TSS Favorite Things: October Edition

We're back with our favorite things for this October! We are so thrilled that Fall season has commenced because we are suckers for pumpkin spice lattes, beanies, over the knee boots, and those famous Rom Coms to snuggle up watching. It should be no surprise then why we chose some of our favorite things above! Fringe is 100% a Fall fashion trend so the Rebecca Minkoff Fringe Purse and the Lucky Brand Booties are necessary closet editions. Ever since Solange dawned a cape dress for her wedding, we have been obsessed with that look and found a cute wool one called the Wayf Collarless Woven Cap. Earlier in the month we talked about our love for the best primer ever, so naturally we are keeping Givenchy Mister Mat Matifying Foundation Primer high on our shopping list in addition to Laura Mercier Radiance Primer.

Shop the rest of our faves here

1.  Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag-Black
2.  Women's Jessica Simpson 'Conley' Bootie, 3 1/2" heel
3. Aldo heels/pump37
4. Ugg Slippers (in Sand color)
5. Swell Bottle

Happy October shopping!

What Every Internship Can Teach You

Having an internship during college is really important in so many different aspects!  Of course it can help you get a job after college, but it can really teach you a whole lot- about yourself, the industry you're interested in, and so much more!  We've had our fair share with being an intern and even having an intern, so here's what we have to say about it:

1. What it's REALLY like
We all have our dream job that we dream about and think it's all glitz & glam, but you'll never know what it's REALLY like until you step foot in it.  There's always so much more work that goes into everything that you don't realize until being an intern.  Having an internship can really help you decide whether you want to go into a particular industry after college.

2. Professionalism
Corporate or not, in every internship you'll learn all about being professional.  You probably think you already know what it means to be professional, but once you get comfortable in your environment, that goes out the window.  An internship will really teach you what it means to be professional and how much it matters in your every day life once you graduate from college and real-life becomes a reality!

3. Being punctual is EXTREMELY important
There's no such thing as being late in an internship, because every boss keeps track of how often you're late to the office.  Being punctual isn't just about being late, it shows a lot about someone.  Make sure you're always punctual to everything & anything.

4. Social Media
In our minds, a post is just a post to share to all of our friends/followers, but to your future boss... that's another story.  Companies are now looking at their potential intern/employee's social media as a portfolio or to get a good feel of that person- it's not just to seek out bad behavior, but whether you're really suitable for that job or not.  Think twice about what you post on social media next time!

Easy Last Minute Halloween Looks

[image source 1 & 2]

Halloween is right around the corner! Of course, we are the ultimate procrastinators on costumes, so for our other fellow procrastinators, below are two super easy Halloween looks that you can shop from your own closet or you can easily order online! Links and descriptions are provided below!

Skeleton woman

How to create the look:

Click here for the exact look!

Cat woman

Here's how to create this look:

Black bodysuit
Cat ears
Black knee-high boots

Happy Halloween!

A Sorority Girl's Healthy Halloween Treats

[image: Candy Corn Fruit Cup]

Despite all the goblins, ghosts and ghouls, the spookiest part about Halloween may just be the outrageous amount of sugar and candy we all consume on this one night each year. In fact, 4% of all candy eaten in the U.S. occurs on Halloween night, making the average trick-or-treater’s bag of candy equivalent to 4,800 calories and 3 cups of sugar!

As sorority girls, we know how much staying healthy and fit means to you, so to avoid all the sugar this Halloween while still enjoying your Halloween with your sisters, we are sharing some healthier Halloween treats created by Chef Anthony Stewart.

Bake these at your next Halloween Party or sisterhood event!

Candy Corn Fruit Cup | Healthy Halloween Party Ideas

Excellent for a Halloween party or for a dessert any time of the year. It’s healthy, sweet, tangy, and oh-so-easy to put together.


Servings: 4

Ingredients:

2 cups mango cubes


2 cups clementine segments


2 cups fat-free, plain Greek yogurt


Top with zest of clementine

Chocolate Jack O’Lantern | Healthy Halloween Party Ideas

For spooky, chocolatey fun, carve out oranges and fill with Pritikin’s Chocolate Mousse.


Servings: 5 half-cup servings


Ingredients:

1/4 cup water cold


1/2 cup cocoa powder unsweetened


1/4 cup Splenda granulated


2 teaspoons vanilla extract


12 ounces tofu silken, extra-firm


Instructions:

In a medium saucepan, add water and warm over low heat, bringing to a low simmer.


Add cocoa powder to saucepan, stirring constantly until the mixture becomes a fudge-like consistency.


Remove from heat.


Add Splenda to fudge, mixing well. Add vanilla extract, mixing well.


In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add tofu and chocolate fudge mixture. Process until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Pritikin Halloween Kabobs | Healthy Halloween Party Ideas

How easy! Simply skewer cantaloupe cubes and blackberries. And so easy for the kids to pick up and snack on! (We’re not guaranteeing they’ll forget the sugary treats in their bags, but these colorful kabobs just may do the trick.)

Bye, Bye Makeup

[image source]

Even though we have been doing makeup for ever, we can honestly say that we have no idea when it's time to let go of our favorite makeup products. Is it just us or do you just love your makeup so much that you want to hold onto it forever?! Well, holding onto old makeup forever is no bueno so it's time to tell that makeup "bye, bye"! Psst..here's a little sorority secret: if you want to know when to throw away any of your makeup, be sure to hold onto the original box you got it from. Why? At the back or bottom of the box there is an area that says a number and then months. That is an indication of how long you should hold onto your makeup before it's no good! We know, mind blown!

Save the makeup expiration guide that we personally created above just for you so you never have old makeup in your makeup bag, ever!

Core Values of a Strong Big/Little Relationship

[image source 1,2,3]

You may or may not already have your Big/Little yet, but you'll see that there are those Big & Littles that are extremely close, and there are those that aren't after a month- well, there's a reason for that. Big/Little relationships are like a real relationship- it takes dedication, effort, and communication!  If you're about to get your Big/Little or if you already have yours, it's never too late to start working on it. Your Big/Little can really change your college & sorority life experience in a positive way, so put all the effort and build a strong relationship!

Through our experience, we wanted to provide you with some important core values of a strong Big/Little relationship to follow!

1. Be Approachable
This applies to everything and anything.  We're not telling you guys to be BFFs, but always be each other's go-tos for everything!  Whether you need someone to go get fro-yo with or you need some help/guidance, it's always great to make yourself approachable to one another.

2. No Hierarchy, Bigs!
We see a lot of ups & downs when Bigs' feel entitled to things!  It's always good to respect one another and treat each other equally- those are the ones that last the longest :)

3. Make Each Other Feel Included
It's important to always make one another feel included in whatever it is that you are doing.  If it's a birthday trip, invite your Big/Little! If you're getting together before a date dash, invite her to come over! Whatever it is, it's always nice to make one another feel included so the relationship stays strong and no one feels left out!

4. Be each other's #1 FAN!
Be proud to be one another's Big/Little!  Always be each other's #1 fan and cheer each other on everything.

These are 4 important core values that every strong Big/Little relationship has.  What are some other things that you can think of?

5 Yoga Workouts For Beginners

[image source]

We just love yoga! It is so calming and relaxing and really helps us to get centered. We are total beginners and really wanted to get some yoga beginners basics so we reached out to Kelsey Lawrence, Arizona Yoga Instructor and an Alpha Chi Omega Alumnae, to show us the ropes. Kelsey shares just how to do each beginner's yoga workout. Whether it's doing yoga at a studio, on the beach, or in the comfort of your home, you can take yoga just about anywhere with these easy workouts. Thanks for sharing, Kelsey!

Cat Cow (Chakravakasana)

1. Begin in tabletop position, hands under shoulders and knees under hips. 
2. Inhale and arch your back. Leading forward with your heart (not your head), shoulders on your back and chin tucked. Press down through your hands and feel your heart opening. Keep your shoulders relaxed, opened, and broadened. 
3. Exhale and round your back like a cat. Tucking your chin in towards your chest and exhaling all of the air out of your lungs. 
4. Repeat 5 times on your breath. 

This pose is extremely beneficial for back pain. It moves your hips and spine and squeezes out the kidneys. When leading with your heart, feel the expansiveness and opening of new possibilities!

Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

1. Begin in tabletop position. 
2. It is important in this pose to angle your hands in the right angle in order to protect your shoulders. 
3. On your mat, widen your arms to where your pinky fingers are touching the edge of the mat. Make sure your pointer fingers are pointing forward. 
4. On your next exhale tuck your toes and push back, raising your seat into the air with your feet hip distance apart. Push back through your hips while being mindful not to hyper-extend your straight arms. 
5. Try and turn your shoulders out ward. 
6. Ground your heals into your mat and if not, bending the knees is a beautiful way to practice this pose, especially if you have tight hamstrings. 
7. It allows pressure to be taken off the hamstrings and lower back and you are able to sink deeper into the posture. 
8. Breath here for 5 breath’s. Long inhale and extended exhale. 

This pose relives stiffness in the heels, strengths ankles and legs. The abdominal muscles are drawn towards the spine and the head relaxes and drops down, allowing the heart rate to slow. This is a very exhilarating pose and brings energy to your body. If you are feeling tired or groggy during the day, drop everything and get into down ward dog or some sort of inversion. The energizing benefits from this asana help to sustain energy and is much more valuable to your health compared to sugary energy drinks.

Warrior B (Virabhadrasana B)

1. Begin by standing on your mat; exhale and step your left leg behind you about 4 feet. Have your right toes facing forward and your left back foot angled about 45 degrees. 
2. Bend into your right leg; keep your knee over your ankle and breath. 
3. The outside of your back foot should be pressed into the floor and feel grounded. 
4. Feel the strength of your legs and the beautiful earth supporting you. 
5. Engage your abdomen, tuck the sacrum down, and try keeping the right knee over the ankle, not letting it dip inward or outward. 
6. Breathe here as long as you feel comfortable or for 3 breaths keeping your gaze at your right hand. 
7. Straighten your right leg; bring your left to meet the right and switch sides! 

This is a very powerful pose. You are toning your quads and hamstrings as well as your core. It also prepares you for other challenging yoga poses. Mentally focus on the path you want to be on. Find strength in grounding in the earth and that energy will guide you. A beautiful mantra for this pose might be: There is no path to peace, peace is the path.

Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

1. Begin on your back. Tuck your chin a little into your chest and breath. 
2. Tuck your pelvis under and bring the insides of your feet together and slowly move your legs closer to your body until you feel a stretch in your hips. 
3. Rest your arms beside you palms up to receive energy. 
4. Your legs will look like they are in the shape of a butterfly. If the sensation is too much, you can place a blanket under each of your knees for support. 
5. Lie here and breathe into your hips for 5 deep breaths. 

Hip openers are so important because we hold so much of our tension in our hips. There are issues in our tissues! When you consciously focus on expanding into that tight area you are not only stretching the fascia you are consciously letting go of anxiety, and who doesn’t want that!! Focus on your breath in this pose and if it hurts you can always back out of it. However, I challenge you to breath through the pain and notice how quickly it subsides and how good it feels.

Childs Pose (Balasana)

1. Time to rest. Begin in tabletop position. 
2. Bring feet together and widen your knees open so that you are able to bring your buttocks towards your feet. Exhale and slowly rest your torso over your thighs so your forehead touches the mat. 
3. Extend your arms forward and breath. Another variation for this pose is to keep your arms bent or relax them next to you on your sides. 
4. Close your eyes and lengthen your breath for a deeper form of relaxation. 
5. Breathe here for 5 breaths and enjoy the stretch into the back of the torso 

This pose helps relieve stress and anxiety, as well as helps with dizziness and fatigue. Flexes the body’s internal organs and keeps them supple, and lengthens and stretches the spine. It normalizes circulation throughout the body and calms the body and mind.


Enjoy these poses and I hope they bring you peace, love and beauty to your life.


Namaste