Niece number two is right around the corner

My sister, Michelle, is due September 12 with my second niece, Autumn. Phi Mu's formal rush unfortunately collides with her due date, so I went down to Jackson, MS to visit my oldest niece, Ava, and spend some one on one time with her before the new one arrived. The weather was perfect, and Saturday we spent wondering around the Natural Life Museum downtown and enjoying lunch at a new (very cute) Mexican restuarant. Here are some pictures from this weekend. Sorry for the late post, my computer was in the shop! Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday :)

discovering binoculers for the first time

huge frog to climb all over

cheese dip filled lunch

I love my sorority sisters

"When a Phi Mu smiles, she sparks courage and hope in your heart. Laughter precedes her, happiness walks with her, and peace follows her. She means everything to me. She is my Phi Mu sister."

Sisterly love

sweet sister love

So this weekend, I had a fun-filled and very informative Rush Retreat with my Phi Mu sisters. We have 3 new affiliates from 3 different schools, and I was so excited to meet them. We also had another visitor, Kerri, that came to visit Kappa Lambda as a chapter consultant for Phi Mu. She was so sweet, and I probably bugged her to death about what it is like to be a chapter consultant (I want to apply as soon as I get my diploma!).

Basically, what she and eleven other Phi Mu graduates do is travel the country helping all chapters with various intentions, whether it's just a quick visit, helping with recruitment, or giving tips for making Phi Mu even better for their campus. I could only imagine how much fun these girls could have with all their travels, and I could easily see why many girls apply each year. December will be here before I know it, so wish me luck!

My hair is now great (again)

Most everyone who knows me, can easily tell you that I am obsessed with my hair straightener. I would even be the first to admit I use on a daily basis. (I know. I know.)

So when I went to go see my hairstylist, Mena, this week, I cringed when she told me my medium length hair (which I'm trying to grow out) will have to loose more inches than I originally planned....all due to (surprise) my hair straightening obsession. Then she said those 5 words that made me sink lower in my seat than the though of lost inches..."give up your hair straightener."

I gave her every excuse in the book for my heating hair addiction:
1. My hair is curly...seriously, I look like a wet poodle after every shower.

2. My hair is frizzy...thank you dad's side of the family.

3. I don't know how else to style it.

That's when Mena's eyes widened with knowledge and told me that's what she was there for. Now with my hair straightener safely tucked away somewhere where I will not find it, I start my journey on the infamous blow out except this time I have to do them myself (oh how I wish I was ambidextrous right now) along with an assortment of new hair products (the only upside of this experience).

And let me tell you, as much as I did not like the wrist cracking, elbow poking way of blow drying my hair, the end was fantastic (if I do say so myself), and I cannot begin to thank the help of this miracle product enough...Moroccan Oil.

Not only did it defriz my hair while blow drying, it didn't grease it back up to make me want to take another shower. I use this DAILY now (wet or dry hair), and my hair is surely reaping its benefits. Only a little dab is needed for shiny locks.

I follow the oil with a mixture of Bumble & Bumble Straightening Cream and Bumble & Bumble Grooming Cream (for extra protection against flyaways). Blowdry and then I am done. Silky hair ready to go against this Memphis heat.

And to answer the question, do I miss my straightener??

YES. Yes, I do.

But will I be ok without it?

We will see...

Coach isn't traveling coach.

As an avid lover of Coach handbags, I was curiously surprised at the uprooting of many anti-Coach blogs and articles I have found recently. In a time of recession, we should all find ways to cut back our spending habits, and I find Coach to be one indulgence that does not hit my wallet as hard as my other favorite lines. But as I read them, I understand the new dislike of not the genuine Coach that we all know and love, but rather the marketer's new demographic reach for the Coach line called "Poppy."

"Poppy handbags, like most Coach bags, come in bubble gum palettes, metallic,
black and white, and signature and carry the ubiquitous logo. A mishmash, too,
of swing packs, rainbow and peace-sign charms and wristlets, "graffiti" scarves,
flower-shaped rings, headbands, and sequined ballet flats, the line in part
recalls '80s-counterculture-nostalgia crossed with Juicy Couture and Hello
Kitty."

Now being 22 years old, I realize not to purchase handbags in the ranges of a 15 year old demographic. As I have gotten older, I seem to like the nice clean patterns of bags I hope to use for years to come (which Coach still designs) instead of the "trend alerts" of the changing seasons. (Although, that's not to say I do not like some trends.)

Not all Poppy handbags are distasteful. Actually, there are only a hand full I can actually say I dislike. The solid bright patent colors of some of the bags could be well worth a teenager having and getting away with. Just please ladies...don't let me spot you carrying a hot pink patent leather Poppy bag over the age of 18. Pretty please.

Special thanks for the Preppy Princess blog in allowing me to find the followup for Reuters blog on Coach handbags.

saving face

As much as women do not like to admit their flaws, I figure for the sake of sharing an amazing product will be worth the expense of personal horror stories.

Like many women, I have oily skin, and I definitely have no control over it in the triple digit weather we currently have in Memphis. It's like my makeup slides right off from even thinking of going outdoors.

That has all changed since I have been introduced to Cosmedicine's Medi-Matte. I found it from a very informed sales associate at Sephora when I explained my problem, and I am dumbfounded from the results. Just make sure you don't use this product with other moisturisers. I was told it counteracts with the product and is already a lotion.

Happy shine free days!

a few of my favorite things

We all have one. Oprah is famous for hers. Well, I've decided to shed light on the little things that make my life even more enjoyable. :) Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

I don't go anywhere without my planner with me at all times. When it comes to knowing where I'm supposed to be (along with two dozen of soon to be new members of my sorority), I have it covered. Organization (including color coding dates) helps me breathe at the beginning of every day.

No one can go wrong with Lilly Pulitzer stationary. It's cute and it's classy. Currently Lilly was happy enough to make quatrefoil stationary for my sorority. It's on my internet-to-buy list.

MAC makeup is something I can't go a day without. I have numerous eyeshadow shades, and I collect them like trading cards. My staple shade is called "Tempting." It's a neutral brownish gold with a hint of shimmer. I would easily recommend it for any eye color.

Givenchy's Hot Couture perfume is my absolute favorite at the present moment. I received mine as a Christmas gift from dear ole Dad, and I have already used half the bottle. The scent is definitely worth going to the beauty counter for a test strip.

My Coach "Trudie" sunglasses were a steal when I found them on sale during spring break vacation. The are very remencent of the Jackie O era, not to mention with the harsh sun Memphis has seen recently, they are easy on my eyes.

My iPod touch is something I listen to EVERYday. Music is definately something that gets me going in the mornings, helps drive my car from point A to point B, and lets just face it, not everything they play on the radio stations are enjoyable.

my dreams are evolving

When I was young and times were easy, I began picturing the stereotypical visions of any typical teenager. I would, even at 18, still consider my life's order after high school as finishing four years of college, marrying a wonderful man, and becoming blessed with children. I never really envisioned my job, what I was doing at my job, or even if I liked it or not. That all changed this previous year of school (currently my last semester).

I found myself putting my future career first for once in my life. Something I knew I could only gain and carry on my own. These unexpected ideas quickly surpassed my previous conclusions. I traded my future husband for a CEO position, babies for publications, and a little white picket fence for the a glossy, company high rise. I even suggested graduate school to my near future.

But, with all futures, nothing is for certain. Never are we promised anything. We must make the best for all things, every opportunity, every twist in the road. For sometimes it takes looking at different options for us to realize what we really want.

It's been awhile. A long while...

I need to continue blogging. If there's one thing I hear over and over again, it's to always continue what you start when you blog. No one likes to go to the same site that hasn't been changed in weeks. I'm sure I would blog from my phone if I actually had the Internet on it (but that's another issue).

Second thing I have learned? DO NOT GOSSIP ON BLOGS. You think that would be a simple, unwritten rule about blogs, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. Embarrassed wrong. And worst of all - fired wrong. Fortunately for me and particular coworkers, friends, family, etc., I am perfect content with my life and those being in my life. Half the time when someone gets frustrated, they vent, get it out of their system, and is done. Doesn't mean you have to post it to hang over you head for life.

Now a lesson I will teach you: the Internet is never private. Forget the goofy pictures on your Facebook or Myspace pages or rude twitter posts. Once you hit enter, it's forever...just like this blog.

Shhh...don't tell....

I absolutely love an article I found on Fast Company's blog today. Entitled "Three Secrets to Make A Message Go Viral," it really hit home with the public relations campaigns class I'm taking. Dan Heath and Chip Heath, who are known for their book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, list three ways companies can reach their audiences with creative, low-cost viral marketing.

Viral Marketing Focuses on Three Things:

1. Emotion: People are compulsive when it comes to sharing emotional stories with many details. These stories, both good and bad, are irresistible to re tale to others, and thus the idea spreads.

2. Public Service: In order for viral marketing to really work, you must have your audience wanting to interact with you. If they like your idea or product, they will tell everyone they know about it for free.

3. Trigger: This is what keeps your audience talking about you and your company. It is a steady reminder of what your audience loved about your company to begin with and begins a need for them to tell others.

Working with my campaign for university sustainability, I can definitely implement these ideas in my group's overall plan.

Plus, it was a fun read.