This year I had 0 dollars and 0 cents so I had to really cut back on my Christmas expenses. One of those expenses was gift wrapping. I like putting a personal spin on presents I give to people because it's that extra thought that counts, right? So this year, I made my own Christmas tag to put on presents. It was super easy and I had a lot of time so why not.

A little while back, I got into watercolor painting. Watercolors are my absolute favorite kind of painting so I went to Michael's and picked up some paint and paper. So, I already had the supplies on hand to make these tags.

I got the three different green paints and just started painting. I painted the brush strokes from side to side and did a lot of layers of them. When I was finished, I let it dry over night. Then, I cut out a cutout of a Christmas tree. You can get as elaborate as you would like but I made my somewhat simple. I then traced the trees on the painted paper and cut them out and voila! I put a hole in the tag so I could string them through the rope. You can also tape them onto the presents or put them in a bag! You can make them as little or as big as you would like! Have fun with it! Let me know what you think!

So this dish is the mother of all holiday appetizers. It is both elegant and delicious. It is perfect to serve with any holiday or winter meal. We served this last Christmas before the big meal. It is seriously so simple.

Here's what you need:

• 8 oz package of Brie


• Whole cranberry sauce- we used homemade but canned will do


• Baking dish

Here's what to do:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F


• Place the brie in the baking dish- you can cut off the top of the brie or leave it on


• Put the cranberry sauce on the brie


• Place it in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until you see the cheese has melted

Take the dish out of the oven and dig in as soon as possible! Serve with whole grain crackers. Let me know what you think! What kinds of appetizers do you have around the holidays?

illy whole bean coffee

The hospitality there was amazing. The Italian stereotypes are completely and utterly true when it comes to wanting to welcome you into their home and feed you tons of food. There were many a morning where my mom and I rolled out of breakfast. Giorgio was the name of the man who made that all possible.

Not only was the food amazing, which I talked about in an earlier blog post, but so was the coffee or shall I say the cafe Americano. Cafe Americano was typically served black in a beautiful hotel silver coffee dispenser. The cafe Americano, when served black, was so tasty but the part that made Italian coffee stand out in my eyes was the dispenser right next to the cafe Americano one, the latte caldo. Latte caldo means hot milk in Italian. So I would grab a glass, pour some cafe Americano into it and then some of the latte caldo. It was so simple and so amazing.

I loved the coffee so much that I asked our friend Giorgio what kind they used in their restaurant and they told me they used the Illy brand of coffee. So, as soon as we got home, my mom bought 7 cans of Illy coffee. It's sold in most high end grocery stores and also online! So, every morning, we start our day with a little Italy.

Welp, as most of you can guess, I miss the food the most. But, particularly, I miss the breakfasts. Each hotel I stayed in came with an amazing European breakfast spread. In most countries, this meant lots of cheese, meat, and bread. I didn't see a pancake once. Hey, I'm definitely not complaining.

We would have a set time to meet downstairs for breakfasts and that was great on most mornings. However, it was definitely something to look forward to!

One of my favorite things to do was make my English breakfast tea and grab a mini loaf of bread- typically one with lots of little nuts and seeds, a piece of brie cheese, and a jam/preserve of some kind of fruit. The combo was unbelievable!!!

Another thing I absolutely adored was the coffee. The coffee in Italy especially was to die for. Everything in Europe, especially food is so craftily done. They take their time and use only the best and freshest ingredients to make their meals special. I really appreciated this. It's one of those things that America should really catch up on...

Salzburg, Austria

                                                                   




















Upon my return from Europe, I have had the ability to reflect on so many things. The number one thing being how lucky I am. I was able to visit three of the most beautiful countries in the world: Austria, Germany, and Italy and lots of cities and towns. Some of those include: Salzburg, Wien, Munich, Prien, Hallstatt, Brannau am Inn, and Venice.

Salzburg, Austria was my home base throughout my travels and as a result became something so near and dear to me. It became a second home. Austria was the most amazing place I had ever been to. The scenery, the people, the lifestyle, the system (education, healthcare, retirement, etc.), the food, the cafes. I can go on for ever. So many times I questioned why can't America be like this?? Italy was just as great. Being able to see a city entirely dependent on water was amazing. The sheer warmth and kindness the people of Austria, Germany, and especially Italy offered up was incredible.

As I write this, I miss these places so greatly. It still feels so surreal that I was halfway around the world. My body is not yet used to the time differences and my soul is not yet used to the experience differences. There is no way I could begin to write about my experiences and give them the full body and life they deserve in one post. So, I will be doing a series of wrap-ups about my experiences in Europe over the upcoming weeks. I'm so excited to share with you all the gems of experiences I've been so blessed to have.

This salad is the most simple salad to prepare on planet Earth. Most salads are easy to make and assemble but this is is probably the most delicious. I first had it 4 or 5 summers ago while on the Cape with my Aunt and sister. It reminds me of summer in it's shear simplicity and fresh taste. The salad has only 4 ingredients that can be found in any market or store. It is so beautiful and so fresh it's a must on a brunch menu. 

Ingredients:

• 1 small or medium sized seedless watermelon
• 2 ripe mangos
• 1/4 cup of julienned mint leaves- about 8 or 9 leaves
• 1 lime

Credit: Aglet

So, as most of you all know, I am going to Europe for a month on May 11th (5 days, AH!!). I have so much to do I can't even think about it. I am super excited about this experience and intend on taking full advantage of it. I felt the best way to do this was to make a bucket list. I'll be going to Salzburg, Vienna, and Innsbruck Austria; Munich and Prien Germany; and Venice, Italy. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!!

My European bucket list:

• Go to every cafe and order a random drink
• Sit outside of cafes and people watch
• Eat the very best food
• Be open minded about local food
• Eat the schnitzel
• Smile a lot
• Buy a unique article of clothing from each place
• Take pictures of EVERYTHING
• Take a few minutes to be by myself and just breath- take in life and my surroundings
• Speak the native languages as much as I possibly can- Sprechen sie deutsch??
• Converse with the locals
• Grow as an independent traveler
• Go on a gondola
• Feed the pigeons
• Drink the vino in Italy
• Drink the beer in Austria and Germany
• Take the beaten path in every city

I know it has been a while since my last post. I've been so busy with schoolwork and finals that I barely have time to even look at my computer! But, the summer is coming which means I'm back, baby!

The summer brings so many amazing things with it. For one, the weather is amazing and all of nature is happy- the trees, the birds, the bees, the hydrangeas, people, the ocean. Everyone is happy. This summer is going to be especially amazing because I am going to be doing a ton of traveling! I'll be spending a whole month in Europe. Yep, I know. I'll be visiting Salzburg, Vienna, and Innsbruck, Austria; Prien and Munich, Germany; and Venice, Italy. I couldn't be more excited!! I will also be traveling to Vancouver, Cape Cod and Islands, New Hampshire, and possibly Chicago!

I cannot wait to share these experiences with you all through my blog. Get ready for the European preparation posts as I ready myself for takeoff on May 11!

Two words: Yogi tea. Yogi tea is one of my life essentials. I have them in my bag at all times for any last minute impromptu cups of tea (yes, I have a lot of those). Why do I love it so much you ask? Well, number one: I love tea. I used to be addicted to coffee. I would get horrible headaches if I didn't drink it and I didn't like the idea of being addicted to something so, I quit. I started the quitting process by switching out coffee for a tea. Despite the delicious taste and instant happiness tea brings, it has countless benefits for your mind, body, and soul. There are also so many different kinds of teas: green, black, red, white- amazing!

I am a big green tea fan so naturally my favorite Yogi flavors are Blueberry Slim Life green tea and Pomegranate green tea- definitely the best flavors!

My number two reason for loving Yogi tea is because of the amazing quotes and sayings that they print on their tea tags (see picture above). They help to bring a little positive light into my daily routine. They thus help me to bring positivity to the rest of my day and the people I see.

I would love to spread the message of Yogi tea to the rest of the world so that everyone can add a little positivity into their lives and thus, into others'.

Spread love, be the light!

 


For those of you who know me, you'd know that I just turned 21! Woo! Arguably the biggest American birthday after 16. But, what happens from here? I don't want to turn 22, 23, 30, 40! AH! It's a scary thought!

Well, I had a great birthday spent with friends, family, and my wonderful boyfriend Anthony.

I'm sure you're all wondering what the first drink I ordered was. That's why you're reading this post! Duh. Anthony and I went to the local bar/restaurant and sat at the bar. We got carded of course (probably the most shocking thing about being 21) and then ordered our drinks. He got a beer and I ordered my drink: a cosmo. Yes, I know, so Sex and The City of me but, it was delish.

I want to thank everyone who put effort into making my birthday so special! Shoutout to my mom, dad, brother, sister, Boo, Anthony, Sarah, Leeny, and everyone who wished me a happy birthday! I have the best friends and family!

Love you all!

I rarely ever do relationship related posts but this one came to me and I loved the idea of it. I asked, and many people answered the question posed as:
Be with someone who: __________________. 

Below, I have compiled a list of all of the answers I have received from friends, family, and peers alike. All of these answers are completely anonymous and basically all from different people. Thank you to all who participated, you all made this post beautiful. There will be a few repeated ones, but I didn't want to neglect anyone's so I included all answers.

Be with someone who:

• makes you happier than you would be by yourself
• makes you a better person
• changes you for the better
• makes you happy to make them happy
• you want to spend the rest of your life with
• pushes you to be the best version of yourself
• doesn't let you fall asleep or wake up anything but happy
• you're proud to call yours and they're proud to call you theirs 
• makes you laugh and appreciates you
• makes you feel like it's okay to be yourself
• is there for the little things in life like looking up at the stars, surprises you after a long day, and forehead kisses
• makes you the best version of yourself
• loves you for your imperfections
• makes you laugh 
• inspires you to be a better person
• supports your everyday goals
• respects your opinions
• challenges you
• is always there for you
• makes you a better person
• shares your morals and ethics
• loves you for your flaws
• can make you laugh
• is a goof snuggler
• is willing to compromise
• captivates you
• is the last thing on your mind at night, and the first thing on your mind in the morning
• can make you happy in your best moments, and your worst
• respects you 
• makes you laugh
• makes you dinner
• doesn't hold you back
• loves you for you- you should feel like you have to change yourself for them
• will fight with you and fight for you
• who supports you and your goals
• believes in you 
• inspires you to be the best version of yourself
• who loves their family
• you'd be proud to have a son or daughter just like
• listens to, remembers, and cares for your thoughts, opinions, and anything else you take the time to share with them
• is your best friend
• you want to spend the rest of your life with
• is your favorite person to be around
• is not not just your significant other, but your best friend
• loves you as much on your worst days as they do at your best
• can make even the most tedious and boring activities fun and easier
• you'd be excited to spend every day with for the rest of your life
• you can be yourself with
• you want, not need
• encourages you to go further than you ever thought you could go
• encourages you to be the best version of yourself
• makes you feel electric and alive but also brings you tranquility
• gives you butterflies but also an inner calmness
• brings out the qualities in you that you love about yourself
• supports, listens, cares, and respects you
• makes you want to be a better person 
• will hold your hand no matter what
• wants to be with you for who you are (the good and the bad)
• treats you as equal and respects you
• makes you feel good about yourself
• feels good about him or herself thanks to you
• respects and supports you no matter what 
• makes the chaos around you disappear where you feel that life is too much to handle
• helps you to realize that everything will be okay in the end
• will support you no matter what you're interested in and what you do, even if they don't understand it
• you feel comfortable around
• you don't have to impress
• compliments you, as opposed to completes you
• supports and encourages your dreams
• brings you joy
• helps you in your continuous journey of growth
• wants to hold you through the good times and the bad
• supports your decisions, dreams, thoughts, and morals
• loves you unconditionally 
• aids in the process of you being the best version of you

Please share with friends and loved ones so that we can fill this world with love.

1. Have a place for things: Designate certain areas in your room for specific things. Keep items you don't need on a daily basis out of sight- under your bed, in your closet, up on shelves, etc. The items I use on a daily basis have their own space on my desk or my bureau so they're easy to access and I can always see them!

2. Make lists: Ah, lists, man's best friend, right? Yes! Research has proven that lists are great for visual people, but I think they're useful to anyone. Make a list when: you're organizing your ideas, getting ready for the day, grocery shopping, packing, preparing for finals week. Lists are useful for any occasion and they can really put your thoughts in order to help make any task easier and less stressful.

3. Keep your room tidy: If you know me, you know that I'm not exactly the best at keeping my room clean. Well, some weeks are busier than others and you just end up throwing all your clothes on the floor. If you have trouble keeping your room clean here's a tip: designate one or two days a week to cleaning. My days are Sundays. Keeping your room clean also aids in creating a blissful spot to relieve your stress and relax.

4. Have good time management: You know the old college "right of passage" that is pulling all nighters? Yeah, that's a result of terrible time management. Budget your time wisely especially when you're preparing for finals. Having good time management is a valuable life skill that you're able to practice in college. So get to it! I promise you'll relieve a lot of stress if you manage your time wisely!

5. Go to sleep at a reasonable hour (during the week): Proper sleep has a copious amount of benefits. Sleeping refreshes and revives the body so that it can perform at its best the next day. It's proven to be beneficial in weight loss and keeping you healthy which leads to less bodily stress!

6. Exercise: Exercising is a widely known stress reliever. It not only makes you feel amazing about yourself, but it releases "happy" hormones in your brain to help relieve stress and boost your mood! Exercising is beneficial for your mind, body, and health, what could be better?

7. Drink Tea: Okay, I love tea. If you know me, you know I start my day off with blueberry green tea. Tea is amazing. I could talk about it for days. It's relaxing and also so good for your health. There are so many types, flavors, and varieties that it's fun to drink tea! So, make yourself a cup of warm tea and relax.

8. Do something everyday that'll make you happy: This is such an important philosophy. The people who live the longest lives are the people who do what they love, everyday. So, ride your bike, walk your dog, write, make cookies, read your book, or take a bubble bath. Always make time to do something you love- it relieves stress in the now, and for the future.

9. Prepare for the day: One way that I like to prepare for the day is to set my clothes out the night before and get my bag all ready for the next day. This way, I'm not rushing around grabbing stuff when I'm already two minutes late to getting out the door. Doing these things will give you one less thing to worry about when that alarm goes off.

10. Eat Well: Eating well is something people too often take for granted. Your health is just too important not to worry about. When you eat well, you feel good about yourself and that alone relieves so many stresses. Take care of your body, please- it's the only one you've got!

11. Drink Water: Last but not least, water. Water is just too good for your mind, body, and health. So drink up!

I hope these tips can help you in your everyday life but also as we begin to prepare for finals! In what ways do you relieve your stresses? Comment below!

Because why would you choose to be anything but? Having a positive state of mind can really make or break a person. So, please, do yourself the biggest favor and be happy. It not only will impact your life, but the lives of other people around you. We need more people in this world that emulate positivity and happiness because those are the people that make a difference. Vibes are contagious so make sure you're spreading positive ones!

I hope everyone is off to a great start for the week! Spread love and light!

Okay, so you wake up in the morning to find that your face has been attacked overnight by the acne-stick (is that a thing??) Horrible. What is worse?? Okay, obviously there are worse things in life but a breakout can be pretty devastating especially if you have a big day full of presentations, meetings, an interview, or a date. A breakout can make your confidence levels go down ten-fold. It's such a hassle and it's just unattractive. So, to make it better, you cover it up, suffocate it, and you have created a negative skin cycle. But, you can't not cover up your breakout, so what do you do?? I have compiled a few tips that can help to beat that breakout because everyone deserves to feel gorgeous and happy!

1. Clean your makeup brushes: Cleaning your makeup brushes is such an overlooked task. It's actually something that should be done weekly. When you fail to clean your makeup brushes, bacteria and unwanted germs build up on your brushes. This can aid in causing a breakout because you're introducing that unwanted bacteria to both your face and your makeup. So please clean those brushes! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, wet your brush with warm water (it cannot be too hot- think lukewarm). Rub the wet brush on a bar of soap- I use Dove. You'll start to see the residue from your makeup products come right off. Last, rinse it with the warm water and let it dry on a towel. I usually let mine dry overnight but it all depends on your brushes and their thicknesses.

2. Analyze your diet: You know the old saying "you don't need to write down what you eat because your body is a walking food journal" or some derivation of that? Yeah, well the same thing is true for your skin. Your body is a machine and when it isn't nourished the way it's supposed to be, it tells you. Think about what you put into your body because there are many foods that cause breakouts. High levels of gluten, fried foods, etc. Breakouts can also be caused by what you're not feeding your body. There are so many miracle foods out there-all of which come from the Earth might I add.

3. Coffee & chocolate: The thing with coffee and chocolate is that they cause hormonal imbalances within your body which can lead to acne. If you look at where your breakout is, you can analyze why. Your T-Zone breaking out is normally due to imbalanced hormones. Aren't they annoying. Think about what you put into your body because everything has it's own energy compositions therefore, your body perceives them all differently. Also, I am a huge fan of tea and tea is great for your skin!

4. Natural detoxes: there are plenty of resources out there that can tell you a million different things to detoxify your body. Lemons are an amazing thing to have on hand at all times. They make for a great scrask (check out my lemon&honey scrask) and if you put them in hot water with some honey and cayenne or just by themselves, they make for a great skin detoxifier. So many people swear by this. I know I definitely do (check out my post here).

5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: I don't think I can ever stress this enough. Hydrating your body is one of the best things you can do to take care of yourself. If there's one thing you take from this post, be it that you DRINK WATER. It's really just too important to me. It's such an easy thing we forget to do but it has some major consequences. One of those being that you breakout. Drinking a lot of water brings nothing but good health to you. I know it's a hassle when you have to use the bathroom 20 times a day, but that's HEALTHY. It's the natural way your body rids itself of toxins. Every person should drink AT LEAST 60 fl oz of water per day. In terms of plastic water bottles, that's 4. You should be drinking more than that. Your goal should be 75-100 fl oz of water. If you workout or sweat a lot, make it 100-120 fl oz. It's so good for you health and your skin. Please, make water your best friend when you're suffering from a bad breakout. You'll truly see a difference.

What are your acne remedies? Please share in the comments!

Spring break is either coming or it's going for you but one thing is for certain: what is necessary to pack, especially if you're going to be spending your week in the sun.

If you're like me and you're in school, most of your summer essentials are probably tucked away in your attic at home. Well, here I have prepared a list of a few items you must make sure get some room in your luggage or carry-on!

List:

• Water bottle: anyone who knows me knows that I am a water junkie. Staying hydrated while in the sun is completely and utterly crucial. You're losing water naturally when you're in the sun so be sure to replenish your body. Water also helps to regulate sunburns. Keep your skin and body hydrated!
• Tunic/coverup: because you can just walk around in your bikini! Well, I guess you can but why not walk around with something cute on top. You can find a cute coverup or tunic anywhere nowadays!
• Hat: having a hat on hand is imperative when the sun reaches high-sky- about 1 o'clock. Keeping your face shaded will keep those wrinkles away longer. Also, use a high SPF sunscreen to protect your face from the UV Rays. Again, it will keep those wrinkles away.
• A great book: I don't even think this needs explanation. Books and the beach are just synonymous.
• Sandals/flip flops: to protect your feet from any sharp seashells. Duh!
• Sunnies: so you can look cute, fashionable, and able to read your book. When the sun reflects off of the white pages in your book, you may as well go blind or gain wrinkles from all of the squinting. Wear sunglasses!
• A bag: so you can carry all of your beach essentials in :)

I've been in Florida since Saturday 2/28. My family and I escaped the bitter cold by flying down with the other snow birds. It's been a dream so far. The weather has been the best weather we've ever had- sunny and above 80 everyday. I'm definitely not complaining. We haven't had to make any rainy-day trips to the aquarium or St. Armand's Circle. But, my skin has been paying the consequences. So. much. sunburn. But, it's okay. I'd rather a sunburn than freeze burn! Sorry to all my up-northerners :)

I've recently discovered that my favorite time of day to be on the beach is between 4 and 6 pm. When the sun has lowered but not quite set yet and the air has gotten substantially cooler. Everything about this time of day just seems so much more blissful. With a book, a cool drink, and your favorite people in the world, what could be better?

Loving life in Longboat Key, Florida.

P.S. The sunsets are TO DIE for.

So Valentine's Day has come and gone (and hopefully everyone had a great one :-) and you received a beautiful bouquet of flowers. You did you flower duty: cut the stems, put them into fresh water, and added the flower food. Now, they're sitting on your desk or in the middle of your dining table and time is ticking away at them. What do you do? It's simple, you press them! Pressing flowers is something that I started to do last year. It helps to preserve those beautiful flowers so you can cherish them or even do something crafty with them in the future. I have about 6 books that are dedicated to pressing flowers. Some of those flowers include: hydrangeas, sun flowers, roses, baby's breath, etc.

You need two things: your flowers of choice and then a thick, hard-cover chapter book.

Steps:

1. Take the petals- just enough to cover one page (i recommend putting them on the right page)
2.  Make sure the petals are upside down so they press flat
3. Close the book (make sure the page covers all of the petals) 
4. Put some heavy objects on top of the book- I just put more books
5. Give it time- a couple of weeks to a couple of months. 

Hope this helps you to figure out what to do with those precious flowers! More DIYs to come..

This is important. People will always know your true motives whether in the short term or the long term, they will always know your true motives. So, do everything with a kind heart and with love. My New Year's Resolution was to think, do, and act with one thing in mind: "Others Before Self". When you do something with love, you're doing it for the betterment of all.

Please remember this as we go on with our day and week and month. Love yourself, love others. It will always pay off in the end.

Okay, so last year, in the beginning of March, I was having a bad day and we all have bad days, but this was an especially BAD day. I was sad, lost, hurt, etc. So I called my mom because moms really do make everything better. When every thought in our head is jumbled and spinning, moms can make so much sense out of it. I think its part of the mom job description. So, I called my mom on this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day (this is a book reference to: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day- duh). She of course talked me out of this slump and instantaneously made me feel at ease and so much better. Mothers have so much insight, they just always know what to say. 

We talked on the phone for about 40 minutes. She was at work so this is basically unheard of because she has such a high demand and high-positioned job. If Super Woman was a real person, she would be my mom. She's pretty cool. Anyways, so at this end of this conversation, my mom told me to go to Starbucks and order her infamous latte: the grande, non-fat, no-whip, two-pump mocha (I've had it memorized since the 4th grade) and put some cinnamon on it. I remember her specifically saying: "Cinnamon is a happy spice!" So, I got off the phone and did just that. It was a rainy, March day. I got my latte, put some cinnamon on it and sat by a window. I watched as the rain fell between each sip of my hot latte. There was something so indelibly peaceful about that moment. It gave me a sense of such tranquility. 

So, whenever you're having a bad day or just feel caught in a slump,  go to Starbucks and order a latte, put some cinnamon on it and make your day a little bit brighter. 

If you're not that into coffee, which lately I haven't been, I suggest you try a Chai Latte with coconut milk. This will change your day, and your world. So go indulge in a little sweet treat and smile. It will get better, I promise.  

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me, Brynne Logan. For any questions or inquiries about this blog, please contact Brynne at blissfullysimpleblog@gmail.com.

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Happy Monday, everyone! This quote is so beautiful and something that truly speaks to my heart. It is one of the reasons I have this blog. I also have a Twitter account designated solely for giving good energy and good vibes. The Twitter account is called: Morning Mantra. You can find it here: Morning Mantra. I try and post one everyday but lately, it's been hard because I'm back at school. However, it's purpose is to spread love and light in the morning so that my followers can have great days! I will be doing this new post series to reach a larger audience. I will be posting one every Monday! I have posted a few other Monday Mantras so feel free to check them out: 1. Time, 2. Happy,  3. Energy, and finally 4. Spread Light. So here's to a future of Mondays full of positivity, light, love, and good vibes!

My Monday Mantra is to be a giver because we all strive to be people of substance, people that will leave a mark when we leave. Well, the best way one can do that is to give. Give light, give heart, give happiness, give compassion, give empathy, give your all, give good energy and vibes, give strength, and give love.

Those are all things that take energy, time, and thought. But, they are all things that are very doable. However, one must first open their mind.

So, be a giver in this life. Most importantly, be a giver with no expectation of receiving things in return. Give to give, not to receive. I know that is something I need to work on within myself and I challenge you to do the same!

Hope you all have a great week and enjoy all of the snow :)!

Waking up in the morning isn't easy for everyone unless, of course, you're blessed with being a morning person. Waking up in the morning is especially hard because it's winter and if you're like me, you want to stay snuggled up in bed all day. But, like all people, we have things to do and people to see.

One of my little morning "hacks" is to set my alarm with a calming, mellow, good-vibe song.  I always choose a song that starts off slow and then builds up to help to get me up!

For my trusty blog readers, I've come up with a list of 30 songs that will help you to wake up happier!  But, before I tell you the songs, I will tell you how to first set your alarm to be a song. Say goodbye to those gut-wrenching beeps and ringtones. These steps solely apply to iPhone users (sorry Android and other cell phone users). First step is to go to your alarms on your phone. Next, press the "+" sign in the top righthand corner. Next, go down to "sound" and click "pick a song"! Yep, it's that easy!

Okay now we can get to the songs :)

Here they are:
1. Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
2. Good Day Sunshine- The Beatles
3. Put Your Records On- Corinne Bailey Rae
4. Home- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes
5. Dreams- Fleetwood Mac
6. Summer Wind- Frank Sinatra
7. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
8. Ordinary People- John Legend
9. Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
10. Imagine- John Lennon
11. Gravity- John Mayer
12. Everything I Am- Kanye West
13. All Falls Down- Kanye West
14. Sunday Morning- Maroon 5
15. One Day- Matisyahu
16. Everything- Michael Bublé
17. Love Today- Mika
18. Don't Know Why- Norah Jones
19. Sunrise- Norah Jones
20. For The Summer- Ray Lamontagne
21. Californication- Red Hit Chili Peppers
22. All For You- Sister Hazel
23. Meet Virginia- Train
24. Toes- Zac Brown Bands
25. Three Little Birds- Bob Marley
26. No Rain- Blind Melon 
27. Bullet and A Target- Citizen Cope
28. Son's Gonna Rise- Citizen Cope
29. Bubbly- Colbie Caillat 
30. Beautiful World- Coldplay

I hope you all ditch your boring alarms and get a song that will make you happy when you wake up on these cold, dark winter mornings!

Let me know what songs you love to wakeup to! Comment below!

Waking up in the morning isn't easy for everyone unless, of course, you're blessed with being a morning person. Waking up in the morning is especially hard because it's winter and if you're like me, you want to stay snuggled up in bed all day. But, like all people, we have things to do and people to see.

One of my little morning "hacks" is to set my alarm with a calming, mellow, good-vibe song.  I always choose a song that starts off slow and then builds up to help to get me up!

For my trusty blog readers, I've come up with a list of 30 songs that will help you to wake up happier!  But, before I tell you the songs, I will tell you how to first set your alarm to be a song. Say goodbye to those gut-wrenching beeps and ringtones. These steps solely apply to iPhone users (sorry Android and other cell phone users). First step is to go to your alarms on your phone. Next, press the "+" sign in the top righthand corner. Next, go down to "sound" and click "pick a song"! Yep, it's that easy!

Okay now we can get to the songs :)

Here they are:
1. Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
2. Good Day Sunshine- The Beatles
3. Put Your Records On- Corinne Bailey Rae
4. Home- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes
5. Dreams- Fleetwood Mac
6. Summer Wind- Frank Sinatra
7. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
8. Ordinary People- John Legend
9. Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
10. Imagine- John Lennon
11. Gravity- John Mayer
12. Everything I Am- Kanye West
13. All Falls Down- Kanye West
14. Sunday Morning- Maroon 5
15. One Day- Matisyahu
16. Everything- Michael Bublé
17. Love Today- Mika
18. Don't Know Why- Norah Jones
19. Sunrise- Norah Jones
20. For The Summer- Ray Lamontagne
21. Californication- Red Hit Chili Peppers
22. All For You- Sister Hazel
23. Meet Virginia- Train
24. Toes- Zac Brown Bands
25. Three Little Birds- Bob Marley
26. No Rain- Blind Melon 
27. Bullet and A Target- Citizen Cope
28. Son's Gonna Rise- Citizen Cope
29. Bubbly- Colbie Caillat 
30. Beautiful World- Coldplay

I hope you all ditch your boring alarms and get a song that will make you happy when you wake up on these cold, dark winter mornings!

Let me know what songs you love to wakeup to! Comment below!