http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/feeds/blog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:00:00 GMT Blog for Woodlands of College Station http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/16/Haiti+Relief+-+Easy+Way+to+Help%21 Just a simple text can donate $10! Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 and the charge will show up on your next cell phone bill! "Donating to Haiti relief as easy as texting. So, who knew you could provide medical treatment, water or food to Haiti earthquake victims just by sending a text message from a cell phone? Apparently, a whole lot of people, thanks to appeals on Web sites ranging from the White House blog to the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter. The American Red Cross has raised more than $8 million for earthquake relief from people sending text messages, according to the White House. "It doesn't really surprise me that people would jump into the idea," said Lynda Nicely of West Allis, who texted a donation to the Red Cross from her LG enV phone. Verizon Wireless will add the cost to her bill. Nicely, a public relations professional who sometimes volunteers for the Red Cross, The Women's Center in Waukesha and other causes, said she usually donates time rather than money to organizations. But television images of suffering Haitians prompted her to pull out her phone. Philip Crawford of Madison, founder of Foreclosure- Alarm.com, pulled out his iPhone and made a Red Cross donation Wednesday after he saw a friend tweet a version of a message that's been flying around Twitter: "Text 'Haiti' to 90999 to donate. 100% of your $10 donation passes thru to @RedCross for Haiti relief. Your cell carrier keeps nothing." "The ease of donating is what prompted me to do it," Crawford said. Wisconsin, which has about 1.9% of the nation's population, has given about 1% of donations sent via text, according to mGive, the company that has deals with major cell phone carriers to collect the donated money. Charities and donors say the explosion in the number of smart cell phones in recent years along with heavy media coverage of the earthquake and a major viral campaign have given the charities a boost. Oxfam America has raised $2.7 million from text donations, according to USA Today. The entertainer Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation claims it has raised $2 million in $5-per-text chunks, though watchdogs have raised concerns about money the charity has spent on Jean's travel and promotional expenses. Companies such as mGive, which processes the text messages for the Red Cross and other charities such as Doctors Without Borders, have deals with major cellular carriers to add the amount of the contribution to each customer's cell phone bill. mGive usually charges a setup fee to charities and takes a portion of each donation for its operations, but the company said it will pass on the entire $10 for Red Cross donations. The nation's four major cellular carriers - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, said they won't apply their normal text messaging fees to Haiti donations. Donations via text were coming in to the Red Cross at a rate of about $200,000 per hour, according to the Red Cross. That far outpaces the total of $400,000 raised for Hurricane Katrina victims in text messaging campaigns, according to media reports. "The message is so easy," said Wendy Harman, the social media manager for the American Red Cross. Harman helped distribute instructions for texting through the Red Cross' Facebook and Twitter pages. Critics have raised concerns about how quickly money donated by cell phone will get to the charities. It usually takes more than 60 days for mGive to cut a check to charities. But Harman said the Red Cross is keeping track of how much money has been donated and has the resources to purchase the needed supplies even before a check is sent. mGive is also working to speed the turnaround time for Haiti donations. People can contribute to the Red Cross by texting "HAITI" to the number 90999. If you do, $10 gets added to your cell phone bill and sent to the aid organization. Other groups using text messages to collect money for Haiti include the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund ("HAITI" to 20222 for a $10 donation), the International Rescue Committee ("HAITI" to 25383 for a $5 gift.) and Doctors Without Borders ("DOB" to "90999" to give $5.)" Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/16/Haiti+Relief+-+Easy+Way+to+Help%21 Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/15/Breakfast+at+the+Clubhouse%21%21 Keep your eye out for the Woodlands calendar of events! We will be having breakfast at the clubhouse on various mornings to help jumpstart your day! Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism, helps you to concentrate and perform better in school and at work and aids in maintaining a healthy weight! So, don't miss out! "Breakfast is a very important meal of the day, as it breaks the night long fast your body has been through. It also helps to improve the body’s metabolism. Unfortunately, it is the one meal that people are most likely to miss each day because they are in a rush to get to school or work. Others miss breakfast in an effort to lose weight. But, breakfast can easily be incorporated into a busy lifestyle and it can aid in a sensible weight loss regimen. According to a Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital study of children from Philadelphia and Baltimore, there was a clear link that showed children who usually ate breakfast performed better in mathematics and they had fewer cases of hyperactivity in the classroom. The children also attended school on a more regular basis, compared to their peers who missed out on breakfast. (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998) The habit of missing breakfast can easily be turned around. Starting gradually will make the transition easier. A small bowl of oatmeal and a hot drink is a good start to the day. Oatmeal is quick to prepare and it is filling, providing enough nutrition for the whole morning. Toast is another option that can help a person make the transition to eat breakfast on a regular basis. As their body starts to get used to the fuel the food provides, their metabolism will improve. Busy lifestyles do not need to get in the way of eating breakfast. Getting up earlier can make a difference. Preparing the necessary breakfast items the night before can be another way to avoid missing out on a nutritious breakfast. Pancake mixes can be prepared and left in the fridge overnight, low fat sausages can be pre-cooked and scrambled eggs can be quickly cooked in the morning. Cold and hot cereals are the quickest breakfast foods for people who do not have much time to sit down and eat in the morning. Eating breakfast is one way that will aid sensible weight loss for people who are overweight or morbidly obese. The mistaken view is that consuming fewer calories will mean a slimmer figure. While there is some truth to this, missing breakfast is not the right time to cut down on calories in order to lose weight. The metabolism is slower in people who miss breakfast, which can actually hinder a person from losing weight, rather than help them. The National Weight Loss Registry, which has helped thousands of people to successfully lose weight and keep it off, strongly encourages people to eat breakfast, as part of their weight loss programme. Doing so helps to improve concentration and academic performance, as was demonstrated by the Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital study. Sensible dieters are more likely to avoid unhealthy mid morning snacks if they have eaten a healthy breakfast, which will help them to maintain a healthy weight and keep excess weight off in the long term." Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/15/Breakfast+at+the+Clubhouse%21%21 Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/14/Tips+on+keeping+those+New+Year%27s+resolutions%21 Now that you've made your resolutions, it's going to be tough keeping them! Use these 10 tips to help stay focused on conquering 2010... "1. Be realistic The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unattainable. For instance, resolving to never eat your favorite food again because it bothers your IBD could be a bad choice. Strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding it more often than you do now. 2. Plan ahead Don't make your resolution on New Year's Eve. If you wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mindset that particular day. Instead, it should be planned well before December 31 arrives. 3. Outline your plan Decide how you will deal with the temptation to skip that exercise class or have one more cigarette. This could include calling on a friend for help, practicing positive thinking and self-talk, or reminding yourself how your bad habit affects your IBD. 4. Make a "pro" and "con" list It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to it when you need help keeping your resolve. 5. Talk about it Don't keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best case scenario is to find yourself a buddy who shares your New Year's resolution and motivate each other. 6. Reward yourself This doesn't mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates if your resolution is to diet. Instead, celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution. If you've been sticking to your promise to eat better, for example, perhaps your reward could be going to a movie with a friend. 7. Track your progress Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and small accomplishments will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, say, focus on losing that first 5. Keeping a food diary or a symptom journal may help you stay on track. 8. Don't beat yourself up Obsessing over the occasional slip won't help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take each day one at a time. 9. Stick to it Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Your new healthful habits will become second-nature in no time. 10. Keep trying If your resolution has totally run out of steam by mid-February, don't despair. Start over again! There's no reason you can't make a "New Year's resolution" any time of year." http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/mentalhealth/a/newyearresolve.htm Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/14/Tips+on+keeping+those+New+Year%27s+resolutions%21 Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/13/New+Years+resolutions%21%21 It's that time... 2010 awaits!! A brand new year is the best way to bring in a brand new you! Here are America's top 10 new years resolutions.... "1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends 2. Fit in Fitness 3. Tame the Bulge 4. Quit Smoking 5. Enjoy Life More 6. Quit Drinking 7. Get Out of Debt 8. Learn Something New 9. Help Others 10. Get Organized" http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm If you're tired of the same ole resolutions, get creative. Here are a few ideas for some non-generic resolutions.... "-Get on a reality TV or game show -Win a rec league in some sport/game -Turn off the TV for a month -Run a mile every morning before work -Do NOT eat McDonalds, Wendys or Burger King once all year! -Don't have a sip of alcohol -Go back to school -Read all 100 of these books: The Perfect Library: Top 100+ Books You MUST Own -Watch all 100 of these movies: Top 100 Movies of All Time -Visit 12 different states this year (a new one each month) -See all seven wonders of the world -Become fluent in a new language" http://www.listafterlist.com/Listof/tabid/57/ListID/15930/Default.aspx Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/13/New+Years+resolutions%21%21 Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/12/The+Woodlands+Wishes+Everyone+Happy+Holidays+%21 The holidays are here! Christmas is a week away and Hanukkah has already started! The Woodlands of Tuscaloosa would like to wish everyone the happiest of holidays this year! =) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/12/The+Woodlands+Wishes+Everyone+Happy+Holidays+%21 Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/11/Tips+for+Dorm%2FOff+Campus+Living Dorm living: What you need to know Many students will be moving into residence halls at Texas A&M University in the coming weeks, and thousands of returning upper classmen and graduate students will fill off-campus apartment complexes, condos and houses in the coming weeks. The bed is often the best area to impart design in a small space and and whatever bedding adorns it will surely make an impact on a dorm room. Living in small spaces comes with the territory in college. Double dorm rooms at UF measure 12 feet by 16 feet, and typically include two twin beds, two desks, two dressers, two chairs and two built-in closets. Other than these essentials, it is up to the residents to bring in elements of design that are space-saving and practical as well as stylish and comfortable enough to turn four white, cinderblock walls into somewhere that doesn’t leave them yearning to return home to mom and dad every weekend. Catherine Gentile, a spokesperson for Bed Bath & Beyond, said there are a few must-haves that every college student needs to ease the transition into living on his or her own for the first time. These include a mattress topper to make uncomfortable, dormitory-issue mattresses more bearable to sleep on; cozy, twin extra-long sheets; a shower tote and shower shoes for community bathrooms; and all the technological gadgets to ensure success in school. “Students these days are heading off to college with more technology than ever,” she said. Consider purchasing a charging station to keep devices all together and cords out of sight. And get a laptop lock, which can anchor to a desk or bed, and protects the most important investment in a dorm room. Don’t stress about what to bring to college and what to leave at home. Gentile said incoming college freshman should work off of a checklist when packing for school. “Walk around your house, and see what you have that you can bring to college,” she said. “That way, when you’re shopping, you’re not wasting time and money buying extra things you don’t need, and probably won’t have room for anyway.” Also, residence halls and almost all apartment complexes prohibit some items in rooms. Make sure to comply with rules about extension cords, wireless routers, candles, electrical appliances and bed lifts. As for style, the bed is often the best area to impart design in a small space. It’s the largest piece of furniture in the room, and whatever bedding adorns it will surely make an impact on a dorm room. Gentile said college students should take some time when selecting bedding. Pick a style that says something about who you are, she said, whether it be a big pattern or a bright color. New bedding sets can be purchased at low prices on eBay.com and Amazon.com. When ordering room décor online, make sure to order early enough so it arrives at home before moving, or schedule it to be delivered to residence halls after check-in, which is Sunday for UF. Gentile said storage is always an issue in dorm rooms, and she advised college students to find creative solutions by thinking over, under, above and multi-use. Get over-the-door accessories, such as a mirror or a shoe rack and utilize under-the-bed storage bags to keep out-of-season clothes and bedding out of the way. Here are some useful Web sites to consult before move-in day Design Your Dorm, a virtual 3-D interior design tool to help customize dorm rooms: http://www.designyourdorm.com/ Bed Bath & Beyond Equip Your Space Checklist: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/bts01_checklist.asp?order_num=-1& Target ’09 College Checklist: http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/16/00/00/04/61/93/10/461931010.pdf Walmart Campus Supplies Checklist: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/off-to-college-article_ektid47208.aspx Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/11/Tips+for+Dorm%2FOff+Campus+Living Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/10/Decorating+Tips+for+Woodlands+Residents College Prep: Dorm Design 101 Experts Suggest This Year's Must-Have Items NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- MS -- As fall draws near, the millions of students (and their parents) that are headed off to college will begin to prepare for this exciting but challenging time of life. With the abundance of dorm room gear available for dorm dwellers, Bed Bath & Beyond recommends a few key items that are must-haves for comfort and decor. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090707/NYFNSU01 ) "For years, Bed Bath & Beyond has been helping students and parents save time and money on this journey," commented Bari Fagin of Bed Bath & Beyond. "Check with your college or university before you shop to learn the specific rules of your on-campus housing. Then, use our checklist to identify what you need to buy and what you can take from home. Save money by dividing the list with your roommate, this way you avoid buying duplicate items." Fagin highlights some of this year's must-have items for dorm dwellers: Make a statement. Since the bed is typically the largest item in the room, it typically sets the decor tone. Select a bedding pattern that reflects your personality. This year Nautica(R) offers several patterns in both comforters and duvet covers. Grover Beach is a great set for guys, in masculine grey and black it has a modern geometric appeal. For a fun, feminine look, go with the bright and bold plaid of "Torrey Beach." Good Night, Sleep Tight. If you're headed for on-campus housing, you're probably not destined for a new mattress. Convert any mattress to comfy cozy by starting with a mattress protector, which acts as a barrier between you and the mattress, and then add a mattress topper like a fiberbed for additional comfort. Storage Solutions. Tuition may have increased over time, but the size of the average dorm room has not. Choose a double hang closet rod to double the amount of usable closet space and use bed lifts and underbed storage bags to maximize every nook and cranny of your room. Wake Up Call. Finally something that actually listens... and responds! The Moshi(R) Interactive Voice Response Alarm Clock is voice or touch activated. The clock responds to voice commands such as "Time," "Temperature," "Alarm" and so much more. Now there are no excuses for being late to class. Quick Study. There's no reason you can't be comfortable while getting work done. The My Place(TM) Bed Desk will help you knock out that term paper from the couch, bed or even your favorite chair. Folds down for storage and comes with an LED light and built in mouse pad. All Charged Up. With all of the wireless gadgets students carry these days, cell phones, PDA's and MP3 players, a great organizational accessory is a charging station. This unique item keeps all of your wireless wonders together and conveniently charges them while keeping the cords out of sight. With the wide array of products student have to select from, it's easy to transform any dorm room from drab to fab. Whether shopping in stores nationwide or online at bedbathandbeyond.com, let Bed Bath & Beyond be your one-stop-shop for all your back to college needs. Website: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/10/Decorating+Tips+for+Woodlands+Residents Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/9/Fitness+Program Our fitness classes resume beginning Sunday, Feb 1 and run Sundays-Thursdays each week. See schedule below: SUNDAY: Sunday Fun Day 4p-5p MONDAY: Lower Body Blast 5:30p-6:30p TUESDAY: Core Cutter 8p-9p WEDNESDAY: Upper Body Blast 5:30p-6:30p THURSDAY: Total Body Sculpt 5:30p-6:30p We now have TWO fitness instructor heading up the classes, Sara Salinas and KJ Fesmire. We look forward to seeing everyone in the clubhouse gym! Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/9/Fitness+Program Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/7/Facebook+Do%27s+and+Don%27ts The Woodlands and its residents know firsthand the value and fun involved in social networking Web sites like Facebook. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your Facebook experience. *Facebook Dos* Do use your real name since. The idea behind these sites is for friends to stay in touch and reconnect. If you use a fake name people you knew in elementary school, from summer vacations, from real-life social groups you have left and friends who moved away, will not be able to find you. Do use a real picture of you in your profile. For the same reasons you should use your real name, a real picture of you is a must. People can’t tell if you’re you from your name alone. That being said, keep the picture you post modest, provocative pictures send the wrong message. Do look at the pictures of people who send you friend requests. Even if you don’t recognize them from the photo currently on display you may recognize the person from a different picture. Do create your photo albums with privacy settings so only your friends can see them. You can change the settings in the future if you want but it is always best to limit who can see the more intimate moments of your life. Do tag the pictures you post so that friends know when you have put their picture online. It is just common courtesy to let people know when you have put their likeness on the internet. Do be tolerant when you get friend requests from strangers, especially if your photo is not of you. You may not be the only person on the planet with your name. Just hit reject and don’t worry about it. People are not notified when you reject their friend request. Do use the Facebook privacy settings to limit who can see your full profile. Set it so that only friends can see things like your pictures, your wall, and your personal and contact information. Do create a private group for you and your close friends. Make the group administrated and by invite only and only allow friends to join if you know them in real life. Do limit the type of email notifications that come to you from Facebook. If you don’t you could find your email bombarded by Facebook messages. Do report any threats of violence or other inappropriate posts or images to Facebook and to the proper real world authorities like school officials, parents and police. *Facebook Don’ts* Don’t leave the default Facebook privacy settings as set. Go in and customize your privacy. Of particular importance, limit what people can see when you poke or message them before you have added them as a friend. The default setting allows people who are not friends yet and whom you poke or message to see your entire profile. Don’t be afraid to allow some people to only see a limited version of your profile. Limited profiles show things like your profile picture, your name, and your basic info but do not show things like your wall, your interests, your contact info and any images of you that are not used as in your profile.. Don’t ever announce on your wall, or on any public wall, where you plan to go or who you plan to go with. Cyber stalkers are a real threat and if you have one this tells them where to find you in real life. Don’t be afraid to join public groups about interests you share. Just be careful what you post on the walls of these groups. Don’t accept Facebook invites to events. If you plan to attend send your acceptance using a private message or tell the host when you see them in person. Don’t use Facebook to bully, harass, spread rumors, challenge fights or otherwise incite violence. Facebook is a social utility, not an anti-social utility. Article taken from: http://teenadvice.about.com/od/adviceexpert/a/usingfacebook.htm Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/7/Facebook+Do%27s+and+Don%27ts Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com> http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/6/Top+10+Web+Site+Tools+for+College+Students With classes starting, Woodlands residents can use this helpful link and article to help with studying and other school-related issues. h4. Top 10 Web Tools For College Students Wednesday August 16th 2006, 10:56 am Filed under: College, Graduate School, Tips See full article: http://www.educatednation.com/2006/08/16/tools-for-students/ 1) *Writely* - The “Web word processor.” Allows you to save your work and documents on the Web, and access them from anywhere. 2) *Soundslides* - Storytelling management made easy. Allows you to easily merge sound and audio to create and audio slideshow presentations. Requires a small registration fee. 3) *Bluedot.Us* - A great social bookmarking/networking service. With the click of a button, you can “Dot” a Web site / page that you find interesting and instantly share it with all of your friends. Perfect for groups of students who have similar interests - it’s an easy way to share information. 4) *eFax* - Need to receive a fax? Do it for free over e-mail! eFax will hook you up with a phone number that you can give to people…your faxes will show up in your inbox. 5) *PDF Online* - Create PDFs for free. I’ve used this on numerous occasions in conjunctions w/ e-fax. It’s great when you don’t have a scanner handy. Just e-fax yourself the document and then convert it into a pdf. 6) *Google Calendar* - Add events and activities to this simple and easy to use calendar. You can also share your calendar with other people, have multiple calendars, and have events e-mailed to you or sent to your cell phone. 7) *Google Spreadsheets* - I’ve only just started using this, but it seems like a great way to create and save spreadsheets online. 8) *Bloglines* - A way to search for and subscribe to news feeds and blogs. Not so new anymore, but I use it every day. 9) *Technorati* - They claim to track 51.3 million blogs. You can search for pretty much any type of blog you are looking for. However, I have heard there are other (perhaps better) options to Technorati these days. 10) *mynoteIT* - mynoteIT is a free service built for students to help keep school information organized and have it easily accessable whenever, wherever. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.woodlandsofcollegestation.com/blog/6/Top+10+Web+Site+Tools+for+College+Students Woodlands of College Station <info@woodlandsofcollegestation.com>