Get ready for the holidays with Sparkle and Shine & my ULTIMATE gift guide

Hey everyone!

Every time I get to write a blog post anymore, I am over-the-moon ecstatic.But when I’m surrounded by Christmas lights while listening to Jessie James Decker’s Christmas album, I don’t think I could be happier.

And with Christmas lights and Christmas decorations surrounding me, that means it’s time to Sparkle and Shine’s gift guide!!

This year, I’m not going to do my gift guide a little bit differently. As you know, life has been crazy since I started my full-time job (and I promise I’m working on a post about it!) – leaving me little time to review a bunch of different products for you.

SO, I’ve compiled some of my favorite posts and gift guides together to give you the ULTIMATE Sparkle and Shine gift guide! Check it out –

For your sorority family…

Letters from Greek Streak

Dirty Rush novel

Reasons Why I Love You mason jar craft

Make your own canvas

New letters from Designs by Di

Jewelry from College Standard

For your best friend…

DIY bejeweled photo collage letters

Concert tickets

Monogram sweatshirt from Gone Greek

DIY Sharpie Mug

Photo collage frame

For your on the go friend…

A Vera Bradley duffle bag

An at home iced coffee machine

Wearsafe

On Location tours

For your favorite fashionista…

A collection of trendy chokers

Skinny Coffee subscription

Rocksbox Subscription

A Lilly Pulitzer dress in her favorite print

Don’t forget these perfect drug store beauty finds – perfect for stocking stuffers and white elephant grab bags!

Make sure to follow me on Pinterest, so you can pin some of your favorite crafts to your DIY board or pin your favorite gift to your wishlist board!

Happy shopping & happy holidays!

5Nov2015

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

by sparkleandshinesami

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.

24Sep2015

Rocksbox Look: Perry Street Mercer Crystal Earrings

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, hey readers!

As you remember from my last Rocksbox post, I am loving the designer jewelry subscription box company!

And I want you to fall in love with it, too!

For $19 a month, one will be able to have unlimited access to designer jewelry shipped right to their door. After selecting items and adding them to your wishlist, your personal designer will send you three items that average of about $200! You can swap pieces at anytime. There’s zero effort and no commitment. Shipping is free and pre-paid both ways. If you don’t like a piece, no need to keep it or even wear it. Awesome right?!

But, as loyal Sparkle and Shine followers, I can give you an amazing offer-

I am able enough to give you all a free month of Rocksbox!!

When registering, enter coupon code sparkleshinesamxoxo to get your free month!

One of the amazing pieces you could receive could be these Perry Street Mercer Crystal earrings!

The great thing about them (besides being way adorable) is that they are so versatile- if I want to dress them up for a day in NYC for my internship or a night out to the bar I can. I can also dress the earrings down with a plain tee, like I did for our school’s annual country concert. No matter what I want to wear, I can always put these earrings in for an extra dose of glitz and glam.

One of the recent times that I decided to document wearing the earrings is when I anchored our school’s first newscast of the semester! Check out the look – and the newscast – below!

(Similar) Macy’s Purple lace peplum | (Not pictured) Dressbarn Black Sateen Skinny Jeans

Charming Charlie’s Helene Rhinestone Watch | (Cartiledge) Icing Sterling Silver Anchor Stud Earrings

These earrings became such a staple for my collection that I couldn’t part without them! When sending my first Rocksbox back to get my new one, I just had to keep these. One of the benefits from Rocksbox is that you can get the designer pieces of jewelry for cheaper prices. The earrings are originally $64, but Rocksbox would let me keep them for only $42. But even better, there are ways to work with the company to get them for cheaper and even free!

Follow me on Instagram to check out how I style the pieces of jewelry from my next Rocksbox and stay tuned with Sparkle and Shine for more!

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!

18Dec2014

Sami’s Holiday Guide: Simply Monogram iPhone Case

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Someone please tell me how Christmas is one week away and for all of you readers who celebrate Hannakuah, you are already celebrating! I feel like I was just starting my Black Friday shopping list and now I’m baking cookies for Christmas Eve and wrapping gifts.

Now let’s be honest, most of us are still getting our last minute gifts. Look no further because Simply Monogram, from Etsy, has the perfect gift.

It’s 2014 – almost everyone has a smart phone. More importantly, a large number of these people have dropped their phone and shattered their screen. (I know I’m not the only guilty one). Well, Simply Monogram has the perfect protective cases with your monogram on it.

The Etsy shop sent me this full wrap case and I have never been more satisfied with a phone case!

Whether you love chevron, glitter, stripes, or flowers, Simply Monogram has all the designs that you could imagine.

The site offers over 300 items for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 6s. They even offer cases for your iPads. Don’t own an Apple product? If you have a Galaxy, they have cases, too!

The site has over 25,000 reviews – all positive – so you know that you can trust both me, as well as these other users, that these phones will be well worth the price.

As if you needed another reason to purchase a case from Simply Monogram, I have a coupon code just for you! Enter SIMPLY10OFF at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase.

Now head on over and purchase a phone case for whoever is left on your shopping list – or even for yourself.

23Oct2014

GET YOUR COUPON ON!

by sparkleandshinesami

Source

So no, I may not be a coupon queen, but as a college student I try to coupon as much as possible.

I’ll use my student ID to get a discount at J.Crew, will use Groupon before going on a shopping spree, and even get text messages from American Eagle and Lord and Taylor straight to my phone.

So for all you lucky readers, I want to help save you money!

Source

Head on over to The Collegiate Standard and use coupon code SAMI10 to get 10% off your order on sorority and fraternity jewelry!

You can read more about the site in previous Sparkle and Shine posts HERE and HERE.

Happy Shopping!!

16Jun2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you’ve all had an amazing week! I’ve been super professional this past week – I ordered my books for next semester, had a three hour meeting planning out fall semester social events for my sorority, put myself on a budget, decided how I want to redo my bedroom and ordered the new bedding (be on the lookout for a post once my room is complete!), and of course, working at my summer job.

All of this professionalism didn’t leave for much time anything else this week. So whenever I was free I spent my entire time vegging out and binge watching Netflix, which is why there is only one Monday Must this week…..

“Orange is the New Black”

In the GroupMe group message between me and all my college best friends, they all kept saying how excited they were when the new season of “Orange is the New Black” premiered on Netflix. Then, my twitter feed was filled with tweets about OITNB from almost everyone I could think of. Even customers at work were asking me if I watched the Netflix original show. I had finished Greek (I still can’t believe that I finished it all), so, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and start the show. Next thing I knew, I was staying up until I would fall asleep on my laptop binge watching the show! I completed the first season in about 2.5 days. I was watching bits and pieces of episodes on my lunch break and finding any other time possible to watch. It’s safe to say that I am now completely obsessed, as I’m now halfway done with season two.

The show starts out with upper-middle class New York City woman, Piper, being sent to an all female prison for a crime she committed ten years ago. The show’s plot then continues around Piper’s stay at Litchfield Prison, while she learns the ropes of the prison and the prison hierarchy. The show introduces viewers to the other inmates and through flashbacks shows more about each character’s past. These flashbacks make for amazing character development – probably the best character development I have ever seen on a show.

Even though that is it for this week’s Monday Musts, I just wanted to remind you to about my partnership with The Collegiate Standard. Use coupon code SAMI10 to get 10% off your purchase of fabulous sorority and fraternity jewelry! Plus, money from your purchase will go towards whatever Greek organization you made your purchase for. You can read more about it in a previous blog post.

Enjoy the rest of your week, readers! Keep sparkling!

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!