black diamond ball

First, congratulations to Erin Raymond on winning the GoGreek app! I'll be emailing you with details. :)

I know it's still a little ways away, but since the Social Chair is mentioning every chance she gets, I figure it's OK to go ahead and post about it. For those of you who are not ADPi's, we have this tradition called Black Diamond Ball, which is a fancy name for something you all know and cherish:

FORMAL.

What differentiates Black Diamond Ball (hereforth to be abbreviated BDB) from regular formal, however, is the dress code. At BDB, you can only wear black or white. NO color whatsoever. Now, I don't know about you, but I love color, so this is going to be a little hard for me. Shoes have to be black, white, nude, or metallic, and jewelry can't be colorful, either (think silver, gold, black, and white). I'm feeling a little...restricted, honestly. If you're feeling the same, not to worry - I have some great ideas for how to add color to the otherwise grayscale BDB.

First things first, though: Here are some pretty dresses that are black or white that are BDB-appropriate.

Black

Dillards - $53.40 (Sale!)

Macys - $194.99 (Sale!)

Macys - $69.99 (Sale!)

David's Bridal - $69.50 (Sale!)

White

JCPenney - $59.99 (Sale!)

Dillards - $69

David's Bridal - $129

Windsor - $119.90

Both! (Yes, both is allowed!)

ModCloth - $97.99

Macys - $209

Dillards - $77.40 (Sale!)

David's Bridal - $149

Some great sites to find even more BDB dresses are Macys, Dillards, JCPenney, Windsor, and David's Bridal. Or, if you're feeling fancy, you can rent a dress from Rent the Runway. I'm actually wearing the dress I wore to formal freshman year, which I found at White House Black Market.

Now for accessories. I suggest first picking what shoes you're going to wear - black, white, nude, or metallic. This will determine which jewelry will look best. Here are some good pairings for reference:

Black dress - black shoes - gold jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - silver jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - rose gold jewelry

Black dress - black shoes - pearls (with silver or gold metal)

Black dress - black shoes - rhinestones

Black dress - nude shoes - pearls

Black dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

Black dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

White dress - white shoes - gold jewelry

White dress - white shoes - rose gold jewelry

White dress - nude shoes - pearls

White dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

White dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

White dress - gold shoes - gold jewelry

Black and white dress - black shoes - silver jewelry

Black and white dress - black shoes - rhinestones

Black and white dress - silver shoes - silver jewelry

Black and white dress - silver shoes - rhinestones

As you can see, a black dress with black shoes has the most versatility. It's kind of hard to find gold shoes so I didn't include it except for white. Also, pay attention to the detailing on your dress - silver detailing equals silver jewelry, for example. I personally wouldn't put black shoes with a white dress and vice versa, but that's up to you. It might even be fun to find black and white shoes!

Now for the fun part - makeup! THIS is how you're going to be able to add color to the otherwise black and white ensemble. Here are some fun, colorful makeup ideas to try:

Personally, I'm a HUGE fan of the bold lip. I love subtle/neutral eyes paired with bright lipstick. Be careful not to overdo it by doing a super colorful eye with a bold lip, as it will make you look clownish. If you're having trouble, feel free to ask a makeup consultant at MAC or Ulta what they think (or you could just ask me...ya know...)

I hope this gives all of you ADPi's a better idea of what you're going to wear to Black Diamond Ball. And if you're not an ADPi, maybe you got a good dress or makeup idea out of this. If you have any questions or need help finding a dress/picking out accessories/doing your makeup, let me know!

And if in doubt, you could always take a bedsheet and a couple of belts and pull a Jennifer Lawrence a la the Golden Globes.

Just kidding, I love JLaw.

GoGreekPro - Sorority Edition app review + giveaway!

Ok...ok...I know...I haven't blogged in, like, 3 weeks. Doesn't mean I haven't thought about it, because I have. It has just been hard for me to sit down and type everything out for some reason. So forgive me, my loves. I'll try harder to post more regularly in the future.

So a while back, a company called Happy Monkey Apps emailed me wanting me to try an iPhone/iPad app of theirs and talk about it. The app is called GoGreekPro - Sorority Edition. Basically, you upload a photo, add sorority/Greek-inspired stickers, and then post it to various social media sites (or just send it privately to friends). I found it was really cool and easy to use once you figured out what everything did. It also links up to Facebook so you can edit your friends' photos as well. My biggest complaint is that there are only a few colors of letter to choose from, and while Happy Monkey is working to add more, there are two other version of the app you can download - GoGreek and GoGreek - Fraternity Edition - that have more color options for the letters.

Here are some pictures I edited of me and/or my sisters/friends using the app:

I tried to show a lot of the different options the app has for stickers, and there are even more besides these!  Overall, it's a really fun app to use, especially for PR/Social Media purposes (preferably positive). Download it here for $3.99.

Or....you can enter to win the app for FREE in the giveaway below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway starts March 4th at 12:00 am and will end March 11th at 12:00 am. Good luck!

guest post - A Greek Concept

When I was approached week or so ago by a representative from A Greek Concept to write a guest post about recruitment clothes, I was like, "Of course!" Many of my lovely readers are planning on going Greek, so this is a great post about what to wear and not to wear. I definitely wish I had this guide when I was going through recruitment! If you're going through recruitment this spring or fall, be sure to read this awesome post. Also, be sure to check out A Greek Concept - they have a lot of really awesome sorority and fraternity stuff!

What to Wear and What Not to Wear to Sorority Recruitment/Bid Day

What you wear says a lot about who you are and what group you belong to. No other week in the year screams this reality as brightly as sorority recruitment! Whether Panhellenic recruitment falls in autumn, or your school is more of a spring fling kind of group, we’ve got the “musts” and the “please don’ts” for all you soon-to-be sorority sisters.

The single, literally, absolutely, hey, listen to me most important thing during the recruitment process is to be yourself. Although you’re attempting to fit into a historical lifestyle and a major values-based organization, the worst thing you can do to yourself and your dress is to not be yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not – and likewise, don’t dress to play a part! Trust your instincts [which in sorority life really means, add your own personal flair to the set of guidelines laid out by the sororities].

With that out of the way, let’s get started! Before you enter recruitment it is vitally important that you check out your college’s website for the Panhellenic Association. The awareness you’ll gain from the website will save you from a lot of this:

Who wants that? Another way to figure out what specific requirements might be attached to your school’s recruitment week is to ask your recruitment counselor. Every potential new member (PNM) is assigned a recruitment counselor who has made the decision to temporarily step away from her sorority in order to help all the newbies [they’re really the best].

First Event Rundown – A MIXER or OPENING DAY:

Two “dos” –

•

Wear something you feel comfortable in because you will only show your nervous side if you’re not wearing something you love! It’s a casual night filled with lots of traveling walking, so don’t overextend your latest and greatest. We definitely recommend you don’t wear heels [unless you really like not feeling your feet much for the next couple of days]

•

Wear something that expresses your personality. This is initial “notice me” time. You don’t want to stick out like sore thumb, but you definitely want to let any potential chapter what you like to wear, and looking the most YOU!

A “don’t” –

•

Be very cautious in going against the rules! If your school says no denim or only black pants [hint: follow the rule!] it is of the upmost importance that you don’t break this just to stand out! Additionally [and on the record], casual does not mean ripped jeans. The only thing ripped jeans let’s them know is that you don’t look put together.

Second Set Events – SEEING THE HOUSES:

A “do” –

•

This is definitely a more than casual kind of day! You’ll want to make sure you’ve picked out some cute dress for this day. Whether it’s a sundress…

or a sweater dress...

You can totally come up with something really stellar yet 100% within the rules.

A “don’t” –

•

Refrain from denim! Whether you just ordered the cutest pair of dark skinnies anyone has ever laid eyes on, or you have a light-wash denim romper… NOW is the time to wear a dress!

Philanthropy Day – RECRUITMENT TEE TIME:

A “do” –

•

Wear a solid pair of shorts for fall recruiters OR a solid pair of pants for winter recruiters.

For this portion of the experience you’ll likely be given a t-shirt to wear and other fun recruitment gifts! Choose comfy flats and a very matchable pair of pants. You’ll be walking [again] to most of the houses, so make sure you are comfy!

Impression Night – MAKING IT LAST:

A “do” –

•

Dressy but not overdone is the theme of this night! You want to look put together, well thought out, and 100% ready to make an impression. Don’t let this night slip through your grasp.

A “don’t” –

•

Don’t be scandalous. That’s a pretty simple summary of what to avoid on this night in particular, but really for any sorority rush event. Never try to make a statement with a neckline or dress length. Stay classy, soon-to-be sorority sister!

The End of It All – DUN, DUN, DUNNNN…. BID DAY!

You’ve made it to the end, and now you’re ready to be chosen. If you’ve gotten this far you don’t need a “don’t” anymore. Instead – soak bid day in as you eagerly await to hear what house has chosen you in return. Wear denim [if association approved] or solid bottoms – your new home will give you a bid day shirt to welcome you in!

​

About the Author:

Amy Furrow is the owner of A Greek Concept an online retailer of licensed Greek merchandise. She’s got drive, heart, and passion – something Greek life is all about. From Sorority picture frames, tote bags, and jewelry, as well as Fraternity coolers, glassware, and travel accessories; A Greek Concept is filled to the brim with options for every Sorority sister or Fraternity brother. 

what to wear to a mixer

Mixers might be the scariest thing a sorority girl does. You show up to a place and are tasked with meeting new guys, hopefully befriending one or two of them, in order to secure dates for all other date functions. Eek. I don't know about y'all, but I'm pretty terrible at meeting guys, so I feel like there's a lot of pressure to be impressive. But I have to remind myself that impressing guys really isn't that hard. Because the point of the mixer is to meet guys, it's important to look cute and put your best foot forward. Here are my tips for looking your best to give yourself the most confidence.

Clothes

There's a saying that I firmly believe: "Girls dress for other girls." When we get up in the morning, we usually don't say to ourselves, "Hmmm, will guys notice me in this?" We usually think, "Will other girls think this is a cute outfit? Will I possibly get compliments on this?" It's sad but true, and we usually do it subconsciously. Now that you're thinking about this, it's important to change your mindset and think instead, "Will a guy think I'm attractive in this?"

Now, this doesn't mean you need to show a ton of skin and wear heavy makeup. Surveys indicate that most guys find white v-neck shirts, skinny jeans, and heels are the most attractive outfit a girl can wear. That being said, don't all go out and wear the same outfit. But be mindful that guys are simple creatures with simple tastes. Wear a shirt that is comfortable but not baggy, if you know what I mean, skinny jeans, and shoes with heels (boots, pumps, or wedges work).

My favorite outfit, courtesy of Pinterest

Accessories

Keep jewelry simple. I know statement jewelry is really popular right now, but it can be a little distracting. Stick with a pretty pair of earrings, a small necklace, a delicate bracelet, etc. Simple and pretty is the key.

Gold Date Night Jewelry by girlmeetspearls featuring a snake ring

Silver Date Night Jewelry by girlmeetspearls featuring tear drop earrings

Hair

For hair, guys like long, shiny, curled tresses. If your hair is long, bust out your curling irons and wands and get some pretty curls going. Be sure to use protectant so that you don't end up frying your ends. But if your hair is short, like mine, never fear! Guys love hair that looks soft and touchable, so try a deep conditioner and some smoothing serum to get hair extra soft and shiny. For both long and short hair, you can't go wrong with volume, softness, and shine!

Makeup

As for makeup, guys like it "natural, like Kim Kardashian." Translation: go for natural colors while still making it obvious you're wearing makeup. Flawless-looking skin, a pretty, glowy flush, and a subtle smoky eye in neutral colors are going to be the best to achieve this (so bust out your Naked palettes, ladies). For the lips, go with a "there but not there" shade of lipstick or some gloss and you're set.

Nails

Now here's a bonus: For some strange reason, guys prefer "french dipped" nails (aka, french manicure) over colors. There are varying theorries for this, some of which aren't very appropriate, but that seems to be the consensus. Like I said before, guys are simple creatures with simple tastes. They pretty much like "enhanced naturality," hence why they like natural makeup, french nails, and skinny jeans - they enhance what is natural about you. 

French meets ombre

Confidence

This might be the most important thing, because no matter what you wear, if you don't have confidence, you're going to be lacking. One of the things I like to do to have confidence is to wear cute/sexy underwear. No guys is going to see it, but I know it's there, and that makes me feel 100x more confident. Wear your favorite, well-fitting pushup bra and your sexiest undies (whether it be a thong or boyshorts) in order to feel as sexy as you want to look.

Annie said, "You're never fullly dressed without a smile," and it's so true. Before you leave or in the car on the way, listen to your favorite happy songs. Sing along loudly or dance around like no one is watching in order to boost endorphins and your mood. Also, don't forget to brush your teeth before you leave to ensure a bright smile free of plaque. 

This is a special message for you taken ladies: you have a boyfriend. Some of your sisters do not. It is your job to play wing woman at this thing. Like I said before, mixers are there to help your single sisters find dates. You already have a date for every single event, so you need to be there for your sisters. If she's nervous about talking to a cute guy, go up with her and help her start a conversation with him. If you see a sister standing alone, talk to her and maybe help her find someone new to meet. You have an important job! And YOU have the most confidence because you already have a boyfriend - lucky you. So be sure to help your sisters have confidence, too. 

I know that mixers seem intimidating. But when it comes down to it, the only pressure that exists is the pressure you put on yourself. So look cute, take a deep breath, put a smile on, and have fun! Because THAT'S really the point. And if a guy sees you're having fun, he'll want to have fun with you. Mission acccomplished. ;)

Do you have any tips for what to wear/how to be confident for a mixer? Leave a comment!

your sorority sister campus rep

I am so excited to finally announce  that I have been selected to be a Campus Rep for Your Sorority Sister! YSS is a wonderful site I've been following since I first started blogging. It centers around sorority life and has great articles about being a leader in chapter, great ideas for getting involved, and  sorority spotlights. Needless to say, I am so honored to be able to represent my school and sorority by being a Campus Rep!

Check out my bio and meet my fellow Campus Reps, and be on the look-out for some of my future posts!

review: Erin Condren planner

So you know how I've said that the Erin Condren Life Planner is the best planner ever and everyone should have it? Well, I said that without actually having one. But now that I have one, I can safely say my predictions were correct (which is good because if it weren't, that would've been rather embarrassing).

I finally got this amazing planner as a Christmas present for my mom. When I asked her for it, I wasn't sure which design I wanted - I texted her some options and asked her what she thought. At first, she gave the whole "This is your planner so I can't decide for you" bit, but after some persistence, she told me that she liked the "Favorite Things" design. And you know, so did I, so I went with it. The hardest part of making the list of my favorite things was getting started, but after a while, I had a good sized list going.

The planner came out perfect (albeit my spelling mistake of "frapuccino"). And, my mom surprised my mom surprised me by adding "Mama" to the list (although she put it between "instagram" and "John Mayer" in my otherwise alphabetical list). But seriously, y'all, I am in love.

Another thing: my parents don't understand why I need a paper planner. "You have a phone, a computer, and an iPad, why on earth do you need a paper planner?" Well, lovely parents, there is this thing called "sorority meetings" that I must go to every Monday, and they have outlawed electronics (along with riding boots, leggings as pants, and *almost* chambray shirts), so my only option of recording upcoming events and news is by pen on paper. How archaic, I know. But it does give everyone else an excuse to buy cute planners. Most girls opted for the Lilly planners in August, which I had predicted, so I'm excited to be unique and the envy of all my sisters.

My favorite things about my planner are the colors, the format of the pages, the ample space to take notes, and the pouch and folder in the back for keeping loose papers organized. My mom also got me a stick-on pen holder, a 6-pack of colorful pens, three stretchy bands for keeping it closed, and extra stickers to write on. And because I'm addicted to them, I restocked my Lilly Pulitzer Academic and Greek sticker sets. If that doesn't say colorful, I don't know what does.

I've been stalking my school schedule for weeks waiting on syllabi to be posted so I can write down assignments and put stickers in my planner. I can't wait to fill it all up with assignments, activities, and other fun things. It was by far one of my favorite Christmas gifts this year.

What do you think? Will you make the switch to Erin Condren?

everything I need to know in life I learned from being in a sorority

A few weeks ago, a fellow Aggie named Cheryll Duffie wrote me to tell me about her book, everything I need to know in life I learned from being in a sorority. I checked it out and fell in love with it. There are so many truths to it, and there was a lot I didn't even realize about my own sorority experience. 

The book's focus is combining lessons learned through the lens of sorority life and applying them to the "real world." I learned so much about how what I'm doing in my sorority can help me in my other relationships and future career. It definitely gave me a new perspective on what it means to be a sorority woman and what I can gain through my experiences as an active member that will guide me when I become an alumna. 

Being a Rho Gamma (recruitment counselor), I wanted to share all my [unbiased] sorority knowledge with the PNMs, so I brought my copy of the book along for them to read. Many of them flipped through the pages with intrigue. They liked it so much, one of them accidentally took it home with her! I will probably never see that copy again. But I'm really glad I got to share it with them, and I hope they took as much from it as I did. 

Me, my Rho Gamma partners, and our wonderful group! 

I definitely recommend this book to all New Members, Actives, and Alumnae, as well as giving this book to your Big, your Little, your best friend, the rest of your sisters, and every sorority woman you know. This is also a great book for New Member/Pledge Educators to give to their new pledge classes. Cheryll also speaks conferences and events, and I definitely encourage you to contact her if interested - she is such a sweet woman! Special thanks to her for contacting me and sending me a copy (and a replacement copy) of her fabulous book!