Tag: candles

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Fabulous living

Making Your Space Cozy

Hello all! 

As we make our way through November, December will slowly creep up on us and the cold will be here to stay. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of the cold, which is why I try hard to make my space extra COZY! This past week we have seen temperatures in the 40’s…brrrr.

In honor of the chilly weather, I’m sharing five ways to make your space cozy and comfortable.

  • Candles– Lighting candles can really change a space, based on previous posts, you know I am a fan of candles. In the cold months, there’s nothing better than lighting a candle. In the winter months, I love changing my scents like pine or spearmint or frasier fur, those warm and rich scents can easily elevate a space no matter how big or small.
This is one we have going in our family room. I love lighting at night and having it burn while we watch tv or visit. 
  • Throw Blankets– I LOVE THROW BLANKETS. I have gotten them as gifts and I have gifted them to friends. A blanket, a coffee mug and some chocolate are a perfect gift for someone if you aren’t sure what to get especially as the holidays get closer. I like blankets for different seasons and I love having different patterns and textures of blankets. I drape thinner ones over the chairs in the summer for cooler nights and have warm fleece ones in the winter, I even have ones for the holidays. Bringing out warmer blankets and having them over a couch or in a basket makes the space more inviting and cozy and it allows family members or friends to take a throw if they get cold and need some extra warmth.
  • Mood Lighting– In the spring and summer I spend a lot of time outdoors with all the natural light. In the fall and winter when it gets dark so early, instead of turning on bright overhead lights, consider turning on lamps instead. It makes the room more inviting and softer. 
Putting a fire place on adds warmth to a room too.
  • Flannel Sheets-Adding flannel sheets to your bed is just another small way to make your bedroom warm especially on cold nights. I typically put my winter flannel sheets right around Thanksgiving and I leave them on until after the new year. Adding warm sheets is just another small way to feel extra cozy all hours of the day.
  • Warm drinks– Nothing completes a space than a warm drink, whether it’s a hot cup of coffee, a warm tea or some hot coco or cider. Fill your favorite mug and enjoy your warm and cozy space. 

Those are just a few ways to make your space no matter how big or small more cozy and warm for winter. 

Now, turn on the lamps, light the candle and maybe even the fireplace too, pull a throw blanket out and pour a warm drink and cozy up.

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Fabulous living

Breaking Down: Diffuser, Candles and Essential Oils

Hello All! Happy October! 

I hope you are all having a great start to your new month.

As we begin a new month and new season, one thing you may enjoy as the temperatures begin to drop is cozying up inside. I know there’s nothing I enjoy more than taking out a fuzzy blanket and having a room that smells like fall when I’m looking to relax. But how do you get a room to smell warm and cozy and inviting? Do you light a candle, plug in a wall flower, diffuse some essential oils? I’ve tried all three and in good news, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the options. I’ve tested them all and think they can all be used in one way or another. It all comes down to preference.

Let’s start with diffusers. I’ve used my diffuser the longest. I started using it in college when you weren’t allowed to use candles or wall flowers in dorm rooms.

I really like how natural essentials oils are and how they made a room smell. I also liked reading and learning about different oils and how you can combine them and how they can be used for your health too.

Some of my favorite essential oils to use are lavender or peppermint (especially at night to help with sleep or headaches), lemon when cleaning or a few combinations of oils in the winter to help build immunity to avoid getting sick. 

I tend to use essential oils at night or when I’m looking for a subtle smell to have in the background. In my opinion, the only one downside it that essential oils are super strong so if you are looking to really have your room smell different then this may not be the best option. I keep mine by my bedside and always enjoy the smell it brings when I go to bed or wake up.

Option #1 Diffusers

Next up candles! I love burning a candle when I’m getting ready in the morning or when I’m reading or watching a movie or just relaxing at the end of a long day. I really like the atmosphere and tone that lighting a candle provides. It’s almost as if you are being intentional to relax, calm down and unwind. There’s so many different scents and combinations you can make your space smell fresh, or warm and inviting or even like sheet of fresh baked cookies. I tend to go with scents found in nature like pine or peppermint, or seasonal scents too, like apple in the fall or cedarwood in the summer. I like the mood that lighting a candle can set for any room. Plus they make a nice piece of decor too.

My current favorite candle

Lastly, we have wall flowers. This is my latest favorite room essential. I got my wall flower and scents from Bath and Body Works. One thing I like about wall flowers is how you can choose how strong you want a scent to smell and it can really take over a room. Whether you like that or not is another decision. I often find myself turning on a wall flower if I’m looking to really have my room or space smell a certain way if that makes sense. I will often use it for only a few hours a day when I’m spending a lot of time in the room or if I’m having company over and I’m looking for a stronger scent. Another nice thing about wall flowers is you can stock up on favorite scents so you don’t run out. Plus, there’s so many different fun scents for the holidays too.

My current favorite

In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong with any of the these options, they are all around the same price range (minus getting an initial diffuser or wall flower) They all have peaks and pits to them,  but I think it really just depends on how strong you want a room to smell, how works best for your space and the atmosphere too. Plus, with the holidays coming up, this could be a great gift for someone in your life or something to ask for for yourself. There’s no right or wrong way to go about this, but I think that changing the way your space smells is a great way to elevate a space for you and any company you have. 

So, I want to know, what’s your favorite way to go about making your space smell good? Let me know in the comments below.!

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Fabulous living Fun Ways to Organize

Spring Style on a Budget

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a wonderful Easter if you celebrated it. Easter signals a turning point for spring to me no matter when it falls, but when it’s in mid-April, there’s truly something sweet about it.

One of my favorite things about April and spring is the transition of seasons. Don’t get me wrong, I love cozying up with a fuzzy blanket and warm drink to read by the fire when the snow is falling, but I also really love the sunshine and crave it after a long winter.

As we transition seasons, I like to change up my space too and there’s easy ways to go about it without breaking the bank.

Here’s my tips for freshening up your home for spring:

–Change up your candle or diffuser scents.

I always love to have a candle burning when I’m at home. In the winter I tend to burn warmer scents, like pine, cinnamon, chocolate or peppermint. But in the spring and summer, I like to burn scents like lemon, orange, and gardenia (floral scents are always a win for me!) You can go for more expensive candles, but I have also found affordable ones in different sizes at Marshall’s, Target or Home Goods. 

Here’s a winter candle I love. I got it from Target from the Magnolia collection.
And a spring scent, also from Target.

In addition to burning candles I really enjoy essential oils and have found that they work for me. In the winter months, I like to use peppermint, pine, lavender, or a mixture to fight colds and germs.

An example of winter oils I use.

Some oils that fight off germs.

In the summer, I love to use lemon, lemon grass, orange, grapefruit to name a few.

And some spring and summer oils I enjoy.

You can find essential oils at most stores, I like to pick up different oils from Marshall’s or T.J.Maxx, but I have also seen them at Target and Giant Eagle. The smaller sample sizes work great if you are trying them out for the first time.

A look at my nightstand with my diffuser, books and lamp. (Notice the clear surfaces)

By bringing out a new scent it signals a change in season and it gives your space a new smell.

-Bring in fresh flowers.

I LOVE flowers. In the summer, one of my favorite things to do is go for walks outside and cut fresh flowers in my garden. I love the scent, the pop of colors and bringing nature inside.

Now, as far as springtime goes, not all flowers may be in bloom yet, but don’t let that stop you from bringing in flowers. You can easily go to a floral shop for a bouquet, but I have found that some grocery store flower bunches last longer than the floral shops.

For example, this bouquet lasted me a month.

Once again, you don’t have to spend a fortune on fresh flowers, you can pick them or get them from a less expensive place, but this action brings some nature indoors and it changes the atmosphere for the room. 

-Change out sheets and blankets.

Doing a good, deep cleaning always feels good in the spring, I personally have heavier blankets on my bed in the fall and winter and it always feels great to take them off and store them for the spring and summer. I always have a few pairs of sheets that I use on my bed, in the winter, I use fleece sheets that are a darker color, but come spring and summer, I bring out a lighter and brighter pair of sheets for my bed, I put the heavier blankets in storage and bring out some lighter throws on my bed and chair. Another small action, but it refreshes the space and it uses the things you have and you are changing things out. Now, you can buy some new sheets or blankest to freshen up the space for spring, but first, check what you have in storage or around your house before making a purchase. You never know what you can give a second life too.

–Clean off Surfaces

For many, springtime is a time of cleaning and sorting and getting rid of things. You may have put away all the winter decor and aren’t ready to pull out summer decorations. Use the springtime as a time to clean things off your surfaces and give yourself some breathing room. You don’t have to replace decorations with decorations, it’s okay to leave surfaces clear. This also allows you to see if you need any spring decorations, of you are okay with clear spaces.

I like to keep the things I have on my night stand to a minimum.

Those are four ways to get into the spring spirit while on a budget. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get your space feeling spring like.

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Fabulous living

Managing Stress

Hello everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start as your summers get underway. Although the summer months are filled with fun, adventures, and lots of time outside but it also means a change of routine which can cause lots of stress. Whether you have a high stress job or pockets of stress in your life, there’s always things to do to manage or lower your stress. 

Here are some of my top tips for managing stress. 

  • When life gets to be a lot, write it down.

I always feel better when I write my to do list or what’s on my mind down, I always feel a lot better, plus when I see it all written down, it makes everything a lot more manageable. I also journal every day and that helps me reflect on the good every day and puts things in perspective too. I always start my day off with journaling and my daily prayers. When I start my day off with my routine

  • Get outside

Whenever a situation gets overwhelming or stressful, I find it helpful to take a walk or get outside and just get some fresh air. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, it makes a big difference. The sunshine makes it even better to get outside and just process things.

Going on walks is a favorite of mine
  • Talk it Out

I always feel better after I talk about my stressors or pain points with someone, whether it’s my mom or best friend. It always makes me feel better just to talk out what’s going on instead of bottling it up inside. 

  • Create a relaxing atmosphere 

Especially at the end of a stressful day, I like to create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. Whether it’s burning some candles or using some essential oils, I like to cultivate a space that I can truly unwind and relax.

I saw this on Instagram and I couldn’t agree more. We all need time to just rest.
  • Breathing exercises 

I started to use the Mindfulness feature on my fitbit, it allows me to practice deep breathing whenever I need time to just pause and reset.

My mindfulness app

These are a few tricks that have worked for me. What things do you do to relax or manage your stress?

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Fabulous living

A Few Favorite Things

Hi guys! Happy Wednesday!! Wanted to round up a few of my favorite things with you guys that I have been loving lately. A few things I am loving and make a difference in my day to day life.

Starting up first…

This heat protecting hair spray from Eufora. I have been using a lot of heat on my hair whether it is with a curling iron or a straightener. Every day, I am applying heat to my hair, this hair spray comes in super handy when it comes to taking care and protecting my hair. 

After I am done with washing my hair, while it is still damp, I spritz a bit on and not only does it smell great but it protects my hair too.

Next up…

This vase, I got it as a gift from Signals, it comes as a thin bag, but once you add water, it inflates. There are so many reasons why I love it and why it’s a favorite. First, I love the painting and the colors, second I love the fact it is slim and portable and I love how it is durable, once you add water and flowers it holds up very well.

Last but not least…

Fun and colorful masks! Masks are the next best fashion statement. I have been seeing so many fun colors and patterns sold everywhere. Gone are the days of not being able to find masks, now, I swear I see them at every retailer. Old Navy has a variety of fun patterns and colors to match to every outfit. They make wearing masks much more fun!

That’s just a peak into some of my favorites this summer. What are sine favorite things you are loving this season?

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Fabulous living

DIY Dorm Decor

Hi friends!

I’ve got something fun planned for today. Like any college student, money is tight for me and Pinterest always tempts me to try new things.

I have two fun DIY crafts for your dorm room, apartment or home. I’m also collaborating on these crafts with my good friend, Olivia. We met through our job and classes and I’m so glad I got close to her this year. Give her blog Liv Simple a read for all things from fashion to college living. After you are done reading my blog, head over to hers to see how she put her own creative spin on these DIY crafts.

Now, onto the DIY part. The worst thing that can happen to any college student (or adult) is to lose their keys. Now, we can always say we are going to put our keys on our desk or in our purse, or even buy a plastic command hook to stick them on. But, let’s be honest, dorm rooms are kinda sterile if you don’t have decorations. So why not kill two birds with one stone and make a place to hold you keys and have it decorative. I made this cute key hook for $11!!! And here’s how you can too.

First, I got all these supplies from Michael’s Craft Store, but I’m sure you can find them or similar ones at your local craft store. I got paint, a hook, and wooden decorative pieces to make my key hook more fashionable. I spent a while on Pinterest finding what I wanted to do, but once I did I was happy with it.

Here’s your materials: a hook with a plaque (already assembled), paint, a wooden letter, and some other decorations,

Plan out how you want your key hook to look, play around with it before you paint it.

Now, comes the fun part. Paint it. Choose colors that will go nice in your room. My room is turquoise with black and white so the colors were easy to choose. Having a hard time deciding colors? You can never go wrong with neutrals.

After I let them dry over night, I assembled them the next day using a hot glue gun, wood glue would also work.

The finished product

Now onto DIY craft number 2. I am a huge fan of candles, I love how they can change to mood of a room but unfortunately, they are not allowed in my dorm building. This is a great alternative to making it feel you have a candle burning with worrying about the fire. Also, not a fan of the smells but love the look of a candle, this is another great idea. Olivia found these mason jars at Pat Catans and they were on sale for $1!!! Buy some tealights from any craft or home goods store and pop them in to the mason jar. Another inexpensive way to decorate a room. When you turn the tealight on, it will make you feel like you are burning a candle when you aren’t at all. These could go in your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, even living room, where ever  you like to put your candles. This is another inexpensive way to make your dorm, apartment, or house a bit more cozy.

You can style it on your desk

Here it is all lit up at night

These are two inexpensive and DIY ways to make your dwelling more cozy and functional. Overall, a Pinterest success. Have you had any Pinterest successes or fails!?

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Fabulous living

Fall Decorating

When it comes to fall decorating I try to decorate for the whole season of fall not just Halloween. Although, I’m all about the candy, the costumes, and the scary decorations, Halloween only lasts for one day when autumn last for months. I try not to go over board when decorating for each season. I like to have small reminders of the new season around my dorm/house.

Today, I am going to be sharing my decorations at home and at school that I have up for fall. Let’s start with school. I got these cute decals for my window at Target in the dollar section. I put them up in the beginning of October and take them down the day after Halloween. They are a simple reminder of Halloween without overdoing it.

Window Decorations. I used gel window clings to add some spookiness to my dorm room

I also keep my candy dish filled with Halloween candy for anyone who stops by. I also try to get a small pumpkin to have out just to add a bit more fall feeling to the room. It’s still a bit early so I haven’t gotten my pumpkin yet but when I do, I will be sharing pictures!

Halloween Candy

Now, for at home here are a few areas that are always decorated season long for fall. At home we (my mom and I) try to reuse decorations from last year but we do upgrade a few decorations each year. Centerpieces are crucial when decorating. They make the table, more than just a place to eat. Since it’s fall we used a lot of pumpkins, we have them spaced out through the house so it’s not overwhelming. Below are some of my favorite spaces at home for decorations. We tried to incorporate pumpkins in different ways and settings.

Kitchen Table Centerpiece. I love how bold and unique this centerpiece is. The table is a symbol of gathering and this centerpiece ties the whole room together.

Side Table Decorations. Another example of incorporating pumpkins in different ways. The acorn is also a fall touch without going overboard with decorations.

Coffee Table Centerpiece. I love the warm feeling the candles bring to the room. The leaves are also a good reminder of fall.

I hope this gave you so inspiration for fall decorating. Happy Tuesday!