Yabber: The Coolest Roommate App

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We love hearing from you guys about the latest and greatest apps, and well, Yabber is just perfect for those of you sharing space with a roommate. TSS Reader, Brady Sertz has had a lot of success using Yabber with his roommate calling it "cool and useful" so we decided to take a peek at it and it's pretty neat. Yabber is essentially a private social network between you and your roommate. It makes living with your roommate a little better because you can stay in touch about just about anything related to your living space which could include sharing your location with your roommate, creating reminders like when to pay the next bill, and you can even let your roommate know when you need some alone time. What we really love about it is the fact that you can track your expenses and pay each other back using Apple Pay. Best of all, this app is free! Download it now and make living with a roomie much simpler.

How To Wear Marsala: Pantone Color of the Year 2015

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Marsala. You've probably never heard of this particular color, but all we can say is WOW; it's the most breathtaking color. It's no surprise that Pantone has chosen it as the 2015 Color of the Year. Think ripe cranberries or a deep red wine color. It's a sensual color for sure and it makes you feel important. It's really a color for anyone trying to be bold and make a statement in a deep and thoughtful way. It's such a strong color that we don't recommend going over board with it. For example, choose a Marsala lip stick and pair it with a light colored top and bottoms. Marsala color nails would be fabulous as it isn't super bold like apple red, but it's still sophisticated. Try pairing Marsala with black like this fedora from Windsor. The two colors compliment each other very well. Marsala is a transformation color; you will feel like someone new when you're wearing it, so wear it with confidence!

5 Best Pre-Workout Foods

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If there is anything we have learned, don't go straight to the gym without fueling your body! When you see people uber sweating at the gym, it is because they have properly eaten throughout the day giving their body that extra jump-start to kick off those unwanted calories. We have come up with the 5 best pre-workout foods for you to consume before you hit the gym.

1. A Banana--if you plan on doing some hardcore cardio in the form of running, then you want some potassium running through your body. Consider a banana or two as they're filled with lots of potassium to help with muscle recovery.
2. Yogurt parfait w/ berries--Berries are the perfect antioxidant and plain, greek yogurt is a nice mix to help make this snack more full.
3. Hard-boiled eggs-- 1-2 hard-boiled eggs are an awesome source of protein prior to the workout.
4. Shake with whey powder--Mixing into any shake or smoothie you blend up is great for added protein in your system and will help with muscle develop.
5. Salad--You can never go wrong including greens into your pre-workout meal. Greens in a salad can offer you loads of fiber, vitamins, and minerals which all support a healthy body.

These are just some of our favorite pre-workout snacks. What are yours? Share with us below in the 'comments'!

The BEST Celebrity Instagrams

So you have your friends that you follow on Instagram and then you have your celebrities that you wish were your friends that you follow on Instagram {haha}! We all have that one celebrity (A-list to D-List) that we follow their every move on our social media news feeds. We can't wait to see what they woke up doing, what they're wearing or what motivational status they're going to share for the day. Following them makes those work breaks a little bit more interesting as we scroll through their page of awesomeness. Below are some of the best celebrity Instagrams to follow! Do you have a favorite celebrity that you follow on Instagram? Share with us below!

@laurenconrad: She's the modern Martha Stewart with her arts & craft, cooking, and just picture-perfect life!  It's been quite the fun journey following her through her wedding planning adventures and it's even exciting being up-to-date with her new life as Mrs. Tell!

@iamdiddy: Depending on how old you are you may know him as Diddy, P.Diddy, Puffy, or Puff Daddy. On Instagram he is @iamdiddy and he fills our day with tons of motivational memes and positive or comical regrams. Diddy is filled with so much energy that he often posts videos of himself telling you to get up and take your life by the reigns. TAKE THAT, TAKE THAT!

@kyliejenner: She may be like a decade younger than us, but boy is this girl a trendsetter. Kylie Jenner is fashion forward while at the same time very artistic and somewhat mysterious in her posts. We are currently loving her new, blueish green hair style and are looking forward to her collaboration with Bellami Hair for some amazing clip-in extensions called Kylie Kouture.

@massy.arias: Need some exercise and nutritional help? This woman has got you covered! We have been following this Exercise Feign for some time now and her amazing workouts and nutritional guidance have motivated us to take weight loss and dieting by the reigns. We love how she keeps to her Spanish roots and translates everything she shares for her Spanish audience. She is like a virtual personal trainer.

@jessiejamesdecker: Can we talk about how perfect her hair is? Oh and how adorable her and her husband are! We are crushing!

@nazaninmandi: This girl is amazing! Although she has a celebrity boyfriend (Miguel, the R&B singer) she is a celebrity in her own rite as she models and looks to be taking up singing too. However, it's her beautiful spirit that she exudes and positive messages that leaves us loving her newsfeed when we stumble across it. She is about as real as it gets!

@chrissyteigen: She is cray, but that's why we love her!

@kevinhart4real: If you need a good laugh, then following Kevin Hart is a must. He is the King of Instagram comedic videos and he does not hold back on making fun of just about every person in his clique.

Others you shared with us that you love include:

@beyonce
@bretteldredge
@makeupbymandy24
@taylorswift
@nicoleritchie
@mindykaling

Are we missing any other celebrity Instagram accounts? Leave them in the comments below!

4 Products To Help You Stay Focused

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For most of you, school has just restarted or for many of you, those New Year's Resolutions are already wearing off {haha!} Whatever the case, we understand how hard it can be to stay focused. Energy is the best way to catapult you into movement, but it takes more than energy, it takes being centered and focused. We have come up with 4 products sure to not only give you energy, but to also create a level of focus to help you move through the day!

1. EBOOST

We have shared with you EBOOST before and well, we can't stop talking about it, and apparently many others can't either as EBOOST has blown up. It's no wonder because their product really works! If you want to be focused while also taking in important daily vitamins then EBOOST is your answer. With new delicious flavors like Super Berry w/ Coconut Water, Berry-Melon w/ Coconut Water {our absolute favorite!}, and Fruit Punch w/ Coconut Water it makes drinking an energy drink actually tasty. EBOOST is sold at many nutritional stores like GNC, but your best bet is to buy them online!

2. Mental Mojo

We may not be crazy over the taste of Mental Mojo, but we are crazy about the results. Promoted as an "intellectual blast" we actually felt a true burst of energy after consuming just one packet of their product. Just mix it with water and prepare to be alert and energetic! Mental Mojo started last year and we're sure they will be be selling them throughout many universities across the nation. You can buy their products directly online, though.

3. ISAGENIX Natural Orange Flavor Electrolyte Mix

ISAGENIX is based out of Arizona and is widely known for their awesome weight loss program. But, for this company it's more than just losing weight; it's about a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, they sell amazing energy products one of which is the ISAGENIX Natural Orange Flavor Electrolyte Mix. It tastes DELICIOUS and keeps you energetic and focused throughout the day. Other flavors include Tropical Fruit and Hibiscus. You can only get ISAGENIX products as a member of ISAGENIX. However, there are ways to buy this product via ebay or Amazon. It is worth it!

4. ISAGENIX e+ Energy Shot

This is another product sold by ISAGENIX that gives you natural energy keeping you alert and focused. The energy is sustained so similar to EBOOST, you don't immediately feel like you're going to have an energy crash. The apple pomegranate flavor isn't bad and really, there is something to be said about an energy shot where the main ingredient is water. It's a must-try! Try purchasing this product via Amazon if you're not interested in becoming an ISAGENIX member (though we totally encourage it to save money)!

Wishing you more days of energy!

A Girl's Guide To Coachella

Coachella tickets go on sale today and we are so excited because Coachella is pretty much life-changing! If you're wondering if you should go, our answer is YES YES YES! Coachella is so popular that they've been having it go down over two weekends. Both weekends offer an awesome line up. This year we are looking forward to seeing The Weekend, Drake, Axwell, AC/DC and much more. It is going to be monumental. But, first things first, you've got to buy a ticket! Go to Coachella.com and sign up. Signing up will allow you to track your profile and the tickets you've bought. Here are some other helpful tips:

• You will want to buy a ticket AND a shuttle pass. 
• For lodging, get a house! It is the most affordable and convenient. 
• Stay close to the fairgrounds--it's just more convenient. 
• Dress minimally, but tasteful. If you buy something from Urban Outfitters or Free People it will be super cute, but just keep in mind that most people will be shopping there. 
• Arrive at the fairgrounds at sun down--that is when most of the amazing artists go on and it's less hot. 
• Sandstorms are common so wear a bandana to protect your hair. 
• Carry cash. 
• Rent a walkie talkie; there is no cell phone reception. 
• Wear comfortable flats--like not even strappy flats because those eventually hurt. 
• The cab line is super far from the fairgrounds so if you decide to take it, be prepared to walk far. 
• Stay hydrated as you're basically in the desert and it's hot! 
• Wear sunblock to protect yourself from the sun. 
• Don't wait until the last minute to buy tickets!

Good luck and hopefully we will see you there!!

10 First Date Ideas

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We are living in the world of finding dates via apps like Tinder and Match.com and as convenient as these avenues of dating are, there is more past the virtual connection that must be established in person. Every season is dating season so why not make your first dates worthwhile? A first date should allow you to really get to know the person a little deeper than the service. We are not huge fans of doing the movies on a first date (or at least ONLY doing that) because it doesn't allow you to actually talk to the person. You're just awkwardly sitting next to a stranger focusing on a big screen. No bueno! We've compiled a list of some awesome first date ideas sure to get you excited about getting to know each other.

From TSS Reader Lillian McCurley (@sillyyyliiilly):

Summer time- stay cool with ice cream and a movie
Fall- pumpkin patch and s'mores
Winter- looking at Christmas lights with hot cocoa
Spring- go star gazing on a cool spring night or have a picnic

Our additions:

• To lighten the mood, go to an amusement park! 
• For a little competition consider hitting up the bowling lanes.
• Happy hours are pretty harmless especially since the food and drinks are usually at a discount. It takes a little bit of the pressure off of the guy (if you're old fashioned and think he should pay) when the bill comes.
• Depending on how long you've been talking, consider having a duo-cooking dinner at your place, his place, or a cooking class. You'll be talking and working together in the kitchen which is fun and you get to know each other on a different level.
• Do a beach rendezvous! The calmness of the beach will hopefully calm nerves. Just bring a blanket, a frisbee, and some light food and snacks.

Whatever you decide, always be safe on your first date. Always tell someone when you're going out on a date so that someone can account for you in case anything should go wrong. Have a code with your friends to let them know if things aren't going well and you need to be rescued. If you can, carry pepper spray.

Have fun!

5 Phone Games To Keep You Entertained

As if we can't make you more distracted at work or with your family and friends, we have come across some amazing phone games to keep you entertained. We guess it pays to have younger siblings to keep us cool and in tune with the latest and greatest. Our first favorite phone game we are obsessed with is called Trivia Crack. If the name alone doesn't give you a hint of the type of addiction you will have with this game, then simply playing the game will. The object of Trivia Crack (which by the way is FREE) is to answer trivia questions and earn crowns in six different trivia categories. You can play your friends or random people. The first person to earn all six crowns is the winner. The game gets intense if you choose to 'Challenge' your opponent in which case both of you answer the same series of questions and whoever gets the most right gets to steal a crown from the opponent. Our second favorite phone game is Candy Crush. Believe us, we were sick of seeing Facebook and our Facebook friends constantly haggling us to try the game, but after a little convincing it's safe to say we have a "sugar addiction". The object of Candy Crush is to survive each round crushing candy. Simple enough and so, so fun! Our third favorite phone game is an oldie but a goodie: Scrabble. Talk about a great game to expand your knowledge of the spelling of words. QuizUp is our fourth favorite phone game application. Similar to Trivia Crack, QuizUp is a race to see who can answer a trivia question the fastest. It is intense! Our fifth favorite phone game app is well, well, it's one we have yet to try but maybe we will one of these days and it's Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. We have heard nothing but good things about the app and hey, she's added her sisters and mother to the mix so we are sure it is full of adventure.

What are your favorite phone game apps? Share with us in the comments!

Tips/Advice We've Learned Over 2014

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We are in the new year now {yay!} and we couldn't be more excited for what's ahead. Every year we try to reflect on everything and hopefully learn from every experience. Here are a few lessons we learned in 2014 that we hope to carry out in 2015. Who knows, you might have learned the same lessons too!

1. There is no sense in continuing to invest in anything not making you feel 100% fulfilled or happy.
2. Honesty is the BEST policy.
3. Express yourself--even if it means feelings can possibly get hurt along the way.
4. Stop and smell the roses--you don't have to be on your phone all the time.
5. Not all friendships are worth keeping--know when it's time to go your separate ways.
6. Love can hurt, but don't be afraid to fall for it!
7. Take advantage of every opportunity even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone.
8. You define yourself--not social media or society.
9. It's okay to take a break--no one expects you to be Superwoman (or man) every second of the day.
10. If you don't take care of yourself, then who will? Feed your mind, feed your body, and feed your spirit.

Happy New Year!

Top 14 Posts of 2014

2014 was a year of growth for us! We loved continuing to share our best kept sorority secrets with you all and hearing a lot of your secrets. Your support of us is showing as we recently passed a major milestone: 3 million+ views! In lieu of that, we compiled your favorite fourteen posts of 2014. From beauty, to fashion, to tips and advice, you loved and read these posts. Thanks for continuing to make us your go-to site; we appreciate you!

1. Beach Waves Hair Tutorial {by Maddie}
2. Second Day Curls on the First Day!
3. 20 Best Friend Date Ideas
4. Top 10 Words To Cut From Your Writing
5. Campus Security 101: 5 Tips To Keep You Safe
6. Study Session Survival Guide
7. Recruitment Conversation All-Star Tips
8. 4 Travel Tips Every Wanderlust Should Know
9. Clip-In Hair Extension Secrets
10. Eyelash Extensions- Pros & Cons
11. How To Successfully Travel Internationally
12. 10 Ways To Nail An Interview
13. Spring Recruitment Guide
14. Music Festival Outfit Guide

Have a favorite blog post that didn't make the Top 14? Well, we would love to hear which post of 2014 was your favorite so leave a comment below!

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve Must-Have Manicures

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We never need too much a reason to get our "nails did" so NYE is no exception! While it may be cliché, we are totally into the sparkly nails effect when it comes to our NYE manicures. You just can't go wrong adding a little sparkle with glitter nail polish like  Essie's "Sparkle On Top", Deborah Lippman's "Some Enchanted Evening", or gluing on rhinestones or crystal pieces. Another unique look that we have yet to try for a NYE manicure is the iridescent nail polish look. Showing luminous colors on your nails that seem to change when seen from different angles has a striking resemblance to the NYE disco ball! Keeping it simple with grays, whites, and nude/ivory nail colors are chic too. The latest craze however are still the nail strips! Incoco Nail Strips are really cute and come in tons of designs including ones where just the tips are colored to give that manicured look. However you get beautified for the New Year, make sure your nails are in check because

"Wearing chipped nail polish is like wearing dirty underwear. You just don't do it".-Morgan Stewart, RKOBH

6 Fabulous Coats For Winter

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Even though we are living on the West Coast and it doesn't typically get too cold, we are still babies and need those coats to protect us from all forms of coldness (in Arizona and Washington cold to us is 60 degrees!). I mean, let's be honest, we all like to transform ourselves into divas walking the runway when we spot a super cute coat. Lately, we have been loving the camel and red looks for coats. You also can't go wrong with a wool coat equipped to keep you nice and warm. When choosing a coat you've got to first consider if it will keep you warm. A coat can look super cute, but leave you freezing your butt off! Length and size of the coat is also something to consider. You don't want the coat to look like it's eating you alive. A nice fitted coat that will keep you warm and cozy is the way to go. Consider high end to middle prices as coats are truly an investment worth making since they will last you a long time. Check out some of our favorite coats for this Winter season above and let us know which coats you're pining over in the comments below!

Where To Celebrate New Year's Eve 2015

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Tomorrow is Christmas which means you have 6 days from then to figure out what you will be doing for New Year's Eve. While there have been many years where we have loved to watch the ball drop in New York at the comfort of our home, we have really enjoyed ringing in the New Year outside of our home. Last year, Co Founder, Karen, had so much fun in Seattle at the Bonza Bash that she plans on attending again. Co Founder Sakura had fun dressing up at a NYE house party. We decided to come up with a list of places that you can consider around the nation to party like it's 2015. Below are direct links to the event pages. As always, consider the cost and your level of comfort when deciding on a place. We have found that reserving a table at a venue and splitting it with friends is always the most cost effective, logical, and comfortable route. Also consider checking out clubZone where they filter out all the NYE parties happening in the United States and Canada and NewYearsEve.com!

Are missing events on this list? Share with us in the comments below!

1. Bonza Bash-Seattle, WA
2. 4th Annual OC Midnight Kiss New Years-Wyndham Hotel-Anaheim, CA
3. 3rd Annual Moonlight New Years Eve Cruise by Pier Pressure SD- San Diego, CA
4. NYElectric W Hollywood Rooftop 2015- Hollywood, CA
5. W Scottsdale New Year's Eve // Chateau de Versailles- Scottsdale, AZ
6. New Years Eve Gatsby Ball- Full Club Takeover- Dallas, TX
7. Drake Hotel NYE 2015-Chicago, IL
8. Gansevoort Hotel Meatpacking New Year's in New York-New York, New York
9. Mondrian South Beach NYE 2015-Miami, FL
10. Eden NYE 2015-Washington DC

Rent The Runway NYE Edition

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It's not too late to look super smoking hot for New Years Eve. If you're anything like us, our closets are filled to the brim with clothes that the thought of adding even a holiday dress isn't so pleasant. After all, we operate off of the 365 rule (you know, you can't wear the same dress in a photo for 365 days). Rent the Runway is our solution this NYE. Rent a dress, rock it for a night, then return it. So sinchy! We've had nothing but success with RTR and we love how they give you size options for the off chance the dress size you chose doesn't fit. It'd be an awesome idea to stock up on dresses for NYE and Rent the Runway is helping us lean toward that with a sweet deal of $25 off your first rental (with a minimum rental amount of $75) using the code FIRSTRTR25X754. Use the code by 1/21/2015!

Uber Over the Holidays

It's that time of year to go home and celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Getting to the airport is only half the battle, but the idea of leaving your car at the airport for hours is daunting when you think of the money you will be accruing letting it sit. Taxis are super expensive and getting a town car is too. For us, it's all about using Uber! Uber is less expensive than a taxi and you can track where they are as she patiently wait for them to pick you up. Unlike taxis where you can't rate the driver, Uber is largely successful for its ability to rate drivers. Drivers have an obligation to provide you with good service. What is even cooler is that you can do a rideshare where you can split the ride with someone else making the ride that much more affordable. By the way, all of this is done through a mobile app so you don't need to carry cash at all. It's a total relief! The cool thing is, Uber is always offering coupon codes, particularly for first time users. So, if you're a new user, download the app and time in FIRSTRIDE30 for a smoking hot deal!

We hope you have a safe travel home!

Hairspray For the Holidays

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Yesterday, we shared with you our favorite celebrity hairstyles to consider rocking for the holidays. But, we realized that we would be doing you a major disservice if we didn't also share our favorite hairsprays. I mean, what's a cute hair style if you can't manage to show it off for more than 1 hour? Who wants their hair flopping just before all of the holiday photos (not us!)?! Check out our list above of our all-time favorite hairsprays. Do you use a hair spray not listed above that you want us to know about? Share with us in the comments below!

Happy Hair spraying!

8 Celebrity Inspired Hair Styles For the Holidays

Need some hair inspiration for this holiday season? Well, we do too so we took to the internet to stalk some of our favorite celebs and peep some of their cutest hair styles. We have come up with a few of our favorites to consider for all of the holiday parties and festivities coming up. We are really torn between having our hair down like Blake Lively's perfect side Hollywood Glam side wave or having it in a classic, messy side bun like Jennifer Lawrence's. We all wish we could pull off the infamous Solange natural afro look, but we will keep dreaming! The secret to holiday hair maintenance is going to be lots of hair spray so stock up here! Which look is your favorite?

1. Solange Knowles - The Afro
2. Blake Lively - Deep Side Part Hollywood Glam
3. Julianne Hough - Messy Up-do with Hair Band
4. Naya Rivera - Side Part 3 Barrel Crimp
5. Kim Kardashian - Middle Part Ponytail
6. Jennifer Lawrence - Messy Low Bun
7. Selena Gomez - Middle Part Messy Fishtail Braid
8. Dianna Agron - Fishtail Milkmaid Braid

How You Can Use Your Primer To the Fullest

Ok, so we have always had a hunch that we might not be using our primer correctly. Either that, or we are just not using it to the best of its abilities. Therefore, we decided to connect with Makeup Artist and former TSS Senior Assistant, Mackenzie Brown, and former Dolled Up Contributor, Becca Ashmon to help us understand how to best use primer. Check out their explanations below and be sure to shop the products they recommend.

Mackenzie Brown (Kappa Alpha Theta, IG: @kenziemacbrown)
Site: www.youtube.com/kenziemacbrown

[Using your primer to the fullest] depends on the type of primer because they have different formulations. There is one from Hourglass that will help prevent oil buildup and I recommend that one to people who get oily in their T-zone because it will prevent their makeup from breaking up. If you mix that specific one with liquid foundation it makes your foundation waterproof. Some primers, like Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer when mixed with eyeshadow can help you use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner and it helps it stay longer. Some primers like the Porefessional are good if you have uneven skin texture because it evens it out. And Smashbox makes like 10 different primers for every sort of skin type and purpose. Also, if you put primer in your brows it makes it easier to use brow products because they won't budge and they'll be more pigmented.

Becca Ashmon (Tri Delta, IG: @beccaashmon)
Site: www.aprettyhotmess.com

Honestly, every face needs a good foundation and what makes a solid foundation you ask? Primer! Just like you prime a wall before you paint it, your face should be no different. Aside from giving your makeup a foundation to hold onto, primer can do a number of other things, from making pores appear smaller and reducing redness to helping reduce dark spots over time. So here is a list of some of my favorite primers and what it is they do!

1. Hourglass- Veil Mineral Primer 

Hands down my favorite primer of ALL time ! It is Jesus in a bottle (it saves) and goes on the face of EVERY bride I touch ! Hourglass is suitable for ALL skin types but if you are an oily girl like me then meet your new best friend. Veil is a mineral primer with an SPF of 15. Veil not only helps smooth and keep oils at bay, but it's also water resistant in case you happen to be a cry baby and tear easily at weddings and such (seriously I have cried through this stuff like ugly Kim Kardashian cried and managed to stay Beyoncé status...FLAWLESS). Bonus: It keeps makeup on my face for 12+ hours which is practically a miracle on this face !

2. Benefit- The POREfessional 

Aside from perhaps being one of the smoothest things to ever grace your face, Benefits POREfessional helps to minimize pores while also providing a surface as smooth as a baby's bottom.

3. Laura Mercier- Hydrating Primer 

If you're a girl with dry skin this primer is the one for you. All the benefits of primer plus hydration to keep you looking fresh.

4. Smashbox- Photo Finish Dark Spot Correcting Primer 

This primer does double duty as a makeup and skincare product and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots while also helping your makeup stay on and flawless .

How do you use your primer to the fullest? Share you primer tips with us in the comments below!

5 Things To Do To Not Be Bored During Winter Break

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So, finals are over for a lot of you and that means lots of free time. Like, A LOT of free time. We have been there before and while not having to study anymore is probably a relief, being bored at home during winter/holiday break can take a toll on you. Don't you worry your pretty little head though because we have come up with five things to do to not be bored during winter break.

1. Remember how you missed the finale of that one show because you've fallen behind on all the episodes? Well, use this time to catch up on all of your shows. Netflix will be your very best friend to help you accomplish that.

     2.   Get your booty in shape! Pure Barre, yoga, spin class...they're all there waiting for you to

           take advantage of.

     3. With all those gift cards you accrued over the holidays it's probably best to use them before they    

         go missing! Head to the mall with a friend or family member(s) and shop till you drop!

    4.  Speaking of friends and family, catch up with them! Sleepovers, coffee and lunch dates, movie nights...they're yours to take advantage of as you get in the know of everything you've missed since your nose has been in the books.

    5. Read up on all of The Sorority Secrets' posts you've missed! Simply click on all of our categories (Campus Catwalk, Dolled Up, Big Sis Tips, Kitchen, Chapter Room and Secret Steals).

Have an amazing Winter Break!

How To Save Money While Shopping Over the Holidays

Okay, so you missed Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, but you still want to save money on your holiday shopping. Or you participate in all three but you're still looking to save. We have the answer for you: choose thoughtful gifts rather than popular gifts. Some of the most meaningful gifts we have received have been the ones that came from the heart. Here are some cost-saving gifts sure to make the receiver smile:

Personalized Phone Case

For most people, their phones are attached to their hip (or palm of your hand)! A thoughtful reminder of something special on your phone is a priceless gift. Zazzle is great at making custom phone cases and they offer tons of coupons to ease the pain at checkout. You can find many of their discounts via RetailMeNot.

A Framed Picture

A framed quote or picture to hang up in someone's wall or better is truly an amazing gift. IKEA sells beautiful and cheap white and black picture frames, perfect for an art gallery wall. Create a quote on Microsoft Word or Photoshop, print it, and place it in a frame. Wrap it up (check out our 5 Easy & Cute Ways To Gift Wrap This Holiday for wrapping tips)! Either that, or go to Walgreens and print out a nice picture.

P.s. Consider even making a poster size picture! IKEA has frames big enough for that.

A Scrapbook

Nothing is better than reliving a moment in pictures. With places like Facebook and Instagram storing our pictures, it shouldn't be hard to pull them. Even consider using companies like Groovebook who can turn all of your photos online into a photo album!

A Video Montage

A video scrapbook is even cooler! If you have a MacBook use iMovie and create your own video that you can fill with thoughtful music and pictures!

A Candle

You can't go wrong with gifting someone with a candle. Everyone has a place in their home that could use some good aromas. Candles are a great investment. Check out our Favorite Holiday Candle Scents from Bath and Body Works for some ideas!

Assorted Gift Basket of Favorites

A bunch of tiny gifts can look like a nice big gift! Throw in a movie, socks, nail polish, candy and/or cookies, lipstick/lip balm...you know, essentials and place them in a nice basket (which you can find at Dollar Tree, Michaels, JoAnns, or 99cents Store). Tie it with cellophane and you've got an awesome gift.

Happy saving and gifting!