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My sister and brother in law just finished building their dream house, and I was happy to throw them a little Open House style housewarming. It was a lot of fun, so I only managed to take a few pictures during the party. Mainly, I wanted to share my new sangria recipe! It's fantastic! We served it for the first time at the housewarming, and got so many compliments on it. Plus it looks so beautiful and festive. 






Here's the recipe for 3.5 Gallons (the size of my drink dispenser):

2 Cups Apricot Brandy
1 Cup Peach Schnapps
4 bottles of dry White Wine (such as pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc)
6 Oranges, sliced
6 Limes, sliced
6 Peaches, sliced
5 cups Strawberries, sliced
2 liters of Ginger Ale
First mix the alcohol, then top with ginger ale and fruit. 

Gosh, this sangria was so good. Because our grocery store did not have peaches or any strawberries, I ended up using frozen fruit-and that was turned out so nice! I think the cold fruit really made this drink refreshing. 

As the dispenser emptied, we tasted the orange slices that had been soaking in the sangria and they were delicious. Someone asked for a ladle so they could scoop out the fruit! 

Let's Chat! Leave a comment below if you would totally take a glass of this sangria! 

The Best White Sangria Recipe

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

I can't believe it was 2017 when I shared my favorite essential oil diffuser blends! When I did some decluttering earlier this year I pared down my essential oil collection. I was warned when I first started getting into them that they were addicting! Every time I was at the health food store I'd grab a new one to try. It became really obvious which ones were favorites and which ones I didn't really care for. 

Because my collection got smaller, I decided to try to find new combinations of what I already had. This has been a fun experiment! And in doing so I actually have found 3 new favorite recipes that are my new go-tos! 

Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes! www.kristenwoolsey.com

Essential Oil Diffuser Blends! www.kristenwoolsey.com

Fresh and Spicy:
This is one of my favorite to diffuse first thing in the morning. It makes the whole house smell fresh and clean, but warm too. 
4 drops Rosemary, 4 drops Peppermint, and 1 drop Cinnamon
Click here to purchase: Rosemary...Peppermint....Cinnamon
Comforting:
I love this one at bedtime or in the evenings. There is something about tangerine that really sets off the lavender. Tangerine has become my citrus oil of choice! I prefer it over plain ole orange any day. 
4 drops Lavender, 4 drops Cedarwood or Frankincense, 2 drops Tangerine 
Click here to purchase: Lavender...Cedarwood...Frankincense...Tangerine

Stress Away Copycat:
Young Living is a bit out of my current price range, but I really love their Stress Away blend. It does just what it says and makes you feel like you are in a tropical hotel somewhere. 
4 drops Copaiba, 4 drops Lime, 4 drop Cedarwood, 4 drops Vanilla (not an EO but you can get a blend) and 4 drops Lavender, and 1 drop Cinnamon 
Click here to purchase: Copaiba...Lime...Vanilla...Lavender...Cinnamon

Essential Oil Diffuser Blends! www.kristenwoolsey.com

I don't have a dedication to any particular oil brand, but I know lots of people have strong opinions about it. I have had a really good experience with the NOW brand. I love that I can shop local and pick some up in our health food store. I think the price is right and I think you get a decent amount for the price as well! Plus, don't they look good lined up like that? 

Let's Talk! In the comments below tell me your all time favorite diffuser blend! Are you into essential oils? One thing I really love about them is that you can get so many different scent combinations out of just a few oils. Tell me which oil you can't live without! For me, it's lavender hands down. But a close second is frankincense! 
Affiliate links present at no cost to you!

3 More Favorite Diffuser Recipes

Monday, May 20, 2019

When I was in Kindergarten, my mom has told me that if we went to our Thursday night meeting for worship, I would wake up throwing up on Friday morning. It happened every week! If I didn't get proper rest, I would end up sick. My body has always been like that. If I don't slow down, it'll make me slow down. 

She likes to remind me of that everytime we are on the phone and I go over the crazy to-do lists I have. I've worked really hard to pare down that list-but sometimes busy can't be helped. Spring has historically been our busy season. I work in Real Estate, and as I'm sure most of you know the market is poppin' and we've been all hands on deck at work. (I did just get a raise so that makes it so much better.) Additionally, Blake and I do construction volunteer work and that has turned into basically a part time job. (Loving it and it's absolutely a priority.) We've thrown training days once a month since January and those are 13 hour days, plus all the prep that goes on the week before.

Spring also tends to bring graduation parties, baby showers and weddings too! My sister and brother in law just moved into their new house and I'm hosting a housewarming for them...after taking 3 days out of my regular schedule to help her move and get organized. (Not complaining! That stuff is my jam.) 

My point in sharing all that is not for pity, after all I've done this to myself. Life can be crazy, but I think it's SO important to thrive in life and not just survive. I want to share a few suggestions today about how to reset, recharge and find happiness while you are swimming up the current. 

Tips for Thriving During A Busy Season

Remember Your Non Negotiables
I suggest spending a few minutes on this with a pen and paper. You have to nail down what is non negotiable in your life. Identifying these things will help you navigate your day and a busy season. These are things that you must do, but things that also fill your tank.

For me, it's: daily Bible Reading, some kind of physical activity, having a tidy house in the evenings and communication with my husband. These things keep me grounded and are things I find vital for feeling good about my day. If nothing else goes right, I don't feel terrible if I've done these things.

Saying No
Mark this one down as the hardest thing to do in life. The reality of a busy season is that you don't have much room for extras. This is especially hard for people like me because I like to have it all! Learning to say no is an ongoing challenge, but it has helped me more than anything else.

One thing I've been saying no to lately is week night invitations. As much fun as I might be missing out on, it throws my schedule off so much if I do something on a weeknight. I simply reply: Thank you so much for thinking of me, but I can't this time. Have fun! 

I was also recently asked to make some gifts for about 50 people, and as much as I LOVE an opportunity to use my Cricut, I had to say no this time. Again: Thank you so much for thinking of me, but I can't this time!


Meal Plan and Instacart
Although it's not a non negotiable, I try to make it a priority to cook at home. A busy season makes it incredibly tempting to eat out. It might be easier, but I never feel as good after a restaurant meal as I do when we cook at home. Being busy shouldn't impact your budget either.

We've been keeping meals incredibly simple. Cooking is one of my favorite things, but right now it's just not feasible to do a complicated recipe. Additionally I've been having my groceries delivered with Instacart. (Use my link to sign up and you can get $10 toward groceries and free delivery!) They deliver all the time so it's really convenient to shop. Having one less errand to run has been a game changer!

Mental Health Day
Taking a mental health day is something I've been doing for a decade. When I start feeling run down, I know I need to rest or else I will be forced into it at an inconvenient time. It's as simple as taking a day to do nothing. The hardest part is giving yourself permission not to accomplish anything. 

On mental health days I usually hang out on the couch and catch up on tv shows or movies. That's it if I'm feeling particularly drained. If I've got some energy I will try to do some laundry or other easy chores. These days are great opportunities for face masks and an at home pedicure. 

Reset Your House
Since one of my non negotiables is having a tidy house before I go to bed, our house rarely gets into that disaster mode. But, a busy season means I have less time for deep cleanings. It feels SO good to take an afternoon and totally reset the house. I go room by room, top to bottom. You can't tell me going to sleep in clean sheets doesn't make you happy! 



Master Making A To Do List
My best to do list making happens the night before. I try to think of what I have on the schedule for the following day and what absolutely needs to happen. Be realistic. Do not give yourself 45 boxes to check. You won't feel good when you don't accomplish all 45. Instead, pick the most necessary and feel great when you accomplish it. 

To do lists have become critical to my current lifestyle. If I don't write it down, I will not remember it. My Simplified Planner has a great to-do list section, but I also really love using Erin Condren notebooks for longer lists. (Use my Erin Condren referral link and get a $10 gift certificate which would make these notebooks half price!)

Disconnect
As mentioned before, it's not possible to do it all. If you are in a busy season, something will have to be sacrificed. (Remember it's not forever!) Take inventory of what takes up a lot of time and that isn't necessary. For me it's social media. I gave my tips a few months ago on how to do a social media free weekend

Don't want to give up social media completely? Try uninstalling the apps from your phone, and only checking your socials from a computer. Or just turn off notifications to reduce the time you spend scrolling. 

For you it might be watching tv in the evenings. Most of the time, when I sit down on the couch, that's it for productivity that day. Technology can be such a great tool, but it's also time consuming. If you are busy, it might be something you can take a break from.

Let's Talk! Leave me a comment below and tell me what's going on in your life! Is it a busy season for you too? What are some ways that you recharge and unwind? How do you thrive and not just survive a busy season?
This post contains referral links at no cost to you!

Ways To Survive A Busy Season

Tuesday, May 14, 2019


Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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