END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS | 10.29

It's officially Halloweekend so I thought I'd end the week (and month !!) with some random thoughts for today's post. My weekend as of now is looking very low key. Are we surprised....? Lol. Anyone else at the point where all you want to do is stay home, snack and relax? Literally what my life away from work consists of. We also never get many trick or treaters so I plan on eating my weight in Halloween candy. Can't let it go to waste! Maybe JJ and I will also switch up watching The Sopranos for something more Halloweenish? We've made it to season three but I'm also trying to cram in a few spooky flicks this week. I use to love Disturbia so I've been wanting to re-watch it to see if it's as good as I remember. I may or may not have just been obsessed with Shia when I was thirteen? TBH I may or may not still be now!

On a real note, November is quickly approaching so I'm starting to strategize my Christmas shopping. I normally start in November but wait until the last minute for the majority of it. In a perfect world I'd love to just knock it all out early this year so I don't have to worry about getting it all done. So far I've purchased 3-4 gifts but I still have a lot more to go. I'm hoping to start rolling out some gift guides on the blog next week which will maybe help inspire me and you! I feel like the older you get, the harder it is to shop for everyone. It gets to the point where no one really needs or wants much. Maybe I should make a gift guide just on that? Honestly I love getting necessities/things I hate buying so maybe a roundup of those sort of things would be helpful?

I also can't wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping. I feel like it's mostly geared towards electronics, toys + appliances at the big box stores, however it's nice when a lot of brands offer a store/site-wide discount. I've had my eye on a few things for the past several weeks but I've been trying to hold off a little longer. Right now I'm still looking for some good Fall + Winter basics (jeans, thermal tops, flannels, etc.) and I've been wanting to try out Jones Road Beauty. I looked up last year's sale and they did 20% off of everything. Keeping my fingers crossed they do something similar again this year! 

If you follow me on IG (@TheKristenDiary), you'll already know this but I started reading Greenlights this week. I was feeling myself start to peter into a mood so I thought a little McConaughey wisdom would help. Highly recommend listening to his speeches + interviews. He's on a lot of podcasts and the man just gets it. I'm only the intro in but I love it so far. Something he wrote is "I believe the truth is only offensive when we're lying." I often find myself on both sides of the coin on this one. It's easy to find offense in both the opinions of others but also to often waffle in our own convictions. I think that goes both ways so it can also be the reverse. In a way, his comment felt like erasing the chalk to me and simplifying it down to "it is what it is," whatever  that may be. Interesting food for thought.

BALANCING ACT

Lately I've been struggling on my days off. I'm in a constant state of wanting to do everything and to stop + take a chill pill. It reminded me of some of the conversations I've heard on constant busyness, work-life balance, etc. In the past, I think we were all taught that being in a constant flow of doing and go-go-go is the normal. If you're not running at 120% 24/7, you're not doing it right. I've always been a perfectionist and driven by nature, however I've also learned that can come at a price. 

My problem comes from finding a balance between both. I recently heard someone say that there really isn't such a thing as "work-life balance." Essentially that you can never have them equal or keep them in balance. Sometimes, you'll need to give more attention to work or your career, others to your personal life. In a lot of ways, I suppose this is true in the literal sense. I've always looked at it more as having designated times for both respectively, but I think that's because that is where I struggle. It's too easy for me to blur the lines-- when I'm "off from work," a lot of the time I'm still doing something work related. At one point, I felt like the only productive or fulfilling things I was doing were work related. Don't get me wrong- I love it. I have always been career oriented and I'm a big believer in working hard, but I also found myself neglecting some of the fun things I wanted to do. 

When I would come home, I'd be left feeling drained and unmotivated to do anything else. That would spill over into my days off and when I finally took a break by not doing anything work related, I would feel guilty and bad about not being productive. 

That's sort of where I'm at again now. I've definitely made some progress this year when it comes to balancing work, however I still find myself always wanting to do a million different things. If it isn't work related, it's laundry, blogging, reading, etc. Maybe that's just part of adulthood? I can never seem to get everything done. The same cycle starts over with feeling overwhelmed and wanting to just stop. The stopping then leads to feeling guilty about not being productive or getting things done. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I'm constantly see-sawing back and forth with this same dilemma which means I'm *hopefully* learning some valuable life lessons. 

One of those that I have accepted (but still keep doing) is putting too many things on my to-do list. If you also struggle with this-- you can only do so many things at once. For whatever reason, my brain still tries to keep adding things on but all this ultimately does is leave you less productive and stressed out. Today I had the day off and like always, wanted to have my cake and eat it too. I always think I can slide in a little bit of this here, a little bit of that. When the time comes, I either don't know where to begin OR I actually need to take the time to just relax and detox. I caught myself starting to feel guilty and like I had wasted the day. I then decided to look at what I had accomplished instead of what I hadn't. For me, that included: treating myself to breakfast, running a few errands, changing my sheets + bedding, getting ready, laundry, tiding up + working on this post. In the midst of all that, I also spent some time taking it easy and had dinner with my family + JJ. Focusing on what I had done made me realize the day actually wasn't a waste and in a way, I did have my cake and eat it too. While I might not have gotten every little thing done, I still did a few "productive" things on my list as well as relaxed and enjoyed myself in the nothing. 

My personality constantly wants to do everything NOW and all at once, however I'm also learning the to-do list will still be there tomorrow. Of course that doesn't mean to push off critical or deadline tasks, however it's OKAY if cleaning out the junk drawer has to wait a day. 

-SHOP THE LOOK-

I love real talking 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? :)

10 MOVIES TO WATCH ON HALLOWEEN

Watching Halloween movies is a non-negotiable part of spooky season. Growing up, my mom would let us watch some of the OG classic scary movies which my twelve year old self lived for. Only the ones rated R though! 😉 Now, my tastes are a little bit more refined. While I still like the occasional scary movie (mostly just the classics), I lean more towards suspense and fantasy over gore. You also can't beat a good, lighthearted Halloween comedy. With only a week left in October, here's to cramming in as many mini marathons as possible. Keep reading for a round-up of my favorite flicks + what I'm planning on watching this spooky season! 

1. Halloweentown - We'll start with the family friendly fun. Halloweentown was IT growing up. Who wouldn't want to find out they're a witch and fly off on a magical bus back to Halloweentown? As a kid I was obsessed with Marnie and how Halloweentown looked on the screen. I'll admit watching it now feels a little cheesy but it's still a classic. Super cute + nostalgic!

2. Hocus Pocus - Hocus Pocus is another one. I feel like almost everyone has seen a few of these so it feels silly to describe them in detail? Last year one of our local theaters showed it so I had the chance to watch it for the first time at the box office. Anytime they show one of my favorites or an oldie, I try to go see them. I love the idea of being able to "see it for the first time in theaters" or getting to relive the experience. 

3. Ghostbusters - The original Ghostbusters is the way to go, however I'm intrigued by the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Anyone know why it's not out until mid-November? Definitely should have been released in time for Halloween IMO!

4. The Harry Potter Series - I can go for any Harry Potter at any time, however for some reason they're even better over a holiday? Halloween is the perfect time for some witch craft + wizardry. You've got a little feel good fantasy, some suspense and + let's not forget the troll and pumpkin juice. They just feel like Fall and it works, okay? Watch them all! 

5. The Haunted Mansion - Alright I haven't seen this one in a LONG time but I remember loving it when I was younger. It always gave me haunted Beauty and the Beast vibes for some reason. Have you seen it? Maybe I will rewatch it this week! 

6. Halloween - The original Halloween was one of the first "scary" movies that I ever watched. By today's standards, it isn't super scary but if I'm in the mood for a slasher, this has always been my go-to and favorite. The music score, Jamie Lee Curtis + the cinematography John Carpenter created for the film are all incredible. I never knew this until college, however Halloween paved the way for many other slasher films that followed. When it was released in the late '70s, the film style wasn't common which made it a huge success. I've enjoyed watching several of the sequels, however the original will always be the best! 

7. Scream - I also remember Scream being on tv a ton growing up. This one has the classic stalker serial-killer vibes like a lot of slashers, however definitely has some comedic/parody vibes. I like the original best! 

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street - 1, 2.... Freddy's coming for you.

9. Disturbia - When I tell ya'll the crush I had on Shia when Disturbia came out... man had a major glow-up from his Even Stevens days! Actually a great thriller too. If you're a movie buff, it's actually like a modern day Rear Window where Shia's character watches everything going on around him through the windows of his home. Similar to Jimmy Stewart's character with a suspenseful plot.

10. The Shining - If you've never watched The Shining, Halloween is the perfect occasion to do so. A horror film that's incredible, eerie and unsettling. 

As a little extra bonus, here are some new picks on my watch list for this year. I haven't seen any of these before so LMK your thoughts if you have!

WHAT I'M WATCHING

+ The Rocky Horror Picture Show

+ The Craft

+ The Witches of Eastwick

+ Death Becomes Her

+ Practical Magic 

JUPITER HAIR CARE UNBOXING

Scalp issues are the worst. I've been struggling for the past several years with a dry, itchy scalp and enough is enough! Definitely a little TMI and gross but it is what it is. I've made it my mission to *hopefully* find products that will help knock this sh*t out. After doing a little bit of research in the name of Google, I think I have some version of scalp psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. While I'm no doctor, it looks like the treatment options for both can be similar which is a plus for me! Right now I'm being stubborn and avoiding the dermatologist. Ideally, I would much rather find a solution on my own that isn't super medicated or toxic so we're going the trial + error route first!

One day I came across an ad for the hair care brand Jupiter which has an entire product line made specifically for scalp and dandruff issues. I was immediately intrigued that everything is formulated with clean, safe ingredients and by their simple and sleek packaging. I had never heard of the brand before so I obviously had to order some new things to test out. They carry six different scalp products on their website: a shampoo, conditioner, serum, elixir, mask + scalp brush. You can also find them here on Amazon. I decided to start with the basics so I grabbed the Balancing Shampoo + Nourishing Conditioner and then added in the Restoring Serum for an extra leave-in treatment. 

Balancing Shampoo - 1% Zinc Pyrithione, Coconut Oil + Algae Extract 

Nourishing Conditioner - Probiotics, Vitamin E + Colloidal Oatmeal 

Restoring Serum - 0.125% Zinc Pyrithione, Green Tea + Aloe Vera 

The shampoo and serum both have Zinc Pyrithione, an anti-fungal agent that targets dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. From what I've researched, it's considered safe and effective in doses up to 1% for rinse off hair products and 0.1% for leave on products. I was also excited to see Vitamin E as an active ingredient in the conditioner. I've heard it's a great supplement to take alongside selenium for psoriasis and I've have considered adding it to my supplement routine. I'm always intrigued when vitamins + supplements you would normally take orally or digest through food are also used in products applied topically. 

Like the bottles, the packaging of everything was also very clean + minimal which I love. They included a free travel pouch with my order and a little how-to with helpful tips and info. Also a little FYI-- when I purchased, there was a shipping delay due to the shampoo being out of stock. I think they sell out quickly so keep that in mind when ordering or use Amazon if you want it a little faster. When ordering I also wondered about the scent-- I like it, very subtle but with a minty hint. I'm looking forward to trying and hopefully seeing positive results. Will keep you posted on how things go! 

I love sharing new finds 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? :)

BACK WITH A NEW #OOTD! | THE BEST $12 BAND TEE

Can you tell my photography skills are rusty??? It has been way too long since I've snapped an #OOTD so I am out of practice. It's usually either the lighting or my poses that are off... sometimes both? Lol. We're going with progress over perfection here because I found the best new $12 band tee + I actually put on makeup for once! PS- I also actually like the band on this one too 😜

Band Tee {I find these run small so wearing a size Large for a loose, oversized fit!} | Spanx Leggings {wearing a small} | Combat Booties {old, similar here + here} | Necklace {old, love this one} | Earrings {old, similar here} | Fitbit | Quay Sunnies

I love sharing my must buys 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? :)

TASTE TESTING LESSER EVIL'S PUMPKIN SPICE POPCORN

When I discovered a limited edition Pumpkin Spice flavored popcorn from Lesser Evil at Fresh Market last week, I couldn’t not try it. I’m a new fan of their regular Pink Himalayan popcorn which is seriously SO good and made with clean, organic ingredients. It's one of my new favorites and a major win when it comes to a snack that’s healthy and actually tastes good. I’ve been having a lot of fun with these pumpkin taste testings on the blog this season so keep reading if you want to know the 411 on pumpkin spice popcorn!

First off, love the packaging. They zhuzhed up the everyday bag with a brightly colored orange + pumpkin printed design. Very festive and cute! Also on the topic of orange, I was surprised to see some in the bag! Upon opening, the popcorn looks identical to the regular but with an added cinnamony-spice-like dusting on top and some orange coated pieces thrown in. 

The taste is also spot on to how it looks- exactly like the regular Pink Himalayan (savory, pink Himalayan salt + coconut oil) with a hint of cinnamony spice on top. I checked the ingredients and they use pumpkin pie spice (no actual pumpkin), so it’s very subtle and doesn't have a typical pumpkiny flavor. Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg + allspice so that makes a lot of sense! The orange pieces had a slightly sweeter, candy coated taste. 

I was definitely expecting something a little bit more on the sweet pumpkin side, however I can't really fault them when the flavor is called "Pumpkin Spice." That's exactly what it is-- popcorn with a dusting of pumpkin pie spice flavor. Since I’m not a fan of strong, super spicy pumpkin foods, I like that the spice is subtle. Because I was also expecting it to be more candied/sugary, I wouldn’t mind a little extra sweetness + pumpkin flavor! I think a slightly sweeter, more kettle corn vibe with a pumpkin glaze or drizzle on top would be amazing and bring out a little more pumpkin flavor! I'm happy planning on devouring my bag... maybe with some candy corn thrown in! I also still appreciate that it's cleaner + has better ingredients.

What are your thoughts... would you try it out?

Also read: Taste Testing Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream // Taste Testing Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread + Muffin Mix

UNBOXING THE 2021 BUDGET BY PAYCHECK WORKBOOK

One of the things that inspired me to start taking more initiative when it comes to my money + finances was finding The Budget Mom and purchasing her Budget by Paycheck Workbook! Miko has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to money and I love that the design and setup of her workbooks is user friendly. If you aren't familiar, the workbooks help track and organize your financial goals, expenses, income, spending + more. I started the year with last year's book which I have loved for tracking my spending and overall financial position. Since I decided to purchase another one this year, I thought we'd do a little unboxing!

This year's workbook came in two sizes- a full size version and mini monthly workbooks. I went for the full size because I love looking over the larger spread + having more room to write. I also loved the "Peony" theme so that's the one I went with! It has a gorgeous floral cover with the signature TBM graphics + blueish green accent tones. You can view the other styles and purchase a workbook in the TBM shop here. 

Let's talk about the layout! The workbook has a ton of pages but the bulk of it is organized with monthly tabs. Each one has a full calendar and separate trackers for your income, expenses, debt and net worth, meal prepping + a breakdown of your entire financial picture for the month. I like that it covers all of these aspects but is separated-- it could easily be overwhelming but is very well organized. It also gives me a feeling of starting fresh every month but still allows me to compare + flip back and forth. Outside of the monthly tabs, there are also worksheets for yearly financial goals + spending, bill/subscription trackers, savings trackers, a how-to guide with instructions and more. I wanted to share a little glimpse inside of mine but you can also go on the https://budgetbypaycheck.com website and flip through every page of the book with their 3D preview feature. You can do that for all of the options too!

One of the best parts about an unboxing is the packaging, I love when companies think of little extra details! The workbooks arrive in a fun, printed shipping box with matching tissue + a little flyer card. That detail also extends to the actual workbooks too-- the quality is top notch for everything from the cover to the paper and it comes with stickers! 

Hopefully this was interesting if you were curious about the BBP Workbook or are wanting to start managing your finances all in one place. I like the pen + paper aspect of the workbook, however you can also purchase a digital version of it too. Be sure to visit TheBudgetMom.com or click here for more info :) 

Also read: 

Why You Need to Open a ROTH IRA Now

How I Save Money Shopping

Money Moves I'm Making in 2021