Apple Crumb Bars

Remember when I made these awesome blueberry bars? Well, we made them with apples. Delicious! We made two alterations since the first time we tried it. We added cinnamon to both the apples and the dough and instead of mixing the apples with white sugar, we mixed them with the same amount of brown sugar. To compensate for the extra moisture in the brown sugar, I added a pinch more cornstarch. It turned out amazing! I'm kind of obsessed. It's extra yummy warmed up with vanilla ice cream.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I was trying to find a clip of Marshall's pumpkin latte jokes from How I Met Your Mother but the internet has failed me.... One of my favorite parts of autumn is pumpkin flavored treats. Pumpkin pie pop tarts have been hanging out in my pantry. So a pumpkin spice was a must on my autumn bucket list. One day after class, I decided to just go ahead and knock this one off my list while studying some anatomy. When I went to pay, they said I had a free one on my loyalty card! Gotta love when it works out like that. Biggby also has a pumpkin pie brew, an apple spice brew, and a salted caramel brew for the season that I'd like to try at some point but at $10 a bag, it will have to wait. The pumpkin latte at Biggby is a little more spice than pumpkin but it's amazing. It's also not overly sweet. I'm looking forward to a hot apple cider as well as their new fall beverage, the s'more latte!

Friday Faves

Well once again it is Friday. Sometimes, it's really hard to write these because I'm so excited for the weekend and then the next Friday, I forgot what I did the weekend before that I wanted to add to my list. Oh well...

1. Paddles!

I've been working on a paddle for my pseudo big sister MB. She loves Harry Potter so I've been painting the Hufflepuff crest for about a bajillion hours now. I've been obsessed with getting every detail right. I was going to take step-by-step photos but I forgot. I will post a pic of the finished paddle plus some tips later.

2. Psy- Gangnam Style

If you can watch this video and not smile, you should probably go live in a cave some where because you are incapable of happiness. Sorry.

3. Kristin is moving back to MI!

My other pseudo big, Kristin, has been living in CO since she graduated in the spring of 2011. I haven't seen her since she moved out there but this week she was in the area looking for a job so we had dinner! I missed her so so so much and I am so excited to have her back in the area in the middle of October!

4. Tardis Dress

I've been wanting this dress to turn into a Tardis dress for a long time. Since ModCloth was having a sale, I decided it was time. And lucky for me, I got the last one in my size! Now, I'm just hoping it looks just as good on me!

5. Teacup Piggies

Because no one can frown when they are talking about everything they are going to do with their future pet teacup pig. It's like opening your eyes when you sneeze. It is not physically possible.

What to Wear.... Preference as an Active

Preference to me is the most important ritual we hold. Recruitment is the key to the survival of a chapter and the key to recruitment is preference. In the fall, preference should make a very difficult choice easy. It should show potential new members exactly what they are going to represent if they wear your letters. That being said, as I approach my second fall preference as ritual chair, attire is extremely important. You want to show how seriously your chapter takes it values through the way you act and dress at preference. This is how I would ask my members to dress. I know other sororities have different requirements and you should definitely make sure you follow all of those. But this is what I would ask my chapter to wear.

The Dress: Black and classy. You're not going to the club. You're going to preference. Make sure it's got thick straps or wear a cardigan. It better get close to your knees or I'll kick you out. Think "interview". No cut outs or see-through lace nonsense.

The Shoes: Low heels are perfect. You want them to be comfortable because if I see you fidgeting during round one, I'll ask you to leave for round two. You can tell the experienced sisters from the new sisters. They can stand still facing forward for the whole 45 minutes. They don't shift from foot to foot because they know good shoes are crucial. And they better be all black. No white details, no bright flower. It's gotta be all black.

The Pin: My sisters know if I see you forgot your pin, you will be written up to standards. It's our badge! Make sure its on straight and over your heart. 

The Make-Up: Go neutral. I'm not a dictator with make up at preference because everyone wants to look pretty for the PNMs. Just make sure it's natural. Lipstick, foundation, and mascara are really all you need. Nail polish should be light and pretty to go with all your recruitment outfits. And if you're skipping the nylons, you better shave your legs and put lotion on. 

The Accessories: I am all for a cute headband or a flower. But it also better be black. It's our ritual requirements to be in all black. And your hair better be mostly down. I know it can get hot in that room but when everyone wears their hair down, it looks uniform and pretty.

Well that's it. I'm pretty straight forward with ritual attire. I expect it to all follow the rules because they reflect our values. But I also believe ritual attire can be cute and fun.

Recruitment Survival Kit

My youngest little spent a lot of time freaking out about recruitment. I had never seen her so nervous. The funny thing is if you didn't know her, you wouldn't know she was so nervous. But she was asking me a lot of questions and especially if I would be there for the whole weekend at our family dinner. At the workshop, she was quiet and observant. I knew if Emily gets serious, she's processing everything and taking mental notes. I didn't name Emily "Hermione" for nothing. She needs to know all about something and I think going into a  new situation where she's inexperienced would be concerning for her. So I felt like I had to do something to take her focus on all the pressure we put on preforming well in formal recruitment. I created this little recruitment survival kit to help her feel more comfortable with the situation. I tried to think back on everything I wish I had had my first recruitment weekend. I think I did a pretty good job...

• Candy
• Snacks
• Mints
• Pens
• Band-Aids
• Hand Sanitizer
• Ibuprofen
• Bottled Water (not pictured)

Other suggestions: pack of notecards, comb/brush, mirror, mini deodorant, Tide-To-Go pen, nail file, Red Bull

I am really proud of this little project. I hope it brings my little some confidence so she can go into recruitment focused on just having fun and not worrying too much about the little stuff.

Friday Faves

It's Friday!!! Not that it means much when you work as much as I do. But anyways.

1. These Battery Operated Candles

I think the entire room cheered when I announced we have 50 battery operated candles for our rituals. The sorority has been desperate to do this for a while but when I originally held the position, I never had the budget to do it and when other's held the position, they were those who believe battery operated candles aren't as nice as real candles. I am actually really excited because it means no burns or accidents anymore. I'll never forget when Ashley fell asleep during a ritual and almost caught her hair on fire.

2. Chili

Remember this yummy chili I made earlier this week? So good! The leftovers are just as good. Maybe a little thick but still really delicious. I love having leftovers.

3. Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

This is the greatest blog on the internets. Kristan is hilarious and I hope I can be as half as cool as she is. When I see something new from her pop up into my feed reader, I cheer a little in my head. She makes yummy food and tells hilarious stories about her life. This week she posted an amazing oreo poke cake that I can't wait to try.

4. Blueberry Bagels from Big Apple Bagels

The boss brought bagels to work yesterday and so far the best part about closing is taking stuff like that home at the end of the night. Free bagels are the best breakfast and the blueberry bagel I had this morning was so good.

5. My New Vera Bradley Loop Key Chain

A little gift to myself for getting a new job and making it through two weeks of class. Plus it was on sale. Sales are always a reason for Vera.

What To Wear.... Preference as a Potential New Member

Preference as a potential new member is absolutely terrifying. When I went through recruitment, I heard that you were supposed to cry at Preference. I couldn't figure out what they were going to do to me to make me cry. Anyways, I knew you had to come fancy but when I arrived at the student union building, I realized there was no standard response to "fancy". Some PNMs showed up in semi-formal homecoming dresses and others like me showed up in sundresses and a cardigan. Then when I was Ritual chair, I wished our Panhellenic council had spent more time preparing girls for this important round because I realized we cut girls we absolutely loved based on our perceptions of how seriously they took our Preference. I'm sure the girl who brought coffee didn't mean any disrespect but it offended every sister in that room. That's the inspiration for this post. As recruitment season comes upon us, here is a simple description of what might impress a chapter.

Here's the breakdown:

The Dress: Think church. What would you wear to impress your grandma? Most chapters look for women who will uphold their values and dressing like you're going to the club will probably insult a lot of women. So go super classy. Think knee-length or longer. Personally, I would try to show off your personality without looking like you spend more time looking at magazines than studying for your finals. The beauty of this dress is the pattern isn't overwhelming but the color is bright and the combination of purple and gold will help you stand out a little. Avoid black. Most chapters require their sisters to wear black dresses during this round. Alternative options are skirts and pants but I find myself adjusting myself too much wearing a skirt or pants.

The Shoes: This is the only round I could appreciate wearing heels as a new member. Go with something comfortable. I recommend wearing them a few times outside before recruitment. You will spend at least some time on your feet and at least from personal experience, you may have to walk with 30+ people focused on you. The last think you want to do is trip. 

The Accessories: Again, class is key. Go with simple accessories that show your personality. I can't wear necklaces because I fiddle with them. If you know you play with your jewelry, skip it. When in doubt, get yourself some pearls. Real or fake, gold or white, every sorority woman appreciates pearls.

The Make-Up: This is where you can show your personality. If you are skilled with a make-up brush, go a little trendy. The only rule with make-up: waterproof mascara. If you do cry, you don't want to risk spending the rest of your rounds looking like a raccoon. 

No purse?!: I am a self-proclaimed purse addict. But don't bring one. Ritual is often an activity that requires both hands. No to mention you don't want to fiddle with it during the round and have women think you are disrespecting them. If you have something like keys or a phone, leave them with your Rho Gamma (or Rho Chi or Gamma Chi or whatever your campus calls them). You won't need them during the round anyways. If you go through in the winter, this won't be an issue as they expect you to have a jacket and they'll have a spot for these things.

Most importantly, remember that Preference is meant to make the choice easy. Not just for you, but for us too. So leave a lasting impression as there will be no more chances after this round to do so on the sorority you really want!

Crock Pot Chili

I meant to put this on my fall bucket list but I forgot. Anyways, Joe and I have been talking about making chili for a while so it was a nice way to kick off autumn. We made a small change because Joe and I don't care for large pieces of cooked tomatoes. It turned out really delicious. I can't wait to enjoy the leftovers and we are for sure making this again soon. Joe and I are a little obsessed with crock pots and hopefully, I'll have some beef stew to show off soon.

Crock Pot Chili (Adapted from this book)

• 2lbs Ground Hamburger
• 1/2 Large Onion, Chopped
• 2 16-oz Cans Kidney Beans, Drained
• 2 14-oz. Cans Diced Tomatoes
• 1 8-oz. Can Tomato Sauce
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 1 Tbsp. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. Cumin
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Pepper

1. Brown the hamburger with half of the chopped onion.
2. Blend the diced tomatoes in a blender.
3. Add all the ingredients to the crock pot.
4. Cover. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
5. Serve with warm corn bread.

Friday Faves

WARNING: This post will contain spoilers for the new episode of Doctor Who (Asylum of the Daleks). If you haven't seen it yet, back away from the computer and come back when you've experienced the awesomeness.

So anyways... has it really been 6 weeks of blogging? Good for me. I feel rather accomplished when I look at all my posts, both past and scheduled. It's been a good 6 weeks. So let's get into the best of this week.

1. Oswin and the Asylum of the Daleks

Highest point of my week is the premier of Doctor Who! Oswin is going to be my favorite companion, I can just tell. She is a total bad ass and she is definitely going to have some epic adventures with the Doctor. I am so impressed by the plot and especially the end of this episode. I think Joe might be sick of me for talking about it so much but good news, there is another new episode tomorrow. I'm sure Doctor Who will top my list quite a bit this fall!

2. Liam

I saw the baby nephew this week! Could there be anything better than a cuddly nephew? I don't think so.

3. The Cottage

I spent part of my weekend here. Be jealous. But not super jealous. All I did was nap... #collegestudentproblems

4. Menna's Wednesdays

Wednesdays are family dinner days so Grace and Emily and I met at Menna's to eat some delicious dubs and talk. It's seriously one of my favorite sorority memories. Plus Menna's is just so good.

5. Recruitment Workshops

We had our first recruitment workshop of the semester this week. It feels a tiny bit silly for me to attend because this will be my third fall recruitment as an active but it was fun to teach the new girls the cheers and give them advice on how to answer the tough questions. My favorite potential question someone came up with: "Does everyone get along?" 

I thought this post would be hard to write because my list of negative events of the week has been a little lengthy and is on my mind this morning but coming up with 5 awesome things was actually really easy. In case you can't tell, I love writing these!

Peanut Butter Blondies

Joe loves peanut butter. A lot. So we make a lot of desserts with peanut butter. I found these blondies and knew Joe would be all over them. I thought they could have used more peanut butter. I might make a few changes next time but Joe really loved them as is. My big tip is eat these up quickly. They dry out fast no matter how tightly you seal them up. Also, if you like you chocolate chips as chips and not swirls of chocolate through the blondies, make sure you don't get impatient and let the peanut butter/sugar mixture cool completely. We got impatient. It's fine.
I'm going to fuss with the recipe at some point to fix that and make them more peanut butter-y. But I'm not complaining. I still think they are so yummy! You can find the original recipe from The Sweetest Kitchen here.