Be Present.

There was one day I was at church for morning worship service when I was next to someone who was on their phone the entire time. It’s become commonplace - in a way - to see phones at church, but I hadn’t seen someone be on their phone for nearly a whole service. Out of sheer curiosity, when this person put down their phone, I decided to count the seconds before they pulled it out again. 

Fifteen seconds. 

Fifteen seconds was the longest amount of time this member - yes, member, since they took communion with me - didn’t have their phone out.

Needless to say, a pet peeve of mine flared up a bit that day. I realize that I’m preaching to myself a bit; it’s easy to wander to the tiny screen if I see a notification, and it's easy to pass time scrolling through feeds and timelines. But there’s something to be said if you can’t give but fifteen seconds to God, let alone people around you, your dinner conversation partner, a concert, a wedding, or anything that involves you engaging with another person.

Recently, I took a trip with my Mom to Northern California. There, we hardly had cell service, let alone a TV with standard cable. While the latter isn't a huge deal for me - I tend to lurk YouTube instead - sometimes, a lack of cell service leaves me disconnected.

Little did I know that disconnecting was exactly what I needed to do.

Mom and I found an adorable pub near our VRBO cottage, and we decided to swing by for dinner before getting groceries for the next day. When we pulled up to the tudor-style inn, there was a whiteboard sign right out front declaring that the WiFi was out. Mom and I just shrugged, walked in, ordered our tea and dinner, and headed into the dining room.

The dining room was very dimly lit to the point where one of the waiters actually came in and lit candles and the fireplace. If we'd had wifi and cell service, we wouldn't have noticed the fact that the same waiter would sing along to various random pop songs, nor would we have noticed the charm of the place. In fact, that's why I don't have any pictures of the pub to show you; we were too busy enjoying the atmosphere and company.

That pub reminded me of something that day: sometimes, I need to put down my phone in order to really enjoy my life and the amazing things around me. As a writer, I'm inspired by experiences and things around me, so this really rings true ihn my creative work. Also, side note, if I hadn't put down my phone and quit filming at the Bastille concert I went to, I would have totally missed Dan Smith, their lead singer, looking right at me from a couple feet away.

Sometimes, in the midst of our crazy-busy lives, we've got to put our devices down and actually stop and smell the figurative roses. Who knows? We might have a story to tell from it.

This was the view at Muir Beach Lookout, near where we were staying. Isn't it amazing?

27 Things You Didn't Know About Me

Well, hi!

If you're new here, hi, my name is Savannah. I turned 27 back in October. I started this blog back when I was 22. Good gracious.

I wanted to share some fun facts about me with you. Granted, I've done this before - twice, actually - but I feel like I could share some new things/insights that will be fun to look back on in the future (goodness, it was fun looking back on my old fun fact posts over the past couple of years).

So...here are 27 things you didn't know about me. :)

1. I have been a baptized/born-again Christian for 13 years as of January 12. I feel like I have grown every single one of those thirteen years and counting.
2. Along those lines, I have never read the whole Bible in a year before. This year, I'm changing that.
3. I'm a stationery nerd; specifically, notepads and planners. I get my love of stationery and planners from my mom, and we've gone to several planner conventions together!
4. Also, I'm a pen nerd. Brightly-colored pens, highlighters, and color coding are my jam.
5. I have dyed my hair before. In fact, it's been three colors at once: blonde with the underside being blue with pink shadow roots. Now, I'm in this phase where the bottom half of my hair is a blonde ombre situation from the bleach.
6. I've been called even more similar-sounding names to Savannah in recent months: Cheyenne, Shannon, and Cindy, to name a few.
7. I like to think I'm crazy-good at racing games, be they arcade or console/computer.
8. My favorite books of the Bible are Esther, Romans, and Hebrews.
9. I have written two novels (and counting, especially with this year's NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo months!)
10. I have also self-published some short stories! Click here to check them out.
11. I edit on a freelance basis in addition to my day job, so I actually self-edit my own work and do my own cover designs for my self-published work. I have also worked as a self-publishing consultant on a memoir.
12. I have never seen "The Wizard of Oz."
13. I have never been to a Renaissance fair.
14. I have some new additions to my travel bucket list: Seoul, Egypt, and Australia (Melbourne or Sydney).
15. I am a chorizo fiend. If there's a chorizo burrito or some kind of chorizo I can get on a Mexican dish or taco, I'm there.
16. I'm also a spicy food fiend. Hot chicken, Indian spices, and any sriracha or chipotle majesty I can get my hands on are always a treat.
17. If I could characterize my personal style, it's vintage silhouettes meets band t-shirts. One day, I'm wearing a blouse and suspenders to work, and the next, I'm rocking my Bastille tour merch.
18. Rose gold is my favorite metal; after that, I gravitate towards gold...and glitter, of course.
19. I have named both of my female dogs I've had over the years. I chose Azalea's name for the flowers at my grandparents' beach house, and I named Magnolia because my second novel's main character has the same name.
20. My friends say I need to be fed and watered every two hours...and they're right. If I don't eat for a while - especially protein - I get really shaky and feel a little more anxious.
21. Lemonade and other citrus foods give me the hiccups. No clue why.
22. I'm also partially allergic to artificial flavoring! It just makes me cough a little bit, nothing too serious.
23. I gravitate towards patterns and kitschy details when it comes to clothes, accessories, and jewelry. I.E. you'll find me wearing dinosaurs and unicorns a LOT.
24. Reading, literature, and storytelling have always been a comfort and a childhood mainstay for me. Of course, I love C.S. Lewis, but I also love Neil Gaiman's work.
25. I'm an optimist almost to a fault.
26. I find joy in the tiniest details.
27. If there's one thing that I've learned in my 27 years of life, it's that there's no shame in being yourself, exactly who God created you to be, and that normal is just a setting on a washing machine.

I Have Three Labradoodles

Boy howdy, do I have an update for you guys.

Last year, we had to say goodbye my dog Azalea. About six months before that, we said goodbye to her brother, Harvey. They were the best miniature schnauzers in the whole wide world. I grew up with them. They were the childhood puppies I had that I got to share my younger adventures with. It was hard to talk about their passing, let alone blog about it, but we were thankful for the 15 years we got to spend with those fur babies.

Fast-forward to the Fall of 2018. My family decided that it was time to open our home to two more fur babies.

So, on October 27th, we welcomed Atticus and Thoreau, our new chocolate Australian labradoodles.

Baby Atticus

 Baby Reau

Now, these are the first "big" dogs I've ever grown up with. But they are the most loving, precious, spunky fur baby siblings a girl can have. They've lit up my life in so many ways.

Hey, Sav, you may be asking me, Your post title clearly states that you have THREE labradoodles. Not two. Where's this third puppy?

Here's the part where we fast-forward quickly to the next month, November. Originally, my family wanted a boy and a girl, similar to Harv and Zae. The breeder we adopted Atticus and Thoreau from did not have a girl available, so Mom mentioned that if one of the girls became available, we'd be up to take her in. But the possibility was far from our minds, since all the little girl puppies had been reserved.

...until we got a text from our breeder saying, "Do y'all still want a little girl?"

They had one last girl puppy left because the owner who had originally reserved her couldn't take her in because of landlord restrictions. So, we enthusiastically said yes, and we took her in.

This is Magnolia, my little fur sister.

She was a little timid at first, but over time, she grew to love and feel more comfortable as part of our family. She is still a little shyer than her brothers when it comes to meeting brand-new people, but that's okay. I guess she's like me in that she's a little introvert.

How are they now?

Atticus, Lola, and Reau are four-and-a-half months old, and they still entertain/surprise/delight us to this day (of course!). Having labradoodles in the house has been a fun adventure every single day. The other day, Lola discovered how to jump on all the beds. Atticus is still leaping into my arms, a tradition since he was the tiniest puppy. And Thoreau still has this fascination with the microwave, especially when Dad makes bacon.

They are the best things to come into my life in a long time, and I am so beyond thankful for them.

Atticus, Thoreau, Magnolia...I love you guys. <3

Kingdom Hearts 3 | Disney, Kindness, Friendship, and Good Memories

image credit

Back on January 29, Kingdom Hearts 3, the long-awaited sequel and trilogy-ender to the Kingdom Hearts game franchise, launched to Playstation 4 and XBOX One. Needless to say, as a longtime fan of this series, I was super excited, and I preordered it the moment I could.

Kingdom Hearts is a crossover between Final Fantasy, a long-running fantasy series, and Disney. Players traverse various Disney worlds (settings from various movies such as Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story, Frozen, and SO many more) as a happy-go-lucky hero named Sora and his sidekicks Donald and Goofy (yes, the Disney duck and dog). The story gets convoluted quickly due to alternate universes, merging timelines, time travel, and a massive cast of characters who somehow mesh perfectly with the Disney universes they inhabit, but it's worth the ride for sure.

When I launched Kingdom Hearts 3, I'm 99% sure that I squealed "THAT'S SO CUTE!!" at the screen at least ten times in the first 30 minutes. The game itself is so light-hearted and fun. I mean, what game lets you attack enemies with classic Disney rides? I got to blast away some of the monsters with Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and I got to smash a Greek Rock Titan with the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad train. As a Disney park fanatic as well, this was exciting.  Also, there's a portion of the game where you traverse Arendelle, the kingdom in the movie Frozen, and there's sing-along portions in that level. This little Disney nerd was happy.

I played this game growing up, and to say this game is a long time coming is an understatement. The first game came out in 2002. I was ten years old. The second game came out in 2004. I was thirteen then. I even remember asking my mom if we could go to Gamestop to pick up Kingdom Hearts 2 the day it came out. I remember loving all of those characters and exploring the Disney worlds even back then. I would make up my own characters that fit into the universe as well.

Little did I know that those games actually influenced parts of my life, like my writing and my overall love of bright and colorful things, as well as great storytelling.

Now, I'm 27. I'm an adult. I've experienced a lot in the past 13 years in the real world. I graduated college. I experienced heartbreak. I have a job. And still, I experience so much joy picking up a Kingdom Hearts game and picking up a keyblade, even after all this time. I'm still working on beating this game, but I can tell you that I've learned that there's no reason to apologize for being who you are, even though it may come across as childish or too weird for some. Kindness and encouragement always wins, no matter what form it takes, Disney magic included.

I guess there's something to be said about a game that brings so much happiness, and about a game whose story aims to emphasize the importance of kindness, friendship, and staying true to yourself, even when the world around you goes dark.

[Savannah] in Wonderland is FIVE.

Five.
Years.
Of.
This.
Blog.

Talk about things that grow with you.

On January 7, 2019, my blog turned five years old. FIVE. I remember the day I created this little internet space: I created a blog while we were in Disneyworld on my dad's birthday. I even did some graphic design, too. The very first color scheme I had was pink and blue. The blog has gone through quite a bit of style changes since then, but I'm always happy to try new things with this blog's layout.

For some fun, here are some of the header/logo of the past:

Peach (2017)

Neon pink and Holo (Early 2018)

Teal and Holo (Late 2018)

Teal, Holo, & Ombre (Present Day!)

These days, I'm rocking the blue and teal ombre with holographic glitter (because I'm Savannah and that's what I do). The colors are based on my favorite combination of hair colors I've ever had: the blue and teal ombre underlights I got last year. After wearing them in my hair for a few months, I grew to love this color scheme, so I figured I'd transition those colors from my hair to my corner of the internet.

My hair is fully blonde again, but I'm so glad I went on such a fun hair color adventure in 2018.

I wanted to write a quick little update to let you know that A) I'm still here, and 2) I've been super busy. But I mainly wanted to let y'all know that I'm still here.

This blog has seen me through SO much of my life, from college to writing my second novel (Oh, yeah, I partook in NaNoWriMo again...and won!) And I intend to keep this blog around, so don't you worry...plenty more adventures are coming. :)

Happy 2019! See you soon! And stay awesome.

All-Time Favorite Bible Verses

Happy September!

In lieu of a Friday Five this week (since I just did a Monthly Favorites and I feel like I’d just be rehashing some of those in a normal Friday Five), I decided to list five of my all-time favorite Bible verses, and give them to you in pastel-colored graphic form that you can save to your phone, pin to Pinterest, message to someone, whatever.

Why? Well, for a few reasons: one, I know that a lot of you readers have started school or know someone who’s started school; when I was in school, Bible verses helped me a whole lot. Two, it always helps me to have scripture handy in times of trouble, whether that’s for me or someone I love. And three, I just wanted to share some of my favorites with you. :)

What are your favorite verses?

The Art of the To-Do List

One of my very first posts in my first year of blogging was on to-do lists. I still adore the to-do list; while it’s definitely not a new idea to stay on top of life and stay organized, there’s something to be said about making (and keeping) a to-do list on a daily or weekly basis. Keeping lists, at least for me, is crucial since I work from home.

Now, I definitely feel like there are different methods to keeping lists. In today’s post, I want to share some methods I’ve discovered with you, and you can modify them for your needs as you see fit. I’m going to also rank them from simple to more elaborate.

Good ol’ Notepads

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? The notepad is a good way to keep daily lists running, especially since you normally toss a sheet of notepaper (and by notepaper, in this case, I mean tear-off pads and sticky notes) once it’s done.

Plus, there are some cute notepads out there.

Like this one.

So, in short, notepads are good for:

• Short-term, day-by-day tasks
• Grocery/shopping lists
• Quick reminders and notes (stick them to your mirror or nightstand)

A Dedicated To-Do List Notebook

I consider this a step up from the traditional notepad in that you wouldn’t tear out these pages. Instead, you would keep track of your lists in a dedicated space.

When I was in middle school, we were actually required to keep one of these for homework. I actually wound up keeping this method through my college years, just because it was awesome having a list specifically for these tasks. For college, what I would do is go to the library, outline what I would do, and then highlight each task as I got it done. It kept me productive during my dedicated study sessions.

This one I bought for my last year of college was from May Designs.

I guess the 2013 me never got around to Labs 5B and 7B that day, ha!

The to-do list notebook is good for:

• Student things (homework, tasks, meetings, etc.)
• Keeping track of what you did during a given week

Within Your Agenda or Planner

Like to keep everything condensed in one spot? The planner method is for you.

I currently keep to-do lists in my Erin Condren planner. I use the vertical layout and dedicate one box to to-do lists. And it’s been a wonderful thing to see what I’ve needed to do not only during a given day, but within the context of a week.

Also, you can use this method in weekly and hourly layouts, too. It’s all up to you.

So, use the planner method for:

• Keeping both calendar events and to-do list items in the same place
• Keeping track of items throughout a week
• Making lists of things to get done during your week without assigning them to a specific day (Erin Condren planners have a sidebar that’s great for this, but other planners have space for this, too…shop around and see what you like.)

Bullet Journal!

Do you like to get creative? Say hello to your new little friend: the Bullet Journal.

The Bullet Journal, a system created by Ryder Carroll, pretty much turns your calendar and to-do list items into a huge listing system, and it’s a phenomenal tool for tons of people. A quick search on Pinterest for bullet journaling has some of the most beautiful artwork and layouts I’ve ever seen.

I’ve dabbled in this system before, and while it’s not the best system for me to use as my only planner (since it’s tricky to plan ahead with it), I will say that it’s amazing for keeping lists and tracking habits, as well as itemizing collections and things you want to do. Plus, I recommend using the bullet journal system if you’re a writer (for more info, check out my post here).

Bullet journaling would be a great fit for you for:

• Simplifying your planning and list systems into one notebook
• Keeping track of habits and things you want to see and do (especially on a monthly basis)
• If you love being creative with your listing, planning, and tracking (especially if you love the idea of a blank canvas to do it all in)

How do you keep to-do lists? Let’s talk about it! :)

Friday Five | 8/25/17

It’s Friday! (More like Fri-Yay, am I right? ;] )

Let’s talk about five specific things!

The Solar Eclipse!

Look how gray and dusky the sky is! And the street lamp!

It seemed like everyone was watching and waiting with bated breath for the eclipse on Monday…and I was one of them.

We weren’t in the exact path of totality, but it did get dark. Our street lamp turned on, and the crickets went crazy for a little while. It was as though it was 6 PM instead of 1 PM. I consider myself a space nerd, and I love stuff like this. It was really, really fun to watch the eclipse with my mom, and I’m glad I got to experience at least a small part of it.

The whole “writing 500 words” thing

It’s been going pretty well! I’ve been going back and forth between using Fighter’s Block and good old Scrivener to accomplish this. Have I been doing this all week? Well…I did miss Monday and Tuesday, but I DID make up for it and write 1300 words on Wednesday.

Library Days

Speaking of writing, I spent a couple days this week at the library doing some writing and NaNoWriMo planning.

Oh, what’s that? Did I mention NaNoWriMo?

I guess now’s a good time to announce that I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month this year! The past couple of Novembers, I spent the 30 days writing 30 short stories, essentially writing two anthologies with a grand total of 60 short stories now in my portfolio. Now, I feel like I’m finally ready to take the plunge and actually do NaNoWriMo for real. 50,000 words? Bring it.

(And, yes, I know that you’re supposed to wait until October to prep, but my novel needs a ton of character, world, and plot development before I move forward.)

Lemon Tea & Honey

I have been sick this week. The jankiest of colds has been going around, and I caught one. Yippee.

Luckily, herbal lemon and ginger tea and honey has helped. A lot. I drink that in addition to coffee if my throat’s bothering me.

“Look What You Made Me Do”

I can’t finish off a Friday Five without talking about Taylor Swift’s newest single that came out less than twelve hours ago.

Of course, I love her music. However, I’m curious to see what this turn to electro-pop-punk means for the rest of her album. But, I tell ya…she can write music. The lyrics are pretty awesome. And I'm excited for the video to be out Sunday!

What have you been loving this week?

Friday Five | 8/18/17

Hey, y'all! This Friday Five has some pretty epic stuff in it, not gonna lie.

Well, why wait when I can tell you all about it?

I published a short story!

"The Pirate College" launched Tuesday. It’s a story I had an absolute blast writing, and I am thrilled that it’s finally out! (If you want to buy a copy for Kindle or paperback, click here. If you want to find out more about my self-publishing and how I got started, click here.)

Bic Gelocity Pens

These have been my office supply of choice as of late. I love the bright colors and how fast they dry. (You can pick them up on Amazon here.)

Barista Parlor Coffee

Now, if y’all have been reading my blog for awhile, you know how much I love Barista Parlor. But it had been a good while since I enjoyed a cup of one of their specialty coffees, and, y’all, it was good. (The one I tried last night had cherry pie notes. Cherry pie!)

Fighter’s Block

These days, I’ve been trying to write at least 500 words a day to stay conditioned creative writing-wise, and also just because I love it. It’s been a fun habit to build.

But the thing that’s really helped me build that habit has been this web app. As you type, you play as a little character trying to fight off a monster. The more you type, the faster you win. The less you type, the monster has a chance of winning. Video games and writing? That’s a serious win-win for me.

If you’d like to try it, check it out here.

These Verses

"Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10

What have you been loving this week?

Just a quick disclaimer before I go: I am not being paid to advertise specific items. I just want to share what I love with you guys. :)

Will College Change Me?

I'm three years out of college. I actually started this blog in my last year of school, and it definitely feels like this blog has grown up with me. As such, I really haven't written anything student-wise or really anything relating to college life, just because it's not something I'm a part of now.

One of my younger cousins actually started college this week. I remember holding her the day after she was born, and she's like a little sister to me. Since she's going to college in my home state, she's actually spent a lot of time with us as of late, and it's been good getting to see her during her transition into college life.

All this said, this has gotten me thinking about a question I remember having back when I was starting college, and I'm sure a lot of my collegiate readers have thought this as well...will college change me?

Short answer? Yes.

Long answer? It depends on what you mean by change.

If I'm completely honest, I don't really like unknowns. And when I was about to start college, I was terrified of them. So, when I was told that I was probably going to change in college, I didn't know what to think.

Now, I can say that in hindsight, I did change. And change is good.

This change mainly came from faith. I made friends in college who were of like-minded faith. I grew closer to God in that I was the one calling the shots as to whether or not I would make the effort to go to church if I had the time to do so.

I also changed in that I got to pursue talents that I had, as well as opportunities I didn't know I would have. I got to be editor-in-chief of the school newspaper at the end of my college career, as well as dabble in the news department at a radio station.

Then, I changed in that I appreciated where I came from. I appreciated my hometown, as well as my home church, so much more than before I started college. And now that I'm out of school, that appreciation is definitely still there.

I say all this to say that as a college student, you should not be afraid of change. If anything, you should embrace it. Embrace every opportunity, every good and bad moment, and every peak and valley. You are there for a reason. Trust and walk with God through it all, because He loves you. Lean on family and friends.

This change will turn out good in the end. :)

Friday Five | 8/11/17

I’m kind of playing catch-up this week (since I didn’t feel like I had enough to constitute a Friday Five last week), but I have quite a bit to share with you guys!

The Little Mermaid

The girls and I went and saw a production of “The Little Mermaid” on stage at TPAC last week. It was so, so cute! I am a little biased towards the movie (I did grow up on Disney, after all), but it was still a lot of fun.

Jamba Juice Acai Bowls

I briefly mentioned these when I talked about Pure Barre, but after that workout…peanut butter, yogurt, and strawberries in an acai bowl never tasted so good. (I ordered a Chunky Strawberry bowl, for the curious.)

Haircut!

I got my hair cut this week! Nothing too crazy, but it was definitely time to take at least an inch and a half off for the rest of this summer.

Orange Julius

Post-haircut, I picked up some Dairy Queen and Orange Julius for my mom and I on the way home. Nothing truly beats an orange creamsicle-flavored beverage (or at least something frozen and orange). If I can’t get a Frozen Orange at the Varsity, this works (as well as the Orange Dream Machine from Jamba Juice).

What all have you been doing or loving this week? 

I Tried Pure Barre.

It’s been a good while since I’ve worked out.

I used to do Zumba a ton in college, but ever since they quit offering it (and I graduated a few years ago), I’ve been kinda off the workout bandwagon. 

So when my friend Kinsey invited me to a Pure Barre class with her this week, I was intrigued. I decided to go for it.

Would I recommend it? Well, yes…but it depends on your experience. I would definitely try to go to a “foundations” or some kind of beginner class first. While it was good to get thrown into the midst of it, so to speak, I would have liked to learn some of the techniques they use beforehand. That way, you know what kind of intensity is ahead.

And, y’all, it’s intense.

This is a full-body workout with trace elements of yoga and other exercise programs. Plus, weights, exercise balls, stretching tubes, and mats are involved (for some of the yoga bits). And it is very fast-paced, too…kind of like Zumba, where you follow the teacher without stopping, but with more intensity and no dancing. 

Plus, when it’s your first class, they work with you to make sure you at least know basic terminology before you get started. As such, it’s important to get there early. (Also, as there is a lot of floor exercising, I’d recommend leggings. Plus, they ask you to wear socks during the class, so make sure you have those.)

Afterwards, Kinsey and I went out for Jamba Juice. Because, why not?

If you want to try Barre for yourself, I’d recommend signing up for the free trial using their app. Then, that way, you have a full week to try the class out. Plus, I recommend going with a friend, too. (That's a good idea for any fitness class, just so it doesn't feel as intimidating.)

Will I be going back? Maybe someday. As I'm typing this, I'm pretty sore, so I may wait on going until later. But am I glad I tried it? Yes. :)

Have you ever tried Pure Barre or similar? What did you think of it?

What I'm Looking Forward To This Fall

I’m aware that it’s August, and not even close to Fall yet…especially since August is quite possibly one of the hottest months of the year in my home state of Tennessee.

But I’ve been thinking about Fall a lot. Not just because my birthday is almost 2 months away, but because I just love what Fall brings.

What does it bring?

1.Beanies. And sweaters, and scarves, and bundling up in general.

Ever since college, I’ve loved “Fall” clothes. Extra accessories - especially functional ones - can really pull an outfit together. Plus, given the cooler weather coming later (which will probably be closer to late October/November), it’ll help having those layers.

In the meantime, I’ll just rock utility jackets when it gets to the sixties.

2.Family gatherings.

I’ve always loved family gatherings, but now that I’m older, I truly appreciate them so much more. I mostly appreciate two things: getting to actually see family members I don’t see so often, and the little traditions we have (like various recipes and singing on the phone as a family to members for their birthdays).

3.Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Y’all know me well enough by now to know that seasonal drinks are my jam. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are absolutely no exception.

4.Boots!

I was actually just thinking about this the other day, but I love boots. Boots are the very best in the Fall, not only for the style aspect, but also for layering. And, when it gets to be winter, a little tread on your boots goes a long way.

5.Holidays

This kind of ties in with family gatherings, but I love Fall holidays, too. Halloween and Thanksgiving are the very best. Also, with holidays come festivals. My hometown puts on a wonderful Pumpkinfest that’s a ton of fun. Not to mention that there's a Trunk or Treat we do every year at my church. :)

My girls and I were the Queen of Hearts, Alice, and the Cheshire Cat last year to pass out candy for the kids. :)

What are you looking forward to this Fall?

My Erin Condren Life Planner Setup | Summer 2017

I've been using planners for a long, long time. I get it from my mom. :)

I'm no stranger to Erin Condren, either. Literally. I've heard her speak twice now (once at Geaux Wild in New Orleans, the second time at GO Wild in Nashville), and I've used her planners before. I keep coming back to these planners because of the layout and how easily it fits in with my life (more on that in a minute).

So, how do I use it?

Tools I Use

These days, I'm using colorful Sharpie art pens to write in events and things. I use stickers from The Glam Planner (YouTube beauty guru followers will be familiar with shop owner Elle Fowler, AKA AllThatGlitters21), and I use a variety of washi tape to mark off longer spans of time (like a river trip I went on recently).

Color Key

I've been using this color key for years...at least since college.  I was inspired by this video by - surprise! - Elle Fowler/AllThatGlitters21.

• Pink - work
• Orange - social
• Green - travel
• Turquoise - blogging
• Royal blue - dates
• Purple - misc. items
• Black - to-do list items
• Red - appointments/urgent

The Layout

My actual planning is very simple. I use my color key to write events (often putting them in clouds, pictured above), and then punctuate them with whatever "icon" stickers I have. I love these from Glam Planner because I can't get over how cute the anime-style characters are, and it's not too overwhelming on the page whenever I consult my planner on a day-to-day basis.

I also categorize my days. The Erin Condren vertical layout is separated into three boxes per day. The top box is To-Do (or important holidays, like birthdays and anniversaries), the middle box is work, the bottom box is social.

And that's pretty much it! Like I said, simple, but I love it. It fits my life the way I need it to. Do you use a particular planner? Let's talk in the comments! :)

Pre-Spring Thoughts

It's feeling less and less like winter all the time.

It's 69 degrees as I write this...hardly winter weather. But while this is normal for Tennessee, I can't help but wonder when we'll have consistent Spring weather. Because, honestly, I'm over the cold, and I'm looking forward to the sunshine and warm rays.

So, all this begs the question: what do I love about spring?

• The colors. It's not even March yet, and I've been seeing more blue skies lately. Bluer skies and green grass aren't mandatory for me to enjoy the weather, but it certainly does help.
• The candle scents. Bath and Body Works always releases fruity and/or baked good scents around springtime. You can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be shopping those sooner than later.
• The flowers. I guess this is cliche, but something about being able to see (and smell!) flowers after so much dry weather makes me super happy.
• The stuff to do. My hometown has a fantastic festival that comes around every April. Plus, there are vacations to be had (some coming up very soon for me!), coffee outings at cute places to enjoy, and more reasons to get out and enjoy the great spring weather. And let's not forget the holidays, too!

Sure, there's stuff about Spring to complain about: more bugs, specifically. However, the pros far outweigh the cons, and Spring is a just another way that I can enjoy God's creation. And I can't complain about that one bit. :)

Stranger Things

One night last summer, my mom and I were browsing Netflix, and I suggested that we watch a little show that people had been raving about called “Stranger Things.” Boy, oh, boy, were we in for a ride.

We were so hooked, we finished all eight episodes of the series in two nights.

Here's a spoiler-free plot synopsis: Stranger Things is the story of four best friends. One of those best friends goes missing. The town gets involved in his search, but what they find is far from what they expect.

Now, I normally don’t like horror. I usually stay away from things that may keep me up at night or anything with jump scares. I also stay away from horror just because I’m not a big fan of the stories behind them; I usually walk away from a horror movie thinking that the story was written around scares, not the other way around.

However, Stranger Things is a different ballgame entirely.

For starters, it’s centered around kids who are not only portrayed by talented actors, but are also extremely relatable on-screen. Not only are they having to deal with all the typical middle and high-school stuff, but they are also having to deal with the strange things going on in their hometown that may or may not be of this world. As a viewer, I really get a sense of what the main characters feel, and I’m rooting for the good guys to win the entire time.

(Speaking of main characters, I especially love the way they portray strong female roles in this series. There’s a reason why both leading actresses were each nominated for Golden Globes.)

Then, at the end of the day, it’s just a great story. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to have a well-written story in the face of TV that’s felt shallow or, at the very least, repetitive. Though Stranger Things is inspired by 80’s movies, it doesn’t feel like it rehashes them. If anything, it’s a tribute to them. And let’s not forget that soundtrack (which, by the way, The Clash’s song “Should I Stay or Should I Go” is a HUGE part of the show…my fellow fans will know what I’m talking about). And though it does get intense at times (thanks to the show's main monster), I don't mind it in the long run.

Season 2 doesn’t come out until Halloween. Until then, I may or may not go buy a box of Eggo waffles. 

January Favorites | 2017

Hello hello!

It has been a hot minute since I've done anything remotely close to a "monthly favorites" roundup. I'd have to say the last one has been a Mondays are for Music post, and that's just for favorite songs.

So, I wanted to change that. This year, I want to consistently share my favorite things with you, from Bible verses to travel to beauty to whatever else, on a monthly basis.

Before we get into the favorites, though, I need to mention that none of these links are sponsored. I mention specific brands, but hey, certain brands just work. (Or, as we say down south, if it ain't broke, don't fix it ;) ).

With that, let's get right to it! Here's what I loved in January.

Beauty

January Beauty Favorites | 2017 by savannahinwonderland featuring highlight makeup

This month, I experimented with various eyeshadows/palettes, but I’ve been having a lot of fun with makeup in general lately. I’ve also gotten back into using highlighters, which I’d been meaning to try again for awhile...I LOVE this blush/highlighter set from Too Faced.

Then again, Too Faced makeup is awesome. There's a reason why it's the only brand of makeup I've been obsessed with, at least eyeshadow-wise.

Hair

I got a haircut this month, which is always a great time, but this particular appointment, my hairstylist surprised me with curls since we had extra time.

So, as you may have figured, curling my hair has become a new favorite. To curl my hair on my own, I use the Bedhead by Tigi Curlipops 1 inch clampless barrel with Bedhead’s Masterpiece hairspray (which I have been loving since high school…it smells like sweet tarts!). 

Music

I’ve been into a wide variety of music lately, from dance to rock to pop, including some classic rock.

Here’s my top 5 songs for the month:

1. Now and Later - Sage the Gemini
2. Paris - The Chainsmokers
3. Working for the Weekend - Loverboy
4. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
5. I Got You - Bebe Rexha

Also…yes, I still love my record player. :) 

Places

Palm Springs, California. 

I will never not love that place.

Bible Verses

Last, but certainly not least, I want to share with you my favorite Bible verses. I’ve never added these to a list of favorites before on this blog, and I think it’s high time I do so. My faith is such a huge part of my life, and I want to share as much of my walk with God with you guys as I possibly can.

But anyways, these two verses in particular resonated with me this month:

"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” 

- Isaiah 41:13

“Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

- Isaiah 41:10

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What have been your favorite things this month? Let me know in the comments! :)