5 chokers I need to add to my collection ASAP

Hey, ya’ll!

If you follow me on Snapchat (which you totally should – especially since I’ll be at College Fashion Week, giving live updates from my Snapchat!) and Instagram, you know that I totally love my tattoo choker.

(Black tattoo choker from Icing)

I’m obsessed with the choker trend and want to add more to my collection. I totally love the 90’s and think that chokers can just be added to any outfit! I wore my tattoo choker out with a romper to Foxwoods for my little’s birthday and then the next day with a tank top and cropped yoga leggings – and it looked cute with both looks!

Here are five that I currently have in my different online shopping carts:

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Hamsa Choker Necklace from Etsy

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Claire Velvet Choker Necklace from Urban Outfitters

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Acrylic Monogram Choker from Bauble Bar

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Double Ribbon Choker Necklace from ASOS

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Layered and Long Suede Leather Wrap Tie Choker Necklace from Etsy

What do you think of the choker trend? Where do you buy your chokers? Comment below and let me know!

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29Jan2016

My Flannel Friday secret {#OOTD}

by sparkleandshinesami

It’s Friday…are you wearing a flannel?

Flannel Friday was a common trend in my high school and sometimes I find myself absentmindedly wearing a flannel on the last day of the school/work week.

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Flannel: Expedition Flannel Shirt from Eddie Bauer | Vest: Women’s Puffer Vest from Lands’ End | Leggings: The Daily Legging from Victoria’s Secret | Boots: Lauren Ralph Lauren Marion Riding Boots from DSW | Necklace: Kenneth Cole NEW YORK Goldtone Chain Link Necklace from Lord & Taylor

But when I am buying my flannels, I have a secret. As a retired swimmer, over 5’8” tall, busty, I am built more like a linebacker than a stereotypical girl. When I go to buy flannels, many stores, like American Eagle, don’t fit me properly. They won’t fit right across my broad shoulders, close across my bust, or will stop before where it is socially acceptable to wear with leggings. At times, even looks like I am in the middle of an Alice in Wonderland like transformation of growing larger and everything else stays the normal size.

And this is why my secret is that I always, always, always purchase flannel’s from the boys section. But more importantly, male-focused stores that are known for their flannels. This is why I always choose to get them from Eddie Bauer. Here, I am able to purchase my flannels as a “tall” and never need to worry about feeling uncomfortable in a flannel that doesn’t fit the way that I would like it to. So for all my fellow tall girls out there and girls who feel they don’t fit a stereotypical female size, I recommend searching outside of the girl section because no one needs to not have the comfy-cute option of an over sized flannel and leggings.

Where’s your favorite place to purchase your flannels? Comment below and let me know!

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26Jan2016

Last first day of school {#OOTD}

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers!

Yesterday was one of the scariest days of my life – it was my last first day of school ever. Yup, that’s right – I started the second semester of my senior year of college. Am I ready for the emotional roller coaster that this semester is going to be? Oh, absolutely not. Which is why I decided to at least dress the part of looking like I have it all together.

So check out the look….

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Jacket: Faux Leather Moto Jacket from Forever 21 | Sweater: (Similar) from Aerie

Scarf: (This has been my favorite scarf since high school, so it’s old – but here’s a similar one) from Charming Charlie

Jeans: WESTPORT 1962 Signature Skinny Jeans from DressBarn | Boots: Diba Shelby Bootie from DSW

And with today being the second day, I somehow ended up back in yoga pants and a Greek Streak Alpha Delta Pi spirit jersey. Whoops?

In my defense I somehow managed to wake up with swollen blood shot eyes, so I wasn’t trying to waste a cute outfit when I wasn’t going to wear makeup or glasses.

Whatever, maybe tomorrow I’ll look go back to looking put together..

31Dec2015

Come travel with me + Vera Bradley this New Years Eve

by sparkleandshinesami

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Vera Bradley and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my own.

I’m late.

Readers, no matter how much time I have to get somewhere, I always end up late. Give me an hour or five and I’m going to use every extra minute and then some. My family has even started telling me that events are happening earlier than they actually are just so I can end up on time.

This is why when I travel, I like to stay super comfortable. My yoga pants and puffer vests are always my go to outfit and my Vera Bradley Large duffel travel bag in Katalina pink is my go to luggage!

The bag, which sells for $85 online, is big enough to fit so much stuff in it. Ask any of my friends – I am a total over-packer. For a simple one night’s trip, I bring about three bags – this duffel, my purse, and a duffel just for hair products.

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Vest: (similar) puffer vest from the Gap | Top: (similar) Long sleeve from Victoria’s Secret | Yoga pant: Foldover waist bootcup yoga pants from Victoria’s Secret

Whenever I travel, my four most important items are my robe, my makeup bag, my travel coffee mug, and my sunglasses!

I’ve always loved robes for as long as I can remember, thanks to my grandma. She would always show me how blissful it would be in the morning to be snuggled up in a cozy robe and slippers. My robe has become a part of who I am – and the fact that’s cheetah print really seals the deal! Whether it’s a trip to my little’s house or a beach vacation, I always have my robe to wake up to in the morning and wear when I am doing my makeup.

Which leads me right into my second most important item – my makeup bag! Makeup gives me that extra confidence boost that I always want- whether it be just my basic mascara or a full smokey eye. My newest makeup bag, from Victoria’s Secret (similar), is big enough to carry all that I need from any of makeup hauls.

I live off of coffee. I’m pretty sure my veins are a mixture of coffee, diet coke, and glitter more than they are blood. Whenever I travel, I always need to have coffee with me. Hey, I need coffee with me whenever I go anywhere. Santa Clause brought me this new Juicy Couture travel mug to bring with me. If I don’t get to stop at a Dunkin Donuts before I hit the road, I always make my own coffee. It’s great to have my own travel mug with me because some places, especially at my school, let you fill up your own mug for a cheaper price.

Lastly, I always will have my sunglasses with me. I have three of the exact same pairs – one pair I always have in my car, one I always have in my purse, and then another pair that I try to always use and keep on me. They’re great to avoid the sun in your eyes while driving, any glares on the road, or keep your eyes hidden when you’re peaking on the hotties laying next to you on the beach! Something about a great pair of sunglasses also always helps my confidence level – I feel just so badass in a great pair of aviators.

What are your must have travel products? Comment below and let me know!

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10Dec2015

What I wore & how I was asked to a fraternity Christmas party

by sparkleandshinesami

Ho, ho, ho readers!

Are you in the holiday spirit? I know that even with finals being right around the corner, I am makings sure that I am with Christmas music, candy canes, and holiday pajamas.

Right after giving gifts to those that I love, my favorite part of the holiday is the Christmas parties! I love the ugly sweaters, the red dresses, and decorative earrings.

Last week, my best friend and I went to his fraternity’s Christmas party and I wanted to share the look with you all:

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Dress: Red Lace Fit and Flare dress from Dressbarn | Shoes: Embellished caged heel from Lane Bryant

And weeks before the event even happened, Paul had asked me by surprising me with a festive stocking! Weeks earlier, I had asked him to my sorority semi formal with donuts. Here’s how he asked me, complete with a festive puppy stocking (since we call each other puppy):

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See mom, it looks like being on the naughty list for all of these years has finally paid off!

Do you have any Christmas parties coming up? What about ugly sweater parties? Share your looks with me down below!

27Nov2015

Rocksbox Look: a.v. max Mock Lariat Necklace in Gold & SLATE Crystal Spike Earrings

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Black Friday, readers!

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving with your family, remembering what you are thankful for as you eat your weight in mashed potatoes. My list included my sorority family, my best friend, Paul, boxed wine, and all of my readers.

And as my way of saying thank you for being so amazing, I wanted to remind you all about some awesome ways to celebrate Black Friday in a Sparkle and Shine type of way! You can get 10% off of a single shirt order from Greek Streak by using code SPARKLESHINE and you can get 10% off The Collegiate Standard with code SAMI10.

And one of my favorite discounts I can offer is a free month of Rocksbox!

When registering for the site, enter coupon code sparkleshinesamxoxo to get your free month.

As may you remember from a previous last Rocksbox post, I am loving the designer jewelry subscription box company and want you to all experience it, too!

For $19 a month, you 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.

In one of my recent Rocksbox sets, I received the a.v. max Mock Lariat necklace in gold and SLATE Crystal Spike earrings.

Thanks to the photograph skills of my awesome resident, Caitlin, check out how I styled the pieces.

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Sweater: Now only sold in plus-size Cutout Cable-Sleeve Sweater from Forever 21 | Leggings: Hi-Rise leggings from American Eagle

Boots: No longer sold (Similar from DSW) | Ring: Love & Kisses ring from Tiffany & Co.

With the holiday season officially in full swing, I recommend jumping on the Rocksbox bandwagon. Why not have the hottest pieces for Christmas and New Years Eve? Especially, when it’s all free!

Happy Black Friday shopping and enjoy wearing the jewelry. Make sure to tag me on Instagram at @sparkleshinesam when you post your favorite selfie featuring your Rocksbox look.

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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!

7Aug2015

Underwear, not under there?

by sparkleandshinesami

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

For my internship at TheCelebrityCafe.com, I spend hours going through images of celebrities to find the perfect photo for my story. More often then not, I am browsing through their outfits to try and get inspiration for my next look. A very common look I was starting to see was intimates as outwear.

My reaction to wear just a bra as a top? Oh, no no no.

When it comes to this trend, it is just not for me. I don’t know what Kim Kardashian would wear if she couldn’t wear bralet like crop tops and skintight pencil skirts and I would be lying if I said I didn’t completely girl-crush on Demi in her Cool for the Summer music video. But, I’m not Kim K and I’m definitely not Demi Lovato. Instead, I’m just 21-year-old Sami who prefers not to wear a top that feels like a bikini top with no beach around.

However, Freshpair, the founder of National Underwear Day, has made me realize that there are different levels of the intimates as underwear trend that do not have to be taken to the extreme. The company helped show me that it is now the norm just simply have a corset, bra, or bandeau peeking out from a top and still be considered an underwear for outerwear look. Once the company helped me realize that only showing some of my undergarments was still considered the look, I decided to hope on board with the trend.

To put the post together, I didn’t directly have any outfits of my own that I could photograph in the look. I’m much more of a “there’s more to meet the eye” type of person, who was taught my mother/grandmother/aunts (hey guys!) that it is better to leave a little mystery. And with my top part of my body truly being my, er, assets, I always make sure to stay covered and only show a little something-something. So instead, check out some looks I found on Pinterest that I would be willing to try that stay with my personal style, mixing with Freshpair‘s intimates. All of the looks below still leave the air of mystery without being too exposed, whether it be thanks to an over-sized sweater or a cute, flowy kimono.

To pin the outfit to your own account, just click the ‘Pin Me!’ link in the caption below each photo.

Comment below and let me know what you think of this trend! And if you want to see more of what I am actually wearing, head on over to my Instagram and throw me a follow!

23Jan2015

Mixing Cute & Comfort for the Day After

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Friday, readers!

It’s no longer a secret that college weekends now start on Thursday nights, which makes Fridays on campus look like zombies rose from the dead. Since it’s syllabus week, I wanted to make sure I definitely seized the Thursday opportunity. So, my little and I went out last night!

I don’t have classes on Fridays, but I’m still out and about on campus all day long. I woke up this morning with a busy schedule: an audition for my school’s television station, a meeting for my sorority, a meeting for my school’s television station, blog e-mails to answer, this post to write, and some how find time to eat, go to the gym, and socialize in between. While running all over campus, and to Dunkin Donuts for my medium iced caramel swirl with skim, I try to still dress cute.

No matter how much your head is pounding or you may want to go back to bed, there are days when you need to just keep moving and cross items off your color coordinated to-do list! Just because you want to look comfortable, doesn’t mean you have to just throw in the towel and throw on a baggy sweatshirt.

My go-to for these types of situations are always leggings! Leggings dress up an outfit a little bit more than yoga pants, but are still just as comfortable. To continue to add comfort, I always will put on my favorite sweater. To continue to mix the comfort and cute aspects together, I added a scarf and a vest.

To my sparkling readers, a scarf is always my go-to accessory to dress up an outfit! You can almost always catch me in a scarf in the winter. Gap is one of my favorite stores for winter scarves, which is where I got the one that I am wearing today.

Vest: Gap | Sweater: American Eagle | Scarf: Gap | Leggings: Victoria’s Secret PINK

Boots: Ugg Australia | Sunglasses: Icing | Backpack: Coach

Keep this easy, cute, and comfortable combo in mind the next time you want to dress to impress, but don’t want to get out of bed. Check out more of outfits on my Instagram!

4Jan2015

Hello, 2015! I’m Coming for You!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy New Year, my sparkling readers!

With 2015 already underway, I’ve been writing down many, many post ideas in my Victoria Secret notepad. As with life, you learn more and more with blogging as the time goes by. With almost a year and a half under my belt, I can safely say that these ideas are some of my best yet. It’s time for “Sparkle and Shine” to become your go to guide, to all things to help your life sparkle! That means more beauty posts, fashion posts (I have my first Outfit of the Day post planned out), and more. I’m on a mission to not only have my life sparkle, but to help add some sparkle to yours!

2015 is already starting out on the right foot for me, adding a lot of sparkle to my life! In 2014, I received the amazing opportunity to earn a contract with the one and only Seventeen as a member of their Social Club. For years, I have scrolled through the pages of the magazine learning about beauty hints, fashion go-tos and faux pas, and more. Now, it was my turn to learn more and help decide on beauty picks, fashion picks, and more for the glossy pages of the magazine. At the end of the year, the magazine asked me to renew my contract! I am too lucky to start this new year working for my favorite magazine yet again.

Also, If you haven’t already noticed, “Sparkle and Shine” got a makeover. New year, new you is the mantra all over CVS, which I am constantly staring at as I stock the newest beauty products. Well, it’s new year, new blog, too! I chugged a medium iced caramel swirl with skim one night, downloaded Photoshop, and went to town teaching myself the ins and outs of the Adobe program. As the hours ticked by, I ended the six hour night with a new header, new background, new meet me photo, and a new signature! The concept that “Life won’t sparkle unless you do,” readers, is still threaded throughout the new layout.

2015 is going to sparkle – for you and me! Stay with me in on the wild ride!