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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!

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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

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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!

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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!

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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.

Self-Care, Uncategorized

10 Cheap or Free Ways To Practice Self-Care

June 7, 2018 No Comments

Self-care is a trending topic these days. Sometimes it means getting a massage at a fancy spa or maxing out your credit card at Nordstroms. Just kidding, please don’t do that! Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on pricey spa treatments or expensive lunch with your main squad.

As a budget-conscious mom, I love to pamper and spoil myself. The only difference is that I don’t spend hundreds of dollars to take care of myself. It can be as simple as ~~hiding~~ setting at timer for 30 minutes to catch up on my magazines or getting my mom to watch my daughter, so I can sleep in and catch up on my YouTube videos. Self-care can also be taking the night off of “momming” and having a girls night in with a bottle of good ol’ Malbec.

In the spirit of being a budget-friendly blog, I wanted to share my favorite free/cheap ways that you can get a little you-time and reconnect with the fabulous woman inside!

Meditation App – Wake up 30 minutes early (I know, I know – it’s tough!). Download a meditation app (Headspace is one of my favorites). Follow the guided meditation and try to let everything go and reconnect with some inner peace. Don’t let the clutter in your mind prevent your happiness!
Schedule 30-60 minutes alone to indulge in guilty pleasure – Okay this one can be difficult, especially if you are a single parent or student! Grab your fave magazine (I am currently loving Health Magazine and Good Housekeeping) or indulge in your favorite trash TV (ummm, Vanderpump Rules anyone!?) and just veg the heck out for a little stretch. Trust me, your body and mind will thank you.
Read a great book – OverDrive App – I love to read. Gimme a nice juicy biography or a spiritual awakening guide, or even a medieval fantasy. I will devour that sucker. One of my favorite cheapie ways to have fun is to find a book on my OverDrive library app and spend an hour or two reading. The OverDrive App connects with your local library and you can check out books for 21 days per book! I read every weekday while bussing to work and I cherish that alone time SO MUCH. It really recharges my soul.
Sheet mask and glass of wine – Never underestimate the power of a sheet mask y’all! Clean your room and apply that sheet mask, then pretend like your life is together. It works, I tell ya. Top it off with a glass of wine and you have a perfect night in.
Binge Watch Some YT or Trash Television – Never ever underestimate the power of a good Real Housewives of Atlanta binge with a side of ~~cheese puffs~~ organic kale chips. While I don’t suggest completely numbing your mind for a whole day, sometimes an hour of a guilty pleasure can really be exactly what you need.
Take a walk or do a 20 minute HIIT workout – I am addicted to the Pop Sugar Fitness app and I love the way they make it easy to find simple and energizing HIIT workouts.
Stop complaining for a week – On the real tip, I did this for a week and it changed the way I look at both negative self-talk and my outlook on life. I found myself monitor some super negative comments that really were not healthy. It made me so much more self-aware of the toxic thoughts that can sometimes put you in a nasty place and to be more positive and grateful.
Gratitude Log – Well since was are talking about being grateful, it can be refreshing to start writing down the things you are thankful for – especially if you are feeling warn down or overwhelmed with life.
Paint your nails – I mean if you got some coins, then you can even have someone else them for you. You get the best of both worlds, some time away from your kids and pretty new nails. But if you are a ~~peasant~~ budget-gal like me, you use a fancy UV gel lamp so you can save that money!
Schedule a massage (with a groupon) – So my ULTIMATE indulgence for self-care is a deep-swedish-thai-strong-hands massage. Aka I pay someone and they attack the knots in my back for 90 minutes. A professional massage will change your LIFE. TRUST.

I hope these 10 free/low cost ways to practice self-care help you recharge and feel just a tiny bit happier.

Stay golden, mamas!

xo,

Simone

Live Your Best Life, Uncategorized

6 Tips on Setting Monthly Goals

April 1, 2018 No Comments

Goals are hard. I know this. You know this. We all know this.

There was a time in my life that I heavily resisted writing down my goals. Mostly because I was so afraid of NOT achieving things, so I wouldn’t even write them down. It may sounds strange, but I did not want to disappoint myself.

Finally, I realized that when you write down your goals, you are automatically hold yourself more accountable and become motivated to knock em’ outta the park!

Here are some practices that I follow to achieve MOST of my monthly goals.

Be realistic

Do not start off biting off more than you can chew. If you are trying to get off the couch and lose weight, don’t make a monthly goal to lose 10lbs in one month! Instead, think about making a realistic goal like 2-4 lbs. If you are trying to launch a blog, truly evaluate your free time before you give yourself a launch date. I thought 30 days would be enough, but it took closer to 90 days to get everything up and running to my liking! I did not take into account all of the technical aspects to launching a blog.

Travel, Uncategorized

Toddler Travel: Our Bittersweet Trip to Oakland

April 1, 2018 No Comments

My first travel post! Yay!! Can you tell that I am jazzed? Get ready, this is a long one 🙂

Like most people, I love to travel. We definitely have slowed down since the arrival of our precious ~~baby~~ toddler, Gia in May of 2016. We actually took 12 trips in 2015! Then at the end of 2015 we found out that I was pregnant. That put the kabosh on most of our wild trips! We still do an annual family trip to Hawaii, which is so so fun.

Annnyyywwwayyyss, fast forward to November 2017. Richard (my fiancé) thought it would be a good idea to hop on a plane and visit my 97 year old Grandmother. He was able to book our tickets through his Alaska miles back in November, then we were off to the bay!!

R is an Alaska Mileage Club member, so we got to go to the swanky club lounge! G enjoyed this because there were complimentary English muffins and yogurt. Mama and Dada got to enjoy their free “special juice” as well. DRANKS! Nothing like a mimosa in the morning to gear up for your plane ride with a toddler! Parents, I know ya feel me.