February's Lessons Learned

Happy first day of March!

I cannot believe that February has come and gone so soon.  Today marks the third month of 2019. Back in January, I set a goal to read one book each month for me. As a middle school language arts teacher, I do a ton of reading to keep up with what the students are reading, grading papers, emails, reports, etc.  However, I realized I was not doing enough reading of material that I choose. So far this year I am two for two.  I declared February the month of me. I took time to find ways to love myself.  One of the things I did was choose to do some personal development through reading. Girl, Wash Your Face has been around for about a year and has increasingly more and more raving reviews. I decided I would give it a try. Typically, nonfiction is not my jam, but I thought since everyone was talking about it I had to figure out what all the buzz was about for myself. 

Let me tell you, I was definitely not let down. This book was a quick read for me. I found all of Rachel's advice so relevant to where I am in life right now..minus the part where she talks about being a mom. If you are working to navigate life, take time for you, and start creating healthier habits then this is your next read!

Lessons I learned from Girl, Wash Your Face:

It is important to be careful with your commitments and be honest with yourself.

This one sounds so simple, but is probably the most powerful takeaway I got from reading this. Throughout this chapter, the book talks abut how it is important to treat yourself the way you treat your friends. If you wouldn't break a promise to a friend, then you need to stop breaking the promises you make with yourself. If you tell yourself you're going to start working out, then do it. If you are going to stop a bad habit, then actually work to make that happen.

 I like to think that I am a pretty good friend to the people I care about, but when I stopped to reflect on how I treat myself it was quite different. I realized that I need to spend some time fixing the relationship with myself. I need to take the time to honor the promises I make to myself. 

Re-order your list:

Lots of us are list makers. We make the impossible to do list because for some reason writing it down on paper and checking some of it off just feels so satisfying. The book talks about how each time we make this list it usually has the same types of items on it. However, rather than just making these impossible to do lists- we have to start creating them with intentions. The order that you make your bullet points should reflect the priority of each item.  

It is easy for us to make these long lists and put ourselves at the bottom, but we have to start being more intentional at making room for ourselves at the top of these lists. If you are not taking time for you, then you cannot truly help others. 

Deal with it:

As Americans we definitely live in a society where it is so easy to judge others. Scrolling through social media, watching tv, at the gym, etc. In the book, Rachel Hollis discusses how we all need to take a step back to reflect on the fact that these judgmental thoughts are actually rooted in our own insecurities. It is so important for you to take a look in the mirror and think about what is truly going on with you, and during that reflection find out what you need to do to be the best honest version of you. 

You are in control of the fight:

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and point blame on everything except you when life gets hard.  You have two choices: give up or put up a fight.

"Your dream is worth fighting for, and while you're not in control of what life throws at you, you are in control of the fight."

This made me think about all the obstacles that come my way and how I can shift my mindset to conquer my goals in life. 

Name your goals and say them out loud:

One of Rachel's tips to achieving your goals is to name them. Yes, you have to actually say them out loud.  This can be done by creating a vision board or by simply writing them down somewhere. No matter how you choose to name your goals, this act brings them to life. The more you say it, the more you believe in your goals, which contributes to your drive and willingness to work to achieve them. 

Encounter a guru:

It is so helpful to spend time searching for a guru to help you with where you are in life. Whether it's reading a book, listening to a podcast, watching a TED talk, or actually going to see someone speak we have so many rich opportunities to seek advice. The book shares how every piece of advice you get will not resonate with you, but it is valuable to spend time to seek help and knowledge. 

Who is your guru? What do you do to seek personal development?

XOXO

 

Creating a Personal Uniform

Let's have a little chat about why creating a personal uniform will actually make your life easier. Have you ever wasted time in the morning by standing in front of your closet scrounging for the perfect outfit to wear, but after throwing something on and running out the door you're still not satisfied? Yeah..me too. I can definitely say searching for something to wear has made me late at least a time or two. Aside from picking my outfits ahead of time for the week, I have also found that creating a personal uniform is helpful. This personal uniform helps me to save time, minimizes morning stress, and provides me with a signature look. Three things that are pretty valuable. 

Most people hear the word uniform and think of two things: sports teams or catholic school.  This personal uniform is neither of these things.  Additionally, a common thought is that a uniform is pretty dull. Contrary to belief, this personal uniform will help you be consistent and fun in your fashion choices. Thus giving people a way to remember you. Think about some large icons- Jackie Kennedy was known for her distinct style, Mark Zuckerberg and his plethora of gray t-shirts, and Vera Wang's constant get up of leggings and tunics just to name a few. The personal uniform does not  have to consist of you wearing the same exact outfit everyday. However it is what you create it to be- there are no rules. Below are the simple steps I took to build my uniform. Your steps might be different, but my hope is that these will at least inspire you to begin. 

Gather inspiration

I began by creating a pinterest board filled with outfits, color palettes, and patterns that I liked. After an extended time of pinning, I sorted through the pins to get rid of the ones that just didn't seem to belong. Doing this helped me come up with a central theme for my uniform.  

Eventually, I created pinterest boards based on the seasons. Overall, my color palette stays the same, but the articles of clothing change based on the temperature. My theme seems to be classic prep featuring hues of blues, white, grays, and pinks. As far as patterns go you will be able to find lots of stripes, a ton of plaid, and a little bit of leopard as well as polka dots. 

Create guidelines

Use the theme you're looking to achieve to set guidelines for the pieces you'll add to your wardrobe. My advice would be to stick to the classics rather than the trendy stuff. 

My guidelines were to find pieces that I could mix and match rather than something I could only wear with one top.  Additionally, I tried to stick with the themes I created too. 

Find your signature accessories and stick to them

Choose a few go to accessories and wear them continuously. You honestly don't need a hundred pairs of different earrings, the same Kendra Scott necklace in every color, nor a ton of headbands.  Less is more when it comes to accessorizing.  Keeping your accessories to a minimum ensures that they match your theme, allows you to spend less time focusing on how you will accessorize each day, and it gives you something to remembered by. 

This was an easy thing for me to figure out. I am known for my love of pearl and monograms. My signature accessories would be stud earrings, a peal necklace, a simple silver bracelet, my Fitbit, and something monogrammed (either my necklace or ring). 

Find items that look good and make you feel good

Don't buy something just because it's trendy. Purchase items that actually look good on you. You are more likely to wear an article of clothing that fits you well. When it fits well, it will make you feel good. 

Crop tops have been all the rage the last few years. I've kindly declined to jump on the crop top train. They don't flatter my figure plus they make me feel super self conscious. Another article of clothing that I refuse to wear are denim shorts. They just don't fit my style plus I find them incredibly uncomfortable. 

Remember this is an investment 

It's important to keep in mind that you are working to build a long lasting wardrobe. You are not searching for the cheapest trendiest items. You want to be particular with what you buy. This might be splurging on some items here and there, which is totally okay. Quality of quantity is key here. 

In the past few years I have opted for more expensive shoes. They are all timeless looking, top quality, and will last me longer than a cheaper version. 

So what does my personal uniform look like?

I have a business casual uniform. You can checkout some of those looks here.  They mainly consist of nude or black shoes, stripes, and cardigans.  My weekend uniform consists of athleisure (black leggings, sneakers, and an oversized long sleeve shirt) or something casual (jeans, a simple top, a comfortable over sized cardigan, and booties). 

I hope these tips and tricks will help inspire you to create your own uniform. 

XOXO

Tips for Conquering an Early Morning Gym Session

Making time to workout can definitely be a struggle when you live a busy lifestyle. I don't know about you, but I definitely need to make time to get to the gym even when I'm busy.  Working out provides me with more energy, positivity, and clarity. When I don't make time for a workout, I definitely don't feel as good throughout my day.  Sometimes our only option for getting to the gym is early in the morning, when it is still dark out and most people are still sleeping. It's definitely not an easy task to wake up earlier than you have to, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you make it to those early morning gym sessions.  Establishing a routine the night before and the morning makes a huge difference!

Plan your workout schedule
Take some time at the beginning of the week to plan your weekly workouts. Taking the time to do this will save you time later on. Plus when you have a plan there's less excuses for why you will be skipping a workout. I usually write my schedule down in my planner along with the times of any specific classes I'll be attending. If I'm doing any lifting, then I usually make a note in my phone with the exercises and number of reps. My typical workout schedule includes a combination of running, yoga, and spin classes. The frequency of each type of exercise varies from week to week depending on how my personal schedule fits with the fitness class schedule.

Find a Fitness Buddy
It's much easier to make sure you get to those workouts when you have an accountability partner. This person doesn't need to be someone who will be doing an identical workout as you, but more so it  is someone to hold you accountable. It helps if this person actually goes to the gym at the same time as you. However, it could be a friend who lives far away that you check in with regularly.  This accountability  partner will help motivate you to never miss a workout.  There seems to be something about reporting to someone other than yourself that forces you to get to the gym.  Sometimes my accountability comes from my friends via our weekly FitBit challenges.

The night before...
There are several things that you can do the night before an early morning workout to make sure you get out of bed to get to the gym. These simple steps will save you time in the morning.

Pick out your outfit
No, you don't need to be a fashion model at the gym. Laying out your clothes will just save you a few minutes in the morning. I like to lay my outfit out on my desk, so that as soon as my alarm goes off I can just hop out of bed and put them on. I usually pick out my shirt, sports bra, socks, pants, and sneakers. If you're in need of some new workout wear, then definitely head over to Fabletics for some cute and comfy athletic attire.

Gather Your Supplies
It's helpful to put everything you will need to bring with you in one place. I personally don't like to bring a bunch of stuff with me to the gym. I usually will wear a sweatshirt with zip up pockets or bring a small pouch to hold my essential items.  I like to bring headphones, my license, gym membership card, inhaler, chapstick, and a small snack to eat afterwards.
 I use a Vera Bradley Large Zip Cosmetic Bag for my small gym "bag".

I also recommend filling up your water bottle and gathering your pre/post workout snacks. I put my pre workout snack next to my clothes, so that I can eat it while I'm getting ready. I tend to put my post workout snack in my bag that goes to the gym with me.  It's important to fuel yourself both before and after working out. This will make sure you have enough energy to make it through your day after working out.

Set Your Alarm
Before heading to bed, make sure you set your alarm. I like to use an obnoxious tone for the alarm to that it ensures I get out of bed. Another tip is to set your phone across the room, so that you are forced to get out of bed to turn it off. I'm definitely guilty of pressing the snooze button too many times or accidentally turning the alarm off rather than pressing snooze. You're more likely to make it to the gym when you get up and out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off (the first time).



I hope this helps you get out of bed and get to the gym!
I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for getting that early workout in.
XOXO

Overcoming Homesickness in College

First of all, know that it is totally normal to be feeling this way.  I think almost everyone goes through a period of being homesick at some point in their life. For most of us, the first time we encounter this awful feeling is during college. College is the first time that you spend a significant amount of time away from the place you grew up in. It can be a challenge to break out of your comfort zone, meet new people, discover who you are, establish your own routines, and succeed while being away from the support system you've had for so long. It's important to know that your support system is still there, but you need to reach out to them to let them know that you need them. I think it's more common to be homesick in the spring semester rather than the fall semester. In the fall, everything is new and exciting. However, in the spring it's not so new and exciting. Plus the colder weather keeps you trapped inside rather than being out and about having fun. Today I'm sharing some tips to overcoming this homesickness. By no means am I a professional, so these tips are just things that have helped me and people I know.  If your homesickness is more serious, then I recommend seeking professional help because it could be something more serious.

Understand this is a normal feeling
Like I said at the beginning of this post, this is a normal feeling to have. It's important to know that you are not alone in feeling this way. Most of us experience homesickness at some point in college. The degree varies from person to person, but I'm willing to bet more people share these feelings than you'd think. Learning to acknowledge and accept your homesickness is helpful in dealing with it.

Get used to new surroundings
The more comfortable you get with your new campus and the surrounding area, the better off you will be.  Take some time to walk around campus, find some places you like to eat, discover a great study spot, and figure out things you like to do there.

Create your own space- a home away from home
Make your room a place you feel safe and relaxed in. This is your home away from home, so it actually needs to feel like it.  I recommend decorating it and adding items that make it feel happy to you. For me, I liked to have pictures and quotes hanging up. Additionally, having a clean and organized space was helpful.

Stay connected- but not too connected

Yes, it is important to stay in touch with your family and friends from back home. However, there should be a balance in the amount of communication. It's going to take some trial and error to find this balance, but I can assure you it is important to discover it. No, I'm not saying you should never call home, but doing it multiple times everyday isn't the best either. Talking with friends and family 24/7 while at college will prevent you from living in the moment.  It won't allow you to truly enjoy college.  Additionally, too much communication might make you feel like you're missing out on experiences at home- thus making your homesickness worse.  Instead, I would find a regular time to chat with family and friends. Maybe every Wednesday you and your BFF FaceTime, several times a week you chat with your parents, and every morning you text someone else.  Regardless, you need to find balance in order to stay in touch with friends and family without losing out on your college experience.

Talk to other people on campus
Sharing with your friends how you feel might help you deal with overcoming this.  They will be able to support you and force you out of your comfort zone a little bit.  If you don't tell them, then they might wonder why you are being so distant. You also could consider talking to your advisor or the campus counselor.

Make time for sadness but not too much time
It's okay to be sad sometimes, but it's definitely not okay to allow yourself to be in a constant state of sadness. Letting your feelings out every once in awhile is good because it prevents you from bottling everything up inside. Sometimes you might actually feel better after letting it all out. Being sad all the time will prevent you from being happy as well as create a pessimistic outlook on college.

Get involved
Getting involved on campus and the community will definitely help make things better. Take some time to look at the clubs your campus has to offer. Attend a few meetings to see if these clubs are a good fit for you.  This will help you meet more people and become busier. When you are busier, you have less time to dwell on missing home.

Stay positive
Last but not least, try to stay positive. This won't alway be easy, but it will help you get through things much easier.  Sometimes in life we have to fake it until we make it.  If you are able to convince yourself that you are happy, then it might just work.

Best of luck!
XOXO

Making the Most of 8 Ams

It's safe to say that the average college student would say that they hate having 8 Am classes.  I mean nobody likes to wake up and go to class when they could sleep in and take that same class later on in the day. Unfortunately, the chances that you will encounter at least one 8am class during college is pretty high.  I think your perspective definitely determines if these early morning classes are a good thing or not. Believe it or not there are some people out there who actually enjoy waking up early and getting their classes done with earlier in the day. During college I had several early morning classes. I liked 9am classes better than 8 ams.  The hour makes a big difference! Since it's the beginning of the semester, I thought I would share some tips and tricks for making the most of these early morning classes.

Prepare the night before
Take ten minutes the night before to pick out your outfit, pack your bag, and make sure you have all of your assignments done. The more you do the night before, the less time you'll need to spend getting ready in the morning. You might even want to consider showering the night before, so that you can sleep in a little bit later.

Set your alarms
Yes, I meant to say alarms as in multiple ones. If you're like me, then you understand why I'm saying this. I have a fear of sleeping through my alarm, so I always like to set two or three alarms.

Get a good night's rest
Don't stay up incredibly late the night before an early morning class. It will make it even more difficult to wake up, and chances are you will be groggy during class. Try to plan to get 7-9 hours of sleep.

Eat something
Be sure to eat something before you get to class. This will give you energy. The last thing you want is to get hungry mid way through class and be distracted by your stomach growling. If you don't have time to hit the dining hall, then grab a piece of fruit or granola bar and eat them as you walk to class.

Reward yourself
During college, most of the campus is asleep while you're in this early morning class. Once you get to the real world this own't be the case, so reward yourself now. Treat yourself on these days.  After class, stop at your favorite coffee shop for a latte and your favorite pastry.

Wear your gym clothes to class
If you don't have a break in your schedule after this class, then plan to hit the gym afterwards.  You will already be up and out of your room, so why not take advantage of the day? Go to class dressed in your clothes for the gym, so then you can just head straight there.

Walk to class
If you are able to, then choose to walk to class. The early morning walk will help wake you up and prepare you to learn.  Studies have proven that doing physical activity prior to studying will help you learn better.

Be engaged during class
Try to hand write your notes rather than type them. This will force you to pay attention during class rather than mindlessly typing. It will also prevent you from browsing the internet.  It's also good to sit up front, so that you are not tempted to doze off during those boring lectures.  Lastly, ask questions during class. This will help you stay on task with what you are learning, and it will help you better understand the material.

Review your notes
After class, take some time to review the notes you took. This will help reinforce the content and ensure that you completely comprehended the lecture. This is also a great time to re-write or type any part of the notes that you took that were unclear.

I do have to say taking early morning classes definitely made me drink more coffee during college. Taking early morning classes might not be ideal, but waking up early and being disciplined will help make your transition from college to the real world much easier.  Most jobs require you to wake up and early and be productive. If you start forming good habits now, then they will follow you throughout life.  This semester I can definitely attest to this.  Waking up at 5am makes taking 8am classes seem like nothing.


XOXO

Back To Working Out

Today's post is one that I think many people can relate to (or so I hope). Awhile ago one of my reader's requested a post on how to get back into being fit again. I think we can all agree that fitness has become an increasingly popular trend lately. Whether it's just sporting some athleisure clothing, attending cardio kick boxing, trying out a barre class, sweating in a spin class, or attempting a new yoga post it's all over social media. 

For me fitness has pretty much always been a part of my life. I have played sports since a young age, so I was always used to running and doing ab workouts. The older I got, the more I trained for my main sport-field hockey. I would spend much of my time running in order to enter each season in the best shape possible. It was never something I enjoyed, but it was something I always did to prevent myself from being punished. If I wasn't in shape, then I'd have to do more running as a punishment for not being in shape. This was a decent source of motivation, but over the years it minimized any pleasure I got from running.  During my freshman year of college, I learned how to correctly lift weights and complete other exercises to enhance my field hockey performance. I enjoyed working out, but I definitely didn't love how muscular my legs became. My sophomore year of college, I began playing field hockey just for fun not to compete at the collegiate level.  I chose to continue running by training for and completing a half marathon. The training as well as the race itself hurt my body, so after that I took a few years off from working out or running on a daily basis. I'd go to the gym from time to time, but I definitely wasn't doing anything consistency. 

This summer I decided I was finally ready to workout for my own happiness. I realized that I needed to start being healthier as well as happier, and I thought working out would help me achieve these two things. So how did I get back into working out? It definitely wasn't easy at first and some weeks I'm better about it than others, but below you will find some things that have helped me get back on the fitness train again. 

Set Goals

I'm a huge goal setter, so this part was a no brainer for me. Something that doesn't work for me is setting a goal to lose X amount of pounds. Center a goal based on weight loss brings too many negative feelings for me.  Instead, I think it's better to set goals like working out five times a week, lifting X amount of weight doing a certain exercise, running a mile in a certain time, or signing up for a race that is a few months away. When you first get back into working out, short term goals are your friend. Sure long term goals are great, but setting goals for a shorter period of time allows you to feel more accomplished. 

Make sure your diet fits your fitness goals

By no means do you need to go on a diet just because you're going to the gym again. However, you do need to be aware of what and how you are fueling your body. If your goal is to get abs, then it is important to know that abs are really made in the kitchen.  If you are not fueling your body properly, then you will lack the energy to have quality workouts and have a productive day. 

Realize how long it takes to see and feel results

Sure you might have a strand of great workouts, but you aren't necessarily going to see immediate results. Be patient with yourself.  They say it takes about four weeks for you to start noticing a change, about eight weeks for those you're close with to notice, and about twelve weeks for everyone else to see the progress you've made. 

In the beginning, consider a single workout as progress

It's going to be difficult when you first start working out again. You're going to be really sore, you might be disappointed that you can't lift as much or run as far as you once did. It's important not to beat yourself up over these things, and to be proud of every workout you do. 

Accountability Partner

Everything is more fun with a friend, including working out.  Regardless of your fitness level, a workout buddy is a great source of motivation.  This person might be someone you go running with, attend barre with, compete against in your weekly Fitbit challenges, or it might just be someone you share your fitness goals with. You and your partner don't necessarily have to be in the same location doing the same workout at the same time. This person could just be someone you check in with to share your progress, or someone who provides you with motivation on those days when you really want to skip your workout.  For me, my workout buddy is my mom. She's working on becoming more fit. We don't always do the same workout, but we motivate each other to keep moving forward with our fitness efforts. 

Switch It Up

Don't do the same thing all the time. If you're like me, then maybe you got burnt out of working out because you did the same thing over and over again. Make sure you change things up each week. Participate in workouts that are fun for you. This might be trying a new fitness class, trying a new exercise out, running at different locations, etc.  This summer I've switched it up by joining a gym and attending several yoga classes. 

Stretching

As you get back into workout, it is important to be aware of your body and how you are feeling.  Take the time to stretch after each workout.  Flexibility helps with injury prevention.  Be sure to stretch any muscles that might be sore. For me, yoga has been helping me stretch have I run. 

Hydrate

Make sure you're drinking enough water. Most workouts will make you sweat more, which means you'll need to replenish your body with water. If you need tips on how to stay hydrated check out this post I wrote earlier this month.

Do a one month challenge

Completing a one month challenge can be a great way to jump start you're re-dedication to fitness. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable and it provides you with a month long workout plan. You'll find lots of variations of these on Pinterest.  

Do it for nobody other than YOU

This is the most important piece of advice I have. It's so so so important to choose to change your fitness habits or lack there of because you want to become the best version of yourself. If you're working out to impress others, then you're going to end up have negative feelings toward working out. Realize how good working out makes you feel as well as the positive results, and allow these things to motivate you to continue on your fitness journey. If you think about it, it's actually really cool how you have the power to sculpt your body into whatever you want it to be. Now take that power and become the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. 

Best of luck on your fitness journey!

XOXO

Conquering the Lilly After Party Sale

In case you didn't know, the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale is today beginning at 8 a.m.  Last year I got a ton of great items for my mom and myself.  However, this year I have decided not to shop the sale. I've collected quite the number of Lilly Pulitzer items the past few years, so I'm pretty satisfied with my current Lilly filled summer wardrobe. I am working on saving money for adult things like a car and moving out of my parents' house, so dropping a few hundred bucks on the sale isn't in the budget for me. I also feel like if I spend any money on clothes it should be Fall and Winter items rather than more summer clothes that I will only wear for another month and a half. We will see how good my self control is because I said I won't be logging on even just to browse, and if you know me then you know that I'm pretty much a shopaholic.

You may or may not know already, but Lilly Pulitzer rarely has large sales... in fact they only occur three times a year (June- Warehouse Sale, August, and January).  Due to the low frequency of the sale there is always a lot of hype surrounding it.  You have to be strategic about your shopping and it helps if you know some of the secrets to conquering the sales, especially the online ones. I have a few tips to help you out, in case you didn't shop the sale yet or are waiting in the over an hour long line. 

Create an account

If you're able to, it's always best to create an online account ahead of time. It speeds up your checkout process. You can also save your billing information to make the check out process even quicker!

Once you're in the virtual line, DO NOT HIT REFRESH!

This is probably the biggest thing you need to know. It can be annoying waiting in line and sometimes it moves pretty slowly.  It is tempting to hit the refresh button to see if anything will change, but I'm warning you that you will regret it. Hitting the refresh button will take you to the very back of the line. 

Know Your Size
It's important to know your size because all items purchased during the After party sale are final sale, which means there's no returning.

Have a Positive Attitude
Just like anything you do, there are things that might frustrate you about this sale. There's a chance that you might not get the item you've been lusting over. You might get jealous that your frenemy was able to log on and claims to have gotten everything she's been wanting from Lilly while you're still patiently waiting in the virtual line. Being optimistic through the whole shopping process will make it much more enjoyable. After all, who can be grumpy when shopping at Lilly?

Self Control
We all know that Lilly Pulitzer items rarely go on sale. It can be quite tempting to go a little overboard when shopping the online sale. Try to make a budget and stick to it. You don't want to regret over spending your money on items that you won't be able to wear much longer since the summer season is coming to a close.

Best of luck shopping!

XOXO

Your Guide to Sorority Recruitment

In case you're new to my blog or somehow missed my posts from the past three years, I was (still kinda am...since I haven't graduated quite yet) a proud member of Greek Life at my school. Four years ago I definitely could not imagine that I'd be saying that, but here I am a sorority woman. 

Greek Life definitely isn't for everybody, but I don't think you can be judgmental of it until you have given it a chance. 

Sorority recruitment can definitely be an overwhelming thing.  No matter how many blog posts you read, pinterest pins you have, or how great your outfits are I don't think you can ever be fully prepared for recruitment.  It's important to remember as you read all of these things that recruitment is a little or a lot different from school to school. My recruitment experiences in eastern Pennsylvania definitely differed from my friends who go to larger schools down south. With that being said, my tips for recruitment are based on my personal experiences, so don't let them intimidate you or get frustrated if they differ from something else you've read or experienced. 

Before I share my tips, I thought I'd share a brief synopsis of my recruitment story.  In August of 2013, I transferred from my dream school to a state school that I wasn't in love with. I was struggling to become involved on campus, and quite frankly I wasn't really motivated to join any organizations. My mom being a sorority woman, encouraged me give Greek Life a chance. I was incredibly apprehensive, but agreed to give the recruitment process a chance. When I went through recruitment, there were eight sororities on campus. The format of recruitment was two days of open house rounds, philanthropy night, and preference. I missed the second night of open house rounds due to the stomach bug, so I missed the opportunity to meet half of the sororities on campus (this definitely limited me). I went through philanthropy round and was definitely feeling hesitant. During the first night of open house round I attended a session about a sorority that would be colonizing on campus immediately after formal recruitment ended. I decided to drop out of recruitment to go through this new chapter's recruitment process. Long story short, I ended up joining Alpha Delta Pi as a founding sister and absolutely loved (almost) every moment of it. If you want to read more about my experiences, check out my links at the bottom of this post. 

Be Yourself

This is one of the most important things. It's easy to become something you're not during the recruitment process. You may want to join a specific chapter, so you try to act or dress a certain way to impress them. Definitely do not do that. Answer all questions truthfully and don't try to be someone that you are not. The whole process will work out much better if you allow the Panhellenic women to get to know the real version of who you are. 

Take notes

The weeks leading up to recruitment, I'm sure you will be keeping an eye on what the Panhellenic women on campus act like.  Sure these things are important, but it's more important to form your opinions during actually meeting these women in the recruitment process. Meeting all the different sororities can be a bit confusing, so try to take as many notes as possible. The more notes you take the easier it will be to select the chapter you want to run home to on bid day. When taking notes, it might be helpful to jot down the names of the women you meet, several positives you liked, and several negatives that you didn't enjoy. 

Form Your Own Opinions

It can be easy to get caught up in all of the rankings, what other potential new members are saying, and what you hear on campus. Try to make your own judgements on what each sorority is like and if they would be the best fit for you. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anybody else says about the chapter because you have to be the one to want to spend time with them. 

Always Be Positive

When mass amounts of women get together, it can be easy to go down the negative road. However, it is important to avoid this route during recruitment. The days are going to be long, there might be things that you don't like, and it's easy to get frustrated when the process doesn't work out as you had imagined it would. Having a positive attitude will make the whole process much more pleasant for both you and the people you're close to.

Trust the Process
The recruitment process is incredibly unique. It's really unlike any other life experiences I've ever had. At most schools, almost every woman is matched with a chapter. Each school's recruitment process looks a little different, but there are so many similarities at the heart of it. You might get frustrated or discouraged at times because things aren't going as you wished, but you just have to trust the process. Things happen for a reason- you just don't always know the exact reason at that given time.

Be Inquisitive
Each chapter you visit will want to know about you. It can be easy for the sorority women to dominate the conversation, in order for them to get to know you and decide if you would be a good fit for their chapter. However, you should be in control of the process since you get to make the decision too.  Don't be afraid to ask questions about aspects of their chapter you are curious about. It's important that you feel comfortable and are knowledgable too.

Take Care of Yourself
The whole process definitely has the potential to be a long roller coaster filled with emotions. Depending on how your school has set up recruitment it could be spread across two weeks, take up a long weekend, or be during the week at night.  Regardless of the format, your health is important. Be sure to eat well, drink enough water, and get enough rest to fuel your days.

Choose Your Outfits in Advance
As far as what is and isn't appropriate to wear you'll have to talk to your recruitment counselor. This definitely changes from campus to campus.  Picking out your outfits in advance will give you one less thing to stress about when recruitment finally rolls around. The last thing you would want is to be late to an event because of a wardrobe malfunction. When picking out your outfits, remember that you will want to be cute, comfortable, slightly modest, and confident.  This means if those wedges you have give you blisters, then you might want to reconsider your shoe choice.  Also when you're picking out your outfits, don't be afraid to be yourself.  Wear clothes that resemble your style rather than clothes that you think a given sorority would wear.

Best of luck!
XOXO

Get Involved in College

One of the biggest pieces of advice I have for college students is to get involved.  It's important to become involved as soon as you  possibly can. Obviously take the time to figure out what organizations are best for you, but try to do so within the first few weeks of school.  It's never too late to get involved, but the earlier you do so the more benefits you will receive.  Being involved has a significant amount of positives. 

Meet New People

When you join a new organization you are able to branch out and meet new people you might not have encountered.  The people you will meet will provide you with multiple perspectives on things, which broadens your horizons.  Additionally, college is all about networking. The more people you make connections with the better. This will come in handy later on in life when you're searching for a job.  Also, meeting new people can lead to new friendships. 

Resume Builder

This is definitely an obvious reason to become involved. Going to college is all about working to better yourself in order to prepare for your future career. Sure a degree is great to have, but you definitely will need more than a bachelors degree on your resume. Getting involved will provide you with experience and skills that will help boost your resume. 

Leadership Experience

Every organization has some type of leadership because some body or several people have to run it to a certain degree.  The earlier you get involved in an organization, the more likely you will be to seek out leadership opportunities. Additionally, larger organizations like greek life will send you away for leadership training opportunities.  I am a huge fan of leadership. I think it teaches you a lot about yourself and how to cooperate with others. There are is a large range of leadership positions from small ones that require more behind the scenes work to larger ones such as President that require lots of behind the scenes work in addition to dealing with others and being the face of the organization.  You can never have too much leadership experience.

New Experiences

Part of college is breaking out of your comfort zone. Joining a new organization will definitely bring you out of your comfort zone at some point. It could be through having a difficult conversation, learning to get along with someone who has an opposite personality as you, going some place new, doing philanthropic work or learning a new skill.  You also could meet a new friend who might take you somewhere fascinating you've never been. Joining an organization will definitely provide you with these new experiences.

Budgeting Your Time Wisely
When you add an additional meeting or activity to your daily schedule your free time decreases. One of the great things about being involved is that it teaches you how to budget your time in order to balance the organizations your involved with, eating, studying, going to class, working out, and socializing.  Time management is a skill that will help you throughout the rest of life, so the earlier you can start mastering it the better.


During college I got pretty involved. My freshman year I played varsity field hockey and was an active member of Colleges Against Cancer. From sophomore through senior year of college I was involved with coaching field hockey, a founding member of my sorority, and a member of an honors society for education majors. I held numerous leadership positions during those four years and through my involvement I met friends I will have for a lifetime, attended four leadership conferences, countless hours of leadership training, travelled to three different states, learned how to have difficult conversation, gained knowledge on how to be an effective leader, had no choice but to be good with my time management skills, and created many memories.

As you head off to school this semester, think about getting involved!
If you're returning back to college, then I'd love to hear what your favorite part about being involved is.

XOXO

Textbooks the Affordable Way

As if paying for tuition did not cost enough, now you have to think about how you are going to get your textbooks for the semester.   Most campuses are going to try to convince you to purchase or rent all of your books from their bookstore.  They will claim to have the cheapest prices, but I can almost guarantee you that you can find your books for cheaper from somewhere else.  

I know everybody has their own theory on buying or not buying textbooks, so I want to be up front and share that everything in this post is just what has worked for me best throughout the past four and a half years. I've tried many different methods: buying books 100% new from the campus store, waiting to see if I actually need a book until I get the syllabus, renting books, using e-books, etc. I've found it best to order books about three weeks before heading to campus and having them shipped to your home.  Yes, you run the risk of not needing the book. However, in my experiences it's been easier to sell the book I didn't need rather than fall behind in a class that I didn't have a book for. 

First you will need to head over to your campus bookstore website and find the tab that says textbooks. Using your course schedule, enter in the information for your course abbreviation, class number, and section number. For example, if I was taking History 101 it would appear as HIS 101-03. The course abbreviation would be HIS, the course number would be 101, and the section would be 03.  You will have to do this for every class. After doing so, it will give you a list of the books that you need. 

Each book will have a price and a number with the letters ISBN in front. These ISBN numbers are important because they are going to help you find the book for cheaper elsewhere. 

Open a new tab on your computer and go to Slugbooks.com. Once you get to this site, you will need to copy and paste the ISBN number for the first book you need into the search bar. After doing so, the search will pull up the cheapest version of the book to rent and buy from multiple companies. I suggest choosing the cheapest company. 

Once you choose a company, read the description to make sure the used book you are purchasing isn't too used. I look for phrases like "gently used" and "like new". At this point, you have the option to rent or buy a book. I suggest buying all books that are related to your major.  Books for general ed classes should be rented because you will not need them once you've passed the class. 

Select the book you want and add it to your cart. This is when you will return back to slugbooks.com and go through the same process for the rest of your books.  This process takes a little bit more time, but it ends up saving you lots of money. 

After you have purchased all of your books, you want to make a spreadsheet to keep track of all of your books. It's important to track your spending, when each book arrives, and if you rented it you'll need to know when to return it. See my sample below.

 

Other Tips:

+ If you are taking an online class, then I suggest purchasing an e-book. It will help you do keyword searches to seek out certain information.  

+ If you purchase an ebook, then you will want to have some sort of tablet. It makes it easier to navigate. 

+Renting books from Chegg has given me the best experiences. This company allows you to write in the books as much as you need to, and if you decide to keep the book rather than return it they give it to you at a discounted price. 

+If you have friends in a class, try to split the cost of the books by sharing them. 

+Before purchasing the books, see if you can borrow or purchase them from a friend who has already taken the class.

+Order your books three weeks before classes start to make sure you have them in time. 

Best of luck! 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 

XOXO

Ways to Decorate on a Budget

The first few weeks are crunch time for many college bound students. Everyone is running around trying to get the finishing touches for their new dorm room, apartment, house, etc. The decor in your college living space can really make this place feel like home for you. Sure, you probably have pinned beautiful rooms that you'd love to recreate in your own space, but let's face it- on a college that just is not going to happen. Today I'm sharing some things you can do to on a college budget to decorate your living space to make it feel homey and look adorable. 

Picture Frame// Picture // Cactus // White pots

Succulents // Striped pillow // Fur pillow // Desk lamp

Throw rug // Duvet cover // Desk organizer

Gallery Wall

These can take up as little or large space as you'd like.  All you need are a few frames and prints. The frames can be as cheap as a few dollars at your local dollar store or you can spend about $10 on a frame from IKEA.  When it comes to the images in your frames, you can stick to something simple like framing your favorite print from the latest Lilly Pulitzer catalog or a photograph you have actually taken.  There are also some great easy websites that you can use. I found a few of the items on my gallery wall pre-framed at Home Goods for less than $10. 

Crafty Wall Art

Spend some time completing a little DIY project. There are tons of tutorials out there to help guide you through creating your own pieces.  If you browse pinterest you will be overwhelmed with inspiration. This is a great way to incorporate your university, sorority, hometown, favorite quotes, etc. into your room.  Last year I painted a canvas with my sorority letters on it. The fun piece was a grade addition to my room.  

Monogram 

Surprise, I'm obsessed with monograms. Adding a monogram to your room decor is an easy way to personalize your room. You could purchase a wooden monogram to hang on the wall, a sticker to place on a wall, or get crafty to design your own creation. Last year, I recycled my Lilly Pulitzer agenda and covered a wooden letter with it.  

Check out my tutorial here. 

Comfy Cozy Bed

A comfortable bed is probably the most important thing when it comes to your college bedroom.  I value sleeping and being comfortable while doing so.  You want to be sure to have a mattress topper on your bed.. it will make sleeping so much better. Have some fun with decorating your bed, since it will  take up the most space in your room. Play around with the color scheme you are using. There are lots of sheets and duvet covers you can use to spice up the room.  It's also important to have a comfortable throw blanket. A well made put together bed will really put the finishing touches on your college room. 

Throw pillows

 You can never have too many pillows on your bed. The more pillows the more comfortable. Throw pillows are a fun way to spice up your room. You can find cheap pillows in various colors, patterns, and quotes at Target or TJ Maxx. 

Desk Accessories

You go to college to learn and develop skills to help you have a career. Needless to say a desk should be an essential piece of furniture in your college space.  The library, the living room couch, and the kitchen table aren't always the most distraction free areas to complete your school work, which is why I put so much emphasis on having a desk.  Your desk should be an inspiring place for you to feel motivated to study, write that term paper, or learn something new. A desk can be a large piece of furniture, which is why it is important to decorate it carefully.  A desk lamp, a pen holder, and filing system of some sort are definitely essentials. You can play around with different textures, colors, and patterns to make this area fun.  I also recommend getting a comfortable chair since you'll be spending lots of time in it. Last year I got this cute chair cover from IKEA. 

Plants

Plants are great to have in your bedroom. They make for a great decor piece when paired with an adorable pot. They also purify the air in the room. There are lots of plants that are easy to care for, which would be perfect in a college room.  You can find cute pots at places like Walmart, Target, Ikea, Home Goods, Pier 1, Anthropologie etc. 

Area Rug

This isn't a must, but it can make a cold space feel more homey. Head over to your local carpet store and ask if they have any cheap remnants you can purchase. Having a rug allows for a more comfortable spot for friends to sleep when they come to visit too. 

Best of luck deccorating!

XOXO

Things You Can Do To Seem More Put Together

HAPPY FRI(YAY)! 

When we talk about people being put together, a certain image comes to mind. I'm sure we can immediately all list several names of people who come to mind.  These people might be friends, mentors, acquaintances, or even celebrities regardless a specific image comes to mind.  For some reason there are just some people who really do have it together, but there are others who do several things that make it appear like they have it together when in reality that might not be the case.  We all would love to give off those put together vibes 100% of the time, but that just is not realistic. Nobody is absolutely perfect all of the time.  We all have a slight hiccup in our lives every once in awhile.  Yes, me the perfectionist is admitting to not actually being perfect! Anyways, from time to time I get the comment from people that I literally have my whole life together. I would definitely disagree with this statement, but I guess from the outside it could appear that I do.  Lately I have been thinking about how I am giving off these I have my life together vibes to people.  I created a short list of little things that I do that could possibly give people these vibes as well as some things that I think of when I picture my list of people who I know who seem so put together. We all could use a little advice every once in awhile, so I thought I'd share my tips and tricks with you guys!

Make your nails a priority

Okay, I know this sounds silly but it really does make a difference. There's something to be said about a woman who has well manicured hands and feet.  I'm not saying you need to pay money to get your nails done every week, but spend some time to give yourself a fresh coat of polish followed by a quality top coat. This will definitely give off a more polished look to your peers. Also I don't know about you, but when my nails are done it just makes me feel good. Plus, painting your nails can be therapeutic. 

Dress to impress

Looks aren't everything, but they do help with making a good impression. You don't need to be dressed to the nines all day every day. However, spend some time to put together a cute outfit whether it's a pair of running shorts and a cute tank or a Lilly shift dress. You should always dress comfortably, but never be sloppy. This could even  mean just taking the time to iron your clothes. Also, when you look good you feel good!

Simple accessories

Do a little accessorizing, but not too much. Play around a little bit over the next few weeks and figure out what you're essential accessories are.  When you're leaving the house throw these on to finalize your look. For me my go to items are a pair of pearl earrings, my fitbit, a watch, alex and Dani bracelets, a bar necklace, or my monogram necklace. I don't wear all of these at the same time, but I throw on some combination of these items on before heading out. 

Do your hair

Unless you are one of the few woman who can just hop out of the shower and have naturally awesome hair, you need to put a little effort into grooming your hair.  By no means am I saying you need to spend hour making sure your hair is curled to perfection.  But spend a couple minutes to fishtail a side braid, pin up a cute chignon, master the top knot, or throw your hair in a pony tail and run the flat iron through it several times.  When your hair looks well kept you look like you have things under control. 

Natural makeup

Natural makeup is definitely a go to.  You don't need to wear makeup every single day. When you do your makeup don't over do it. You want to wear just enough to cover up any blemishes, but definitely don't pile it on so you look orange and have raccoon eyes.  Try using a BB cream, a nude color eye shadow, a little mascara, and a light pink blush. This soft natural look is very feminine.  This also gives off the vibe that you tried but didn't try too hard. If you're feeling bold add a little color to your lips with a pink lipstick. Wearing lipstick also can go a long way for your appearance, but remember appearance definitely is not everything. 

Be on time

This is such a simple task that you can do with ease.  One of my coach's told me that if you're on time, then you're actually late. If you always plan to be somewhere 10-15 minutes early, then that will ensure you arrive on time.  This adds cushion time for traveling, traffic, getting lost, etc.  Being on time is so important. It signals to people that you respect them and their time. Being late is definitely not a sign of being put together because people think that you might not be good at managing your time. 

To Do Lists

These are your best friend. I literally cannot live without to do lists. I make them on the regular.  These help me keep track of what tasks I need to do. They prevent you from forgetting anything. When making to do lists, be sure not to make them impossible to complete. When you get things done it definitely looks like you have your life under control. Plus it gives you purpose each day. 

Establish Routines

Establishing routines can get you so far in life.  Routines are good because they give you consistency in life.  When you do things regularly people think you have a plan of action, which can be a good thing.  Also, it gives you guidance on a regular basis.  These routines could include before bed rituals, washing your face regularly, making your bed every day, working our regularly, eating breakfast everyday, etc. Also, when you have routines for long enough then you actually will have your life together. 

Buy an agenda

Okay, so you need to do more than just buy an agenda. You actually need to use it. Find an agenda that works for you, then figure out a system that works for you (color coding, making to do lists in it, using the calendar, etc). Using an agenda will keep your life organized, help you plan ahead, and will ensure that you don't miss an event. When you are on top of things you definitely are more put together. When somebody asks you what you're doing on a certain day and you can tell them, that certainly gives off those put together vibes. 

Be confident

If you take anything away with you from this post, I hope it is the importance of being confident in yourself. Now days I feel like it's easier for millennial to be insecure than it is to be confident. The world gives us so many reasons to not be happy with who we are or how we look. Regardless of what anyone tells you, be comfortable with who you are and what you stand for. Rock that confidence with you on a daily basis and it will take you far in life. 

I'd love to hear from YOU! What do you do to seem more put together? 

Have a fabulous weekend!

XOXO

Things To Do With Your Free Time

It's been awhile since I've done a Friday Five... and by awhile I mean close to two years. I decided to bring back Friday Five for the summer because there are so many fun things going on in the summer to share with y'all! Today's Friday five is a five times two post! 

{Picture via}

Now that most of you have started your summer, I'm sure you have a little more free time than you did during the school year. The free time is great in the beginning, but eventually we all get a little bored.  It's important to make use of your free time regardless whether you have a lot of it or hardly any time.  Sure, we can all spend hours binge watching Netflix, but let's be real there are tons of other things you can do that are a little bit more productive as well as healthier for you. 

Here's a lit of some things that you can do to make the most of your free time:

Social Media Clean Up:

With all the different social media accounts we have, it is important to manage your accounts. It's healthy to do a social media clean up every now and then just like you clean up your room. Discard the people and things that no longer apply to your life. Remove those blogs who don't post anymore from your bookmarks, unfollow the twitter accounts you thought were funny years ago, unfriend/unfollow the people from high school who you don't speak to anymore, unfriend/unfollow people who you would never talk to in person but yet are still friends with, and even delete some of the embarrassing pictures that are still floating on your Facebook page from middle school. 

Goal Time:

Take ten minutes to asses the goals you made for the month or year and formulate new goals to keep you moving forward to where you want to be. 

Exercise:

Go to the gym, take you dog for a walk, go for a quick run through the park, pop in your favorite workout DVD, head over to your favorite yogi You Tube Channel, etc. 

Reading:

Reading is great for your brain. Take out the book you've been trying to get through for weeks now and spend 20 minutes reading it, page through your favorite magazine, or read the latest news articles. 

Cooking:

Cooking can be very therapeutic.  Try a new recipe. This will take some time and allow you to have some fun too! If you don't have time to try something new, then get ahead on your meal prepping. 

Puzzles:

These are cheap and easy to find. If you have more free time, then this is something great to do in your free time. Puzzles help with your patience, stimulate your brain, and provide you with a challenge to pass by the time. 

Become an expert:

Take some time to research something you've always wanted to know more about.  Read a book, search the internet, or conduct some interviews and become an expert in this unfamiliar area. 

Create a bucket list:

Bucket lists are fun because they allow you to do a little dreaming.  Spend time creating your list and then get out there and start crossing things off of it. 

Meditate:

Meditating is good for your mind, body, and soul. It has been proved that meditation and mindfulness help decrease your stress levels, help you get better grades, lowers depression, and can help with your weight loss. 

Send a thank you note:

There's always something or someone to be thankful for. Let that person know you are thankful for them or something they have done for you by sending them some snail mail.  With today's avid use of technology we sometimes forget to send a handwritten note. 

How do you recommend people spend their free time?

XOXO