MUSEUMS ARE COOLER THAN THEY USED TO BE

I took Jude out for another fun activity on day two of week two during winter break. Today we hit the road towards the beautiful city of Pasadena for Kidspace Children's Museum. The location was perfect, only about 25 mins from where we live so no excuses! Admission was a little high for what it is at $13 each, infants under a year are free. 

["KIDSPACE" at the entrance] 

My initial thought was this place is perfect for kids in kinder and younger. Jude's first opportunity to go was when he was in TK (Transitional Kindergarten) and he declined...yes, he declined, because he didn't want to walk around. Thankfully he's out of his lazy stage and was ready to make the best of our trip and explore! 

When you first walk in there is a tunnel that leads you straight to the admission booths. In the tunnel we found tons of cool glass and electrical discs that reacted to your body temperature that stopped the static movement - aka super cool lights lol. 

Jude dressed himself today:

[Zara] Jacket

[Vans] Long sleeve top

[Zara] Trousers 

[VANS] Skate Shoes

This week at Kidspace they are have SNOW PLAY 

where the kids can make snowmen and have friendly snowball fights. Its man made snow so don't expect too much from it. I almost had Jude dress up in snow gear and I'm glad I did not. There we so many small children I was afraid Jude might play too rough so we skipped that activity. 

There was a mud and clay table outside which was something no parent looked forward to haha.

My son is an only child who lives for social interaction with other children. As a toddler I was enrolled in at least 1 mommy and me class so he learned to play well with others. Its still a struggle because he's also the youngest in the family and thinks he's the boss. I am grateful for these opportunities to see his face light up with excitement. 

[Jude in a truck that belongs to an archeologist]

As we moved around the grounds we discovered their ANT HOLE. 

That was his favorite part (stay turned to my vlogs for that experience).

Cookie decorating could be skipped but since it was on our list of things to do, we were the test dummies. The cookie was stale and decorations were limited. ($3 each)

The child in me wanted so badly to run around with him in the Hawks Nest. This area came with a ton of costumes which made the experience as a bird that much more fun. 

If you followed me from the start you know I felt uncomfortable about my son playing with guns. I felt like todays society normalizes violence and I didn't want to be a part of it - my son especially. Through my research and time spent with a therapist there was nothing odd, or alarming about his interest in weapons in general. Long story short - I eventually lifted the ban hahah and Jude was over the moon when he discovered this ball blaster. I wish there was an employee there to make sure each child had a limited amount of balls to shoot. I was behind a man with his two sons who used their shirts as baskets and held over 20 balls each *eye roll*. 

Overall we had a nice day and I enjoyed watching my son enjoy himself and exercise being a nice human with a ton of wild children running amuck. Jude said he would like to return to Kidspace one day, but there are other age appropriate museums in the area I think I would prefer to visit instead. 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MUSEUMS?

Our favorite to date is the Exploratorium in San Fransisco, California. 

I hope you all are enjoying these mommy friendly posts as much as I am enjoying living them!

Until next time friends!

HOW TO MAKE HIKING FUN FOR KIDS

HIKING WITH JUDE

This morning was the first day of the second week of Christmas break with Jude. He is like most 7 year olds who lose interest in anything that doesn't require batteries or an electrical outlet. In this house we call the devil many things...including "electronics". 

I have been over eating with the rest of the world during the holidays so I wanted to get out and move this body of mine, and since Jude is not old enough to do much alone...he had to come with me!

[COLBY TRAIL : GLENDORA, CA]

In the past few years digestion has been a battle so after-dinner-walks are a must. To keep my little guy entertained and interested I used a small pocket notebook and created a small scavenger list. At the time he was too young to read so drawing pictures of common sites on our walk worked perfect. For example:

[] ROCK

[] TREE

[] CAR

[] TRUCK

[] FLOWER

[] GRASS

[] MAN HOLE

[] FIRE HYDRANT

[] BIRD

[] DOG

[] HUMAN

Jude is old enough to read and write so he loved the printable lists I found thanks to handy dandy Pinterest! Its cold this time of year so I made sure he was dressed appropriately, packed a bottle of water, pencil, and went to a local trail that was safe and kid friendly. 

If you live in the Los Angeles are there are TONS of trails, only a quick google search away! 

What are some ways you are keeping your kids busy this winter break? I have a week planned for my little guy and hope the weather stays nice so I can share them with you!

On our hike we surprisingly found everything BUT a pinecone and acorn! We looked for over and hour and nothing! We saw cool animal holes and even a snake "house" haha. Of course I was not going to stick around to say hello! *Runs away quickly with kid in arms*

Outfit details:

[ZARA] Hat

[FOREVER 21] Sweatshirt 

[ZARA] Vest

[ZARA] Joggers

[VANS] Shoes

Like cell phones, iPads and game consoles have a hold on our children and are creating a new generation of anti social adults. I am trying to encourage other ways to use time that requires us to unplug. One of my New Years Resolutions is to spend at least 1 day a week without an email check, without a social media post, a weekly electronic detox! 

I can't wait to read the way you are getting active this winter in the comments! 

Like in my YouTube videos, Thank you so much for joining me! 

*Latina Kissed*

HOW I SLOW DOWN DURING THE HOLIDAYS | SELF CARE + PAMPERING

WHEN THE GIFT GIVER GIVES TO HERSELF:

The holidays can be a little...well...VERY stressful! Packed malls and a long gift list can get a bit overwhelming so it’s important to take a step back and breathe. When I find a moment to myself, I go straight for spa treatments - at home! Shiseido masks, bubble baths, naps and catching up on my favorite REAL HOUSEWIVES shows are all on my personal agenda which is why I’m excited to partner with Shiseido on this post about how to #ShareBeauty with yourself this holiday season.

I know I am not the only one who enjoys a long PANDORA holiday music session while wrapping gifts. It might sound like a chore but it can be so enjoyable when you are not in a rush. Also I am a busy mom and I never have time to actually keep a nail appointment, so I keep my manicure together by doing my gels myself!

I know I am not the only one who enjoys a long PANDORA holiday music session while wrapping gifts. It might sound like a chore but it can be so enjoyable when you are not in a rush. Also I am a busy mom and I never have time to actually keep a nail appointment, so I keep my manicure together by doing my gels myself!

If you have never tried gel polish, it is worth the extra money. I did my research and checked online for coupons to make sure I was getting the best deal because these lamps are NOT cheap!

Stress can be seen on our faces so the next 3 Shiseido masks are a must-try!  

Watch my latest youtube video to see how I apply each mask to my face! 

Up first is the Shieseido Purifying Mask. This mask goes on like soft, rich mud and dries quickly. After about 10-20 mins (enough time to paint your nails) you can wash your face and you will see how soft and bright your skin looks after only one use!

Next, I used the Shiseido Benefiance Eye Masks. They are small strips that sit under your eyes. The active ingredient is retinol which will help smooth fine lines around your eyes. 

  

Lastly, because I wanted to try all three in one sitting, I applied the Shiseido Firming Massage Mask to my forehead. This mask works to relax the pores as you massage in the product. It also clears skin and promotes less breakouts - YAY!

When the lower half of my face was dry to the touch (that’s where the mud mask was applied), it was time to rinse and pat dry.

My skin was glowing! It wasnt the beautiful lighting shinning off the tree - my face was brighter, softer, and so hydrated! 

Before I get back to my everyday routine...

What do you do for YOURSELF to slow down during the holidays? Let me know in the comments below! Thank you so much for reading and I will see you in the next one!

MACYS BAKERSFIELD IMPULSE EVENT 11/12

Hey guys! Tomorrow is going to be exciting! I got asked to be apart of Macy's Bakersfield Impulse Beauty Event! Its exciting to be working with a major department store - but to also hangout with some of you! I will be doing a LIVE makeup tutorial @1pm so make sure to drop by and say hi! 

The products I am using I am bringing with me! 

Here are just a few that I will be applying totally LIVE with no editing...bloobers and all haha:

Master Palette by Mario

Contour Cream Kit Light 

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil 

Smooth Operator Amazonian clay setting powder

Better Than Sex Mascara 

Vice Lipstick Vintage Capsule Collection 

Which ones are your favorites and which ones are on your list??

If you do stop by the event - please tag me!! Watch out I am a hugger and a kisser haha.

See you all soon and thank you so much for your love and support. I love you all! 

*Latina Kisses*

Day to Night Smoky Spiced Eye

The perfect Day to Night Smoky Spiced Eye 

...is one stop into Ulta Beauty away!

I have partnered with Ulta Beauty x Byrdie Beauty to walk you through a very iconic look

: The Smoky Eye - but with a bit of spice - just in time for Fall. I love when the weather starts to cool down and so do all of the makeup trends. Using too much black on these eyes can lead to a makeup nightmare - so I opted for a fall favorite that's warm and beautiful: chestnut bronze. Sticking with warm tones on the eyes is the easiest to blend, and will look fantastic with every skin tone.

I have posted beauty tutorials to YouTube for years and this look is the most requested! Smoky eyes look amazing on everyone - it is classic - perfect for so many occasions from red carpet events to a selfie with your girlfriends at happy hour! 

You would be pleasantly surprised to find this look is so easy to recreate, so beginners this one is for you! I am a mother of a 7 year old so when I have the chance to sit and do my makeup - its only for a few minutes! So many are intimidated by the look and assume it requires so many expensive products. I love shopping at Ulta Beauty because I can find products that you would find in both drugstores and department stores, plus some brands and products that are exclusive to their store as well. 

Now for the fun part - What you will need:

Many assume you need a huge makeup collection to achieve a smoky eye, but honestly, it only takes a handful of products and they all can fit in this small makeup bag! 

Whats inside:

Tarte Tartelette 2 in Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette 

NYX Glitter Brilliance Face & Body Glitter in Copper

Smashbox 24 Hour Photofinish Eyeshadow Primer 

Ulta Beauty Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Black Out

Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bad Bronze

One step at a time.

 To start any look, you need a good eye shadow base. The Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow primer will not only make your shadows last longer, it will enhance the colors as well.

If you have been following me on YouTube you might have seen me use this next product many times. The Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Eye Shadow Crayon in Bad Bronze is the perfect brown shadow for any skin tone. This pencil is a creamy product so I like to apply it directly to my lids and blend in with a brush. 

The Ulta Gel Eye liner in Black Out is so smooth going onto your skin, there will me no pulling or tugging around the eyes. I add this deep shade to my water line and smudge out with a pencil brush. 

This versatile palette from Tarte Cosmetics is called IN BLOOM. It has every shade you would need for classic to bombshell looks all in one compact case. I love the mix of shimmer and mattes. Today I am topping off the cream shadow stick with "Rebel" to soften up the edges and create that smoky effect we are after. 

To finish off the eyes, apply 2 coats of mascara and a pair of dramatic lashes. I also popped in a bit of glitter from NYX in the shade Copper for fun! 

At Ulta Beauty there are so many options I am sure you will go home with more than you went in for haha. Hopefully you found this post helpful! Make sure to tag me on social media when you rock your smoky spiced eyes (#sccastaneda)! If you have a few new items on your makeup list after reading this post - you're welcome! Thank you so much for stopping in and until next time...

*Latina Kisses*

The Coral Experience

Travel Diary: Ensenada, Mexico

HOTEL CORAL & MARINA

I have been traveling so much in the past month and its been a blast! If you need to catch up - follow me on Instagram. I am not proud to admit that I have fallen off my fitness routine and ate like it my job for weeks haha. Luckily my last stop was a 4 Day Wellness Program in beautiful Ensenada, Mexico. If you are looking to kickstart a new healthy lifestyle - this program is perfect!

I read the news often and my family is from Mexico, so the first concern I had was safety. I can't stress enough how safe, confident and comfortable I was traveling into Mexico thanks to the shuttle service offered at the hotel. We went straight through the boarder, through the tolls without an issue or delay IN BOTH DIRECTIONS (in and out).  I have so many horror stories of hotels NOT looking like they appeared online, Hotel Coral & Marina was the exact opposite! It looked like a private oasis located right on the Marina and it was beautiful! (BELOW) The deep terra-cotta colored structure stands out among the surrounding hotels. 

I enjoyed the walk through and around the hotel which was full of beautiful art. This particular piece reminds me and when I nursed my son...TMI? Isn't it amazing what a woman's body is capable of?

When we checked into our suite, we went straight to the private patio connected to our room and soaked up the view. The property was clean, tropical, and welcoming.

We had the best gift waiting for us - food! We also received folders that included our schedules for the next few days starting with dinner. I am a foodie so I can't wait for you to see how beautiful the food was! My first outfit change was into a little black dress. 

The food was prepared in the cleanest way possible. Nothing fried, oily, salty, but never lacking flavor. Although this is healthier than I eat on a normal basis...I left the table full and feeling amazing! I can't tell you how many times I felt like I needed to rent a forklift to get me out of a restaurant haha - this was not one of them! Each meal came with a few courses. Here are a few plates I had along the way - including a banana pudding and a popular Mexican cocktail:

Now that I have made you all hungry, lets talk about fitness! As part of the program we were provided with private classes like ocean front yoga, circuit training and new to my life: Feldenkrais. Hopefully this is an accurate description, but from my understanding, through the Feldenkrais Method you can increase your ease and range of motion, flexibility, and coordination. It is said to enhance functioning in other aspects of your life as well. I am a damn mess so Ill take all the help I can get haha. We took this class at the end of the day and it changed the way I slept - like I not one care in the world! The instructor, Logan Fisher, who also leads yoga for the program was knowledgeable and made everyone feel comfortable and excited about fitness. Didn't hurt he was good looking too ;)

There was a private conference room for health and wellness educational talks. This room also doubled as their Feldenkrais studio. 

Our off site trip was to a local vineyard. We went on a morning hike to one of the largest Persian cucumber farms, wine tasting, and a beautiful breakfast followed by yoga right there in the vineyard. To be honest it was so hot and uncomfortable outside I didn't eat. I was a little disappointed there was only one wine to taste - I, like the next, love a good flight of wine and a cheese board when I go wine tasting. Also due to the others in our group being senior citizen who were not able to walk for long, we had to return to the hotel before we planed. 

We ate, worked out, and it would not be a vacation without a little pampering! We were scheduled for facials, massages, and a hair treatment. The C Spa was beautiful, clean and very luxurious. 

The massage I had was unforgettable. I have had many massages before but this one took the cake! I almost feel asleep! When it was over I was so sad, by far the massage was the best service out of the three. Next was a blowout. The products they used in the salon could have been better, also the guy who did my hair was so nervous (because he was new), was shaking and sprayed me in the face and in my ears with water haha. I am happy to report I was not wearing makeup. 

I could have done without this service, but how cool did the dryer look?? I also received a facial which was out of my comfort zone. I am used to being told what products are going to be put on my face and she did not explain anything - that made me very uneasy. Aside from that little hiccup - the rash on my face cleared up! THANK YOU! 

Since leaving the Hotel Coral & Marina's Wellness Program I am still eating clean, working out and incorporating a few Feldenkrais positions to help relieve minor body pains before sleeping! I would love to go back for the summer #coralexperience and to stay on track with my new lifestyle. Thank you so much for reading! Until my next post...

*Latina Kisses*