Throwback Thursday: My trip to Miami {where to go, what to do, and more!}

Welcome back to Sparkle and Shine, and happy Thursday! 

While aimlessly browsing through social media last week, I was trying to think of how I could share a lot of the big moments and trips I’ve experiences over the year that I didn’t share when I was actively blogging. Luckily for me, it was a Thursday, so my timeline was flooded with baby pictures and pictures from sunnier times — Throwback Thursday! I figured what better way to jump in on this infamous trend than to leverage it for sharing these moments, so buckle up and let’s travel back to my trip to Miami.

Planning your own trip? Find out where to go, what to do, and more down below!

The first time I went to Miami was for a work trip, since one of the brands I work for was sponsoring El Clasico Miami. While I never got to hit the beach (but spending my time with celebrities and being featured on Greg Sulkin’s Instagram Story made it worth it), I knew that I just had to go back and truly get to explore with one of my best friends. Within a week of being home from my first work trip, Katherine and I booked our flights and hotel room! 

Where To Stay: During my work trip, I stayed at the Fontainebleau. While it was not an all exclusive hotel, it sure felt like it. During our four day-three night stay, Katherine and I only had to leave twice! We had numerous pools to choose from and beach access. LIV Miami was right in our hotel, so when the night would end and the club would close, we never had to call an Uber. We just would walk back to our elevator to head up to our room. There were so many restaurants inside the hotel, only one of the times we left was for food — and it was to walk to the Starbucks in the hotel next door! (Vida has the best lobster artichoke dip you will ever have. I promise!) 

What To Do: Our days consisted of waking up without an alarm, grabbing breakfast to go from Chez Bon Bon in the hotel, and then spending the day on the beach/at the pool with a drink in our hand. We relaxed, we tanned, we laughed. We ordered room service and made memories. For anyone who is interested in going to Miami and is of age, two best activities Katherine and I did while in the 305 was go to LIV Miami and to go parasailing. 

Katherine and I have been to different clubs all across the East Coast together, but LIV Miami was the best one we have been to! The music, the drinks, the lights. It was a new place for us to be together to just let go and have fun. Plus, as I said below, what is better than closing down a club and then walking 500 feet to an elevator that will take you back to your hotel room?! It was the best.

The second must is to go parasailing! On our last full day, we laid on our beach chairs thinking about something we have never done before that we would have to do while we were in Miami. Some unforgettable moment (even though the whole trip ultimately was unforgettable) and that’s when it hit us — to go parasailing!

We did our research and found Miami Beach Ocean Watersports. For $75 per person, we were going to strap into our parachute and feel absolutely weightless together over the beautiful Miami ocean. We called ahead and reserved a spot for us to go parasailing as the sun sets. We brought along a Go Pro, parasailed hundreds of feet above the water together, and talked about the most amazing girls trip. Check out the video of us parasailing on my Instagram here! 

Have you been to Miami? Planning a trip there? Tell me all about your favorite things about the 305 by commenting below or tweeting me @sparkleshinesam!

My current beauty faves: winter 2019

Hi, babes!

Now that I am prioritizing Sparkle and Shine the way that I used to back in college (I mean, remember when Sparkle and Shine even took on YouTube?!), I decided to write one of my favorite blog posts to read – current beauty faves! With the winter in full swing now and a full arsenal of beauty products under my belt over the past few months, I’m specifically breaking out my current winter beauty faves. Check them out below!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel // With the weather changing at the drop of a hat here in New Jersey, my skin gets so crazy dry in this cold weather! To ensure my skin looks and feels healthy in the winter, I am super anal about making sure to moisturize every morning and night. A lot of moisturizers always make my skin look super greasy after I apply it, but this Clinique Gel never does. Instead of a looking like I haven’t washed my face in days, my skin looks super soft and hydrated — so much so, I have barely been wearing face makeup recently. My skin is glowing!

EWC Renew Me Restoring Serum // While my above moisturizer helps combat my dry skin, I also need to combat the redness of my very pale, Irish skin in the winter. Whenever I get my eyebrows waxed at European Wax Center, they always put their Renew Me Restoring Serum on the area after they are done to remove redness. After reading the bottle and talking to my amazing wax specialist, Vanessa, I learned that this product can be used everyday all over the face to help fight redness from irritation and stressed, thanks to its powerful antioxidant formula. Whenever I am feeling like my skin is a bit blotchy, I apply this before my moisturizer. Not only does it take away the redness, but it’s helping fight various aging factors. Major win!

Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer // While I’ve already talked about the importance of moisturizing the face, it’s just as important to moisturize your whole body! Dry, flaky skin is so not cute. Plus, who doesn’t love the feeling of applying moisturizer all over after a warm hot shower? So relaxing! Recently, I’ve been using the Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer. The product contains, you guessed it, 100% pure organic hemp seed oil, one of nature’s richest sources of essential fatty acids and key amino acids. My skin feels so healthy after I apply this all over. Plus, for the gals who spray tan like me, this moisturizer helps your spray tan last longer!

Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Moisturizing Mousse // Speaking of spray tans, let’s be real, one of the worst parts of the winter is not being tan. I just feel much more confident and happier with a tan! Knowing the harmful effects of tanning beds, I always spray tan. Sometimes it’s so hard to find the time to go frequently to get spray tanned while commuting in and out of the city (and pricey). I’ve tried tons of self tanners over the years, but this Jergens mousse is by far my fave! I’m never streaky, it’s very easy to evenly apply, and it feels so light on my skin when I am applying it. As an added bonus, this is available at major drugstores — I grab this right at CVS!

What are some of your favorite beauty products right now for the winter? Comment them down below or tweet them to me at @sparkleshinesam! 

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. 

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! 

My latest Netflix binge

Hi, babes! Happy Tuesday!

Of course, as soon as I make my comeback to blogging, I had to go MIA last week. Unfortunately, I came down with a nasty case of bronchitis and a kidney infection right in time for Halloween. For the week that I spent quarantined in my house and out of work, I had ample amount of time to watch Netflix… and more Netflix, and more Netflix to get in the Halloween spirit. Just because I couldn’t go out, didn’t mean I couldn’t get into the holiday spirit. Check out the spooky shows I binge watched last week below!

Can we talk about how long ago I started this series on the blog? It still ends in “.wordpress.com” on the image!

The Haunting of Hill House:  The supernatural horror series follows the Crain family, who temporarily moved into Hill House in 1992  to renovate the mansion. While unnecessary repairs elongate their stay, the family begins to experience paranormal phenomena in the home — which ultimately result in a tragic loss and the family fleeing. More than two decades later, the Crain siblings and their father reunite after another Hill House causing tragedy strikes, and they are forced to confront the ghosts of their past– both literal and physical.

As your mind twists through each episode, attempting to anticipate the unimaginable, be sure you pay plenty of attention! There were tons of moments my mom and I would need to pause the show, remind each other of how this moment connected back to one three episodes ago, or would need to point out a ghost one of us didn’t notice!

Via Giphy

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: This adaptation of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” is very different than the version I grew up on — no quick wits from Salem, no goofiness from Harvey, and definitely no Britney Spears cameos. Instead, this version of Sabrina was dark and would send a chill down your spine.

However, this darker version still revolves around teen witch Sabrina Spellman, as she wrestles with being half-witch and half-mortal. As her sixteenth birthday comes around, and she must decide if she will choose to live life as a witch or a mortal, evil forces threaten her, her family, and the mortals she loves.

Via Giphy

If you’re looking for something not too spooky to binge, check out my last Netflix binge post from July 2016!

Now that I finished these shows, I will need something new to watch. What are you currently binge-watching? Comment below and let me know!

Start your Halloween Weekend off with my current playlist

 

Disclaimer: I promise there will be no Monster Mash mentioned below. 😉 

Hey, babes!

Happy almost Halloween! For those of you who will be dressing up this weekend and heading out, happy Halloween weekend to you! Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party, or getting ready to go to one, the music that you play always set the tone.

Start your Halloween Weekend off right by jamming out to some of the songs I can’t stop listening to recently:

High On Life – Martin Garrix ft. Bonn // Tequilawine– Olivia O’Brien

REDMERCDES by Animè // I Like It by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin

Without Me by Halsey // Kiss and Make Up by Dua Lipa and BLACKPINK

Fux With the Boy (Remix) by Young & Devine // Motiv8 by J.Cole

Stay Together by Noah Cyrus // Drew Barrymore by Bryce Vine

What If by Kane Brown and Lauren Aliana // Ride by TimeFlies

If you’re in the mood for some throwbacks, check out my previous must-have weekend playlist from summer 2016.

Be safe this weekend!

What songs can you not stop listening to right now? Comment below and let me know!

A former Bachelorette contestant texted me to start blogging again..and HERE I AM!

Hey babes, hey!

Hope you’re still sparkling and shining because I am back! Let’s pop the champagne, raise a glass, and throw some confetti in the year, shall we?

But honestly, it feels like a complete dream that I am currently posting on Sparkle and Shine again. Time and time again, I sat in front of my laptop in my office, while on NJ Transit, or even on my phone with the intent to start a blog post. But after commuting in and out of the city, every time I sat down to work and create blog content, I ended up getting distracted by a text message from a friend that I wasn’t able to answer in a few hours or wanted to get away from the screen after spending 9 hours in front of it at work. Then, on the weekends, I would make as many plans as possible to try and have some work-life balance.

After connecting through work on a professional level with former Bachelor contestant Jamie Otis, her and I quickly formed a friendship. While recently eating some of the yummiest crab cakes ever in New York City, I started chatting with Jamie about my blog (for those of you who don’t know, on top of being a nurse, a mom, and hosting Married At First Sight Unfiltered, Jamie also runs a blog. What A #GIRLBOSS!), and chatting through the hurdles of trying to get back into blogging, finding the time to do so while juggling a full time job as a PR gal and a work-life balance! Jamie, being the total ray of sunshine that she is, helped encouraged me to find the balance and make my time. After her encouraging words that day, and a text that evening as additional kick-in-the butt encouragement, I am here. I am back and plan on being better than ever.

ffff

Here’s to what Sparkle and Shine will bring through the end of the year, and into 2019! Cheers!

My First Birchbox: Unboxing & Review

WOW WOW WOW, Happy Monday!

I’m super excited to be back on Sparkle and Shine and even more excited to share that my first post back is all about my first ever Birchbox! For my 23rd birthday, three of my best friends got me a three-month subscription to  the monthly service. Thanks to Amber, Julia, and Hope, each month I receive 4 or 5 samples of high-end beauty, haircare, and skincare products- delivered right to my front door!

I was like a little kid on Christmas morning the first time my Birchbox came. I always love trying new beauty products after watching other bloggers and vloggers rave about them or finding new products on my own. With commuting into the big apple for work, the amount of time that I have to go shopping and spend hours browsing through Sephora, Ulta, and even a local drug stores, are very limited. Now, I don’t need to worry about finding new products – they are delivered right to my door!

Check out below to see what I had received in my box and my ~honest~ opinion on what I thought about it all!

1. Catherine Malandrino’s Romance de Provence Eau de Parfum: An ode to Provence, the timeless scent mixes fruity and floral nuances with vanilla and patchouli. If there’s one makeup product I am always nervous to try new of – it’s perfume. I’m not a fan of super strong scents. Clinique’s Happy is my go-to because of it’s super light scent. This perfume was a little stronger than my liking. With hot summer days coming up, where I spend my mornings underground on the NYC subways, a strong sample size of this perfume will be perfect in my bag. Quick spritz and the oh so fabulous (not) smell of the subway will be gone. 
2. Beauty Protector’s Protect & Detangle: This best-selling elixir locks in color, protects from heat damage, and adds silkiness to each stand. During my freshman year of college, I became obsessed with straightening my hair. Later classes, compared to early morning for high school, meant more time to get ready and I would spend each of those extra minutes frying- yes frying- my hair away. Four years later and I am still trying to fix the damage I caused to my hair. I only straighten my hair in certain situations and when I do, I make sure to use heat protector. This is by far my new favorite heat protectant! I usually only straighten my hair once a month, so April was the first time I got to use this product and I loved it. It didn’t have a lingering scent and did not need to use a lot of the protect for it to work. Plus, my hair looked so smooth and silky. If only I had a selfie to show it off! 
3. Real Chemistry’s Luminous 3-Minute Peel: Apply this acid-free peel to clean, dry skin for luminous results. Massage in a circular motion to exfoliate, then wash skin with a mild cleanser to remove. I always love trying to find new face masks and exfoliants – it’s my favorite. I love how fresh and clean I feel after deeply exfoliating and cleaning my face. As I’ve mentioned, commuting in and out of the city for work takes a lot of my time. By the time I get home, from 15+ hour days, I just want to shower and go right to sleep. I love that this exfoliant didn’t add extra time- no need to wait for it to dry then wash it off. I just simply scrubbed the peel on and it three minutes – I could clean it off. I’m able to use it right in the shower, not waste time, and get super clean skin. Winner, winner!
4. Manna Kadar Cosmetics’ Lip Locked in Sienna: A primer, lip stain, and gloss in one, this innovative product ensures that your lips stay lusciously hydrated and smooth all day while delivering rich, long lasting pigment. I am OBSESSED – not just with the color, but with how long this lasted. I used this ultimate lip product when going out for Paul’s birthday in Hamden- knowing between sweat, drinks, singing, and who knows what else, my makeup look would take a beaten. At the end of the night, for post-going out Dominos, my lip color was still in tact as if I had just put the lip stain on. From now, if you follow me on Instagram, you’ll be sure to see this lip color quite often!
5. Dr. Lipp’s Miracle Balm: The natural formula completely rehydrates skin and lips, soothes sunburn, tames unruly brows, and nourishes thirsty cuticles. Apply to dry lips and other areas of the body as needed. Not going to lie, I haven’t used this one yet. Since I do PR for Aquaphor and Eucerin (#client), I have plenty of products to rehydrate my skin and lips at my fingertips. I was super excited when I read that the product helps soothe sunburn. Summer is right around the corner and if you know me in real life, you know that I have a bad tendency of getting sunburnt. I’m excited to use this balm when that day rolls around – which will be soon. Sorry, Gram!

Do you have a subscription to Birchbox? Thinking about it? Comment below and let me know! 

 

Stand up to social media and live your life Undoubted {LAUNCHING FRIDAY}

Happy Wednesday, beautiful people!

We’re about to get serious. It’s time to talk about something that’s often overlooked – anxiety.

For those who suffer from anxiety, something that may seem minuscule will not feel that way in the moment. With social media, it’s so easy to read other people’s negative thoughts and let them infiltrate your own thoughts. It’s easy to look at someone else’s negative tweet and start feeling the same. Or even worse, it’s easy to look at someone else’s positive post and start comparing yourself – cutting yourself down until you no longer see your own beautiful soul.

That’s where Quinnipiac seniors Hayleigh and Elizabeth are jumping in to take a stand.

The two friends are launching an online support system called Undoubted and on Friday, their mission to make social media positive and honest again starts.

Hayleigh and Elizabeth met during their freshman year at Quinnipiac University. Quickly, the two found they shared many similarities, from the basic things like being entrepreneurship majors, to the more personal things like struggling with anxiety. Being twenty-somethings they are active on social media and witness negativity in the online space daily. Together, they wanted to make an impact. They set out to provide a more positive space for impressionable women to surround themselves with, while also being mindful of all the scary firsts, and big decisions that come with adolescence. They decided that being honest about their own experiences could provide comfort to other young women.

They hope Undoubted will create a network of other honest women like themselves- to have raw, real, and meaningful conversations. No one should have ever have to feel alone. Hayleigh and Elizabeth desire to be the face of female empowerment, they want to help change the stereotypes surrounding those who suffer from anxiety, and they made the vow to live undoubtedly every day.

I’m going to join their fight to live life Undoubted. Are you?

Check out Undoubted when it goes live on Friday and make sure to follow Undoubted on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to stay up-to-date on living your life Undoubted!

Celebrate Galentine’s Day with Bryan Anthony’s

Happy Hump Day!

One week from today, Walgreens and CVS will be putting their Valentine’s Day on half price. Until that glorious moment, you’ll be bombarded with “What to Get Your Boyfriend” and “Non-Flowers and Chocolates Gifts for your Bae this V-Day” (trust me, I know this, I work in PR).

But aren’t really seeing is gifts for your pals on Galentine’s Day!

I’m a big believer of Galentine’s Day- the day before Valentine’s Day were you celebrate your go-to ride-or-dies, those kick-ass friends who are by your side no matter what. My friends and I have even done Galentine’s Day gift-exchange parties to celebrate how much we love each other – something I definitely recommend!

Though it may be too last minute to plan a party, there’s still time to shop for some goodies for your BFFs! My current favorite? Bryan Anthony’s!

What I love most about the jewelry site is that all of their pieces tell a story – whether it’s about your best friend being your soul sister, or you’re following your heart despite the odds, or connecting the dots of life when the going gets tough. There’s something for each of the moments – and that something is a gorgeous piece of jewelry.

I recently purchased the soul sister ring set for my soul mate of a best friend, Lauren!

Lauren and I call each other other our soulmates, in honor of the infamous Sex and the City quote, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.” After three hour long coffee dates, long drives with the music blasting, and late night FaceTime sessions, we realized more and more how true this was for us.

So for her 21st birthday, I knew that the perfect to celebrate her birthday, our friendship, and distance not coming between us would be these soul sister rings.

It really is a great reminder of how amazing our friendship is even though we are states away.

Now go celebrate your amazing friends, like Lo, this Galentine’s Day by going to Bryan Anthony’s and ordering from their different collections.

Happy shopping!!

Have you checked out Bryan Anthony’s before? Are you going to now? Comment below and let me know!

Eating My Way Through Instagram: DO

Hey, readers!

As I explained last week, I follow so many cool NYC food places on Instagram. Now that I’m working in the city, I try to explore as much as possible and see, do, and eat all that I can (like 10Below).

My most visited place? DO, a cookie dough confections shop!

DO was originally located right around the corner from my office on 2nd Ave. Whenever my work friends and I were feeling stressed, we would always head on over to eat our feelings! And TRUST ME, the delicious cookie dough and all the different toppings had done wonders for our stress.

Whenever we would come back from DO, our co-workers would always ask how we could be eating raw cookie dough. Well, DO saves you from the garbage talk about not being able to eat raw cookie dough. They make their cookie dough with ingredients that are made to be eaten raw- making it 100% safe for you to eat! You won’t be hearing anyone tell you about how you can get Salmonella from DO‘s cookie dough!!

DO is now located in Greenwich Village (unfortunate for my stress eating habit, but very, very fortunate for my waist line). At the new location, DO offers a complete experience- think Cups meets cookie dough! The cookie dough scoop shop lets you completely customize your bowl of cookie dough and then enjoy it.

Don’t live close to the NYC area, but still want to try this super delicious, super safe cookie dough? DO offers nation-wide shipping!

Are you going to try DO? Been to their new store-front? Follow them on Instagram? Comment below and let me know!!