END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS

Hello Friday! I originally planned today's post to be my thoughts on blogging for six months... then I realized I've only been blogging for five 😆

I'll save that post for next month so here are some of my random, end of the week thoughts!

*FULL OUTFIT POST ON THIS LOOK HERE*

I realized yesterday that July is right around the corner. I always feel like a broken record saying this but can you believe we're approaching JULY? The holidays/fourth quarter are the busiest time of the year at my job and we usually start prepping for that in July/August. With summer just starting and it being so hot, I'm not ready for it yet! It seems so far away but ends up being a blur-- I know I'll look up and we'll be in October in no time. 

On a different note- I managed to knock most things off of my to-do list for the week. I shared the list in Monday's post here if you missed it. I didn't make it to get my eyebrows threaded + I still need to update my budget. Other than that, feels good to get things done! It seems like it all never ends which is why it's nice to prioritize a few things at a time.

If you follow my stories on IG (you can find me @TheKristenDiary), I've also been trying out a new mattress topper this week. I haven't been sleeping comfortably for the past few months so I decided to get a new one. Hopefully I don't need a new mattress... I think I'm long overdue on that one but we'll see. I ended up purchasing this one from Target. It's super affordable-- around $50 and great reviews! I've only slept on it for three nights now but so far, so good. It's memory foam so it feels supportive and cushy. 

Not too much else has happened... my boyfriend and I did go to one of my favorite local spots for dinner last night. That might be the highlight of the week! ;) They have amazing pizzas & desserts with a really cool, eclectic atmosphere. We split a white pizza and some yummy cake!

Do you have big weekend plans for Father's Day? Holidays are always causal in my family but I'm sure we will all go out to eat somewhere with my Dad. I hope you have a fun + relaxing weekend! 

HEALTHY SNACKS HAUL

Do you get excited buying snacks and groceries?? I love it! I’m excited to *hopefully* begin turning a new leaf this week with cleaner eating. I don’t know if something changed after turning 27 this year, but I can feel an internal mindset shift. I want to actually start taking action towards being the best version of me (instead of always just saying I want to).

One of the ways I’m starting with is choosing better options and alternatives for my everyday essentials + food. I’m in the middle of what I hope will become a gradual transition to a better, healthier lifestyle. Rome wasn’t built in a day so I’m easing myself into things. That brings us to today’s post— a Healthy Snacks Haul. 

I should probably add a "Healthy (to me) Snacks Haul" edit to the title. The world “healthy” looks different to everyone— to me, it even takes on several interpretations. For example, I consider buying Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies as a healthier alternative to my beloved Cheez-Its. Does that give it the same healthy meaning that broccoli has? Of course not. Being a better alternative or having cleaner ingredients are factors I consider to be "healthier" but not everything is automatically a healthy choice just because it’s organic. The same thing goes with calories-- not everything "low calorie" is always healthy either. That’s okay with me. It's also okay to eat the Cheez-Its if you want them. I’m all about moderation- I want to do better but I'm also confident you'll still find me pulling up curbside at Chicky. These are just some healthier options (baby steps) I'm trying to incorporate. Always a work in progress!

I’ve been on a pretty big snack kick lately so I thought I would start by trying some better options to see what I like. I found these items at a local natural foods store & my Target but they are also all online so I’ll link them for you. My strategy is starting with the types of things that I eat now. Like I mentioned above, I love Cheez-It’s so I decided to try the Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies. On paper, being organic with no artificial flavors or synthetic colors makes them a "healthier" alternative. We'll see how they taste!

For other savory snacks, I also grabbed a box of Simple Mills Fine Ground Sea Salt Almond Flour Crackers, Skinny Pop Microwave Popcorn and a bag of Pistachios (one of my favorite nuts). I also snagged a bag of my beloved Goldfish Pretzels-- they might not be considered healthy but I think pretzels are a better option to regular chips and I love the salty taste.

For sweet treats, I snagged another bag of the Good & Gather Dark Chocolate Almonds, Siete Churro Strips, Siete Grain Free Mexican Shortbread Cookies and a box of Cascadian Farms Cinnamon Crunch Cereal. The dark chocolate almonds are a current fave I've been repurchasing-- they are so good. It's a yummy snack/dessert that I feel a little better about eating. They're addicting though!

That's the line up for today! I'm excited to try these out-- hopefully they are yummy. Sometimes more natural/healthy items don't stand up to the unhealthy snacks in taste so you know I'll keep you posted.  I'd also love to know if you've tried any of these and/or if you have any recommendations for healthyish/healthier snacks. Comment below or message me on IG (@TheKristenDiary)! 

I love sharing my 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 TO-DO LIST | JUNE 14 - 20

The past few weeks have been a blur. I've been working a lot more hours which makes my days feel go-go-go. I've found prioritizing and writing out what I want to get done for the week all the more important. If you've read my past Weekly To-Do List posts (you can find them here & here), you'll know I try to keep the list to a minimum. I'll include the top tasks I want to get done or things that I often push off. If I add too many items, it can be overwhelming and I find I'm less productive. I also keep work out-- it helps me keep a little bit of work/life balance and there's enough of that to make an entire list of it's own!

On top of my work schedule, I've been making an effort to work on improving my overall health + wellness. I don't know about you, but it's easy to push off the "me" things that don't always seem like a necessity. I'm trying to prioritize + make time to do a few more of those which you'll see on this week's list. PS-- how do you like my little iPhone screenshot above? I thought I'd switch up my normal to-do list graphic today 😜

MY WEEKLY TO-DO LIST 

• WEEKLY BASICS - Every time I write out a to-do list, I realize there are always a few of the same tasks that I try to accomplish each week. These include laundry, changing my sheets, working on my budget + creating blog posts. It's easy for me to push these off so I always include them. 

• INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY - A few weeks ago, I started doing infrared light therapy. The way this works is you lay down on a massage table under infrared lights which help to target pain, inflammation, reduce stress + more. I carry a lot of stress/tension in my neck + shoulder blades so I've been doing sessions for these areas at a local spa. I'm also *hopefully* reducing any inflammation in my body. I've scheduled three sessions for this week! 

• PAY QUARTERLY TAXES - If you have to pay taxes quarterly, the June 15th deadline is this week. This shouldn't take me too long but is something time sensitive that I need to complete by Tuesday. 

• EYEBROW THREADING - Hoping to go do this sometime this week. Years ago, I use to go get my brows waxed. At some point I just stopped going and honestly, I never minded too much. Now I've decided I need to start shaping them up more. Funny how we go in phases, isn't it? Waxing can be harsh on the skin and is pretty much out of the question now! I may or may not have eleven lines from those waxes way back when... lol. Threading is suppose to be a great alternative, is super affordable + much better for the skin. 

• BUY A FATHER'S DAY GIFT - If you need a PSA, Father's Day is this coming Sunday. I still need to find a gift + card for my dad. 

• SNACKS + GROCERIES - Because I'm not a weekly grocery shopper, I have to pencil this one in. I tend to eat out a lot so when I do eat at home, it's usually quick + easy meals. With working more, I've been eating at home even less which has pretty much thrown me off the healthy train. I want to get back into that which is easier to do if I have things to make at home. I also need more snacks!

Leaving it with these for now. Real talk-- I would feel accomplished just getting all of my "weekly basics" done. Do you usually get everything done on your list? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Hoping it'll be a productive but stress-free week for you :) 

WHAT I WANT | JUNE

I always steer clear of snacking at midnight but tonight the Goldfish pretzels have been calling my name. I've spent my snack time doing a little online shopping and watching old interviews of Princess Di. Having the ability to look back on moments from history is surreal to me... what a bizarre, incredible privilege. I'm always fascinated by the past and what an amazing presence she was and still is!

 Anywho, with it officially feeling like summer here, I thought we'd jump into a June edition of What I Want. I'm always on the search for new staples and I'm feeling some more weather-appropriate wear. What do you think of the line-up? 

1. Death Valley Graphic Tee 

2. Ankle Lace-up Sandals 

3. Gucci Aviator Sunglasses 

4. Nike Biker Shorts 

5. AGOLE Denim Cut-offs

6. Cozy Knit Sweater + Cozy Knit Shorts

I'm always looking to curate the perfect wardrobe of key basics, however I like to throw in a few wild cards here and there. Would you wear any of these pieces + if so, which ones? I'd love to know! 

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? :)

AGENT NATEUR THE H O L I (T R I N I T Y) GIFT SET UNBOXING

In a recent post, I shared my thoughts on the Agent Nateur H O L I (T R I N I T Y) skincare collection. Because Agent Nateur is a luxury brand (ergo expen$ivo), a few months ago I purchased their *slightly more affordable* travel-size set to try. You can read the full post here, however since then I've been debating on whether to purchase the full-size versions. I debated hard, you guys. I'm talking I went back and forth on it for days hard. The saying goes-- nothing haunts us like the things we didn't buy! ;) Spoiler alert-- I did the damn thing! Let's do an unboxing.

Given the origin and types of ingredients used, although expensive I find the products to be worth their price. A lot of ingredients are imported directly from Europe, everything is organic and safe for the skin + body. I've been making an effort to try and switch to cleaner (but still effective) products this year. It's a work in progress but I trust Jena (the founder of Agent) and the ingredients she sources. I was holding back because I've normally only ever purchased affordable or mid-range skincare products. Ultimately, I decided to splurge not only on myself, my skin and my overall health. I also love that Agent Nateur is independently owned by someone like Jena-- she's amazing!

 I was also able to take advantage of their Memorial Day sale which helped me save a little bit. If you sign up for emails, they do a few of these promotions throughout the year. I ended up purchasing the H O L I (T R I N I T Y) Full Size Gift Set. This includes three of their bestselling products: Holi(Water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence, the Holi(C) The C Duo Calcium & Vitamin C and Holi(Oil) Refining Ageless Face Serum. Here's how each product works:

Holi(Water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Essence

"Restore your skin’s brilliance with holi (water). This lush serum uses organic plant extracts, precious minerals, and natural acid to improve the skin’s elasticity, tighten pores, and gently remove expired cells to reveal a hydrated, dewy glow." 

Holi(C) The C Duo Calcium & Vitamin C

"holi (c) is calcium and vitamin C in their most stable, potent state. Our unique dry powder formula won’t oxidize, ensuring that you receive all of its regenerative benefits. Blend with our holi (water) to improve the texture of acne-prone skin, restore firmness, and reveal an ageless radiance."

Holi(Oil) Refining Ageless Face Serum

"Revive your complexion with holi (oil). This youth-illuminating serum contains natural ingredients rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and hydrating oils that reduce the appearance of aging, leaving skin supple, lifted, and luminous."

The Full Size Gift Set also comes in a beautiful box so I wanted to share a little unboxing of the packaging  + how it arrived in the mail. 

You can see how beautifully packaged everything comes-- gorgeous purple tissue paper, free sample packets and Agent Nateur details. I also really appreciate that they wrapped the gift box in additional packaging material for protection. Because the bottles are glass, I was a little nervous about potential damage but it arrived perfectly! I didn't have any issues when I purchased the Travel Set either (also beautifully packaged). 

Now I just need to find a spot to display these beauties. I'm excited to have the full sizes so I can start consistently using the products + monitoring how/if they affect or change my skin over a longer period of time. Would you all be interested in me sharing how I apply them + another review later on? Let me know your thoughts! 

I love sharing unboxings 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? :)

EMPOWERING BOOKS I WANT TO READ

 Whenever I'm interested in learning about something new, my first thought is usually "Let me find a book for that." I'm a firm believer in challenging yourself to keep learning, growing and evolving. Old habits die hard so the real fun is that it's often times easier said than done! Anyone else guilty of constantly telling yourself you need to "start eating healthy" or "drink more water?" Hi, my name is Kristen. Welcome to the club! 

That brings me to today's post-- Empowering Books I Want to Read. Mentally, I could use a little pep talk and a reminder of who the hell I am! I always assumed that the older I'd get, the more confident and self-assured I would be. Instead, it feels like I've lost a little bit of that spark. Don't get me wrong- I'm still very much opinionated and outspoken. The difference now is I'm more questioning and uncertain on a lot of things in life. Maybe that's a part of growing up, you lose a sense of naivety and start comparing where you're at to where you thought you would be. Whatever it may be, I hope we can all find ways to become our most authentic, confident and content selves. 

Because books always help to inspire me, here's a list of empowering books I want to read. If you've read any of these, please let me know your thoughts! I'd love to chat with you about them in the comments or on Instagram (you can find me @TheKristenDiary). 

EMPOWERING BOOKS I WANT TO READ

All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols 

All Along You Were Blooming is a collection of poetry on one's role in life's purpose. It hints at topics of grace and living your life to the fullest- both areas I know I can always improve on. 

The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You: Command an Audience and Sell Your Way to Success by Lydia Fenet

Very excited to read this book! It has a business theme related to selling which I love- I work in retail so this one I can definitely benefit from reading. While the premise is marketed around business and success, it shares an overall message of being the most powerful woman in any room. 

Her by Pierre Alex Jeanty

This one is written by a man which is very intriguing. It's nice to see different perspectives and  opinions when it comes to self-improvement. Her is about finding your own self-acceptance and inner strength while overcoming insecurities. 

Stripped: A Collection of Inspired Writings for the Evolving Woman by Cara Alwill Leyba

Stripped by Cara Alwill Leyba is another book of writings and poetry. I love the topics of becoming our true, authentic selves and showing who we really are. I've still been reading Daring Greatly by Brene Brown which focuses on the importance of vulnerability in one's life. I'm interested to see if these two have similar concepts that connect together! 

The She Book by Tanya Markul 

There seem to be a lot of poetry and affirmation books in the empowerment world, huh? I haven't really read a lot of poetry in the "real world," but I selected these based on the topics + customer ratings! The She Book is all about raising the bar of your life-- improving beauty, peace, love and more in our lives. I love that! 

What Kind of Woman: Poems by Kate Baer

Alright the last poems book of the day... What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer discusses the daily adversities that women often face in the world. It also includes different roles often played by women and how to seen in your own life. 

That's the lineup for today! I'm excited to pick these up and start getting my mojo back. I'm also always looking for new reads + recommendations so feel free to leave any you have below :) 

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? :)

SWEET + SALTY GOLDFISH PRETZEL TOFFEE

 In my recent snackscapades, I've discovered pretzel goldfish! I've always loved pretzels so the fishy form is next level. When I was placing a Target pickup for these, I noticed a recipe video for "Goldfish Pretzel Toffee." If you've ever made or had cracker candy before, this is very similar! Instead of brown sugar and butter, the recipe calls for caramel. It's quick + relatively easy to assemble. It looked so yummy so I immediately bought the other ingredients to make it. The only problem I ran into is that an actual recipe seems nowhere to be found! 🤣

Being the resourceful gal that I am, I made it myself through lots of Google search + similar recipe comparisons. Here's what I came up with! PS-- this is so so yummy! The perfect mix of sweet + salty. I chose to use the Sander's Caramel Sauce (they make my favorite caramel candies) and it's the perfect flavor! To balance, I like using semi-sweet chocolate chips. The perfect blend between milk + dark. I used Ghiradelli for this recipe!

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED

• 1-1/4 cup of Goldfish pretzels (or pretzels of your choice)
• 10 ounces of caramel sauce 
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips 

HOW TO ASSEMBLE

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. I put aluminum down first + parchment on top. If you only use one, I'd go for parchment. 

2. Cover the entire area with your pretzels. You could use Goldfish or regular pretzels! 

3. Spread caramel sauce over the pretzels + cover completely. 

4. Bake in a 375°f oven for around 5-10 minutes. I eyeballed this step! I waited for the caramel to bubble up before removing. 

5. Remove + cover with chocolate chips. Spread the chocolate as it melts to create a smooth layer. This one was a little tricky with the Goldfish-- they like to stick + move around. Make sure you heat the caramel + pretzels enough to melt the chips, then work quickly! I think melting the chocolate and pouring over also might be a great alternative! 

6. Garnish with more pretzels or any toppings you'd like.

7. Refrigerate/freeze to cool for 1-2 hours. 

8. Break apart into small pieces + dig in! 

Done and done! Such a tasty, easy snack! Let me know if you try it out, I'd love to see pictures :) 

I love sharing recipes + snack ideas 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? :)