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5 Summer Essentials

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

Summer is finally here and I have some items you need in order to look and feel the best all summer long! Longer days, sunshine, and overall having the best time is what summer is all about! So with that said…

#1 Good Quality Sunscreen

Hot girls wear sunscreen plain and simple. No one wants to be walking around looking like a lobster in pain because they didn’t put sunscreen on. The UV index is high and I know you want to go out there and get all nicely tanned but it’s not worth ruining your skin. Regardless if you’re outside for 30 minutes or if you’re outside for 6 hours put on SUNSCREEN! Not just any sunscreen though because we all hate the sunscreen that leaves us feeling oily or sticky. I linked below some of my favorite sunscreens for both your face and body!

#2 Cute Water Bottle

Like I said before, summer is filled with long hot days so you need to stay hydrated. A cute water bottle will make you want to drink more water and a cute one just adds to the aesthetic! If you want to go the extra mile and feel even more like “that girl” get an ice maker. This can be one of those big fancy machines that make pebble ice or you could get a simpler tray that is equally as cute but a little more work. Having nice ice cold water on these sunny days is a must in my book! In addition to going that extra mile, invest in some good quality stickers to jazz up your water bottle. I say good quality because hopefully you’re washing your water bottle and you don’t want your stickers falling off or fading. This is just a little addition that’s really cute and fun!

#3 Good Quality Tote Bag

I say tote bag but honestly it can be any bag you love as long as it’s lightweight. You don’t want to be lifting a hefty purse to the beach or through the farmers market. I love a tote bag personally because its just so summery and beachy. It fits the vibes of summer fun! Tote bags can also be unique to you there are so many different designs that allow you to show off your personality! If you’re artsy you can even paint on your own design as a fun summer project! All in all a sturdy tote bag can be taken on all your summer activities so you can carry around important items while looking great!

#4 Water Safe Jewelry

It’s time to stop wearing poor quality jewelry pieces. I understand that most people simply don’t wear jewelry in the pool or ocean but I personally love accessorizing with staple pieces. I think jewelry is beautiful in every situation. I am also really lazy so I don’t like taking off my necklace and putting it back on every time I want to go swimming. If you’re like me, invest in 2-3 necklaces and some rings that you love and will wear all the time so that you can look great without having a green neck or fingers. If you don’t want to buy pricey jewelry but still want to accessorize all summer, get some cheaper plastic items. Summer is the perfect time to wear bright beaded necklaces and bracelets. The beaded look is so summery and fun without breaking the bank! 

#5 Quality Hair Care Items

I can not stress this enough, please spend money on quality hair care products! This is one of those items that you’re not going to want to cheap out on. A lot of hair care products are filled with harsh chemicals and random ingredients. Summer is hard on your hair with all the swimming and the heat, your hair can get extremely dry. This is why you should invest in great quality shampoo and conditioner but other products as well. I think a good hair mask and leave-in conditioner are great additions that will help your hair exponentially during these summer days!

That’s all I have for you today, I hope this helped get you all set up for the summer and inspired you to be the best version of yourself. With that being said have an amazing summer! With love..

-Nikki Smith

Small Town Summer Bucket List!

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

Now I love a good summer bucket list as much as the next person but I live in a small western town with not much to do. I know a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to live in a fun beach town where they can go tubing, go to festivals and all of those super fun activities. There are also a lot of people that cannot afford to do a lot of bigger summer activities which is why I created a list with some fun things to fill up your summer days that are relatively affordable and can be done from anywhere. There is a broad range of activities so I hope you can find somethings to add to your summer bucket list so you can have the best time!!

  • Lake Day
  • Make bracelets
  • Bake off night
  • Paint glasses
  • Watch the sunrise
  • Make a fancy breakfast
  • Movie marathon
  • Bike ride around town
  • Tie Dye
  • Water ballon fight
  • Paint air dry clay dishes
  • Go to local stores/window shop
  • Go swimming
  • Play volleyball
  • Make popsicles
  • Carpool Karaoke
  • Create a blog/youtube channel
  • Bonfire w/ smores
  • Go camping
  • Have a picnic
  • Learn a new lauguage
  • Go bowling
  • Host a game night
  • Watch fireworks
  • Self care day
  • Try a new food place/menu item
  • Go on a hike
  • Make a photo wall
  • Redecorate your room
  • Create a scrapbook!
  • Go through you closet and donate clothes
  • Sunbath
  • Upcycle a piece of furniture or clothes
  • Have a photo shoot
  • Make chalk art
  • Go to the Rodeo
  • Find live music
  • Go fishing
  • Visit local shops
  • Create an epic ice-cream sundae
  • Go night swimming

That’s all I have for you guys today! I hope this inspired you to get out there and create wonderful memories! Summer is the time to try new exciting things! Even living in a small town can be super fun if you make it the best it can be! With that being said I hope you all have and amazing summer! Good bye 🙂

-Nikki Smith

3 Fun Summer DIY Projects

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

1. Clay bowls/ring dishes

This DIY is super fun and easy! All you need is some air dry clay, paint, and some kind of sealant. I’ve been seeing a lot of tik toks where they make fruit dishes, flowers, and a bunch of different shapes. This is a project where you can really let your creativity flow!

2. Tie Dye Projects

Tie Dyeing is the epitome of summer activities! Now buying a whole tie dye kit can be expensive and wasteful if you’re not going to use it. I suggest getting 2 smaller packs of tie dye. Get together with some friends and create a beautiful design on a t-shirt, socks, hats, anything that you can bring more color to. It’s a fun, relatively quick summer activity that anyone can enjoy!

3. Beaded Anklets/Bracelets

This is a great way to get into the summer spirit! Making bracelets or anklets is super fun and easy. There are so many kits to choose from ranging in color and size of beads! You can get a group of friends together and each make a bunch of bracelets to rock all summer long! Perfect for all ages as well as curing that summer boredom. Click on the image to find these bracelets.

That’s all I have for you guys today! I hope you have an amazing summer filled with fun and amazing activities! Get out and make some memories!

-Nikki Smith

Summer Reset!

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

Words cannot describe how grateful I am that it’s finally SUMMER! I swear senior year even though it was a blast, it was super stressful and even though I still have quite a bit to do, there is something about that summer sun that melts all my worries away. It’s getting hotter! Schools out! and it’s time to get ready to have an epic summer!

Full Self Care Day

I’m talking hair masks, face masks, painting your nails, shaving, exfoliating. You get my point. But honestly there is no better feeling than after a self care day feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. You feel brand new and that confidence will be amazing as you go into those summer months.

Free Woman Putting Mask on Her Face Stock Photo

Spring Cleaning

I know this may not be the funnest thing but it will put you on the right path to having a great summer. This is the time when you take out all your summer clothes; put those winter jackets away, refresh your room, wipe down all the surfaces and mirrors. A clean room is so rewarding to come home to after long summer days in the sun. I can’t think of anything better than being fully shaven and exfoliated, being out in the sun all day nice and toasted and then laying down on your freshly clean made bed. Epitome of summer!

Free Black and White Spray Bottle Stock Photo

Early Morning Activities

Summer = 5am sun rises. Now I am definitely not telling you to wake up at 5am but getting up early like 8 in the morning to do something that relaxes you as you sit outside in the 60 degree weather with that cool crisp smell of summer morning. Oooh I get so excited. I personally like to read in the morning but I know a lot of people like to journal or do yoga, maybe go on a walk or anything that you love doing.

Free Black Iphone 7 Beside Macbook Pro Stock Photo

Decorate

By decorate I simply mean liven up your space with some brighter colors and some flowers. In the spring I love setting out my fruity scented candles and hanging up some photos with bright colors. It’s the little things that make you happy. You definitely don’t need to go on a whole shopping spree just because it’s summer but some flowers and a nice table cloth can go a long way.

Free Pink Tulips in Bloom Stock Photo

Make A Summer Bucket List

Having a plan on some of the summer activities that you want to do will help you so much in having a great summer because the thought process will already be there. If you want to take it a step further, plan on what days you can do the activities, who you might invite, things like that so everything runs a bit smoother. Simply having a list to work off of is great though. Last summer I made a large list of little activities I wanted to do and on days I had time I would randomly choose one and do it. I made it maybe half way through my list, even though I didn’t get everything done that I wanted I still managed to have an amazing summer with a bunch of memories.

Okay that’s all I have for you guys today. I hope you enjoyed this summer reset post! I hope you have an amazing summer filled with even better memories! With love ❤

-Nikki Smith

Things You Shouldn’t Forget When Graduating

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

Thank You Cards

With all the things going on during graduation there are small but important details that tend to fall to the side. Make sure you are keeping a running list of everyone that gave you a card or any gifts you received and take time to write down a thank you note. Try to make it a little bit personal if you can, especially for people who went out of their way to do something nice for you. – With this day in age a hand written thank you note goes a long way.

Here is a link to the Thank You cards I got –https://amzn.to/3OHYCC6

Free Thank You Greeting Card on Wooden Table Stock Photo

Respond to texts and comments

Even if people aren’t sending you a card there are going to be a lot of people congratulating you through private messages or even in the comments of social media posts. Take time to respond to those people. I noticed that when I was graduating a lot of people were commenting on my moms Facebook wishing me the best of luck and congratulating me and I know it meant a lot to my mom and her friends that I took time to respond to their messages. It’s a small detail that you shouldn’t miss.

Understand that you not the only one graduating

Since it’s your first time graduating you underestimate “graduation season”. I went to a small school so I figured that my town and community probably received a grad invite from a couple kids but nothing too crazy. However when I was talking to my aunt she told me she had 5 other graduations to attend! It’s important to understand that many people have connections and will get busy during this time. Don’t take it personal if someone you invited can’t make it to your party or graduation.

Don’t get too overwhelmed

This is easier said than done I know but the end of school year is stressful enough and then add on top of that all the graduation details. It can become a chore just to celebrate your accomplishment. Graduation is one of those things you should do in small sections. I recommend making a list of the things you need to do pertaining to graduation. This includes taking grad photos, sending out cards, organizing a party, creating speeches, all of those kinds of things and then do them in bursts. For example taking grad photos should be one of the earlier steps you take and then you can go right into making your card and sending out your invites. This can all happen in January (or whatever fits your timeline). Next you can create a list for your party and start getting it organized. The first steps for this would be finding a location and creating a list of items you’ll need to get for the party. This can happen in February. Following that you can start purchasing/ordering items that you’ll need. The overall point is to not procrastinate and then stress yourself out right around graduation instead prepare yourself so everything goes smoothly.

That’s all I have for you guys today! Hope your senior year is amazing! Don’t forget these details when graduating and you’ll do great during this great but stressful time! Congrats!!

-Nikki Smith

5 Tips To Stay Fit During the Summer

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

As a former high school athlete I never truly struggled with staying fit simply because I was always active between practices, open gyms, and camps. I played both volleyball and basketball for the last 4+ years but since the season has ended I’ve made it a point to try and stay in shape. Without sports I had to find a way to stay healthy and fit on my own. I’ll be sharing some tips that I find helpful for the upcoming summer.

Find a type of workout you love/ Explore

There are so many ways to workout: cardio, weight lifting, pilates, etc. Explore different styles of working out to find what fits you best. It is also very common to switch what you do if you are not enjoying it anymore. For example I was really into at home YouTube video workouts for a while and then transitioned to weightlifting which I found to like better. It’s all about preference. Find what makes you want to workout. Once you find what works best for you…

Create a fitness routine

As a former athlete I am very used to “working out” from 4-6 (after school) for 5 days a week. I continued to do this because I found that it worked the best for my body. I didn’t want to workout early in the morning or late at night and I didn’t want to work out directly after a meal. Some people do better in the morning while others thrive in the evening. Find what works best for you. In addition to creating a schedule, create your personalized routine. For example Monday=Upper body, Tuesday=Core, Wednesday=Cardio, Thursday=Lower body, Friday=Full body or some variation tailored to you. Having a routine will help you stay consistent and allow you to dive right in.

Minimize the thought process

This may seem weird at first but don’t overthink it. You don’t need to always have a super intense sweaty workout to stay in shape. Unless you have large fitness goals it’s okay to not go to the gym or even workout everyday. Having an active lifestyle change will help you stay in shape and maintain your body. Going on a walk, or swimming, maybe playing some basketball really any physical activity will help you stay in shape. In this society everyone is trying to lose weight or have crazy fitness goals but simple changes to one’s mindset can turn the “burden” of workout out into a fun activity. One of my favorite ways to be active without necessarily working out is riding bikes with my little brothers. I know that some people don’t want to go around riding bikes but this is a perfect example of just getting outside and doing something fun.

Have a goal

Having a fitness goal will keep you motivated. I’m not going to lie, motivation is one of the hardest parts of staying in shape. There are many ways to create a fitness goal you could aim for consistency for example: I want to do something active 6 times a week. You could do a number oriented goal: I want to lift this much weight by a blank amount of time or I want to run a mile in under this amount of time something like that. I would recommend straying from weight oriented goals (losing/gaining weight) because at least for me it can be very discouraging, weight fluctuates so much even day to day. It can be hard to not focus on the number and progress so don’t make losing or gaining weight a huge priority if you’re trying to stay fit.

Focus on your diet

If you listen to any fitness influencer they will always tell you that what you eat has more to do with fitness than working out. Now I am not saying go on some weird crazy diet but being mindful of what you put into your body goes a long way. This plays into your mindset of staying fit as well. Being mindful of when you’re full is important, understanding that your body may crave certain things and it’s okay to give in to those cravings and over all being aware what types of foods you’re eating. We all know that eating whole foods with nutrients is better than processed meals however a healthy combination of both will leave you more fulfilled mentally and physically. All in all, eat foods that make you feel strong and energized and relish in the not so healthy food from time to time.

I wanted to include a part where I say I am not a doctor or nutritionist, simply a teenage girl trying to share how she stays fit. This is NOT professional tips or advice. With that being said I hope you enjoyed and can stay healthy throughout the summer. Good luck! With love..

-Nikki Smith

Advice To Upcoming Juniors And Seniors In High School

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

As we all know graduation is right around the corner! I am going to be graduating in about a month so I wanted to share some advice I have for next year’s upperclassmen. I go to a really small school in Colorado so my experience may be different from yours but I feel like the advice will reach a multitude of audiences. I feel like all the advice out there for high school students is always from people that go to these huge schools with a bunch of different classes, clubs and sports. I will be graduating with 21 other students this year. When I say small I mean it! However I have created many amazing memories throughout high school in addition to being successful academically. I am both Class President and Valedictorian of the 2023 graduating class and will be going to college with only 2 and a half years left. Though I have a small town background I feel like this advice his helpful to any/ everyone.

Tip #1

Start doing college classes! My school allowed us to be enrolled in a nearby community college (concurrent enrollment) that they paid for! I was able to enroll in 2-3 college classes per semester. All you have to do is pass a small test in order to take these higher level courses. This gave me a great head start towards my college degree. If you don’t plan to go to college it can still be beneficial to take a college course especially if it’s free. Now I wouldn’t say take Calculus 2 if you don’t plan to go to college after high school because I would never want you to do that but it may be helpful to take something like personal finance. However if your school offers college classes definitely take them up on it. Taking your base level classes is the safest bet. Throughout just two years of high school you can go from wanting to be a nurse to wanting to be an accountant and these two careers do not have a lot of overlapping classes. It’s smart to start small with classes that everyone needs like biology and college algebra.

Tip #2

Party it up! I’m just kidding. Just because you are an upperclassman doesn’t mean you can start acting like a crazy party animal. Yes you are both older and more mature than the underclassmen with much more freedom but you are also faced with so much responsibility. I can’t tell you how many people thought that just because they could drive and go where they wanted that they were “living it up”. Hate to remind you but junior year is probably the hardest year of high school; at least it was for me. You are faced with all these new challenges: figuring out what you want to do with your life, college classes, SATs, looking at colleges you might want to go to and so much more. It’s important to set expectations for yourself as well as goals for the upcoming year(s).

Tip #3

Be a leader! You’re an upperclassman now which means you know the works on how to do everything. Don’t be the rude senior all the freshman/sophomores despise. Encourage the people around you, especially the younger ones. I had seniors who “took me in” when I was a freshman and they made me feel included as well as gave me helpful tips. Sharing your know how of the school as well as the people in it can save your favorite freshies a lot of trouble.

Tip #4

START APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! A lot of scholarships are only for seniors but so many open up junior year as well. It’s a great way to get ahead and potentially save you a lot of money. Even if you don’t get any of the scholarships you applied for junior year you will still have all of those personal essays and crafted answers that you’ve already worked on so that all you have to do is maybe revise a little and turn them in senior year. When applying for scholarships senior year it’s so hard to stay on top of classwork as well as scholarship deadlines especially when you’re asking for recommendation letters left and right. All in all it can be a lot, so having prewritten essays will save you a lot of time and hassle.

Tip #5

Create a Resume! I can not tell you enough to simply make a resume. There are so many easy fill out templates out there that you can use. Start writing about all the clubs you’re involved in, your community service, leadership positions, everything. I used to think that you need to be looking for a higher up job in order to need a resume but that’s not true! A lot of scholarships ask for resumes and even if they don’t ask for a resume specifically most of their questions can be found on your resume. It’s a document that states all your accomplishments and skills so get on that asap!

Tip #6

Don’t get involved in drama! No one likes being in drama. Not only is drama distracting but it’s also an energy sucker. Note that drama is “She said this about” “I heard he did this with her ” all of that is just high schoolers talking but as soon as words get thrown around and people get angry with one another this is when drama really starts. The best advice I can give to anyone is to mind your own business. If it has absolutely nothing to do with you, do not get involved. This may be really straight forward advice but so many people waste time and energy over drama in high school. There comes a point where you just need to grow up.

Tip #7

Come to terms that growing up means that you are changing not only physically but mentally. You may outgrow old friendships and that’s okay. Do not hold on to the past. Doing what’s best for you will allow you to meet your people and really enjoy high school. Finding a good solid friend group is so beneficial in high school.

Tip #8

Make Memories! Don’t get overly involved in school and other activities that you forget to enjoy the little things. It’s okay to take time and hangout with your friends. If anything it’s crucial that you make time to hangout with your friends. The last two years of high school get really busy so make it a priority to be with the people you care about.

Tip #9

Be Yourself! It’s really easy to lose your personality in high school because you’re being pulled in all these different directions. Don’t ever change who you are to fit someone else’s standards or to make other people happy. Always do what’s going to make you happy! Make sure you are taking care of yourself both mentally and physically as well so you don’t become super drained.

Tip #10

Put yourself out there! This is your time to take new exciting opportunities, if you can. As you grow up you are going to be presented with different adventures so it is always good to keep an open mind. If you’ve always wanted to join a new club, do it! If you take new opportunities you are giving yourself a chance to learn and grow as a person!

I personally went on a trip with my schools travel club to Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington where I got to explore so many different places and famous land marks. I personally grew so much from this trip and was so thankful I was able to go especially with the people that also went. I created even stronger bonds with the people I knew and have memories that will last a life time.

Tip #11

Think Smarter not Harder! I know it’s easier said than done but it’s true. If you are getting too busy and need to choose what assignments you just can’t do make sure it’s the ones worth less points. Most classes have a scale/ grading system so you can see what your assignments are worth. Make sure you are providing quality work on those bigger assignments so that the smaller ones don’t matter as much. In addition, use your resources! No I’m not telling you to cheat but there are so many resources at your fingertips that can help you so much with classwork. My favorite tools are Quizlet, Chegg, and Citation Machine. I can find answers, study and cite all my resources with these three tools.

Tip #12

Be Respectful to Your Teachers! I don’t care if you get called a teacher’s pet because building a relationship with your teacher will make it so much easier for you when you start asking for recommendation letters. Not only will being respectful make you look like a good student but it will also make them WANT to write you a good recommendation letter. Building a relationship allows your teacher to have a good base to write about which is so much better than the generic recommendation letter most people get.

Tip #13

Don’t Stress Yourself Out! It is so easy to get overwhelmed when there is so much going on. Make sure to take time for yourself and maybe even take a step back to see if you need to change anything in your life. The hustle can cripple you so be careful in what all you’re taking on. Be sure that all the things in your life either make you happy or get you a step closer to accomplishing your goals!

Tip #14

Get Over Senioritis! I am graduating this year so I know how hard the senioritis hits but it is essential to keep pushing. Just because you’re about to graduate doesn’t mean it’s time to stop showing up. Push through, keep working hard and you will accomplish great things. It’s okay to let the senioritis get to you every once in a while as long as it doesn’t become a habit.

Tip #15

Be the Best YOU You Can Be! Just like tip #9 being yourself is the best reward. It’s high school, figure out all the things you like and don’t like. Take risks! Grow! Learn! This is the time to find who you are and who you want to be. Wisdom doesn’t come all at once. It is not till you’re getting ready to walk across that stage at the end of the year that you realize all the people and experiences in your life made you who you are. Be grateful for everything, good or bad.

That’s all I have for you guys today! Hopefully you will take my advice and absolutely thrive in high school. I wouldn’t change a thing about my high school experience and I hope someday you can say the same. Wish you the best of luck in each and every one of your endeavors. So much love,

-Nikki Smith

Scrapbook Ideas

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

So you want to get into scrapbooking. There are so many ideas for what life events you could scrapbook or  if you want a creative outlet to showcase what you love. I personally have a what I call a lifestyle scrapbook which means I like to add pictures and decorate pages based on what is going on in my life for example sports, travel trips, people in my life that sorta thing. However I know there are also a lot of people that use scrapbooking as a way to showcase their favorite shows, actors, or just be creative with a color schemes. Either way sometimes we run out of ideas for what exactly we want to scrapbook or ideas for simply starting.

Scrapbooking is often seen as a lost art. Similarly to knitting and sewing it has fallen into being for older people however I say that’s just not true. Growing up in a digital world we have lost some key aspects that I know we all still love. For example growing up I loved to look through my mothers old photo albums. I got to see pictures of her as a kid with her friends and got to see some of her adventures. Not once has my mom ever called me over to look through old Shutterfly albums. Why? Because it’s not the same. Having physical pictures of experiences is so fun and looking back on those memories will last a lifetime. We forget certain parts of our childhood as we grow up, but we can always look back on them when we have a scrapbook. However scrapbooking is not just a collection of pictures. That is called a photo album. A scrapbook is transforming a page to show your experiences and how you felt with the addition of photos. Though I am unfamiliar with having a scrapbook to showcase favorites, there is the sentimental value of creating something that you love that represents yourself and how you feel about a certain topic. Having a scrapbook allows you to be super creative but sometimes we run out of ideas so here are some categories to look through that will hopefully inspire you to create a new page or a scrapbook in general. 

Lifestyle Pages

Sports 

School Spirit

First Football game of the season

Homecoming Day/Dance

Homecoming Dress up Days

Winter Formal

Winter Week Dress up Days

Prom

Spring Break Fun

Friendships

Childhood/ Throwback

Grandparents

Family

Significant other 

Pets

“About Me”

Accomplishments 

First Car

Christmas

New Years

Valentines Day

Easter

Halloween

Fourth of July

Birthdays

Traveling

First Job

Going to the Fair

Going to the Rodeo

Going to the Beach/Lake

Hangouts with Friends

Summer Fun

Winter Fun

Fall Fun

Spring Fun

Concerts

Festivals

Pardes

Hometown Highlights

Weddings

Vacation

Museums/Exhibits

Favorites

Favorite Books

Favorite TV shows

Favorite Cartoons

Favorite Activities

Favorite Products

Favorite Pictures

Favorite Events

Favorite Fast food places

Favorite Songs/Artists

Favorite Influencers

Favorite Stickers

Favorite Places you want to Travel

Favorite Outfits you’ve worn

Favorite Flowers

Favorite Moments in your life

Favorite Celebrities

Favorite Recipes

Favorite Quotes

Favorite Text Messages

Senior Year Ideas

Senior Nights from Sports

Senior Sunrise

Class Prank

Your Graduation Pictures 

Graduation Invites from your class

Graduation Pictures

Favorite Memories in High School

Family Grad Photos

Graduation Party Photos

College/Career Spirit Page 

School Pictures throughout the years

Creativity Pages

Colors

Textures

Patterns

Materials – Magazines, books, etc

Doodle art

Packaging into art for example- A turtle made out of used plastics

Letter to blank

Miscellaneous items art- staples, paper clips, pens, tape, to create something

Create a puzzle of different things the fit together

Different mediums- paint, chalk, pens, charcoal, etc.

Film photography photos

Filters

Polaroids

Different Style- graffiti, calligraphy, etc

Miscellaneous

Sunsets

Fashion

Book Review 

Vision Board

Goals Page

Mirror Pictures 

Selfies

Monthly Wrap Ups

Black and White Only

90’s Inspo Page

Movie Ratings

Bucket List 

Gratitude Page

Previous Art Display

Notes from Friends page


Okay guys that’s all I have for you today. I hope you got some inspiration for your scrapbook or were inspired to create one with some of these ideas. Scrapbooking is a really fun creative project that will leave you with a beautiful book of memories for years to come. If you can think of any other ideas please feel free to leave them in the comments below! Thank you for reading!

-Nikki Smith 

Successful Morning Routine for High School Students

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So you want to have a productive morning that sets you up for a great day at school. Though it may be challenging to get “excited” to go to school there are still ways to make the most out of your day. Being a successful high school student will help you tremendously when going into college or entering the workforce. We live in a world where you need to hustle and be the best at what you do in order to be successful. Knowing that you’re reading this means that you are ready to work hard and achieve great things. Being in high school you’re faced with many challenges juggling sports, clubs, maybe a job, on top of your schoolwork all while trying to maintain a social life. This on its own is a lot and can get stressful so here are some tips that will lead you to having a great start to the day and successful high school experience from a graduating senior.

Get up early

People who get an early start to their day are going to be more productive. Starting fresh and awake is a great way to get going and start working hard. Of course even if you wake up early you can’t be fully operational without a full night’s rest at least 7-8 hours worth. If you are a person that takes a bit to get moving in the morning like me. I suggest setting yourself up for success the night before. This means laying out the clothes you’re going to wear, packing your backpack, making your to-do list or checking your calendar to see what all is planned for the upcoming day. This is great because all you simply have to do when you wake up in the morning is get ready and go. 

In addition to waking up early it is also important to make your bed. We have all heard time and time again that making your bed sets you up for a productive day. You’ve already accomplished the first task of the day. So just take the two minutes in the morning to set up your bed. This will also help you not get back into bed once you’re up and moving in the morning.

Stay Hydrated

Water is essential to basically everything, let’s be honest. I’m not saying it’s a cure all but most people are dehydrated which leads to drowsiness, headaches, and irritability. It’s very hard to work past a headache and the fact that you’re tired when trying to go on with your day. So get yourself a cute water bottle and get to it. I personally carry my hydrojug with me wherever I go. I have been religiously drinking water for about a year now and I can’t tell you how much it has improved my mood, body and overall health. I know that for a lot of people drinking water can be hard so my suggestion is to get a flavoring of some sort that is low in sugar and dyes so that you can still be hydrated. I recommend the MiO drops because there are a lot of different flavors and many sugar free options. 

Check Schedule/To Do List 

In high school there is always a lot going on so you want to make sure you know what you need to be doing and when. People (meaning colleges) like people that are dependable, active and involved but you should be doing activities because you genuinely enjoy them not because it “looks good”. When you are involved in many organizations it can get busy so making sure that you know when meetings, activities, and other projects are due will help you in preparation as well as help not forget anything important.

It is equally important to stay on top of school work. Being a great high school student starts outside of the classroom. You could be the smartest person in a room but if you have no drive you’re not going to go very far. So in order to stay on top of assignments it’s best to create a calendar/planner with due dates as well as plan out when you are going to do certain tasks. For example, my hardest class requires me to write an essay every week that is due on Sundays. I know that my most productive day is Monday because it is the start of the week. I am refreshed and ready to work so I make sure to get 85% of the essay done on Mondays so that the rest of the week all I have to do is revise and add citations. However my easiest class only requires me to write a discussion post with 200 words and that assignment is usually due on Thursdays. Because I know that I can do the discussion post rather quickly and with less effort I would still work on the essay assignment on Monday even though the due date for the discussion post is earlier. You have to take into account your productivity levels and the amount of work you’re going to need to put into something rather than working by what’s due earlier. 

Eat Breakfast

I know I know. Everyone always says to eat breakfast but there is a reason for that. Eating breakfast is what gets you moving and grooving. Food is what gives your body energy so how do you expect to be productive when you’re running on a low battery? Have you ever noticed that when your phone is on 5% everything is loading a lot slower or maybe even glitching? It’s the same thing for you so make sure to get a healthy nutritious breakfast in so you can have a great day. Here are some ideas for quick breakfast meals for high school students. https://positivelynikki.com/2023/04/14/5-healthy-breakfast-ideas-for-high-school-students/

Keynote

Allow Time For Socializing

This is one of the hardest things to do for a high school student looking to do the best they possibly can. Getting overly caught up in school and related activities isolates you from your friends and enjoying your high school experiences. Balance is a hard thing to find as a student because you are often faced with making choices between hanging out with friends or getting school work done. Sometimes you’re going to be a great student and get everything done and some days you’re going to be a great friend. Some people say you can’t have both but I really disagree. Working hard will be so rewarding in the future but you’ll never get the chance to sit with your friends at your favorite hangout place again. Making memories is what future you will look back on so make time to have fun, let loose and have great experiences. Even though that balance is hard to find and most weeks you’ll be off in one way or the other as long as you finish your high school experience accomplishing the goals you set out for as well as taking amazing memories with you, what more can you really ask for? High school is only four years so enjoy it. 

That’s all I have for you guys. I hope this helped you in some shape or form as you tackle the obstacle that is highschool. The hustle is real but once you start to enjoy the journey there is no better feeling. Thank you for reading.

-Nikki Smith

The Importance of Mindset

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Getting into a good mindset can be difficult so I wanted to share tips to improve how you view situations. Having a good mindset is wildly important to your growth and development as a person. Improving your mindset starts with a few simple tasks. I recently found that your perspective has everything to do with how you react to situations which is why I wanted to share some helpful tips and a few things to remember as you prepare for this crazy thing called life. Starting with… 

Declutter your mind

Yes as silly as this may sound it is really easy to become overwhelmed with everything you have going on even though it is nothing you can’t handle. When we keep everything bottled up inside we are more irritable and unable to fully enjoy things. A great way to relieve all those emotions and thoughts you’ve been keeping inside is writing it all down. Take a piece of paper, it can be anything; a sticky note, notebook paper or the back of an envelope and write down every little thing that you have been thinking about recently. These could be simple tasks you need to do like laundry, dishes, etc., bills you have to pay, an assignment you have to write, or even emotional events (funerals, weddings, baby on the way) truly anything. Once you get all of that down on paper I want you to take a good look at all the things you wrote. This allows you to not only visualize but allows your mind to focus on your top priorities. Writing all your thoughts down can help you organize the importance and significance of each item to the point where you can really focus on your top priorities. Centering your focus on the top items in your list is so beneficial because if you’re like me, it’s easy to become overloaded and feel like your mind is going a million miles a minute. This process lets you take a step back to really see what all you have going on.  Prioritizing the top of your list will allow you to feel more at ease as you tackle each obstacle.

Growth mindset

A growth mindset allows you to learn from mistakes instead of dwelling on them. Often we tend to only see what we are doing wrong. We really are our own worst critics. We are naturally always trying to better ourselves so if something doesn’t work out that’s okay don’t let that stop you from trying. Just because you didn’t succeed in the past doesn’t mean you won’t succeed now. As we grow and change we are better equipped to adapt to new and familiar situations so give it another shot. I find it hard to accept failure which is what led me to this point of view. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE, there is only success and growth. Now this doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be disappointed or angry when something doesn’t go how you wanted. But it’s an opportunity to accept and reflect on what you did so that you can either change your actions/decisions in the future or come to terms with your faults so that you don’t dwell on them. This may sound cheesy but it really is true. I find that in everything I do I continue to learn and grow from that experience. When confronted with challenges and new opportunities we falter or rise and within that understanding the Why? or How? Is essential in continuing to gain success. I challenge you to accept faults that may occur not as excuses for being upset but as opportunities to learn and grow. 

Set intentions

Goals are a big part of our lives. We all have many goals that we are striving to achieve. Everyone wants to feel accomplished which is great but we also want to set intentions for the year. How do you want the year to feel? What are you going to focus on the most this year? What sources of happiness are you planning to take with you? These are all questions you should ask yourself all the time. I know we all want to feel accomplished which includes completing those new year resolutions, life goals, bucket list items, and aspirations but we need to keep in mind our happiness. We often set materialistic goals or goals measured through productivity. For example a popular materialistic goal would be traveling and a popular productivity goal would be weight loss or saving up money. However I don’t see very many people say I want to bring more happiness to others, or I want to do more things that push me outside my comfort zone. So take a look at the goals you’ve created and maybe add a couple new ones. Becoming the best people we can be is so fulfilling but just like anything it takes work. 

Calming the chaos

The number one priority should always be to take care of yourself because if you can’t do that you’re not going to be happy with 1. Yourself and 2. Anybody else. Life is filled with stressful situations that are going to test your limits and be so mentally draining, however it is up to you to push through the hard times so you can enjoy the good times. I hate to be obvious but the number one thing you can do to calm the chaos is allow yourself to do something you enjoy. Yes it really is that simple. This could be reading a book, watching a movie, sleeping in, having a spa day, putting in a hair mask, unplugging from social media. Anything you enjoy that will make you happy and allow you to destress. That’s the number one priority: your happiness and being content with yourself. Mentally preparing yourself for high stress situations is also important. Plan time to relax, watch your comfort show, read a book, something that allows you to slow down and be calm. I want you to remember though that if you decide to destress with a movie you can’t be constantly thinking about the huge presentation you have coming up and all the tasks you need to do to prepare for it. The only time you are going to feel at ease is if you focus on one thing and enjoy that feeling. We live in a world that is always hustling so many of us don’t understand what it’s truly like to fully relax; to set aside all that worry, anxiety and stress. You can’t live up to who you truly can be if you don’t take care of yourself and this is different for everyone. Being happy starts from within. 


That’s all I have for you guys today. I hope this helped you in some shape or form when it comes to your outlook on life. Take these tips and try to find all those positive things in your life. Hope you enjoyed!

-Nikki Smith