Posts by Carrie:
- What do you want?
- What are you doing to make your want happen?
The Tiki Tiki Media Kit: The Outtakes
September 1st, 2010
So, all the Blog Stars have one…a Media Kit. It is a fancy — or simple — document that tells potential advertisers all about the web site, the publishers, the demographics of its amazing and beautiful and super cool readers. (That’s you!) And, of course, the rates. (We’re affordable!)
But, Marta and I decided that paper and words are not enough to describe what the heck the Tiki Tiki is all about, so in May when we both were in Miami, we stayed up way too late and created a video for our Media Kit. That video currently lives on our advertising page. (Hat’s off to Marta’s cool cousin Yllien for being our director.)
Marta and I agree the Outtakes video, shown here, is much more fun, and it definitely shows us, the humor we share, and mutual-love-of-each-other-we’ve-got-going-on. We were sober when we shot all this and we both wore orange by coincidence, by the way.
Now, dear reader…fear not we’re going to mess up your space with a bunch of “Look Younger Now!” ads or sell you on scams and junk. We are careful about the ads we put up, and sponsors we work with. And seriously, we need the ads: We have dulce leche and Bustelo habits to support.
OK, enjoy and Happy Miercoles!
Del Alma: Write Your Own Story
August 31st, 2010
I heard this lovely story on NPR this morning. And, so I went digging to find out more about the series it comes from. I’m into reading about, and celebrating, the creation of one’s own story.
And although we may not be aware of it, each of us thinks of our life as if it were a story in the making.
“You’re constantly rearranging the narrative of your life,” says Antonio Damasio, a behavioral neurologist from the University of Southern California and author of the upcoming book Self Comes to Mind, which is about how our sense of story influences our lives. “And you’re rearranging as a function of the experiences that you have had and as what you imagine your experiences in the future ought to be.”
I hope today, you are writing the story of your own vida, amigos.
“You must have control of the authorship of your own destiny. The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand.” — Irene C. Kassorla
UrbanoTV: Laughing in Spanglish
August 26th, 2010
UrbanoTV is coming soon.
Click the headline link to see the two UrbanoTV videos.
The actor and comedian John Leguizamo will next month launch a video site for Latinos called UrbanoTV. The promotional material says it is like YouTube meets Hulu meets Blogspot meets Flickr — with a touch of cilantro and adobo.
I’ve been hanging around over there, uploading some of our Tiki Tiki videos and watching original Urbano TV shows. My favorite original is Palabras, which is quickies on words and Spanish dichos by a funny woman named Mariela. (You guys know how much I love dichos!) There’s also a show called Cocotazos, which is all about how we’ve survived la chancla and the cocotazo.
Now, I love a good chancla story, but I’m not too sure about that Cocotazo show, though, because some of the cocotazos featured would get parents arrested today. And hey, if you survived enough cocotazos to need a little therapy, remember the Tiki Tiki has its own in-house therapist: La Comadre…just saying.
Anywa, here are two fun UrbanoTV Palabras shows for you to watch, with a reminder to bookmark UrbanoTV.
Maleta in one country does not mean suitcase in another.
Click here if the video isn’t loading.
Bolsa, not the same in the D.R. as in P.R. (May not be safe for work…)
Click here if the video isn’t loading.
Have you added your name to this week’s wonderful Viva Greetings giveaway?
Del Alma: Reinvention Stories
August 24th, 2010
Please click on the headline to see five videos of inspiration.
There is no failure.
I believe that in my marrow.
As a journalist, I spent nearly two decades interviewing people who took chances, changed the course of their lives. They built businesses, left it all and moved to the islands, left cruddy partners, invented something new.
Even the ones who struck out on an attempt, though, carried something with them from the experience that led to something new.
When I launched Los Pollitos Dicen in 2005, a smart friend in business said something like: “What if it doesn’t work? For the price of a used car, you’ll have an answer…and an education.”
Los Pollitos has enriched my life, and for sure it has led to other ventures and connections — without making me monetarily rich, which it was supposed to do. But, going from journalist to business owner and blogger — my personal reinvention — has filled my spirit and brought new ventures — ventures I could not have dreamed up for myself.
I talk about Reinvention in my Yahoo! Shine interview, as do the other women featured here.
As you watch them, consider the questions:
As Roxana says in her interview: “No tengas miedo!”
Roxana Soto, Spanglish Baby (interview in Spanish)
Li, La Licenciada, of Her Deep Thoughts
Angelica Perez-Litwin, Ask La Comadre on Tiki Tiki Blog and publisher of Modern Familia
Yvonne Condes, Yvonne in LA.
Carrie. Yo! Presente!
And by the way, check out this week’s wonderful giveaway of Viva Greetings, a line of Spanish and bilingual greeting cards.
Viva Greetings: Bilingual Fabulousness Giveaway
August 23rd, 2010
You know, I have a thing for roosters, chickens and fowl. I raised funky guinea hens for two years — until some four-footed bandit wiped out my flock this summer. Pero, as Marta says, that’s another story.
So, imagine the joy in my fowl-loving heart when I saw the bright red and yellow rooster card from Viva Greetings. I love him. Love him double because he’s a Spanish-speaker!
The gallo is from the collection of Viva Greetings, designed and owned by Carla Fonseca, a Mexicana who lives in Atlanta.
Carla prints on an old letterpress she loves, but also does offset printing and iris folding. The product line also includes a set of pan dulce magnets, tongs included. The card designs include colorful birthday and holiday cards, funny pick-up lines, awesomely colorful luchadores, and gift wrap.
It is all is designed to speak to our love of Latin culture and color.
The Viva Greetings letterpress.
To learn more about Viva Greetings, Carla answered a few questions for us:
When did you start your business?
It has been my brainchild ever since I can remember. I think I have been preparing for this all of my life. After many hardships, finally it all started coming together this year. Viva Greetings is 3-months-old. It was officially created in February and launched this past May.
What is your background?
I have a Graphic Design Degree from a university in Mexico City. I have worked for major newspapers & magazines in several positions ranging from Graphic Editor to Art Director. In 2001 I moved from Mexico to the US and worked as a freelancer where I was fortunate enough to have major companies as my clients. During those years I also launched several companies, which include a craft studio and a marketing company geared toward the Latino community along with a newspaper, a real estate magazine and an auto magazine.
My children, my heritage, mi Mexico, beautiful and simple products.
Is this a full-time venture?
Not yet, but hopefully it will soon be. It is my passion, but as a single mom of two boys, a bilingual and multicultural education for them is my top priority. Therefore, I still maintain a full-time job to pay for their education.
What are your plans for Viva Greetings?
I want Viva Greetings to be a leader in the Latino bicultural-bilingual community of social expression.
What is your best-selling design?
Depende. The “pan dulce magnets” are a hit amongst Latinas; on the other hand, we have the “Te quiero,” “Besos,” “Hola” cards in letterpress that are popular as well. These are sought-after by people who are familiar with common phrases in Spanish but may not be bilingual. The one design that seems to stand out for everyone is the “Hola” with the rooster on it probably because of its design and color.
Do people request designs?
Yes! I have gotten requests for everything you can imagine. The one thing that stands out is a request from a girl who was married to a Mexican. She asked me to design about 12 words to be framed to put in her “cantina”. Some of the words were just hilarious (Rated R)!
What feedback have you gotten?
I have gotten great responses. “Cute,” “clever”, “kitschy”, “cool.” The last comment that captured my attention was ”Hallmark just didn’t get it, but Viva Greetings does.” That I definitely GOT!
The Giveaway:
Carla will send one lucky Tiki Tiki-er a half-dozen assortment pack of Viva Greetings. All you have to do is visit her site, fall in love with a design or two and come back and tell us what you like.
Contest closes at midnight CST, August 28, 2010. The winner must have a valid United States mailing address.
Disclosure: The Tiki Tiki received a sample pack of Viva Greetings cards. Any personal statements are made honestly and ethically.
Abuela Speaks English
August 15th, 2010Click the headline link to see the hilarious video.
So, I arrived in Miami two weeks and 27 pastelitos ago, and from nearly the moment I landed in the Homeland, I have been on my mother for speaking English to Maria.
This, from a women with perfect Spanish and who was on me even before my child was conceived about teaching future-nieta to speak Spanish.
I asked her el por que and her answer: “She looks at me like she doesn’t understand me.”
I need my parents to help me with Maria’s bilingualism, so I complained to my mom’s friend, Diana, about this and, well, spank me, Diana said she speaks to her grandkids in English too.
And, she gave me a good and uproarious reason.
You’ll have to watch the video I took on Miami Beach, and pay attention to how quickly I lost control of the interview. Diana answered one question and then offered up her own message to “you young mothers.”
Ah, it is going to feel very, very quiet when I return to Tennessee this week.
Divas of Dulce de Leche
August 13th, 2010Click the headline link to see the two videos.
So, it appears Sofia Vergara is trying to dethrone me as the Diva of Dulce de Leche. Descarada!
Thanks to Blanca, a loyal friend who wants to defend my title, I saw a video of Sofia on the Tonight Show pitching arequipe, a Colombian version of dulce de leche. It appears Gordon Ramsay did not like it. More for us.
Now, some background. If you didn’t know I have a very strong and deep love of dulce de leche, let me point you to my personal blog, Bilingual in the Boonies, where I keep a category on the subject.
I pretty much buy any general market food product with the words Dulce de Leche printed on it — from Pop Tarts to Jello. And, when I land in Miami, the first thing I do is head to Navarro and the corner bakery and fill up on the stuff.
Cuatro Leches Cake and Flan! Dessert Combo of Champions.
A couple nights ago, I took my 6-year-old on a late evening trip to El Palacio de Los Jugos on Flagler Street in Miami and we shared a Cuatro Leches cake — tres leches topped with dulce de leche! It will take weeks to drop the weight I have gained during this Miami trip.
Take a look at these pictures and you’ll see why Miami is a dangerous place for me…dulce leche everywhere at.all.hours.of.the.day!
Typical drug store checkout in Miami. Sweets everywhere.
Look top left, dulce leche pastry. Ay!
So, below is the video of the very funny and charming Vergara on the Tonight Show and below hers is the video pitch I did six months ago, begging some dulce de leche company to pick me, me, me! as their Spokes Diva of Dulce de Leche.
I’ve got just a few more days left here in the Homeland, so I am off to discover mas dulces.
And if Sofia wants to do a joint tour to pitch dulce leche and arequipe, my maletas estan ready.
Diva of Dulce de Leche from Carrie F. Weir on Vimeo.
Group Buzz, or Que Pasa with You?
July 30th, 2010Can I admit my brain is melting? Between vacation recovery (I drove 900 miles to NJ for my high school reunion and back) and 98-degree heat, me muero. I have barely kept up with the world in the last two weeks, hence we have been buzz-less.
So, I have a few links to share, but if you’re game, how about leaving us links and coolness you’ve been buzzing about this week?
Me first…In case you don’t already read the fabulous Spanglish Baby, I guest posted over there recently, offering up Sneaky Spanish Lessons.
Latinas are offering their perspective on feminism over at Viva La Feminista, for a series called Summer of Feminista. The essays are wonderful and thought-provoking. My own will run in September.
Spendy for a good cause. Give $3 at Macy’s through August 1 and get a $10 off coupon to use toward one $50 purchase. Your $3 will go to Reading is Fundamental. Find out more at the RIF/Macy’s site.
OK, now you. Open buzz. Que esta pasando in your world?
Hitting the Pinata: Birthday Wishes from Friends
July 25th, 2010
(E-mail and RSS subscribers, click the headline link to see the videos)
Thanks to all of you who have been reading along in our archives this week as we celebrated a year of Tiki Tiki. We’re looking forward to many more years, and many more cuentos.
Below are some lovely and thoughtful video wishes sent in by friends and readers.
Thanks for partying with us!
Carrie and Marta
Angelica Perez-Litwin, aka La Comadre, whose column runs here every other Tuesday.
Liz from Thoughts of a Mommy
Yoly and Ronny from YNR Live and Cuponeando
And if you missed this one yesterday, check out Adrian, son of Dariela from Mami Talks.
Reader Birthday Wishes to the Tiki Tiki!
July 24th, 2010
Ana from SpanglishBaby.com
Happy Saturday…You don’t usually hear from us on the weekends, but we’ve got a lot of Birthday Wishes sent in and they’re pretty awesome.
Here are two videos from Adrian, hijo de Dariela of Mami Talks. Look at what we make our kids do for our amigas! Super wonderful. The third is from the talented Señora López of Latina-ish and her two awesome boys, whom I was lucky enough to meet last week.
Thank you to those of you who sent us love and good wishes — like Ana Lilian from Spanglish Baby, above — on our First Birthday/Anniversary.
More to come tomorrow!
Off to eat a Happy Birthday/Feliz Cumpleanos cupcake. Just because.
