July is National Blueberry Month!

July has crept up on us very quickly, at least for me.  What better way to begin the month by picking blueberries?  According to the USDA, July has been declared as “National Blueberry Month” (http://www.blueberry.org/USDA%20Proclamation.htm)!  How exciting, fellow co-eds!  There are many fun activities that you can do to celebrate this unique holiday while spicing up the middle of summer.

• Before you go out and pick blueberries at the local farm, decorate a bucket to bring along with you.  I know the Target Dollar Spot carries little buckets sometimes, but if not then go out to your local Dollar Tree and grab one there.  Paint with ceramic or acrylic around the sides; write your name, a short poem about blueberries, draw a group of blueberries, whatever hits your mind at that moment you look at your bucket!

• Paint your nails blue!  CoverGirl nail polish can be found at most department stores for just over 3.00.  It’s a great deal and you’ll still look as fabulous as ever in your shade of blue.
  

• Buy a blue cover-up for the pool!  Have a little blueberry spirit for this month of July, even if blue is not your favorite color.  You never know… blue might bring out that little twinkle in your eye and catch someone else’s!
  

  Target; ~ $17.99

• Bake!  Make some blueberry muffins, pie or a mixed smoothie!  Check out this site for some creative and fun recipes!

• Are you a die-hard blueberry fan?  Prove it and go to a local Party City or similar store and get some blue body paint and paint a smiley face on your face or go extreme and smudge it all over!  Have a fun, crazy adventure with a friend and go on a walk downtown or see a movie.  Don’t forget to spread the Blueberry “news” while you’re out, too.
  

  Friends Margot and Brigid as blueberries at a costume party

• While picking blueberries, wear sunscreen, bug spray for your legs and feet and most importantly- SUNGLASSES!  Had my fellow CL Intern, Abby B, and I not worn them, it would have been a struggle to tell which ones were the most ripened – seriously!  We even took them off and back on and that was proof enough for us that we were fortunate to bring them along in the sunlight.
  

  Our blueberry bucket results!

Now that you have a few ideas, it’s time to gear up and celebrate July as National Blueberry Month!!  Enjoy your tasty, healthy fruit by wearing its color or taking in your freshly baked goods.

Kayla Norris is an Intern of College Lifestyles (TM).  She is a senior at Georgia Southern University and loves nothing more than eating frozen blueberries.

On the Sea Tips for Classy Co-Eds on Cruises

My Christmas and birthday present from my boyfriend, both of which are three days apart, was a trip on a cruise.  It was only a three day one to the Bahamas, but it was my first and I wasn’t complaining for any reason!  I am fortunate enough to go on an eight day cruise in a week from now with my boyfriend’s family.  Moral of this post: some tips to help you savvy Co-Eds that might be going on a cruise this summer, anytime in the future or are teeter-tottering the idea.

Go ahead and check out the Excursion lists.  Most cruise lines have one on their website in accordance to where you are traveling.  If traveling in a big group, narrow a couple down that you think might be in the price range everyone can afford and the most group-friendly.  If it’s a small group it will be easier to compare personalities and narrow down the lists that way, along with prices that will meet all of your budgets.

Before you begin raiding your wardrobe, write down and number every day of the cruise – from boarding to exiting on the last morning – and pick out what you plan to wear on the cruise, off the cruise and at dinners.  Adding an alternate top or an extra dress for dinner is not a big deal, but I would not recommend an alternate for every day or situation on a day at sea.  What you are going to wear really depends on where you are traveling to and from.  I am most familiar with the hotter climates, but even in colder weather, most of these tips will apply.  There are only so many outfits you can wear on a cruise to somewhere like an island in the Caribbean.  Pack a couple of bathing suits and if you are concerned about wearing the same one in pictures, mix and match and it will look like a new one you haven’t worn before.  Of course a cover-up dress or shorts and a tank top are very important.  I suggest off-board in an island with a hotter climate to wear a bathing suit and some kind of cover-up that you don’t mind having tan lines from.  You never know what you might run into, even if touring a rain forest, and it will also feel a lot better to sweat in your bathing suit than in a cute summer dress!

Don’t forget your iPod, a good long book or a movie to watch while on the trip to your departing location.

Wear sunscreen!  Don’t think you won’t need any going on a cruise to somewhere like Alaska!  My parents went on one to there a few years ago and needless to say, after the first day, they found out they needed to wear sunscreen even though the weather wasn’t the warmest.  Check out my post on keeping your face smooth, fresh and red-free.

Wear comfortable shoes and make sure they are worn in some before you go on a walking tour.  Flip-flops or sandals are ideal for a trip to a beach on an island, but comfort exceeds style!  Chances are you will not be taking pictures of your feet!  Speaking of that, a reminder on manicures and especially pedicures: don’t get one less than a few days before your trip!  If you are traveling somewhere where sand is involved, nail polish is prone to chip faster if painted on more recently.  Check out Intern Samantha C’s post on bathing suits, shoes and cover-ups!

Bring Tums or something of the sort.  As I’m sure you’ve heard, cruises let you eat at ANY hour of the day with a huge variety.  Some meals and ingredients that your body is not used to devouring might turn your stomach around or give you a little heartburn, so having a form of antacid around is a great idea.

This might sound like something a parent would tell you, but pack some band-aids and a couple of alcohol wipes.  The most appropriate phrase of this post: “You never know!”

Let’s talk about sunglasses now… invest in some cheap ones that you look good in, because if they get lost in the ocean or left at the on-board pool, you won’t stress over them being $100+.  When it comes to pictures, try to remember to take them off because showing your pretty eyeballs make better profile pictures than ones with sunglasses on.  Another huge reminder would have to be to take them off for a little while when laying out or walking around in the sun – you don’t want to look like a white-eyed raccoon or waste time trying to cover it up with makeup!  CL Executive Director, Shelly Marie, wrote a fabulous post on how to find the right pair of shades to frame your face shape.

Hats are another plus to make sure you don’t get too much sun on your face.  CL Alumna Intern Shannon M wrote a great post on chic hats.

Don’t forget to bring cash for tips!!  At the end of your journey, you will be asked to tip your dinner server, dinner waiter, dinner manager and room attendant.  I suggest to bring a lot of fives and a few ten dollar bills.  Also remember you will setup how to pay on-cruise expenses, usually drinks, from a credit or debit card, but beware of the prices because they are pretty hefty, so try to keep track of how much you have spent so you are not blown away by the bill once it is delivered before you depart.

When it comes to the bathroom, just think of the size as a twin-sized mattress – width and length.  It is close to impossible to shave your legs in what you have to work with, so what I did was wet my legs and lifted each one up to the counter.  Believe me, it’s tough during wave “turbulence” and takes a little bit more time, but being a classy Co-Ed myself, it must get done somehow!  Little reminder: pack in a small spray bottle for courteous use after a long break in the powder-room.

Since using a cell phone results in outrageous bills and would not be a smart idea to take on-shore, I bought a cute and inexpensive 100 ft. water resistant watch from Wal-Mart to check the time!  I also got an underwater camera for adventures like snorkeling.

I think that pretty much covers the main topics of what to bring, wear and remember to do on a cruise!  Comment below if you think of any more helpful tips and don’t forget to check out my fellow CL Intern, Abby B’s post on packing a suitcase abroad – a VERY helpful post.  And now you are all set for your journey on the sea!

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles™.  A trip on a cruise is just what she needs to kick off her senior year at Georgia Southern University.  Her favorite part on the ship is, well, everything!

Sizzle up your Summer Sports – for all Co-Eds!

I love to be active, especially in the summer when I have free time to play tennis with fellow Co-Ed or shoot some hoops and whatnot.  There is nothing more fun than a little competition, but sometimes the same old routine, rules of sports and a “only here to win” attitude can hinder happy spirits.  In my “May-mester” term class that I just finished, I was required to pick a website from a given list and research a bit and report back with the appropriate answers required.  I chose something called “Junkyard Sports” and DeepFUN.

Here are a few of my favorite tweaked sports and games from those websites:

Ping Pong Squash – hit a ping pong against a wall and play like squash. Example YouTube video: here.

SkySoccer – Soccer on a tennis court.  Learn rules and watch in action: on YouTube.

Tweaked Softball – Roll up a sock for the softball, use a frying pan in place of the bat and set up chairs for bases.  This is a fun one to do for a Fourth of July activity or any family event!

Be creative and think of the many possibilities of new games and sports you can tweak.  You might even find one that will become a family tradition, a future study break during finals week or a new sisterhood event for your sorority.  Enjoy the games rather than the thrill of just winning for a change this summer!  Don’t forget that as a classy Co-Ed, you can also dress in style while playing your new favorite game- check out Jenny D’s post on dressing in style while working out.

Kayla Norris is an Intern of College Lifestyles (TM).  She is an Exercise Science major and one day will “make” a giant deck of cards to play the “Human Card Game” from DeepFun Games!

May is MISS SHELLY MARIE MONTH!

 

Why Shelly Marie’s Interns love her:

Kayla: I love Shelly’s dedication, motivation, inspiration and especially her optimism!

Liz: I love Shelly because she was the first person to give me a real shot at writing and doing what I love.

Alle: I love Shelly because of the hard work and dedication she puts into not only College Lifestyles, but everything that she does! She has the most amazing personality and is truly one of the nicest people I have ever come across. She also makes her interns feel so appreciated and loved!

Sara: Shelly is the most positive person I have ever met. Throughout my year as a CL intern I have never heard her say a negative thing. 

Patrice: She is so sweet! She always brightens our day with super sweet texts and e-mails and she really cares about us!

Kaitlyn: Shelly is just all around fabulous.  Whether it is a sweet text message, Facebook wall post or an encouraging e-mail, she is always keeping in contact and wanting the best for us.  I am so glad that I am a part of CL because otherwise I may have never been in contact with Shelly.  I know if I ever needed anything she would try her best to help me out.  I can only hope that I can meet her one day “in real life”!

Marisa: Shelly is the most supportive director and leader a working girl could ask for! She is always there for support, inspiration, and enthusiasm. Her amazing personality and kindness has made my work with CL seem anything BUT a job, and the best part of my day!

Briana: She’s awesome. Duh. How can one NOT love Shelly?  She’s a sweetie pie and so sincere. I love her even though she’s Team Bill.

Breanna: She is always spunky, upbeat and shooting for the stars. She genuinely cares about the wellbeing of us college kids!

Shannon: She is a golden ray of sunshine! Her positivity and zest for life is highly contagious.

What makes Shelly Marie special:

Kayla: Shelly is special because she truly lives by what she does and says and is the wonderful woman that she continually strives to be – Classy and Fabulous.

Liz: Shelly’s kind heart is what makes her special.

Alle: Shelly is special because of her heart and dedication she puts into College Lifestyles! She is so easy to talk to and she gave me such a wonderful opportunity when she asked me to become a part of the College Lifestyles family!

Sara: I am sure I am not the only one who will say this, but Shelly is the best text-messenger on the planet. I love getting a text on rainy, cold Monday mornings that tells me how fabulous I am. Shelly tries make sure that someone else knows how amazing they are every day.

Patrice: Like I said, she really cares. Even though she doesn’t actually know a lot of us in person, she still loves us and takes us under her wing.

Kaitlyn: Shelly is an extremely wonderful role model for everyone.  She is very hardworking and took an amazing idea (CL) and ran with it.  Between all of the different things that she does (CL, speaking tours, etc. times 100!) you would think that she would be one big pile of stress, but no!  If anyone else took all of these things on, they would never be able to handle it with the class that Shelly does!

Marisa: With her upbeat personality and positive words and energy, Shelly is special because she makes everyone around her feel special. Her positivity is infectious, and she always puts a smile on everyone’s face.

Briana: She is fabulous and the sweetest person in the world.

Breanna: Her wonderful attitude towards the entire world I feel! Even when something is going wrong, she is positive!

Shannon: How can you not love Shelly??!?! She is so genuine and is always looking out for her friends and College Lifestyles interns. Her cheery texts, emails, Facebook posts, and CL blog posts always make my day.

CL Interns’ favorite memories of their Executive Director:

Kayla: A memory is always made whenever I get a chance to talk to her, but I think my favorite it would have to be the Wendy’s drive thru experience when Shelly came (on one of many) to visit Epsilon Gamma of AST for Fall 2009 Recruitment.

Liz: My favorite memory of Shelly is when she thought I was quitting the internship due to my school supervisor not approving and me checking that Shelly still WANTED me on.

Alle: My very first phone interview. I remember being so nervous, but as soon as she called, I felt at ease, because she was so easy to talk to! She made me feel so comfortable!

Sara: My favorite Shelly memory was on the first CL con. call when we all got a Shelly vocab. lesson so that we would know what she was talking about.

Patrice: When we had our welcome to CL call with her and she warned us about her “shelly-isms”! Totally cracked me up!

Marisa: My favorite memory of Shelly would have to be the weekly text messages she sends out to interns, simply asking us to have a great day and constantly reminding us how fabulous we are. After receiving one of Shelly’s affirmations, you cannot help but have an amazing day!

Briana: Any time I wake up to a text from her telling me about the silly things that happen to her.

Breanna: She gave a speech at Clarion before I was an intern, and came to visit the AST house–only got lost for a good hour in the 8 blocks between the house and campus. It wasn’t her fault, there are one-ways that screw everything up!

Shannon: How adorable she is saying “ya’ll” on the phone during conference calls.

Additional comments from Shelly’s Interns:

Kayla: I am so grateful I was given a chance to be an Intern for her. She is an amazing woman, the most positive person anyone will ever meet, and the passion she has for not only College Lifestyles, but every job clearly shines through! I love her so much!

Alle: I think Shelly is truly amazing because of how much heart and dedication she puts into College Lifestyles! I have had so much fun with this internship because of Shelly and the other girls! She truly is more than just an advisor! I really feel that she is such a fantastic person!

Patrice: Shelly is such a great boss. She makes me feel like I can ask her any questions and I can come to her with anything and she will help! She has a lot that she can teach us and she does a great job of doing that

Marisa: Shelly has made my internship with CL to be the most fun and rewarding position I’ve ever held. I will miss her dearly, but can’t wait to keep in touch with her! I know she’ll still be there to support my wonderful experiences in the ‘real’ world

Briana: Hey Shelly, Team Eric.

Breanna: Shelly is AMAZING and a great inspiration for any girl to have!

Shannon: Thank you so much Shelly for my internship experience with CL! I’ve made lifelong friends all over the world and cannot wait for all of us to meet up one day. I love our College Lifestyles family and cannot wait to see CL as a highly successful magazine or television show in the near future! You’ve got an amazing thing going here and I’m so proud that I could be a part of it.

College Lifestyles Executive Director, Shelly Marie, is dear to every one of her CL Intern’s hearts. We are so blessed to work under her knowledge and great wisdom and love to call her our “boss”. We could not ask for a better role model, advisor, mentor and friend as Shelly Marie is and will always be to each one of us. No matter the pathways that our stepping stones will lead us to and from, Shelly Marie is always one to count on if we need advice, a laugh, or a friend – in good or bad times. We love our Executive Director and we love College Lifestyles!

We now officially declare the month of May as “Miss Shelly Marie Month” and she will never fail to deserve this honor. With that said, THANK YOU so much again, Shelly, for all you do!

 

CL Love,

Your College Lifestyles(TM) Interns of Spring 2010 (and many more to come)

Become a Bronzed Beauty this Summer!

Once upon a time, Karrie Pettit and Chris Mueller were in Maui, Hawaii and then *bing!*. The most sensational tanning lotion, Booty Butter, was invented! In 2008, they created a company based in Florida called Bikini Kitchen.

Booty Butter Tanning Lotion speeds up a Co-Ed’s tanning process without looking orange or streaky since it is not a self-tanning lotion. Some major advantages to Booty Butter Tanning Lotion are that it is all-natural, water-resistant, bug repellent, works with all skin types and shades, and Bikini Kitchen does not test on animals.

Here are the ingredients and how they create a “bronzed beauty” out of you:

Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil – bronzes all skin tones quickly and moisturizes

Kona Coffee Extract – this my favorite ingredient because it smells SO deliciously of mocha!

Soothing, Moisture-Rich Mix – Aloe, Macadamia Nut Oil and Light Mineral Oil for a sparkly moisture

Vitamin A – gives the skin an attractive, rosy glow

Vitamin C – fends against damage caused by the sun

Vitamin E – reduces severity of sunburn and early stages of UV damage

With those tidbits, keep in mind that Booty Butter does not contain any SPF, but there is an advantage to offer. You can pair any number of SPF as the under layer and Booty Butter will still give you the same amazing results! Remember from my previous post that SPF is a must-have; you never want to go without it!

Just yesterday I tried some of the Booty Butter myself, complimentary of Bikini Kitchen. I applied Hawaiian Tropic’s Tanning Lotion with SPF 30 and let it dry for a few minutes before I put an even layer of the scrumptious smelling, brown Booty Butter lotion. Don’t let the word “brown” fool you. At first I was skeptical of how it would appear on my skin, but all it did was have an attractive shimmer and looked like a light tanning oil without the feeling of that nasty slither of grease.

I was hardly outside for an hour, laying thirty minutes each on my front and back, and the picture below will show the progress I have already made.

Can you guess what is number one on my “Summer Wish List”? Bikini Kitchen’s “Booty Butter”! It is the perfect product to use when lying out by the pool or walking on the beach to get a healthy, naturally bronzed tan.

You can check out this top notch tanning lotion and also order on Bikini Kitchen’s website.

Follow Bikini Kitchen @Twitter or on Facebook.

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles(TM). She is excited to finally have some time to relax from school this summer in the sun with a bottle of Booty Butter from Bikini Kitchen.

Smooth Those Scales Away – Let Your FACE Shine!

Warmer weather means higher UV rays, which really means keeping your face and body safe from too much sunlight!  No one wants damaged skin!

Tell me, who wants to look like Kim Kardashian?  In the picture below (all rights to Kim Kardashian), she is extremely sunburnt and her face probably dried out once it started to fade, too.

So, here are some facial tips for a dry face as well as preventing your cheeks from turning into a lobster red.

STEP ONE:

Always, always, always use some kind of moisturizer before you put any kind of foundation down (even if it already has SPF in it)!  This way you’ll know it will even out the amounts of SPF and make sure it won’t rub off if you use powder after your base foundation.

My Pick: I use Clean & Clear oil-free Morning Glow moisturizer with SPF 15.  It soothes your skin while it brightens.

STEP TWO:

Apply your liquid foundation.

My Pick: I personally don’t use any kind of liquid foundation, but I have found that Clinique Stay True Makeup Oil-Free Formula – $21.00.  For a less expensive route, try CoverGirl Outlast Liquid Makeup with SPF 14 – $9.00 at local drug stores.  This foundation is ideal for a summer sparkle you might acquire in the hot weather or while working out, while it evens out discoloration.

STEP THREE:

Apply your powder foundation.

My Pick: Now, I DO wear powder foundation after apply my moisturizer.  I use Maybelline New York Pure Stay Powder Foundation with SPF 15 – around $7.00 at your local drug store.  If you choose to use the powder form after moisturizer, make sure you wait until it is dry to apply so it does not leave yucky streaks!

TIME TO WASH IT ALL OFF:

I use Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser Face Wash every time I shower and Aveeno Skin Brightening Scrub Face Wash when I want to exfoliate and improve my skin tone (Smooth Those Scales Away – sound familiar?); this is also the perfect product for more radiant skin and leaves your face feeling so soft and delicate- and trust me, it does its job!  These products range around $7.00 at your local Target or drug store.

HAVING FUN IN THE SUN:

I use Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion with SPF 30 for face.  In the beginning of my “base” tanning, I generally find the highest (usually 10-15) SPF in a lotion form for my body – Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, etc.  Once I have gotten enough sun for a base coating tan, I use the oil form with the highest SPF, but not all day!!  And for the lips, I use C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick, No-Shine with SPF 15, which you can find at Bath & Body Works for $7.50.

Now you know everything you need to Smooth Those Scales Away and keep your face sunburn-free, soft and looking radiant.  Remember, too much sun can make you look like you’ve been burning in a leather factory!!  No classy co-ed wishes to look like this, so make sure you have fun in the sun in moderation!

Check out the rest of my “Smooth Those Scales Away” Series:

HAND Edition

FOOT Edition

KNEE & ELBOW Edition

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles (TM).  She is so ecstatic the weather is warming up and cannot wait to stroll around the outdoors of Georgia and lay out by the pool!

Spring into Easter Dresses!

Spring has arrived and Easter is quickly approaching! Here are some stylish and fun dresses for any occasion this season, whether it’s a wedding or going to church… and remember: they don’t always have to be pastel colors!

THE LONG DRESS:

The perfect dress to keep you cool, modest and looking lovely!  Match with a pair of spectacular sandals and a cute handbag and you’re set for an outing in the park or an evening walk on the beach.
My favorite accessory to add to this dress is a hat from the collection of CL Intern Shannon’s previous post.

THE FLORAL PATTERN DRESS:

This is one of my all-time favorites for spring because of the bright colors!  This is not only an ideal dress for a spring wedding, but this style of dress can be worn again for dinners on a cruise, a sorority dinner and much more!

THE STRAPLESS/TUBE DRESS:

Accessorize with fun necklaces and bright pumps for an outing or add on a shrug over your shoulders for appropriate church-wear to make your gorgeous style come to life!

THE CONTRAST DRESS:

This type automatically plays up the dress without excessive amounts of jewelry needed. Most of these include a belt to transform the two parts of the dress to make someone look twice at you and your unique, on-the-top style trends!

Enjoy your adventures and outings this spring! We know you will be looking absolutely breathtaking!

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is an uprising senior at Georgia Southern University and is excited to go see the Nicholas Sparks novel-based motion picture, “The Last Song” during Easter weekend – especially since she was an extra in a few scenes! 

GIFTS for a 21-Year-Old: Cash-Friendly & Creative D-I-Y

After I read Briana’s post, I glanced up and fixed my eyes upon a cute wine glass that a good friend decorated for me one year for a birthday present and thought, “Perfect for an ‘in my budget’ and affordable 21-year-old present!”.  Then it hit me: I was inspired to write a post just for you!  Here are the cash-friendly ideas and create-your-own/do-it-yourself presents I have done myself, been given, or thought of while brainstorming.  These gifts will identify to a sorority sister, casual co-ed, classy co-ed, comedic co-ed and a great girlfriend.  

1.  I just mentioned a wine glass, but you do not have to choose that one.  You can decide from a martini glass, margarita glass, or even a wine bottle!  Plain ones can be found anywhere for a cheap price: Wal-Mart, TJ Maxx, any craft store, and other similar locations.  If you don’t have any yourself, find a friend that has the painting essentials: paintbrushes (think about cup-ware size when choosing this as well), bright and fun acrylic paint colors and you can choose to dab a wee bit of modge podge over the dried paint for lifetime stay!

2.  This is a very cute one for sorority sisters: order or buy a baby paddle for less than $5 from A.C. Moore or other stores that provide them.  They are as long as one of your lengthier fingers and can be used as a keychain as well.  You can paint or order her initials letters or the numbers ‘2’ and ‘1’. Cut a little bit of string and tell her she can put it on her doorknob, wall, or my favorite – hang from her car’s rearview mirror. 

3.  If not a sorority girl, you can still use the same idea as #2, but without an obvious “fraternity/sorority” paddle and buy a straighter, more board like small keychain, star, or princess crown to decorate however you want to!

4.  I recently made my mom and a friend a pictured collage birthday card at the picture station at Wal-Mart that takes less than 5 minutes!  It was LESS than one dollar!  You could easily put pictures of you and the special birthday girl in the collaged frames and type a little message along with it and maybe add a cute cocktail mixer, margarita salt-top, a lime- anything to go along with it!  It is personable, yet very inexpensive and shows you still care and took time to customize your charming card! 

5.  Buy a poster and write down 21 creative things she will have to do on her birthday with you and her other friends!  A couple of things my friend Anna wrote for our friend Sarah to do were: “Go into your room and find something wacky, tacky, and fun to wear for the rest of the night – and must get approved by Anna and Kayla” – the winner: a backpack. “Randomly yell ‘it’s my birthday!’ or ‘I’m 21!’ throughout the night”.  You get the idea!

6.  Create a “Margarita” Basket.  Buy a basket and pick and choose to add: margarita glass (and decorate – look at #1), mix, salt-top, lime, Bath & Body Works “Island Margarita” home fragrance room spray and/or 4 oz. candle. 

7.  Wine stopper and wine glass tassels!  Definitely cash-friendly and very cute accessories! (My friend Abby gave me those in the picture!)

8.  For giggles: a breathalyzer – just Google or go to Amazon to find super cheap deals, and then you can create and add something from #1-#8 above! 

9.  For more chuckles: “Cocktails for Dummies” book and create and add something from #1-#8 above!

10.  Buy a cork board to hang onto her wall.  Think of a general color scheme and paint the board a base color.  Once dried, write with another color of your ideal spectrum something along the lines of “My 21st birthday…” or “My First Legal Moments/Memories” or something more creative.  Then draw different colors of paint to act as pictured borders where she will place photos from her 21st birthday bash once they’re printed.  If there was a theme involved, try to use those colors or symbols in a corner or two, or between borders, example: Mardi Gras – purple, gold, green and masquerade mask or beads.  Oh, and add a little message on the back so she won’t forget who gave it to her in the future and for proof you are SO imaginative!! J 

11.  My best friend Abby did this for me one year, too!  Get a ceramic piggy bank (I know AC Moore and Michaels has them) and decorate with ceramic paint pen or acrylic and smooth over a dab of modge podge for long-lasting stay.  Add a little message on a card to say, “Just four more years until you can rent a car!  You can start saving now!”

12.  Create a photo album of 21 different adventures you and your sister/co-ed/girlfriend have created together and add little captions beside them.  You can probably find a scrapbook/photo album with an unfinished wooden cover that you can paint and decorate as well! 

13.  For laughs: Get a picture printed that you know is not your birthday girl’s favorite.. for funny reasons of course- where she is blinking, laughing, not ready for the picture, acting silly and add a little message to say it is her new driver’s license picture, note it’s a joke (duh!), and offer to drive her to the local DMV and pay for her new license if it requires payment. If no charge or very little, take her out for a birthday dessert too!

14.  Speaking of dessert, one of the easiest and fun ways to show you took out time for your best girl’s birthday is to bake goodies, like a cake, cupcakes, or whatever!  Check out a yummy cake balls recipe we just love!  

These gifts don’t have to be just for a 21-year-old!  You can add them in a Big/Little present mix, another birthday age, or for any special occasion!  Tell us which present you chose to do for your next girlfriend’s 21st birthday at intern@collegelifestyles.org!

Kayla Norris is an intern at College Lifestyles(TM).  She is a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau National Sorority and her favorite gift to make/decorate is the corkboard (#10)!

Calling All New Sorority Alumnae!

As a recently-inducted alumna of my sorority, there are times when you are going to want to jump in and be a part of the chapter again – especially if you are nearby and had a lot of input in it before!  Here are some general tips on how to transition into your new role as an alumna of your sorority.

Be the Chapter’s #1 Fan!

You are the supportive backbone and offer moderate advice when asked.  Now that you are an alumna, you only have national dues to pay each year, which means a lot more $$ for donations for recruitment, decorations, food & supplies for sisterhood retreats, the Convention pot, and much more for your home chapter!  Think about the philanthropic ideas everyone wanted to accomplish and what monetary needs the chapter had when you were there and take advantage of the opportunity by helping your fellow sisters!  If you don’t have the funds, come up with a few ideas yourself and mention to the current chapter Fundraising Coordinator, Philanthropy Chair, or come out for a scheduled fundraiser for encouragement. 

Time:

One of the top priorities you now have is giving your time to the chapter.  This also means having to understand where your boundaries lie.  Whether or not it was your choice to become an alumna of your sorority, you no longer have that power of “what to do” in the chapter.  This is a very touchy subject to most recently-inducted alumnae.  Take my side for example..  This is my first semester being an alumna and having so much input holding the position of Chapter President before I transferred schools definitely makes me take a step back and evaluate myself.  Just because I was the president for a year does not mean it is my place to give a freely expressed opinion.  I left my home chapter knowing everyone still had things to learn, accomplish, and improve on, but I have FAITH in my sisters.  I know no one is out to “destroy” any tradition or lead the chapter into shambles.  If someone needs help with a situation, I might give my input on “what I would do” with the facts given to me, but also add in “what is best for the chapter or sister, etc.?” because I have not been at close distance to know what’s appropriate or not. 

Take the Initiative:

Just because you are no longer on the chapter roster doesn’t mean your sisters don’t think about you!  You remember how busy each semester calendar is, along with everyone’s school, work and daily life.  If you haven’t heard from a certain sister in a while, she hasn’t cast you out- she is probably just running around like a chicken with her head cut off!  J  Don’t stop contact with your sisters.  A simple text or tweet will let them know you also have not fallen off the radar and still think about them, too! 

Little Things To Show You Care:

Look for an upcoming holiday or find out the next social event your home chapter is putting on and make little goodie bags focused around that theme.  Add some candy or bake a little treat (rice krispies are the best, quick and easy to make; you can create a fun and funky color with food dye matched around the theme, too!) and put a cute and short sisterhood quote or personalize it by telling each sister why you love her and/or are thankful for her in your life! 

Alpha Sigma Tau - Epsilon Gamma Chapter - Fall 2009 Bid Day

 

Find CL Executive Director – Shelly Marie    , CL Intern Emily R., and ME! (Hint: search front row).

Kayla Norris is an Intern at College Lifestyles(TM).  She is a proud sister of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority and misses her busy life at Epsilon Gamma Chapter, but is excited to see her sisters at Alum Day at the end of the month! J

 

Smooth Those Scales Away – KNEE & ELBOW Edition

Spring break is closing in quickly!  Whatever will you do with those dry knees and elbows??  Here are some Bath & Body Works products that will smooth you down…

LONG-LASTING & FRAGARENCED FRESH: 

Try B&BW’s Signature Collection BODY SCRUB:

- contains exfoliating sugar crystals, aloe, and jojoba and almond oils

- 6 selected fragrances, priced at $15.00

Follow it up with the same Sig. Collection fragranced BODY BUTTER:

- if same fragrance: locks in moisture longer

- long-lasting moisturizer and heals dry, rough and damaged skin

- contains shea and jojoba butters and oat, rice and soybean oils

- priced at $15.00

INDULGE INTO YOUR SENSES:

B&BW’s Aromatherapy Collection SUGAR SCRUB:

- usage: massage and rinse clean once a week

- priced at $16.00

- contains exfoliating sugar crystals and blends of sunflower, safflower, sweet almond and jojoba oils for silky smooth skin

 

Top it off with the Aromatherapy VELVET BODY CREAM:

- contains African shea butter and Mongolian Cashmere extract

- priced at $16.50Not sure which Aromatherapy fits you?  Go to my previous post on the different scents and senses.

 

TAKE A TROPICAL TRIP:

Test B&BW’s True Blue Spa “Island Getaway” Line:

- bathe in “Need a Margarita?” Citrus Body Wash ($13.00) to soften those dry knees and elbows
- scrub scaly areas away with “Need a Margarita?” Body Scrub ($13.00); it contains an oil base, so it leaves your skin soft and moisturized.
- moisturize after with TBS’s amazing “Tahiti, Sweetie” body lotion ($15.00), which contains Monoi Oil, Tiare flower and Coconut Oil for extra locked-in hydration.

Go a step further and imagine you are actually there in that Tropical Paradise!  Try a spritz of the “Island Margarita” $4 room spray or light the $9.50 4 oz. candle by your bathtub!

*This is definitely in my top 3 favorite home fragrances*

Keep in mind this is a great spring or summer birthday gift package for a fellow Co-Ed!

And now… You look SPECTACULAR and SCALE-FREE for Spring Break!

Check out my other “Smooth Those Scales Away” Series Posts:

HAND Edition

FOOT Edition

Stay tuned for more additions!

Kayla Norris is an intern at College Lifestyles(TM). She is a junior at Georgia Southern University and is super excited to go on her first cruise to the Bahamas for spring break!

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