New Year's Eve Attire

New Year's Eve is easily one of the biggest fashion events of the year. Everyone pulls out their glitziest outfits and prepares for a night on the town. I know how important that night's look can be so I have compiled a list of 3 easy outfits from stuff you have in your own (or at least a sister's) closet!

Look 1: Black skinny pants & glam black top

Monochromatic black is always the first easy answer to a NYE outing. Pants will keep you warm while you are walking (instead of driving - be safe) around the city and will also be way less of a hassle when you are dancing the night away. Add some chandelier earrings or a statement necklace and a bright red lipstick and you are ready!

Look 2: Sequin tank and blazer

This is perfect for a more chill evening in or an evening watching the ball or in my case peach drop over your city. It's warm but still festive and sparkly. Booties and jeans or even leggings will tie this look together!

Look 3: LRD - Little Red Dress

You can always opt for the classic black version of this outfit but why not mix it up with a pop of color (it doesn't even have to be red). This fabulous outfit option is sure to make you look and feel ready for the new year! Add whatever neutral accessories you want but be cautious of stilettos on a night like NYE!

Send us pictures of your New Year's Eve OOTD at sisterhoodredefined@gmail.com!

Holiday Philanthropy Ideas

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays it often becomes easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of all that is happening. However, as a sorority sister, it is necessary to remember to give back through philanthropy during this season. Remember, philanthropy doesn't have to be boring, so grab a few sisters and have fun while giving back!

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen - With a few sisters, you can call your local soup kitchen and schedule a day to get together are serve lunch to the less fortunate.

Go Caroling - It is easy to spread cheer by simply caroling! Go to your local nursing home and sing to the residents. You will have a blast and spread cheer!

Make Cards for the Elderly - Before you go caroling at the nursing home, gather all of your craft supplies and craft cards for the elderly. You get to use the left over scrapbook paper that is sitting in your drawers and the recipients will love them!

Volunteer at the Animal Shelter - Animals need love too during the holidays and what could be more fun than playing with puppies all day?

Wrapping Gifts for Busy Moms - Mothers of small children can rarely find time to go Christmas shopping much less wrapping the gifts as well. Gather supplies and a group of girls and set up a wrapping station for busy mothers!

How do you like to give back during the Holidays?

Holiday Movie Marathon

Now that finals are over, you probably have a lot of time on your hands. There's no better way to kick off winter break than with a holiday movie marathon! Here are some of my top picks:

White Christmas

Classics 

• White Christmas 
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Miracle on 34th Street
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Frosty the Snowman
• The Year Without a Santa Claus

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

New Favorites

• Home Alone
• Elf
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• The Santa Claus
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• This Christmas
• Love Actually

What are your favorite Holiday movies?

Stay in Touch!

I know how hard it is to be apart from your sisters for a long break. A month in December and almost three over the summer, it’s miserable! I have a few ways to keep it together thought and I’m here to share them with you!

1. Download GroupMe: what’s more fun than a massive group text message with up to 50 of your closest sisters? Absolutely nothing!
2. Start a pen pal system: I know I love getting mail and mail from sisters you don’t know as well not only improves your loneliness but it also does wonders to your sisterhood bonds!
3. Organize meetups in different areas: have all the sisters that live within an hour of you, over for a movie night and holiday cookies!
4. Call your besties frequently: a texting conversation is one thing but a phone call really helps you reconnect with someone!
5. Keep the email love strong: if you don’t want to search for a stamp, write your letters online and email them to different sisters!
6. Use a website like Elfster to set up a Secret Santa: even if it doesn’t get started before the holidays do, sending and receiving gifts will make you feel extra special.
7. Skype: have everyone brew a cup of coffee and log on to a chat! If you regularly meet up for coffee at school, this is a great way to do it from your own homes away from school!

Have fun keeping in touch with sisters and while you are sending out holiday e-cards, send one to us too at sisterhoodredefined@gmail.com!

Reunited: Things To Do with Your Friends Back Home

Reunited and it feels so good! Finals are over, and everyone is back home for break. With not an ounce of homework in sight, there’s nothing standing between you and your high school friends from catching up. Some of your friends may have gone to the same college as you, but most likely you all went separate ways after graduation. Winter break is the perfect time to get together to reminisce about the old times and to make new memories. Here are some suggestions to keep you laughing together all break long.

 

Every December, my high school friends and I get together to have a secret Sana gift exchange. Everyone dons their best ugly Christmas sweater and brings holiday treats to share. We do gifts differently every year. One year we are randomly assigned another girl in the group so we knew who we were buying for. Another year we just brought a present then played a game to see what order we picked gifts in. This is always my favorite way to play. You can each pick a gift in a random order, but everything gets more exciting when you can “steal” presents from someone who already opened theirs. Another way to play is musical presents, where gifts get passed around the circle until the music stops. No matter what way you play, it’s usually best to put a spending limit on gifts. We’re college students, not millionaires. By limiting everyone to the same budget it equalizes the playing field and forces people to get creative.

If presents aren’t your thing, have a baking party! Everybody knows calories don’t count over break. So pull out grandma’s recipe and turn on the oven. You’ll get some quality time to catch up on gossip while you’re baking. Who’s got a hot new boyfriend?  Who’s got the crazy roommate? Which girls from your high school are pregnant or married already? If you’re old enough, add some wine into the mix! By the time you’re done chit chatting, your desserts should be ready.

Nothing compares to shopping with your girls. No dressing room mirror is as honest or as helpful as your best friends. There’s so many shopping opportunities over break. Braving the mall crowds for pre-holiday shopping is 10 times easier with your friends. Post-holiday, you can all get together to return that well-intended, but not so chic sweater from your aunt or you can spend; all those gift cards that are burning a hole in your wallet. Don’t forget to stop for lunch or coffee at your favorite little café.

Get outside with your girls! Go ice skating or sledding, just like when you were little kids. You’ll laugh more than you have in weeks and you’ll get some cute photos to add to your Instagram. If you live near the mountains, hike the slopes for a ski or snowboard weekend. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere warm, go to the beach or for a hike. There’s no better way to work off that extra cookie weight than with an adventure with your best friends.

It's A Marshmallow World

One of my favorite ways to waste time over the holidays is by making all sorts of holiday treats! Here is one of my absolute favorite holiday goodies - perfect with a cup of hot chocolate while cuddled up by the fire with someone special!

This is the simplest thing in the world to make and you can easily adapt it. Heat some chocolate bark in the microwave and roll your marshmallows in them on sticks or even pretzels or candy canes. Decorate them with white chocolate designs, sprinkles or crushed peppermint. These are the perfect treat to take to any party you attend or to wrap up with some homemade hot cocoa for a last minute gift.