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5 Ways to Improve Yourself this Summer

Love On A Budget

Ah, to be young and in love, they all say longingly. Unfortunately, its not always all its cracked up to be. Dating in college can be a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Having a sweetheart is all fun and dandy until you have to take them out on the town. College students arent known for having tons of funds at their disposal so, finding cheap activities can be difficult. No matter what your relationship status says, theres a way for you to celebrate Valentines Day. Make Your Own Valentine Sure, regular Valentines Day cards arent the most expensive gift but the really clever and creative ones on Etsy usually are. You can do better, though. Create your own! Add in your own flair and personality for a really sentimental card. A gift means so much more when the recipient can tell how much heart and thought you put into it. Stop by the Mountainlair on Valentines Day from 11AM until 2PM to create your perfect card. A Heart-Shaped Box (of pancakes) Nothing says Love like All-You-Can-Eat Pancakes. If you and your date have a penchant for breakfast foods, you wont find anything more romantic than all-you-can-eat pancakes at IHOP. Or if youre single, take your buds to IHOP and feast like kings and queens. Through February 12th, IHOP is offering this up to visitors who order a specific order and then, tell them to keep em coming! Thankfully, even if the weather isnt particularly hospitable, IHOP is right around the bend from Pierpont Place Apartments . Galentines Day Valentines Day is great to show your partner that you love them but what about your pals? They deserve some love too. Whether your pals are gals or guys, everyone can celebrate Galentines Day! This year at the Mountainlair, from February 12th until the 14th, you can make your very own cuddly bear at the Build A Bear event . Stuff them and dress them up to your hearts content. Gift it to your loved one or keep it for yourself. No matter what Facebook says your relationship status is, you can find something fun to do this Valentines Day. Whats your favorite thing to do around the holiday? Do you prefer to spend it with your loved one or your friends?

Cold Weather Prep 101

Image courtesy of Pixabay https://pixabay.com/p-690107/?no_redirect Over half of West Virginia Universitys student body are non-residents of West Virginia, meaning theyre coming from out of state. While some of these folks might have come from neighboring states like Pennsylvania or Ohio, other students might come from warmer states. If youre still not used to the northern winters of West Virginia, heres a little survival guide to help you get through the bitter winter. Layer Up, Buttercup You can never be too prepared for a snowstorm, especially when those winds get whipping around. The icy winds will pierce right through your jacket and tee shirt. So make sure you have multiple layers on under your winter jacket. Were not talking about just 2 shirts. Get some fleece lined jeans and weather proof boots. Put your holey sneakers away for the season and get some shoes that wont let the melted snow leak in. Invest in a Good Thermos Theres nothing worse than getting to class after trudging through the snow and not warming back up again until you get back to your apartment after classes are through. When you get up in the morning, brew up a hot pot of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea and throw it in a thermos. It will keep your hands toasty on the way to campus and it will restore your bodys warmth as you sip it in class. Just make sure your professor doesnt have a no food and drink policy! Take Care of Your Car If you drive to class, you want your car to hold up through the winter, right? Youll need to give it a little extra attention in the winter to make sure its in proper working order. Check your tire pressure frequently. Cold weather affects the pressure which could in turn affect your traction and gas mileage. To prevent your fuel lines freezing, keep a full gas tank throughout winter. Follow these tips and you wont have to resort to hoofing it around Morgantown. Stock Up Keep all of your cold weather essentials on hand. Blankets, candles, Netflix, hot chocolate, and books are important to your sanity throughout the winter. Take stock of your apartment, if you dont have these things, its time for a trip to the store. Buy in bulk and then you wont have to head back out into the cold for these things again! Winter sucks. It was great when you were a kid, but its a garbage season as soon as you become an adult. You can minimize the trauma of the season with a little preparation. Worse comes to worst, you can just hibernate in your Pierpont apartment for the next few months. What are your best cold weather life hacks? Share them with us on Facebook !

New Years Resolutions A Guide to Achieving Them

Image courtesy of Pixabay Tis the season for changes. The new year is a time for new beginnings and starting over. No matter who you are or where you are in life, there are always opportunities for change and improvement. Take a moment now to write down your list of goals for 2017. It can be a long list or a sticky note. Whats important is that you commit yourself to actually making the changes. If youre having trouble coming up with resolutions, we have a few suggestions as well as some ways to achieve them. Living Healthy One of the most popular resolutions every single year is to lose weight or to be healthier. Thats sure easy to say, Hey, you know what? This year, Im going to eat healthier, be more active, and make healthier choices. Sounds simple. In execution, its really not. But really, all it takes is baby steps. Each day, take a step towards being healthy. One day, try waking up earlier and squeezing in a workout session in Pierpont Places fitness center . Or the next time you go out to eat, order a water instead of a soda. Small steps over time will lead to big changes! Being Less Stressed Easier said than done, right? Just be less stressed, they say! Its simple! But its really not. Stress can take a huge toll on your body . If you have trouble relaxing even after your work is done, you need to start taking time out for yourself. Caring for yourself is just as important as caring for others. Spend your Sunday, indulging and then prepare for your week. Depending on how much time you have, try a few of these tips to care for yourself and your mental health this week. Setting some time aside each week for yourself will result in serious improvement to your well-being. Spending More Time With Family/Friends With school and work getting in the way, it can be hard to make time to see the people you love. That can take a real toll on you too! Once your finals are over, set a little time aside to see your friends. Then, once the spring semester starts up, make sure you make time to see your pals, whether its for lunch at Boreman or a movie night in the theater room at Pierpont Place . You can even schedule a study session of just quietly working on your homework. Even if youre not working on the same class, it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of and to help you unwind a little when the work is done. The new year is the perfect time to start over. If 2016 didnt go exactly the way you had planned it, a brand new year is on the way just waiting for you. What are your New Years resolutions for 2017? Share them with us on Facebook and in the comments!

Morgantown Indoor Fun

[caption id="attachment_192" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image courtesy of PixaBay[/caption] November is upon us and soon winter will be as well. As the Starks of Winterfell would say, winter is coming. Once winter finally hits, were going to be very unlikely to head outside unless its for the necessities. Trudging through the snow and blistering winds is not anyones idea of a good time. In Morgantown, were pretty used to rough weather so we know whats up once November and December hit. We have quite a few options for staying inside and still having a good time. Indoor Tee Time Golf is typically considered an outdoor activity. Not at Tee to Green ! You might think that nothing can beat an outdoor round of golf but Tee to Green gives it a run for its money. Their 3 state-of-the-art indoor golf simulators are endorsed by the PGA Tour so you know its the real deal. Sharpen your game or just try it for fun. Youll be having fun all while staying away from the chill outside. Tee to Green is a 15 minute drive away from Pierpont Place Apartments so its not a far drive to tee time! Let the Good Times Roll You cant talk about indoor activities without mentioning bowling. No matter what you think of bowling as a sport, you cant deny that its fun! Suburban Lanes (5 minutes from Pierpont Place) is a Morgantown staple. If you want to get serious, you can check out the pro shop and equip yourself accordingly. They even have cosmic bowling if you want to add an extra element of fun to your games. Grab something from the snack bar to refuel before heading back to the lanes. Suburban Lanes has everything you need for a great night inside. Bounce Off the Walls Pro Performance RX might seem like just another gym but its so much more. The indoor complex houses everything from fitness classes to intramural sports to professional sports trainers. Athletes come to train to be their very best at Pro Performance but thats not what were here for. Pro Bubble is a spectacularly silly and fun sport that will have you rolling on the floor laughing. Pop yourself into one of those giant bubbles and have fun running around bouncing off the walls. You have the option of playing soccer, sharks and minnows or last man standing. It might seem childish but you certainly wont regret it. Pro Performance RX is a 13 minute drive away from Pierpont Place. Dont let the cold weather crush your plans. Morgantown has everything you need to still have a blast all while avoiding the chill. What are your favorite cold weather pastimes? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Tasty Vegan Vegetarian Finds In Morgantown

[caption width="3888" align="alignnone"] Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Being a vegetarian or a vegan can be difficult. Youve given yourself dietary guidelines that you must follow but restaurants arent always accommodating of those restrictions. Youve probably gone through this same scenario on multiple occasions: you sit down at a restaurant, open the menu, scan it multiples times, and see nothing without meat in it. Its frustrating! The next time youre looking for a delicious vegan or vegetarian meal in Morgantown, check out these local eateries. The Venerable Bean The Venerable Bean Bakery specializes in all the regular treats youd find in a bakery but vegan style. Their ingredient-transparent approach lets customers know exactly what theyre eating before they choose their treat. They also have a selection of gluten-free options. Their bakery is fully vegan so you dont have to search for something that fits your diet needs; everything is fair game! Get a little peek at their offerings on their Instagram . We guarantee youll be salivating just scrolling through their page! The Venerable Bean is located 10 minutes away from Pierpont Place in the Mountain Peoples Co-Op. Chaang Thai Chaang Thai boasts itself as the One and Only Authentic Thai Restaurant in Morgantown, so if youre looking for real Thai food, this is most definitely the place to go. While they have vegan and vegetarian options, they also serve meat so your carnivore friends can tag along too! All of their vegan options are marked on their menu and their selection of curries are ALL vegan. The next time youre looking for something that isnt a boring salad, Chaang Thai is a great pick. Chaang Thai is right around the corner from Mountain Peoples Co-Op and just 10 minutes away from Pierpont Place. Black Bear Mexican food seems to be a favorite of vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The options are endless and endlessly delicious. Black Bears burritos can be crafted to your liking so no matter what youre craving that day, you can get it on your burrito. We guarantee that youll find something to suit your dietary needs at Black Bear Burritos! Check out their menu to see what toppings are in your future. Finding a tasty meal at a restaurant that isnt a salad can be difficult when your diet restricts you. Luckily, Morgantown has some really great and accommodating restaurants. Where do you find the best vegan/vegetarian food in our area? Share your finds with us on Facebook and Twitter.