Life Lately

Wow! I'm surprised I even remembered how to log in and write a new blog post! It's been quite a while, hasn't it?

My Fall 2015 via VSCO

Alternative titles for this post: "Where did the time go?" or "I have one more final left and no motivation to study anymore, let's blog!"

One of my favorite things about having a blog is the ability to choose how much or how little you can post. I love that even after my busy fall semester, my little blog is here waiting for me. Such a small comfort. It really is the little things.

Anyhow, this semester's been a whirlwind of excitement, late nights, long car-rides, and lots of pictures on my iPhone. I was scrolling through my VSCO app (@toodlebelle, I know you were curious), and was reflecting on the semester and thought it would be fun to show the fall semester's highlights with some of my favorite pictures.

Colonel Pride!

I'm still a Lisi Lerch Campus Rep! And the Colonels finally broke their awful losing streak!

(Use the code NichollsState15 for 15% off your own Lisi Lerch purchase)

I turned 21! 

Just in case y'all are wondering, my birthday wish has already come true ;)

I decided to opt for a small brunch with some of my best friends to celebrate my first legal alcoholic purchase (Mimosas are my favorite!). 

Lots of Writing! Lots of Coffee! 

I knew being the news editor would be a big commitment, but I didn't realize how much it would affect my coffee addiction. I'm up to two cups a day now!

Phi Mu

Phi Mu always seems to play a big role each semester, and this semester is no exception. But what was different about this fall was that I've learned to love my sorority a little differently. I actually enjoyed participating in recruitment this year and seeing the new members join our sisterhood really brought the experience full circle. Maybe it's from being older, but there was definitely something different about this year that I couldn't quite put my finger on. 

I have a new appreciation for sisterhood events, probably because I realized this year how few I have left. Next fall will start my last year!

(I promise I'm wearing shorts, I'm told this particular "sratty" look is called "lamp-shading")

My little also started her own blog (proud big sis moment!). Check her out over at www.behindthedrink.blogspot.com.

The End of #TheTinderChronicles

'Nuff said. 

The long-distance thing kind of stinks, but our weekend visits and road trip to meet his family have been one of the brightest highlights of my semester. (Oh, and he was also the real inspiration behind my Georgia on My Mind post)

The Pre-Law Society

A new friend and I got together and started a new club for students at Nicholls interested in going to law school. 

One of my favorite parts has been volunteering with a group called JOTS Birthdays. They're a charitable organization that throws birthday parties and other celebrations for children living in foster care and group homes. The ladies have been so sweet, and even though some of the children's stories will break your heart, it's been great seeing the joy such simple acts can bring. 

Please visit their website to read their full story or if you're interested in donating.

I also took more mirror pics this semester than I'd care to admit (#toovain). 

So there you have it: fall semester in a nutshell. I might blog a little more once winter break officially starts (throwing shade at you, finance final). 

I'm definitely looking forward to so much this winter (reading for fun, another trip to Georgia, Christmas, and starting my new internship just to name a few). Regardless of whether or not more blog posts happen, though, I know I'm in for a lot more excitement in the next few months! 

"Little" Bundle of Joy

Y'all, it's a teensy bit ridiculous that I'm only just blogging about my perfect little Phi Mu sister…

 I've been bragging on my own big since clue week of last year, so it baffles me how this post has been sitting in my drafts folder for so long! I honestly thought I published it last week!

The week leading up to the big reveal was so much less stressful for me this year. Last year, I spent the week worrying about who my big would be. Thoughts like "Will she like me?" "Did she even want me as her little?" filled my mind.

I had so much fun thinking of clues (and then accidentally giving myself away with unfortunately-timed Instagrams and our mutual love of Lilly Pulitzer).

I'm an only child in my family, so having two amazing "sisters" is practically a dream come true. 

I can't wait to see where these next few years take us! 

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?

Little Problems

If you're a regular visitor of this site, first of all, you rock!
Secondly, you may have noticed that neat "Little Problems" button to the right of your screen.

"Why is it there?" you may have asked yourself?

That's because I'm the newest campus representative for Little Problems!

Little Problems started out as a twitter account (@LittleProblems) in May of 2012, but has grown into an actual company, selling things like koozies with adorable sayings like "Like Big Like Little" or "Big Knows Best" and giving back to philanthropies.

My main reason for sending in an application was to get experience working with social media. Since I started this blog, I've become more and more interested in that field of business and this little "internship" is giving me a chance to dapple in it.

It's been fun getting to know the company, and I can't wait to get to know the other representatives and team members!

You should all go like/follow/check out their blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and store! And check this out, I've got my own little write-up in the campus-rep section! ;)

And now, because the brand is centered around the relationships between big and little sisters, I'm sharing some pictures of me and my own fabulous big!

She had a really important class and couldn't make it to to big/lil reveal, so she sent #KardboardKatie 

Of course, I had my grand-big (aka Katie's own big) Raleigh there to comfort me in her absence. 

Katie's and Raleigh's fall schedules were pretty busy, but Raleigh's new little Lauren quickly became one of my best friends. 

When spring semester rolled around, Katie went off to Disney World for the college program. When I went to visit her for spring break, I finally realized that her friends were all right; we really are the same person. 

Who else is excited for school to start again so that they can see their bigs/littles on a daily basis?

P.S. Don't even get me started on how excited I am to get my own little and spoil her with Little Problems goodies! 

Reflections on Freshman Year

It's official. I'm completely finished with freshman year. Pretty soon, life in Scholars Hall will only be a memory.

Wasn't I just moving in and decorating my dorm room? Why do I have to pack everything up again?

How did that happen so quickly?

I feel like if freshman year were a picture, I probably blinked at the moment it was snapped, but not because I wasn't ready or wasn't in the moment -- only because it was a picture like this.

Full of laughter. Full of love. Full of life. 

No need for a do-over or another take, though I wish the photo shoot would last for a little longer.

As I was taking my final exam this afternoon, I started thinking about some of the lessons I had learned in my short time here at Nicholls. I even included some in my paper about F. Scott Fitzgerald (No, I can't exactly remember how they went along with the topic. Finals week gives me amnesia).

Here it is: the nuggets of advice I feel that I have authority to give all of you (whether you're going to college soon, you're there now, or you've been long gone from the halls of your alma mater). This is life advice for everyone!

• Be open minded. 

Don't be afraid to try things outside of your comfort zone.
It's super cliche, I know, but only because it's true!
Join a club, (or a sorority!), talk to strangers, make new friends, and don't be scared to eat alone every once in a while.
I'm still working on this one, but you really have no idea how open minded I've become over the span of one school year.

Also, I feel like this goes along with being open minded: don't let yourself judge others! Destructive thoughts destroy our lives. 

• Draw your lines. Don't be afraid to re-draw them. They're going to change and that's okay. 

Earlier in the semester I felt like I was losing my way.
I had become so different from the person I was a year ago. But the thing was…
I didn't not like it.
This had me so confused, so I went and talked to my favorite priest in the whole world and he gave me this solid advice.
I had told him that "my life was in a downward spiral and I didn't recognize myself anymore" (what can I say, I've got a thing for dramatics).
He told me that in college, it's okay to let yourself make a few bad choices to learn why they're bad for you.
He told me that I had to draw my own lines. I could try to base mine on the lines that the church draws, but ultimately, they were my lines. And it's okay if they change, a little or a lot, throughout the course of my life.
College is a time for learning and growth. It's okay to try new things, but only if we understand the consequences of pushing the boundaries of our lines or even pushing past them. Sometimes the results aren't pretty, but that's okay, too.

• Love yourself and your life. 

I love the person I'm becoming -- the person that I am.
High school-Sydney loved very little about herself, but college-Sydney finds a reason to smile every day.
I've found that keeping a positive attitude can be hard sometimes, but it's worth it. No, I'm not happy all the time, but whenever I'm feeling down, I try to build myself back up.

Always look for the good: silver linings in the clouds, the green in the grass, the blue in the sky, the way the sun paints the earth in shades of light. I love the e e cummings quote that says, "The earth laughs in flowers."
We live in an absolutely beautiful place, and it's hard to be sad when you think about it that way.
One of my best friends taught me how to see nature this way and it's, without a doubt, helped me in some of my darkest times.



So here's to a summer of happiness, of laughter, and of life. One of adventure and of new experiences. A summer of relaxation and rest, but also of fun. One to remember.

With love, from one of the newest sophomores on campus! 

Songfest 2014

I've finally caught up on my sleep from the crazy, exciting, and stressful extravaganza that was my first Greek Week. 

Besides falling in the middle of most people's Midterm Season (we don't officially have midterms at Nicholls), the late night Songfest practices leading up to the big performance had taken a toll on me. 

Songfest is a big competition between all the Greeks on campus. The National Panhellenic Conference. or NPC sororities compete against each other and the same goes for the IFC fraternities. 

We put together a skit complete with singing, awesome dance numbers, and clever dialogue. Of course my opinion is biased, but I think Phi Mu's was the best (even if the judges didn't quite agree). 

We had these rockin glitter stars on our faces! 

Our story went like this:

Disney wants to branch out and create a new genre, College Princesses! Mickey Mouse invites some of the original princesses back to Nicholls and asks them to share some of their favorite memories from college. 

Belle was the studious type, Cinderella was the party girl, Ariel loved spring break, and Snow White hated how small the dorm rooms were for eight people. 

Throw in some fun dance numbers, combining a little bit of jazz with hip hop and you'll have our songfest! 

Also, I'm still washing the glitter off two days later… But I had such a great time!!

They other sweet Sydney/Cydney/Cindi 's in my pledge class!

Phi Mu Songfest: 2014!

You can see the video here^^