The Nominees:
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
Friday Night Lights

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Damages

Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

January Jones as Betty Draper
Mad Men

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
The Good Wife

Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson
The Closer

The Winner:
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson
The Closer

Our Thoughts: We are disappointed. We are not big fans of Kyra Sedwick. We were really hoping that Julianna Margulies was going to win because her work on The Good Wife was brilliant.

Technorati Tags: 62nd Primetime Emmys, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, The Good Wife, The Closer, Mad Men, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Damages

The Nominees:
Rolin Jones
Friday Night Lights

Michelle King, Robert King
The Good Wife

Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof
Lost

Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men

Erin Levy, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men

The Winner:
Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men

Our Thoughts: We don’t watch Mad Men, so we don’t really have much of an opinion of this award.

Technorati Tags: 62nd Primetime Emmys, Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, Mad Men, Lost, The Good Wife, Friday Night Lights

The Nominees:
Edie Falco, as Jackie Peyton
Nurse Jackie

Amy Poehler, as Leslie Knope
Parks And Recreation

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as Christine Campbell
The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson
United States Of Tara

Lea Michele, as Rachel Berry
Glee

Tina Fey, as Liz Lemon
30 Rock

The Winner:
Edie Falco, as Jackie Peyton
Nurse Jackie

Our Thoughts: This was a big upset, as we were certain that Lea Michelle would win for Glee. However, we love Edie Falco and are so thrilled she won!

Technorati Tags: 62nd Primetime Emmys, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock, Glee, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, United States of Tara, Parks And Recreation

Along the way they meet Tina Fey, Betty White, Jane Lynch (who demands to be in the Glee Club, Hurley from Lost (Jorge Garcia), Kate Gosselin (who they refuse to let in the Glee Club) and a whole host of other celebrities from television. This was a smart move with Glee being such a breakout hit, especially since the opening ended in a performance on stage with Jimmy Fallon playing guitar with Randy Jackson and the Glee kids performing.

This was certainly one of the more fun openings we’ve seen! We also love that Betty White was included in the opening. Betty…WE LOVE YOU.

Technorati Tags: Emmys, Glee, Opening, Jimmy Fallon, 62nd Annual Primetime Emmys, Music, Dance, Betty White

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: July 27, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.91

The History Channel has started packaging titles under the Instant Expert label that appear to be invaluable when using them for educational purposes. Some of these titles, including The Mayflower have gotten a lot of slack because the videos are actually repackaged parts of other series. Rather than creating something new, The History Channel apparently went to shows that had already been made, picked through the documentary to gather the best parts and remove the fluff, and packaged it under the Instant Expert label. While normally I might have mixed feelings about this, here is why this doesn’t bother me too much.

First of all, this is being packaged specifically for educational reasons. While this particular title is found in its entirety if you watch Desperate Crossings, it was packaged the way that it was to remove some of the content from the previous DVD making it more educationally friendly. Sure, this can seem like a cheap way at getting people to buy two of the same DVDs, but these two DVDs are going to appeal to two different crowds. As a homeschooling parent the Instant Expert appeals to me because it allows my child to learn things they need to know in a way that is going to be interesting and allow for more discussion about each specific event. We can watch the DVD, go over the contents, take the quiz, and utilize the discussion questions in the study guide. I would assume a person that was merely interested in the Mayflower and not the educational basis of the DVD, would go for Desperate Crossing which seems to be more typical of The History Channel DVDs.

The Instant Expert series allows you an inexpensive way to educate your child or classroom. Despite this title coming out after Desperate Crossing, this title is actually a few dollars cheaper. This makes sense because it is smaller, but at the same time it is going to be more valuable to the target audience. If I am using this for school I want something that offers a condensed, on topic subject matter to ensure plenty is learned and attention does not wane throughout the video. With this in mind, Instant Expert fills my needs specifically. However, you need to consider your needs before purchasing this title and whether or not you’d rather pay more and get a more generalized documentary as opposed to a fast-track educational offering. Once you’ve made that decision you will have a better way of knowing which, if any of these DVDs, to purchase.

The Instant Expert: The Mayflower Overview
Watching The Mayflower as a homeschooling parent is an interesting experience because I cannot help but remember what I learned in my own school experience. Those stories of the culture that the pilgrims brought with them to teach the Indians is certainly much different than what is taught in this DVD. Here you have the story of the adult pilgrims. You learn about their sufferings and the hardships that come with making a new land. The DVD utilizes period settings and actors that is mixed with interview segments and moments of narration.

From the beginning of The Mayflower you are introduced to the pilgrims. At this point, they are weary travelers on the Mayflower ship in 1620. The pilgrims are arguing about whether or not they should even continue their journey. It seems at this point that they realize they have suffered greatly and that once they reach America that does not mean the suffering will be over.

As the DVD shows, this scene is just the beginning of the hardships that the pilgrims will face. Much of the information that is used for The Mayflower comes from the journal writings of William Bradford. The Mayflower tells the tale of people hoping to make a new life and the persecution that came from that, especially the issues with the Puritans and how the Church of England would throw them in prison if they dared to publicly challenge the church.

The acting and directing for the story scenes was well done. As an educational storytelling this manages to be quite entertaining. As I mentioned earlier, the version you decide will ultimately depend on your needs, but whatever your needs might be, you should make an effort and watch one of these shows on The Mayflower.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Instant Expert: The Mayflower offers a basic full-frame video that is something you might expect from a television documentary. Keeping that in mind, this video quality is actually well done. The colors are bright and spot on and the detail is decent for a DVD presentation. When you consider this is something that is used for education purposes and possibly even schools, the quality seems even better. At the least this is a current day television transfer, which isn’t bad at all. I did not notice any noise, dirt, or other visual issues.

The audio for this Instant Expert title is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. While basic, the results work out just fine. There are no audio issues to speak of. The dialogue comes through loud and clear and remains crisp throughout the presentation. This is pretty accurate of what you might expect to hear on a television show these days. The result might not be mind-blowing by any account, but it manages to accomplish its goal without flaw.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Each Instant Expert title comes with a study guide and a quiz, making it great for a classroom setting or for homeschooling parents. These are the only real special features available, but it’s important to remember that the Instant Expert series is more about education as opposed to offering fluff, like other documentary series might offer. When you compare this to Desperate Crossing you miss out on some bloopers and a making-of featurette. Of course, I cannot logically see where you would fit these things in when using it in an educational setting, so it makes little difference when you consider the point of this specific series. The quiz is multiple quiz and you can select your answers and view the answer key with the DVD remote. The study guide is available in a booklet insert and includes some additional discussion questions while going over the information found in the DVD.

Bonus Features: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
When choosing between Instant Expert: The Mayflower and Desperate Crossing you need to consider the purpose of the video and what you hope to receive from it. If you already own Desperate Crossing there is no need to purchase this Instant Expert title. If you do not own either but are looking for entertainment as opposed to education, you might want to go with Desperate Crossing. The main difference here is that the Instant Expert title offers a rich, clear cut educational offering. Any of the fluff that might be found in Desperate Crossing has been eliminated and packaged at a lower price with a quiz and study guide. While not perfect for everyone, especially if you already own the previously mentioned DVD, if you are looking to use it as an educational tool it is definitely worth a purchase.

Overall Rating: 4.07 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: TV Special Review, Television, Instant Expert, The Mayflower, TV Show, Television, A&E, A&E Home Video, TV on DVD, History

There are so many shows on television that leave me baffled. I don’t know why people insist on watching some of the crap they actually put on television. From reality TV to decent shows that are overdone or still here past their worthwhile stay, these are the top 10 shows that need to be cancelled but will remain on television for at least another season.

The Bachelor/The Bachelorette – This show has been on so long that they just keep recycling the same people. One jilted lover on one show ends up being the next season star on the opposite show. Ignoring this little issue, let’s get to the immediate problem. Is it necessary to show how desperate some people really are for love, fame, and attention? Seriously, I don’t care what’s going on in my love life, because I don’t think it will ever be necessary for me to go on television to find a relationship. Furthermore, these couples rarely, if ever, get married and even less stay together in the long run. So, remind me, what is the point of this show again?

The Amazing Race – My distaste for the average reality show is so large that it makes me nauseous just thinking about them. The Amazing Race is one of those shows. So, people pair up and solve clues to win money….or something. It’s like a worldwide scavenger hunt for a pair of people trying to beat four or five other teams. The concept is fine, but when did this become necessary television viewing? What’s next…Picnic Sack Races or Basketweaving for Cash? I mean, don’t we have to draw the line somewhere?

The Biggest Loser – Sure, this is probably one of those most necessary of the reality shows, but I doubt it’s doing much good. Millions of Americans sit on the couch every viewing, eating chips and asking people sitting next to them if they are as overweight as the people on television. I have my fair share of weight to lose, but The Biggest Loser never prompted me to lose any weight. Food Revolution, in comparison, was a life changer. I just keep watching this show (when I do) and thinking that someone is going to keel over from a heart attack and die. Although, I don’t know if this will convince them to cancel the show, even then, since the death will probably allow the ratings to spike.

Survivor – I love a reality show that has been on so long that they can begin doing “Best Player” seasons and can start going to really obscure locations, some of which the average viewer has never even heard of. I don’t watch Survivor and I never have, but the idea that a silly show spawns the unnecessary wannabe celebrities of today definitely makes me cringe. The reason that shows like this are a guilty pleasure for so many is because they do not require thought. They are all sensation and drama. Of course, is it really necessary to create one more show that does not require us to think in the least?

America’s Next Top Model – Words cannot describe the ridiculous nature of this show. I turn the commercials if I can help it, because I cannot even stand to watch those. In fact, the only pleasure I have received at the hands of this show came when The Big Gay Sketch Show did their interpretation of it and I couldn’t stop laughing, as a result. The only way this show wins any points is by showing how vain and shallow (and at times, uneducated) the average model seems to be. Sure, they aren’t all that way, but most of these winners seem to take the cake. We won’t even get in to Tyra’s ability to slow down an entire show with the possibility of some results…after these commercials…no wait these ones….not yet.

The Simpsons – I love The Simpsons. I really do love them. Still, I can’t help feel that they have overstayed their welcome. I remember them appearing when I was in grade school or had just entered middle school. I’m now in my thirties and this show is still on. At some point we need to give it a rest. Homer can only be so dumb and drink so much beer, Bart can only get into so much trouble, and so on. South Park once made a joke about The Simpsons. One of the kids was trying to be a troublemaker, but it was pointed out to him that for every plot to be bad that he had, The Simpsons already did it. The Simpsons need to take a hint from South Park. They did it. It’s done. And now it’s time to go.

CSI/CSI: Miami/CSI: NY/NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles – I’ve watched at least a few episodes of the majority of these shows. I’ve even reviewed some of the season box sets. I should point out that it is not one of these shows in particular that I have a problem with. It’s twenty of the same show in different cities. Is it necessary? Not unless a network is suffering from a serious mental pause. Jesus, CBS, find something new to air. One of these shows/cities is fine, even two, but any more than that is just pointless and bordering on stupid.

American Dad – I have never watched this show on television, though I did have a chance to watch it for review once. It was one of the most annoying shows I have ever seen. Unless the goal is to make men look like complete and utter morons with no tact, intelligence, or respect, then they failed. Further, if that was the goal, they still fail because it’s not even done in a way that makes it seem funny. Adult cartoons always seem to be hit or miss. For me, and I am sure I am not alone, this is a big miss.

Cougar Town – Don’t get me wrong, I like Courtney Cox. I didn’t hate Friends and I always have found her to play generally interesting characters. Cougar Town takes the cake though. She plays someone that hunts younger men!?! She’s not even that old herself. Yes, I get she’s forty and that there are plenty of younger men out there, but the concept is just dreadfully weak-minded. Why is it that when a topic is brought up the media has to run with it until it makes you want to puke? I get that “cougars” exist. Do we need a sitcom devoted to them? I suppose sitcoms just aren’t what they used to be back in the day.

90210 – I watched the original Beverly Hills 90210 and I just have to say that I hate, hate, hate, this new version of the old show. The only good thing about this show is that it’s in the same location. The new characters suck. The actors are horrid. The plot lines are weak and uninteresting in comparison to the original. Nothing about this show is worthwhile. One season a character is a crackhead and the next season she’s a catch who gave birth after being a crackhead. That is if they wait a whole season, sometimes these changes happen in a matter of episodes. It was a nice touch, in the beginning, having some of the old crew back, but it didn’t last long enough and the reasons for them being there were weak in the first place. What a disappointment.

I could think of other shows that will be back that I wish were never on television to begin with, but this is a good start. So, while you are here, why don’t you let us know what you think needs to be cancelled.

Technorati Tags: The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, CSI, CSI New York, CSI Miami, NCIS, Los Angeles, Americas Next Top Model, 90210, Cougar Town, Courtney Cox, American Dad, The Simpsons, Survivor, The Biggest Loser, The Amazing Race

Despite it being a busy holiday season, everyone at LI Reviews and the other Literary Illusions sites wanted to take the time to wish all of our readers a Happy and Festive Holiday Season.

As 2010 approaches we will continue to offer high quality reviews and several new forms of commentary on each of our sites. Some new additions will include local content for Flint, MI, news, gossip, and commentary posts on our other sites and reviews for all types of products, not just movies and entertainment products. As always, we will also strive to offer some of the best contests and giveaways available.

We hope that your holiday season offered everything you wanted and more. The holidays are a time to enjoy with family and friends. They can be busy and stressful, but we hope that you find that they were worth it this year! As the New Year rolls around we hope that you find that 2010 offers everything you want and more. We will be adding our New Years site Resolutions soon and hope that you participate by telling us yours

In the meantime, enjoy your holiday and remember…Santa is already watching for next year.

Technorati Tags: Happy Holidays, New Year, Santa, Adam Sandler, Video, Resolutions, Literary Illusions, LI Reviews, Flint, Michigan

Visiting the Celebriducks website was an eye-opener. They have every celebrity duckie a person could ever want. These are the cutest, most adorable novelty items that you could offer a friend on Christmas (or for any holiday). If they are a huge fan of someone or something and have plenty of memorabilia you can pick them up a corresponding duckie. Sure, they might have other things, but the chance is pretty high that they don’t have anything like this.

In some respects, reviewing a rubber duckie seems silly. So, to change things up a bit, I am going to let you know our 15 favorite Celebriducks.

15. The Lone Ranger
14. Elvis in his 1956 Gold Lame’ Suit
13. Mr. T
12. Dorothy from Wizard of Oz
11. Scream
10. Shakespeare

9. Jake Blues from The Blues Brothers
8. Marilyn Monroe
7. Beethoven
6. Wicked Witch of the West
5. The Devil
4. Mother Superior
3. Dr Frank-N-Furter
2. Mr. Green Recycled Green Duck
1. CanardGram Gift Set

It was hard picking a winner, but the CanardGram comes with some of the best tasting chocolate that you can imagine. That being said, it was hard not giving it the top spot. I received the Dr. Frank-n-Furter first and as a huge fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show I loved it. In fact, I was all ready to write a glowing review. The Canard sealed the deal for sure. If the awesome design wouldn’t have done it, the chocolate certainly would have helped sway me in the right direction.

Prices for the ducks vary slightly based on the design and what, if anything, comes with it. They start at around $12 and the CanardGram set is in the $20 range. For a fun and unique novelty item these duckies cannot be beat.

After looking at the available selection I have to admit, I hope they are working on some new designs as there are a couple of ducks I would love to own. Some of the ones that I hope they make so I can add them to my collection include Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers (Halloween), Miss Piggy, Kermit, Edgar Allen Poe, and Barbara Streisand. I am sure there are many others I could think of, but this is a small sample.

I highly recommend checking out Celebriducks if you’re looking for something off the wall this holiday season. They make great presents and the receiver of the gift is definitely not going to be expecting a rubber duckie like this!

Technorati Tags: Product Reviews, Rubber Duckie, Celebriducks, Review, Holiday, Must Have, Gift Guide Celebrities, Ducks, Canard, Chocolate

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 27, 2008
DVD Release Date: September 15, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $18.99

I don’t really get into the documentary films, in the vast majority of cases. Just like I’m more apt to read a fictional story than I am to pick up a non-fiction book at the library, I prefer movies that are typically more fact than fiction. That is not to say that I don’t or haven’t ever enjoyed a documentary style film. There are some great documentaries I’ve watched. I’m merely saying if I were going to Blockbuster to pick out a movie, to watch one night, I’d be more likely to head to the drama or thriller section, not the documentary section.

With that in mind, I have to tell you that I find the entire idea behind Trumbo to be incredibly intriguing. This documentary explores the life of Dalton Trumbo. For those who have no idea who Dalton Trumbo is, shame on you. He was only one of Hollywood’s most prolific and talented screenwriters, responsible for writing such films as Spartacus, Roman Holiday, Johnny Got His Gun (he also wrote the novel), Kitty Foyle and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Trumbo was one of the highest paid writers in Hollywood in the 1940s, but his career fell apart when he was blacklisted, after refusing to tell the House Un-American Activities Committee anything while being forced to testify about communism in Hollywood.

Trumbo was one of the Hollywood Ten, unable to work after the blacklisting. This ruined the careers of most of the Hollywood Ten, but Trumbo was able to overcome this and go on to write some of his most famous work yet. Brilliantly talented, his own children, especially his son, Christopher, saw something special in Trumbo. That is why Christopher developed the story of his father into a play, Trumbo: Red, White and Blacklisted. The documentary is based on this play, which is about Dalton, while an array of Hollywood’s top names weigh in on Trumbo and his life.

This documentary is focused, detailed and it evokes emotions within each viewer. The entire fact that Dalton Trumbo had to endure the McCarthy witch hunts, and managed to return back to Hollywood eventually, able to make a new name for himself winning Academy Awards in the process, is a testament to the kind of writer he was. While many people in the newer generations may have no idea who Dalton Trumbo is, this documentary and the films he made, some that will live on as true Hollywood classics, are what keep him and his story alive.

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
While the 1.78:1, widescreen visual quality looks great, for the most part, the use of archive footage and other, older video clips make the overall quality of the film inconsistent. You should expect this from a film like Trumbo. What is filmed in this decade looks impeccable, but the older footage looks exactly like the older footage it is. I don’t find this at all distracting, but some people might.

The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1. The track is excellent for what is offered. This DVD is primarily dialogue driven. Every word spoken sounds clear and is easily understood. The audio is also available in English Dolby Digital Stereo, which is what most of the older clips appear to use as their audio track. These sound decent, but don’t expect a dynamic, explosive, audio presentation. This documentary doesn’t warrant such a track. Subtitles are available in Spanish.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
As magnificent as the documentary is, the bonus features leave much to be desired. There are two letters, written by Trumbo, one is to Ring Lardner, Jr and is read by Paul Giamatti and the other is a letter to someone in film named Arthur that is read by Danny Glover. As interesting as these letters are, they probably would have fit better into the film. They seem kind of silly as bonuses. The only other feature is a photo gallery. Don’t buy Trumbo for the bonuses. Buy it for the documentary. Without these bonuses, it is fine all on its own.

Bonus Features: 1 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
While Trumbo has very few bonuses and the quality of this documentary is spotty in places due to the fact that archived video footage is used throughout this documentary. Overall though, it is the compelling, heart-wrenching story of Dalton Trumbo and the care and love in which his son, Christopher, presents his story that makes Trumbo a rare gem. Whether you like documentaries or not, Trumbo is a must watch film. This documentary comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Tumbo, documentary, film, screenwriter, blacklisted, Academy Award, Hollywood Ten, McCarthy

One of the most expensive aspects of college dorm living, after paying for school, is handling your personal needs. Food, whether eating out or in, is a purchase that is regularly made. If you don’t want to eat in the school dining room (assuming you have money on your dining card) or you’re just tired of the same old stuff then you need to have a plan for some cheap eats. This can be easy depending on how many resources you have in the area where you’re going to school.

Of course, if you’re living in a dorm you don’t have a stove or other major cooking surfaces (a hotplate can be a luxury item in college), so you might need to rely on the old standards (pre-made or microwaveable foods). Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of options available. We have compiled some of the best, essential college food must haves, and have listed them below.

-Please note, the specific brands that are listed are not recommendations coming from LI Reviews. They are just mentions of things that could work for college students looking for additional options.

Gorton’s Frozen Seafood: If you’re completely strapped for cash, Gorton’s might seem like a lot of money (a box of fish/shrimp ranges from $3.50+), but it certainly has the ability to provide a good meal. If you want some brain food you can buy a box of fish for under $8 and if you’re the only one eating it, you have something that will last for 2-4 meals (depending on how much/little you eat). If you’re strapped for cash invite some friends over and go in on a box together and have a fish fry. This gives everyone a chance to eat and keeps things light on the pocket book.

Going along with this line of thinking, TV style dinners are also an option. Frozen foods have come a long way in recent years. There are a number of more selective, gourmet options. If you’re thinking seafood you could try some Maryland Crab Cakes or various fish entrees. Of course, there are many other options to choose from Boston Market makes a mean frozen meatloaf and their Salisbury steak and mac and cheese meals aren’t bad either. If you’re broke, you can pick up a Banquet frozen meal for under a buck, but if they taste anything like I remember, you’d be better off going with three packs of Ramen instead.

Ramen: I don’t know one college student that can’t admit to living on this for at least a brief amount of time. It’s nice to know that someone can have a meal that only costs a quarter these days. Ramen Noodles might be considered ghetto by some, but they taste okay and they offer some great versatility. For example, you could add veggies to them and have a veggie noodle soup. I generally eat them with just the noodles and broth.

There are plenty of types to choose from so you shouldn’t get tired of them. The staple flavors seem to be Beef, Chicken, and Oriental, but there are plenty of other flavors available. These days Ramen has everything from Picante Beef to Cheese. It seems the only flavor they don’t offer (anyone) is Tomato (much to Dom’s chagrin – he lived on Tomato Ramen during his dorm days).

Ravioli-Os/Chef Boyardee: Recently Franco American upped the anti by combining Spaghetti-Os with Ravioli to make Ravioli-O’s. Surprisingly, these aren’t so bad for a cheap, college food. The downside to these is that there is no Pop-Top. If you were one of the many that left without a can-opener you might have a hard time opening these without borrowing one. Chef Boyardee has some decent options, as well, for under a buck and they do have the Pop-Tops, should you need the convenience.

Dinty Moore Beef Stew to Go: The Dinty Moore to Go cups make eating inexpensive and easy. They offer big and small cups for less than $2 per cup in either case. Just a few minutes in the microwave and you’re ready to eat. Beyond the Dinty Moore label you can find several other options like this from soup to full dinners. They are located together in the same grocery store aisle. In most cases, all of the options are inexpensive and often sales make them even cheaper.

Progresso Pop Top Soups: You can pick up a can of soup for around $1.50, or less if they are on sale. The can is big enough for a meal (sometimes with some left over). These are even better if you are hoping to lose some weight. Progresso offers High Fiber Soups, Low Carb Soups, and Low Calorie Soups, along with their regular soups. The selection is diverse enough to please just about anyone. Most people should be able to find a small selection of soups that they can enjoy. Cooking is as easy as popping the top and microwaving their meal.

Other Money Saving Suggestions

Planning on going healthy? You should consider picking up pre-cut fruits and veggies at your local grocery store. These are easy to manage, ready to eat, and they compare in price to a bag of chips, for the most part. If you want to save a little money you can also buy whole fruits and veggies and cut them up yourself.

Have deli (or other type of food) parties. In order to cut costs get together with some friends and have everyone buy an ingredient to the dish that you can all prepare (this could be done for grilling, as well with burgers or hot dogs – note – some colleges have grilling policies). In the case of the deli party you could have one person buy the fresh bread, others could bring condiments, someone grabs some meat (or a few people grab a meat for more variety), a person for the cheese, and everyone is good to go. These parties not only save everyone money and allow you to eat better, they also give you a shot to mingle and make more friends.

Interested in going out? If so, you should check your local eateries for food day sales. Around here with have Stromboli or Boneless Thursdays (buy a boneless wing, get one free), Coney, Wing, or Sub Tuesdays, and Pepperoni Pizza Wednesdays. These sales will help you to eat out at a price you can afford and should allow you to find some things that you really enjoy without spending too much money.

Technorati Tags: Progresso, Dinty Moore, Ramen Noodles, College Students, Food Guide, Dining Out, Boneless Thursdays, Wing Tuesdays, Gorton’s Seafood