In the southern states, college football is like a religion, and central Florida is no exception. Of course, Florida teams – the University of Florida Gators, Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Miami Hurricanes – are local favorites, but where are you to watch the game in Orlando if you’re an Auburn, Georgia or Alabama fan? What about if your alma mater is farther away, say Ohio State or Penn State? Have no fear; Orlando has plenty of college-specific bars to help you get through the big game. When you want to be surrounded by hundreds of similarly minded fans either celebrating or lamenting over the action on TV, you can find a bar that honors your college.

Orlando college football fans, take note: Many university alumni clubs in Orlando share the same bars during football season, so keep that in mind if you have an intense rivalry with a particular school. However, since these bars have been hosting football game events for years, more than likely, you’ll have no problems while you watch the game.

Auburn University
Where: Brix Eurobistro, 50 E. Central Blvd., Ste. C, Orlando, FL 32801
Neighborhood: Downtown

Clemson University
Where: O’Boys BBQ, 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
Neighborhood: Winter Park

Florida State University
Where: One-Eyed Jack’s, 15 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
Neighborhood: Downtown

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Where: O’Boys BBQ, 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
Neighborhood: Winter Park

Louisiana State University
Where: Gator’s Dockside Dr. Phillips, 5142 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819
Neighborhood: Doctor Phillips

Ohio State University
Where: Bufalo Wild Wings, 7004 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819
Neighborhood: Sand Lake

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
Where: Miller’s Orlando Ale House, 101 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792
Neighborhood: Winter Park

University of Alabama
Where: JB’s Sports Bar, 4880 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL 32811
Neighborhood: Windover

University of Florida
Where: Gator’s Dockside Dr. Phillips, 5142 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819
Neighborhood: Doctor Phillips

University of Georgia
Where: JB’s Sports Bar, 4880 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL 32811
Neighborhood: Windover

University of North Carolina
Where: Legends Sports Bar and Grill, 1315 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL
Neighborhood: Downtown

In the character-heavy world of Disney, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, it can be difficult to find a bit of “real.” While theme parks run rampant in Orlando, surprisingly, delicious, environmentally-friendly restaurants do, too.

All restaurants listed use environmentally friendly packaging, but how good is the food? Don’t worry; only the best of Orlando’s green eats made the list, so feel free to stop by and indulge after a trip to one of the parks the area is famous for, or just if you don’t feel like cooking at home that day.

Ethos Vegan Kitchen
What: Top-notch vegan food and bakery items meets local, organic beer and wine at this establishment. Try the brunch on Sundays, Philly cheesesteak, spinach salad, coconut curry wrap and any of the vegan cookies.
Where: 1235 N. Orange Ave. #101, Orlando, FL 32804

Infusion Tea
What: This vegetarian restaurant not only has a regular ala carte menu, but gourmet four-course meal events on certain days (check the Web site). If you’re in need of a multi-course vegetarian menu designed for vegetarians, you’ll love Infusion Tea’s special event dinners.
Where: 1600 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL 32804

Sweet by Good Golly Miss Holly
What: Indulge in free WiFi, cupcakes and frozen yogurt at Sweet, run by “Miss Holly” of Food Network “Cupcake Wars” fame. On Mondays, get mini-cupcakes in all combinations of dark chocolate, white chocolate, vanilla, fruit and more for $1 each (regularly $18/dozen), and order the tart fro-yo topped with cereal, nuts, fruit or candy anytime.
Where: 711 N. Alafaya Tr., Orlando, FL 32828

Dandelion Communitea Café
What: Set in a bright green house, Dandelion is an organic vegetarian restaurant and tea house in one, serving up food free of saturated fats, trans-fats, refined sugars, additives, artificial sweeteners and genetic modification. Gluten-free selections are also available. You can’t go wrong with any of the sandwiches or soups, particularly the chili.
Where: 618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

Green Day Café
What: Marketing itself as a healthy restaurant that serves up nutrient-dense meals, Green Day Café has jam-packed brown rice bowls (such as the mushroom and brie one) with whole grain, vegetables and protein, as well as a variety of sandwiches and wraps served with terra chips or the broccoli crunch salad.
Where: 1515 Lee Rd., Orlando, FL 32810

Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar
What: The coffee at Drunken Monkey is all fair trade and organic or Rainforest Alliance verified. Soups are fresh, and though the food offerings seem somewhat random, there are plenty of choices for vegan and non-vegan eaters alike.
Where: 444 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando, FL 32803

Photo by: Scott Miller

1. Old Town Shopping & Entertainment Venue – Take a stroll through the75 unique shops or catch one of the nightly concerts.

2. Harry P. Leu Gardens – 50 acres of gardens in the middle of Orlandowith the largest Camellia collection outside of California’s, the largest rose garden in Florida and a bamboo and kitchen garden.

3. Kelly Park is built around natural springs and you can ride floatation devices or swim down the stream.

4. Fort Christmas Historical Museum and Park is a full-size replica of Fort Christmas, originally built for the Second Seminole Indian War.

5. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art has the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

6. A World of Orchids in Kissimmee is a 22,500-square-foot conservatory with orchids as well as many other species of exotic flora.

7. Disney’s Boardwalk is a re-creation of a 1930s-style Atlantic coastal village with nightclubs and entertainment hot spots, but all visitors can enjoy the many street musicians, magicians, and performers for free.

8. Downtown Disney Marketplace has an array of boutiques and eateries for every budget but don’t miss the free entertainment like the Festival of the Masters, glassblowers at Arribas Brothers and the Lego Imagination Center.

9. Orlando Brewing Company, Florida’s only certified organic brewery offers free tours and samples.

10. At the University of Central Florida Arboretum you can see over 600 plant species and walk or bike along the 9-acre lake, or play a game of disc golf.

If you hadn’t looked over your shopping budget, and decided you needed to save money, you may never have explored and appreciated all these FREE attractions. Enjoy the culture, history and fun! So, take a friend with you, your treat!

Photo by: Dan Budiac

Preparing Your Home for Guests

• Check your guest linens and towels to see if you need new fresh ones.
• Make sure you have adequate lighting, an alarm clock, and a place to sit in the guest bedroom.
• Clean out the closet and some dresser drawers so that your guests will have space for their clothing. Don’t forget to have enough hangers in the closet.
• Clean out the guest bathroom so your guests will have space to put their toiletries.
• Have a little basket in the bathroom with shampoo, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, and lotion.
• Make sure there is enough toilet paper and Kleenex in the bathroom.(Get a nightlight)
• Put a few books and magazines in the bedroom in case they want some bedtime reading.
• If there are any children coming, go ahead and put away anything you do not want them to touch. It is easier to do it ahead of time and prevent some embarrassing accidents!
• Provide an apartment key and any important information; security code, wireless info and where to park.
• Clean, clean, clean! Now may be a great time to call a maid to come and give your Orlando apartment a deep cleaning.

Shopping

Make a list and walk around your apartment with your list to jot down any last minute ideas.

• Plan your meals for the days you are not going to eat out and make a list of everything you need.
• Don’t forget late night snacks and things for young guests.
• Did you need linens, towels, or toiletries?
• Do you need Christmas gifts for your guests? If not, maybe just a little something special left in their room to make them feel special.

Photo by: Crystal

Planning Activities

Make a list of things to do that your houseguests may enjoy: local attractions in the area, sporting events or just shopping. Try to have a loose schedule for each day of their visit with brochures and maps to help them decide what they may want to do. Don’t over schedule, because you will definitely want some down time to just watch a movie, play some games, or just talk and get “caught up.” And, don’t forget to invite your guests along if you already have plans. It’s just bad houseguest etiquette to leave your guests at home alone.

Now don’t you feel less stressed! So when your houseguests arrive, sit back, relax and ENJOY!

Photo by:ktylerconk

Step 1: Check the Weather

The first step to planning your trip is finding out what the local weather will be like when you plan to visit Washington DC. The winter months often bring a hefty amount of snow. Check average temperatures in Washington DC.

Step 2: Book a Flight

Choose which Washington DC Airport you’ll fly into…there are two serving the metro area. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is roughly 26 miles from downtown Washington DC, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), in Arlington County, Virginia, is just 4 miles from downtown Washington, DC.

Step 3: Find a Hotel

You might want to stay near the National Mall, close to many of the Washington DC attractions. You will not need a rental car if you stay close to the capitol. You can walk or use the the Metro subway and bus system to easily get from one part of town to another, or from the suburbs into DC.

Step 4: Choose Sights to See

The White House – This home and office of the President is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Without advance reservations, you can only visit the White House Visitor Center at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets. If you would like a tour of the White House, you must make a request through one of your members of Congress at least one month in advance.

Photo by: Jonathan D. Colman

The U.S. Capitol Building – This building stands at E. Capitol St. and First St. NW, Washington DC, at the east end of the National Mall. To visit this historic landmark you’ll need to be part of a guided tour. You can get free tickets at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk located near the intersection of First Street, S.W. and Independence Avenue.

Photo by: mj*laflaca

The Smithsonian Museums – The world-class Smithsonian museums offer guided tours, special programs and hands-on-activities. In the Smithsonian American Art Museum you’ll find Luce Foundation Center, a three-story open storage area with more than 3,000 pieces of art from the museum collection.

Photo by: Grufnik

The Washington Monument – This monument, at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, honors the memory of President George Washington and is an important historic site and landmark. It’s part of the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Photo by: Annie Earley

Arlington National Cemetery – Located across the Memorial Bridge from DC, this is America’s largest cemetery. It houses the graves of President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, world champion boxer Joe Louis and the Tomb of the Unknowns. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Photo by: M.V. Jantzen

DC The Lights! – This is a night-time tour of all the major attractions in DC. Exploring this beautiful city at night will be an experience to remember.

Another fun thing to do is to visit Washington DC for the holiday season. Take a walk with your loved ones and see all of the beautiful Christmas lights.

And if you still need more ideas of things to do in Washington DC, check out this blog on living in and exploring Washington DC. You’ll be exhausted by the time you get back to your Orlando home.

Photo By: Natalie Litz

To make sure you don’t arrive to your new place empty-handed, it’s a good idea to create a checklist that fits your circumstances. The fact is needs can vary depending on the living situation you’ll be in.

Creating A Dorm Room Checklist:

Whether you’ll be living in a dorm on the UCF campus or at one of the many other colleges or universities in the area, a dorm room checklist can vary from what you’ll need for Orlando apartment living. Here are some of the things you might find important while living in a dorm:

Linens – Make sure to bring all of your own linens to campus with you because they are not supplied by the school. You’ll want at least two sets of bedding, a few full sets of towels, an area rug to put by your bed and a good comforter or two.

Toiletries – A shower caddy is a must-have for dorm living. Make sure you buy one big enough to carry your shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste and shaving items. This will simply make the trek from your dorm to the showers easier.

Electronics – Nobody heads to a new place without some basic pieces of electronic equipment! You’ll want a computer and perhaps a CD player, small TV and DVD player. A good calculator always comes in handy, too. If funds are tight, check into buying refurbished electronics.

Cooking items – Check to make sure these are allowed. Some campuses will allow a mini-fridge for storing foods, but they won’t permit hot plates, crock pots, microwaves or toaster ovens. If you can cook in your room to an extent, you’ll also want cookware, plates and utensils.

Items from home – While you won’t have a lot of space to make your dorm feel truly like home, you can bring along a few decorations to make yourself more comfortable. Pictures, posters and other items that are fairly small can go on a dorm room checklist.

College Apartment Musts:

Photo By: Joanne Wan

If it is your plan to check out Orlando apartments, your list will be similar, but more extensive. If you have a roommate lined up, find out what furniture and kitchen items your roommate already has. Otherwise, plan on most of the items from the dorm room checklist and add such things as:

Basic furniture – You’ll need a bed, dresser, desk and at least a couch or seat for the living room, too. A table and chairs are also smart buys.

Kitchen supplies – Setting up an apartment kitchen takes more work than outfitting a dorm for quick meals. You’ll want a set of dishes, utensils, small appliances, spices, food, storage containers and cookware to round out this room.

Decorations – A full apartment will give you a much greater ability to make your crash pad feel like home. Even if you’re living with a roommate, you should be free to decorate your room any way you want it. Keep this in mind as you pack.

The need for home goods can vary for dorm and apartment dwellers. Plan ahead and you should have everything in place you need to make your new place feel comfortable, welcoming and functional.

Have you ever noticed that the longer a couple is married, the more they began to look like each other? It’s actually true for pets and their owners as well. It seems that the more time pet parents spend with their four-legged friends, the more and more they resemble each other.

University of San Diego researchers believe that dogs and their human counterparts do in fact favor each other physically. However, new research shows that dogs and their owners don’t slowly grow to look like each other over time. They actually look like each other because humans have specifically, and possible unknowingly, select breeds that look like themselves. Purebred dogs in particular are chosen by people who are attracted to what the adult dog will eventually grow to look like. This is to say that you owners are attracted to animals that resemble themselves physically.

Photo By: Missmareck

It has also been suggested that people choose dogs with temperaments that are similar to their personalities. So it follows that an athletic person probably will choose a large active dog. While a very calm and low key person probably would not want a high-energy Jack Russell Terrier.

So it’s definitely up for debate…

Do people with disheveled appearances choose shaggy dogs?
Do red haired-owners choose dogs with similar colored coats?
Are active owners attracted to active dogs?
Do pleasant people choose dogs with happy personalities?

Photo By: Austins Irish Pirate

Photo By: Ryan Kennedy

Planning a big party is never easy though. Even with all the things to see and do in Orlando, you might find yourself a little strapped for bachelorette party ideas. Depending on how rowdy or laid back you want your party to be, these ideas might suit:

Bachelorette Party Ideas

A musical night on the town – If the bride-to-be doesn’t go in for bachelorette party games and isn’t terribly excited about the notion of having a sit down at a friend’s apartment, take advantage of everything there is to see and do in Orlando. Should a night on the town be desired, this city almost never stops when it comes to live music. From jazz clubs to Pleasure Island and beyond, you won’t run out of things to do. Just remember to designate a driver!

Sleepover sensation – It might be that your best friend just wants one last “night with the girls” before the big day. Of all the bachelorette party ideas, a good old fashion sleepover can be a real hit. You can talk about “boys” (or the big day coming up), give each other facials and makeovers, huddle under the covers and watch scary movies and even mix up some drinks. In this instance, make them “big girl drinks” though!

Cruise weekend – Orlando is located in close proximity to two separate cruise ship terminals – Tampa and Port Canaveral. If you want bachelorette party ideas that will really create lasting memories, consider a weekend cruise.

Massage party – Even when the bride and groom are head over heels for each other, getting married can be rather stressful. If you want to treat the bride-to-be to the bachelorette party gift she’ll never forget, consider having a massage party. You can hire out a professional masseuse or two or just spend a day or evening at a spa. Get some pedicures and manicures while you’re at it.

• Bachelorette Party Planning Checklist
• Bachelorette Party Games
• 7 Must-Have Bachelorette Party Props
• More Party Themes and Ideas

Staging a bachelorette party a special bride-to-be will never forget is a snap if Orlando apartments serve as the home base. This city has what it takes to serve as the backdrop for a party to end all parties.

Photo By: BookGrl

Kitty Proof Your Place

One of the best things you can do for your new adoptive animal is to kitty proof your Orlando apartment. Try to envision your apartment from a different perspective- a curious, playful baby cat. Give away your plants that could be harmful to your kitten. Secure your window blind cords out of reach. Keep tasty, but harmful chemicals like antifreeze out of reach or locked away. Keep your toilet lid down and your bathroom door closed. Move breakables from shelves and store in cabinets behind closed doors.

Kitten Supplies: The Rundown

• Cat food- ideally the same food your cat was eating at the shelter
• Litterbox, litterbox liners, and litter scoop. You should be able to find a starter kit with all three of these.
• Food and water bowls
• Cat furniture
• Cat bed
• Identification and collar
• Grooming tools
• Cat carrier
• Toys and treats

Photo By: Litlnemo

Give Them A Space All Their Own

Make sure to have an area of your Orlando apartment specifically for your new family member that can be closed off and quiet. It should have the new kitty toys, furniture, and litterbox too. Let your kitten come out of the carrier on his own and allow time to explore and acclimate themselves the new space. This is especially important if you have other animals in the house. Shy kittens may be anxious and fearful but this is normal kitten behavior.

Tips for Recent College Grads

So, what do you need to know to make the transition flow more smoothly? These tips can help you out:

#1 Get going on the job hunt right away – As a college graduate, you’ll most likely want to find a job in your field. Don’t be disappointed, however, if you find yourself having to look at jobs for college students like waitressing in the first few months. It’s best to take what you can find to finance Orlando living and continue looking as you go. That “big” job will come if you keep working at job searches, get active in your field on a volunteer basis and keep sending out those resumes.

#2 Learn to tackle finances – You might have a little bit of experience in this arena already thanks to college. If you didn’t have to worry yourself too much about money, however, this can be a very big transition point. Mom and Dad are not going to want to pay for you forever. To get your financial house in order, create a realistic budget and try to live within it. You’re probably going to have to figure expenses into your budget that you may not of had to think about before like utilities and health insurance. Remember, student loans will no longer come in a few times a year to “cover” any mistakes. At this point, your budget might be a little abysmal, but it will get better. Once you find a job you really like, things should improve nicely.

#3 Be responsible with living arrangements – In college, you might have called a dorm room home. Now, you’re going to have to move on and find your own place. If Orlando living is what you have in mind, you’ll find plenty of great places to live. As you look, keep your true needs and budget in mind. Even if you can only afford a shoebox at the moment that fits your budget, don’t fret it. Most people have to start at the “bottom” to get to the top. Be responsible with your home, money and actions during the transition period and it won’t be long before you feel comfortable wearing your new “adult” shoes.

Online Resources to Help Through the Transition Period

We all need a little guidance once in a while. Check out the links below to help you through this transition period of your life.

• How to Write a Resume
• Interview Tips
• Find an Apartment
• How to Build Your First Budget

When the relatively carefree days of college are behind you, transitioning into adult life doesn’t have to be a chore. While you’ll no doubt feel growing pains, you will flourish in your new role if you take it slow and easy and play it smart. You don’t have to have a three bedroom home with a picket fence on Day One.
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