Skip to main content

SOCIAL MEDIA

I wouldn't consider these new year resolutions, but like everyone else I do start to think about ways to improve this next year. In the last quarter of 2021 I learned something about myself (well, maybe just noticed it for the first time). It started when I began using Duolingo to learn Spanish. The app has a way to keep track of your 'streak' of days you log on. I found that I really really did not (and still don't) want to break that streak. It's really motivating to keep it going. Plus, the streak keeps going even if I just do a few minutes on the app. So, I noticed that picking up a little habit and doing it everyday is very motivating for me. Going forward, I'm going to pay attention to that tendency when I try to pick up a new skill or habit.

3 Goals for 2022

Monday, December 27, 2021

It might be that the year is winding down, or it might be how I've been feeling mentally, but I'm in a big reflective mood. And, when I get in moods like this, I start zeroing in on ways I want to improve or things I want to change. This week, I've been in a big decluttering mode, and thought I'd share a few ways I've been decluttering my digital life.

7 Ways To Declutter Digitally

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Diary posts are just a fancy way for me to dump my camera roll into a blog post! 

Buff City Soap

A new location of Buff City Soap opened up here, and I won one of their grand opening giveaways! I really encourage everyone to enter giveaways...I counted up how many I've won in recent history and it's at least 10. What do you have to lose, ya know?

Diary #11.2021

Friday, December 17, 2021

Popping in today just to share a couple of pictures from our family trip to Destin! We rented a house across the street from the beach with a pool - and I think we all would have been content not to leave ever! We did pop over to the outlet mall (were I got my very first Coach bag 😍) and to a couple of local breweries. 

The weather was lovely! It was chilly in the mornings, and warmed up in the afternoons. The very last day was cold, but that was okay because half the group was leaving and I always think it's better when it's not perfect weather when you have to say goodbye. We spent it walking on the boardwalk and getting some good food with beautiful views. 











Shop the Post:

-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Snapshots from Destin

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Several 5 star reviews for you today! If you want to follow along with my book reviews the quickest way to get them is to follow along on Instagram! And of course, on Goodreads. I'm going for 100 books this year, and currently reading number 89. 

Recent Reads #16 | November 2021

Monday, November 22, 2021

One | Monogramed Hiking Boots

As soon as I saw these on Marley Lilly's website, I knew I'd order them! I searched high and low for cute hiking boots last year, so I wish they had these sooner. They come with red and brown laces - but I'm partial to the red! I will say I got my typical size, and I think I should have sized up one. They fit just right, but most people will wear thick socks with boots, so if you are between sizes or want a more comfortable fit - go up! 

Recent Favorites - November 2021

Monday, November 15, 2021

One of my favorite features of our new place is the giant pantry! I've been playing around with it the last few months, and have found a couple of great storage options I thought I'd share today. You can't go wrong with a good acrylic organizer! 

Pantry Organization

Monday, November 8, 2021

There is nothing quite like those fall scents! I especially love how cozy a cinnamon smell can make your house. Because most candles give me the worst headache, I turned to diffusing oils to make my home smell good. Revive is my favorite place to get them. Their pumpkin pie blend is my all time favorite, so I was really eager to see what would be in their Fall subscription box

Every quarter Revive sends out a box (that you can easily skip! They reveal the box days and days before they ship so you don't waste your money.) with seasonal oils and blends. I signed up for their summer box and loved it, so I decided to keep trying them. 

Here's what's in the Fall Box:




Icy

Icy is like a herb-y mint blend. Eh, I'm terrible at descriptions! It's definitely fresh and invigorating. They suggest using for congestion and I totally see doing that if we come down with colds this year.
Blend of: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Pine, Geranium, Peppermint, and Cinnamon. 

Rosalina

Admittedly, this one is not my favorite right out of the gate. It's described as a gentler eucalyptus. I am 100% reserving judgement until I need respiratory help, and in that case I really see this being useful. This oil is used in the DIY blend below, and I will say it's nice blended!
Contains: Melaleuca 
 

Silent Night

This will be the ultimate sleepy oil. It's relaxing, sweet and floral. Very tranquil! I don't normally like floral, but this has citrus and frankincense in it which really balance it out.
Blend of: Sweet Orange, Frankincense, Sweet Marjorma, Elemi, Ylang Ylang, and Patchouli 

Cinnamon Leaf

This one surprised me! I already love my traditional cinnamon oil, so I wasn't sure how this would be any different. Well it is. It's a sweeter cinnamon? Revive says it's like cinnamon that's closer to clove. Either way, it's really nice and perfect for fall! 
Contains: Cinnamon Leaf

Gingerbread Man

This was my most anticipated oil in this box! Know what gingerbread dough smells like? Well this blend totally captures it in a bottle. Love, love, love this one! Makes your whole house smell like you are baking cookies. 
Blend of: Ginger, Copaiba, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Fenugreek

Coconut Carrier Oil, an empty Roller, and sticker set. (DIY kit)

This is the first time Revive has done a DIY kit that I've seen. It comes with a carrier oil, an empty roller, and stickers. So you could do any blend you want in your roller, but I chose to do the one they suggest. The sticker sheet comes with a label too, so it doesn't even look DIY. 

All in all, I'm really happy with this subscription, and I think I will keep it up (assuming the boxes keep being this good!). I do have a referral code with Revive that will give you $10 towards your first order! That make's this box a really good deal. They say these boxes are about $75+ in value, for $55. And then with the $10 code, you get it for $45. 😎

Comment below with your favorite fall scents! 

-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Revive Essential Oils Fall 2021 Subscription Box

Monday, October 4, 2021

LOL at the fact that I'm still trying to call this a weekly diary, when the reality is this post will contain pictures from several weeks! When I started this series in January I fully intended to share a post like this every week. Maybe I'll change it to monthly? Anyway, here ya go! 

Weekly Diary #10.2021

Monday, September 27, 2021

When we first toured our new house, I was really nervous that our brand new furniture that we had just purchased a few months wasn't going to fit! It took us a long time to agree on new living room furniture, and so the idea of it not working in our new space was worrisome. That worry turned out to be completely unnecessary because it all fits like a glove! 

New House Tour: The Living Room

Friday, September 17, 2021

I don't know why it takes me so long to get these book reviews up! It's a real problem when I read a book 3 months ago and can barely remember the details I wanted to share about them. For quicker, more 'real time' reviews you have to follow over on Instagram

Recent Reads #15 1| September 2021

Friday, September 10, 2021

Currently, I'm reading book number 70 for the year! I can hardly believe it. Especially because I barely made it to 40 books in 2020. If I keep this up, I may be on track for 100 books this year. 😲 If I were to have purchased every single book I've read in 2021 at full price, I think it's safe to say I would have spent over $700 on reading material. And, that's crazy. 

How I Save Money on Books

Monday, August 30, 2021

I hesitate to share this room, because I feel that it is very much still a work in progress. But, I am just tickled with how it's going, so I had to share! Upstairs, we have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. One of these rooms we knew would be a guest room, and the other an office. 

New House Tour: My Office & Guest Room

Thursday, August 26, 2021

It's been awhile since I've done a weekly diary! So, this post contains pictures from more than one week. I'm sure you don't mind. It's been a strange couple of weeks since our move, but it's my goal going forward to be more proactive about documenting our week. 

Weekly Diary #9.2021

Monday, August 23, 2021

Did you know I started blogging in the early 2010s with a food blog?! As a new wife, I was trying to learn to cook for two, and started documenting the meals we loved. I never dreamed I'd ever have a kitchen like this to cook in!

New House Tour: The Kitchen

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Thank you so much to Smile Brilliant for sending me this set of Ultrasonic toothbrushes and for sponsoring the giveaway at the end of this post! Blog Disclosure.

We are officially moved into our new house! I'm kicking off our new home tour today with the master bathroom. Starting with this room because, honestly, it's the only room that's "done" and completely unpacked! I don't do well with our house in chaos but, it's so nice to have this sanctuary totally set up. 

New Home Tour: Master Bathroom with Smile Brilliant (& GIVEAWAY!)

Monday, August 9, 2021

If you've been around here any length of time, you know my love of Erin Condren notebooks! I've used their planners too, although I'm not currently. Last month, EC announced a brand new collection...Star Wars! I knew as soon as I saw the announcement I'd be spending a lot of money. 😂

What We Got From The Star Wars Erin Condren Collection

Thursday, August 5, 2021

If you enjoy my 'Recent Reads' posts, then I know you'll love this new project of mine! I started a Bookstagram. This account will be completely dedicated to my love of reading! I'm just getting started, but you will be able to find reviews and suggestions for what to read next.

I Started A Bookstagram!

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Blake's parents have a timeshare in West Palm (specifically on Singer Island) that we all visit every summer. The whole reason they invested in it was so that we could all go together and have one big family vacation every year. The past few years haven't lent themselves to the whole family going, and that was especially true in 2020.  So that made this year's trip especially sweet! 

My favorite part about this type of trip is that there are no decisions to be made. Besides the big one: beach or pool?! This year was no different and we loved soaking up the sun and taking turns cooking dinner each evening. There were many many card games played too! 

Here's a bunch of pictures from the week: 




















If you asked me a few months ago, I would never have guessed that we'd be going on a week long vacation in the middle of moving! It was so nice to forget about our ginormous to-do list at home and disconnect. But, reality is upon us and we are officially moving this week! It's a good thing I got some rest in at the beach, because I don't think I will be sitting down for the next 7 days. 

Leave a comment below and tell me if you have a vacation tradition? Do you get to do anything annually with family? 

A few beach favorites:


-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Scenes from Singer Island

Monday, July 26, 2021

I've blogged before about my favorite place to get essential oils, and if you want to read that post click here! But, *essentially* (see what I did there?) Revive is a great place to get quality essential oils without the MLM format. I've been ordering from them for awhile now, and haven't been disappointed yet. 

One thing I hadn't tried was their quarterly/seasonal subscription box. Until I saw the preview of the summer scents, and then I immediately added it to my cart! Here's what was in the box, and my thoughts on the selection:


Ruby Red Grapefruit 

Grapefruit might be my all time favorite EO. It's so simple, sweet and delicious. The Ruby Red version is no exception. In fact it's more intense and strong-which for me was a huge winner! 

Roasted Coconut

Okay, this was the oil that made me buy this box. I absolutely love coconut scents, so I was super eager to try this one. Not gunna lie, this is not what I was hoping for/expecting. It's much more of a roasted, baked smell, rather than the tropical coconut flavor. It's still nice though!  

Road Trip

My unexpected fave! This is just SO good. It's like a creamcicle. Perfect mix of citrus and vanilla. 
Blend of: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Sandalwood, Lavender, Vanilla, Magnolia, Mandarin, and Lemon

Tropical Paradise

Perfectly named! This blend is tropical with a mix of floral that makes you feel like you are at a tropical resort. So nice and summery! 
Blend of: Lime, Tangerine, Ginger, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Lemon Myrtle and Copaiba

Mojito

This smells exactly like you'd expect! Minty and sweet! Fair warning, it'll make you want a cold drink. 
Blend of: Lime, Grapefruit, Tangerine, and Spearmint

Healthy Hair

This is such an exciting product for me to try! I haven't yet, but I'm looking forward to it. It's formulated to support your hair quality and promote growth. 
Blend of: Rosemary, Lavender, Cedar, Thyme, Peppermint, Geranium, Tea Tree, Lemongrass and carrier oils. 

I'd love to share my $10 off coupon with you! I used this and got my box for less than $40. Plus, Revive offers free shipping with all orders, and that is just the best. 
-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Revive Essential Oils Summer 2021 Subscription Box

Monday, July 19, 2021

Blake got a job in my hometown of Tallahassee, and we are officially relocating! Gosh, this has been such a journey. We sold our house a year ago, and have been renting with the intention of relocating in the mean time. It was nice that he got to job hunt slowly and eventually found what he thinks is a great fit. Throw a crazy housing market on top of that, and well, it's been a bit stressful the last few months.

We're Moving! (Again!!!) | Empty House Tour

Monday, July 12, 2021

Another very random list of reads to share with you from this past month! Honestly, a lot of 'just okays' and a few I didn't make this list because I didn't finish. But, a couple of good ones too.

Recent Reads #14 | June 2021

Monday, June 28, 2021

This trip truly felt like the kick off to summer! Blake and I spent the weekend in Apalachicola, which is one of my favorite places. It's a small, coastal town that's pretty undeveloped. But, it still has great shops, restaurants, boutique hotels and a really great brewery. Let's keep that between us, because we'd like it to stay that way! 

St. George Island is just over a bridge, and holds so many memories for my family! This getaway was just what the doctor ordered. The water was clear, and the crowds were light. It did rain part of the day on Saturday but that didn't damper our time at all.

Just thought I'd share a few pictures and a fun video I put together of our weekend:








By far the best part of our weekend was sneaking away at 2 am to the State Park beach for some nighttime photography! This is a new hobby for Blake, but I was super happy to join him just to star gaze. We saw dozens of shooting stars and it was truly awe inspiring to see the Milky Way that vividly. It was hard to get out of bed, but totally worth it! He took like 4,000 pictures, but I'll share my favorite! 


A few of our favorite Apalach and SGI spots:
The Franklin at The Gibson Inn

Leave a comment below and tell me where your favorite beach is! Have you ever star gazed by the ocean? Do you like oysters? I love them, but it seems like a love or hate thing for most people.

-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

Weekend in Apalachicola FL

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Happy Monday everyone! Gosh, it's been a *week*. I'll be honest, I'm not on my game and feeling super off. My anxiety has been really bad, so I'm hoping to reset this week. A few good things though:

We got an exercise bike!

Like the rest of the world, while under lockdown, home work outs became really crucial. We really wanted to get an exercise bike, but we were divided on what to get. Plus, we knew we'd be moving and didn't want to get a giant bike we'd have trouble relocating. 

Weekly Diary #8.2021

Monday, June 7, 2021

I was going through our order history on Amazon recently, and had to laugh at how random it was! But, isn't that the best part about Amazon? Being able to find literally anything you could possibly want on one website. While I was scrolling, I thought, wow there are actually some really good finds in here. So, I thought I'd share what we've gotten from Amazon recently today!

Recent Amazon Purchases

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

One of my favorite things about where we live are the amazing fields of wild flowers that pop up in April and May! Some years these fields are literally glowing with neon yellow and purple flowers! Blake and I had a date night Sunday and we happily made a pit stop to frolic.







I've been loving loose, comfy dresses this past year! Especially because with right accessories, it looks like you put forth effort even though it requires very little. Sad to say this particular J Crew dress is sold out, but they have several similar styles! I know I will get a lot of wear out of this one. Plus...pockets!

Also, after a lifetime of buying cheapy $5 Walmart sunglasses, I'm super excited to have my first pair of 'nice' sunglasses. The price is so good. I upgraded to the polarized lens, and they are fantastic. Picture seeing these flowers with polarized glasses-it made it even more stunning. (And don't forget to use Rakuten if you shop with Eye Buy Direct for cash back!)
 


-Kristen

This post contains affiliate and referral links! | Blog Disclosure

A Favorite Spring and Summer Dress

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

When buying gifts, I find it's so much easier to come up with ideas for women than men! In fact, when it comes to buying presents for my husband Blake, I end up stalking his Amazon wishlist. The guy is super particular, and knows what he likes and does not like. When I asked him what his favorite thing was, he said his phone. So, that's what I'm working with. 😂 I've compiled a list of some of his favorite things that might help you out if you are looking for a gift for a special guy in your life. 

Blake's Favorite Things | Gift Ideas for Guys!

Monday, May 10, 2021

It's basically summer! As much as I love fall and winter fashion, give me all the sunshine! I feel like I come alive when the time changes and I get Vitamin D straight from the sky. We haven't been to the beach yet, but we have been able to go out boating and I've really been enjoying reading outside with the pugs. They love it too! 

Weekly Diary #7.2021

Thursday, May 6, 2021

After turning 30, I really started to think about the fact that I was still wearing old tee shirts and gym shorts to bed. That's not exactly the sophisticated married woman I thought I'd be, ya' know? 😂 I made it a goal to accrue 'real' pajamas and boy did that start something. I'm now officially obsessed with cute pajamas. My favorite kinds are short sets. I live in Florida and it's just too hot to wear anything else most of the year. Today I am sharing a couple of sets I'm loving!

Favorite Short Pajama Sets

Monday, May 3, 2021

Oh boy, do I have a random list of books for you guys today. My reading tastes are all over the map, so this is actually a pretty good picture of the variety of books I read! So excited to share that I've got more than one 5 star book for you today.

Recent Reads #13 | April 2021

Monday, April 26, 2021

Gah, didn't mean to take like an entire month off of blogging, but here we are! Just wanted to pop in to say hi and that I'm still around! 

This past month I've been doing a little resting and reprioritizing. But, also a whole lot of nothing. Which is a good thing! Sometimes there is beauty in the mundane. 

Checking In!

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Meal kit deliveries are such a little luxury! We typically find they are on the more expensive side, but definitely worthwhile in busy seasons. Our spring is the definition of a busy season! With so much on our plates, we decided to try out a meal kit to keep 'what's for dinner' off the mental load. 

Green Chef Review

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Happy Friday everyone! This is the face of a girl who was shipping out her 500th Etsy order! Such an exciting milestone to reach. My shop is currently on hiatus for a few weeks while I focus on some studying and subsequently avoiding burnout. Gotta know when to rest right? 

Weekly Diary #6.2021

Friday, March 12, 2021

Words fail to express how ecstatic I am to finally have completed our living room! When we moved last November, we sold the majority of our living room furniture. You can see what our former living room looked like here. Our couches were worn out and we felt like it was time for an upgrade. Honestly, it took weeks for us to agree on what we wanted. It's hard to start fresh! It's almost like there are too many options. But, as soon as we saw the Timber couch from Article we were both sold!

Our Living Room Tour | Article Timber Sofa Review

Monday, March 1, 2021

Another weekly diary for you! I've been feeling very busy recently, but it's still surprises me how different this kind of busy feels than it used to a year ago. A year ago we had our 10 year anniversary party! It was truly the last event we've been to. So strange! 

Weekly Diary #5.2021

Monday, February 22, 2021

I'm going to have to write this Recent Reads a bit differently this time! I have been reading an absurd amount, so there is no way I can go as in depth for each book. Blake got me a new Kindle for our anniversary this year, so I've been reading up a storm! I had one, but this is a new version and it's so much faster and comfortable to use. (If you are in the market, highly recommend the Paperwhite!)

Recent Reads #12

Monday, February 15, 2021

Does anyone else feel like January takes so long?! I'm not sure why, but it always seems like the longest month ever. February is one of my favorite months of the year, so maybe that's why it feels that way.

Here's what we've been up to! 

Weekly Diary #4.2021

Monday, February 8, 2021

There were a few weeks in 2020 when I didn't even need a purse, because we weren't going anywhere! 
I got a 'new' bag last fall, one that I had my eye on for a long time. And now that we are out and about a bit more, I realized how happy I am with this purchase. 

Fossil has always been a favorite brand of mine. This style of bag is perfect for me because of the crossbody strap, and all the pockets. Plus the mix of brown and black means it matches just about everything! 

What's In My Purse

Monday, February 1, 2021

Happy Monday everyone! Things have been very much the new normal for us this past week. Blake has been working from home a lot again and I love having him around. We both had the day off last Monday for MLK day, so we decided to get out of the house and go for a little adventure. 

Florida Caverns State Park

Mariana, FL

About 2 hours away from us is an amazing State Park. I went on multiple field trips here as a kid, but hadn't been in years. I knew Blake would love seeing the caverns.

Weekly Diary #3.2021

Monday, January 25, 2021

At the end of the year I found my self order multiple times from Old Navy! Between Black Friday sales and the extra cash you get back...I felt like we had Old Navy packages on our porch for days! (It doesn't help that they seem to ship every item separately!?) 

His & Hers Old Navy Haul (My fav winter jeans!)

Monday, January 18, 2021

Sharing a peak into my week: 

Work, Work and More Work

I promise I'm not complaining that I have a job! But, I feel like all I ever do anymore is work! It's amazing how when I started working mostly from home the lines of business hours blurred. I find myself working on my laptop in the evenings, something I never would have done before WFH. 

Weekly Diary #2.2021

Thursday, January 14, 2021

So excited to report that I reached my Goodreads goal of reading 40 books in 2020! I barely made it, finishing the last one on December 31st. And it was so bad, I normally would have given up on it but felt obligated to finish it so I wouldn't be one short! It's been about 2 months since I last wrote a Recent Reads post, so this might get long, but I know I have multiple 5 star books to share.

Recent Reads #11

Monday, January 11, 2021

Blake and I ventured out to the mall to get new running shoes! I purchased a pair of Brooks last year before my half marathon and loved them so much that I got another pair this year. Blake recently started running with me, so we got him fitted for a pair as well. He did a whole foot analysis at Fit2Run and it was very helpful! Interestingly he ended up in the same pair I got (just in men's). 

Weekly Diary #1.2021

Monday, January 4, 2021


Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

Follow me on Instagram