The best part of being in a sorority is getting a lineage. And (one of) the best parts of being in a lineage is being pampered during big/little week. And while being showered with love, gifts, and sorority apparel is living the dream for the new sorority girls, big/little week can be a source of stress for older girls. Trying to figure out the best way to make your little feel special while struggling to keep your identity under wraps can be a challenge, but big/little week doesn't have to be work! Here are a few tips to make your gift-giving a little easier.

Create themes for each day.

Creating themes is an effective way to organize the order of your gifts. This is helpful in the beginning stages when you're planning the logistics of your presents. It's a lot easier to think "Today is spa day, so I'll give her the nail polish kit," than it is to assign all of your gifts to random days. And, themes give your little something unique to look foward to every day! Popular theme ideas are spa days, under the sea, and school spirit. But, the possibilities are endless. This is a great chance to display your creativity and make the day whatever you want it to be!

Work with your budget.

Most houses put a limit on how much money bigs can spend so that no little receives extra or insufficient attention. Still, some may feel pressured into thinking that the best gifts are the most expensive ones. Don’t fall into this trap. Your little will appreciate whatever comes from you, and a lot of cheap (but useful) items can mean a whole lot more than one or two expensive things! You can still splurge on one or two special items if you'd like, but the rest can easily be purchased at Target. And, make sure to cater to what she likes! Just because you love Lilly printed items doesn't mean she does too; she may appreciate a bag of gummy worms a lot more!

Get friends involved.

New member period can be overwhelming, so help your little adjust to sorority life by introducing her to some new sisters! Setting up dates with the littles of other girls in your pledge class makes for fun big/little week excursions. You can get together with other bigs and arrange for them to hang out at a restaurant together, or to get their nails done. Additionally, utilizing your lineage, friends in your sorority, and friends outside of your sorority, is helpful for special deliveries and other surprises. 

Remember to keep the suspense.

The real fun of big/little week comes from the mystery of it all. If you do the week right, your little will look at you wide-eyed during reveal, happy-squeal, and jump into your arms. You don’t need to create an elaborate lie for your little, but she should be left wondering who you are to make reveal even more special. Deleting pictures with your lineage name is a must if you plan on giving any lin-themed gifts, and you should definitely avoid running into her when you're decorating her room. But, most of all, you should act as normal as possible around her. The time will come for intense lineage bonding and love-fests, but for now, just continue being her friend.