Thank you, Seventeen!

by sparkleandshinesami

After two years of working with my dream company, I am now passing on my Seventeen Social Club torch to other social media mavens and bloggers. My contract with the company has wrapped up, there is now an end-date listed next to Seventeen Magazine on my LinkedIn, and the chapter in my life has ended.

My favorite memory was during my first year with the company. My little and I got to attend the 2014 New York City Makeup Show. We skipped a day of studying for finals to go gallivanting around the beautiful Big Apple. It was the first time I got to introduce myself as press at a big event, leaving me with butterflies that I could certainly get used to. Once inside the Metropolitan Pavilion, Amber I got to talk to different vendors, sit through tutorials, test our new beauty products, and of course, make some purchases! To find out more about that incredible experience, make sure to check out the post from May of 2014.

Besides being able to attend the New York City Makeup Show, I was exposed to a lot of different companies that I may not have gotten the opportunity to contact otherwise. Maybelline and Milani cosmetics became staples in my makeup bag after receiving so many awesome products from them. I also got hooked on ABC Family’s one-season show “Chasing Life” after ABC Family and Seventeen helped me host a season premiere party for “Chasing Life” and “Pretty Little Liars.”

While working for Seventeen over the past two years, I have gotten to experience so much and realize how much I truly love the media industry. Here’s to hoping I continue to reach more goals, continue to fall in love with this industry, and more as graduation (eeeeek!) keeps creeping up on me.

26May2015

Fresh faced lazy days, thanks to Seventeen Magazine and L’Oreal

by sparkleandshinesami

This is a post on behalf of my contractual membership with “Seventeen Magazine” for the Seventeen Magazine Social Club.

Some days are just lazy days- am I right readers, or am I right?

I don’t want to put on my full face of makeup, do my hair, and every other task it takes to get ready. Some days I want to just throw on a baseball cap, like my favorite from Vineyard Vines, throw on some foundation, and call it a day. Thanks to L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation I can do just that while looking and feeling fresh faced!

The foundation went on so smoothly and gave me an airbrushed finish. It gave me the appearance of having flawless skin, without even being able to tell that I had makeup on.

This drug store foundation worked just as well as some of the much more expensive department store foundations I have used in the past. All the expensive foundations promise this same airbrush finish that you can now get for half the price at any local drug store.

Now I just can’t wait to wear it for a night out and feel as glamorous as as a Kardashian.

Thanks, Seventeen!

4Feb2015

Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: January 2015

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy February, my sparkling readers!

The first month of the year has already come and gone. Have you been following my January adventures on Twitter and Instagram? It’s been a fun-filled month thanks to being reunited with my friends and ADPi sisters for the second semester of junior year! Oh, and a whole less of fun when my computer got a virus, crashed, and had to be re-imaged, in which I lost my documents and photos. But, let’s not dwell on the negative.

A year ago, I posted my first ever Top 3 Instagrams of the month post. Since then, this monthly post has become one of the most popular posts of “Sparkle and Shine,” gaining hundreds of hits each time it gets posted! Due to the success, I decided to continue chronicling my year through Instagram and sharing the top photos of each month with you.

Without further ado, here is the top Instagram posts from January 2015!

2015 is the year that my best friends and I turn 21! Kathleen was the first of our friend group to turn 21 and no amount of snow, sleet, or sludge stopped us from celebrating and giving her a great night!

I’ve taken a step into the fashion blogging world, one cute shoe (or snow boot) at a time. In this Instagram post, I showed off my “day after” outfit for how to still look cute and comfortable the day after going out. To check out the post, you can go here.

A whole new yeaaaaar, a new fantastic point of view. No one (but my mom) to tell me no or where to go or say I’m only dreaming – except for one HUGE dream is no longer a dream, but a reality. I am continuing to work with Seventeen Magazine in 2015 as a member of their Social Club! This means not only new adventures for me, but for you, too, readers!

Continue to follow me on Instagram to see what February will have in store. I have a feeling that it will be just as exciting as January!

4Jan2015

Hello, 2015! I’m Coming for You!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy New Year, my sparkling readers!

With 2015 already underway, I’ve been writing down many, many post ideas in my Victoria Secret notepad. As with life, you learn more and more with blogging as the time goes by. With almost a year and a half under my belt, I can safely say that these ideas are some of my best yet. It’s time for “Sparkle and Shine” to become your go to guide, to all things to help your life sparkle! That means more beauty posts, fashion posts (I have my first Outfit of the Day post planned out), and more. I’m on a mission to not only have my life sparkle, but to help add some sparkle to yours!

2015 is already starting out on the right foot for me, adding a lot of sparkle to my life! In 2014, I received the amazing opportunity to earn a contract with the one and only Seventeen as a member of their Social Club. For years, I have scrolled through the pages of the magazine learning about beauty hints, fashion go-tos and faux pas, and more. Now, it was my turn to learn more and help decide on beauty picks, fashion picks, and more for the glossy pages of the magazine. At the end of the year, the magazine asked me to renew my contract! I am too lucky to start this new year working for my favorite magazine yet again.

Also, If you haven’t already noticed, “Sparkle and Shine” got a makeover. New year, new you is the mantra all over CVS, which I am constantly staring at as I stock the newest beauty products. Well, it’s new year, new blog, too! I chugged a medium iced caramel swirl with skim one night, downloaded Photoshop, and went to town teaching myself the ins and outs of the Adobe program. As the hours ticked by, I ended the six hour night with a new header, new background, new meet me photo, and a new signature! The concept that “Life won’t sparkle unless you do,” readers, is still threaded throughout the new layout.

2015 is going to sparkle – for you and me! Stay with me in on the wild ride!

9Sep2014

Office Depot: My Go to Place for School Supplies

by sparkleandshinesami

This is a post on behalf of my contractual membership with “Seventeen Magazine” for the Seventeen Magazine Social Club.

One of my favorite parts of Fall, besides Halloween, Uggs, and hot chocolate, is getting new school supplies for the school year!

Thanks to my partnership with Seventeen Magazine, I was able to get my new school supplies at Office Depot. Let me tell you readers, they had super cute supplies!

I’m now able to tackle junior year of college with super cute Teen Vogue folders and my all purpose four color pen.

I’m very anal about my planner – each item has a specific color. Blue is for sorority events, black is for blogging, black with yellow highlighter is Resident Life work, red pen is important dates, red pen highlighted in pink is important class days – like tests, quizzes, and paper due dates, and green is anything else. Instead of having to switch up my pens, I now have one pen to write it all in!

Whenever I am doing work, the fun patterns of the folders instantly add a pop of color to whatever room I’m in. One of my residents, Taylar, caught me doing work before with my folders out. She couldn’t help but to give me a compliment!

After going to Office Depot with my credit from Seventeen Magazine, I don’t think I will ever shop at any other office supply store again. They had so many super cute supplies that my sorority girl self could indulge in. I didn’t have to get just plain folders for all my work, I could get ones that allowed me to express myself.

Next time you need some school or office supplies, head on over to Office Depot! You can also order online and get free shipping on orders of $50 or more OR receive one hour free in store pick up.

Happy shopping!

23Jun2014

My Monday Musts: The Secrets to Style Summer Pack from Seventeen Magazine!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers!

This week’s Monday Musts are going to be all about one of my awesome perks from Seventeen Magazine, as a contractual member of the Seventeen Social Club!

As always, it is important to look and feel your best. Thanks to Seventeen Magazine’s Secrets to Style Summer Pack, I absolutely will!

Thanks to Milani Cosmetics, I recieved a bunch of cosmetics to help look my best! These cosmetics included a Brow & Eye Highlighter in vanilla/natural taupe, a Clear Gel Brow Shaping wand, Runaway Lashes instant volume mascara in black, Lip Intense Liquid Color in Fiery Coral, Eye Tech Extreme liquid eyeliner in blackest black, Liquid Eye eyeliner in black, Anti-feathering Lip Liner in transparent, Power Up lasting and moisturizing gloss stain in mango, Baked Blush in Delizioso Pink, Runaway Eyes eye shadow in beach sand, lipstick in best red, Brilliant Shine lip gloss in red my lips, and Color Statement Lip Liner in true red.

With all of these fabulous new makeup pieces, I decided to scour Pinterest for some looks I just can’t wait to try out with all of my new cosmetics!

Here’s some of the looks I can’t wait to try out:

This piece combines not only the red lipstick, but the liquid eye liner and voluminous mascara. To get the sleek brows – and to keep them in place all day – I would highlight my eyebrows and then use the clear gel shaping wand. To get the perfect liquid eyeliner look, I always look at my idol, Lauren Conrad, for inspiration! Find this look on Pinterest HERE.

To achieve this hot look, I would use the Lip Intense Liquid Color in coral. Based on the look above, I would then pair it with the liquid eyeliner and voluminous mascara once again. The eye shadow in beach sand would also look phenomenal for the easy going vibe to accent my baby blue eyes! To pin this look, check it out HERE.

When using the pink blush, I would go for a smokey eye. Though Milani did not send me any dark shadows, the Naked palette is perfect for achieving the best smokey eye. Another key concept of achieving a smokey eye is to make sure that your eyebrows are equally as fierce. I’ll be keeping them in check by using the liquid brow shaper! As for lips, I would want to keep it simply – so probably just throw on some chapstick. Eos is my favorite – especially in fruit punch! To check out this look on Pinterest, head over HERE.

P.S. For all of you looking to also attempt a red lip, I also found this awesome red lips cheat sheet for when I attempt to rock bold red lips.

Seventeen Magazine also sent me the biggest key to all summer makeup – sunscreen! Looking like a lobster – and then peeling – won’t make for any successful makeup looks this summer. Make sure to spray on your sunscreen and reapply it to get a nice tan this summer. I’m currently loving the Australian Gold Continuous Spray Sunscreen that I was sent from Seventeen Mag. It’s SPF 30 so it protects me from those harmful UV rays, while still helping me achieve my perfect tan.

It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes, which is perfect for beach days, lounging by the pool, or when I’m swimming laps. Julia and I would have been completely burnt on our day off if we didn’t use sunscreen when we were lounging poolside!

After you head out to your favorite drug store to pick up these products to try out your own new makeup routine, I wanted to remind you of a bunch of special events going on right now for “Sparkle and Shine” as I continue to celebrate my one year blogiversary! First, head on over to The Collegiate Standard to get 10% off by using coupon code SAMI10. Then, check out my giveaway with the Comeback Momma HERE.

Enjoy your week readers. Keep sparkling!

11Jun2014

My Pretty Little Liars & Chasing Life Party

by sparkleandshinesami

My contract with Seventeen Magazine, as a member of Seventeen Magazine’s Seventeen Social Club, helped me land a once in a lifetime opportunity.

To kick off the “Pretty Little Liars” season premiere last night and the premiere of ABC Family’s new show “Chasing Life,” Seventeen Magazine and ABC Family sent me promotional goodies for myself and some friends. To celebrate the premiere of the shows and the awesome goodies, I hosted a Pretty Little Liars/Chasing Life premiere party (#PLLChasingLifeParty).

My friends (starting from left to the right, in the back) Jenny, Kathleen, Jenna, Lawlah, Allie, Julia, and Vanessa came over to celebrate to start of the premiere with all of our amazing goodies!

Some of the goodies ABC Family sent for our #PLLChasingLifeParty were orange Chasing Life bags! They were super cute and the right size to keep some of the other goodies ABC Family sent us in.

We had so much fun with the other promotional goodies – such as the beach balls, “Pretty Little Liars” and “Chasing Life” mini posters, and ABC Family summer season lineup fans.

Coasters featuring ABC Family’s summer shows were also included. They were perfect to put our drinks on…..

…and to keep the “Pretty Little Liars” fun going during the commercial breaks!

ABC Family also included a WATCH ABC Family flyer and “Pretty Little Liars” season 4 DVD coupons.

As a party host for ABC Family, through Seventeen Magazine, I tweeted some of the pictures above. The official ABC Family Pretty Little Liars twitter account and official ABC Family Chasing Life twitter account retweeted me twice. Now, images of my friends and I at our #PLLChasingLifeParty have over 100 likes each, over 20 retweets each, and I’ve gained a bunch of new followers.

Whenever people tweet at me asking how I received all these awesome goodies for my friends and I, I just tell them that I’m lucky enough to be working with Seventeen Magazine thanks to “Sparkle and Shine.”

Thanks ABC Family and Seventeen Magazine for this opportunity!

P.S. readers, The Collegiate Standard is still offering 10% off with coupon code SAMI10. Head on over to get your shopping on while the coupon is still available!

3May2014

No Need to Add More Stress from Breakouts during Finals Week

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Saturday, readers!

As I’ve mentioned in this week’s Monday Musts, I’m about to enter finals week. As I’m stressing about all my finals, my performance monologue, and multiple papers, that last thing I want to worry about is breaking out! However, thanks to Seventeen Magazine, I’m not going to!

Seventeen Magazine sent me Biore’s Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser to use.

The facial cleanser deep cleans 2x better and naturally purifies. It also has skin purifying technology and is oil-free.

After my last skin care package from my friends over at Seventeen Magazine, I couldn’t wait to try this one. Just like Murad, Biore’s deep pore charcoal cleanser did wonders for my skin!

My best friend, Julia, and I have been in the library until at least 1 a.m. since Wednesday preparing for finals and writing papers. I’ve been going completely makeup free these last few weeks to eliminate the time it takes to put it on in the morning to sleep in longer. However, every morning and night I make sure to wash my face. Thanks to Seventeen, I have been doing so with Biore’s deep pore charcoal cleanser and have seen such amazing results!

Finals exam times is so stressful – and normally causes me so many break outs. I work out even harder at the gym trying to relieve some of the stress, but that only makes me sweat even more. All that extra sweat will clog more pores. However, Biore, who is known to “free your pores!” has helped my skin stay clear.

My skin feels softer and doesn’t have a blemish on it. While I’m studying and writing papers, I don’t need to worry about any breakouts because Biore is keeping my face completely clean.

Just look at the library selfie posted above, there is not a single blemish on my face! All my focus is on these last few days of school and not any pimples.

Thanks Seventeen!

22Apr2014

Looking for a good book to read? Check out “Here and Now.”

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers! I’ve got something special to share with you all thanks to Seventeen Magazine!

As a member of the Seventeen Social Club, I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Ann Brashares’ novel “The Here and Now.” Now that novel is on sale for anyone to buy it, I recommend going out to get it ASAP!

I was able to relax with the novel during my spring break and recently finished it. It was so hard to put down, that I wish all my school work didn’t get in the way. Luckily, thanks to Easter Break, I was able to finish the futuristic novel by “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” author.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

Does that capture your attention yet? Good.

The 288 page novel is a romantic thriller about seventeen-year-old Prenna James. James immigrated to New York when she was only twelve-years-old; except, she didn’t come from a different country, she came from a different time. Prenna James came from the future – a future where a mosquito-borne illness mutated into a pandemic, killing millions of people and leaving the world in ruins.

Prenna, and the others who have escaped to present day must follow a strict set of rules: NEVER reveal where they are from, NEVER interfere with history, and NEVER be intimate with anyone outside their community.

Prenna follows all of these rules, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day destroy the Earth.

However, everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.

This novel is completely different than “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” but still a must-read.

For more information on the novel, I recommend reading Seventeen’s interview with Ann Brashares here.

12Mar2014

Seventeen Social Club: Girl Power Pack

by sparkleandshinesami

Hey, readers!

Remember how I told you all about how I am now a member of the Seventeen Social Club and can rock that awesome badge on the side of my blog? Well, I just got my first ever package from Seventeen, entitled the Girl Power Pack!

The Girl Power Pack included:

COVERGIRL Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara
Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix

Murad Acne Clearing Solution

Both products have made me feeling like the best me possible! The Girl Power Pack, along with what “Seventeen” is all about is empowering females and feeling like the best them possible. With clear skin and perfect eyelashes, how can I not feel like the best me possible and ready to take on the world?!

While wearing just mascara to chapter, you can clearly see how defined my eyelashes are and how they’re clump free. I love really prominent eye lashes, especially when I don’t do any other makeup. Without color in this photo, you can see each and every eye lash super defined. The Murad was also working towards creating clearer skin for me. I had a pimple Thursday night, put the Acne Spot Fast Fix on that night, a little Friday morning – and here I am on Sunday with not a pimple in sight!

Here’s another picture of me with one of my sisters (who celebrated her birthday this week….so Happy Birthday Justine!). Unlike the chapter picture above, I had done all my makeup for a QU hockey game! In color, you can still see how dark and prominent each eye lash is, with no clumps! COVERGIRL’s Clump Crusher promises 200% more volume – and boy, did I notice it! I also had clear skin for the game thanks to the Murad products.

Thanks Seventeen for showing me girl power and making me super confident with flawless skin and eye lashes to take on my challenging college days! I can’t wait for my next gift as a proud member of the Seventeen Social Club!