It Girl Trend Report: Summer Vacation

As summer starts to come to a close, we wanted to highlight some of our It Girls favorite summer vacations they took this season. All of our It Girls are college girls excited for the fall semester ahead, but they made sure to take full advantage of their break away from the books. Avery, like our Co Founder, Ali, has a deep love and appreciation for Coronado Island in California. Avery explained that, "It is just NOT summer to me unless I go to Coronado Island in California. I have gone every single summer without fail for the 4th of July since I was a kid. There is just NOTHING better than kicking back at The Del pool, ordering a club sandwhich and people watching until your eyeballs fall out. Coronado is like taking a peak into decades past and I love the simplicity and hospitality of the quaint little town. It's hands down the best".   Victoria decided to keep it local this summer break and had fun exploring her own city, specifically the famous Public Market in downtown Seattle. Victoria shared that,"I love Pike Place (not Pike's; that's how we pick out tourists!!), and whether it is throughout the school year or over break, you can find me there relaxing enjoying the slowed pace of the city, and enjoying fresh vibrant colored flowers, the pier, Great Wheel, and from certain angles, the Space Needle. It's a great escape and an activity I always love to take part in. I can grab coffee at the first Starbucks Coffee, watch flying fish, and wander the shops. No matter what the occasion, if any, I will always grab myself a beautiful bouquet of flowers! Summer trips to Pike Place Market are hands down THE BEST". Cristina wasted no time getting to the beach and enjoyed some time with her family in Cabo, one of Co Founder Karen's favorite vacation spots as well! Cristina said, "I love laying out on the beach and just relaxing!"--sometimes that is all you need, right?!, Allie's favorite vacation spot was all the way on the East Coast. She made additions to her closet by shopping at the original Vineyard Vines on Martha's Vineyard--we love it! Serena is a California girl, but she passed up the California beaches to catch some waves in beautiful Hawaii. Serena swam in the ocean many of the days which was great because she had some pretty beach hair waves to show off while there!

Have you gone anywhere exciting so far this summer? We would love to hear so leave us a comment below!

It Girl Trend Report: My Favorite Sunglasses

We all have those favorite pairs of shades that we always wear in the hot sun. Whether you're at the beach, cruising on the freeway, or taking a stroll around town, your shades are often a style staple and a reflection of you. This week, we asked our It Girls what their favorite sunglasses were and we got exposed to many cool brands to choose from. It was no surprise that half of the girls are obsessed with Ray Bans--we are too! For Victoria, she loves her Ray Bans because "they are very unexpected". "The frame is almost wayfarer style with a fun modern yet old Hollywood twist! The white color attracts attention in the best way! They go with almost anything and never fail to be a fun statement piece for whatever I am wearing". Serena also has a love for the non-traditional Ray Bans as she sports a pretty white-framed Ray Ban style. Serena added, "I picked my white ray bans. I love these because they're an unusual shape so they stand out in a way. Plus, I love how the white looks against my complexion-it accentuates my tan". For Cristina, she opts for the Ray Ban classic aviators which go best with casual outfits. Allie loves her Diane Von Furstenberg sunglasses--we love the square framed lenses that are still trendy right now. 

We don't know about you guys, but as much as we love name brand shades, we always worry about one thing: losing them! Avery understands our fears too and so therefore, one of her major weaknesses is buying cheap pairs of sunglasses that look like the real thing! "My go too cheapy places are Forever 21 (naturally) and Urban Outfitters. I love that I can grab a cute pair, throw them on, and if I lose them, hey, I lose them". Our thoughts exactly! Marisa feels the same way with her cool shades from Nordstrom. "These sunglasses are actually only $10 from Nordstrom in the BP section! They are super cheap and fashionable and I love them".

What are your favorite sunglasses to wear? Let us know by leaving a comment or sharing with us on Instagram: @thesororitysecrets.

It Girl Trend Report: Favorite Summer Sandals

As much as we love boots in the fall and a nice pair of UGGs in the winter, we look forward to hanging those up and giving our feet a breather in some cute summer sandals. There are always so many sandal styles to choose from that we asked our It Girls to share with us their summer go-to sandals for this week's Trend Report. One thing is for sure, wearing sandals is the perfect excuse to show off your fabulous pedicure. Victoria loves to show off her painted toes in her Nine West glitter sandals. As a true sorority girl, crafting and glitter runs in her veins, so when she saw these sandals it was love at first sight. Victoria added,  "They're great paired with a flirty summer dress, or even some casual colored shorts, and what girl isn't a sucker for gold glitter?!" Avery and Marisa prefer to wear sandals that are classic and can go with anything. Avery loves her gold sandals from Francescas by the brand called Report. These sandals are so cute and well priced too which is always a bonus! We laughed when Avery admitted, "My two best friends even had to get them...now we always have to call each other before we go out wearing the same shoes". Marisa goes for the gladiator look with her super fab gold Vincent Camuto sandals that she wears with everything during the summer season since she says, "they match with pretty much any summery color". There are always certain brands you can count on for some awesome pair of sandals. Cristina knows she can never go wrong with sandals from Steve Madden. We just love how trendy Steve Madden sandals are- they really are comfortable, fashionable, and can also go with anything. Serena couldn't decide between Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers for her favorite summer sandals so she chose both! "I love both of these sandals because they're pretty and versatile, they can be dressed up or down depending on the outfit. Plus, they go with almost everything". A little embellishment makes all the difference too, so we absolutely loved Allie's favorite summer sandals pick from Chanel. The cute flower embellishments add a perfect summery touch to your feet.

Got a favorite pair of summer sandals? We want to see it! Hashtag them on Instagram or Twitter with #tssummerlook! Don't have Twitter or Instagram? Then leave a comment or send us your summer sandal secret at secret@thesororitysecrets.com!

It's Independence Day!

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain... happy July 4th everyone!  We hope you have a day filled with lots of patriotic spirit.  Show off that red, white, and blue, and catch a fireworks show later tonight-- that's what we will be doing!  Mention us on Instagram today and show us your American pride, for a chance to be featured in a shoutout.

Have a safe & happy Independence Day TSS readers!

It Girl Trend Report: Summer Sweet Treat

Popsicles, lemonade, and yummy ice cream sandwiches are just some of the sweet summer accents that we look forward to during this time of the year. There is nothing like some sweet summer treats to cool down a hot summer day, so we turned to our It Girl Interns for their favorites. Avery made our mouths watered when she reminded us how good the frozen bananas at Disneyland are! Lucky for her, (and us!) she discovered that you can enjoy this same delicious treat from Trader Joe's called Gone Bananas. Avery said, "It tastes yummy, curbs your chocolate cravings, is ice cold and hey...it's still a fruit so it's sort of a healthy way to go!" Hmm...we're not sure how healthy it is, but we don't mind going with that theory! A classic sweet summer treat that is Cristina's weakness is cookie dough ice cream and we can't blame her because we are guilty of eating it right out of the carton! Cristina isn't the only one who has a love for ice cream; Allie and Victoria love it too!  Victoria chooses to buy it locally at her favorite ice cream shop in Seattle: Molly Moon's. Her favorite flavors to eat there are Honey Lavender or the rich Salted Caramel. While some of our It Girl Interns prefer cold treats, Marisa prefers the delicious snack otherwise known as puppy chow which she loves to easily make with her sorority sisters. Check out the recipe here! Serena also loves to whip up her favorite sweet summer treat which is a smoothie using a pro-biotic rich yogurt drink called Kefir. Serena explained, "By blending Kefir, your favorite fruits, and a little raw Manuka honey, you can have a mouthwatering smoothie that promotes good health with a fraction of the calories!" YUM!

What are some of your favorite sweet summer treats? 

TSS Summer Bucket List 2013

Ever since Karen saw her little sister's Summer Bucket List taped to her wall, it inspired all of us to come up with our own Summer Bucket List! We love the idea of coming up with a list of things we need to accomplish before summer's end because it makes each summer day worthwhile. A Summer Bucket List is a list of things you haven't done that you would like to do before summer ends. For us, our Summer Bucket List mainly consists of things we have done, but have not done in a long time. Sakura is determined to make her way back to Disneyland, Ali is looking forward to taking a mini road trip with friends, and Karen is determined to ride the big, new Ferris wheel in downtown Seattle. Life is just too short, and so is summer so live it up, take chances, and make memories! Make your goal this summer to ACTUALLY do things on your Bucket List.

Summer Home Style

Threshold Pintuck Toss Pillow. Ombre Glass Lamp Base - Gully Gold. Seaside Oasis Collection. Stoneware Canister with Lid.

Summer serves up hot afternoons, sand between your toes, and ice cold lemonade. We are so ready to recreate the summer style in our homes that we got so excited when we recently picked up Target's catalog that debuted collections from their home decor line, Threshold. The catalog featured their spring collection and a taste of their summer collection. This summer, it's all about adding character to your home and everything in the line is inspirational and affordable! We are all about spending on a budget and this collection does just that. Mixing classic pieces with a modern twist or implementing the modern beach-inspired accents seems like the right themes for Summer 2013. Take a classic pillow and add an ombre style and you have the Ombre Glass Lamp Base - Gully Gold. Take a simple coral figure and you have the cutest beach-inspired side table accent. The Threshold Collection doesn't hold back, and neither should your place this summer. Welcome summer into your home by exploring the collection with us!

It Girl Trend Report: Beach Essentials

Since school is (almost) out for everyone, one thing is on our mind... sunshine and summertime!  Pool parties, beach bonfires, and warm nights await us.  Those summer days wouldn't be complete without a few style essentials, to keep us looking cool with the sand between our toes.  We asked our It Girls to tell us all about their favorite beach staples, in this week's trend report.

One of the biggest trends?  Cute swimwear.  We loved Alyx's tribal pattern 2-piece from Karma Loop, and Rachel's black & white striped option is always classic.  Next up is accessories, from sunglasses to hats.  Ray Bans seem to be the It Girl brand of choice- so many cute styles!  Hats, from floppy to straw, offer style as well as sun protection.  Also, leave it to our It Girls to think of something useful, such as an insulated lunch bag.  As Marisa says, "This is one of my favorite beach items to bring with me... they come in all sorts of cute patterns, and they keep food and drinks cold!"  Serena's adorable Lilly Pulitzer bag is also practical, because "the inside (of the tote) is lined with plastic, so getting sand out is easy."

Palm trees, sea breeze... yes please!  Summer is almost upon us, and we can't wait to hit the beach in style.