Simple Ways To Create A Home Atmosphere That Is A Reflection Of You

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GladeAtmosphereCollection #CollectiveBias

 Momma Told Me: Paint a picture with all of the senses.

A home is much more than 4 walls.

For me my home is a work space, a creative beacon, a vehicle for the creation of memories, my sanctuary, and the place where I can truly express myself. Much like putting together the perfect outfit the items you choose to fill your home with are a direct expression of you. The first sights, sounds, and aromas your guests are greeted with paint an immediate picture of the passions that drive and inspire you.That's why it's important to consider the atmosphere of your home on several different levels, to brush an accurate and inviting landscape that is all your own.

Your home's atmosphere doesn't have to remain consistent. In fact, one of the best things about your home is that you can effortlessly change the mood and atmosphere of one room to the next with just a few simple subtractions or additions. Naturally your home's atmosphere will also change with the season, and your own life's focus, as the natural ebb of time inspires personal growth and exploration that truly builds upon layers of time and personality. A well worn home tells a story.

That's why I have long relied on home fragrance products by Glade® to help tell my home's story. Their wide range of everyday fragrances and products allow me to infuse any room with instant emotion. I keep a cupboard stocked full of our favorite fragrances but, every now and then, I want to truly elevate my atmosphere with something special. For a more sophisticated home fragrance experience, with the trusted Glade® brand name, I'm excited to have recently discovered the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ Fine Home Fragrance by Glade® products, sold at Ralphs. This thoughtful collection of 4 inspired home fragrances provides a palette of complicated aromas intended to instantly elevate any atmosphere. It's the perfect solution for busy shoppers seeking a high-end home fragrance experience at home, without the fuss of heading into a specialty store.

Available in 4.2oz Jar Candles and PlugIns® Scented Oil (2 Count) varieties these unique fine home fragrances found in the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ by GladeⓇ cover 4 vastly different fragrance profiles; N°1 Enraptured™, N°2 Bright™, N°3 Free™, and N°4 Tempted™. I was immediately drawn to N°1 Enraptured™'s complex and charming build with notes of jasmine, rose and cedarwood. Much like the name would suggest it reminded me of whimsical forests filled with playful nymphs, and certainly transported me mentally to a very creative and relaxing atmosphere I find myself craving when I sit down to write. For our living room I was drawn to N°3 Free™'s carefree fragrance, which danced through the air on the essence of starfruit, coconut, and beach woods. It's relaxing and creamy cocktail of aromas put a playful smile on my face and solicited a mood of relaxation and contentment.

Both N°1 and N°3 are two distinctly different fine fragrance builds- where as I choose to incorporate the careful and playful notes of N°3 Free in my home's personal living room and entertaining space I find I am drawn to surround my personal creative work-space with the more whimsical notes of N°1 Enraptured™. In fact, the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ N°1 Enraptured™ fine home fragrance is what inspired me to elevate the home atmosphere of my work-space. With the air wafting with notes of jasmine and lady apples I was driven to enhance my emotional experience with an element of sound that would further build upon the complex atmosphere of this room within my home.

I have always found that I thrive, creatively, when my senses are equally engaged. Fine fragrances illuminate one part of my brain, whereas white noise helps engage another. For this reason I usually keep wind chimes, or bird feeders nearby my work-space window, to provide ambient noise that really helps generate a mood. When we recently moved from our small condominium into a full fledged home I knew it was time, at last, to build an atmosphere that was creatively inspiring and all my own. With Glade's NEW N°1 Enraptured™ fragrance in mind I set out to make a simple zen fountain.

The process if quite simple, really- and allows for plenty of creative customization. To start you'll want to acquire the following things:

Small (5-10 gallon) Whisper Quiet Water Pump

2' Appropriately Sized Water Line Tubing

Large Waterproof Bowl

Larger Bowl/Stand For Water Bowl To Rest In

Decorative Elements-Scraps Of Metal/Small Decor/Etc

River Rocks

Water Spout/Fixture of Choice

Optional: Bendable Pipe Length To Hide Water Line

To begin you're going to want to attach your waterline to your pump securely. I only had airline on hand, which was a tad smaller than the output for my pump, so I hot glued the line in place on the pump output valve. 
 

I also chose to use an open structure decorative bowl as my 'base' for the bowl that served as my water basin. My main thinking in this was that I could easily weave the cord for my pump down the size of the bowl, between the two bowls, to help add stability and a clean solution for the cord. Whenever possible anchoring your pump cord (rather than allowing it to drape off the edge) will prove the most stable design.

Because I'd chosen a bowl with such a strong copper visual aesthetic I knew I wanted my decor, and spout, to be copper as well. For a few dollars I picked up a 1' length of hollow copper pipe I could effectively run my water line through to transport my water from the bowl up to my chosen spout. I used some leftover scrap metal to make a flat surface for my water to run down and clipped my water line just short of the edge of the spout. (To create the illusion the water was running from the spout, rather than a plastic line.)

One of the things that makes a water fountain a 'zen fountain' is the freedom one has to play with the pitch of the water. Have fun playing with building rocks to create louder or more subtle patterns of running water. Adding or removing a stone can easily adjust the decibel level to suit one's mood, and instantly impact the atmosphere of a room.

Naturally, the third aspect of transforming the atmosphere of a space is through the objects we fill it with to generate visual interest. I have a very clean, intentional, palette that demands all elements work in harmony. Because of how I am drawn to bright colors and bold visual accents I need home fragrance and sound elements that 'play well' with my existing materials. Sometimes traditional home fragrance products can be intrusive visually, so I'm especially glad that the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ by GladeⓇ has a timeless design with glass jar candles that effortlessly fit into any decor or vignette.

Finding a fine home fragrance that truly helps express who you are can be challenging, and creating an atmosphere that is defined, and harmonious, even more so. When possible I like to tie my rooms together with key elements that I have in some way directly impacted through design or placement. If I can't create a focal point then it's important that the elements I've chosen directly speak to a story. I've definitely felt more confident I'm working towards accomplishing that with the addition of this new zen fountain and the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ by GladeⓇ. Check out these bedroom makeover tips and ideas to help bring a new atmosphere to your bedroom, too!

If your home were an open storybook, halfway written and left open to a random page, could your guests clearly get an image of you as the writer? Heighten your own senses and pout your emotions to work with a beautifully built atmosphere of sights, sounds, and fragrances. Explore the NEW Atmosphere Collection™ by Glade in the air care aisle at Ralphs, and bring home an elevated fragrance experience that truly inspires a whole new atmosphere, today. Do you have a a room in your home with a sight, fragrance, or sound that you feel helps build it's unique atmosphere? Tell me about it!

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What Daughter Says: Build upon the atmosphere of your home, or a room, with carefully selected sights, sounds, and aromas.

5 Me Time Moments In 5 Minutes- FREE Adult Coloring Printable

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OREOThinSide #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: All work and no play....

This year's been a pretty crazy one for me. In between the multiple trips to visit, or provide care for, family, I've also taken on an unexpected move. And by unexpected I mean I was literally notified the house we'd been hoping to land came available overnight and was ready to move within days, where we'd previously spoken about timelines closer to mid 2017. All this on top of juggling the hustle and bustle of imminent holidays. Let's just say I don't know if we'll be enjoying our turkey dinner on chair cushions on the floor at our old condo, or a dining table surrounded by moving boxes at the house. Yes, my days lately aren't short of things to do and ways to consume time.

Move or no move, we all feel the stress of the season during this time of the year, which provides just added stress and struggle on top of everyday challenges like juggling a family and a job, writing a meal plan with dietary restrictions, or taking on a leadership position at ones' volunteer gig. So I've taken a few minutes to zen out (because blogging is one of my ways to unwind) and share with you my favorite 5 Minute Me Time Moment break ideas.

1. Add a little atmosphere- The first thing I do when I start to feel a little overwhelmed is close my eyes and take a deep breath. I let all of the senses I might not have been focusing on right then take over. Since this usually involves scent and sound, I'll typically light a candle or incense, and even turn on a familiar melody. By engaging parts of your brain currently dormant, you can help switch off the parts which are being overwhelmed and provide some valuable moments to recharge. It's the simplest form of meditation and it only requires shifting your senses from one focus to another. Of course, aromatherapy may also provide key benefits to recharge if you choose your scents meticulously.

2. Engage in a little furriendly therapy- My favorite way to recharge at home is free, always available, and provides an immediate lift whether I have 2 minutes or 20. The same furry faces that greet you with excitement when you first get home after a long day will be just as enthusiastic for your affection when you pause to take time out to acknowledge them during your daily tasks. Whether it's a 5 minute walk around the block with the dog, some affectionate cat scratches with the cat, or a full blown fetch session in the backyard, pets provide an instant endorphin lift.

3. Just drop everything- It may sound like the beckoning of an apocalyptic doom, but (in most cases) you really can just drop it all for 5 minutes and the world won't burst into flames around you. A lot of the time we self impose stress upon ourselves by setting unreasonable goals, or simply feeding a drive to accomplish something. Your achievement will be just as worthwhile should it take you 5 more minutes to complete, and you're actually likely to be more productive after a quick break than if you'd just powered through. Of course, if you're like me, you'll be tempted to tinker and spend your 'me time' doing other things that may feel productive, but aren't quite considered a break. Make sure you remove yourself from these temptations by heading to a quiet room, or even outside for your break.

4. Reward Yourself- If you find it hard to just sit still and unwind grabbing a snack or treat can help fill your break time with positive vibes and delicious reflections. I recently discovered NEW Lemon OREO Thins at my local Ralphs and my 5 minute breaks because a lot more delicious. For those who still haven't experienced these thinner, crispier, OREO cookies, with the perfect cream to cookie ratio- you simply must pick up a package. There are now 5 varieties to choose from, Original, Golden, Mint, and NEW Chocolate and NEW Lemon filled OREO Thins. Just a few of these crispy sandwich cookies put an instant smile on my face.

5. Let your creative juices flow- It may seem contradictory to throw so much of yourself into something while seeking respite from a strenuous task but, again, engaging a different side of your brain can instantly help refresh and recharge. Naturally what one person finds creatively freeing might be different for another, but many agree that the trend of modern adult coloring is universally appealing. Whether you enjoy being meticulous in planning your color placement and the zen of coloring inside the lines, or you thrive on the anarchy of wild color combinations and the prospect of a purple kitten, taking just 5 minutes to sit down and focus your creative energies can truly recharge in the most hectic of times.

So there you have it, my favorite 5 Minute Me Time Moment ideas. You may be tempted to do some of them at the same time (I know the allure of a golden OREO cookie with a perfect crisp crunch gets me every time) but you really should try to practice these ideas on their own. After all, it's only 5 minutes- when you start to add multiple breaks in you really only end up overwhelming your time, and it hardly becomes a break at all. That is, unless you commit to a 20 or 30 minute break- and I'm all for that. Too bad the real world doesn't pencil more of those in, right?

If you're inspired by my suggestions, and want to see what some other really awesome people have to say about how to unwind this holiday season (or any time, really) then you simply must check out this Social Hub for some 'Thinspiration'- and make sure to pick up some OREO Thins at your local Ralphs too. They're the perfect pairing for our FREE Printable Adult Coloring Page above, too! Now, tell me, what's your favorite way to unwind and take a few minutes of me time when the world gets crazy around you?


What Daughter Says: You're only at your best until you're not- taking 5 minutes out to recharge doesn't make you less efficient, it makes you more effective.