Alma Awards Create Emotional Upheaval

So I just finished watching the Alma Awards.

Am I the only one who was clapping and cheering most of the way through? (aside from my kids - who didn't have a clue who they were clapping and cheering for!) I doubt it. I mean seriously, I was impressed by Shakira (more about her later,) ecstatic for Jorge (GO LOST!!!) and crying during Linda Ronstadt's tribute. Man! Those songs bring back a LOT of memories, Amigas! The whole thing made me so terribly, terribly homesick for TX and Latino culture. Especially when mariachis were up there singing one from "Canciones de Mi Padre." Boo-hooo! - pasa me un Kleenex, por favor!!

How many of you out there are like me - removed from your hometown, separated from your familia and cultura? Struggling to pass on your native language, family traditions and favorite memories and to your children? I am a fourth generation Hispanic American. And as we all know, the Spanish language often disappears by the third, second (or sadly even the first) generation. I was fortunate to have spent most of my childhood with my great-grandmother, who spoke very little English. Yet, while I understand it perfectly, having spent the last 20 (more or less) years in mostly white neighborhoods and private schools, college and career choice, my ability to speak it fluidly has been severely hampered. After spending some time talking with amigas or familia, or when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries, my Spanish improves dramatically. But I'm a bit rusty from lack of practice. So with all this said, I was really glad to see Jessica Alba up presenting an award. She has gotten a lot of flack for not having learned Spanish as a kid (parents' fault!), but does not speaking the language make you any less Latino? If you were born in Italy to Italian parents, but didn't speak Italian, would you then not be one either? Bah! Let me make it clear here: all parents should do all that they can to encourage their children to learn a second language. The benefits are astronomical. But just because a person might not understand or speak a native language (in this instance Spanish) does not make them any less a Latino/a. And we shouldn't be made to feel ashamed or embarassed.

So back to the topic at hand - I was awash in tears and sentimental longing after many of these presentations.

But then, of course, I was giggling through Cheech and Chong's brief reunion. Did he really say they were going to go on tour? And I just finished reviewing one of Cheech Marin's children's books for the Latin Baby Book Club. I have to say, that I'm beginning to like him more and more the older I get.

And I was so excited I almost fainted when they announced Sergio Mendez for the final act. But, to be honest, the Brazil '66 version of "Mas Que Nada" was much, much better, if you ask me. (no, I am not fluent in Portuguese, though I do know a fair amount of French!)

Right, enough of my rambling and soapbox rants.

At any rate, if you missed it, these were just a few of the highlights from the show. If you want to see who all was nominated and for what, as well as who won, visit the Alma Awards website here.

Telanovelas....for Babies?

I have to admit that I am a sucker for good marketing. I look for it wherever I go. Cute ways to market products – especially baby products – are quick to catch my eye. And one of the funniest ones I’ve seen in a while is by Whimsical Walney. Mostly featuring a collection of blankets and T-shirts for babies, I was highly amused by their soft baby books, most cleverly named the Telanovela. How cute is that?

Available in four themes – "Out of this World," "Spring Blooms," "Under the Sea," and "Sea, Land, and Space" - these tactile books are great for inquisitive babies. They come with denim covers that sport quilted appliqués matching the book’s theme and the inside pages are made of various textured fabrics such as minky, suede cloth, and flannel as well as cottons with brightly themed patterns. Soft books are great for babies because they can be felt, squished, scrunched, rubbed, chewed on and even be used as drool wipes. Best of all, they’re machine washable!

If you’d like to check out these and other Whimsical Walney products, click here.

Thanks for the tip, Dana!

Day of the Dead is Everywhere!

Only time for a quick post this evening. With one of my kids starting school tomorrow, mi casa is totally crazy. But while on a school supply shopping spree at Target last week, I stumbled across these hilarious pajamas! Is it time for Day of the Dead already? WOW! This year has FLOWN by!

At any rate, I don't think that these pictures do the actual clothes justice. The one with the black top was especially cute with the little sugar skull in the bottom corner. It was a super comfy jersey/knit. The other one was a little too loud for me. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sleep with all that busy-ness all over me. Sugar skulls were all the rage last year (SO many showed up on etsy!) and I suspect this year will be no different.

If you'd like to purchase one or both sets, just run over to your local Target. Or you can buy them on-line here.

Dichos de Mi Madre Makes an Hierloom Gift

A few months ago, Latin Baby received a lovely sample of a gift book by Victoria Killeen called Dichos de mi Madre. I thought it was beautiful and it brought to my mind some poignant memories of my 'buelita who was such a happy soul and always imparting her wisdom with a smile. And since we will be celebrating Grandparent’s Day this month, I decided to add the book to our "Gifts for Abuelita" section. This would be a wonderful heirloom gift that could be passed down in the family. In fact, I have decided that within the next couple of days, I will be adding a gift basket, too, (which will include this little book, an abuelita T-shirt and a mirror) for those of you looking for an extra-special gift for the abuelita in your life.

Here is an excerpt from a book review of Dichos de mi Madre that I did for the Latin Baby Book Club...

"Written completely in Spanish, the book is a collection of "sayings" or "dichos" that often are quoted to us by our mamás or our abuelitas. Some of the verses have English equivalents, such as "A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes" which translates to "Never look a gift horse in the mouth" and "El amor es ciego" which means "Love is blind."
But some are uniquely original to Latin America such as "Gallo que no canta algo tiene en la garganta" which is one I distinctly remember my great-grandmother saying. It means "a rooster that doesn’t sing has something in his throat" – HA! And even better, "Échate en la cama y verás quién the ama" meaning "Throw yourself on the bed and you’ll see who loves you" gasp – MAMÁ!
I also like "Hombre casado, ni frito ni asado," which means "don’t bother with a married man, not even if he’s fried nor grilled."
There are SO MANY dichos in this book it is hard to pick out so few. I have to say that Victoria did a great job collecting them all. She is to be commended for all the effort that I am sure it took to remember and write them all down. She dedicates the book to her mother and is donating all the proceeds to charity in honor of her beloved mother.
Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Victoria completed her studies here in the States, and graduated with degrees in interior design and art history. After getting married, she moved to Atlanta where she and her husband became very involved in the arts community. They are founding members of the High Museum and Victoria has been on the board for many years. Thanks to her husband’s job, she has had the opportunity to travel to almost 100 countries which has made Victoria very aware of in the importance of culture and traditions and the pride that people take in theirs. She wrote Dichos as a way to celebrate both our Latino culture and our mothers who have taught them to us.
If you would like your copy of this wonderful little book, click here. Remember that it makes a wonderful regalito!"

Latinas - A Culture Identity Crisis

I recently read a policy brief by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy that came out last July. In it they state that for the first time, Latinas have the highest rates of teen pregnancies and births compared with all other racial groups. To be exact, 53% of Latinas will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20. And when you combine this with the fact that Latinos also have the highest high school dropout rates in the country (12%), then it is certainly no surprise that Latinas between the ages of 12 and 17 also have the highest rates of attempted suicide than any other ethnic group. It is a crisis.

What the heck is going on? An article in the Washington Post states that many Latinas feel trapped between two cultures that oftentimes demand the exact opposite of each other. Laura Sessions Stepp states in her article Crying Out for Help – Suicide Attempts Reveal Strains on Young Latinas, that these young women are "torn between an American popular culture that encourages them to be sexy and assertive, and family expectations that they be modest and submissive." She also quotes Edgardo Menvielle, a psychiatrist at Washington’s Children’s Hospital, who says that the key to a young Latina’s ability to overcome the cultural identity crisis is her relationship with her mother. A supportive mama who listens to her daughter (regardless of whether or not she agrees with her daughter’s choices) is most likely to help her daughter to avoid the depression that stems from feelings of isolation or abusive relationships. The article states that mamás (especially single mothers) are often swept away by the stress of trying to provide for their families, making them less communicative and understanding. Patience is lost somewhere between hitting the alarm clock and brushing our teeth.

If you have any daughters, take a moment to stop and think. After reading this article, I sat back and thought hard about my relationship with my daughter. Granted, she’s only 4, but what kind of groundwork am I laying down? Do I praise her accomplishments enough? Do I stop and listen? Do I take enough time to play with her like she wants me to? Am I really showing her that she is important to me and that I love her? I tell her many times a day how much I do, but do my actions strengthen or weaken her belief in these words?

I’ve always rolled my eyes and clicked my tongue at moms who are so worried about being a friend to their kids that they refuse to discipline their children or deny them anything. I’m always saying "they’ll have plenty of friends over their lifetime, but they’ll only have one mother." But I wonder if I am being too strict and critical. I think that I need to work harder to find a middle ground. I want to be a good advisor, but I don’t want to be telling her what to do all the time. I want her to make her own choices – and hopefully they will be wise ones.

While researching this, I stumbled upon the Circle de Luz Giving Network. It is a wonderful operation that is working to "inspire and empower" young Latinas to pursue higher education by providing scholarship funds. The recipients are selected while they are still in the 7th grade and are awarded scholarship funds to pursue an educational program of their choice. They also enter into a 6-year program that includes "book discussions, cultural and educational events, and reflection groups."

The organization was created by Rosie Molinary, author of the book, Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina, a collection of commentaries by over 80 Latinas about their experiences of growing up in the U.S. When repeatedly asked what people could do about the problem, Molinary came up with one way for people to help.

Donors may sponsor a young girl by committing to donate a minimum of $90 a year for six years. For those not wanting such a long term commitment, artist Mary Alice Mitchell has designed three different necklaces (one is shown above) whose purchase will benefit Circle de Luz. They are beautiful and each one is priced differently. Click here to take a look.

And if you would like to nominate a school in your area from which the Circle will choose its scholarship recipients, click here for the requirements and directions.

There is so much more I have read and could write on this topic, such as the poverty and dependence that most often results from dropping out of high school. About domestic violence and the importance of self-image. But I better wait and save these for another day.

However, as a Latina mom, I would highly recommend reading the article I mentioned above. You can find it here.

In the News...

I am on cloud nine. Both Latin Baby and the new book club have been in the news quite a lot lately. I thought I would just share a couple of the feature articles done recently.

First of all, a big, giant thanks to Fashion Mannuscript for the wonderful article. It came out really well and I appreciate the opportunity. This magazine really is a wealth of information and I have a few leads for some upcoming posts on Mi Cielito Lindo. So stay tuned!

And thanks to a certain amiga (you know who you are) for thinking of me and suggesting my name. I hope I can return the favor someday.

Second of all, muchisimas gracias to Marisa Treviño from Latina Lista, for not one, but two posts. And they came out magnifico! You work so hard - and it shows. And thanks for the information about issues affecting Latino families that you occasionally write about. I reference it a lot!

With a big, fat, giant abrazo to everyone,

The Frijolitos Book Series has Arrived!

From the LBBC Blog-

"Prior to having children, I used to spend every weekend in a bookstore. And the proof is here in my new house. Our library is filled with boxes of books patiently awaiting the construction of built-in bookshelves. However, since my journey into mamihood began, my genre tastes have shifted from a little bit of everything (nature, mystery, crafting, fiction…) to mostly children’s literature.
The arrival of a new book in the mail never fails to lift my spirits and fill me with excitement. And I’ll even admit right here that I am a bad critic because there are very few books that I have read that I haven’t liked. And, hey, I’ll even admit that with the birth of mis niños, it is like having the chance to relive my favorite part of childhood – the books!

But let me tell you, amigas, this week my excitement was fully justified, when I received my first order of books from Frijolitos Inc. Dedicated to creating educational toys that celebrate the traditions, folklore and culture of Latin America, their first two books do not disappoint. Filled with culturally relevant illustrations and themes, both books present the text in both English and Spanish.

Picadillo the Armadillo/Picadillo el Armadillo is the first book in the series and follows the mischievous antics of Picadillo when he is found and taken in by an excited young girl named Lilia. He is accompanied by Albondiga, the Mariachi dog, who at first tries to keep Picadillo out of trouble, but finally winds up joining in on all the naughty fun. The ending is warm and sweet and teaches a good life lesson about not judging a book by its cover.

But my favorite book is the second one in the series, Tuguita Tere: A Home for My Books/Un Hogar Para Mis Libros. The book centers around (surprise!) Tuguita Tere as she celebrates her 5th birthday and eagerly applies for her very own library card. Tuguita is an imaginative bibliophile, always dreaming up adventures based on the books that she reads. I really like how the book references historical figures (ie, Frida and Sor Juana Inés to name a few) – this would be a great way to introduce your children to other historical children’s books, too.

The back of Tuguita’s book even includes a history of the piñata (Did you know it was originally an Italian game? I didn’t!) and a nice little section with tips about reading to your child. Both books even include lesson plans for teachers and parents in the back.

So if you’d like to pick up your very own copy of one (or both!) of these fun books, click here.

And be sure to visit the Frijolitos web site to learn more about their whimsical characters!"

The Bolsa Chica - Creating Beautiful Accessories

I have discovered that I have FINALLY reached the point in my mamihood where I just want a small purse. Una muy bonita, feminina y chiquitica. My youngest is now old enough that all I really need to do is carry one extra diaper for emergencies. This is a miracle. Right now my purse is mainly filled with crayons, kleenex, empty wrappers from juicebox straws, pencils, notepads for emergency picture drawing, a couple of horse dolls, and one headless rider (not the halloween kind, but rather the "oh-you-played-too-hard-and-now-its-broken" kind).

The purse itself was perfect at the time that I bought it from Target. Now it is showing the wear and tear that is my daily life - the straps are fraying, the bottom is scratched and there is a strange smell emanating from one of the side pockets (sounds just like me on a good day.) A switch has been flipped! I want something girly, and I WANT IT NOW!

Enter my latest etsy find. Don't you love this little purse from the Bolsa Chica? She has so many to choose from, but this little number is definitely my favorite. It seems very sophisticated and feminine - which is the exact opposite of my clunky brown leather job.

And to make the whole shopping experience even sweeter, the Bolsa Chica (who, incidentally, is also named Monica - no wonder I like her!) is having a summertime sale! Yippee! You can visit her etsy shop here.

And for all you crafty mamis out there, be sure to check out the Bolsa Chica's blog here. She has some great tutorials.

Panama Gourmet's Perfect End-of-Summer Recipe

It is so hard to believe el verano is almost over. My kids are running me ragged and we are all looking forward to school starting. Despite a cool front that has moved in (50’s tonight – woohoo!) the days are still muy caliente!

And while surfing the internet looking for cool down recipes, I found the most wonderful site!

Chef Melissa de León is the founder of The Panama Gourmet. The ultimate Cooking Diva, one look at Melissa’s resumé will make your head spin. She has studied cooking all over the world…esta chica must be busier than the columpios at recess! At any rate, her blog is filled with wonderful recipes that I think many mamás would be eager to try. I had a hard time narrowing down my recipe choice for today, but I think I have found the perfect one for the end of the summer…

Papaya Nieve
(recipe and photo taken from panamagourmet.blogs.com)

Ingredients:
3 cups fresh, ripe and sweet papaya, cubed
2/3 cup light brown sugar or light corn syrup
3 tablespoons fresh lime (or mandarin orange) juice
a pinch of cinnamon (optional)
water

Directions:
Puree papaya in the blender with enough water to make 24 oz.
Combine papaya puree with the other ingredients and transfer to the ice cream maker. Then, follow the directions of the ice cream maker to freeze and finish this nieve.
For better taste store the nieve 3-4 days in the freezer.

To check out the Cooking Diva’s recipe-filled blog with its , click here.