Midi Pencil Skirt, Zara, $59.90 |
Lace Jacket, H&M, $24.95 |
Pleated woven pants, Forever 21, $22.80 |
Harper Geometric Textured Dress, Francesca’s, $68 |
Midi Pencil Skirt, Zara, $59.90 |
Lace Jacket, H&M, $24.95 |
Pleated woven pants, Forever 21, $22.80 |
Harper Geometric Textured Dress, Francesca’s, $68 |
It’s the best time of the year: FORMAL SEASON! That’s right! Whether you’re in a sorority or plan on getting yourself invited to a fraternity’s formal, this is your ultimate guide to finding the perfect dress online at an affordable price (tips, tricks, and favorite stores).
Tobi is GREAT! This is my #1 recommendation by far. I ordered my semi-formal dress from here along with another dress as a backup. Not only did they ship incredibly fast (within a week!), but the dresses were such high quality. I love Tobi because they have something for everybody – from super scandalous cut-out dresses to modest work-appropriate dresses.
The main reason I ordered through them was because they offer free returns and exchanges. Also, they offer 50% off your first order AND free shipping! You just can’t get a better deal than that.
I do have to say though, their dresses do run small. I am usually a size small/medium in dresses, so I ordered a medium to be on the safe side. My dress was skin tight – which was fine, just not what I had anticipated. I would recommend ordering a size up. Worst case scenario, you can exchange it for free for the smaller size!
ModCloth is another super cute online shop with free returns and exchanges. Their dresses are unlike any you will see. If you buy a formal dress from here, I doubt anybody else at your formal will have the same one!
Who knew Urban Outfitters had free returns and exchanges? Not me! They have super cute dress options as well especially if you’re going for the more boho look (I’m looking at you, Little!)
It can be extremely difficult to eat healthy in college, so I’ve pulled together some of my favorite tips to share to make the process easier!
All of the items you see below were under $150 and can fit in my dorm shelf and mini fridge. I promise, eating healthy in college (even living in the dorms) is possible. I’m super busy all the time with two jobs, an internship, this blog, sorority life, and a full class schedule. If I can do it, you can do it!
Make a healthy snack or meal replacement with a quick and easy smoothie. Use almond milk for protein, frozen berries, a whole banana, a spoonful of almond butter, and a handful of spinach. I promise, you won’t taste the spinach AT ALL! It’s the easiest way to get a healthy serving of fruits and veggies.
I love tuna and crackers for a quick, protein-packed, snack!
Take these to-go packs of ranch and a Ziploc baggie of carrots when you’re on the run. It’s so easy to take these in the car, on the way to class, or for your lunch at work.
I always crave fresh fruit while I’m at college. Unfortunately, most dining halls do a terrible job at providing fresh fruits or veggies. Berries go bad pretty quickly, but I’ve found grapes to last a little longer. They’re also easy to just throw in a Ziploc bag and take with you – no slicing necessary.
You can make little roll-up sandwiches super quickly by spreading on some cream cheese, layering on turkey and spinach, and then rolling it all up. I take these in little bags for my lunch at work. They’re filling and delicious.
I’m not vegan, but I am obsessed with these vegan chicken patties. They are SO good! They taste like chicken nuggets while still being healthy somehow. I have a huge stash of about four of these boxes in my freezer because I eat them so much. I love throwing a patty and some instant brown rice into a Tupperware for lunch at work. You can just put it in the microwave for a minute and everything is hot and ready to eat!
I honestly cannot stress the importance of breakfast enough. Especially for college-aged kids – we need fuel in the morning. So many of us are running off to class and then work and then other clubs/activities and then finally working on homework. Since we can’t always rely on being well-rested in the mornings, our bodies crave fuel. Make sure you have one breakfast staple on hand. I like having yogurt with some protein-packed cereal – you can easily plop some into a paper bowl and take it on the go if you need. EAT BREAKFAST! Your body will thank you.
Yeah, I know. This isn’t ideal. However, eating something is much better than eating nothing. We all know that Easy Mac and Cup-O-Noodles isn’t the best choice for our bodies. I’ve found Annie’s organic mac n’ cheese and Barilla’s pastas to be the best alternatives. Sometimes, we are just too tired to even think about making ourselves something healthier. Trust me, the idea of just heating something up always sounds appealing. Just make sure when you do eat these quick, microwavable meals that it’s not all the time and they’re not completely terrible for you.
Cooking in the dorms is virtually impossible. However, I have found there are a few creative ways that you can whip together something that resembles a “real” home-cooked meal. I use a hot pot (like this one) to boil water. Once the water is boiled, I add in quinoa and olive oil. Quinoa is so versatile, but I love putting lime juice, corn, black beans, tomato, and avocado in it. A light and healthy meal, it doesn’t take that much time to make but let’s you feel like you’re actually cooking. I usually make a medium sized batch of this and put it in containers for lunches for the rest of the week. To hear more about the recipe, check out my other post here.
Yep, you’re allowed to pig-out every once in a while. Having some of your favorite goodies on hand allows you to feel comfortable and like you’re not completely depriving yourself. I really think it’s important to have some of your favorite things nearby especially if you’re feeling down or homesick.
Today I thought I’d tell you all a little bit about my switch to a healthier lifestyle that took place last year. After gaining the expected “Freshman 15,” I was feeling really out of sorts. My energy and self-confidence were both at low points.
When summer hit, I was ready to shed those fifteen pounds with a renewed sense of determination. I began attending exercise classes at my gym and participating in some sort of physical exercise for at least thirty minutes per day. I began eating healthier – more fruits, veggies, lean protein, and water.
It’s been hard keeping it up since I’ve been back to school, but it’s so rewarding to be able to maintain a healthy weight. I was never overweight in the first place, but after dropping fifteen pounds, I look much more healthy and fit. I have more energy and feel so much better – mentally and physically.
I’m still a work in progress. I want to run a half-marathon by the time I graduate college. I’ve got a long way to go, but sharing images like this helps me stay motivated. I hope someday to inspire others to live a healthier lifestyle. It is such hard work, but it is beyond worth it.
Would you be interested in hearing more about my journey to a healthier lifestyle? Comment below!
Greek Life Stuff is the go-to place for sorority/fraternity flags! They have almost every single fraternity and sorority represented in their store. In addition, they have flags for co-ed organizations such as business or law fraternities. They even have a few other items available such as lanyards and beanies, but flags are their main product. Be sure to check out their main site as well as their Etsy shop!
Greek Life Stuff was extremely generous to provide me with this Kappa Alpha Theta flag for only $3 (the price of shipping). I am completely obsessed! Whether you live in Greek housing, the dorms, an apartment, or a house, it’s the best addition to any room. (They also stuck a Theta lanyard in the box too which was such a great surprise!)
I got the traditional Theta colors of black and gold, however they have options like pink to customize your flag how you want! There’s other styles available as well such as an American flag style with stripes and one with the crest of the organization.
I would highly recommend buying through them because they ship fast and are such a fun way to show your fraternity/sorority pride!
Fraternities they offer:
Alpha Epsilon Pi || Alpha Gamma Rho || Alpha Kappa Lambda || Alpha Sigma Phi || Alpha Tau Omega || Beta Theta Pi || Chi Phi || Chi Psi || Delta Chi || Delta Kappa Epsilon || Delta Sigma Phi || Delta Tau Delta || Delta Upsilon || Kappa Alpha Order || Kappa Delta Rho || Kappa Kappa Psi || Kappa Sigma || Lambda Chi Alpha || Lambda Phi Epsilon || Phi Delta Theta || Phi Gamma Delta || Phi Kappa Psi || Phi Kappa Sigma || Phi Kappa Tau || Phi Kappa Theta || Phi Iota Alpha || Phi Mu Delta || Phi Sigma Kappa || Pi Alpha Phi || Pi Kappa Alpha || Pi Kappa Phi || Psi Upsilon || Sigma Alpha Mu || Sigma Chi || Sigma Nu || Sigma Phi Epsilon || Sigma Pi || Sigma Tau Gamma || Tau Kappa Epsilon || Theta Chi || Theta Xi || Triangle || Zeta Beta Tau
Sororities they offer:
Alpha Chi Omega || Alpha Delta Pi || Alpha Epsilon Phi || Alpha Gamma Delta || Alpha Omega Epsilon || Alpha Omicron Pi || Alpha Phi || Alpha Sigma Tau || Alpha Xi Delta || Chi Omega || Delta Delta Delta || Delta Gamma || Gamma Phi Beta || Kappa Alpha Theta || Kappa Delta || Kappa Kappa Gamma || Phi Mu || Phi Sigma Sigma || Pi Beta Phi || Sigma Alpha Iota || Sigma Delta Tau || Sigma Kappa || Sigma Sigma Sigma || Tau Beta Sigma || Theta Phi Alpha || Zeta Tau Alpha
Check out their site here: http://greeklifeflags.3dcartstores.com/
Check out their Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WindyCityFraternity
I received this flag at a discounted price of $3 when it is regularly $24.99. Greek Life Stuff is an official Greek License Vendor. All opinions are my own.
All too often we get caught up in the romantic side of Valentine’s Day (I’m one to blame!). Many people feel frustrated or lonely during this time of the year, so I thought it would be a great idea to brainstorm some ideas of people you can celebrate this Valentine’s Day that may get overlooked otherwise. Instead of focusing on finding a date on Friday, take some time to show your appreciation for people who bring love into your life on a daily basis. Thanking people in your life will not only make them feel great, but you too! Here’s a list of fourteen people you can write a (non-romantic) love letter to and show your appreciation for this Valentine’s Day:
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Share the love! How are you spending Valentine’s Day this year? Share in the comments!