What I wore & how I was asked to a fraternity Christmas party

Ho, ho, ho readers!

Are you in the holiday spirit? I know that even with finals being right around the corner, I am makings sure that I am with Christmas music, candy canes, and holiday pajamas.

Right after giving gifts to those that I love, my favorite part of the holiday is the Christmas parties! I love the ugly sweaters, the red dresses, and decorative earrings.

Last week, my best friend and I went to his fraternity’s Christmas party and I wanted to share the look with you all:

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Dress: Red Lace Fit and Flare dress from DressbarnShoes: Embellished caged heel from Lane Bryant 

And weeks before the event even happened, Paul had asked me by surprising me with a festive stocking! Weeks earlier, I had asked him to my sorority semi formal with donuts. Here’s how he asked me, complete with a festive puppy stocking (since we call each other puppy):

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puppy stocking

See mom, it looks like being on the naughty list for all of these years has finally paid off!

Do you have any Christmas parties coming up? What about ugly sweater parties? Share your looks with me down below!

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Thanks Square Cash for making going out so much easier!

This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Her Campus Media, Inc. and SquareCash for the opportunity and compensation for this post.

I’ve got to admit something to you, readers. Sometimes, going out is hard.

No, I’m not talking about the hours you spend doing your hair and makeup, the dozens of pictures you send of potential outfits in a GroupMe to your best friends (only to wear the first outfit, of course), or deciding whose house is going to be the first stop of the night before even heading out.

I’m talking about figuring out the monetary aspects.

Whose going to pay for the Uber this time? Who paid last time? And of course, Jackie forgot cash for the cash-only club’s entrance fee, so now what?

Why would I not just pay for everyone’s drinks since I got to the bartender first and we are totally on a first name basis, right? Or the fact that Dominoes is so not about to break up a $100 dollar order for your drunk pizza onto ten different debit cards, so who just got paid last and can throw it on their card?

Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so.

And want to know what else is familiar, when all of the calculations for who was going to pay who and how much really goes out the window when the third margarita is served and the newest Nicki Minaj jam is bumping through the bass.

Now you don’t need to worry because Square Cash has made it easy for you!

ACTUAL USE

Square Cash is a free app that allows anyone to quickly send money between their friends or even get paid for doing business. There’s no “cashing out” which means that the money gets deposited right into your bank account. This means that if the mom of the kid you are babysitting for wants to just send you your payment over the app, she will deposit it directly into your bank account from her bank account. No need to stop at the ATM! Plus, it is free to use between friends!

Not only is it super simple to use and works exactly how it should, it’s safe and secure. Plus, in a world where we want to get everything done quick, using this app is the quickest way to pay your friends! All you need to do is download the Square Cash app, link up your debit card, then start sending money to your friends. You can even request them to send you the funds.

So how do I know that this is all this super easy? Because my friends and I use the app! We all downloaded it because as I mentioned above, we got tired of always trying to figure out who owed who what and then trying to backtrack ourselves during breakfast the next morning to figure out who owed who what. Sometimes there is just not enough coffee in the world to help you do math! So now, we would have someone put it on their card, quickly divide the amount spent on our phone’s calculators by the amount of people it was split between, and then send the money right on over to whoever it belonged to. It was so quick and easy we were able to do it in while waiting on line for the bars, waiting on the bathroom line, or even on the dance floor after we checked our text messages. Going into my senior year, I know that this app will definitely be a necessity on my phone and should be on yours, too!

To find out more, check out the app‘s Twitter and Facebook page!

And to see exactly what it’s like to go out with my friends and I, stay tuned for another video blog coming very soon! This one will detail our recent trip to Atlantic City for our friend Jamie’s 21st birthday. Catch a preview from the pic I posted on my Instagram.

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Hollywood Hump Day Treat

Happy Wednesday, readers!

Ugh, this Wednesday is so needed. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I haven’t had time to take a break and just breathe. I have off from work today. I have made a vow to myself to do all blogging work, intern work, and Res Life work in my favorite pajamas, comfiest slippers, while sipping iced coffee from the biggest coffee cup I have. Plus, with going back to school and starting all my other activities oh so soon, I really need to enjoy these days while I can.

What I would really love to be doing with this day off is lounging by the pool catching up on all the celebrity gossip! Lucky for you, you don’t have to worry about this! Thanks to my internship at TheCelebrityCafe.com, I bring all of your favorite celebrity and entertainment gossip right to you.

Who has been named the most-viewed person on Snapchat? Eminem made fun of which star now? And you will never, ever guess which celebrity couple has been spotted out together mid-divorce! Find all this out – and more – right below:

Make sure to follow me on Twitter to stay timely with your entertainment updates.

I wonder what is going to happen this week in Hollywood….stay tuned for next week’s Hollywood Hump Day Treat and I will fill you in!

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Tim McGraw Concert ➛ {first ever vlog, ootn, pictures & more}

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Readers, this may be the best Friday I have had in a while.Scratch that, ever! Why?

BECAUSE MY FIRST EVER VIDEO BLOG IS POSTED ONLINE!!

Last Friday, I attended my first ever country concert with three of my best friends. I decided to try something new and video blog during the experience. I finally edited it all together and shared it online.

Check it out:

Sleeveless Sweater | Tank Top | Shorts | Flip flops

Make sure to subscribe to my channel to check out more videos! If you’re not a big fan of YouTube, I will be posting all of my video blogs on here, as well. SO make sure to keep checking back in for more!

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My Monday Musts

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Happy Monday, readers!

Hope you all enjoyed your first day of summer yesterday and your Father’s Day.

Before I even jump into this week’s edition of My Monday Musts, I just wanted to say a big, big thank you for how supportive everyone was for my most recent personal post about Father’s Day. When putting myself out there like that, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As I said in the post, I mainly talk about college life, Greek life, celebs, fashion/beauty, etc. and not so much my personal feelings. However, I felt that this was just something that I really needed to share with the world.

After publishing the piece, I got an overwhelming amount of comments and e-mails from readers, as well as text messages and phone calls from friends. I broke my records for amounts of views in hours. Most importantly, I was able to shed some light from a different perspective and help others in a similar situation express feelings that they haven’t been able to.

So big, big thank you to everyone who shared the post, send me warm wishes and comments, or even just reading it!!

Source: Teen.com

I also wanted to share with you all how much I am hustlin’ for all of you!

I’ve recently grown an obsession with vloggers (which is video bloggers,in case you didn’t know). I’ve been watching their videos at all hours of the night and coming up with different post ideas for you. I’ve been checking out their different social media platforms, seeing what types of posts are most popular for them, and more.

(My favorites include Sarah Belle and Caitlin Bea.)

I’m seeing how they are putting on their lipstick (quite figuratively in their makeup tutorials) and how they are hustling! After seeing this ADORABLE pin below, I made it my phone background as a reminder.

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Pin it H E R E

What it comes down to is this – I love blogging and I love all of you.

I am so thankful for the opportunities that have risen from this and the only way I can repay you for checking out Sparkle and Shine is with awesome posts. This is why, for the rest of the summer, I am making the ultimate pinkie promise of posting multiple times a week and bringing you some of the best content I have ever given you.

The only way life will sparkle is if you do, readers.
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What time is it? SUMMERTIME!

What time is it?
Summertime, it’s our vacation
What time is it?
Party time, that’s right, say it loud

What time is it?
The time of our lives, anticipation
What time is it?
Summertime, school’s out scream and shout!!

So no, readers, I am, unfortunately, not staring in a new High School Musical.

I am, however, just excited to be able to finally start my summer vacation!!

I have been done with finals for about two weeks now, but I didn’t get to completely come home for the summer until the start of this week.

Every year, Quinnipiac hosts a “Senior Week” for it’s graduating class. It’s one last goodbye party for the seniors – a booze-filled week, jamming in as many last minute memories (or stories, if you don’t remember) as possible.So, it’s pretty much heaven.

But to make sure those senior devils stay alive until graduation, heaven need a few junior angels to babysit them. Myself and 29 other juniors were selected to go as Junior Crew to chaperon and execute the events. Based on that description, it may not sound like fun. However, it was by far one of the most fun weekends I had at Quinnipiac.

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But following this meant facing reality and the dreaded g-word…..graduation. Some of my best friends just graduated – a handful of people who helped me fall in love with Quinnipiac, Alpha Delta Pi, journalism, and myself. I watched people who I couldn’t imagine my college career without take their diploma that they have worked so hard for. At times, it was even a punch in the gut that there is more to life outside of the Quinnipiac bubble and that life, is the real world.

BUT MY BIG COMES BACK NEXT YEAR TO COMPLETE HER M.B.A! So I am still lucky enough to have my partner in crime in Hamden and don’t have to worry just yet about saying that goodbye. (Even though I have cried a handful of times as people remind me that Katherine is coming back. It’s just the whole principal and concept of graduation, you know? It got me.)

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Now, I’m back home in the most perfect state of New Jersey. Between continuing to intern for TheCelebrityCafe.com and work at CVS, I will be really focusing on Sparkle and Shine this summer.

Somehow this summer, my baby turns two. I’ve seen so much progress since I first sat down behind my laptop and created it. This summer, I want to continue expanding and continue to create my opportunities for myself. I have tons of e-mails to go through of sponsored post opportunities, different partnerships, and more. Through these e-mails, I will continue to build up Sparkle and Shine – and nothing makes me happier than watching my baby grow.

Stay with me, readers, as Sparkle and Shine shines as bright as the summer sun.
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My Monday Musts

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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!

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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.

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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.

 

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!

 

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Mixing Cute & Comfort for the Day After

Happy Friday, readers!

It’s no longer a secret that college weekends now start on Thursday nights, which makes Fridays on campus look like zombies rose from the dead. Since it’s syllabus week, I wanted to make sure I definitely seized the Thursday opportunity. So, my little and I went out last night!

I don’t have classes on Fridays, but I’m still out and about on campus all day long. I woke up this morning with a busy schedule: an audition for my school’s television station, a meeting for my sorority, a meeting for my school’s television station, blog e-mails to answer, this post to write, and some how find time to eat, go to the gym, and socialize in between. While running all over campus, and to Dunkin Donuts for my medium iced caramel swirl with skim, I try to still dress cute.

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No matter how much your head is pounding or you may want to go back to bed, there are days when you need to just keep moving and cross items off your color coordinated to-do list! Just because you want to look comfortable, doesn’t mean you have to just throw in the towel and throw on a baggy sweatshirt.

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My go-to for these types of situations are always leggings! Leggings dress up an outfit a little bit more than yoga pants, but are still just as comfortable. To continue to add comfort, I always will put on my favorite sweater. To continue to mix the comfort and cute aspects together, I added a scarf and a vest.

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To my sparkling readers, a scarf is always my go-to accessory to dress up an outfit! You can almost always catch me in a scarf in the winter. Gap is one of my favorite stores for winter scarves, which is where I got the one that I am wearing today.

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Vest: Gap | Sweater: American Eagle | Scarf: Gap | Leggings: Victoria’s Secret PINK

Boots: Ugg Australia | Sunglasses: Icing | Backpack: Coach

Keep this easy, cute, and comfortable combo in mind the next time you want to dress to impress, but don’t want to get out of bed. Check out more of outfits on my Instagram!

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Sami’s Holiday Guide: Treat Holiday Cards

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Hello, readers!

In about one month it’ll be Christmas Eve – which means that the next 30 days will be filled with shopping trips, crafting, and online shopping to make sure that you have the perfect presents for friends and loved ones for the holiday season.

However, with daily life stressors – this can become rather hard. This is why I am stepping in and creating Sami’s Holiday Guide to help you all find the perfect gifts, crafts, and more for this holiday season!

In the first installment of Sami’s Holiday Guide, check out the perfect place to make all of your holiday cards – Treat.

Treat is a subcategory of Shutterfly, the popular photo gift site. Treat offers a variety of different options for your holiday cards this season. You can shop by certain recipient for your holiday card, such as grandparents. The site also offers a variety of photo or non-photo cards for different holiday occasions. The new feature, the card multiplier, allows you to make a personalized card and then duplicate the card for multiple recipients.  Treat prides itself on being personal, convenient, and helpful.

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I worked with Treat recently – and can gladly say that the site truly is personal, convenient, and helpful.

Four of the most important people in my life have birthdays within weeks of each other – my mom, my big, my little, and my best friend. I worked with Treat to personalize birthday cards for each of them. Check them out!

My mom’s card:

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My big’s card:

1033 1034 1036 1037 1035 1038

My little’s card:

1196 1197 1200 1201 1199

My best friend’s card:


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As you can see, the cards came out absolutely amazing! They all loved their cards – they add a much more sentimental touch than any card I could have bought at a Hallmark store. More importantly, I loved the quality of each card. Plus, they came in super quick.

I don’t think I’ll ever buy a card from a site other than Treat, including my holiday cards! Stop by the site to place your order for holiday cards and stay with “Sparkle and Shine” to see what else will be added to the gift guide!

 

 

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Guess Whose Back…Back Again! {Special Monday Musts}

Guess whose back….tell a friend!

Well, it’s not Eminem, readers – it’s me!

Now that recruitment is over and I have 49 beautiful new sisters, I’m able to get back down into the wonderful word of blogging!

I’ve missed blogging so much recently and was reminded about how much I love it during a recent trip out with my best friend.

After breaking my iPhone (whoops), my best friend and I went to the local Apple store to get it fixed. While out, we decided to get Shake Shack and skip the usual cafe food. While ordering, I was asked if I was Sami from “Sparkle and Shine” – I was so surprised!

Julia and I both starred with our mouths dropped. I felt like a mini celebrity; like Paris Hilton before the “Simple Life” gig or Bieber before the YouTube discovery. It turned out to be Emma from The World According to Emma, another college blogger. It was by far one of the coolest moments of my life!

Besides being a mini-celebrity, I’ve been super busy.

I’ve been working on my broadcasting skills. This past week I was the entertainment anchor for my school’s TV station, Q30, and did a package for one of our entertainment segments, #That. Check them out –

Plus, I’ve been getting down and derby with my sisters.

As an Executive Board Member of my sorority, I plan events for our sisters. This past weekend, I executed our first ever Bowties and ADPis event, a Kentucky Derby themed Grab-a-Date on our quad. Sisters and their dates dressed in their floppiest hats and brightest bowties and spent the day playing croquet and other yard games. I brought my best friend, Ben, because there is no one I know who is willing to get fratty and dress preppy! Here’s one of the many pictures of us-

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But readers, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to finally be back!

Recruitment is over and I am finally back into my blogging groove. I have so many posts planned, so get set…get ready…because Sparkle and Shine is about to really shine.

But, make sure you shine, too, readers! Have a great week and keep sparkling!

 

 

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