Stay Golden Mama

31 Lessons I’ve Learned in 31 Years

June 18, 2019 No Comments

It feels GOOD to be celebrating another trip around the sun. It has been a super fun year with a LOT of learnings. I wanted to share the most important lessons that I have learned in my humble 31 years of life.

I can’t wait to see what 31 has in store for me!

When someone shows you who they are, believe them. People will show you exactly who they are, please stop trying to ignore what they are showing you.
TRUST YOUR INTUITION! If something feels off or you feel a negative gut reaction to meeting a new person, please trust it!
Surround yourself with people that support you. If they don’t support you, distance yourself or find some new friends!
Not everyone will return your enthusiasm or zest for life. Don’t let that dull your sparkle. Remember you are a diamond, baby!
It’s okay to be a weirdo. Seriously, we are all weirdos. Find your other weirdos and thrive!
The earlier you figure out your “thing”, the better. Listen to your soul and figure out what sets your soul on fire. Keep on doing that thing and repeat!
Being a parent is HARD. Being a mother is my favorite job, but it can be so exhausted. Give yourself a break and realize there is no such thing as a perfect mother. We are all messing something up.
Relationships are also very hard. Remember why you fell in love and check in with each other frequently.
Stop being so hard on yourself. You are AWESOME!
Be nice to people, especially service people. You never know who has had a crappy day, just be nice to people.
Do life on your own timeline, not society’s timeline. You don’t need to be married by 27 and have kids by 30. You do things when life works for you, stop forcing antiquated timelines on your life!
Like what you like and don’t be ashamed! Let your freak flag fly!
Gender norms are BS. Women don’t have to love makeup and men don’t have to love sports. We don’t even need to recognize gender. Just be you.
Do one thing a day that brings you joy. Do something that makes you smile. Tip a little extra, laugh at a corny joke. It will improve your life tenfold.
You can design a life that you love. Everyone’s “perfect life” looks different. Create the one that makes you smile the minute you wake up.
“Nothing will work unless you do.” Ms. Angelou said it best, you have to put some hardcore effort into what you want instead of people handing it to you.
Go to therapy. Just go. Therapy changed by life in 2018 and it helped me work through some destructive patterns and be a happier person. All adults need therapy, trust me.
Monitor the energy of the people around you. Surround yourself with positive and uplifting people, leave the dementors behind. HP fans will get it 🙂
Exercise is NECESSARY. Hitting the gym will help fight depression and anxiety plus make you feel accomplished. Keep at it!
Drink water. Lots of water. You will look younger and feel better.
You are only as young as you feel. Who cares if you are 50 years old wearing Forever 21? Do you, boo boo!
Your body is FINE, stop obsessing over it. Seriously girl, it is okay that your boobs are not as perky as your teenage years. You are still cute!
Date nights are necessary. It can be a night in with takeout or a frozen pizza. Turn off your phones and reconnect with your honey!
Believe in yourself, even if no one else does. YOU have to believe you can do whatever it is that you want to do.
Material things will never replace experiences. Travel will make you richer than any material item you can buy.
Money is not evil, it is necessary for a comfortable life. Work on your relationship with money and your life will change. You do need it to feel comfortable, but you don’t need to obsess over it every moment.
Transitioning to your 30’s is amazing! I have gained SO much clarity and have tolerated less BS than ever. I love it here!
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent“. You have the power to build yourself up and leave criticism and negativity to the haters.
LET IT GOOOOOO. All of the bad vibes, all of the people that have hurt you, all of the missed opportunities can be let go. It hurts YOU to hold on to that toxicity.
Travel as often as you can afford it. Start small and move up to some bigger trips. Life is so much richer when you experience new places.
Believe in something. God, Buddha, Jehovah, the Universe, Science — just choose something!

Are there any life lessons that I have missed? Let me know below!

Uncategorized

Spring Makeup Trends 2019: Colored Liquid Eyeliner

May 21, 2019 No Comments

“Am I too old to wear bright colored eyeliner?”

“Will I look like a Spice Girl?”

These were the questions I asked myself while completing a late night online makeup browse, stumbling across some fun colorful eyeliners on Amazon.

I decided that NO, I am not too old for fun colored liner and hopefully I do look like a spice girl.

Colored eyeliner is not for the faint of heart. Crazy eyeliner is not an everyday makeup look for most of us, but it’s so dang cute!

After seeing this gorgeous set of colored eyeliners for only $16, I knew I had to have them! Maybe it was the rosé talking, but I needed them in my life. I have been wanting to test out the neon/pastel eyeliner trend the past few years, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do something fun again.

I have been CRAVING some fun colors after playing it safe for the past 3 years of motherhood. Before I had my daughter, I did all sorts of funky things with my makeup. Now, I am lucky if I have time to even apply mascara and concealer before work. Oh, how things have changed.

I had a networking event that I attended last week and I thought my eyeliner would be a great conversation starter. I kept forgetting I was wearing crazy bright pink eyeliner until I went to the bathroom and saw the LOUD pink on my eyes. I ended up loving the spunky pink eyeliner and I can’t wait to wear it again!

Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty. I know you all want to know if these eyeliners are worth purchasing, or if they are crapola.

The Application

Honestly, the application was pretty difficult. I would consider myself a medium/highly skilled makeup lady and I had to reapply the liner a few times to get it right.

I decided to do a base layer of Wet N Wild black eyeliner, then apply the cotton candy pink colored liner on top. This helped make a cleaner line and really make the pink POP! I loved the fun result and was happy with how it accentuated my eye color.

Next time I will definitely add lashes for the complete polished look.

QUALITY

I swatched every.single.dang.liner and I noticed that some liners had different consistency. The cotton candy pink had an opaque finish while the white took a few layers to get a nice bright white. The yellow was completely dried up and crusty. I was upset because I definitely wanted to do some sunny yellow looks with that color.

Gorgeous colors with great payoff. Except for yellow. You suck.

The quality overall I would rate a 7/10. The whole set was $16 afterall 🙂 Brands be out here charging $20 for one eyeliner, so I was happy to snag 12 colors for $16 🙂

FUTURE LOOKS/INPSIRATION:

Once I starting playing with the pink eyeliner, I could only imagine the possibilities with other exciting makeup looks. I will definitely be creating some more colorful makeup looks with these liners.

They could be fun for playing with:

Sports game looks (go Seahawks!)
Christmas/holiday looks
Summer/spring bright eyes
Mod or 60s inspired makeup

Needless to say, there are endless possibilities for these pretty eyeliners. Follow along with me on Instagram (@staygoldenmama) to see the other looks I create.

There is also a ton of inspiration for neon and colored liner on Pinterest! That’s my favorite place to start dreaming up new makeup looks.

Would you ever wear colored eyeliner?? Or is it too adventurous for you? Let me know in the comments!

Love you guys!

Simone

Uncategorized

Does CBD Living Water Actually Work?

March 8, 2019 No Comments

CBD Living Water Review

**This product was sent to me for free to review by CBD Living Water. All opinions are my own. See disclosure policy for more information**

I have a bit of anxiety. From thinking my plane will crash to wondering about all the uncertainties of the future. Will my kid eat ever anything other than macaroni and cheese? Will people be able to see the flakes in my hair from not washing it in 7 days!? The list is neverending.

I like to think that anxiety just comes with life these days, but it can get exhausting and sometimes affects my sleep. I also often get a case of the “Sunday Scaries” where I do not want to go back to work and would prefer to stay on the couch all day.

I was looking for some natural solutions to combat my “Sunday Scaries” and I stumbled upon CBD oil. I was worried that the taste would be bad because of the oil flavoring, so I decided to keep on looking. There were gummies too, but I wanted something a little more chill. Enter CBD water. It keeps you hydrated AND relaxes you.

If you haven’t yet heard about the CBD craze, then you must be living under a rock. This stuff is everywhere. From gummies to skincare, there are a ton of new CBD products. Still unsure of what exactly CBD is? Keep on reading girl, I gotchu!!

What is CBD?

According to WebMD.com, which I use to diagnose all of my phantom “illnesses”, CBD is “the non-intoxicating marijuana extract is being credited with helping treat a host of medical problems — everything from epileptic seizures to anxiety to inflammation to sleeplessness.”

For CBD water, the cannabidol molecules are shrunk to nano sized particles that are one millionth of the original size. The water and CBD are fused together at 7.4ph, which makes them have a nice PH balance. The result makes the water super digestible and easy to absorb all up in ya bloodstream.

Benefits:

Anti-inflammatory
Muscle spasm relief
Anxiety
Chronic pain
Migraine relief
Sleeplessness
90% more efficient bc it absorbs faster into the bloodstream faster than oil*

*Source: https://farma.health/cbd-water/

Cons:

Not FDA regulated
Some concerns about how it is absorbed in the body
Could be less effective than CBD oil due to less concentration

My experience

All of these facts are great, but I KNOW you guys are aching to know if this stuff really works. I decided to try it on Sunday night when I was feeling real anxious about going back to work. At first, I drank half the bottle on a full stomach. I didn’t really feel anything, so I drank the whole bottle. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

I started feeling the results after about an hour after I drank the whole bottle. All of my anxiety felt like it just slipped away and I was chillin! It did not make me feel high, just super mellow and relaxed.

I also noticed that my muscles relaxed and I had a lot less tension in my neck. I carry a ton of tension in my neck from hunching over on a computer all day and from naturally shrugging my shoulders. It was a super nice feeling because ya girl’s neck always be hurtin’!

The bottle was 20oz and did not have any taste and was very easy to drink because it tasted just like normal water. I definitely will be drinking more CBD water in the future because it made me feel a lot less anxious about the upcoming work week and I also think that it helped me sleep better.

I am excited to try more CBD infused products because I felt like they relaxed me and kept me stress free, so I can continue to be a happy mama!

Would you ever try CBD water or anything with CBD? Or are you #teamnocbd? Let me know in the comments!

Uncategorized

Affordable Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts

February 10, 2019 No Comments

**Affiliate links are used below. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.

Ahhh, Valentine’s Day – a polarizing day, I know. Some of us celebrate it to the fullest with cards, candy and gifts while other abhor it. See that $10 word??

Anyways, I thought I would give all of you lovebirds a few affordable gifts that you still have time to purchase for your lover person. I divided them my dude vs lady gifts, but most of these are gender neutral, so everyone is welcome! Also, great news – most of these items are Amazon Prime eligible… so you’re welcome, procrastinators. If you hurry and purchase these today, you will make it in time for Valentine’s Day!

Menfolk:

For the tech bro: portable charger for ya phone

I can’t speak for ALL men, but I can speak for the men in my life. They adore a practical gift. Honestly, you could get this dope af charger for your man or your woman. A 100% charged phone looks good on everyone! I bought this one for my boo back at Christmas time and he is loving it so far. I don’t personally like to spend a ton on Valentine’s Day because it personally feels really showy. But I do love to give a cute card and thoughtful present to my significant lovah 😉

For the adrenaline junkie: Groupon activity

What better way to rekindle ye old fire than to do a fun activity together?There are sooo many great options for cute dates. Its 2019 hunny, it is time to plan a date for YOUR man! Some cutesy activities to consider are wine tasting, glass blowing, mini golfing or just going out to a classy restaurant. Or if your man is into snow, there are many an opportunity to shred the knar with your partner.

For your Mr. Lova: Sexy coupon book (NSFW)

Wheeeww chile, this book is not for the faint of heart. If you want to keep it hot and spicy, spring this on ya man. He will be like, “okkaaayyy”, with a big cheesy smile. Also look through the book before you gift it to you man – there are some real interesting ones in there that you might want to scan before sending to your partner, be warned!

For your Khal Drogo lookalike: A beard oil kit

Does your man have a luscious and full beard? Or does he struggle grow some patchy facial hair? Either way you slice it, this beard oil is for him. I love how this kit has a brush and comb as well – so no excuses for an unkempt beard!

For your gym bro: cool black sneakers

Fair warning, these sneakers are a little on the pricier side of these affordable gifts, but they are so pretty! I know my boo would be beyond happy to receive a new shiny pair of sneakers. These shoes are simple enough to appeal to most sporty guys and low profile enough to wear with jeans. You cannot go wrong with a sporty pair of black sneaks! Now all you have to do is figure out what size shoe your dude wears.

For the laddiiesssss:

Calling all ladies!! Here is a list of gifts that are sweet and do not break the bank. Flowers and candy are easy, but why not put a tiny bit more effort in and make this day extra special for her? Do it, trust me!

For your earthy girl: A Himalayan Salt lamp

Okay, so I bought one of these last year and I LOVE it. If you look on Amazon, this lamp has a ton of positive reviews – people love this thing. It made my sinuses feel nice and tingly as well. Salt lamps have been said to improve sleep quality, lessen anxiety and just put good vibes in the home. I may have improvised the last one… but you get the drift! Your lovely lady counterpart will enjoy this pretty pink lamp!

For your long-term love: Some bomb lingerie

What is Valentine’s Day without some saucy lingerie? Yes, buying lingerie for your partner is definitely a gamble and possibly a little overdone, but you Amazon has been making it easy to find the right size and style. If you know their dress size, then you can probably figure out their lingerie size. Know that this one runs small, so its okay to size up. I am sure it won’t offend your bae 😉

For your comfy sweetheart: a satin chemise set

Laundry and dinner prep… but make it sexy. Maybe your one and only is more of a no-fuss PJs girl. Well, I got something for her too! Satiny and silky, this set is both affordable and adorable. I personally live for jammies and I am always happy to receive them as gifts. This chemise set is gorgeous and looks super comfy and light.

For your beauty-obsessed bae: A lit beauty mirror

I mean come on guys, its lit!!! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. But really, is there a better gift than looking at yourself? I would think not! I have had my eye on this mirror for awhile, and this would be the perfect gift for any girls that love doing their makeup and spend 8 hours getting ready. Yes, I am that girl.

For your blogger babe: Rhinestone Pen Set

Diamonds are a girlllll’s best friend! But if you can’t afford those, buy her a rhinestone pen. These aren’t known for their smooth writing, but they are so pretty! If your girl likes to take photos or blog, these are also a great prop for photoshoots. I want these sooo badly, I am sure your gal will love these paired with a cute planner or notebook – it shows you respect her hustle!

For your sensitive cutie: Why I Love You Book

I had to close this list up with a semi-corny gift for the romantics in the building. If you want to tell your partner how you feel about them, this is the book for you. Bonus points if you fill it out with all of your mushy gushy feelings about your forever love. I mean maybe it is not THAT corny, I might just have to get one for my honey.

What are you getting for that special person in your life? Or are you just opting for some snuggle time? Let me know if the comments below!

Uncategorized

Ooh You So Pretty!! 2018 Best Beauty Products

December 31, 2018 2 Comments

So 2018 was kind of a mess for me. But you know what wasn’t messy? My makeup! I stumbled upon some gems this year that will definitely follow me into 2018.

I can’t wait for 2019 because with the help with all of these products, I won’t need no filtas! Ok, kidding – I will never leave my filters alone. They make my feed cohesive, okay!? Let me know if you have tried any of these beauties.

CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Makeup (Soft Beige)

This is my drugstore foundation holy grail. For 2018, I wore more foundation that I have ever worn, but this is the real deal! I tried 2-3 different foundations and this was my favorite by far. The consistency is smooth and blendable with a nice natural finish. The best part is that this power foundation is under $10!

Colourpop Lip Gloss (Curvii)

Ok, so I may have binged on Colourpop lipsticks + glosses this year, but no ragrats! They had a Black Friday sale pulled me in and took all of my money.

This lovely nude gloss took my heart this year and while I have only worn it a handful of times, it is the nude lippy that I have dreamed about owning for years. Friendly for a variety of skintones, this nude is too pretty to pass up. It is a true J.Lo in the early 2000’s lip gloss – gorgeous and perfect to wear with a Juicy tracksuit. Yes people, they’re baaccckkk!

Keep checking my IG, people. I have a feeling that Curvii will be making multiple appearances in 2019.

Melan-in Skin Nourishing Serum

This is a magic serum. I am not a serum gal. They are intimidating and I am lazy, so usually we don’t get along. That all changed when I received this serum. It is a blend of different organic oils and it leaves my skin feelin sawwwffttt. I use this underneath my moisturizer and it leaves my skin feeling so soft all day. If you are looking for something to get you your skin through the winter months, this is da stuff you need.

e.l.f. Prep & Hydrate Balm

If you have scaly winter skin, this is for you. I am usual a human oil patch, but the past few months have thrown my skin for a doozy. I have had the roughest skin I have had in months – but this hydrating balm was just what I needed to bring my skin back to life. I love putting it on under my foundation for a smoothing and moisturizing base. Plus it’s only $8!! It feels more like a $30 primer, tbh.

Makeup Forever Self-Setting Concealer

Just when I thought I didn’t need more concealer, it turns out I needed another concealer. I didn’t even know that I needed it until I first applied it. This concealer is full coverage, but verrrryyy blendable. It took over for the rest of my concealers and I rarely need foundation when I wear it because that stuff covers errrthang up.

If you are on the fence, just give it a try from Sephora and take it back if you don’t like it. I promise you will though!

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise

If you haven’t picked up this mascara yet, you sleepin’. A total dupe of Better Than Sex Mascara from the brush down to the same frosty pick packaging.

Even though this mascara is under $10, it performs better than some of my $30+ mascaras. The brush is round and fluffy and it gives your lashes insane volume + length + definition. If you don’t already have a bulk amount of these puppies stashed away, you need to buy this ASAP!

Did I inspire any of you to load up your ULTA cart? Let me know below if I missed any of your fave products that you tried in 2018.

Hair & Beauty

Fall to Winter Curly Hair Essentials

December 4, 2018 No Comments

Fall is quickly fading behind us, and I am running behind it saying, “wait! don’t leave me”! I am not ready for the heavy winter chill and my hair becoming a statid frizzball. My hair gets so DRY and tangled during the winter, but I am doing my best to keep my hair right for the rest of this year!

Alas, I wanted to share some of my hair care products that I have been keeping on heavy rotation since fall.

One of my new favorite moisturizing hair products has to be the As I Am Long & Luxe Grow Yogurt Leave In Conditioner. This stuff is bomb, yall!

The consistency is more on the watery side and it provides some great slip for detangling hair. It also smells amazing. It does wonders on my fine curly 3B hair. Definitely one to add to the arsenal.

Another shining star this fall has been the Mane Choice Growth Oil. I believe are over 10 different oils packed into this powerful small bottle of goodness. I love applying this oil to my scalp after a long day of work and massaging my head.

This oil is super light and is supposed to promote shiny, healthy hair. It is obviously called growth oil, so it does help in the fast growth arena – which is always good!

Well we all know that I love a good refresh. More like I am usually too lazy and stressed to wash my hair as frequently as it needs to be washed.

For us lazy curly gals, mousse is the answer! It adds enough moisture and shine that it fakes day 1 or 2 hair. I tried this Jane Carter Solution Wrap & Roll Mousse and was instantly hooked. It left my hair feeling defined and soft with 4 day hair and on fresh braid outs. One of my favorite curl refreshers ever!

Lastly, I wanted to share my favorite new styler – Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Creme.

This stuff is THICC, but it is great for leaving my curls soft and defined. If I apply the product on soaking wet hair after my leave-in conditioner, then I got curls fo dayzzzz. I also love using it on day 2 hair to revive my curls.

Even though the product is thicker than a snicker, it still applies very evenly and can be great on a braid out or twist out. I personally do wash and go’s 90% of the time and this stuff always leaves my hair smelling and feeling fantastical.

Well I feel like I should go deep conditioner my hair now!

Have you tried any of the products mentioned here? Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments!

Travel

Porto City Guide: Fall 2018

November 29, 2018 No Comments

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to tag along with my fiancé, Richard to Portugal. The company he works for has two offices in Portugal, so i jumped at the chance to go with him on a European vacation. I said byyeeee and jumped on that plane!

My mom and sister tag-teamed watching our daughter, so we could jet off and enjoy some time together!

It was an interesting trip because I was able to explore the city of Porto by myself for five days by myself and met up with Richard at night. Best of both worlds!

I had a pretty hellish time getting to Porto because I bought a budget ticket (only $763 from Seattle), which ended up being 3 flights plus a 3 hour train ride. Yikes. Just yikes. Next time, I will splurge for less flights and a guaranteed isle seat!

I was there in early November and the weather was quite similar to Seattle. LOTS of soggy and wet rain with mild temperatures.

I broke down all the things you need to know about the beautiful and historic Porto, which has become one of my favorite cities in Europe.

How to get around:

Porto is a very walkable city and great for solo travel. You can walk or bike to most places within 20 minutes or less and it is not like Lisbon with all of the hills. The city is overall super pleasant and flat.

There is a great city metro/subway in Porto and you can easily get to the beach in 30 minutes or less. I was not able to make it out to the beach due to the rainy, weather – but I definitely plan on getting my tan on next time I am there!

If you are flying in from Lisbon, there is a 3 hour train that goes back and forth to Lisbon and runs every 30 minutes. The train is pretty nice, but it doesn’t have WiFi and does not have bathrooms in every car, so plan on bringing some non-internet entertainment.

Language:

If English is your first language, then you are in luck! Almost everyone I encountered spoke at least some English, so I just learned a few basic words to make me sound a tiny bit more like a native.

Bom dia: Good morning, good day

Desculpe: Excuse me, sorry

Obrigada: Thank you

Pastel de nata: Delicious yummy egg tart

Okay, I am sure there are a ton more easy ones to learn, but I was only there a week and this is what I was able to master!

Where to stay:

Ceidofida: The center of the city with lots of shops, delicious food and beautiful parks within walking distance. This is where I stayed and I fell in love with the black and white cobblestone streets and numerous tasty restaurants.

Ribeira: Beautiful and historic waterfront area that is both rich in history and stunning in scenery. There are port and wine cellars running all the way down the Douro river in this neighborhood. I took a boat tour on the river and I saw all the pretty little houses along the shore and thought, “dang, I should have stayed in this place!”. I am sure in the summer it gets super crowded here.

Where to Eat:

Breakfast

Pastel de nata (addictive egg tarts) and other various pastries can be found at little bakeries at almost every corner. The more bustling the shop, usually the better the pastry.

Lunch

La Reira Baixa: Omg guys. THIS PLACE HAS THE BEST SANDWICH EVER!

A less messy version of the beloved local Francesinha sandwich: sliced thick steak, local ham, melty cheese and a fried over medium egg on top. Sinfully delicious. On the side, they serve the best fresh garlic chips I have ever had in my life. Also, this place is very affordable, with my whole meal under 10 Euros. I cannot wait to get back here!

Dinner

Flow: Very cute and trendy upscale restaurants. Dinner was about $20-30 Euro per person and the interior was instagrammable. There was a great courtyard that opens for seating in the summer and a bunch of fresh seafood options.

I opted for the octopus entree while Richard enjoyed the cod. The octopus was better and the portions were huge. We probably could have split an entree and been completely fine.

The Yeatman Hotel Restaurant (pronounced Yet-men):

If you have the time and the funds, this is the place to go. One of 2 Michelin Star restaurants in Porto, this foodie paradise is nestled in the relatively new (and super boughie) Yeatman Hotel.

The locals call it the “Yet-men”, so don’t pronounce it “Yeet-man” or they will know you are a tourist! Let’s be honest, they will probably know you are a tourist.

The 6 course tasting menu will run €140 pp, but if you want all the of the goodies that aren’t mentioned on the menu, you will want to spring for the €170 pp secret tasting menu. This is where all the fun surprises are created by the chef. I believe the items change daily.

We enjoyed every single course and we probably ended up with 10-12 different courses. We also decided to try the wine pairing. It was delicious, but I was definitely more than a little tipsy because the service staff keeps your glass FULL!

The best part of dining at the Yeatman was the superb service. We had a dedicated team of servers and a fantastic sommelier who explained all of our wine pairings. Everyone was so kind, even though we were not dressed to the nines.

There are a ton of highly rated restaurants in Porto, but I would tell you to beware of Yelp or Google traps with a ton of reviews. These places are usually flooded with tourists, so usually it is best to just walk around and find somewhere that looks good.

Drinks/Bars:

Bar 77, lots of tapas and savory pastry treats.

We stumbled across this narrow college bar next to our AirBnb. It reminded me of the sticky floored bars that I used to frequent when I was studying abroad in San Sebastian. A little seedy, but always exciting.

The best part of this bar was the delicious late night snacks that were served. They had a spinach savory pastry that I could not stop eating. They also had pizza and other savory pastries that helped soak up the Portuguese Super Bock beer.

Late night snacks: Doner Kebab. Doner Kebab is bae. As a fan of super late night food, it was love at first bite with this delicious cousin of the Gyro. The first time I had one was in Spain and I noticed that every city in Europe has a slightly flavor of doner kebob. Some have chicken + lamb with different sauces while other have just chicken and white sauce. Either way you slice it, doner kebabs are lovely mediterranean/middle eastern taco that is served with fries and is utterly perfect for late night snacking.

Things To Do:

Boat tour & Bus tour: At almost every corner, there are tourist shops that sell tickets to both boat and bus tours. You can even buy packages that sell both for €30 or less.

I decided to take the Douro River boat tour to see all the 8 bridges in Porto. The boat was very chill and did not make me seasick at all. To be honest, I even took a nice little doze on it. I accidentally had a carafe of sparkling wine earlier, so I was sleepy!

Walk across Douro River: Like I mentioned earlier, almost the whole city is walkable within 20 minutes. The Douro River bridge can be easily reached and you can walk over the bridge and get some beautiful shots of the river. The Ribiera district is directly under the bridge and it is one of the oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods in Porto.

Livraria Lello: J.K. Rowling allegedly wrote the first few chaptes of Happy Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone here. The book store is apparently one of the oldest ones in the world and it looks very whimsical on the inside.

Be warned that the line is typically very long and it costs around 5 Euro to get into the the library.

Walk to Mall Area – I ended up at the mall a lot. Richard’s luggage was severely delayed and I needed to find him extra clothes while he was at work. I ended at the mall and found quite a few nice sweaters for him at decent prices.

Overall, I highly suggest giving Porto a visit if you ever find yourself in Portugal. I enjoyed the warm ad friendly people, delicious foods and stunning historical sights. It was such an easy city with lots of charm and lots to do.

I can’t wait to make my way back to the lovely city! If you want to see more of my trip, check out my travel vlog on YouTube channel below!

Fashion, Hair & Beauty

Don’t Leave Your Couch! My Favorite Online Black Friday Sales

November 21, 2018 No Comments

**Disclosure: Affiliate links were used in this blog post. Please see full disclosure page for more information on how affiliate links are used on Stay Golden Mama.

Chestnuts roasstinng on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nooseeee… oh wait, we aren’t there yet! First comes Thanksgiving, then Black Friday, then all my Christmas songs! If you need something to help you round up some extra Christmas gifts, I have some deals for you below!

I wanted to quickly round up a post about my favorite Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales that have never disappointed me. I gave up shopping in-store on this crazy shopping holiday a few years ago and never looked back.

There are sooo many super good deals that I wanted to share with you this year, so you can pick up some goodies for your friends and family. Or for you, because you are worth it!

Target

Target: Spend $40, get $10 off Women’s Clothing, Shoes and More

Let’s be honest, if we are friends, then you are probably have a serious Target problem like me. You don’t find things at Target, things find you at Target. For this reason, I like to shop online for clothes and makeup online instead of in-store. I think I spend less money when I am forced to look at my total in my cart as I go along.

Amazon

Amazon Giveaways and Black Friday Deals

I mean, it wouldn’t be a true Black Friday without some sort of Amazon Deal, amirite? Amazon always has insane deals on electronics, so here are a few of my Favorite deals that also can be great gifts:

Amazon Fire Stick (non-4K) – $34.99

The Fire Stick is an awesome present for that person who never leaves their couch and wants to catch up on all the latest shows. It is $15 off from the regular $39.99 price.

Amazon Fire Tablet (Kids Edition) ($50 off – now $149)

I always said I would not be one of those moms that sticks their kid in front of a tablet and has a glass of wine. Spoiler alert: I am that mom sometimes. Ya girl needs to cook dinner and do laundry sometimes, so this tablet right here cold help another mom out! I hear they are supposed to be educational as well…

Also Amazon is having some great TV deals. You can save 25% or More on LG Ultra HD TVs!

Here is one that I have my eye on – my honey said he would love a new TV, so this is definitely a contender!

Basically, get on Amazon during Black Friday or Cyber Monday to find all the good deals. I plan on completing 90% of my holiday shopping this week, so I don’t have to worry about it during December!

Old Navy

50% off Storewide

Whew chile- you better start shopping now! Old Navy is my favorite place to stock up on basics and cute holiday PJs.

Try out their luxe tops – I promise that you will fall in love with them. Old Navy also has amazing kid’s clothes and I feel like the sizing is runs slightly small for toddlers. My daughter is very small for a 2.5 year old and she fits into 2T very nicely there.

Coastal Scents

Up to 75% Sitewide

Have you ever heard of Coastal Scents? Well, girl – you’ve been sleepin’ on them! Coastal Scents has some highly pigmented eyeshadows and great bargain makeup brushes. I honestly like a lot of my Coastal Scents brushes just as much as my Sigma brushes.

As for their eyeshadows, they have “Hot Pot’ shadows that are comparable to Anastasia Beverly Hills and M.A.C., in my opinion. Their Hot Pot Shadows are on sale for 50%, leaving them only $1.48 per shadow. You can’t beat that with a stick! A few years ago, I built a whole custom 28 palette for $30. It was GREAT quality and is still my most versatile and used palette. Check out my beautiful baby below.

BH Cosmetics

Up to 50% off

Ahhh, BH Cosmetics, I love you so much. This makeup brand used to be online only, but now has moved on to be sold at Target and other brick and mortar stores.

I still like to shop here during Black Friday because they have some of my favorite bargain powders and lipsticks. I live for their Creme Luxe lipsticks and for their Studio Pro Matte Finish Pressed Powder.

The pressed powder is under $10 and a dupe for the MAC Studio Fixe Powder. I have had mine for 2 years and love the matte finish on my oily skin.

The Creme Luxe lipsticks are very moisturizing and do a great job of not bleeding or feeling stiff or dry. I use mine at least once a week and at under $5, they are better than drugstore products.

Also, their palettes are surprisingly rich and pigmented. Their “Take Me 2 Brazil 2” Palette is über-popular and I kind of need it! I bought the After Dark 2 palette last year and liked the sparkly colors for a fun night out.

Hot Tips for All Online Shopping Deals:

Put all the things you want in the cart BEFORE the sale starts for easy checkout
Make sure you are signed into your account and your card is up to date. Nobody got time to mess around when it is time for payment
Double check size charts if you are buying gifts for people
Don’t forget the gift receipt! Amazon + Target are great about honoring returns/exchanges, when you have a gift receipt.

Happy Shopping Mamas! Did I miss any of your favorite sales? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Simone

Mommy Mondays, Motherhood, Self-Care

How to balance pursuing your passions and motherhood

October 1, 2018 No Comments

I have a confession: I recently took 2 weeks off of blogging. I felt like I had so much to do that I just could not sit down and devote my whole hearted attention to my blog. I’ll be honest, I felt super guilty and crappy about it. My blog is still new and I do not have many people reading it, so it wasn’t like people were knocking down my door to get new content. But I knew that I was not pursuing my dreams and I felt like I was letting myself down. My biggest dream and goal is to monetize this blogging & YouTube thing and I have been feeling pretty discouraged recently.

I wanted to get back to it and share some tips on how to find the time, patience and energy to devote to my passions and creating new content as a working mom.

#1 – Remember WHY you started!

When I first started bogging 7 months ago, I was so excited to start my journey and share my content. As time went on and things were very slow to progress, I got discouraged. To be honest, I am still not where I want to be, but I am not giving up! It is important to remember that giddy feeling about when you first got started and WHY you want to continue. For me, I started because I needed a creative outlet and a way to document the changes that I was making in my life. Blogging keeps me accountable because it forces me to record aspects of my life and be more creative with my hair, makeup and lifestyle. I also started because I eventually would like to earn a significant income from my blog and have more money to travel and put towards our upcoming wedding!

#2 – Communicate your goals with your support system

I think this is SUPER important! In order to pursue your passion, you first need to let people know what excites you. Whether it is your mom, husband, sister, BFF or work wife – tell them about what makes you tick and how you plan on taking over the world! You are more likely to achieve your goals if you actually write them down, and even more so if you have someone else holding you accountable. Also, if you are in a relationship and you want to spend more time on your passion, then it can be helpful to talk to your significant other about your plans.

#3 – Create realistic goals

In order to pursue your passions without getting burnt out, it is important to be realistic about your goals. Do you want to make money from your passion, or do you just want to feel more fulfilled in life? Create goals that fall in line with what you want to achieve and do your best to stick to them. Life happens, so be sure to factor in holidays, busy season at work and kids activities. The worst feeling is setting unattainable goals and missing them because you put too many things on your plate. Being a mom is a huge job, so don’t put too much on yourself. You got this, mama!

#4 – Maximize your weekends and time off

Weekends and nights are your best friend. I repeat, weekends and nights are your best friend! Make the most out of your time by planning out your day and finding pockets of time to work on your content or hobby. I like to use my daughter’s nap time to write my blog posts and then night time for editing my YouTube videos. I also take a day or two off per month to reset and create more content. This is definitely a luxury that most people do not have, but I am fortunate to have a lot of vacation time and very few vacation plans. Ask your significant other to take the kids to the park, so you can keep that passion alive!

#5 – Get enough sleep

Ok ok, I am still struggling with this one. I KNOW that I need 7 hours of sleep at night to be a functioning adult. Do I really get 7 hours every night? No, ma’am, I do not. I know I would be unstoppable if I went to bed a t 10pm every night and woke up at 5. I am going to use October as a month to steadily get up earlier and earlier until I get to my goal of 5:30am. I have noticed that I am so much more balanced and energetic when I get enough sleep and I am properly hydrated. To give the most of myself to my family and my passion, I have to get enough sleep! If I don’t, then I feel like I am playing catch-up for the rest of the week.

#6 – Give yourself some slack

This is important, y’all. Be easy on yourself! If you have had a whirlwind week and everything is going on, give yourself some grace and breathe. If that means that dinner is a frozen pizza and that little Susie’s laundry is not perfectly ironed before school, you will survive. I always tell my fellow mom friends to stop being so hard on themselves! Parenting is hard. Let’s not make it harder by being too critical on ourselves. With hard work and dedication, we can follow our passions and move closer towards happiness.

Don’t give up, no matter what! If you want to pursue your passions, then you need an ironclad will and a plan to get there. If it doesn’t happen overnight, that is fine! Don’t compare yourself to others and follow your joy, just for you! Keep your energy high and remember that the end goal is be more fulfilled in life.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Can you tell me some tips that you have for following your passions?

xo,

Simone

Fashion

5 Reasons Why You NEED A Fanny Pack for Fall

September 16, 2018 No Comments

**Disclosure – affiliate links may be used in this post.

When the fanny pack trend started picking up last year, I said “HARD PASS”! I did not want to ruin a cool outfit with a dorky fanny pack. I thought they would be another trend that just disappeared after a year. But my friends, I am here to tell you that this is not a trend, this is a LIFESTYLE.

I know, I know. You may be still on the fence about purchasing a fanny pack. Girl (or guy!), I am here to convince you that you need one a fanny pack in your life!

5 Reasons Why You Need a Fanny Pack:

Keep your hands free

I am a lady who needs her hands free at all times. Between the playground, running errands and chasing my toddler – it is a necessity to have my hands available. If you are a person that is active, then you need a fanny! In the summertime, we went to the park almost every other day. I loved the ability to slap my pack on, drop my phone and keys in there and be able to play with my daughter. Did I get some strange looks from other parents? Sure! Did it bother me? Nope, I know that I’m a cool mom, not a regular mom *hair flip*.

Adjustable and easy to wear

I love that most fanny packs are adjustable and made for a variety of different sized people. You can loosen the strap after too many tacos and you can tighten it if you been hittin’ the weights hard. It’s also easy to hide your fanny pack under a coat or sweater in the winter months (for safety purposes, duh!). I love how easy and quick it is to snap or buckle mine around my waist and run out of the door.

Forces you to bring less

I am a struggling wannabe-minimalist. The fanny pack has minimal room, sooooo I am forced to bring less useless stuff. My essentials are lip balm, credit card, ID, car keys, cell phone and fruit snacks. When you have a diva toddler, the fruit snacks are a must! I feel like my regular purse is a wasteland of receipts and fruit snacks wrappers, so fanny packs help me get back to basics.

They are trendy and cute

As a sucker for all things trendy and adorable, I was originally drawn to fanny packs because they were cute-ugly. You know they are kinda hideous, but they could also look super cute with certain outfits. Now for me, it is less about style and more about function. Luckily fanny packs check both marks for fashion and function, so I am here for it!

So many choices and styles

Yes, I have 2 fanny packs. No shame in my game. I got my faux-leather Gucci inspired black fanny pack first for a bachelorette party that I was attending. I was instantly hooked and wanted to buy 6 of them! I decided to hold back and just get one more, specifically for wearing on the weekend with my daughter. The second one I bought was more nylon material and a bit more casual. And it has an ice cream pattern! I am not 10 years old, I promise! I honestly use my ice cream fanny pack a lot more because it has sooo many nice pockets. It comes in like 20 styles and patterns as well, so there are plenty of choices.

Welllll, did I convince anyone to buy a fanny pack? Drop a comment and let me know if you have one below!

Until next time!

xo,

Simone

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