How IU Changed My Life

I know that I've been MIA for seems like forever to me, but realistically only a few weeks.

Today is #IUDay, a day to honor everything that is IU. When I was first visiting colleges, Indiana University was one college that was low on my radar. Believe it or not, Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and Butler University in Indianapolis were my top contenders. Back then, I wanted a small school, but after visiting IU a few times, I knew that this campus would be the one I called home for four years of undergrad.

The Bloomington, Indiana campus offers a lot of what I was looking for in a school such as multiple science majors for me to choose from, a history of students getting into various medical schools, Greek life, and being both in-state and close to home.

Coming to IU has changed my life in many ways.

 I don't rely on my friends from home any more, although I still talk to them everyday, even if two of them do go to Purdue. I think that coming to a large campus such as this one helped me break out of my shell. If I had gone to Butler, there is a large chance I would hang out with people from my hometown everyday, and that's not what I wanted from school.

IU offers one major that my other top contenders couldn't quite give me, Human Biology. I've found my home within the major. It's even given me one of my best friends, Ali. Not to mention the lone advisor for the major, Andy, will answer all of my emails, even the ones I send at 11 pm at night. Even though I contemplate switching from Human Bio and Pre-Med almost every week, at the end of the day, the major is one of the huge reasons IU was so appealing to me in the first place.

Greek life here as also given be a huge reason to love IU. Being a part of Phi Mu has given me so many friends and memories that no one can replace. From tailgates, to Room 15 (hi roomies), to Homecoming and Little 500, and to my Greek fam, Phi Mu has truly been apart of so many of my memories of IU so far.

 This week is Little 500 week, the week leading up to the greatest college weekend. For months bikers for both men's and women's teams have been training so that they can give their races their all for the races Friday and Saturday. Yes, Little 500 week is basically a week of partying, but the bikers are the reason that the campus has a reason to party. Without these amazing people, it would just be a normal week in the month of April.

People ask me why I love IU so much, and I usually reply that it's the memories that it has given me so far and for the memories I know that will be made. However, another reason why I love it so much is the pride I see in the eyes of each alum I meet when I say that I go to IU. While I was on spring break I meet an alumna of Kelley School of Business who was also in Greek Life here, but throughout the week we talked a lot about the campus, about IUBB, and about how Greek Life has changed. She told me that to this day, she loves to return to campus, and it showed when she asked me to help her find one of the IU March Madness games on her iPad.

Everyone that comes to this campus for school leaves with even more passion for the spirit of this school than when we enter.

I want to thank IUBB, my professors, my friends, my sisters, and Bloomington for helping me realize how amazing the spirit of this campus is. I can only hope that one day after I graduate that I'll be able to tell a current student of everything that IU gave me without crying. I thank God everyday for pushing me to make the decision to come to this school.

I wouldn't give it up for anything and no matter how many times I hear "This is Indiana", I will be screaming the lyrics.

Go Hoosiers! 

Dad's Weekend

After a few weeks with no football games in town, the Iowa Hawkeyes rolled into town this weekend along with my parents for Phi Mu's Dad's Weekend. I am so glad that I got to spend two days with my parents after not seeing them for about a month!

Friday afternoon my parents and I ventured to Brown County, the neighboring county to the one in which Bloomington is located, and explored. We ended up in Nashville, Indiana where there is an abundance of quaint shops in old houses. Going to Nashville and Brown County is definitely something that I would recommend to anyone that attends IU! 

Saturday we spent the day at our Dad's Weekend tailgate followed by the football game. Sadly, IU lost, but the team did give the Hawkeyes, who are ranked 9th in the nation, a run for their money. The final score was 35-27. Also, let's not forget that ESPN called out the IU fans for being horrible for leaving at or before halftime at every single game! All I can say to ESPN is: "Don't you know IU is a tailgate school?". 

Also, it's safe to say that I'm obsessed with our Dad's Weekend theme, which was similar to the Reagan/Bush campaign in 1984. 

"IU may have lost, but I won the dad lottery. "

-Carly Moffie 

IUDM Recap

Where was I this weekend?

Well, I was having the time of my life at IUDM 2015. For those of you that are unfamiliar with IUDM, it's Indiana University Dance Marathon. IUDM celebrated it's 25th anniversary year this past weekend. That's 25 dance marathons celebrating FTK (For the Kids), for Ryan White, and for Ashley Crouse. IUDM benefits Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, specifically Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis and has raised over $20 million FTK since 1991.

In the past, IUDM had been 36 hours long with two shifts of 18 hours. However, this year there were three shifts of 12 hours within the 36 hours. To even dance 12 hours, dancers had to raise $500 FTK. To dance 24 hours, dancers had to raise $740. This ended up being the top 11%-25% of fundraisers. To dance 36 hours, dancers had to raise approximately $1030+. These dancers were the amazing top 10% of dancers!! All committee members danced for 36 hours, those guys were amazing!

I am so proud and excited to say that I was able to dance 24 hours, Friday night to Saturday night FTK! I danced with some of my Phi Mu pledge class sisters and in the end, four of us danced for 24 hours while one amazing sister made it to 36 hours. Yay Bailey, you rock!! Huge shoutout to the sisters that were on committees, you guys were so passionate and really pumped us up when we needed it! I am so glad that I got to spend 24 hours at IUDM dancing, walking around, listening to Riley Kid Stories, and making memories that I will never forget. To my friend Camille that shared her story after I went home, I know that you did amazing and don't forgot that you and your family rock!

Phi Mu Total as of today: $26,135.89
My First Personal Goal: $500
My Second Personal Goal: $650
My Ending Total Before IUDM: $791.50
After IDUM: $891.50

Some Phi Mu sisters with our Riley Kid, Sneha 

Morgan and Abby holding up our 36 hour dancer, Bailey! 

Two of my fellow 24 hour dancers: Katelyn and Sarah

Experience what I experienced:

And the final total is....

IUDM definitely made an impact and I hope to continue dancing there until I graduate. Congrats everyone, we stood for those who can't, and raised money for the ones who need it most.

 FTK RW ALC

Tailgate Season Attire

Consider yourself lucky, I almost named this post "Basic White Girl Attire for a Tailgate". It's officially tailgate season and in different parts of the country, namely the South, that means dresses and wedges. However, here at IU it means high waisted shorts, IU shirts, jerseys, flannels, leggings, and converse. I, for one, am so glad that I go to a school where I can be comfortable for a tailgate and possibly a football game. I've included pictures of myself from past games and tailgates and also some pictures of my sorority sisters and friends. 

IU Tailgating Attire 101:

Lesson #1:

 Leggings, Flannels, Scrunchies, and Converse 

Lesson #2: 

High-Waisted Shorts, Tailgate Shirts, Jerseys, Candy Stripes, Bucket Hats, and Neighbors 

Lesson 3: 

Dress for colder games, hello long sleeved shirts and vests!

Lesson 4: 

Tailgate Tank Part 2 with various poses 

Lesson 5: 

IU Shirts & Socks, Converse and High Waisted Shorts

Lesson 6:

Keep your friends up and know where your bucket hat is at all times

Huge thanks to my sisters for sending me pictures for this post!

 There may not be any school color dresses in sight, but we still manage to look cute and have fun.

Check out some of our favorite pieces:

This post contains affiliate links 

Happy tailgating season! 

Little 500

Little 500, it's the greatest college weekend in America. Ask any IU student, any student that visits, and even Urban Dictionary. 

As a IU freshman, Little 500 is what everyone talks about as the epitome of IU. The hype is there, but it's just not partying: it's bike races. Women and men from all over campus train all year long to compete in 100 laps around a track. It can be compared to the Indy 500 on a much smaller scale. Before the races, there are the parties that lead up to the races. 

It's a week full of partying for most, but for some, like myself, you wait until you're done with most responsibilities and for your birthday. This week was full of fun and excitement and I can't wait for next year. Also, my ankle was sacrificed this weekend. Happy sprained ankle #7 or something like that to me. 


Here are some photos and videos from the week:

Capri Suns are the way to go to the beach 

Women's Race Day

The send off for our amazing bikers

Congrats Kappa Alpha Theta for winning!

Today (Sunday) is the last day of Little 500 and it's time for the men's race!

Men's Race

Congrats to the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon on winning the men's race! 

Even though the Women's race of Little 500 was fun, the IU community was struck last night by the murder of a senior. However, through tragedy IU has been able to rally and be there for her sisters of her sorority. Please I ask all of you, when and if you go out, use the buddy system and never go anywhere alone! 

Everyone be safe this weekend, finish the semester strong, and leave IU's campus if you don't go here.

Mainly Monday: Weekend Round Up

 I had a very busy weekend so here's another weekend round up for Mainly Monday! 

1. Quals
Quals, it's the precursor to the best college weekend in the country: Little 500. Greek houses gather to cheer on our teams as they cycle for a qualification for the big race (Little 500) that is later in April. With a loud wake up call at 5:30 am(!!!!) on Saturday morning my sisters and I were up and at it to celebrate the day to to the full extent. Full disclosure, I got on top of a roof way too much Saturday.  Meet some of my wonderful sisters! 

OOTD: Quals shirt with an Indy 500 theme

LuluLemon yogas

Urban Outfitters flannel

Phi Mu fanny pack 

Bean Boots 

A guy asked me why we were all wearing flannels because it wasn't Friday and I asked him why all of the guys were wearing hockey jerseys. That shut him up really quick. 

2. Initiation
It's official: I'm finally a sister of Phi Mu! My weeks as a provisional member are over and I'm so glad that I'm part of such a fantastic house. I didn't get an pictures with my friends, but below are some pictures with my Greek family! 

OOTD: ASOS dress (may or not be the same one from NYE...okay yes it is// unavailable)

Shoes: White Franco Sarto wedges (I want these in Cognac, too)

3. Miss Greek IU
Delta Chi Fraternity at IU has been hosting Miss Greek IU for the last four years to raise money for their philanthropy, The V Foundation. Last night they unveiled a check for over $60,000!! I attended to watch a fellow sister who was Miss Phi Mu and another friend that was there representing another house. I'm so proud to be part of a Greek community that is so philanthropic! 

I hope everyone had a great weekend!