For the Love of Sisters

I featured this photo back a few weeks in my first Pinning Sweetly post and I've mentioned my sorority a time or two on here, but I've never gone into detail about the things I love about my greek life experience and adventure. Since yesterday was the start of work week, I thought I'd do just that and share some of the great things about my sisters.

CREDIT

1. Support - While I was debating moving schools, my sisters were nothing but supportive. They told me they'd hate to lose me as a chapter member, but were excited for me to make my dreams come true.
2. Friendship - Most of my friends at school are also my sisters. It's not because they're my sisters that they're my friend, but because they're my friends that I chose them as sisters. I love my girls and I know if I ever truly needed them they'd be there for me. I also made one of my very best friends through my recruitment/New Member education. 
3. Connections - Some of my new friends recently graduated and are now alums of my sorority. One, specifically, is moving to New York to be her amazing self and chase her dreams, but had trouble finding an apartment. At one point, she contacted a woman about an apartment and she happened to me an Alum as well. Needless to say, my friend now has an apartment and will be chasing her dreams with our New York City sisters!
4. Parties - I'm not the usual college kid party-er. I don't drink or act crazy, but I love my sorority's parties. We have 4 every year just us and our dates, then 3 or 4 more partnering with the fraternities on campus. Then again, it could be argued that every time we get together it's a party! We always have so much fun laughing and singing. We don't need to drink or go out, anytime we spend together is tons of fun.
5. Charity - My sorority's philanthropy is the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Every year we grant or help grant at least one child's wish. I love getting to meet the kids we're helping and seeing how happy they are. Last year, we grant a little boy's dream of a play house that he could really play in. After buying it, a bunch of us went out to help build it! We had some much fun playing with the little boy and his younger sister (while the men/boys built the house). I love knowing that not only am I helping myself and bettering my left, but that by being a part of my sorority I'm helping ill children get their dreams.
6. Family - I've mentioned my grand big before, even showed the picture below in my "Of Sisters, Food and Explosives" post. I love the close knit families we develop in my sorority. It's so great to know that, while I have a huge group of sisters, I also have a very close, loving, accepting family to turn to. My grand-big and I have bonded so much this summer and I can't wait to help our family grow in the coming months with my own Little sister!

Those are, obviously, just a few of the things I love so much about my sorority. I love the greek system in general and I love what it does for universities.

Are you a part of Greek Life? What are some of your favorite aspects of your experience?

Dorm Style

I'm going to be really original for a moment and do a kind of "Back to school," university edition. I'm starting my second year at university, living on-campus, so I thought I'd share some of the things I think are needed in a dorm setting, plus some things I think would just be awesome.

Must Haves:

At very least, a calender is important. I think the bigger the better. They come in all kinds of designs so make a big calender a decoration in your room and keep up with all your school assignments and social events!
I like this one from Pottery Barn Teen

If you're allowed a mini-fridge, coordinate with your roommate and try to get one. I have the one pictured above and I really love it. It's so handy for left overs and the separate freezer means ice cream is easy to keep. I got this one at Target last year and it's still in stock online.

Life in a dorm is a life of little space. I got a storage thing similar  to this and ended up dedicating most of the drawers to food items that needed to be in the fridge. These can be found at most any super store. The above is from Target.

A desk lamp is absolutely essential. Some dorms may come with them, mine did not. I got one to clip to the side of my bed or desk and I hate it. I'm getting one similar to the picture this year. These lovely things are the easiest way to make life comfortable for both roommates. This one's from Target.

I've purposely left out the things no one forgets (ie: pillows, blankets, laptop/computer, etc.) These are the things I pick up after moving in and realizing I needed them.


Killer Personalization:

Most dorm rooms come with a bed, a desk, mirror, desk chair, and dresser. That doesn't leave much room for guests, so a fold-up lounger would be perfect for friends and easy to store. I really want to get this one from Pottery Barn Teen.

I only have posters in my room that I put up with command strips, but I think these wall decals would make an amazing touch to a dorm room. The above is from Target and they have them in all shapes and sizes and for all genders!

I really really want one of these in my room. Not only does it leave another surface to be customized, but it also has the inside to hold books, and as we know, I love books. This is one from Target

These loungers are absolutely priceless! It's so easy to lean back on one of these in bed to watch a movie or read a book for a class. I'm sure you can get these at most stores with bedding departments, but the one pictured above is from Target.

Area rugs are great and functional. They are easy quick personalization to make your room look more cozy while they also protect your feet from the cold tile of the dorm floor! I don't have one for my room, but I plan to get one. This one is from Pottery Barn Teen.

And that's all the tips I've got for you. If you're going into your first, or any other, university year, I hope it goes great and good luck!

What are/were your dorm must-haves?