The Essential Elements Of A Rustic Style Home

Standard
The Essential Elements Of A Rustic Style Home

If you’re someone who wants to live in a rustic, country style home, you’re not alone. They’re incredibly popular, particularly among people looking to add warmth and coziness to their interiors. But what are the elements of design that actually make a country style home what it is? A little bit of this, that, and the following:

Weathered Wood:

Step into practically any rustic style home and you’ll find delightful weathered wood all over the place. The purpose of this is to make the interiors look and feel natural. Weathered wood provides a fundamental aesthetic that helps to ground the space and make it look more in keeping with the theme.

Subtle Use Of Colors:

In the past, owners of country style homes weren’t interested in putting on a display or indulging in ostentation. Instead, they made subtle use of color where they could, particularly in the kitchen and living spaces. Yellow, red, green, and white are all popular, but none of them ever stood out by themselves. Instead, they all blended naturally into a seamless whole which was immediately recognizable.

Shutters:

Rustic properties also make heavy use of plantation shutters. These beautiful window dressings made properties look more robust, plus give owners more options over the level of light coming in through their windows. While some shutters are purely for display, many modern country home concepts still use working models that swing back and forth like casement windows. Improving your shutters can provide an instant face lift to your home and will further enhance the rustic aesthetic. If this is a renovation you are interested in, simply enter a search for “bespoke plantation shutters in Aylesbury” (or your local area) to find a well reviewed team to take on the job.

Florals And Nature For The Interiors:

Country style homes take a lot of their inspiration from the 1950s and 60s when floral patterns and prints were at the height of their popularity. Bedding, wallpaper, and upholstery all featured intricate designs. Added to this were often real flowers from the ranch or the yard. Owners would frequently bring flowers they found on their land into their interiors and keep them in vases for a touch of beautiful color.

Vintage Pieces:

Country homes should have a rustic appearance both inside and out. To make the interiors look more retro, experiment with vintage pieces. For instance, you might install an old style cooker in the kitchen or use a white painted metal bucket to hold your eggs. You could even include some classic signage as decoration. To find vintage pieces, go to your local antique center. You’ll find dozens of items that perfectly complement the country era.

Distressed Paint:

If you’re looking for a quick way to make your home look and feel more country, use distressed paint. It helps to make your home look lived in, and, in many cases, adds buckets of charm.

rustic1

Unsplash Image

Add Shiplap:

Lastly, you can make your home look more vintage and rustic by adding shiplap to your interiors. Overlapping panels of wood make amazing accent walls, especially when decorated with your favorite photos and wall art.

Rustic country homes are all about bringing cozy and welcoming vibes to your place. It’s such a fun style too and has plenty of opportunities to bring out your playful side in your decor!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Silly Valentine’s Day Gift

Standard
Silly Valentine’s Day Gift

Hello! When it comes to Valentine’s Day, Johnny and I never go overboard on gifts and prefer to save that for birthdays and Christmas. My main gift from Johnny was a delicious meal at Pepper’s before going to see Jesus Christ Superstar which was more than enough for me. I am still thinking about my gnocchi with Alfredo sauce as I type this! Our dinner date wasn’t my only gift from Johnny and, although it wasn’t quite what he thought it was going to be, I still love it just the same:

image_50738945(1)

When ordering this “blanket” for me, Johnny definitely didn’t realize how small it actually was. He thought it was going to be around the size of my Step Brothers fleece blanket but that was so not the case. When he gave it to me, we were both in stitches because it is more like a bath towel than anything! In fact, it’s even smaller than our bath towels and we have taken to calling it the doily, dish towel, baby blankie, and so on and so forth lol.

It was incredibly sweet how disappointed Johnny was by this sizing mix up but I couldn’t tell him enough how much I loved it. The print is absolutely hilarious and the itty bitty size makes it even funnier to me. We had plans of hanging it up above our bed but I have been snuggled up with it every night – it’s so soft! This blanket is definitely not what either of us were expecting and it provides us with lots of lols whenever we look at it, which is a huge gift in itself. ❤

My Valentine’s Day was a GREAT SUCCESS because of our date night at the theater and I couldn’t have asked for a better additional gift – regardless of if it’s a dish towel sized blanket or not! 😀

What did you do for Valentine’s Day? Have you ever ordered something online that didn’t turn out as expected? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Night At The Theater OOTD Bloopers

Standard
A Night At The Theater OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to some bloopers from my Night At The Theater OOTD! Before Johnny and I hit up Playhouse Square to see Jesus Christ Superstar last Saturday, we went to Lakewood for a delicious dinner at Pepper’s. When driving to the restaurant, we passed the skull adorned doorway that I posed in front of and I wanted my pictures taken there SO badly. Johnny told me that it was a bar called the Funhouse and if we had time, we would go there for a drink before the show.

Good to his promise, we stopped at the Funhouse after dinner and like the amazing blog husband Johnny is, he braved the cold to snap some shots – The good, the great, and the yikes lol:

image_50422017(4)image_50445569(1)image_50461697image_50436353image_50736129image_50430465image_50460673(4)

Our big night out just happened to be a frickin freezing one and So. Many. of the pictures that Johnny took ended up being blurry because he was shivering! This provided for a lot more not so muches than stellar shots and is also why there aren’t any bonus pictures for this OOTD. While scanning through the pictures he took when we got our drinks, I was less than satisfied and this sweet man of mine took even more pics once we were done even though it had started snowing. Best blog husband EVER! ❤

I wish that we had more time at the Funhouse so you all could have seen the inside because I wanted to take all of the pictures. It was basically the coolest place ever and their alcohol slushies were nothing to sneeze at, either. We are both itching to go back when we visit our friends in Lakewood because the bar also has arcade games and a huge basement that we didn’t get to explore. Johnny and I also love playing ski ball and were so disappointed that we couldn’t squeeze a match in, which is also a main selling point for going back. 😀

Although crunched for time and freezing cold, Johnny always manages to make my OOTD shoots happen and I am so appreciative of that. We had the best time on our date night and have still been reminiscing about it as if it just happened yesterday! ❤

What is your favorite arcade game? What is the coolest hang out in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

How Exercise Can Make You Look Younger

Standard
How Exercise Can Make You Look Younger

There are many products on the market that claim to undo the effects of time on your skin. However, there’s one aspect that people often don’t talk about when they discuss skincare: a healthy lifestyle. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and its health depends on how you treat it. Your lifestyle factors into the condition of your skin as much as anything else, so it makes sense that being healthy and exercising can affect how youthful your complexion is too:

Exercise Can Combat Sagging:

Aside from proper nutrition and adequate sleep, exercise can be a key component as well. While many people think that only the effects of aging make us look older, we actually start to take on an aged appearance long before our time. It all starts in your twenties and thirties when the underlying muscles and bones lose their elasticity and snap back less easily. Before you know it, your body geometry is more prominently defined, and your facial features start to sag.

When you exercise the muscles in your face and neck, they become tighter and more toned. It’s actually possible to get a younger looking jawline through easy exercises! After a while, your skin will tighten up with these underlying muscles. Of course, the effects will not be as pronounced as the best non-invasive facelift treatments, but it will visibly improve your appearance.

Exercise Can Reduce Dark Circles and Puffiness:

There are many reasons why people have puffiness under their eyes – not all of them are related to fatigue or not sleeping enough. Short term swelling can often be due to crying or allergies, but chronic cases may represent a more serious medical condition.

However, exercise may help! By regularly working out, you indirectly reduce the amount of water in your body. When you sweat, it’s easy to lose a lot of liquid without even realizing it. If you’ve ever had an intense workout and then noticed that your skin was not as puffy or dark circles were not as prominent, this is why!

Exercise Boosts Blood Circulation:

If you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, then one thing that you should pay attention to is your blood circulation. There’s a reason why people are always trying hot stone massages, using warming masks, or lying on a pemf mat – because blood flow improves skin health.

The heart acts as the main pump for your circulatory system, pushing fluid throughout all of your tissues. When you exercise, your muscles demand more oxygen and fuel to get a boost of nutrients and also receive a lot of fresh oxygen. This helps improve blood flow to your face, delivering useful nutrients and carrying away waste.

Oxygen is an integral part of the production process for collagen. In fact, people often describe aging as a simple case of ‘rusting’. When your body starts to slow down its mitochondrial activity (the cells in your body that produce energy), the old proteins in the body become oxidized and start to look bad. Collagen is exactly like iron – when it’s exposed to oxygen, it rusts and flakes off. By keeping your blood flowing regularly around your face, you can slow down this aging process.

Exercise Makes Your Skin Glow:

Many people have that ‘fresh out of the shower’ look after working out. You might notice that your skin looks much healthier when you’re sweaty! The reason why exercise makes us glow isn’t just because of sweat. Our bodies are constantly trying to regulate our temperature, so in times of stress or physical exertion, the blood vessels in the skin dilate. If you’ve ever noticed that your cheeks turn red after a workout, this is why.

This dilation of the blood vessels happens as a secondary effect to improved circulation. When there’s more blood flow to your face, you look more awake and ‘healthy’. This is why exercise makes us look younger – we’re literally glowing!

While exercise can’t undo the effects of sun damage or other signs of aging like wrinkles, it can make your complexion look much healthier overall. If you want to maintain your youthfulness over the years, exercise should be a significant part of your lifestyle – not just something that you do occasionally!

Lil Red’s Book Club: When You Are Mine By Michael Robotham Edition

Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: When You Are Mine By Michael Robotham Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Michael Robotham called When You Are Mine. And, tomorrow, be sure to tune in for bloopers from my Night At The Theater OOTD. With no spoilers given away, as always, let’s dive into it. But, I want to place a trigger warning on this book beforehand for domestic violence, general violence, and mental illness. Let’s go:

image_67184641(2)

Constable Philomena McCarthy works for the police in London, which has been her dream since experiencing a bombing on a bus in her youth. Phil had no easy task of achieving this, though, as she is the daughter of the head honcho of the infamous McCarthy crime family. Phil has been estranged from her father for close to a decade and, despite her family ties, she proves herself as a strong addition to her team.

Soon to be married to her fiance, Henry, Phil is living the life that she has always wanted. But things take a sharp turn south when she answers to a domestic call in an apartment building because a resident heard screaming. At the scene, Phil finds Tempe looking worse for the wear at the hands of her lover, Darren Goodall. In his rage, he ends up taking a swing at Phil and she places him under arrest. Not knowing at the time, of course, that he is a Detective Sargent with friends in high and low places alike.

Goodall gets out of his arrest scot free and returns to his wife and children while Phil lands herself a charge for police misconduct. This doesn’t stop her from trying to help Tempe, though, and she finds her a new place to live. The women become fast friends and soon, every free moment is spent together having drinks, shopping, and planning the wedding.

While Phil is enjoying her new friendship, there is definitely something off about Tempe. Everyone around her appears to think so too but Phil brushes it off. Between the wedding, her charges, and attempting to get Goodall’s wife out of an abusive situation, she has her hands full. She also has her estranged crime boss father to think about because a journalist has turned up dead and his crew might be the cause.

With twists in family affairs, friendships, and job Phil soon finds herself at the epicenter of what appears to be a massive police cover up. Despite being told to drop it by all of her higher ups, Phil can’t and soon finds herself targeted as the one to take the blame. Will Darren Goodall finally receive the punishment of the law that he deserves? Will Phil be charged with murder? Read When You Are Mine to find out!

As I began reading When You Are Mine, I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on it and I still feel that way after finishing it. I did enjoy it and, although I figured out the main plot twist, there was still a lot that I didn’t see coming. However, this fast paced read packed a lot of information into three hundred and fifty pages and it made it difficult to keep all of the different plots straight.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a complicated story line but there were several mini plot twists that didn’t have to be included for the book to be effective. The drawn out nature of When You Are Mine made the ending seem abrupt and anticlimactic, which is a bit disappointing. I wouldn’t have minded if it went on for fifty more pages to add some more clarity all around and drama to the final scenes.

I really liked Philomena as a main character as well as her family on her father’s side, although they only played minor parts. The supporting roles of Tempe and Henry left a lot to be desired, though, and felt like a story that I have heard way too many times before. You know, the ultra clingy new friend and the fiance and friends who don’t like her. This is a somewhat tired approach in the modern day psychological thriller.

Overall, I am going to rate When You Are Mine with a six out of ten stars. The general plot was good but it got overwhelmed quickly with unnecessary twists and turns. Normally, I don’t want a book that I like to end but I felt ready for this one to be over. This is one that you aren’t missing out on if you pass on it.

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Creating The Perfect Backyard Dining Area

Standard
Creating The Perfect Backyard Dining Area

The optimists among us are already thinking about the end of winter and the start of the warmer months of the year. While there’s nothing wrong with curling up with some hot cocoa and looking at the snow or frost from inside your home, there’s something about enjoying your backyard that makes summer special.

If you want to transform your backyard into the perfect place for party hosting or outdoor dining, then now is the time to start planning. Here are some great ways to create a perfect place to eat together in the great outdoors.

Section Your Backyard:

If you have a large backyard, then you have plenty of options for creating a place to eat and hang out. Chances are, you won’t need the whole area for your dining needs but you at least need a place to sit and eat, and if you plan to grill your food, somewhere to cook it. Having a deck installed by a deck & fence company is an excellent solution for a dining area. A deck will boost property value and provide a space for barbecues, raised planters, and lounge chairs. Don’t forget to add spaces with shade to your deck with umbrellas or sun setters to keep your family and guests comfortable. It’s also beneficial to plan an area for outdoor activities. If you’re inviting family and children, then the kids will want to run around and play. Leave a section of your lawn free for games, and consider adding a paddling pool for particularly hot days. This way, everyone can enjoy themselves while beating the heat.

As you plan the layout of your backyard, consider the trees on your property. A big one with plenty of shade is perfect for setting up lawn chairs or benches to tuck in with a good book. It can also provide a welcome reprieve after a long day of play or manning the grill. However, if you have concerns about any of the trees on your property then it’s a good idea to get in touch with Green Tree Services (or a similar company in your local area). Tree removal specialists aren’t just well practiced in removing trees that could pose danger to your property. They can also evaluate the health of the tree and assist with pruning or branch removal. You will want the trees surrounding your dining area to have a clean bill of health before your family settles down for a meal!

Shelter and Foundation:

If you want to sit and eat, then you’ll need to think about your chosen dining area. A picnic is more flexible, as you can simply lay out a blanket on a flat part of your lawn and settle down. Most events, however, require more solid seating.

This means that you need to create flat and solid ground to comfortably eat. Stone tiles or a patio area is perfect for this, as the tiles won’t be damaged in the same way as your lawn. Some people also like wooden decking or a pavilion space. This will also look attractive and make partitioning your backyard easier.

If you’re grilling outside, then make sure that the flat space is fire proof. Wooden decking is fine to sit on, but it can be a bit risky if you drop some hot charcoal onto it. Stick with stone or brick paving.

As well as a solid foundation, you should consider adding some shelter to your dining area. This gives sun shy guests a place to hide in the shade. A parasol can keep away the sun, but some more solid shelter will be better in difficult weather. Slidetrack blinds are even better, as they protect you from the sides as well. Even if the weather turns bad, you don’t have to cancel early.

Outdoor Furniture and Decor:

Eating outside is far more comfortable if you have a nice table set to eat from. A picnic blanket is a lot of fun, but it isn’t practical for everyone. It also makes it harder to serve your food. Outdoor furniture can also be attractive and stylish but you will want to find pieces that can withstand the climate outside. Don’t forget twinkle lights and solar light accents throughout the yard for some lovely ambiance as the sun sets.

Even though there’s snow on the ground, it’s never too early to think about summertime fun in your own backyard!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

A Night At The Theater OOTD

Standard
A Night At The Theater OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD post here on lifewithlilred! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had an amazing date night to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. This was our first big outing since the pandemic began so, of course, we had to step out in our very best for A Night At The Theater. For this super special occasion, I had just the dress in mind thanks to my last TJMaxx Haul:

image_50460161image_50434049image_50444289(2)image_50461953image_50451713image_50410497(1)image_50457089(2)image_50413825(3)

Who? What? Wear?

  • Dress: Talia Benson, TJMaxx
  • Platforms: Bamboo, TJMaxx
  • Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters
  • The necklace belonged to my grandma

Ever since getting my Talia Benson dress about a month ago, I had been looking forward to mine and Johnny’s night out even more because I couldn’t wait to wear it! For an evening at the theater, it was important for me to wear something with some drama and I can’t think of anything that fits the bill better. My Talia Benson number is daring and sexy while still being perfectly appropriate for a special event.

As you can see, this dress didn’t need much in terms of accessories because of its loud pattern. I didn’t want to take away from its beauty but only enhance so I kept things simple. For a pop of color, I went with my red embroidered platforms by Bamboo. My dress moved so incredibly in the wind or just when walking so it added a great little peek a boo with every step.

For jewelry, gold was the way to go and it tied together with the gold accents on my shoes. I chose a small dangly earring from the multipack that I purchased at American Eagle for my wedding and a statement necklace that belonged to my grandma. Usually, I opt for long dangle earrings but it would have been way too much with such a bold necklace. The necklace that I wore is, easily, one of my favorite pieces of jewelry and is very sentimental to me so I loved being able to wear it with this outfit. I think she would have loved it too. ❤

When it comes to a typical OOTD for me, I jam pack it with accessories until it feels perfectly complete. However, this Night At The Theater ensemble truly spoke for itself with minimal effort and I felt like a starlet stepping out in it with my husband. As we made our way into Playhouse Square, we both had blue surgical masks on and a fabulous employee told us we needed black ones, instead, in outfits like what we were wearing. She handed us two and it made our almost all black everything looks even better!

What is your favorite accessory? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jesus Christ Superstar Date Night

Standard
Jesus Christ Superstar Date Night

Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I had a wonderful date night to see Jesus Christ Superstar at Playhouse Square. This has been our first big outing since the pandemic began and it was even better than I could have dreamed! Also, huge shout out to my dad for making this possible with his yearly Christmas gift of season tickets to Playhouse Square for the family. Tomorrow, we will take a look at my OOTD so be sure to keep it posted for that!

Our date day began at Pepper’s Italian Restaurant in Lakewood before the show. We had a to die for dinner of gnocchi with Alfredo sauce, Margarita pizza, focaccia bread, salad, and Prosecco. It was absolutely delicious and my only regret is that it isn’t closer so that we could eat there all of the time. 😀

image_50456577(1)image_50392321(2)image_50380545(2)image_50426113(1)image_50421249image_50449409image_50435073(2)

After an amazing meal that I am still dreaming about, we had some time to kill before it was time to go to the theater to take our seats. We decided to have an after dinner drink at a bar down the street from Pepper’s called the Funhouse. Johnny has been there before but I haven’t and it was the coolest place ever!! It had the theme of an old fashioned carnival with tons of dark decor mixed with the bright colors of a fair. The Funhouse is definitely our kind of bar!

I was already sold on the bar based on the decor alone but their unique drink menu didn’t hurt, either. I just had to try one of their alcohol slushies and chose blue raspberry as my flavor. It was So. Yummy. and if we didn’t have a play to catch, I think I could have had one or two more. 🙂

image_50411009(1)

After a quick drink, it was time to head to Playhouse Square for the main event – seeing Jesus Christ Superstar. Everyone has a laugh when I say that it is my favorite musical because I am an atheist. I can’t help it, though, and have been enamored with it ever since having to watch it every Easter at Catholic grade school. The rock opera music gets me every time and I love that it shows a human depiction of the story of Christ’s crucifixion.

A few years ago, I made Johnny watch the classic movie adaptation of the musical and while he liked it, he wasn’t one hundred percent sold on it. I wasn’t sure what his reaction was going to be to the show so as soon as it began and he whispered to me “this is amazing” my heart basically exploded because he was seeing it how I do.

We were lucky enough to see the show despite it being canceled last year due to the pandemic and were treated to an extra special viewing because of its fiftieth anniversary celebration. Because of this, there was a small orchestra playing in the wings of the theater along with the band playing onstage with wailing electric guitar, organ, keyboards, drums, and saxophone.

The stage was set with an industrial vibe of open scaffolding and a huge upside down cross going directly down the stage. This was also reflected in the costumes for the characters who were dressed in baggy clothing to maximize all of their beautiful movements. And the actors? They were sublime.

The chorus was fabulous and the individual roles were just flawless. I daresay that the actor playing Judas might have out shined Jesus but who really stole the show was King Herod. His flashy rendition of “King Herod’s Song” was a major highlight of the entire show and Johnny and I spent so much time on the ride home going gaga over it.

Jesus Christ Superstar was performed with no intermission so it was seamless from start to finish. The loud music, glam rock style vocals, and all of the little tricks that they worked into the show made for one of the best adaptations that I have ever seen. It was so incredibly creative and really is a production that makes you think.

I knew that I was going to enjoy the show but it made it even better that Johnny loved it too. Our hour long car ride home until we went to bed was filled with conversation about the story, what we liked, and reliving it in its entirety. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and it was seriously one of the best evenings of my life! ❤

image_50430977image_50423553(1)image_50454273(2)image_50426113(2)

What is your favorite musical? Do you have a favorite song from Jesus Christ Superstar? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Landing Your Dream Job

Standard
Landing Your Dream Job

Unfortunately, many people never land their dream job, not because they are not capable of doing so but because they don’t think they can, so they don’t even try. If you want to be one of the ones who does end up doing a job you love for the rest of your life, here are some tips to help you achieve it:

Get the right qualifications:

Yes, there are tales of people who have been able to get their dream job with not even a high school diploma to help them along the way and, incidentally, if you’ve long since lost your high school diploma, Valid Grad can help you out. If you want to land your dream job, it is a good idea to work out what qualifications those in charge are looking for, and do your best to attain them too. Whether this is a certification, degree, or training courses any extra know how helps.

Gain experience:

If you want to land your dream job, you are going to have to work for it and that means getting relevant experience that you can put on your resume. For example, if you want to be a zookeeper, you could start by volunteering in a local animal shelter. This will be valuable experience and show employers that you have a caring nature and a love of animals, which will help to seal the deal. That’s just one example, of course, and what you need to do to prove yourself may be quite different, but you get the idea.

Become a presence online:

In 2022, one thing you can do to really set yourself apart from the competition and stand out in the best possible way is to establish a strong online presence in your chosen sector. If you want to be a film director, you could start by producing video shorts for YouTube or if you want to be a high end personal shopper, you could start your own fashion blog. People will see your stuff, make connections, and you will find that more opportunities will come your way.

Network:

On that note, it is fair to say that networking can do a lot of the hard work of landing your dream job. If you attend trade events, talks, and shows based on your dream sector or where people who work in your dream sector are likely to hang out, you can mingle with all the right people. When it comes to an opportunity, sometimes it really is about who you know so always put your best face forward.

Getting a dream job takes time and lots of hard work but it will be so worth it once you’re punching the clock at a job you love!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Loving: My Nebulizing Diffuser

Standard
Loving: My Nebulizing Diffuser

Hello! A couple of weeks ago, I began using the Aurora Nebulizing Diffuser by Organic Aromas and I have been absolutely loving it. Other than a stint in my teens when I enjoyed making bath and body care products, I never was too interested in essential oils. While I understand that there can be benefits, I always thought that people were over exaggerating. However, this product made me eat my words and my mornings no longer feel complete without turning my diffuser on. Let’s discuss:

Okay, before we really get into it, I seriously can’t mention essential oils without talking about Impractical Jokers. Johnny and I are huge fans of the show and there was one episode when the guys had to perform their antics while getting a massage. Q was told that he had to pronounce “oil” as “Earl” and, of course, Johnny and I now refer to my essential oils as essential Earls lol.

ANYWHO, I started my journey with my Organic Aromas diffuser by using their Signature Blend. I did enjoy this scent and it was great for relaxing at home after work. Johnny, on the other hand, wasn’t a fan and it actually gave him a stomachache so I had to use it when he wasn’t home! I will be the first to admit that it was pretty pungent but it definitely did its job because I felt so soothed when I was using it.

The Peppermint oil was a game changer, though. After getting out of the shower, I would put it in my diffuser before starting my writing routine and I noticed a big difference in how I felt on day one. The fresh peppermint scent felt like an additional caffeine boost for those groggy mornings and I do feel like it improved both my focus and alertness when working in the morning.

Not only did I feel extra awake, but my airways felt way less congested too. This Ohio winter has been a flip flop between moderate temperatures, rain, single digit temps, and snow storms and I have felt permanently clogged up since November. My body just can’t jive between the constantly changing temps and it has been really annoying, to say the least. The first day using the peppermint oil was the first day I have felt “normal” since the fall and I can’t get enough of it!

We all know that I am a fanatic when it comes to my beauty hoard and I think essential oils are going to start making a huge addition to my stock pile. I am so eager to try all of the different scents and plan on purchasing some citrus and eucalyptus oil next! 😀

What are your favorite essential oils? Have you noticed any differences from using them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah