6 Travel Tips to Ensure a Fun Vacation This Summer

Guys, I just got back from Georgia and oh my gosh I have tons of travel pictures to share this week on the blog! If you'd like a sneak peek then you can follow me on Instagram @savannahbby_14 or just wait until later, but following me on Instagram would be awesome... ;) I have bunches of travel tips to share with you in case you'll be traveling before the summer ends (lets face it it's basically over) or when the holiday season comes, which is very soon.

1. Don't wear tennis shoes on the plane! Don't wear shoes that you have to tie, for that matter. You're going to have to take them off in airport security, and they're very uncomfortable if you're going to be sitting in one spot for a while. Personally, I wear ballet flats because I can walk in them, they're comfortable and they slip off. But as I write this, sitting in a crowded airport, I see almost every person in sneakers...

2. I always roll up my clothes before I pack them because it makes them fit 100 times better, and I'm the type of person that likes to pack as much as possible, no matter how long the trip is. Just fold them over an extra time, and you're all set! My suitcase is incredibly full.

3. Bring a sleep mask. Unless you have a late flight and your plane is completely dark, stray light can make it harder for you to fall asleep, and I LOVE falling asleep on planes. Sleeping 30,000 feet in the air just makes you feel so well rested. Also, it can help you to get into your normal sleeping routine when you're wearing a mask (if you usually wear one when you sleep) which will make you fall asleep easier.

4. If you're flying United, then a huge (money and time saving) tip is to download the free United app. It can notify you of delays, gate changes, and the best part is that if you use the in-flight free wifi, then it offers hundreds of free movies and TV shows to watch during your flight in case you don't want to pay for personal wifi or pay to download your own movies and TV shows. This is a lifesaver if you have a long, boring flight!

5. Don't put too much in your carryon that you're gonna be stuffing under the seat in front of you on the plane, because lets just say I made a mistake of bringing a million books on the plane with me... although it wasn't really a mistake because I read every single one of them. But on the way back, if you're done with any of your books, then stuff a couple in your suitcase and you're good to go.

Funny story, when we got to the Atlanta Airport we were in a hurry to get out of there because of how crowded and huge it can be, so the rest of my family wasn't exactly happy when my huge luggage all got stuck in the revolving door, which stopped the whole thing and wouldn't start again. We had to squeeze through a tiny crack to finally escape... Never again!

xo Savannah

10 Macbook Tips + Tricks

In case you didn't already know, I recently (as in almost two months ago haha) switched over from a PC to a Mac, and after using a Mac I really feel like it's so relieving to have stress-free browsing and stuff like that, without worrying about my computer crashing or suddenly updating to Windows 10 (it happened to both my dad and my grandpa, Windows needs to chill). But if you're a first time Mac user, there might not be a lot that you know... Luckily, I've discovered a few tricks up Mac OS X's sleeve!

1. Did you know that you can use EMOJIS with only the click of a few keys?! Just press Control, Command and Space Bar and a little menu will pop up featuring all of your favorite emojis. Sadly, not on Blogger, though...

2. There's a certain feature that seems to be extremely popular and funny between my friends and I, and though it's a fairly obvious one, we laugh our heads off every time. The photo booth has tons of funny filters that you can play with with your friends, and I swear, it'll be a night well-spent.

3. Ever have to do some quick math but don't want to spend the time opening safari and Googling the problem? Use Spotlight search (Command + Space) and enter the problem, and it will automatically show the answer as you type.

4. I have to delet files every time I'm done with a blog post and don't need the photos anymore, and dragging them to the trash is quite the workout for your fingers. Avoid that problem altogether by simply clicking on the file and pressing Command + Delete! This is a lifesaver, not even kidding.

5. The absolute easiest way in the entire world to alternate between apps is by swiping left and right on the trackpad with three fingers. I don't even notice that I'm doing it, and this way, you don't have to do it via the dock.

6. It was a bit of a shock to me when I first listened to music on my Mac and the lowest setting was so loud! To adjust the volume in quartered increments, press Shift + Option +Vol Up/Down. It's so convenient, I don't know why it's not mentioned in the little pamphlet they give you! It also works for your brightness.

7. To view all of your apps at once, swipe up with four fingers. It makes managing easier and it's one of the quicker short cuts, without the use of any keys.

8. The last thing you do before you go to bed should be pressing "Update". It's not much of a trick, but it's sure hell of a tip. I always seem to be pressing "Ask me in an hour" that ends up going on repeat and my computer never gets updated... So do it before you go to sleep.

9. Hate those articles where you don't know what any of the words mean? I can't relate, but if this is your problem, then hold your cursor over any word and press Command + Control + D and a little dictionary will pop up. YOU'RE WELCOME.

10. Empty your trash every day! It's so irritating when your Mac has to load when it empties the trash. To empty your trash, in case you really didn't know, click on the little trashcan on your dock and click "Empty" in the upper righthand corner right below the search box.

These tips and tricks will turn you into a real Macbook Pro! (AKA my computer (;)

xo Savannah

8 Life Hacks That Actually Work

Pinterest is crawling with life hacks that so many people guarantee work, but honestly, some of them sound pretty silly. For example, I doubt putting vanilla extract in a can of paint before you paint your house will make your whole house smell like a bakery instead of paint fumes =_= Fortunately, some of them DO work.

1. Put a clean, dry towel in with your load of laundry in the dryer to make it dry in half the time. I do this all the time, and it really works pretty well if you're short on time and need something to wear!]

2. If you're eating a snowcone out of one of those little paper cones and need to put it down for whatever reason, just put it in a glass. It'll sit up straight, so it won't spill, and when it leaks out the bottom (they always do) then it's not going to get everywhere.

3. Stupid hair flyaways ruining your cute summer hairstyle? Grab a toothbrush (a clean one, preferably unused!) and spray it with hairspray. Just brush away the problems! I do this all the time, and it does wonders.

4. Out of granite polish, but not cocktails? Vodka actually makes a fantastic granite polish, I'm not kidding, but really only as a last resort.

5. If you're out picking blackberries, and this is the time of year when every single person in Oregon is, then cut the top half (keep the handle) off of a milk jug. It's reusable, lightweight, has a handle, and it's recycling!

6. I've noticed a weird glitch on Spotify where on the mobile app, you can't play songs on demand without a premium account (this one is for free users) but on my computer, I have been able to just click on a song and it plays instantly. See if it works on your computer, too! (note: it works on both my windows computer and my new mac)

7. If you're house is too hot and you need to cool off without going swimming, just run some ice-cold water on your wrists for 20-30 seconds. It seems to cool off my whole body for at least half an hour, and I don't even have to jump in the pool.

8. If you have a Sodastream, and are craving soda but ran out of syrup, Kool-Aid makes an amazing substitute. I've used orange Kool-Aid a few times, and you can find a recipe online, because I can't remember how much I used....

I use most of these on a daily basis, so they definitely work and I'd highly recommend trying them out. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram + Twitter @savannahbby_14 :)

xo Savannah

10 Minimalist Hacks

I've always loved living in a minimalist home, where every couple of months we'd put together bags of things to give away, and always trying not to hold on to things because it's good to get rid of stuff. But being a minimalist isn't just about getting rid of things- it's about so much more (mostly getting rid of stuff). 

1. Get rid of duplicates. This doesn't mean completely purging, and I know you need kitchen towels, but 50 of them? If half of them have gone to rags, get rid of them and buy a small pack of brand new ones if you need them. You won't really ever miss duplicate items, because when are you gonna need to use six mixing bowls at once? Use this post for help. 

2. Quit your bargain hunting, for pete's sake. Just because you saw a ten foot tall plush giraffe that doubles as a coat rack at Target does not mean you should buy it, even though it's on sale for $10.99. Unless you desperately need a coat rack, and since I can't control your life, just buy it. But otherwise, buy what you need when you need it. Don't go to Costco and buy a year's supply of cereal. 

3. Use this simple tip for getting rid of clothes you never wear:

First, turn all of your clothes hangers around so that they're backwards and weird. Every time you wear something and put it away, put the clothes hanger facing the right direction. After about a year or so, give away everything that is still facing the wrong way, unless it's your wedding dress (I recommend keeping that). 

4. Apparently, the average american spends 8 hours a week cleaning, organizing, etc. (for some reason I don't believe that, I thought us americans were lazy???) By purging and cleaning, this time could be repurposed down the road in the form of watching Netflix. Wouldn't you like that? 

5. Consider doing a serious deep clean of your closet, AKA probably the worst room in your house when it comes to minimalism. You are never going to use those gogo boots, Halloween costumes should be stored someplace that is not your closet, and consider organizing by item. Go by jackets, then sweatshirts, then sweaters, then t-shirts, then tank tops, then dresses. If you hang your purses as well, put them before jackets. 

6. If you want your home to look as minimal as possible, get more natural lighting. Every single photo of minimalist homes on Pinterest is filled with natural, beautiful white light, so open the blinds a bit!

7. Start small. Do you ever see boxes and shelves and drawers full of stuff, and just wonder where to start? Well, you can start anywhere- open a drawer, move some boxes. Just start small. 

8. Do it NOW. The secret to success is never leaving anything for tomorrow that you can do today. Procrastinating isn't gonna get it done, ever, so do it now or never do it. 

9. Keep your counters clear! If it doesn't fit in a cupboard, ask yourself if it's worth looking at every day. Clear counters leave your more room for actually cooking and stuff.

10. I hate that black, white and grey tones are the minimalist "thing". There's not really a rulebook when it comes to this, so add as much color as you'd like!

Even though it's March, it's never too late to get started on your new years resolutions- and in this case, if it's becoming a minimalist, I hope this helped. 

xo Savannah

10 DIY IKEA Hacks

Yes, another one of these... Some (most) people think regular old furniture makeovers are totally boring- and they can be sometimes. But IKEA furniture is beautiful and sleek and modern and amazing, so when you give it a makeover to look even better, you can't help but drool over it, wishing you had it in your home. Plus, the before and afters are great alone. No, sorry, I don't have the slidy-things that Buzzfeed has (but I wish I did).

1. Leather Handle Ikea Rast Hack by Vintage Revivals

2. DIY Stamping on Your IKEA Chair by IKEA Hackers

3. Floating Lack Shelf Transformation by Remodelaholic

4. Brightened Up Bekvam Step Stool (as shown in photo) by This Little Street

5. Stack Up a Corner of Lack Side Tables by Ikea Hackers

6. Much Cuter Regolit Lamp Shade by Bonjour Quilts

7. KNUFF Magazine File Transformable Coffee Table by Ikea Hackers

8. Lovely SKURAR Plant Pot as Lacy Lampshade by Ikea Hackers

9. Spray Painted Ekby Shelf Brackets by Design Sponge

10. DIY Rainbow IKEA Bench by Likes Of Us

Also, before I end this post, shout out to my best friend- IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY! Happy 14th, Narshmallow! 

xo Savannah

6 Awesome Ikea Hacks

Happy Wednesday, readers! I'm currently LOVING the weather where I live, it's just to die for- for some people, I guess. In the mornings, it's super foggy and dark and sometimes kind of rainy, and then it mellows out towards mid-morning and noon, but at around 3 o'clock it the best- it's dark in the middle of the day, cold, and totally straight out raining. I love this. In fact, my writing teacher recently commented on how someone in something I was writing could be actually excited to go back to a cold and rainy climate after visiting someplace tropical, like Mexico. But, yeah, that's just me. 

1. Vittsjo Bar Cart DIY by Style Me Pretty

2. Add a Pretty Touch to a Lack Table (as shown in photo) by Style Me Pretty


3. Linnamon Desk of Your Dreams by Just Bella Blog

4. Tarva Glam Dresser by Smitten Studio Online

5. Alseda Stool into a Cozy Perch by Skonahem Blogg

6. Green Key Designed Malm Dresser by Amanda Carol Interiors

That's all for today- but aren't these awesome?? They're so gorgeous and I'm not surprised, because Ikea makes amazing furniture to start with. Inspired yet? 

xx Savannah