Story time with Sami: That time I ran a match-making service for my sisters

Happy Thursday, babes!

I don’t know if it’s because I am a blogger or because I’m addicted to social media, but I love when bloggers are transparent – whether this means on their Twitter, Instagram, or sharing personal stories for their readers. Some of my favorite YouTubers often post “story time” videos about crazy events that happen to them or weird memories they made with their friends.

And if you know me in real life, then you know that I have a tooooon of stories. This is why I decided to create a series called “Story time with Sami” where I share some funny stories about things that I’ve done. So for the first edition, I decided to share about Sami’s Sexy Singles, my match making service.

for all age

Now, Sami’s Sexy Singles originally started as a joke my sophomore year at Quinnipiac. One of our sisters, Tammy, was the sweetheart of SigEp and would always try to match make sisters with her brother – I mean, she made Google spreadsheets and PowerPoints. I would have a lot to live up to! When she graduated, that left someone to try and arrange sisters with dates for all of our events. Somehow, I don’t even know how, the position fell into my lap. I joked about Sami’s Sexy Singles but nothing ever came of it.

All of a sudden, for a grab-a-date last semester, Sami’s Sexy Singles re-appeared. I’m friends with a lot of affiliated men who wanted to come to our grab-a-date, so I thought I would jokingly bring back Sami’s Sexy Singles. Unknowing to me, a lot of my sisters were interested in being matched. So in true senioritis/lack of motivation fashion, I decided to pour my all into Sami’s Sexy Singles – even staying up until 3 AM one night to make a professional Google Drive through the official Sami’s Sexy Singles e-mail account!

Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 6.25.01 PM

I even had my friends Kristina, Courtney, and Dale get involved! We would send out e-mails to those who were matched and even to our entire chapter reminding them to e-mail us if they wanted dates and the “rules” for the match-making service (including no liability and about customer satisfaction). We would try to keep the e-mails as professional as possible, to add to the humor of the entire situation. Our dates also received e-mails, to help them realize how serious we took our match0making responsibilities that night.

We weren’t the only people taking Sami’s Sexy Singles serious…. We had people tweeting about us with the hashtag “#samissexysingles” and e-mailing us about getting matched. Guys were coming up to us and e-mailing us asking to be added to the list of eligible bachelors! We were a hit.

One day I was getting lunch in a Greek-life populated area and I had some fraternity men that I wasn’t friends with come ask to me and ask if I could match them for their formal. People that Kristina, Courtney, Dale, and I weren’t friends with even knew about Sami’s Sexy Singles and were interested. I bet that’s like what Kim K. felt the first time someone recognized her as more than just Paris’ BFF….

The day the grab-a-date rolled around, we had over 15 couples – that’s more than 30 people who were coming to the event because of Sami’s Sexy Singles. Our phones were blowing up with questions and e-mails, I felt like a real life C.E.O!

In the end, I had a blast at the event, Kristina, Courtney, Dale and their dates had fun, and so did our sisters and their dates!

Here’s my date and I at the event. His little was one of our eligible bachelors who came to the event! Gotta keep it in the family, you know? –

Here is me and my date, Justin, from the event. All the seniors celebrated the event in a duck-hunting themed (aka my dream theme due to my “Duck Dynasty” obsession). Recognize this picture? If you follow me on Instagram, it’s the picture I posted that night!

Now, I’m not saying Sami’s Sexy Singles was extremely successful (I haven’t finished our customer satisfaction survey yet, but I’ll say it was pretty dang successful), but I am saying that many sisters asked what would happen to it once I graduated. Since Kristina is a year younger, I passed down Sami’s Sexy Singles to her in my senior will, so my legacy will live on.

I would love to know how you feel about Story time with Sami!! Comment below & tell me some different types of stories you would want to hear or tweet them to me @sparkleshinesam!

signature 22222

9Mar2016

My last Alpha Delta Pi formal {pictures & senior superlative}

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Wednesday, readers!

And for those of you who are an Alpha Delta Pi sister of mine, whether from the Theta Theta chapter or not, happy We Live For Each Other Wednesday!

I figured that We Live for Each Other Wednesday would be the best day to share my favorite pictures from my very last formal (cue the tears). Per usual, I took my best friend Paul cause I knew that I would have the best time. I even had him fill out the University’s required off-campus event forms before I even asked him – whoops!

Check out some of my favorite pics from the night:

AMB

12814806_10208077011510554_2153409547458858590_n

12814793_10208076993510104_4413579710635336401_n

12802823_10208076992150070_7635723014515426165_n

And to make the night complete, seniors receive superlatives. Though the word senior/graduation (and the constant reminder that I turn twenty two in less than a week) makes me want to curl up in ball , have a quarter life crisis, and cry, I was so excited to find out what my award was going to be.

Last year, my big won “Most Likely to Be at Toad’s on a Saturday Night,” which not only shows her love – and our family’s love – for the popular club, but how much we live up to our Bad Girls Club family name.

So in true BGC fashion, I won….

drum roll please…..

Most Likely to Make a Bad Decision Seem Like a Good One

Sorry, mom.

signature 22222

11Nov2015

Hey sorority gals, The Collegiate Standard is having a give away!

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers, The Collegiate Standard is having a giveaway and you need to enter!

And I mean need to just as much as you desperately need that morning coffee….

The Collegiate Standard is currently hosting a Heart to Heart Sorority giveaway. The awesome Greek life jewelry company is giving away two heart pendants to one lucky sorority gal.

The giveaway is all about why you love that sister who is always there for you no matter what – whether it be your big, little, or someone from your pledge class! No only is it an awesome way of reminding yourself of why you’re so in love with your sorority (like you really need that reminder anyway), but it is super easy to enter.

Just head on over to their Instagram page and throw them a follow.
From there, check out the picture for the giveaway.
In the comments section of the pic, tag a sister that you love and say why you love them.
As soon as you hit send, you’re entered to win! Easy, right?

The giveaway ends this Friday, the 13th, and the winner will be announced the same day.

But don’t wait until Friday to wear their beautiful jewelry – Head on over to their website, shop around, and use coupon code SAMI10 to get 10% off your order!

Hope you have a great Wednesday, your coffee is strong, and one of you win this awesome giveaway!

9Jul2015

Welcome my sorority sister, Lianna, to the blogging world!

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers!

A little over a week ago, I introduced you all to my sorority sister Tori and her Chloe + Isabel shop.

Well, Tori isn’t the only ADPi sister of mine who is being super cool this summer! It seems as though my school’s chapter of Alpha Delta Pi is continuing to reach for the stars, because our sister Lianna has started her own blog, Chic Freak.

(OMG, How white girl am I apple picking in a flannel?!)

I’m so proud of her for starting her own fashion and lifestyle blog!

Check out what Lianna had to say about herself, our friendship, and Chic Freak:

Hello beautiful Sparkle and Shine readers!

My name is Lianna Regina, I’m 19 and from Monroe, Connecticut. Not only am I Sami’s sorority sister in the Theta Theta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, I am the owner of the blog Chic Freak. Fashion has always been my top priority, and I probably shouldn’t be admitting this but it may have been my number one focus in high school.

I currently attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT and am majoring in Public Relations with a double minor in music and management. I had the pleasure of meeting Sami in the bathroom the week after recruitment with her asking “You’re in ADPi right?” It was the start of a wonderful, definitely never dull, friendship.

Starting a blog was something I always wanted to do. I tried endless times, but could never find something to write about that I was truly passionate about. Recently I was sick and didn’t want to sit in bed doing nothing all day, so I found that it was a perfect opportunity. I am just getting the hang of it and am very proud of every single post I write.

My blog is mainly about what I’m obsessing that day, which is usually what I’m wearing or something exciting that happened that day. I try to keep the common theme as fashion or something new and exciting that I think would be appealing to my readers. As time goes on, I hope to see my blog grow as I get into more of a routine. I feel that by running this blog, I am expanding my horizons in building a future for myself.

I hope you enjoy my blog!

I love seeing my friends jump into the blogging world. I have really found myself, found such a confidence, and have been able to show the world who I am thanks to Sparkle and Shine. I would love for everyone, especially my friends and my sorority sisters, to find the same happiness that I did.

Now, go make Lianna and I both happy by visiting her blog!

PS. Did you realize this post was coming because of yesterday’s Instagram post? If not, make sure you follow my Instagram to stay up-to-date on all things Sparkle and Shine!

2Mar2015

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: February 2015

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy March, readers!

I am so happy that it is finally March because it is now my birthday month! In just a few short days, I will be able to celebrate the day I have been looking forward to my whole life: becoming 21.

Source

March holds so many exciting opportunities for me! I have my twenty first birthday on the 15th, my super sweet twenty first open bar birthday party with one of my best friends on the 28th, my sorority formal on the 21st, and being able to relax during spring break. On Friday, I go home for spring break and all I can think about is laying in my Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired bedroom, curled up drinking some tea, and reading Dirty Rush, Total Sorority Move‘s newest book that they just sent me in the mail.

Looking forward to all these great times ahead, makes me look back to all the great times I had in February. On my Instagram, I chronicled all that I had done. These are the posts that had received the most likes out of all of my February adventures.

In honor of World Cancer Day on February 4th, I honored my favorite guardian angel who taught me how to wink (but didn’t teach me you can’t exactly wink in photos). I hope that one day a time comes that other daddy’s little girls do not have to loose their number one man to cancer.

My love of journalism continues to grow each and everyday. This semester, I was selected to do the weather for our school’s news station. You can watch the episode here. More importantly, stay tuned for some exciting news about my involvement in the news department for Q30!

For the past two years, I have kept my Alpha Delta Pi letters on my front because I knew I can count on my sisters to have my back. Two years ago in February, I ran home to the organization that completely changed for the better. Deep in my heart, I love my ADPi.

Continue to follow all of my adventures, especially as I enter into the life of being a legal adult, on Instagram or check out January’s Top Instagram pictures!

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!

20Dec2014

Sami’s Holiday Guide: Craft Your Own Canvas

by sparkleandshinesami

So you waited until last minute to get all your Christmas gifts and it’s already the Saturday before – now what?

Well, this time, readers, is for you to break out your paint brush and craft gifts from the heart. Avoid the craziness of the malls and mile long lines by crafting. A personal favorite gift of mine to craft are canvases!

Here are some canvas ideas from myself, a fellow Alpha Delta Pi sister from Florida State University, and some Pinterest faves that are on my Crafting Queen Pinterest Board to make.

Here is the canvas I made for my little for Christmas:

Over the summer, I got in touch with Madie, a fellow ADPi sister who had an Etsy shop. She took a break from her Etsy shop recently, but by visiting the page, you can sign up to receive an e-mail for when she returns! Here are two of Madie’s canvases, that I have hanging in my dorm room at school:

And for more ideas, here are some of my favorite canvases that I have recently pinned:

Hope that these examples can help inspire you for any last minute gifts.

Happy crafting!

13Oct2014

My Monday Musts {Meet my Little Diamond’s Little Diamond}

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you are all having a fabulous day. I know most of the day is over as I’m posting this, but it’s getting down to midterms week and I am stressed to the max like every other college students.

However, just because I’m stressed, it doesn’t mean I can’t share with you all the exciting events of my life from this week.

This week revolved around one of the greatest events to ever happen in my life… my little diamond got her own little diamond!

MEET LAUREN!

My little diamond, Amber, was unable to come to reveal since she had a prior obligation, so I got to surprise Lauren for Amber.

Last year, I was unable to surprise Amber at reveal. I had dislocated my knee and was home. There ended up being so much traffic that I was unable to get there on time – as I walked in, Katherine, my big diamond, was surprising Amber.

It seemed as though we got to continue the tradition because Amber had a prior obligation, so I got to surprise Lauren.

We put Amber’s face on a stick and I Facetimed her in – so it was just like she was there when I popped out of the decorated box to hug Lauren!

Out of all the events this week, getting Lauren as what most would consider a “g – little” was the greatest of them all.

Love you Lauren and can’t wait to have you in my life!

Hope you all have an amazing week readers and something happens as awesome as this to you this week. Keep sparkling!

7Oct2014

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: October 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers!

It’s officially one week into October – a.k.a. one of the best months! Before deciding which Halloween movie I am going to want to watch while on R.A. duty tonight, I have to share with you all my top Instagrams of September!

A majority of my September involved around sorority recruitment – which is why there is no surprise that my photo with the top likes came from day one of recruitment! This year was the first time my little diamond, Amber, went through recruitment as an Alpha Delta Pi and the last time my big diamond, Katherine, would get to go through recruitment. It was amazing getting to snap my fingers, chant my loudest, and recruit new sisters with them by my side in our day one attire of chapter letters and white jeans!

My second most popular post related to my Back to School post, courtesy of Seventeen Magazine and Office Depot. Through my contract with Seventeen, I was able to get some awesome school supplies from Office Depot. I stocked up on cute folders and my multi-purpose four color pen. To learn more about these supplies, check out the post or search the #GottaGetIt hashtag on your favorite social media site!

As I mentioned, this was Katherine’s last recruitment. As you can see in the caption, Katherine has been one of the greatest assets to my life. If I never went Greek or Alpha Delta Pi, I wouldn’t have been able to be blessed with Katherine was my big diamond. Over these past few years, Katherine has shown me how to exemplify the Alpha Delta Pi values each and everyday. More importantly, she has become my best friend, my forever friend, my future bridesmaid, and my rock. Going through recruitment made me reflect on my time in ADPi and I know it wouldn’t have been the same without her. So, on our last day of recruitment, I posted this photo of us before we started the final rounds!

To stay update on all things Sparkle and Shine, you can follow me on Instagram by going HERE.

OR if you want to check out previous Top Instagram posts, you can see what made the list in January, February, March, April, May, June, and July/August.

I wonder what Instagrammable opportunities October will have for me!

6Oct2014

Guess Whose Back…Back Again! {Special Monday Musts}

by sparkleandshinesami

Guess whose back….tell a friend!

Well, it’s not Eminem, readers – it’s me!

Now that recruitment is over and I have 49 beautiful new sisters, I’m able to get back down into the wonderful word of blogging!

I’ve missed blogging so much recently and was reminded about how much I love it during a recent trip out with my best friend.

After breaking my iPhone (whoops), my best friend and I went to the local Apple store to get it fixed. While out, we decided to get Shake Shack and skip the usual cafe food. While ordering, I was asked if I was Sami from “Sparkle and Shine” – I was so surprised!

Julia and I both starred with our mouths dropped. I felt like a mini celebrity; like Paris Hilton before the “Simple Life” gig or Bieber before the YouTube discovery. It turned out to be Emma from The World According to Emma, another college blogger. It was by far one of the coolest moments of my life!

Besides being a mini-celebrity, I’ve been super busy.

I’ve been working on my broadcasting skills. This past week I was the entertainment anchor for my school’s TV station, Q30, and did a package for one of our entertainment segments, #That. Check them out –

Plus, I’ve been getting down and derby with my sisters.

As an Executive Board Member of my sorority, I plan events for our sisters. This past weekend, I executed our first ever Bowties and ADPis event, a Kentucky Derby themed Grab-a-Date on our quad. Sisters and their dates dressed in their floppiest hats and brightest bowties and spent the day playing croquet and other yard games. I brought my best friend, Ben, because there is no one I know who is willing to get fratty and dress preppy! Here’s one of the many pictures of us-

But readers, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to finally be back!

Recruitment is over and I am finally back into my blogging groove. I have so many posts planned, so get set…get ready…because Sparkle and Shine is about to really shine.

But, make sure you shine, too, readers! Have a great week and keep sparkling!