DIY Cork Board Map

Hello everyone!

Today I worked on an awesome project while I was at home with my mom who is recovering from surgery. I have ALWAYS wanted a cork board map where you pin the places you've been, but whenever I see them for sale online it costs SO much money. Being a college student, decorating a home gets super expensive. And who has money for that? Not me! So I decided to go onto Pinterest and look up DIY projects on a budget. Almost all of the ones I found costed at least $50-75, which is cheaper than ordering one online, but still not that cheap! So I decided to do some hunting. I found a 24" x 36" map on Target.com via Art.com that was $8.99. Everyone else I know paid at least $14 for their maps. I also have free shipping because I use a Target Red Card which also gives you 5% off too. So pretty much no tax or shipping! Next I went to Michaels to hunt for a frame that didn't look super cheap, but didn't cost me an arm and a leg. This was a few weeks ago when they had not a 40% off coupon but a 50% off. I got a frame that was usually $60 but was 50% off and then had an additional 25% off. The frame ended up costing around $22. The cork board was also at Michaels, and with a 40% off coupon it was only $7. The last thing I needed were the pins which costed around $2 with a coupon also. I did make two trips and brought my mom both times so we could each use a 40% off coupon, but it was worth it since I only spent less than $40 for everything I needed! I already had the glue gun so I had all my supplies! Here they are in a list format:

Glue gun and glue sticks
Craft glue
Paintbrush
Elmer's glue
Cork board
24" x 36" frame
Map
Push pins

First I flattened the cork board, since mine was rolled.

Then I took hot glue and glued the back piece of the frame to the cork. This took a little while since I had to do it in sections and then fill in the areas I missed.

Next I spread the craft glue with a paintbrush on all the edges in a two inch border and carefully rolled the map out placing books on the top to ensure a good stick.

After that I added 2 and 1/4" strips of grey paper across the bottom since my map had flags on it that I wanted covered. I put the whole thing into the frame and stabilized it with the back prongs. Last I added my scrabble letters that spell out "LIFE IS A JOURNEY".

TIP: Make sure you have a place to put the glass from the frame before hand. Like in your trashcan or a dumpster. I, on the other hand, snapped the glass and sliced open my finger. Not my finest moment. Luckily, no stitches were needed. Just a nice big gauze wrap and my hand above my head with ice for half an hour. 

TA-DA! My finished product! I think it turned out great! Even with the setback ;). Once we move I will add pins! One color for places I have been, one color for places Madi has been, and one color for places we have been together!

I hope you all enjoy my map! I am working on a few other projects that I will upload here and to my Pinterest when I finish. And of course once we move and I have the room complete I will be uploading those picture also :). I hope you all try your own map! Give it your own touches like my scrabble letters. Get creative! Check out my new Pinterest button on the right hand side and follow me!

Thanks for reading :)
- Olivia

DIY: Chicken Fried Rice

Hello everyone!

I am super excited to share with you a DIY chicken fried recipe I concocted today! I got a cookbook for Christmas that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. It is the Better Homes New Cook Book 15th Edition. But there are some things in this recipe that I did not follow, so I created my own version! Every chicken fried rice recipe is pretty similar, but I thought I would share mine for those who are on a budget and don't have a lot of random spices and oils sitting around their house.

Here's what you need!

2 cups of dry white rice
2 Tablespoons and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce
1 Tablespoon of canola oil
1/4 of a white onion
4 baby carrots
1/2 of a yellow squash
2 oz. of frozen chicken
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Cooking Time: about 30 minutes

First I cooked the white rice in a pot with the cover on for five minutes as the directions on the package are shown.

Next I cut up my vegetables into small, thin pieces.

After that I beat the two eggs and added a teaspoon of soy sauce to the beaten eggs. I then scrambled the eggs in a small frying pan. I used two eggs, but it was WAY too much for my taste and I ended up throwing more than half away, so next time I plan on using one.

TIP: Make sure you use non-stick spray first. This was the first time I had ever made scrambled eggs (not kidding, I'm not a big egg person) and so I forgot that step. Hence why my frying pan looks like something died on it.

Fourth I added one tablespoon of canola oil into a pan and added the cut up vegetables. I stirred them every twenty seconds or so and cooked them for a total of two minutes. I then added my rice into the pan and poured two tablespoons of soy sauce on top. I stirred in the soy sauce, while mixing the vegetables and rice combination together. Next I put the chicken on the side of the pan, where the rice and vegetables were not, and I let it all cook for four minutes. 

TIP: Canola oil can also be substituted with olive oil, but both are a healthy alternative to the usual vegetable oil or butter that many people and restaurants use for chicken fried rice. I couldn't even tell the difference!

Then I added the scrambled egg to the mix and continued to cook it all for two more minutes on low. Last I added the teaspoon of salt over the entire mixture and let it all sit in the hot pan for a minute. Wal-ah! There you have it! It was so simple and took less than 30 minutes in total. There was enough for two full meals, so dinner for two or some for today, some for tomorrow! I hope you try it! If you do, let me know how it turns out. I was shockingly surprised that mine turned out as good as it did, and I look forward to trying more recipes in the future.

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

- Olivia :)

College Life

Hello all,

When I was home this past weekend my brother was talking about what colleges he is applying to and why he wants to go to them. Many students and parents have asked me lately why I chose USF over other schools like UCF, FSU, or FGCU and so I thought I would share five reasons why I love wearing green and gold!


5. Dorms

While some USF dorms aren't amazing, my freshman dorm, Juniper-Poplar, was super nice. It was only a year old when I moved in, but felt brand new. People came to clean the bathroom (such a nice plus compared to apartment style dorms) and there was a laundry room downstairs that you could walk to in your pajamas. The food in JP was way better than any food on campus (now they have champions which is better and healthier). Also if you are considering USF and wondering which side of campus to live on, pick JP or Magnolia apartments. The other side of campus has more parties, but even if you like to party (which I didn't) it's nice to be able to sleep in peace the nights you don't feel like going out or are sick. The Magnolia apartments I lived in were not worth the money but it was nice having a kitchen and being able to walk on campus for sure. Even though right now it is a rule at USF that all freshman have to spend on year on campus, wherever you choose try to live on campus for a year if you can afford it. It helps you make friends and helps you get to know the campus more and be more involved.

4. Campus

If you haven't been to USF's Tampa campus, go! It is gorgeous. I love the buildings and the grounds. I honestly think USF has the most beautiful campus out of all the Florida schools I have been to ( but clearly I am biased ). The campus is spread out, and so getting from one end to the other on foot takes about fifteen to twenty minutes but it is always a beautiful walk! My favorite spot would the near the fountains outside of MLK plaza. Our student center is the best that I have ever been to. If you get the chance, explore all of the floors. There are study rooms, couches everywhere, computers to use, a food court (Chick-fil-a, Subway, Moes, Papa John's, Panda Express, Jamba Juice, and Einstein's Bagel), and a place where you can print up to 22 pages black and white for free each day! Such a life saver when you forget to print a paper and a money saver if you don't want to buy a printer yourself! There are so many study spots on campus that are quite besides our awesome library. The psychology building has my favorite spot, but there are many more!

3. Sports

Many people pick their college based off their love for the sports team. For obvious reasons, you don't pick USF because their teams rock. But there are a lot of pluses to that also. The Sun Dome is so much fun during basketball season and with the new renovations is a lot better for students! There is a student lounge and better student section now. Many people hate that our football stadium is shared with the Tampa Bay Bucs but I love it. If you want to go to a game yes you have to drive and pay for parking, but ITS FREE for your ticket. It also saves all the traffic jams around campus on game day wheras with schools like UF parking is always ridic on game day and getting anywhere in Gainesville is impossible two hours before until two hours after the game. Our soccer teams are also so much fun to watch! In the fall, soccer is always the first event we go to typically and the atmosphere is awesome. I've heard great things about our baseball team too, but have yet to attend a game.

2. Free Events and Activities

USF hosts so many free events for students, it's crazy. Twice a year they have free concerts. Once for homecoming and once for Bullstock. Homecoming is usually rap and Bullstock is a mix of alternative and rock bands. Since my freshman year I have seen 3oh!3, Jack's Mannequin, Twenty One Pilots, Owl City, Hot Chelle Ray, All American Rejects, Cobra Starship, all For FREE. As a concert lover, it rocks. Literally. They also have Movies on the Lawn, where they show recent movies for free and give free popcorn and free drinks. FREE. I've seen Breaking Dawn, Hunger Games, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 there and its a fun place to go with friends to watch a movie on the big screen. Intramural sports are something that Madison has loved and it is a great way to get to know people. Also free. Oh and our gym (ranked number eight in America I've heard) is AMAZING. It was renovated after my freshman year, and once again is free to every USF student. I love love love our gym. Free fitness classes, brand new equipment, racquetball, basketball, and track. Love it.

1. Academics
Oh duh, the important part. For me, I knew I wanted to go into the medical field and I cannot say enough good things about USF's College of Nursing. Straight from the USF website : "USF’s College of Nursing ranks #1 in Florida and 24th among nursing schools nationwide to receive research funding from National Institutes of Health (NIH) in FY2012." It is so dang cool to be a part of that. They have given me such a good foundation and honestly prepared me to be out in the real world. As far as other colleges within USF, I have heard awesome things about the College of Business and Education. USF is also super involved in research which looks great on any person's resume.

I have had the best experience at USF and I am super sad, but proud, to say that I will be graduating next year. I hope that anyone who chooses USF makes the best of every experience and gets involved with something, because that is the only way to have fun!

Thanks for reading,
- Olivia