4 Travel Tips Every Wanderlust Should Know!

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The famous quote by J.R.R. Tolkien reads, “Not all those who wander are lost.” We travel to explore, to experience, and to feel what others across the world are feeling. Many of us travel to find ourselves. Therefore, it makes sense for us to travel while we are young, before we have definite opinions on the world and on ourselves. So many people have told me that their best decision was to study abroad, and their biggest regret was not doing so. But if you don’t have a whole semester to dedicate to such a mission, why not take a couple months to do so? As a graduation present to myself, I am backpacking through Europe with a few of my Gamma Phi Beta sisters, and have found that preparation for it can be quite the handful! Here are some tips and tools to help the young traveler prepare for their journey!

• Travel Websites
• Travel websites are a great place to begin planning your trip! Statravel.com is  one such website. STA offers everything from discounted rates on flights, to travel insurance. They also have pre-planned trips and access to a student passport, which can help when you are abroad. Another great site to look at is efcollegetrips.com. EF offers a section of the website in which you can select a city and view that city’s profile. This includes guides to the weather, sites, food, nightlife, etc. It’s important to look at the reviews of hostels and hotels to make sure they are safe enough to stay at.
• The "Rail"
• Rails services such as Eurail, BritRail, and Japan Rail are a great way to backpack! Rather than taking unknown busses and flights, you are able to pre-plan your trip. You can see the departure dates and times, and have the option of paying for just a certain number of travel days or an unlimited number of days during a specific frame of time. Not to mention you can feel safe knowing you will be riding along other student travelers as well.
• Travel Light!
• When backpacking make sure to only take the essentials, this will keep you from having a heavier load than necessary. On top of this, it is easier to have items stolen if you can’t keep track of them all. Many people suggest also keeping valuables and cash in a hidden place. A great way for women to keep their cash safe is by creating a money pocket in your bras – there’s no way a pick-pocketer is getting in there! Another helpful hint is to stuff your shoes. By placing smaller clothing, such as undergarments or socks, in your shoes, you will be saving space in your backpack or luggage.
• Travel with a Friend! 
• The best way to ensure you are staying safe is to have a companion. Travel with someone you trust and know will be responsible. Sorority sisters can make the best travel companions!

Wherever you may go, make the best of your experience! See the world, take risks, and be open to all different cultures. You never know what you will learn about the world. Happy travels!

Bring You Can Sit With Us To Your School

In lieu of the ten year anniversary of Mean Girls, we are reminded of how harmful the phrase You CAN'T SIT WITH US is. This type of bullying mentality is what is hurting our youth, especially young girls. As you remember, in December of 2013, we launched our anti-bullying campaign, You CAN Sit With Us and we have been overwhelmed with the positive reaction and support we have received from many of you. From buying the tanks to our first school/sorority bringing it to their campus, we are confident that this campaign will hit home for many and drive change.

So, how can you bring You Can Sit With Us to your school?

First, email us for the official You Can Sit With Us pledge. Signing your name toward a cause is one of the biggest ways you can make an impact.

Second, spread the campaign phrase, "You Can Sit With Us" in your behavior and your attitude. Invite someone you wouldn't typically sit with to join you for lunch. Talk to someone who you wouldn't typically feel compelled to talk to. Extend a helping hand when it is needed.

Though not mandatory, wearing a You Can Sit With Us tank to spread the message is one of the quickest ways to drive curiosity while making a huge statement. To order a shirt visit this site and to learn about bulk orders please email us at info@thesororitysecrets.com

We encourage you to be the change. Check out our video for more inspiration on this campaign and feel free to share it with friends and family.

Using Your iPhone To Stay Safe

Photo Credit

Your iPhone Can Keep You Safe from Instrument Yielding Bandits by Rose, Security Gem

All criminals are dirty looking drug addicts right?   I wish.  I wish they were that easy to spot but a quick search of news on college break-ins will show that most robbers are RAs, football players, basketball players, cross country team members, and indy musicians.  The criminals are the guys next door or rather the guy next door who is also really drunk….  The truth is that we make so many friends in college that they become our family.  All of a sudden our friend’s friends and our friend’s friend’s friends are our friends and our doors are open for everyone but I’m here to remind you to lock the door.  Going to the bathroom?  Lock your door.  Going to your neighbor’s room?  Lock your door.  

My Phone, My Guardian

The good news is that technology has made home security accessible and affordable for everybody and most of it can be controlled via an iPhone or Android device as I mentioned in Campus Security 101: 5 Tips To Keep You Safe.  Oh you know the iPhone….the constant companion, cure for nostalgia, study partner, match maker, navigator, and bodyguard.  Yes, your iPhone can be a bodyguard via the use of apps which can even turn your phone into a video surveillance system.  Don’t you dare be intimidated as I promise that you don’t have to be tech savvy at all to do any of these things.  If you can download Instagram you are qualified to turn your iPhone into a safety device.  One of the simplest ways is to simply download a personal safety app.  BSafe is one personal safety application.  They focus on turning your phone into a GPS based panic button.   Using the app, you can program your phone to automatically notify your family, 911, or your friends of your exact location with the push of a button. It can also be setup to “fake call you” which could be rather handy during a bad first date.  BSafe offers a free basic version of their service or you can pay $20 a year for premium service.  Another popular app is called Watch Over Me.  Watch Over Me allows you to create your own safety rule tied to a specific amount of time.  For example, you might set it before you walk home alone from class at night to alert your friends if you don’t make it within 15 minutes.  Finally, you might want to take a look at OnWatch.  Like the other apps OnWatch allows you to preset emergency contacts for a one button dial.  You can connect it to your local 911, campus security, or even friends.  

Video Surveillance

Apps are great for keeping us safe when we are out but you can’t ignore in-home safety either.  Most burglaries on campus are executed by opportunists.  That means they wait until Spring Break, Thanksgiving, or even Winter Break/Summer Break to strike.  If you have video surveillance you could simply access your video system directly from an app on your iPhone or Android device to check-in on your home no matter where you are.  What’s even better is that most systems will alert you if a window is opened or movement is detected by calling and sending you a text message.  Traditionally you had to own a home to have a security system but new school technology companies have banned contracts, monthly fees, and drilling which means that anyone can install a system. 

There are several new school technology companies that were all started via crowdfunding.  Many of the new technologies are set to launch soon like Piper, Canary and Scout.  One crowdfunded project that is already launched is called iSmartAlarm.  Their video surveillance package is $349 which is cheaper than an Xbox One.  Piper, Canary, and Scout are all pre-selling but should also be in the $200-$400 range depending on what you buy.  No matter what you choose just be sure to get video surveillance!  It would be a scary experience to receive a text alert notifying you of a problem if you couldn’t actually “see” what was going on inside of your home.  

With all that said I hope you remember one thing: lock your doors always.  

5 Heels That Will Pump Up Your Summer

I think it’s safe to say that shoes make the outfit. Step into Summer on the right foot this year with these five must-haves in your closet.

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Nude is the new ‘it’ color! Dress it up or dress it down, nude will be your best friend. A classic nude pump will be your most versatile heel in your closet so invest in a comfy pair!

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Colored wedges are great to adding a pop of color to any outfit. Wedges are great with sundresses, or cuffed jeans and can easily transition you from day to night. 

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The ankle-strap heels are the new "pumps".  They have the classic look that will go 
with everything and anything!

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Strappy heels look great with jeans and can really revolutionize a basic outfit to a ultra-trendy and sexy outfit.

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Not wanting to strut in tall heels for the day? Invest in a neutral pair of casual booties for your everyday wear.

Flaunting Off In The Flaunt Shop

Sakura: Polka Dots and Bows Bikini, Karen: High Waist Bow Bikini, Ali: Yacht Club Bikini

Finding the perfect bathing suit can sometimes be pretty difficult. The pattern has to fit your style, the cut of the suit should flatter your body and the material should feel comfortable. The Flaunt Shop was our happy solution. We first heard about The Flaunt Shop from one of our It Girls because they had a clothing line that she adored. When we came across The Flaunt Shop and discovered that they had a swimsuit line we were immediately impressed by their selections (we have a thing for the nautical look if you haven't already discovered, haha!). There is truly a style fit for anyone. From sexy cuts to girly patterns you can find a bathing suit that suits your taste. Each of us are different heights and sizes so we wondered how our bathing suits that we ordered would fit. Across the  board we were really satisfied with each of our suits. The bottoms fit securely, not exposing our behinds too much. The tops came with straps so if the bandeau look wasn't fitting we could adjust. Our favorite part of our suits from The Flaunt Shop was the material. It is so comfortable that we wouldn't mind falling asleep in it at the pool or on the beach! It's not everyday that you find such an All-Star selection of bathing suits at a reasonable price. Luckily, you can start shopping for The Flaunt Shop bathing suits now since summer is around the corner!

Getting Glam {with The Stylist LA}

Dress: Caletto Maxi. Earrings: Forever 21 (old) similar here. Lips: Makeup Forever: Aqua Rouge. Photography: Nikki Closser Photography

Every girl should take glam photos at some point in her life, right?! These were Karen's thoughts exactly as she brainstormed ways to make turning 26 years old memorable. After finding a fabulous photographer in the Seattle area, next came finding the perfect outfits. Karen wasted no time browsing The Stylist LA's closet for some super trendy, photo perfect looks. The Stylist LA is just like your best friend's closet. You can pick up a nice outfit to wear for a day, and then return it! Taking glam photos in dresses that are gorge and you didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars on them for one simple picture is well worth the money if you ask us. Karen opted for a sleek, chic, and sexy look in the Caletto Maxi in black. We love how she paired it with red hot lips from Makeup Forever to go with the glam look. 

You just can't go wrong getting glam with The Stylist LA!

Spring Style with ModCloth

 Watch | Sunglasses | Vintage Swimwear Book | One Simple Change Book

Wedges | Hat | Phone Case | Bag | Flats

There's nothing better than Spring- it's sunny, warm, and it's almost Summer!  If you haven't been over to ModCloth, you're really missing out!  ModCloth has everything from the cutest dresses to the cutest tech accessories!  ModCloth has such a unique, cute, and classy style that it just fit The Sorority Secret's style to a T!  We picked out our favorite pink floral dress from ModCloth and dressed it up (or down) with some of their fun accessories on their site! 

We thought it would be fun to have a pop of color here and there, so we added the fun bright Tiffany blue sunglasses and the bright yellow "Hello Sunshine" phone case!  And of course as the sun gets warmer, every girl needs the perfect sun hat so we added our favorite tan sun hat!  Depending on the occasion, you either dress it up with a pair of wedges or cute strappy flats.  

Check out all of their other dresses and accessories over at ModCloth!