Wednesday, March 27, 2024

BREAKFAST GROCERIES HAUL | 3.27.24


Alright, ya'll. I've been slipping a bit on eating healthier breakfasts at home these past few weeks. Despite a few too many coffee runs, I think I'm starting to find a good balance + moderation with my meals. I've tried to ease my way in by to cutting back on calories and some of the unhealthier foods I tend to indulge in. My goal has been to make more mindful decisions while still allowing myself to indulge a little bit here and there. I also try to go for higher protein options, less super carby/high fat options + less empty calorie foods. When I do indulge, I also play a little bit of pick a side where I'll skip out on one thing for something else later on. I'm always an "everything in moderation" kinda gal because it's easier for me to make progress through compromise than extremity. 

Right now that might look like skipping out on chips at lunch because I already had an iced coffee with breakfast or maybe instead of chips, I'll eat something more nutritional like pistachios or yogurt. It really just depends on the day. Some days I do great, others I could've definitely done better. I've also still consumed my fair share of sugar which I'm still working on. I have a huge sweet tooth so I always struggle here. 

To get back on my breakfast groove, I picked up some go-to's + staples. I always like to keep eggs, greek yogurt + the Two Good Smoothies in my fridge. I'm also still obsessed with the Hero Seed Bread I raved about in this post-- it's THE best. It tastes great and I love that it's low in calories, high in fiber/protein + has no sugar. 

New to me are the Three Bridges Egg Bites, Organic Valley Milk and the Applegate bacon. I tend to switch around with protein- I go through cycles with turkey sausage, ham or bacon. Bacon is a controversial one but for a healthier option, the Greenfield Natural Bacon is so yummy and cleaner than a lot of alternatives. I also trust Applegate for cleaner products so I'm excited to try their's out too. 

Butter, jam + the Pacific Valley Tater Patties are also staples in my kitchen! The hash browns are definitely a little indulgence but twelve minutes in the air fryer + a 10/10! 

DAIRY/NON-DAIRY
+
 Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt | Vanilla Bean 
Organic Valley Grassmilk Fat Free Milk 
+ President Salted Butter
+ Two Good Smoothies | Strawberry Banana + Peach 

PROTEIN
+ Applegate No Sugar Added Bacon
+ Greenfield Natural Uncured Bacon
Nellie's Free Range Eggs  
+ Three Bridges Uncured Ham & Gruyère Egg Bites

GRAINS/BREAD
Hero Seeded Bread 

MISCELLANEOUS 
Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves  
+ Pacific Valley Tater Patties 

What are you picking up this week? 


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, March 25, 2024

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST | 3.25.24

Welcome back to another weekly to-do list of my extra-curricular activities. This week is also Holy Week leading up to Good Friday and Palm Sunday. I'm not entirely sure what my weekend and Easter Sunday looks like just yet, however most years my boyfriend and I go to church service and lunch afterwards. As I write this seemingly silly post on the little fun errands + things I have planned for the week, I'm also making space to reflect and embrace this week for it's true meaning and purpose. As a believer, daughter of God and lover of Jesus Christ, I'm eternally grateful for the history and the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for me and humanity. Without Him, we are lost. With Him, we have hope and a future. Worthy is the King who conquered the grave! Wishing you all a blessed and celebratory week ahead! 

WEEKLY TO-DO'S:

+NAIL APPOINTMENT - Tomorrow I have an appointment for my first gel x fill. I'm currently on my second set of extensions so I'm excited to see how a fill goes + change out my color for Easter and the next few weeks. 

+WORKOUT - Alright, I played a little catch up last week so now I just need to get in two more of my  Orangetheory workouts by the end of the month. Today I did a Strength 50 class which was the first one I've been to in awhile + was a nice change up from the regular 2G. I think I'm slowly starting to get my exercise groove back after being in a bit of a lull since the start of the year!

+BIRTHDAY SHOP - JJ's birthday is this Friday so tomorrow's agenda is to do a little more gift shopping for him + all of the birthday prep. 

+BF'S BIRTHDAY DINNER - Also on the agenda this week is celebrating his birthday. We usually just do a nice dinner out somewhere which is always fun + a great occasion to dress up for! 

+MOVIE DATE - I never made it to that solo movie date I wanted to do a few weeks back so I'm tentatively adding it to my list for tomorrow. I definitely think the current releases are a little underwhelming but I think I'd enjoy watching either the new Ghostbusters or a new one my theatre has called Snack Shack

+LAUNDRY - Ms. Laundry is the loyal bff you can always count on. She never leaves you high + dry, ya know? You can always count on her to have your back and be there, lol. As usual, it's a never-ending job and every week I try to get through most of the necessities + do a sheet change. 

+WEEKLY CRUMBL - Okay, when I saw CARROT CAKE I immediately added trying this week's Crumbl cookies on to my to-do list. Gotta keep my priorities straight! As a huge fan of carrot cake, I have to have it. It looks so bomb + I just know it's gonna be a win. I'm also intrigued by the strawberry pretzel pie... definitely looking promising. 

What do you have going on this week?

Friday, March 22, 2024

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART




 *SHOP THE POST 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? :)

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

ULTA BEAUTY 50% OFF SEMI-ANNUAL SALE PICKS: WEEK 3


Week 3 of Ulta's Semi-Annual sale starts this Friday, March 22nd! There have been so many great buys throughout the sale so far and I'm just excited about week 3. If you're new to the event, each day of the sale features select beauty products for 50% off of the regular price. The sale on those items is only good for that one day + then each day after new products are featured and put on sale. What makes it even better is that all of the products included are from higher-end, "prestige" brands you normally don't find on sale. I've had so much fun picking up some of my faves + a few new things to try out! Here are my top picks for week 3:

ULTA SEMI-ANNUAL SALE PICKS: WEEK 3

+ MAC Color Excess Gel Eye Liner (Sunday, March 24th; $12 sale price, regular $24) 

+ Benefit Gimme Brow+ Gel (Saturday, March 23rd; $13 sale price, regular $26) 

Urban Decay Naked Your Way Mini Eyeshadow Palette (Tuesday, March 26th; $17.50 sale price, regular $35) 

+ IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (Tuesday, March 26th; $14 sale price, regular $28) 

+ L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil (Tuesday, March 26th; $14.50 sale price, regular $29) 

Dermalogica Oil to Foam Cleanser (Thursday, March 28th; $28 sale price, regular $56) 

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia (Saturday, March 23rd; $35 sale price, regular $70) 

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (Saturday, March 23rd; $16 sale price, regular $32) 

Buxom Plumping Lip Cream (Friday, March 22nd; $12.50 sale price, regular $25) 

+ Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum (Tuesday, March 26th; $14.25 sale price, regular $28.50)

+ Verb Ghost Shampoo (Thursday, March 28th; $10 sale price, regular $20) 

+ Verb Ghost Conditioner (Thursday, March 28th; $10 sale price, regular $20) 

+ Ouai Scalp Serum (Saturday, March 23rd; $26 sale price, regular $52) 


If you're curious, my Week 1 Sale Picks + Week 2 Sale Picks are here. 

What are you picking up from the sale?

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, March 18, 2024

MARCH READING LIST


Alright, I'm currently knee deep in both Credence and The Psychology of Money, however ya'll know I'm always planning my next reading move. If I can knock these two out of the way soon, here are the next books on my list for March. We'll start with some faves. I've been itching to do a Harry Potter re-read so I went ahead and added book one to the list-- always + forever the best series. I also randomly had the idea to re-read On Dublin Street by Samantha Young. This one's a really good easy breezy romance that I've visited a few times in the past. I don't re-read a lot of romances, however for some reason I always loved this one + the storyline. 

We always love a little personal growth too so this month's self-help picks are The Mindset Equation and The Confidence Code, both highly rated + topics I'm always interested in learning more about. As always, let me know what you've been reading + anything I need to put on my list! 

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

+ The Mindset Equation by Sara Kissing

+ On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

+ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

+ The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman 

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? :)

Friday, March 15, 2024

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 3.15.24

TGIF, friends! We're kicking the weekend off with today's blog post on the Top 5 Most Popular posts of this month. Here's what made the lineup: 

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - It's no secret how much I love my Oura Ring. If you are in to health and tracking data + progress, I highly recommend buying one. I use it primarily for tracking my sleep but I also love that it also records stress levels, overall readiness + the feminine cycle. I also saw this week you can now purchase the rings here on Amazon which is so convenient! 

oura-ring-the-Kristen-Diary-blog

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE | UNBOXING - Another fave that I read every day is my She Reads Truth Bible. Because it's a CSV, it's very easy to understand and translate. This post is an unboxing with some more info + photos if you are shopping for a new Bible. 

she-reads-truth-bible-grey-linen-the-Kristen-Diary-blog

Read here: She Reads Truth Bible | Unboxing

3. WHAT I WANT FROM ARITZIA - Some cute pieces I love for all of my fellow Aritzia girlies! 

Read here: What I Want From Aritzia 

4. TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 2.14.24 - It's unusual for these "Top 5" posts to include another "Top 5" post from a previous month, lol. Today's post is an exception to that with last month's Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts. This one has some fun Valentine's content, health/wellness + lifestyle posts. 

Read here: Top 5 Most Popular Blog Posts | 2.14.24

5. I WALKED 10,000 STEPS EVERY DAY FOR 3 WEEKS - Every day I walk at least 10,000 steps and now that spring is approaching, I'm excited to start walking outside. When I first started doing it, I shared this post on my experience + tips on walking 10,000+ steps per day. Years later, it's still one of the most read posts on the blog!  


What are your weekend plans?

I love sharing my favorites 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? :) 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

ULTA BEAUTY 50% OFF SEMI-ANNUAL SALE PICKS: WEEK 2


Week two of Ulta's Semi-Annual Sale starts this Friday, March 15th. If you missed last Friday's post, be sure to check out all of week one's deals + snag a few goodies before they are gone! I'll link the post here. We all love a good sale and this Ulta one is particular is extra good. For three weeks, they have a huge sale with a new daily feature of different beauty products that are all 50% off. The kicker is the sale on the items is only good for one day and then it changes to new ones the following day + the cycle continues. 

I also love the sale because they always include a really great assortment of products and brands. Everything included is from higher-end brands that you typically don't find a discount own and if you do, it's usually no more than 20-25% off. A lot of my top picks from Week 1 are products I've previously tried and loved, however most of my favorites from week two are new to me. It's always fun to buy and try new things so I'm looking forward to this week! Here are my top picks:

ULTA SEMI-ANNUAL SALE PICKS: WEEK 2

+ LolaVie Perfecting Leave In (Wednesday, March 20th; $14.50 sale price, regular $29) 

+ BOBBI BROWN Long-Wear Smudge-Proof Gel Eyeliner (Saturday, March 16th; $18 sale price, regular $36) 

+ BOBBI BROWN Skin Full Coverage Longwear Concealer (Thursday, March 21st; $17.50 sale price, regular $35) 

Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara (Friday, March 15th; $15 sale price, regular $30) 

+ Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser (Friday, March 15th; $12.50 sale price, regular $25) 

+ Benefit The POREfessional: Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (Saturday, March 16th; $17.50 sale price, regular $35) 

+ ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum (Sunday, March 17th; $51 sale price, regular $102) 

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Radiance Boosting Face Serum with Bifidus Prebiotic (Friday, March 15th; $30 sale price, regular $60) 

+ NUDESTIX NUDIES MATTE All Over Face Bronze Color (Thursday, March 21st; $17.50 sale price, regular $35) 


What are you picking up from the sale?

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? :)