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

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.

7Dec2013

DIY Bejeweled Photo Collage Letters

by sparkleandshinesami

For my big diamond, Katherine, and little diamond, Amber, I had searched for hours on Pinterest to find the perfect Christmas present for them. I wanted to craft them something personal to show all the memories we had shared together. I had finally found the perfect gift for them, bejeweled photo collage letters!

Christmas is right around the corner, but you still have time to make these! You can complete a letter in a matter of a day.

First, you need to prepare to do the craft. I went to my local Jo-Ann craft store and got a cardboard letter. I then printed out pictures, right from my computer, of my favorite black and white photos of me and the gift’s recipient.

I didn’t want the letter to just be plain cardboard, so I used white acrylic paint to paint it.

The paint was super quick to dry. Make sure to paint every side!

I’ll be honest with you, readers, I am a perfectionist. So instead of just gluing the photos down with mod podge, I laid out the photos on the letter. I pieced everything together like a little puzzle to see how it would all fit.

Once everything was how I wanted it to be, I took a picture to remember. I then took the photos off the letter and began to glue it down! To do so, you need a sponge brush and mod podge. Both can be purchased at a local craft store. I bought mine at Michael’s.

To glue the photos down, I would first use the sponge brush to put glue down on the letter. I would then stick the photo onto it, trying to avoid allowing air bubbles pop up. Once the photo is on, I put the mod podge over it. The mod podge was put on top of the photo for a glossy feel.

Continue on by gluing down each photo with mod podge and put the mod podge on top of the photo, as well.

Once you have every photo glued down, run one last layer of mod podge over the entire thing. Make sure it is all even.

If you can see the white glue on the photo, it’s okay. That’s what makes the photo appear to have a glossy finish once it dries.

Before doing anything else, you need to let the mod podge dry!

You can always leave the letter just like this, but I decided to bejewel the letter with adhesive jewel stickers.

Once you finish adding the jewels onto the letter, it’s all done!

Amber and Katherine loved them. I am so happy with how they came out!

If you decide to make these bejeweled photo collage letters, drop me a message in the comments below and me know!

And remember to check out the site The Collegiate Standard for sorority and fraternity jewelry! PLUS use coupon code SAMI10 to receive 10% off! A post on their products will be coming soon!!

3Sep2013

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

I hope all of you are having a happy Monday, unlike myself. I’m having a rather unhappy Monday. Over this past weekend, I managed to fall and damage my knee. My mom had to come, on her birthday, to pick me up at school and take me to the Emergency Room. I am now home in New Jersey, waiting for an orthopedist appointment to see if there is any further damage than what the hospital said. Meanwhile, I’m stuck in a rather unfashionable knee immobilizer and crutches.

Now, I’m two hours away, at home, from my school and friends that I love so much. The perfectionist in me is freaking out since I am already missing classes (it’s only the second week!) However, I’m trying to stay positive because I have so many good things coming up back at school – such as recruitment! So with some positive thoughts and good vibes, I’m hoping to make the best of my situation. In the meantime, I’ll be working on some blog posts, catching up on Big Brother, and doing as much homework off my syllabuses so I do not fall behind.

So, readers, send me your good thoughts and positive vibes as you check out this week’s Monday Musts!

1. The One Direction 3D Movie “This Is Us”

Ever since I heard that One Direction was having a movie come out, I had been counting down the days. So finally, on the first day that it was out, I went with some friends (and ended up seeing some sisters!). We sat closer to the screen than the 10 years who were in the theater. We sang along, we danced, we screamed, and we even shed a few tears. I’m not just saying this because I am a huge Directioner (and plan on marrying Niall), but the movie was incredible. It truly gave fans an inside look on the lives of Harry, Niall, Louis, Zayn, and Liam and showed off more than just the goofy image they portray on Instagram and in Youtube Videos. You learned behind the scenes secrets and looked deeper into their lives as actual people, but just performers. But of course, in true One Direction fashion, there were pranks, laughs, and lots of smiles that makes girls swoon! I already want to see this movie again and could watch it everyday. No matter how big of a fan you are, I recommend going to see the movie. Plus, there were a ton of concert scenes to sing along to as if you were right there in the live audience.

2. Lilly Pulitzer Letters

For my big diamond sister’s birthday, I ordered us matching Lilly Pulitzer letters. I hadn’t worn them since we gotten them because I was just so nervous I was going to ruin wear them before I got to school and wear them with Katherine. This past Wednesday, my college hosted it’s annual Involvement Fair. At the Involvement Fair, students meet members and heads of the different organizations on campus to see if they are interested in signing up. Though I had to work my school’s yearbook stand at the Involvement Fair, I still wore my letters all day and got to snap this picture with my big diamond sister! The letters look super cute, the shirts were so comfy, and we got so many compliments (and 50 likes on Instagram!). I know I will definitely be ordering more Lilly letters soon (plus they match the planner I wrote about in a previous edition of Monday Musts!)

Meet my incredible big diamond sister, Katherine!!

3. Good Vibes

As I mentioned above with my injury, I am trying to stay positive with positive thoughts and good vibes. The beach girl in me is coming out when I say that one of my favorite sayings is “Good Vibes.” My twitter background and phone background even used to say that. Good vibes comes more than just from yourself, but the people you surround yourself with. You can’t stay positive by yourself, you need the people around you. You need to think positive to be positive. Negative people cause negative vibes which will not help you in your life. That is why, whenever I get upset over anything, I remember to stay to positive so I have some good vibes to help me get farther in life. So no matter what you’re going through this week either, just remember to keep some good vibes & send me some while you’re at it!