JANUARY FAVORITES

Writing today's post as an old lady, you guys. Today's my 25th birthday so I'm officially over the hill now. Okay so I'm totally kidding but I can't even believe I'm 25???!! I'm usually a little bittersweet on my birthday but today I'm trying to embrace it. Fingers crossed I don't have a mid-life crisis this year! In light of my birthday and it being the end of January, today's post is a round-up of my monthly favorites!

I love sharing my favorite things with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

I'm excited to share this month's favorites because there is a good mix of both style and beauty favorites. It's been pretty cold this month so a lot of them are winter essentials as well. 

JANUARY FAVORITES

1. UGG Boots - I have pretty much been living in my UGGs all month long. This style is my favorite boot because they are easy to throw on and are so so comfy + warm. My feet never get cold and they just feel good. Not always the cutest style but an UGG is an UGG and I love them! They're on the pricier side but come in several color options and will last for years. Definitely worth the splurge!

2. Concealer - Okay this is actually the BEST concealer out there. I have tried tons of drugstore and high-end ones and have yet to find one better. This one is super full coverage, easy to blend and lasts for forever. I'm also very fair and the lightest shade works really well with my skin tone. 

3. Sunglasses - I talked a little bit about these in this Vintage Valentine post so I won't be repetitive here but I'm obsessed with them. I have the smaller size but they also come in a bigger frame here.

4. Heart Ring - I have had this ring on my wish-list for years and my boyfriend surprised me with it for Christmas! I love that it's dainty (great for everyday wear) but still has a lot of sparkle from the diamonds! I also love the braided band, it adds a little something extra. I've worn it everyday since I got it, it's my new favorite!

5. Moisturizer - It says a lot that this moisturizer is in my favorites because I am so picky when it comes to skincare. I have very dry skin that's also sensitive so I'm always cautious with what I use. I love this one because it's effective at actually moisturizing your skin but isn't too heavy or greasy. It's also a "Clean AF" product so it's free of a lot of harsh chemicals and additives. It's on the pricier side but a little bit goes a long way. 

6. Leggings - I wore and mentioned these in my Go-to Cozy Winter Outfit but they are one of my favorite pairs of leggings. I explained why in the post so I'll just link them here.

7. Hand Cream - My hands have been SO DRY this month so I've been using this hand cream religiously. It smells yummy, is moisturizing and super affordable.

8. UGG Slip-Ons - These were also in my Go-to Cozy Winter Outfit post and are the best slip-ons! I love wearing these when it's cooler out but I don't feel like wearing boots. They are so comfy + come in several colors here. 

9. Chapstick - Best chapstick ever! Works well + is very affordable. I like the original scent the best! 

Thank you all so much for reading today's post! Let me know what some of your January favorites are in the comments below! 

xx,

Kristen

SHOP THE POST

VINTAGE VALENTINE

I love sharing my personal style with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

Sweatshirt // Leggings // Shoes // Sunnies // Lippie

Today's look is all about edgy comfort! I love the vintage "cool girl" vibes of this sweatshirt. It has an Alice + Olivia feel to it but is super affordable (on sale here for only $15!). I thought the style was super fun just in time for Valentine's Day. Since the sweatshirt is cropped (I sized up to a large), I paired it with one of my favorite pairs of high-waisted leggings. They are super comfy and flattering on so I pretty much live in them!

To keep it casual and play up the vintage vibes, I opted for classic chucks. I love that they can make pretty much any outfit look cool. The dirtier the better! ;) I'm wearing this version but have been thinking about buying this style for Spring. They come in a ton of different colors + are a great closet staple.

I threw on my favorite sunnies + a bright red lip (wearing this one in "Passion") to compliment my top. If you don't own these sunglasses, they are the best ever! I use to own the large-version until I lost them last year. Honestly, the heartbreak was so real you guys. I missed them for months! I was so excited my sister gave me the mini-version for Christmas! I think either size looks great on but I prefer the black ombre color combo. It makes them look really sleek and matches everything!

Hope you all enjoy this post and have a great weekend!

xx,

Kristen 

SHOP THE POST

GALENTINE'S DAY GIFT IDEAS!

Today's post is all about cute Galentine's Day Gift Ideas! I love Valentine's Day. I live for all of the cute, girly pink and red decor. There isn't much a heart-shaped pillow can't fix (like really, they're so cute). Even the candy is cute. Regardless of whether you're single or in a relationship, it's too fun to pass up! If you've never celebrated Galentine's Day, it takes place on February 13th and is the same concept as V-Day but with your besties. I've rounded up my favorite V-Day themed items that I think would make great Galentine's Day gifts!

I love sharing my top picks and favorite things with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

1. Givenchy Rouge Interdit Lipstick - Givenchy released two limited-edition shades of this lipstick for Valentine's Day. The colors are super bright, fun and a great "little luxury" gift idea! 

2. YSL Heart & Arrow Collector Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick - Another luxe lipstick, YSL also released a limited edition collection with their Volupte Shine Lipsticks. There are five different shades and the packaging is TO DIE FOR. I'm obsessed! I'd love to receive one all of them for Galentine's Day! ;)

3. You're My Person Bracelet - For the Cristina to your Meredith Grey. Love this "grown-up" version of a friendship bracelet. Comes in gold + rose gold here. 

4. Makeup Eraser with Lip Print - These work so well and make the best gift! I bought this set for a Christmas gift but they are perfect for Valentine's Day! In this set you get one of the pink lips design and one of the black lips. You could give to multiple besties or keep one for yourself! They are also on sale here for 30% off! 

5. Sugarfina Valentine's Day Candy Set - Super cute + yummy V-Day themed gummies! Comes with Baby Butterflies, Kiss Me Sugar Lips, You Make Me Melt Ice Cream Cones + Whale You Be Mine gummies! Comes in a set of 4 cubes here. 

6. Not Today, Cupid PJ Set - I'm obsessed with this PJ set! They would be so cute and perfect for a Galentine's Day gift (or for you, girl!). There's also this version that says "Kiss Me" with lip-printed shorts that I love too!

7. Heart Print Makeup Bag - I love the quality of this brand so I died when I saw this heart print makeup bag! It's so so cute and is a great size that will hold a lot!

8. Stud Earrings -  These are super affordable but look really expensive! I love the crystal stones but they come in several colors!

9. Hanky Panky Gift Set - Okay this was too cute to not include! It's totally not weird to buy your bestie some cute v-day undies (if they're your bestie, I swear it's fine... right??!). Haha, okay so maybe it'd be a little weird but I had to share these! Hanky Panky makes some of the best underwear and this set comes with three fun colors in a heart-shaped gift box! If you're needing some good ones, buy this one for yourself! 

10. Lindt Red Velvet Truffles - Chocolate is a must for V-Day! I love Lindt Truffles and saw they have Red Velvet ones out for Valentine's. I haven't tried them yet but they look so good! Yum! 

11. Valentine's Day Fuzzy Socks - I will take any opportunity or holiday available to buy fuzzy socks. I love them so much!! These red-heart ones and these grey and pink heart ones are so so cute! They are also very affordable so they'd make a great gift. Add some candy + you are good to go! 

12. Poo-Pourri Spray - A cute and funny gift! This stuff really works... haha. If you haven't tried it, get some! It comes in several different scents and is the best gift to give and receive!

I hope this helped give you some great Galentine's Day gift ideas and put you in the Valentine's Day mood! Let me know what your favorite candy is in the comments below! Thank you all so much for reading. 

xx,

Kristen

SHOP THE POST HERE:

GO-TO COZY WINTER OUTFIT

I love sharing my personal style and favorite things with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in the post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty neat, huh? :)

Today's post is all about my go-to cozy winter outfit! It's also my first time sharing an outfit post on here. Doing outfit posts is something I've been the most excited about starting so I'm hoping you all will like them! This look is one of my favorites because it's super easy, cute and really warm!

I've become obsessed with these wubbly pullovers. I've noticed a lot of stores are now carrying this same type of pullover but I prefer this one because it's good quality (still super affordable), is super cozy and also has pockets. The pockets are a must-have for me. I like being able to store my car key, phone, etc., when I'm out running errands. It comes in several different colors and is on sale here right now! 

Since this is my go-to cozy outfit, leggings are a given. I'm wearing my all-time favorite pair which are these. I'm suuuuupppppeeerrrrr picky with leggings. They have to be good quality, can't be see-through, flattering on and comfortable. These suck you in so well and are so flattering but feel like you aren't even wearing pants! I own several pairs, they are amazing!

My slip-ons are my go-tos when it's cooler outside but I don't feel like wearing boots. Sometimes slip-ons can look a little bit weird on your feet but this style isn't too chunky and look cute on. They're also very comfy. Since they are on the low-cut side, I wear this type of sock with them instead of regular ones. I have the black pair on my wish-list!

Pullover // Tee // Leggings // Shoes // Earrings


Thank you all so much for reading today's post! Let me know your thoughts on outfit posts and whether you'd like to see more!


xx,


Kristen

SHOP THE POST:

BAD DAYS

Well all have them. Today was one for me. I feel strange saying "Today was a bad day." I'm a firm believer in practicing and preaching positivity so it kind of feels like admitting defeat. I'm sure that's a little dramatic, but I try my best to always focus on the good. Today that was harder than usual. 

I woke up in a bad mood. Just out of nowhere, I was irritable. I honestly couldn't tell you why. There wasn't anything that happened or caused me to feel that way, I just was. I felt blah. Since I had the day off from work,  I had a pretty long "to-do" list. Off days are my days to get sh*t done. Errands, laundry, whatever. I didn't feel like doing any of it. I wanted to but I also didn't. After bumming around the house for a few hours, I felt even worse for bumming around. I tried shooting photos for a blog post. Things weren't turning out well. My frustration grew. Could the day get any worse?! Could I be anymore dramatic?? Something I've come to understand over the years is that you get what you give. A negative mindset results in a negative outcome. A positive outlook results in a positive outcome. The more I dwelled on it being a bad day, the worst it got. "Thunder only happens when it's raining." Stevie is pretty smart, you guys. 

Around 4 o'clock, it was time to snap out of it. I forced myself to start doing something so I cleaned. I changed my sheets and vacuumed. Cleaning up around my bedroom slowly cleaned up my attitude. I decided that tomorrow will be better. I know this because it always is. You forget that in the moment. It's easy to get caught up in the "today sucks" mindset. That's totally normal. I think it's okay to have days like today. We're all just people. No one is perfect, we just try to be and do the best we can. 

Right now it's 10:54pm and I'm thankful for having this bad day. I'm thankful that in reality, my bad day really isn't so bad in the grand scheme of things. I needed to have it in order to remember that. I'm also thankful for the inspiration this bad day gave me to write this blog post. After dinner, the title "Bad Day" and "blog post" popped into my head. It's not my personality to talk about my emotions (I honestly feel weird even saying that!) but I felt like I needed to write out my thoughts. I guess emotional day, emotional Kristen. I know this isn't a groundbreaking post or topic, just a little reminder from me to you. Life can kick your booty sometimes. Whether you're just having an off day like me or going through something, hang in there. It's okay to have an off day or week, we all have them. Acknowledge the bad days and leave them behind tomorrow. "When the rain washes you clean, you'll know."

xx,

Kristen

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

HAPPY NEW YEAR! For my first post of 2019, I wanted to share a few of my resolutions and goals for the new year. This is actually my first time ever creating and writing down a list of resolutions (at least meaningful adult-ish ones!). I like the idea of documenting my own progress to look back on and will hopefully inspire some of you to tackle your goals as well.

I love sharing my personal goals and favorite things with you all. Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in the post, I’ll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty neat, huh? :) 

One of the most important steps to successfully achieving goals is to write them down. It establishes accountability and helps you create a plan of action. If you write down your goals, you can remind yourself what exactly you want to accomplish and establish the necessary steps to get there. Most of my 2019 resolutions are focused on self-improvement and progression. My goal is to make small, continuous changes to help improve myself spiritually, mentally, physically and professionally. 

MY RESOLUTIONS

The first order of business is to PLAN MORE! I purchased a new planner to help me keep track of my goals and organize my days better. After college, my track record with using a planner went out the window but new year, new me right? We'll see how it goes! I picked out this cute one so I'm excited to get it in the mail. Let me know if you all want to see more posts about the planner/organization?

ALRIGHT... HERE WE GO (FOR REAL)

Adding a daily devotional into my morning routine. I have a very strong faith and belief in God, however often find it challenging to prioritize this day to day. I would like to start consistently reading one of my daily devotionals (I really love this one and bought this one recently) and taking a few minutes each day to strengthen my relationship with Him.               

Staying positive and being kind to others is crucial in moving forward and being happy. We all have the choice of being positive or negative. In my experience, you can go a lot further with a positive attitude and a smile. I chose this as a new year's resolution because when life happens, it can be really hard. I like to remind myself daily to stay positive and hang in there, it'll be alright!

I've set a goal to read at least one new book every month this year. I've been in a major reading slump over the last several years and would love to get back into it this year. I'm hoping to read a mix of self-help/inspirational books as well as some fiction. To kick January off, I've started reading this book-- it's motivational and a good kick in the ass for the new year!

In an effort to take better care of my body and health, I've set a goal to drink at least 70 ounces of water a day. I live off of Diet Coke so I will definitely have to ease into this one! My skin went through some hard times in 2018 so I'm excited to see whether this will help.

I started blogging irregularly in 2018 and have LOVED creating posts for you all! I'm really excited to keep blogging this year and I hope to start consistently posting each week. My goal is to build up to two blog posts per week and to be more present on Instagram as well. I love chatting with you all through Instastories :) If you're not following me, you can find me @TheKristenDiary.

I've always been a night owl (writing this as we speak at 1:36am) so it's a struggle for me to get up early in the morning. I'm lucky that my work day doesn't start too too early, however a big goal of mine is to start waking up a few hours earlier to get more sh*t done. I won't bore you all with any of my work-related goals, however this would help me get into work earlier to start accomplishing some of those.

A small step towards being healthier is to improve my physical activity. I'm on my feet at work a lot during the day but would love to add in some extra exercise after hours. I'm hoping to add in some late-night elliptical workouts or walks around my neighborhood! I've been using my Fitbit Versa recently which also makes it more fun + motivating to get steps in! 

The shopaholic in me is dying right now but we're looking to be a little bit more financially responsible in 2019. I've always been pretty smart with my money but want to start being a little more strategic with budgeting and saving this year. I ordered this book to help motivate me to save more (and make it my second read of of the year...how's that for multi-tasking!). 

Those are a few of my new year's resolutions and goals for 2019! Please feel free to share with my your goals for this year in the comments below, I'd love to read them :) I hope you all enjoyed this post... here's to a great year! 

xx,

Kristen


SHOP THE POST + MORE HERE: