Books to Read This Cold Weather Season

The fall season is well underway with the leaves around us browning and the smell of pumpkin spice lattes filling the air, yet with all these fun fall things happening the main change is the weather! The weather is starting to get colder as we transition into the holiday season and for me, cold weather means bundling up by a fire place (whether fake or real) with a good book.  I love a good classic novel as much as the next person but sometimes you just need a funny, girly book. Check out some of these titles the next time you are looking for something to read:

 

Written by Project Runway mentor and chief officer of Liz Claiborne, Tim Gunn breaks down every item in your closet and explains the significance and history behind them. From high heels to corsets you can learn how these things came to be. It is super informative and helpful when trying to plan a great outfit for a night out.

  

This hilarious, satirical book written by the creators of everyone’s favorite blog “Betches Love This” is a must read. It dabbles in the topics that are of the utmost concern to typical 20 something year old women such as texting, traveling, instagram and dying your hair. If you are having a bad day this book is sure to brighten it while also actually dishing out some helpful tips!

 

Former “The Hills” star dishes out her love and relationship advice for all to hear. She shares her personal stories about bad dates and failed relationships while giving awesome advice on what to do so you don’t end up in a situation like that. This book feels like advice from your own sisters!

In today’s society women of style and grace are hard to come by and even the best of us can lose our way. This book is a funny yet serious guide full of “old fashioned” advice on how to be a proper lady. It covers diet, speech, work ethic, friends, relationships, manners, makeup, and fashionable yet modest clothing, showing modern ladies how they can be beautiful, intelligent and fun while retaining values and morals.





Happy Reading!

Gobble Gobble: A Turkey Cooking Guide

We love everything about Thanksgiving dinner... it's one of our favorite holidays!  But before you get ready to sit down with your loved ones to share a delicious meal, one thing must happen first:  someone's gotta cook that turkey.  That delicious bird isn't going to roast itself, and there are a few key steps to ensure that it's cooked to perfection.  Nobody likes a dry turkey, and nobody likes salmonella.  However, ranging from 14-20 lbs a bird, cooking a Thanksgiving masterpiece can be nothing short of intimidating.

Here's a few pointers that we found to be very helpful, to get that turkey in tip-top shape!  Not cooking the turkey yourself?  Share our turkey cooking knowledge with the one cooking your Thanksgiving dinner, and offer to lend a helping hand.  Now, let's talk turkey!

1. Thaw accordingly.
Depending on if your turkey is fresh or frozen, be sure to thaw it out accordingly.  Make sure that your turkey is at room temperature before popping it in the oven.

2. Add some kick.
Olive oil, butter with fresh herbs, aromatic vegetables... all of these help to add flavor.  Coat the outside of the turkey with one of these fats as well.  There are plenty of excellent turkey recipes available!

3. Foil is your friend.
Cover the breast of the turkey tightly with aluminum foil; just remember to remove it about 45 minutes before the turkey has finished cooking.  At this time when you take the foil off of the breast, you can also lay a piece of foil over any areas that you think might be getting too dark.  You don't want that baby to burn!  Do this while opening/closing the oven door quickly; no need to change the oven temperature.

4. Rack it up.
Cooking your turkey on a rack helps to make things cook evenly on all sides, to get that juicy tenderness throughout.  Bonus: you can use it anytime you cook poultry!

5. Don't stuff the stuffing.
Not stuffing your turkey means that it will take less time to cook- a plus!  It also becomes more risky for food safety, in case the stuffing inside the turkey is not cooked to proper temperatures.  Our advice: cook stuffing as a separate side dish.

6. Take the temperature.
We like to reference temperature guides when cooking, and always use a meat thermometer.  Each time you open and close the oven door, heat is lost, and your turkey will suffer by drying out as well.  Because of this (and because of the need to check the temp) we suggest a meat thermometer with an alarm built in.  Super handy!  Stick the thermometer into either the thick part of the thigh or thickest part of the breast, and you will be golden. 

7. Have a turkey nap.
Once removing from the oven, allow the turkey to rest for about 20-25 minutes before beginning to carve.  This allows the juices to absorb into the meat, and locks it all in.  Hey, if it helps to avoid a dry turkey, we're all for it!

8. Dinner is {almost} served.
Use a very sharp knife when you're ready to carve, or an electric knife if you have one.  Need to brush up on your carving skills?  We found a video to help with that! 

Gobble, Gobble... Happy Turkey Day, everyone!

Pressed Juicery 1-day Juice Cleanse Giveaway! *Ended*

That's right! We're giving away one 1-day Pressed Juicery juice cleanse to one lucky winner!

If you didn't get a chance to read our Founders' Detox Diaries on their cleanse yesterday, make sure you do! They also talked about the benefits of pre-holiday cleansing! (click here to read) 

There are three different juice cleanses and all three founders did three different kind so you can always refer back to their Detox Diaries to choose which cleanse you want to go with! 

We also have a promotional code for a 10% off discount for any Pressed Juicery cleanses for all TSS readers going on right now until November 27th! So make sure you use our promo code: TSS10 to get your 10% off!

Okay, okay- so you want to know how to win a juice cleanse?!  

Here's how to enter:

1. "Like" The Sorority Secrets' Facebook Page (Click Here)

2. "Like" Pressed Juicery's Facebook Page (Click Here)

3.  Instagram or Blog Comment Option:

Option 1-Instagram: Repost the image we just posted on Instagram for the Pressed Juicery giveaway and tag us!  Make sure to tag us into the picture and not just mention us (Click here to go to our Instagram page)

Option 2- Blog Comment: Tell us about a time you've done a juice cleanse before and your experience! If you haven't done a juice cleanse yet, why you'd like to win this giveaway and try out a juice cleanse!  Please leave your email address along with your submission so we can contact you if you are the winner.

The giveaway ends on November 27th!

Thank you and good luck!  Remember that if you don't win, you can always use the promo code until the 27th!

TSS Favorite Things {November}

[OPI] [Kate Spade] [Nike] [Trophy Cupcakes & Parties] [Sara Happ] [Hinge] [Rifle Paper Co.] [Tory Burch] [MAC]

Every year we look forward to 'Oprah's Favorite Things'! She always has a list of the greatest stuff. We decided to add a twist to 'Oprah's Favorite Things'  by coming up with a special list of 'The Sorority Secrets Favorite Things'! Even better, we will be featuring our favorite things every month so you can be in the loop on what we are obsessing over. Be sure to click through each of our favorite things and leave a comment below sharing with us your favorite things this month too!

Happy shopping!

DIY Holiday Table Glitter Vase

Make your dinner table sparkle during the holidays with this super cute and easy DIY glitter vase creation. Here's what you will need:

-Mason jar or empty glass bottle
-Foam paintbrush
-Glue
-Glitter of your choice
-Masking tape
-Flowers (optional)

Step 1: With your masking tape, place a strip of it about 2-3 inches from the bottom of your mason jar/glass bottle.

Step 2: Using your foam paintbrush, coat the surface of the jar up to the masking tape with glue.

Step 3: Sprinkle your glitter onto the glue. Let dry for a couple of minutes then remove the tape.

To decorate, place flowers inside the mason jar/glass bottle and your holiday glitter vase is complete!

Happy Holidays!

Vote For Ali!

Our very own TSS Co-Founder, Ali, is nominated for Most Fashionable Under 30 in her home state of Arizona!  She's honored to be nominated... and would love the support of our readers!

Voting only takes a minute, and you can vote once a day now through 11/30.  Let's help fashionista Ali take it home for a win!  CLICK HERE to get your vote on!  {psst... she's the first one on the list, under Ali Matthews}

Thanks everyone for your support, remember to vote once a day!

Detox Diary with Pressed Juicery

Last week we announced our exciting new partnership with Pressed Juicery and over the weekend us three founders did 3 different one-day cleanses from Pressed Juicery to give you every detail on every cleanse available!  In addition, with the holiday season right around the corner, we thought we would share the benefits of pre-holiday cleansing and why you should cleanse before the holidays!  We also have a little present for you at the end of today's post so make sure to check it out!

Pressed Juicery cleanses comes with 6 different flavored juices per day and you can also add chlorophyll and aloe vera water to your day to help with digestion and to raise alkaline levels. With holidays right around the corner you need a lot of energy and stamina to get through all of the holiday parties, errands, and of course shopping! Another perk about juicing is that it helps give you a radiant complexion as well as healthy hair and nails so you can have that holiday glow at every holiday party you attend to this year!

Pressed Juicery offers 3 different types of cleanses: Cleanse #1 is more for first-time juicers or athletes with higher caloric needs, Cleanse #2 is the most popular cleanse that are for those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and Cleanse #3 is for experienced cleansers that love green juices!  Check out our Detox Diaries below to see our experience on our one-day juice cleanses!

"To be completely honest, I was so shocked at how good everything tasted! My absolute favorite flavor was the Greens 3 juice with kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon, and ginger- I think the ginger is what I really loved about this juice.  I thought I would be starving the entire day, but I was completely satisfied the entire day!  One thing I would recommend is sipping your juice and take your time drinking it rather than guzzling it- it helps you get full faster!  I felt so great the next day and I'm so excited to do the cleanse again! Perhaps after the holidays :)" - Sakura

"I thought the juices were delicious!  I love the taste of fresh green juices (I love them so much that I crave them!) so I really enjoyed the cleanse.  The Citrus 2 (Apple, lemon, pineapple, and mint) was my absolute favorite... So refreshing!  Getting through day one of the cleanse is partially a mental thing; it's a different concept to "drink" your meals.  But rest assured that you're getting all of the proper nutrients for the day; actually, you're getting even more good stuff than you usually can eat in a day!  The following day after I did my cleanse, I felt AMAZING.  I felt refreshed, happy, and light.  I highly recommend doing a cleanse!  I had been eating less than healthy prior to doing mine, and it definitely is a great 'jump start' to get back on the healthy eating track.  Can't wait to do my next cleanse- I want to do 3 days next time!"- Ali

 "I was expecting to be starving during the cleanse but it was the opposite: I felt really good throughout the day. One of my favorite cleanses was the vanilla almond bottle. It had a lot of my favorite ingredients: almonds, dates, vanilla bean, sea salt, and filtered H20. I woke up feeling pretty refreshed and an urge to continue eating clean!

If you're going to do the cleanse, be sure to keep your schedule open in such a way that you can freely use the restroom; the cleanse is meant to cleanse your body and release the contents in your stomach. Also, avoid doing a cleanse while you're on your menstrual cycle; you want to be comfortable during the process!" - Karen 

Now, the big surprise! We have a special promo code for all of our loyal TSS readers to receive 10% off of any 1, 3, or 5 day juice cleanse from Pressed Juicery!  Make sure to use promo code: TSS10 at www.pressedjuicery.com before the 27th and get your pre-holiday juice cleanse!

We may have another surprise this week for one special reader so check back on TSS to find out all of the details!

We want to thank the Pressed Juicery and their lovely team again for everything!

Black Friday Tips

Thanksgiving is in 10 days which means Black Friday is right around the corner!  To become a professional Black Friday Shopper, you must have a game plan and know all of the tips and tricks!  This special day only comes once a year and there's no way you can hit up the department stores without a game plan so we got you all of the tips and tricks you need to know!

1. Sign Up for E-mail Alerts from your Favorite Stores
Stores typically send out promotional alerts and deals out to their loyal customers!  There's a huge chance that they will also send out a special coupon on Black Friday so make sure you are signed up for your favorite stores to take advantage of their coupons and deals.

2. Check for Pre-Black Friday Sales Online
There's a lot of stores that will do Pre-Black Friday Sales online so make sure to start checking online around the day before Thanksgiving to see if there are any special deals going on. This is where tip #1 comes in handy so you can get discount alerts right in your inbox!

3. Check Out Black Friday Store Hours Before
Black Friday store hours vary year to year from store to store.  Make sure you know exactly when your favorite stores open so you can plan out your day and be the first in the store!

4. Get an Early Start
Make sure to set up 3 alarms to get you up bright and early for the big day!  Make sure to do tip #3 and check out the store hours so you know exactly what time you have to be up! Make sure to calculate the time for you to stop and grab coffee on the way to the mall!

5. Take Advantage of Black Friday Sites & Apps
There are a ton of websites and mobile apps that will make Black Friday a million times easier for you!  Take advantage and check out the sites and download the apps before the big day.  These sites and apps will allow you to check out the Black Friday deals for each stores and even each items so you know exactly how much each items are going to be on Black Friday!  (BlackFriday.com)

6. Create a Wish List and Shopping List
Make sure to know exactly what you want and what you're getting on Black Friday so you don't waste any time.  As you know, things on Black Friday go out very fast so make sure to know exactly what you want and also so you don't forget!

7. Bring Cash
There are a billion transactions going on nation wide on Black Friday and there are a lot of credit card machine malfunctions on Black Friday.  Make sure to bring cash so you don't have to miss out on anything!


Happy Shopping!

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,

Puffer Vests for Days!

J.Crew | Gap | Madewell | Banana Republic | Lilly Pulitzer | Anthropologie

We are now fully in Fall season and we're loving every minute of it- leaves are falling, the weather is cooler, Sunday night footballs, and Fall fashion are some of our favorite things about Fall! 

Fall fashion is by far our favorite season to dress for... oversized sweaters, boots, and hats are some of our favorite Fall pieces.  To add to our Fall fashion closet, we're currently obsessed with puffer vests!  The one thing we love about puffer vests is that you can still see your adorable ensemble underneath your vest and you can basically match a puffer vest with anything underneath, even if it's a jean jacket like you see in the picture above! 

We picked out some of our current favorite puffer vest from our favorite stores!  Which ones are your favorite? 

Happy Friday, everyone!

It Girl Search 2014

Are you an active member of your sorority?  Do you love all of the lifestyle topics that TSS has to offer?  Do you enjoy taking pictures & writing?  If so, you could be one of our next It Girls for 2014!

Once a year, The Sorority Secrets selects 6 active collegiate sorority women to be part of our It Girl team.  Each girl is from a different Greek organization, and from a different university... hey, we gotta represent!  The job of an It Girl is to rep TSS on her campus, and on behalf of her sorority.  It Girls write their own posts a couple of times a month, and also share fun pictures from things happening on their campus.  If it's cool at your school, we want to know about it.  So... do you have what it takes?

You have already met Maddie, the newest member of our It Girl team for 2014.  There are only a few spots left, and we're taking applicants now through December 6th, at 12:00am MST.

Email us (itgirl@thesororitysecrets.com) to apply:
1. Send us your resume
2. Tell us a little bit about yourself (including your school, sorority, and academic year)
3. Attach a picture showcasing your personal style OR showing us how you're involved on campus

We are so excited to hear from you, and can't wait to meet our 2014 TSS It Girl team!

*applicants will be notified the week of 12/9/13 if they are being called back for an interview*

Fashion Spotlight: Casey Shteamer from Imperfect Wonder



Pictured: Black Heels, Leggings, Jacket, White Tee, Black Bag.

 Photos: Imperfect Wonder

"Fashion blogs are something I didn't really discover until two years ago. Blogs are wonderful because the inspiration is never ending. The more time I spent on other people's blogs, the more I wanted to have my own."  -Casey, Imperfect Wonder

1. What are your favorite places to shop?  Any places where you find great secret steals?

"I LOVE Stone Cold Fox.  I would live in their designs if I could.  But until I have that kind of bank account, I generally shop at Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Zara.  Urban Outfitters has great sales, so that is usually where I snag a deal."

2. If you could have anyone's closet, who's would it be?

"Elin Kling - I die over her."

3. Where do you look for fashion inspiration?

"Other blogs.  I feel like magazines aren't the best sources of inspiration anymore.  They seem so limited.  Also, other countries and cultures."

4. It's a Saturday night out on the town.  What are you wearing?

"Lately, my new sky high Alexander Wang black boots, black leggings, and an oversized knit sweater."

5. We love your ability to mix & match, especially with statement pieces and bold patterns.  What are your rules of thumb to transform these pieces into a fabulous outfit?

"For me, actually trying pieces on together is how I tell if I think they work.  Sometimes, I have an idea, but when I try it on it just looks awkward.  I'll pick a loud patterned piece that I want to wear, and then try everything in my closet to see what works best!  My room looks like a tornado came through afterward, but I get lots of new ideas.  It's also a good way to revive things you have pushed to the back of your closet for a while."

6. Favorite beauty products that you can't live without?

"Argan oil and raw honey.  I use raw honey as a face wash.  It is so gentle on the skin and it's completely natural which I love. Then Argan oil as a moisturizer for my face and hair.  I try to go all natural when I can."

7. What sorority were you in & what was your favorite part about being in a sorority?

"I was a Kappa Alpha Theta at Arizona State University.  I loved it!  My favorite part was definitely the community it created.  Going to such a large school, it was nice to have a smaller sub sect of the student body to be a part of.  It made it more manageable." 

8. What did sorority life teach you that you applied in the real world?

"You get out as much as you put in.  Sometimes, I wish I had put more into sorority life, as it really is something that the more effort you put in, the more rewarding the experience is.  Life is just the same."

Thank you again, Casey!  Be sure to check out Imperfect Wonder for more style inspiration.