I Was Mickey's Angel For A Day With A Pixie-Dusted Mission

Watch the video directly on our YouTube Channel: My Mission MaricrisPossible From the Famous Mouse! 

My Mission Maricris Possible That Got Folks to Show Their #DisneySide

Disney Side Hashtag Gangsta came and rocked the party! 

*Disney Parks provided products and celebration party kit for me to host this party. 

You know we LOVE Disney, and this week I was on a mission to throw the ultimate party to get everyone to show their Disney Side. I invited all the party animals I know and pulled all tricks, gadgets and decors I have hiding up my sleeves and went to work! The result? Nothing but awesomeness! Thanks Mickey.

The Making of An Ultimate Disney Side Party

My Disney Side at Home Celebration Party was a resounding success. The secret? It all started with the decor! Best about it? It costs nothing but tons of elbow grease and lots of creativity.

Warm Welcome on the door.

What's In Your Wallet?

Disclosure: I'm aVerizon Wireless Ambassador and this post is related to my role as one. I'm not trying to sell you on the idea covered on this post, but I can't help it if you do because I sound convincing. So, read at your own risk. All opinion is mine unless otherwise stated. 

For me, it's the usual. Bank cards, credit cards, store cards, insurance cards - all sorts of cards! It gets confusing when they're all stuffed like sardines in one slot inside my tiny card holders. And cumbersome, when you need one of them. Now, thanks to the rapid changes in technology, it is now possible to carry these plastics virtually. That's right! And right at the comfort of your phone via an app. There are several apps that do this now but some carriers like Verizon have recently partnered with ISIS Mobile wallet to give its customers added convenience when they're out shopping by simply using their phone to pay for their purchases. You can also add your loyalty cards - those that crowds your keychains so you can actually enjoy a keychain with only keys in them! Neat or what!?

Lactose-Free Dining with Lactaid Milk and Melissa D'Arabian at Today Show

Melissa has yet again created a superb lactose-free meal for lactose-intolerant sufferers like me using Lactaid milk and shared it at yesterdays Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. She made Chicken in Creamy Mushroom sauce and she got me at mushroom! 

Busting Lactose Intolerance with Melissa D'Arabian and #Lactaid + Giveaway

Kathie Lee and Hoda with Melissa D'Arabia
making a lactose-free Blueberry Muffins 
with Lactaid milk at the Today Show.

If you are one of those individuals that can't handle dairy, like me, you're not alone! According to National Digestive Diseases Information, 40 Million Americans are lactose intolerant but worst for Asians, like me, where 90 Million suffers from this very uncomfortable and sometime lifestyle-altering condition. For those who suffer from this condition, you'll easily agree that dairy is like the dreaded bogeyman that you try to avoid as much as you can! Boo! 

Yet knowing more about this condition can greatly help you understand how to deal with it and still enjoy a life, or a meal or two with milk and dairy.

How I took Control and Redesigned My Path to A Better Career #MSNKnowNow

Whenever I fill-up a form or is asked about what I studied in College, it almost always never fails to transport me to a time in my life when it was more of a disadvantage having a degree in Architecture. Back then, it was a predominantly male-dominated world and being a woman was an anomaly.

And it was.

After graduating in college, I was fortunate enough to immediately land a job in a modestly big Architectural firm in the city. Great right? No. The problem? I was a woman. I was a misfit in an industry ruled by men. Like a classic office politics, it was instantly decided on that since I was a woman, I'm not fit to work in the construction sites or be near any buildings being built. I was pretty much stuck in the office working as a... secretary. Believe it.

Zensible Mama Visit Kissimmee Featured Blogger of the Week

Are you a big fan and believer of the cliche' hitting two birds with one stone? Well, I just had this phenomena happened to me while I was in Florida a few weeks ago. I was there for the uber-exciting She Streams conference in Fort Lauderdale and also was on assignment as the upcoming guest blogger and travel writer for Visit Kissimmee! What a delight to be able to do two things at the same time. It was on it's own a one heck of an adventure for me.

New Purple Hello Kitty From Build-A-Bear Workshop

Purple Hello Kitty by Sanrio - New at Build-A-Bear Workshop

Purple is one of my favorite colors and Hello Kitty is one of my favorite brands growing up in the Philippines. Can you see how perfect the Purple Hello Kitty is for me? It sure is. I'd say I'll never be too old for either purple or Hello Kitty! Ever.

Fashion Week: Fresh Produce Twist Front dress Review

Zensible Mama in Fresh Produce Twist Front Dress - in Black

Dresses are the ultimate symbol of a woman's femininity but on the onset I'll tell you now that I'm not a dress person! I always preferred the more tomboyish outfits to a girly skirt or dress. Now that I'm older, I still possess the same trait but mellowed somehow. I've started venturing into the world of girly-ness but I tend to be very picky at what type of style of dress I wear. Now being petite myself, finding the right dress for me makes it rather more difficult when shopping at a "regular" store and when shopping online. This considering, I was afraid Fresh Produce Twist Front Dress would be a disappointment.

Bobble Bots Went On A Road Trip! - Review and Giveaway

Moshlings and Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters
by Innovation First Labs - makers of Hex Bug

When it comes to toys, you can depend on my daughter to know the latest trend and "what's new?" even before I hear about them! She sure is my little toy guru! One instance are the Moshlings. I never had any clue Moshlings existed until she showed me a few of them while we were Google Chatting when I was in California. I never gave those toys much thought until I was given the privilege of getting the new Bobble Bots Moshi monsters! Which of course, as you can imagine, my daughter went wild (literally) when she heard about it.

Green Cars and GREEN Cars

Today is St. Patrick's day and that traditional adorning of the color green IS A MUST! Or you know it, you'll suffer the consequence of being pinched! Well, we sure don't want that so, here at Zensible Mama in keeping with this age old tradition, we're going to join in on the fun and grace our little corner in the web with some green and some truly green in it's utmost essence by way of cars!

A Taste of Toyota And Its Culture

Stripes atop a 1961 Toyota FJ25 Land Cruiser 4-Wheel Drive Open Top displayed in ToyotaUSA Museum

Coming back from the West to the East is doing a little number on my body clock right now but looking back at the main reason why I was yet again in the West was an experience well worth the jet lag I'm trying to get over these days! Visiting Toyota's headquarters in Torrance, California for the TWIN Camp has not only brought wonderful experiences and the chance to meet fellow TWIN-ners IRL but tons of fun opportunity to learn about Toyota, it's people and it's culture!

Friendship Day and Build-A-Bear Workshop's 15th Anniversary

The official International Friendship day isn't until July 30th but in the world of Build-A-Bear Workshop, everyday is Friendship day! They've been creating best friends for 15 friend-filled years now. And in honor of their anniversary, Zensible Mama have partook in the celebrations by sharing her own friendship stories. Stories that are dear and close to her heart.

What Does Friendship Means to You?

During Ozzy's Baby Shower a month before her due date

When I permanently moved here to the US nine years ago, it meant leaving family and friends behind. It was like going to school for the first time and not knowing anyone at all. Everyone is a stranger and everything looked and feel either awkward or odd. But most of all, it was lonely.

But thank God I immediately found friends who soon after became my second family. If it weren't for them, my first few months in the US would have been dull and boring.

Live Chat with Bizarre Foods Andrew Zimmern

Andrew Zimmern in Athens, GA as part of his Road Trip for Good series
 Photo courtesy of Appetite for Life

Anyone who is a big fan of Bizarre Foods will immediately recognize the iconic name that made bizarre foods so popular as the person behind it: Andrew Zimmern. I will shamelessly admit that I'm a big fan of him and his show and that my favorite episode is when he went to the Philippines and featured my country's ever-popular "Balut" (duck egg) and ate it! He got my full respect after that considering yours truly won't and will never ever have the guts to eat "balut"! For those curious, I would post pictures of "balut" but this is not a bizarre blog and I certainly don't want you to lose your appetite if you're eating right now. But you're more than welcome to google it and don't say I didn't warn you!

Easy Last Minute Valentine's Day Decorating Ideas

Zen meets Simplicity 

Decorating your home at every change of season or special events and occasions doesn't need to be complicated and shouldn't cost you a leg and an arm either. Simple is always beautiful. And easy, affordable decors are the best way to go especially if you're doing last minute decorating projects that don't need lots of flair just like the simple decor above that cost less than $10!

Pandora and the Camry Effect by Toyota

Kelly Clarkson in the Toyota Camry commercial video
courtesy of Toyota USA

Car commercials most often that not focuses on the technology of it's safety aspect which is not uncommon, given the fact that high safety features of a car is the number one prerequisite of every potential buyer. Personally, I don't give much attention to these commercials (anymore), only because one gets so used to seeing the same "theme" over and over again, it becomes redundantly boring. Not the Camry...

Disneyfied, Electrified and lovin' it!

My Disneyfied Meal at Disney Social Media Moms Conference in 2011

This week I coined (I believe it's my original) a rather cute word out of having too many Disney encounters in my life this week. No, I'm not complaining. I'm actually lovin' it! I would tell you now that I surely don't mind getting Disneyfied as many times as fate would possibly allow it. Seriously, if you ask me? I'd say the more, the merrier! Who would say no to Disney?

The TWIN and I - aka Toyota Women

aka TWIN 

Toyota recently launched an exclusive network consisting of women influencers. And just like the smart and classy Anna Leonowens (of The King and I), whose intelligence and creativity influenced the success of the kingdom of Siam by helping her favorite pupil rule the kingdom, I would like to think that I'm the new Anna in this network. Or one of them anyway. And helping shape the kingdom of Toyota to be the best car in the country, if not the world, for us - the consumers!