Hey! Remember when I went to College Fashion Week? Find out more about the event!

by sparkleandshinesami

This post is sponsored by Her Campus Media and its College Fashion Week brand partners. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Sparkle and Shine possible!

Hey babes, miss me?

Let’s be honest, I know you have.

Source: Jezebel

Life has been so totally crazy cause I started my big girl job as an Account Coordinator for the PR firm Access Emanate in NYC! (Post coming soon to tell you all about it – don’t worry! As well as many other posts as I get my footing as a full-time working gal and part-time blogger) Because this post isn’t about that, it’s about my incredible experience at New York College Fashion.

So for the longest time, during my commute to and from the city, I would try to put into words how much of an amazing time I had at New York College Fashion Week with my mom. Each time, I struggled – there are no worries to describe one of the most fabulous nights of my life with fellow bloggers, fashionistas, and some amazing brands!

If many of you know me, you know I’ll probably be late to my wedding (is the phrase wedding? Or is it funeral? If it is- that’s rather depressing. Either way, I’ll probably be late to both tbh), but my always early mom came with me. This meant I had plenty of time to stop by the different booth of the fabulous sponsors (Thanks, mom!)

If you followed along on SnapChat or Instagram, you were able to see so many of the awesome sponsor booths – such as Maidenform, European Wax Center, Boxed Water, Hanes, and Bertha Watches. There was so much time to interact with the vendors, learn more about their products, meet other bloggers, and eat some yummy Insomnia Cookies and candy!

And when I did not think I could be enjoying the night anymore, it was time to kick off the show – where I got to sit front row as a VIP Press AKA coolest moment in my twenty-two years of life!

The show itself was absolutely incredible! The models were all real college girls and they absolutely nailed it – they looked so gorgeous and so confident. I love working with Her Campus because of how much they always empower women to be proud of themselves, love themselves, and be confident. In a room full of bloggers and Influencers who took opportunities upon themselves, real-girl college models, and upcoming-and-coming fashion designers, this empowerment was an incredible force!

The girls modeled in four different shows (Study Chic ft. My Social Canvas, Festival ft. Foray Collective, Girl’s Night Out ft. Bow & Drap, and Rush ft. Ali & Ariel and Frill Clothing), which represented the many different moments in a college girls’ life. Just another way Her Campus keeps it real with us- they get what life is like!

And of course my favorite look that repped Alpha Delta Pi!

Completing the looks were accessories from Rebecca Minkoff, shoes from Vince Camuto, perfume from Perfumania, and the perfect blowout from DryBar. No need to be Gigi or Kendall for that sound like a dream. And let me tell you, readers, those finishing touches all made the looks absolutely perfect. Just look at the pictures – they were stunning!

Hope you don’t think the fun is over…. Because it isn’t! What does every press get at events? Swag bags!!

I was so excited to get my first ever press swag bag, and let me tell you, Her Campus sure did not disappoint! Some of my personal favorites are pictured below – including a FitBit Flex 2, Vince Camuto perfume, a free blowout from Drybar, and this super cute Rebecca Minkoff makeup bag!

Here’s to this press event and many more experiences, thanks to Sparkle and Shine, now that I am back on my blogging grind! Hope you’re as excited as I am because I am back, baby!

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!

4Nov2013

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers! I hope you all enjoyed your Halloweens (but more importantly, your Hallo-weekends!) This year, I dressed up as Tom Cruise from Risky Business and a construction worker. If you are already planning your costumes for next year, I would definitely recommend these two! Both were very easy to do and cheap.

Now it is November – time for on sale Halloween candy and counting down the days til Christmas (50 days!) For me, this week is completely crazy – I already took an exam today and have papers and projects due almost everyday. I do, however, have super positives this week – my sorority has one of our big philanthropy events tomorrow night and our Great Gatsby themed semi formal is on Friday! My schedule is jammed packed this week, so I am going to jump right into this week’s Monday Musts!

1. I am now a member of the Her Campus Bloggers Network!

I have reached one of my blogging goals, readers – I am now a member of the Her Campus Bloggers Network! I write for my school’s chapter of Her Campus (check out my articles here). I knew that they also had a special, application based network for women, and a few men, between the ages of 13 – 30 with their own blog. I have waited months for the e-mail saying if I have been accepted into the HCBN, and I finally received it. My application was accepted! I am so excited to join other bloggers discussing fashion, beauty, Greek life, lifestyle, and so much more. I look forward to reaping the benefits of this incredible opportunity with you all! As a member of the Her Campus Bloggers Network, I get to rep the special badge that is now on the right hand side of “Sparkle and Shine”!

2. I Won A Giveaway!

One of my fellow Her Campus Bloggers Network sisters, Brittany from Oh Hey Brittany, recently hosted a giveaway on her blog. I have been a fan of Brittany’s blog even before we were HCBN sisters. When I saw that she did a giveaway a few weeks ago, I immediately entered. I am normally not a very lucky person when it comes to winning contests. However, my luck turned around because I won my first ever giveaway! Brittany had e-mailed me a few days ago saying that I had won a Dillo shirt. It just arrived and I am so excited!

3. I am now a member of the Northeast Bloggers Network!

As I’ve mentioned many times on here, I am a proud Jersey girl who goes to school in Connecticut. Because of this, I have joined up with other bloggers from the Northeastern United States as a member of the Northeast Bloggers Network. Yay! “Sparkle and Shine” is now listed on their directory under “General Life” bloggers. Just like with HCBN, I will be recieving special opportunities because I am now apart of this network. Just like I stated above about the Her Campus Blogger Network, I can’t wait to share the benefits of this network with you, as well. Right underneath my Her Campus Blogger Network badge is my Northeast Bloggers Network badge!

I can’t believe in the 5 short months of “Sparkle and Shine,” I have been able to accomplish so much. I wouldn’t be where I am without you readers, so thank you!!

Enjoy the rest of your week, my fabulous readers!