d-e-l-t-a! g-a-m-m-a!

This weekend has brought lots & lots of recruitment training!   I have learned so much about the "behind the scenes" work that goes into a formal or COB recruitment setting and am really trying to digest it all.  I have a deeper appreciation for each and every DG that screams her heart out as she cheers each round to share her excitement for her chapter.  But above all the "frills", the heart of recruitment comes from the hope we have for each PNM to find a place where she can call "home".  The following quote from a former Fraternity president, Maureen Syring, states...

"Regardless of whether a potential new member becomes a member of Delta Gamma or not, she must always leave Delta Gamma with the feeling of friendship and love, and that your chapter truly cares for her as a person.  A new friend, regardless of her sorority affiliation, can be the greatest public relations tool Delta Gamma can ever have!" 

Each and every Delta Gamma women has the responsibility to carry on our legacy through recruitment.  So get out there and carry it on! 

cover of the anchora? yes, please!

A tradition all CDC teams hope to be able to do is to be on the cover of the Delta Gamma magazine, the Anchora!  And this year we were thrilled to be asked to have our team featured in the Fall issue!  The fabulous photographers booked our shoot on a replica of the Santa Maria, the ship Columbus sailed!  Get it...Columbus, OH.  Ha :)  Well, here's a sneak peak of the photos that will be in the Fall issue!  Loving how cute we all look together!

P.s. Color coordination was purposeful.  And thought about.  A lot.   :)

for hope.

backstreet's back...alright!

Reliving our childhood boy band days, the CDC team sang along to our favorite Backstreet Boys songs at the concert in Columbus.  Best. idea. ever.  We all had a blast!  During "I want it that way", it made me smile to look along our row (and yes, we took up an entire row!) to see each of us belting it out as if we were back in the 5th grade.  Its in these moments, silly as it may seem, that I am thankful for sisterhood.  Being with people who support & love you, know matter how crazy you might be.  Because "I want it that way" :)

tech savvy

So happy to be updated my blog on my new Dell Netbook!  Compliments of DG, each CDC will be traveling with this light-weight machine to stay organized & in touch while on the road.  Complete with embroidered case (labeled CDC Courtney!), wireless card & wireless mouse, I'll be able to stay organized and, let's be honest, spend too much time on all my social media...ha!  So thankful :)

boiler up!

Just wanted to give credit to my wonderful chapter....Beta Iota!  The outside garden is full of women who lived in the fabulous 303!  Check it out :)

home sweet home :)

Now that I have settled in, I wanted to share some pictures of my beautiful new abode!  Living in the Martin Center has been so wonderful.  I feel so spoiled!  We all have rooms with 3-4 girls in each with plenty of drawers and closet space.  Off of our rooms is a common area with a T.V. and comfy couches.  And off that room is where all the magic happens...the board room table :)  Many hours spent there daily make our brains full of DG knowledge!  Enjoy some pictures below!

 Front door of Executive Offices

                Portrait of our Founders in the foyer

                                           Formal Living Room                            Room!

july 18th...the day I had been waiting for!

The day I become a CDC.  As I sat on my turbulant little  plane (something I must get used to!) listening to my new iPod Nano (a perfect recent purchase), I wanted to gather all my thoughts as I began this adventure.

First off, I am so blessed.  So many wonderful women have come before me and I feel honored to be in the same category!  Secondly, there are so many things I want to accomplish this year.  I want this year to be a year of personal growth and development.  So I compiled the top 10 things that came to mind as to what I hope to do this year...

1. Trust in God's plan for my year as CDC Courtney.  I know I have many things in store that are all a part of His purpose for me!
2. Take advantage of EVERY opportunity possible.
3. Learn how NOT to sleep yet function anyway (something I attempted to do in college but must continue to work on, especially on those recruitment visits!).
4. Climb/hike a mountain.  I have recently felt compelled to do this.  Not sure where but I hope to make it happen!  I also feel climbing a mountain can be used in a literal and figurative sense.  Looking forward to either :)
5. Foster friendships that I will have for a lifetime!
6. Use this time as an opportunity to continue to grow in my faith (attend different churches, listen to podcasts, read daily reflections).
7. Be completely selfless yet still take care of myself.
8. Blog :)
9. Keep my heathly eating/exercising lifestyle but don't miss out on the local foods!  Try new things!
10. According to my favorite quote from Anna Boyd Ellington "much is expected of me". 
So, most of all, I hope to...make my Founders proud :)

my life in a suitcase

As I begin the packing process, I have decided to label this experience as extreme camping.  Think about it....I must put all the things I need to survive in two airline regulated containers, manage to keep my tolietries from spilling on all contents, AND prepare to live without a washing machine.  Yikes!  Then, in the weeks to come, I don't know where I will be sleeping, what I will be eating, or who I will encounter.  Sounds extreme, right?  ;) This picture sums up my feelings...overwhelmed.  My room currently looks like an unorganized clothing store with items hanging and folded on every surface I can find.  Yet thanks to tips from past CDCs and my new favorite blog to follow (Miss Magnolia), I'm slowly making strides.  It's actually pretty nice to narrow down the items that "define me".   It's also helping me realize what I need and what I can live without. I just hope I don't forget anything and, at the end of the day, this suitcase zips :)

...I got all my sisters with me!

Last weekend was a much needed reunion with all of my favorite DGs!  A last minute decision to roadtrip back to the wonderful state of Indiana fell together so perfectly.  Sparked by wanting to attend a bridal shower for a Panhellenic sister (Miss Katie Watson aka my favorite Theta!), allowed for me to drive to the state I called home for my college years.  First stop...Kokomo! (a trip to Indiana is not complete without a visit to Honey Court).  It was so wonderful to catch up with my little, Katelyn, and her great family.  Saturday was packed with the bridal shower, then to see some of my faves from my member class who also drove to Indy for the weekend!  Being reunited with Andrea, Morgan, Katie, Emily & Lo was just what I needed!  I love that we can all just pick up where we left off in the Deeg :)  I'm so thankful they all made the drive in to we could be together!  Sunday brought even more DG love into my visit...a family renuion!  Lunch at Paradise Cafe in Clay Terrace with my darling DG family (Katelyn, Marlee & Kirsti) was filled with yummy dessert, great conversation, and much needed family bonding time.

The whole drive home I couldn't stop smiling :)  It made me feel so incredibly blessed to have these moments.  As I begin my time as an alumnae (wishing I could be back in West Laf for Purdue recruitment), I know I have so many wonderful memories to come. Anytime spent with my sisters is a constant reminder of why Delta Gamma is so instrumental in my life!

anchors are SO in!

In the spirit of knowing Delta Gamma has the most darling, versatile, and fashionable symbol a sorority could have, I wanted to share some of my favorite nautical trends!  All found on Pinterest, my recent obsession.  Hope this inspires all anchor girls :)