Trend Spotter : Nails on Nails on Nails

Recently, our founder hosted a "party" on Facebook where she was selling Jamberry. For those of you who haven't heard of them, Jamberry is (basically) a heat activated sticker that substitutes for nail polish. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and are $15 a sheet. The price may seem a little hefty at first, at least for me it did, but after researching I found that you can get about 2 full manicures out of a single sheet. Way cheaper than any salon! 

I haven't tried the Jamberry nails yet, but I have a sample and I'm pretty excited. I work in the food service industry and my nails take a constant beating. I'm sure a lot of college kids are the same way. All I really want in life is nail polish that won't chip. 

In an effort to achieve ultimate nail greatness, I have taken the adventure into gel nails (not the professional kind) and I've been disappointed. I heard great things about the Sally Hansen Gel which doesn't need a UV light, so I dropped the $7 and tried it. It chipped within hours. 

Something, I will suggest to you guys is Sally Hansen Extreme Wear. Hands down the best polish I've ever tried. With the right top coat, it can last for days. I've spent money on all types of polish, even the best ones like Essie, and SH Extreme Wear beats the competition out of the water. 

Our nails take a beating and it's hard to find the right solution. On the quest to nail perfectness, we all have to trial and error. But I hope that you guys try out the SH and like it! (I'll be sure to leave some updates about Jamberry too!)  

Having More Than One Little

With the fall semester quickly approaching, it's that time of year again. Yes, school is starting and that's just dreadful exciting but that also means recruitment is right around the corner. With recruitment comes PNMs and with PNMs comes the potential for new littles. Perhaps this is your time to shine and take one of these new girls under your wing to become their big sister or maybe you've been an active member of your organization for a while and have had the opportunity to take more than one little. Whatever the case may be, sharing the experience of your sorority (or fraternity) with your little is so special and it is a relationship that should not be taken lightly. I have one actual little sister, Little J, who is an initiated member of my sorority and I cherish our relationship to no end. 

Little J and I at her initiation (as seen on TSM).

I also have five other individuals who are very much like littles to me, I call them my "unofficial littles". They're equally as important and I try my best to make sure I'm always there to support them. Each one of them incorporates a unique piece to my puzzle that I call life. To put it in simple terms that might help you understand, they're like my adopted children and their Greek affiliation (or lack of Greek affiliation) does not matter to me because I'll be there for them for life. Maybe you've been in a similar circumstance or maybe you share your big with another person and are having a difficult time adjusting. So, without further ado, here are a few key points I've put together of what you should and should not do if you have a little, multiple littles, or if you're considering taking a little in the future.

You Should: Have group dates. Make your littles hang out with each other because, let's face it, you'll probably graduate before any of them and be off into the real world before they know it. Having those family bonds solidified before you graduate makes the transition much easier for everyone involved. Plus, it's always nice to have someone in your corner if your big is not around. 

You Should: Treat them equally. No one likes to feel left out so even if your connection with one little is stronger than it is with your other little(s), always make an effort to show them you care.

Different Day. Different Little. Different Leggings. Same Pose.

You Should: Celebrate their accomplishments! Little one got a new car, little two got a new puppy, little three killed their internship interview. No matter how big or small these events are, they're important to your little. Let them know that you're thinking about them! 

You Should: Make a fun family name or give each little a nickname. Like I mentioned, I have acquired a small family of littles. We are the Nugget Family, not like chicken nuggets, but somehow that's the association that's transpired. So, as a result, they're my little pack of nugs. We even have our own secret Facebook group for easy communication but we'll pretend like I didn't just spill the beans with that one. 

Some of the Nugget Family at a tailgate event.

You Should: Take note of how each little reacts in a troubling situation or when dealing with stress and anxiety. Some people love to be hugged and soothed during times like these when others just need a pat on the back and an ice cream cone. Know how to help your little through these tough times. 

You Should Not: Favor one little over another. Yes, of course, sometimes you can't control the connection you have with someone but don't let it show. Always, always, always try to remain neutral. 

You Should Not: Forget the important dates in your littles' lives. Birthdays, anniversaries, milestones - write them down for yourself so you can always send some love their way on these special days.

You Should Not: Let too much time pass in between hanging out or catching up. Obviously, it's hard to coordinate with multiple schedules especially when you have a busy schedule of your own. However, you're never too busy to shoot your littles individual texts or messages to let them know you're thinking about them. 

You Should Not: Disown your little. Every so often, people who share a very close bond get annoyed with each other and feel that it's necessary to push back. Try not to do this, especially with your little. It's okay to have disagreements but mend those ties as soon as possible. Even if your little irritates you and you find yourself filled with negative emotions, always make an effort to mend the relationship. Your little is like your child and you have assumed the role of a parent - remember that always. Your little is yours for life not just for four years. 

Twinning with Little J.

If you have one little or twenty littles, your little looks up to you probably more than you realize. In many cases, you're the one that drives their passion for your organization or Greek Life and you give them the tools necessary for being an incredible big one day too. Aside from that, they learn from you. You indirectly teach them, hopefully, the right ways to navigate college and they usually keep you on your toes. The best way to summarize this would be to say, treat your little(s) how you would want to be treated. Best of luck this Fall if you're searching for your first, second, or even your third little. Whatever number you're on, having a little is always an awesome experience. 

What's your favorite memory with your big or little? Comment below and let us know! 

What Your Mother Doesn't Tell You About: Going Greek

What Your Mother Doesn't Tell You About: Going Greek

You've seen it on TV. You've read about it in magazines. You've probably even seen these people on your college campus. You guessed it, I'm talking about the men and women of Greek Life. The leaders, scholars, philanthropists, and friends who make your college experience one worth living. Let me take you back to the first week of your freshman year in college, that was five years ago for me. You probably lived on campus, went to freshman orientation, and met some pretty cool people called your roommates. You might have even lived with your bestie from high school. My first week of freshman year was literally the worst week of my life. I go to a university that is less than 30 minutes away from my hometown. So, naturally, I thought commuting from home would be way better than living on campus because there would be so much more room for activities at my house (step brothers? get it? anyone?). Anyway, I began my first day of class with no new, cool, awesome friends that lived in my dorm hall. There were freshman orientations for students who lived on campus the weekend before classes started and commuters could attend those events too but I refused to attend those fun, inviting, probably really great events that I should have. So, back to that first semester. I knew I wanted to go Greek. I wanted to join a sorority, particularly one of the sororities on my campus that I am legacy to. I met a few cool people the first couple of weeks of school but we were just "in class" friends and nothing more. I had been dying for the day to come when I could receive a bid from my legacy sorority, run home to them, and live happily ever after. Fall 2010 recruitment came and I'm not really sure if I was shy or if I just expected to be handed this set of beautifully crafted letters but I did not put forth the effort that recruitment period. I probably wasn't ready to join a sorority even though I thought I 100% was. I came back out during Winter 2011 for recruitment. This time, it was better for me but I still had the same, common misconception that letters would just appear in front of me and life would be sunshine and daisies. While I did receive a bid to my legacy sorority I did not choose to become a PNM (potential new member) of their organization. Why? Why was this not what I thought it would be? Why did I walk away from something I had wanted so badly for so many years? What your mother doesn't tell you about going Greek is that you have to FIND your HOME. You can't base your decision off of what sorority your grandma, your mom, or your sister were in because everyone is different, weird right? I spent the rest of my freshman year and most of my summer trying to transfer to my university's rival school. When that wasn't in the cards for me, I found myself starting my second year at the same university I hated, still with no new friends. I had missed out on a lot by this point in my college career. Sure, I had been to a few parties freshman year but I was missing out on the experience of having real, true friends. So, I spent a lot of time my first semester of my second year in college visiting my friends from high school who went to other universities. Why? Because oddly enough, most of them were Greek. They were having the time of their lives with their sisters if they were in a sorority or their brothers if they were in a fraternity. They had found their homes which was something I thought I had no chance of finding at my university. Now, when I say "home" I don't mean a literal house in which you live - I mean an extension of yourself, a family, a group of people to support you no matter what. I sound like this was all about making friends but really it was about finding my place and making myself happy. Okay so, back on track, first semester of my second year. I met a girl in my 300 level creative writing class, we'll call her Marissa. Marissa was part of this local sorority I had never heard of on my campus, Kappa Tau Epsilon. Marissa was their recruitment chair and encouraged that I check KTE out the following semester. I was blind to the local sorority world because I grew up in a family of NPC (national panhellenic conference) sorority women. Before talking with Marissa, I thought local sororities were made up and not real things, like, they didn't really exist. I was completely and entirely wrong. Winter 2012, I gave it a shot and I checked it out. I went to all of the recruitment events of this local sorority. The very first girl I met when I walked into KTE's recruitment was a girl who would later become my big but we'll talk about her in a different post.

My big and I (after I already knew she was my big but we can pretend I didn't know).

 I instantly had a connection with her, a connection I cannot put in to words. After walking into the room and meeting many of the other girls that first day, I knew I had found exactly where I belonged. And so, I began my local sorority (which really isn't too different than a national sorority) journey with Kappa Tau Epsilon. Flash forward to present day - I am starting my sixth year in college and my fourth year as a sister of Kappa Tau Epsilon. I am currently KTE's recruitment chair and this is my second time serving on our executive board. I could not be happier to be such a big part of the potential new members' recruitment process. I am very excited to meet the girls coming through recruitment this fall and I'm delighted I get to experience my last Fall recruitment as recruitment chair.

KTE taking a break to be silly while preparing for Fall 2015 recruitment.

What your mother doesn't tell you about going Greek is that it is not an instant process. Sometimes it takes time and effort. You might have to try and try again before you find your home or you might click with girls of a specific chapter immediately and never look back. The point is, take a risk. Experience what is out there. Have an open mind. Take a chance. Going Greek is by far the best thing I've ever done in my life and I bet it will be the best thing you do in yours too. 

Trend Spotter : Mermaid Hair, Don't Care

Let's face it. We've all wanted to be mermaids at one point or another. Maybe it's the fin or maybe it's the seashell bra, who really knows, but for me it was always the hair. Mermaids have beautiful, long, flowy hair that slides smoothly behind them as they charge through the water. I have always wanted that. And lately, the newest trend is "mermaid" colored hair. So what did you really expect me to do? 

(Disclaimer: These results were highly obnoxious and to be honest, if you're wanting to go the pastel hair route, I suggest you save your money and go to a professional.)

Basically, mermaid hair is just shades of pastel colors, but it's all the craze. Hilary Duff, Nicki Minaj, Mary-Kate Olsen, they've all done it. The most popular colors are bubblegum pink, lavender, mint, and a soft blue. I decided that I wanted to do the lavender color. $15 and a drive to Sally's Beauty Supply later, I had my supplies ready to go. 

The first step (which is even more difficult for people like me who have dark hair) is to bleach the parts you're going to dye. Bleach is pretty difficult to work with and has the potential to cause a lot of damage, so read the instructions carefully. In order to do this correctly, ESPECIALLY if you're wanting the super pastel colors like mint and lavender, your hair needs to be almost white. 

A couple tries later, and almost $30 more, I still didn't have lavender hair. The red undertones and inability to bleach completely made it pretty difficult. The end result was an ugly grey color in my hair. Luckily, I had only done a few sections and not my whole head. 

The cashier at Sally's was super helpful and told me I would be better off trying a color that wasn't so difficult to achieve. I gave up my hope for the lavender and switched to magenta, which worked out pretty well. The end result was pretty and I'm happy I at least have some color in there. The main lesson I learned was that you really do need to get in with a professional instead of trying it at home, but honestly, I think this new style is super cute and totally worth the money. 

Six Years of Freedom and Happiness

This past Sunday, I officially celebrated six years with my now fiancé (AJ).

To me, this is yet another major achievement for us as a couple. To me, it has been six amazing years with a man I truly love.

However this achievement also made think about our relationship and how my past still affects us as a couple, even six years later.

As some of you may know, or have read in my first blog post), I not only grew up in a abusive household, I am also a "survivor" of sexual abuse.

While I am proud of where I have ended up despite the horror of 10 years of that specific kind of abuse, I can't help but sometimes notice, how should I word this, the results from that kind of abuse?

For example; I will be the first to admit that I can be insecure, I sometimes need to be reassured that I am loved despite the fact that I know I am, I can also be very immature when others begin talking about sex, even when it is just in a joking nature, it always makes me slightly uncomfortable, and I hate silence, it makes me feel like something is wrong.

I see these traits as side- effects of living in an abusive household and while they are still there I have seen such improvement in that short amount of time.

I also seen some examples of amazing strength in myself, I see these to be the most valuable things I have, despite living in that situation, I still am an good person. For example, I have the ability to be compassionate, to still see the good in others, I also believe in myself and know I can achieve all that I want to make happen. I also believe in myself to the point that I won't settle for less that what I want in life. 

Overall, I am so happy to be continuing this amazing journey with the man I love. In addition, I am excited to continue to grow stronger and stronger as I continue my life in healthy environment. 
 

Mother’s day gifting sorority style!

When it comes to Mother’s day I like to do whatever I can to show my mom she not only awesome but that I appreciate her. Now I may not be able to break open big bucks for her and get red eye to Paris but I’m a sorority girl which means I can get creative. Here are some great gifts you can give your mom this Mother’s day.

1.       Make her favorite things- going out to brunch is great but surprising your mom with a homemade brunch shows her you really care. Not to mention you can decorate to make it even better than a five star restaurant because you’re cooking her favorite foods. If cooking is not your thing make her a snack pack in a cute décor box.

2.       Paddle love- Mom's love paddles, I gave my mom a Paris themed paddle and she loved it. Paddle are not just for your sisters you can give one to your mom.

3.       Homemade Card- trust me these never go out of style, I make them for my mom all the time. She loves them especially when I make a little poem in the card that includes our personal jokes. It makes it more personal.

4.       Jewelry- you can get your mom something pretty without breaking your piggy bank. Alex and Ani have really cute mom charm bracelets as well as sorority jewelry. You should also check out Charming Charlie because they have inexpensive pendants, it’s where I got mine to give to my mom. I got us match clover necklaces.

• http://www.alexandani.com/
• http://www.charmingcharlie.com/

5.       Make her a video collage- if you really want to get a tear to come to your mom’s eye. Make her a video collage, of pictures of you both throughout the years. Use songs that best describe your relationship or better yet use one of her favorite songs.

6.       Make her a playlist- I know I’m always making playlist but this one is my favorite thing to give to my mom. She is a car singer and dancer (I now know where I get it from). When she plays my mix I gave her it puts a smile on her face to where it brightens up her day.

7.       Twin day- Twin day does not have to be just for your little's. You can do it with your mom. Craft your mom shirts or if your mom is a legacy of your sorority get matching letters. Have one of your sister’s help with a photo-shoot for the two of you.

5 Things the Wedding Magazines Won't Tell You to Consider While Planning a Wedding!

I am the kind of girl that meets the common cliche of "dreaming about ny wedding since she was a little girl". From the date, to the location, to my hair, to the flowers, more or less every detail has planned been planned for no exaggeration, years. Whe I finally became engaged this past December to the greatest man I have ever met, I was beyond excited to finally put my dream wedding into action. 

I thought I was brilliant, I planned on doing almost everything myself from the invites to the flowers, I wasn't going to send thousands of dollars on a dress, everything was going to be classy but low budget. 

However, being me, I have always wanted to get married in the New Jersey Botenical Gardens. It is literally my favorite place in the world. In November  (ironically a month before becoming a official "Bride to Be" ) I decided on a whim to call them to get the pricing info.

It was then I dawned on me that this wedding was still going to be expensive, dispite all my planning, if I didn't look at all my options. It also occured to me that, there are somethings that no bridal magazines have ever told me and I want to ensure all future sorority brides, are well prepared. 

Here are five tips I have learned while planning my wedding.

1) Consider not getting married on a Saturday: Think about having your special day on a Friday or a Sunday because most places have a minimum for number of guest per wedding during specific times of years and those numbers are generally less on those two days. Also, consider getting married in the "off months" Like November and January, this will also save you on pricing.

2. Narrow down your guest list: This has been perhaps the biggest nightmare for me, specifically in relations to my sorority sisters. You don't want to leave anyone out but you can't afford to have everyone there. It is a very difficult situation. My best suggestion is to go into guest list making thinking  "who do I have to invite" and from the remaining estimation of the number of people you want, determine who else you can add it. 

3. Consider a small bridal party: Again, another nightmare when you have a sea of beautiful and amazing sorority sisters. But narrow it down to the people who matters most to you and that you can't imagine not being by your side as you stand at the alter. Also think, bigger wedding party equals more gifts, more opinions, and more stress. 

4. Deterinmine your prorities: Decide between you and your partner (and whoever is helping with finaces) what your priorities are. For example, my top prority is the photography. As a photographer, I need to trust who ever is taking these pictures completely and for that reason I am willing to spend more on it because it is so important to me. 

5. Be open to compromise: I know this could be difficult but it is perhaps the most difficult thing to do, even more so when you have a certain vision in your head but at the end of the day, it is only one day of forever with your significant other, you don't have to have everything you everything you ever wanted because you should have already found it in them :)

Notes to the LDC: Amanda's Reflection on Being an LDC

Since today is my final day as a leadership development consultant for Phi Sigma Sigma, I wanted to reflect on all of the great things this job has offered me.

In addition to all of the benefits I mentioned in my first SGT blog post, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing Phi Sigma Sigma women from around the country.

As you can see in this photograph, I received a lot of love from many sisters.

A majority of these notes are from the sisters of the Gamma Xi chapter at Widener University. They welcomed me into their beautiful home eight months ago. Throughout the school year I have worked closely with the chapter to create positive change and exciting new traditions. While it was a lot of work, the sisters and I had fun together as well. From hanging out in the manor to running the concession stands at PPL Park for a fundraiser, we have created many memories. I hope I taught them a lot because these women helped me develop leadership skills that I did not expect to gain. 

There are also notes in there from my consultant big, Shelly. Shelly is an amazing Phi Sig from Oregon who also was once a leadership consultant for the sorority. Even though she is from the other side of the country, she has been a huge support system for me. Whenever I  needed advice, Shelly offered her love and care through phone calls, text messages, and even surprise packages! Shelly mailed me a big package of my favorite candies and she even got me an adorable tank top from The Greek Supply "just because."

I also need to acknowledge my lovely sisters from the Iota Rho chapter at Saint Joseph's University. Some of the notes in this picture are from founders of the chapter and the chapter's advisor, Beth. This chapter has been such a joy to work with because the sisters are sweet and friendly and the leaders of the chapter are very driven and accomplished. Watching this newer chapter grow and experience its first formal recruitment was so rewarding and I look forward to seeing what the women do next.

Even though I was stationed in the Philadelphia area for a majority of my time as a consultant, I traveled to at least ten states and around 20 universities. In the pile I have an adorable thank you card from the Zeta Omicron chapter at Kutztown University and I have multiple kind notes and letters from another former consultant, Christina, after we colonized Phi Sigma Sigma's newest chapter at Farmingdale State College. All of my visits were unique, enlightening, and definitely unforgettable.

Because this job allowed me to explore different parts of the country with sisters, I added in some ticket stubs. I visited museums in Washington, D.C. with another consultant, Katie, and I even attended a campus-sponsored drag queen show with the Zeta Rho chapter at Fitchburg State University.

At the top of the photograph is a review of my work as a consultant after the fall semester. I added the review to this pile because it was full of encouraging feedback from chapter leaders and advisors. I am so proud to see that I have been making a positive and lasting impact on the chapters I work with and visit. I hope to keep in touch with everyone and hear about how they have grown.

There are many other special people that shaped my LDC experience as well. Some additional memories added in this next college include chaperoning the Grab-a-Date date party for the Delta Eta chapter at University of Delaware, helping the Iota Eta chapter at Florida Institute of Technology with formal recruitment, taking photo shoots with the other Phi Sigma Sigma consultants, working at Leadership Conference in Virginia, running extension presentations with HQ staff, playing laser tag with sisters from the Delta Upsilon chapter at Siena Heights University, and bumping into my grand little at a Phired Up workshop.

This has been a crazy eight months, but I do not regret a minute of it. LITP!

Valentine's Day on a College Budget

With Valentine’s Day around the corner many college couples are trying to plan a special time with their significant others but on a very real ramen noodles every night budget.

This is a sometimes a really daunting task, how can you get the maximum experience on a limited budget.

Well I am going to let you in on a little secret- sometimes the best Valentine Day plans don’t involve tons of money on flowers and chocolate but rather just taking the time to think of the person you love on that special day.

Below I have listed the top five things that you can do on Valentine’s Day without breaking your budget.

1.     Homemade card and home baked goods: Why spend $10 on a card and box of chocolates for you significant other when you can make an even more personalized version yourself. Design your own card and write something that truly relates to your relationship. Instead of a box of chocolates, make them their favorite cookies instead. This will add a personalized touch to this traditional Valentine’s Day tradition.

2.     Dinner: Instead of going out and easily dropping $100 bucks on dinner, make a meal together. This is the perfect way to spend time together and make Valentine’s Day special. Who knows, a One Tree Hill style cookie dough fight could be fun!

3.     Flowers: Instead of buying flowers and spending a fortune (trust me all flowers are more expensive on Valentine’s Day) go on to pintrest and make paper flowers. They will last forever and being a special thing you make for your significant other with no expiration date attached.

4.     Dinner and Netflix: Snuggle up in your room after your home cooked dinner and watch a movie from your list on Netflix. Nothing is lovelier than snuggling up and binge watching the episodes of your favorite show.

5.     Gifts: Finally, if you are thinking of gifts get something practical that the person will use or something that you can do together.  If they are a teacher, get them a new white board to lesson plans.  If he plays baseball, get him a new glove.  If you want to do something as a couple, plan a small vacation or a spa day.

Ultimately, Valentine’s Day is a just another day to show the person you love how much you care.  So take the time and make sure you show your love how much you love them!!