Ten Things You Need to Bring to College

 

Over the last year I have found a few essential things that really make life easier being a new college student, while still being stylish. All of these things I have bought over the last two semester and have really benefited me in some way. 

1. Comfy Over sized T-Shirts, I live in them they make up half my wardrobe  Have something easy and comfy to slip into to go to class is one less thing I have to worry about. You don't have to wear a sloppy old t-shirt that's three sizes too big, buy a size up so its loose and comfortable without being overbearing. Like this Southern Tide shirt its so cute and its CORAL!

2. A rain jacket, this is something every college student needs no matter what school or what part of the country. When I bought my rain jacket I knew that I would get a lot of use out of it so I got one that would last. The North Face makes a wonderful rain jacket I have no idea what I would do with out mine. Yes I know $100 dollars for a rain jacket seems unreasonable, but trust me when I say it was worth every dollar. It keeps you dry and warm and I never have to worry about it tearing or getting damaged.

3. You cannot go wrong with a pair of Nike running shorts. They are comfortable and cute and are easy to throw on to go anywhere. There are so many options to choose from they come in every color under the moon!

4. A good book bag, having one that will last, stay dry and hold your laptop will save you life. I have the one pictured by Patagonia its one of the best things I have ever purchased. Its completely waterproof it holds my 17.3 inch laptop and all of my books and has a ton of pockets. And since it was originally designed as a hiking bag it was meant to last. It is super cute and everything stays completely dry no matter how hard it's raining. Although it may be a little pricey having a bag that will last all four years and will hold everything you need is completely worth the money!

5. A duffle bag, its not just if you decided to go home for the weekend. But if you go anywhere I have gone home with so many friends and gone on so many roadtrips since I stated school! And bringing a duffle bag with you is definitely easier than one of those bag you get from Victoria Secret. I love my large Vera Bradley duffle! You can find them anywhere but check the styles they are retiring they are usual discounted 30% off or more!

6. A monogram necklace, I adore mine I got it as a graduation present! They go with anything and add a great personal touch to your outfit. Etsy has a great selection of them that range in prices I think mine was 50 which isn't too bad, but I have definitely worn it enough for how much I paid. On a side note a monogrammed ring is another great way to have a timeless piece of jewelry that goes with everything.

7. Tumblers, I take a drink to class with me almost everyday. Its a great way to stay away from the vending machines! Just grab some ice and some water and your ready to go. And even if you don't have a dishwasher in your dorm (like me) they are easy to clean. This Lilly Pulitzer one is adorable I love mine and they are super easy to get monogrammed too!

8. A watch, have a good watch has helped me out tremendously in school. When you can't have your phone or laptop in class its a great way to keep time on a test. And also watches go with everything and they never go out of style! Having a cute watch can dress up an outfit and be super useful for class!

9. Good Shoes, having a wide variety of shoes with you at school is the best! From a nice pair of tennis shoes to heels I promise you will need them. Try to stay away from shoes that hurt your feet and that you never wear. But here are a few types that you will definitely need: -Tennis Shoes (You will be walking a lot no matter where you go to school) -Flip Flops (For those hot days or if your running to target) -Toms (They are easy to slip on and off and my advice stick to a neutral color so they match everything) -Flats (For the days you dress up or go to dinner) - Heels (for rush and for PARTIES!!) -Boots (for the winter, make sure you get a pair that won't fall to pieces, because I guarantee you will wear them a lot).

10. A good pair of sunglasses, they are great for those sunny days walking to class. Also having a pair of crokies will help you not lose them. You can hang them anywhere and keep up with your sunglasses.

Obsessed

I'm so in love with all of these things right now, I always try to have things that I want to get by the end of the season or for the beginning of a new one. So this is a mix of a few things for winter and spring, which is right around the corner! I'm so excited to get to wear my flip flops and norts to class again!!!! Well here's my list of all the things that need to arrive in my closet like now....

  

1. Burlap Toms, let me just tell you how much I love me some Toms. I know these have been out for a while but I've just been avoiding buying them for some reason. They're so cute and they go with everything and I mean everything! I steal my roomies pair all the time to wear to class or to dinner. Plus toms are the winter version of flip flops in my opinion they are comfortable and causal and look great with everything. I'm a Tom's lover ya'll and i'm definitely not afraid to admit it. 

 

2. Patagonia Re-tool Snap-T Pullover, yes everyone I know has one of these. And I know why they are so comfortable and warm. I'm all about being comfy to go to class and this is the perfect jacket to have. Its Patagonia so it's going to last forever and on those cold morning when I have to get my butt to class this jacket is the way to go. And I love that its a pullover and has no hood (I hate hoods!) so it can come on and off with ease. I adore this jacket and cannot wait until I finally have one! 

3. Some Hot Pink Nike's  I love my green ones but they are looking a little rough now a days, I'm ready for pair number two. I was never a big tennis shoe person in high school, I think I wore tennis shoes twice to school ever before going to college. Now that's a completely different story, if i'm not in toms or flip flops i'm in tennis shoes. Walking everywhere is such a workout that having a great pair of tennis shoes is a must in college. And I love these they stand out and would definitely make anyone look tan!

 

4. This one is kind of obvious but oh well! Of course I am in love with anything and everything Alpha Xi Delta. Getting to wear letters everyday is so fun and I am so blessed to get too. Having cute shirts and sweatshirts to wear around campus is great and it always turns heads. But my favorite Alpha Xi item right now has to be my rain jacket! I love it I want it to rain everyday just so I can wear it, it's navy blue with the letters stitched in pink. It's so adorable I never want to take it off, I'm starting to think I should just wear it as a jacket every once in a while!

 

5. Monograms, I feel like everything I own is monogrammed and I love it! It ads a personal touch to anything. I really love this hat, I don't have a baseball hat but I do have a big floppy monogrammed beach hat that I love! I think this would make such a great addition, I wear hats all the time especially on bad hair days or i'm in a hurry! Etsy has the best selection I just can't even begin to choose what colors I would want but I definitely need one of these before the beach trip this summer!

 

6. If you are from Georgia and have not heard of this company yet, you need to go check them out ASAP! Peach State Pride is a Georgia owned company that makes all sorts of adorable southern clothing items. I am the proud owner of 4 shirts and their adorable baseball caps! If your in college you probably have a campus rep I know West Georgia does. That's not even the best part if a store in your hometown happens to sell these shirts there is a good chance the name of your hometown will be on the back! I know three out of my four have my hometown on the back! They so comfortable and cute I wear mine all the time!

OOTN

Spending the night doing some studying in the library with the roomie (Erica). Thought I'd do my first OOTD or should I say OOTN! Just something comfy and cute that is easy to hang out in the library in. This week is going to be a long one I can feel it! But thankfully spring break is starting a little early for me and I'm headed up to the mountains on Thursday to spend a little quality time with my sisters!

Alpha Xi sisterhood retreat shirt, vest from Old Navy, leggings and my new pink and green polo rainboots, a chunky knit scarf and my Micheal Kors watch and a pearl bracelet

I really want to get that vest monogrammed but I have no idea where to even go to get something monogrammed! Usually you have to buy the item at the store for them to do it! Anyone got any ideas?

What I learned from Big/Little

Big/Little is one of the best experiences you can have being in a sorority. Finding out who the person that you will call you big for the rest of your life is so exciting. But there are a few thing I definitely took away from the experience.

1. Don't Ruin it For Yourself- Yes you want to know who it is so bad, and yes you would do anything to find out. But i'm telling you know being surprised is so much better than knowing ahead of time. Finding out who it is at that moment is the best feeling. Knowing ahead of time takes away all the fun of trying to guess who it is when you get all of your clues. 

2. Be prepared- Most of the time you don't find out until a few hours before that you will be getting your big, maybe not even that. So for those first few weeks to anything they need you at the house for dress cute. Throw on some jeans a v-neck, a scarf and some boots to go to your new member meeting or chapter. Because there will be a lot of pictures taken that night and you don't want to have norts and a baggy t-shirt on. 

3.Don't go running around telling everyone who you want your Big to be- Yes we all know who we want to be our big more than anyone else and there is a good chance your will get her. But if you don't, you don't want your big to think your not excited to have her. She picked you over everyone else and you never know she may be someone you needed in your life. You don't want her feelings to be hurt because you told her over Starbucks that you don't want anyone else but so-and-so. 

4. Be Excited- It is a day you will never ever forget! Finding out who your big is, is the most exciting time you can think of. Your so happy that you want to cry and hug everyone you see. And meeting the rest of your family is just as exciting. Having a Grand Big or a Twin is the best thing in the world, not only do you have a Big to lean on you have an entire family. 

My Big Little Story: 

One Monday right before our New Member meeting our New Member Chair told us to dress cute for a pledge class picture during our meeting. So we got to the house and messed around for a little while and finally took our picture. And right as we were about to leave our New Member Chair asked if we would like a surprise from our Bigs and of course we all freaked out! She each gave us a note that told us to go to a room in the house. When I got to my room there was a puzzle piece that had little on it, confused I went back to the chapter room to see what the other girls got. Sure enough they had puzzle pieces as well, our New Member Chair told us we had another surprise and to run as fast as we could to the parking lot across the street. When we got there each car had a puzzle piece to match up with ours. So I went to my car and was instructed to open the trunk and out pops my Big! I was so surprised I had no idea it was going to be Ali and that my best friend Lindsay was going to be my niece! I was now a Triplet and had one of the reasons I wanted to be an Alpha Xi Delta as my Big, I couldn't have been more blessed! 

Here are a Few Pictures: 

A Little About Me

I'm Rachel I am currently a Freshmen at the University of West Georgia. I'm and Alpha Xi Delta and my life basically revolves around school and Greek life. I have a wonderful boyfriend named Chase that is my high school sweetheart. And a truly amazing family that is completely my support system.

I not only have a wonderful family at home but I also have a wonderful Greek family as well. They support me in everything I do. They have really turned my college experience around. They have kept me on the right path and have given me a home away from home.

Picture 1: Left my younger sister Catherine, Middle me, Right my Mom

Picture 2: Far Left: Lindsay, my best friend and also my niece, next Rachel Ann my Triplet, next my beautiful big Ali and Last me!