04 | tools to document the everyday life of your teen

Documenting your teen isn’t about making sure you have a professional camera or a professional photographer following you around everywhere you and your teen go…it’s about making sure that you’re using the tools that you have and maybe finding a couple new ones to make your life a bit easier.

The majority of the photos of my children are taken with the camera on my phone. I am a photographer so I do have the big camera and I do use that at many sporting events for the kids and I also bring it out in the fall for their yearly photo shoot…other than that, it doesn’t often make an appearance (unless my daughter and I have scheduled a fun photo shoot or are out location scouting). I have found that for the most part, my phone can do the job. Remember…you’re not trying to win any photographic awards with these photos…you’re simply documenting your life and the lives of your teens. No need to get super fancy here or you run the risk of not doing anything.

THE TOOLS THAT I USE TO DOCUMENT MY TEENS

1. My camera on my phone - I have a Samsung. I go back and forth with wanting an iPhone or just sticking with what I have. Honestly…I think the differences are pretty negligible. It’s really just about using the tools that you have. Someday I might switch back but for now, I’m happy.(Although the available apps are different and I do believe that Apple has a bit of a leg up on photo editing apps…see #2)

2. Editing apps on my phone - I don’t usually bother downloading photos from my phone onto my laptop to edit. I use apps that are available in the Google Play store but I know that there are some awesome apps available to Apple users that developers are slow to bring to Android users. I consistently use VSCO and love their platform. The presets that they have and the ability to create recipes has made this the only editing app that I use. There are others available that are amazing as well: PicTapGo, A Color Story (I do love this one too),

3. Instagram - I’m a big believer in using instagram to document our lives and I love that each of my children have their own accounts. Not everyone would agree with me on that and that’s ok. You need to do what is right for your family and your social media rules. I have over 3000 photos posted to my Instagram account and I love looking back through my account and seeing the changes in the kids over the years. I always ask permission before posting a photo of my kids on my account as I ask the same of them :)

4. 1 second everyday app - I haven’t been consistent with this awesome app since 2016 but I love looking back on this video. It’s something that I would like to try and work into my daily routine for the remainder of 2019…remember - just because you didn’t start on January 1st doesn’t mean you can’t start now. (see my video at the end of this post)

5. Blurb books or Chatbooks - there are some great tools out there to make books from your digital images. I used to be an avid scrapbooker but my interests have changed over the years. I love looking back on the old books that I used to create when the kids were little, but for me creating a digital book with just the images is an easier way for me to get the photos printed where we can touch them and experience them.

MY ONE SECOND EVERYDAY VIDEO FROM 2016

This really was the coolest project. I have seen many out there that have done some amazing projects with this app with beautiful images and music and you can easily get stuck feeling like yours won’t measure up. I promise it’s not about that. I look back at this video and I am so happy that I captured these little moments. This is the most perfect video representing a year of my children’s lives. Doesn’t get much better than that.

What tools do you use to document your teens? Don’t worry about having the latest and greatest tools. Have the tools that work for you and your lifestyle. Make it easy on yourself or you’ll get stuck not taking any photos at all. Make sure that you aren’t getting caught up in capturing the most perfect “instagrammable” moments. We want to ensure that we are capturing real life. Ask your kids for help, make sure you’re getting in some of the images and most importantly…just do it. These years go by so quickly and our memories fade. Having photos ad videos to share with them and their children someday is something you don’t want to miss out on.

xo,
c

how to get up an hour earlier

Part of my morning routine calls for getting up an hour earlier that I used to…so that I have time to get all of the things done that contribute to me being more successful…and not rushing around all morning and falling behind.

I’ve never considered myself a morning person and I’ve always loved to sleep in. But now that I’m getting quality sleep I’m finding that it’s easier to get up in the mornings…most of the time. The following are some tips that I use daily to get myself up and out of bed at a reasonable hour…even if I might not want to.

disclaimer…I don’t have babies that don’t sleep through the night or other things that might make it unreasonable to get up early…I often simply don’t want to (sleep is amazing, but attacking your dreams is so much more rewarding). These are the things that I have found that help me outsmart myself.

5 TIPS TO GET UP AN HOUR EARLIER

1. Give yourself a reason. I often used to dread getting out of bed because I knew that as soon as I did I would have a house full of people needing me for this or that. Once I realized that getting up before everyone else gave me time to ease into the day (not everyone hops out of bed singing You Are My Sunshine) then I understood the value of getting myself up when I might rather stay curled up in bed. And I for sure regret it on the days I let the snooze button get the best of me.

2. Create a bedtime and morning routine that you love. Getting enough sleep is KEY to getting your butt out of bed in the morning. And having a set routine for yourself that you love only makes that process a bit easier. Figure out what it is that you need and want to do and do it. Read the posts on Creating a Morning Routine for Self Care and Creating a Bedtime Routine for Self Care on the blog and print out the planning PDFs.

3. When you’re falling asleep at night don’t play the “if I fall asleep NOW I’ll get x hours of sleep” game. It’s horrible for getting you to actually fall asleep and shouldn’t play into what time you get up in the morning.

4. Get up at the same time every day. Weekends too. If you didn’t get very much sleep the night before, don’t give yourself the “out” of allowing you to sleep in the next morning. However tempting this might be, it makes it brutal to fall asleep the next night and so the cycle begins.

5. Plain and simple. Just do it. It’s really not that hard in the grand scheme of things.

COMMON ROADBLOCKS FOR GETTING UP ON TIME

1. That snooze button - just don’t touch it. Put your alarm clock on the opposite side of the room if you have to so that you ensure that you actually get up when your alarm goes off.

2. Not getting enough sleep - see mentions of your bedtime and morning routines above. I promise that these really help.

3. Freezing cold room vs cozy warm bed. I’m pretty sure that warm bed is amazing, but you need to develop an easy system to beat the “it’s too cold to get out of bed” excuse.

4. Not having something to look forward to in the morning. Work on creating that Morning Routine. It makes a difference.

5. Your partner or roommates or children like to sleep in and you don’t want to wake them is a great excuse to catch a few more z’s. But that is all it is. If you need to be loud - get out of the house. Otherwise create a quiet peaceful morning routine that gets you jumping out of bed and attacking your goals and dreams!

What do you do to get up on time? Are you someone who hits snooze or do you wake before your alarm clock even sounds? What tips and tricks have you employed in your life if you’ve never been a morning person before but are trying to make yourself one? Do you see the benefits of getting up an hour earlier?

xo,
c

eo | uplifting diffuser blends

Creating diffuser blends to invoke a feeling or mood is one of my favorite things about using essential oils. At home we use different blends for sleep support, immune support, emotional support - happy, calming, festive (holidays!!) and more. It’s absolutely freezing in this house right now so I’m diffusing all of the happy and uplifting blends in all of the rooms today.

Some of my favorite oils are the ones that I smell and they just make me happy. Joy was one of my first loves and I still use it daily (either in a diffuser, as perfume or both). There are some oils that I just can’t seem to enjoy (geranium and bergamont both come to mind) however when they’re mixed in a diffuser blend they seem to work perfectly.

What are your favorite oils to use to brighten your mood? I have found that the citrus oils always seem to make an appearance for me when I’m looking for happy blends. There’s also nothing quite like Valor to make me smile.

xo,
c

04 | creating a bedtime routine for self care

We’ve talked about creating a morning routine for self care and part of that process is ensuring you get enough sleep the night before to be able to get up early enough to not feel rushed and out of control in the mornings.

WHY IS A BEDTIME ROUTINE GOOD FOR SELF CARE?

1. Creating a solid bedtime routine helps you fall asleep faster to allow your self enough sleep to start your following day with intention and strength.

2. It gives you the opportunity to devote some time to yourself to reflect on your day.

3. It gives you the opportunity to take care of your skin, teeth and body.

4. It gives you the opportunity to reflect on your day.

5. It gives you the opportunity to create a habit that is beneficial for your mind and body…the more good habits you create in your life the more momentum you build towards your goals and dreams.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE

1. Set a bedtime - one that allows you enough sleep with your routine and try to stick to it.

2. Gratitude reflection - take time every night to reflect on your day and the things that you are grateful for…small things and big things. You can journal this in a book or simply think through them. I do this as I’m in bed preparing to fall asleep. If you pray, make sure to allow time for this as well.

3. Dim lighting - when you are going through your bedtime routine, make sure that the lights aren’t overly bright to keep you awake. This is time to wind down and relax your eyes and body.

4. Stretch your body - include deep breathing and stretch your muscles to relax. There are also some great nighttime yoga routines that can help with this, google or pinterest will bring up lots of options.

5. Pamper yourself - take enough time to wash the day off of your face. Take care of your teeth, shower in the evening if it helps relax you. Take care of your skin and hair.

6. Set your alarm for the morning - be realistic and make sure that you are allowing for enough quality sleep. Make sure that when that alarm goes off in the morning you are not hitting snooze…not even once.

7. Prepare clothing for following day - are you working out in the morning? Make sure your clothes are ready and waiting. Don’t waste time in the morning or give yourself an excuse to not follow through with your intentions.

8. Think through the following day - anything big coming up tomorrow? I try to make sure that I go through my planner at the end of each work day. I don’t want those unfinished tasks floating in my mind and keeping me awake at night. Get them down on paper and rest easy in knowing that you’ve set yourself up for success the following day.

9. Essential oil sleep blend - I am a huge believer in essential oils for sleep. The blend that I use has given me the best sleep of my life and keeps me asleep. Falling asleep was always a huge problem for me and finding something to help me was life changing…really. Look for the recipe below.

10. Calm spa like music - the diffuser that I use in my bedroom also plays different music. I choose a tune that is simple with no pattern so that I can fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. This has made a huge difference in the quality of my sleep every night.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

1. Your phone

2. Social media

3. Too much food or drink too close to bedtime

4. Bright lights

5. Excuses - just do it. I know you’re tired, you might think it’s ok to skip a night. But the habits that you are creating are so very beneficial to your overall health and wellness.

HOW TO STICK TO YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE

1. See number 5 above. Don’t give yourself an out. No matter how tired you are or how “just this once” you’re going to skip washing your face…don’t. Take the time to take care of yourself.

2. Have everything that you need for your nighttime routine stocked and ready. Don’t make yourself go looking for the things that you need.

3. Make sure that you have properly closed out your work day - having unfinished tasks swirling through your mind at bedtime makes it very difficult to unwind and relax.

4. Have a set routine. Use the worksheets that you can download at the end of this post to create a routine that you can stick to.

5. Make sure that you love your routine. Give yourself something to look forward to, create a relaxing routine that you want to follow each night for better sleep and wellness.

HOW I SET MYSELF UP FOR SUCCESS AT BEDTIME

1. I set up my diffuser first thing when I go to my room at night - the sounds and the smells get me relaxed and keep me on track with the habits I am creating for myself.

2. My skincare routine is one that I love and see results from so I don’t feel as though I’m wasting my time. I see the benefits and love the way the products help my skin and add to the relaxed feeling I am trying to create for myself.

3. I properly closed out my workday earlier and know what tomorrow holds for myself. I’m not trying to remember the things that I need to do the next day. I think through what I need to wear and I get my clothes ready for my workout (which is still in progress for me…but I’m working on creating this habit).

4. I try not to eat or drink too close to bedtime.

5. I have created a process where I don’t have to think about the next step. Like putting on your seat belt in the car, it’s a habit and I know what is expected of me every night.

What kinds of things do you want to include in your bedtime routine? What are the possible things that might throw you off track? Are your nights all going to be the same or will you have varying bedtimes and routines? What can you do to keep yourself disciplined long enough to see the benefits of this self care practice?

xo,
c

03 | what to document about your teen

When the kids are little it is so easy to know what to document - every little thing feels like a huge milestone. When they venture into the teen world everything seems to mix together. We get the big moments (learners permit and first day of school type stuff) but we often forget the everyday stuff. These are the things that their memories are made of. These are the things we will want to remember when they’re out on their own.

ideas on what to document about your teen

Documenting the everyday little details can be daunting…what to you take a photo of? What do you do with that photo? My kid doesn’t want their photo taken…on and on. With this handy list, you should have a great starting point on things to be looking for when you’re thinking of documenting the everyday life of your teen. Something to remember and remind yourself…all of these photos are not meant to be posted online. These are for your memories and to document the lives of your loved ones…don’t use these images to embarrass your teen or to make them uncomfortable. Get them on your side with photographing these little everyday details.

01| home life

1. bedroom

2. what they do for fun

3. sibling life at home

4. sleep schedule

5. eating habits

02| school life

1. how they get there

2. what they wear

3. where they study

4. their course load

5. their grades

03| social life

1. their friends

2. what they do for fun outside the home

3. sports or clubs

4. dances or other after school activities'

5. what the family does together

04| happy moments

1. birthdays

2. drivers license

3. graduation

4. winning moments in sports or other activities

5. big accomplishments

05| hard moments

1. losing moments in sports or other activities

2. when things don’t go as planned

3. messes

4. sickness

5. all of the “lasts”

This is not a complete list (there are so many things to photograph and document!) but hopefully it gives you some ideas on the areas that you need to be looking…and make sure you’re looking at those situations for ways to document the tiny details as well as the broad overall feel of the moment. We will dig into ways to do just that as we get deeper into each subject in the coming weeks.

xo,
c

girl wash your face | review

I had noticed a lot of the people that I looked up to in business and social media had posted photos of this book…how they were so happy that they had grabbed a copy and how it was life changing. I’m all about life changing books -it’s what I’m always looking for when I grab a new book to read. I want something that is going to change me, allow me to see something differently than I had in the past, speak to me in a way I hadn’t been ready to hear before…

And this book delivered. And not only that…Rachel Hollis speaks to me and encourages me in a way that I need to hear. So I listen and I read and I watch all of the things that she puts out there.

When I read a personal development/self help/business book I often do it with highlighter in hand and notebook nearby. I read these types of books quickly, often skimming though the parts that might leave me less than inspired but making sure that I get all the good stuff down so I can revisit those thoughts that really resonated with me.

Have your read the book? Maybe listened to her podcast? Watched her Made For More documentary? I’d love to hear your thoughts…and have you pre-ordered her next book? I’m so ready to read it.

xo,
c

eo | all about essential rewards with Young Living

If you’re a member of Young Living you have likely heard all about Essential Rewards. You might not be sure about why this is something you need or if it’s something that you even want in your life.

When I signed up with Young Living at the end of 2017 I decided I was going all in. I was going to slowly start switching out products that we had in our home with healthier versions and I also had a pretty big wish list of oils and other products that I wanted from the catalog (if you haven’t looked through yours yet - you need to! There are so many great products in there!). I signed up with Essential Rewards when I ordered my kit and picked a few items that would get me up to the promo levels.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE ON ESSENTIAL REWARDS

1. Free stuff….that’s right! There are new promos every month with items that you get for FREE that you might not otherwise have tried.

2. You earn points that you can use to pay for products - hello more free stuff!!

3. Customize your order each month - you’re not stuck with the same items or the same spending amount. Maintain a 50PV order each month to maintain your status.

4. Exclusive ER kits that are available for amazing discounts of some great YL products.

5. There’s no contract so you can cancel at any time…but why would you want to? I love when my YL box shows up on my doorstep each month - knowing that I’m bringing healthy goodness into my home every month.

HOW TO GET ON ESSENTIAL REWARDS

1. Go to your YL Virtual Office - not sure how? Get in touch with your enroller today!

2. Click on “Essential Rewards” in the menu bar (this is also where you’ll change and update future orders).

3. Follow the instructions online to set up your monthly order - you’l choose your date (which you can push through earlier certain months if you want to), your items and choose payment and shipping type (if you’re not on YL Go yet…you’re missing out!)

4. Be sure to note your ER processing date in your phone or calendar to can remember to go in and update your order each month.

5. Set up PV Assist if you would like - it’s a great tool to ensure that your order doesn’t dip below your set amount each month so you don’t miss out on promos.

6. Make sure to check the promos each month to see the great stuff that you can earn for free!

THE BASICS

I love that I (currently) earn 20% back on every monthly wellness box through Young Living (not on my quick orders though…so I always spend a little time ensuring that I’m getting everything I might need in my ER order). I don’t get those perks at the other places that I shop for myself and my family.

Not a Young Living member yet and want to jump on board and join my team? I would love to walk this journey with you. Click the button below or send me a message and let’s talk it through!

xo,
c

03 | creating a morning routine for self care

One of the greatest things that you can do for your self care is to create a morning routine that sets the rest of your day up for success. There are many people out there that would agree and they all have ideas on the very best way to do it…my opinion? The best morning routine is the one that you look forward to…the one you’re excited to wake up to and the one that you can stick with. Make sure to download the worksheet at the end of this post to create your own morning routine!

why is a morning routine good for self care?

1. You give yourself something that you love to wake up to in the morning…if you dread getting up to a thousand things on your to do list - you need some “me time” first to ease into your day and prepare yourself for what’s ahead.

2. You have some time in the morning before everyone is pulling you in different directions just for yourself and it gives you the opportunity to set yourself up for success for the day with zero distractions.

3. You give yourself the opportunity to self reflect on your goals and dreams.

4. You know what to expect from yourself everyday, a consistent routine is key to success.

5. You give yourself a few wins before the world is even awake and moving…keep up that streak of successes going throughout your day,

what to include in your morning routine

1. Goal setting/reflecting - if you take time every day to reflect on your goals you have the ability to look closer at those goals and your to do list and make sure that they are in alignment as much as possible.

2. Gratitude journaling - write down 3-5 things that you’re grateful for every day, big or small things, but make sure you find something.

3. Water - you can have your coffee or your tea or whatever you need - but make sure to get in some water as well asap! And keep drinking it throughout the day.

4. Personal growth - reading is the best, just try and get 10 minutes in every morning or listen to a great podcast while you’re getting number 5 crossed off your list.

5. Exercise - this is lacking in my morning routine right now…but I’m working on it. It is so vital to get your blood pumping. You can do something strenuous, something calming and centering like yoga, go for a walk or a run - anything that you can stick with and that you enjoy. And if you crave variety make sure to mix it up so you don’t get bored and give up.

6. Open the curtains and make your bed. Another great and easy win for the day. It’s simple and often forgotten, but it makes a huge difference. Let in the light.

7. A good healthy breakfast. If you have the time (or make the time), make yourself a breakfast that can carry you through your morning and refuel you without making you sluggish.

8. Take care of your skin and teeth, shower and get dressed in something that makes you walk tall and feel great. Even if you’re working from home…even if you’re not “working”. Make the effort every day to take care of your face and body.

9. Attack your to do list. What needs to get done? However you work best - either do those hard things first or tackle all the little things. Write it down, get it out of your mind and get the work done. (revisit this list throughout your day and especially at the end of your day to set your agenda for the following morning so nothing is looming over you with a chance of being forgotten)

10. Smile, know that you’re giving yourself the best start to your day and working towards relieving stress in your life. Be proud of the wins that you’ve already accomplished today.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

1. The snooze button

2. Email

3. Social media

4. Distractions

5. Unhealthy foods

how to stick to your morning routine

1. Get enough sleep the night before - whenever possible. I know that sometimes this is beyond your control, but do the best you can to get to bed at the same time each night to allow for enough sleep. Create a nighttime routine that will help with this as well.

2. Make sure that the clothes that you need in the morning are right there for when you wake up and that you don’t have any excuses for just staying in bed. Take away the decision making process.

3. No snooze. Seriously. Don’t break the promises to yourself that you made when you went to sleep the night before. If you’re tired and don’t want to get up, tell yourself you can sneak in a nap later, or that you’ll go to sleep earlier tonight (if you can). Just get up. Put your alarm clock in the other room or as far away from you as possible to make sure you have to get out of bed. (Read Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule)

4. Have a set routine. Take the guesswork out. Make it known that this is just what you do. You are a person that gets up early and works through a list of things that are good for your mind, body and soul. This is just who you are. Stand firm in that belief.

5. Make sure that you love your routine, give yourself something in your morning routine that you really love and can look forward to.

great resources to make your mornings amazing

1. the miracle morning book - a great book by Hal Elrod that talks all about morning routines and what he believes you should be including in yours.

2. 5 second rule book - a great book by Mel Robbins on getting yourself unstuck and willing to go after what you want.

3. leuchtturm 1917 book for journaling - I use one of these books daily for my morning journaling of gratitude and goal setting.

4. keurig - quick and easy, one cup and a little pod is all I need and I make sure that the water is full the night before.

5. girl wash your face - a great book to start off your personal development reading if you haven’t already read it.

how i set myself up for success in the morning

1. I ensure that I fall asleep quickly by creating a spa like atmosphere with my nighttime routine…even when I’m feeling too tried to do it. I have found that the nights that I have skipped I’m far less likely to get up when my alarm goes off in the morning.

2. I set my alarm for the same time every morning - and try my very best not to hit snooze.

3. My workout clothes for the morning are set out - just need to get myself back into the habit of actually working out :) this has been an on and off again struggle for me and finding a way to incorporate it in a simple and seamless way is the best for me. I need to work out at home and have everything readily accessible otherwise I find myself making excuses and putting it off.

4. My oils for my diffuser are ready with my wake up blend (joy + orange + grapefruit), the ritual of doing this helps me remember to slow down and enjoy the moment a little longer and move through my mornings with purpose.

5. My notebook is ready, my book to read is ready, my coffee and water cups are ready. I gather all of my things and sit at my desk and get to work. I know my routine every day and because I don’t have to stop and think or look for anything I don’t get distracted...usually.

What are you going to make sure to include in your morning routine? Will your weekends look different than your weekdays? How can you best set yourself up for success and create little wins for yourself everyday? I would love to hear all about your morning routine, drop a note in the comments about what works well for you and where you might be struggling.

xo,
c

02 | getting them on your side

Your child is growing up so fast…how is it that it feels like just yesterday they were following you around everywhere you went and now all you seem to get are requests for rides? These middle school and high school years seem to go faster and faster and all of a sudden you realize that the last photo you were able to get of your son was on the fist day of the previous school year. Now more than ever you need to be getting photos of your children, and the easiest way to do that is to get them on your side.

photo disclaimer…I asked my son to pose that way for me, he’s really pretty great about allowing me to photograph him and now that he’s a teen I always make sure he knows what the purpose of the photo is before taking it.

5 TIPS FOR DOCUMENTING YOUR TEENS AND GETTING THEM ON YOUR SIDE

1. Make sure you set clear boundaries and expectations with them about when and how you’re going to photograph them and what you’re planning on doing with those images. When you’re planning on posting an image of your child online, ask them first (don’t you ask the same of others when they’re wanting to post images of you?). Show them the photo, ask if it’s ok with them to post it. Explain why it’s important to you and let them know how proud you are of them. And remember, not every photo needs to exist online. Take photos just for your family…and print them.

2. Don’t use the photos that you take of your child to embarrass or tease your teen and try not to bribe them for photos. This is important because it builds trust with your child and you become more of a team.

3. Talk to them often about their lives and what is important to them…if they ever ask for you to take a photo of something that they love, do so without hesitation. Ask them to see the photos that they take on their phones…selfies are awesome (ask them to send you a couple) and see what else they are taking photos of.

4. Explain why it’s important to you to document their lives and the role those images will play in their own lives when they are older. If you have images of yourself from your teen years, show them. Tell them about your life at that time. I love looking through old photos with my kids, showing them the things in the background, some of the furniture that their grandparents still have and the strange technology that we had “way back then”. You don’t want them looking back through their teen years and only having yearbook images to prove that they were there…and you can’t rely on the 10, 000 selfies that they have on their phones.

5. Ask to take photos with your teen. GET IN THE PHOTO WITH THEM! If we expect to take (and potentially post on social media) images of our children we must show them that is a safe and reasonable request. If we are constantly shying away from the camera ourselves and saying “I just need to lose a few pounds first”, how are we going to instill confidence in our own children? And the most important thing to remember? They love us, they simply see their parent and they want to exist in photos with us. Trust me. There will be a day that those silly photos you take with your child will be some of the most important things that they possess.

If you’d like to read up on more tips to document the everyday, take a look at the blog series I wrote a while back about Documenting Your Everyday. And come back next week…we’ve got more to discuss.

xo,
c

how to create a vision board

Many people (myself included) believe that a great way to help you visualize your dreams daily and work towards making them a reality is to create a vision board. These can be done in several ways and can be beneficial to working some of the things that you want in your life.

This is the second year in a row that I’ve made a physical vision board. I love having it out in the open and in a spot that I can see every day.

Why to create a vision board

1. Creates a visual reminder of the goals + dreams that you have set for yourself

2. A creative way to express yourself

3. Selecting the images and arranging them helps solidify your goals

4. Consistent visualization of your goals realized

5. It’s just fun…trust me

how to create a vision board

1. Use your Pinterest account and make a secret or public board and start saving images you love (you can check mine out here: 2019 vision board on pinterest)

2. Go grab a bunch of your favorite magazine and start cutting out images that speak to your dreams

3. Use some of your own photos that you’ve taken for more inspiration

4. Use drawings or sketches or handwritten/hand drawn quotes

5. Create your board using a combination of all of the above

what to do with your vision board

1. Hang it somewhere in your office so that you can see it everyday

2. Hang it in your walk in closet so you see it every morning + night

3. Take a photo of it and use it as your wallpaper on your phone

4. Hang it in a spot in your home that you pass by often

5. Revisit it throughout the year, don’t just walk by it everyday. Take a moment and look closely at these images that meant something to you when you created the vision board…getting closer to your dreams yet? If not, step up your game.

HOW I MADE MINE

For my vision board I started compiling images on a pinterest board late last year - things that went along with my One Little Word, anything that struck me as visually appealing. Clothing that I liked, hair cuts that I love, food that I enjoy, quotes and other visual reminders of some of my big goals. I added all of these to a board in pinterest and then started weeding through them. I saved the images (some of them are mine from my instagram account) and printed them out on photo paper in varying sizes. I accidentally printed the photos on the back of the photo paper and I loved the matte finish, so I kept going with that - happy accident :) After I printed them out I laid them all out and sorted into categories and started arranging. Once I was mostly happy I started securing them to a poster board and hung it up in my office to see every day.

Have you thought about creating your own vision board? I would love to see it! Most importantly have fun - there’s no wrong way to do this!

xo,
c