School Sparkle: Space Savers for Your Dorm!

Hi lovelies! Can you believe how much Summer has absolutely flown by? For most of us, it's already almost time to go back to school! So while I take a few moments to mourn the end of another summer break and gear up for the new year, I'll be bringing you guys a brand new series of back-to-school posts courtesy of some of my very favorite guest bloggers! 

Next up is Emma from It's Emma Elise to share some seriously amazing storage solutions for your living space!

Whether you’ll be living in a cramped dorm room or a slightly more spacious apartment, these cute storage solutions will help you organize with style.

Bed Risers 

With Electrical Outlets Raising your bed by even a few inches can provide much more storage space than you would expect! These handy bed risers come with electrical outlets. Plug in your phone charger, laptop charger, and more. This is such a brilliant idea!

(7-Inch Power Bed Riser, set of 4, $24.99, Bed Bath & Beyond) 

Beauty Organizer 

This is an easy way to store all of your beauty products within reach. Customize your organizer with a monogram, and it will have definitely earned a spot on your dresser!

(Ultimate Beauty Organizer, $59, PB Teen) 

Chair Pocket Organizer

This excellent organizer slips over the back of your desk chair, allowing you to create more space for notebooks and school supplies. With five storage pockets, you can fit your calculator, water bottle, and almost anything else! 

(Aussie Pouch Dorm Chair Pocket Denim, $24.95, aussiepouch.com) 

Colorful Command Hooks

In most dorms and apartments, it’s best to avoid nailing thing into the walls. These hooks (along with the rest of 3G’s Command Hook line) are the perfect alternative. They leave no marks or damage on your walls, can hold a surprising amount of weight, and now come in fun colors!

(Command Medium Designer Hooks, $3.99 each, The Container Store) 

Magnetic Containers

Small desk essentials (paper clips, push-pins, rubber bands, etc.) can be really aggravating if they are continually spilling all over you desk. That’s where these handy magnetic storage tins come in! Just stick them on a magnetic surface, like a mini-fridge, for a quick and simple storage solution. 

(See & Store Containers And Strip, $12.99, The Container Store) 

Collapsible Step Stool 

In a small living space, it’s important to make use of any storage space available. Usually, that includes hard-to-reach spots, like the shelf at the top of your closet. This step stool will come in handy when it comes time to retrieve those items!

(Fold Away Step Stool, in Circa, $19.99, dormify.com) 

Hanging Shoe Storage 

So you made the mistake of bringing every pair of shoes you own, and now you can’t find a place for all of them to fit! Save space and keep you shoes organized with hanging shoe storage in your closet. Your shoes will be out-of-the way, easily accessible, and stored in style! 

(Notudden, $9.99, Ikea) 

“Little Black Dress” Organizer 

Every college girl should own the perfect little black dress. This organizer can hang in your closet, right alongside its wearable counterpart! Store your jewelry and hair accessories in this fashionable organizer. 

(Little Black Dress, $20, umbra.com) 

Jewelry Hanger 

Don’t let your precious jewelry take up valuable dresser space! Display all of your pretty pieces with this hanger. You’ll be excited to accessorize, now that your necklaces aren’t in a tangle! 

(Just HangIt Original, $9.99, dormify.com) 

Stackable Baskets 

From textbooks to late-night snacks, you can store anything in these baskets! The best part is how they stack on top of one another, in order to save space. 

(Our Large Stack Basket, $8.99 each, The Container Store) 

Patterned Storage Baskets

Store off-season clothing or extra linens in this fun chevron basket. Mix and match the different colors to complement your bedding. It’s a mini room makeover and storage solution, all in one! 

(Large Zig-Zag Basket, $21.95 each, The Land Of Nod)

Over-Door Hamper 

In a dorm or small apartment, space is pretty tight. Don’t waste valuable floor space with your hamper. Hang it over a door instead! 

(Dazz Over The Door Hamper, $9.99, Bed Bath & Beyond) 

Hanging Vanity 

Instead of competing for the bathroom mirror, save yourself the hassle with this adorable, over-door vanity. This hanging beauty will help you organize your makeup and jewelry, which makes getting ready a breeze! 

(Over-The-Door Vanity Station, $69.95, Urban Outfitters) 

Over-Door Shower Caddy

 Dorms and apartments typically have industrial shower heads. This means the typical shower caddy won’t hang over your shower head. Now, there’s a caddy to hang over your shower’s stall door instead! 

(Overdoor Shower Caddy, $29.99, The Container Store) 

Shower Caddy/Makeup Bag

Save space and money with this 2-in-1 product. It acts as both a shower caddy and makeup bag, helping you to stay organized in the bathroom. 

(Stuff Bucket Bathroom Tote, $14.96, dormco.com) 

I hope you all have a great semester! Make sure to follow my blog, and connect with me on all my social networks. I post daily about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, wellness, and everything in between! You can find all my links below. 

Stay beautiful! ♥emma 

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This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is Carly Tati. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

School Sparkle: How To Decorate Your Space While Studying Abroad!

Hi lovelies! Can you believe how much Summer has absolutely flown by? For most of us, it's already almost time to go back to school! So while I take a few moments to mourn the end of another summer break and gear up for the new year, I'll be bringing you guys a brand new series of back-to-school posts courtesy of some of my very favorite guest bloggers! 

First up is Trina from Tales of a Fluorescent Adolescent to share some super useful tips for decorating your room while studying abroad! 

I am fortunate enough to be studying abroad this fall semester in the fabulous London, England! Besides having a slight (big, huge) packing crisis, I've also been worrying about making my room a true home away from home. At the moment I still don't really know what space I'll be working with, and packing picture frames, bulletin boards, and twinkly lights just isn't going to fly (literally and figuratively). That being said, I love to decorate. Decorating my room freshman year of college was one of my favorite parts of getting settled. I loved picking out unique posters from Etsy, decorative pillows from boutiques, and printing out my favorite pictures to surround myself with memories. At school, my room, in part because of my decorations, is my ultimate source of comfort! How can I obtain the same perfect combination of creativity and comfort without bringing any of my collection of decorations with me across the pond?

1. Postcards 

This is one of my favorite tips for decorating at home as well! Postcards are a godsend! I never leave a museum without going through their selection first. It's a way to bring home your favorite pieces of art in the perfect dorm room size. Bonus, while abroad, they are a cheap, compact way to fill your room with warmth and culture! Keep an eye out for postcards for special exhibits. I just bought some amazing postcards from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Punk exhibit. All you need is some tape to help display memories of your favorite art, cities, and photographs! Also check out unique cards from galleries and shops!

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2. Souvenirs 

While abroad, or just enjoying college life, take the time to gather your memories. Restaurants, hotels, shops, and more often have business cards or a similar paper representative of the brand. Now, this isn't as boring or tired as it sounds. Businesses often have amazing designs and typography to represent them that will spice up your room and serve as a reminder for your very favorite spots. Similarly, tickets, brochures, maps, shopping bags, and more can serve as easy, cheap, packable materials to decorate with. If you keep an open mind you can turn almost anything into a decoration! The best part is that you can just collect these along the way of your adventures.

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3. Clothes

Please, take this with a grain of salt. This is not a suggestion excusing a messy pile of clothes as "decoration!" However, when utilized correctly, certain clothing items could add just the right pops of color to a room where you need to be creative about decorating. Scarves and necklaces are perfect for this! Scarves can be wound around bedposts or hung around the room - embrace some drapery and your room will be as stylish as you are. Push pins are perfect for necklaces and rings to pop on your walls for a touch of bling.

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4. Magazines 

Let's face it, your savior on the flight is going to be a magazine, maybe two. Similar to postcards, these are easy peasy and cheap! You could cut out letters and put a quote on your wall or if there's a particular ad campaign that you enjoy, give it a little love by displaying it.

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5. Photographs 

You're abroad or in college! Photo opportunities and life experiences abound and you've got plenty of your own memories to pepper your walls with. All you have to do is find somewhere that will print photos at the right price!

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I do think that everyone going to college or studying abroad should bring at least 5 photos (for those going abroad, sans frames) of family and friends. When things get tough or you're feeling a little lonely (hopefully you won't, but just in case), having friendly faces surrounding you is often just the trick you need to remember your favorite people and how good you feel with them! However, leave room on your walls and in your life to make memories to always take with you!

Good luck with traveling and college, I'll see you on the other side!

Your own Fluorescent Adolescent,

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This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is Carly Tati. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

This Or That: Beauty Edition!

Hello lovelies! Today I'll be doing a fun little tag courtesy of StilaBabe09! Basically the tag is your standard "This or That" style questionnaire with a beauty guru twist! I haven't done a post like this in far too long, and I am so excited to answer all of these fun questions!


Makeup:
blush or bronzer? I'd say blush just because I have such a hard time finding a bronzer that doesn't come out too harsh, orange, or muddy looking for my pale skin!
lip gloss or lipstick? I've been getting more into lipstick lately, so I'll go with that!
eye liner or mascara? I cannot live without my mascara!
foundation or concealer? Hmmm, probably concealer just because it provides more coverage for trouble spots. 
neutral or color eye shadow? Definitely neutral! Anyone who knows me knows that I am terrified of any brightly colored eyeshadows. 
pressed or loose eye shadows? I like both, but I have to go with pressed just because they are less messy to work with. 
brushes or sponges? Brushes for sure! 

Nails:
OPI or China Glaze? I like OPI better!
long or short? Probably short, just because I don't like the look of super long nails. I feel like they look more clean and polished when they are on the shorter side. 
acrylic or natural? Definitely natural, I'm not a fan of acrylic nails. 
brights or darks? It depends on my mood! Most of the time I actually just do light pinks or nudes so that it's less obvious when the polish chips. 
flower or no flower? I'm thinking this is referring to nail art? I prefer to just do solid color on my nails, so no flower. 

Body:
perfume or body splash? Body splash! Perfumes can get a bit too strong and overpowering for everyday use. 
lotion or body butter? I love both, but I use lotion more!
body wash or soap? Soap!
Lush or other bath company? I love Lush!

Fashion:
jeans or sweat pants? It depends how lazy I'm feeling that day! Generally I prefer jeans because it looks more polished. 
long sleeve or short? Hmmm, that's tough! I suppose short sleeves, because I could always layer a cardigan or something like that over it. Is that cheating?
dresses or skirts? Another tough one! I own more dresses than skirts just because they are an instant outfit and easier to just throw on. 
stripes or plaid? Stripes!
flip flops or sandals? Don't make me choose! I guess sandals, because they generally look nicer.
scarves or hats? I love scarves! I'm just not a hat person. 
studs or dangly earrings?  My ears aren't pierced, so neither!
necklaces or bracelets? I love both, but I wear bracelets more often so we'll go with that!
heels or flats? Flats! I almost never wear heels because I walk like a baby calf in them. So painful!
cowboy boots or riding boots? Definitely riding boots!
jacket or hoodie? Hoodies are more comfy!
Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe? Forever 21! I feel like their stuff is just a bit more stylish and high-quality.
Abercombie or Hollister? Neither! I don't support the things their CEO has said and I'm not crazy about their clothes anyway. 
Saks 5th or Nordstrom? Nordstrom- more specifically Nordstrom Rack!

Hair:
curly or straight? If I have the time, I prefer my hair curled!
bun or ponytail? Bun!
bobby pins or butterfly clips? Wow, blast from the past! I haven't worn butterfly clips since elementary school, so I'd have to say bobby pins.
hair spray or gel? Hair spray!
long or short? Well, I just cut about 9 inches of hair off, so at this point I'd have to say I'm getting into shorter hair!
light or dark? As much as I wish I could rock blonde, I have to go with dark!
side swept bangs or full bangs? I don't have either, but if I were to get some it would be side swept. 
up or down? It depends on the occasion! Typically I prefer to wear my hair down though. 

Random:
rain or shine? Shine if I need to be outside, rain if I can just stay indoors and watch.
summer or winter? I find that whatever season I'm currently not in, I like more. So right now, I want to say Winter. Ask me that again in December and you'll probably have a very different answer!
fall or spring? Fall because it's my birthday season!
chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate!
east coast or west coast? I've actually never really been to either coast, so I'm not sure I have the right to choose. I guess I like the more relaxed vibe of California better though!

And that's it for this tag! I tag Beautiful Chapters, Madness & Musings, Beauty & Things, Never Finished, The Caro Diaries, and YOU! Comment below with your This or That post, I'd love to read your responses!!

Cover Image Background Source: The Decorista

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is Carly Tati. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

How-To: Primp Your Phone with Cocoppa!

Hi lovelies! Awhile back I posted a photo on Twitter of my pretty-fied home screen and I had a ton of people asking me how I did it. And now that I just got a brand new iPhone, I figured this was the perfect time to demonstrate! The app I used to get these cute icons and background is called Cocoppa, and today I'll be sharing a complete guide on how to get your phone to look like this!


I do have a few important disclaimers before we get started, so please be sure to read them carefully:

- Cocoppa works for iPhones and iTouches (3rd generation or newer), as well as iPads. They also recently began expanding to Android phones. For more information on Cocoppa-compatible devices, click here.

- I am not a phone expert and I definitely do not claim to be. I can only speak from my experience with the app, and cannot diagnose any issues with your phone.

- The Cocoppa app can be very confusing and time-consuming to use. If you are not a patient person that is good with technology, I would not recommend attempting any of this.

With all that out of the way, let's get started!

1. Download Cocoppa from the app store.

2. Once the app is installed, open it up and create a free account.

3. Now that you have the app all ready to go, it's time to pick out some icons! You can find the icons in the top menu bar under "icons". I know, it's crazy stuff. It really does get a bit more complicated from here though.

Don't start attempting to install any icons at this point, just click on whichever ones you want to use and press the "like" button so you can find it later with all of your other icons and install them all at once. Trust me, it's much easier. Do keep in mind that Cocoppa does not support all apps, so you may want to start this process with only the bigger store apps like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. and then go back in for more once you know how the whole process works.

There are a few different ways to browse the icons. The best way, in my opinion, is to look under the "Popular Icons" section that can be found if you scroll down a little on the page. Next to the Popular Icons heading, you'll see a white box with two arrows. Click in that box, and it will show you the 100 most-used icons for the day, week, or month. That's where I have found pretty much all of the icons I use.

However, if you're looking for something in particular, like icons with polka dots, scroll all the way down the main icon page until you see a search box and type in whatever your heart desires. Keep in mind that a lot of these icons are made by people that do not speak English and you may miss a lot of really great things by searching with English words. That is yet another reason why I prefer browsing the "Popular" section instead.

In my opinion, all the other ways to browse icons are pretty much pointless. The category search is just super random and not at all helpful, and searching by tags is even worse. I mean...is a "grandfather" tag really necessary? The colors search could be useful I suppose, if you're into color coordinating your icons.

4. So you think the hard part is over now that you've found all the icons you want, huh? Not so fast! Now you'll need to go to the "Mypage" section on the bottom menu bar and view all of your "liked" icons. Click on the icon you'd like to set up first, and then click "Set Up Link" on the icon details screen.

From there, you'll be taken to a page asking you to choose the type of link you want to assign the icon. For most apps (Mail, Messages, Music, and Phone being the primary exceptions which I'll get to later), you'll want to go the "App Search" and search for the app you'd like to create an icon for. If the app you want to use doesn't come up in a search, there is not a heck of a lot you can do other than find another similar app that is recognized by Cocoppa's app search system. This process will more than likely take you a while, which is why I only use Cocoppa icons for the first page of my home screen and have all my other apps in folders on the second page.

Once you do find the app you're looking for (or a Cocoppa-recognized replacement), click on the name of that app and you'll be taken to a "confirmation" page. From there, you'll decide whether or not you want to add "gloss" to your icon and change it's name. Then once you're done there and you've pressed "OK", Cocoppa will automatically open up Safari for you and set you up to install the new icon.

Their instructions are pretty self-explanatory, just click the little arrow in a box button at the bottom of the menu bar and then select "Add to Home Screen" from the options that pop up. And there you have your fancy new icon!

IMPORTANT: Do not delete any of your original apps once the new icons are installed. These pretty-fied icons are just shortcuts to your apps and if you delete the original icons, the apps will not work! Like I mentioned before, I recommend keeping all the originals tucked away in a folder somewhere on your phone.

5. As I mentioned before, some apps require a bit more work to install, and others will not work with Cocoppa at all. For instance, you cannot create an icon for the Phone app. You can, however, create speed-dial shortcuts for specific people. To do that, click on whatever icon you want to use and then "Set Up Link" just like before. The difference this time is that instead of doing an app search, you'll want to click the "Phone Call" option right below it. From there, you can either choose a phone number from your address book or type in a new one. Then you'll just press "Done" and finish up the process the same way you did with all your previous icons. You can also do the same thing for messages and emails to specific people.

6. A few apps, like Music, Mail, and Messages, require you to set up icons using a "URL", which is an option found under the same screen as the app search. When you click on the URL option, you'll be taken to a page where you'll enter one of the following shortcuts:

To open Messages- SMS:
To open Music- Music:
To open Videos- Videos:
To open Mail- Mailto:

Then you'll just continue the set-up process as you normally would.

7. The hard part is over! If you've made it this far without ripping all your hair out, congratulations! Now all you have to do is choose a cute background to go with your new icons. Head back to the Cocoppa home screen and click on the "Wallpaper" section in the top menu bar. I prefer to browse wallpapers in the "Popular" section, but you can also do a search by words or color just like you did with icons.

Once you've found one you like, click on it and you'll be directed to the details page. From there, all you need to do is press the "Save to Camera Roll" button, and you'll find your new wallpaper stored in your photos app ready for use.

And there you have it! I hope you all enjoy your new primped out home screens! If you have any questions or tips for using Cocoppa, feel free to comment down below!

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is Carly Tati. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!

The Best Drugstore Makeup Ever! Part 3: Lips

Hi lovelies! The final part of this series will be focusing on all of my all-time favorite lip products! From glosses to balms and everything in between- it's all here! Just in case you've missed the first two parts of "The Best Makeup Ever", you can find Part 1: Face here, and Part 2: Eyes here. 

Without further adieu, let's jump into everything!

Best Tube Lip Balm:
Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm- I grew up on Burt's Bees lip balm, and it is one of the few products that has really stood the test of time for me! I also love knowing that it's made from natural ingredients, which is especially reassuring with a product that's going so close to the mouth.

Best Jar Lip Balm:
Nivea Lip Butter- Not only is this lip balm super hydrating, but it also smells and tastes amazing! The Vanilla Macadamia Kiss is my absolute favorite, but you really can't go wrong no matter which one you grab.

Best Tinted Lip Balm:
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter- Revlon's Lip Butter is definitely a lot different than Nivea's. This product comes in a handy twist-up tube that basically looks like lipstick, but the color payoff is more sheer and moisture-rich, which I completely love!

Best Lip Gloss:
e.l.f. Essential Super Glossy Lip Shine- This lip gloss from e.l.f. provides tons of shine with minimum stickiness. I also really like how much color these glosses give, unlike many others that look pretty in the tube but then go on sheer.

Best Lip Laquer:
Rimmel Show Off/Apocalips Lip Laquer- I will admit, I was first drawn to these lip laquers because of the cool packaging. However, the product inside is definitely the real gem! The "laquer" consistency is basically like a liquid lipstick, with incredibly vibrant color and shine.

Best Lip Stick:
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick- Revlon's Super Lustrous line has the creamy feel of a high-end lipstick without the price tag! The color selection is wonderful as well, with many dupes for famous shades featured in their collection. (See my drugstore dupes posts here for shade matches.)

As always, I would absolutely love to hear about all of YOUR favorite drugstore cosmetics in the comments below!

This month my Ultimate Sparkle Sponsor is Carly Tati. To find out more about advertising on Sparkle & Mine, click here!