Why Girls Are Weird

American Home™ by Yankee Candle

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 09:20:00 +0000

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveAmericanHome #CollectiveBias

I love to drive. When I finally had a car at my disposal I discovered my love of driving, especially for pleasure, and I did it often. My second year of college I moved home for a year and my parents sold me their Pontiac Sunfire. I drove that thing all over the place, discovering new places I hadn't been before and blasting whatever music I needed to listen to - whether I was having boy troubles or just wanted something fun and happy.

Now that I work in the same town that I live and I only have a five minute commute I spend a little less time in my car, but when I am using the beautiful Kia Amanti that was a gift from my grandma not only do I want to have the perfect music picked out but I also want my car to smell good.

Have you ever picked up a pizza to bring home and the next day you get into your car and all you smell is old pizza? Yeah, that's the worst. Which is why I love the Yankee Candle® car fragrance products, including the Smart Scent Vent Clips and the Car Jar Ultimate. The items, which come in a variety of yummy fragrances, will help transform your car and keep it smelling delish for your short (or long) commutes.

I'm totally all about using fragrance to create a memory or a mood and why not also use fragrance to create memories and moods in your car. I know some of you have long commutes or, like me, you love to use your cars to go for a long drive. In addition to some good tunes why not some good fragrances in your car as well?

If you're like me and you LOVE Yankee Candle then you need to get your hand on some car fragrances from American Home™ by Yankee Candle. Simply head over to your local Walmart and find them in the Auto Fragrance section. At under $5 each you're going to want to stock up so you never have to worry about running out and with a great variety to choose from your car is always going to smell good.

What are you waiting for?

How do you keep your car smelling great?

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My 12-hour Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:24:00 +0000

Disclosure: Although I have been compensated for this post all opinions are my own.

Can anyone else believe how quickly summer is going by? I swear that winter always seems to last so long but summer? It's gone in the blink of an eye. I suppose that's like a lot of good things in life. The things you look forward to always go by so fast. If we had them for too long we probably wouldn't cherish them as much.

I've never been a very adventurous girl. I like to play it safe, not flirt with danger. When my brother and I were kids he was the one doing crazy flips from a raft into the lake and learning how to water ski and doing insane moves. I was okay with tubing as long as I wasn't pulled out of the wake. I don't like to take my chances because who knows what could happen?

When I heard about Caribou Coffee's 12-hour adventure prompt I tried to think about what my summer adventure would look like. No matter what I'm doing I like to make sure I'm fully caffeinated and as a Midwest girl that caffeine has to come from Caribou Coffee. They've got a wide variety of premium cold drinks to discover and explore and I gotta say I am a cold coffee drinker.

I've always been a fan of Caribou Coffee's cold press and when I found out they created a new drink called Crafted Press, which is the perfect way to fuel your every day adventures, I knew I had to get my hands on one. It comes in different flavors and it's light and delicious, perfect for a hot summer day.

This yummy drink takes twelve hours to steep and that got Caribou Coffee thinking... "what motivates you for 12 hours?"

As I said, I'm not the adventurous type. But I do love the little things in life and when I need a little 12 hour motivation, whether it's for going to Minneapolis to play at the Sculpture Garden or I'm hanging out in Hudson by the river, having a yummy lunch and then strolling by the waterside, maybe doing a little shopping before taking in a movie, I look to Caribou Coffee. My body needs that caffeine kick to keep me going all day long.

Whether you're going on a big adventure or a little adventure it doesn't really matter. But before you can blink summer is going to be over for yet another year. So whatever it is you're wanting to do, you better get it in fast! Be sure that whatever summer adventure awaits you that you're indulging in a delicious, cold drink from Caribou Coffee to keep you energized.

Want to try a Crafted Press out for yourself? Sign up for Caribou Perks from the mobile app and fill out an optional survey. Trust me, you'll want to try this drink!

Tell me, what does your 12-hour adventure look like?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Caribou Coffee.

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Have A Safe Summer with U by Kotex®

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Summer. It's about having fun, being carefree, and not worrying during those long summer days and those short summer nights. Whether your summer involves adventures (road trips, visiting new places, maybe doing something daring) or relaxing (hanging out by the pool, grabbing coffee with friends, maybe spending the evening on a restaurant patio with friends) the last thing you need is your period ruining your plans.

For me summer means lazy days by the pool. A cold drink in one hand, a book in the other, a cute swimsuit on, and sunglasses in my face. And in the evening all I want is to be hanging out on the screened in porch with my sweetie watching movies and lounging.

Which is why I definitely do not have time to deal with that time of the month.

If summer is three months long and you're period comes once a month for about a week that means 3 wasted summer weeks.

Unless you have U by Kotex® Security* Ultra Thin Pads and U by Kotex® CleanWear® Ultra Thin Pads. I know, I know, who wants to talk about their period when there are summer barbecues to go to? But wouldn't you rather be safe and dry? If so, then you need to check these out. They're ultra thin and the XPress DRI cover offers super fast absorption to help stop leaks. So for those three weeks of summer that you have to deal with your period you know that you won't be ruining any cute undies or having any embarrassing moments.

I wouldn't be posting about this brand if I didn't think it was the best, but Aunt Flo and I have been together for quite awhile now and this is the brand that I trust.

If you haven't tried U by Kotex® yet now is your chance! Simply click any of the links in today's post and get a free sample. And I promise you that once you've tried this brand you're not going to want to go back.

So save summer and don't worry about your period bringing you down. Get U by Kotex® today and enjoy every single summer day (and summer night).

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Treat Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 09:13:00 +0000

You know what's funny? I'm writing this post the day after a job loss post where I said "curb your spending"! I promise I'm not going on shopping sprees or losing my mind. But Iz DOES have a new job so although we tightened our reins a little bit we don't have to eat Ramen later. No worries friends.

Anyway. I am one of those people that will talk myself out of buying something only to turn around the next week and drop money like I just won the lottery. It's ridiculous. But I tell myself I need clothes when really I should be investing in things that work for my body and soul.

What do I mean? Rather than buy yet ANOTHER new dress maybe you should...

Get a massage

I just got my first ever professional massage last week after dealing with lower back and shoulder pain for several years. Literally I walked out of there so blissed out I'm surprise I found my car okay. And now I believe I didn't start getting massages sooner. It's an amazing time to relax, invest in yourself, and if you work a job like I do you can make sure that pretty body of yours is in tip top shape.

Take a staycation

Sometimes you need some you time, or spouse time, and a date night just is not good enough. Maybe take a few days off work, buy a ton of groceries, and stay in. Whether you're coupled up or happily single sometimes you just need a few days away from the world.

Buy yourself something great

I mean, if that means clothes because you never buy yourself new skirts then go for it. But put your money into something you've been longing for but don't let yourself have. For me that usually means something new for my home because I always convince myself it's not a necessity. But for you this could mean anything!

Take a class

Whether you've been meaning to get into yoga, you want to go paint something, or you got a new camera and want to learn to use it. Go do something to invest in YOU. Who cares if the money isn't going into savings. You're helping to pep yourself up with something fun and from time to time you just need that.

Journal

Blogging is great but I tell you, putting pen to paper is so therapeutic. And there's something special about writing down words that no one is going to see but you. I love blogging and can't imagine not sharing my life. But sometimes I need to make it even more personal and just for me.

Have a girls day

There is nothing like a day with your girl friends. Whether it's going to lunch, grabbing coffee, some retail therapy or anything in between. Having a day with the girls is sometimes just what you need to get back in touch with yourself and your favorite ladies.

How do you treat yourself?

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When Your Husband Has Been Laid Off

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:52:00 +0000

In February when Iz and I found out that there was a possibility that he could be laid off we tried to prepare ourselves. Unfortunately it's hard to prepare yourself for something that A) is only a maybe and B) you're sure won't actually happen.

As the day got closer we both convinced ourselves that there was no way he would be laid off. So when it happened it was such a shock to both of us.

I don't react well to change at all, especially not bad change. Being laid off is such a hard situation and I have to say I reacted pretty poorly.

How do you feel when your significant other is laid off?

You may feel like it's the end.

When Iz told me I felt as if the floor dropped out from under me. I can only imagine how he felt but having been through my own job loss before (which lent a hand towards my divorce) I freaked out and could not push back the feeling that everything was going to end and never, ever get better.

You may feel frustrated.

I was frustrated with him and with myself. I kept thinking we should have been better prepared, he should have just found another job in February and quit, something could have been done to prevent us from the horrible situation we suddenly found ourselves in.

You might get mad.

As soon as I caught my breath I wanted to hunt down Scott Walker, I wanted to hunt down the chancellor of the college Izzy worked for, I wanted to go after anyone I felt had anything to do with this. Being laid off is awful because as opposed to being fired chances are the person being laid off didn't actually do anything wrong, so it's hard not to be angry when they're losing their job over no wrong doing of their own.

I've even been mad at people I know voted for Scott Walker and those who support him. You want to find someone to blame so you can point your anger at a specific point.

You're going to feel envious.

Anyone who got to keep their job is fair game. You think to yourself, "How is it fair that my husband lost his job but they get to keep theirs." Why does there life get to continue the way it was and yours has been tipped upset down. When you're not feeling angry you're feeling envious.

What to do instead

It's hard not to wallow. But that won't really get you anywhere and chances are that if you're feeling bad your significant other is feeling worse. Here's a few things you can do instead.

Understand that it is not forever.

Yes, things may change but the job loss is not permanent. Get over that feeling that he will never find another job because it's just not true. Yes, it won't be the same but he will find work again.

Be open to change.

I am terrible with change, whether it's good or bad. But remember that there's a reason in the universe that this happened and it's probably to open you up to something new and to give you a new path. Maybe you can't see that right now but change happens to shake you up.

Find ways to bring in extra income.

As bloggers we know that this can be as simple as taking on new sponsors. As soon as I found out that Izzy may be laid off I started hustling. I told myself that even if his job was safe the extra money would pad our savings and if he did lose his job we'd have money put away to help us out.

Curb spending.

This is a no brainer but it's easier said than done. Nights out are fun but it's better to make dinner at home. You may want those new jeans but you have twelve other perfectly okay pairs already in your dresser drawers.

I love spending money but keep in mind that it may be time to tighten your belt a little bit. Again, it won't last forever.

Step outside the box.

Even though you have to curb spending that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Find new, creative, inexpensive ways to have date nights and remember, just because the income has changed doesn't mean life has to be dire. In fact, the best way to find a positive place is to do positive things.

I highly recommend movie marathon nights, indoor picnics, and looking around your neighborhood for free or inexpensive fun things to do. You might surprise yourself and find new activities that you love to do with your spouse.

Speak positively.

I am a selfish person and therefore I tend to think about myself before I think about anyone else. Once again, if you think this job loss is hurting you just think about what it's doing to your spouse.

Have conversations that help to lift him up. He's bound to be feeling low, lower than you even, and the best way to get things moving is to lift him up. I guarantee it will lift you up as well.

You're a team and when one of you is in a dark place it's the other's job to draw that person out. You know you'd want him to do the same thing if the roles were reversed.

I hope none of you have to ever go trough this situation. It's hard and can be very humbling. But if you find yourself in the position where your spouse has been laid off hopefully these tips will help to get you through it.

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Happy Friday V17.4

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 09:21:00 +0000

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. A fun work day

2. Getting my blog ready to move to the next level

3. A night out

4. Bachelor in Paradise

5. Porch living

6. Candelles

7. Popsicles

8. Taking Lives (such a good movie)

9. This

10. Getting a professional massage

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Thrill Me by Susan Mallery

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:20:00 +0000

From Goodreads: Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool's Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports.

Now ten years later, Maya's been hired to promote her hometown's new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward!

Although Del's not the type to hold a grudge, he's determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He's a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya's kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all…

What I thought: I love Susan Mallery. Her books draw you in right away, provide a good story with fun characters, and I love that this book is part of a series (although it can be read as a stand alone) so that I don't have to necessarily leave Fool's Gold right away.

This is the story of Maya and Del, who were once high school sweethearts until Maya ran. Then years later she comes back to town and suddenly she and Del are thrown together again.

On top of loving Maya and Del as main characters I also loved the less characters as well, especially Del's mom. And to top it off there is a very special four legged friend in this book who is mirrored after a real life four legged friend. Which of course made me ridiculously happy.

This book is sweet and sexy with fun characters and it's a great beach (or pool) read. Whether you're still enjoying summer or you're planning a big vacation you're going to want to bring Thrill Me and the whole Fool's Gold gang with you!

P.S. Today is the THIRD #AuthenticIntro on Instagram via #AuthenticBloggers! Come join in the fun!

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Why Short Hair Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 11:04:00 +0000

I have to say one of the big reasons I decided to chop my hair is because I was tired of wasting my time making it look pretty each day. Even the ponytail days seemed to take forever. Here's a few things I can spend more time doing now that I'm rockin' a pixie.

Read more: If you're not spending all that time straightening, curling, blow-drying your hair you can read more books! I don't know about you but I love having a little more time to read.

Making phone calls: Haven't talked to your best friend in awhile? Need to check in with your parents? Now you can take those 10 extra minutes and call someone you love.

Watching reality TV: Because who doesn't need more reality TV in their life?

Cleaning: Remember when you were running out the door and you thought "Ugh, I have people coming over tonight and my kitchen is a mess but I just don't have the time." Not that I love cleaning the kitchen but now? You've got more time to make it beautiful.

Blogging: Whether you need to write a post, chat on social media, email sponsors... now you've got a little more time to do that and be productive. Or you can spend the extra time browsing Pinterest because, you know, that's fun too!

What would YOU do with extra time?

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Quotes to Motivate

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 09:53:00 +0000

Sometimes we all just need a little motivation. If you're needing a little push today, I'm here to help. Happy Tuesday!

Have a wonderful day everyone, stay motivated!

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Currently {42}

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 09:36:00 +0000

Reading: One of the coolest things that have happened for me because of blogging is finding opportunities to work with authors. As soon who has loved reading for pretty much as long as I could read and who is loyal to particular authors it's hard not to freak out when an author contacts me to review one of their books. So when I was approached by two amazing authors (hi Christina George and S.L. Hannah!) to read their newest books I have to say I felt pretty amazing. Reviews on A Second Chance and The Need to come soon!

Thinking about: The changes I'll be making soon and in the future. The stuff coming up soon? I'm moving Why Girls Are Weird over to Wordpress with the help of an amazing woman who has been great at holding my hand. I'm a little nervous because I've heard Wordpress has a huge learning curve but I know it has to be done to grow this blog. And in the future? I can't stop thinking about moving out of Wisconsin and starting a new life, somewhere I've never lived in a part of the country I've never lived. It's scary and I'm sure the closer we get to it the more nervous I'll be. But we need change. And you only live once.

Listening: I've been working on writing and I like to listen to specific music to fit the mood of what I'm writing. Right now that's country music. I'm stuck on Jessie James Decker radio on Pandora (those that don't know Jessie James Decker, you should check her out) and kind of loving it. What can I say, sometimes you just need to listen to some country music!

Watching: Seriously if you have not watched the show UnREAL yet (it's on Lifetime) then you need to. It's a fictional story taken from The Bachelor and it is insane. I'm pretty sure my jaw drops every single time I watch it and I can't wait to see what happens in the finale! Iz and I are also pretty obsessed with Catfish. I swear those catfish get more and more nuts each season.

Loving: I'm loving that it's August and we're moving out from July. July has not been a good month for Iz and me and I just kind of wanted it to be over. I'm also loving that Iz and I will be giving back to the rescue where we got Emma (Good Karma Dog Rescue) by becoming foster parents. Good Karma is always looking for good fosters (if you're in the Minnesota metro and you're interested you should go check them out) and we love them so much we just wanted to help in any way we can.

So tell me, what's going on with you?

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Happy Friday V17.3

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 09:16:00 +0000

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. Coloring

2. Not Your Father's Root Beer

3. Taking bold steps

4. Finishing The Hunger Games

5. Have author contacts

6. Writing

7. Shopping with my mom

8. Starting a new Christina George novel

9. Being told by a random stranger that they love my dress

10. Saying goodbye to this bad month

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#MoreThanJustaRug with Wayfair & Home Dynamix

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:56:00 +0000

It's amazing how adding something, or moving it, or changing a color can completely change a room. I guess it's the same as when you change something about your own appearance - a hair color can completely change what you look like just like a rug can completely change how a room looks.

I never really realized what our living room was missing. I thought it was pretty complete - couches, coffee table, picture frames to fill up the fireplace mantle, a fancy new TV. Each night we sit in our living room and it looked pretty complete to me.

And then we added a Home Dynamix Tribeca rug from Wayfair. Originally we got it to put down in our bedroom because there is so much empty space. Unfortunately the colors just didn't work and I realize that the rug would go perfectly in our living room.

But did we need a rug there? Wasn't our living room complete?

It's amazing how a rug can pull a room together and warm it up. I thought our room was already wonderful until I put that rug under our coffee table. Somehow it pulls everything together and now our living room is that much more cozy.

It's more than just a rug. It's something that pulls it all together. I can only imagine the memories we will continue to make in this living room, our comfy room that is finally complete.

P.S. Today is the SECOND #AuthenticIntro on Instagram via #AuthenticBloggers! Come join in he fun!

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5 Steps to a Simpler Life

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:40:00 +0000

In an effort to live a simpler life, I felt the need to post a few ways to actually achieve a simpler life.

Pleasing everyone.

Because who cares? You're not going to please everyone. It's just not going to happen. So why are you worrying about it? It's YOUR life. It doesn't belong to anyone else. So when you stop trying to please everyone your life gets a whole lot simpler.

Always being beautiful.

With social media it's hard not to want every little thing to be perfect. You see people's supposed perfect lives and you want yours to be the same. But does it really matter if one of your Instagram pictures shows a bunch of dog toys in the background? Does it really matter if your hair isn't exactly perfect in your Facebook picture? Nope. The world won't end. And when you stop looking for perfect like gets a whole lot easier.

Needing to go, go, go.

You know those people that are constantly doing something. And you think "wow, maybe I need to be doing more to get that fulfillment I'm looking for." But here is something amazing and simple about just being still. Grab that book you've been wanting to read, pull out that notebook you've wanted to journal in, sit outside and just take it in.

Work.

Yes, I realize working pays the bills. I used to never, ever take a day off unless it was for a reason. And then I decided every now and again I'd take a day off just because. Sometimes I did nothing on that day off. And guess what? It felt good.

Unplug.

I know, I know, I know. You have to check your social media. You have a blog post to write. But you want to take a picture of that butterfly! Unplug. Just do it. You are missing out on the small, beautiful things. I promise unplugging every now and again isn't going to kill you. And maybe you'll notice something you wouldn't have otherwise.

What do you recommend to help live a simpler life?

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Pause.

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:10:00 +0000

When 2015 began I was sure that it would be an amazing year. Izzy and I were about halfway through our first married year, Izzy had a great job (and mine was helping to pay the bills). We were happy, healthy, financially doing well, and life seemed good.

And then things happened. And now, halfway through 2015, I'm ready for this year to be over. Between family issues, student loans, and job loss this year just has not been what I thought it would be. And I've had a hard time finding the positive in all this.

Pause.

This week I've been trying to stop and just not wallow in the bad. Instead I've been trying to find the silver lining.

Yes. There have been family issues. But they're teaching us who we really want to spend time with. And we've discovered people who have been amazing.

Yes. Student loans are evil. But we're getting them under control. It'll still take us forever to pay them off but they're handled and I'm not fearing the unknown.

Yes. Izzy was laid off. And we've both spent time being angry. But he found a new job. And this job loss has caused us to rethink our lives. Do we really want to stay in Wisconsin? Does a job have to dictate where we are in life? Are we happy just settling?

Pause.

I am a glass half empty kind of girl. And I've spent the last few weeks being glass half empty. But it's time to stop that. Because life is too short. And because when something bad happens in life it means that you're meant for something else.

Which means it's time to find out what that something else is.

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What's In My Pool Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:23:00 +0000

Disclosure: I was provided a product in exchange for a post. However all opinions are my own.

When I was a kid I spent all summer in the sun. I remember a teenager commenting about how dark my skin got. I've always been lucky that I tan so easily; in fact my entire family does. And when I was younger I'm ashamed to admit I never really wore sunscreen. In my head I didn't need it because I rarely ever burned. I didn't realize that sunscreen did so much more than just prevent a sunburn.

A college I met a friend whose mother had died from melanoma and I found out that her way of thinking was a lot like mine. Why wear sunscreen if you don't burn? If you don't wear sunscreen you get browner faster and isn't that the point?

These days it's not just about protecting my skin, but that's a big part of it. I worry about what goes into sunscreen too. That's why when I'm packing up my pool bag it's important to be that I have a bottle of Block Island Organics Sunscreen. Block Island not only believes in protecting your skin against harmful UV rays but they also care about what goes into their products. their sunscreen is amazing, with no parabens, sulfates, pretrochemicals, or phthalates. They use no dyes or artificial fragrances AND it's non-nano and a vegan formula.

Today I'm excited not only to let you know about this new product that will always have a place in my pool bag BUT to also tell you that if you use the code krysten between now and August 2nd you'll get 15% off your Block Island Organics order. So protect your skin from more than just UV rays.

Now you can enjoy the sunshine without harm to your skin. And that's always a good thing.

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Happy Friday V17.2

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 09:26:00 +0000

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. Patrón XO Cafe

2. #AuthenticBloggers

3. Getting an amazing compliment

4. Mockingjay

5. Having things worth celebrating

6. Blog opportunities

7. Swimming

8. Millionaire Matchmaker

9. Blue nail polish

10. Izzy found a job

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#AuthenticIntro || V1.0

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 11:40:00 +0000

Today is the FIRST EVER

#AuthenticIntro on Instagram

via

#Authentic Bloggers!

We're so excited to be sharing our lives

with each other

and we'd love to share them with YOU.

If you're looking for an amazing group

of supportive, unique, fun women

then come check us out!

And join in the fun.

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Name of the Devil by Andrew Mayne

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 11:31:00 +0000

From Goodreads: After playing a pivotal role in the capture of the Warlock, a seemingly supernatural serial killer—and saving the FBI’s reputation in the process—agent Jessica Blackwood can no longer ignore the world she left behind. Formerly a prodigy in a family dynasty of illusionists, her talent and experience endow her with a unique understanding of the power and potential of deception, as well as a knack for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be.

When a church congregation vanishes under mysterious circumstances in rural Appalachia, the bizarre trail of carnage indicates the Devil’s hand at work. But Satan can’t be the suspect, so FBI consultant Dr. Ailes and Jessica’s boss on the Warlock case, Agent Knoll, turn to the ace up their sleeve: Jessica. She’s convinced that an old cassette tape holds the key to the mystery, and unraveling the recorded events reveals a troubling act with far-reaching implications. The evil at work is human, and Jessica must follow the trail from West Virginia to Mexico, Miami, and even the hallowed halls of the Vatican.

Can she stop a cold-blooded killer obsessed by a mortal sin—or will she become the next target in a twisted, diabolical game of hunter and prey…?

What I thought: After the first Jessica Blackwood novel, Angel Killer, I could not wait for another novel to come out. I enjoyed that book so much and it's such a fun twist on the usual FBI agent goes after the bad guy kind of novel.

Jessica Blackwood comes from a family of magicians so she looks at cases just a little bit different, which I love. It's kind of a magical take on Criminal Minds, which I am absolutely obsessed with.

This novel, like the one before it, gets crazy right from the get go. A church blows up but it's not quite as it seems. Jessica is pulled into the case but she's also treated as if she's an outsider by the people she works with. Despite that she feels this pull to find out what really happened and this pull takes her from this small town church to Mexico and even the Vatican. This book is fast paced and you never know what's going to happen.

Looking for a dark page turner that will keep you guessing until the very end? Jessica Blackwood is your girl!

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Good News

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:26:00 +0000

Well, the great news is that Izzy found a new job! I am SO proud of my husband and pretty happy that this company sees what an awesome find he is. He'll be taking a pay cut, which is a little stressful, but considering how amazing the store manager is I think it's the right move and we'll make due.

Unfortunately the University of Wisconsin - River Falls is laying off even more people and with no notice. It's pretty awful. Living across the street it's hard to look at this school and feel any community pride at all. This entire situation has soured me against this state and against the school. It's a bad situation for people who aren't considered powerful and it basically reminds me that people in power will exploit others in order to keep themselves in power.

However. Right now Izzy and I have a lot to celebrate. We've known about his possibly being laid off since February and since then we've been stressed out with the unknown and then with the fact that he was in fact being laid off (which we found out about July 1st). The unknown is almost worse than the worst case scenario happening and as we're finding at least he was given a 45 day notice which is more than can be said for some employees.

In part of my wedding vows to Izzy I told him that I would love him through life's ups and downs. It hasn't been easy. We've both been scared and stressed out. And to be very honest, he's been the rock through this. I'm pretty lucky that when something bad like this happens I know he'll pull us both through. And I just need to try better to be a little stronger.

All in all a very big silver lining. We'll weather this storm and we'll do it with integrity. It's more than I can say for the people that run the University and the state of Wisconsin.

P.S. Thank you to all of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers. I firmly believe that you all have helped to keep us in a good place. Your support is amazing.

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The Pixie: 4 Months

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 10:07:00 +0000

Yesterday was my third haircut since I went and chopped my hair off into a pixie.

I'm going to admit that when I first cut it I was a little scared. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Usually I'm all "it's just hair" but I did freak a little.

However, now? I've embraced it! I think that my hair is styled in a way that makes me most feel like me. It's easier to take care of and I love how quick it is to style.

I may have freaked out at first but now I'm all about the pixie. I can't imagine ever wanting to grow it out again!

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Happy Friday V17.1

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:52:00 +0000

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

1. Blow pops

2. Sunny days

3. Getting a haircut

4. Catching Fire

5. Monte sleeping in with me

6. Grilling

7. Emma's pink nose

8. UnREAL

9. Fighting with Roscoe

10. A good night's sleep

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Berry Beauty with AZO

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:20:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I was given product and am being compensated in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own.

Ever since Izzy and I received a Nutri-Bullet as a wedding gift I have been obsessed with smoothies. My work life doesn't always allow for me to eat healthy and I figure the least I can do to keep my body feeling good is to have a yummy, nutritious smoothie for breakfast each morning. My smoothies ensure I have lots of greens (I hate spinach but masked in a smoothie I don't even taste it) and I also make sure to throw in tons of berries.

Why?

Do you know how awesome berries are for you?

Acai berries are great for cardiovascular and digestive health
Blueberries help with are full of antioxidants and promote urinary tract health
Blackberries lessen the risks of heart stroke and cancer
Raspberries can help prevent cervical cancer
Goji berries contain 6 different vitamins and help prevent diabetes
Cranberries are antibacterial and can help maintain healthy urinary tract health

Plus? Berries are delish AND they're all super helpful in keeping your skin looking beautiful. I don't know about you but I have major problem skin and since I started my daily smoothie routine over a year ago my skin has cleared up tremendously. It's pretty awesome.

Here's the thing though. Every bit counts. For instance, I know that drinking cranberry juice can help keep my urinary tract healthy. And as a woman who isn't getting any younger I worry about that! But to be honest I really don't need the extra calories from cranberry juice and sometimes I just don't think about chugging down a whole glass.

Which is why AZO Cranberry Gummies are so awesome! What are they?

These gummies contain the power of the cranberry without the tart taste
They come in yummy mixed berry flavors (think strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
They're a urinary maintenance tool that incorporates the clinically proven benefits of cranberry*
Two gummies each day equal 1 10-ounce glass of cranberry juice**

Not to mention that berry everything is so big. Hello berry lips! Which is why I'm so excited that AZO is hosting a Berry Beauty Sweepstakes! What can you win? All this cool beauty loot!

So what are you waiting for? Head on over and enter for your chance to win!

What are your favorite berry beauty benefits?

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Currently {41}

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 10:55:00 +0000

Reading: I am rereading The Hunger Games! I bought the trilogy after we saw part one of Mockingjay in the theater. The first time I read this series was before any of the movies came out and while I loved it the movies made it even better for me. So I bought the books but they've been sitting on my shelf while I read other things. Now that I'm done reviewing a ton of books for TLC Book Tours I decided it was time to go back to the series. Thus far I am loving it even more than the first time.

Thinking about: How hard times always show people's true colors. It's no secret that Iz and I have been through the wringer this year and our hard times have really brought out the best (and worst) in our friends and family. While that can be a hard pill to swallow it's the kindness in people (you all included) that has really brought tears to my eyes. So thank you.

Listening: I was watching an episode of One Tree Hill and Ashlee Simpson's Boyfriend was playing. Of course I felt the need to dig out her CDs and start rocking out. Her first CD came out right when I was in a very emotional relationship and listening to it brings out all those angsty feelings again. It's very nostalgic. So then I found the Ashlee Simpson station on Pandora and I've been playing it ever since.

Watching: Is anyone else totally crazed over The Bachelorette? Kaitlyn is a nutcase, Nick and Shawn are both drama queens (which makes me sad because Iz and I loved Shawn at first, he seemed sweet and he looks like Ryan Gosling), and it's gets more weird every week. AND Catfish is back, yay! I've missed Nev and Max!

Loving: The kind comments, texts, and emails from all of you. If I don't say it enough I want you all to know that I appreciate each of you so much. You've been with me through good times and bad and your kind words help lift me up. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What have you been up to lately?

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Simple Life

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 09:22:00 +0000

dress: Old Navy // shoes: Payless // necklace: Gift from Izzy
bracelets: c/o Moorea Seal & Jeweliq // earrings: Moorea Seal

When I was a kid, summer always meant camping. It's the thing I remember most about summers when I was young. My family didn't completely rough it - we had a pop up camper and we would take it to Jellystone Park in the Wisconsin Dells several times each summer.

I remember bonfires, going to the waterpark, being scared out of my wits one night at a haunted house, and having my first ever hardcore crush on a boy. Until I was 10 camping was what I looked forward to most each summer and the memories I made on those trips are some I'll never forget.

Summers aren't quite the same anymore. As I was growing up I couldn't wait to be an adult. I thought that being adult meant independence, figuring everything out, being my own person. What adults never tell kids, though, is that being an adult means responsibilities, losing a bit of yourself, being tied to things that aren't at all fun.

Maybe if someone had told me that I wouldn't have been in such a rush to grow up. Or maybe I wouldn't have listened.

Nonetheless when Izzy and I talk, we talk about having an easier life. A more beautiful life.

Speaking of beautiful, let me take two seconds to show up my pretty jewelry from Moorea Seal. Sorry, shameless plus. The earrings and the bottom bracelet are both from this shop and I kind of love them. They're simple and fun, the way life should be!

Anyway. So Izzy and I have been talking a lot about starting over. We've had a lot of hard times this summer. Family issues, job loss... it's just all leading us both to believe that while we once loved where we are maybe it's not the right place anymore.

It's a dream we both have to pick up and leave. We've been saving money and discussing where we want to go. I know we want to still be near family and we finally settled on South Carolina, where my aunt and uncle live. The climate is better than Wisconsin and it's a good fresh start while still being near people we love. My it's easier to get back and forth to Florida where my folks live AND no more flying somewhere to get to a cruise port.

The idea of leaving scares me. I'm terrible with change and I hate moving. But I want something different. This place, while holding good memories, holds a lot of bad ones too. I want to go somewhere new, reinvent myself, had adventures. I don't want to be somewhere in which I live a mediocre life.

I mean, as one of my favorite Disney characters once said, "There must be more to this provincial life."

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A Fast, Delicious Dinner with Smithfield Marinated Pork

noreply@blogger.com (Krysten Quiles) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 09:48:00 +0000

Disclosure: This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®, Smithfield®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #SummerSizzling http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH

I rarely admit this, but because I work such early hours I also go to bed pretty early. When I have to open (which means I wake up at 3:10 AM) I want to be asleep around 7 PM, although I've been known to fall asleep even early than that.

Which means that between the time that Izzy gets home from work and I want to go to sleep we don't have a whole lot of time to make dinner. This has sometimes resulted in me eating boring cans of soup or even fast food. Not good.

Which is why being able to cook a delicious meal like this (some yummy marinated pork, corn on the cob, grilled pineapple, and grilled potatoes) can be hard to attain. Unless the meat is already set to go.

That's why I love Smithfield® Marinated Pork. With lots of different flavors to choose from, we can pick up a couple of marinated pork loins for dinner and in 20 minutes we can have a delicious and fast dinner ready to go. No more letting it sit for hours before you can even think about cooking it, now Smithfield® has taken all that wasted time out of the equation and done it for you!

I know what you're thinking, "but how could this possibly taste as good as my homemade marinate?" I promise, it's delicious. And when you can go from prepping to eating in 20 minutes that's pretty awesome, right? We made this meal one evening when I had to be to bed super early and we still had time to spare to sit down and watch an episode of House Hunters before my bedtime. Not too shabby!

The best part? You can find Smithfield® Marinated Pork at your local Walmart, which makes it super easy to get your grocery shopping done and a meal on the table!

Feeling hungry? Now you can save $2.00 on any ONE (1) Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork Product with a digital coupon (while supplies last).

No more waiting around, getting a delicious dinner on the table fast with Smithfield® Marinated Pork.

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