IF I WERE BOUJEE

Bottega Mini Jodie Denim Bag // Byredo Bal D'Afrique Fragrance // Khaite Bambi Belt // Tiffany Interlocking Circles Pendant // Zimmerman Corset Midi Dress // Prada Wicker Mini Bag // Celine Sunnies // Loewe Sandals // Alice + Olivia Denim Jacket

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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? :)

A HEALTHYISH SNACK HAUL | 4.26.23

I went on a little snackie spree this week + restocked some of my favorite snacks. I also grabbed a couple of new things to try so I thought you might be interested in a little haul. I love to snack but sometimes it can get me into trouble... I definitely have those days where I eat pretty well and then I completely ruin it once getting home. It's always the in-between time after work and before dinner that gets me! 

One silver lining is that most of the time I try to buy healthier snack options that I can at least feel better about, lol. You know I'll always be a Cheez-it gal through and through but now I try to limit those purchases to just every once in awhile. Instead, I focus on buying snacks made with cleaner ingredients and/or that offer a little bit more nutritional value. Obviously a snack still has to taste good for me to eat it but now you can find some delicious options at the grocery store. Here's what came home with me this week! 

SNACKIES:
+ Chomps Turkey Sticks 

+ Little Secrets Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Wafers

+ Quinn Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels 
+ Simple Mills Banana Bread Bars
+ Simple Mills Carrot Cake Bars
+ Simple Mills Rosemary Crackers 
+ Two Good Greek Yogurt

Everything I’ve ever tried from Simple Mills has been delicious. All of their products are made with clean, simple ingredients. I picked up a few boxes of their bars to eat before my morning workouts. They are so yummy— hearty with a chewy, dense texture I love. My favorite flavor is the Banana Bread but I also really like the Carrot Cake and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Their crackers are also good and a great alternative to your normal regular cracker. I’ve never had the Rosemary before so that's a newbie for this week.

It should also be no surprise that another bag of the Quinn Peanut Butter pretzels made it home— these are a staple snack for me. I’m not gluten free but I love how they taste. They're a little bit crunchier and less sweet than a regular peanut butter filled pretzel but so good. A little sweet, salty + crunchy. 

For a sweet treat/dessert option, I love these Little Secrets Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Wafers. They’re delish and super light. I also love the mini size for the perfect little bite but you can also get bigger bars + other flavors! 

I'm still working on upping my daily protein intake so I thought having a few higher protein snack options would help. I picked up a few more of the Two Good Yogurts (12g per container!) and these mini Chomps Turkey sticks (5g per stick). They also make beef sticks too! I really liked the yogurts and smoothies which are great for breakfast, snacks, etc. The higher protein + low calories/sugar is a win win. 

That's the lineup for this week! I'll add & link everything in my Amazon here if you want to shop them :)

What is your favorite snack? Tell me!! 

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? :)

A LITTLE CLOSET ORGANIZATION

My relaxing weekend did in fact consist of a little closet organization (see Friday’s post here) which was a much needed win! As much as I hate cleaning, it feels so good to have a tidied + organized space. My dad helped me build these new shoe shelves I purchased a few weeks ago which led to a mini closet clean-out & re-organization.

My closet is very small & while I have some built-in storage, my shoe situation was getting a little out of control. I had them scattered all over the place both in + out of my closet. I bought two of the shoe racks which gave me another four shelves for shoes & also matches very closely with my other shelves. They’re a little wider but fit perfectly in between my hamper & low clothing bar. At only $17 each, I think they’re a steal and add so much extra storage! They were also super easy to assemble.

It’s amazing how a small little change can make a huge difference— I wish I had taken a before photo but just envision stacks of shoe boxes, loose shoes, dust + clutter!

I was also using my hamper as more of a shelf than an actual hamper, lol. I had random clutter stacked on top of it too so now that’s it’s cleared off, maybe it will start serving its actual purpose? Lol. I primarily would stack extra boxes of feminine products there so I also grabbed this mini divided storage bin to house those. It was only $8 and easily slides out of the way under my clothes. Another simple, affordable tweak that looks better & is less messy.

If you’re also limited on space like me, I think staying organized is the key. It makes a huge difference both in design/functionality but also mentally. I feel so much better and I’m excited to tackle a few other areas in my bedroom and bathroom. I’ll keep you posted on those as they happen! 

How do you stay organized at home?

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? :)

WELLNESS WEEKEND | 4.21.23

Food for the soul -- one bright spot in this crazy week. It's the little things, lol.

Helllllo Friday. I am waving my white flag today, ya’ll. It’s just been one of those weeks so I'm happily welcoming this weekend and a little extra r&r. I don’t know about you but most of my days are on the go. Cliche, but there's always something to get done or somewhere to be. I don’t take a lot of time to “just be” or always prioritize relaxing. Even during my off times, I always seem to have a million other things to get done. While I love being productive and feeling accomplished, sometimes I just need to slow down. Sit still. It’s important to be intentional with your time and still take care of yourself in the midst of the day-to-day.

After this week, that’s the plan for this weekend! I’m excited to rest, take it slow and do more fun things. Not my typical "wellness" agenda, but I think giving yourself both a physical + mental break counts!

Here’s my little “weekend wellness” to-do/plan:

+MOVIES - Last night I just needed to watch a cute movie. Something lighthearted + romancey to check out from the world, social media, Tik-Tok, etc. I found a cute one on Netflix and it was just so to just fully dive into the movie. I think Tik-Tok especially has ruined most of our attention spans when it comes to entertainment but once I get into a movie/show, I'm invested and forget about everything else. It's honestly the best. I loved it so much, I'm crossing my fingers I can squeeze in a few more this weekend. Movies are one of those things I always want to watch but have to prioritize or I won't watch them. It's on for this weekend!

+READ - Right alongside the movies are books, lol. My reading slump drama is old news at this point but I've been (slowly) reading Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey. I usually only read at night which is hard when I'm tired so I've been pushing myself to just read at least 1-2 pages a day. I've been really enjoying the book so far too so sitting down and reading this weekend sounds like a good plan. Like movies/shows, books are also a great way to escape the real world when you need to. 

+SKATE - I shared in a post from a few weeks ago that I've started roller skating, haha! This one definitely came out of left field but I'll link the blog post here if you want to read more (and see my new skates!). I've been practicing a little bit every few days and it's so much fun, ya'll. I also can tell I'm getting more comfortable (and hopefully more stable, lol) which has actually been really cool. I think the older you get, the more you just write off doing certain things but it's never too late to start or learn! It's also great exercise so maybe I'll tone it up a bit too! 

+SWEET TREATS - This is probably my emotions/PMS talking but I'm in the mood to make something yummy for a treat. I love dessert and sugar ALWAYS (definitely a love/hate relationship!) but it's been a long time since I've made a dessert from scratch. Lately I've been seeing carrot cake + banana pudding all over IG which I die for. I also LOVE the good ole chocolate eclair dessert/cake that is more assembling than it is making but it's so good.  

+CLOSET ORGANIZATION - Alright this one is a little bit of an "I want" and an "I need" to do. My bedroom and closet are always a mess, one issue being I have more shoes than I do space. I ended up buying these shoe racks which I hope will give me more space + organization in my closet. I've been putting off putting them together (lol) but it seems like a fun little project. It also would *technically* help me clean up a bit which isn't the most relaxing but ultimately makes me feel better mentally (once it's done, HAH). We'll see! 

That's as far as the list goes today, ya'll. I think the moral of the story here is that I just want to do some of my favorite things, haha. Something to boost those serotonin levels, ya know? I always believe the "bad" moments are necessary to remind you to embrace and be grateful for the good ones, however we could all use a little more of what we love more often too. 

What are your plans this 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? :)

WHAT I WANT | APRIL

Aritzia Babaton Bodysuit // Sunski Baia Sunglasses // Madewell Linen Shorts // CHANEL Glow Stick // Caslon Striped Smock Dress // Lele Sadoughi Claw Clip // Alameda Turquesa Beaded Sandals // Vanity Organizer // Chantecaille Tinted Moisturizer 

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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? :)

A HEALTHYISH GROCERY HAUL | 4.17.23

The moral of this week’s healthyish grocery haul is that buying healthier ingredients is hella expensive, ya’ll. This is nothing new but can you believe “all” of this was $42?? I felt really good while shopping too because I stuck to my list and didn’t grab any extras this time. I’m grateful for the option and ability to buy cleaner options here and there but sheeeeeesh. The meal-to-dollar ratio ain't mathing! This week's haul is more supplemental with some lunchy things + a few extras.

Lately I’ve been trying to boost my protein intake throughout the day and as always, still looking for ways to eat more lunches at home. I struggle with the lunches, ya’ll. It’s hard to come up with healthy things to eat at home for one person that don’t go bad quickly and that doesn’t consist of eating the same lunch five days in a row. Because I don’t cook much, a lot of the times I can grab a salad or something out for less than buying ingredients to make a healthy lunch for 3-4 days which saves me both time and money. I'm sure there's a way, I just haven't figured out how to make it work for schedule. If you have ideas, please send them my way! I'm always looking for ways to do better and love your suggestions. 

One way I've been adding extra protein in at breakfast is with these Too Good Smoothies. Usually yogurt and smoothie type drinks are loaded with sugar but these are great. They’re made from Greek yogurt and have 10g of protein per bottle, no added sugar + are only 70 calories each. They also taste good too! I would say it’s like a less sweetened version of Danimals if you remember having those as a kid! I loved them, hehe. 

I also grabbed two of their actual Greek Yogurts too— one coconut flavor and one mixed berry. I had the coconut for lunch today and it was yummy too. Greek yogurt can be a bit of culture shock if you’re use to regular but sweetening it up with a little honey or maple syrup definitely helps! Like the smoothies, these are also high in protein and low in sugar/calories. 

Obviously fruit + granola are non-negotiables for me when it comes to yogurt so this week I opted for bananas and blueberries. I'm bad about letting fruit go bad (which I hate!) so I usually limit myself to two kinds. I also wanted to try this Purely Elizabeth Honey Almond Probiotic Granola which is yum yum. Great flavor + great ingredients.  

Back to the lunch debacle, lol. In an effort to push myself to eat at home, I'll occasionally grab some deli meat & cheese. It's just easy, higher protein + always delish. I love anything from Boar's Head so this week I gave the Honey Maple Turkey a try with their Creamy Havarti. It also pushes me to get some extra greens in by adding arugula on top which is a small healthy win in my book. I don't know about you but I'm always a sandwich and chips kinda gal. I just need a salty crunch and while I normally would just go for wavy Lays or Cheetos, I tried to make it a little healthier with the Siete Sea Salt Potato Chips. Ya'll-- these are SO delicious. They're a kettle style so super crunchy and they have minimal ingredients. A clean + healthier swap that still tastes yummy!

PRODUCE 

+ Organic Arugula
+ Organic Bananas
+ Organic Blueberries 

DAIRY/NON-DAIRY
+ Too Good Greek Yogurt
+ Too Good Smoothies 

+ Boar’s Head Creamy Havarti Cheese

PROTEIN

+ Boar’s Head Honey Maple Glazed Turkey Breast

MISC. 
+ Purely Elizabeth Honey Almond Ancient Grain Granola

+ Siete Potato Chips 

**I'll link what I can for you on Amazon here!**

What do your weekly grocery hauls look like?

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? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | APRIL 2023

Every month I like to share the top five most read blog posts here on TheKristenDiary.com. It's always a great way for me to see which posts you all are enjoying + it's even better that you all seem to be interested too! Whether you just love reading blogs or have a blog of your own, I hope they inspire you in some way, shape or form. 

I've always found my interests are spread out in many different buckets. Even after blogging all these years, I still ponder at times whether creating content around several different topics versus one niche is the "right" way of blogging but as the saying goes- a master of none is often times greater than a master of one, no? The reality of the situation is that we aren't actually mastering anything over here BUT we're having fun regardless. I also love that we can connect on things we both like! TY for dropping by and spending time with me here :) 

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS THIS MONTH 

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - Until I finally get around to doing an update on my Oura Ring, this unboxing post is a great reference if you're looking to buy one. The Oura Ring is a wearable sleep device + one of my favorite purchases of 2022. In the unboxing, I share all about the ring, my ordering experience, some photos + more. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

2. WALKING 10,000+ STEPS EVERY DAY FOR 3 WEEKS - Another one I should do an update on! I have been walking 10,000+ steps every day for almost two years now. It's crazy how building a habit like this seems daunting at first but once you get into your groove, it's like brushing your teeth every day. There are also endless benefits to walking at least 10,000 steps a day + it's a must in my eyes for health and wellness. In the post I go over how I started + share some great tips on how you can too. 

Read here: Walking 10,000+ Steps Every Day for 3 Weeks

3. ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY 2023 | WEEK 2 SALE PICKS - The Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale is now over but there were some great picks this year! I always love sharing a good sale, especially on makeup or skincare. If you missed out on shopping this one, the Sephora Spring sale is starting today! I'll link what's on my wishlist for it here. 

Read here: Ulta 21 Days of Beauty 2023 | Week 2 Sale Picks 

4. LUXURY MAKEUP HAUL - Also some good inspo if you are feeling shoppy is the OG Luxury Makeup Haul. This one is still holding on to the top spot of being the most read blog post on TheKristenDiary.com EVER. Isn't that crazy?? Shoutout to all of my beauty guuurrrrllllsss. 

Read here: Luxury Makeup Haul 

5. WEEKLY CRUMBL | 3.31.23 - The Crumbl cookie reviews are slowly returning... definitely not every week though because then I'll be looking like a cookie, LOL. Not going to lie though-- I'm already debating whether to buy a box this weekend. I feel like the lineups have been more exciting for me lately and this week's Cinnamon Roll and PB Oreo look soooo yum. This Weekly Crumbl as I call them was from a few weeks back-- I'll link it here! 

Read here: Weekly Crumbl | 3.31.23

What are your favorite blog posts to read?

WHAT I WANT FROM THE SEPHORA SPRING SALE

Beautyblender Set // Iconic London Lustre Lip Oil // Smashbox x BECCA Highlighter // Paula's Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant // ILIA The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette // Merit Bronzing Stick // Hourglass Foundation Stick // Soleil Toujours Tinted Sunscreen // Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream 

It's time for the annual Spring Sephora Sale. If you love high-end beauty, the sale is a great time to stock up on all of your faves or pick up new wishlist items. PS-- Mother's Day is also only a month away. The sale is open to all Sephora Beauty Insider, VIB + VIB Rouge members. Here's a round-up of everything on my wishlist this year. Lately I've been all about my skin so most of what I want is complexion based but I have a few other items thrown in too! 

SEPHORA SALE DEETS:

+ 4/14 - 4/24: 30% off Sephora Collection

+ 4/14 - 4/24: 20% off for Rouge Members 

+ 4/18 - 4/24: 15% off for VIB Members 

+ 4/18 - 4/24: 10% off for Beauty Insiders 

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What are you shopping for from the sale?

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? :)

APRIL READING LIST

APRIL READING LIST:

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

+ Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau 

+ One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle 

+ Built to Move by Kelly Starrett & Juliet Starrett 

+ Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano 

*SHOP ALL IN MY AMAZON STORE FRONT HERE*

What are you reading this month? 

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? :)

SHE WAS A SKATER GIRL

Cynthia Rowley x IMPALA Quad Roller Skates

Something I have always wanted to learn how to do is roller skate. Like skate skate, know what I mean? I remember roller blading in gym class back in elementary school but that was ages ago and I know for a fact that I was not great 🤣 Fast forward to watching a roller derby game in high school and I’ve pretty much been obsessed with the idea ever since. I also think a little movie called Whip It may have played a part somewhere in there. Really though- how fun would it be to roller derby?? I highly recommend looking up old clips from like the '80s, they are too good. Like talk about a great way to get out some of that angst + hate, LOL.

Ever since, learning how to skate has always been one of those “oh I’d love to do that someday” things in the back of my mind and apparently someday is now, ya'll. I’m not sure whether I’m having (another?) quarter-life crisis (if so- it’s been a long time running, lol) or what but we all get a wild hair every now in then, huh? We'll see how it goes and cross our fingers that I won't break my neck in the process. I'm very excited though + think it'll be a fun little me project to work on. 

Something else about me is I’m very much into the “accessories” part of hobbies. I always need all of the things so naturally, I have a haul for my new found roller skating journey. Lol. I obviously had to find a pair of cute skates BUT I decided to play it smart and start with a more affordable pair. The old me would've had to have these babies but I’m embracing a "working my way up" journey this time. Do we think it's a blessing or a curse to be blessed with expensive taste?? Asking for a friend... lol. 

Alright, let's talk skates. I went on the hunt for a good pair to learn in that would be cute but still affordable. I saw someone recommend Impala Skates in a Tik-Tok video which I ended up really liking due to their fun style options + the price point. Most of them normally retail around $100, however you can find a lot of the different colors on sale in the $50-70 range on Amazon, eBay, etc. After looking, I fell in love with this pair they created in collaborated with Cynthia Rowley. I knew I wanted something fun + bright and while these normally retail for around $130, I was able to snag my size brand new on eBay for $50! They're also available here on Amazon! 

Also taking into consideration that I'm no longer twelve, I bit the bullet and bought these knee/elbow/wrist guards + this helmet. Definitely not the too-cool-for-school vibes but neither is breaking an arm, lol. Safety first! I also went ahead and picked up these toe caps to put on my skates. You don't have to have these but because I'm a newbie and my skates are vegan leather, I figured they'll be more prone to damage. These will hopefully protect them a little bit more, at least until I can upgrade to the Malibu Barbies 😎 Something I have seen recommend is a skate tool to adjust the wheels + trucks so I grabbed this one.

**I'll link everything in my Amazon Storefront here!**

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What's something you've always wanted to learn? 

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? :)

DESIGNER HANDBAGS I LOVE

Louis Vuitton Neo Alma Monogram Empreinte Leather // Loewe Mini Gate Dual Crossbody // Marc Jacobs The Mini Tote Bag // Prada Crystal Cleo Bag // Gucci GG Matelassé Handbag // Louis Vuitton Diane Crossbody 

-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? :)

BEAUTY ON MY MIND | WHAT I WANT

Each & Every Deodorant // Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream // Bobbi Brown Shadow Stick // sunbetter TONE SMART SPF Compact // Bobbi Brown Beach Fragrance // YSL Candy Glaze Lippie // Gisou Lip Oil // Summer Fridays Skin Tint // Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin CC Stick 

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What's on your wishlist 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? :)