2017 Living Guide

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Living Guide 2017

4 Microwave pasta 6 On campus vegetarian 9 Not your mama’s ramen How to declutter and

10 organize your living space 12 Secrets of Charlotte 15 Chinese Feng Shui 16 Off campus living 18 Dining hall hacks 19 #Fitnessgoals 20 Sovi2Go 22 DIY: Marble vase EDITOR–IN–CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Hunter Heilman

Linnea Stoops

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Hailey Turpin

ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Angie Baquedano

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Delfina Erochenko, Emily Hickey, Candice Kelly, Alex Sands, Brianna Sumpter

MARKETING DIRECTOR

David Mendez

MARKETING & SALES Blake Strickland, Zavia Rudisell, Ryan Scott

CIRCULATION TEAM Student Union Loading Dock Team NINER MEDIA ADVISER: Wayne Maikranz MARKETING ADVISER: Kelly Merges

BUSINESS MANAGER: Laurie Cuddy

GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION: Megan Smith

OFFICE MANAGER: Danny Huffman

A Niner Times Publication

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Emily Hickey

Intern

College is hard. Classes are difficult, the work for those classes is time consuming, the food is sub-par and homemade meals haunt our dreams. A lot of students have such weird schedules they don’t have time to eat or make it to the dining halls before they close. Not only that, but most students crave the comfort of good food, such as pasta. Not Mac ‘n’ Cheese, which is delicious, but actual Italian pasta. When your classes interfere with dining hall hours or you just want a small taste of home, this is how to make pasta in the microwave.

Photo by Emily Hickey

Step one: Make sure you have pasta. Any kind of noodle (besides spaghetti and linguini) can work in this preparation, so stop by your local grocery store and pick up a box of your favorite noodle, besides the exceptions of course.

Personally, I go for penne since it’s easy and delicious, but my roommate always goes for farfalle, or bowtie.

Step two: Fill a microwaveable safe bowl 2/3 of the way with water, then add as many noodles as you desire without the bowl overflowing.

Appropriate amount of water for farfalle pasta.

Photo by Emily Hickey

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Step three: Place the bowl in the microwave on top of a plate. This is usually the microwave plate that’s already installed.

Living Guide 2017

Step four: Add 3-4 minutes to the suggested cook time found on the box and punch this into the time pad. For penne, this is approximately 15 minutes. Sporadic checks to make sure the noodles are cooking and nothing is on fire is a good thing to do as it’s cooking. Also, be sure to check on the noodles for they may need more or less time to cook.

Photo by Angie Baquedano

Step five: When the pasta is ready, drain the water in a sink. If you don’t have a strainer, don’t worry, just use a spoon to catch the noodles as you pour the bowl against the side of the sink. If that’s too disgusting for you, try using a paper towel over the top of the bowl and let the water seep through.

Step six: Let the noodles cool before adding any toppings, such as sauce/cheese/etc. Once you’ve done so, enjoy!

Of the many times my roommate and I have cooked pasta in the microwave, every bowl has been a success.

Using this guideline will help you achieve a perfect bowl of pasta to satisfy your homesick appetite. Not only that, but pasta is an important food group, and this is sure to improve your microwave skills. If you’re careful and smart, this should be an easy way to make food without leaving the comfort of your dorm. Buon appetito!

Finished Product. Photo by Emily Hickey A Niner Times Publication

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Emily Hickey Intern

Being vegetarian may be a personal choice for you and a health requirement for someone else, but one thing us vegetarians all have in common is the hunt to find food we can eat. It’s already a struggle eating as a college student with no money and the ever-looming threat of the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen,” but I have some tips for how to eat clean and find vegetarian options at multiple food centers around campus.

First, let us start with the dining halls, both Crown Commons and South Village Dining are typically vegetarian-friendly on a regular basis. All you have to do is look on the food’s description card and find the green “V” towards the bottom.

However, it can be frustrating when the majority of the meals cooked are meat-based, and there’s only one vegetarian option. When this happens, it can either be good or bad depending on if you like the meal or not.

If you do, go for it, but if you don’t SoVi has a great salad bar that’s conjoined with the fruit station. The salad bar is fresh and has a variety of options as well as dressings while the fruit livens the plate. If you’re in the mood for something greasier, try a grilled cheese from the burger station or cheese pizza from the pizza station.

It’s a well-known fact that 6

Crown has better pizza, but they do not have as much variety at their salad bar. One thing Crown does have is a makeyour-own-pasta station that puts SoVi to shame. Pasta is always a good option, and since it’s a make-your-own, you can ask for no meat and add loads of vegetables. Crown also has the luxury of self-serve at the main dish station, so it’s easy to pile sides and vegetables on your plate while just passing by the meat. At SoVi, you have to ask specifically for “just Mac ‘n’ Cheese” or “just mashed potatoes” which can result in small eye rolls from the staff; Do it anyway.

Moving on to fast-food, it’s kind of disappointing the lack of options each place has, but that’s what this guide is for, at Chick-Fil-A, a good meal is a side salad and medium fries. It’s just enough food, and the salad automatically comes meatless. It also leaves sufficient room for a delicious Cookies & Cream Milkshake.

Another place that has a good vegetarian option is Salsarita’s, instead of a meat meal substitute for grilled veggies it’s delicious and the healthier option.

Mondo Subs offers a vegetarian sandwich as well; if you layer your burrito/taco or sandwich, you can enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal at either of these Living Guide 2017

Prospector Café restaurants.

It’s even more difficult to find vegetarian options at Bojangles or Wendy’s since both are again, not targeted towards the vegcrowd. Bojangles’ has a Mac ‘n’ Cheese side that is delicious when paired with medium fries and a biscuit, but it can be too little food. Wendy’s mimics Chick-Fil-A with a salad (you have to ask for no meat), fries, and a milkshake. Although whenever I’ve gone to Wendy’s and ordered a salad, they have never had them. Moving to Cone Center, Panda Express has a greater variety of vegetarian options. You can always substitute meat with vegetables and if you’re a pescatarian, the sushi is perfect for you. You can also find sushi at the Fretwell Café and Library Café where they also have small fruit packets and vegetarian sandwiches, such as the Caprese sandwich.

All over campus, it’s easy to find vegetarian meals; you just have to know where to look for them. Generally, they’re inexpensive, as all vegetarian meals are so you won’t have to worry about overusing your DB. There are many more options as well, these were just some tips using my orders and experiences.

Hopefully there will be a future increase in vegetarian options, but for now, these meals work just fine.

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Living Guide 2017

Hailey Turpin

Lifestyle Editor

When your ramen noodle packets pile up in the dorm, it’s time to think of new ways to fix it up and make it unique. Here is a new recipe that your mama never thought of!

Ingredients • 1 package of Oriental flavored Ramen • 1 cup fresh/frozen vegetables • 1 tbsp. soy sauce • salt and pepper to taste • Saucepan and spoon Photo by Hailey Turpin

Photo by Hailey Turpin

Step one: cook noodles as directed. With about 30 seconds left in cooking time, take out some of the water and add flavor packet.

Step two: add in the fresh/frozen vegetables. Steam for 1-2 minutes.

Step three: add 1 tbsp. of soy sauce and stir in. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy that new found ramen obsession!

When you’re looking for a new spin on the college life staple, don’t be afraid to try new things!

A Niner Times Publication

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Delfina Erochenko Staff Writer

It’s hard to be organized when you have a busy schedule.

With classes and work, most of us are left with little time for hobbies and socializing, so organizing aspects of our lives is something is often forgotten or left for last. Getting home and seeing that we must do laundry, clean the kitchen, organize our rooms and make sure everything is tidy can be challenging, because after a long day all you want to do is relax and watch a movie.

Having too much of a mess isn’t good for us either; it makes it harder to find things and distracts us because we spend time fretting over when we should organize it or not. Plus, doesn’t getting home to a clean, organized space give you a sense of calmness? Decluttering your living space can seem a bit daunting, but once it’s done, you’ll realize that it is worth it.

If you want to declutter and organize everything, set aside a day when you know you’ll have free time, so you don’t have to interrupt what you’re doing.

The first place to start is your closet. Is it constantly overflowing? Do you have clothes that you haven’t worn in more than a year? If so, it’s time to clean it out.

You should first start with the clothes that you always 10

use. Throw them into a “keep” pile. Also in the “keep” pile you should place clothes you need for formal events, and clothes which you are sure you will continue to use. Do the same for your shoes! In a “give away” pile, place clothes you haven’t used for a year or more, clothes that you bought on a whim but know you won’t be using and any ill-fitting clothes. Remember that you can sell the clothes you don’t want at places like Plato’s Closet (near campus!) or you can donate them at places like Goodwill. Personally, when I was decluttering my closet I had experience with both and they were great options for getting rid of unwanted clothes.

Do you have any textbooks from previous semesters taking up any space? It’s time to sell them! You can try selling them on Amazon or Ebay, or you can put up an ad offering your textbook at a discounted price. The idea is to get rid of anything that takes up any unnecessary space in your living space and earn some money while you do it!

You can also try looking around your house for any items or decorations you want to get rid of but haven’t gotten the chance to. Maybe you bought a lamp that you thought would look good in your room, Living Guide 2017

but you’ve realized it looks bad, or maybe you have too many decorations that are making your room look cluttered. Try to leave the things you like the most, but get rid of things you know you don’t want. Try to sell or give away the things you don’t want.

It’s also very effective to have a study space in your house or apartment. It doesn’t have to be large, but having your own corner with a desk and a comfortable chair can make your studying experience better.

A good way to make sure your study space is effective is by keeping a planner handy so you can write down any important notes about assignments or studying. Buying a calendar that you can keep on the wall above your desk is also a good idea, so you can always look up and see if you have any upcoming due dates.

Of course, many people prefer apps or their computers to store important dates and plans, but sometimes writing them by hand and looking at something that isn’t a screen helps you organize yourself a bit more.

In my experience, keeping a small storage basket near my desk can help me keep track of homework and assignments. If you put any unfinished work in the basket, it serves as a re-

Photo by Chris McKinnis

minder of what you should complete. Having a small storage basket for class work can also serve other purposes. If you are in the process of writing an important paper, keeping all the research you’ve done in the basket is a great way to make sure that all your information is together in one place. You can also use it as a place where you can store important documents.

It might seem a bit silly to keep things stored in a basket, but if you keep it somewhere where you are likely to see it often, you’ll be reminded of the assignments you need to complete and the things you need to study. It’s a very effective reminder!

Now your closet is organized and you’ve gotten rid of other things around your house that were cluttered, what else is left? Your fridge. Clear out any food that is expired and make sure to clean your fridge as

well. After all, the place where you keep your food should always be clean. Organize all the food that is left so that whenever you look for something you’ll know exactly where it is. You won’t have to fumble around looking for yogurt or ketchup if you stored them in a place where you have easy access!

Meal planning is also a good way to organize yourself. It is healthy for you, saves you money and relieves you from cooking every day. It’s quite simple, for example on a Sunday, you make large quantities of food such as grilled chicken, broccoli and rice. After you’ve made all the food, you divide it into portions for the week and store it in Tupperware and put it all in the fridge. Throughout the week, you can eat these meals instead of buying junk food (yay for earning money!). If you don’t like the idea of eating the same thing every day, give yourself A Niner Times Publication

options! Make some food portions that include pasta, others that include rice, be creative with sauces and condiments each day too!

There are many ways for you to organize and declutter your living space, and hopefully this article has helped or given you new ideas about how you can go about doing this. If you feel like you still need inspiration, give Pinterest a go! You can get a variety of ideas, from different ways to organize your closet to how you can create more storage space. Go ahead and give it a try, when you are organized, getting important tasks done is easy!

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Angie Baquedano Asst. Lifestyle Editor

Charlotte is a big city and living in it is a big deal, but how is anyone ever supposed to make the most of the Queen City when the most wonderful things to do in it are usually discovered on accident?

An explanation is in order, I have lived in Charlotte for the past three years and it wasn’t until this year that I discovered the hidden gems that make this city such a wonderful place.

Typing in “best things to do in charlotte” won’t help you very much, because it will name the basics like The Discovery Place, or The White Water Center, but they won’t tell you about the little secrets that Charlotte has to hide.

Luckily, I’ve discovered a few and I’ll tell you all about them: 1. Lunchbox Records: Located in Plaza Midwood is a cool little record store on the side of the road where you’ll be sure to discover some pretty great music at a reasonable price. Plus, it’s ten times better than spending $35 at Urban Outfitters for some artist that you already know.

Go discover something new and stop by Fuel Pizza for a bite.

Photo courtesy of Flickr/Keith Allison

student ID. Yes, it’s a real thing and absolutely no one takes advantage of it. The schedule for college nights is online and if you present your student ID at the ticket booth, your ticket is $10 for a fun night watching our team do work!

3. Romare Bearden Park: This is an awesome park in the middle of Uptown where you get this killer view of the city. Take your dog, or your friends dog, or a notebook and your imagination. If you need a little break from the buzz, but also a reminder why the Queen City is the best city, then head over to Romare Bearden for a little hope and inspiration.

4. Noda: Stands for North of Davidson Area it’s fun, it’s hip and the food is oh so good. If you’re in need of a little yuppie life, make your way over to Noda and stop by Pura Vida for some cool knick knacks and grab something to eat at Sabor Latin Street Grill. Get the Chicken Quinoa bowl, I promise you won’t regret it.

5. South End Food Truck Friday: Food trucks galore all in one spot, so your pickings are never slim. There’s usually music playing and people buzzing around ready for a bite of probably the best street food you’ll ever try.

6. Metalmorphosis: Who doesn’t love art?

Especially when it not only has a quirky name, but it’s also a water fountain. This giant metal head that consists of different metal pieces stacked upon each other, turning until it makes a face is a sight to see. (Did I mention its free?)

2. Spectrum Center: It’s swarm time!! Go support the Charlotte Hornets for $10 with your 12

7. Type “CLT Airport Overlook” into your GPS and when you arrive, be ready to take in the sights of jump jets going all over the world taking off right in front of you. Since Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a major hub

Living Guide 2017

for American Airlines, you’re sure to catch many different planes taking off at all hours of the day. Bring a blanket and a camera for some planespotting, as well as wonderful views of the Uptown skyline. (Tip: the biggest planes take off between 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

8. The Underground: Go catch a show at The Underground. Tickets are usually pretty cheap and you might discover a new artist that you just might love. It’s this cool, small music venue right next to the Fillmore where you’re sure to get sweet pics and maybe even meet whoever is performing that night. If anything, you’ll get a fun memory instead of laying on the couch and binge watching three seasons worth of “The Office.” (No hate towards “The Office,” I’ve recently become obsessed) 9. Starlight Cinemas: Step 1: go online and reserve your your super comfy lazy-boy type recliner seats. Step 2: Go to a gas station and buy a ton of snacks. Step 3: Stuff it all in your jacket or purse (or both). Step 4: Go to your movie, lean back, try not to fall asleep and enjoy.

10. Find your happy place: A few days ago, I was in my poetry class and my professor asked the class to write about their happy place. She said it could be taken as abstract or as literally as we wanted. It could be a place, or a person, or a memory, etc. So I sat down and thought for the longest time and I couldn’t think of one.

Eventually, after three days of pondering, I figured it out. Although this caused me to ponder something else, we all live here and we all for the most part like it, but this is also the time when we are all trying to find ourselves, and sometimes that makes life messy. Everyone should have a happy place and I think we should all try to find it here in Charlotte. Somehow I have the feeling that if we find that place here in the city that we live in, it might just make life a little easier.

So think really hard or don’t think at all and go find your happy place, or your happy person, or your happy memory; but get out there and do something.

Go find your own hidden gem and tell everyone about it, or don’t. Be selfish, these are the years to do just that. Enjoy the little secrets that I shared and go explore. I’ll be out there taking over the universe; I suggest you do the same.

Photo courtesy of Flickr/James Willamor

Photo courtesy of Flickr/Nan Palermo

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A Niner Times Publication

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Brianna Sumpter Intern

¨UNC Charlotte takes housing and residence life very seriously. I´ve been an RA for three years and there are a lot of things that I’ve seen.

One of the craziest things was there was a resident who was actually spotted practicing witchcraft and sorcery is definitely something that I hadn’t seen in my lifetime prior to that. The tough part of being an RA is that a lot of people have a misconception that we’re the police, and we may come off that way in a sense but we are truly here to better your experience at UNC Charlotte. The most gratifying thing that has happened for me being an RA was when me and a few other RA´s did a program for a student who was diagnosed with cancer and bedridden at Levine Hospital. We brought her cards and flowers and the family was very appreciative. To know that I had the ability to go out and help people as an RA made me feel incredible.¨ -Travis Swilling

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Living Guide 2017

Hailey Turpin Lifestyle Editor

It’s that time of the year, the new year brings new energy to your life, but sometimes we need to change our surroundings to fit the new year and new us. If you want to liven up your living space, take a look at the art of Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), the chinese philosophical ideas that harmonizes and balances your living space to its surroundings.

Chinese Feng Shui dates back as early as ninth century BC, and is still widely practiced today. The literal meaning of Feng Shui is “wind and water,” which is used to show the relationship between humans and their surroundings.

Feng Shui is the art of placement in the house, so that spiritual energy, or “Qi” (pronounced chee), can flow through the house evenly. Feng Shui also takes into account the Five Elements (water, fire, metal, wood and earth) and how they should be evenly balanced within the home. Take time to consider everything that is brought into your home, because this can affect the qi.

For sofas, make sure they are against something sturdy , i.e. a wall or tall table with lamps.

Also, moving the sofa so that you have a clear view of the door allows the space to stay protected, intimate and inviting.

For public spaces, like living rooms, it’s best to keep colors of walls and decorations light and neutral. Adding decor that is meaningful and energy-filled allows the room to be joyful, which brings

more qi to the whole living space. Who doesn’t want to be happy at home?

In dining rooms (or kitchen spaces) it’s good to keep the dining table proportional to the room it’s in, that way dinner guests do not feel locked in while they are over. Adding mirrors to the eating area makes the room look bigger and allows qi to flow properly.

But for bedrooms, it’s a little bit complex. The bedroom is a intimate and sacred place, and needs to be kept technological and clutter free.

This allows the qi to flow, and allows you to get a great night’s sleep. Dark and deep colors are recommended for bedroom spaces to keep a specific mood.

If you decide to jump on the Feng Shui train, take a look into the history and meaning of the Chinese art of placement. Happy living Niners!

A Niner Times Publication

Photo by Angie Baquedano

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Brianna Sumpter Intern

Coming to UNCC as a transfer student was one of the smoothest transitions I have ever made. When deciding whether I was going to live on or off campus, at first I thought my decision was crystal clear. The thought of having my own apartment was so satisfying! But then when I started to think about it, due to the fact that I originally went to a community college, I never got the ¨on campus living¨ experience. I started to get torn between which way to go and I ended up choosing to live off campus.

I do not regret my decision at all, but there are definitely pros and cons to living off campus. I would definitely say that one of the pros to living off campus is that you never have to worry about somewhere to go when school is out. When the campus is closed for the holidays I have always wondered where students living on campus that do not have family living close by go. Also, living off campus teaches you responsibilities that are essential after college, such as paying rent. Personally, I feel like living off campus has the ability to challenge your social skills. When you live on campus, you can always strike a conversation with your roommates about what classes they are taking or what they are majoring in. When you live off campus, you are not guaranteed to go to the same school, due to there being numerous schools in Charlotte.

Living off campus has its cons as well.

One thing for sure about off campus living is that it is less convenient transportation wise. Depending on where you live, you can walk to campus, but not every off campus living residence is that close to campus. Also, living off campus makes it more difficult to know wwhat is going on on campus. If you are active in student organizations, 16

then you probably won’t find yourself having trouble with this. But for students that simply go to campus for class and then leave, it is going to be more difficult finding out when certain activities are going on, whereas students living on campus are going to see the flyers in their buildings, in the bathrooms, etc.

One of the biggest differences between living on and off campus is the absence of a Residential Advisor (RA). When you live off campus you pretty much don’t have anyone that you are required to answer to or report to. For the most part as long as you pay your rent you are good to go. On campus however is a different story. On campus there is always an RA on duty to handle any questions or concerns that you may have.

When you are living on your own you don’t have someone available to call if you have a question or concern at anytime of the day or night. Of course you are able to call the police if there was a true emergency, but the presence of an RA is what you lack. There are also certain rules that you have on campus that don’t apply off campus, such as the presence of alcohol. The rules on campus are set for your safety and to help you succeed overall. Off campus living basically assumes and expects that you know what to do and what not to do for your own success.

If you are living on campus and are trying to decide whether to switch it up or not, I would definitely recommend living off campus.

You will get an opportunity to meet people outside your community and experience a different environment.

Living Guide 2017

A Niner Times Publication

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Alexandria Sands News Editor

Photos by Alex Sands

CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD Sometimes you just feel like eating healthier than normal. In this case, go for a chicken caesar salad. Go to the grill station and ask for a grilled chicken breast. At the salad bar, you can get some lettuce, croutons, white cheese and caesar dressing. Top that off with some pepper and you have a delicious and healthy meal!

BREAKFAST SANDWICH Making a sandwich is a great way to switch up your breakfast. Go to the breakfast bar and get whatever food you want- eggs, hashbrowns, sausage. Then go to the pastry station and toast a bagel. Once you sit down, you can put the contents of the food on the bagel for a delicious breakfast sandwich. Don’t forget the orange juice!

ICE CREAM WAFFLES I won’t lie. I get a few strange looks with this one, but it’s one of my favorite foods to make when nothing else is catching my eye at the dining hall. Use the waffle machine, which luckily is open all day. Once your waffle is done, top it with some soft serve ice cream and whatever toppings they have at the topping station that day. After that, add some syrup. The syrup and ice cream make for a heavenly combination.

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Living Guide 2017

Angie Baquedano Asst. Lifestyle Editor

1. STRETCH! I know, I know, it’s super easy to forget to stretch but your glutes, legs, arms will thank you. A simple toe-touch and quick lunge on each side can save you from a weeks worth of pain.

2. Doing exercise everyday can be such a drag, unless you’re heavily into it. So a fun way to stay active without the dread of a long run on a treadmill is making use of the UNC Charlotte rock climbing wall. Make your way into the East Recreational Court housed within the SAC, rent some gear and get to climbing.

NT File Photo

3. Make sure to wear the right shoes when running on the treadmill. Shoes that are cushioned, flexible and comfortable are a must, otherwise you run the risk of a stress injury.

4. Make use of the Belk gym or the SAC anytime during normal class periods before 5pm if you’re a little shy of crowds. If you want some place extra quiet, then head to the SAC, but if you’re looking for a full body workout, then the Belk gym is your best option.

5. Remember to eat breakfast. Putting food into your body not only gives you an extra boost

of energy but it lets your body know that it’s time to wake up and start the day.

6. Drink lots of water. We all fail to do so, but it’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day. It will not only make your workout much easier to handle, but it will be good for your skin, hair and nails.

7. If you have a little extra time between classes, take the long way to the building or take the stairs rather than the elevator. This may be a little hard with the horrific freezing winds we get here at UNCC, but adding a little extra distance between point A and point B will help you in the long run.

8. Make up your own workout routine inside your dorm, a little bit of stretching, walking up and down the steps, throw in some yoga, a few sit-ups, mess around with a medicine ball and you’re golden.

9. Workout with a friend. Exercising can be so annoying to do, but we’re not getting any younger, so that beach bod that you may or may not have right now doesn’t necessarily mean it’s here to stay. Anything worth having takes a bit of work and dedication, so help a pal out and make a pact to go to the gym together and motivate each other. If one of you doesn’t want to go one day and doesn’t have a valid reason for it, throw in some tough love and go! You’ll be glad you did it afterwards.

10. Do not overwork yourself, if you feel like you have pushed yourself to the max then just slow it down. You do not have to run six miles just because the person next to you is, everyone has different energy levels and everyone is different so don’t be hard on yourself. Just do what you can and remember to try to have fun, exercising will never be easy but it shouldn’t be a grueling experience that you dread everyday.

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Angie Baquedano Asst. Lifestyle Editor

1. STRETCH! I know, I know, it’s super easy to forget to stretch but your glutes, legs, arms will thank you. A simple toe-touch and quick lunge on each side can save you from a weeks worth of pain.

2. Doing exercise everyday can be such a drag, unless you’re heavily into it. So a fun way to stay active without the dread of a long run on a treadmill is making use of the UNC Charlotte rock climbing wall. Make your way into the East Recreational Court housed within the SAC, rent some gear and get to climbing.

NT File Photo

3. Make sure to wear the right shoes when running on the treadmill. Shoes that are cushioned, flexible and comfortable are a must, otherwise you run the risk of a stress injury.

4. Make use of the Belk gym or the SAC anytime during normal class periods before 5pm if you’re a little shy of crowds. If you want some place extra quiet, then head to the SAC, but if you’re looking for a full body workout, then the Belk gym is your best option.

5. Remember to eat breakfast. Putting food into your body not only gives you an extra boost

of energy but it lets your body know that it’s time to wake up and start the day.

6. Drink lots of water. We all fail to do so, but it’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day. It will not only make your workout much easier to handle, but it will be good for your skin, hair and nails.

7. If you have a little extra time between classes, take the long way to the building or take the stairs rather than the elevator. This may be a little hard with the horrific freezing winds we get here at UNCC, but adding a little extra distance between point A and point B will help you in the long run.

8. Make up your own workout routine inside your dorm, a little bit of stretching, walking up and down the steps, throw in some yoga, a few sit-ups, mess around with a medicine ball and you’re golden.

9. Workout with a friend. Exercising can be so annoying to do, but we’re not getting any younger, so that beach bod that you may or may not have right now doesn’t necessarily mean it’s here to stay. Anything worth having takes a bit of work and dedication, so help a pal out and make a pact to go to the gym together and motivate each other. If one of you doesn’t want to go one day and doesn’t have a valid reason for it, throw in some tough love and go! You’ll be glad you did it afterwards.

10. Do not overwork yourself, if you feel like you have pushed yourself to the max then just slow it down. You do not have to run six miles just because the person next to you is, everyone has different energy levels and everyone is different so don’t be hard on yourself. Just do what you can and remember to try to have fun, exercising will never be easy but it shouldn’t be a grueling experience that you dread everyday.

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Hailey Turpin

Lifestyle Editor

Supplies: • Three nail polish colors (your choice) • Glass vase • Tin pan (size depends on vase size)

Need a little bloom in your life? Check out this easy and cheap DIY for a water marbled flower vase!

Step one: Gather supplies. For this, I went to Dollar Tree, and got everything for less than $10.

Step two: Add water to tin pan. I filled the pan about three-fourths of the way full with water, making sure the water was on the colder side.

Step three: Add nail polish. For this step, slowly pour the nail polish, allowing the polish to spread in the water. Take the other two colors and make any design you want on top of the water. I recommend colors that complement each other.

Step four: Roll vase onto design. This part is a little tricky and takes paticence. Dip the vase into the water on its side and slowly turn into the rest of the design, The polish will cling to the vase, so try to be quick.

Remeber the design does not have to be perfect, so go with the flow of the design.

Step five: Set vase out to dry. I let the vase set overnight to fully dry, and the design set well. Add a coat of Modge Podge for an extra shine. Add in your favorite kind of flowers and enjoy!

Photos by Hailey Turpin 22

Living Guide 2017

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