CURRENT SKINCARE LINEUP

I’ve completely revamped my skincare routine this year with new, (mostly) clean products. The results I've seen have been incredible- my skin feels amazingly smooth and looks bright and glowy. It also feels great knowing that I've eliminated a lot of harmful and toxic ingredients. Would you be interested in my day/nighttime routines with these? I can share that in some future posts if you want to see how I use them. Let’s get into the lineup! 

CURRENT SKINCARE LINEUP 

+ MAKEUP REMOVAL - The one product in the lineup that I’ve been using for years is the Boscia Make-Up Break-Up Cleansing Oil. This product is one of the best makeup removers I’ve used. It’s an oil so it emulsifies with water to break everything down, even stubborn eye makeup. It’s also very gentle and cleans without stripping the skin.

+ CLEANSER - During a recent Dermstore sale, I purchased the Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash. I was curious to try this out because vitamin c has a ton of great benefits for the skin. That combined with lots of other antioxidants and hyaluronic acid make this cleanser great for cleaning, brightening and plumping the skin. So far, I love the results. It leaves my skin feeling fresh without being too harsh or drying. It also smells yummy and has beautiful, sleek packaging. 

+ ESSENCE - Before purchasing the Agent Nateur Holi (Water), I had never used an essence. If you're unfamiliar, it's essentially a "water like" product that you use before any other products. It helps to prep your clean, dry skin to better absorb your skincare regiment. The Holi (Water) Essence is made with Rose, Pearl and Hyaluronic Acid to help with skin texture and tone, target fine lines and wrinkles, combat dryness and so much more. After applying, I immediately notice a tightening sensation on my skin. It's also a great universal product that can be mixed with oils, moisturizers, etc. 

+ VITAMIN C - Vitamin C has a plethora of positive benefits for the skin, especially when it comes to anti-aging. I've been using the Agent Nateur Holi (C) Duo. It's a unique vitamin c formula that is powder based. To activate the product, it must be mixed with a liquid. I mix with Holi (Water) but regular distilled water can also be used. 

+ MOISTURIZER - My skin gets dry very easily so a great moisturizer is a must. The TATCHA Dewy Skin Cream is my new favorite. It feels very rich and thick which leaves my skin feeling hydrated and silky smooth. 

+ FACE OIL - I love using face oils on their own and to seal in other products. My current go-to is another Agent Nateur product, their Holi (Oil). They classify it as an oil/face serum because it contains lots of amazing ingredients + different oils to benefit the skin. I've found it to give a fresh, radiant glow to my skin. 

+ SPF - Okay, I lied. I've also been using the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield for a few years now too. It's amazing! What I love is that it has SPF 50+, it's a physical sunscreen (it physically blocks and reflects the sun versus chemically absorbing it) and it has a slight tint that blends in seamlessly. This prevents any sort of white cast that often results from physical sunscreen ingredients (titanium dioxide + zinc oxide). I've also noticed that it absorbs well and doesn't leave my skin looking or feeling greasy. I hate the look + feel of a shiny, greasy complexion that a lot of regular sunscreens can give. If you're looking for a good face sunscreen, this one is very light and dries down well to a beautiful finish. 

If you could only keep one skincare product, what would it be? I want to know your best of the best! 

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

JUNE WEEKEND RECAP!

What do your weekends normally look like? Mine seem go go go but I'm always left feeling like I don't get much done. Maybe we're getting at something here... ;) I was looking through some previous posts for blog inspiration and I came across some recaps sharing what I did in previous weeks, on date nights, etc. The crazy thing is how much you start to forget in a short amount of time. 

I was reading the things I just did a few short weeks + months ago and having lots of "Oh yeah!!" moments. It was nice to go back through and relive these moments. I've decided I want to try and do these regularly- while they tend to be more of a food diary, I know I’ll loving looking back on them one day. Hopefully you like reading them too :) 

My Saturdays usually consist of Chick-Fil-A breakfast and working in the afternoons. Normally once I get off my boyfriend and I will have a dinner + movie night, however he was on the road traveling back from a day trip this past weekend. I ended up meeting my parents and sister for dinner at one of our favorite local Mexican restaurants! I ate my weight in choriqueso and had my favorite steak taco. Honestly- chorizo is a game changer. If you can handle a little heat, it adds amazing flavor! I love it in queso and on tacos. So so good. If you could only pick one, would you pick queso or guac? I lean a little closer to queso but I love guac when it’s done the right way.

I do my best to stay off of Tik Tok but it won Saturday night-- I stayed up WAY too late mindlessly scrolling. I swear it's like a vortex! On a more productive note, I also started The Enneagram Type 4 book I just purchased in my Summer Book Haul. If you missed the haul, I picked up some new reads for summer with a mix of personal growth and light romance. I can’t seem to ever get out of a sporadic reading habit so buying new books helps me to feel more inspired. If you’re not familiar, it’s definitely worth researching your enneagram personality type. A lot of them have overlapping traits but on two different tests, I scored a Type 4. I’m interested in learning more about it and myself in the process. I‘m still at the beginning of the book but I will definitely share my thoughts if you’d like. 

Sunday was very low key but I had a fun day. I made pancakes for breakfast (this is my favorite mix- super yummy & affordable) with bacon & one fried egg. The past few months I’ve completely jumped off the healthy train. Normally I’ll let myself eat whatever on weekends but I’m hoping to cut back in July. I guess it’s a good thing I have no vacation plans this year?? No beach body needed 🤪 

I went to another red light therapy session and then my boyfriend and I went to see the new Fast & Furious 9 movie. I loved being back at the movies!! It’s one of my favorite things to do and I hadn’t been in forever. It was fun seeing the movie after rewatching all of the others recently. We ate WAY too much popcorn and candy but still ended up at Chili’s for dinner. If you’ve been sleeping on the white spinach queso, it’s life changing. So so good. I’m telling you my life mostly revolves around eating! Maybe I should become a food blogger... LOL. 

That pretty much sums it up! What did you do over the weekend? 

I love sharing my weekends 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? :)

SUMMER READING | JUNE BOOK HAUL

That new book feeling is unbeatable! While I should be better about reading unread books I already own, I always feel more inspired and excited to dive into something new. I remember feeling the same as a kid. Anytime we would go to the library or bookstore, I would always want to bring home eleven different books to dive into! I was definitely better about getting through them all back then but with summer here, I wanted to stock up on a few new reads. I have a mix of fun, romancey books and some self-help/personal growth titles I’ve had my eye one. 

SUMMER BOOK HAUL

Atomic Habits by James Clear

After months of being on my wishlist, I finally picked up Atomic Habits by James Clear. I'm always interested in self-improvement and growth, both interconnected to our daily habits. Once set, it can be difficult for us to change bad habits and develop positive ones. On the upside, I think the reverse applies as well. I know that once I get into a routine and in the habit of doing something for long enough, I can usually stick with it. The trouble is the doing it for long enough part! Hoping this will be an insightful read with new tips + advice. 

The Enneagram Type 4 by Beth McCord

Within the past year, I've become fascinated by enneagrams. I took several quizzes and discovered I'm a Type 4! Everyone in my personal life was surprised to hear I was Type 4 (The Individualist) which I found funny because one of my Type 4 traits is feeling misunderstood by others. The irony, right?? I was excited to find this book all about Type 4 (you can find all other types here) to learn more about myself. 

Freed (Fifty Shades of Grey) by EL James

Obviously I was going to get this. I had no idea up until a few weeks ago that Freed was being released. I think they must have kept it on the DL? Maybe I've just been out of the loop. If you're a Fifty fan, Freed is Fifty Shades Freed told from Christian Grey's perspective. I've always thought the original series is best, however I still enjoy these! At this point, it's almost nostalgic and the perfect vibe for summer. 

Get Good with Money by Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche

I discovered this a few months ago on the new releases list under Business/Finance. I love learning new ideas and perspectives when it comes to money so Get Good with Money grabbed my eye. I haven't followed any of Tiffany Aliche's content before so I think this will be a great starting place. 

Greenlights by Matthew by McConaughey

Another one that's been on my wishlist is Greenlights. I love McConaughey-- what a diamond in the rough of Hollywood celebrities he is. Seemingly so, anyways. Of course he's talented in his work, however I respect his personality, character and integrity. I've watched and listened to a lot of interviews and podcasts episodes he's been apart of and he just has a special charisma. His book Greenlights is his spin on a memoir sharing his life, stories, and lessons. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

This has summer reading written all over it! This follows a pair of two unlikely friends who had a falling out and decide to reconnect for a summer vacation. Based on the synopsis, it seems like it will become a "friends to lover" scenarios so we'll see. The book has received a lot of praise, however I've also heard some mixed reviews. I'm always in the mood for a light, breezy romance so I'm excited to dive in. I know that Emily Henry's first book Beach Read is also highly praised, however I haven't read it either. 

What's on your summer reading list? Drop it below!

I love sharing new books 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? :)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON DERMAPLANING AT HOME

A few months ago, I picked up an at-home Dermaplaning set. If you're new to Dermaplaning, the process entails using little razors to exfoliate hair, dirt/debris and dead skin off of your face. The exfoliation process is said to help products absorb better into the skin, give a more radiant finish, smooth the skin, stimulate collagen while reducing the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles and reduce pigmentation. Dermaplaning can be done professionally or at-home. If you choose to go the at-home route like I did, you can choose from expensive devices to very affordable like these. 

Initially I was under the impression that dermaplaning razors were used solely for hair and dead skin removal. I've always had a little bit of peach fuzz above my lip that I one day decided I wanted to get rid of. After using it for the first time, here are my first impressions.

+ Using the device is both simple + virtually painless. For obvious reasons, I was a little nervous at first about shaving my face with a razor. Happy to report that it doesn't hurt when you do gentle, downward strokes. If you go too fast, you can scrape your skin but I didn’t experience any cuts or bleeding.

 

+ The hair removes easily and leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. I did experience a little bit of redness afterwards. 

+ Personally, I didn’t see a lot of dead skin or debris coming off. I'm sure this varies person to person or by the device used. In a lot of photos online, there is a dramatic amount of hair/debris that you see being removed from the dermaplaning. While I could see some of the hairs on the razor, it was nowhere near the amount that others have shared. Again, this is likely due to variances in the amount of hair/dead skin that each person has. 

+ After 5-6 days of using the razor, I noticed some of the hairs growing back. This seems pretty standard in comparison to a regular razor, however for some reason I expected it to be a little longer? I am trying it again tonight so we'll see what happens. 

Overall, I’m happy that it worked how I wanted for removing peach fuzz and some wild hairs. I don’t notice any different in terms of wrinkles, however I’ll be interested to see any longer term effects from that and the collage claims.

What are your thoughts on dermaplaning? Have you tried it? I love that the concept is super easy! Would you want to see a tutorial on how I use it? Once I’ve tried it for a little longer, I can do an update on my thoughts & a how-to if you’d like! 

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

5 SELF-CARE ACTIVITIES THAT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING

It seems like the older you get, the more stress and day-to-day worries there are. I know I’ve been guilty of worrying about the future, whether I’m doing enough, dwelling on setbacks and negative experiences, etc. It can become too much sometimes so finding time to do things and care for your self is essential. When we take care of ourselves, we feel better and are more equipped to handle these everyday stressors. The great thing is there are some easy, effective ways to do this that are free and easy. 

+ TAKE A BATH

For all of you shower snobs, bubble baths are life changing. Everyone always give baths a bad rap but they are my number one way to unwind at the end of the day. There is something therapeutic about soaking in hot bubbles and having some time to just relax. With my favorite bath time essentials, it’s heaven!

+ WORK DETOX

Something I've made an effort on this year is trying leave work at the office. For years, I've always found myself bringing work home and catching up on things late at night or on my off days. While I still do this on occasion, I've challenged myself to shut it off once I leave work. This helps me to utilize my time away and have more of a work-life balance. Not only does this lower stress, I feel better mentally and emotionally. 

+ VEG OUT 

Nowadays, I find myself rarely watching tv or movies. Lately my boyfriend and I have been watching movies on Saturday nights, however any other time of the week there always seems to be something more important to do.  That being said, there isn’t much I love doing more than vegging out with a favorite movie and snacks. It gives you time to escape the day-to-day and detox. While it doesn’t always feel time productive, that’s the point! Check out 10 Throwback Movie to Watch on Netflix and Disney+.

+ GOODBYE, SOCIALS

Some days, social media becomes exhausting. Whether you're posting content or consuming, IMO it eventually begins to feel a little repetitive. Negativity is also never too far away and even just seeing/reading that can affect my mood. We all love it, however it's good to spend some time off of it as well. I'm guilty of checking my Instagram feed constantly (partially out of habit, partially out of boredom) so at night time, I usually get to a point where I try to stay off and do something else to relax. 

+ QUIET TIME

I work and interact with a lot of people daily so having some alone time is a must for me. Whether it’s on my lunch break or right before going to bed, I take time to just be with myself. 

What is your favorite self-care practice? LMK! 

END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS

Hello Friday! I originally planned today's post to be my thoughts on blogging for six months... then I realized I've only been blogging for five 😆

I'll save that post for next month so here are some of my random, end of the week thoughts!

*FULL OUTFIT POST ON THIS LOOK HERE*

I realized yesterday that July is right around the corner. I always feel like a broken record saying this but can you believe we're approaching JULY? The holidays/fourth quarter are the busiest time of the year at my job and we usually start prepping for that in July/August. With summer just starting and it being so hot, I'm not ready for it yet! It seems so far away but ends up being a blur-- I know I'll look up and we'll be in October in no time. 

On a different note- I managed to knock most things off of my to-do list for the week. I shared the list in Monday's post here if you missed it. I didn't make it to get my eyebrows threaded + I still need to update my budget. Other than that, feels good to get things done! It seems like it all never ends which is why it's nice to prioritize a few things at a time.

If you follow my stories on IG (you can find me @TheKristenDiary), I've also been trying out a new mattress topper this week. I haven't been sleeping comfortably for the past few months so I decided to get a new one. Hopefully I don't need a new mattress... I think I'm long overdue on that one but we'll see. I ended up purchasing this one from Target. It's super affordable-- around $50 and great reviews! I've only slept on it for three nights now but so far, so good. It's memory foam so it feels supportive and cushy. 

Not too much else has happened... my boyfriend and I did go to one of my favorite local spots for dinner last night. That might be the highlight of the week! ;) They have amazing pizzas & desserts with a really cool, eclectic atmosphere. We split a white pizza and some yummy cake!

Do you have big weekend plans for Father's Day? Holidays are always causal in my family but I'm sure we will all go out to eat somewhere with my Dad. I hope you have a fun + relaxing weekend! 

HEALTHY SNACKS HAUL

Do you get excited buying snacks and groceries?? I love it! I’m excited to *hopefully* begin turning a new leaf this week with cleaner eating. I don’t know if something changed after turning 27 this year, but I can feel an internal mindset shift. I want to actually start taking action towards being the best version of me (instead of always just saying I want to).

One of the ways I’m starting with is choosing better options and alternatives for my everyday essentials + food. I’m in the middle of what I hope will become a gradual transition to a better, healthier lifestyle. Rome wasn’t built in a day so I’m easing myself into things. That brings us to today’s post— a Healthy Snacks Haul. 

I should probably add a "Healthy (to me) Snacks Haul" edit to the title. The world “healthy” looks different to everyone— to me, it even takes on several interpretations. For example, I consider buying Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies as a healthier alternative to my beloved Cheez-Its. Does that give it the same healthy meaning that broccoli has? Of course not. Being a better alternative or having cleaner ingredients are factors I consider to be "healthier" but not everything is automatically a healthy choice just because it’s organic. The same thing goes with calories-- not everything "low calorie" is always healthy either. That’s okay with me. It's also okay to eat the Cheez-Its if you want them. I’m all about moderation- I want to do better but I'm also confident you'll still find me pulling up curbside at Chicky. These are just some healthier options (baby steps) I'm trying to incorporate. Always a work in progress!

I’ve been on a pretty big snack kick lately so I thought I would start by trying some better options to see what I like. I found these items at a local natural foods store & my Target but they are also all online so I’ll link them for you. My strategy is starting with the types of things that I eat now. Like I mentioned above, I love Cheez-It’s so I decided to try the Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies. On paper, being organic with no artificial flavors or synthetic colors makes them a "healthier" alternative. We'll see how they taste!

For other savory snacks, I also grabbed a box of Simple Mills Fine Ground Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers, Skinny Pop Microwave Popcorn and a bag of Pistachios (one of my favorite nuts). I also snagged a bag of my beloved Goldfish Pretzels-- they might not be considered healthy but I think pretzels are a better option to regular chips and I love the salty taste.

For sweet treats, I snagged another bag of the Good & Gather Dark Chocolate Almonds, Siete Churro Strips, Siete Grain Free Mexican Shortbread Cookies and a box of Cascadian Farms Cinnamon Crunch Cereal. The dark chocolate almonds are a current fave I've been repurchasing-- they are so good. It's a yummy snack/dessert that I feel a little better about eating. They're addicting though!

That's the line up for today! I'm excited to try these out-- hopefully they are yummy. Sometimes more natural/healthy items don't stand up to the unhealthy snacks in taste so you know I'll keep you posted.  I'd also love to know if you've tried any of these and/or if you have any recommendations for healthyish/healthier snacks. Comment below or message me on IG (@TheKristenDiary)! 

I love sharing my hauls 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? :)

 

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST | JUNE 14 - 20

The past few weeks have been a blur. I've been working a lot more hours which makes my days feel go-go-go. I've found prioritizing and writing out what I want to get done for the week all the more important. If you've read my past Weekly To-Do List posts (you can find them here & here), you'll know I try to keep the list to a minimum. I'll include the top tasks I want to get done or things that I often push off. If I add too many items, it can be overwhelming and I find I'm less productive. I also keep work out-- it helps me keep a little bit of work/life balance and there's enough of that to make an entire list of it's own!

On top of my work schedule, I've been making an effort to work on improving my overall health + wellness. I don't know about you, but it's easy to push off the "me" things that don't always seem like a necessity. I'm trying to prioritize + make time to do a few more of those which you'll see on this week's list. PS-- how do you like my little iPhone screenshot above? I thought I'd switch up my normal to-do list graphic today 😜

MY WEEKLY TO-DO LIST 

• WEEKLY BASICS - Every time I write out a to-do list, I realize there are always a few of the same tasks that I try to accomplish each week. These include laundry, changing my sheets, working on my budget + creating blog posts. It's easy for me to push these off so I always include them. 

• INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY - A few weeks ago, I started doing infrared light therapy. The way this works is you lay down on a massage table under infrared lights which help to target pain, inflammation, reduce stress + more. I carry a lot of stress/tension in my neck + shoulder blades so I've been doing sessions for these areas at a local spa. I'm also *hopefully* reducing any inflammation in my body. I've scheduled three sessions for this week! 

• PAY QUARTERLY TAXES - If you have to pay taxes quarterly, the June 15th deadline is this week. This shouldn't take me too long but is something time sensitive that I need to complete by Tuesday. 

• EYEBROW THREADING - Hoping to go do this sometime this week. Years ago, I use to go get my brows waxed. At some point I just stopped going and honestly, I never minded too much. Now I've decided I need to start shaping them up more. Funny how we go in phases, isn't it? Waxing can be harsh on the skin and is pretty much out of the question now! I may or may not have eleven lines from those waxes way back when... lol. Threading is suppose to be a great alternative, is super affordable + much better for the skin. 

• BUY A FATHER'S DAY GIFT - If you need a PSA, Father's Day is this coming Sunday. I still need to find a gift + card for my dad. 

• SNACKS + GROCERIES - Because I'm not a weekly grocery shopper, I have to pencil this one in. I tend to eat out a lot so when I do eat at home, it's usually quick + easy meals. With working more, I've been eating at home even less which has pretty much thrown me off the healthy train. I want to get back into that which is easier to do if I have things to make at home. I also need more snacks!

Leaving it with these for now. Real talk-- I would feel accomplished just getting all of my "weekly basics" done. Do you usually get everything done on your list? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Hoping it'll be a productive but stress-free week for you :) 

WHAT I WANT | JUNE

I always steer clear of snacking at midnight but tonight the Goldfish pretzels have been calling my name. I've spent my snack time doing a little online shopping and watching old interviews of Princess Di. Having the ability to look back on moments from history is surreal to me... what a bizarre, incredible privilege. I'm always fascinated by the past and what an amazing presence she was and still is!

 Anywho, with it officially feeling like summer here, I thought we'd jump into a June edition of What I Want. I'm always on the search for new staples and I'm feeling some more weather-appropriate wear. What do you think of the line-up? 

1. Death Valley Graphic Tee 

2. Ankle Lace-up Sandals 

3. Gucci Aviator Sunglasses 

4. Nike Biker Shorts 

5. AGOLE Denim Cut-offs

6. Cozy Knit Sweater + Cozy Knit Shorts

I'm always looking to curate the perfect wardrobe of key basics, however I like to throw in a few wild cards here and there. Would you wear any of these pieces + if so, which ones? I'd love to know! 

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

AGENT NATEUR THE H O L I (T R I N I T Y) GIFT SET UNBOXING

In a recent post, I shared my thoughts on the Agent Nateur H O L I (T R I N I T Y) skincare collection. Because Agent Nateur is a luxury brand (ergo expen$ivo), a few months ago I purchased their *slightly more affordable* travel-size set to try. You can read the full post here, however since then I've been debating on whether to purchase the full-size versions. I debated hard, you guys. I'm talking I went back and forth on it for days hard. The saying goes-- nothing haunts us like the things we didn't buy! ;) Spoiler alert-- I did the damn thing! Let's do an unboxing.

Given the origin and types of ingredients used, although expensive I find the products to be worth their price. A lot of ingredients are imported directly from Europe, everything is organic and safe for the skin + body. I've been making an effort to try and switch to cleaner (but still effective) products this year. It's a work in progress but I trust Jena (the founder of Agent) and the ingredients she sources. I was holding back because I've normally only ever purchased affordable or mid-range skincare products. Ultimately, I decided to splurge not only on myself, my skin and my overall health. I also love that Agent Nateur is independently owned by someone like Jena-- she's amazing!

 I was also able to take advantage of their Memorial Day sale which helped me save a little bit. If you sign up for emails, they do a few of these promotions throughout the year. I ended up purchasing the H O L I (T R I N I T Y) Full Size Gift Set. This includes three of their bestselling products: Holi(Water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence, the Holi(C) The C Duo Calcium & Vitamin C and Holi(Oil) Refining Ageless Face Serum. Here's how each product works:

Holi(Water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence

"Restore your skin’s brilliance with holi (water). This lush serum uses organic plant extracts, precious minerals, and natural acid to improve the skin’s elasticity, tighten pores, and gently remove expired cells to reveal a hydrated, dewy glow." 

Holi(C) The C Duo Calcium & Vitamin C

"holi (c) is calcium and vitamin C in their most stable, potent state. Our unique dry powder formula won’t oxidize, ensuring that you receive all of its regenerative benefits. Blend with our holi (water) to improve the texture of acne-prone skin, restore firmness, and reveal an ageless radiance."

Holi(Oil) Refining Ageless Face Serum

"Revive your complexion with holi (oil). This youth-illuminating serum contains natural ingredients rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and hydrating oils that reduce the appearance of aging, leaving skin supple, lifted, and luminous."

The Full Size Gift Set also comes in a beautiful box so I wanted to share a little unboxing of the packaging  + how it arrived in the mail. 

You can see how beautifully packaged everything comes-- gorgeous purple tissue paper, free sample packets and Agent Nateur details. I also really appreciate that they wrapped the gift box in additional packaging material for protection. Because the bottles are glass, I was a little nervous about potential damage but it arrived perfectly! I didn't have any issues when I purchased the Travel Set either (also beautifully packaged). 

Now I just need to find a spot to display these beauties. I'm excited to have the full sizes so I can start consistently using the products + monitoring how/if they affect or change my skin over a longer period of time. Would you all be interested in me sharing how I apply them + another review later on? Let me know your thoughts! 

I love sharing unboxings 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? :)

EMPOWERING BOOKS I WANT TO READ

 Whenever I'm interested in learning about something new, my first thought is usually "Let me find a book for that." I'm a firm believer in challenging yourself to keep learning, growing and evolving. Old habits die hard so the real fun is that it's often times easier said than done! Anyone else guilty of constantly telling yourself you need to "start eating healthy" or "drink more water?" Hi, my name is Kristen. Welcome to the club! 

That brings me to today's post-- Empowering Books I Want to Read. Mentally, I could use a little pep talk and a reminder of who the hell I am! I always assumed that the older I'd get, the more confident and self-assured I would be. Instead, it feels like I've lost a little bit of that spark. Don't get me wrong- I'm still very much opinionated and outspoken. The difference now is I'm more questioning and uncertain on a lot of things in life. Maybe that's a part of growing up, you lose a sense of naivety and start comparing where you're at to where you thought you would be. Whatever it may be, I hope we can all find ways to become our most authentic, confident and content selves. 

Because books always help to inspire me, here's a list of empowering books I want to read. If you've read any of these, please let me know your thoughts! I'd love to chat with you about them in the comments or on Instagram (you can find me @TheKristenDiary). 

EMPOWERING BOOKS I WANT TO READ

All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols 

All Along You Were Blooming is a collection of poetry on one's role in life's purpose. It hints at topics of grace and living your life to the fullest- both areas I know I can always improve on. 

The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to Success by Lydia Fenet

Very excited to read this book! It has a business theme related to selling which I love- I work in retail so this one I can definitely benefit from reading. While the premise is marketed around business and success, it shares an overall message of being the most powerful woman in any room. 

Her by Pierre Alex Jeanty

This one is written by a man which is very intriguing. It's nice to see different perspectives and  opinions when it comes to self-improvement. Her is about finding your own self-acceptance and inner strength while overcoming insecurities. 

Stripped: A Collection of Inspired Writings for the Evolving Woman by Cara Alwill Leyba

Stripped by Cara Alwill Leyba is another book of writings and poetry. I love the topics of becoming our true, authentic selves and showing who we really are. I've still been reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown which focuses on the importance of vulnerability in one's life. I'm interested to see if these two have similar concepts that connect together! 

The She Book by Tanya Markul 

There seem to be a lot of poetry and affirmation books in the empowerment world, huh? I haven't really read a lot of poetry in the "real world," but I selected these based on the topics + customer ratings! The She Book is all about raising the bar of your life-- improving beauty, peace, love and more in our lives. I love that! 

What Kind of Woman: Poems by Kate Baer

Alright the last poems book of the day... What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer discusses the daily adversities that women often face in the world. It also includes different roles often played by women and how to seen in your own life. 

That's the lineup for today! I'm excited to pick these up and start getting my mojo back. I'm also always looking for new reads + recommendations so feel free to leave any you have below :) 

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

SWEET + SALTY GOLDFISH PRETZEL TOFFEE

 In my recent snackscapades, I've discovered pretzel goldfish! I've always loved pretzels so the fishy form is next level. When I was placing a Target pickup for these, I noticed a recipe video for "Goldfish Pretzel Toffee." If you've ever made or had cracker candy before, this is very similar! Instead of brown sugar and butter, the recipe calls for caramel. It's quick + relatively easy to assemble. It looked so yummy so I immediately bought the other ingredients to make it. The only problem I ran into is that an actual recipe seems nowhere to be found! 🤣

Being the resourceful gal that I am, I made it myself through lots of Google search + similar recipe comparisons. Here's what I came up with! PS-- this is so so yummy! The perfect mix of sweet + salty. I chose to use the Sander's Caramel Sauce (they make my favorite caramel candies) and it's the perfect flavor! To balance, I like using semi-sweet chocolate chips. The perfect blend between milk + dark. I used Ghiradelli for this recipe!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED

• 1-1/4 cup of Goldfish pretzels (or pretzels of your choice)
• 10 ounces of caramel sauce 
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips 

HOW TO ASSEMBLE

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. I put aluminum down first + parchment on top. If you only use one, I'd go for parchment. 

2. Cover the entire area with your pretzels. You could use Goldfish or regular pretzels! 

3. Spread caramel sauce over the pretzels + cover completely. 

4. Bake in a 375°f oven for around 5-10 minutes. I eyeballed this step! I waited for the caramel to bubble up before removing. 

5. Remove + cover with chocolate chips. Spread the chocolate as it melts to create a smooth layer. This one was a little tricky with the Goldfish-- they like to stick + move around. Make sure you heat the caramel + pretzels enough to melt the chips, then work quickly! I think melting the chocolate and pouring over also might be a great alternative! 

6. Garnish with more pretzels or any toppings you'd like.

7. Refrigerate/freeze to cool for 1-2 hours. 

8. Break apart into small pieces + dig in! 

Done and done! Such a tasty, easy snack! Let me know if you try it out, I'd love to see pictures :) 

I love sharing recipes + snack ideas 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? :)

BATH TIME ESSENTIALS

 Taking a bath has become a nightly ritual for me. The time to myself is something I look forward to every night- it's relaxing and in a lot of ways, cathartic. It gives me the space to recharge from the day and wind-down before bed. I've tried lots of bath products over the years, however I always go back to Dr. Teal's. They make my favorite non-irritating, calming bath salts and bubble baths. Where bath products are concerned, you have to be careful with highly fragrant products/soaps. They can easily irritate intimate areas which is an automatic no-go for me and my number one requisite for a bath time essential. Thankfully I haven't had any issues with these! 

The two products I constantly re-purchase are the Dr. Teal's Epsom Salts and bubble baths. The epsom salt is great for tired, sore muscles and to remove toxins from the body. Both products come in an assortment of scents, however I usually like to go for the plain, unscented epsom salt. I'll then add in one of the bubble baths for suds + scent depending on my mood. I like that they have an array of scents for different purposes. My favorites are the Restore & Replenish, Relax & Relief and Detoxify & Energize. To keep my skin from drying out too much, I limit using the salts to every once in awhile. My body will usually tell me when I need a little extra pain relief or detox! 

I always shave in the bath so a good razor and shaving cream is also essential. I don't get super fancy with these- just what works! Right now I'm using this razor and my go-to shaving cream. Every once in awhile I'll also wash my hair too, however most nights I skip this! I'm currently testing out this shampoo & conditioner from Aveeno. They're designed to detox and sooth the scalp. So far the results have been promising-- my hair feels very clean and looks + feels soft and shiny.

That's pretty much it! Are you a bath person or do you prefer showers? I will take a bath over a shower any day of the week! For my bath lovers-- I am on the hunt for a good pillow to use in the tub. If you have any good recommendations, please send them my way! Hope you are having a great week!