A Love For ZTA

This past weekend I had the opportunity to help the USC Upstate Zeta's with their recruitment. As a collegiate member of ZTA, I honestly dreaded this time of year. It was so stressful to balance work, school and Zeta as it is, and then you were adding on 3 nights full of Zeta to recruit the best girls possible! Girls get stressed out, burned out, and just want it all to be over with after day one, so getting through the next couple nights was always a challenge for me, and was for the girls in Kappa Rho's ZTA chapter as well.

Recruitment now seems to bring a different feeling to me as an advisor for these girls verse being a collegiate member of Zeta.

As a freshman going through recruitment and rushing Zeta brought such an exciting and new joy to my life!! That sounds silly, but if you have gone though the recruitment process, you know how exciting it is to run towards you new sisters and new sorority letters! Throwing up the Zeta Crown with your best friend and now Zeta Sister, and taking that group picture for the first time with all your new sisters in front of your letters... You can't beat that feeling of excitement :)

As a sophomore going through, it's a whole different feeling. You now are a Zeta sister and get to talk to all the girls going through recruitment that want to be you! You are getting to know them all and looking for you own little :) Bid Day couldn't be more excited because it's the first time you are standing in front of those letters getting ready to welcome in your new Zeta babies, but first you have to take all the pictures you can!

 As a junior, you feel like a leader. You know your stuff, you want to make sure your chapter gets good quality girls that are going to represent your chapter and know the importance of being a Zeta on campus. You are probably helping your little find a little of their own, or after falling in love with a new member, questioning the fact of taking on another little for yourself.

And then there's senior year. It's all coming to an end, and it's your last year to soak up Zeta as much as you can before you graduate and become an alum. I remembering feeling so burnt out, but as president, you still had to smile and find that love for Zeta to recruit the best! You want to get to know your new members, but it's harder because you lives are on two separate pages now. Bid Day is both exciting and sad at the same time, because you won't get to dress crazy and wear that tutu without anyone questioning you in the future. You take those picture with you other senior sisters that have been through ZTA the past 3 years with you and laugh because you started with 20 girls and now are only a group of 6. It's your last pool jump with your sisters, last run towards new members, and last time to celebrate the love for your letters as a collegiate sister :(

 

 

And then there's being an alum..

It's a whole new feeling of wanting the best to continue on the legacy of ZTA. You want the chapter to get the BEST girls! Not just the prettiest, but the good quality girls who will be a true asset to the chapter. Girls who will become leaders, and hold positions. You want to instill in those new members coming in how great it is to be a Zeta, but how important it is to represent your letters both while wearing them and not.

 

 The excitement of adding new members to your family and continuing the direct legacy you have to Zeta :)

 

Standing by your best friends and sisters as they get married!

 and being reunited with you Zeta family at weddings every weekend :)

And then getting married your self and having your sisters with you through every step!

 

Many people laugh and say that Zeta is just something to do while in college, but I plan to make Zeta live forever in my life. I have so many memories of my college years that Zeta has given me and now the love keeps on growing as a make new memories with new and old sisters I meet. I am forever grateful to be a member of the best sorority on earth!

 

Congrats to all the new members joining Zeta Tau Alpha this fall :) I hope that you all gain the same love for ZTA that I have found!

 

 

September's Favorite Things

I can't even believe we are already working our way through the first week of September! This month is one of my favorites because it is the start of Football Season! I already have almost everything together for our tailgate this weekend and can't wait to decorate our table with lots of cutesy gifts we received from the wedding. I've put together of some of my favorite items and products this month so far for you to check out!
 
These are a few of my favorite things...  you're probably humming that song now :)

Jack Rogers $128
Momma got me these Jack's for my birthday this past year and I have gone very days since not wearing them. They are much comfier than the regular style Jack Rogers because they don't have the extra piece below your heel that rubs! I love the simple circle design on top too :)

http://www.jackrogersusa.com/shoes/sandals/georgica-5

Stella and Dot Bracelet $39
I love this bracelet that I purchased a few months ago at Ashley Baker's trunk show! It goes great with so many of my bauble bangle stacks.  If you would like to order for Stella & Dot and don't have a current rep, make sure to look up Ashley!!

http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/p/jewelry/bracelets/bracelets-all/amelie-sparkle-bracelet?color=peach

Starbucks White Chocolate Frappuccino $5
I believe that this will always be my most favorite Starbucks drink! Stuart doesn't support my coffee habit and definitely not here because he said they have a group of followers that will do anything for Starbucks... I may or may not love it that much!

ZTA Cup $10
I love ZTA and especially this time of year because it's recruitment for many of our chapters! I'll be helping the Upstate Zeta girls this weekend and could not be more excited to see them expand their chapter with wonderful new Zeta Babies :) Want one of these cups, or something similar?! Just ask! Lets get you one made!

Vaseline Lip Therapy $2
My bf Will Talley got me hooked on this goodness shortly before he left for basic training in July. Since then, I have gone through two of these babies! Not only are they super cute because they are tiny but they actually make your lips feel wonderful! You can find them at your local drugstore for under $2.

Rodan+Fields Foaming Sunless Tanner $24
Let's all admit now that most red heads don't tan, they freckle... but with this stuff, I am always tan when I want to be! I like it much better than a lotion sunless tanner because the foam doesn't leave you feeling moist and dewy! (no one wants that feeling!) It's easy to apply, but do make sure you wash your hands after applying or they will turn orange! If you want to order some, let me know because I can get you a discount!

https://jyarborough.myrandf.com/Shop/Product/ESST125

Lilly Pulitzer 17 month Agenda $25
Ok so $25 is a lot in my opinion for a calendar, but it was Lilly, and I just HAD TO! I monogramed mine, and wrote all the dates I have so far within a few hours of purchasing my own! Lilly agendas come with fun stickers, a little pocket for extra papers, and a list of important dates to remember throughout the year!

http://www.swoozies.com/search?query=lilly%2520pulitzer

What to Wear to Sorority Recruitment

One of, if not the most, stressed over part of recruitment is what to wear. What I can tell you is that rush is a time to look classy, trendy, and cute. It isn’t necessary to spend thousands on your clothes as long as you look nice and know what looks best on you.

            Usually, the Greek Affairs office at your college or university should be able to advise you on what type of clothing is appropriate for your recruitment week.  If you go to a small, laid back, it might be as casual as jeans on the first day.  In contrast, denim is never acceptable at some of the larger Southern schools.  Ask your recruitment counselor what she feels is average for your rush and try to have several outfits ready based on what she tells you.  Listed here I have what I would consider pretty average for most mid to large size colleges who have rush in the fall.

            Round 1 (Meet and Greet) - Dressy casual, a casual dress or skirt with dressy sandals. Nice shorts with cute top. Dress up a pair of jeans. 

 

            Round 2 (Philanthropy Night) - Dressy casual. If you do not feel comfortable wearing heels, dress up white skinny jeans with nice sandals and a cute top. Dress up a nice maxi dress. 

       

            Round 4 (Preference night)-Dressy. Not formal! Don't come in like you are going to Prom or a cocktail party. A nice dress with heels. Statement necklaces. Accessories, but not too many! 

These are the type of outfits that will work for most recruitments. The point isn’t to get these girls to think you are sexy; it’s to get them to think you are fun and interesting.  

Just as important as the clothes you wear is what you wear under them.  Panty lines are just unnecessary so wear a thong.  Similarly, there is never a good reason for your bra to be showing.  Get a strapless bra if necessary.  If you are wearing any light colored clothes then make sure that all your undergarments are nude in color.  

Shoes are an interesting conundrum.  You need your shoes to be cute, but also comfortable.  Basically you should be wearing nice sandals every day of rush. This does not mean thong sandals. Cute shoes are great, but make sure they are comfortable too.  You will be walking a lot.  Also, break in your shoes before rush so that you won’t get horrible blisters the first time you wear them.  Another option is carrying a pair of cheap sneaks or flip-flops with you to wear to and from parties.  Your recruitment counselor can watch them for you while you are in the parties.  And always carry a bandage or two in your purse just in case a blister pops up.

Jewelry during rush should be classy and simple.  That said, you should be wearing some! Pearls are always a good option, as are diamond stud earrings.  As far as purses go, usually the sorority members will never even see them.  Many schools have the recruitment counselors watch them while the potential new members are in the parties. If you will be carrying your purse in, then most importantly, turn off your cell phone!!

Recruitment week is always so many emotions from both the sorority girls and and girls rushing. Just be yourself and don't lie! Nothing worse than getting a sister in your sorority to find out she lied about herself during recruitment. With that being said, don't air out your dirty laundry and talk about drama! Don't name drop or talk about someone you know.

And of course since its Throw Back Thursday, I had to add in some pictures of my past requirements!

Freshman year 2008, our rush week! I had to laugh a little at what we wore first night! :) 

Sophomore year 2009! 

Junior Year 2010

Senior Year 2011, I was President :)