I’m Off to College Fashion Week Tomorrow➺ Learn More About the Event!

by sparkleandshinesami

This post is sponsored by Her Campus Media and its College Fashion Week brand partners. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Sparkle and Shine possible!

Happy Friday, babes!

So for today’s post, the title pretty much says it all….. tomorrow I am going to NYC’ venue 404 to see Her Campus’ College Fashion Week. I’m super excited for the opportunity to attend the event as a VIP and wanted to fill you in on CFW, the sponsors, and more!

Of course, attending a fashion show has me super stoked. Who wouldn’t be?! But Her Campus makes sure that the event is empowering and fun for collegiettes, in order to celebrate their bodies and fashion. Self love totally rocks and Her Campus makes sure to celebrate that at CFW, which showcases talent of upcoming fashion entrepreneurs. The shows’ four collections – Rush, Festival, Study Chic, and Girls Night Out – feature the talents of My Social Canvas, Foray, Ali & Ariel, Frill Clothing, and Bow & Drape. Plus, all of the runway models are real local college girls of all different backgrounds, shapes, and size. HOW AMAZING?!

Want to join me at the event? To see if there are any tickets available for tomorrow’s NYC show (Oct. 1st from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.), head HERE. Not in the NYC area? There are shows in L.A. on Oct. 22 and Chicago on Oct. 15!

All good fashion weeks need good sponsors, right? As if Her Campus didn’t completely nail the event with these upcoming designers (I’m already going through their sites to see what I can expect to ~~see~~ purchase at CFW), they knocked it out of the park with their sponsors! Let’s talk about them, shall we?

So, we know that I’ve been trying to be healthier, which is why I am beyond ecstatic that FitBit and their Flex 2 bands are sponsoring the event. The Flex 2 is 30% smaller than previously released models and the removable tracker can fit into bangles and pendants. Finally, a way to keep my FitBit fashionable?! Yes, please! Nothing ruins a good picture (like my pics with my BFFs at a Toby Keith concert) than the huge black band! Plus, you can easily style the bangle with a Bertha Watch, another CFW sponsor. You can choose from their Signature, Crystal, Classic, and Charmed collections to perfectly style your arm candy. LOVE IT!!

But wait… it keeps getting better. Fashion icons Rebecca Minkoff and Vince Camuto are also sponsoring the event and I am droooooling at the thought of it! If you haven’t checked out their websites yet and added a ton of items to your shopping cart, you need to get on it! Rebecca Minkoff has a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry, accessories (including tech), and athleisure, while Vince Camuto designs tylish, versatile office and off-duty shoes, handbags and apparel for the fashion-focused modern woman. Fingers are crossed that I get a swag bag that could potentially have one of their products in it. A girl can dream, right?

Drybar, the original blowout bar, Perfumania, America’s largest perfume retailer, Haines, and Kind Bars round of the list of CFW sponsors.

Sounds like heaven right? I’m so excited! And the best part of all? I get to experience it my mom!!!

Tickets sold out? Can’t make the event? Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat to check out live updates.

31Dec2014

Spending My Last Day of 2014 with Some Goodies from Seventeen Magazine

by sparkleandshinesami

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

Happy last day of 2014, readers! It’s officially page 365 in the 365 page book of 2014. Starting tomorrow, we are starting a new book – blank and ready for a fresh start.

Prior to ringing in the new year at work (save the champagne for next year when I’m 21), I’m spending my last day home – relaxing with some goodies that I received from Seventeen Magazine, as a part of my Holiday Sample Box.

1. Clean and Clear: Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub

One of my biggest beauty must haves is always making sure my face is washed and feels fresh and clean! I’ve been using Murad routinely, since Seventeen sent it to me months ago. I started using this Clean and Clear product and it truly does leave my face feeling clean. The scrub has a cooling sensation, so I can actually feel it going deep down into my pores and getting rid of dirt. Plus, it leaves my skin looking radiant!

2. New York City Color Proof Twistable Intense Lip

After being a biker chick for Halloween, I’ve realized I loved myself with a red lip! I always thought it would be too daring for me, but it turns out it wasn’t! This New York City lip is super easy to use – just twist, glide, and boom! you had that instant color on your lips! With Roosevelt Island Red, I”m looking forward to doing looks like this pin and this pin!

3. Blistex Ultra-Rich Hydrating Lip Balm

Move over Eos, I have a new lip balm I will be using! This new Blistex has a dual layer of extra hydration for smooth, healthy lips. My lips get so chapped during the winter, that this new Blistex is doing just the trick to keep them smooth and hydrated. Just because I’ll be in my work uniform and won’t be kissing anyone at midnight, it doesn’t mean I can’t have the smoothest of lips tonight!

4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I’m relaxing in my Tiffany box bedroom, in my new cupcake pajamas, reading my advanced copy of “All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven. I look forward every break to getting to spend time in my comfy bed reading a good book – and this was just the book I was looking for! The heart wrenching love story focuses on two love birds (or a love Finch and a flower, I could say), who meet in an unlikely place – at the top of their school’s bell tower, contemplating to jump. What happens next as the two continue a journey together of wandering left me laughing, crying, and everything in between. It is a must- read!

Enjoy your last day of 2014 tonight, my sparkling readers! Remember, tomorrow starts page 1 of a new book – make sure to write a good one!

21May2014

“Big May Know Best, but Little Always Gets What She Wants”

by sparkleandshinesami

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

One of the hardest parts about being home for summer from college is how much I miss my sorority sisters, especially my big diamond sister, Katherine, and my little diamond sister, Amber!

My big and little diamond sisters mean the world to me. They are my best friends, my biggest support system, and two of the girls who I know will be standing next to me, as bridesmaids, on my wedding day.

They are the two girls I always want to go out with on the weekends….

They are the two always supporting me – just like in this picture, right after I was announced as our chapter’s new social chair…

They are the two that I am with at every philanthropy event, like at our King of Diamond’s event…

They are my rocks and my biggest support system, as you can see here at Relay for Life….

I can always be silly with them….

Because at the end of the day, they are the greatest thing to happen to me since I came to Quinnipiac University…

For any of you sorority women who understand the bond between a big and little sister, you may be experience #LittleProblems.

Don’t worry, because there is just a store – and Twitter account – to help you!

Little Problems is all about promoting the incredible bond between a big and little sister / a big diamond and little diamond sister, being a proud Greek woman, and supporting your sisters, and supporting your letters.

The shop features decals, bows, and koozies, while the Twitter account, started in May 2012, offers a variety of tweets than any sorority woman can relate to.

When purchasing from the store, orders are processed within 24 hours of placement and then are shipped out on either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Shipping, for all products, is $3.0o. All sales are final and the site will also design custom koozies! For more information, you can check out the FAQ page here.

Do you know what it’s like to be a proud sorority women with such a close bond? If so, then you have to check out Little Problems to show off your pride!