Top 10 Fabulous Formal Dresses Under $40

It’s getting to the end of the semester, CL readers. So that means warmer weather, finals and for some, formal! If you’re anything like me, you want the best dress for an even better price. Yesterday I bought my formal dress hoping for a simple 10% off student discount, it ended up being on clearance. I almost cried from joy when the priced dropped to $7.79.

Randomly having your dress fall under ten dollars was a huge stroke of luck. But, if you’d still love to snag a dress that costs less than your tickets check out the fabulous choices (all under $40) below.

(Click on any store name for a direct link to the website)

Macys.com $29.99

Macys.com $22.99 (also available in silver and teal)

Charlotterusse.com $29.99

Charlotterusse.com $39.99

Lulus.com $33

Lulus.com $38

Forever21.com $32.80

Forever21.com $24.80

Papayaclothing.com $18.20

Papayaclothing.com $21.99

From super sweet to elegant and retro, there’s a perfect dress (at the perfect prices) waiting for you! Happy shopping, ladies.

Ariana Romero is a senior entertainment, fashion and sorority life writing intern for College Lifestyles. She is so excited for her formal this upcoming Friday! 

Former College Lifestyles Interns: Updates, Career, and Staying Classy

Reconnecting with interns past has opened up a Pandora’s box of success stories and plenty of definitions for College Lifestyles’ coined term: classy co-ed. Thinking about interning with us? Make your decision easier by checking out what a few CL alumnae have been up to below!

 

Questions for The Classy Ladies:

1. How have you continued to live by College Lifestyles’ motto of being a “classy co-ed” post internship and/or post graduation?

2. In what way have you benefited the most from your former internship with College Lifestyles? 

3. Now that you are CL alumna, what have you done professionally since interning for College Lifestyles? 

Stephanie Hardiman Simon

1. I have continued to be a classy co-ed by following a rule that was ingrained in me in college: always try to be the best-dressed person in the room. Doing this conveys a level of professionalism and people take you seriously. I’ve also worked to volunteer my time to both my sorority and alma mater, Washington and Lee University. I don’t think there’s anything classier than working to help improve the things that mean the most to you.

2. More than anything, College Lifestyles forced me to write regularly, and as a function of that, to always brainstorm and think about the next “story.” Journalism moves fast, and you always have to have a foothold on a new project. I also learned about the anatomy of a good blog post and writing for the web, which is an important skill for anyone in communications today.

3. I graduated from Washington and Lee University and worked a handful of different reporting jobs. In the last year, I have been working for the Chicago Tribune, mostly as a web producer in the local news division. In June, I will have completed my masters degree in journalism from DePaul University. I’m also an alumnae adviser for the Pi Beta Phi chapter at Millikin University and a volunteer admissions interviewer with my alma mater.

Maggie Young

1. I have continued to strive for what I am passionate about while embracing the ups and downs that occur. Above all, I treat myself and others with respect and friendly character.

2. I learned that I can do what I want in life. Shelly really emphasized that you can take small ideas and turn them into a big reality.

3. I am a recent CL alumna, but I am now an intern at Parents magazine in NYC. I also founded Get Fit Get Life, an online magazine with a mission to empower young women to live with a healthy lifestyle.

Deirdre Cunnane

1. When I first started my internship with College Lifestyles in December 2009, I saw a classy co-ed as someone who works hard, takes time to enjoy herself, is open to trying new things, and goes forth in achieving her dreams. That description still rings true. The way in which I most try to live up to College Lifestyles’ motto is by being unafraid of change.  I moved to the Channel Islands last summer on my own and learned a lot about myself by doing so. We need to step outside of our comfort zones when the opportunity arises–it’s how you get a better perspective about life.

2. Hands down, I benefited most from the community of interns that I was a part of.  I’ve learned so much from these girls and I’m glad to say that we still keep in touch via Twitter and Facebook.  All of us are from different backgrounds, colleges, and even countries, and we wouldn’t have been brought together if it weren’t for College Lifestyles.

3. I’m a law student. Professionally, I have done a lot of work towards my goal of becoming an Irish-American attorney-at-law.  My third year of college was spent working full-time at two large law firms and the experience was invaluable.  I was so proud of having my work published in a professional periodical. I have tailored all of my final year subjects around business law which I’m now certain is what I want to specialize in. My head is currently buried in revenue, banking, and employment law books 24/7, but what can I say?  I’m loving it!

Rebecca Alberico

1. Being a classy co-ed is more of a lifestyle choice for me. Before I was a part of College Lifestyles I considered myself a classy co-ed, but once I signed on as an intern, it increased since I was working with such amazing ladies! I try to live by CL’s motto everyday — I put on a smile and my can-do attitude!

2. I have benefited the most from a past College Lifestyles internship with the connections and friendships that were created. I have friends from all over the country now! It’s not unusual for Deirdre [Cunnane] and I to tweet about our Diet Coke obsession. Just last week, a few of us were discussing the newest season of One Tree Hill! I was introduced to some wonderful girls, and I am so grateful for it!

3. After a full year (summer, fall and spring) with College Lifestyles, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, I worker in retail for the summer and fall and then finally got a job in my field. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been working as an Account Coordinator at a marketing communications firm in my hometown in Erie, PA. I absolutely love it!

Kaitlyn Kline

1. To me, living by the CL motto of being a classy co-ed just means always trying your best and being happy with yourself. I try to do both of those things in my everyday life! 

2. Before joining the College Lifestyles team, my plan was to go to graduate school for industrial/organizational psychology. After about a month with CL, I knew that would’ve been a mistake! I applied for a Journalism/Communication grad school program and realized it was the place for me. CL had sent me down a new path, which is where I was meant to be!

3. I have about seven months left in grad school, so that’s really exciting! I’ve also been doing some freelance work for Warner Brothers WBWord Division and that has been fun. I’m also a social media intern at Smith Brothers Agency and I absolutely adore it! It’s pretty much a dream come true.

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

The Relationship Between Big and Little Sis

Out of all the hundreds of sisters you gain when you pledge a sorority, your “Big” becomes your closest friend and mentor. When you first join your sorority, you probably don’t know many people yet, and your Big can help you get to know her friends and other people in your Greek Family. Everyone in your pledge class will be fixed up with a Big Sis. Prior to the reveal of who your Big Sis is or around Initiation, you might receive gifts (handmade gifts, treats, letters) or little notes from your Big- it’s her job to be your support system and go-to girl!

Your Big Sis is someone you can tell anything to and guides you through all of your most important moments, such as I-Week.

Now that everyone is coming back from winter break, it’s important to catch up and spend quality time with your Big!

 

 

 

 

Activities you can do with your Big/Little Sis:

Go out to eat

Pedicures

Movie night

Crafting

Work out

Library dates during midterms/finals

Get coffee!

 

 

 

Make sure you plan some fun “family nights” too! Your Big’s Big is usually pretty similar to her and all of you can end up being great friends. It’s important to get to know more girls than just your pledge class, and this is a fantastic way to start!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan DeBoest is an intern for College Lifestyles (TM), and is a freshman Magazine Journalism major at Drake University. She is a proud sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma and loves her friends, family, a good book, and traveling. Her Big is abroad this semester in Thailand but that won’t stop them from Skyping!

Four Unique Ways to Fundraise With Your Sorority Sisters!

After spending money on socials and parties for the holidays, donating money to charities and hosting various events on campus and in the community throughout 2011, your sorority may be in need of a fundraiser. If you want to add some extra money to your sorority’s account without doing the typical car wash or bake sale, you should present your sorority with these unique fundraising ideas:

 

• SWAMPBALL: A fun and exciting way of combining volleyball with mud. All you need is a volleyball net and lots of mud! You and your sorority can host a swampball tournament and have different organizations and individuals sign up to play. You can charge the participants to enter the tournament as well as charge people to watch. Most importantly this is an inexpensive event and a great way to get classy co-eds involved with other organizations on campus.
• Love Grams: Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, your sorority should definitely serve up the campus with some love grams! Love grams can consist of anybody who wants your sorority to deliver a card, candy cane (or other candy), stuffed animal, or even sing to their Valentine! You can raise money by charging to deliver these items. Also, your sorority can make more money by creating the cards and gifts that would be delivered and selling them at a profitable price. This fundraiser is wonderful for helping out college students who have trouble finding that special gift for their Valentine.
• Male Auction: This fundraiser would take a lot of planning, but would bring in tons of money. You can start by sending your sorority sisters on campus and in the community to have them recruit the hottest studs. Once that is done, the hard part begins: publicity! One of the key components of a successful auction is advertising, because the more people that show up the more money you are likely to raise. Make sure to give your sorority enough time to advertise efficiently and plan a possible theme for the auction. Since your sorority is in charge of the auction, they can start and stop the bid at whatever amount they would like. This would be a great fundraiser to have in the spring because it gives you the option of having it outside as well!
• Calendar: One of the more inventive fundraisers that will definitely get your sorority’s creative juices flowing is creating a calendar! Everybody needs a calendar, so why not create one that would illustrate your sorority in a positive light? Although I recommend you use your sorority as a theme for the calendar, you can step out of the box and do themes that you know would bring a lot of attention. Depending on how much money is in your budget, you can get really fancy and creative with the photographs used, artwork, how many months to include and other aspects of the calendar itself. Since the year has already begun I would suggest doing a school year calendar and fill it with all the events of the upcoming 2012-2013 year!

Whether its fall, winter, or spring you can be sure that one of these unique fundraising ideas will boost your budget for the year.

 

Sherelle Black is a junior at Louisiana Tech University majoring in journalism with a minor in marketing. She is president of her chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and likes to dance and hang with her sorority sisters in her spare time.

 

 

 

 

Ways to Plan Out Your Day: Clutter Free

Many of you have headed back to school this week anticipating the long study hours and “sleepless nights”. This spring semester is a new opportunity to stop the bad habit of  procrastination. Procrastination comes in many forms with excuses ranging from what others know to be procrastination, to what you have programmed in your mind to think about yourself. The number one cure for procrastination is planning out your time and being organized. Allow me to assist you!

It is not difficult to keep a to-do-list or planner of tasks, responsibilities and personal goals, but it can be difficult if they are not used as should. In order to see the effectiveness of your to-do-list, consider these steps:

The first tip is to keep three planners with attached calendars. Did your eyes stretch wide when you read that last sentence? I had the same response when I realized how three planners helped me to achieve my important goals. As an organized young professional, it is important to know what duties lay ahead and keep to them. A planner should be kept for every huge sector of your life. This strategy can be instrumental if you are planning a college transfer which takes a high level of organization.

Planner number one should be kept for all school work. For all of your classes this semester, look through the syllabus and transfer all of the information from the syllabus onto the calendar. This should include exam dates, and due homework assignments. Make sure to specify what class the work is for. For example, One of my classes are entitled “China Today”. In my school planner you would find on the date of February 20, 2012 “China Today: Midterm exam 1”. If the class title is too long, make a shorter name.  Organizing your school work is giving you a head start on breaking procrastination. With this organized school calendar, you can see the due assignments with a flip of the calendar booklet.

With planner one, school work, do not fail to make a to-do-list. If the calendar organizer you brought has paper for a to-do-list to be attached, this is great! Your to-do-list should be composed of weekly tasks. Keep in mind that this to-do-list is only for school. DO NOT mix in any extra curricular activities. We will get to that later in the article. An example of the to-do-list will be the following:

To-Do-List

Read chapters 1-3 for China Today (2)

Watch Assigned Youtube Videos for International Wealth and Power (3)

Pick group topic for Wednesday’s class- American Foreign Policy (1)

This is just an example. You can also mark, next to the items on your to-do-list, what items you will complete first. I have shown you in the above to-do-list example.

Planner number two should keep all work/intern responsibilities. For this calendar include your work schedule and/ or intern due dates for particular assignments. This keeps me very organized while interning for College Lifestyles!  Also include a to-list-do to go with this calendar of work/intern responsibilities. The to-do-list should be the same  as the to-do-list used in the school work planner. It should be composed of weekly assignments numbered the way they will be completed. Again, do not mix other information that does not have to do with your work and/or internship into this to-do-list or calendar. If you do not have an internship, please stay tuned for latter articles I post.

Planner number three should be used for clubs and organizations. As a young professional, being involved on campus is the prime way to network and to be noticed by other young professionals. In this calendar include meeting times, locations, and  be specific on what organization the meeting is for. Do not fail to include a to-do-list. This is important especially if office positions are held. As an officer of an organization, staying organized is the best thing to do. This planner for organizations can also be mixed with personal tasks. Personal tasks can include going to your sister’s baby shower, getting your nails done, or making a specific date to go grocery shopping. A to-do-list for something like this might include a personal facial time!

Lastly, keep important times entered into your phone to remind you of important events that require time notice. If your sister’s baby shower starts at three in the afternoon, do not plan to meet up with someone at two in the afternoon for something totally different. Although you are learning how to be more organized this semester with separating different sectors of life, it is pivotal to also learn that it is okay to have gaps in your schedule. Use those gaps for study time or my personal favorite, “Me Time”!

This article gives great ways to stay organized. Remaining structured is the key to ending procrastination as a bad habit. Through experience, I have learned that separating sectors of my life is the best way to remain organized and I am sure you will find comfort in this technique. I never try to mix personal with business, and through this I have remained healthy relationships with those who I would have risked it with being too consumed on one sector of my life. Be more organized, and find yourself having more time! <3

Said with love,

Charlene Alexander is a Professional and Relationships Writer, Social Media, and Special Events Intern at College Lifestyles ™. Charlene is a Mass Communications Undergraduate at University of South Florida. Miss Alexander is an analogue girl in a digital world who enjoys writing.

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CL’s Guide to Feuding with Sisters

Unfortunately, sorority life is not all crafting with puffy paint and organizing philanthropies all the time. You become so close to these women …and will sometimes fight with them! It’s sad because these women are supposed to be your support system and your best friends. If you are or have experienced a bit of a feud with your sisters, it’s okay! You are totally not alone! Check out these tips on how to resolve and handle these issues!

Do’s:

• The best thing you can do, and I mean BEST, is do not involve anyone else. We have all experienced the issue when you complain to your BFF and she tells other people. Words get put in your mouth, things get stretched, and fights get worse! Only confide in one person you know you can trust!!
• Do sit down and simply talk. No friends tagging along or distractions in your way. Do it over lunch or coffee.
• Consider the other person’s point of view. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, so take some time away from the feud and really think why they’re acting this way.
• Do remind yourself of why you love your sister. You did not always have an issue with her; think of the good times and why this friendship is worth holding on to.
• If she is hard to talk to, do write a letter (not a text!) It will give you a
  

  Sisterhood is about being there for each other

  chance to say everything you are thinking and feelingwithout her interrupting you. It will help you feel better to get everything off your chest as well. Be warned though, she can and may show other people so don’t put anything you wouldn’t want others to see.

• Do make up before it gets any worse – because it will!
• Be classy, not catty!

CL’s 5 Ways to Survive Black Friday

Black Friday a frightening sight. Everyone is running around like mad men trying to get that designer clutch they have had their eye on since September. Plus it doesn’t help that the employees are cranky from having to be friendly at midnight and the shirt you want is never in the right size. Fear not my fellow trend-seekers, CL is bringing you 5 surefire ways to keep you alive and well during the madness of black Friday this year.

 

1. Rations: Black Friday usually means an all night stake out. It is imperative that you bring snacks, water and tons of hot cocoa to keep you warm. Grab a lawn chair and some blankets and you’ll be the most comfortable girl in line.
2. Coupons: Getting the right deals is all about having a plan. Before even thinking about lining up for this fateful day, check out the advertisements. They will most likely have coupons that can only work on black Friday, ensuring you even cheaper items than what the in-store deals have to offer.
3. Map it out before: People go for large ticket items on black Friday, and if you are one of them you need to know exactly where the product you want is located in the store. Do a bit of comparative shopping and then find what you want so you’ll be prepared to make a mad dash for it.
4. Know what you want: Simply put, and as stated above: don’t go into black Friday shopping blindly. If you don’t have anything in mind you want, sleep in and go for cyber Monday instead. You’ll be in such a better mood plus you won’t have to leave the comfort of your couch.
5. Bring a buddy: There is nothing lonelier than black Friday shopping without company. Grab your best gal pal and get ready for a long night of gossip, coffee and great deals.

CL’s Guide to a Classy Break-Up

#ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage: This article.

 

We’ve all seen the news. Kim Kardashian and her beau Kris Humphries have nixed their marriage shortly after their fairytale wedding premiered on E!. We’ve got to hand it to Kim K., she dealt with the press better than celebrity break ups in the past, regardless of the jokes we spew off. Break ups can be hard, especially when you are in the limelight like the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star. But CL is bringing you a list of ways to break up in the gentlest, classiest way possible without harming that spotless reputation.

 

1.)  If you know it’s over, it’s over: Don’t lead the poor fellow on. If you know you are going to end things, don’t wait until the next date party is over to do it. Having a boyfriend gives us a sense of security, but drawing out the relationship will make ending things much more difficult and catastrophic.

2.)  Skip the social media: We all know how much fun Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest are, but we don’t need to alert the world of every moment in our lives. And if there was ever a moment not to clue in your Followers, it’s this one. The worst possible thing you can do is break up and post it all over his social media page. Give the guy a break and let him tell people when he’s ready.

3.)  Furthermore, put the cell phone down: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT ever, under any circumstance end things via text message, cell phone or FB chat. Unless you are in a long distance relationship that hinders you from physical contact, there is no reason to be a whimp. Tell your bf in person why you are ending things. You’ll find the process goes a lot quicker and less painless.

4.)  Give him space: A break up can be difficult for both parties involved (the dumper, and the dumpee), so give him space before trying to re-enter the friend zone. If one person was more invested in the relationship than the other, you have to respect that. Don’t anticipate talking every day or resuming civil interactions right away. Let him come to you, and if he doesn’t, remember there was a reason you dumped him in the first place.

5.)  Let me say that again: you dumped him in the first place: Sometimes it can be hard to make a decision when it comes to something as confusing as relationships. But don’t confuse him with your feelings. If you break up with him, stay away for a while. If you find you miss him, try to see if things can be repaired, but only after a significant period of time. Relapsing on a relationship decision can be disastrous for friendships.

 

DIY Sorority Gifts for anyone, anytime

With so many sisters, it seems like a savvy sorority girl always needs to come up with a good, inexpensive gift.  Whether it is for initiation, Big/Little week, graduation or the upcoming holidays, there are many DIY gifts to use.  So gather your markers, glitter, brushes and paint and get ready to create.

Jewelry box:  Go to a craft store and buy a wooden jewelry box.  Some even have frames that you can put pictures of you and your sisters into.  A jewelry box is perfect for a chic co-ed because it holds all of your dearest treasures, including your sorority pins and lavalieres.

 

Wine glasses: Personalized wine glasses are fun and classy.  Write your sister’s name on it and decorate it with her favorite colors using fabric paint.  Add a few gems to glam it up.

Picture frames:  With the amount of pictures taken within the sorority, frames are always practical.  On the frames you can include your sorority’s name, motto, “big and little,” sisters or your favorite sisterhood quote.  Show your sister what she means to you.

Bracelets:  Bracelet making can be a lot more sophisticated than it was at camp.  Find beads that fit your sister’s personality and string them on thin wire instead of string.  Make it your sorority colors to keep it symbolic of your sisterhood.

Mirror:  When your sister looks in the mirror, encourage her to do so with a smile.  Painting her a mirror and personalizing it with her favorite things and the sorority reminds her of her support system.  Encourage Beauty by Confidence.

Ornament:  Ornaments comply with the holiday season, but they can also be kept up all year.  Find a cut out of your sorority’s mascot at a craft store and decorate it.  Or purchase a clear ornament.  With a brush, apply a coat of glue.  Apply cut up tissue paper carefully to the wet ornament.  Place another coat of clear glue and let dry.  It creates a unique, creative ornament!

Painted canvas:  Purchase a small canvas and paint a sisterhood quote, your sorority’s letters or your sorority’s mascot.  It is a thoughtful room decoration for your sister.

Clipboard: Is your sister the president of your sorority?  Or is she just very busy with her schedule?  Buying a plain clipboard, or desk organizer, and painting it can make her bland everyday tool a cute accessory.

Pillow:  If you are crafty or you want to try your backstitch, make a monogrammed pillow.  Cut two 8″x8″ pieces of felt.  Cut a large letter shape from a different colored felt.  Center the letter on a piece of felt and backstitch in place using thread.  Backstitch around the 8″x8” felt with the letter, working ¼” in from the edge, using thread.  Using running stitch and thread, stitch the front and back together, placing your stitches close to the backstitch line. Add the fiberfill before closing.

Mug:  Help your sister start the day right with a personalized mug.  Most mugs can be decorated on with permanent markers or paint.  It can be sentimental, witty or cute!

When it comes to DIY gifts there are many options to choose from.  Pick a gift that you will have fun making because your sister will enjoy receiving it.  Remember to always add the personal CL lady touch!

5 Stress Relievers for the Over-Programmed Sorority Girl

There is no doubt about it: college girls are busy, especially us sorority girls. Between our weekly chapter meetings, exchanges with other frats and sororities and the daily hassles of work and class keep our schedules packed full. We all have to let off steam at some point, so when it’s your time to relax, try some of our stress relievers to make your free time worth while.

1.)   Watch a movie: Whether you check out a new movie at the local theater or snag a new release from the Redbox around the corner, watching a movie can be a serious mood changer. Taking a break from your normal, hectic life in order to take part in someone else’s exciting love life will make you happy and feel better about that pile of work you have to do. Grab a few sisters and a bag of popcorn to make it a group movie night. There is nothing in the world that cannot be remedied by your sisters, cute movie stars and some well deserved junk food.

2.)   Exercise: I know what you’re thinking. The last thing you will feel like doing after a long day of College Algebra or Chemistry is a run on the treadmill, but trust me, you will feel better after. Running a mile outside in this beautiful fall weather will not only lift your spirits, but will also help your body feel better and make you feel more confident about that Halloween costume you have your eye on.

3.)   Naptime: Everyone loves to nap. Seriously, there is nothing that brightens my day more than when I have an hour or two to lie in my bed and take a slumber. If you don’t have time during your week to have a consistent naptime, be sure to take a few minutes out of your day to rest your eyes and breathe for a bit. Perhaps even listen to some calming tunes on your iPod. You will feel so much better after a little R&R and will be more prepared to take on the daily challenges.

4.)   Read a good book: Recreational reading can be a lot of fun. As college students, we are so often forced to read textbooks that drone on and on about meaningless definitions and facts. But, by picking up a book, whether it is re-reading a past favorite or picking up a new title, reading will allow your mind to relax and drift away for a while. Double points if the book is funny. Anything by Chelsea Handler will do the trick.

5.)   A night on the town: Sometimes the best remedy to a long week is a fun night out with friends. Dinner, a classy cocktail and good conversation will improve your mood in no time. Try going to a new dance club or hang out at a new casual spot off of campus. Sometimes getting away from the official university buildings can allow you to take a deep breath and realize you are ready for some much needed fun.

What are your favorite stress relievers? Do you have a go-to activity to make you relax?

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