First, let water be your new best friend. Fill up your Camelbak before you leave for class and carry it around with you throughout the day. Make it your goal to refill it around lunchtime and again around dinnertime. This increased intake of water will help you stay full throughout the day and have less desire to snack. It’s also a good idea to have healthy snacks handy. When you’re filling up your Camelbak, throw an apple or some pretzels in your bag. That way if you get in a bind and need food fast you don’t have to resort to fast food or junk food.

Then, to burn off calories, you’ll need to incorporate cardio into your everyday routine. Cardio raises your heart rate and is a great way to stay in shape. Head to the gym and try out the stationary bicycle, elliptical or treadmill. Start off with 25 minutes on your machine, and then every two days increase your time by five minutes until you reach your maximum potential. You’ll be surprised at how long you can go! If you have trouble staying motivated, try out one of the group fitness classes. There are all different kinds of classes, from Zumba to Cycling, and most of them are taught by students just like you. Find some classes that work into your schedule here.

“Aerobics class”

Finally, we are all individually concerned about that one problem area on our bodies. Whether that area is your stomach, legs or arms, if you put in some quality time you can wipe those worries away. Below are three of my favorite exercises, taught to me by an award-winning body sculptor, that focus on those three particular areas. Try them out while you’re watching TV or before you go to bed each night.

Side Leg Raises

1. Lay on your left side, propped up by your left elbow.
2. Keep your left leg straight and on the ground.
3. Slowly raise your right leg as high as possible.
4. Slowly lower your right leg within one inch of your left leg.
5. Repeat two sets of 25 for right and left legs.

Exercise Ball Crunches

1. Lay flat on your back, with an exercise ball held firmly between your ankles and your arms outstretched.
2. Slowly lift the exercise ball and your arms until they meet above your middle section.
3. Slowly lower the exercise ball and your arms until they gently touch the ground.
4. Repeat three sets of 15.

Dumbbell Arm Lifts

1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand up straight with your elbows parallel to your shoulders and dumbbells parallel with your head.
2. Raise your dumbbells straight above your head until you lightly tap the dumbbells together.
3. Lower your dumbbells back to the starting position.
4. Complete three sets of 15. 

“Weight Training with Dumbbells”

With these simple tips you should be on your way to your spring break body. Remember to have fun with your workouts, change up your routine or spice up your IPod, to reach your full potential. 

Dustin McManus is a junior from Charlotte, NC. He can be reached at dmcmanus@live.unc.edu.

Reese.  Julia.  Sandra.  All three are gorgeous, A-list actresses.  All three have Academy Awards.  All three are romantic comedy staples.  And each one of them is always able to lure me in to whatever new romantic comedy she is starring in, no matter how cliché or unoriginal that movie is.

The latest rom-com mouse trap that caught me is “This Means War” starring Reese Legally Blonde Witherspoon.  The plot?  Completely unbelievable.  The romantic outcome?  Saw it coming a mile away.  The ending?  Sugary sweet.  Overall feeling?

I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Against my better judgment and my critical eye, “This Means War” was a funny, entertaining feel-good movie that kept me hooked once Witherspoon’s beaming smile and blonde locks appeared on-screen.  While “This Means War” wasn’t your typical rom-com, it had all the elements, clichés and conventions that drive each and every one of them.  What kept the movie feeling a little fresh was the bromance between the two male leads, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, who literally fighting over Witherspoon’s affection.  The two worked for a federal security agency and were best friends until they found out they were courting the same woman.  This deeply affected their relationship to the point where I would almost call “This Means War” a buddy-cop movie, complete with tons of action sequences and explosions galore.

Photo Credit

Nothing about “This Means War” was innovative, thought-provoking or forward-thinking.  None of the performances will garner Oscar buzz.  The movie itself is not a masterpiece of cinema.  And yet, I honestly couldn’t help but fall in love with it.  For all intents and purposes, this movie should have been a train wreck, but it just worked.  No matter how conventional or formulaic “This Means War–or any rom-com is for that matter–was, it successfully accomplished what a good rom-com is: escapist entertainment and the idealistic surrender of reality.  I walked into “This Means War” fully aware that the movie would be an unbelievable, fairy-tale account of love found, lost and reacquired within an hour and a half.  What I did not expect was just how good the chemistry would be between the leads (shout-out to a crass, scene-stealing Chelsea Handler) and how committed these actors were in bringing to life fairly two-dimensional characters in order to attract the audience’s attention and tickle their funny bone.

With romantic comedies, it’s all too easy to point out the critical flaws and glaring plot holes that normally exist.  What’s difficult to admit is how they are able to draw you in and thoroughly speak to the believer inside of you; the one that believes in true romance and a life full of humorous misunderstandings, comical mishaps and, ultimately, happiness.  That’s what I love about romantic comedies.  When they do their job right, they make me forget about the confines of reality and allow me to fully immerse myself in a mystical world where overcoming any obstacle is possible.  So no matter how many movies starring Jennifer Anniston or Katherine Heigl come out, just know that I will probably eventually be in line to see them.  Romantic comedies are safe and pure entertainment. 

What more could you ask for?

One pub I love is The Southsider, and my friends and I go there far too often because it is five minutes away from our flat and ridiculously cheap. Also, it serves a mean haggis. The same bartenders work every time we go and it has gotten to the point where we have conversations with them because they recognize us. One is from the States but prefers to call herself Scottish, as she got a little offended when I called her American. Then I got a little offended. Not too many students go to this pub, so it is relatively unknown to the younger population of Edinburgh.

Photo by Emily Milks

There is a pub on the same street as my flat called The Holyrood 9A, and it is utter perfection. The only problem is that its prices are far from healthy for my budget. Oh well, I make allowances for this one. This pub is beautiful and full of wooden tables and pretty pictures, but the real beauty lies in its beer. This pub has so many choices, and the bartenders really know their beer. If you go in with a certain kind in mind, they will show you other ones that are similar that you should try. And although the prices are steep, the free samples make up for it (sort of).

As a student though, I think my favorite pub would have to be this place called Teviot. It is in the student union. I repeat: there is a pub in the student union. Yeah, and you thought the Union at UNC was cool. As a pub, it is not anything special. There is regular pub food, regular beer and decent prices. But the atmosphere is what makes it so good. It is always full of young people having a good time with friends, catching up and talking too loud. It is glorious and I love it.

That is the great thing about pubs, though. It is not necessarily about the food or the beer or the wooden tables that melt my heart. For me, it is about having good memories with friends and just enjoying my time, however short it is, in Scotland.

Photo Courtesy

With February already here and spring break in our midst, working out has become a daily moral predicament for me. My workout routine usually consists of 30 minutes of using the the elliptical, running or practicing Pure Barre. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, everywhere you look girls are making it up to the Barre, and it’s no wonder– the workout focuses on burning fat and giving you some major ab-bum-thigh toning. The classes have been trending across the nation in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles and, most recently, Chapel Hill. I have to admit, I fainted within the first 10 minutes of my first class in Meadowmont. (In my defense, I was recovering from mono.) After drinking a lot of water, I returned later to redeem myself and finally get the full class experience, which was painful.

I have been pretty active since I was a kid, and my 4 x 4 relay team in high school still holds the school track record. I consider myself someone with moderate athletic abilities, but the day I took that class I worked out muscles I didn’t even know existed, and unfortunately my capabilities were a lot less then I thought.

Basically, Pure Barre is a total body work out that burns fat and tones the body. The room is paneled with mirrors and lined with a ballet barre. With high beat music blaring, my class began with light weights, moved to a barre to incorporate some ballet-inspired motions and then included some yoga and Pilates exercises. The class is not easy, but it’s not boring either since there is a variety of unique exercises. There is a lot of thrusting, pulsing, and holding of certain positions. The key to Pure Barre is that most of the exercises are micro-movements involving just moving an inch or two. While those micro-movements may not sound daunting, I promise you will instantly feel a burning sensation that will remain there for the rest of the class.

Whether Pure Barre is a fad or here to stay, it has become quite popular with in the local community, primarily among UNC-Chapel Hill college students. Getting a spot in the class isn’t easy! If you want to attend a class you have to sign up online, and most of the time it gets full hours before the class even starts. Although barre involves exercise directed mainly towards woman I can’t help to think that even the most athletic men would drip a sweat.

Hanson Qin is a senior from Sichuan, China. He can be reached at cqin@live.unc.edu.

We all have a favorite brand, whether it’s a high-end fashion designer or an international coffee house. Brands are everywhere around us, and in our materialistic society, they are simply unavoidable. I personally have a fascination with brands because they are the main ingredient of modern consumer culture. If you think about it, brands have now become the new language of globalization. Whereas foreign territories were once colonized by people, they are now taken over by powerful brands that bring a new identity and culture.

From what I’ve seen, our culture of brands has also influenced the way we market ourselves as individuals. No longer is it just about getting a degree from a good school and then naturally finding yourself at the office after graduation. Now, it’s about standing out, being different from the rest and bringing something totally unique to the table. One of my Public Relations professors told me that, honestly, most college graduates are completely generic and blank when they leave school. Employers now want experience, diversity and innovation. The only problem is, it’s really hard to have all of these traits unless employers give you the initial chance to develop them!

So now, everyone is starting earlier. Students are applying for internships as freshmen, and the college internship experience has almost become a universal requirement for all employers. Even if you do have the experience, so do most of your other peers. How is it possible to make yourself stand out?

Photo Courtesy

From what I have learned throughout my four years at UNC-Chapel Hill, one of the most important things to do is embrace all the qualities that make you different. Sometimes, this can be hard in the Carolina community since there seems to be one mainstream way of thinking and behaving—typical of many small college towns. Despite this factor, don’t let that stop you from embracing your individuality. For me, I have come to embrace and love my multicultural background. When I was younger, all I wanted to do was to assimilate to mainstream America. But the older I get, the more I realize how important and beneficial my Chinese heritage has become—especially to many employers of international companies.

For those who do happen to fit into the mainstream mold, try to develop an identity that makes you unique. Perhaps study abroad in a country you’ve never imagined yourself living in, or join an organization that supports a cause you’re not familiar with but still interested in. College is a critical time to develop your sense of self. In a globalized world where competition is fiercer than ever, being normal is simply not the standard anymore.

On the bright side, this is good news! I think our culture in general is becoming more progressive and  open to embracing differences. Gays are getting married, racism is gradually vanishing and America is becoming more accepting and respectful of other cultures. This is a generation where we can be different, be ourselves and create an authentic brand called “Me.” Now isn’t that exciting?

Now, I have grown to love this slight language difference. Initially it was frustrating, but only because I wasn’t used to the difference. I decided to study abroad in Scotland partly because I knew they speak English and I can never seem to learn a foreign language. Thus, while I knew that they had different words for some things, I think I blocked that out of my mind. Now though, I love that there are different meanings for one word because to me, it creates a more unique culture.

It can also lead to interesting situations. And by interesting, I mean embarrassing. Did you know that pants means underwear here? I did not. Just imagine that conversation with my British friends. Let’s just say it started off with, “Hey, do you like my pants?”

That example involves the British meaning for a word, but there are ones specific to Scotland. There are ones here that have no meaning in America. One example: dinnae ken. That’s Scottish slang, and means I don’t know. When I first heard that, I thought the person was making something up to confuse me and my American ways. I think I got a little defensive. I think she was a little offended.

Oh, there are so many more other examples. My friend and flatmate Nicola is Scottish, and she is constantly teaching me the ways of the Scots. Usually I shake my head in frustration at her because she is my friend and I can. It is cool though, when I am out at a restaurant or just walking down the street, to overhear people using these phrases and words in an ordinary conversation.

I like to attribute a lot of cool things to the Scottish, but this is something I have experienced too. I know everyone knows what y’all means, and it never changes meanings, but it is specific to a region and it is definitely slang. I love it—these cultural differences that make a place so much more unique and interesting. And they love it when I say y’all in Scotland; they think it is so funny. I really need to start saying it more.

Also, for your knowledge: over here, cookies are called biscuits. That is an important one.

Photo Courtesy

Water is water. Typically, I could care less if it came from the tap, from a filter or from a bottle. Evian? No thanks. I’ll take what pours out of my Brita pitcher.

However, I will admit to being a sucker for nice packaging or the occasional gimmick. This was the case when I saw advertisements for Blk Water. The water touts itself as having naturally occurring minerals and low acidity, but what truly drew me in was the fact that the water was black. Not the bottle, but the water itself.

Curious as to what made the water black, I visited the company’s website. According to blkbeverages.com, the water is “derived from an exceptionally pure artesian spring fed by aquifers surrounded by millions of acres of protected natural forests” in Canada. The company also adds fulvic minerals, which originate from prehistoric plant matter from within the earth, to the water and creates its signature black color. Additionally, the website states that the fulvic minerals are a natural electrolyte that is absorbed quickly in the body, resulting in rapid hydration. Lastly, the water has an overall pH level of 9, which the website claims will make one’s body less acidic; as I skimmed a list of pH levels in other bottled waters, I noticed that Blk was the one of the only bottled waters to achieve this level of alkalinity.

I was not going to buy into all of this nutrition hype until I could actually consume the water. After looking around a few Harris Teeters in Chapel Hill, I finally found it for $1.99 per 16 fl. oz. bottle. The price was right, so I decided to purchase two bottles: one for me to sample and one for a good friend to try too.

I opened my bottle and took a sip as soon as I was out of the store. For some reason, my expectation was that the water would be fizzy. I think my mind equated it with soda because the water was the color of Coke or even black coffee. However, it was flat, and the taste could be described as metallic or even oily, but that can be overlooked. After drinking the entire bottle, I didn’t find the water to be particularly hydrating. In fact, it left my mouth slightly dry.

I deemed Blk not worth all of the hype, but I still wanted to see what my friend thought. I refrigerated his water (something I had not done with mine) and then allowed him to blindly sample it along with some of my filtered tap. He found the Blk to be cleaner tasting and could not detect the metallic undertone. Maybe it’s all in the refrigeration of the product.

Ultimately, I will not buy Blk again. Eye-catching packaging aside, it’s simply glorified water. I’ll stick to my filtered tap.

Courtney Lindstrand is a sophomore from Greenville, NC. She can be reached at lindstc@live.unc.edu.

Do you ever wake up just knowing it’s going to be just “one of those days?” It’s raining out, your bed is far too inviting and warm and you already have a mental to-do list running through your head. On days like these, fashion and makeup are probably the last things on your mind. However,  you need to resist the urge to throw your hair into a messy ponytail and pull on that old t-shirt. It’s tempting, but it’s important to project a put-together image not only to appear confident and organized to others, but also so that you can feel more confident throughout the day when you catch a glimpse of a fresh, energized individual rather than a run down, tired one in your reflection.

So, what is there to do when you feel like doing nothing at all? It’s rather simple and won’t take much more time than going the lazy route. So hit that snooze button…but only once!

Swap the sweatshirt for a sweater and scarf

A sweater can be just a cozy as a sweatshirt, but it has more structure, making your ensemble look more mature. The scarf adds to the coziness of the outfit, especially in these chilly temperatures, but a printed or bright colored scarf will also add some color and personality to your outfit. Besides, when your neck is swathed in a bright colored fabric, it’s hard to stay grumpy for long. This outfit choice takes absolutely no more effort than pulling on that sweatshirt and is just as comfortable, while looking way more ready to take on the world rather than crawl back into bed.

Ombre Scarf, JC Penny

Conceal and brighten

Two most important steps of an everyday makeup regimen are concealer and mascara–you don’t really need any more than that! Just a little swipe of concealer under the eyes to get rid of those dark circles (which always tend to seem just a touch darker and bigger on those rough mornings) and a swipe of mascara on the eyes brighten up your entire face. The look is natural and subtle but also makes you look a bit more awake than you would sans makeup. If the eyes truly are the window to the soul, these two simple makeup steps are a nice set of decorative curtains.

Now, what to do with that hair?

If your hair is as much of a bedraggled mess as you are with no hope of salvation, turn to a standby that is tried and true but still polished and pretty: the braid. A braid shows a little bit more effort than the tempting messy ponytail. A simple, single plait down your back or thrown to the side over your shoulder looks clean and simple and masks frizziness better than a ponytail. It only takes about two minutes to do and keeps your hair away from your face for the whole day. Channel Rapunzel for the day with this fuss-free look.

The Side Braid, Life Trendy

Dustin McManus is a junior from Charlotte, NC. He can be reached at dmcmanus@live.unc.edu.

When NBC’s “The Voice” debuted last summer, I was as skeptical as anyone.  Would it be just an “American Idol” wannabe?  Do I want to invest in another singing competition show?  Who is Blake Shelton?  Surprisingly, my questions were met with answers I did not anticipate.  “The Voice” definitely is not an “American Idol” knockoff, but rather a show built around finding, mentoring and creating a true vocal powerhouse.  Recently “American Idol” has begun to quickly show its age and irrelevance with the departure of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as well as its its inability to produce a winner even on the level of Jordin Sparks.  But the first episode of “The Voice” had me hooked from the get-go. And Blake Shelton?  I fell in love with this homegrown country crooner who exudes an abundance charm and slightly risqué humor.

Photo Credit

Not necessarily a breakout smash, “The Voice” performed well enough in its first season that NBC took a gamble and gave the second season premiere the coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot.  The show exceeded all expectations, with 37.6 million viewers tuning in (making it the most-watched non-sports program since “Grey’s Anatomy” had the post-Super Bowl slot back in 2006).  By all appearances, it doesn’t seem that “The Voice” will be suffering any sort of sophomore slump.

The basic premise of the show in the beginning are the blind auditions, where the four judges (Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee-Lo Green and Christina Aguilera) are seated with their backs to the contestants, solely listening to their voices.  If they like what they hear, they hit a button on their Star Trek resembling futuristic chair and spin around to let the contestant know he or she is wanted.  If multiple judges choose the same person, it’s up for the contestant to decide whose team he or she wishes to be a part of based on the hilarious, banter-filled pitches the judges toss around as if they’re hawking a new car.  Seriously, the sibling like squabbling between Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera is reason enough to tune in.

The main reason why “The Voice” is so addicting is because the show provides entertainment without exploiting the delusional dreams of many of its contestants like on “American Idol.”  Sure, for the first few seasons it was funny to watch these people come in convinced they were the next Mariah Carey only to laugh at how ludicrous they sounded.  But that shtick is stale now.  Every single person who auditions for “The Voice” is good; the talent quotient far surpasses that on “American Idol.”  The entertainment comes from watching every contestant deliver perfectly suitable and engaging performances and guessing just which judge will turn around.  On top of that, the judges on “The Voice” have much better chemistry and charisma than the hodgepodge of judges on Idol now.  Adam is the inappropriate rock star, Christina is the mouthy diva and Blake is the loveable boy next door.  Shockingly, the eccentric Cee-Lo normally comes off as the blandest judge (though this season he seems to be stepping it up by actively hitting on contestants and carrying around a fluffy white cat like a ’70s James Bond villain).

This season seems to be devoting a bit more time to delivering those annoying little sob stories about the contestants and their lives; a ploy “The Voice” does not have to stoop to in order to make viewers invested.  Honestly, the most appealing and frustrating thing about the show is when a singer is so good that you find yourself holding your breath waiting for a judge to turn his or her chair…and none of them do.  That’s how good this show is, and that’s how good these contestants are.  It doesn’t need gimmicks like Idol to win me over because I’m already sold.  That’s the power of “The Voice.”

The “Final Four” Logo

I’m a hopeless romantic when it comes to basketball. I long for the Cinderellas, the last-minute comebacks and the inspirational stories that will warm anybody’s heart.

March is my Valentine’s Day.

As we have reached the midpoint in February (Feb. 14 to be specific), we are nearing the end of conference play. We know, ideally, who the top seeds will be once March comes ’round as well as who is and isn’t on the Bubble.

Oh, the Bubble. It’s like that teeter-tottering feeling you get on Valentine’s Day waiting for that certain boy or girl to ask you to the “big dance.” It can be the most satisfying feeling, filled with excitement and relief that you are wanted for the big show, or a feeling filled with disappointment. You won’t be dancing anytime soon.

So in honor of Cupid’s favorite holiday and the rapid approach of mine, March Madness, here are my tournament crushes–from the obvious ones to the hidden gems.

Long Beach State: They’re 12-0 in the Big West, and they’re contenders. They’ve competed with some of the best teams in the nation. While they haven’t beaten any top tier teams, they’re just a step away from some momentum grabbing wins. Long Beach State isn’t a Butler; they’re a Cornell in 2010. They’re a one-to-two-wins-and-done team, but that is enough to wreak havoc on your brackets. You can thank guard Casper Ware for that.

Miami: The Hurricanes started off rough, playing without their center, Reggie Johnson. But with Johnson almost back in shape, Miami is drawing attention in the ACC. Kenny Kadji, the big man who transferred from rival Florida, is also having a breakout season with help from freshman Shane Larkin, who was just added to the starting lineup. The Hurricanes were already on the Bubble sitting at fifth in the conference, but a win at Cameron Indoor over the Blue Devils and a five-game win streak in the conference moved them closer to getting off of it.  

Michigan State: If you haven’t learned anything about college basketball in the past few years, know this: never count Tom Izzo’s Spartans out. Draymond Green leads the team in points, rebounds and is second in assists. If an impressive win at Ohio State didn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. As long as the big man is healthy, this team is ready to get behind him and follow him into the madness. If they can make a run in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, they will be in great shape to make some noise come March.

Mizzou: Their pretty three-pointers are like shining diamonds to me. I cannot get enough. They have a small lineup, but they are quick. If you allow them to, they will run the court and out run you. Mizzou is picked to go far, but I can see these cats playing in the final game that first Monday in April. Frank Haith has done a tremendous job with the Tigers, leading them to the top of the Big 12, with a 23-2 record. Also, if opponents aren’t careful, Marcus Denman will leave them dazed and confused with his lights-out shooting, quick feet and moves to the basket.

North Carolina: Ranked number one in the preseason, Carolina has stumbled its way through the season, falling down the rankings as they go. A team plagued with injuries – both Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland out for the season with ACL tears, Harrison Barnes dealing with a tweaked ankle and PJ Hairston suffering a sore foot – the Tar Heels have struggled to find their rhythm. As of late though, Harrison Barnes is scoring more, Tyler Zeller is dominating the paint and the Tar Heels are finding their feet again. A loss to Duke at home will only propel them to play harder come tournament time; after all the Tar Heels tend to get hot in March. Not to mention they’ll want revenge on March 3, when Carolina takes a visit Cameron Indoor.

SDSU: They’re tied for 1^st in the Mountain West with UNLV, splitting the regular season with the Rebels. They graduated a lot of talent last year, but Chase Tapley has emerged as a leader for the Aztecs as their leading scorer. Not quite the team they were in the postseason last year, the Aztecs will still be able to put together a small run through the tournament.

UNLV: I’ve liked them since the beginning. A lot of people doubted them, saying it was just a bad game by North Carolina when they beat the Tar Heels in November. They are 11^th in the nation in points per game, 20^th in rebounds, and 2^nd in assists. With Mike Moser on the boards, the Rebels are for real. It may be a bold prediction, but they could very easily be a Sweet Sixteen team.

Shot clocks flash red,

The NCAA logo is blue,

The madness is coming,

I’m ready, are you?