Five Ways to Make Your Post Grad Apartment Feel Like Home

At 24 years old, I am at the stage in my life where I am always on the move. Between going to job A to job B, meeting with my boss to go over my day, the frequent wedding or family shoot, I generally leave in the morning around 9:45 am and usually don’t get home until damn close to 11:30.

Once I get home, I quickly shower and get ready for bed, only to lay awake for at least a good half hour, watching Always Sunny in Philadelphia, until my brain finally wears down and I can sleep.

Then I wake up and do it again.

Despite this, I sometimes get a day off. Those days, while fleeting, are my chance to enjoy my home (and time with my fiancée) for more than just a bed, but as more importantly, as a secure place that makes everything okay!!

Though in many ways, my home has become mainly a place to crash and my car has begun looking more and more like I live in it, the best part of those days off is having time to actually enjoy being in a place designed to make me feel relaxed and at ease.

Since many people, specifically people whom have just started in their careers, have adapted to this nomadic lifestyle, it is easy to forget to take the time to make your apartment feel like home, so when you are there you feel safe, secure, and relaxed.

Here is a list of 5 easy ways to make your apartment “home”:

1. Light: Lights is a great way to make your place feel more relaxing. From windows, to string lights, the options are endless, so make sure you brighten up your space and you will feel right at home in no time.

2. Photo frames: Photos are always a great way to bring a personal touch to your home. The photos are visually appealing and allow for you to reflect on good times.  Add a couple of cool frames and fun pictures  and you will be all set!

3. A designated spot to eat: Sometimes it is the little things, like sitting at the kitchen table to eat, that makes us feel connected to a location. It usually reminds up to slow down and focus.

4, Fun décor:

Little things like great throw pillows, an awesome couch cover, a few cute canvas prints, is all you need to make a space feel personalized.  Use your apartment to reflect who you are and do that with décor.

5. Netflix

Nothing says relaxing at home like curling up on the couch binge watching your favorite show with some wine and ice cream. So skip out on basic cable and subscribe to Netflix, there will always be something to watch!!

How do you choose the right sorority for you?

            It is half way through summer, which means for most sorority girls it is almost recruitment time! That means fun florals, bright colors, Greek lettered shirts, and lots and lots of sister time!
            Fall of 2011 I had no clue what the hell I was getting myself into when I walking into the Student Union Building planning to go through recruitment. I talked to so many girls and forgot most of their faces. I remember the second night I walked into a room and a girl walked right up to me and asked me "Brooke, how was your day today? I am so glad you came back out!" I was astonished! Why would this awesome, fun girl remember me? There were hundreds of us, and I even forgot their names but lucky they had name tags. Finding your sorority should be the girls that you leave an impression on and that they leave one on you. Don't get me wrong the day I chose what sorority I wanted to put first on my preference card was scary... It was like deciding if you liked a guy and he liked you back. Will Phi Sigma Sigma want me to be a sister of there amazing sorority? Not going to lie and say I wouldn't have been completely devastated if they decided to pick another girl over me but the next day at bid day I was beyond pleased to be holding a Phi Sig bid!
             When going through look for a group of girls you can connect with, sometimes all that glitters is not gold. Although there may be some cool sororities with fun colors, you have to find the best sorority for YOU. They are also trying to find the best potential sisters for them! My suggestions is try to find a connection with their philanthropy, an event, mission, creed, values, some of their sisterhood events, one of the sisters... there is so many different things potential new members can do to find their home away from home.
               One final piece of advice I would give a potential new member who is going through recruitment, is to research. Research about all of the sororities you are going through especially through their national website. Also, if your friend from another school said a Zeta Zeta Zeta sorority was horrible at hazing and they are always mean doesn't necessarily mean the one at your school will be the exact same way. Just like how every class in high school club is different, doesn't mean they all act the same way and all run their meetings the same. Talk to upper class men or different faculty on campus... they usually have a pretty good perspective but do not use Greek Rank. I personally think that it is very negative outlook on the Greek community and that it is also not very accurate... I mean at all.
              But go through recruitment & walk your own path... and if you don't like it you can create a new one, with it hopefully leading to the sorority of your choice!