It really isn’t just four years, it’s for life….

Hello, hello!

Ever go on one of those runs when you do SO much thinking that you feel like your brain may explode? Well, that was how I spent yesterday morning. One of those thoughts (when I wasn’t thinking about which Kylie lip kit to purchase, what I should wear to see Toby Keith this weekend, or my future wedding to Animal Kingdom star Finn Cole) was about how Greek life has impacted my life in the past month since graduating school.

This whole thought process started when I received a text message about writing a letter of recommendation for someone who is looking to go rush Alpha Delta Pi at USC.

Whenever someone in ADPi gets a little butterfly feeling about remembering why they chose to come home to ADPi, we call it an “ADPi moment.” Some of mine included getting my big and little, when all my sisters supported me at my first Relay for Life to honor my father, and when I realized that one of my sisters, Lauren, is pretty much my soulmate. I’ve heard some alum sisters talk about how they get these ADPi moments as alums and our advisors say that this moments continue, but I wasn’t really sure when I would experience my first one.

Then, I got that text. It came from a girl who I used to work on our school’s television station with who was transferring. Knowing my involvement with Alpha Delta Pi, she said she would be “honored” for me to write her a letter of recommendation. Completely ecstatic, I said yes. I figured I would plan out everything I wanted to say in that letter when I went for a run.

As my mind went through everything I wanted to say, I started to think about the true impact ADPi has had on me. I’m one month out of college (gag), but still see so many ties to the organization.

I think the fact that my sisters are a majority of those that I am still deeply in contact with speaks volumes about the bonds I have made within my chapter. Every girl in my Snapchat best friends list, except for my hometown best friend, is a sister. I don’t go a day without being in contact with someone from ADPi. I recently needed some fitness advice – I texted a sister. I recently got tagged in a super funny meme on Instagram – it was from a sister. I’m getting a FaceTime call – it’s from a sister. I didn’t graduate and become just some face on a composite.

And this is all because the bonds I have with these women aren’t just for four years, they’re for life and it’s during post-grad that I’m finding out how true this statement really is.

Interested in going Greek? Check out some of my recent posts about Greek life:

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

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

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

An Open Letter to my Little as she becomes a Grand-Big

How I asked my date to sorority semi & cute ways you can ask, too!

ALSO, have you seen my new Instagram theme? Just one of the exciting things happening for Sparkle and Shine! Make sure to stay around to see what else is coming.

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!

10Jun2015

“Dirty Rush” – True depiction of sorority life?

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Thank you to Total Sorority Move, Total Fraternity Move, and Shelton Interactive for the opportunity.

Oh hello, my fabulous readers!

Have you been looking for a summer book to read? Well drop whatever you’re doing – and yes, I mean everything- because I have just the book for you!

Babe Walker and Taylor Bell have brought to the world the most hilarious book out there (after Babe’s other books, of course). It’s what every girl who read the TFM book is looking for. It’s called Dirty Rush and will have you laughing until you loose five pounds.

The novel follows Taylor Bell as she goes Greek.

Taylor never wanted to go Greek – and she especially never wanted to go BZ. The legacy wanted to not fall into the footsteps of her sister, mother, and grandmother of becoming a Beta Zeta. However, after meeting the most fun girls she has ever met, Taylor decided maybe Greek life isn’t what she thought it would be.

Well, Taylor seems to be very wrong… very, very wrong. I mean more wrong than wearing white before Memorial Day weekend or trying to rock a Juicy Couture velour sweatsuit in 2015.

Taylor’s fairy tale of Greek life becomes an X-rated Kardashian-style nightmare before you can even shotgun a beer. After a very risque video of what seems to be Taylor has gone viral, all of the hard work (partying) she has put into becoming a BZ may have been worth nothing.

Overall, Dirty Rush left me flipping every page and wondering what was going to happen next. It was a pretty easy read because I was constantly curious as to what was going to happen next. The entire time I was laughing til my water-proof mascara was streaking down my face. I recommend it for anyone who wants a good laugh and not necessarily someone who is looking for a true portrayal of Greek life.

Greek life for me hasn’t been an X-rated Kardashian-style nightmare- sorry readers. However, I can connect to Taylor on one level – that it is my sorority sisters who will always have my back – no matter what kind of trouble, heartbreak, or adventure I find myself facing. Taylor is quick to call up a sister, at any time of day or night, and they will be there. Her sisters will be there with love and unconditional support. They are there for more than just throwing what you know on Instagram pictures or long heart-to-hearts in frat bathroom’s that you’ll barely remember the next day.

They’re there for the long-haul and all the Grateful Deads.

Because remember, sorority sisterhood blood is thicker than even the most expensive vodka.

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!