Bringing in Halloween in Style!

Take a look at how the women of Chi Omega celebrated Halloween with our costume dress code for Chapter!

Our philanthropy chair says, "Don't forget to come to Spookghetti this Friday at 5pm!"

Gaga, Mustard, and Superman, being casual.

Stay safe this weekend and stay away from risky business! Always stay with a buddy! (Thanks Gaga)

Nobody puts baby in the corner!

Evil Queen and well...not really sure :)

Colonial days and alien waves

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Brinner is the best!

Only at Halloween chapter.

Have a safe, fun, spooky, happy Halloween!

happy bid day!

to be discouraged never

In honor of Third Invite, we want to take a moment to remind you all of our beautiful, beautiful Chi Omega Symphony. It's the perfect description of what it means to be a Chi O:

photo

colleen & make-a-wish

Since today is 2nd Invite, we thought it would be the perfect time to feature Colleen Gibbon's video once more! She's our wonderful philanthropy chair with an amazing story; her video about her sister's experience with Make-A-Wish is truly inspiring: 

open house, in pictures

t'was the night before recruitment

T'was the night before recruitment, when all through the Chi Omega house,
Not a sorority girl was stirring, not even a mouse.
The red t-shirts were hung in our closets with care,
In hopes that PNM's soon would be there.

And those PNM's were nestled all snug in their dorm beds,
While visions of greek letters danced in their heads.
Their tote bags were packed with snacks and deodorant and more,
Plus that little U of I Formal Recruitment booklet, full of outfit ideas galore.

The first round of Open House was just hours away,
Soon the Chi Omega girls would be ready to talk and pass out lemonade from trays.
The PNM's truly had no idea what house they would like best,
All they could do was be themselves and try to get some rest.

When the clock struck midnight and the girls began to fall asleep,
Just one Chi O let out her last peep.
We heard her exclaim as she turned out the light,
"Happy Recruitment to all, and to all a good-night!"

meet the chef: DAVE

Where are you from? I grew up right here in Champaign - Now, I live in a big ol' Victorian house about 25 miles outside of town.
Tell us about your family: They're driving me crazy! Just kidding, just kidding. My daughter is a straight-A student - She's a dedicated dancer, too, so we travel all over for competitions. My twin boys are die-hard basketball players. They've been playing since they could walk! We actually have a full court set up at my house. And then my wife has been a nurse at Carle for the past 20 years. She loves her job.
How long have you been cooking for Chi O's? Since '97. Going on sixteen years.
What's your favorite meal to cook? I love making prime rib. And my famous twice-baked potatoes, too. In the summer, I grill out all the time. I do a lot of slow smoking on the grill and stuff like that. And I feed the neighborhood. We have big Nascar races parties on the weekends and I'm always using the grill.
How did you get into cooking? I actually starting cooking here on campus in '91. Before that I worked for a five-star restaurant here in town. I just love to cook - It's kind of been my thing.
If you could eat just one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Oh, man, that's a hard one... I really love fruit, it's good for ya. Fruit or vegetables.
Favorite part about being the Chi O chef? Chi O's RULE. This is the best house to work in. You girls have always been so great; I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. When you girls aren't here in the summer, I stick around the Chi O house. I clean, move furniture, and take care of anything that needs to be done. I do it all. You girls get whatever you ask for. It makes my life easier when you girls request meals. You call it, I'll fix it! That's how the whole smoothie thing got going. So now we do smoothies once a week.

Thanks, Dave! You're the BEST. 

"this is what work week does to your voice"

It's a Family Affair

For today's post we would like to turn the spotlight on the pledge family of Grandma Ali K, Mom Sam A, Baby Brittany B, and Baby Rachael C!  I could try to explain the inseparable bond they have but I'd rather let Rachel C tell you herself.

"They don't call them pledge families for nothin! My pledge family truly has turned into my family away from

home! From going out to dinner, having sleepovers, or even studying we try to spend as much time together as possible! I love my pledge family because they will drop anything they're doing, no matter how important, if I need a shoulder to cry on or just someone to talk to! Every time I see someone in my family I can't help but smile and attack them with hugs even if I had already seen them that day. Plus Sam, Ali, and Brit are total riots to hangout with! We all have a serious side and a goofy side that mixes together so well! Words can't describe how much I LOVE MY PLEDGE FAMILY! 

"Fun facts: we all come from small towns, we all are obsessive studiers "

There's nothing like a bond of sister, especially a twin, even a pledge twin.

"Having Brit as my twin has been an absolute blessing! I considered her a friend in the beginning but once we were in the same family, we started spending so much more time together. Now I consider her one of my closest friends and a sister for life. She's one of those girls I can look at and already know she will be in my wedding. Anytime I walk into the Chi O house, I automatically look for Brit to talk about all the latest things happening in our lives. Most of our time spent together we are laughing about something! I LOVE MY TWINNIE!!"

Clearly there is a lot of love in this fam and so much enthusiasm as they are expecting at least two new baby 16s!!!

What time is it? RECRUITMENT TIME

From outside of the Chi Omega house this week, everything may appear calm and quiet at first, however if you were to stick around long enough you would hear the cheers of the very enthusiastic women of Chi O practicing for recruitment!  Below is the schedule of the week, from getting pumped up to going supply shopping, the Chi O's have a full schedule of fun and hard work!

9:00am Attendance

9:15 Psych Up

 Relay!

Go go go!

9:30-Noon practice

practice...

PRACTICE!

12pm-1 LUNCH

1pm Committee time!

2-4:30 break + outfit checks

4:30 DINNER

5-10pm Practice makes perfect :)

Throughout the day we're singing, laughing, dancing, and decorating until we tuck ourselves in for the night and you find yourself falling asleep to the songs stuck in your head and dreaming about doing it one more time!

With only half of the week left, we could not be more thrilled to keep on practicing, knowing that in only a couple of weeks, our work will have paid off and a lovely bunch of new Chi O's will be running across the Quad to their home away from home!!

Hoot hoot have a great day! We know we will :)

Survey Says...

What’s the difference between two pledge classes?  To get to know our eldest pledge class and our youngest (until the new 16’s come in a few weeks!) we handed out a survey to get to know them a little better.  From pop culture to politics, we asked them a wide range of questions! From the 13’s class we asked Katie R! Then, from our 15’s class we asked Leanna B and Carly Z! Take a look at their answers!

What’s your major?

History Speech pathology (currently & hopefully permanently) Nursing

Favorite Chi O memory? Bid Day! our 15's retreat!! Going out with my pledge class!

Do you take the complimentary shampoo/conditioners from hotels home? Always. i usually do not!!!  Always

Best memory of this summer? Driving up to Galena for the day to shop & eat. . the first night back together with all of my friends from home!  Being crowned Miss Iriquoise County Fair Queen 2012 J

Who is our Vice President? Lady Dine oo....uhm so embarrassing that i don't know 100%...but dick chainey? Joe Bidden (didn’t have to google)

If you could be any Harry Potter character, who would you be? Luna Lovegood definitely hermione! she is just the coolest girl ever. Ginny Weasley because she’s kind and brave and marries HP

Favorite place on campus? The Law Library CHI O MANSION!!!

Country or Dubstep? Country baby! country all the way. basically the only thing i listen to. Listen to country…dance to dub step

What movie could you watch over and over and still love? Mary Poppins mean girls, bridesmaids, & my big fat greek wedding! Sweet Home Alabama

Favorite Olympic sport to watch? Swimming girls gymnastics! they're just amazing Women’s Gymnastics

What are Chi Omega’s colors, formally speaking? Cardinal and Straw? cardinal & straw Cardinal & Straw (My mom who was in KKG at UIUC even knew!)

Do you own a pair of Crocs? Nope. i do not..... No and never have

Favorite food Dave makes? All the deserts! I LOVE TACO TUESDAYS!!!!!! Meatball Sub Sandwiches

Favorite Trash/Reality TV Show? Kardashians the Bachelorette Real Housewives of OC

Coke or Pepsi? Either pepsi please:) Diet Coke all the way!!!!

What is your biggest pet peeve? People who constantly blow their nose in lecture i just really don't like when people are rude. People being intolerant of each other

What is the most played song on your iPod/MP3?

I'm Alive by Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews

Come over-kenny Chesney

Something Bout a Truck – Kip Moore

Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps? Do you know who these people are? Michael Phelps! Lochte is too flashy I really really like both of them. I think ryan is going to be the next michael in the next olympics! he's just not very smart... Absolutely know them!! Have to choose Michael Phelps

Have you ever fallen asleep in the Pine room? Oh yeah many times YES!!! sooooo comfy. Yes! Haven’t we all?

Celebrity Crush? Jake Gyllenhaal zac effron & channing tatum & ian somerhalder & eric dane <3333 Ryan Gosling

If you could pick anywhere to live the rest of your life, where would it be? Arizona TENNESSEE! that was my dream school. and if i didn't love chi o and this year so much, i'd be there right now. extremely happy with my choice to stay here tho! My Hometown of Crescent City, IL

Chipotle or Qdoba? Coco Merro or Coldstone? Starbucks or Espresso Royale? Chipotle Coldstone & Starbucks chipotle! coco merro! starbucks!!! now i'm hungry.... Chipotle, Coco Merro, and Starbucks!

What is your favorite thing about Chi Omega? All the friends I've made! Oh and the rain jackets  every little thing you could love about it, i do. To sum it up, its just home. i'm always comfortable and surrounded by people who genuinely care about me. i am so grateful to know all of these great ladies. i'm so proud to wear my letters. It feels like my second home

If you could have dinner with any five people, dead, alive, or fictional, who would they be? Harry Ron Hermione Dumbledore & Hagrid. CHRISTIAN GREY. damon from vampire diaries. serena from gossip girl. harry potter. & christian grey again. My grandfather who passed away before I was born, Florence Nightingale, Kate Middleton, Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln

What are you looking forward to the most this semester? Baby Hooties! And not having to sit on the floor during Chapter. i'm excited to have my own little baby!!! can't wait to be a momma. i think the whole recruitment experience will be really really fun and exciting!! Making as many senior memories with my pledge class as I can!

Looks like across the board, we love country, Chipotle and Starbucks, of course Dave's cooking, Harry Potter, the Olympics, and do not support Crocs.  Proud supporters of trash tv, yet perhaps when we aren't napping in the Pine Room, we should brush up on who is running our country! 

Wish we had the time to post everyone's answers, to really see the diversity of the likes, dislikes, and unique personalities of the wonderful ladies of Chi Omega! 

Overall, from youngest to oldest, it is clear that our love for our house is constant.  We are all so excited for a new year at our home away from home and looking for new Chi Omegas to share it with. :)

Thanks Leanna, Carly, and Katie, we love you!

reunited instagrams

moved in + ready

We're HOME!

And by home, we mean the Chi O house. Today was Move-In Day - We said goodbye to our families, began the unpacking process, and reunited with sisters. Now, we're finally settled into our rooms...

Tomorrow marks the first day of Work Week, so the 15's are not quite sure what to expect. But one thing is certain: We are READY. And oh-so-happy to be here :)

the chi omega packing list: #workweek2k12

In just three short weeks, we'll all be back in Champaign for the start of work week: Five days of singing, dancing, laughing, skit-writing, decorating, and much more. And so it's important that we come prepared: 
1. Spirit wear. We love this chapter - DUH - so it's only fitting that we rep Chi O tanks, shirts, shorts and more all week long. 
2. Candy. With sugar pumping through our veins, we'll be able to sing and dance and, well, go a little bit crazy. 
3. Emergen-C. All of this recruitment preparation might end up taking a toll on our health by the time Wednesday or Thursday rolls around. Vitamin C supplements to the rescue!
4. Honey. One of the 14's confessed to drinking honey - straight from the bottle - because her throat was so sore from singing shouting! You gotta do what you gotta do... right???
5. Happy + positive attitudes :) Check!

our philanthropy reveal

Sunday evening was a time of celebration and thankfulness. We gathered in the middle room of our house, ready to hear from the Faullin family about their experience with Make-A-Wish. Mrs. Faullin told us how her two sons, Travis and Trenton, had their wishes granted. Their stories were touching; many of us wiped away tears. Colleen Gibbons, our philanthropy chair, was up next: She spoke about our amazing efforts as a chapter to raise money throughout the year and showed her beautiful video about her family's experience with Make-A-Wish:

Right then, it was time for the big reveal. Our chapter raised over $27,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation! We couldn't be happier or more proud of Chi Omega :)

Afterwards, we migrated into the kitchen for mini brownies, cupcakes, cheesecake and more. Girls gathered around the Faullins, enjoying dessert and getting to know her and her sons. 

Congratulations Chi Omega + to our wonderful philanthropy chair, Colleen Gibbons!

(All photos courtesy of the lovely Jessie Whitman)

the greek oscars

Tonight, we are especially proud to be a part of Chi Omega. The Greek Oscars, an annual event to honor U of I's fraternities and sororities, took place in Foellinger Auditorium this evening. Chi O took home 8 awards!

First Place:

Outstanding Chapter (For the third year in a row!)

Internal Operations

External Operations

Philanthropy (We love Make-A-Wish!)

Risk Management

New Member Programming

Second Place:

Scholarship

Honorable Mention:

Best Advisor

What's more, our very own Ashleigh Morris was awarded the Panhellenic Council Scholarship Award. Go Chi O, go Chi O! :)

sisterhood event [the piano man]

A few weeks ago, we got a special treat: a private Piano Man concert!

Ben, the Piano Man, usually plays on Tuesday nights at the Canopy Club. So we were honored when we found out that he was coming to play for us. We gathered in the front room of the Chi O house, enjoying cookies and other desserts while Ben wooed us with his musical talent. And of course, we had to sing along. It was one of the best sisterhood events yet!

make-a-wish update!

A lot has happening at the Chi Omega house this spring semester in our effort to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation! From our Hooters Wing Dinner to daily candy sales, the ladies of Chi Omega have enjoyed getting more involved with our philanthropy and seeing amazing support from everyone on campus and the entire community.

Hooters Dinner

About a month ago, the ladies of Chi Omega, and of course our chef Dave, hosted a wing and pizza dinner! It was a great night filled with wonderful food and lots of friends. We were so thrilled to see everyone come out support us. The night was a huge success, it was so rewarding to see everyone come out and support Make-A-Wish!

Candy Sales

What was once "hot chocolate" sales, is now candy, cotton candy, muffins, and chip sales! Need a snack between classes? Stop by our house, only a few steps off the quad, and help support Make-A-Wish, it's only a dollar or 50 cents for a tasty snack!

Thanks to everyone who has helped this far!

celebration of the eleusinian

Yesterday was our Eleusinian Banquet, a lovely luncheon full of speeches, awards, seniors, and everything Chi Omega. Our speaker, Erin Hasselberg, was a student here in the late 90's. Her speech was truly inspiring - It was all about the Chi Omega Symphony (read it on the right) and how to live it out every single day. You can read more about Erin on her blog!

Here are a few snapshots, courtesy of the oh-so-talented Jessie Whitman:

sister spotlight [kelly hickey]

Name: Kelly Hickey

Grade: Freshman

Major: Communications

Hometown: River Forest, IL

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans

Favorite food: Potatoes

Favorite thing to do: Hang out with my friends and my family/travel

Celebrity crush: Adam Brody

Favorite thing about Chi O: The girls are amazing and so down to earth and aren't afraid to be themselves. It's really awesome. I also love our symphony and the values we hold.

Fun facts:

1. I am one of 5 kids.

2. I went to India last spring break and Australia last summer.

3. I'm a photographer for The Daily Illini.