5 Must-Have Planners for 2016

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Wow, 2015 flew by didn't it?! It's time to get ready for 2016, and as you all probably have picked up, we are obsessed with starting the year off with a planner. Of course, if you're going to lug your calendar around, you might as well carry it around in style. Target never fails with their super cute planners like this one from Sugar Paper. We like it because the planner is pretty big allowing us to write a lot into each day of the week. This one from Anthropologie is one of the best too because it is filled with inspirational words to get you through the year. Whichever planner you choose, make sure it is something you would enjoy looking at all year long!

A Sorority Girl's Back-To-School Shopping List

For many of you, it's time for some back-to-school shopping. If you're anything like us, we enjoy having a starting point to reference what exactly to buy so that's why having a list is essential. Above, you will find a real life checklist that you can print out and take to the store. Online shopping is huge and super convenient so we have provided you clickable links of every day things we needed as sorority women below.

Here are some great products to help you in your back-to-school shopping! Many of them you can order and pay online but pick up in their store:

Cute notebooks (Lilly Pullitzer and Erin Condren are our faves!)
Tease comb
Hamper
Cute and comfy bras
Scent plug ins for dorm
Picture frames
Mason jars (for pencils and pens)
Portable, plastic drawers for little accessories
Jewelry box
Bike
Shelving (wire shelving can create a lot of space in your dorm!)
Comforter (this shabby chic one is too cute!)
Pillows (add some accent decorative pillows too)
Luggage
Perfume
Paint
TV
Window curtains
Cute pictures 
Custom apparel
Wall decals
Pens & pencils
Hairspray
Makeup
Shower head caddy
Yoga mat
Cute undies (Hanky Panky's are the best!)
Every day essentials (i.e: toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, etc.)

Dorm Room Decor

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Decorating your dorm room is probably the highlight of every college girl, sorority girl or not! If you're obsessive like we were, then you're probably not ashamed to admit that you probably started a Pinterest board of all of your must-have dorm room decor items. We are a sucker for Target because they have the absolute best, most trendy affordable room decor. How cute is this chevron rug they have available? It is the perfect focal point for your dorm room and you can contrast it with bold bright colored wall art like this fun yarn art from Nordstrom. Speaking of Nordstrom, they have an awesome home decor section! We have pulled some of our favorite home decor pieces for you to shop so find them above. Good luck!

A Girl's Guide To Living With a Guy

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At some point in your life or relationship you might find yourself living with a guy. It's definitely a big adjustment since living on your own means you've taken advantage of all of your living space for all of your stuff. Living with another person, male or not, means making some sacrifices. We decided to come up with a list of things you can do to make living with a guy a little bit easier.

1. Clean out your closet. It's time to donate half of your wardrobe, girlfriend! We know, we know, having the same shirt in 10 different colors is so necessary, but not if it means that it will take up more space in the closet that you'll be sharing with the boy moving in. Consider this an act of charity as you can send your clothes in as a donation and attempt to write it off in your taxes. Guys need closet space too.
2. Put things in storage. If you have storage or can afford to pay for storage monthly, free up space by putting your big items that you don't need immediate access to into a storage unit. This will make parting with your things easier because instead of throwing the items away or donating them, you're putting them into a different space. This portable closet is also great for you to have in your storage for clothes and shoes that you don't need access to for a third or half of the year!
3. Buy shelving at Target or IKEA. Target and IKEA have great accessories to help you keep your things organized separately. Consider shelving, shoe racks, and drawers that can allow for great separation of each person's items. One shelf can be your stuff, the other his. Here is a link to one of our favorite bathroom shelves from Target: Home Bathroom Space Saver. Here is another link to great fabric storage cubes you can use for separating your stuff on shelves: Fabric Cubes. 
4. Consider neutral color shades. We don't know many men willing to live in a pink themed bathroom or with a pink and leopard living room theme (haha) so consider neutral shades in those common areas. Again, Target is the best place to find some earthy and neutral tones for just about any home accessory. 
5. Practice patience. When he leaves the toilet seat cover up--be patient. If you find pee on the toilet seat--be patient. If he squeezes toothpaste from the middle of the toothpaste bottle (don't you hate when people do that?!)--be patient. Bottom line is, change and adapting to people's preferences takes time. Just consider that you have spent x amount of years evolving into who you are and they have spent x amount of time evolving into who they are. When you both come together, there are going to be many things you'll have to compromise to make living together effective.

Good luck!!

5 Cute & Easy Ways to Gift Wrap this Holiday

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We still cannot believe that all of the upcoming December holidays are around the corner! That means it is time to brush up on our gift wrapping skills. Gift wrapping doesn't have to be limited to pretty pre designed wrapping paper like the ones you find at the Dollar Tree, Target, or Walmart. Get creative this year using things around your home like cardboard boxes, feathers, tulle, ribbon, scrapbook paper, and the list goes on! Paper Source and Michael's are our absolute favorite places to shop for unique paper and craft items. Above we have chosen some of our favorite gift wrapping looks. Try them out and show us your best gift wrapping looks by hashtagging #TSSGiftWrapping.

Now, get to wrapping those gifts!

P.s. If you REALLY can't wrap if you're life depended on it, many malls and department stores offer complimentary or with donation gift wrapping.

Back to School with Target x BRITA *Giveaway Ended*

   

Back To School Shopping with Target x Brita from The Sorority Secrets on Vimeo.
*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Brita, however, all views and opinions are solely that of The Sorority Secrets.

With the new semester coming up fast and recruitment being around the corner for many of you,  we wanted to help you with your back to school shopping spree that you're about to embark on by sharing some cool and helpful items. You can mark these items off of your checklist in this stressful time! We worked with BRITA to go on a shopping spree at Target to purchase the below Back-To-School items. These items are must-haves and will make living on campus so much easier!

1. Brita Space Saver (6 cups)

We love everything about the Brita Space Saver. You can get great-tasting tap water anytime with the Brita Space Saver. The Brita Space Saver is made to fit efficiently into small spaces--perfect for your dorm room! You can maximize your refrigerator or counter space with this BPA-free pitcher while still enjoying 6 cups of cleaner water before your next refill. This pitcher features a round carafe design with an electronic filter indicator to let you know when it's time to change the filter. The flip-top lid and comfort grip handle make filling and pouring easy. 

   2.    Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

Keeping your small dorm space nice and tidy amidst writing school papers, studying for exams, and hanging out with friends is tough to balance. Luckily, keeping your container spaces clean is as easy as swiping with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. This was one of our favorite items when living on campus and really helped to clean up stains here and there. 

  3.      Glad Food Storage Containers

Pulling all-nighters or having back-to-back classes throughout the week can leave you really hungry. If you are anything like us, we got super busy during school that often times we would forget to eat! That's why getting your hands on some Glad Food Storage Containers is so essential because you can pack your meals. If nothing else, you can consolidate space by storing your food in the containers.

 4.      Brita Hard-Sided Water Bottle (23.7 oz.)

Going to school in the desert {Go SUNDEVILS} meant we had to always stay hydrated by drinking water. Walking from class to class or simply working out can really break a sweat so it's really smart to invest in a water bottle like the Brita Hard-Sided Water Bottle. Similar to the Brita Space Saver it helps to filter the water so that you're consuming fresh water.

 5.     Glad Trash Bags

It's all about being proactive when it comes to keeping a clean dorm space. That means keeping trash bags like the Glad Trash Bags handy. With as many visitors and events we had in our living space, we found ourselves always piling up trash. Rather than having the trash all over, actively dumping it into our Glad Trash Bags just made the place look less messy and clustered.

Lucky for one reader, we are going to help you check off some of these items from your back-to-school checklist by offering (1) $25 Target gift card. To enter, simply mention below the first thing you would buy from our list above. A winner will be chosen at random on Friday, August 22nd. 

Good luck!

P.S. Remember, all BRITA items are available at Target!

Bananas for Banana Leaves

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We have a pattern crush on banana leaves!  The classic design-- originating from the 1940's-- is having a trendy moment this summer, and it's prettier than ever.  The tropical print looks fresh on everything from phone cases, to stationery, to bikinis.  The bikini is a total steal, found at Target!  Co-Founder Ali couldn't wait to get her hands on the iPhone case, and even showed it off on our Instagram the other day.

Banana leaf prints look great when styled simply; pair it with black, white, or tan/nude shades.  Or, take inspiration from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel (where the walls are decorated with wallpaper in the pattern), and pair your print with a shade of light pink!  You can also add a taste of the trend to your home, with pillows in the print from Kate Spade.

We're totally bananas for banana leaves.  What's your favorite print for summer?

Your Answer To Ironing Without Ironing

Shark Garment Care Steamer

For those of you who live in a small dorm or sorority house or simply don’t like to iron, we have the ultimate solution to your ironing problems: the Shark Garment Care Steamer.

Karen has had this bad boy for years and swears by it. Skeptical, we asked her to demonstrate how this handheld steamer works and well, we were super impressed. Karen brought out her wrinkliest top and clipped it onto the steamer mat that came with the handheld steamer. After filling the handheld steamer with water to the max, Karen pumped on the steamer and pressed it against the top…and that’s when the magic happened. In just a few minutes the top was wrinkle free! The steamer works on any material and can be nicely tucked away in your storage or closet unlike those super tall steamers you’re probably used to or your huge ironing board and iron that take up a whole closet.  If you want to save time making your clothes crisp and neat, this is a great investment! You can pick this steamer up at any Target.

Happy Steaming! 

{Giveaway-Ended} $25 Target Gift Card + GE Reveal Light Bulbs

Earlier this month we shared with you our experience using the GE Reveal light bulb from Target. It was definitely a quick and easy way to makeover our homes for the New Year because switching our light bulbs to the GE reveal light bulb made for a clean beautiful light that made the colors of any room in our home pop. GE Reveal light bulbs provide amazing clean full spectrum light that filters out the dull yellows of standard incandescent light bulbs.

Watch this fun and stylish video featuring four hip tastemakers discussing the importance of good lighting and how quick and easy it is to do a reveal lighting makeover.

You can find a current discount on Cartwheel for 25% off reveal by searching for “GE reveal”.  Offer expires 2/28.  GE reveal light bulbs are now available at Target where all makeover needs can be purchased in one swoop and with great savings using Target's Cartwheel savings app. With the Cartwheel app, you can browse for savings ahead of shopping or while at Target, you can scan the barcode of any product to see if there is a Cartwheel saving.  Download the Target Cartwheel app on your IOS or Android.

Ok, GIVEAWAY TIME!

We have a great opportunity for you to win this makeover experience. You can enter to win a $25 Target giftcard + GE reveal® light bulbs + a free download of the Herbert Bail Orchestra EP (first track featured in GE Lighting video). See below for the giveaway details and be sure to read our contest/giveaway disclaimer before entering.

Share to Enter:

1. Must be U.S. resident
2. Share this blog post from our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thesororitysecrets) and comment below
1. Tell us which room you'd like to makeover
2. Hashtag #GEreveal + #Targetgiftcard

Example: If I win #GEreveal bulbs + #Target giftcard, I'll makeover my _____ with reveal’s beautiful clean light!

The giveaway ends on 2/28, 11:59 PST.

* GE and Target are only providing the product and not running the giveaway.

All Things Pink & Red!

[Beanie] [Sunglasses] [Clutch] [Heels] [Plate] [Book] [Cookie Jar] [Sweater] [Candles] [Necklace]

Love is in the air! Check out some of our favorite red & pink items that are currently trending right now! Some of them are even less than $10!   We're currently obsessing over the adorable chalkboard cookie jars that are from Target.  It's adorable, handy, and you can use it all year long.  Check them out!

Happy Shopping!

Light Up Your Place {Target + GE Reveal Light Bulb Room Makeover}

We have been going through so many remodels from our homes to our offices. As much as decorations are a big deal in transforming your space, so is the lighting in your place. That is why it could not have been more perfect timing for Target to share with us one of their awesome lighting options: the GE Reveal Bulb. As Bloggers, we are HUGE fans of natural lighting. The yellow lighting that a lot of bulbs give off doesn't really translate well in those infamous selfies you see us posting from time to time--haha! That is why we instantly loved the GE Reveal Bulbs because it allows for more natural lighting inside. We did 'Before & After' pictures of the lighting in each of our rooms just to show you how cool these light bulbs really are. Check out our pictures below! BONUS: If you like our results, check out Target’s Cartwheel app for 25% off GE reveal light bulbs. Just search “GE reveal” to find it. Offer expires 2/28. (Download Cartwheel on your IOS or Android.) Cartwheel offers instant Target savings at the tip of your finger! P.S. We just might be doing a giveaway on these awesome light bulbs…stay tuned!

Karen: "Before I put in my GE Reveal bulb the lighting in my place was pretty yellow. When I replaced it with the GE Reveal bulb, you could instantly see a difference: the lighting was much more natural!"

Ali: "You can tell that the GE Reveal bulb is less yellow, more like the natural light coming through the window. Brighter and more vibrant for sure!"

Sakura: "We just moved into a new office space in Scottsdale so this light fixture you see pictured was empty when we got there. As soon as we placed the GE Reveal bulbs into the light fixture, the natural light glow matched the natural lighting outside--just perfect!" 

*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by GE Lighting, however, all views and opinions are solely that of The Sorority Secrets.

DIY Holiday Cards

Whether you’re in college, have a family, or you’re going off on vacation/staying home for the holidays, sending a holiday card is a fun, creative, and inexpensive way to get in touch with people during the jolly season and fill them in on your year.

Every year since middle school, I’ve taken on the challenge of writing and sending my family’s Christmas letter (what can I say, I love to write!) Coming from such a small town, it is tradition in the community for each family to write letters about their year and to send them off to all the other friends and families. For this reason, I’ve seen a full spectrum of the possibilities for Christmas/holiday cards, and they’re just as much fun to create as they are to give out! There are also many options out there for card giving, just make sure you’re starting early enough to get them out before the holidays!

The Letter:

This is what my family does every year, sometimes with a card, and on busier years just the letter. If there are a lot of individuals behind the sending of the card, it’s a fantastic way to make every person seem just as important. It gives the receiver an idea of what each person has been up to. A really fun way to do the letter is to make a cute header and play with fonts and colors. I generally create a letterhead on publisher or Photoshop, and place it into the document. With some sophisticated ivory cardstock, print your letters off for a look that makes it seem you’ve had the letter custom designed!

The Card:

This is one of the best ways for someone living on their own, or in college, to send off Christmas/holiday cards to their friends away at other schools, or to friends they see on a regular basis. Plus, it’s a really unexpected touch. This year, I’ll be doing this in addition to my family’s Christmas letter, so everyone back home can know what I’m up to, but my friends can have something a little more, well, me! As I’m sure I’ve said before, cute stationary is one of my weaknesses, and I’ve found some adorable  holiday designs at places like TJ Maxx, Target, and The Paper Source; the hardest part is deciding which I like best!

The Photo Greeting:

I mentioned earlier, that it’s still super easy to make something last minute to send out even if you’re not going to be home for the holidays. Although something detailed and prepared early on is really intimate to receive, a fun option that has become more popular is the printed out picture. Many families have started doing this on their busier years, and a lot of places have great templates for you to choose from. You can even choose the message you want to be on the card, so it gives the picture a more personal feel. You can get these done at so many places, some of my favorites are minted.com, shutterfly.com, and peartreegreetings.com. They have fantastic selections, I almost caved in and did that instead!

Overall, it’s the season to go out of your way; to be festive, happy, and care for others by reaching out and wishing them the best. Giving holiday cards is a traditional but timeless way to do this, and it’s one of my most favorite parts about the holidays. With that, Happy Holidays to you all, may your hearts be merry and light this season.

Jollily yours,

Top 12 Best Back to School Home Decor Stores

Picture taken from: Home Goods

Back to school doesn't just mean new clothes and new school supplies, it also means a new room look! Moving into a dorm or settling into a new apartment with your friends/sisters is an exciting experience and we remember those days like it was yesterday. Nothing was more fun than deciding how to decorate our rooms, so we thought we would compile a list of our go-to home decor stores that are super trendy and budget friendly. If you're big on fun home accessories, then ROSS, TJ Maxx, and Marshall's Home Goods store are the perfect places for fine pieces like eccentric table figurines, lamps, and art work. For generous bedding selections JC Penney, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target are our definite first stops. We have a recent obsession, however, with Kohl's Lauren Conrad Bedding! Think vintage meets girl next door--you'll love it! It is no surprise that IKEA is our favorite furniture store. Whether you need furniture for your living room or bedroom, IKEA has just what you need right down to your silverware (just be prepared to be exhausted...they have multiple levels and selections for days!). IKEA is not the only credible furniture store; Karen has had a lot of luck at Ashley Furniture. They ship to almost anywhere and have a pretty large selection, especially affordable mattresses. If you're on a tighter budget, check out Big Lots for cheaper, yet reasonable every day furniture. For our full list of our favorite home decor stores, check it out below!

1. Target
2. Big Lots
3. Ashley Furniture
4. Ross
5. TJ Maxx
6. JC Penney
7. Bed Bath & Beyond
8. IKEA
9. Home Goods
10. Kohls
11. Dania
12. Walmart

Which one of these is your favorite back-to-school home decor store? Do you have any other home decor stores that didn't make our list? Let us know by leaving a comment below or emailing us at secret@thesororitysecrets.com!

{Special Interview} Miss Sarah Belle tells us all about Vlogging!

When TSS came across fashion & beauty vlogger Sarahbelle93x, we fell in love with her sweet and preppy sense of style.  She mixes cute fashion finds everywhere from Target to J. Crew, and her beauty tutorials are fabulously easy to follow.  A self-proclaimed nail polish addict, Lilly Pulitzer lover, and Blair Waldorf fan, she's a girl after our own hearts.  Sarah infuses her spunky and bubbly personality into everything she does, making her vlogs a pure delight to watch.  With over 230,000 YouTube subscribers, Sarah is nothing short of a vlogging sensation!  To top it all off, this 20-year-old southern belle is a Kappa Delta... full of KD pride!

We had a million questions to ask Sarah, and are so excited that we had a chance to sit her down for an interview.  Here's what she had to say!

TSS: How did you start vlogging? 
Sarah: I have always had this huge obsession with purses and somehow I stumbled across YouTube videos of "What's in my Bag?" and I was instantly hooked. I watched them for a while but then I realized I wanted to give it a shot too. I didn't get really into it until my Junior Year of high school. It's been a journey, but I can't imagine my life without vlogging on YouTube because it's such a huge aspect of my life. 

TSS: Who is Sarah Belle? 
Sarah: Part of me is the YouTube fashion vlogger that everyone sees, but the other half is a 20 year old Kappa Delta, obsessed, hard working college student!

TSS: What do your sorority sisters think about your success? 
Sarah: I couldn't have ever dreamed of a greater support system. They think it's really cool and they are proud of the things that I've accomplished. It's so amazing to know that no matter what happens in this crazy vlogging world that my sisters will always be there for me and I love them so much for that.

TSS: Your top 3 beauty products you can't live without? 
1. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation is THE BEST foundation on the market. It gives you a flawless finish to your face while making it look 100% natural. 
2. Maybelline Cat Eye Volume Mascara because I cannot leave the house without mascara, especially this one because I have tiny eyelashes and this makes them look fabulous. 
3. Chi Helmet Head Hairspray because what sorority girl doesn't love to add some volume to her hair?

TSS: What do you love about being in a sorority? 
Sarah: The sisterhood. I've had the best 2 years so far with my sisters by my side. My sisters are so accepting and we have the best times together. When I look back on my college career so far, all my favorite memories were with my sisters by my side. There's nothing in this world I'd rather be than a KD.

TSS: What is something important that you learned from the vlog world? 
Sarah: You can't please everybody and to not even try; do what makes you happy! So many people are going to try to bring you down, but you just have to remember all the good instead of focusing on one negative comment.

TSS: Tell us your Style Staple! 
Sarah: My J.Crew Pixie Pants. Oh my goodness, I live in these. They are like a thick ponte legging that can be dressed up with a blouse or pair with one of my Kappa Delta t-shirts and boots. They are the most versatile and comfortable thing in my wardrobe.

TSS: What was your "wow" moment when you became quite the hit in the vlog/instagram world? 
Sarah: I've had so many "wow" moments these past few years, but I think the biggest moment was when I was invited to attend Rebecca Minkoff's show during New York Fashion Week this past February. It had always been a far-fetched dream of mine to attend a NYFW show and something that I doubted would ever happen, so when I received the email from Rebecca Minkoff's PR, I started crying because I couldn't believe how blessed I was to have an opportunity like this because of my YouTube/Instagram. I'll never forget it.

TSS: What do you love about The Sorority Secrets? 
Sarah: I love that it caters to every girls' interest. To me The Sorority Secrets really shows that sorority women are more multifaceted than what we are stereotyped as being. But while it is a blog with a variety of interests, it still hits home for me because it does have that little Greek twist to it.

TSS: Tell us your Sorority Secret! 
Sarah: My Sorority Secret is that while most people see me all dolled up on YouTube, half of the week I actually wear my Kappa Delta t-shirts and leggings! So effortless and cute.

Want more Sarah Belle?  Check her out on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram!

Thank you again for the interview Sarah, we absolutely adore you!

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!

Founder's Secret: $5 Face Wash

Face wash: Basis

The secret to flawless skin starts on the surface with your skin! Removing every bit of makeup from your face is so important before you go to bed so your pores don't get clogged. It's no secret we are obsessed with keeping our skin perfect and we all have our go-to products that we use to keep our skin looking great. Karen discovered a face wash through her friend called Basis that not only removes every bit of makeup from your face (including mascara!), but also leaves your skin feeling silky smooth at a very reasonable price.

You can get Basis face wash pretty much anywhere nowadays and you can find the product for as little as $5. Places that sell this glorious face wash include: ULTA, Walmart, Target, and now even some grocery stores. To use the product, simply apply a small (quarter size) amount into your palm or on a face towel and then lather it into your face, scrubbing mildly. Make sure to lather and scrub around every part of your face where there is makeup, including your eyes. Once you're done applying the face wash, rinse off your face with warm water and dry with a face towel. Feel your face, and you will find that your makeup is completely off and your skin feels great!

Have a favorite face wash that you swear by? Leave a comment below sharing your face wash choice; we would love to hear!

Garden Party

{On Karen} Top: Forever 21. Pants: Target (old, similar here). Shoes: Shoedazzle (old, similar here).  {On Ali} Dress: Urban Outfitters.  Necklace: J. Crew.  Belt: Forever 21 (similar here).  Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden (old, similar here).

Photo Credit: aMaes Photography

Spring is in the air, and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by wearing one of our favorite prints... floral!  No matter if you like your botanical prints oversized (such as Karen's pants) or small (like in Ali's dress), we can't resist their feminine charm.  We love floral paired with nudes and neutrals, as well as pastel hues that pick up the floral color detail.  Dresses, pants, shoes, scarves-- we love floral in all forms.  Stop and smell the roses, and make a statement in this favorite print.

Spring Break Essentials

Camera. Sunglasses. Fedora. Shorts. Beach bag. Sandals. Sunscreen. Bathing suit.

We remember the good old days of planning spring break trips with our sisters. Wherever we decided to go, a sandy beach and heat were always a standard. No matter where you decide to have a little spring vacay, there are some key spring break essentials you will need to pack to be fully prepared. Below is our complete list of Top 10 Spring Break Essentials.

        

Super stylish bathing suit cover-up

This is a must have when you want to take a break from the beach but don't want to be in regular clothes. Our favorite cover-ups are the ones found at Victoria's Secret. 

Trendy sunglasses

You've got to protect your eyes from the sun and still look super cute while laying out, so be sure to pack some trendy sunglasses. Our personal favorite sunglasses are any Nordstrom brand ones, like Jimmy Choo or Tom Ford.

A couple of cute bathing suits

Nowadays, it's not about how cute your bathing suit looks in the water, it's about how cute it looks pool/beach side. We always pack several bathing suits so we have options. Target sells really cute and affordable bathing suits that we love.

Camera

You've got to capture all the memories so packing a camera is a must. Pack a small, sleek, camera that will be easy to carry around. Canon's are the best quality cameras and you can buy them at Target for a great price.

Beach bag

You definitely need a cute beach bag to tote around with all your essentials. J.Crew has the absolute cutest bags and our personal favorite is the Famers' Market Tote.

Fedora hat

Fedora hats are a fashion piece that never gets old on the beach. With your cute sunglasses, bathing suit, and fedora hat you will have the perfect beach outfit. We shop at DPC 1921 or Forever 21 whenever we want some trendy fedora hats.

Sunscreen

Since you are going to be in the sun, you can't forget to protect yourself. Packing sunscreen is probably one of the most important items you should bring on your spring break trip. Places like The Body Shop offer a plethora of different sunscreens to choose from. Their best seller is the Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer SPF 30.

Flip-flops/Sandals

Flip-flops and sandals will likely be your main footwear while on vacay so don't forget to pack them! There are plenty of places to get some basic flip-flops, but if you're looking for a stylish pair, check out these Basketweave sandals and many others at Forever 21.

Shorts

As much as it's so much easier to wear beach clothes all day long, it is important to pack some regular daytime clothes as well. Packing some casual shorts to pair with a simple top/tank is easy and makes for a cute outfit when away from the beach. J.Crew has some cute shorts; check out these Chino shorts.

NO WORRIES!

Without a doubt, having no worries is the most important spring break essential you should "pack".  Spring break is a time to let your hair loose, relax, and have fun!

Free Spirit

Hat: Target (old, similar here).  Jean Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch (old, similar here).  Tank Top: Alternative Apparel (similar here).  Skirt: Charlotte Russe.  Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden (old, similar here).  Necklace: J. Crew.  Lipgloss: Revlon.

Free, free falling.  A worn-in jean jacket can compliment many different looks, adding a casual layer to feminine pieces.  This jacket in particular, Ali has actually had since she was a freshman in college!  It's very loved, to say the least.  Like a favorite pair of jeans, you can't really go wrong with this denim staple.  We love pairing tan shoes with this black skirt, to play up the laid-back feel.  A pattern tank adds a bit of color, and the turquoise necklace adds a bright pop to the look.  Simple, natural makeup and hair top it all off.  This look has us feeling carefree, and ready to take on the day.