Monday, November 29, 2021

WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM BUILDING HABITS + CONSISTENCY

I’ve shared a lot on the blog this year about follow-through and habits. Consistency is something that I’ve struggled with a lot (and TBH still do daily) in certain areas of my life. I’ve always had all of these grand goals and “to-dos” I wanted to accomplish, but would find myself never doing any of them. It became a constant cycle of wanting to move forward but being stuck in the same place. I was tired of feeling that way so I challenged myself to really hone in on becoming more disciplined. I still have a LONG way to go, however I’ve made a lot of progress and strides this year. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way that have made things easier + help me to build new habits: 


+ To just start. Whatever it is you want to do, just starting doing something for it now. Nothing will usually start off being exactly as you want it to be or will feel like the "right time." Whether your goal feels super simple or insurmountable, it doesn't matter. What does is that you start taking action now, even if it's a baby step. 

+ Realizing consistency is hard. I’ll even go so far as to say that this applies to everyone. For the longest time, I felt like I was a failure for not doing everything I wanted to do. It’s easy to perceive that everyone else is doing everything while you're not. In reality, most of us don’t have the energy or motivation to do it all every day. The difference lies in the ones who do it anyways. It’s difficult to make a change or better yourself which is why they call it discipline. If it was easy, everyone would do it, right? For me, acknowledging that it’s suppose to be hard + that everyone deals with their own version of the same struggles at some point seems to help. You aren’t the only one out there in the world not getting what you want done or facing challenges. We're all on our own journeys and it isn't a competition on how much you're doing versus someone else. The only comparison should be that IF everyone else is doing it, there's no reason why you can't too. 

+ You can do anything you want to do, just not all at the same time.
Starting with one new habit or change at a time has been a game changer for me. Let’s say you want to start going to the gym everyday, eating healthy, reading one book a week, the list goes on. It’s great to be ambitious and have goals, however it’s extremely difficult to start them all at once. From personal experience, that’s a recipe for disaster that ultimately isn’t sustainable. I’ve found starting with ONE goal and breaking it down into easy steps is the key. Once you nail that one down, start slowing working on another one.  

+ Having a set schedule helps. Scheduling a task or habit on a certain day or at specific time helps to hold me accountable. A basic example of this is with my supplement routine. This year I started taking new vitamins everyday. In the past, I always struggled with being consistent on this so I made it a goal to stick with it this time. We all know you're suppose to take vitamins once a day so I try to streamline this by taking them around the same time everyday. Just like you brush your teeth in the morning and at night, having a set schedule starts to train your brain to expect the habit. After awhile it will start to become a regular step in your day to day and will eventually become automatic.

+ If you mess up, start over again tomorrow. This concept took me some warming up to this year. I tend to be an all-or-nothing person so missing a habit or messing up has always been an automatic failure in my book. It’s also probably part of why I’ve always had terrible follow through in the past! I’ve recently learned to start giving myself a little bit of grace and if I do mess up, I just start over the next day. I recently read an article on this that said  “never miss twice in a row” which I think is a great rule of thumb. Things can happen and instead of being discouraged or letting it derail you, just move on and start over again tomorrow. 

+ Consistency builds confidence. Once you show yourself you can do something, you’ve won half the battle. Instead of all the excuses on why you can’t do something, all you’re left with next is just whether you want to do it or not. If you prove you CAN do something, that's no longer a reason to not do it. This is where starting small comes in-- if you can do something once, for a minute, a day, etc., then you can do it again for a second time, two minutes or two days in a row. Then a third, a fourth, and on and on. Building a track record of consistency boosts that confidence and also feels SO GOOD. For me it's empowering to keep the  promises you make to yourself. Overcoming the challenge of discipline also feels way better than tapping out because it's hard. 

I could go on and on but I'll leave you with these for now. I always say that I'm just a work in progress, figuring it all out as a I go. Hopefully if you've dealt some of these similar struggles, you'll find some inspiration from these posts to keep on going. Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day! 

Friday, November 26, 2021

WHAT TO BUY FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE ROUND-UP

To make things easier, today's post is a round-up of all gift guides posted on the blog this season. I know it's go time now for holiday shopping so *hopefully* this will be easier to reference + will give you some great gift ideas. So far we've covered Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Beauty Gifts, Festive Gift Ideas, Holiday Pajamas + The Best 2021 Advent Calendars (also a great gift idea IMO!). Are there any other categories you're looking for? If so, I can share those + update the list here as well!






I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)


Wednesday, November 24, 2021

THE BEST BLACK FRIDAY + CYBER MONDAY DEALS (AND WHERE I'M SHOPPING!)

It is finally time for all of the crazy #BlackFriday and #CyberWeek deals! I don’t usually do much in-store shopping over the weekend (I work in retail so can't handle that, LOL) but I still love to take advantage of the deals online. It’s nice to still save while beating the crowds + I love to earn cash back. Whether you're holiday shopping or looking to treat yourself (I always do a bit of both), now is the perfect time.


I thought I’d share my favorite deals and which stores I’m planning to shop at. Also a quick PSA-- if you don’t currently earn cash back shopping online, get on it! It's a must-do anytime of the year but especially during the holidays. I use Rakuten which allows me to shop almost any site and earn various amounts of cash back. You shop directly through the retailers site so it's safe + over the years I've earned hundreds of dollars back! A lot of the "big box" stores like Target or Wal-mart will offer 1% cash back but others like Bloomingdales or QVC will give up to 10-15% back! The extra savings are crazy-- you're losing money if you don't take advantage! Right now you can join Rakuten with my link + they’ll give you $40 back after spending your first $40 anywhere (I use the most for Target, QVC, Bloomingdale’s, Sam’s Club, etc.) Not sponsored at all— I just genuinely love it and think it’s a great budget hack if you’re online shopping. 

Okay let’s get into the deals! This year I have my eye on some new beauty items, some clothing staples and of course holiday gifts. Here’s where + what I’m looking to buy.

BEST BLACK FRIDAY + CYBER MONDAY DEALS 

Abercrombie (30% off site wide)
Ever since Abercrombie made a come back I've been curious to try their jeans. They also have a lot of great basic tees, thermals, etc., all 30% off this weekend. 

+ Agent Nateur (25% off sitewide with code THANKYOU25) 
Agent Nateur is la crème de la crème when it comes to skincare. I adore Jena and the Holi(Trinity) which I definitely suggest trying first if you're new to the brand! On my list are the deodorants-- I've been wanting to switch to a healthier deodorant which is how Agent got started. I also am debating on adding a few more skincare products to my collections-- maybe the eye serum or their new Holi(Bright) mask that just came out! 

+ Amazon (daily deals site wide)
So far my favorite buy from Amazon this season has been this Barefoot Dreams Scarf + Beanie set. I found it for 20% off so I treated myself! It would also make a great gift too. Also a great place to save on electronics!

American Eagle (30% off site wide)

Anthropologie (30% off site wide)
Anthropologie is even more amazing during the holidays. I love all of the ornaments and décor that they carry-- so many great things + unique gifts!

+ Bloomingdales (25% off almost everything with code TAKE25) 
One of my favorite department stores! So many great brands and 25% off is a great deal you don't see at a lot of the other department stores. 

+ Baublebar (30% off everything with code BB30) 
The cutest jewelry-- I always love their earrings. Be sure to check out the holiday collection too, it's to die for! 

Dermstore (up to 30% off site wide)   
Dermstore has so many great beauty brands! I love to buy my Colorescience daily sunscreen which is currently 30% off during the sale. They also have a ton of other brands like SkinCeuticals, Agent Nateur, BeautyBlender, ILIA, Tarte, SLIP and so many more. 
Patiently waiting for Jones Road Beauty to share a Black Friday discount..... last year I believe they did 20% off site wide so keeping my fingers crossed! I discovered the brand earlier this year and would love to try out several things. Their miracle balms and face pencils look amazing.

Macy's (lots of discounted specials + deals for the weekend) 
Every year I always end up ordering something from Macy's during the holidays! Last year my favorite purchase was my UGG Mini Boots but they also have great buys on Free People, Tommy Bahama for men, etc. 

Nécessaire (Full size The Body Serum free with purchase) 
I haven't seen a discount code for Nécessaire yet but I'm a watching. I have been curious to try out their hand cream + body products. One deal they are offering is a free full sized The Body Serum with any purchase which is a great deal (and worth $45!). 

+ Nordstrom (up to 50% off women's, men's, kids, home + beauty)
A great all-in-one to to buy gifts. I love that they have nice brands and great gift ideas. I have my eye on some clothing items for my dad-- he loves Tommy Bahama, Peter Millar, etc. which they usually have great buys on this time of year. I also found a ton go great items that were featured in my holiday gift guides-- I'll link them here, here, here + here for you! 

+ Old Navy (50% off site wide)
Pick yourself up some leggings! I am obsessed with these-- seriously so good and a steal at this price. 

+ QVC (daily deals, free shipping on Black Friday specials + special interest free financing offers) 
So many great finds + brands on QVC. I've bought so many things from them over the years-- a few of my faves are Barefoot Dreams, Spanx, beauty + more. 

Saie Beauty (15% off all orders / 20% off orders $60+ / 25% off orders $75+ and free shipping over $30)
The Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer is at the top of my to-buy list. I have been wanting to try it for months! It's a clean tinted moisturizer with SPF 35 that I hear is amazing. I'm always on the hunt for the perfect everyday face product but I need easy + fuss free. Since you can save the 25% off over $75, I might pick up a few other things too. 

Static Nails (up to 55% off site wide)
Okay I haven't tried any of my Static Nails yet but I'm still thinking of ordering more this weekend. They have all of their press-ons on sale for around $13 each and so many good styles + colors. 

Target (up to 50% off clothing, 30% off holiday beauty sets, buy 2, get 1 free movies/books/music) 

Urban Outfitters (25% off site wide) 

What are you buying this year? 

I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Monday, November 22, 2021

BEST BEAUTY GIFTS | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE



Agent Nateur Set (Full Size, Travel Size) | Wet Brush Mini | Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask | Pill Box | Simple Human Makeup Mirror | Slip Silk Scrunchies | Dyson Air Wrap / Oribe Discovery Set | Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk On the Go | Slip Silk Pillowcase Set 

Happy Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber week! Some of my favorite gifts to give (and receive!) are beauty-- I love anything makeup or skincare. Naturally I had to share a gift guide so I rounded up my top beauty picks for today's post. I have and love most of these-- everyone needs the makeup mirror, pillowcases and the Agent Nateur! I'm also eyeing a few of the others I don't have... have you tried the Dyson Air Wrap?? It's $$$ but would make the best gift! So many good things. If you could only pick one, which would it be? LMK!


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I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Friday, November 19, 2021

MOST ANTICIPATED 2021 NETFLIX CHRISTMAS MOVIE RELEASES

Along with new The Great British Baking Show: Holidays episodes, I can't wait for this year's Christmas movie releases on Netflix! Watching Christmas movies is always at the top of my holiday bucket list. I originally planned to share a list with all of my Netflix Christmas favorites, however I quickly realized there are still A LOT that I haven't seen yet. I will have to start binge watching everything for that one! Until then, here are my top picks from this year's new releases. Now that Thanksgiving is coming up, it's the perfect time to start marathoning! Do you usually jump into the holidays before or after Thanksgiving? I don't know if I'll get my decorating started before but I'm ready for it now! 



MOST ANTICIPATED 2021 NETFLIX CHRISTMAS MOVIE RELEASES

+ The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star - Very happy that they decided to continue The Princess Switch movies this year. I love all of the Christmas movies with Vanessa Hudgens and the first two in this series were cute. If you haven't watched any of them, imagine the Netflix Christmas version of The Parent Trap. It's a cute story with friendship + romance thrown in.

+ Love Hard - I had no idea Nina Dobrev joined the Netflix gang until seeing the preview for Love Hard. Her character keeps striking out with the online dating game only to finally find someone who she thinks is the perfect guy. She decides to surprise visit him for the holidays only to get catfished yet again! Before leaving town, she learns THE guy in the online dating profile really exists and lives in the same town as catfishing guy. Catfishing guy then agrees to hook the two of them up (duh!) in what I am confident will be the perfect holiday rom-com we all want! 

+ A Castle for Christmas - This one is the most "Netflixy Christmas" movie out of the bunch. From watching the preview, it is The Holiday meets Scotland. Brooke Shield's character is a successful author whose latest book release flops and receives immense criticism. Naturally, she runs off to Scotland to escape for the Christmas holiday and meets an ill-tempered man. It's a classic "enemies to lovers" theme which we love! I'm already expecting ALL of the cheesiness but I'm here for it! PSA-- The Holiday is also still on Netflix! 

+ A Boy Called Christmas - Alright, I have to give Netflix major props on A Boy Called Christmas. This one looks SO GOOD and will be a great pick to watch with family. It follows a young boy, his pet mouse and Blitzen the reindeer on an adventure to find his father. The trailer for this one blew me away--it has that pure, magical feeling of Christmas to it and definitely looks like it's worth a watch. 

What's your favorite Christmas movie of all time?? LMK so I can watch it too!

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

WHAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS WEEK | 11.17

Today is one of those days I really didn't feel like writing a blog post. Every once in awhile I struggle with writer's block or coming up with content, but today I'm just not feeling it. Over the past week I've found myself slipping into what I refer to as a "down and out" mood. It's melancholy- just feeling "blah." Sometimes I'm more emotional or sad, other times frustrated or anxious. There's a very high chance it has everything to do with Aunt Flo's arrival (TMI but ya'll know the struggle) however normally I can shake that after a couple days. Naturally I try to self-medicate myself on ways to feel better through the Google so that's where I found myself this evening. One thing led to another and lo and behold, I was inspired to make another gratitude post. I shared one of these several months back which I'll link here.


I guess I should add that my Google search started with "why do we just feel sad sometimes." Now obviously this isn't my first rodeo with being sad in life, lol. Writing that out feels absurd but it popped into my head so I Googled it. Anyone else do that? I'm often fascinated by why we experience the things we do, even the most seemingly basic ideas or the ones I think I already know. It's refreshing to read new perspectives + gain insight. I was starting to feel down about feeling down + I figured reading might help. One of the articles I came across shared all of these possible reasons for going through emotional shifts in life, however what I found the most inspiring was the ways to pull yourself out of a slump or sadness. Now again, this isn't my first rodeo so these really were just a great reminder of the things that I (and I'm sure you too) have heard before but may not always tap into. My favorite two from the list were taking a walk and making a gratitude list. I'll admit that I'm not always the most mindful when it comes to gratitude. I try to focus on the positive in my life and I'm grateful for everything I have, however it's easy to sometimes overlook it day to day. It also seems like sometimes we need a little bit of the feeling "bad" to remember the good.

When I think of what I'm grateful for, I always try to look at the micro level or the little things. Of course I'm always grateful for the big things-- God, my health, my family, loved ones, etc. To me those are the givens, the non-negotiables. I'm always thankful for them and they are at the top of my list, however I find the magic of gratitude for me is in the little things. The day to day happenings or good moments. Maybe it's the little moments of joy-- the ones that keep us going or remind us that life can be pretty great. A lot of those often involve the big things, such as having a great time with my family or a closer encounter with God. I think it can look different for everyone, however broad or specific you want to make it. On top of all the big things, here are a few of the little things I am grateful for this week! Hopefully they will remind you to look for the gratitude in your life if you need it-- I sure did today!

BRIGHT SPOTS OF THE WEEK

+ It amazes me the power that food can have. Something as simple as eating a favorite meal or going to a restaurant I love can instantly boost my mood. Today I'm grateful that I made the time to cook lunch at home. If you follow me on IG, you probably know that most of my meals are eaten out. I have a busy schedule and I also LOVE going out to eat, however I also enjoy cooking and baking. Whenever I do eat at home, it's usually just a quick wrap or something thrown together. Today I had the time so I made tortellini and homemade garlic bread. I put on some Dean Martin while I cooked, used actual dishes and even enjoyed cleaning up after. It was relaxing + therapeutic!  

+ We are officially in the heart of the busy season at work now. The holidays are always insane but I absolutely love it! It can be exhausting, but I'm always grateful for the energy and fast pace. As Black Friday and Thanksgiving are approaching, I'm feeling extra thankful for it this week and the greater sense of purpose it brings me. 

+ Alright James Bond has me feeling some type of way this week, ya'll. Ever since seeing No Time to Die last week, I've been IN IT. I don't know if it's the PMS or feeling bittersweet about the final movie but now I'm rewatching all of them again. I started with Casino Royale on Sunday and I loved it all over again. There's just something about them and Daniel Craig as Bond. I felt so good after finishing the movie and honestly, it might be the highlight of my week so far. Definitely grateful for that little bright spot and Amazon Prime for having the first two movies. Looking forward to Quantum of Solace next! 

+ MY CAR. Long story short, I thought I was going to need new brakes. When I took it in to get checked out, everything ended up being perfectly fine and I didn't even have to pay for the inspection!

+ CLEAN SHEETS!! I will forever and always be grateful for cleaning bedding and I will continue to talk about it!! ;) Best night's sleep ever!

Hope you are having an amazing week!

Monday, November 15, 2021

WHAT TO BUY FOR HER | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE



The weeks are FLYING by now, you guys! I know the holidays always go like this but for whatever reason this year feels like even more of a blur. I'll let you in a on a little secret too-- I am WAY behind on my Christmas shopping. I've always been a "last minute shopper" when it comes to finishing, but normally I start earlier. So far I've only bought 3-4 little gifts so I need to get on it ASAP. Sometimes it's hard to buy for people so hopefully this year's gift guides will help give you some inspo! Today's gift guide is all about what to buy her with my top picks for mom, sister, etc.! I know I'd be happy to receive any of these 😉


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I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Friday, November 12, 2021

FESTIVE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE


The gift guides continue! I thought it would be fun to share some holiday themed gift ideas today-- personally I love + think anyone who loves Christmas or the holiday season would love to receive something festive! You can also just pick up something for yourself to enjoy now ;) Every year stores release tons of limited edition holiday items and items with special holiday packaging, scents, etc. From pajamas to sparkly accessories, here are a few of my top picks! Which one is your fave? Let me know!

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I love sharing my gift ideas with you! 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? :)

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING | NOVEMBER 2021

Before starting my Christmas movie marathons, I thought it would be an appropriate time to update you on what I've been watching lately. I try to do these every few months with any new tv shows or movies worth sharing. TV has still been pretty much limited to The Sopranos. I swear one day we will finally make it to the end! JJ and I have been slooooowwwwllyyyyy watching the series for most of this year and are currently on season 3. I've also recently started watching Judy Justice per my sister's recommendation, lol. Honestly I've always loved Judge Judy and you can't knock her-- she knows her sh*t and she gets them all! Definitely recommend if you need some drama and Judy wisdom (legal advice?). Movie wise I've loved most of what I've watched these past few months. Keep reading for the noteworthy ones!


+ Serendipity - Serendipity has been on my watch list for years. I was needing some lighthearted romance and this one definitely hit the spot. It follows a chance encounter between two New Yorkers at a Bloomingdale's one holiday evening. They continue bumping into each other all night long and later end up at Serendipity. I’ve never visited the restaurant in NYC, however I've always loved how the movie was inspired by it’s location and their infamous frozen hot chocolate. This leads John Cusack's character Jonathan to believe it's love at first site, however Sara (Kate Beckinsale) doesn't think it's meant to be. The two part separate ways only to be reminded of their connection in strange, serendipitous ways ten years later. This one is sweet and a little silly which makes for fun, feel-good entertainment.

+ Disturbia - I wanted to watch something a little suspenseful on Halloween so we rented Disturbia. It follows an unsettled high school teen’s summer at home on house arrest. Boredom strikes and he begins spying on all of the neighbors with curiosity and a pair of binoculars. He soon finds the behavior of his elderly neighbor to be suspicious, leading him to believe he’s a serial killer. His friends begin a stakeout, making it the perfect setting for suspense and a little comedic relief. Add in romance + Shia (who we love) and it's definitely worth a watch!

+ No Time to Die - I FINALLY made it to the theaters to see the new Bond film, No Time to Die. I'm a huge fan so I've been looking forward to this one for years. It's definitely bittersweet being Daniel Craig's final appearance as 007. He's become my favorite James Bond character over the years and fits the persona perfectly. If you haven't watched any of them, definitely start from the beginning with Casino Royale and make your way through. While you could still watch and enjoy No Time to Die, there are some puzzle pieces from the previous films that wrap into this one. I also think being Craig's last film in series, it's necessary and much more symbolic to experience all five. Like all the others, amazingly done when it comes to the production + cinematography! 

What have you been watching lately? 

Monday, November 8, 2021

7 MUST-DO CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

It's no secret that the holiday season is referred to as "the greatest time of year." For me it's a time to reflect on my faith, spend time with loved ones and enjoy all of the festivities and traditions that come with Christmas. It's always been (and I hope will stay) my favorite holiday. It also happens to always be an extremely busy one for me! I work in retail so to say this time of year is crazy is an understatement. Between longer hours and holiday season traffic, it's both an exhausting and rewarding time. Usually I'm ready to call it a day when work is over, however I also still love embracing as much of the holiday season as I can. Whether you also have a chaotic schedule or just love this time of year, here are my top must-do Christmas Activities! Also be sure to share what your favorites are-- I'd love to hear about them! 

Must-Do-Holiday-Activities-The-Kristen-Diary-Blog

Martha Stewart Tree (similar here) | Glitter Candles / Nutcrackers (similar here, here + here)

+ ADVENT CALENDARS 

Advent calendars are a tradition I started doing over the last couple of years. We never had them growing up but it's something that I always thought was a fun way to bring a little extra joy to the days leading up to Christmas. Opening a small gift everyday is fun + a simple way to celebrate the season. You can go as simple or as extravagant with this one as you like-- be sure to check out The Best 2021 Advent Calendars here

+ WATCHING CHRISTMAS MOVIES 

I've always loved Christmas movies!! I shared in a recent post how a few years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead watching a Hallmark or Netflix Christmas movie, lol! When I was younger, I always thought they were WAY too sappy and cheesy. I was more of a sentimental + classic Christmas movie kinda gal. I've since embraced them all and even when I'm tired, I love to lay in bed + watch them. You can read about some of my favorites in this post. Should I write an updated list for this year?

+ BAKING COOKIES

My sweet tooth loves the holiday season a little too much. I'm sure I can speak for most of us that it's too easy to indulge in all of the delicious holiday food, snacks + treats. Too easy but necessary! Balance is key so I tend to be a little more lax during the holidays. One thing that's a must do activity for me is to bake some sort of holiday treat-- usually cookies! Whether you make them from scratch or buy the Pillsbury cut-outs, it's the perfect pair to all of those movie marathons. 

+ GIFT SHOPPING

I live for gift giving during the holidays! While of course it isn't the reason for the season, it's always remarkable to me how it becomes the greatest season of giving. It's a special time to give and bless others if you're able to which I love. This can also be done in a lot of different ways-- not just through a material gift or present.

+ LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 

Driving around to look at Christmas lights is one of the best (and free!) holiday activities you can do. Hop in the car with some friends, put on some Christmas carols and drink some hot cocoa while you cruise around town. So magical! 

+ HOLIDAY DRINKS 

Does anyone not like the holiday Starbucks drinks?? I love them + very year I try to treat myself to a few throughout the season. It's a fun little tradition I look forward to that's festive + delish. Today I tried the Iced Chestnut Praline Latte which had a warm, spiced flavor. Yum! 

+ DECORATING THE TREE 

I'll be honest-- I don't usually have the time or energy to do a ton of decorating. Retail will do that to you! Lol. One thing that is a non-negotiable is decorating my tree. I put up a little silver tree + a small green 5' which are the perfect size. My 5' still holds a lot of ornaments but isn't massive. Sometimes I have to push myself a little to actually get everything out and get it decorated, however I'm always glad once I do it. There's something about looking at all of the lights + ornaments that brings so much joy during the holidays. I also usually have fun doing decorating once I get started + I love adding a few new ornaments to my collection every year! 


What's your favorite holiday tradition?


I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Friday, November 5, 2021

HOLIDAY PAJAMAS

Every year I search for cute and festive holiday pajamas. They're a fun way to celebrate the season leading up to Christmas and to watch all of that Netflix! Anyone else excited for this year's releases? A few years ago you couldn't have caught me dead watching a Netflix or "Hallmarky" type of Christmas movie. IDK what happened ya'll but I LOVE them now, lol. I think there's something cathartic about escaping the weight of the world with all of those cheesy, small town romances. TBH I think we all need a little bit of that after these past few years. Let me know your faves to watch + which pjs you would wear! Here are a few of my favorites for this holiday season.

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I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

THE BEST 2021 ADVENT CALENDARS


Every Christmas, I look forward to all of the new advent calendar releases. Who doesn't love opening a little mini gift every day during the best time of the year? It's the perfect way to treat yourself or a loved one with anything from chocolates to diamonds. So many brands participate with beautifully designed calendars made for adults, kids and pets. You can choose from very affordable, boujee or somewhere in between! While I love the traditional candy and 12 days of socks calendars, I decided to focus this year's line up on some of the more unique calendars that stood out to me. These all feel a little more special to me-- I would be over the moon to open any of them!

THE BEST 2021 ADVENT CALENDARS

Voluspa 12 Day Candle Advent Calendar - If you're a candle lover, this one is for you. Voluspa's 12 Day Candle Advent Calendar features twelve mini votives in their most popular scents. Each one comes in a beautifully embossed glass jar packaged in the gorgeous box. It's super sleek + luxe! Considering a lot of the other comparable "designer" candle brands sell votives anywhere from $20-40 a piece, this is a great buy. There's also a full-size advent calendar and if you're extra boujee, be sure to check out Diptyque's Advent Calendar for this year. 

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beauty Dreams & Secrets Advent Calendar - Every year Charlotte Tilbury comes out with the most beautifully packaged advent calendars. The 2021 calendar is a gorgeous chest filled with both full + travel-sized products. Look at the jeweled handles! I love that it has a mix of skincare + makeup products. 

LUSH Advent Calendar - When it comes to bath bombs, LUSH is still the best in my opinion. They went all out with 25 days of products including bath bombs, bubble bars, soap, shower gels + more. It also has a mix of holiday items + their normal line in a beautiful keepsake box. 

Bonne Maman 24 Day Fruit + Honey Spread Advent Calendar - I can't even tell you the excitement I had when I found a Bonne Maman calendar! I didn't even know these existed?? If you aren't familiar with Bonne Maman, it's a French company that makes great quality jams + preserves. I switched to their products because they use simple ingredients and less sugar compared to a lot of others. They also come in a fancy little jar (which I also obviously love) so I DIED when I found their calendar. It comes with 24 days of MINI spreads that honestly is worth buying just for the mini jars. Such a unique calendar with different flavors from their regular line.

Godiva Chocolate Holiday Advent Calendar - I had to include at least one chocolate calendar and Godiva's is my top pick for the second year in a row (I featured it in last year's picks). Growing up we were always sent their candy around the holidays so I remember getting to try all the different flavors. Their advent calendar reminds me of that and feels nostalgic. It also has a RASPBERRY STAR... IYKYK. 

Keurig 24 Cups of Cheer Advent Calendar - How great is this?? I saw this new Keurig 24 Cups of Cheer while shopping at Target today + loved. I had no idea they did an advent calendar either! I don't drink coffee at home, however my dad has a Keurig so I immediately thought of buying this for him. A different coffee a day is so much fun and a great way to try new flavors. 

Williams Sonoma Chuck's Luxury Advent Calendar - Williams Sonoma has a knack for making things feel special... that's how they get that $$$. I always browse their advent calendars and came across Chuck's Luxury Calendar. It features a mix of 24 gourmet food items + cookware-inspired keepsake ornaments. The presentation and packaging of everything is also gorgeous-- definitely a twelve out of ten. Considering most of the items are edible + smaller sample sizes, the price is on the hefty side but that's to be expected with W&S. Despite that, it's very unique and perfect for all the boujee foodies! 

Are you planning to buy a calendar this year?

I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

Monday, November 1, 2021

WHAT TO BUY FOR YOUR GUY | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE



The holidays are *officially* in full swing now that Halloween is over. I still can't believe we're in November now but I'm all ready to rock and roll with my Christmas shopping. What type of shopper are you? I tend to go overboard and keep buying until the very end, lol. I'm hoping to make a list I can stick to this year and maybe even get it all done this month? Lol. Crossing my fingers! 

One of the toughest groups to buy for always seems to be the boys. In my experience, most of them aren't big shoppers and they never want anything?? Can’t relate! 😝 Then when they do want or need something, they've already bought it! Sometimes you have to get a little creative when it comes to the gift giving. It's also a great opportunity to treat them with something special or a little nicer that they might not buy for themselves. Perfect for the boyfriends, dads and brothers, here are my top picks to buy for your guy.

I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)