My Monday Musts

Happy Monday, “Sparkle and Shine” readers!

Hope you all had an exciting week! I had two snow days this week, which was exactly what I needed to relax! It has made my school schedule much more hectic – one of my classes I still have only had once this semester! But just like life goes, we have to adjust to the obstacles and go with it, which is exactly what I am doing!

Overall, this week had been SUPER positive. To be honest, I don’t think I have a single thing to complain about!

Plus, I had such an incredible weekend. I stayed in on Friday night to watch a scary movie with my best friend and then went out to Quinnipiac’s infamous club scene, Toads, for the first time of the semester and then had a sleepover with my best friend after!

So let’s keep the positive energy and good vibes rolling for this week! Here’s this week’s My Monday Musts!

1. Cookie Dough Doughnut from Dunkin Donuts

Yes, I know I JUST posted about eating healthy on a college budget, but hey, a girl needs a cheat meal every now and then! In every article I ever read about eating healthy, it says to allow yourself a cheat meal every once in a while not to restrict yourself. Well, ladies, I think I just found mine! My friends and I recently (and by recently I mean one of our multiple weekly trips) to Dunkin Donuts, I saw their new “cookie dough doughnut.” I’m a total sucker for cookie dough products, so I just had to try this new doughnut. When I tell you it was the best thing I have ever eaten…it was the best thing I have ever eaten! The regular doughnut has chocolate frosting and sprinkles on top, but inside it has warm, melted cookie dough! YUM!! Next time you feel like splurging, go on over to Dunkin Donuts and try their seasonal cookie dough doughnut! But hurry! It’s only out for a short amount of time!

2. “The Fault in Our Stars” Trailer

Every TFIOS fan has been freaking out since the trailer has been released – I now I have! You know I’m a huge fan based on this post. My Facebook and Twitter feeds were filled with people sharing the link to the best selling novel turned movie that will come out in the summer. “The Fault in Our Stars” is by far the best book I have ever read in my life and I honestly believe that no book will ever be able to top it. Ever. So now that it’s coming onto the big screen, any book nerd, would be freaking out about if the movie is going to not play up the how incredible the book was. Based on the trailer, I absolutely think that it will. I keep watching the trailer on repeat, even though it makes me cry every single time. The book made me bawl hysterically, so I think I will have to bring two boxes of tissues to the movies. No matter how many tears I plan on shedding, this movie is just another reason I am even more excited for summer!

3. Seventeen Magazine Social Club

Readers, I have recently received news about the greatest thing to ever, ever, ever happen to me. I am now officially a member of the Seventeen Magazine Social Club!! Yes, the Seventeen Magazine that I grew up on read as my own person Bible. As a member of the Seventeen Social Club, I will receive some awesome freebies from the company to blog about and share on my other social media sites, get access to awesome VIP events, get the inside scoop on special deals and discounts, AND have the possibility to appear in the pages of Seventeen itself! Receiving an e-mail from Seventeen, and having it signed XOXO, Your Friends at Seventeen Magazine, was the most incredible moment to ever happen to me. Of course, I received it when I was at the gym and started bawling my eyes out on the elliptical. But hey, it’s okay because my Carrie Bradshaw dreams are slowly coming true!!

By the way have you entered my giveaway yet?! Calling all sorority girls – get on it ASAP, if you have not already!! It’s for this awesome app which you can get for FREE if you win!! I’m loving it, so check it out!

Plus, check out my awesome sponsors! Head over to my sidebar and see where it says “Check out these Sparkling bloggers who are reading “Sparkle and Shine” ??? They’re some pretty awesome bloggers and are sponsoring me this month, so make sure you go and check them out!!!

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!

6Feb2014

Must Needed App For All Sorority Girls AND You Can Get it With This Giveaway

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Happy Monkey Apps now offers the perfect app for anyone involved with Greek life. The app, entitled Go Greek, lets you add Greek Letter Stickers to your photos – right from your iPhone! It will make Instagramming, Tweeting, and sharing your favorite sorority/fraternity photos so much easier.

Want to post the picture, but don’t want to keep tagging your sorority in it? Just add the stickers right to the photo. Not only will it make the effort waaaay easier for you, it brightens up the photos!

Happy Monkey Apps gave me a free download of their pro version of the app, Go Greek Pro!

Check out how easy it is to use the app:

I already had the picture I wanted to use in mind, so I just selected Open Picture. It then brought me to a screen where I was able to select what letters I wanted to add. Of course, not all of you readers are in Alpha Delta Pi, so you can select and choose which letters you want to pertain to your sorority!

Once you add the letters, this is the screen the app will bring you to! You then have the option to share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, E-mail it, or save it to your phone. Here is what that screen looks like (along with one of my all time favorite pictures of my and some of my sisters!):

In the corner you can see the maroon colors outlined in gold -which matched perfectly with our King 0f Diamonds philanthropy event shirts!

Here are some other fabulous pictures of mine I was able to add Alpha Delta Pi’s Greek Letters to:

The cheetah print letters outlined in pink are my fave!

Here is the silver sparkle letters outlined with gold!

The simple black and white letters are perfect for adding to any photo!

And last, but certainly not least, add some photo with some pink polka dot letters outlined in blue!

Now before you rush out and get the app yourself, readers, I am offering a giveaway for you to download the app for free!

This is my first ever giveaway, so make sure to enter! Go HERE to enter!

I will not only notify the winner, but post it in February 17’s My Monday Musts!

5Feb2014

Eating Healthy on a College Budget

by sparkleandshinesami

It’s officially February, which means you are probably one month into your yearly “loose weight/get healthy/workout more” New Year’s Resolution.

How’s it going for you?

Well, if your response looked something like a Melissa response from Pretty Little Liars:

Don’t worry. Save your eye roll, ladies, because I have some ways to help you get back on track, while staying on a college budget! You don’t need to go for broke while trying to shed those extra holiday pounds.

1. If you have a meal plan, you’re lucky, so use it wisely! I am on a meal plan at my college, but I make sure to stick to the healthy foods at my school. Every night I can have grilled chicken grilled for me at any time, which is awesome! Or I can get my new favorite, a turkey burger! I also have a salad bar, which most schools have. Every day, even if I don’t get something from the salad bar, I make sure to eat a hard boiled egg from there because it is full of protein! So my whole entire meal was just FREE because it came from my meal plan, which is factored into tuition.

2. Stay away from the soda. When you go out to eat with your friends, ask for water – it’s free. Filling up your water bottle in the cafe – free. Ask for soda at either of these places, not only will you be paying money out of your pocket, but your body will be stuck paying for it because of all the extra calories and sugars that are packed in soda. I will admit, I occasionally do drink soda – such as Diet Gingerale for a stomach ache or Diet Coke for some caffeine (I’m not a coffee drinker), but did you see the key word? Diet. Drink soda sparingly, but when you do – make sure it is diet. Also, drinking water before meals can help keep you from eating more. Plus, you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day (not only will your waist line thank you, but so will your skin!) That $2.50 for a soda will start to add up overtime. Say you get one soda, for $2.50 every day, that’s $70 a month on soda!

3. If you have a kitchen, take advantage of it! If you don’t, get a microwave! Put down that phone and don’t order take out (as easy as it may sound). Yes, it is SO easy to order up Dominoes and cheesy bread while finishing up that last minute essay, but you will most likely regret it the next day. So, if you have a kitchen, or even just a simple microwave, you can take great advantage of this! Get some frozen bags of vegetables, lean cuisines, frozen chicken breasts, Special K frozen meals, and much more. If you do have to buy your own food, coupons are your friend! You can make this work, I promise!

But remember, you must also try and exercise! Take advantage of your college’s gym – because you won’t be paying for a free gym once you’re in the real world. Feel like you have no time to go to the gym? Do what I do – multitask! I will bring notecards to study, read a textbook, or try to help relax my mind by watching Netflix. There are 1,440 minutes in a day – you can try and find 30 minutes of your day to get your butt to the gym! Not only will you thank me come summertime, statistics show that you will sleep better at night and feel better mentally.

Eat healthy, work out, and feel great, readers!

3Feb2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, “Sparkle and Shine” readers!

So this week has been one full of some pretty high highs and a few low lows. However, this is life. What was able to get me through this crazy week was my best friends. So I just wanted to give an incredible shout out to them and remind you readers that your friends can help you get through anything. Pick people to be friends with who will only lift you higher.

So if you are having one of those roller coaster weeks, remember this is a new week. Thanks to Pinterest, I have a new motivational quote to help me get through the week, thanks to the ultra-fabulous Lilly Pulitzer.

And on that happy note, here are this week’s Monday Musts:

1. “Pretty Wild”

So I’ve previously shared with you readers about how I read the biography on “The Bling Ring” and watched the movie, so now I am continuing on my slight obsession with the Burglary Bunch by watching E!’s one season show “Pretty Wild” starring Tess and Alexis, who were members of “The Bling Ring.” The show has a Kardashian like spin on young Hollywood. Except…not exactly. I watch the show on my phone thanks to the Netflix app when I’m at the gym, so it gives me something to do while I’m on the elliptical (since I save “The Carrie Diaries” for when I’m all snuggled up in my bed). The show isn’t on air anymore, but if you are interested in more on “The Bling Ring,” like myself, you must check out “Pretty Wild” on Netflix!

2. Call me “Weather Girl Sami”

I have more exciting news to share with you, readers! Last week, I told you about how I was appointed Director of Social Enrichment for my sorority. This week, I received more great news! I was selected to be one of the three weather girl’s for my school’s TV station, Q30! This is just the first step in my dreams of being a broadcaster coming true! I am so excited to continue to be taking on the Quinnipiac campus by storm (get it, storm, weather….) And look out, readers, because I will be sharing my weather reports with you in My Monday Musts.

3. A New “Sparkle and Shine” Tradition!

Some of us didn’t get to partake in some Sunday Funday for Superbowl Sunday and were stuck doing work in the library. I took a little break from all my legal research and business law homework (#lawminorproblems) to write a post yesterday! One of my my blogging goals of this year is to let you, my fabulous “Sparkle and Shine” readers, get to know me a little bit more. What better way then through social media?! At the start of each month, I will be posting my top 3 Instagram pictures of each month! Those will be determined based on the number of likes they receive. In case you got caught up in a little something called the Superbowl, here are my Top 3 Instagrams of January 2014! Look for this new monthly tradition at the start of each month. If you can’t wait each month to see my Instagram posts, you can follow me!

If you want to read more of my work, check out this week’s Quinnipiac University’s Her Campus Celebrity interview with the newest President of Quinnipiac’s Panhellenic Council! All you sorority girls can check it out here.

Remember that Lilly quote, readers, and have a great week! Keep sparkling!

2Feb2014

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: January 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Superbowl Sunday, readers!

So as much as I would prefer to be watching the game with my BFFS, eating some buffalo wings, and relaxing, I am in the library slaving away over homework.

One of my goals of the new year is to keep improving my blog activity and let you all get to know me more! I don’t want to just be a person who posts about her sorority, things she likes, and whatnot. Which is why, starting today I will sharing with you all my top 3 Instagram posts of each month! This way, you can get an inside look at my world and see what I’m doing besides blogging and living in the library.

So here they are – the top 3 Instagrams of January of 2014!

So my Instagram with the most likes featured fabulous hair bow I received from Bowtique by Jacqueline. I love rocking my hair bow and ADPi spirit! To learn more about the bow, you can read my review here.

The second top Instagram of January was from my friend’s sisters Sweet Sixteen! Kate, on my left, and Tori, on my right, and I had a great time! We spent the night dancing around and singing! Highlight of the night? Belting out “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips at the end. You can check out more pictures from Anna’s Sweet Sixteen in a previous Monday Must here.

Last, but certainly not least, featured me with my friends on our first night going out for spring semester here at Quinnipiac! It’s so bittersweet coming back to school because as much as I miss my family, it is so awesome to see my friends. To read the first Monday Musts of my first week back, check it out here. (PS, don’t worry, readers, I didn’t actually go out to a party in Uggs – I was just struggling deciding what shoes to wear and everyone else was all ready for pictures. I just grabbed the first shoes I had available, but ended up wearing boots for the night).

If you want to stay more up to date on my Instagram, you can follow me!

Otherwise, be on the lookout each month to see which of my Instagram posts received the most likes.

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:

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!

21Jan2014

First Day Back To Classes: A Cute Outfit Thanks to Great Savings from Campus Book Rentals!

by sparkleandshinesami

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

On this snowy, snowy day in Connecticut, I had my first day of classes! Both went really well and I am looking forward to the rest of the semester….even though my first class WAS at 8 a.m. Tomorrow, is one of my busier days. But hey, by the looks of this snow storm right now, who knows if I will even have class tomorrow! Quinnipiac cancelled classes starting at 5 p.m. today!

However, I am sharing with you all my first Outfit of the Day (OOTD, for all ya’ll Instagramers):

Shirt: Gap
Scarf: Gap
Vest: Gap
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: DSW

And how was I able to get that super cute outfit WHILE still having all my text books? Thanks to Campus Book Rentals!

Campus Book Rentals offers 40% – 90% off of your school’s bookstore prices, provides free shipping, allows you to highlight in the textbooks, has flexible renting period, and donates to Operation Smile with each textbook rented.

Interested? Check out this video!

OR do you wanna buy some super cute clothes, but don’t have enough cash? If you have some of your extra textbooks lying around your room, remove the clutter and check out Campus Book Rental‘s RentBack program. This program can help you make 2x – 4x the amount of money compared to what you would make by selling your books back to the bookstore. OR, if they’re just sitting there, you’ll make more money compared to the none you would originally have!

Now, you can’t tell me this doesn’t sound appealing! Now go check out Campus Book Rentals!

Now that you have all this extra cash, what will YOU spend it on?

21Jan2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Guess what?! I’m back at school! Yaaaaaay! After being reunited with my best friends and sisters, I am just so excited to be back at Quinnipiac and to start the second semester of my sophomore year! My classes start tomorrow and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things at school with all my classes, extracurriculars, gym sessions, library trips, and some socializing.

Here I am last night taking on Quinnipiac with some of my best friends!

1. Shallac Manicure

Once you go shellac, you are never, ever going back! I just couldn’t go back to school without getting a manicure, so Julia and I got our nails done on Friday. I hate when I just get my nails done, and they are chipped within a few days – or worse, a few hours! Since I was getting them done on Friday and needed them to still look for classes on Tuesday, I just needed something that would last longer! I have heard amazing reviews on getting a shellac manicure, so I decided to get it. I absolutely love it! My nails just look so good and it doesn’t chip. It was so worth the extra money!

2. iOS 7

So, I finally got myself up to date in the technology world by downloading iOS 7. Yes, I know…I’m a few months later. But, my phone always told me I didn’t have enough store to download the new version. Then, a sister told me that you can download it by plugging your phone into your laptop and connecting it to iTunes. Fun fact – it worked!! Now, I finally have iOS 7 and all the awesome features it offers iPhone users. I’m still getting use to how it all works, especially since I get very used to how something is and struggle with change. So far I’m loving it!

3. The premiere of “Duck Dynasty”

Come on now, readers. If you didn’t see this one coming, I would say you need to get yourself more up to date on “Sparkle and Shine.” If you do want to do so, check out the buttons on the side under “Follow me on Social Media.” BUT, since I am a huge fan on A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” the season premiere, to me, was like Christmas Eve, jack! The two episode premiere introduced the world to two new Robertson family members – who I immediately followed on Twitter. #sorrynotsorry I can’t wait for the rest of the season and to see what else the Robertson clan has in store for it’s viewers. I know it’ll make me happy, happy, happy!

Time for me to go prepare for my first day of classes by packing my backpack up, printing out some more syllabuses, and deciding what to wear tomorrow!

Happy Monday, readers! Good luck this semester!

17Jan2014

A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes – Especially When You Have this Beautiful Case on Your Phone!

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Let me tell you a little something about myself, readers, I am a HUGE Disney fan. But more than Disney, I am a huge Cinderella fan. Ever since I was a little girl, I have absolutely loved Cinderella. Even as a nineteen-almost-twenty year old college student, I am still a huge Cinderella fan. Hope the future hub is excited for our Cinderella themed wedding (equipped with Cinderella blue bridesmaid dresses and horse and carriage)!

So when iStyleGift sent me this Cinderella iPhone case I was the happiest girl in all the land!

The beautiful case, which you can buy here, depicts the iconic scene of Cinderella and Prince Charming meeting at the ball. The colorful image has a mosaic-like feel, which really adds beauty to the case. The colors used are very bright and eye popping to make the case a classic, timeless piece.

One of the many things I really liked about iStyleGift was that I got to choose how I wanted my case to come. I was able to select if I wanted it to be on a clear hard case, white hard case, or black hard case. I chose black.

However, I understand that not everyone is a Cinderella fan. Well, iStyleGift offers 300 phone cases for both the iPhone 4, the iPhone 5, AND Samsung cases!! Besides Disney themed cases, iStyleGift offers celebrity cases, designs & text, and other images.

Love Miley? iStyleGift has a case for you! Check THIS one out.

Love Marilyn Monroe? Then, check out THIS case.

Or are you not into celebrities?

Check out this cool vending machine case or this chevron case!

Now, enough of me showing you all the awesome cases! Visit iStyleGifts today!