Friday, December 29, 2023

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS OF 2023

Today's post marks the final blog post of 2023 here on TheKristenDiary.com. It's hard to believe another year has passed us by, isn't it? I don't think I'll ever really quit saying or feeling that way-- time truly is inexorable. Despite knowing that, I also don't think I'll ever stop feeling a peculiar and bittersweet sentiment around the passing of a year. I always feel the same with my birthday, too. It's strange-- experiencing life and aging is a gift but I still can't seem to shake feeling a little sad about it passing by too. 

Despite my wishy washy feelings, I'm looking forward to 2024! I'm excited to dive into new goals, change and growth. I'm a big believer in always striving for progress + improvement, however a New Year always feels like a fresh start full of possibilities. Before diving into that and all of the resolutions, though, I thought we'd take one last stroll through 2023. Every single month I share the "Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts" on TKD so it was only fitting to end the year with the Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts from all of 2023. If you've kept up with any of these throughout the year, number one should come as no surprise... 

-THE TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS OF 2023-

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - Coming in at number one for the entire year (and pretty much every single month of the year) is my Oura Ring Unboxing. I've had my Oura Ring for almost two years now and it's one of my favorite purchases. If you're big on health + tracking data, I highly recommend buying one. It's a wearable ring to track your sleep, fitness + overall readiness level for each day. It can also provide insight on the female cycle, oxygen levels + more. I purchased the Gen3 in the Heritage Gold. For the full 411 on the ring, my ordering experience + overall first thoughts, this post is a good place to start.

Oura-ring-gen-3-heritage-gold-the-Kristen-Diary-blog

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

2. MY AMAZON STOREFRONT - Earlier in the year, I also created my own Amazon storefront to organize + link all of my favorite things on Amazon. I made this post shortly after creating my storefront and clearly we are all big Amazon lovers. I try to keep my storefront updated regularly with all of my favorite lifestyle finds- think snacks, shoes/fashion, beauty, supplements, books + more. 

Read here: My Amazon Storefront 

3. WALKING 10,000 STEPS EVERY DAY FOR 3 WEEKS - This post is an oldie but a goodie from 2021 when I first started walking 10,000+ steps a day. I had heard back then that it was (and it is!) extremely beneficial and ideal to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. On average, most people only walk 3,000-4,000 steps per day. Because I have an active job, I'm constantly moving but when I tracked it, I was still only walking anywhere from 6,000-8,000 steps per day on average. At the time I challenged myself to start walking the 10K+ per day for a month which I did. After the three weeks, I wrote this post on my experience, how I did it and tips on how to get started. I've also continued walking the 10K per day ever since! It's a wonderful healthy habit to add into your daily routine and I encourage everyone to do so. When I first started, it would often feel daunting at times to get my steps in but now it's just like brushing my teeth or driving to work. PS- it would also make a great New Year's resolution for 2024! 

walking-10000-steps-a-day-the-Kristen-Diary-blog

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

4. SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING - Here we have a little unboxing for the Sunday Forever perfumes in "Coconuts" and "Eau de Babe." I ordered a set of these minis to test out which I've been really enjoying. Their packaging is gorgeous + both scents smell great. 

sunday-forever-smokeshow-coconuts-perfume-unboxing-the-Kristen-Diary-blog

5. BEAUTY HAUL + SEPHORA/ULTA BIRTHDAY GIFTS - Another little oldie post is this beauty haul. I've done a lot of different hauls and unboxings on the blog over the years so I've always been surprised to see this one in the favorites. I think mainly because it's a random mix of just a few items. I have an inkling though that the reason it's so popular is because of the Sephora + Ulta Birthday gifts. I'm a big fan of the birthday gifts every year and know I usually Google them to see which one to pick! I'll also say that this haul does have some great, tried + true products that I still love. The moisturizer + mascara are two of my all-time faves!

Read here: Beauty Haul + Sephora/Ulta Birthday Gifts 

That's a wrap on 2023! Talk to you next year, xx.

What are your plans to ring in the New Year?

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

THE BEST AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES


It's that time of the year where if you didn't get exactly what you wanted for Christmas, it's probably on sale. It isn't just holiday décor, either! Right now there's a little bit of everything on sale. From clothing to diamonds-- why not start the New Year with a bangin' wardrobe? It's the perfect time for one last shopping hurrah before starting fresh in 2024 with those new savings + money goals. PS-- pretty much anything goes during the week between Christmas and New Year's anyway, right?

In all seriousness, it's a no brainer that after every holiday there are tons of sales. IF you have some things on your list or that Christmas cash is burning a hole in your pocket, here are my personal favorite after Christmas + end of year sales. I don't typically look for a ton of Christmasy items, however I'm keeping my eye open for any clothing finds and beauty gift sets. I saw a few from Oribe + IGK before Christmas that are now on sale. 

PS-- don't forget to earn your cash back through Rakuten! I'll link my referral here if you want to sign up with my link. After you make a purchase of $30 or more, Rakuten is giving us both an extra $30 of cash back. Definitely not sponsored- just have loved + used them for years to save a little extra $$$ when I shop. 

BEST AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES + DEALS

Abercrombie (up to 40% off select styles + 15% off almost everything)
Alright if you want to shop the sale section at Abercrombie, 40% off is a pretty good discount. It's no secret that I love their jeans + basics- they are great staples. 

Agent Nateur (25% off sitewide with code NEWYEARNEWYOU) 
What's a better way to start off the New Year than with some new skincare? I absolutely adore Agent Nateur and Jena, their founder! She is one of my favorite people to follow on IG and her products are all incredible. I'm dying to try the holi(creme), holi(sun) and the holi(bright). If you're new to the brand, I'd highly recommend starting with the holi(trinity). 

American Eagle (up to 60% off clearance)
American Eagle is running lots of item sales + up to 60% off clearance. I always love their basics tees.

Anthropologie (40% off sale styles)
If you love Anthropologie, they have a huge sale section that is 40% off. This includes lots of holiday items, clothing + more. 

Bloomingdales (up to 65% off sale)
Bloomingdales is also running a huge sale on clearance + some of their holiday items. I have my eye on a few of these Oribe holiday gift sets

Macy's (20-60% off after Christmas sale)  

+ Nordstrom (half yearly sale up to 50% off)
Similar to Bloomys, Nordstrom is also running lots of sale items site wide. 

Old Navy (up to 70% off clearance)

QVC (1000s of items on sale site wide)

Ring Concierge ($50 off $250 with code 50OFF250) 

Sephora (extra 20% off sale items with code 20EXTRA)

Static Nails (20% off select styles with code WINTER23)

Urban Outfitters (extra 40% off sale styles) 

What's on your shopping list?

I love sharing my favorite sales with you! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping. Pretty cool, huh? :)

Monday, December 25, 2023

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas! It has been a weekend full of cooking, wrapping and spending time with loved ones. In the midst of all the chaos, I wanted to take a little moment to really reflect on the holiday weekend. Christmas always brings me a feeling of joy and nostalgia, however there always seems to be a little bit of underlying sadness. It seems to come and go all too quickly. It can also be a taxing, stressful time. Every year I look forward to the holiday season but also find myself feeling a little emotionally drained. I know for me a lot of that comes down to trying to create my ideal, "perfect" Christmas. I "need" to do all of these specific things in my own mind to create Christmas, but really that's all misguided. At the end of the day, what you eat, where you are or how many gifts you receive/gift has little importance. 

Despite that, somehow those things still manage to work their way up to the top of my holiday to-do list each year. I also find a lot of enjoyment in doing them, however I know I owe Jesus all of the recognition. He really is the reason for the season and why we're able and want to do these activities. I don't think he would want us to be k*lling ourselves or stressed out to do them like we often are, though. Even today, I found myself feeling exhausted and worn out from cooking and getting all of my last minute gifts wrapped. I needed to take a little step back and remind myself that today is in fact, for and about Him, not me. I also took some time to reflect on how blessed I am for the true joy, peace and hope He brings to my life each day. Being able to spend the holiday weekend with my loved ones in honor of Jesus is a prime example.  I know we all have different circumstances and therefore that can look different for everyone. I know he touches each of us differently and regardless of whether you spent the holidays surrounded by others or not, you're never alone when you walk with Him. 

We're now just a week away from 2024 which means a brand new year and a fresh start are coming! Hopefully this upcoming week will be relaxing and full of rest for you. It's our last little hurrah before diving into those New Year's resolutions. I'm wishing peace and love for you during the holiday season!

What are your plans for the week?

Friday, December 22, 2023

HOLIDAY POST ROUND-UP

We're just three days away! With "Christmas weekend" upon us, it's time for one last hurrah through this year's holiday blog posts. In case you missed some, here's a little round-up with all things holiday from this year (and a little throwback from last year too). I'm very excited about a fun + festive weekend, however it's always a little bittersweet. My plan is to just make the most of it all + enjoy myself! Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xx. 

1. FESTIVE CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS I LOVE - The cutest holiday pjs!! Do you get into the holiday pajama trend? I love how some families all match + wear the same ones. You can find all of my favorite in this post.

Read here: Festive Christmas Pajamas I Love

2. LITTLE LUXURIES | STOCKING STUFFERS FOR HER $30 & UNDER - I love gifting "little luxuries." It's fun to gift loved ones something a little fancy or something they might not purchase for themselves. Whether you're looking to splurge on some stocking stuffers or gift a little luxury item that won't break the bank, all of these picks are $30 or less + sure to be a hit. 

Read here: Little Luxuries | Stocking Stuffers for Her $30 & Under 

3. HOLIDAY SNACK HAUL - If you know me, you know I love some snackies. Check out this post for a little holiday snack haul with lots of sweet treats + peppermint goodness!

Read here: Holiday Snack Haul

4. MY HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST - I'm proud to say I've done almost all of the items on my holiday bucket list for this year! I'm also planning on a fun + festive weekend to finish wrapping my gifts and bake my cookies. 

Read here: My Holiday Bucket List 

5. CHRISTMAS ROM-COMS ON MY READING LIST - If you love to read, these festive Christmas rom-coms all sound so cute! Right now I'm currently reading The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score-- we'll see if I finish by Christmas! 

Read here: Christmas Rom-Coms on My Reading List

6. ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST - If you're curious what's on MY Christmas list this year or need some last minute gift ideas, my favorite finds are in this post.

Read here: On My Christmas List 

7. MY HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP - This year I went for a boho Christmas vibe with my wrapping + cards which I shared in this post. I'm definitely not a pro gift wrapper by any means but I try to make things fun + festive.

Read here: My Holiday Gift Wrap 

8. CHRISTMAS STOCKING I LOVE - All of my favorite Christmas stockings! 

Read here: Christmas Stockings I Love

9. UNIQUE + LUXE ADVENT CALENDARS - Alright, I love a good advent calendar. It's a fun little tradition leading up to Christmas and while they are all great, some brands go all out with very creative + unique calendars. This post has all of my favorite picks from this year- they're a little spendy but so fun. 

Read here: Unique + Luxe Advent Calendars 

10. THE BEST GIFTS IN TECH - This year I tried to share some new and different themed gift guides from previous years. I've done all of the obvious gifts for him, gifts for her, etc., so I wanted to mix things up a bit. Everyone loves technology + gadgets so this guide is all of the best tech gifts. In my mind, I usually associate electronics as more for the guys, however I think almost anyone would enjoy something from this list. I'm also a big fan of tracking + bettering my health and I love some of the health gadgets in the post too. 

Read here: The Best Gifts in Tech 

11. MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY BLOG POSTS FROM LAST YEAR - This post is a round-up of some of favorite holidays posts from 2022! It's always neat to go back and revisit the previous years to see what's changed + also gain some new inspiration. 

Read here: My Favorite Holiday Blog Posts from Last Year

12. CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONALS - Christmas devotionals are a great way to celebrate the season, stay grounded and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I also think they make beautiful gifts! Here are some of my favorite ones for this holiday season. 


13. A VERY NEST HOLIDAY - The NEST holiday candles will always be my favorite- they are amazing quality, smell divine + make wonderful gifts. This year I picked up a lot of the votive size for gifts + did a little review of the different holiday scents. If you love candles or home fragrance, be sure to read this one!

Read here: A Very Nest Holiday

14. HOLIDAY FINDS AT THE SEPHORA SALE - Another one of my favorite parts of the holiday season are all of the amazing gift sets + limited edition beauty releases. It's so fun how many brands come out with fun holiday themed products every year. This post is a round-up with all of my favorite holiday finds from the Sephora sale

Read here: Holiday Finds at the Sephora Sale

15. CHRISTMAS COOKBOOKS I HAVE MY EYE ON - Right now I'm at a stage in life where I don't have a lot of time to really cook but I love a good Christmas cookbook. I love flipping through the pages and photos. They're so fun and also make a great, festive gift idea. 

Read here: Christmas Cookbooks I Have My Eye On

Do you have any big plans for the weekend?

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

A VERY NEST HOLIDAY


It’s probably no secret that I’m a huge fan of Nest candles. They’re chic, high quality and smell incredible. When it comes to holiday scents, they are the creme de la creme in my book. They also make amazing gifts which is what I decided to do for a lot of the people on my list this year. I opted for a bunch of mini votives which are the perfect little something for coworkers, acquaintances or a stocking. They are amazing quality, smell divine + have gorgeous packaging. Both the glass and the boxes are beautiful.

They also come in larger sizes as well. Because I have a delicious box full of candles, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give you a run down of scents + show them off a little before they reach their homes. For holiday gifts, I love gifting holiday scents. The classic, you-can't-go-wrong-with holiday scents have always been the Holiday and Birchwood Pine. They are so so good. Holiday is so yummy- it’s festive, warm and has a hint of orange. Birchwood Pine is also delicious and an elevated version of exactly what you would expect- a classic pine scent that's perfectly done. 

I was also excited to see a few new scents in the holiday lineup this year- Crystalized Ginger & Vanilla Bean and Amber & Incense. I blind ordered both of these but because I love the Nest Madagascar Vanilla fragrance, I figured the Ginger & Vanilla Bean would be a win. Amber & Incense also seemed like a great unisex/more masculine scented option so I grabbed one of those to put in my boyfriend’s stocking.

Both are really good too, ya'll. I was especially surprised by Amber & Incense. Sometimes woodsy scents can be too much for me but this one is so nice. It's woodsy but it has a sparkling element to it as well. It's almost like a very subtle, sweeter hint of pine. I would definitely buy and burn it myself. The Crystalized Ginger & Vanilla is also really good + pretty much spot on. It has a sweet, vanilla scent with just a hint of that ginger spice. 

Since we're covering most of the bases here, I'll also shoutout the Blue Cypress & Snow which I also own and love. It's a wonderful winter scent. I'll actually say that any of these holiday scents are universal enough for all winter. They're all unique in their own way but equally divine... need I say more? I'm definitely not a big fan or anything. 

If all else fails and candles just aren't your vibe, Nest also has beautiful reed diffusers, wall diffusers and hand soaps. My mom isn't a big candle fan either so I grabbed her a hand soap in the Holiday scent. You know I'll be trying it out too! 

-SHOP THE POST-


Which scent would you want in your stocking?

 I love sharing my picks + hauls 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, December 18, 2023

MY HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP


It's officially get your a** in gear week when it comes to all things Christmas. Every year I play a little game where I tell myself I'll wrap all of my gifts early but what I really mean is that I'll wait until the night of Christmas Eve to get started. There's nothing like a little stress + pressure to really spice up the holidays, no? I'm only half kidding because I have wrapped a few gifts but inevitably will leave the rest until Christmas Eve. 

There's also an order to things. The earlier the gifts are wrapped, the prettier they look. There's also usually wrapping paper and tags involved. By the ninth inning, you're looking at a gift bag and some recycled tissue. Right now we're in the early stages where things are semi-pretty. This year I've also been going for a boho-festive Christmas theme which makes me feel a little more excited to wrap. We like a fun Christmas vibe, ya know? It adds a little extra *pizzazz* to things. 

While I'm still feeling inspired, I thought I'd share with you this little gift wrap vision of mine. I am by no means an expert but best believe I am on my way to becoming a pro gift wrapper! Here's what we're working with. This year my boho-festive Christmas vibe started with these gift tags I found at TJ Maxx (I love these too). I use a lot of pinks + golds with my holiday decor so these were calling my name. They're a tad whimsical with a touch of glam from the gold accents. I also felt like the colors coordinated well with my Christmas cards this year. 

Sometimes I will go more sparkle + fancy Christmas but this year I've been feeling the cozy + casual vibe. I originally planned on pairing the tags with a pink glitter wrapping paper before finding this fun 'Fa La La' printed paper. I wasn't 100% sure at first but after wrapping, I love how it looks! It's also a little more relaxed, fun and youthful but it has a really pretty sheen. Now making bows is not my area of expertise but I thought some type of jute or twine as a ribbon would be perfect. I normally go for bows or actual ribbon but the paper + tags needed a little rustic touch. I ended up finding this gold + brown twine which I think works perfectly! It added that little hint of rustic I wanted but the touch of gold adds a little something to bring everything together. 

Now to just work on my tying skills! 

 I love sharing my picks + hauls 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, December 15, 2023

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | DECEMBER

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - With a new year approaching, it's the perfect time to do a little health reset. The Oura Ring is one of my favorite purchases for keeping up with my sleep + my overall health. I highly recommend- I love love love. Check out my unboxing for more info + all the deets. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. WHAT I WANT FROM ARITZIA - For my fellow Aritzia girlies! Aritzia has some great basics + wardrobe staples.

Read here: What I Want from Aritzia 

3. SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE | UNBOXING - If you're looking for a Bible, I highly recommend the She Reads Truth CSV Version. I have the grey linen fabric + love that it's easy to read and understand. 

Read here: She Reads Truth Unboxing

4. SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING - This post is a little fragrance unboxing featuring their Coconuts and Eau de Babe perfumes. 

Read here: Sunday Forever Fragrance Unboxing

5. MY AMAZON STOREFRONT - If you love to shop on Amazon, I keep all of my favorite finds + purchases in my storefront. From fashion to food, I've got ya covered! Right now I also have some great holiday picks + gift ideas. 



What are your favorite blog posts to read?

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Monday, December 11, 2023

ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST




-SHOP THE POST-


 I love sharing my picks + hauls 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, December 8, 2023

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY BLOG POSTS FROM LAST YEAR

With Christmas just a little over two weeks away, I thought I'd share three of my favorite holiday blog posts from last year. I always love to reflect on the previous years + gain some creative inspiration. After looking through all of the posts, I chose these top three as my favorites. They each encompass a different part of the holiday season that I always love. Here's the line-up: 

1. CHRISTMAS WEEK TO-DO LIST - The week leading up to Christmas always reminds me of being a child. It's reminiscent of those last few days of school before getting out on break. I also usually try to squeeze in any last minute holiday things- it's the final tah-dah before the big day. While I typically make my to-do lists in the present and this post is a little specific to what I had going on last year, a lot of the items on my list are yearly traditions. 

Christmas-week-traditions-The-Kristen-Diary-blog

Read here: Christmas Week To-do List 

2. ANTHROPOLOGIE HOLIDAY COLLECTION - There is always something about Anthropologie's Christmas collection that gets me every year. Decorations are a large part of what makes the season special  for me. While I know that the true meaning of Christmas doesn't lie in the decorations, it definitely enhances the time of year and makes it magical. I loved all of the copper + gold themed items in this post last year + the cute mugs. I ended up snagging both styles and love them!

Read here: Anthropologie Holiday Collection | Copper + Gold 

3. COZY GIFT IDEAS FOR HER - Alright, ya'll know I love a good gift guide. Every season I try to add new ones on the blog with my favorite picks to buy for everyone on your list. I'm definitely a cozy girl at heart so I really loved this Cozy Gift Ideas for Her post from last year. If you are shopping for a cozy gal in your life, I still love all of these picks. I would be thrilled to receive any of them + would also gift them to loved ones! 

Read here: Cozy Gift Ideas for Her 

What holiday traditions are you looking forward to this year?

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

A LITTLE MIDWEEK RESET



Anyone else in need of a little reset right now? I know this happens to me every year but the holiday season is starting to kick my a**. Between work, the gym, trying to socialize + do all the holiday things, I'm starting to run on fumes. I mentally start to check out a little every year after Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend but as of now, I'm *surprisingly* still in a good mood mentally. Check back in with me in another week or two, lol. 

Right now I'm definitely feeling it it more physically. I haven't been getting as much time to rest + relax which is why today I'm starting a little mid-week reset. We're also officially in cold + flu season which has hit my circle lately. I've been doing my best to stay loaded up on vitamins so we're hoping for the best. I've felt just a touch of symptoms here and there which I'm taking as a cue to slow down a bit and prioritize rest. 

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, stressed or under the weather- self care always shifts to a top priority. That's really hard sometimes, especially with all the obligations we all have. If you're in a similar place right now, here's a friendly reminder to do what you can for yourself. The rest of it will still be there when you are ready for it. 

The simple self care things always make a huge difference for me. A few prioritizes on my list for the rest of the week are first and foremost, rest. I need to up my sleep hours a bit + stop staying up so late. Whenever I think I'm coming down with something, I also find myself trying to eat a little cleaner. I don't know if it's just because I'm not as hungry or if it's just my body's intuition but I try to limit sugar + junk. Healthier protein, veggies + soups are always my go-to. I'm sure it's probably an intuition thing-- your body just knows you need a little extra TLC from the good stuff. Tonight I made a garden vegetable soup mix which was a good comfort/healthy dinner. I also enjoyed cooking at home- it was a nice change from all the recent eating out.

If I have some extra time in between rest, I also need to get on my Christmas movie marathon! I haven't had much time to watch a lot lately except for This Is Where I Leave You earlier this week. It's one of my favorite movies + feels fitting for this time of the year. I'll continue to stand on the hill that if you're in need of a little mental detox or boost, watching something you love or feel-good/funny/happy/sappy always does the trick! 

Hope you are staying sane + healthy! 

Friday, December 1, 2023

HOLIDAY FINDS AT THE SEPHORA SALE




-SHOP THE POST-

I love sharing my picks + hauls 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? :)