It Girl Trend Report: Favorite Blogger

Blogs inspire us.  They give us a resource for new ideas, a place to share, and an outlet for creativity.  We asked our It Girls to tell us a little bit about their favorite blogs this week (other than The Sorority Secrets, of course!) and are big fans of their selections.  From fashion and style, to the power of positive thinking, these blogs cover a lot of ground.

Victoria's favorite blog, The Man Repeller, is a popular choice.  However, Victoria is a fan for reasons other than simply the blogger's quirky sense of style.  "From the moment I discovered The Man Repeller on Instagram, I noticed her love for literature and writing-- and I fell in love.  I'm an English major who dreams of fashion, and The Man Repeller does an excellent job merging the two together in almost a way of art," Victoria says.  Another fashion blog we love is Rachel's selection, Happily Grey.  Not only can her style pictures be found all over Pinterest (obsessed), but we're also big fans of her artful photo editing techniques.

Similarly, Alyx finds inspiration in The Happiness Project.  "Gretchen Rubin started The Happiness Project, which originated as a book and then became a blog.  It provides wisdom and insights to life.  Every morning, I read this blog as a source of inspiration to enjoy the moment, and to look on the bright side of life," Alyx adds.

What are your favorite blogs, that give you a daily dose of inspiration?

The Little Black Book

Book: The Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships

We have a secret and it's found in a little black book.....With graduations going on and people venturing out into the "big girl" world, Karen wanted to share one of her favorite books that focuses on making rich relationships while networking in the business world. Ever had a little black book? Usually little black books are filled with powerful and secretive contacts and connections. The Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships is your powerful guide to networking and connecting your way to success! The author is one of the country's best sales trainers by the name of Jeffrey Gitomer, and the book is filled with valuable information like:

• how you can climb the ladder without stepping (or crawling) on other people's backs.
• how to earn the respect of a powerful mentor without begging.
• the power of being in the same room with powerful people.
• how to say the right things to the right people in the right circumstances to make the right impression.
• how to maximize your connections so that they benefit from you -- and more important, how you benefit from them.

and so much more!

You really can't put The Little Black Book down! Perfect for a summer read. It is witty and filled with graphics that make the message and content fun and easy to read. If you want to be in on the secrets, check this book out!

They Have Student Discounts?!

We love a good deal!  Simply by being a student, there lots of "secret" deals available from some of our favorite stores.  With a valid student ID, there are so many great discounts that you can take advantage of!  We picked some of our favorite deals above from retail stores.  While out shopping, present your student ID at the register and see if the store offers a student discount.  Hey, it doesn't hurt to ask!  Be sure to always keep your valid student ID card handy, and put it to good use.

Know of any other fabulous student discounts?  Share your secret with us below!

5 Ways to Have a Happier Day!

In the middle of a busy day, it's important to take time to do the little things that make you happy.  We're all for adding some extra happiness into every day!  So, how do you have a happier day?  Check out our top 5 ways to have an extra dose of joy!

1. Instagram.  Share a fun part of your day with your friends!  From a picture of your pet, a cute outfit you're sporting, or your delicious breakfast, there are tons of ways to create a photo opp!  Get creative with a photo filter, or one of the many cool photo apps out there that you're been excited to try.  One of our current favorite apps?  Try out A Beautiful Mess!

2. 10 minutes of exercise.  Go for a walk around your neighborhood, do some yoga stretches, or do a few reps of your favorite exercise- squats anyone?  Charge up those endorphins for some instant happiness!

3. Lunch with a friend.  Taking a little time out of your day to share some laughs with a friend is a sure way to feel happy!  No time for lunch?  Grab coffee at your favorite local coffee house with a friend, or give her a call on the phone to say hi.

4. Pinterest.  Add a little happy inspiration to your day by hopping on Pinterest!  Looking at beautiful photos will add some relaxation time, and a nice little break.  We also love finding motivational quotes on Pinterest.  Check out our Pinterest page for lots of happy inspiration!

5. Give yourself a fresh mani.  Treat yourself to a dose of pretty, and try out a new nail color!  A little bit of pampering will make you feel good, and we always love the look of shiny fresh nails.  Check out the Summer Collection by Essie for some gorgeous new colors!  Hey, you can always Instagram that fresh mani while you're at it.

We hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday!

It Girl Trend Report: Source of Energy!

As busy girls on the go, we're always looking for new energy boosters.  During the long mid-afternoon hours, we're often reaching for a little pick-me-up.  We turned to our It Girls to see what powers them through the day... from caffeine to nutritious snacks, there are lots of options to choose from!

Both Serena & Marisa enjoy our energy boosting staple: iced coffee!  We totally agree, plus iced coffee is a yummy treat on a hot summer day.  Serena adds, "I usually mix it with a half cup to a cup of almond milk.  It's only 40 calories, and I love the subtle nutty flavor!"  Another easy caffeine boost is the ever popular, tried & true Red Bull, as seen in Alyx's pick.

For a natural boost without caffeine, Rachel loves the Suja juice cleanse.  "It gives me the energy I need, tastes great, and nourishes the body," she says.  Organic cold pressed juices such as Suja can be a great source of vitamins & nutrients as well.

As for Victoria, she goes back to basics for a jump start!  "I'm going back to what I've used since middle school to give me energy: apples & almonds," she says.  "Whether I didn't have time for breakfast in the morning, was out playing golf, or just needed a pick me up, I always carried these two in my car," adds Victoria.  Another recent discovery of hers is Shot Bloks by CLIF.  Victoria tells us that, "Shot Bloks restore the sugar and sodium levels in your body to give you energy.  Needless to say, I now keep an apple, almonds, and Shot Bloks in my purse wherever I go!"

What's your go-to energy boost?  With all of the products out there geared towards energy, we're always up for trying new things!

TSS on Instagram! {@thesororitysecrets}

The Sorority Secrets Instagram

If you haven't followed us on Instagram yet, well... you need to!  We love Instagram, our reader's love Instagram, the WORLD loves Instagram!  We typically put our "sneak peek" pics on Instagram first before anything so make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Have a wonderful {3 day} weekend!

The Benefits of Sleeping with an Eye Mask

Breakfast at Tiffany's Eye Mask: Amazon

Who can forget the iconic Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's wearing an adorable eye mask?  Sleeping masks have been around years and years!  Sure it takes a little getting used to but once you do... it really makes a difference in your night of sleep!  

Sleeping masks allow you to sleep in the dark, which gives you a good night's sleep!  There are a ton of people that like to sleep with a night-light on or the TV on but those are the people that can't get a good night of sleep.  If having a night-light or the TV on makes you feel "safe", by wearing a sleeping mask- it will allow you to have a sense of security while still sleeping in the dark!

Getting a good night's sleep is important.  According to the Harvard Women's Health Watch, by getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep it will benefit your memory, weight, safety, mood and immunity! There are so many medicines and pills to help you fall asleep but if you would like to go the natural, inexpensive way- try the sleeping mask first.

Although we want to always look our best and look cute- in this one special case, choose comfy over cute!  The "cute" sleeping masks aren't always the comfiest so make sure to choose whatever is simple.  Most recommend silk material sleep masks over cotton!

What other secrets do you have to get a good night's sleep?