Then We Came to The End

…well, for now anyway.  Go read my last installment of my Multi-Culti Mami column for Literary Mama.

Here’s a blurb:

 

“…maybe because of that experience, I identified ever since exclusively as Spanish-American. When they were smaller, I thought of my Guatemalan-born, American-raised children as exclusively Guatemalan-American, rather than as simply American, too.
But my three children are from a different place and time of origin, both of which are more fluid than the ones I knew growing up. That, it turns out, changes a lot.”

Leave your love here, or there, in the comments.  I could use some ánimo as I go forth into a new (but still writerly) direction.

Glow

So between finishing up my latest column, launching Tiki Tiki, potty training, and life in general…my already fairly low maintenance “beauty routine” has suffered from an even greater lack of time and energy.  I have time for a quick shower after a run, but aside from that, all the rest has to be pretty on-the-go.  All this considered, it’s been the right time to try out a new product I received recently for review from Caress.  The new Evenly Gorgeous body wash is part ofthe Caress Skinwear collection of body washes and beauty bars.  The idea behind the line is to make glowing skin the ultimate fashion statement, and they promise to make that available straight out of the shower.  

Now I have been a Dove girl ever since their tear-jerking Superbowl commercial featuring the song “True Colors” came out (I remember it so vividly because I’d just become a mami, and I used to rock our older daughter to sleep to that song many nights), and I love the way their body wash makes my skin feel. Caress’ marketing of the Skinwear collection with Kim Kardashian and Carson Kressly is aimed for a hiper demographic, for sure not the parents-with-young-kids crowd, and if the product hadn’t come to me first, that promotion wouldn’t have gotten my attention.  BUT…I’m so glad it did, because the Evenly Gorgeous body wash itself is great, and actually very useful for mamis short on time yet desirous of glow.  

The Evenly Gorgeous body wash foamed up nicely in the shower, and had a nice clean-yet-toasty/brown-sugary smell; it exfoliated somewhere in-between the barely-noticeable “gentle” exfoliators and the more abrasive ones- just the right amount- and the smell was energizing.  I used up the whole bottle over a couple of weeks and my skin definitely glowed.  Some days, it made me look better than I felt, which IS one of the good points of beauty/fashion, is it not?

I just ran out of the body wash and, next time I’m at the store, I’ll buy more…and alternate the Caress with my old standby, because I’m trying to strike a good balance between the cuddly mami and the mami who is all dressed up with somewhere to go.

Gazpacho Garden

I’m new to gardening this year, but no less enthusiastic.  You can read more about it here, but suffice to say, that my little patch under the ventana will be bursting with produce shortly.

Anyway, while I was reading about small garden-growing, I ran across information about Pizza Gardens- gardens most oftenly grown with kids and planted with their favorite pizza toppings.  They’re supposed to be a great way to illustrate the garden-to-table connection.

But I planted such a variety of stuff and I’m trying to raise healthy eaters- do I really want to label our mini farming experience into “pizza gardening”?  And frankly, if we use the produce only for pizza, we’ll look like a bunch of focas by the end of summer (something I am particularly nervous about).  

So, me pregunte, what fun & healthier name can we give the huerto?  Answer: gazpacho garden. In addition to stir frys, grills, and recipes that use bits of things, I can use the bulk of heirloom tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, and onions I’ve planted in gazpacho and we’ll never have more produce than we’re able to eat.  All I’ll need to complete the recipe will be un poco de aceite de oliva and migas!   And then we can have some of the sandia I’m also growing for dessert.

Tiki Tiki Launch!

For the last three months, I’ve been busy dreaming, brainstorming, planning and writing with the fabulous Carrie, Marta, and Carla on this fantastic project- the Tiki Tiki.  I’m super ilusionada to launch today!

The Tiki Tiki is a magazine-style website aiming to capture the “cultura, color and sabor” of living Latino in the United States through essays, recipes, contests, giveaways, photos, videos and a special feature we call “del alma.”  It’s entertainment, information, and inspiration.  For Latinas of every background, I guarantee you’ll recognize yourself, and your friends and familia in our features, and find yourself at home in the comunidad. 

Where did the name Tiki Tiki come from? Carrie explains it best:

In Spanish — particularly Cuban Spanish — Tiki Tiki is a funny saying meaning constant conversation, constant habla habla, the kind of noise that would make non-Latinos a little crazy. It is talking fast, hands in constant motion about 17 subjects and somebodies all at once.

We adopted Tiki Tiki as our name because we plan on doing a lot of talking here, a lot of back and forth, about a lot of subjects and definitely all at once.

And also because it is the sound of a Spanish heartbeat – tiki-tiki-tiki-tak tiki-tiki-tiki-tak.

Go over there now and take a look! We’re hosting a Latino Book Month giveaway of five great books. (I would have entered it if I could have…instead I just bought 3/5 books).  Head over, por favor, and leave a comment about the site on the contest post to be eligible to win.  And tell all your friends!

Best Children’s Book. Ever.

Curious about what my favorite children’s book ever is? Here’s a hint: it’s a Spanish classic featuring an imaginary whale.

Take a peek at my nostalgic review, here, at the Latin Baby Book Club.

Notes from The Dream Day

My events went so well!  Brace yourself for the giddy…

In spite of being really nervous beforehand, I managed to relax within the first few minutes of the morning talk and this helped me so much in connecting with my audience. Both my morning talk and my evening reading were hosted by a private pk-8 school in Pittsburgh (a great educational choice for lots of international families that live in or around the city, though it is not where our kids will be attending) and the event coordinators really made sure that everything ran smoothly. 

In the morning, I was invited as the guest speaker for the school’s weekly chapel service.  I spoke to an audience of 1st-8th graders, faculty, parents, and community members about my experiences in the early part of my writing career, weaving in my love of writing as a child, some funny stories, and some inspirational-kind-of advice, and also talked a bit about how the values of the school apply in the field of writing.  I also read some poetry, including the very popular “Godzilla poem” (aka “My Daughter at Her Tea Party,” first published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3/25/06).  

After the chapel, I was invited by the school’s lovely Spanish and World Cultures teacher to speak to her 6th and 7th grade students.  Each classroom welcomed me with a reading of one of Bequer’s Rimas.  Perfect!  I spent an hour and a half or so sitting in the middle of the room, answering the kids’ questions in a fun, informal way.  I loved what they asked me about!  Everything from “How do you learn from reading?” to “How did you meet your husband?” to “Who is your favorite poet? (in English and in Spanish!)” to “How long does it take you to write a poem?” (they were HORRIFIED by the answer I gave!) Before leaving, I gave them magnets I’d made with the logo from my business card and they were delighted. 

After that, I had lunch with my mother (who had gone to the morning talk to hear me and, for the first time ever, CRIED at my words!…I’ve teased her a lot over the years about how she’s never ever cried when she’s heard me give a variety of speeches) and went home for a quick nap and an outfit change.

The evening event was a celebration for the conclusion of National Poetry Month.  When they contacted me to speak, I requested my theme to be “Inspirations from Around the World” so that I could weave the poetry they wanted me to read in with my new Call Me Okaasan piece. The event began with groups of 3rd-8th grade students reciting (memorized!) poetry in a variety of different languages- Latin, English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese… They did an incredible, awestriking job. Then I took the stage and gave a talk about finding  and taking inspirations from travel, literature about other countries, and even language study, and read some poems.  I concluded with my piece from Okaasan- “Two Names for Every Beautiful Thing”-and received a big bouquet of flowers while people clapped.

I was so touched the response! My husband said (I couldn’t see because of the glare of the stage light) that he saw lots of people tearing up and nodding in recognition as I read my essay in particular. Afterwards, at the reception, many parents and faculty members came up to me, to let me know how it had moved them. I signed and sold some books**, told more funny stories, and gave some encouraging words to future-writers.  Maybe my favorite moment was when a couple of  boys who had international moms not in attendance bought their moms copies of the book for Mother’s Day! That almost made me tear up!

All in all, it was the dream day for a writer, and I came away with lots of inspiration and gratitude.  

 

* made possible by my husband, who watched the kids ALL day, cleaned up the house, managed to look so handsome when he accompanied me to the evening event, worked the cashbox and kept the line moving and me on task during the signing & selling, and, on the way home, stopped to get me a pizza! 

** I have some copies of Okaasan left over.  If anyone wants to either Paypal me or send me a check for $16, I will happily mail one of those copies, signed (and dedicated, if you want) to you. Think of it as Amazon with personality.  Leave a comment or email me privately, if you’re interested.

Reading, While You Wait

These are way late.  Sorry!  Note to self: while you are busy getting ready to promote yourself, don’t forget to promote yourself.

And so, a link to my column that published during the recent blog break:

“What the Eyes Can’t See, What the Ears Can’t Hear” up at Literary Mama.

Here’s an excerpt:

To my daughter, sometimes the pulpo is bad, sometimes he is good. When I ask her about him she either looks at me with fear, telling me that he’s outside, on the terrace, wanting to bite her, or looks past me, waving at the darkened glass saying, “Go home, pulpo! Go home with your mami! ‘Night!” and blowing kisses. When I try to anticipate which side of the pulpo we’ll encounter, I get it wrong. Our daughter shakes her head at me as if I have misunderstood her invisible, imaginary octopus and she feels sorry for me. She and her fantasy friend are not bound by the same things I am…I am bound by the visible, the logical; even though I expect things to fit into tidy, organized boxes, easily understood and explained, they never do. Still, I expect this from my history, my present, myself.”

The Writer, Hair in Curlers

I’m getting ready for a literary event this week, which is why I’ve been away from here.  There’s only so much you can make room for when you have to write two talks, prep reading selections, and redesign your business card…and your kids are grumpy from allergies, your husbands working extra, your dogs won’t stop shedding, and your family needs you to make and serve meals for their consumption.  

I will say that I’m a little bit anxious about the event.  I always get nervous speaking in front of people, and the more formal, the more nervous I get.  Tell me I have to talk books while in my pjs, my hair looking like a loca’s?  No problem.  Tell me that I should  buy a new dress, and that a manicure wouldn’t  hurt, and could my curly hair possibly be somehow better arranged, and I need to start lining up a motivational soundtrack to listen to in the car on the way there.  BUT I am thrilled to be promoting the fabulous, hot-off-the-presses Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering, edited by the lovely Suzanne Kamata, and featuring ME…and many other talented writers!  I’ll be reading my piece from the book, entitled “Two Names for Every Beautiful Thing,” as well as lots of poetry (the event is a concluding celebration of National Poetry Month)…and, in general, doing much gushing about the writing life.

Stay tuned for the post-event wrap-up tomorrow!

The Art of Armando un Escandalo

I am stereotypically Latin in few things, but one of the stereotypes that does fit is that of the “Latin temper” though I have learned to mostly check it after getting myself into lios too many times.  But, in my heart, I see little wrong with raising your voice, unleashing a long string of complaints/insults while holding one hand on your hip and waving the other one around exageradamente.  A bit of an escandalo, I guess, but one that burns fast and is done.

Keeping that in mind…

There’s been a bird that’s been attempting to build her nest in one of the rafters of our kids’ new playset for about the last three days.  Each day, my husband has gone outside, knocked on the wall of the playset (kind of adorably), and then removed the nesting materials once the bird flew away.  Several times, each day.  I voted to let her go ahead and do it, but he argued that it would ruin the playset with its pecking, its popo, and fly at the kids’ heads if they tried to get near it.  So he won, but I told him he had to be the one to undo the nesting, over and over and over…X8.

I guess he’d finally had it because this morning, after he’d removed a big pile of straw/branches/leaves and the bird sat two feet away from him chirping loudly (she was angry but not the least bit intimidated), he started waving his arms, speaking rather loudly at the bird to “GO BUILD YOUR NEST SOMEWHERE ELSE!” and chasing it around the yard.  Only, from the window where the kids and I were watching, we heard “Go build somewhere else.”  Undoubtedly, our not-so-friendly neighbor (in a new construction neighborhood) who was spying my crazed husband (but not the bird) from her window heard that, too.  And assumed it was directed at her and felt threatened. (I’m guessing, by the way she jumped from the window, shut every one of the many blinds in the upstairs of her house, ran downstairs, turned every one of her outdoor lights on (at 10am) and cracked the kitchen window the teeniest bit (to hear more, maybe)).  Ay, the escandalo!  I was waiting for her to call the police.

Do you think I’m rubbing off on my husband?

Mama Bloguera

I’m (still!) sick, so here, from my sick bed, I’m collecting links with my writing of late.

First, my monthly Latin Baby Book Club contribution- a music review on Lina Luna’s debut cd.

Next, the latest installment of my Multi-Culti Mami column, now up at Literary Mama.

And last, my article on fostering heritage and identity for adopted children, up at Spanglish Baby as part of their Mamas Blogueras week.  (Read it, then enter their fabulous Victoria’s Secret giveaway).

Happy reading!