

Steph & Ayesha Curry's Baecation In Iceland Was What Dreams Are Made Of
Between your increasingly thriving career, familial obligations, and making time for self-care, romance may be the last thing on mind. While you've been focused on living your best life, it's possible that you've been putting bae on the back burner, but according to Steph and Ayesha Curry, your partner should be the most important thing on your to-do list, and their recent trip to Iceland was proof of this fact.
The Currys constantly have their schedules jam-packed with everything from hosting PGA golf tournaments to raising three children, but somehow despite the chaos of both their personal and professional lives, these two always seem to make time for one another. The couple, who spent their weekend in the land of volcanoes, geysers, and lava fields, celebrated 8 years of marriage in July and are a vision of melanin matrimony that is frame-worthy.
While a 7-hour flight to Viking country may not be on your bucket list, this celebrity couple just proved that one of the coolest things you can do is have a hot date on a glacier. Steph and Ayesha spent their baecation at The Retreat Blue Lagoon at Iceland, a luxury resort with floor-to-ceiling windows and lagoon views that starts at $1,300 a night; but there are also Volcano Huts and Cottages available that you can snag at a bargain for an alternatively dope experience.
Although booking a place to stay is a great place to start, Iceland has a lot more to offer than a quaint love nest when it comes to romance. If you and your boo are thinking of booking a trip, here are a few places you should check out while you're there:
Blue Lagoon
Known as one of the Top 25 wonders of the world, Iceland's man-made geothermic spa has been graced by the likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z, Ayesha and Steph Curry, and now, you and your boo! The lagoon's waters stay around 102 degrees Fahrenheit and is open year-round, but due to its popularity, it's recommended that you book well before your trip.
Thrihnukagigur
Climbing into a dormant volcanic crater may not be the ideal date night, but judging from Steph and Ayesha's photos, it sure makes for a fun one. One of the country's top attractions and the only volcano in the world that you can actually go inside, visitors can delve down up to 400 feet down into the volcano's magma chamber for a one of a kind experience.
Experience The Northern Lights At Seltjarnarnes
Aurora Borealis or Northern lights, Iceland
Getty Images
This quaint, mountain-view city is the perfect place for you and your partner to fall in love all over again. From late September until late March, you can experience the Northern Lights, a beautiful display of colors and stars that will set the mood for the date night of your dreams.
Featured image by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
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Ariel B's "This Too Shall Pass" Podcast Is Healing For Single Moms Everywhere
32-year-old social media influencer and mother of five, Ariel B, did not set out to tell her story; but it was her truth that set her free. Her truth is also the inspiration for her new podcast "This Too Shall Pass," produced by Idea To Launch Productions. The podcast delves into Ariel's life and journey as a single parent and a domestic violence survivor. But it also serves as a window into her past traumas that have fostered her resilience.
In an exclusive interview with xoNecole, Ariel B. reveals that her online following grew after she decided to share the realistic, non-curated parts of her life on social media at the advice of her therapist. "Growing up, I was taught to hide things that made you seem less than," she says. "I didn't mind speaking at the shelter for women and children. I didn't mind speaking in my domestic violence group with other women, but I was ashamed to talk about it with people that I felt had a perfect life. So [my therapist] said 'No, you need to get used to telling your story. If you don't like it or you feel some kind of way, just delete it.' I started first on Instagram, and that was probably the first time I dipped my toe in the social media world of telling the truth."
Ariel's followers became inspired by her honest and raw day-in-the-life perspective: the days when she would be over her budget, her kids' rooms wouldn't be the tidiest, or when she'd be running late for pick-ups and drop-offs. Her relatability made single mothers everywhere feel seen, but there's much more to life Ariel's story that she's found the bravery to open up about.
The Florida native had her first child when she was 16 years old. Growing up in a middle-class suburban family, she says she felt judged by family and peers for having children out of wedlock. "I already had two kids before I got married," she says. "And when I got married, I think that was my parents' sigh of relief. Like, oh my gosh, she's finally married. She's not a single mother of two. She should be safe. It was a disaster."
Ariel says marriage was great in the beginning. Her ex-husband presented himself as loving and was a proud stepfather to her two children. After welcoming two more children with her ex-husband, she says that's when the problems started. "We were arguing all the time. The finances were bad. And then it got to the point where he was consuming a lot of alcohol all the time," she says. "And when the alcohol got bad, it got physical. I was embarrassed. I just invited all of my family to this wedding and everyone's so happy that I'm married, but I'm miserable."
Ariel eventually filed for divorce, and was then forced to get a restraining order after her ex proceeded to stalk her. Though these frightening moments are behind her, she's working every day to address the residual trauma. "It was a lot of trauma to get where we are, and a lot to finally feel safe," she says. "But I just wanted to do whatever I had to do so my children wouldn't have to heal from a choice that I made."
It's clear that Ariel's adorable children, ranging from ages three to fifteen, are her biggest inspiration. She often posts videos of herself teaching them important life lessons like how to create a budget and maintain good credit. It's these important life skills that many of her followers said they wished they had learned growing up. For Ariel, her greatest goal is to fill up their self-love tank. "The world is going to knock you down enough when you get older," she says. "So if I can push them out there at a hundred percent if the world can only knock them down to 80, I'd be happy with that. But if they only go out there at 80 and the world can get them down to 60 or less than half of who they are, that's a problem for me."
When it comes to her new podcast, Ariel isn't afraid of the judgments that may come, both from loved ones and strangers. "When you tell the truth, there's nothing to hide from," she says. "I am a single mother of five. I do have more than one child's father. We are on a budget. And when I was able to just be honest, I think I wasn't shameful anymore. I didn't have to pretend and I was able to tell my truth out loud."
"This Too Shall Pass" is out now!