Trend Spotter: Back to School

Back to school is upon us and whether you are back at the books yet or not, I'm here with some style tips to help make the transition smoother!

(All you freshman out there, I'm wishing you a warm welcome to college! This advice is mainly geared towards you and I hope you find it helpful!) 

1) First off, campus temperatures right now are always awkward. The classrooms can be freezing but outside is still pretty warm. Keep yourself satisfied by bringing along a sweatshirt or pullover to class but avoid wearing long sleeve shirts. If you can't take it off, you'll end up being miserably hot later on. 

2) Even if you skip bringing along the sweatshirt, always be prepared for weather. A rain jacket and/or umbrella are must haves for your book bag. You never know when the weather will change! 

3) Think twice about footwear! Sandals or flip flops may seem like a good idea, but college usually involves a lot of walking around. Tennis shoes are your best friend. 

4) People aren't judging you like you may think. There's no need to wear fancy clothing or uncomfortable outfits to class. (Forever Loving Norts!) Let yourself live easier and dress down a little bit. But also don't lean too far the opposite way. Walking into class looking like a slob is disrespectful to the teacher. Find the good balance! 

5) "Dressing Down" doesn't have to mean completely casual. I loved rocking my Norts/Tee combo with various accessories. Do a bracelet stack or a watch and some studs! You'll still feel dressed up AND be extremely comfortable! 

6) Backpacks are not for geeks. Purses are cute but by the two week mark, you're going to be dying to rest your shoulder. Find a good backpack and dress it up, stylize it, monogram it, whatever! Just make it yours and rock it. 

I'll finish up by saying this. College is an amazing time to find yourself. Even though I love clothes, sometimes purpose has to come before vanity and I am telling you now, don't ever feel like an oddball for making that choice. That being said, it's also an amazing time to find your personal style and make it yours! So have an amazing first day of classes and get ready for an amazing adventure! 

How to Travel Alone This Summer

For many, summertime is the perfect opportunity to have a little get away. If you're like me, you have to actually travel to get where friends and family are and 98% of the time I'm doing it alone. This past week, I found myself flying back to my hometown of Pittsburgh to visit. I have no trouble breezing through a busy airport by myself because I've done it countless times since I was young. But it dawned on me that many young women may not have had that opportunity growing up. So if you find yourself traveling alone this summer, here are a few tips to hopefully make it run a bit smoother for you!

• Airport Size - Many airports are downright huge. It can be so stressful when you find yourself arriving at one gate and have to run to the complete opposite end of the airport, especially if you have a connecting flight. The night before you leave, get online and check out a map of the airport. You probably won't know what gate you'll be coming into, but at least get on and familiarize yourself with the airport so you don't find yourself lost and feeling stranded.
• Wear something comfortable - I always find myself opting for a comfortable pair of jeans and a letter shirt #sororitygirlproblems. But where something you'll feel comfortable in because you're probably going to find yourself just sitting around, whether it's on an airplane, waiting for your flight, or waiting in baggage claim. Wear comfortable shoes because I'd be more than willing to bet you're going to be doing some walking.
• Pack early - Don't be like me and wait until a few hours before your flight to pack. Lay everything out and figure out exactly what you're going to need. If you wait until the last minute to pack, you may get to your destination and realize you forgot to pack some essentials.
• Check into your flight within 24 hours of your flight leaving - Nowadays, you can easily check into your flight online which saves you the hassle of having to deal with checking in at the airport and adding more time to your wait. If you check in online, you can have your boarding pass emailed or text straight to your smartphone and use that to check in. This means you can head straight to security and get on your way faster. For iPhone users, if you check in online, it will give you the option to add your boarding pass to your "Passbook" app which will then give you reminders of when your flight will begin boarding. Oh Apple, how much easier you make my life.
• Bring things to keep you occupied - Again, you're going to have downtime. Don't just sit on your phone and drain the battery because you may need it later on. Bring magazines, a book, a tablet or computer to watch movies, homework, etc.
• Be aware of your surroundings - I can't stress ENOUGH how important this is! Don't be the girl walking through the airport mindlessly scrolling Twitter. If you aren't aware of what's going on around you, you could very easily have items go missing or even worse, you could go missing. Unfortunately it is a very real scenario. So PAY ATTENTION to where you are, what you're doing, and who's around you!

So tell us, what do you think? Do you have any travel tips you'd like to add? Comment below and share them with us!

Job Fairs

      We are all going to have to go through one of these especially if we have to work to find a job in the real world after graduation.What you could expect is a one to two people at a table and a room, FILLED, packed tight in a room.

1.The best way to go about this is to create a rotation. I prefer to start where you would think others will finish. This way you are the first fresh face they see and be the first impression they get. 
2. Take ALL of the information they have provided on their tables. Once you leave take a minute and jot down a few notes if you really liked the potential job and what made them stand out in your head.
3. Do not leave until you feel you truly got something out of this experience. Whether or not your willing to relocate you have the opportunity to meet people, talk, and potentially have an interview!
4. When all is said and done go home to email them or write them a snail mail thank you card. This shows what kind of a kind, driven person you are.
5. Make a list of all of the potential jobs your interested in. Separate everything out on paper including the contact information of the person you met at the fair.
6. Don't give up. 
       I know I am still a current senior dreading the real world but I know that I cannot give up. I am very motivated and willing to move to find the perfect teaching job for me. The moment you give up is the moment you will regret when you have graduated and have no plans yet for the future. Continue to strive to be the person you want to be with your ideal job!

Little Things You May Forget for Formal Recruitment

Soon it will be that time of year again... recruitment season! That means matching outfits, loud chants, and lots of water.

You may think you have everything ready for formal recruitment coming up, but there are some smaller items you might easily forget. Use this checklist to see if you are prepared for any surprises:

Clothing:

• Name tag - if your chapter doesn't hold onto them
• Badge - for pref night
• Safety pins/sewing kit- it happens
• Heels - sometimes you forget you're only wearing Uggs
• Jewelry - not the end of the world if you forget it, but you'll want your favorite watch or Alex & Ani bracelet in your photos

Hair:

• Hairspray - a stuffy room full of women could ruin your do!
• Bobby pins - if you find yourself pushing your hair back a lot, maybe just pin it back
• Comb - or a brush, but don't let your hair get full of static #notagoodlook

Makeup:

• All make up
• Just bring it all

Supplies:

• Scissors - you will probably need to cut a loose string, tape, flower stems, or slips of paper
• Pens and highlighters - to take any notes for future reference and to keep organized
• Hammer and nails or a screwdriver - I don't know how crazy your decorations get

Random:

• Tampons - I'm sure at least one person will thank you
• Deodorant - MANY people will thank you. TIP: get the spray can version to share
• Hand sanitizer - those are a lot of hands you will be shaking
• Mints - lots of mints
• Red Bull (and water)- TIP: put some Red Bull in small cups to make "Red Bull shots" or make "water shots" for recruiters to hydrate in between parties
• Batteries - if you have battery-powered candles
• Napkins - if you're serving refreshments (in that case you will need a slew of other things: cups, trays, plates...)
• Lint roller - for those times when random stuff shows up on your outfit
• Tide-To-Go - for those times when WORSE random stuff shows up on your outfit
• Song/chant lyrics - you should have them memorized already but a refresher wouldn't hurt!
• Recruitment schedule - you'll be needing that
• Steamer - if someone is willing to schlep it, this will help with table cloths or wrinkled outfits
• Coat hangers - a nice touch may be to collect coats and bags if the potential new members come in carrying them
• Snack - make sure it is a "clean" snack that won't stain or leave grease
• First Aid kit - let's hope you won't have to use it
• Music playlist - if you are having music playing/if you have a skit with music
• Cell phone charger - just a suggestion
• Bid cards - to give to your new members!!!
• SMILE - the best thing some women forget is to have a smile on. Not only will it make potential new members comfortable but it will make your sisters happy to see you having a good time.

Have other last-minute items that would be helpful? Comment or tweet at us so we can add it to the list!

Happy recruiting!

Tips for Living in Your First Post Grad Place

It has been more than a month since I moved into my first postgraduate apartment with my boyfriend of five years. While this is an essentially something everyone will eventually go through, and I know I am new at this, however, in this short month of being “on my own” I have learned several tricks that I think made the transition easier. Now, I will share that with you in hopes of helping you eventually make that transition too.

1.    Create a Budget (and Stick to it): This may seem daunting, but it will help you keep your finances organized. You can find template online or create your one, but generally you want to track your income vs. your expenses.

2.    Cut out expenses you don’t need: There are many things we purchase on a regular basis that we don’t need. For example, as many of us girls do, I love clothes! However, it is not practical to spend hundreds of dollars on clothes when you have other things (such as rent and student loans) to pay for. While the occasional purchase is not always bad, generally speaking it is always better to spend money when and where it is needed, not frivolously.

3.     Save. Save. Save:  The days of having 10 bucks in your bank account is no longer something that should occur. Save as much money as you can. In the end, it will be worth it (literally).

4.    Set a day each week to do your chores. From vacuuming to laundry, there is a lot to do to keep your place tidy and company ready. By picking one day (and making it the same day every week) it will become a habit.

5.    Plan your meals a week ahead, that way when you go food shopping, you are really prepared and will not by unnecessary things. Additionally, always bring a physical list; it will help you stay organized and on target!

Whether you are still in college or already graduated there will come a time where moving out with be a reality. Hopefully, when that time approaches you can refer to what you read here. In addition, here are some additional tips for your convenience.  

Survival of the Sorority Girls (#recruitmentprobs)

Recruitment. Rush. Hell Week? No matter how you define it, it means one thing, some are about to find a new home and some are about to meet the new members of their sisterhoods. It is a hard experience filled with a multitude of feelings and emotions all along with a lot of sweat! 

So why do it? And better yet....how do we survive it? It's easy to get discouraged and the main tip I can you is to power through. In the end, no matter how many times you cursed the idea of joining a sorority, it'll be worth it. But just in case you need some reassurance or perhaps someone showing you the ropes, I'm going to give you some survival tips on how to get through Recruitment week. 

First off// here's some lingo:

PNM: Potential New Member {AKA you}

Pi Chi, Pi Gamma, or Rho Gamma: Sorority Women who have disaffiliated (unable to be recognized as a member of a specific sorority) for recruitment week and are going to lead you to the different houses and be there to help you figure out any problems. 

Panhellenic: The entire group of sororities as a whole. Think of it as the Panhellenic board is like the government and each sorority is a state. 

Recommendations: Letters that sorority members or alumni will send to their specific sorority's house, a few weeks before recruitment, to speak on behalf of a PNM. Usually, this is a close friend or family member. These are great if you have them, but if not, don't freak. It's not a huge deal. 

Bid: The formal invitation that a sorority will offer to you at the end of the week to join their chapter. You will not be offered multiple bids, only one sorority will be able to extend the invite to you. 

 

 1 // BE YOURSELF.

I know I sound cliche when I say that, but the worst thing you can ever do is pretend to be something you're not. If you walk into a house, and be someone completely different then who you are, how do you ever expect to feel at home if you get a bid? Your sisters, whichever ones they are, are going to love the real you and if they don't...well then that's not really something you want to be a part of. 

2 // Don't believe the hype.   

Every sorority on your campus, whether it is big or small, considered "top tier" or not, has fantastic things and women to offer. Listening to rumors and marking off a house just because you might've heard something negative is stupid. But it happens all the time and many wonderful girls who would've fit in perfectly, never give it a try. Don't be "that PNM". 

3// Don't wear heels. 

No seriously. Don't do it. For one, you are going to be miserable the entire day and two, if you come into a house clomping around and focusing on how much you SHOULDN'T have worn the heels, you'll have a bad experience and it could hinder your thoughts of that house. Don't do it. Just say no. 

4//  Chill with the crazy makeup. 

You are beautiful and we want to see your natural beauty. Contrary to popular belief, most sororities don't want girls who are hiding behind layers of bronzer and eye shadow. Do the feminine, pretty, natural look and you will shine! (p.s. If you do tons of layers, it'll sweat off after one house anyways.) (p.p.s WATERPROOF MASCARA) 

5// Don't flaunt money (it's tacky) 

It's really nice that you have a David Yurman ring and Tiffany pearls, but we couldn't care less. We want to know about YOU, not your stuff. And for Gods sake, don't ask me if my sorority is for "rich girls only". (True story) 

6// Drink the water/ punch/ juice. 

I KNOW the rumor. We all know it. And no, we don't think you're fat if you take anything to drink. It's hot as hell outside and if you don't drink something, you are going to pass out. So take the drink. 

 

Lastly // Go with your gut. 

Choosing a sorority is difficult, but for most of you, you will know by the end of the week where you belong. Whether that means the house you came in with your heart set on, the one you never expected you'd like, or even deciding that sorority life isn't for you....you'll figure it out. And utilize your PiChis or Rho Gammas, they are there to talk and want you to find your place too. 

Most of all, enjoy every second and know that whatever sorority you find, you be joining years of fantastic women and setting out to form your new legacy! 

(My Bid Day!!!!) 

Much love,

Molly