Staying Blonde is Michelle Tucker, mother of two fantastic kids. Staying Blonde is where I share my journey. Learn from my wins and fails — hopefully, you can take advantage of the lessons I’ve learned, things I’ve figured out, and the bits of life I’ve untangled. Life is best when we lift each other up.
Hi! I'm Michelle.
Staying blonde through travel, food, and family fun.
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Disney Days, Comfy Nights: Our Stay at the Renovated Hilton Anaheim
The Ultimate 11-Day Japan Itinerary for Families with Teens
The Ultimate 11-Day Japan Itinerary for Families with Teens
Greek Lemon Rice Soup
Greek Lemon Rice Soup
Mom of two, seeking a little sanity in the everyday
Grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and dive right in. I’m sure you’ll find some goodness here!
Featured Stories
Travel
“Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective.” ― Rick Steves
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
Costa Rica Family Itinerary: 10 Days of Adventure, Wildlife & Beaches
Costa Rica Family Itinerary: 10 Days of Adventure, Wildlife & Beaches
Disney Days, Comfy Nights: Our Stay at the Renovated Hilton Anaheim
Disney Days, Comfy Nights: Our Stay at the Renovated Hilton Anaheim
11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling to Sri Lanka
11 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka by Tuk Tuk: The Ultimate Travel Adventure
Sri Lanka by Tuk Tuk: The Ultimate Travel Adventure
Japan Travel Mistakes: What We’d do Differently Next Time
Japan Travel Mistakes: What We’d do Differently Next Time
Eats
“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” — Julia Child
Italian Beef and Shells Casserole
Italian Beef and Shells Casserole
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritz
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritz
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Bars
Easy and Delicious Apple Crisp
Easy and Delicious Apple Crisp
Five Cup Salad
Five Cup Salad
Lifestyle
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” — Maya Angelou
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Herbal Face Food Review
Herbal Face Food Review
Budget-Friendly Concrete Makeover: Let’s Paint the Patio
Budget-Friendly Concrete Makeover: Let’s Paint the Patio
Create Your Own Wisteria Wonderland
Create Your Own Wisteria Wonderland
How to Make a Haunted Halloween Tunnel
How to Make a Haunted Halloween Tunnel
Recent Posts
"There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent past." ― George Carlin
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
Costa Rica Family Itinerary: 10 Days of Adventure, Wildlife & Beaches
Costa Rica Family Itinerary: 10 Days of Adventure, Wildlife & Beaches
Italian Beef and Shells Casserole
Italian Beef and Shells Casserole
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritz
Cranberry Pomegranate Spritz
Disney Days, Comfy Nights: Our Stay at the Renovated Hilton Anaheim
Disney Days, Comfy Nights: Our Stay at the Renovated Hilton Anaheim
Shop the Feed
“Shopping is my cardio.” — Carrie Bradshaw
Latest on Social
“Humor is a social lubricant that helps us get over some of the bad spots.” — Steve Allen
Shibuya Sky is a must if you’re headed to Tokyo. It offers the most breathtaking 360° open-air view of the city.
If you want sunset tickets, plan ahead because they sell out fast. We weren’t able to get that coveted sunset time slot. But honestly, the nighttime views are just as spectacular.
Tip: If sunset tickets are gone and you really want to be up there for sunset, try booking a time a little earlier. Once you’re up there, you can usually stay awhile, which means you may still catch sunset without needing the exact time slot. Tickets generally go on sale 14 days in-advance starting at midnight Japan time.
Tokyo completely lived up to the hype, and this view was one of the highlights of the whole trip. I have our full kid-friendly itinerary linked in my bio. #shibuyasky #tokyotravel #tokyotravelguide #japantravel #beautifulview
Who else is already thinking about, or reminiscing about summer travels?
The weather has really warmed up here, and it has me thinking about last summer’s very toasty trip to Japan.
I mean… you can literally see the sweat spots on my dress in this photo. It was that hot. 🥵
But hey, we were hot in Japan, so I’m not complaining… too much.
Japan is going to be hard to top. It was such an incredible experience, and the kids loved every minute, especially Tokyo.
I have our full Japan itinerary linked in my bio if you’re planning a trip there.
Right now I’m in the middle of finalizing this summer’s travel plans, and honestly, I didn’t even think we were going to be able to go anywhere this year. We’ve had a lot of setbacks lately… but then the most incredible opportunity came up that I just couldn’t say no to. I’m so excited to share more about it soon. #summertravel #japantravels #japantravelguide #kyotojapan
It’s been a year since we added this little wisteria wonderland to my daughter’s room, and I swear it still feels just as magical as the day we hung it up.
For those wondering how I keep it clean, nothing fancy here… just a feather duster once a week and it stays looking perfect.
If you want to create your own touch of Wonderland, I shared the full supply list and step-by-step directions in the link in my bio. #girlsroom #girlsroomdecor #wisteria #diydecor #girlmomlife
Jumping on this trend because the 90’s were freaking awesome! What a time to be alive.
For me, the 90s were high school, college, acting & modeling, my first reporting job, backpacking through Europe, and meeting my husband.
It feels like I lived 10 different lives in one decade…back when life was simpler, slower, and unplugged. Would you go back to the 90’s? #90sthrowback
If you’re looking to get tickets, be sure to grab this offer! Exclusive 30% off* tickets for BEETLEJUICE at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts from March 31 – April 5 from Broadway San Jose! Click UNLOCK before selecting your seats and enter the code: BLONDE for this special offer. *Valid on evening performances in select seats only. Offer is processed as 30% off the base price of each ticket. Ticketmaster fees apply. Not applicable to previous purchases. No refunds or exchanges.
The show is based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, BEETLEJUICE tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Entertainment Weekly calls it “A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE SOUL!” #broadwaysanjose #beetlejuiceonbroadway #theater #beetlejuice #bayareafun
Happy International Women’s Day! ❤️
Here’s to raising strong girls, staying strong ourselves, and learning as we go.
Cheers to all the women out there doing their best, changing the rules, and showing up anyway.
We obviously took these photos years ago when my mini-me was still actually mini…
now she’s taller, sassier, and definitely stealing my clothes.
Posting old photos feels a little illegal on Instagram these days,
but it’s Women’s Day…
and I’m a woman…
so today, I’m making the rules. #internationalwomensday #happywomensday #stronggirls #momanddaughter
Has spring sprung where you are? Or are you still in the midst of winter?
One of the things I love most about living in California is our abbreviated winter. Everything is already starting to bloom here. I love that the leaves are back on the trees, spring flowers are popping up everywhere, and the days are finally getting a little longer.
This photo was taken in the orchid room at teamLab Planets in Tokyo, one of the most beautiful and immersive exhibits in the museum. The entire space is filled with thousands of floating orchids that gently rise and fall around you as you walk through. It feels a little like stepping into spring... even if it’s still winter outside.
#orchids #teamlabplanets #tokyotravel #spring
I truly did not expect this to reach over 22 million views. 🤯
I’ve loved reading through your comments and questions.
This is a Foucault Pendulum located inside the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It demonstrates Earth’s rotation by maintaining its plane of motion while the Earth moves beneath it, which is why it slowly knocks the pins down over time. Each pin falls roughly every 30 - 40 minutes.
And for those wondering how it keeps swinging:
It’s kept in motion by a small electromagnetic drive that gently offsets friction and air resistance.
Science is freaking amazing.
More interesting finds, cool spots to visit, and fun things to do coming. #pendulum #foucault #scienceiscool #bayareablogger #californiaacademyofsciences
