Steve Aoki Concert Hits Cal Poly

Cal Poly’s Rec Center was packed with Steve Aoki fans. Photo by Author

That’s right folks: Famous house DJ Steve Aoki came to Cal Poly’s Rec Center on Friday Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. The concert was full of excited students ready to dance the night away, but the best part was the crowd’s attire: the majority of students were wearing all wearing DIY bracelets, flower bras, headbands and even tutus (I take a little credit since most of these creations probably came from Beverly’s).

In case you missed out, DIY Dorm has it all covered for you. Check out DIY Dorm’s live tweets from the event, along with some photos below.

The legend himself. Photo by author.

DIY bracelets were sported by most at the concert. Photo by author.

The concert lasted for almost 6 and a half hours straight. Photo by author.

And don’t forget to stay tuned this coming week for some Valentine’s Day themed blogs!

Tweets by @diy_dorm

Beverly’s Fabric & Crafts Store: A DIYer’s Best Friend

If you’re a student here at Cal Poly, chances are you’ve heard of Beverly’s. Need to make a last minute halloween costume? Want to get some holiday themed room decor? Need paper or art supplies for class? Get it all with one stop at Beverly’s. The store literally has anything you can think of– from coconut bras to birdhouses– and is an essential destination for any DIYer. Click the on the first circle below to see our journey to Beverly’s downtown.

Located along Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Beverly’s Fabric and Crafts store can have you wandering their aisles for hours.

Be warned, this store is almost as addicting as Target– if you don’t want to leave with more than you came for, only bring 20 bucks. Bruce Mitchener, a first-year Cal Poly student, eagerly strolls down Monterey Street towards the store.

Yes, the store can be very overwhelming at first. But don’t get discouraged– every aisle’s extremely organized and the staff is as friendly as can be.

Mitchener, contemplating what to put into his basket first, looks at the colorful array of puffy paint. This paint can be used to decorate T-shirts to backpacks. Here’s a great T-shirt tutorial: http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-a-T-Shirt

Hairbows are all the rage right now– but why pay an outrageous price for them when you can make them yourself? Beverly’s website has a “How To” section, where you can learn to make a bow with any ribbon you want. Learn how here: http://www.beverlys.com/how-to-make-a-bow-video.html

Meanwhile, Mitchener enjoys the cardboard craft section a little too much. These pre-made creations, ranging from treasure chests to king’s crowns, are awesome to paint and make your own.

One of the most abundant supplies in Beverly’s is fleece and different types of fabrics. From any one of these, you can make your very own tie blanket. Learn how from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz9-c-2pJvI

And again, Bruce let’s his inner child shine. If you ever need to bring your kids to Beverly’s…or your immature guy friend… at least you’ll know they will have plenty to do in the kids’ coloring section.

And what if you’re not in the arts and crafts mood? There’s still plenty of little trinkets, like these beautiful bracelets, that you can purchase and tell yourself you crafted on your own. Hey, no one has to know.

Bruce, obviously proud of his drawing, “photobombs” this last shot of Beverly’s on our way out of the store. DIYers: on second thought, leave your children at home.

Extra, Extra, Tweet All About It: Your Favorite DIY Blog Hits Twitter

Our lives have been drastically changed by social media– there’s no getting around that one. When we want information, we demand that it’s fast, accurate and accessible 24/7. We get bored by long articles, in-depth passages, and yes… even lengthy blog posts. Whether this change is good or bad, DIY Dorm has adapted to your social media needs.

That’s right folks– DIY Dorm is now on Twitter. For all you avid Tweeters out there, this means quick, easy Do-It-Yourself ideas and projects that you can start with the click of a link. And for all you viewers who truly love my lengthy rants, don’t panic– I will still be updating this blog twice a week.

Also, check out the five Twitter accounts @DIY_Dorm is following so far. They’re quite impressive, and all have really neat Do-It-Yourself inventions. Vote for your favorite below!

Follow DIY Dorm on Twitter HERE!

Don’t forget to stay tuned for Thursday’s blog post.

Tweets by @diy_dorm

How to Personalize Your Dorm: Transforming Your Space from Drab to Fab

Make the most out of what little space you’re given. Photo by author.

Whether you’re in a double or a triple, every dorm room feels as if you’re stuck in a jail cell. Maybe its the white cinderblock walls, the uncomfortable, squeaky bunk beds, or the room capacity of five people (and that’s really pushing it). Most likely, its because of the sudden adjustment to having a spacious, homey room to a crammed room shared with strangers.

“Honestly, after going back to my own room at home during break, coming back to my triple dorm was so difficult,” freshman Hanna Boehm said. “It’s hard to keep everything organized in such a little space.”

Whatever your reason is for disliking you dorm, here’s a couple of tips and projects to make it feel like home.

3 Simple Tips to Personalize Your Space

1. Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures

Obviously, this one is a “duh”. But take a look at the dorm room image above. If you were laying in that top bunk, would you really feel like you’re enclosed by cinderblocks? Didn’t think so.

2. Transform Your Mirror into Another Do-It-Yourself Project

A fun DIY project that took less than 30 mins! Photo by author.

A unique DIY project that took less than 30 mins. Photo by author.

Every college dorm either comes with a mirror, or its a “must” item to have (yes, even for you boys). Why not make it into something fun? For girls, take ribbon, flowers, or even sea shells and hot glue it around the border. Write your favorite quote on the mirror as a little reminder for every time you start the day. For guys, write little reminders in sharpie to make your mirror into a to-do-list.

3. Decorate for the Holidays

There really is no place like home for the holidays. And until you actually go home, get yourself pumped up by decorating your dorm. Here’s some awesome Do-It-Yourself Projects that’ll get you in the holiday spirit:

But what if you’ve already done all of that? You already pinned up all your photos from Facebook and hung the halloween decorations your mom sent you from your window. Well for you Do-It-Yourself experts, here’s some different projects that will personalize your space and save you some money.

1. Make Your Own Book Cover

Protect your books and go to class in style. Photo by author.

Most students rent textbooks to save money, but some of the student population decides to make a little profit. If students buy their books from websites like Chegg or Amazon, they can sell them back at the end of the quarter.

“The university store on campus is way too expensive,” freshman Rylan Younger said. “That’s why I rented my calculus book from Amazon for a fraction of the price.”

And depending on what shape the books are in, students can even can get more money back than they purchased them for. That’s where this Do-It-Yourself project comes in handy.

1. Find a paper grocery bag

2. Cut bag along the edges, removing the bottom completely

3. Place book in center of bag, and then make sure both sides are completely even

4. Mark the binding of the book on each side

5. Make triangles from the lines on each side of the bag, and then cut along the outside lines of the triangle. Fold upward

6. Fold about 1″ from the bottom (depending on your book size). Repeat for the top

7. Fold in sides and tape down

Now decorate the cover and ta-dah! If you got lost, don’t worry. Here’s a youtube video from Dulce Candy that will help!

2. Spice Up Your Phone Charger

Bet you won’t ever lose your charger again. Photo by author.

Mixing up phone chargers with your roommate can be awkward. Why not make yours stand out, while saving 10 bucks too? This project is very simple– all that’s needed is some duct tape (any color or pattern) and some scissors.

Wrap the duct tape around the base of the charger about two times. Cut off excess tape, and ta-dah!

3. Design Your Own Quote Mug

Gotta love those cheesy and romantic quote mugs. Photo by author.

Protect your books and go to class in style. Photo by author.

It’s this simple: buy a mug for $4 at a supermarket, and write all over it in sharpie. Doodle funny cartoons, write your favorite quotes, or even color in your own design. Put your mug into the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, and be proud of your cool creation.

And before leaving, check out the DIY expert of the week, Layne Hayward, who’s been a making DIY projects since age 5.

This Week’s DIY Expert: Layne Hayward from Southern California

Focusing on beauty and fashion, Layne Hayward– age 13–is a master at making her own DIY projects from scratch.

Q: What age did you start making DIY projects?

Layne: I grew up making little necklaces or making my own pillows. I remember when I was five years old that I also went to different sewing camps.

Q: What was your inspiration for your work?

Layne: My inspiration for making DIY projects is from seeing something I want, and then going home and making it. Another inspiration are my parents because when I was little, I remember watching them doing their own DIY projects.

Q: What items have you created and sold within the past year?

Layne: Last year, my two best friends and I made a bow making company , and we made around $60 each. In the past year, I have really gotten into making DIY things: headbands, bows, high-waisted shorts, dresses, bandeaus, an overall dress and decorated towels.

Q: Why do you love DIY projects so much?

Layne: I love making DIY projects because they don’t cost as much as buying it. Also, I make something that is one of a kind!

Coming Up Soon: Valentine’s Day Projects for Your Special Someone

Microwavable Mug Creations: A Great Way to Avoid Campus Food

After looking through St. Louis Post-Dispatch articles on food recipes (found here and here), I was completely inspired to show everyone how to avoid campus food the easy way: by simple coffee cup recipes you can make in your dorm microwave. Trust me, it’s as simple as that.

Let’s be honest: here at Cal Poly, we don’t necessarily have the best dining options. And after a quarter of eating the same food at VGs and Metro, face it— you’re finding any way you can to avoid campus dining.

All would be dandy if we could just simply cook our own meals, but not every student is blessed with a built in kitchen in their dorm.

But what about the downstairs kitchen? Ahh yes, every red brick dorm has one on the first floor, available to everyone. Sounds like a great alternative, right?

Maybe not. Basically, it smells like a cross between a dead animal and a fridge that hasn’t been cleaned in months. I think this picture is worth a thousand words in this case.

Muir Hall community kitchen at its finest. Photo by author.

Pretty sure this tray was responsible for the dead animal smell. Who knows what is growing in there.

Baking sheet in community kitchen that has been there for 2 days. Photo by author.

This is where microwavable mug recipes become your best friend.

But I found that even the recipes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch posted, as well as other mug recipe blogs, were missing one thing: they still were not easy for college kids to make in their dorm. The articles claimed they were “dorm oriented” but things like
white flour
brown sugar
white sugar
rising flour
thyme
chopped green onion

…were ingredients needed in a lot of the recipes that I know students would never go out and buy.

I now present to you three truly easy microwavable mug recipes that anyone can make in less than 2 minutes, inspired by the mentioned articles above.

1) Chilaquiles in a Mug

Nom nom nom. Photo by author.

Things needed:

Mug
1 egg
1 TBS of Milk
Chips
1 TBS of Cheese
Salsa and Pepper (Optional)

Stir the milk and egg together in the mug. Add pepper or salt for flavor.

Add in squares of cheddar cheese (or shredded cheese) and mix well. Then break up chips, and stir well.

Put in the microwave for about 1 minute and 10 seconds, plop on some salsa and more chips, and ta-dah!

2) French Bread Quiche

Oui Oui, this quiche is yummy. Photo by author.

Things Needed:

Mug
1 egg
1 1/2 TBS of Milk
Pepper/Salt
1/4 Einstein’s Bagel
2 teaspoons Einstein’s cream cheese
Ham (optional)

Mix egg, milk, and pepper in mug like the last recipe. Stir well

Mix in dime-sized bits of bagel, and stir well. Add in cream cheese and stir well. Add in ham

Microwave for one minute and 20 seconds, and bon appetit. The French would be proud.

3) Strawberry Angel Food Cake

(with sprinkles of course)

My favorite mug recipe. Photo by author.

Things Needed:

Mug
Mug Cake Mix (half angel food cake, half strawberry cake mix)
Water
Sprinkles

This was a gift for Christmas. My roommate’s friend filled the jar half with angel food cake mix, and half strawberry cake mix. Totally simple and a cute gift idea!

The image above is self explanatory with instructions included, but here’s a link to my video just in case!

Strawberry Angel Food Cake in a Mug

Well that’s all for today! I hope these recipes save you money, and save you from Cal Poly’s campus food.

Check out some other blogs with mug recipes!

Why We’re Hooked On DIY: An Inside Scoop on Our Culture Today

Searching the Web for DIY ideas. Photo by author.

Whether you’re already a DIY expert, or you’ve never tackled a project in your life, take a look around you: “Do It Yourself” is embedded in our culture and is rising in popularity by the minute.

We can find how to do almost anything with a click of a mouse. From learning how to ombré your own hair, to baking rainbow cupcakes, to even learning how to make your own makeup remover from scratch- people everywhere are saving money and taking on not-so-simple tasks.

“We live in a world where we are lucky enough to be able to look up anything we want,” freshman physics major Gil Hetsroni said. “We can virtually access how to make anything through the Internet, and I don’t think people realize how much money that actually saves them.”

So why the sudden self-sufficiency? Well for starters, different DIY websites are popping up everywhere on the internet. They’re aesthetically pleasing to viewers, with colorful images and easy outlined steps, and cover every project idea from A-Z. Not to mention, the sites conveniently include links to more projects down the sides of every page. How could you not click on them?

Listed below are some of my favorite projects from the Mother of all DIY Sites: WikiHow. I mean, its slogan is “How To Do Anything”, so I think it deserves that title.

Stay Warm in Cold Weather (I know we live in California, but let’s plan for that one cold week in SLO)
Make Your Own School Planner (spend that $6 somewhere else)
Cut Your Own Bangs (salon haircuts are overrated)

We’re naturally drawn to the idea that with little or no experience, anyone can make or create whatever they want in just a few simple steps. From exploring sites like “WikiSteps” to watching the numerous DIY videos on “Youtube”, this convenient money saver has become a daily activity for some college students.

“I’m a huge Instagram user, so whenever I want to look something up, I use hashtags,” freshman nutrition major Natasha Bartolome said. “I always search DIY nail designs instead of spending money at a salon because with Instagram photos, it’s right at my fingertips: it’s so accessible. You can see hundreds of DIY nail designs in minutes.”

Instead of paying experts to do their work, people today are realizing they can become experts themselves. Obviously, there are some things one should never try, like DIY brain surgery (yes, someone did actually try this *sigh*). Here’s a link to 20 hilarious DIY fails I found that honestly will make you laugh out loud, but don’t let this humorous site discourage you. The more you practice these projects, the better you’ll get!

And before you take off, take a look at this week’s DIY expert, who has shown that with a little practice, your DIY ideas can turn into a passion and even make you some money.

This Week’s DIY Expert: Kimberly Gilbertsen from Etsy.com

Kimberly’s Shop, which you can visit with this link, features handmade, festive snowmen that will spice up your home for the holidays. Most of her creations feature snowmen wearing your favorite local or national sports team!

Q: What got you started on creating the snowmen featured in your shop?

Kimberly: I wanted some extra money for my family. I have always had the crafty side to me, so I figured I could make some extra money for the holidays. That was about 15 years ago and each year I sold a few more to where I sold over 400 this past year.

Q: What gave you the idea to make them?

Kimberly: I was looking at a magazine and saw different things you can make with old mittens and since I love snowmen, I put one together and I haven’t stopped.

Q: Over the years, have they made you any profit?

Kimberly: This year I really saw a profit. I got real serious about building this as a serious money making venture. I bought in larger quantities for my supplies that kept that part of my expenses down.

Q: Why do you think it’s important for people to create their own gifts and decorations, instead of simply buying them?

Kimberly: I think it is so important to use your creative side, you will never know what your mind can come up with. I personaly like homemade gifts rather than store bought. I think looking for that special one of a kind means more. You get a lot more satisfaction and a since of pride when you can put something together yourself.

Thanks for stopping by! DON’T FORGET TO VOTE BELOW!

Hello World!

Image of arts and crafts by AngryJulieMonday’s via Flickr and used here with a Creative Commons license

Amanda here. Welcome to DIY Dorm, a blog dedicated to “Do It Yourself” ideas that will not only save you a ton of money, but can also be hung proudly in your dorm room. This site will not only walk through the numerous DIY projects I have in store for you, but explore how these DIY projects are becoming a growing part of our culture.

As a first year Cal Poly student myself, I’ve been through the tragedies of college:

Saving ~~all~~ most of the money you made during summer for your first quarter of college
Wincing a tad when you spend it on room decor, furnishings, clothes, and all other college “necessities” your mom made you bring
Crying as you watch the rest disappear on overly expensive textbooks and Woodstock pizzas (hey, you gotta avoid the campus food somehow)

This is where DIY projects step in to save the day: Ladies and Gentlemen, say goodbye to these pains of an unemployed college student and hello to the satisfaction of having a little extra cash in your pocket.

Of course, the idea for this brilliant blog didn’t pop out of nowhere- we all have our inspirations. DIY Dorm is a hybrid of two amazingly-fantastic blogs from previous journalism students. It’s similar to Cheap, Chic, and Healthy in the sense that they both cover affordable ideas and projects, but differ in theme and appearance. Same goes for Beauty Tips and Tricks by Kat: there is overlap with content and format, but my blog will focus strictly on DIY ideas and not so much beauty tricks.

Basically, if these two blogs had a baby, it would be DIY Dorm.

That’s all for now folks. Stay tuned for mini projects, money savers, and even some creative Valentine’s Day gifts for your loved ones.

Thanks for stopping by!