Showing posts with label Hannah Boxerman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hannah Boxerman. Show all posts

Find Your Inner Man: Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Dads of All Types

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Ahhh, dads. What would we do without them?

They can be a girl’s best friend and the only man she needs in her life, and with Father’s Day coming up on June 16, here are the best things you can make or give to show your dad you care—no matter what type of dad he is.


For the dad who loves the great outdoors...

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• BUY: A gift card to a “manly” store, like Bass Pro Shop or Cabellas. He’ll be like a kid in a candy store, free to take his pick of fly fishing lures and hunting accessories—whatever floats his rugged, campfire-loving boat.

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• MAKE: He loves to fish—so why not put those colorful lures to good use? This project idea from Better Homes and Gardens suggests sewing fishing bobbers to the edge of a colorful lamp, which you can purchase at any craft or home goods store. The result is a quirky but manly bedside table accessory.

For the dad who loves to cook...

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• BUY: A smoke box. This small accessory can go inside every grill to make his meat have the smoky, rustic taste that is usually only achieved at great barbecue restaurants. Williams Sonoma and other kitchen stores offer them for around $20 to $40.
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• MAKE: This gift idea comes from the one and only Martha Stewart. These glasses hold vinegar, oil and other cooking essentials and look crafty and not too feminine. Pictures and directions here.

For the dad who is all business...
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• BUY: “F-bomb” paperweight. I love this gift because it’s cheeky and quirky. A professional dad can’t swear at his boss or clients, no matter how frustrating a long day of business can be. Instead, let him drop the literal f-bomb with this funny paperweight from Uncommon Goods. While you’re at it, check out the rest of their site—their gift ideas are phenomenal.

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• MAKE: Ties are a pretty standard father’s day gift for a professional dad. Put a whacky twist on this tradition and use his old ties or cheap thrift store ones to make a tie pillowcase. Pictures and directions can be found here.

For the dad who likes to have his fun...

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• BUY: Whiskey stones serve the same function as ice and cool down his drink, but without watering down dad’s hard liquor or wine. You can find them here.
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• MAKE: Personalize a beer bucket! Any metal or plastic bucket from a craft store can be personalized with paint or stick-on letters and will be perfect for holding ice and beverages when he relaxes outside. If you’re extra crafty, make or decorate your own beer coozies to go with the bucket.

For the handy dad...

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• BUY: This handy tool belt will stop dad from having to bend over and grab piece after piece as he works on his projects. The belt snaps on magnetically—and will probably make dad feel like a bit of a badass. 


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• MAKE: Its hard to keep the tiny nuts, bolts and screws in his toolbox organized, so surprise dad with these mini toolboxes made out of Altoid mint tins. They’re cute and practical, and easy to make.


By: Hannah Boxerman

10 Ways to Avoid a Summer Break(down) at Home


Ahhh, college. The freedom to come and go as you please, eat junk food, go out any night of the week—there’s nothing like it. But like all good things, the school year must come to an end, and for most of us this means back to staying with mom and dad for those three short months we call summer.

Maybe you’re lucky and your parents respect your privacy and freedom completely now that you’re in college. However, for the rest of us (cough…me), the summer means the return of attempts at a curfew and the nightly question of, “Where are you going?”

The transition from total freedom to parental rule of thumb can be harsh, so here’s a guide for navigating the rough water that is summer break.

1. Patience, patience, patience. Getting impatient with your parents will get you nowhere, as I learned the hard way. Instead of snapping, “Why do you care?!” when they ask where you’re headed, calmly reply and ask them if you can please have more privacy—after all, you’re no longer a high school student but a young adult. Your mature tone might surprise them, especially since it’s a far cry from the whining you did in high school. Being a brat will get you nowhere and undermines any argument you make about being an adult.

2. Sit your parents down. Your parents haven’t seen you on campus, so they don’t see all the good things you do on your own: making it to class, joining organizations, doing your own laundry. However, they did see all the mistakes you made through adolescence, and they may be returning to high school habits by enforcing curfews and being controlling. Let them know that you’ve been on your own the entire year, and cite examples of your success.

3. Don’t automatically expect results. One honest talk may not fix anything. Instead, try and adopt a more mature attitude and tone the entire time you’re home—things may improve over time.

4. Be around, sometimes. Sometimes the reasons your parents complain that you’re never home is just because they really miss you. After all, you went from holding their hand when you crossed the street to moving miles away. Take some time to be at home and interact with your parents — even if it’s just once a week. You may find that if they feel like you’re around sometimes, they’ll be less inclined to give you a hard time when you’re leaving the house.

5. Compromise. If we were meant to be on the same page as our parents, they’d be called friends. You need to accept that you might have to negotiate and agree to things that aren’t ideal.

6. Surprise them. Back in the day, your mom changed your diapers, so she may have a hard time mentally seeing you as an adult. Show her that you are one by doing adult things. Get an internship, get a job, make a big purchase on your own, take a road trip, offer to pick up groceries, maybe do your own laundry once in a while — that may be an awakening for mom when she realizes that the rest of the world sees her baby as an adult.

7. Humor is your best friend. If your parents are being ridiculous and it really bothers you, see the humor in the situation. All families are wacky in their own way, including yours. If you view their frustrating habits as endearing quirks, you might get a good joke or a funny story out of it, and it definitely gives you excellent material for tweets (#onlymyfam #wtfdad #getmeouttahere).

8. Bask in the benefits. There is a definite bright side to being home. Home cooked meals, mom taking you shopping, seeing your siblings, no assignments or studying. Whatever it is, enjoy it.

9. Be honest. Tell your parents that you love them, but that this is hard for you. Tell them you are used to coming and going as you please, and you’ve thrived under that routine, and that it’s making you unhappy to feel restricted and controlled. Ask them if they remember how they felt when they came home from college for the summer. Clearing the air might get you some sympathy and at least put your parents into your shoes.

10. If all else fails… Three months is not that long a time … invest in a good countdown calendar and focus on returning to the Zou. Check it daily. Hourly. By the minute. You can make it. Consider living in Columbia next summer. Maybe you’ll see me there. Sorry, mom.

By: Hannah Boxerman | Image: Source

CGM's Snow Day Scrapbook


The groundhog said spring was right around the corner, but Mother Nature had different plans for CoMo and dumped at least 10-15 inches of the white stuff over the past two weeks. Classes and meetings were canceled, so what was our staff to do but go out and frolick in the snow? Check out our snow day adventures!



CGM staff writer Abby Kass and her friend Cole Lawson are ready for an epic snowball fight at the Columns.


CGM staff writers Audrey Wilcox (left) and Hannah Boxerman (right) braved the cold for a quick pic.


Alise Murawski, CGM columnist, got a lift from a pal. That's what friends are for, right?!


"Girly Rants" columnist Lindsay Keaton had nothing bad to say about standing on top of the world ... er, snow mountain.


Our own Courtney Schier (right) and her friend Kelaney Lakers pose in the middle of campus' winter wonderland.

Do you have fun snow day photos? Email them to us at mizzou@collegegloss.com.

By: CG Mizzou Staff

Love It or Leave It: Health Fads Exposed


As girls, we’re always looking for the newest way to be healthy and stay beautiful. However, the quest for well-being often gives rise to all sorts of quirky health tricks and trends that may not do anything good for your body! We take a look at three of the hottest trends.

Trend: Oil Pulling
Despite its pretty un-sexy name, you may have heard of oil pulling on Pinterest; it’s a favorite among the DIY-type health and beauty pinners. Oil pulling is swishing about a tablespoon of either sunflower or sesame oil in your mouth before spitting it out. The idea is that the oil helps clear the body of accumulated toxins, and fans of oil pulling say it helps with everything from mouth sores to acne to whiter teeth to headaches.

THE VERDICT: Oil pulling works—but only for mouth sores, gingivitis and lesions. A January 2011 study from the Meenakshi Ammal Dental College tested oil pulling on patients with these wounds and found a significant decrease in symptoms. However, doctors say there’s no evidence to support the idea that oil pulling helps with acne, headaches or other body ailments. Sorry girls—I’d stick to the Proactiv and leave the oil for cooking.

Trend: Juice Cleanses
This might be the trendiest health myth on the list. A-listers like Beyonce and Ashton Kutcher have jumped on the juice cleanse bandwagon; someone on a juice cleanse consumes only special formulaic juices for a given period of time, and the regimen is supposed to help you lose weight and cleanse the body of toxins. Juices are not the Minute Maid bottles found on grocery stores but rather formulas only available from natural health companies—and often at hefty prices.

THE VERDICT: I would not recommend this. “We don't endorse this at all,” Mayo Clinic physician Michael Picco told "AC360" in 2011. “Sometimes those cleanses could actually be quite harmful.” The colon naturally detoxes your body; denying regular food to your body denies it the nutrients and minerals it needs to function. “There is really no good evidence based upon any good research that this stuff makes any difference,” Picco said. I wouldn’t spend the money.

Trend: Detox Baths
A good bath can often soak away all the day’s problems, but can certain baths rid your body of toxins? The internet is full of DIY-health enthusiasts’ recipes for the perfect combination of oils and chemicals to rid your body of toxins via the skin.

THE VERDICT: It works—but just with plain, old water. Harsh chemicals can be harmful in bathwater if inhaled and soaked into skin. Instead, opt for a long warm regular bath. The benefits may be more mental than physical; long baths help to lessen stress. But, some researchers also say that the baths open the pores and relieve sore joints or muscles. As far as toxins leaving your body through your pores, there is no clear answer; some advocate it while others say that toxins are dealt with in the internal organs, not the external one. I’m not sure myself, but if you need me, I’ll be thinking about it in a nice, warm bath.

By: Hannah Boxerman | Image: Source

MU's Coolest Clubs You’ve Never Heard Of



With over 700 clubs on Mizzou’s campus, some are bound to fly under the radar. From groups for those who love cupcakes to a team of students who just want to dance, Mizzou is home to clubs you might not even have known existed.

Mizzou Quidditch

If you’ve ever been on the quad around 5 p.m., there’s no way you’ve missed these guys. After all, how many sports teams do you see holding broomsticks between their legs? For those unfamiliar with quidditch, the game is inspired by the magical school sport in the "Harry Potter" series played midair on flying broomsticks.

However, Mizzou’s muggles don’t let their lack of magical powers stop them; quidditch is played seriously with its own set of rules, and is an official club sport with competitive teams at universities across the country.

Daniel Shapiro, quidditch president and MU junior, says quidditch is no joke. “At practices we run drills for an hour before scrimmaging," he said. "A typical quidditch match requires seven referees, including a certified head referee, a snitch-runner and generally has announcers and a scoreboard of some sort.”

“That being said, it is a lot of fun to play in its own right,” remarked Shapiro. “Especially when you make good plays.” Game on!

BREATHE (Breathing and Relaxation Experiential Activities To Help Everyone)

With activities, classes, tests and papers, sometimes the average college student just needs to take a second to breathe (I know I do!). This is the philosophy behind BREATHE, an organization founded to teach students to cope with stress through breathing and yoga-type exercises.

MU senior Daniel Wampler is the organization’s president and learned of BREATHE in a qigong class, a Chinese meditation and breathing practice, that employs many of the same tips and tricks that BREATHE teaches to students. After all, Wampler says, “If one can gain control over their breath, they gain control over their life.”

“I feel like students are bombarded with rote learning all day, and BREATHE gives students an opportunity to tap into themselves and really feel what stress is like and how to combat it,” he explained. Now that’s a breath of fresh air!

Cupcake Club

With shows like "Cupcake Wars" on the rise, we are truly in the middle of a cupcake fad. The delicious trend has its place at Mizzou with the Cupcake Club. The premise of the club is simple: it’s for people who love cupcakes, and members come together to bake, decorate and (finally!) eat the sweet treats.

“The club brought cupcakes in that members got to decorate with piping bags, and they taught us techniques on how to decorate the cupcakes," freshman Amy Field said. "I liked it, and it’s only $5 a semester.”

The club meets once a month, so be sure to pop in for a sweet study break!

Be Free

College is all about figuring out your identity, which can be a scary thing. This led MU student Michael Langenberg to found Be Free, a club devoted, according to Langenberg, to “challenge the notion that you have to be a certain way, and if you’re not then it’s not okay.”

“Our hope is to eliminate judgment because considering that there’s so many different types of people on campus it’s easy to make quick, sharp judgments, and we want to prevent that from happening,” Langenberg said. “I don’t think there is anything else like Be Free because people don’t see being yourself as important or that much of an issue.”

Normal Be Free meetings are very “member-driven” and include, according to Langenberg, watching YouTube videos, playing games and just being yourself (“the possibilities are endless!”). However, Be Free might be best known for organizing the first official pillow fight in the history of Mizzou, which took place last year on Nov. 2 on the quad. Maybe this year, I’ll join in!

By: Hannah Boxerman | Image: Mizzou Quidditch

Foodie City Spotlight: St. Louis


It’s often said that variety is the spice of life- literally, in the case of food. Ethnic food is one of the best ways to “spice up” your regular restaurant routine. It doesn’t matter if you’re from St. Louis or only visiting; there are several choices to get your ethnic food fix without leaving your table.

RANOUSH

This authentic Syrian restaurant is located in St. Louis’s Delmar Loop and is a double threat by being a trendy hookah bar at night and having exotic dinner platters. Ranoush organizes its menu by hot or cold “mezza” (or dishes), ranging from tabbouleh (a type of parsley and tomato salad tossed in olive oil and lemon juice) to batata harra (potatoes stuffed with peppers and spices). Many of the dishes are vegan friendly, and the menu describes all mezza for diners not familiar with Middle Eastern cuisine. I highly recommend dessert; Ranoush’s baklava is sweet and delicious!

Location: 6501 Delmar Blvd. St Louis, Mo. 63130
Price: $10+
Website: ranoush.com

THAI SAWADEE


Thai Sawadee is a cozy restaurant in St. Louis’s western suburb of Chesterfield, close to the Chesterfield mall. Thai food has a distinctive taste, different from all other types of Asian cuisine, and Thai Sawadee does an excellent job of bringing these flavors into interesting lunch and dinner specials. My personal favorite is pad thai, which is a dish of pho rice noodles infused with a tangy sauce topped with egg and vegetables. This dish, along with many others, can be ordered with beef or chicken, or made vegetarian with extra vegetables or tofu. I also recommend ordering Thai iced coffee, which is a sweet cream and coffee drink that goes great with the spiciness of some of the dishes.

Location: 171 Hilltown Village Center Chesterfield, Mo. 63017
Price: $15
Website: thaisawadee.com
ZIA'S ON THE HILL


Zia’s is located in the heart of St. Louis’s traditionally Italian district, called “The Hill.” Zia’s offers many of the traditional Italian pastas, but its huge and diverse menu also includes signature dishes (including toasted ravioli, a nod to a St. Louis favorite). Lunch or dinner at Zia’s is a hearty meal, especially with their mouth-watering garlic bread and savory “ensalatas” included alongside your entrée. Zia’s wide range of options and authentic Italian flair does The Hill proud and represents the best of the area’s culture and flavor.

Location: 5256 Wilson Ave. St Louis, Mo. 63110
Price: $15+
Website: zias.com

THE MEDITERRANEAN GRILL


Also located in Chesterfield, the Mediterranean Grill offers a range of dishes with a blend of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. The Mediterranean Grill offers entirely different lunch and dinner menus, with lunch specializing in gourmet sandwiches and dinner focusing on traditional dishes. Although I enjoy both menus, I recommend that first-timers visit the restaurant during lunch, when the prices and the dishes are better. The Mediterranean Grill’s sandwiches are unique and delectable; my favorite is the Santorini, an amazing blend of feta cheese, kalamata olive spread, peppers and basil. Meat-eaters may enjoy the chicken souvlaki, which is served in a pita with feta, onions and olives. I recommend the dips and “Spreads Sampler Plate” to share with your lunch companion.

Location: 703 Long Road Crossing Drive Chesterfield, Mo. 63005
Price: $15+
Website: themedgrillstl.com

By: Hannah Boxerman | Images: Source, Hannah Boxerman

Sales Personnel Anticipate Black Friday


As Black Friday approaches, sales personnel nationwide prepare themselves for the battlefield that will soon engulf each and every store department as super savers, armed with fresh coffee and credit cards, duke it out for the best deals.

College Gloss Mizzou contributors visited retail stores from their home towns to see how workers are anticipating this year’s big shopping day.

Location: Target, St. Louis, Missouri
Mitch Baum is a freshman at Rockhurst, who will return to his part-time job at Target to work as a cashier on Black Friday.

“Last year was a bit hectic,” he said. “We had twice as many employees on the floor as usual. I do prefer being a cashier, though. Working the floor, you get caught up in a lot of departments you have no knowledge about. It’s embarrassing when people ask me questions as I’m walking by electronics and I have no idea.”

Baum said he imagines Black Friday for a new employee would be pretty stressful.

“You have to meet a lot of customer’s demands,” Baum said. “It’s the people that are in a rush that are more there for the prices that are the worst to deal with.”

Although he’s never witnessed a stampede or trampling, he has seen shelves tip over as people hurriedly ran into them and pulled off products.

He’s also no stranger to having to deal with difficult customers.

“When people are paying, sometimes the prices they thought they saw or [are not] what they wanted it to be, they start bickering with me,” he said. “I usually just call in my manager for that.”

Location: Best Buy, Columbia, Missouri
Micky Banks, an employee at Best Buy in Columbia and MU sophomore, is preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

"I'm expecting a lot of chaos and impatient customers," she said. “I wouldn't say that I'm really scared about anything except maybe our systems messing up or something."

Location: Macy’s, Memphis, Tennessee
An employee at Macy’s shared her thoughts on the Black Friday tradition.

"I've never shopped on Black Friday, but I think it’s a good tradition," she said. "I think some people do it as way to bond with family members, camping out and all, especially moms and daughters. Plus the deals are great, so why not."

Location: Fossil, Houston, Texas
Fossil employee Jordan Svehla said said she still enjoys working on Black Friday.

“Sure, working on Black Friday is always a crazy experience because there is merchandise everywhere, people everywhere, and it can get a little hectic,” she said. “But I really love working with my team. They make even the worst hours the best! And even though I will be working two shifts, and we will be open for 24 hours, I'm not all that worried because Black Friday only comes once a year. It seems to be a challenge and can even be fun."

Location: Macy’s, Chicago, Illinois
As one would imagine, the personnel at Macy’s on State Street weren’t allowed to share the juicy details of their planning process, but a store manager by the name of Trisha assured me that they were “making sure all the right people are in the right places as to best accommodate our customers.”

I caught college freshman Kutah Sillah as she was leaving the store and inquired on how she prepares for the shopping holiday.

“Being a college student, I don’t usually have much money,” she shared. “But if I did decide to Black Friday shop I would need tons of caffeine and need to be on the watch out for people who literally fight for deals. It gets crazy out there!”

So remember ladies, don’t miss the super savings at Macy’s or wherever you choose to shop this Black Friday, and don’t get elbowed out of a great deal! Have a great Thanksgiving, and let us know your favorite purchases this crazy Black Friday.

By: Hannah Boxerman, Sazanka Idris, Audrey Wilcox, Morgan Young, Luria Freeman | Image: Source
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