It's my husband, Eric's birthday today. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, but he's one of those people who is a natural-born teacher. He's a Search Marketing Guy in his real life, but I can confidently say that teaching is his real gift. (NOTE: Search Marketing is geek-speak for the guy who gets you on the ...
Cooking on a Budget – Pastelitos de Guayaba
If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I have perfected the simplest recipe for making pastelitos de guayaba (Cuban guava pastries) at home. Porto's, which is the closest Cuban bakery to us is still miles and miles and a half day's road trip away. So, when the craving for pastelitos hits, I just make ...
The Haircut
When I was a kid, as you know, I spent an extraodinary amount of time fighting The Battle of the Do, trying to tame my naturally curly locks into something more "comforming" to the cultural norm. Read all about that here... I Have Naturally Curly Hair. Of my four kids, Jonathan is the only one who has been stuck blessed with ...
My Big, Fat, Dodger Blue Cuban Family
I have amazing news! I'm proud and privileged to announce that I was invited to be on the planning committee for Cuban Heritage Day at Dodger Stadium this year! (I know. Shut up.) Seriously, if I was going to add an item to my Bucket List, this would be it. Of course, I didn't know I would have added it until they actually asked me, but ...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier – a Review
I am pretty much the worst person to have with you in a movie theater when the film in question is an action/adventure type. It has to do with learning styles. Let me explain... Because I'm a visual learner and have a vivid imagination, I see things and feel them viscerally and then I react audibly. (Of course, you could chalk this up to the ...
Captain America: The Winter Soldier *sigh*
I got to attend another press junket a few weeks ago. Also, it's just recently that I've started actually using the word, "junket" with regularity in coherent sentences. Mostly because I finally looked it up. jun•ket noun 1. a sweet, custardlike food of flavored milk curdled with rennet.2. a pleasure excursion, as a picnic or ...
The BBC, The Cold War, and Me
I did an interview a while back with NPR talking about my recollections of the Cuban Missile Crisis as a young Cuban child living in Miami. (Also, that sounds really cool to say, but that's not important right now.) Here's the link to that - Is Anybody Listening? Apparently, that link was picked up by a reporter from the BBC News Magazine ...
Gaviña Coffee Basket – A Winner
Before I tell you who won the giveaway, I want to thank all of you who shared your coffee memories. I felt like I was hanging out with you at a "ventanita" in Miami talking about that magical first time delicious coffee was introduced into our lives. Thank you.The winner of this fabulous Café La Llave Coffee Basket is (drum roll, ...
The Smell of Home – Gaviña Coffee Basket Giveaway
I remember being about 5 years old when I really took notice that my family brewed coffee a dozen times a day. It was almost a Sacred Ritual. This also happened, I took note, in every single Cuban home I had ever entered. The daily brewing of the perfect Cuban cafecito is something that happens repeatedly throughout the day in Cuban households ...
Where There is Life, There Will Be a Mess
My preference, when I'm blogging or sharing anything online is to show you the fun aspects of my life. (Thankfully, there are many.) But, of course, my life is not clean and shiny and perfect all the time. Especially right now.We are in the throes of fixing up our sweet little home. We've torn down the rotting wooden beams from the ...
