In My Feelings

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Have you ever had a string of wild, unexplainable things that happen to you or around you that have you thinking what planet am I on? How did I get here? Yeah, me too. I think it happens to us all at some point in our lives. Because we all have different backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and perspectives, these moments can affect us very differently. For some of us, these seasons can cause our mental and emotional states to go into a tizzy.

I like to identify this state by using the vernacular of today’s times, being “in my feelings.” I don’t know about you, but when I’m in my feelings, it’s tough to distinguish reality from what this heightened emotional state is telling me. 

Our feelings are very real to us but what they tell us about ourselves, about others, and about life overall is not the truth. Since I was very recently “in my feelings” and decided to minister to myself to find my way out of them, I figured I wouldn’t be selfish and keep my enlightenment to myself. 

One of the most helpful strategies that I have employed to get out of my feelings and back into reality is reminding myself of God’s promises. If you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered if there was a guidebook to adulting that would help you get through life more successfully. I want you to know not only does this book exist, but we also have access to it. That book is the Bible, and it’s filled with God’s wonderful promises that cancel out the lies our feelings try to get over on us. 

Whenever you find yourself in your feelings – perhaps you are there right now – read over and meditate on these promises below. They may not be groundbreaking in the sense that they change the world’s problems, but they may be a start to finding peace with and perhaps solving your own.

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Psalm 18:30

All is and will be well.

Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! Isaiah 3:10

His plans are still intact and what’s mine is mine.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

God will sustain me and rescue me.

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he. I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

I am His, and God delights in me.

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17

He gives me rest.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

God guides me and gives me counsel.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

God is my refuge, strength, and help in my time of need.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 

I always have access to God’s peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

God will never forsake or forget about me. 

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

God’s perfect love casts out all fear. 

Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:18

Nothing can separate me from you. 

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

I am blessed because I believe.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is she who believed the Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Luke 1:45

    Our Spiritual Password

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    Candidly, April was a rough month for me both personally and professionally. Not only did a bunch of commitments converge, it was a month filled with disappointments, setbacks, and unexpected challenges. Have you ever just had a whole season where you felt like everything was coming at you at once? Yeah, it was one of those moments. For the first time in the five years since I launched Golden Life Musings, I didn’t write. I needed a minute y’all.

    While I attempted to recenter myself, I came upon a devotional that put things back into perspective for me. The message was around spiritual warfare and it identified one of the weapons we can use when we find ourselves in the middle of an attack. When I say attack, I don’t mean a physical attack or even an anxiety attack. Spiritual warfare is an attack on the spirit. It’s not just an attack on any spirit; it’s a spirit that belongs to the Lord. And the enemy’s strategy is to attack a spirit when it’s at its lowest, weakest moment. 

    The good news is we have a spiritual password that can unlock the key to our joy and abundant living. Yes, even while undergoing trials. It is more powerful than any other weapon known to man, particularly when you’re dealing with spiritual warfare. That is the “Name of Jesus.”

    If I’m about to lose you, hold on a minute. Let me explain. 

    At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask Him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

    John 16:23, 24

    What John is saying in this scripture is that there is power in the name of Jesus. When Jesus died on that cross and was resurrected, things changed for us as believers. Previously we had to approach God through people (priests); but with this incredibly selfless, sacrificial act of love, He gave us a direct connection to our creator. He not only erased all of our sins, He made us acceptable to God. He gave us access. 

    Just think about all the miraculous things the name of Jesus has done throughout the Bible. We are saved by that name (God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12). We are baptized into His name (…be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38). Regular ordinary people like the disciples were able to cast out demons with that name (These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: they will cast out demons in my name…Mark 16:17). That name is the truth!

    And here’s another thing that will really blow your mind. That same power and spirit that raised Jesus from the dead also lives in you, by way of the Holy Spirit.

    The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

    Romans 8:11

    So when you are feeling hopeless, helpless, lost, powerless, or any of those feelings that don’t serve you, know these two things. You have the authority to go directly to our Father and use our spiritual password to gain immediate assistance. You also have the ability to activate that power and spirit that lives inside of you to access your joy and abundant living He promised you.

    I’m not saying you won’t ever have trials or unexpected challenges, or that you won’t be affected by them. What I am offering is a tool to use when the heaviness of those trials threatens your overall joy and peace. I want you to know that no matter what comes your way, you have a spiritual password you can use, that when coupled with belief, can move mountains. Particularly the ones we’ve created in our own minds. 

    My Review of Marco Island, Florida

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    As a travel professional and enthusiast, one of the unexpected but welcomed outcomes of the global lockdown has been the opportunity to explore new domestic travel options. With Florida boasting some of the best beaches in the United States by far, I’ve made it my go-to vacation spot during the pandemic. 

    I’d heard great things about the southwest coast of the Sunshine State so I decided to make it the destination for my birthday trip in February. I’m so glad that I did. Depending on what type of traveler you are, Marco Island, which is a beautiful barrier island 20 miles south of Naples, you may have one of two completely different reactions to it. Let me first share with you some potential drawbacks before I discuss everything I loved.

    Real Talk

    Marco Island, and really the entire southwest region, is not particularly racially diverse as far as residents or travelers. Think the opposite of the Miami region, which is about a 2.5-hour drive away. For an indication of what I mean, I looked at the last census numbers and the racial makeup of the city was 95.9% white.

    This beautiful year-round beach and boating resort island is also extremely laid back. That means if you’re a beach bum like me, a nature lover, or a golf fanatic, you’ll really enjoy yourself. Those are the primary attractions this resort town has to offer. If you are an adventure freak or someone who needs a mix of turnup with their beach vacay, you’ll be extremely disappointed. But, if you are a couple who’s looking for a romantic, quiet getaway or a family with young children, this vacay spot is for you. And if you are a bachelor/bachelorette group or a family looking to entertain your teenage children, it’s best to look at some other options.

    Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let me share with you everything I loved about Marco Island and the beautiful boutique resort I patronized, The Marco Beach Ocean Resort.

    The accommodations

    My favorite part about this quaint, oceanfront resort is that it offered spacious suites with breathtaking sunset views for a reasonable price. Contrasting the Cheeca Lodge Resort in the Keys I blogged about last month with gorgeous sunrise views, this resort gave a front-row seat to the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen. 

    The one-bedroom suite also offered a full kitchenette complete with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and oven. This is perfect for reheating leftovers or cooking your own budget-friendly meals. 

    I also loved that this boutique resort was serious about its covid safety procedures. All staff wore masks and properly socially distanced. The resort also had signage requesting that all guests wore masks in public areas and numerous hand sanitizing stations.

    The beach

    This barrier island on the Gulf Coast side of Florida offers six miles of blue-ish, green waters and powdery, white sand that is filled with beautiful seashells close to the shoreline. This is a great thing if you like to collect seashells. The drawback of this beautiful scenery is that this shoreline can do serious damage to your feet! I recommend sea shoes. Be careful! 

    Most of the resorts, like the Marco Beach Ocean Resort, offer beach-side service and plenty of comfy beach chairs and umbrellas. However, when the hotel is at capacity, you will want to get down to the beach as early as possible, if you’d like to reserve prime seating. 

    The water was a bit chilly in February, but during the late spring, summer, and fall months, the water is ideal for water wading. I should also mention that the weather in February was perfect – sunny and warm with low humidity. 

    The food

    If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you know I couldn’t talk about a destination without reviewing the culinary delights. If this is your first time reading Golden Life Musings, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Leslie, and I’m a foodie.

    Whenever I visit a new place, I try to visit as many of the restaurants at that destination as possible. Let me first say that I did not have a bad meal in Marco Island. At least three of my meals were at the resort, and they were all spectacular. The highlight of my experience, however, was at the Italian restaurant Sale e Pepe, which offered a special pre-fixe 5-course meal for my birthday dinner. (FYI, this also happened to be Valentine’s Day). It was a whole FIVE STARS!

    Here are some of my other personal recommendations:

    • The yellowtail snapper with a lemon, garlic butter sauce and szechuan green beans at Marco Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant
    • Crab legs (or blue crabs if they have them), Pinchers claws and crab rangoon at Pinchers
    • Kale salad and parmesan truffle french fries at The Beachfront Bar & Grill at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort

    Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Marco Island. Candidly, I was looking for a quiet vacay where the goal was to relax at the beach all day, enjoy delicious culinary treats and spend quality time with my mom and significant other while taking in the beautiful, serene environment around me. If that’s your jam, Marco Island’s got you covered.

    A Day with My Multi-Millionaire Mentor

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    Have you ever had one of those rare moments when you don’t fully realize the true significance of a moment until the moment has passed? I had one of them recently when I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with a man who I’ve admired in business since I found out who he was about six months ago. He’s excelled in pretty much every industry he’s touched from music to network marketing. He’ll be the first to tell you himself that he didn’t excel in those arenas because he was an extraordinary person. He worked very hard for his success. However, what is truly extraordinary about him is his thirst for and commitment to the growth and transformation of something that we all possess and have the ability to change at any moment.

    Before I share some of the insights and nuggets from my conversation with a person of wealth, let me help create some perspective for you by sharing a contrasting story. About a week prior to this vision-stretching session with my new mentor, I met a woman at an event where I was presenting some information about my business. At the conclusion of my talk, the woman shared what she described as a bad experience with a similar business because it required more work than she realized in order to have success. It required hard work. I thought to myself, the business she’s referring to was one that I actually made a decent amount of money with and helped to put me on track to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. We had two totally different experiences with the same business. That got me thinking further…but I didn’t connect the dots fully until later.

    That day with my new multi-millionaire mentor, whose name is Edwin Haynes, I learned that he had very humble beginnings, including a learning disability that made him read slower than normal. That means that it required him to work harder to read, which of course at the time he hated. Today, not only is he an avid reader, he’s an author. Clearly, the hard work paid off right? But I believe it wasn’t just his work ethic that got him to where he is. All the books that I’ve read over the last fifteen years like Think and Grow Rich, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind and The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class all point to one critical determining factor to our success – mindset.

    Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.

    Have you ever wondered why or how two people who grew up in the same circumstances, sometimes even the same households, go on to lead opposite lives of wealth and poverty? Is it really because one was more capable of attaining wealth than the other?

    Mr. Haynes talked about his struggle with overcoming what he calls programming, or conditioning. His programming, like many of ours, told him to do the things the people around him were doing. But then he realized that there was a whole world of success outside of the box he grew up in and it required him to do something different to get out of it. It was uncomfortable and it required him to stretch himself beyond what he believed was possible for himself. But he persevered anyway.

    “Stretch yourself. Do the uncomfortable until it’s not uncomfortable, and then stretch yourself again. That’s the key to success.””

    What really became clear to me that day was that success is a choice. Living your most abundant life possible is simply a decision you make. Living a life of greatness is not about whether or not someone is capable, because I believe God put that ability in all of us. Many of us just suffer from a belief deficit and quite frankly, stinking thinking. The good news is, we have the ability to change our belief and our mindset at any time.

    I mentioned before what I thought was extraordinary about Mr. Haynes is his thirst for and commitment to the growth and transformation of something that we all possess and have the ability to change at any moment. That is mindset. He’s constantly elevating himself to new levels because he continues to invest time, money and energy into his own personal growth and development, which begins and ends with the proper mindset.

    My day with Mr. Haynes was my way of investing in my own personal growth and development. It cost me time, money and energy. But was it worth it? Absolutely! The nuggets I learned from that conversation elevated my mindset, which in turn has motivated me to increase my work ethic, contributing to increased results. They’re all connected.

    Here are some of the biggest takeaways from our conversation that I hope will inspire you in some way as well.

    1. It costs more to be broke than it does to be rich/wealthy. If you’ve ever been severely challenged financially you know this to be true with the consequences of late fees, bad credit, etc. Mr. Haynes wasn’t just talking about being broke financially though. What about being broke from a time standpoint or worse, being broke from a purpose or passion standpoint? What does it cost you to not be operating in your purpose? Is it worth working hard to be able to live and walk abundantly in your purpose?
    2. The mind doesn’t know the difference between the truth and a lie. Tell yourself what you want to believe. Our minds are one of the most powerful computers on the planet. And just like a computer, it has programming that we have the power to rewrite. Instead of feeding it with what is, feed it with what you desire. If you don’t believe in subconscious mind power or the power of suggestion, just read any of the books I mention above and see for yourself.
    3. Success principles always work, just like the law of gravity. We cannot escape the laws of success any more than we can escape the laws of gravity. Commit to studying these principles and then execute them in your life to test it out. What do you have to lose? Or better question, how much do you stand to gain?

     

    Me and Edwin Haynes

    Single and Saved

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    DSC_0155

    This past week I completed a five-day prayer challenge called “Pray for Your Future Spouse Challenge.” In the challenge-crazed day in which we live, it was refreshing to participate in an activity like this that actually had meaning and purpose to it. As a result, it was hands down the most spirit-rousing, meaningful challenge I’ve ever completed.

    Literally, more than 200,000 people from around the world participated in this challenge, which was hosted by a dynamic couple named Jamal and Natasha Miller. Their ministry, which began nearly seven years ago when they became husband and wife, is teaching others how to do relationships God’s way in an effort to help reduce the divorce rate. What a noble mission!

    Here’s why it was so powerful for me. I had ALMOST given up hope that there was a man of God out there for me. I told myself that dating in general in this day in age is hard enough as it is, but then here I am waiting for a Godly man. An emotionally, physically and spiritually mature man. Yeah that’s pretty much like waiting for a unicorn to show up at my front door.

    But then this challenge happened…

    I joined a Facebook community of people (which is as of this writing at more than 241,000 members) ranging in age from 18 to 68 who are all desiring, waiting on and praying for the same thing – a Godly spouse. And yes, there are thousands of single and saved men in this group. All desiring transformation in themselves and their relationships, and in serious pursuit of a Godly woman. Total perspective shifter and game changer.

    The reality is, in my opinion, it’s still difficult to be single and saved – but not in the way I once thought. As a single and saved person, there’s a different criterion by which you measure your mate than the rest of the world. You are going against the grain in a very major way, so by default, that’s going to be challenging. But what I got in this community was that I am by no means alone in this struggle. The men are finding it challenging as well. I honestly thought it was mostly women who struggled with this. I was wrong.

    I was talking to a male friend of mine after church this past Sunday and he said almost verbatim what I had uttered maybe a few weeks prior about the lack of available, Godly men our age, except he was talking about women. I literally said, “Are you serious? There are tons of available, Godly women out here.” But that was just it. We each had our own limited perspective blocking us from the truth. The problem isn’t with the number, because we really only need one to be the one. The challenge has been with our environment.

    Once I put myself in an environment where I saw evidence of that which I thought didn’t exist (or at least was very limited), my perspective and ultimately, mindset shifted. And believe me, there were a whole host of other takeaways that I got out of the challenge as well. I won’t give away the content, because it’s just that good, but I will share one of my biggest revelations.

    I had gotten caught up in our #goals-crazed society, specifically #marriagegoals. As an entrepreneur, I’ve got goals for days, but when it comes to me connecting with my husband, that doesn’t really work. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with goals. I’ve been so frustrated in the past because I’ve been trying to operate from my self-constructed timeline of being married and having a family by the age of 40. Let’s be honest here, it wasn’t just my timeline – society says I should have a family by this age as well. But God doesn’t work like that. He doesn’t operate based on my goals or society’s timeline. He has a plan and vision for my life, as He does for every person on this Earth. My job is to be intentional about pursuing my purpose, waiting for Him to reveal to me His vision for my life and letting Him unfold the plan in His time.

    What I’ve come to know is that being Single and Saved is a sacred group. Even though I still have a desire to be a wife, I’ve become more at ease in my singleness because I believe that this season has purpose, just as my season as a wife will as well. If you’re single and saved I want you to be encouraged and know that this time of singleness has purpose for you as well. Embrace it and enjoy the journey of becoming a better you while you wait.

    If you’re interested in learning more about the challenge and/or the couple who hosted the challenge, visit www.prayforyourfuturespouse.com.

     

     

    Review: KYU Miami

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    Leslie at KYU Miami

    A few years ago, I blogged about the restaurant scene in the Miami Beach area and I entitled the post “Foodie Heaven.” No doubt, the Miami area is one of the best places to visit if you want to have your taste buds tantalized, and as is the case for many large cities, there are always new restaurants popping up to keep you on your toes. Ironically, it was around the time that I wrote Foodie Heaven that KYU emerged onto the Miami restaurant scene but I failed to discover it until last year. And boy what a discovery it was!

    KYU (pronounced /kyo͞o/) is an Asian-inspired restaurant located in the artsy and hip Wynwood district in Miami. I want to point out that while the food definitely uses a lot of Asian spices and techniques, I promise you it is in a class all its own. Each dish is artfully crafted, mirroring the artistic, eclectic feel of the neighborhood in which the restaurant resides. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed with a modern, chic type of vibe and the staff is pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes.

    I most recently visited for the third time, allowing me to sample a good portion of the diverse menu, which has a little something for everybody no matter what type of eater you are. I’m not really sure how this is possible, but each time I’ve visited I’ve fallen more in love with the food. That’s why, hands down, this has become my favorite restaurant to visit in the Miami area.

    Let’s start with the roasted cauliflower. I know what you’re thinking. Cauliflower, really? Yes, really. It’s just that good! The sauce, made with goat cheese and shishito-herb vinaigrette, is really what makes this dish, and if you’re not convinced you just have to take my word for it. My mom, who historically has not been a fan of cauliflower or broccoli, devours it every time we visit.

    roasted cauliflower

    KYU is known especially for its wood fire items, which in my opinion have the most dynamic flavors out of all of the other menu items. And they want you to know that for every tree they burn, they replant five.

    At the top of my wood-fire item list: the Thai fried rice stone pot. This is not like any other fried rice you’ve had before. The rice is actually not fried at all, rather it simmers in a stone pot that is filled with all the yummy goodness that you can imagine including a bunch of Thai herbs and spices like lemongrass and Thai basil. Don’t be alarmed by the partially cooked egg that comes on top as it is delivered to the table. The waiter carefully mixes everything together for you at the table as the rice and all its ingredients continue to cook. It’s actually an experience!

     

    For you fried chicken lovers, you’ve got to try the Korean fried chicken. It’s not smothered in grease like the others in my top five best fried chicken recipes, but I assure you it made it to the list. I especially love the red chili butter (think hot sauce) accompanying it that makes it good for sopping, if you can stand the heat.

    korean fried chicken

    Also on the wood fire list is the Florida red snapper, which most recently became my favorite dish on the menu. It literally melted in my mouth and I wanted to cry. I’m really not exaggerating. I felt a tear well up in the corner of my eye and I had to laugh at myself. The brown butter-white miso that was delicately drizzled on top just made the dish for me. It was so good I ate little bites just so I could savor it for a little while longer. I did not want it to end! Don’t judge me.

    red snapper

    Some additional menu items that I would recommend are the baby back ribs, the beef short ribs, and the soft-shell crab (served in traditional steamed Chinese buns). They are all delightful in their own right. Admittedly, I have not tried everything on the menu but based on everything I’ve had so far, you can’t go wrong.

     

    Baby back ribs
    Beef short ribs
    Soft shell crab bun
    Grilled broccoli

    Some other things to note if you plan to visit KYU. Perhaps try family style on your first visit, which many of the menu items can accommodate. Because there are so many good dishes to try, you may want to order several of them so each person in your party can partake in the deliciousness. Also, this restaurant is moderately priced compared to many of the restaurants in the Miami area, with happy hour offering half off many of the popular dishes.

    Last word of caution. If you’re planning to go, be sure to make a reservation. I’m not the only one who thinks KYU is pretty amazing. You’re welcome!

    How Do I Determine God’s Will for My Life?

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    Gods Will pic

    Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you. Romans 12:2

    Have you ever asked yourself the question, how do I determine God’s will for my life? Have you ever just made so many mistakes or perceived wrong turns that you just had to stop yourself and say “Ok God, I give up. What am I doing wrong here?” I know I have.

    But then, this scripture changed my life.

    I’ve been drawn to God for as long as I can remember. I’d like to call myself a spiritual person. That is, curious about God enough to seek Him out, study Him and have a relationship with Him. But it took me having to go though a little bit of life first before I actually “walked with Him.”

    What does “walking with Him” look like, you might ask. For me, it wasn’t just about going to church and being satisfied with hearing the word presented to me by someone else – even though that was certainly helpful to my spiritual growth. My real walk began when I started to actually have quiet time dedicated to reading the word for myself, talking to God, actually sitting still and listening for Him to speak back to me, and journaling. That’s when I felt a real connection, and things started to shift for me.

    Several years into my walk, I stumbled across this scripture. I had read it before, I’m certain, because I had read the Bible front to back before. But I didn’t really explore it and dissect it and understand it until I really searched for this understanding of God’s will for my life.

    And there it was. Staring me in the face. Slowly but surely over time, as I strengthened my walk with Him, as I started to not just listen to and seek understanding from God, I started to be obedient – I began to change into a new person. I started to think differently, speak differently, walk differently. I started to make wiser decisions. As the scripture states, I was being transformed. In the midst of my transformation, I found access to determining God’s will for my life.

    Now before you look at me sideways for thinking that I am claiming to be some type of prophetess, let me explain to you what I understand is knowing God’s will for one’s life.

    God has given us some pretty clear instructions on how to live in the Bible. However, one big challenge for us is that we often pick and choose what we’d like to be obedient to based off of our limited understanding of a boundary He has set. In other cases, it may be an unwillingness to do or not do something that requires self-control or discipline.

    However, when we start to study the Bible and internalize the words and truly live those words out, we start to operate in a way that constantly asks the question, “what would God want me to do here?” And you know what happens after that? The path starts to become clear. We start to think and walk and talk like Him. With each step that we take towards obedience, the more our minds are renewed, and the clearer the path becomes.

    Now can I see all the way through to the end of my story, or even answer questions like who will I marry or how long do I have here on Earth? No, but that’s not the point of this gift either. The point is, if you want to know how to live and determine what God wants for you, you just need to first believe that He knows the way and will show you, and allow Him to constantly transform you into the person He is shaping you to be. In that renewing of your mind, there you will find His will. There you will find the firm footing of His plans for you.  In following His instructions, He will indeed show you the way forward.

    Learn more about my personal testimony in discovering God’s will for my life in my newest book, God Doesn’t Make Mistakes at www.ourmistakeshisplans.com.

    God Doesn't Make Mistakes Cover Image_3D

    Five Reasons to Love the El Dorado

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    I’ve traveled all over the world and stayed at a number of fantastic properties. However, there’s only one property in the world I’ve traveled to five times. I have not visited this beautiful resort since launching Golden Life Musings so naturally, I just had to blog about the reasons why I love the El Dorado Spa Resorts by Karisma and why you should too!

    1. The accommodations

    First, let me share that the AAA Four Diamond award-winning, adults-only El Dorado Spa Resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico consist of El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites and El Dorado Maroma. The Karisma brand also includes Generations, the family friendly resort that is connected to the El Dorado property. During my previous visits I stayed at the El Dorado Royale and the El Dorado Seaside Suites, which is a little further away in Tulum. However, on this stay I decided to try something new and explore the El Dorado Casitas Royale. My casita, which means “little house” in Spanish, was everything I thought it would be AND more!

    Casita
    My casita made me feel right at home

    One of the things I love about these resorts is the spaciousness of all of the accommodations, including the lead-in category room, which they call their standard room, but is anything close to standard. The casita, however, boasted even more space and came complete with its own expansive indoor and outdoor shower stalls and an indoor alcove for a private spa jacuzzi. Depending on which category of casita you select – I opted for the oceanfront casita – you have either an outside deck that expands into a swim-out pool or an outside deck or balcony that leads out to the ocean. In either category you also have a private pool and swim-up bar for you and your neighbors to enjoy.  So, you have options – either a pool or the ocean is your backyard…decisions, decisions!

    Casita2
    I had some of the best quiet times on my veranda

    Something to Note: The casitas really only work if you are traveling solo or you are a romantic couple. As is the case with most adults-only resorts, there are limited or no options for double beds. Therefore, if you want to travel with your bestie, your best bet is for each of you to get your own casita or stay at the El Dorado Royale or Generations (the family resort next door) if you want to room together.

    1. The culinary experience

    If this is your first time reading Golden Life Musings let me just share with you now that I’m a foodie. That means any review that I do is going to talk about food and how much I love it. That being said, this resort had me at “gourmet-inclusive.” That means this is not your typical all-inclusive resort. These properties specialize in culinary arts and aim to give you the full palate-pleasing experience. In fact, on their web site it says, “it’s not just cuisine. This is a culinary journey.” Hello!

    El Dorado Food
    Some of my favorite dishes to view and eat 🙂

    What does that mean exactly, you ask? Well, let me just share with you some of the amenities. There are more than 12 restaurants on the property (including the Royale, Casitas, and Generations) serving an array of gourmet options, there is 24-hour complimentary room service, and the kicker – the El Dorado Royale has a 76,000 sq. ft. greenhouse on the property where fresh vegetables and spices are grown.

    El Dorado Greenhouse

    Additionally, this time I opted to partake in a unique feature of the El Dorado brand – Fuentes, a Culinary Theatre. This five-course culinary experience features a full cooking show where the resort’s Head Chef and Sommelier prepare a demonstration of each course using some of the finest ingredients from their greenhouse and pair them with a premier selection of wines. It was truly an experience, and not to mention delicious!

    Something to Note: This is one restaurant where you definitely need to have a reservation. There is only one sitting each night, which begins at 7 pm with a welcome cocktail and 7:30 show and dinner.

    El Dorado Fuentes

    1. The service

    Having stayed at this property on more than one occasion, I can say with confidence that this resort is one of the best I’ve experienced in customer service. The staff is not only super-friendly and cordial, they are extremely helpful and do what they can to make you feel like a rock star. During this stay, because I was a Casitas Royale guest, I was able to experience the convenience of having a personal concierge. This person was there to essentially take care of whatever I needed from booking my massage and restaurant reservations to finding me a toothbrush if I needed one. When you experience service like that, well it’s hard to go back to anything else!

    Check-in appetizers and champagne
    This was our check-in experience – appetizers and champagne!

    Something to Note: There is a complimentary shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes to take you anywhere you want to go on the property. This service ends at 11 pm so if you plan on enjoying the many restaurants or bars after 10 pm, know that you will have to get yourself back to your accommodations on your own.

    1. The spa

    As it is one of my duties as a travel consultant to fully inspect a property for my clients, I had to do my due-diligence, of course, in experiencing the spa (smile). There are two spas on the resort and this time, since I was a Casitas guest, I opted for the Casita Spa. Both have an ancient Mayan-themed motif and are designed to “soothe, refresh, and rejuvenate your entire being.” And that it did!

    I elected to indulge in what they call “The Sky” massage, which is conducted in an open-air cabana right on the beach where you can hear the sound of the waves crashing in the background and feel the warm Caribbean breeze graze your skin as you get rubbed down. It was so magnificent, in fact, I had to go back for a second visit a couple of days later…for research purposes of course (smile).

    El Dorado Naay Spa
    Be sure to ask for Saidy or Angeles…their hands are magic! That photo on the bottom right shows how relaxed I was lol.

    Something to Note: Try your hand at the 80-minute Kukulkan massage, which infuses different massage techniques using natural oils derived from the benefits of Mexican herbal therapy and massage accessories that include native dried gourds and bamboo. They also use a combination of various techniques including Lomi-Lomi, Reflexology, Shiatsu and Swedish, which will have you in the deepest state of relaxation and serenity you ever thought possible.

    1. The vibe

    This might be the hardest part of the resort to describe, but probably one of the most important parts of a vacation for me. Every time I visit a new destination, I am keenly aware of the feeling I get when I experience all of the aforementioned amenities. It is an intangible, yet very real part of the experience, and that is the vibe.

    Most of the times I visited this resort, I have been with a large group of people and with those large groups, sometimes it is hard for a resort to maintain the essence of what makes its brand shine and the quality of service that it provides. Not here. From the convention group services to our private foam party and swim-up bar service, each staff member served us with excellence and made us feel like we were right at home. And that’s why the El Dorado will see me again.

    El Dorado Maroma
    The El Dorado Maroma’s overwater bungalows are next on my list! Yes, please!

    From Thailand With Love Part Two

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    Last month I began to tell you about my amazing trip to Thailand and yes, it was that epic I had to break it up into two parts. One of the beautiful things about Thailand is in fact, the diversity of the places to see while you’re there. The experience in Bangkok is very different from the experience in Phuket, but I very much appreciated them both. But before I get into sharing my love affair with Phuket, let me interrupt this program to share with you my experience getting to the other side of the world.

    My travel mates and I knew we wanted to make a stop in Dubai, so we decided to do it big and have the Emirates experience. If you’ve never heard about or actually had the Emirates experience let me enlighten you. It is beyond first class – even if you are flying economy class. Since this was also birthday trip, my saint of a mother upgraded our tickets to business class as a birthday gift. BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER!

    Business Class

    Literally from the moment we stepped out of my house to find our Suburban waiting to escort us to the airport, Emirates made us feel like superstars. Every meal, from breakfast in the lounge to the lunch and dinner and snacks on each flight, was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The service was impeccable. The rest that I got in my seat that converted into a lay flat bed was the best sleep by far I’ve ever gotten on a plane. Emirates even took care of a complimentary hotel room where we could go and freshen up during our 10-hour layover in Dubai. The only bad part about it all is that they’ve completely ruined me from wanting to experience another airline, and certainly not economy. [Insert chuckle and fake eye roll here.] I will be flying Southwest in a few weeks and I will be just fine.

    IMG_20190424_132701

    I have to admit though, after the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, which is not unlike most highly populated major cities around the world, I was ready for the calm and serenity of Phuket. And it did not disappoint. Phuket is by far one of the most beautifully charming cities I’ve visited. From the moment we stepped out of our transfer onto the beach, my heart skipped a beat. I felt like I was in heaven on Earth. The almost white sand and blue green water glistening from the brilliance of the sun immediately relaxed all the leftover tension I was holding in my body from back home.

    Baan Amandeha

    We walked onto the property at the villa and I had another reaction – complete awe. This villa was incredible and none of the photos or videos quite do it justice…but I tried! At the last minute, the vendor that I used to book the villa upgraded us from what was already a phenomenal property to this 10-bedroom beachfront dreamhouse. There was nothing about this place I didn’t love, but my favorite part was the infinity pool and the direct view of the sunrise from my bedroom every morning. The day of my birthday I decided to take a bath while I watched the sunrise. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

    Sunrise

    While I have to admit that it was quite hard leaving that place, all of the activities we experienced off the property were just as incredible. If you know me you can probably guess my favorite, which was the Thai cooking class. It was awesome! Our concierge connected us with Pat’s Home Thai Cooking Class – a must visit! We cooked several traditional Thai dishes – Tom Yum Goong soup, spring rolls, chicken green curry, papaya salad and a banana in coconut milk dessert. Yum! It was one of my favorite meals on the entire trip.

    Thai Cooking Class

    Next on our agenda was to visit the Big Buddha Temple of Phuket and the Elephant Sanctuary. The temple was one of the most gorgeous structures I’ve ever seen. The Big Buddha statue sits on a hill directly overlooking a 360-degree panoramic view of the island and Chalong Bay. It was absolutely breathtaking. The temple, which sits adjacent to the statue, has a number of Buddha statues made of gold and marble that are equally incredible.

    Big Buddha

    Our visit to the Elephant Sanctuary was just as we all wanted it to be – short and sweet. We liked the fact that the sanctuary we went to gave us the option to ride or feed the elephants and we all opted to feed them. I had researched prior to the trip about how elephants’ backs are actually not built to hold the weight of humans. Our interaction with them was just long enough to get our photo ops and get some baby elephant kisses along the way.

    Elephant Sanctuary

    One of my other most memorable parts of the trip was our trip to the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced pee pee if you were wondering). Ever since I put Thailand on my vision board and bucket list, I had dreamed of going to the Phi Phi Islands. And I must say, I was not quite prepared for what I actually experienced. Let me explain. First, no one told us about the speedboat ride there. It was rough, to put it mildly. So rough, ten minutes into our trip we had to turn around and go back because two of the ladies could not take the ride – for stomach and fear issues. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement! But the rest of the girls and I battled it through for the more than an hour-long ride. Once we got there, we could all say that it was absolutely worth it. There really are no words to really describe the majestic beauty of this place.

    Panoramic Phi Phi Islands

    We stopped a few times, once to see Monkey island (where you can imagine what goes on there) and another time to hop off and do some snorkeling. I don’t know if it was the crazy ride or the heat of the afternoon sun, but that was the most refreshing water I’ve ever experienced. The final stop was a shopping area where we scored on some great souvenirs and a delicious lunch.

    Phi Phi Islands

    After that day trip, we were happy to get back to our villa where our massage therapists were awaiting our return. We had no idea how much we were going to need them that day! One quick note here, massages are amazingly cheap in Thailand (as low as $20 for an hour), so make plans to load up on massages while you are there!

    Massage Therapists
    We had our own massage room in the villa!

    I would be remiss if I ended the recap of my Thailand trip without sharing my birthday experience with you. We hired a chef to come in and cook three meals for us that day (which was also very cheap by American standards) and it was absolutely amazing! Imagine this: you wake up when you’ve finished sleeping (which happened to be at sunrise), soak in a nice warm bath, eat breakfast that’s waiting for you, have a photo shoot with your friends, wade in the water, have another amazing meal, get a massage, take a nap, and have another amazing meal. Heaven!

    Birthday Meals

    That’s pretty much the word I would use to describe this trip. Absolute heaven. That’s why I will be returning to this charming destination and I recommend you add it to your bucket list as well.

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    From Thailand With Love

    Posted on by goldenlifemusings

    In case you haven’t noticed, I love to travel. With each new destination I visit, I get a renewed thirst and joy for visiting a new place. And just like that, it becomes one of my favorite trips to date. My most recent journey to Thailand proved to be no different.

    This beautiful country located in Southeast Asia has everything I love about a travel destination – beautiful beaches, a fascinating culture, kind people, amazing food, and lots of hidden and not so hidden treasures to explore.

    Our trek began with a day-long layover in Dubai, which I was eager to get back to after spending some time there a few years ago. I had the opportunity to show my traveling buddies some of my favorite sites – Miracle Garden and Global Village. We split our time between the two, but you could easily spend a whole day exploring and still not see everything these destinations have to offer. (For more insights on Dubai, why you should go and what you should do while you’re there, visit my “Why Dubai?” blog post.)

    Dubai 2019

    Our first stop in Thailand was Bangkok. We stayed in the beautiful Okura Prestige. Since by American standards Bangkok hotels are pretty cheap, I figured we could afford to splurge on luxury accommodations here…and luxury it was! Between the breathtaking views from the rooftop infinity pool, the first-class customer service and stylish, spacious rooms offering panoramic views of the city, we took no time to fully immerse ourselves into luxury Thai living with a bit of Japanese flare. 

    The foodie in me could not resist the urge to indulge in pad thai as my first meal in Thailand. And it did not disappoint!
    Jet lag took me down! 😦
    This rooftop infinity pool was everything.
    I loved my personal welcome message. 🙂

    Our first adventure was testing out the street food at the infamous night markets in Bangkok. Well honestly, getting there was the first adventure. We decided to try our hand at Bangkok public transportation, which was not bad, once we got the hang of it. It’s definitely one of the cleanest, civilized public transit systems I’ve experienced. I definitely recommend it because it was the quickest, cheapest option to get around considering the horrendous traffic!

    We were all smiles because we finally figured out where we were going after 15 minutes of wandering lol.
    Yes, they had a nail shop in the station. US we gotta step our game up!

    Our concierge at Okura Prestige recommended The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada right next to the Esplanade shopping mall, which was conveniently just a few steps from the Thai Cultural Center transit stop. I was definitely overwhelmed with all of the food options at the market – but in a good way. I spent a great deal of time surveying the rows and rows of vendors until I finally landed on what essentially were dumplings filled with yummy goodness. There was a lot of chicken, seafood, fish, and yes, they even had a wide array of insects (yuck). Vegetables seemed to be a bit scarce. I tried everything from Thai fried chicken to pork belly to marinated prawns and grilled squid, and honestly, I did not try one thing I didn’t like. I did have one regret though. I did not try the whole fish filled with herbs roasting on a spit that some of my travel mates went back and tried the next day. You know what that means…I have to go back!

    Thai street food

    Our journey the next day took us to the Floating Market. A word of caution – it’s best to leave super early in the morning (6:30 or 7 am) because it is an actual journey getting there. The distance and traffic from downtown can easily make it a two hour ride each way! I can’t say that I was wowed by anything in the markets, as you could find what they were selling at most of the vendors in the markets closer into the city. But, the experience of floating down the waterway to visit the different vendors was pretty cool. I don’t have to do it again though (smile).

    On our return visit on the back end of our trip, we had a chance to visit what is affectionately called the “Weekend” market, which was even larger and filled with more shopping options than the night market. This market seemed to be one that more of the locals visit for retail shopping. They had literally every trinket, piece of clothing, and food option you can imagine. I just wish we had been able to spend more time there.

    Speaking of shopping, one note about Thailand. In general, it’s extremely affordable once your feet hit the ground there. Most everything – food, souvenirs, even massages – is pretty cheap considering the exchange of the US dollar to Thai currency, which is called baht, is in our favor. One dollar is equivalent to 30 baht. A decent meal at the street market might run you 150 to 300 baht depending on how hungry you are (smile).

    So that was just Bangkok. Stay tuned for Part 2 of From Thailand With Love where I’ll share more on my favorite part of the trip: Phuket! I’ll give you a sneak peek…this was our 10-bedroom home for five days!

    Baan Amandeha