Little Life Hacks│Vol. 1

This post is a little random and all over the board, but here are a few little life hacks/tips that I felt like sharing!

1. Get this weed puller.
   If you have a yard where you have to pull weeds often (hopefully not just me), do yourself a favor and get this stand up weed puller. It works SO well, grabs weeds by the root, and is seriously so satisfying to use. You just place the claw around the weed, step down on the lever, then pull up at an angle and boom – you’re done. It’s kind of like a claw machine…only your prize is a weed. It’s weird what excites you in adulthood…! I would also use this with some gardening gloves + a bucket to throw your weeds into.
   
2. Bring home a vacation scent.
   Scent is such a powerful memory aid, and I love to use it to bring back memories of vacations and meaningful places. Many nice hotels have signature scents, and I love to pick up a candle or scent sticks when available to bring a little bit of paradise home. I have a stock of scent sticks from the hotel in Hawaii where I got married that I like to scent our bedroom with – it always brings joy!
   
3. Keep a mini essentials kit in your car.
   I always keep a mini makeup bag in my car stocked with emergency on-the-go essentials. Think mini hairbrush, tissues, minis of makeup staples, spray deodorant, spare contacts, band-aids, lint roller, gum, floss, hairspray, claw clip, hair ties, mints, cash, etc. It has come in so handy over the years – I have had many “thank you past self!” moments.
   
4. Use essential oils in a diffuser.
   I’m not a huge “essential oils are life” person – but I do love how they are a cleaner way to scent your home, not to mention cost-effective—those little bottles last forever! I use a lemon or orange scent in my kitchen diffuser almost every day (most often after I cook to help freshen the air) and eucalyptus or a sleep blend in my bedroom/bathroom to give spa vibes.
   
5. Hair mask before working out.
   I’ve gotten into hair oiling and hair masks, which you obviously want to throw in with ample time before a shower – but I’m horrible at remembering to do so until it’s too late. To solve this, I’ve started habit-stacking hair masks with workouts – simply dampen hair, throw in the oil and/or hair mask, slick it back into a bun, and work out. By the time you’re done, the hair mask has had enough marination time and you’re already on your way to shower. Bonus – the heat from your workout will help it soak in even more!
   
6. Grow your herbs at home.
   Having fresh herbs on hand instantly elevates anything you make at home (cocktails, too!). Having them on deck will have you adding fresh herbs to everything! But, I don’t always have the foresight to pick them up from the store. The solution? At-home herb garden. I love my Aerogarden for the winter months, but it’s just as easy especially during the summer to grow an herb garden the old-fashioned way (or cheat and buy some pre-grown potted herbs, I won’t tell). Growing your own herbs saves you so much money down the line, too!
   
7. Put lamps and accent lighting on remote-controlled plugins.
   I love accent lighting at night. I don’t love running around and turning on all of said accent lighting. I highly recommend getting a pack of remote-controlled plug-ins that you can plug your lamps, up lighting, etc. into – bonus if they’re also on a timer so when dusk hits, your house instantly goes into cozy mode.
   
8. Get a bidet.
   I will sing this from the mountain tops – everyone needs a bidet! Does it take a minute to get used to? Absolutely, but you will never look back – I promise. Personal hygiene-wise, it just keeps things cleaner (and, it helps cut down on TP usage!). I noticeably miss my bidet when traveling. Once you get used to using one, you become hyper-aware when one isn’t available. In my next house, I would love a built-in heated version, but this version has worked great for me for the last 5+ years.
   
9. Learn how to use flower frogs.
   Never heard of a flower frog? It’s a little device with pokey spikes that you can use to make flower arrangements, especially good for shallow bowls or dishes. There are all different kinds, but I’ve found this kind works best for me – the plastic won’t rust, the clear material is less noticeable, and the suction cup holds it in place wonderfully (others I’ve used would tip over or slide around). I love that you can make beautiful, custom-looking arrangements with half the amount of flowers used in a normal bouquet. In fact – my biggest hack is getting one grocery store bouquet and using the flower frogs to split up/create several arrangements out of that one bunch.

Leave a comment, I’d love to know your personal little life hacks—and if you like this type of content (it could easily become a series)!