Tag: diffuser

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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.

Categories
Fabulous living

Essential Oils

Hello All! 

Happy Tuesday! 

I hope you had a relaxing weekend, it’s finally spring and I am so happy to welcome the warmer weather, not only is there warmer weather here, but also the final countdown of the semester is on! This year has been one of the best years yet, and I can’t wait to see what my last semester has in store for me. Today, I wanted to share one of my favorite trends with you. It’s official…I am a believer of Essential Oils. I started using oils about a year ago and now I use them every day.

I always have my diffuser going on my windowsill.

I even brought min verisons with my to Italy, I loved having the consistency of my favorite scents when I was out of the country.

Yes, I have mini versions of my oils for when I travel..no shame

I personally get my oils from Doterra. But, you can get them anywhere, I’ve seen them at Target, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, essential oils are all the rave and the more people I talk to the more I find out about all the different uses for them. I have heard people using them for cooking, cleaning, staying healthy, preventing illness, and relaxing. I can’t wait to use them in new ways this summer when I am not constantly bogged down with work.  

My favorite oils-Peppermint, Orange, Lemon, Balance, Breathe, On-guard, and Serenity

Today, I wanted to share my favorite scents and how I use them in my everyday life. For starters, these are my oils I have so far, and I use them every day. I have a diffuser that goes 24/7. I typically diffuse one scent at night and different ones each day. For night time, I typically diffuse Serenity which is a lavender based oil, I have always had issues with sleeping but this year I have been sleeping better and I think a lot of it has to do with diffusing essential oils. I feel more relaxed and content when I have soothing oils diffusing. I also use the serenity for headaches as well as the peppermint which are miracle workers.

During the day I change oils frequently. For example, when the cold or flu is going around, or I am prepping to leave for a trip, Onguard is going non-stop. It is a greater fighter against germs.

Another few scents on heavy rotation especially in the winter when I want a fresh smell

When I am finished cleaning, I typically mix orange and lemon for a fresh smell or lemon and peppermint or orange and peppermint to freshen up a room. When I need a change or smell or need to reset myself Balance is my go-to. 

These are on constant rotation especially with Spring coming soon

I love how the essential oils provide a healthy smell to the room, it’s not too overpowering but you can definitely smell the subtle refreshing smell. I also like how it is an alternative scent with no harsh chemicals. By far, one of the best parts is that it’s college dorm room safe! YAY!

Have you guys tried essential oils? What are your favorite mixes and uses for essential oils? Please share them with me, I am always looking for new ones to try. Have a great week ahead, enjoy the beginning of Spring weather!!