Friday, April 29, 2022

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART


Honest Luminizing Glow Powder // No Damage Hair Ties // Fitbit Versa Screen Protectors // AHAVA Bath Salt // Sunbeam Heating Pad // The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel // The Comfort Book by Matt Haig // Purse Organizer // Bioderma Micellar Water // Sonix Magsafe iPhone Case 

My Amazon cart has been filling up lately so I thought I'd share it with you all today. I've been feeling like my self care needs some attention so most of it is relaxing/homebody essentials like the bath salt and this heating pad. Real quick PSA on that-- if you don't have a heating pad, you need one. A definite must have for relaxing or if Aunt Flo's being a b*tch, ya know what I mean? I had (and loved) this one but it finally kicked the bucket, lol. Time to reorder a new one. Obviously had to add a few more books + some other random things too! 

What's in your cart right now?

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, April 27, 2022

WHY YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON DOING MORE, NOT DOING YOUR BEST


Yesterday I came across an interesting article from INC.com on the importance of quantity over quality. Yes, you heard that right! The article discussed the significance and results of taking more action through doing versus focusing on the quality of work. This was a full circle moment for me that I knew we had to discuss!

Over the last year I’ve shared my own struggle with always wanting everything to be perfect or “just right.” Growing up I always heard "just do your best" and "give it your all." That's what we all hear though, right? As a result, I’ve become very meticulous and detail oriented. I use to take so much pride in that and while I still do to a degree, I’ve learned it has it’s fair share of downsides as well. I think like with a lot of things in life, there’s a fine line to follow.

On one hand, I still have this mindset of always wanting to do and be the best. I’m not a fan of half-assing things or cutting corners. It’s not a respectable trait I want to have and I think people always perceive it negatively. I also want to be proud of what I do and have impact. The other *extreme* side of this is wanting to do things in the absolute most perfect “right” way. Maybe just a little too right. From my personal experience, this approach doesn’t get you as far in the real world/outside of an academic setting. I've found that focusing too much on making something absolutely perfect leads to bad time management, being less productive overall and often kills action. Have you ever been put off from doing something because you didn't know how or felt you weren't capable? I sure the hell have. I've also been guilty of not even trying or quitting if I couldn't do something exactly how I wanted. It's a cliche but there's a reason they say "If you wait until you're ready, you'll be waiting forever." 

In the same INC.com article, the author Jessica Stillman referenced a study that compared two different groups in a college photography class. One group was given an assignment to take one photograph for the entire semester. Their grade was based off of this one photo and on the quality of their work. The other group was assigned to take a hundred total photos during the semester. The quality of each one didn't matter and they would only be graded on the quantity completed, not the quality. They ended up discovering that not only did the latter group do more, they also ended up having better quality work overall too than the first group did. This happened because they learned and improved overtime from all of the doing. I read more on this study in this article. So interesting! 

There's also another really neat concept that ties into this that Stillman shared in the article known as the 70/20/10 rule. The rule essentially follows the principle that when it comes to creative projects or content, 70% of what you do will be mediocre, 20% will be terrible and 10% will be remarkable. In order to achieve the 10% of excellence, you have to do the other 90%. It goes hand-in-hand with the classroom example and makes a ton of sense. If you constantly question whether what you're doing is good enough, it's an encouraging rule to remember. If you keep following the course and the 70/20/10 rule, it seems inevitable that you'll eventually hit a breakthrough at some point. The moral I've come up with is don't half ass but keep doing more and more sh*t! An inspiring article that's definitely worth a read-- I'll link it here. Pretty good food for thought, huh? 

Monday, April 25, 2022

TOWER 28 BEAUTY HAUL

tower-28-beauty-haul-the-Kristen-diary-blog
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I've been trying to get my hands on the Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Foundation for months. Being pale AF, I needed the lightest shade "Fairfax" which always seems to be sold out! It finally came back in stock a few weeks ago which gave me the perfect opportunity to go shopping for some new makeup. I'm also new to trying out the brand so I snagged a few other things to try out. Here's a small little haul of what I picked up.

Also a quick PS-- I love everything about this brand so far. From their clean ingredients, hydrating formulas + sleek packaging, I'm impressed already and excited to try it all out. Their entire vibe is very simple (clean lines with a few core products) but still unique in it's own way. It gives me easy going, effortless vibes and reminds me of summer fun and warmer months. Let's dive in! 

THE GOODS

+ SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation - The motivation for the haul- their SunnyDays Foundation with SPF 30. This seemed like the perfect spring + summer product. It's both a foundation + a mineral sunscreen with light-to-medium buildable coverage. It's also clean and safe for sensitive skin which I have. 

+ Dream Team Lip + Cheek Set - The Dream Team Lip + Cheek Set is a great buy to try out two of their bestselling products. It has full sizes of the BeachPlease Cream Blush in the color "Magic Hour" and a Milky Lip Jelly in the color "Pistachio." I've also had the lip jellies on my watch list for a while + also loved the color of the blush. 

+ Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer - Obviously I need a new bronzer for the summer too, right? I really think it's the packaging, ya'll. Everything looks so sleek + pretty, I wanted it all! I grabbed the lightest shade "Sun Coast." 

+ ShineOn Milky Lip Jelly - I also needed options on the lippies! The set comes with the Milky Lip Jelly newest shade "Pistachio" but I also loved the color "Coconut" so I grabbed it too. It's also a pink shade but more vibrant and rosy. Also loving how "Oat" looks too so will definitely grab it next if I like these! 

I'd love to hear whether you've tried anything out from Tower 28 + what your thoughts are. Let me know below + if you could only get one thing from their line, what would it be? 


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Tell me your pick! 


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? :)


Friday, April 22, 2022

WHAT'S IN MY CART | AMERICAN EAGLE

The Rolling Stones Graphic Tee // The Doors Graphic Tee // Venice Beach Hat // High-Waisted Denim Shorts // Straw Tote Bag // Lounge Sweatshirt + Lounge Shorts // White Oversized Tee // Black Oversized Tee

I'm working on refreshing my wardrobe for Spring + Summer and American Eagle has so many cute pieces in stock right now. I always love their style- everything has an easy going and relaxed vibe. Is there any other way to do the summer? I think not!! My go-tos are always their tees and denim. They have great basics in these categories which is most of what's in my cart right now. Are we surprised, lol? Ya'll know I'm also a sucker for the band/graphic tees. Right now they have some really cool, vintage-style ones. I linked my two faves + a few other staples!

Which piece is your fave?

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, April 20, 2022

SPRING BEAUTY | 2022


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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? :)

Monday, April 18, 2022

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING | APRIL 2022


I have a few new additions to the recently watched list so I thought I’d share an update with you. I feel like I’ve watched a little bit more than usual these past few months? I try to do posts for you all every so often but in general I don't watch a ton of tv shows or movies. If you like these types of posts and want to read the last one, I’ll link it for you here. For the most part I’ve still been rewatching Schitt’s Creek on Netflix and The Sopranos with JJ (we’re getting close to being done with S4!) but I have a few new ones I haven't talked about. Let me know what you’ve watched lately + if there’s anything you’d recommend.

+ Bad Vegan - I’m back on the Netflix docuseries, this time with Bad Vegan. Have you all seen this one? This is a new level of craziness, lol... I don’t exactly know how to describe this without giving away a lot of what happens. I’ll share the Google synopsis to give you an idea: “After marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal, a vegan restaurateur finds her life veering off the rails.” If you haven’t watched, it’s very enthralling but also inconceivable and absurd? I binged all four episodes in two days and my thoughts shifted a lot as the story unfolded. Without giving too much away, I felt a lot of empathy and compassion towards the restaurant owner Sarma Melngailis but also a little bit of skepticism. The whole thing sounds like an unrealistic plot from a movie which is what makes it so crazy to me. Seeing the level at which this happened in real life is insane. 

+ The Batman - I will always jump at the chance to watch a Batman movie! In my eyes nothing will ever top the Christopher Nolan Trilogy with Christian Bale and Gary Oldman, however I love the storyline so I’ll always give other franchises a shot 😉 The newest movie The Batman just came out this year with Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz. It follows the typical Batman story of Bruce Wayne with the Riddler as the villain. If you’re familiar with Batman, it also ties in familiar characters like Catwoman and Carmine Falcone. I think Christian Bale brings a little more charm and polish to Bruce Wayne than Robert Pattinson did in The Batman but overall I think he played the role well. I enjoyed the new spin on the story and like Nolan’s trilogy, it had a more sinister and dark feel.

+ Ambulance - Going to watch Ambulance was a spur of the moment trip to the movies on Easter for JJ and me. It was a fast paced thriller featuring Jake Gyllenhaal. He didn’t have the red scarf but he did rob a bank and hijack an ambulance with his brother. Hehe. On a serious note, I always like action movies and was entertained the entire time. 

+ The Ugly Truth - The Ugly Truth has been a fave of mine for years. I was in the mood to watch something light and funny a few weeks ago + it definitely hits that spot. It’s a romantic comedy with Katherine Heigl and Gerald Butler that’s witty and cute.

Do you watch more tv shows or movies?


Friday, April 15, 2022

END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS + HAPPY EASTER | 4.15.22

Happy Good Friday, friends! In light of it being Easter Weekend, I’m taking the time to relax a little extra and get refreshed. I hope you have an amazing weekend planned and spend lots of time with your loved ones.


I'm being more mindful of this for a few reasons. Lately I’ve been thinking over how crazy life can be and how it affects our bodies. I recently watched a video on this topic and how being in a constant state of stress negatively impacts our Autonomic Nervous System. We’ve all heard about the “fight or flight” response which happens during the times when you’re feeling anxious or stressed. Over time, continuity in this state can trigger illness and disease to outbreak in the body. I don’t know about you but THAT in itself triggers even more stress for me (lol ðŸ˜¬) so I’m making it a priority to start regulating this more.

I wouldn’t say I’m constantly in a state of stress, however I feel like we’re all constantly faced with stressful events which maybe puts us there? I also think a lot of it happens on a deeper level which makes me wonder how we can even know what’s going on in our body. I find all of this fascinating and after reading a recommendation for The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, I'm adding it to my reading list. Also does anyone by chance own an Oura ring? I’m strongly considering buying one and would love to know your thoughts. Awhile back I was going to purchase one to track my sleep but I never did. I’ve always struggled with sleeping enough too which I know is another important component of managing stress and taking care of your body. Ya'll know I love to learn from books so I also want to check out Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

My goal is to educate myself more and figure out a baseline for where my body is. Hopefully I can then figure out ways on how to better manage stress if need be. I thought the Oura ring would be beneficial because it tracks your Heart Rate Variability and other data that provides insight on your stress levels and nervous system. Until I decide whether to purchase, I am going to do my best to take more time to take it easy. I find myself constantly saying this but for some reason you always find yourself back in the hustle and bustle. Everything feels so go, go, go all of the time. My plan this weekend is to spend with JJ and my family, watch a movie or two + enjoy some of the nice weather outside. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum (because balance)- let's throw in a little Crumbl Cookies review too! Besides tasting a few of this week's flavors, I've actually done really well with avoiding sweets and watching what I'm eating. I've been easing myself into making better choices while also being mindful of my calorie intake. 

If you also want to indulge for Easter weekend or are just curious about this week's flavors, here's a quick rundown. We ended up ordering the Cookies & Cream, Lemon Bar and two of the Carrot Cake. 

I was the most excited about the Carrot Cake which was so so good and my top favorite. Ordering two was the right move, just FYI. The cookie flavor was warm and sweet which of course paired perfectly with the cream cheese icing. I'm not a huge lemon fan but the Lemon Bar was actually really good-- very refreshing and the base was more of a shortbread texture. Usually the cookies have the same soft, chewy texture so it was nice to have something a little different. My least favorite this week was Cookies & Cream. It didn't wow me as much as some of the previous Oreo flavors or the Carrot Cake + Lemon. If I had a do-over, I'd go for Muddy Buddies next time. 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

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, April 13, 2022

WHY WE IMPULSE BUY + HOW TO AVOID IT



Are you an impulse shopper? I would say *most of the time* that I'm not. I either plan out a purchase I want to make or I’m shopping for something specific. In general I also tend to be pretty picky on what I actually want and I mostly shop online. I feel like you’re less likely to impulse buy there? For some reason it just seems easier when you can see something in person, pick it up and walk right out of the store with it. That may or may not be because I add everything to my cart + run once I see the subtotal. Lol, anyone else?? Despite my normal planning and self-control, I found myself in a TOTALLY different situation a few weekends ago. 

I'm totally blaming my sister for this one too. To give you some back story, Target came out with a Stoney Clover collaboration of travel accessories for the Spring. You probably heard of it because everyone on social media went crazy (including my sister). I, on the other hand, had zero knowledge about this until MY SISTER ordered a ton of things from the collection and picked them up from our Target. Obviously after seeing how cute and colorful everything was, I wanted to go in and "just look at everything." This is where things went down hill. Once we got there it was an absolute frenzy— Target was trying to stock the section, people were everywhere, swarming and grabbing things Black Friday style. I caved right into said frenzy and ended up buying a ton of things that I definitely didn't need or *really* want. 

It was a textbook example of both a supply and demand issue and a sense of urgency. We're naturally wired to want the things we can't have AND the things we think other people want (that are in limited supply). Don't forget about FOMO, too. Everything was also very cute, colorful + fun! Long story short, later on I ultimately decided I needed none of it + back to the store it goes. The entire experience had me thinking all about impulse buying and the top reasons of why I think we fall into the trap. I'm sure there's an entire science behind it all but these are just my thoughts. 

WHY WE IMPULSE BUY

+ TEMPORARY FEEL GOOD - There's a reason they call it "retail therapy." Shopping is known to release dopamine in the brain and as a result, buying things creates a feel good response in the brain. We've all probably experienced this at some point or another. If you're having a bad day or feeling stressed, it can help boost your mood (even if temporarily).

+ WE'RE BORED - I don't know about you but when I'm bored at home, nine times out of ten I end up at Target. It's not too far from home and going gives me something fun to do. Buying is also fun and helps take away some of that boredom which I think ties into the whole feel good/dopamine effect.

+ SENSE OF URGENCY - Like in my case, the fear of "limited supply" or FOMO tells us we need to buy. I'll acknowledge first hand that while shopping in the chaos, I had a hard time really deciding what I wanted. I kept going back and forth on whether I should even buy anything, however I knew that if I didn't buy and I ended up wanting something later, it would be too late. This also comes into play with sales + promotions. A lot of times you'll receive "last call" emails on sales from stores. This is to create a sense of urgency to get you to make a purchase. PSA-- most of the time, there will be another sale that is just as good! 

+ INFLUENCED - If I asked you whether you've ever purchased something because someone else recommended it to you or you saw someone else had it and you liked it, you would probably say yes. That happens everyday in our world of social media + influencers. I will be the first to admit that I find a lot of recommendations on Instagram + from the people I follow. I also personally love sharing what I like with you all on here + my Instagram (you can find me @TheKristenDiary). I love it + think there's nothing wrong with "being influenced" if it's something you truly like + want. I do think it's something to be mindful of, though. It's very common for a lot of people to buy things on a whim in these situations that may or may not be something you really like. 

Sometimes that's a-okay too, though. Going out with friends or by yourself to randomly shop can be a lot of fun. It's okay to purchase things you weren't necessarily looking for if you love them or know you'll get good use out of them. In my case, buying a bunch of travel bags when I very rarely travel didn't make sense. I also felt unsure about all of it both before and after buying. When I couldn't make a decision, I went back to basics with a rule of thumb that I try to apply in all areas of my life-- love it or leave it

Try asking yourself if you love whatever it is you're deciding on. If you can't make a definitive decision or feel wishy washy on something, there's a pretty good chance that you don't really want it. If you don't HAVE to keep it, you won't miss it once it's gone. Similar to the popular phrase "If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no," it's a mindset that works and can help you make the best decision.

HOW TO AVOID IMPULSE BUYS

Hindsight is 20-20 so despite all of this, it's all too easy to find yourself in a situation to impulse buy. Here are some tips to avoid falling into an impulse trap that you'll regret later.

+ GIVE IT 24 HOURS - This rule is usually advised for larger, more costly purchases. If you find and are wanting to purchase something, the rule is to wait 24 hours before buying. If you're still wanting to purchase the item then, proceed. It normally applies to more expensive items (I think the rule of thumb is anything more than 1% of your income) but can also work for smaller things you're feeling so-so on. 

+ KNOW WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT - Figuring out what it is you actually want can keep you from buying what you don't. As someone who loves to shop, there's almost always something on my wish list. Nine times out of ten I can find a new pair of shoes, beauty item or book that I both want and love. Most of the time I don't actually NEED any of it. To narrow it down to the things that I really want, I like to keep a running list in my notes app. This might sound silly but one week I might want something and the next week I'm over it. The list helps me really decide what it is I do want and comes in handy if you have to budget or save up for something. Keeping track of what's important to you can help you stay motivated and avoid impulse buying. 

+ LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT - If all else fails, asking yourself the "love it or leave it" test really does help make things a lot easier. If you're wishy-washy or feel unsure about a purchase, let it go. There will always be something new to buy and if you don't love it, you probably won't enjoy or get the same use out of it as something you truly love. Save your money for something better! 


What impulse purchase have you regretted? 
 

Monday, April 11, 2022

WHAT I'M LOVING | APRIL


Blazer // Crossbody Bag // Puffy Slides // Graphic Sweatshirt // Cat Eye Sunnies // Denim Shorts // Button-up Top // Pearl Hoop Earrings

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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? :)

Friday, April 8, 2022

WEEKEND PLANS | 4.8.22


Hello, hello! Once again we’re expecting some crazy weather this weekend here in TN. As I’m writing, it’s 54 degrees out but they’re calling for snow showers on Saturday. Are we even surprised at this point? Mother Nature sure has a mind of her own... 

I am so excited for this weekend! Are you up to anything fun this weekend? After three years, I'm finally going to see Elton John in concert tonight. I don’t know whether I ever shared with you but JJ bought me tickets for Christmas back in 2019. 2019! Cue 2020, the disarray that COVID brought and the original concert was rescheduled two or three times. I think we can all agree that the past couple of years have been wild and the new date (today) snuck up on us. I had made a mental note a long time ago that the new concert date was in April 2022, however I never kept up with the exact date. We looked a few months back but because it’s been such a long time coming, I put it out of my mind again. 

For whatever reason I had it in my mind that it was scheduled for the end of this month but *luckily* I had a feeling on Monday night to check. You can imagine my surprise when I saw it was four days away... lol. It's the most bizarre it’s-been-a-long-time-coming-last-minute plan ever. I'm so excited though that it’s finally happening and that we were able to make last minute plans to still go. Most importantly that I checked and we didn’t miss it! I'll share some tidbits on IG so check my stories if you love Elton too! You can find me @TheKristenDiary

In other news, I've had some wins this week on eating healthier + exercising. For breakfast I’ve been making an effort to cut back on fat and supplementing in leaner options like egg whites, oatmeal and whole grains. Maintaining a high protein level in meals is important + also helps to keep you feeling more full throughout the day. For lunch and dinner I’m also being more mindful of calorie intake and adding in more lean protein, fruits + veggies. This week consisted of extra tomatoes, sweet potatoes, some leafy greens and mixed fruit. It’s a balance of making better choices and still allowing myself to indulge at times! 

What are your weekend plans? 


Wednesday, April 6, 2022

SPRING DENIM | 2022



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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? :)

Monday, April 4, 2022

SONGS TO MOTIVATE YOU + BOOST CONFIDENCE


Lately I’ve been channeling more positive and upbeat vibes by listening to some of my favorite (mostly) throwback jams. Whenever I find myself unmotivated, in a rut, or just slipping in a “blah” phase, music almost always seems to help. I'm not sure if it's just the nostalgic factor of the lively tones, but these songs all usually put me into a better mood. They can definitely give you a little confidence boost too if you’re needing it. Whether you're trying to stay productive at work, clean around the house or get a workout in, throwing on some headphones and knock that sh*t out! 

I've also still been going strong with walking my 10,000 steps a day (check out this post for more deets). I think it's been about nine months now which I'm so proud of. Some days are easier than others and on the days where it's a struggle, a good playlist helps me stay accountable. Overall my music taste is pretty broad, however most of the songs on this playlist are in the pop, r&b or hip-hop/rap genres. I need more upbeat and energetic vibes when I'm looking to stay motivated or be that b*tch! 

I'll try to keep adding + updating the list but here's the current lineup: 

SONGS THAT MOTIVATE + BOOST CONFIDENCE

+ Good Life by Kanye West

+ Can’t Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West

+ Stronger by Kanye West 

**PSA-- highly recommend the entire "Graduation" album by Kanye. It's been on repeat in my car lately.** 

+ The Man by Taylor Swift

+ I Want You to Know by Selena Gomez

+ Treat Myself by Meghan Trainor

+ Dear Future Husband by Meghan Trainor

+ Pretty Girl Rock by Keri Hilson

+ Fancy by Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX

+ Work by Iggy Azalea

+ Let It Go by Keyshia Cole ft. Missy Elliot & Lil’ Kim

+ I’m Coming Out by Keyshia Cole ft. Iggy Azalea

+ IDGAF - Dua Lipa

+ Big Energy - Latto 

+ I'm Still Standing by Elton John

+ Titanium by David Guetta ft. Sia 

+ Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld 


What songs are on your playlist?

Friday, April 1, 2022

BOOKS IN MY AMAZON CART THIS MONTH



You can read the synopsis + shop each book by clicking on the title below: 

+ The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. van der kolk 

+ French Braid by Anne Tyler

+ Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

+ The ABCs of Self Love by Melody Godfred 

What's in your Amazon cart? 

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? :)