Tag: spring scents

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #95

Hello All! 

Happy Friday! I can’t believe we are almost to the end of May. The months keep going by faster and faster. I have been enjoying this week to the fullest by getting outside, seeing a baseball, spending time with friends and enjoying lots of spring fun. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and I’m hoping things slow down so I can be present with family, enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.

It has been such a good month, and I am truly doing my best to soak in every moment. As we get ready for the weekend I am sharing some of my favorite things from the week as I link up with Erika and Andrea 

Lululemon Bag– I have a few Lululemon accessories including their belt bag which I LOVE and some athletic wear too, but one of the other things I love is their reusable tote bag. I use this little bag multiple times a week. It’s the perfect size for throwing in a few must-haves when you are running out and don’t want to lug a big purse. It’s also great to throw in some shoes or a change of clothes and it’s perfect for transporting library books too. Those are just a few of the uses I have for mine, but the possibilities are truly endless. If you have one of the tote bags, what are your favorite uses for it?

Blue Jacket– I did some retail therapy a few weeks ago at the outlets and picked up a few pieces of clothing from Ann Taylor. This jacket was one of them. Although I have a similar on in pink, I absolutely love the cobalt blue. I wore it dressed up for work with bright dress pants and a blouse, but it could be dressed down with jeans and heels if you are looking to elevate an outfit. Although, I won’t be able to wear it much in the summer, I’m looking forward to wearing it in the other months year round.

New Kylie Lip Color– Speaking of retail therapy, I did some refreshing with my makeup and picked up a few new lipsticks from Kyle Jenner’s line at Ulta. I wear a lot of her pinks and nude colors at work since you can pair them with so many colors and looks. I had run out of a few of my go-to colors and figured it was time for a refresh. I picked up the Harmony lip kit and love it. It’s a softer pink that goes on smooth and creamy and lasts for hours. I applied some when I got to work around 7:00 one morning and didn’t have to re-apply all day. It was long-lasting and my lips didn’t feel too dry after having lipstick on them all day. Definitely a win in my book and worth the investment.

A full day of wearing the color

Texas Caviar Recipe– I’ve heard about this recipe for Texas Caviar and it looks like it could be something that’s right up my alley. I love the flavors of beans, plus the freshness of the veggies and a light dressing to top it off sounds divine. I love a good salsa/ guac/dip, so I can’t wait to try it this summer. I could see it being a crowd pleaser for big parties and gathering, plus, it looks super health and filling too. Have you tried this recipe before? If so, what are your thoughts?

New Room Scent– Tis the season for a new scent for my room. Strawberry snowflakes lasted me a long time, so I figured it was time for an upgrade. With us being in full on spring mode, I spend a lot more time outdoors and my windows are often open letting the fresh air in. I was searching for a scent that wasn’t too strong or overpowering or floral or fruit. I settled on linens and lavender from Bath and Body Works. A soothing scent that adds a bit of freshness to the room without it taking over. I also swapped out my cover for my wall scent for spring and summer, some minor tweaks and changes, but ones that make a difference. 

That’s a look into my life lately. How have you been enjoying the month of May? Let me know in the comments below! Have a fabulous Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #90

Hello All!

Happy Friday! I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! I know I am. This was a fairly normal and routine week, which I will happily take. I am looking forward to some time outdoors this weekend as the temperatures continue to increase, plus in my opinion, there’s nothing better than some sunshine for the soul.

Signs of spring!

As we gear up for the weekend, I’m sharing some of my favorite things from the week as I link up with  Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites. This week is a mix of life hacks, entertainment, home decor and snacks! Let’s dive right in!

Everything Bagel Crackers- This is the last favorite from my Trader Joe’s haul. After getting some classic staples, like the everything bagel seasoning, and something sweet with the orange jelly sticks, I wanted to look for something salty and I found these Everything bagel crackers. They have been a favorite of mine since I got them. I love the crispness of the cracker with the flavoring of the seasoning. These are perfect to add to your next appetizer night with cheese and fruits, or they would be great for dips and spread or just eating them by themselves for a quick treat. I will be enjoying these for as along as I can.

New Bridget Jones Movie– Did you hear the news?! A new Bridget Jones movie is set to come out in 2025. I loved the original movies and the sequels were added bonuses. Supposedly Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant will be back for the fourth movie. I can’t wait to see what it will all entail and who else could be making an appearance. Rom Coms are coming back in full force and I am here for it! Here’s an article with more information about it. 

New Candle- The timing couldn’t have been better that just spring was approaching I was in need of a new candle for my room. I got this sweet, floral smelling candle from Yankee candle as a gift, and it immediately has me dreaming of fresh cut flowers. The scent isn’t too overpowering, but it feels the room with a spring-like scent, and it does linger after I blow it out. I love the three-wicks and find that they tend to last longer.  I don’t typically get candles from Yankee Candle due to the cost, but it’s always nice to be given something to indulge in and savor. I can’t wait for flowers to bloom to start adding fresh cut flowers to my desk. 

Weekly Goals– This is a new practice I just started this year, and it has worked really well for me. I have started setting weekly goals. These are NOT habits that I want to incorporate into my everyday routine, rather, a weekly item I want to prioritize. I started writing them at the top of my planner as a reminder and I have been loving this system. A few of my weekly goals have included: get to bed earlier (if it’s a busier week), finish a library book, spend more time outside, order gift for friend etc. These aren’t big tasks or to-do’s, rather they are little reminders that I want to place an emphasis on each week. In the words of The Lazy Genius, I’m naming what matters. If you have a busy or hectic week coming up, I recommend trying this practice as a way to cut down on stress and anxiety.

Irish Wish- If you are looking for a light-hearted and Hallmark-esque movie on Netflix, consider the Irish Wish. It’s all about a young woman who goes to Ireland for her crush’s wedding and makes a wish to fall in love with her crush. Her wish comes true but as she’s dating him, she realizes he may not be as perfect as he seems. It’s a cute movie to have on in the background while you are doing other things, but it is by no means an Oscar-worthy movie. I did love the setting and the casting was pretty good. Not a bad movie, just not my favorite.

That’s a quick round up of what I’m loving this week. I had a shorter work week which is always nice for a break. Now, it’s back to reality. I hope you had a great week and are ready for the weekend! Happy Spring!

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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.