Wearing my New Greek Streak letters for any occasion to get pumped for semi formal

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

Hey, readers!

Did you survive Halloween? I’m sure that my absence from Sparkle and Shine may have caused you to think that I didn’t, but I promise that I did!

Since Halloween, I have been preparing for semi formal which means going to the gym, booking nail appointments with my sisters, and browsing Pinterest for the perfect hair and makeup look. While I am getting ready for the super fun night with my best friend and sisters, I have been wearing Alpha Delta Pi letters to get even more excited!

Recently, I filled you in on my new favorite Greek life company, Greek Streak. I received two tank tops from the company and have been loving them ever since I received them. The site offers fresh designs that I have not seen on any other Greek shirt website.

Of all my favorite parts of Greek Streak – the cool designs, ability to design my own tops, and the fact that the company is built for Greeks by Greeks -my absolutely favorite was that I have the ability to dress up or dress down the tank tops I got.

When I want to go to the gym, the tank top is perfectly versatile enough to throw it on with my favorite part of crop leggings! It’s light weight which avoids my biggest pet peeve of having my top stick to me when I am sweating on the elliptical or is too tight and makes me feel uncomfortable in Zumba class.

Tank top: Alpha Delta Pi – Beach letters from Greek Streak | Yoga pants: Yoga Crop Leggings from Victoria’s Secret PINK

Sneakers: No longer sold (Similar from Kohl’s) | Water bottle: Contigo 32 oz. water bottle from Walmart |

Yoga mat: C9 Champion yoga mat from Target

And then after the gym, my schedule is filled with meetings, lunch dates, classes, library sessions, and coffee runs. For this, if I don’t want to just lounge around in gym clothes, I can dress the tank top up. I’m still in my letters and look super cute for no matter what the day throws at me.

Cardigan: Merino Crew Cardigan from Gap | Tank top: For Any Sorority- Retro Letters from Greek Streak

Leggings: The Daily Legging from Victoria’s Secret | Boots: No longer sold (Similar)

Purse: MICHAEL Michael Kors Black Jet Set Tote (Similar)

Photos by Caitlin Cryan. Check out more of her work on her Instagram and her portfolio.

With the temperature getting colder here in Connecticut, I definitely will need to be adding long sleeves and spirit jerseys from the site to my shopping list.

For anyone else looking to treat themselves, you can do so with my special coupon code for Greek Streak!

You can get 15% off all spirit jerseys by entering code “SPARKLESFJ” at checkout.

Are you lucky enough to not be wearing sweatshirts and Uggs? Or just need something new to wear to your partner yoga class that you go to with your little? I still have a coupon code for you!

You can get 10% off all single shirt orders by entering code “SPARKLESHINE” at check out.

If you shop on the site, let me know! Tag me at @sparkleshinesam on your Instagram pictures to show off your look! I can’t wait to see.

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!

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!

15Sep2014

TTYL, BLOGOSPHERE! It’s recruitment time!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

The Monday Musts are going on hold this week.

Why? BECAUSE IT’S RECRUITMENT TIME!

Instead of having a list of my fabulous happenings from this week, I am going to share with you posts about my sorority and about recruitment.

If you’re interested in recruitment, check out some of these posts about going through recruitment, about Alpha Delta Pi, and different aspects of Greek life:

WHY GO THROUGH RECRUITMENT?

MY MONDAY MUSTS: RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE & DIAMOND DASH

SET YOUR COLLEGIATE STANDARD

AWESOME RECRUITMENT PICTURES {GUEST POST}

To find out more about going through recruitment, check out more on the blog.

I promise to be back next week with more posts and share with you all about the exciting new members of my chapter of Alpha Delta Pi.

Have an amazing week, readers! Keep sparkling!

1Jul2014

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: June 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy July, readers!

As I said yesterday in My Monday Musts, it seems as if this summer is flying by. However, I was able to capture some of my favorite memories and most important days on my Instagram account.

June not only had a lot of memories made, but was a month for me to revisit past memories. Check out this month’s Instagram pictures with the most likes.

June 4th is one of the biggest dates in my life – it is the anniversary of my father passing away. One of the ways that I grieve is by posting an image of my father and I and writing a little caption about him. This year marked four years since he passed away from brain cancer. I honestly had the greatest daddy a little girl could ask for. Though it is super hard without having him here, as I said in the caption, I am thankful that he is no longer suffering.

Another reason June holds a lot of memories is not just the anniversary of my father’s death, but there is Father’s Day. I found a quote that I absolutely loved and couldn’t help to share it with my followers as I posted a tribute to my father on the holiday. The quote stated, “A girl is lucky to find a Prince Charming, but she’s even luckier when her father is her king.” I may still be searching for that Prince Charming to come along, but my father is – and always will be – the most important man in my life. He loved me, protected me, and was my King. He always will be.

Though this summer seems to be revolving around my summer job and blogging, I still make sure to relax and spend time with my best friend, Julia! We love tanning, so we spent one of our full days off by her pool. We got iced coffee, put “Timeflies” Pandora station on full blast, and laughed the day away. Julia’s sister, Jenna, captured this candid photo of us laughing – which was just so perfect! Julia and I base our friendship around the classic Sex and the City soul mate quote. When it was referenced in Greek, I jotted it down for just the right Instagram picture – and this was it.

I can’t wait to see what July has in store for me! It’s my last full month home before heading back to college, so I can’t wait to make this month truly count. Don’t worry, I’ll be sharing these adventures not only on the blog, but on my Instagram. So, follow me to stay updated! Plus, check out my top Instagrams from January, February, March, April, and May!

8Jun2014

Set YOUR Collegiate Standard This Summer

by sparkleandshinesami

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

I’ve been home from college for about a month now and there is nothing I miss more than my Alpha Delta Pi sisters. I miss everything from doing ritual with them to impromptu diner runs and hour long heart to hearts to sharing clothes for the perfect weekend outfit. My sisters truly live for me each and every day.

Thanks to Collegiate Standard, these ladies won’t to be too far away from my heart because I will be wearing my letters, proudly, on a necklace!

The lavaliere features a Swaroski Clear Crystal with sterling silver letters and a sterling silver chain. To see the exact one featured here, you can check it out HERE on the Collegiate Standard website!

After reading this, does The Collegiate Standard ring a bell to you, readers? Well, they’ve worked with Sparkle and Shine before. Just like in that post, The Collegiate Standard and I are working together to help YOU set your own collegiate standard this summer.

Sorority girls spend a lot of money – between dues and daily Starbucks trips, money seems to disappear in the blink of an eye. That’s why Collegiate Standard and I are giving you the coupon code SAMI10 to save 10% off your entire purchase! That 10% saved just may be your next Mocha Frappachino!

The Collegiate Standard offers rings, necklaces, and other pieces of jewelry for not only sorority women, but fraternity men. Being a member of a Greek organization means wearing your letters with pride, so whether you are male or female, you can wear your letters with pride thanks to The Collegiate Standard!

Now head on over to The Collegiate Standard, enter coupon code SAMI10 at the end of check out, and wear your beautiful officially Greek Licensed jewelry with pride!

PLUS, did I mention you’ll be getting free shipping AND money from your purchase will go towards the Greek organization your piece of jewelry is purchased for. Now head on over there now!

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!

25Mar2014

Check out Collegiate Standard for Greek Life Jewelry

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Remember way, way, waaay back when I was saying to use coupon code SAMI10 on The Collegiate Standard to purchase the awesome Greek Life products around Christmas time? Well, here I am to showcase it again!

The Collegiate Standard features awesome jewelry for a variety of different Greek organizations. They sent me a beautiful sterling silver ring inscribed with the Greek Letters for Alpha Delta Pi. Ever since I received it, I haven’t taken it off! More importantly, I’ve gotten tons of compliments on it.

The Collegiate Standard offers jewelry for not just Alpha Delta Pi, but Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Kappa Psi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Phi Gamma, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Sigma Pi, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Tau Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Xi Omicron, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delt Gamma, Delta Kappa Psi, Delta Phi Epsilon, Delta Sigma Pi, Delta Upsilon, Delta Zeta, Gamma Eta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha, Lambda Theta Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Iota Alpha, Phi Kappa Tau, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Rho, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Kappa, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Theta Nu Xi, Theta Phi Alpha, Theta Tau, and Zeta Tau Alpha. How awesome is that not only is there jewelry for sisters of sororities, but brothers of fraternities, as well?

All products from the company are not only of beautiful quality, but are officially licensed products.

The company offers a variety of types of jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, and pins.

If you are interested, I absolutely recommend checking the site out here. Also make sure to subscribe to their e-mail list for awesome updates and information on the company!

Stay tuned because more information on The Collegiate Standard will be coming soon, readers!

30Jan2014

Looking to Buy New Letters? Check out Greek Creations by Di A-S-A-P!

by sparkleandshinesami

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

I may have Alphie on my side as a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, but thanks to Greek Creations by Di, I have some fabulous hot pink zebra letters on my chest!

Call me a Jersey girl, but I love hot pink and animal print! Being able to cozy up in the comfiest sweatshirt I own while representing ADPi in hot pink and zebra print is great.

Not only is the sweatshirt super cute, but the sweatshirt from Greek Creations by Di is super comfortable! It was super comfortable to wear to that dreaded 8 am class, while still repping Alpha Delta Pi. Not only that, the v-neck allowed for me to breathe (I hate sweatshirts that are all wrapped around my neck!), and could adjust the strings on the hood if I really wanted to.

Don’t worry other sorority gals, Greek Creations by Di also features Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Phi Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Zeta, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Sigma, Pi Beta Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau alpha, Phi Sigma Sigma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta, Chi Omega, Alpha Phi Omega, and Alpha Xi Delta.

Plus, don’t want a v-neck sweatshirt! The Etsy shop offers jerseys, jackets, v-neck tees, tunic sweatshirts, quarter-zip pull overs, and zip up hoodies! Greek Creations by Di features over 500 pieces of awesome sorority apparel!

Searching for clothing for your sorority is super easy on the site. All you have to do is just search your sorority and BOOM! all pieces of clothing will come up! The owner, Diane, being as fabulous as she is already has pieces designed in certain sizes for you to order. However, if you see something you like, but your size and sorority is not there, you can request a customer order.

With all that money you saved from renting from CampusBookRentals.com, you certainly have money, readers, to go buy some letters from Greek Creations by Di. Go check it out ASAP. For more information, check out the info sheet below:

19Dec2013

If You’re Young and Greek, Shop “Young and Greek” on Etsy!

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Christmas is just a few days away – ahh! Are you still looking for the perfect gift for your favorite sorority woman in your life? Or are a sorority woman and are looking to buy a little gift for yourself? Then check out Young and Greek on Etsy!

Young and Greek offers smartphone cases, key chains & license plate frames. They are an official Greek licensed vendor.

From the Etsy shop, I have received the Alpha Delta Pi infinity iPhone case.

I absolutely love it. I am able to express my personal style, as well as my sorority – Alpha Delta Pi. I got to select which color I wanted and which way I wanted the infinity symbol. By picking which color I wanted, I was really able to express myself because I chose my favorite color – bright pink! Plus, call me a typical girl, but I love the infinity symbol. It’s so perfect because it combines the color pink, the infinity symbol, and Alpha Delta Pi!

Young and Greek offers other designs and colors for smartphone cases. You can check out the complete list of their 100 smartphone cases here.

Besides the smartphone case, Young and Greek sent me the basic license plate frame in silver glitter! My car, a Toyota Camry, is like my baby. I even named it- Simba. Getting a license plate cover was like great because it was a cute little decoration for my baby – while spreading my ADPi love. The license plate is super cute not just because it says Alpha Delta Pi on it and the Greek letters, but because it looks like it has glitter on it. It’s just another pop to make Simba super feminine while ruling the roads. Now, wherever I go in Simba, the world can now I’m an ADPi!

I never thought about using a license plate frame until I received this one, but now I can’t imagine not having one. Check out the other 24 license plate covers this Etsy shop offers here.

Young and Greek offers a variety of great sorority items! They ensure quality on each of their items and their goal is to leave their customers satisfied. As a recipient of these products, I can assure you that they are of high quality and I was completely satisfied. Now, shop Young and Greek today!