Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #4

Hello all!

It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's, and an even more wonderful Valentine's Day weekend! I hope you all had fun and shared the love, however you spent it this year.

In other news, hellooo winter. This weekend, temps dropped below zero, forcing us to cancel our weekly Smugg's trip (for the first time ever!!!). But, as always, we all still managed to stay warm and have a great time.

Surprise early Valentine's Day flowers!

Valentine's dinner Friday night at Junior's Italian right down the street in Colchester! Great food and very reasonable prices for what you're getting. This was my "Shrimp Pink Pesto". Soooo good!!!

A gift to my Valentine! Jared collects ski signs that he orders from different mountains, so this year I decided to surprise him with two homemade ones that I got crafty with over Christmas break.

As a lover of food, I had to try even this trend once. I feel like acai bowls have been all over the place in the past year or so, and they looked so tasty and pretty that I just had to give one a spin this Saturday on our day off from the slopes! Vermont Juice Company in downtown Burlington lets you "build your own", so I had mine topped with bananas, almond butter, granola, and goji berries. It was delicious and filling without being over the top. I'll likely be trying different combinations when it gets a little warmer out! In the meantime, I highly recommend that you all check this place out, whether you're getting a bowl or one of their juices or smoothies.

Stay warm everyone, and have a happy Valentine's Day!! Be sure to stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 17th!

Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

What-to-Know Wednesday : Tips For Gifting in College

Hello all!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I can't think of a better time to discuss some gifting tips that I've had on the back burner lately!

If you're away at college and in the process of getting a gift for a friend (or more than a friend!), chances are you'll run into a few issues without the plethora of resources you're probably used to having at home. At the very least, these are a few of the issues that I've run into (and learned to adapt to) in the past!

Let's get gifting!


Plan ahead over break!

Sometimes thinking of the perfect gift for your best friend or significant other is effort you can't afford to make in the throes of the semester. Maybe you're thinking of taking the homemade route, in which case, that's time you can't afford to spend in your breaks between classes.  And even if time weren't the issue, resources for a DIY project will probably be pretty slim in the confines of your dorm room.

Whatever the case may be, it's never a bad idea to start planning ahead during the break before a particular holiday/occasion (for example, Christmas break before Valentine's Day). Whether that means making a list of ideas or fleshing out the complete gift, you'll be glad you spent some time thinking at home!


Get creative with wrapping!

I don't know about you, but there's no room in my suite for my mom's arsenal of gift wrapping supplies (...as much as I wish there was. Like any great friend I'm making so much effort to wrap a gift for, that dresser drawer of paper and bows is always there when I need it).

That being said, now is the time to show off just how industrious you can be with limited resources! Whether you're using your leftover copy of the school newspaper for a makeshift wrap job or making cute cutouts of construction paper for tags or cards, making sure you've wrapped your gift in some way really takes things the extra mile. (Or, this could be another situation that thinking ahead at home would come in handy! Bring back just enough paper and/or ribbons for that gift you've got in mind, and you're on your way to gifting stardom. And possibly writing a book about how great you are.)

Be discrete!

Smuggling a special package back from the mailroom? Please don't walk that line on your way back from lunch with the soon-to-be gift recipient. Just got that very package back to your room safely and secretly? Now it's time to hide it. Depending on how often you get together with this person, this could be a very easy task or a nearly impossible one. Whatever you do, pick a spot you know they won't be nosing around in on any given day, or ever: the back of your closet, under your bed hidden in your suitcase, buried in your sock drawer, etc. Choose accordingly.


Happy gifting to all, and to all a great Valentine's Day!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #3

Hello all!

It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's. It looks like we're still waiting on winter, but as always, we're making the best of this interesting spring/winter that we're having! Speaking of winter, St. Mike's had its Winter Carnival this Saturday, the first event covered by St. Mike's' brand new Snapchat account! Be sure to follow smcknights for story updates on events, holidays, and more from the eyes of St. Mike's students!

Snowy views of some of our favorite hikes off in the distance!

Fried pickles (or frickles) at Our House Bistro on Friday night! If you're a regular reader at Stories of St. Mike's (which you should be!), you'll know this place comes highly recommended. So fun, cozy, and unbelievably tasty!

Also on Friday, it seems as if all of New England (except for VT!) was hit by this staggering snowstorm. School was cancelled and power was out. Newsfeeds across several social media networks were filled with snowy shots from Massachusetts to Maine, as us VT students stared out our windows at dry pavement. Come on, Mother Nature!!! (Photo courtesy of my dad back home in Newbury, MA!)

That being said, our weekly Smugg's trip this Saturday was slightly less than satisfactory. Between the warm temps all week and the lack of any new snowfall, conditions were pretty scratchy. (This shot was from the lift, overlooking a trail that was obviously closed, like most of the mountain. A few icy trails were left open, but it was certainly a treacherous day out there!)

So naturally, it was only appropriate to reward myself at the end of the day at the Waffle Cabin!

Well friends, have a happy Sunday and a happy Superbowl! Wherever and however you're spending it, I hope you all have fun and stay safe. Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 10th!




Let's Connect! 
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

What-to-Know Wednesday : Everything You Need to Know About Sloane

BLT Salad w/Avocado from Sloane!

Feeling like a switch-up in your weekly dinner options? Want the closest experience you can get to dining out without any hits on your credit card? Well do I have good news for you!!

Where & When
 
Sloane is St. Mike's second, smaller dining hall located on North Campus, about a mile up the road from main campus. They're open for dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, and it's included on your meal plan!

How

Since Sloane is a smaller space with limited table availability, you'll have to call ahead and reserve a table beforehand. You're probably better off calling the day before, or maybe even earlier.

Don't forget your Knightcard! It'll be swiped at the door, just like at Alliot.

What You're Getting

Once you arrive, you'll be seated immediately by your waiter or waitress. From there, you'll get an appetizer, entree, and dessert all ordered off a rotating menu!


While dining at Sloane does require a little extra effort, it makes for a great break in the week from the hustle and bustle of Alliot, and also helps make the dining hall experience a little more fun and special every once in a while! 


Enjoy, and thank me later!!


More Sloane Info 


Interested in other posts like this one? Check out:

Everything You Need to Know About Alliot 




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #2

Hello all!

It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's. We're getting into the groove with classes, new routines, and the winter season (even though it hasn't felt very wintry lately!).

On Friday, Jared and I went to Longhorn with my brother Colin and Isabel, who both go to Champlain College!

One of the great things about going to school in an area with lots of other colleges (like UVM and Champlain!) is that it's super easy to get together with any friends or family you have who attend there!

Yay for candids!! Always make sure the other person is done chewing before you spring a photo-op on them.

This weekend, we spent another lovely Saturday at Smuggler's Notch, our winter weekend go-to spot.

It was another great day out on the slopes!

Post-skiing snack!! If you don't think these things are the best, you're wrong.

Hope you all have a great week! Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 3rd!

Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

What-to-Know Wednesday : Studious Snacks!

Between those trips to the dining hall, most of us need a little something extra throughout the day. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a full kitchen and stocked pantry's worth of snacking options, much less the budget to make that happen. Fortunately, however, there's plenty of quick, easy, generally good for you, cheap snack options out there that put Ramen and Easy Mac to shame!!

These are a few things that I like to keep on hand in my dorm. Whether you try out this exact list or put your own spin on it, just remember to investigate different options and that you never have to settle for those stereotypical college snacks (unless you're particularly into those, of course)!

1.) Instant Oatmeal

foodfetepress.wordpress.com

 Instant oatmeal is a quick, tasty, and healthy mid-morning snack! It's super easy to find wherever you choose to do your shopping, and they come in a variety of yummy flavors! So far my favorites are Maple & Brown Sugar and Banana Nut Protein.

2.) Energy/Granola Bars

carrieburns.net

Energy bars are quick, easy, portable snacks that you can toss in your bag if you're on the go, or enjoy at your leisure whenever you feel like it! My personal favorite is Lara Bars. They come in a ton of different flavors, and they're only made with a handful of real ingredients like various fruits and nuts. These can be a little trickier to find, but I've always had good luck at Hannaford.


3.) Cold Cuts 

marksdailyapple.com

If you're looking for something a little bit more substantial or possibly a quick lunch to take on the go, there's nothing better than making a quick turkey or ham and cheese roll-up to tide you over! I like to grab fresh cold cuts at the deli in Hannaford instead of the packaged stuff. That way, I get to control the amount I get, and let's face it- it's just better! Depending on how much you rely on these as an option, about 1/4 - 1/2 pound will get you through the week easy!

4.) Goodies from home

There's nothing better than a homemade brownie! More specifically, there's nothing better than these homemade brownies. Check out this awesome recipe from my go-to YouTube channel for whenever I'm looking to get inventive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWXcZcWufFE

Naturally, this one is my favorite. It's definitely the more indulgent option, but hey- you only get these every once in a while!

At the end of each break, I like to make either cookies, brownies, or something completely new to bring back with me to school for when I'm looking to get a little more adventurous with my snacking! They'll only last for a couple of weeks (depending on if you share, which you should!!), but they make for an awesome weekday reward for all your hard work, and it's a fun little project to get into at the end of every break!


Happy snacking, and stay tuned for the next Sum-It-Up Sunday on the 31st!



Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #1

Hello all!

It's been a wonderful first week of the spring semester here at SMC. With some fresh snow on the ground, the rush of new classes and the anticipation of the weeks to come, it's definitely been an eventful week!

I missed these VT sunsets!

Snowy walks back from Sloane, St. Mike's' second dining hall on North Campus. Make a reservation to order off a menu and have a more leisurely dinner that's still part of the meal plan!

Our first Smugg's trip of the year! It was a great day to start off the season. It's not too late to grab a student pass for only $65, the best deal you'll find around here!

It was a beautiful day with lots of snow, some sun, and limited crowds! I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the season.

I hope you all had a wonderful first week back, and to all you prospective students, I hope you're looking forward to these beautiful VT winters as much as I'm enjoying the start of this one!

Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 27th!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu