M is for Marketing

Aside from my major being Marketing Management, lately I have been dedicating just about 100% of my time to my Marketing Co-Chair position for the Class of 2013. And now our Ring Premiere is just 6 days away!

The Ring Tradition is one of the largest (and personally, my favorite of the many) traditions here at Virginia Tech. However, such a large event and tradition would not occur without marketing. So Kelly and I, the 2013 Marketing Co-Chairs have been doing just about everything in our power to make sure that the entire class knows about this big night.

Just a few of our Marketing tasks for Ring Premiere include:
-Information Booths in Squires
-Ring Premiere Banners and A-frames around campus
-Facebook Events and Like pages
-Twitter account
-Ring Pops and 2013 giveaways
-Table Cards in the dining halls
-Classroom Announcements
-Sign stakes on the Drillfield
-Sunglasses at the Clemson Game on Saturday

Serving on the Class of 2013 Leadership Team has probably one of the most challenging, yet rewarding opportunities I have been given as a Hokie. But I cannot wait until Tuesday, October 4 when all of our hard work finally pays off at Ring Premiere!

an honor and a privilege

On Friday around 2:30pm I got a long-awaited email from Jessica Johns at New Student Programs. The email read:

"Christine, 

Every year we have the responsibility of hiring student leaders to fulfill our positions. Most recently, the New Student Programs staff was forced to make difficult decisions in the hiring of the 2012 Orientation Assistants. The candidate pool was phenomenal.

Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that I offer you one of the six 2012 Orientation Assistant positions."

I honestly don't remember being this excited to get an email since I got a similar email last November saying I was going to be an Orientation Leader. I was shaking in my room in the Alpha Phi house, pacing as I waited for my Mom to pick up the phone so I could tell her the news. It was such an amazing feeling! New Student Programs has given me such wonderful opportunities here at Virginia Tech, and I don't know how I will ever be able to thank them enough. 

I officially turned in my acceptance form to J.Jo today! I could not stop smiling just thinking of all that lies ahead. So you know what this means...another best summer of my life!! Yes, the OA experience will be a lot different than the OL experience. But I cannot wait to see what all is in store. In fact, NSP has already started the recruitment process for this summer's OLs, and I will be working an info booth tomorrow to spread more awareness of this fantastic and rewarding position. 

our first OA picture (Monica is there in spirit)

grab your sister a mister

In lieu of this weekend’s date party theme, “Grab Your Sister a Mister,” I will be “grabbing” Christine’s blog and writing her post for the day. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Christine’s roommate or better known as KJ. Not trying to toot my own horn or anything but I am the one who made this lovely blog header ;) (Side note if you would like me to design yours I would be happy to! For a small price. A girl’s on a budget… what can I say). It is quite the adventure living with THE CAT's meow but don’t worry I make sure her ego isn’t too big.

Well enough about me. So like I said this weekend was our first date party of the semester and the theme was “Grab Your Sister a Mister.” So being the fabulous roommate that I am I invited Christine’s date and she invited mine and we wouldn’t find out until the night of the party. I love surprising people so throughout the week I tried to through her off and really keep it a secret. But of course my plans didn’t work out and she found out the morning of the party. I was bummed but I think she was happy because she knew I had gotten her a great date, Sean.

I, of course, still had NO clue who mine was so Christine decided to torture me even more. So my wonderful roommate decided to blindfold me as soon as we got in the car so I would not know where we were going to pick up my date. Yes I know, awkward. My date, Thomas got in the car and was told not to say a word until we got to Anna’s. 

We even picked up Sean on the way and since Christine knew that he was going to be her date he still surprised her by giving her a balloon pet! During Orientation this summer he gave her a dog for her birthday and then last night gave her a cat. Appropriate for the CAT’s meow right?!

Anyways, once we got to Anna’s I took off my blindfold and saw that Thomas was my date! What a great surprise! It was such a fun night and I am happy that we both trusted each other to get great dates. Well, I know after reading this AMAZING blog post most of you will want me to start my own. Maybe one day, but for now you can tweet me at @4theluvofkayj. Thanks Christine for letting me take over! LOVE YA SIS!

parent's weekend

I know this post is entirely overdue, but I have had an insanely busy week so far (and it's only Wednesday). But more on that another time. I would so much rather write about this past weekend at Alpha Phi's Red Dress Gala and Parent's Weekend. So I will!

RED DRESS GALA

Friday night was Alpha Phi's annual Red Dress Gala. This event is a very large part of our philanthropy, in which we raise money and awareness for the #1 killer among men and women, Cardiac Care. Red Dress Gala is a formal dinner and silent auction for all of our sisters and their parents.

Unfortunately, my parents were not able to come down until Saturday this year, so they missed Red Dress Gala. Since they were not able to be here, I played a relatively large part in helping our Director of Philanthropy (and my wonderful suitemate), Alli, with the evening of Red Dress Gala. 

Alli has spent countless hours, days, weeks, and sleepless nights working on the logistics and details for this evening. And it couldn't have been a more perfect event! Not to mention, we made over $15,000 for the Foundation that night.

HOKIE FOOTBALL WITH APHI FAMILIES

My parents made the drive down to Blacksburg early on Saturday morning, and got here around noon. Immediately after their arrival, we joined the McIntires and Hoffmans at the Johnson's tailgate. Although the weather wasn't exactly beautiful, we had a great time with all of the families. And the Hokie Bird even made an appearance at our tailgate!

The game started at 4:30pm as the Hokies took on Arkansas State. It was a pretty slow game, but we ended with a win 26-7. A win's a win! The highlight of the game was definitely when Julie, Alexandra, KJ, and I made it on the jumbotron for our picture with the Hokie Bird at the tailgate. Unforgettable!

PARENT'S BRUNCH

The final event of the weekend was the Sunday morning Parent's Brunch held at the Alpha Phi house. Mom and Dad met me at the house around 10am and we enjoyed a beautiful catered brunch with the Johnsons, and the rest of the Alpha Phi families. 

We took some pictures in front of the house (tradition) and then headed downtown to shop around a little bit  before Mom and Dad hit the road to head back to Northern Virginia. Mom and I both got new Virginia Tech sweatshirts. Thanks Dad!

Luckily I had this fabulous weekend to spend with my sisters and my family to get me through the week. Looking forward to the weekend!

put a smile on!

Sometimes you really never know how much the things you say to someone can impact their day...or even their lives! For this reason, I always try to remember the FISH! Philosophy we learned during Orientation training. The FISH! Philosophy has 4 parts: Be There, Play, Make Their Day, and Choose Your Attitude.

This was a philosophy that we utilized all throughout training and the summer as Orientation Leaders. But it didn't stop there, I continue to live by this philosophy along with the "Day One" mentality everyday.

Today, I saw my good friend and freshman year suitemate who was a little "down in the dumps". All I said to her was "choose your attitude" as she was walking away and you wouldn't believe the impact that one small phrase had on her. Check out her blog here!

the start of something new

I would like to dedicate this post to my amazing roommate, best friend, and sister Katie Johnson (KJ). She has spent hours upon hours creating my new blog header on Photoshop and I could not be more grateful.

I think the new design and header is a great change for the CAT's meow, and there are many more improvements and changes to look forward to in the future! Let me know what you all think.

just a decade ago...

3,051 children lost a parent.

2,819 lives were taken.

1,609 lost a husband or wife.

623 police and firemen did not go home.

1 day changed the world.

9.11.01

In order to honor September 11, 2001, Virginia Tech held a Remembrance Ceremony on the pylons this afternoon. KJ and I, along with many other VT students and residents of Blacksburg, stood in the streets as we listened to President Steger and a few other speakers and watched members of the Corps of Cadets perform a rifle salute and the playing of taps.

After the ceremony, Student Alumni Associates held a retreat (themed "America"). KJ and I did not take this theme lightly. There is no doubt we were the most patriotic folk there! Check it out...

Our main activity at this retreat was to pick up trash along the Duck Pond. It was our organization's way of serving the community on a day of remembrance such as today. Of course, we did a few icebreakers and ate some Sub Station as well. 

Side note: both last night and tonight I made Flag cookies (just the simple break-and-bake kind) as a nice, patriotic gesture to share with the house girls.

God Bless America.

so much sisterhood

Today has been an action-packed day with my Alpha Phi sisters. We started off by going down to the New River Junction. About 16 of us piled into three cars and drove down the windy road to get to the New River (which is still located in Blacksburg, by the way). Although Blacksburg is such a small town, it really does have so much to offer! We spent the afternoon floating down the river on tubes. It was relaxing and an adventure at the same time.

Once we got to the bottom of the river we took an old school bus back up to the junction where we had parked our cars. Luckily everyone in KJ's car was hungry so we stopped by Snuffy's General Store to grab some grub. I got a corn dog and tots! I don't know what it is about corn dogs, but I am loving them these days.

We got back to the Alpha Phi house just in time for the VT vs. ECU football game. I watched the game in the Great Room with a bunch of other sisters while "doing homework" too. Although the game was slow and ugly, we won it in the end 17-10. HOKIES!!

KJ and I were very hungry (nothing new) after the game, so we went to Hokie Grill to pick up some Chick-Fil-A and Pizza Hut and headed over to the VT Men's Soccer game. We were playing UNC (ranked #1 in the nation in men's soccer). Unfortunately, we didn't stay the whole game but the Hokies ended up winning in double overtime 1-0! Once again, HOKIES!!

Since I am such a sports nut (and luckily KJ is too), we stayed in tonight with Julie and watched college football, drank hot chocolate, baked cookies, and worked a little more on our "homework". It's days and nights like these when I realize how lucky I am to be living in the sorority house with my best friends.

a failed attempt

Last night and this morning I attempted to give my blog a complete makeover. Unfortunately, I could not find any backgrounds that really struck me, so I am keeping this one for the time being. I am also looking for a new header (or how to create my own header).

If anyone has any suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated. I already just want my old design back, HELP!

just another (rainy) day in paradise

I swear I must have jinxed it. Just the other day I was telling my roommate that it was a miracle it has not rained once since we have been in Blacksburg. This week, however, we are not so lucky. So far we are 2-for-2 days with rain, rain, rain.

The campus is dark and gray, everyone is wearing their raincoats, rainboots, ponchos, umbrellas, and hats, and the overall mood is just lower than usual. As easy as it is to feel down in the dumps as a result of the cold and rainy weather, I always try to remind myself and the people around me not to let the weather affect your attitude.

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain." 

oh, the irony

Of course today is Labor Day, so Happy Labor Day! Unfortunately Virginia Tech does not recognize Labor Day as a holiday, so we have classes today like any other Monday. However, I will be sure to take time to relax and give my labors a rest today in honor of this great day. I hope everyone can find the time to do the same.

Now for a quick recap of my weekend:

On Thursday we had our first social of the semester with SAE. The theme was black out or get out, so we all wore all black. I didn't take any pictures on my camera, but my little took some. Of course she hasn't posted them yet though, so I don't have any pictures to show for. 

Friday evening was the Spirit Rally for our first football game. The rally was held on the GLC lawn and it looked like it was going to be a great event. The weather, however, decided not to cooperate with our plans and we ended up being POURED on. But the Spirit Rally was held nonetheless, despite the thunder, lightning, and torrential downpour.

After the Spirit Rally, CC picked me up and we went to Kobe for a delicious meal! There is no place like Kobe. Then we proceeded to go back to CC's apartment for a girls night consisting of baking cookies, gossiping, and "No Strings Attached."

The following morning, KJ and I woke up bright and early to go tailgate with her family because it was GAME DAY!! We got decked out in maroon and orange and headed over to the parking lot to join the tailgate. 

The game started at 12:30, so we found our seats in the East Stands just in time for Enter Sandman. This game was probably the HOTTEST game I had ever been to. We were literally dripping sweat from the minute we started jumping. But we stayed to see most of the game regardless. The final score was VT 66 - App State 13. I'd say we're off to a great start for the season! PLUS, Frank Beamer signed a contract extending to 2016 at halftime. Doesn't get much better than that.

After the game I came back to the house and napped for at least 3 hours. When we woke up, Alli and I ate some of the leftover Firehouse Subs from the tailgate and watched some college football in the great room. And then KJ and I got ready to go to the German Club Football Party at the Manor. Alli even curled my hair, what an all-star suitemate! We danced the night away with great friends and ended the night with a large order of pokie sticks delivered at 2am. Delicious.

Lastly, Sunday Funday. I woke up and got West End brunch with Joey and Doug. Although Joey is in the real world now, we always find a way to rekindle our family. I love it! After brunch I came home and "worked" on my schoolwork for awhile, but mostly took care of emails and extracurricular duties. We all then met for Chapter at 6pm and then got dinner on campus. And to end the weekend right, I met Carly afterwards to go on our traditional Sunday night walk that we started over the summer. 

With such an amazing weekend under my belt, I know I am off to a great start for the week! I even got 10 hours of sleep last night to top it off. Bring on Monday!

beamerball

If this video didn't get you pumped up, I don't know WHAT will. Yes, college football started tonight but the REAL DEAL starts on Saturday at 12:30 when the Hokies plays Appalachian State here in Blacksburg.

I don't think it's even totally hit me that football season is just hours away. It is so hard to believe that it's been a whole year since VT played Boise State up at FedEx Field for the season opener. I went home for the weekend, and James and I went to the game!

There is so much spirit and tradition involved in Virginia Tech Football. Here are just a few of the many things I am looking forward to this weekend:

1. Tailgating with the Johnsons early in the morning (we're getting chick-fil-a chicken minis!)
2. Sporting every piece of maroon and orange I own.
3. Jumping to Enter Sandman as the team runs onto the field for the first time.
4. Standing the entire game...no matter what.
5. Eating (or watching people eat) turkey legs in the stands.
6. Doing the Hokie Pokie in between 3rd and 4th quarter.
7. Hokies Respect.
8. Rushing the field when the Hokies bring home a victory!