Big/Little Gifts

Here at MSU, Mankato spring recruitment officially kicked off with the annual sorority social this week. With spring recruitment in full swing that means big/little week is fast approaching. Big/little week is one of my favorite week during the semester. For those of you who do not know what big/little week is, it is a week were new members of the sorority receive gifts from their big sister who acts as their mentor, and at the end of the week they find out who she is at big/little reveal! I have put together a fun list of big/little gift ideas. In my chapter, we tend to have six traditional gifts that we give to our Little's during big/little week.

These are a few of the gifts that I gave my little this past fall semester!

1. Painted Initial

One thing that sorority girls love to do is to craft! So that means making fun personal gifts for our Little's. The girls in my chapter love to paint first name initials for our Little's to hang on their room wall. I painted a Lilly Pulitzer inspired letter for my little Hailey!

2. Painted Canvas

Along with the painted initial goes a fun painted canvas with a sorority saying or letters on it. I painted Be- You-Tiful with AΣA under it. My little loves it and it looks great in her pink themed room!

3. Tie Blanket

This is the tie blanket that I made for my little. It is not the best picture because I snapped it right before I gave it to her! They are great for sister movie nights, sleep overs and chapter retreats! Everyone in my chapter has a tie blanket from their big that they bring to retreats.

4. Candy

In my chapter big/little week is not big/little week with out candy! We love spoiling our Little's with their favorite candy. They always ask how we know, well big knows best! I wanted to be creative with how I gave my little a bunch of candy so I made it into a poster saying pictured above! Once again not the best picture, I had to take it with out her knowing!

5. Yarn Jar

In my chapter "yarning" is a tradition to find out who your big is. At the end of big little week after you have received all of your gifts, all the bigs string yarn all around the house and the Little's have to spend forever unraveling it! At the end of the yarn they finally get to meet their big sister! The last day of big little week we give them decorated yarn jars to put their yarn in from yarning. 

6. Letters!

What sorority girl does not love new letters! In my chapter and many others across the country it is tradition to give our Little's matching letters for big/little week. At yarning they wear their new letters and the bigs wear theirs under a sweatshirt and once the Little's reach the end of the yarn, their big takes off her sweatshirt and reveals her matching letters! It is a blast. Below are some pictures of my little and I at her yarning and in our matching letters!

What gifts do you like to give for big/little week?

Happy upcoming big/little week everyone!

Best, 

RTM

Sorority Paddles

I promised my sorority big and little that I would make them paddles for Christmas... well I never got quite around to making them. I think the reason that I keep putting them off is I am not artistic at all! I have been browsing Pinterest and here is what I am liking. Only if my paddles will turn out as good as these! I am jealous of all the artistic people out there!

What are your tips when it comes to making sorority paddles? Where do you like to buy your paddles and materials from? Hopefully I will start making these in the next few weeks. I will post pictures, if they turn out, we will see!

Best,

RTM

My Top 5 Beauty Products

Hairspray // Blush // Deep Conditioner // Eyeliner // Foundation 

Redken Forceful 23 Hairspray

I have thick curly hair, so hair spray is a must to keep it in place. I few years ago my hair stylist recommended Redken 23 hairspray to me. I have been hooked ever since. It is light and not sticky and adds a beautiful shine to your hair. It also has a wonderful fragrance and holds your hair in place all day long! This hairspray also lasts for a long time! I use a lot of hairspray and one can lasts me over six months!

Bobbie Brown Blush 

I am a bit of a blush addict. I have very pale porcelain doll like skin, so blush is a must! I used to be a huge Clinique fan, until a sales lady at Nordstrom introduced me to Bobbie Brown blush. She picked out a shade called Pastel Pink for me. It is a really pretty light pink, but is still bright. I can wear this color year round. I apply it with a fluffy blush brush each morning and it lasts all day long! 

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist

Due to the fact that I have long thick curly hair, deep conditioning is a must! I read about Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist on a blog a few years ago. I thought I would give it a try because it retails for only $3.00! This stuff is amazing I use it 3 times a week and it leaves my hair soft and easy to manage.

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner

I don't wear a lot of eyeliner, but I wear enough to make my eyes pop. After reading about Duchess Kate's wedding makeup back in 2011 I thought I would give Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner a try. It is the best. I like it because I can apply it with a eyeliner brush, so I don't get harsh lines. It also lasts all day long!

bareMinerals Bareskin Foundation

I was convinced that there was no foundation out there that would match my super light skin tone and be light and natural. I was wrong! Last year I wondered into Ulta looking for a new foundation. I discovered bareMinerals Bareskin foundation. It matches my skin tone perfect! It has a really light formula, so it feels like you are wearing nothing! I wear bare porcelain (the lightest shade of course). I apply this foundation with my fingers. There is a special brush that I have yet to try, but it has great reviews.

What are your favorite beauty products?

Best,

RTM

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

If you have not already heard, Target has a collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer for a collection of over 250 pieces. The collection features apparel, accessories and shoes for women and girls, as well as

home decor in 15 exclusive prints! I don't know about you but I am super excited. I have pulled some of my favorite pictures from the collection preview.

These colors make me forget about winter and think about summer!

Mark your calenders this fabulous collection comes out April 19, 2015! I plan on picking up a dress, scarf and new bikini! 

Pop of Winter Color

Necklace // Shirt (Similar)

In the winter I usually wear neutral and dark colors. Today, however I decided to add a little pop of color to my simple outfit. I wore this large, beautiful J Crew inspired red flower necklace with a chambray shirt, black leggings and my trusty brown riding boots, for a cute and effortless look. 

How do you add a pop of color to your winter outfits?

Best,

RTM

Monogram Sweatshirt

One of my latest obsessions lately especially since it has been so cold here in Minnesota are monogram sweatshirts! I purchased my first this summer and have worn it non-stop since! I have started to develop a monogram sweatshirt "uniform". I find myself always wearing my monogram sweatshirt with dark blue jeans and riding boots. 

Sweatshirt

This is my favorite monogram sweatshirt. Navy blue of course with green thread. (I have decided that I am terrible at taking selfies!)

Here are pictures of some of my favorite Etsy shops that sell monogram sweatshirts.

That's Too Cute Boutique

Sew Sasse

The Palm Gifts

Do you have a favorite monogram sweatshirt that you love to wear?

Best,

RTM

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bracelet

This week is my last week of my college winter break. Since I was not working today I decided to spend this cold Minnesota winter day relaxing, so I decided to baked chocolate chip cookies! I stumbled upon a wonderful recipe from the blog Life, Love and Sugar. O.M.G they are the best cookies I have ever made! I spent the rest of my day doing my nails, browsing Pinterest, and catching up on the latest episode of Downton Abbey. I choose to paint my nails in one of my favorite OPI colors, passion. It is a beautiful light ballet pink. 

Here is the recipe for Life, Love and Sugar's thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies!

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 3/4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

2. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract.

3. With the mixer on low speed, add flour, cornstarch, baking soda and baking powder.

4. Stir in chocolate chips. Dough will be thick.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

6. Measure out each cookie using a 1/4 cup measuring spoon. They should be in the shape of thick discs.

7. Bake for 11-12 minutes. The center of the cookie will still look a little undercooked, but that's ok.

8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 1 minute, then remove to finish cooling on a cooling rack.

Best,

RTM