Mirrorless Monday

Happy Monday, readers!

Today is a special Monday. In honor of Eating Disorder Awareness week, today is Mirrorless Monday. The concept of today is to avoid the mirror. How you look on the outside does not matter, it was what is on the inside. You are unique. You are beautiful. You are you – your hair color, your pant size, and the pimple on the tip of your nose does not matter.

I challenged my residents to participate in today by covering up our large bathroom mirrors and writing reminders to them about beautiful they are on both the inside and outside. More importantly, I reminded them that how they look on the outside does not reflect their self worth.

Today, I have not looked in a mirror. I have promised myself, in honor of the 20 million women and 10 million men in America who suffer from the disease, to honor this day.

I didn’t do my makeup and I let my hair naturally air dry, then put it into a pony tail. I did not do my makeup. I didn’t have to look in the mirror while brushing my teeth or washing my face because of the large paper covering the mirror.

I ask you to take this promise, too. From now on today, do not use a mirror. Do not stop and look at yourself.

Then tomorrow, do not critique yourself. Ignore that zit, ignore the off-white shade of your teeth, and ignore the so-called rolls and flab you see on your stomach, arms, and thighs. Instead focus on what is inside – how much you care about your family, how hard you work in school, and how amazing you are just being you.

I know there are plenty of days I want to stare down everything I see that is wrong in the mirror – did eating those french fries yesterday make me gain weight? Are those blackheads on my nose? Why is that hair so out of place? But instead, I chose to ignore this. I focus on my GPA that I work my butt off for; I focus on my blog and how far it has come in so little time; I focus on how much I love my friends, family, and sorority sisters. I focus on being more than what I see in the mirror. I focus to be happy and confident for who I am.

Just promise yourself, and me, that for one day you avoid these thoughts and avoid looking in a mirror. Honor those who no longer can.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, reach out to the confidential hotline at 1-800-931-2237 to get help.

11Feb2015

Must Make Valentine’s Day Desserts

by sparkleandshinesami

Hello, readers!

You know I love different holiday themed desserts, so I decided to find some yummy ones to make for Valentine’s Day on Pinterest.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies | Heart Shaped Rice Krispie | Oreo Truffle Hearts | Red Velvet Brownie Hearts

Why not enjoy these delicious desserts with your favorite gal pals and celebrate Galentine’s Day! Check out how my best friends and I celebrated last year – filled with a Valentine’s Day gift swap, called Secret Cupid, and an anti-Valetine’s Day party. Why not do something similar and mix in these yummy treats? Sounds like a blast!

This year, however, I will be going home and celebrating with my seven year old cousin who asked me to be his Valentine. I mean, he’s the only boy I need in my life anyway, so why not spend the day with him and the rest of my family?!

Let me know what you’re doing on V-Day by commenting below!

9Feb2015

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy snowy Monday, readers!

It’s been one snowy week, filled with plenty of hot chocolate, binge watching Lifetime Network Movies, and catching up on my color coated to-do list. Life was even so hectic, that I didn’t watch a single second of the Super Bowl because I was too busy studying for biology (a true struggle for a journalism major) and being on duty as an R.A. Plus, that night I didn’t even get show off my style because I had to wear my Res Life gear in case of any serious issues, which trust me, did happen!

I ended up getting to relax much later in the week with my little, g little, other of our sorority gal pals, and friends at a faux ski resort themed bash!

Also, I received my fabulous goodies from winning fellow Her Campus Blogging Network member, Amanda, who blogs over at College is Love! Thanks to the Etsy shop Fabric Bows for Days, I received these two bows – one monogrammed, of course! – and this ADPi Lily Pultizer key fob.

Speaking of the Her Campus Blogging Network, I am now a member of their Premier blogging network! That wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. Thank you so much, readers, to checking out each post, following me on social media, and being you!

I wish I could actually thank you all with kisses from Zac Efron, but unfortunately, this is the closest it’s going to get…for now.

Source

Stay with me this week to see what else Sparkle and Shine has to offer. Make this week as sparkling as you are because life won’t sparkle unless you do!

5Feb2015

Making R.A. Duty a Total Sorority Move, thanks to Gone Greek!

by sparkleandshinesami

This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions are my own.

One of the most rewarding experiences of my life is being a Resident Assistant for freshman. However, that means long nights and some even longer nights that expected.

During the week days, we don’t need to wear our university official polos. Last night, I decided to add a little sass, like a true sorority girl, by throwing on pearls and a monogram for duty!

Yoga Pants: Victoria’s Secret PINK| Headband: Victoria’s Secret PINK

Half Zip: Gone Greek

If you are just as obsessed with this half-zip as I am, head on over to Gone Greek! I promise you, you won’t be sorry!

This half-zip is one of the comfiest pieces of clothing in my closet and trust me, there is a lot of clothes in there. It’s super cute and the site ships very quickly.

Gone Greek offers clothing and accessories for both sorority women and fraternity men. For those who are not affiliated, the site even offers super cute clothing and accessories with monograms.

You can even purchase in bulk through their chapter orders category.

When checking out, use code checkout10 to get 10% off. Super cute monograms, sorority gear, and savings? Please tell me what could possibly make this sorority girl happier? Oh wait, nothing!

4Feb2015

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: January 2015

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy February, my sparkling readers!

The first month of the year has already come and gone. Have you been following my January adventures on Twitter and Instagram? It’s been a fun-filled month thanks to being reunited with my friends and ADPi sisters for the second semester of junior year! Oh, and a whole less of fun when my computer got a virus, crashed, and had to be re-imaged, in which I lost my documents and photos. But, let’s not dwell on the negative.

A year ago, I posted my first ever Top 3 Instagrams of the month post. Since then, this monthly post has become one of the most popular posts of “Sparkle and Shine,” gaining hundreds of hits each time it gets posted! Due to the success, I decided to continue chronicling my year through Instagram and sharing the top photos of each month with you.

Without further ado, here is the top Instagram posts from January 2015!

2015 is the year that my best friends and I turn 21! Kathleen was the first of our friend group to turn 21 and no amount of snow, sleet, or sludge stopped us from celebrating and giving her a great night!

I’ve taken a step into the fashion blogging world, one cute shoe (or snow boot) at a time. In this Instagram post, I showed off my “day after” outfit for how to still look cute and comfortable the day after going out. To check out the post, you can go here.

A whole new yeaaaaar, a new fantastic point of view. No one (but my mom) to tell me no or where to go or say I’m only dreaming – except for one HUGE dream is no longer a dream, but a reality. I am continuing to work with Seventeen Magazine in 2015 as a member of their Social Club! This means not only new adventures for me, but for you, too, readers!

Continue to follow me on Instagram to see what February will have in store. I have a feeling that it will be just as exciting as January!

23Jan2015

Mixing Cute & Comfort for the Day After

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Friday, readers!

It’s no longer a secret that college weekends now start on Thursday nights, which makes Fridays on campus look like zombies rose from the dead. Since it’s syllabus week, I wanted to make sure I definitely seized the Thursday opportunity. So, my little and I went out last night!

I don’t have classes on Fridays, but I’m still out and about on campus all day long. I woke up this morning with a busy schedule: an audition for my school’s television station, a meeting for my sorority, a meeting for my school’s television station, blog e-mails to answer, this post to write, and some how find time to eat, go to the gym, and socialize in between. While running all over campus, and to Dunkin Donuts for my medium iced caramel swirl with skim, I try to still dress cute.

No matter how much your head is pounding or you may want to go back to bed, there are days when you need to just keep moving and cross items off your color coordinated to-do list! Just because you want to look comfortable, doesn’t mean you have to just throw in the towel and throw on a baggy sweatshirt.

My go-to for these types of situations are always leggings! Leggings dress up an outfit a little bit more than yoga pants, but are still just as comfortable. To continue to add comfort, I always will put on my favorite sweater. To continue to mix the comfort and cute aspects together, I added a scarf and a vest.

To my sparkling readers, a scarf is always my go-to accessory to dress up an outfit! You can almost always catch me in a scarf in the winter. Gap is one of my favorite stores for winter scarves, which is where I got the one that I am wearing today.

Vest: Gap | Sweater: American Eagle | Scarf: Gap | Leggings: Victoria’s Secret PINK

Boots: Ugg Australia | Sunglasses: Icing | Backpack: Coach

Keep this easy, cute, and comfortable combo in mind the next time you want to dress to impress, but don’t want to get out of bed. Check out more of outfits on my Instagram!

20Jan2015

My First Day of Class Look: Simple & Classic

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy first day of classes!

Today I started the second semester of my junior year. I decided to put the yoga pants and leggings on hold for a day to break out a simple, yet classic outfit for the first day of classes.

Cardigan: New York & Company | Cami: New York & Company | Jeans: American Eagle | Boots: DSW | Necklace: My Name Necklace

It’s a pretty warm day out for a winter in Connecticut, so I decided to wear just the simple cardigan. However, I couldn’t not sparkle on my first day of classes, which is why of all the cardigans I own, I decided to wear one with gold-glitter stitching. The look combines all classic and simple pieces that are staples in any girl’s closet.

Follow me on Instagram to see what other outfits I will be posting this semester.

15Jan2015

The ULTIMATE THROWBACK

by sparkleandshinesami

Holy throwback….

So when I was home for winter break, my mom and I found my laptop from freshman, sophomore, and junior year of high school. For giggles, I decided to go through it and instead I found more than I bargained for (ten points to anyone who picked up on the attempt at a throwback Panic! At the Disco lyric). I found a bunch of saved tumblr quotes, Limewire viruses, and my sweet sixteen candle speeches.

But most importantly, I found webcam photos, selfies, and awkward photos that I can promise you are no where on Facebook. In believing that laughter is the best medicine and it’s best to always laugh at yourself, I decided to share 10 of those pictures with you all – all unedited, unashamed, and apologetically.

This is more embarrassing for 2015 Sami and not 2010 Sami because I cried looking at my hair in this photo. R.I.P to my long, luscious locks. I miss you and have been trying to get your for years.

Smooches and snuggies on the webcam must have been cute at the time. Maybe? Probably not.

Gotta have my turkey sandwich before swim meets – it goes best with very glittery eye shadow, if you couldn’t tell.

Cami underneath the v-neck and heavy on the eyeliner ALL around the eye… MUST be a 2009 picture. Hellllllllo, freshman year of high school.

What’s more embarrassing – the fact that this Halloween costume smelled a little like hockey player B.O. no matter how many times I washed it (sorry, Danny, but it did) or the black, gold, silver rhinestone bedazzled enV I’m taking the mirror selfie with?

First time driving with my license without my mom in the car calls for a picture…obv. See that look of panic on my face? Yeah, the drivers on the road probably had the same.

#TBT to when FaceinHole.com was a thing. Well, my friends Brenda, Amanda, and I (who used to call ourselves Snooki, JWoww & Sammi Sweetheart) decided to truly become them thanks to that website.

Check out my permit!!!!!!! 2 kewl 4 u.

Ugh, ooVoo pictures were THE thing to do. I had a whole album entitled “WEBCAMMMMMM” on my laptop, full of ooVoo pictures of me and my friends. The most, er, interesting one was probably this one of me and my friend Shannon. I don’t think we knew what we were doing then…. but that flower did play music when you plugged your iPod into it.

I mean, this one is pretty normal. Just s0oo0o0 2010 for the fact that it is B&W and on a webcam. Two thumbs up for webcam pics!

Hope your #tbt is filled with an Instagram feed more of cute baby pictures than embarrassing high school selfies. I would love to see YOUR #tbt to this week – so either link it in the comments or comment “@samiiiiiixo” on your picture so I get the notification to check it out!

12Jan2015

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, my sparkling readers!

It seems like it has been so long since I have introduced you to a Monday Musts post. For that, I apologize. In the craziness of school, RA, ADPi, extra curriculars, and everything else in between, I seemed to run out of “musts” to introduce you to. At that point, the only musts I had every week was to stay sane, get some sleep, and breathe.

Which is why, though I will be posting every Monday again, I am going to be doing My Monday Musts a little bit differently. Since it’s hard to have three specifics to discuss each week, I decided my Monday Musts will just be telling you about my life – what’s going on, what’s coming up, what I’m excited for, and anything else. They still will be musts, but instead they’re musts I just have to share with you! Plus, they know have a cool new graphic, thanks to my newest obsession with Photoshop!

I go back to school tomorrow and I am just so, so, so excited for this semester!

This is the semester that most of my friends and I turn 21.

I miss my friends and sorority sisters so much that I am so excited to get back to Quinnipiac to see them!

I have plenty of exciting opportunities ahead for Sparkle and Shine, as well as my extra curriculars at school.

I am so excited for my hallway theme this semester and hope that my residents loves it just as much!

Even applying for internships have me so excited because that means that means I am one step closer to my dreams.

Oh, and did I mention that I turn 21?

Just kidding, mom.. maybe.

Stay tuned to see what else is in store for Sparkle and Shine this week. I can promise that Thursday’s post is definitely something you should be looking forward to.

Have a sparkling week, readers!!

9Jan2015

Top Instagrams of the Month: November & December 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers!

So as I’m being a good blogger and planning out posts and graphics for the next few weeks, I realized I made a blogging mistake. Yikes…

I realized I didn’t share with you my top Instagram posts from November and December!

In the beginning of 2014, I started by sharing my top Instagram posts each month with you to show you what I do when I’m not blogging and how I am living a sparkling life. I realized I forgot both November and December, so without further ado, check out my adventures from November and December from my Instagram account!

November:

I took a selfie and captioned in with a Taylor Swift quote… you know, because darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream. Or just your typical #whitegirl.

I was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the national School of Communication honor society, the day after my sorority semi formal.

December:

And I honored my guardian angel, my daddy, by wishing him a happy birthday. I’m sure he partied it up in Heaven with more cake and cupcakes than words in this post.

December:

My semi date took me to his fraternity’s Christmas themed grab-a-date. Fa la la la la la la

I filmed my last newscast of the semester, as the Entertainment Anchor, with some of my fellow Q30 gals. To check out our last newscast, you can view it on the Q30 website here.

And to celebrate the end of the semester and having to separate from each other for a full four months, my big, little, and g-little all went out to a local Mexican restaurant. Ixtapa had a Christmas tree set up in the corner, so the Bad Girls Club decided to take the opportunity to get a true family Christmas picture. Feliz navi-diamonds!

To see what other adventures I a had in 2014, you can check out the previous posts for January, February, March, April, May, June, July & August, September, and October. Plus, you can stay up to date for 2015’s adventures by following me on Instagram.

Here’s to hoping that 2015 sparkles even more than 2014!