Happy Memorial Day!

Do you have exciting Memorial Day plans?  We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday with family and friends!

Top Ten Ranking for Veteran Programs

Congratulations to the University of Memphis.  They were ranked in the top ten in the United States for graduate business programs for veterans.  University of Memphis ranked ninth in the nation for their online programs.  You can read more or check out the University of Memphis for more information.
 

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Memphis in its Top 10 in online graduate business programs for veterans. This is the first year the publication has included analysis of online degree programs for veterans in its college rankings.

The U of M is ranked ninth for online graduate business programs. Other universities on the list include Washington State, Central Michigan, Nebraska and Temple.

Researchers in recent years have included online-only programs in their annual report, but said they included the veteran-specific rankings in recognition of the challenges that population faces.

“Our duty as business educators today is to understand and serve the customized individual needs of both our students and the employers who hire them,” said Dr. Jasbir Dhaliwal, associate dean of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics. “Given our veterans’ great service to the nation, I am proud of the exemplary work our faculty and staff are doing to serve the specific learning and support needs of this critical segment of our student community.”

Dr. Karen Weddle-West, vice provost for Graduate Programs and director of Diversity Initiatives, added, “This ranking validates the excellent quality and rigor of the graduate programs in the Fogelman College, highlights the University’s commitment to achieving excellence by enhancing access to high-quality graduate programs, and underscores the value of offering online degrees to those who have sacrificed and defended our country.”

The top online veteran programs all are certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs and

participate in the VA’s Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help offset some of the costs of schooling. The institutions also were graded on their flexibility for military and veterans’ schedules and their willingness to consider academic credit for military training.

Using Furniture to Decorate Your Apartment

Your apartment is your home for many years while in college.  However, small apartment spaces can make furniture placement and use confusing.  Check out these tips on how to make your furniture work in your apartment.  You can find out more at apartment therapy.

There's no question that a small space requires creative living. And whether you welcome or curse at the challenge to your decorating prowess, discovering the multi-purposing potential of your small space is a must. We've rounded up some fun products and DIY inspiration to help you meet that challenge and create some division in your small, multi-functional spaces.

Shelving Units: One of the toughest obstacles in a small space can be finding storage for all your goods. Using open shelving is a tried-and-true method for creating separate areas while also offering storage and an open, airy feel.
1. Pezzo White Storage Unit-Bench (cb2, $259)—This piece can be used as a bench or stacked with others to create a taller unit. Talk about multi-functional!

2. Highpoint Contoured Bookcase (Target, $195.49)—I used a case much like this one to create a faux hallway in my home for years. I loved it, and guests always commented on how much they liked the setup.
Curtains: Curtains are an inexpensive and non-permanent way to define spaces within a home. 
3. Magical Thinking Aviary Curtain (Urban Outfitters, $59 per panel)—When using a curtain to create division, choose a subtle pattern on a sheer curtain to allow light to flow between the spaces and to avoid having the curtain take up too much visual space.
Rugs: Sometimes actual room division can be too much in a particularly small space. A rug in one area of the room is a great way to define separation without really creating it.

4. Chenille Charade Carpet Tile (Flor.com, $20.00 per 20" square)—These fun squares from FLOR can be mixed and matched for any color combination or size that your space requires.

5. Embroidered Ellie Rug (Anthropologie, $78–$1,298)—This gorgeous rug from Anthropologie comes in many different size options. You can even layer rugs to define several areas in one room.
Seating: Seating, a pair of chairs or a sofa, may not spring first to mind as room dividers, but are a great way to work with what you have, rearranged, to visually divide your space.

6. Avec Peacock Apartment Sofa (cb2, $1,199)—A sofa is a great way to create the feel of division without visually blocking the rest of the space. This small-scale sofa is perfect for a small room and is particularly yummy; it's too bad I'm not currently in the market for one.

DIY Inspiration: You don't have to buy new furniture - maybe try making one of these projects:

7. Classroom Whiteboard, Chalkboard, and Pegboard Dividers (Honor Roll Supply, $79.99 each)—These classroom dividers are available for purchase, but similar ones could also be easily DIY'd for a custom look or size. How fun to be able to use a divider as vertical storage or even changeable artwork.

8. Metal Structure by Sanindusa (Trendir)—This metal piece is sculptural, offers fun storage, and could easily be recreated with PVC pipes.

9. Hanging Vintage Window (Better Homes and Gardens)—Hang a salvaged window, door, or screen picked from a garage sale or even the side of the road for a quick and quirky divider.

10. Rolling Screen (Pure Inspiration)—Pure Inspiration offers a great tutorial for creating this rolling screen, which can be personalized to match its space. What a great way to create separate spaces temporarily or on an as-needed basis.

Congratulations to the College Graduates!

Are you graduating this week?  First off, congratulations on this amazing accomplishment, you have a lot to be proud of.  Now, you have to enter the real world.  This can be intimidating, but these seven tips are great for college graduates.  There are great things out there for you to accomplish, and we can not wait to see what you do! 

1)  Here’s a secret: Careers don’t just happen, they are made. If you want to have the job and career that you want and need, it will take an enormous amount of work on your part. Many graduating seniors mistakenly believe that it is the responsibility of their career service officers to get them a job. Not true. Until you are ready to take charge of, and own, your career, you won’t have one.

Owning your career takes discipline and true commitment. Sending 20 standard cover letters and résumés to Monster.com and hoping for a response isn’t enough. To land the job you want, you need to make it your full-time job. Yes, this is hard – you have finals and papers to write, and friends to party with – but if you don’t work hard, you won’t get a job. Guaranteed.

Make a commitment to yourself and to your job search by claiming your career as your own. By pledging to do this, you will stop being a victim of the job market and will begin to take control over your future. This may sound hokey, but this symbolic act will help you accelerate your job search. Raise your hand and make the pledge.

2)  Take a moment and think about what kind of car you drive. Or if you don’t drive a car, what you’d like to drive if you had one? What adjectives or characteristics do you associate with your car? Safe? Well-engineered? Versatile? Eco-friendly? Car companies spend gazillions of dollars crafting the brands of the cars they sell. Looking for safety? Buy a Volvo. Superior engineering? Audi. Versatile? How about a Ford minivan? Want to save the planet? You better drive a Toyota Prius.

When we decide to purchase a car, we consciously or subconsciously have certain attributes in mind that will make the car “feel like me.” That is exactly why car companies pour money into brand development, brand marketing, and advertising.

You are no different. As you go out and try to “sell” yourself to future employers, it’s essential that you know exactly who you are and what you want to be. By being clear about what you can offer to hiring managers, you will be able to get people to buy into the brand that is you.

Discovering your own brand is an essential component of differentiating yourself from other hungry job seekers. Think about what makes you different, what skills you have to offer, what you’re passionate about, and what you can bring to an employer that will make them want to pick you. If you were a car, what would be your best selling points? If you don’t know what they are, ask a counselor, a parent, or friend to help you uncover what makes you a great product for employers to buy.

Read the rest of the tips at the CSM.

Do You Try to Live a Green College Life?

Do you try to live a green college life?  Check out these great tips on how to start a green life in college!  Recycling, reusing, and re purposing are all part of the plan to live a greener life style.  Check out these tips from thought catalog, and you can add your own in the comment section!

1. Wait until your hamper is full. Not only does this save how much water and energy you use, but also your detergent, which is expensive!
2. No lollygagging in the shower. Each second you’re in there wastes more water. Do what you need to do and get out into the real world!
3. Notes aren’t trash. The end of the semester is upon us, and there’s a few things you can do with your old notebooks: save them for future reference, let them sit around never to be looked at again, or recycle them! That’s a lot of paper. Also, make sure if you didn’t fill up the entire notebook, use it again next semester!
4. A textbook is a terrible thing to waste. Again, if you’re going to read it again, hang onto it, but in most cases, you aren’t. Sell them back, put them online, or lend them to a friend.  Someone else will appreciate it.
5. Use public transportation. It’s free! The local buses run all day, and have a ton of convenient routes.
6. Or just walk/bike/skateboard. Spring has sprung and most colleges are pedestrian-friendly. Get some fresh air!
7. Clean your plate. Why are entire burgers and sandwiches going down the conveyor belt in the dinning hall? Think about what you’re taking, and make sure you’ve got room for it!
8. Reusable bags are your friend. And there are constantly companies tabling on college campuses giving them away as freebies. They come in handy when you’re moving out of your dorm at the end of the year.
9. Take a lesson from Macklemore. Check out that thrift shop have may have always skeeved you out. You’ll be amazed at the fashionable finds you discover!
10. Less paper, less problems. Ask your professor if that 10 page final paper can be submitted by email. If they are opposed to this, suggest printing on both sides of the paper.

Best Barbecue in Memphis

What is the best barbecue in Memphis?  Check out this article for your answer.  Rendezvous Barbecue is the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene.  It is also one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis.  Check out Memphis Travel for more information.
It’s not often that the passing of a barbecue restaurant owner receives national attention. But that’s what happened on March 30, 2010, when John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and evangelist of all things Southern, penned a poignant obituary in The New York Times of our very own Charlie Vergos.
Founder of Rendezvous barbecue restaurant in downtown Memphis, Vergos established the city’s dry-rub style, making it world famous in 1985 by offering to ship his ribs overnight through a now well-known toll-free number: 800-HOGS-FLY. Thank you, FedEx. From that point on, Rendezvous became the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene. With its dry-rub ribs, wall-to-wall flair that would make even the most diehard TGIF enthusiast proud and family atmosphere (the employees are lifers), Rendezvous is the essential first stop for every barbecue lover that visits Memphis. The front door of this hole in the wall is in an alley about a block away from the Peabody Hotel and AutoZone Park, home to our Triple-A Redbirds. We could use this space to give you more specific directions, but trust us when we say all you need is your nose.

If Charlie Vergos is the godfather of Memphis barbecue, then the Neelys are its first family. Jim Neely got the family business going over 20 years ago when he opened up Interstate Barbecue on South 3rd Street, not far from I-55. As skilled as any Mid-South pitmaster in the art of smoke, Neely’s actually known for his sauce, which he took two years to perfect before opening shop. And that sauce is used on just about everything, including pasta. That’s not a typo, people. Memphis loves it some barbecue spaghetti, a just-right mix of noodles and chopped pork smothered in sweet barbecue sauce. Jim, thankfully, was kind enough to pass on some of his secrets to his nephew, Patrick who, along with his brothers Tony, Gaelin and Mark, built the Neely Barbecue Empire. With two restaurants in Memphis and one in Nashville, the Neelys have become a household name in large part to Patrick’s wife, Gina. Specifically her charm, wit and total control over the kitchen on the couple’s Food Network TV show "Down Home With The Neelys."

The Memphis barbecue scene isn’t limited to the semi-famous. In fact, two small shops in the Midtown neighborhood have been winning awards for years with their unique spin on some familiar ingredients: The Bar-B-Q Shop’s famous Dancing Pigs sauce is the backbone for pork, or beef barbecue sandwiches and ribs, both wet or dry. Available in mild, hot, and dry, the sauce at Bar-B-Q Shop is a balance of fire and sweetness and goes perfect with the pulled pork sandwich sided with a piece of Texas toast.

Open since 2002, Central BBQ in Midtown Memphis continues to be a local favorite. In addition to ribs and shoulders, Central has a handfull of other delicious options including dry-rub wings, smoked sausage, seasoned homemade potato chips and an 8-inch portobello that is marinated, grilled, and topped with smoked Gouda cheese. Pair any of these choices with a Ghost River beer on the patio and you're close to heaven on earth.

There's more to Memphis barbecue than a smokey slab of rib or fall-apart pulled pork. Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizzare Foods on the Travel Channel, has declared Payne's Bar-B-Que as having the best smoked bologna sandwich in the country. A big 'ol thick slab of bologna pinned between two slices of white bread will fill the hungriest of men. Not into bologna? Try Payne's pork sandwich (pulled, chopped or sliced) with a dollop of sweet yellow slaw. There is no other way.
What is the best barbecue in Memphis?  Check out this article for your answer.  Rendezvous Barbecue is the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene.  It is also one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis.  Check out Memphis Travel for more information.

Eating Healthy in College!

Eating healthy in college can be a challenge.  The last few weeks of the semester can be stressful.  However, do not give up your good eating habits because of stress and a busy schedule.  Keep reading to learn ten tips to help you keep eating healthy the last few weeks of the semester.  Check out more tips at Clarke.

1. Eat a good breakfast - Studies show that skipping breakfast detracts from scholastic achievement. When there isn’t time to sit down and enjoy your morning meal, grab a bagel, piece of fruit, and some juice. Most of these items can be easily stored in your residence hall room.
2. If you must eat fast foods, choose wisely - Choose pizza with half the cheese, a regular size roast beef sandwich, baked potato, or green salad with reduced calorie dressing. Limit high fat offerings like French fries, fried chicken, or fish sandwiches and watch out for salad dressing!
3. Keep healthy snacks on hand - This way, if hunger strikes during a late night study session, you won’t be tempted by vending machine candy, chips, or ice cream. Possibilities include fresh or dried fruit, pretzels, unbuttered popcorn, rice cakes, or whole wheat crackers. If you have a refrigerator, consider raw vegetables with low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese dip.
4. Eat plenty of foods rich in calcium - People in their early twenties need to be building up stores of calcium in their bodies to prevent osteoporosis later in life. If you don’t like milk, try to include ample amounts of low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese, and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
5. If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly - Starvation and/or diets that offer a quick fix usually backfire and are harmful. There is no truth to the theories that suggest eating foods in any particular combination will promote weight loss. The only safe way to lose weight, feel good while doing it, and keep it off, is to eat a balanced diet and exercise.
6. Limit your sugar intake - Sugar provides calories in your diet but few other nutrients, and it contributes significantly to tooth decay. Use it sparingly and consider sweetening coffee, tea, cereal, and fruit with diet sweeteners instead.
7. Visit the dining hall salad bar - The dining hall salad bar can be either an asset or a detriment to your diet depending on how you choose from it. Of course, leafy greens, raw vegetables, and fresh fruits are beneficial. But, if you choose a lot of creamy dressings, bacon bits, and mayonnaise-based salads, the calories and fat may equal or even exceed those of a burger and fries—so choose wisely!
8. Limit your alcohol intake - If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that it supplies calories but no nutritional value. A light beer, a glass of wine, or an ounce of liquor each has about 100 calories. There may also be health problems associated with drinking alcohol.
9. Drink lots of water - Your body needs at least eight glasses a day, and, if you exercise vigorously, you may need more. To remind yourself, carry a water bottle along to class and keep it handy during late night study sessions.
10. Enjoy your food - Food is a lot more than nourishment for our bodies, so take the time to enjoy and savor it!