Chelsea, Chelsea Bang Bang

Chelsea, Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

Hilarious. And not just for girls. This book has wit and hilarity for both the sexes. I have a really good male friend who just finished it after my recommendation. And no he's not gay or metro sexual in any way. He's a man's man, and still read and liked the book.

His only qualm was that Handler told the story as fact, but in reality there was no way she could've remembered such minute details and conversations. I tried explaining that the book is simply BASED on her life, and that she gets some lee-way as a writer, but he wasn't having it.

The book was typical Handler. If you've ever watched her show on E! the book is very similar. Her tone in the book makes you feel like you're watching the show.

And the subject matter is amazing. Handler is living proof that you can still have fun and drink and go out, and also have a steady boyfriend who puts up with you and a successful career. I don't know if I would ever believe a word out of her mouth after reading about the pranks she plays on the gullible people around her, but it's entertaining for the rest of us.

Overall rating = 4.3/5 stars

Thirsty Thursday

By Allison Sass

Thirsty Thursday has a whole new meaning in post grad life. In fact, the term should also be extended to thirsty Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. We're not talking about "thirsty" days that include heading to the bars on weeknights and skipping your 8am morning class the next day. We're talking about water.

As someone who admittedly does not drink enough water, I feel like  I can pretty accurately explain the side effects of dehydration. For me, dehydration combined with lower blood pressure = dizziness. Have you ever been walking around on a hot summer day and felt like the world was moving without you, for even a split second? Drink a glass of water!

Some other common symptoms you might experience include lower back pain, stomach cramps, excess body fat, sunken eyes, and lethargy.

Post grads today tend to focus their beverage consumption around caffeine and alcohol, both of which actually cause your body to become more dehydrated. In order to be in great shape for the workday, and for life in general, start drinking water! Buy your own water filter and water bottle to save on money since bottled water is bad for the environment and gets expensive very quickly.

Recently, I've been making an effort to break my bad habits and drink more water throughout the day. I haven't felt dizzy since I started this regime a week or so ago, and have pledged to continue.  Join me?

Favorite Place for Lunch?

[polldaddy poll=3579625]

What do you look for in a place to live?

By Shikole Struber

If you were going to move to a new state, what would be the things you consider about it?

Having attended the most politically active university in the country, politics would play a big role in where I decide to sign my next lease. CBS did an assessment of the most conservative and liberal states in America.

If you want to go conservative, head to:

Wyoming, Mississippi, Utah, South Dakota or Alabama.

If you are thinking liberal try:

Washington, DC (where I like to call home), Rhode Island, Connecticut, or New York.

There are also taxes to consider. They are decided on a state level and vary greatly. Some states don't have an income tax, while others rob you blind every paycheck. States that do not have an income tax include: Washington, Nevada, Wyoming and Florida.

Property taxes can also be sky-high. Especially if you are considering buying a home the next place you move, you should consider: Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama. They have some of the lowest property taxes in the country.

What other factors should you consider when moving to a different state?

Ham and Cheese Ring

This dish combines the classic ham and cheese while mixing in some broccoli and onion for good measure. All baked into a croissant ring. Begin by Preheating the oven to 375.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup of ham, chopped


• 1/2 cup any cheese (cheddar is my fav), shredded


• 1/2 cup chopped broccoli


• 1/4 cup chopped onion


• 2 tablespoons butter


• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice


• 1/2 tablespoon mustard


• 1 package of pillsbury croissants

Combine the ham, cheese, broccoli, onion in a large bowl. Mix together well. Add the lemon juice, mustard, and butter. Mix until the butter is spread evenly throughout the mixture. It is only meant to make it stick together.

On a baking sheet lay out the croissants in a circle with the wide ends making up the center and the points sticking out. It's fine if the points go over the edge of the sheet, you will be folding them over later. The croissants should resemble a sun on the baking sheet.

Take mixture and form a wall around the center of the ring. It's ok if it's a little messy. The butter should have made it so that the mixture will stay upright. After it is all used, take the points of the croissants and fold them in, over the mixture, to the center. When finished it should look like a ring like the picture above.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the croissants are golden brown and the cheese is melted.

*Disclaimer: I have never actually measured how much I use, I usually just eye-ball it. Feel free to do the same.

Patatas Bravas

This is a classic Spanish Tapas recipe that is easy enough and has an amazing dipping sauce. The dish itself it pretty much just fancy hash browns, but the sauce, ooooh the sauce, it is to die for!!

Ingredients:

• 1 large potato per person
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 table spoons onion, minced
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• between 1/4 teaspoon and 1/4 tablespoon of tabasco sauce depending on how spicy you like things
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground thyme
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup mayo

Cube the potatoes and sprinkle salt and pepper on them. Fry in a large pan on the stove until cooked/golden brown. That's the end of the potato part. Very simple.

Now for the amazing sauce. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a pan and fry the garlic and onion until the onion is soft. Turn off heat. Add tabasco sauce and thyme. Stir well. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the mayo and ketchup. Again stir well. The sauce is best cold so chill for 15-20 minutes.

And enjoy! This is probably one of the simplest tapas recipes there is. Very hard to mess up. Ans so delicious. Best paired with Sangria.

5 Small Ways to Save $

By Shikole Struber

I just got my paycheck for the month and it already seems like I have nothing left in my account. After rent and cell phone bills, and catching up on my credit card bills and car insurance, etc there's barely anything left to live on. Small charges add up fast. Here are five small ways to save money you don't even realize you're spending.

1. Use only ATMs from your bank, or get cash back at the store. When you use an ATM from a different bank you are charged anywhere from $2 - $3.75 to take the money out. On top of the $2.50 your own bank charges you. (Look at your statement, it's there) Amount saved at your bank's ATM = $4.50-$6.25 per visit


2. Get a club card for every grocery store you go to. And CVS as well. Only buy what's on sale. Use the card. You will cut down your grocery bill by $5-15 per visit. (This doesn't work as well if you are particular about what you eat.)


3. Buy a 12 pack of cans of soda instead of getting one bottle a day from the vending machine. A 12 pack generally costs ~ $3.99 (especially if you buy the ones on sale). That's $0.33 a can instead of $1.25 a day at the vending machine. Total savings = $4.60/week


4. Make coffee at home and bring in a traveler's mug instead of stopping at Starbucks every morning. It might not be as fancy, but you can add flavored creamers at home or even a splash cinnamon. Be creative. Total savings = ~$10 a week.


5. Run large appliances like dishwashers and clothes dryers early in the morning or late at night. This saves the environment as well as money. You are charged more to run them during peak hours, and your AC has to work more to off-set the heat produced. Total Savings = ~ $25/month

For more money saving ideas check out Martha Stewart's list. The woman has some creative ideas.