears my mind as well. If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, running and jamming to music just by yourself could really be relieving. I use Spotify which you could make your own work out play list or find one you like.
• Switch it up: Sometimes doing the same workout can get boring, so don't be afraid to change things up! There are an array of options from the fitness center to the gym courts to outside. Don't feel like doing the typical treadmill and dumbbells? Play a game of your favorite sport instead. You're getting a workout while having fun with a game you love!
• Get Inspired: I definitely have my days where I would rather sit on the couch and eat ice cream instead of going to the gym, which is why I have my board of inspirations. On Pinterest, I have a whole board dedicated to health filled with workouts, healthy routines, recipes, quotes, etc. Looking through this helps me get that push to get moving! Check it out here!
• Don't want to leave your room... No problem!: If it's a snowstorm outside or you simply just don't want to walk all the way to the gym, there are ways around it. I have come across a ton of workouts that you could do just in your room. From full body to arms to butt, there is always a workout to get your in for the day. I have a lot of pins for at home work outs, but I found a great channel on YouTube as well. Victoria Secret Model Workouts is a great channel with amazing at-home workouts!

Next time your ready to get moving, think of these tips and you will be golden! 

Make-Up Game or Gain?

As a college female, make-up that doesn't cost a fortune is a blessing. Now, I'm not huge into make up and am definitely no style guru, but I still need and love the basics. That being said, I hate spending a ton of money on make up. So, what if I told you there's a way you don't have to either. Whether you absolutely love doing your make-up or just put it on to not look like a zombie (like myself), there is a way to buy make up for less.

All of the make-up I use is brands you could find at any drugstore or even Walmart. Just because I don't buy it at a high end store doesn't mean it isn't as good of quality. Beauty stores like Ulta sell these drugstore products along side higher name brand/more expensive products. There should be no shame in getting good deals on beauty products!

These are the main products I use on almost a daily basis. These can all be found at almost anywhere that sells makeup!

Below are the prices I paid for each product (without any coupons or sales that there were on the products):

• Stiletto liquid eyeliner - $7.51
• Stay Matte foundation - $4.72
• Age Rewind concealer - $7.54
• Dream Wonder powder foundation - $8.99
• Ulta blush brush (I got this for free from a friend)
• Eyelash curler (I got this in a set with other products, but alone it's around $2)
• Colossal mascara - $5.09
• Vaseline lip balm (I got this one for free from a friend)
• Covergirl blush - $4.98

I bought all of these between Ulta and Walmart which means the prices could vary. Also, I rarely pay full price for anything, so I used whatever coupons I could and took advantage of buy one get one 50% sales. Both Walmart and Ulta usually have coupons for certain products. A common sale with Ulta is to get $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more.

If you want to check out Ulta and shop online click here! (http://www.ulta.com)

Next time you need to replace your old mascara or run out of your foundation, remember that you don't have to spend a fortune! 

Receipt Surveys

As a college student, discounts are a must. Whether it's at your favorite retail store or local fast food restaurant, there is always a way to find a deal. One that I have discovered and actually tried out this weekend was completing surveys off of receipts. I know at first this sounds like a lot of work, but trust me it will only like a few minutes out of your day and you will most likely get a nice deal from it!

As I said, I just recently completed a survey from a receipt...specifically, McDonald's. Laugh all you want, but from a few questions that took me 2 minutes, I received a code for a buy one get one free Quarter Pounder or Egg McMuffin. Now, I have never done this before and usually just throw the receipt out right away, but this time I figured I'd give it a chance and I'm pretty glad I did!

Some other fast food joints that I know has the same concept are Subway, Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A. Subway gives you a free cookie on your next purchase, Taco Bell puts you in a $500 sweepstakes and Chick-fil-A gives you a free item on your next visit, like chicken nuggets. 

A few other places that give you free items (According to Simple Most):

• Dunkin Donuts
• Wendy's
• Burger King
• Moe's
• Baskin-Robbins

In addition to restaurants, these surveys can be found on stores receipts as well! Like I mentioned in a few of my other posts, I work at Old Navy. Every receipt that is printed and given to the customers has a link to a survey where the customer can rate their experience and then receive a code for 10% off their next purchase. 

According to The Penny Hoarder, some other stores that give discounts with their receipt surveys are:

• Victoria Secret
• Bath & Body Works
• PetSmart

I know there are many other companies that do this, but these are just a few examples to show you how common this actually is! There are more stores than you think that will either give you free items or discounts just by answering a few questions online. Go ahead and give it a try, because these little discounts will make a huge difference, especially on a college budget!