By: Maya Breininger

As the snow lands on the treetops and the smell of holly fills the air, companies are preparing to satisfy their customers with ‘round the clock winter activities. This presents us with a problem; such few months of winter, yet so much to do!

This list of holiday favorites ought to help enlighten your decisions, and get your winter planning on track!

1 – Go Holiday Shopping

Many holidays, for many different folk, happen around this frosty season, and even if you practice no religious holidays, it can be enjoyable to purchase gifts for your family members!

Test your knowledge on how well you know your cousins, aunts, grandparents, or significant other by giving them a present they’ll love!

2 – Go Ice Skating

As the temperature freezes, so does the water! Call your friends and schedule a day full of holiday shopping, followed by a visit to the nearest ice rink! Practice your V 8’s, your backward skating, or impressing that special someone! Ice skating is a must-try common winter activity that you can’t miss!

3 – Spend a Snowy day in your Favorite Coffee Shop!

What could be better than sipping your favorite warmed beverage while watching the snow fall? Invite your friends out on the same day you ice skate, or plan a different day in order to spread the love! (Double points if the area is decorated!)

4 – Bake Gingerbread Treats!

Whip out your family’s traditional gingerbread recipe, or simply click the link below the image to lead you to one! Invite over little ones, or old ones who simply enjoy the decorative and tasty part of winter! Decorate them, or create your own little town of ginger people! And speaking of decorating houses…

5- Decorate your House in Lights!

Try not to peeve off your father as you hang the lights – maybe you should stick with hanging the wreaths! Try a new design, or stick with your traditional decorations, either way, letting your neighbors know of your winter spirit is a fun way to celebrate the season!

Now that you have your list of winter fun, feel free to call over your buddies to celebrate with you!

We sincerely hope that you and the company you choose to have, have a wonderful holidays, and a happy new year!

By: Addison Strack

Having an optimistic outlook can improve many aspects of your life, such as your mood, but did you know that having a more positive outlook can also directly affect your physical health?

Being so negative all the time can affect your mental health, by causing higher stress levels, anxiety, depression, and more. Many people struggle with having a negative attitude because of external factors such as stress from school, your job, relationships and more.

Being more optimistic can help to build resilience in a person, and cause them to try multiple times instead of just giving up. This can help them to achieve their goals quicker and become more successful, because they won’t let small setbacks stop them.

People with more optimism also have more self confidence, because they are more in control of situations and problems that they face. It also helps people to be more flexible and understanding, because they are able to see the bright side of things.

Overall, having optimism can greatly improve your mental health, and reduce stress and negative thoughts and attitude.

A lack of optimism can also affect your body physically. Being constantly stressed, and in a negative mindset can raise your blood pressure, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Having an optimistic outlook can improve your cardiovascular health by lowering your blood pressure. It can also strengthen your immune system, reduce the risk of death from cancer, and help people to recover from surgeries quicker. Overall, it can lead to a longer life span.

It is unknown why people with more optimism have these health benefits. One theory is that being optimistic can help your body cope with stress better, which reduces the physical effects of stress on the body.

Some ways that you can increase the amount of optimism in your life are to focus on positive thinking. Try to avoid perfectionism, and avoid making a big deal out of minor problems as well. Instead of focusing on the negative, try your best to identify the positives.

If you would like to read more about the effects of optimism, feel free to check out the website below,

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20 043950?scrlybrkr=6e9bdaa6

By: Domingo Basso

Okay, so you might be planning to buy a guitar at some point in the future but you have no idea what to buy because of the sheer variety of them. Well, hopefully after reading this you’ll at least have a little bit of a better Idea of what you might buy. 

First things first, we gotta start from the beginning, that being: what type of guitar you even want. Whether that is an acoustic, electric, bass, there’s a bit to unpack here. So, let’s go over what each of these different types of guitars even are and what separates them from each other.

The main types of guitar are: Classical guitar, Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, and Bass guitar.

A quick disclaimer beforehand: all of these instruments can be modified and can vastly vary in sound and shape due to the sheer variety of them, but I’ll tell you what each instrument ‘typically’ is like.

The Acoustic guitar is a guitar that typically has 6 metal strings. It is known for being unlike most other guitars in the sense that it requires no electricity or power of any sort to play properly. This also makes it one of the cheapest and least maintenance options for a guitar due to you not needing to worry about as many parts to keep the guitar functioning properly.

The Classical guitar is very similar to the acoustic guitar in many ways including the fact that it too requires no external power in order to operate properly. But, what separates this from the acoustic guitar is the fact that the strings are generally made of nylon (a type of plastic) giving it its own unique sound from the acoustic.

Right from the get go, you’ll probably be able to tell that the bass guitar is the oddest out of the bunch, even from just its appearance alone. Bass guitars typically have only 4 thick strings and are noticeably lengthier than other guitars. But, what truly differentiates them from the other guitars is the type of sound that they produce and how you typically play them. Bass guitars are known for having a lower end sound like a WAY lower pitched sound, hence why the strings are so much thicker than those of other guitars. You also play bass guitars a little differently from other guitars in the sense that you usually play individual notes rather than multiple at once. This allows the bass to be a pretty solid instrument to start off with from a difficulty standpoint, but trust me when I say that mastering this instrument will still be just as challenging as the others.

Finally, the electric guitar. The electric guitar is the guitar with the most reputation and it deserves most of the credit that it gets. The electric guitar is one of the most versatile instruments on the planet due to the fact that it is built similarly to the acoustic but because of its electronic properties, it can create a much more assertive sound. It also has the ability to play mellower sounds giving it a very dynamic range. The only drawback really, for this instrument, is the monetary cost of maintaining it and purchasing the necessary parts.

I hope that my insight on each of these instruments will help you at least a little bit in deciding what to buy (and as a bass player I’m not telling you to buy the bass guitar buuuut I totally am telling you to do that so go buy a bass ASAP).

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.byjusfutureschool.com/blog/different-types-of-guitar-every-guitarist-should-know/?scrlybrkr=5a94a8ac
• http://classicalguitar101.org/what-is-classical-guitar.html#.Y2Vd7C9Okgo

By: Ayamei Her

Here in Minnesota, I always find it hard to find places to go for dates that would be fun, affordable, and a good place to take good photos. Here are a couple of great places to take someone out on a date that are not only fun, but affordable and accessible. 

The first place is Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, yes the art center with the giant spoon and cherry. Not only is it perfect to look at beautiful art with the person you like, but they also have an interactive room which they change every now and then.

The art center also has a 360 experience where a quartet plays that you can also watch along with films including music, sensory mini golf, short film showings, and so much more.

The prices for tickets are affordable ranging from $0-$15. Adults being $15, seniors (62+) being $13, students being $10, active military being $7.50, and EBT cardholders being $2.

The statues outside are beautiful to look at and a good walk near the center to talk and take pictures. The price to go to look at the statues are free! You get to walk around to look at the unique structures and read about who made them and what they symbolize.

If you want to take great pictures and still have a good time, I would recommend going to the Como Conservatory and Zoo. Not only is it free but the conservatory has beautiful plants to see and it has beautiful scenery for photos.

During the summer the conservatory has a beautiful and amazing Japanese garden where you can walk through and read all about the plants and their origins. The zoo has many animals with interactive activities to do while you’re there.

The zoo also holds events like animal shows or showing off their famous sloth which people love to see with other animals as the sloth sometimes gets moved around to peacefully hangout with other animals in their exhibits.

The center itself has held many events like Gardener Talks, The Spire Sparky show, Adventure Day, Bonfires, Winter carnivals and so much more.

At the Como Conservatory and Zoo, they also have a Como Town which includes rides and games kind of like a county fair, which unfortunately, like the conservatory and zoo, is not free. Ticket prices are as follows: Unlimited Ride Wristband (Includes one Soaring Eagle Zip Ride) — $27.95

Little Tykes Unlimited Ride Wristband (under 42 inches tall) (does not include Soaring Eagle Zip Ride) – $21.95

Star Light Saver Wristband (after 4 p.m.) — $19.95

Adult Unlimited Ride Wristband (18 yrs+) — $13.95

Season Pass (Includes two Soaring Eagle Zip Rides) —  Unlimited $82.95

Season Pass (under 40 inches tall) — Unlimited $69.95

Individual Points

 Point  $0.50

Tiger: 40 Points $19.98

Sparky: 55 Points  $25

Giraffe: 80 Points $35

Polar Bear: 115 Points $50

By: Maya Breininger

It’s finally that time of year, where we layer up on sweaters and pumpkin spice rules the flavor industry; Halloween Season!

As exciting as autumn is for many people, a reoccurring challenge that many usually face is that when each season comes around, it’s difficult to choose how to best celebrate the jolly time. If you struggle with planning fun fall ideas, or would overall appreciate a detailed guide of things to do during October, read on my friend!

Here is a complete guide of exciting festivities and activities to take part in during Autumn!

Number 1: Decorate your House Exterior

We start with a classic fall tradition many partake in, but could not be overlooked on this Halloween List. Decorating your house! Considering it’s ‘tis the season to be scary, many shops and stores will have decorations available for you to purchase! Red leaf wreaths, skeletons, graveyards and candles! There are many creative ways to go about this activity. It’s fun, easy and a nice activity to carry out with friends and family.

Number 2: Create Halloween Themed Treats

Ghosts, Witches, Bats – Oh my! What screams autumn more than a chocolate covered pretzel, decorated as your favorite monster? You haven’t experienced true Halloween fun until you’ve topped cupcakes with orange, green, and purple frosting, or grounded Oreo’s to look like the dirt on your graveyard cake! Making snacks – whether it be for a party, or for you own tasty interests – is always a fun way to spend the 31st of October.

Number 3: DIY Interior Decor

Before you throw away that milk bottle – go ahead and spray paint it white and draw a ghost face on it! And that toilet paper roll, paint it white and place a fake candle head inside, boom – Hogwarts level candles at your fingertips! There are plenty of interior decor designs that can be made with ordinary things in your house!

Number 4: Visit an Apple Orchard/ Pumpkin Patch

What better way to celebrate the spooky season, than to visit the hub of growing gourds? scarecrows, hay barrel rides, apple cider and corn fields! The perfect geographic location for all of your autumn needs. Pick out a gourd, apple, or pastry to bring home, and munch down on your fresh treats!

Number 5: Carve Pumpkins

Well now that you’ve taken your pumpkin home, skinned its guts, and baked its insides, why not carve a face in it as well? The face of Jack o’ Lantern is an old, spooky story that would be an interesting tale to tell over your fireplace. Go ahead and place these funky pumpky guys on your front porch!

Number 6: Have a Halloween party

Now that you have your house decorated, your treats made, your DIY decorations crafted, and your pumpkins carved, it’s time to show them off to friends and family! Having company join you around a spooky fire and sharing and enjoying your scary treats together sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your Halloween night, no?

Number 7: Costumes

If that face doesn’t scare you, what will?
Dressing up in your favorite costume would definitely put a smile on your face – or of the face of anyone who beholds you!

Number 8: Visit a Haunted House

Boo! We’re you scared? No? Oh, man.
Well, if that didn’t set shivers down your spine, try visiting a haunted house! An enclosure full of mummy’s, witches, ghosts, and skeletons. Nothing like a room of horror to get your blood pumping!

Number 9: Put on a Puppet Show

Here’s something fun and simple that will always excite the kids;
A puppet show!
Gathering crowds of kids from all over, preforming for them on the scariest night of the year! Go ahead and get some paper, fold it, and color it into your favorite monsters!

Number 10: Visit Stores with Free Halloween Samples

Who can say no to free food? Head down to your local grocery store, and peek around on Halloween! Search for the tiny tray of candy and treats ready for you to eat with your family; it’s almost like store trick or treating! Be careful to avoid opening things in boxes – those usually need to be purchased!

Now that you’ve taken a dive into this list and seen what true fun can be had on Halloween, what activity will you be trying out? Maybe a trip to the pumpkin patch with your friends, or visit a haunted house with your family! Either way, you now have many ideas on how to spend your October Holiday!

By: Jocelyn Knorr

Fountain pens—here defined as pens holding a reservoir that can apply ink to paper via a combination of gravity and capillary action—are thought to have been invented for the caliph Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah of Arab Egypt. Reportedly, he requested a pen that would not leak or stain, and was presented with a rudimentary fountain pen made of pure gold.

They continued to be used, but only on a small scale, by modernists or the technologically inclined. Until the 1850s, that is, when popularity skyrocketed. Technological advancements enabled the fountain pen to gain dominance, and it continued to be dominant until the sixties.

Today, they’re seen mostly as status symbols, or fancy collectible antiques, made to look at but not touch. But, they’re still being manufactured today, and sales are actually rising!

So, let’s have a look at the pros and cons of fountain pens.

Pro: Ergonomics

Because fountain pens are designed to collaborate with gravity, inkflow is autonomous, while with gel pens pressure must be applied. This can lead to hand cramps and, in extreme cases, arthritis later in life.

Con: Cost

Unfortunately, fountain pens can be a bit of an investment with a good pen sometimes costing upwards of $30. Ink of higher quality, like Sailor or Noodler’s, can sometimes reach up to $24 for 50ml.

Pro: Smooth writing

Fountain pens are widely purported to offer one of the smoothest writing experiences, especially with a higher-quality gold nib. I, for one, find this to be the case, even drafting this article with a comparatively cheap, steel-nibbed, fountain pen.

Con: Ease of use

Fountain pens can be difficult to get used to, especially for beginners. While converters—especially squeeze converters, notoriously finicky for even experienced users—open up your choices of ink, they can definitely take some getting used to. Cartridges, meanwhile, are incredibly convenient, but limit your options for ink; especially if they’re proprietary.

Pro: Environmental benefits

Fountain pens do not come in a disposable variety, but can rather be filled and refilled for decades on end. This greatly reduces the amount of waste one produces. Disposable pens are one of the biggest contributors to ocean plastic, with just the United States throwing away 1.6 billion pens annually.

Con: Availability

The average store is simply not stocking its shelves with LAMY Safaris or bottles of Iroshizuku ink. I had to go to a specialty store to pick up what is now my go-to bottle, but as an upside, that bottle is liable to last me for the rest of the school year.

I’m not expecting everyone who reads this to go out and buy a shiny new $100 pen, (my journalistic powers aren’t that strong—yet) but here are my recommendations for anyone who’d like to dip their toes in the water.

1. Buy a Pilot Metropolitan. Retailing for $18.99 on Amazon, these pens are incredibly good quality, especially for the price, and come in plenty of fun colors.
2. Get a good black ink. My recommendation is Noodler’s X-Feather, ($15 for 100 ml on Amazon, designed to behave well on notebook paper) but you’re free to experiment. Goulet Pens (www.gouletpens.com) even offers little sets of mystery ink colors.

At the end of the day, fountain pens can be pricey, but with that investment comes quality. Hopefully, I’ve helped a few of you shift your opinion—and enabled one or two of you to take the plunge.

By: Mila Hart

While taking time off during the nice and warm summer months, it would be a good idea to find somewhere to volunteer. For students that are a part of the National Honor Society, it might be nice to get all of your volunteer hours over the summer, so you don’t have to worry about it during the school year.

While having some down time during the summer doing some volunteer work would be a really great thing to do with your time, volunteering is a very fulfilling activity to experience. By being a volunteer you can find a sense of pride and identity while also building your self esteem and life satisfaction. It’s a fun way to feel a natural sense of accomplishment and to give back to, and help, your community.

A great organization to volunteer for is the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. This organization values the energy and enthusiasm that teens can bring to the table. Habitat for Humanity focuses on eliminating poverty from the Twin Cities, and bringing awareness to the need for decent, affordable shelter for all people. Habitat for Humanity offers many volunteer opportunities for the youth of the Twin Cities that range from helping build and rehabilitate affordable homes, sorting donations, gardening, and educating and advocating.

Another great organization to work with is Books For Africa. Books For Africa collects, sorts, and ships books, computers, tablets, and library enhancement materials to every country in Africa. They have had direct feedback from 212 recipients, in 35 different countries, that say that Books For Africa books have been very useful and have had a positive impact on learning in their communities. There is a large disparity in education between schools with a library and those without. While volunteering for Books For Africa you will be sorting and packing books according to category and age level.

There are so many more volunteer opportunities for teens in the Twin Cities this summer so I also suggest doing some research yourself.

To learn more about volunteering for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity visit: https://www.tchabitat.org.

To learn more about volunteering for Books For Africa visit: https://www.booksforafrica.org/about-bfa/how-we-know-it-works.html.

By: Abdihakim Mohamoud

The majority of teenagers don’t have investing on their minds when it comes to spending their money. However, investing at an early age can have numerous tremendous benefits. These benefits include saving more, improving risk taking ability, and more recovery time.

Investing at an early age leads teens to develop a habit of saving more, leading to more money gained in the future. With this in mind, teenagers save more by cutting unnecessary expenses and save money towards their investments.

Axisbank.com, states that studies show that younger investors have more of a risk taking ability than older investors as older investors are generally more conservative and like being stable in their investments. The probability of earning a higher return increases at an early age because young people tend to take higher risks.

A third benefit of investing early at a younger age is more recovery time. If you begin investing at an older age, you’re more likely to have less time to recover your losses. However, by investing earlier you have more time to recover in case you incur a loss.

Studies prove that early age investing increases the probability of reaching financial stability at a younger age. Investing early supports your retirement plan; it’s always a better idea to save for retirement in your early 20s rather than in your middle aged years.

Teens, or young adults, should seek proper assistance when investing. People such as stock brokers, investment advisors, or even your parents, are good sources to help you start investing.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.axisbank.com/progress-with-us/invest/top-reasons-to-start-investing-at-an-ea rly-age