By Ananda Cash When I was seven, my parents decided it was time I had my own room. We have been living in a one bedroom apartment for seven years. This apartment had a lot of memories for us. It was the first time my mom had to run out of a fire with me as a baby, the first time I had to go to the hospital because I had smoke in my lungs, and the first time I smashed my thumb in between the gap of the metal front door. It was also the first apartment my grandmothers visited m

By Judy Anne Capiral I always found discomfort in distant family parties. I hardly ever saw this side of the family, visiting them only on specific occasions or holidays. Although I value family above all else, it becomes difficult when both sides of the family are so different. I am half-Filipina and half-Peruvian. Some years we spend Christmas with my mom’s side, leaving New Year’s to be spent with my dad’s side. The situation seems like an efficient system, where I can be

By Morgan Hughes If you’re like me, Fall 2019 was not your semester grade-wise. But have no fear, one bad semester is not the end of the world. As we near mid-term season, now is the crucial time to focus on getting back on track and getting the best grades possible. Here are some tips to help: Get Organized. Invest in a planner. It’s much easier to stay on top of assignments if you schedule a time to do each one. Plus, if you feel like you’re missing something, you’ll always

By Morgan Hughes Where Is It? Schenectady NY Describe It Schenectady is a city in upstate, New York. Once called “the city that lights and hauls the world”, also called “the electric city” (yes I know Scranton, PA is too), Schenectady is the birthplace of Thomas Edison’s General Electric company. It’s also known for Proctors — former vaudeville house turned professional theatre, the historic stockade district and Union College. Its namesake comes from the Mohawk word “skahnéh

by Judy Anne Capiral There comes a time in the semester when many of you may feel drained, or just exhausted– mentally, physically, and/or emotionally. The classes you take, may feel like they’re taking a lot out of you, to the extent of checking and re-checking your syllabi for how many absences you’re allotted (I know I’ve been there). Or maybe – if you’re like me and most of your close friends live hours away– you tend to feel lonely. All of these elements may lead to diff

by Judy Anne Capiral Where is it? Ronkonkoma, NY. Photo by John Paynter Describe it. Almost in the middle of Long Island, Ronkonkoma is a small town with great character. Its namesake, the large Lake Ronkonkoma which the town surrounds, is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Princess Tuskawanta, a Native American Princess who drowned herself in that very lake. The myth is that she fell in love with a young white man, who her father forbade her from marrying and forced her t

by Emma Misiaszek The arrival of winter often reminds us of the holidays, hot cocoa and finally some time off from school. But let’s not forget the not so enjoyable aspects of the season, like getting colds, dry skin, that unwelcomed seasonal depression and the feeling of being forever cold. Now is the time to prepare for the winter and get the must need essentials to make the next few months a time for healing and relaxing in comfort. Can’t afford to crank the heat up high a

by Shyana Fisher Now healing during the holiday season may seem like it belongs in the “Health and Wellness” section, but I can tell you with all certainty that it belongs at home, because I will only heal if I am surrounded by the people and places that I love. That, and I’m the home section editor so obviously, I’m going to choose my section. The holidays have always felt so refreshing to me. That magical feeling of a warm fireplace and Christmas cookies baking in the kitch

by Jessica Barr Going from one “home” to another is anything but easy, exciting – maybe, nonetheless, it shakes our routines and the comfort we have created in our current spaces. When college students visit or move for break or post graduation, the transition isn’t always as a happy ending to a hopeful outlook. Things change, parents remodel, pets are no longer there, siblings move out, along with a whole other slew of unexpected changes. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs holds sh

by Pamela Loperena Are you looking for a new way to transform your home into a heartfelt haven? Then cozy minimalism might just be the style for you! Cozy minimalism is a type of interior design which merges functionality with comfort, evoking a simplistic and inviting ambiance. Compared to minimalism, cozy minimalism doesn’t only focus on the extreme act of disposing unnecessary items. Instead it emphasizes a balanced mindset. You can strive to embrace the philosophy of owni

by Yasmine Sayid College is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life, full of new people, new information and new experiences. For many, this is the first time we are away from the safe haven of our hometown and the creeping thoughts of homesickness start to creep in. Meeting new people, increasing workload, and F.O.M.O. can all make you want to just crawl into your bed. However, you can’t hide in your dorm wishing to click your heels three times and fly home like Do

by Amanda M. Gordon As I look around my living space, there are a good deal of things that catch my eye. A stack of mismatched books, old term papers and junk mail that wait on the floor for me to decide if they are to keep or recycle and randomly discarded articles of clothing that are draped across everything but the rack they belong on. My place is a mess, and I’m okay with that. There was a point in time when that wasn’t the case. Growing up, I was as organized as they ca

by Shyana Fisher I’ve had a teddy bear since I was a baby. I’m pretty sure that he came from my grandparents but I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have him. His name is Cuddles. When I went off to college, I was sure that I could leave Cuddles behind; functioning adults don’t usually have teddy bears. But after a few weeks, I realized I was uncomfortable without my teddy bear next to me. It’s not so much the feeling of holding him, but just a comfort that he is there. It

by Yasmine Sayid Standing in Bed, Bath and Beyond with huge bundles of bedding surrounding me and throw pillows everywhere, I ask myself, “what’s the deal with downs and duvets?” I wanted something to keep warm, but not overheat me; something easy to wash and not too bulky. Well, fall is here- trees are changing colors, a chill is in the air and somehow the smell of cinnamon is everywhere. It’s time to get comfortable and I’m going to explain the difference so that you can sl

by Jessica Barr It is no secret that pollutants in our environment harm our health. In fact, the issue is so widespread that we’re seeing cases of respiratory infection and asthma increase year to year, especially in lower-income families, where air purifiers may not be cost efficient. As exposure to chemicals increase in our natural environments, we forget the rate at which we fall victim to these harmful chemicals in our homes too. Some of the most common being benzene, whi

by Shyana Fisher Doesn’t everyone love curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and cocooning themselves in blankets? There just might be a word for that. Hygge, pronounced “hoo-ga,” is a Danish term that is all about feeling cozy, content and enjoying the simple things in life. It is a crucial part of the Danish lifestyle, and we might want to take some notes considering Denmark is always on the list of the world’s happiest countries! This lifestyle trend was all over the news in

by Kelsey Fredricks When I envisioned my final year of college at the start of it all, I didn’t picture I would take a semester off, ultimately graduating a full semester passed my desired May 2019 graduation date. It was comforting for me to know that I’d be done with college by the summertime. I’ve come to realize this a concern related to a societal belief that everyone endures eight continuous college semesters, without any breaks or intersession classes and that we will

by Erin Freeman I feel most at home amongst a hodge-podge of relics. Most of my possessions have been around longer than I have, and I hope that they find new homes when it’s time for them to leave mine. I’m a sucker for twentieth century aesthetics; each decade has its own color palette, style of lines, and distinct version of a floral pattern. These styles are so connected to their era that they can lend their connection to you and your home with each use or view. While the

by Tina Staniscia Although there are many different interpretations of home, who says, “you can’t go home again?” Here’s the thing. Being Mom to four kids, one a recent graduate of New Paltz, and two others still in college, from my perspective, oh yes you can. And you do. My daughter recently moved in with her boyfriend and got a new job.  Although she doesn’t come over to do her wash, she does call to see if there is anything she can grab for lunch, or asks what her dad is

by Shyana Fisher Let’s face it; money talks. And most of the time, it just says “spend me!” College students are always known for being broke and, to be fair, most of us are. But there are ways to budget accordingly that will make you break the stereotype, not the bank. Here are my top five tips for making and sticking to a budget in college. Be realistic. If you spend $50 on clothes every Saturday, or have an addiction to Chinese takeout, account for that in your budget. Ins