It seems like bikini season could be sneaking up on us a lot faster than normal or maybe not! It is only 30 degrees today even though it was 80 last week. Our crazy New England weather is hard to plan for and even harder to predict. The best plan is to be prepared for whatever is thrown our way and just roll with it. So here is a list of fun activities that you can try if your planned beach day turns out to be a rainy 40 degree day.

If it’s raining (Sad face):

Roller Skating: Yea I know it sounds child-ish and it will remind you of elementary school birthday parties BUT it’s so fun! Embrace your inner little kid. http://rollerkingdom.drupalgardens.com/

Trapeze! I bet most people have never done it and it’s so adventurous to try something new. So head down to Jordan’s Furniture in Burlington to test it out! And if trapeze is not your thing, they have a delicious ice cream place right there so you can get a snack while you watch your friends fly through the air.

Plaster Fun Time: Again it may sound child-ish and kinda dorky but who doesn’t love making their own creation and then showing it off? I went a couple weeks ago and I can’t wait to go back. Best part? There is one right down the street on Drumhill!

If it’s gorgeous:

Kimball’s Farm: Batting cages, mini golf, driving range, bumper boats and the best ice cream around.. need I say more? http://www.kimballfarm.com/westford.shtml

Crane’s Beach! One of my favorite beaches, located in the small town of Ipswich, MA. What makes it even better is the amazing crab shacks in the area. Food Networks’ Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives has featured them multiple times!

Check out our Riverhawk Baseball and Softball teams in their 2012 Season. Here is their schedules:
Softball
Baseball

Boston! Easily my favorite thing to do on Saturday when it’s beautiful! Take the train into the city and spend the day walking around. You can walk past Fenway Stadium or The TD Garden. But make sure to get some Mike’s Pastries in the North End, they are absolutely amazing! My favorite is the Espresso Cannolli YUM!!

Tell us what your favorite thing to do is. And enjoy all your Springtime Adventures!

-Meg

Living away from home can be an interesting experience. Some people love it and others hate it. And if you think that living away from home is something that you will enjoy (or did enjoy it this year) then this blog is very important for you! Housing information is going out the Monday you get back from Spring Break (if you live on campus packets will be placed under your door). But lucky for you I have some of the key information that will help you get through the housing process!

Step 1: Who am I going to live with?
This is the most important part of the housing process! You need to think about who you get along with and have similar cleaning& sleeping habits. Someone you is your best friend may not be the best roommate since they might go to bed at 3am and wake up in the afternoon while you like going to bed at 11pm. Or you are generally a messy person while your friend is a neat freak. These qualities aren’t bad they just make it hard to live with the a person who has the opposite quality. You need to think hard about who you live with so that you have an awesome year!

Step 2: Where am I going to live?
This is the fun part! When thinking about where you are going to live, imagine living there and what your life would be like. Picture what your room could look like, how it would be to get to class, and consider where your friends are living. Living on East Campus is great for those who go to the gym a lot since the gym is located there but if you are a South Campus major and hate taking the morning shuttles, you may consider living in Sheehy or Concordia. Here is a quick pros and cons list of all the buildings:

1. Fox and Leitch are all Freshmen!
2. Bourgeois:
– East Campus
– Doubles, Triples, and few Quads
– Close to the Parking Garage, right across the street from the Campus Recreation Center, a quick walk from the Tsongas Center!
– Great for those with North Campus majors since it’s only a 7 minute walk!
3. Donahue:
– East Campus
– 4, 6, and 8 person suites
– Great if you want to live with more than 1 other person
– Easy access to the Riverwalk and Shuttle stop
– Close to the Parking Garage, right across the street from the Campus Recreation Center, a quick walk from the Tsongas Center!
4. Eames:
– North Campus
– Honor Housing only
– Special programs for Honor Students
– You have sink in your room!
– Southwick Cafe (yum!)
4. Sheehy:
– South Campus
– 4, 6, and 8 person suites
– Easy commute for South Campus majors
– A bathroom and shower only used by your suite!
– Plenty a room for parking a car
5. Concordia:
– South Campus
– Singles, and Doubles
– A quieter environment for those who have a lot of homework to do
– Huge first floor common room!
– Subway and Starbucks only a walk away!
6. The ICC:
– Downtown
– Doubles and Triples
– The doubles have bigger beds!
– Quick walk to downtown restaurants and events
– Carpeted floors and your own bathroom!

Step 3: Get that housing contract by March 30th!
Getting the housing contract in on time will ensure that you get housing! The deposit is $200 which can be paid in cash, check, or on your card.

Step 4: Go online and pick your room!
The new system this year will allow you to log online and choose which building and room you want! (A lot more information on this will be provided in your Housing Packets)

Step 5: Relax and look forward to next year!
Having a good living arrangement for the next year makes coming back to school fun and exciting. I always love planning what to bring and what the room is going to look like. And making the suite ‘your own’ can be fun for all your roommates to be involved in.

I hope you all have a smooth housing selection process! And if you still have questions ask your RAs and FYREs, they will have tons of information to give you!

-Meg

Here we go, it’s mid semester and it seems like there is not enough hours in the day. Am I right or am I right? With class, homework, studying, and work there is barely any time to anything for yourself. Here is a few tips to use your hours to there full potential.

1. SLEEP! Yes I realize that means less time to get your work done but it makes those hours that you are awake for much more meaning full. You won’t get anything out of studying while being tired. Take a 30 minute nap (make sure to set an alarm) and then get back to work!

2. Eat right! I know you have heard it a thousand times but eating right can leave you feeling more awake with more energy. So eat some power foods such as: peanut butter, almonds (or trail mix! yumm), yogurt, grilled chicken, blueberries, and fruits/vegetables. Avoid greasy fried foods and foods with a lot of carbs, they leave you sluggish and with low energy.

3. Study different ways. Try note cards, reading, or working with a group different types of studying will help you learn different concepts.

4. Reschedule plans for the weekend! Your friends will understand if you can’t go to the movies or do the Boston trip. Do it on Saturday when you have more time to spend with them and less homework to do.

5. Talk a walk or hit the gym! It will improve your focus and create new brain cells that will be easily filled with your studying!!

6. Take small breaks. Your body needs the time to recuperate from the constant studying.

Enjoy and I hope you all survive the week!
-Meg