MY HALLOWEEN WATCH LIST

In honor of Halloween tomorrow, I thought I'd share my go-to movies + shows for a fun spooky celebration! I love a good mix of actual Halloween movies + ones that just feel like Halloween. As I've gotten older, I've definitely settled into more of the traditional Halloween fun, however I do love a good thriller every now in then. I'm partial to the oldies- you can't go wrong with the classics: Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. For something even more sinister, Psycho and The Shining are always good choices! 

I'm personally probably all out of spooks for this year so I'm keeping my watch list a little more tame + on the fun side. Here are my top picks: 

HALLOWEEN WATCH LIST

+ Halloweentown

+ Hocus Pocus

+ Harry Potter (any or all - pick your fave!)
+ Twilight (also buyer's choice but I can skip over New Moon - definitely my least favorite book!)
+ Ghostbusters 

+ Haunted Mansion 
+ The Good Witch 

+ The Vampire Diaries 

+ Disturbia 

I also have several on my list that I've never watched. I've been dying to watch Practical Magic, The Craft and Death Becomes Her for years, I've just never gotten around to them. In a perfect world, I'd love to read Practical Magic before watching the movie. I've heard they are a little different but I always like to get a good back story when it comes to book + movie adaptations! 

What's your favorite Halloween movie?

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE HALLOWEEN BLOG POSTS

Happy HALLOWEEK! As always, the month of October has gone by way too fast! I've had a lot going on this month and for some reason, just haven't been as into the Halloween vibes this year. I think the weather being on the warmer side has been a large part of that. It's honestly so crazy that Halloween is just three days away and then it's on to November (aka CHRISTMAS). It's wild, ya'll. I'm going to do my best to enjoy this week and soak up a little spookiness! In honor of that and my forever love of Halloween, here's a little round-up of my favorite Halloween blog posts here on TKD. Besides one post from this year, the rest are all throwbacks from over the years. Hope you enjoy a little festive fun here on the blog + that you have a spooktacular week! 

1. ANTHROPOLOGIE HALLOWEEN FINDS 2024 - I'm all for Anthro anything when it comes to home decor. They do some of the best holiday collections + this year's Halloween was no exception. So many cute + spooky finds! 

Read here: Anthropologie Halloween Finds 2024

2. TRYING A VIRAL TIK-TOK HALLOWEEN SNACK MIX - I definitely need to whip some of this snack mix up! I made this two Halloweens ago and it was so yummy! If you love a salty + sweet vibe, definitely try it out. 

Read here: Trying a Viral Tik-Tok Halloween Snack Mix 

3. HALLOWEEN BOOKS I WANT TO READ - Confession time- all of the books from this post are still on my TBR list. I always have big plans to read holiday themed books every season but that doesn't always pan out, haha. We'll try again next year!  

Read here: Halloween Books I Want to Read 

4. OCTOBER TO-DO LIST [ALL THE HALLOWEEN THINGS] - One of my favorite parts of the fall + Halloween season are all the fun activities. Like reading, I don't always get everything done on my list but I try! I love to make a night out of watching movies, baking, etc.! 

Read here: October To-Do List [All the Halloween Things] 

5. SPOOKY HALLOWEEN DECOR FINDS - More spooky decor finds! I love all Halloween decor but I'm definitely into the more glam, spooky vibes. I can't wait to one day go all out when I own my own home! 

Read here: Spooky Halloween Decor Finds 

What are your Halloween plans this year?

MY FALL SHOE WISHLIST

Converse All Star // On Running Shoes // VANS Old Skool Slip-ons // Suede Booties // UGG Clogs // On Running Shoes // VANS Old Skool Slip-ons // APL Sneakers 

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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? :)

WHAT I WANT TO WATCH | OCTOBER

Lately there have been so many new releases on Netflix- I have to watch them soon! Both the new docuseries Monsters and the movie Woman of the Hour have been hot topics of conversation. They're both based off of real true crime stories from back in the '70s and '80s and right up my alley. On a totally different tone, I've also seen a lot about Nobody Wants This, a rom-com tv show starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell. I think I can speak for all of us when I say Seth Cohen will always be welcome on screen!

An older film that I just discovered via the TikTok is The Magic of Ordinary days. I've seen several clips and from what I've gathered, it has drama vibes + some romance. It seems interesting and stars Keri Russell and Skeet Ulrich which is actually neat- I've only ever watch him in the Scream franchise! 

I've also had Yellowstone on my list for years now and it just feels like a good time of year to watch? I think it gives off a bit of fall, no? I don't have a Peacock subscription so I may end up buying the DVDs- is it worth owning? I know it was all the rage a few years back! 

1. Nobody Wants This 

2. Woman Of the Hour

3. Monsters 

4. The Magic of Ordinary Days 

5. Yellowstone 

Ya'll know I always have to have some fall + Halloween picks too but we're running out of time!! October always goes by way too fast- I need to start marathoning some Halloweentown and Hocus Pocus! I'll try to share my Halloween watch list with you soon but until then, here's my October Watch List from last year! It has a lot more of my go-to Halloween picks! 

What have you been watching lately?

WEEKLY CRUMBL | 10.21.24

Happy Monday, friends! Today’s post is a little recap of last week’s Crumbl Cookies. It’s definitely unusual for me to have another review this close to the last one but I just couldn’t say no to them last week! The lineup was too good with: Double Fudge Brownie, Blueberry Muffin, Cornbread, Peanut Butter Crisp ft. Butterfinger and Cookie Dough.

The winner of the week was definitely Blueberry Muffin! This one surprised me but was spot on and so yummy. The texture and flavor were bath just like a blueberry muffin -- soft, fluffy and the streusel topping was delicious. A pleasant surprise and one I would definitely get again! 

Cornbread is always a favorite for me. It's just such a unique, flavorful cookie that always hits the spot. I love the cornmeal texture paired with the sweet icing. It's a great balance of textures and flavor. 

I was underwhelmed with both the Cookie Dough and the Peanut Butter Crisp featuring Butterfinger. I had high hopes for both, too! The Cookie Dough one tastes good but it was hard to pick up on an actual cookie dough flavor. It really just tasted super sweet but I was missing that cookie dough taste. I also kept finding chunks of butter in the frosting- you can see some in the photo- so maybe it wasn't mixed properly? 

The Peanut Butter had great potential but the cookie itself also lacked in flavor for me. I felt it needed way more peanut butter to really be a peanut butter cookie. I liked the Butterfinger topping but the rest of it was  just okay. If they really upped the PB and added some of the candy into the dough, I think it would be way better! 

Last up is the Double Fudge Brownie! I didn't have too high of expectations for this because I usually find the chocolatey flavors to be a little on the bitter side. This one was super rich and while still slightly bitter, was better than I originally expected. I liked the icing on top and that they added in chocolate chips to the brownie! While I prefer a slightly sweeter brownie, I liked the added components and thought they nailed the double fudge vibe. 

Which flavor would you choose?

NIKE FREE METCON 5 UNBOXING

For the last few months, I've been on the search for a new pair of workout shoes. I do a lot of walking, HITT classes and weightlifting at home so I wanted an all-in-one cross-training shoe that I could use for everything. Over the last few years I've been wearing the HOKA Clifton 8s for most of my workouts. I definitely went out of my comfort zone purchasing them and while they've been decent shoes, I was never in love with them. I think maybe a different style would have suited my lifestyle better! 

My biggest issue has been they lack stability and support for weightlifting. Hokas definitely have a chunkier sole which elevates the foot and in my experience, causes the heel to slip up a lot. I notice this the most when lifting, doing lunges, etc. 

After doing a bit of research, I kept seeing the Nike Free Metcon 5 pop up as one of the best options for cross-training. I've never really bought any Nike shoes so I didn't know what to expect, however the reviews sold me. I also like the style of the shoe so we're going to give them a try! I like that they look sleek and a little funky. Also way way less chunky than the HOKA, haha. 

My first initial thoughts are that they're very light on the feet + they do feel stable. They don't bend much at all. I haven't broken them in yet so I can't comment on comfortability but straight out of the gate they are more firm. This doesn't surprise me, especially in comparison to something like the HOKA. 

I also sized up from an 8 to an 8.5 which fits great. I do know Nikes historically run small and many of the reviews also suggested that so if you're interested in purchasing, I think it's a good tip! 

These are just my first impressions and I'm excited to see if these enhance my workouts. I'll definitely keep you posted as I break them in over the next few months! 

Do you have a favorite workout shoe? 

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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? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 10.16.24

Now that we’re halfway through October, it’s time for this month’s Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts. Every month I like to share the most viewed posts here on TheKristenDiary. It’s a fun way for me to see what type of content is currently relevant + hopefully fun for you to read too! Here’s the list for this month: 

1. REVIEWING YASSO GREEK YOGURT BARS - My favorite healthier ice cream are these Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars! They are super yummy, have less calories + fat than regular ice cream and a little more protein. Be sure to check out my full review for all the deets here. 

Read here: Reviewing Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars

2. TASTE TESTING LESSER EVIL'S PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN - Another foodie fave of mine is the Lesser Evil Popcorn! I love love love their everyday classics + also had fun trying out this limited time flavor, Pumpkin Spice!

Read here: Taste Testing Lesser Evil's Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

3. OURA RING UNBOXING - It should be no surprise that I'm still loving, wearing + obsessing over my Oura Ring. I think we're going on a little over two years now? It's one of my favorite splurgy purchases! If you're into health + wellness and keeping up with data/progress, I think you'd really enjoy having the ring too! I use it primarily for sleep analysis + tracking my cycle but it also provides great insight on your overall activity, readiness + more. My unboxing was an initial first look at the ring with more details, the ordering experience + more. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

4. LUXURY MAKEUP HAUL + FIRST IMPRESSIONS - This post ends up in the Top 5 list very often! It’s one of  the first makeup hauls I ever posted and to this day, is one of the most popular blog posts on TKD. I always say it’s an oldie but a goodie because I still love and use a lot of the products from the haul! 

Read here: Luxury Makeup Haul + First Impressions 

5. SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING - My Sunday Forever Fragrance Unboxing seems to be a lot more popular lately, it too has been in a lot of the more recent most viewed posts. I love these perfumes, especially for the summer!

Read here: Sunday Forever Fragrance Unboxing 

What content do you want to see next?

WHAT I WANT TO READ: PERSONAL GROWTH PICKS

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

+ The Art of Witty Banter by Patrick King

+ Dark Psychology and Manipulation by William Cooper

+ Emotional Intelligence Habits by Dr. Travis Bradberry

+ Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

What are you currently reading?

**LINKS TO ALL BOOKS + MY FULL READING LIST HERE**

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? :)

WEEKLY CRUMBL | 10.11.24

Ya'll, I just COULDN'T resist this week's Crumbl Cookies! You know I'm an all-or-nothing kinda gal when it comes to these cookies and every single one sounded good, haha. The lineup is: Tres Leche Cake, Maple Cream Sandwich, Caramel Apple, Peanut Butter Pie, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip and Milk Chocolate Chip. 

I always skip the classics so Chocolate Chip is always a no go but I was tempted by the rest. I even contemplated buying a six pack to try all five but in the spirit of *some* self control, I figured we'd better just stick to a four-pack, lol. Although I love pumpkin, the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip to me is a little less unique than the others so it ended up getting cut this time but we'll have to try it whenever it comes back. 

Let's just get into the nitty gritty. We'll start with the Peanut Butter Pie which I was the most excited for. I'm a Reeses gal so I had high hopes for this one but it ended up being my least favorite! Definitely a bummer! It really just wasn't great- I'm not sure whether it wasn't made properly or just way off from my tastes. The cookie base was a little too bitter for me and weirdly enough, tasted extremely salty? The filling was a little better but I would have liked a stronger peanut butter flavor and a little more sweetness. It just lacked overall flavor to me and was just super salty. Presentation wise, very cute though! 

Another unexpected turn was the Tres Leches Cake. My sister loves this so after hearing her hype and seeing so many positive reviews, I was really excited for it too. I'm probably the odd man out here but I was underwhelmed. I know what Tres Leche is but the texture still threw me a bit. The flavor was good, I'm just not sure the milky wetness is my vibe so I probably wouldn't repurchase this one. 

The one flavor in the bunch that I had already tried before was the Caramel Apple cookie. I'm pretty sure I had this one last year and really enjoyed it! I liked it pretty good this year too. The flavor was nice and fun for fall, however I would have liked more apple pieces on top. I also ate it after it had cooled so it was a bit on the crunchy side but all in all, still tasty! 

Alright, the surprise of the bunch and my favorite of the week has to go to the Maple Cream Sandwich! I had zero expectations for this one but it turned out to be SO so good. I would definitely get it again! I never would have expected it to be my favorite, either! I like maple syrup but other than that, it's not really a flavor I eat a lot of but this one is a winner. It has a really nice maple flavor and the cream filling was light and fluffy. Also 10/10 for the cute design! 

Which flavor would you pick?

WHAT I WANT | OCTOBER

Long Sleeve Bodysuit // Diamond Huggie Earrings // Short Sleeve Bodysuit // Gucci Blush // Fleetwood Mac Graphic Tee // Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Set // Racerback Tank // Emotional Intelligence Habits by Dr. Travis Bradberry // Leggings 

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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? :)

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART | 10.7.24

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McCormick Hot Cocoa Finishing Sugar // Dr. Teal's Milk & Honey Epsom Salt // White Chrome Nail Powder // Cozy Girl Coloring Book // Orly GelFX Pink Builder Gel // Short Square Soft Gel X Tips // Long Sleeve Tee // Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

**SHOP MY FULL AMAZON WISHLIST HERE**

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? :)

RECENT BEAUTY FAVES

Rare Beauty Eyeliner // DND "Safari" Gel Polish // Revlon Big Bad Lash Mascara // Natasha Denona Mini Nude Palette // Fenty Bronzer // Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Brown Gel // Hourglass Ambient Foundation // Nest Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil

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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? :)

WHAT I WANT TO READ: NEW BOOK RELEASES

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

+ The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

+ The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

+ Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter

+ The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

What are you currently reading?

**LINKS TO ALL BOOKS + MY FULL READING LIST HERE**

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? :)