Sami’s Holiday Gift Guide: An On Location Tour

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

It’s beginning to look a lot like Blogmas, readers!

So, it seems that all my professors have gotten together and decided that they were going to make the week BEFORE finals week when everything would be due. Of course, that would be successful if not every one of my professors decided to do that, but well, we can’t change some stuff in life, now can we?

In the meantime, I have been holiday shopping for all of the special people in my life. After last year’s successful holiday guide, I decided to bring it back this year! So if you’re looking for a craft, a new phone case, or more, last year’s gift guide has got you covered.

And for all you little elves this year, we’re kicking off with something for your favorite movie buffs or someone who loves an experience rather than an item.

On Location Tours offers just that!

My mom and I went on the New York City TV & movie tour earlier this month and had such an amazing time! For only $43 a ticket, you can travel all around NYC for 2.5 – 3 hours checking out where some of your favorite TV shows and movies have filmed. We even got to see where they were going to be filming an upcoming CBS show, how cool?!

During that time, my mom, myself, and the others on our tour bus were taken all over New York City to see the sights of where some of the best movies have filmed. Throughout the trip, our tour guide will tell us about the films that have taken place at the locations, show us clips, and tell us insider secrets about the different locations.

Check out the pictures from the trip. Do you recognize them from some of your favorite movies and TV shows? Hint, hint you should recognize some of them from Gossip Girl, Friends, Sex and the City, Ghostbusters, and New Year’s Eve!

For big fans of Seinfield, Gossip Girl (a.k.a. my current Netflix obsession), or Sex and the City, On Location Tours offers tours specifically geared to those shows. Other speciality options include Turner Classic Movies, Central Park, and the Holiday Lights & Movie sights.

Not in the NYC area? Boston and Washington D.C. also offer tours geared to their areas.

Tickets can be purchased online or at (212) 913-9780.

Stay tuned for what will be next in my holiday guide! If you end up purchasing tickets, comment below and let me know.

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.

24Nov2014

Sami’s Holiday Guide: Treat Holiday Cards

by sparkleandshinesami

Hello, readers!

In about one month it’ll be Christmas Eve – which means that the next 30 days will be filled with shopping trips, crafting, and online shopping to make sure that you have the perfect presents for friends and loved ones for the holiday season.

However, with daily life stressors – this can become rather hard. This is why I am stepping in and creating Sami’s Holiday Guide to help you all find the perfect gifts, crafts, and more for this holiday season!

In the first installment of Sami’s Holiday Guide, check out the perfect place to make all of your holiday cards – Treat.

Treat is a subcategory of Shutterfly, the popular photo gift site. Treat offers a variety of different options for your holiday cards this season. You can shop by certain recipient for your holiday card, such as grandparents. The site also offers a variety of photo or non-photo cards for different holiday occasions. The new feature, the card multiplier, allows you to make a personalized card and then duplicate the card for multiple recipients. Treat prides itself on being personal, convenient, and helpful.

I worked with Treat recently – and can gladly say that the site truly is personal, convenient, and helpful.

Four of the most important people in my life have birthdays within weeks of each other – my mom, my big, my little, and my best friend. I worked with Treat to personalize birthday cards for each of them. Check them out!

My mom’s card:

My big’s card:

My little’s card:

My best friend’s card:

As you can see, the cards came out absolutely amazing! They all loved their cards – they add a much more sentimental touch than any card I could have bought at a Hallmark store. More importantly, I loved the quality of each card. Plus, they came in super quick.

I don’t think I’ll ever buy a card from a site other than Treat, including my holiday cards! Stop by the site to place your order for holiday cards and stay with “Sparkle and Shine” to see what else will be added to the gift guide!