Top Instagrams of the Month: November & December 2014

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!

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!

27Jun2014

Awesome Recruitment Picture Ideas {Guest Post}

by sparkleandshinesami

This guest post is courtesy of A Greek Concept. Amy Furrow is the owner of A Greek Concept an online retailer of licensed Greek merchandise. She’s got drive, heart, and passion – something Greek life is all about. From Sorority picture frames, tote bags, and jewelry, as well as Fraternity coolers, glassware, and travel accessories; A Greek Concept is filled to the brim with options for every Sorority sister or Fraternity brother. In today’s guest post the company talks about taking awesome photos for recruitment!

Taking an original photo is quite the challenge! Add 20+ people to the mix and it is a mind-blowing feat! Every year pledge classes take an outstanding amount of pictures together – and every year at sorority recruitment the same question is asked: “what should our pose be?” Although every sorority has standard poses, every once in a while you need something AWESOME to make your pledge class stand out… something that represents you! Here are a couple of awesome recruitment picture ideas to get you thinking of creative ways to pose!

Big Heart

I mean… it speaks for itself on how fabulous this pose is! I love [get it?] the way each girl gets her own space and window to shine in, but together you comprise a bigger purpose!

Chapter Letters

Why not take the heart image from above but make your letters together instead? A creative way to also let the world know exactly who you are, this pose unites each pledge to the common cause! Strut those letters proud.

Headshots

Instead of making it the largest picture of all time by including head-to-toe of each person, why not pose your pic of just faces? It lets those smiles shine bright, and be the major standout factor of the picture.

Elementary Style

Although done separately and meshed together to make it one photo, this idea gives each pledge opportunity to express her personality! Being silly or serious grants the picture of your pledge class a fun, elementary school vibe unlike any other.

Running

I. adore. this. picture. How much fun is this? ALL of the fun. It gives your picture movement and life, while still accurately representing your class! An added piece? I bet you’ve never seen a pledge class do a running pic [other than the photo I just showed you]. This means you’ll be unique and stand out in a crowd of pledge pictures!

Laughing

The individuality of a laughing pic gives each girl her own style, while having a unified goal as well! It’s the best of both worlds when it comes to standing out and fitting in. Plus, it is a fairly accurate picture of what life is like with your crazy, fellow pledges.

On Top of the World

That’s right – rooftop! How spectacular to have your pledge class photo framed on a rooftop, OR shot from the ground as you stand on the roof or balcony of your house. I simply love how on top of the world this makes a pledge class look!

Shot from Above

A bonus of this shot is that everybody looks good from an above angle! Lots of skinny minnies for this picture.

Balloon Love

What a superb shot of your colors in balloons! This way you get more than just pretty faces – a whole display of who you are! Added color always helps makes a photo better, and will only add pizazz to your pledge class pics.

It can be quite the toss-up of what to choose for poses. I suggest always asking for input from pledges, while having a few good poses in your back pocket for use if things go downhill fast!

Remember, you can also get ready for recruitment by purchasing some beautiful recruitment jewelry! Head on over to The Collegiate Standard and use coupon code SAMI10 to get 10% off your purchase.

21May2014

“Big May Know Best, but Little Always Gets What She Wants”

by sparkleandshinesami

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

One of the hardest parts about being home for summer from college is how much I miss my sorority sisters, especially my big diamond sister, Katherine, and my little diamond sister, Amber!

My big and little diamond sisters mean the world to me. They are my best friends, my biggest support system, and two of the girls who I know will be standing next to me, as bridesmaids, on my wedding day.

They are the two girls I always want to go out with on the weekends….

They are the two always supporting me – just like in this picture, right after I was announced as our chapter’s new social chair…

They are the two that I am with at every philanthropy event, like at our King of Diamond’s event…

They are my rocks and my biggest support system, as you can see here at Relay for Life….

I can always be silly with them….

Because at the end of the day, they are the greatest thing to happen to me since I came to Quinnipiac University…

For any of you sorority women who understand the bond between a big and little sister, you may be experience #LittleProblems.

Don’t worry, because there is just a store – and Twitter account – to help you!

Little Problems is all about promoting the incredible bond between a big and little sister / a big diamond and little diamond sister, being a proud Greek woman, and supporting your sisters, and supporting your letters.

The shop features decals, bows, and koozies, while the Twitter account, started in May 2012, offers a variety of tweets than any sorority woman can relate to.

When purchasing from the store, orders are processed within 24 hours of placement and then are shipped out on either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Shipping, for all products, is $3.0o. All sales are final and the site will also design custom koozies! For more information, you can check out the FAQ page here.

Do you know what it’s like to be a proud sorority women with such a close bond? If so, then you have to check out Little Problems to show off your pride!