The cousins range in ages from seventeen to forty-two. After Thanksgiving dinner last week:The cousins didn't want to leave, so they didn't want to leave.The cousins wanted to watch a movie, so they wanted to watch a movie.The cousins wanted to try the Creme de Vie, so they wanted to try the Creme de Vie.The cousins wanted to spend the night, so ...
Archives for November 2007
Crunch Top Applie Pie Recipe: It’s as Cuban-American as “Mami, Pastel de Manzana, y la Bandera” ;-)
I know you were wondering what we did with all those wounded apples from Thanksgiving. Well, wonder no more. The Galas (those are the red and yellow ones) went to my mom's and she reported that they are now two jars of delicious homemade applesauce. The Granny Smiths (the green ones) went into a pie. A good ole homemade Crunch Top ...
Wasn’t that Allstate’s motto?
I know this photo has too much glare.And it's slightly out of focus.And it doesn't show my (ahem..) most attractive side.But let me tell you why I love it.There is a way my husband has of taking my hand, that makes me feel secure. He knows where he's going.I feel safe following his lead. That's why I like it. It speaks to me of our ...
Control issues
"Someone's got to take charge.And I usually like it to be me." ~ Marta =D When I was still a young woman and living at home, I started ...
Becoming Mr. and Mrs.
I cry at weddings. I know. Total dork. And let me tell you, it was all about the tissues at this one. This happy couple consists of Eric's beautiful cousin, Heather and her (oh so lucky! sniff, sniff) groom, Manny who were married on Saturday. So, here comes Heather walking down the aisle on her dad's arm and just about ...
What’s new?
Sometimes I'm really aware of where my creative leanings come from. I see a picture in a magazine, I notice the colors in a room, or I hear a song on the radio, all of which get me thinking and then sketching and then I find myself pushing to create something. So, here comes Thanksgiving and I'm not feeling particularly creative when ...
I am . . .
A wife.A mother.A daughter.A niece.A sister.An aunt.A great-aunt. Incredibly lucky to be related to all these beautiful and amazing women. =D ...
Where everybody knows your name
One by one, each family arrives. Some juggling diaper bags and babies, others carrying pies or cases of drinks.Of course, they don't knock. There is no need. They are my family which means this is their home. "Mi casa es su casa" and all that. The people who are already here let out a big "Yay!" and ...
History, Geography, Architecture, and Design – Now that’s what I call a Field Trip!
Can I just tell you how much fun it is to go to Vegas? Especially (I found out) with my two homeschooled kids. (I LOVE going with Amy too because she and I always have so much fun and that's completely different, but that' s not important right now.) Lucy and Jonathan know stuff. (not at all implying that Amy doesn't, it's just more ...
We’re ba-a-ck!
Yes. I realize we were just here umm... about ten days ago. And yet, here we are again.Yes. We got to drive through the Mojave Desert once again. (I know you're jealous. =D) Why? Billy Joel. One night only.MGM Grand. Yes. I know I told you that Eric was taking Lucy to that concert, but seriously, do you think I would be ...
We are fa-mi-ly . . .
I am the youngest of six. We are five daughters. FIVE. CUBAN. WOMEN. With five strong and sometimes (many times) opposing opinions. Which is totally fitting for Cuban women. I have a brother who lives in Texas (I sometimes wonder if he didn't move so far away because he got a little tired of living with so many Cuban women, but ...
The Dating Game or The Kevin Bacon Game (Date Edition) or . . . WHATEVER! Let’s just PLAY!!
I am making some Bacon-Wrapped Date Appetizers over at Babalú today (which got me thinking about other stuff in that really random A.D.D. way of mine, but that's not important right now). And I have a ton of other things going on in my life AND I'm also preparing to host My Big Fat Cuban Family here for Thanksgiving next week. So, I could just ...
What to pack for a Guilt Trip
I have to confess I've been feeling guilty.Guilty in that really deliciously tragic Cuban-martyr way. I haven't spent much time with my mom and visiting aunt. (Say it ain't so!!!) Because . . .I've only been shuttling my cousin and her husband All Over Southern California.And homeschooling my kids.And cooking gourmet meals.And running my ...
Afro-Cuban after all . . .
I thought I knew my mom inside and out, but she is still able to surprise and amaze me. (Hi everyone, it's me, Amy) Let me give you some background . . . One of my very dear and very beautiful friends, Sheila (Not the blond. That's my other friend, Ashli, but that's not important right now), works for her mother's non-profit organization ...
Giving thanks
When people come into my home I have a very high value for them to feel welcome and relaxed. I want them to feel like they are special and that they "belong" here. I don't know if I always achieve that goal, but I always try. This is one of the ways I show hospitality. I make and send invitations. For ...
My sweet lort
My Cuban cousins first met Eric about five years ago. They loved him immediately and, of course, gave him a nickname. (I think it's some sort of ancient mandate originally written into our constitution that all Cubans should have a nickname, but that's not important right now.) When they learned he was of English ancestry, that did it. ...
