January Jams

Just a little list of what filled my playlist this month,

and probably the weirdest mix you'll see...

Lonely Call - Raelynn

This One's for you - Luke Combs

No Limit - gEazy ft ASAP Rocky & Cardi B

As Lovers Go - Dashboard Confessional

Prayer of the Refugee - Rise Against

 I Fall Apart- Post Malone

Diane - Cam

Tuxedo - Clare Dunn

Amelia Jean - Jack's Mannequin 

Miss Murder - AFI

Bored to Death - Blink 182

Five Tattoos - Ella Henderson

Angela - The Lumineers

( and really anything else by them...)

What have y'all been singing in the car?

Let me know!

Until then, 

-K

January favorites 💕

Hi lovelies, 

I’ve got way too much stuff to talk about to compose and intro for y’all,
so let’s just jump into it. 

Your girl absolutely raided the bath and body works semi annual sale,
just FYI. If you didn’t, you need to prep for the next one.
I found some of my new absolute favorite products there,
and for super cheap. 

- Snowy Morning shower gel (price after sale $3)

This smells like  heaven, and it isn’t heavily scented like Christmas.
The notes are: frosted bergamot,
mistletoe berry, and snow kissed lavender....
which I mean who really knows what any of those smell like,
but all mashed together, they make an amazing combo.

- White body spray and Rose Body spray ($3.50 after sale)

Both of these took me by surprise.
I purchased the rose spray first,
pretty much because of the packaging,
and fell in love.
I love floral perfumes,
just so long as I don’t smell like the inside of a funeral home.
This one is light and easy to wear.
White is absolutely out of this world.
It smells kind of like dolce and gabbana light blue,
which is why I think it’s quickly become my everyday scent. 

New drugstore must haves...

that honestly left me wondering

where the hell I've been for the last year: 

- Airspun loose face powder ($5.97 Walmart)

Again I say...WHERE HAVE I BEEN.
I’ve never really jumped on the “baking” makeup bandwagon,
but it really truly helps your makeup stay in place all day.
This powder isn’t heavy,
and doesn’t leave you looking like you actually baked
and covered your face in flour.
I’m obsessed.

- Maybelline Big Shot Colassal Mascara ($6.99 Target)



I'm super picky when it comes to mascara,
and up until recently I couldn't find one that
with just a coat or two would create volume and length
without looking gross.
This is such a good formula, and doesn't budge all day.
I have stubby lashes,
and this truly makes them look long and thicc with 2 c's.

- Dove Dermacare scalp Anti dandruff shampoo ($4.99 Target)




I love Dove shampoo anyway,
but in the winter when your scalp gets a little too oily, or too dry,
this shampoo  does the trick without making your hair feel striped.
I know, a dandruff shampoo favorite?
But hell yeah.
This shit is amazing, and smells great too.

What have you been loving this month?
Let me know!

Until then,
K.

Let’s talk about it: weight loss surgery

So, honestly,  I never thought I would be writing something like this. It’s probably going to be a bit ramble-y but I mean so are all my other posts so wtf else is new. 

My mind is jumbled so if I jump back and forth with thoughts, please forgive me. 

I’ve decided to take a huge step and actively pursue the journey that is weight loss surgery. My weight has gotten out of hand, and I feel like I am no longer in control of my body, and that scares me. I’ve taken the first steps in my journey to changing my life for the better and for that I’m proud of myself, for noting the problem, and for trying to make a change. Depending on insurance, and doctors, I’ll have a date soon. 

I made this page initially to talk about makeup tips and tricks, and it turned into a body positivity page, and I love it. I’ve talked about ups and downs and struggles and I’ve met so many people who feel similar to the way I do about being plus sized. I see nothing wrong with it. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Your curves are yours to love. Once I saw my health and mental health taking a turn, I decided I needed a change, and a big one at that. I will always continue to push people to work on loving themselves first. 

The crazy thing is, I’ve never been “skinny” or “average” when it comes to weight. I have no idea what I will look like, or feel like, and that’s something that has played with my head a lot lately. I’m just ready to be able to run. I want to grow old. I want to be able to breathe. I want to watch my someday nieces and nephews and goddaughter and cousins grow up. And I want to travel with the love of my life and not have to worry about breaking chairs. It’s little things that some people never think about that have became my life. Stupid things. Like clothing. Which my life revolves around as a person with a bachelors in fashion. It’s just mind blowing to think about really. 

I’m looking forward to using my blog to document my path through this, and I promise I won’t turn into an annoying health guru. 

If you have had any type of bariatric surgery, I’d love to hear about it, as I’m very nervous going into this thing. Feel free to comment or email or comment on my social media’s. 

I love you all and I can’t wait to see how things change.

X,

Kristen. 

2018.

Well, hello there everyone.

I'd like to start by wishing everyone a very happy new year,
and I hope that y'all had a great holiday season.
Each year I've posted right after the new year a bit of a reflection
and a bit of what I hope is to come in these next 11 months.

2017 was a weird year, right?
It was full of tragedy, awful politics, and fucked up weather.
But, it was also full of movement.
And I think that it's really important to focus on that.
There was such a feeling of change in the air,
between protests, marches, and powerful people letting their
opinions flow freely. It shows that we are not stuck.
Watching #nomore and #timesup take over the internet
was so incredible, and I am so proud of the women who are
changing our country.

Personally, 2017 was a year of change as well. I've seen myself growing in a way that I really hadn't before. I'm still an absolute mess, but I'm talking about growth that can't be seen in person. Mentally the year was tough. I "deal" with anxiety daily. Some days are fine, and others I can't seem to pull myself out of "it." I've began putting a voice behind these struggles and asking for help, which is something I've never done. Put yourself first for once. Anxiety and depression are extremely serious and shouldn't be toyed with. You're allowed to ask for help.

I've also been on a path to a better me, which I'm planning on writing another post on completely. But I can't wait to finally grow into the best version of myself.

I hope you've given yourself time to relax and enjoy the season.
I can't wait to see what 2018 has to hold for all of us.

All of my love, and wishes for the best.

-K.

Thoughts from 28,000 feet.

Hi lovelies,

I'm currently somewhere inbetween Long Island, and Baltimore, about 30,000ft above land. I've been on a plane many times, but each time seems different. I don't know how people could not stare out the window the entire time, as I do. I understand fears and anxieties about flying, and trust me, ya girl always feels them as I'm about to take off or land, but the thing is, flying above the clouds is something beyond what my mind can process. 

       

For 20 years my feet had never left the northeast. Now I'm casually traveling 800 miles back to Charlotte. It's just a bizarre thing that comes with growing up. But these clouds y'all, I could cry. It's the most incredible thing, every single time. It just gives me hope. I'm clinging to my dreams right now with every fiber of my being, so any little bits of strength that I can receive from the sky are appreciated greatly. There's something that gives me a push up here. I'm ready to go back to my southern comfort zone and get my life back. 

I just figured I'd do a little post, and maybe give y'all some Saturday motivation. It's time to put my phone down now and enjoy this view.

Thank you everyone again for flying along with me through my journey. Your support means the world to me.

Love always,

K. 

Las Vegas.

Hello lovelies,

I planned on writing a review today, but I can't bring myself to do so, because these past two days have been so incredibly heavy. As all of us know now, 59 innocent lives were stolen, and over 500 people have been reported hospitalized  in Las Vegas on October the 1st at the Route 91 harvest festival, a country music event. 

    I come to you today, offering a safe place to write how you're feeling, because I myself have no words to convey my condolences to those who were partaking in one of the best parts of life, music. Being able to see some of your favorite performers is thrilling, it is life changing, and it should be fun. For those at the festival, life definitely has changed. As many have been saying, my thoughts and prayers are absolutely with the victims and families of this senseless crime. 

     I don't want to talk politics, because I am not well informed about the laws governing gun regulations. I want people to be able to openly express how they are feeling in this time. Last year, I dedicated a post to those who lost their lives in Orlando during the Pulse Nightclub shooting, and it was a way for me to convey my thoughts. I am scared. We live in an extremely dangerous time. A time where someone, in a matter of minutes, has changed American history forever, for the worse. 

    Living in the south had been a dream of mine for a bit of time. Living here has giving me the ability to go and see country music artists who I have loved, in both indoor and outdoor arenas. We should not have to be afraid to go into those places. It is extremely unnerving to be seeing what has happened, and knowing that if that was here in North Carolina, it could have been my friends, it could have been my family. Knowing that it can, and does happen anywhere, is terrifying.

     But we cannot let a mad man decide to take over our day to day life, and our futures. Let your voices be heard. Speak out, tell people how you are feeling about Las Vegas. I salute those first responders, brave concert goers, law enforcement and all those who helped during the tragedy. Tell your families, friends, and loved ones what they mean to you on a constant basis. If you believe in God, or a higher being, pray for those who lost their lives, and those who are now living with the memories of what occurred that night.

            

Las Vegas, my heart is with you today and always. I pray for solice and comfort for those impacted in the upcoming days, months, and years. 

All of my love,

 

Kristen. 

Cooking with Kristen; comfort.

Hello there loves,

So if you know me, you probably read that caption and either laughed or got very nervous. I'm not a chef, and I'm pretty terrible at cooking to say the least. BUT I can cook a few things, and I've discovered one more this week that I made and didn't die/actually fell in love with.

Being far away from home and family really sucks sometimes, and ya girl needed some good comfort food to pick herself up. My mom used to always make huge pots of soup, and I loved every single one of them. So I decided to make a big pot of chicken noodle soup, and let me tell ya, this shit is good for the soul.

(I'm Italian, and  I don't know how to cook for one person, so this made about 4 pint containers worth of soup, good for freezing.)

Ingredients:

1 4 pound whole dryer chicken

5 large carrots

2 large yellow onions

5 celery stalks

5 cups water

2 cans chicken stock

4 boullion cubes

1 packet Bag and Bake chicken seasoning (mccormicks)

Dried parsley

Dried thyme

Dried oregano

Black pepper

Salt

Seems like a shit ton of stuff, but it's really easy.

Step one: 

Make sure to take the gizzards out of your chicken(without puking) cut down the chicken into pieces. Into the biggest damn pot you have, add in your water, chicken pieces, and boullion cubes over high heat. Chop one of your onions into quarters and throw it in there as well. 

Step two:

I think the main reason why this stock was so good is because of the shitload of seasoning I added into it. By eye, add in your parsley, which I love a ton of, s&p, oregano, thyme, and bagged seasoning. Put a lid on that bitch and let it boil. 

Step three:

Peel and chop your celery, other onion, and carrots into small pieces and add to a large sauce pan, and turn on medium. To that, I added in one can of chicken broth, and brought up to a simmer. I let this cook for a good bit of time, because I prefer my veggies in my soup to be more on the mushy side as gross as that sounds. This takes about 20 minutes. Once to your consistency, put to the side. 

Step four:

After about an hour over high heat, check your chicken and ensure that it is boiled to perfection. Remove fat from the top of the stock with a spoon and toss in the garbage. Remove chicken from stock and let it relax for a few minutes before cutting. In the meantime, I removed the large pieces of onion from the chicken pot and made sure there was no skin or bones left in the pot. Remove chicken from the bones, and cut into chunks. I like my soup to be hearty, but it's up to you how you'd like it cut. 

Step five:

Once all of your chicken is chopped, place back into stock, and add in your celery, carrots, and onions. Add in one can of broth, and one can of water to your stock, and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Now, you can add in noodles, or rice, or whatever you'd like! 

As I said, I'm no chef, but this is how I made my chicken soup, and I think it was delish. What tips of tricks do you have to the perfect soup?

 Let me know.