My Monday Musts

Happy snowy Monday, readers!

It’s been one snowy week, filled with plenty of hot chocolate, binge watching Lifetime Network Movies, and catching up on my color coated to-do list. Life was even so hectic, that I didn’t watch a single second of the Super Bowl because I was too busy studying for biology (a true struggle for a journalism major) and being on duty as an R.A. Plus, that night I didn’t even get show off my style because I had to wear my Res Life gear in case of any serious issues, which trust me, did happen!

I ended up getting to relax much later in the week with my little, g little, other of our sorority gal pals, and friends at a faux ski resort themed bash!

Also, I received my fabulous goodies from winning fellow Her Campus Blogging Network member, Amanda, who blogs over at College is Love! Thanks to the Etsy shop Fabric Bows for Days, I received these two bows – one monogrammed, of course! – and this ADPi Lily Pultizer key fob.

Speaking of the Her Campus Blogging Network, I am now a member of their Premier blogging network! That wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. Thank you so much, readers, to checking out each post, following me on social media, and being you!

I wish I could actually thank you all with kisses from Zac Efron, but unfortunately, this is the closest it’s going to get…for now.

Source

Stay with me this week to see what else Sparkle and Shine has to offer. Make this week as sparkling as you are because life won’t sparkle unless you do!

10Jul2014

Breaking the Bucket list

by sparkleandshinesami

Hello, readers, and welcome to sparkling edition of Breaking the Bucket List.

I know what your thinking – “Sami, what is ‘Breaking the Bucket List?'”

You see, readers, the last time I wrote about how I spent 24 hours living in New York City like a real New Yorker and after that…. I haven’t written anything else.

Not only is that a bad blogger move, but it’s a bad life move.

Completing tasks on my bucket list is one of my biggest goals life. However, I’ve let life get in the way. I’m been to busy running around focusing on school, my summer job, blogging, my sorority, and so many more aspects of my life that I can go on for hours. Some where along the way, I’ve stopped focusing on that big goal of completing tasks on my bucket list.

So now, I’m ready. I’m ready to start crossing items off my bucket list and sharing them with you. I even made a cool new graphic to go along with the posts.

Get ready and get set, readers! I’ll be sharing you with my adventures as I break my bucket list.

1May2014

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: April 2014

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy May, readers!

Not only did those April showers bring May flowers, but it brought you April’s edition of my top Instagrams for the month of April!

It’s been a very busy month for me, so I’ve had plenty of Instagrams to share with you all. A majority of my Instagrams had a lot of likes – but is these below that had the most!

On April 11, I participated in my school’s Relay for Life in honor of my father who passed away when I was 16 years old. This was my second time participating in Relay for Life in honor of my father and each time I become stronger and it gets a little bit easier. The night is always made easier when I have my amazing sisters and best friends by my side. This year, I put my favorite picture of my father and I on my bag. It is thanks to him watching over me, that I have the strength to participate in Relay!

This Instagram let’s you see a little bit more of my funny and silly side. Last weekend, I thought it would be funny to put on my friend’s boat captain hat and my sunglasses that said SWAG and pretend to be funny. It seems that my Instagram followers thought that it was funny because I got over 80 likes on it!

and it turns out there are THREE pictures tied for my third most liked picture – each with 77 likes! So, here those three pictures are!

One of the perks of going to Quinnipiac University is having Sleeping Giant state park right across the street and having the beautiful mountain to hike. A bunch of my sisters and I hiked the mountain last week – it was great exercise and even better sisterhood bonding! Once at the top, Courtney and I decided to throw what we know and diamond at the top!

The second picture with 77 likes is from Alpha Delta Pi’s Diamond Dash event. These are my best friends, my sisters, and my people. One of the greatest parts of being in a sorority is finding people who will left you higher each and everyday. I would be nothing with out these girls, Alpha Delta Pi, or the amazing feeling of helping our incredible philanthropy, the Ronald McDonald House.Lastly, for the yearbook this year, our staff photos will be us featured in these frames we decorated! I decided to Whitagram mine to have everything else black and white except for the hot pink frame. It’s just a little reminder that in this black and white world, just add a little splash of color to it!