Author

Deborah Cruz

American Girl, Grace Thomas, Giveaway!

by Deborah Cruz 2015/01/19

Whose little girl doesn’t love an American Girl Doll? Valentine’s Day is in little less than a month and that means time to gift the people I love something they will love. Obviously, it’s not about the gift but I really do love giving my girls something that makes their face light up. I’ve partnered with American Girl doll to give my girls something I know they will absolutely LOVE.

There are so many great things at American Girl that any little girl would love to get this Valentine’s Day, perhaps, one of the many dolls from the new BeForever Collection like Samantha who has returned from retirement, or a doll and me matching outfit or the coveted, 2015 American Girl of the Year, Grace Thomas.

Grace Thomas™, the 2015 Girl of the Year, is an avid baker with an entrepreneurial spirit, is motivated to follow her dream of starting a baking business after an inspiring trip to Paris. Available for only one year, the Grace collection includes a beautiful 18-inch Grace™ doll featuring long dark-brown hair and sparkling blue eyes, plus several French-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys that reflect her interests, such as the premium French Bakery Set with more than 60 pieces!
The 2015 Girl of the Year books—Grace, Grace Stirs It Up, and Grace Makes It Great—written by Mary Casanova, introduce girls to an inventive, enthusiastic nine-year-old girl who is full of big ideas. A planner at heart, Grace finds the courage to step outside her comfort zone during a trip to Paris that broadens her perspective and challenges her to try new things. Back home, Grace uses her newfound courage and culinary skills to start her own French baking business with her two best friends. Learning to combine their talents, Grace and her friends mix together some great ideas that, ultimately, lead to many sweet rewards. To bring Grace’s story to life, a full-length movie will debut on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in summer 2015.
For Goodness, Bake!
To further Grace’s message that working together is the best recipe for success, American Girl has created For Goodness, Bake!, a year-long fund-raising initiative in support of No Kid Hungry®, the campaign to end childhood hunger in America from Share Our Strength®. Starting January 1, American Girl is encouraging girls to host charity bake sales in their local communities and donate proceeds to No Kid Hungry. Because 1 in 5 children struggles with hunger in the United States, American Girl is helping ensure all children get the healthy food they need every day. For every $1 a girl raises, No Kid Hungry can connect a child with ten additional meals.
To kick off the initiative, American Girl has donated $50,000 to No Kid Hungry, and it invites customers to also donate directly at americangirl.com and at American Girl retail stores. Parents can visit americangirl.com/girloftheyear to learn more about the initiative, to register for the Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry, and be entered into the For Goodness, Bake! sweepstakes for the chance to win one of 41 Grace prize packages.

American Girl is known for giving back and this is a virtue that I want to instill in my daughters.

I think this will be a great way to personalize the value of charity and helping those less fortunate than we are. My youngest has a big heart and can’t help but want to help every person who asks, I think the No Kid Hungry project is an amazing service project to let my girls be involved in so I am happy to give them Grace Thomas for Valentine’s Day.

I would also love to give one lucky reader a Grace Thomas doll to share with her own little girl this Valentine’s Day! The contest will run from today until February 9^{th, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.}. To be eligible you must be in the U.S. or Canada and you must answer the question: What’s your favorite blog post or blog that you’ve read this week (other than your own)?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided an American Girl Doll for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

2015/01/19 32 comments

i love you more, daughter, mother, not listening, growing pains

I Love you More, A**hole

by Deborah Cruz 2015/01/14

written by Deborah Cruz

Dear sweet little girl of mine,

You steal my heart with every glance. You can be the sweetest, kindest, most loving little soul that ever lived and then you can not be just as quickly. I don’t know what it was that set you off this morning.

You had plenty of sleep.

I woke you in plenty of time.

You didn’t even have to wear a uniform today.

All you had to do was wake up, put on something you actually wanted to wear, eat breakfast, brush your teeth and go to school.

At 7:15 a.m when you finally came downstairs, you yelled at me because you couldn’t find the one pair of jeans that you wanted to wear (because the other 500 pairs are not “the One”) then you proclaimed that you wanted to take lunch.

Your hair wasn’t brushed. You were indecisive and sarcastic about your breakfast choice and you lost your mind over a pair of socks. SOCKS!

I am trying to make your lunch because you “HATE” the egg omelets that they are serving today. It’s 7:25 and in your haste and anger, you spilt a drop of milk from down your too-thin, already vetoed shirt. At which point you stomp off barefooted, yelling back to me at 7:27, “I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY MOM!”

I’m not. I’m REALLY not.

Your sister has dressed herself, eaten breakfast and brushed her teeth today. She has also assembled both backpacks and is now looking for gloves for you both. You still don’t have on any socks, nor are your teeth brushed as you dump your breakfast down the kitchen sink. It’s 7:35, we were supposed to have left 5 minutes ago.

Beloved child of mine, I know that at the tender age of 7-years-old socks, shirts and lunch seem like BIG problems but they’re not. I lost a job, there’s a blizzard outside, I’m trying to quit sugar, I have 47 grey hairs, I can’t remember the last time I shaved my legs, I have bills to pay and it’s “that” time of the month. Please, stop tap dancing on my nerves. It’s taking every ounce of my strength not to shake you.

At 7:43, when books are being thrown about and feet are being stomped, I offer to brush your hair to which you roll your eyes at me. I roll mine too.

Your sister is standing at the front door, sweating in full winter gear, trying not to pass out while holding your backpack, violin and COLD LUNCH. As I brush your hair, I try to remember how sweet and kind you are when you cuddle deep into me every night before bedtime. I try to remember that beautiful glorious smile that lights up my life; your tiny voice whispering, “I love you, mommy” and the sticky love notes you leave me all over the house. I try to remember that you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Then you grunt and startle me back to reality. It’s 7:45, school begins in 5 minutes.

You growl and mutter something ugly under your breath, I honestly can’t even remember what it was. I tell you how very disappointed I am in your behavior this morning. I inform you that you will be grounded from all electronics for the duration of the week. You begin to sob inconsolably. I’m not sure if it’s the loss of the electronics or my disappointment that has caused this outburst.

Finally, 7:47 a.m. we are headed out the door. You are annoyed at me that you will be late. I hold my tongue. As we pull away, you yell, “I forgot my ballet shoes.” Before I can respond, you begin to sob again.

“I’ll find them. Don’t worry.” You continue to sob.

We arrive at school, 4 minutes late. Before jumping out of the car, you unbuckle yourself, jump forward and hug me tightly, “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you more!” I say to both my girls, as the other one jumps forward and gives me a kiss and squeezes me from behind. It’s 7:54 a.m. and I am spent. Even after all of this, the saddest part of my day is watching you both walk away.

Love You More!

2015/01/14 3 comments

Tech

Must Have Gadgets for Tech Savvy Parents at CES 2015

by Deborah Cruz 2015/01/14

written by Deborah Cruz

I can’t believe that a week ago, I was walking around Las Vegas completely enchanted by the lights and immersed in all the tech that CES had to offer. It was my first trip to Sin City and I wanted to take it all in. I have to admit Vegas is grandiose, vibrant and beautiful in a really overwhelming, surreal kind of way. The entire time I was there, I felt like I was walking around in a dream; a dream with Elvis taking Selfies and more amazing technology than I could ever imagine, but a dream all the same.

CES 2015, the Consumer Electronics Show, had some really cool things this year. Things that were genius, things that were Jetson-like and some things that were so technologically advanced that my brain nearly exploded right there in the convention center. Then there was the “ A-ha! I wish I would have thought of that!” gadgets and things that were so over the top and technologically advanced that it was downright creepy, Toshiba….I’m talking to you and your humanoid, but cooler than the flip-side of my pillow, nonetheless.

Here’s my list of favorite new tech gadgets at CES 2105:

SleepPhones Effortless: Headphones that are thin and comfortable enough to be worn while sleeping. Think of them as pajamas for your ears, only way cooler. The company aims for the headphones to provide music or ambient noise to users who need soothing sounds close by as they fall asleep. This is perfect for me because while I LOVE falling asleep to music (a bad habit from my teen years) my husband likes quiet…well, except for the roar of a fan. Finally, a compromise that will make us both happy. The best part, SleepPhones block out snoring.

SleepPhones Effortless are Bluetooth® enabled headphones inside a soft satin-thin headband, complete with induction charging technology for a completely wireless experience. In addition to its 100% wireless
design, the product was designed to provide the ultimate comfort .

The unique induction charging feature allows users to effortlessly charge the product’s lithium
ion battery by simply draping it across its charging stand, eliminating tangled wires and saving
time. Once charged, SleepPhones Effortless users can enjoy up to 14 hours of their music,
meditation sounds, or binaural beats all night, enhancing their sleep and general health.

Lenovo Vibe Xtension Selfie Flash: This is the ultimate accessory for anyone who takes Selfies and the mom who NEVER gets in the family photos. It’s pocket-sized flash plugs right into the headphone jack on your phone and casts an even, diffused light over a one meter radius to ensure that you get the perfect lighting for your selfies. The flash has eight white LED bulbs in a ring, claims to sync perfectly with your camera shutter, and can brighten up as many as 100 selfies on a single charge.

Acton RocketSkates: Perfect for urban cities, these skates let you explore the town without ever having to slow down, even allowing users to tip toe up stairs instead of taking them off. Perfect for the parent on the go who has a lot of things to do and not enough time in the day to get it done.

Tech Armor RetinaShield Blue Light Filter Screen Protectors: A screen protector that gets rid of the blue glare on phone /ipad that tricks our brain into thinking it’s day time, allowing the user to shut their brain down and go to sleep. It’s not going to do squat for that magic laundry list that appears every night the moment your head hits the pillow but it will help eliminate the computer as the culprit.

Polaroid Socialmatic: The best of both worlds, the Polaroid Socialmatic combines vintage Polaroid instant print cameras with the ability to share using the camera’s built-in Wi-Fi and Android™ interface. It’s like the Hipstamtic app in 3-D. I love it and it’s way more fun to play with than my DSLR. It’s perfect for the parent who wants to capture their child’s childhood memories but isn’t all hung up on the perception of perfection.

Sleep Number Kids Sleep IQ Bed: This amazing new smart bed knows when your kids are sleeping and when they’re awake. It even has a monster detection feature on the accompanying app, so kids feel safe from unwanted visitors. Now, only if it had an invisible force field to keep kids in bed, right?

This revolutionary new kid’s bed monitors sleep cycles and can help parents decipher if diet, stress or other activities throughout the day are impacting the quality of their day.

A monster detector deciphers when under the bed is clear of even the scariest of boogie men. By hovering a smartphone or tablet in the direction of the bottom of the bed, a small monster icon will appear and determine if the coast is clear. This would have been amazing when Ella was having nightmares about chickens and lemurs under the bed!

The bed, equipped with tiny hidden sensors, uses digital-signal capture within the mattress and processing techniques to pick up on motion and pressure. It tracks a child’s breathing and heart rate throughout the night too, and blends that data with other factors to determine a SleepIQ score in the morning; the higher the number (based from 1 to 100), the better the quality of sleep.

It’s also interactive. A sleep dashboard (available via an Android app or desktop) shows parents how well each child slept and alerts them in real-time if they need attention and are out of bed. The bed can also tilt if a child wants to read or has a stuffy nose from a head cold or allergies. Meanwhile, soft lights around the bed glow when kids get up or want to read and parents can turn them off remotely when it gets too late or little people nod off to slumber.

The bed is designed to grow with a child. Once they hit 10-years-old, they can manage their own SleepIQ score and see for themselves how exercise, sugar and TV time impact how they feel in the morning. This is intended to teach kids how to make better choices throughout the day.

SleepIQ Kids, which ships later this year, is priced at about $1,000 and will come in twin, full and queen size options.

These are a few of my favorite tech products for parents this year at CES 2105! There were so many great things that I just have to break it up into more than one post or I’ll be writing a pamphlet. Stay tuned for more must haves. I can’t wait to go back next year to see what the hottest new tech gadgets of 2016 will be at CES.

Disclosure: I attended CES 2015 with Sleep Number but all opinions and the love of all things high tech are my own.

2015/01/14 5 comments

Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Show, Vegas, Tech, CES, #CES2015

Tech Travel

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about CES

by Deborah Cruz 2015/01/12

written by Deborah Cruz

Last week, I attended CES! CES!!!! I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life to attend. Just me and about 170,000 other tech junkies descended upon Las Vegas. It was my first time; I was a CES and a Vegas virgin. Talk about go big or go home? WOWZA!

I could go on for days, hell, weeks, writing about this experience but I will start by giving you the jist of what it feels like to attend CES, it’s like climaxing and then despite your better senses continuing on, in that crazed, hyper sensitive, overwhelming feeling of pleasure and pain overload but you still want more….more….more…THAT.IS.CES!

The next thing you know, your feet are on fire, you drank too much at some VIP event because you forgot you weren’t 21, you want all the tech, you’ve been up til 5:30 eastern time every night because you are so jet-lagged. You really don’t know what time it is anymore and then you find yourself so overwhelmed after 3 days of walking in the dessert of lights with that ginormous fucking badge that weighs twelve pounds that you hit a wall (figuratively not literally, though if you are tired enough you might do that too.)

You’ve seen more hookers than you ever have on HBO real sex and Taxi Cab confessions combined, been given directions by a Mexican Elvis who requests a selfie with you and seen and heard gadgets that have blown your mind.

Next thing you know, there you are crying, stranded in the airport in Dallas, your flight’s been cancelled because of “weather” and you were the dumb ass who “voluntarily” checked your carry on because some smiling flight attendant asked politely in Vegas and when you ask the flight attendant in Dallas to help you find your much needed luggage, she rolls her eyes at you (ROLLED.HER.EYES.AT.ME!!), scolds you and turns you into a sniveling, sleep deprived ball of snot in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport with TSA eyeballing you like you just smuggled in heroine ( or maybe it was that new Vibe selfie flash) in your anal cavity.

Speaking of strange and weird shit happening, as a stranded traveler living my own personal version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, I ended up in a shuttle with 1) a gentleman from California who happens to be the boss of one of our closest friends from college, who now lives in Colorado but originates from Chicago 2) an ex-lobbyist turned UCLA Poli Sci Professor who has a reoccurring roll on Hawaii 5.0. This trip was all about the surreal.

Finally, around 10 p.m. Texas time, there I was wearing my new scarf as a sarong, in 20-degree weather while washing my panties and yoga pants out in the sink so I had clean clothes to wear the next day. I did this all by hand. A friend told me that MANY people use the in room coffee makers to wash their unmentionables. I didn’t but think twice before you use those to make coffee. That “weird” taste might be someone else’s ass.

Anyways, aside from all the drama of the flight home, CES is awesome. Being that it was my first time there are some things that I wished I would have known going in, so I am sharing them here with you. Yes, I will get to all the really, cool shit I saw tomorrow.

Wear Comfortable shoes. Repeat after me…WEAR.COMFORTABLE. SHOES! Save your cute shoes for nighttime events. Wearing cute heels to CES means that you are either certifiable, dead from the waist down or a hooker. Go away, P.S. even TOMS can wreak havoc on the feet of sensitive soles. Let’s just say, I somehow managed a blister the size of my baby toe on top and on bottom of said baby toe. I was crippled, people. Gym Shoes, UGGs, Frye Boots, COMFORT PEOPLE but please NO CROCS ALLOWED. If you wear crocs the homeless people will make fun of you.
Register early to avoid fees.
Pick your badge up at the airport, the line is quicker than at the hotels. But if you are PRESS ( as I was) go to the PRESS kiosk or you may find that your badge was given to someone named Donald.
Cabs are expensive and traffic is horrible in Vegas. Take the shuttles. It’s $8 one way or $14 round trip. Very cost effective.
If you are a single woman who is looking for love with a nerdy, highly intelligent, somewhat wealthy, possibly a gamer, with a great BIG sexy brain… this is your heaven. The men outnumber the women about 9 to 1. STEM PEOPLE. This needs to be a priority with our girls.
Have a plan. Vegas is huge and there were 170,000 attendees and 3600 booths. You do the math. There is no way you can cover every booth in 5 days. It’s not possible. Make a plan.
Forget about passing out your cards. This is not a blog conference. Get cards. Give cards if asked or if there is a spot to leave them.
Network at events and smaller venues. You are not going to stand out at CES unless you are naked or wearing crocs. Wait, I stand corrected, you are not going to stand out at CES unless you are wearing crocs.
Walk the strip. You have to. It’s beautiful at night. Also, #Highroller. It’s bigger than the London eye and the view is not only natural it is fucking spectacular!
Schedule down time. I am serious, if you do not, you will hit a wall and end up in your room in the middle of the day in your pjs, eating a slice and taking a nap against your own will. P.S. It’s really hard to network when you are delirious from sleep deprivation.
Also, speaking of naps, get some sleep. I’m one of those people who physically get ill after a certain point of no sleep. I have insomnia so my threshold is pretty high but if I stay up past 3:30 a.m., I will literally get nauseated. I guess my body decides it’s had enough and it’s shutting down.
Don’t over schedule yourself. I made the rookie mistake of making lots of booth tour appointments. I was just so flattered to be asked but I will tell you, then you find yourself rushing around and not enjoying things. CES is all about flexibility; you need to be able to spend time where you find your interests.

My takeaway, have a plan but be flexible. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that you can stay comfortable in for 12 + hours. Be prepared to walk because I walked about 15,000 steps every day I was there. Be spontaneous. There are so many cool gadgets and tech and people that you never know where the day might take you and if you have the option, take a friend. Life’s never quite so overwhelming when you have someone with you to help you conquer the world.

If you love playing with gadgets like I do or just love being in the tech know, when given the chance attend CES. It is awesome. Come back tomorrow and I will tell you all about the great new tech gadgets coming out this year.

Were you at CES this year, if so what was your favorite new gadget?

2015/01/12 2 comments

Parenting

Love You to the Moon and Back

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/30

written by Deborah Cruz

I notice you. I see you. Since the first moment I held you in my arms, you’ve been the center of my world. You’ve had me wrapped around your finger since your first breath.

I know the squeaky wheel gets the attention but I see you. I know you are there. I cherish every glance and stolen moment we share together. I miss the days of rubbing your back to get you to drift off to sleep and I think you do to.

I love that we are becoming more and more alike. I love seeing your sense of humor develop and seeing you “get” more things. I see more of me in you.

I love that you ask me almost always what I am wearing when we are going out, or to bed or just around the house in an attempt to coordinate. It flatters me that you want to be anything like me because I think you are so amazing just the way you are and you wanting to be like me, tells me that in some small way, you feel the same way about me.

You were my first. You will always be my first born and only Bella. You hold my heart in your smile. You always have, since the moment that you were born. With each passing day, I love you more and the world would be a much less beautiful place without you in it.

Thank you for being you. For letting me love you. You are not the constant cuddle monster that your sister is but when you do, you mean it. There is nothing like it. Nothing in this world makes me happier than your smile.

I see you growing. Caught somewhere between a child and a teenager. Still needing me and wanting me but trying to assert your independence. Ever needing to expand your wings. I see it. I see all of it. I feel when your heart hurts navigating these new waters and I just wait to catch you, when you will let me.

I watched you on the stage tonight and I was mesmerized. When did you become so tall and statuesque? When did you become so graceful, my little angel? You are so much wonderful and you don’t even know it. You leave me breathless and in awe on a regular basis.

The year is ending. You are nine. Soon, you will be ten. I know that one day soon, there will be boys and friends that will take my place as the person that you most want to spend your time with. I know I have to make all the todays count. I see you. I’ve always seen you and I always will.

I love you to the moon and back, baby. No, I love you more than that!

2014/12/30 0 comment

chicken enchiladas, recipe, Mexican food, casa noble tequila, Mexico the cookbook

Food Latina

Good Food, Good Family & Good Health & a Giveaway

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/29

written by Deborah Cruz

As the year comes to an end this week, I’ve been taking stock of what my life has been up to this point and planning forward to where I want my life to go. I find myself thinking about where I come from and what that all means to me.

Being Latina is about more than the color of your skin or your surname. It’s about the rich culture, the music, the food and the people. It’s a pride that you feel in your heart. It’s not one thing at all; it’s everything.

When I think back to being a child, my mind instantly goes to the smells, flavors and sounds of my parents’ house; the place I grew up. I am grounded in my beginnings because they built the foundation of who I am today.

One thing that instantly transports me to my childhood and is at the core of who I am is food. For better or worse, food has always been a big part of life in our family. Celebrations, milestones and even moments of challenge are always met with the comfort of humble foods that burst with flavors and vibrant colors. Foods that warm your heart, fill your belly and nourish your soul. That is what Mexican food has always been to me.

Taco Bell was something I never even tasted until I was in college and for the record, in Mexico, I never, ever saw a “Mexican pizza” and certainly never ate a hard shelled taco. Well, maybe I did but it was flat and we called it a tostada. There is pride in the way we make our food and there is love in the entire process, that’s why food is such a big part of the Latino culture.

Recently, I was provided Margarita Carrillo Arronte’s new cookbook, Mexico the Cookbook to review. This book is the first truly comprehensive bible of authentic Mexican home cooking. There are over 700 authentic recipes that you can create at home. It will take you on a journey of discovery through the country’s culinary history, ingredients and flavors that have shaped traditional Mexican cuisine.

There are several recipes for enchiladas, one of my favorite Mexican dishes. So many great recipes inspired me to share my own recipe for Chicken enchiladas.

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 lb. shredded chicken breast ( boil chicken breasts for 45 minutes- 1 hour. Let cool slightly, shred)
Olive oil, enough to liberally coat a skillet
12 flour tortillas
3 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
Minced onion
2 lemons
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
2 small cans of enchilada sauce
Sour cream or crème fraîche (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat casserole dish with cooking spray.
In a skillet, heat olive oil. Once oil is hot, carefully place diced onion in skillet. Sauté the onions until they become soft.
Add chicken in skillet, salt and pepper to taste. Add the juice of 2 fresh lemons and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder to the skillet. Sauté until chicken is warm to the touch.
Remove skillet from the heat. Place chicken in a bowl; toss chicken with 1-½ cups of cheese.

5. Empty 1 can of enchilada sauce into a shallow bowl.

6. Dip a tortilla in enchilada sauce. Coat both sides. Spoon fill tortilla with chicken and cheese mixture. Roll tortilla closed. Arrange enchiladas in coated casserole dish. Repeat 11 more times.

7. Gently pour remaining can of enchilada sauce over enchiladas, top with remaining cheese evenly and bake until cheese has melted (about 10-15 minutes).

8. Garnish with sour cream, jalapeño slices and guacamole if desired.

Can easily be made into a meal by pairing with black beans, Mexican rice and elote corn casserole ( recipe coming soon).

If you are over 21, I found pairing my enchiladas with a Casa Noble Tequila Cocktail like the Noble Smash can take dinner to the next level. It’s simple to make:

2 oz. Casa Noble Reposado Tequila

2 oz. Fresh Pineapple juice

2 oz. Cranberry Juice

Serve on the rocks with a lemon twist garnish.

This dish is rich and bursting with flavor. It’s more than just a main course; it is a layering of flavors that feels like a hug from your mama. There is comfort in good food eaten and enjoyed with those you love. Here’s to good food, family togetherness, deep love and abounding success in 2015 and for the rest of your life.

I will be giving away one copy of Mexico the Cookbook to one lucky reader. If you live in the United States and would love access to over 700 recipes for authentic Mexican cuisine, enter below. Giveaway ends 1/08/15!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided compensation/ product for this post but all opinions and thoughts are my own.

2014/12/29 1 comment

Social Good

Change the World do 100 Good Deeds in 100 Days

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/29

written by Deborah Cruz

I’ve always found the philosophy of do unto others, as you would have them do unto you a righteous one. I embrace the idea of random acts of kindness and karma, the idea of putting into the world what you would like to see. This is a good way to be and something that I feel very strongly about passing on to my daughters. I want this to be part of my legacy.

This year, I’m setting a new kind of resolution and it’s all about doing good deeds. I’m going to be the change that I want to see in the world. I’ve joined the #DeedADay movement and my goal is to wear my bracelet and do 1 good deed a day. I’d like to encourage my readers to join with me. Imagine if we all did a good deed a day, what a better place the world would be. Imagine the ripple effects in the world, if every single one of us did one single deed?

I’m joining the The 100 Good Deeds organization in setting a resolution to do a good deed a day! The 100 Good Deeds bracelet is both a fashion statement and a cause to encourage everyone to do a good deed.

A good deed means we’ve gone out of our way to help someone and only counts if the deed remains anonymous. No need for thanks. Each time you do a good deed, move the ring on the bracelet closer to the button.

The 1GD bracelets are designed by Mary Fisher, author, artists and AIDS advocate and made by vulnerable women who’ve been trained for this work in Uganda, India, Indonesia, Zambia, South Africa, Rwanda and Haiti. This project gives women a way to support their families through earnings, while empowering them to also contribute to good deeds around the world. Proceeds from 1GD bracelets are reinvested in the program to provide more women and girls with more training in more countries.

I love looking down at my bracelet and seeing the good I’ve done. The bracelet inspires me with the possibilities of all the good that I can still do. I want to share that with everyone I know, especially my own daughters.

I’m doing my one good deed a day, are you?

Disclosure: I was gifted this 100 Good Deeds bracelet to review and share with my readers. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

2014/12/29 0 comment

white hot chocolate, INternational delight, recipes

Food

White Hot Chocolate Recipe

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/22

written by Deborah Cruz

Can you believe it? Christmas is only 3 days away. Unfortunately, I’m totally not feeling it. It’s weird, between Halloween and Thanksgiving I was in the Christmas mood. In fact, I was a bit annoyed with myself for being one of those obnoxious people who skipped holidays. But then Thanksgiving came and we were all consumed with the Nutcracker for 3 weeks and now I feel like I am over it and we still have 3 full days of Christmas celebrations to endure enjoy.

I’ve been trying to rekindle my Christmas fire. Warm the cockles of my holiday spirit but nothing seems to be working. I finally decorated my tree last weekend and all the Nutcrackers are standing at attention on my kitchen counter, just waiting to be put in their positions.

All the presents are wrapped, all the elves have arrived and even the Christmas cookies have been iced. But still, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas to me. Not even the new Pentatonix Christmas CD is working. Sure their rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing has me and the girls on our feet singing and clapping like we’re in a gospel choir but I’m still not ready for the fat Guy in the red suit. Maybe it’s the lack of snow on the ground.

I’ve watched National Lampoons Christmas vacation, The Sound of Music, White Christmas, Rudolph, Christmas in Connecticut, The Bells of Saint Mary, Scrooged, Fred Claus, Elf and every ABC family Christmas movie that I can find on Netflix. They have a mad selection this season. I need the Polar Express and Yes Virginia, STAT!

My next stop is It’s a Wonderful Life while sipping Christmas in a cup…White Christmas Hot Chocolate. I think it will pair nicely with the homemade Sugar cookies that the girls made with Grandma. If this doesn’t work, nothing will.

White Christmas Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

2.5 cups of milk (whole or 2%)

1 tsp. of cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup International Delight White Chocolate Mocha Creamer

4 oz. premium white chocolate

Caramel sauce to drizzle on

Whipped cream

Instructions

Bring milk, creamer and cinnamon to a slow boil over medium heat, stir constantly.
Once at a gentle rolling boil, add in premium white chocolate and vanilla.
Stir until all ingredients are melted, minding the heat so that it doesn’t scorch.
Pour into your favorite mug; add whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
Sit by the fire; enjoy it by the fireplace with your favorite people.

Update: I made it. Drank it while watching Nativity 2: Danger in a Manger, with my family and now, I’m feeling pretty Christmasy. It’s kind of hard not to when your belly is full of white chocolate goodness and I’m surrounded by the people I love the most in my life. Life is good. Merry Christmas!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

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2014/12/22 0 comment

cameras, DSLR, Best Buy, Nikon, Canon, Samsung

Tech

The Ultimate Destination for the Latest Cameras and Camcorders

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/19

written by Deborah Cruz

I’ve got a secret; the number one thing that I want for Christmas is a new DSLR camera. Like most moms-to-be since the moment I knew I was pregnant, I knew I that I needed to capture every single moment of motherhood on “film”.

I started out shooting on a Nikon DSLR. It took fantastic photos but I missed the feel of hardcopies in hand of a 35 mm camera so I switched to a Canon 35 mm. It took amazing photos but I was averaging about a roll of film a day. My husband said that I was putting him in the poor house with my mammarazzi habit, so I switched back to a DSLR, this time a Canon. I’ve been shooting with that since 2005. Cameras have come a long way since then, so i thought about this and decided that It’s time to buy a new camera and other accessories that can help me take photos better.

Best Buy Holiday Gift Center is the ultimate destination for the latest cameras and camcorders to capture those precious memories so of course that’s where I go when doing research on a new camera.

The three cameras from Nikon, Sony and Samsung I looked into, all come equipped with built-in Wi-Fi so you can share amazing photos with ease. There’s still time to upgrade your camera in time to capture precious holiday memories.

Nikon D5300 DSLR w/18-55mm VR Lens·

A DSLR with built-in Wi-Fi so you can capture high quality photos and share them instantly

This Nikon D5300 DSLR camera comes with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II lens that enables you to capture sharp photos and video footage. Optical image stabilization helps prevent blurring to ensure image clarity

Also available in red or gray

Sony 6000 Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera·

A compact system camera with the World’s Fastest Autofocus

This Sony Alpha A6000 features a 24.3-megapixel, Exmor APS-C CMOS sensor that makes it easy to shoot scenes in stunning clarity. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you share stored content across devices.

Also available in White or silver.

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2·

A digital camera that allows you to shoot, share, and use Android Apps

This Samsung Galaxy 2 digital camera’s 16.3-megapixel, 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS sensor allows you to capture sharp images and high-definition video footage. The 4.8″ touch screen simplifies operation, and built-in Wi-Fi makes sharing stored files easy.

Visit the Best Buy Holiday Gift Center to see more great cameras, whether you’re giving as a gift or upgrading for yourself. (wink*wink*) Never miss a moment of your children’s life.

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

2014/12/19 1 comment

ky liquibeads, couple in bed, marital relations

Marriage and Relationships

The Freedom to be Spontaneous with the Gift that Keeps On Giving Every Time the

by Deborah Cruz 2014/12/18

written by Deborah Cruz

I am a member of collective bias and this shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and it’s advertiser. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Warning: This is a PG-13 post in which I discuss marital relations between consulting adults but if you are easily offended by discussing adult themed topics, you are welcome to stop reading.

What do you get for that special man in your life who has everything this Christmas? There is one thing that I know the Big Guy (and every guy for that matter) always likes…you know what I’m talking about, the freedom to be spontaneous like before you became parents. A little unprovoked, unsolicited, uninterrupted (ahem) personal “attention” and he can’t buy that (well, he can but he really shouldn’t.) Since I don’t own a time machine, nor are my beloved kids refundable, I’m asking Grandma to keep the kids overnight, adding a little personal lubricant ( come on ladies, you all know what I mean, sometimes we need a little jumpstart) and letting the good times roll. Merry Christmas, baby!

The Big Guy and I have been married forever for 15 years. When we first got married, romance was easy. We were in our 20’s so attraction and having relations didn’t take any effort at all. We were breathing and we were always ready. It didn’t hurt that we were both pretty hot. We were spontaneous because we had the leisure of time, privacy and youth. There was no stress, laundry or tiny people crawling on us and promptly spitting up on one or both of us. FYI, spit up.is.not.attractive.Not even on Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp. These days, we are simply spontaneous challenged.

We’re 40ish. We have kids who are just old enough to be nosier than they should be. I have insomnia. He gets up for work at 4:30 a.m. and every night is a game of musical beds, thanks to recovering co-sleepers who still think they lay claim to our bed. Sometimes we’re just too damn tired. Yes, it happens!

Don’t feel sorry for us yet. Thanks to a couple afternoons of working from home, we manage some “us” time but I miss making out on the couch (with no one under 5 foot asking, “What cha doin?”), and being able to be spontaneously whisked off to bed/floor/kitchen countertops or finish what we started because kids arguing over Barbie dolls in the next room causes everything south to go dry like the Sahara. Honestly, why does no one tell you that children are female erection killers?

Speaking of which, last week, for 48 hours straight, on 3 occasions, the Big Guy and I were trying to “have relations” when the 7-year-old burst into the room or beat at the door. It’s like she’s my mom and she has radar whenever I might be trying to do the deed. I’m a teenager all over again, except this time I’ve got a mortgage and gray hair and I’m trying not to get busted by a person who sometimes still needs me to cut up her food. Thank God for bathrooms with locks.

So forget waiting for the perfect time, I’m sick of trying to fit “couple time” in between the minute they go to sleep and the surprise hour that they have to pee/get water/ or remember they had homework. Mama needs some adult time with the Big Guy.

This Saturday, I’m giving us an early Christmas present, a child-free night where we can just be Debi and the Big Guy (not mommy and daddy) and maybe channel those two college students who met 17 years ago. I’ve enlisted grandma to keep the girls overnight, made a trip to Target and bought some K-Y® LIQUIBEADS® (to make sure everything down below is ready to go at a moments notice), made reservations for dinner at a place that doesn’t serve chicken nuggets and can’t wait to see where the night leads.

I’ve heard good things about the K-Y® LIQUIBEADS® and they seem easy to use.

Simply place the OVULE insert firmly into the top of the applicator so it will not fall out.
Hold the applicator containing the OVULE insert by the opposite end from where the OVULE insert is located.
Gently insert the applicator into the vagina as far as it will go comfortably.This can be done while standing with your feet comfortably apart and knees bent.
Push the plunger all the way in to place th OVULE insert as far back in the vagina as possible.
Throw away applicator after use.
Insert a bead once every few days so that your body is ready whenever the mood may strike.

I know sometimes when you are pregnant, you really want to be “spontaneous” often, especially with all those “romantic” dreams but if you’re pregnant or nursing, consult a doctor before using.

Coupon available coupon available at coupons.com $1 off any K-Y® product –

2014/12/18 0 comment

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