EG Book Review: The Hunger Games

            Having just finished the first book of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, The Hunger Games, I had to share my thoughts with Emma Graham lovers. Many of you may already be on the bandwagon for this addicting series, but some of you may still be wondering, what’s all the hype about?

            In The Hunger Games, the main character Katniss Everdeen is faced with an unexpected curse when her little sister Prim is selected to go into the Capitol’s annual hunger games. Almost immediately, she nobly sacrifices herself as District 12’s female tribute to go into the Games, which are universally assumed as a death curse amongst all the districts. The Capitol hosts its annual Hunger Games as a means of keeping the twelve districts in check and avoiding any uprisings or rebellions. Along the way, Katniss gets to know the mysterious and handsome Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from her district who is the son of a baker. Katniss faces both internal and external conflicts before and during the Games. She must deal with self-doubt, her own personal weaknesses and feelings, the other tributes, and any and all challenges presented by the Capitol throughout the Games. Forced to be strong for her family and district, Katniss scrounges up all of the strength and bravery she can and starts on one of the most arduous, emotional and life-changing journeys she has ever encountered.

            I encourage you all to pick up a copy of the Hunger Games today! Collins’ refreshing and exciting story of a teenage girl faced with life or death will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. I just finished the must-read and can’t wait to see the movie and start on the second book!

Emma Graham Meets the Parents!

            This week, I brought my newest love interest home with me from FSU so that I could show off for everyone back at Tampa. You may be thinking tall, dark and handsome, but nope I’m thinking Emma Graham! Hosting trunk shows and handing out EG coozies and sunglasses at FSU this past semester has certainly been a blast, and I can tell by girls’ reactions that the brand is growing more and more each day. So I took the opportunity to introduce Emma Graham Designs to all my friends and family in Tampa on my two-week long summer vacation before returning to Tallahassee.

            I hosted a Sunday afternoon trunk show complete with decorations, an iPad picture slide slow (courtesy of my lovely Mom), decadent cookie brownies and pink and blue sprinkled sugar cookies. For most of my guests, this was their first chance to see Emma Graham in person, and I loved seeing all of their reactions to the pieces. “This looks so much cuter on!” and “I love this style on me!” were among the comments throughout my two hour show. It is so important for girls to be able to put an Emma Graham dress on and see how it makes them feel. Allison felt girly and ready to take on her internship in New York in the classic Aimee dress and Danielle loved the sassy look of the Lauren. Jessica even made a deal with her Mom to save up and pay half for the Leah because she fell in love with it as soon as she put it on!

           Needless to say, EG made quite the impression. With the Emma Graham team in the process of hiring new Design Consultants for summer, I would just like to highlight how much I love this job! I can only imagine the doors that will open, the opportunities that will present themselves and the experience and memories I will gain from working for such a great and fun company. #Egis(most definitely)forMe!

Study Tips for the Dreaded Finals Week 

Finals Week is quickly (and unfortunately approaching), and for some of us the dreaded week of all-nighters and too many Starbucks iced coffees is already upon us. Although finals can be stressful and tedious, there are ways to make it less of a strain on yourself and to finish out your year strong. To help out my fellow EG lovers, I’ve come up with some tips on how to ace those finals. 

1.     Keep yourself healthy. It is so important during a stressful and tiring week of studying and tests to make sure you are eating a healthy and filling breakfast, getting enough sleep, and getting at least a little bit of exercise each day. Try a Whole Wheat English muffin with peanut butter and jelly (my fave) with a cup of coffee in the morning. You’ll be surprised at how energized you feel. Getting your 7-8 hours of sleep is crucial, as attempting to study on four hours of sleep is virtually impossible. And no one expects you to run a 5K during Finals Week, but as a study break, take a 15 minute walk or swim a few laps. I promise it’ll help clear your mind and make the most out of your studying.

2.     Make a study schedule. A lot of us have two, three, maybe even five finals within a week’s span and it can definitely be overwhelming. At the beginning of your week, write out a list of what tests you’re going to study for each day. This way, you can allocate your time in the most efficient way, since we all know how precious our time is during this week!

3.     Pick a study buddy. Whether it’s one of your sorority sisters, an older friend, or that really smart guy in your Economics class, ask them to study with you. One of the best ways to retain information is by teaching it to someone else, and chances are, they need help too. You can bounce information off each other, quiz each other with flashcards and clear up any questions you both may have. It also takes the boring factor out of studying when you’re suffering through it with a friend! 

Hopefully you all use these pointers throughout your studying and tests in these next few weeks. With a little bit of hard work and dedication, you’re sure to pass those finals with flying colors. Study hard and Good Luck! 

Fun Workouts to Try This Summer

                  We all want to be fit and healthy for bikini season, but those tedious cardio sessions at the gym can really wear a girl out! So I’ve come up with some fun alternatives to break a sweat and get in shape for summer time.

                  First of all, I suggest everyone try Zumba. It’s a Latin-style dance class that mixes dance and toning moves to really get your heart rate going. The music itself is enough to get your heart pumping and Zumba instructors are always fun, energetic and motivating! Grab your girlfriends and head to a Zumba class at your local gym for an awesome workout.

                  Try tennis. Running around a tennis court after balls for even just thirty minutes is surprisingly a great way to break a sweat. You can try singles with one other player or doubles for a competitive and fun workout. Practice makes perfect, you’ll be looking like Maria Sharapova in no time.

                  Another workout alternative is hot yoga. A modern twist on this classic mental and physical workout, hot yoga incorporates a hot, humid room in order to get the optimal results. Suprisingly, you should feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the day after. Sweating through hot yoga will definitely feel like quite the accomplishment!

                  Last but not least, we all love lounging around in the pool on a hot, summer day, but who knew our neighborhood swimming pool could also provide one of the best workouts around? Throw on your cap and goggles and swim laps with a friend. The water is refreshing and provides resistance that you can’t get anywhere else for a workout.

                  Get out and try all of these workout ideas and I guarantee you won’t be bored. You’ll also feel and look great just in time for Summer! 

How to Wear Your Favorite EG Pieces

We all love the stylish and trendy pieces from Emma Graham’s collection, but may often have the recurring problem of being “all dressed up with nowhere to go!” So I’d like to touch on the perfect places to flaunt that flirty pink Jenn dress or custom-designed mint julep Berkeley skirt.

 1.     Molly- The Going Out Top

Whether it’s a night of dancing with friends, or a fun-filled fiesta at a Mexican restaurant with your guy and other couples, the Molly top is definitely your go-to. Flirty and functional, the Molly’s Party Pink color screams “I’m here and ready to party!” The best thing is, reverse the top inside out to the Aqua Green shade and you have a whole new look!

2.     Lauren- The Date Night Dress

The front of the Lauren is subtle and cute, and modest enough to wear on a date with a guy your friends set you up with. At the same time, the sassy halter neckline and coral leather back show off your fun side. Pair with a pair of neutral wedges and dangly earrings and you’re sure to sweep this guy off his feet! 

3.     Aimee- The Formal Look Done Right

The Corset-like feel of this dress instantly glams it up and makes you feel like a star. Weddings, Sorority and Fraternity Formals and Graduation are the perfect opportunities to step into your Aimee dress, play up your eyes with a smokey eye and add some body to your hair with curls and lots of hairspray! You’ll be sure to turn heads. 

4.     Griffin- The Interview Dress 

Trying to earn that dream job? Put on the Griffin dress in King Crab Coral for an instant burst of confidence to nail that interview. The short-sleeves are both cute and classy, and the put-together look of the dress will let your interviewer know you are serious! Add a belt or leave unbelted for the perfect professional look. 

Zeta Tau Alpha’s Dad’s Weekend at FSU

The Zetas at FSU enjoyed celebrating Dad’s Weekend this past Friday and Saturday with their fabulous fathers. The weekend began with Happy Hour at Tallahassee’s favorite spot, Potbelly’s where all of the dads instantly bonded over their desire to be back in college. By 8pm, they were behind the bar, holding Zeta’s infamous crown symbol over the bartender’s head and cheesing for the cameras.

After HH, we walked downtown to 101, a well-known restaurant among FSU students that serves everything from fish sandwiches to steak salads to mac n’cheese. My dad and I each savored a thin-crust pizza and Caesar salad. Stuffed to the brim and exhausted from re-living college years, we retired to our apartments and turned in for the night.

The next morning, my dad and I woke up bright and early to begin the set-up for my third trunk show at the Zeta Tau Alpha house. My dad became my personal assistant for the day and was a great sport. After all the hard work, we enjoyed some BBQ. That evening, all the dads and daughters went to the FSU vs. Virginia Tech baseball game where we ate boiled peanuts and hotdogs, the obvious staple foods you have to have at a baseball game. After the game, a group of us went to AJ’s sports bar to watch the final four basketball games and enjoy our last night with our dads.

We all had an awesome weekend and loved showing our dads the ropes. College is certainly different for us than it was for them, but they outpartied us girls for sure! No matter how old we get, one thing is for sure: we will always be daddy’s little girls. 

Expanding Emma Graham: Tallahassee’s Narcissus loves EG!

After a weekend of trunk shows, I’m a little burnt out but even more excited than before about the future of Emma Graham Designs! Talk of EG around campus is building, and with it, a lot of excitement about the chic and trendy new spring line. FSU Chi O’s for whom I just hosted a trunk show at their house fell in love with the Jenn and Jordan dresses- almost every girl had to try them on!

 My recent trunk show at the Chi Omega house provided a unique experience for me, being that four other vendors were also present for their Mom’s Weekend festivities. I was able to speak to the other women selling jewelry, totes and clothing, and discuss the brands from a selling standpoint with them. What worked for them? What didn’t? What challenges have they faced in expanding their brands? Their feedback was extremely helpful, considering my main goal for EG this semester is to get the name out there and encourage girls to really look into what Emma Graham has to offer them!

One particular vendor was a girl from Narcissus, a chic boutique here in Tallahassee where a lot of girls shop to find unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for cocktail parties or a night on the town. Narcissus boasts a wide array of styles, from floor-length evening dresses to flirty swimsuits to flowy sundresses. One of my favorite pieces showcased at their event was a teal blue and white strapless romper. Simple and sweet, it could be dressed up for a dinner date with a chunky necklace and wedges or worn over a bathing suit to the beach. Both she and I envisioned Emma Graham Designs being a best seller in their store. The FSU campus collection debuting in August would be off the racks in no time! All of EG’s pieces fit in perfectly with the styles at Narcissus and the shoppers that this boutique attracts. Who knows, maybe we will be seeing Emma Graham amongst the fashion-forward pieces of Narcissus in no time!

                 With Summer quickly approaching, I thought it would be fun to talk about a few unique and refreshing  ideas of how you and your girlfriends can have fun this season! It is so great when we find girls that are real friends, and it’s important to keep those friendships intact by confiding in each other, sticking by each other’s sides through tough times and doing fun things together.

                  Summer is the perfect time to enjoy each other’s company and have a blast. Try hosting a clothes swap where each girl brings a bag of cute summer styles that they no longer fit into or have just overworn. How about a floral maxi dress you’ve outgrown or classic denim cutoffs that you replaced with a less worn style? Each girl can pick out a few items for the other piles and you will all walk away with some great new additions for your closet. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!

                  Pamper yourselves with a spa day. Google recipes for homemade facials and give each other manicures and pedicures. A fun tip for painting your nails is to do an accent nail- for example, paint all your nails a light pink and one nail a sparkly hot pink. Your mani will stand out with any Emma Graham outfit you rock over summer.

                  One last idea is to have a cooking party at your house. Each girl can pick one course to cook, bring all the ingredients over and cook a gourmet, homemade meal together. One girl may make a summery fruit salad with strawberries and Vinaigrette for an appetizer, another BBQ chicken, baked beans and corn on the cob for dinner and last but not least, another girl could make a decadent chocolate mousse for dessert. Share recipes and gossip about the latest celebrity drama while spending quality time with your best girls.

Hope you all try out these ideas and have a great time!

As college students, many of us have faced the challenge of being away from home and embracing our new one. Whether you’ve moved across the state or across the country to attend school, creating your new space to be homey and comforting is essential to settling down on your own. Use these tips to make your apartment or dorm truly your home away from home.

1)     Put up pictures. Missing your family and friends can really bring you down, so buy a multi-picture frame and fill it up with all of your favorite people from home. Print them all out in black in white for an old-timey, classic feel, or string photos from a colored ribbon with clothes pins to give your room a burst of energy. 

2)     Use candles. Places like Bath N’ Body Works have come out with adorable candle holders to make any candle a great way to decorate. Buy an assortment of big and small ones to put on the countertop, or a big one in your favorite fragrance to light right by your bed.

3)     Buy yourself flowers! It doesn’t have to be a special occasion, flowers make any room brighter and more fun. My suggestion is to purchase fake ones and place them in a glass vase with colored marbles. Buy sunflowers to match your yellow bedspread, or big purple ones for a room that’s painted lavender.

4)     Get crafty. Hand-made crafts are often some of the best-looking decorations you can put up, and they’re also a super fun way to cure boredom! Go to a local craft store and buy wooden letters to paint your initials, or paint your own picture frame.

5)     Buy artwork. Purchase a simple painting or piece of photography to go along with the theme and feel of your room. For an old Paris theme, purchase a sepia painting of high-heeled shoes and hang on the wall with hot pink ribbon. If your room has a beachy feel, simple photography of beach scenes will work really nicely.

Utilize these helpful hints to set your place apart, give it some personality and make your college dorm or apartment feel like home, but be sure to never forget where you came from! As the famous quote goes, “Home is where the heart is!”

1.     Fashion Icon: Rachel Zoe—I’m OBSESSED WITH HER.

2.     Thing you are looking most forward to about being a Design Consultant: I look forward to a part of growing the Emma Graham image and company especially here on Florida State’s campus. 

3.     Favorite Emma Graham piece (new or old collections): MY favorite piece is the Jenn dress from the Spring 2012 line, the color is amazing and its sleek and sexy in a classy way :). 

4.     Plans after Graduation?: I would love to combined my love for traveling and fashion. Where ever that may take me.

5.     Favorite thing to do on a Saturday?: My favorite thing to do on a Saturday is to sleep in and be outside, since I live in Florida its most of the year so being at the beach and the pool is a great way to relax.

6.     Dinner for 2 or party with 100? Party with 100, because I love being with a large amounts of people, it gives you the opportunity to meet new people and be surrounded by your friends and family.

7.     Heels or Flats? Flats because I stand a whopping 5’11 and heels make me seem like an amazon.

8.     Twitter or Facebook:? Twitter, I cant keep up with all of Facebook’s changes

9.     2012 New Year’s Resolution?: Not to drink so much Starbucks, it really killed my bank account last year.

10.  What’s #1 on your Ipod Top 25 Most Played Songs Playlist?: When to the Sun Goes Down in Georgia by Corey Smith