Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – The Show We Need to Talk About Right Now

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Marvel. Perhaps one of the biggest leaders in the pop culture industry. You can be a die hard fan, a sometimes fan, or even a bandwagon fan, but there is no denying that the iconic mogul of comic books and movies has resonated within our souls throughout the years.

I’ve been a Marvel fangirl for many years. I follow their industry news just like any other fan would, so when I heard that their popular TV series, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was ending on the seventh season, my heart was conflicted. Sure, most people will say that seven seasons on television is a long time, but with S.H.I.E.L.D., there can be decades of stories told through television, movies, and comic books. The TV show had some rocky episodes here and there, but Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will always stand for one thing: defending those who can not defend themselves.

S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. In brief, S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded as a secret government agency to counter global and national terrorism. The agency of top secret operatives’ main villain was HYDRA, who in itself, is a rather complex and convoluted organization. Founded in the 1950’s, this fictional yet realistic organization has lead fans through tumultuous journeys fighting enemies, confronting comrades, and making really tough life decisions. Even if you’ve never picked up a comic book about S.H.I.E.L.D., you would know them through other Marvel movies (insert – Captain America and Avengers).

Since this is the final season of the quintessential superhero show, let’s talk about why this final season is so important to humanity. While the organization itself is fictional, the story of S.H.I.E.L.D. is very real to all of us. In Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, the showrunners do not shy away from controversial topics and the interpersonal relationships between all the characters reflects the real life people in our world. These characters, or agents, face some type of adversity and prejudice both as real people on the show, and as secret government agents.

With the wake of the deaths of many people in the black community due to police brutality, season seven of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., takes us back through time to when injustice and racial prejudice were prominent.  Season seven’s tagline “To Save the Future They Must Change the Past” sounds like something we all wish we could do. Specifically, in episode 3, “Aliens Commies from the Future!” shows us that back in the 1950’s, race, gender, and social equality meant absolutely nothing in America unless you were white, male, and important.

In the scene when Gerald Sharpe enters a typical 1950’s Diner, we see Agents Coulson and Daisy sitting at a nearby table waiting for the Department of Defense employee to make his appearance. At first glance throughout the restaurant, everything seems normal. But then Coulson points out the segregated bathrooms clearly marked as “Whites Only” and “Blacks Only.” As Coulson clearly states, “we are at the golden age of invention” meaning that humankind is starting to progress into a more forward-thinking future. But Daisy points out the bathrooms and we are reminded again that, “we still have a ways to go.” Let’s jump ahead to later scenes with DoD Sharpe.

In the scene when Sharpe is being interrogated by Agents Mack and Yo-Yo, the government employee clearly feels slighted at being interviewed by a man of color whom he so blatantly calls “boy” and Yo-Yo as “mamasita.” His smirk remarks and degrading commentary puts Agent Mack immediately on the defense but Yo-Yo pulls him back. This is the first inclination that the audience receives of an already intolerant society where America judiciously think that they are the “leaders of the free world.” Hmm…

So let’s jump to the scene where Agents May and Yo-Yo are dressed as pilots to infiltrate Area 51 and Yo-Yo remarks why no one questions two women as pilots are walking through the top secret building. Agent May (who is a tough as nails Asian warrior agent) replies that in the 1940’s and 50’s, women pilots out-flew men as target-toting pilots. It’s safe to assume women pilots were merely revered as pinup dolls, made to look pretty to attract the enemies of the United States. Sexist? Yes, as so Agent May and Yo-Yo scoffs.

If you take a deeper dive into Episode 3, “Alien Commies from the Future,” the title alone gives away the subliminal meaning behind it. Aliens? Are they referring to aliens from outer space or aliens from another country that is not America? And Commies? Well, we know what communism all meant to the US back then. But the xenophobic trend in the middle decades proves to us that society indeed has not moved much away from race and gender discrimination. We saw Agent May almost taking out Sharpe when he called her an “Oriental” during interrogation back on their spaceship. And as I point out, Gerald Sharpe is the epitome of a systemic racial and sexist dictator where he believes that if you’re not white and male, then you are not worthy of his attention. And does he play that role well!

We know that Season 7 was filmed months ago before the pandemic and the police brutalities brought to surface. But the one thing that Marvel as a company does well, is to highlight the various personalities and abilities of people around the world. I met several Marvel artists and writers and most of them are indeed of various races and abilities and while they were their own entity long ago, I have no doubt that as a newly acquired presence in the world of all Disney, Marvel is still given free reign to write their stories that matches the uber quality of diversity, inclusion, and powerful mutants who just want to belong in society.

Though season seven is the final season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I urge you to start watching it now and pick up the previous seasons. This final season travels backwards through time and we can bet that Marvel will not hold back on the topics we are still facing today.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can be found on ABC and Disney+ as well as other streaming channels. It airs on Wednesday 10/9 Central.

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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The Kids Will Be Okay

Homeschooling, Studying, Zooming, Building, Crafting, Drawing, and er…Complaining? Yes, unfortunately all the homeschooling has turned kids into little monsters. Gasp! What?!

But never fear! Your children will be all right. Unless your child was originally home-schooled, there was a lot of adjustment since school campuses had to close. In the beginning, my friends and I laughed, joked, and then intermittently cried over all the math lessons, the essays, and the assignments that had to be turned in on time or we’ll get an email from the teacher. I’ve always had a deep respect for educators, but having to teach children that are not of their blood for seven hours straight, five days a week is definitely not the easiest job in the world.

As a parent, I’ve learned the hard way that kids are actually more resilient than adults. And they are quite forgiving. You can get mad at them, yell at them, even ground them. But a couple hours later, everything is forgotten and forgiven. That is why, as a parent, it’s our sole duty to protect our children and teach them to do the right thing so that when they become adults, they will hopefully learn from all the life lessons that we taught them.

Once again, as I started writing this a week ago, I was going to shed some insights and tips on kids ending the school year and going into an uncertain summer. But as we were faced with the tragic results of police brutality and the injustice faced by people of color – in particular the black community – I wanted to share something that we can do to help our children. Whether you are a parent or not, you should realize that everything starts at childhood. Children are not inherently evil. They do not inherently know that one person’s color of skin should be treated differently than another color. Evil. Cruelty. Shame. Those are just a few injustices that almost everyone faces at one time in their lives. And as children, they learn from what is around them, whether it’s through their parents and family members, at school, on television, or what they see on social media and video games. I am by no means a professional psychiatrist, but I can speak frankly as a mother, an educator, and as a minority.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela

How true are those words spoken by Nelson Mandela all those years ago. But sometimes as parents, we forget that what we say or do directly affects our children. They see what’s around them. They hear what’s around them. And they react to what is shown them. Even if we are most careful to hide certain acts and thoughts from them, children will inevitably pick something up. Even if we do not mean to shame someone or put someone down, our children will pick up those innuendos. And eventually, if we don’t let our children know that what we did was wrong and try to make a change, then they will think it’s okay. If mommy and daddy did it, it must be okay to do it. If my friend did it, then it must be okay to do it. If my teacher did it, it must be okay to do it. It’s tough being a kid, and because they are so innocent and naive, their little sponge minds can pick up on almost anything they see and hear.

So let’s go back to the resiliency I mentioned. Yes, kids are pretty resilient and tenacious. They fall, they get up, and they move on. And they do so because it’s what they know inside them. They haven’t yet learned that it’s scary to fall or that it’s painful to have a scraped knee. Pain might be an instinctual reaction, but fear is usually learned and taught. So let’s take their most progressive years of learning and teach them only good things. Teach them about compassion. Love. And common respect.  Because only through the eyes of compassion and respect will be bring meaningful change.

If you need some help in how to guide your kids on coping with tragedy and trauma, below are some outlines from the Orange County Department of Education.

Be understanding.

Not everyone reacts the same way in times of crisis. Some children may become more quiet or withdrawn, while others may become irritable or act out. These are all normal reactions, and adults need to respond in a calm and caring way. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network says how children experience traumatic events and show their distress will depend largely on their age and level of development.

Take time to connect.

Sometimes adults can become preoccupied with disturbing events and managing their own responses. They can forget that children are aware of what’s happening. Take a moment to check in with your child and let them know they can talk to you and ask questions.

Limit their exposure.

As our friends at CHOC Children’s have noted, parents should consider the proximity of an event and what information a child truly needs to know. Be aware of televisions that are on and showing news coverage in common areas. Talk about the child’s feelings and concerns, provide reassurance, and offer age-appropriate information — more on that in a moment — to help clarify misunderstandings and reduce fear. We can also teach children to use their own coping skills, such as talking to a trusted adult or doing activities like playing with friends, reading, praying, singing, dancing or creating art.

Promote self-care.

In time of crisis, many of us become the caretakers of those who are most affected. These selfless acts of kindness are greatly appreciated, but adults must also remember to take care of themselves. Promoting self-care will ensure you do not burn out or experience higher levels of compassion fatigue, allowing you to care for others for a longer period of time with greater efficiency.

Show patience.

Just as individuals may have varying responses in times of tragedy, they will also have different timeframes for healing. Try your best to be patient with those you’re caring for, as they may have a shorter or longer response time to the crisis.

Make sure to follow up.

Check in periodically to make sure children are continuing to cope in healthy ways. If additional support is needed, reach out to a school counselor or clinician. The majority of schools have counselors who can meet with students to check in, help them process what they are experiencing and teach them about healthy coping strategies. If you would prefer seeking services outside of school, most medical insurances offer coverage.

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Keep explanations appropriate.

Meanwhile, the National Association of School Psychologists offers these suggestions for keeping explanations of school-based violence developmentally appropriate:

  • Early elementary school students need brief, simple information that is balanced with reassurances that their schools and homes are safe and that adults are there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety that remind children about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and emergency drills being practiced so they are prepared if somethings happens.

  • Upper elementary and early middle school students will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools and provide concrete examples.

  • Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Emphasize the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following school safety guidelines — for example, not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, and reporting threats made by students or community members — communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators, and accessing support for emotional needs.

In the end, you are the parent or caregiver. You know your child best. But right now, most kids will see and hear about the recent events. They already know about the pandemic crisis so to add their fears and doubts about what they might see on television or hear from their family and friends could be quite traumatizing and confusing.

 

*photo rights -OCDE.US

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

 

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Stress Fighting Food and Energy Gaining Treats

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Stress is one of the most damaging factors to our health. Stress does not discriminate and it can affect anyone of any age and gender. We all deal with stress at one point in our lives whether it’s mental stress, physical, or emotional. But we don’t have to let stress rule our lives. We alone have the ability to reduce the daily stress in our lives.

As a long time supporter of food as medicine, I can’t stress enough the importance of how food plays a critical role in our lives. Famous Greek physician Hippocrates was quoted:

“Let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

How true is that statement when even ages ago, food was revered as a main source of medicinal purpose. We are truly what we eat and what we eat should be beneficial to our health and to the health of our planet. If you’re finding it harder to find fresh and healthy food in your area, there are still many ways of getting healthy fruits, vegetables, and grains into your life. You can grow your own food, which, depending on the type, can actually produce a good harvest in a couple of months. Of course growing your food alone won’t sustain you, but keeping a readily available crop year-round is quite beneficial for you and your family.

Below I’ve listed easy to find food as well as food that you can buy online and grow your own. And in the next segment, healthy snacks and treats for kids that are beneficial and easier for them to eat at times of stress.

FOODS THAT FIGHT STRESS:

Vitamin C foods: Oranges, Broccoli, Papaya, Strawberries, Sweet potatoes, Cantaloupes, and Brussels sprouts.

Green Tea is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties. Due to its catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other health benefits. Plus, green tea is delicious and can be used in cooking as well.

Berries: Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Gogi berries, and Golden berries.

Nuts: Walnuts, Pistachios, Brazil Nuts, and Almonds.

Ginger.

Lavender.

Leafy Greens: Spinach and Kale are top leafy green Powerfoods!

Chocolate.

FOODS TO AVOID:

Excess caffeine. Too much caffeine can make us all pretty edgy.

Processed Foods. Processed foods are stripped of important nutrients that our body and mind needs.

Artificial sweeteners. Some studies show that artificial sweeteners affects our neurotransmitters putting our moods and bodies out of sinc.

Excess alcohol. Alcohol stresses our bodies and requires an immense amount of energy for our bodies to metabolize.

High sodium foods. High sodium foods can elevate blood pressure and bloating which just weighs our body down.

Excess refined sugar. Refined sugar greatly affects our blood sugar levels and produce that “high-low” feeling.

HEALTHY TREATS FOR KIDS:

Homemade ice treats. Make some iced treats at home using ingredients that you might already have at hand. Try making ice cream, popsicles, and refreshing smoothies. Use real fruits and vegetables for these ice treats and add in fruit juice and/or dairy (plant-based or animal protein). While most fruits and juices are already pretty sweet, you can also add in a teaspoon of honey (be sure your child is not allergic) to give it an extra boost of nutrition. Try this easy and nutritious fruit smoothie: https://www.marthastewart.com/332804/fruit-smoothie. Ice treats such as popsicles and smoothies give kids the power to choose what kinds of fruit they want in their treats. Help them choose by selecting fruits with lots of vitamins and minerals as listed above.

Granola. Whether granola is homemade or store bought, there are many benefits to this energy boosting snack. Granola is usually made from cooked oats, nuts, and some type of fruit, but if you do make them at home, you can add literally anything to it. Try sweetening it with cocoa nibs or chocolate chips, honey, or maple syrup. Include brain boosting ingredients such as chia seeds or flax seeds. Granola for kids can be easy or complicated. Choose ingredients that you know your kids will enjoy such as dried cherries, nuts, or chocolate chips.

Fruit Kabobs. Just like the traditional kabobs you find at restaurants or on your own grill, fruit kabobs are delightful sticks of freshly cut fruit. You can also dip the fruit in yogurt or chocolate beforehand to give it some uniqueness and extra flavor. Fruit kabobs are pleasing to the eye and palate. Kids usually associate food with their senses so make adorable fruit kabobs for them to hold onto and munch on. Check out this very unique fruit kabob with french toast: https://www.marthastewart.com/343289/french-toast-kebabs.

Popcorn. Popcorn is such an iconic treat for both children and adults. Just be sure to buy or make popcorn from organic and/or non-GMO corn. You can also sprinkle on some turmeric powder, low fat grated cheese, or drizzle with melted honey. Store bought popcorn tends to be full of salt and sugar so be sure to read the ingredients carefully. Plus, popcorn is a filling treat for kids to have afterschool or in between meals.

Dried fruit. If your kids love fruit, then have them try dried fruits. Dried fruits are packed with nutrients due to the method of drying fruit. And they’re easy to cart around when you’re on the go or need something that can be mixed into other recipes. Popular dried fruit for kids include, dried apples, dried pineapples, and dried mangoes.

As long as you remember that food closely associates to our health, then you can always make better choices. Take some time to evaluate what causes you stress or fatigue and check out your own refrigerator and pantry.

Happy Healthy Eating!

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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A Mothers Day to Remember

Mothers Day is on May 10, and it’s coming up ladies and gentlemen! With less than two weeks away, you still have time to plan for that very important date. And a note to all the dads out there – this year your child will not be bringing home a Mothers Day craft from school. It’s up to you to figure something out with your children 🙂

But never fear! I’ve listed some cool, crafty, and heartwarming ideas you can do this Mothers Day. Remember that moms (or any mother figures you have) just really want to know you care about them and appreciate them. I know that’s what I think 🙂 When you think about it, any kind of gift will suffice as long as you consider what your mom really wants or needs. Gifting something from your heart is more important than any fancy jewelry or chocolate. Of course, if your mom really loves jewelry or chocolate then that’s the obvious choice. 

There are tons of ideas you can do for Mother Day this year. Don’t let the “shelter at home” deter you from thinking up something creative that only your mom will understand. Aside from the usual drawings and cards that your kids can make, below I’ve suggested other simple yet thoughtful gifts you can give this year.

MOTHERS DAY GIFT IDEAS:

– Subscription Boxes. These curated and special gift boxes have been around for awhile now so there are plenty of companies to choose from. We want to be able to give mom a subscription box that is meaningful and good for the planet. Some great subscription box companies include:

  • Causebox (https://causebox.com/) – this women-owned charity driven subscription brand promises that each product within their gift boxes gives back to specifically chosen charities. They support small businesses and their products are ethically and sustainably made. You can choose either quarterly or yearly subscriptions and their intro boxes are usually filled with at least 4-5 full size and well-received products. 

  • Love With Food (https://lovewithfood.com/) – this fun subscription box service curates healthier options than other food subscription services. With famous healthier brands such as Tillamook, Popchips, Late July, and MadeGood, there’s no doubt mom will find something that she likes in these boxes. There’s even a gluten-friendly box which is something that other conventional brands don’t offer.

  • Target Beauty Boxes (https://www.target.com/b/target-beauty-box/-/N-9nty6?lnk=snav_rd_beauty_box) – this sample sized beauty box is perfect for anyone who wants to try out a new brand or product. Moms will love this beauty box because the curated products are also sold at Target. That’s a win-win, right? And, you can also include a Target gift card inside the box so mom can buy something that she might like from the samples. Beauty boxes include a “clean” box filled with ingredients that are healthier for mom and for the planet.

– Aromatherapy. Giving a gift of aromatherapy will help your mom relax during these stressful times. Especially if she’s homeschooling your kids and participating in these distance learning that most schools are offering. Aromatherapy includes natural essential oils, diffusers, and candles. Aromatherapy is a therapeutic treatment meant to either relax or reduce stress and fatigue. The best form of aromatherapy is essential oils. Essential oils are derived from the form of the plants so be sure to pick up brands that use only plants and nothing else. A great way of using essential oils is with a diffuser. Diffusers are best when they are heated as they slowly release the scent into the air, thus causing therapeutic effects. You can find diffusers online at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and any other stores that carry home goods.

– Chore Coupons. Okay, I don’t know any mom who wouldn’t appreciate a chore list coupon. Chore list coupons are lists that your kids can come up with to help around the house. Chores depend on age and ability, but should include something that can help alleviate mom from some of her own chores. For example, you can include washing dishes, sweeping the yard, cooking, or folding laundry. These are all simple and time-saving chores for mom. Include a small booklet of chores that your child can write on and have mom choose the specific chore from the booklet and tear out the “coupon”. 

– Classes. Is your mom interested in learning a new skill or lesson? Perhaps she’s always wanted to learn how to knit or speak a different language. Give your mom lessons that you think she’d be interested in. This will help her get out of the house and learn something that can bring her joy. Find classes at local colleges or community centers. You can sign up months ahead so there are spaces available. 

– Books. Most people can agree that books are truly the best gift. Whether it’s an e-book or a traditional paper book, books can bring countless hours of joy and escape for moms. Pick out some books from her favorite authors or help her find some new authors and genres. Great books can be found at Barnes and Noble and Amazon, or if you an support a local bookstore in your area, try buying from them. 

– Plants. Home grown flowers, fruit, and vegetables are the best way to ensure the food you grow are controlled by you. Give your mom easy to grow plants such as lavender, sunflower, and daisies. Popular and fast growing vegetables and herbs include mint, cilantro, tomatoes, cucumbers, and for a truly refreshing and unique herb try lemon balm. This delicious and fragrant herb smells like minty lemons – just as the name implies. You can find most plants at big warehouse stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s as well as online nurseries such as Proven Winners (https://www.provenwinners.com/), American Meadows (https://www.americanmeadows.com/), and Armstrong Gardens (https://www.armstronggarden.com/). Plants can last for many years and if you take care of them, they will provide lasting enjoyment throughout the years.

– Personalized Photo Books. Have you ever tried a personalized photo book? You know, the ones where you upload all of the photos on a photo site and then choose the theme and text. They are incredibly fun and you might need some help from dad for this one. Shutterfly (https://www.shutterfly.com/) is a very popular photo site and there are tons of various themes and ideas to create photo books. In fact, while you’re on the site, you can also try any other photo gifts for mom. What mom wouldn’t love a keepsake photo gift?

So, this Mothers Day, try and think up fun and different ways you can show mom just how much you love and appreciate her. It could be anything simple or as fancy as you want to make it.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

 

 

 

suzanLeave a comment

Earth Day – April 22, 2020

Not once during all my years of promoting Earth Day, did I have to start with…”during this unprecedented time”. But times are indeed troubling and confusing and most of us are left wondering if there will ever be a “light at the end of the tunnel.” Thinking positively is all we can do because if we don’t, then the struggles are even harder.

With the annual Earth Day coming up, how do we continue to help the environment if we’re ordered to “stay at home”? The answer is, that we must find safe and achievable steps we can still take to help Mother Earth. As countries are ordered to stay at home to help slow the spread of the virus, it seems that oceans and lakes are clearing up, public streets are devoid of trash, and people are banding together to clean up their communities. It’s as if nature itself has hit the “reset” button and trying to clean up as much as possible. 

But sadly, there are news of people leaving their discarded gloves and masks everywhere. People are throwing them onto the streets or leaving them in store shelves or shopping carts instead of disposing them properly. These kind of actions are unacceptable and leaving very dangerous traces of germs everywhere. We can’t ignore the fact that now more than ever, we need to take drastic steps to be clean and safe.

This Earth Day, there are some very easy and convenient steps you can take to help our planet. I truly hope you can share some of your advice and wisdom on social media as I will be doing so on April 22.

EARTH DAY ACTIONS:

– Continue to use things digitally but responsibly. While we practically live in the digital world, we still have to be mindful of the electricity that we use. While many utility companies are offsetting their electricity usages, we still need to remember to turn off electrical equipment when not in use, and rest our minds throughout the day. However, buying media digitally does save trees, electricity, ink, and so forth.

– Donate. Donation companies might be closed temporarily during the “Safer at Home”mandate, but you can still save items for when they reopen. Better yet, donate them to neighbors or friends who might need them.

– Participate in virtual Earth Day events. Some great events include:

– Plant a garden. Planting a garden, whether it’s for food or joy, is always a great thing to do. If you plant for food, try out easier to grow plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, beans, and herbs. All of these type of plants have a fast growing cycle and will yield an abundance of food for you and your family. Each year I try to grow cucumbers and beans and since I live in California, it’s easy to grow tomatoes and herbs year-round. 

– Upcycle. This is perhaps one of my favorite things to do for the environment. We are at a point where recycling is no longer the first option as it might have been decades ago. Instead, let’s try upcycling. Upcycling is simply taking something that you already have and finding a new purpose or use for it. It could be anything as simple as an old t-shirt that you can turn into a reusable shopping bag or cut up into large squares to use as cleaning rags. I bet if you look around your house you’ll find lots of things you can upcycle and give them a new “life”. Some fun and easy ways of upcycling includes:

  • clothing – take any old and outgrown clothes and turn them into reusable bags, cleaning rags, aprons, add-ons to existing clothing, wrapping paper, and etc. Check out some ideas here.

  • glass jars – take any clean and sanitized glass jars (think jams and pickle jars) and use them to plant succulents and herbs. Glass jars make excellent reusable products due to the ability to stay sanitized and varying sizes and colors. Check out some ideas here.

  • plastic bottles – this is possibly the easiest and best ways of reducing your plastic usage. Since recycling should be the last resort, you can extend the life of your plastic bottles for many years by upcycling them into soap dispensers, garden planters, and even pencil holders. Check out some ideas here. 

– Display Earth. Make Earth-shaped cutouts, color them in, and tape them on your windows. Encourage your friends and relatives to do the same so that people will know you “stand with Mother Earth”. See below for a printout.

– Make Seed Bombs. Seed bombs are incredibly fun to do. You simply take some scratch paper or colored scrap paper and blend them with wildflower seeds. Then roll them into balls or small shapes and let dry. When you’re out walking the neighborhood, throw some into the fields and when it rains again, the seeds will disperse and grow. Just be sure to buy wildflowers that are specific to your region and non-GMO so chemicals don’t interfere with the natural plants around it. Check out the instructions here.

– Clean up your community. Depending on where you live and how safe your community is right now, try going around your neighborhood or around schools and clean up the sidewalks and parks. Once the “shelter in place” has been lifted, join an environmental cleanup crew such as www.unitedbyblue.com.

*** There are lots of creative and fun ways of supporting our planet this year, even when we’re supposed to stay at home. You can probably think up some really great ideas on your own! Be sure to share your ideas and thoughts with others so everyone can support our planet.

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

 

 

 

 

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“Day One” by Lauren Runow – Book Review

Day one cover

If there’s ever a time when we need an uplifting and beautiful story, then no better time than when we’re all on “lockdown” order. Follow main characters, Drew and Sharee as they share their day-to-day activities with each other, and with us readers, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Years from now, the COVID-19 virus will be talked about with younger generations and older generations as they look back to this horrendous virus and how it shut almost everything down. It might even possibly be in the history books. But true love can’t keep this lovely young couple, Drew and Sharee from finding each other!

I found a new favorite author, Lauren Runow, who writes mainly Adult Contemporary Romance. Her new story, Day One, hooked me from the first line. I was one of the fortunate readers on Facebook who got to follow Drew and Sharee’s story as they are written by the author. Each day, Lauren wrote a new chapter and posted it on Facebook. I have to admit that I was never more excited to read the day to day events of fictional characters! 🙂 But yup, there I was, every day, waiting for that little ding from my Facebook notifications for Lauren to put up a new chapter. I needed the distraction and the uplifting story to keep me sane while we’re all on the “stay at home” order during the pandemic. And Drew and Sharee’s story was definitely an uplifting one! In fact, the entire story is altogether sweet, funny, intelligent, sad, and uplifting. When it comes to true love, nothing could stand in the way of these two characters.

In Day One, Andrew and Sharee accidentally meet on the Tinder dating app and their connection is instant and intense. Drew is an up and coming Major Leagues Baseball player and Sharee a 6th grade teacher. They are both very real in their interactions which is what made me love these two. If I can imagine two people who are slowly falling in love in real life, Drew and Sharee’s story would be it. While they are indeed fictional characters, the way they talk and act seems very real. Drew is a sweet, kind, and giving person and Sharee makes his days fun and exciting with her comical quirks and endearing heart. They are indeed a perfect storybook match!

If you’re looking for a fun and light read, be sure to pick up Day One by Lauren Runow on Amazon now. You will laugh and sigh and jump with joy at the ending and the epilogue.

Thanks in advance to Lauren Runow for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review!

You can find Day One through these following links:

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2xKMgnB
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2wTTKUZ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2KgSKgT
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3cyQHAI

Book blurb:

My thoughts of how I’m going to survive this indefinite amount of time alone are interrupted by a notification from my Tinder app.
Yes, we’re on quarantine. Yes, I reactivated my account out of pure boredom. And, yes, Drew’s one profile photo is smoking hot.
I hit Reply.
Day by day, as the world tries to stay healthy, we find creative ways to pass the time together. #alonetogether
We quickly find out that getting to know each other is the easy part; staying away from one another is the challenge.

Lauren Runow is the author of multiple Adult Contemporary Romance novels, some
more dirty than others. When Lauren isn’t writing, you’ll find her listening to music, at
her local CrossFit, reading, or at the baseball field with her boys. Her only vice is
coffee, and she swears it makes her a better mom!
Lauren is a graduate from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and is the founder and
co-owner of the community magazine she and her husband publish. She is a proud
Rotarian, helps run a local non-profit kids science museum, and was awarded Woman
of the Year from Congressman Garamendi. She lives in Northern California with her
husband and two sons.
You can also stay in touch through the social media links below.
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/laurenjrunow
Instagram at https://instagram.com/Lauren_Runow/
BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laure…

Thank you Lauren Runow for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review!

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

suzanLeave a comment