Recruitment Week!!!

Recruitment Week is one of the most stressful, wonderful, life-changing weeks you will ever experience in college. With Recruitment beginning at Samford (my alma mater) today, I thought I'd post some advice for any women that might be going through this experience this week!

I just wanted to give you a few pieces of advice that were given to me when I came through recruitment and wanted to pass them along. I haven't been able to share them before since I was a student and couldn't talk to PNMs, but now that I've graduated I can say whatever I want :) haha

1. HAVE FUN!! Recruitment is such a rare week where you get to meet so many new people and hopefully start new friendships too! Take advantage of this time to learn new faces and make new friends!

2. Be yourself :) You want to end up in a house that loves you for you, so pretending to be anyone other than yourself will cheat yourself of finding a place where you feel at home.

3. Listen to your Rho Gamma, but also stick with your gut! Rho Gammas do a really great job at being unbiased but that is just plain hard to do when you love your sorority! Besides, I'm biased. I love my sorority! But you need to be in whichever house YOU want to be in! Rho Gammas are there to answer any questions you have, but only you can make your own decision as to which house you want to vote for. Stick with your gut, you'll know where you feel most at home, and vote accordingly!

4. You can't make a wrong choice. I ended up being really torn on pref night between two houses, I ended up ranking the other house above my sorority and ended up in my house - I know with every ounce of my being that was Divine. Stay prayerful all week, pray that whatever God wants will happen, and it will! It might not be the house you think you want, but I promise you everything will turn out! Every house at Samford is awesome! I had friends in every house and just trust in the fact that what is meant to happen, will happen! 

5. Lastly, come prepared. It's inevitable that you might have some awkward conversations. Haha some girls you talk to, might just be uncomfortable talking to people they haven't met before, sooo I was given the advice to come with just a few of my own questions in mind if conversations got quiet and I didn't know what else to say! Ask something that can give you insight into what their interests are, as well as what they love most about being a ADPi, AOPi, Chi O, Phi Mu or Zeta! And if their answers sound like something you want to be a part of, it might be a good fit for you! 

I hope this gets you even more excited about Rush! Don't be nervous, I guarantee you the girls "rushing" you are even more nervous!!!

Have a GREAT week and I hope you have a great experience with Recruitment!

#GoGreek

-A

4.20.13 - Best Day Ever!!!

Last weekend was the greatest weekend I've ever had! Houston proposed to me at my apartment last Saturday and he made it so very special for me!

We had quite the weekend, to say the least...

Thursday, I drove over to Atlanta after class for the Taylor Swift concert, he had given me tickets for Christmas and it was the perfect present! The concert was incredible! (Although looking back he did seem a little protective of his phone when I kept trying to steal it to take pictures and video since my phone had run out of space!)

Friday, we drove back to Birmingham for my semi formal for Chi O with friends! As a senior, it was my last sorority event so it was very special to have Houston there with our friends.

Saturday, we didn't have much planned (or so I thought!). He came over and we made breakfast and by coincidence watched The Wedding Planner that was on TV. Then we made a picnic and headed over to the Botanical Gardens in Mountain Brook to eat our picnic, it was the most beautiful, spring day outside! 

Then we went for a walk through Mountain Brook and sat by the stream and talked. We made a plan for the rest of the evening to go see a movie, so we drove back to my apartment so that I could change clothes - but Houston had something very different in mind…

I opened up the door to see stunning flowers and candles covering Juliann's and my apartment and I immediately knew today was the day!!! Houston sat me down and shared some of the most beautiful words he's ever shared with me. He reached under the hats and opened a box, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I SAID YES!!! Overwhelmed with such joy to get to marry my very best friend! We danced to the music that was playing in the background for a few minutes and got to take in these incredible moments together. He then sat me down and asked me to read a letter he had written me about the first time he knew he loved me, two years before.

We started calling family and friends to share the wonderful news with them! After a little time had passed, Houston told me that his parents, as an engagement present were treating us to a very special meal together and that I needed to get changed for our special date, our first dinner together alone as an engaged couple!

We pulled up and walked around the building, I didn't think anything weird about it, but when Houston opened the door and our families and friends were there to surprise me and surround us with love and support! What an incredible day!!

It meant so much to me to get to celebrate with our families and friends right away!! It was so much fun and I just kept staring at the beautiful ring on my hand!

I cannot believe I get to marry Houston!!!! Houston is the most wonderful, godly man. He treats me like a princess and always makes me laugh! He knows how to help me relax when I get stressed or worked up. He supports me in all of my crazy ideas. He is my better half and makes me a better person every single day. I had no idea my love for someone could continue to grow every day like it does for him and I'm so blessed God placed him in my life!

I cannot wait to be his wife!!!

xoxo,

A

Step Sing Results [A little delayed]

My apologies for the delay but life has been a little crazy the last two weeks with recovering from Step Sing and visiting Atlanta this past weekend for a PRSA Real World Conference and got to celebrate Valentine's Day with Houston! But I did not want to overlook Chi Omega's Step Sing show that I am so very proud to have been able to participate in! Our theme was "Deliver Us" and we were prisoners. Below are two different angles of the show we performed two weekends ago:

Samford provided a live stream of Saturday night's performance online, I like this one because you can see everyone's faces up close.

Here is a balcony view which lets you get to see all of our formations and the feel of the whole show.

A huge thank you to our amazing directors Grace Kimrey and Augusta Clark, as well as our choreographer Mary Claire Fuqua and music director Lauren Barry. Thank you for putting together such a remarkable show and unforgettable senior performance for me, personally.

 Chi O brunch at Brio with Houston

 My parents, Michael, Betsy, Houston and his parents joined me for the Chi O brunch! It was so special to all get to be together in Birmingham.

Oh Marie, and Destiny's Child was born!

 

Seniors

Best friends since 5th West: Me, Jenna, Lauren, Tatum & Jessie

Just getting in character:) A prisoner, 3 orphans and a bride!

It is certainly weird that this was my last Step Sing as an undergrad, hope I get to come back in the years to come! You can see our shows from the last 3 years here. Congratulations to the top 3 finishers: 1. Pi Kappa Phi, 2. Dudes-A-Plenty and 3. IGnite

I'll be back soon,

A

Fitness Update:

Been able to go to Pure Barre about 3 days a week, trying to add in some cardio this week too!

Step Sing Season begins...

In honor of Step Sing season beginning this weekend I thought I'd reflect on Chi Omega's shows the last three years while I've been at Samford. I was able to participate my freshman and sophomore years and now my final Step Sing memories (sentimental, I know!) will begin this weekend, and I could not be more excited!!!

For those of you who don't know what Step Sing is, let me explain the biggest production and show Samford puts on every year. You could say spring semester doesn't really begin until after President's Weekend. Nearly everyone participates in Step Sing and so on top of our busy school schedules and social calendars we manage to spare three hours almost every night for three weeks for Step Sing practices, tech rehearsals and three amazing performances to compete for the very coveted 

1st Place Sweepstakes!

I cannot wait to perform with my Chi Omega sisters for my final time next month! Well tonight is Banner Drop! Where all the participants meet in the gym to "reveal" our banners that reflect our theme. The key is to describe the name of your show without giving away the theme of it! 

Here are our shows the past three years!!

2010 - A Knight's Tale (Batman)

2011 - Imagine That (Toys)

2013 - Deliver Us Can't wait to show you our video in a few weeks!! Stay tuned:)

Fitness Update:

I joined Pure Barre yesterday and attended class yesterday and today with Juliann and Jaime! Pretty tough getting back into, but I know it'll be worth it! And Friday I went to the gym just do the elliptical for 20 minutes and some abs because I was so sore from Thursday! I'd say a pretty good start to my fitness goals!

Happy Step Sing season everyone!

-A

P.S. Oh yea, and my last semester of college starts tomorrow!! CRAZY! But so very excited for it to begin!

[POST UPDATE - 2013 Video posted]

New Year's Resolutions

The great thing about a new year is the ability to "start fresh." Even though we have the ability to do that everyday, something about a fresh year makes it easier.

I actually took the time to write out my New Year's Resolutions and would like to share them with you:

1. Spend more time reading Scripture - I often get caught up in reading devotionals or Christian books, but forget to read the most important Book of all... my Bible!

2. Find a job! - I graduate in May and I find it very important that I find employment this year, despite the poor job market these days.
Mini Goals:
-I would like to have two interviews scheduled by February 1st (informational or actual).
-Send my resume to at least 10 people or companies by February 1st.
-Find a job by Spring Break!

3. Take advantage of my last semester at Samford - I have special friendships that I want to be sure I devote time to and step away from any friendships that seem to be surrounded with any type of "drama."
- I especially want to take advantage of living in the same city as my big brother, Michael, and hope to meet him for lunch or dinner maybe once a week since I know I'll be moving a state away after graduation.
-My Chi Omega family is very special to me and I want to be sure and invest in those beautiful women while I'm in Birmingham.
-Last but certainly not least, the majority of my best friends are women I've met in college and I want to devote special amounts of time to them. I certainly feel that school is important, and have always put school first, but I don't want to look back on my last semester of college and regret missing out on any fun times with these ladies!

4. Start a blog... CHECK! And I hope to write at least once a week this year!

5. Read two books - I'm not much of a reader (this is why I have set the bar pretty low with only two) and I'd like to spend more time reading and less time on social media. Any recommendations??

6. Love my body! Thankfully, I haven't had much of a problem loving my body (Although it was certainly easier when I cheered in high school and worked out at least 4 times a week, but since being in college it has become a little harder to carve out time to stay active and I've never been a huge health nut! But I'm hoping that I can begin cooking more (I'm taking a Food Prep 101 class this semester that I'm REALLY excited about!) and find fun ways to stay diligent in a healthy lifestyle!

What are some of YOUR goals for 2013??

Well that's it for my first blog post ever! I'd love your comments, questions, concerns and feedback anytime:)

-A