The definition of the word manifesto from Dictionary.com:man·i·fes·to [man-uh-fes-toh] noun, plural man·i·fes·toes.a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives, as one issued by a government, sovereign, or organization.I know from experience that unless I am very intentional about doing something, it just ...
creative stuff
“If you build it…”
I'm a sucker for lifestyle magazines. You know the ones where everyone is super well-dressed and chatting and dining in gorgeous surroundings? Sucker. Me. I'm the one who tears pages out of said magazines and puts them into an idea file. That's right, Pinterest, I was way ahead of your time. I'm not casting aspersions on ...
How to Make Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz
I've been up to my eyeballs in costumes, props, and set painting for my son, Jonathan's high school production of The Wizard of Oz. Unlike some of the other shows he's been in, this one has a lot of moving parts to it. (Which, I'd like to just say right here that the original creators of the old-school 1939 Wizard of Oz were genius. *bows ...
Jesus and My Hair
I've been letting my hair go back to its natural curl. That sounds like a really simple thing, right? It's not. I've been going to a specialty hair salon in Laguna Beach. The hair gal, Vickie (who happens to be Puerto Rican, which makes us practically related) runs a cute little shop called Curls on Top. She specializes in curly ...
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is obviously a very uniquely American holiday. Which is the perfect time for us to celebrate because we're a uniquely American family. Cuban-American, that is. I have the privilege of hosting my big, fat, Cuban family here in my home this year. It's going to be a smaller group than usual. Only about 20 of us, because not ...
Everyone Should Have a Giant Chalkboard
Back at the beginning of the summer I had the opportunity to host a big birthday bash. It was a joint birthday party for my sister, Helen who would be turning 70 and my daughter, Amy Kikita who was going to be 29. Because we entertain so often, we have tons of dishes and silverware and vases and cups and tablecloths and all the sorts of things to ...
That’s Entertainment!
I feel like I owe some kind of explanation about my lack of usual blogging over-sharing here in this space. So here goes: I'm tired. Just plain tired. Deep-to-my-very-bones tired. Or, to borrow a great Cuban phrase from my mom. Estoy agotada. (Which is awesomely descriptive. It means completely wrung out. Like a sponge. Not a drop left. ...
Writer’s Block
I guess it happens to the best and most seasoned writers. You wake up and sit staring at the blank page on your computer screen and.....nothing. I think it would be much more dramatic for this moment to happen in front of a typewriter with a blank piece of paper (maybe in sepia tones). But I know it happens either way. It's the equivalent of ...
Modern Day Thank You Notes
I have a love/hate relationship with the digital age we live in. I kind of hate that unless your phone is turned completely off anyone can find you at any time. For the record, I never, ever turn my phone off. Not while I have kids out in the world, which is most all the time, but that's not important right now. But I love when friends send me ...
This is a fine mess I’ve gotten myself into…
We're still living in a bit of chaos. Our kitchen cabinets are now in the process of being painted and it's taking a few days. So now that I've got my shiny and beautiful new appliances installed, I am still unable to cook and the mess is starting to get to me. I have lost my mojo and am feeling out of sorts creatively. I ...
