Bid Day

One of the reasons I haven't been posting much is because I've been going through sorority recruitment (as a junior...yep, go ahead, ask me why I joined so late, everybody has!)

I didn't want to post about it here because I didn't know if it would work out or not. We had over 300 girls rush this year at my school, which is definitely a record. I didn't know if I would even get a bid. But here I am, alive at the end of it all, and I am proud to tell you...

(Can you spot me?)

...that I received a bid for ALPHA CHI OMEGA!

You can't imagine how excited I am. Not only is one of my roommates already a member, but my other roommate received a bid for it as well. I'll do the math for you...3/4 of us living together are now in AXO!

My only regret is that I didn't join a sorority sooner. Already I feel comfortable with all the girls in my chapter, like I've known them for years. I had a preconception of what sorority women were like when I entered college, but after meeting so many Greek girls in Rome this summer I knew that I needed to become one myself.

I have a couple of interesting posts ready to go live this week, including a review of the amazing Etsy shop The Angelorian Tradition. As a teaser, here's the Lucky Penny I received last week from the shop owner, Crystal, that I kept with me during all recruitment activities. I feel like this special penny helped me throughout this whole (stressful!) process. Go check out Jakira's shop so you can get your own!

(It says Lucky Becky on it, in case you can't see)

Have a great week everybody!
--Becky

Thinking About Studying Abroad?

...then check out my article in the LUChameleon!

I wrote a short blurb for my university's alternative magazine about how everyone should study abroad and what a great experience I had in Rome this past summer. A good friend of mine is the editor of the magazine and also spent the summer in Italy with me. We'd love it if the LuChameleon became HUGE, at least at our university.

Check out my article on page 7, as well as some of the other articles about studying abroad in this issue. Thanks!

Magic Cards (please play along!)

We're going to play a game today! This is something I learned to amuse the 9th graders that I tutor, but I'm sure you'll all love it as well.

Here's what you have to do:

• Pick a number between 1 and 63.

• Tell me what cards below your number appears on (for example, if you select 21 as your number, you would say it's on cards A, D and E)

• I'll respond to your comment and tell you what your number is! (don't forget it!)

Via

Next week I'll reveal the trick to this game, so stay tuned. Good luck, and try to stump me!

Sunday Confessions

Lots of exciting stuff has been happening these past few weeks and I can't wait to share it all with you! But for now, it's time for Sunday Confessions!

1. I've been horrible replying to comments and checking people's blogs. HORRIBLE. Which brings me to my question: what do you all prefer better, people who reply to their comments right on their blog or do it through email? I know people do both ways, but I'm just wondering which you would prefer.

Via

2. I made a girl cry during tutoring. I didn't mean to and I feel really bad now. I tutor at the Writing Center, so I help people with their papers. I was going over this girl's thesis and how she can make it flow with the rest of her paper better when all of a sudden she started crying.

Via

3. This has not been a healthy week. Cookies, pizza, french fries, you name it--I'm not proud of myself. I blame it on the changing weather. My instincts are telling me I need to fatten up for the winter.

Via

4. Is it November yet? I'm so sick of this election and all the mudslinging that's been going around.

Via

5. Honey Boo Boo basically has my shoes. See the evidence here. I honestly don't want to think about what this means.

LOOK! I have those Nike shoes! They're in a Women's Size 9, but still...I don't know how to feel about this.

Have a great week everybody!
--Becky

Tortoise-Shell Print Items

I think tortoise shell print look great when used to make accessories. I had no idea that the print is actually vintage--that makes me love it even better! Tortoise-print is great for  fall, so here are a few accessories I found with the look.

Tortoise-Shell Accessories by preppypremed featuring case-mate

Earbuds: Nixon's The Wire In-Ear Headphones

Wallet: GUCCI Patent Tortoise Wallet

Shoes: J. Crew Factory Tortoise Ballet Flats

Cell Phone Case: Tortoiseshell Case for iPhone 4, 4S

Glasses: College Tortoise Shell Full Frames

Bracelet: Lulu Frost for J.Crew Resin and Marcasite Bracelet

Necklace: Style & Co. Necklace

Do you know any tortoise shell accessories I should be aware about?

College Studying Tips

Someone asked me if I could do a post on studying tips. I feel like a hypocrite telling you these tips because I haven't been following them at all this year. My classes haven't been too challenging yet, but I know they're all of a sudden going to creep up on me.

Here are some tips I followed last year that helped me survive organic chemistry and some tough upper-level biology classes. Hopefully they'll help!

1. Make studying your priority and mindset

This is a mindset you have to have in order to pass some harder classes. You have to make sure that studying prevails over all your other plans. This means not going to a party because you know you'll have to study for a test the next day (it sucks, I know). It means backing off on extra curriculars. You're paying a lot for college, and if your transcript gets a D or F you're not getting your full worth out of it. Studying HAS to be your number one priority.

Yep...I have to do this on my calendar sometimes to make sure I don't schedule anything else on that day. The woes of a college student.

2. Schedule hourly blocks to study

I always make sure there's time in my schedule where I don't plan anything so I can study. This year, right after my classes get out I have an hour or so where I can force myself to go to the library and study before dinner. Then I'll have extra-curriculars at night until about nine, when I can study some more. This idea works wonders--I'll always have time to study (but the question is, will I?)

My school schedule for this week. You can see that I have a huge block of time between class and my clubs on Monday and Tuesday. That's when you'll find me at the library (if I can force myself to go there...)

3. All nighters= horrible idea

Some people can get by on two hours of sleep...the other 95% of us can't. Even if I do well on a test after pulling an all-nighter, I'll be miserable for the next two or three days. It just isn't worth it. Don't get me wrong, sometimes we all have to pull all-nighters, but I try to be responsible and study a week or two ahead of time so I can spend a few hours the night before cramming--not six or seven.

4. Self Control app for Mac

I don't remember if I've posted about this before, but this computer program has saved my life. For Self Control, you type up a list of websites you want blocked, then set a timer for how long you won't be allowed to access them. This program is foolproof. I've tried changing my internet settings, turning the computer on and off, erasing my history--NOTHING will work and allow me to access these sites before the allotted time is up. Without Self Control, I don't think a lot of my English papers would ever get done. [And it's free! Even better.]

You put websites on your "blacklist" in the window on the right. On the left, you set a time for how long that site will be blocked.

5. List all the homework you have to do each night

You've probably heard this one before, but a simple checklist does wonders in motivating a person. Throughout the day I make a list of the things I need to accomplish that night, and I cross them off as soon as I complete them. Using the list prevents me from cramming for a test the night before, because I can delegate how long to study for a specific subject during every study session.

My to-do list for today...clearly I've accomplished a lot in the two hours I've been sitting here at the library.

I feel like I have some more tips up my sleeve, but hopefully these will work for now. Do you have any studying tips?

Weird News Wednesday

My sister and I have an ongoing Facebook thread where we share with each other all the strange articles we find online. We consider it bonding time, since we're now 6 hours away from each other and both busy with classes. Here are a few of our recent "weird news" discoveries I want to share with you. Maybe they'll make you smile!

Cat arrives at Disneyworld after 10 hours in suitcase

Okay, I have trouble believing this one. How did the baggage handlers not hear the cat meowing while? Better yet, how did the OWNERS not hear the cat screeching when they were putting their luggage in the car to drive to the airport? This is one sneaky cat, my friends, one sneaky cat...

Librarian claims she lost nearly 80 pounds on a "Starbucks Diet"

It's gotta be the world's most expensive diet. And it can't be healthy for you at all. Okay, so Starbucks does sell items other than coffee, but they can't be that good for you. The article says she sometimes ate only around 800 calories a day, so basically the Starbucks had nothing to do with it: she just limited the amount of food she ate. 

Tootsie's Secret Empire

Guys, Willy Wonka's factory really exists--it just makes Tootsie Rolls instead of Wonka bars. And it's in Chicago! Which means my goal in life is to find it and learn how many licks it does take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop.

Cat has been mayor of Alaska town for 15 years

Come on, people. I don't care if he's bringing in money from all the tourists wanting to see him, this is just too weird. What happens when he dies? Will  you choose another cat, or will you try for a more diverse candidate and vote in a canine instead?

Fashion Week's Oldest Runway Model

This is actually really cool. This woman is in her 80s and still doing runway shows. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to look that good when I'm 80, let alone doing fashion shows. I'll be watching reruns on TV and knitting sweaters.
Do you have any weird news to report?