Top 3 Instagrams of the Month: May 2014

Happy June, readers!

Those April showers brought more than just May flowers, it brought you my monthly edition of Top 3 Instagrams of the month!

May wasn’t as busy for me – once I finished tackling finals, I came home for the summer and immediately started working 40 hour work weeks. Though I haven’t been having much time as I would have wanted to spend blogging so far, don’t worry, readers! Now that I have a handle on how my schedule is going to be, I’ve already been filling my Lilly planner with post ideas and publishing dates.

Now, enough about the blog, check out my May Instagrams with the top likes!

On May 15, 1851 Alpha Delta Pi became the first sorority on the scene! I celebrated my love for the first and finest sorority by posting a picture of my chapter by posting a picture of my beautiful Theta Theta sisters and I on May 15! The photo was taken outside on our lovely quad during our Diamond Dash philanthropy event. The greatest decision I have made while being in college has been joining a sorority. I couldn’t be more thankful for our founders who created ADPi 163 years ado and I couldn’t be more blessed to live out the ritual those women created as an Alpha Delta Pi sister.

The most exciting event that occurred during May was my trip to the New York City Makeup Show with my little diamond, Amber, courtesty of press for Seventeen Magazine! In the post, which you can read HERE, Amber and I traveled to New York City to learn about makeup from some of the best in the business! Going to the makeup show, and getting to experience it with my little diamond, is just one of the many perks having a contract with Seventeen Magazine has given me!

The Instagram with the third most likes for May was a collage of some of the highlights from my second semester of sophomore year at Quinnipiac. Second semester of sophomore year held many great achievements – I was appointed the Director of Social Enrichment for my sorority, became my school’s weather girl for our news station, gained a contract with Seventeen Magazine, officially became an adult by turning 20, completed my second ever Relay for Life in honor of my father, made Dean’s List for the fourth time in a row, and just so much more. The laughs, the memories, and the friendships made during this semester will live long in my heart. It was quite a semester for the books!!

I can’t wait to see what the month of June will have for me – and what Instagram pictures I will be flooding your feed with. You can check out my top Instagrams from January, February, March, and April or follow me on Instagram to stay up to date on my life.

Enjoy June!

5May2014

The Makeup Show NYC thanks to Seventeen Magazine!

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, readers! My Monday Musts are going to go on hold this week because I have something much more exciting to share with you all!

As you know, I am a member of Seventeen Magazine’s “Seventeen” social club.

Well, thanks to having that fabulous contract with Seventeen, my little diamond, Amber, and I got to to go as press to The Makeup Show in New York City yesterday!

It started as a very early morning for us! Since we go to school in Connecticut, we had to take a 7:30 train from New Haven to arrive in Grand Central at 9:30. A lot of the show began at 10 a.m., we wanted to make sure we were there in time. That 5:45 a.m. alarm was a rough one- but we were able to stay awake on the train – not just because of each other’s company, but thanks to Dunkin!

Once we got into the city, we took a taxi over to the Metropolitan Pavilion to start our day at The Makeup Show NYC!

First, we got to check in. One of the coolest moments of my life had to be telling people I was there “as press” and getting to surpass the line and head over to the press check in. Then, I got to tell people I was there for Seventeen Magazine. It was such an amazing feeling. As an aspiring journalist, I was really seeing my dreams unfolding before my eyes.

There was so much to see and do – we really didn’t know where to begin! There were plenty of vendors, such as Sephora and Mac Cosmetics, there. There were also some makeup brands we haven’t really hard of, but we made sure to check out each vendor that was both upstairs and downstairs.

While going from station to station at each vendor, we were able to get some free samples, purchase some products, and even test out the different colors to see which ones we liked.

Besides displaying products, a lot of vendors and local makeup schools were doing different types of movie makeup designs to show off their talents. They were super cool to look at and completely breathtaking knowing people were doing it completely with makeup!

The Makeup Show NYC also offered plenty of different workshops on different makeup techniques. Amber, an occupational therapy major, and I, a journalism major, decided to take the time while at this once in a lifetime opportunity to check out makeup techniques we probably would never get to know.

With that being said, we learned how to do drag queen makeup…

…and special effects movie makeup!

It was so completely crazy. While we waited in the MAC line, we were looking around and couldn’t believe how many people there were. Check it out for yourselves –

After about 4 hours at the Makeup Show NYC, we decided to travel around the city!

I mean, who needs finals when you can go on a big diamond/little diamond date in the beautiful NYC!

We walked over to Times Square were we decided to adventure around!

We ended our day by eating lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square.

Also, since it’s finals week and calories don’t count – we decided to splurge and get dessert.

After hours of makeup, sisterly bonding, and causing a little havoc in the city, in true sorority girl fashion, we had to end our adventure by doing one thing – SELFIES.

Then, it was back on the train to Connecticut. After spending almost 10 hours gallivanting around The Makeup Show, Times Square and Bryant Park, we were super exhausted. We had to head back home and back to the library for finals. Though we were exhausted, we had plenty of goodies from the day!

Though it was a very, very long day – I am so blessed to have spent the day with my little diamond who I love so much! Thanks for coming with me, Amb!

And if it wasn’t for being a member of the Seventeen Social Club, Amber and I never would have gotten the chance to receive these goodies!

Thank you so much for this opportunity, Seventeen Magazine! Remember readers, keep reaching for your dreams. You never know, one day you just may end up at The Makeup Show in New York City as press!

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!

10Feb2014

My Monday Musts

by sparkleandshinesami

Happy Monday, “Sparkle and Shine” readers!

Hope you all had an exciting week! I had two snow days this week, which was exactly what I needed to relax! It has made my school schedule much more hectic – one of my classes I still have only had once this semester! But just like life goes, we have to adjust to the obstacles and go with it, which is exactly what I am doing!

Overall, this week had been SUPER positive. To be honest, I don’t think I have a single thing to complain about!

Plus, I had such an incredible weekend. I stayed in on Friday night to watch a scary movie with my best friend and then went out to Quinnipiac’s infamous club scene, Toads, for the first time of the semester and then had a sleepover with my best friend after!

So let’s keep the positive energy and good vibes rolling for this week! Here’s this week’s My Monday Musts!

1. Cookie Dough Doughnut from Dunkin Donuts

Yes, I know I JUST posted about eating healthy on a college budget, but hey, a girl needs a cheat meal every now and then! In every article I ever read about eating healthy, it says to allow yourself a cheat meal every once in a while not to restrict yourself. Well, ladies, I think I just found mine! My friends and I recently (and by recently I mean one of our multiple weekly trips) to Dunkin Donuts, I saw their new “cookie dough doughnut.” I’m a total sucker for cookie dough products, so I just had to try this new doughnut. When I tell you it was the best thing I have ever eaten…it was the best thing I have ever eaten! The regular doughnut has chocolate frosting and sprinkles on top, but inside it has warm, melted cookie dough! YUM!! Next time you feel like splurging, go on over to Dunkin Donuts and try their seasonal cookie dough doughnut! But hurry! It’s only out for a short amount of time!

2. “The Fault in Our Stars” Trailer

Every TFIOS fan has been freaking out since the trailer has been released – I now I have! You know I’m a huge fan based on this post. My Facebook and Twitter feeds were filled with people sharing the link to the best selling novel turned movie that will come out in the summer. “The Fault in Our Stars” is by far the best book I have ever read in my life and I honestly believe that no book will ever be able to top it. Ever. So now that it’s coming onto the big screen, any book nerd, would be freaking out about if the movie is going to not play up the how incredible the book was. Based on the trailer, I absolutely think that it will. I keep watching the trailer on repeat, even though it makes me cry every single time. The book made me bawl hysterically, so I think I will have to bring two boxes of tissues to the movies. No matter how many tears I plan on shedding, this movie is just another reason I am even more excited for summer!

3. Seventeen Magazine Social Club

Readers, I have recently received news about the greatest thing to ever, ever, ever happen to me. I am now officially a member of the Seventeen Magazine Social Club!! Yes, the Seventeen Magazine that I grew up on read as my own person Bible. As a member of the Seventeen Social Club, I will receive some awesome freebies from the company to blog about and share on my other social media sites, get access to awesome VIP events, get the inside scoop on special deals and discounts, AND have the possibility to appear in the pages of Seventeen itself! Receiving an e-mail from Seventeen, and having it signed XOXO, Your Friends at Seventeen Magazine, was the most incredible moment to ever happen to me. Of course, I received it when I was at the gym and started bawling my eyes out on the elliptical. But hey, it’s okay because my Carrie Bradshaw dreams are slowly coming true!!

By the way have you entered my giveaway yet?! Calling all sorority girls – get on it ASAP, if you have not already!! It’s for this awesome app which you can get for FREE if you win!! I’m loving it, so check it out!

Plus, check out my awesome sponsors! Head over to my sidebar and see where it says “Check out these Sparkling bloggers who are reading “Sparkle and Shine” ??? They’re some pretty awesome bloggers and are sponsoring me this month, so make sure you go and check them out!!!

Have a great week, readers! Keep sparkling!