Rush is speed dating, but for a sisterhood. Yes, the rumors are true it gets hot and humid and the bipolar weather is in full swing during August. Allow yourself to enjoy this week as stress-free as possible.

Here are my 15 Top items to put in you rush bag for each day.

1. Water & Snacks

This is the longest and hottest week of summer. You do have lunch breaks, but you will need much more than that to survive without passing out. Bring small snacks with substance, like granola or peanut butter crackers. Bring one or two water bottles.

Pro Tip: Freeze one so by the time you are done with your first water bottle, you will have a nice, cold water once it melts.

2. Mints/Gum

You are jumping from party to party, house to house, non-stop talking. For your sake, and the sorority girl’s sake, bring something to pop in your mouth, in between parties.

Pro Tip: Girls in your rush group are going to see you pull out the gum/mints, and they will ask for one. Get a master pack from Costco or Sams. The more-the-merrier.

3. Deodorant

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. It gets over 90 degrees, plus humidity. You are gonna sweat.

Pro Tip: Get a gel-based deodorant. Normal sticks will melt in the southern sun. You are going to have to reapply throughout the day, so make sure you are prepared with a stick that will not melt while you are in a house.

4. Hairbrush

Even Southern Belles’ hair does not do any well in high humidity. Hair gets stringy, sweaty, frizzy, and gross. A hairbrush helps. Bring one.

5. Hair Spray & Dry Shampoo/Baby Powder

Hairspray to keep flyaways, and frizz down. Dry shampoo to help with grease and sweat, outdoor smells.

Pro Tip: Baby powder is a light alternative to dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is great, but after 3 reapplies to your hair, it starts to get kind of heavy. Baby powder absorbs and helps freshen up.

6. Touch-Up Makeup

You will sweat it all off. No setting spray is strong enough to fix that. Ultimately it is up to each you what kind of touch-up makeup you need to bring. Every woman’s face is different. Here is a small list of ideas: concealer, powder, blush, mascara, & lipstick (lipgloss is a no-go. Wind + Hair + Lipgloss = Disaster)

Pro Tip: See how your face reacts with sweat. Practice your rush makeup while laying out. Figure out what brands work best, and what you will need to reapply.

7. Oil Blotting Sheets

Depending on your skin, you may have a very oily complexion, or maybe not. Either way, oil blotting sheets helps absorb oil, sweat, and gives you a fresher feel.

Pro Tip: Buy these BEFORE moving into college. Every single store will be out of them during rush week.

8. Lotion

You are sweating, you feel gross, and all you want is a shower. Bring your favorite lotion to be your shower on the go. Also, no one deserves ashy knees during rush week.

Pro Tip: Choose a lotion scent that it light. Do not grab the super perfumed blast. If every girl going through rush had a strong sent on, everyone would have a miserable headache.

Pro Tip: Bring Advil or some kind of headache relief. Just in case you do have someone in your group who decides to have the strongest scent.

9. Fan

Bring one. That is all.

Pro Tip: Bring an extra set of batteries if they need them.

10. Comfy Shoes

During your lunch break or voting, the last thing you will want to be in are those horrible, yet adorable, shoes. Bring a pair of shoes that make your feet happy.

Pro Tip: Bring band-aids for those unfortunate events of blisters. I have scars on my feet from blisters. Save yourself. #LoveYourFeet

11. Nike Shorts

No one wants to see your underwear. Yet, we all want to sprawl across the grass. Bring Nike shorts, or Nike Pros to throw on during breaks. Allow yourself the freedom of sitting unladylike in a dress.

12. Rain Jacket

Whether the weather calls for rain or shine, bring a rain jacket. You can sit in it, use it as a pillow if it rains you are dry. There is literally no downfall of having one.

13. Pad & Pen

You will need to make notes on which houses you like, or do not like. Maybe you want to remember who you talked to, or what you talked about. Most schools give you a rush booklet, but bring something just in case.

14. Tampons

Mother Nature is a cure and unpredictable b****. Even if you are not scheduled to have your period during this week, something may change, or you can save another girls life when she is not prepared. #InstantFriendship

15. A Bomb Playlist

Rush can be draining physically, and emotionally. Sometimes all you need is a good pick-me-up song. Create a playlist of your favorite jams.

Pro Tip: Bring headphones. Your jams may not be the girl’s jams sitting next to you.

Thrive on!

Lily