Friday Favorites #1

I meant to write this last week~ and I think I did? Oh well, though... I was busy and exhausted. 

My current favorite song right now (besides Fireball by Pitbull) is Cheerleader by OMI. And yes, it's totally stuck in my head for the rest of eternity (thanks, Pandora!!).

I love this dress! It came in the mail from Bloomingdale's about a week ago and I just wore it out to dinner last night. It's so beautiful and comfortable :) (as shown in photo)

I was working on my art journal today and have now incorporated one of my new favorite quotes into it- "The secret ingredient is LOVE!" -Sponge bob

Must. Have. Adorable succulents.

The emoji I use most at this point is the one with the heart eyes. To quote Sheldon from BBT, "Lovey dovey!".

Speaking of BBT, I watch it so much, I think I may be addicted. That, and Leah Remini: It's All Relative and Flipping Out. I love to flip out with my mum :)

I need to go to Trader Joe's, and here's why:

Chocolate chip dunkers
White cheddar corn puffs (little bites of heaven, AKA)
Vanilla meringue
Sleepy time tea

That's my list right now. I might update it later? I dunno. 

I've been watching animal translations on Youtube all night with my mum... SO FUNNY!!

I want cactus-themed stuff :/ (like this, shown in photo)

MIDORIS!!! Videos to come :D

I just downloaded Pandora (again, I keep on deleting it and getting it again), and these are my channels:

Omi Radio
Tween Radio
Outlaw Country Radio
Fall Out Boy Radio
Cher Lloyd Radio

I love Omi radio the most ;)

I really hope you liked this addition of Friday Favorites, I'd love to do one next week, too. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Friday DIY Roundup #26

It's Friday, so now is the time to get a little crafty and explore some of the many DIYs circulating around Pinterest and the rest of the internet. I am so glad it's finally Friday and the week is over, so I can finally relax. Story time-- my whole family went to Tannen lake yesterday (again) and we had a great time, except for leaving one water bottle at home, thus dehydrating the whole family. At least we had some strawberry melon iced tea, and if you ever get the chance, Brisk Strawberry Melon drink is delicious and perfect with every meal. We get 2 liters of it every time we go out to lunch at Taylor's Sausage, where we also got some meat sticks for our trip yesterday. There's nothing like eating cold teriyaki sticks by the lake while your dogs splash you with the muckiest of water and there's so much dirt on you it's not even funny and oh my gawd my shoes are too small someone help. So yeah, I love going to Tannen lake, considering it's only about an hour from my house :) Are you ready for some DIYs?! Well then here they are~

1. DIY: Pom Pom Garland (as shown in photo) by Momtastic

2. Copper & Wood Paper Towel Holder by Almost Makes Perfect

3.  DIY Photo Collage Letters by Hometalk

4. How to Make a Cute Sock Monkey by Neatologie

5. DIY Friendship Bracelets by Honestly WTF

6. Wonderful DIY Easy Pom Pom Bunny by Wonderful DIY

7. DIY Mason Jar Fairy Lights by DIY Joy

That's pretty much all for this week, but isn't it a lot? I really like that sock monkey, and it would be adorable for a baby shower ;) Also, friendship bracelets are a must for kids going back to school with their besties, or maybe just for fun because they're fabulous. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

10 Back to School DIYs

Like I said last week, school is just around the corner (if not already here) for most people, and it just destroys me to have to write this heart breaking post. I am still in July (which is almost over, sadly), which means I have one full month of Summer to live, and I'm going to try SOO hard to live it like no other summer has been lived. But since a lot of people are starting or are already in school, I must write this. But you really don't have to be in school to do these! You can have already started, not started, finished, etc. and you can still get crafty and try out these projects. But if you are about to go back, then these will be awesome for you. Also, I have one idea that is just perfect, and I've done it dozens of times before- washi tape pencils. This one doesn't even need a link it's so simple. And you don't have to worry about not being able to sharpen them, because the tape is made out of paper. It's easy to put on the the designs look super cute. If you don't like it, just take it off! I LOVE having washi tape on my pencils. 

1. Simple & Cute Button Bookmarks by I Heart Nap Time


2. Back to School Emergency Kits (as shown in photo) by The 36th Avenue 

3. DIY Page Corner Bookmarks by Bead and Cord

4. Back to School Mini Homework Station by The House of Smiths

5. The Coolest Back to School Printables by Cool Mom Picks 

6. Back to School DIY Pencil Cases by Happiness Crafty

7. Simple Spiral Notebook Redo by The Polka Dot Chair

8. Washi Tape DIY Page Dividers by Washi Tape Crafts

9. Pom Pom Pens by Sew Sara

10. Back to School Chalkboard Notebook by Making Home Base

Remember, washi tape is a key school supply that everyone needs and should have. Also, Fashion Angels has a line of ADORABLE tapes that I got a pack of for my birthday, and I love them, so you should check them out, too. I really need that emergency kit... ;) Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah 

Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday

My Top 10 Favorite Apps

Last month, I got a new phone for my birthday, and I LOVE it. It's the iPhone 6 Plus and it's big and beautiful. In fact, it's right next to me, charging away. But with a new phone comes new apps, and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE downloading new apps. It's like a little present, and I start to wonder how I survived so long without the app. Except, I decided to put less apps on my phone than usual, because I don't want to overwhelm the memory, and I'll appreciate the app more than if I had a whole bunch. My sister just has dozens upon dozens of apps, so she's never bored, but I like to keep it simple, although this idea of "simple" might not last very long, because the idea of that many apps appeals to me right now. Also, remember, all apps mentioned in this list are totally FREE. Here are some of my favorites~

1. Crossy Road

Crossy road is so simple and easy, but so addicting! My sister loves this app and so do I, so it gives us something to bond over, and I like collecting all the little characters and getting excited when I have one that she doesn't, or when I beat her high score (my high score right now is 142!!)

2. 1010!

1010!, like Crossy road, is simple, easy, and addicting (seriously, sometimes I can't stop!!) and I've fallen in love with it over the past week. It's similar to Tetris, but different, and I'm constantly trying to beat my top score. I highly recommend this awesome app ;)

3. Words with Friends

I lived without this app for the longest time because I really thought no one would play with me!! But, to my surprise, a lot of my friends and family members also have this app and I convinced my Scrabble-loving grandpa to get the app and we now play together. Even though everyone beats me at this, I love it and would recommend it to everyone who thinks no one they know plays it. 

4. Trivia Crack

I'm actually playing this right now as I write this post hahahaha. I am THE QUEEN of both multitasking and procrastination. It's a great app for nerds and common people alike, but most of all, something to bond over. You probably have a parent that loves trivia and YOU, or maybe a sibling, which means that you should totally get this app and prompt them to get it, too. I love playing this with my mum!

5. Home Design Story

This has been an all-time favorite, ever since I got it on my mum's iPad and designed a house that was so fabulous and top-of-the-charts that I was proud of this thing. A few years later, it got deleted, and I forgot about it; that was, until I got my phone last month, and downloaded it a few days ago. I visited my old home and it was awesome. Anyway, I would highly recommend it, along with all of the other Team Lava games. 

6. Fantasy Forest

I'm gonna be honest for a second- I used to HATE this game like there was no tomorrow. My sister got it, became obsessed with it, and would not stop talking about it for the longest time. It annoyed me and the music made me want to rip off my ears. But, now that I have the app for myself, I realize that it is quite fun and we can bond over this wonderful piece of joy. 10 out of 10 recommend it. 

7. Bloglovin'

If you don't know about this already, it's like the greatest invention/idea in all the history of the earth. It can actually save you more time than you'd think because it allows you to browse new posts from all of your favorite blogs in one feed. It saves me a ton of time, and I put my own blog on there, as well.

8. Paigee World

As an artist, I really like this app for sharing my work. It's like Deviant Art, but more specified to manga, anime and chibi, which is why I like it. It's got a great community, and when I have writers block, it helps me out. 

9. Duolingo

This is the most helpful app EVER as far as learning a new language goes. I love earning little Lingots, and getting a streak, and learning something new every day. And it's free to learn! It's really fun, and I can't wait to be fully bilingual with the help of Duolingo. 

10. Candy Crush Saga

Yes, I have this app, and no, I'm not totally obsessed with it (like most people). It's fun and challenging, and I'd recommend it for all ages, because it just has the cutest graphics and the feeling of accomplishment when you finish a level is undescribable. 

I hope this list prompts you to get some of these apps, because if they're on my Top 10 list, then they MUST be good because I'm rather picky. Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin', and thanks for reading!

xx Savannah



 

Workspace of the Week: July 26

Oh no!! July is almost over :(

 

Scaled Reciprocal Pattern Gradient Nails by Simply Nailogical

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

So I went and saw The Minions movie today, can you tell? Spoiler- it was AWESOME. 

 

Friday DIY Roundup #25

It's everybody's favorite day of the week, and that's the day when we get CRAFTY!! Lately, my Pinterest and Bloglovin' feeds are just becoming overwhelmed with DIYs that just look so fun to do. I can't wait to share with you the wonderful projects I have found this week, as well as an additional post that I'll be trying out later, a Friday Favorites post. It's been on my calendar for weeks, and I keep thinking it's already passed and I forgot to write it, but I got really excited to write one this morning when I woke up and was greeted with a Friday Favorites post by The Dainty Squid. You can read it here. She's such an amazingly talented writer, and I'm in love with how much she dyes her hair- spoiler alert, orange is the new AWESOME! I'd like to post something similar to hers, without being the same, but I want it totally different from my old Friday Faves posts. But let's not talk about that, because that's not what I'm writing about right now- I'm writing about this weeks picks for DIYs!!!~

1. DIY Mudcloth Inspired Organizer (as shown in photo) by A Bubbly Life 

2. Make Your Own Boho Chic Woven Necklace by A Beautiful Mess 

3. How to Make a Folding Lap Desk by The House of Wood 

4. DIY Shoes Shelf From Pallets by 1001 Pallets 

5. Faux Succulents Garden by Anything and Everything

6. 10-Minutes Milk and Honey Soap by Happiness is Homemade 

7. How to Make T-Shirt Headbands by eHow 

You all knew it was coming- I had to include a DIY from ABM because that was the first thing I saw this morning when I opened Bloglovin'. That all-natural milk and honey soap looks likeit would smell delicious.... Which one did you like best? Tell me in the comments, I'd love to know. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Top 10 Pinterest Recipes of the Week

I was about to write about something totally boring and not worth your time today, but instead I realized I haven't written one of these in a week- and they are meant to be written weekly! But before I get to the post, why don't a tell you a little something about my morning. I woke up at 8:30am and watched Netflix ALL morning until finally getting out of bed at 10:30am- how unproductive, right? It's cold inside, so I get dressed, make my tea, and open my computer. Today, I'm not sitting outside to write, like the last two days, because it's nice and warm outside and I can be with the cats. I let one cat inside, and she went CRAZY with a K! Running everywhere, jumping on the couches, sprinting up the stairs, and playing with her favorite toy- the brown paper. It's this packaging paper that comes with our orders from Amazon, and it's the loudest paper ever, and the most fun paper. She is now eating cat litter, and I'm debating on whether or not I should go outside to blog. Are you hungry yet?~

1. Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes in Garlic Cream Sauce (as shown in photo) by Julia's Album

2. Softbatch Funfetti Sugar Cookies by Averie Cooks 

3. Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cake by Julia's Album

4. Hashbrown, Broccoli, Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole by Julia's Album

5. Chocolate Malt Milkshake by Love From the Oven

6. Chicken with Summer Succotash by Iowa Girl Eats

7. Bacon Blue Cheese Burgers by Le Creme De La Crumb 

8. Easy Onion Scallion Beef by Rasa Malaysia

9. Strawberry Coconut Macaroons by Sally's Baking Addiction 

10. Shrimp, Tomato and Spinach Pasta in Garlic Butter Sauce by Julia's Album 

It is not my fault that Julia's Album is on here four times, it's just that my food board is littered with all the same people. I shouldn't say littered- I meant scattered. But seriously- bacon blue cheese burgers?! I screamed when I saw that. Also, the onion scallion beef made my mouth water; you could say I'm rather hungry at this point. Which one was your favorite? Tell me in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah
 

DIY Craft Supply Organization

I recently went to Michael's and did a huge craft haul, which you can read all about here, and that resulted in me having to tidy and organize my room/studio in order to make room for ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS I BOUGHT. Beforehand, I cleaned out under my easel, which I have grown accustomed to stuffing random things under and making a big mess. I cleaned out my drawers of my desk, moving things around, putting most of everything in my closet. Anyhow, in the end, I had SO much more room for my upcoming haul of everything ART. I brought back more than intended, but still luckily had a place for everything. Here are a few ideas for your own art & craft supplies- I hope this sparks a bit of inspiration~

First, and I've been thinking about this for a while, use a big wooden crate for certain things. You probably don't have one on hand, nor the energy to make one of your own, so it's a good thing Michael's has a wide selection in all sizes. I didn't get a big one, though I'm saving that for my next trip, but I did snag a fairly small one for less than $2 and it's the cutest thing ever. I put my chalkboard markers in it, and it's the perfect size for so many things. I really want to go back for a larger one to hold random things from around my room- pillows, books, sketchpads, stuffed animals, etc. This option is just so simple, and if you buy a few, you can even make this DIY wood crate bookcase great for art supplies (or even shoes?) made by The Pleated Poppy. I love this idea, and it's SOO easy!

The cheapest and most obvious one of all- thrift store mugs. They don't cost more than a dollar, usually their pretty cool, and you can do anything with them. Use one or two for paintbrushes, maybe one for pencils, colored pencils, a couple for Copics, they're really great for anything. But if that idea really doesn't appeal to you, a cute alternative is Mason jars. Yes, you've seen them all over Pinterest, and they're probably in your cupboard right now. I use them to hold my gel pens, and my Sharpies, and my fineliners, and everything else because we make a lot of jam so the jars that don't have lids are stuffed in the cupboard to die. Unless I grab a pretty one to hold my things. Go ahead and search Pinterest for "Mason Jar Crafts"- it's ENDLESS!!!

Use an old TOOLBOX for crying out loud!  It's cute, it's portable, and it's customizable. Plus, and I just came up with this, you can write "CREATIVE TOOLS on it. Paint it pink, paint it green, do whatever- make it glow in the dark, make it metallic, do anything you want! This is great for kids art supplies or maybe just your art supplies. Depending on the size, add coloring books, sketchbooks, markers, crayons, composition books, etc. 

And finally, you guys have all heard of the cardboard and TP tubes organized thingamajig that you can stick on a lazy susan and anyone can make one and here's a really cool tutorial by SoCraftastic that you will LOVE. Try it out and tell me what you think!

I hope this will help you to tackle the mess that is art & craft supplies, but if it doesn't, then maybe you just have way to much. And that's okay because I understand and I am also a creative hoarder. I wan tot art so bad right now... and watch Youtube.... and cuddle all three cats around me right now. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

 

 

 

10 Fun Summer Recipes

Summer is almost over for most of you, whose schools start in the beginning of August, which is so sad- your free time is being cut short and you don't have enough time to enjoy what's left. If you haven't started school yet, then maybe you still have a mere few days where you can have some fun in the sun, running around in the sprinklers, and gazing up at the endless stars while you try not to let your ice cream melt before it's time for hot cocoa. This is not going to be my last summer post, for SURE, but I might not have too many left- just remember, if you start school in October or November, you're so LUCKY! Unfortunately, I start of September 8, but my cousins down South in Georgia are starting on the 3rd of AUGUST. Oh my gosh, they don't have much time left, so maybe in the time you have left, you can put some of these fun summer recipes to good use, and you can make all of them and have an end-of-summer party. So let's get to the good stuff~
 
1. Banana Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bites (as shown in photo) by The Baker Mama

2. Spicy Pineapple Chicken by The Gunny Sack 

3. Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake by Sally's Baking Addiction 

4. Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps by Spend with Pennies

5. Grilled Jerk Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers by Closet Cooking

6. Pesto Pasta with Grilled Chicken by Spiced

7. S'mores Krispie Treats by Renee's Kitchen Adventures

8. Caprese Garlic Bread by Two Peas and Their Pod

9. S'Mores Bites by The First Year Blog

10. Rustic Strawberry Peach Tart by Sally's Baking Addiction

I can't believe I used Sally's Baking Addiction twice in one roundup, that rarely happens. Anyway, I can tel you I am SOOO excited to use the banana choco chip bites recipe soon! It just looks so easy and delicious that I can't help but be curious as to how good it really is. I love ice cream, so maybe I'll try it in the future and tell you how they turned out. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

I Just Simply Love This

The Little Things #1

I decided to do a post about the little things in life after reading this post from A Girl, Obsessed, and yes, that's the same blog where I got the inspiration for my 100 Things I'm Grateful For post. What can I say, she's a creative gal, and I love what she writes about! So anyway, I loved the idea of her post so much that I thought it would be a good idea to write one of my own because it allows my readers to catch up with me and hear about what I'm doing. 

Last week, we went for a hike up in the mountains about an hour from our house at Tannen Lake and East Tannen Lake, and we loved the area so much, and since we pretty much had 2 lakes all to ourselves, my dad said that we could probably go camping there this summer. We looked around for a campsite while we were there, and talked about how long we would stay and what we would bring, and it just made me SO excited. I'm probably going to post something in the near future including photos and a funny little story.

I think I'm going to discard the idea of a handwritten blog schedule. I have a calendar in my phone that allows me to schedule posts and ideas quickly and easily, and as a bonus, I always have my phone on me, and I won't spill tea on it and ruin it, and there's more room to write and schedule. I have a list of ideas, etc. in my notes, and it's just all so much more convenient, so if you have a phone and are currently using a handwritten blog schedule, unless it really suits you, switch over. 

So, one of my new favorite apps is Colorfy. It's a coloring boom for adults- and no, not in that way, you in the back with a dirty mind. It's just a coloring book that's a little more complex, and it's digital, so you can take it anywhere (and this is a question that you should consider more often- does it require internet?) No, not unless you're sharing it to Facebook. I love sending my friends pictures, and it has the coolest coloring pages- such as florals, mandalas, orientals, etc. You can zoom in and out and there's a wide variety of colors- honestly, it's the ultimate coloring app and I've never seen anything else like it (and no, they didn't pay me to say all this!). 

There's a few new Youtubers that I haven't mentioned on the blog yet that I've grown accustomed to watching daily, and also I'm so excited for the new season of Good Mythical Morning with Rhett & Link coming in August, so lately I've just been watching reruns, pretty much, which isn't so different from what I normally do! Simply Nailogical is AWESOME, so I love all of her videos, and Jenna Marbles is just awesome, and since my best friend watches her, I watch her, too. But mostly I just like to watch Friends and Switched at Birth on Netflix, if I'm not binge watching Rosanna Pansino's Challenge videos!!

Here is an updated list of all of the blog's I'm following on Bloglovin':

-A Beautiful Exchange Blog
-A Beautiful Mess
-A Girl, Obsessed
-Chapter Friday
-chibird
-deep-dark-fears
-Evelin Kivi
-Fancytreehouse
-Fat Mum Slim
-Heart Handmade uk
-I Spy DIY
-It's not her, it's me.
-keiko lynn
-Oh Joy!
-One Sheepish Girl
-Paper & Stitch
-SoCraftastic
-tell love and chocolate
-The Dainty Squid
-The Daybook
-Blog Clarity
-My Milk Toof
-Oh the lovely things

I think that's all for right now, and I can't wait to do another one next month, or perhaps even later than that. This was a really fun post to write, and you should definitely write one, too. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday

Workspace of the Week: July 19

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

Nail Art Saturday

Friday DIY Roundup #24

It's everybody's favorite day of the week, the day when we get CRAFTY! It's the middle of Summer, but for the reason, here in Southern Oregon, the heat has seriously died down. The sun is still out, and it's not quite cloudy, but we're barely in the 80's. It was 107 degrees in Grants Pass last month, in the very beginning of June, and now we can't even reach 90. I just got out of the pool, and though it's definitely not as warm as it was, I probably won't get hypothermia in the coming week. I can't wait to make cookies tomorrow for a birthday Potluck we're going to on Sunday, because I love baking, and everybody loves these cookies- they have coconut, butterscotch, nuts, chocolate chips, etc. in them and I would do ANYTHING for one right this second. Instead I've got some chips and a rootbeer- oh well then, let's get to the DIYs!

1. DIY Instagram Wall Art (as shown in photo) by The Crafted Life

2. DIY Old Ladder Wardrobe by Handimania

3. How to Make Glowing Clouds of Cotton by Hometalk

4. Iron Transfer Tote by The Crafted Life

5. Macrame Hanging Planters by Craft and Creativity

6. How to Make a Star Projector by Instructables  

7. Easy DIY Photo on Wood by Lisa Leonard Online

Those star projectors look unreal, and would probably be good for someone living in the city or someplace cloudy, because here in Oregon, all you have to do is step outside on a clear night and BOOM- nothing but stars. Also, Man vs. Pin from Threadbanger tested those glowing clouds of cotton, and yes, they're so real. I can't wait for next weeks DIY Roundup; thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Michael's CRAFT HAUL!!

Last Saturday, I finally got the birthday shopping trip that I've been waiting for, and I didn't go to a clothing store- I got CRAFT SUPPLIES! I have been waiting for this shopping trip for so long, and once I got there, I didn't even know what to get first. Well, besides the cart, which my sister and I shared. I had a list on my phone, but that was the least of my worries once I stepped inside that store. It smelled like sketchbooks and opportunities. My sister and I went aisle by aisle, picking things up as we went, and I think the place we spent the most time in was with the duct tape. We are both collectors, and seeing all of it made us grab every pattern we had ever dreamed of! I spent a considerable amount of time looking for chalkboard paint, but didn't find ANY. That was a disappointment, but oh well, I didn't really need it. I am so sad to have not discovered the scrapbooking aisle until checkout- I hurriedly grabbed one last item from there that I'd been searching for. Anyway, here's what I got!~

-Bead Landing Neon Cording
-Gold Metallic Sharpie
-Bronze Metallic Sharpie
-Silver Metallic Sharpie
-5-Pack of Neon Sharpies
-UCreate Premium Drawing Paper Sketchbook
-Mini Wooden Crate
-Small Wooden Latched Box (that I painted neon pink)
-Small Ghost-shaped Chalkboard
-Recollections Sassy Mini Cardstock Paper
-16 oz of Matte Mod Podge
-Craft Smart Neon Chalk Markers 4-Pack
-Turquoise Metal Basket
-Purple & Pink Floral Masking Tape
-Turquoise Diamonds Masking Tape
-Mini Colorful Geometric Metal Bucket
-Mr. Sketch Scented Markers 12-Pack
-Galaxy Duck Tape
-Pineapple Duck Tape
-Blue & Purple Tie Dye Duck Tape
-Sugar Skull Duck Tape
-Colorful Chevron Stripes Duct Tape
-Mint Green Duck Tape

I cannot believe all that stuff was under $100, and I can't believe it all fit in my room. We also got paper masks made for decorating, which my mum, my sister and I are going to do with my aunt once she comes in the next few weeks. I love my Mr. Sketch Markers, they smell AMAZING and I'm glad I finally have some of my own because I used to color with them all the time in elementary school. This was all purchased at Michael's, and I think there was some sort of sale going on at the time- I suggest you get some of this stuff for yourself on your next craft haul trip. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

What You're Missing in Your Mini Emergency Kit

A mini emergency kit is really something you should always carry in your purse for so many reasons. First of all, you're gonna need it eventually. Second of all, you might be with someone who will need it. And finally, better safe than sorry! In case you're wondering, and you probably are, a mini emergency kit is not a tool box full of life jackets and rope. It's better than that- but it's really more of a girl thing, so guys out there, you can either stop reading, or do whatever you want because THIS IS AMERICA. Really, it's your choice. Anyway, this mini emergency kit thing can have whatever you want in it, depending on what you're doing. It can be whatever size you want- and below I'm gonna tell you how to make one, and what you're missing in yours (if you already have one). 

First, you'll need a small makeup bag, in whatever size you prefer. You kind of need to carry it around everywhere, so a smaller size would be good, but whatever you have works best. The one I have is so tiny, and you can buy one from Pinch Provisions here for around $16. I really like mine, I bring it everywhere, and I've even added a few items and removed a few that I didn't need. Once you have a small makeup bag, or a large one, or a medium one, then you just need to get started with putting the items inside. Below I've made a list of everything that I think you should include, but remember, this really isn't a very complete list, and you can put whatever you want in your Minimergency kit- DIY or not. 

-Bandaids- lots, in all sizes.
-Clear nail polish, it has so many uses.
-A couple of hair ties, because you never don't need those. 
-A little good-luck charm; I have one in mine. 
-CHAPSTICK! I hate it when my lips get dry and chapped. This one is important for the Winter time.
-Ibuprofen, in a tiny packet, perhaps for vacation?
-A small thing of deodorant. 
-A teeny tiny bottle of hairspray!
-Breath spray or breath strips. 
-Maybe an emergency inhaler, for those of you who are asthma-prone? 
-Tissues. 
-A patch of polish remover.
-Stain remover.
-Shemergency tape, for your dress that keeps going off the shoulder. 
-Neosporin! I need to put some in my emergency kit. 
-A mini nail file.
-A mini sewing kit. 
-Extra earring backs! I am ALWAYS losing mine. 
-Dental floss; you never know. 
-This one is totally optional- a Swiss Army Knife. 

So, I hope you start an emergency kit of your own today! I really like having mine on me at all times, in my purse, it makes me feel a little more prepared, and I think you'll feel more prepared, too. Again, many things on this list are optional, depending on the size of your bag, but I doubt anyones is as small as mine. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

How to Improve Your Handwriting

Handwriting is one of the things about myself that I'm always wanting to improve and overall make a whole lot better. I feel like your handwriting can say a lot about your personality; for example, if you write sloppily, it could either mean that you couldn't care less or you're extremely creative and can't get all those ideas out of your head fast enough. Luckily, I have lots of room for practice, considering writing is an every day routine for me and on a daily basis I end up changing up how I write. It sort of all depends on what I'm writing- if I'm writing a grocery list, for example, it might turn out pretty neat because someone is going to have to read it sooner or later. But, if I'm writing a story or something in my journal, it's bound to be sloppier than ever, because my ideas just won't come out fast enough. In today's post, I'm gonna tell you how to improve your overall handwriting if you don't like how it looks. 

-First, I would recommend getting a notebook or notepad or even just a small journal for you to use for practicing your handwriting. If there's a journal already in use, it'll work just fine; you really do not need an entire notebook, in my opinion. It can be some printer paper in a folder, for all it matters, all you need is some paper and something to write with. 

-You'll want to try out some different styles, which means you should try to mimic a few of your favorite fonts. Not real complicated ones, just a few simple ones that look like someone's normal handwriting (someone who writes legibally, preferably). Try these out first to see if there's one in particular that you like. 

-You'll need to write these out, and there are so many ways to do that. Start out with writing the alphabet, capital and lowercase letters both. Once you get sick of that kindergarten work, move on to some sentences that happen to contain every letter of the alphabet. A personal favorite and classic of mine is "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog", so you could try that, but I suppose you could Google a few others if you don't fancy mine. 

-Don't forget to vary it! Mix in lowercase letters with uppercase letters, write in all lowercase or all uppercase, maybe there's a certain way you like to draw your Y's- then find a way to incorporate that into your handwriting!!

-Most important of all, work with different tools. You really don't have to go all out an buy some fancy pens and artist pencils because whatever you have on hand will work just fine. Sharpies, ball point pens, inkjet pens, Copics, brush-tipped pens, markers, pencils, etc. This is one of the funnest parts of improving your handwriting, because it allows you to experiment, and experimentation is the art of success!

-*OPTIONAL* If you can, head on over to your local library, or go online, and try to find a book of fonts and such to inspire you. Amazon has a few, and they can seriously spark something that may change your whole path. I highly recommend this step, but it is completely optional and it's all up to you. Remember, none of these steps are fullproof, so refer to me as the complete guide! Look around, try different sites and posts. 

So, I hope you have fin trying to improve your handwriting, tell me in the comments below if this worked for you (I'll be overjoyed if it does!!!). But just remember- smarter people generally write sloppier, so maybe you're just a genius. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

 

Top 10 Pinterest Recipes of the Week

I know I have always said said this post would be on a Sunday for some reason, but it seems that I DO NOT like writing on Sundays because the weekends are my days off. Monday actually works pretty well, because I'm more motivated to write and I don't really have to worry about it not getting done. Anyway, writing about recipes and recipe roundups is really quite fun and I think you should try it if you never have. It's super easy and doesn't take all that long to write, only half an hour altogether to write and share, so it's a great post for a lifestyle and food blog. The only hard part about it is mustering up the motivation to do it weekly! But, overall, it's one of my favorite posts to do, next to Friday DIY Roundups. I'd really better get started before I leave for my hike!

1. Easy & Delicious Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls by Eating on a Dime  

2. Blueberry Vanilla Bread with Lemon Glaze by Julia's Album 

3. Chicken Alfredo Pizza by Recipe Runner 

4. No-Bake Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches by In Katrina's Kitchen

5. Raspberry Sorbet (as shown in photo) by Creme De La Crumb

6. Basil Whipped Goat Cheese Stuffed Strawberries with Balsamic Glaze by My Day Food

7. Easy Cinnamon French Toast Sticks Recipe by Just a Taste

8. Buckeye Brownie Cookies by Tastes of Lizzy 

9. Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Bake by Chew Out Loud 

10. Apple Pie Taquitos by Jo Cooks 

I really want some of those ice cream sandwiches right now, they look like the ultimate summer treat. Also, isn't #6 just a total mouthful, and I don't mean the recipe? Also, you must try those buckeye brownie cookies and tell me how they taste, because you don't know how much I've been craving those for the past week. Tell me what you think of this week's recipes in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

Workspace of the Week: July 12

Watercolour Mermaid Nail Art by Simply Nailogical

Nail Art Saturday

Just to clarify, this is my favorite nail art EVER. In the whole world. In all of eternity I have never seen such awesome nail art until now. 

Nail Art Saturday

8 FREE Journaling Printables

So, earlier this morning, I said I would probably do a journal printables roundup because you know Pinterest is just totally littered with endless printables, and you know I love roundups, and will probably do another printables roundup in the future. I'm feeling super motivated today, and the internet is unusually fast, so I guess writing another blog post will do me good. Tell me- do you write multiple blog posts per day (as a blogger)? If so, good for you. But if not, that's fine, because we really don't expect you too, unless you have a huge team of multiple authors (like A Beautiful Mess). Gosh, I wish I could be as ultimately awesome as that blogging crew. All I'm doing is eating Mac n Cheese and wondering if I'll ever accomplish anything on my To-do list. 

1. Printable Road Trip Activity Book (for the kids) by The Benson Street 

2. Printable Journal Lists by One Good Thing by Jillee 

3. Kids Journal Ideas + Free Printable by Polkadot Chair 

4. Free Music Journaling Cards (as shown in photo) by Clear Colours

5. Project Life Journaling Card Sets by Happiness is Homemade 

6. Free Fall Skies Journaling Elements by Vintage Glam Studio 

7. Vacation Journal and Bucket List Printables by NellieBellie 

8. Organize Your Week with Free Printables by Just a Girl and Her Blog for Her Prudent Life 

Those journaling cards look awesome, and I hope you enjoy them! Are you gonna print something off of this list, and what's your favorite printable? Tell me in the comments, I love you feedback so much. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah  

Friday DIY Roundup #23

Happy Friday, readers! I've decided that all Fridays should be a day of roundups, so maybe later I'll do a journal printable roundup- if that sounds good to you, which it sounds good to me. I'm all ready to start this, I've got a hot cup of tea and a fresh Pinterest feed- let's do this! I can't wait to go shopping soon, because one of my big birthday gifts was for my parents to take me shopping at Michael's later this week/weekend, and I can't wait. We keep getting emails about a huge sale, with things up to 40%, 50%, even 70% off! So why not? This is the perfect time to go shopping. Let's go, let's get crafty. But maybe this shopping trip for my sister and I will have to wait for next week, and that's okay. I just wish it would rain a little more because we had a mini-storm last night and the weather's been a little too cool for July in Oregon lately, and that bums me out, but at least I love the rain. 
 
1. DIY Neon Triangle Photo Frames (as shown in photo) by Rachael Mary 

2. Do-It-Yourself Easy Yarn Backdrop by Ruffled blog 

3. Make Rope Coil Vessels by The Red Thread blog 

4. DIY Planter Closet by Coco Lapine Design 

5. Magnolia Leaf Garland by The Sweetest Occasion 

6. DIY Funfetti Candles by Beth Cakes blog 

7. Pine Cone Fire Starters by Something Turquoise

Which one was your favorite? Personally, those pine cone fire starters look pretty awesome for camping, but that planter closet is just so awesome looking and I wonder why I didn't use that as the photo? Tell me what you thought of this week's roundup in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

100 Things I'm Grateful For + FREE Gratitude Journal Printable

I originally got the idea for this post here from A Girl Obsessed blog, and the second I started reading it, I knew I needed to write a post just like it (the general idea, not plagiarism!). I always love to write down the little things that I'm grateful for, such as keeping a Gratitude Journal, because it always puts me in such an uplifted mood and after writing down 100 things, I'm going to feel so accomplished. I feel like this post doesn't need a real long intro, so I'll just get right into my list of what makes me feel happy and thankful. 

1. Waking up early. 

2. A hot cup of tea. 

3. Having a dresser/closet full of clean laundry. 

4. Getting a text from someone. 

5. Getting mail (even better, having it be a handwritten letter).

6. Having a clean workspace. 

7. Finishing a blog post before noon (that won't happen today, though!).

8. Organizing my closet, and seeing it semi-neat and tidy. 

9. Finding candy in my purse. 

10. Watching Miyazaki movies on the big screen. 

11. Practicing Spanish on Duolingo and getting a 4 day streak (that happened this morning). 

12. Listening to Outlaw Country in the car in the Summer. 

13. Listening to a boring radio station (such as news, that doesn't come in just right) in the car while it rains. 

14. Having someone compliment my hair. 

15. Coming up with a good idea, such as for a blog post.

16. Surprise gifts. 

17. Shopping, and getting lots of new things. 

18. Finishing a good drawing, colored and all.

19. The unexpected kindness of strangers. 

20. Writing a few pages in my journal. 

21. Painting my nails and not having to go back with a toothpick. 

22. Mopping.

23. Taking the perfect picture.

24. Getting a milkshake from McDonald's.

25. Curling up under my blanket on a cold night. 

26. Listening to the rain on a metal roof at night during a storm. 

27. Eating homemade chicken noodle soup. 

28. Knitting while I watch YouTube in my bed.

29. Waking up to a bright and sunny day. 

30. Getting a big 'ole Cowboy burger from Taylor's. 

31. The feeling of cleanliness after I brush my teeth and rinse with Listerine. 

32. Discovering a new blog that I love.

33. Discovering a YouTube channel that I love.

34. Writing To-Do lists, and accomplishing the things on them. 

35. Rainy days, curled up under a blanket.

36. Making someone laugh.

37. Winning at rock, paper, scissors. 

38. Crawling into a freshly made bed with a bunch of squishy pillows when it's cold out. 

39. What it smells like outside after it rains. 

40. Going night swimming, and jumping into the warm water. 

41. Hearing thunder. 

42. Seeing a shooting star. 

43. Seeing lightning.

44. Those little fizz bubbles that tickle your nose when you drink some freshly poured soda. 

45. Getting a new dress that is just perfect. 

46. Driving to Seattle and falling asleep, killing a few hours and getting there quicker. 

47. Biting into a Big Mac. 

48. Putting on clean clothes warm out of the dryer. 

49. Having an uber productive day. 

50. Taking pictures of those little everyday moments. 

51. Finding a filter that makes your photo just look amazing. 

52. Staying in fancy hotels with big, shiny lobbies. 

53. Having a clean kitchen. 

54. The smell of Pine Sol. 

55. Stealing a bite of cookie dough from the bowl.
 
56. Home cooked meals. 

57. Stealing little pieces of hot fried chicken before dinner's ready, because you can't wait any longer. 

58. Having a cat fall asleep right next to you, or on your lap. 

59. Late nights watching TV with my mum. 

60. Getting goosebumps and then standing in the warm sunlight. 

61. Eating Chinese food when you're starving and can't not eat any longer or else you'll just die. 

62. Getting buttered popcorn at the movie theater and sneaking a few pieces before we go in. 

63. Organizing and decluttering my bedroom. 

64. Finding a pair of jeans that fit amazingly PERFECT. 

65. Taking after dinner walks. 

66. Getting my favorite ice cream for dessert. 

67. Making homemade ice cream and having it come out perfectly. 

68. Finding the ideal gift for someone. 

69. Drinking iced tea. 

70. Learning something new. 

71. Rubbing my favorite lotion into my hands. 


72. Making lemonade. 

73. Playing in the pool with my sister. 

74. Doing canon balls into the pool. 

75. Putting on mascara without having to go back with a Q-tip. 

76. Charging my phone to 100%. 

77. Finding surprises in the fridge or cupboard. 

78. Drinking a soda you hid in the veggie drawer. 

79. Hiding in the clean laundry. 

80. Making cookies with my dad.

81. Seeing a butterfly. 

82. Sitting on the deck when it's cold inside and warm outside.

83. Finding out Man vs. Pin uploaded a video.

84. Seeing a rainbow. 

85. Unicorns. 

86. Getting a bunch of books from the library in the summer time. 

87. The perfect shade of blue, or purple. 

88. Drinking hot cocoa when it rains or snows.

89. The flavor of pink bubblegum. 

90. Getting Laffy Taffy from a Pinata. 

91. Getting Redvines at the movie theater and having some left over. 

92. Going to Costco and getting free samples.


93. Putting away groceries. 

94. Finding the last chicken pot pie in the freezer.

95. When my hair curls perfectly after I braid it overnight.

96. Getting bucket fulls of candy on Halloween. 

97. Finding a new (free) app that I love. 

98. Seeing something at Old Navy that I love (ON SALE!). 

99. Those rare occasions when I get an Oreo or two.

100. You guys, my awesome readers (cheesy, right?)! :)

FREE Gratitude Journal Printable- shown in photo above. 

So, I thought this would take forever to write, but it didn't; you should write a post like this one, too. What are you grateful for? Tell me 3 things you're grateful for in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah