Sigma Kappa Sigma K

This past weekend was sorority recruitment. And the first time in 6 years I was not a participant of recruitment as either an active or an alumna member. So in memory of the best 4 years of my life. Here is what it means to be in a sorority :) 

1. Bid day: The moment where you find out if the sorority you want to belong to also chooses you as a member. Now theres a lot of things that goes into this process, but basically it is the moment you find your home. Sure, that sounds dumb, and believe me I thought that until I was initiated and I realized the commitment I was making. 

2. Home away from home. So everyone told me this was my new "home." I laughed, sure this was a group of girls that I would spend the next four years with, but how could they be home? Then I got initiated, and I realized that these girls, and only these girls share a secret bond. We share secrets that very few people in this world know. I thought, how deep do those secrets go? 

3. You learn what the secrets actually mean. You get a Big Sister, and you take a little. You learn that your big sister, is actually a big sister. Meaning she is there for you for every heart break, every rough night, every failing grade. She is there to celebrate you acing your exams, or your new boyfriend, or the internship you landed. And you learn that you do the same for your little. You sit with her in a car with Dairy Queen in hand as cries to you about her break up, or you comfort her with deaths in a family. You bake her goods, you buy her sweat shirts, you make her paddles, only so she does the same to her little. People refer to them as your "greek big" and your "greek little sister" but you know its more than that. They are your family. 

4. Whats family with out fun? You attend all of these sister hood events like paint balling and of course spa night. You go to dances, fraternity dances (which you are so thankful you have sisters there for those weekends!) You tailgate at every football game and you even take 17 of you to the Bahamas for Spring Break.

5. And then its time to leave. Your 4 years is up and you have to leave all of these ladies behind. You will have lasting relationships with some of them, but some of them not. And as you go through the alumni ceremony you realize this is the last time that these ladies, the ladies you went through recruitment with, the 32 ladies you lived in the Sigma Kappa house with, the ladies who have seen every up and every down but encouraged you every step of the way, and its the last time you will ever be in the same room with them, sharing the same secrets. 

But you realize it's time to go. Its time to move on, and every year around this time of recruitment you are reminded of the memories you have made. You can look back and be thankful for the organization who gave you more than just friends, but gave you sisters. And you can look at the new members envious, because they have no idea the experience they are about to have, but you do, and you can look at them and smile knowing their lives are going to be forever changed. 

My Girl Trina

I am dedicating this post to my girl Trina. Of the many pics we took together this weekend, and the extremely hilarious ones I wish I could post on this bad boy but I know she would drive back here to kill me if I did, I have to dedicate this weekend to my best friend, roommate, bedmate, and all time favorite lover. Here is to you! 

This weekend marked my goodbye to a very outgoing and furry headed friend (see pictures below to understand this comment) as she embarks on her journey to Boston for grad school. Trina and I met in my sorority a few years ago. I knew we would be best friend from the moment she invited me to go to the Eminem concert in Detroit with two other girls. Trina didn't know me very well at the time, but she understand my love for rap and inner ghetto self enough to choose me to be the fourth member on this adventure to the D. Fast forward a year or so later where I found Trina moving into my four bedroom apartment (already fully occupied) and weeks later straight into my bed (seeing as there was no room for her to have a bed and sleeping on the couch for weeks was creating back issues). Trina and I soon became inseparable. We had the same class schedule, eating schedule, studying schedule, and since we slept in the same room and bed the exact same sleeping schedule. We also shared a LOVE of Friday Night lights. 

Which brings me to this weekend. Trina came into town Friday night to start off the weekend shenanigans. Our good friend and other sorority sister Kate (who just moved into one of the most fabulous condo right downtown Grand Rapids) allowed for me and Trina to stay with her for the weekend. Friday night rolled around and after hugs and catching up we met up with more sorority sisters and headed to the local comedy club!  

If you know anything about sororities, know that we love to get our pictures taken. Who is the random guy in the picture you might ask? We are not sure, but it did not stop us from taking the photo. Who took the picture? Well thats the funny thing. We walked to the very back of the room (most space and best lighting) and found a random man in a black T-shirt sitting against the wall. He looked like he had nothing better to be doing so we approached him and asked if he would take the picture. He politely did and asked us some questions. Come to find out that he was the main comedian act of the night, Michael Che (check him out on youtube, hilarious!). Unfortunately for us, we became one of the main jokes of the evening, specifically my girl Trina. After many jokes about sororities, large groups of girls, and many other hilarious things he talked about, we were able to thank him again for the group pic and get a pic with Trina and him. 

Saturday morning was filled with lounging and pool action. Kate's condo has a very luxurious pool area. Trina and I felt like we were at a resort! 

We titled this photo "Egyptian Princess" hence the pose and obvious photo op we could not pass up! As much as I would love to bore you with every detail of our pool adventure and hilarious encounters we had through out the day, I will spare you the five minutes of reading and just inform you we once again went out (Trina's last night in GR before Boston). 

not our best work

Since its Trina's weekend, we headed to our favorite hot spot in the city that we went to many of times in college. As we walked in we were reminded of the good ol days and reminisced on the many of nights spent in the local spot. Come to find out this spot was a lot trashier then we remembered. As much as we tried to fit in, tried to dance to the strangest music our ears had ever heard, and watched multiple people grope and grind on each other on the dance floor the realization of growing up sunk in...we had to go...we were to old for a place like this. 

How did our favorite spot end up to be like this? Was is always this trashy? Was the music really this bad and we just never knew? I am going to say no and that it has gotten trashier over the past year and half since our last attendance. Do people really grope and grind like this in public? Yes, and after trying to tear out my eyes by the awful things I was seeing, Trina, Kate, and I decided we needed to head out quick before we caught any type of disease! Luckily for us Kate is  GR socialite and knew exactly the perfect spot to end the night!  

As the night came to a close and we were scared mentally from the sight of the dancers, we headed back to Kate's for a late night snack and bed time. 

Recap this post:
- If you are reading this and you find yourself one of those people who grope and grind on the dance floor. Stop. Its not attractive, classy, and does not make any type of guy worth dating interested in you. I promise. 
- I miss college days
- Kate, I LOVE your home and you are probably the most hospitable person I know. Thanks for a great weekend! 
- Trina, I had the GREATEST weekend I have had in a long time. I am so excited for this great adventure in your life and I can not wait to come visit you in Boston! I could make this sappier but I won't :) 


If you read through all of this, thanks for caring about my girl Trina! She is the best :) 

Memories

The last day of the blog every day in May Challenge and Friday Letters! I wont know what to blog about after this since I will no longer have a prompt! Today's challenge is to blog about a vivid memory. Hmmmm.... 

This one took some digging into some old photos to share with you all. 

I have a ton of memories from joining my sorority! This is a picture of us tailgating before a football game, and yes that is a farm behind us! Grand Valley is located in the middle of cornfields and farms, so at tailgates we often found ourselves admiring the local horses and cows from a distance :) Even though it might not be the best smelling location, I wouldn't change these years for the world! I LOVED my sorority and I LOVED Grand Valley! I wish I could go back and re-live these moments! 

__________
Dear Blonde Hair, your back! I went and got high lights this morning (it has been forever!) and now your back for the summer! 

Dear season finale of Nashville, WOW! You shocked me! I can't wait till the fall and you start back up because I am dying to know what happens to everyone! Great first season, you definitely will be back for more! Dear Erin and Bekah, less than one month away from your weddings! AHH! I am so excited to celebrate with both of you :) Can't wait to see how beautiful you both will be on the big day! Dear week off of work, as much as I loved you, I am so bored! I really don't know what to do when I have nothing to do! I read some books, I still had school, but seriously, i'm bored, back to the grind Monday with summer school! Dear Rachel, I still can't get over how obsessed I am with my new blog lay out! You did such an AMAZING job! I visit my own page all the time now just to look at it :) Thanks again! I am obsessed! 

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Quotes

Blogging everyday in May: Day Four is such an inspiration to me. I LOVE quotes! I have hundreds of them pinned on pinterest, written on facebook, and hanging in my room that it is hard for to decide which ones are my favorite. Reason being is that in different points of my life, each quote or saying held a special place in my heart.

I would have to say this bible verse is my all time-favorite "quote" if you will. It is a representation of my sorority and what we stand for as well as an inspiration to my daily life.

"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres,

Love never fails."

- 1st Corinthians 13:7-8

This bible verse is my absolute favorite because it describes not only a love that many people search for in this world, but most importantly the love Jesus Christ has for his children (us). I can't think of a love that has never failed, and maybe that is because I have never been in love before. However, the love that Jesus has for myself and others never fails. No matter what I do, no matter how bad I have messed up or will mess up, or how sinful I am being, his love never fails. 

Think of it this way, think of someone who has hurt you beyond repair. Someone who has messed up so bad that is almost or is beyond you to forgive them and mend the relationship. Well we do this to God on a daily basis by our sinful nature, yet his love never fails. Imagine looking into the eyes of this person who has hurt you and loving them with your whole heart that no matter what that person did, you love them regardless. 

That my friends is true love, and that is the love Jesus has for all :)

Sunny Days

Finally! The sun has decided to shine and the weather is above 55 degrees! I am currently blogging from my favorite summer spot, my deck! My family was able to set it up yesterday and we enjoyed a nicely grilled steak stuffed with goat cheese :) yummy! 

I also want to share a few blessings the past week! I was able to attend one of my best friends wedding showers :) A family/friends one thrown over the past weekend and a church one thrown during the week! It was so nice to celebrate the upcoming event and I can not wait for the wedding in less than two months! 

I also got to spend time with my greek family! We had a Sigma Kappa reunion this week and was able to spend time with both my littles and my big sis :) It is funny that no matter where life may take me, no matter how long we spend apart, we are able to pick up as if nothing has changed :) I am so blessed to have all of them in my life! 

Have a blessed weekend and take time to enjoy the people around you :) 

Spring!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Insanity results for the week (drum roll please):

After week one I have lost: 1 inch in my bust, 1/2 inch in my waist, and an 1 1/2 in my hips, and a 1 1/2 lbs! One week down, 8 more to go! 

Dear Friday, I am actually sad to see you. It means spring break is over and back to the grind come Monday :( It really hasn't been that much of break seeing as I have three HUGE projects due in two weeks, but its still better then sitting in lectures all week. 

Dear 6th grade students, Only 6 more days left with you!!! I am seriously so sad. Having the all boys class for most of the day (except when I get the all girls class for an hour, and the other mixed gender class for another hour of social studies) makes me realize how much I will miss your stinky sixth grade boy smell, your "funny" pranks, your great stories about your family, friends, and crazy things you did over the weekend, and all your great gifts and pictures you give me on a daily basis :( I seriously might cry when I leave, and I know you will all laugh at me :/ 

Dear Girls Night, I just have to give a shout out to my wonderful friends and family that I have. Tuesday night we had our great family friends over for a girls night with moms, sisters, and friends. It was so fun! Wednesday night I always hang out with one of my greatest friends, Erin, to drink wine, eat food, and catch up on Greys Anatomy, Scandal, and Nashville. I just have to say how much I appreciate your friendship :)  And shout out to your wedding day in less than 3 months!! 

Dear Spring, You are here!!!!!!!!! I literally could jump with excitement because I am assuming that this cold weather is gone for ever! (well until next November). I can't wait to wear shorts, short sleeve shirts, and run outside with out wearing winter gear that weighs 1000000 pounds. 

Dear my Sigma Kappa Littles, I can't believe your are going alumni this weekend! I feel like it was yesterday that I was hiding from you while you were hunting me down to claim me as your big (both of you, just a year apart). Time seriously flies by, but I just want you both to know that I am so proud of the young women you have become and I am so glad I got to share the experience of Sigma Kappa with you both by my side :) P.S. I will always be your big sis, its a lifelong commitment, so you can't get rid of me :) 

 

 
 

Have a great weekend all!