Recruitment Review

Last week I finished up my last recruitment ever! I can't believe its been three years since I joined my amazing sisterhood and am actually excited about joining my alumni chapter in Richmond in a few short months. Here are some pictures of the amazing time I had with the lovely women I call my sisters! 

Some seniors on Open House

Sisterhood Chairs (past and present) 

My Amazing Group! 

Family on Philanthropy 

Family Keychain on Sisterhood 

Two of my besties 

Fabulous Group 8! 

My pledge class (so small) on Preference Night

Klassy Girls! 

It's Ok Thursday

Since I have still been running around like my head is cut off this past week, I thought I would take part in It's Ok Thursday. While I can't wait for things to slow down a bit, I am thankful to be busy with so many fun activities! 

It's ok that I locked myself out of my house for an hour and half yesterday after my run, when I still had to read for my class.

It's ok that I have watched "S**t Sorority Girls Say" about 10 tens times this past week, I need some comic relief.

It's ok that I ate fast food 6 times last week, it was recruitment after all.

It's ok that I went to Target instead of cleaning my room, Target always trumps cleaning! 

It's ok that one of my classes second semester senior year is a Wine class and we learned the best ways to avoid hangovers last class, for the win! 

It's ok I am leaving Blacksburg this weekend to go see Miranda Lambert in our rival town Charlottesville! 

Top 5 Tuesday: Recipes

I am participating in this week's Top 5 Tuesday with Rachel over at Just Peachy! It's all about recipes and I need to start cooking more, hopefully this will give me a little inspiration! 

1. Appetizer 

Chopped Salad (recipe adapted from Maggiano's) 

I could eat this every day, avocado and bacon plus their amazing dressing, yes please! 

2. Side Dish 

Macaroni and Cheese - 

Now that I have had this, I will only eat home-made mac n cheese. Paula Deen knows her stuff and the sour cream puts this recipe over the edge. 

3. Main Dish 

Braised Chicken With Savory White Beans and Spinach

This is such a simple yet delicious and healthy meal. My mom and I made it together the first time and now its a special meal for us!

4. Dessert 

Peanut Butter Buckeye's - 

My sister and I made these over winter break and loved them! They are a perfect, easy little delectable treat, and really who doesn't love peanut butter + chocolate. 

5. Drink 

Peach Bellini 

The perfect summer cocktail! 

What are your favorite recipes or meals? 

We Got Babies!

After 6 days of recruitment, hurt feet stuffed into heels, lack of sleep, and lost voices I could not be happier to say we have new babies! 

All my Kappa sisters! 

All the new babies throwing up the gang sign! 

I am a little behind on all my schoolwork because I have been busy meeting all the amazing new girls in our Greek community, so look out for a full recruitment recap to come! Hope everyone had a great weekend! 

Tagged

I was tagged! Shannon from More to Hollywood tagged me in the 11 Things Blog Post. I thought it would be fun to give some fun facts about me, especially to some of my newer followers! Hope you all enjoy and don't get too bored! 

The Rules
1. You must post the rules.
2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've been tagged.
4. Tag eleven people and link them in your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!!

My Eleven Fun Facts
1. I'm graduating in May and moving to Richmond to start my new job as a Technology Analyst! 
2. I started this blog for my study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain Summer 2010. It was the most difficult yet most rewarding experience I have ever had. 
3. I love to workout (once I am motivated).
4. I love roller coasters and have probably ridden on over 35 different ones. 
5. I am so blessed to have a Rivah house on the Great Wicomico River off the Chesapeake Bay where I could spend all summer. (4 of my sorority sisters all have houses within 10 miles and its in the middle of nowhere!) 
6. My favorite night to go out is Thursday, my two friends and I have a happy hour and dancing tradition Thursday's! 
7. I came to college not knowing a soul, forcing me to be more outgoing, and I could not be more thankful for my decision, Tech is my home! 
8. I am the oldest of my sisters and all my cousins. 
9. Like any true Maryland-er, I love seafood (especially crabs and hushpuppies!). 

10. I have watched every episode of Survivor and it is still one of my favorite tv shows!
11. I strongly believe in the power of being positive and confidence - they can take you far in life. 

Questions for those I've tagged:

1. What's your guilty pleasure? 

Food! I love eating, especially Mexican, or a good cheesecake. 
2. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I am moving to my dream location this summer, Richmond, VA!
3. Do you crave sweet or salty? 

Both, I love eating popcorn or chips then chocolate!
4. What's your favorite brand of make up? 

Clinique 

5. What's your ideal Saturday afternoon look like? 

Sleeping in, brunch, shopping at an outdoor mall, running outside, and watching football snuggled up by the fire with my family.
6. If you are at a bar, what drink do you usually order?

As a college student, I usually something cheap like a rail, dirty shirley, or beer. But I love berry mojitos, SoCo and lime, and margaritas!
7. What color is on your nails right now?

I don't usually paint my nails (something I want to change), but am wearing a nude for sorority recruitment and am getting a french manicure today! 

8. Do you prefer to write in blue or black ink?

Black Ink

9. What's one thing you hope to see change in the next year?

With myself - Start investing in my finances and create a strong financial background, while having fun of course! In the world - Kindness in the little, everyday things (like holding open doors). 

10. What is your favorite song of all time? 

"I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack 

11. Have any books changed your life? If so, what are they. 

I would not necessarily say it changes my life, but I learned a lot and re-evaluated my life after  reading"Eat, Pray, Love." 

Most of my blog friends have already done this, so anyone who hasn't done it yet, I am tagging you! Thanks again Shannon! 

What I am Loving Wednesday

Possibly the random-est What I am Loving Wednesday ever, but I am definitely having one of those random, crazy kinda weeks! 

Alana on Toddlers and Tiaras 

Kappa Loving

Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends

Geography of Wine Class, with too many friends to count! 

Snuggling in bed, listening to the rain and reading Harry Potter.

What are you loving this week? 

First of the Lasts

Today is my last first day of class ever. 

I cannot believe this day has come and soon I will be joining the real world with work, bills, and even more stress! But before I get too carried away I have lots of lasts to look forward to and many new exciting adventures to come. 

Last semester of college 

Last recruitment (and initiation, new girl week, big/little reveal, etc.) 

Miranda Lambert concert at UVA 

 Last spring break

Last date party's 

Senior Crawl 

Graduation

Moving to a new city 

Starting a job 

I am really excited for this semester, even though I am so sad graduation is in less than 4 months! I am taking Project Management (my in-major capstone), Business Policy and Strategy (Business Capstone), International Marketing, and Geography of Wine. It is my first semester since freshman year I am taking a non-major or minor related class, and first time ever taking only 12 credits! Hopefully I'll finish the semester off strong and have lots of fun along the way! 

Ball So Hard University

I am beyond thrilled that my beloved Ravens are in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy! Although, I am also upset I cannot be in Baltimore Sunday cheering them onto a win against the Houston Texans. My dad, a season ticket holder since football returned to Baltimore in 1996, received playoff tickets for home games and I am so so so jealous I won't be able to join him! 

Instead, and why I have been so MIA, I am in Blacksburg participating in my last recruitment for Kappa Kappa Gamma! That means long hours, little sleep, uncomfortable shoes, lost voices but also sisterly love and bonding, recruitment songs, and meeting fabulous new girls.

My sisters are the key to my heart! 

I got this great BSHU shirt for Christmas and if you have not heard the famous Sunday Night Football introduction by Terrell Suggs, you are missing out. The starters introduce themselves and their university, T Sizzle, from Arizona State, stated he attended "Ball So Hard University" and started a pop culture phenom! I hope my boys can Ball So Hard and pull out a big W tomorrow! 

Getting Fit - P90X

I love the feeling right after you work out, the actually work, not so much! This semester (save a couple crazy weeks) I have been good about exercising regularly, however I want to step it up a bit. I usually do cardio, i.e. running outside or elliptical 3-5 time a week but want to tone up more! And even Glamour suggests do the right cardio, interval training burns significantly more calories, and strength-train! 

While I am home I do not have a gym membership and its a little chilly for running so I have been doing P90X. I did Insanity last year and HIGHLY recommend it (read about it here). The main difference between the two is Insanity is shorter, cardio driven workouts, while P90X uses equipment to build muscle, however both are great workouts that will get you sweating and sore! 

I have only done about 1.5 weeks worth of P90X (holiday traveling got in the way) but feel like its great for strengthening and toning, which is what I want! The main videos are Chest and Back, Plyometrics (lots of jumping), Shoulders and Arms, Yoga (actually really hard), Legs and Back, Kempo X (cardio - similar kickboxing). 

I hope when I get back at school the university gym will have classes I can take to help with my toning! Plus I am dieing to try spinning! Does anyone have suggestions on how to get fit while at school or any exercises or classes to try?  

XOXO Gossip Girl

Since I have been home I have caught up on a few episodes of Gossip Girl on Netflix. I do not watch the show regularly but do enjoy it, and it is easy to have on in the background for multitasking. While enjoying all the juicy drama, I have been also lusting over Blair Waldorf's closet. I would love to have some of her amazing pieces, and I too am a sucker for headbands. 

Here are some of my favorites! 

Sugar Bowl and Other Randoms

I am SO excited my Hokies are in New Orleans for the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Michigan tonight! I wish I could have made it down to NOLA to cheer on my boys, but GEAUX HOKIES! 

I am also looking to buy a new jacket and some other items with some of my Christmas money and was wondering if any of my blog friends have any suggestions, recommendations, or reviews. 

L.L. Bean Quilted Riding Jacket (on sale!) 

I am also looking for a two-toned watch (I love MK but its a little pricey), some new lip gloss brands and colors, as well as a new perfume (would love any new scent suggestions). Thanks ya'll! 

Year in Review

Happy New Year! 

Zeitgeist made a beautiful Year in Review Video that got me teary eyed! We had some great moments in 2011 and can only hope to be blessed enough to have another fabulous year! 

2011 for me was a great year! I learned so much about myself and have grown immensely. I know 2012 is going to be another great year, maybe the best yet! My life will do a complete 180 as I graduate from college and start my professional life, can't wait! 

Here are some of my favorite moments from 2011! 

Recruitment with my lovely sisters

Added a fabulous Grandlittle to the fam! 

Went to Kappa date functions! 

Kruising for Spring Break 

Rivah House Fun

Interned with these great people and GOT A JOB! 

Hiked the Cascades 

Went to Skinland Farms and got pumpkins! And ate at The Homeplace. 

Went to Socials! 

Last Hokie football season as an undergrad! 

Enjoyed DT Blacksburg

Meet great new friends! 

 Can't wait to see whats in store for 2012!