7 Stores That Give Back

While I'm writing this, the *super big* Nordstrom sale just went live. I love seeing everyone's picks and getting a peek at what my friend's have purchased. All of this shopping got me thinking - can we shop and give back at the same time? After doing some research, the answer is YES. Today, I'm showcasing seven stores that consistently give to good causes. If you shop at a retailer that gives back to their local community or other causes, drop the name of the retailer and website, if applicable, in a comment below! ... read more

Recipe: Potato and Cheese Pierogis

Believe it or not, the first time I ever had pierogis was when I tried making them from scratch. The first recipe I found had said to boil them and maneuver the dough in silly ways. After much trial and error (and delicious experimentation), I have perfected my recipe for potato pierogis. I hope you find this recipe easy to follow and encouraging to try making pierogis from scratch in your own kitchen. ... read more

3-Ingredient Drinks: Sangria

During the summer growing up, my mom would invite her friends and their families over, whip together a few yummy looking dip trays and mix up a big pitcher of sangria. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be an adult because their beverages had fruit inside of them. Silly or not, drinking a beverage with fruit in it is super fun and playful - as all things should be in the summertime. Today, I'm sharing my favorite way to mix up a pitcher of sangria as well as offering additional fruit combinations and additions. You'll want to save this post for later, I promise. ... read more

When to Buy Organic Produce

In the last 8 or so years, the talk of organic foods has seen a sharp increase in popular culture. Since its initial emergence into pop culture, talk of organic vs. non-organic foods has died down, but that doesn't mean understanding the difference doesn't matter. As I've taken control of buying my own groceries and heavily focusing my diet on fresh foods, I have become more curious about what 'eating organic' actually means. Today, I'm sharing what I've learned about when to buy organic produce and when it's not so important. ... read more

How to Save Money on Books + My Book Recommendations

This post contains affiliate and referral links. Thank you for supporting this blog! When I was in middle school, I proudly read through the young adult section in my local library. Since then, my interest in reading hasn't been nearly as persistent. As I was finishing out my college career a few months ago, I finally started picking up books to read for pleasure and I'm so glad I did. One thing that has changed since I was thirteen is the price of books. I'm currently trying to save as much money as I can before we move and buying multiple books is not in the cards. Today, I'm going to be sharing with you how I've been able to save money while reading new books and share some of my ... read more

101 in 1001 Check-in #4

Welcome back to another installment of "Let's see how much progress Kristine has made on this list of goals she wrote two years ago." Yes, ladies and gents I'm talking about the 101 in 1001. If you're not familiar with this list, it's a list of 101 goals you want to complete in 1001 days. Sounds good, right? At the end of the post, I share a little bit of why I've been struggling. Without further ado, here's my progress. ... read more

Why You Need to be Intentional With Your Words

In reading the title of the this post, perhaps you are wondering why I'd bother writing about a topic that may seem obvious to some: the weight and meaning that words carry. It seems like every day we are hearing of more instances that someone's behavior and/or actions created a feeling of chaos. My goal for this post is to show you how words can also have the opposite effect. I truly believe that for as much as words can hurt and tear someone down, they serve a much better purpose: to teach, soothe and heal. I want to show you how to be intentional with your words. ... read more

My Favorite Inexpensive Wines for a Night In

Whether you're having guests over for a finger food party or you and your best friend are spending the night watching your favorite romcoms, the right bottle of wine makes even the most run-of-the-mill experiences a little bit more special. One of Tuck and I's favorite pastimes is flipping through HBO, finding a movie and enjoying that time together on the couch (bonus points if it's a Disney movie or Harry Potter). As we're both homebodies, these movie nights led to us discovering some of our favorite inexpensive wines. Continue to check back to this post over the next few months as we continue to discover new favorite wines that will get added to this list! ... read more

Recipe: Fried Pickles

My fried pickle recipe is probably my most-requested recipe. I first had these fried beauties years and years ago. They are both one of Tuck and I's favorite (if not the favorite) appetizers and we order them at every restaurant that has them. After refusing to buy them 3 days a week, we looked up a recipe because "How hard could they be to make?" Not hard at all. Here is my tried and true recipe for the most delicious fried pickles ever. ... read more

How to Beat Anxiety Caused By An Interview

I have written many a post about how to prepare for a job interview by preparing your resume, doing research about the company, etc. Today’s post is taking a slightly different approach to preparing for an interview. For the last two interviews I’ve had, I felt like I was prepared in terms of the information I had about the company and understanding how to leverage my qualifications, but I was anxious. As I’ve gotten older, my anxiety has begun to manifest itself in a much more intense way than I’m accustomed to – hives, nausea and migraines. In an effort to calm my nerves, I have found a few things that make me feel better. After doing these things, I feel more at ease and ready to take on ... read more