Must Make Valentine’s Day Desserts

Hello, readers!

You know I love different holiday themed desserts, so I decided to find some yummy ones to make for Valentine’s Day on Pinterest.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies | Heart Shaped Rice Krispie | Oreo Truffle Hearts | Red Velvet Brownie Hearts

Why not enjoy these delicious desserts with your favorite gal pals and celebrate Galentine’s Day! Check out how my best friends and I celebrated last year – filled with a Valentine’s Day gift swap, called Secret Cupid, and an anti-Valetine’s Day party. Why not do something similar and mix in these yummy treats? Sounds like a blast!

This year, however, I will be going home and celebrating with my seven year old cousin who asked me to be his Valentine. I mean, he’s the only boy I need in my life anyway, so why not spend the day with him and the rest of my family?!

Let me know what you’re doing on V-Day by commenting below!

9Jul2014

I Am The Girl…..

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers! Recently, I’ve been thinking that I don’t really share a lot of my life with you all. Minus My Monday Musts, for the most part, I don’t really share about my life and what really makes me, well me. So, when Emma from The World According to Emma asked me to help her co-host a link up called “I Am The Girl…” with Lindsey from Lindsey’s Thoughts and Natalie from Finding My Voice, I couldn’t help but agree to it! Without further ado, get to know me! I Am The Girl……

whose initials spell her name. Yup, that’s right! My name is SAM and my initials are SAM.
doesn’t have a gall bladder or an appendix. Whoops! During senior year, I had them both removed since they stopped working properly.
who is always aimlessly scrolling through social media. I’m completely obsessed. Twitter and Instagram are my favorites.
who has her entire Cinderella themed wedding planned, thanks to Pinterest! Check out my wedding board HERE.

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who has Lilly Pulitzer letters that match her planner. #noshame
who, based on what I just told you, prefer to write in a planner than use her laptop or phone’s calendar to plan.
who LOVES to be involved! On my campus I am the social chair of my sorority, an RA, and involved with my school’s television station. Besides my blog, I also have a contract with Seventeen Magazine as a member of the Seventeen Social Club!
who prefers reading than watching a movie or a television show. I’m currently reading Truth or Dare, which you can read more about in this week’s Monday Musts.
who is a PROUD Jersey girl!
who wishes she could eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
who has to listen to classical music to get anything done.
who loves sequins, glitter, and anything else that sparkles.
who makes motivational quotes her phone background. Here is my current one:

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who LOVES a good theme party!!
who hates pizza – unless it’s Dominoes or Pizza Hut.
who never really stops talking. I even won Most Talkative in my high school yearbook. #sorrynotsorry
who makes my family, my best friends, and my sorority sisters my main priority.
who will most likely make you take a fake laughing pictures…and then try to convince people that it was real. Like this one, with my little diamond sister, Amber:

Now it’s YOUR turn! Tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments below. Better yet, if you’re a blogger or vlogger, make your own “I Am The Girl…” post!! Share the link below:

An InLinkz Link-up

11Dec2013

Christmas Dessert Ideas 2

by sparkleandshinesami

I recently shared with you, readers, the first round of holiday desserts, but here are some more fun Pinterest desserts to try and make!

Clause Cupcakes / Melting Snowman Cookies / Peppermint Crumble Bars

Let me know if you end up making them. I would love to hear about it! Just comment below.

Happy baking!

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!!

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!!

4Dec2013

Christmas Dessert Ideas

by sparkleandshinesami

There is nothing I love more than baking during the holiday season! I let the Christmas music blast as I transform into a mini – Betty Crocker, baking up different desserts in my kitchen.

This holiday season, I have decided to run different dessert posts, that I started with this Thanksgiving dessert post!

Check out these desert ideas I found on Pinterest that I am super excited to try!

Santa Cookie’s / Non-Alcoholic Snowman Shots / Holiday Pretzel Bites / Rudolph Cupcakes

If you try making any of these, make sure you tell me about it below in the comments!

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!!

21Nov2013

Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas

by sparkleandshinesami

Thanksgiving is a week away! In just a few days, our plates will be overflowing with a classic Thanksgiving meal – turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc – as you sit around your loved ones.

After you eat the delicious dinner, it’s time for dessert. Instead of the traditional apple pie and “Happy Thanksgiving” cake, check out one of these fun Thanksgiving desserts!

Turkey Cupcake / Turkey Cookie / Turkey Pudding Cups

If you decide to create them, make sure to share about it in the comment box below!

P.S. Be on the lookout for many more holiday dessert ideas as the holiday season is now in full swing!

21Oct2013

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you all are having a fabulous Monday! I know I sure am! Guess who got a 100 on her last nutrition exam after studying for over 8 hours?! Me! And nothing can put me in a better mood than knowing that all my hard work is paying off during my 8 a.m.

However, now I’m stuck back in reality though after the incredible weekend I had. It’s no more city streets, but back to my campus. There’s no more hole-in-wall dining, but a cafeteria. I’m just stuck with all the memories, tired legs, and a new Facebook profile picture.

But another part of my reality though, is bringing to you all my Monday Musts!

1. How I Met Your Mother

Once I returned home from New York City, my little diamond, Amber, began to tell me about her newest obsession, the television show “How I Met Your Mother.” I’ve heard so many people talk about, read so many tweets about it, but never had any interest in it. I always felt that it was in someway similar to “Friends,” and nothing could ever compete for my heart the way Chandler, Ross, Joey, Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe have. After a much needed few minutes of relaxing, I decided to give the show a chance and watch with her. I quickly became obsessed. We have watched so many episodes in just a short amount of time as we try to figure out who the mother is. It’s safe to say that I finally hopped onto the “How I Met Your Mother” bandwagon!

2. Quinnipiac got an Alex and Ani

I looooove Alex and Ani bracelets! My collection includes the anchor bangle, the Alpha Delta Pi bangle, and the daughter bangle. Quinnipiac’s campus was in uproar when Alex and Ani released the Quinnipiac University bangle, decked out with the Bobcat and our school’s name! I, like every other girl on campus, was in love and obsessed – and may have even stopped breathing for a few seconds. I can’t wait to hopefully add this to my collection, especially since Christmas is just around the corner( if you really want to know, I like it in silver)!

3. Ice Cream IS Happiness

By accident before, I opened up my Tumblr app, which hasn’t been open in forever thanks to Pinterest. The first photo that popped up said “…You cannot buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream (which is almost the same thing).” I instantly fell in love with the photo and had to screenshot it to save it and now share it all with you. Fun fact, one of my all time favorite foods is ice cream. Whenever I’m happy, whenever I am sad, or almost whenever in general, I could go for a big bowl of ice cream! Almost every Monday, my big diamond, Katherine, and I go to a local ice cream place, called Wentworths. We catch up on each other’s weekends and give each other a play-by-play of our nights. The only thing that gets me through the dreaded Monday is our weekly big diamond/little diamond ice cream dates! Seeing this photo made me realize how true it is- my true happiness from Mondays comes from ice cream dates with Katherine! If you’re stuck in those Monday blues today, grab yourself some Ben & Jerry’s! Yummy!