The Guide to Oily Skin

Hey guys!

When I first started using makeup, there was always one question I was faced with that seemed really daunting: do I have oily or dry skin?

For people that have been using make up, this might seem like a silly question. But when you are new to things, it can be really hard, since this is usually a question that only you would know.

It really helps when you do know the answer, because it can help you pick the right kinds of makeup and skincare product for you.

I thought that maybe I could help out a little.

Signs of Oily Skin:

-You notice shinny spots on your skin: especially on your forehead, nose, and chin.

-You feel like you need to wash your face several times a day.

-You often get pimples

-You have an oily scalp: meaning you wash your hair or need to use dry shampoo often.

-You feel your makeup sliding around your face during the day.

A quick way to tell if you suffer from oily skin: buy a pack of oil blotting sheets (my favorite are the Deep Clean ones by Neutrogena). Press a sheet against your skin. If you turn the paper into something that looks like the picture below: you've got oily skin.

A few tips for people with oily skin:

-Even though you might not want to, moisturize! Skin becomes oilier the more it dries out. I like the First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream.

-Choose face products that say they are oil free and mattifying. I like It Cosmetics CC Cream and the Smashbox Photo Finish Light primer.

-A good powder is your best friend. I love MAC's Studio Fix Plus.

-Finding a good cleanser that cleans deep into pores is super important. I love the Neutrogena Clear Pore and First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser.

-Blotting sheets like the Deep Clean ones above, are so helpful!

-When all else fails, Urban Decay's DeSlick spray literally works miracles.

Make sure to check out all of my latest posts: My Nail Polish Collection, My Everyday Makeup, MAC First Impressions/Haul, and Covergirl 3-1 Foundation Review.

First Day of College Advice

With college quickly approaching for a lot of people, I thought it would be fun to whip up a little post about my advice for your first day of college classes. I think a lot of emphasis is often placed on moving into the dorms or getting acquainted with aspects of college life, and people don't often talk about school or classes.

Looking back to my first day of college, which literally feels like forever ago, I was really nervous because my first class that I ever attended was World Geography 210. And being the anxious college freshman that I was, I was terrified because it was a 200 level class! I thought for sure I would be the only freshman in the entire class of 60 and that it would be hard and intimidating and the professor would look something like Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World.

Let me tell you, boy was I wrong. At least three fourths of the class were freshman first of all, so they were just as nervous as I was. My professor was pretty much the most awesome professor you could have on the first day. He looked like the lead singer of the band the Bare Naked Ladies first of all (no, seriously he did). He was wearing distressed jeans with Converse and a T-shirt. No bow ties. No stuffy accents. He actually opened up with a bunch of jokes and showed the class a list of classes that we could be taking if we had gone to other colleges around the country (he then inserted a list that showed some classes just dedicated to Lady Gaga and to other random stuff).

Then he explained the class. He told us that geography is all around us, and then showed us a map of the US and all the area codes that Ludacris raps he has hos in. I seriously didn't expect my first class of college to be like that.

It was awesome and I can't explain how fun and exciting it was to be in a new environment, one where teachers can wear tennis shoes and cuss in.

While you may not have a professor that first day as laid back and awesome as mine, I did think there were some important things you can keep in mind.

-Even upperclassmen arrive to class on the first day. Living on campus, about five minutes away, I'd say the best time to leave was about 20 minutes prior. This allows you to be on time and get a spot.

-Find your classes the day before so you can just go to class without being flustered. I've learn from experience, because the time that you don't go before looking for your class, it will be the most confusing and hard to find room on the entire campus.

-Don't bring your textbook to class, unless your teacher tells you otherwise. You might be thinking I'm crazy, but I'm serious. The first day the teacher will read off the syllabus, probably do some sort of ice breaker, and that will be about it. Bringing your textbook is just a pain that first day.

-Wake up a little earlier. Despite the stereotypes that college students just roll out of bed, on the first day no one really does. Dress up! Wear that new cute top or a sundress. It's your first day of new impressions.

-Eat breakfast/bring a snack, especially if you have a long day ahead of you.

-Listen to your professor that first day and decide whether you mesh well with his/her teaching style and what the course is about. Some professors are super disorganized and just let the class lead itself. Others have every due date set in stone before the first class is in session. Pick what works for you, the add/drop deadline is generally a week into the semester.

-Introduce yourself to the people you are sitting next to. Trust me, they are probably intimidated freshmen too (or maybe just a friendly sophomore) and won't think you're weird at all. Those first attempts of getting to know the people around you are the most important because they could help you arrange study groups or have a group to work with on projects.

-Wanna know a piece of advice on professors? 9 times out of 10, they will take notice of you going up to them the first day after class and introducing yourself. Seriously, it looks super good on your part. Walk up to them (unless they look like they are in a hurry to get to the next class, then you probably won't want to bother them) and just say "Hi, I'm (insert name). I enjoyed class today and can't wait for the rest of the semester." And already you've made a positive impression.

I hope this advice helps! Good luck on all your first days out there!

 

What I Wish I Knew: My Freshman Year of College

Hi guys!

I know it’s still early in the summer, but if you are an incoming college freshman, and super excited like I was, you are more than likely halfway done shopping for dorm stuff, have your classes picked out, and are counting down the seconds until you arrive on campus. I was kind of excited to say the least.

Anyway, as I’m sitting here, the summer before my senior year of college, and before my very last semester on my college campus, I thought it would be kinda fun to write things that I wish I knew before I went to college. Sorta like a letter to the 18 year old version of myself. Hopefully this also helps those of you who are about to start your journeys at college.

These are things that I would tell the 18 year old/freshman in college version of myself:

1. Don’t freak out about everything. It’ll all get figured out, whether you freak out or not.

2. Organization is so important! Keep calendars, agendas, and lists of upcoming assignments (way too many times I was caught with forgotten assignment or test due the next day).

3. Organization is also really important to actually fit all your junk in your dorm room.

4. Lining your desk and dresser drawers may sound unimportant, but they really make your life more colorful. Especially when you use cupcake wrapping paper.

5. Coupons are a college student’s best friend. Get coupons for places that aren't even super college related like Bath and Body Works.

6. Forget hoodies and yoga pants. Be that girl in your 9 am Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays that wears sundresses and cute outfits with hair and makeup done. College is not an excuse for barely getting dressed.

7. Dress up to make yourself happy, no one else.

8. Painted nails instantly make you feel put together, even when everything else is a mess.

9. There will be plenty of times you’ll want to kill your roommate.

10. Make friends everywhere you can. In classes, on your floor, in other buildings (how else will you figure out where to live for your sophomore year).

11. There’s no better way to meet people and feel involved than joining Greek Life.

12. Don’t worry about college boys, first kisses, or going on dates. What’s meant to be will be.

13. As you walk to class, take in the fall the colors of the trees. In the spring take in the bright yellow daffodils.

14. Live on both sides of campus! Especially central campus! They aren’t as weird as people say!

15. Go to Tobey-Kendel for Panini day.

16. Study in common spaces! It’s the only way to focus. And meet people!

17. Online classes suck. End of story.

18. Spend money on bedding. It’s the biggest impact in the room and it’s your way to cocoon from the world.

19. Take pictures of everything! You’ll one day wonder what you room looked like, what your roommates looked like, and how long your hair is.

20. No matter how tempting it is, 9:30 AM and 3:45 Tuesday Thursday classes are never fun. Don’t do it.

21. And no matter how annoying your hair is, don’t trim it! Your 21 year old version of yourself will wish you hadn’t.

22. As tempting as it is, you don't need to buy every random dorm item Target and Bed Bath and Beyond advertise.

23. Plan in advance what you want to wear to sorority recruitment. Wear cute sandals, spend time on your makeup, and let your personality shine. Also write down a backup list of questions to ask the sororities when things get awkward.

24. Rent your textbooks. Just do it. You won't get a dime back when you try to resell your textbooks.

25. Studying at the library is the best place to actually focus.

26. When it's snowing outside, wear waterproof mascara, especially when you are walking across campus.
 

 

How Incorporate Chevron Into Your Dorm!

Hi guys!

I don’t know about you, but I’m a little obsessed with chevron. I find myself wanting to incorporate the print into pretty much every facet of my life. Chevron pedicure? Dying for one! Chevron tank? I’m obsessed with mine from Lizard Thicket. Chevron phone cases, makeup bags, wallets, purses, totes, and agendas? They all call my name like you wouldn’t believe. And of course when it comes to incorporating it into my apartment for my senior year, I find it really hard to resist.

Now I’m by no means the authority on prints, and in the end I’d say do what makes you happy, but I think there are definitely tasteful and great ways to use chevron, and then there are ways that aren’t so great.

Chevron is a busy pattern. I love how graphic and clean, but interesting it is, but if you’ve looked at chevron fabric, I hope it didn’t give you a headache like it did me. The pattern needs to be broken up into pieces, or to have scattered throughout. Don’t make it look like chevron threw up all over your room.

So some chevron looks that I think are appropriate and pretty for college dorms and apartments just have small doses of chevron. Think throw pillows, a couple picture frames, a bulletin board, a blanket, a duvet cover, or a rug. But please, don’t do all of those things!

Chevron looks great for just a little pop of interest. Make sure to mix patterns! Mix it with dots, solids, ikats, or florals! But please never put chevron right next to something zebra. It never works.

Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate this ever-popular print:

-Make DIY chevron wall art. You can either paint (use stencils from online for the cleanest lines) or fabric. My little made the one with the A and I made the one with the C below.

-Throw pillows are some of my favorite looks with chevron. This is my bedroom at home with a navy chevron throw pillow.

-Bulletin boards are great too! They can be homemade or storebought (you know when I talked about chevron making  you dizzy? Well my bulletin board made me dizzy looking at it, try using larger chevron patterns)

-Chevron bedding is adorable too! Just make sure to break it up with solid or small printed sheets, small printed throw pillows (think dots or small simple florals).


American Made Bedding

Isn't that bedding just lovely?

I hope this helps a little bit with the chevron craze. I know I want it incorporate it some way into my apartment, so we'll see what happens. Let me know what your plans for your dorm rooms are.

Are you obsessed with chevron and dorm design? Take a look at this post on some favorite chevron products, my senior year mood boards, and my apartment to-do list!

 

Decorating Your Dorm Year to Year

Hi guys!

So earlier this week you saw some of my early brainstorming for my senior year apartment I’ll be living in next fall. I’m super excited for it, to say the least. Anyway, it got me to thinking about some advice I have for college students that are preparing for their living situations next year. After having gone through like three multiple times before, these are things that I have done or wished I had done before moving into my new space from the old year.

1.      Have a Plan

It’s so important to know where you are living for the next year. Sign up for your new dorm, house, or apartment early so you can start to plan what kind of things you’ll need, and what you want to decorate. If possible, find a floor plan of your space (many colleges and apartments offer floor plans of their rooms online, so be on the lookout). This will help you prepare for about how big your space will be, where windows, doors, and closets are located, and any other notable things to plan for.

2.     Decide the Theme

If you are matching your room décor to your roommate’s, figure out a theme (nautical, Victoria’s Secret, flowers, etc). If you are just planning your own space, decide on the colors and feel you want it to be. Find something that inspires you and then design around it (usually for college spaces, I’d recommend centering it around your bedding, since that’s the biggest element in a small room). For instance, I have my heart set on the Urban Outfitters chevron duvet in black and white, so I know that I’ll have a black, white, and pops of red theme.

3.     Make of a List of Things to Buy

Once you know what your space will look like and what theme you want your space to have, make a list of things to buy. My advice to poor college students is to try to pick a theme that allows you to use most of the stuff you already have. It would break my bank to decide I don’t want to use any of my red stuff anymore, so I know I should stick to my same colors I’ve used the past three years. If you know you’ll need new bedding, pots and pans, plates, and other kitchen items, break it down into several months of buying things. Don’t save it all for August right before school because that can kill your budget. For example, I’m planning on buying a duvet and an insert here in the spring, and then buying the rest of my apartment items throughout the summer. If you are moving from a dorm to an apartment or house, make sure you discuss with your roommates who is purchasing staples like pots, pans, kitchen utensils, bathroom shower curtains, TVs, coffee makers, and big things like that.

4.    Pack Efficiently

I know this is harping on this subject early, but remember at the end of this semester when you pack up your stuff you currently use, try to pack intelligently. Pack your kitchen/eating items together (don’t forget to label!!), bathroom things together, bedding together, and so on. Pack the things you will want to use over the summer together too, so you don’t have to go through each box looking for things like your iPhone charger. It makes next fall when you go back to school so much easier!

5.     Watch Sales!

If the bedding you’ve been eyeing goes on sale in April, jump on it. Don’t always wait until school starts because that’s when things get picked over. However, if you don’t absolutely love it, know that new things will come out over the summer just for kids that are going to college.

Do you have any advice for preparing for next year? What’s the biggest decorating changes between living in a dorm versus an apartment or house?

Cute Ways to Spoil Your Little

Wondering where I went last week? Well, it was big/little week here at my sorority, so I was busy crafting like one of Santa’s elves. I lucked out and got twins (two girls that I LOVE), so that meant I was busy crafting for over a week straight. I love crafting though, so even though it was slightly stressful (and my perfectionism was definitely kicking in), it was a lot of fun and so worth it to spoil my littles some.

Making and picking out cute gifts for littles can be super difficult and so expensive. Every sorority at every college has different traditions and expectations of amounts and money that should be spent, but I thought I would offer some cute ideas that I love (and some I even used!).

Matching T-Shirts!

Here at my sorority, we devote a day to giving our littles cute shirts, ones that generally match their future big’s, and sometimes even their future grandbigs!. I made my twins matching ones, that were just in different colors and with their names on the back! I’m currently loving bows, so I made sure to design a bow on the front and back! Hurting on cash a bit? Make them shirts! Whip out the puff paint, fabric, or use one of the t=shirt design programs for your computer! The thought is what counts!

Flowers!

I decorated cheap $3 vases from Walmart with nifty Marta Stewart class paint (using sponge polka dot brushes of course!). I personalized them with their names and our sorority. I then gave them each a dozen roses. If that’s a tad too expensive, use other cute flowers like daisies or carnations, in your sorority’s colors!

Bulletin Boards

This was my favorite thing to make my twins! See, my own big made me a board that I absolutely love. It was my favorite gift I received from her, and I wanted to follow the same design. I just customized them to my littles’ preferences. It was so much fun and really inexpensive too!

 

Favorite Snacks/Candy/Food

This is such a simple, cute idea to spoil your little! If you sorority doesn’t give out information sheets on your new little, have a sister sneakily ask her what her favorite foods, candy, and restaurants are. In my gift bag and boxes I included all of their favorite candy. And another day I added little $5 Starbucks gift cards (in clean Starbucks cups I decorated with ladybugs and ribbon!).

Rainboots or Shoes

Many girls in my sorority decorated rainboots with polka dots and monograms for their littles. Whether it was Toms look-alikes or just tennis-shoes, these came out so adorable! Bonus points for matching ones!

Pinbox

Making a cute little box for your little to store her pin in is a sweet gift for either big/little week or initiation. My Ruby when I first joined my sorority made me a pin box, that was also large enough to hold my bid card and some other important items from my membership.

Slippers/Stuffed Animals

Having a soft, stuffed animal or some fuzzy slippers in your sorority mascot are always fun things to receive. Pillow Pets are always popular as gifts too.

Blanket

Some sororities have traditions of making their littles fleece tie blankets, and they are very cute things to get and hold onto. Plus, they are very easy to make! There are wide varieties of fleece out there, and places always have sales on their fleece.

I hope this list of ideas make shopping and crafting for your littles easier and more fun! Enjoy each and every second of big/little week, and remember that the relationship with your sister is the most important part!

When it Comes to Littles...

It’s one of the most exciting things when you first join a sorority. The thought of getting a big, an older sister in your sorority that will lavish you with gifts, mentor you through the first crazy year (and every year after that, even after she graduates) of being in a sorority, and hold your hand and guide you through initiation. It’s someone that hopefully will be in your wedding party, and a person you will be a bridesmaid for.

It’s meant to be a special bond, one that is sacred and the closest thing to having a real biological sister.

So you can imagine when that time rolls around every year, that sorority women go crazy with who should be their big, will anyone want them, and will they have a close relationship.

It can definitely be scary. I won’t lie. When I was asked to give my top people as my big, I definitely freaked out. I could name three tops. And those three, well, I had only known for a few weeks!! What if they were different than their recruitment/post-recruitment front? What if they didn’t want me back? It was frightening.

It’s bad enough that the new member period is so overwhelming and fast as it is. However, I’m going to offer some tips for all the future littles to keep in mind:

·         Remember when your Rho Chi told you during recruitment to pick the sorority that aligns most with who you want to be in four years? Your big is a lot like that. Try to pick someone that will be a positive and fun person, but also who will help make the most of your membership.

·         If you don’t get your #1 choice, it’s not the end of the world. If you don’t get anyone on your list, it’s still not the end of the world. The committee that picks the pairs picked you with that particular person for a reason, trust in them.

·         Make the most of the relationship! No one ever got closer by never spending time together. After getting your big, grow your relationship by going out to coffee, lunch, hanging out, or taking classes together.

·         After reveal, if your sorority doesn’t have a Big Appreciation day, make sure you do appreciate her some way. More than likely, she just spent HUNDREDS of dollars on your gifts. Spoil her!

·         Don’t be that girl, that’s upset with who her big is, so she tries to steal another sister’s big. Just don’t.

·         Enjoy every second. It’s an experience you’ll tell during recruitment, to your children, and to your grandchildren.

College Make Up Must-Haves

Wondering what make up to wear to college classes? Well, it's all personal preference really. If you like makeup and being all prettied up, then you'll probably wear it on a daily basis. If you only really wear it on special days, well, you'll probably not wear it as often. However, I decided to list some of the make up that I think is essential to every college girl, not just ones that love makeup.

BB Cream: I think this is the perfect daily, go-to face product for the college girl! Why? First, it has SPF (depending on brand, it can be as high as 35!), moisturizer, priming capabilities, the ability to reduce redness, and even skintone. Pretty good for just one product. Plus, there are BB Creams in every budget!

Pressed Powder: Not only is it great to set your BB Cream, it's also a great touch-up for when you feel your skin is looking dull. It sops up any oilness, and can add an airbrushed look. My favorite is MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

Favorite Eyeshadow Palette: Even if you don't wear eyeshadow everyday, I think it's really important to have a good eyeshadow palette that can work for class or night. If you can, look for a palette that offers you the most looks. My favorite is the original Naked palette by Urban Decay. First, it comes with a brush, Primer Potion, and 12 pigmented colors that work for a ton of different looks. I love that you can go from a very natural look, to a very dramatic one with just a few different colors and techniques. Plus, if you are needing inspiration, there are a ton of great tutorials on Youtube using it! Other favorites come from Wet N' Wild's "Walking on Eggshells" and Covergirl's "Shimmering Sands."

Natural Pink/Peachy Blush: I think this is a great touch for those early morning where you look paler snow. Either providing a sheer wash of color, or a bold blending, blush can make any college girl go from dragging to alert and pretty in seconds! Of course my go-to is NARS Orgasm, but I also love NARS Deep Throat, and Tarte's Dollface. A great budget friendly alternative is ELF too!

Versatile Masara: My favorite must is mascara. Whether you have short or long lashes, just a couple swipes of a good mascara can really open up your eyes and make you looks instantly put together. My favorite go-to for definition, length, and volume is Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes! Some great drugstore alternatives is L'Oreal Voluminous Millions, Maybelline's Colossal Volum' Express mascara, and Maybelline's Falsies.

Tinted Lip Balm: I'm definitely not a lipstick sorta girl, and lipgloss is usually much too sticky for an everyday look, so I tend to stick to good old tinted lip balm. Why? It has SPF, shine, color, and of course because it makes your lips soft! I love Burt's Bees, but there are tons of others!



Handling Being Homesick

So today I'm going to talk about a more serious issue that often arises for college freshman, as well as older college students...and that's being homesick.

I'd be absolutely lying if I said I've never been homesick in my two years of college so far. I'd also being lying if I said that getting over being homesick is easy. Because it's not.

My freshman year was without a doubt, the hardest. See, unlike a lot of my peers, I love my family. I want to be around them. I miss home. I miss my dog and guinea pigs. Previously, I hadn't even slept over at a friend's house before. So as you can imagine, transitioning to not seeing my parents every day was tough. On top of it, I was battling stress from school, my roommates fighting, and being diagnosed with anxiety. It was not fun. In fact, all I wanted was to go home.

I don't have all the answers for how to ward homesickness away, that's for sure. But I will say that my sophomore year was better because I knew myself better. I know what are triggers for me to feel this way. For instance, despite my shyness and being an introvert, I need people around. When my roommate and boyfriend went home for the weekend, I had to stay on top of my emotions. If I'm watching a movie, it definitely can't be sad. That I can think about home, but I can't obsess about how much I miss my pets. Things like that.

Here are some things that helped me:

-Call home. Hearing your parents’ voices can definitely help. It can make you feel more connected despite the distance. Only problem: at some point you need to learn how to deal with this feeling on your own, so try not to call them several times a day.

-Have pictures of loved ones and pets around!

-During downtime, find a hobby that occupies your mind. Things like crafting, reading, cleaning, or blogging. Honestly, without Scrubs on Netflix, my freshman year, I think I wouldn’t have made it.

-Become involved! Definitely joining a sorority helped me a lot. I’m busy at least two to three nights a week. Downtime was my greatest enemy.

-Visit people on your floor/friends in other buildings.

-Go home! I’ve found that going home every other weekend is the perfect amount of visitation time for me.

-Decorate your dorm room into a comforting space. My anxiety made it hard to get out of bed on some days. So I made my bedding as comfy and cute as possible.

-Use technology! Skype old friends!

-Don’t use shopping/eating/partying to make you feel better. This only creates BIGGER issues.

-Find a good supportive, group of friends. For me, it was my boyfriend and my sorority sisters. My boyfriend can tell when I’m feeling anxious just from looking at me. Even from reading texts that I think are perfectly normal. Find people that are positive, happy, fun, and kind.

-Focus on school. Find a favorite study spot.

-Try to be as busy as possible. Go to the campus rec center, walk around campus, or visit the library.

-Talk to your RA or Dorm Director. If it gets really bad, don't be afraid to ask for resources like your campus mental health services. They are there for you and so helpful.

-If all else fails, four things that always help me: calling my boyfriend, sleeping, taking a shower, and hot chocolate.

Sororities and Money...

 

So I know you've probably already seen the tips for recruitment and outfits that I suggested, but I decided I needed to back up a little bit, and talk about some things you need to think about before taking the leap. Going through recruitment is a serious decision, one that will impact you in a lot of ways, and joining a sorority is just as serious.

The first area I'll discuss is...

 Finances (cue the lightning strikes, thunder, and scary music)

 I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but sororities do cost money. And at many of schools, they cost a lot of money. I'm not trying to scare you, but it's something that the sororities will undoubtedly talk to you about during recruitment, after recruitment, and even after the new member period. The exact number differs greatly from school to school, sorority to sorority. For instance, at my school, the new member dues (a one time sum you pay up front when you first start), range anywhere from $500-$1000. And for regular dues (the amounts you will pay once initiated, every semester) also range from $350 to $950. See, the range is huge. The sorority that is $950 has larger Parlor fees (it basically is the cost for you to come over and spend time in the house), mostly because they pay for a maid service. When considering costs in dues, consider these things (great question to ask during recruitment by the way):

Is the sorority all inclusive?

Meaning, is formal included in the dues, required shirts, activities, socials, etc. As often as sororities say this (that they are all inclusive, I mean), watch out. They usually aren't. Be prepared to drop at least another $100 or so on stuff that isn't included in dues.

Are there discounts?

My sorority offers discounts for things such as paying early, living in the actual sorority house, and paying with a check instead of debit/credit card. These discounts can either come straight away, can cover the costs of shirts not covered by dues, or a pin upgrade.

 Do they have a pay plan?

Unfortunately, it just sometimes hard to drop $500 or more just at one time, so see if you're sorority can offer you a month to month way to pay off your bill. This is helpful especially for those that want to pay their own sorority dues.

Are you paying for it? Or your parents?

My parents pay my sorority dues. Say what you want, but that's how it is. If you are going to work, you need to first, make sure you have job, and second, make sure it will be enough to cover dues plus all your other sorority expenses.


Can you/do you want to live in the sorority house?

Most houses require you to live in the house at least one year. Can you afford to live in the house? I know for me personally, it's the cheapest option. That's because the rent is only $2,100 a semester. They serve you dinner five nights a week, they do all the grocery shopping, and utilities and all that jazz are included. Plus, the member dues are discounted by $200. So yes, I'm actually saving money. Every sorority is different, though, so be sure to ask them during recruitment/new member period about living in requirements and the costs.

 If things get rough, how can they help?

Once again, if you find yourself, for whatever reason, unable to pay dues, find out what they can try to do to help. My sorority offers girls the chance to go on "status" meaning that they aren't truly active in the sorority, but they remain in. Others might be able to work with financial aid of some sort. But be sure you talk to the treasurer about this. They have all the answers.

Not only are sororities a time commitment, but they are also a huge financial commitment. But here is the thing: it's not paying for your friends. You are paying for experiences. Don't let anyone discourage you about going Greek with that stupid saying. Any club you join will require you to spend some sort of money, and this is no different. However, at most sororities, the cost includes fantastic things like life-time subscriptions to their magazines, your pin, formal, sisterhoods, socials, mixers, Mom's Day, Dad's Day, and other cool stuff like that. To me that's not paying for your friends. That's paying to have make the most out of your college experience.

Movin' In Tips!

So with college move-in days quickly approaching, I thought I'd share some tips with everyone about the most anticipated day for all college students: move in day!

{From PB Teen...how can they make even moving in cute?!}

It can be scary, fun, exciting, nerve-wrecking, sad, happy, and probably another million things! Having moved myself in twice before, and my brother four times before that, I feel like I have tons of experience with this day!


1. Try to stay calm and relaxed! Yes, moving in and getting used to your new home can be tremendously scary and stressful, but just take deep breaths and try to be flexible! In all six of the move in days I've seen, something always seems to go wrong. No matter what you do, something will. My brother's sophomore year, his name was the only one (out of four) that wasn't on the door! That freaked him out, he swore he was going to be homeless! That was until his RA told him that she just ran out of supplies. So just remember that everything will fall into place!


2. Pack in an organized fashion! This is huge! When you pack your boxes/plastic containers, try to use logic when placing things together. Put all of your desk, supplies, school things (as in academic stuff like books) in the same place. Repeat that with your shower and vanity supplies, and also with your clothing. That makes unpacking extremely easy, and will help keep your dorm more organized too!

{While this picture might seem crazy, the bin is holding all my jeans/bottoms}

3. Arrive early! I know! You probably want to sleep in! But if you have a long drive to your college (mine is 2 1/2 hours), you definitely want to leave even earlier. Why? Oh boy, there are a lot of reasons. First, mid to late August is hot! The earlier you get there, the more likely you will not have your flip flops melt into the pavement (happened to me my brother's freshman year). Plus, it's a lot less miserable! Second, parking. I have two cars come up to move me in. My parents, and mine. So figure that most of the other students are doing the same. In parking lots that already are too small for the number of students, this will just be crazy. You might have to park miles away. Which is not fun. Third, I like to see the room before my roommate shows up. I like having first choice for bed (I always like by the window haha). Not all dorms are created equal, let me tell you. Fourth, it gives you more time to settle in before the night activities happen. I know at my school we always had floor meetings at around 5 to 6 where we met everyone. Then we'd have dinner with our floor, go to an ice cream social, and then movie night on the hill. You don't want to miss all that fun, trust me.


4. Do the majority of your college shopping before you get there. This is important. I know we don't want to load up our cars to capacity, but waiting to buy all your things in your college town is not always the way to go. Why? Because every store in your city, is going to be like Christmas Eve/Black Friday. There will be mayhem. The odds of getting what you like/want, are extremely slim too. Take the Command 3M strips that all dorms require you to use for your walls. My entire college town sells out. Target, Walmart, and every other store sells out of these important things. So buy them at home. Same with notebooks, folders, and other school supplies. I know it seems impossible, but both Walmarts and Target in my college town sell completely out of these necessities. My roommate this past year made that mistake, so she wound up with wide ruled notebooks with puppies and kittens on them (I personally would like the puppies, but she wasn't as fond of them).

{The only things I left to buy was some posters from Hobby Lobby}

5. Before leaving home, check yourself for these things: your phone, charger, laptop (my brother did forget this one year), student ID, wallet/money, and important numbers like your social security number and your student number. You'll need them.

{Cute gift idea: give your roommate a Vera Bradley Zip ID
case for only $12. A college must for easy access to your ID!}

6. This is completely optional. But my freshman year, one of my roommates (and now a very dear friend), brought us all little move in day gifts. She gave us Starbucks grande size tumblers and mini hand lotions from Bath and Body Works, along with a little note. I seriously died when I saw that from the niceness of it all. So last year I copied her. I bought my roommate a water bottle with the school's logo on it, and some candy. I think this is such a good idea, and you definitely don't have to spend a ton of money. Even just a note is a great way to reach out to your roommate that first day.
(Some ideas I like: something representing your college, little school supplies, handwritten card, yummy little foods, a cute coffee mug with hot chocolate or tea, hand sanitizer, a lanyard, cute pens and pencils, a journal, or my favorite: the Vera Bradley Zip ID case shown above!).


So there you go! Do you have any advice to add to this list? Any concerns or worries about going to college?


Thanks for reading!

Sorority Recruitment Fashion Inspiration

Hey!

So the last post I talked all about some sorority recruitment do's and don'ts, so I was thinking today I would touch a little bit more on recruitment fashion. Now, first I must say that every college is completely different. That is entirely true. Many competitive schools in the south dress up every day, and I'm sure the clothing choices down there are much different the choices at my non-competitive college in Colorado.

However, I thought I'd share some outfits that reminded me a lot of what most of the girls wore last year when I went through recruitment. Just to let you know, at my college the first three days (Getting to Know You, House Tours, and Philathrophy/Chapter Emphasis Day) are all casual. My school's site describes attire to be "casual...nice top, jeans, and flip-flops." The fourth day of recruitment is Preference Tea, where dress is "nice attire...dresses, skirt and blouse, or pants outfit." And Bid Day is supposed to be the dressiest of all (though in my personal opinion Pref should be more dressy...save your best for that night!).

For the more casual days, these are some outfits I found (via Pinterest because I am incapable of understanding how the heck Polyvore works haha).

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I like the above outfit because it is simple, classy, and so pretty. I doubt it would be cold enough here to wear longsleeves, but I like the idea. One thing to take note, I wouldn't wear distressed jeans, since they don't always scream classy.

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One thing that I love about this outfit is the pop of color! The sororites are going to see hundreds of girls, so try to have a statement piece in your outfit everyday! (Btw...I'm not too sure about that headband...)

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Basically, Lauren Conrad always looks amazing. And this outfit is so darn cute! I know in the descriptions my school listed jeans as acceptable, my the days are so hot, the wearing a skirt is not a bad idea. Just remember, on Philanthropy Day you are probably going to partake in a craft project, so sitting on the floor is possible! (Although looking back on it, I sat on the floor everyday during the first three days, so make sure your skirt is long enough to sit on the floor without showing anything!)

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So I love this. I'd wear it every day of my life if I could. Just remember, try to stay away from distressing...


As for the more dressy nights, I remember being told that sundresses are the way to go. Remember, usually sororities dress all in one color this night. My school dresses all in black, so try at all costs to avoid the color black. I've heard some colleges dress in white, so just in case, don't wear that either (however, your Rho Chis will probably warn you, so don't worry).

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I know what you're thinking...this is not a sundress. However, I like it because it's a fun, fashionable outfit, but it's also somber enough for Pref Tea. At my school, it's an incredibly touching night, that usually involves lots of tears and hugs.

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I love this floral dress! It's super cute!

Let me just say, anything from Spool 72 is perfect. They have absolutely perfect sundresses. 

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Finally, I love this dress! The color is so beautiful (gem tones can be so flattering!).

I hope these outfits help you in your search for the perfect recruitment wardrobe. Just always keep in mind these things:

-Wear things that make you feel good! Even if it is trendy, if it doesn't feel good or look good on you, skip it.

-Remember: You are dressing to impress girls. Not guys. So don't go showing off everything or dress like your going clubbing.

-Recruitment is more about classy pieces then trendy-ness.

 -Keep in mind weather. Check the forecasts. Bring an umbrella just in case. If it's hot, skip the sweater. If it's chilly, don't wear just a tank top.

So there you have it!

Thanks for reading!!