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14 Things to Do This New Year

Thursday 31 December 2015


#1: Embrace Change
In order to grow as a person and in terms of happiness, you have to allow change. Better yet, embrace it. Change makes you more flexible and able to adapt to many different situations. Change also opens up new possibilities.

#2: Write Letters to People Who Mean the Most to You
We can't always read each other. I know I need to be told or shown how much I am cared for often. When this does not happen I start thinking people hate me. 10 points for anxiety! Because I know this about myself, I assume there are others with a similar problem and therefore this new year, I am writing a little note to the people I appreciate the most. I want them to know that they bring value to my life.

#3: Get a new Agenda and fill it up
I am pumped because I recently got a Kate Spade agenda and it's gorgeous! I find that having that fresh, un-scribbled agenda helps make life feel new. The best part is going through and labelling everyone's birthdays and reminds me I have events to look forward to. If you are looking for great agendas, I would suggest taking a look at Chapters/Indigo.

#4: Reflect on Your Accomplishments From the Previous Year
You did something great last year. Take a moment to appreciate yourself for it. There may have been hard times, but life is too short to dwell on them.

#5: Don't make New Years Resolutions
STOP. Do not make any resolutions. When you force yourself to do something that you are not use to, the outcome is typically a crash. Instead just forget them and choose to live better. Slowly work up  to your goal when you can.

#6: Tie up Loose Ends
Apologize and forgive. I am not saying I have mended all my relationships in life, but I am working towards it. It is the only way to feel better and move on with your life.

#7: Words are swords. Use them wisely.
I forget to think before I speak. This usually leads to people taking things the wrong way or me just saying too much. It can hurt people and relationships. This year, try being softer, kinder and think before hand.

#8: Take criticism
Not all criticism is meant to hurt you and even if it does, sometimes it's needed. We are all flawed and we can all work on something. Take what people say about you and use it to better yourself.

#9: Laugh
Find things to laugh at. I know it is hard not to get caught up in depression and drama. I have to constantly remind myself to laugh and that there is joy in the world.

#10: Find a New Album
Music heals the soul. It is something we escape to in order to make sense of our emotions, but nothing is worse than being stuck in a music rut. Take a couple ours to sit down, relax and find a new favourite album. I use Last fm to find similar artists to my favourites!

#11: Make a Quote Jar
I actually did this last year. I already had my quotes in a board on pinterest, but I wanted to do something with them. I got an old mason jar and wrote all my favourite lift-me-up quotes on blue pieces of paper and put them in the jar. When I get sad or just need a smile, I pull a few out and read them. It just adds a bit of brightness to my life.

#12: Spend Less//Make More
This somewhat goes hand in hand with the previous point. I haven't done enough of this, but I have made a pact with myself to start creating more instead of spending extra money to buy things pre-made.

I hope this year is your best yet. I also hope these points will inspire you or just bring a smile to your face! Happy New Years!


My December Playlist

Sunday 20 December 2015


     It is that season again. The one where your self-indulgent self takes over the treats and light hums of "I'll be home for Christmas" grace our ears. Music has a hold on us and like most, I gravitate towards festive tunes. However, I don't give up all music. This is what I have been humming, singing, dancing and listening to this holiday season thanks to Spotify. I should mention that I recently downloaded the app. I was sceptical at first, but am happy I did.

1. "Never Forget You" by Zara Larsson
2. "Cake By the Ocean" by DNCE
3. "Hollow" by Tori Kelly
4. "Sound of Your Heart" by Shawn Hook
5. "Forever With You" by Nathan Roberts
6. "Roses" by The Chainsmokers
7. "The Gates" by Young Empires
8. "New Americana" by Hasley
9. "Tear in My Heart" by Twenty One Pilots
10. "Holocene" by Bon Iver
11. "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay
12. "Whit Christmas" by Michael Buble
13. "Mistletoe" by Colbie Caillat
14. "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by Maroon 5
15. "Dear Santa" by My Little Jeans

5 Non-typical Ways to Use Tea

Friday 18 December 2015


     I don't know about you, but I love tea and not just for drinking. It can be used multiple ways and each type holds its own benefit. These are five ways I actually use tea in my daily life.

#1: Tea Hair Rinse
     Yes, tea is beneficial for your hair! The most common tea used for hair rinses is black. Why is this a thing you ask? Black tea has more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. Caffeine cancels out DHT which promotes hair loss. It also adds shine to the hair and can act as a darkening hair colour.
How do I make a tea rinse? Simple. All you need is roughly three tea bags and make tea like you would normally. After this, cool the tea over night. The last step is to pour over shampooed hair and let sit for at least 20 minutes. Black tea can also stain, so take the proper precautions.

#2: Tea Face Steam
     I typically use green tea for my facial tea steams. This is because it promotes anti-ageing (with all the burning I get in the summer, its needed) and, like a sauna, pulls out the toxins in your face for overall healthier/pimple free skin. Also, it can get rid of congestion. Yay multitasking! I usually finish this off with a face mask and my usual skincare routine.

#3: Deodorizer
     We are humans and therefore, we smell. Yes, even you! Tea can help to mask the oders in our every day life. I don't typically have smelly feet but my Toms are horrible. If you have Toms, you will understand. Just stick a tea bag of choice in each shoe and bam, you will have wonderful if not decent smelling shoes without buying expensive sprays. The deodorizing possibilities don't stop there. You can make air fresheners for your car, house, and office. It can even be used as a hand scrub after working with harsh smelling foods such as fish and garlic.

#4: Get rid of mass amounts of ladybugs
     Where I live, lady bugs are everywhere seeking a warm place to hibernate before winter hits. Unfortunately they think our houses are a great place. It can be discusting and even stain walls.  I did some research a while back on ways to get rid of them. I discovered that they hate the smell of basil. Instead of throwing a handful of ground basil at the windows and doors, I made a tea. I took loose leaf tea bags, filled them with basil and brewed them as regular tea. I then let it cool, put it in a spray bottle and sprayed the living day lights out of our screen door. I couldn't believe when the number went from roughly 100 to about 5 lady bugs. Mission accomplished.

#5: Obviously Drinking it
     You would not believe the benefits tea can give you. I won't go into each types benefits but give an overview of why it's so great. Tea can reduce this risk of heart attacks, degenerative diseases,  cancer, and can improve bone strength. This is only a small percentage of what tea can do for you.

     It is truly a miracle liquid and can fight almost everything. Next time you are at the grocery store pick some up. You would be amazed at the results.

Delectable Christmas Pretzel Logs

Thursday 17 December 2015


The title says it all. These festive pretzel sticks are a must for every holiday party. Not only do they look and taste great, but are decorative and simple to make.

Prep and make time : 20 min (40 min if you are dancing to music) 

What you'll need:

-Parchment paper
-pan
-sprinkles
-Pretzel logs
-White chocolate
-Decorative jar/plate
-Cooking oil
-Pot/fondue 

Instructions

There are three main steps to this recipe; dip, cover, chill. It's that easy!



1)  Once you have all your ingredients, you will need to melt down the white chocolate. You can melt this down in a sauce pan or better yet a fondue pot. Make sure to add cooking oil to the bottom of the pot as this will keep it from hardening and allow for that creamy texture. I usually use 2tsp per cup and a half of chocolate. Take your pretzel logs and stick them in the melted white chocolate just over halfway.


2) Take your dipped chocolate logs and cover them with your sprinkles of choice. Seeing as this is a Christmas recipe, I used red and green sprinkles. It is easiest to hold the log and pour the sprinkles on so that the chocolate stays out of the sprinkles. 


3) Place the chocolate and sprinkle covered logs onto a pan with parchment paper.



4) The last step is to stick that pan in the fridge to chill. When you are ready to serve take them out and stick them in a nice jar such as a mason jar or decorative plate for a fun display. I put mine in a clear bowl so that the colour came through.

There you have it, delectable christmas pretzel logs. Of course these are not just for Christmas. You could change the sprinkle colour for any holiday! Happy treating!

-Syd

My top 3 ways to stay positive and love life

Tuesday 15 December 2015

   

     The world is full of evil and life sucking "normality's" and we can easily conform to and accept them. It is important to find things that make us happy and remind of the good. Acknowledging atlas three certain things throughout your day will ultimately make you a happier person. Now, I am not a life coach but I know it works for me. So, what are my "three things"? Here they are:

#1: Find a moment to treat yourself once a day
     It can be easy to neglect your own happiness and forget that even you deserve a little treat. You can do this by having one small square of chocolate or giving yourself a pedicure at the end of a long work day. I typically give myself a facial or have that extra cup of coffee.

#2: Acknowledge an attribute in someone and appreciate it 
     We often forget that people are awesome. We get busy and forget to invest in the people who make our days run smoothly (and not so smoothly). I am here to say that acknowledging those little quirks/attributes and taking time to appreciate them will help you to respect people more and when you respect people, your relationships grow and thrive. It makes my days so much easier when I view people in a different light.

#3: Instead of surrounding yourself with negativity, make it positivity
     Yes, I am aware how cheesy this sounds, but seriously, it makes a huge difference. Stay away from reading those nasty gossip columns and stick to reading inspirational blogs and planning DIY crafts. Even verbal gossip around you can affect you in the wrong way. It's amazing what negativity can do to your mood and self-esteem. I like to read Hello Giggles and watch inspirational youtube videos. Another great alternative if you like to stay on top of world news is The Skimm, which keeps you up to date through daily emails in a quirky and fun way. No I was not told to say that, I truly use these sites daily!

     There you have it, my top three ways to stay positive! Of course I have tried many, but these three have stuck. hope you enjoyed.
-Syd

Welcome!

Monday 14 December 2015

   
     Welcome to my new and improved lifestyle blog, So Slightly Savage! I decided to switch over to something that would give me more freedom, creative control and professionalism. This blog will feature my thoughts, my loves and my adventures. I will most likely make changes along the way, but ultimately my goal is to express even small amounts of my never-resting brain.
     On the name. For those of you who are not aware, my last name is Savage. It seemed fitting to incorporate such a non-typical last name into the title. Not only has it been the source of questionable conversation, but it has given me a wonderful  and supportive family. my last name makes me feel empowered. I can almost see my viking ancestors with axes in one hand and a cat in the other. The "So Slightly" part is there because although I can be a warrior at times, I am  also sensitive and I enjoy girly things.
Please take time to look around. If I can make one person happy, my mission will be accomplished.
-Syd

 
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