The podcasts I can’t stop listening to right now

Hi, babes! Happy Friday, junior!

While you are here, I need to tell you about my most recent obsession – podcasts. Up until a few months ago, I never understood the hype. “Why would you want to just listen to someone/two people talk AT you?” I would think.

That thought quickly changed. One day on my commute to work, I decided to switch off Sam Hunt on Spotify and turn on a podcast. Ever since, I’ve been hooked! Whether it’s at work, driving, or on NJ Transit, if I have my earbuds in, I am listening to a podcast.

What exactly have I been listening to? Find out all the details on the podcasts I can’t stop listening to below.

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My Favorite Murder // For those of you who know me in real life, you know that I love true crime! From binge watching any Netflix true crime docu-series to sparking up a debate on who killed JonBenet (it was her brother….), I am always fascinated by true crime. The first podcast I have ever listened to and the first one I always go to turn on is My Favorite Murder. Comedian hosts Karen and Georgia put a unique spin on a very serious subject as they share the details on two new murders each week. As soon as you listen for five minutes, you’ll see why the two have such a cult following!

Gals on the Go // When two of my favorite YouTubers, Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio, decided to start a podcast, I knew from the start I’d be listening. While “the pod,” as they like to call it, can be geared more towards college students, their tips on productivity, goal setting, and beauty tips are universal. There is just something about listening to these girl bosses talk that always will put me in the zone and make me feel like I can conquer anything!

We Met At Acme // Food influencer Lindsey Metselaar opens up about millenial dating in NYC in her podcast We Met At Acme. There is no better way to sum the podcast up than how Lindsey puts it on her website, “We live in a generation of suppressing and not expressing. This podcast touches on subjects that we don’t talk about, but we all want to know about. We Met At Acme delves into sex, relationships and vulnerability, with some hilarious anecdotes along the way.” If you have gone on one date since 2017, whether it be from an app, a friend who set you up, or you took a chance on that guy in a bar, you will be able to relate and love this podcast.

Call Her Daddy // While We Met At Acme goes there and touches on milennial dating, sometimes you just want to hear someone really, REALLY go there — and that’s where Call Her Daddy comes in. Video blogger Alexandra and her bestie Sofia have the brutally honest conversations that you and your best friends are already having in your group chat. You know, those totally intense conversations when someone gets a text message of an eggplant emoji from a guy who ghosted them three months ago or a friend shares the details of a first date that went a little too far? That’s what they’re talking about. While you will be laughing hysterically the entire time, make sure you have your earbuds in, as the two may be NSFW.

What are some of your favorite podcasts right now? Comment them down below or tweet them to me at @sparkleshinesam!

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29Jun2016

Why I don’t have a blog-only Instagram and I don’t want one…

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey loves!

Recently, I’ve been asked a lot about my social media habits and how they are any different because of having a blog. This may just be the communications major in me, but social media is at outlet used to brand yourself and who you are. I am Sparkle and Shine Sami, a 22-year-old who loves to sparkles and to make life shine. I believe life won’t sparkle unless you do and through every tweet and Instagram, I am doing just that. I’ll mix in my sass and humor into my tweets and what you are seeing is the real me.

Many bloggers I know seem to be okay with only having one Twitter account- used for both their personal tweets and promotional tweets for their blog. However, not many seem to have a combined Instagram and that is where I seem to stray from the rest.

My Instagram account features me and my friends out on the weekend to posts promoting a blog post, from sorority family pictures to sponsored ads. And the thing is, I wouldn’t change anything about it.

My Instagram is a look into who I really am. As a blogger you put a lot of yourself out there for the world to see and often open up about personal struggles, what’s going on in your life, and insecurities. So why not continue to be transparent and show what you’re doing when you aren’t behind on a computer screen typing or filming a new video blog?

I also love it when people who follow Sparkle and Shine will recognize my best friends, such as my sorority family, Paul, and Brandon. These faces you recognize often from pictures and posts on the blog, so why not see more about their personalities, whether its a retweet from them or a picture from an adventure not blogged about. Just like me, as the author of Sparkle and Shine, they are more than just faces on the screen.

So, follow me on Instagram to learn more about how I make sure to add some sparkle to my life, even if I don’t post about it!

Make sure to add me on Snapchat because I will be talking more about Katy Perry’s matte lipstick from Walmart, Katy Kat matte, that I’ve been rocking!

AND make sure to interact with me on social media! I love when followers send me snaps, tweet at me, and more! Just yesterday, I got a snap about Sparkle and Shine inspired them to buy the Primula iced coffee brewer. So awesome!

7Jun2016

Tips for making the best iced coffee at home

by sparkleandshinesami

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Home for school forever means no more iced coffee on my meal plan and being a post-grad means being responsible enough to not waste big bucks at Dunkin Donuts everyday (#adulting, right?). Well, for someone who hates hot coffee, this leaves me in quite the tizzy.

Brewing a coffee in the Keurig and then pouring in ice never worked right, which led me on a mission to find a way to make iced coffee at home, without going for broke. This led me to finding the Primula 50 oz. cold brew iced coffee maker at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

It’s super easy to use the Primula iced coffee maker…..

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First, you fill the middle container with any coffee grinds of your choice.

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Then, mix in water until the coffee grounds are damp.

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Fill the rest of the pitcher with cold water. This will allow for all of the coffee grounds to mix in properly.

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Refrigerate the pitcher for 12-14 hours. I always make my coffee when I am cleaning up the kitchen after dinnertime. That way, when I finish my nightly routine, I don’t have to worry. Then, in the morning, I already have my coffee ready!

All I need to do is pull the pitcher out of the fridge, add ice cubes, my favorite Dunkin Donuts creamer, and Sweet and Low.

Super easy right?

Plus it was only $29.99 and with all the coupons Bed, Bath, and Beyond always has out – it’s even cheaper. I was able to use a 20% off coupon on it.

But what else makes this product so great? Let’s say you wake up to a text message from your co-worker saying that she wants to meet you at Starbucks to go over talking points for your big meeting that day. No worries! Your coffee is good for 14 days! Ev

Now go drink up, my coffee lovers, drink up…..

Image via Tech Times

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25May2016

I graduated…..now what?

by sparkleandshinesami

Well, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Quinnipiac University on Sunday (despite being scared out of my mind to do so).

And what has post grad life given me so far? A lot primetime The Price is Right specials, naps, and trying to get a hold of this adult thing.

To save some breathe for when everyone asks “what are you ACTUALLY doing post grad?” I decided to just share it with the whole wide world on Sparkle and Shine.

Starting on Monday, I began my online Master’s courses for Interactive Digital Design from Quinnipiac. I’m excited to dive more into learning coding, Adobe programs, and different multimedia techniques. It’s definitely going to be harder than any of my other classes from my Undergrad years at QU, but I’m very excited to get started. Plus, I’m lucky to have my mom, grandparents, aunts, and best friends as an amazing support system for whenever the going gets tough.

I’ve been in love for the past three years – with Sparkle and Shine. I’ve loved coming up with what I want to write about, putting the piece together by creating graphics and typing the story, sharing it on social media, and watching everything come together. I’m hoping that with my Master’s in IDD and my undergrad degree, I will be able to further my professional career and Sparkle and Shine.

More importantly, since I will be living at home, I will not have as many responsibilities on my plate. As you readers know, I was constantly boggled down with Res Life, my sorority, my school television station, a full-time course load, and so much more. Now, I will have so much more spare time to focus on the Sparkle and Shine blog and video blog. I’m hoping that with my spare time and my new Master’s courses, I will be able to continue Sparkle and Shine and all of its contents.

In the meantime, here’s to sparkling through the next few months as I begin this post-grad journey!!