Peyton on Pat

There will never be another Pat Summitt – the great Peyton Manning reminds us of that in this short video.

Happy Founder’s Day – Fellow Chi Omega Sisters!

As a Chi Omega, we all had to memorize this while pledging. As a Chi Omega at UT, we had to pledge for an entire semester. The only sorority on campus to do that. The reason: To make sure we could maintain the qualities that would make us a good Chi Omega, to ensure our grades were up to par, and to memorize the Symphony. Little did I know – memorizing this creed would prove to be something I would hold dear to my heart, something I would always remember and try to abide by:

“To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than “exclusive”, and loveable rather than “popular”; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demands; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note.”  ~The Symphony was written by Ethel Switzer Howard, Xi Chapter, in 1904

 

–I will always treasure my college days – for more reasons than one (wink, wink). One of the biggest parts of my 4 years at the University of Tennessee, was being a Chi Omega. I was privileged enough to be chosen to be a member of this elite group of women. The best sorority on campus for more reasons than one, the first at UT – and the best group of girls I’ve ever known. I’m truly honored to say I’m a Chi O! Hoot Hoot! My sisters were an instrumental part of my collegiate life – and making me who I am today. So much so, my two real sisters followed suit and joined Chi O as well – all members of the Pi chapter. (Burdine sisters know a good thing).

Chi Omega remains the largest fraternity in the National Panhellenic Conference with over 311,000 initiated Sisters. There are 174 collegiate chapters, 231 alumnae chapters, and average nearly 20,000 collegiate members annually. The size of our membership enables us to do much, but it is each individual Chi Omega, inspired by our six purposes, that allows our Fraternity to truly flourish.

Keep calm and Chi O on. Hoot hoot! Here are some of my favorite Chi Omega memories from college…

Keep Calm And…

Sing Rocky Top! Just can’t get enough. Go Vols.

Feel Good Friday – Donate to Children’s Hospital!

My philanthropic little sister is raising money for an unbelievably good cause – The Children’s Hospital! She is asking for help – and I’m helping spread the word. If you’ve got a few extra $ – send it her way. Donate here.  Helping sick kids? Now THAT’S a good feeling.

Support me! I will be participating in the University of Tennessee Dance Marathon on March 2nd and 3rd. This year, I am on the Dance Marathon Executive Committee. I am in charge of Corporate/Event Development so I have been going to businesses asking for donations to the event. Besides getting businesses to donate, I have a personal goal that I am trying to reach as well! I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause. All contributions will benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Any contribution will help, nothing is too small and all donations are tax deductible! Donating online is safe and easy too! To make an online donation please search for my name at www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/utkdm and then click “support this participant.” Thank you for considering this request for your support!

Sing Me a Story

 A friend of a friend sent me an email about this fantastic non profit I had to share.  It’s called The Sing Me a Story Foundation.  

The organization gives children in hospitals, orphanages and youth orgs the chance to write and create stories…about anything their little hearts desire! The organization then sends those stories to songwriters who turn them into songs, record them, and send them back to the child. It’s such a unique and heartwarming way to make a difference in the life of a child.

See an online presentation of how it all works here.

Some songs to check out: Childhood Memory, The Fairy Went to Market, Two Brothers and a Talking Tree, A Toy Bear).

The organization is growing – fast. But sadly, so is the number of children in need. They’re seeking money (always), volunteers and most importantly, singers and songwriters. Since my voice is about as far from song-bird-worthy as you can get, I’ll just pass along the request from the organization:

If you know of any songwriters who might be interested in our program (that includes amateurs, professionals, music teachers doing units on songwriting, music students looking for a project, etc etc), please pass along our site. Furthermore, if you know of partnering organizations that work with kids who you think might be a good fit, please let us know. Folks can sign up as songwriters or partnering organizations by clicking on the “Join Us” tab on our site. 

Sidebar…

Additionally, I have to brag on my friend who sent me the email about Sing Me a Story a little. Her name is Jessi Betz, and she is a successful realtor in Nashville. Before she sent the email I had never heard of her side project, Selling to Give Back. In her email signature was this web address: Sellingtogiveback.com. I had no idea all the cool stuff my friend was doing — with every home she sells, transaction she makes, she makes a donation to the charity of her client’s choice. Pretty cool, huh? Her list of charities is continuing to grow, but so far she’s donated to:

• American Heart Association
• Cool People Care
• ASPCA
• Operation Stand Down
• Sweet Sleep
• Goodwill
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• American Red Cross
• Center for Reproductive Health
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Susan G. Komen
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Washington Humane Society
• American Brain Tumor Association
• Young-Williams Animal Center
• National Down Syndrome Society
• The District
• Salvation Army
• Nashville Rescue Mission
• United Way
• American Cancer Society

So if you’re in the Nashville area and are looking for a new home, reach out to Jessi for help, she’ll help you and other as well. I’m so proud to call her my friend!

The Streak is Over.

It was a very sad day for us Vol fans. Especially for my family and I who were all in town AT the UK-UT game to see our Vols fall to the Cats. But it had to end someday, and at least it was a beautiful day outside!

Nonetheless, my family and I still had fun watching college football and spending time together.

Until next season, Go VOLS!

And p.s. – I had to share this picture of this kid sitting behind us at the game… Yes, during the game:

Man Shaves Beard After 26 Years – When UK Beats UT

This was NOT an easy story for me to report. As a UT grad and PROUD Volunteer, my heart broke when my Vols fell to the Cats. But it was a well-deserved win for Big Blue Nation…and thankfully my Ky friends took it easy on me! However I did have to report on the big win the Monday after the game. Let’s just say it was a test of my true journalistic skills —

Vol for life.

UT Locker Room After Win Over Vandy

This is great… Although I do long for the days when beating Vandy wasn’t the equivalent of winning an SEC championship to us… But we’ll take what we can get!

 

Vintage Vols

Glorious. GBO.

Knoxville.

Ahh, Knoxville in the Fall. What a glorious day in Tennessee for some football! It was time for my annual Knoxville trip to see my Vols take on #1 LSU. Yes, #1. And while we did lose (ok, got our butts kicked), I still had a blast.

From celebrating my mom’s birthday with my family, to seeing old college besties…it was good times all around.

Especially this: