Surviving the Plague with a Dose of Common Sense and a Grain of Creativity

Scene outside of Costco implementing social distancing due to Covid19 / photo by MaricrisG

So, we're heading into our 3rd week of "house arrest" - don't it feel like that to you? - well, me too. I'm an introvert and shouldn't be bothered with self-isolation, but at this point even an introvert out there I'm pretty sure is already feeling claustrophobic. Have you become best friends with your pantry? Got engaged with your couch? Or got married to your kitchen? Ok, I'm not here to judge. But please, go easy on the muffins! That's me yelling at you...and at myself. You know someone's got to because my weighing scale obviously won't.

Anyway, no denying. This Covid-19 pandemic is badass! And if you're not freaking out now, you're probably from outer space. You extroverts must be getting the worst brunt of it. Has it driven you up the wall yet? Poor thing. I feel your pain. At home with kids? I double, triple, feel your pain. I'll drink more Margarita in your behalf and eat more muffins, because I can. What else is there to do, right? We're in this together.

It's no joke though that we literally have a deadly executioner prowling the streets and after our pretty heads. And yet some people pretend like there's none of that at all. What's wrong with these idjits? They're like, "I'm having none of that nonsense. I'll go lick products at the store." Or, "I'll go hold a large Sunday service." If only common sense was a medicine. A lot of people out there apparently, need to take one, stat.

So, what's helping you? Me. I watch a lot of shows on my Roku. I run. I walk. I eat. I forget to eat. I sometimes go around in circles - but only because I dance in my living room and don't have enough space. I sneeze - a lot. I itch a lot - my eyes, silly. Thanks Pollen. But I also did some other things that you can also do. Check below:

[ Entertainment Review ] OVO - Cirque Du Soleil : Delightfully Mesmerizing

Juggling human insects, anyone? / Photo courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil

As we entered the arena, right there in the middle of the stage, a huge, no, gigantic, egg sits silently. It does nothing, yet its stillness commands an imposing presence. An air of control that immediately captures your attention and gnaws at your curiosity. Then I saw insects...and my skin crawled. 

[ Review ] Just Dance 2020 (Nintendo Switch Version): Pumped Up for Fun and Fitness

Image courtesy of Ubisoft

For a little backgrounder, it's probably safe to admit, with all my collection of the game, that I'm obsessed with the Just Dance platform. When it first came out, I was immediately hooked. Which for very obvious reason, having the Just Dance 2020 copy is pretty much self-explanatory.

Let's dissect the game.

[ Contributor Review ] Solo: A Rollicking Star Wars Story

Editors Note: Solo officially opened on Friday, May 25. We received a media invite to preview the movie. Our Contributor Dale covered the movie. Check out his straight-to-the-point take on Solo.

If you are an uber-Star Wars fan, have seen all the movies a gazillion times, and own one or more sets of Star Wars pajamas or bedsheets (who am I to judge), then this review will not sway you one way or the other. Stop. Go buy your tickets, if you haven’t already. Enjoy the movie, because you will enjoy the movie. Repeat. Let’s face it. You’ve already planned to see this movie more than once anyway. Right? Good. Now get out of here!

For the rest of us, let’s begin.

Welcome Summer with a Huge Splash at Carowinds Carolina Harbor Water Park

Carolina Harbor Water park officially opened it's gates to water-loving Carolinians today. A refreshing treat to welcome the arrival of Summer and its sometimes searing southern heat. The park comes to life to help you quench the heat - or drench it - whichever fits, even before it's officially Summer! So, you can just say "Summer, bring it on!"  - Carowind's got you covered.

Gift Guide: Say I Love You This Valentine's Day - The Handmade Way

If you haven't noticed, January is gone - just like that - and here we are in the midst of February, the month of hearts. Though it's baffling how January went by so quick, there is no denying that in no time, Valentine's day will soon be here - in a blink as well. I bet some of you are already on the hunt for that unique gift to give your special Valentine.

What about I help you a bit in that department with these unique and customizable handmade accessories that I'm sure will not let you down.

The Most Versatile Swimwear For the Mommy With Some Tummy

Summer is almost here. Let's be honest. Who among you get a little stressed out about the mere thought of wearing a swimsuit? I'm sure a majority of you do. Me? - It scares me!  

Let's be real. When pregnancy occurs, it does a number on our once pristine bodies and reshapes it into a work of art that uncannily resembles our favorite bakery items! Most famous of them all? The Muffin top! If you don't have them, lucky you! But for most of us, not so much.  And worst part of it? "Traditional" swimsuits out there, they're no help at all. Que horror!

Let's be brutally honest. These regular swimsuits, they do nothing but highlight our mommy-tummy. Others, they make us look like burritos! You've seen moms who fall victim to these curse! You cringe and you die a little inside because you're also a mom and you totally can relate. I figured there must be some way around these nightmare. Well, finally, there is (especially for me anyway). Check my curated board - Ultimate Beach Mom Beach Babe Swimwear Must-have! 

Ultimate Beach Mom Beach Babe Swimwear by maricrismg 

Things I Never Knew About My Cup of Joe That You Should Know

I always had this suspicion. Did you know that the coffee you drink every morning - or afternoon, depending on your level of addiction - is one of the most addictive substance in the world yet socially acceptable? No surprise there at all. Imagine a morning without coffee. Tragic isn't it?

My favorite excuse for this coffee addiction is when your brain functionality is way below the standard level necessary to function like a normal human being - critically and absolutely crucial in the morning - and like an automatic defense mechanism, you simply utter "I haven't have my coffee yet!" and the world instantly (no pun intended) understands. Moreover, if you're delivering this spiel to a fellow coffeeholic, you get nothing but total sympathy. You might even get a free coffee out of the deal. Yes, the whole world is a coffee addict! Starbucks can't be any happier. Kaching!

But in all seriousness, why are we morbidly addicted to coffee?

Getting Crafty with HP's New Sticky-Backed Photo Paper At My #StickaPic Party

This past Saturday, we were able to unleash the endless possibilities of HP's new sticky-backed photo paper and had tons of fun creating, DIY-ing and photo stickin'! Check out the two projects we created and be inspired. They are both timely for the upcoming holidays.


Done watching? Scroll down to see the rest of our party fun.

How My Search for the Perfect Coffee Brewer On-The-Go Came to an End!

On the road with the Presse' / Photo: +Maricris G 

It is no secret that I love coffee. My wife loves coffee. And my young daughter, no surprise there, is now following in on the same path. We also love to travel and want our coffee to travel with us. Brewed, hot and ready to go. We love Starbucks too and works great when you don't have time to make your own but most often than not, I'd rather ground and brew our own coffee just the way we want it!

Of course, in the real world, you can't ground and brew your own coffee all the time especially in the early morning hours and you're crunched for time. Unless, of course again, you have those instant coffee-brewing-thingy-ma-jiggy, which we don't like, to speed things up for you. Nothing against it, just not our style. However, I might finally have found the solution...

Macy's Rwanda Path to Peace: 10 Years of Making A Difference In the Lives of Underprivileged Women and their Families

Rwanda Brown and Green Fruit Basket displayed proudly on my mantel with other handcrafted home decor items made from different countries. / Photo: +Maricris G 

It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since Willa Shalit vowed to help Rwandan women rise up from their desolate fate brought about by the violent genocide in 1994 in Rwanda, that took away their husbands and sons, and left them with the difficult task of being the sole breadwinners. But 10 years of goodness it has been!

One that I'm proud to be a part of again this year through Macy's 10th year anniversary of unwavering commitment to the Rwanda Path to Peace campaign.

You know why? Because this project not only helps these women and their families but most importantly because, it has been helping rebuild their communities for years as well.

Quality of A Baby Formula Is Not Measured by the Popularity of Its Name (with $30 GC giveaway)

I remember those days when my daughter was a baby and how being a new mother, I was thrown into the arena of confusion on the many baby formulas that seem to magically appear in my doorstep. I was saturated with all sorts of popular brands claiming to be the best and enticing me with free samples. Although I chose to breastfed my child, I will admit, I found myself turning to baby formula when "I have no more to give" and my baby needed more - I'm sure you catch my drift - and had to come up with something substantial to meet her demand. With this little challenge in my hand, I went to town and shopped for baby formulas. But here's a caveat, you wouldn't have seen me in the popular baby formula aisle. Why? Why not.

Aluminum-Free Deodorant As an Alternative Option for Sweaty Stinky Armpits

UPDATE: Here's a special discount code MOMS1015 for 20% off and free shipping on orders from NutrexinUSA.com if you want to try this product or their other product line.

I'm not in the habit of talking about the business of armpits but I will admit, I'm a little obsessed at finding THAT effective deodorant without the controversial Aluminum ingredient in it that works for me. Unfortunately, it also seem like an endless pipe dream. For years, I've searched, tried and tested every possible alum-free deodorant available out there, but none truly passed my armpit's stringent demands - I don't need to go all TMI on you - you know what I'm talking about. So, what do I do when another product meeting the criteria comes my way? I give it a try of course. And pronto!

Generation Good: Saving Money and Energy by Being Smart about My Laundry

New Seventh Generation Energy Smart Laundry detergent / Photo +Maricris G 

Before I start "airing my dirty laundry" ( as in real dirty laundry ) on this laundry-inspired topic, and before you go saying, "oh it's just another totally fake, hyped-up review from another sell-out blogger/reviewer", I'll tell you now that I'm a believer of Seventh Generation for years and have been, and is, a regular consumer of their products. This is the reason I had no qualms accepting their offer, pronto, to test and review their new Energy Smart Liquid Laundry Detergent before it comes out in the market. And because why not -  it's new and I love the brand, so let me test it. Sounds totally fair, right?

Anyway, I'm not here to convince you - obviously, you're old enough to make your own decisions - but as you can tell, I'm here to share my personal experience of the said product. So, enough of the chatter already. Here's my take on the detergent.

A Smart Shopper's Back-To-School Last-Minute Shopping Survival Guide

For most schools, the new school year is already back in session. In my city, school starts in two weeks. My child did not want to be reminded, as do I - tough! -  but the "cycle of life" will heave forward like a wrecking ball whose only main goal is to destroy every attempt we do to ignore and deny it. We'll just sing Hakuna Matata! Maybe that will ease the "pain" as we embrace the reality of the impending arrival of the new school year and the challenge of surviving mass stampede inside the stores from frantic parents doing last-minute BTS shopping!

But you don't need to be included in the casualty list. Here's my trustworthy survival guide to make sure you don't end up the object of a shopping roadkill.

Life Hack: How To Easily Remove Security Tag from Clothing

Photo: Staples

I went back-to-school shopping at the mall a few days ago and splurged on two pants which I got for a freakin' bargain price. I went home happy thinking about all that money I saved but only to be dismayed when laundry day came. The cashier forgot to remove the security tag (non-ink one) from one of the pants! This never happened to me before so, I was left with a huge challenge of removing it. If you encounter this same annoying predicament for items you purchase - not stolen (you know who you are) - here is an easy and quick way of removing the security tag from your clothing.

TechTalk: How To Get Rid of Your Cable And Dish For Good - Survive It and Save Tons of Money!

With the rising cost of cable TV and satellite dishes, I'm sure the sound of saving thousands of dollars sounds very appealing to you right now. As to date, we have saved approximately $3,312 derived from a $69/month subscription fee in the course of 4 years. Money that went to more important stuffs like food and other essential necessities. How did we pull this off?

Netflix Fix: 11 Murder Mystery TV Shows That Are Irresistibly To Die For - Literally!

I confess. I love murder mysteries - but let's be clear - not just any murder mysteries.  I'm very picky about the shows I watch. I go by certain criteria that must be met before I give it a time of my day. They should be riveting, unique, fast-paced, highly interesting and even a little quirky. I get bored easily. And I can tell right away when a show lulls or starts dragging. At that point, Sayonara! Sadly, A few many American TV shows in this genre couldn't quite keep up with the competition. Which you'll clearly discover as you go over my recommended watch list below. English-produced films seem to meet my criteria effortlessly. Though I'm probably at tad biased with the fact that I love English TV shows and English-speaking characters. Let's just say, they're bloody good! 

Here's my Top Picks for your viewing pleasure: 

David Suchet as Poirot 

1. Poirot

Based on Agatha Christie's novel. This series will keep you guessing who the murderer is at the very end. Poirot played by David Suchet is nothing short of brilliant. He's a genius when it comes to solving murders, though ironically, at the same time also a socially awkward twat, thanks to his quirky traits. But if there is anything that sets him apart from the usual detectives of his time, it is his well-coiffed mustache! The forever bachelor. He is a character worth knowing and loving. And take note, He's not French. he's Belgian Mon Ami.

10 Amazing Documentary Films On NetFlix That Will Blow Your Mind Away

Taking a hiatus from blogging have given me the opportunity to indulge in one of my favorite "sports" - Marathon. No. It's not what you think. In my lingo, it's watching Documentary Films on Netflix via my Roku Player. Yes that. Now, in my watched list are these documentaries that are sure to change the way you think, the way you look at your food or the way you view your world. I promise, it won't kill you to watch these documentaries simultaneously, though it may make your butt bigger if you don't get up from your couch occasionally. If any at all, it will broaden your horizon and create a deeper awareness at what's really happening in this world we live in and the things that surround us. I'd recommend watching them with your kids. I always believe in that Knowledge is king.

And these are the kind of knowledge worth knowing.

1. Plastic Paradise

In the island made of plastic. I have no clue this island existed until I saw this film. More shocking is the reason why it became The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the grave danger it brought to our wildlife and our ecosystem around the world. It truly makes you rethink the way you use plastic. Or I hope it does.

A Fresh Approach to your Favorite Foods

Disclosure: I received a sample kit from Fresh Express to try their product in order to facilitate this review and create my own recipe. All opinions are mine and based on my personal experience. Yours may vary.

I should tell you that being married to a Vegetarian has its perk. It made me eat my veggies more! I also developed a healthier habit and when you're my age, it simply is THE best path to take! Age by no means go in reverse, so as we age, the more we need to think more of keeping ourselves healthy. But eating healthy shouldn't be too complicated or confusing or super-tedious in approach to achieving it.

Neither should it be like deer with headlights effect, where we stand frozen and spaced out when we think of "healthy food" - this especially if you're favorite food, like me, is FRENCH FRIES!