It’s time to break out the music collection. Mix tapes are the go to gift when you really don’t know what else to make, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun, interesting, or well received.

Mix tapes can be a range of different things:
1. A compilation of songs that you have memories with. From road trips to late night dance parties with friends, these are the best when both you and the recipient have a strong connection or memory to.

2. A mix of songs that you think they have never heard, but would enjoy. These are the most difficult to make because it’s hard to know if they will like the song and if they have heard it before.

3. You can tell a story. Place all of the songs in a specific order so that they tell a story. These are fun if they tell the story of how you met or your friendship/relationship. It’s typically easiest to craft a “story” out of the chorus or song titles. Sometimes it’s helpful to include a card with some hints about the idea and what you are trying to say.

No matter what you decide to do, mix tapes can be a fun way to give a gift. Just don’t forget to dress it up a bit. You can make a CD case out of cardboard or some cardstock. You can also decorate the CD itself with markers or a printed out cover.

Although this idea is not ideal for everyone on your list, it is great for the people you really know well or are close to. By investing a little bit of time to take the perfect photo (or find the one you are thinking of on your computer), you can have a great gift that the person will appreciate.

Sometimes it’s nice to give people a photo of you together (I would recommend this for parents/ other family members, best friends, or significant others), but other times it’s really best to keep yourself out of it and should include a favorite place/ scene instead.

Once you have found the right picture you have to decide if you should decide how large you want it printed, what kind of frame you should put it in (definitely keep in mind their current living situation/decor) or if you should print it on canvas (I really love the look of this, but have yet to try it).

Every year my mom and I pull out our favorite recipes and plan out what we are making for family and friends that year. We make an assortment of cookies and pastries to mix and match for each person depending on their personal tastes. We put all of the goodies on platters or plates that can be reused by the person (we try to stay away from holiday themed items so that the recipient can use the dish year round).

We usually make amazing short bread cookies that can be customized in countless ways – my favorite is with jam. We also make at least 2 other kinds of cookies, sometimes cream puffs, and biscotti, but really anything can be made. Just keep in mind how far something might have to travel to get to the recipient and choose accordingly. Happy baking.

One of the easiest gifts to make that people enjoy and appreciate is desserts in a jar. Cookies, cakes, brownies, hot chocolate, and basically anything else that has dry ingredients can be made into a gift. All you need to do is layer the dry ingredients (appropriately measured out according to your recipe) in the jar, attach instructions for finishing the recipe and baking, and decorate it as you please.

Image courtesy of The Creative Junkie

There is room to be creative and not only use the recipe you are famous for, but also customize your choice based on your recipients taste and preferences. Just do not forget to keep in mind any allergies the person might have.

Image courtesy of My Recipes.com

They are also visually interesting and you can put your decorating and designing skills to work. They really remind me of making sand art as a kid with the different layers of colored sand. Plus, once your gift has been made and eaten, your recipient can use the jar you put it in.

I strongly believe that homemade gifts can be better than anything that can be bought in the store, but there are only so many scarves and cookies people need. I have decided to not only research what I will be making my friends and family for the holidays, but also share some ideas.

Today I figured I would start with a project that would take the longest. Knitting/crocheting a scarf or other small object. In the past I have made small coin purses for my friends, scarves, and a truly hideous blanket (that I never actually gave to anyone out of pure shame). For beginners I would recommend really simple patterns as well as felting. When you felt it shrinks what you have made and covers up any mistakes.

Another great thing about knitting a gift for someone is that you can personalize it. And just remember, your mother and your grandmother will appreciate anything you made, no matter how completely ugly or awful it truly is.

I typically find my patterns online or in books from the library. One of the most helpful books for me so far is Stitch ‘N Bitch. I would also highly recommend stopping into any local knitting store (I do not mean big name craft stores, but rather local, specialty knitting shops). They will not only help you pick out the right yarn, but they can help you find a pattern and even provide support later on while you are knitting.

I really like Knitting Help when I am lost or need some advice. To be honest I have tried to learn how to crochet, but it’s still mind boggling to me, so I do not have any advice on where to look for help.

Want to give something homemade but don’t want to actually make it? Check out etsy for incredible hand crafted items.

Happy Thanksgiving. Today is the day that everyone looks forward to for the food and sometimes the company. Most of America will gorge themselves, and in a single meal eat more calories than they need for 2 days. As a vegetarian, all I really look forward to is pie.

Anyone who has ever seen a movie or TV show about college knows that on Halloween weekend students go out in full force to party. Whether some students wish to express their creativity through intricate homemade costumes or other feel the need for thousands of other students to see their underwear, dressing up to go out is a must. 


This weekend I saw costumes of all kinds as well as ridiculous amounts of waste and mess. Candy wrappers litter the classrooms from professors or students handing out candy in class, various pieces of costumes are strewn across campus, and the surroundings streets are filled with empty bottles, red cups, and other littler. 

Not only did more students than normal go to parties, they wasted more resources and left them in various places in the neighborhood. The parties spanning Thursday through Monday have left the surrounding area in complete disarray. The carelessness that many college students exude towards waste and littering really frustrates me. It baffles me that students are not bothered by the amount of red cups on the streets around campus. Is it really that difficult to recycle them after you are finished with them, or clean them up the day after the party if you went out or hosted people?

It disappoints me that students waste so many resources year round, not just during Halloween. It makes me wonder why they are so careless — is it because they aren’t paying for the cups, they don’t have to pick them up, they didn’t buy their costume, they don’t pay for the trash, everyone else is doing the same thing, or a mix of these things? Without understanding why students act like this we will never be able to change their behaviors. I guess it’s time for someone to go out on Wednesday and Friday nights and start questioning the students wandering the streets. 


If you do go out, please reuse and recycle your red cups. You can even bring your own reusable cup from home. Encourage your friends and fellow partiers to do the same.