Sometimes we need a helping hand to get into the holiday spirit, and there are few better ways than reading a Christmas-themed book.
Hold off on re-reading your Christmas classics and give “Twelve Days of Christmas” by Debbie Macomber a try. Macomber gives us a perky and sassy heroine in Julia Padden and a handsome love interest in Cain Maddox.
Julia is a recent college grad toiling at a retail job and working toward her dream job of being a social media manager. In a trial run with the company she hopes to work for, Julia has to create a large following for a blog she runs through the month of December. The subject of her blog? Grumpy neighbor Cain and the 12 days of Christmas where Julia attempts to “kill him with kindness.”
Naturally – this is both a Christmas story and a romance book – the two start to fall in love. But, in a somewhat standard trope, Julia eventually has to reveal the reason she’s being so nice to Cain.
The book is a quick read, with only 253 pages. Part of the ease of reading comes from a natural interspersion of dialogue and inner monologue. The other part was just how funny the characters’ interaction were, like the conversation below:
“Just shut up and kiss me,” she demanded, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the bus stop.
“Julia…”
“Are you going to stand here and argue with me so I miss the bus, am late for work, get fired, and go on welfare?”
While I chose a Christmas-themed book for this month’s review, I am somewhat of a Grinch, and I generally don’t care for romance stories (Georgette Heyer gets a pass). However, Macomber’s book is surprisingly charming. It isn’t a sappy book, constantly going on about how Julia and Cain’s hearts pound when they look at each other.
There is, however, some over-the-top romantic language:
“You’re the one I dream about at night, the one I look forward to seeing in the mornings, the one who makes my heart sing with joy.”
However, this kind of language is limited and easy to power through.
So settle down with your favorite drink, a fluffy blanket and this book to get your holiday off on the right foot.
Dixie State University students seem to have their winter wardrobes sorted out so they can always look snazzy, no matter what the weather might throw at them.
Combat boots and scarves are a few of the fashion trends that you will see around this winter’s ever-changing weather on DSU’s campus. I talked to a few DSU students who had their winter style on point, and I asked for some tips for those of us who need a little help in the fashion department.
Fashionable friends Marieta Wright, a freshman elementary education major from Las Vegas, and Alyssa Haring, a freshman elementary education major from Riverside, California, said they get their “hipster-ish” fashion inspiration from family members.
“My sister inspires my style,” Haring said. “I just copy whatever she does.”
Wright and Haring said knit sweaters, combat boots and vests are some of their favorite fashion trends this year. They said trying new things and branching out are two important ingredients if you want to step up your fashion game.
“If you feel like something doesn’t work, ask for advice,” Wright said. “Take a picture and send it to your friends or ask someone. Get some help until you feel comfortable.”
Alyson Arnold, a freshman special education major from Branson, Missouri, said she has a simple style and inspires herself with her wardrobe that shows her personality. In the winter, one of her favorite trends is wearing scarves.
Arnold likes to shop at American Eagle, PacSun and Victoria’s Secret to find most of her wardrobe.
“Just be you, and make your own style that makes you happy,” Arnold said.
Japanese style influences Brooke Lacey, a freshman business major from Apple Valley, California.
Lacey said she lived in Japan growing up, so she likes many of their different clothing styles. She sported a typical winter outfit for her: combat boots, leggings and a red windbreaker to combat the cold weather in St. George. She likes to shop at Ross because their clothes are cheap but still cute, which is perfect for college students.
Lacey said the most important thing when it comes to style is being comfortable.
“Wear comfortable [clothes] because it is important that you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing,” Lacey said. “I like neutral colors, not really bright colors, because that is what I am most comfortable in.”
Lawrence said living in St. George affects his winter style because it is warmer in Los Angeles than it is here, so he has to dress more for the cold weather. He does this by wearing more hoodies, jackets and long pants.
Kanye West is a style icon for Jordan Williams, a freshman nursing major from Waipahu, Hawaii. He showed off his Kanye-esque style in army-green pants and a tan distressed shirt. Williams said most of his favorite stores aren’t in St. George, but he likes to shop at Zumiez, Hollister and Burberry.
Williams said he and his friends always make sure they are fashionable, no matter the weather.
DSU students know how to dress for the indecisive weather in St. George while still looking stylish. Some keep up with the trends while others inspire themselves. If you need help with your wardrobe this winter, look to your fellow students for some fashion advice or check out some of these websites for inspiration: The 10 most wearable winter trends, cute winter outfits, comfortable winter clothes.
Armed with a camera and laptop, one Dixie State University alumnus will be tackling 2,650 miles of deserts, forests and mountain ranges from Mexico to Canada on foot.
Michael Nielsen, who graduated DSU with an English degree in 2014, is aiming to become the self-dubbed “world’s first extreme adventure daily vlogger.” He’ll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and uploading daily videos of his trek on YouTube from May to the end of September 2017. Through Kickstarter, Nielsen has raised over $3,600 for his project, which he is calling “I’m not lost.”
Nielsen is currently a master’s student at the University of Texas at El Paso studying rhetoric. He will graduate with his master’s degree in rhetoric and professional writing studies in May, the same month he is planning on starting his adventure. Nielsen said studying creative writing at DSU and rhetoric at UTEP has inspired him to write his now-successful proposal on Kickstarter.
“There are a lot of extreme adventure documentaries and films, but there’s not a lot of transparency in them or online,” Nielsen said. “I want to show the ‘behind the scenes’ and what it’s actually like every single day on an extreme adventure…I’m fulfilling this need through daily vlogs for audiences to experience adventure in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
Though he’s been an active outdoorsman his entire life, Nielsen said the PCT will be his first attempt at an “extreme adventure.”
The PCT starts on the Mexican border in the desert of Southern California and crosses California, Oregon and Washington to end in Manning Park, British Columbia. According to the PCT website, the trail crosses 26 national forests, 60 mountain passes, seven national parks, five state parks and four national monuments. Nielsen said he is planning to hike about 20 miles a day for 130 days to make sure he finishes before it gets too snowy in Washington.
As if the PCT isn’t tough enough on it’s own, Nielsen will be lugging about 10 extra pounds in his pack, which will include his DSLR camera, laptop and other filming supplies. He said he’s even considering bringing along a Phantom drone.
“There was one person in particular that told me the PCT is really hard to do, and the extra weight for my camera equipment would make my pack too heavy,” Nielsen said. “It’s going to be very hard, but that motivates me even more to prove I can do it.”
He said he plans on spending a half-hour editing his videos each night in his tent.
Jack Haskel, trail information specialist of the PCT, said he has heard of many people who have filmed daily videos along the PCT, but he didn’t know if anyone had uploaded videos each day along the trek.
“Thru-hiking the PCT is definitely a pretty intense exhibition, but hundreds of people hike the entire trail each year,” Haskel said. “Filming the experience on the PCT is definitely popular, but it would definitely be a challenge to upload daily videos because of the seclusion and lack of Wi-Fi on the trail.”
To compensate for the lack of Wi-Fi coverage on the trail, Nielsen will be uploading the daily vlogs to YouTube through a Verizon Wi-Fi hotspot after a 20-day buffer. Although he will be uploading daily videos, there will be a 20-day delay so he has plenty of time to catch up on editing and uploading. He plans to begin uploading the eight to 12 minute long videos June 1.
There are about 30 resupplying checkpoints along the PCT where Nielsen will be spending the additional time to finish editing and uploading the videos. These checkpoints are also places where Nielsen said he would be mailing himself additional charged batteries for his equipment.
“People told me solar power isn’t always reliable—especially in Oregon and Washington where it’s often overcast,” Nielsen said. “So I’m taking a lot of batteries.”
This won’t be Nielsen’s first time churning out videos quickly. He said he learned to produce and edit videos quickly on tight deadlines while working as a videographer for St. George News and The Spectrum. According to Nielsen’s proposal, he will also be attempting to make daily vlogs of five- or ten-day backpacking trips to prepare for the task of making videos quickly outdoors.
After his adventure, Nielsen said he doesn’t plan on stopping extreme adventure vlogging. He hopes his YouTube channel will gain enough traction to be monetized and attract advertisers, which will then support him enough to take additional extreme adventures in the future and vlog his journeys.
“Best case scenario, my adventure on the PCT will be like the season one of ‘I’m not lost,’ and I’ll be able to vlog more extreme adventures in the future,” Nielsen said.
A bank account with very little money in it shouldn’t be the reason why college students can’t give good meaningful gifts this holiday season.
Many college students survive on little funding. For me, it generally seems there is just enough money to pay rent, utilities and groceries. Any extra funds I have are typically put toward a weekend activity with my wife. Yet, every holiday season, money tends to gain even more elasticity, thus allowing for good gift giving which puts a negative balance in your bank account.
One of my favorite aspects about this time of year, even more than gingerbread cookies or Christmas music, is the satisfaction of knowing I got the perfect gift for someone. There is nothing better than seeing a huge smile on someone’s face when they tear the wrapping paper to shreds.
The holiday season should allow us to set aside our selfish wants and focus on what we can do for others. Think back to a time in your life when you can remember both giving something and receiving something of value. Which option left you feeling happier and more satisfied?
For some reason, there is this general stigma in society that the only gifts people can give are ones that are elaborate and expensive. Anything short of that mark is simply not good enough. It has played a part in society ever since consumerism came about.
So how do millennials conquer the art of excellent holiday shopping and gift giving? My suggestion would be to make a list, check it twice, and hope everyone isn’t naughty but nice. With more than two decades of experience doing this, let me tell you what I do and maybe it can help you.
Make a list and check it twice
I am the type of person that has to have everything written down. It allows me to keep track of the gift ideas that come flooding through my mind. Keeping a list also helps me stay organized and know where I am just in case Christmas Eve comes sneaking up on me, and I forgot to buy or make my dear aunt Susie a present.
Having a list allows me to change or update a present idea I may have, especially if the list is kept on my phone. By checking the list twice, it keeps those present ideas fresh in my mind.
Use Amazon, eBay or any online consumer site
Holiday shopping online is one of the easiest things you can do. It saves you time, gas money and a few bucks if the right deal is found. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, but some companies still have deals going on. If you know where to look, your next purchase shouldn’t take you more than five minutes.
Another perk about shopping online is the greater chance you have for finding what you are looking for. By visiting safe websites like Amazon and eBay, they can literally point you in any direction you need to go in order to find the right gift at the right price. Every penny counts when you shop on a college student’s budget.
Do it yourself
Sometimes making a gift can be the most time consuming for people to do, but it can turn out to be the most rewarding. If you want to give someone a gift that truly comes from the heart, make or do something for them. There is added value when one takes the time to put something special together for someone they truly love.
When I was younger, I used to make my mom Christmas ornaments for the tree as her gift. Now this holiday season, my wife and her family have decided to follow the same route of “do it yourself” gifts as part of the gift-giving festivities.This makes it fun and creative. I seriously can’t wait to give my brother-in-law his present. It’s perfect for him.
Whatever your circumstance may be this holiday season, be thinking about others and how you can make this a special time of year.
