Recruitment Bag
 

Last year, there was a thread about things to put in your bag to have with you between rounds. That list got pretty long - it would be a pretty full bag so when I couldn't find the old list, I figured we might as well start a new one.

I saw this on sale at J.Crew and thought it perfect for a nervous PNM. Especially since now you might only be able to have a small bag.


http://s7.jcrew.com/is/image/jcrew/0...80?$pdp_fs418$
http://s7.jcrew.com/is/image/jcrew/0...d2?$pdp_fs418$

http://www.jcrew.com/girls_category/...0kit/01361.jsp

It includes: hairspray, glitter nail polish, emery board, lip balm, earring backs, hair bands, barrettes, facial tissues, breath freshener, emergency info card and sparkly adhesive bandages.

I think the only things missing are a notebook, pen, and a paperback to read during the break. Maybe some safety pins?

Tide to go pen, deodorant, comb, bobbi pins (if you have your hair up or something)

Face blotters, or if you can't find them, coffee filters.

Comfy shoes for between houses.

Comb and/or brush.

(and if you're in a very bad frame of mind) Vaseline for your teeth.

I kept a small tube of body spray with me. It helped me to freshen up in between houses, and it wasn't so strong that it was overwhelming.

At my daughter's school, each PNM was given a list of helpful things to pack in her bag. She thinks the list is packed in storage, though. This was winter recruitment, and I think it would be nice to have a thread on that when the time comes!

I do know her school provides tampons, which are delivered to each house before recruitment starts! I thought that was pretty funny (and also a good idea).

Depending on what makeup you wear, bring some to touch up at lunch or between houses. I wear powder, eyeliner, and mascara, so I brought tiny versions of those things with me to touch up if necessary (which it often was, considering how hot it was!).

My daughter has this small kit, not quite as small is the mini emergency, but did come in gator colors
Inapickle.com
I'd put in a pic if I knew how!

I know it seems ridiculous, but a small emergency sewing kit can be of huge help too! This one looks sturdy: http://www.containerstore.com/shop/t...uctId=10007394. I can't count the number of times one of my sisters had a wardrobe malfunction during a recruitment party or between rounds.

Was at a Crabtree & Evelyn store this week and asked if they still sold blotting papers(like we found for my daughter for her rush 7 years ago) and they said they no longer sell them. They were so nice and came in a little cardboard envelope for carrying ease, but alas, they no longer carry them ;-(. Coffee filters work well.

That's so nice that the school provides tampons! At my school, each sorority usually provides things in the bathroom that the PNMs can use if they are there during a party -- usually things like tampons, oil blotting sheets, hair ties and bobby pins, spray deodorant, hairspray, tissues, and maybe even some chapstick. As a PNM, I really appreciated that the sororities did that -- it's not required, but is a nice touch! And as the recruitment chair last year, I cared a LOT about making sure PNMs felt comfortable in our house!

I would also add two things to the list: (1) umbrella and (2) compact mirror!

Tampons (or pads if you prefer them) are a must. Aunt Flow always stops by at the worst possible time. :/ We held most of our recruitment parties in the student center, and if you were a PNM and Aunt Flow arrived, you were pretty much screwed if you didn't have a tampon with you.

I wouldn't think glitter nail polish would be an "essential" or "emergency" item. Say you're wearing bright pink nail polish, and it chips - how is glitter nail polish supposed to help? (I'm not just talking about recruitment. Say you've gone out for dinner and a show, and your polish chips during dinner? You're supposed to walk around with 9-1/2 nails bright pink and 1/2 nail covered in glitter?)

Still, it's a good starter for an emergency kit.

Band Aid makes this stick of blister block. You just rub it on your feet before putting on shoes. Daughter got some at the recommendation of someone in last year's thread and did not have a blister at all. She was one of very few without hurting feet.

I stuck some of those little Wisp disposable toothbrushes in my daughter's bag, along with one of the mini dental floss things that the dentist gives out. I hit the travel bins at Target and Walgreens and got some mini hairspray, hand sanitizer, kleenex packs and Q-tips (great for quick eye makeup touch-ups).

Sally's Beauty Supply has the blotting papers, as does Sephora. The ones at Sally's have a little powder coating too. If you don't have a Sally's or Sephora nearby, they're both online.

This is necessarily for you bag but if you aren't used to standing in heels all day, I also recommend some of the Dr. Schol's inserts. They have some now that are ultra thin and made for stripy sandals. It's amazing what just a little extra cushion will do