Monday, December 30, 2024

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS OF 2024

With just two days left, we've officially reached the end of 2024. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the start of a new year. It's always bittersweet to see Christmas and the holidays go, however the start of a new year feels like a breath of fresh air. There's room to start over, keeping pushing towards goals and to take time to rest. 

I'm excited to start on some of my own personal goals, however I think January will be a period of easing into things for me. With how busy the holidays are, it's good to take some time to prioritize yourself and recharge. 

For the last and final blog post of 2024, I thought I'd end things with a little recap of the Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts of the year. If you keep up with the blog, you'll know I share one of these each month throughout the year. It's always fun for me to see which posts are getting the most visits + hopefully a fun way for you all to see new content. They are always changing and while some always make it in the list, both new and old posts seem to make it into the rotation! Here's what made the list for all of 2024: 

1. REVIEWING YASSO GREEK YOGURT BARS - Kicking things off with the most viewed post of the entire year- my review on the Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars. I was actually shocked to see this was in the number one spot- Ms. Oura Ring Unboxing finally got knocked off her thrown! I see you, my fellow foodies. Spoiler alert but still go read the post here- I love the Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars. They are so delicious and a healthier alternative to ice cream. Even when I'm trying to be healthier and eat cleaner, I still always want a lil' sweet treat and these hit the spot. Definitely be sure to check out the post here + add these to your grocery lists in 2025!  


2. OURA RING UNBOXING - Here she is! If you've kept up with any of these blog post round-ups, there's a very good chance that my Oura Ring Unboxing post is in the top spot. If it's not at number one, there's a 99.999% chance it's ranked on the list somewhere. Ever since I purchased an Oura Ring and shared this post back in 2022, it's been one of the most popular posts on TKD of all time and for good reason! I absolutely love my Oura Ring and I have zero regrets on buying one. I've worn it almost every single day since it arrived in the mail and I find it to be extremely useful. It's a wearable ring that will track your activity, sleep, readiness + more. I will say that when it comes to activity and steps, I still prefer an Apple Watch. For sleep and all the other features, I love the Oura. It's also spot on with tracking my monthly cycle. The unboxing post is a great resource if you're interested in purchasing one! I originally ordered mine directly on Oura, however I love that you can now buy it here on Amazon. Way faster shipping + easy returns. 


Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

3. TASTE TESTING LESSER EVIL'S PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN - Another surprise + foodie post! I wasn't expecting to see this one in the most popular posts for the entire year, however this post really took off over the last 3-4 months. We're out of pumpkin spice season now but I love trying out different seasonal snackies. I'm also a huge fan of Lesser Evil in general- the Himalayan Gold Popcorn is my all-time fave. 


4. PUBLIX HAUL | 10.9.22 - ANOTHER foodie haul... are ya'll telling me to just switch over to a food blog?? Honestly I would love that too, hehe. I love to bake, cook + grocery shop! This post is a random (and oldie) Publix Haul from 2022. It's always funny to see how some older posts become popular years later... life's kinda funny that way though, huh? 


5. SALT & STONE DEODORANT REVIEW + RESTOCK HAUL - Okay, I have a lonnnnnnggggg history with deodorants. About two years ago I decided to switch over to clean, aluminum-free deodorant. If you've ever tried the natural deodorants, you probably know most are pretty sh*tty. I hate to hate but someones gotta keep it real, lol. I tried and went through tons of "clean" deodorants. There were a few decent ones, my personal favorite and the best I tried being the Salt & Stone line. Definitely read the post here for my full review + why I love them. I'm still a big fan but because I workout a lot and have physically demanding job, I got fed up one day in the summer from sweating a little too much (sadly just unavoidable with the clean bunch). I decided for the warmer and busy months to just switch back to my favorite Secret Clinical deodorant. I have yet to find a clean deodorant that can perform as good, it's that d*mn aluminum, ya'll. She's toxic but she gets the job done! Despite my switch, the Salt & Stone is still my favorite when it comes to a healthier alternative. If I did more low impact exercise and worked a less physically demanding job, I would continue using it all of the time. I am all for eliminating bad ingredients, especially in something like a deodorant. That being said, sweating and odor is a no-go too but I still reach for the S&S on low activity days or if I'm just hanging out around the house. 


That's a wrap on 2024 and the most popular blog posts of the year! Thank you all for being here and sharing this space with me. It's always been a creative outlet for me to share what I love and just yap a little bit. Whether you're a frequent flyer or a one stop shopper, I appreciate you + your support! Chat with you in 2025!! -- xx 

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 27, 2024

THE BEST AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES 2024

BEST AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES + DEALS

Abercrombie (up to 40% off select styles + 20% off almost everything)
The end of the year is always a great time to stock up on new wardrobe basics. Abercrombie is always one of my go-to's for jeans + basic tees. Right now they have up to 40% off select sale styles + 20% off of almost everything else! 

Agent Nateur (20% off sitewide with code NEWYEARNEWYOU) 
New year, new skin! If you're looking to splurge on some luxury, clean skincare- Agent Nateur is a great option. I absolutely adore the founder, Jena, and her skincare line. Everything is made with high-quality, non-toxic ingredients you can feel good about with gorgeous, luxe packaging. 

American Eagle (40-60% off clearance)
American Eagle is stacking the deals with 40-60% off clearance items right now. Another great place for cozy basics! 

Anthropologie (extra 40% off sale styles)
Anthro is also stacking the sales with an additional 40% off of on sale items. 

Bloomingdales (up to 65% off sale)
Bloomingdales is offering up to 65% off of select items right now. They are always one of my favorite department stores to shop at- I love their rewards program + wide selection of items. 

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

+ Nordstrom (half yearly sale up to 60% off)

QVC (up to 45% off all clearance)

Ring Concierge (up to 40% off sale) 

Sephora (extra 20% off sale items with code EXTRA20)

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? :)

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas, friends! We’ve officially survived the holiday season. I always like to take time on Christmas to reflect on the holiday and soak in the moment. It’s easy for me to always get wrapped up in the doing. From shopping for gifts, decorating, wrapping presents to cooking- every year I’m guilty of making Christmas into a to-do list of “worldly” things. While I love many of these fun holiday traditions, the magic of the day really lies with Jesus. He always is the reason for the season! I never give Him enough credit for the love and grace he provides. I’m also thankful to spend the day with my family and be in good health. 

I hope you’ve had a wonderful day and enjoyed time with the loved ones in your life. After a day of cooking, I’m spending the rest of the evening relaxing and watching more Christmas movies! I’m excited to enjoy the rest of the year before we get into 2025! 

Merry Christmas!!  

Monday, December 23, 2024

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS 2024


Merry Christmas Eve Eve! To kick off the holiday week, I thought I'd share a few things from my own little "Christmas list" this year. These are a few things I have my eye on for a little "to me, from me" end of the year/Christmas gift. I definitely don't need anything at all but ya'll know I loveeee to shop and browse. I'm always on the hunt for the next best thing! 

If you keep up with the blog, there's also a good chance you've seen a lot of these on some of my other "what I want" posts. I would say most of these I've had on my wishlist for awhile. I usually scout out items, especially if they're on the pricier side. If I still want them after a few weeks or months and I'm in the position to buy them, then I'll end up pulling the trigger. Here are my top picks at the moment! 


Cheers to a festive and fun week, xx!

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 20, 2024

NEW CHRISTMAS SWEATSHIRTS

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With just a few days left until Christmas, I had to share these fun new sweatshirts I ordered. I stumbled across the brand Shop Kristin Jones a few months back and saved a screenshot of this sweatshirt which I loved. Fast forward to the week of Black Friday/Cyber Monday and the brand popped back up on my radar with heir adorable "Krismas" collection. I was immediately sold!

They offer so many fun graphic tees + sweatshirts for all seasons and holidays. The style is sort of a mix of classic, vintage + whimsical. I LOVE that- I'm all for vintage and quirky vibes. The Christmas ones in particular have a lot of nostalgic, classic Christmas themes and are SO cute! I had such a hard time deciding but ultimately went for these two + the sweatshirt I linked above. It was originally from their Valentine's collection but I think it's perfect for everyday. I'll link it again here too. 

One neat thing is you can customize which color sweatshirt/tee you want for most designs. I fell in love with the Holly Jolly sweatshirt which at the time was only available in green, however the Christmas morning sweatshirt + most other styles you can choose between green, crimson or white. She also uses Comfort Colors for all shades except the grey heather- it's from Lane Seven. 

I like both sweatshirt styles- the Lane Seven is a little softer on the outside and maybe just a tad thicker? The Comfort Colors are vintage and washed so they are a little rougher on the outside. The inside is still soft and both styles aren't too wide or boxy. I opted for a large in both to have an oversized fit and I'd say they fit about the same. The CC feels maybe a tad longer as well but both will be perfect with leggings or tucked into jeans. 

I know it's a little last minute to share now but they just arrived in the mail this week + ya'll know I love to share holiday content. I'm excited to get in the spirit and squeeze in a few wears before Christmas this week! 

Which design is your favorite?

Monday, December 16, 2024

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 12.16.24

It's time for our last monthly recap of the year! I simply cannot believe Christmas is next week... I'm in no way prepared or ready. I've been living in my own little delulu world and it feels like it should still be October?? Wild times but the show must go on, I guess. Today is my last recap of 2024 with the top 5 most popular blog posts. As always, I'll still do a top 5 for the entire year but today is all about December. We've also got some wild cards in the mix today, I was surprised to see 4 + 5 in the mix! Here's what you've been reading the most this month: 

1. SALT & STONE DEODORANT REVIEW + RESTOCK HAUL - I've spent a lot of time and money on trying and buying "clean" deodorants. It has definitely been an interesting journey to say the least! Keeping it totally real- most of them just can't live up to regular deodorant. I've ultimately decided for my active lifestyle + working out, my tried and true Secret Clinical is still the go-to. That being said, out of the countless clean deodorants I've tried, Salt & Stone is hands down my favorite. I love the sensitive formula in any of the scents. For me it's non-irritating (a common issue I had with a lot of brands), easy to apply + the scents smell great. I still love it for lighter activity days or if I'm not working out. For more info, definitely check out the review + haul post here.

Read here: Salt & Stone Deodorant Review + Restock Haul 

2. OURA RING UNBOXING - If you're looking for a new wearable device, I love love love my Oura Ring. I can never rave about it enough. I'm going on 2.5+ years of wearing it everyday and think it's such a viable asset for my overall health + wellness. My unboxing post is a great resource for more info on the ring, the ordering process + more. I purchased mine directly through Oura but you can also buy it here on Amazon now too! 


Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

3. REVIEWING YASSO GREEK YOGURT BARS! - Alright, ya'll. When we all jump back on the healthy train for the New Year, you're gonna wanna grab a few boxes of these Yasso Bars. If you're like me- a sweet treat is always welcome. I would say sugar and sweets are definitely my biggest challenge when it comes to eating cleaner. The Yasso Bars come in handy whenever I want a dessert but I'm still trying to moderate. They're made from greek yogurt which is a healthier alternative to ice cream in both calories and protein. Each one has about 4-5grams of protein and they also taste delicious! It definitely gives me an ice cream fix without going too overboard. 


4. WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN 2021 - Okay, I was surprised to see this post in the list. This is an oldie WAY back from 2021... I also haven't done as many posts like this lately. I kind of go through moods when it comes to more chatty/personal posts like these. I've been more into keeping things light + fun this year- less in the feels, ya know? When I saw the post in the list, I actually went back and reread it all myself. It's kind of funny because at the time of these "life lessons," there's alway a reasoning or experience that leads you to feel or recognize the emotions. Reading them back now, I was trying to remember what was happening at the time that triggered those thoughts but for the most part, you kind of come up blank. It's crazy because time really does heal all, doesn't it? I actually laughed though because I'm pretty sure God put this back on my radar just to have me re-read and revisit point #2... He knows I need a little reminder right now, lol. 



5. SOFT GIRL SELF CARE IDEAS - Another surprise! Usually my most popular posts are reviews or something more shopping related so it's nice to see some new variety. I can't believe this post is only from February... in my mind I was sure it was 2-3 years old. It seems like ages ago since I wrote this one but it's also very fitting now that we're entering into the winter season. This definitely feels like another little nudge and reminder for me from the Big Man. I was reading through the post and how I talked about the concept of having a "soft winter." I share more in the post but the premise is basically that the winter is meant to be a time for rest and recovery. As I was reading, I just thought "God, you really know what you're doing bringing me back here" lol. I work in retail so to say that the holiday season is STRESSING ME OUT would be an understatement... it's honestly wild, ya'll. This season has definitely had me questioning my sanity... as funny "haha" as it is to hash out, it can definitely send you into a spiral if you let it. Usually by Christmas I am done with anyone and everything, lol. I told ya'll I needed a reminder of point #2 in those life lessons... I clearly also needed a reminder to remember to chill the f*ck out, lol. For my favorite self care ideas, be sure to read the post here! ðŸ˜‚

What are your favorite blog posts to read?

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 13, 2024

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

DECEMBER READING LIST

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

+ Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth

+ Riders by Jilly Cooper

+ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

+ After by Anna Todd

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? :)

Monday, December 9, 2024

TOWER 28 BEAUTY HAUL


One of my Black Friday purchases this year was some new beauty goodies from Tower 28 Beauty. I've had my eye on their SOS Makeup Spray for the last several weeks so when they ran their sale, I decided to pick up a few things. Lately I've been breaking out a lot around my chin + mouth area which is super frustrating. Sometimes I'll have a "flare up" with several around my mouth area and I can never pinpoint what's causing them. I've heard a lot of great things about using hypochlorous acid for breakouts which is one of the active ingredients in the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray. The spray is also formulated to help with redness + irritation which I also sometimes have!

I ended up buying the spray in this limited edition SOS Rescue Bestsellers Kit. The kit comes with a full size of the SOS Rescue Spray, a full size SOS LipSoftie Lip Treatment Balm and a mini SOS Face Cream. The entire kit normally retails for $40 and is a $56 value, however I snagged it for 28% off with the BF/CM discount! I've been trying it out and I actually think it's made a big difference in my skin so far. 

I grabbed a few lippie products on sale too- the ShineOn Lip Jelly in the shade "Sesame" and the OneLiner Lip Liner in "Check Me Out." They also included a free gift with purchase too- another ShineOn Lip Jelly in the shade "Chill" which was a fun bonus! 

I've always enjoyed using Tower 28's products and I love that they are clean and have fun, sleek packaging. I'll definitely keep you updated on how using the SOS Spray goes but so far, I'm impressed.

-SHOP THE POST-

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? :)

Friday, December 6, 2024

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART | 12.6.24




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? :)

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

HOLIDAY PARTY DRESSES


-SHOP THE POST-

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 2, 2024

COOL TECH GIFTS | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE




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? :)