exclusive reader offer: residence hall linens

Hello, dearest readers! As summer gets rolling, we have a special offer for college students who read Zabelieth: $25 off at Residence Hall Linens!

Feel like changing the look of your dorm room next year? Decorations and furniture are everything, from bordering the ceiling in small Christmas lights to covering the walls with your favorite posters and photos. If you're allowed to put in shelves, those are also a great way to break up a bare ugly cinderblock wall and give the room some character. Getting a rug or adding curtains also immediately disguises a dorm room and makes it more homey.

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7 reasons grad school in Europe is a good idea

Hey, everyone! Sorry we didn't post last week - Zab and I have been so busy with finals! This was my last semester at William & Mary, so I have also been dealing with graduation! This fall I'm moving on to grad school with an MA program in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden. Can't wait! Also, Zab is trying out the UK with a summer program at London School of Economics! We are both so excited to be travelling to Europe for the first time and exploring these prestigious universities. We have done a lot of research on grad school in Europe at this point, and have realized time and time again that it's a pretty sweet deal...

1. You don't have to take the GRE. Instead, applications are heavily made up of your undergraduate research, which European schools place a lot more emphasis on. This is something I really give European universities a lot of credit for: taking the time to closely examine the research and work you've already done as an undergraduate. In sharp contrast, American schools tend to focus on your resume/CV, transcript, and GRE scores. With the exception of personal statements, applicants to American colleges aren't really given a chance to showcase their material academic achievements and illustrate where their passions lie. The European applications seem more concerned with the scholar as individual, than with standardized assessments such as GRE scores.

2. European universities have been around a lot longer. Uppsala is the oldest university in northern Europe - founded in 1477. Cambridge was founded in 1209, and Oxford is so old that it's year of inception is unknown - definitely 1096 or earlier, making it the second-oldest surviving university in the world. All over Europe, universities are preserved in beautiful buildings which have been standing for hundreds of years. The presence of so much history, so many previous scholars and students... these are academic institutions which have withstood and born witness to countless eras!

3. MA programs are only one year. This isn't the case with all of them, but a lot of MA programs in Europe are only one year (check out the list of King's College MAs for loads of examples), whereas in the States the typical length is 2. The degrees are the same, but the time (and money!) you put in are less. Some universities even allow you to choose between a 1- or 2-year version of each masters program.

4. Tuition is cheaper, or even free. Grad school is so much cheaper in Europe (you just have to figure in living expenses, of course). In some countries (particularly Scandinavia) education is heavily or completely subsidized by the government, which means tuition is unbelievably low by US standards. In Norway, which is not part of the EU, the government COMPLETELY subsidizes education. This means that if you wanted to get your MA at the University of Oslo, even as an international graduate student, it won't cost you anything (except living expenses in Norway).

5. It opens up job opportunities abroad. Going to university in Europe gives you a fantastic leg up if you ever plan on living and/or working in Europe. Often after getting a degree in any foreign country there are additional perks, such as the ability to get a work visa more easily.

6. You interact with a truly "international" student body. In the European Union there's so much international connectivity and the universities really embrace this. Many European universities (Uppsala is no exception) have very large international student percentages to their student bodies, facilitating that constant cross-cultural discourse that is vital in today's world. So if you go to grad school in Italy, you won't just be hanging out with Italians. You won't even just be hanging out with Europeans! European universities are fantastic global microcosms, and your peers will truly come from all over the world.

7. Programs are often offered in English. Because of this emphasis on creating a multinational student body, universities in countries with languages that are not widely spoken (such as all the Nordic countries) offer programs in English. Of course, it's always a good idea to try to learn as much of the local language as possible when living in a foreign country, and building language skills is a vital CV-builder in today's world.

spoil yourself with these easy breakfast recipes

Photo: 101Cookbooks

They're all quick and easy enough to squeeze into any morning routine.

Taste of Home's Cherry-Brandy Baked Brie makes a truly mouth-watering spread for your morning croissant or baguette. You simply mix together 1/2-cup each of dried cherries and dried walnuts with 1/4-cup each of brown sugar and brandy, then spoon this mixture over a round of Brie cheese in a pie dish. Bake it at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is softened.

101Cookbooks' Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa recipe is so healthy, and so delicious! Here are the necessary ingredients:

1 cup organic 1% low fat milk
1 cup water
1 cup organic quinoa, (hs note: rinse quinoa)
2 cups fresh blackberries, organic preferred
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted*
4 teaspoons organic agave nectar, such as Madhava brand

Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. While the quinoa cooks, roast the pecans in a 350F degree toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Stir in blackberries and cinnamon; transfer to four bowls and top with pecans. Drizzle 1 teaspoon agave nectar over each serving.

The next three recipes are courtesy of Women's Health Magazine. They're incredibly easy and incredibly delicious! For a Banana-Nut Waffle Sundae, first slice half a banana. Toast 2 whole-grain frozen waffles. Top with 1/4 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt, banana slices, and 2 tablespoons of toasted walnuts.

To make an Egg In a Nest, in a pan over medium-low heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Place a slice of bread with a circle cut from the center in the pan. Crack 1 egg into the hole and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the egg is firm; add the cut-out bread circle to toast for the last 1 to 2 minutes (it'll be yummy when you remove it and eat it). Transfer everything to a plate and serve with avocado and tomato slices.

For Sweet and Spicy Quinoa Hash, in a skillet over medium heat, warm 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup cubed sweet potato, then saute for about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup of chopped kale, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Saute until kale has wilted, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (you'll have to do this beforehand or separately) and heat through.