Chronicles of a Brain Fart

 Portrait of a Zombie Mama holding her zombie brain

{ no, that's just a cacao fruit }

So, I'm at the beach right now, Yay! right? No, make that double Yay! Since yesterday my allergies has not acted up one bit. And though I hate rubbing it in, it's so glorious being at the beach right now. Temperature is suppose to warm up tomorrow and I can't wait to walk down that so-lovely shore and dip my feet in the ocean water. Now no, this has nothing to do with the real story. Though I tell you, you'll get a good kick out of the real one. Guaranteed {at my expense unfortunately}. It's just so freakin' funny I have to share! I'm. still. laughing. at. myself. Yes, myself.

The Day I Got Bullied by an Old Fart who hates Bloggers

Who is a Bully?

Bully. -noun. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates...people - defined by dictionary.com

I recently traded posts with my good bloggy friend Aparna of Parentella covering the topic of bullying which unintentionally reincarnated a sad memory of one incident I had not too long ago. One that totally changed my entire perspective on bullying. One that was totally unexpected. One I shall never forget. I was bullied. Yes I was. Not by a kid { thank heavens! } but by a lady old enough to be a grandma. And you want to know what's so horrific about it? Well, I was bullied in front of my six year old kid... 

Geo-Location based Social Media Sites and Networks A Safety Hazard?

Here I sit in a Fitness Center in another town, many miles away from home. My first instinct was to grab my smartphone and check-in on Foursquare and Whrrl. But just when I was about to touch the "check-in" button, I stopped in mid-touch. Do I really want the whole world to know where I am right now? Seriously.

Mobile Shots: Portraits From Cali to NC

Oddities and Randomness. Believe it or not!

Egyptian Sarcophagus in California

How to Protect Yourself When A Giveaway Goes Wrong

My current giveaway is ending and though it sound so simple and seem like an easy, no-brainer endeavor to handle, I tell you now, it. is. not. There's more to giveaway than meets the eye. And based on my own recent experience and discovering I'm not the only one victimized by the dark side of hosting a giveaway, I think it best to share some No-BS ways to protect yourself from unnecessary liabilities when things go South just like what happened to me!

Valentine's Day is No Valentine's Day until YOU "Give A Piece of Your Heart"

Today is Valentine's Day and how much more appropriate to show the power of love is than today, the day of hearts! Besides, the roses and chocolates that we traditionally give our loved ones, in celebration of this day, how would YOU feel about doing something beyond the norm and extending that love to people you don't know but who certainly needs a lot of that love right at this very moment?

Hospitality House of Charlotte

Your home - while away from home!

Impact of bullying on children by Aparna Vashisht of Parentella

Bullying is a problem and many dismiss it as a part of growing up. It is assumed that kids get over it or that they should just "tough" it out. For a child, however, bullying has far reaching impact that shapes their personalities. A friend of mine had a really difficult time at middle school. A child hit her son and they had to go to the principal's office. The boy was suspended for a couple of days but what happened on the playground was worse for my friend's son. The boy had hit my friend's son and he didn't hit back. All the kids in the playground made fun of him for not fighting back. For weeks, school was really hard for him.

No child should have to worry about going to school and stress out about their day ahead. Girls getting bullied and differently is a well-known issue. One of our authors wrote about her Mean Girls experience.

Cooking Tips for Busy Moms ~ An Interview with Jackie Newgent, Author of Big Green CookBook

As a working Mom with little to no time in hands and always on the go, preparing a decent and nutritious meal is always a challenge. Meeting Jackie Newgent, Author of Big Green Cook Book during the Soyjoy Breakfast event in New York City last year where I was invited was definitely a treat! I asked her to share some tips that Moms on the go like me can utilize to make meal preparation a breeze while still being nutritious!

Maricris with Jackie Newgent 

SoyJoy Breakfast Event in NYC

The Science behind Cocoa ~ An Interview with Dr. Amy Preston of Hershey's for Eat.Think.Smile

During the launch party of Eat Think Smile at my house, I had the privilege to meet Dr. Amy Preston, Senior Nutrition Scientist of  Hershey's who presented the difference between natural cocoa ~ primary ingredient of Eat.Think.Smile ~ and one that is dutched. The video below with Dr. Preston explains the process and the great benefits of using natural cocoa.



For someone like me who reads the ingredients of certain products before buying them, learning about dutched cocoa also known as alkalized cocoa makes for a wiser choice in buying cocoa-based food products. Luckily, Eat.Think.Smile already have this in mine. Great food for your thought if you ask me.

Related Stories:
Eat.Think.Smile ~ New product to watch out for
Mobile Shots: Eat.Think.Smile Launch Party Photo Opps
The Difference between natural or dutched

Inventing Whiteness ~ Race: Are we so different?

Race. A very intriguing and controversial topic that always raise either hatred or discourse is brought to a new light to explore and boldly confront the most crucial issues of race and racism as Discovery Place brings a new exhibit Race: Are we so different? in Charlotte. An in-depth look at race on a scientific level.

One of the prominent wall posters inside the exhibit

Mobile Shots: Eat.Think.Smile Launch Party Photo Opps!

Eat.Think.Smile launch party went without a hitch! Even the weather partied with us. It was warm and sunny. Just perfect for a great launch party for a product with lots of potentials! I was definitely happy to have co-hosted the event! My group was one of those few lucky people in the entire city of Charlotte to try the new products out before it hits the shelves of Lowes Foods!

The hosts

Malise of Carolina Mama and Maricris of Zensible Mama

Love is in the Love Bug! Build-A-Bear Workshop Valentines Day 2011 Collection Review and Giveaway

UPDATE: According to Random.org ~ winner is number 63 Hotsnotty2. Congratulations! Thank you to all who entered. Watch out for more upcoming giveaways at ZensibleMama.com

My daughter just screamed the other day that Monday, today, is the last day of January. For anyone who watches the days go by, I would presumably say that you'll agree that January sure came and flying by quite fast! And what does that mean to us? Simple! we'll start smelling the Love in the air! {do you?} We'll if you go to Build-A-Bear Workshop, you sure will! Trust me. If there's anyone else besides Maxine Clark, with authority to say that, it would be me. We always visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop whichever town or state we go, it almost is a ritual. And each time, we feel the love...

Love Bug and Love Bear

Valentine's Day Collection