How to Handle Having a Younger Sister & a Sorority Little

I'm the first one in my family to go greek, and it definitely hasn't been that easy. Especially trying to explain my sorority little to my younger sister. We have a rocky relationship, which is to be expected due to our age and personality differences. Here are my best tips on how to deal make the most of both relationships.

Make time for each sister// Make a point of spending time with each sorority family member. Get pedicures, go shopping, see a movie or even just watch Netflix together. Make time for your littles and daughter, making sure to have traditions so that you can bond as well! It's all about making each person feel important and letting them know how much you care!

Take time to explain the differences// Explain to your younger sister the differences between your sorority family and your real one. It may take a couple of times to completely explain the roles especially if greek life is new for your family.

Highlight the positives of each relationship// With your younger sister you have years of family memories, and an understanding of familial relationships. You have someone who you spend holidays with and familial traditions. With your sorority family you have precious college memories, similar values and a peer who understands what you are experiencing. You have someone who understands how truly special your sorority is, and can share in your frustrations, accomplishments and events!


It can be a little bit tricky, but with a little bit of effort you will hopefully have even better relationships with everyone involved!

xoxo

Why Join a Sorority?

Sorority recruitment is happening right now at all of the large universities, however I'm here to persuade you to rush at your smaller liberal arts school.

1. Confidence: You will gain confidence by rushing, and when/if you get a bid the confidence that a group of talented young ladies chose you to be one of their sisters. You will also gain confidence as your sisters figure out your talents and become your advocate. They will also be there to tell you that you're worthy enough for the internship, and that the dress you bought for formal would rock any man's world. Your sisters will give you confidence and you'll return it.

2. Philanthropy: As a sister you will help raise money for worthy causes, and volunteer with you sisters. Greeks give the most money and time to worthy organizations. This is one of the best ways to get involved in your community.

3. Skills: A sorority is run almost like a small corporation, and you will gain plenty of new skills as your help your chapter prepare for recruitment, philanthropy events and social events. You can also build your portfolio by helping your chapter with tasks that are similar to your future career.

4. Leadership: This one is a common reasons, but many women find that their sisters nominate them for positions that they didn't think they could do. However their sisters know better and they gain confidence in their leadership abilities.

5. Life-long friendships: You will probably not talk to all of your sisters for the rest of your life, but you will find a few or more sisters who will become life-long friends. They will be your bridesmaids, your children's godmothers and the friends you can pick up where ever you left off.

6. Experience: Your sisters will come from different backgrounds, and push you out of your comfort zone. They will teach you about diversity and trying new things. They will be there after your first over-indulgence and when the love interest in your life just isn't getting anything right.

Are you planning on going through sorority recruitment? What sorority are you apart of?

xoxo

Formal Recap

The last sorority event for the next six months was the first weekend in May!
I went to formal with three of my closest friends: AD, BG and my sister JP.

Be prepared for a picture overload!

My little TD!

AD & I are not amused 

Some of my sisters!

NR, one of my pledge sisters!

JP & I, I was really tall because of my wedges! 

Great picture of the four of us!

 Outside of Lambeau 

Lambeau Field!

The boys are NOT amused 

TD & BR, one of my pledge sisters!

I had a wonderful time! I was up later than normal, and spent a stress free evening with some of my favorite people! 

I wore this dress from Rent the Runway! I wore these costume earrings that I got my sophomore year of high school, so I really couldn't tell you where I got them!  Here are some similar ones. My wedges are also old, but here are a pair I would buy now!

Since this is my last week here at Green Bay until January everything is really bitter sweet. I know I'll be coming back but I've never left a place for this long. I've made such a niche for myself that it's harder than normal for me to take this leap. But I know I won't be ever completely ready for Spain, but I am a lot more prepared than I was a month ago.


xoxo

Senior Tea Recap

If I had to describe the last two weeks it would sisters, high school friends, communication and
relief. I thought that I would share with you pictures of the senior tea that we throw for our seniors every year!

I may be over here crying a bit as I write this because I had my last sorority event of the school year tonight. I'm going to miss these wonderful women when I'm in Spain! However, I am very excited for some welcome back hugs! 

Does your sorority do anything for their seniors? 

xoxo

Retreat ReCap

About three weeks ago I co-headed my sorority's spring sisterhood retreat! It was a weekend with lots of fun and little sleep! Here is a photo over load of the retreat!

This semester's executive board! Love these girls!

My sorority daughter ES! Excuse my face, I didn't have time for make-up or a straightener at that point!

The attempt at a pyramid!

EW! Seriously love this girl!

My little TD!

Sorority moms and their babies! (Moms in the black)

Bigs & their Littles!

All the sisters! I'm so lucky to have five more beautiful, talented sisters!

Here are some tips on planning a sisterhood retreat!

-Make sure sisters know what's going on
- T-shirts are perfect for pictures
-Lots and Lots of food!
-One or two physical activities to keep sisters from getting restless
-A fun craft for sisters to take home: we painted 8X8 canvases with sisterhood quotes
- Remind sisters what this is all about! Our sorority has had a rough couple of years, so we had a little ceremony to burn some of our "gripes" about being in a sorority! It's worked wonders!

What type of activities do you do at your sorority retreats? How often are yours?

xoxo

Rush Week Fall 2013!

I feel like Rush Week (or recruitment) is a time where not only do we want other ladies to fall in love with our sorority, but also where we are reminded why we fell in love with our sorority. 

I am beyond excited to extend bids to new sisters. I also am on the lookout for a little or daughter:)
I love my sisters, and my sorority. Being a local sorority with no other sororities on campus presents us with unique challenges, and I am proud of the way that we continue to work through these challenges together. We come out stronger and closer then ever. 

Have a great rest of your week

xoxo

All about Zeta Omega Tau

I have had a lot of questions about Zeta Omega Tau, and how it differs from national sororities. Here is a little synopsis of our wonderful sisterhood!

Zeta Omega Tau wasfounded in 1988, and we have been the only successful sorority on campus sincewe were founded. We were founded to serve our campus and community byvolunteering and fundraising. We have won the most improved campus organizationmultiple years, and our wonderful adviser also won adviser of the year!  We currently have 36 active sisters. We areself-funded through fees and fund raising. While we don't have a house,  we have plenty of socials, and see each otherall the time throughout the day.

 As the only sorority on campus, our Rush weekswork a bit differently, with an event Monday through Wednesday, and interviewson Thursday.  Bid day is Friday, and wetry to get all the sisters and pledges together for a fun night.

Every fall we put ona personality contest called Mr. and Ms. Phoenix (our mascot), which raisesmoney for the Breast Cancer Research foundation and Paul's Food Pantry. It'svery popular and this year we had 11 contestants in all. Our winners representour school at various events throughout the school year. Also in the fall, wehave a formal where we get to dance the night away and enjoy each other and ourdates.

In the spring, we domultiple walks, such as Relay for Life, March of dimes and a walk for MS. Wefund raise with bake sales and pasta sales. Every April we have spring formal, which is a nice sit-down dinner withour sisters and our dates! We also have a sister-bonding day where we get awayfrom it all and grow closer as a sorority.

In many national sororities each sister gets a big and a little! In Zeta Omega Tau, each sister gets a mother, a daughter, a big and a little!  By the time you graduate you have your own little family inside of our sisterhood.

As a local sororitywe have made a positive name for ourselves in the community. I can't wait tospend the rest of my college career with these wonderful ladies, and I can'twait to see what we can do!

Zeta Omega Tau Formal!

This past weekend was Zeta Omega Tau's Spring Formal!

My best friend KG was my date, and we had a blast. The sad part about spring formal is knowing it is one of the last events almost the entire sorority attends, so one of the last times we will be able to have this much fun with our seniors.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from this weekend!

SL, she is my favorite Noodles date and coffee addict!

SS, she has been super supportive of this blog! She's amazing!

KB and AB, my favorite twins and they also live near me so I am looking forward to Fro-yo dates this summer!

KG! She's amazing, and we had such a great time this weekend!

KW and JP, both of whom are amazing and supportive! We had such a great time taking photos!

Not to be vain, but I only posted photos I thought I looked pretty good in.

I love all my sisters and wish I had taken photos with all of them.

I hope your Monday is spring-like

xoxo

AV

Sunday Six!

Every Sunday I have decided that I am going to highlight six things such as events, what I'm going to need or what I really want this week!

1.Otterbox Defender Case: I love my iPhone 4s, and because of my history with phones, it has rarely seen day light.  I have had two different cases, this is my second and it is the reason that my phone still looks new. If you are looking for a nice case this is definitely the one the get! I have thrown mine, dropped it off my lofted bed and on concrete. It is basically "Ashley" proof. They also make cases for Android phones!

2. Starbucks Frappuccinos: Tired? Need a little pick me up? No time to wait for actual coffee? This is your friend! All of the cafe's on my campus sell them, and I like the Mocha's personally because they are the least calories, with all of the taste. It is a perfect pick me up, especially Monday's and Wednesday's, which are my busiest days!

3. 27 days until Germany!: MB and I are going to Germany for our Spring day, and there are only 27 days left until we leave (not including today)! Seeing my good family friends and being in Europe is my motivation to do well in my classes! Also, I need to shop for my trip also. (shoes are the most important!)

4. Couch to 5k: I hate running. I mean despise it, but I am trying to be more healthy in general, and without a gym membership this summer, I am going to train to run a 5k with my mom and hopefully my best friend KG. I hope that I can learn to love running, because of how convenient it is!

5. Nivea Lip Balm: Seriously, this is my savior this winter. I bite my lip all the time, and it isn't a problem with this cold, dry weather (ick) because this stuff is great! I like the milk and honey, but haven't tried an other types of lip balm from them. 

6. Zeta Omega Tau: I don't even know why, but every week I start off looking forward to our Wednesday night meetings! Especially now that we have pledges, I want to get to know all the new girls and grow closer with all of my other sisters! Look out for a guest blog post for Your Sorority Sister about ZOT! 

There it is! My first Sunday Six! What do you think? What would you like me to highlight each week? 

Have a great week!

xoxo

AV

The other Side of Rush Week

I just wanted to congratulate all of the sisters who got bids to pledge Zeta Omega Tau! I had a great time being on the other side of Rush Week, and I loved being able to get know every girl that rushed!
Pledging is such a crazy process, but trust me it's worth it! I love being apart of a sorority, and these girls are going to love you and be there for you every step of the way!
Just remember that we are all looking for girls who we want to get to know better and to become one of our sisters. We aren't here to pass judgement on you, rather look for girls who exemplify what our sisterhood represents and who will pass that on to girls after we leave. 

Good luck in the pledging process, it can be a lot sometimes, but I guarantee you that our sisterhood is worth it!
Hope y'all are having a great weekend
xoxo
Ashley