Spanish Greeting Cards and Invitations for Baby Showers

Check out this adorable greeting card from PaisleyInParis. It's perfect for those attending a baby shower, especially a Spanish baby shower! It is printed on recycled cardstock and comes with a matching envelope (also recycled.)

And speaking of Spanish baby showers, if you happen to be looking for ideas on how to throw one, be sure to check out our Squidoo page and the How to Throw a Latin Baby Shower page over at the Latin Baby boutique. Our etsy shop also carries a line of downloadable Spanish baby shower invitations, or you can just check the boutique which also carries the matching Spanish baby announcements and thank-you/gracias cards. Or if you are looking for bilingual baby shower invites, Latin Baby carries a few by Nos Vemos Greetings. While you're there, take a look around the boutique for some excelente gift ideas!

Latina Bloggers Unite!

In the last 6 months or so, there has been a real burst of energy and networking among Latina bloggers. Last year at this time, it was a real struggle to find any blogs by Latinas. Then, like an explosion, they were popping up everywhere. The first spark began with mi amiga, Carrie, when she started a list of Latina bloggers on her blog, and invited everyone to participate. Then our of the blue comes Spanglish Baby, whose exceptional blog really started pulling in comments from Latina moms all over the country - many of whom happened to be blogueras. Next thing you know, everybody's charlando and Twitter explodes, connecting us all with our random posts(follow me... @LatinMami.) It takes up so much time that some of us only use it once or twice a week, while others can't hardly let a day go by without telling us what they had para cenar the night before.

It has been wonderful connecting with Latinas all over the country and reading their wonderful blogs. It is a comfort to women like me to see others who are experiencing similar situations, feelings, etc. And our voices are rising in song, getting stronger with every click of the "Publish Post" button.

If you haven't already found the latest and greatest ezine-style blog, check out TikiTiki. Founded by four Latinas, three of whom I consider amigas, the blog shares "stories with cultura, color y sabor." Be it daily news, inner musings, family recipes, inspirations, even videos and photos, TikiTiki is a hit. Even better, the blog is all about interaction and sharing stories, so if you have some thoughts you'd like to share, TikiTiki would like to hear from you - send them your article.

Share tus palabras, tus cuentos, quizás un poco de tu alma...

Preventive Health Publications for Latinas Available On-line

The story is not a new one: Because of financial situations or self-sacrificing cultural traditions, many Latinas are less likely to participate in preventive health services than other women of non-Latino heritage. Heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are the leading causes of death for Latinas in this country. Fortunately, Latinas can reduce their risk of contracting one of these diseases with simple lifestyle changes and taking advantage of preventive health services.

Two major events affecting Latinas are pregnancy and childbirth. Oftentimes, these stages provide women with an opportunity to make changes in diet and exercise for the health and safety of their babies. But Latinas should also know that this is an excellent opportunity to monitor their own health information and make positive changes in their daily habits. Latinas all over the country can take advantage of the North Carolina Healthy Start web site, which offers the opportunity to order free copies of their publications for women. Two in particular should be of interest to Latinas: My Personal Journal/Mi Diario de Salud and Mujer Total. The first is a wonderful way for women to keep track of their basic medical information that they receive during their prenatal and postnatal doctor visits. For example, women can record medical test results, vaccinations and even blood type. The journal may be downloaded in English here, or a copy of the Spanish issue may be ordered on-line.

Mujer Total is a Spanish magazine, approximately 20 pages long, that gives tips and other information about nutrition, diet, immunizations, breastfeeding, smoking, family planning, etc. It includes toll-free numbers and links to Spanish web sites where Latinas can get more information. The magazine can also be downloaded for free here.

For more information about preventive health and self-care among Latinas, check out the January/February issue of Maternidad Latina.

NC Healthy Start also has a Spanish web site created especially for Latina moms. MamáSana.org is a great resource for first time moms (and even second and third timers!)It answers questions on pre- and post-natal care, as well as how to care for baby. Check them out here.

Latin Baby Book Club Issues 2009 Summer Reading List

Summer is almost here and many mamis are looking for activities to keep their niños busy. For some great literature ideas, be sure to check out the Latin Baby Book Club, which has just issued it's 2009 Summer Reading List. Divided into three categories, the list offers suggestions for bilingual and bicultural books appropriate for newborns all the way through high school. Parents trying to raise bilingual children will truly appreciate the efforts of the LBBC, which reviews books and music, interviews authors, announces upcoming events and more. Keep an eye out this summer as they describe activities and crafts that promote literacy in children.

With May being dubbed Latino Book Month, now is the best time to check out books written by and for Latinos. What kind of books are being recommended? Well, here are a few examples...

Quinito, Day and Night/Quinito, día y noche by Ina Cumpiano.

The story of opposites, Quinito describes simple concepts of messy and neat, old and young, happy and sad. A great bilingual book for introducing infants to words and their meanings.

Playing Loteria/El juego de la loteria by René Colato Lainez.

A beautiful story celebrating the relationship of an abuelita with her grandchild and the discovery of language through games. It even includes directions for playing the real Lotería!

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Animal Poems of the Iguazu/Animalario del Iguazu by Francisco X. Alarcón.

Acclaimed poet, Alarcón, brings to life the inhabitants of Iguazú National Park, by allowing the animals to speak for themselves in the Amerindian oral tradition. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.

Celebrate Día de las Madres with and Ecard

This Sunday the whole country will be celebrating Mother's Day/Día de las Madres. If you're like me and haven't already purchased un regalito for your mami, then shame on you! Get out there right now and get her something special! In my defense (and probably yours, too,) I totally forgot about the day until my daughter came home from school with a little gift for me.

Anyway, I got on-line and started looking around and was pleasantly surprised to find that several sites are offering free ecards in Spanish. If you are far away from your mamá, or if you'd just like to add a little special touch to her present, you can find some beautiful ecards on the web.

Hallmark, for example, has a whole section of bilingual and Spanish ecards celebrating not only Mother's Day, but holidays year-round. A few of them cost $0.99, but most are FREE! And they can be personalized and scheduled for delivery. Check out their entire collection here.

Also, RioTarjetas.com has several styles to choose from if you don't mind wading through advertisements. You can find them here.

BlueMountain.com has some cards...very simple, not animated. Check them out here.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Saludos a todas {y todos}, y Feliz Cinco de Mayo! I hope you celebrate it with some delicious mole poblano or some chiles poblanos rellenos!

And of course a shot of tequila or a cervezita or perhaps a margarita!
Yes, I know, it's only Tuesday, but the fact our Mexican army defeated the French army {who were better equipped by the way} I think that calls for a little something :)

Interesting fact though, in Mexico we don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we celebrate el 16 de Septiembre, which is our independence from Spain.

¡Salud! - Cheers!