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 ...
Thanksgiving
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 ...
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 ...
Cuban Christmas Math – 12 days plus 3 Kings?
It is the day after Thanksgiving. I know there is a frenzy of activity in many homes already decorating for Christmas. Ours is not one of those. Growing up Cuban means we celebrate Christmas Eve - Noche Buena. In our home, we always waited to put up our tree until December 24th. That was always part of the celebration. We ...
A good time was had by all.
This was our Thanksgiving day celebration: SOO much food! But we enjoyed it. The cousins had some attitude going for them. But we enjoyed them. There was lots of jumping. But they enjoyed it.The cousins played music. We all enjoyed it.The card game that wouldn't end. They are still enjoying it!They are still here. They won't leave. And ...
Japi Sanguibin (Happy Thanksgiving)
Happy Thanksgiving. My tables are set and awaiting the family tomorrow. We only have 26 because not everyone can come. I realize a beat too late when I tell people this that they think I am joking. Only 26 - ha! Being Cuban Americans, we appreciate that Thanksgiving is a holiday unique to this country. When we first started joining in ...
Bet you didn’t know…
I've got my mom with me this weekend. That means, of course, that I'm cooking Cuban. Preparing for Thanksgiving next week and looking forward to Noche Buena next month got me thinking of pork. (That last statement totally makes sense to Cuban Americans.) So I've got pork chops in the crock-pot slow cooking in mojo. As they cook, ...
My Creative Process….
"Ladies and Gentlemen, make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened and place your tray tables in the locked upright position." "We're ready for take off!" Someone was asking about my creative process. As if it might be something easy to describe. I have to look at something for a long time before ideas begin to pop into ...
Because we can…
It's fall in Southern California and of course, you know what that means... Right. Wetsuits! While I'm thinking October and pumpkins and planning Halloween costumes, the weather here is in the 90's and Eric is taking the kids surfing. (notice his shirt says, Cuba Libre! =D) It's like living in some kind of parallel universe. Right now all the ...
