Inspiration

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

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

Writing a Valedictorian/Graduation Speech

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

No one talks about how hard it is to write a speech for graduation. If your school is like mine you’re basically told to figure it out. I listened to a lot of graduation speeches from previous years as well as some college graduation speeches to get an idea of how it is supposed to sound. I figured I would share all the tips I found in order to create a speech you are truly proud of.

Try Not to Sound Generic

When listening to all the graduation speeches from the past they make vague references and honestly all sound the same. Blah Blah Blah end of our day blah blah blah. When creating your speech include your personality. If you are witty, make some jokes. There are a lot of different ways to make your speech unique to you. One really good example of this would be a speech I saw where the kid connected the experience of the graduates to a rubik’s cube. He started the speech stating that students are mixed up and confused and then went through each year of high school while solving the rubik’s cube. This was a super fun unique speech and showcased one of the skills he was proud of.

Keep it Short

No offense but no one wants to hear you talk on and on about your high school experience. A lot of people there are supporting another graduate and simply want to celebrate them graduating not hear a speech for 30 minutes. Keeping it short also allows you to keep the attention of the crowd. You don’t want anybody dozing off before the class has even received their diplomas. I would keep your speech within 2-3 minutes.

Be Emotional

You are not a robot so don’t read like one. Even if your speech is only 2-3 minutes if you read in monotone you are going to lose your audience. When I was watching speeches my favorites were always when the speaker would light up with a memory or even cry. Understanding that its okay to be emotional will add extra depth to your speech and make it memorable. You’re graduating, it’s an emotional time for everyone so show that throughout your speech.

Look up

This kind of goes without saying but make sure your eyes are not glued to the paper. A lot of schools may request that you memorize your speech but most allow you to have a paper to read off of. If you do have a paper make sure you are looking up at your audience. Even if you don’t look at the entire audience, find 2-3 people that you can look at so that it seems like you’re looking at the crowd. This can be hard for a lot of people that are not comfortable with public speaking but it’s an important aspect to keep people engaged in what you are saying.

Don’t Over Hype or Under Sell Your School

Even though you are graduating and you won’t be going back to high school it still looks bad to lie. In your speech it’s important to stay true to yourself and bring up fond memories but if you overhype your experience your class will not appreciate that in your speech. Similarly if you undersell your school and start bashing on the staff or other aspects of the school it will only make you look worse. Refrain from being disrespectful and dishonest in your speech as much as possible.

Get Personal

If you don’t normally talk like Albert Einstein don’t do it in the speech. Yes it will be heard by a large audience and you most likely want to make yourself look smart and respectable but at the end of the day people don’t care. I found that when writing my speech I wrote it in the same way I would write an essay or other academic assignment. I used unnecessary vocabulary and other extra embellishments that make the speech look good on paper but not so much when it is read out loud. It’s important to write the speech as if you’re saying it rather than writing it so that you sound the most authentic. You’re a person not an AI so sound like it.

Rehearse and Repeat

If you have to memorize your speech obviously you’re going to be doing this step a lot but for those that are allowed to have a paper don’t rely too heavily on the paper. It’s important to repeat the speech over and over again so that you can look up without losing your spot or messing up. Rehearsing your speech also allows you to figure out how you want to read it, when you need to pause, all those aspects that create tone. All in all this helps you understand all the aspects you need to incorporate so that on graduation day you can kill it.

Okay guys that’s all I have for you today if you would like to see my full speech head over to my Pinterest page. I wish you the best of luck in creating an amazing speech that represents all the accomplishments you and your classmates have made. Congratulations!

-Nikki Smith

7 Items You Need To Start Scrapbooking

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

Scrapbooking is my favorite hobby! It is a fun creative way to cherish your memories forever. Since everything is digital nowadays we don’t see as many printed pictures. This is a way for you to design different pages based on different memories and feelings. For example I have a page dedicated to my Oma (Grandma) and it has a bunch of old bingo cards as the background because she is super into bingo. Little things like that really tie a page together. If you’re looking to get into scrapbooking here are 7 must haves before you dive right in.

1. The Scrapbook

This is a pretty obvious one but there are so so many different types of scrapbooks out there depending on how you want to create your pages. I personally use (https://amzn.to/42x08KZ) but this is a smaller size so I often have to cut a lot of paper and pictures to make it all fit together. If you’re looking for a similar vibe but a normal size I suggest (https://amzn.to/3VCFzdX) I know people also love to use scrapbooks with plastic sleeves so that they can easily change orders or pages as well as keep their pictures safe. Links to those kinds of scrapbooks can be found here (https://amzn.to/3AZNdWe) (https://amzn.to/3NROHcZ) (https://amzn.to/3AZO6y2)

2. Pictures

Again obvious but there is a little bit more than just ordering pictures. Figure out how you want your scrapbook to look before you start ordering all your pictures. Planning your pages starts here! If you have a specific color theme or style then you need to look for pictures that fit into those categories. Once you do that I would say it’s important to know what size you want your pictures to be . For example you may want one large photo and then 2 smaller pictures or you may want 4 medium pictures or even 8 small pictures. Remember to take this into consideration before ordering a bunch of photos. I often have to make collages of my photos because I have a smaller scrapbook that I love to load up with pictures. All I do is use the app PicCollage, select a template, enter my picture how I want them and make sure the size is 4×6. The typical printed picture is 4×6 and runs about 16-25 cents depending on where you get your photos. This way you get a bunch of mini photos without having to pay any additional fees.

3. Stickers

Stickers are the best way to elevate your scrapbook in an easy, cheap way. I absolutely love matching stickers to my scrapbook spreads. If you need to fill a big space STICKER! If you need to fill a small space, STICKER! If you ran out of tape and need to secure a picture, you guessed it, STICKER! Stickers will be your best friend especially when you’re just starting your scrapbook. I linked some of my favorite sticker packs that I personally love. (https://amzn.to/3plOSmj) (https://amzn.to/42ty9Mk) (https://amzn.to/44u9cCa) (https://amzn.to/3B0Y16n)

4. Paper cutter/scissors

I would definitely recommend getting a paper cutter because 1. it is so much faster than scissors and 2. your lines are going to be a lot straighter. This will help you line up your pictures better and create crisp edges. You still want to have scissors though for when you want to cut out more detailed things. Here is a link to the paper cutter I use (https://amzn.to/41d0jtZ)

5. Paper

Having different colors of cardstock will add so much debt to your scrapbook pages. Especially if you are just starting, simply adding a border to your pictures will spice it up. There are a lot of specific designs you could get as well, for example there are floral sets, holiday sets, neon sets, and so much more. I recommend getting a pretty basic ray of colors to start off with and then venture into bigger sets the more you scrapbook. Here are some sets to look at. (https://amzn.to/41e5A4g) (https://amzn.to/3LKttLc) (https://amzn.to/3VIpjZ6) (https://amzn.to/3nEGYUO)

6.Pens/Markers

This is a more basic necessity. You use pens and markers for writing or drawing anything in your scrapbook. If you already have a lot of stationary, that is great! Having a broad range of colors and utensils will bring you a long way. Linked below are some starter items.

Pens- (https://amzn.to/3pjjzsv) (https://amzn.to/42cNQYy) (https://amzn.to/42xDX7v)

Markers- (https://amzn.to/3M0Spzw) (https://amzn.to/3B04eQf) (https://amzn.to/3LKbpAK) (https://amzn.to/3nx4JOH)

7. Memory Items

This is a nice addition but not entirely necessary if you want to start scrapbooking. Memory items include things like ticket stubs, airplane tickets, pamphlets, maps, specific stickers, pressed pennies, that sort of thing. It is nice to have a physical item to represent the memory in addition to your pictures. It’s just a nice touch to have in your scrapbook.

8. Double Sided Tape

I can not stress this enough, do not use glue! Glue is sticky and messy plus waiting for it to dry is just annoying. Instead use double sided tape. Double sided tape is quick and easy, all you have to do is cut it to size and stick it where you want on the paper. There is no mess or waiting, you can immediately go right back to decorating your page. I get my double sided tape from Shien, it comes in a lot of different sizes and it’s only $1. I usually go through it pretty quickly so I stack up in all sizes pretty frequently. I have yet to have a problem with anything falling off or the tape not being sticky. Highly recommend!

That all I have for you today. Hope you enjoyed and were able to get a solid idea of what you need to start scrapbooking! I wish you the best of luck!

-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

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 

The Importance of Mindset

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

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

How To Start A Productive Day

Nikki SmithLeave a comment

It’s hard to get productive and stay in that mindset but here are some tips that have helped me get a good start to the day and left me feeling so much better. A productive day is just the start to accomplishing goals and feeling like a BADDIE. In order to have a productive day we need to…

1. Get Up Early

Rise and shine. You can’t have a productive day until you actually start your day. You need to have time in the day to get tasks done. For me personally, I try to get up at around 7-7:30 but I know this is not doable for everyone so find the time that works best for you. When you do get up however simply waking up is not the key. Waking up and watching tik tok for 2-3 hours will not lead to the outcome you’re looking for so… get that body moving. For people that just can’t seem to leave their bed, set your phone across the room at night so that when your alarm goes off you have no choice but to GET UP and turn it off. Another great thing to do right when you wake up is chug a glass of water. I always keep my water bottle next to my bed so that I can immediately drink it when I wake up. This keeps you hydrated as well as helps wake you up. My favorite ways to start a productive morning includes stretching, a quick workout, journaling, and/or reading all of these allow you to focus on one thing which will set you up for success later on. Being productive starts with how you approach the day.

2. Make a To Do List

Next we have to make a To Do List. This is a pretty straight forward concept but if you don’t know what you need to get done and how to organize it in the most optimal way you’re going to end up either frantically trying to do everything or losing motivation very quickly. You can make your to do list on your phone or a piece of paper. I prefer paper because the satisfaction of crossing something off my list just does something for me. I understand that having your list on your phone allows you to take it on the go and edit it more freely than paper does. Start your list by, in your head, figuring our the tasks that are most important to get done. For example if you have and essay due at 11:59 that day, it should probably out rank vacuuming the carpet. Once you have done this order your list by what you want to get done first. Using the same example I would put the essay assignment at the top of my list and then vacuuming the carpet/cleaning, then follow it with maybe running errands; going to the bank, getting groceries, etc. This allows you to simply follow the list top to bottom. Of course there is nothing saying you can’t go out of order, I just find it easier to focus when my day is already planned out for me and all I need to do is look at the next task on my list.

3. Keep Yourself in Check

If you’re reading this it’s probably because you want to be more productive with your time. Obviously right. You’ve already accomplished the first step. Motivation. You are motivated to do better and keeping hustling. However reading this post will only get you so far. I can give you some tips but it is ultimately up to you to implement them and get it done. Grab that To Do list, which is probably pretty lengthy and just start. You’ve already made it this far why not just keep going. Be aware that mindset is everything! Just because you woke up later than you wanted or realize that your To Do list is way longer then you initially realized, should not discourage you from still having a productive day. You are stronger than you think and if you want something it can happen. Set yourself up for success. Once you accomplish all your tasks you set out for, you’re going to feel so much better and hopefully proud because you just did that. Boom! This will allow you to keep going and continue to hustle. However take this with a grain of salt. Not everyday should be productive and intensely filled with things you need to get done. It is equally beneficial to take time off, to do absolutely nothing for the day. It is really easy to get stressed out and feel overwhelmed so make sure you’re taking time to relax and take care of yourself. In order to have productive days there has to be calm unproductive days.

Therein lies the 3 keys to having a successful day. I hope this helped you in some shape or form to get productive and keep hustling. I could spend all day writing about productive days but I think I’d rather let you get to it.

-Nikki Smith