Noche Buena.There were 32 adults and 6 kids under the age of six at the party. It was LOUD. As only a house full of Cubans can get. We all talk at the same time and try to make ourselves heard. Somehow we manage to keep track of all the conversations, even with all the multiple levels of voices. There was much laughter and chaos. The lovely kind ...
Bionic Women
What would I do without my helpers?Not only was our road trip to Portos a great success, but I got to spend the morning clowning with my girls. They are both so amazing. They have shopped and wrapped and filmed and edited and baked and cooked and put up with me through all of our preparations. All with extraordinary grace and poise. They haven't ...
The Great Race
The countdown has begun. We are out-of-our-skin-excited because.... We're taking a ROAD TRIP to Porto's Bakery in Glendale. woo-hoo! Amy, Lucy and I are braving the busiest freeway system in So Cal for the most amazing papas rellenas, pork tamales, croquetas de jamon, pastel de pollo, and of course, refugiados. And I haven't even mentioned the ...
Violetas on my mind
I am a Cuban woman and I wear expensive perfume most of the time. (BTW, if you didn't know.. the two are synonymous.)I don't feel completely "dressed" without my perfume. Perfume and lipstick. Those are my staples.The other day I read this beautiful post over at Babalublog about memories triggered by familiar smells. Titled: El ...
Dating my kids
Because my kids are homeschooled we really do spend most of our waking hours together. The Payoff? I KNOW THEM. I spend time with each one, for the most part doing something they would like to do. The girls are easy. They are 23 and 13. And we end up doing "chick stuff" together. Plus we have our standing date on Tuesday ...
The most intimate gift
I often get asked what I'd like for Christmas or what my favorite present is. To be honest, the presents that turn out to be my favorites are ones I hadn't even thought about... but someone else did. I'd like to share with you one of the most intimate gifts I've ever received. My husband knows I have a favorite calligraphy artist. His name is ...
Salud!
I don't know anyone who truly likes egg nog.And then they try our Cuban Egg Nog and all perception changes. We call it Creme de Vie. ("creme" rhymes with Auntie M. and "vie" rhymes with More For Me! =D) Rather than making cookies for gifts, we make and "package" the Creme de Vie. (we also keep a whole lot for ...
‘Tis the season
I have nothing thoughtful or clever to say. (I know that's not really news.) But seriously, I am completely just enjoying the season. And I just wanted to share.We have our tree up! I know some of you were worried about this - here's the proof. And the rest of the house is decorated, and my cards have been mailed, and my Cuba to Go! orders ...
Easy does it?
I had no internet connection for the entire day on Thursday. For someone who is so techno-dependent this creates some difficult decisions. I chose to go have coffee with my friend, Kristen. And then I thought, "hey! I can probably get a bunch of other stuff done, too!" Well...that is, I might have been able to get other stuff done, if I ...
Entertaining Angels
We had an unexpected house guest last week. (I know. those of you who have been reading this blog are wondering how we do it. But read on and you'll understand the why.) Meet our fabulous friend, Jonathan Hunter. He was involved in Saddleback Church's Global Aids Summit. But he needed a place to crash, and of course, knowing that we are right ...
