TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 7.17.23

Welcome back to another top five recap! If you're new to the blog, each month we do a round-up of the most visited posts from the last month. It's a fun way for me to see what content you are liking + also shares a little snapshot of what the blog is all about. TKD is a lifestyle blog with a mix of everything I love: beauty, style, health, wealth + more. It's always interesting to see which posts are the most popular because sometimes they're brand-new uploads, other times oldies from years back. I know I'm a little biased but I hope whether you're new here or not, you'll find some inspiration and enjoyment out of them. Here are the Top 5 for July:

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - This month has been a major win for my sleep scores. I don't know whether it's because I've been more mentally + physically tired this month or just a fluke but I've been getting a lot more quality sleep. I wear my Oura Ring to bed every single night which measures your sleep quality based on timing, restfulness, latency + more. I normally rank somewhere in the 60s which is considered "poor" (such a struggle, guys) but lately I've been hitting in the 70s and even mid-80s! If you're curious about improving your sleep too, the Oura Ring is a must. I highly recommend, I'm obsessed with mine. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. MY AMAZON STOREFRONT - Are we all Amazoned out yet?? LOL- anyone else shop Prime Day this year? They actually had some great buys and you can never go wrong with that two-day shipping! If you also love Amazon, I always keep all of my favorite things (and what I'm currently wanting) in my Amazon Storefront here. I also add new finds weekly + what I'm loving at the moment.

Read here: My Amazon Storefront 

3. THE BEST 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND SALES - The 4th honestly feels like it was ages ago, ya'll. I mean really-- it's crazy. Where does the time go? It's always a mystery but one thing I do know is that there were some good sales that weekend. I couldn't tell you what they were and while I'm sure they won't be exactly the same, I also know with 99% certainty there's still a good one going on now. LOL. On a real note though- I love these posts because despite whatever holiday it is, all of the stores usually do always have great deals going on. It makes anytime a great time to buy + they are also my favorite places too. 

Read here: The Best 4th of July Weekend Sales

4. MY ULTIMATE SUMMER STYLE GUIDE - Not gonna lie, I am pretty much ready for fall BUT summer still deserves it's moment in the spotlight. If you're looking to revamp your style or have any fun vacations coming up, everything you need is in my summer style guide! It has all of my favorite swimsuits, dresses, sandals + more. 

Read here: My Ultimate Summer Style Guide

5. SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING - A fun little unboxing from this month! I'm currently searching for my signature scents + love the smell and vibes of Sunday Forever. Right now I'm testing out their Coconuts, Eau de Babe + Smokeshow fragrances. Yummy summer vibes I will gladly hang on to! 

Read here: Sunday Forever Fragrance Unboxing

What has been the best part of your July?

WEEKLY CRUMBL | 7.14.23

We are going ALL out today, ya’ll. Normally when we do a Weekly Crumbl review I just order a 4-pack but this week’s lineup was too good, we had to get them all. Here’s what we’re working with: Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk, Honey Bun, Chocolate Crumb ft. Oreo, Lemon Cream Pie, Cookie Butter White Chip ft. Biscoff & Peanut Butter Crisp ft. Butterfinger. YUM!

Last time we tried the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk (better than the reg. IMO) and it's 50/50 whether I've  tried Oreo and Honey Bun in the past… I know for sure I haven’t tried any of the others which are the ones I’m most excited for. It also shouldn’t be any surprise that I’m the MOST excited by Butterfinger. I’m crossing my fingers it lives up to the hype! I was a little let down by the Reese’s one a few weeks ago so we shall see. 

Okiee, fast forward to a few hours later. We just tried them all- here’s the 411. Best overall for me is the Biscoff Cookie Butter White Chip!! So so yummy + a total surprise. I wasn't expecting this one to be my favorite but I loved the flavor and crunchier texture of this one. It also had a nice distribution of white chips throughout!

Always gotta keep it real- the rest of the bunch all ranked pretty similar to me. Overall, they were just okay. I think the texture is a big thing for me and besides the Lemon Cream Pie, they were all a little too underbaked/gooey for my liking. This seems to be a common thing at my Crumbl but I can never tell if it’s intentional or not? Anyone know if they're suppose to be super doughy or is it just my location? The Biscoff texture was great but the others super gooey which is why I can’t figure it out, lol. One thing I did like was the filling on the Lemon Cream Pie. It was light, whippy and zesty. I’m not a huge lemon gal but I usually enjoy Crumbl’s lemon flavors.

I'm sad to report the Butterfinger did in fact end up being a letdown for me… womp womp. While it had a pretty good peanut butter flavor, it just wasn't the peanut butter cookie I needed. There wasn't much of a crispy texture or Butterfinger vibe. I normally love the PB cookies so I'm bummed the last few have been more disappointing. 

The Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip was close to last time— decent flavor and better than the OG. I also give them kudos because the salt ratio was much better this time! The perfect sprinkle to balance out the chocolate. 

Honey Bun and Oreo were both okay. I liked the sweet flavor of the Honey Bun glaze, the cookie itself didn't wow me. Your classic Crumbl base flavor. The Oreo cookie was RICH. Very rich and cocoa with super sweet cream cheese frosting. I love Oreos but for some reason I never vibe with Crumbl's chocolate flavors. One exception was the Andes Mint cookie-- phenomenal! I can't wait for it to come back one day. I know most people love this one but I think I would enjoy it more chilled or with a firmer, non-cream cheese icing. Does that make sense?? Lol! 

I had really high hopes ya'll but instead I'm just turning this week’s recap into a downer, LOL. It's always in good fun though and we love trying them out. I also love when an unsuspecting flavor like the Biscoff ends up being a favorite! Such a fun little surprise! 

If you had to try one, which flavor would you choose?

MY AMAZON PRIME DAY SALE PICKS

Before I actually shopped Amazon Prime Day last year, I never really got it. I always assumed it was something along the lines of a pre-Black Friday ad with deals mostly on electronics and housewares. Besides a new phone upgrade every few of years, I'm not a big tech (or housewares) buying kinda gal. It didn't seem like my thing so I just wrote it off as the latest influencer hype (lol, I know ya'll but IYKYK) and never paid any attention. Last year I ended up browsing the sale and to my surprise, there were so many great things. Not just electronics and housewares, things I actually like to (and did) buy. I really shouldn't have been that surprised though, should I? You can never count Ms. Amazon or Jeffrey out! 

Now it's my turn to jump on the influencer hype, LOL. Honestly though, ya'll know I love to share a good sale and while it's true that I earn a little bit of $$$ if you shop with my links, I only share what I personally love, pick out or recommend. Things I've either tried, am buying or would buy. Let's get into that-- the most exciting category of Prime Day for me by far is beauty. The beauty selection is GOOD. There are tons of deals on high-end, premium brands as well as some drugstore favorites too. A few standouts for me are Bioderma and the Mighty Pimple Patches. I love + use both of these all of the time which is why I'm so excited they're on sale. I love an opportunity to stock up! If you can find savings on staple items you already use, it's a total W. It's also fun to save on new products that you want to try out.

Keeping it real- I haven't really gotten into the Amazon clothing. I like that they offer brands as well as affordable dupes on Amazon, I just haven't dove into those waters yet. Most of the clothing sales seem to be on the Amazon branded clothing which is unfamiliar territory to me, however I did see some great items on brands I know + like. I'm linking everything in my Amazon Storefront so check there if you want to see my picks!

I stand by my statement about the electronics BUT I did see one or two items that caught my eye. I own none of these but they all have been on my wishlist for a long while + if you're looking to splurge, are great buys. I love health + fitness gadgets so if you don't already own a step counter/fitness watch, I would so buy this Apple Watch. One day I will upgrade to one when my Fitbit dies, lol. My sister was just talking about buying this same one the other day + it's now $129 off the regular price. I love the silver + champagne colors! I also would love to have one of these sauna blankets. This Higher Dose blanket is the one I've heard the most about, however there are several options on sale here. 

That's a wrap! Be sure to check out my Amazon Storefront for links to everything in this post + more. I'll add in a few more finds + anything new that pops up with the lightning deals!

**SHOP ALL PRIME DAY PICKS HERE**

Are you shopping Prime Days this year? 

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? :)

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST | 7.10.23

Alright, ya'll. This week we are getting back on track! If you've missed a few of my more recent posts, you know I've taken a little bit of a hiatus from my normal routine. This week I'm ready to get back into it all and organize, clean + reset. Ya'll know I love to make a to-do list both to keep track of all of my goals + to keep myself accountable. I love to use the notes app on my phone so I can check things off. Here's what I have planned for the week:

ON THE AGENDA: 

+ORANGETHEORY - I'm *not* looking forward to this one, ya'll. It's crazy how by skipping a few weeks of workouts, my brain is just not having it right now. It's been over two weeks since my last OTF class so I'm forcing myself to go this week. I always feel so good after so I know once I do that initial first class back, I'll hopefully get my groove back. 

+SAUNA - I am excited about my infrared sauna appointment tomorrow! I've been going every Tuesday after working out but I skipped 4th of July last week. It's a great time for me to relax, sweat it out + detox both physically and mentally. I've also been having a lot of neck and pectoral pain this week so I definitely need some relief. 

+LAUNDRY/SHEETS - Ya'll, I've just been letting everything go. It is what it is at this point. Clearly I didn't end up changing my sheets this past weekend so it's at the top of my list tomorrow. 

+CLEAN/WASH CAR - Also a must-do this week. We're in the thick of the summer where all of the birds and bugs are loving my car. Every so often I will also do a deeper clean both inside + out which is the plan for this week! 

+WATCH A MOVIE - Obviously we have to throw in some fun with all of that work, lol. It just feels like a good time to relax and watch a new show or movie. A little me date at the movies could be fun too? I also almost forgot— SHARK WEEK! I live for it every year + it starts this week! 

+CATCH UP ON READING - I'm currently reading Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister which is SO good. Also crossing my fingers that I can spend some extra time with it this week- highly recommend if you like thrillers! 

What are you up to this week?

END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS | 7.7.23

For a holiday week, it sure felt like a long one! Despite catching up on some much needed sleep, I've struggled getting up + have felt even more tired than usual this week. I'm happily welcoming the weekend with opened arms and ready to slow down and take it easy. It's also funny how once July hits, my brain starts jumping towards fall. I've never been a big summer gal so the sooner August starts approaching, the more ready I am. I'm already looking forward to cooler weather, the holidays + all the vibes. 

Speaking of holidays and this week, I hope you had a Happy 4th! Did you do anything special this year? I spent my day on a little solo roadtrip to Boone, NC which I love to visit. My family and I have been going for years- it's a great drive and the perfect afternoon getaway. One of my favorite lunch places has always been the Come Back Shack. It's an awesome local spot for American fare with delicious burgers, shakes, fries + more. I normally order the Local Burger or one of their chicken items (love the tenders!) but decided to treat myself this time with Porky Pulled Pork Fries and a Banana Pudding Shake! Both are part of their limited-time summer menu + were delicious. If you're ever in town, one of my top recommendations. They are always packed so you know it's good + it has a fun, relaxed vibe. 

I also had a great time strolling through the shops in downtown Boone. The Mast General Store is always a must whenever I go and because I surprisingly don't already own one, picked up a Boone sweatshirt. I'm telling ya'll, I'm willing fall to come my way! 

The rest of the week was back to biz as usual. Womp womp womp, lol. My weekend game plan IS to relax, however I always have a few things that I could or should get done. I think the only pressing thing on my list is a sheet change and ideally, squeezing in an OTF workout. It's 50/50 so we'll see. I've been giving myself a bit of a break with both my eating and workout routines over the last few weeks. I think it's a combination of losing Eddie (my kitty) and just feeling a little meh in general (also maybe still from Eddie?). Just another one of those down and out times. I know it's important to give yourself a break when you need to but I know getting back into the swing of things will make me feel better too. I also refuse to let me classes expire for the month so eventually I will have to make myself go, haha. Gotta love paying the price for that accountability! 

Also a random update-- I joined the Threads app today. I wasn't really planning on it and then figured why not? I'm always late to the game with social media trends so I just said f*ck it, lol. If you want to come chat with me, you can find me @TheKristenDiary (same as my IG!). ALSO I'm still reading Wrong Place Wrong Time and it's so good! I'm still at the beginning but so much has already happened and keeps unfolding. I love the narrative and this lots of twists are going to pop up. It feels good to read a thriller + so far, I highly recommend. Have you been reading anything new lately? I'm always curious!! Until next time, xx. 

Have a great weekend! 

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? :)

SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING

In my hunt for a signature summer scent, I came across the brand Sunday Forever. I’ve been having a full blown coconut moment lately- from cocktails to cake, I'm obsessed. I was never a big fan of the texture growing up but I always loved the smell, taste + tropical yumminess. It seems as if I'm re-discovering my love + then some now that it's summer. Coconut also seemed like a good place to start for a summer scent. Now don't get me wrong- I want to eat a piece of coconut cake BUT I don't want to smell like one. I love a coconut smell but didn’t want anything just straight up coconut, too fruity or artificial. I wanted a more sophisticated coconut- something subtle, complex and just yummy. Irresistible! I came across the Sunday Forever “Coconuts” perfume which initially caught my eye because of the gorgeous bottle! So pretty right?

The description + the reviews are what won me over: "addictive, ethereal, warm and sparkling. Not too sweet, no tropical fruit, just pure toasted coconut magic." I also found out Sunday Forever sells lots of other items including a few more scents: Eau De Babe and Smokeshow. An even bigger win-win is that they sell small sample sizes of each scent which I think is amazing + what I ended up purchasing. Scent is such a personal, chemical experience. Even if you like how something smells out of the bottle, it's always important to give it a little test drive. 

I opted for their Tiny Try Me Duo which comes with a mini Coconuts perfume + a mini Eau De Babe perfume. Eau De Babe is a slightly altered version of Coconuts with an added Oud touch. It just made sense to also grab a sample of Smokeshow too while I was buying, right? In the name of research, we might as well give it a go too. Smokeshow is a blend of blonde woods, whipped musk, bergamot and vanilla orchid.

Right out of the bag, I really like how all three scents smell. There is an intriguing element to all of them- Coconuts being the most subtle to me. Both Eau De Babe + Smokeshow have a little something extra in there. A little extra kick or spice, if you will. I can't put my finger on which one I like the best out of the bottles but I'm definitely going to try them all out + see which one wears the best on me. 

Let's talk a little packaging too! I give them an A+ here. Everything arrived safely + was wrapped up nicely. I love the extra details on the card inserts, the free button + the actual look and feel of the sample bottles. They are made of glass + came with a nice fabric pouch for travel. The overall vibe is very clean + sophisticated. 

What is your go-to fragrance?

BEAUTY ON MY MIND | WHAT I WANT

Dior Concealer // SPF50+ Face Sunscreen // Peptide Lip Balm // Hair Styling Cream // Firming Retinol Serum // Foundation // Tanning Face Drops // Self Tanning Lotion // Nudestix Glow Set

-SHOP THE POST-

 **SHOP ALL IN MY AMAZON STOREFRONT HERE**

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? :)