MINI HEALTHY GROCERY HAUL | 7.30.25

Happy Hump Day, ya'll. I did a little mini, mid-week grocery run for a few staples to finish the week off. I'm still a go out to eat gal at heart, however I'm trying to incorporate more cooked meals at home for better nutrition. We're doing a classic protein/veggie/carb this week with some ground beef, green beans + sweet potato which is easy peasy. I usually bake my sweet potatoes but I cubed them this time in the air fryer and they were so good- less mashed vibes and more like a sweet potato fry in flavor. Super yummy! 

My other superrrrrr creative idea is more bagel pizzas, lol. With a Hero protein bagel + some cottage cheese mixed in the sauce, I can get in over 30 grams of protein for around 350 calories. I wasn't sure what I'd think about putting cottage cheese in things, however it's kind of tasteless? I think it gives a sour, wangy flavor to sauces but it always still tastes like whatever I'm making. I also (surprisingly) don't mind the texture... for the pizzas I've both blended it in to sauce + just mixed it in and it was basically the same. I don't know that I'll be eating it on it's own anytime soon but it's nice for adding in a little extra protein to meals! 

That's really the gist for "meals" in this haul- not too exciting, lol. Also a quick psa- I learned how to cut a pineapple this week which is too easy? Honestly you look at them and it just seems like a hassle but I had a wild hair this week to try and it was so easy. Also delish- nothing beats fresh! 

DAIRY
+ Good Culture Cottage Cheese

+ Tillamook Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

+ Tillamook Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend 

PRODUCE

+ Pineapple

+ Sweet Potato 

+ Green Beans 

PROTEIN

+ Johnsonville Turkey Sausage Links   

+ 90/10 Angus Ground Beef  

GRAINS/BREAD

+ Hero Bagels

MISC:

+ Classico Pizza Sauce 

What's on your menu this week?

*SHOP ALL MY FOODIE FINDS 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? :)

NEW SKINCARE + SELF TAN HAUL

It's haul time, ya'll. I finished opening some new beauty purchases I picked up during Prime Week this year- I snagged some awesome skincare buys and some new self tanner! Skincare is definitely my favorite beauty category to buy these days- it makes all the difference both with and without makeup on. This year I discovered the brand Minimalist on Amazon which is a new favorite. I wanted to switch things up in my routine by trying their Marula Oil Hydrating Moisturizer which is an absolute dream for dry skin! I picked it out specifically for that reason and in all honesty- because it came in a tube packaging. I wanted something a little less fussy than a jar cream for the mornings, as silly as that sounds! 

I immediately was impressed and after going through an entire tube, I repurchased it again during Prime Week. I don't think this product was actually "on sale," however it's only around $11 which is incredible. It's super hydrating and gives my skin a healthy glow. I've also tried this Sepicalm Sensitive Skin moisturizer also by Minimalist which I enjoyed. They have tons of different products- all formulated according to skin preference in need which I love. New in this haul is this Aquaporin Booster Cleanser- a gentle, hydrating cleanser also for dry skin. I've now been using it for a week or two and so far, I'm enjoying the formula. 

For the eye area, I picked up both a variety pack of the Grace & Stella Under Eye Patches and this Beauty of Joseon Retinal Eye Serum. I'm excited to try out all of the different eyepatches in the box- there is a mix of different ones for anti-aging, de-puffing/dark circles, smoothing, hydrating + more. They also included a free Grace & Stella Hydrating Lip Mask during the sale which I definitely need. My lips always get so dry- I will let you know how it is! It smells so good, just like strawberries! 

Last but first on my buying list was this Coco & Eve Self Tanning Kit. I've heard so many great things about their tanning mousse so I can't wait to try! The kit is a great value and sold me because of the back applicator! I've always struggled with tanning my back so this has to help! 

What are your skincare must-haves?

**SHOP THIS POST + MORE AMAZON FINDS 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? :) 

READING UPDATES | 7.25.25

Ya'll we need to catch up on books!! I want to know what you've been reading and any book recs you have for me! I took a bit of a break after finishing my reread of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince back at the end of May. I briefly started Deathly Hallows, however I always get a bit weird with endings. I've been rereading the entire series and simultaneously watching the movies since May/June of last year which has been so much fun. Obviously I know how it all ends up but I'm still always sad to reach the end. All of the weird nostalgic, melancholic vibes, lol. The plan is to start (and finish) it again over the next few weeks and then do another re-watch all of the movies back to back at the end. 

While on my Harry Potter break, I finally started Haunting Adeline which is so good so far! Definitely living rent free in my head this week! I have been surprised that I don't really find it scary like I thought it would be?? In a real world scenario, heeellllllll no. In the book, eating that sh*t up! There are definitely a few plot points I'm a little meh by but all in all, I think it's a lot less nefarious than I anticipated. Maybe that's because I know it's fiction but I think it's from the dual points of view- it's kind of hard not to vibe with an omniscient look into both characters. I also feel like while there's some "danger" and morally questionable decisions, they still come from a good place and therefore aren't really dangerous where it matters?? Lol. 

I may finish it this weekend and I already know I'll immediately want to start the sequel after, Hunting Adeline. I can only imagine what that one will be like, haha. I have an idea based on the title but I'm looking forward to whatever twists/bombs are drop at the end of the first book. I also definitely recommend picking it up if you're into the dark romance genre. Very enthralling with an interesting storyline. 

I haven't thought too much further ahead besides reading Deathly Hallows and then maybe Heartless Hunter after. I've heard it's a great fantasy romance which I'm excited to read. I really haven't read too much fantasy other than HP and it has always been one of my favorite genres. I'll keep you posted as always- let me know what you're reading right now!

*SHOP THE POST + ALL OF MY READING LIST HERE*

PS-- I'm also on Goodreads if you want to add me here :)

What are you reading right now?

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 ABERCROMBIE CART | 7.23.25

Vintage Racerback Tank // Diet Coke Graphic Tee // Lace Cami // Essential Tee // Denim Shorts // Smocked Halter Top // Bandana Top // Pintuck Cami 

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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? :) 

NEW BOOK RELEASES | 7.21.25

 NEW BOOK RELEASES ON MY READING LIST:

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

+ The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani 

+ JFK: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli 

+ The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy by James Patterson & Vicky Ward

+ These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

*SHOP THE POST + ALL OF MY READING LIST HERE*

Are there any new book releases you're looking forward to? 

PS-- I'm also on Goodreads if you want to add me 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? :) 

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART | 7.18.25

Square Toe Havianas // AHAVA Foot Cream // Eye Vitamins // Drawer Organizer // Heated Eye Mask // Poppy & Pout Lip Scrub // Orly Builder Gel // Coffin Gelx Nail Tips // 

*SHOP THIS POST + ALL OF MY AMAZON WANTS 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? :)

BEAUTY ESSENTIALS HAUL

BIC Soleil Disposable Razors // Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant // Skintimate Coconut Delight Shaving Gel // Bioderma Micellar Water // Plackers Teeth Flossers 

Ya'll I finally secured the Skintimate Coconut Delight! I shared a "What's in my Target cart" post a few weeks ago + it was finally time to do a little restock on some beauty essentials. Ya'll know I like to buy all at the same time to get those extra $5 Tarjayyyy gift card deals. Usually they'll do some type of spend X, get a $5 gift card when it comes to health and beauty. That always works out too because every time you turn around, you always need to restock something! If it's not toothpaste, it's deodorant lol. 

I also love to make any shopping opportunity fun so here's a little haul of what I got, hehe. I rambled on in that post about the Skintimate Coconut Delight shaving gel because I've never tried that scent before and it smells delish, ya'll. Definitely all the summer vibes which we're enjoying for at least a few more weeks... TBD once August arrives. I also needed new razors so I grabbed these BIC Soleil 3-Blade Razors. I don't really notice too much different in disposable versus changing blades so I grab these most of the time. I also was impressed Amazon did a deal during prime week on this 14-pack. I think it was under $10 which was a great buy, however I've also seen them at that same price at other times too. I think if you can snag them in the 70-80 cent range, it's a win. 

Deodorant and flossers are always in the rebuys- thankfully I'm still stocked up on toothpaste ;) I've learned to buy two at a time of my favorite one on Amazon because it goes out of stock all of time. The Secret Clinical is my go-to for working out/the summer, however I've also been rotating Salt & Stone back in here and there. I love the scents and will wear it when I'm staying indoors or doing less activity. 

Last but never least is my beloved Bioderma! It is THE best and a must-have in my skincare routine. It's worth the splurge but you can snag it on sale every once in awhile! You can also buy the 2-pack like I got which is a better deal. I use it every day both in the morning and at night with these cotton pads to remove makeup + dirt from my skin. It's the absolute best, everyone needs! 

-SHOP THE POST-

**SHOP THIS POST + ALL OF MY BEAUTY ESSENTIALS HERE** 

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you 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 | 7.14.25

Hellooooo hello! Ya'll we are just weeks away from the start of the Fall seasonnnnnn, at least in my book! Once we get into August my mind definitely shifts to fall mode and all things Halloween. It's crazy to me how quickly this summer has been flying by but I'm never really sad to see it go, lol. I will say the one thing I do love is having longer days but I'm definitely looking forward to cooler weather and spooky season. Realistically it'll probably be hot here until September/October *if* we're lucky. Sometimes we have warmer Octobers and Novembers which kills the whole vibe of fall, lol. Now that we're halfway through July, ya'll know it's time for the monthly round-up with the top 5 most popular blog posts here on TKD. Like usual, there is a mix of some oldies + newbies and this month we're apparently all into makeup and snacking, lol. Here's the list: 

1. SALT & STONE DEODORANT REVIEW + RESTOCK HAUL - All of my fellow "clean ingredient" people- I see you. If you're also conscious about the ingredients you consume and put in/on your body, I'd be willing to bet you've taken a deep dive into aluminum free, "clean" deodorant. I've been testing out healthier alternatives for years now and (spoiler alert)- my current favorite is from Salt & Stone. I've repurchased it several times now and I love all of the scents I've tried. Definitely check out this post for more on why I love the deodorant + my favorite scents. 

Read here: Salt & Stone Deodorant Review + Restock Haul 

2. TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 6.16.25 - Okay this has been happening over the last several months which was and is still surprising to me! These "top 5" blog post round-ups have now also been making it into future "top 5" blog post round-ups, lol. It's a little trippy, especially because some months there are overlaps in what's been the most popular and others it's entirely different. I'm definitely not mad about it, though! I'm glad to see you all are reading and enjoying these posts too. This particular round-up post is from last month with the top 5 most popular blog posts of June. I'll link it here for you if you're curious! 

Read here: Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts | 6.16.25

3. REVIEWING YASSO GREEK YOGURT BARS - Now that we're in the heart of the summer, you have to go buy yourself some Yasso bars. They are insanely good for a greek yogurt "ice cream." They taste great, have less calories/fat than regular ice cream and a little extra protein. I ramble on a little more in this review post + share all of my favorite flavors. 

Read here: Reviewing Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars 

4. NOTHING BUNDT CAKES S'MORES + OREO REVIEW - Also yummy for the summer but significantly less healthy- this review post on the new Nothing Bundt Cakes S'mores Bundtlet and the Oreo Bundtlet. I don't get the bundt cakes too often but they've definitely grabbed my attention lately with the limited edition flavors!! I'm super bummed I missed out on the Key Lime so I made sure to try out the S'mores. They also were running a BOGO promo so I decided to also try the Oreo flavor out. If you want all the 411 on these, you can read the review post here. Also be sure to snag the S'mores flavor soon, I think it's leaving in a few weeks! 

Read here: Nothing Bundt Cakes S'mores + Oreo Review 

5. NEW AT SEPHORA - Ya'll know I stay stalking the new arrivals on Sephora! I've always been a makeup junkie so I love to keep up with what's new. This particular "New at Sephora" post is from the spring and has so many fun products that I think are great picks for summer. I still need to pick up the Beach Skin body spray- it sounds so good for summer. 

Read here: New at Sephora 

What new content do you want to see going into fall?

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? :)

MINI HEALTHYISH GROCERY HAUL | 7.11.25

TGIF, ya'll. WHAT A WEEK it has been. What a random grocery haul this is! Things are go go go right now which basically means we're eating what we're eating. The main priorities are still higher protein and trying to maintain some type of calorie deficit. In an attempt to curb my morning Starbies habit, I bought a few packs of these Artisan Kitchen Egg Bites from Publix which I'm happy to report are all still unopened in the fridge. Lol. On the one hand- it would be healthier both physically and fiscally to cut her out. On the flip side, is it really worth giving up to save a few extra dollar for less sleep and all my time and sanity??? The dilemma of first world problems, ya'll. 

On a real note- ya'll know I'm being silly but for whatever reason me and mornings have never been besties which has always made it feel like a chore to prep/eat breakfast at home. I'm sure doing some type of meal prep would help but they have made it a little too easy for me with the mobile pickup. I have a strong appreciation for being able to save a little extra time in the mornings plus it gives me something to look forward to before the work day starts. Ya gotta love the little things in life, even if we'll never financially recover from those d*mn $5 coffees! 

Regular eggs, deli meat + cheeses are always in my grocery hauls. I have to keep it simple for lunch and despite the controversy, you can't really beat the protein/calories of meat and cheese roll-ups. They're yummy, easy to throw together and have lots of protein for low calories. Sometimes I'll make a wrap or sandwich too. Lately I've been trying the Hero Bagels which are insane when it comes to nutrition and ingredients. Each one is only 130 calories with 19g of protein and 21g of fiber. That's actually crazy and they taste pretty good too. They're different from normal bagels- they have a little more of a bread-like texture but I like them and they're super versatile. Great for mini pizza too! 

Strawberries were on sale, I needed butter and the rest is pretty much random! I always have a few outliers from the BOGO deals- I've been wanting to try this Noosa yogurt and anytime Reese's go on sale, I snag a pack. That's pretty much it for this week- super random and just some things to supplement what I already have. 

Hope you have the best weekend! - xx. 

DAIRY
+ Noosa Raspberry Yogurt
+ Vital Farms Salted Butter

PRODUCE

+ Strawberries

PROTEIN

+ Boar's Head Honey Maple Ham    

+ Nellie's Eggs 

+ Artisan Kitchen Egg Bites (Three Cheese and Bacon & Three Cheese)

+ Fiorucci Mild Salami & Aged Cheddar Snack Packs 

GRAINS/BREAD

+ Hero Bagels

MISC:

+ Vital Pursuit Protein Pizza

+ Classico Pizza Sauce 

+ Deer Park Spring Water 

+ Reese's Peanut Butter Cups 

What's on your menu this week?

*SHOP ALL MY FOODIE FINDS 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? :)

AMAZON PRIME DAY PICKS 2025

It's primeeeee timeeeee, baby. I couldn't miss out on the opp to share my favorite Amazon Prime Day finds with you this year. Like with any sale, not all finds are created equal. Some items you can get a great deal on- others it's more of an optical illusion. My strategy with Amazon is always a wait and watch approach. Basically that means I add everything I want to my cart/save for later and then I assess what is worth buying during the sale.

A lot of the items on my list are in fact cheaper with a better price than normal. Other items, the price is about the same that you can buy it at during any given day of the week. All of the items in this post are either items I have on my wish list to buy or are items I love + that are a good price. I've also made a specific "Prime Day Picks" tab which will have all of these items, some of my holy-grail purchases + a few more finds that I think are just good buys. I'll link the full list for you *HERE* or you can click the "shop this post" link right below and it'll take you there!

**SHOP THIS POST + ALL OF MY PRIME WEEK PICKS HERE**

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

JULY READING LIST

JULY READING LIST:

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

+ Mile High by Liz Tomforde 

+ The Last Party by A.R. Torre  

+ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 

+ Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli 

*SHOP THE POST + ALL OF MY READING LIST HERE*

What are you reading this month?

PS-- I'm also on Goodreads if you want to add me here :)

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

THE BEST 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND SALES

BEST 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND SALES 2025

+ Abercrombie (up to 50% off select styles plus an extra 20% off clearance) 

+ American Eagle (extra 30% off everything with code BFFS) 

+ Anthropologie (up to 40% off home items + extra 50% off sale)

+ Bloomingdale’s (up to 65% off a large selection of items) 

+ Coco & Eve (25% off site wide) 

+ DND Gel (select items over 50% off) 

+ Macy's (20-60% off a large selection of items)

+ Madewell (up to 70% off sale styles with code SUMMERTIME)

+ Nécessaire (free gift with every purchase, free travel essentials set with $100+ purchase) 

+ Neiman Marcus (up to 60% off designer sale) 

+ NEST (complimentary travel pouch with fragrance set)

+ Old Navy (40-70% off summer sale)

+ QVC (site wide deals + up to 50% off clearance)

+ Sephora (up to 50% off select makeup, fragrance + more)

+ Ulta (up to 40% off select items)

+ Urban Outfitters (up to 40% off sale items)

+ The Vitamin Shoppe ($20 off $120 or $15 off $85 and free shipping with code FOUNDING) 

PS-- don't forget to use Rakuten to earn that cash back! If you haven't signed up, it's totally free and if you sign up with my referral code, you can earn an additional $30 of cash back on your first purchase of $30 or more! 

Are you shopping for anything?

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? :)

NEW AT SEPHORA

Nécessaire The Lip Balm // Topicals Slather Exfoliating & Smoothing Bar // MAKEUP BY MARIO Cream Eyeshadow // Gisou Honey Gloss Shampoo, Gisou Honey Gloss Conditioner // Summer Fridays Butter Balm Blush // Summer Fridays Blush Brush // Kosas Lengthening Mascara // Saie Baked Setting Powder // Natasha Denona Liquid Bronzer 

-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? :)