Blog Posts

A Fun Mocktail Menu for Your Next Summer Party

If you want to hold a party over the summer with your hometown friends, you can take care of your health, avoid a hangover, and still have a great time by preparing a range of ice-cold mocktails. All you need is some basic ingredients you likely have at home anyway and some fancy glasses to impress your friends. Try these recipes for your next get-together. 1. Fruity Daiquiris You’ve most likely had a strawberry daiquiri before and perhaps also a banana one. Mix things up at your summer party by serving daiquiris made with all sorts of fruits. One great combination to consider is mango and lychee. Whatever fruits you choose, they should be frozen. Blend them with some lemon juice and simple syrup to complete the mocktail. Finally, garnish with a mint leaf. 2. Spicy Virgin Margarita Put a twist on the classic margarita by making spicy virgin margaritas. Jalapeño limeade is ideal for the base — if you can’t find any, just use lime juice, water, sugar, and a small amount of jalapeño. Serve your drinks in margarita glasses rimmed with tajin. 3. Limonana Also called a virgin moquito , a limonana is a mint lemonade that hails from the Middle East. It’s ideal for a beach party on a hot day — the perfect way to feel like you’re abroad when you’re unable to travel this summer. Plus, it’s extra easy to make, meaning you can keep blending up more throughout the party for all your guests. All you need to do to prepare this drink is blend lemon juice, mint, water, sugar, and ice — experiment with the proportions to make it as sweet or as tangy as you like. Serve with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint to give it an extra flair. 4. Orange Creamsicle Frosty If you like sweet, creamy drinks, you’ll love the orange creamsicle frosty. Blend a can of orange soda (one without too much sugar is ideal), a frozen mandarin, and some vanilla creamer. You may also like to add some whipped cream on the top for even better aesthetics — this will look great in your photos. 5. Sparkling Grapefruit Mimosa Create your own virgin mimosas by using club soda, grapefruit juice, sugar, and mint. Mix everything together in a pitcher (rather than blending the ingredients) and then pour it into glasses over ice. Use a few mint leaves and a slice of lime to garnish. 6. Blueberry Ginger Cooler For a drink you can sip slowly, try a blueberry ginger cooler. Instead of ice cubes, it uses frozen blueberries to keep the drink cold. The beverage itself is made from a layer of water, mashed blueberries, grated ginger, and sugar with another layer of lemon or lime soda on top to create a two-toned mocktail. If you want to continue throwing parties when you return to college, you’ll need to have your own apartment. Foundry First is ideal because it also has a common area lounge, movie theater, and ping pong table. Our London, Ontario, apartments for students are spacious, fully furnished, and located just steps from campus. Apply now before space runs out.

How to Stay Informed with Current Events as a Student

You have a huge number of commitments and responsibilities as a student, ranging from classes and extracurriculars to staying in touch with family members and friends. Nonetheless, it’s important to look beyond your own life at times and find out what’s happening in the wider world. If your major is related to current events, this is even more important. Here are several tactics you can use to make sure you stay informed. 1. Listen to Podcasts Experiment with a few news podcasts until you find one that resonates with you. It could be a daily or a weekly release. Listen during your morning routine, while walking between classes, or when you come home and need a break before you make a start on your homework. 2. Subscribe to an Email Newsletter If you prefer to read the news than to listen, subscribe to a newsletter from a news outlet. This will give you the headlines along with a brief summary of the most important stories of the day. You can click on any articles you find particularly interesting to read more. 3. Use Social Media Follow reputable news outlets and journalists on your favourite social media platforms. This will help you find out about current events when you’re not actively seeking out news. It’s worth choosing some objective outlets as well as some more opinionated sources to gain different perspectives. 4. Download a News App The problem with social media is you may become distracted by non-news stories and not learn much about current events. For this reason, it can be helpful to also have a news app on your phone. Try to get into the habit of opening this app whenever you have nothing to do. Scrolling through the headlines will be a better use of your time than looking at social media posts. 5. Set Up Google Alerts Make sure you stay up to date on any issues and topics you care about by signing up for Google Alerts. You may find this useful for keeping informed about issues that are happening in the field you want to enter after you graduate. 6. Read Uplifting News Sometimes, it can feel like all the news is doom and gloom. However, there are always uplifting stories — you just need to know where to find them. Bookmark a website that only publishes good news and go there whenever you need a mood booster. Talking about current events with other people will teach you far more than just reading news articles. Plus, you’ll find out about news stories you may have otherwise missed. Some of the best people to talk about current events with are other students, such as those who live in the same housing as you. There’s a vibrant community at Foundry First — our London, Ontario, apartments for students are ideal for meeting new people and socializing with friends. In addition to the living room in your fully-furnished apartment, you’ll be able to hang out in common areas like the lounge, fitness center, and study rooms. Apply now, while there are still a few rooms available.

7 Benefits of Having a College Degree

Attending college has a number of benefits compared to finishing your education with high school. Whatever your career goals, it’s likely that a number of these benefits will apply to you. 1. More Job Opportunities Many jobs require a college degree — and you won’t even be considered for some positions without one. If you know what kind of job you want, check if it falls into this category. If you’re still unsure about what career to pursue, it’s worth having a degree to keep your options open and help you stand out as a candidate, even for jobs that don’t require a particular qualification. 2. Higher Salary Higher levels of education lead to higher average salaries. Even differences per year are pronounced, which adds up to a significant increase in earnings over your lifetime. 3. Greater Stability Jobs that require a college degree also tend to be more stable than those available to high school graduates. As well as being more likely to remain in the same job for longer, you should be able to find a new job quickly if you do end up becoming unemployed. This is both because you’ll be more desirable as a worker and because the kinds of jobs that require a degree are less likely to disappear due to automation or offshoring. 4. Better Job Satisfaction You’re more likely to enjoy your job if it requires a degree. The work will often put you on the path to a particular career — rather than just paying the bills. Plus, you’ll receive more benefits that make your life more pleasant. 5. Valuable Contacts During your time at college, you’ll meet a variety of people, including professors, other students, and mentors. All these contacts could be valuable later on , as they’ll connect you to a wider network. In fact, many jobs are never advertised and only available if you know the right people. 6. Personal Development Just the experience of attending college could be a benefit in itself . Finding out that earning a degree is something you’re able to do can be rewarding. Plus, you’ll develop a number of useful skills, including critical thinking, writing, organization, and independence. Depending on your major and what opportunities you take, you may also learn how to give presentations and work in a team. All this can increase your self-confidence: leading you to sell yourself better in interviews, helping you to better overcome adversity, and reducing your levels of stres s. 7. Chance to Gain an Advanced Degree College is the first step if you think you may like to earn a master’s degree or PhD one day. This will pave the way to work as some kind of specialist or researcher, leading to even higher earnings and often very satisfying work. You may also simply want the experience of gaining an advanced degree: for the challenge, the sense of achievement, or the chance to learn about an area that interests you in great depth. To graduate on time with a good GPA, you’ll need to study hard throughout college. As it can be especially difficult to focus when you’re sharing a room, it makes sense to search for off-campus housing. You can find London, Ontario, apartments for students at Foundry First. You’ll be able to study in your fully-furnished bedroom — or take a break and meet other students in places like the lounge or theatre. Apply now while leases are still available.

8 Products to Help with Test Anxiety

Tests are an unfortunate fact of life at college. They can be a major source of anxiety for students, especially tests that will make a big difference to your GPA. The good news is there are various kinds of products you can use to help you relieve some anxiety, most of which are inexpensive and likely to be within your budget. Here are a few options to try. 1. A Journal Journalling is a great way to clear your mind. Purchase a journal in a design you love and make the time to jot your worries down on paper every day — concerns often seem less big and more manageable when you see them in writing. 2. A Wall Calendar It’s easy to forget about other commitments during exam season, when all your attention is on preparing for tests. Add key dates to a wall calendar that you keep above your desk. 3. Gel Pens Many students find they retain information better when they colour -coordinate their notes. Purchase a set of gel pens in a range of colours and take them along to all your classes. You can also use your pens to write your study schedule, giving each class a different colour . 4. Heated Eye Masks It’s important to have enough sleep before an important test — but it can be difficult to fall asleep when you’re anxious. Use a heated eye mask to help you relax. 5. A Water Bottle Prevent countless trips to the kitchen to refresh your glass by purchasing a large water bottle. This will also be ideal to have when you’re studying in other places and would rather avoid buying beverages. 6. A Meditation App Meditation helps you turn your mind to positive thoughts and focus on deep breathing to ease some of your anxiety. If you’re unsure where to begin, download a meditation app to learn the basics and gain some guided meditations . 7. A Candle Make your desk a comforting place to study by adding a candle. If you only light it when it’s time to study, it will help put you in the right frame of mind every time you sit down at your desk. 8. Energy Drinks When you have no choice but to power through to finish an assignment on time, it may be helpful to have an energy drink at hand. A boost of caffeine can help you maintain your focus. Just make sure you take the time to properly wind down when your exams are over. Another way to ease your test anxiety is to have a place where you can study in peace. This can be difficult when you live on campus, but it’s definitely possible when you have your own apartment. You can find London, Ontario, apartments for students at Foundry First. You’ll be able to study in your spacious bedroom in your fully-furnished suite. Plus, whenever you need a break, you can relax in the theater or lounge. Secure a spot while there are still a few leases left.

How to Spend Your Spring Break Productively

Spring break is an important time to gain some rest and recuperation before that final sprint to the end of the school year. However, there’s no need to use the entire time to relax — spring break is a great opportunity to do all those things you never seem to have time for when you’re busy with classes. In fact, there are several ways you can make spring break more productive. 1. List All the Things You Want to Do Start by making a list of everything you’ve wanted to do but haven’t had time for in recent weeks. These don’t need to all be serious things — your list could include watching a series that everyone’s talking about or spending time with someone from your hometown. 2. Dedicate a Day to Self-Care Being productive doesn’t necessarily mean staying busy. Spring break is the perfect time for pampering, such as by getting a haircut or pedicure. Alternatively, you could spend an entire day on one of your favourite hobbies or doing something else that gives you pleasure. 3. Finish Your Homework It’s difficult to fully enjoy spring break if you know you need to complete an assignment before you return to college. Finish any homework or other chores right at the start of spring break and there will be nothing hanging over you. 4. Clean Your Apartment Similarly, the last thing you want is to return from spring break to an apartment that’s a mess. Do a proper spring cleaning to be ready for next semester: wash your laundry, switch your closet from winter to warm-weather clothing, declutter surfaces, throw out any junk that’s lying around, and sort through your papers. It will feel great to start the semester with a tidy apartment. 5. Update Your Resume and Online Presence If you’ll be applying to jobs soon, it’s a good idea to start preparing now. Update your resume to reflect the experience you’ve gained recently — whether through a part-time job, volunteering, or extracurriculars. You can also include information about classes you’ve taken and relevant skills you’ve acquired . If you’ve worked on projects at college that relate to your career goals, you could also create an online portfolio. Finally, you can improve your online presence by highlighting your achievements on your social media profiles, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn. 6. Learn More About Your Career Options As your graduation date nears, you need to think more about what you’ll do after college. Research possible career options and learn more about the industry you want to work in. Follow industry leaders on social media, subscribe to more podcasts, and create a reading list of useful articles (and make sure you read them whenever you have spare time during spring break. 7. Shadow a Mentor Perhaps you already know exactly what you want to do after you graduate. In this case, a great use of your time would be to reach out to potential mentors and ask if there’s an opportunity to shadow them for a couple days . This will show you exactly what the work you want to do will involve and help you to start building connections in the industry. 8. Apply for an Internship or Summer Job An internship or job could be a great way to spend your summer. Now is the perfect time to apply for positions. Stick to those that match your career goals, interests, and skills. One more way to spend spring break is to find better housing. Foundry First has London, Ontario, apartments for students, designed with your needs in mind. Our suites feature spacious bedrooms, modern furnishings, and stainless steel appliances to give you the ultimate student living experience. There are still a few spaces available, so don’t wait to apply..

How to Eat More Whole Foods as a Student

You know you should be eating more whole foods, but it can be difficult to find the time to prepare meals that involve fresh produce and expensive to keep your refrigerator stocked with healthy ingredients. Nonetheless, it’s always possible for students to incorporate more whole foods into their diets. Here are a few tips to consider. 1. Start the Day with a Smoothie If you struggle enough as it is to wake up early and arrive at your morning classes on time, there’s no chance you’ll be in the mood to prepare a full breakfast. Smoothies will provide you with a range of fruits for almost no effort — you can even prepare them the night before. Just throw any combination you like of frozen berries, banana, spinach, kale, and seeds into your blender. You can drink the smoothie at home or take it on the go if you’d prefer to sip it during your first class. 2. Eat Healthy, but Satiating, Snacks Raw vegetables and fruit may seem like an obvious snack, but they’re often not enough to keep you feeling full, which can result in you turning to unhealthy foods to satisfy your appetite. A better option is to combine whole foods with protein and healthy fats. For instance, carrot sticks, celery, and peppers pair perfectly with guacamole and hummus, whereas peanut butter and sweet hummus are ideal for bananas, apples, strawberries, and cherries. Alternatively, you could create a snack pack with some cheese , nuts, or jerky to go along with your fruits or vegetables. 3. Opt for Healthy Dishes When Eating Out Whenever you’re eating in the dining hall or restaurant, choose meals with plenty of vegetables — even if something else is more appealing. In addition, choose a salad or roasted vegetables as a side instead of fries. Try to fill up as much as possible on whole foods before you turn to starchy foods and protein. 4. Choose Fruit for Dessert Whenever you’re craving something sweet, reach for a piece of fruit rather than ice cream or cookies. Once you start eating, you’ll often find it’s much more enjoyable than a sugary dessert. 5. Set Eating Goals You’re much more likely to succeed at including more whole foods in your diet if you increase your intake gradually. You could aim to eat a certain number of pieces of fruit a day and increase this number over time. You may like to begin by ensuring you have at least some vegetables in every meal and later increase to half a plate of (non-starchy) vegetables. It can also help to record what you eat to keep track of your progress. It’s always easier to eat healthy meals if you have a proper kitchen at home where you can prepare a range of dishes. Foundry First offers London, Ontario, apartments for students, all of which come with spacious kitchens, complete with stainless steel appliances like a dishwasher and microwave. We have eight different floor plans to suit all budgets. Apply now to secure the type of room you want.