This is literally the best thing ever! I'm so excited to share with you my new #lifehack - turning Siri into your own personal narrator. It applies to iBooks, PDFs, webpages, e-mails, articles, even text messages on your iPhone or iPad.

To start with, I get articles every day to read on my current Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rotation. Yes, that's right, doctors have homework too! They're really interesting - the latest one was about how Progesterone and Vitamin D can help the recovery of TBI patients by modulating the immune system and other key regulatory mechanisms. However, sometimes, it's hard to focus at the end of a long shift. I'm so tired that my eyes start to cross or I highlight without completely digesting what I'm reading. Last night, I was wishing there was some way I could listen to the PDF during my commute. A quick Google search and I discovered the answer: there is and it's free! You can turn iBooks, PDFs, almost anything with text into audiobooks with Siri's help. You don't need access to the internet either. Forget the Audible subscription or paying $20 to listen to the next bestseller. Check it out in these quick, simple steps. It takes less than 10 seconds:

Step 1: Go to Settings app on iPhone --> Tap General

Step 2: Tap on Accessibility

Step 3: Tap on Speech (under Vision section)

Step 4: Toggle on the Speak Screen

Step 5: Open whatever item you want read to you, scroll down from the top of the screen with two fingers and the Speak Screen should appear (it might take a couple of tries)

Step 6: Reduce the speed to get a more natural sound of Siri's voice by pressing the turtle that appears on the Speak Screen (if not there, you can also go to Settings --> General --> Accessibility --> Speak Selection)

Soon you'll be off on whatever wild adventure, spy novel, research investigation, or e-mail catchup session you desire as the words echo from your new FREE Audiobook device.


Side note: You can also change Siri's voice to be British, South African, Irish, male, or female.

Go to Settings --> General --> Accessibility --> Voices --> whatever language you want and then select an accent

Turns out my phone's voice has been Samantha all along but I still call her Siri.

Speaking of audiobooks,




Leave a comment below!

More tips to come next week!

It's been a busy few weeks as I officially moved to the birthplace of America - a perfect transition for celebrating July 4th with the liberty bell in my backyard! Since inner city living means a little less space and a little more savvy, I discovered some creative #lifehacks to help with storage. Of course the first part of any step to organization is to clean out what you don't use or want and prioritize what you need. If you haven't used it in the past 6 months, you likely don't need it. Think about your go-to tools for getting ready in the morning and make sure those items are within easy reach.



My bathroom has two cabinets under the sink but no drawers or areas to store cosmetics and toiletries. I didn't want to take up much counter-space so I found this great acrylic makeup organizer on Amazon. It makes getting ready in the morning so much easier, especially when you don't have to dig around for something.



For my toiletries, since I was so used to having shelves behind the mirror at my old place, I wanted something similar. I found a file organizer and used command strips to attach it to the inside of the cabinet under the sink. It took a few extra adhesives but it's holding up well and has saved space as well as frustration when it comes to finding things. In fact, I loved the file organizer so much, I used it for organizing my spices too!


On the other cabinet I added a little hook to hang my hair dryer so it's always in easy reach.

Lastly, there is also a hall closet with limited floor storage space. I ended up hanging an organizer on the back of the door and it was the perfect SHOElution. Pun intended ;)

These are some of my favorite hacks and have saved me both time and energy when it comes to getting ready in the morning. Let me know if you have any other creative ideas!



Take advantage of the extra time you save now that you're an organization guru by exploring your area. If you ever find yourself in Philly, I highly recommend a visit to the Magic Gardens - it's a beautiful art mosaic that spans an entire block of the city.

In a few short weeks, I will be officially relocating to the Big City...well almost. Not New York but still a big city.  I'll give you a hint: it's the birthplace of America. And with that move comes, of course, a smaller space, namely, a smaller closet. Surveying my current apartment I realized 1. I am not a fan of moving (ie packing, unpacking) and 2. I have too much stuff. My wardrobe was the bulk of what would be packed and, since May is just around the corner, I concluded it's time for some hardcore spring cleaning!

To start with, a friend gave me this algorithm from thredUp:


It made my decisions a lot easier knowing what to keep, sell, and give away, from shoes and jackets to jewelry and yoga gear. When it came time to sell, I wanted to try online consignment. I read a great post comparing thredUP and Poshmark, two popular online consignment sites here:



In short, the article summarizes what each site entails along with their pros and cons. Poshmark is more hands-on, leaving it up to the seller to photograph, price, package, and ship each item. In contrast, thredUP, which is more hands-off, leaves you to bundle all your items in a pre-paid bag for one-time shipping. They'll take care of the rest. If you're looking for a convenient way to make a little money, thredUP is your best bet.

I decided, however, to have fun with it and make good use of my photo studio by signing up with Poshmark. Within hours of posting my first item, it sold. I had it packaged and shipped the next day. Since Poshmark e-mails you a pre-paid shipping label, you don't have to spend any money as the seller. Of course, you can always get creative and take the time to ship your item with a little love and thanks!


So, what are you waiting for? Grab some champagne, recruit your friends, and welcome Spring with a closet cleanse! If you made enough room for a few cute new items, feel free to shop my closet on Poshmark by clicking here: @itsalyssacole