My Monday Musts: Ronald McDonald House Charities & Diamond Dash

Happy Monday, readers!

I hope you all had a sparkling weekend! The weather here in Connecticut was so beautiful – as you can tell based on my sun burned face if you see me around campus. After participating in Relay for Life on Friday evening (stay tuned for an upcoming post!), participating in our school’s chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma’s philanthropy event, Katie’s Game, in honor of a deceased sister, and then Alpha Delta Pi having our own philanthropy event, it’s easy to say it was an amazing weekend.

We may not have won the whole entire thing, but the ADPi team at Katie’s Game made it to the semi-finals and had such an amazing time supporting our Panehellenic community!

Plus, after the game, some sisters and I decided that sometimes it’s necessary to just go on an adventure – so we drove to a random beach 20 minutes away. As my Instagram caption said, Don’t wait for adventure, go create it. And when you do, throw what you know.

So many incredible things happened this weekend, that it was hard for me to pick what to put for this week’s Monday Musts.

However, with all the giving back in the heat filled air at QU this weekend, I decided that this week’s Monday Must is going to be something that is a must not every Monday, but everyday for me as a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, the Ronald McDonald House Charities!

The Ronald McDonald House Charities has more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses serving families in 31 countries around the world, and the Theta Theta chapter of ADPi visits our closest house, in New Haven, once a week. RMHC helps more than 8,000 families per day. Lastly, those who signed up for our 5K run, the Diamond Dash, paid $10 dollars – which is equivalent to one night’s stay for one family at a Ronald McDonald House.

The Diamond Dash was Theta Theta’s second time holding this event and it couldn’t have been more successful. With tons of runners, a cupcake and grilled cheese truck, shopping, and a DJ, everyone had a blast.

Check out some of the awesome pictures from Theta Theta’s Second Annual Diamond Dash!

These are my sisters, my people, and my back bone. Because I know them, I have been changed for good. Deep in my heart I love my ADPi, the Ronald McDonald House, and these ladies.

The runners in Diamond Dash started by running through this balloon arch – in Ronald McDonald House Colors – and then finished the race by running through the same arch. Jess and I didn’t run, but of course we still had to run through it and take our own crazy photos.

Shout out to Clemmey – one of my favorite seniors, who I am going to miss so much next semester when she is no longer here. Hope you enjoyed your last Diamond Dash, Clem! More importantly, hope you’re super pumped that you’re finally featured on “Sparkle and Shine.”

Just like Justine, Morgan has been by my side since day one of joining Alpha Delta Pi. Morgan was one of my best friends since I joined ADPi, since we were in the same Alpha Pride, and still are always be each others’ side to this day!

Meet Emily, another one of the amazing girls from my Alpha class! Love you, Em!

Meet Justine – one of the girls in my Alpha class and has been by my side since day one. Thanks for everything Jussy, including taking this picture.

Remember when I said our Executive Committee, known as EComm, took our first hug train picture? Normally, they aren’t as successful and we end up looking like a hot mess – such as this.

Meet Jess, one of the craziest and funniest sisters I have. There is no one else I would rather twerk with than this girl!

Meet not only my best friend, but my brother, Ben. Since the beginning, Ben has supported me as I went through recruitment, joined Alpha Delta Pi (he even learned all the cheers!), to waking up super early on a Sunday morning to run in our 5K.

In Alpha Delta Pi, when you first become a new member, you are given a Violet Sister. This is similar to that of a pseudo-big diamond as you find your place in the sorority and until you get your big diamond. Meet Steph, my little Big Violet sister. Without her, I don’t know what I would do.

Meet the lovely ladies I am on ADPi’s Executive Committee with (from left to right) – Nicole, Courtney, Alea, Katie, Rebecca, Morgan, and Jess. I don’t know what I would do without these crazy bunch of girls. Plus, this is our first successful hug train pic!

One of the greatest things about being in a sorority is having girls who lift you higher each and every single day. These girls (from left to right), Nicole, Alyssa, Jess, Ali, and Kathleen lift me higher each and everyday. They are my best friends and I couldn’t be luckier to have them in my life.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these photos from Diamond Dash, readers! I also would like to ask you that whenever you go to McDonalds, if you could drop in any spare change into the donation box for RMHC or can donate soda tabs, please do so.

The Ronald McDonald House is the house that love built, and we run/host the 5K to add a little more.

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!

28Jan2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you had a fabulous week! I survived my first week of classes of my second semester of sophomore year – YAY! Granted it consisted of some snow, much early than expected library trips, and stress, I made it through! From here, it is now back into school mode for me as I tackle this semester. More importantly, I will be blogging my way through it, of course.

This weekend, readers, I came to realize that even at 19 years old sweet sixteens are still my thing. I celebrated one of my best friend’s little sisters sweet sixteen’s this weekend.

So special shout in this week’s Monday Musts goes to you Anna! I’m so glad that you had such a great sweet sixteen, baby hlush!

And now, without further ado, this week’s Monday Musts!

1. “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane”

So Julia and I decided to stay home this weekend and relax by ordering in phone (hellllo cheat day!) and watching a movie in sweats. We haven’t watched a scary movie in a while together and were both in the mood for one. We browsed through Netflix, waiting for one to catch out eye. We ended up hitting play on “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.” Any college or high school kids looking for a horror movie to just veg out to with your best friends, this is it. If you’re looking for a scary movie to watch with your fam, this isn’t the one I would pick. Julia and I laughed at the stereotypical horror scenes, but then would get engrossed at the plot twists (what you’re thinking is the end, I can promise you, is not it.) Soon we found ourselves putting ourselves as characters into the film, which was about high schoolers who go to a ranch miles away from civilization for the weekend. Next time you and your BFF are bored and want to watch a scary movie without being legitimately scared, pop on “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” on Netflix.

2. “The Carrie Diaries”

Ask me who some of my role models are in life, I’ll name my mom/grandma/aunts, Marilyn Monroe, Khloe Kardashian, and Carrie Bradshaw. I love “Sex and The City” and all the life lessons and fabulous quotes that can from Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte living in the fabulous NYC. I’ve read “The Carrie Diaries” to learn about young Carrie, but I have yet to watch the show. So I have finally decided that I will watch it on Netflix! Since I am being a good blogger and writing this in advance, I unfortunately haven’t gotten to start the series yet. However, my excitement to begin it (and see the beautiful Austin Butler on camera) is through the roof.

3. Alpha Delta Pi’s Theta Theta Chapter’s Newest Director of Social Enrichment

I would love to share with you all some very exciting news I have recently received: I am now an appointed member of my sorority’s Executive Board as the Director of Social Enrichment. It is now my honor, and my privileged, to put together the best semi-formal and formal my fabulous sisters could ever ask for. As you’ve seen in many posts, Alpha Delta Pi means so much to me. Being able to be a member of E-Board, holding a position I dreamed of having leaves me speechless. One of my loves is party planning. Planning my sweet sixteen, helping plan friends’ sweet sixteens, and many others has left me with a favorite past time. However, unlike blogging or watching Netflix, party planning isn’t something I always get to do. Ever since I first help my family plan my aunt’s bridal shower & baby shower, I have loved event planning. Being able to do event planning for ADPi is incredible. Deep in my heart, I love my ADPi.

And here’s a little something new I’ll be adding to each Monday Musts! So, besides being a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, I am a member of my school’s newspaper and my school’s chapter of Her Campus. At the bottom of each Monday Musts, I’ll be linking up my articles from the previous week!

For the school paper, I most often write Culture Shock, which is some celeb dirt for this week! Check that out here.

And for Her Campus, I interview different Campus Celebs at QU! Check out this week’s interview here.

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!

1Oct2013

My Monday Musts – Celeb Edition!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, everybody!

As I’m typing this, I’m not in the usual comfort of my dorm bed- but instead my bed at home. This weekend, my injured knee randomly gave out – and now I’m back on bed rest because I strained an already sprained MCL. However, everything happens for a reason and I’m trying to make the best of it (and of course, blogging is making me happy!)

Last week, I was just so busy with recruitment (We welcomed home 54 beautiful Alphas to my school’s chapter of Alpha Delta Pi), I didn’t get time to post about My Monday Musts! So I apologize readers, but hey, the Theta Theta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi is looking as awesome as ever! :

And while I post this week’s Monday Musts, I have to tell you all: I have celebrity life on the brain. This weekend, my school hosted a country concert – where I got to meet Love & Theft and Caanon Smith! It was seriously one of the greatest moments of my life. I’m not going to go into too much detail about that yet, because “Sparkle and Shine” post about the concert will be coming up this week (stay tuned!). But I will give you a little sneak peak by seeing the selfies of me with Love & Theft (say hey to my friends Kelly and Amber who are also in the picture!):

and Caanon Smith threw up the Alpha Delta Pi diamond with my sister, Amber, and I:

but as I move on from there, because I don’t want to give away too much detail, I figured I would share three other celebrities fixes I have been loving on this Monday:

1. Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere has recently been speaking out about being a role model for girls regarding their body. While reading how she wants to express to other girls about being proud of their bodies and how she wants to represent normal gives just made me so happy. So many females in today’s society look up to stick thin models and aspire to look like something they can never be without taking drastic measures. Kudos to Hayden for representing the everyday girl and for reminding us all to be proud of who we are!

2. Miley Cyrus

The ex – Disney Channel starlette may be twerking any chance she gets, but the Hannah Montana star will always have a place in my heart. No teenage girl can deny that she didn’t look up to Miley at some point in her life. Though she may be changing from the once long-haired Disney sweetheart, I am still intrigued by her, her life, and what goes through her mind anymore (though the selfies and crazy tweets can get me pretty close). This is why I am just SO, SO, SO excited that this Wednesday, October 2nd, an MTV documentary entitled Miley: The Movement will air.

3. Demi Lovato

Ever since I read the Demi Lovato issue of Cosmo this summer, I have absolutely loved her. If any celebrity can talk about getting through bad days, it is the “Heart Attack” singer. USA Today has announced that Demi is releasing a two part book deal. First, a book compiled of inspiration tweets, and then a memoir. I love reading and celebrity books are my guilty pleasure (the Kardashian ones are always the best!). To read about the struggle that Demi has gone through, where she has gone, and where she is now sounds like it will make a great book. I can’t wait to read the memoir of the strongest girl in Hollywood!

That sums it all up, readers! Enjoy the rest of your week and stay tuned in this week to “Sparkle and Shine” to read about the time I met Love & Theft and Caanon Smith, with tons of pics!

And if you have any bad days this week, remember what I am telling myself – everything happens for a reason!

12Sep2013

WHY GO THROUGH RECRUITMENT?

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy recruitment season, ladies!

Here at Quinnipiac, recruitment season is underway! As the Theta Theta chapter of Alpha Delta Pi prepares for this exciting new time (I mean, bid day is like Christmas according to all the older members), I am refalling in love with my sorority each and everyday. I became a sister of Alpha Delta Pi about six months ago. Every single day, I am reminded that rushing and joining ADPi was the best decision of my life.

Are you thinking about going through recruitment at your school? If you have even the slightest interest in joining a sorority, I say to go for it! There are a bunch of reasons as to why you should going through recruitment, but here are my top ten!

1. You always always have someone to lean on, no matter the struggle.

Though the number varies from school to school, chapter to chapter, the fact stays the same: you will have a ton of sisters who you can always lean on. Whenever I am stressed, overwhelmed, sad, or just need a froyo date – I always have a sister I can go to . They’re willing to listen, to help, and do whatever they can to put a smile on your face. They are your support system, your rock. The bond that you share is so strong, that you will want to try and be there for every single sister.

Meet my sisters Crystal, Morgan, and Erin (the one we are picking up)! This was taken at our spring photo shoot of my freshman year.

2. You receive a big diamond sister/little diamond sister – the greatest bond you will ever have with someone.

I have featured my big diamond sister, Katherine, on here multiple times. Since I have yet to receive my little diamond, I decided I would also feature her big diamond, Katie. The relationship between a big diamond sister and a little diamond sister is the greatest bond there is, in my opinion. I tell Katherine absolutely everything – she is always the first to know my secrets, she is the person I go to whenever I need any form of advice, and she is the person I know I can always go to. Whether it’s bonding during our typical Dunkin dates or constantly snapchatting, I am so grateful each and everyday for this incredible bond I have with someone thanks to being in a sorority.

Meet two of my favorite sisters – my big diamond sister, Katherine, and her big diamond sister, Katie. This is one of my all time favorite photos, taken at my first Black Diamond Ball – spring semester of my freshman year.

3. Whenever you just need a hug, someone is there.

A day doesn’t go by that I am not hugging at least one sister – whether it be a hug just to say hi, a hug as a way of saying thank you, or just a hug to show how much I love them. As I said earlier, these girls are your rocks. In the photo below, I stepped out of my comfort zone and my incredible sister, Tammy, was hugging me to just show proud she was of me. You can see the emotion, the love, and the incredible bond between the two all through the photograph. There is nothing greater than a hug from your sister.

Meet Tammy! This was taken just earlier this week during spirit week (hence the interesting clothing choice and fake nerd glasses on my head – we were trying to channel Macklemore for a “Thrift Shop” look).

4. There are so many exciting events you get to do because of being in a sorority – like Formal or Spirit Week!

Sorority life fills your planner with a bunch of social events – and with them comes so much fun! Who doesn’t love getting dressed up?! whether it be in your nicest formal dress or craziest costume possible! Trust me, it’s even more fun with your sisters. Being in a sisterhood event makes one feel so comfortable, so you’re willing to get crazy and go all out for Spirit Week. For formal, it means looking your best because you have tons of helping hands to help with your hair and makeup. These events will become staples in your life and some of your favorite memories – memories that would not be possible if you aren’t in a sorority!

Meet my sisters Nicole, Alyssa, and Ali! We decided to get sleazy and had to look like Ke$ha for our Spirit Night last night! We pulled out all the stops – glittered face makeup, teased hair, and fishnets!

5. Sorority life is more than just about a social scene, it’s about being philanthropic.

One of the biggest aspects of being apart of a sorority is giving back to the community. Alpha Delta Pi’s philanthropy is Ronald McDonald House Charities. Besides just raising money, my sisters and I actually go to a local Ronald McDonald House. As a whole, your sorority will find otherwise to give back, besides just your philanthropy. Relay for Life is another event that means a lot to the Theta Theta chapter. Sorority life gives you so many opportunities to be selfish and give back to the community. You can help make a difference in this world. Best part of all, you have your sisters with you while you do it all!

Here are a bunch of my sisters and I at our school’s Relay for Life event last semester!

6. It means getting to throw what you know!

Each sorority has a different hand symbol that they make with their hands. When you do your sign, you’re throwing what you know! It’s so cool to have something like this, something that only you get to do that represents so many people and so many values. Just something so simple represents more than any stranger would realize. It’s more than just a hand sign – it’s a lifestyle.

Here my sisters Abby, Justine, and I are throwing up diamonds while our school was in the Frozen Four last semester.

7. It means endless dates with people that you will always love.

I don’t think it is possible for me to count the amount of sister dates I have gone on to Dunkin, for ice cream/froyo, and so much more. Dates with your sisters are just something small, but end up meaning so much. It’s during these dates when your bonds really form as you talk about your day, your secrets, and everything in between. They’re great opportunities to get to meet sisters, get to know others better, and to catch up with the ones you are super close to. In life, it’s more than just the big things – it’s the little things to. In sorority world, date nights with your sisters become one of those little things that mean so much.

Say hello to Katherine, Alyssa and Crystal again – and meet my violet sister, Steph! We love going to one of the local ice cream places to catch up over ice cream. Spring semester, when this photo was taken, was filled with many ice cream dates. Yum!

8. Your class will always be a consistency in your life.

When you join a sorority, the other girls joining at the same time with you will be your class. Those girls will be with you for every ride along the way – such as initiation and new member period. When you’re nervous for something new, odds are these girls will be too. It is so nice to have a bunch of girls who are also apart of your sorority who are in similar shoes as you. These girls are your instant best friends and you spend so much time with them. They’re a constant. They’re always your class. Accepting your bid and everything you do from there after will be with those fabulous girls in your class.

Here are some of the girls from my class – just being our fun selves! I can’t wait til we get the new class of girls who are just as fun!

9. Being in a sorority can benefit you after college.

Sororities are also great for connections. From your sisters, you are bound to meet others with your majors. Years down the road, when it comes to find a job or even getting an internship, a sister may be able to help you. Without being a sorority, you do not have this opportunity. For example, of my sisters, Nikki, and I are both very involved with our school’s student media organizations. Last March, we got to go into New York City together, representing our school, at the College Media Association’s spring conference. Together, we got to meet a bunch of people who will help us further our careers, like Willie Geist from NBC’s “The Today Show.” “Sparkle and Shine” has reaped benefits from me being in a sorority, such as being on Your Sorority Sister ‘Sorority Bloggers’ List.

Unfortunately, the photo is blurry. However, meet Nikki! Here we are with Willie Geist from NBC’s “Today Show.”

10. You get to become involved with something bigger than yourself.

First you become a part of it, then it becomes a part of you. Being a member of a sorority means more than anything I can ever sit here and try and explain to you. It means happiness, confidence, sisterhood, friendship, and so many more adjectives. It mean’s always having someone by your side. It means being the best you possible. Remember, your sisterhood is forever.