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? :)
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
SWIMSUIT TRENDS I LIKE | 2022
Monday, March 28, 2022
THE TOP 5 MOST POPULAR POSTS ON THE BLOG THIS MONTH
As a content creator, I'm always looking for inspiration when it comes to blog post ideas, social media segments, etc. My ultimate goal is to share posts and information that both inspire and help YOU. Whether that's sharing with you outfit ideas or why you need to open a ROTH IRA (srsly tho, get on that STAT), I hope you find value here on TheKristenDiary. I do my best to go off of the things that are relevant in my life or that I find interesting. The struggles and experiences of my twenties as I figure them out one day at a time lol. Over the past year, that's morphed the blog into a space for all things lifestyle: fashion, beauty, finance, personal growth + more.
I put up a new blog post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday which means I'm constantly checking to see how recent uploads are doing. I like to see your feedback and response to the new content, however it's also interesting to see what posts are the most popular overall. If you're in the blogging space, I recently learned that often times older posts perform better and receive the highest engagement. That makes a lot of sense, right? Those posts have a longer track record and greater chance of discovery on search engines. I've definitely found that to be true with my blog and it had me thinking back through all of the different posts I've shared over the last year. If you're new or have just stumbled on to the blog, I thought it might be fun to share with you the top five most popular post on TheKristenDiary this month. Like the stats show, the majority of them aren't brand new uploads and therefore won't be at the top of the homepage. PSA- you can still always us the search bar or browse posts by category!
TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS THIS MONTH
1. HOW I SAVE MONEY SHOPPING - If you also love to shop and save money, this post is for you. I share all of my favorite tips to get a little more bang for your buck so you can buy more. These are tried + true things I've done for years that you can easily incorporate day to day. With the way prices keep going up, every little bit helps, right? I know that's been a big concern for all of us so I also have some tips on that too in this post on How to Save Money With Inflation + Rising Prices.
2. SPRING SANDALS | 2022 - I am SO into all of the Spring vibes right now. I'm ready for the warm weather and to ditch the winter wear for shorts and sandals. A few weeks ago I shared my favorite new sandals for this year in this post which has been blowing up. There are so many cute styles out + I linked all of my faves in the post. I'm definitely ordering this pair but I want to know which ones are your faves!
Read here: Spring Sandals | 2022
3. DESTINATION DISNEY | DIY DISNEY GIFT BASKET + ESSENTIALS - A few years ago, my sister took a girls trip to Disney World. Because it was right around her birthday, I made her a fun DIY Disney gift basket that I filled with all things Disney. I used a lot of different themed items + essentials for her to take on the trip. I had so much fun making the basket and it has since been one of my most popular blog posts of all time. If you're planning a trip or wanting to make a basket for someone, I'll link the post here. She loved it + it's easily customizable for all ages.
Read here: Destination Disney | DIY Gift Basket + Essentials
4. UNBOXING THE 2021 BUDGET BY PAYCHECK WORKBOOK - All of my finance + budget lovers will probably love this post. It's an Unboxing for the 2021 Budget by Paycheck Workbook. The workbook is a great budgeting tool created by Kumiko Love from TheBudgetMom. It helps you manage your finances with tools to track your spending, create financial goals, monitor your net worth and more. If you like to physically write and track everything out, you can read the post here.
Read here: Unboxing the 2021 Budget by Paycheck Workbook
5. HEALTHY SNACKS HAUL - I'm a big snacker so I always find myself munching, especially in the evenings after work. Snacks are one of those things that can derail healthy eating if you're not careful so I'm always on the hunt for some healthier alternatives. Aka, something a little better than the Cheez-Itz (my fave and still okay in moderation!). I look for better alternatives that still taste yummy and that I enjoy. A lot of the times I share new finds + repurchases in the hauls. I'll link this one here but you can also search the blog for more food posts. I have several other grocery hauls + recipes too!
If you check out all of the posts, I'd love to know which is your favorite + what topics you'd like to see more of here on TheKristenDiary. Feel free to share with me here or over on Instagram (you can find me @TheKristenDiary).
Which one is your fave?
Friday, March 25, 2022
END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS + CRUMBL COOKIES | 3.25.22
Hope you have an amazing weekend!
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE | UNBOXING
I wanted to share with you a little unboxing of the She Reads Truth Bible today. I’ve never owned a "pretty" Bible before or one that's women specific so I decided to purchase one. I loved the idea of having a Women's Bible that is more relatable and easy to apply to my life. I went on the hunt and came across the She Reads Truth Bibles which are the CSV version. Besides the NKJV, I’m not too familiar on all of the different translations but I was told that the CSV is much easier to understand. If you want to know the official definition, here's the 411 according to Wiki, "The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a modern English Bible translation of the Christian Bible. Work on the translation was completed in June 2016, with the first full edition released in March 2017. The translation was updated in February 2020."
I love sharing my 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? :)
Monday, March 21, 2022
WHAT I WANT: SPRING BEAUTY
I love sharing my wish lists 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? :)
Friday, March 18, 2022
BEACH BAGS | 2022
Brown Stripe Tote // Cream Jacquard Print Tote // YSL Black Straw Tote // Circle Handle Bag // Black Crossbody // Beaded Strap Crossbody // Pearl Embossed Top Handle Bag // Keeping It Salty Pearl Tote
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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? :)
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
HOW TO SAVE MONEY WITH INFLATION + RISING PRICES
I always tell you guys that I’m not a financial expert or advisor— I take an interest in my own finances and love learning about money, saving, investing, etc. I love to spend and save, so over the years I’ve found ways to make my money go a little bit further. I think these are great tips to use anytime but especially now with rising costs. Like with gas prices, every cent and dollar counts! Sometimes the difference may not seem like much, but it can add up over time. Here are some of the tips I use that can help save you more money & (hopefully) combat some of the rising prices. As with anything, always seek out a professional or financial advisor for official expert advice.
+ Buy in bulk (where it makes sense). If you constantly buy a lot of the same items, buying them in bulk can save you money in the long run. I like to do this with the essentials I know I’ll one day need— tooth paste, skincare products, etc. It’s also great for paper products and some grocery items as long as you use them before they go bad. One of my favorite places to do this at is Target during special promotions, however bulk stores like Sam's + Costco are great too.
+ Fuel points! With gas prices skyrocketing daily, every little bit you can save helps. A lot of grocery stores offer fuel points when you buy your groceries there which can add up to savings at the pump. One of the places I shop at often that offers fuel rewards is Kroger. For every $1, you earn 1 fuel point. Each 100 points (or $100 in groceries) earns you 10 cents off per gallon. They also do special events where you can get 2x-4x the points on certain purchases. It doesn't seem like much but most of us buy groceries and every cent counts!
+ Take advantage of cash back offers. If you’re a big online shopper like me, you need to sign up for Rakuten or another site that earns you cash back on your purchases. Most places offer at least 1% cash back but a lot of the times it’s higher, especially for department stores. I have another blog post on how I save money online shopping with more info on this. If you haven’t signed up and want to use my referral, you can get $30 back after making a $30 purchase through Rakuten at any store you want. All you have to do is sign up, activate an offer + then it takes you directly to the store's website to shop. I use mine anytime I order from Target, Nordstrom, American Eagle, etc. For in-store savings, I like to use Ibotta for cash back + Fetch to scan receipts. I'll link my referrals for those here too if you want to sign up + get a bonus: Ibotta Referral ($10 after scanning your first receipt!) + Fetch Referral (2000 bonus points after signing up!)
+ Get a cash back credit card. If you use credit cards, having one that earns you cash back is a great option. I currently have one that earns 3% back on dining/entertainment, 5% on groceries & 1.5% on everything else. There are lots of great options out there that you can research to find the best choice for you.
+ Invest your money. If you have the ability to invest any extra income, do it now! Over time, investing is one of the only ways to grow the value of your money to beat inflation. The average yearly return on investments is typically 7-10% which can keep the value of your money up against the rise of inflation. Right now the markets are down which makes it a great time to buy in. Be sure to do your research + seek advice from a financial expert if you don’t know where to begin. PS-- If you're not ready or in the position to invest but you have savings, make sure you look into a "High-Yield Savings Account." These will not give you the ROI of investing but will pay you a little bit more in interest than a standard bank account does.
Monday, March 14, 2022
NEW ABERCROMBIE JEANS
I love sharing my wish lists 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? :)
Friday, March 11, 2022
WHAT I WANT FOR SPRING
Sandals // Tinted Moisturizer // Gucci Sunglasses // Jean Shorts // Crop Top + Pant Set // Maxi Dress // Pink Bodysuit
We're just going to ignore that they're calling for snow tonight (WTF????) and move on over into Spring. I'm SO ready for shorts, sandals + sunshine. We've had a little glimpse of nice weather these past few weeks which has put me in the mood! I'm already scouring the web for new staple shorts, tops + accessories. It seems like every year I look and look for the perfect pair of jean shorts and I can never find them. Anyone else feel the struggle? There's something about the fit of shorts that can be a b*tch! Everyone always talks about this one pair so I think it's gonna be the year I just bite the bullet and buy them? They look like the perfect wash + fit. I've also been loving relaxed, flowy vibes and some pops of color like this bodysuit. What do you think? I love + think it's so fun!
-SHOP THE POST-
What are you shopping for this Spring?
I love sharing my wish lists 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? :)
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY | MY PICKS
For all of you makeup and skincare lovers, Ulta's semi-annual 21 Days of Beauty Sale starts next week. It's a revolving sale with new products on sale each day (most being 50% off regular retail). They only stay on sale for one day so you have to snag them then and before they sell out! You can shop in-store, online or buy online for in-store pickup (my personal fave -- no shipping costs if you're spending under $35).
The sale is different every time, however they do usually include some of the same best-selling, holy grail items. A few of those in next week's sale that I love but didn't include are: the Anastasia Brow Wiz + the Buxom Lip Creams. Sometimes I'll repurchase a few of these (this time I'm grabbing another BeautyBlender + Stila Stay All Day Liner-- both amazing), sometimes I'll pick something new to try. It's a great way to do both and save a lot of $$$ on good higher end brands that you normally don't find on sale. Each day there are 2-3 different items on sale + a few extra surprise sale items they haven't released yet. These are my picks from the sale + what I'm planning to purchase:
+ Urban Decay Brow Blade Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil & Ink Stain (Reg. $26, on sale $13)
+ Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (Reg. $64, on sale $32)
+ Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Face Butter (Reg. $42, on sale $21)
+ BeautyBlender (Reg. $20, on sale $10)
+ Urban Decay Hydromaniac Glowy Tinted Hydrator Foundation (Reg. $29, on sale $14.50)
+ MAC Face and Body Sheer Foundation (Reg. $36, on sale $18)
+ Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (Reg. $23, on sale $11.50)
+ Jaclyn Cosmetics Poutspoken Liquid Lipstick (Reg. $20, on sale $10)
Once the sale starts, you can check the website to see when each product is going on sale + what the current day's sale items. I've missed out on things in the past so it's good to strategize in advance + know when you need to order! I'll try to share some updates on IG stories (you can find me @TheKristenDiary) with what I'm purchasing + when certain products are on sale.
What are you planning to pick up?
I love sharing my wish lists 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? :)
Monday, March 7, 2022
IF I WERE BOUJEE
Prada bag // Zodiac Diamond Necklace // Spinelli Kilcollin Silver Diamond Ring // Spinelli Kilcollin Gold Diamond Ring // Louis Vuitton Wallet // Ferragamo Belt // CLÉ DE PEAU Concealer // Diptyque Baies Jumbo Candle
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I love sharing my wish lists 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? :)
Friday, March 4, 2022
GET GOOD WITH MONEY | BOOK REVIEW
SYNOPSIS
A ten-step plan for finding peace, safety, and harmony with your money—no matter how big or small your goals and no matter how rocky the market might be—by the inspiring and savvy “Budgetnista.”Available for purchase on: Amazon // Target // Wal-Mart // Barnes & Noble // Books-a-Million
I kicked off my first read of the year with Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche (also known as “The Budgetnista.”) Before discovering this book in the aisles of Target last year, I wasn’t familiar with Tiffany or her reputation as a blogger and financial expert. After reading the book, I learned she has built a community on educating others about finance. She’s very active on social media and has a ton of useful resources on her websites. I'll link both of her sites TheBudgetnista.com and GetGoodWithMoney.com if you want to learn more.
As I’ve gotten older and started managing my own funds, learning about money has become exciting and empowering. I think it’s important to educate yourself not only to be knowledgeable on the topic, but also so you can make the right decisions when it comes to your own financial health. You have to take care of your current and future you! It's easy to avoid this because it can feel overwhelming or too difficult to understand. It definitely not fun having to face the music of reality either if you have a lot of debt or like to spend too much! Sometimes you just have to dive in and go! Everything will become a lot more manageable and less overwhelming once you do. For me, staying in the know has given a greater sense of direction with my money and tackling my goals.
If you don't know where to begin, Get Good With Money is a great place to start. The book outlines ten essential parts of becoming financially whole: Budgeting, Saving, Becoming Debt Free, High Credit Scores, Increasing Income, Investing, Having Insurance, Increasing Net Worth, Financial Experts + Estate Planning. Tiffany does a great job of explaining all of these concepts in great detail but in a way that's easy to understand. You'll learn the basics and financial keystones that a lot of financial experts preach. Think things like having an emergency fund, spending less than you earn, budgeting and so forth.
I found the most value in Get Good With Money in the chapters about investing, insurance and estate planning. One of my current goals is to learn and invest more of my money beyond saving for retirement. This is still relatively new for me so I enjoyed learning more about the specifics from Tiffany's perspective. She also gave me a lot of things to think about and consider when it comes to insurance and estate planning, especially going forward in life.
If you're looking to educate yourself on personal finance, Get Good With Money is a great place to start. It serves as a valuable tool with in-depth information on all of the basics and provides actionable steps to take control of your money.
What should I read next?
I love sharing book reviews 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? :)
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
HEALTHY SNACKS HAUL
THE GOODS
+ LESSER EVIL HIMALAYAN GOLD POPCORN - One of my best healthier finds is this amazingly delicious Lesser Evil Himalayan Gold Popcorn. It is seriously SO GOOD and tastes just like movie theatre popcorn. The best part is it’s a lot healthier than that with clean, organic ingredients. It’s also pretty forgiving too— 3 cups is around 110 calories!
+ LESSER EVIL SUGAR COOKIE POPCORN - Because I love the Himalayan Gold so much, I had to try out this new Sugar Cookie flavor! It’s limited edition for Easter and Spring. I purchased these mini snack sized bags here!
+ PEPPERIDGE FARM GOLDFISH PRETZELS - I love the saltiness of pretzels and compared to something like regular chips, they’re on the healthier side. Who doesn’t love goldfish too?!
+ SKINNY DIPPED DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ALMONDS - These are a first for me. I love chocolate covered almonds so I’m excited to try these out. Update — they’re delish! The hint of peanut butter with the dark chocolate is yummy.
+ BLUE DIAMOND ALMONDS NUT-THINS - Another first for me! Has anyone tried them?
+ TRU-FRU FROZEN BERRIES - Obsessed with these!! I love the frozen texture + consistency of Tru-Fru. They’re also the perfect balance of sweetness with the fruit and chocolate coating. I love the dark chocolate raspberries and bananas! I also picked up blueberries this time to try.
What are your go to healthy snacks?