When I first heard that Solo: A Star Wars Story was being made, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. My first question was: Is this really a story that needs to be told? My son, Jon and I were discussing this very thing as we drove to the screening of the film - about an hour and a half away. (In California we measure distances by drive ...
The Solo: A Star Wars Story Junket Was Out of This World
A long ago, in a galaxy far, far away... When I first saw those words crawling across a screen back in May of 1977, I didn't realize that the film, Star Wars, would have such an impact on my life for years and years to come. That first viewing cemented my relationship with the characters, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Obi-wan, and Darth Vader. I would ...
Amazing Grace
In our many years of homeschooling we have had the most excellent good fortune to meet some wonderful families along the way. The very best part is that many of our friendships had their start in our homeschool years and continue now as those kids are graduating college and making their way in life. Let me introduce you today to our friends, Lizz ...
All the Heroes Assembled for the ‘Avengers Infinity War’ Press Conference, But They’re Not Talking
Picture this: A large room with a giant black curtain going from side to side. On this curtain is a projection of the Avengers logo. It was quite a thing to behold. To the right is a tall podium. Welcome to the Avengers: Infinity War Press Conference. Held last Sunday afternoon in LA at the beautiful Montage Beverly Hills, it was a day filled ...
Mami Likes/Loves Cafe La Llave – A Giveaway
This post is sponsored by my favorite coffee people, Café La Llave. The opinions contained in this piece are all my very own. Someone asked me the other day about Cuban Coffee. She asked the difference between Cuban espresso and "American" coffee. I kind of went off about everything that I love about Cuban coffee, from the beautiful aroma to the ...
Empty Nesting Like A Boss
{DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by P&G & Bounty Paper Towels. All opinions that follow are my own.} As I watch my daughter, Amy wrestle with her almost 2 year old, Sebastian, I often think to myself: “She has no idea how time will start accelarating from this point on.” As those of us who have raised children into adulthood very well ...
Happy International Panda Day (who knew?)
{This post is in cooperation with IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures. I was not compensated for this, although Warner Bros. sent me a cute little plush panda for Sebastian - thanks, WB! - but all the opinions stated here are my own.} It's International Panda Day, people! I never know about these things, do you? Years ago, my family visited the ...
What’s Your Favorite Cuban Dessert?
What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert? Please don’t start your answer to this question with “it depends.” I can’t handle: “it depends.” I want the answer to be quick, clean, and uncomplicated. Someone asks you: “What’s your favorite Cuban dessert?” I want you to have the answer handily on the tip of your tongue. I want you to know your mind on ...
Marta’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe
When we first arrived in Miami from Cuba in 1961, a cousin took me to a bakery to get me a treat. Back then, Cubans had not yet taken over the town and this was an old fashioned cake bakery. She purchased a wonderful thing for me. It looked like a cupcake, but with a little more density. There was no frosting, but it had chocolate chips scattered ...
Saying Yes To the Dress
When my husband, Eric proposed to me back in 1992, the first thing I did was go out and buy a couple of those big, fat bridal magazines. I pored over the perfection of the gowns that promised to fulfill every blushing bride's dream. *sigh* The styles back then were both the poufy ballgown type and the closer fitting "mermaid" look. Fitted through ...
5 Things I’m Loving Right Now
There are things I like and there are things I love. (I'm not talking about the obvious, like husband and kids and grandsons.) Right now there are a few things in my life that have I more than love. Truthfully, I'm a little obsessed with them. I know you'll appreciate these as much as I do, because you have excellent ...
25 (and a Half) Years
It's already February, people. Next week is Valentine's Day. Wait. What happened to January? Is it just me? Or does time appear to be like Millennium-Falcon-in-hyperspace zooming away? I'm having a serious case of Tempis Fugit* right now. (*that's Latin for "time flies." Yeah. All those years of Catholic really school paid off, didn't they?) Six ...
Born to Be Wild
{This post is a review of the superMOPI Toddler Motorbike (there's no motor). I was not compensated in any way for writing this. I received a toddler size superMOPI for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.} My grandson, Sebastian - you may call him Bash - is a super-active, high energy kid. He's been walking since before his 8th ...
Mami Always Knows
For years - many more years than I'd care to admit to - I would call my mom with cooking questions. I remember my first attempt at Arroz con Pollo. "Do I have to use the pressure cooker?" (I got over my fear of pressure cooking pretty quickly, but that's not important right now.) "Canned asparagus. Really?" and "Is the beer at the end really ...
Life is in Session
I have been fully intending to do a recap of 2017. But like many of my other good intentions, it hasn't quite gone the way I intended. My answer to the "well, why not?" question remains the same: Life is in session. I have a friend who says that often and I have since adopted the habit of explaining why things do or don't get done. Why do ...
