Songs to Listen to In the Mornings Before School

School has officially started for everyone across the country by today, some people on the East coast have been in for over a month, meanwhile most kids in Oregon don't start until today. Getting up for school is a struggle, especially when you have to get up at 5:30am just to have enough time to get ready and eat before you have to leave the house. It's really helpful to have some upbeat music playing so that you can both stay awake + have fun doing so.

Here is my Spotify playlist, and it says summer vibes because some of us just don't want to have to deal with the fact that Autumn is literally only two weeks away- some of us like to live the sunny life. Although that can be hard to do when you're sitting here and the sun still hasn't even risen yet...



I hope you enjoy, and try to have as much fun in the sun as you can before it starts getting chillier outside!

xo Savannah

My Realistic Everyday Morning Routine 2016

If you've been on YouTube lately (or ever) then you know that tons of girly YouTubers love to post their morning, day, and night routines. They're super popular and really fun to watch, so I thought I'd start a tradition where every year/season I could post a morning routine and maybe even a night routine. Sorry I haven't posted the last two days but I've been sick :( Enjoy~

-The first thing I do every morning when I wake up at 7:30 am is make my bed- no matter what, I make sure it looks nice before I get out of it. Even though no one can see it and no one knows you did it, YOU know you did it and it makes you feel like a good person. 

-I like to get dressed as soon as possible because it honestly makes me feel more productive, and besides there's no point in sitting around in your pajamas all day (like someone I know...). 

-Next, I just do my makeup (light mascara) and hair (brush, dry shampoo, style if necessary) and head downstairs to start my day. 

-It's about 7:40 now, so I turn my computer on and make myself a steaming cup of Prince of Whales Premium Black Tea so that I can get to work. This can take a while sometimes because this is around the time my cat wants to come inside and bug everyone and ask to come in and out a million times a second. Did I mention she needs to be fed? 

-Next I start writing my blog post, which can take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the number of distractions and how long it is. 

-When I finish my blog post, it's about 8:15 am so I get my shoes and jacket on, but there's no hurry because we don't leave for another 20 minutes and my sister takes forever to get ready. It takes her a half an hour on average to get ready, so we all wait and wait and wait for her.

-Finally I leave for school at around 8:35 am and even though it was only an hour long, it felt like a good, long morning. 

So that's my complete morning routine, and I can't wait to do another one for the summer time and a night routine as well. Happy Hump Day!

xo Savannah

How to Be Productive on Lazy Days

Lazy days- usually on Sundays- are the highlight of most people's weeks. I bet you've read the title, and are saying "But they are supposed to be lazy.", and I agree with that 100%. You're right. Everyone needs a break. But if you are a person who would like to be getting work done on an otherwise lazy day, like, it's becoming lazy without your control, then this list is for you. Think of it as a checklist~

-Limit the distractions around you. I like to listen to music, because it makes me less likely to daydream and look around and realize I need to clean something instead of finishing an overdue blog post- I have Spotify on my computer & phone & tablet for easy access, in case one of them isn't working properly. Also, sometimes I move my phone out of sight, because if I get bored with something then I'm likely to stop working and pick it up. 

-Don't work overtime + take a couple of breaks here and there. It's been proven that lowering your work hours from 10 to 5 and working 5 days a week instead of 6 can really increase productivity. You can't argue with science, kids. Also, take frequent breaks; it's good to refresh your brain every once in a while, so take a 20 minute walk, then come back to something. It's like hitting refresh on a malfunctioning page- it's gonna work better if you refresh it, trust me.

-Don't try to multitask! Writing 3 blog posts at once plus editing stock photos is going to make you work slowly, not even quicker- not to mention you're gonna make three times the mistakes than if you would just do one thing at a time. Make a list of what needs to get done, and then do things in order, without skipping over and multitasking.

-Change up your workplace. Try moving over to sit by a window and get some natural light, or even head on over to your local coffee shop for a complete change of scenery. It's good to change things up because it can really boost your creativity, plus I bet the cat has been driving you crazy, stepping all over your keyboard and all. Remember that time you had the rewrite the longest blog post ever because your cat stepped all over the keyboard? No? Just me? 

-Take a nap! You could probably use the rest anyway- getting lots of sleep will make you more prepared and at least your brain will be functioning properly. Napping has been proven to make you feel sharper when you wake up. 

-Get something to eat for Pete's sake, who can actually think straight and get anything done on an empty stomach. Have a good breakfast, and maybe snack on a granola bar while you work. Maybe even get up earlier so that you can make scrambled eggs and bacon? Everyone deserves bacon if they're gonna be working all day. Well, actually, everyone deserves bacon anyway. 

-Drink some water. It's gonna hydrate your brain, and you can actually think properly then, instead of sitting at a computer for 10 minutes trying to decide how to spell "restaurant" but being too lazy to Google it. Infused water would be amazing, just throw in some mint and strawberries and sip it all day long. 

I hope these help you out, because they help me whenever I have a full day of editing and blogging to do but how can anyone get any of that done when there are distractions everywhere? 

xo Savannah

How to Get the Most Out of Your Morning

Ah, mornings, my favorite time of the day. It's just nice to be awake early in the wee hours, ESPECIALLY in the summer time because it's warmer and the sun rises so early, plus it doesn't get interrupted by school so I can just sit in the dewy silence until it gets too hot to bear. I like mornings so much better than nights, they have more light involved and caffeine. Nights don't have enough caffeine- and not enough light. And too loud. See why I like mornings so much? Here's how to get the most out of YOUR morning. 

-Write a list of things to do the night before. It helps keep things organized when you wake up- and don't just write the big things, like "Write blog post" and "do morning work" and "walk dogs". Do the little things, like "Make coffee" and then "Finish editing blog post", "Post blog post on social media", "Write email to Jacob", "Walk dogs to big pond with coffee". The little things make it seem like you're accomplishing a lot more.

-Get up a little bit earlier- depending on how early you get up right now. For example, I get up at 7:30am every day, but imagine how much more I could get done if I got up at 6:30am. Don't be too drastic here, seriously. Sleep is the most important thing you can get when it comes to being healthy. But going to bed a little bit earlier every night and getting an extra half hour out of your morning can make all the difference...

-Turn all the lights on when you get up. If it's dark out when you wake up, like me, then turning on all the lights in the house can make your home seem awake and it'll make you waking up easier, too. 


-Have some breakfast. Even if you're one of those people who doesn't feel like eating in the morning, just sip your tea and read a book- take some time for yourself before getting to work, and appreciate the temporary silence of the world. Even better, have a glass of water- you just went hours upon hours of not drinking anything, so hydrating your body is one of the best things you can do in the morning. Add a lemon slice, make it snazzy. 


-Take a walk. You don't always have the time in your day to take a walk, so mornings are great for this, especially because it's all cool out and every thing is so quiet and mysterious. Put your coffee in a to-go cup and hit the trail, even better, bring the dogs- they'll appreciate it even more than you will (I know my dogs do). 

-Do some yoga; relaxation will add an amazing start to your day. Bonus: you can Netflix binge while you downward dog, if soothing music isn't your thing. I know I would rather watch The Walking Dead than listen to some weird music that's gonna make me fall asleep probably. 

That's all you have to do to have an amazing morning. Add a couple of these to your routine, and you could be making every single day even better than the last. 

xo Savannah

5 Steps to a Great Morning

Chances are, you're not a morning person. And that's just awesome- because most people aren't morning people, excluding me. That's right- I'm a total morning person. I get up early, wide awake, and love to be awake. I DO love sleeping, a lot, but there's just something about waking up early that gives you some sort of spark that inspires you and wakes you up a bit. Don't you want that spark? I thought you might, so I made this easy check-list to make you have an amazing morning every day. Also, in case I haven't mentioned it, no one in my family really enjoys getting up early like me- they could sleep all day if they wanted to, and they have.

Step 1: Wake up and turn on ALL of the lights in the house. This brightens things up a little, even if it's still dark outside, and you're less likely to fall back asleep in blinding light. 

Step 2: Make yourself a hot cup of something- like tea or coffee. A little caffeine is going to be part of the spark that you get from waking up early. Something hot will wake you up a little bit.

Step 3: Get dressed as soon as you wake up, I do this because I'm more likely to be really tired in my pajamas, and this saves time so that you don't have to worry about getting dressed later when you're a little more busy. 

Step 4: Don't lie on the couch and read or watch TV. Those are both things that will make you sleepy again- don't do that. What I do is I get up and sit in the kitchen, and start blogging.

Step 5: Get in a little exercise, maybe some stretching. This is going to stimulate your muscles and wake you up a little bit. 

This won't make you become a morning person, but you're 5 steps closer to having a great start to every day. Thanks for reading!

xx Savannah

My Morning Routine

I think everyone has a morning routine- that is, most morning people. If you're not a morning person, then you probably don't have as organized routine as someone who is a morning person. I'm a morning person- I wake up earlier than others, wide awake and ready to go, with no crankiness added. Though I enjoy being an early riser, it gets lonely when you are the only one awake and you have to be quiet... for 3 hours because everyone else likes to sleep in till noon.

So, here is my routine for an average weekday morning- though it varies occasionally, this is my average routine.

1. I wake up at 6:25am, put my glasses on, and get dressed- all while half-asleep. 

2. I then got to the mirror and brush my hair, apply my mascara, and put on some strawberry lip balm, a little Babylips, or some Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. 

3. I then go downstairs, say good morning to my mum and my sister, charge my tablet, and turn on my computer. 

4. After typing in my password to my computer, I make a cup of tea with 1/2 & 1/2 and sugar. 

5. I sit and drink my tea while browsing a few blogs, and writing at least 1 blog post. 

6. At 8:00am, I begin reading for 1/2 an hour. 

7. At 8:30am, I leave for school, and that is the end of my morning. 

What is your morning routine? Leave a comment below! 

xoxo

Tips for an Insanely Productive Morning

If you're a morning blogger (like me), then you are always totally focused on having a totally productive morning, for the sake of you and your blog. So I made this list, which was inspired by many other bloggers, about how to get the most out of your morning. Here you go, I really hope this helps you. Don't forget to leave a comment below telling me what makes you most productive in the morning!

1. Before you hit the pillow every night (and by that I mean, right before you go to sleep), write down everything you MUST do that morning (e.g, write a blog post, finish a post, update blog design, etc.) on any old notepad, or on your phone if you like. Write down EVERYTHING. Number them as to how important they are, number 1 being most important to get done.

2. As soon as you wake up, before you even eat, get rid of number one on the list. Whether it takes 5 minutes or 30 minutes, do it. It's important to do the most vital one on the list. 

3. Now, for doing number one, reward yourself with some breakfast as a pat on the back for getting it done. Good job, but don't eat a Snickers bar for breakfast. 

4. Work for the next hour or so (depending on your schedule) without any social media tabs open. No, don't get on Facebook or Twitter, and keep Pinterest closed. You can't risk getting distracted. Keep social media closed until you've finished at least 1-2 posts. 

YAY! Your morning has been productive, and now you won't be guilty all day for not doing anything all morning besides going on Twitter in bed all morning. I hope it helped. 

xoxo

17 Shortcuts to Make Your Morning Easier

Don't you hate waking up groggy in the morning, with a bunch of stuff to do, you're completely confused, and where on earth are those shoes you were going to wear?? Exactly. So I've compiled this list of tips to help you- and every single person on earth, because I'm pretty sure we aren't the only people with this problem.

1. Turn on all of your lights (the light will wake up your brain). 

2. Put your alarm clock on the other side of your bedroom so that you have to get up and walk over there to turn it off, thus waking you up a little more. 

3. Instead of planning your outfits the night before, spend about 20-30 minutes Sunday night planning your outfits for the whole week. 

4. Try an innovative iPhone alarm clock like SleepCycle to help you wake up when you aren't so asleep, therefore making you less groggy when you wake up (it's hard to explain). 

5. Invest in a satin pillowcase, it will make your hair less frizzy & messy (like my hair is all the time) in the morning. You'll save time brushing it trying to get all of those tangles out. 

6. Use cute labels to label all of your pre-planned outfits. 

7. If you work out in the morning, sleep in your workout clothes to save time getting dressed in the morning. That is, if you have cute & comfy work out clothes. 

8. Place your keys (or bag) on something you don't want to forget when you leave. 

9. As soon as you wake up, sit up in bed, pump your fists, and say "YEAH!!". Trust me, it works. 

10. As soon as you wake up, stand up and start playing a game on your phone (No, Facebook & Instagram aren't games). It motivates your brain to wake up. 

11. Instead of watching TV in the morning, get on your computer- you're more likely to fall back asleep on the couch when watching TV. 

12. Before going to bed at night, get out a notepad (or start a list on your phone, if you're a tech-savvy person) and write down everything you need to do in the morning. You could even do it in the form of a checklist. Also, write down everything you can't forget that morning. 

13. Have everything in your bag, ready to go before you go to bed so you don't have to run around the house looking for things in the morning.

14. Instead of looking through the silverware drawer for a tiny spoon to stir your tea/coffee, keep little teaspoons in a jar by the coffee maker to save time looking for a spoon.

15. Before you go to bed, place your teabag in your mug to all you have to do is add boiled water, sugar and 1/2 & 1/2.

16. Keep your shoes next to the clothes your going to wear with the socks inside of the shoes to save time looking for them. I think I've spent at least 6 hours, total, looking for my shoes. 

17. This isn't really a shortcut, but as soon as you wake up in the morning, start writing in a journal. Write down your dreams, they are freshest in your memory as soon as you wake up.

Thanks for reading, I hope this helped you. Leave a comment below with any other useful tips c:

xoxo

4 Things I Like About Mornings

I'm a morning person, and have been since I was really young. I usually get up around 8AM on weekends, and 6:30AM for school. I just love mornings so much, and these are the 4 main reasons.

1) No one else is awake. Everyone has literally abandoned the world for sleep, and you are the only one awake. It's amazing to think that you're one of the only people experiencing the world at that moment. At least, in that specific timezone.

2) TEA!! Yum. My favorites (for the morning) include Earl Grey, Lady Grey, and Irish Breakfast, all blended with Nutcracker Sweet. Yummy c:

3) So much time, so little to do. There is literally SO much that you can get done in the morning so that you have more time for yourself later in the day. e.g: Cleaning, emails & blogging, homework, etc.

4) The sunrise. It's silly that we, as humans, still call it a "sunrise"- the sun doesn't really rise, it's the earth that's moving. But aside from science... Sunrises are beautiful. They are amazing, the way the first rays of light penetrate the night, letting dawn set in. Wow, that was actually really deep.

Comment below the 4 things you love about mornings c: