I would say that I spend a majority of my time rocking a t-shirt. I have my favorites, but I need to add one of these monogrammed pocket tees to my wardrobe ASAP! These are so great! I think they are way nicer than just donning a function t-shirt to class. This Etsy shop has the shirts in all colors and options.
Aug 30, 2012
ANY TAKERS?
Around 2am the other night I got a wild hair to create some YSS merchandise. I really have no idea why, but the first thing I could think of was koozies. I played around with the colors, quotes, fonts, etc. and created this.
What do you think? Would you buy one?
Aug 29, 2012
SISTER SWAP
I have had so many ideas floating around lately and I think it would be such a fun idea to do a sort of swap, but with Sisters!
You could send t-shirts, sorority specific items, koozies, nail polish, anything your heart desires. The catch? A $30 value limit not including shipping. I don't want anyone to feel like they got ripped off because they sent everything they could.
I would like to try to pair members of the same sorority, but from different chapters. This is just testing your interest.
Please fill out the form below the enter!
BALANCE
Recruitment has come and gone and so has the first week of class, yet I still find myself going and going. I knew that the first few weeks of school were going to be hectic. I got so used to my summer schedule of only going to work. It was nice to have that time off, but now school is here in full force and I know I am not the only one dealing with finding a balance.
I am on week 2 of school and so far my motto has just been "Keep moving." I was not able to fully get myself into the mindset of starting school because I had so much focus on recruitment. I have managed to stay afloat, but I have already found myself drowning in homework. That is not how I want to start off the new school year.
I am making a rule for myself to get everything under control this week. I cannot go on with not knowing my assignments, being behind on readings, staying up until 11pm to schedule blog posts, or waking up as late as I can. I need to get myself in a routine. Here are some ways I am going to find the balance between work and school.
1. Update my agenda. I have no idea what is going on right now because my agenda is missing so many meetings that need to be added. My agenda is my lifeline so once that is in order I feel like I will be able to get more done.
2. Make a list of assignments due by week. Carly's method of keeping track of assignments has gotten me through grad school so far. As a list-maker, it is a sure fire way to ensure that I am getting everything done for my classes.
3. Get some sleep. I am admitting that I am not on my A-game because of the lack of sleep I have gotten in the past 3 weeks. Thank goodness Monday is a holiday!
4. Re-read my course guides. I need to go through these again just to make sure I know exactly what is expected of me this semester. I do not want to miss anything.
5. Organize my apartment. I have neglected almost every area of my life and my apartment definitely shows that. Luckily, I forced myself to do a quick clean up last week while waiting on a pizza to be delivered.
6. Give myself a "pick-me-up". I went shopping yesterday with a friend, but I am most looking forward to my September box of Julep to arrive. A new nail color just does something to my attitude. (Shameless plug: Do not forget to enter my giveaway! It ends tomorrow!!)
P.S. This is my 100th post!!!
Aug 28, 2012
RENT THE RUNWAY
Rent The Runway is described perfectly by InStyle magazine - "It's like Netflix, but for dresses and accessories." It is so easy too! You sign up (for free!) and you can rent dresses for any occasion. There are so many options to choose from. You select how many days you would like to rent the dress. They even show you accessories you can also rent to make your outfit complete.
I immediately thought this program would be too perfect for recruitment, date nights, formals, game days, mom's weekends, etc. when you have nothing to wear and not a lot of money to spend. Rent The Runway gives you the opportunity to have the designer look for so much less!
I think this program would also be great for Initiation! Some times it is hard to find the perfect dress. Rent The Runway lets you search by color, size, style, etc.
Last, but by no means least, you can rent accessories!! This make my heart jump for joy!
Give the site a look around and use coupon code 'KICKOFFSPECIAL 212AFD' to get 2 dresses for the price of 1! The offer ends on August 31 so hurry hurry!!!
DIY | HAIR TIES
I know you have all seen these hair ties. I love how colorful they are, but I hate that they are so expensive. Where I live they cost $10 for 3 hair ties. That is a little expensive in my opinion. Yesterday, I was at Hobby Lobby and spotted some elastic ribbon that looked like the material of the hair ties. I got an idea so I bought some.
I cut the ribbon into strips and ties them off just like they look above. Ribbon was on sale so I ended up getting the package for about $1.50. I was able to make 8 hair ties!!
1. Cut the ribbon into 8 inch strips
2. Bring the ends together and wrap the band around your fingers to make a knot.
3. Pull the knot to the end of the circle and pull tight.
That's it!
They were so easy to make that I will for sure be making more! Maybe I'll get some cute ribbon and give some away on here :)
Aug 27, 2012
LEVO LEAGUE
I am obsessed with the Levo League. I have known about the company for some time, but I have only really began exposing myself to its true power recently. I don't know if the content is more relatable to me now or if it has gotten better, but I cannot get enough.
An article caught my eye the other day about Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Her words to an advisee of hers were exactly what I needed to get this semester going. I am taking some difficult classes and Dr. Rice gave the best advice. The entire article is worth a read, but what I took from it was:
This is true for so many areas of life, but I think we have all felt this way at the beginning of a semester.
Thanks for the words of wisdom, Dr. Rice (or should we call her Sister)!
Aug 24, 2012
WISH LIST
This gold link watch from Michael Kors has been on my wish list since I saw it. It is just as beautiful as all of the other MK watches without being super bulky. This would be perfect to wear with a cocktail dress or to work!
P.S. Don't forget to enter my Julep giveaway! The next intro box has these fun goodies inside!
Aug 23, 2012
TOTES ON TOTES
I nearly died yesterday when a co-worker said, "I need some retail therapy. I think I'll buy a new tote." I have seen this girl with four different totes in the past month I have known her. Then I got to thinking about it and realized that I have close to 20 totes in my closet. Seriously... It is an issue.
Why do I love totes so much? Because they are just so perfect. They hold pretty much anything. They are cute. They are durable. They are fun to coordinate with outfits. I could go on and on.
My co-worker then asked what kind of tote I carry on a daily basis. I carry a Longchamp Le Pliage. It is great to carry as a large purse. Purses with a ton of pockets stress me out because I never know where anything is. I like how open my Longchamp is. All I have to do is look inside and I can see everything I need. I also like having the ability to carry my laptop without having to change bags. It saves me so much time in the morning.
With the school year just beginning, I think it is fun to buy a new bag to get to year started right. The options above are my favorite! Jon Hart Designs are a monogrammed masterpiece. A friend of mine has almost the entire collection with her monogram. It looks so cute all together! As for the Vineyard Vines tote, could you ever go wrong with Vineyard Vines? These canvas bags are so durable and cute. I think they are such a fun way to show your personality.
What kind of tote bag do you carry?
Aug 22, 2012
GIVEAWAY | JULEP
Last month I finally decided to dive into the world of Julep. I took the quiz and turns out I am a Class With A Twist! I received a complimentary box of the products.
My box contained Kate and Rose polishes and The Best Pedi Creme Ever (literally!). I am absolutely obsessed with the Kate polish. It is a pearl white and it such a perfect neutral. I have not worn the Rose yet, but I love the color. The polish goes on thick, but not too thick which I love. The Pedi Creme is phenomenal! I think it is a sample size, but it is definitely a good size! I know that I will have it for a while. It is minty without being overwhelming.
Here's the fun part! You can enter to win your own intro box!
*BONUS* You can use code 'MAVENINTRO' to get an intro box for a penny!
What is your style?
Aug 21, 2012
FRESHMAN NECESSITIES
Freshman need so many things to make the transition to college. It is hard to remember the most important things you will need at times so I have compiled a list for you. Not too long ago I asked on Tumblr what upperclassmen would recommend that freshman would need.
Laptop sleeve. This is so important to keep your laptop safe. You are constantly toting it around campus to class, group meetings, the library, etc. A laptop sleeve will save it from getting dirty or even scratched. Vera Bradley laptop sleeves are so colorful and come in a ton of different prints!
Towel wrap. Unless you are one of the lucky few, you do not have a bathroom connected to your room. Traveling down the hallway from a shower can be awkward if you do not have a towel wrap. I hate when wet hair touches a shirt, so I usually get ready in a towel wrap. Frill Seeker Gifts has these adorable monogrammed wraps available for your sorority!
Key chain. There are so many keys that you will have to keep up with. Invest in a cute keychain to brighten your day. I love these keychains from Jonathan Adler.
Shower caddy. Again, if you do not have your own shower, you will need a shower caddy. This helps for you to keep all of your shower items in one place that you just have to grab and go. I shower in the morning, well before I am awake. If I didn't have a shower caddy I would probably forget everything I needed. That is not how I would want to start the day! Linens and Things has these colorful caddies for less than $20! I love all of the compartments too.
I.D. holder. My I.D. holder is my life. It has my debit card, student I.D., driver's license, etc. in it. This option from Lilly Pulitzer is one of my new favorites! This is a new style they have started to carry. It also has a keychain available to keep everything in one place.
Storage bins. We all know that dorm rooms have limited storage available. My favorite place to store things is under the bed or on top of the closet. Keep everything organized with these bins from Bungalow. They come in a ton of sizes and colors. They are also super durable!
Aug 20, 2012
FRILL SEEKER GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!
Thanks to everyone who entered the Frill Seeker Giveaway contest. This was my most successful giveaway to date and I have more lined up for you in the coming weeks :)
Small Acrylic Pendant
Eve E.
Greek Insulated Tumbler & Binder Decal
Katie S.
Greek Ball Cap, Greek Glass Pendant, & Binder Decal
Rachel P.
Congratulations!!!!
GAME DAY
I am a huge football fan! I have my team, but I will not disclose that here. As much as I love the game, I also love the fashion. Game day dresses are my favorite, and everyone gets so dressed up here... even the guys! I have put together a few outfits to get you inspired for the upcoming game days!
I think there are some definite do's and don'ts when it comes to game day attire.
1. Definitely wear your team's colors.
2. Color blocking is always great!
3. Add some fun accessories to dress up your outfit!
4. Wear comfy shoes. If you don't, take a spare pair for tailgating.
5. Keep it simple. Don't go overboard on colors or accessories.
4. Wear comfy shoes. If you don't, take a spare pair for tailgating.
5. Keep it simple. Don't go overboard on colors or accessories.
Aug 15, 2012
CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT
I am excited to feature the ladies of Delta Delta Delta at the University of Florida as our next Chapter Spotlight.
Philanthropies
Children's Miracle Network (local)
We are so excited recruitment and for fall to begin, so we can welcome our newest members, get back into the swing of things, and start the year off with some great Gator football! We are also excited for our upcoming Triple Play philanthropy, as well as our annual Father/Daughter weekend!
One word I would use to describe our chapter
Genuine
Thank you to the ladies of Tri Delta for being a part of our Chapter Spotlight! If you would like to recommend your chapter, please complete the application.
Aug 13, 2012
RECRUITMENT: PNM SIDE
All over the country thousands of girls are prepping to go through sorority recruitment this year. It is a little crazy to think about. Sorority women can look back and remember their time going through the recruitment process. It is very stressful on the PNMs, mainly because they have no idea what to expect. So many come in with preconceived notions about what recruitment is supposed to be like. In my experience, I have discovered that no sorority woman has a recruitment story like anyone else.
Recruitment is intimidating. I will not negate that, but it is also a lot of fun! My biggest advice to PNMs is to take the time to get to know the sorority women you talk to in the chapters and in your recruitment group. You never know where you will end up and who your new Sisters will be. This is also important because you don't just have to have friends in your chapter. You can be friends with anyone, and you are creating a bond with thousands of other women by going through this process alone.
I would also advice you to not take things too seriously. You will end up where you are meant to be. It may seem strange, and you may believe you are meant to be a member of a certain chapter, but you have to trust the process.
Also, listen to your Recruitment Counselor. She has been specially trained to handle several situations and she has gone through this process before. She is not there to guide you into her chapter, but to help you find your own.
P.S. If you are a PNM, check out these useful tips I have compiled as well as #TipsforPNMs!
Aug 10, 2012
WISH LIST
I am obsessing over everything pave lately. These are just a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry that showcase the trend.
Aug 9, 2012
GIVEAWAY | FRILL SEEKER GIFTS
Frill Seekers Gifts contacted me a few weeks ago about hosting a giveaway and I could not be more excited! This giveaway is huge! All of the items available are perfect to get you geared up for the new school year.
First up, Frill Seekers makes these adorable glass pendants. They would not be complete without your letters!
Next are these embroidered Greek ball camps. I think these would be perfect for Bid Day, retreats, wearing around campus, and anything else you could possibly think of!
Another prize is an insulated tumbler. These are personalized with your name, sorority, and school!
A small acrylic monogram necklace is also up for grabs! If you don't have one yet, this is the perfect opportunity to get one. I have a feeling this trend is going to be around through the fall.
Last, but not least, are these cute monogram binder decals! Frill Seekers must know that I love a good monogram.
Aug 8, 2012
LOOK FOR LESS
I know you have all seen these necklaces from J.Crew. They are the perfect statement necklace except for the $150 price tag.
This Etsy shop offers a replica of the J.Crew necklace for less than 20% of the price!
There are also several color options available. To me, this screams game day jewelry!
Happy shopping!
Aug 7, 2012
RECRUITMENT: CHAPTER SIDE
Stand up.
Now do your favorite recruitment door chant!
Alright. Sit back down.
Now that you are pumped, I am happy to announce it is time for recruitment!! At this point your chapter begins recruitment either next week or next month. Either way, recruitment is here! Recruitment for chapters can be a very stressful time. I know this and you, *insert your name here*, know this, but some people might think that recruitment is just a time for fun and games. Wrong. I am going to clarify what it means to be on the 'Chapter Side' of recruitment for our non-sorority women readers :)
Recruitment is a lot of fun and sometimes chapters play games to lighten the mood, but overall recruitment week is serious and intense. This is the time of year that sorority women spend a very short period of time to get to know women that want to join a sorority and invite them to a lifelong sisterhood. Crazy, huh? What is even crazier is that it works. Over the past 160 years, over 4 million women have joined a sorority. Not all of these women have gone through the exact same process as you, but it is pretty close.
Chapters have a lot to deal with when it comes to recruitment. They have to account for their members, feed them, talk to PNMs, sort letters of recommendation, vote on PNMs, decorate, memorize speeches, create videos and slideshows, and so much more that I cannot even begin to remember. Chapters do all of these things while being friendly to everyone that enters their house.
Like I said, it is intense. But seriously, it is all worth it. To give out bids on Bid Day and to see your new members' faces makes recruitment worth all of the stress and sleepless nights. Recruitment is the lifeblood of our chapters, but it is sisterhood that keeps us going. Because if it were not for sisterhood, there would be no point in doing it and after all it is the end goal.
photo credit: 1
Aug 6, 2012
INSIDER TIPS FOR PNMS
As a Potential New Member (PNM) navigating recruitment is hard. There are times that you may question yourself and others. I have compiled a list of tips to make your recruitment easier.
MONTHLY FAVORITES
J.Crew dress / Dorothy Perkins dress / Kate Spade earrings / Forever 21 dress / Tory Burch earrings / J.Crew bracelet / Jeffrey Campbell wedges
Summer is coming to a close so wear as many dresses and as much coral and turquoise as possible. I fully believe in incorporating all of these into your fall wardrobe, but it just will not be the same.
What is your look for the end of the summer/beginning of school?
Aug 5, 2012
YOUR PASSION
My undergraduate career was quite the journey. I was all over the place in terms of majors and minors. Looking back, I should have gotten a Liberal Arts degree, but instead stuck it out for an extra semester to get a degree in Sociology. At the time I was very disappointed in myself for not graduating on time. Now I know that it is more common.
Because I stayed around for another semester, I decided to remain an active chapter member instead of taking my alumna status with my pledge sisters. I knew well ahead of time that I was staying so I was also selected to be a chapter officer for my last year as a member. It seems a little crazy, because I know so many people look forward to their last semester to slack off, but I could not imagine it any other way. Which leads me to wear I am today. Some of my early followers know that I work for a Greek Life Office. Ultimately, this is my dream job. I know... I am a little crazy for it, but I love it. I know that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing, where I am supposed to be. I have learned so much from the experience and look forward to so much more in the coming year. Between work and the blog I would say that 90% (if not more) of my day is spent examining and living Greek Life.
I am not saying this to say that I am an expert. I am not by any stretch of the imagination though I hope to be. I do think it is important for you to find what you love and to do it well. Once I discovered my love for Greek Life it is all I wanted to do. I spent time at my old job procrastinating by working on things for my sorority instead of anything else. What do you do while "wasting time"? Chances are that is what you would rather be doing over anything else. Find your passion and stick to it. You do not have to make a career out of it, but make sure that you and other people know that it is your thing.
It is a fact that we have a much better attitude when we are not forced to do things we don't want to do. I see this every day in myself. I want to go to work in the morning. I don't mind staying late, working long hours, or working on the weekends. You will find the same in whatever it is that you do.
SORORITY OF THE WEEK {KAPPA ALPHA THETA}
Ella Moss shorts / Dogeared earrings / Lilly Pulitzer tote / Modcloth dress / Tory Burch iPad case / Kate Spade bangle
This week we are celebrating the sisterhood of Kappa Alpha Theta! As usual, I love seeing a sorority's colors come together in every day and this is no different. I also had to add one of my favorite Thetas, Tory Burch, into the mix with this black and gold (I don't think it is an accident) iPad case.
Aug 3, 2012
WISH LIST
I am switching things up for the weekly Wish List. Instead of featuring a product or collection I am loving, I want you to share!
Aug 2, 2012
BID DAY DECOR
Bid Day is my absolute favorite day of the year next to my birthday! I love it! It is the end of recruitment, but it is also so exciting. Everyone is looking forward to seeing their bid list or opening their bid cards. While this is all happening though, you have New Member Educators implementing the first impression a new member has on her new home. I am not here to say that Bid Day is all about the decorations by any means, but you also don't want your new members to look back on their Bid Day and feel like they missed out. I have put together a small guide for what you need to create a memorable Bid Day!
t-shirts
balloons
lawn letters
symbol cutouts
Bid Day banner
group picture
p.s. Don't forget Bid Day gifts!
Aug 1, 2012
RECRUITMENT PREP
Recruitment is just around the corner for many schools. If you think those name tags, banners, and letters make themselves you are dead wrong. Recruitment is a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun! Personally, I look forward to recruitment so much every year it is a little ridiculous.
Make time as a chapter to get together to make name tags, banners, and letters. Bring snacks and drinks, and you have a sisterhood event underway! No, it is not your typical sisterhood, but you will have fun and you will bond while getting some much-needed work done.
photo credit: 1
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