Back To School

Technically I've been back at school for about two weeks, but with recruitment week and the first week of classes falling at the same time, I haven't even had time to think about updating the blog.

I'm so disappointed because I've been taking super cute pictures all week, and then I had to replace my iPhone (I thought I saved my pictures but clearly it didn't work). Luckily, I have darling sisters that I can count on to take pictures for me!

So since my last post, a lot has happened!

Recruitment! 
Sorority recruitment week has  by far been the most stressful, yet most rewarding experiences of my college career. All the summer practices, retreats, late nights, crafting, and stress were worth it when we welcomed sixty-nine new members on bid day!

This is a cute video our advisor put together. I love how you can see the excitement on everyone's faces. Bid day really is the best day of the year. 

I'm back in my apartment! 
It's no secret that I love my apartment. Living at home for the summer really made me miss my own space. I also really missed my roommate AC! We hardly saw each other this summer (she did some mission work in Africa and I did a lot of traveling and took a summer class), and it's so great to finally get back to our semester-long sleepover.

I decided to switch it up this year and put a bulletin board where my "gallery wall" used to be. Eventually I'll hang my paintings up on the wall by the bed. 

Is it weird that I sleep better at the apartment than I do at home? 

News Editor!
I've been promoted to an editor position at our school newspaper. This means that I'm busier than usual this semester, but I'm loving it! My only "issue" is trying to find actual news on my little campus. I'm also struggling to learn AP style editing, but making progress! I've also increased my coffee intake to two cups per day, if that is any indication of how busy I am.

Lisi Lerch Campus Rep! 
I'm officially a campus rep for Lisi Lerch, a super fun jewelry company that I discovered through following other bloggers. I'm planning an Outfit Of the Day post with these adorable tassel earrings. They're going to be perfect for football tailgates in a few weeks!

If you'd like to comment with your email address, I can sign you up to receive news and coupon codes from Lisi Lerch and you'll help me reach my "collect 100-emails goal"!

Don't y'all think that these red tassels are adorable??

Check back soon and I'll have a special code for you to use on their website! 

Recruitment Recap

Life's still as crazy as ever, but I've been wanting to share this video with y'all for a while.

This is Phi Mu's official 2014 Recruitment Video! I spent most of my free time this summer working on it, and then most of August stressing over the finishing details. Even though it's a little different than how I imagined it, I'm still super proud of it! I couldn't have done it without the help of our amazing chapter advisor. 

The first half is basically the last year summed up and then after the chant is what we did this past summer! 

In case you're curious about the Mardi Gras scenes, we had a big dance party to celebrate our last recruitment practice :) 

This was the video we showed at our Slideshow Night parties! (Remember my "what to wear" post?)

I'm super excited because our big/little week is next week! I can't wait to be a big sister!  ;)

Bid Day 2014: Welcome to Wonderland!

Waking up this morning, slowly but without needing the snooze button (although still rushing around to make it to church on time), I finally felt relaxed after an exhausting two weeks.

Being off of social media for the week meant that all the sorority girls here at Nicholls State blew up Facebook and Instagram with pictures from Bid Day yesterday (myself included). Of course, I had to share some of my favorite pictures from the day on the blog, as well!

It was such an amazing day, full of excitement, smiles, and loads of confetti! (See the video at the end of this post for an idea of just how much confetti)

How adorable are my sisters?!?

I thought the theme of Wonderland was so fitting, especially since we're all a bit mad here ;)

Check out this amazing video our advisor KT put together! 

Recruitment Week

My life has been revolving around sorority recruitment for the last month, and the week is finally here! (I blogged about it last month, too!). I'm so looking forward to my first time as an active member of Phi Mu, and especially meeting the new girls! It feels like I was just in their shoes, anxious and excited like I hope they are, too!

I love words so much, but putting into words how amazing this sisterhood has been to me? It's proving to be pretty challenging. 

Most of my pledge class on our bid day last year! 

I'm risking major cliches with this post, but the girls in Phi Mu are so much more than friends; they're my sisters. 

There aren't enough pictures I could post that would ever show all that Phi Mu really is. My sisters are, without a doubt, the most genuine, classy, kind-hearted, loving ladies. They know me better than I know myself sometimes, and love me even though I'm sure that's not so easy some days.

I'm praying that all of the girls going through recruitment this week (or in the near future) have a great experience (I made so many friends before I even received my bid).

My biggest piece of advice for all Potential New Members? Listen to your heart. You'll meet a lot of girls and hear so many facts about each sorority. You'll be asked your hometown, hobbies and major a thousand times, and there will probably be a few awkward moments.  But most importantly, you'll find a group of girls that makes you feel like you belong. Phi Mu felt like home to me, and I hope you find your own home, too.

Recruitment here at Nicholls means a social media-free week for all sorority gals and new members. I'll be back, happy as a clam, on Saturday after bid day! 

Sorority Recruitment Style

I can't believe sorority recruitment at Nicholls is only a little over a month away! It feels like just yesterday I was stressing out (for no good reason) about what to wear to each party! I bought all of my dresses so far in advance that I was worried I'd jinx myself! Ha!

I knew going into recruitment that I wanted/had to be a Phi Mu (I don't recommend setting your sights on one sorority; it only adds to your stress levels).

Because Nicholls is such a small school (6,000ish students?), there are only three NPC sororities to choose from. This makes our recruitment process a million times simpler than LSU or other big schools in the Southeastern Conference (not to be confused with the Southland Conference, home of our fighting Colonels).

Instead of running around to different sorority houses (sadly, we don't have those) for a week, there are three nights set up for potential new members (PNMs) to get to know the sororities.

I don't have many pictures from my own recruitment (there was a rule about no phones and social networking), so I put together new outfits that I'd wear if I could go through it again!

outfit details here! 

The first night is Philanthropy night, the most casual night. PNMs will visit all three rooms, learn a bit about each group's philanthropic activities, and do a craft that goes along with it. 

outfit details here!

Slideshow night is the second night. This is when PNMs watch slideshows that show what each sisterhood is all about. At Nicholls, this is business-chic night. I wore flats because heels make me nervous, but either are acceptable. (I'm in LOVE with this dress from J.Crew Factory!)

outfit details here!

The final night, preference night, is the most formal night when PNMs and the sororities make their decision. It's a mutual selection process, and girls receive their bid cards are on the next day, Bid Day. It's a good idea for PNMs to stay away from solid black or white dresses on this night because that's what most of the sororities will be wearing.

If you're planning to go through recruitment this fall and are having outfit concerns, check out this guide from Sorority Sugar! Every school is different, and what works for Nicholls may not be the norm at your school. I suggest checking your school's NPC website or talking to someone in a sorority there just to be sure. 

Is anyone planning on joining a sorority this fall?