My Monday Musts

Happy Monday, readers!

So I’m currently on Spring Break! Instead of laying out on a Florida beach soaking up the sun or skiing the Vermont slopes (not that I know how to ski anyway, I’m too accident prone that no one ever will take me on the slopes….), I’m laying on my couch in good ole’ Dirty Jersey planning my sorority’s formal, while taking a few breaks to catch up on America’s family, the Kardashians.

So with my messy bun looking messier than ever, 10 tabs of Pinterest open to my formal board, and crafting supplies scattered all over my dining room table, I decided to take a break from creating Alpha Delta Pi’s own wonderland for our “Alice in Wonderland” themed formal to share with you all this week’s My Monday Musts!

1. My Big Diamond and I celebrated our One Year Anniversary this Week!

Remember before I mentioned how I’m not skiing on any slopes because I’m so accident prone – well, one year ago during big/little diamond reveal ceremony, I wasn’t there because I had broken my hand and had possibly tendon damage. So a few days after everyone else had their formal reveal, I came back to school, and within 10 minutes, Katherine took me and my sling out to froyo so we can do an impromptu reveal. The day I received Katherine as my big diamond was one of the biggest blessings Alpha Delta Pi has given me. Katherine has been there for me through every up, every down, and every weekend adventure. She is my best friend, my sister, and my big diamond. I can’t express how incredible she is in my life, so not only did I have to share with you all that we just celebrated one year together as being big/little diamond sisters, but hope that all of your sorority girls have bigs like her!

2. Adding Resident Assistant to my Resume

One of my biggest goals of my college career was to become a Resident Assistant for freshman on Quinnipiac’s campus. This past week was the interviewing processes. Finally, on Wednesday, I received the e-mail saying that out of 236 applications, 26 where chosen – and I was one of them. I don’t think I have been this happy and this proud of myself in such a long time. Having a bunch of freshman residents is all I could dream about – I want to stay up late with them eating Dominoes discussing boy problems and life, I want them to come to me for outfit approvals, and for me to ultimately be their shoulder to lean on as they get through their first year of college. I have already been looking on Pinterest for ideas for door decorations and program ideas. For the Quinnipiac Class of 2018 who will be living in Irma next year, get ready, because RA Sami is ready to create the best year you can imagine.

3. Jack Rogers & Chubbie’s Giveaway

Jennifer Taylor, the social media and PR associate of Jack Rogers, contacted me this week to help spread the word on their current giveaway! (Talk about total fan girling… someone from Jack Rogers contacted ME!). Jack Rogers and Chubbies partnered together to create a sorority woman and fraternity man’s dream giveaway – to give away a pair of Jack Rogers sandals for her and Chubbies shorts for him. I entered the giveaway! Have you? Whether you’re on your phone or computer, you can enter the giveaway here.

So as I get back to the craziness of planning a formal and the spring break of a 40 year old woman thanks to the over 100 e-mail I need to answer, I just wanted to share something fun with you all…..

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY WEEK! MY BIRTHDAY IS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, AND I WILL NO LONGER BE A TEEN! I’M TURNING 20!

And on that note, have a great week! Keep sparkling!

2Mar2014

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: February 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Hello, readers!

It’s officially March a.k.a. my birthday month! WOOHOO!

Last month, you may remember how I introduced the post saying I will be starting the monthly tradition of sharing my Instagram posts with the most likes. Well, if you don’t, you can check out January’s top Instagram posts here and keep reading to find out what February’s most liked photos were!

So my first Instagram with the most likes was in honor of my guardian angel, my father, on World Cancer Day. February 4 was World Cancer Day, as well as the 3 years and 8 months since my father passed away. I couldn’t help but to dedicate a post to my hero on this day explaining not only the importance of having him in my life, but the importance of finding a cure.

My second post with the most Instagram likes was during my Alpha Delta Pi District Leadership Conference. Alea, is currently our chapter’s president. Prior to becoming our sister prez, she was the Director of Social Enrichment, which is what I currently am. I am so honored to follow in Alea’s shoes as the Director of Social Enrichment for the Theta Theta chapter and plan on living up to those big shoes to fill in the next year, since she did such an incredible job.

My third Instagram post with the most likes was when I pinned my little diamond, Amber, with her own pin for the first time. It is Alpha Delta Pi tradition that little diamond’s wear their big diamond’s pin until they get their own. Two chapters ago, Amber finally got her own pin. I was honored to pin her with her own pin!

Don’t want to wait for the beginning of each month to see the Instagram pictures with the most likes, then follow me on Instagram!

Enjoy your Sunday readers!

7Oct2013

There’s a little bit of heaven in those angel eyes…

by sparkleandshinesami

se….she’s a little bit of heaven with a wild side.

Yes, I’m sure that from just the title of this post you could tell what this post was going to be about – Love and Theft! (And if you didn’t know from that, you probably knew about it from this past Monday’s Monday Musts). After going through another knee injury, I had to put blogging this week on hold. Now that I am back at school, I am excited to get right back to “Sparkle and Shine.” What better way to get you all excited for all the upcoming posts, then telling you about seeing Love and Theft live and meeting them!

I’m going to jump right into the photos of my friends, Amber (who happens to my little diamond sister in Alpha Delta Pi!), Kelly, and I meeting Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson themselves because hey, it was one of the greatest moments of my life so I need to share it with you right away.

Annnnnd I’m also going to show you my signed phone case from Eric (as if I couldn’t love my J.Crew Cheetah phone case more – that happened):

but now about the concert itself, readers…

Two weekends ago, my school hosted a fall fest country concert, where Love and Theft came and performed. As a huge country fan, I couldn’t wait to see the country duo live. I have been loving their recent hit “If You Ever Get Lonely,” so I couldn’t wait to hear it!

The duo performed for about an hour – and it was just as amazing as I thought they would be! They really knew how to get into the college aged crowd, had a great line up of songs, invited a few students on stage, and even threw up the Alpha Delta Pi diamond’s hand sign (you know me, I’m a total sucker for anything ADPi related – so country cuties diamonding on stage was perfect!).

Another highlight of the concert – the two singing Uncle Kracker’s “Drift Away.” The group also did a mash up of “Born in the USA” by Jersey boy Brice Springsteen and Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down.” The two then had a little guys verse girls competition from the audience, having the two sexes belt out the lyrics. At the end of the set, the two ended with their hit “Angel Eyes” which had everyone in the crowd singing along.

The concert also included Canaan Smith, Sara Haze, and Eric Paisley. Though I hadn’t heard of these three prior to the event, they each were able to draw in the crowd with their talent and stage presences. Country 92.5’s radio personality, Broadway, introduced all of the performers to the crowd.

Besides meeting the boys of Love and Theft, I was also able to meet Canaan Smith with my little diamond sister, Amber! He decided to diamond with us (hello phone background for the next few months!):