Staying in this holiday season is probably best given the current pandemic, so if you have the means to spear some dollars these gifts are sweet. If you have the means to spear a little extra, please consider donating to organizations like Toys for Tots  that are bringing gifts to those who have lost. Another great way to gift a gift or help a family or child in need is to visit or check with your local churches.

Disney covers the gifts for your little ones and while 2020 has definitely been challenging and different, Disney Holiday Gifts continues this year. Here's a guide on the gifts and a direct link to the coolest and current Holiday Gifts. To see the full Disney Holiday Gift Guide 2020 follow this link.

​The boo and I love Indian food. Just around the corner there’s this really great Indian market where we indulge frequently in their savory food selection. In the spirit of love for their food, I have altered my rice quite a bit when I’m going for a different rice flavor. It’s simple and easy, and it’s the closest I’ve gotten to replicating their rice. 

So, without further ado, here’s my quick and simple recipe for my Indian Caribbean Rice.

Mi pareja y yo somos amantes a la comida india. A la vuelta de la esquina de nuestro apartamento hay un mercado indio donde nos damos el gustito frecuente. Me gusta tanto que he alterado un poco mi arroz en busca de un sabor similar al arroz estilo indo. Es simple y fácil y es mi toque personal al arroz indio.

Sin más preámbulos, aquí está mi receta rápida y simple para mi Arroz Indio Caribeño.

* Opcional: Algo que me gusta hacer, que me enseñó mi mamá es cortar algunas cebollas frescas y agregarlas cuando el arroz esté completamente cocido para darle un sabor extra.
Además, en este punto, también puedes agregar un poco de aceite de oliva.

Consejos adicionales si algo sale mal: Si por alguna razón cocinas demasiado el arroz o está duro, agrega un poco de aceite de oliva en el medio y cocina a fuego muy lento unos minutos más. Si cree que necesita más agua, puedes salvar el arroz agregando un poquito de agua y aceite de oliva.

Este es mi arroz preferido por el momento. A veces agrego tomates y pimientos para darle color y un sabor diferente. Recuerde, cocinar tiene que ver con el gusto personal y por supuesto, con los colores que le damos a la comida. Por lo tanto, aproveche la oportunidad de agregar algunas especias favoritas y agregar algunos colores a su comida. Explorando llegamos a conocer nuestros gustos en la cocina y así se nos va el miedo. 

¡Gracias y buen provecho!

So, without further ado, here’s the recipe to my Quick Berry Bowl. A smoothie created for even the lazy days we all share. 

Need extra help? We can also make it together in this simple "blend along with me" video. There's chill music involved. Also, feel free to subscribe to our channel if you're in the mood to support a broke un-influencer. 

Grab your cup of plant milk and crawl into your favorite blanket with our Oat Cinnamon Cookies. These cookies are perfect for the fall.

​Online learning is becoming more and more effective nowadays. People are developing their skills no matter where they are and what their schedule is. But they are also making mistakes that reduce the effectiveness of their online learning initiative.

Not Thinking About Accreditation
When you are signing up for an online course, one of the first things you should check is theiraccreditation. If you are learning for personal development, this is not a big deal. But professional development is another matter. You need to prove that you have the skills for the job. Most courses have an online diploma or certificate that legitimizes the course. But there are different levels of legitimacy. For example, if youronline health and fitness coach trainingoffers a certificate from several professional bodies, then it is a good choice. But if the only accreditation you will get is from an unknown educational body, then it might not get you a job.

Not Taking It Seriously
An unfortunate result of online learning not being in a classroom is that many people are not taking it seriously. They slack off and they submit late assignments and the like. Even if some do attend classes and participate, they don't put in their full effort. This is a mistake you should not make. Online learning can have the same results as face-to-face learning sessions only if you put in the work. If you do not make the effort, then you won't get the full benefit of the sessions. When you sign up for an online learning class, you should promise yourself that you will treat it as an actual classroom subject.

No Schedule
While many online learning classes can be very flexible when it comes to class schedules, this does not mean you can pick up a class any time you want. You should havea definite schedulefor your daily classes. The best reason for this is that it establishes a habit. Humans are creatures of habit and learning is much better when you expect it. Besides that, clearing out a particular part of your day for learning ensures that there are no distractions. It also gives you time to complete assignments and tests that you have to finish.

Not Checking for Updates
Another habit that you should learn to develop is the regularchecking of updates. Many people are familiar with the idea of their teachers spoon-feeding them the information. With online learning, students need to do some learning on their own. Teachers might occasionally change the syllabus or online lesson material. Unlike normal classes, teachers have it easier when it comes to distributing material. You must get the latest version of whatever material is available. Check for updates in either the online learning site itself or emails from the teacher.

Not Working With Others
Another problem with online courses is that the feeling of isolation. Unlike in an actual classroom, there are no other classmates to discuss the material with or have a classroom discussion with. For some people, this is not good for their learning process. It is always a good idea to try and form virtual discussion rooms and contact your classmates so that you can have someone else to discuss the class with. If possible, you should meet with your classmates in person so that you can have a face-to-face discussion or study session. Many find it incredibly effective in boosting their study efforts.

Not Reaching Out to the Teachers
Many online learning students struggle with the material on their own. But they shouldn't be. Their teachers are only an e-mail away. If you are finding it difficult to understand a subject or a concept, you should send your teacher a message for clarification. This can be a big help to you since they can guide you through topics that can stump you for days on your own.

If you are shy about asking your teach details, then wait for the help sessions. Online teachers nowadays often hold additional sessions for students who can't figure out the material. They usually announce this during the class and you should attend if you still don't understand the material.

Online learning can be a great convenience. But it will take some effort to extract the full benefit of it. When you begin your online learning experience, focus on doing your best, and avoiding the above mistakes to get the best results.

A chilly night in California had me craving delicious comfort food without doing too much. I reached into my pantry and found some simple ingredients to make myself a savory meal while I showered and got ready for dinner. I grabbed some left over rice from the night before, tossed it in a pan with some onions and served it alongside what we are calling Instant Veggie Pot. 

Being from the Caribbean, rice and beans can be an unapologetic go-to dish again and again. We love it! We put together a recipe for you for a taste of the Caribbean. Here is our Rich Beans recipe in both Spanish and English.

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• ​Remember to place some parchment paper on your baking tray.​

Within one medium sized bowl, combine wet ingredients:
#1 Whisk coconut oil, brown sugar, and applesauce
#2 Add coconut milk and vanilla extract
Separate bowl, combine dry ingredients:
#3 Whisk flour, salt, baking soda – mix for a good 2 minutes
#4 Combine both dry and wet ingredients, mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon
#5 Mix in the vegan chocolate chips, and any other topping of choice
#6 Add mini scoops of dough onto baking tray, making sure to give sufficient separation between each doughball 

Unhealthy Habits to Conquer
If you are currently working at home as a result of the pandemic, see if you are guilty of the following unhealthy habits:

• Sitting slouched and hunched over when working on your laptop or desktop computer.
• Forgetting to eat meals on time.
• Forgetting to drink water as often as possible.
• Working in dim light.
• Putting your face too close to the computer monitor.
• Not sleeping enough at night.
• Not exercising.

1. Sit straight.  It often takes years for good posture to become second nature to a person. But you can start with one simple rule: sit straight. Whether your chair has a backrest or none, make it a habit to sit comfortably straight with your weight equally distributed on your buttocks. Feel how the muscles on your back support your spine. Push your shoulders back and slightly down, and lift your chin so it's almost parellel to the floor. If your computer screen is below your eyeline, just lower your gaze instead of slouching down to its level.

Simply correcting how you sit can already do a lot for your posture and health. It helps keep your spine in proper alignment with your hips, knees and limbs.

2. Don't stress over what you cannot control. There's already so much that's out of your hands during the pandemic. It's no use dwelling over them. Turn your attention instead to what you can control. Clean your home and give it a makeover so that it becomes a space you'll want to hang out in instead of thinking of when you can freely go outside again. Donate to credible charity causes instead of yelling at politicians on the TV. Hire a professional to open an account and do your Shopify website design so that you can sell your goods online instead of just waiting for the government to lift restrictions on "non-essential" businesses.

3. Hydrate and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Nutrition is paramount during a pandemic. A healthy body is just as vulnerable to the coronavirus as any, but the chances of beating the illness are higher among people without preexisting medical conditions. Conversely, the elderly and people with serious health problems have a higher risk of infection. Reduce your risk by eating nutritious food. Do what you can to boost your immune system and avoid diseases that will make you more vulnerable to the virus.

4. Get enough sleep. Quality and sufficient sleep are crucial to a person's physical and mental health. Poor sleep has been linked to many medical conditions, including diabetes, heart diseases, obesity, weak immune system, depression and anxiety. One of the downsides of being at home 24/7 is there's hardly any delineation between work and home life. As a result, people end up working well into the evening or dawn. A few more hours of productivity can be good for your career, but compromising your health in the process shouldn't be a price to pay.
​
Remote working is necessary at this time and there's no telling how long you will be working from home. Don't make it a reason for your health to deteriorate. Turn the four tips above into habits, and you'll notice a vast improvement in your health and mental well-being.

plantain that was ​beginning to ripen up, so I cut it open and made myself a quick and savory plant-based appetizer. We are calling this one, Plátanos (Plantains) a la Caribbean. 

Fertility Focus
Reproductive health has been a more inclusive and important trend recently. There are increasing options for fertility treatments and pregnancy. As technology is becoming more advanced, more people are being offered the chance to start a family. There are more fitness and wellness activities catered to pregnancy. 
 
Pet Therapy
Pet cafes have been popping up all over the world, so it’s proven that spending time with animals is an effective therapy. If you don’t have time or the finances to spare to get a pet yourself there are still ways you can benefit from making a few animal friends. You can volunteer to walk your neighbors’ dogs and to look after their cats. You could even consider fostering instead of taking on a full-time pet. If you’re thinking about adopting a new furry friend and can’t come up with any name ideas, click here.

J-Wellness
Japanese-style wellness has been trending recently. It brilliantly marries referred traditions with innovative technology. Typically the Japanese have a fast-paced and stressful lifestyle and sometimes they find new ways to get away from it all, which are taking on all over the world. Forest bathing is a feature of J-wellness, for example, why not give it a go? It’s said to be a sensory and mindful experience. Iki-iki plazas are also spreading nationwide in Japan. These are neighborhood facilities that encourage mingling, recreation, and learning. They focus on positivity, self-acceptance, and life satisfaction. 

Virtual Therapy
The main goal of virtual therapy is to be accessible to all. Online therapy is growing in popularity due to its many advantages, the main one being flexibility. Plenty of online platforms have open chat options, plus tools such as video call and voice messages, making certified therapists available from wherever you take your smartphone. There has also been a rise in mental health technology, such as meditation headsets, which measure physiological symptoms of anxiety.

Wellness Sabbaticals
With the work from home transition this year, it’s become a commonplace for people to spend more time out of the office.  This hasn’t necessarily meant a break from the pressure and many people feel more stressed than ever before. A wellness sabbatical allows you to take time off to work on a project focussed on your well-being. 

This could take the form of a wellness getaway to resorts such as Kamalaya in Thailand, or a sponsored month working in a beautiful place. There are several startups coming up with new ideas for wellness sabbaticals as they are becoming a growing trend. Why not take the time for yourself this year and investigate in a wellness retreat. ​