CHRISTMAS BOOKS I WANT TO READ

Alright, ya'll. Since we're going into December, my wild hair of the week is Christmas books. I was thinking about how I haven't ever really read any Christmas-themed books which seems like a new fun and festive thing to do. Growing up, I remember my dad reading Chicken Soup for the Soul and Skipping Christmas to my sister and I which I always loved. I decided to do some digging on Amazon and the 411 is it's basically a Netflix Christmas movie on paper? Love that. We all know it's actually the reverse but you get the gist. 

After reading through lots of synopses, here are my top four picks. I'm all about the cozy, feel-good romance vibes. Told ya'll, I love my Netflix Christmas! Lol. Let me know if you've ever read any of these + any other recommendations you may have!

CHRISTMAS BOOKS I WANT TO READ

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

+ The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan 

+ The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Belk 

+ The Christmas Lodge by Fiona Baker 

+ The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole 

Are you ready for Christmas?

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? :)

WEEKLY TO DO-LIST | 11.28.22

Happy Monday, ya'll. I survived Black Friday weekend! To say I'm exhausted is an understatement. The last week and a half have pretty much been centered all on work, work + more work. Now that we've made it through the crazy weekend, I'm taking this week to dial it back a bit and rest when I can. December is just as busy of a month in retail world but I'm going to do my best to prioritize me things. Here's a quick snapshot of my weekly plans! 

+CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & TREE - My goal for this week is all things Christmas. I still haven't managed to get up my tree (are we surprised?? lol) so that has been added back to this week's list + outside lights. I started on those last night and will hopefully knock everything out this week. 

+CHRISTMAS SHOP - I also need to get on my Christmas shopping. I've picked up a few things here + there but I'm nowhere near being done. 

+ORANGETHEORY - I'm patting myself on the back for having made it to all of my OTF workouts in November. I took off the last week (TBH I'm still physically and mentally tired from work, lol) so I'm going to do my best to squeeze in at least one class this week. I knew it would be tricky during the holidays to workout so I only signed up for the basic plan at OTF which is four classes a month. It's easier for me to get them all done by starting early + doing a class every week to week and a half. 

+MOVIE TIME - Are there any good movies out right now? I haven't looked lately but going to a movie this week sounds relaxing. One of my favorite things to do on off days is to go alone + treat myself. I also need to catch up on my Christmas movies at home too. I've been watching the A Christmas Prince series on Netflix + need to finish A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. I've also been wanting to watch The Holiday and This Christmas- two of my faves! 

+LAUNDRY - It's the dreaded sheet week in my house, lol. IYKYK. Every time I turn around I'm also needing to do towels, undies + blacks, lol. Think that means it's time to do some more shopping! ;) 

+HAIR/NAILS - Throwing a little beauty care in here too-- I'm way way overdue for a haircut + keeping my nails up. 

What are you up to this week? 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

Happy Black Friday, friends! Here’s to what I hope has been a relaxing and restful holiday weekend. There’s a good chance that as we speak, I’m living in retail chaos 🤪 If you didn’t know, I work in retail so my Thanksgiving weekend always looks a little different.

In an unconventional way, working on Thanksgiving is my family’s version of a tradition. We’ve been in the retail business my entire life and getting ready on Thanksgiving is just what you do. I’m sure there were some moans and groans when I was younger, however I’ve come to love the process as an adult. It’s become almost a cathartic experience. It helps calm the nerves.

I’m a little worn and weary but bright-eyed and excited. We also still manage to always sneak in a few moments of rest and way too much delicious food. This year we ordered Chick-fil-a nuggets and Mac & cheese! I also threw together some pumpkin muffins for breakfast so we had a little work & play.

I hope you also overate too much delicious food and spent time with the ones special to you. I know we’re all busy and for me, the holidays give me a reminder to reflect and remember what’s important. I’m grateful for all of the good things— loved ones, good health, the opportunity to feel the exhaustion and excitement of the holidays. This list goes on. All glory to the Big Man upstairs 🙏🏻

If I make it through the weekend, I’m finishing up A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby and will hopefully snag a few deals and Christmas gifts. Here’s a round-up of my favorite Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales. If you’re braving the crazy out there this weekend, I hope you score lots of deals and treat yourself a little too 😉 Stay safe!

Until next week! xxxx.

STOCKING STUFFERS YOU ACTUALLY NEED

Nécessaire Hand Cream // Summer Fridays Lip Balm // Native Sugar Cookie Deodorant // Phone Charger // Gua Sha // Claw Clips // Toothpaste // Socks // Dental Floss

-SHOP THE POST-

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? :)

BLACK FRIDAY + CYBER MONDAY DEALS

It's that time of the year where we're all flooded with Black Friday this + Cyber Monday that. It's only Monday and my email list is a mile long, lol. It can be a little overwhelming but I'm not one to miss a great deal when it comes to holiday shopping. Now is usually when I start to do my gift shopping + wherever I can save, I will shop. I've rounded up my favorite deals + the stores that I plan to shop at this year.

I also did a little comparison to last year's post and to my *pleasant* surprise, most stores are offering the same discount amount off that they did in previous years. While I'm sure most of them have higher prices due to inflation, I still appreciate that most haven't lowered the discount. Every little bit adds up + helps stretch your dollars further.

Also a quick reminder-- if you don't use Rakuten, you're leaving money on the table. It's a cash back site that lets you earn money back on purchases made at thousands of stores (think Target, Wal-mart, Sam's, Nordstrom, Macy's, etc.) You can typically earn 1-5% back at most big box stores but often up to 10-15% back at major departments stores. I would keep a watch this upcoming weekend for cash back deals-- usually they double or triple the cash back on major holiday weekends. I'm also guessing it'll be a little bit better on Cyber Monday, too. 

If you've never signed up and want to use my affiliate link, Rakuten will give us both a $40 bonus after you make your first purchase of $40 or more. Aka, spend $40, get $40 back. You can shop anywhere you'd like + you'll earn cash back on top of the bonus. It's a great deal + a must if you online shop. I've been a member for years (it's free to join) and have earned back close to $1000 now. I'll link my affiliate sign-up here.

BEST BLACK FRIDAY + CYBER MONDAY DEALS

+ Abercrombie (30% off site wide)

Usually the discounts at Abercrombie don't exceed 25% off so 30% off site wide is a great time to shop. I'm a big fan of their jeans + staples (bodysuits, tees, etc.). 

+ Agent Nateur (25% off sitewide) 

I always look forward to shopping around major holidays because that means Agent Nateur is on sale! I adore following Jena Covello (the founder) and all of the Agent products I've used. 

+ Amazon (daily deals site wide)

Amazon is always a great go-to if you're looking for electronics or name-brand appliances, etc. They have a ton of specials site wide!

+ American Eagle (30% off site wide)

+ Anthropologie (30% off)

I adore Anthropologie during the holidays. They have a great curated selection of holiday decor, gifts + more. I have a few mugs + ornaments on my list! Right now they have 30% off of a ton of items in-store and site wide. 

+ Bed Bath & Beyond (25% off entire purchase) 

+ Bloomingdales (TBD)

I'm keeping a watch for this one! Right now they've been doing $25 off every $100 purchase through 11/21. I'm guessing it'll go to 25% off site wide through the weekend but I'll keep you posted. 

+ Dermstore (up to 30% off site wide)   

+ Free People (20% off orders, 25% off all overs of $500 or more; free express shipping on all orders) 

+ Macy's (lots of discounted specials + deals for the weekend) 

I always feel like Macy's is slept on! Every year I usually find myself ordering something there during the holidays. They always have great deals on beauty + Tommy Bahama items which I buy for my dad! 

+ Nécessaire (Full size The Body Serum free with purchase) 

This year, Nécessaire is offering a free full side The Body Serum with every purchase. If you spend over $125, you're also eligible for a free full size The Body Oil. I really love their hand cream! It's full of peptides + is very hydrating. 

+ Nordstrom (deals site wide)

You can never go wrong shopping at Nordstrom. Whether you're shopping for women, men, kids, beauty or home items, all your bases are covered. I also love that they sell a mix of affordable items + high end designers.

+ Old Navy (typically 50% off site wide)

I haven't seen an official email, however Old Navy almost always does 50% off the whole store for Black Friday + Cyber Monday. They also usually run some deals on specific items like pajamas, etc. I love their 7/8 compression leggings which are on my list! 

+ Oura Ring ($50 off select rings + first month of membership free) 

If you've been thinking about buying an Oura Ring, now is a great time to buy. They are offering $50 off select rings which is what I used when I purchased mine. You also can get your first month of membership free. 

+ QVC (daily deals, free shipping on Black Friday specials + special interest free financing offers) 

I love to shop on QVC! They have a lot of my favorite brands including Barefoot Dreams, Spanx, high-end beauty + more. They also have so many categories from clothing to electronics which makes it a great place to shop for gifts. 

+ Ring Concierge (25% off site wide) 

If you're looking for something that sparkles, the Ring Concierge is your go to. They have the most beautiful fine jewelry designs-- earrings, accent rings all the way up to engagement rings. I love their modern designs + that they have both affordable options and investment pieces. 

+ Saie Beauty (25% off site wide with code SAIESFAVES, free shipping over $30 + a free mascara on orders over $50)

Saie Beauty is a great clean makeup brand which I love. I have their Slip Tint but have been wanting to try their Glowy Super Gel + Primer. 

+ Static Nails (up to 50% off site wide)

There are some gorgeous holiday nails on Static right now. Everything is up to 50% off which is a great buy. 

+ Target (up to 40% off clothing, 25% off holiday beauty sets, buy 2, get 1 free movies/books/music + more) 

Target has a ton of holiday deals this year. Everything from electronics, clothing, beauty + appliances is on sale. I love to stock up on the essentials here: pajamas, socks, holiday snacks, etc. 

+ Urban Outfitters (25% off site wide) 

What's on your shopping list for 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? :)

WEEKEND PLANS | 11.18.22

After the crazy week it's been, I'm SO ready for the weekend. Us retail workers are officially in the holiday trenches. IYKYK, lol. Strangely enough the weeks feel like they've been flying by but are also feeling so long to me. Does that make any sense? Even Monday feels like it was ages ago. Typically when it's busy busy, the time passes by faster than when it's slow. I think now at work we're at the level of busy where there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. The count down is on for Black Friday weekend so it's go go go! 

On top of that, I'm trying my best to embrace the holidays and enjoy the time while it's here. This weekend is still a work weekend, however I'm going to try + prioritize some fun things too. Here's what's on my list! 

+ ORANGETHEORY - I still have two classes left this month at Orangetheory so my goal is to squeeze them in by this weekend + Tuesday. I know that as next week goes on, all bets will be off. I already feel like I'll have to push myself to go to a class tomorrow or Sunday so next weekend will be a definite no-go. I've been enjoying both the regular class + weightlifting so I may try to schedule one of each. 

+ CHRISTMAS MOVIES - I started Netflix Christmas this week!! So far I've watched Falling For Christmas and A Christmas Prince which I loved! Both were really cute but my favorite is definitely A Christmas Prince. I also found out that it's a three-part series so now I can't wait to watch the other two. Crossing my fingers I can watch at least one of them this weekend, maybe even both! 

+ WORK - No rest for the weary this weekend. I always work a half day on Saturdays + also have to go in for a little while this Sunday. We're closed on Sundays so we should have a productive day restocking + shifting the store around in preparation for the upcoming week! 

+ PUT THE TREE UP - I have my silver tinsel tree up but I'm hoping to also get my main tree up this weekend. A lot of the time I don't get it up (or even decorated) until right before Christmas. I'm trying to stay on top of it this year so I have more time to really enjoy it.

What are you up to this weekend?

FREE PEOPLE FINDS

(l-r): suede fringe jacket // shacket // sequin slip dress // dip dye sweater // jacket // thermal hoodie // bodysuit // velvet tunic // collared thermal 

-SHOP THE POST- 

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? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | NOVEMBER

I just can't get over how fast the holiday season is already going. I know I'm a broken record + say this every year but can we slooooowwwww it down just a bit? I love the holidays but they always go by too fast for me to fully enjoy. I did purchase my first Christmas gift last week and started watching Falling for Christmas last night so we're trying over here. Let me know what all you've been up to... I need to jump on my holiday bucket list. 

Alright so ya'll know halfway through the month means it's time for a little blog post recap. Whether you're new here or just love TKD content (crossing my fingers you do!), here are the top five most popular posts from the last month. There always seems to be a mix of old + new posts in these which I think is a fun feature. It's nice to revisit the oldies + share what you all are reading the most. 

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - I'm pretty sure that this Oura Ring Unboxing post is going to end up in the most popular blog posts from this year! I'm so glad that you all are loving this one & that you're (I'm guessing) interested in buying a ring. I LOVE mine so highly recommend. I'm still working on perfecting my sleep + the ring is a great tool. The post has more info about the ring + my original unboxing, ordering experience, etc. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. WHAT TO BUY FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE ROUND-UP - I am surprised to see this one in the mix. I just shared last week my most popular holiday posts from last year but I had no idea that this one was also in this month's top read posts. It's a "master" post if you will that has tons of gift guides for everyone in your life. I still love all of these picks + think it's a great reference for holiday shopping! 

Read here: What to Buy for Everyone on Your List | Holiday Gift Guide Round-up

3. WHAT I WANT FOR FALL - A few things I've had on my fall wish list. There's a mix of clothing, beauty + some accessories I've been loving. 

Read here: What I Want for Fall

4. FALL SNEAKERS I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW - I'm living in my On Clouds + Hoka sneakers that are in this post. Still waiting on the others to show up in my closet! ;) I love the Ons for everyday casual/athleisure wear and the Hokas for working out. They're super spongey so they take a little bit of getting use to. We're still suffering through Orangetheory (lol) and they've been great for the treadmill! 

Read here: Fall Sneakers I'm Loving Right Now

5. MY FAVORITE FALL BLOG POSTS FROM LAST YEAR - Another throwback round-up, lol. There have been lots of round-up posts around here lately. I had a lot of fun a few weeks ago going back and looking at what fall posts I shared last year. Obviously I still love them so I thought it was fun to re-share them and it ended up in the top posts! I think it's nice to look back and share :) 

Read here: My Favorite Fall Blog Posts from Last Year

Which post is your favorite?

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR HOLIDAY BLOG POSTS FROM LAST YEAR

I thought I would share a little round-up with you of the most popular holiday/Christmas blog posts from last year. I love love love holiday content! Even though these went up last year, most are still fun and festive for this holiday season! I also love that the most popular picks are a mix of fun gift guides, movies/activity ideas + more. We love some variety around here! Stay tuned for new holiday content coming up in the next few weeks :) 

1. WHAT TO BUY FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE ROUND-UP - Last year I shared tons of gift guides for everyone on your list. Whether you're buying for your guy, mom, sister or friend, there are so many ideas! I still love all of these items and think they're a great reference for your shopping this year. 

Read here: What to Buy for Everyone On Your List | Holiday Gift Guide Round-up 

2. 7 MUST-DO CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES - Every year I try to make a list of the different holiday activities I want to do during the season. I love to bake Christmas cookies, watch movies, look at lights, etc. Because it's such a busy time, it can be hard to squeeze it all in. Making a list helps me prioritize + actually check some things off.

Read here: 7 Must-do Christmas Activities  

3. THE BEST 2021 ADVENT CALENDARS - I love advent calendars! Check out this post for my favorite picks from 2021. I know several brands always offer a similar version each year so there's a good chance new versions of these are out for 2022. I've already seen a new version of the Bonne Maman! 

Read here: The Best 2021 Advent Calendars 

4. MOST ANTICIPATED 2021 NETFLIX CHRISTMAS MOVIE RELEASES - If you missed Monday's post, I shared a list of the holiday movies/shows I want to watch on Netflix this month. Be sure to read this post to find some more good ones that came out last year-- I loved watching them! 

Read here: Most Anticipated 2021 Netflix Christmas Movie Releases 

5. BONNE MAMAN 2021 ADVENT CALENDAR UNBOXING - My beloved jam calendar!! Last year I purchased the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar (I'll link this year's version here) and it was so much fun. I filmed the unboxing/opening every single day last year which is still up on my Tik-tok! Mine is @kristenpkelley if you want to see all of the fun flavors :) 

Read here: Bonne Maman 2021 Advent Calendar Unboxing 

Are you ready for the holidays?? It's coming so fast this year! 

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? :)

PUBLIX HAUL | 10.9.22

I ventured down to Publix this week to stock up on Tru-fru Raspberries (total essential-- the dark chocolate is SO good) and walked out with a bunch of random (and mostly unnecessary) items. If you love a good grocery haul, this post is for you! I love to see hauls and the types of food people buy, snacks, you name it.

A few staples like sourdough, fruit + some lunch items make me feel a litttleeeee better about mostly buying junk, lol. They always get you with the BOGO at Publix! I had zero intentions of buying them but the cookie dough and cinnamon rolls were too good to pass up. I figured in the spirit of the holidays, why not? They're a nice little treat when it's cold out + you just want some suga suga. I'm also finally trying the Veetee rice thanks to Sammy Pur's recommendation! She always raves about it on Tik-tok so I'm giving the Thai Jasmine a whirl.

RANDOM PUBLIX FINDS
+ Tru-fru Dark Chocolate Raspberries
+ Organic blueberries
+ Fruit and Nut Salad
+ Primal Kitchen Green Goddess Dressing
+ Veetee Thai Jasmine Rice
+ Rustik Oven Sourdough Bread
+ Pillsbury Cookie Dough (I grabbed chocolate chip + Reese's PB to make those little Reese/cookie cups during Christmas!) 
+ Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (always yum-- love the butter cream icing!)

What are your guilty pleasures at the grocery store? Mine are always the Tru-fru and the Ben & Jerry's cookie dough bites!

MY NETFLIX HOLIDAY WATCH LIST

Christmas on Netflix begins! You know I'm a sucker for all of the cutesy holiday movies on Netflix. It's definitely the new Hallmark channel, right? I browsed through this year's Christmas section and picked out the ones I want to start watching this month. Most of these are new releases, however I Here are my top five: 

+ Falling for Christmas - LiLo is back! When I saw she had a Netflix movie coming out, I was sold. I've loved her since The Parent Trap days growing up. She's also a fellow redhead which we always support. The movie follows her character as an engaged heiress who gets into a skiing accident which results in memory loss. In typical fashion, she ends up in the company of a "handsome cabin owner." Thank you, Google. I think we know how this one ends! Can't wait to dive in. 

+ Christmas With You - Freddie Prince Jr. sold me on this one... did anyone NOT love She's All That growing up? Total classic. I'm loving some of the older stars making a reappearance. I also love how Christmas With You has another very cliche plot. Angelina is a famous singer who escapes the big city to a small town. While there, she finds romance and a new spark in her career. 

+ The Great British Baking Show: Holidays - My FAVEEEEEE. Love love love The Great British Baking Show. Seriously so so good. I've watched almost the entire series and the special holiday episodes are always great. Can't wait to watch this years! I also need to go back + catch up on the current new season. 

+ The Noel Diary - This one follows a male protagonist who returns home to settle his mother's estate. He discovers a diary with "secrets of the past." This one sounds interesting and a little unconventional in the holiday movie landscape. I didn't catch the trailer so I'm not sure whether this ties in a romance, mystery, etc. Will keep you updated after I watch. 

+ Home for Christmas - I have no idea how I missed this one! I'm excited because it's a holiday tv show but it came out in 2019. Seriously no clue. I never remember seeing it before. It's a 2-season series that follows Johanne. She's been "perpetually single" and starts a 24 day hunt to find a boyfriend to take home for Christmas. Sounds fun and lighthearted! 

What's on your holiday watch list?

END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS | 11.4.22

The first week of November is already almost gone so it felt like a good Friday to share some end of the week thoughts. Life has been so busy lately that I haven't really caught up much with you. Now that Halloween is over, I'm starting to get the holiday fever bug. Like every year, working in retail right now is crazy which makes it tricky to really enjoy the holidays. I struggle between wanting to do all of the fun things and being exhausted (aka wanting to come home and do nothing). IYKYK, lol.

I also haven't felt super motivated to start doing my Christmas shopping. Most years I love to shop and pick out gifts but this year feels different. I'm sure once I start finding things I'll get more excited, but I just haven't been feeling it. As much fun as it is, I feel like sometimes I put too much emphasis or time into the shopping. At the end of the day, it's really not what's important. It's fun and can be special, but it can also be exhausting. What I have been feeling is all of the fun holiday decor + I'm excited about holiday baking. Maybe I should just gift snackies to everyone this year?? Hehe. 

On the topic of food, I've been breaking up some of my eating out by having more breakfast + lunch meals at home. Is this stupid to chat about?? I think so, haha. Ya'll know I'm a habitual-eat-outer and I just haven't been feeling a lot of my go-tos lately either. I think it's me, you guys. I've enjoyed making easy things and spending a little more time at home. Work is so busy, I guess I'm trying to hide at home as much as possible. Lol. Ya'll know I still splurged on my salad this week at SaladWorks which was SO good. Totally worth it. I went for a fall moment this week-- turkey, bacon, gouda, brussell sprouts, potatoes, red grapes. Up until a few months ago, I'd never tried brussell sprouts. I always just figured I wouldn't vibe with them but they're surprisingly really good. Definitely a unique flavor and different than I excepted. 

I took a little break from Gilmore Girls so I haven't been watching much, however I did restart reading After by Anna Todd. I read about half of it a few years ago and never finished. I randomly decided a few weeks ago to pick it back up and will hopefully finish it this time around. 

That's about all of the excitement in my book. Even though I haven't been as chatty, I've still been posting every Monday, Wednesday + Friday here on the blog. I've also tried to share a little more on IG stories too. Stay tuned for more holiday posts coming soon! Also remember to relax and take care of yourself. The holidays can be stressful on everyone and it's easy to lose patience or get upset. People can be taxing this time of the year if you let them. Protect your peace and take the high road ;) 

Happy weekend! 

WHAT I WANT | NOVEMBER

Cable Knit Bodysuit // Fleece Jacket // Blazer // Button Thermal Henley // Cable Knit Pom Pom Hat // Long Sleeve Tee // Mock Neck Tunic Sweater // Long Sleeve Henley

-SHOP THE POST- 

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? :)