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new york, new york!

Making it to NYC was something I had on my list for as long as I can remember.  Or for as long as my grandma had been telling me how special the city was :)  A free day in my schedule at Rutgers was the perfect coincidence--a train ride to the city to meet some wonderful friends who just happened to be there!  Two of my favorite Priory boys, Michael & Blake, were my tour guides of the city.  And the unexpected heavy snow made for a beautiful city landscape.  We squeezed in all the major sights, from SoHo to Wallstreet to the Today Show set to Times Square and more!  It was like the movies, but better :)  Here are some pictures of my exciting day in NYC!

Washington Square near NYU

John Mayer's apartment building!!

Grand Central Station

Times Square!

The perfect end to a day in the city :)

a much needed break

After visiting Duke, it had been quite sometime since I had a day off.  The combination of family, the sun, and the beach couldn't have come at a more perfect time!  Stepping off the plane to see my wonderful grandparents was the best feeling.  It felt so nice to give people I know and love a big hug, which is something I miss the most on the road.  My grandparents sure do know how to spoil me!  I ate yummy homemade food, slept in a comfy bed, watched movies, had great conversations, went shopping, laid on the beach, and just felt a whole lot of love in their home :)  Another special part of my trip was spending time with my great grandmother.  She exemplifies resiliance at her age of 93.  Despite her many things that have happened in her life, she still knows how to find the silver lining and to smile.  I hope I can grow up to be just like her someday :)  By the end of my trip, I was so refreshed and ready to hit the road again!  Thank you Nana and Papa for such a wonderful break, love you! 

Dinner at Guanabana's after some outlet mall shopping!

My inspiring Great Grandma :)

Some pretty wonderful role models in my life!

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finding kind

I was first exposed to the Kind Campaign when I was at Convention in Denver and saw Molly Stroud, the co-founder of this campaign and a Delta Gamma!, receive a Courage Award and speak to all Convention attendees about her movement.  She was so inspiring and I was instantly drawn to this misson: to raise awareness about the bullying & gossip culture from girls to women and to educate all on how to be kind. 

When I arrived at the Rutgers chapter, I sat down to find the Finding Kind documentary, one I had been waiting to finally see, sitting on the desk.  I was so excited to finally watch this documentary and viewed it last night with some members of the chapter Honor Board.  It is a film that makes you reflect on your own experiences and realize that no matter the extent of your struggles, we are all affected by this negative culture we women have created.  Please check out the links below to find out more about the Kind Campaign and watch the documentary if you can!  It will ignite a desire to help you and the women in your life find kind :) 

“There’s one thing that we can all be.  We might not all be beautiful.  We might not all be talented.  We might not all be smart.  But we can be kind.” 

Finding Kind Trailer

Kind Campaign Website

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go duke!

I was so excited to arrive on this infamous campus!  The first night I was there, I pulled up with the president to the center of West campus where the beautiful Duke chapel is located.  It was even more beautiful inside!  The chapel is where the chapter hosts their annual Lectureship series featuring Maya Angelou.  It is not only a memorable event for Delta Gamma, but for the entire Duke community!

A highlight of my visit at Duke was a spontaneous visit by my wonderful and best friend, Michelle Rehme!  She drove up from Charlottesville, VA to spend time with me and I am so very thankful for her going out of the way to see me!  It was so wonderful to see a familiar face and spend time with someone that I truly know and who knows me :)  We drove to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus (which was beautiful!) and went out to a fun Mexican dinner.  The next morning we met for breakfast and went for a walk (our favorite) in the gorgeous Duke gardens.  I couldn't have asked for a better visit from a more perfect friend!

The rest of my visit at Duke was filled with officer meetings with extremely intelligent and talented women.  These sisters have it going on!  It was so cool to hear their stories and plans for their futures.  Here are some pictures from my stay at Beta Theta chapter:

The Duke Chapter

Inside the chapel where Delta Gamma hosts
Maya Angelou for Lectureship!

PR on campus for Anchor Bowl!

DGs everywhere LOVE food :)

back to the big 10!

My visit to Omega chapter at the University of Wisconsin was filled with moments where I thought to myself "I am so blessed".  Blessed to have this job.  Blessed to be surrounded by inspiring women.  Blessed to be a Delta Gamma :)

The officers of this chapter were oustanding!  I truly learned from them and was inspired by their continued dedication to chapter growth.  I had wonderful discussions with the women I met and felt so welcomed into their beautiful home.  The food was fantastic--the chef made ready-to-order omelets every morning!  I was able to go to the Madison Farmer's Market, the largest in the nation!  And yes...they have lots and lots of cheese!  Madison is a fun, young city with lots of great shops and restaurants.  They even have a State Street, just like at Purdue, with Potbelly's and Noodles too!  Here are some pictures from this beautiful campus and chapter visit...

Trip to the Farmer's Market!

The student union terrace, overlooking the lake.  It was gorgeous!